Fic: In The Angel's Garden 2/2
Title: In The Angel's Garden
Genre: Slash Fairytale Fantasy AU
Pairings: Dean/Castiel
Other Characters: Sam, Gabriel, Ruby
Rating: PG-13
Length: 10 009
Summary: Inspired by this beautiful piece of fanart. Castiel has been trapped by an evil curse for centuries, with no hope for freedom until the day Prince Dean stumbled into his life. But how can he be saved when Dean doesn't even know that he's in need of rescue?
Previous
Castiel and Dean settled into a bit of a routine, although Castiel suspected that Dean wasn’t aware of it. Dean still came down to visit Castiel in the garden whenever he felt the need to get away, and Castiel returned the favor by slipping into his dreams whenever the opportunity arose. It wasn’t as often as Castiel would have liked, due to requiring very strict conditions for Castiel to be able to travel into dreams, but it was often enough that Castiel felt they were developing a friendship. Dean seemed unaware of their nighttime visits when he was awake, or was convinced that the Castiel of his dreams was just a manifestation of his subconscious. He never really acknowledged that there was a possibility that Castiel might be real, no matter how many times he brought it up in the dreamscape, so eventually Castiel learned to let it go and just enjoy what acceptance he could get.
He began to grow concerned over his attachment of the young man. Dean was growing older every day, now in his twenties, and Castiel knew there would come a time when Dean would be too old to make the walk all the way down into the garden. Castiel might still be able to visit in his dreams, but even that would not be forever. His beloved human was like all the others, mortal. Castiel dreaded the time when Dean would succumb to the very thing that defeated all men, Death. But he did not fear being left alone any longer. He feared being left without Dean. That distinction troubled him, and he spent many days as the season changed from spring to summer wondering what to do.
***
“You’re crazy.”
“I’m not crazy, and neither are you.”
“Sam, I’m not saying I’m crazy, I’m saying you’re crazy. Big difference.”
“Dean, you’re the one who came to me and told me you’ve been having dreams, for years might I add, about this statue. About him being alive. You even gave him a name.”
“It was just a bunch of stupid dreams! Lay off! I should never have mentioned it, okay? I should have known you’d go all fairytale princess on me over it.”
“Shut up, Dean,” Sam muttered as he finally came into Castiel’s range of vision. “You know something’s up with this statue. You’ve known since we first found him, remember?”
“Will you stop calling it a him?” Dean groused, walking up beside his brother to stand nearby with his arms folded in a defiant position. “It’s a statue. It’s a hunk of rock.”
“That you talk to and dream about,” Sam shot back, and then he started studying Castiel intently. “You called him Castiel, right?”
“It’s just a name my brain came up with, okay? It’s not real.” Dean sounded both embarrassed and angry, not a good combination for him.
“It is real,” Sam snapped, ignoring Dean’s attitude. “I looked it up. It took me forever, but I finally found a reference to an angel Castiel in the castle’s library.”
Dean chuckled. “You are such a nerd, Sam,” he teased.
“I’m serious!” Sam pulled a huge dusty tome from under his arm. “Look, here’s the reference. This book is a chronicle of the castle’s history. It says here that years before our family took over the castle it belonged to an Enchantress that used to turn people into stone. That’s where those creepy statues must have come from! And here!” He jabbed excitedly at a specific line on the page. “Here’s the actual reference. It says that an angel, Castiel, came down to answer the people’s prayers to do something about it! It’s right here! He’s real, the statue must be the angel that came down to stop her, but she managed to curse him into stone too!”
Sam stared at his brother, and Castiel with him, waiting for some sort of reaction. Dean looked over the page, looked back at Castiel, read the passage one more time, then looked at Sam. Castiel’s heart fell when he caught sight of the completely unimpressed expression on Dean’s face.
“Enchantresses? Curses? Sam, you’ve been reading too many stories.” He laughed, patting Sam on the shoulder.
“This is real! This isn’t a book of fairytales, this is our home’s history! How do you explain how the story the angel told you in your dreams matches the one in this book so closely?”
“I don’t know,” Dean shrugged, looking uncomfortable, “maybe I read it when I was little?”
“Dean, if you’ve ever set foot willingly in that library in your entire life, I’ll shave my head.” Sam pointed out.
“Damn, now I may just have to do it. You could use a haircut.”
“Dean.”
“Sam. Forget it. It’s just a story.” Dean started walking away.
“And if it isn’t?” Sam called after him. Dean stopped mid step. Then suddenly he whirled around, his face twisted in fury.
“What do you want me to say Sam? Think about it. If he is real, then some poor bastard is literally trapped inside that statue, cursed to be stone for forever. It’s just too depressing to think about. So I’d rather believe it’s all in my head.”
“But what if there’s a reason he’s talking to you? What if you could break the curse?” Sam asked, suddenly sounding a lot less sure. He glanced at Castiel in concern.
“And how would you suggest I do that? The Enchantress, if there ever was one, is already dead and he’s still stuck.” Dean gestured over to Castiel’s state. “You got any other remedies in that stupid book?”
Sam squirmed for a moment, clearly having something to say but not wanting to say it. “You could try kissing him,” he finally suggested quietly. Dean’s mouth actually dropped open.
