Strings Attached

Chapter 46

The Winchesters don't bother knocking on the door. Even if the adults could hear them over the noise, there's no real reason for them to have to let the boys in. Sam and Dean know the Novaks well enough that they don't have to wait for permission anyway. They're practically family, or as much so as the cousins are.

Gabriel rushes out to save them from an awkward greeting with the mature people and Lucifer, instead dragging them to the living room before they can register Raphael's disapproving look.

When they're out of view, Gabriel pulls Sam into a hug. It's not a man hug like the one Castiel and Dean share — Castiel had texted him that they needed to hug to prove a point to Hael, even though they generally don't — but an actual hug.

"Introduction time!" Gabriel announces. "Alright, so Dean, Sam, Adam, Balthazar, Hael, Ambriel, Hannah, Samandriel, and Anna."

"I'm not going to remember that," Adam says.

"That's fine," Samandriel assures him. "We wouldn't expect you to."

Hael struts up to Dean, a confident smile on her face. "Hey," she greets him in a way that is overly cool to the point where she's no longer cool.

"Hi," Dean replies. "And you're... Hael?"

She nods, grinning. She's excessively happy that he remembered her name, and Castiel knows Dean realizes this, too. It's obvious she thinks he's hot -- and Castiel can't blame her; he is hot. But she's six years younger than him. That's a pretty big gap at such a young age.

"Hael, stop bugging them," Anna says in a bored tone.

"I'm not bugging them. Right?" She bats her eyelashes at Dean with an innocent smile.

"Of course not," Dean replies, but Castiel can tell he doesn't mean it.

Hael gives Anna a victorious smile before turning back to Dean. "So, are you a sophomore, too?" she asks him.

"Senior," Dean replies.

"Oh, wow. Scoring high on the friendship latter, huh, Castiel?" she jokes, though it's only partially a joke.

"Way higher than I should be," Castiel replies. "Perks of having siblings."

"I don't have any older siblings for that," Hael replies. "'Cept Balthazar, but he won't help."

Dean chuckles. "I don't know. It doesn't take much to make new friends. But if you're anything like Castiel, you're be the common denominator here."

"I'm not a common denominator," Castiel protests.

"Right. Because without you, Charlie and Kevin would still be friends with Garth. And Sam and Gabriel wouldn't be hanging out with my friends. They'd spend their time with Charlie and Kevin and Garth. Totally," Dean says sarcastically.

Looking back on it, Castiel realizes that he really did unite them. It's a strange thought, but one he doesn't mind.

"I guess you're right," Castiel agrees.

"I'm always right," Dean replies.

"Yeah, sure you are."

"Fight me, bro."

Castiel puts his hands up in surrender. "No, no, you're totally right," he says quickly, trying not to laugh and ruin it. "You're always right. Don't hurt me."

Dean laughs. "Because you asked nicely."

Castiel breathes an exaggerated sigh of relief. "Thank god."

"What, I don't get any of the credit?" Dean asks.

"No."

"Well, thanks," Dean says sarcastically.