Chapter Text
Cas hates doing the dishes. He's a celestial being, a warrior of many battles. A powerful guardian, tasked with important missions. A soldier of Heaven... who melts when those malachite eyes look into his, or he just imagines them. So off he goes, to make some everyday miracles without using his grace.
He's humming to himself, as he imagines himself being outside in the garden. He loves to watch the bees and other small creatures. Animals like him, they instinctively know he doesn't mean any harm to them, unless they attack first.
Dean walks in with two paper bags of groceries, puts them on the counter and kisses his nose. He smiles, wrapping his arm around him, leaving wet handprints on his T-shirt.
"You can't stop leaving them prints, can ya?"
A small laugh escapes from Dean's lips, as he lets go of Cas, stepping towards the coffee machine.
"I am trying to express how I feel..." the angel speaks up, his gravelly voice sends shivers down Dean's spine. "If it makes you uncomfortable, I am sorry."
For a second, a guilty expression appears on Dean's face, but it quickly disappears. He knows Cas is doing things that are new to him, so he tries to lift the mood.
"You like to touch that mark, don't even try to deny it. It's a you and me thing."
Cas doesn't reply, he looks like he's thinking about what to say.
"You seem... Bothered." He speaks up. "Is there anything... Anything I should know about?"
"No, I- I-... I'm- I'm fine." Dean laughs nervously, lacking his usual act of confidence.
He fails to hide his embarrassment behind a sheepish grin, his heart keeps racing in his chest. Poor thing flatters like a caged bird, trying to escape at all costs. But he will ask today. Now or never. No more dancing back at the last second.
Cas looks at him with his eyes narrowing as he goes on his knees. Confusement is clearly visible on his face, he slightly tilts his head, looking at Dean questioningly. Is he sick? Why is he acting so strange?
"Your face is wearing an abnormal colour... Do you feel unwell?"
He can tell, whatever is going on, it must be naturally occurring. No signs point to an illness of supernatural nature, also he would sense that immediately.
Dean feels the small box pressing against his body in his pocket, his face is reddening even more.
"Cas, I- "
The angel looks worried, his blue eyes staring at him with concern as he pulls out a jewellery box. Dean feels like his face is on fire, as he fumbles to open it.
"I know, we can't marry in the conventional way... You are an angel, I'm just a wanted criminal in multiple states, but..." he stops, looking for words. There's a long silence and he almost gives up and walks away to never come back again. "You know..." He finally speaks up, his voice is more serious than ever. "Sometimes happiness is in the having. To me, it's having Sam and you around... I... I want you to be with me in this crazy ride we call life."
He breaths out, he did it. He asked the question and nothing bad happened. Just as Sam told him.
"With that handprint, something changed in me." he continues, his eyes locked on the angel. "I tried... I tried so hard to tell myself it's because of the things I've been through. The things we've been through. It changed both of us. But... It was you all along. And I was way too stubborn to accept my own feelings." Dean stops again, to gather himself, and he knows he's overexplaining, but can't stop talking now. He finally has the words, God, he has more words than ever in his lifetime. "I know this ring won't make you forgive the way I treated you before, but... Please, try it for me. I hope-"
Cas' unblinking eyes keep looking at him, without any clue to prepare for his reaction. Panic slowly settles in Dean's brain.
Fuck. Fuck... What do I do now? What-
The angel kneels down to be on his eye level, caressing his face worriedly. His hand is ever so warm and gentle, those blue eyes look straight into his soul, and see the love under the layers of pain.
"I... I thought you are unwell... Your face was... it... It is still red."
He pulls Dean back on his feet.
"Please, the tiles are very cold."
Why doesn't he say anything? Did I say something stupid? Did I fuck up? Please, say something...
"Dean... You don't have to kneel before me. I am not Him. And even if I would be, I wouldn't want you to be my lesser."
Dean blinks, unable to react. The words reach his heart, but he has too many feelings to talk coherently. Their eyes meet again, and in that moment, only the two of them exist.
"I want you as my equal, regardless of... Our differences. You proved yourself many times without asking. You, as a mortal, did more for... the universe, than some angels I know for a long time. Even though we have powers that you can't even imagine. The sacrifices you made put an unbearable burden on your shoulders, yet you kept marching, like a soldier with only one goal in his mind. These things would have broken any of us too. Yet you are here, admiring a being that failed his very purpose he was made for..."
To the angels surprise, Dean cups his face, pulling him closer, until their lips touch. The kiss is gentle, it's not their first, but it feels like rediscovering the feelings they finally could express for the other.
"You confused little celestial wonder, I love you. I'm sorry I couldn't say it when you needed to hear it the most."
"You are forgiven." Comes the reply in a softer, yet still somewhat deep voice. "Your heart said it back. It was in your eyes, I could see, even if your mouth was unable to say the words. And that made me know my sacrifice wasn't in vain."
"Cas, I swear... I... I am sorry that you had to hide your feelings because you wasn't sure I love you back. I do. I really do. I am not certain in a lot of things in life, but this thing... Us, it's for sure."
Us.
It echoes Castiel's mind, fighting away every worry and concern. Time is against them, he knows very well, but what's a being of love without experiencing being loved?