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Sorry this took so long to answer! I’ve started working again so I had a little less time than I thought but I loved writing this one. I’ve tried to even draw it, I love it so much. If I do end up with a piece I’m happy with I’ll add it to this post! this ficlet was inspired by this (x)
As darkness falls over his garden, Castiel pokes his head out of the round hole of his cubby. Complete silence, aside from the ever constant buzz of the cicadas, hangs heavy in the night.
With a deep breath and a double check to make sure his glamour isn’t glowing, Castiel steps out of the wooden opening and flutters down to the grass below, careful not to rub his wings together.
The grass is long and difficult to make his way through, but Castiel trudges forward, making every attempt to be cautious and keep quiet. If anyone knew where he was headed, he would face a particularly harsh punishment. But, he knows that if he manages to succeed in his mission, the Queen will be so happy that she will forgive him for stepping outside their bounds.
The darkness is an obstacle he has to deal with, so he arrives a little later than he hoped. Once he knows he’s there, confidence flows within him again. Atop the middle post of a fallen fence frame, stands a single, brilliant rose. Castiel has seen it from his sentry position and knows that it would make his garden superior to the neighboring colony.
They are in a constant competition with one another to make their gardens the most beautiful. Castiel has never visited the Winchester Garden but he knows with almost certainty that they won’t have this rose.
Smiling smugly to himself knowing that his colony will have the upper hand once again, Castiel softly ascends to the top of the fence post. The Rose is even larger and more ordinate up close. The petals feel soft and pliant under the press of his hands. Yes, this will make the perfect addition to his garden. The Queen will be so proud of his accomplishments.
Placing his hand at the base of the Rose, Castiel summons a tiny amount of glamour to manifest a small gathering knife, just enough for the necessities. But before he gets a chance to start removing the flower, he hears the distinct flutter of another set of wings.
Panic floods his head. He does the only thing he thinks of, and hides within the petals of the Rose, using glamour to hopefully blend himself in with the crimson.
A few beats pass before another fae lands daintily on the fence, almost exactly where Castiel had been a few moments ago. The faery is unfamiliar to him. He may feel a twinge of jealously at the grace of this faeries wings. His own are more like that of a honey bee, making him quick but lacking in prowess. With large pointed wings that curl up higher than his head, Castiel wonders where he could be from.
If Castiel was to give an honest appraisal, he would claim that this is a very handsome Fae. His dark blond hair is cut short and his is well built. His gait is unique, with his knees no quite being able to touch. There are few fae that Castiel would admit he is attracted to, and this fae gets added to the top of the list. If only he could figure out what colony he is from.
It is not until he turns around that Castiel can place him.
Castiel’s breath catches in his throat. A Winchester.
There is no doubt. The starfire sigil sits proudly on this fae’s chest, right below his collarbone. Castiel recognizes it from the signs they post, making warnings to new fae in town who may think of settling in the area.
He is walking right for the flower, and to Castiel. With his breath under his tongue and glamour at full force, he desperately hopes not to be caught.
“Fucking finally,” the fae sighs rather dramatically, kneeling down next to the base of the rose, “I thought i’d never be able to get here.”
He shimmers, the edges of his body fading out slightly. He must be using his glamour, but Castiel can’t see his hands from his hiding spot so he has no idea what this fae could have made.
The whole flower shakes.
Before Castiel can fully understand what’s happening, the Rose is falling forward and he is tumbling out of it. His wings open on reflex, catching himself mid-fall. Even though this stops himself, Castiel becomes painfully aware of his exposure. But he will not let this Winchester take away the flower that he found.
His wings buzzing, he lifts himself up and is met with a bewildered expression on the other fae’s face.
“Let go of the flower,” he asks firmly, placing a steady landing in front of his opponent.
“Dude,” the fae says, mouth open, looking between him and the rose, “Did you.. did you just come out of the flower??”
Castiel decides not to answer, but instead reiterates his request.
The fae frowns at him. “What for?”
“It belongs to my colony,” Castiel growls, holding out his hand, “So if you don’t mind. I would like it.”
The fae tucks the Rose to his chest. “I don’t know who you think you are buddy, but I have claim on this flower.”
That’s caterpillarshit and Castiel knows it. This fae is talking out of his ass. This Rose hadn’t bloomed until a few days ago, and within that time Castiel heard of no such fae claiming this land.
“You speak a false truth,” Castiel says, “you may think it belongs to you, but I have laid claim to it first.”
The fae’s face places. “Shit.” But then his eyes light up with what Castiel can only describe as recognition. “You’re a Novak!” He says it like its sour.