“Kiss him - Sam, seriously. I tease you about being a girl, I didn’t know you actually were one.” He walked straight up to Sam and leaned in. “This is not a stupid fairytale. The statue is not cursed, Castiel isn’t real, and I’m not going to step in and save him from some imaginary curse whether I’m in love or not and - “
“Ha!” Sam cut him of, holding up a finger. “You just said love,” he pointed out, eyes shining with glee.
“No I didn’t!” Dean snapped, stepping back and blushing furiously.
“Yes you did! You said love! You’re in love with him!”
“No I’m not!” Dean shouted, trying to hit his brother.
“Are too! You love Castiel!” Sam sing-songed as he dodged Dean’s swings.
“I do not! And even if I did he’s just a figment of my imagination. He’s like a dream girl or something!”
“He’s your dream girl?”
“That’s not what I said!” Dean started chasing Sam around the garden, swearing at him as Sam continued to tease him. They swiftly passed out of Castiel’s sight, but Castiel didn’t care. He was over the moon with the knowledge that Dean loved him too. He was loved. And his brother wanted to help find a way to break the curse. If they ever succeeded Castiel would surely grant the younger man anything he asked.
Eventually the chase ended up back at the garden, where the two brothers ended up collapsing on the bank of the pond completely out of breath. They lay there in silence for a moment, just watching the clouds go by.
“Seriously though, Dean,” Sam said, breaking the silence. “You should really just kiss the statue. What can it hurt?”
Dean swallowed thickly, not responding at first. “But what if you’re wrong?” he eventually asked, sounding so lost. “What if you’re wrong and I get my hopes up. Or worse, you’re right about him being real, but wrong about the kiss? I can’t be in love with a statue, Sam.”
Sam was silent. Then he rolled onto his side to stare at Dean. “Then we keep trying until we find a way to break the curse. Simple.”
Dean looked at his brother with gentle amusement, then shook his head. “You actually believe I’m not crazy. You actually believe that Castiel is real.”
Sam laughed. “Well, ‘course I do. You do.” He explained simply.
Dean probably should have expected it, but he was still floored by Sam’s faith in him. “Thanks man,” he whispered.
“Any time,” Sam responded, reaching over to squeeze his shoulder.
“Okay!” Dean suddenly shouted, swinging his legs up and over to hop to his feet in one smooth motion. “Well, I’ve had enough of the requisite girl moments, so can we go do something a little more masculine, maybe?”
“Dean.” Sam said flatly, not getting up from the ground.
“What?”
“The statue?” Sam jerked a thumb in Castiel’s direction.
Dean winced, and looked Castiel over. “Can’t it wait? I already feel too much like a chick from all the feeling sharing we’ve been doing, I don’t want my balls to actually fall off.”
Sam gave his brother a disgusted look. “Do you always have to be so crude?”
“Do you always have to be a prissy bitch?” Dean shot back, smirking.
“Jerk.”
Castiel hoped that Sam would press the issue, but the young prince apparently decided against it. Instead he took Dean’s proffered hand and allowed his brother to help him up so they could start back to the castle. Castiel felt like he would choke on the disappointment after getting so worked up, but he was comforted that Dean looked back at him as always. Even better, this time Dean was looking at him appraisingly. Maybe Sam had gotten through to him after all.
***
To Castiel’s frustration, Dean did not in fact come back the next day, or the one after. He didn’t come back for a full week, and Castiel grew concerned. He attempted to visit Dean in his dreams to see what had happened, but Dean was never relaxed enough to allow for the transition. He was trapped in the garden alone, with no idea of what was going on.
After the week of waiting, Castiel resigned himself to the reality that Sam’s insistence that he was real had actually driven Dean away. He wasn’t going to come back, and he wasn’t going to try to free Castiel from the curse. He hadn’t really loved Castiel at all.
Castiel fell into a deep depression. Just like when Gabriel had left him before, Castiel lost all hope in ever being saved. He would be trapped in stone form from now until the end of time. He would never be with his beloved. He just had to accept that.
When he heard footsteps approaching him some time later, he didn’t even allow the noise to register. It didn’t matter who came to disturb him. They would leave again shortly after, and he would still be alone. Even when he realized it was Dean, finally coming by to visit again, he couldn’t bring himself to be excited. Truthfully, the sight of Dean hurt. He was a reminder of everything that Castiel had lost, everything he could never have. He ignored the prince as he came forward until Dean was directly in his line of vision and therefore could no longer be ignored.
To his confusion, Dean looked a little…guilty. His eyes kept darting back and forth over the garden, and he was fidgeting like crazy. Castiel had never seen him so nervous, not even when he had broke his mother’s favorite vase and was looking for somewhere to hide the pieces. Castiel watched him carefully, unsure of what he was doing.
When Dean seemed satisfied that there was no one around and that no one was approaching, he leaned into Castiel, placing one hand on the back of his neck, with his fingers brushing Castiel’s ear. “Oh man, if Sammy ever finds out about this,” Dean huffed out, shaking his head. Then, he started to lean hesitantly forward. He paused when his face was less than a hairsbreadth from Castiel’s, their lips almost brushing, and pulled back a bit. “Please work,” he whispered, and then he pressed his lips firmly to Castiel’s.
At first, the only sensation either felt was soft flesh against unmoving stone. Then, slowly, to their amazement, Castiel’s lips became softer, warmer. Dean maintained the kiss for a second more, and then leaned back to look at Castiel in the eye. Castiel’s clear blue eyes stared back out of a face that was changing from stone to skin before Dean’s eyes. He gasped in shock as the stone beneath his fingers changed, heating to the touch. The change flowed out from where their lips had touched and spread out to Castiel’s extremities, picking up speed as it went. By the time Dean had fully pulled back, Castiel was once more a creature of flesh and blood and grace.
