SWNOVELS Chapter 12: Just Like Us
Castiel’s POV
Castiel smiled her way when Angel eventually chose Carlos Santana’s ‘You Are My Kind’, and swayed in place. Her second token dropped into the machine quickly and she pushed buttons to pre-load the next song.
As the music filled the bar, Castiel sighed and strode to the bar door to lock it. Courage man, he told himself. She had wanted his touch earlier. Maybe with one-way windows that prevented dangerous eyes from watching he would be confident enough in himself to allow this foreign feeling he had for Angel. It had twisted his stomach all week, and final proximity with her today fanned the flame.
He walked lightly to her and within a few steps said aloud “Perfect song, love.”
She nodded, still looking at the music selection. “I realized something today. The groups all hate each other. Kill each other, or fear one another.. but we’re all the same. I really think Ellie and Eva’s group would adore the Tribe’s Rumour Mill cats. And, like, so many faces today had the same look of sad memories and loneliness.” She turned and leaned against the jukebox, staring toward the tables. “My first day here, a demon and a vampire were playing a board game together and I want more of that here.” She looked to Castiel and his heart thumped loudly.
“You’re amazing.” He breathed. All on her own, she understood exactly what he wanted too, and what the Church’s command was. David be damned, this plan would work with Angel leading the charge! He offered a hand out to her “C’mere brave girl”. She paused only a moment, then slipped her hand to him and he led her to stand close chest to chest.
He pulled her little hand to him and placed it on his chest, covering it with his same hand to hold it there. His other hand stroked once through her long hair from ear to end, coming to rest just below the crop top against bare skin on her back. He heard her breath catch. “A little dance, love.” he clarified softly and guided her into a synchronized swaying. Her other hand squeezed the back of his rigid bicep, and slid to rest on his shoulder blade. They slow danced to perfect words:
‘All that I know,
When you find love you never let it go.
You never know, no.
Without you I'm lost.
I get scattered,
I'm shattered…’
Love? Castiel wondered. Angel inched closer, finally placing her forehead against his collarbone and sandwiching their hands between them. “I’ve never danced before.” she said softly. Heaven on Earth man, keep it together. He rested his chin against the side of her head and smiled at the moment. In a lazy whisper, he sung along with the chorus:
‘Here in this life,
Until we are gone,
Our breath and our skin,
And our hearts and our minds,
They're one and the same,
'Cause you are my kind.’
They kept swaying even as the song ended, his hand on her back stroking up and down slowly. The jukebox whirred and clicked onto Angel’s next song, July Talk and ‘Picturing Love.’
Castiel laughed against the side of her head. “This song is a horrible tease. Do you even know what you do to me?” Angel laughed and nuzzled her nose against him as she shook her head. He kissed the top of her head, lingering, and let a shaky sigh go. “God’s angels aren’t supposed to have imperfections. No non-righteous emotions. And yet.. Jealousy, rage, overwhelming want.. In all my time in this body I’ve never felt as I do with you.” He kissed the top of her head again and squeezed her body against him. “You bring out the worst in me.” He never wanted it to stop either.
Angel softly kissed his shirt collar, then the exposed skin just above his first button. His mind was at peace wrapped around her, but his skin tingled at every point of contact. More more more, it demanded.
He groaned a low sound and pulled away from her before the song ended. “I need to get you home Angel. It’ll be past your curfew.” He ran his hand through her hair as they separated, instantly feeling cold without her but desperately needing to regain composure. Keeping his hand around her waist they walked to the door.