Castiel can barely retain another growl, his wings buzz against his back in agitation. “Is that going to be an issue, Winchester?”
“Why are you making such a big deal out of this?” The Fae wrinkles his nose. “It’s not like a rose is rare or anything.” Nonetheless, he holds the flower tight in his grip, so Castiel takes his claims with a grain of pixie dust.
If this rose was so common, then why was he here, Castiel wonders, first in his head and then out loud to the fae before him.
“I lost a bet,” he says smoothly to Castiel’s probing. “My brother Sam told me that I wouldn’t be able to sneak out and get this rose before dawn. I’ve gotta prove him wrong.”
Castiel looks down at the flower again and clenches his hands. Possessiveness overwhelms him, as does the thought that all of this trouble will be for nothing. He feels defeated. This fae is clearly stronger than him in almost every form. If he truly wants this flower, he already has his hands on it. Damn it all.
There is one last thing that Castiel can try. “I’ve come a decent distance under the threat of punishment.” Castiel explains. “Since this is a game to you, could I please be the one to take the rose back to my colony?” His wings no longer buzz at his back, only flicking once or twice in agitation.
The fae seems to think it over before he shakes his head. “Sorry, Buzzlightyear but I kinda have to own up to this or get a back hand yknow? I’ll lose face.”
Castiel’s wings slump, but before he can so much as get off the ground to go face the music, the fae grabs his arm. Turning back, Castiel is met with a friendly, dazzling smile.
“If you need a rose so badly, I know where there’s like a million bushes.”
That intrigues his curiosity. At least something is better than nothing. “Where is it?”The fae chuckles. “A little eager there, huh? I like it.” He claps Castiel on the back. “Now I’m just going to fly this to the edge of my colony and then I’ll take you to the bushes okay?”
Castiel nods in understanding, taking a seat on the edge of the fence post.
“I’m Dean, by the way,” the fae calls out as he drops down, the rose flying off with him. Castiel can’t help but smile. Perhaps tonight might turn out better than he thought. After all, maybe there is an even better rose in this garden that Dean is going to take him to. Maybe he can still win this.
It takes quite a while for Dean to return, but Castiel doesn’t mind. By the time he does get back, Castiel is buzzing with new energy and determination. He figures, now he’s going to have a selection that he can choose from, perhaps he can even take more than one.
“Hey, you ready to head out?” Dean asks, hovering right beside the edge of the post.
Castiel feels a small grin come over his lips. “Of course.”
With that, they take off through the small wood behind their gardens. Dean leads the way, with his wings nearly silent. Castiel curses his “insect” wings. They are useless when he attempts to be stealthy. Dean’s are clearly built for easy, silent flights. The only thing that keeps Castiel’s spirits up, is the knowledge that he can do this.
He rubs his wings together and beelines it past Dean in display. Caught off guard, Dean backs up a little before he catches the gleam in Castiel’s eye. He’s caught onto Castiel’s challenge, but before he can make good on it, Castiel takes off ahead of him, laughing in delight.
Magic pulses from behind and Castiel knows that Dean is trying to use his glamour to catch up and win, but Castiel knows that no even the most quick witted of fae who use glamour have ever been able to catch up with him. At least not when he doesn’t want them to. He’s unsure what possesses him to do it, but Castiel pulls the brakes on this wings, right in front of Dean, attempting to knock him out of the sky.
What he doesn’t count on is Dean grabbing onto him as he plummets to the ground. He screams at the possibility of being hurt, and pushes at Dean’s arms. But he only gets a loud whooping noise in his ear, as Dean pulls his arms tighter around Castiel’s waist.
Thank the Queen for the underbrush of the forest. Soft pliable leaves bend to their weight and help them land safely on the forest floor. Dean ends up on his back, still holding Castiel firmly against his chest. They both breathe deeply as they adjust.
Dean lets go and and soon as Castiel is off, he springs up with a gleeful sound. “Oh jeez, I haven’t laughed like that in a while.” The smile he flashes is as bright as the moon. With his hands on his hips, he crooks his head. “Com’on Buzzlightyear, we’re almost there.”
Castiel rolls his eyes. “My name is Castiel.”
“Well then, Castiel, let’s get a move on!”
It takes only a few moments before Dean lifts up a branch to the underside of a bush.
The light of the moon peeks through the spaces and illuminates the buds and petals of the roses that stand tall and proud. The ruby bounces off in contrast with the green of the leaves, and Castiel can’t help but reach up and drag his hand gently across the one blooming above their heads. It takes all of his control to keep his jaw from dropping.
