o0Chapel Of Love0o
Dean looks up at the sky, waiting impatiently for Cas to finish up whatever religious crap he's doing inside the massive gothic looking chapel which has sort of become a second home to him. Dean watching the smoke from his cigarette curl up and disappear int he sky. He's really got to quit, Cas is going to kill him if he see's he's still smoking. Bored, Dean puts out his cigarette beneath his heavy boot and heads back inside, climbing the long stone stairway. Cas is at the end of the room, up on the platform. The candles surrounding him make his sharp cheekbones look soft.
"Hey, padre." Dean grins, watching Cas look up and his eyes soften further.
"I'm nearly done here, thank you for picking me up. My car is having trouble." Cas admits, shuffling some of his sermon notes around before neatly tucking them into a folder. Dean climbs the last stairs and leans against the wooden pedestal that Cas is fretting over.
"No problem. I'll have a look at it when we get home." Dean yawns, rubbing at his nose as he watches Cas rush. Looking up to the empty room, Dean slides a hand over Cas's waist, hooking his chin over his shoulder.
"I think it just may need some tuning up." Dean smirked as Castiel rolled his eyes, elbowing him lightly.
"Dean, please-"
"Maybe an oil change." Dean continued, kissing at the sensitive spot behind the older man's ear that made his toes curl. Castiel bowed his head, a small noise leaving him.
"Maybe I just need to rev up the engine." Dean leered, watching Castiel squirm as he cupped his ass. Sliding a finger between his two plump cheeks.
"Let me finish, and then we can go home." Castiel smiled, turning slightly and kissing Dean chastely. A small gasp had them both looking down.
"Hester." Castiel breathed, eyes going enormous and terrified. Hester stood in the center of the pews, clutching her bible to her chest. Her eyes were wild. Dean's breath caught right in his throat and it was like the entire world had gone slow-mo. Dean dropped his hands, but it was impossible to not realize the intimacy of his hold on the Priest.
The slow realization on Hester's face was the worst. First her shock was nearly tangible, confusion merely making her look pretty if only for a moment. Her soft blue eyes hardened impossibly and the jealousy that rippled across her face quickly mixed with disgust.
"Pedophile." She hissed. It was like she had struck Castiel physically, his knees buckled and he gripped the pedestal His blue eyes panicked and shocked.
"Hester, please!" He called, but she turned around and ran. Long blonde hair trailing behind her. Dean watched her go, taking his happiness with her.
For the next day it was silent. Dean stayed home from school, and Castiel didn't go to the library where he had gotten a second job to help Dean set up a fund for Sam's schooling. Together they sat wrapped on the couch, waiting for the inevitable sirens. It was late in the afternoon when they got a call.
"Come to the church, bring the boy." Uriel's tart voice demanded. Castiel nodded solemnly and they both got dressed in silence. Dean hung his head, miserable. This was all his fault. Castiel was going to loose his job, his friends. Everything he had ever loved because Dean couldn't keep it in his pants.
They climbed into the impala. Castiel's hand finding his and squeezing lightly as he looked out the window, eyes sad and knowing.
"They can't keep us apart forever." Dean choked as they rounded the corner and parked into the nearly empty parking lot. Castiel nodded, a small brittle smile on his face.
"No matter what happens. I love you." Castiel promised, leaning across the seat and kissing him. Dean didn't realize he was crying until he felt the warm tears smear over Cas's face. They walked up the stairs and into the church, hands tightly wound together.
"How was school?" Cas asked, looking up from his book. Dean groaned, dropping his jacket on the back of the couch despite them having a coat hanger to his left.
"Shitty, Ruby's being a pain in the ass." Dean growled, dropping down in the seat next to Cas in the kitchen. Cas kissed his cheek, standing and starting a meal for him.
"Sam helped me get an A on this stupid government test." Dean mentioned sheepishly. Cas turned around eyes beaming.
"That's amazing, congratulations." Castiel's bright, gummy smile made Dean melt and he couldn't help but return it.
"It's no big deal." Dean shrugged, handing over the crumpled paper as Castiel carefully smoothed it out and placed it on the refrigerator under a old magnet.
"Aw, come on. That makes me look like a baby." Dean complained, but he couldn't wipe the sappy smile from his face. Castiel was smiling as well, admiring the test with critical blue eyes.
