Chapter Text
The streets below were always loud. People shouted at each other on the sidewalk. An airplane roared overhead. Cars lined the streets and honked at each other like some out of tune symphony. Over time you learned to live with it and with enough practice you may even learn to tune it out enough to hear yourself think.
Castiel stood and watched the world happen from his living room window. His apartment was a one bedroom fifth floor walk up in downtown Chicago. In the last few days of August, the temperatures were still warm. Soon, the days would grow shorter, the trees in the park would glow in various oranges and reds, and the people decorating the streets would be bundled up to keep warm in the windy city. Most of his waking hours were spent at work, tucked away in his office, so he rarely stopped to notice the changing of the seasons until he checked a calendar and realized most of the year had slipped away again.
A buzz from the door pulled him out of his thoughts. As busy as work kept him, he always looked forward to his Friday night tradition with his best friend Charlie. They met years ago, when Castiel first moved to the city. His first week at Sandover found him on the phone nearly every day with the feisty IT assistant who patiently walked him through the extensive company computer system. Over the years, she had become as close as a sister to him while they climbed the ranks at work together. Charlie was now the IT manager and Castiel was a senior level budget analyst in the company’s marketing department. Castiel didn’t allow himself time for much of a social life, but Charlie always insisted on their weekly take out, junk food, and Netflix binge.
“Come on up, Charlie,” he said through the intercom and unlocked the front door.
Castiel was in the kitchen pulling out a bottle of wine when he heard the door open.
“Happy Friday Honey Bunny,” Charlie greeted him, carrying two bags full of Chinese take out.
🍀🍀🍀
An hour later, they were sprawled on the couch, food spread out over the coffee table, while another episode of Schitt’s Creek started on Castiel’s flat screen. Castiel quietly tapped away on his laptop, trying not to distract Charlie who was glued to the screen, even though they’d gone through the entire series half a dozen times already.
“I wonder if that thing about the singles week in Ireland is true. Have you ever heard of it?” Charlie looked over at him expectantly.
“Hmm? What about Ireland?” Castiel looked up from his computer only to be met with a scathing look from his best friend.
“Are you working right now? You know the rules Cas! No work on Friday night! You’re not even paying attention.” She paused the episode and looked up at him with a pout.
Rubbing his eyes, Castiel sighed and saved his work. “I know. I’m sorry. I’m just trying to prepare for next week. Adler is announcing my promotion on Monday and I wanted to get ahead of schedule.”
“You’re always ahead of schedule, Cas,” she said with an eye roll. “You’ve been at Sandover for years now, always working late and never taking time off. When you get this promotion, you’re probably gonna be even busier. When’s the last time you even took a proper vacation?”
Castiel immediately opened his mouth to answer, but of course nothing came out. He searched around the room, like it held an answer. “Ummm,” was all he came up with. “I took a day off like two years ago?”
Charlie wrinkled her face. “Cas, you had the flu,” she barked. “And you still worked from home! Okay. When was the last time you had a date?”
Castiel leveled her with a glare. He didn’t even bother to answer that one since they both already knew the answer to that. It was three years ago when he agreed to a blind date that lasted all of thirty minutes. His brother Gabriel was no longer allowed to set him up.
“That’s what I thought. And when was the last time you took any time to work on the novel that you started writing when you first moved here?”
Cas stole a glance to the corner of his little apartment where a simple desk sat, housing an old typewriter he’d found at a flea market back when he’d moved to Chicago. Once upon a time, he had great plans for that thing. Now forgotten and neglected, it was covered in a fine layer of dust.
“Man, you’re mean tonight.”
“That’s what best friends are for,” she replied gently. “We call each other out on our bullshit because we truly want the best for each other. I’m mean because I love you.”
“I know,” he replied with a smile. “And...thank you. For giving a shit,” Castiel shrugged, rubbing his eyes. “It’s just hard for me to ask for time off. We’re all expected to put our entire lives into that company.”
“Right. But you’re the only one who actually does that. Everyone else leaves their work at the office. You don’t always have to be the perfect soldier, Castiel. In fact, they should learn what it’s like when you’re not there to pick up everyone’s slack. I think it’s time we plan a trip somewhere. You and me,” she said, nudging his arm.
“Hmmpf,” Castiel laughed. “Yeah, sure. Let’s just take off without warning. Hell, let’s leave the country. I hear Thailand is wonderful this time of year.”
“Actually, Thailand is in the middle of their rainy season, but I appreciate the suggestion. Maybe with a little less sarcasm next time.”
Nodding silently and rolling his eyes, he closed his laptop and set it aside. “I’ll think about it okay? Maybe once my new job title has been finalized and the dust settles, we can plan something. Just, no promises until then.”
“Deal,” Charlie answered with a nod, before reaching for the wine bottle. “Can I just say for the record, as your best friend who loves you and wants the best for you, I just think it’s time to start living for yourself and not just for your job. That being said, are we still on for dinner Monday night to celebrate?”