Dean and Castiel stared at each other in shock for a moment before Dean let out a loud curse. “Shit! This is a damn fairytale!”
Castiel blinked at him, and then smiled as widely as he could after being trapped in stone for millennia. Dean caught his gaze and blushed before smiling back with the smile that never failed to melt Castiel’s heart.
“Dean,” Castiel rasped, his lips feeling odd after years of disuse. “Dean,” he said again. He couldn’t bring himself to say much more, it hurt too much to speak, but he hoped that Dean understood what he meant when he said his name. Thank you. I love you. I’m yours.
Dean stared at him in wonder, before pressing his hand over Castiel’s mouth and shushing him. “Don’t try to talk,” he said softly, “your throat sounds like it really hurts. We should get you up to the castle and get you something to drink.” When he lifted his hand Castiel smiled again, and nodded. He waited until Dean had stepped back a bit so that he could reach out his arms and flare his wings high above his head. Although his voice was still very sore he let out a groan of relief as he was finally be able to move again after so long in one position. He stretched as far up as he could, reaching his fingers into the air.
And promptly started to fall over. His legs seized up and he let out a startled gasp as he started to fall. He tried to catch himself with his wings, but they were sluggish and unresponsive. He had no choice but to brace himself for the fall.
Dean let out a yelp and dove for the falling angel, catching him to his chest, but the impact and Castiel’s weight took them both down to the ground. He groaned in pain as he was crushed between the hard ground and Castiel’s weight. Castiel froze in shock at the feel of a warm body beneath him, but was quick to snap out of it and attempt to scramble up. Dean was forced to grab him around the waist and hold him down. “Hey! Hey, stop squirming!” he ordered as he finally managed to hook his arms around Castiel’s back just under his wings. “Stop squirming. I’m fine. It’s fine. You just lost your balance, it’s fine.”
Castiel stopped struggling, but when they had settled he pushed himself up on his arms to stare down into Dean’s eyes. Dean stared back, holding his breath. Castiel wasn’t sure what to say, or even if he should say anything at all, so he just went with his feelings and leaned down, pressing his lips gently to Dean’s.
Dean responded in turn, leaning his head up and pressing back. Castiel thought it might be uncomfortable for his neck, so he reached a hand under Dean’s head to help support him, pulling him closer. Dean moaned at the feel of Castiel’s fingers running through his hair and let his lips part. Castiel parted his own to match and had to stifle a gasp as Dean’s tongue started running along his lips and into his mouth. He had never felt such sensation before, angels never kissed like this. Heat flooded through his body like a wave. He had never felt this good, he never wanted it to end.
Eventually though, it did, Dean pulling back and panting slightly. Castiel remained unwinded, needing much less air than a human. He wanted to pout about the separation, but when he took in the sight of Dean breathless, flushed, and pinned beneath him, he realized that he didn’t need to be kissing Dean to experience those feelings. He stared at the human in wonder.
“Maybe we should head up,” Dean suggested, leaning his forehead against Castiel’s. Castiel nodded wordlessly and started to struggle to his feet but Dean just tightened his grip. “Whoa, no need to get ahead of ourselves. Remember what happened last time you tried that?” Castiel ran his eyes down Dean’s body in response, causing him to flush. “Yeah, okay, I wouldn’t exactly mind that happening again either, but we should really get you back up to the castle. You know, food? Clothes? Pie?” He looked at Castiel like he expected that last one to elicit a response, but Castiel merely shrugged. He would follow Dean wherever he felt was good.
Dean sighed, and then shifted around until he could get up. He helped Castiel stumble back to the bench he had been frozen on, and then stepped back to consider the angel with a finger to his lips.
“I’m definitely going to have to carry you back, but your wings are going to make that a bit difficult. How to do this?” He eyed Castiel all over, before sighing. “I guess I’ll just have to go with piggyback. Probably the easiest, and it leaves you with a little more pride than bridal.” Castiel couldn’t really understand what he was talking about, so he merely sat and waited until Dean told him what to do. Once Dean had decided and maneuvered them properly, Castiel wrapped his arms around Dean’s neck and allowed himself to be lifted. Once he was properly on Dean’s back, they began to move through the garden towards the path, Castiel’s wingtips just barely brushing over the ground. He felt wonderment as he left the pond area for the first time in hundreds of years, and he couldn’t help but try to take in every detail of the world around them.
Dean chuckled at Castiel, clearly enjoying the angel’s simple wonderment, but then he suddenly groaned. Castiel made a questioning noise, worried that something was wrong, but Dean waved him off.
“Don’t worry, I’m not hurt or anything, I just realized. Sam is going to be impossible to live with when we tell him!”
****
Sam was impossibly smug when they made it up to the castle and Dean introduced Castiel, but he was also incredibly helpful, immediately gathering up some food and water for Castiel while the castle’s servants rushed about trying to get everything else he might need. Sam kept them organized and out of Dean and Castiel’s hair while they prepared a room, gathered clothes, and prepared a bath. Castiel was a little overwhelmed with their kindness and attention, but Dean’s hand clasped firmly in his kept him grounded.
