People will whine all day about tik tok making music shorter, but like 1) the primary driver is spotify, not tik tok because spotify pays per stream and counts a stream as 30 seconds of music regardless of how long the song is, incentivizing release several shorter songs.
and 2) music is kinda getting shorter, but it's a bit less of that and a bit more of "it had this period where it got a bit longer in the 1990s-early 2000s and then it's been trending back towards where it was".
Music has been shaped by how it's been sold for a very long time now. The entire general concept of songs being about 3 minutes comes from the limits of vinyl records and radio stations wanting time for ads. Radio edits have been around for longer than most people reading this have been alive. This isn't particularly unique or new, and also it really isn't tik tok's fault. And I am saying this as someone who hates tik tok.
Castiel steals another glance from where he is sitting propped against the passenger seat door. Dean doesn't notice, lost as he is in the road stretching for miles and miles ahead of them, lost as he is in the music coming softly from the speakers.
He looks so beautiful like this, glowing in the sunset, as a memory of what Castiel could see when he was able to see his soul. His freckles are way more visible now with the summer sunlight kissing them almost as much as Castiel himself every day, his hair is a spiky mess, just like Cas left it while they shared a breathtaking kiss.
He looks relaxed, his eyes hidden under sunglasses, he bought the same pair for Cas, they are lost somewhere in the backseat he is sure of it.
He lets Dean's rough, deep, voice flood him, anchor him to the moment,
"And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
And God, I know I'm one,"
He isn't singing too loud, careful not to wake him up.
Castiel closes his eyes again and just listens, for a while. He doesn't dare to open his eyes, as tempted as it is by the sight he knows awaits for him, he doesn't want Dean to stop in embarrassment.
Just a quick look.
Dean is drumming the fingers of his left hand on the wheel, he keeps singing, unaware of his audience or so it seems.
"I know you are awake." Dean doesn't sound too embarrassed, to Castiel's relief he sounds more amused than anything.
Before Castiel can apologize or say anything at all he is raising his arm, beckoning Cas to move closer with a muttered "c'mere, Cas."
He puts his arm around his shoulders once he is close enough, letting Castiel rest his head on his shoulder with a light kiss to the top of his head.
He keeps singing, his voice almost a whisper now, no need for more since they are pressed so close together. Castiel rest his hand on Dean's tight, squeezing lightly, his other hand reaching up to play with the fingers Dean's has splayed on his shoulder.