Chapter Text
He's counted those freckles so many times, and he always loses count. It's so much easier when he's sleeping. The pale white body curled up loosely in the white sheets next to him, chest slowly rising and falling with life. He met the man asleep next to him a total of five times. The first time...
He killed him.
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April 14, 2025
Dean Winchester is thirty-three.
Castiel's orders were simple. Kill the leader of the human rebellion, Dean Winchester. Simple. So simple. He had taken out all the guards in his wake. The alarm of the compound went off as he walked through the halls, easily wiping away any resistance he had on the way. He walked with grace, in no hurry, the only sound besides the last breaths of the fallen humans that tried to stop him, was his shoes echoing the hall...and the bloody alarm.
"Dean! We need to go!" A younger man cried out as Castiel got to the sealed metal door. The older man, Dean, was searching through the research and papers on his desk. Finding what he was looking for he shoved the paperwork into his hand.
"Go." Dean insisted as the metal door whined under the pressure of an angel trying to ram it open. The younger man looked in panic at the door as Dean shoved the gun from a nearby desk into his hand. "Go! I'll be right behind you!"
The younger man booked it out the backdoors at the Dean's commands, Dean turned pointing a gun at Castiel as the door gave and came crashing inward. As the angel and the rebellion leader stared into each other, in the angel's hand a long silver weapon soaked in blood of men he had massacred to get here.
"Castiel." Dean breathed out as the angel looked at him confused. No human knew of the angel's name.
"How do you know my name?" The angel asked, as he slowly made his way closer.
"I could never forget your name." Dean breathed, putting his other hand out defensively. "It's the name on my mind the moment I wake and the moment I sleep....but you'll regret it Castiel. What you've come to do. For the rest of your life."
"Will I?" Castiel smirked coldly as he flipped his weapon in his hand. "You sound like you know my future," Castiel stated mockingly.
"No, I don't. But I know how it ends. Because no matter what happens it all ends here. You. Me. This room. " Dean breathed out as he lowered his gun, letting it clank loudly to the floor. "I won't fight you, Castiel... No matter what happens...I won't fight you."
"Then you're a fool," Castiel smirked, running his blade straight through Dean's stomach, he gasped in pain, tears sliding down his face. Blood started from his mouth, coughing roughly as his blood poured into the floor.
What surprised him wasn't the life starting to fade from the green eyes, or the slow painful death occurring. It was the hand that had tenderly touched Castiel's face and the bloody kiss that slid so softly across his lips he barely noticed the feel except for the blood.
Castiel pulled the knife out, taken back by the affection of the dying man as Dean's lifeless body fell to the ground in a loud solid clang. Images flashed through Castiel's head. Close-up Images that never happened nor did Castiel recognize in flashes of seconds.
A young boy smiling. Freckles. White sheets. Laughter. A cat. Freckled shoulders.
Castiel panted staring at Dean in confusion, as blood poured onto the floor. When a sound of a gun going off caused Castiel to look up.
The young man had returned, clutching the papers in his hand. Tears poured down his face, as Castiel moved to look at the bullet wound in his arm.
"Go to hell." The younger man hissed as he fired once again, hitting Castiel in the chest. Castiel choked out a groan of pain as he started to feel himself fall back, expecting to hit the ground. He hadn't expected the world around him to fade, feathers flying up past him as he fell.
He watched as the white nothingness faded to a black starry sky, how did he get here he thought as his world came back into view. He was falling from the sky, like a ball of light. His body crashed hard as it hit the ground, his body bounced roughly a couple of times before he crashed straight into the barn. He came to a skidding stop into some hay and eventually collapsed into it.
His body shuddered after such a rough landing, his whole body hurting from the fall. As the sound of men nearing made him attempt to move, trying to stand, the sound of a cocking gun stopped him.
"Don't move." The voice stated as the man came in, holding a shotgun to Castiel, and random others with flashlights as well. The others joined him a few seconds later, looking at the damage and the cause of the construction. Castiel froze.
