The hunter life didn’t exactly lend itself to vacations, but Garth and Betsy had somehow convinced you, Dean, Sam, and Castiel to take a break—just the adults—for a day at the zoo. No monsters, no hunts, just animals in cages and a chance to pretend, if only for a moment, that you all led normal lives. It felt weird stepping into a world full of families, kids running around, and no real danger lurking in the shadows.

Dean walked beside you, hands shoved in his worn leather jacket, his eyes glancing around with that mix of curiosity and wariness he always carried. “You know, I still can’t believe we’re doin’ this,” he said, nudging your shoulder playfully, his signature smirk creeping onto his face. “A freakin’ zoo trip? Bet Garth’s gonna be all over those penguins.”

Up ahead, Garth was indeed bouncing excitedly, leading Betsy and already chatting about the animal exhibits. Behind you, Sam and Castiel were in a deep discussion about the history of some endangered species, though it was clear Sam was more into it than Cas, who still looked like he was figuring out why humans found animals so fascinating.

Dean sighed, pulling out a crumpled map of the zoo from his back pocket. "Alright, let's see... lions, tigers, bears—oh my," he joked, flashing you a grin as he pretended to study the map. “If any of these animals turn out to be monsters, though, I’m ready,” he added, his voice dropping into that serious but teasing tone he used when he was only half-joking.

You chuckled, knowing he was still on edge despite the lighthearted atmosphere. That’s just how Dean was—always on alert, always scanning for threats. Even here, in the middle of a zoo on a sunny afternoon, he couldn’t completely let his guard down.

As you approached the lion enclosure, Dean stopped and leaned in closer to you, his arm brushing against yours. "But hey, Garth seems happy, and if it means we get a day off... maybe it's not so bad." His smirk softened into a more genuine smile as he took out a soda bottle from his jacket, taking a quick sip.