-

The second time that it happened, it was both of their faults and neither had seen it coming.

It was Kevin’s idea to start hunting as a duo, away from Sam and Dean - and for as much as Castiel loved his found family, he could agree that they needed time apart sometimes.

Still high strung with the tension of a hunt and giddy on the success of it, they had barely parked when Kevin was across the seat pulling at Castiel’s clothes, mouth hot against his neck, and Castiel was happy to push back. Guide him to leaning against the door, tug his jeans open, suck down his cock.

It was enjoyable, getting used to living in his body as a humans. The lingering hurts of the hunt barely proved distraction, the  aching muscles and a twinge in his lower back and gravedirt gritty under his nails. Not when the car was hot with their shared breath and Kevin was shuddering beneath him.

Only, apparently Dean had been looking out for them to return to the bunker after Castiel had texted they would be home that night, and he had come to find them.

Dean did not cover his eyes and run away like Sam.

Dean rapped his knuckles on the door window and winked at them.

-

The third time that it happened, was absolutely neither of their faults.

One would assumed that a private bed in a private bedroom was a safe place to engage in intercourse. This was what Castiel had been led to belief. Dean had lectured him on boundaries once. Laid out all the little quirks to being a human. Castiel understood this better now.

It could be argued that Castiel should have had the forethought to lock the door to their room. But he had not locked it the night before, and when he was roused in the morning to Kevin’s erection against the small of his back and a hand creeping over his hip, well, of course he wasn’t in the mood to get up and check that the door was locked. The only thing Castiel cared to do was part his thighs enough to bring Kevin between and rock back against him.

Dean had appalling manners and did not knock.

Castiel had been on the crest of orgasm, thrusting into the firm grip of Kevin’s hand, teeth scraping against the back of his shoulder and the sheets warm around them and it was perfect until the door banged against the wall and Dean announced pancakes for breakfast.

Castiel had a growing suspicion that Dean was, as Dean would say it, fucking with them.

-

There was a legitimate reason for Castiel to be in the storeroom that led into the dungeon.

He had been researching a weapon that might be useful for a potential case, when Kevin had found him to tell him that the Men of Letter’s didn’t have the right one in storage.

And as the opportunity had presented itself - privacy, definitely quiet privacy from both of the Winchesters - the two of them had seized it.

None of them used the dungeon anymore, after things had quieted down and it was only the occasional disturbance of a ghost or vampire that got them out hunting. So when Kevin had the idea of pulling back the storage shelves and hiding somewhere no one would come barging in, Castiel was easily led by the end of his belt.

Fumbling to pull the heavy shelves shut behind them, Castiel almost tripped with his jeans around his ankles, turned and pushed Kevin up against the wall. Sinking to the floor, he kissed Kevin’s belly as he pulled his shirt up, sucked his cock with the growing proficiency Castiel was eager to master.

Kevin was a smart man and had brought lube with him when he came to find Castiel with information about the weapon he was looking for.

Ah.

They would find something else for the hunt.

Slick and hot and squirming on Castiel’s fingers, Kevin didn’t attempt to muffle the noises he made as they echoed in the cavernous room. Castiel knew the process of this, of kissing and foreplay and preparation, but it sometimes startled him how things blurred together with the heat and urgency of it, how fast he ended up inside of Kevin, strong legs wrapped around Castiel’s waist as he fucked Kevin against the wall.

Hands fisted in Castiel’s shirt - he was still mostly clothed, jeans around his ankles, shirt on; wasn’t the removal of clothes supposed to be part of the process? - Kevin was wrapped around him and moaning into Castiel’s neck when the world quite suddenly tilted away.

Stumbling forward, through the shelves that shifted and parted in front of them, Castiel tripped on his jeans, twisted sideways to keep Kevin from falling on the concrete, and slammed down hard onto his shoulder with a blinding jolt of pain.

-

“In the dungeon, seriously Cas?”

Dean sounded miffed. It was unfathomable why. On the other side of the kitchen, he was carefully studying the bruising on Kevin’s face before deeming nothing broken and slapping a bag of peas over the side that had smacked on the floor.

