babbies | and you rip out all I have just to say that you've won;

[ opening the door just a crack, so he peers out suspiciously into the night. no worries, this is just how he always opens the door. ]

Hello, Dean.

[ He pushes on the door a little bit, smiling at the small amount of his face that's visible. ]

Can't you be more welcoming? [ He puts his hands in his jacket pockets, in an attempt to seem laid back. ]

[ castiel has lived in the large mansion for most of his life. the walls are white and marbled, and the garden is vast. his house, specifically, should be familiar to dean - a bland palette of wallpaper with golden gilded leaves decorating the frames. he has a large family, but other than his staunchly religious upbringing, there isn't really any explanation to the stiff way he holds himself, or the awkwardness he brings to the table. his strange little way of opening the door defensively is only the tip of the iceberg, and he makes a slow, but visible attempt to look at dean rather than the yard, as if he only just remembered this was the social norm.

either way, he relents on the door, and stiffly opens it wider. as always, he is dressed in ill-fitting clothes, rumpled and too large, though if they had been fitted nicely, he might have seemed more professional. he drops his hands to his side, and stares blandly at him. ] Would you like to come in?

[ Dean smiles wider once Cas comes into full view. He was, of course, used to everything his friend did, but it always managed to amuse him. When they had first met, Dean had thought of Castiel as rather weird but boring overall, and maybe he still is--but Dean has more fun with him than with anyone else. Which is was brought him to his current predicament. Of course, they were best friends, and Dean still thought of him as such, but he found himself having strange thoughts. Like wanting to spend Valentine's Day with him. ]

Nah, your place always gives me the creeps. Makes me feel like I need to go out and buy five hundred pairs of cufflinks. [ Of course, he's gone in there quite a few times, but he always felt the vague feeling of being unwelcome. Not due to his social class, but more from his attitude, particularly of religion (or maybe it was the way he'd often tried to hit on Anna). He'd had a rather modest upbringing, at least the best a single-father mechanic can afford while off on business more than he was ever around, and he was content with it. ]

I was wondering if you'd rather hang out.

Yes. [ he answered serenely, without pause. it was a pleasant day. he would enjoy being around his good, and unpredictable, friend. it would give him great pleasure to do so, since even though dean was an unmitigated stubborn fat-headed dickwad sometimes, he couldn't think of anybody better to pass the time. he shuts the door without warning to go back to the kitchen, where he had been experimenting with baking. with equal serenity, he efficiently turns off the oven and leaves everything half-baked, before opening the door again, stepping out, and closing the door behind him.

of course he would drop everything he was doing to hang out with dean. ]

Where would you like to go?

[ He seems to brighten at the answer, perhaps more than usual, and only frowns slightly when the door shuts in his face. The frown was more from Cas' poor social skills than an actual worry he wouldn't return. ]

I was thinkin'... that place with the burgers you like. I mean, it's shit compared to the one down the street, but... [ He shrugs and turns a little. This was fairly out of place, because Dean never suggested a place where anyone else might want to go. It was always where he wanted to go. But he'd spent a few days thinking of how he could make Cas particularly enjoy an outing with him--which may have been the first sign something was wrong. ]

I like those burgers. They make me very happy. [ there was something very pleasantly happy surrounding him, though it was barely perceptible on his face. it was true, he really did like those burgers. but the thought was easily turned in his mind as he peered expectantly for dean's impala, to which he supposed they would ride in. it wasn't like these places were out of walking distance, but there were certain laws of the universe to be upheld. gravity. friction. dean and impala. ]

We can go to the one down the street. [ but as much as he liked those burgers, he was very aware that a sulking dean would be a very unpleasant matter. ]

[ With Cas' response, he quickly takes strides to the Impala. It was originally his father's, but Dean had loved it so much that his father made a deal with him: as soon as Dean could fix it entirely by himself, it was his. This was what ignited his desire to become a mechanic in the first place, because before it was just The Family Business that he couldn't get away from. He slides a hand over it, as he walks to the driver's side, but he stops when Castiel speaks up again. ]

We're goin' to the one you like. That's that. [ He didn't sound particularly disappointed, either, more like almost excitement with some nerves. He slides into the car, adjusting the rear-view mirror slightly as he waits for Cas. ]

I thought they were shit in comparison. [ he carefully opens the door and sits adjacet to dean, buckling in securely. his back is straight, but he relaxes in his posture, already leaning on his knuckles to stare outside the window.

he doesn't particularly care about where they go for burgers. he, of course, would very much be happy to eat those delicious shitty burgers. but he could (theoretically) go there any time he wanted, though he preferred to stay home and be the dutiful son to his absent father. he didn't dread going outside, but he did the minimum as efficiently and briskly as possible. he liked dean more than he liked burgers, so it didn't seem very logical to go to the place that only he liked. ]

Not for you. [ He glances over at Cas, awkwardness written his expression like he'd just said something world-shattering. Maybe it was for him, but before he can think too much about it, he starts the car and starts driving. Metallica bursts from the stereo, and Dean nods along with it. He'd specifically set it that way, because he knew he'd need to calm himself.

