[FIC] Working Hard to Not Fail for DROPOUT
Gift type: Fanfic
Title: Working Hard to Not Fail
Author: warpedminded
Recipient: dropout
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2283
Warnings: Language
Spoilers: None
Summary: 'Starting on the project wasn't easy, especially since they didn't want to speak to each other. Dean had been frustrated, to say the least. He wanted it done, with neither of their heads put on a pike and kicked out of the internship.'
Author notes: prompter asked for 'college!AU: Dean and Castiel are begrudgingly assigned to intern in the same lab/under the same professor together, etc.. Perhaps set around the holidays as one of them begins to get more into the spirit of giving and decides to make peace with the other. Fluff city ahoy.' And I hope that I gave them close to what they wanted.
Dean's head was pounding as he woke up from the worst hangover ever. He weakly turned his head and groaned.
"Shit, ten after 7. I can't believe I am late for class. Fuuuck." He stumbled out of bed and fell onto his knees when his head started to spin. "No no, can't be any later." He gagged and tried to hold it back. When he realized it wasn't going to work, he got up and rushed to his bathroom, and bowed to his porcelain god.
It had taken Dean another fifteen minutes before he was able to even move, let alone go to class. Dean took a couple headache pills and was chugging water all the way to the Science Lab room.
He pushed open the doors and winced at how bright the room was.
"Ah and here is our star pupil, who seems to have had a rough night. And it's a wonder how he gets his homework done, let alone getting top marks." His teacher gave him a slight disapproving look, but was still amused.
Dean gave a smirk as he sat down with a groan. "Well I'm just glad that you didn't lock the door when class started."
His professor ignored him and said, "Anyways... I have come to decide that Dean Winchester and Castiel Novak are going to be my new interns starting next quarter." Now the teacher had an evil smirk of his own.
Dean felt the air rush out of him and he glared in the direction of the other person who was going to be an intern. 'Castiel Novak...' Dean thought with a sneer. His eyes widened when he realized that Castiel was glaring even harder at him. He felt a slight flash of fear shoot down his spine, and he looked away with a nervous swallow.
:::
The end of the quarter came too fast. Dean wanted to intern, he really did, but being around that weird guy made him unsure.
Just when he remembered to talk to his teacher, it was too late, and the new quarter began.
:::
"Ah screw it. Be a man Dean. Don't let that prude with deep ocean blue eyes get you down." Dean hissed as he took a quick shower, scrubbing his body. He put on some decent dress clothes and primped himself up nice and pretty for his new start at being an intern.
When he walked into the classroom he saw Castiel reading the syllabus their professor had given to both of them to study before the new quarter.
Castiel looked up, startled when Dean dropped his bag on the floor. He then gave a slight glare and looked back down at the binder with the curriculum outline. "I suppose you will want me to tell you what I have read so you don't need to." His deep, gravelly voice shocked Dean.
"I know I am beautiful, but don't let the looks make you think that I paid people to do my work. I studied my ass off and I got here from that work ethic. Sure I may be a partier, but I am also no slacker." Dean's cheek twitched at the implication of paying others.
"I am sorry. That was extremely rude." Castiel's eyes cast down in embarrassment. "I tend to get jealous when something that I want, gets stolen from under me."
Dean raised a brow, "I'm sorry? Stolen from under you? What did I steal?" He looked around the room as if to find what he supposedly stole.
Castiel bit his cheek to stop the chuckle, and swallowed it down. "The internship. I wanted to be the only one. But no, Professor wanted two interns to teach. I would have been better on my own without another intern sniffing around where they aren't needed." He then went back to reading the syllabus.
"Huh..." Dean shook his head while rolling his eyes. "Well if it makes you feel any better, I was going to say no, but I forgot to say it in time."
"It doesn't." It was full of bitterness which made Dean's eyes widen in surprise. He went to a seat away from Castiel and started on his own work.
Dean was muttering under his breath about how much of a jerk Castiel was, but the high and mighty dark haired man didn't hear anything.
:::
It was half an hour later when the students came into the room. Dean and Cas sat on one of the long front desks. Dean wrote down everything he needed to, and sighed when their professor told them after class that they would be making a Power Point together. "When will it need to be ready?" Was all that Castiel asked.
