title | the ineffable rapture of heaven & earth
series | no series
chapter | two. they refuse to be blessed
author | moirataliesin 「fka mallowcakes/inkcapgoblin」
fandom | supernatural
pairing | m/m, dean winchester/castiel 「destiel」
rating | eventually r
genre | romance
warnings | eventual m/m smut
word count | 1.1k
summary | castiel & dean are transported to another dimension where they have apparently lived for 5 years. together. as a married couple. there's no magic, castiel's angel powers aren't working, and somehow they know everything about the lives they've been pushed into. so, what the hell is going on here? and how can the get out?
notes | thanks goes out to my betas, chelsey-jorax diggory and musingfangirl. double thank you to my friend, brohne, for being a pair of second eyes and turning me on to some great insporational music.

for more of this, and things like it, check out my profile.
as always, likes and comments are appreciated and encouraged.

Sam Winchester stood in the middle of a motel room, stretching his legs and looking down at the scattering of symbols, herbs, and candles that he'd have to clean up soon. He rubbed his tired eyes and combed a hand through his hair with a sigh. He bent over to pick up the spellbook amid the smouldering candles and clapped it closed with a dusty thud.

Apparently doing high level magic spells will make you sleepy. Not that he wasn't expecting it, he was. He just didn't think it would come as quickly as it did. He smiled as he staggered over to the bed and plopped down on the corner of the mattress.

He smiled to himself letting his body relax, laying back, and reveling in the fact that he he had just pulled something off that he'd been trying for a year to find the time and components to pull off. He would be the first one to admit he was tired of his brother and their guardian angel making moon eyes every time they were in a room together. Getting way too friendly with each other's personal spaces and then just acting like everything was copacetic.

Well, now they could spend a little time together not arguing about demons and Cas couldn't Nightcrawler away any time he wanted. He wasn't exactly sure how he was going to explain things to Bobby or even if he wanted to but he would deal with that after he took a nice, long nap.

Dean and Castiel had moved from standing in utter shock at the sight of the mantle to sitting, dumbstruck, on the living room couch. They hadn't spoken to each other in twenty minutes and it was just starting to get uncomfortable.

Dean was about to speak when two Manx cats walked into the room and ran over to the two of them. One was black and the other was brown and white. Castiel leaned down to pick the black one up.

"Artax."

"What?"

"They're our cats, Dean."

Dean rubbed his forehead, completely overwhelmed by the situation.

"I know, Cas."

"Artax and Madmartigan. I even... I remember you made me watch the movies, Dean."

Dean rested his head in his hands and the silence returned.

"Why?" He said after some thought, "Why do we have these memories, Cas?"

Cas didn't say anything. He just sat in thought and listened.

"Why do I know we have jobs and friends and freakin' cats? Why I do remember years of a life together with you that never happened? Am I Jack freakin' Torrance? Am I going all Cabin Fever here?"

"I... don't understand that reference." Castiel said slowly, his brows furrowing as he formed words, "But you are not crazy, Dean. I remember these lives too. I know the same friends. I can remember doing menial housework while you work overtime. I know how to make-"

"Pie. I know." Dean chuckled.

"Yes. I have a job."

Dean nodded, "Me too. I'll tell you one thing though. If we got hot man on man action goin' on here. I'm the top."

Cas looked confused but Dean just shrugged it off.

"What I mean is," Dean's was serious again, "I don't know what's going on here but whatever it is it doesn't feel dangerous. Yet. And I've got to believe, wherever they are, Sammy or Bobby will get us out of it. For now, it's probably best if we just... go along with it."

"Go... along with it?"

"Yea. So, congratulations, dear. We're married. Mazel tov or whatever. So we're going to act like it and you might want to act a little more human."

"I wouldn't worry about that, Dean. The longer we are here the more human memories are coming to me. I should be fine."

"Alright then we should-"

A knock at the door stopped Dean mid-sentence. It wasn't that odd of a thing to happen but he was immediately on high alert.

"I'll answer it, Dean." Cas said, standing up from the couch and letting the cat jump to the floor..

He opened the door to find a heavy-set, short woman with red hair, dark makeup, and a black dress patterned with cherries. She was smiling at him, her eye teeth had been capped with a fang and he could sense Dean shifting uncomfortably behind him.

"Dahlia." Castiel said, almost uncertainly, before stepping aside and gesturing for her to come inside.

Her red pumps clicked on the tile floor as she walked.

"I won't stay long, Castiel. I just wanted to come by and make sure you two lovebirds were still coming to the neighborhood cookout."

Castiel forced a smile and searched his memory.

"Wouldn't miss it." Castiel said, remembering that this woman was their best friend. They were both very close to her and her family and they had this cookout every year.

She turned, noticing Dean and let out a quiet squeak.

"Why, Dean Winchester, as I live and breathe." she grabbed him around the chest and hugged him.

Surprised you're not at work.. We never see you anymore. Leon hasn't even seen you on Black Ops in a week. How have you been?"

"Busy." Dean told her, not really sure what else to say. He looked to Cas who seemed almost too normal in the situation.

"Man of few words. Yes I know." She patted his cheek, "How you landed this chatterbox, I'll never know."

She turned to Cas and gave him a hug stepping towards the open front door.

Dean scoffed. Cas? A chatterbox? The very thought was unimaginable.

"Well, dearies, the cookout is at 6 so be there or fashionably late." She blew them both air kisses and walked off in the direction of her own house.

Cas closed the door and smiled at Dean.

"See, Dean. Normal."

"Yeah. Well, I hope you have more of that in you for later tonight. And work."

"I work with musty books. I don't really have to act normal around musty, old books."

Dean wiped his mouth with his hand and shifted the weight of his feet.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just am trying to get a handle on everything that's happened." He looked around the entranceway, "I think what we should do is go into work and get a feel for the places, then come back here. to compile a list of things we know and go from there. It might help us remember missing pieces of our memory."

"I concur."

"Cas. Nobody says concur anymore. Nobody normal. Get your shit together, okay? I need you with me on this."

"Okay."

"Let's head to work. I'll drop you off, go to the garage for an hour or two,, and swing back by to get you. We'll come back here and bust out a flow chart and we'll be ready in time for Dahlia's cookout."

"Dean, don't concern yourself with me. The bookstore is just in town. I might enjoy a walk home. I do that frequently."

"Whatever floats your boat, Cas. Let's go get ready."