Julian Dorado

Julian Dorado | Male | 35 years old | Demi-God, Son of Asclepius | PJO-inspired Indie

[healedserpent]

People went to the club for three things: hook up, drink, and dance. The first option wasn’t his prerogative and he already did the second. The third? Begged by Corey, the young and bright demigod he easily knew to be Apollo’s own. Corey’s grin captivated him far better than the clubs lights or people ever did. It’s radiant and expressive and, above all, inviting. 

Why would he go to a club if Corey weren’t that amicable type? 

Julian laughed between them, using this weight on his neck and shoulders to lure Corey into the fray of heat and passion. His hands slipped down to Corey’s sides, gentle and light despite the setting. While they were demigods, he didn’t know of Corey’s relations. Why not keep the night between friends, unless Corey voiced his own interests?

“You forgot to say please. But, I can’t say no to that smile,” he teased and widened his grin.

[healedserpent]

‘As if there’s not a bad bone in your body.’

What a sweet concept, coming from Jin. Truth be told he aspired to be good, better than his past with each medical endeavor. Doctor life, personal life, he didn’t discriminate: he wanted to be good. But, an inkling of deviation, of testing the waters towards defiance snuck into his mind. Gentle and tender was his style, whereas the idea of rough and passionate got a nod from him.

He swung his head low with a snort, “There sure will be,” he confirmed and pushed forward, hips rolling up while cock slip further in his grasp. Julian’s eyes squinted and a devious glint weighted his eyes, “Not expected? I’m not exactly plain and vanilla, amor. Not everyone is as they seem,” he lilted and brought his thumb down to Jin’s lip, pressing into the plush flesh.

As if to make a point, his nails dug into Jin’s back, raking along the soft flesh to produce ruddy lines. No blood’s drawn but the sensation should give Jin an idea. Like it never happened, he returned to gliding that hand along warm muscles, lower and lower until he massaged into the small of his back. Julian maintained his breathing, keeping breaths soft and short under Jin’s tongue and touch alike. There were times when he sucked in, exchanging it for a moan or low call of the man’s name upon a voice of reverence.

[healedserpent]

shieldofgod​:

Castiel returned the kiss and the hug both, resting his chin over Julian’s shoulder and giving him a long squeeze; he had missed Julian, too, though he had kept himself busy enough that it didn’t itch in his veins.  “I did.  And it’s been fine; I practiced flying and raided a couple of orchards for your dessert.  I tried to keep an eye out for more interesting things, but apples were easiest to come by.”

Flying still wasn’t the easiest thing and his range was considerably curtailed, but he was gaining back pieces at a time and would hopefully one day be able to reclaim all of them.  In the meantime, though, he was content just to be around Half Moon Bay.  “I ran into my friend Kekipi.  She seemed to approve of my appearance.”  Castiel didn’t get it, he was shaggy, but he was chuffed by the positive attention and the fact he got to see his friend and she got to see him in turn. “I met her before I met you; she is a wolf who gets on well with ravens.”

But, enough for now.  Cas nuzzled his head against Julian’s for a moment, then got the demigod by the shoulders to turn him around and walk him to the table. “How was work?”

“You raided orchards?” He echoed, raising his brow but touched nonetheless. Hopefully no one minded...Given what he was, he had a feeling no one noticed, neither. Julian squeezed him back as they hugged and smiled a bit more. It sounded like seeing a friend helped, wherever she was. Somewhere within the state, somewhere else? Castiel mentioned having to stop a few times on the way down from Washington, leaving him to believe those long flights weren’t possible just yet. 

Still, it sounded like a good day.

“Kekipi’s got good taste, y’know,” he grinned and nuzzled into Castiel’s head. Another squeeze and kiss to his hair, then Julian let go, only for Castiel to turn him to the table. He had to laugh at that, frankly enjoying the gentle ‘push’ to dinner. Who knew reuniting could feel so good? “Work? It went well! My two surgeries were good. The first took a little longer than anticipated, only due to the size of the tumor, while the second needed more time to wake up from anesthesia. My other patients have been well and I’ve not been yelled at all day, neither.” A little victory in the realm of medicine, suffice to say. 

Julian did look over to Castiel, smile soft. “I’ve been thinking about this morning, what I wanted to do for my career. I want to focus more on emergency medicine than...oncology.” Perhaps a way to move on from his past, accept what was lost and had happiness else where, or a way for him to truly step back from workaholic tendencies. 