"It will need to be finished right before Christmas Break. Both of you will present it the day before the students leave. If you don't both work on this together I will be kicking out the one who was slacking."
Dean sighed running his hand through his hair. It was all messed up. He now had no choice but to work with the man who was staring at him with no expression. Dean stood up and left for his dorm room.
:::
Starting on the project wasn't easy, especially since they didn't want to speak to each other. Dean had been frustrated, to say the least. He wanted it done, with neither of their heads put on a pike and kicked out of the internship.
Finally there was a day where both of them were free to work together in the library. Dean was nervous, and majorly dreading this moment.
He stepped into the library like he was on a search for monsters, his pulse was racing, his eyes wide; he snuck a look around the corner real quick to see if the target was in the room. He almost gasped when he saw Castiel sitting at a table with books all spread out.
'Come on Winchester. He's not gonna smite you or anything. Go you little bitch.' That finally urged him forward. He walked up to the table without a smile; he knew grinning and charming this guy wouldn't work. "Hey. I brought my laptop, since it has to be a power point."
"Thank you. I don't use computers, so it was wise that you thought to bring yours." Cas looked up at Dean and gave him a look of appreciation. "Have you been reading up on the chapter?"
Dean nodded, opening his book up to the page. "I have been reading it over and over, just so I have it nailed into my brain. It should be pretty easy to do the project. Have you studied it forwards and backwards?" That earned him a head tilt.
"...Why would I read it backwards?"
Dean laughed, thinking Castiel was joking at first, but when he got no answering chuckle he looked up, stunned. "Are you serious?"
"Why wouldn't I be? It was an honest question."
"Dude... It's just a figure of speech."
"Ah." Castiel went back to reading the chapter, "Yes I have read it quite a few times. Sadly, I don't know anything about power point, or how I could help with that part."
Dean smiled, shrugging, "We will figure out something. I won't let either of us get kicked out." When Dean went back to starting the new project on his computer, he didn't see Castiel studying him with wide, curious eyes.
:::
After working with Castiel for a few weeks, Dean realized they didn't speak about anything but the project. The dark haired man would still glare at him in class, but it would tone down a little when they were alone in the library.
It was getting closer to the holidays, and Dean felt the Christmas spirit filling him up just like every other year.
He started thinking of stuff he could do for people he knew, as a gift for Christmas. Dean's thinking went towards a certain dark haired, blue eyed man who was currently starring in all his thoughts; during the day when he was awake, and at night when he slept peacefully. One night before falling asleep, Dean shot up from his bed with a sudden realization. He HAD to apologize to Castiel, and see if they could start over. Dean wasn't going to let this man make him feel guilty all the time. He was going to befriend Cas and show him the true meaning of Christmas.
:::
Dean was out of breath when he ran into the library. "Cas!" He called out, only to be hushed by the librarian who gave him a fierce stare. He winced and raised his hands, suitably chastised. "Sorry." He whispered.
Castiel had looked up when Dean said his nickname, and he frowned, watching as Dean Winchester walked over to him. "Yes? What was so urgent that you had to yell my name from over there, instead of coming here and saying my name?"
A huff left Dean and he sat down close to the other man. He chuckled when he saw a flash of nervousness cross over Castiel's face. "Don't worry. I'm not gonna finally beat you up." He took a deep breath, "I know that you don't like me, and I guess I understand why. You are great at Science. You work hard, and study every single piece of information you find in the books. For me I don't have to study hard to pass this class. That's what makes you the better man, working for what you love." He bit the inside of his cheek as he looked down at the table. "I want to get to know you, and become a friend. I want all this negative stuff between us to disappear. It's almost Christmas break, and I want to show you that the spirit of the holiday is great. Makes people do things that will make a positive influence on others.
"So Castiel Novak, I apologize for the way I have treated you. And if possible, can we start over and get to know each other?"
Dean looked at Cas in confusion when the dark haired man stared at the table, eyebrows furrowed, lips pursed as if he was thinking.
Castiel looked at Dean and nodded his head, "Yes. Yes I want to start over. I want to apologize for the way I treated you also. I was selfish and rude, and my behavior was unacceptable. So yes, let's start over." He reached out and shook Dean's hand, "I am Castiel Novak, and I am currently an intern for the Science lab."