Once he had eaten, bathed, and changed he was led by Dean through a great hallway and through a large set of oak doors, until the two were standing in a chapel that was attached to the castle. Castiel looked around the modest space at the many beautiful stained glass windows and painted frescoes that lined the space depicting his brothers. He had not felt any presence of his brothers since Gabriel left him all those years ago, but here in this quiet place, he felt closer to home than ever. He closed his eyes as he felt the tears begin to fall. He had been through so much, he could hardly believe that he was finally free.
Dean walked up beside him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “We thought you might miss your family, but we were worried you weren’t quite up to flying yet. Sam suggested that maybe if you can’t go to them, you could call your family down to you.”
“Pray for them?” Castiel clarified.
“I’ve never really thought it worked,” Dean admitted, looking down at his boots, “but then I also thought that angels weren’t real, and yet here you are. Maybe I was wrong about that too.”
“It can’t hurt to try,” Sam said hopefully from Castiel’s other side. The angel looked up in surprise, having not heard him come in, but Sam gave him a bashful smile which put him at ease. He was still uncertain, though. He wasn’t sure if angels could hear the prayers of other angels, or if they were even listening, but he could try. If Dean was willing to try for him, if Sam was willing to try for Dean, then he could try for the both of them. But he needed one thing to help him.
“Together?” he asked. Sam and Dean looked at each other, and then Sam gave him a soft smile and a nod. Dean looked a little reluctant until Sam jabbed him in the side with a finger.
“Ow! Ow, okay I’ll do it!” He yelped, dodging out of range of Sam’s hands. Castiel laughed softly, thinking back fondly on watching these two as children acting much the same.
The two brothers and the angel settled quickly and bowed their heads in prayer. Castiel took the lead, calling out to his brothers, telling them that he was alive and well and that he missed them. Sam and Dean followed suit as soon as they heard the message that Castiel wanted to send, repeating his call and asking the angels to come down.
They prayed for an hour, but in the end, nothing happened. When they finally gave up, they all had to struggle to their feet, their various limbs sore and stiff from kneeling for so long.
“Oh well, it was worth a shot,” Dean shrugged. He was the least disappointed because he hadn’t really expected anything to happen. “I guess you’ll just have to wait until you can fly up and visit yourself, right?”
“I suppose,” Castiel agreed, leaning against Dean’s side to maintain his balance on his still wobbly legs. Sam gave him a sympathetic pat on the back as they started out of the chapel.
Just as they reached the door there was a bright flash of light behind them, and then an uncertain voice. “Castiel?”
The three whirled around to see Gabriel standing at the head of the chapel just before the altar, indecision painted across his face. But when he caught sight of Castiel, his features morphed into pure joy.
“Castiel!” he shouted, and then he launched himself across the chapel to tackle Castiel in a warm embrace, wrapping his many wings around. Sam and Dean were still by Castiel’s sides, so they too got swept up into the wing hug. “Oh, my little brother. You’re alive!” He sang, tears squeezing out of his eyes. “I thought you were dead. My poor brother, I left you. I thought you were dead. How can you ever forgive me?”
“Gabriel,” Castiel sighed, and then he wrapped his own arms and wings around his older brother. “You do not even need to ask,” he choked out, and the two brothers held each other as they cried. Sam and Dean eyed each other, feeling awkward and trapped in the private moment, but Castiel merely pulled them both into the embrace with his wings, and they went with it.
*****
“I owe you the world for saving my brother,” Gabriel told Dean as he prepared to head back to Heaven to spread the good news. “If you ever need anything, please pray to me and I will do everything in my power to make sure you have it.” He bowed lightly at the waist, and Dean flushed at the honor of being bowed to by an archangel. But when Gabriel rose and grabbed him by the collar, he instantly paled. “However, if I find out you hurt my brother, I will end you. Got that?”
“Yes sir, Mr. freaky angel sir,” Dean answered.
“Good,” Gabriel grinned. “I like you. I think you’ll be good for Castiel.”
“Yeah?” Dean asked, but he wasn’t really paying attention anymore. His focus instead was on the angel sitting and talking quietly with Sam.
“Yeah,” Gabriel repeated. “Oh, and your brother’s pretty hot. Even if Castiel can’t make it home to visit all the time, I think I’ll be dropping by myself.” He wiggled his eyebrows at Dean as he spluttered.
“You stay the hell away from my brother!” Dean shouted after the archangel as he spread his wings and swooped away cackling. Sam glanced up, but just shook his head at Dean’s antics. Castiel smiled.
When Gabriel was finally out of sight, Dean stomped back over to Sam and Castiel, muttering under his breath. Sam laughed, and then stood to go. He gave Castiel a short hug and Dean a pat on the shoulder, and then he wandered off. Dean and Castiel were left alone.
“So,” Dean started, already blushing and staring at the ground. Castiel smiled warmly, and then reached out a hand to place into Dean’s. Whatever Dean had been trying to say died in his throat as he looked at the clasped hands, and then up at Castiel.
“Dean,” Castiel said again, and this time he knew Dean heard all that he was trying to convey. Dean relaxed his shoulders and gave Castiel that wonderful smile.
“Do you want to take a walk around the gardens? I know this place that’s nice and quiet, where no one bothers you or tells you what to do. Sammy and I used to call it the Angel’s Garden when we were kids.” He blushed again, but swallowed and continued. “It’s kind of my favorite place in the world, because that’s where my friend lives.”
Castiel smiled as Dean tried to fight back his embarrassment, and rose to his feet. “Let’s go there, then.” he said.
