Balthazar flew directly to Heaven. Upon arriving he searched out Castiel's grace, finding him easily he transported directly to his brother. While Heaven is not, the typical all-white halos and harps and clouds that humans typically associate with Heaven. It is vast and changing; it is what ever it needs to be. Castiel instated many changes upon his triumphant return, having locked Lucifer to the cage along with Michael.
Castiel felt that the segregation and isolation of souls that had been put in effect by Zachariah, during his rein while Michael licked his wounds after banishing his favourite brother to Hell, wasn't conducive to the enjoyment of the human souls who resided in Heaven. And so the souls were now free to create any environment, they could also congregate in groups; which seemed to be going well.
And so Balthazar found Castiel, in a lavish wood panelled, leather and brass war room, going over plans. Castiel greeted him without taking his intense gaze off of his plans. Balthazar wasn't surprised. Castiel has always had laser-like focus; it's one of his strengths, enabling him to be one of the Hosts strongest strategists.
"Hello Balthazar," Castiel greeted.
"All's quiet on the Western front I see." Balthazar joked.
"Do you have a purpose for being here, Balthazar? Or are you here simply to mock me." Castiel retorted, still focused on his battle plans, which graced a type of futuristic computerized paper.
The technology had yet to be invented, however Castiel felt that this technology might give their side an edge. The ability to manipulate a screen as thin as a piece of paper and as large as an unfolded map using multitouch gestures, coupled with up to the second live feeds from every facet. All displayed visually with the ability to manipulate the data and run scenarios to determine outcomes in real time.
"Yes actually, I do have news. I thought you might want to know that chuckle head one has returned to base camp Singer." Balthazar said with a contrived military pomp.
"I do not understand that reference." Castiel replied exasperated, finally looking up at Balthazar having gleaned enough from Balthazar's words to know that he ought to pay attention.
"Of course you don't." Balthazar muttered with a put upon sigh.
This reminded Castiel of Dean, and he immediately got that smitey look on his face and rounded on Balthazar. "You should show me respect. Balthazar. If it weren't for me Raphael would have restarted the apocalypse by now and then where would you be?" Castiel snarled in his brother's face.
"On Earth having the bloody time of my life!" Balthazar retorted still unused to Castiel's Archangel status.
"Yes, on Earth, but alone and in hiding from Heaven whilst cut off from your brothers." Castiel reminded Balthazar sternly, having first hand knowledge of just how much that affected an Angel he knew Balthazar was bluffing.
"Whatever, like I said before Dean is back at Bobby's." Balthazar said, and vanished leaving a stunned Castiel alone with his battle plans.
Castiel was so stunned his surroundings started to fade and reshape around him. Castiel waffled in his decision; a very unangelic trait waffling. His wings alternately rose to fly or drooping to the ground. He knew this might be his only chance to reunite with his hunter, but he wasn't sure if his grace could take Dean's reaction to their bond.
End flash back
Upon returning from Bobby's Castiel shapes an area of Heaven into a private nest with all the comforts that his true form requires. Lucifer of course destroyed Jimmy's vessel when he exploded him in Stull Cemetery, but Castiel is an Archangel now and able to create his own vessel and alter its appearance at will. Although his true form has taken on some of Jimmy's physical characteristics after spending so long in that form while fighting to stop the apocalypse with the Winchesters.
As Castiel relaxes in his nest he replays the last few hours over and over from the moment Balthazar told him Dean had been spotted at Bobby's to his most recent return to Heaven. He feels that his reunion with Dean couldn't have gone better and is excited that Dean seems to be accepting their bond, albeit slowly. However this was to be expected of the stubborn hunter whom he had fallen in love with the moment he encountered his soul in Hell. He thinks carefully over all he knew of Dean's personality and quirks and came up with a plan of action, namely complete their bond.
Then Castiel realizes something he had been neglecting and suddenly finds himself self-conscious of in the extreme: his wings. His larger than most dark ebony wings are in a state of disrepair having no mate, and having spent years in a vessel with no contact with his brothers. Of course flying through Hell and numerous encounters with Holy-fire and Demons didn't help their condition either. In fact now that Castiel took a good look at his wings he finds: burnt feathers, bald patches and extra fuzzy new growth, which cumulatively are simply; a disgrace.
He doesn't know if he can face his potential mate in such a state and he quickly runs through those he could call to aid him. Then he remembers Gabriel's presence at Bobby's before he was able to speak with Dean. Although, he is mated to Samuel, but possibly with Sam's approval he might groom his wings. The next step of the bonding would expose his wings to his potential mate for approval and so it was imperative that they are presented at their best.
Castiel sent out a call to Gabriel directly asking for his presence, he didn't reply, but after a few minutes of racking his brain for another choice Gabriel appears within his personal nest. "Love what you've done with the place, Cassie!" Gabriel tells his brother with a smirk. "It's very seventies hippy lounge, all you need is some trip rock and stoned out hippy's lounging around a hookah to complete the image." Gabriel continues, even as he adds his own touches to the space and settles onto the floor pillows making himself comfortable. Comfortable for Gabriel meant copious amounts of sugar, which appeared at his whim.
