Author's Note:

Hey guys thanks for reading and reviewing, I really appreciate it :) Also, if you haven't checked it out yet, I have another story that I co-author with my friend matsu, under matsu's account this time. You should really check it out, it's a lot of fun and actually kinda neat.

here it is, just remember to get rid of the spaces when you put it into your search bar :D

http : / www . fanfiction . net/s/7739069/1/Fallout_Supernatural

Dean walked down the long hallway, his angel's hand held tight in his own. The lights were dim as they approached the doors, his eyes focusing slowly. He couldn't help but think back to their training on Crowley's grounds, a question repeating in his head. 'Why were Chuck and Anna there?' He'd seen Ash the entire time but not Anna or Chuck, had they been with Castiel the whole time? "Hey Cas, were Chuck and Anna with you during training?"

Castiel tightened his grip and nodded, "Yeah, they were. Crowley wanted them to be the ones to push my endurance."

"They're the ones that hurt you?" Dean glowered, swearing mentally that he'd give Chuck the what for when they met again.

"Yes and no…" Cas smiled, "Anna was kind about it the whole time, and Chuck knew exactly when to stop pushing me. It hurt, yes. But I'm glad I did it."

"Why?" Dean furrowed his brow, the idea lost on him.

"Because I needed it, Dean. I can take a hit now, more than just one hit actually. We can do this, I know we can." He took a long breath and reached for the doors.

All of the pre-tournament battles had finished, they had the finalists picked out for the American teams and soon those teams would be fighting to see who would move on in the World Tournament. Dean and Castiel stood side by side in the arena with several other combatants, all enemies but all brothers. Castiel glanced at his siblings, sidelong looks of anger from some and others just looked broken. He closed his eyes and lowered his head, the cheering of the crowd indicated this was a glorious event but the way he stood, wings drooped and head hung, he showed his dismay and sadness toward it. The other angels watching, be it at home, in the crowd, or standing in the ring with him, copied his stance and lowered their heads.

The act didn't go unnoticed, the announcer caught on immediately and the cameras in the building scanned the arena for all angels standing. "What is going on here? Our little Castiel has inspired some kind of action. What's with the bowed heads?"

A microphone was ushered a little closer to what looked like the lead angel, Castiel standing perfectly still as the camera zoomed in closer on his face. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at the inching human, "Don't mistake this stance for obedience, this an act of sadness and suffering. You need to understand something, dear humans." He looked directly into the camera, his face projected once again on the large screens above the arena floor. His eyes were bright and clear as crystal, no fear lingered there and none threatened to rise up in him. "I will not bow to you and you cannot break me, save your breath because this is far from over. Brothers and sisters, I address you again, as dark is it seems, as lost as you feel, remember what I've said and follow me as best you can. I will not give in and neither should you. Humans are our father's creations and we are meant to help them, but this isn't right. What's been done to us is wrong and I will never bend my knee as long as it stands this way."

Dean smiled; glad that Castiel's fire was as strong as ever, his words as passionate.

Then something remarkable happened, all of the angels lifted their wings in a moment of passion and feeling, eyes on Castiel and wings spread wide in allegiance to him. Every angel watching, all that were able, flapped their wings toward him and let out one or two sharp shouts in their true voices, shaking the arena and every household that had the TV tuned in. Before any human could stunt the commotion with a command, the angels chanted Castiel's name for as long as they could, the last ones screaming it out before they too were silenced with demands from the ones who held their leash.

This had been the most eventful opening to a tournament yet, never before had an angel caused such an uproar. The rules were explained again, this time describing that they'd have to actually knock the other angel out, not just out of bounds. Castiel knew it was coming; it didn't shock him like it did one or two of the others. Each team would fight once in a day until they had weeded it down to the one team who would move on to compete against other countries.

Once the rules had been covered, two teams stayed behind while the rest moved to the sitting area. Dean ran his hands through his hair with a laugh before wrapping his arms around Castiel, "You're awesome."

Castiel smiled and returned the hug happily, "Thanks, but I couldn't just remain silent. My big mouth will get me in trouble some day."

"Good luck, brother." Uriel approached, his owner, Christian Campbell following with his arms crossed.

Castiel smiled, "Thanks, you as well."

"We won't go easy." Uriel warned.

"I know, your human wants to win just as much as mine so I don't expect you to." Castiel bowed his head briefly for his brother, indicating he understood completely. "No hard feelings between us, whatever happens out there."

Uriel nodded and bowed his head for Castiel as well, a little lower than the smaller angel had.

Christian rolled his eyes then looked at Dean with an annoyed glare, "You know you should control your angel a little better."

Dean smirked at the man, "Feeling threatened yet?"

"Oh you're dead." Christian snarled as he walked away, "Come on Uriel." The large angel followed obediently, glancing back at Castiel for a moment.

"Everyone's so different." Castiel said quietly, giving his brother a small wave.

