He cleared his throat and tried to steady his nerves. "Hey, uh, Cas. You got your ears on?"

He squeezed his eyes shut and almost lost his nerve. He thought about grabbing his bag and leaving. He'd been hiding how he felt for years. Years. He was afraid of shaking up the status quo. What if Cas rejected him?

Fuck, what if Cas didn't?

The fluttering of wings alerted Dean to the arrival of Cas and suddenly his nerves were gone. He opened his eyes and found his angel standing mere inches in front of him. Dean's cheeks lifted in a grin and he threw himself at Cas. He saw the angel's blue eyes widen before Dean was wrapping his arms around him. Dean buried his face into Cas' neck and breathed in deep. Cas' arms pulled his body closer against the angel's chest and Dean relaxed against him. They stood there for several long moments without saying a word. If Cas found the interaction strange, he said nothing about it. Then again, Cas wasn't exactly a guru of socially acceptable behavior.

"I'm so happy to see you, Cas." Dean breathed against Cas' neck. "It's been such a long time."

Cas hummed in response and ran a thumb over his spine. "You've had a long journey."

As the familiarity of Castiel's scent washed over Dean, he found tears prickling at the corners of his eyes. He pressed his face into Cas' shoulder. "How did you know?"

Castiel took his time replying, as if thinking over his answer. He ran his hand over Dean's back in a soothing pattern. "I can smell traces of ozone, sulfate and memory on your skin. I would be more concerned if I couldn't also detect the scent of Gabriel's Grace."

Dean stepped back out of Cas' arms, making sure to stay in his space. A smile graced his lips. Cas' blue eyes were bright. "So, you know he's alive then."

Cas nodded. "I've suspected before this, but the room is heavy with his Grace and you could not have journeyed so far under your own power."

The two of them stood in silence for a while, blue eyes connected with green. They had always communicated so well without words, but there was a new openness now.

"It was bad, Cas. I needed to know if maybe I could have done something differently in the past to make things better now." Dean explained. "But it always ended up worse."

Cas' hand settled upon Dean's shoulder without conscious thought and Dean sighed in relief. "Did you find your answers?"

Dean licked his lips. He nodded. "Yeah, Cas. I did."

Cas' blue eyes were flickering between Dean's eyes and his mouth. "And what did you learn?"

Dean blinked, distracted by Cas' wandering eyes. "We need to stop working alone. We're better together. Me and Sammy and you. We're a great team. The best. And we need to start being honest."

Cas focused back on Dean and the lust faded from his eyes. "That is very wise. It would be prudent then for me to admit that I've not been well since Purgatory. I'm," He glanced away, thoughtful. "Missing time, Dean. I find myself in places that I don't remember deciding to go. Or in the middle of a conversation I didn't start." His cerulean gaze was intent. "I fear Heaven is behind it."

Dean wrapped his palm around Cas' forearm. "I know, Cas. Gabe told me. It's Naomi. She's torturing you, Cas. And she's done it before."

"Naomi." He blinked. "Yes, Naomi is a…specialist in Heaven. She was responsible for my re-education when I was forced out of Jimmy's vessel. Comparing her to Alistair isn't quite right as she doesn't enjoy it in the same way, but-" Cas stared off into space and then jolted as if in pain. "I'm being summoned to Heaven." He glanced around the room before locking eyes back on Dean. "You're keeping me here. Gabriel did something."

Dean glanced down at the hand holding onto Cas. He moved it down his wrist and threaded their fingers together. Cas watched the movement and warmth filled his eyes. "We're tethered again, you and I."

Dean watched thoughtfully as Cas traced a thumb over the seam where their hands were joined. He licked his lips, holding onto the angel's last words. "Again?"

Castiel's grip tightened where his hand had remained on Dean's clothed shoulder. Both gazes fell on his hand and the faded mark that had once marred Dean's skin beneath it. "You weren't kidding when you said you gripped me tight, huh?"

A chuckle escaped Cas' chest and he shook his head. Remembering his trip back through Hell with Dean fighting in his grasp. "You fought me every moment of the journey. You were desperate to escape and clung so tightly to me and yet you believed so deeply that you belonged there. So, you kicked and you screamed even while wrapping yourself around me. I held onto you so tightly that I left a mark. A mark that partially bonded us. It tethered us until you asked me to remove the mark. And even then, traces of the bond have remained."

Dean licked his lips again and stepped a little closer into Castiel's space. "I had wondered about that before. How you sometimes seemed to know what I was thinking or feeling. Even after your promised to stay out of my head. Or you could find me even with the branding you put on my ribs." He glanced up at Cas quickly before looking back down at their joined hands. "Or how sometimes I could feel you. I'd know you were there, or what you were feeling without asking or looking at you."