And they did.
Fin
Genre: Slash Fairytale Fantasy AU
Pairings: Dean/Castiel
Other Characters: Sam, Gabriel, Ruby
Rating: PG-13
Length: 10 009
Summary: Inspired by this beautiful piece of fanart. Castiel has been trapped by an evil curse for centuries, with no hope for freedom until the day Prince Dean stumbled into his life. But how can he be saved when Dean doesn't even know that he's in need of rescue?
Previous
Castiel and Dean settled into a bit of a routine, although Castiel suspected that Dean wasn’t aware of it. Dean still came down to visit Castiel in the garden whenever he felt the need to get away, and Castiel returned the favor by slipping into his dreams whenever the opportunity arose. It wasn’t as often as Castiel would have liked, due to requiring very strict conditions for Castiel to be able to travel into dreams, but it was often enough that Castiel felt they were developing a friendship. Dean seemed unaware of their nighttime visits when he was awake, or was convinced that the Castiel of his dreams was just a manifestation of his subconscious. He never really acknowledged that there was a possibility that Castiel might be real, no matter how many times he brought it up in the dreamscape, so eventually Castiel learned to let it go and just enjoy what acceptance he could get.
He began to grow concerned over his attachment of the young man. Dean was growing older every day, now in his twenties, and Castiel knew there would come a time when Dean would be too old to make the walk all the way down into the garden. Castiel might still be able to visit in his dreams, but even that would not be forever. His beloved human was like all the others, mortal. Castiel dreaded the time when Dean would succumb to the very thing that defeated all men, Death. But he did not fear being left alone any longer. He feared being left without Dean. That distinction troubled him, and he spent many days as the season changed from spring to summer wondering what to do.
***
“You’re crazy.”
“I’m not crazy, and neither are you.”
“Sam, I’m not saying I’m crazy, I’m saying you’re crazy. Big difference.”
“Dean, you’re the one who came to me and told me you’ve been having dreams, for years might I add, about this statue. About him being alive. You even gave him a name.”
“It was just a bunch of stupid dreams! Lay off! I should never have mentioned it, okay? I should have known you’d go all fairytale princess on me over it.”
“Shut up, Dean,” Sam muttered as he finally came into Castiel’s range of vision. “You know something’s up with this statue. You’ve known since we first found him, remember?”
“Will you stop calling it a him?” Dean groused, walking up beside his brother to stand nearby with his arms folded in a defiant position. “It’s a statue. It’s a hunk of rock.”
“That you talk to and dream about,” Sam shot back, and then he started studying Castiel intently. “You called him Castiel, right?”
“It’s just a name my brain came up with, okay? It’s not real.” Dean sounded both embarrassed and angry, not a good combination for him.
“It is real,” Sam snapped, ignoring Dean’s attitude. “I looked it up. It took me forever, but I finally found a reference to an angel Castiel in the castle’s library.”
Dean chuckled. “You are such a nerd, Sam,” he teased.
“I’m serious!” Sam pulled a huge dusty tome from under his arm. “Look, here’s the reference. This book is a chronicle of the castle’s history. It says here that years before our family took over the castle it belonged to an Enchantress that used to turn people into stone. That’s where those creepy statues must have come from! And here!” He jabbed excitedly at a specific line on the page. “Here’s the actual reference. It says that an angel, Castiel, came down to answer the people’s prayers to do something about it! It’s right here! He’s real, the statue must be the angel that came down to stop her, but she managed to curse him into stone too!”
Sam stared at his brother, and Castiel with him, waiting for some sort of reaction. Dean looked over the page, looked back at Castiel, read the passage one more time, then looked at Sam. Castiel’s heart fell when he caught sight of the completely unimpressed expression on Dean’s face.
“Enchantresses? Curses? Sam, you’ve been reading too many stories.” He laughed, patting Sam on the shoulder.
“This is real! This isn’t a book of fairytales, this is our home’s history! How do you explain how the story the angel told you in your dreams matches the one in this book so closely?”
“I don’t know,” Dean shrugged, looking uncomfortable, “maybe I read it when I was little?”
“Dean, if you’ve ever set foot willingly in that library in your entire life, I’ll shave my head.” Sam pointed out.
“Damn, now I may just have to do it. You could use a haircut.”
“Dean.”
“Sam. Forget it. It’s just a story.” Dean started walking away.
“And if it isn’t?” Sam called after him. Dean stopped mid step. Then suddenly he whirled around, his face twisted in fury.
“What do you want me to say Sam? Think about it. If he is real, then some poor bastard is literally trapped inside that statue, cursed to be stone for forever. It’s just too depressing to think about. So I’d rather believe it’s all in my head.”
“But what if there’s a reason he’s talking to you? What if you could break the curse?” Sam asked, suddenly sounding a lot less sure. He glanced at Castiel in concern.
“And how would you suggest I do that? The Enchantress, if there ever was one, is already dead and he’s still stuck.” Dean gestured over to Castiel’s state. “You got any other remedies in that stupid book?”
Sam squirmed for a moment, clearly having something to say but not wanting to say it. “You could try kissing him,” he finally suggested quietly. Dean’s mouth actually dropped open.
“Kiss him - Sam, seriously. I tease you about being a girl, I didn’t know you actually were one.” He walked straight up to Sam and leaned in. “This is not a stupid fairytale. The statue is not cursed, Castiel isn’t real, and I’m not going to step in and save him from some imaginary curse whether I’m in love or not and - “
“Ha!” Sam cut him of, holding up a finger. “You just said love,” he pointed out, eyes shining with glee.
