"I can swing that. Sweet! It's a date!" Cas dared to use that word, as scary as it was.

"No, it's not a date. It's a study session." Dean clearly had a stick up his ass, and Cas thought it was hilarious.

"Whatever you wanna call it, sweetie," He winked, surprising himself. "See you tomorrow at 6:30." As he walked away, his smug grin disappeared, as he nearly had a heart attack. What the hell was he thinking?

He didn't want to flirt with the cute nerdy boy, as much as it pained him. He wasn't ready for another relationship, so what's with all the flirting? Maybe Dean didn't take it that way. Hopefully so. He just wasn't prepared to take the plunge again.

He walked back to his and his brother's place, which wasn't really a "place" at all. It was just a couple of cardboard boxes and packing peanuts on the curb that they decided to "recycle". He was greeted with his brother's usual grumpy face, obviously about to scold him for something.

"Where the hell where you?" He walked up to him.

"Why, hello, Jimmy. I'm good, thanks for asking."

Jimmy sighed, fed up with Cas's sarcasm. "It's half past twelve. Where've you been?"

"A little town called Nowheresville. Why? Is it important?"

But Jimmy saw right through that. "You were with a boy, weren't you?"

"Damn it, twin telepathy!" He groaned. "Yes, I was with a boy, but I wasn't with a boy. Not after last time, and you know it."

Jimmy narrowed his gaze, clearly not convinced. "What were you doing?"

"Well he was getting picked on by Crowley. I swooped in and saved the damsel in distress, and now I have a study date tomorrow. Good night." He was about to go to his box when Jimmy grabbed his arm.

"Wait, you have a date tomorrow?" He questioned.

"A study date. That barely counts as anything at all," He feigned a yawn. "Oh, it's getting late."

"Cas, you didn't flirt with him, did you?"

"No!" He shot back defensively.

Jimmy raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it.

"Okay, maybe it slipped out. But only barely."

Jimmy sighed. "Cas. You shouldn't be flirting with boys after what happened last time. Remember?"

"How can I forget?" He growled. "Look, I'm done with relationships, and you know it. And every time you bring up Balthazar, I wanna punch a damn hole through the wall!"

"Well, it should. After what he did. You don't think this boy is cute, do you?"

Cas sighed, one hundred percent done. "No, Mom."

"I don't believe you."

"Shut up, Mom!"

"Cas, it's natural to be attracted. But I'm sure you know now that it's best to look before you leap."

"You know why I keep calling you mom, right?"

Jimmy shot him a small bitchface. "Who is this boy?"

"Dean. Dean Winchester."

Jimmy grinned, recognizing the name. "Winchester. Yeah, I think I know him."

"Do you approve, Mother?" Cas smirked.

Jimmy snorted, punching him in the shoulder. "Shut up."

Cas shoved him back. "You shut up, bitch."

Jimmy shoved him again. "Jerk."

"Alright, come on, we should get some sleep."

They got comfortable in their side by side boxes filled with packing peanuts and tried to sleep. It was rather difficult, as boxes aren't generally used as housing. They used to live in a house, until their parents put them up for adoption. Cas couldn't even remember them, nor could Jimmy.

"Are you sure we couldn't have squatted tonight?" Jimmy complained. "I hate boxes."

"Hey, we squatted last night, and someone moved in there. And I don't think there's another empty apartment nearby. Suck it up, Jim."

He scoffed, closing his eyes. "Whatever. Night, Cas."

"Night, little fella." He replied.

He spent a good hour trying to sleep, listening to the sounds of traffic rolling by and Jimmy snoring. Perhaps it was the thought of Dean that kept him awake, he couldn't be sure, but the plain truth was; sleep wasn't happening.

"Jimmy?" He murmured. But Jimmy snored on. "Jimmy."

"I didn't mean to, just put it back in." He mumbled, clearly still asleep, continuing to snore.

"Jimmy!" He spoke slightly louder.

Jimmy jerked awake, calling out, "No, officer!"

"Hey, you awake?" Cas asked.

