Castiel's Dragon (boyxboy)

12

Short summary: Anna's secrets revealed, Cassy is hurt inside, a bride is picked, Gabriel worries for Cassy and is doing more secretive stuff, so many FEEELS

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He couldn't stop shaking.

Dear God, he felt as if he was dying inside. So sick of himself, of these customs, these selfish people.

After his forced socialization, he ran back to his room. Cried a little. Or a lot. He muffled his cracking voice against his knees, pulling them up to his chest, and just sat there for a while.

Castiel had to come out eventually, though. No more hiding in his room like a scared little boy. Because he wasn't so little anymore, and he had to stop acting like it.

He huffed out one last shaky breath and wiped off his drying tears, walked up to a mirror and cleaned himself up, the stray messy hairs, the wrinkles on his clothes, until he was completely fixed up to near look nearly impeccable.

Castiel walked out of his room with his chin held high, making his way to Anna's room before he would go to Zachariah. After all, she deserved to know what he was about to do, considering how much it was going to affect her.

He really hoped she wouldn't hate him for what he was going to do.

The teen swallowed nervously at her door and forced himself to knock on it. There was a sound of scuffling items in the room, and then heavy footsteps padding his way until the door abruptly opened, Anna coming out.

She blinked at the sight of him, closing the door and leaning on it before he could try to enter the room. "What're you doing here?" Anna asked. She sounded like Castiel's presence was not wanted.

"Oh, I wanted to—to speak to you. About something." Castiel managed to only stutter once.

Anna narrowed her eyes at him, noting the vagueness of his words.

"...Can I...?" Castiel asked, gesturing to the door.

Anna opened her mouth. Closed it. Her eyes darted back to her door, to the ends of the halls, watching for something, hiding something.

Only then did Castiel notice that, under the silky folds of her dress, were rough pants peeking out, traveling boots on her feet, and her hair was pulled up into a simple ponytail. It was like she was getting ready to travel on horseback.

"What's...going on? Is something wrong?" Castiel asked, looking down the halls nervously, suspecting that this wasn't safe, whatever Anna was doing.

"Hmm? No, nothing's wrong," she chuckled, smiling all of a sudden.

She's lying. To me. What are you doing, Anna?

Castiel pursed his lips, and a look passed Anna's face that told him—she knew he could tell she was lying. "Anna..."

Anna bit her lip, looking pensive. Castiel could only figure that, whatever she was doing, it must've been very serious. She'd never ever kept a secret from him for as long as he could remember.

"Please? We're friends, aren't we?" Anna's brows furrowed sadly, sucking in her cheek. "We don't lie to each other, not when asked directly. What are you doing? What are you hiding from me?"