Chapter Text
The adrenaline still buzzed in Dean’s veins long after they’d broken apart. He could feel the adrenaline tapering off, leaving behind the familiar weight of doubt pressing against his ribs. Before his mind could spiral, he caught Cas by the sleeve and tugged him down the hallway into one of Bobby’s spare rooms.
Dean shut the door with more force than he meant to. “Cas, I…” His voice cracked, and he dragged a hand down his face. “Sending you in there, with Crowley… I don’t like it. Last time we trusted him, you nearly…” He stopped, jaw tightening. “I can’t shake the thought he’ll hurt you, or worse. What if he…”
“Dean.” Cas’s voice cut through his panic like a steady blade. Calm, grounding. He stepped closer, his eyes locked on Dean’s. “I know the risks. I’ve faced worse. And I’m not alone this time.”
Dean huffed, half a laugh, half a sob. “That supposed to make me feel better?”
Instead of answering, Cas leaned in and pressed his lips to Dean’s. The kiss was slow at first, a reassurance. But Dean’s hand found Cas’s trench coat lapel, clutching, and the kiss deepened before either of them thought about stopping.
By the time they hit the bed, Dean was flat on his back with Cas braced above him, their mouths moving together with a heat that chased away all the fear Dean had been drowning in. Dean’s fingers slid into Cas’s hair, pulling him down, and Cas shifted instinctively, knees pressing into the mattress, one hand firm on Dean’s chest.
The moment was breathless, heady, the world narrowing down to just them…
And then, a knock at the door.
“Dean?” Kai’s voice, muffled but clear, carried from the other side. “Sam’s looking for you.”
Dean let his head thunk back against the pillow with a groan. Cas froze, a touch of pink creeping across his cheeks.
“Of course he is,” Dean muttered, dragging a hand down Cas’s back before gently nudging him off. “Timing’s a damn curse in this house.”
Dean stayed on the bed for another second, catching his breath, before pushing himself upright. Cas gave him a lingering look, but Dean just muttered, “Guess I better see what Sam wants before he tears the house down.”
When Dean opened the door, Kai was leaning casually against the wall, arms folded, waiting. The smirk they were biting back slipped for just a second before they straightened up.
Dean frowned. “What?”
Kai didn’t answer right away. Instead, they reached out, tugged Dean’s flannel straight where it had bunched, then smoothed down his hopelessly mussed hair with a quick pat. Only then did they step back, eyes glinting. “Nothing.”
Dean narrowed his eyes, cheeks heating. “You gonna keep grinning like that or actually tell me what Sam wants?”
Kai arched a brow. “I could. But I’d rather ask if you and Cas got anywhere before I interrupted.”
Dean choked on air. “Seriously?!”
Kai’s grin widened, but it softened just a touch. “Relax, De. I’m not judging. Just saying… you don’t need to worry so much. Cas’ll be fine. He’s stronger than you give him credit for.”
Dean exhaled, some of the tension easing out of his shoulders. “Yeah. Guess you’re right.”
Kai’s smirk gentled into something closer to reassurance before they inclined their head toward the stairs. “C’mon. Sam’s waiting.”
Dean followed Kai down the hall, still grumbling under his breath, but at least looking a little less strung out. They stepped into the main room where Sam was pacing, arms crossed tight across his chest.
“There you are,” Sam snapped, shooting his brother a sharp look. “We need to talk.”
Dean raised a brow. “About?”
Sam’s jaw tightened. “About me fighting.”
Kai groaned softly. “Sam…”
“No,” Sam cut them off. “I’m not just sitting back while the rest of you go charging into this. I can fight.”
Dean’s mouth twitched into something between disbelief and annoyance. “Sam, no. You fight with guns… machete at most for a blades weapons. Oh, and a wooden sword.”
Sam bristled, stepping forward. “And I did pretty damn well! You saw me! Don’t tell me that doesn’t count.”
Dean snorted, crossing his arms. “You do know that guns are gonna have no effect on Leviathans? Right? Swords are. I’ve been fighting with blades since I was twelve. Kai’s been doing the same. You…” he gestured at Sam, “… you’ve had a single spar where you got cocky and fell on your ass.”
Sam’s cheeks flushed hot, but he didn’t back down. “So what, I’m supposed to just sit here while you and Kai risk everything?”
Kai stepped in smoothly, their voice even but firm. “You’re supposed to learn, Sam. Not leap headfirst into a fight you’re not ready for. That’s what training is for. That’s why Bobby and Samuel are here. You’re not being sidelined, you’re being prepared.”
Sam’s glare flicked between the two of them, but Dean’s calm, almost patronising look pushed him over the edge. He swung a hand toward his brother. “You don’t get to decide what I can or can’t do, Dean.”
Dean’s expression hardened. “The hell I don’t. You’re my little brother. And I’m not watching you get gutted because you think one sword lesson makes you a master.”
The silence stretched tight until Kai finally stepped forward, placing themself squarely between the brothers. Their tone was calm, but there was an edge of steel to it.
“Enough.”
Dean huffed, ready to argue, but Kai lifted a hand and silenced him with a look. They turned their gaze on Sam.
“You want to fight with us? Fine. Prove it.”
Sam blinked, caught off guard. “Prove it?”
Kai nodded. “If you can last more than two minutes against me, no powers, just sword to sword, you’ll come with Dean and me against Raphael. If you can’t, you stay behind and keep learning. Deal?”
Sam’s chest rose sharply. His pride was pricked, but there was no hesitation in his voice when he answered. “Deal.”
Dean threw up his hands. “Oh, come on, you can’t be serious…”
Kai didn’t even look at him. “Dead serious. Sam wants to be in this fight, he has to understand what that means. And there’s no safer way to teach that than here and now.”
Dean muttered something about stubborn Winchesters and impending disasters, but Sam’s eyes were already locked on Kai’s, determination burning there.
“Two minutes?” Sam asked, just to be sure.
Kai’s lips quirked into the faintest of smirks. “Two minutes. Clock starts when you first swing.”