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Dean Winchester was no stranger to the infinite reaches of the cosmos. It made him feel insignificant, a mere speck in the grand tapestry of the universe. He was one of the best space mechanics still willing to travel for work, and Dean had journeyed across countless galaxies, mending complicated machines on strange planets. The job paid really well, which was one of the reasons he accepted it despite everything, but it also afforded him a constant connection with his younger brother, Sammy, who had taken an important position within SpaceTec Inc. Dean had no taste for corporate suits or the sterile, gray confines of an office, but he was so proud of him.
His ship, the Impala, was a reflection of his soul: rugged, reliable, and always ready for the next mission. Though not the newest or largest vessel in the fleet, it possessed a timeless reliability, never once failing him, and he knew how to keep Baby in top shape like no one else could.
Two days after returning from his latest mission, the holographic screen of his communicator flickered to life, signaling an incoming transmission. As Dean accepted the call, Sam’s image materialized before him, the blue glow of the hologram made his brother’s features look sickly. The dark circles under his eyes were so easy to notice that Dean was ready to yell at him for not sleeping enough.
“Sammy!”
“Hey, Dean,” Sam said, his voice low and serious. "Bad news."
Dean put down the coffee cup he had in his hand and gave the call his full attention. “What’s up? How bad are we talking here?”
“Bad. All the bots on 307 broke down at the same time. We think maybe an electromagnetic pulse or something.”
“Okay, that’s not so bad. I can get it fixed in like a week, two weeks tops.”
“Yeah, but get this. Just after B3 turned off, its camera recorded something. I’ll send it to your TV.”
The image on the screen was a bit blurry but quickly focused, and Dean watched the purple desert that covers half of 307. B3 chirped as it moved around, recording data about the planet’s surface and atmosphere before it shook violently, and the screen flickered with a glitch. A second before everything went black, there was a hand on the floor.
“That was definitely a hand. What the hell!” Dean was completely sure 307 was uninhabited by people. Some strange fauna and flora, perhaps, but people? With opposable thumbs? He looked at the image again, and yes, there on the bottom corner of the screen—a human hand.
“We think someone’s ship might have crashed there and that’s what made the bots break down.”
“So now we have an uninhabited planet with possibly one person who could be injured and in need of help, and a bunch of broken robots,” Dean said with a tired sigh, already dreading what was sure to come next.
“And you need someone to go there and check it out.”
“I know you just got back and probably want to get some rest, but there’s no one I’d trust more to handle this than you,” Sam said, knowing there wasn’t much Dean wouldn’t do for him, not with those big puppy eyes showing how tired he was. “My boss is going to kill me if this doesn’t get fixed soon; she thinks there might be some connection with the strange things we found on 307 a while ago.”
“Fine. Send me the details and I can leave tomorrow. I have to prepare a few things first. I hope the money is worth it and know that you owe me one.” Dean pointed his finger at the hologram and tried to sound intimidating, but the relief on Sam’s face softened his tone.
“Thank you! I’m sending everything we have. Please let me know when you leave and when you arrive.”
“Sure. Bye, bitch.”
“Jerk.”
The communicator beeped and his brother’s face was gone. Dean was good at being alone, but he hated the way his heart ached a little every time he ended a call with Sam or a friend. The silence that followed was difficult to face without feeling a bit lost.
Dean wasn’t one to complain often, but he couldn’t deny that the monotony of his job had begun to wear on him. He was exceptionally skilled at what he did—fixing things, troubleshooting issues, and getting things back on track. That expertise earned him a comfortable living and a sense of stability, but it also meant his life was largely solitary. He had a nice place to call his own and enough leeway to turn down jobs when he needed a break, but the absence of someone to share that life with was starting to weigh on him.
He would have welcomed the company of someone who cared about him, someone to cook for, to share his victories and frustrations with, and to wake up next to each morning. It was a small, yet profound longing that he tried to push aside with the routine of his work. And yet, despite his success and the security it afforded him, that something or someone was always missing.
As he absorbed the silence, the solitude of the base was a stark reminder of how alone he often felt. The mechanical nature of his work was a safe haven but also a cage—one he sometimes wished he could escape. He sighed and walked over to the computer, distractedly checking the file for his next mission.
***
The file was neatly organized, as anything from Sam always was.
