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It all happened so incredibly fast. In one second, Castiel had stood next to Dean whilst fighting a creature neither has ever seen before and in the next, the angel protectively had jumped to shield Dean from an attack. Castiel’s wings, which are attached to his back were covering the view, Dean has no clue what happened.
“Cas!”, Dean exclaims, surprised. The creature ran away, it quickly vanished into the woods after staggering Castiel. It earned itself so much distance that Dean didn’t even bother trying to consider that he could run after it to get revenge for his feathered friend—instead he worries for the brave Castiel.
Sam, from afar, heard the worried scream from Dean and ran towards the noise as fast he was able to. He told Dean and Castiel from the get go that splitting up had been a stupid idea.
Castiel still stood there, motionless, clutching his head, his wings cuddling his own body. From behind, covered and additionally in the setting sun, Dean hadn’t been able to see a thing about what exactly had hit Castiel, but he assumes it must’ve been something strong by the way he was reacting to it. He lays his hand firm on Castiel’s shoulder to turn him around, to check up.
Panting from anxiety, Dean looks at the confused angel. His eyes haphazardly scanned Dean up and down between the fingers that were covering his face. Dean licks his own lips, “Cas? Are you okay? Dude you can’t keep jumping in front of me every time someone hits me!”, he scolds him with care in a soft voice, hushed, just in case the creature might roam and would come back for seconds.
Castiel slowly straightens his back, he doesn’t say a thing. He tilts his head to the side as his wings raise back into the air, majestic. His wings remind Dean always of the night sky. They were dark blue and dotted white with what Dean could only describe as stars. He is never not impressed by them.
“Castiel?”, Dean carefully shakes him by the shoulders, using both of his hands.
The angel’s wings kept raising into the air, until they’re almost above his head, it looks like he was preparing for something. Dean’s heart speeds up, afraid that Castiel was irreversibly hurt by protecting him.
Castiel’s eyes suddenly dimmed down, they were unfocused and empty. Dean feels his heart throb in agony until suddenly they lit up once more, “Dean.”, the angel recognises him.
Dean eagerly nods, “Yes. Are you okay?”, he asks, letting go of him now.
Castiel keeps his head titled to the side, “Dizzy.”, he admits slurring, he completely removes his supporting hands from his face then.
Dean shakily sighs, “You’re gonna be fine.”, he tells him, not sure if he even himself believed it. He had to force himself to, at least.
A twig behind the two of them snapped, it was Sam approaching. Dean heard his huffing from running such a long distance to catch up, “Are you two alright?”, he loudly asks, turning his head in every possible direction just in case.
Dean immediately turns to him, relieved he shrugs, “Cas jumped in front of me and took a rough hit. Maybe to the head, I don’t know. Fucker ran straight into the woods after.”, he explains and points to the general direction of where it disappeared at. Only he halted in is movement when Castiel came into his sight, a large and dangerous frown on displayed on his face. Dean jolts, “Cas?”, he hesitantly whispers, he’s never seen him so bothered before.
Sam swallows hard, “He’s looking at me.”, he notices whilst taking back a step.
In response, Castiel seems to calm down a little bit, though as a n act of possible intimidation, the wings were still fluttering.
Finding it stupid, Dean snickers, “Come on, Cas, it’s just Sam. Calm down.”, he elbows the angel behind him.
Castiel doesn’t find it one bit as amusing as Dean did. He walks a few steps in Sam’s direction only to brush his wing over Dean’s head and hide him behind them. Dean sticks his head between the plumage to maintain eye contact with Sam, “You’re seeing the same thing I am?”, he bamboozled wonders.
Sam slowly nods, but even the simple motion of that, seemed to bring Castiel closer to the edge of anger. He takes a step closer to Dean and puts his hand before Dean’s body to defend him, if need be.
“Away.”, Castiel lowly threatens protectively, his eyes glanced over to Dean, they soften up and then harden again at Sam’s still annoying presence.
Sam scoffs, “Stop joking around, Castiel. This is serious.”, he tells him.
