Fame Crazy (Sequel to Strings Attached)

Chapter 18

Castiel parks the car out front before leading Claire into his house. You'd think that after the incident with the serial killer, they'd learn to lock the door, but nope. Because this isn't just his house, he decides he should probably ask Chuck if this is okay with him, so he heads over to his office quietly, before Lucifer realizes he's home and starts being... him. He knocks on the door loudly and waits for Chuck to open the door, which he does after a few moments.

"Um... hi?" he says uncertainly.

"Hey, Dad, I've got a favor to ask," Castiel tells him. "This is... Wait, what's your name?"

"Claire," she substitutes.

"Okay, this is Claire. She just got kicked out of her house and I offered to let her stay here for the night."

Chuck just looks at him for a second before sighing. "You're way too trusting, Castiel. Fine, whatever. Just, uh, Claire, if you're a serial killer or something, Castiel's killed a serial killer in this house before so don't try anything, 'kay?"

Claire looks up at Castiel in surprise. "You've killed a serial killer?"

Castiel rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. "Yeah..."

"Cool!"

He chuckles. "Everyone says that and I just don't get it, but sure. Let's go with it."

"Hey, Castiel, who're you talking to?" Anna asks, walking out of her room to find him. Recognition is clear in her gaze when she looks at the other girl, and it seems it's mutual. "Claire?"

"Anna?" Claire says at the same time, just as surprised as the other girl. "What are you doing here?"

"Um, I live here? What are you doing here?"

"Castiel invited..." she trails off, looking up at him. "You're Castiel Novak." She says it more a statement than a question.

"Yeah," he replies awkwardly. He had been trying to keep that information from her, though he probably should have known she'd figure it out, even if she hadn't known the family already. There aren't a whole lot of people named Castiel out there.

"That's awesome!" She doesn't seem to be fangirling as he had feared; instead, she just seems to think it's kind of cool. "No wonder you were willing to help me out. You're a freaking gazillionaire!"

Castiel can't help but laugh. "Yeah, not quite."

"Yeah, you're a multigazillionaire," Lucifer corrects her, walking into view. He eyes Claire, not even attempting to be subtle about checking her out. "Well hello there."

Claire rolls her eyes. "Not interested."

Lucifer pouts, crossing his arms in annoyance. "How am I supposed to prove I'm straight if no one gives me a chance?"

"You can't," Michael tells him, also walking over because it's apparently a party outside Chuck's office. "None of us believe you."

"Well, how do we know you're straight?" Lucifer counters.

"You don't," Michael allows. "But I'm not the one running around telling everyone you ship them and squealing like a fangirl."

"He's right," Samandriel agrees. "Hey, Claire."

Claire gives him a badass-type head nod. "Hey."

"But Michael agrees with all my ships, right?" Lucifer asks.

Michael hesitates, clearly trying to find the right phrasing. "I don't particularly approve of your attempts to force people into a relationship, but I do agree that many of the couples you have organized work well together."