Claps for you if you understand the reference in this chapter! ;-)
Chapter 17
Kaia crouched on the ground, hidden by the shadows of the night, panting harshly. She had been running for hours, but no matter how far she went, the presence kept tagging after her. At least she had perceived it soon enough, at the evening, when nobody else was yet at sheriff Mills' home. That had made her escape all the easier, only having to take care of herself. The woman would likely be worried about Kaia, but better that than dead, because who knew what that damn Legion could do to her or to the other girls under her protection.
So she was alone again. After all this time, just when Kaia thought that finally... But nevermind, she was already accustomed to it. It was only her last piece's tender heart that made everything feel more important than it actually was. Probably.
A shift in the air made Kaia's stomach churn. She inhaled rapidly and started running again through the woods. Thankfully she was used to this kind of game, played in the shadows, when she didn't find prey to feed the giant that imprisoned her, and had to hide until she did or risk being devoured herself. If only she knew what kind of creature was this other monster, this shedim thing, perhaps she could keep fighting it like she had tried at first and defeat it. But she was only one after all, while Legion apparently was made of many.
Just as Kaia pulled her hood lower, in order to make herself more difficult to spot in the darkness, there was a sudden burst of fire barely a couple of metres ahead of her. Due to her heightened reflexes, she immediately took the spear from her back and circled the very obvious unnatural fire, readying herself into a fighting stance. But before her very eyes, the fire instantly became a woman.
The girl breathed deeply, still panting from the running, but lost no time in pointing her weapon at the fire woman's throat. She looked at it dismissively, as if being threatened was more of a bother than a real danger. A bit bored, even; a bit offended too, and certainly more than a bit annoyed.
"Is this how children in Earth greet their elders nowadays?" she spoke, her voice sensual but strong and filled with undeniable authority.
"I wouldn't know, since I'm not a child nor from this Earth," Kaia answered, still no lowering her spear.
"You might not be a child by human standards of time, but your age still cannot compare to mine. Besides, I feel that your life clock has only recently been restarted."
Kaia swallowed hard, feeling uneasy under the overwhelming presence of the woman. Slowly, she put her weapon down, sensing no harmful intention from her, and took a better look at her. There was still fire on her, or maybe in her, since in the darkness she somehow glowed. The woman was beautiful, with tanned skin, strong arms and commanding eyes. Dark, wavy hair and luscious red lips. She wore a red blouse and a black skirt that complimented her slim waist and petite complexion.
"How did you find me?" Kaia asked, suspicious. "Were you even looking for me, or is this mere coincidence?"
"No coincidence happened here. It has been since months ago that I felt several holes in our world opening and closing. My guess is that you came from one of them, but why haven't you been poisoned and expelled yet from a place that you don't belong to? I came for an answer, and thus I deigned myself to respond to your plea."
"I made no plea."
"Not all pleas need to be voiced out. What are you running from?"
"How do you know I'm running from something?" Kaia retorted, still not convinced. "Maybe I'm just exercising."
"In the middle of the night, hiding in a forest several kilometres away from civilization, and with only a weapon as company? Child, you're fooling no one. You're either running from somewhere, or from someone."
The girl snarled, but didn't deny the evidence.
"A creature of this world seems to have taken a liking to me. I battled it, but I was eventually overpowered. Now it's hunting me."
"What creature?"
"I think it's called a shedim."
"A shedim," the woman hissed, closing her eyes for a second. "How in Earth has one of those spawns got out of its jail?"
"I don't know the full story, but apparently the Winchesters had some kind of accident with the nephilim."
"THE WINCHESTERS?!" the woman bellowed furiously, being engulfed in flames again. "Of course it had to be them. What a not surprise!"
Kaia took a step back, almost raising her spear again. She didn't know whether to take the fact that the stranger knew the brothers as a good or a bad thing, considering her reaction. The fire woman shook a little in anger, but pretty quickly she recovered her elegant, composed self.
"We should talk for a while, you and I, about your story. I can shield you, take you away from here." She offered her hand in invitation, but her tone was far from being a suggestion. "What's your name, child?"
