Strings Attached

Chapter 92

Castiel rests his head on Dean's chest, Dean holding him close. There's something the younger boy has been wanting to say for a while now, but he's never found the right time. Maybe now is that time. But what if it's not? What if he messes everything up? But what if he makes it better? He never takes risks. He makes a point to stay away from them. But this is a risk he's going to take.

"Dean," he murmurs, looking up at his boyfriend.

"Yeah, Cas?" Dean replies softly, the way the other boy's name rolls off his tongue sending shivers through his spine.

Castiel takes a deep breath. No turning back now. "I love you."

Castiel waits for his answer anxiously. Though it is probably only half a second, it seems to drag on for eternity before Dean replies with a sigh.

"Cas..." he says in a low voice, and instantly, he knows he messed up.

"Was — was that too soon?" Castiel asks nervously. "I'm sorry, I just thought..."

"No," Dean says quickly. "It's just..." He sighs again as he tries to find the words to explain. "I've only ever said that to two people, and they're both dead. I don't even say it to Sam; I call him a bitch instead," he adds with a light laugh as an attempt at humor. "I just... I don't really want to go there. I'm sorry."

"No, it's — it's okay," Castiel assures him. "I just wanted to get that out there. You don't have to say it back. I'll still call it a win as long as things don't change between us."

"Then let's say you won," Dean agrees. "I don't want things to change between us, either."

"Good," Castiel replies. "I can get behind that."

~~

"And the prom queen is..." Cue dramatic pause. "Jessica Moore!"

There's a lot of cheering as Jess walks up on stage with a big smile. She laughs as the crown is placed on her head, looking beautiful next on top of her bright blonde hair.

"And the prom king is..." Cue dramatic pause again. "Castiel Novak!"

Instead of going up on stage, Castiel buries his face in Dean's chest. "Kill me now," he mutters. Dean just laughs and rubs his back soothingly. "Do you think if I just don't go up, they'll take a hint?"

"Maybe," Dean agrees. "Or we can make a run for it."

"Yes, please," Castiel agrees.

That's what they do. They hurry out of the room, and, surprisingly, no one mentions them. Standing outside of the main room, they both lean against the wall, and Dean starts cracking up laughing. After a moment, Castiel does the same, and pretty soon, they're just a giggling mess.

"I feel like I'm in a spy movie," Dean jokes. "Except instead of running from other spies, we're running from a bunch of teenagers and a stupid plastic crown."

"I'm running from whatever evil plan involved me being prom king," Castiel replies. "It's probably just as bad as whatever those spies do."

"I've got to admit, I didn't see that coming," Dean tells him. "I mean, I knew you were getting popular, but wow. That's awesome."

"No, it's scary!" Castiel insists. "I'm not a prom king! I'm supposed to be the kid that doesn't even go to prom! What is life right now?"

Dean laughs. "Honestly, I don't know."

"Especially because I'm a sophomore," Castiel adds. "This is a freaking senior prom! Like, seriously, what the hell?"

"I don't know," Dean laughs. "Ooh, they're announcing the runner up right now."

Sure enough, they can sort of hear the faint sound of a girl announcing, "...king is... Dean Winchester!"

The two boys burst out laughing again. As if Castiel being chosen wasn't strange enough, apparently they were both the class favorites for the gender. That's just unreal, how they were both chosen for this.

"Are you gonna go claim your throne, king?" Castiel asks teasingly.

Dean scoffs. "Yeah, right. As second place? Not a chance. Besides. I'm not a king. I'm a princess."

Castiel cracks up laughing again, and just seeing him laughing like this makes Dean laugh as well. They keep laughing until they hear the third place being announced, and at this point, the announcer just sounds annoyed.

"And the third place winner is Crowley." There's no enthusiasm in her voice as she says this, and the applause seems to have died down a bit. Still, they can hear Crowley accept the throne and his position as "king." Seeing how much everyone hates this school, though, the title "prom king" should probably be replaced with "king of hell."

"We beat Crowley," Dean observes.

"How'd he even win, anyway?" Castiel asks. "He's a dick."

Dean shrugs. "It happens. I mean, I'm a dick, and I won. Donald Trump is a dick, and he won. Dicks are everywhere."

"You're not a dick," Castiel protests, though he won't say anything about the other person accused of being one.

"Well, not as much of one as I used to be," Dean corrects him. "This whole New Years Resolution thing is working out great, huh?"

"You still remember that? That was, like, five months ago!"

Dean shrugs. "Yep. That's what you're supposed to do with New Years resolutions. Remember them for the full year. So how's your resolution going?"

Castiel shrugs. "No clue. What was it?"

"To be happier," Dean clarifies.

"Oh, then it's going great," Castiel replies with a grin. He gives Dean a quick peck on the lips. "I couldn't be happier."