#meet-weird

Between Rowena’s early wake-up phone call (and her version of “good news,” which really means “news that will make you want to hit something”) and spending an hour trying to conjugate in Spanish with Meg, Cas is flat-out exhausted by the time he gets to Chaney’s. The attendant before him, Sylvia, is already gone, not even exhaust fumes left behind, so Cas checks everything in a zombie-like state, emptying the trash and almost spilling it all over his feet before giving up after sweeping half the building. He does get out his books and try to do homework, working through that dreaded language credit and the current unit of his child psychology class (The Impacts of an Unstable Household. Cas can tell you all about that, no vocabulary flashcards required), but before long he’s nodding off at the desk. “You really shouldn’t sleep on the job.” Cas’s eyes snap open to see another face inches from him and he tries to push backwards but ends up spilling himself out of the chair. Once he’s sprawled on the floor, no longer cross-eyed, he sees that it’s Dean. Dean Winchester. Cas still has Dean’s wallet in his backpack. “I think I left something here last night,” Dean continues. “But I could take whatever I want, huh? Are you going to punch me in the face again?” Cas glares at him. He hopes it’s murderous. “I’m just messing with you.” Dean offers out a hand to help Cas up, and Cas reluctantly takes it. Standing up, Cas realizes that he and Dean are almost exactly the same height--Dean’s just got a couple of extra inches on him. The other man seems to relish in that, though, drawing himself up so he can just barely look down at Cas. “Can I have my wallet back?” “Your wallet?” Dean smirks. “I know it’s here, and I know you found it. Seeing as I definitely dripped blood on the floor last night, and it’s all gone. You  cleaned it up. You’re thorough like that.” “You don’t know me.” “I could get to know you.” “Why?” “Why not?” “You’re not going to get your wallet back like this.” Cas crosses his arms. Dean definitely figured out that his wallet was in the front pocket of Cas’s backpack as soon as he walked into the room, but he’s still fronting, acting like he needs Cas to give it back. “I didn’t just come back for the wallet.” Dean smirks. “Let’s talk.” “Fine.” 

“Ok,” he answers hesitantly. “What would I have to-”

“The next guy that comes around that corner,” The man cuts him off, grabbing Dean by the shoulder and turning him around. He points toward the far corner of the building. “I need you to just... punch him in the face.” Dean glances at the man in horror. He wants to protest, but a twenty is thrust into his palm as he’s pushed in the direction.

“Go,” the man orders. Dean looks up to see a dark haired man rounding the building. He glances up at Dean with wide blue eyes just as Dean’s fist connect with the his jaw.

“Motherfucker!” Dean screams in pain, jumping back and shaking out his wrist. It’s been awhile since he’d punched anyone. He forgot how much it hurt.

The man stumbles back, grabbing at his face. “What the hell?” he screams in indignation. The small man’s gleeful cackle can be heard echoing all around them.

“Oh my God! That was the most amazing thing I ever saw!” He gasps breathlessly, sauntering over to the dark-haired man. “Oh, Castiel, you are going fucking down this year! There’s a new champ in town!” The man pushes past Dean.

“Wait… So why did I have to punch that guy?” Dean asks, hooking a thumb toward the dark-haired guy. The shorter man just giggles and runs off. Dean turns back, offering an apologetic look to this Castiel guy, who is currently rubbing at his face and staring daggers at Dean.

“Here man,” Dean offers a hand, “Let me help you-”

“Don’t touch me!” he hisses. He pushes himself up as he rocks his jaw side-to-side. “Look, I’m not that angry, not entirely. Can you just please leave, though?” Dean frowns in confusion. The guy should be pissed off at him; instead he just looks sad.

“What was going on there?” Dean asks after a moment. He holds up the twenty. “Why did that guy pay me to punch you?” Castiel’s eyes go wide in surprise.

‘He fucking paid you?!” He balks. “That’s such a cheat move!” Dean shakes his head, still not understanding.

“Can please explain what’s going on?” he asks again. Castiel studies him for a second and sighs.

“It’s a scavenger hunt,” He explains. “My family has a week-long game every year with crazy items and you have to get pictures and video. That… wonderful person you just met is my asshole brother who’s had it out to beat me since we were teenagers.”

“A scavenger hunt?” Dean repeats.

“Yeah.” Cas nods. “And the ‘get a stranger to punch another player in the face’ is a high-point item. You probably didn’t notice the camera flash as it happened, but I know Gabriel got proof…  Jesus, he’s going to win and I am never going to live this down.” he looks away, shaking his head despondently.

“What do you get if you win?” Dean asks. He doesn’t like seeing people upset and seeing those huge blue eyes so forlorn is something he needs to change.

“Bragging rights” Castiel replies with a shrug. “It’s just for fun… if you could call this fun.” Dean scratches at his chin thoughtfully.

“Well, I can’t help you win the game,” he says, holding up the $20 once more. “But we can put your brother’s money to good use. Can I at least buy you a beer?” Castiel gives him a withering look.

“You just punched me in the face.” he says.

“Yeah, it was dumb. The least I can do is buy you a drink.” A wry smile crosses Castiel’s expression.

“The least you should do is buy me dinner,” he replies. Dean gives a soft laugh and nods; he can tell when he’s being flirted with. He follows Castiel around the building and back into the bar. He knows he’s going to get questions from Charlie when she sees him with the strange, cute guy with the swollen jaw, but he doesn’t really care.

It’s not until they push through the front door that something occurs to Dean.

“Wait a minute,” He grabs Castiel by the arm, pulling him back. “Having dinner with a stranger...This isn’t another item in your scavenger hunt, is it?” Castiel smiles and leans forward, planting a quick passionate kiss right on Dean’s mouth.