quit-reset-try again {destiel}

the healing

Weeks passed, and gradually Cas got more and more comfortable with Dean. Dean was doing his best to make it better.

He hadn't touched booze since that night and was forever leaving small notes of encouragement, apologies or compliments for Cas, everywhere. Literally everywhere. Cas found one in his pancake and another one in the fish tank.

Exams came, stress became and remained high in both the boys. Despite this, they always found the time to sit down and eat dinner together. It was usually takeaway during the chaos of exam season.

However, every so often Dean would come in from an incredibly stressful midterm he'd been a complaint about to the warm and inviting smell of a home-cooked dinner Cas had rushed home and prepared.

It was routine. Cas did the cooking, Dean did the laundry, and they alternated taking the trash out. Dean had once tried to cook and come away with a rubber-like concoction. Cas had tried doing the laundry and almost burned the house down. Somehow.

They had a fish, a gorgeous golden fish, that they both took care off (it died 2 weeks after they got, but shhhh).

They were, as Sam and Gabe put it "domestic as frick." Which was extremely hypocritical of them, but hey, who's keeping score? (Dean was, and so far they're winning by three points.)

Dean was still hesitant about expressing his true feelings. Even after the two of them had admitted their deep love for each other. Dean was afraid that if he pushed the subject, Cas would run. And without Cas, Dean was a self-destructive bomb, that ended up hurting other people around him.

A few more weeks passed. Exams left, and with them, the warmth of fall. Stress decreased in both boys, and their dinner conversations got longer. Darkness came earlier, the cold chilled to the bone, and frost carpeted the ground.

Inside the dorm, it was warm and inviting, with Christmas decorations up. Despite Dean's protests, he ended up helping and getting covered in glitter. Cas had laughed for a solid minute before Dean was afraid he was going to asphyxiate and made him calm down. Every dinner was now cooked by Cas and cleaned up by Dean.

They had tried to revive the fish, unsuccessfully, so held a funeral before going out for fish and chips.

"To honour our fallen companion." Cas had said

"Because I want something fried." Dean had protested.

While the two were out, four people commented on what a cute couple they were.

Neither boys corrected them.

To be fair to they looked like a couple.  Dean had his arms around Cas' waist and Cas rested his head on the taller boys shoulder.

At one point Cas had shivered and Dead had practically ripped off his jacket in a haste to give it to Cas. It was a size too big, still warm from Dean, and Cas thought it smelt like heaven.

Once they got home, they shook off their multiple layers and dove for the couch, grabbing countless blankets and pillows. Cas went to go make hot chocolate as Dean switched on Netflix and created a pile of cushions and blankets. 

And then came the argument every one had when it came to choosing what to watch.

"I've heard its good! Cas argued, handing Dean the whipped creamed mini marshmallow-topped hot chocolate.

"So is embarrassing bodies!" Dean shot back.

"That shows gross," Cas whined, flopping down beside the green-eyed boy

'You're gross."

"Right back 'atcha."

The quality of their insults degraded from there. They continued bickering about which show a show to watch, but finally decided upon "The Good Place."