Out of the Lake and Into My Arms, Chapter 1: The Awakening
Fandom: Supernatural
Pairing: Destiel (Dean/Castiel)
Rating: PG-13
Warning(s): Mild language, angst
Darkness. Utter and complete darkness. It was unusual for Castiel to experience this- he was a creature of light, after all- but not unheard of.
The next thing he was aware of was exactly how cold it was. This bothered him significantly more- he shouldn't be affected by external forces like his vessel would. Cold was bad. Cold was dangerous.
The last thing he became aware of was that his vessel was drowning.
Panic overtook him as he realized he had to do something, now, before his vessel died and he was released. He did the only thing possible and drew the last bit of his angelic power and shot to the surface.
Later, he would realize that this was a mistake, because he wouldn't have died anyway- his grace kept his vessel together. But in his panic (which, he figured, was a result of nearly drowning), he used up his store of power, leaving him weak and drained and he floated barely above the surface of the water. Dimly, he registered a breeze on his face, which was warmer than the lake- but not by much.
Float, you stupid son of a bitch, he thought tiredly. The derogatory phrase brought him up short for a moment. That wasn't something he would say normally- he'd picked it up from someone else. Someone he was close to. Who?
Castiel tried to focus as he floated. The coldness of the water had blocked it, but now as he gradually warmed he was beginning to notice he was badly injured and in quite a lot of pain. Think, he thought desperately.
Short visions flitted across his mind. A leather jacket. An old, beat up car. Classic rock music blaring through the speakers. An amulet that would be used to find God. Green eyes.
Dean, he thought with relief. Where are you?
It was the first time Dean had returned to the lake since that day. He wasn't sure why he was going; it was his idea, though. When he'd suggested that maybe they should go back to the lake, Sam had said something about "closure" and "psychological studies" and "That's a good idea, Dean, it could help a lot" and went on to tell him that he better not "even think about going alone because I'm coming with you" and had proceeded to pack.
The kid was a lot to handle at times.
But now Dean was standing by the edge of the lake, with Cas' trenchcoat gripped tightly in his right hand. Sam was back with the car- Dean had wanted to be alone.
He knelt by the edge of the lake, unsure of exactly what he was doing. He looked into the water and the words spilled out before he could stop them.
"Why'd you have to leave, Cas?"
Dean reached out and touched the surface of the water with his left hand. Thoughts of Cas clouded his mind, and he missed Cas so much it hurt. A ripple shot out from between his fingers, and to this day Dean swears up and down he felt a rumble, like an earthquake, underneath it, but he'll never know for sure. Dean stood and turned to walk away, but when he heard something like bubbling water, he turned back. The middle of the lake was glowing mysteriously and starting to boil like a volcano. Dean backed a away slowly, then made up his mind and turned to run.
The lake exploded behind him. He stopped dead in his tracks and looked back, and his mouth fell open in shock. The lake looked completely the same as before. Except…
Except it looked like, where the lake had been glowing, it looked like something- no, someone- was floating. Dean could have sworn it looked just like-
But no, it couldn't be…
Then he saw it.
The floating man spread his wings in an effort to stay afloat.
Cas.
Dean took off running back toward the lake.