Dean nodding agrees and walks entirely under the wing in Sam’s direction. As if attached to his hip, Castiel follows Dean, getting between the two brothers. His one wing makes sure that there was no way for Sam to properly look at Dean—as if he wasn’t worthy of looking at Dean.
The angel doesn’t seem to particularly like that they were approaching Sam, his wings hostile and protective of Dean, wanted to stop him, somewhat. He only walked a few steps with him in the first place, because he is endeared by his mate.
Dean stops in his tracks, “Cas?”, he looks at him again—into the hypnotised, blue eyes of dedication. He gulps. The eyes were almost piercing through him.
Castiel suddenly reaches to grab Dean’s wrist. He roughly pulls him away from Sam again—Dean’s lips escaped a gasped, “What the fuck?”, he looks at Castiel in disbelief.
“Stay.”, Castiel demands, sounding not like his usual self. Not at all. He looks more than just stern. His hand was still clutching Dean’s wrist, hindering him from running away. Dean almost winces at the pressure, he knows it will leave behind a nasty bruise that he won’t be able to take his eyes off of. Castiel doesn’t seem to be aware of his own strength.
Dean tries to free his arm anyway, despite knowing that he was overpowered, out of sheer, petty protest and only to show he’s not enjoying this possessiveness—secretly, he felt confused as to how this actually did feel quite nice. Usually, it’s Dean doing all the caring and protecting. While being kept away from Sam was very unnecessary and overbearing, it was strangely…okay.
Castiel tightens his grip, he pulls Dean again once more behind his wings. Dean nearly falls over, and starts chuckling right after, “I think there's something up with Cas.”, he sarcastically says, eyebrows raised high.
Sam looks at the both of them exhausted, “You think?”, he asks, fed up with the weird stuff that they always run into as soon as Sam removes his eyes from the situations. “I think he’s not gonna let go off you soon. You may as well stop trying.”, Sam sighs.
Dean keeps attempting to anyway, not accepting his fate just yet. He dislikes giving up. Frowning on the outside, he struggles against the tight touch. He looks down to the ground to his dirty shoes. Suddenly, he stops. An idea blooms inside his head.
Carefully, he eyes Castiel again. This time, the angel looks more pleased and satisfied with Dean for having given up on trying to break free. He gives him an approving nod to reward him, the wing closest to Dean, giving him a light squeeze.
When the wings on Castiel’s back seem to settle down again, then, and his eyebrows soften up as well as his grip, Dean takes advantage of the moment and bolts. He manages to break free and runs towards Sam once more, thinking he could hide behind his tall figure and long hair.
Before he even managed to get away, the previously relaxed wings stretched to collect Dean, obtain him and keep him right where he’s supposed to stay. He curses but only a muffled yell is audible, feathers obstructing his mouth.
At this point, Sam was just tiredly laughing, unable to abide his eyes—it’s like watching a car crash happen in real life time, you should look away but you just can't.
Dean’s entire body was encapsulated by the wings and now, since he pulled a stunt like that just now, Castiel’s both arms were holding him right in front of his body to make sure it wouldn't happen again. He lowly growls into Dean’s ear, to make him aware that this was to be taken seriously.
Feeling out of control in the best way possible, Dean gives his last attempt barely any energy. Lazily, his open hands were hitting Castiel’s arms, as they squeeze air out of his lungs, “Stay.”, the angel reinforces by telling it straight into his ear. It felt like Castiel could only repeat the same words.
A shudder running down Dean’s spine, he nods, “And then what?”, he decides that he wants to see where this would go, not sure if he would regret indulging in Castiel’s craze.
“Home. Bed.”, Castiel keeps himself short, but Dean wasn’t sure if it was because he was in a hurry or because he was struggling to verbally express himself. Dean swallows, scared, not ready to find out what Castiel had planned for them once there. He tries to lean away from Castiel with anxiety—Dean had a dark premonition. Of course, it was the first thing Dean’s head went to. He didn’t know that it happened to be on Castiel’s mind as well—he had sort of hoped that the two of them had a bond that didn’t necessary need sex to function.
