#casfallen fic

[achillestiel]

“I’m calling to cancel our date because I’m actually in the ER right now, sorry. …I mean, sure, I guess you can come down here, but… okay…” au // Pre-serum!Steve and ‘Why do I have a huge crush on such a punkass little shit?’!Bucky

[923 words]

Bucky had heard some really lame reasons for cancelling a date but this one really was the worst.

“Wait…Steve you’re where?” He asked, holding his crappy cell phone to his ear to hear Steve properly. “Stevie I can’t hear shit, what did you say.”

“The emergency room Buck, I’m in the emergency room.” He heard Steve say, the service dropping out but he still got the gist of it.

“What the hell Stevie? Which one?”

“Beth Israel, I’m fine I just-”

“I’ll be there in ten.” Bucky said quickly, already racing over to the nearest subway station.

“Buck? Buck no, there’s no reason-” Bucky hung up the phone before Steve could complain too much.

“Buck? Buck no, there’s no reason for you to…Buck? Bucky are you still there?” Steve asked moving his phone away from his ear to see that Bucky had ended the call. “Jerk.” Steve muttered grumpily. He shoved his phone back into his pocket for approximately five seconds before grabbing it again and hitting speed dial for Bucky’s number.

“The ER Stevie? Seriously?” Bucky said as soon as he picked up. “You couldn’t keep yourself outta trouble for just one evening? I had this whole stupid thing planned out and you’ve gone and screwed it up. You’re a pain in my ass Rogers, a freaking pain in my ass.” Steve rolled his eyes at Bucky’s tirade but didn’t fight his smile. Somehow Buck always made him smile through anything.

“You kiss your mother with that mouth Barnes?” Steve asked, cocking an eyebrow.

“Well I ain’t gonna be kissing you if you’re freaking hurt Rogers, the ER…you’re damn lucky that I ain’t far from you.”

“You’re actually coming here? You don’t have to Buck.”        

“Yeah I do, this is the only night I get off this week and I’m spending it with you, you punk.” Steve smiled at Bucky’s rant and couldn’t even be bothered to put up a fight. “I’ll be there soon Stevie.” Bucky said before hanging up yet again. 

They hadn’t always been like this. Once they’d just been friends, best friend really, then something just changed. Somehow, and Steve still wasn’t sure how it had happened, Bucky what others couldn’t see. He saw beyond the small frame, asthma and various other health issues. He saw Steve in the way Steve wanted to be seen. They’d toed around the idea of dating, both worried it would mess up their friendship, until Bucky took matters into his own hands and told Steve to ‘get your head outta your ass and go on a date with me Rogers’. Steve had agreed after rolling his eyes at Bucky’s fresh mouth.

“So what the hell did you do this time Rogers?” Bucky asked fifteen minutes later when he came stomping into the ER. “Shit Stevie, what happened to you?” Bucky asked when he looked down at Steve. Steve grimaced because things probably looked a lot worse than they were. Steve couldn’t help it, he bruised really easily.

“I got into a fight.” Steve said shrugging. “Really Buck, it’s no big deal.”

“No big deal? Stevie you’re in the emergency room. I’d call that a big deal.” Bucky grumbled as he threw his body into the nearest chair. “You’re a god-damn idiot Rogers.” He said loudly. A nearby woman with a toddler pursed her lips. “What?” Bucky asked, noticing the woman’s look. “I didn’t say a cuss, get off your high horse.”

“Buck.” Steve chastised but he still smiled; Bucky looked like such a trouble maker and had the mouth to prove it but really he wasn’t the ‘punk ass’ out of the pair of them. That crown was reserved for Steve ‘I don’t know when to shut my mouth and back away from a fight’ Rogers. 

“So…you wanna tell me what happened?” Bucky asked.

“It was just a stupid fight with some of the guys from the neighbourhood.”

“Jackasses. You just give me their names-”

“And you’ll end up with your ass in jail.” Steve pointed out. “It’ll be fine Buck, I’m tougher than I look.”

