Castiel decided, briefly and fondly, that humans should not be allowed this much enthusiasm.
Dean was laughing. Actually laughing, bright and unrestrained, as the sledge tore down the snowy hill far faster than Castiel considered reasonable. Wind snapped at Dean’s jacket, snow sprayed up around them, and the world felt dangerously unanchored.
“This is unsafe,” Castiel called, wings itching invisibly as instinct urged him to intervene. He tightened his grip on Dean’s hand anyway, boots skidding as he half ran, half hovered behind the sledge. “You could collide with a tree. Or a rock. Or—”
Dean twisted just enough to grin back at him, eyes sparkling with cold and joy. “Cas, relax!”
“I am relaxed,” Castiel lied. He was absolutely not relaxed. Dean Winchester should not be allowed to hurl himself downhill on a wooden contraption powered by gravity and poor decisions.
The sledge hit a bump. Dean whooped. Castiel’s heart lurched.
“Dean!” Castiel protested. “You are behaving recklessly.”
Dean laughed even harder. “What? That’s what you’re for!”
Castiel blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
“You know,” Dean said, squeezing his hand, voice warm despite the rush of air. “Saving me. Watching my back. Being my safety net.”
The words settled into Castiel’s chest like fresh snow, soft, quiet, impossibly tender. He looked at their joined hands. Dean was not pulling away. He was trusting Castiel to keep up.
“…Very well,” Castiel said, a small smile tugging at his mouth. He adjusted his grip, steadied them both, and let just a hint of grace slip into the moment. Nothing obvious. Nothing Dean would notice. Just enough.
Dean whooped again. “See? Told ya!”
Castiel watched him, windburned cheeks, reckless joy, utterly alive, and felt something gentle and bright unfold inside him.
Perhaps, Castiel thought, this was what he was for.
When the sledge finally slowed at the bottom of the hill, Dean leaned back, breathless and grinning. “Again?”
Castiel did not let go of his hand. “Yes,” he said softly. “Again.”
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