Whatever Castiel was infected with, it made him act up. Dean dislikes it. His heart beats fast, uncomfortable. They’ve not even once talked about feelings, they’re not even in any relationship—Dean doesn’t want their first time, if at all, to be like this. It scares him.
Nervous, Dean forces himself to ask, “What for, Cas?” He doesn’t really expect an answer, he sort of realises that communication with Castiel like this was almost impossible if every second responds was a mere growl, but he needed to question it anyway.
Castiel only gazes at Dean, as if the answer was obvious. There wasn’t hunger in his eyes, as Dean had panicky envisioned.
His wings open up and the two of them fly into the air, before Dean was able to argue back or yell to Sam for help.
Now with no ground propping his feet, Dean’s only actual fear feels triggered. He absolutely hates flying. It’s just not natural. Panting from fright, he holds onto Castiel.
Castiel notices his extreme discomfort, he feels the high pulse of the man he’s willing to protect with his life, and makes sure to stabilise Dean better, because he deserves better. He holds him roughly and Dean had worse problems right then, than being manhandled once more.
“Fuck.”, Dean whispers, his feet kicking, he has no control over them. He feels like a fish outside of the water, helpless. Everything happening overwhelmed him. His heart throbbing inside his chest, he was still freaking out about Castiel taking him to bed.
Castiel shushes him, “You’re safe,…”, he reassures him, “…with me.”, he says, his voice dark—Dean swallows, maybe he does enjoy himself a tiny bit.
The flight luckily was over quick. Dean hasn't felt grateful for ground beneath his feet for the longest time. Now it was everything he could’ve ever wished for. He leans into Castiel’s touch, feeling still a bit dizzy. Right away, Castiel reciprocates it—the angel’s head affectionately rubbing against Dean’s.
Dean was surprised that in his weird, possessive state that only seemed to revolve around Dean, Castiel even had managed to find the same motel they had rented out earlier, when they already had assumed that this monster hunt would take some time. Dean was surprised how Castiel seemed to crave touch from Dean, he hears a soft exhale from him.
Not playing around a minute longer, Castiel dedicated drags the two of them into the right room—Dean was trying to pull away still. Castiel doesn’t approve of it, he gives him a hard look under which Dean wanted to melt.
Castiel uses Dean’s weak knees to put the two of them onto the bed, not even allowing Dean to prepare.
Dean gasps, “What are you doing, dude?”, he puts his hands on Castiel’s chest to keep him away.
The angel wasn’t one bit discouraged by the arms, instead he embraces them, “Mates.”, he hums, as if intoxicated by Dean’s mere presence. The single word made it click instantly for Dean—he understands what’s going on now, he thinks. His anxiety more or less confirmed now. Dean simply wasn’t ready just yet. If at least he could have some more time to get used to the entire thing. It felt kind of early for mating.
Dean feels his own face heat up, shaking, “We’re not.”, he tries to correct it, hoping that it would be solved as easily as that.
Castiel only nods his head as an argument, eyes wide, he seemed pretty invariable with his opinion, he seems to devoted to keep going. Dean’s back is by now pushed against the wall as Castiel keeps crawling towards him.
Trying to slip away a final time, Castiel grimly gnarls at him. He uses his hands to put Dean right where he wants him, he doesn’t seem to hear Dean’s grunts upon the assertive hands around his waists, hungrily digging almost into his flesh.
Castiel’s wings appeared almost as if wagging, like this was just them playing chicken, like it was a challenge for him to pounce on Dean. After a few long moments, Dean decides that he stands no choice against him for much longer, his heart bumping loudly in his chest so much with anticipation.
He removes his hands and allows Castiel to wriggle closer. Trapped between Castiel’s hands, which were gripping the sheets beneath Dean, he seems appeased. Dean closes his eyes, scared what Castiel would do with him.
When nothing happened after a second but an additional heavy weight at the nape of his neck pushing him into the mattress, Dean dares to open his lids again. Snuggled against him was Castiel, guardedly wrapped around him. His wings were functioning as a blanket, keeping in the warmth.