He turns to Dean, only to find that he’s nowhere to be seen. Glancing around in the dark, he forces his glamour to shimmer the air and illuminate the space a bit more. The light allows him to realize that Dean had silently flown up between the twigs of the bush to perch and watch him.
Another dazzling smile lights up Dean’s face as he softly calls down, “Do you think this is good?”
Castiel feels his own lips curl into a smile when he nods and Dean’s happiness begins to practically radiate the air around them. It encourages Castiel to twitter from bud to bud, looking and hoping to find something to bring back home. Dean did this for him. He might not get the rose that he initially wanted, but there are so many here to choose from. However will he decide?
Dean teases him from his spot in the branches as Castiel inspects and rejects almost all of the roses he can see in this bush. Some of the time it’s just posturing for Dean, to grate his nerves a little bit in jest, but more often than not, Castiel simply doesn’t like that the rose Dean took is better than the ones that he is looking at.
Frustrated, he zips up to Dean’s spot and sits down next to him. “You have to help me.”
“What, can’t find a good one?” Dean prods, leaning back against a stem.
Castiel huffs out a sigh. “There are plenty of good ones. But none of the roses I have looked at compare to the one from the fence.” He doubts Dean will take kind to his lamenting, but he can’t help it if he’s a little bitter at the thought of coming home empty handed.
Dean furrows his brow. “Why do you need a rose any way?”
Castiel rolls his eyes. “In all honesty, it’s so I can make my colony’s garden better than yours.”
Dean barks out a laugh. “Oh jeez man, that’s a lost cause.” He levels his eyes and explains himself, laying a hand over Castiel’s knee, before Castiel’s wings begin twitching again. “There’s no point in this constant fucking feud, yknow? It’s tiring, man.”
Castiel knows the feeling. The Queen is always barking orders and complaints about how her colony should be doing more and be looking happier because the Winchester colony is making them look bad. “I suppose you’re right,” Castiel concedes, slumping forward on his elbows, “But if I don’t have that? What’s my purpose?”
“Live for yourself.” Dean says simply, “Take what you want.”
The air between them sparks with an energy Castiel hasn’t felt before when their eyes lock for what must be the millionth time this evening. But Castiel is just noticing that Dean’s eyes are green. They’re no green like the leaves of the rose bush, but a green like the moss near the lake, bright and vibrant, but darkened by something, something that Castiel is thinking about finding out.
He doesn’t notice that he’s raised a hand to Dean’s face until his fingertips graze the soft skin under Dean’s eyes. He can almost feel Dean’s breath catch as he traces Dean’s cheek bone, and knows his breathing stops altogether when his fingers brush against the curve of Dean’s lips.
He glances back up at Dean to find that the green of his eyes is almost encapsulated by the expanse of his pupils. It would be so easy to do it. Castiel knows in theory, but he hesitates to put it into practice. It’s a rarity for fae to find companionship outside of their colony, but when Dean’s gaze drifts down to Castiel’s mouth, all of his thoughts fly out the window. Dean told him to take what he wants. And right now, there is something he wants to do more than anything.
Of course, as soon as he makes the decision, something has to grab him away. As he leans in to give Dean his first kiss, he braces his hand on the stem next to Dean’s face. Pain suddenly jolts up from his hand and he jerks back with a yelp, putting an immediate damper on his plans.
His hand throbs as he cradles it close to himself.
It takes Dean a second to realize what’s happened, and then he’s cursing. “Shit, did you catch it on a thorn?”
Castiel can only nod and breathe as he tries to summon enough glamour to heal himself, but the pain is to distracting. “I can’t…”
“Can’t what, Cas?” Dean asks softly from beside him.
Castiel opens his palm up to him to reveal the damage. “It hurts too much.”
Cursing under his breath again, Dean reaches out and gently reaches out, his form shimmering. Light floods the infected area and relief flows. Castiel lefts out a heavy breath as his body accepts the help Dean is giving him. It feels magnificent and it’s over all the sooner.
“Thank you,” Castiel says, dropping his head down on Dean’s shoulder as he suddenly feels tired.
“No problem.”
Castiel might not have gotten the rose he wanted, but he’s certainly got something. It’s unclear whether or not that this will become anything more, despite what almost happened. Castiel tilts his head up to meet Dean’s face and gives him a small, grateful smile. Dean huffs and returns it, his green eyes nearly glowing in the night. Castiel knows Dean must see something here too, and his heart beats a little bit faster at that thought. Yes, he’s gotten something better than a rose indeed.
