They arrived at their designated area of the highway, finally, after a silent car trip. A short, bearded man wearing black under his fluro vest approached them holding a clipboard.
"Hello boys, you Winchester?" Dean nodded in response.
"And your trusty liege Novak, I presume." Castiel nodded. He paused to write on his clipboard before continuing.
"The name's Crowley, call me Lee. I'm your CS advisor, I will be here everyday just to make sure you are both here on time. Becky!" He exclaimed even though the girl who walked over was well within earshot.
"Yes sir." She smiled, showing off her pink braces. Her eyes widened when she saw Dean and a poorly executed seductive smile spread across her face. Dean shifted his weight and revealed a sheepish smile. Castiel stifled the laugh that had built in his throat at Dean's expense.
"You're Dean Winchester! Sam's brother!" She elaborated, opening her eyes even wider.
"Becky. Taking our time are we?" Lee said impatiently.
"Oh right." She said, realising what she had forgotten. She handed Castiel and Dean a garbage bag and set of prongs each, making sure to hover while handing Dean his equipment.
"We really have to pick up trash? Stereotypical." Dean complained with his lips pursed, scoping out the nearby vicinity. Castiel took his own bag and prongs and began picking up fast food wrappers and soda cans, dropping them into the trash bag.
"Tell sam I said hi!" Becky called after them desperately. Her voice was irritatingly nasal.
Dean watched Castiel, and for the first time in a long time, for an unknown reason, Dean wanted to get to know someone. Him. There was something about him. He hid it well but there was an undertone of sadness in his movements, Dean could tell he had been through his fair share of rough stuff. He casually headed in Castiel's direction, once he was behind him he spoke.
"So uh, what music are you into?" Dean asked trying to hide the hopefulness in his voice. Castiel was surprised that Dean had once again tried to start a conversation. He appreciated Dean's effort.
But why was he trying? People like him don't talk to people like me. Castiel took the time to pause and contemplate the thought.
"I don't really listen to contemporary music, only what my father has." Castiel smiled briefly in Dean's direction. "Gospel music and what not."
"Right." He nodded while crushing a can under his prongs. "Any other hobbies?" Castiel dropped his chin and turned his head away from Dean's intently curious eyes. They mirrored the bright green leaves of the trees that trailed the other side of the highway.
"None in particular, and yourself?" He shrugged turning the attention off of himself.
"Yeah I guess I like your average pack of awesome. Sports, girls, action movies." Dean smiled, thinking about all of the above. "Oh and cheeseburgers." He added nodding enthusiastically. Castiel couldn't help but smile.
"I see." He responded. Dean was obviously avoiding something deeper but Castiel didn't pry.
"Hey man, I forgot to say thanks for the ride." Dean smiled, his eyes apologetic.
"You are welcome." He returned the smile. They spent the rest of the morning in silence, spreading across the length of the highway.
The tension was lifted. They had just began to walk over to Lee when the screech of tires caiught their attention. A four door came hurtling down the highway and a passenger yelled out the window.
"Hey Winchester, how's CS goin' for ya punk?" Another two passengers popped their heads out and they all threw something.
With in a single instant Castiel was covered in cracked egg shells and sticky yokes. Dean took a few steps and threw an empty can after the retreating car.
"Son of a bitch, those guys are such jerks!" He yelled at the car even though it had already sped off down the road. Castiel just stood in his suit of eggs, wiping them from his eyes. Dean looked up and down at the egg covered boy before him. A grin spreading across his confident lips.
"Dude, you just got egged." Dean pointed out. They stared intently at each other for a moment before Dean broke out in an unusually loud laugh. The CS advisor caught Dean's eye and he decided to ask for help.
"What is it that you find so humorous about this situation?" Castiel asked Dean, squinting in confusion. Dean's fits of laughter got softer until he caught his breath.
"One sec." Dean said to Castiel before heading in Lee's direction.
"Hey, uh Lee, Castiel just got egged, can we go or do you have any towels we can use."
"Does it look like I have towels?" He asked rhetorically in a gravelly Scottish accent. "Your hours for today are done anyway Winchester, now get outta here." He growled. Dean walked away before he could get further under Lee's skin.
