Fandom Supernatural
Character(s)/Pairing(s) Castiel, Dean; Castiel/Dean if you squint
Genre Coda/Drama
Rating PG
Word Count 462
Disclaimer Supernatural c. Kripke, CW, WB
Summary Castiel's frustrations between Dean's problems and Castiel's own problems hit a snapping point. Coda to season six episode seven.
Warning(s) spoilers for season six, spoilers for season six episode seven
Notes The tone of a line in the latest episode caught my attention and wouldn't let me go.
Inabilities Initiate
There was a flutter of wings from behind Dean and the sound of shoes gently settling onto the ground. The sound of ruffled feathers hastily hidden came next and Dean turned to look over his shoulder. Castiel's shoulders sagged yet his eyes snapped directly to Dean's gaze and stared unwaveringly. Dean continued to lean against the side of the Impala but unfolded his arms. The Impala sat on an abandoned driveway out in a clearing in a forest. The house it used to connect to had long since returned to the earth. "What'd you find?"
Castiel flexed his hands a little, testing his fingers and he shook his head. "I haven't found anything yet." He twisted his wrists to encourage circulation.
Dean stopped leaning on the Impala. "But Sam needs his soul, Cas."
"And I need help!" Castiel bristled and for the briefest of moments, Dean heard his feathers ruffle. Castiel flexed his hands again and took a step towards Dean, continuing in a quieter voice, "I'm fighting a civil war, Dean. I'm not Father, I'm not Michael; I don't have their clout. I was given a duty that no one wants to recognize."
Before Dean could register it, Castiel stood almost in his personal bubble. "Cas – "
Castiel held up a hand to ask Dean to quiet. There was a fading burn mark on his palm from an angelic weapon. "I'll find something. I'll tell you when I find it. When you say jump, I can't ask how high." His eyes hardened. "I'm in a civil war, Dean." He paused and then took one step closer to Dean. "Do you even know what that means?"
Dean shifted his weight. He looked down at their feet only inches apart now and then back up at Castiel's face. He pulled himself to his full height as though the extra two inches would intimidate. "I know what it is, Cas, but there's got to be a time you aren – "
Castiel shoved Dean up against the Impala, more to interrupt the speculation than to actually cause harm. "I am fighting my brothers," Castiel hissed, his eyes flashing with something left from the time he was completely human. "I am killing my brothers." He put his weight into his hold to keep Dean in place. "I have to do this because you couldn't fight Sam; because you couldn't kill Sam." He moved away from Dean. The sound of his wings unfurling mixed into the sound of the late fall breeze. "I'll tell you when I find something." Then Castiel was gone.
Dean stood there a long moment, watching the spot Castiel stood. He opened his mouth to mutter an insult but none came to his lips. He got back into the Impala and slammed the door shut.
The End