Wedding

[godless_son]

Two weeks ago Castiel had been sure, at least for a little while, that this was not going to happen. The difference between knowing about your fiance's massacre and seeing it in full screen is very different, but Dean is forgiving and he is a good partner and as Castiel tries and fails yet again to make his hair lie flat, he decides not to include that particular tidbit in his vows.

Everything is reportedly set up, thanks to Mike and Neil, and he can hear the murmurs of the guests walking through the house to the backyard where the tables, chairs, and food await. The documents are signed, he and Dean having chosen to do that in private yesterday after Castiel's last class but the vows are different, he feels. Neither of them are terribly verbally demonstrative but he hopes very much that his are deemed appropriate. He carefully slips on his jacket, knowing that Robin will have words for him if it's not kept neat for at least the vows and fusses with the blue tie and pocket square that he'd been warned by Robin was not to be utilized for any rag-like purposes. Letting out a steady breath he stares at his reflection, at the very human looking man about to engage in a human ceremony with the Righteous Man he pulled from Hell. He frowns, head tilting as he looks for himself in all of that, for the thousands of years old warrior of the Lord with the wrath of Heaven behind him and decides he rather prefers the version that is still having trouble keeping his hair neat and whose biggest worry of the day is avoiding embarrassing himself during the vows. It is very strange and Heaven will never forgive him for it and he could not be happier.

He gives the stubborn curl spring up in front of his ear a furious swipe with his thumb and checks once more that Dean's ring is in his pocket before stepping out across the hallway to knock on their door. "Dean," he murmurs, "Are you ready?"

Dean feels half strangled by the tie. Long gone are the days disguises and aliases were needed - the last tie he bothered to throw around his neck is probably years past, but this is his wedding, and he means to look nice.

“Yeah,” he calls, adjusting the green silk at his throat a last, futile time. “Just.” He releases it with a sigh. He knows himself well enough to know he’s only nervous, and he passes a hand through his combed hair and takes a few deep breaths before he turns to the door, pausing with his hand on the knob.

“Am I supposed to see you? Is that a thing?”

Comments

[godless_son]

Castiel is not quite certain what he thinks of Urahara. He respects his power and he respects what he'd done for Dean (although he does not feel proper precaution was taken when training him). But for all of that, he knows what Rukia has told him about his calculating nature and what Castiel sees as a lack of respect for the sanctity of the individual's safety. Be that as it may, he is a guest and he is Dean's friend, and he is glad that he came.

"Hello," he murmurs, nodding respectfully as he walks up. "Thank you for coming. It is not a traditional ceremony and it is not everyone's taste."

[vivememorleti]

Castiel is a little nervous about him -- Kisuke can tell; and, truthfully, it's no wonder, although they come from strangely similar backgrounds. A universe and a culture apart. He presses his lips together, before offering Castiel the sunniest smile he's capable of. Something that manages to be without the bitter tiredness his expression tends to carry.

It's a happy day. It's a celebration of love, mortal or otherwise.

"It's not what I'm used to," he tells Castiel, before making it a joke. "The guests are better-behaved and less dead. Congratulations on your life together. I hope it's as long as it needs to be."

[godless_son]

"Thank you for the well wishes," he says, fingers curling for a moment before he forces himself to relax. He has been told he's not terribly good at hiding what emotions he does have and he's not interested in Urahara picking up on his discomfort.

"I have never formally thanked you for what you did for Dean. I was very reticent for a long time but that sword saved both our lives."

[vivememorleti]

Kisuke is certainly no mind reader -- but he knows unease when he sees it, and attributes it, frequently, to himself. He isn't a very pleasant person. He's come to understand that.

He slides over on the picnic table, leaving room beside him for Castiel to take a seat. He pats the empty space with his hand to remove any doubt. He wants to talk to Castiel, honestly and without pretense. They hold similar levels of power, from different sources and for different uses.

"You don't need to formally thank me for anything. I don't deserve anyone's thanks. All I did was unlock a door to something that was already inside of Dean for his own use. At risk to both of us, maybe, but things worth having are usually worth the risk."

[godless_son]

Castiel sits, back stiff as he folds his hands in front of him. This is not the place for the talk he feels he might need to have, and he hopes he can keep himself calm.

"I agree, that things worth having often involve risk. The definition of worth having is perhaps more fluid from person to person. The risk was worth it, in Dean's case."

[vivememorleti]

"Relax," Kisuke says. His instinct is to reach out to squeeze Castiel's shoulder, but he holds himself back. Castiel may not be the type to take well to it.

"I'm not your enemy, you know. I would never try to hurt Mr. Winchester -- or anyone else. I'm just a man who owns a cafe and likes cats. I'm just trying to make up for some things I've done. I want to be your neighbor. I want to work with you. Do you think my good intentions are enough?"

[godless_son]

"I think we both know you are much more than a man who owns a cafe and likes cats in the same way I am much more than a man who teaches Religion at the local University," he says, leaning back a little as he holds himself back from looking deeper. Urahara is a powerful being, he would likely notice any attempts to look into his mind.

"I, too, have much to make up for. However, I cannot speak to your intentions. I do not understand them or yourself nearly good enough. What type of work do you speak of?"

[vivememorleti]

Kisuke gives a laugh, bell-like in comparison to a normally deep voice. "I'm really not anything more than that. I'm not part of any religion, or group of people. I don't work for anyone but myself. I really am just a person. Power or otherwise, I'm not an agent of anything but myself."

He turns his grey eyes on Castiel, smiling from beneath the rim of the hat he wears.

"So the work I'm speaking of is just protecting my neighbors, who I care about. That's all. I just want you to know that that's what I want. Although I doubt just saying so is going to earn any trust from someone as serious as yourself."

[godless_son]

"I have been told that I improve with increased exposure," he murmurs, reaching for a beer, offering up a second.

"I am committed to protecting my loved ones as well. I want to prevent anything like Grand Fisher or the bees, anything like that happening again. I want to make this place safe."

[vivememorleti]

Kisuke does, for a heartbeat, wonder if he shouldn't disclose some things -- about the Grand Fisher, about why he didn't act on that situation when he could have. But Dean and Castiel's wedding, a wedding in general, isn't the place for it. A wedding is a placee for joy. And his last slice of watermelon.

"You sound like you're happy to be here in this place; with Mr. Winchester. Does this make you Mr. Winchester as well?"

[godless_son]

"It does, as my current last name was once my vessel's, I do not really want it," he states, taking a long drink of his beer as he watches the other man.

"And I am incredibly happy both to be here and to be with Dean. Frankly, there is no place I could be happy if I weren't with him. He has changed me, entirely."