Title: give me your smile awhile
Disclaimer: not my characters; just for fun. Title from Adrienne Rich.
Warnings: spoilers for aired season four
Pairings: none stated
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 155
Point of view: third
It was not your fault, Castiel tells Dean as he sleeps. Know that. Release your guilt. Repent and be forgiven, and let it go.
He knows that Ananchel had also spoken to Dean about his time in Hell, but Dean refused to listen then, just as he refuses to hear now.
Dean dreams of Hell, of what he did and what was done to him there. Alistair has no equal when it comes to torment and Dean's soul is scarred. Castiel had healed his body, but one mark remains, one blemish Castiel could not erase. He tried to cover it with his own, but Alistair's claim still shines through.
Dean, Castiel says. You are blameless. Ask and you will be forgiven. You are chosen.
But the most fascinating human in all of Castiel's existence does not listen. Alistair is in his memory and Dean dreams of blood dripping off a knife held in his grip.