307 was a medium-sized planet, and SpaceTec Inc. had an automated base there to gather data on the ground and air, as well as any possible life forms, as they did on many other planets. There were nine bots working there in constant rotation, and so far, they had found that the water on the planet was toxic to humans but not the air. There were some odd plants that looked withered and a few species of rodent-like creatures that were violent but too small to be a threat. Not much. Until seven months ago, when some strange readings came through one of the robots: the animals were growing in size, which was concerning, but they were also acting strange; they stopped attacking the robots when they crossed paths and barely paid any attention to them. The plants started growing at a rapid pace too, and new ones seemed to appear out of nowhere. And the weirdest thing, the robots hadn’t needed repairs. Nothing. They all worked perfectly fine even though before that, a mechanic had to be sent every month because one of them flipped over or there was a problem with the powering station.
The mission was straightforward: travel to 307, fix whatever’s wrong with the bots, and check for the owner of the hand seen in the video, hoping they were alive.
Dean packed his clothes and confirmed that all his equipment and tools were safely stored before making a list of food and things he needed to buy before leaving. A larger medical kit was probably a good idea, just in case, as well as a few spare parts he thought might be useful. He made a paper copy of the file to read once the autopilot took over, always preferring it over the screen, and ensured he had music to make the journey more tolerable. The silence in space was oppressive, and he learned quickly to drown it with music to avoid letting it affect him.
Dean was used to traveling by himself; he hadn’t had a companion since Sammy was smaller than him, so he let the autopilot do its thing while he read the file and drank some coffee. The journey was a little over six hours and luckily the Impala had enough space for him to walk around and stretch his legs.
Before he knew it, the emptiness of space around him filled with small meteors, and he saw the circumference of 307, a good distance away but rapidly approaching. Dean got up from his chair and started getting his things ready for the landing, wrapping his tool belt around his waist and grabbing the smaller toolbox from the small storage room. He checked that his blaster gun was completely charged, and though he was pretty sure he wouldn’t need it, Dean felt safer with it on his side. When Baby entered 307’s atmosphere, he sat back down and put on his seatbelt just in case the landing was bumpier than usual.
The ship landed with a soft thump and once he turned off the engine, adjusted the blaster gun to the side of his belt and grabbed his toolbox, Dean opened the door and descended the few steps to the purple floor of 307, turning around to look if any bots were nearby. The base was about half a mile south and none of the bots were in sight, so he touched his communicator to call Sam as he walked, taking in his surroundings: big blue-leafed trees and plants with yellow dots on them populated the area around a small lake with green water like a small, strange oasis in the middle of a desert.
“Hey! How was the trip? No issues?” Sam’s face looked better than the day before and he was smiling.
“It was fine, you know Baby doesn’t have issues. Don’t insult her,” Dean huffed. “I’m walking to the base to check the last location of the bots. None of them are near me so far and no dying people with hands either.”
“Okay, anything weird?”
“Other than the giant plants and weird trees that appeared since I last came here? I don’t think so.”
“What? Trees? We didn’t know anything about trees. Weird how? Can you get closer?” Sam’s face lit up with excitement, and it made Dean chuckle.
“Slow down, Sammy, you’ll hyperventilate and pass out.” He turned the communicator so Sam could see everything anyway.
His watch beeped 45 minutes later, indicating that an hour had passed since he landed. He told Sam he needed to get to the base before the sun went down and with a promise to come back tomorrow he cut the communication and returned to his job.
***
SpaceTec Inc. had not put much effort into the base since no people were supposed to ever work there, and it was easy to tell. The square space was empty except for the computer that managed all the robots and data, and the large components that kept it working. The dimly lit room felt oddly devoid of life despite the hum of machinery. He set his toolbox on the ground and approached the central console.
“Alright, let’s see what’s going on here,” he muttered, pressing a few buttons to start the diagnostics program for each bot and found that they were offline and scattered across the planet’s surface. Fixing it would be easy, only requiring turning them back online and checking for further damage, but it would take time to find each of them.
Dean felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up and a weird sense of being watched came over him. He turned around but no one was there, and there was no noise other than his breathing and the machines around him. Trying to ignore it, he sent the location of every robot to his tablet device so he could pin them on the map of the planet and plan ahead.
Outside, the feeling of being watched was easier to ignore. There were so many new things here to check that he almost forgot and got to work finding the first of the bots.
