For @one-more-offbeat-anthemâs 1k follower celebration: stargazing
Thereâs something about eating at a diner late at night that Dean loves. Sitting outside in Sante Fe, the quiet of the stars twinkling in the dark sky as the occasional headlight lights up the night. Itâs peaceful. No oneâs out eating this late at night except truck drivers and the rare night-owl who are exploring the world with no particular pathway ahead of them.
Itâs there that Dean meets him. Thereâs nothing special about him, and yet, when the man brings a bag of food out of the diner and sits on a table across from Dean, Dean canât tear his eyes away. The man almost glows in the moonlight; tan trenchcoat highlighted to a silvery shade and blue tie making his eyes glimmer.
Dean just canât stop staring, and the man quirks a smile at him. âBeautiful, isnât it?â the man asks, and God, his voice is deep and coils around Deanâs lungs.
âHmm? What?â Dean says, shaking his head slightly and darting his eyes down to the pile of fries on the table, still wrapped in a yellow wrapper.
âThe stars. The night. Itâs serene, donât you think?â the man replies, tilting his head back to gaze up at the twinkling canvas above them.
It really is. Itâs Deanâs favorite part about being on the road. These late night meals when he can just admire the galaxy spread out above him. So quiet it felt like the stars were dancing in the sky just for him to see.
âYou do this often? Chat up strangers while stargazing and eating burgers?â Dean asks, his eyes trained on the miles of tanned skinned of the other manâs throat.
âOnly if the strangers are as beautiful as the night sky,â the man teases, eyes lighting up as he picked up a fry and dipped it into a packet of ketchup.
Something was so entrancing about the man, and when their eyes met again across the long expanse of their individual tables, the man nodded his head towards the empty seat at his own table. âIâm Cas,â he said.
Dean smiled, picking up his food and moving towards Casâ table. âDean,â he said, offering Cas a warm smile as he sat down across from him.
They sat comfortably for a second before Dean nudged their feet together under the table. âI donât see any trucks in the parking lot. So where are you going?â
Cas grinned, bumping their ankles together before reaching over and stealing one of Deanâs fries even though he had a pile of his own. âWherever the stars take me.â
Deanâs heart thudded in his chest. Someone else just letting the road take them; just like Dean.
âWhat about you? Where are you heading?â Cas asked before offering Dean his milkshake.
âRight now? Heading to California to visit my brother and his wife. After that? Wherever the road guides me,â Dean says, taking a sip of the chocolate shake and rolling his shoulders; glancing up at a bright star right over their heads.
When Dean dropped his head down again, Cas was already looking at him. Their eyes locked and a wave of content washed over Dean. Reaching out, he dipped one of his own fries into Casâ ketchup and nodded his head towards Casâ tie. âWhy the fancy getup?â
Taking a bite of his burger, Cas grinned and launched into a story about the job he walked away from. Dean offered a story about his business with Bobby fixing cars and how he just needed some time to hit the road and drive.
They talked until their food went cold. They bonded until the stars faded into the first morning light. Walking back to their cars, Cas nudged Dean with his shoulder. âYou know... Dean. I know a good diner in Moab. I could show you, if youâd like?â Cas asked quietly as the early morning sunrise cast colorful gleams over his face.
Dean saw the offer for what it was. He could say no. He could politely decline and theyâd go their separate ways. But Dean didnât want that. Theyâd already exchanged phone numbers, but the thing was, Dean didnât want Cas to drive the other way. Hours of talking and suddenly the thought of being on the road without Cas by his side felt strange and empty.
With a smile, Dean skimmed his fingers over Casâ wrist. âLead the way, Cas.â
Two weeks later, in a little dive in San Jose, Cas leaned over the table and kissed Dean for the very first time. It felt like coming home after months of driving the open roads searching for something he couldnât describe.
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