Unexpected Destinies Chapter 36
Title: Unexpected Destinies
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: up to and including Exile on Main St., AU from the end of season 5
Warnings: AU, slash
Word Count: 2,325
Summary: Michael questions Dean about the nature of his relationship with Castiel.
PAST
If the past few months hadn't been half filled with hunts that veered towards the impossible, Dean would never have seriously been researching pixies of all things. Instead he'd have laughed the mere suggestion off as ludicrous, but not now, not after everything he'd seen lately. Hell, it was just only a little over two years ago that he'd thought angels nothing more then figments of the imagination and now look at him. These days he almost saw more with angels then humans and he definitely spent far more time with them. He smiled at the thought of what his reaction would have been if someone in the past had told him that he'd be in a somewhat stable relationship with an angel. And a male angel at that.
His good humor vanished as he looked at the books arrayed around him on the table. On some level, Dean still couldn't believe he was hunting Tinkerbell and her band of merry pixies. After all, seriously, pixies! At least the lore on them was turning out to be a lot darker then Disney's version of them. He didn't think his reputation could take chasing down pink kids' toy look-alikes. Not that he'd leave a hunt for something like that, but still, a guy had to have some standards after all.
The ringing of his phone was a welcome relief for Dean even if with his luck it would turn out to be Bobby. A quick glance at the caller ID, though, nixed that notion.
"Michael," Dean said.
A brief pause. "How did you know it was me?"
"Magic."
The pause was a bit longer this time and Dean couldn't help but smile. Score one for today's tally of 'confuse and frustrate the archangel'. He didn't normally get to start scoring points until at least a few more minutes into their interaction.
"You are neither a witch nor a warlock."
"Nope, you catch on real fast there, Mikey."
"I have asked you to not call me that."
"And I have decided to do so anyway."
"You are a frustrating creature, Dean Winchester."
"Thank you."
"Where are you?"
"What, just like that? No sweet talking or offers for dinner first? I know I'm easy, but I'm not that easy."
"I do not understand what you mean. I need to speak with you."
Dean hesitated but then looked at the books he'd spent the past few hours looking through without much success. "You know anything about pixies?"
"Yes."
"Fine. Southern Maine, Belle View Lodge, room fourteen."
Since he'd gotten used to the complete and utter lack of phone manners angels had, Dean had already put away his cell by the time Michael appeared in the room. He briefly wondered where the archangel had gotten the clothes Deirdre wore as they were neither hospital issue nor pjs, but then he dismissed it as unimportant.
"There are no pixies here," Michael stated.
"No, they're across town at the old abandoned railroad stat-" Before Dean could even finish the word, he found himself alone in the room once more. "What the hell?"
Then Michael was back, looking none the worse for wear. "There, now there are no more pixies in this town."
Dean blinked. "You smote the pixies?"
"Yes."
"What, just like that?"
"I am more then capable of handling a nest of pixies, Dean."
"Whoa, whoa, slow down there big guy," Dean stated, hands raised as if he were dealing with a human. "I didn't mean to insult your manhood, eh angelhood, there. I'm just not used to any angel but Cas helping me on a hunt."
"Would you have listened to me otherwise, if you still had a hunt to attend to?"
"No, though I don't suppose you could have shown up several hours ago, before I'd spent so much time looking up pixies of all things?"
"No."
"Of course not."
Despite his attitude, Dean was happy that the hunt was done, wasted time or not. Although he was sure he'd have found a way to deal with the nest, Michael's way was not only a lot faster and easier, but also a lot safer too. For being such small things, pixies were by all accounts damn vicious and he'd most likely have been injured at some point while taking out the nest. He was just about to thank the archangel, wanting to encourage all forms of good behavior (and this had been that even if Michael had done it for selfish reasons. At the very least it showed an awareness of Dean's own time and priorities that hadn't been there before) but the words caught in his throat as he saw how the archangel was looking at him. It wasn't the possessive and appreciative gaze from before, but rather something far more critical.
"What?" Dean finally demanded, tired of the silent judgment. "If you have something to say, just spit it out. I never pictured you as one to be afraid to speak your mind."
Michael regarded him for another moment or two before responding. "You are in a sexual relationship with Castiel."
The words were so unexpected that Dean could only sputter and stare at the archangel in shock. "Excuse me?"
"You are in a sexual relationship with Castiel."
This time there was no mistaking the disapproval in Michael's tone and Dean felt his defenses going up. Yes, he knew that his and Cas' relationship was unusual and he'd be the first to admit that Castiel could do far better then him, but for whatever reason the angel wanted him and he was not going to let Michael belittle him for that. Nor was he going to let the archangel tell him what he could and couldn't do. He had no right whatsoever to do that.