His nerves indeed calm and he smirks over to Cas. ] I guess it's not a surprise that you don't have a date today. Didn't you at least think about asking someone out?

Is there something special today? [ he finds dean's taste in music fascinating. there is an infinite amount of things about dean fascinating, and he isn't particularly surprised to hear dean has another interesting thing about today. though it did seem irregular for dean to expect him to have a date.

he leans forward a little, touching dean's hand softly and entering his personal space smoothly. ] Why would I ask anybody out?

[ He glances down at the contact, trying hard to keep his eyes on the road, but unable to stop looking between it and his hand. It didn't mean anything, and he was used to Cas not understanding personal space, but it made him feel weird anyway. ]

It's, uh, Valentine's Day. Are you that out of it? C'mon, it's the easiest day to get laid, besides prom night. [ He felt a mix of relief and disappointment. Disappointment from Cas not even knowing what day it was, and relief from Cas not having anyone in mind. They were both strange emotions, and Dean didn't particularly want to think about why he felt them. He'd much rather avoid getting them killed in a crash. ]

To get... laid. [ he takes his hand off dean's to awkwardly rub his own neck, staring out the window again. he just never had the opportunity, that was all. it felt mildly discomforting and embarrassing, so he forcibly switched the subject in his own mind. ]

I did not realize it was today. [ he frowned a little to himself. it really hadn't been obvious, though he had distantly noted the surprising acceleration of red and pink in the stores in the upcoming month. but there was always one holiday or another for stores to cash in, and he hadn't paid much mind. he turned his intense gaze back to dean, now, with a slight anxious furrow in his brow. in elementary school, exchanging gifts on valentine's day was a given. did this same standing tradition last for high school? he would be remiss to withhold a present for dean, then. ]

[ He frowns at the lost warmth from Cas' hand, but when he notices Cas' awkward position, he laughs to himself. He knew Cas' status on that subject, and he'd even tried to set Cas up a few times in the past, only to have it end in failure and amusement on Dean's part. He'd long since given up on it, because he figured Cas didn't have the interest or ability to sweet talk anyone. ]

What, so you didn't buy me any chocolates? [ There's only joking in his voice, though he finds it a bit weird to joke when he actually is taking Cas out on Valentine's Day. Not that Cas was supposed to know. ]

[ he draws his lips into a thin line, and looks out the window again. ah. so he was supposed to buy dean chocolates. he hadn't realized that. he considers, for a moment, a response bubbling up from the back of his throat. something snippy and snide, like, he had more important things to do than understand the cultural importance of holidays flourishing on commercialism. but he finds himself just folding his hands into his lap instead.

he should have gotten dean some chocolates. there was nothing more to say on the matter. ]

[ Dean waits a few good seconds for Cas' reply. Cas had a tendency to think before he spoke, something that Dean had no talent with. More silence than usual passes, and he thinks he feels the dreaded awkward silence coming on. He glances over to Cas, and wonders if he made him uncomfortable. Maybe he didn't like to joke about that, about romantic gestures with other men. Maybe he didn't like the thought of it with Dean. He opens his mouth, having made himself angry, to tell him to stop being so sensitive. What comes out, though, is something more nervous. ]

That's good, I mean, because it's... it's weird to give chocolate to other guys. That's for girls. [ He clears his throat. He honestly didn't care about the chocolates (he still had a bag of Sam's Halloween candy hidden in his closet), but the fact that Cas had ignored his remark made him feel oddly insecure. ]

[ he swivels around to look at dean again, with that same intense star. but his head is tilted in confusion. a moment ago, he was saddened by the burden he had neglected. now, dean was telling him the tradition was reserved for men and women. for all his studying, he had a poor conception of social rites, and trusted dean without reserve on those matters. ]

Why? [ he didn't understand the situation. was he supposed to give dean chocolates? did only girls do that? ]

