Castiel hadn't said a single thing all day.
Mind you, this wasn't unusual- he had a tendency to not speak sometimes. But no matter what he always had some scathing reply for anything Nathaniel said to him.
Today he'd just shook his head and walked away.
Nathaniel was stunned. Lysander, who had been with Nathaniel when it happened, was equally as surprised, and they both stared after him.
Lysander followed.
Nathaniel didn't.
He found Castiel sitting under the tree in the courtyard, almost hidden from view. His knees were curled up to his chest, and he rested his head on them, earbuds in and music blasting impossibly loud.
"Are you okay?" Lysander asked, pulling out one of Castiel's earbuds so he would hear him. Castiel was unresponsive for a few seconds, before slowly he began to shake his head 'no.'
"What's wrong?"
Castiel just shook his head again, drawing his knees in tighter, if that was even possible. Lysander couldn't help noticing just how small his friend looked like this, like he was trying to fold in on himself and disappear.
They stayed like that for almost half an hour; Castiel curled up under the tree and Lysander crouching next to him. Finally, Castiel took a deep, shuddering breath.
"Demon," was all Castiel said. His voice hitched, as if he'd been holding back tears.
Lysander understood.
Wordlessly, he slipped his arms around his red-haired friend, and Castiel buried his face in Lysander's neck, finally letting himself cry.
He didn't say anything. Lysander just smoothed down Castiel's long hair, rubbing circles on his back and whispering "it's okay, you'll be okay," over and over again, until finally Castiel calmed down.