Archive of Our Own ^beta

The things one does for love. Dean shakes his head about himself. Castiel has wrapped him around his little finger, with his stupid puppy eyes and close-lipped smiles. And his strong will, commendable discipline, and striking enthusiasm. And that's how Dean ended up here, in the cold, pouring rain, cheering on his boyfriend of four years as he runs his first marathon.

He's not alone at the sideline, though. Strategically spaced around the lap, there will be family and friends. Even Gabriel let himself talk into joining them to cheer on his cousin. At least that's what Dean hopes he does in front of the post office. He probably is picking up someone for tonight, but it doesn't matter. He gives updates in their group chat, so that Dean knows to look out for his man as he will soon turn the corner.

And there he is, a grim expression on his face. Or is it simply focus and determination? Probably. But Dean sees the exact moment when Castiel is close enough to read the sign he's holding up for him. He made one for all laps Castiel will have to run. Dean just prays that they'll survive the rain. But his over-organised brother had made him laminate them, so he should be fine.

Dean enjoys to the fullest when Castiel's perfectly clocked paces falter a little as he laughs out loud, his whole face lighting up, showing the beautiful man Dean fell in love with.

The sign shows several pictures of Dean holding different things over the last year—an Easter bunny, a sunflower, a lightsaber, a wooden sword, to name a few. Charlie had taken them whenever they were out on conventions or LARPing events. It was the perfect opportunity as Castiel doesn't join them, even though he loves to complain that he never sees his friend. Dean grins as he thinks about it.

Castiel sticks out his tongue and runs past him. "Thanks for all the hard work," he calls.

Dean blows him a kiss and grins at the sign as he puts it away. It says, 'I've been training for months to hold this sign.'

The angel has flown by, Dean posts in the group chat. God, he's so proud of his boyfriend. Already a passionate runner—not that Dean would ever understand—he had put it on his mind to run five marathons before he turns 50 in three years.

No sooner said than done! He started training the very next day, and here they are, eleven months later, no excuses. Showing his full support is the least Dean could do.

Castiel loves running. Nearly as much as he loves his boyfriend. Dean may be a goof sometimes, but he is his goof—loyal, loving, and always there when he needs him. Today is no exception.

The training had been hard, but nothing compared to the sheer mass of emotions Castiel has gone through already today, and the marathon has just started. At least, he hasn’t been alone with them.

From Dean waking him up with a cup of his favourite tea, most definitely not fully awake himself and very quiet in his pre-caffeine state, to the light breakfast he cooked him, to holding his hand during their drive through the early morning hours, to him kissing him good luck before the start—this day is proof enough that Castiel chose wisely when he decided to confess his feelings for his best friend all those years ago. Even if he manages a good time today, the day he kissed Dean for the very first time will forever stay number one.

Until now, the run has been plain sailing. Castiel's legs are smoothly moving, his breathing comes easily. If it weren't for the weather and the scattered people on the roadside, this wouldn't feel much different than his usual runs.

He waves Sam and Eileen when he passes the half of his round. Sam shouts something that Castiel can't hear over the roaring applause the woman behind him is welcomed with. It doesn't matter. That they are here at all is a gift from the heavens. Not that Dean's presence wouldn't have been enough, but it's nice to have people supporting him with something he cares about.

Dean grins widely as he watches Castiel come closer for the second time, his paces still even and no strain on his face. Dean pulls out the sign scattered with cut out Yodas stating 'May the course be with you.'

"And with you," Castiel calls, the good old choir boy that he is. He grins from ear to ear. Maybe it's because the sky started to have mercy on the runners below and stopped pouring down on them. Or it's Dean's cheers of encouragement. It doesn't matter. He looks happy. Really happy.

Castiel keeps on running, fully in the flow, feeling as if he could continue for days. He's so deep in the zone that he nearly misses Charlie in the crowd. He stops still, eliciting some curses from the runners behind him that need to dodge him. He doesn't care. He takes a moment to greet his friend with a kiss on her cheek. They haven't seen each other way too long. "Are you here till the end?" he asks, hope clear in his eyes.

"Sure. Someone needs to massage Dean's legs, right?"

Castiel laughs and pats Charlie's shoulder. "Right. See you later!"

With that, he waves and starts running again. And he thought this day couldn't get any better.

The next round, it starts to get a bit more work than fun. Not too bad, he simply hasn't drunk enough. But it's easy enough to remedy that. Castiel does so before he reaches Dean again. He doesn't want him to worry.

Castiel trots around the corner, his shirt now soaked in sweat and not rain anymore. The sun has come out and it's getting muggy. Some runners needed help already after collapsing in the wet heat. The earlier rain was kinder to everyone. But Castiel soldiers through.

He snorts when he sees Dean's next sign. 'Alternative fact: You're almost there.'

"Love you, too," he shouts.

"Hey, was that an alternative fact or a real one?" Dean shouts. He doesn't get an answer.

The woman next to him chuckles. "You two are a lovely couple."

Dean thanks her and smiles to himself. He thinks so, too.

"Rowena, what the hell!?" Castiel shouts as he sees her leaning against a street light.