"Thank you for coming Gabriel," Castiel says ignoring his brother's comments and changes to their surroundings. "I have a personal favour to ask of you, and I understand if you have to decline, however I hope that you are able to help me with this." Castiel starts diplomatically, and Gabriel perks up at the word personal, Castiel never asks anything of anyone for himself. "Sure Cas, ask away." Gabriel tells him seriously hoping that it's something he can give his baby brother.
"I, have become aware, recently, of… My wings." Castiel says falteringly his grace leaking his unease and embarrassment. "Oh." Gabriel replies, taking in Castiel's wings, which quiver nervously behind Castiel under his older brothers scrutiny. "Well I am mated now, Cas, so I will have to get Sammy's approval… But I don't see him refusing you this." Gabriel replies to Castiel's relief. "But, Cas I think you shouldn't worry so much about Deano seeing your wings like this. I mean this is his job as your mate." Gabriel tries to tell Castiel as gently as possible.
"I know that traditionally it is a mates job to care for an Angel's wings, but Gabe look at how tattered they are. How could anyone accept them as they are?" Castiel cries, his grace screaming with worry, fear, disgust, and self-flagellation. Gabriel couldn't help reaching out with his grace to soothe his brother, wrapping his wings around Castiel's trembling form.
They stay like this until Castiel calms and Gabriel has received a negative response from his mate. Gabriel understands Sam's refusal and will honour it, and attempt to impress upon Castiel that he has to trust in his mate. This is an important aspect of the bonding process and having his wings groomed prior to approval of his potential mate, might have consequences to the bonding. Gabriel uses his grace to communicate this to Castiel, as even Enochian isn't dextrous enough a language in this instance.
Castiel of course understands the implications and tries to believe Gabriel when he tells him that Dean would accept him as is. Gabriel takes his leave, as soon as Castiel seems to have calmed. His mate is anxious to know what is going on in more detail than he could feel through their bond. Castiel spent as much time as he dared wallowing and dreading the next step that he so hoped would result in furthering their bond.
Dean Winchester awoke from a fairly restful nights sleep, on the couch in Bobby Singers living room, to the sounds of said hunter putting together a heart attack inducing breakfast the aromas of which could already be smelt throughout the house.
Bobby Singer mused over his idjit adoptive sons and their Angels while he puttered in his kitchen, the sunrise filtering through the east facing windows despite the grunge that rendered them practically useless.
Neither hunter acknowledged the other until a sufficient amount of coffee had been consumed by both men, and even then only to request some item be pushed closer to the other. Sam would have been uncomfortable in the quiet, but both Dean and Bobby revelled in it. The absence of Sam's jibes about his life expectancy post breakfast allowing for a silence rarely heard from the elder Winchester. Of course the silence couldn't last and uncharacteristically it was Bobby who broke it.
"You gonna quit with the antics and hunt with a partner from now on then?" Bobby grouses, startling Dean out of his thoughts.
"I've been doing this for years Bobby and I know what I can, and can't handle!" Dean retorts snappishly, hurt at the insinuation that he hadn't been handling himself.
"You know that's not what I meant, boy." Bobby replies, "I meant now that you and your brother are speaking to one another again." He spelt out, eyes wide with unasked questions.
"It's not the same, Bobby, he has Gabriel now. You should have seen it: he flew us in, and cleared out that nest of Vamps in Georgia so fast that Sam and I hardly lifted a finger. I mean it was nothing compared to hunting with Cas…" Dean started to explain excitedly only to stumble upon the topic he wanted to avoid most with all his being.
"Speaking of Castiel, what has that one been up to?" Bobby asks unknowingly treading onto dangerous topics. Dean doesn't answer right off, as he suddenly realizes that they didn't actually get around to talking about that, so he didn't know what Castiel had been up to.
"Um I don't really know, we didn't really talk about that." Dean has to admit when it didn't look like Bobby would be letting the question lie.
"Well what did you talk about then?" Bobby asks nostrils flaring.
"We… um, well…" Dean struggles to think of what to tell his adoptive father. Dean's hand grabs the back of his neck as he struggles for some appropriate answer to give Bobby.
"Don't tell me you two just stood around staring at one another all day, like you usually do!" Bobby practically shouts. To which Dean immediately responds with ire and bravado and promptly leaves the kitchen slamming his way out of the house and into the yard.
"Figures!" Bobby grouses to himself and gets up to deal with the dishes, grumbling under his breath about stubborn idjit's this and stubborn idjit's that the entire time.
Dean contemplates his options and decides to take a drive in his baby. Almost immediately he feels grounded and calmer and he changes the tape to a battered Kansas one that had secretly been his favourite in high school. By the time he is almost half way to Sioux City on the I29 he has listened to most of the album and come to some sort of agreement with himself over "The Castiel Issue" as he has been calling it mentally.