“It’s not like you respect the privacy of our bedroom.” Castiel shot back.

“That was one time!”

“Okay, Cas,” Sam told him, hands careful on Castiel’s shoulder and arm, “it’s just dislocated, I can pop it back in. On the count of three…”

Kevin winced in sympathy on the count of two when Sam jerked and slammed something and Castiel involuntarily screamed.

“Who dislocates their shoulder during sex?” Dean was pacing.

“Apparently, I do.”

“You uh,” looking uncomfortable next to him, Sam waved a hand in front of his crotch, “You didn’t, hurt anything else did you? I don’t know if I can help with that, we might have to go to the hospital.”

“Oh my god did you break your dick?” Dean gaped at him.

“I did not injure my penis. Thank you for the concern Sam.” It was a bit of a hazy memory, but everything seemed to be fine, although, “Are you alright Kevin?”

Covering the half of his face that wasn’t covered with peas, Kevin mumbled through his fingers, “It’s fine. Sorebutfine. I need a drink.”

Dean pointed a finger, “That, I can do.”

Castiel’s shoulder was throbbing and he finally felt that he was beginning to understand a very human sense of shame about his sexual activities. “I would like a drink as well.”

“I think we all need one,” Dean said.

He had come running when he heard things falling off the shelves with a loud crash. Castiel, for some reason he cannot fathom, had still been erect after dislocating his shoulder.

“Yeah, me too.” Sam settled at the kitchen table, giving Kevin a sympathetic smile.

“But I swear,” Dean warned, “if you two get kinky in the shower and fall, I am not helping.”

“All you did was put a bag of peas on my face,” Kevin told him.

“Hey, I helped.”

Kevin slapped the peas on the table and glared at Dean, “It would be better if you could learn how to knock.”

Dean rolled his eyes.

Castiel, cradling a cold beer in the hand of his non-injured arm, shared a commiserating look with Sam as Dean and Kevin resuscitated their ongoing list of grievances in regards to sharing living spaces.

It would be a long night.

Sam and Garth were no where to be found, so it was up to Kevin. He was tired and hungry and every time he blinked he saw numbers on the inside of his eyelids and he just could not listen to this CD one more time.

Pounding on the door to Cas’ room, Kevin was maybe feeling a little bitchy, but the moment Cas opened the door – eyes red rimmed, hair wild, in a ratty t-shirt and boxers – Kevin stumbled over what he was going to say.

“Hey – uh… you okay Cas?”

He could see a tick in the other guy’s jaw. “I’m fine.”

God, he reeked of alcohol and desperation and Kevin tried to remember the last time he’d actually seen Cas outside his room.

“Dude you’ve been blasting Adele for the last three days, you are not okay.”

His shoulders slumped and Cas squinted at the floor, mumbling another “I’m fine” before trying to shut the door on Kevin.

Pushing it open, Kevin stepped into his room, taking the complete mess that was really nothing like what he’d seen of Cas so far, always neat pressed and on top of school.

“What’s going on?”

Cas sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “It’s been a long week.”

“You clearly need better coping mechanisms.”

“I am aware of that, however, I am entirely unmotivated to change at this point.”

The Adele was still blaring, “Can we at least turn the music off, this CD is really getting on my nerves.”

Cas almost tripped on a bottle on his way across the room to shut his stereo off.

Kevin leaned against the door frame, still not going away, “Wouldn’t of figured you were a fan of hers.”

“I like a lot of different music.”

“Still not going to tell me what’s going on?”

“No.”

Rolling his eyes, Kevin stepped carefully over to Cas and grabbed his shirt, dragging him in the direction of the bathroom, “Okay, one, you reek – take a shower and brush your teeth. Two, I can’t remember when I saw you out of the room last, I’m gonna make dinner. Come out when you’re done.”

Cas scowled at Kevin, but let himself be herded into the bathroom where Kevin turned on the shower head before leaving and shutting the door. He had been so focused on school himself that he was probably being counterproductive because a deficiency of sleep and inadequate eating patterns could sap focus and reduce intelligence, so really, Kevin could use a break and he could definitely use food too.