"What's it to you?"
"Why did you do it? Did you think it would be entertaining to corrupt an angel; to bring one so low?"
"Excuse me?" Dean demanded in disbelief.
"You heard me."
His anger and shock were so great that Dean couldn't respond right away. How dare he? How dare Michael accuse him of that? Yes, he had a certain reputation when it came to sex due to his past encounters, but did the archangel really think he was notching some frigging post? Or that Castiel would be so easily tempted into bed against his nature? As far as he knew, his lover had never shown any kind of interest in sex before him and even then it had come secondary to his feelings for him. Did Michael really not know his brother at all?
"Look, I tried to avert this, to not tempt Castiel into something that seemed so against his nature to me," Dean replied. "I did, but he wouldn't let me."
Michael gave him a scornful look. "Are you trying to tell me Castiel pursued you sexually?"
"No, but this isn't about sex."
"With you-"
"If you dare say humans next, I will not be responsible for my actions!" Dean threatened. "Really, is that all you can come up with all the time? You're like a frigging record stuck on repeat."
"You like sex."
Dean really, really, really didn't want to know what Michael had seen or done to have the absolute conviction in his voice that he did. Really, he didn't.
"Yeah, most humans do, it is an inherently pleasurable activity. That doesn't mean it drives everything I do. I'm with Cas because I like him, a lot, and that is the same reason why I wasn't going to pursue him or tell him what it was that he was feeling."
"He didn't know?"
"No, he had no experience with this."
"Then what changed your mind?" Michael questioned.
"His feelings were starting to interfere with things. He was getting jealous and didn't know it, but it was still affecting his interactions with other humans. I had to make him aware of what was going on and then figured that, since we both felt the same way, we might as well see where things went. But I never, never, pushed him into something he didn't want or wasn't ready for."
"You mean to tell me Castiel wished for this on his own?"
"I did."
The words were Dean's first indication that his lover was in the room and, given the way Michael's head snapped around, he wasn't alone in that. Nevertheless, there stood Castiel, a clearly displeased expression on his face as he regarded his brother.
"How?" Michael demanded. "Why?"
"How about you keep your nose out of things that don't concern you?" Dead demanded.
"No, it's okay, Dean," Castiel stated. "It's simple, Michael, I care deeply for Dean and desire to be close to him."
The face Michael pulled made it more then clear what the archangel thought of that sentiment and Dean just couldn't let that lie. "Dude, you want to climb inside me!"
That earned him a dismissive glance. "That is different."
"He is right, Dean," Castiel said. "The taking of a vessel normally involves only a minimum of contact between an angel and the destined vessel, just that needed to obtain permission. What we have far transcends that as the mind and consciousness of the human is normally suppressed and dormant while a vessel."
"Yes, I know, Jimmy said as much," Dean replied.
"I still do not see how you decided sex was a good idea, Castiel."
Dean was tempted to tell Michael that it was none of his business again, but his lover seemed to want to try explaining it even if he didn't think it would do any good. Another part of him also couldn't help but sympathize with the archangel on some level. He knew what it was like to watch a younger brother make what he considered to be a dubious choice when it came to a sexual partner and, while the thought that Michael might see him the way he had Ruby pissed him off, he was also aware of how lucky he'd been that the archangel had even bothered to question him about it instead of smiting him outright.
"It is intimate and pleasurable," Castiel replied. "I do not know how else to describe it. And see."
If Dean expected his angel to elaborate, he was disappointed as all his lover did was touch his shoulder, thumb caressing the side of his neck. He leaned in towards the touch automatically before he froze and his eyes snapped back towards Michael. The archangel had a frown on his face and his head was tilted in an all too familiar angelic manner. The expected retort never came and instead an uneasy silence descended on the room. Or at least that's how it seemed to him, though it didn't appear to affect either angel that way.
"Eh, so, anything new, Cas?" Dean asked, looking back at his lover. "About the Apocalypse, I mean. Any more news on those books or the Virties?"
"Virties?" Michael questioned.
"Dean's name for the Virtues," Castiel explained. "And no. Belliel has had no further luck finding the missing books and our efforts to track down who might have caused the ripples has proven to be futile."
"What ripples?"
Dean tuned Castiel's explanation out in favor of some colorful, though silent, cursing. That was just great. They were working their asses off trying to find a way to end this damn Apocalypse and kept hitting nothing but wall after damn wall. Despite all of that, he simply refused to believe that killing millions of innocent people and ending the world as they knew it was the only option. There had to be another way and he would damn well find it even if it killed him.