He wheels around at his earliest opportunity and opens her right up as he speeds back towards Sioux Falls. The resolution to his "The Castiel Issue" is simple: Castiel made him happy just by being in the same room. Even if he is hesitant to admit this lest it be snatched from him like all the others that he let himself get close to over the years.
After feeling the bond last night Dean couldn't help but think that avoiding THAT, would be cowardly. Even if it was overwhelming, it was overwhelming in a good way. He returned at an even greater speed than which he left, roaring onto the property sending gravel flying until he realizes that his baby is in jeopardy and slowed down to a more reasonable speed. He launches himself out of his beloved car and into the house fully expecting an Angelic visitor.
Dean isn't disappointed, but he is struck dumb by the sight that greets him in Bobby's living room. Dean could barely see Bobby through all the black feathers and just wings that seem to explode from Castiel's back.
Bobby had been conversing with Castiel prior to Dean's arrival, but as soon as Dean burst into the room Castiel got the most nervous expression on his face that Bobby has ever seen. Coupled with Dean's wide-open mouth and awestruck expression he quietly eases himself out of the room, walking backwards lest he attract any attention to himself in his retreat.
Castiel keeps, as still has possible and holds as tight as he dares to their fledgling bond, he has never felt so exposed before in all his existence. Dean too preoccupied by Castiel's wings doesn't notice how nervous his Angel is. They are six in number and their twenty foot wingspan has them extending through the walls and furniture seamlessly. They are glorious and Dean can't drag his eyes from them. He sees the flaws of course, but they only endear him even more to his Angel, increasing his instinct to protect and smooth all the rough patches away.
This goes on for so long that Castiel can't stay still any longer under Dean's gaze, his wings rustle and start to align for flight. Dean blinks and stumbles towards his Angel, his hand comes up autonomously, but before he can reach him, Castiel disappears breaking Dean's trance violently.
"What the fuck! Cas? Cas, come back! Cas!" Dean cries out and he immediately closes his eyes and starts to pray to his Angel.
Meanwhile Castiel finds himself in the frozen hostile wind swept Himalayas at the peak of Everest contemplating his accursed and tattered appendages cruelly. Going so far as to consider ripping out his grace and falling to Earth to be born a human child to some unsuspecting couple somewhere; simply to forget this piercing all consuming pain.
Before he can do anything so drastic Gabriel alights next to him and wraps him up in his perfect tawny wings. Castiel instantly begins to struggle uselessly against his older brothers hold until finally he relents, as hot tears stream down his face. "There, there, Little one, it's alright, it's going to be okay, Little one." Gabriel soothes while petting Castiel's wings gently.
"No. No, no! No it won't, not ever again it won't!" Castiel cries and starts to struggle anew, this time he uses more of his grace, making a real effort to throw Gabriel from his person.
"Stop, Castiel, Stop!" Gabriel cries out, shocked at his outburst. Castiel continues to struggle and Gabriel doesn't understand, he feels Castiel's pain and can hear Dean's prayers, as he prays to anyone and everyone he thinks might listen. "What happened? Why is Dean praying for you to return to every deity in creation?" Gabriel asks in as soothing a voice as he can manage while attempting to keep hold of a young Archangel who doesn't want to be held anymore.
When Gabriel's words finally seep into Castiel's consciousness Castiel opens himself up to the world again and hears Dean's prayers to him. He had been so upset that he'd closed everything off, so overwhelmed by his own pain.
"Castiel, please come back, I don't understand why you left. Did I do something wrong? Castiel, please come back, I don't understand why you left. Did I do something wrong?" Dean prayed the same thing over and over and over again and planned to keep repeating himself until he got a response, hopefully Castiel back in front of him again.
Castiel slowly ceases his struggles and his tears dry up and turn into hiccups. "Are you alright now, little one?" Gabriel asks cautiously still unsure if should release Castiel for fear that he does something drastic and un-reversible.
"Yes, brother. I may have over reacted." Castiel replies blushing fiercely in his embarrassment having realized that he might have misread his hunter's reaction to his wings. He feels no revulsion in their fledgling bond, only confusion and panic at his disappearance. "Overreacted? I'll say, Cassie there is nothing wrong with your wings, they are battle scars and you should be proud of them, proud of what you have accomplished." Gabriel tells him calmly, as he releases his youngest brother from his wings slowly.
"I know this, Gabriel and I am truly proud of my accomplishments, however it's Dean: he is so perfect, his soul so bright and righteous." Castiel waxes quickly working himself up into a self-flagellating state once more.
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and Dean loves you Castiel, just as you love him." Gabriel reminds Castiel warmly and breathes easier as his younger brother's grace calms at his words of wisdom.
