Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Sam.  I fail to understand how the construction of a house made of questionable building materials will yield the results you seek.”  Castiel spoke in his gruff and carefully modulated tone, indicating that he was absolutely perplexed, yet still more than willing to humor the mortal that had been determined to spend an afternoon pursuing meaningless activities. 

Sam smiled softly to himself, as he brushed the hair out of his eyes.  Castiel was being his usual self, which meant that he was taking the task at hand far too seriously.  But then, he wouldn’t be Castiel if he weren’t a little confused while he put forth every ounce of effort currently available to him.  Just so that he might be able to engender some joy in his companion. 

“It’s a gingerbread house, Cas.  It’s supposed to be pointless fun.”  Sam picked up a few of the gumdrops that were meant to decorate the roof of the home that was clearly not up to modern building code standards.  But then the gingerbread men themselves looked like some horror movie rejects.  Limbs nonsymmetrical or missing entirely after Dean had swung through the kitchen and wreaked his own unique brand of havoc. 

 “We are endeavoring to make shelter for inanimate objects that are without need of it.”  Castiel’s head cocked to the side as he took in the sugary, glittery mess that was strewn all over the table of the bunker’s library, “I fail to see how this is classified as fun.  Pointless or otherwise.” 

Sam looked up and met the brilliant blue eyes that had never once held anything back from Sam.  That had always given away all of Castiel’s inner thoughts.  Even when that had never been his intention.  Sam placed the final gumdrop on its dollop of frosting, hoping it would hold, but then realized it didn’t matter if it didn’t.  Because the life and death stakes were on hold today.  Banished to the outside world that he was planning on ignoring until the morning. 

“We’ve talked about this, Cas.  Sometimes its just doing something while being in another’s company.  That’s the important part.”  Sam watched as his hapless angel digested his words, carefully searched for any hidden meaning.  A single finger dipped into the bowl of frosting, came away covered in sticky goodness, just before Castiel dabbed a smear on the tip of his nose and then licked his finger clean. 

Sam groaned, even knowing that Castiel was only tasting molecules and atoms, he was putting forth effort.  Trying to do the sexy things that Sam liked so much, even if it never came off quite right.  But it was the effort put forth that was what counted most.  And that was what Castiel always earned countless gold stars for doing.  For showing up and trying his best. 

Sam crossed the space that separated them, used his hand to tilt up Castiel’s face, before he leaned in and gently removed all traces of the frosting that was much too sweet for his tastes, but then they were using Gabriel’s special recipe, so what else could he possibly have been expecting?  Strong arms wrapped around Sam’s waist, and then Castiel was moving closer, laying his head upon Sam’s broad shoulder. 

They stood there for several minutes, just savoring the hug that both simply needed from time to time but were often too afraid to ask for.  Sam could feel Castiel’s head turn against his shoulder, as he focused on the table for a moment.  A soft chuckle and a snap of fingers was followed by Sam feeling the sensation of movement, even though it was an instantaneous process.  Sam looked around them, realized that Castiel had decided to embrace the whimsy as he stared out a small window that was now on the opposite side of where it should have been. 

“Really Cas?”  Sam asked as he looked around the inside of his shoddily constructed gingerbread house. 

“I felt the need to get away.  And this place was built with love.  Will it not be the safest place for us to temporarily reside?”  Castiel looked so sincerely earnest, as he ever so casually brought tears to Sam’s eyes.  A magical fairytale land was his for the taking, all he had to do was agree to embrace the whimsy he had desired every single Christmas growing up. 

“Yeah, Cas.  This is perfect.” 

They spent the first hour shoring up their home from the inside.  Castiel would create every kind of brace and support that was needed, and Sam would carefully place them, securing them with frosting as he went. 

But then, as Sam looked around their perfectly habitable home, he decided that they needed to really test it out.  See if it was all that and a bag of chips.  Sam chuckled as he realized he could never actually say that phrase to Castiel, as the practical angel would spend days trying to decipher the hidden meaning.  Never once realizing that it was simply one of those silly little expressions that meant everything and nothing all at once. 

But every now and again, Castiel could surprise Sam.  In just how astute he could be.  And apparently, the joy that was radiating off of Sam had been the only encouragement he had needed.  The next few hours were spent testing the structural soundness of their improbable home, as their bodies meshed together seamlessly and both showed just how vigorous and athletic they could be, when given the chance.  But the walls held, even as the gasping moans couldn’t be contained. 

By the time they appeared back in the library, once again full sized and incredibly well-sated, Dean began to stroll through with a Margiekugel, took one look at the pair and headed back from where he had come.  Muttering under his breath about not wanting to know about whatever the fuck they had gotten up to. 

Sam and Castiel couldn’t stop themselves.  Their joyous laughter followed Dean down the hall.

The End