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Cas remembers his body. A body is a body is a body not like any other body. And this one is now his. It’s strange. A decade is no time at all for his siblings, but these last years have been more eventful than most. And this flesh facsimile has become him in a way that no angel has ever experienced before. He thinks that he can feel the burgeoning fledgling of a soul nestled in amongst the vastness that is his true form. This might be because it has become so interwoven in the molecules of this body. This body, here, sitting in the warm glow of the afternoon sun through the window panes in his living room. This body, supported by the softness of the couch that they found off of craigslist because Dean refuses to buy brand new furniture from a store. Cas doesn’t mind so much, it's already been pre-loved, worn in by its previous caretakers. He’s had enough of loving something that resists him for a lifetime, and is grateful that he doesn’t have to fight to smooth out rough edges any more.
He looks down on his hands and smiles. They’re good hands, calloused and sturdy from years of fighting, but gentle and delicate from learning how to love. He tucks a finger in the book he was reading to keep his place, and searches around for a scrap of paper to use as a bookmark. Cas settles for tearing off a piece of his current notebook, and book sorted, he abandons it on the coffee table for the kitchen.
He is mildly hungry, a small nudging beginning to poke around his stomach and at the edges of his consciousness. So, he begins to start the motions of making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, pulling out the bread and jam. It is quick work and he sits down at the kitchen table to eat it as he marvels at the dual sensations. The sweetness and savory bite on his tongue and the awareness of every atom moving through space as they make contact with the inside of his throat. He wonders if it will ever get old.
When he’s finished, he goes to rinse the dishes and put them in the dishwasher. He turns his head a little quickly and the long dangle of his earrings jostles lightly against his neck. Cas remembers his body, remembers the way her smile felt tugging at her face and the feeling of pins in her hair. The vessel, her name was Beatrice, he thinks, also had long dangling earrings, and even though he took them out to make travel easier, he left the holes the piercings made in her skin because he could feel that she wanted to keep them.
Being reminded of her had made him decide to get his ears pierced in the first place. She had enjoyed the feeling and the decoration and he wondered if he would like it as well. And he had, appreciated similarly the look and the weight of the earrings, liked the huge variation in options — the small swords and wings and feathers he now had. Cas also appreciated that sometimes he caught Dean staring at them and the way they flashed in the light and looked against his skin. He took a moment to think about his old vessel and his plans for the day and made a quick decision.
Dean was working, but instead of running the bar, he was restoring an old vintage car for someone a couple towns away, and Jack was out with Claire for the day. So Cas got in the green beat-up pickup truck that Dean had put back together and headed into town. 15 minutes later he was parked and walking inside Lucky Sparrow Studio, greeting the woman at the front desk and asking, “Does Emilia have any walk-in time for now?” He had already checked the website but wanted to be sure.
She scrunched up her face a little, clearly thinking, “Um, I’m not sure. I think she’ll have some time open in about 20 minutes? Let me check.” She scans through the written schedule in front of her, and then clicks at some things on the computer, her face frowning in concentration. “Yup!” She smiles, “She should be free for a bit then. What are you looking to get done?”
Cas glances at her name tag and nods, “I’m just looking to get a couple more piercings on my ears,” he says, “If you could mark me down for that spot, Heather, I’d appreciate it.”
“Alright, sounds good. You’ve got 2:30. Can I get your name and number for the appointment?” She says back in response. He gives her his information and she smiles again, “You can wait right here or go wander the town for a bit until she’s ready!”
Cas thanks her and heads out to grab a drink from the small diner a few doors down. He gets an iced coffee and meanders a bit down the street, soaking in the summer sun, and noting that he needs to stop in at the florist soon to discuss his orchids. He makes it back and it isn’t long before Emilia steps out into the waiting area and grins when she sees him.
“Hey Cas,” she says, “back for more?”
“Hello Emilia,” he smiles in response and answers, “yes, I’m looking to get second and third piercings on both my ears.”
“That sounds like a plan. Going for a specific aesthetic?” she asks, leading him into a private room.
“Just honoring the memory of an old friend,” he replies, thinking fondly of the four tiny hoops Beatrice kept in her ears as company to the longer pairs she had.
