Destiel One-Shots

Running Wild

Every morning, at 6:30 sharp, Cas' alarm would blare out into the room. Charlie, his best friend, had tried to convince him to use a fun alarm tune, or a song that really got him motivated, but Cas has gone for the simple, default tone instead. His argument being that he didn't want to use a song he enjoyed, only to learn to associate that song with waking up and end up hating it. Charlie has merely rolled her eyes and called him a buzz-kill.

After silencing his alarm, he would never hit snooze, he would roll out of bed and stretch out his still sleep infused muscles. After a quick trip to the bathroom, he would change into his jogging clothes then head out for his daily 5k run. Charlie thought he was crazy.

This particular morning was no different than any other before it. He'd had the same routine for roughly nine months, and nothing at all had ever changed. Slipping out into the early summer morning, he locked his front door and made sure to put his key in the special zippered pocket in his shorts that he had paid extra for. Key secure, he pops his ear buds in and makes his way down to the sidewalk. He glances at his watch quickly before taking a quick breath and starting to jog past the still dark homes along his street. Few people, he's discovered, are ever up this early.

The man has a set route that he always takes, and he sets off in that direction. It had taken him a few different routes early on to find the perfect one. This one runs along the river that cuts through town, meaning that it's generally a lot greener than the other paths around the area. Cas loves being surrounded by the greenery. He finds it relaxing and rejuvenating.

A small smile pulls at the corners of his lips as he steps off the sidewalk and continues on under the bridge. The brief moment in the shade, instead of the early morning sun, causes a dusting of goosebumps to erupt along his forearms. He ignores the cool breeze and keeps moving. After emerging on the other side, he follows the winding path, grateful for the growth of the tall trees to help block the sun rising directly in front of him. The run back is always more pleasant due to the fact that he isn't getting blinded incessantly. At least, that's how Cas feels. The one and only time that Charlie had ever accompanied him, she had exclaimed that the way back was the worst cause her lungs and muscles felt like they were on fire. Cas had never really minded the burn that came with a good, hard run.

Cas makes sure to stay to the right hand side of the path as he rounds the blind corner just after the bridge. He had never run into anyone else before, but there was always a first time for everything. This particular morning happened to be that first time. As he rounded the corner, a large, fluffy, panting golden retriever came careening toward him. Cas had never been afraid of dogs, but he did have a healthy respect for them. As soon as his eyes land on the golden blur, he slows to a halt, not wanting to give the dog a reason to chase him. He expects the dog to stop, but instead, it charges right into him, at just the right height to smack right into his knees and send him tumbling backwards and onto the pavement.

He hisses as his tailbone connects roughly with the solid ground. The dog, now at eye level, promptly crawls onto him and starts frantically licking every inch of his face that it can reach. Cas lifts a hand to ward off the slobbery attack just as he hears a man's voice call out, "Bones!"

The dog's ears perk up as it pulls away from Cas' face. He takes the opportunity to catch his breath, also looking up as he hears the same voice call out the dog's name once again. Instead of following the call, the retriever sits down beside Cas, tongue lolling out the side of its mouth. It's intently watching the small hill ahead, though, so that's where Cas focuses his attention. Sure enough, about a minute later, a man comes rushing over the top, steps faltering as he catches sight of the dog beside Cas. Even from this distance, he can see the relief of finding his pet rush through him.