The girl observed her again, mistrust painted clear on her face. But if she remained there, sooner or later Legion would pick on her trail again; or even worse, it could go after sheriff Mills and her girls. All things considered, it was better to put as much distance as possible away from them.
"Kaia Nieves. That's the name I answer to now," she introduced herself, taking the woman's hand. "We can talk, but after we do, could you take me to the Winchesters? I've fought with them, and I know they at least will be able to fend for themselves if the shedim finds me again. And what should I call you, stranger?"
The woman smirked, satisfied that Kaia had accepted her help.
"You may call me Kali."
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Sam entered the library, carrying a big cardboard box in his arms, and looking for his brother. Dean was relaxing there, a beer at his side, and an open laptop in front of him searching for a case.
"Hey, Dean."
"Hi," he greeted back, before focusing in the box. "What you got there?"
"Something Jess told me that she and Cas found while going through the storage. But don't get your hopes up, it's not what you expect. It's not anything to beat anyone."
"Then what is it?"
The younger hunter put the box on the table, and carefully tore off the duct tape that kept it closed. Digging in, the first thing to come out was a tinsel.
"No way," Dean mumbled, getting up to look inside the box.
"Yes way," Sam replied. "It's full of Christmas items. And this is not even the only box. There are a few more with Jewish, Muslim and pagan decorations."
Dean leaned on his knuckles, on the table, looking intently at his brother.
"Sam, Christmas is still months away."
"Yeah, I know, but..." Sam fidgeted, nervous. "I know you're not a fan, in fact the only time you actually wanted to celebrate it was when you were going to Hell, but I... I mean, Jess and I would like to. I'm just telling you beforehand so you have time to get used to the idea."
"We didn't celebrate Christmas last year. Why is now different?"
Sam sighed deeply, but well, he already knew this wasn't going to be easy.
"Jess also wanted to celebrate last year, but she was still a little freaked out after being resurrected, and then the whole thing with Lucifer and Kelly and... It was a lot for her to get used to. Not that we're any better this time, with once again several impending menaces hanging over us, but at least..."
"We are," Dean interrupted, the softest of smiles playing on his mouth. "Yeah, we're doomed four ways into next Thursday, but we're better than we were last year. You have Jess, I-I have Cas, and we also have Jack in the team. That's a family, Sam. Even some of our friends made it out alive, which is awesome!"
Sam chuckled, revelling in the unusual, cheerful attitude of the other Winchester.
"So... does this mean we have plans for this year's Christmas?"
"Yeah, Sammy," he nodded, taking a sip from his beer. "Impending death is almost a tradition for us anyway, so why not? Count me in."
The younger hunter grinned, glad to have some happy news to deliver to his fiancée. He closed back the cardboard box, intending to put it away somewhere until used, when he remembered the other reason for which he went looking for his brother.
"Oh, by the way," he spoke. "Since we can't make a move until Balthazar brings us some info about his part of the job, I'm helping Jess to get back a life. Tomorrow we'll be going to West Virginia, where her parents live, probably for the whole week. I already asked Cas for his car, since I guessed you wouldn't want to be apart from the Impala for so long. Also, about Cas..."
"What about Cas?"
"How are, you know, things going between you two?" Sam asked cautiously, not wanting to spook the other man with mushy-feely talks. "All ok?"
Dean seemed startled for a moment, like the question puzzled him. He opened his mouth to answer, but for a few seconds no word came out.
"I... it's good. I think. We... we're good, yeah."
Sam didn't look convinced, though. He pulled out a chair and sat down, intending to bring his brother into the chick-flick moment no matter if he wanted or not.
"You know I only ask because I care, right? You're my brother and Cas is my friend, but considering our rate of successful relationships, I'm afraid that perhaps our standard for 'good' might be quite low. And while I'm extremely happy that you two morons have finally advanced past the eye-sex phase, I can't help but notice that you have jumped into this quite easily, despite the many years in the making."
"Dude, what are you talking about?" Dean frowned. "It has been anything but easy."
"Dean, you have only ever been interested in women, letting aside your mancrush on Dr. Sexy. And while I feel very proud of you for looking beyond that with Cas, he's still a man."
