[The circumstances in which Castiel had left Dean had been less than ideal. The last words that he'd heard from Dean play on repeat in his mind during rare moments of quiet, maybe just as a form of penance.
"Don't do this, Cas."
Castiel had known when he'd made his deal with the empty that it would come to collect, he'd just never expected to have to do it right then and there, while at his most vulnerable, standing in front of the person that he loved after bearing his soul.
That being said, he'd do it again if he had to in order to protect Dean. He'd been bound to him from the start, piecing him together after the agents of hell had done their best to defile him. Pieces of torn flesh, delicate frays of consciousness, and the burnt and ravaged fibers of being made whole in his own two hands.
He'd found purpose in little else until he met Jack. Then, tasked with fixing heaven and the damage he'd done to it he was unavailable to protect Dean or greet him once he'd met his end. Mortal lives were fleeting, and he knew this and had come to terms with it, but it's something he could never bear to reflect on where Dean was concerned.
He'd asked Jack for this voyage into the unknown to soothe his soul. Something that came with more questions than he knew how to answer. It felt wrong to involve Jack in matters of his heart when he'd gone above and beyond to barter a new transaction with The Empty so that they could restore peace in both planes. In the end, Jack's loyalty allowed him this, and the reach of this ship, its missions, and its capabilities was much more than Castiel knew what to do with.
For the first time in a long time, Castiel felt alone. It was a feeling that he never used to acknowledge but having a family, and a purpose beyond the host of heaven had introduced him to a feeling of belonging he'd learned to find solace in.
He senses Dean before he sees him, but Castiel is still surprised when he meets Dean's gaze across the valley of earth between them. He'd been so lost in thought that the possibility of it being a memory or wishful thinking had crossed his mind.
Castiel walks down the slope of the bridge to meet Dean halfway. He hadn't expected to find him here, his eyes searching his frame torn between wanting to embrace him and shrinking away given the circumstances of their last moments together.]
no subject
"Don't do this, Cas."
Castiel had known when he'd made his deal with the empty that it would come to collect, he'd just never expected to have to do it right then and there, while at his most vulnerable, standing in front of the person that he loved after bearing his soul.
That being said, he'd do it again if he had to in order to protect Dean. He'd been bound to him from the start, piecing him together after the agents of hell had done their best to defile him. Pieces of torn flesh, delicate frays of consciousness, and the burnt and ravaged fibers of being made whole in his own two hands.
He'd found purpose in little else until he met Jack. Then, tasked with fixing heaven and the damage he'd done to it he was unavailable to protect Dean or greet him once he'd met his end. Mortal lives were fleeting, and he knew this and had come to terms with it, but it's something he could never bear to reflect on where Dean was concerned.
He'd asked Jack for this voyage into the unknown to soothe his soul. Something that came with more questions than he knew how to answer. It felt wrong to involve Jack in matters of his heart when he'd gone above and beyond to barter a new transaction with The Empty so that they could restore peace in both planes. In the end, Jack's loyalty allowed him this, and the reach of this ship, its missions, and its capabilities was much more than Castiel knew what to do with.
For the first time in a long time, Castiel felt alone. It was a feeling that he never used to acknowledge but having a family, and a purpose beyond the host of heaven had introduced him to a feeling of belonging he'd learned to find solace in.
He senses Dean before he sees him, but Castiel is still surprised when he meets Dean's gaze across the valley of earth between them. He'd been so lost in thought that the possibility of it being a memory or wishful thinking had crossed his mind.
Castiel walks down the slope of the bridge to meet Dean halfway. He hadn't expected to find him here, his eyes searching his frame torn between wanting to embrace him and shrinking away given the circumstances of their last moments together.]
Dean?