“No Stevie, you’re an asthmatic fine arts major who can barely tip the scale at a hundred pounds when soaking.” Bucky said with a snort as he gave Steve a joking punch on the arm. “Stay here, ok?”

“I’ve got tissue shoved up my nose Buck, I’m not going anywhere.” Steve said once again rolling his eyes. Bucky smirked then went strolling down the corridor. Damn, Steve was lucky to have Bucky sometimes.

A few minutes later Bucky came back holding two paper cups with several bags of chips and candy shoved in his jacket pockets. Steve looked at him questioningly as Bucky sat back down and handed him a cup of what smelt like hot chocolate.

“Well I had this whole dinner and a movie then a trip to the planetarium, planned out but you and your happy little fists screwed up that plan so…well this is dinner. We’re in a hospital so we’re gonna see a show then we can probably see some stars later on.”

“You were going to take me to the planetarium?” Steve asked. Bucky went red but nodded. Steve really couldn’t help it, he leant over and kissed Bucky on the cheek. “You’re a nerd Bucky Barnes.”

“Oh yeah? Well you’re a punk ass little shit Steve Rogers.” Bucky said before leaning over again and giving Steve another kiss on the cheek.  

[achillestiel]

Remember when I came to New York to bail you and Jimmy out of jail and you said that you owed me?” Cas asked. Dean nodded his head and smiled slightly as if the memory was a fond one. Castiel was of a different opinion. “I need you to pretend you’re my boyfriend when we’re staying at my parent's"

And thus a Christmas fic was born.

[achillestiel]

9.23 coda 

The message was five words long. Cas it's Dean. Come quickly. Sam's voice was wreaked, more hoarse than Castiel had ever heard it before. He knew he had to be there, not just for Dean but for his friend Sam, but the thought of accepting that Dean could possibly be gone shakes Castiel to the core. After everything they had been through, after everything they had overcome Castiel never thought it would end like this.

He travelled for hours, weakened from his grief and the struggle against Metatron, until he reached the bunker, a place that had almost seemed like home but how could it be that without Dean to be there? How would Castiel and Sam be able to carry on without the brightness that was Dean? Castiel cut the engine but as he did so he felt a shift, especially as he drew closer towards the entrance to the bunker. Something wasn't right at all. The strange coldness, one he hadn't felt since he'd retained angel grace, settled over Castiel's skin as he took in the bunker.

"Castiel?" a voice called out. Castiel turned and was ready for the attack but the sight of Hannah stopped Castiel in his tracks. "Is it true? What Metatron is telling us?" she asked with an hysterical edge to her voice.

"That depends on what that monster is telling you, many of the words that come out his mouth are nothing but malicious lies." Castiel replied, the numerous lies Metatron had spun him still making Castiel feel sick.  

"Dean Winchester. Is he really gone?" Hannah asked. This was the woman that had ordered Castiel to kill Dean and yet now her face was heavy with concern and remorse. Castiel couldn't stand to say the words so he simply nodded his head. "I am sorry Castiel...you were close."

"He was my best friend." Castiel managed to choke out. Hannah seemed on the verge of saying something else but Castiel held up a hand to silence her. He might not have been her commander anymore but Hannah still followed the order. She stayed silent as Castiel made his way towards the bunker's entrance. A nod of Castiel's head told Hannah it was acceptable to follow him.

He found Sam in the library and Castiel's heart broke all over again as he took in the sight of Sam Winchester. The once strong and tall hunter Castiel and had known and cared deeply about was gone. In his place was a broken looking man who looked more lost than any soul Castiel had ever seen. As Castiel walked into the library Sam looked up from his seat and Castiel stopped in his tracks. Sam's eyes were blood shot from tears with violent circles under said eyes. 

"I'm so sorry Sam-"

"No Cas...you don't understand...he's not...Cas, Dean isn't dead." Sam said. Castiel frowned, surely Metatron wouldn't lie about something like this. He was evil yes but not that evil. Castiel's eyes narrowed with question and Sam let out a defeated sigh. "It's the Mark...it's...he's not Dean anymore." Sam said and Castiel is marching towards Dean's room before he even realised what was he was doing. Sam and Hannah were hot on his heels as Castiel wrenched open the door to Dean's room.

