Fame Crazy (Sequel to Strings Attached)

Chapter 43

"Two weeks 'til your birthday," Dean observes later that day.

Castiel nods slowly as he processes this. "Yeah, guess so."

"I love how I literally said this, like, yesterday and you still look like you don't understand," Dean laughs.

"I don't," he replies honestly. "I'm (I somehow screwed up those two letters so badly autocorrect changed it to Zimbabwe) gonna be twenty-one in two weeks. That's so... old."

"That's kinda offensive," Dean tells him. "I mean, I'm older than you."

"No, like, I feel like I'm supposed to be a mature adult at this point who can make all my own decisions," he clarifies. "I mean, I've been — or will have been able to live on my own for three years. Like, that's three years of actually adulting on my own. And for most of that time, I actually was living alone. And I feel like all I've gotten from it is how to kill a spider."

"That's the thing, though," Dean replies. "You haven't really been on your own. You've pretty much run everything you do by your manager, Jim or whatever his name is. And when you don't, you get in trouble. It's like being a child again."

"I guess..."

"Don't be in such a rush to grow up, Cas," Dean advises him. "Be a kid. Be immature. Make sex jokes at inappropriate times. Belt out your favorite songs at the top of your lungs just because you can. Ignore boring conversations with people you don't like and daydream about cars or kittens or whatever. Just because you're getting older doesn't mean you've got to grow up just yet. Hang on to your childishness as long as you can, cuz once it's gone, you never get it back."

Castiel raises an eyebrow, a teasing smile on his lips. "Do you write Hallmark cards now?"

"Seriously, man?" Dean sighs, exasperated. "I just thought of this whole speech about having fun and shit and you're just gonna laugh? Not cool, Cas. Not cool."

"Sorry," Castiel replies, but he doesn't mean it. "No, but really, you've never seen the music business. It's more about appearance than the actual music. I want to come off as relatable to my fans, but I live in a professional setting." He pauses to glance at his brothers, noticing Lucifer pouring whip cream directly into his mouth. "Well, most of the time. I swear, I spend more time clamping my mouth shut and just doing what I'm told than actually thinking for myself or having any fun."

"Then change that."

"I can't just change that," Castiel snaps. "It's my job."

"I know, I know," Dean backtracks quickly, noticing Castiel's tone. "I'm just saying, if it's not fun, make it fun."

"As someone who has no idea how the music industry works, I don't think you're qualified to tell me how to do my job," Castiel snaps.

"And as someone who's clearly been living with a stick up their ass for the last few years, I don't think you're qualified to tell me what you can and cannot make fun," Dean retorts in a more teasing, friendly way than Castiel's cold tone. "You don't want to? Fine, not my problem. But if you hate it that much, I'd say it's time for a change."

"You know, what I actually hate is people sticking their nose in my business."

Dean puts his hands up in defense. "Fine, sorry. You continue to have your boring life. I guess it's just more incentive to call me when things get tough."

Seeing Dean smile makes him feel a little better. He's not really sure why he got all snippy at him, but at least Dean doesn't care. As long as Dean sticks around, there's really no reason for Castiel to pretend to be a little angel like he has to do with so many others. Halle-freaking-lujah.

~~

"Where's Michael?" Lucifer asks later that day, not directing the question at anyone in particular but the entire group of the rest of the Novaks and all three Winchesters.

"Probably in his room," Samandriel replies distractedly, not taking his gaze off his laptop.

"Do you think he's doing anything important, or can I drag him over here?"

"I think you should leave him alone, because if he wanted to talk to us, he would, but that's just me," Claire replies.

"But everyone's so boring," Lucifer whines. "I wanna go do something!"

"No one's stopping you," Anna replies, more interested in her phone than her brother.

"No, I wanna do something with someone else!"

"Then go make friends," Gabriel suggests. "Go outside and yell 'I'm a highly functioning sociopath' and if someone finishes 'Do your research' you've found your new best friend."

Lucifer grins at the idea. "I should try that. No, wait, anyone who would get the reference is either hiding in their room on Tumblr or just gonna laugh like everyone who doesn't get the reference so I feel like you can't really win."

"I very very little doubt that would happen," Gabriel replies matter-of-factly. "I'm just trying to get you out of the house cuz otherwise you'll keep bugging us."

"But —"

"And if Gabriel hadn't, I would've," Dean adds.

"Same," Castiel joins in.

"Gotta side with Gabe on this one," Anna continues.

"Yep," Samandriel adds.

"God, what is this, pick on Lucifer day?" Claire asks, exasperated.

"Everyday is pick on Lucifer day," Gabriel tells her.

Lucifer sniffles as if he's crying, but no one actually believes him. "I thought you guys loved me!"

Claire walks over to him and gives him an exaggerated hug. "Ignore them. Us Sherlockians stick together."

"I ship it!" Samandriel whispers loudly, doing his best Lucifer impression.

Immediately, Claire stops hugging him, sending a glare in Samandriel's direction instead.
"I feel like it's just kinda obvious that eventually, you two are gonna get together," Sam adds. "No one's even doubting it at this point."

"We're not gonna start dating, so I suggest you stop it before I stab a pencil through your throat," Claire threatens.

"Unless Samandriel and Adam start dating first," Lucifer adds. "That's the timeframe we can expect."

Adam finally looks up from his phone just to wonder aloud, "Why do I even come here? It's literally just surfing the Internet and listening to cracks about a ship that's never gonna sail."

"Because we have better internet that Bobby's junkyard," Gabriel replies factually.

"And it will sail, mark my words," Lucifer adds.

Everyone just rolls their eyes. Adamandriel is just wishful thinking on Lucifer's part. It's never going to happen. Right?