"A little birdie told me you're gonnae run today. I thought it nice to come for old time's sake." She gives him a wink.

"The old running team in St. Andrew's will always be one of my fondest memories," he says and pulls her into a hug.

"Go on, we'll catch up later," she says, and Castiel presses a kiss to her forehead before he resumes his course. He shakes his head. Dean truly pulled out all the stops for him. He won't admit it later, but he cries a few tears of emotion when he passes all his friends carefully spaced over the round.

'You could have chosen chess' Dean's next sign says, and it briefly takes Castiel's mind from screaming 'Just keep breathing' at him. His legs are burning by now, and he curses the day he decided he wanted to do this. What was he thinking?

"Joke's on you," he pants. "I was president of the chess club in high school, Dean."

"And you always call me a nerd."

Castiel can't answer. He has to make it around the corner and out of Dean's field of vision. He doesn't want to see him struggle. He still has two rounds to go.

Has anyone seen him? Dean texts anxiously.

A flood of nos returns.

I'm sure he just took a break, Eileen writes.

I can see him, Sam adds two minutes later. He's walking.

Dean breathes a sigh of relief. He doesn't care if Castiel finishes the marathon or if he'll walk over the finish line at midnight. But he really doesn't want to pick his boyfriend up at the medical tent.

The next time Dean sees him, Castiel is running again, slower but at a consistent tempo. Dean feels bad about his dino-themed 'Tomorrow you'll be dinosore!' sign.

He can basically see the silent 'Fuck you' in his boyfriend's grim face.

"You're doing great. Just one and a half more rounds. You've got this!"

For a second, it looks as if Castiel would flip him the bird. But even in his current state—clearly exhausted as he has never been before—Castiel is a bigger man and simply ignores Dean.

"My husband is the same at this stage," Erin, the nice woman from earlier, says. "Don't take it personal."

Dean nods and tries to smile at her. He really tries not to.

The next time that Gabriel announces Castiel's soon arrival, Dean doesn't dare hold up a sign. It is the last round, but he has no idea in what state his boyfriend is. Gabriel is too busy to give details. Now, of all times!

But then, he sees him coming. Castiel is clearly tired, his pacing irregular, and his legs slightly shaking. He stops a few metres away from Dean, tears streaming over his face.

"I can't…" he barely gets out.

Dean jumps over the barrier and cups Castiel's cheeks. "Hey, it's okay. Take a break."

Castiel huffs a mirthless laugh, and Dean pulls him into his arms. He presses kisses into the chaos that Castiel calls his hair and runs his hand soothingly over his back.

"It's okay to quit. But it's only a half round left now. You made it so far. I'm sure you can do it."

"Everything hurts, Dean. I'm too old for this crap."

Dean chuckles. "You're the fittest 47-year-old man I know, Cass. And you'll still be rocking when you're 64."

Castiel laughs. "My boyfriend quoting the Beatles. Did I die and am in heaven?"

Dean kisses him. "No, angel, you're pretty much alive. You can do this. And when we're old and grey, you can tell you're grandchildren about this."

Castiel runs a hand over his face and chuckles. "You think Claire will ever have kids? That's less likely than me finishing this marathon."

"Then you should better the odds, don't you think?" Dean asks and bites the inside of his cheek hard.

"Okay," Castiel breathes. "As good a reason as any. Show me the last sign."

Dean blushes. "No. It's silly."

Castiel raises an eyebrow. God, Dean won't get out of this alive. "Show me," Castiel says sternly, piercing him with his eyes.

Dean closes his own for a moment. "You gonna finish the race?"

"It's not a race, Dean. The journey is the destination."

"Yeah, yeah." Dean turns and jumps back over the barrier. He picks up the last sign. Castiel reads it and guffaws. "That's truly motivational." He takes a deep breath and starts running again.

Dean chuckles in relief and watches him until he turns the corner.

"What does it say?" Erin asks.

"What?" She gestures at the sign. "Hotties and burgers at the finish line."

"And why were you so timid about it?" Dean turns the sign in her direction. "Nice ass you have. Cass is a lucky dude."

Yeah. This was a photo he took alone in their garden…

"I'm here, I'm here," Claire calls, pale and a little green in the face.

"Hey, Clarisse. You really didn't need to come."

"And miss Dad's big day? I can always blame it on his grandchild if I puke on his expensive running shoes," she says quietly, only for Dean to hear.

Her stepdad takes her tenderly in his arms and kisses the crown of her head. "He'll be so happy to see you two, um, three," he whispers. "This is gonna be awesome."

"He's coming!" Sam shouts.

The whole gang is cheering when Castiel is within earshot. He's grinning from ear to ear. It's strained but genuine.

Castiel crosses the finishing line and falls in Dean's arms even before he lets a helper put the medal over his head.

"I'm so proud of you, babe," Dean says. "So fucking proud."

Castiel leans their foreheads together. "Thank you for cheering me on, and for getting all the others— Claire! Kaia!"

Dean chuckles as he watches the father-daughter reunion. Claire's face grows impossibly paler when Castiel hugs her tightly. She smiles strained over his shoulder. The things one does for love…