Cages or Wings (Ask the Birds)

Series Metadata

Creator:
Series Begun:
2021-03-22
Series Updated:
2026-02-19
Description:

Cages or wings — which do you prefer?
Ask the birds.
Fear or love?
Baby, don’t say the answer...
actions speak louder than words

Castiel was entrusted with the most sacred mission: protect the Michael Sword, the Righteous Man, until he comes of age to be of use to Heaven in the war against Lucifer. He willingly fell to earth, with the knowledge that he would be captured and enslaved, and eventually fall into the possession of the Righteous Man’s father. He was not prepared for what that would entail, and the horror he would be forced to face at his master’s hands.

Dean was seven when Dad came back from a hunting trip with a bound, beaten man in a tan coat that suddenly went everywhere with them. His job, Dad explained, was going to be protecting Dean and Sam while Dad was away hunting.

At first, Dean doesn’t understand why the man stays around just to basically babysit them... Until one terrible day he does: it’s not that Castiel won’t leave, it’s that he can’t — and after that, nothing will ever be the same.

(Please note: Dean/Cas is the endgame, but does not happen while Dean is below the age of consent.)

Notes:

for the most part, fics are listed in the series in order of storyline events:

1: Now, or Neverland — Cas POV — a mini-prequel to Louder Than Words about Cas's first vision of 'the Righteous Man' when he's given his mission from Michael

2: Louder Than Words — Dean POV — from the time Dean is 7 until his 19th birthday (by then, Dean and Cas are officially together, but Cas is still not free)

3: hang a light (the sun will rise) — Cas POV — this runs parallel to Louder Than Words, but is from Cas's perspective/touches on the things Dean doesn't see

4: hollowing souls (blood in the breeze) — Cas POV — the first time John Winchester takes him on a hunt... as bait (Dean is 14)

5: the fences inside — Dean POV — picks up roughly where Louder Than Words left off

6: split-rail scarecrow — Dean POV — October 1998 timestamp, takes place during the first chapter of the fences inside

7: trip around the sun — Dean POV — post-Louder Than Words by 2 years — Dean's 21st birthday in which he runs into an old friend

 

All the following fics are post-LTW, but also post-sequel, aka once Cas is freed from slavery and Dean is rescued from Hell

8: hold me (like holy water) — 3rd person POV — snapshots of what happily ever after means for the boys

9: kiss (and kiss and kiss) and make up — Cas POV — Castiel reflecting on what kissing has meant for him and Dean

10: ocean wave blues — Cas POV — Dean and Cas are building their life together, but still have a lot to learn regarding trust and consent

11: life is good today — Dean POV — the boys take their first vacation to the beach

Stats:
Words:
422,952
Works:
11
Complete:
No
Bookmarks:
128

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