Five hours later, the second bot was online again and chirping away as it returned to collecting data. Dean called it a day and started the trek back to his ship for some food and sleep. The temperature had dropped and the purple sand now looked dark blue and small lights were visible all around him, twinkling like stars in the alien twilight.
The solitude of the planet was palpable, but Dean found a strange comfort in it. The vast, alien landscape stretched out before him, silent and serene, a stark contrast to the bustling life he knew back on Earth. As he approached his ship, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, the hairs on the back of his neck prickling once more. He glanced around, scanning the shadows for any sign of movement, but there was nothing.
Shaking off the unease, he climbed the steps to his ship and secured the door behind him. He set his toolbox down and headed to the small galley to prepare a meal, his thoughts drifting back to the mysterious hand seen in the video. Who could it belong to? How did they end up on this desolate planet?
After a hasty meal, Dean methodically checked his equipment one last time, the soft beep of the alarm setting an early start. The base's dim lights stretched long shadows across the cold, metallic interior of the Impala, and a deep, gnawing sense of isolation settled over him. He lay down in his bunk, the hum of the ship a constant, hollow drone that did little to soothe the emptiness inside him.
As he stared up at the ceiling, the stars outside his window flickered like distant, indifferent beacons, reminding him of the vast, uncaring universe that stretched endlessly beyond his reach. Dean Winchester closed his eyes, feeling the weight of solitude pressing down on him, his thoughts drifting between the unknown challenges of tomorrow and the stark loneliness of his life. He was ready for whatever came next, driven by a promise to his brother and a weary resolve to uncover the truth behind the strange occurrences on 307. Yet, in the quiet of the ship, amid the shadows and the soft hum, he felt more alone than ever, the vastness of space a reminder of the life he was navigating through, one challenge at a time.
***
Dean slept for five hours before the alert on his tablet device woke him up. The first bot was offline again, its last location putting it on its way back to the charging station. Normally, he would wait until morning—a few hours wouldn’t make much of a difference—but it was weird enough that he put on a pair of trousers and, grumbling under his breath, left the ship, still a little tired and not even close to awake enough.
He found B8 exactly like before, offline and with multiple scratches and bite marks –a gift from the violent rodents, surely– but without any other type of damage.
“You’ve had a rough couple of days, buddy,” he said softly, and got closer to inspect it when he saw right next to it what looked like a shoe print. The blaster gun was in his hand quickly in a practiced move.
There was an eerie silence in the air. The critters were still sleeping and there was no wind to rustle the leaves. Dean paid attention to his surroundings as he slowly turned in a circle. He was calm; he knew how to handle these kinds of situations.
“Hello, Dean.”
The scream that left his throat felt like somebody else’s.
Behind him, there was a man. He was about his height, with dark hair that looked like it had never seen a comb and piercing blue eyes that glowed in the dark. His skin was pale, with some spots in the same shade of purple as the ground beneath them.
“Who are you? How do you know my name?” Dean demanded, willing his heart to slow down, and swallowing with difficulty. He refused to be scared.
“My name is Castiel. I live here.”
“No, you don’t. No one lives here.”
“My ship landed some time ago. I’ve made this planet my residence. The plants are beautiful, and it’s quiet.” His voice was so deep Dean had some trouble hearing it.
Dean tightened his grip on the blaster. "So you're saying you crashed here and decided to stay? That doesn't make any sense."
Castiel tilted his head, observing Dean with an almost curious intensity. "I didn't crash. I landed intentionally. This planet is... unique."
Dean frowned. "Unique how?"
Castiel gestured around them. "The flora and fauna here are unlike any other I've encountered. The plants have properties that can be beneficial for many purposes, and the animals, while initially hostile, have become quite docile. It’s as if the planet itself has a will to change and adapt."
Dean lowered his blaster slightly, still wary but intrigued. "And the robots? Did you do something to them?"
"It wasn’t me," Castiel said, "but I suspect it has something to do with the planet. Everything has been fluctuating recently, which might explain the disturbances. I don't think it likes them."
Dean sighed. "Okay, let's say I believe you. What about the hand on the recording? Was that you?"
Castiel looked confused for a moment. "A recording? Oh, yes. I found the robot when it was malfunctioning and tried to repair it. My presence must have been recorded just before the systems failed."
Dean rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. "Alright. This is very much not something I wanna deal with, I’m supposed to check on the bots and make sure no human’s here dying, which you’re clearly not. I need to get these bots back online and figure out what's going on with this planet."
