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Dean burst out a short laugh that turned into a feat of coughing as he leaned against the angel for support, welcoming the comforting warmth that came with Castiel’s body heat. Or for a being like him, his vessel’s. “We didn’t drink the entire top shelf, Cas. Sounds like a really sad fail.” They like wouldn’t have accomplished the feat at any rate, though, he tried his best. “I don’t think I…I don’t need anything but you right now. You’re awesome.” The man’s stomach rumbled loudly, causing the man to press a hand to his mouth. “Nope, lied, I need air. Fresh air.” Dean searched the crowd for Sam just in case he needed to tell his brother where they were headed, but decided to text him later.

“Not too sad I hope.” The angel offered with nothing but a soft smile, there was something nice about the warmth that was offered even if it wasn’t something he was used to by any rate. Although the hunters words did cause a moment of fluster before concern took over and his smile dropped while he did exactly what Dean requested and took him outside still holding on just in case. “You’re foolish sometimes.” Which he meant in a gentle way, there was only Dean that could drink his way into this state and cause this amount of rising concern in Castiel even when he too was still intoxicated. 

“And Dean Winchester comes out on top as reigning champion.” Dean moved to lift his hands in the air in a victory double fist pump, but somehow lost his balance and stumbled straight into the counter before a hand caught the edge just in time. “I, uh, I just-” The amount of alcohol the hunter guzzled down during the majority of the night had finally caught up with a nasty vengeance. Dean’s head pounded with what he assumed as the beat of the music blaring as the nausea finally went into onset. “This, this, wasn’t a good…son of a…” With his speech burred, he wasn’t making any sense. “Oh, me no likey.”

“Perhaps not so much a champion.” He added though of course even in the state he was in, he’d taken no time to snake his arm around the hunter as some precaution in case his balance decided to give up on him entirely. “I have you, Dean don’t worry about it.” The angels voice was as soft as he could make it, peering around for a moment. “What do you need?” He was uncertain to why the present experience was strangely sobering but it really was. 

Their physical proximity was close, it was something Dean noted as Cas took the lime, and while the burst personal space bubble used to be a problem between the two men…circumstances change and he couldn’t say he minded it too much. “And that,” Dean slurred after a long paused beat, his gaze scanning the angel’s flushed features that seemed to match his own, “Is how you do a body shot. Simple, fun, and always my experience a precursor of something way better.” Oh, he hoped he remembered this in the morning, “Want to try it or are you down for the count, Cas?”

There was something sobering about it or perhaps not sobering as much as the close proximity just gave the angel something to focus on that wasn’t in complete double vision. He wasn’t even paying complete attention to the words that the hunter said before he blinked a few times and shook his head. “Probably...not the best idea.” there was no telling whether that was in reply to Dean’s question or some of the things that happened to have passed his mind. Not that he was about to move away any time soon. “I believe you uh...won.” 

“Maybe teaching the other winged dicks how body shots work could pull the sticks from their asses. Alright, remember, salt first.” Dean had to step closer in order to reach over and wrap his fingers around Cas’ hand, gently flipping it wrist side up before sprinkling with a few grains of salt. He didn’t hesitate leaning forward and brought the flesh of the angel’s wrist to his lips before releasing his hold. “Then the shot.” He grabbed the glass, as well as the lime, and tipped the contents straight down, “And now the lime. Remember you have to take it from my mouth.” Dean placed the lime slice between his teeth and slightly leaned forward, encouraging Castiel with an eyebrow raise.

“You don’t sleep. Instead, your little butt interrupts mine.” Really, Dean always joked about making a tally how many number of times Cas either popped up in the boys’ motel room or gave them a ring over a cell phone he rarely knew how to work just to wake them up. Even without the constant interruption, he got at least four hours a night on average which for a hunter who needed to stay sharp wasn’t nearly enough. “What are you talking about? My perky nipples are one hundred percent honest to your father real. I’d show them to you, but then I’m a girl gone wild and that’s not classy.” He hadn’t noticed his words were making little sense for the normal ear much less an angel who doesn’t drink often. “You…oh, you’re going to love them. Okay, here’s what you do,” Grabbing one of the shakers from the counter and unscrewing the cap, he poured a small handful of salt in his hand. “You put the salt on your stomach, wrist, neck, anywhere you want. You drink the shot down the hatch, then take one of those lime slices and stick that sucker in your mouth. Not all the way, but just enough for someone to lean over and take it from you with their own mouth. Do you want to go first or do you need the pro to show you?”

