Castiel is a 27 year old writer who lives alone and mostly keeps to himself. It isn't until a family tragedy and inheriting his family's entire fortune that anyone knows who he really is. While he struggles to maintain a civil relationship with his jealous brothers, he meets a man with a similar fate, but his inheritance is much more unfortunate. Deastiel, MaleXMale, Multi-chapter.

I'm not even certain how frequently I'll be updating this story, seeing as how I have so many others on my plate e_e But I will say that it won't ever be abandoned. This had been an idea I've been formulating ever since I knew I totally shipped Destiel, and it's the first in the fandom that I've written for… So there's that.

(BLD)

It was raining again tonight, though that wasn't even worth mentioning seeing as how it rained all the time in Seattle. Castiel couldn't bring himself to complain, though. It was the perfect place for him. He had the city loft apartment that he'd always wanted ever since he began to imagine living alone. It had a beautiful view of a park, with wide open fields and fountains that lit up at night, and a forest beyond that, that swayed soothingly when the wind picked up. When it rained, he liked to stare out his wall made of windows while sipping a Brandy. It was the only time he drank, a combination that always relaxed him.

And the city itself was fantastic. Though it rained often, there was still something always going on, keeping the people lively in an atmosphere that tried it's best to be dreary. It was that spirit that drove him here.

Despite all the mud Castiel dragging through the front door, despite needing to wear two coats on some occasions, and even despite the annoying clingy woman who lives a few blocks away from him, this place was still amazing. It was his first true taste of freedom. For the first time in his entire life, he feels he's finally been rid of his family's influence. Out here, where no one recognizes him, he can work and write and not be given praise based purely on the fact that people feared his father if they even so much as critiqued his work. Out here is where he's been able to truly grow, to sharpen his skills and learn from mistakes.

He's gone so far that the tendrils of his family can't reach him, can't hold him down and squash his dreams. Out here he can make a name for himself, and it would be from his own hard work and determination, and not simply riding on his father's coat tails.

He's so entranced by the falling rain, watching a few drops slide down the glass that he doesn't hear the knocks on his front door. It takes the rapidly repeated ding-dongs of his door bell for him to blink himself to reality. He sets his already empty Brandy glass on the table standing beside his couch and he quickly jogs to his door.

He expects Balthazar, his friend of ever since he made the move here two years ago to be standing before him. He'd given Balthazar a manuscript of his latest poem set he was hoping to publish. It had taken him a whole month to come up with a theme for all his poems, wanting to compile them into a book if possible, and after preaching this to Balthazar, he offered to take a look and give some insight, being a fellow writer himself.

What he doesn't expect in the slightest is to see his older brother.

"Hey there, Castiel! How's my bro doin'?" Gabriel didn't even wait for the invitation to entire Castiel's home and simply slipped past his dumb-struck brother. He grinned, amused, as he slowly stepped through his apartment, observing his décor and checking out his furniture.

"Where did you get this stuff, some old lady yard sale?" he mumbled as he stared down at the rug before the spiral staircase leading to his bedroom area.

"What are you doing here, Gabriel?" Castiel finally spoke, taking two long strides and stopping just behind his older brother. He was certain he told his family to call before they decided to visit, and to be sure it was weeks in advance. He didn't often get visits from them that were 'surprises', but those were usually emergencies, like when Lucifer was hospitalized and eventually had to get his appendix removed a year ago. Gabriel had come then as well, breathless and panting, like he'd ran all the way from home to come get him.

Lucifer had made a full recovery, though everyone knew he would. But the fear had been real, and even though it was usually an awkward affair whenever he came home, he made the trip for his brother. He knew Lucifer would've raised hell if he didn't see him by his bedside when he woke from surgery.

And now, Castiel is afraid something of the like was happening now. Though he was entirely uncertain why Gabriel was being so… Gabriel.

