Chapter Text
“That's my name, don't wear it out,” Gabriel teases and Dean rolls his eyes, looking back at Castiel.
“The resemblance is uncanny,” Dean says to Castiel, sarcasm dripping off his words.
“Please don't encourage him,” Castiel groans. Dean chuckles and despite the jibing, Castiel goes to him and pulls him into an embrace. The bruise on his jaw looks worse up close, the mottled black and blue stark against his skin. He swipes a thumb over it gently and Dean doesn't even wince.
“Now that we're all acquainted - or reacquainted, I guess - it's time to get a move on.” Gabriel turns on his serious voice, the one Castiel has heard during the times he'd been privy to the conversations of the lower council. “There's a raid planned for later today, out on the Seven Reef. If we can stop that, at the very least we can get things rolling. Castiel, we need you up front.”
“What?”
“You started this,” Gabriel reminds him. It's not accusational, just simply letting him know that his distinct rebellion meant that he should be the one at the forefront of the battle.
“Okay,” he agrees, feeling proud suddenly.
“While you were gone, Benny was busy spreading the word to the soldiers, while I nudged my views to the lower council. By trusting Joshua to nudge his way into the higher council gaining knowledge and insight a little at a time, and letting us know of any advantage we can get. As expected, there was only kickback from Naomi, Zachariah and Raphael, and they're the ones driving this thing.”
“So we shove them out,” Castiel speaks up suddenly, voice strong with a plan forming in his mind.
“But they won't…”
“They will if we prove that we need to have a new leader in position, prove that their decisions are detrimental to the reef. How many people do you have on your side, Benny?” Castiel asks. This is their opening, they don't need to stage an all-out rebellion if they can go straight for the top.
They need to think carefully, however. Pushing Naomi off the throne by force will put them in just as bad as a position as the predecessors. They need to be strategic, fair (almost), and above all keep the merfolk safe.
“Nearly all the Garrison soldiers, only a couple have grumbled but I don't think they're fighting against us, I think they're just tired of fighting.”
“So, you're just gonna swim into a council meeting and cause riot enough that they demand a new election? That seems… simple.” Dean's right, it is simple, but it’s also effective. It may just be the chance they need.
They have surprise on their side. If the leaders don't realise just how many people reject this resource war and see Castiel, the merman they left for dead in No Man's Waters, alive and leading the rebellion? They'll have to step down in favour of a new set of leaders.
"Exactly. If there's to be a raid later on, then they'll be busy in meetings all day. I need to go in and stop it and then I need as many people as possible backing me up."
"Of course," Dean replies, swimming up to Castiel and hovering next to him.
"Dean, you need to stay clear of the council. If they know you're here fighting our war, the treaty your people have in place will be voided."
"I can't sit by and do nothing-"
"No, you need to be here for us. For me. I need you here to make sure this is a safe position for us to remain in. If things go south, we need a way out, all of us." Castiel turns to Dean, resting one hand in his upper arm, thumb idly stroking the skin. "The provisions they're building for the raid, I need them in here."
Dean looks sceptical, but he nods. "Provisions. Got it."
"Thank you," Castiel says with a small smile. He returns his attention to Gabriel and Benny. "Gabriel, make sure the lower council has access to the meeting before this afternoon. Benny, get to everyone you can and give them a heads up that things are changing."
"You got it, brother." Benny takes his orders and leaves.
Gabriel lingers behind. "You're a good leader," Gabriel tells him. Castiel isn’t new to being a leader, but to this amount of people, all he can do is his best.
"I have to try."
"When we make it out of this, you've gotta take me to the surface and show me everything," Gabriel says excitedly.
"If," Castiel reminds him quietly.
"When," Gabriel disagrees with a proud smile.
"When," Dean reiterates.
"You both have too much belief in me," Castiel says and is quickly engulfed in an embrace by Gabriel.
"Always believed in you, little bro."
Gabriel really means it, he can see it in his eyes and Dean believes it too. A new kind of determination fills him, his muscles feel loose and ready for a fight. They've got this. He has to believe it too.
"Let's do it."
Castiel can hear murmurs of talking within the Council circle. He can imagine every which way this can go wrong, and the faith in himself is dissipating quicker and quicker. He shouldn't do this. This is going to ruin him and everyone he loves.
