Duty Part 3
Title: Duty Part 3
Author: Gedry
Pairings: Dean/Cas, Sam/Gabriel
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1074
Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me. I am making no profit from this fanfiction.
Spoilers: None
Warnings: None
Summary: The Winchester’s kingdom has been safe for centuries but when increase pressures from other territories bring about a forced bonding complications arise. For azryk who made some beautiful artwork of Dean being a prince and Castiel being a knight.
Thank you moonofblindness!!
Duty part 3
The night air is cool around him inside the tent Dean has claimed for his own. Uriel has taken first watch, and Lucifer and Michael are bunked together on the other side of the fire. Dean refuses to admit that he’s struggling to stay awake while Castiel is settling the horses for one final time; Dean’s hoping for just a few moments of privacy with his closest companion before he drifts away.
“You should be sleeping,” Cas comments as he slides into the tent and crosses to the thin layer of blankets that makes up his bed.
“I wasn’t ready yet,” Dean answers.
“You were falling asleep on your horse,” Cas chuckles as he checks his armor and strips off his outer shirt. Dean’s eyes follow the path of bared skin as Cas stretches; and there’s a surge of longing in his soul that just seems to get harder and harder to ignore the closer he gets to fulfilling his familial responsibilities.
“The motion was soothing but I woke back up when we stopped,” Dean argues around a smothered yawn.
“You were waiting for me.” Cas whispers as he leans down onto the pallet and shifts until his finds a comfortable position.
“Maybe,” Dean mutters as he feels his cheeks flame red and closes his eyes for a moment, grateful for the relative dimness of the tent that gives him some privacy. When he opens his eyes again, he sees Cas watching him with such a sad expression on his face that it causes Dean’s heart to clench.
“I’m glad you aren’t asleep,” Cas breathes.
Dean watches as Cas’ arm shifts toward him slowly across the small space that separates them; the knight’s hand opens with his palm up in a silent invitation for contact. Dean’s not willing to turn him away; and he rolls onto his side toward Cas while he reaches forward until their fingertips just barely brush before they link together.
The soft caress of Cas’ fingers against his own is the last thing Dean remembers as sleep claims him.
Morning comes far too soon and Dean steadies himself on his mount when they ride out toward their next challenge. He ignores Michael’s assessing glance and Lucifer’s silent watchfulness. The only other person in the world he’s focused on is the knight that rides comfortably at his side.
They have another day to go before they reach their destination.
*****
“So wanna-be-king,” Gabriel teases as he hops up beside Sam on the side of castle’s highest outcropping, “hoping to catch sight of our long lost brothers?”
“Remind me again why they left you behind?” Sam snarks. Gabriel’s always been a thorn in his side; poking at him and shoving him around when they were children even though Sam was younger. Gabriel’s only a year older than Dean, but the five year age gap between then has always left Sam feeling left out.
“I was too pretty to wander off to my death?” Gabriel offers by way of an answer. Sam knows he’s just looking for a reaction, but he can’t stop the flush of rage that makes him turn and snarl, “You’re a heartless son of a bitch. Those are our brothers out there riding off to try and accomplish something no one ever has before and they’re probably going to die doing it. You just sit there and joke about it to yourself all you want but leave me alone.”
Sam’s up and stalking off away from the mouthy knight before he has a chance to respond; and he’s genuinely surprised when Gabriel grabs his arm and hauls him into a secluded corner to press him back against the wall and hiss, “Cas left me behind because you’re in danger.” At Sam’s scoffing laugh Gabriel shakes him and commands, “Listen to me! Someone wants this bonding to fail. We think it’s a ploy to take control of the Winchester lands without having to scale a full assault. They are betting that Dean will fail and that would only leave you as a possible mate for the princess. If you were already to have met your death, then the King would have to admit he can’t meet the clause in the contract he made with the other royals, and part of the kingdom would become theirs.”
He waits as Sam processes what he’s been saying before adding, “So until we figure something else out I’m going to be your shadow.”
“Great,” Sam says with no small amount of attitude, “just what I always wanted.”
Sam shoulders past the knight and continues on down the hallway. He makes it half a day before he starts trying to dodge Gabriel. Their relationship has always been the exact opposite of Dean and Castiel’s. The idea of having to spend however long with Gabriel tagging along behind him is something Sam is just not willing to consider.
Sam manages to gain himself two hours of privacy. It turns out to be a mistake.
“All alone little prince,” Raphael mutters as he comes around the corner into the library.
“What if I am?” Sam sighs as he rolls his eyes. “Have you been assigned to my protection detail too?”
Raphael has always been distant and the tension between he and Cas is something no one could miss. Gabriel has always watched him carefully; and Sam’s never understood why until the withdrawn knight answers his comment with, “Something like that,” before Raphael draws his sword.
“You should have stayed with Gabriel,” Raphael says as he creeps closer to where Sam is now backing away. “I know he tried to warn you but you Winchester boys are always so defiant. It makes my job easier.”
Sam’s not surprised when the knight lunges toward him and he throws himself backward to topple one of the large bookcases over on top of them both.
Raphael may have bitten off more than he can chew. Sam’s not going down without a fight.
Part 4