and the fever runs from my heart down to my legs ( closed )

[ganking]

Date & Time: After Cas is back from his time trip.
Location: Unit 210
Characters: Castiel and Dean Winchester
Summary: When he least expects it, Dean finally finds the person who's been missing from his new life for the past few days.
Warnings: Will update! 

[ It's only been a few days, but Dean's had just about enough of dealing with the Initiative and Exsilium without Castiel. The angel had disappeared so suddenly, and though Dean knows he's off on some mission, the added side-dish of natives going crazy and trying to seize the place had made the last few days hectic and intense.

Tiring, violent and lonely, too. He knows he should be trying to get to know his new comrades, but honestly Dean's beyond caring, especially when he knows this could all end at any moment. His time on Attollo had ended so abruptly, after all, one night ending on a good note once more only for him to wake up here.

And now the one constant person (angel) in his time on Attollo was off far away as well.

His forehead bumps quietly against the door to his room, but Dean doesn't move to open it. He's not entirely feeling up to dealing with his roommate, but after, once again, checking up on Cas' assigned living space to see if his angel had come back, he's not left with much else to do.

Still, he stays there, thoughts clouding his mind while he tries to fight past the fierce missing.

God, when the hell had he become so freaking weak? ]

Comments

[ganking]

[ Normally Dean would throw this conversation to the wind, but this is...important. Cas isn't supposed to just shrug this time difference off like it's nothing, especially not when it's literally been only a few days for Dean. He knows he'd be kinda...weird about it, if the time was reserved, not that he's too happy about finding out just how long it's been for the angel.

At least it explains the insisted touching. ]

That's messed up. [ His voice drops, and despite the touch he feels slide under his jacket, warmth seeping from a familiar calloused hand, he frowns. ] Did you know it would be that long? The mission, I mean.

[ And then there's a sigh; exasperated but faintly amused, the insistent question from the angel getting an eye roll even though the roles have many times been reversed in the past. ]

No, Cas, I don't have any life or death situations waiting for me anywhere.

[gained_a_level]

[ Two days for Dean, over two months for Castiel... the great majority of it spent in culture shock of 1969's massive hippie movement. Castiel saw more public displays of affection than he cared for, but not all of it was bad. Questionable, yes. But nothing he hadn't seen in the last year in Arawn's playground.

It just made him feel Dean's absence all the more, so yes. Cas is going to make up for lost time. Deal with it. ]

I did not. And I will not hear of its outcome in this time until later, I imagine.

[ The corner of his mouth twitches with amusement, pleased to hear that there's nothing Dean needs to rush off and do, so he'll just make himself comfortable right here, thank you very much. His hands find themselves on either side of him, fingers flexing over him as if he's confirming that he's back and here. It's a good feeling, apparently, because the angel doesn't plan on stopping there. ]

Then you've time to tell me what I've missed these past few days.

[ganking]

[ Dean's been getting better at this whole affection thing, outside of sex too. It's not something he's entirely comfortable or good at yet, but with the many months he and Cas had been the only comfort for each other, he's not quite as shy about it anymore.

Not that this...holding each other right here is something he's exactly jumping at, even though the press of Cas against him even just like this is calming, those hands a welcome touch while he tries to figure out what exactly to tell the angel.

A sigh as he presses his forehead against the angel's for a brief second, his own hands coming to rest lightly at Cas' waist. ]

Like I said, it was nothing, really. Some rebels started acting up and we had to take care of 'em. Eventually things calmed down again. [ But not without some of mob member's losing their lives. ]

I think that welcome chick we chatted with earlier got kidnapped too, but someone found her.

[gained_a_level]

[ The way Castiel embraces Dean is... just about as awkward as it sounds, Dean isn't the only one unaccustomed to these expressions of affection -- and really, its only something he's largely seen done between others or accidentally when both of them were too deep in a tired haze after...

Well, long story short, this isn't something the angel does frequently.

He closes his eyes when foreheads press briefly together, but when that moment is over, he doesn't step back as he usually would. He just glances at Dean and continues their conversation as he takes advantage of the close proximity. ]

I suppose we were not the only ones to wrongly assume she would be a forthcoming source of information.

