The door bells sounded as Dean pushed the door open. Absorbing the smell of burgers and fries, he stepped into the diner. He couldn't imagine a better place to relax after a long day of work than a diner.
He made his way over to the bar and sat himself on one of the stools. "One beer, please." Working as a police agent, there were good and bad days. Today hadn't been a good day. The pictures of the murdered child were still imprinted in his head and the file in his office bag felt heavier than usual.
But slowly the familiar noises around him allowed his mind to drift of.
He started to observe the people around him. A group of girls in the far corner of the diner. They were chatting and laughing, enjoying their free time after college. The old man, probably homeless, gulping down his sandwich. His clothes were hanging from his skinny body and his beard showed that he hadn't been able to use a bathroom for a long time. The family with three children. The parents looked annoyed, the children still seemed to have fun.
The waitress, running around the diner, trying to serve everyone and don't overlook any orders or confuse them.
Dean sighed again and relaxed further into his seat.
As the door bells rang, a whoosh of cold air entered the diner. Dean looked up from his burger which had just arrived and saw the man responsible for the sound.
Something in that man caught his attention. It wasn't the outdated trench coat, or the old shoes, or the messy hair, or the crystal blue eyes. It was something else, something more that made him stand out from the rest of the people.
Dean couldn't put his finger on it, but thee man just didn't seem to fit in.
He walked to the bar, heading towards the chair besides Dean. His eyes flew from one thing to the other, observing and analysing everything in the diner. Finally, his eyes fell on Dean. He didn't seem surprised or annoyed or anything at all as he saw Dean staring at him.
But Dean blushed anyway and fixed his eyes on the burger in front of him. Slowly he grabbed it in his hands and shoved it into his mouth. While chewing he kept shooting the weird guy besides him glances, but the guy either didn't seem to notice or he didn't mind.
The guy examined the bar in front of him and as he saw one of the menus he grabbed it. Reading meticulously everything, he started to go through the menu.
Dean tried not to pay attention to the man, but his eyes kept flickering back to him, and his mind tried to solve the mystery around him. What was so odd about this guy?
Finally he couldn't hold himself back any longer.
"The cheeseburger's real good here."
The guy's head shot up to Dean. The blue eyes stared at him and Dean felt somehow at unease. The guy started to creep him out. He didn't react in any way to Dean's statement.
"You should really check it out." The guys face still didn't change an inch. "I mean… if you want, of course."
The man's eyes flashed up and down Dean, but other than that he still didn't say anything.
Sighing, Dean turned around, facing his plate again. He took a bite of the burger, when he realised that the guy was still looking at him. With his mouth full he turned towards the stranger, raising one eyebrow.
"Thank you for your advice"
The low rumble was barely audible through the other noises, but Dean still made it out. His voice sounded as if the hadn't used it in ages.
"Yur wulcm" Dean tried to mouth around his burger, but only started to choke on the huge bite.
The guy watched Dean with questioning and curious eyes, his gaze never leaving Dean's face.
Dean took a large gulp of his beer and tried again. "You're welcome. I'm Dean, by the way."
The guy's eyes widened and he shied away slightly. His eyes darted around, as if he thought Dean was talking to someone else.
Dean tried hard to hold back the chuckle building in his throat, but a cocky grin still appeared on his face. He extended his arm towards the man, and as he saw his hesitance he tiled his head. "I'm not gonna bite you."
The guy looked even more confused, but he lifted his hand slowly, taking Dean's very tentatively.
"My name is Castiel. Castiel Novak."
Dean's smile widened.
"Nice to meet you, Castiel Novak."
And then Dean knew what had seemed so different about this guy: his look. The look on his face which was so clear, his emotions so open to view. Dean could see his every thought, he could look right in his soul.
Dean turned back to his burger. The man beside him, Castiel, seemed completely lost. But it wasn't his fault or his job. He shouldn't care.
But somehow he did. Somehow this man fascinated him. The way he spoke, the completely honest look on his face, as if he had never lied to anybody. The way his eyes darted around the room, taking in every so small detail as if it were of utmost importance. The way his hands kept moving around, brushing against his trousers, shifting the menu around, trying to organize his hair but leaving it messier than before, sliding his hand in the pocket of his trench coat as if making sure that his things were still there, clenching and unclenching his fist and trying not to look nervous, although he clearly was. The way his lips were parted, just slightly, as if he was astonished of something and everything. The way he held his body, straight and unmoving but at the same time seeming to want to curl into himself for protection, trying to shield himself against an unseen enemy.