[ He swallows, and grips the wheel tighter, accelerating a bit. Not that he was even attempting to obey the speed limit, anyway, he just wanted to get to the restaurant before this conversation got too awkward. ]

It's a romantic holiday, Cas. Chocolates mean you wanna bang. So guys usually don't give them to other guys... unless they're into cock. [ His tone is frustrated, because he'll never understand the cave Cas has lived in all his life. They'd known each other since practically forever, since Dean's family moved there his mother died. The only difference was that Dean preferred being outside, being social, whenever he didn't have to take care of Sam. ]

Then why did you insinuate I should have given you chocolates? [ his tone is open, like he is marveling at the intricacies of humanity. he isn't angry at dean, or judgmental. if dean was gay, that was fine. if dean thought he was gay, that was fine, too. he never had given much thought to sexuality. but he was concerned about what he should have done for his friend. but anna had told him to make himself more clear, so he summoned up the willpower to make that effort. ]

If you wanted them, I would have given them to you.

I don't, I--it was a joke. That's all. [ He frowns and glares at the road a bit. He doesn't understand Cas at all, and he figures he never will. It makes him angry, because he's his best friend and he should be able to understand his best friend. ]

Don't just give people things because they want you to. [ He leaves it at that as he pulls into the restaurant's parking lot. He finds a shaded spot, and gets out, maybe slamming the door a little harder than he should have. He silently apologizes to his precious car because he didn't know why he would take it out on her, why he felt so agitated about this subject. ]

[ he gets out of the car quietly, not slamming the door. after a moment, he follows him closely to the restaurant's entrance, but he is agitated, and despite himself, there is a sad aura around him. he doesn't understand what he did wrong, but even he could see dean was upset about something. logically, it must have been something he said.

"don't just give people things because they want you to." was there another reason to give people things? his grip on his trenchcoat tightens, and he doesn't look anybody in the eye. ]

[ He's fairly tense as he walks, and he doesn't hold the door open for Cas, but that was normal for him. It's a casual restaurant, so he takes a seat at a booth and immediately stares down at the menu, though he knows what he wants.

His anger isn't directed at Cas, though, it's more that he's angry at himself for all of this in the first place. What was the point of taking Cas out on Valentine's Day? He wasn't expecting anything from Cas, but he had some slim hope it would solve the way he felt. No, it was only making it worse. He sighs, because it's not fun for anyone if he sulks, and looks at Cas with an unsure, almost apologetic expression. ]

Do you know what you want?

Are you supposed to give me what I want? [ his voice is tight, but not with passive aggressive anger. he seems honestly at a loss, now, because he had wanted to enjoy the outing, except now his head hurt. he had been taught from a very young age to follow orders, and he followed orders very well. but dean always made him think, and it made his head hurt. he wanted, in a way, for dean to tell him what to do. if dean wanted chocolates, he would have given them to him. he would have given anything for him. but now he had to figure out what dean wanted, and even then, apparently he shouldn't give it to him?

his frown was tight, and he looked down at his folded hands in his lap with resignation. ]

[ He pauses and stares at Cas for a moment, then looks around the room, as if someone else will explain Cas' meaning to him. He wonders if Cas is being snarky with him, but he's not exactly getting that feeling. ]

... No, the waitress is. We're at a restaurant, remember? You like the burgers? [ His voice is light but he feels like he's upset Cas. This definitely wasn't the mood he wanted, but he knows it's his own fault. It was always his fault, but he wants to fix it. The problem is that it's hard to fix it when you can't explain your own feelings, not that he really wants to. ]

I didn't... Look, I'm not mad at you. I'm not feeling so hot. I think it's allergies or something.

[ he frowns, and leans forward to touch dean's forehead with two fingers, as if that is enough to understand if it's a fever or not. he knows dean to be the outdoors type, and he hasn't seen an allergic reaction from him yet. but though it's not likely, he won't rule it out. it seems like he can't do anything right today, then. first accidentally letting gabriel find the hidden candy drawer, then not understanding valentine's day, now unable to even see his friend is sick. but his face is unmoved and passive as he touches him gently.

it doesn't seem like he's sick, though he doesn't quite remove his hand. it's entirely likely that dean really is under the weather, though. he'd probably be too stubborn to leave, though he should. the faster they can eat, the faster they can take dean back home. so he pushes the menu forward without looking at it. ]

I like the burgers. [ he agrees softly, and without looking away from dean's eyes. it's an expectation that dean knows what he likes and can order for him. ]

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