"I think it looks wonderful. Perhaps I should get a frame." Castiel teased and yelped as Dean came up behind him, nipping at his neck.
"Alright, alright. Don't be a little bitch." Dean laughed, hiding his smile in Castiel's collar. Castiel slowly started cooking again, stirring something in a pot that Dean wasn't paying attention too. The warmth of Castiel made him lightheaded as he clutched to him.
"I love you." Dean mumbled, eyes trained on Castiel's pale nimble fingers. Cas hummed happily, leaning back into him.
"I love you as well, Dean." Castiel replied, soundly completely content. Dean wanted this, this happiness and stability forever. He fingered the rings in his pocket and gulped loudly, taking them out.
"I made something too, in our metal workshop." Dean felt his face go red as Cas stopped stirring and turned around curiously.
"Let me see." Cas inquired, head tilting. Dean sucked in a deep breath through his teeth and pulled out two rings. Both silver. Small little symbols danced elegantly over the shining silver.
"I uh, left mine without any symbols so you can choose what you want on it." Dean swallowed thickly, trying to sound nonchalant.
"What does mine say?" Castiel asked, squinting at the ring.
"It's Enochian, we were learning about it and I thought it was pretty cool." Dean blabbers. Castiel smiled, fingers shifting over Dean's restless ones fumbling over the silver.
"But what does it read?" Castiel pressed, looking at Dean with a small encouraging smile. Dean stared back, licking his lips and chewing nervously at his lip before answering.
"You saved me, my angel." Dean whispers, meeting Castiel's gaze fretfully. Castiel smiles, and presses his lips softly against Dean's in reassurance.
"I would like yours to read, 'I'll always watch over you'." Castiel smiles and Dean's face goes bright red and he huffs out with embarrassment.
"Kinda creepy, but okay." Dean grins, Castiel rolls his eyes but allows Dean to slip the ring attached to a leather chord over his neck.
"People might think it's weird if we have matching rings, so for now we should wear them on necklaces." Dean suggests. Castiel nods in agreement.
"For now." Castiel says, sealing their lips together in another promising kiss.
Castiel tightly gripped the silver ring pressed against his chest. All members of the church sat in front of him, like it was a trial. Dean and Castiel stood before them. Hester stood beside Uriel, eyes zeroing in on were they were still both holding hands.
"Do you know why you are here, Castiel?" Uriel asks, face solemn. His dark skin glistening from the humid air in the stuffy church.
"I do not." Castiel says slowly. Uriel's scowl deepens and he turns to look at Hester.
"You are being accused of very heinous crimes, Castiel. This will not be taken lightly." Uriel says slowly, talking over the whispers that had broken out among the church goers.
"Heinous-" Dean grits, stepping forward. Castiel places a soothing hand over his left shoulder. Dean calms, taking a step back.
"I don't understand." Castiel said slowly, looking up at his peers cautiously. Hester lurched forward instantly. Blonde hair whipping around her face where it had fallen loose from it's clip. She appeared to not have slept for days, her eyes bruised and sunken in.
"It is not Castiel's fault, he's been seduced by that wicked little whore!" Hester hurled the insult out, and Castiel's fists tightened.
"Fuck you, lady!" Dean spat, glaring at her.
"How dare you speak to me! You've ruined Castiel's entire life! He was a sweet holy man until you showed up. The very touch of you corrupts! He has fallen in every way imaginable and for what? You?! A little boy who could care less what's in him, even if it was Satan himself. So long as you are brought pleasure, you could care less what it's from. The moment you touched him he was lost!" Hester screamed, her voice echoing off the walls. Castiel watched Dean's face crumble, green eyes going bleary at the words.
"That is not true." Castiel murmured, turning Dean to face him. But Dean's eyes were fixed on Hester. Her fury sizzled in the air around her.
"You will pay for the sin you have brought to us, filthy creature." She promised darkly, eyes flickering like the flames of the candles behind her.
"Is this true, Castiel? Have you bedded this boy?" Uriel asked, the room was silent. Castiel looked up, eyes wide as he dropped his hands from the lapels of Dean's coat. Dean was unresponsive, head hung as he let the words settle.
"I have." Castiel said strongly, head tipping up as he met Uriel's disgusted face.
"So you admit your sin?" Uriel demanded, voice cracking like thunder with the authority it held. Dean was silent, eyes fixed on the floor.
