Chapter Text
The bunker hummed quietly in greeting as we all returned from a hunt. It was long and exhausting, and resulted in more than enough injuries to go around.
Cas could heal us all, of course, and he did. The slouch of his shoulders and the bags under his eyes give away the toll it took on him, though, as he walks next to me into the building us and the Winchesters have come to call home.
He sits with us through dinner, despite not needing the food. I notice him fidgeting and rolling his shoulders a bit, but Sam and Dean don’t seem to notice it, and Cas looks too tired to answer questions right now anyways.
We all shuffle off to bed in our respective corridors, (Cas and Sam in one, Dean and I in the other), and I collapse into my bed once I get there. I shouldn’t fall asleep yet- I’m still fully clothed, but the bed is so cozy…
My dozing off is interrupted but a hesitant knock on the door. I groan and get up. “Dean, not tonight man I will literally die- Shit, sorry Cas.” I’m startled a bit by the angel, and I blink at him curiously. “What’s up?” I question, poorly stifling a yawn.
“I hope I didn’t wake you.” He shifts guilty, avoiding my gaze. I shake my head, stepping out of the way to let him in.
“Nah, you didn’t. I need to get pajamas on anyways. Gimme a sec?” He steps into the room, looking around carefully. My room is messy at the moment, and I quickly scramble to pick up the laundry and clutter, tripping over myself slightly in the process. “Sorry it’s gross in here-“ I start, but he shakes his head.
“It’s quite alright.” He sits on my bed, the springs creaking under him. His voice is slightly strained, and I look up at him curiously. I narrow my eyes a little bit, studying him.
“Wait here Cas, I’m just gonna change real quick.” I grab some night clothes, and go into the little bathroom to change. He nods, placing his hands in his lap. I come back out to see him shuffling uncomfortably again.
“Alright, what’s going on? You’ve been fidgeting all night.” I fix him with an inquisitive look, and he shifts his gaze to me, looking slightly embarrassed.
Cas clears his throat a little bit, wringing his hands. “Angels have wings, as you know.” I nod, encouraging him to continue. “They require certain upkeep- preening, I suppose. Usually I would be able to tend to them myself, but during this past hunt I was unable.” He rushes the last part, looking down at his hands again. “..And it’s grown a bit unmanageable. I was hoping-“
“I can help, of course Cas.” I nod eagerly. “How does it work?” I ask a beat later, never having seen his wings. He shuffles nervously, looking embarrassed again.
“It will be easiest to manifest them, and let you groom them, if I am able to take my shirt off.” He quickly mumbles. I feel my face grow warm, but I nod nonetheless.
“That’s fine, I don’t mind. Happy to help.” I give what I hope is a normal looking smile and an awkward thumbs up. If Cas finds it strange, he doesn’t voice his concern, instead neatly removing his trench coat and shirt and placing them, folded, onto the nightstand. He looks back at me self consciously, still fiddling with his hands.
“I’m going to show my wings now, if that’s alright?” He asks me quietly. I nod gently, and he shuffles so his back is turned to me. With a quiet ringing and flapping, his wings appear, loosely folded onto his back. I gasp slightly, and he looks back at me, concerned.
“Is everything alright?” He frets, wings quivering a bit. I place a gentle hand on his back, and nod.
“They’re pretty.” I say simply, ghosting my fingers over the feathers. The dark brown feathers shine slightly in the dim lamplight, and I brush over the spot where the wing connects to the shoulder curiously. Cas winches and inhales sharply, and I pull back. “I’m sorry! What’s wrong?” I ask quickly, worried I hurt him.
“Nothing, I am alright. My shoulder is still a bit tender.” He admits carefully. “You could put your hand back.” He adds hastily, shuffling a bit. I let out a little huff of laughter, and place my hand on his back again gently.
“I told you not to fly so soon after it got hurt.” I hum at him, carefully rubbing over the spot. He relaxes into the touch, nodding. “Next time just ride in the impala with us. It would be nice to have you.” He shivers a bit as I brush over the previously wounded spot, but nods again, seeming happy.
I tend to his shoulder for a few more moments, then pause. “What should I do with your wings?” I ask gently, touching the feathers again slightly curiously. He sighs a little as I do, and relaxes his wings a bit more.