“No I didn’t!” Dean snapped, stepping back and blushing furiously.
“Yes you did! You said love! You’re in love with him!”
“No I’m not!” Dean shouted, trying to hit his brother.
“Are too! You love Castiel!” Sam sing-songed as he dodged Dean’s swings.
“I do not! And even if I did he’s just a figment of my imagination. He’s like a dream girl or something!”
“He’s your dream girl?”
“That’s not what I said!” Dean started chasing Sam around the garden, swearing at him as Sam continued to tease him. They swiftly passed out of Castiel’s sight, but Castiel didn’t care. He was over the moon with the knowledge that Dean loved him too. He was loved. And his brother wanted to help find a way to break the curse. If they ever succeeded Castiel would surely grant the younger man anything he asked.
Eventually the chase ended up back at the garden, where the two brothers ended up collapsing on the bank of the pond completely out of breath. They lay there in silence for a moment, just watching the clouds go by.
“Seriously though, Dean,” Sam said, breaking the silence. “You should really just kiss the statue. What can it hurt?”
Dean swallowed thickly, not responding at first. “But what if you’re wrong?” he eventually asked, sounding so lost. “What if you’re wrong and I get my hopes up. Or worse, you’re right about him being real, but wrong about the kiss? I can’t be in love with a statue, Sam.”
Sam was silent. Then he rolled onto his side to stare at Dean. “Then we keep trying until we find a way to break the curse. Simple.”
Dean looked at his brother with gentle amusement, then shook his head. “You actually believe I’m not crazy. You actually believe that Castiel is real.”
Sam laughed. “Well, ‘course I do. You do.” He explained simply.
Dean probably should have expected it, but he was still floored by Sam’s faith in him. “Thanks man,” he whispered.
“Any time,” Sam responded, reaching over to squeeze his shoulder.
“Okay!” Dean suddenly shouted, swinging his legs up and over to hop to his feet in one smooth motion. “Well, I’ve had enough of the requisite girl moments, so can we go do something a little more masculine, maybe?”
“Dean.” Sam said flatly, not getting up from the ground.
“What?”
“The statue?” Sam jerked a thumb in Castiel’s direction.
Dean winced, and looked Castiel over. “Can’t it wait? I already feel too much like a chick from all the feeling sharing we’ve been doing, I don’t want my balls to actually fall off.”
Sam gave his brother a disgusted look. “Do you always have to be so crude?”
“Do you always have to be a prissy bitch?” Dean shot back, smirking.
“Jerk.”
Castiel hoped that Sam would press the issue, but the young prince apparently decided against it. Instead he took Dean’s proffered hand and allowed his brother to help him up so they could start back to the castle. Castiel felt like he would choke on the disappointment after getting so worked up, but he was comforted that Dean looked back at him as always. Even better, this time Dean was looking at him appraisingly. Maybe Sam had gotten through to him after all.
***
To Castiel’s frustration, Dean did not in fact come back the next day, or the one after. He didn’t come back for a full week, and Castiel grew concerned. He attempted to visit Dean in his dreams to see what had happened, but Dean was never relaxed enough to allow for the transition. He was trapped in the garden alone, with no idea of what was going on.
After the week of waiting, Castiel resigned himself to the reality that Sam’s insistence that he was real had actually driven Dean away. He wasn’t going to come back, and he wasn’t going to try to free Castiel from the curse. He hadn’t really loved Castiel at all.
Castiel fell into a deep depression. Just like when Gabriel had left him before, Castiel lost all hope in ever being saved. He would be trapped in stone form from now until the end of time. He would never be with his beloved. He just had to accept that.
When he heard footsteps approaching him some time later, he didn’t even allow the noise to register. It didn’t matter who came to disturb him. They would leave again shortly after, and he would still be alone. Even when he realized it was Dean, finally coming by to visit again, he couldn’t bring himself to be excited. Truthfully, the sight of Dean hurt. He was a reminder of everything that Castiel had lost, everything he could never have. He ignored the prince as he came forward until Dean was directly in his line of vision and therefore could no longer be ignored.
To his confusion, Dean looked a little…guilty. His eyes kept darting back and forth over the garden, and he was fidgeting like crazy. Castiel had never seen him so nervous, not even when he had broke his mother’s favorite vase and was looking for somewhere to hide the pieces. Castiel watched him carefully, unsure of what he was doing.
When Dean seemed satisfied that there was no one around and that no one was approaching, he leaned into Castiel, placing one hand on the back of his neck, with his fingers brushing Castiel’s ear. “Oh man, if Sammy ever finds out about this,” Dean huffed out, shaking his head. Then, he started to lean hesitantly forward. He paused when his face was less than a hairsbreadth from Castiel’s, their lips almost brushing, and pulled back a bit. “Please work,” he whispered, and then he pressed his lips firmly to Castiel’s.
At first, the only sensation either felt was soft flesh against unmoving stone. Then, slowly, to their amazement, Castiel’s lips became softer, warmer. Dean maintained the kiss for a second more, and then leaned back to look at Castiel in the eye. Castiel’s clear blue eyes stared back out of a face that was changing from stone to skin before Dean’s eyes. He gasped in shock as the stone beneath his fingers changed, heating to the touch. The change flowed out from where their lips had touched and spread out to Castiel’s extremities, picking up speed as it went. By the time Dean had fully pulled back, Castiel was once more a creature of flesh and blood and grace.