"Hey, you got any good booze?" he asked, completely ignoring Castiel as he stepped over to the small table that held his 'bar' paraphernalia. It was a kit, including a silver shaker and utensils like in any mix drink kit. It was a gift from Balthazar after he'd gotten a piece into a compilation book of poems. It was mostly for looks, the whole thing a dusty metallic piece of decoration in the corner. He kept his Brandy in a cabinet in the kitchen, along with his glasses, but Balthazar had told him all writers have their drink-ware out in the open. He said it would show visitors that he was a suffering writer, like all writers should be, and he'd have all sorts of women on his arms.

The only kind of visitors he's ever had here were him, their other mutual writer friend Chuck, and… Rachel.

But Rachel was always out of courtesy, it was impolite to not invite a lady in out of the rain. But that didn't mean that he was never uncomfortable when she was in his home every Sunday after church.

"Gabriel, please… is somebody hurt?" he was having a miniature heart attack, standing a few paces away from his brother. He hoped to God everyone was alright.

Gabriel sighed, his shoulders sagging as he toyed with a throw pillow on his couch. He didn't speak for a long while, and Castiel didn't push him. He waited, holding his breath and hoping beyond all hope that he was just being Gabriel. He liked to drag things out, because either he just wanted to annoy Castiel, or he didn't know how to approach a subject. Despite how much it would annoy him, he hoped he was just being annoying. But why would he have made the trip all the way out to Seattle just to annoy him?

When his brother finally turned around, he wasn't expecting the neutral expression he wore. He opened his mouth and meant to say something but there was another knock at his door before any sound could come out.

Castiel sighed, momentarily closing his eyes, then turned briskly to head back to the door. "It's my friend. He's bringing me back my manuscript."

Gabriel didn't make a sound as Castiel went for his door, opening it and sighing as he was met with his friend. "Hello Balthazar." His British friend made a chuckle, "Who pissed in your corn flakes, Cassie?" he then walked in past Castiel, not waiting to be invited in. Castiel hadn't realized he looked so glum already. He ran a hand down his face, a motion that seemed like he was trying to wipe the expression off his face.

"Well, I got a surprise visit from my brother." He mumbled. He's explanation was weak, as Balthazar had already wandered into the living room and saw for himself. And it was like a switch had been flipped, and Gabriel was as chipper as could be. He stepped up and shook Balthazar's hand with enthusiasm. "Hey, I'm Gabriel. Castiel's older brother." He grinned, "And I'm gonna guess that you're the writer friend." Castiel hadn't wanted to mix his friends with family, so he made sure they never met. And now it looks like all his careful planning had gone to waste.

Balthazar chuckled, "One of many." He corrected. "I'm Balthazar. I've known your brother since he moved here." He explained. There was some time spent between his friend and brother, casually chatting, getting to know one another, and the whole while Castiel took a seat in his arm chair. He stared off in the distance, not focusing on any point but stared. Gabriel was pulling his public face.

Because where he's from, his family is in the spot light often, the family had become accustomed to making cameras believe that everything was peachy-kin in the family, smiling and posing for pictures during events. But when the lights went out and the cameras were off, there was sure to be some knives held to some throats.

And right now, the way Gabriel was joking and laughing it up with Balthazar, seeming to be enjoying himself… Castiel could tell just as plain as if he'd been showing his true emotions on his face.

Something was up. And it was bad.

"Castiel…" Balthazar had called his name, and from the sounds of it, he'd called out to him more than once.

"Yes?" Castiel answered, standing up to approach them, trying to not let his anxiety show.

"I was just telling your brother how much you've improved since we met. Then he told me the strangest thing." Balthazar turned completely to Castiel then, his expression seeming to border on hurt.

"He told me you weren't much of a writer back home."

Shit.

He'd told Balthazar that he'd come from a town that praised him too highly, therefor he couldn't ever get any good feedback, and he'd moved to a place where no one knew his name because he wanted to get away from the place he couldn't grow. It wasn't entirely a lie, just the part about being a famous article writer for the paper back home. And only wanting to move because of his career choice.

