Strings Attached

Chapter 40

A/N Okay, this is chapter 40 and Dean and Castiel aren't even friends. Slowest Destiel fic ever.

"I hear people," Charlie whispers the next day during lunch.

Sure enough, the faint sound of Dean and Crowley chatting can be heard through the halls. Their words are too quiet to understand, but hard not to hear.

"Run away!" Kevin whisper-yells jokingly.

"That's offensive to Castiel," Gabriel says.

"No, it's really not," Castiel replies.

"Castiel is very offended," Gabriel adds.

"No, I'm really not," Castiel repeats.

"Can't you hear how offended he is?" Gabriel asks.

"I'm not offended," Castiel says again, as if anything he says really matters to them. "At all."

"You brave soldier, you," Gabriel says, wiping a fake tear away.

"Whatever."

Now, Dean and Crowley are within hearing distance, and it's impossible not to listen to their conversation.

"I'm just saying," Dean says, sounding as if he's said this many times before. "Pie isn't cake. It shouldn't be sold with cake because it isn't cake. It's better than cake."

"But they're, like, the exact same thing," Crowley replies. "They shouldn't even have different names. They're literally the same thing."

"No, they aren't," Dean insists. "There's, like... Okay, so cake had this bleh bread feeling to it, which we all ignore because frosting. But then pie is all the good part with a little bit of crust to keep it together. See, it's not the same thing. At all."

"Why am I even having this argument with you?"

"Because pie, Crowley. Pie."

Sam laughs, though it's clear he's been trying not to. Charlie elbows him to get him to stop, but it doesn't work.

"Who's that?" Crowley asks.

"No clue," Dean replies. "Doesn't matter. Let's get to lunch."

"But we haven't even run into Castiel yet," Crowley complains.

"I told you to lay off him," Dean replies. "At least 'til he's out of the wheelchair. Then you can have a field day with him. But just hold on for another few weeks. It'll be worth it in the long run."

"It better be," Crowley growls.

"It will be," Dean insists. "Trust me."

"Fine. Lunch, then?"

"I could eat."

Castiel and his friends wait a little bit before speaking, wanting to ensure that they won't be overheard or noticed. It's Charlie that speaks first, her comment directed at Sam.

"Stop laughing when we're supposed to be undercover."

"Sorry," Sam replies. "Just... Only Dean would argue with someone about pie and cake."

"How do you know Crowley didn't start it?" Garth asks.

"Just trust me. It was Dean."

"He saved ya again," Gabriel tells Castiel. "Just sayin'."

"I noticed," Castiel replies, leaving his response there. He knows what Gabriel is hoping for — him to be grateful and want to go thank him — but he won't. He still isn't completely sure Dean means it in a way as innocent as he claimed.

"Things just got tense," Kevin observes. "I feel like I'm missing something."

"We've got a whole big bet on Destiel right now," Charlie tells him. "Right now, either Garth or I am winning, but we've got the rest of 2016 to change that."

"When did this happen?" Kevin asks.
Gabriel explains the bet they made the previous day, including what everyone is betting on.

"Can I join in?" Kevin asks.

"We've basically taken all the possible choices," Garth tells him.

"No. Twenty bucks says Dean will like Castiel more than Castiel likes him," Kevin says.

"Then welcome to the game," Charlie says.

"You guys have to stop this," Castiel mutters.

"I could get eighty bucks," Gabriel replies. "No way am I passing that up."

"We should find someone that thinks the opposite of Kevin," Sam says. "Bring it up to an even hundred for me when they're friends on New Years."

"We could scam Crowley," Charlie says wth a mischievous grin.

"That would involve talking to Crowley," Sam reminds her.

"Oh... Um... I got nothing," Charlie says. "Maybe we'll find someone. Until then, I'll be waiting for my eighty bucks in a few weeks."

"Okay, if you're going to be betting on me and Dean, can you at least not talk about it in front of me?" Castiel asks.

Charlie groans. "Ugh, fine. So demanding." She flashes him a smile, showing she doesn't really care. "So, what else do ya wanna talk about?" When no one answers, she turns to Sam. "When's your next game?"

"Um... Today's Tuesday? Then two days," Sam says. "Thursday."

"We should all go!" Charlie says. "We can yell funny stuff at you and keep you entertained!"

"I'm going," Gabriel says. "You wanna keep me company?"

"Sure!"

"I'll come if I don't have too much homework," Kevin says.

"I'll come just cuz," Garth says.

"I'm gonna pass," Castiel says. "Sorry. It's not very handicap friendly there." It's less the venue that causes the problem and more the other people in attendance, and he's sure they know what he means.

"That's fine," Sam assures him. "I don't blame you. I probably wouldn't go if I was you, either."

"I'll cheer you on mentally," Castiel tells him.

"I should FaceTime you and force you to watch from home!" Gabriel says.

"Watching football without getting cotton candy? Where's the fun in that?"

Gabriel laughs. "You're picking up on my sweet tooth, huh? Don't worry. I'll save ya some cotton candy. Unless I eat it. Which I probably will."

"Wow, thanks, Gabriel," Castiel says sarcastically, trying to contain his laughter. He knows there's no point in asking for some. Gabriel would eat it in the car. He'll just have to deal without it.