Chapter Text
Castiel stretched his arms above his head, breathing in the dewy morning air. His muscles were sore from his work-out yesterday but despite that here he was, out here at the asscrack of dawn preparing for a run through the trails near his apartment. He loved to run, had only just recently become a runner and already he loved it. It was freedom, it was the way it cleared his thoughts, his mind and body became one in the rhythm of the steps he took. The world was laid out literally at his feet. He could run anywhere.
He was wearing grey sweats, and a tight black shirt. Dark running shoes and his ipod arm band completed his look. The playlist was full of music of all types. His favorite for the last week had been Maroon 5’s “Maps.” Castiel finished his stretches, plugged the ear buds in his ears and took off down the trail.
The temperature was a bit chilly still from the winter, but spring was around the corner waiting to bloom. That ‘s when the trail was the prettiest to Castiel, with all it’s flowers, the trees began to fill out, the air was a little lighter, a little happier. Well, he would be, if he wasn’t so damn lonely. He had friends at the used book store he worked out on the corner of 8th and Huron, but no best friend. No lover. No one to call up for a chat in the middle of the night, or for a last minute lunch thing. His only friend-type person was Kalie at the bookstore. She had worked there almost as long as he had, and she was 2nd Manager. They got along well, but she had a long term fiance, and he thought of her as a sister anyways more than anything.
Castiel tripped on something he couldn’t see, flailing his arms in an attempt to catch his balance and landing face down in the dirt of the trail. Little rocks and sticks cut his hands up, and he felt the sting of a scratch under his eye. That was too close, he thought. Sitting up, he looks around to see what he tripped over. There’s nothing there, and yet, Castiel felt strange, that there was something he was missing. That’s when it happened. Sitting there in the dirt, all scratched up like a child just learning to ride a bike.
He heard the steps of another runner coming up the trails, and embarrassed, Castiel tried to stand up, only to crumble down to the ground when he realized his knee was badly injured. The steps came closer, and Castiel looks down at the ground, resigning himself to being humiliated as he sat there, all scratched to hell with a knee so bruised it was turning purple.
The steps fade out and Castiel can see two light grey Nike shoes standing next to him.
“Hey man, are you alright?” A man bends down, and Castiel can see his face clearly. Auburn hair, brilliant green eyes twinkling as he cocks his head to examine the scraps.
Castiel is fighting back a blush as he answers.
“I’m good thanks.” The man with the most beautiful freckles only shakes his head at him.
“Yeah right, looks like you pulled a ligament on your knee. You should get checked out. Here,” he holds his hand out, and Castiel tentatively grabs it and the man yanks him up. Castiel makes the mistake of putting pressure on his injured knee, his weight crumbled again.
“Woah, woah. Hang on there.” The man slings Castiel’s arm around his shoulders, propping Castiel’s armpit on his own shoulder.
“Don’t walk on it yet. You take a nasty fall?” Castiel only hums his answer. He’s growing red, and thoroughly embarrassed.
“Sorry.” He said as the man paused to get a better grip, slipping his arm around Castiel’s waist. The touch is electrifying, which he tries his best to ignore.
“No problem man, I’m Dean. What’s your name?”
“Castiel.” Dean grins, eyes lighting up.
“Castiel huh? Like the angel?” Castiel chuckles, glancing down at the ground then back at Dean’s face.
“Something like that. My parents are-were- pretty laid back.” Dean catches the change in wording and doesn’t mention it. He knows what that’s like. Losing your parents. It wasn’t something he was comfortable talking about even now as an adult.
“Can I take you somewhere? Hospital maybe?” Castiel shakes his head.
“No, no hospitals.” Castiel clamps his lips shut before he says anything more. No need to explain he had the cheapest health insurance on the market as a part timer, and deductibles were a bitch.
“Fine, we’re going to my place then.” Dean says casually, as if he accepts strangers into his home everyday.
“What?!” Castiel all but squeaked. “You don’t, you don't need to do that. I live only a few blocks away. If you could help me to my apartment that’d be great.”
“No way.” He chuckles. “I live a few blocks away too. Which apartments?” Castiel’s face goes a shade redder.
“The Garden Grove” Dean stops walking Castiel to stare at him. Castiel notices how green his eyes are, and it makes him feel all funny in his stomach. Castiel looks away.
“I live in the apartments right next door. The Sun Fire ones.”
“Oh.” Castiel says meekly, for lack of a better thought. All he can think of it how green Dean’s eyes are, and the way his freckles compliment his face. He’s never been, well, that way exactly. Gay was not something that was exactly accepted by his family growing up although everyone could probably see it. Now a days he took great pains to hide it.