Castiel remains still for a few moments before nodding deeply to his brother and taking flight for Bobby's once more. Gabriel sighs and returns to his distraught mate. Sam had felt Gabriel's emotions and couldn't resist calling his brother to yell at him for doing whatever he had done to hurt Castiel causing Gabriel to fly off suddenly. Dean of course collapsed into a ball and sat hugging his shins rocking back and forth, as his prayers increased in fervency, desperation spewing forth evident to all those within a few meters especially those linked to him via an Angelic bond.
Castiel arrives to a heart breaking sight: his hunter curled inward rocking back and forth praying aloud tears streaming down his face. He approaches slowly not wanting to startle Dean, still unsure of his welcome into his personal space, but as he draws closer Castiel looses his ability to restrain himself. He finds his arms and wings wrapped around his hunter before he makes the conscious decision to do so.
Slowly Dean starts to feel better and as he does he becomes aware of his surroundings slowly, having never felt Angel wings on his skin before he has nothing to compare the sensation to. He finds he isn't able to meld the tactile and visual stimuli along with the emotional bombardment that he is slowly getting used to associating with Castiel.
They slowly unfold and reposition themselves around one another, never letting go, but with Castiel's powers the laws of physics don't really apply. Dean finds himself fascinated with Castiel's feathers once again and Castiel has to focus on the bond to reassure himself that Dean isn't reacting badly.
Bit by bit Dean explores Castiel's wings, righting feathers that he finds out of place, and smoothing over bald patches with soft touches and murmured praise, the burnt and wrecked feathers come loose at his touch and dissolve into his skin much to Dean's shocked surprise. Castiel is quick to assure him that it is normal and to expect a number of them to come loose this first time.
Castiel has never had a mate before and therefore has never felt this type of pleasure as it singed through his grace at each of Dean's soft touches. Within minutes Dean is determined and focused on his task and Castiel is purring in his utter contentment and pleasure. Castiel continues to bend the world around them to facilitate the impromptu grooming session and keep Dean focused on his task.
When Dean finally remembers to examine his surroundings hours into things and realizes that Castiel must have moved them from Bobby's living room to a much larger space that accommodated his wings. Unconcerned he redoubles his efforts knowing that they won't be disturbed, since he can't see any doorways from his vantage point.
When he raised his head and took in their surroundings Dean had also made a plan of attack for grooming Castiel's massive wings. He found he had completed most of the primaries on all six wings and is wondering how he might access the lower tertiary wings, when suddenly Castiel realigns and raises them perfectly. Dean's hands dive into the dark midnight blue fuzzy down smoothing carefully from bone to tip feeling along each wing joint with dexterous fingertips.
Castiel suddenly bucks and yelps a high-pitched squeak right as Dean brushes his fingertip along what felt to Dean like a weeping walnut, if walnuts wept. "Whoa, whoa, sorry man, sorry. Should I stop?" Dean says startled out of his single-minded focus after hours of complete silence save for the occasional murmur and sigh from either of them.
"No, please…" Castiel pleads brokenly, his voice rough and much lower than Dean has ever heard it before. Dean is instantly rock hard and seriously contemplating whether his dick would have a permanent impression of his zipper if he doesn't do something to relieve the pressure soon.
Dean has been attempting to ignore his own base physical reaction to grooming Castiel's wings (not wanting to scar his virginal friend), but the sight and smell of Castiel laid out beneath him wings akimbo, purring contentedly… Dean had never told anyone before but Castiel smelt like home, like the Impala: leather, gun powder, gasoline and coffee, but mostly apple pie, all mixed with ozone and the sea and fresh grass clippings.
Dean hands start to shake as they near the base of Castiel's wings right where they meet his vessel, his hips shifting in a vain attempt at relieving the pressure on his aching member. Castiel bit his lips in an effort not to cry out again as he felt Dean's hands get closer to his oil glands, which throb in sync with the ache in his vessel's groin. Dean gently touches the glands with as light a touch as he is physically capable to and feels with the other hand for its mate at the base of the other wing.
Castiel is unable to control his vessel and ruts against the mattress in search of friction his back arching into Deans hands searching for a firmer touch. A low moan escapes Dean's mouth unbidden at Castiel's sensual response and his fingers squeeze with a mind of their own. A viscous liquid pours forth and Castiel looses his battle and lets a sharp cry of unmistakable ecstasy escape his red and puffy bitten lips.
Startled Dean removes his hands and Castiel jerks as if to follow, "Sorry, sorry, jeez you're so sensitive there." Dean says, as he wipes the oil on Castiel's feathers before bringing his hand up to examine the substance more closely. It seems that Dean has found the source of Castiel's smell, as the oil is pungent with all the smells he associates with Castiel.
"Oil glands." Castiel pants in answer, his voice sounds drugged, as Dean touches a tentative tongue to his fingers tasting Castiel's wing oil. "Oh my God!" Dean cries out, his pupils dilating instantaneously, as he cums in his jeans and collapses onto Castiel's back his bones rendered a rubbery consistency with the force and suddenness of his orgasm.
