Fame Crazy (Sequel to Strings Attached)

Chapter 67

"Stay."

Misha looks up at his owner blankly.

"Stay."

Castiel takes a step away, and Misha doesn't follow. "Good boy."

He turns around to return to his work. He lies down on his stomach with a notebook in front of him to work on song choices and order. It's about twenty seconds later he feels a light touch on his back, and he knows Misha is resting his head on him again.

"Misha!" Castiel whines. "Go to bed. Go. Now."

Misha doesn't move.

Castiel sighs. "Fine, you can stay here," he concedes, mostly because he knows he has no choice.

Misha doesn't do anything in response because he's a dog, and dogs don't respond like humans do. He just lies there with his head on top of Castiel like he owns him. And, surprisingly, Castiel doesn't really care. If he can still work, he doesn't mind the dog at all.

Just kidding! He was having a nice nap — which he shouldn't have taken while working but it's not like he meant to — when his phone dings to reminds him that it's time to give Misha his medications. He groans in frustration and rolls out from under his dog's chin to feed him his meds and breakfast, which he eats faster than Castiel thought possible.

He attempts to sneak away, but Misha follows him back to his work and lies down next to him. Castiel ignores him and returns to picking songs. Maybe... No, not that one. He wants to open with something kind of upbeat, preferably one of his most popular songs. Unfortunately, even after working this long, he still can't choose. Maybe he'll just keep the same song for Sioux Falls as with the other concerts. He usually likes to switch it up a bit, but for this year, he'll stick with the same one.

He goes through mental scenarios of how the concert could go with the second song. Maybe something slower, because of the contrast between the first and second? Probably. But slow songs are kind of his thing, so that doesn't narrow it down much. Something acoustic? Or something with the band, probably giving it a more emotional feel to it? He decides on the latter, and begins looking for a song to match that description. The problem is, he has too many that do.

Misha lets out a long breath and rolls over on his side, looking bored. Castiel can't help but smile to himself.

"Same, Mish, same."

Eventually, he does find a second song, but now he has to think of his segue into it. It's not like his acceptance speeches; he plans his concerts out to the word, and follows it precisely. The planning itself is a pain in the ass, but he does it anyway, because it's worth it when he doesn't have to improv on stage.

Finally, he gives up and moves on to the outline for the rest of his concerts, which are all the same. Sioux Falls gets special treatment because it's his hometown, but that's the extent of his extra work.

Castiel sighs and rests his head on the floor. This is going to take forever. Why does he have to be such a perfectionist?

~~

That night, Castiel decides to take a much needed break. He gives himself ninety minutes to just kind of chill before getting back to work. It's past ten o'clock, and Misha seems to think that means it's time for bed. Instead of actually lying in his bed, though, he curls up on the floor and closes his eyes. Castiel can't help but smile to himself. He's actually kind of cute, in a demented sort of way.

Bored, he decides to text Lucifer, because what else does one do when they're bored then text the most hyperactive person they know?

Castiel: Luce help I'm bored