deancas, coda, 14x16, ~450 words
He’s still there when Dean wakes up.
Dean blinks, yawns into Cas’ thigh before he realizes that it’s been his cushion all night. Embarrassment travels up his spine, a red flush that Cas had called beautiful once, when they’d washed dishes together and Dean’s face had burned after dropping the same plate twice.
But before he can lift his head from Cas’ lap, Cas presses his hand to the nape of his neck.
“I was just about to wake you,” he says.
Dean grumbles, or at least pretends to grumble, even though the only thing on his mind is the way that Cas’ fingers are resting gently on his head. Cas’ thumb moves, a soothing stroke along his hairline that sends a smattering of goosebumps across his skin, but when Dean shivers, Cas stops.
As if suddenly self-conscious, Cas pulls his fingers away.
“I think I need to leave, Dean,” he says. “I think I need to ‘stretch my legs’ and maybe—maybe...”
He trails off. Scratches his neck and clasps his hands together like he doesn’t know what to do with them.
“Still worried about the kid, huh?”
Cas nods, and Dean pulls himself up in bed. He’s not sure when Cas took their conversation about Jack’s snake skills as an invitation to stay the night, but he supposes it’s sort of his fault for falling asleep in the middle of it.
“Dean, I just need—”
“A breather?”
“Yes.”
They’re quiet for a moment, and then Cas shifts, makes a move to leave. The mattress groans in retaliation and Dean follows, trails behind him to the door, but when Cas looks like he’s gonna rush out, Dean catches him by the arm.
“When are you coming back?”
Cas quivers. He turns around, slow, floorboards creaking in rhythm with his feet.
Cas’ eyes are unforgivably blue, his gaze furtive as he licks his lips and Dean shamelessly follows the path of his tongue. Cas wanders a step nearer, maybe a little too near because he ends up three inches from bumping noses with Dean.
Dean’s throat goes dry.
Cas lets out a small sound, a wavering exhale that ghosts over Dean’s mouth.
“Cas?” he says.
Dean winces, wants to cover his ears as his voice rumbles, unsuitable noise for the silence surrounding them. Cas sways again, a smidgen more in Dean’s direction, and god knows what comes over him. Dean swallows, lets out a shaky breath before he closes his eyes and leans forward, chases Cas’ lips just as Cas takes another step back.
When nothing meets Dean’s mouth, Dean looks at him again.
“Soon,” Cas says, voice wavering like before.
I’ll be back soon.