-

This being finals week and college, food turned out to be Ramen noodles because the cupboards in their shared kitchen were almost bare. Kevin managed to scrounge up an old can of peas and carrots too, adding that in for a little color and variety. He had plenty of coffee though, and put on a pot while the noodles simmered.

Cas came out of the bathroom in boxers and an inside out tee shirt, but it was an improvement. Pink cheeked, thick stubble on his jaw, he shuffled over to the kitchen table and sat down. Kevin put a mug of coffee with a spoon of sugar in front of him.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Mixing in the flavor powder, Kevin split up the Ramen and sat down at the table with his own mug of coffee.

Cas practically inhaled the soup.

Kevin considered pushing his over, but it was actually pretty good with peas and carrots in it. “Are you still hungry? I think we have some tuna and crackers.”

Cas grunted and stood, taking his bowl to the sink and washing it before searching the cupboards for the tuna and crackers. He settled back at the table with just the open can and the box of crackers.

“This is more than just finals stress, isn’t it? You sure you’re ok Cas?”

Scrubbing his eyes, slumped over the table, Cas shrugged. “In the past week I’ve found out that my dad is back in rehab, I’m failing calculus, my favorite pair of jeans ripped, and I broke up with Cain.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah.”

“Why’d you two break up?”

“I’d rather not talk about it.”

“Yeah, no that’s totally fine. I uh, I’m not really good at this kind of stuff, but I could help you study for calculus?”

Sipping his coffee, Cas offered a weak smile. “I know you’re busy with your own school work.”

“I really don’t mind, I’m going crazy working on my thesis paper, but math is actually pretty relaxing. I could use the break.”

Clearing the table, Cas refilled their coffee mugs. “You’re a very good friend Kevin.”

“Come on, grab your books, we’re studying in my room because yours is a wreck.”

-

It was five A.M by the time they closed their books. Cas was wicked smart but he had problems grasping the concepts the way the text explained them. Kevin just spun the theory from different angles until Cas latched on and then it wasn’t too bad. If he aced his final he’d pull through the class.

Jotting down a few more notes, legs folded on top of Kevin’s bed where they’d sprawled with pillows a few hours ago, Cas finally set everything aside. Kevin was yawning and weirdly still a little twitchy from all the coffee even though he was brain dead.

“I can’t believe you made that make sense. Thank you so much Kevin.”

Waving him off, Kevin face planted on the bed wedged between Cas and the wall. “S’no problem.”

Cas shifted away a little, looked down at Kevin, then at the door. Kevin decided to just loop an arm around his stomach and tug him back. He was warm. And he smelled good now that he was freshly showered. Kevin didn’t really have a lot of people in his bed. Like, ever. He didn’t really want anything other than someone to curl up next to. Was rebound cuddles a thing? It should totally be a thing.

“We’ll clean your bedroom together tomorrow, ok. You can stay here if you want. Just to cuddle.”

Cas stretched out on the bed, shuffling under the sheets and lying facing Kevin. Tentatively, he settled a hand on Kevin’s hip and it was a warm, comfortable weight. Kevin scooted closer and nudged his face against Cas’ chest.

“Are you sure this is all right?”

“Definitely. Go to sleep Cas.”

Kevin was clearly not expecting that question, and he sighs and rubs a hand over his jaw.  Silence stretches between them, and Kevin boldly reaches out to grasp Cas’ hand.  Castiel looks at him but doesn’t pull away.  Instead he turns his hand to bring them palm-to-palm and entwines their fingers together.

“I thought it was what I was supposed to want,” Kevin admits, quietly, eyes riveted to their joined hands.  “But what I actually want is just.. intimacy.  I mean, I don’t want sex, I just want to be held.”

Kevin sees Cas nodding out of his peripheral vision, like Cas actually knows what he’s talking about, and Kevin closes his eyes and tips his head back again.  “I don’t think I’m even making sense.”  

Cas makes a sound of dissent. “Skin hunger,” he says thoughtfully.  “You’re touch starved.”

“I’m what?”

