Lamb!dean throwing a tantrum and hurting cas feelings without meaning to? but apologising after because he feels so bad ;w;
Consider it an outtake or teaser of the bigger story I’m writing and will post on AO3 as soon as I’ve made some more progress with it! :D I apologize if it doesn’t make much sense without more context.
Note: not beta read so I’m hoping for the best. *lol*
Dean rarely skipped breakfast. Now that the academic semester was nearing its end, Dean spent most of his time either locked up in his room or at the library. Their time together was consequently cut short. Castiel didn’t deny that he missed seeing Dean around all the time and that he took comfort in their quiet mornings together.
But this morning Castiel put their usual breakfast of porridge on the table, a smile on his face as he sat down. He ajusted the placement of the jug of juice, fidgeted a bit with the flowers he had put in a vase. And he waited. Dean wasn’t one to sleep long. For all of his grumbling early in the morning, he was usually up with the sun (or even before, now that the days were short) and studying by the time Castiel got up. Just as Castiel wanted to check on him, he heard him thundering down the stairs. But instead of coming into the kitchen Dean left the house without even a good-morning.
Castiel, while disappointed, didn’t put much stock in it. Dean was a teenager and his mood could be a bit tempestuous. He’d calm down soon enough. But one morning of ditched breakfasts became two, became three and by Friday, Castiel was worried.
After a dissatisfying breakfast he ventured into Dean’s room to get the laundry. And he also took the chance to snoop around. Maybe Dean's scent would clear up what this was about. It couldn't be rut related moodiness, because alphas of his kind didn’t have any ruts until they were a bit older. So why was Dean keeping his distance? The room looked as it always did; almost spotless, the used clothes in the hamper and the desk groaning under the weight of books. He knew that Dean didn’t like him ‘sniffing around’ his stuff, but Dean also knew that Cas was a wolf and this was his territory. There was no way that he wouldn’t be ‘sniffing around’ while doing chores. So Cas went around the room, collecting the laundry, tugging at the bedspread so even out wrinkles, and bundled some loose paper. The smell in here wasn’t out of the ordinary in any way. It was Dean’s usual fresh pasture scent, though slightly shifted. It was harder to read people who weren’t wolves, but he was pretty sure that whatever he was picking up on was frustration. But why?
While taking the laundry out into the backyard to let them soak he tried to remember if he did anything to cause Dean’s annoyance. Absolutely nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Castiel’s life was as predictable and unexciting as ever. He heaved a sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. Dean didn’t have to share with him if he had problems in class but Castiel still considered it his duty to make sure that he was doing well. He really didn’t want to have Jody Mills getting on his case because he neglected his guardian duty. No. He would have to know what was up.
Mind made up, Castiel put on his coat, switched the open sign to closed and went out into the chilly December air. It was almost midday but Fernbridge lay under a canopy of thick clouds and it was bitter cold. Nobody but Castiel was on the streets and that was more than alright with him. While people had slightly gotten used to his presence, Castiel still took their open hostility to heart. But this was a concern for another day.
He made his way straight to The Old Bear. Friday was when Dean usually went to lunch with other students of his anatomy class if Castiel remembered correctly. Castiel looked at the building with some apprehension, but eventually he pulled the heavy door open and stepped into the restaurant. Castiel had been inside once before to deliver an order to Benny. Back then the restaurant had been empty, but now Castiel was greeted by the sound of voices and the smell of food. There were only a couple of patrons now, with half an hour to go before it was officially lunch time, but of course they took note of Castiel's arrival all at once. Castiel tried not to react to the staring and the muttering. If he just acted casually, surely they wouldn't chase him out. He pulled off his coat and folded it over his arms. He tried to remember Benny's advice: keep the ears up, don't tuck your tail between your legs, don't act so submissive. He still felt his ears twitch even as he forced his chin up. A quick glance didn't reveal Benny, who would have been a great help right about now. Castiel silently made his way over to a table in the corner where the other patrons couldn't glare at him without having to turn around in their seats. After a while the tense muttering calmed down and they had gone on to ignore Castiel. So far so good. Nobody was daring to throw him out. Castiel looked up when he caught a hint of Benny's scent. A guy was leaning over the counter, pointing at Cas and talking to Benny. Benny put one of his big hands on the guy's shoulder and turned him away, then he crossed the room to stand in front of Castiel.
"Staying out of trouble, right Cas?"
"What did he say to you?" Castiel asked, gesturing towards the guy who had sat back down, glaring at him over his beer.
"The usual. That you were probably in heat and here to bewitch some honest man to do terrible things to you," Benny said with a chuckle and Castiel heaved a sigh. "That's not why you're here, right? You don't smell like heat. And I'm sure you can do better than the couple of drunkards here." Benny looked over his shoulder and added, loud enough to be heard: "Who, despite all of their grouching, probably fantasize about an hour in the back alley with a wild and untamed omega."
