Dean Winchester was in third grade when it all began.
His dad moved them around a lot, so Dean never stayed at any school long enough to really make friends or really learn anything. But if he went to school at all, it probably meant that they would be staying in the same place for at least a month.
Dean was glad for that. He didn't care about school at all, but he wanted Sammy to. Sam was only in kindergarten, and yet, he was already smarter than Dean. Dean could only read because John had enforced it, and he had to know what his dad left on notes before he left Dean and Sam alone in some motel room.
Currently, Dean was in some cheap school in Maine, and the teacher was smiling at him.
"You've come on a very good day, Dean." She insisted. "For we are about to begin our most exciting project of the year." The other students perked up, but Dean didn't really care. He'd probably be halfway across the country before the due date hit.
"We're going to have pen pals with a school in Oregon." Now Dean perked up, paying attention. Pen pals? That was just writing letters- that was something he could do from anywhere! Sure, it be impossible for anyone to write back, but who cared?
The teacher went on to explain the project, and she let everyone pick out a name of a student in the California class for them to write to.
Dean was up last, seeing as they went in alphabetical order by last name, and he frowned at the name he'd been given.
Who would name their kid Castiel Shurley?
*****
Castiel Shurley was a third grader in Oregon, and he loved school. He didn't have a mother, but his father, brothers and sisters took good care of him, and he was ecstatic when his teacher announced that they'd be getting pen pals from Maine.
Apparently, the class in Maine had picked out their names, and Castiel's teacher went around, handing everyone a piece of paper with their pen pal's name and address on it, so they could write their first letter. Castiel smiled at the page he was given.
Dean Winchester. What a fascinating name.
******
Dear Castiel, Dean began that night, sitting in the motel room table while John and Sam slept in the next room. What was he even supposed to say? He knew nothing about Castiel.
....But maybe that was a good thing.
Castiel was all the way across the country. Dean was sure they'd never meet.
Why couldn't he tell Castiel everything he'd ever wanted to say?
Castiel- how do you pronounce your name? He began. I'm Dean. I'm eight years old, and I don't have a home, so it's going to be hard for your letters to find me. I used to have a home- it was in Lawrence, Kansas, but then there was a fire, and my mom died. My dad took me and my brother away after that, and we haven't been back to Kansas since. Now we just travel all over the country, because my dad hunts monsters, and he has to find them in order to kill them. I'm not sure why I'm telling you this, except that I don't think anyone else will listen. I hope you'll listen, Castiel. I'd like to have a friend I could talk to. Actually, I'd just like to have a friend. But we can't be friends if I don't know anything about you! What's your family like? What's Oregon like- I've been to Washington, but not Oregon. Do you like cars? I like cars. And pie. Especially cherry pie.
I don't know what else to say.
-Dean Winchester
****
Dean's first letter had intrigued Castiel. He felt bad for the boy, seeing as he had no friends. But Castiel could relate- he didn't have friends either. He wrote back to Dean, and the two exchanged letters for a good month, until Dean didn't reply.
There was a letter in Castiel's mailbox a month later from him.
Dear Castiel,
God, your name is a mouthful- Can I call you Cas? I'm sorry I didn't write back, but we moved. I'm in Chicago now, but we're not staying long. I'm sorry if you kept sending letters to Maine, but I'll no longer get them. Here's a new address. It belongs to my Dad's friend Bobby. He'll make sure I get your letters, and I'll keep writing you from wherever I am, if you'll let me.
I like you, Cas. You're a good friend, and I hope we keep writing each other for a long time.
-Dean
*****
Years started to pass, and yet, Dean and Castiel kept writing.
Dear Dean,
I would love it if you called me Cas. I understand about the whole moving thing, and I'm glad Bobby will give you my letters.
I like you too. I want to write with you forever. You're a better friend then anyone here in boring old Oregon.
-Cas :)
Dear Cas,
I'm in Mexico!! How weird is that? I'm learning how to swim in the waves, although Sammy gets worried because he thinks it's dangerous. Well, too bad, Sam- not all of us got fancy swimming lessons. You make any new friends this year in school? I didn't, but I learned not to take a joint from a guy named Don. Don't do drugs, Cas. Good luck in your school classes and stuff- I know you'll rock them, because you're a genius who is silently correcting my letters as you read them, I know you are, so don't deny it.
