For Dean and Yukio

[godless_son]

Castiel has two weeks off of work. He understands it is time meant for families to prepare for the upcoming holiday, to reflect incorrectly on the birth of Son of God and to indulge in disgusting displays of consumerism. He finds himself, however, simply grateful for the timing that has allowed him to decorate their house to a degree that even he finds borderline excessive and now to keep Dean within his line of sight.

Robin and Ishiah were no more ready to leave Darrow than they are and while Castiel knows that he would find a way to follow Dean wherever he goes, he very much wants this life. It is quiet today in the house, his usual rotating mix of Christmas songs turned down low as he stares absently out the window at the patches of snow still decorating the ground from the last storm. All of Ishiah's birds have gone for the winter and he presses a hand to his chest, feeling precisely where his grace senses the absence of his brethren. Robin's apartment had been the most disturbing, quiet and still for the first time without him. They hadn't stayed long and frankly have no desire to go back and had retreated back to their house with heavy hearts and one more animal.

He suspects Dean is unhappy about the new cat, the third cat. He leans down to pat Cambriel on the head, avoiding Ernest's wounded glare and frowns as he spots a small figure making its way down the road towards their homes. He looks closer, more intently at the soul as it seems like..

"Dean," he calls urgently, making his way towards the front door. "Look outside."

Comments

[contrition]

The change between the two languages happens with enough frequency and speed that Yukio ends up feeling dizzy for it, glancing from one man to the other and taking a few measured breaths. He scrubs at his eye with the back of his hand.

He doesn't know much about the Order that Father Fujimoto is a part of. All that he's been taught are a few key phrases, things that Yukio's supposed to ask anyone suspicious — the inner workings of said order are still a complete mystery to him. It's completely possible that there's another one. Yukio's cheeks flush with the frustration of not knowing.

"I'm not supposed to be far from nii-san," explains Yukio, though he finally lets both hands drop by his sides, opting to trust the two men for now. They seem... nice. Maybe a little intense, but nice. "And I don't... know that much about Father's work, either. What do you hunt? Why are hunters and priests working together — is something wrong?"

[godless_son]

"Nothing is wrong," Castiel murmurs softly in English, settling down to sit cross legged in front of the boy. "Dean is a hunter and I am an angel and we know of Father Fujimoto," he says in Japanese, slower and more clearly than before. "We know you and your brother and we are your friends. I know you are confused by this place, but trust we will care for you until your world returns to normal."

He looks over at Dean and at Annie who is slinking her way towards the boy, followed by Kara intent on getting in on the attention. "I told him he can stay here, that we would care for him. Maybe food, now?"

[always_enduphere]

Dean nods, finally straightening to let let Annie in where she clearly wants to be, rubbing her nose against the Yukio's flushed throat and cheek. "Why don't you get to know Annie here, and I'll go make us some grilled cheeses and soup, huh? Cas?"

Dean moves his head towards the kitchen. "Can I talk to you?"

[contrition]

There's one sentence that keeps on confusing Yukio. I am an angel. Even though religion has always been a strong presence in Yukio's life thanks to Father Fujimoto, he's always seen the texts as being more conceptual. Not at all tangible. The man standing in front of Yukio looks normal, like an everyday person — how it is that someone like him can be an angel?

He doesn't understand, but he nods anyway, and smiles faintly when the dog makes her enthusiasm known.

"Thank you," he says quietly, rubbing at his eyes one more time before setting his shoulders squarely, and rubbing his mittened hands behind Annie's ears.

[godless_son]

Castiel straightens up, mouth set in a hard line as he follows Dean.

"It took his memories," he murmurs, gripping the edge of the counter. "I do not think it always does that. This place is getting more and more cruel. What do we do for him? As a child?"

[always_enduphere]

"Keep him safe," says Dean. "And comfortable. As happy as we can manage, under the circumstances. Annie ought to help." He looks back through the open door, a faint smile on his lips despite the situation for the way Yukio's already got Annie's tail wagging furiously.

"Pretty sure this happened to me," he says. "On the island, I was little and I didn't remember. It might actually be a kindness, this time." Dean fixes Cas with a look. "Can you imagine teenage Yukio letting us give him juiceboxes?"

[contrition]

Father Fujimoto has a cat that he often takes care of. A cat that's... a little different from all other cats that Yukio's seen, though he doesn't mention as much. It's like everything else he's seen over the years, things he's pointed at that Rin hasn't had the slightest inkling of. That cat has a bigger story behind it that Yukio isn't big enough to know, and all cats have made him a bit nervous as a result, unsure when they might act out or hurt him.

The dog, however, makes her affection known. As he continues to pet her, she leans forward, a warm tongue lapping against his cheek. Yukio laughs, slightly ticklish.

"Iiko," he says quietly. "You're a good girl, aren't you?"

[godless_son]

"It is not the most dignified drink," Castiel agrees, calming a little at Dean's small smile. He grabs at Dean's hand, leaning forward to press a kiss to his forehead.

"I am glad you're here. I'm afraid none of this comes as naturally to me as I would like. Do you think he would want to watch one of our Disney films?"