Jimmy groaned. "What do you want?"

"I can't sleep. Play I Spy with me."

"Play by yourself."

"You can't play I Spy by yourself."

"You can if you try hard enough." Jimmy deadpanned.

"Oh come on! I always played I Spy with you when you couldn't sleep."

"I'm tired, Cas. Just..." He let out a long yawn. "Play... the game... of violins." He mumbled.

"C'mon, Jimbo, don't fall asleep on me!"

"I'm tired!" He whined.

"But I'm not! Pleeeeeaaaaaase!" He begged.

Jimmy groaned tiredly. "Fine. I spy, with my little eye, a cardboard box. Fun game. Good night."

"Jimmy," He spoke softly. "I still can't sleep."

Jimmy recognized this tone of voice. This was Cas's I'm-going-through-a-lot-right-now-but-I-don't-want-to-talk-about-it-but-I'm-gonna-talk-about-it-anyway voice. Jimmy sighed, crawling out of his box and sitting in front of Cas's. "What's wrong?" He asked mellowly.

Cas took a deep breath. "Dean. He... he's just so damn cute. And I don't like it. He reminds me of Balthie. The stupid little nerd."

Jimmy understood what he meant. "I know breakups can be hard, but you need to find closure, Cas."

"How?"

"It's different for everyone. Some people start dating someone new, other people burn their ex's stuff, it just... depends on the person."

"But what if Dean doesn't like me that way? I'm not even sure I like him that way, so far, he's just cute, and I'm confused."

"Just give it time. It'll start to make sense."

Tears filled his eyes as he spoke. "Crowley told me to go cut myself."

Jimmy was surprised to hear this, yet it also sounded exactly like something he'd say. "That son of a bitch."

"I want to. I really want to. Maybe I can afford more ink to cover it up."

"Don't say that, Cas. I know it's been difficult, but it'll get better."

"I want Balthie back," He spoke shakily, tears flowing over. "I want him back."

Jimmy sighed lightly, faced with another Balthazar rant. This has been happening a lot lately. "Come here, Cas."

Cas crawled out of the box and wrapped his arms around Jimmy, who returned the gesture. "I still love him, after all he did, I still love him." He wept.

"I know. Shh, it's okay. It'll be okay. It'll be okay, I promise."

"Liar. You're a liar." He sobbed into Jimmy's shoulder.

He acted punk, but Jimmy saw through all that. And he was the only one who did. He saw Cas's gentler side, his soft side, while no one else did. Cas made sure of that.

They sat there like that for a while, until Cas started getting tired. He was about to doze off on Jimmy's shoulder until he heard his voice. "Cas? You okay?"

"Mm-hm." Was his reply.

"You tired?"

Cas only nodded his head. He looked at Jimmy's face, which held an expression of concern. "G'night." He murmured as he crawled back into his box.

"Night, Cas." Jimmy replied, crawling into his own box.

It was only moments later that Cas fell asleep.

~

He awoke the next day, sunlight shining in his eyes. He let out a long yawn, stretching his limbs just a slight. He could only stretch them so far in the confinements of his box, and he didn't feel like getting up.

He laid there, listening to Jimmy's barely audible snores, until he awoke. Cas knew he'd be in for a wakeup call now. He heard rapid knocks on his box. "Rise and shine, Cas!"

"Go away." He murmured, his eyes still closed.

"Come on, it's a beautiful day!"

"I'd rather listen to you snore than get up right now."

Jimmy scoffed. "I don't snore, Cas."

"Dude, I live right next to you, and I'm telling you that you do."

"Whatever. Now get up." He patted Cas's leg.

"I don't wanna." He whined.

"Suck it up, you big baby."

Cas frowned. "I'm not a baby, you stupid baby."

Jimmy chuckled. "Come on, we need food."

"Says who?"

"Um, says the sensation of hunger and feeling of starvation."

"They aren't important." He grumbled.

"And don't you have to get ready for your date?"

This caught Cas's attention. "What time is it?"

Jimmy got the pocket watch he kept in his pocket. "11:47 AM."