If this goes wrong they'll all be punished, and with Castiel's escape from banishment there's no doubt his will be more extreme. There's nothing to stop Naomi ordering Castiel's death, and Zachariah or Raphael are sure to carry it out.
But for the good of the merfolk of the Garrison, he has to do this, no matter the outcome. He won't know if he doesn't try.
Castiel pushes through the door.
The rumbling murmurs of talking ceases and all eyes turn to him. Several of the members eye him warily but aren't shocked to see him, Naomi, however, has her mouth agape, eyes fluttering in disbelief.
"Castiel?" she questions and then her face darkens. "Soldiers! Get in here!" she hollers afterwards, as Castiel makes his way into the middle of the chair circle.
Two soldiers who weren't involved in the original rebellion appear at his sides, but they don't grab him, they stand beside him. Castiel's heart hammers in his chest. This is good. Several more soldiers come to join them.
"What is the meaning of this? Get him out of here."
"We refuse, Councilwoman Naomi." Castiel looks to his left to find Inias and Hester, they both pass him a subtle look to confirm that they're on his side. Neither of them seem like the people to be first to stand up, but here they are making the most important move.
"This is out of line!" Naomi gets out of her seat and swims up to them menacingly. She has a face of thunder and her red hair seems even redder somehow. "Someone take these soldiers away. This is treason!"
Castiel feels rather than sees more merfolk enter the room, standing with him stronger and stronger.
The biggest change comes when Joshua comes over, standing between Castiel and Inias, and the lower council files into the room.
"What do you have to say for yourself? You have disgraced this reef"
"No! You have brought this reef down into ruin by starting this needless resource war! Look at the reef! It's overcrowded and has broken nearly all longstanding negotiations with neighbouring reefs. You have done nothing, and we have put up with it for too long. Never once did you ask the people if this is what we wanted."
"I had no need to ask, I'm the leader here." Naomi's voice is cold and heartless, more proof that she doesn't care about the merfolk living here.
"The Garrison has always thrived on democracy. It never changed until you became our leader," Gabriel says, speaking up from his position near the council chairs. Naomi turns towards him, Zachariah and Raphael making their way to seize him. Gabriel tactically moves away, swimming up higher above the chairs.
Castiel doesn't miss his look for him to join him and he does, swimming quickly to join Gabriel. Some of the other council members on their side come to them too.
"It seems we are in need of a vote. All those in favour of denouncing Naomi from her position alongside all those who follow her, speak up now." Gabriel’s voice rings out across the crowd, loud and clear.
The roar that goes around sends a shiver down Castiel's spine and he's in awe of the amount of merfolk he can hear who are on their side. It's amazing to hear it and feels him with confidence and pride. In the crowd he can hear the familiar sound of Dean cheering and of all the merfolk, he’s the loudest, and scans the crowd for him. Sure enough he's there in the middle, blending in in between everyone else. Despite it being clear that Dean didn't follow his instructions to stay hidden, Castiel is more than glad he's here to witness this as this is it, this is the end.
Gabriel smiles over at Castiel and nods. They're both breathing hard. This was a hard feat and they’ve won.
“Take the chair, Castiel.” Castiel looks at it, bare and empty in the circle of other chairs.
It's not for him, though. He knows that in his heart that he no longer belongs here. His eyes cast over to Dean and he smiles at him and Dean grins back, proud.
"No, the position is yours. I… I belong elsewhere now," he explains and beckons Dean over. "I belong with the Huntsmen if they'll take me."
Castiel eyes Dean's expression up close to him and there's nothing but adoration there. Dean reaches for him and pulls him close, chest to chest. Then their lips are together, kissing hard, long and passionate.
It's only when Benny clears his throat do they break apart and find almost the entire reef watching them. Castiel blushes but it doesn't stop Dean pressing another chaste kiss to his lips.
Gabriel takes the chair. Naomi is being held by Benny and Ezekiel to one side, her face drawn into disgust and defeat as she struggles against the soldiers, cursing loudly.
"Send them down to No Man's Waters," Gabriel decides first of all, looking around for everyone's agreement. Upon no objections, she, Raphael and Zachariah are hauled out of the room. Their shouts of dismay quickly quieting. "While they serve their endless time, we can stop the war right now. Give the merfolk their reefs back and help them out as much as we can." A roar of agreement surrounds them all.
Castiel holds onto Dean's hand tightly.
"C'mon, let's go," Dean whispers.
"Home?"
"Home."