Small Cuts (Supernatural Dark!fic)

s e v e n t y - t w o

"Maybe I'm a puzzle that's forever unsolved
But I ain't special, man, this world make a mess of us all
I'm not a pessimist, it's just that it was never resolved
If I don't put a rest to it, how can I ever evolve?"
From Hell With Love - Ryan Caraveo 

The Impala's engine purred softly as Castiel and Amara pulled up to the bunker. The drive back had been silent, both of them lost in their thoughts. The weight of the curse was gone, but the emotional aftermath still hung heavy in the air. Amara knew that breaking the curse was only part of the battle—the real test would be facing Sam and Dean, both of whom had been deeply affected by it.

Castiel parked the car and turned to her, his blue eyes calm but filled with understanding. "Are you ready?"

Amara swallowed hard, her nerves rattling. "I don't know. I want to say I'm ready, but... I'm not sure how they're going to react."

Castiel's gaze softened. "They love you, Amara. But they've been through a lot. We all have. It'll take time for them to process everything."

Amara nodded, taking a deep breath. She knew Castiel was right, but that didn't make it any easier. She and Castiel had broken the curse, but the emotional scars it had left behind were still raw, and she wasn't sure how to approach Sam and Dean after everything they had been through.

They got out of the car, the bunker looming ahead, familiar yet different. Amara felt a strange mix of relief and anxiety as they approached the door. The curse was broken, but the tension between her and the brothers was still unresolved.

Inside, the bunker was quiet. Too quiet. The sound of their footsteps echoed through the halls as they made their way to the map room. Amara's heart pounded in her chest, the anxiety building with each step. She didn't know what to expect when Sam and Dean finally returned—if they'd be angry, if they'd need time, or if they'd be relieved.

She paused at the map table, her hand trailing over the edge of it as she took a deep breath. Castiel stood beside her, his presence a quiet reassurance.

"Do you think they'll come back soon?" Amara asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Castiel glanced at her, his expression thoughtful. "They know the curse is broken. They'll come back when they're ready."

Amara nodded, though her heart still felt heavy. She knew the curse had twisted everything between them—amplifying their anger, their fears, their doubts. And even though the dark force had been vanquished, the emotions it had stirred up were still very real.

She sank into one of the chairs at the table, rubbing her hands together nervously. "What if they're still angry? What if... what if I can't fix this?"

Castiel's eyes softened as he stepped closer, resting a gentle hand on her shoulder. "This isn't something you need to fix on your own, Amara. Sam and Dean... they care about you deeply. The curse made everything worse, but the bond you have with them is stronger than what the curse tried to destroy."

She looked up at him, her throat tight with emotion. "I just don't want to lose them."

"You won't," Castiel said quietly, his voice full of certainty. "They love you. And love... it's more powerful than the anger and doubt the curse fed on."

Amara smiled weakly, grateful for his reassurance, though her heart still felt heavy. She knew Castiel was right, but the fear of what might happen when Sam and Dean returned lingered in the back of her mind.

The sound of a phone buzzing broke the quiet. Castiel pulled his phone from his coat pocket, glancing at the screen. Amara's heart skipped a beat as she saw Dean's name flash across it.