"I have plenty of time. Right?"

"When are you meeting him?"

"6:30."

"I'd say you better get a move on."

Cas scoffed. "Of course you'd say that."

"Come on, now, get up."

"Why should I?"

Jimmy grinned mischievously. "Because if you don't-" He took off one of Cas's black leather ankle boots. "You know what'll happen."

Cas knew exactly what he was talking about. "Don't you dare, you son of a bitch!" He couldn't help but smile.

"You know I will." He spoke in a singsong voice.

"Jimmy, you know I'll just end up kicking you in the face, and I'd rather not kick you in the face. Again."

"I'll take that risk." And he gently began tickling Cas's foot.

Cas jerked at the sudden sensation. "You little ass muncher!"

"Such strong language, Cas." Jimmy grinned, tickling Cas's foot even more.

Cas flailed about, laughing at his brother. "Quit it!"

"Then get up!"

"Well I can't get up if you don't quit it!"

"Well I can't quit it if you don't get up!"

Cas leaned backward into the box, causing it to tip over so that the open side pointed up. Jimmy peered into the box. "You gonna get up now?"

Cas just flipped him off and sat up in the box. He punched him playfully in the shoulder. "Bitch."

Jimmy punched him back. "Jerk."

Cas punched him again. "No, you're the jerk, bitch."

Jimmy punched him once more. "You're the bitch, jerk."

They both laughed, pushing each other lightly. Much brotherly banter like this went on between the two of them. Cas had one soft spot, and that was Jimmy.

"So, where's breakfast today, do you think?" Cas asked.

Jimmy grabbed a newspaper from inside his box, reading off the front page article. "'Newton family still missing. The Newton's, who lived in 221B of 8246 Baker Street, have still not been found. They have been missing for four days now, and their disappearance has left everyone baffled. They were last seen in their home by neighbor, Jonathan Holmes, at the Newton son, Jake's, birthday party. If anyone has a lead regarding their whereabouts, please notify the police.'"

Cas was confused. "Okay. Cool. Where's breakfast?"

Jimmy sighed, figuring Cas wouldn't get the point. "Cas, breakfast is at the Newton's house! Surely they have food there, and this will also give us a place to squat for tonight! It's perfect!"

"I find that most things in life are only perfect until you look too closely."

Jimmy gave him an incredulous look. "Seriously?"

Cas quickly found he couldn't keep a straight face. "Hell no, where is this place?"

"It's pretty close by. I say we go now."

"Hey, do you think they have any cake left over from that party?"

Jimmy scoffed. "Dude, even if they did, that cake would be four days old by now."

"You know how long it's been since I've had cake? I think my blood sugar's running low." He acted like he was getting weaker for visual effect.

Jimmy chuckled. "Whatever. Let's go."

They walked over to the apartment when Cas realized something. "Wait a minute."

Jimmy looked over at him. "What?"

"Wouldn't this technically be a crime scene?"

Jimmy thought it through before answering. "I guess it could be, yeah."

Cas smiled. "This day keeps getting better and better."

They managed to break in using Cas's lock pick, and the first thing they saw was yellow police tape. Cas could confirm his question.

"Yep," He smiled. "It's a crime scene."

He went to the fridge and saw just what he was hoping to find; the cake. There were three pieces left, one for him, one for Jimmy, and one for him.

He pulled the cake out of the fridge and looked to Jimmy, who was looting through a cabinet. "Dude." Jimmy looked over and saw the cake. "Your blood sugar will worship you tonight." He looked through cabinets to find a plate, and quickly found one, slabbing a piece of cake on it.

"Cas, I'm not eating cake for breakfast."

Cas nodded. "Alright, fair enough, we'll have it for dessert-fast, then."

"Dessert-fast?"

"Yeah. It's dessert you eat after breakfast. I invented it." He slid the cake back into the fridge.

"I believe that."

Cas looked through another cabinet. "Does Cheetos count as breakfast?" He showed Jimmy the bag of Cheetos. "Unopened, dude."