[healedserpent]

shieldofgod​:

The house probably smelled fairly good; once Cas had known when Julian would get home, he had gone and gotten to work on cooking.  With his smart phone, he had also managed to figure out how to make dessert from some of the apples, so not only did Julian have grilled cheese on rye and (canned sadly) tomato soup waiting on the table for him, but he also had a slice of a kind of apple cobbler, a little prone to disintegration on the plate, but a very good first attempt.

Castiel was not aware he was fulfilling the role of a housewife admirably, but even if he had been, he would not have been displeased with it.

He called, “I’m here!  I’m just finishing the laundry,” from the laundry room; he had folded all of Julian’s casual clothes while he was in there and washed his own relatively limited set.  Thankfully, Kemuel had given him instructions on how to use a washing machine and a dryer.  He set his folded jeans aside and came back out, heading for the table and pointing, “I made dinner.  I just finished it not twenty minutes ago, so it should still be good.”

Returning to the ocean breeze was a growing norm for Julian, so the smell of actual food--cooked!--was a pleasant surprise. He knew Castiel planned to make grilled cheese, but he didn’t realize how nice it’d smell. Most of his meals were varying degrees of complex, spanish-influenced, or a mix of the two. Having tonight’s be something simple as grilled cheese and soup was endearing. Made with love, too. 

He smiled when he saw Castiel walk out the laundry room and down the hall. Julian closed in to intercept with a kiss, “Mm, you did? It sure smells good, amor. How’s your day been? I missed you at work.” He did, perhaps more than he realized he would. The doctor kissed him on the lips and slid an arm around his waist for a hug. 

[pinesourcearchive-deactivated20]

Chris Pine | The Late Late Show with James Corden

[shieldofgod]

healedserpent​:

“Then no sugar–got it,” he smiled. Castiel didn’t seem to be too fond of the desserts he made, such as the cinnamon rolls Kemuel engrossed himself over in Darrington. Julian’s own sweet tooth took to chocolate and flan, perhaps even caramel, too. He kissed him back happily and sat down across from him. He didn’t eat too fast, but he didn’t eat slow, neither. Watching Castiel scarf it all down felt like a ‘badge of honor’ as far as taste went. 

“Anytime, Castiel! My food’s yours, too. I’m good at sharing,” he added in at the end, genuine and self-teasing alike. Julian winked before his first bite, then started to chip away. He did have to get up not long afterwards to pour the coffee. While he got a mug for Castiel, he got himself a thermos. It was, without a doubt, going to last him but the first few hours at his shift. The rest? Maybe another cup or two from the hospital to tide him over. “I’m putting some creamer in mine. You can take a sip to see if you want some in yours, too?” He offered, looking over Castiel’s way. He wasn’t sure if Castiel had creamer before, nor did he want to spoil the angel’s drink by adding something he didn’t like.

“I can try it.”  Castiel was not overly picky, no.  Or picky at all.  Unless, of course, his vessel was trying to warn him not to eat something; he had discovered that it was better at discerning foods than he himself was.  Perhaps some bodily instinct which clung to these borrowed bones.

It did turn out that he didn’t mind a splash of cream in his coffee; it imparted a different flavor.  And it also turned out that sending Julian off to work was not exactly a pleasure, but Castiel sent him off with a kiss nonetheless, promising to keep his phone on him and also to make grilled cheese sandwiches for when Julian came home.

That gave him many hours to occupy himself.  So, he napped.  And then he flew, running into Kekipi while he was out and about.  He also stole some apples and Asian pears from trees growing around the area before returning back to make Julian’s and his dinner, setting the new fruit on the table and getting to work on cooking as the day wound into evening.

[healedserpent]

Julian had taken whatever coffee was left to work—after he kissed him and wished him a good day. They’d see each other later, but that didn’t diminish how hard it was to say goodbye yet again. The hours went by, shifting between two surgeries and a post-op appointment, and Julian Dorado was ready to go home.

He texted Castiel before he hit the road. The traffic passing the gate was often a beast at that ‘five o’clock’ hour yet, in his case, it bled into six o’clock, too. By the time he returned it was closing in to six forty and he pulled his car into the driveway. Julian got out and made his way to the path that wound into the grass towards the door.

