Learning to Communicate
Title: Learning to Communicate
Author: bballgirl3022
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Dean/Castiel and Sam/Gabriel
Spoilers: If you know Gabriel, Castiel, and Anna you’re good.
Warnings: AU
Disclaimer: I don’t own Supernatural
Summary: Dean meets an attractive man at the bar one night and learns his secret.
Word Count: 1,303
Notes: I’ve been very fic happy today. So here’s another. Thanks and enjoy.
Now newly beta-ed thanks to the ever wonderful moonofblindness. (10/13/2011)
Learning to Communicate
Dean figured it would just be an ordinary night on the job. He’d pour some drinks, flirt with some chicks, and go home in the wee hours of the morning to fall asleep alone. That was until he walked in.
He didn’t have a name, at least not one Dean knew, but the dude was smokin’. He looked as though he had a recent rendezvous in the bathroom with his messy hair and flushed cheeks. Dean knew this hadn’t happened though because he’d been watching the man for the last two hours; and yes he did in fact know that was completely ridiculous but he couldn’t help it. The guy didn’t seem to talk much. Although he did laugh often at whatever the short guy and red-head at his table were talking about. Dean was completely enthralled with the guy already.
This was bad news.
*****
Castiel was highly uncomfortable. He didn’t enjoy loud, crowded places; especially bars. Castiel was extremely self-conscious. He didn’t like to talk with others in public, not even his own siblings. People always looked at him funny. Talked about him like he couldn’t hear what they were saying. Usually it was rude, condescending, or pitying.
He couldn’t say no though. Gabriel had harangued him into going out. When he said ‘going out’, Castiel had initially thought they would want to see a movie or do something that didn’t involve socializing of any kind; but he had come to find out he was sadly mistaken when Gabriel pulled into the parking lot of a well-known bar in the area. Castiel tried to voice his displeasure, but Gabriel didn’t look at him except to say, “You coming or you gonna sit in the car all night?”
So he had no choice to but to join Gabriel and Anna, drink beer and avoid being noticed. His plan worked out well until Anna noted that the bartender was staring at their table. Castiel looked in the man’s general direction. He was in fact staring, when he wasn’t busy filling drink orders, directly at their table. Castiel felt the heat rush into his cheeks under the man’s scrutiny.
“He’s incredibly handsome.” Anna noted.
“Yeah, so is his brother.”
“How do you know he has a brother, Gabriel?” she questioned.
“I met him last week. Hence the reason I brought you guys here.”
“And what reason is that precisely?”
“I brought you, Anna, as back up. And I brought Castiel because he needs to get out of the house occasionally.” Castiel glared in response to that statement. “Oh. Here he comes. Do I look OK?”
The brother in question was a giant; although most people were large compared to Gabriel. “You look fine,” Anna responded not even glancing in Gabriel’s direction. “Does the brother have a name?”
“His name is Sam. And before you ask, no I am not going to share him with either of you.” Gabriel continued surreptitiously preening. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a hot date.” He sauntered, or Castiel assumed that was why he was walking the way he was, off to meet Sam.
*****
Dean wasn’t all that shocked to see Sam’s huge frame enter the bar and take a seat; he often visited Dean when he got done, or bored, grading papers. He was shocked to see the short guy from the table Dean had been staring at join his brother. Dean did vaguely recall Sam mentioning he met someone, but he never mentioned it was a dude; dude with an exceptionally hot friend, brother, something.
It was twenty more minutes before there was a lull in orders long enough that he could have a proper conversation with his brother and his brother’s date. “Hey, Sammy. Who’s your friend?”
“Wow Dean; how very unsubtle of you,” Sam said with a laugh.
“My name’s Gabriel.” The little dude said, extending his hand for Dean to shake, which he did. “I saw you staring at our table earlier.” Dean flushed at that statement. He wasn’t exactly hiding his stares, but he didn’t expect to be confronted about it. “I’m sure you might have noticed, but I’m taken. So I hope there was someone else at the table whose pants you wanted to get in.” Sam gave Dean an incredulous look and Gabriel chuckled at Dean’s expression; which looked sort of like a fish out of water.
“So which one were you staring at? Anna?” Dean glanced at the red-headed woman. She, Anna, was attractive enough; long hair, pale skin, shapely body and any other day Dean might have thought about taking her home; but as it is he had already found someone else who had intrigued him. Dean was apparently quiet for much too long. “Oh my God,” Dean’s head snapped toward the voice. “You want Castiel!” The little man, Gabriel, Dean needed to remember that, seemed uncommonly giddy for finding out another man wanted to bang his brother. “This is wonderful. You should talk to him. He’s single you know. Or well you probably didn’t, but now you do.”
Castiel was available. This was amazing news. Dean could work with this. All he had to do was talk to the guy and… Get Castiel to agree to date him.
*****
The conversation died down after Gabriel left. Anna tried to make conversation, but Castiel would only nod or shake his head in response to anything she said. He could tell she was irritated, but she was much too sympathetic towards him to say anything about it.
“Castiel?” That voice. It was deep and sexy and made Castiel’s skin heat up. He slowly turned toward the voice.
The bartender who had been staring at their table all night was behind him. He looked even better up close. There was a smattering of freckles across his nose and cheeks that made him look much younger. “You are Castiel right? That’s what your brother told me, but I wouldn’t put it past him to lie.” The man was smiling. He was lovely when he smiled.
Castiel shot a pleading look to Anna. He needed help. Castiel couldn’t speak and if he didn’t answer the man might leave. And Castiel liked this man’s voice very much.
Thankfully his sister took mercy on him. “Yes, his name is Castiel.” The man looked confused as to why Anna was answering and not him, but thankfully didn’t comment about it.
“My name’s Dean. I was wondering if you wanted to go out sometime.” Dean looked adorable when he was nervous. Dean leaned in close and lowered his voice. “Gabriel told me you were shy and if you wanted that we could double date, with Gabriel and Sam.” Castiel was grateful that Gabriel offered to double date, because a night with Dean alone would be very quiet.
“Castiel would love to,” Anna provided helpfully. Castiel nodded his head in agreement and the smile Dean gave him was downright beautiful.
“I was hoping you’d say yes. We were thinking pizza. Monday night, maybe?” Castiel wanted to respond. Wanted to scream that any day was fine as long as Dean was going to be there, but he couldn’t. “I know you don’t like to talk in public, but you could just say a simple yes or no.”
Castiel’s breath left in a rush. Dean wanted him to talk?
“He won’t respond,” Anna provided helpfully, or rather not so helpfully.
“Why not?” Dean’s forehead creased in confusion.
“He can’t.” This was going to end badly. Dean would find out about him and then decide he was too weird and never speak to him again. Castiel could feel the angry tears prickling in his eyes.
“Can’t?”
“He can’t respond because Castiel can’t speak.” Dean’s facial expression turned to one of shock, or possibly terror.
Dean turned to look Castiel in the eye. “You’re mute.”
TBC