Castiel woke up wanting to write. He loved days like that, and always set his alarm three hours before work officially started, just for when he woke up inspired—so he’d have time to organize his messy, slimy, bittersweet thoughts into graceful strokes of ink. He liked the way the pen felt in his fingers, light, like a straw protruding from his mind, spilling words wherever necessary.
He gripped a bunched up corner of his white blanket and threw it aside, sitting straight and propping himself up with his arms. Dean groaned beside him, lazily pushing the blanket back.
“Go back to sleep, Cas; it’s five in the morning.”
“Not today, Dean, sorry,” Castiel replied, smiling weakly at Dean, who was sprawled out on his side of the bed, one leg draped over Cas’. Dean’s legs felt kind of prickly on his own, but Cas didn’t mind.
Dean glanced over at him and smiled. “If I would have known you’d be up at the asscrack of dawn every morning, I wouldn’t have asked you to share my bed,” he joked.
Castiel rolled his eyes. “Maybe I should sleep in the living room then?” he suggested innocently.
Dean shut his eyes, rolling over and over until he was on top of Cas, just inches from his face. “Oh, now you know I didn’t mean it.”
Castiel could smell Dean’s morning breath, and wrinkled his nose unappreciatively. He clutched the other man’s arms and rolled over, so that Dean was underneath him. Cas kissed his nose and mumbled, “Of course I did. Now go back to sleep.”
Castiel pushed himself off of the bed and crossed over to their shelf as Dean rolled into a more comfortable position, nearly falling off the bed in the process.
The whole bedroom was cluttered and unorganized, but that was okay. The—many—books on the shelf were vertical, horizontal, stacked, open, and even displayed. There were a few souvenirs from their trip to Hawaii on the top shelf, and framed photos of them in Vegas in between them. Cas had put up a few posters on the walls, all of cats, to which Dean had grudgingly admitted to liking. There were clothes on the floor from yesterday, when they’d crawled to bed feeling exhausted. Cas had fallen asleep in Dean’s arms, neither of them wearing pants.
Of all those things, Castiel’s favorite thing about their shared room was the notes they’d tape to the walls. Every day or two, they’d write something down and tape it up. They’d used notebook paper, drawing paper, and even napkins. He doesn’t remember when they decided to start doing it, but he’d glad they did.
“I think we should get a pet cat. –Castiel”
“I finished reading that book you like. The Fault in Our Stars or something. My tears were manly as hell. –Dean”
“I think I’ve grown rather fond of your freckles. –Castiel”
“I love you more than my car. –Dean”
“I bought a red kite today. We should go to the park and fly it sometime. -Castiel”
Next to that last note, Dean had pinned up a picture of Castiel holding the string to the kite, caught mid-laugh and staring behind the camera. Cas remembered when that picture was taken, and knew for sure that Dean was grinning as well when he took the picture.
Cas sighed and looked down at the notebook he kept on the bottom shelf. He crouched, flipping through the pages and ripping out a small piece of paper, just big enough for what he had to say. He picked up the cheap ballpoint pen lying beside the notebook.
“Dance with me. –Cas”
He crossed over to the bedside table, reaching for the tape dispenser and tearing off a piece. He attached the note to the wall with the many others. Cas studied it a moment more, before smiling and looking back down at Dean, who was already back asleep.
Cas yawned and began walking to the bathroom.
His shower was a good twenty minutes long and helped to wake him up a little more. By the time he got out, the mirror was completely fogged over. With his right index finger, he drew a teddy bear with little wings and a top hat.
Cas threw on his blue robe and began the search for something to wear.
In the end, he’d put on one of Dean’s black Metallica tees, which was a bit baggy on Cas’ slender frame. He threw on the first pair of grey sweatpants he found in the closet.
It was still quiet when Cas found his way to the living room, carrying his blue notebook in his arms. The windows displayed a blue sky, with a few wispy white clouds here and there. The sun was still to the far east, having just risen. Cas knew that if he went outside now he would find dew on the windows and grass, and a slight chill in the air. Morning weather was definitely included in Castiel’s Long List of Favorite Things.
He makes himself comfortable on the black leather couch, clicking his pen and opening up his notebook.
We went to the county fair two summers ago. The whole area was clouded with the scent of cotton candy and mini donuts. Dean ate quite a bit of those two things. There were children everywhere, as well as stressed parents and bubbly teenage couples. Dean saw a lot of the girls carrying stuffed animals and prizes that held no significance other than the fact that their date had won it for them. So, of course, Dean tried to win one—and failed. I told him I’d settle for the necklaces he got for picking a rubber duck out of a pool. Those got lost somewhere. I haven’t seen them since last year.
Castiel sighed, squeezing his eyes shut and trying to remember other details from that day. He didn’t actually get the chance before music interrupted his thoughts.
Cas recognized the tune; it was the first song on the CD he played when he got writer’s block. It was called, “All About Us” by He is We. Dean knew it was Castiel’s favorite, and Cas definitely wasn’t surprised to turn and see Dean turning away from the CD player, a smile slowly creeping onto his face.
“Thought you said this song was too ‘chick flick’?” Castiel smirked.
Dean only shrugged and beckoned for Cas to stand up.
Take my hand, I’ll teach you to dance.
Cas stood, remembering the note he left this morning. He moved closer.
I’ll spin you around, won't let you fall down.
By then they were touching. Dean put his right hand on Castiel’s waist, and laced his left in Castiel’s other hand. Cas let one arm drape over Dean’s shoulder.
Would you let me lead? You can step on my feet.
They began to move, slowly but gracefully.
Give it a try. It’ll be alright.
Castiel noticed that Dean’s hair was damp. He must have taken a pretty quick shower. A few more lyrics passed, going unnoticed by Cas, who took fascination in studying Dean, trying to find the perfect words to describe him.
‘Cause, lovers dance when they’re feelin’ in love…
Castiel squeaked a little when Dean dipped him down and pulled him back up, going in time to the song. Dean grinned at him and spun them around. Cas’ heart was pounding.
In fact, he was almost so caught up in everything that he almost didn’t notice when they stopped moving. Green eyes stared down into blue, and Castiel would give anything to know what he was thinking right then.
That was when Dean got down on one knee. Cas’ breath caught in his throat when Dean reached into his jean’s pocket and pulled out a small black box…
Suddenly, I’m feeling brave. I don’t know what’s gotten into me—why I feel this way…
Dean flipped open the box and held it out for Castiel, not saying anything.
Castiel couldn’t breathe. He looked at the ring—all silver and probably expensive. On the box, there was a note, taped and scribbled out on a ripped piece of printing paper.
“Marry me, Cas. –Dean”
Castiel still couldn’t bring himself to speak, and his eyes kind of stung, but he nodded. He nodded a lot, just to get his point across. Dean smiled wide and genuine, taking Cas’ right hand and pushing the cold silver around his ring finger. The box dropped to the floor as Dean stood up, pulling Castiel into a kiss.
for Devan