"He's an angel! He has to be!" One hissed.
"An angel found our safe haven?" Someone yelped.
"What do we do?" The cowboys glanced around as one shoved through. He broke through to the front of the group, freezing at the sight of the broken man in front of him. He squinted his eyes as though trying to get a better look as a small frown broke out but then quickly faded on the young man's face.
"Castiel!" The man looked worried as he moved to him kneeling next to him, cupping and examining his face and the wounds. "You're hurt? Who did this to you?" Castiel was too weak to fight off the man’s concerned touches.
"Hey-" one man spoke up.
"He is under my protection." The man turned to look at him. "Any of you have a problem with that, you'll find a bullet in your ass. Now get all of you." The man watched them leave, before turning to Castiel, rubbing his thumb over Castiel's paling cheek.
"Dean....Winchester?" Castiel groaned in odd recognition as he passed out in his arms.
Dean Winchester is twenty-seven and the year is 2019.
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September 23, 2019.
Castiel snapped awake, as the touch of a wet warm cloth touched his head. Looking around in a panic, he heard a clunking noise coming from his arm. He blinked at the handcuffs he now wore on his wrist. Handcuffed to a metal old bed, he wiggled his wrist in a sad attempt at escaping them.
"Hey. Hey. Shh. You need rest." Dean Winchester breathed affectionately, Castiel looked in rush confusion towards the living dead man and his stitched-up bullet wounds. "You could still be loopy from the drugs I gave you. We got the bullet out of your arm, but the one near your heart...we can't pull it out without killing you...but there's nothing wrong with living with a bullet in your chest. Just don't try to pass through any metal detectors..."
"How...are you here...y...you-?" Castiel choked out, panting heavily.
"Please. No spoilers." Dean put his finger to Castiel's lips. "....oh...I see...this is your first time around..." Dean chuckled understanding.
"First time?" Castiel mumbled confused.
"You see, this isn't my first time meeting you...I have met you four different times in my lifetime." Dean brushed the hair out of Castiel's face out of habit, affectionately. "As you will one day meet me four times...just I'm blessed with the correct time order."
"What do you mean?" Castiel panted weekly.
"When I first met you, I was seventeen...but this is your first time meeting me..." Dean stated softly.
"I'm...jumping your timeline?" Castiel breathed out in confusion, as he groaned at the wound in his chest lying back down. He had heard the saying about life flashing before your eyes thing, but not anyone else's life.
"You always stay for a bit before you're whisked away." Dean smiled sadly, patting his head with a cool cloth. "Never get to say goodbye though."
"I-I don't...believe you." Castiel groaned. "Not even angels have the ability to time travel. It's not even possible."
"Ooh. You know it's so much more amusing being on your end. Having all the knowledge. Feel like some sort of all-powerful being." Dean wiggled his fingers and laughed. Castiel glanced at him unamused. "Want me to prove it?"
Castiel said nothing, staring at the man who smiled trying to hide his amusement in all of this.
"Okay okay...you have a bad knee. It's the right one." Dean stated. Castiel reached the uncuffed hand down towards his knee, rubbing it. "When the world was new, You broke it when you were a hatchling, you slipped on a fish that had crawled onto land. You cried for hours, not because of your broken leg but because you hurt the little fish...it was the first time you saw your father. He came over saw you cry, and kneeled to you healing your leg. You held the dying fish In your little hands, and your father softly took the fish and healed it. You told me once, that he smiled at you so proud you cared so much for the little creature, and you felt how proud of you he was...you knew then your father loved you. Said it was the second best thing that ever happened to you..."
"It...is the best thing that happened to me..." Castiel flabbergasted.
"The first best thing hasn't happened to you yet." Dean chuckled, with a wink. "So...Believe me yet?"
"..." Castiel said nothing as Dean softly patted his leg before standing.