The doctor unlocked the door and stepped inside, carrying with him an empty thermos and a small messenger bag. “Castiel?” He called while closing the door. It wasn’t a dream that the angel arrived yesterday, but after returning to the ‘normal’ world, it almost felt like one.

[pinesourcearchive-deactivated20]

 05/19/16 - Visiting The Talk

[healedserpent]

shieldofgod​:

“I’m willing to try anything, as long as it’s not too sweet.”  Something Julian no doubt had picked up during their month in Darrington.  He set down the silverware and then managed to sit at the table, awkward as chairs were when it came to wings.  Breakfast smelled good, though; he smiled some for Julian offering the plate to him and returned the kiss to Julian’s mouth as he took it.

“Thank you,” he said, as he dug into the breakfast, which was indeed delicious as Julian had said it was.  Castiel nodded his approval for it, pausing to say, “This is very good,” as he ate, probably impolitely quickly, but then– it wasn’t as if he had a great deal of socialization in such things as yet.

He did wonder some what he was going to do with himself while Julian was gone.  But maybe he could practice his flying.  They weren’t too far from parklands, after all.

“Then no sugar--got it,” he smiled. Castiel didn’t seem to be too fond of the desserts he made, such as the cinnamon rolls Kemuel engrossed himself over in Darrington. Julian’s own sweet tooth took to chocolate and flan, perhaps even caramel, too. He kissed him back happily and sat down across from him. He didn’t eat too fast, but he didn’t eat slow, neither. Watching Castiel scarf it all down felt like a ‘badge of honor’ as far as taste went. 

“Anytime, Castiel! My food’s yours, too. I’m good at sharing,” he added in at the end, genuine and self-teasing alike. Julian winked before his first bite, then started to chip away. He did have to get up not long afterwards to pour the coffee. While he got a mug for Castiel, he got himself a thermos. It was, without a doubt, going to last him but the first few hours at his shift. The rest? Maybe another cup or two from the hospital to tide him over. “I’m putting some creamer in mine. You can take a sip to see if you want some in yours, too?” He offered, looking over Castiel’s way. He wasn’t sure if Castiel had creamer before, nor did he want to spoil the angel’s drink by adding something he didn’t like.

[healedserpent]

shieldofgod​:

Stranger in a strange land.  Castiel tried to put the coffee pot back together so that Julian could demonstrate the correct method of using it, and mostly managed to succeed.  Though after a few moments, he just gave up and lwt Julian do the work, noting each step and tucking an arm around the demigod’s back, a hand against his waist.

“All right, that seems simple enough.”  Castiel typically took his coffee black, but he wasn’t above trying it other ways, so long as it didn’t get too sweet for his tastes.

Once Julian was done flicking the coffee pot on, the seraph reluctantly withdrew his arm and went to get the plates out, searching out their cupboard and moving to take them to the counter.  Then he went to put the silverware on the table, making use of some of what he had learned over the past couple of months.

Julian smiled for Castiel’s efforts and the hand around his waist. Once the coffee was set to brew, he kissed his cheek and went to prepare their breakfast for the plates. “Sí! It’s not too hard.” Just confusing, if that, given how each coffee maker varied. Either way, he let it do its thing while he made the finishing touches for their food. 

“Do you want anything with your coffee? I’m going to add a bit of creamer in mine,” he said, looking over to his boyfriend. The silverware and plates weren’t hard to find thanks to their location and the brief tour; he picked a plate up to slip the tortilla on top. The eggs were at last cooked and the rest of the ensemble ready for more, so he plated Castiel’s huevos rancheros and went about doing his own. He took the plates over to the table, offering one to Castiel with a kiss. “Here we go--el desayuno! Eggs, avocado, pico de gallo,” he trailed off, almost sighing in a cross between pride and nostalgic bliss. “One hundred percent delicious!”

[healedserpent]

shieldofgod​:

Castiel leaned his head a little into the petting and the cheek kissing, but then went back to trying to puzzle out the coffee pot while he listened and nodded.  The food smelled good, though, and he was looking forward to sitting down with Julian for breakfast, even if they were going to be parting ways after that.  “That would be good, that way the food is not cold when you get in.”

It might give Julian a little more room to breathe, anyway, if he could come home to a meal made for him.  Even if he enjoyed cooking so much, it would probably be good to have a break, wouldn’t it?