Cas took a small step closer, nodding. "Yes, that would be traces of the unfinished bond between us."

"Hey, Cas?" Dean asked, so close now that Castiel's hair tickled his chin.

Cas' nose skimmed the hair above Dean's ear, eyes closed. He hummed in pleasure at the closeness they were finally allowing themselves. "Yes, Dean?"

"How would we complete the bond?" The question was whispered quietly, but confidently against the skin of Castiel's cheek.

Cas froze, stunned. Dean waited in his arms to see if the angel would withdraw but after several tense seconds he relaxed and pressed a kiss against Dean's scalp before moving his lips to his ear. "It is a very intense coupling. The bond is completed by those who wish to share eternity, Dean. It is unbreakable and forged only by those who are unwavering in their love for one another. The two who are bonded share everything, including mortality." Cas' breath caught and Dean squeezed his fingers, encouraging him to continue. "If one falls, so does the other. They share one heart, one soul. It is why I've never stayed fully dead. Because my Grace is fused with your soul and your soul contains my Grace. But with a full bond, one death becomes two. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

He did. Oh God, he did. But he wanted it. He never wanted to go another minute without Cas. As he stood there, breathing in Cas' air and feeling his body heat, he couldn't understand how he'd gone so long without it.

"How do you and I finish the bond, Cas?" He asked, suddenly sure. He knew as he should have known all along that Cas loved him more than an angel should love anything save God. He knew that the two of them were meant for this.

Cas pulled back and those blue eyes were on him. They were searching for something and Dean waited patiently for him to find whatever he was looking for. "Dean, this is forever you're talking about. You must realize that-"

"It's you, Cas. I'm never going to want anyone else. A part of me died with you when you walked into that river. And I ran around Purgatory for a whole year looking for you. It's you and me, Cas. I'm sorry I didn't see it sooner." Dean was pleading, desperate for the angel to believe him.

Cas leaned his forehead against Dean's and closed his eyes, breathing harshly. "You're certain?"

Dean licked his lips and cupped Cas' cheek. "More than anything, Cas."

Cas nodded shortly before leaning forward and capturing Dean's lips in a searing kiss. Dean gasped into the lip lock and closed his eyes. Cas wrapped his arms around Dean's waist and slid his hands down over his ass, dragging a moan out of Dean. Hands gripped Dean's legs and pulled them up to wrap around Cas' waist. Cas carried him backwards towards the bed, lips working furiously against Dean's throat. Dean was gripping the angel's shoulders and rolling his hips against Cas'. Cas lay them out on the bed and immediately reattached his lips to Dean's collarbone.

"Oh, God, Cas." Dean groaned, low and dirty. "Your mouth."

Cas dragged his teeth across the hickey he'd been working on and Dean yelped. "Blasphemy." He kissed his way back to Dean's puffy pink lips and slid his tongue into his mouth. Dean hummed in appreciation. Cas' hands nimbly undid the buttons of Dean's flannel. His hands ran over the t-shirt beneath and his thumbnail scraped at a nipple. Dean jolted upright at the sensation and shouted. Cas smirked against his mouth as he pulled the shirts over Dean's head and pushed the now shirtless hunter back against the bed. He kissed a trail slowly down Dean's chest and took his time nibbling on his nipples.

"Fuck, Cas. Angel. I'll come." Dean grunted as Cas tugged lightly on the right nipple with his teeth while rubbing on the left with his fingers. "Sensitive. I'll come."

Cas trailed his free hand down and pressed on Dean's hard cock through his jeans and Dean groaned loudly. "I'll just make you hard again, Dean."

Dean threw his head back on the pillow and wailed in frustration as Cas moved away from his chest and pulled his jeans and boxers from his hips. His red, angry cock slapped against his belly and Dean gritted his teeth. Cas glanced up at his hunter and smiled. "You are so truly beautiful, Dean." He took the erection in hand and pressed a kiss to the top of it. "I'm going to cherish you. I'm going to make you feel incredible. And then I'm going to bond you."

Dean whimpered as he watched Castiel, Angel of the Lord, take his cock between his lips and begin to suck. His hand began to pump along the base and Dean knew he wasn't going to last long. The sight in front of him was one he'd remember forever. Cas dropped his mouth lower and hollowed his cheeks. Sweat was beading on Dean's chest and he was so so close when Cas hummed around him.

"Cas! Cas!" Dean yelled, muscles seizing and convulsing as he released into the Angel's waiting and willing throat.

Cas sucked down the last of Dean's spend before pressing another kiss to the tip. Dean's body began to relax and Cas waved his hand towards Dean's duffel bag. A purple bottle appeared in his hand and he laid it on the bed. He began pressing featherlight kisses along Dean's thighs before finally pressing one against the furled rosebud between his legs.

"Cas!" Dean bellowed, surprise and pleasure warring for dominance in his tone.

