Rock Salt And Feathers ~ Uncharted Routes

Another Round By Downfall35
Home ~ Uncharted Routes
Rating: PG-13 Disclaimer: I own nothing. I wish I did, but I don't. Summary: Dean yawned, having just finished cleaning yet another tray of glasses. He'd taken over from Sam a few hours ago but still had a few left before his night was over. Warning: Human AU Notes: Thanks to hunters_retreat for the beta. Written for entropy_maximum who wanted AU Dean is a bartender who gives clueless!Castiel free drinks.
Dean yawned, having just finished cleaning yet another tray of glasses. He'd taken over from Sam a few hours ago but still had a few left before his night was over. Dean hated the fact that his brother tended to get the day shift, which was much easier due to the fact that it was always fairly quiet. He'd much preferred working at Rufus' a couple years back, the people were nice and things ran smoothly. Singer's on the other hand was far more elegant, even if the owner himself wasn't. Dean was even forced to wear black tie and vest. Restless finger tapping drew him out of his thoughts as Dean turned to see a redhead waiting at the bar. Not too many people actually came up to the bar what with the waiter service the place offered. She wasn't Dean's type but she was cute, so he put on his best smile; a tip was a tip. A shandy and two glasses of house white, too easy thought Dean as he poured the drinks, took the lady's money, and went back to stacking glasses. "I need four beers, whatever's on tap," Ruby announced, placing her tray down on counter. Dean didn't pay much attention, his focus on the man who'd just walked through the door, hanging his trench coat on the hooks at the entrance. The guy gracefully – Dean didn't just think that – made his way towards the table where redhead was sitting with her blonde and brunette friends. Dean's heart sunk a bit as the girls got up to greet him. The guy hugged all three, but didn't kiss any of them. It lacked intimacy which led Dean to believe that they were just friends. He'd done enough people watching in this job to tell the difference between a hug and a hug. It left Dean with a rather stupid grin on his face. "Dean," Ruby clicked her fingers. "Dean," she repeated, stepping in his line of sight effectively cutting off Dean's ability to look at the other guy. "Four beers," mumbled Dean turning away. In mere seconds he went back to thinking about the stranger. A guy hanging out with a group of women, none of which he was involved with could only mean he was...Dean smirked to himself, he had a good feeling about this. Placing the drinks onto the tray, Dean watched Ruby pick it up and turn to leave. "When you've delivered that come straight back here, I need a favour." Ruby returned a minute later, watched Dean pour a cocktail, which was weird because she hadn't taken down any orders for one and no one was standing at the bar. "The Dean Winchester special," Ruby let out a mild semi fake gasp as she saw the drink; a vodka martini with a twist of lime. "Take this to him," pointed Dean. Turning, Ruby spotted the man sitting amongst the women and opened her mouth to retort. "And not a word," Dean's finger was mere inches from her face. "Bite me," she hissed, grabbing the drink. The group laughed as Jo finished the retelling of another office photocopier nightmare. All four of them working for the same newspaper. Jo was just a receptionist, Pam had her own advice column, Anna was assistant to the editor and Castiel, well Cas was more of a fill in writing articles on anything from alternative lifestyles, to movies and sports. They'd meet up every so often for drinks, trying different watering holes around town. "One vodka martini," Ruby's voice cut in amongst the chatter as she placed the drink in front of Castiel. "I didn't order that," he claimed, swapping glances between the drink and the waitress. "Then it looks like you have a secret admirer," explained Ruby, taking off to clear a table a few feet away. Anna, Jo and Pam let out a string of wolf whistles and cat calls as Castiel turned and scouted the bar, but no one was standing or sitting on the stools waiting to see his reaction. Weird didn't even cover how he was feeling as he turned back and picked up the glass. The drink was good, scratch that it was great. Cas was more of an olives in his martini kind of guy but this one had to be the best he'd ever tasted. As the night went on one martini soon became two, then three, then four. Each time Ruby would only reply that she didn't know who had bought it for him. And whenever he'd look up at the bar it was only the pretty good looking bartender standing there stacking glasses or doing some sort of liquor stock. Where was this guy, at least Cas hoped it was a guy, hiding? Slamming down the empty fourth glass, Castiel drowned out whatever advice letter Pam was talking about and decided to go to the source. If the waitress didn't know as she claimed then he'd ask the guy behind the bar. After all he was the one who'd made all the drinks so he'd have to know who had been playing with Cas the past two hours. The girls just watched, not too jealous at the fact that none of them had gotten free drinks during the night, as a tipsy Castiel got up and sauntered towards the bar. Dean saw him coming and tried his hardest not to grin like a schoolboy. He knew this was coming, that the guy would confront him about who had been giving him free drinks all night. "You make one hell of a martini," said Cas as he planted himself on the stool closest to Dean. "Thanks," Dean wiped down the area in front of Castiel. "Castiel," Cas blurted, "But most people call me Cas." "Dean," replied Dean, a part of felt like he should have known this guy had a unique name. Placing both hands on the now clean wood before him, Cas let out a deep breath. "So Dean," he tried to act casual. "Care to tell me who's been buying me drinks all night?" "No one's bought you anything tonight," Dean was telling the honest truth, or at least the edited version. "Right so they just magically appeared out of nowhere?" laughed Cas. "I don't know about that, but I do know that no one has paid me to make you any drinks tonight," Dean explained, unable to help the smile that crept onto his face as he twisted off the cap to the vodka bottle. Cas frowned, and Dean could almost see the cogs in his mind processing the information into something coherent. "So that means you've been making me drinks all night because what, you wanted to?" "Bingo," nodded Dean, grabbing a piece of lime. "Why?" Castiel now found himself staring at the other man's face, into his eyes. "So hopefully you wouldn't say no to me when I ask you to come home with me later," Dean was never one for girly explanations or beating round the bush. Cas was handsome, educated, and seemed nice. Dean had been watching him long enough to realize that he might like this guy. Huffing Cas turned a slight shade of pink. "How'd you even know?" "When you've been serving drinks as long as I have you learn to read people," Dean explained, placing a fifth vodka martini in front of Castiel. "Like a guy who hangs out with a group of women but isn't actually involved with any of them." Castiel couldn't help but laugh at the whole situation. "I have to say this place definitely offers a unique experience." "We aim to please," retorted Dean, still smiling. "That kind of sounds like a promise," there was hint of challenge in Castiel's voice as he gazed back at the bartender. Dean knew there was a reason he liked this guy as Cas matched his smartass comments one for one. "Stick around for another hour and you'll find out," whispered Dean having leaned into Cas' personal space. Swallowing the lump in his throat Castiel looked back at Dean the gestured behind him. "What about my friends?" "Considering the way they've been gawking at us for the past five minutes, I don't think it'll come as a shock to them," laughed Dean. Turning around Cas saw Anna, Jo and Pam all staring, somewhat shocked and surprised. "Then I guess I'll stay," he downed the rest of his martini. "But I'm going to need another drink."
We do not claim to own any of the stories listed on this site. All plots belong to the authors and all characters belong to their respective creators. For more disclaims and credits please visit this page here.