He stopped in horror. The once brightly shining soul that had been so blinding in the deepest, darkest depths of Hell was now a vast expanse of nothing. Twisting darkness that was suffocating but slowly shifted to show Castiel the true face to the man lying in front of him.

"How?" Castiel gasped.

"Crowley." Sam spat and Castiel's insides went cold once again. 

"We will...we will find a way to bring him back." Castiel said not even giving Sam a chance to point out that it could be an impossibility. "We hae been through so much, we can find a way to fix this, we can find a way to fix him and bring him back!" Castiel's voice rose until it filled up the room. He saw Hannah straighten, almost standing to attention like she would if Castiel was still in charge of the angels but Sam merely looked at him like this was a lost cause, like Dean was too far gone. With one last look Sam turned away, most likely returning to the library. Castiel sank with dejection but he knew it was best to give Sam time, give him time to process and research before they did anything rash. 

With Sam gone Castiel looked back over to Dean, his heart physically hurting at the sight of the true face lurking beneath the skin of the man he cared for so much. The man he'd risked everything for.

“Castiel...how can you stand seeing what his soul has become? How can you even look upon it?” Hannah asked in a small voice.

“Because for me he will always be Dean, no matter who he becomes or what he does he will always be Dean Winchester, the righteous man who I pulled from Hell.” Castiel said. The righteous man who I love he finally admitted to himself.

Dean Winchester, the righteous man he was going to save even if he had to move Heaven, Earth and Hell in the process.

[achillestiel]

astronomer/university!cas/general sappy fluff for Caitlin because directors are jerks.

He wondered if there was ever a time he didn't look up at the night's sky and be simply amazed by the sheer vastness of it. The complexity and pure artistry that made up every constellation he has memorised since he brought his very first telescope, it had taken months of saving his allowance and doing meaningless chores around the house to save up for it but it had been his prized possession as a child. 

It had been his hobby and his passion throughout his childhood and his adolescence so it had seemed only natural to study it at college. The plan had been simple: go to college and major in astronomy, get good grades and graduate without any drama. The slight spanner in the works had been meeting none other than Dean Winchester an engineering major who had come along like a breath of fresh air and turned Castiel's life upside down. Sure he was still set on graduating with good marks but instead of returning home he had a summer road trip with Dean ahead of him. Nearly two months of just him, Dean and the open sky. All he had to do was graduate. 

"What are you thinking 'bout?" the boy lying next to him asked pulling Castiel out of his thoughts. It had been Dean's idea to drive to the outskirts of town, park in a field and star gaze. It had surprised Castiel seeing as there were several parties been thrown in and around campus that night but clearly Dean had other plans that didn't involve Jell-O shots or alcohol induced headaches come morning. Castiel glanced over to the smiling and curious face of Dean Winchester and smiled back without even thinking about it. Smiling when Dean was around was more natural to him than breathing. 

"The sky." Castiel replied and unsurprisingly Dean laughed loudly, his laughter filling up the empty field.

"No surprise there then." Dean chuckled. "You nervous 'bout tomorrow?"

"Am I nervous about graduating? Not really...I'm nervous about what comes after though." Castiel said. He'd dedicated his life to his love for the night sky and how he was standing on the edge of a new beginning. He just had to make that leapt.

"Look...I...I got you something." Dean said after a few moments. Castiel once again looked over at Dean but this time it was with surprise. He thought they weren't going to do graduation gifts, mainly because Dean had said it would be sappy, but like always Dean had caved. "Don't look so scared, it's only small...well it's small from where we're sitting anyway."

"What is it?" Castiel asked as nervous butterflies began fluttering around in his stomach. He watched anxiously as Dean pulled an envelope out his jacket pocket and handed it over to Castiel, the easy smile Castiel had fallen so hard for spread widely across Dean's face as he did so. "Dean, what are you up to?"

