The subtle grace of gravity, the heavy weight of stone
Wouldn't it be neat if I could do one of these every day? ::crosses fingers::
Title: The subtle grace of gravity, the heavy weight of stone
Author maychorian
Character: Castiel AU
Theme: 01: Elemental, New to Earth
Prompt(s): 01. dark
Rating: K+/PG (brief language)
Word Count: 609
Disclaimer: None of these boys are mine, more's the pity.
Summary: Castiel does not fear the dark. But Jimmy does.
Warnings/Author Notes: Part of the Rain Falling Down AU.
The subtle grace of gravity, the heavy weight of stone
Angels had no fear of the dark. They did not need physical light to see, and the invisible light of the Father was everywhere, illuminating the universe. Castiel had only ever found the dark to be beautiful, as full of wonders as the brightest noontide. But now he felt what Jimmy felt, saw what he saw, lived what he lived. And young Jimmy feared the dark intensely, because he had been locked inside it for far too long, not once but many times.
Uncle Bobby understood this immediately, fortunately. Once he gathered that "that bastard" had kept Jimmy locked in a closet, he bought several nightlights and placed them around the house, in Jimmy's room, the bathroom, the kitchen, the hallway and stairs between. He hadn't even needed to be asked, which was well, since Jimmy was entirely unable to articulate his need.
For his part, Castiel tried to comfort the boy in his own way. When Jimmy lay trembling in the dark, trying not to remember, he filled their shared mind with images of light, stars, his brothers and sisters, as much of Heaven as he could filter to mortal tolerance. Mere glimpses, only, but Jimmy gasped at the brilliance of them, startled out of his fear. Slowly, carefully, Castiel tried to bring him a sense of his own feeling of the dark, how he could sense the shapes and beauty within it, the delicate flutter of a night-flying moth, the swaying flowers that blossomed only in the moonlight, the immense openness and freedom of the space between the galaxies.
Dean figured it out pretty quickly, too, with his big eyes and concerned little face, always looking out for the people he loved (whose ranks Jimmy had joined almost instantly). His solution was a lot less subtle.
Young Dean Winchester loved flashlights.
Once the Winchesters entered their lives in this timeline, Castiel was quickly introduced to another human tradition. The "sleepover." Jimmy showed the younger boy how to make a tent out of the bedclothes, but Dean was the one who had brought his daddy's heavy flashlight, the sort that could have served as a club in a pinch. Castiel refrained from asking if he had John's permission to use it, feeling that discretion might be the better part of valor in this case. It made Jimmy happy, anyway, the light so bright and encompassing, and the boys giggled and read comic books under the blankets until far too late in the night, shushing each other unsuccessfully when their voices raised too high in childish glee.
Castiel wished that he could unfold his wings, wrap them around both boys and protect them from the night forever. But his wings only trembled in their bonds, broken feathers rustling over bent and unhealed bones, and Castiel released a silent sigh and stopped trying.
Perhaps the boys felt his efforts, even so, because they quieted, then, as if listening to the sounds of the dark hidden outside their circle of light and comfort. They were wary, but not afraid, and Dean looked at Jimmy as if he knew that someone else was inside him, looking out through his eyes. Castiel shivered and withdrew, hiding deep inside the boy's spirit. It wasn't time to show himself to Dean. Even Bobby could not believe in the truth of an angelic presence-how could this little child be expected to understand?
Better to sit in waiting, giving himself time to heal, preparing for a distant time when Castiel would have to reveal himself in the light. Sometimes the dark could be a blessing, too, a softness and a shelter, and he was content to rest inside it. For now.
(End)
Soundtrack: You Are the Moon - The Hush Sound
Title: The subtle grace of gravity, the heavy weight of stone
Author maychorian
Character: Castiel AU
Theme: 01: Elemental, New to Earth
Prompt(s): 01. dark
Rating: K+/PG (brief language)
Word Count: 609
Disclaimer: None of these boys are mine, more's the pity.
Summary: Castiel does not fear the dark. But Jimmy does.
Warnings/Author Notes: Part of the Rain Falling Down AU.
The subtle grace of gravity, the heavy weight of stone
Angels had no fear of the dark. They did not need physical light to see, and the invisible light of the Father was everywhere, illuminating the universe. Castiel had only ever found the dark to be beautiful, as full of wonders as the brightest noontide. But now he felt what Jimmy felt, saw what he saw, lived what he lived. And young Jimmy feared the dark intensely, because he had been locked inside it for far too long, not once but many times.
Uncle Bobby understood this immediately, fortunately. Once he gathered that "that bastard" had kept Jimmy locked in a closet, he bought several nightlights and placed them around the house, in Jimmy's room, the bathroom, the kitchen, the hallway and stairs between. He hadn't even needed to be asked, which was well, since Jimmy was entirely unable to articulate his need.
For his part, Castiel tried to comfort the boy in his own way. When Jimmy lay trembling in the dark, trying not to remember, he filled their shared mind with images of light, stars, his brothers and sisters, as much of Heaven as he could filter to mortal tolerance. Mere glimpses, only, but Jimmy gasped at the brilliance of them, startled out of his fear. Slowly, carefully, Castiel tried to bring him a sense of his own feeling of the dark, how he could sense the shapes and beauty within it, the delicate flutter of a night-flying moth, the swaying flowers that blossomed only in the moonlight, the immense openness and freedom of the space between the galaxies.
Dean figured it out pretty quickly, too, with his big eyes and concerned little face, always looking out for the people he loved (whose ranks Jimmy had joined almost instantly). His solution was a lot less subtle.
Young Dean Winchester loved flashlights.
Once the Winchesters entered their lives in this timeline, Castiel was quickly introduced to another human tradition. The "sleepover." Jimmy showed the younger boy how to make a tent out of the bedclothes, but Dean was the one who had brought his daddy's heavy flashlight, the sort that could have served as a club in a pinch. Castiel refrained from asking if he had John's permission to use it, feeling that discretion might be the better part of valor in this case. It made Jimmy happy, anyway, the light so bright and encompassing, and the boys giggled and read comic books under the blankets until far too late in the night, shushing each other unsuccessfully when their voices raised too high in childish glee.
Castiel wished that he could unfold his wings, wrap them around both boys and protect them from the night forever. But his wings only trembled in their bonds, broken feathers rustling over bent and unhealed bones, and Castiel released a silent sigh and stopped trying.
Perhaps the boys felt his efforts, even so, because they quieted, then, as if listening to the sounds of the dark hidden outside their circle of light and comfort. They were wary, but not afraid, and Dean looked at Jimmy as if he knew that someone else was inside him, looking out through his eyes. Castiel shivered and withdrew, hiding deep inside the boy's spirit. It wasn't time to show himself to Dean. Even Bobby could not believe in the truth of an angelic presence-how could this little child be expected to understand?
Better to sit in waiting, giving himself time to heal, preparing for a distant time when Castiel would have to reveal himself in the light. Sometimes the dark could be a blessing, too, a softness and a shelter, and he was content to rest inside it. For now.
(End)
Soundtrack: You Are the Moon - The Hush Sound