He wasn’t certain whether it was just his own level of intoxication or Dean’s but either way he wasn’t about to even attempt understanding any of it and instead just nodded as if that would be convincing enough that he’d managed to comprehend what the hunter meant when in turn it was entirely the opposite issue. “Yes, why don’t...you uh demonstrate.” He managed to get out before he moved to lean on the bar as support, still not entirely seeing the appeal but at this point he was too far gone to protest anything and instead simply attempted to keep his gaze on the hunter. 

“You take weed away from the equation and you still doze off, Sleepy Beauty. I would know the powerful ramifications of getting shit-faced.” And shit-faced is what he planned on being tonight. Between the oncoming apocalypse and heaven’s angels flying down from on high in order to smite anyone they see feet, Dean needed a break as well as a distraction. “Was that ever in doubt, Cas? Now less talky, more drinky.” He brought the rim of the pint to his lips and began chugging his beer at an alarmingly quick rate until he hit the bottom of the glass. “I feel like a sorority chick.” Counting the drinks before his conversation started with Castiel and his ability to take a booze beating, the usual high tolerance wasn’t at its peak. “Here’s an idea. Oh, man, you haven’t lived until you’ve done body shots.” Even with Dean’s slurred speech, he was still able to string a coherent sentence together and order them two shots of tequila and a plate of limes.

“Sleep still confuses me.” Maybe it always would but that was what came with being as old as he was and not having done it until his main and current period on earth. There was no fighting the hunters words, granted there didn’t tend to be much ramifications when it came to downing each drink without much of a thought until they came back to bite him in the ass so to speak. There was almost a chuckle at the man’s expression. “Well you don’t have boobs, Dean or a less than appealing scream whenever you’re excited about something.” His voice was still low, with the words he spoke a little more spread out but other than that the only way you’d be able to tell he was buzzed was by his appearance. “You’re uh...speaking..like I know what those are.” 

“No, you stumble like a cute idiot and run into everything before slipping into a boozy coma.” How could he forget the first time? “Oh, Castiel, now you’re just hitting on me. Easy there, tiger.” Dean plucked the shot from the counter and dropped it into his pint of beer before his hand wrapped around the handle and he took a substantial gulp. “I was meaning to teach you how to do a boilermaker, but you went and drank your shot.” He couldn’t exactly feel bad for his poor liver and everything he put it through. Being an alcoholic was hard work. “Here’s what I think. You’re going to think of something way better and I’m agreeing to it.”

“Well apparently the coma part is a shared response between getting high and being drunk.” And certainly not his finest moments, that much was certain. He didn’t understand the obsession people had with mixed drinks, they had the same effect when they were not mixed but he couldn’t judge on that. It wasn’t like he looked to get drunk every day of the week. “You really have that much trust in me.” Faith too though it didn’t feel like the right word. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He added though not before finishing the beer he was holding. 

“Don’t even think about doing that zappy travel you angels do. I yak when I’m sober, I’m not about to see what happens when I’m piss drunk off my damn rocker.” Dean turned to flag down the bartender and ordered them a round of beer and two shots of whiskey. If they were planning on drinking copious amounts of alcohol, it’s better to go big or just go home. “Could be winner doesn’t pay for drinks, loser downright forks out cash, or my personal favorite depending on who I’m placing the bet with, a kiss.” He gave the angel a boyish grin s the bartender brought them their drinks. “Like I said, it depends.”

“I’m not all that pleasant when I’m drunk though I certainly don’t...yak.” Or at least from the past experience he hadn’t but who knew what’d happen this time. “You don’t need to make bets to do that, Dean.” Being drunk wasn’t needed either but it wasn’t like he had any better ideas, so he let out a sigh and moved to down the shot first. “But fine...unless I think of something better which is unlikely.” Though he was sure he’d be too occupied downing the beer to think of any alternatives.  

“How about we make it a deal. When we find out who it is, we’ll share the hate together. There’s enough to go around easily.” It’s not difficult to imagine Lucifer possessed the power to have his own personal soul-bringer puppies roaming free. One of them smoking pot and digging her nose in someone else’s love life isn’t what he had in mind. “What, are you doubting we can’t drink through every bottle on that back shelf like no one’s business? I’m putting all bets on the table.” He slapped a hand on the counter, “I’ll let you pick what the winner gets. And it better be something good.”

If it was the alternative, sharing hate was on the table...otherwise Castiel was certain he’d be breaking his end of that deal mostly because it was a challenge to hate more beings. “Not at all,I’m just assuming drunk or not i’ll have to carry you out of this place.” It wasn’t a challenge as much as a concern though he’d go along with it regardless, especially if it put the hunter at ease. “Now I can’t promise that, I’m not entirely certain of the typical prizes for this type of...challenge.” If it could be called a challenge in the slightest. 