A look of relief passed over Dean and he grinned, shaking the hand back, "I am Dean Winchester and I am also interning in the Science lab. We should hang out sometime."
"How does tonight sound?"
"Perfect. So you ready to get this project finished for class tomorrow?" Dean opened up his laptop and Castiel scooted his chair closer to Dean.
"Absolutely. Where would you like to go?"
"Wanna come over to my room? We can watch movies, or play video games."
Castiel looked at Dean with a fond smile, "I knew that you would like video games. Let me guess, the shooting ones?"
"Oh so you already know everything about me, don't you?" Dean teased, "Well then, tell me what you would like to do."
"I like to spend quiet evenings just reading. But I do like to go and hang around with friends every now and then. We can go to your room and do whatever you want. I am sure I will still have fun." Castiel gave a small grin.
Dean clapped his hands together and rubbed them, "Great! Do you want to go out and eat before? What do you say to some Runza?"
Castiel chuckled, nodding, "That would be acceptable. What time? 7 o'clock?"
"Yep."
It took them only an hour before they finished the power point. Dean read it over to make sure it went together well enough. They said their goodbyes and promised they would meet outside Dean's dorm room building at 7.
:::
Dean was jittery as he walked around his room, cleaning it up for the company that would be coming over after supper.
His alarm went off and he ran over to turn it off before grabbed his jacket and locking his door. By the time he got outside, Castiel was there waiting patiently. "Hey."
"Hello. You ready?" Castiel asked politely.
"Of course. I'm always ready for some Runza."
:::
While eating they asked each other questions, getting to know the other person. They took an hour to get back to Dean's room.
"What movie do you want to watch?"
"Have anything that isn't horror?"
"Uhm... yes, I have Twister. It's a tornado movie. It's really good." Dean knelt down and grabbed the movie, and handing it over to the other man silently.
Cas looked over the case and gave a nod of approval, "This does look good."
Dean sat close to Castiel on his lower section of the bunk bed. While the movie was playing, Dean would look over at the dark haired man and smile at his reactions to the film. During one point, Dean leaned over and kissed Cas on the corner of his lips. He pulled back when Castiel turned to look at him.
"Why?"
Dean smiled, "Why not?" He leaned in for a kiss that Castiel reciprocated.
Title: Working Hard to Not Fail
Author: warpedminded
Recipient: dropout
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2283
Warnings: Language
Spoilers: None
Summary: 'Starting on the project wasn't easy, especially since they didn't want to speak to each other. Dean had been frustrated, to say the least. He wanted it done, with neither of their heads put on a pike and kicked out of the internship.'
Author notes: prompter asked for 'college!AU: Dean and Castiel are begrudgingly assigned to intern in the same lab/under the same professor together, etc.. Perhaps set around the holidays as one of them begins to get more into the spirit of giving and decides to make peace with the other. Fluff city ahoy.' And I hope that I gave them close to what they wanted.
Dean's head was pounding as he woke up from the worst hangover ever. He weakly turned his head and groaned.
"Shit, ten after 7. I can't believe I am late for class. Fuuuck." He stumbled out of bed and fell onto his knees when his head started to spin. "No no, can't be any later." He gagged and tried to hold it back. When he realized it wasn't going to work, he got up and rushed to his bathroom, and bowed to his porcelain god.
It had taken Dean another fifteen minutes before he was able to even move, let alone go to class. Dean took a couple headache pills and was chugging water all the way to the Science Lab room.
He pushed open the doors and winced at how bright the room was.
"Ah and here is our star pupil, who seems to have had a rough night. And it's a wonder how he gets his homework done, let alone getting top marks." His teacher gave him a slight disapproving look, but was still amused.
Dean gave a smirk as he sat down with a groan. "Well I'm just glad that you didn't lock the door when class started."
His professor ignored him and said, "Anyways... I have come to decide that Dean Winchester and Castiel Novak are going to be my new interns starting next quarter." Now the teacher had an evil smirk of his own.
Dean felt the air rush out of him and he glared in the direction of the other person who was going to be an intern. 'Castiel Novak...' Dean thought with a sneer. His eyes widened when he realized that Castiel was glaring even harder at him. He felt a slight flash of fear shoot down his spine, and he looked away with a nervous swallow.
:::
The end of the quarter came too fast. Dean wanted to intern, he really did, but being around that weird guy made him unsure.
