Strings Attached

Chapter 37

"Faggot," Azazel cough-says as he, Alastair, Crowley, and Dean walk by Castiel at the end of the day.

"Unimaginative," Castiel cough-says in response.

"What did you just say?" Azazel demands, stopping in front of Castiel.

"I didn't say anything," Castiel replies. "Just clearing my throat. I think I have a cold or something."

"Stop fucking with us," Crowley growls.

"Again I ask, why would I ever fuck with you?" Castiel replies with a small smirk that he's unable to hide.

Alastair goes to knock over Castiel's wheelchair — which Castiel would not be excited for — but Dean grabs the boy's arm before he can.

"What the hell, man?" Alastair demands angrily.

"Seriously? You're picking on him?" Dean asks.

"Damn right we are," Azazel replies.

"What, you afraid he's gonna give you another mini speech?" Crowley teases. "Puh-lease. That was just a pathetic show of the fact that he can speak, nothing more. Big deal. Just gives us something more to strive for. His pleas." Crowley gives Castiel a teasing smile, to which Castiel rolls his eyes.

"No, I just don't want to pick on the handicap guy," Dean replies.

"Aw, both the Winchesters going soft now?" Azazel asks.

"No, of course not," Dean says. "But if you fuck him up more, he'll never get out of that thing, and where's the fun in that?"

"Oh, true," Azazel agrees. "It's your lucky day, Cassie."

"Looks like," Castiel replies. "I mean, I don't have to spend as much time with you sociopaths. That's a win for me any day." Castiel wheels away before they can respond, somewhat satisfied with how that went.

He finds Gabriel and Garth already waiting for him in the car. His brother hops out to help Castiel before sitting shotgun again.

"What took ya so long?" he asks as Lucifer begins driving.

"A battle of wits with people that very clearly have none," Castiel replies.

"Ooh, a run in with the jock squad?" Gabriel guesses.

"That's the one."

"You got out of there pretty safe," Garth observes.

"Dean stopped them from breaking me," Castiel tells them. Seeing their expressions, he adds, "Because it's less fun to beat someone up when they're in a wheelchair. He said it himself."

"I doubt that," Gabriel says. "Those exact words?"

Castiel tries to remember exactly what he said. "Something like 'If you fuck him up, he'll never get out of that thing and that's less fun,' or something like that."

"Seriously?" Garth says in surprise.

"Yep."

"I think you're exaggerating," Gabriel says.

"I'm not."

"I agree with Gabriel," Lucifer says.

"You're irrelevant," Castiel tells him.

"Okay, but I'm still betting on Destiel so I can't side with ya."

"What does that even mean?" Castiel asks.

"Is that their...?" Garth asks.

"Yep," Lucifer replies.

"With Dean?" Garth adds for clarification.