jhoomwrites:

“I’m
sorry, but there’s no smoking in the restaurant.”

Balthazar looks absolutely
scandalized. “Excuse me?”

“We’ve got a no smoking policy,”
the server says as he drops off their drinks. “So no cigarettes.”

“We’re outside,”
Balthazar protests. “We’re on the patio.”

The server stares down at
Balthazar, looking less and less impressed with him as the conversation went
on. “Still drinking our drinks and eating our food, aren’t you?” He doesn’t
wait for Balthazar to respond. “So still the restaurant, ain’t it? Put out the
cigarette, or leave.”

Balthazar appraises the man in
front of him as he puts out the cigarette. “If I were to ask to speak with your
manager…?”

“Then I’d be happy to inform you
that I am the manager. And the co-owner.” His expression softens
a little. “Look, we got guests who come in with allergies and stuff. As someone
with a cat allergy, I totally get the not breathing thing. We try to make it as
comfortable as possible for everyone. So no smoking.”

Now Balthazar’s interest is
piqued. “You serve at your own restaurant? How… plebian of you.”

“That’s
what you got out of everything I said?” The man shakes his head and stares at
Cas, who’s quietly been smirking at the whole exchange. “Honestly, Cas, where
you get these guys?”

“Cas?” Balthazar repeats
suspiciously.

“Balthazar is an old friend from
college. He’s something of a culinary snob, and I knew only your burgers would
do.” He gestures between the two men. “Balthazar, this is Dean. Dean,
Balthazar.”

“Awesome.” Dean winks at Cas
before turning back to Balthazar. “Guess if Cas is vouching for you, you can’t
be half bad. I’ll be back with your burgers in a bit.”

As soon as he’s out of earshot,
Balthazar rounds on Cas. “I can’t believe you took me to a restaurant just so
you could flirt with the hot owner.”

Cas blushes. “I didn’t—that’s not
why—”

“Oh, hush.” Balthazar rolls his
eyes. Cas has always been so damned obvious about this sort of thing. He
remembers Cas drunkenly crying to him about that Daphne girl after (badly)
flirting with her at a party. Of course when he’d sobered up, he’d been too
embarrassed to ever talk about it again and had avoided Daphne like the plague.
“Clearly you need my help. The poor man’s as into you as you are him, and you
two are such idiots neither’s made the first move.”

“Dean doesn’t—he-he wouldn’t—”
Cas swallows thickly. “You really think he’s interested?”

Seconds later, Dean drops off
their burgers. “Farmer’s Market for you,” he says as he sets down Balthazar’s
meal. “And Honey Mustard Delight for the angel,” he says as he places Cas’
burger down.

Cas digs in and Balthazar wants
to smack him for being so oblivious. “Seriously? Was that not clear?”

“What?”

“He called you angel.
That, Cassie, is a flirtation if I ever saw one.”

“No it wasn’t. He’s just being friendly.”
Even Cas looks like he doesn’t quite believe it.

“Either you ask that man for his
number, or I’ll do it for you. We are not leaving here until you do it.”

Balthazar continues to glare at
Cas menacingly whenever Dean stops by their table to check on them, but Cas
remains frustratingly quiet. Honestly, Balthazar doesn’t know how much more
pitiful longing he can take before he goes stabs himself with his butter knife.
That would have to be less painful than watching these two bumble
through a courtship.

When Dean comes to pick up the
check, Balthazar shoots Cas a warning look. Cas tries to ignore him, so he
kicks Cas under the table.

I hate you, Cas mouths before turning to Dean.

“Dean, are you busy this evening?”

“Huh? Oh, I don’t think so.
Benny’s comin’ in to take over the night shift, so I won’t be working if that’s
what you’re asking. Why, what’s up?”

“Would you be interested in
maybe… going out for dinner? With me, I mean, if that wasn’t clear—” Another
kick stops his babbling and forces a somewhat pained smile.

“On a date?” Dean asks slowly.

“Yes?”

Dean smiles brightly. “Sure
thing, Cas. You mind swinging by the restaurant around five? If we’re going out
on a date, I wanna show off you off in my Baby.”

Balthazar’s head whips around at
that, but Cas seems to understand whatever the hell that
means, so he doesn’t say anything.

“I can do that. Five o’clock
then.”

“Awesome. I look forward to it.”

“Me too, Dean.”

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