Title: is it water, indeed, or air, or light?
Disclaimer: not my characters; just for fun. Title from Denise Levertov.
Warnings: future!fic; spoilers for "Heaven and Hell"
Pairings: none stated
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 630
Point of view: third
Notes: thanks to sadelyrate for reading over this
You see what is in him, Uriel says, wings wrapped tightly around him.
I know what he is, Castiel replies. I know what he could be.
And that is enough? Uriel's voice is disbelieving, full of doubt.
Yes. Castiel nods. That is enough.
o0o
She is dressed as a pale, petite brunette, and Castiel buys her a drink at the bar. Well, now, she drawls, angling her body in a seductive pose that is useless. Funny meeting you here.
You must take better care, he tells her. You let Alistair get too close.
She scoffs, draining down the alcohol. Keep your criticisms to yourself, wing-boy. I was alone, doing my best to watch out for Sam, while you were singing with the choir. She glares at him, the host's eyes darkening to unholy black. Sam is mine. I don't do anything for Dean.
Castiel grasps the host's arm to keep her from leaving. They both wince at the touch. No, he corrects gently. You do everything for Dean. She blinks up at him, eyes going back to their usual color. You are still one of us in that regard.
You know what he is, she breathes in shock. You know what he did Below.
His smile is ancient. I carried him Out. I cradled him, healed him, Raised him. I know.
She pulls away and he lets her, watches her flee.
o0o
You flirt with the edge, Brother, Gabriel tells him as he rests in Heaven after the debacle with Alistair and Ananchel's ascension back into the fold.
Am I wrong? Castiel asks, stretching his wings to their full span. Did I disobey?
Gabriel chuckles. You've always been the clever one.
o0o
Castiel Falls from Grace on a human Thursday. His wings darken and burn away, leaving only scars. Michael escorts him from Heaven and leaves him, shaking and shuddering and sobbing, on the dirt where Dean had been Raised.
I wish you well, Brother, Michael whispers, kissing his now-human forehead. I trust you know what you are doing.
Castiel catches his hand as he pulls away. Tell me, he mumurs, voice nearly gone from screaming. Did I do wrong?
Michael's fingers are gentle as he detaches Castiel's grip. No, he answers softly, wings arching above him. But you did disobey.
o0o
She finds him, still wearing that same girl, and kneels next to him. Sam's more powerful than he's ever been, she tells him, helping him sit up. And Dean… well, he's really starting to piss me off.
Castiel chuckles, wincing as his back pulls. He is gifted at being annoying.
Her eyes are sympathetic as she meets his gaze. They will never grow back, she says soberly. I'm sorry.
He shakes his head. I carried him Out, he says. I knew from the beginning. I do not regret.
You will, she promises, pulling back. He'll never love you. You'll wonder every day if it's worth it.
He lies back down on his belly, trying to ease the ache in his back. I carried him Out, Castiel repeats. I know what he is. He turns his head to look at her. You are a demon. You have Seen, too.
She nods.
o0o
The sun is setting when she leads the brothers to him. He'll never fly again and he can no longer hear Father's voice, but he knows, as Dean's strong and gentle hands lift his battered body off the dirt, that it was worth it.
Castiel knows what Dean is, what he did, and what he can be. And Castiel knows that Sam, for all his power, will follow Dean.
Did I do wrong? he shouts at the sky as Dean carries him to that behemoth of a car.
No, Father answers sadly, the last words he'll ever hear from his Creator. But you did disobey.