Work Text:
The End had come a few hours earlier. Chuck was defeated, the Universe restored to balance, and Cas remained at Dean's side through it all. With everyone as safe as could be, it was finally time for The After. No more fighting, no more making deals, no more loss. Most importantly, for Dean Winchester it meant finally taking his happiness into his own hands.
Dean, Cas, Sam, Eileen, and Jack traveled back to the Bunker after the final battle. They rode in silence, Baby's engine a comfortable rumble beneath them. Having done what they set out to do, they were filled with disbelief and euphoria. Sam opted to sit in the back next to Eileen and Jack, so Cas was relegated to shotgun. The angel had his window open, but his gaze was entirely on Dean. This would have embarrassed Dean in the past, but now it was a welcome attention. In an effort to reciprocate, Dean inched his free hand towards Cas', which was loosely clenched on the seat between them. It twitched a few times as Dean's hand got closer, and when they were only a few inches apart, Cas opened his fist. Dean's breath hitched and his muscles seemed to tense in anticipation. A few beats passed, the world disappeared, and then finally, finally, they were touching.
It was a small, innocent touch - a simple press of pinkies sitting next to each other. And yet, it was everything.
Cas looked down to where their hands met, then back up at Dean, who gave him a little smile before refocusing on the road. The angel could see Dean's eyes glisten with unshed tears as he relaxed into the seat, his breath going out in a little whoosh. The hunter hadn't had a chance to respond to Cas' confession yet, but his actions spoke volumes. After all, a kiss on the battlefield could have been a result of adrenaline or extreme relief, but there was no refuting the significance of this tiny, intimate gesture. No longer unsure of where he stood, Cas decided to make a move of his own.
He slowly and deliberately slid his pinky over Dean's, effectively hooking their little fingers together. The hunter's cheeks flushed and his eyes widened slightly, and he seemed to steel himself before moving his hand from beneath Cas'. The angel was hit with an intense feeling of longing from Dean, who flipped his palm up and reached out to Cas once more. Their fingers intertwined naturally, pressing their palms together in a sacred meeting. For sacred it was, an Angel of the Lord taking a sacrament of love. Not wanting to waste any more time, Cas took another one when he smoothly brought their joined hands to his lips, placing a chaste kiss on the back of Dean's hand.
The car swerved a little, but Dean regained control of it quickly. He swallowed audibly, his hand tightening around Cas'.
"Jeez Cas, you can't just do things like that out of nowhere."
"Like what, Dean? You mean, this?"
Cas didn't lower Dean's hand, choosing to keep it close to his lips as he slid closer to the hunter (and once again, Baby proves to be a superior car with the amazing bench seats). A bright blush erupted across Dean's face, but he made no move to push the angel away. Soon, their entire sides were touching, thighs pressed tight against each other. Cas brought their joined hands to his lap and rested his free hand on the back of Dean's.
The hunter spared a glance to the backseat, where Sam and Eileen were wrapped up in their own world and Jack looked peacefully out of his window. His kiddo was likely plotting out their next Netflix binge. Seeing his family so happy brought a smile to his face, and it widened when he caught sight of Cas looking down to where he was cradling Dean's hand in his palms. The angel looked wondrous as he traced the smooth lines and stroked over the scars scattered across the hunter's skin.
For Dean, the gentle touch was too much. Having rebuilt his body, Cas knew every aspect of Dean. He'd crafted every inch of his beautiful soul's vessel with painstaking care, piece-by-piece. Now, Dean was once again known and remade by the touch of his angel. The hunter allowed himself to bask in the presence of his savior, perhaps the only being who would see everything that Dean Winchester is and love him not despite it, but because of it.
A few tears overflowed onto Dean's face as he thought I love you, I love you, I love you, Cas. The only thing stopping him from saying it out loud was their audience. He wanted to look into Cas' eyes when he said it for the first time, and then he wanted to whisper it against Cas' lips, his cheek, his heart, and everywhere else too. He wanted to press I love yous to every inch of Cas' skin with his fingertips, the way Cas was doing to his hand right now. He wanted to hold the angel close, feel the warmth and security he would get with the reassurance that Cas was staying. The realization that happiness really was in his hands prompted a few more salty droplets to spill over.
Cas wiped away the tears with a shaky hand, prompting an equally shaky "Thank you," from Dean. He hummed in reply and leaned closer, resting his head on Dean's shoulder. The hunter pressed his cheek to the top of Cas' head for a moment before raising it back to a proper driver's position. They stayed that way for the rest of the drive, the car's other occupants wisely not commenting even as they pulled into the Bunker's garage.
Once they arrived home, the quiet atmosphere didn't lift. After a few goodnight hugs, they split off into three groups for the night. Cas followed Dean to his room, Sam and Eileen walked off giggling to theirs, and Jack headed to the Dean Cave to enjoy some TV time.
When Dean arrived at his bedroom door, he paused for a moment. This is where things would be different. Taking a deep breath in, he pushed open the door, feeling Cas' presence burning directly behind him. He walked in slowly, each step feeling somehow heavier and lighter at the same time, Cas' steps echoing his own.
Once Dean reached the foot of the bed, he turned around to face Cas. The angel had followed so closely that they were almost chest-to-chest.
"Hello, Dean."
"Hey, Cas. I hope you've got your ears on. There's something I want to talk to you about."
Cas' eyebrows raised and his lips quirked into a slight smile as he replied, "You know I always enjoy our talks."
"Yeah well, I have a feeling you're really gonna like this one," came the answer, accompanied by a widening grin.
"Tell me, Dean."
Dean reached out to cradle Cas' face with hands, and he took a moment to stroke the angel's cheeks with his thumbs before he met Cas' gaze. The angel's lips parted and a slight flush appeared, disappearing into his collar.
"You once told me, happiness isn't in the having, it's in just being. It's in just saying it. And you're right, I was always happiest when I got to exist next to you, Sam, and the rest of our family. But you know, there's one part of that speech you got wrong. That one thing you want that you somehow convinced yourself you can't have? It's all yours. It's been all yours for quite some time now. Cas, I love you."
"Dean."
"I love you, Cas." Dean used the grip he had on Cas' face to bring him closer, whispering the words into the space between their lips. Cas' eyes watered, a few tears escaping, and he leaned into Dean's embrace to kiss him sweetly. They stayed pressed together for a small eternity, pulling back a scant distance whenever Dean needed air.
When Dean's legs finally threatened to give out, they relocated to the bed. There, they spent the rest of the night unravelling each other, trading I love yous with words, kisses, and caresses.
When all was said and done, Dean drifted off to sleep in the arms of his very happy angel, as he would every night forevermore.
Post Ping-pong Bonus:
Dean laid on Cas' chest as the angel played with his hair.
"Hey angel, guess what?"
"Yes, Dean?"
"Guess we really do have a 'profound bond' after all hehe." (yes, he raised his hands to do the finger quotes)
"Dean, I love you, but please go to sleep."
"I love you, too, Cas. Goodnight sunshine."
"Goodnight, dearest."
A minute later...
"Haha Cas did you see what I did there?"
"What do you mean?"
"Goodnight sunshine. Get it. Because at night there's the moon and I said SUN shine."
"Dean, the moon literally shines because of the sun's light."
"... Cas"
"Yes darling, that was very clever. Good job." Cas' statement came accompanied by the world's most dramatic eye roll (which thankfully Dean didn't see).
"Thanks Cas. I love you. Goodnight for real now."
"I love you, too, Dean. I'll be watching over you, so sleep well my beloved."
The angel resumed combing through Dean's hair, content at getting to have and to hold his lover at last.