Dean and Castiel stared at each other in shock for a moment before Dean let out a loud curse. “Shit! This is a damn fairytale!”
Castiel blinked at him, and then smiled as widely as he could after being trapped in stone for millennia. Dean caught his gaze and blushed before smiling back with the smile that never failed to melt Castiel’s heart.
“Dean,” Castiel rasped, his lips feeling odd after years of disuse. “Dean,” he said again. He couldn’t bring himself to say much more, it hurt too much to speak, but he hoped that Dean understood what he meant when he said his name. Thank you. I love you. I’m yours.
Dean stared at him in wonder, before pressing his hand over Castiel’s mouth and shushing him. “Don’t try to talk,” he said softly, “your throat sounds like it really hurts. We should get you up to the castle and get you something to drink.” When he lifted his hand Castiel smiled again, and nodded. He waited until Dean had stepped back a bit so that he could reach out his arms and flare his wings high above his head. Although his voice was still very sore he let out a groan of relief as he was finally be able to move again after so long in one position. He stretched as far up as he could, reaching his fingers into the air.
And promptly started to fall over. His legs seized up and he let out a startled gasp as he started to fall. He tried to catch himself with his wings, but they were sluggish and unresponsive. He had no choice but to brace himself for the fall.
Dean let out a yelp and dove for the falling angel, catching him to his chest, but the impact and Castiel’s weight took them both down to the ground. He groaned in pain as he was crushed between the hard ground and Castiel’s weight. Castiel froze in shock at the feel of a warm body beneath him, but was quick to snap out of it and attempt to scramble up. Dean was forced to grab him around the waist and hold him down. “Hey! Hey, stop squirming!” he ordered as he finally managed to hook his arms around Castiel’s back just under his wings. “Stop squirming. I’m fine. It’s fine. You just lost your balance, it’s fine.”
Castiel stopped struggling, but when they had settled he pushed himself up on his arms to stare down into Dean’s eyes. Dean stared back, holding his breath. Castiel wasn’t sure what to say, or even if he should say anything at all, so he just went with his feelings and leaned down, pressing his lips gently to Dean’s.
Dean responded in turn, leaning his head up and pressing back. Castiel thought it might be uncomfortable for his neck, so he reached a hand under Dean’s head to help support him, pulling him closer. Dean moaned at the feel of Castiel’s fingers running through his hair and let his lips part. Castiel parted his own to match and had to stifle a gasp as Dean’s tongue started running along his lips and into his mouth. He had never felt such sensation before, angels never kissed like this. Heat flooded through his body like a wave. He had never felt this good, he never wanted it to end.
Eventually though, it did, Dean pulling back and panting slightly. Castiel remained unwinded, needing much less air than a human. He wanted to pout about the separation, but when he took in the sight of Dean breathless, flushed, and pinned beneath him, he realized that he didn’t need to be kissing Dean to experience those feelings. He stared at the human in wonder.
“Maybe we should head up,” Dean suggested, leaning his forehead against Castiel’s. Castiel nodded wordlessly and started to struggle to his feet but Dean just tightened his grip. “Whoa, no need to get ahead of ourselves. Remember what happened last time you tried that?” Castiel ran his eyes down Dean’s body in response, causing him to flush. “Yeah, okay, I wouldn’t exactly mind that happening again either, but we should really get you back up to the castle. You know, food? Clothes? Pie?” He looked at Castiel like he expected that last one to elicit a response, but Castiel merely shrugged. He would follow Dean wherever he felt was good.
Dean sighed, and then shifted around until he could get up. He helped Castiel stumble back to the bench he had been frozen on, and then stepped back to consider the angel with a finger to his lips.
“I’m definitely going to have to carry you back, but your wings are going to make that a bit difficult. How to do this?” He eyed Castiel all over, before sighing. “I guess I’ll just have to go with piggyback. Probably the easiest, and it leaves you with a little more pride than bridal.” Castiel couldn’t really understand what he was talking about, so he merely sat and waited until Dean told him what to do. Once Dean had decided and maneuvered them properly, Castiel wrapped his arms around Dean’s neck and allowed himself to be lifted. Once he was properly on Dean’s back, they began to move through the garden towards the path, Castiel’s wingtips just barely brushing over the ground. He felt wonderment as he left the pond area for the first time in hundreds of years, and he couldn’t help but try to take in every detail of the world around them.
Dean chuckled at Castiel, clearly enjoying the angel’s simple wonderment, but then he suddenly groaned. Castiel made a questioning noise, worried that something was wrong, but Dean waved him off.
“Don’t worry, I’m not hurt or anything, I just realized. Sam is going to be impossible to live with when we tell him!”
****
Sam was impossibly smug when they made it up to the castle and Dean introduced Castiel, but he was also incredibly helpful, immediately gathering up some food and water for Castiel while the castle’s servants rushed about trying to get everything else he might need. Sam kept them organized and out of Dean and Castiel’s hair while they prepared a room, gathered clothes, and prepared a bath. Castiel was a little overwhelmed with their kindness and attention, but Dean’s hand clasped firmly in his kept him grounded.