“Kemuel doesn’t make coffee like this,” he said, after puzzling some more over the coffee maker, tilting his head at it as he looked at where he’d halfway disassembled it. “How do I use this?”

Julian had to peek at Castiel and...the coffee pot? He wondered what happened in such a short time, but the answer revealed itself. After ensuring their breakfast was fine, he came over and opened a cupboard to pull out a can of ground coffee and a little paper filter for it, too. “Oh--? It’s not too hard when you understand. If could can put it back together, that’d be good. We’ll need to make sure there’s water in it to work.” He gave him a little smile and tried to help out. 

“It’ll be in the container behind it--All you have to do after that is put the filter in, the ground coffee, and hit the button so it can brew.” It wasn’t everyday he explained it or had to put much thought into it, but then again, it wasn’t everyday he had people over. 

[shieldofgod]

healedserpent​:

Julian tried to make being awake a hair easier with a little smile. He’d be doing some final touches of his own before work—brushing teeth and hair, deodorant and maybe a spritz of cologne, to name a few. “All right; I’ll get breakfast started, then.” He flashed a soft smile, somewhat apologetic to wake the angel up so early, before he scaled the stairs and started to prepare some good ol’ huevos rancheros.

Would Castiel like it? He hoped so; otherwise, thankfully, the angel had other choices. Some cereal in the pantry or left overs in the fridge, maybe some toast and sausage, too, if it piqued his interest. Plenty of options were to be had at casa de Julian.

It wasn’t too long before Castiel came back downstairs, still looking somewhat sleepy, but marginally more alert than he had been.  His hair was a mess for falling asleep with it damp, and his wings were a little disordered even after he fluffed them out and gave them a shake, but at least he pressed a kiss to the back of Julian’s neck before moving to go and figure out where the coffee was.

“What time do you usually get home?  So I can make you grilled cheese?”  He was certain Julian would have bread and butter and cheese, and maybe Castiel could even play on his smart phone and see if there was anything else he could make to go with the sandwiches.  It wouldn’t be culinary brilliance, but it would at least be made with affection.

[healedserpent]

The sleepy look was a good one on Castiel. It made him look as soft as his wings were, yet that drowsy bed-head of his was still a capable warrior and seraph. Julian smiled at the kiss with a little, “morning” hummed out. He had gotten the corn tortillas out and warmed up on the pan, while eggs were starting to cook on another, sunny side up.

The rest of the ingredients—sliced avocado, refried beans, pico de gallo, and such—were either cut up while the eggs cooked or pulled out from yesterday’s meal prep. He gestured with the spatula-ladened hand, “Welcome to the kitchen! I’m making huevos rancheros right now, for the two of us. I usually get home around six due to traffic, but I can text you before I leave the hospital to give you an estimate on my return.”

He bobbed his head, pausing with the food to comb Castiel’s bedhead and kiss his cheek, “I’ve got cereal and other dry and canned goods in the pantry over here, drinks and leftovers in the fridge, and the dishes are here.” Julian gestured per each location; thankfully for Castiel, a coffeemaker sat next to the fridge, nice and neat and clean, with a cleaned out pot that begged to be filled. “I’ve got creamer in the fridge if you like it with your coffee,” he added while returning to the eggs.

[shieldofgod]

healedserpent​:

Julian quirked his lips for a smile and gently tousled Castiel’s hair when he stood up. “No es temprano para mí,” he playfully tutted in a sleep-rough voice. So he clicked the night stand’s lamp on and got to undressing himself. Julian didn’t make much of a show of it, much rather trying to get his clothes on more than anything.

He paused while buttoning up his shirt, bare aside from briefs and shirt. “The…? Yes! I can meet you down there. Do you want me to make you breakfast? I can leave it in the oven if you want to go back to sleep afterwards,” he said, looking over at his wings. Watching them stretch and move around never got old. He took a few steps forward to kiss the corner of his mouth and then rubbed their noses together.

The angel only grumbled back at that, a low and rough noise where he was very clearly judging every single one of Julian’s life choices, especially the ones that would declare that this somehow wasn’t too early.  But he scrubbed at his face and scrubbed through his hair before pressing a kiss to Julian’s mouth in turn and then stumbling for the bathroom so he could wash his face and brush his teeth.