Castiel smiled back at Charlie. She truly was the best friend he’d ever had. “Yes, of course. I wouldn’t miss it. And thank you.”
Once his wine glass was refilled and they’d made a toast to future plans, he curled his legs up under him and let out a deep breath, determined to pay attention and enjoy the company of his best friend and their favorite show.
Charlie simply nodded and pointed the remote toward the TV to start the next episode.
☘☘☘
Monday morning came too fast, as it always did. Castiel spent the rest of the weekend finishing his report for work. He wanted to be prepared for the responsibilities of his new position at work so he could jump right in as soon as the official announcement was made. He wore his nicest suit for the occasion and even splurged for a taxi this morning to ensure he arrived in plenty of time, looking his best. But, of course, the rest of Chicago seemed to have the same idea, so his cab lurched along, eating up precious time.
When the driver finally pulled up to the curb, Castiel hustled inside and caught the elevator up to the twenty third floor, hoping no one would notice that he was five minutes late for the first time in years.
He landed in his chair and had just logged into his computer when his boss wandered into his office with his usual smarmy grin plastered on his face.
“Mr. Novak, glad you could join us. For the record, we do start the day at eight o’clock sharp. It would be best if you could try and apply yourself to show the company you’re serious about your position here.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Adler. I apologize for my tardiness. It won’t happen again, I assure you,” Castiel replied.
“Good. The staff meeting should be starting in ten minutes in the conference room. Make sure you’re there. Big news today,” Mr. Adler said, backing out of his office with the smile of a shark plastered across his face.
The room was nearly full when he arrived, with people quietly whispering about their weekend activities or gossip about who is sleeping with who on the twentieth floor. Only two minutes later, the room went silent as Zachariah entered and took his place at the head of the massive conference table.
“Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for joining us this Monday morning. I hope you’re all well rested after this weekend. We’ve got some big announcements and some exciting changes in the works, and I hope you’re all ready to jump in head first.”
A few people cheered enthusiastically, while others tried to hide their yawns, likely mentally cursing the need for a mandatory staff meeting on Monday morning. Castiel simply sat stoically, working to calm himself. He wasn’t sure if Mr. Adler expected him to give any kind of speech, but he was sure he could come up with something if necessary. Public speaking wasn’t his forte so he hoped a polite wave to his coworkers would suffice.
“As you all know, our beloved Director of Strategy and Development, Joshua Gardener, will be leaving us this week after nearly twenty five years of dedication to Sandover. And so, the time has come to name his replacement. I didn’t take this decision lightly. This position demands a lot and so needs someone just right to fill it. Someone who, I’m sure you all will agree, has become a strong part of this family. And so I’m sure it may come as no surprise to you all.”
Castiel held his breath.
“Lucas, congratulations. Come on up here!”
The room filled with polite applause while Lucas Morningstar casually made his way to the front of the room. The smug look on his face only intensified when he started talking, but Castiel couldn’t hear anything he said. His ears were buzzing. He battled to keep his face from giving away any signs of confusion or distress. He focused on his breathing and forced the lump that had formed in his throat back down. He wouldn’t let them see that he’d been blindsighted. He should be up there right now. He gave everything to this company. Lucas was nothing but a snake. The guy must’ve made a deal with the devil or something because there is no way anyone could have risen up through the ranks as fast as he did.
Castiel’s attention was pulled back to the room when Zachariah spoke again. Lucas had returned to his seat near the head of the table, shaking hands of his coworkers along the way. Zachariah started on about other points of business, but Castiel barely heard any of it.
Castiel remained in his office for most of the day, keeping his head down and focusing on his work, as usual. He was a professional after all. He refused to let this get to him. It wasn’t personal. It was business. At least that’s what he kept telling himself. But by midday, as he ate his lunch at his desk, it was getting hard as fuck not to take it personally. He deserved that promotion. He put in more hours than anyone and let his social life suffer for it. And what had it gotten him? Nothing but a lecture on punctuality. Well they should see how this place runs without him. For the first time in years, Castiel was out the door as soon as the clock struck five, feeling a storm brewing in his chest.
Two hours later, Castiel was freshly showered and wearing his favorite jeans and Star Wars t-shirt. He swung open the doors to his and Charlie’s favorite sushi restaurant and headed straight to the back where his best friend sat at their usual table, tapping out something on her phone. She looked up as he approached with a big smile on her face and was about to stand, likely to offer a celebratory hug. Her smile dropped quickly as she noticed the scowl on Castiel’s face.
“What’s that face for? What happened?”
Castiel pulled his chair back and plopped down. Ignoring the way his chest heaved with emotion, he looked straight back at his best friend and took a deep breath.
This was the thing he loved about Charlie. She didn’t require a lengthy explanation. She just got it. “So, now what?”
“You remember what you were saying on Friday? That we should go somewhere.”
“Yeah,” Charlie answered, a smile creeping across her face.
“Well, where should we go? And how fast can we get there?”
“Well. This may sound random. But. How do you feel about Ireland?”