"I'll give you some time to process." Dean started uncuffing him. "I'll get you something to eat. Fortunately for you, all we have is peas and pudding." Dean stated as Castiel blinked.
"Peas and pudding?" Castiel mumbled in confusion.
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Castiel stared at the bowl of warm peas and a cold bowl of pudding just staring at them with mild disdain as Dean stood cross-armed staring at him.
"Eat," Dean stated.
"I'm an angel. Angels don't need to eat." Castiel started looking from Dean to the food.
"Just eat it," Dean stated as Castiel blinked at the food.
"I don't like it." Castiel looked disgusted.
"You haven't tried it." Dean rolled his eyes. "Just eat. They are your favorite." Castiel watched him walk out before he went back to staring at it before moving his hand to pick up the spoon.
Dean returned with a pile of clean folded clothes and didn't seem surprised by the bowl's almost licked-cleaned appearance. He chuckled softly as Castiel gave him a shy smile.
"Get dressed." Dean tossed him the clothes. "I'll give you a tour of our new base." Castiel blinked at him, as Dean took the bowls and walked back out.
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Castiel scratched at the Hello Kitty bandaid on his cheek, as he limped slightly following Dean down the compound. A couple of small children ran past them, giggling and laughing.
"Well, we finally found a place. It was an old military compound. Top secret." Dean states as they walk through the metal halls. "Top of the line, little dusty and we are still trying to figure out what's under every white tarp...but it keeps the angels from detecting us." Castiel looked at him at that, and Dean looked over at him when a child playfully shot Dean with a toy gun.
"Bang bang!" The boy's gun went off as Dean smirked, moving to grab him.
"Why you!" The kid booked it into a side room, and Dean quickly followed. Castiel paused, as he watched Dean chase the child in, they ran around the room. As Castiel's eyes scanned the room with familiarity, as the child's sounds of laughter faded. This was the room that only what felt like moments before for Castiel was the room Dean died in. The room Castiel will kill Dean in. The room was full of white tarps and dust, as Dean tickled the child once he caught him before the child submitted and caved.
"You win!" The child giggled as Dean laughed, noticing the cold look on Castiel's face. He stopped laughing, patting the child to run off as he slowly returned to Castiel's side.
"I'm thinking this will be the main room of operations." Dean started looking around. "Strong main door. Deadlocks under emergencies. Secret exit...what do you think?"
"Why do you trust me?" Castiel asked, turning to Dean. "Why did I trust you enough to tell you my story?...what are you to me?"
"You never gave me a reason not to...and for the rest of your questions...That's...for you to find out." Dean smiled softly, as Castiel remained quiet for a long time. Staring at the room that will one day be the final resting place of Dean Winchester, the rebel leader.
"It's perfect." Castiel slid a hand over the door frame. "Perfect place to make the heart of the compound. Strong doors, and bulletproof glass to see every main hall in the building. What isn't there to want?" Castiel knew with one word he could have changed history. He could tell him the truth. Castiel had to make sure his mission succeeded and made sure the course of history remained.
"I agree." Dean smiled affectionately, resting his head on Castiel's shoulder and looking into the room. Castiel tensed at the affection, Dean tensed slightly awkwardly lifting back up his head. Awkwardly clearing his throat. "I'll show you the garden."
"I'd actually like to return to my room for a moment. My wounds seem to be more of a problem than I thought." Castiel lied as Dean looked a bit disappointed.
"Yeah, sure." Dean started blushing still with embarrassment, as Castiel turned. Dean started to follow but Castiel turned.
"I'm sure you're a busy man, I promise when I am feeling well I will find you." Castiel started throwing him a smile, trying to hide the fact he was trying to go back alone. "You can show me the garden after my rest." Dean smiled softly back, his eyes rested on the angel for a few minutes before he nodded.