Dean swallows. Hesitantly, he uses his free hand to put it on Castiel’s head to support it, even when it wasn’t necessary. Upon the touch, he huddles up against him closer, “Mates.”, he states again, pleased that Dean accepted it now.
He thought he might be able to keep Castiel happy like that until he’d drift away and Dean could free himself. But as time passes on, he actually feels a lot of tiredness surge through his body mixed with tranquility.
Castiel seemed uncomfortable with their current position after a while, and readjusted the both of them by hugging Dean’s entire body with his wings and turning them over. There wasn’t a lot of space to work with on the small body. Now, Castiel’s chest, was the only pillow Dean was seemingly allowed to make use of however he pleases—two arms slung around him. Castiel breathes calmly under Dean, fulfilled at the fact that Dean was able to rest and thereby done for the day.
Enwrapped still in the morning by Castiel’s protective wings and almost smothered by them throughout the night, Dean felt safe for once in his life. He snuggles against them, barely feeling the early morning sunlight on his exposed skin, because the tingling feeling of the feathers was much better anyway.
The door gets opened loudly, “I think I found something to reverse this!”, Sam yelps. He only sighs at the sight of the feather ball on the bed. Castiel grumbles tiredly, just hearing Sam’s voice seemed to interrupt his peace.
Dean forces his head to peek up to look at his brother, “What do you need for it?”, he mumbles, emerging from beneath the plumage, barely awake just yet this early in the morning. He only looked, because he didn’t want Castiel to properly wake and feel the need to claim him like yesterday. His eyes were not entirely opened, but there already was a lazy smile plastered on his face.
Sam furrows his eyebrows, he looks back onto the dusty sheet of paper he had dug out in the abandoned part of the local library, “I just gotta say a few words and it should be done with.”, his eyes return to check with Dean, expecting him to give Sam the sign to speak these words.
Conflicted, Dean yawns, “Can you come back in like a few hours again?”, he requests.
Sam chuckles, thinking it a joke at first. When he didn’t crack up at his own joke as he usually does, Sam realises that he was being serious, “You’re-..”, he rubs his face with both of his hands, “You know what? I’m tired too. Okay.”, he leaves the room again, “You’ll regret this.”, he scoffs and with that he was gone, door closed behind him.
Castiel on top of Dean now smelling Sam’s former presence lowly and irritated growls. Dean’s head disappears once more beneath the ridiculous amounts of feathers and he yawns. He feels Castiel slackly nuzzle up to him again, to keep him comfortable and to assure himself that Dean was still there. It sent Dean right into dreamless sleep again in contentment.
“Feeling better, Cas?”, Dean fidgets with his fingers, eying the angel carefully as he seems to wake up from his previous trance-like state. Dean leans back in the chair in front of the bed, a beer in his hand from which he hadn’t yet drunk from.
What Sam found, seemed to work quite fast.
Castiel slowly nods, avoiding Dean’s studious gaze, “I’m … doing better.”, he sharply sucks in air, “Sorry and thank you.”, he adds after a second. Then he chews on his lower lip, going over everything that has happened now with a clear mind.
He feels almost stupid, in retrospective—of course, he went feral for Dean out of all the people on this Earth. He’d been so desperately convinced that Dean was his mate. So badly had he wanted it to be true. It wasn’t just the curse to be at fault for what happened.
Castiel was scared that Dean might suspect this, that Dean would read him like a book, because that’s what he always does. And inevitably, wouldn’t Dean leave him in the dust for this? He knows that the man isn’t really into dealing with feelings—at all. What if Castiel overdid it?
Dean shakes his head, “Dude, you protected me from getting hit myself. You don’t have anything to apologise for.”, he calms him down, using his hands to gesture to Castiel that it was fine, “Besides, you give surprisingly good hugs. Could’ve been worse.”, he chuckles gingerly.
Castiel’s thoughts were slightly slowed down upon hearing him. He trusts Dean’s words. He tilts his heads to one side, a careful curated smile on his lips, that hopefully didn’t reveal too much.