"When did this happen?" Michael asked.
"The first was nearly two months ago, the second a few weeks after that," Castiel replied. "And the final one was when you broke free from the cage."
Because he was watching Michael, Dean caught the slight tightening of muscles around the archangel's eyes. He opened his mouth to call Michael on it and to demand what he knew, but his lover beat him to it.
"What is it, Michael?"
"I may not have been entirely truthful about how I got out of the cage," Michael finally admitted.
"What?" Dean thundered, face darkening. "You lied to us? Sonovabitch! And then you wonder why we don't trust you."
"I had to be sure that I could trust you," Michael explained. "You would not have revealed everything right away either had you been in my position, Dean."
Grudgingly, Dean had to give him that.
"Especially if it meant protecting a brother."
The words brought Dean to full attention and he could see the subtle shift in Castiel's posture as well.
"One of our brothers helped you out?" Castiel demanded.
"Yes," Michael confirmed, indicating behind him.
Even as Dean was cursing, his suspicions of the remaining angels confirmed, there was a flutter of wings and then a man stood behind the archangel.
"You!" Dean snarled, on his feet in an instant.
What happened next all occurred so fast that Dean wasn't sure who moved first or in what order. He'd taken a few intuitive steps back, the newcomer's old threats still clear in his mind and he knew how vulnerable he was at the moment with only a gun and knife on him. Surely reacting to that same realization, Castiel had zapped in front of him, his sword suddenly in his hand as he took up a protective stance. Michael, meanwhile, had taken a step back and to the right, solidly placing himself before the newcomer, blocking his lover's access to him.
"No," Michael said, firmly. "Let us explain."
The newcomer was the only one who hadn't moved, remaining in the position he'd arrived in, his gaze locked on Dean in the same way it had in an abandoned house just over a year ago.
Raphael.
A.N.: I hope you all enjoyed that and I just wanted to give you a heads up that this is the last chapter for this year. I'm off celebrating from now on and then I've got to travel home (wish me better luck this time!). If nothing goes wrong, you'll have the next chapter on either Sunday or Monday. And for those of you looking for some good news, we're closing in on the next 'present' chapter pretty quickly now.
Chapter 37
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: up to and including Exile on Main St., AU from the end of season 5
Warnings: AU, slash
Word Count: 2,325
Summary: Michael questions Dean about the nature of his relationship with Castiel.
PAST
If the past few months hadn't been half filled with hunts that veered towards the impossible, Dean would never have seriously been researching pixies of all things. Instead he'd have laughed the mere suggestion off as ludicrous, but not now, not after everything he'd seen lately. Hell, it was just only a little over two years ago that he'd thought angels nothing more then figments of the imagination and now look at him. These days he almost saw more with angels then humans and he definitely spent far more time with them. He smiled at the thought of what his reaction would have been if someone in the past had told him that he'd be in a somewhat stable relationship with an angel. And a male angel at that.
His good humor vanished as he looked at the books arrayed around him on the table. On some level, Dean still couldn't believe he was hunting Tinkerbell and her band of merry pixies. After all, seriously, pixies! At least the lore on them was turning out to be a lot darker then Disney's version of them. He didn't think his reputation could take chasing down pink kids' toy look-alikes. Not that he'd leave a hunt for something like that, but still, a guy had to have some standards after all.
The ringing of his phone was a welcome relief for Dean even if with his luck it would turn out to be Bobby. A quick glance at the caller ID, though, nixed that notion.
"Michael," Dean said.
A brief pause. "How did you know it was me?"
"Magic."
The pause was a bit longer this time and Dean couldn't help but smile. Score one for today's tally of 'confuse and frustrate the archangel'. He didn't normally get to start scoring points until at least a few more minutes into their interaction.
"You are neither a witch nor a warlock."
"Nope, you catch on real fast there, Mikey."
"I have asked you to not call me that."
"And I have decided to do so anyway."
"You are a frustrating creature, Dean Winchester."
"Thank you."
"Where are you?"
"What, just like that? No sweet talking or offers for dinner first? I know I'm easy, but I'm not that easy."
"I do not understand what you mean. I need to speak with you."
Dean hesitated but then looked at the books he'd spent the past few hours looking through without much success. "You know anything about pixies?"
"Yes."
"Fine. Southern Maine, Belle View Lodge, room fourteen."
