Intro. Castiel stood motionless, his fingers clutching the hem of his coat until his knuckles turned white. Inside him, there was an ancient warrior who had learned not to trust anyone, and that part of him that had once told Dean, "I cheated on you for them. And I would do it again."
The soldier was waiting at the door, playing with his car keys. In the peeling light of the neon lights of the precinct, his profile was eerily familiar. Castiel has seen this profile thousands of times. In the passenger seat of the Impala. In the reflection of the rear view mirrors. Bent over the body of a killed hunter. Smiling at him with tired tenderness after another end of the world.
-Are you coming? - repeated the Soldier. There was a hint of impatience in his voice. "Listen, of course I love exotic things, but I’m not going to stand and admire you all evening."
Castiel took a breath.
One. Second. Third.
A human ritual that once helped him collect his thoughts.