This man probably had a wife and kids, Castiel thinks half bitterly, surprising himself.
“Let’s go to mine. I’ll fix you right up.”
“Why?”
“Why not? You need help, I like helping people. I’m a nice guy, don’t worry. I’m not taking you to my place to kill you or anything.”
“Oh good, I wouldn’t want that.” Castiel jokes, feeling more at ease with this stranger than he had with anyone in a long time. There was no explanation for it, but there it was.
By the time they had finished joking around they were standing in front of 1A, and Dean was unlocking the door with a key, pushing the door open with his foot.
“Welcome to my man cave.” Dean said proudly, as he went inside and gently placed Castiel on his brown plush couch. Castiel was looking around like his head was on a swivel. Swords were on the wall, with movie posters, and pictures of Dean with a guy that could almost look like his brother. A lot of them were at a bar, and others in an old Impala, on the road. A large T.V. was in front of the couch with all of the latest gaming consoles. A glass table with a couple empty beer bottles was next to the couch.
“Wow, Dean.” Castiel smiled at Dean who was standing at the edge of the couch waiting for his reaction. Dean beamed, and Castiel decided he could be friends with this guy. he had an easy going nature, something that made others feel instantly at ease.
“Right? Make yourself at home while I get the med-kit.” Dean wandered off down the tiny hallway into what Castiel assumed was the bathroom. Castiel kept looking around, feeling out of place in this man’s home whom he just met.
Dean was back in a minute sitting next to Castiel on the couch.
“What is it you do Cas?” Castiel started at the nickname only his closest brother Gabriel used. It was odd, hearing it from Dean’s mouth but he complied anyways.
“I work at The Book Attic as a Third Manager. It’s not the best, but it’s...something.” Dean nodded while he cleaned up the scraps that littered Castiel’s legs.
“That’s cool. I work at the bar down the street The GrindHouse. “ Dean grabbed some antiseptic and held Castiel’s face with one hand to steady himself as he gently cleaned the scratch under Castiel’s eye, Castiel held as still as possible until Dean was done.
“Oh? How’s that?” Castiel asked.
“It’s good. I bar tend mostly, and it can be fun some nights. You should go for a drink sometime. They have the best bar food I’ve seen in a long time. Order their bacon burgers. You will not be disappointed.” Dean gushed on, packing away the medical supplies.
“I will.”
“I’ll get some ice. Not sure if it’ll help because it’s already been some time, but doesn’t hurt to try right?” Dean grinned, getting up to get ice.
Castiel was surprised at how helpful Dean was being. It was a new feeling-making a friend. Castiel had been out of practice for quite a while.
The ice felt wonderful on Castiels' knee, and he sighed in relief when Dean placed the plastic bag full of ice cubes on his leg.
“Thanks Dean.” Dean fidgeted. An almost uncomfortable look on his face before he smiled.
“It’s cool. Don’t mention it.” The silence stretched for a minute before Castiel began to feel a bit uncomfortable/
“I should get going. Thank you for helping me. I’ll find a way to pay you back.” Dean helped Castiel up.
“You’re fine. We should hang sometime? You like to run, I like to run. We could be running partners or something. Friends? Though I wouldn’t be running on that thing for a while.” Dean nodded at Castiel’s knee which was now incredibly swollen.
“Yeah, that sounds great. Friends?”
“Friends. Now get your ass home and call into work you ding dong.” Castiel laughed along with Dean.
“Will do. Take care of yourself Dean.” Dean smiled.
“Here, hold on.” Dean rushed back to the back room coming out with crutches.
“I pulled my calf once. Still have these things. Use them until you’re better.”
“Thank you. Good bye Dean.” Dean opened the door, leaning against the doorframe.
“See ya Cas.” Castiel used the crutches all the way home, and sat on the couch. He turned the T.V. on and called Kalie. She picked up on the second ring. After he explained his injury she told him to take the rest of the week off and to rest. She’d be by around Thursday to check up on him. Castiel thanked her, hanging up. He turned the T.V. to some mindless channel, settling into the couch when he realized he never got Dean’s phone number.
Just so, he thinks to himself. Dean probably thought he was a gigantic dork anyhow. Who would want to hang out with a guy who watched too many reruns of sci fi shows? Who loved to read books?
He forced himself to put Dean out of his mind and focus on the rerun of Warehouse 13 that was on. Someone so attractive was bound for better things anyways, Castiel thinks drifting off to sleep.