Have some fun, Cas.
-Dean
P.S. I found this for you in one of the shops, thought you might like it.
There was a necklace in the envelope of the letter. A simple gold chain, with two little pendants. One with a symbol Castiel didn't recognize, but that kinda looked like a pentagram, and the other with a pair of wings. Cas grinned at it.
He slipped it over his neck, and didn't take off.
Dear Dean,
The necklace is beautiful, thank you. And STAY AWAY FROM DRUGS AND DON, MISTER. I haven't made any new friends, but yeah, I'm acing all my classes. Please don't drown in the waves of Mexico- actually, just don't die in general, okay? Good luck hunting monsters, my friend.
-Cas
Sometimes Castiel wouldn't hear from Dean for months, and then he'd get four letters within a week.
Sometimes Dean wouldn't see Bobby that often, and then when they got anywhere near the old guy's house, Bobby would show up with a stack of letters, roll his eyes and call Dean an idjit.
Dean and Castiel grew up writing each other. It became an outlet for them, a way to escape the rest of the world, even when it got cruel.
It was a way to calm down and remember that someone cared when things got to rough to handle.
****
Dear Cas,
I'm sorry to hear about your Dad. I know how much you loved him. We're only in Montana, so I'm trying to find a time to sneak out and come see you, but Dad's watching me like a hawk, and if I left Sammy alone, he'd kill me. I wish I could be there, Cas, there's nowhere else I'd rather be. But I can't, so I'm just going to hug you through the paper and tell you that it'll all be okay, and if you need anything, you can write me, or better yet- I snagged one of my Dad's burner phones. Here's the number- call me if you need to talk.
-Dean
Dear Dean,
This is hard for me to write, but we've always shared everything with each other before, so I feel like I have to. My siblings have already shunned me for this, but I hope you don't. Just.... what would you say if I told you I was gay?
-Cas
Dear Cas,
I will never shun you for anything, Castiel Shurley. You are the greatest thing in my world. And, BTW, I'm bi, so.... I don't care if you're gay. You're the best person ever, Cas, and well, screw it, I love you.
-Dean
Dear Dean,
I love you too.
-Cas
Dear Cas,
I know I'll regret sending this letter the moment it goes in a mailbox, but here goes. We've been writing each other for over a decade, and I want to meet you. Not over the phone, not through a letter- in person. And I was hoping, that if we did meet in person.... maybe I could buy you a cup of coffee or something?
-Dean
Dear Dean,
I would love to go out for a cup of coffee with you. I'd tell you where I live, but you've been sending me letters for exactly thirteen years. Anytime you want to knock on my door, I'm ready.
-Cas
*****
Dean Winchester was in Oregon. Finally.
He had stopped by Stanford college on his way here. He knew Sam didn't want to see him, but Dean couldn't help but check in on his little brother. And if that meant spying in on classrooms for a day and grinning as he silently watched his brother know all the answers, then that's what he did.
But now it wasn't about Sam.
It was about the boy that Dean had fallen in love with. The one he'd been writing for thirteen years.
Cas.
He occurred to him as he knocked on the door that he had no idea what Castiel Shurley looked like. In all those years, it hadn't occurred to either of them to send each other a picture.
And yet, as soon as the door swung open, Dean knew exactly who he was looking at.
A tall man, with messy black hair, and the bluest eyes Dean had ever seen. He had an old gold necklace on.
Castiel had no idea what awaited him on the other side of the door when he opened it. But now he stared at the man before him.
A tall man, with dirty blonde hair, and eyes greener then the grass on his lawn. He had the most shocked expression on his face.
"Yes?" Castiel tilted his head. Maybe one of his siblings had been expecting someone-
"Hi Cas," Dean said breathlessly. Castiel froze. All these years, and there was only one person who had ever called him Cas. He smiled widely, recognizing the man before him.
The boy he knew everything about. The only one who knew everything about him.
The man he had fallen in love with. The one he'd been writing for thirteen years.
Dean.
"Hello Dean," He whispered.