It wasn’t even really light out yet.

“I’ll be down in a minute,” he said back as he went to go and get himself at least somewhat awake.  Though he might sprawl back on the bed later, after he saw Julian off to work.

[healedserpent]

Julian tried to make being awake a hair easier with a little smile. He’d be doing some final touches of his own before work—brushing teeth and hair, deodorant and maybe a spritz of cologne, to name a few. “All right; I’ll get breakfast started, then.” He flashed a soft smile, somewhat apologetic to wake the angel up so early, before he scaled the stairs and started to prepare some good ol’ huevos rancheros.

Would Castiel like it? He hoped so; otherwise, thankfully, the angel had other choices. Some cereal in the pantry or left overs in the fridge, maybe some toast and sausage, too, if it piqued his interest. Plenty of options were to be had at casa de Julian.

[shieldofgod]

healedserpent​:

“Ach, achoiad,” he murmured, repeating each term a few times to get it in his head. He wondered if any of the prophets knew it, in the Bible. A random thought before bed, but a thought nonetheless. Julian hummed another note and pressed his head as much as he could into his hand. The firm moment of contact was a short-lived one; he didn’t have enough energy to do more.

A good end to a good night, Julian was happy his ‘present’ arrived on the back of two silver-edged wings. He tried to return the petting but his hand kept getting heavier and heavier…In the end, he let it rest on his hip to flash a drowsy, but sweet, smile. “Buena noche, ach. Te veo en la mañana.” Then, he drifted off, warm and safe with the ocean’s waves crashing down below.

…

When morning came, it came early for Julian Dorado. He had an alarm and it rang on the nightstand beside him. The doctor held back a yawn while forcing himself up, trying to turn it off to start his early day. Yesterday was nice and, seeing Castiel still there, made today just as nice. Hopefully his shift at the hospital would be just as well, however. “Mm, Castiel,” he whispered while turning the alarm off, “lo siento. I gotta get ready for work.”

It was probably the best sleep he’d managed since Julian had left Darrington; just the presence of the demigod, the rhythm of his breathing, the closeness and scent.  Even for their struggles, Castiel associated those things with a sense of safety.

As such, he was not in any great hurry to wake up and muttered, “Es demasiado pronto,” into the pillow; since Julian was out from under his wing now, he used that wing to cover his own head up for a moment, though even with the protest, he was not really a lazy thing.

So, after that moment more, the angel heaved a sigh out and started stretching his wings, including down off the end of the bed, rolling from one side to the other to get them both.  When he did stand up, he rubbed his eyes. “So you can show me the kitchen, yes?”

[healedserpent]

Julian quirked his lips for a smile and gently tousled Castiel’s hair when he stood up. “No es temprano para mí,” he playfully tutted in a sleep-rough voice. So he clicked the night stand’s lamp on and got to undressing himself. Julian didn’t make much of a show of it, much rather trying to get his clothes on more than anything.

He paused while buttoning up his shirt, bare aside from briefs and shirt. “The...? Yes! I can meet you down there. Do you want me to make you breakfast? I can leave it in the oven if you want to go back to sleep afterwards,” he said, looking over at his wings. Watching them stretch and move around never got old. He took a few steps forward to kiss the corner of his mouth and then rubbed their noses together.

[shieldofgod]

healedserpent​:

Which was it: oncology or emergency medicine? Oncology became his specialty when he knew of Rachel’s diagnosis. The field itself was ripe with cases much like hers, ranging from young children having to battle for their future and the elderly for a better, kinder, death.

Maybe it wasn’t in his cards to be an oncologist after all. A sad specialty, but one deserving of just as much attention. But my patients—? The cases were handed over during that month break; splitting the load again wasn’t impossible. Julian was bad at decisions. Either both or neither was his trend, yet that wasn’t an option nor did he want it to be.

In the end, he smiled. Julian gave a little chuckle for the bite and what it did to spike, however temporarily, his heartbeat. After the bite and nuzzle, it returned to normal. He nodded a bit and stroked his side, “Choose…I’ll use tomorrow to make up my mind.” Given the translation, he tried repeating it a few times much like Castiel had. It felt odd on his tongue; as one of the languages he didn’t know, the challenge and experience was welcomed. “If that’s demigod, then what’s angel?” He moved his calf over Castiel’s and otherwise remained on his side, about as close as he could be to drifting off.