“There should be pin feathers, scattered around. They’re sort of spiny, annoying, really. Wrapped in a waxy material. I typically crumble that off to release them? If you could?” He explains easily enough, but gets nervous again when asking me for help. It’s cute.
“Yeah, I’ve got it. Let me know if it hurts at all.” I search carefully, starting at the base of his wings, picking the little feathers as I go. He lets out little hums and sighs as I work, and I smile softly to myself. Once I’ve gotten all the pin feathers, I look closer at the rest of the wings.
“Hm, some of these are frayed? Is there anything I can do for that?” I pet the feathers gently, rubbing small circles with my thumb. He looks slightly startled to hear me speak to him, and he glances back at me, eyes hazy, nodding.
“Yes, there is a natural oil produced there,” He gestures to the base of the wing, where it melds with the flesh on his back. “That is used to care for the feathers.” He pauses for a moment, before adding cautiously, “If that is uncomfortable, you do not have to.”
“It’s ok, I can do that. This is nice.” I hum, adjusting my position a bit and popping my back. He jumps at the noise, and whips his head around concernedly. “Sorry, my back. Normal noise, don’t worry.” I yawn and place my hand on the spot that he said, gathering some of the oil, and going to smooth out the disrupted feathers. He looked like he was going to comment on my back, but when I go to smooth out his feathers he stills and relaxes again.
I take my time working on his feathers, making sure they are all flowing and shining as they should. I hum quietly as I work; Some song Dean had on in the car the other day. Cas sways his head a bit as I work, making little pleased noises as I continue. I chuckle a bit, my eyes crinkling.
“Feel ok?” I say, teasing lightly. He nods rapidly, wings shaking a bit as he does.
“Yes, it’s very pleasant. Nobody has ever done this for me before.” He tells me, leaning back slightly as though urging me to continue. I hum a little bit, nod, and continue working on smoothing out his feathers.
“I’m happy to do it Cas. You do so much for us, it’s nice to give back.” I mumble to him, focused on a particularly ruffled patch.
“I… take pride in looking after our group.” He says, thoughtfully. “It fulfills me. You do not have to ‘give back’ to me.” He looks back, holding my gaze. I look down, focusing on his wings and back again.
“Maybe not. I want to though. I like spending time with you, outside of getting thrown against walls.” I joke lightly, but my comment about spending time with him makes his wings twitch and flutter quickly. I giggle a bit, and he blushes, clearly embarrassed.
“I’m sorry. They do that when- They do that sometimes.” He stutters quickly, flustered. I smile, amused by his reaction.
“S’ ok Cas, it was cute.” I laugh lightly again as Cas’ wings fluttering again gently as Cas blushes furiously and stews in what I said.
“I think I’m all done, everything looks good again. Feel ok?” He flexes his wings experimentally as I speak, and nods, looking back over his shoulder at me.
“Thank you. I appreciate you being willing to do this. It was.. very nice.” He speaks quietly, and I wrap my arms around his waist and lean on his back sleepily. He stiffens a bit as I move, and looks forward again nervously. After a moment, though, he relaxes again, and I look up at him.
“I liked it. I’d be happy to do it again, if you wanted. Your wings are pretty.” I mumble into his shoulder, and his breath hitches a bit. “You’re pretty..” I trail off, foggy with sleep. Cas huffs, and turns his body slightly to look at me. I allow the shift, moving away begrudgingly.
“You think I’m.. pretty?” He mumbles at me, looking into my face curiously. I rub my eyes, straightening up a bit, nervously.
“Sorry I-“ He cuts me off by leaning in and kissing me gently. I squeak and he pulls back hastily, looking mortified.
“I apologize, I overstepped, I shouldn’t-“ I cup his face with my hands as he rambles nervously, getting him to stop. His breath catches, and I lean in gently and connect our lips again. I smile into him as I feel his wings flapping against the bed excitedly.
We go to bed quickly after that, Cas’ wings wrapping gently around us, letting me hold onto him as I slept. I could feel Cas watching me as I drifted off, and I smiled gently as I fell asleep on my angel.