Small Cuts (Supernatural Dark!fic)

f i f t y - f i v e

"Is it in you now,
To barely hear the truth that you have spoken?
Twisted up by knaves,
To make a trap for fools.
Is it in you now,
To watch the things you gave your life to broken?
And stoop and build them up with warn out tools.
Yeah. Yeah."
Sowing Season (Yeah) - Brand New 

Amara woke to the warmth of Dean's arm wrapped protectively around her waist, his steady breathing a quiet reminder of his presence. On her other side, Sam's hand still held hers, his fingers intertwined with hers, even in sleep.

For a moment, she lay there, savouring the peacefulness that filled the room. Despite everything, despite the looming confrontation with Paimon and the weight of the ritual that would take place tonight, this moment felt safe. It felt like home.

But as the sunlight filtered in through the small window, casting a soft glow across the room, Amara's heart clenched. Today was her birthday. Her 21st. The day everything had been building toward.

She blinked up at the ceiling, her thoughts racing. Her visions had all led to this moment—the swirling colours of emotion, the cryptic flashes of danger, and the constant presence of Sam and Dean. They had been her anchors, and now... now it was time to face whatever was coming.

Slowly, Amara untangled herself from their embrace and slipped out of bed, careful not to wake them. She padded to the bathroom, her bare feet soft against the cool floor. She splashed water on her face, staring at her reflection in the mirror for a moment, trying to steady her racing heart.

Today.

She dried her face and ran her fingers through her hair, letting the familiar rhythm calm her as she thought about what was to come. Paimon. The ritual. Her own abilities that had been growing stronger with each passing day. She couldn't help but wonder if today would be the day everything finally made sense, the day she understood the full scope of what she was meant to do.

With a deep breath, she made her way back to the bedroom, where Sam and Dean were beginning to stir. She could feel the weight of their emotions even before they opened their eyes—concern, protectiveness, and something deeper, something that had been growing between the three of them for weeks.

As Sam's eyes fluttered open, a soft smile tugged at his lips. "Morning," he said, his voice low and gentle.

"Morning," Amara replied, sitting on the edge of the bed as Dean stretched beside her.

Dean's groggy voice was the next to break the quiet. "Happy birthday, sweetheart." He rubbed his eyes before sitting up, his gaze soft as he looked at her. "Guess we made it, huh?"

Amara smiled, her heart warming at the way they were both looking at her—tired but filled with a fierce protectiveness that made her feel safe, even now.

Sam sat up too, reaching out to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Happy birthday, Amara."

She chuckled softly. "Thanks."

For a moment, the room was filled with a soft, warm silence. No one mentioned what was coming later. No one mentioned the danger that was lurking just beyond this peaceful morning. It was as if, for just a few minutes, they could all pretend that today was just a normal day.

But then, as if on cue, Castiel appeared in the doorway, his presence as steady as ever. His expression was softer than usual, but still filled with that distant, angelic focus. "Happy birthday, Amara," he said, his voice low and calm.

Amara turned to him, her heart fluttering at the kindness in his tone. "Thank you, Cas."

For the first time, she saw something almost resembling a smile tug at the corner of his lips. It was brief, but it was there. Castiel, for all his stoic nature, was beginning to understand her, just as she was beginning to understand him.