"There is no sin in love." Castiel declared and this erupted more hisses from the council. Uriel flinched.
"You bring this into our church, Castiel? This abomination you call love is a curse, you will spend eternity in hell!" Uriel was standing now, pointing an accusing finger at them both.
"What are you gonna do? Call the cops?" Dean finally spoke, voice low and weary. Castiel refused to let his eyes leave Uriel, challenging.
"No, no. We can not let it out that one of our own Priest's is a pedophile. You will both be separated silently." Uriel decided. Castiel left Dean's side, stomping forward.
"We will not!" Castiel boomed, eyes blazing with rebellion. Uriel's shoulders stiffened.
"Then you will be imprisoned for the rest of your life, I will make sure of it!" Uriel snarled. Uriel held a lot of power, Castiel had told Dean. He could have Castiel put in jail for a very long time, perhaps not his entire life but a good portion of it.
"So be it. I will not abandon Dean." Castiel panted, shooting his open palm back and waiting for Dean's to slip into it so they could stand in front of these people with pride. Together they could overcome this. Perhaps even run away together to escape persecution. Castiel's mind was running with ideas before he realized his hand was still empty.
"You'd go through all that just to keep us apart?" Dean asked quietly from behind him.
"Yes." Uriel said tightly. The church was too quiet. You could hear the breath of the council, waiting for them to speak.
"Dean?" Castiel scowled in confusion. Dean ignored him, and a flicker of worry settled over the Priest.
"That must cost a lot of money." Dean said, and he sounded strange. Like he was in pain but fighting through it.
"Dean what are you doing?" Castiel demanded.
"It will, but I can assure you it is possible." Uriel supplied suspiciously.
"It'd be a lot cheaper, and a lot quieter to pay me off. Don't you think?" Dean smiled, but it was all wrong. Castiel stood in shock. His blue eyes going wide and then he blinked in confusion.
"Dean what are you saying?" Castiel's voice cracked in pain and he took a step closer to the boy.
"Mother Teresa over there was right. I could care less what's getting me off, as long as I'm getting off. I could really use that money, Cas. It's Sam's dream to be a lawyer, and that ain't cheap." Dean shrugged, barely looking at Castiel.
"Whore." Hester snarled, lips curled back like an animal.
"Dean, I don't understand." Castiel nearly sobbed, relief spreading through him as Dean walked forward. He reached out, but Dean walked past his out stretched hands. He walked to the base of the pedestal looking up at Uriel with his hands shoved casually into his pockets.
"This can all blow over nice and quiet. You get your obedient little Priest back, and I get my money. No one leaves the wiser." Dean says. Castiel is numb behind him, lips pressed together tightly.
"You have yourself a deal." Uriel agreed.
six years later ...
Castiel sat quietly in the kitchen. His house empty and silent. The memories of laughter, and bickering. The smell of cheeseburgers and car oil and leather. The constant sound of the radio blaring Led Zeppelin and AC/DC.
It was all gone.
Dean had left immediately after the trail. They'd handed him a large envelope of money which he had flicked through before saluting. Castiel had been held, they had told him the guidelines he would live by. His life would be stripped of all pleasantries and he would be shunned until he proved himself again. Castiel hardly spoke. He lost the job at the town library and instead of giving the sermons he loved so dearly he was put in the church library were he spent his time in solitude. Putting the scrolls and dusty old books on the shelves.
To say his life was bleak was being kind.
"Hello Castiel." He looked up. Green eyes stared at him carefully and he felt his heard leap before seeing the blaze of red hair.
"Anna." He greeted quietly.
"I knocked, but you didn't answer." Anna said, jabbing her thumb back to the door.
"My apologies." Castiel looked down at the table.
"I came here to tell you that Sam's graduating tomorrow from law school." Anna said gently after a few moments of tense silence. Castiel flinched at the name, it was always associated to the D word.
"That's wonderful." Castiel murmured. Anna stepped closer.
"He asked me to invite you, specifically." Anna continued. Castiel shook his head, looking away.
"Why not?" Anna asked. The kitchen was silent for a long time before Castiel spoke.
"He might be there." Castiel's voice cracked and he placed a palm over his face.
"He won't be." Anna promised. Castiel didn't believe in promises anymore. Sam had called him occasionally, thanking him for the 'anonymous' payments that had gone into his schooling. He missed the sweet young man.
"I'll go." Castiel agreed.