Since he'd gotten used to the complete and utter lack of phone manners angels had, Dean had already put away his cell by the time Michael appeared in the room. He briefly wondered where the archangel had gotten the clothes Deirdre wore as they were neither hospital issue nor pjs, but then he dismissed it as unimportant.
"There are no pixies here," Michael stated.
"No, they're across town at the old abandoned railroad stat-" Before Dean could even finish the word, he found himself alone in the room once more. "What the hell?"
Then Michael was back, looking none the worse for wear. "There, now there are no more pixies in this town."
Dean blinked. "You smote the pixies?"
"Yes."
"What, just like that?"
"I am more then capable of handling a nest of pixies, Dean."
"Whoa, whoa, slow down there big guy," Dean stated, hands raised as if he were dealing with a human. "I didn't mean to insult your manhood, eh angelhood, there. I'm just not used to any angel but Cas helping me on a hunt."
"Would you have listened to me otherwise, if you still had a hunt to attend to?"
"No, though I don't suppose you could have shown up several hours ago, before I'd spent so much time looking up pixies of all things?"
"No."
"Of course not."
Despite his attitude, Dean was happy that the hunt was done, wasted time or not. Although he was sure he'd have found a way to deal with the nest, Michael's way was not only a lot faster and easier, but also a lot safer too. For being such small things, pixies were by all accounts damn vicious and he'd most likely have been injured at some point while taking out the nest. He was just about to thank the archangel, wanting to encourage all forms of good behavior (and this had been that even if Michael had done it for selfish reasons. At the very least it showed an awareness of Dean's own time and priorities that hadn't been there before) but the words caught in his throat as he saw how the archangel was looking at him. It wasn't the possessive and appreciative gaze from before, but rather something far more critical.
"What?" Dean finally demanded, tired of the silent judgment. "If you have something to say, just spit it out. I never pictured you as one to be afraid to speak your mind."
Michael regarded him for another moment or two before responding. "You are in a sexual relationship with Castiel."
The words were so unexpected that Dean could only sputter and stare at the archangel in shock. "Excuse me?"
"You are in a sexual relationship with Castiel."
This time there was no mistaking the disapproval in Michael's tone and Dean felt his defenses going up. Yes, he knew that his and Cas' relationship was unusual and he'd be the first to admit that Castiel could do far better then him, but for whatever reason the angel wanted him and he was not going to let Michael belittle him for that. Nor was he going to let the archangel tell him what he could and couldn't do. He had no right whatsoever to do that.
"What's it to you?"
"Why did you do it? Did you think it would be entertaining to corrupt an angel; to bring one so low?"
"Excuse me?" Dean demanded in disbelief.
"You heard me."
His anger and shock were so great that Dean couldn't respond right away. How dare he? How dare Michael accuse him of that? Yes, he had a certain reputation when it came to sex due to his past encounters, but did the archangel really think he was notching some frigging post? Or that Castiel would be so easily tempted into bed against his nature? As far as he knew, his lover had never shown any kind of interest in sex before him and even then it had come secondary to his feelings for him. Did Michael really not know his brother at all?
"Look, I tried to avert this, to not tempt Castiel into something that seemed so against his nature to me," Dean replied. "I did, but he wouldn't let me."
Michael gave him a scornful look. "Are you trying to tell me Castiel pursued you sexually?"
"No, but this isn't about sex."
"With you-"
"If you dare say humans next, I will not be responsible for my actions!" Dean threatened. "Really, is that all you can come up with all the time? You're like a frigging record stuck on repeat."
"You like sex."
Dean really, really, really didn't want to know what Michael had seen or done to have the absolute conviction in his voice that he did. Really, he didn't.
"Yeah, most humans do, it is an inherently pleasurable activity. That doesn't mean it drives everything I do. I'm with Cas because I like him, a lot, and that is the same reason why I wasn't going to pursue him or tell him what it was that he was feeling."
"He didn't know?"
"No, he had no experience with this."
"Then what changed your mind?" Michael questioned.
"His feelings were starting to interfere with things. He was getting jealous and didn't know it, but it was still affecting his interactions with other humans. I had to make him aware of what was going on and then figured that, since we both felt the same way, we might as well see where things went. But I never, never, pushed him into something he didn't want or wasn't ready for."
"You mean to tell me Castiel wished for this on his own?"
"I did."
The words were Dean's first indication that his lover was in the room and, given the way Michael's head snapped around, he wasn't alone in that. Nevertheless, there stood Castiel, a clearly displeased expression on his face as he regarded his brother.
"How?" Michael demanded. "Why?"
"How about you keep your nose out of things that don't concern you?" Dead demanded.