"Well, Gabriel wasn't much of a reader, so that doesn't surprise me that he didn't know I wrote." Castiel countered, not sticking around to wait for any remark or comment from his brother. He was not in the mood to play this game at the moment, and if his instincts were correct, he needed to be packing a bag right about now. He headed for his spiral staircase, ascending quickly.

"What are you doing? I thought we were going to go over your manuscript…" Balthazar called after him.

"Unfortunately, plans have changed. I'm going to have to make a trip back home." Before Castiel could give any further reason, Gabriel chimed in with an acceptable excuse.

"It's our family reunion. He's been skipping out these past couple of years and Pops is making me drag him home." He chuckled. It seemed this excuse had worked because Balthazar had begun to chuckle as well. "Sorry I couldn't have gotten here sooner, Cassie. I could've whisked you away to L.A. for the week and sparred you the family time." He called up to Castiel through the open space of the lofty upstairs.

Despite his current situation, Castiel managed to smirk. He was fairly certain Balthazar would've done it, too. He was that kind of a friend, one willing to help out in a situation beyond your control and even be willing to skip out on responsibilities… well, he might not have been too broken up about his responsibilities, but he was sure it put a burden on anyone to go out of their way for something like that. And Balthazar would do all of that for him. Plain old Castiel who didn't know how to bring his voice out of monotone, or flirt with women.

He was certain he didn't deserve the treatment, but he appreciated it none the less.

"And I'm sure you would have." He mumbled to himself. He made himself busy by digging through his closet and pulling out his set of luggage. There were four bags all together, three ascending in size, and the fourth basically a toiletries bag. He began to fill that one first, going into his bathroom and pulling out his toothbrush and tooth paste and preparing them to be packed.

He hadn't noticed when his brother and friend had followed him upstairs to his room, but when he went for his bedside table to retrieve a tube of chapstick, Balthazar was sitting on his bed and looking through the manuscript he'd given him and Gabriel was fiddling with a small bag of caramel chews he had setting on his dresser.

"It's not necessary for either of you to be here while I pack." He announced, though neither of them made a move for the staircase.

Gabriel laughed, popping one of his chews in his mouth, "I need to make sure you pack your underwear." He chuckled.

Before Castiel could retort, Balthazar spoke up, "So, do you want me to take this to the publishing house for you?" he asked, anticipating that would be his next course of action. Castiel sighed, yanking his chews out of Gabriel's hands and tossing them into his toiletries bag, "If you could, it'd be highly appreciated."

Balthazar looked up from the papers, "Don't worry, you'll be paying me back in kisses." And then gave a wink to Castiel, who only rolled his eyes.

"Hey, how about before we leave I take us all out to dinner?" Gabriel suggested. "You guys pick the place and I'll pay." He stepped in Castiel's way, blocking him from his closet before he could duck into it, gaining his attention. Castiel looked over his shoulder at Balthazar, silently asking if he'd like to come to dinner with him and his brother in the motion.

Balthazar grinned, "Oh, if you insist." He chuckled.

The next few hours were spent packing and choosing which restaurant they wanted to go out and eat at. For Castiel and Balthazar, it was a difficult decision because there were so many places that were appealing, most of them being expensive. But Castiel had assured Balthazar his brother could afford it. He'd only laughed and suggested the nicest restaurant nearby.

Castiel smirked and turned to his brother after he'd finished packing all his bags and made sure he'd brought all his necessary gadgets. "I hope you're in the mood for Greek." It was actually Castiel's favorite restaurant aside from the Asian Fusion grill a couple blocks down the road. When he wanted to impress the few people who wanted to get statements from him regarding his work, he always brought them here. Sure, it got pricey, but Castiel didn't spend much money regardless, so it was never an issue for him. He didn't have many interests aside from his writing, so he didn't see the need in spending all his money.

"Sure, no problem. What's the place called?" Gabriel asked, trying to sneak into Castiel's toiletries bag to get the chews his brother had taken away from him a few hours earlier.