Once he had eaten, bathed, and changed he was led by Dean through a great hallway and through a large set of oak doors, until the two were standing in a chapel that was attached to the castle. Castiel looked around the modest space at the many beautiful stained glass windows and painted frescoes that lined the space depicting his brothers. He had not felt any presence of his brothers since Gabriel left him all those years ago, but here in this quiet place, he felt closer to home than ever. He closed his eyes as he felt the tears begin to fall. He had been through so much, he could hardly believe that he was finally free.
Dean walked up beside him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “We thought you might miss your family, but we were worried you weren’t quite up to flying yet. Sam suggested that maybe if you can’t go to them, you could call your family down to you.”
“Pray for them?” Castiel clarified.
“I’ve never really thought it worked,” Dean admitted, looking down at his boots, “but then I also thought that angels weren’t real, and yet here you are. Maybe I was wrong about that too.”
“It can’t hurt to try,” Sam said hopefully from Castiel’s other side. The angel looked up in surprise, having not heard him come in, but Sam gave him a bashful smile which put him at ease. He was still uncertain, though. He wasn’t sure if angels could hear the prayers of other angels, or if they were even listening, but he could try. If Dean was willing to try for him, if Sam was willing to try for Dean, then he could try for the both of them. But he needed one thing to help him.
“Together?” he asked. Sam and Dean looked at each other, and then Sam gave him a soft smile and a nod. Dean looked a little reluctant until Sam jabbed him in the side with a finger.
“Ow! Ow, okay I’ll do it!” He yelped, dodging out of range of Sam’s hands. Castiel laughed softly, thinking back fondly on watching these two as children acting much the same.
The two brothers and the angel settled quickly and bowed their heads in prayer. Castiel took the lead, calling out to his brothers, telling them that he was alive and well and that he missed them. Sam and Dean followed suit as soon as they heard the message that Castiel wanted to send, repeating his call and asking the angels to come down.
They prayed for an hour, but in the end, nothing happened. When they finally gave up, they all had to struggle to their feet, their various limbs sore and stiff from kneeling for so long.
“Oh well, it was worth a shot,” Dean shrugged. He was the least disappointed because he hadn’t really expected anything to happen. “I guess you’ll just have to wait until you can fly up and visit yourself, right?”
“I suppose,” Castiel agreed, leaning against Dean’s side to maintain his balance on his still wobbly legs. Sam gave him a sympathetic pat on the back as they started out of the chapel.
Just as they reached the door there was a bright flash of light behind them, and then an uncertain voice. “Castiel?”
The three whirled around to see Gabriel standing at the head of the chapel just before the altar, indecision painted across his face. But when he caught sight of Castiel, his features morphed into pure joy.
“Castiel!” he shouted, and then he launched himself across the chapel to tackle Castiel in a warm embrace, wrapping his many wings around. Sam and Dean were still by Castiel’s sides, so they too got swept up into the wing hug. “Oh, my little brother. You’re alive!” He sang, tears squeezing out of his eyes. “I thought you were dead. My poor brother, I left you. I thought you were dead. How can you ever forgive me?”
“Gabriel,” Castiel sighed, and then he wrapped his own arms and wings around his older brother. “You do not even need to ask,” he choked out, and the two brothers held each other as they cried. Sam and Dean eyed each other, feeling awkward and trapped in the private moment, but Castiel merely pulled them both into the embrace with his wings, and they went with it.
*****
“I owe you the world for saving my brother,” Gabriel told Dean as he prepared to head back to Heaven to spread the good news. “If you ever need anything, please pray to me and I will do everything in my power to make sure you have it.” He bowed lightly at the waist, and Dean flushed at the honor of being bowed to by an archangel. But when Gabriel rose and grabbed him by the collar, he instantly paled. “However, if I find out you hurt my brother, I will end you. Got that?”
“Yes sir, Mr. freaky angel sir,” Dean answered.
“Good,” Gabriel grinned. “I like you. I think you’ll be good for Castiel.”
“Yeah?” Dean asked, but he wasn’t really paying attention anymore. His focus instead was on the angel sitting and talking quietly with Sam.
“Yeah,” Gabriel repeated. “Oh, and your brother’s pretty hot. Even if Castiel can’t make it home to visit all the time, I think I’ll be dropping by myself.” He wiggled his eyebrows at Dean as he spluttered.
“You stay the hell away from my brother!” Dean shouted after the archangel as he spread his wings and swooped away cackling. Sam glanced up, but just shook his head at Dean’s antics. Castiel smiled.
When Gabriel was finally out of sight, Dean stomped back over to Sam and Castiel, muttering under his breath. Sam laughed, and then stood to go. He gave Castiel a short hug and Dean a pat on the shoulder, and then he wandered off. Dean and Castiel were left alone.
“So,” Dean started, already blushing and staring at the ground. Castiel smiled warmly, and then reached out a hand to place into Dean’s. Whatever Dean had been trying to say died in his throat as he looked at the clasped hands, and then up at Castiel.
“Dean,” Castiel said again, and this time he knew Dean heard all that he was trying to convey. Dean relaxed his shoulders and gave Castiel that wonderful smile.
“Do you want to take a walk around the gardens? I know this place that’s nice and quiet, where no one bothers you or tells you what to do. Sammy and I used to call it the Angel’s Garden when we were kids.” He blushed again, but swallowed and continued. “It’s kind of my favorite place in the world, because that’s where my friend lives.”
Castiel smiled as Dean tried to fight back his embarrassment, and rose to his feet. “Let’s go there, then.” he said.
And they did.
Fin