SWNOVELS Chapter 6: Castiel
Castiel’s POV
He was pacing a track on the already worn wood boards of the church floor as he thought. Heaven knows how many pieces of dog they had to clean up from the streets. Days later there were still bits being found. He hated what he became slicing wildly when he saw Gabriel collapse against the wall and a small girl cowering in a corner. God, there would be Hell to pay for killing those Pack monsters once their family learned of Castiel’s intervention.
He paused to look at the podium of his makeshift desk, and stared at the Angel Blade. Who the fuck gave Mafia Marco that shit? Demons wouldn’t trade a favour for something that would kill them. He doubted they would even trade a soul for it. It seemed to threaten by just its presence, and Castiel turned away from it.
An old door creaked from the back and Castiel spun quickly to see his Peacekeeper David and his Researcher and now temporary doctor Alanna supporting a pale, shirtless Gabriel between them. Gabe weakly gave his trademark sideways smirk under two day old stubble, and Castiel felt almost all his rage at the man dissipate in a moment. “Holy Hell Gabriel, you are alive after all.”
Gabe laughed but winced immediately as he was slid into a pew. “Yeah, seems barely.” Gabe lifted a hand to cover his chest bandage, “This one smarts the most. Since we ain’t got a lot to reference on Angel Dagger damage, Alanna here guesses I’ll be achin’ for a while.”
Castiel nodded with an answer to his unspoken ‘how are you feeling?’ question. He did still have one pressing question though. “What in the ever-loving God happened Gabe?”
Gabriel frowned in answer. “Where is she?”
“The neko? She’s been locked in the choir room while we sorted out your mess. She keeps asking if you are all right. Who is she and why in Heaven’s name would you risk your life for a cat?”
Gabe exhaled his held breath with a smirk, but shook his head slowly. “She’s a rare one boss. Different. She’s a stray an’ didn’t feel safe ‘round that horn-cat Daishkan.” He paused and ran a hand through his hair before continuing. “I thought a night’s sleep at the Church might help restore her health an’ confidence so she could take on, you know, the intimidation of the Tribe. Plus, she’s cute. You’ll like her.”
Castiel pinched the bridge of his nose and squinted his blue eyes shut. Did his Enforcer have a crush on a cat? Dear Lord. “Gabe, I swear on everything that is Holy that I will kill you myself if you EVER pull a stunt like this again.” He sighed deeply and raked a hand through his surfer-boy blonde hair.
Gabe still smirked. “Understood boss.”
The conversation turned to recapping the last 3 days, from the standoff in the bar, to the dispatching of heads, to the cleanup of the street and Gabe’s wounds. Alanna was confident Gabriel would heal completely and fly again. David was confident this had set their city intervention mission back substantially as an angel hadn’t killed a citizen in decades. Alanna was dismissed and patted Gabe’s good shoulder before leaving.
Castiel poked a booted toe at the pew leg Gabe was sat on. “Right, well, you’re off bar duty, Gabriel. You’re to stay here and manage requests and the armory.”
“House arrest?” Gabe asked. Cheeky sod.
“You’re impossible. Yes.” He could only shake his head at his friend of 100 years. Near death and he was still determined to be a pain in the ass. “David, can you bring the cat down please. You can head off to do your rounds after.” David nodded and disappeared. Castiel stepped back to the podium and retrieved the Angel Blade, sliding it into a slot on his hidden belt holster. Even though Gabe seemed to trust that the neko wasn’t part of a set-up, Castiel took no chances.
David reappeared with a skinny girl in tow, then nodded to all before striding out a side door. Castiel had previously only seen her outline in the dark, avoiding her these last days with suspicion of her involvement. He dragged eyes over her now in the light and immediately wanted to run fingers through her flowing black hair. She was pretty, he gave Gabe that. Her small hands fisted her pooled red dress at the waist nervously. He watched as her breathing quickened at seeing Castiel, and then the soft exhale that parted her full lips with obvious relaxation when she saw Gabe. “You’re ok?” she whispered to him.
“Sure am darlin’!” Gabe said loudly and tried to make a motion to get up but thought better of it with another wince. He glanced up at Castiel who had walked over and stood unmoving near his pew. “Um, Angel this here is boss man Castiel Whitesong. He saved both our keisters.”
Angel turned to Castiel and nodded gently a few times. “Thank you sir. Truly.” It seemed sincere and he felt a little jolt travel to his chest at her ‘sir’ and eye contact. She had stunning eyes, and he couldn’t think of a single neko he’d ever seen with brown eyes. Wow, was this desire? Angels should not be afflicted with the mortal sins, and here he’s exhibited the start of a few in as few days. Uncontrolled rage as he swung his sword. Sloth as he hid away at the Church waiting for Gabriel to awaken. Now lust?
She shifted her weight uncomfortably under Castiel’s long silent gaze and dropped her eyes to the floor. He frowned slightly at the loss of eye contact. She spoke again without lifting her eyes. “I’d.. Sir, I would like a task to repay the life debt I owe you.”
Gabe joked from his seat, his voice gravelly from tiredness. “Hey! How about one to repay me for gettin’ my ass kicked? You could bring me a beer!”
Castiel cleared his throat, ignoring Gabe. “While appreciated, that will not be necessary love. You’re free to go, and I would suggest you hastily make your way to the Tribe before dark.” He looked her over again, lingering on a ripped shoulder strap that drooped the dress just above her breast. “If you would like, you can change your outfit to something from our donation box on your way out too?”
Angel chewed her bottom lip as if to say something, but eventually nodded. She looked to Gabe first who gave his best apologetic smile, then back to Castiel. “Yes sir, thank you.”
He watched her head for the door and it took everything in him not to follow.