Collection Of Destiel II

Cold Bubbles

The routine started a couple years ago when he was on his own and silence was a luxury he was finally starting to appreciate. Sometimes he would have gashes slashed into his skin, sometimes bruises would be splattered across his skin like dark water color painting, and sometimes his skin would only be marred by white blotches and lines from injuries long forgotten. Other times he would bring a cool beer in with him to sit on the lip of the tub, or he would bring in an old radio he salvaged a long time ago from Bobby's, or he would light some candles just 'cause sometimes the smell of them reminded him of the way his mother kept their home when he was too young to really be able to remember it.

No matter what Dean Winchester would draw himself a cold bubble bath after a hunt. It didn't matter if it was a simple salt and burn or a disastrous monster nightmare. It didn't matter if Sammy was now on the other side of the shitty motel bathroom door or if that night Dean was alone in his own room. The almost ice cold bubble bath brought him a piece of mind in its simplistic demeanor.

Tonight was the end of a weeklong hunt for a demon that had crossed the King of Hell. A simple smile always lightens Dean's face when he's alone and can appreciate that Crowley had been sort of a comrade of his once upon a time. It's a nice change having a bad guy that he could talk with.

He started the bath, feeling the water pouring from the faucet and grinning at the prick of coldness that sent sensational goosebumps up his arm. Reaching into his duffel, he found the bottle of lavender bubble bath that was almost empty, lavender was wonderful to Dean for some reason... he never tried to dwell on it too much.

Just as the tub was filling with exploding whitish purple bubbles, he took his time unclothing himself. It was nice to not rush, to not tear at his clothes. The room was filling with the scent of flowers when he stuck his foot into the water. It came up to just over his ankle, the coldness relaxing his muscles instantly.

The first few times he did this it took him a while to sit down and adjust to the cold water, but now he seemed to melt right under the surface of the water. A hum left his throat as he laid back and filled the tub as best he could while still trying to keep as much skin under the water. Only when the tub was full around him did he lean forward to turn the nozzles.

Silence filled with lavender and cold water. It was heaven. Dean closed his eyes and breathed in the moments when the world was millions of light years away from this tub. He could wiggle his toes and enjoy the feel of water soothing over his tired soul.

He enjoyed maybe six minutes before his ears twitched by the sound of brief flapping wings. His eyes lazily peeled open and he let his neck roll languidly to the side so he could peer up and meet his angel's eyes. Maybe the silence and the bubbles and the cold water was heaven, but it wasn't the complete form of heaven until he could meet those eyes and know that he was safe.

"I sensed your heart rate slow." Castiel allowed the slightest of smiles to turn up at his lips. "How did the hunt go?"

"Jus' fine." Dean felt drunk on serenity. "Wanna join me?"

Even though Dean had taken his time undressing, the angel snapped once and his clothes were folded neatly by the sink. Dean couldn't help but grin wider as he scooted forward and arched his back. Castiel, a bit clumsily, stepped into the water and settling himself snuggly against Dean's back.

Every breath Dean felt from his angel made his mind grow calm. The two sat together for a few minutes before Cas started to cup his hands from where they were pressed against Dean's chest, to pour water down the hunter's chest. Lavender erupted in Dean's nose until he thought he might sneeze.

"I don't know why you won't take a warm bath. Everything I have heard about enjoyable bathing includes hot water." Cas spoke matter-of-factly with a slightly deeper tone.

"Cold feels good on my bones."

"Your bones can't-"

"Just an expression." Dean smirked before tilting his head and pressing his lips softly against the scruff the angel seemed to perfect over the years. "Does it bother you?"

"Not at all." The angel smiled again before materializing a sponge into his palm. He wasted no time gently caressing Dean's skin with it. "I'm simply glad you allow me to join you. I know that this is your alone time."

"Sometimes I wanna be alone with you more than I wanna be alone with myself." Dean mumbled, closing his eyes and allowing his weight to settle against Cas' chest. "I love you, sweetheart."

"I know."

"Hey." Dean snorted with a playful frown. "No pop culture references in this tub."

"As you wish." Cas couldn't help but chuckle this time.

Dean's frown melted into a thoughtful expression. "I liked when you didn't know those things."

Cas' hand stopped scrubbing and pressing the sponge almost nervously into Dean's sternum. "Do you want me to not use them? I didn't know it upset you-"

"It's not that..." Dean took a deep breath and tried to come up with how he wanted to phrase the thoughts running around in his mind. "It's just that I liked when you would tilt your head and look at me like you were trying so hard to know what I was saying... like I was some puzzle and you needed to figure me out. It was... it made me think you really cared, yknow?"

The angel took a deep breath. "I didn't like not knowing what you were saying. It made me feel as though I was different from you. As if I was would never be able to communicate with you as you communicate with Sam, a person you love. I love you, Dean Winchester, to farthest depths of my soul... but you will still always be a puzzle to me. And I will always yearn to figure you out."

Maybe it was the lavender, or the cold now gnawing at his nerves, but a couple tear escaped from Dean's eyes. "Thanks, Cas."

"For what, love?" The angel started washing over Dean's body again, slower than before and with more purpose.

"For being here. For loving me. For not leaving." Dean breathed out his insecurities and on the next inhale felt happiness start to bubble in his gut. "The water is starting to get warm. Wanna get out and maybe go see a movie?"

"I would be honored."

As Dean was drying off, the water all but gone leaving nothing behind but forgotten suds, he met Cas' eyes and couldn't help but smile. Maybe next time he would bathe alone, maybe next time the angel would help undress him.... all Dean knew was that cold bubble baths brought him the solace that he needed to keep fighting.