The wind was cold and bitter, bounding across Shillitzer farms and hitting Pastor Novak where he stood at the crossroads, staring down at the little pit he had dug in the gravel. There was no other way, at this point, no way to fix what he had broken other than to deal. But his soul...it seemed like a high price to pay. He shook the thought free, stooping to the ground, pulling a box from his trenchcoat pocket and dropping it in the dirt. His hands swept the gravel over it hastily before he stood up, exhaling and watching his breath tint the air with milky vapor.
"Hello Pastor," a gravelly purr rumbled from behind Castiel and he turned to see a short, dark-eyed demon in a black suit leaning on his car. "Wasn't expecting you so late."
"Are you the-the demon?" he asked, licking his lips at his stutter.
"No, I'm your Aunt Frida out of Minneapolis," the creature joked. "The name's Crowley."
"I'm...Pastor Castiel Novak," the man said, his brows furrowing slightly. "But I guess you knew that already."
The demon straightened up, strolling toward Castiel. "Settle a bet, where does a Baptist minister learn to summon a crossroads demon?"
"I have sources," he said a bit bluntly.
"Not the chatty type, huh?" Crowley guessed, shrugging. "Okay then. What brings you here Cas? Can I call you Cas?"
"No you may not," the man said, looking down. "I need you to save someone."
"Ah, a classic," Crowley grinned. "Whom shall I save?"
"Ben Winchester," the Pastor responded, his eyes pointing down to his feet as he spoke the name. "He's dieing."
"Well I can fix that," the demon assured. "But of course I'm going to need something in return."
"You want my soul, don't you?"
Crowley studied the ice blue eyes for a moment, taking a step back. "No. Not yet anyways."
"Not yet?" Castiel repeated, narrowing his eyes and letting his head cock to the side.
"Usually I sign a five year contract, collect when it runs out," he said. "But I think you and me can work out a little more time."
"Why?" Cas asked.
"Let's just say I've got a soft spot for men of God," Crowley replied with a little grin.
Castiel said nothing, clearly suspicious of the demon's offer. "How much time would you give me?" he asked finally.
"Ten years," Crowley replied. "Sound like enough to you?"
"Fifteen," Castiel countered, seeming to take Crowley by surprise. The demon stepped back, his eyebrows arching up.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me," the pastor said bravely. "I need fifteen years."
Crowley paced forward, maintaining eye contact with Castiel. "You know I give most people five years before I drag them to hell. I'm willing to double your time out of the goodness of my own heart, and you want...how many years?"
"Fifteen," Castiel repeated for a third time, his eyes remaining steadily on Crowley as the demon drew nearer, so near that he could feel the warmth of his breath. "And I was under the impression that ten year contracts were fairly standard."
Crowley's eyebrows went up again. "Brave," he murmured. "And better informed than I expected."
Castiel didn't move, maintaining his gaze and waiting for the demon to reject his offer.
"Very well," Crowley said softly, taking a step back. "Fifteen years, I cure the boy and when your time is up, I collect."
Cas blinked. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Oh," Crowley added, a smile stretching over his face, "and I get to call you Cas."
The pastor remained silent for another moment, before nodding. "I accept those terms."
"Then I assume you know what comes next?" Crowley purred.
Castiel's eyes darted down, some color blooming on his face as he recalled what Mrs. Trudeau had told him. "We seal the deal."
"And judging by the fact that you're blushing like a school girl, you know how."
"Just make it quick," Castiel murmured, his eyes raising and meeting Crowley's shakily.
A hand slid into his hair, cradling the back of the preacher's head and tipping it up gently as Crowley leaned in, letting his breath hover over the man's gently parted lips before he took them. He was more aggressive than Castiel had expected and the man sucked in a puff of cool air as he let Crowley take control of what he would not describe as a quick kiss. Finally the demon pulled away and when Castiel opened his eyes he was gone.