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A single tear™ rolls down Dean’s cheek.
“Why does this sound like a goodbye?” he asks, almost in a whisper.
The angel hesitates for a moment. “Because it is… I love you, Dean Winchester. I always have.”
“Don’t do this.” Dean can’t do much more to stop the tears now. His cheeks are wet and his vision is getting blurry. “…Please.”
“Goodbye, Dean.”
“No! Cas, don’t do this.” Dean steps forward and grabs his angel’s sleeve just as he starts to turn away, towards the black void already forming on the opposite wall.
Castiel stops in his tracks. He can almost feel the desperation in the hunter’s hesitant yet strong grip on his coat. But he doesn’t dare turn around, afraid he would break down in tears if he faced Dean now. Defeated, he hangs his head.
“Don’t…” Dean says softly, but then hesitates. He slides his hand down the angel’s arm, taking his bloodstained hand into his own. “You don’t have to do this alone.”
-
“What?” Finally, Castiel snaps out of his stupor and turns towards Dean. A confused look on his tear-stained face. He sniffs, and if he wasn’t crying and in a life-threatening situation right now, Dean would have probably laughed at the sight.
“I’m sorry, Cas.” Dean continues, his voice somehow even quieter than before. Castiel doesn’t move, like the whole world would implode if he did. “I’m sorry I made you feel like you can’t have this.”
A moment of silence passes between them, both of them unsure of what to do next.
Suddenly, Dean wraps Castiel in a tight hug. “I’m sorry…” He sniffs into the angel’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Cas. I love you too.”
He can feel Castiel’s whole body tense.
“No…” Castiel says in a desperate tone as he starts trying to push Dean off of him. “No, Dean, you have to let go. You’ll get absorbed too.”
But the hunter doesn’t let go.
“Please…” the angel pleads, his voice almost a whisper.
“I’m not leaving you, Cas.” Dean hugs his angel even tighter. “You don’t have to do this alone. We’ll figure it out together.”
Castiel looks up defeatedly with even more tears welling up in his eyes. Finally, he raises his arms to wrap them around Dean and buries his face in the hunter’s shoulder.
They stay like that for a moment before Dean’s grip on Castiel loosens and they finally let go of each other.
Dean’s hand slides down Castiel’s sleeve once again to grab hold of the other’s hand. He stares at their clasped hands for a few seconds until he can muster up the courage to look Castiel in the eyes.
His cheeks feel hot and wet. But Castiel doesn’t look much better. Tears and snot stain his face, which looks equally afraid of what may come and relieved at what Dean hat just assured him of.
Dean huffs quietly and wipes away his own tears. “We’ve cheated death enough times. We’ll get out of this one too.” he says softly and with a reassuring smile.
“Yeah, ok.” Castiel says with a sad laugh, sniffing again. He raises his hand to wipe away his tears, but Dean catches it before it can reach his face. They stare at each other for a moment. Dean blushes even more when he notices the confused look on Castiel’s face.
He lets go of his hand and cups his own around Castiel’s cheek hesitantly to softly wipe away the angel’s tears with his thumb.
Castiel leans into the touch and closes his eyes. They would be fine. Or at least he hoped so.
“Ok.” He breathes. As Billie finally breaks down the door and the Empty’s black tentacles shoot out.