A King With No Name

father-christophers-combover:

Destiel AU (w/ bonus Merlin): My Brother’s Boyfriend

The first time Merlin Novak met Dean Winchester he was fourteen, still hadn’t grown into his ears, played with swords and sometimes even pretended to be the wizard of legend himself. Dean was twenty-one, perfectly tanned with a splattering of freckles that gave off an innocence his sparkling green eyes betrayed and a smile that inspired poetry. He was also with Castiel.

Castiel was Merlin’s big brother and best friend aside from Arthur Pendragon. Castiel was twelve years older than Merlin (twenty-six to his fourteen) but he had always understood Merlin in a way that the rest of their family seemed unable to. He was also the only one who knew that Merlin was gay. He hadn’t even told Arthur yet.

So, naturally when Castiel came home for Christmas with Dean Merlin was a little bit mesmerized. After all Dean was the kind of gorgeous that people wrote books about. The kind of beautiful that perpetuated legend. But, Castiel wasn’t gay. Castiel was straight laced and literal and while he himself had said he was “utterly indifferent to sexual orientation” Merlin had never imagined that he was inclined toward the male sex. He had only dated two people in high school, Meg Masters and Amelia Carter, but the later had lasted for three years.

They had even talked about getting married, until Amelia ran off with some boy named Roger. Cas hadn’t spoken for two weeks after that and when he did it was only to say that he had decided to attend UCLA. Merlin didn’t remember Cas dating anyone in college, at least nobody he thought was important enough to bring home. 

He had graduated two years ago and instead of deciding to come back and join the family business he had struck out on his own as a private investigator and was making a name for himself with Enochian Enterprises.

But now here he was with Dean. Dean who was at Stanford studying Classical Mythology. Dean who worked part time as a mechanic and part time as a bartender between classes. Dean who had a younger brother, Sam, who was a little older than Merlin that he had taken care of since their dad died in a car accident four years ago. Dean who was crude, but incredibly funny. Standoffish, but exceedingly kind when he decided to be. Dean who sort of took Merlin’s breath away every time he laughed.

Dean who looked at Castiel like he was the most amazing person he had ever seen. Dean who shorted his name to Cas and muttered it like a prayer or the fondest term of endearment that Merlin had ever heard. Dean who smiled at his brother like he was just remembering how and intertwined their fingers together while everyone watched Titanic on the couch after dinner.

After Dean had gone upstairs to take a shower and their parents had gone to bed Merlin found Castiel in the kitchen, staring at his hand with a terrified sort of look on his face. When he walked closer he saw a simple, silver band there.

“Castiel?”

That startled him out of his reprieve and he turned to look at Merlin with a slightly calmer look on his face, “Merlin, I’m glad to be able to see you again, you’ve grown a lot since last summer. Skype simply does not convey it properly.”

Merlin smiled, “Thanks. So…Dean, huh?”

His brother smiled minutely and then nodded, “Yes.”

“And…you want to marry him?”

Castiel’s hand that held the ring tightened almost imperceptibly and he sighed, “It’s complicated, Merlin.”

Merlin smiled and looked at his big brother, “It doesn’t have to be.”

“He is difficult, but he is also the most incredible person I have ever met in my life.”

“He’s not too bad to look at either.”

Castiel laughed then, “He is quite beautiful.”

Merlin sighed, “Then what is the problem.”

“He is so young.  He only turned twenty-one a few months ago and I feel as though I should not try to tie him down with more commitment before he is ready. His brother is almost eighteen and then he will legally be an adult and Dean can have a chance at freedom, a chance to explore the world without any attachments. Perhaps it is selfish of me to want him all to myself.”

Merlin sighed and put a hand on his brother’s arm, “Castiel, look, I know I am only a kid so my word carries little weight, but he looks at you the way I’ve only ever read about in fairy tales and legends. He holds your hand like he never wants to let go and he smiles at you like you are some gift from God that he has to appreciate before God decides it was all some huge mistake and takes it back.”

Castiel frowned, “He does not believe in God.”

“You know what I mean. Castiel, he loves you. And even though I’ve only seen the two of you together for the past twelve hours, and even though I never even knew you were attracted to men before tonight, I can see that what the two of you have is real. You know, bro, not all happily ever afters take place in fairy tales.”

Castiel smiles and leans down to hug him then and Merlin feels like he’s six years old again and his big brother is the most important person in his world.

“Thank you, Merlin. I will take that into consideration. And if you would like you may call me Cas, now. Most others do.”

Merlin smiled and watched his brother put the ring back into his pocket as he traveled upstairs, presumably to find Dean.

——-

The next time Merlin Novak saw Dean Winchester he was fifteen and in a tuxedo watching his brother and his soon to be brother-in-law exchange vows. He felt kind of ridiculous and would never admit it out loud, but he thought that Dean was the most breathtaking groom he had ever seen.

Merlin didn’t know if he would ever get over his crush on Dean, but as Arthur pulled him onto the dance floor and Adele blasted through the speakers causing Dean to yell something that made Castiel whisper at him not to blaspheme in front of their parents, he couldn’t help but smile.