"Theo's." Balthazar answered for him, standing and securing his coat over his shoulders a bit more securely as he anticipated their departure. "It's great, and the owner travels back and forth between his restaurant here and the one he has in Austin, Texas. He has a vineyard out there and that's where he makes his own wine." He explained, turning his torso in a manner to crack some kinks in his back.

"Well, you don't have to convince me anymore." Gabriel grinned, standing up from the chair Castiel had in the corner, right before you got to his stairs.

"Are we going to leave out from the restaurant, or do you want to come back here after?" he asked his brother, stacking his luggage on his bed, setting the satchel bag of his and the toiletries bag right on top.

"Uh, why don't we come back here." The way he'd said it, and the way he'd been looking back at Castiel when he glanced at him told him there was a specific reason why. It was then that whatever good feeling Castiel had been feeling dissipated. He'd come crashing back to reality and remembered there was still something wrong. There was still a reason why Gabriel was suddenly being so nice. It was a wonder none of his brothers had called him before then, but he remembered how Gabriel was. He wanted to be the one to break it to him, no matter the news.

It was for that reason that Castiel could hardly enjoy his dinner, and mostly sat in silence as his brother and Balthazar chatted it up some more. He was surprised the conversation hadn't ever turned to Castiel's past, and his childhood. He'd never spoken to any of his friends about where he'd come from and how his family worked. It was something that Gabriel had apparently picked up on earlier at his apartment. Small miracles.

Once they'd paid and met in the parking lot, and after Castiel had given his friend a hug and farewell, it was just him and his brother standing in the cold Seattle night air. He watched after Balthazar, keeping his eyes glued to his friend's back as he walked away. He almost wished he could come up with a reason to call him back over. Make him stay a bit longer and become a barrier against the bad news Gabriel had for him. He hesitated, still watching Balthazar's car zip off down the road. He didn't want to look at his brother. Not yet. He didn't want to hear what he had to say, just… not yet.

"Let's get to my apartment before it starts raining again." He mumbled, going to his SUV before Gabriel could make a sound. The forecast had only shown rain in the earlier part of the day, and he was sure the rain was done for the night, but he had to come up with some kind of excuse, no matter how transparent it was. He was being childish to think that if he held it off long enough, Gabriel would forget what he'd come to tell him and leave. But it was a small hope Castiel still held, his only hope. He felt the food in his stomach sour as he began to just think about the possible reasons his brother was here, treating him and his friend to a nice dinner. He got in his SUV and quickly cranked it to life, and for some reason felt the need to speed to his apartment. It was a wonder how he didn't get pulled over on his way home.

Once he got to his apartment, he hardly glanced behind him to see if his brother was close behind or not. He was already pulling out his keys and headed for his door. He was frantic now, needing to get this task done and out of the way. It was an obstacle he had to get over before he could get on the road and speed back home.

It was as he started shoving his biggest and second biggest bags in the back of his SUV that Gabriel finally managed to catch up and parked beside Castiel. Castiel didn't want to face his brother just yet, he wanted to finish putting his bags in his SUV and start driving again. If he could get back on the road, he could avoid Gabriel even further.

But the hand that was suddenly on his forearm stopped him. He turned and saw the serious look Gabriel wore and he knew he was about to tell him the reason he came all this way. Castiel wanted to yank his arm away from him, but he knew it was too late. There was no more running away. He looked to his brother, fear painted in his brilliant blue eyes, a small quiver on his lip.

"Castiel." His tone had been stern at first, his hand growing tighter, expecting for Castiel to pull away. But when he didn't, his expression softened and his voice was barely loud enough to not be considered a whisper.

"Dad is dying."

There was a small moment, a small window in time where Castiel was certain nothing in his world mattered anymore. His writing, the friends he'd made, the nice apartment he lived in… Nothing mattered, because his father, the man he'd spent most his life trying to get away from, was now closer to death than anyone had imagined.

What had he done…