#bennylaffite

He barely notices the screech of desks movings and books dropping into backpacks much later until two hands slap loudly on the desk in front of him.

His head snaps up and the same worried green eyes squint at him. “Man, you’re really out of it today,” Dean says

Cas huffs and climbs out of the desk. “That wasn’t necessary, Dean,” he says weakly. 

“I said your name like five times, dude. It was necessary. What’s going on?”

Cas is reaching for his backpack when it’s yanked out of his reach, placed safely over Dean’s shoulder. He wants to protest but it wilts under the gravity of Dean’s stare. 

“Cas. What’s going on?” he repeats, voice colored with concern and no room for argument. 

I’m fine, are the words working the tip of Cas’s tongue. Always I’m fine.  

He opens his mouth and closes it, looks around the classroom that’s empty of everyone but Dr. Harvelle and the truth scratches it’s way up his throat.

“I-I just- I don’t know,” comes his whisper and he meets Dean’s eyes, feeling almost wild like. There’s a pressure rising in his head and he’s shaking and all he can do is shrug as Dean frowns in confusion. “I don’t know. I don’t know what to do. I’m so tired but I can’t sleep because there-there’s so much and I-I can’t- I can’t...”

Dean’s hand comes to rest on Cas’s shoulder, giving him an empathetic squeeze and Cas is grateful because if he keeps going he’ll combust. Then Dean’s hand is falling to capture Cas’s and they’re moving. 

“Wh-where are we going?” Cas sniffles, trailing after his friend.

“Someone that will make you happy,” Dean says confidently. 

“But I have another class in an hour!”

Dean casts a glance over his shoulder. “Does it take attendance?”

Cas ducks his head. “No.”

“Then you’re skipping.”

There is no further argument as Dean leads Cas across campus and to the garage where he keeps Baby. They don’t speak as Dean drives them through town, far from the university and their normal hang-outs.

Then they’re parking and Cas finally looks up, breath catching at the sign over the little blue building. He looks to Dean who just smiles and climbs out of the Impala. 

It’s warm inside and loud with choruses of yips and barks and little mewls.

Dean walks straight to the front desk and smiles at the red-haired receptionist. “Hello. My friend here is in dire need of some puppy love.”

The woman leans to give Cas an appraising look. “Dead week?” she asks.

“Dead week,” Dean confirms. 

“Follow me.”

They’re led back to the kennel and Cas is dumbstruck as they pass a row of dogs until he’s being seated in a stall and then there’s a Cocker Spaniel in his lap.

The little ball of fur burrows into Cas’s stomach before climbing up his chest to sniff at his neck and lick his ears. Cas holds it carefully as it continues to scramble up his shoulders and bite at his hair.

“Hey, Arwen, chill dude,” the receptionist says as she gently eases the puppy’s mouth away from Cas’s head. “Sorry, she’s a hair puller.”

But Cas just smiles and nuzzles the pup’s little face. “It’s okay.”

“Arwen?” Dean asks, a little incredulous. 

She shrugs. “She has the beauty of Liv Tyler. I mean, look at that face.”

“It is a striking resemblance,” Cas says and then sputters because the puppy is trying to bite his lip. He laughs.

“You got an Aragorn in here?”

The receptionist’s smile is smug and twenty seconds later Dean has a German Sheppard trying to eat his face. 

They play with the entire cast because the receptionist —Charlie, they learn — might be the biggest LOTR nerd they’ve ever encountered. There’s one pair that really steal Cas’s heart: a Bulldog named Gimli and a Samoyed named Legolas who wrestle each other until they collapse on one another for a nap.

Cas’s stomach hurts from laughing and he’s almost lightheaded, stroking Pippin’s back as the Dachshund snores in his lap.

“Feel better?” Dean asks, rubbing Boromir’s belly.

Cas looks up and he beams. “Much.”

“’Thank you for being such an amazing and caring and sweet friend, Dean. I’m so lucky to have met you,’” Dean says, voice so low he’s practically growling.

Cas tilts his head. “Was that supposed to be me?”

Dean clears his throat. “How do you talk like that man? Almost pulled a vocal cord.”

Cas stretches a leg carefully to nudge Dean’s knee. Dean gestures down at his lap, affronted. “Come on, Cas, show a little respect for the future king of Gondor. He’s tired, man.”

“Thank you for being such an amazing and caring and sweet friend, Dean,” Cas says with a sincere smile. “I’m so lucky to have met you.”

Dean sputters and avoids Cas’s eyes, giving a noncommittal shrug and a grunt. “’s not a big deal.”

Cas predicted this response and he shifts Pippin up so he can scoot across the stall until he’s right in front of Dean. “But it is. And it should be repaid.”

“I don’t think offering to go over all my papers due next week would be the best thing for you right now,” Dean says, arching his brows. 

“I wasn’t going to offer to do that. I was thinking dinner-”

“Well you sure as hell better not cook me something because I’m still recovering from that spaghetti two months ago.”

Cas swats at his friend’s knee, careful not to disturb the sleeping puppy. “I said I was sorry for that!”

“Tell that to my digestive system-”

“Stop distracting me so I can ask you out, you insufferable assbutt!”

Dean’s eyes snap to attention and he looks bewildered. “Y-you want to ask me out? Like on a date?”

“If you stop making fun of me long enough to,” Cas says, laughter in his voice.

“Okay.” Dean’s lips meld together.

Cas sucks in a deep breath, opening his eyes to meet Dean’s. “Dean. Would you like to get dinner with my some time?”

“As a date?” Dean clarifies.

“As a date.”

His smile is soft and he’s looking away again but it’s not awkward. He almost looks...flattered. “Okay,” he agrees and Cas hears angels singing.

“Great.”

They sit silently for a few moments, just reveling in the sweet shift between them. 

“Should we put these puppies back make it lunch instead of dinner?” Dean asks. “Because I don’t know about you, but I haven’t eaten today.”

The second Dean says it, Cas’s stomach grumbles. “That sounds like a great plan.”

They call Charlie back in and hand her the puppies after a few more lingering cuddles. Charlie leads them back up front and invites them to come back any time.

“Hey, dude, you know you’re wearing two different shoes right?” she calls after them as they approach the exit.

Dean stifles a laugh and Cas rolls his eyes before taking Dean’s hand in his, turning Dean’s chuckles into a gasp. He smiles. 

“Yeah, I know.”

This...this got so out of hand, Vans, I’m so sorry