Hey all, quick author's note: Because of my other SPN fic [In Cas' Coat], I've been swamped with lots of ideas that can never make it into that story, so I'll be putting them here for you all. :) Oh, and any prompts you guys come up with may very well make it into this collection, so review or pm me if you've got one. ~Nobu
"So, why is Dean all over you?" Sam frowned at his brother and Cas.
Castiel shifted slightly so that Dean's embrace was more comfortable, "A cupid hit him with an arrow while we were getting supplies. I was the first person Dean saw after he got shot."
"That doesn't mean I don't love you, Cas!" Dean defended. He couldn't believe his angel didn't believe he truly loved him.
Sam raised a brow at the angel. Castiel sighed, looking frustrated and annoyed. Dean rested his chin on Cas' shoulder, not noticing how the angel stiffened. Castiel gave Sam a look. The younger Winchester nodded and turned to his love-sick brother.
"Hey, Dean, y'know what Cas would love?" Sam baited.
Dean's gaze slid to Sam curiously, "What?"
"I'm sure he'd love it if you made him a pie." Sam smiled.
"Would you?" Dean looked up at Cas with adoration in his eyes.
Castiel managed a gentle smile as he met Dean's gaze. He ignored the pain in his chest at seeing that gaze, "Yes, Dean, I would be so grateful if you made me a pie."
Dean smiled, straightening but not letting his angel go yet, "What flavor would you like?"
"I'd like the flavor to be a surprise." Cas said softly.
"As you wish." Dean grinned and jogged toward the kitchen. Castiel began to relax back to his normal stance when Dean ran back in and pecked the angel on the lips. Dean beamed at the startled Cas and said, "It'll be the best pie ever!" before going back to the kitchen.
Sam watched as Castiel blinked, coming back from the surprise kiss. The angel straightened, blushed lightly and cleared his throat. Sam raised his brows at him.
"I need to go see about getting this undone." Cas stated before walking out of the bunker.
[|]
"I'm sorry, brother, but I can't." The young woman sighed.
"What do you mean 'you can't'?" Castiel glared.
Her gaze flitted up to the sky and she took a deep breath, "I kind of, maybe, sort of, broke a few rules and orders by shooting Dean Winchester…"
"What orders?!" Cas demanded.
"We were informed that we were never to shoot the Righteous Man. That we were to never help him if we thought he needed it." She whispered.
"Then why did you, Valentine?"
"Because he… you… I wanted to help you be happy…"
"Why were you ordered to never shoot Dean?"
"Because I think Father wanted to see if he would fall for his soulmate on his own. Because without Destiny, there is no Free Will. I believe he wished to see how truly the two intermingled."
"So Dean's a guinea pig, then."
"Yes."
"So why can't you make the arrow's effects null?" Castiel sighed.
"Um, because it won't break until he and his soulmate share a true kiss…" Valentine murmured.
"Tell me who they are so I can fix this." Cas snapped.
"I… I can't!" She teared up.
"Why not?" He growled.
"Because then I'd be interfering more and I've already created such a mess and maybe it isn't time for them to be together and-" The Cupid rambled.
"Do you even know who she is?" Castiel sighed. This was ridiculous and tiring. He couldn't return to the bunker without the ability to fix this. His sister shook her head in answer to his question. Great. Just great. "Very well."
"I'm sorry, brother." Valentine said.
[|]
Castiel had flown to see all of the women Dean had fallen for over the years. All three of them. He had to check if their souls were linked as intricately and beautifully as Mary and John's had. The first two had been a bust. Now he was standing, invisible, in Lisa and Ben's backyard.
For the moment, he was watching Ben mow the lawn. Castiel wasn't ready to see if Lisa was Dean's soulmate just yet. The human was a young man now and he appeared to be turning out to be a very good person. It was a shame that Dean hadn't been able to live a happy life as part of the family before him. He knew that even now, Dean loved and cared about these two deeply.
Cas took a breath and shook these thoughts from his head. He had to get this over with. The angel took a look at Lisa's soul. A paradoxical mix of relief and resignation filled him. He didn't know who else Dean's soulmate could be. By Heaven, it could be anyone!
With an internal growl of frustration, Castiel flew back to the bunker.
[|]
"So, wait, Dean's soulmate has to come and kiss him?" Sam repeated.
"Yes." Castiel said stiffly.
"And they have to already been in love with him?" The younger Winchester asked.
"That would be correct, Sam." Cas stated.
There was a moment of quiet between them as Sam seemed to gape at the angel. Castiel didn't understand what Sam was stating at him like that for. He had only stated the facts. Finally, Sam's voice returned.
"Cas, you're kidding right?" Sam asked. His words were drowning in disbelief.
"I am not." The angel frowned.
"Cas-!" Sam cut himself off, running his hands over his face in frustration. Sam's eyes searched the angel for a moment before he groaned, "Dude, c'mon, you can't be this oblivious!"
"What're you talking about, Sam?" Castiel's frown increased its takeover of his features.
"The whole profound bond stuff? Or all of that freaking staring you guys do? The way that Dean talks about his feelings with you? Your picking him over everything always? The fact that he prays to and because of you? Or that he's had nightmares of losing you ever since he returned from Purgatory? The fact that he can sense you even when he can't see you? Cas, seriously, man, just," Sam huffed and pointed at the kitchen where Dean was still baking pies, "just go kiss him already!"
Castiel took a step backwards, blushing brightly, and looked down, "No, Sam. I… I can't. I'm not his… his soulmate."
"Why the hell wouldn't you be?" Sam demanded. He was so sick of their stupid little circles around each other and their feelings.
"Because I'm family." Castiel's voice broke on the last word. The angel hadn't realized he had been holding back tears until one had escaped down his cheek. Cas slid his eyes up again to look to Sam, only to find Dean less than a foot away.
"No, no, Cas." Dean's sincere voice whispered. The seriousness was such a strong contrast to the puppy love that had been coming from the righteous man all day. Dean wiped tears from his angel's cheek, "I'm sorry, bud. I… I call you family because I… can't let myself l-love you any other way… I wouldn't be able to handle it if I let you in that way and you…"
"And I hurt you? Or left?" Castiel finished in a murmur. Dean was looking away now, "You still don't believe you deserve happiness, do you?"
"No." Dean whispered.
"Dean?" Cas pleaded. Dean looked reluctantly into his angel's eyes. Pain and fear in the righteous man's eyes were so overpowering that Castiel couldn't let himself a moment of doubt.
"I love you, Dean." Cas said before kissing the human gently on the lips.
A whispering sound flooded the air around the soft, chaste kiss. A moment later, Dean pulled back, red as a tomato. The human looked quickly away from Castiel.
"That did not just happen." Dean muttered, running anxious hands through his hair, "This is not real, it's gotta be a dream or something."
"You've dreamt of kissing me?" Castiel couldn't help the teasing smirk that came to his lips.
Dean blinked for a moment, realizing exactly what he had stated out loud, "Shuddup, Cas."
"I love you too, Dean." Castiel smiled.