"Alright," Dean stated. "Don't be gone too long..." Dean looked like a disappointed child and wanted to spend every moment he could with Castiel. Castiel smiled like he felt that way too, but the smile faded to cold determination when he turned away. Making his way back to his room, he pushed open the door, surprised to see a red-headed woman sitting on his bed. Facing away from him, her long red waves moved as she slightly turned to the noise of someone entering.
"Looking for this?" The redhead asked, holding up the angel blade, Castiel tensed, not sure how to respond to the allegation. "...come inside love. Do close the door." He hesitated before he completely entered the room. Closing the door quietly as he moved closer, circling the woman on the bed to face her. He was taken aback by her presence. She wasn't human, it was obvious by her aura, but nor was she an angel.
"What are you?" Castiel asked as she smiled in amusement, twirling the blade in between two fingers.
"I'm fate, deary." She laughed in amusement before she stood walking to the mirror in the room.
"A fate? Fate can't interfere with events." Castiel stated as she chuckled.
"Only undecided ones. We need to make sure a path is chosen." She stated but paused. "How rude of me, I never gave you my name. It's Rowena." She turned to look at him.
"Undecided ones?" Castiel asked as she started to circle him.
"The fate of the world. The fate of the human, Dean Winchester-" Rowena stated.
"I kill Dean Winchester," Castiel stated. "His fate is to end by my hands," Rowena smirked in mild amusement.
"You're here aren't you, deary?" She turned to face him. "Someone upstairs obviously wanted you to have the full story."
"Who?" Castiel asked curiously, she gave him a you-know-who look as she scoffed. "D...dad?"
"Obviously your daddy, who'd you think? A leprechaun?" Rowena scoffed. "He sent you back to decide the fate of both the Winchester and the world. Daddy put a great weight on your shoulders little one."
"W...why me?" Castiel choked out, such a responsibility to such an unimportant angel? He turned to face her. "Why-..." He turned but the fate was gone.
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"I think if we put the housing at this end of the compound, it will be easier for the families to run if we are ever found out." Dean leaned over a table reading a map of the building. "Trees make a good cover from angels, if they are coming they will be focused on killing the resistance. Not the families. But they will see them as a needed casualty if caught. They will execute them."
Castiel's eyes fell on Dean who was planning the eventual setup of the compound. He stayed back at the door frame watching Dean talk and speak. He could tell Dean brought confidence as he spoke. Encouragement to the men who obviously weren't soldiers, men who have never seen true war.
A couple of men walked past him, excusing themselves as they walked past. Castiel held his breath, turning his head away as he recognized them both. Two of the many men he killed to get to Dean, his eyes followed their departure.
Both men discussed the idea of eating some actual meat in the near future, he watched as the boy that played with Dean earlier ran up to hug one of the men. Castiel turned to hesitantly look away, as his eyes returned to Dean. Dean looked up from the table catching his eyes, before Dean excused himself.
"Feeling better?" Dean asked.
"...I'm ready to see the garden now." Castiel held himself as Dean smiled and nodded, walking him out to the fields.
"All we have been able to seem to grow is peas." Dean chuckled at the small field of pea plants, Castiel glanced at the surroundings around him. Three large empty fields surrounded the farm and barn. Any angel to even spot this would have thought this was just a normal farmhouse. Not the home of a growing rebellion. "Everything else we tried died."
"From my time," Castiel stated. "You had all the fields full and prosperous," Castiel stated, glancing around the pathetic field. When he had arrived at his time, he had remembered how vibrant and full the fields were. He remembered how beautiful the fields had been, his shoe crushed a pumpkin on landing. It was the only reason he took account of it.
"So you've been here before?" Dean smiled happily at that.
"Only once," Castiel stated, leaning down he touched the soil running it through his fingers. "Try digging more into the land when planting. The layer on top isn't enough to sustain life."
"I'll pass on the advice." Dean slid his hands into his pockets, and Castiel frowned softly. He had noticed Dean hadn't stopped staring at him, his hands uncomfortably rubbing the Hello Kitty bandaid. "Stop scratching at it." Dean pulled his hands out of his pocket, moving to grab his hand, lowering Castiel's hand. They stared at each other, unspoken words exchanged through the contact as a twig snapping made them turn, Dean pulling the gun on his hip.
