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Cas had been complaining for weeks about his back aching; so much so that it was beginning to actually concern Sam and Dean.
“I mean it’s got to be serious if he’s actually in pain, Dean.” Sam added, him and Dean had been contemplating the whole ordeal in private for a couple days now.
“Well. Duh, Sam. His stupid mojo should make him able to heal himself.” Dean replied, a tinge of worry in his voice.
Just then Castiel, groaning painfully, walked into the kitchen.
“Hmmh..” He sighed, slumping over. His eyes looked more exhausted than usual, despite that he still tried to interact in their conversation. “What are you two talking about?” He asked, loudly grunting as he tried to sit down in another chair next to Dean.
“Nothing, Cas. Don’t stress over what we’re talking about, okay?” Sam said comfortingly to the angel.
Dean stared at Sam very annoyed, like an 'Are you deadass right now?’ look.
“Sam.”
“What, Dean?”
“We need to ask him, man!” The ‘him’ was staring at both men, extremely confused as to what was going on.
“Ask me what?” Cas said, almost exasperated. It took a lot of power to operate with celestial level back pain.
“Well. Cas.” Sam started, confused on how to begin the conversation.
Dean took over.
“Look Cas. Me and Sam are worried, you’ve been complaining about this terrible back, neck, and sometimes even ass pain, like. A LOT. Recently.” Dean admitted. “And you know usually we’re okay with you being in pain, like you usually heal yourself, but you haven’t yet. And I’m just- We’re worried okay?”
Cas, head tilted slightly(Very painful, by the way, the strain on his neck is killing him.) trying to understand what he meant. “Oh.” He replied after a beat of silence between the boys.
“It.. It’s truly nothing, honestly.” Cas said, trying to be as literate as he could. “It is just back pain, and right now healing Myself isn’t exactly my biggest priority. I’d rather save my powers to heal one of you if something happens.
Plus,” He kept going. “This pain isn’t exactly going away anytime soon.”
The 2 guys stared at him.
“What do you mean?” Sam questioned.
“Why??” Dean lightly pleaded.
“Well.” He swallowed. “Angel wings aren’t exactly the easiest thing to carry on your back. They’re not like a back pack either, they're bonded onto my vessels’ muscles. The muscle pain I experience is completely 4th dimensional and celestial, it’s not human scale.” He slumped back in his chair, tilting his head back in reluctant pain.
Both of the boys just stared at him, slightly shocked, way more confused.
“Okay.” Sam said, “Uhm.. well, is there any way that we Can help?” he asked, trying to be helpful. Dean was sitting across from him, biting his bottom lip, he looked DEEP in thought.
“No, sadly this is just something I have to persevere through, it can be common in younger angels, so it is not too uncommon. I should be fine.” Castiel pressed. “So please don’t carry too much worry or concern for me, this isn’t anything completely new to me.”
Dean was still pondering, thinking about a solution, even if it wasn’t permanent. Even if it was so temporary it only lasted 3 whole minutes. Even just that long would take so much strain off of Cas, give him a taste of relief, a break from looking so tired and agonized, a moment for Dean to not have to worry about or imagine just how much pain Cas could possibly be in.
Then it occurred to him, the one thing that always helps a knotted neck or tired back? A massage. The only thing he knew that has ever gotten him through a strained muscle. And obviously he would do it, Dean was a pro massage therapist, he could get a license if he seriously wanted to.
“Dean?”
He snapped back to reality. “Oh! Ahem yeah- what?” He stammered.
“Nothing dude. You just looked… constipated.”
“Ew. Dude, gross. I don’t get constipated.” Dean claimed. “Also, I was thinking of solutions for Cas.” He waved a hand to Castiel, who let out an exasperated sigh.
“Dean. I said it is nothing to worry about. I’ll get over it when I get over it. I don’t want you guys searching for some angel lore to cure celestial back aches.” The angel groaned.
“Oh no. Dude. Cas.” Dean sat up straighter, looking at the angel confidently.
“We’re going to do this the human way.” He smirked.
Sam looked between the two of them, Castiel's face flushed slightly, his eyes squinting, head tilted, and altogether utterly confused. Dean was looking.. Proud. For the most part. Also smirking, kind of flirtatiously, Sam didn’t know what vibe Dean was meant to be giving off.
“What?” Sam blurted after a moment of silence.
“Dude! A massage! That's the only explanation for this guy, he just needs a good ole relieving of the muscles” He shrugged while saying that.
“Dean.. I highly doubt a massage will do anything for the neck or back.” He finished.
“Cmon Cas, it’s worth a try.” He pleaded, just a tiny bit, trying to persuade Castiel.