Castiel manhandles them until Dean is laying beneath him, on his back, his wings peel back to give his hunter space. "No, don't," Dean pleads, his hands flailing towards the wings, Castiel slowly brings his wings back into contact with Dean's body and is rewarded with a purr of his own.
Dean refuses to term what they are doing as cuddling in his own mind, even if he can't come up with another term once it restarts that is. Castiel's oil glands continue to leak until his wings and back are drenched and the smell permeates the room. Dean's heartbeat slows and then speeds along with Castiels' and he knows he must explain before it is too late.
"My oil, it has certain properties, and uses…" Castiel starts to explain. "You think?" Dean retorts his hands running absentmindedly through Castiel's soaked feathers. "Angels only allow their mates to touch their wings, as fledglings the Angel who raises them of course grooms their wings, but that is different." Castiel continues and ends up explaining in more detail than he originally planned to.
"Mates?" Dean asks repositioning himself so that he can reach around his mates back and touch his oil glands again. His mind only listening peripherally his focus on the wing oil that continues to overwhelm his higher brain function.
"Yes mates this is the term Angels use. It is similar to husband or wife, in the English language." Castiel continues and braces himself for the oil gland grope he is expecting.
His words however short circuits Dean's brain and his hand stops mid motion. "Husband?" Dean says his voice wavering and thready, his breath starting to shorten into short sharp breaths of panic. Dean shoves himself back and away from Castiel his eyes wide mouth gaping like a fish. "Wife?" Dean utters again unthinkingly as the situation rewires his brain.
Castiel is just short of disappearing to his perch atop Mount Everest, when Dean begins to blink rapidly and his breaths begin to slow and even out again until Dean is breathing in, slow and steady, holding for longer than normal his eyes closing while his muscles relax from their momentary panic.
"At this stage of the bond I can not tell what causes you panic and fear in such quantities that you are incapacitated and inconsolable." Castiel tells Dean, hoping that he will be graced with a response to his blunt request.
"Are you saying that at another stage you would be able to tell?" Dean asks, without answering Castiel's question.
"Yes." Castiel answers succinctly his head tilted.
"Care to elaborate Cas?" Dean asks taciturnly, his arms folding over his chest.
"A complete bond would mean that we would be able to share, emotions and thoughts over great distances. There are potentials extras and other changes, but these are rare in human Angelic bonds." Castiel finally replies to his increasingly hostile mate after a few moments of silence.
"Can't you already read my mind?" Dean grouses irritably.
"Yes, but you have asked me not too. Although once the bond is complete this would be impossible, however you would have access to mine as well." Castiel replies bringing his wings closer to his vessel.
"Oh…" Dean says, curling inward slightly. They remain silent and slightly uncomfortable next to one another while Dean mulls this over in his human brain. He can see the advantages, but he worries about Castiel having an all access pass to his melon and still wanting to stick around afterwards.
But this is the result that Dean's come to expect and he told himself earlier that he was going to go for it no matter what; because Castiel made him happy. So what if that means that he's essentially married, it's not like he's been with anyone since… Wow, a really long time. Ever since he returned from Hell his libido just hadn't been what it was before he died: at least where Castiel isn't concerned.
Castiel knows that his reaction to his mates touch to his oil glands is natural, but he still can't help feeling self-conscious sitting in an ever-expanding puddle of oil while his mate debates with himself. In the face of Dean's reticence his oil glands are slowly returning to their normal size and state. Castiel feels it is unwise to hold out hope that Dean might accept these new facets of their relationship so quickly.
And so he cleans them up and alters their reality until they are seated cross-legged at either end of the twin bed that Dean has been using at Bobby's for years. Dean leaning against the wall, where traditionally a headboard would be, and Castiel perched at the end of the bed. The room is bare of any luxuries, but contains two twin beds and a stuffed full and very scarred and worn dresser between them along with a small closet (also stuffed full) and a decent sized window, which faces east.
The walls had been painted a light blue years ago; the original curtains fell apart when Dean was in middle school. They were replaced by scraps of old clothes, that the boys had out grown, fashioned into a somewhat workable shade that blocked out most of the worst of the direct rays of light. Those rays that seemed to unerringly find your eye at five o'clock in the morning during the summer months.
Castiel slowly allows the familiar sounds and smells from Bobby's house to fill their reality, which brings Dean out of his thoughts. "Whoa, we're back?" Dean says, startled still not used to Castiel's new powers. "That's pretty sweet, actually Cas! You're as powerful as Gabe is now hey?" Dean tells his best friend with a wide grin.
"No Gabriel is still my elder brother, as he proved earlier. However yes you are correct my abilities have increased since my latest resurrection." Castiel replies his wings giving away his pride.
"What do you mean, as he proved earlier?" Dean wonders aloud.
"It is not of import, Dean." Castiel replies.
"Well something sure happened, cuz Sammy called and yelled at me about being mean to you and how I should fix whatever stupid thing I did fast before Gabriel got back." Dean replies annoyed at Castiel's unwillingness to answer his question.
