Chapter Text
Dean opened his eyes slowly, the world shifting into focus in a haze of sickening red.
He blinked rapidly, trying to expel the blood that was trickling into his eye from a cut below his left eyebrow. That son of a bitch angel had jumped him.
Dean's head whipped to the side at an unnatural speed. Blinding, buzzing, hot pain whipped through his cheek and down his neck from where the angels fist connected. Almost in slow motion, Dean felt his skin flush with angry heat, and split open.
He quirked his jaw at an angle to peer up at his captor and give him a smirk. "Hey, easy on the face will ya?" The angels face contorted in rage and he swung with barely contained power hitting Dean squarely on the jaw.
Dean grimaced, he felt his jaw fracture and yet more bruises form on his already swollen face.
He hung where he was tied limply as he tried to get his legs to work and support his weight like they were supposed to. He gave a quick tug to the rope fastened around his inflamed wrists; other than cause a short burst of pain to distract from his face, this action did nothing.
"so, which one of the winged dick bags are you?" Dean said shifting as much weight off his wrists as possible. The angels eyes flared in annoyance but he spoke, in a voice that seemed to crackle like flames: "I am called Kushiel. Although that knowledge will do you little good when you are dead, and this time for good, Dean Winchester." As the angel "Kushiel" spoke, Dean saw a flash of silver glinting at his sleeve. The angel gripped his blade with determination, getting ready and poised to strike. Dean clamped his jaw painfully, as he waited for the final blow.
Instead all that came was a thunderous crash and a creature filled with righteous fury and murderous intent that swept in like an unbridled storm. Kushiel let out a noise of surprise, and turned round to face whatever had just blown a hole clean through the side of the warehouse. And was currently headed toward him with inhuman speed.
Kushiel flung out his arms to shield himself, but even as he unconsciously did so he knew nothing could save him.
"Dean, close your eyes." A voice rang out.
Dean shut his eyes not even having to think as his entire being and soul knew and instinctively trusted that voice. And not a moment too soon, a blinding burning light filled the room and escaped out of the windows filling every corner and evaporating shadows. Then as suddenly as it came, the light was gone.
Dean stayed with his eyes shut, as if not believing that it was really over. "Dean." came a voice that was rough and grating while still flowing thick and sweet like honey. Dean looked up into the startling blue of Castiel's gaze, noticing indiscernible yet powerful emotion swirling in the eyes of the otherwise stoic face.
Cas crouched in front of Dean and reached out to tilt his head. He inspected the mottled flesh in a way that would've almost seem clinical, if you couldn't see the rage swirling in the ocean blue of his eyes. His hand slid to cup Dean's face gently, fingertips brushing his ear. With a warm soothing pulse dean felt his skin heal and knit together, flesh smoothing out and gaining it's natural color. He glanced down and with a quiet snap of his fingers, the ropes binding Dean fell limply to the floor. Cas took Dean's wrists gently, but Dean still let out a soft hiss as his tender skin recoiled at the contact. He rubbed at his wrists to get his circulation going again after Cas healed them.
"Dean, I'm sorry." Cas said brokenly. "Hey It's ok buddy, you saved me before big bad over there could kill me didn't you?" Dean glanced up with a smile that Cas had seen too many times before to believe its sincerity. "That's not what I meant Dean, I- I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner before this damage could be done. I always seem to arrive too late." Cas locked eyes with Dean staring with such intensity that Dean couldn't have torn himself away if he had wanted to. After a while of suspended time Dean shook himself and reached for Cas's shoulder and with the angels help attempted to haul himself to his feet, only to fall back with a barely bitten back cry. Cas dropped back to the earth with him and went to heal his fractured ankle. "Wait Cas," Dean said tightening his grip on his shoulder. "Look man, I've never been good with the emotional crap, that's more sammy's forte, but I hope you know I- We, Sammy and me, we need you. And not just for the angely mojo stuff, although that's pretty awesome too. So what I'm trying to say is if it wasn't for you I would be dead, so don't sweat the small stuff." At this Dean nodded to his ankle. Cas looked up and quietly touched Dean's hand with his fingertips, "Thank you Dean." He withdrew his hand but eyes still hung heavy with contentment. Cas healed and teleported Dean back to the base.
For the rest of the night Castiel's mouth held the hint of a smile and his eyes held a bright sheen. Dean pretended he didn't notice but he couldn't stop the warm feeling high in his chest whenever he saw it.
"Pull yourself together Winchester." He muttered to himself as he made his way to his room and collapsed into the embrace of memory foam.