Castiel sighed, obviously tired of trying to deny Dean. “Fine.” He finally said, repositioning himself in his chair for the 10th time.
Though he didn’t show it, Dean was quite happy Castiel was willing to oblige. And Sam was utterly confused about this whole ordeal. Cas couldn’t really care less. The angel was tired and would honestly do anything to get rid of this aching back.
—
Castiel was sitting on the Dean's bed, shirtless. Obviously.
Dean was starting to second guess every bit of this whole thing, why did he recommend this? Why was Cas shirtless in his room? Suddenly Dean was choking on his words, and the air. All while the angel was slowly dozing off, too tired to actually care about the crisis Dean was having right behind him.
Dean coughed to get Cas’ attention, the angel startled out of his daze and turned around to face Dean.
“You. You gotta- ahem- lay down on your stomach..” Dean could barely form the words, his face turning beet root red.
“Okay.” The angel mumbled, he seemed far too tired to acknowledge Dean's current state. Cas got up slowly and got on the bed, resting his head on Dean's pillow, his arms laying limply next to his body.
“Okay, uhh I’m just gonna get some lotion, I’ll be back.” Dean stammered as he walked out of the room, he needed a minute to collect himself before he massaged a dude. A dude. A dude he liked a lot, he was really close with, they were best friends and he was helping out a friend. That was it.
Dean took in about 4 deep breaths and then went back into the room, without lotion.
“Cas?” Dean whispered next to him, the angel softly murmuring, he seemed to be asleep, or at least out of it enough to appear asleep, so Dean decided it was safe to ‘get to work’.
He started at Cas’ neck, slowly pushing his thumbs into the angel's neck, he could feel all his strained muscles. Every single one. His whole neck was stiff.
Dean decided to press harder, really getting deep, massaging his whole neck, relieving the knotted muscles of their strain.
He was starting to get to the shoulder area when Cas started making noise.
“You okay buddy?” Dean whispered while massaging one of Cas’ deltoids.
He groaned in pleasure before replying, “Yeah, I’m good.” He turned his head slightly, and gasped when he realized it didn’t hurt.
Apparently Cas’ smile was infectious because as soon as Cas mentioned it, Dean was beaming too.
“Thank you, Dean.” Cas grinned. All Dean could do was smile back at him.
“Well do you want me to finish? Or are you just going to walk around with a working neck and nothing else?” Dean smirked.
“Oh no. Please finish what you’re doing.”
“Alright, well sit up.”
Cas sat up, so they were both sitting on Dean's bed, criss cross applesauce, obviously.
Dean cleared his throat before beginning again. Massaging Cas’ shoulders, which as he did so, began to slump more and more, and feeling less strained as he worked.
Throughout this, Cas groaned and squirmed under Dean's touch. It felt awesome, being massaged, getting his muscles coaxed and calmed. But what really impacted him and this whole experience was simply that it was Dean. Dean was caring for Cas. Not that he didn’t, he knew Dean cared for him, but there was nothing like getting a personal massage from a tough and brooding country guy.
It felt nice.
By the time Dean was done, Cas had dozed off into angel slumber again, so, Dean being the total brave guy he was, kissed Cas on the back of his neck, just gently enough to not wake up the angel. Then he nudged Castiel and actually awoke him;
“Hey man, if you want to rest you can sleep here, I just wanted to tell you I’m done.” He kept one hand on Cas’ shoulder to keep the drowsy angel from falling over.
“Mmm.. what..?” The angel slurred, stirring awake.
“I’m done Cas.” Dean said softly, calmly rubbing the angel's shoulder, “You can keep sleeping if you want.”
“That…” The angel yawned, “Would be.. Very pleasurable.” He trailed off, slumping onto Dean's lap.
“Okay, Cas.” Dean answered. But the angel didn’t hear him, already deep in a now relieved slumber.
Dean felt it was necessary to move Cas so he was actually in a comfortable position. So he moved Cas; as delicately as possible, off his lap and onto his pillow. He pulled the blanket over the shirtless angel, gave him a light kiss on the forehead and walked out.
Cas’ face flushed slightly, but continued to sleep, trying to be unbothered by the kiss. It was nice feeling like someone cared, he felt loved. And he loved Dean, so it would all be okay.
And Dean would be okay too. Perhaps, one day he’ll actually reflect on how he treats Castiel, the Angel of the Lord who unapologetically changed his life for the better(and the worst, at times.)
But for now he was going to go get a beer and check on Sam, and perhaps come back and join the angel in this now sacred resting place, a place that had a true and real memory now. Though it didn’t mean much, it was more than enough for Dean.