Splatter

16. The Mate 1974

"First of all, you should have stormed off!" Castiel said, taking a step forward.

Dean took one backwards. It was impossible but he could see storm clouds gathering over head as if the heavens sensed Castiel's wrath.

"Second, you're a guardian now, sprawling about like a feast for the eyes is ..." Castiel took a sharp breath. "Unseemly attractive."

Dean felt the push of the bed's edge into the back of his knees. He must have been retreating as Castiel vaulted over the railings into the pit and then propelled himself onto the stage. His face was thunderous like the sky, his nostrils flaring and that certainly shouldn't have appealed as much to Dean as it actually did.

"Get away from that nest," Castiel demanded.

Dean stood, his hands by his sides, rocking a little on his feet as Castiel made his landing an arm's reach away.

"Will you sit down?"

Dean dropped to the ground, his knees falling apart as he tucked in his feet. He had taken off his shoes and stripped off his socks. Castiel stared down at Dean's brazenly bare toes until Dean blushed.

"Been making yourself comfortable in my absence?"

Dean glanced at the half asleep crowds, some were stirring awake. A few quiet squeals signalling that Castiel had been recognised.

"I tried to Cas," Dean looked at Castiel, suddenly feeling a little out of his depth. "Did I do good?"

"You're impossible," Castiel said after a moment's silence. "What do you want Dean."

Castiel looked tired and Dean definitely recognised the pizza emblem on Castiel's t-shirt. He was sure he'd seen him mingling in the crowd, selling pepperoni slices over the last few days. Explained all the free food that was being sent up to him to supplement the nourishing but at times bland offerings Hannah had provided. Except for that bagel when he first arrived.

"Did you send me the bagel?" Dean asked out of nowhere.

"Priorities, Dean." Castiel chocked a little on a half formed laugh. "Whole world is watching and that's what you ask?"

Dean pouted and Castiel cleared his throat. "Yes. It was me."

Somehow Dean felt a surge of warmth in his chest.

"It's from that place I like to go to for lunch, across from my work, back when I had the job."

"I used to watch you go there, day in and out. Couple of times I went in and ordered for myself. It was good but you made it look sinfully good."

"Obsessed much," Dean joked.

Castiel looked down into his lap. "You didn't answer my question."

"I want you Cas, do I even still have to say it?" Dean looked up just as the rain began to sprinkle.

"Not now!" Castiel twisted around and barked into the night.

There was a few flashes of lightning and then the rain stopped.

"That's not a rain cloud, it's Naomi's communication device," Castiel rolled his eyes.

"She wants to witness the mating?" Dean guessed.

"She's got me by the balls," Castiel admitted. "She knows I won't mate you. Making you a guard was the only way of getting out of it but you coming here and offering yourself makes me seem like I can't mate with you. There are already so many rumours about my inadequacies, impotence is the lie that will break my reign."