âI canât believe youâve never been bowling, Cas!â Dean stared at the former angel with a look of shock. He knew that Cas had been human before, however short a time it had been. And although it hadnât been the most pleasant experience, he thought the dude would have done something normal for once.
âIâve never had the opportunity to do such a thing.â Cas looked down at his vessel, no at his body, his very human body, and frowned. âIâm afraid Iâd be no good like this. Perhaps when I was still an angel-â
âOh, no no, Cas. Angel grace would have been cheating. You gotta experience it as a human.â The grin spread across Deanâs face even as he let out a groan.
Sitting back against the wall of one of the halls in the bunker that he had stopped in when he saw Cas walking toward him, Dean appraised Cas and his jittery demeanor.
âAlright. What do you say, Cas? How about you and I one night, we hit the lanes? Maybe for Cosmic Bowl?â Dean snorted at the thought of Castiel, former angel of the Lord, playing Cosmic Bowling. There was something ironic there.
Cas looked back at him, with his trademark squint and frown, as though he were trying to puzzle something out.
Dean wasnât sure what was confusing him, and let out a chuckle as he figured Cas was probably trying to figure out Cosmic Bowling. But he continued to just stand there patiently, waiting for Cas to figure out whatever it is he wanted to say.
Things had been tense the last couple of weeks, since they had rescued Cas from the Empty. The words heâs spoken in the dungeon hanging over them.
Cas had come to Dean a few days after his return, sheepish and looking slightly afraid.
Dean hated that look on Cas. But he knew it was his fault. That Cas was probably thinking of the last time he had been human, and Dean had kicked him out of the bunker, out of his home.
This time though, Dean wanted to make things better and easier for Cas.
So when heâs come knocking on Deanâs bedroom door, Dean made the effort to give him a wide grin when he poked his head in and asked if they could talk, and then made it very clear that he didnât expect anything from Dean, and he didnât want things to be uncomfortable between the and he would very much like it if they could continue on as they had been. That Dean would always be his best friend. And he hoped Dean still considered him as his best friend.
It took a moment, as Dean sat there and stared at Cas, before heâd been able to find his tongue, and assured Cas that nothing had to change. They were still best friends and the bunker was still his home.
But, even though they said nothing would change, things still seemed a little tense. So Dean wanted to make sure that Casâ human experience was better this time. Especially since this time it was going to stick and there was no going back to being an angel.
Hence, Cosmic Bowling.
âCosmic Bowling?â Cas asked, sounding unsure.
âYeah, itâll be fun. Thereâs lights and music. We can get some food and drinks brought to our lane.â Dean started to fidget. He suddenly thought maybe it wasnât his greatest idea.
Cas considered him for another moment. Frown deepening.
âThat sounds⌠fun.â
Dean went to open his mouth, most likely to ask why Cas looked like the idea seemed anything but fun.
But Cas plowed on before he could say anything else.
âIt also sounds like⌠well, like⌠a date.â
Dean froze. Eyes wide.
Cas stared at him, took in his reaction.
âNot a date,â Cas clarified.
âNo, um, noâŚâ Dean tried to think of something to say but his heart was beating so fast and all he could hear in his head was static.
âDo⌠did⌠do you want it to be a date?â Deanâs voice had dropped to a whisper, so low that at first he thought Cas might not have heard without his angelic hearing.
And it was a stupid question. Dean knew that. Of course, Cas would want it to be a date, Dean thought, thinking of Casâ words before the Empty came and took him.
âDeanâŚâ
He hated how Casâ voice said his name with a sigh, low and resigned.
âYou know what? Yeah, Cas, itâs a date.â
And if he sounded a bit breathless and felt like his chest was being squeezed, Dean would never admit to it.
Heâd also never admit that he used to think of their outings as dates. Or, at least, that he would fantasize about how different they would be if they were dates.
But Dean couldnât help but feel another kind of tightness in his chest as he watched Casâ lips twitch in what he recognized as Cas trying to hide a smile.
âCas? Would you like to go on a date with me?â His voice sounded a little more sure, and he stood a little bit straighter.
But he also couldnât help but to hold his breath, hoping that things with Cas hadnât changed. Or at least that they hadnât changed that much.
He wasnât sure what heâd do if he were reading the situation wrong.
But he neednât have worried, as Casâ smile slowly spread across his face. As though he only just realized Dean was genuine and not teasing him.
âIâd be honored Dean,â Cas murmured as he brushed a chaste kiss to Deanâs cheek before he walked away, leaving Dean standing stock still with a frantically beating heart and a Cheshire like grin of his own.












