pairings: destiel
word count: 1,077
tags: au, punk!cas, nerd!dean, fluff
Dean taps his fingers on the counter, staring at the clock and begging it to go faster. He can’t stand working at the local pet store. The dogs are constantly barking, resulting in a headache. The cats are pure evil, making him congested and unable to go five minutes without sneezing. No amount of Claritin or Ibuprofen could make this job any better.
The bell on the door rings. Dean lifts his head to greet the customer, but the words get stuck in his throat as he sees whom it is. It’s the one and only Castiel Novak. Otherwise known as mister tattooed, pierced, and mysterious. Most people in Dean’s school avoid Castiel at all cost. They don’t really have any reason to. Dean has never seen Castiel be an asshole to anyone, but he supposes it’s just the vibe the kid gives off. Not to mention Castiel basically rebels against his prestigious family every chance the kid gets.
Dean clears his throat, preparing himself to speak. He gives himself a little pep talk in his head because he may or may not have a slight crush on the dark haired boy. Nothing could have prepared Dean for this though.
Castiel approaches the counter with his shoulders squared and head held high. He then sets what seems to be a turtle on the counter, and says in the most serious tone, “I require your assistance.”
Dean’s knees go a little weak at that deep voice, but mostly he’s just confused. “Uh… How can I help?”
“The chalkboard outside states that this establishment is having a sale on turtle necessities. Is that correct?”
Taking off his glasses, Dean wipes a smudge off, half wondering if maybe he’s imagining this whole situation. “Yeah, that’s this week’s sale.”
“Then I will need to purchase some things for Timmy.”
Dean looks up at Castiel and narrows his eyes. “Timmy?”
Castiel gestures down to the turtle. “I’ve decided to name him Timmy. Alliteration is very calming.”
“Yeah, yeah, of course…” Dean cannot believe that this is happening. He thinks maybe this is another opportunity for rebellion against his family, but Dean can’t be too sure when it comes to Castiel. “Follow me.” Dean heads off towards the aisle with the turtle things, grabbing a cart along the way; Castiel follows close behind with Timmy. “I guess the first step would be a tank.” Dean stops and gestures to the number of tanks the store has.
Taking a step forward, Castiel examines the tanks. “Do you have a preference as to which would be best?”
Nervously pushing up his glasses, Dean shrugs. “Sorry, I don’t. I’ve never had a turtle before.”
“Hmm, well me either.”
Curiosity is nagging at Dean. He asks, “So, how’d you get...Timmy.”
Castiel straightens and looks at Dean. Dean swallows hard as the intimidatingly blue eyes meet his green. In that moment, Dean notices that the strip of blue in Castiel’s hair almost matches the shade of his eyes perfectly. It probably amplifies the already intense shade. “I found him in my room when I arrived home from school.”
This did nothing but put more questions in Dean’s head. “Wait, how’d he get there?”
“That is an excellent question, and one I do not have an answer for.” Castiel then turns his back to the tanks. “I think this one will be sufficient.” Castiel places the tank into the cart and moves down the aisle to the food.
“So,” Dean starts again, intrigued by this whole situation, “why are you keeping Timmy?”
“I believe he came into my life for a reason.”
“He’s a turtle.”
Castiel flashes Dean a grin. “There are no such things as coincidences, Dean.”
Dean’s heart flutters. “You really think that?”
“Of course. Everything has a purpose, you just have to be willing to find it. Perhaps I was meant to be having this conversation with you.”
Insecurity nips inside Dean. Why would he be worth having a conversation with? Dean realizes then that Castiel is looking at him with a curious expression. He quickly looks away and pushes the cart down the aisle.
Castiel moves silently beside Dean, contemplating the green-eyed boy. Castiel has seen Dean around school, but the boy was constantly studying, head buried in whatever text book he needed. Castiel hadn’t payed the boy much attention, but that was nothing personal. Castiel didn’t pay attention to anyone at that school, but now he thinks he’s seeing why Timmy came into his life; so Dean could possibly be a part in it as well.
The conversation is sparse after that. Castiel collects a few other odds and ends, but the two then find themselves standing at the counter again. Dean rings Castiel up, making sure not to make eye contact with the blue-eyed boy.
Castiel sets Timmy down on the counter and leans in closer to Dean. “It’s a miracle I came in here y’know. It was the awfully drawn turtle on that chalkboard that first caught my eye.”
Dean smiles despite himself. “They didn’t say artistry was a needed skill when I took the job.”
Castiel hums in understanding, and Dean hands the boy his bags. Castiel then snatches up a piece of chalk that had been sitting behind the counter, heaves his bags off the counter, and says, “Carry Timmy, will you?”
A very confused look crosses Dean’s features as he hesitantly picks Timmy up. Castiel then spins on his heel and heads out the door; his gait screams follow me. Dean listens to this and follows.
Dean and Castiel are now standing opposite of each other. The chalkboard sandwich board between them. Castiel has set his bags down and soon crouches down. Dean watches him carefully, and he totally doesn’t think that it’s cute the way Castiel’s tongue peeks out of the corner of his mouth as he’s drawing on the board.
In a fluid motion, Castiel stands, switches the chalk for Timmy, picks up his bag, and disappears behind the corner. Dean is left standing there with a bewildered expression. Suddenly, Castiel reappears.
“I fixed the turtle...but you’re gonna have to fix the phone number.”
Dean quickly rushes around to the other side of the chalkboard. On it is a perfectly drawn turtle, and where the store’s number should be, lies a number he has never seen before. A grin crawls onto Dean’s features, and he thinks that maybe his job isn’t so bad after all.