"I can't really tell you that before you open the damn present. It wouldn't be a surprise then would it?" Dean said with a chuckle. "I know I said gifts were sappy but you've been working your ass off for this for so long and I wanted to get you something that would mean a lot to you." Dean added and even in the darkness of the evening Castiel could see Dean's face growing red with embarrassment. The nervous butterflies fluttered their wings frantically as Castiel tore at the envelope and pulled out a letter followed by an official looking certificate.

"You haven't adopted an alpaca on my behalf again have you?" Castiel asked warily. Sure knowing that he owned an alpaca named Poncho, who was currently residing in Peru, was an interesting conversation starter but there was only so many alpaca wool jumpers one man could own.

Dean snorted loudly and rolled his eyes. Castiel took that as 'Just read the letter' so he did just that. As he read the nervous butterflies fluttered away and instead a steady warmth began to rise in his chest. He turned to look at Dean but round that the other man was not there. In the distance he heard the trunk of the Impala slam shut and so Castiel turned in the direction of the car Dean had parked several metres away from them. Dean returned with one of Castiel's smaller telescopes, a huge grin plastered his face. "Dean is this what I think it is?" Castiel asked motioning down to the letter and certificate in his hands. Dean simply carried on smiling as he set up the telescope and pointed it at a set position in he sky.

"Well I tried to think of what I could get for someone who constantly had his eyes on the sky." Dean remarked as he pulled Castiel up into a standing position. "So then I thought why don't I just get him some of that sky?" he added as he pointed at the telescope. "It's not too corny is it?"

"Dean, you named a star after me. It's the corniest thing anyone could ever do for me but it's also the most perfect thing anyone could do for me." Castiel said, smiling from ear to ear. 

"Yeah...see this way you'll be part of the sky, no matter where you are." Dean said as he smiled back. All the nerves and all the worry inside of Castiel disappeared completely as he took in the sight of Dean smiling at him. The summer was ahead of them and Dean had managed to do something no one else ever had, he'd shown Castiel real love and given him a home in the night's sky.   

[achillestiel]

9.18 Coda

He noticed it the moment he stepped out of the car. He had seen every corner of Dean's souls in Hell, he had taken hold of the man and pulled him together so many times but now, now something is different. Something is different and very wrong. 

They talk, they plan but Castiel can still sense the thrumming of unease rippling through every essence of Dean's being. It feels so much more tainted than anything Castiel witnessed in Hell. It's as Dean moves that Castiel feels it and he begins to understand what Dean could have possibly done. 

His stomach revolts at the mere thought that Dean could willingly accept something so poisonous but as Castiel reaches for the man's arm he can feel the power rippling under Dean's veins. He can feel that power polluting the very man Castiel put back together bit by bit.   

"What have you done?" he growls upon seeing the mark, the harsh redness clashing against Dean's freckled skin. It takes all of Castiel's will and strength not to strike Dean where he stands for being so blinded by his quest to rid the world of Abaddon to accept such a dangerous 'gift' as the mark. More than anything though Castiel curses himself for not being there, for not being at the Winchester's side because then maybe, just maybe he could have prevented this. He could have stopped Dean from poisoning his very soul, the soul that had burnt so brightly even in the abhorrent pits of Hell. He had stayed away because he believed it had been the right thing to do, the only thing he could have done to keep the brothers safe but now Castiel sees his distance may have only worsened the matter. By keeping those he cared about and loved away from Metatron's mind games and sickening plots Castiel has let them fall into something even more dangerous and treacherous.  

With prayers being a channel he can no longer turn to Castiel can only hope, as now because of Metatron he knows that hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul.

[achillestiel]

I made the mistake of watching Pretty in Pink for the millionth time as it was on Sky Greats. Now all I want is a Dean and Cas AU where Dean is the kid from the wrong side of the tracks while Cas is the rich boy. Dean works in the record store that Cas loves going to and after seeing him at school all the time Cas finally asks Dean out even though all his friends will give him grief for wanting to date the poor kid. Cas really doesn't care what his friends think though because Dean's the only genuine person at that school and he really loves him (◡‿◡✿)

and now I've made myself sad...,