[ Castiel lowers his eyes, and apparently finds great interest in some place on Dean's neck uncovered by the jacket and leans in with every intention of brushing lips against his skin. This right here? It's multitasking at its finest as far as the angel is concerned... reporting in while experimenting with the kind of intimacy he's had to witness for two months and no one to test it out on. ]

What was the reason for the rebel uprising? I had thought the Initiative was part of the rebel faction.

[ganking]

Guess not.

[ Needless to say, with the few people he's spoken to in the last few days, it's definitely turning out to be that more people are ready to fight to get out of here, than to help the Initiative at the promise of freedom as reward. He supposes the people living in Exsilium might have similar feelings, despite what the Initiative is there for. ]

People getting scared, no one there to give them answers. I guess they decided enough was enough by throwin' a fit over it. Not that I blame 'em, you know how much I hate greater powers that work in mysterious ways. [ A look, and even the beginnings of a smirk, which falters at the light kisses while his hands at Cas' sides clench. ]

Cas. [ That's your one, half-hearted warning. As much as he might want this...this isn't Attollo, things are different in this place. He wonders if they should be chicks and talk about it, or something.

Or he could just let Cas continue, as seems to be the case for now. ]

[gained_a_level]

[ Exsilium seemed to be something of a powder keg, too many people jammed in with more coming in all the time. To top it all off, there's the constant threat of war of those likely wondering if something worse will be transported in... when their situation is dire enough as it is. He doesn't imagine it would take much to set the whole place off.

And yet, despite all this, Castiel finds he prefers this to the constant threat of being cursed for Arawn's entertainment or study the moment that mark begins to stain his cheek. But that hasn't really been a problem in a long time, long enough for Castiel to have almost forgotten about it. He would be surprised to hear if that was, in some way, a requirement for their friendship to take a turn like it had. ]

Unsurprising. [ And then a pause, and he's clearly distracted by the spreading relief he feels with having Dean so real and present after so long a time. ] I wonder... am I the exception to the rule, or do you believe you have me figured out?

Yes, Dean? [ Castiel murmurs, an arm snaking around his back to pull him closer... his gestures slower and far more languid than the kind of desperation before. He's actually savoring the moment. ]

[ganking]

[ Dean would have argued, before, that it was definitely a requirement for their relationship. He'd quietly thought it to himself during the early stages, the perfect excuse for each meeting, but as time had progressed and their encounters had become more and more frequent, he'd damn well forgotten about lying to himself as well.

It was only now that the questions and doubts, the changes they would be force to go through in this place, were rearing their ugly heads and he wonders what they are really doing and why.

Smirking. ] I'd like to think I have you pretty figured out by now. [ But oh, how wrong he'd been before, and how much that betrayal had hurt. He doesn't know anything for sure, but things are better between them now, and hopefully there haven't been too many lies or secrets in the picture either.

Dean doesn't answer for a few minutes, the screws in his head turning almost loudly. He feels like he should pull away, but no inch of his body is willing to go along with him, not with Cas' arm tugging him closer. So with a almost dramatic sigh, his hand sneaks upwards, coming to the side of Cas' face from where he tries to get the angel's attention back to him. ]

C'mere, come on... look at me.

[gained_a_level]

Mm. [ Don't expect much except non-committal noises from him for a while, at least... he would have had Dean not interrupted him.

There was a time when Castiel would have looked upon their arrangement logically, expressing that it made sense that if he were to be forced to perform if he did not do so under his own terms... then those terms should be with one he was closest to.

Even then, he knew that wasn't entirely true. He felt something for Dean, has for some time now, but lacked the means to express it outside of how Dean showed him.

But even as Castiel mouthed his way down his neck, the scent and taste of the hunter feels like coming home, and it's a feeling he's content to lose himself in -- that is, until the sigh snaps him out of it and he's dimly aware of the fact Dean is standing idly by... none of which were very good signs. Something was wrong.

Lifting his head at Dean's insistence, he meets his eyes for a moment before they drop to his lips, thinking that its perhaps those he should be giving his attention... but makes no move outside of wetting his lips with his tongue. ]

...What is it?

[ganking]

[ Castiel is definitely making this difficult. They've been in this same situation many times before, and it used to be easier for Dean to just roll with it.

But with their arrival in Exsilium... the almost idyllic lifestyle between the curses they'd managed to carve in Attollo is gone. Dean finds himself needing to guard himself better again, even from Cas. He'd grown soft, too used to their thing, and had forgotten than everything changes. But it doesn't mean he'll push the angel away either, not completely.