"Please. Don't agitate them," Castiel complained even though there was some laughter from the other end of the room. "I'm actually here to talk to Dean." Benny lifted his eyebrow, his surprise evident. Castiel reached into his pocket and drew out a couple of coins. "I have money."
"Hey there. Don't worry, omega," Benny said, his calm voice causing Castiel to draw a deep breath. "I'm not kicking you out. Of course you can wait here for your little man." Benny took the money out of Castiel's still outstretched hand and then left him. "Your lunch will be right up."
Castiel folded his hands on top of the table and waited. The restaurant was slowly filling and he received one or the other look. While people avoided to sit close to his table, nobody actually said anything to him. Castiel was glad that the city folk's sense of smell was underdeveloped, otherwise they would have long picked up the anxiety. Benny came back with a glass of wine, some soup and some bread. It smelled heavenly. He was nibbling his bread by the time the door swung open and brought with it Dean's unmistakable scent and the laughter of a couple of young men. All of them were at least a head taller and some years his senior, but the lamb carried himself with his usual confidence. One of his friends elbowed Dean in the ribs and then pointed towards Castiel. Castiel lifted his hand but quickly let it drop again when Dean's expression went from surprised to irritated.
Oh no.
The group took a seat at a previously reserved table and a waitress promptly came with inviting smiles and tall glasses of beer for all. Dean took a couple of quick gulps, draining half the glass in seconds – to the amusement of his friends and the protest of the only girl in the group. She was dark haired, beautiful. Castiel didn't know the name of a single one of them, even though Dean probably spent almost every day with them. Dean put the glass back down and then came straight for Cas. He still wore an irritated expression when he sat down in the chair opposite.
"Are you here to see Benny?"
"Oh, no. Actually, I've been hoping to see you." Dean raised both of his eyebrows until they disappeared under his curly bangs. Up close he smelled… Like the anatomy theatre. It was obvious that he had used soap but the smell of death clung to him like a cloud of perfume. Castiel raised his wine glas, breathing in the sharp sour scent of it instead.
"Care to tell me why?" Dean asked to know and it was clear to Cas in that moment that he was the cause of Dean's irritation. He didn't understand why.
"I was worried about you. I haven't seen you in four days," Castiel argued and Dean frowned.
"And you couldn't wait with your overbearing omega act until I was back home?" he demanded to know and Castiel couldn't help it; he flattened his ears to his head.
"Of course, but you always lock your door…" Dean got back up from the chair, his ears flicked up once, clearly annoyed.
"I just want to spend some time with the guys and not hang out in a ramshackle hut with someone who wouldn't even know what a social life was if it bit him in the balls." Castiel opened his mouth at this, but was much too taken aback by Dean's words to actually say anything. In the end he stuttered out a weak "Omegas don't have testicles." Dean was already talking over him:
"You're a wolf. Surely you understand territory, right?" Dean gestured towards the table where the other members of his group were now starting on their own lunch, laughing and Castiel forgotten. Though the woman sometimes shot a worried look in Dean's direction. Castiel felt a pang deep in his chest. "If you just show up out of the blue, you- Hey!"
"I apologize for overstepping," Castiel quickly said when his sudden standing up caused Dean to protest. He left some more coins for Benny as an apology and a thank you, then he pulled on his coat and maneuvered past Dean, through the tables and out of the door. His breath formed small clouds before his mouth as he hurried through the back alleys and narrow streets. He didn't want to run because that would draw suspicious. He felt the wood of his shop door under his palms, the grain familiar. He pushed it open and slammed it close. The shop was chilly and he went to the fire place. His fingers trembled when he lit the fire. Cold. It flickered to life and Castiel sat down in front of it. He didn't bother taking off his cloak.
At least now he had his answer. He just wished that he could have understood the reason of Dean's behavior without making such a sorry fool of himself. He lifted his hand to his face, rubbing his palm over his face. Of course Dean wanted to spend time with his friends and it was more than clear to Castiel that Dean wanted to keep the boundaries up between his studies and his life with Castiel. He didn't exactly blame him for that. But he had assumed that in the past four months they had formed a genuine friendship. Castiel cared for him and he had hoped… Well. That Dean cared for him too. All his alpha posturing aside, Castiel had hoped that there was some substance to Dean's attempts at courtship.
"Hey." The coat slipped off Castiel's shoulders. "You should really lock the door if you plan to space out like that." Dean tossed the coat over the counter and sat down in the armchair next to the fire. He had grown a couple of centimeters in the last months and the soles of his beaten leather shows now touched the floor. Castiel doubted this was the moment to mention it. Especially as Castiel was… not sad. No. Disappointed maybe. A part of him was angry.
"Why? There's nothing to steal in a 'ramshackle hut'," Castiel retorted flatly, raising his hands from his knees to make air quotes. Dean huffed.