Castiel’s eyes brightened at the prospect of cooperation. "I'd be glad to assist. Where do we start?"
Dean was going to say no, but the idea of having someone to talk to as he worked was strangely appealing. He glanced at his tablet. "First, we need to reactivate the bots and check for any major damage. After that, we can start analyzing the electromagnetic fields and see if we can stabilize them."
The two of them set to work, starting with the nearest bot. Castiel proved to be surprisingly adept at handling the repairs, his knowledge of the planet and its peculiarities proving invaluable. As they worked, Dean found himself growing more comfortable around the mysterious man, though questions still nagged at the back of his mind.
"So, Castiel," Dean said as they reassembled a bot’s power unit, "how long have you been here?"
"A few months," Castiel replied, his voice calm and steady.
Dean nodded. "And you’ve just been living off the land? No contact with the outside world?"
Castiel smiled faintly. "I have my ways of surviving. The planet provides more than enough resources, and I’ve adapted to its rhythms."
As they continued their repairs, Dean couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Castiel than met the eye. There was an air of quiet strength about him, a resilience that matched the wild beauty of the planet itself.
Hours later, with half the bots reactivated and functioning properly, Dean and Castiel took a break to rest and eat something. They sat by the edge of the small lake, the green water reflecting the strange purple sky above them.
"Thanks for your help," Dean said, offering him a rare smile. "This would have taken a lot more time and honestly I appreciate it.”
Castiel nodded, his blue eyes softening. "I’m glad to be of assistance, Dean. There’s still much to do, but I believe we’re on the right track."
Dean took a deep breath, feeling a sense of camaraderie he hadn’t expected. "Yeah, we are.”
Castiel’s gaze drifted to the horizon, a thoughtful expression on his face. For a second, he looked almost sad.
Dean took the liberty of watching him for a moment. He looked like he fit right in with the environment, with his dotted skin and wild hair. He was about to ask where he was from when his communicator beeped with an incoming call.
“Sammy!”
“Hey, Dean!” He didn't realize it was already time to check in. “Please tell me you found something.”
Dean looked to his right where Castiel was sitting staring at him intently.
“I did. No injured humans, so good news. I think something weird is happening to 307, though. The critters are huge now, I think they could eat a dog or something, but they’re nice, apparently.”
“What? Did you record something? Can you send it to me?”
“I haven’t, but I’m sure the five bots back online are gathering data again so maybe check the feed.” The sound of a keyboard came faintly through and Sam’s face turned to the side. Dean wasn’t sure if he should just hang up, Sammy was probably gonna get lost in the footage for a while.
He looked to the side and saw Castiel was now laying on his back, eyes closed and breathing even. How did he manage to fall asleep here?
“Dean! This is so amazing! I don’t understand what’s going on but it’s absolutely fantastic!” The excitement in Sam’s voice made him smile. “Hold on. Is that you? And–Dude! You found a person!?”
“Um, kinda. I don’t think he’s human? Look, here–” Dean turned his communicator to where Castiel was sleeping next to him. “He landed here right about when the weird things started so I’m thinking he has something to do with them, but I don’t think he knows. Maybe his ship caused some glitch?”
“Okay, this is a lot. I’ll look into it, maybe there’s something similar in the database? It could have happened on another planet at some point in time and that can help us find a way to fix it,” Dean could see Sam’s brain working already, making a plan of action and looking for clues with the information he had. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow, see if I find something. Are you okay? Do you need anything?”
Dean chuckled at the question asked, knowing how involved Sam got when he was researching that sometimes common human interaction became second place. His eyes drifted again to Castiel and felt a tug inside his chest. “No thanks, I’m all good here. Bye Sammy.”
***
Dean woke Castiel a while later after finishing his food. The twin suns were high in the sky, bathing everything in a warm, yellow hue. Feeling the weight of tiredness pulling at him, he thought about turning in earlier than usual. Castiel blinked awake, and though Dean found the sight slightly adorable, he kept that to himself.
They headed back to the base, their footsteps crunching on the strange, alien terrain. Dean glanced over at Cas, who walked beside him with an easy grace that seemed almost otherworldly against the backdrop of the purple landscape. The conversation between them flowed naturally, punctuated by the occasional burst of laughter or thoughtful silence.