A deer had stumbled onto the Field, chewing lightly on the peas that had caught its attention. Dean froze, as he watched the deer, as Castiel looked at the gun and to Dean. Surprised that Dean slid the gun back into its holster, watching the deer move.
"Don't your people need the meat?" Castiel asked, the only obvious idea was to kill the deer for its meat.
"We do, but I have it against my nature to kill pregnant animals." Dean nodded his head towards the deer, as Castiel turned to look at the deer once again. "See her stomach? And the fact she's trying to eat our peas? She's pregnant."
Castiel blinked staring at the doe, Dean had spared the deer for that reason alone?
"She would be good for your people." Castiel started not getting it.
"She would have been." Dean shrugged as he picked up a rock tossing a rock away from her, startling her back into the forest. "Come. Let's go see if my traps caught anything." Castiel nodded, following after him, as they walked towards the thick forest. Castiel watched Dean move to each one, Dean's traps had caught nothing poorly set up and worthless.
"Regretting letting the deer go?" Castiel asked, holding two of the cages.
"Nah. We got one more-" Dean chuckled, as he paused hearing the whimpering of a dying animal. He moved to the sound carefully, finding a boar whimpering a weak attempt at life. Dean softly walked over, seeing an animal had ripped the boar to shreds. Dean pulled out his gun, moving to not hesitantly kill the suffering animal. The gun echoed through the forest as Dean looked at Castiel.
Soft snorting noises caused Dean to glance towards his cage where five small little piglets snorted and moved inside. "As a wise friend once told me, Everything happens for a reason, Cas. If we would have shot the deer, I never would have checked the cages. They would have died in there. Their Mother's meat gone to waste and we wouldn't have had piglets to start at the farm."
Castiel blinked as Dean handed Castiel the cage, moving to wrap and pick up the dead bore, his shirt bloody and messy as he carried it back to the farm.
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Sitting next to the bond fire, Dean chewed on some boar meat, Castiel sat next to him watching the camp celebrate the idea of meat they hadn't seemed to enjoy in so long. Castiel smiled as he watched the family enjoying the meat.
"Look a genuine smile." Dean laughed taking a sip of water from his water bottle.
"I just...never seen humans celebrate before...I can feel their happiness surround me." Castiel confessed. "It must have been a while since they have eaten meat."
"Been a few years," Dean confessed. "Hiding from angels isn't easy."
"But...why hide from them at all? We want to help humans." Castiel blinked not understanding.
"They want to enslave us, Castiel." Dean swigged at his water. "They want to control us. Tell us how to live, who to marry, when to produce. They want to take away what makes us human."
"It will protect you. Stop wars. Stop pain and suffering." Castiel stated facts.
"..." Dean sighed softly as he looked around. "Castiel what do you see when you look at them?"
"I see a disproportionate ratio of female and male." Castiel blinked.
"You know what I see?" Dean chuckled as he smiled pointing to an elderly woman. "I see Jimmy's grandmother, Ariel. Who raised three children by herself after her husband left her with nothing. A woman who lost her oldest daughter to a car accident and a woman who survived all her heartache. She cares for the children while the parents are working hard to protect them. Your ideal world? It's without love. It's without humanity."
Castiel said nothing as he heard the noise of drumming, His eyes moved to the old barrels, someone was drumming their hands on them. He watched as some couples stood to dance, as they spun around dancing. Dean smiled as he stood.
"Care to dance?" Dean held a hand to Castiel, who looked at it in confusion.
"But my gender outlook is male." Castiel blinked. "It would be illogical. Dancing is a type of courting and I can not produce offspring with you. Therefore it would be-" Castiel was taken back by Dean pulling him to his feet.
