I do not own Supernatural. Warnings for pre-Destiel.
They were in a rather large empty room, the three of them, Dean, Sam and Castiel, had broken into the local university and were borrowing one of the lecture theatres, though Castiel still hadn't explained why exactly, but one look at the anger on Castiel's face and they'd gone along with it. Now he stood painting an enochian symbol on the teacher's desk with some of Dean's blood as the two brothers looked at each other with concern. There had been a second attempt on Dean, within an hour of the first, by a different cupid, this one had involved Cas gripping the arrow before it left the bow and breaking both bow and arrow over his knee before storming here.
"Uh... Cas?" Dean finally asked tentatively.
"One more moment Dean." He responded before placing his hand on the symbol and muttering something angrily. Suddenly the room was filled with naked men... or rather angels... at least Dean hoped that Cas's solution to Gabriel being shot by a cupid involved a room full of cupids rather than a room full of naked men... "Assembled Garrisons of the Cupids, Messengers of God's love for his children and of theirs for one another, I, Castiel, Angel of Thursday, Messenger of God's Plan and Advocate of Free Will, have called you here to make one thing abundantly clear. Anyone who attempts to do anything to the Winchesters will find themselves answering to me." Castiel's deep voice rumbled with threat as he glared at the cupids.
"But it's the will of heaven?" One of the cupids in the front row was foolish enough to object and Cas was on him in an instant, his blade pressed to the man's throat. "You... you would kill your own brother for these humans?"
"I have killed my brothers for him before, I have died for him, I have given him all that there is of myself time and again and anyone that plans to lay a finger on either of these two will have to go through me if there is a single spark of grace in me." Dean couldn't help but notice the use of the singular in much of Cas's statement... it dug at him, he knew he was behind a lot of Cas's actions, but he wasn't quite comfortable with the devotion in the angel's voice.
"Cas... I think he gets the point." Dean commented, stepping forward slightly, moving to tug Castiel's arm gently.
"Castiel, Angel of Thursday and thrice resurrected." The cupid said, blinking, his voice held wonder, surprise and curiosity, his fear at the blade lost in some realisation. "This man, he is your candle in the long night, your water in the stretching desert sands and your faith in the ruins of a church?" There seemed to be more to the question than just the words, and they were heavy enough, the cupid said them like he was repeating them and they were thick with meaning.
"Now hang on a moment... Cas?" Dean tugged again on the angel's arm but he didn't move.
"Yes." The word dropped from Castiel's lips as bluntly as anything else he said but firm, before he released the naked man, turning his back on Dean slightly and studying the floor intently as he continued speaking. "My grace reflects his soul and he is the pinnacle of father's blessings." The poetic terms sounded odd coming from Cas, but he said them as simply as a statement of fact, lending more evidence to the growing feeling in Dean's gut that the words meant something, something he wasn't quite picking up on, aside from the cupid seeming to be trying to get Cas to admit something... was he... was he saying what he thought he was saying?
"Dean Winchester, Righteous Man and rebellious Michael's Sword." The cupid turned on Dean with a look that frankly had him taking a step back before he realised it, he'd never thought he'd be afraid of a cupid, but something about this one and the way all the others seemed to be holding their breaths, peering closer, it had his heart in his throat. Not that he thought it would hurt him... just... something...
"Please, Anael, do not ask this of him." Castiel murmured, still facing away.
"You called us here and you threatened me and my brothers, and NOW you feel it has gone far enough? The entire host of cupids, all seven garrisons, you would destroy us all for him, and yet your words beg me not to do what every shred of your grace bids me do? No Castiel, I have heard your answer and I will hear his." The quiet determination in his voice softened as he continued. "You forget in demanding of us in such a manner, we are not soldiers, I do not doubt you could defeat us in a fight, but we are love, and it is because I love you brother that I ask this." He turned back to Dean. "Dean Winchester, Righteous Man and Rebellious Michael's Sword." Dean swallowed, glancing nervously at Castiel who still refused to meet his eyes. "This angel, he is your hope in the fiery depths of despair, your faith when heaven turns from you and your love when you cannot love yourself?" Amael met Dean's eyes and Dean couldn't help but think of the phrasing the angel had chosen, fiery depths of despair, Cas had saved him from hell, and then Cas had stood by them as they fought heaven and hell both to prevent the apocalypse and love... the moment stretched Cas had been there for him when he was at his lowest, when he thought he was worthless and didn't deserve saving.
"Dean... you don't have to..." Castiel began but Dean cut him off.
"Yes." Castiel's eyes shot to his, wide with surprise as he turned to face him. Whatever this weird thing going on was whatever it meant, it basically seemed to boil down to a test, to see if they would stick together, if Dean would stand up for Castiel like Cas had for him and the answer was yes. "Uh... he's..." Dean felt he should say something more, something poetic but all that came to mind was a song he'd heard on the radio the other day that seemed to fit. "He's my angel with a shot gun."
"Dean I've never had a firearm." Castiel frowned, making Dean smile, Amael nodded approvingly.
"Samuel Winchester, you are Dean's brother in arms, spirit and blood, do you accept Castiel in your heart?" Sam started at suddenly being addressed, he had a horrible feeling he knew exactly what this was all about and Dean was going to blow a fuse when he figured it out...
"Sure... but don't you think you should..."
"Brothers." Amael ignored Sam's comment after his agreement instead turning to the ranks of cupids behind him. "We are Castiel's brothers in our father's service, love and grace, do you accept Dean Winchester in your hearts?" The resounding chorus of 'yes' was nearly deafening, each cupid seeming to shout it at the top of their lungs, before settling down. "Then as a representative of our father's love for you both I proclaim the blessing and protection of the seven garrisons upon your hearts and Naomi can kiss my hairy pink ass if she has a problem with it." Amael let the seriousness drop as he clapped them both on the shoulder.
"Congratulations Mr and Mrs Castiel." Sam commented with a smirk as the penny finally dropped and Dean stared wide eyed with shock at Cas, whose face was a picture of concern, guilt, fear of rejection, that Dean hadn't really meant what he said. And perhaps Dean hadn't not quite the way the cupid seemed to expect, but damn it if he was going to let Cas stand their with that vulnerable look on his face when he could do something about it, especially in front of so many of his brothers. He gripped the back of the angel's neck and planted one on him, surprised that the stubble bothered him less than he expected, and just how soft Cas's lips felt still it was just a kiss right?
A/N
Went a lil soppy there, but we'll head back to find out what Gabe's up to next Chapter.