Dean began by filling Cas in on his brother Sam’s curiosity about the strange disturbances they had been experiencing. “Sam’s a real tech head,” Dean explained with a half-smile. “He’s been digging into the data, trying to make sense of what’s going on here. He’s even asked me to keep an eye out for anything that might hint at what’s causing all this.”
Cas nodded, his expression thoughtful. “It sounds like you and your brother have a close relationship. It’s not always easy to find someone who understands the way you think.”
Dean’s eyes flickered with a hint of vulnerability. “Yeah, we’re pretty tight. We’ve had to rely on each other a lot. It’s just... well, it gets lonely out here sometimes. Sometimes I wish I had someone waiting for me back home, someone to share these experiences with.”
Cas looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and empathy. “I understand that feeling more than you might think. I left my home planet because I needed to get away from my family. It wasn’t that I didn’t love them; it was more about needing to find myself away from their expectations. It’s a complicated situation.”
Dean sensed the weight of Cas’s words and decided not to press for more details, respecting the other man’s privacy. “Sounds like it was a tough decision,” he said softly. “Sometimes you just need to be somewhere else to figure things out.”
Cas’s eyes met Dean’s, and there was an unspoken understanding between them. “Exactly. And this planet, with all its oddities, has been a refuge in its own way. It’s given me a chance to be alone and to reflect. But it’s also nice to have someone to talk to, even if it’s just about the weird plants and malfunctioning robots.”
Dean chuckled, his gaze drifting over the landscape. “Yeah, these place is definitely something. I never thought I’d be talking about nature with someone who seems to understand them better than I do. It’s... kind of refreshing.”
Cas’s face softened with a rare, genuine smile. “I’ve always found that the universe has a way of bringing people together when they least expect it. Maybe that’s what this place is doing for us.”
Dean’s heart warmed at Cas’s words. There was a sincerity in Cas’s tone that resonated deeply with him. “Maybe you’re right. It’s just... nice to have someone to share this with. Makes all the craziness a little more bearable.”
As they reached the base, the conversation continued, shifting from personal reflections to lighter topics. They discussed their favorite movies, the quirks of their respective worlds, and their dreams for the future. With each passing hour, the bond between them grew stronger, a bridge of mutual respect and understanding forming amidst the vast, mysterious landscape of 307.
Their time together was no longer just about fixing robots or analyzing data; it was about sharing stories, finding solace in each other's company, and discovering a connection that neither of them had anticipated but both were beginning to cherish.
Working with company was a new experience for Dean. As a mechanic, his job typically involved traveling to a planet, fixing whatever was broken, and then heading home. Interaction was minimal, usually limited to brief exchanges with Sam or SpaceTec Inc. employees. But with Cas—who, at some point in Dean’s mind, had shifted from “Castiel” to “Cas”—the dynamic was different.
The routine over the next five days was straightforward: breakfast, work at the base, midday lunch, and then back to work until sunset. The robots continued to malfunction, which was starting to wear on Dean’s nerves.
On the ninth day, during a lunch break near a Nibblits' nest—a term Cas had coined for the local critters—Dean was engrossed in a conversation about Cas’s brother Gabriel. Suddenly, three Nibblits appeared, standing motionless next to Cas. Dean’s hand instinctively reached for his blaster, but Cas calmly reached out to pet them.
“Hi there, little one,” Cas said softly.
“Cas, why are you petting the violent rodents?” Dean’s voice wavered with concern. One Nibblit was manageable, but three, especially at their current size, was a different story.
“Violent? These are very peaceful creatures, Dean. They mean no harm,” Cas said, his head tilted in confusion.
“Well, they have been aggressive before, so I don’t see why they wouldn’t be now,” Dean said, trying to keep his composure despite his rising worry.
“What do you mean? They’ve been very friendly to me since I arrived, and they haven’t harmed you or the robots.”
Dean took a moment to reassess. The plants around them were indeed larger, and there were trees where there hadn’t been any before. The flora seemed to lean toward Cas as if drawn to him. Dean looked at Cas—his skin almost glowing under the sunlight, his eyes crinkling with contentment, and his hand buried in the hair of one of the Nibblits while the others nuzzled him.
Before Dean could say anything further, his communicator beeped with an incoming call from Sam.
“Hey, talk to me.”
“Dean! It’s Castiel!” Sam sounded almost ecstatic.
