Fame Crazy (Sequel to Strings Attached)

Chapter 1

A/N If you somehow missed the title and description, this is a sequel to my other Destiel fanfic, Strings Attached. This starts a couple minutes after that one.

To recap, Dean and Castiel just met again at Jody Mills' post-People's Choice Awards party five years after Castiel became famous and around four years after he and Dean broke up, but there was no actual breakup date because they just drifted away. Okay, story time!

"Dammit, Castiel!" Jim Michaels says in exasperation as he and Kripke approach the boy. "I told you to stop hitting on everyone! It makes you seem too needy."

Castiel has to refrain from rolling his eyes. "Jim, Kripke, this is Dean Winchester. Dean, that's Jim Michaels and Eric Kripke."

"Dean Winchester?" Eric echoes. "The New England Patriots quarterback?"

"Your boyfriend from high school?" Jim asks at the same time.

"Yeah, both," Castiel confirms. "So give me a few minutes, 'kay?"

"No," Kripke replies. "We've got to talk about that 'speech' of yours." He says the word as if it doesn't truly apply to what Castiel said a couple hours prior.

"Then talk later."

"But —"

"Look, I gave up my social life for this," Castiel reminds him. "The least you can do is give me five minutes."

Kripke sighs. "Fine. Five minutes, then we talk." He and Jim walk away, leaving Dean and Castiel alone again.

"They seem lovely," Dean say sarcastically.

"They are," Castiel assures him. "They're just mad about that improv speech thing again."

"So that's really improv?"

Castiel nods. "Yep."

"Wow," is all Dean says, though Castiel can hear the implications behind the word.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Castiel asks, crossing his arms sassily.

"Nothing bad," Dean assures him quickly. "Just... The you I knew five years ago could never have improv-ed a speech like that, especially in front of that many people."

Castiel shrugs. "That's probably true. Okay, definitely true. But I figured I should work on my people skills if I'm going to be a 'celebrity.'" He makes finger quotes at the word; he's never truly considered himself a celebrity. He just feels normal. He still gets flustered meeting his idols; he still thinks there's a mistake every time he wins an award; he still assumes people think he's someone else when they come up to him in public. The idea that he's anyone special just doesn't make sense to him.

"Yeah, I've noticed you've gotten more social," Dean tells him. "You and Jody seemed like best friends last week."

"You were watching that?" Castiel says in surprise.

"Are you kidding? I love watching Jody," Dean replies. "And it was amazing to see you there again. You seemed so different. You just looked so comfortable."

Castiel shrugs dismissively. "Well, I kinda was. Except the suit. I hate these things."

Dean laughs. "Nope, you're still Cas."

"Of course I am," Castiel replies as if it's obvious. To him, it is. "I'm still the same person I was five years ago, just a better version. Less socially awkward, more outgoing. But I'm still me. I'm still definitely me."

"Good, because I can't imagine a world without the you I know.

Castiel feels his face heat up slightly as he smiles, on the receiving end of this affection for the first time in years.

"And still as awkward with compliments as ever," Dean adds with a light laugh.

"Yeah, still working on that one," Castiel agrees with a joking smile. He takes a step closer to Dean and rests his head on the taller boy's chest. Dean wraps his arms around his waist, holding him gently. He lays his own head on top of Castiel's, which is at the perfect height for a headrest.

"You've gotten taller," Dean observes.

"Yeah, time does that to awkward high school boys," Castiel replies.

"And apparently also gets them ripped," Dean adds with a soft laugh. "Cas, man, seriously. How often do you work out?"

"Too damn much," Castiel replies. "It's totally paying off, but, like, at the same time, I want sleep. And food. I miss good food."

Dean chuckles. "Yeah, I feel ya. Just use cash. I've got a whole stash of junk food that I'm technically not supposed to be eating. It's not like there's a contract against it, but it's pretty heavily implied."

"Same here," Castiel replies. "Except the candy stash. I don't have that. Well, not yet. I'll get on that, though." He snuggles closer to Dean. "I missed this."

"Me too," Dean murmurs. "I missed you."

"Mm," Castiel agrees.

"I didn't think it would be this easy to get you back," Dean admits as they pull apart.

"Why not?"

"I thought you moved on."

Castiel scoffs. "Move on? From you? No way."

"Well, I mean, you flirt with guys all the time," Dean reminds him.

"I do not!" Castiel protests indignantly.

Dean just gives him the "seriously?" face.

"I mean, maybe a couple times," Castiel allows. "But only with the hot ones. Harry Styles, Shawn Mendes, you."

"See, but I'm the only one who isn't straight out of all them."

Castiel rolls his eyes. "Technicalities. Besides, it's usually a joke thing. Publicity, ya know? The articles talking about how 'superstar Castiel is at it again.'"

He rolls his eyes at the whole concept in general. He's never understood why that would warrant an entire article. The fact that anyone cares about his love life doesn't make sense to him. Sure, maybe public flirtatious jokes like the "call me" to Harry Styles on Jody's show may make some people laugh, but do they really need pictures of Castiel with every single guy he goes anywhere with?

"It works out great," Dean tells him. "I hear about it all the time."

"Are you sure that's not just because you love looking up who I'm dating?" Castiel teases.

"I don't do that!" Dean protests, then adds, "often."

Castiel chuckles. "Well, I'd be lying if I said I never did the same for you. Scoring high, huh? Victoria's Secret Angels?"

Dean shrugs. "Publicity thing."

"Ah. Not surprised. I mean, I'm way hotter than her."

Dean laughs. "Damn straight you are."

"I wish we could do publicity stunts the fun way," Castiel says wistfully.

"Like what?" Dean asks.

"I don't know. Something fun. But my label won't let me. They got mad about that random sing-along at the ice cream place a couple years ago."

"Yeah, I heard about that," Dean laughs. "I thought it was great. Just sayin'."

"Same here, but they weren't having it. They're no fun," Castiel pouts.

"Or maybe you're just too much fun," Dean suggests.

"I'm gonna go with that," Castiel agrees.

"Hey, Castiel, your five minutes are up," Jim tells him as he and Kripke walk over to them.

Castiel groans. "Fine." He turns back to Dean. "If I make it out of this alive and don't find you after, call me later, okay?"

Dean nods. "Definitely."

And now for the angry rants from Jim and Kripke. Fun fun. (Read with lots of sarcasm.)