“Humans.  They have a need, fundamentally, for physical affection.  Especially, but not necessarily, skin to skin contact,” Cas pauses, deliberately.  “How often are you touched, Kevin?”  

Kevin thought about laughing, but he glanced down to their joined hands and thought about how good it felt to have someone’s hand in his.  Nothing sexual, just that closeness that he hadn’t even realized just how much he had been craving.  When had he last been touched?  Even just casually?  

“I think Dean gave me a hug like, a year ago,”  he replies.  No small amount of bitterness entering his tone at the realization of just how alone he had been for so long.

Cas squeezes his hand briefly before turning toward him on the couch.  “Do you trust me?”

“As much as I trust anyone these days.”

“Will you lie here with me?”  

Well.  Kevin hadn’t been expecting that turn.  

“Um,” he hesitates.  “Sure?”  

“If you don’t feel comfortable, Kevin, that is okay.  But I believe this will help both of us.  I don’t intend anything sexual.”

Kevin nods with a little more surety at that, and Castiel turns on the couch laying on his side, nestled against the back of the sofa, and gestures for Kevin to lay next to him next to the edge.  Kevin debates laying facing Cas, but decides he’d rather not have to look at him.  He couldn’t face the evidence of just how weak he felt.  

As soon as he lays down, Cas’s arms wrap around him, holding him close but not too tight.  One beneath his arm, the other over his hip; coming to rest over his chest and stomach respectively.  Slowly, tension leaks from Kevin’s frame, and he feels Cas’s arms loosen in relaxation.  

Cas breaks the silence around them.  “I’ve been human less than two months, and I crave human touch daily.  I had sex with a woman, who turned out to be a reaper, because I thought it would cure my need for affection.  But I find that I also do not desire sex.  Yet I could not go even another two weeks without this.  You are so strong, Kevin, but you don’t deserve to be alone.”

Kevin feels his eyes fill with tears.  He tries to stop them, but just as suddenly a sob wracks his body.  And then another, until he finds himself shaking and crying uncontrollably in the safety of Castiel’s arms.  He buries his face in the cushion of the couch; can feel his tears wetting the cloth beneath him.

Slowly, he feels the tears slow, the sobs come less harshly, and Kevin settles enough to register Castiel rubbing circles on his back, forehead resting against Kevin’s hair, making soothing noises.  Kevin falls asleep cradled there.  

He wakes to whispered conversation, can hear Dean’s voice from the doorway, and feel more than hear Cas’s sleep-deep rumbling reply.  Cas’s hand comes up to shoo Dean out the door, and Kevin smiles when his arm comes back around to hold Kevin again, Cas’s large hand settling gently over his heart.

“Have you lost feeling to your left hand yet?” Kevin asks when he realizes he’s still laying atop one of Cas’s arms.  

“I believe it has ‘gone to sleep’, yes.  But it doesn’t bother me.”

“Man, that is gonna tingle so badly when we get up.”  

Cas makes a low noise of assent.  “Yes, that is likely.”

Kevin huffs out a small laugh.  “Do you want me to move?”

“Not particularly.  But if you’re hungry, I believe Dean is making waffles.”  

So that’s what Dean had been whispering to Cas about.  Kevin can feel his face flushing at what kind of picture they must have made for Dean to stumble upon, sleeping overnight on the couch in the library together.  But he feels relieved that Dean must not have been too scandalized, having retreated back to the kitchen with a wave of Cas’s hand.

Kevin makes a noncommittal noise, and doesn’t move.

It must be afternoon by the time they finally untangle themselves and sit up on the couch.  Kevin immediately feels the need to hold onto Castiel and never let go again, and he barely catches himself from reaching out to grab onto Cas’s hand, or sleeve, or just any part of him.  Something to remind him that he’s not alone, that he doesn’t have to be alone.  Maybe he’s earned that right.  To be selfish for once.  Before he can reach out though, Cas is already closing the distance to grasp his hand firmly, before tugging him up off the couch.  

“You need to eat,” Cas explains.  He folds Kevin into one last hug, never letting go of Kevin’s hand.  Kevin whines into Cas’s shoulder, and Cas chuckles.  “I’m here for you, Kevin.  Anything you need, just ask.”  