“Ach.  Or, for Angel of the Lord, achoiad,” Castiel replied, noting the way Julian seemed to be half-drifting and slowing down his own petting to encourage it.  If the man intended to be up and out the door so ridiculously early, sleeping could only do him good now.  Especially if he was going to be spending that time debating on his own future.

He didn’t move his leg away, though he still didn’t plaster up so close to Julian that they’d be in full contact.  As much as he’d liked that warmth for the time they’d had it, that proximity, he didn’t want to tangle them up again on anything.

“Sleep well, Julian,” he murmured, tightening his wing around the man in something of a squeeze, like a hug; inadvertently, he was putting himself to sleep, too, just in the steady motion of petting.

[healedserpent]

“Ach, achoiad,” he murmured, repeating each term a few times to get it in his head. He wondered if any of the prophets knew it, in the Bible. A random thought before bed, but a thought nonetheless. Julian hummed another note and pressed his head as much as he could into his hand. The firm moment of contact was a short-lived one; he didn’t have enough energy to do more.

A good end to a good night, Julian was happy his ‘present’ arrived on the back of two silver-edged wings. He tried to return the petting but his hand kept getting heavier and heavier...In the end, he let it rest on his hip to flash a drowsy, but sweet, smile. “Buena noche, ach. Te veo en la mañana.” Then, he drifted off, warm and safe with the ocean’s waves crashing down below.

...

When morning came, it came early for Julian Dorado. He had an alarm and it rang on the nightstand beside him. The doctor held back a yawn while forcing himself up, trying to turn it off to start his early day. Yesterday was nice and, seeing Castiel still there, made today just as nice. Hopefully his shift at the hospital would be just as well, however. “Mm, Castiel,” he whispered while turning the alarm off, “lo siento. I gotta get ready for work.”

[shieldofgod]

healedserpent​:

He listened while leaning, melting, into Castiel’s touch. Warm fingers roamed through wheat blond and the light flecks of silver that dotted his hair. Julian often forgot what he was when in the world. When, in fact, he drove to the hospital or grocery shopped or walked along the Californian shore. If he was observing, he was human. If he was interacting, touching another person? He was unnatural; not quite human, not quite ‘other’.

Julian hated how right Castiel was. Sometimes he caught himself trying a little hard on the off-chance he could dip the scales in his favor, that he could redeem himself to his family even when redemption never was needed. But, it wasn’t possible. He’d never save everyone or get his whole family’s respect, unconditional love. He’d never find that missing piece to his engagement that’d left him scrambling in therapy.

Despite his emphasis on success, proof of it, such things weren’t possible.

The doctor hummed a soft note at the conclusion and kiss. He smiled, perhaps sadly, as the advice did its job. “Aschaobza? And yeah…I can’t do too much or else it’s unnatural.” He didn’t want to let it be known what he was at work or with those around him. Wasn’t it dangerous? “I’ll keep that in mind and work on it. Not the being good, but the efforts to continue to prove it,” he explained softly. Julian adjusted himself to kiss Castiel on the lips, then nuzzled lightly into his cheek. He pressed another kiss there, then one more to the curve of his jaw. “Thank you,” he smiled into that spot tenderly. Thank you for being in my life.

“Then you should choose.”  They had talked enough in Darrington over their month together that Castiel had a much clearer picture of just what Julian’s professional obligations entailed than he had when they had been newer that Cas felt confident saying that, even as he tightened his arm over Julian and smiled some for the kissing he was getting; it felt nice.  “Either you are an oncologist or you are an emergency doctor, but you shouldn’t be trying to do both.  So, choose which you find most gratifying, most fulfilling.”

The seraph picked his head up and nuzzled all over the side of Julian’s face, something fierce and protective welling up centered under his chest, below his breastbone.  Whatever it was, it prompted him to bite, though not desperately hard, on the line of Julian’s jaw before he went back to nuzzling. “And that was Enochian for demigod,” he explained, pressing a kiss right in front of Julian’s ear, before settling back on ‘his’ side of the bed again.

His feathers were a little bristled from that feeling – heated, even if he would not go anywhere with it, or even think to go anywhere with it – but Cas just returned to working through Julian’s hair, just enjoying the sensation of the strands catching on the webbing of his borrowed fingers.