"He... he's not a man, he's an angel in a male vessel, which is different," he retorted, uncomfortable with the subject. "That's why I've told you it hasn't been easy, not at all. I'm... I know I'm used to another equipment in my partners, and believe me, I still have some accustoming to do, but when it's about Cas... it's like it doesn't really matter. I don't think of dicks or lack of boobs, that's just... flesh. Different shapes, different functioning. But Cas is inside, that's what matters. And I'm not going to make him move to a female vessel just to spare me some awkward feelings. Why are you smiling like a doofus?"
Certainly, from about half of Dean's answer forwards, Sam has started to smile like he was getting high on rainbows and candies.
"Oh, Dean, that was so beautiful!" he innocently mocked him, crossing his hands over his chest. "Here I was thinking that I'd have to give you some kind of Let-your-feelings-flow speech, but you already gave yourself one. Geez, I feel so touched and it's not even about me!"
"Sam," Dean grunted, annoyed.
"No, really, Dean! It was so poetic, maybe you should develop another hobby?"
"Sam!" he grunted louder.
"When you and Cas marry, I so hope you let me walk you down the aisle, please!"
"Sammy, dammit! Shut your face or I'm going to shave you bald!"
"Say what you want, but you're blushing so cutely!"
"I'm not!"
"Yes, you are!"
"No, I'm not, bitch!"
"Jerk! I'm just happy for you, Dean," Sam calmed down. "You deserve it. Don't go now and sabotage yourself, please."
Dean took another sip of his beer, averting his eyes.
"Believe it, I'm trying not to fuck up this time."
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With barely a faint light coming through the grid in the door, Castiel was reading a book that night, after a lot of insisting from Dean's part that it couldn't really be that much interesting to watch him drooling over his pillow during hours onwards. The angel disagreed, not only because the hunter didn't drool, but because it was somehow funny to catch all the small twitches in the hunter's face when he was deep into REM sleep, and imagining what possibly he could be dreaming about.
Approximately forty pages into the book, the show kinda started for Castiel. Dean turned towards him, shuffling a little with the sheets because the bed wasn't big enough to move around, and sneaked an arm around the angel's hips. Castiel arched an eyebrow, this was new. Since he started to share the nights with Dean a couple of weeks ago, the man hadn't really got this close yet. To his joy, maybe this meant that his beloved was finally beginning to feel more comfortable in his presence, and without thinking further Castiel kissed gently his cheek. What would Dean be dreaming?
He is in a bar. A nice one, for once. No stains on the floor, good music in the jukebox and a pretty, curvy and scantily dressed blonde bartender.
*Looks like you've got an admirer,* she says, serving him one shot and looking somewhere behind him.
*You sure it's not you?* he flirts.
She doesn't answer, and he lets her go. Raising his drink, he looks behind in the same direction the bartender has, intending to thank the admirer. He isn't disappointed by what he sees: a firm jaw, tempting lips, dark sex-hair, and soul-piercing blue eyes. Yeah, totally not bad.
After swallowing the shot, he stands up and heads towards the stranger. The shy but devastatingly handsome guy follows him with his gaze, and soon enough Dean stops in front of him.
*Hey, buddy. Thanks for the drink. Do you mind if I sit here and we get to know each other better?*
*It will be my pleasure if you do so,* the stranger answers in an incredibly rough and sexy voice.
*Good! My name's Dean, Dean Winchester,* he says, holding out his hand.
*Glad to make your acquaintance, Dean. I am...*
Outside the dream, Castiel had began to wonder if something was wrong. Dean was squirming and fidgeting, and the grip on the angel's waist was strong. He was also panting slightly, hiding his face on Castiel's hipbone, and rubbing himself quite insistently against his thigh. For a minute or two there was quite a lot of movement from the hunter, but just when Castiel was about to wake him up, fearing that he might be suffering through a nightmare, Dean let out a soft groan and suddenly relaxed.
"Cas..." he sighed contentedly.
Castiel frowned, confused. There had been a change in Dean's body, but he wasn't sure what. There were copious amounts of pheromones and endorphins flowing out of the human, a fact apparently related to the seraph, if his whispered name was anything to go by. Worried, the angel tapped Dean's forehead with a finger and ran a check-up on him.
