[ dean's low hum of suppressed emotion is castiel's main focus. he shouldn't be exploiting the bond to get dean to admit to things that usually take him days, weeks, years to open up about, and he's doing his best not to dig, but that doesn't mean he isn't paying attention, wondering at the transition between each, trying to catch the moment something changes in him, what might have caused it. dean's too good at concealing what's below the surface, and the empathy bond isn't quite a telepathy bond, so those questions go largely unanswered, regardless.
the self-consciousness, ache, and anger makes him want to reach out, circle fingers around dean's wrist and try to pass something soothing over the bond, reassurance, something to edge out that ache and anger, but he keeps his feelings to himself this time. dean's already uncomfortable being on display, essentially, he's not going to push it any more right now. later, maybe, but not now.
dean pulls back, finished, and cas eyes the bandage, touching gingerly around the border of it to be sure all edge of the adhesive are attached and not going to peel off while he's moving around. looks all good, and his eyes lift back to dean's, a faint, appreciative smile on his lips, with a hint of humor in it. ]
I could never claim that.
[ dean winchester has done more for him than any single living being across all dimensions, his omniscient father included. cas knows it's just a phrase, but he's answering it anyway, because it deserves to be said, now more than ever, when he's having to rely so heavily on dean's knowledge and skills. rolling his shirt sleeve back down, castiel slides off the edge of the counter, organizing the supplies he snagged from the aisles and readying to load them into their packs. ]
What about you? Are you hurt?
[ he has to ask point blank, or dean will never let anyone know. ]
no subject
the self-consciousness, ache, and anger makes him want to reach out, circle fingers around dean's wrist and try to pass something soothing over the bond, reassurance, something to edge out that ache and anger, but he keeps his feelings to himself this time. dean's already uncomfortable being on display, essentially, he's not going to push it any more right now. later, maybe, but not now.
dean pulls back, finished, and cas eyes the bandage, touching gingerly around the border of it to be sure all edge of the adhesive are attached and not going to peel off while he's moving around. looks all good, and his eyes lift back to dean's, a faint, appreciative smile on his lips, with a hint of humor in it. ]
I could never claim that.
[ dean winchester has done more for him than any single living being across all dimensions, his omniscient father included. cas knows it's just a phrase, but he's answering it anyway, because it deserves to be said, now more than ever, when he's having to rely so heavily on dean's knowledge and skills. rolling his shirt sleeve back down, castiel slides off the edge of the counter, organizing the supplies he snagged from the aisles and readying to load them into their packs. ]
What about you? Are you hurt?
[ he has to ask point blank, or dean will never let anyone know. ]