Just when he remembered to talk to his teacher, it was too late, and the new quarter began.
:::
"Ah screw it. Be a man Dean. Don't let that prude with deep ocean blue eyes get you down." Dean hissed as he took a quick shower, scrubbing his body. He put on some decent dress clothes and primped himself up nice and pretty for his new start at being an intern.
When he walked into the classroom he saw Castiel reading the syllabus their professor had given to both of them to study before the new quarter.
Castiel looked up, startled when Dean dropped his bag on the floor. He then gave a slight glare and looked back down at the binder with the curriculum outline. "I suppose you will want me to tell you what I have read so you don't need to." His deep, gravelly voice shocked Dean.
"I know I am beautiful, but don't let the looks make you think that I paid people to do my work. I studied my ass off and I got here from that work ethic. Sure I may be a partier, but I am also no slacker." Dean's cheek twitched at the implication of paying others.
"I am sorry. That was extremely rude." Castiel's eyes cast down in embarrassment. "I tend to get jealous when something that I want, gets stolen from under me."
Dean raised a brow, "I'm sorry? Stolen from under you? What did I steal?" He looked around the room as if to find what he supposedly stole.
Castiel bit his cheek to stop the chuckle, and swallowed it down. "The internship. I wanted to be the only one. But no, Professor wanted two interns to teach. I would have been better on my own without another intern sniffing around where they aren't needed." He then went back to reading the syllabus.
"Huh..." Dean shook his head while rolling his eyes. "Well if it makes you feel any better, I was going to say no, but I forgot to say it in time."
"It doesn't." It was full of bitterness which made Dean's eyes widen in surprise. He went to a seat away from Castiel and started on his own work.
Dean was muttering under his breath about how much of a jerk Castiel was, but the high and mighty dark haired man didn't hear anything.
:::
It was half an hour later when the students came into the room. Dean and Cas sat on one of the long front desks. Dean wrote down everything he needed to, and sighed when their professor told them after class that they would be making a Power Point together. "When will it need to be ready?" Was all that Castiel asked.
"It will need to be finished right before Christmas Break. Both of you will present it the day before the students leave. If you don't both work on this together I will be kicking out the one who was slacking."
Dean sighed running his hand through his hair. It was all messed up. He now had no choice but to work with the man who was staring at him with no expression. Dean stood up and left for his dorm room.
:::
Starting on the project wasn't easy, especially since they didn't want to speak to each other. Dean had been frustrated, to say the least. He wanted it done, with neither of their heads put on a pike and kicked out of the internship.
Finally there was a day where both of them were free to work together in the library. Dean was nervous, and majorly dreading this moment.
He stepped into the library like he was on a search for monsters, his pulse was racing, his eyes wide; he snuck a look around the corner real quick to see if the target was in the room. He almost gasped when he saw Castiel sitting at a table with books all spread out.
'Come on Winchester. He's not gonna smite you or anything. Go you little bitch.' That finally urged him forward. He walked up to the table without a smile; he knew grinning and charming this guy wouldn't work. "Hey. I brought my laptop, since it has to be a power point."
"Thank you. I don't use computers, so it was wise that you thought to bring yours." Cas looked up at Dean and gave him a look of appreciation. "Have you been reading up on the chapter?"
Dean nodded, opening his book up to the page. "I have been reading it over and over, just so I have it nailed into my brain. It should be pretty easy to do the project. Have you studied it forwards and backwards?" That earned him a head tilt.
"...Why would I read it backwards?"
Dean laughed, thinking Castiel was joking at first, but when he got no answering chuckle he looked up, stunned. "Are you serious?"
"Why wouldn't I be? It was an honest question."
"Dude... It's just a figure of speech."
"Ah." Castiel went back to reading the chapter, "Yes I have read it quite a few times. Sadly, I don't know anything about power point, or how I could help with that part."
Dean smiled, shrugging, "We will figure out something. I won't let either of us get kicked out." When Dean went back to starting the new project on his computer, he didn't see Castiel studying him with wide, curious eyes.
:::
After working with Castiel for a few weeks, Dean realized they didn't speak about anything but the project. The dark haired man would still glare at him in class, but it would tone down a little when they were alone in the library.
It was getting closer to the holidays, and Dean felt the Christmas spirit filling him up just like every other year.