“ it’s a party, cas, and everyone will be on their best behavior. You can relax. “ as far as Lucifer was concerned, no one was looking to start a fight with anyone.

“Right, awesome. She, uh, she never mentioned who her master was. I’m just assuming you’ll trace her leash and it leads back to the irritating bane of my goddamn existence.” Lucifer was the most likely candidate to control all hellhounds the same way he had a ruling over every demon known to hell. “Good.” He spent a long minute just staring at Castiel, taking in the same features he’s seen hundred of times, but not really stopping to appreciate in the way he could now. “Now, what do you say to getting drunk until neither of us remember our names?”

“Yes I am certain that fact will present itself although there is also the option of them being the bane of mine.” Because while it was evident that Lucifer got under the hunters skin, Castiel could easily say that there was only one person...or demon capable of such a thing when it came to him. “I think I can happily do that, although you will have to slow yourself down to begin with...-it usually takes a liquor store for me to become that intoxicated.” He added very matter of factly, though he did stop to look the hunter over the chance he got simply unable to stop himself from smiling ear to ear. 

“ and here i was hoping since i’ve seen you high i could see you drunk. “ maybe lucifer was a little disappointed in that. “ something tells me he’s never learned the rule of keeping his hands to himself. “ he wouldn’t have been surprised if something happened although he was hoping that dean would understand he was outnumbered here. “ you aren’t just going to stand there all night are you? “

It was at that comment that Castiel looked over at his brother with an expression that perhaps could only be considered as shame and awkwardness.”My tendencies tend to land on the opposite end of the spectrum.” By that he meant that while he was a high happy, he was a miserable drunk and more honest if that was even possible. “He has his reasons.” And without going into the privacy of why Dean was the way he was, Castiel believed that offered enough or maybe that was just some bias; he had after all always seen the good in the hunter. “Over there too...-I don’t find it easy being in a room filled with demons.” He wouldn’t harm them or at least as long as they didn’t attempt to harm him first but that didn’t mean it didn’t make him slightly uncomfortable.

“They sure don’t act like it. Or at least, she doesn’t.” In truth, Dean hasn’t encountered a wide variety of hellhounds to make a full judgement, but Blue’s family contradicted Blue’s carefree no damns given personality. “Yeah, yeah, a lot of jumping. Wear your comfy shoes.” The man tried really hard to hide his growing smile, but he just couldn’t do it. “Cas, do me a favor,” He cupped his hand to Castiel’s shoulder, “Don’t ever change.”

“Well they tend to act on orders they’re given from their master, she may seem innocent enough now but if she’s anything like most hellhounds, she’d be dangerous the moment she’s given an order than conflicts with anything else.” Or at least from what he’d gathered that was what he was expecting, though truly in comparison to the rest of the problems that lay ahead she wasn’t nearly as big. A slight brow was raised before he let it drop into a softer smile at the hunters words. “I’ll try not to, Dean.”

“ are you sure you don’t at least want to pour one out for uriel? poor chap. “ lucifer knocked back another drink. “ it’s a party, castiel. even michael is having a little fun. let your wings down, loosen up, have some fun. “ he was hoping his brother wouldn’t take him literally on the wings part. “ and please tell me you came alone.i don’t want to have another brawl with dean. “

“No, I mourn my fallen brothers without the use of intoxication...though I’m also rather unpleasant when drunk.” The exact opposite to being high apparently, it was like alcohol made his more cynical. “Dean won't be having any brawls with you tonight, I assure you of that much.” He had attempted to explain to the hunter the other day that even if not on the same side, they’d stand a better chance of survival working with the likes of Lucifer and Michael but it was always anyone’s guess as to whether he listened to that. He could after all be a little...stubborn. 

“Dog bitten by a bat, basically turns aggressively evil. Sure does sound like her.” Splitting the line where bad stood on one side and the good stood on the other was a very black-and-white concept. It was a straight-laced mindset hammered into Dean for years. “I mean, I know we’re kinda running on borrowed time here, but let’s at least enjoy it. You know how I feel, I know how you feel, we cleared the air.” And truthfully, it was a weight from the hunter’s shoulders. “We’re in it together. You jump, I jump.” Again, he couldn’t resist alluding to another reference. 

“Most hellhounds are technically already evil.” Or at least somewhat, though it really did depend who was in control of them. That was where the evil typically came from. For once however the analogy or reference was something easy enough for the angel to understand. “I assume there’s going to be a lot of jumping.” Perhaps he should have just stuck with a nod, analogies were lost on him. “I enjoy jumping.”