Take The Heart I Never Wanted to Give

29

The light-hearted mood in the dining hall ceases just as quickly as it had come. Easy smiles turn into thinned expressions of unease and scarcely hidden defensiveness.

"Discuss what exactly?" Dean asks carefully. Silently he berates himself for thinking the conversation he had with his father hours after his rescue would be the end all be all of any future happenings between them for a long time. Nothing was ever that easy; nothing had been for a while.

"I'll discuss that in due time but before I do I'd like us all to be sitting," John says evenly. "Dean, you especially. I'm sure standing for that long with your...injury can't be good for it, son."

Dean's hand twitches near his wound, but he opts to ignore it and sends a flat look his father's way. "Do me a favor and don't start giving a shit about my well being now."

"Dean—"John sighs.

"Our conversation didn't suddenly fix everything you've done to me in the last few years or so," Dean interrupts. "All we did was shut a door on a conversation that needed to happen far sooner than it did. That's it. Now either say what you're gonna say or I'm leaving."

Naomi sends a scathing look his way, he sees it but chooses to ignore it all the same.

John's gaze withers and he holds up his hands in surrender. "Alright. If that's what you want. That being said this conversation involves everyone here so please listen carefully."

Castiel moves to place a comforting hand on Dean's shoulder, Dean reaches up a hand to squeeze it, assuring the blue-eyed alpha he's fine. Sam and Gabriel have moved inches closer to them in their own form of solidarity.

John waits briefly to ensure he has everyone's attention and clasps his hands together firmly. "I have decided to end this alliance agreement and in turn nullify the mating agreements made between my children and Queen Novak's children."

Silence. Then a burst of anger, confusion, and protest.

"WHAT?" Both Winchester brothers and their partners exclaim.

"Excuse me?" Naomi says, rage slithers into her tone like a snake made of shadows and ill intent.

"Oh?" Lucifer drawls, interest thoroughly peeked at the drama quickly building before him.

Michael stares blankly at John before promptly leaning back in his chair, taking a flask from seemingly nowhere and changing the entire thing. "Fucking lovely," he says with a humorless chuckle.

"Please let me finish—" John begins.

"No," Sam snaps. "Don't say another damn word because if you do I'll strangle you with your own intestines."

"You don't get to fucking call it quits now, you fucking asshole!" Dean shouts, taking a step forward before he's stopped by Castiel.

"Dean, I am trying to make this right by annulling the arrangements I forced on both you and your mates," John says, annoyance carefully reigned in. "I'm trying to fix this."

"Excuse my crassness, your Highness," Gabriel starts, "but it's a little too fucking late for that."

Naomi slams a fist down, teeth bared at Gabriel in an ugly snarl that marred her elegant features. "You will shut your mouth this instance or I will have you beat within in an inch of your life and leave you for the prisoners back home to take turns."

Sam, Castiel, and Dean both snarl in unison at the threat, fangs bared, eyes flashing dangerously. Gabriel's lip quirked upwards in a careful smirk at Naomi's bewildered look. "You were saying?"

Naomi's snarls again and turns quickly towards John. "I won't allow this. You swore to me—"

John holds up a hand to silence her, a surprisingly apologetic look on his face. "I was a fool to do so and I regret dragging you into my ill advised decisions, Naomi. Truly I am sorry for that."

Naomi slaps away his hand, startling everyone including John. "I don't care about your change of heart or your ill-advised decisions!" She bellows. "You promised me an alliance with your kingdom, you promised to help receive connections with the Higher Council. You <i>will</i> deliver on those promises."

John's eyes narrow dangerously at the unspoken threat. "Be careful to remember who's land you're residing on currently," he says, a growl edged in his tone. "Threaten me again and I'll have you put before the Higher Council for trial before you lift a finger."

Naomi's eyes harden but her mouth remains firmly closed, occasional shivers of rage making themselves known in her posture.

John's gaze remains firmly fixed on hers momentarily before turning his attention back to the mated pairs. "My decision is final. We will begin the process of annulment tomorrow evening."

"No," Sam says firmly. "No, we won't."

"For God's sake!" John bellows suddenly. "For days you two cursed every breath I took for forcing this mating upon you and now you suddenly want to keep it? Why?!"

"It's the one good thing that's resulted from this mess!" Dean exclaims, laughing humorlessly. "For as much shit as I had to go through I actually got someone who cares about <i>me</i> and what <i>I</i> want." Dean's breath comes out labored, the pain in his side catching up with him in his slowly dwindling adrenaline-filled state." Why in God's name would I give that up? Why would Sam give up being that to Gabriel?" He slows his breathing, trying to calm himself before continuing again. "I told you during our conversation to just fucking trust us and listen for once in your goddamn life. Just for once. Do what you have to fix this mess but leave what we found ourselves out of it."

John's mouth opens and closes about a dozen times before he nods robotically. "That's...very well."

Dean exhales shakily and nods himself before leaning heavily on Castiel. "Let's get the fuck out of here," he says tiredly.

Castiel nods and supports Dean as they made their way out of the dining hall, Sam and Gabriel following closely behind them.

It's silent once again in the hall, but the tension remains present.

"Well," Lucifer pipes up suddenly. "That was by far the best shit show I have ever had the honor to be a witness to." He stands up quickly and grabs a handful of biscuits and a saucer of jelly. "I'll let you two have some time alone to talk. Come on, Mikey. Let's let the big boys and girls duke it out with some privacy."

Michael mumbles something unintelligible and stumbles after Lucifer. He stops briefly and salutes the two royals. "Try not to kill one another. We'll deny ever being here if you do."