Dean couldn't help but wonder what went on in Castiel's mind. He seemed so out of place, so nervous and insecure. And he looked scared. He looked scared out of his mind.
And Dean decided.
"Another beer, please"
Dean watched in amusement as Castiel's gaze darted back to Dean as he heard his order. Dean didn't turn his head but watched Castiel out of the corner of his eye.
Castiel opened his mouth, then closed it again. His eyes darted form Dean's still full bottle of beer to the bar keeper who was going to fetch another bottle. His eyes flashed to Dean's face, then back to the bottle. He opened his mouth again, leaving it open. Then he finally spoke up.
"For what purpose did you order a second beer if you did not yet finish the one in front of you?"
Dean couldn't hold himself back anymore. He burst out laughing, clapping his hand against his leg. The way he spoke was just too funny.
Castiel just sat there, watching him, not understanding. He cocked his head and squirmed his eyes, trying to figure out why the man was laughing so hard. Did he say something wrong?
As Dean had calmed himself down a little he wiped the tears from his eyes and glanced sideways to Castiel. But as he saw the concentrated look on Castiel's face, his composure broke again.
His laughter echoed through the diner and he no longer cared what other people thought, he just couldn't stop laughing.
Castiel's face only darkened more, he squirmed his eyes until they were barely visible, trying hard to figure out what was so funny. He looked around the diner, but he couldn't find anything that could have caused Dean to laugh. What he did see were the people staring at them.
He leaned forward on his bar stool until his mouth was close to Dean's ear.
"The other customers of this restaurant are looking at us."
But Dean just laughed even harder, leaning over the bar and holding his stomach. Castiel followed him with his body. He bent over the bar, holding his weight with his hands and leaned as much forward as he could to look at Dean's face.
"What is so humorous to you?"
Dean bent backwards again, holding both hands over his stomach. Suddenly his hands waved in front of him, trying desperately to get hold of something. His bar stool bent backwards and just a blink later Castiel saw Dean lying on the floor. Dean went still for a moment, then he realised what had happened and started to laugh again, harder than before. He was lying on the floor now, rolling from one side to another and clapping the floor with his hands.
Castiel just sat on his chair, unmoving, staring at the man under him. And then his mouth spread in a smile. As Dean continued to gasp for air and laughing at the same time, Castiel's smile widened, unnoticed by anyone. All eyes were on Dean, and other people were starting to laugh too.
Some children were pointing at Dean, their parents trying to stop them from doing so. The waitress had stopped mid walk, some plates in her hands, staring openly at the man on the floor who didn't seem to be able to stop laughing. The homeless man was glancing up from his food, while still stuffing the sandwich in his mouth. The girls had stopped chatting and were now watching the odd man rolling on the floor with mouth hanging open.
But slowly they lost interest as nothing more seemed to happen, and they turned their attention back to their food.
Unseen from all those people, Castiel's smile grew wider and wider until it split his face in half. A small rumble started to form in his chest, followed by a small chuckle.
And when Dean was seriously thinking that he might die here and now because he couldn't breathe anymore, he heard Castiel's laughter. Later he wouldn't be able to remember how on earth he had been able to make out the barely audible sound, but somehow he did.
Dean froze. The laugh wasn't like anything he had ever heard. It pierced through him and it seemed to him that it had to leave a visible mark. His head shot up to stare at the man. He could have never imagined such a sound coming out of his mouth.
But as soon as Castiel noticed Dean staring, he shut his mouth and his face went blank again. He seemed surprised at himself, and maybe even a bit embarrassed.
Deans eyes never left Castiel as he stood up, trying to slow down his breathing again. He sat himself down on his stool, body turned towards the man staring at him. His eyes softened again and a grin appeared on his face.
"Dude, that was fun!"
Castiel relaxed again, and a small smile reappeared on his face.
"I think it could be defined as fun, yes."
SPNSPNSPN
So this idea just popped into my head some days ago... I hope you enjoyed what turned out of it ;)
I will continue this, but till then please tell me what you thought ofit. It would mean the world to me :)