"My books cost the city at least a hundred pounds," Dean argued. There was a pause and Castiel wondered if he should fill it by voicing some of the tension that made his chest feel so tight. "And there's you." Castiel lowered his eyebrows and turned around halfway to look at Dean. He wore a serious expression. His ears were lowered. He was sorry. Or angry. Both probably. With Dean it wasn't easy to say.
"Right." Dean sighed and folded his hands between his legs. The gesture made him look more mature than he was.
"Look, Cas. I'm an ass."
"I thought you were a lamb, but go on," Castiel answered dryly and the corner of Dean's mouth twitched.
"Haha, very funny," he said, some of the tension bleeding out of his shoulders. "What I said back there… It wasn't nice. I'm sorry."
"You weren't wrong. This house isn't very elaborate, nor do I have a social life."
"Yeah, but you have made this house a home for me. You put all that effort into it. Hell, you even let me keep taps on my height by scratching into the door frame." Castiel laughed gently at that. "And I know that the only reason you don't have a social life is because you've been an outcast for so long. It was unfair to say what I did." Dean got up from his chair and pulled at Castiel's arm. "Come on, don't sit on the ground like that. It makes you look dramatic." Castiel let himself be pushed into the second armchair.
"Why did you? Why are you so upset, Dean?" Dean sighed and let himself drop back down into his own chair.
"Because I'm an outsider too, alright? Lisa and the guys are all… city kids. I mean, damn. They're not even kids! Almost all of them are already 20 and even though they are nice and let me tag along, I feel like I'm not… Part of them, you know? When they have parties over at Victor's place I can't come because he's the kind of over correct dude that won't let me drink any hard stuff until I'm 18."
"Reasonable," Castiel argued, though lifted his hands when Dean shot him a glare.
"I'm just that little lamb from Kleeweiden. I'm like half their size, talk with an accent and the only reason my clothes don't come apart at the seams is because you mend them. I'm just trying to prove something to them. Not sure what. 's probably not worth it if I'm being a dick to you over it." Dean pursed his lips and glared into the fire. Castiel studied him for a while. "I'm sorry. I probably gave you the impression that I'm ashamed of you or something," Dean said and turned his head so he could look at Cas. "I'm not. I'm just stupid."
"Dean… you're not stupid," Castiel assured him. "I understand you. I would prefer if you talked to me the next time instead of avoiding me though." Dean groaned in exaggeration and slumped down in his chair. But then he sprang to his feet. Castiel's heart sank slightly when Dean put his coat back on. "Do you have to go back?"
"Yeah, but I promise I'll be back in time for dinner." Castiel smiled at him and Dean fidgeted a moment, but then he walked up to him and pressed a kiss into his hair. "See you later, omega."
"See you later, Dean," Castiel replied and watched Dean through the shop window. Castiel felt lighter now, with the worry for Dean at least slightly lessened. Of course, he hoped for Dean to feel less self-conscious. But he knew that he had it in himself to succeed. He was a stubborn guy after all. He always got his way. Castiel shook his head.
I’m thinking about turning them into charms for the manga/anime convention I’ll attend, but I’m not sure which version to take. Which one do you like better?
Here's some good-luck flowers for you ! I've also got two questions about the reverse lambverse : How did Cas and Dean met ? Did Cas kidnaped Dean or was it still Dean that kidnaped Cas ? Have a fun day !
♥♥
The answer to this question depends on whether you look at the art I initially did or how I’m currently developing that verse in writing!
While the idea of lamb!Dean kidnapping Cas now sounds amusing and genius, it was actually Castiel’s father who kidnapped Dean in order to… I don’t even know what he wanted to do, but he’s a mad Alpha so who knows. Castiel prevented bad things from happening and protected him even though Dean’s not really thrilled about being anywhere near wolves. You can see this in art form here and here. That verse follows the idea that Castiel accompanies Dean back to the pasture where he’ll protect the pasture as its guardian (even though he’s an omega. Wolves are scary enough to be able to protect a bunch of pasture people.)
Now, the new writing takes a different first meeting approach which doesn’t involve any kidnapping: Castiel, who’s an exiled omega in his late 20ies recently moved to a new town in the hopes of being able to stay there and not be chased away again. Pretty early on he finds Dean collapsed in the woods outside the town. Dean’s been on a journey to attend university (he’s only 16 but he’s a bit of a genius and incredibly stubborn) and thought it wise to go all on his own. Cas takes him in and Dean claims him as a guardian because otherwise he wouldn’t be able to stay and attend the school.
This is not yet Cas reacting to ram!Dean's horns, but I felt like doing something fluffy.
While Cas would find lamb!Dean's little horns impressive, he wouldn't really be attracted to them. This version of Dean might be funny and a lamb on top of it, but he's not wolf!Dean. There are parts of his own Dean that are much more fascinating than a teenager's puny horns. (Sorry Dean, your sweetheart is right. Your mini horns are cute *lol* Pipsqueak lamb Dean~)
