The Scent of Protection

Fandom : Supernatural

Characters : Castiel/Dean

Rating : PG-13

Word Count : 350

Written for the prompt : Supernatural, Castiel/Dean, the scent of Dean's leather jacket

Disclaimer : All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.


The Scent of Protection

Castiel knows Dean in ways he has known no other, sees things in this human that he is sure may exist in others, but he hasn't seen them and he doesn't have the time or inclination to look. Dean is bigger than any other human he looks at; not physically in the mortal sense, not when one sees his brother, has seen his father, but Dean . . . Dean is something they could never aspire to in Castiel's opinion, his heart and soul are expansive. Castiel finds himself drawn to him in ways he couldn't really explain to anyone.

He doesn't need to be looking to know when Dean approaches, he can sense him, almost smell and feel him. He doesn't need to hear when Dean is hurt, they are bound together in ways he cannot explain but it lets him feel Dean's pain. He doesn't need to be told when Dean is pleased, the warmth of Dean's soul glistens on his own Grace.

Yet despite all of this, it is Castiel who wants to be held close and treasured, loved enough to be wanted and touched. It may be something his own brothers would despise, but they haven't experienced this. They have no understanding of the true beauty of their Father's creation, of this humanity.

Castiel has found it all in Dean, in the way Dean will greet him when they are alone, hold him close and allow him to rest, to take pause from all the planes of existence that wreak havoc on his Grace, steal his energy, his belief. He finds pause, peace and the courage to struggle on here where his head rests tucked in against Dean's neck, where the scent of Dean's cologne and his leather jacket combine in a sense memory that will keep Castiel fighting on, protect him and give him strength in all the ongoing battles.