"Relax, Beloved. I'm going to take care of you. Did I not say I would cherish you? Did I not promise to make you feel incredible?" Cas caught Dean's eye from his place between the hunter's thighs and saw the blush staining his cheeks and chest. "You are going to enjoy this, Dean."

Cas placed a firm kiss against Dean's hole and the other man groaned. Cas smiled against him and swiped his tongue against the spot. "Fuck." Dean cried. Cas felt a delicious swirl of purpose in his gut. He needed to hear more of those little gasps from his hunter. He licked and nipped until Dean was writhing beneath him, crying out in ecstasy. He popped open the purple bottle and coated his fingers. A single digit joined his tongue and then another.

"Cas! Cas! Cas!" Dean was screaming now. The feeling in Cas' gut was heavier, headier. "I'm going to come, please Cas."

Cas thrust in a third finger and caught Dean's gaze. "Come."

Dean's body contorted as if it had been waiting for the angel's permission. Dean keened as he shook and his cock spurted onto his belly and chest. Cas' fingers continued to thrust and stretch until Dean was still and ready for him. Cas carefully removed them and Dean grunted at the empty feeling. Cas slowly moved back up Dean's body, licking the warm cum off his belly.

"God, Cas. Do you have any idea what you do to me?" Dean asked desperately as he watched him lick his lips.

Cas hovered above him and dove in for a kiss. Dean moaned at the taste of himself and pulled Cas down on top of him until every part of them were touching. Cas ran hands comfortingly over Dean's sensitized skin and Dean whined and began rutting against Cas.

"How am I still hard?" He panted, gripping Cas' shoulder and grinding up into the Angel, desperate for friction. "I'm not 17 anymore."

Cas placed kisses on his cheeks and his fluttering eyelids and his nose before answering. "You called for the bond. You started the process. Your soul is seeking my Grace and your body is seeking its mate."

Dean grabbed a fistful of Cas' ass and bit into his shoulder with a grunt of satisfaction as he spilled between them. "So, is this a one-time thing? Or is it always gonna be like this between us?"

Cas brushed Dean's hair back off his sweaty forehead and pressed his lips there. "It won't be this intense." He placed his palm against Dean's face to catch his attention as the hunter began rutting once again. "We will always be drawn to one another. But that is something we can discuss later, Beloved. You are in discomfort. Let me soothe you."

Dean whined as Cas shifted off him but relaxed when the Angel wiped a hand through Dean's come and used it to slick himself up. He pressed himself against Dean's entrance and met his gaze. "Are you ready, my love?"

Dean raised himself onto his elbows and kissed Cas with all he had. After a moment, he fell back onto the bed and began to writhe again. Cas' hips pushed forwards and Dean gasped as his desperation turned into pleasure.

"Oh, Cas." He whispered reverently.

Cas moved slowly and soon Dean's hips were meeting his own. They moved together as the bond began to forge itself. Grace seeped out of Cas' pores and danced along Dean's skin. Dean cried out and came between them as it wrapped itself around his soul. He had barely recovered when his soul became one with the Grace and his body shook through another orgasm. His eyes burned blue and Cas began snapping his hips against Dean's and thrusting deeper and faster.

Dean surged forwards and kissed Cas. His soul reached out to the angel and Cas covered his shoulder with his hand. He gripped it tight as his Grace accepted the half of Dean's soul offered into the bond.

"Dean!" Cas shouted. "Open your eyes."

Dean gripped Cas' forearm as Cas buried himself to the hilt and the bond snapped into place between them. Dean's eyes were still glowing a heavenly blue and Cas' were a sparkling green as they both came hard and Cas' wings went supernova.

Dean blinked away the haze of confusion and mind-blowing pleasure that followed and surveyed his surroundings. Cas was still on top of him, inside of him. The angel's cheeks were ruddy and his hair was somehow messier than usual. His eyes were once again that indescribable blue. And he couldn't look away. He knew he should make sure their room wasn't on fire but Goddamn, Cas was beautiful. And he was his. His.

The bond was there. Forever. He could feel it. Running under his skin and inside his veins. He could feel Cas' Grace inside his chest and underneath his fingernails. He would always know without a doubt where Cas was and how he was doing. He knew how Cas was feeling right now.

Happiness. Surprise. Awe.

"I love you." Dean told him. It seemed silly now, after bonding himself to the guy for all of time. He'd never said the words before. And Cas knew, he'd known before or he wouldn't have done it. And he knew now because he knew everything about Dean. But it needed to be said out loud. And maybe because he knew already, it was easier to say.

Cas' face brightened into an earth-shattering smile. Dean felt his breath leave him. No one should be that fucking beautiful. And then Cas was blushing. Dean grinned.

Damnit, he was hard again.