Cafeteria Talk

(Written by Roysovitch)

**The following short story is sponsored by Amethystangel228 and takes place within the continuity of Earth-27. This is meant to answer the question "How do Leon and Castiel know each other?":**

The younger of the two stared at the plate served to him with curious confusion. He had observed this ritual of dining before, many times, but had never partaken in it on his own. With trepidation, he reached out with one hand. He peeled the edible lid back, revealing the seared offering and its assorted toppings of produce and melted lactic squares, slathered with various brightly colored sauces.

"What is this thing?" asked young Leonardo.

The older, raven-haired figure of masculine gender with stubbled cheeks and chin was already stuffing his face with the similar offering provided on his plate. As he sank his teeth into that first bite, his eyes rolled back in ecstasy. He only registered the younger's inquiry after that moment had faded. Taking a few more moments to chew, each one allowing his overwhelming stimulation to fade more and more, he grabbed a napkin, dabbed the yellow sauce from the corner of his lips, and gave the faintest of smirks.

"It's called a cheeseburger," Castiel said, still chewing, before finally swallowing as though it were a period at the end of his sentence.

"No," said Leonardo, shaking his head. "I know that... I have seen humans eat these before. But... Why is this being put before me?"

Castiel nodded. "Oh. I see. This is called lunch."

"The midday meal."

"Correct," said Castiel before taking another bite.

"And you engage in this human custom?" asked Leonardo.

"I do."

"Why?" asked Leonardo.

"I feel I must..."

"You must?"

Castiel paused to swallow. He took another moment to compose his thoughts, looking off to the distance as he did so. "I mean... My charge engages in this custom, and this allows me to be close to him."

"You could be closer," said Leonardo, lowering the top bun of his burger.

"You mean I could shed my corporeal form and observe him from the veil."

Leonardo nodded. "He is not in your line of sight from here. He is several hundred cubits from where we are sitting. Would you not be a more efficient sentinel if you remained close to your charge?"

"That is up for debate. While I could better protect him if I were closer, I would risk further agitation. I choose not to do that. Instead, I choose to maintain this form as a means to understand him better so that in time, he will accept my presence and allow me to protect him better," said Castiel, taking another bite and chewing slowly. His eyes drifted for a moment to the ceiling before returning to his colleague, inspecting him with a curious gaze.

Leonardo had moved his hands to the surface of the cafeteria table. His fingers lowered his palms to the flat, linear plane of the furniture. He gave himself a moment to let his physical form exist against the material, pressing lightly against it to test its strength compared to his own. When he felt it buckle against his touch as he applied more pressure, he eased off and clasped his hands together, resting them on the table's edge. "We have substantial power in this plane, but things here are so much more fragile. Ourselves included..."

Castiel nodded, taking another bite.

"You know this to be true, and yet you allow yourself to remain subject to the temptations of the flesh when you can cast it aside?" asked Leonardo.

"There is something... satisfying about the imperfection of this existence," replied Castiel after he swallowed his final bite.

Leonardo lowered his eyes to the table, then looking around the cafeteria of the facility they found themselves in. With measuring glances, Leonardo eyed the various humans surrounding them. After a moment of surveying their imperfections, his focus returned to his older colleague. "This satisfies you?"

Castiel pointed to the crumbs on his plate as he dabbed them with his finger. "No. This is what satisfies me," he said as he pressed his finger to his lips and licked the morsels up. He paused, took a moment to look about the room himself, and then scratched his rough cheek. "I find these other things... interesting. I am fascinated by many things here. Such as the feel of air conditioning on my flesh. The overlapping sounds of a dozen conversations about me. The residual smell of bleach from that mop bucket," Castiel seemed poised to continue but paused. "Do you not see anything about this world which fascinates you?"

Leonardo paused. "Well, there is one thing."

Castiel slid his plastic lunch tray aside to perch his forearms on the table. "Such as?"

Eyeing his food, Leonardo picked it up. He looked at Castiel, but evaded directly looking into the other's curious glance. "There's a girl..." he said before tentatively taking a bite.

"Oh," said Castiel as Leonardo chewed with a face of stewing expressions. "Well, I am not sure I am qualified to have this discussion with you."

Leonardo choked on his first attempt at swallowing food. He coughed, and his body spasmed for a moment before he regained composure and looked to Castiel. "So you cannot help me?"

"I can try," reasoned Castiel. "I have some experience with this subject."

"You do?" asked Leonardo, with piqued interest.

Castiel nodded sagely. "I believe that there is some overlap between the culinary craving and the sexual appetite. Perhaps my experience with one will lend itself well to the other?"

Leonardo shook his head. "No, Castiel. This is a different sort of interest. I do not believe my body has developed such capability yet. My essence is still aging. I am still unable to take on a more mature form. Besides, this girl is still quite young as well. Most likely too young to reciprocate. She seems to think the males of her species have a disease or infection called cooties. She would likely think the same of me."

"Oh," said Castiel, nodding. "Forgive me. I have little experience with hatchlings as well... My apologies, you came to me for guidance on understanding the human experience, and I fear I am failing you."

"No, not at all," Leonardo said, assuring his new friend. "Actually, I am curious," said Leonardo after a moment of quiet pondering. "About this overlap, what could you tell me about that?"

Castiel nodded. "There is a genre of film known as documentaries."

Leonardo nodded. "Yes. The girl's parents are known to indulge in such activities after the kids are retired to their beds."

"There is one particular type of documentary. It is the third volume of Casa Erotica. It follows a day in the life of a culinary transport agent."

"Oh, like the pizza delivery guy?" asked Leonardo.

"The very same," said Castiel. "But that is a discussion for another time. For now, tell me about this girl. What about her do you find so interesting?"

## Trivia and Notes

* On where this story takes place in the timeline, according to Amethystangel228: *Well, she still believes in cooties... so she's gotta be around 10 or 11. Which would put this between 2009-2011, since she turns 12 in November 2011? Could be even earlier than that if Roy wanted, but I doubt it.*
* Per Roysovitch when asked on the Discord server this scene takes place on March 27th, 2004.
* Castiel's comment about the "documentary" featuring the pizza delivery man is a reference to the *Supernatural* episode *Caged Heat*.

## Links and References

* (E27 Scene) Cafeteria Talk

1. ↑ Amethystangel228's comment on the story's timeline