He started thinking of stuff he could do for people he knew, as a gift for Christmas. Dean's thinking went towards a certain dark haired, blue eyed man who was currently starring in all his thoughts; during the day when he was awake, and at night when he slept peacefully. One night before falling asleep, Dean shot up from his bed with a sudden realization. He HAD to apologize to Castiel, and see if they could start over. Dean wasn't going to let this man make him feel guilty all the time. He was going to befriend Cas and show him the true meaning of Christmas.
:::
Dean was out of breath when he ran into the library. "Cas!" He called out, only to be hushed by the librarian who gave him a fierce stare. He winced and raised his hands, suitably chastised. "Sorry." He whispered.
Castiel had looked up when Dean said his nickname, and he frowned, watching as Dean Winchester walked over to him. "Yes? What was so urgent that you had to yell my name from over there, instead of coming here and saying my name?"
A huff left Dean and he sat down close to the other man. He chuckled when he saw a flash of nervousness cross over Castiel's face. "Don't worry. I'm not gonna finally beat you up." He took a deep breath, "I know that you don't like me, and I guess I understand why. You are great at Science. You work hard, and study every single piece of information you find in the books. For me I don't have to study hard to pass this class. That's what makes you the better man, working for what you love." He bit the inside of his cheek as he looked down at the table. "I want to get to know you, and become a friend. I want all this negative stuff between us to disappear. It's almost Christmas break, and I want to show you that the spirit of the holiday is great. Makes people do things that will make a positive influence on others.
"So Castiel Novak, I apologize for the way I have treated you. And if possible, can we start over and get to know each other?"
Dean looked at Cas in confusion when the dark haired man stared at the table, eyebrows furrowed, lips pursed as if he was thinking.
Castiel looked at Dean and nodded his head, "Yes. Yes I want to start over. I want to apologize for the way I treated you also. I was selfish and rude, and my behavior was unacceptable. So yes, let's start over." He reached out and shook Dean's hand, "I am Castiel Novak, and I am currently an intern for the Science lab."
A look of relief passed over Dean and he grinned, shaking the hand back, "I am Dean Winchester and I am also interning in the Science lab. We should hang out sometime."
"How does tonight sound?"
"Perfect. So you ready to get this project finished for class tomorrow?" Dean opened up his laptop and Castiel scooted his chair closer to Dean.
"Absolutely. Where would you like to go?"
"Wanna come over to my room? We can watch movies, or play video games."
Castiel looked at Dean with a fond smile, "I knew that you would like video games. Let me guess, the shooting ones?"
"Oh so you already know everything about me, don't you?" Dean teased, "Well then, tell me what you would like to do."
"I like to spend quiet evenings just reading. But I do like to go and hang around with friends every now and then. We can go to your room and do whatever you want. I am sure I will still have fun." Castiel gave a small grin.
Dean clapped his hands together and rubbed them, "Great! Do you want to go out and eat before? What do you say to some Runza?"
Castiel chuckled, nodding, "That would be acceptable. What time? 7 o'clock?"
"Yep."
It took them only an hour before they finished the power point. Dean read it over to make sure it went together well enough. They said their goodbyes and promised they would meet outside Dean's dorm room building at 7.
:::
Dean was jittery as he walked around his room, cleaning it up for the company that would be coming over after supper.
His alarm went off and he ran over to turn it off before grabbed his jacket and locking his door. By the time he got outside, Castiel was there waiting patiently. "Hey."
"Hello. You ready?" Castiel asked politely.
"Of course. I'm always ready for some Runza."
:::
While eating they asked each other questions, getting to know the other person. They took an hour to get back to Dean's room.
"What movie do you want to watch?"
"Have anything that isn't horror?"
"Uhm... yes, I have Twister. It's a tornado movie. It's really good." Dean knelt down and grabbed the movie, and handing it over to the other man silently.
Cas looked over the case and gave a nod of approval, "This does look good."
Dean sat close to Castiel on his lower section of the bunk bed. While the movie was playing, Dean would look over at the dark haired man and smile at his reactions to the film. During one point, Dean leaned over and kissed Cas on the corner of his lips. He pulled back when Castiel turned to look at him.
"Why?"
Dean smiled, "Why not?" He leaned in for a kiss that Castiel reciprocated.