Chapter Text
Dean had very quickly decided that he hated paparazzi.
The first night he'd been pretty much oblivious to the flashing lights and whispered voices. He'd stood on the steps of the police station and kissed Cas as if he were getting back a lost part of himself.
Cas had slid a hand under his t-shirt.
It gives Sam great joy the next morning when he's poring over the newspapers.
"You guys look adorable," he grins shoving the paper over towards Cas.
The blue eyed man scrutinizes it carefully before handing it to Dean who takes one glance and drops his head to the table.
"You've got to be fudging kidding me."
Sam's having way too much fun. "Dude you were on the steps of the police station, of course you were going to be seen."
Cas takes the next newspaper handed his way. "They had followed me there and were waiting en masse."
Sam howls now and Dean glares at him.
"Laugh it up Rapunzel," he threatens.
"I will. Dean you made the front page of 2 newspapers and your photo is in 6 more. Ha you've got your hand on his ass in this one."
Dean grabs the paper from Sam. He can't remember grabbing Cas's ass but he was pretty lost last night so anything's possible.
"In this one your hand is under my shirt."
Cas hands him another and Dean can feel his blush go nuclear. They're right. One hand firmly pulling Cas in by his backside. One hand on smooth pale skin, shoving Cas's shirt up and out the way in an attempt to get closer.
The police station makes an impressive backdrop. Twin lampposts shine either side of them and Cas at least appears to have a halo around his dark hair.
It's the second front page Sam shows him that calms Dean. This paper has gone with a different take. The others all went for the shock value, two men hopelessly lost to each other. In this last one though Cas is smiling at him. Their heads are close but the intimacy is in their eyes. Cas looks relieved, happy even. It's a smile that couldn't fail to stop the heart of anyone that sees it.
Dean's never seen Cas look so open and unguarded in public before, rarely even when it's just the two of them. But that was a private moment, spied by the world.
This is how Cas should look always. This is how Cas would have looked at the world, if Adler hadn't destroyed his life.
It may have been a close call but he's still glad he socked the bastard in the face.
It's only then that he sees himself in the photo, really sees himself.
He looks as relieved as Cas does, like he's found his home once more after a long and hard journey.
They're two soldiers returned from war. They're two lost lovers who've found each other after a lifetime apart. They're Montague’s and Capulet’s when the differences are finally put aside for the sake of their children’s love, only Cas and Dean survived this too.
He has to put the newspaper down before he gets too much. He can feel it creeping in, the need to take Cas aside and have him reaffirm everything he's ever felt.
"This one! This one!" Sam cries in excitement. "This is my favourite."
Cas is tipped backwards, not as far as a sailor's girl but that doesn't matter in the eyes of his brother.
"This one is going on the fridge."
Six and a half feet of little brother bound up and away. Dean takes a chance to breathe and meet Cas's eyes.
"It bothers you?" Cas asks as he leafs through the pile in front of him.
"Sam's gonna use this until we're OAPs."
Cas frowns at the newspapers. Dean's favourite is on top. The Cas now looks very different from the one in the photo.
"He knew we were like that," Cas says in a small voice.
Dean can't quite believe Cas could doubt him now, not after the night before, kissing him for all the world to see.
He moves across in his seat and holds out a hand. Cas flows across the space between them and perches on the chair beside him. Dean wraps him arms tight around his lover and chuckles into his neck.
"Yeah, but it's not about me and you, it's about the photos."
Cas pulls back, he's confused.
"You know, like I used laugh at him for getting all mushy over his girlfriend’s when he was a teenager. It's just what brothers do."
Cas considers it for a moment as Dean rubs circles on his back.
"Then perhaps I shouldn't show him this one."
He pulls out a newspaper from under the pile that Sam hadn't seen yet. Dean's eyes go wide, this newspaper really went the extra mile.
Instead of a photo on the steps of the station, the abject symbolism the others decided to use, this photo was of them by Dean's car. Cas was placing a kiss on Dean's forehead, the Winchesters head bowed, eyes squeezed closed. His hands were caught in Cas's shirt, tangled in the material.
Most of the photos had been lust filled, romantic. Dean's favourite had been profound.
This photo though was naked. Dean had never felt so exposed. This wasn't a photo of lust, or relief, or hope. This was a photo of Dean broken down completely by the man beside him, open and naked, totally unable and unwilling to keep his guard up.
"Dude you are so whipped," Sam said behind him leaning heavily on his shoulder. He plucks the paper from Dean's fingers. "You look like a Victorian lady in this one. This is a thirteen year old girls dream."
Dean shuts his eyes and counts to 5.
1...2...3...4...5...
Nope.
"Cas," he says placing a quick kiss on his lover’s temple. "Say goodbye to your lawyer."
With that he's out the seat and streaking after Sam who's already a blur across the apartment.