Oh.
Ooohhh... That hadn't been a nightmare, not by a long shot.
Perplexed, Castiel stood up from the bed and left. He didn't come back that night.
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Dean stirred in the bed, smiling and feeling reinvigorated after a nice, long night of very pleasant dreams. Sometimes it was still a wonder to him, the fact that now they had a cozy and safe place to rest in, after having been using crappy motels almost all their lives. No more sleeping with an eye open, in case something jumped at you in the dark. A soft mattress and good-smelling blankets didn't hurt either.
However, his just-woke-up happiness didn't last. As soon as he extended his arm and patted the other half of the bed, Dean noticed there wasn't any other body there, contrary as to what had been since several days ago. Opening his sleepy eyes, he looked around searching for his vanished partner, but Castiel was nowhere to be found in the bedroom. And considering that his side of the bed was completely cold, he had left a long while ago.
"Cas?" Dean called just in case, but there was no answer.
Yawning and rubbing his eyes, Dean started to get up when he felt how uncomfortably his boxers were sticking to him. They were in fact almost glued to his forefront skin. A sudden realization hit him.
"Oh, fuck," he cursed, looking inside his underwear and confirming his suspicions.
Like a wee teenager, he had cummed in his sleep. Damn wet dreams... damn suggestive, hot, awesome wet dreams. Yeah, damn them.
... Wait a minute. Cas was gone, when he should have been in bed with him. Dean had a wet dream, and he had cummed in his sleep. It didn't take a genius to add two and two.
Cursing more under his breath, the hunter grabbed some fresh clothes and hurried to the locker room to shower and make himself decent. Once clean, he headed to the kitchen to grab some breakfast, greeting Jack in the library.
"Good morning, Dean. You have slept more than usual today," the boy commented, looking away from the Scooby gang in the laptop screen for a second.
"Yeah, guess I was more tired than I thought."
"Is everything alright?" Jack frowned a little. "You seem agitated."
"I'm fine, just you know, hungry."
Jack nodded in understanding, and focused his attention back to the cartoons. Dean entered the kitchen, and let out a sigh of relief when he saw the angel sitting at the table, drinking a mug of coffee.
"Morning, Sunshine," he smiled, a little nervous.
"Hello, Dean. Have you slept well?"
The question, normal as it was, was asked without making eye contact. That was never a good sign in the hunter's book.
"I have," Dean answered, helping himself to some coffee too. "But, uh... I wondered where you were."
Cas' sip sounded a bit louder, as if the remark had startled him.
"I... I reckoned it would be more convenient for you if I was not present when you woke up," the angel replied, looking away. "For the sake of privacy and... personal space?"
Dean froze for a moment, unsure how to lead this conversation. Did Cas know what had happened? Did Cas not know? And even if he knew, what he thought about it? The memory of their only visit to a brothel came vivid to Dean, the distressed and scared face of the angel etched in his brain. But then, Cas had had sex with that reaper bitch when he was human for a while. Did that mean he was ok with the sexy stuff or not? Maybe he thought it was fine for humans, but as an angel again, such base instincts were beneath him?
"Cas, you..." Dean spoke softly, sitting down in front of him. "You know how we humans work, right? Our bodies. What happened last night, I can't really control it."
"Do you mean your wet dream? I know what those are, Dean, and I do not shame you for them."
For the second time in a minute, Dean froze again.
"You... How do you know that?"
"You were restless in bed. You panted and squirmed against me, and such actions misled me into believing that you were having a nightmare. Therefore, as I used to do in the past, I intended to appease you. I promise to did it only with your well-being in mind, but when I touched your forehead... I did not mean to pry but I saw it, Dean. You and I were in a rather intimate situation."
At this, the hunter dragged a hand down his face, grunting in embarrassment.
"That was... Fuck, Cas. I'm sorry you had to see that, though it could have been worse. Last night was actually kinda vanilla compared to some of the things I dreamed about in my younger years... which I totally shouldn't have said. Are you... were you grossed out by it?"
