When Castiel was a kid he had lost his whole family to a fire. He only made it out because he was up watching TV, despite being told to go to bed numerous times. He didn't know what was happening, just that he couldn't breathe and had to get out. He stopped in the front yard, taking a seat in the grass to watch the flames engulf his home, the home with his parents and brothers and sisters inside, not that he had a problem with that. His father was a cruel man, he took his anger out on any kid in sight. And his mother wasn't any better, she let it happen. He stayed there until a neighbor had noticed and called the fire department.
He was taken away from there to someplace with other kids his age. He had to talk to people about how he was feeling and what happened. It was stupid, in his opinion. His mind was constantly on the fire. It really got started when he was placed in a home. He was told these people would be his new parents and he would have siblings. He wasn't watched very closely, it let him sneak off and grab some matches. After some exploring he found a place in the forest where he could set small fires. It scared him a bit, but he was still fascinated by it. He put it out after a while and quickly went back to the house.
That's how he went on for months, growing more comfortable around the hot flames. Eventually he grew out of it, getting more daring. He set he fires in more public places, branching himself out. At fourteen he was arrested for setting a minor fire and let off with a warning. It happened again at sixteen. He bounced around homes, only staying in one long enough to get in trouble before he was moved. He found one right after his last arrest that he stayed in for a while. He managed to land himself with another abusive asshole, but he didn't pay much mind to it. The anger make his work so much better.
His favorite was to set abandoned buildings on fire, taking a tour of the place as he left a trail of gasoline behind him. And when he made it outside he would toss the cigarette from between his lips to the puddle of the foul smelling liquid beneath him. Watching the flames race through the course he set sent a shock through his body and he loved it. The first time he hurt someone was on accident. Some teenager screwing around. He lived. The next time wasn't close to accidental. No, it was planned, he wasn't caught and he loved every second of it.
It was around that time that he met Dean Winchester. The football star of his high school. Castiel never much paid attention to his classes, though he knew all the information that was being taught. His attention was across the room, focused on the boy with the freckles along his face. He only watched from afar, never daring to get close. Until that one Friday where pigs flew and hell froze over. "I'm having a party this weekend, you should come by." Those ten words that were spoken with his signature smirk is what landed Castiel outside of a small house that was overflowing with people, music, and smoke. He wasn't sure what he was doing there, he hated being around people, but he went in nonetheless, starting on an immediate search for a drink.
He only made it a few steps before there was a presence beside him. "Didn't think you were coming." He'd recognize that voice anywhere. "Here." A plastic cup was shoved in his hand with a brown tilted liquid inside. "Had no better plans." He finally spoke, bringing the edge of the cup to his lips. It managed to calm him a bit, but the thoughts of setting the entire place on fire was still very evident in his mind. It's not that he didn't have any self control, he did, but the people there weren't exactly his favorite, and he'd love to see them be swallowed by flames.
Not Dean, though. Something told him that he didn't want to see his life come to an end. "Few friend were gonna go up to my room, smoke whatever they brought. You can join." Dean offered, looking over to the other teenager. Castiel felt the small box through his pocket. He was dying to light something up. Just to calm himself a little. A flame could always do that.
He followed the other up to his room, discovering a few people already waiting inside. "Guys, this is Cas. Cas, this is Benny, Charlie, Jo, and my brother Sam." Dean introduced, going around the room. Castiel gave a short wave in response. He wasn't a big fan of people, as probably anyone in their school could say.
"Okay, who's got the lighter?" Benny asked, pulling out a bag out of his pocket that contained three blunts. He handed them out quickly, one thankfully landing in Castiel's hand. He pulled out the box of matches, sliding it open and lighting a match swiftly. It was learned perfection. He set the joint between his lips, raising the flame up until it transferred over.
He looked up to stares. "You carry those everywhere?" It was Dean's brother who spoke, raising an eyebrow. "Survival tactic." He lied, but it did the trick to get them off his back. A pattern set in. One slow drag, a break, then repeat. The three joints were passed repeatedly around the room.
"So, Cas." Dean spoke, leaning back in his bed. "What's up with you? I mean, you're quiet, never pay attention, but smart, give off the entire geek vibe but has obviously smoked before." He raised an eyebrow up, and it was quite evident that everyone was interested in the answer. The problem was, Castiel didn't have one.
"I am not a geek." Castiel begun. "I am not anything. I do not enjoy being around others very often, so I keep to myself. I understand what we learn in class, so I zone out. I have hobbies just as you do, one happens to be smoking." He shrugged. He only received weird looks in return. As if he just blurted out the information. He was asked, they shouldn't be surprised with the answer.
He took another drag, slowly letting it out through his nose. "Why don't we play spin the bottle?" Charlie suggested after a moment. "Only instead of kissing we.. oh! Shotgunning instead of kissing." She grinned. Everyone seemed on board, and Castiel didn't have a reason to object. Benny got up and left, returning a few moments later with an empty beer bottle.
They determined Castiel would go first, as he was the new person in the group. He complied, spinning the bottle swiftly. It landed on Jo. He felt everyone's eyes on them as their lips touched and she breathed in the smoke in from him. The game went on, and eventually the inevitable happened. He landed on Dean. He cleared his throat shortly, shifting a bit to be able to reach him.
He brought the joint to his lips, locking eyes with Dean as he breathed in, slowly leaning closer until their lips touched. He felt Dean breath the smoke in. Just as he was about to pull back, Dean brought a hand up to hold him in place. He had been wanting to feel the secluded boy's lips on his own for a quite a while, he wasn't getting away that easily. Dean had pulled back just enough to let the smoke drift out from between their lips before he pushed closer again.
There were quite a few cheers from behind them, but it didn't seem to matter much as Dean moved their lips together. After a few moments he pulled back from him, returning himself to his original position. He didn't say anything of it and neither did anyone else. Not too long after that everyone cleared out, except for Dean. "Hey, Cas, wait up." He called, making the other stop in his tracks and turn around. "Yes?"
In seconds Dean stood in front of him. "You uh, wanna stay? Hang out a little?" He offered, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Oh. I suppose so." He agreed, stepping back inside. "Cool." Dean smiled, patting his bed for Castiel to take a seat.
And he did. Maybe that was the first step towards the downward spiral. Because you see this isn't going to be story of love and happiness, where they help each other become better people. That's not what happens. In fact, there is no happy ending, for this story will end in death and sacrifice. You can't outrun your urges.
