cuddlydeans:

“Hey.”

Dean knocks his foot against Cas’ under the table until he looks up at him. They’ve been up and researching for hours on end. Cas looks like shit. His hair is a mess, he’s got the worst case of 5 o’clock shadow anyone has ever seen, and he’s got some tomato sauce on his cheek from the pizza they ate.

The annoyed glare he gets in response makes his heart swell fondly. 

And Dean? He gets so caught up in staring at his best friend that Cas has to kick his leg gently to get his attention.

“Dean.” 

His eyes snap up from Castiel’s chest and he lets out a nervous breath, “Yeah?”

Cas rolls his eyes before rubbing a hand over his face, “You were saying something.”

Oh. Right.

Dean blushes and rubs the back of his neck, “I just… y’know.”

The blank look Cas gives him in response makes Dean roll his eyes and groan, “Today. The date. I - I saw the date. I just… you remember?” 

Castiel squints at him, “Do I… remember the date?”

There’s a few moments of silence before Cas sighs, “Dean, we’ve been up for close to 30 hours now. I have no idea what day it is.” 

He tries to pretend that doesn’t hurt a little bit when he answers, “It’s the 18th. September 18th.” 

Castiel blinks for a moment before his brain catches up and then his face softens. He looks down at the table with a small smile, “Yes, I… remember.” 

Dean grins like a doof despite himself and has to look down at the book in front of him to hide it, “Cool.” 

“Yes…” Cas huffs a laugh, shaking his head fondly, “I suppose it is.” 

“I mean…” He bites his lip nervously, not looking up, “I don’t know. Pretty good day for me.” Dean pauses for a moment to consider, “Well - aside from the whole ‘digging myself out of my grave’ thing, anyway.” 

“For the last time,” Castiel groans and can’t help but laugh a little, “I’m sorry. I was tired. My aim was… off.” 

Dean snorts and when he looks up their eyes meet across the table, both of them grinning.

It takes them a solid minute to snap out of it and Dean’s the one who breaks first, looking away to hide how much he’s blushing.

“I’m -” He says after a few beats, clearing his throat, “I’m. Glad.”

Castiel arches an eyebrow at him, smirking, “That my aim was off?” 

Dean rolls his eyes and half-heartedly tosses a pen at Cas’ chest, “No, you dick.” He lets his head roll back to look up at the ceiling, not sure why it’s so hard to actually say this.

“I’m glad that… that I met you.” 

He looks back at Cas after a moment, his heart hammering in his chest, “And not just because you saved my sorry ass.” 

It’s not sweet or romantic or any of the things that he wishes it could be but Cas smiles all the same, as if he gets everything behind it. It’s a gentle and pleased smile, the kind of smile you hope for when you tell someone that you love them.

“Me too,” Cas murmurs after a moment, still smiling. “And not just because you saved me as well.”