Cas walked down the street, staring at the ground as he went, ignoring the occasional drops of rain that fell. He walked for several minutes before running into someone. He took a few steps back, blinking.

"S-Sorry," he said. The woman he had bumped into smiled at him.

"Oh don't worry yourself about it," she said. She looked Cas up and down. "Are you okay?" she asked.

"I... yes," Cas said, starting to walk again. He wrapped his arms around himself, trying to think. What had he just done? His whole life was with Aaron, how could he have just left? Cas came to a stop, thinking of turning back, but then the memory of Aaron's rough hands throwing Cas down onto the bed returned. Cas shuddered and start walking again. He couldn't turn back, not this time.

Cas wandered the city for the whole day, lost in thought. By the time the sun was setting, the rain had gotten much heavier and Cas had stopped walking in favor of sitting on a bench outside of a bank, drenched and shivering. He sat that way for a while before finally coming to his senses. He had to do something or he would end up sleeping on the streets that night.

Cas looked around to get his bearings, then quickly debated his options. There weren't that many. Cas wiped his wet hair out of his face and set off down the street again, this time with a purpose.

***

Cas had never been certain, but by the time he reached Dean's apartment building, he'd completely lost his nerve. It was unfair of his to just show up like this. What if Dean had gotten over him? They hadn't even talked to each other in what felt like an age. Cas stared at the building, now shivering uncontrollably, his skin turning numb. He almost went to the door, but instead sank to the ground, leaning against the wall of the building and wrapping his arms around his knees and closing his eyes. He shouldn't have come here. Dean had made it very clear that he didn't want to talk to Cas, and Cas couldn't blame him. Dean had loved Cas, and Cas had abandoned him. As Cas slowly drifted off, his thoughts fixed on Dean, and he went into the darkness of sleep thinking of how Dean's eyes sparkled in the light and how his smile was one of the most beautiful things Cas had ever seen.

***

"Cas? Oh my god, Cas!" Cas blinked his eyes open slowly at the sound of Dean's voice. It was still night, but the rain had stopped. Cas looked up at Dean, who was standing over him, his breath making clouds in the cold night air.

"Dean?" Cas croaked, his lips not wanting to cooperate.

"It's freezing out, how long have you been out here?" Dean asked, crouching next to Cas.

"I... I..." Cas was finding it hard to breathe. He stopped trying to talk and simply burying his face in his arms. He looked up when he felt himself leave the ground and saw that Dean was carrying him inside.

When they got up to Dean's apartment, Dean set Cas on his couch and started rushing around, grabbing a dry change of clothes for Cas and collecting blankets. Cas changed his clothes slowly, still numb. After Dean had bundled Cas up so tightly he could barely move, Dean sat down on the couch next to him.

"Cas, what were you doing out there?" He asked. Cas took a shaky breath.

"I... I left Aaron," he said. A look of conflicting hope and sadness crossed Dean's face.

"You did?" He asked. Cas nodded.

"He... He raped me. Dean, he... I still can't believe it. I never thought..." Cas trailed off. Dean clenched his fist until it turned white.

"That bastard... raped you?" He asked quietly. Cas' eyes filled with tears, but he didn't say anything. Dean stood up suddenly. "I'm gonna kill him," he said.

"Dean please... don't be angry now. Just..." Cas extricated himself from the blankets and stood up, putting a hand on Dean's shoulder. "Just sit next to me. Please?" Dean looked around at Cas and pulled him close, squeezing him into a tight hug. Cas hugged him back, comforted by Dean being so close. Dean let go quickly, however, clearing his throat and sitting down on the couch. Cas sat next to him, resting his head on Dean's chest. Dean's breath hitched.

"Cas?" he asked nervously.

"Hold me," Cas begged. Dean wrapped his arms around Cas and they sat there for a while before Cas began to fall asleep again, this time warm, and safe, and content.

***
Cas woke up in his old bed at Dean's the next morning, not quite sure how he got there. Dean must have carried him after he fell asleep. He rolled out of the bed and made his way into the kitchen, almost expecting to see Dean cooking something. He wasn't. Dean was sitting at the table, staring at the glass in front of him.

"Good morning," Cas said hesitantly. Dean looked up.

"Hey Cas. Did you sleep okay?" he asked. Cas nodded.

"Yes, I did. I... I realize we probably need to talk," Cas said, sitting across from Dean at the table. Dean didn't say anything. "I... I know things are weird with us, but... I'm going to need help getting on my feet after this. I haven't been on my own... ever. And I was hoping that maybe... I could stay with you until I figured things out. I completely understand if that isn't okay, I know I haven't-" Cas cut himself off as Dean raised his hand.

"It's okay, Cas. I said you would have a place here if you needed it, and I meant that. I don't go back on my word," Dean said. Cas smiled.

"Thank you, Dean," he said. Dean smiled back at him.

"Now, if I'm going to teach you to live on your own, the first thing I need to teach you is how to make breakfast. So get your ass off that chair and let's go," Dean said. Cas grinned and stood up, following Dean over to the stove. Cas didn't have a clue what was coming next in his life, but he knew he would be okay with Dean Winchester at his side.

(Ahhhhh! I have had so much fun writing this story, guys, and from what I can tell you had fun reading it. It's a little weird, writing a destiel fanfiction where destiel doesn't technically actually happen, which I'm sorry about. I actually didn't plan it that way, but I thought this was the natural conclusion of the story, so I ended it. But all that said, I hope you enjoyed anyway, and I hope to see some of you again in other fanfics. I love you guys! <3)