“I can respect that,” Emilia says, moving about the space confidently, pulling open different drawers with her warm brown hands, setting up needles and sterilizing pads. "We’re going to start you out with studs, same as last time, and you know the drill — keep them clean, and let them heal and you can swap them out in a couple months.”
She wipes down his ears and makes two small dots on each one, “The spacing good on these?” she asks, handing him a mirror. Cas makes a minor adjustment to the left one, gesturing with his pinky and agrees.
“These look perfect,” he says.
While she’s there, she checks his older piercings, remarking, “These healed up very well, nice job. You must have taken excellent care of them.”
“Thanks,” Cas replies, knowing that his grace had more to do with it than any saline rinses.
She slides in the first two on his right ear with practiced ease. As she moves around to the other side, her long tied-back braids swaying behind her, she says, “Are you planning on getting any more done? Or any tattoos? Obviously you know where to find me but I can give you some good recommendations for our other artists depending on what you’re looking for.” She pauses to focus on the third piercing and after it’s in place she continues, teasing, “I think you’d look good with a septum or maybe a tongue piercing.” She waggles her eyebrows.
He makes sure that she is not about to start the fourth piercing before he laughs and says, “I’m sure Dean would enjoy that.” He pauses to think some more.
“Dean?” she says, “As in Rocky’s Bar Dean?” She gives a low whistle, clearly joking. “He’s a lucky man. I’m sure he would,” she finishes, her cheeks tugging at her lips warmly.
He contemplates his old vessel again, and of the Enochian on his ribs. “Well, I was thinking about maybe getting my nipples pierced, but not right now.”
She whistles again. “Damn Cas, way to throw me for a loop. Dean really is a lucky man. If you do get those done I would love a free drink from him sometime in exchange.” She winks at him. “I would also love to see his face when he finds out.”
Cas laughs again, the atmosphere in the room easy and light.
“Okay last one. Aaaaaaaaand done.” Emilia says, finishing up the fourth piercing. “Wow, you really didn’t flinch the whole time. I’m impressed. If you keep this up you might be one of my best clients.”
“What can I say,” Cas responds, “it’s a small blessing.”
“Well, looks like you’re all set here. If you head back to Heather, she’ll check you out and give you the required handouts for care.” she says, patting him on the shoulder.
“Thank you again,” Cas responds, and checking the piercings in the mirror, adds, “and excellent work as always.”
“Easy work when I’ve got a client like you,” Emilia calls after him as he heads back to the front desk.
Cas pays for the new piercings with Heather, exchanging pleasantries and thanking her when she compliments them. He makes sure to leave a substantial tip and when he’s back outside, blinking in the warm air, waves back at them through the window, smiling.
The drive back home is uneventful, but he makes sure to keep the windows rolled down to feel the rush of the air on his skin. When he gets back, he sees the Impala in the driveway and smiles to himself.
“Honey, I’m home,” he whispers in Dean’s ear as he comes up behind him on the couch, pressing a kiss to his cheek. Dean jumps a little but relaxes quickly, leaning his head back on the couch to look at Cas.
“Hey that’s my line,” he says, with no fight in his voice. “Where’d you get to today?” Cas turns his head to show off the new earrings in lieu of an answer. “Oh, very cute. I like them,” Dean responds, "they suit you. Jack’s going to be excited he can pick out more for you to wear.”
“Yeah, you think so?” Cas asks, “An older vessel of mine had them and I liked the idea.”
“Yeah.” Dean affirms, “I love them, angel. And I love you”
Dean twists to prop himself up on the couch and slips a hand behind Cas’s neck, tugging him in for a kiss as Cas easily acquiesces, smiling against his lips. “I’m just lucky to have the most beautiful husband in the world.”
Cas laughs, remembering Emilia’s earlier words. “That’s what Emilia at the studio said.”
“Oh did she now?” Dean murmurs, between small kisses to Cas’s jaw, “Should I be jealous?”
“I don’t think so,” is Cas’s reply, his fingers carding softly through Dean’s hair. “But she did say that she’d be interested in a free drink from you next time she’s at the bar.
“I think I can manage that.” Dean says, as they pull themselves apart gently, amusement in both of their eyes.
Cas moves around the end of the couch as Dean slouches back down, throwing his arm along the back. Cas sits down and leans right into Dean's chest, and says, “Besides, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be."