Jimmy chuckled softly. "I was thinking more like cereal or something."

"If I pour Cheetos into a bowl of milk, does that count as breakfast?"

He sighed. "No."

"If I sprinkle Cheerios on a hot dog, does that-"

"No!" Jimmy cut him off.

Cas scoffed, throwing the Cheetos back in the cabinet. "You're no fun." He then looked for some cereal. "Okay, we've got Cheerios, Fruit Loops, ugh, Raisin Bran," He suddenly gasped, finding his favorite cereal of all time, pulling it out of the cabinet. "Dude, they've got Cinnamon Toast Crunch!"

Jimmy grinned, knowing how much Cas loved that cereal. "Now that's breakfast."

Cas went to the fridge for milk. "I assume you'll want that Raisin Bran crap, you deranged individual."

"It's not deranged to want something healthy for breakfast."

Cas got the milk and set it on the counter. "Come on, man! Cheerios are heart healthy or something!"

"Not as healthy as Raisin Bran."

Cas sighed with disappointment. "Jimmy, when I first realized that we were twins, also what twins were, I got so freaking excited because I thought there'd be an exact version of me running around. I. Was. Wrong."

Jimmy scoffed, getting the box of Raisin Bran. "Check the expiration date on that milk."

"See, me? I wouldn't care." He looked at the expiration date. "The expiration date is tomorrow, so we might wanna drink this all today."

"We can leave some for tomorrow. The expiration date is never that exact."

Cas shot him an incredulous look. "Then what's the big freaking deal?"

Jimmy chuckled. "I'm not discussing this with you, Cas." He poured some Raisin Bran into a bowl. "Pass me the milk."

Cas handed him the carton. "Sure, this inaccurate carton of fun!" He looked for a bowl while Jimmy laughed. He soon found a bowl and poured some Cinnamon Toast Crunch in, getting the milk to top it off.

"That stuff is so unhealthy." Jimmy spoke as he looked for a spoon.

"Yeah, that's the beauty of it. Have you found any spoons?"

"Not yet," He opened a drawer and found silverware. "Here they are." He got a spoon for Cas and himself.

Cas eagerly took a bite of cereal, never so happy with any kind of taste in his life. "Crave those crazy squares, Jimmy. Crave those crazy squares."

They sat at the table and ate. "I call the master bedroom!" Cas exclaimed, Jimmy groaning as he remembered how they decided on rooms.

"Oh, come on, I wasn't ready."

"Well, suck it up. You snooze, you lose."

Jimmy sighed. "This would be so much easier if we could afford a house."

"Who needs a house when we've got all this? Going from place to place, it's like traveling."

"It's like stealing."

Cas had a feeling this was coming. "It's not stealing. It's just... borrowing... and never giving it back."

"That's stealing."

"What have I always told you? Never let your conscience be your guide. It'll hold you back and get you killed, and you know I'd never let that happen."

"I think it's better to die an honest man than to live on as a thief and a liar."

Cas sighed. "Come on, Jimmy. This is basic human instinct. This is the sheer will to live, you hear?"

"We wouldn't even be doing this right now if we'd stayed in that adoption agency."

"We wouldn't even be talking right now if we did. Those bastards tried to separate us. And you know why I couldn't let that happen."

Jimmy sighed. "I'm gonna take a look at the other rooms, pick one out for me." He got up and went down the hall to the other rooms, leaving Cas alone with his thoughts.

They must've been five or six years old when they left that place. They'd been there for years, since they were babies. The agency tried to get them adopted together, but nobody was willing to adopt a pair of twins. So, when Cas and Jimmy were about six, they'd been told that they were being separated. So they left. Ran away so they'd never be separated. And the rest is history.

He found that he was bereft of an appetite, and just stared down at his cereal. He knew it was stealing, but it wasn't like they had much choice. Basic human instinct.

He suddenly heard keys jingling in the lock at the door. It soon opened, and in walked a small family, most likely the Newton's. The father was holding a gun, pointing it at Cas's head. "Who the hell are you?"