[healedserpent]

Which was it: oncology or emergency medicine? Oncology became his specialty when he knew of Rachel’s diagnosis. The field itself was ripe with cases much like hers, ranging from young children having to battle for their future and the elderly for a better, kinder, death.

Maybe it wasn’t in his cards to be an oncologist after all. A sad specialty, but one deserving of just as much attention. But my patients—? The cases were handed over during that month break; splitting the load again wasn’t impossible. Julian was bad at decisions. Either both or neither was his trend, yet that wasn’t an option nor did he want it to be.

In the end, he smiled. Julian gave a little chuckle for the bite and what it did to spike, however temporarily, his heartbeat. After the bite and nuzzle, it returned to normal. He nodded a bit and stroked his side, “Choose...I’ll use tomorrow to make up my mind.” Given the translation, he tried repeating it a few times much like Castiel had. It felt odd on his tongue; as one of the languages he didn’t know, the challenge and experience was welcomed. “If that’s demigod, then what’s angel?” He moved his calf over Castiel’s and otherwise remained on his side, about as close as he could be to drifting off.

[shieldofgod]

healedserpent​:

The petting was nice as rhetorical questions came his way. If it weren’t for being someone he loved and valued, be might’ve felt guilty over working himself to the bone and then some. But love was a powerful thing—a pair of comforting arms and strong, yet true, words. Julian nodded for the obvious that, yes, he was grown and his skills had saved more lives than lost them. Treatment plans in his oncology field, too, saved many that might’ve taken to a terminal state.

Julian swayed his head, pressing it gently into his thumb and what fingers curled behind his ear. He rubbed Castiel’s chest, trying to bring a trickle of warm, spring green to dance across the skin. The last time he indulged in his hobbies or discovered a new one? Probably back in Darrington, during his month-long break from work.

He decided to answer any, rhetorical or no. “Not since Darrington. I—just bury myself in work. It’s almost easier that way, than to take time out of my day and get into my hobbies. I get a little anxious that, with free time, I could be doing more for my patients.” A doctor that needed to practice what he preached. Julian sucked in a breath with knit eyebrows, “I keep telling patients that doing hobbies and taking breaks from their work is important: why shouldn’t I do the same?” Because it was hard, leaving anxiety to fester and do worse. Hard didn’t mean impossible; only, for him, more work. Wasn’t it worth it?

“Why indeed?  They are human, aschaobza,” Castiel said, switching to the Enochian term for demigod, subconsciously – ah-es-kah-ah-oh-bah-zod-ah –  as he left his eyes closed and went back to working his hand through Julian’s hair, palm broad and sliding against that sandy hair while his fingers dipped into it.  “You can’t hold the reapers at bay forever, no matter how hard you work.  You can’t save everyone, no matter how much you burn yourself up.  And it will be a very– I suppose sad existence, if you don’t figure out how to balance it.”

Cas didn’t honestly have much room to talk; like Julian, he tended to define his entire existence on what he was able to do.  He didn’t even begin to understand the concept of being worthy of happiness or pleasure just because he was living thing.  But he didn’t tend to really measure himself – an angel, a seraph, a celestial – anything on the same level as he did the terrestrials.  And from his position, Julian’s whole life just seemed designed to dishearten the demigod; he didn’t explore his Olympian heritage, he chased the ghost of the woman he couldn’t save, or the approval of a family who seemed to not realize what a treasure he was.

“There is only so much work has a right to ask of you,” he concluded, pressing another kiss to Julian’s brow, settling down more.  Castiel was drowsy, some; he had been living ‘rough’ for about four days now, and while that was not bad, sleeping on bare ground and in hay lofts was nothing as good as a bed. “Only so much you can do, when helping mortals.  You have been good, you don’t need to keep proving it.”

[healedserpent]

He listened while leaning, melting, into Castiel’s touch. Warm fingers roamed through wheat blond and the light flecks of silver that dotted his hair. Julian often forgot what he was when in the world. When, in fact, he drove to the hospital or grocery shopped or walked along the Californian shore. If he was observing, he was human. If he was interacting, touching another person? He was unnatural; not quite human, not quite ‘other’.