Castiel put down his mug and tilted his head, that completely not adorable frown on his face back.
"Grossed out? No, I was not, Dean. Why would I be?"
"Well, because..." Dean tried to explain, but no actual explanation came to him. "I don't know, dude. Because it's a human thing that angels don't do? Because you left me on my own?"
Realization dawned on Castiel's face at the not so subtle accusation.
"Dean, you misunderstand what happened," the seraph affirmed fervently. "I did not leave you out of revulsion. Quite the opposite, in fact. When your body released its seed, I desired to cleanse you, but you do not seem to approve the use of grace on you without your express consent, and I did not want to act against your wishes. Undressing and touching you without the aforementioned consent, even for cleaning purposes, did not feel any righter. But I foresaw that waking up beside me with your spill dry in your undergarments was going to be an unpleasant situation for you, and I preferred to spare you the mortification."
Dean was quiet for a moment, but after such a speech from his best-and-kissable-friend, an irrepressible laugh burst from his mouth.
"Chuckdammit, Cas! We need to have a talk about what's acceptable and what not between us, since we're... you know, developing whatever this is. Set some ground rules."
"Were you really worried that you might have disgusted me, Dean?"
"Wouldn't be the first time, I'm sure. And probably won't be the last either."
"Many things that humans do disgust me," Castiel elaborated. "Lying, killing and betraying each other, inflicting pain to other beings. But those are not traits exclusive to humankind. Angels, and myself, we have done it too; it would be hypocrite to reject humans for that. But among all your faults, your biological functions are not ones to push me away. Truth be told, Dean, when I witnessed your dream, it actually brought me great joy."
The Winchester arched an eyebrow, surprised at that, and more than a little curious when he spotted the reddening cheeks of the angel. Smirking, he couldn't help to tease him about it.
"Really? Why's that?"
Castiel was the one embarrassed now, not able to look Dean in the eye, but a tender smile played on his lips.
"I know you feel affection for me, Dean, but since the change in our relationship, I have been constantly wondering what would be the limit of it. When would we reach a point that you could not cross, and I believed that was the barrier of my vessel. You... you are only attracted to females, and while I could spend the rest of my existence happy just sharing a platonic bond with you, it saddened me to think that I would never join with you in the human way. However, what I saw in your wet dream gave me hope that perhaps one day such a union might be achieved. Maybe I am being delusional, because I understand that dreams are not reality, but you seemed amenable to physical intercourse, and even received enough gratification from the action I was performing on my knees to climax outside the dream."
"Ok, stop already. I know what I dreamed, you don't need to remind me," Dean interrupted, beginning to feel a little tense in his fresh boxers. "Geez, Cas. Just because my mind conjured whatever, doesn't mean you have to do anything."
This, however, seemed to dampen the angel's mood more than reassure him.
"Do you not want me to touch you, Dean?" he asked in a quiet voice.
"I didn't mean it like that!" Dean immediately backtracked, swallowing hard. "Sure you can touch me. We, we kiss and hug and sometimes hold hands... and we cuddle at night in my bed. Yeah, we totally do! I meant that those other kind of things, the dream things, are still too much to handle right now, Cas."
"If you say so," Castiel accepted, but his dejection was evident.
"Look, buddy, there're other things we can do together without anyone losing their clothes yet."
"Like what?"
Taken aback for a moment at the sudden question, Dean raked his brain for an answer.
"Like a... a date! What about a date, Cas?" he grinned, satisfied with the idea. "You know about my past frequent hook-ups, but I haven't been in a real date in years, not since I was living with Lisa. Man, didn't even realize how long ago was that. It almost feels nostalgic."
Castiel's only memory of an attempted date wasn't sweet, but this wasn't the same as with Nora. This was Dean, and they were in some kind of romantic relationship. Romantically engaged people went on dates, right? It would be nice to have a date with Dean, but then...
"If we go on a date together, as a couple, would it be appropriate to say that we will be dating?"
Dean inhaled sharply, as if only realizing it now, but he didn't retreat from the challenge. He was doing this with his angel, and that was final.
"Yes, Cas. We'll be officially dating."
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