“Hello, Dean,” Cas said, when he heard it pick up.

“Hey, Cas, what’s up?”

“There has been a black cat following me for a couple miles.  I don’t detect anything supernatural, and it doesn’t seem to have a collar on it.”

There was a lengthy pause on the other end before Dean huffed out a sigh.

“I suppose Kevin’s been wanting a cat, has he?” Dean asked, mostly rhetorically.

“He may have mentioned.  But I assure you, this was a coincidence.”  Cas could practically hear Dean’s eye roll through the line.

“Alright, bring it home.  But if I end up a sneezing watery-eyed mess I’m blaming you.”  Dean hung up before Cas could thank him.  

“Well, little one?  Would you like to keep walking or shall I carry you the rest of the way?”  The cat squirmed a little and made to jump to the ground.  “Alright then, follow me.”

When they got to the bunker, Cas once again scooped the cat up into his arms.  He wanted to introduce it to Kevin before it got to roaming about the place.

“I wonder what Kevin will want to name you,” Cas murmured thoughtfully as he headed toward the library.  He poked his head in but it seemed Kevin wasn’t there.  As he stepped out into the hallway he nearly collided with Sam.  Sam’s eyes lit up when he saw the little furball Cas carried.

“Hello, Sam,” Cas said with a smile.  “I’d introduce him, but he doesn’t have a name yet.”

Sam reached out a hand but waited until Cas nodded before he began petting the cat.  

“Aw what a soft little guy you are,” Sam cooed.  “Kevin will love you.”  

“I hope so,” Cas agreed.  “Any idea where he is?”

“I think he went to lay down.  Translating was giving him a headache.”

“Thank you,” Cas said, and headed toward the room he and Kevin shared.  

He entered quietly.  The lamp on Kevin’s nightstand was lit but Kevin was curled up on his side facing away from the door so Cas tread carefully.  When he rounded the end of the bed, Kevin opened one eye sleepily.

“Cas?”

“Hello, Kevin.  Did I wake you?” Cas asked quietly.  

Kevin made a noise which Cas thought was a denial before rolling on his back.

“Sit, sit,” Kevin said, patting the bed.  Both eyes finally opening and focusing on Cas.  “Wait, is that a cat?”  

Kevin bolted upright and Cas sat carefully on the edge of the bed, setting the cat down in the space between them.  

“He followed me home,” Cas explained.  “He doesn’t have any tags, so I think he’s a stray, but we can always check him for a microchip at the veterinarian.  I was thinking you could name him.”

Kevin held his hand out to the cat, and scritched behind its ears.  The cat purred beautifully.  Kevin beamed up at Cas.  

“Y’know, in Chinese culture, black cats are an omen of poverty and famine,” Kevin said conversationally, pulling the cat into his lap and running his hand along his flank.  The cat sprawled out luxuriously, already seeming at home.  Cas furrowed his brow.

“Is that- Do you- Is it okay if we keep it?  Do you not want a black cat?” Cas asked, concern tinging his tone.  Kevin just laughed lightly.

“Cas, I think we passed poverty a while ago.  If you haven’t noticed neither of us even has a home.  I don’t think this cat can hurt us any in that department.”  Kevin meant it to be a joke but Cas’ frown deepened.

“Are you unhappy here, Kevin?”

“It’s not exactly where I saw my life heading.”

“But are you unhappy?”

Kevin smiled.  “My beautiful, strong, thoughtful ex-angel boyfriend just brought me home a cat.  I don’t care that I’m never going to be the first Asian-American president.  Well.  I care a little.  But I love you, and the life we’ve built here, more.”  

As if sensing the moment, the cat stood and stretched, moving to lay on the other side of the bed.  Cas surged forward to kiss Kevin.  He wrapped an arm around Kevin’s back pressing them flush together and Kevin moaned, breaking the kiss with a gasp.

“What was that for?”

“I love you.”  Cas’ voice was deep with emotion.  

“I love you, too.”  

Cas laid down next to Kevin then, pulling him close.

“So what would you like to name him?”