"Samuel shouldn't have done that, and Gabriel understands what happened. I'm sure he has set your brother straight by now." Castiel tells his mate in an attempt to smooth ruffled feelings without revealing how badly he had overreacted earlier.
"Whatever dude, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Dean retorts, rolling his eyes and thinking about getting up and going downstairs.
Castiel lurches forward and grabs his hunter's hands in his vessel's own, his ebony wings curling forward in their quest to embrace Dean. "I overreacted earlier when you first saw my wings… I was nervous and self-conscious of their appearance. When you stared and did not say anything I assumed the worst and ran." Castiel admits finally eyes downcast.
"Oh, shit. I'm so sorry Cas. I was just so overwhelmed at seeing them for my first time and they are so huge and beautiful and wow I can't even describe it, even now. I am in awe of you, you're beautiful, Cas." Dean says blushing.
"Thank you, Dean. And thank you for grooming them, it's the first time they've been groomed since I was a fledgling following Gabriel around everywhere." Castiel says, a blush of his own gracing his pale skin.
"You're welcome Cas, anytime, we can't have you looking all bedraggled, right." Dean says with a smile and a squeeze of their hands so Castiel knows he means well.
"So you were a fledgling, were you?" Dean asks a rye smile on his face, as he pulls Castiel by his hands until he is forced to follow and reposition them laying side by side on the twin bed, Castiel's wings flowing through the walls and furniture, wrapping around them concealing them thoroughly from any potential prying eyes.
"Yes, I was. Gabriel was given the responsibility for my egg and therefore raising me until I could fly on my own and join my own garrison." Castiel tells Dean.
"At some point you're gonna run out of crazy stuff to tell me right?" Dean mutters eyes wide at the concept that the being he has come to regard as his best friend, his mate? Came from an egg, has wings and was raised by the trickster, who's mated to Sammy? "Wait, so are Sammy and Gabe mated?" Dean blurts out, his head popping back up so he can stare into Castiel's eyes.
"Yes they are, they started completing their bond shortly after Gabriel raised Sam from the cage." Castiel tells Dean, his wings pulling him gently back into place.
"Oh, I forgot about that." Dean mutters and re-clasps their hands together tighter. Dean stares back at Castiel, lost in thought while Castiel attempts to count Dean's freckles (one of his favourite pastimes).
Dean is working himself up to telling Castiel why he had such a strong reaction to Castiel basically saying that they were on track to becoming married permanently. At least he figures that's how it works…
"Hey, Cas so how does this whole bonding thing work anyways? I mean once it's complete and everything is that, you know, it?" Dean says and gestures ineffectively attempting to allude to everything that he can't say aloud.
"Yes, Dean. It is, you know, it." Castiel replies sarcastically.
"Way to break out the sarcasm Cas." Dean retorts, huffily.
"So is it like marriage, till death do you part an all?" Dean continues still not sure of Castiel's answer.
"No Dean. Your soul and my grace would be bound for eternity together neither traveling where the other cannot follow. It is an inexorable link, it essentially enmeshes us into one being." Castiel finally answers more fully.
"Oh, well. That's…" Dean starts to say and trails off into silence as he contemplates what this means for them. Dean's stomach makes itself known loudly and he blushes at how the sound startled him. Castiel smiles wanly and wonders what type of food his hunter would prefer, most likely a cheeseburger, or maybe pie.
Dean finally looks at his watch and realizes that it's way past dinnertime and he barely ate breakfast at dawn. "Do you wanna head into town, to the diner, with me?" Dean asks Castiel somewhat shyly.
"I do not require sustenance Dean." Castiel says without thinking, then seeing Dean's facial response, he adds hastily. "However I could join you at this diner."
"Cool, Cas, thanks. We takin' my baby?" Dean asks offhandedly, as they get up and head towards the door.
"I have missed traveling with you and your baby, so yes we shall." Castiel says good-naturedly and boldly takes Deans hand and transports them outside and into the Impala's front seats.
"Right. Still need to get used to that." Dean says as he starts up the engine, pausing for a few seconds to relish her purr for a moment before he slides her into gear. They drive in comfortable silence, to the same diner that Sam and Dean ate at the other day.
The diner is the same and they even take the same booth, and therefore so is the waitress. Unfortunately she remembers Dean and his flirtatiousness and doesn't wait for a cue from Dean before she is laying it on fairly thick. Castiel holds himself forcefully rigid in his effort to restrain himself from violently responding to the young blond waitress's sexual advances towards his mate. Dean sees that Castiel is offended and hurt by the waitress's attentions, but doesn't know what to do. He's never been in a relationship before, and so he's never had to not flirt with everyone he encounters as a default knee jerk response.
Dean tries to shuffle closer into the booth until he is pressed right up against Castiel and focuses on his menu, even though he plans on ordering the same thing as he did yesterday. In fact he decides to just get that right over with and order, and hope the waitress gets a clue and backs off. "I'll take a cheese burger and a coffee, and we'll have two pieces of whatever pie you have tonight a la mode please." Dean says succinctly and unemotionally as possible without being rude.