"Shut up and let me lead." Dean laughed as he placed one of Castiel's hands on his shoulder, The other in his hand. Dean's other hand was on Castiel's hip, as Dean softly took the lead. Castiel danced awkwardly trying to figure out the pattern of this Dance.
"Want to know what it's like to be human?" Dean breathed as Castiel seemed taken aback by the question. Softly nodding his head hesitantly, Dean smiled at him affectionately.
"Close your eyes." Dean smiled, Castiel stared at him suspiciously still on guard around him before closing his eyes as he felt Dean dancing with him to the music. The movement was almost as natural as blowing the wind or the waves in the ocean. He felt at one with the world around him, it had swept him away, and feeling safe for the first time since arriving.
A small drop of what felt like water hit Castiel's eyelid, as people started to scramble to collect what they could for the rain. Castiel blinked his eyes opened, as the rain almost instantly started to pour. The people scattered towards the indoors and there was Dean and Castiel still slowly dancing In the rain around the dying fire till the last ember died.
Castiel wasn't sure what made him stay dancing with Dean in the rain, but he couldn't stop staring into the human's eyes as Dean stared back at him with so much emotion. He hadn't noticed how close they had gotten, their chests pressed against each other.
"...It rained then too..." Dean breathed against Castiel's ear. Castiel took in those words not truly understanding the meaning, as he felt Dean's hands cup his face. Running his thumb over Castiel's bottom lip, Castiel couldn't help but stare into Dean's eyes with such conflict, confusion, and innocence. Dean moved closer softly as Castiel's eyes moved to look at Dean's lips.
"...We can't- ..." Castiel managed to breathe out in some pathetic attempt at sanity as their lips touched. Breathing forgotten, as their lips moved in a slow long hard kiss. Castiel's inexperience showed through the kiss, and Dean's heart soared at it. Castiel made a small little noise, something between a mew and a moan.
Dean pulled him closer, his tongue moving to slide across Castiel's bottom lip. The touch made Castiel instantly recoil, yanking back, he backed away confusion and conflict in his eyes.
"Cas?" Dean called to him as Castiel booked it running. Castiel could hear Dean calling his name as he ran through the forest. How could he have...kissed him? How could Castiel have done something so stupid?! He was an angel of the lord, a soldier. There he was letting the enemy hold him like that...and actually enjoy it?!
He was startled when the forest abruptly ended and he found himself in the middle of a New York sidewalk. Blinking in confusion, he watched the people pass him by without a second glance. Turning back, he saw that the forest had vanished.
Where was he now?
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December 20, 2017
"TAXI!" A familiar voice called trying to wave down a taxi, fumbling with some bags. Castiel's eyes fell on the younger man trying to hail a taxi. Not the leader he left in the middle of a storm only seconds before. Castiel watched Dean for only a moment, before turning to leave. Dean was the last person he wanted to see at the current moment. Almost crashing into the short redhead who didn't seem too pleased with his decision.
"Where do you think you're going?" Rowena crossed her arms.
"Away," Castiel stated annoyed, walking past her as she groaned walking with him.
"Don't be a baby. It was just a peck!" Rowena followed, her heels clicked after him.
"Great! Now everyone knows!" Castiel scoffed. "Exactly what I wanted." Castiel rolled his eyes.
"Don't be so daft! You had a moment, you two!" Rowena waved it. "You can't just walk away! You are here to determine his fate!"
"It's determined! I killed him! Going back in time won't change anything. I'm not ashamed for what I did and no amount of you following me around-..." He paused realizing he was no longer walking away from Dean, but now was standing in front of him. "...That bitch." He turned to find her, she waved smirking from across the street.
"You can thank me later!" Rowena blew a kiss.
"C...Cas?" Dean sucked out the air. His voice sounded so broken, that Castiel lightly cringed before turning. Tears slid down Dean's face as he moved to hug him softly holding him tightly. Castiel didn't react, hearing Dean crying on his shoulder.
Dean Winchester is twenty-five.