"What do you mean?" Dean raised an eyebrow at that.

"Uriel used to be quite cruel to me, it's odd to see him like this now." Castiel shook his head, "Well from what I remember seeing of the screens above us, we're fighting them next." He looked at Dean with a small smile, "Guess you'll be excited to beat them, won't you?"

"What? Just because we trash talked a little bit? Nah, it'll be the same." Dean grinned widely, indicating he was kind of excited. "But most of this pent up energy is because we didn't get to fight for a whole month, nothing to do with kicking that guy's ass."

"Well remember that I'm the one kicking Uriel's ass, not you and this Christian." Castiel snorted derisively.

Dean shrugged, "We'll see."

It wasn't too long after, the two of them strolled down that hallway again toward the arena. Castiel took a breath and spread his wings, shoving the doors open with a certain strength he lacked the first few times. He and Dean could do this; he knew they could. Everyone was counting on them now, and if they weren't yet, they would be soon. Dean tilted his jaw up as he walked, noticing Christian was doing the same.

"Don't get too scared now, Chrissy." Dean sneered as he reached his side of the ring.

"We'll see who gets scared!" Christian shouted shaking a fist Dean's way.

Castiel looked up at Uriel and shook his hand, "Good luck."

"You as well." His brother replied in turn and they both stepped back to their rightful positions.

"Remember everyone! There is no out of bounds, we must reach a count of ten before your opponent is considered out!" The announcer called a little too excitedly into the microphone. He pointed an accusatory finger at Castiel as he shouted, as if it was expected the angel would be the one to break the rules.

Castiel only sneered at the human before taking a long, calm breath. 'I hope Dean's ready.' He thought quietly.

'More than you, it seems.' Dean's voice echoed in Castiel's head. The angel opened his eyes, not realizing they'd been closed, and discovered they stood in their bonding space again, Dean standing next to him with a smile. 'Have a little faith in me.'

Castiel blushed and kissed his partner's cheek, 'I'm sorry. I hadn't realized I was being so difficult.'

'It's fine, Cas. We'll do awesome, don't even worry about it.' Dean grinned, 'All of my training for the month went toward our bond so get read because things are going to get intense.'

Castiel grinned, 'Yeah? Well I think it's time for you to show me.'

The loud bell rang above them, Castiel's eyes flashing white instantly as he burst forward, the glow hardly diminishing before he laid the first hit into Uriel. The larger angel wouldn't be so easy, however. He gripped Castiel by the hair and threw him out of the ring to tumble along the dirt floor, a long and rather deep skid mark left in his wake.

Castiel sat up, wiping a sliver of blood from the corner of his mouth as he slowly shifted onto his knees, a wide grin on his lips. "I'm surprised, Uriel. I thought you said you wouldn't hold back." Castiel was even surprised by the words, yes he'd been thinking them but when they came out of his mouth a hint of Dean's voice was mixed in with his own.

"Damn you," Uriel cursed, leaping forward with a beastly amount of strength.

Castiel narrowed his eyes, his wings rising and remaining high, and tense. Waiting until just the right moment, right before Uriel would make contact they came down in a mighty swing and hurdled Castiel up and over his brother's head.

"OH! And our blue-eyed beauty does it again! Castiel is one hell of a fighter, and check out his owner! Dean looks just as intense, I think even his eyes are glowing!" The announcer commentated ecstatically.

Uriel came at him again and again, each time too slow, and each time too weak. Castiel was toying with him, waiting for the right moment. Dean saw it before Castiel did, the opportunity to knock Uriel out without as much agonizing pain as would be expected in their situation. With Dean's guidance, Castiel managed to catch hold of Uriel's shirt-collar and yank him backward, swinging him about until Castiel could get a better angle on him.

With what looked like a simple strike to Uriel's gut, the larger angel suddenly froze, his eyes rolling back in his head just before he fell, landing with a heavy thud. Castiel dropped his arms and sighed, he hadn't a scratch on him but he was breathing a little heavier. In order to take Uriel down he'd used his own grace to knock Uriel's back. It was such a sudden and extreme force on something that normally was never hit; it knocked his brother out cold. He gulped in a little more air; by the time they finished counting to ten he'd almost completely recovered, himself.

"And Castiel wins! One more fight for Dean and his angel and they're off to Europe!"

Dean cheered and hopped onto the stage, pointing down at Christian, "In your face, douche!" He heckled with a laugh.

Castiel smiled and kissed Dean's cheek. He wanted to tell Dean how impressed he was, how much Dean had improved and how he'd taken control of the battle. Castiel hated to admit it but angels were born to take orders, they had a tough time without any. Being slaves was different, but Castiel wouldn't deny that he appreciated Dean's ability to take charge and make the decisions. He'd had so much trouble facing his siblings already, his mind torn in different directions and his body constantly hesitating. With Dean behind him, guiding his moves and putting his mind at ease, Castiel knew they could only do better from here.