The waitress is taken aback by his complete 1 80 in demeanour, but thankfully gets a clue and backs off, the blue eyed Angel's steely gaze may have encouraged her towards this reaction. Castiel lays his arm over the back of the booth directly behind Dean's shoulders and angles himself toward his mate, one eye watches as the blond waitress retreats to the kitchen.
"Ease up there Kojak, she's gone." Dean teases lightly. "Yes I know you don't understand that reference, Cas! We gotta get you schooled on movies and stuff. In fact I'm going to make it my mission…" Dean laments and quickly devolves into fervent planning, which Castiel understands very little of. "I believe we have more important things to discuss than my pop culture education at the moment Dean." Castiel says attempting to steer Dean back on course to completing their bond as intended.
"Oh, right, sure. Um so what else is there? Cuz you're pretty tight lipped about this whole thing, you know." Dean says blushing at his movie rant and storing all his ideas away for when they had a moment of quiet time in the future, but "Smokey and the Bandit" is definitely going on that list.
"Well the first few stages are simple mostly dealing with seeing and touching my wings, the next is the emotional link, which you have felt briefly, but this will be permanent soon. Next will come our mental link, we will be able to communicate over vast distances with only a thought and coupled with the emotional link misunderstandings such as earlier could be avoided. The next stage is unclear, as these bonds are rare, however fully Angelic bond-mates gain and share a similar trait or skill. With human angelic bonds we have only Gabriel and Samuels and our own for guidance." Castiel says quietly, factually belying his own nervousness at the unknown aspects of the bonding.
Castiel feels he has imparted as much knowledge as was necessary to Dean on the subject, and tries not to let Dean's earlier jibe get to him. Waiting for so long to tell Dean of his claim was in hindsight admittedly a poor decision and Dean is simply letting him know in his own way.
The cowed waitress returns with Dean's burger and two glasses of water along with Dean's coffee. "Should I bring the pie now or…" She asks timidly.
"Later please, I don't want the ice cream to melt while I eat my burger, thanks." Dean replies as he plans out his first bite into the succulent burger that is already dripping sauce down his fingers. "Alright, enjoy your meal then." She says and scurries away.
Castiel is just as mesmerized by the burger as Dean, as he can feel how much his mate is enjoying it viscerally. Dean can't help noticing Castiel's wings shivering and twitching their abortive moves so much more revealing than their owners stern facial expression. "Your wings give you away, don't they Cas?" Dean says between bites, wiping his stained lips with the back of his hand absently. "It will take some time to get used to you being able to see them, Dean." Castiel says his cheeks pink, meanwhile he gives up attempting to control said wings and they wrap themselves around his hunter possessively.
"I'll be mighty pissed if you get feathers in my burger Cas." Dean berates without teeth a wide dirty smirk on his face, his eyes bright with mirth. "You might be something, but it wouldn't be pissed, Dean." Castiel teases back with that knowing twitch of the lips that is just so Castiel. Dean manages to choke on his burger and Castiel has to come to his aid, patting him on the back with a little too much force in his haste.
The waitress brought out the pie early just to have an excuse to find out what was going on without being completely obvious. Castiel thanks her tersely still focused on his mate who is slowly regaining his breath and gulping down the contents of one of the glasses of water until it is empty save the ice, which falls forward into his face and threatens to spill out onto the table. Castiel is barely able to hold back his laughter his good humour returning now that his hunter isn't in danger of choking.
Spluttering and wiping his face with his sleeve Dean focuses on the pie thereby completely avoiding the last couple of minutes. There are two healthy pieces of apple pie on the table in front of them. A generous helping of vanilla flecked ice cream scooped into those perfect little balls that only restaurants can achieve gilded the side of each plate. The melting ice cream already melting and turning the crust into soupy goodness instead of flaky goodness, while they pondered it.
"Dig in before the crust is inedible, Cas! You can't beat apple pie a la mode!" Dean says around his first huge bite of the perfect balance of cinnamony pie filling, buttery crust and cold vanilla ice cream, well it would have been perfect if only he had remembered to ask for cheddar cheese. Castiel tries to focus on his own piece of pie, and after the first bite finds it a little easier. Dean can't help but shift in his seat and stare more than usual at his Angel when he starts to eat in earnest. The sounds they both make clearly mark this particular apple pie as one of the best.
Neither left so much as a crumb and both wore satisfied looks on their faces when their eyes met and held having run out of distractions for the moment. Until Castiel starts to glow and buzz at a frequency, which assaults Deans ears while no one else in the diner notices at all. Dean is lifting his finger to his ear to ward off the ringing when he notices Castiel bring out a piece of paper, which has been folded many times over. Upon closer examination Dean realizes it's not a piece of paper, since ink and paper doesn't move; despite what J.K. Rowling's imagination would have us believe.
