Song Remains the Same

Chapter 127: The Scribe

"We all make choices, but in the end our choices make us."
- Ken Levine

Inside of your run-of-the-mill Gas n' Sip convenience store, an angel and a human woman wandered the candy and junk food aisle. This particular aisle was Alex's favorite and always had been. All of the bright plastic wrappers and all the promises of salty, sweet goodness contained inside... it was enough to make a very hungry girl's mouth water. With Castiel in tow, she made her way up the aisle with great intent, tossing everything that looked good (which was quite a few things) into the little basket she had handed over to the angel when they'd first arrived.

This was supposed to be a quick trip and then straight back to the bunker. No dilly-dallying. Just candy and snacks and, ooh! Doritos! Alex tossed a bag of those into the basket, barely cognizant of Cas at the moment. He drifted after her, at first gazing with great curiosity at the items lining the aisle, then frowning in fascination at whatever thing she launched into the little basket he held. Every new item intrigued him more than the last. Another bag flew into the basket and he squinted at it and then fished it out, studying it in great intensity. "Pickle flavored potato chips," he muttered, reading from the label. He looked at Alex with adorable puzzlement. "I don't understand this food item."

Alex was in good spirits at the thought of everything she was going to get to eat soon. "What's there to understand?" she retorted cheekily, hunting the shelves with keen eyes. "They're really good. Almost as good as..." she tossed another bag she plucked up at him, "salt and vinegar."

Cas shifted the full basket around. "There isn't much room left in here..." he ventured, eyes scanning the contents then flickering up to his apparently ravenous wife. "Surely this is enough...?"

He got a raised eyebrow and a little coy smile. "Have you ever seen me eat?" Alex countered. Yeah, sometimes she pecked at food like a bird, but there were times she'd out-eaten Sam and Dean both—this felt like it was gonna be one of those times.

"I've seen you eat many times, of course," Cas replied easily, a reminiscent and soft smile on his face as he gazed at her fondly. He was obviously thinking about when he'd been her guardian angel—and it sparked a sudden wash of warmth in Alex's chest.

Forgetting snacks, and cravings and everything else, Alex grabbed Cas by the face and kissed him impulsively, grinning at the surprised (but definitely agreeable) look on his face when she pulled back. She straightened his coat by the lapels, an excuse to keep her hands on him, and their eyes did the talking for a few seconds as his free hand came up to gently rest on then grasp one of hers. And then they both became aware of the stares. Alex glanced around, finding an older lady's severe side eye and a middle aged man's sullen scowl. Apparently, two people in love and sharing a moment was upsetting to the general public.

Alex cleared her throat and let go of Cas, who didn't totally get it—he had very little understanding of or care about social cues and the only ones he ever truly seemed to pay attention to anyway were ones from the Winchesters. "So uh, we, we need beer while we're here," Alex said, feeling the eyes of the judgy people on her. "And toilet paper too probably..." she trailed off. She needed to get some necessities and she had gotten enough snacks to last the century... but, she hadn't found the candy she really wanted yet and, ugh, she really wanted it...

Grudgingly, she looked at the shelves again, trying to locate the familiar neon colored packaging and the wacky font that would announce Sour Punch Straws. Where were those bastards? As she eyed the shelf reluctantly and told herself that she really needed to go ahead and go get real things for the bunker, Cas perked up. "I can get the toilet paper and beer," he offered hopefully, seizing the chance to do something helpful. "I even know what they look like." When Alex looked at him in faint surprised amusement, he reigned his gusto back on. "I only mean... I would like to try, if that's all right."