Strings Attached

Chapter 7

"You might as well come in," Dean offers, stepping aside to give Castiel space to enter the room. Castiel takes a couple steps inside, and Dean shuts the door behind them. "Don't mind the mess," he adds.

Castiel looks around. There are cassette tapes scattered everywhere, with a radio by his unmade bed. His acoustic guitar leans against the wall in the corner of the room, and his electric one sits next to it in a guitar stand. The floor is mostly clean of clothes and other things, with the exception of the music he must have been listening to not too long ago.

"It's fine," Castiel mutters.

"Why'd Gabriel trick you into coming here?" Dean asks curiously.

Castiel shrugs. "Because he can."

"Sounds like him," Dean agrees, taking a seat in his bed. He pats the spot next to him, welcoming Castiel to sit as well, but he doesn't. "Don't worry. I don't bite. Usually."

Castiel tilts his head in confusion.

Dean chuckles. "Joking, joking. You want to sit?"

"I — I'm good," Castiel replies.

Dean rolls his eyes and stands up. He takes Castiel by the wrist and pulls him onto the bed, and the boy lands on his back. He bites back a groan as he feels the cushion press against his bruises. Even something as soft as a bed hurts when he hits it that hard.

"You okay?" Dean asks, noticing his discomfort.

"Yeah," Castiel lies.

"Are you sure?" Dean asks skeptically. "I barely pulled you and you look like I threw a five hundred pound weight at you."

"I'm fine."

"You say that a lot," Dean observes. "But you never really are, are you?"

"I'm fine," Castiel repeats.

"That's exactly what I'm talking about," Dean says. "You don't look fine."

"I'm fine," Castiel insists.

"Alright, my mistake," Dean says, but it's clear he doesn't believe it. "Well, since you're stuck here with me, we might as well talk about something fun. Um... Do you like sports?"

Castiel shakes his head.

"Any sports," Dean adds. "Any at all. Watching then, playing them, anything."

Castiel shakes his head again.

"Alright. Do you hunt?" Dean asks.

Castiel shakes his head again.

"Do you like cars?" Dean asks, seemingly grasping for anything now.

Castiel shakes his head once again.

"Do you watch Sherlock?" Dean asks hopefully.

Castiel shakes his head once more.

"Well, this is going well," Dean says sarcastically. "Alright, Castiel, what do you like to do?"

Castiel shrugs.

"Anything," Dean adds. "What's one thing you like to do?"

"Play guitar?" Castiel says, more a question than a statement.

"That's a start," Dean agrees. "I feel like that's too specific, though. Um... What type of music do you like?"

Castiel shrugs. "Everything."

"How about rock?" Dean asks. "You know, the classics. AC/DC, Bon Jovi, those guys."

Castiel nods. "Yeah."