"No, it's okay, Dean," Castiel stated. "It's simple, Michael, I care deeply for Dean and desire to be close to him."
The face Michael pulled made it more then clear what the archangel thought of that sentiment and Dean just couldn't let that lie. "Dude, you want to climb inside me!"
That earned him a dismissive glance. "That is different."
"He is right, Dean," Castiel said. "The taking of a vessel normally involves only a minimum of contact between an angel and the destined vessel, just that needed to obtain permission. What we have far transcends that as the mind and consciousness of the human is normally suppressed and dormant while a vessel."
"Yes, I know, Jimmy said as much," Dean replied.
"I still do not see how you decided sex was a good idea, Castiel."
Dean was tempted to tell Michael that it was none of his business again, but his lover seemed to want to try explaining it even if he didn't think it would do any good. Another part of him also couldn't help but sympathize with the archangel on some level. He knew what it was like to watch a younger brother make what he considered to be a dubious choice when it came to a sexual partner and, while the thought that Michael might see him the way he had Ruby pissed him off, he was also aware of how lucky he'd been that the archangel had even bothered to question him about it instead of smiting him outright.
"It is intimate and pleasurable," Castiel replied. "I do not know how else to describe it. And see."
If Dean expected his angel to elaborate, he was disappointed as all his lover did was touch his shoulder, thumb caressing the side of his neck. He leaned in towards the touch automatically before he froze and his eyes snapped back towards Michael. The archangel had a frown on his face and his head was tilted in an all too familiar angelic manner. The expected retort never came and instead an uneasy silence descended on the room. Or at least that's how it seemed to him, though it didn't appear to affect either angel that way.
"Eh, so, anything new, Cas?" Dean asked, looking back at his lover. "About the Apocalypse, I mean. Any more news on those books or the Virties?"
"Virties?" Michael questioned.
"Dean's name for the Virtues," Castiel explained. "And no. Belliel has had no further luck finding the missing books and our efforts to track down who might have caused the ripples has proven to be futile."
"What ripples?"
Dean tuned Castiel's explanation out in favor of some colorful, though silent, cursing. That was just great. They were working their asses off trying to find a way to end this damn Apocalypse and kept hitting nothing but wall after damn wall. Despite all of that, he simply refused to believe that killing millions of innocent people and ending the world as they knew it was the only option. There had to be another way and he would damn well find it even if it killed him.
"When did this happen?" Michael asked.
"The first was nearly two months ago, the second a few weeks after that," Castiel replied. "And the final one was when you broke free from the cage."
Because he was watching Michael, Dean caught the slight tightening of muscles around the archangel's eyes. He opened his mouth to call Michael on it and to demand what he knew, but his lover beat him to it.
"What is it, Michael?"
"I may not have been entirely truthful about how I got out of the cage," Michael finally admitted.
"What?" Dean thundered, face darkening. "You lied to us? Sonovabitch! And then you wonder why we don't trust you."
"I had to be sure that I could trust you," Michael explained. "You would not have revealed everything right away either had you been in my position, Dean."
Grudgingly, Dean had to give him that.
"Especially if it meant protecting a brother."
The words brought Dean to full attention and he could see the subtle shift in Castiel's posture as well.
"One of our brothers helped you out?" Castiel demanded.
"Yes," Michael confirmed, indicating behind him.
Even as Dean was cursing, his suspicions of the remaining angels confirmed, there was a flutter of wings and then a man stood behind the archangel.
"You!" Dean snarled, on his feet in an instant.
What happened next all occurred so fast that Dean wasn't sure who moved first or in what order. He'd taken a few intuitive steps back, the newcomer's old threats still clear in his mind and he knew how vulnerable he was at the moment with only a gun and knife on him. Surely reacting to that same realization, Castiel had zapped in front of him, his sword suddenly in his hand as he took up a protective stance. Michael, meanwhile, had taken a step back and to the right, solidly placing himself before the newcomer, blocking his lover's access to him.
"No," Michael said, firmly. "Let us explain."
The newcomer was the only one who hadn't moved, remaining in the position he'd arrived in, his gaze locked on Dean in the same way it had in an abandoned house just over a year ago.
Raphael.
A.N.: I hope you all enjoyed that and I just wanted to give you a heads up that this is the last chapter for this year. I'm off celebrating from now on and then I've got to travel home (wish me better luck this time!). If nothing goes wrong, you'll have the next chapter on either Sunday or Monday. And for those of you looking for some good news, we're closing in on the next 'present' chapter pretty quickly now.
Chapter 37