AN: I had this tiny drabble in my head for such a long time, but just now got around to writing it down.
I get really nervous when writing, for I don't have much faith in my skills. But in any case, I hope you all like it, and thank you for taking the time to read, and comment!
Dean stood in the middle of Bobby's salvage yard, late one afternoon. The summer heat stifling much of the sound today, save for a few cicadas calls; Which, in Dean's eyes, was a nice change of pace for him. It was quite peaceful today, regardless of the heatwave the area was currently going through. He stood alone while staring at the ground, surrounded by nothing but rusted out shells of cars, watching as his shadow followed his every movement.
He smiled; It was bittersweet, almost. He knew things would change. He's lost so many people over the years. Some who he couldn't /dream/ of being without. Yet he knows that he, himself, his shadow. Would always be there beside him.
Dean would never admit it, but he was absolutely terrified of being left alone. That's the one thing that kills him most. That nagging feeling in the back of his brain, that. One day. He won't have anyone to talk to. To lean on, or confide in. That horrifying thought keeps him awake at night. Not the monsters that roam around among normal faces of the earth, not those night terrors of spending his days in Hell, but. Thinking. Knowing. That one day, he will be alone.
"At least I know some things stay the same." He said softly, eyes fixated on his shadow's form against the drying and cracked dirt.
The clouds were drifting lazily that day, across that boundless sky. The leaves in the trees rustled softly against the warm breeze. It was truly a beautiful day, by any means. Until, that is, the clouds drifted in front of the sun. Dean's smile faltered as he watched his shadow fade into the rest that now covered the area. He sighed softly, feeling the anxiety building in his chest.
He couldn't even put trust in himself half of the time.
He knew that all along.
Dean felt the return of the sun against the back of his neck, the tingling warmth spreading through his body. His eyes again fell upon his shadow, but to his surprise, found himself no longer alone. Beside his own shadow; was another. Considerably smaller, of course, with wings spread across the dusty earth. Dean couldn't help but smile, shaking his head absentmindedly.
Castiel always knew just when to get his feathery ass down to earth, didn't he. Sure, sometimes, he was a little dense, naive like a child while first assessing the situation. And yeah, sometimes, he didn't know what to say. And sometimes, he just plain out says something that makes it worse. But Dean sure as Hell loved him.
There was a moment of silence, followed by soft padded footsteps against the cracked ground, then the warmth of a hand enclosing around his own, fingers entwining together. Cas didn't speak a word, but sometimes, that's just what Dean needed. A small, tiny bit of affection; a little intimate moment between the two of them.
He squeezed Cas' hand so gently, that it was barely noticed.
Castiel merely smiled at Dean. Blue eyes alight with knowledge of the hunter's feelings; he nodded silently, eyes falling back down on their shadows.
Dean felt his heart twist, almost painfully, with adoration and sheer love for Cas.
Over the years, it was always like this, wasn't it? Castiel was closer to him than his own shadow. He was there for him, even when the whole world went dark.
Even if Dean didn't have himself to rely on.
He knew that Cas would always be by his side.
After all.
Angels are watching over him.
End.