"Wow, he's a peach." Dean quietly mentioned to Castiel drawing out a brief smile. Dean kept his eyes on Castiel for a few brief moments examining his features. His subtly curved lips, the mess of hair on his head, his hooked nose, his big blue eyes.
"You should do that more often." Dean blurted out, following Castiel's eyes with his own.
"Do what?" Castiel asked.
"Smile." Dean's comment caused Castiel's cheeks to flush red and he turned away in embarrassment. They were beginning to get along. Dean motioned towards the car with his head.
"Let's hit the road, over easy." He started walking towards the car, Castiel squelching behind him.
"I don't understand that reference." He called after Dean.
"Because you're covered in- never mind." He said shaking his head. "I'll drive!" He called from the driver's side door. Castiel carefully placed himself inside his car, handing Dean the key and they screeched off down the highway.
They conversed more on the trip home and began to get to know each other.
"I knew I was right about you." Castiel stated after they finished discussing movies that Castiel had never heard of. Dean looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, my father has been trying to guide you back on to the path of righteousness for a long time but when you were arrested, he had his doubts. Doubts that you could no longer be saved, but I knew that I saw good in you. I saw it in your eyes. I saw it today." Castiel explained as Dean watched the road. Dean glanced at Castiel unsure of what to say. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it again.
"I'm sorry about the eggs Cas, it should have been me." It took Dean a moment to realise he had used the nickname that he disliked so much once again. Castiel dropped his chin and looked down at his hands, fiddling with his fingers.
"Hey Dean?" Castiel began.
"Yeah." Dean pouted without noticing, which he did quite often, Castiel had noticed.
"How did you know those guys?" Castiel asked hesitantly, unsure if he wanted the answer. Dean pursed his lips and took a moment answer.
"Because I hung out with them in high school." He confessed keeping his eyes on the road and off of Castiel's. "But I haven't hung out with them since I left. They got into some bad crap. And they were douche bags. I don't like douche bags."
"Does anyone?" Castiel smiled warmly. He wanted to say 'and you think you didn't end up in a bad situation?'
"They're probably angry 'cause I kinda hooked up with one of their sisters and didn't call her back like I promised. Now can I ask you a question?" Dean looked over at Castiel.
"Why would you make a promise that you weren't going to keep?" Castiel stared, wide eyed, this wasn't helping Dean focus on the road.
"I dunno man." He smiled at his companion. "So, can I ask you a question?"
"Okay, sure." Castiel replied carefully.
"Why do you hate it when I call you Cas?" Dean asked only half expecting an answer. Castiel clenched his jaw and looked out the window.
"Because... my mother used to call me that." He paused, "before she died." The sadness that was usually hidden in the depths of his eyes intensified. Dean didn't know what to say.
"Sorry man, when?" Dean asked taking turns looking from him to the road.
"Two weeks before my fifteenth birthday. It was a long time ago." Castiel practically whispered, allowing his eyes to align with Dean's. They were a very dark, glassy green in that instant.
"Dude, I'm really sorry I'll never-"
"Don't worry." Cas interrupted. "It's not your fault." He shared a crooked smile. They pulled up outside Dean's house but neither of them got out.
"What was she like?" Dean asked as he killed the engine, displaying real interest. Castiel took a deep breath.
"She was, she was amazing." A smile forming on his face instantly, "she was a teacher and volunteered at the homeless shelter. She baked sugar cookies that left the best smell lingering in the kitchen and when I was very young she read to me, poems mostly. Oh and she wore this amazing perfume that had a scent of vanilla and strawberries." Castiel rambled on unintentionally, stopping when he noticed Dean's smile radiating towards him.
"She sounds awesome, she sounds like my mom." Dean admitted. Castiel vaguely remembered Mary Winchester's funeral, it was held at the church. In fact, the Winchesters used to attend every Sunday but that was a long time ago. He could have only been five or six and Dean was a year younger than he was.
"So who do you live with?" Castiel asked casually, changing the subject for both of their sakes.
"I live with my brother and my uncle." Dean responded, "come on," he said motioning towards his house before getting out of the car. Dean took long strides up his driveway and towards his garage, egg-covered Castiel following behind.
"Wait here." Dean said, a sudden seriousness lacing his voice, before he disappeared into his garage.