Good thing for Cas, his instincts are wrong in this case. No, he's not about shove the angel against the wall to have his way with (not right now, later maybe if they can a secure place) but his hands do comes to either side of Cas' face as he leans closer with the smallest smile, coaxing Cas to look back up at him. ]

For bein' away so long, and as a welcome back. [ It might not have been as long for the hunter, but Cas has been through a lot. He presses his mouth against Cas', lips forming easily against the angel's like many times before. He's missed this too, despite not voicing it, the slightest sighs of relief the only clue. Intending to keep it brief, he presses into it lightly, thumb grazing over Cas' cheek before drawing back. ]

His new name is Captain Obvious

[gained_a_level]

[ Castiel hesitated to call what they had in Attollo idyllic, but... over time he had learned to enjoy it. If he was confronted with giving an answer, he would say it wasn't home, would never be that. Admitting even during those lazy, warm nights with the scent and sounds of the ocean through a window in Dean's home, or the temperate mornings in his own treetop loft with the grey early dawn light filtering into the room were the best he's ever had. Admitting the truth that those moments were what made captivity more than bearable, made for a welcome change -- he just couldn't admit to that without pangs of guilt. Perhaps if so confronted, he would deny it... or say nothing.

...Of course, he also happened to be a terrible liar. And it wouldn't be the first time guilt would go ignored either. Castiel was selfish like that.

The angel's attention is pulled right where Dean wants it, eyes moving from one green eye to the next, before a press of lips force them closed. If he savored that closeness he's missed for months before, he truly does now. He leans into the kiss and when Dean pulls away, he lingers... only to find himself blinking back.

His hands flex on either side of Dean's hips, and his eyes betray him in an almost comical manner -- darting over to the bed. ]

...Is your roommate home?

Y U P.

[ganking]

[ It's moments like these that Dean wonders what exactly he's done to the angel. Or okay, if he's being fair, it had been the influences of Attollo that had forced Cas (and him) to change, and not into an all too bad direction, either. Dean wouldn't normally complain, and this time is barely different.

His eyes glance off to the side too, falling on his bed briefly before he huffs a quiet laugh. ]

No, he's not. [ Oh, Cas, he knows exactly what you wants, can feel it from those flexing fingers against his hips and the lingering leaning into the kiss. ]

...Why? Do you plan on stickin' around? [ Even if Dean's being careful, he can't help but tease the angel a little, voice low and curious as he presses closer. ]

Could come back at any moment. [ Which is, actually, a real concern. One Dean's not ready to face yet, if he's honest. ]

[gained_a_level]

[ Castiel fixes Dean with an expectant look, nodding when Dean asks if his intentions are for a longer visit.

Fault for this change does not rest entirely on Dean. Many lives had touched his in the last year, including many new experiences some of which were quite poor and of his own doing. What had started as a curse, then fighting, and then forgiveness and the slow rebuild of trust transformed into something else entirely. Had it not been for these experiences, for everything they've gone through, Castiel wouldn't be pulling Dean toward his bed right now with a few hushed words: ]

Then we better keep quiet.

[ The hands at his hips begin hiking up the hem of his cotton t-shirt, then fanning his fingers across the skin just beneath. His fingers curl down, gently scraping down his abdomen to hook onto his jeans just as he starts to walk backwards toward the bed. ]

We... wouldn't want to disturb your neighbor.

[ Not like they had in Muir, at least. ]

[ganking]

[ The more seconds tick by, the more Dean's ready to throw away his worries and just go with this. It helps that he's missed the angel equally, hasn't really had a chance to so much as say hi to him since their arrival and this whole mess of missions and rebels growing restless -- let alone time to even lay a finger on Cas with more fun things in mind.

That look coupled with the ever-present quarter smile and just that vibe has Dean smirking. ]

I dunno how that's possible with you around. [ He knows how to make you scream, Castiel. ]

I'll make sure to try and keep you quiet though.

[ So he'll just follow along with the tugging, a hand reaching to slide against and to the back of Cas' neck from where he pulls himself closer. It'll be an ungraceful stumble towards the bed, but Dean's not about to let Cas slip away from him, not now that he's set himself to this.

Later, they'll (or Dean will...if Cas just flutters off) probably have a nice awkward moment with his roommate, but until then he'll make the damn best of this private time they have. ]