Strings Attached

Chapter 59

"What the hell was that?" Crowley demands, looking between the two boys.

"That was none of your business," Dean replies.

"Are you —Are you dating him?"
Dean glances at Castiel for help, but Castiel doesn't respond. He feels that familiar feeling of dread whenever he sees Crowley, but this time, it's worse. If Crowley flips out like he did with Sam, Dean may not be able to stay on the team, doing what he loves. That's worse to Castiel than what Crowley usually does to him.

"Yes," Dean says when it becomes clear Castiel won't help him out. "Cas is my boyfriend. Is there a problem?"

"Yes, there is! You're dating Castiel freaking Novak!"

Dean nods. "Yes, I am. Your point?"

"Why the hell are you dating Castiel?"

Dean shrugs. "Why not?"

"Because he's -- Because he's Castiel!"

"He's actually pretty cool," Dean tells him. "Not that I really care what you think anyway. So, the real question is, what are you going to do? You gonna try to get me to leave the team? Keep up the whole 'straights only' thing? Or do you want to win?"

Crowley hesitates, and it's clear that he doesn't want that double standard. Finally, he says, "You can stay. You're pretty cool anyway."

"What, so Sam wasn't cool?" Dean demands.

"No, I mean — Never mind," Crowley replies, evidently deciding it's not worth pursuing. "What I'm trying to say is that you're still in. We'll still hang with you."

"Good choice," Dean tells him. "And leave Castiel alone, or I swear I will personally beat your ass until you're the one in the hospital. And you know I can do that, too. Got it?"

Crowley chuckles dryly. "You're such a tease, Squirrel. Can hurt me? Sure. Will hurt me? Not so much."

"Wanna test that theory?" Dean asks, cracking his knuckles.

Crowley studies Dean for a moment, searching for any signs that he's bluffing. Finally, he says, "We're waiting for you. Don't take too long."

Dean watches with a satisfied smirk as Crowley walks away before turning back to Castiel. "See? It all worked out."

"That was too easy," Castiel observes. "You really think that's it?"

Dean nods. "Yeah, pretty sure. They need me on the team. They wouldn't risk losing me just to beat you up."

"I'm gonna take your word for it," Castiel replies hesitantly. "And thanks for that. Now I'm really glad I came."

"Me too," Dean adds. "Cuz now I can talk to you at school and we don't have to worry about them being idiots."

"That's always a plus," Castiel agrees. "But now I've got a question, and I have no idea if this is something personal, and if so, you don't have to answer." He makes sure to add this disclaimer, because he knows it would have made his life easier if people gave it to him.

"Shoot," Dean replies.

"Sam told me on Monday that you had to stay on the team. Like, you needed it. Is there, like, an actual reason for that?"

Dean hesitates, and Castiel realizes that this is, in fact, a personal question.
"Don't let word get around, because I've got my badass reputation to uphold," Dean jokes. "Yeah, there's a reason. Sammy's always wanted to be a lawyer, and he's been talking about going to Stanford for years. He's a smart kid; he may get a scholarship, but probably not a full one, and we aren't the richest family in the world. If I want to go to college, I'm going to need a sports scholarship because I'm not taking his chance to go to Stanford from him."