Chapter 2: Blue Eyes

I'll be Your hands, take me as I am,
I just wanna be with You

-Take Me As I Am by FM Static

Dean ran eagerly to the gardens. According to the servants, that was where Sam would be. He couldn't wait to ask him about the angel. He was all the king had thought about since meeting with Gordon.

There were so many questions he was dying to ask his brother. Was the angel okay? Was he broken beyond repair? What was he like? Could he fly? Did he have a family? What was his name?

He was so caught up in his thoughts he nearly barreled into Sam.

"Whoa! Watch it there, Dean!"

"Sorry, Sammy, but I have to talk to you!" he explained as his brother threw him one of his trademark bitchfaces at the name.

"Don't call me that, and what did you want to talk about?"

"The angel, Sammy!" he exclaimed, ignoring his brother's second bitchface.

"What about him?" Sam asked, not expecting the tidal wave of questions that followed. Dean didn't mean to overwhelm him, but he couldn't help it. They all just poured out of their own accord.

"Whoa, whoa, slow down! First of all, I can't really answer most of those questions because he doesn't speak," Sam paused to let that sink in before continuing. "I'm pretty sure it's a psychological things though, so maybe we can ask him that stuff later. "

Well, Dean was completely floored by this news. It shouldn't really have surprised him, given the state of the angel when he last saw him, but still...he couldn't talk?

"Okay, so he can't talk...can he, I dunno, write or something?" he asked.

Sam sighed, "I don't really know, Dean. He doesn't do much besides sleep. He's still pretty weak. He can barely walk on his own for more than a minute. Today's the first day I've taken him outside. He seems to like it though."

"He's out here? Where is he?" he asked giddily. He was practically bursting to see the angel again.

"I left him by the pond. Come on," his brother replied, leading the way.

Dean continued to pepper him with questions along the way about the angel's personality. According to Sam, the angel was very timid and shy-which was fine- but he was also very afraid of people in general. He'd warmed up a bit to Sam due to his constant presence, but other than that he preferred to be left alone. Even now, Sam was still tiptoeing around him.

His brother assumed this came from being treated so harshly in Tenebrae. He doubted the angel was used to a friendly tough after his time served as a slave.

The more Sam told Dean, the less happy he became. His face twisted into a scowl as he listened about the bruises and scars that littered the angel's body. And of course, there was the mark. Sam had missed it at first, lost among the countless scars that marred the angel's skin. Then he noticed how unusually clean it looked. Most of the angel's scars were ragged and chaotic in nature, but this one on his back was too precise and orderly to have come from a random beating.

It was old, that much was clear. It was pale in contrast to some of the newer ones, which shone in an angry red against the angel's fair skin. It was outlined by a ring of raised skin that encircled what appeared to be a pair of hands with the fingers splayed outward and away from each other. This gave it the crude effect of wings, which seemed to be mocking the race of angels, especially seeing as it was placed between the angel's shoulder blades. It was like a smaller set of wings had been wedged between his real ones.

When Sam had asked Bobby- one of their oldest and most trusted advisers- he'd been told it was the brand of an enslaved angel. Once an angel was sold into slavery they had the mark burned into their skin. Just thinking about doing that to anyone sickened Dean. He told Sam just as much too, and Sam agreed with his sentiments, but he had worse news to share.

"Bobby also warned me about another brand I might find It's one specifically used to mark slaves used for...well, you know."

"You mean he's a sex slave?!" Dean whispered loudly.

"Gee, thanks for using the exact words I was trying to avoid, Dean."

"Sammy, quit joking around and tell me if the angel I got has one of those marks.!"

"I was getting to it, Dean. According to Bobby the brand is put somewhere people are more likely to see if they're trying to abuse the angel that way."

"Dude, you're a grown ass man, it's okay to say the word sex. Seriously, you're not ten anymore."

"Shut up will you? I'm just trying to explain the situation delicately. Some of us actually try to do that.

"Anyway, I've been helping the angel take baths- don't give me that look Dean-and I found the mark." Dean sobered up immediately at hearing this.

"It's similar to the other mark, but it's only got one hand, and there's a teardrop shape above it. And because I know you're gonna ask where it is I'll just tell you now-it's midway up his left thigh."

Dean struggled to come to grips with what he just learned. It was like there was an internal battle within himself between feeling angry or sad for the angel. Honestly, it was pretty confusing for him. He'd never felt so strongly about a non-human being before.

Sure, he let them live in his kingdom peacefully, but he always felt rather detached from them. He didn't really take notice of them unless they provoked him.

This angel though...he was different. In his mind angels had always been the purest beings in the world. To taint them in any way was a horrible crime. If he could, he would set all of them free to live as they once had.

