Chapter Text
Castiel came from a religious family. When one normally speaks of having a religious family, they mean that they go to church often and have bible quotes in fancy frames on their wall. This was not the case for the Novak household. They were raised in the church, to a very literal degree at times, often going to two or three services a day multiple days a week. Their father, Charles Novak, liked to think he was raising a group of soldiers for God. Many of his children agreed with this sentiment, going on to become ministers and priests. Others tended to rebel, as many children do. Charles was quick to cut them out of the family, trimming them away like dead flowers on an otherwise picture perfect shrubbery.
Castiel always feared this sort of rebellion. Not so much the fact that his siblings were doing it, but the idea that he could be cut out just as easily. One day, he would be the one that Anna and Uriel were pretending didn’t exist. He knew the thought didn’t bother Gabriel, one of the more recent “losses” of the family. His older brother had just left in the middle of the night, his bags packed quietly and no final words spoken to any of them.
Their family had many secrets like that. Gabriel used to insist that they had witch blood in their veins, always in hushed tones and behind locked doors. Castiel thought this was particularly fanciful, but Gabriel had been insistent.
“Have you ever seen Balthazar sleep?” he had pressed one night, huddled next to Castiel on the bed. Cas had rolled his eyes, not bothering to look up from the homework on his lap. “And Uriel always knows when I’m lying.”
“That’s because you’re not a good liar.”
“I’m a very good liar.” Gabriel stuck out his tongue, flicking the end of Castiel’s pencil. The younger brother groaned, sitting his paper to the side.
“Those aren’t powers. It’s just weird coincidences. Besides, none of that is real. Just drop it.”
Gabriel had been disappointed by Cas’s lack of interest, not bringing it up with him again. He had left a month later. There was a part of Castiel that blamed himself.
Cas had started college a year after Balthazar, also majoring in Religious Studies. His study habits were a little different than his older brothers, however. While Castiel spent countless hours in the library, sitting at a corner table alone with a mountain of books to occupy him, Balthazar preferred to spend his time in a more physical sense. He often had half a dozen people over at a time for “study sessions”, focusing heavily on the “sins of the flesh” aspect. Their father, of course, knew nothing about this.
The year after, their younger brother Uriel also enrolled. Balthazar complained about him constantly, swearing that the younger Novak was reporting back to their father. Castiel was always quick to defend Uriel, but there was a part of him that agreed. Growing up, Uriel relished nothing more than proving his unyielding loyalty, and Castiel doubted that the trait had faded.
Cas wandered into one of the central dining halls, spotting his older brother across the room with three other students, the names of which he couldn’t remember. Balthazar waved at the sight of him, a wide grin on his face. Cas stopped at the end of the table, not bothering to take a seat. He needed to study, anyway.
“How’d you know I was in here, Cassy?” Balthazar asked, wrapping an arm around the blonde man to his left.
“You always eat lunch around now.” Cas grumbled, fiddling with the strap on his bag.
“Yeah, but usually in the music hall. I’m only here because there’s some last minute recital or something.”
“Well, you must have mentioned it.” Cas shrugged, standing a little straighter. “Have you heard from Gabriel?”
Balthazar’s confused expression turned curious, his smile twisting wider. “Well, why do you ask, brother dear? You know he’s not ‘one of us’ anymore.”
Castiel rolled his eyes. “Answer the question, please.”
His brother sighed, waving a hand. “Fine. Yes, Gabriel stopped by the other day, raided my cabinet, called out some strange advice and left. Same as he does every two months or so. Why? Has he not stopped by yet?”
“No, but Uriel had made a comment about seeing him. Someone should warn him.”
“Why? He’s already been exiled. Not like he has anything to worry about.” Balthazar used his free hand to pick up a couple fries, tossing them into his mouth.
“Yes, but I would prefer not to get a lecture about seeing him.”
Balthazar groaned. “Fine, fine. I’ll occupy the little spy so you can talk to him. Won’t be hard. The little worm hates me anyway.”
Castiel frowned, but didn’t argue. Gabriel still held a special place in his heart, and he was willing to lead Uriel on for a couple hours if it meant he could spend some time with his brother.
Balthazar waved to him as he headed back out of the dining hall, grabbing an apple as he passed. It wasn’t much, but it would keep his hunger at bay for a few hours while he studied. He knew his father wouldn’t accept anything less than perfection.