Julian hated how right Castiel was. Sometimes he caught himself trying a little hard on the off-chance he could dip the scales in his favor, that he could redeem himself to his family even when redemption never was needed. But, it wasn’t possible. He’d never save everyone or get his whole family’s respect, unconditional love. He’d never find that missing piece to his engagement that’d left him scrambling in therapy.

Despite his emphasis on success, proof of it, such things weren’t possible.

The doctor hummed a soft note at the conclusion and kiss. He smiled, perhaps sadly, as the advice did its job. “Aschaobza? And yeah...I can’t do too much or else it’s unnatural.” He didn’t want to let it be known what he was at work or with those around him. Wasn’t it dangerous? “I’ll keep that in mind and work on it. Not the being good, but the efforts to continue to prove it,” he explained softly. Julian adjusted himself to kiss Castiel on the lips, then nuzzled lightly into his cheek. He pressed another kiss there, then one more to the curve of his jaw. “Thank you,” he smiled into that spot tenderly. Thank you for being in my life.

[shieldofgod]

healedserpent​:

Julian leaned into the touch, combing and petting alike, as Castiel talked. He wasn’t wrong; he was a demigod. However, he didn’t feel like one. He felt awfully human, aside from his clean bill of health in, well, every department. Sick? He never got sick. Fatigue? Something he rarely experienced compared to his mortal kin. Still, Castiel calling him demigod wasn’t new as much as it was ‘distant’ since their last reunion.

He closed his eyes under the kiss and moved to return it when the questions arose. Humans were interesting, their conversations on them were, too, but the pair new he wasn’t fully human. Half human yet lived like a full one. Julian bit his lip as he processed the question. It made his heart skip a beat and, thinking on it, his eyes opened a little. He looked over to his boyfriend and stroked along his chest, then collar bone and side of his neck.

“I…” he swallowed, trying to answer. “Validity, perhaps. I’m a successful doctor and surgeon, but that’s not enough for my family,” he whispered, looking at him some more as the answer revealed itself. He had no siblings, nor did he have a ‘step-dad’ in the picture. His mom and himself, plus her side of the family and cousins. Julian softened his features and tried to hide the sad glint in his eyes. “I’m drawn to the field and helping others; I love it, even though what I do might, well, never be enough.”

Castiel frowned at that; what family wouldn’t be proud to claim Julian Dorado?  Beyond his skills in medicine, he was genuine and kind.  A bit of a mess, but never in malice, and who did Castiel know who wasn’t a mess?  “You do not need to burn yourself out for validity, Julian,” the seraph said, with certainty, going back to petting with his eyebrows furrowed.  “What does it matter, though, what they think?  If they think it is not enough.  You’re a grown man, yes?”

Obviously, that was a rhetorical question.

Cas shook his head again, closing his eyes and framing his fingers around Julian’s ear to tick a thumb against his temple. “There are many people who are alive because of you and you alone.  Because of your inborn power, or because of your hard-won skill, or both.  You are enough anyway, but you have also done enough many times over already.  Anyway, this overworking business– when is the last time you went and danced?  Or played music?  Or picked up a new hobby?”

More rhetorical questions: He knew Julian worked too much to really go and do those things.

[healedserpent]

The petting was nice as rhetorical questions came his way. If it weren’t for being someone he loved and valued, be might’ve felt guilty over working himself to the bone and then some. But love was a powerful thing—a pair of comforting arms and strong, yet true, words. Julian nodded for the obvious that, yes, he was grown and his skills had saved more lives than lost them. Treatment plans in his oncology field, too, saved many that might’ve taken to a terminal state.

Julian swayed his head, pressing it gently into his thumb and what fingers curled behind his ear. He rubbed Castiel’s chest, trying to bring a trickle of warm, spring green to dance across the skin. The last time he indulged in jis hobbies or discovered a new one? Probably back in Darrington, during his month-long break from work.

He decided to answer any, rhetorical or no. “Not since Darrington. I—just bury myself in work. It’s almost easier that way, than to take time out of my day and get into my hobbies. I get a little anxious that, with free time, I could be doing more for my patients.” A doctor that needed to practice what he preached. Julian sucked in a breath with knit eyebrows, “I keep telling patients that doing hobbies and taking breaks from their work is important: why shouldn’t I do the same?” Because it was hard, leaving anxiety to fester and do worse. Hard didn’t mean impossible; only, for him, more work. Wasn’t it worth it?