"What is that?" Dean blurts then covers his mouth and glances around to see if they've attracted any more attention than normal. "Seriously Cas, what's that?" Dean says much quieter this time, as he watches Castiel unfurl the paper and smooth it out over the table having vanished the pie plates to the kitchen, much to the dishwasher's surprise.
"This Dean is the Civil War amongst my brothers." Castiel states and allows Dean to take a look at the multitude of blinking red and orange swathes along with disconcerting black sections. It seems to Dean's human mind like a Risk board crossed with Monopoly fused with snakes and ladders. The legend symbols aren't English, but the pictographs are universal and they depict a bleak milieu.
"Cas…" Dean starts, but falls into a stunned silence, when he realizes he has nothing constructive to say. He suddenly realizes just what his mate has been up to since… Now Dean is the one tilting his head. "How long has this been going on Cas?" Dean asks carefully not wanting to step on any toes.
"Upon my last resurrection there were changes, and with both Lucifer and Michael in the cage there was a power vacuum in Heaven. Many were swayed by God's intervention on my behalf. The others… they follow Raphael in his quest to restart the Apocalypse." Castiel reports without emotion his mind on his battle plans before him, fingers tracing paths and altering scenarios as he speaks.
"And so this is what you have been doing for the past nine months?" Dean asks somewhat dismayed that this was the first time he is hearing of this and otherwise completely impressed with his friend's battle acumen. The plans before him are starting to make more sense as he watches Castiel fiddle with them. "What else would you have me do, Dean? Allow Raphael to restart the Apocalypse, to undo all that we worked and sacrificed for?" Castiel says defensively his wings arching dangerously, the lights shivering along with the water in the glasses throughout the diner.
"Oh course not Cas… I was just wondering why you never asked for help, is all?" Dean asks the question that has been burning in his gut. "I wanted to spare you this, you deserved to have a normal life. After everything, it was too much to ask of you. After Sam." Castiel replies finally taking his eyes off of the plans and gazing into Dean's eyes, wings slumping behind him listlessly.
Balthazar who appears in their booth uninvited ruins the moment. "I see you two love-birds have patched things up then? But really Cassie you still won't take your nose out of those confounded plans of yours? Dean I thought more highly of you!" Balthazar lights right in shattering the moment and highly irritating both in seconds, albeit for different reasons. "Balthazar!" Castiel admonishes while Dean splutters unsure of whose honour to defend first.
"Looks like that Western front isn't as quiet as I thought, huh Cas?" Balthazar chirps as if everything were completely normal. His comment reminds Castiel of the reason for the alert and the plans being on the table in the first place. "I assume Rachael has things in hand?" Castiel asks somewhat cryptically much to Dean's ire. "Of course! You know her; all work and no play that one." Balthazar says with a sneer.
"I thank you for the update Balthazar, however as you know I am fully aware of the situation." Castiel says in an attempt to get rid of his brother as quickly as possible. "The garrison was wondering where you were Cas, their fearless leader gone at such a crucial moment? What might they think?" Balthazar continues to taunt Castiel.
"You listen here you little… there isn't anyone more dedicated than Cas, you hear me no one! And you're a garrison full of eons old Angel's for Christ sakes you can figure out what to do without someone holding your hand for a few hours, jeez!" Dean rages stunning both Angel's into silence.
"He's quite blasphemous for an Angel's mate, don't you think Cassie?" Balthazar responds, proud of the outburst he was able to wring from the notoriously hotheaded Winchester in his brothers honour.
"And keep your feathers to yourself over there, Balthy." Dean snaps, when he takes notice of Balthazar's giant, though not as large as his mates he thought smugly, silver wings extending towards his mate from their initial sprawled posture.
Unbeknownst to Dean this is the next step in bonding and his possessive outburst is met with disparate reactions from the Angel's. Castiel smiles a true smile, and Balthazar stiffens and withdraws his encroaching wings from his previously unmated brother.
"Well I guess I should be going then, brother?" Balthazar says his wings held stiffly behind him giving away more emotions than Dean has ever seen from an Angel. He disappears in a rustle of feathers and dimming lights.
"You have to go?" Dean says as evenly as he is able, not even sure what he is hoping the answer to be.
"I suppose I should join them on the battle field, Dean." Castiel replies and Dean's heart sinks that he isn't joining him. They make their way out of the diner quietly shoulders brushing Castiel's wings grazing along Dean's arm. Castiel caresses his wings along the side of Dean's face eliciting a shiver from Dean and a chuckle from Castiel.
Castiel takes advantage of Dean's momentary lack of focus and leans in and captures his lips in a quick press of lips. So quick that if it weren't for the tingling in his lips he might have believed he imagined it before Cas too disappears in a flutter of feathers.
Dean is glad his baby is waiting for him, as she always is. The drive home is silent and the evening to an outsider a boring night of bad TV, but inside Dean's mind is whirling. Faster and faster his mind spins the possibilities tripling and having babies and their ideas have babies until Dean has drunk enough he passes out on the couch.