Unfortunately, he couldn't do that without declaring war on his neighboring kingdoms. They had all legalized slavery, and since angels were so alluring, it was unlikely for that to change. He'd be a fool to try it, especially after he just made a peace treaty with one of them. For now he'd have to settle with just one angel.

He came to a halt behind Sam who had stopped momentarily to alert the angel of their presence.

The angel was sitting at the edge of the water, seemingly entranced by the scenery. When he heard Sam clear his throat however, he turned his head and fixed his astonishingly blue eyes on them. Dean swore his heart skipped a beat when they made eye contact.

Castiel, for his part, was equally surprised, though not quite in the same way. He had completely forgotten about the king whose bed he had been sleeping in. To say he was surprised would be an understatement. Castiel was paralyzed in shock. His peaceful days were suddenly shattered by the appearance of the king and replaced with all the unanswered questions he'd somehow managed to forget about. The most prominent being about what was going to happen to him.

He tried to stand up on his own, but he moved too fast and nearly fell into the pond. Sam was fortunately fast enough to grab him and prevent that from happening. As soon as he was steady on his feet- steady for him anyway- he was quick to hide behind the prince's large bulk, shielding himself from the king.

Dean was rather disappointed by this, but couldn't really blame the guy. So instead of acting butt hurt about the situation he gave the angel his friendliest and most dazzling smile.

Castiel, who was peeking from his spot behind Sam, was taken aback. The king was alarmingly handsome for one thing. He had sandy blond hair, slightly tanned skin, green eyes, and an easygoing air about him. Castiel thought his eyes looked kind of nice. And, well, the rest of him too. Especially when he smiled like that. Castiel found himself blushing, embarrassingly pleased to be at the receiving end of it. Perhaps he had been worrying needlessly about this man.

"So…" Dean began, " My name is Dean. Nice to meet you," He held out his hand as he peered around his younger brother.

Sam shifted a bit so that the angel would be a little more out in the open. After a brief moment of hesitation Castiel reached out an arm. He'd never seen a handshake before though, so instead of shaking Dean's hand with one of his own, he held out his left hand timidly in the air. He was rather confused about the king's gesture, and was looking at it like he expected it to bite him.

Dean grinned, amused, before he took the angel's proffered hand in his and laid a light kiss on his knuckles. His grin grew wider as he watched the angel blush.

Sam was equally amused at the angel's antics and had to stifle a chuckle when the creature snatched his hand back and buried his burning face into Sam's side.

"Any chance you could give us a name to call you?" Dean asked kindly. Castiel shook his head, clutching on to Sam's shirt like his life depended on it.

"Okay then, that's fine," Dean continued, "How about we just call you...Blue Eyes!"

Cue Sam's bitchface again.

"Blue Eyes? Seriously, Dean?"

"Shut up, bitch! I've only known him for like two seconds!"

"Jerk. Whatever. It works," Sam said patting the angel softly on the head.

Castiel was confused by their banter. They seemed to be insulting each other, but the tone of their voices was cheerful. Humans were such odd creatures. His wings gave a nervous flutter.

Almost immediately, both brothers focused in on the dark appendages sprouting from his back. Even someone as oblivious as himself could see the questions racing through their minds. There was also a childlike sense of wonder on their faces, which Castiel appreciated more than the other look. it was certainly a step up from the loathing , yet lustful looks he got as a slave.

"Well, I uh, I think Blue Eyes here get some rest," Sam said, breaking out of his trance.

Now that Sam mentioned it, Castiel did feel rather tired. He had failed to notice during their odd little break from reality that his legs were starting to feel like jelly. Sam must have realize it from how much the angel was sagging against him.

Before he could protest- silently of course- the unusually tall human had picked him up bridal style. Castiel felt his face heat up once more and inwardly curse. He shouldn't have been embarrassed about it anymore since Sam did it all the time. It was his main form of transportation because he was often too weak to walk on his own for more than a minute or two.

He hadn't been nearly this weak in Tenebrae. Then again, slaves were always fed some strange disgusting substance that gave them just enough strength to more or less get their work done. It was a gross gray paste that tasted like dirt and left a person feeling emptier inside than ever. Castiel had no lost love for the stuff. He got to discover all kinds of good tasting foods in Fortuna. Still, he missed being able to walk on his own. He felt like such a burden to Sam.

The king- Dean, he reminded himself- appeared disappointed to hear they would be leaving, but he smiled anyway and told him to "rest up" before setting off himself.

Castiel found himself nodding off to the rhythmic thumps of Sam's footsteps soon after. He'd never felt so secure in someone's arms before, and he couldn't help but feel grateful for the this new friend of his. He hoped he'd never have to let go of this life.

A/N: Sorry it took so long to update :/

I felt bad I didn't do it sooner because people are actually reading it. Weird haha. I'm thankful to you guys for reading it though! I'll try to update sooner, but classes are starting in a few days so we'll just have to wait and see. :)