“He’s the one causing the plants to grow and the bots to malfunction. The planet is evolving and rebelling because of him.”
Dean noticed Cas’s jaw tense and saw the flicker of fear in his eyes. “Yeah, I think I know. I’m starting to think 307 likes him more than it likes you and your company, Sammy.” Cas’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What? How did you know? Is he there? Can I talk to him?”
“Sammy, how many times do I have to tell you to calm down?” Dean said, though he turned the communicator toward Cas. Cas waved awkwardly while trying not to disturb the sleeping Nibblits.
“Holy shit! They’re sleeping on you and you’re not dead! And they’re so big!”
“Hello, Sam. Yes, it seems I can’t help but influence the planet,” Cas said with a sad, resigned sigh that tugged at Dean’s heart. “My family and I have this… ability. Some call it a curse. I’m not sure how much I’m able to share with you, if I’m being honest.”
“Okay, wow. This is huge, and I hate to be the one to ask, but are you planning to stay there? Because if the bots keep malfunctioning, I’ll need to figure out what to tell my boss. I don’t think ‘my brother’s new boyfriend is messing with the planet’s technology and nature because he comes from an ancient race of aliens with magical powers’ will look good in the mission report.”
Dean choked on his drink, and Cas glanced at him with an amused expression.
Dean coughed, still trying to clear his throat after nearly choking on his drink. Cas looked at him with an unreadable expression, and Dean could sense the weight of the situation hanging between them.
"Are you okay, Dean?" Sam’s voice crackled through the communicator, concerned.
"Yeah, I’m fine, Sammy. Just a bit of a shock." Dean cleared his throat. "So, Cas, what’s the plan now?"
Cas sighed deeply, casting a last glance at the peaceful Nibblits curled up around him. "I didn’t expect my presence here to cause such disturbances. I should consider leaving to prevent further issues. I didn’t want to disrupt anything, especially not the work you’re doing."
Dean ran a hand through his hair, trying to sort through his thoughts. “You don’t have to go just because of this. I mean, the planet clearly has some kind of connection with you, and it’s not your fault the bots are acting up.”
“I appreciate that, Dean, but I don’t want to be the cause of any more complications.” Cas’s voice was soft, but there was a resolute tone to it. “I should leave before things get worse.”
Dean hesitated for a moment, then made a decision. “Well then... maybe we could leave together.”
Cas looked at him, clearly taken aback. “Leave together?”
“Yeah,” Dean said, his voice gaining strength. “I mean, if you’re leaving, I don’t see why I should stick around here, everything should go back to the way it was before. We could both head back to civilization, get some answers, and maybe figure out a better way to handle this.”
Cas's eyes searched Dean's face, looking for any hint of insincerity. “You would do that?”
Dean nodded, “Yeah. I mean, I’ve gotten used to having you around. It’s been... different, in a good way" he rubbed the back of his neck and tried not to stammer" And besides, I could use a little break from the usual routine. We might even be able to work something out with SpaceTec or find another solution.”
“Alright,” Sam said, his voice reflecting a mix of relief and excitement. Dean had forgotten the communicator was still on. “I’ll keep working on finding more information about this. Dean, call me when you get home, be safe.”
“Will do, love you Sammy,” Dean said, turning off the communicator. He turned back to Cas, offering a reassuring smile. “Looks like we’re going to be heading out together.”
Cas’s expression warmed, a hint of something unspoken passing between them, and managed a small, genuine smile in return. “Thank you, Dean. I didn’t expect to find such understanding here.”
Dean’s heart skipped a beat. He reached out, brushing his hand with the back of Cas’ and smiled when he twined their fingers, “I’m glad we’ve had this time together. It’s been... special.”
Cas’s eyes held a tenderness that matched Dean’s own. “I didn’t think I’d find someone like you here, Dean. It’s strange, but I think I’m going to miss this place more than I expected.”
Dean’s smile grew, and squeezed Cas’ hand in his, the gesture feeling surprisingly natural. “Well, we’ll make some new memories together, won’t we? Let’s finish up here and get out of this place. There’s a whole universe out there waiting for us.”
As they packed up their gear and prepared to leave, the air between them was charged with a new, unspoken promise. The idea of venturing out together filled Dean with a sense of anticipation and hope, and he could see that Cas felt the same way. The prospect of their journey ahead now held a promise of something more, something deeper than either had anticipated.