Kahlil, for his part, has stood ready to eject Dean from this domain - or this Dean-shaped thing - if necessary.
He knows nothing about their prior relationship. He doesn't have to, though, to understand that what's being said is being wielded like a weapon against his new friend. He can see Castiel's face even though he can't hear what's being whispered in his ear, with such intimate proximity.
And then Dean's gone, vanished. Kahlil's domain is a quiet place, and for a minute after he leaves that quiet feels oppressive as he watches Castiel blink and duck his head in such a human reaction - in any other situation he might think on how different Castiel wears his skin from the way his brother does. But there's a visceral response to seeing someone else hold back pain that takes over, a mixture between embarrassment and empathy, caught between the two like a vice.
"You don't have to apologize," he starts slowly, unsure if Castiel means to make a quick exit. He wouldn't blame him for it. After a second he steps forward, closer but not as close as Dean had gotten.
"I should apologize, I didn't realize you two were - " Something. He winces, immediately regretting saying that, and shakes his head.
"The way he's acting, it's because of a curse?"
Lucifer had explained something about it to him, in what feels like decades ago now.
no subject
He knows nothing about their prior relationship. He doesn't have to, though, to understand that what's being said is being wielded like a weapon against his new friend. He can see Castiel's face even though he can't hear what's being whispered in his ear, with such intimate proximity.
And then Dean's gone, vanished. Kahlil's domain is a quiet place, and for a minute after he leaves that quiet feels oppressive as he watches Castiel blink and duck his head in such a human reaction - in any other situation he might think on how different Castiel wears his skin from the way his brother does. But there's a visceral response to seeing someone else hold back pain that takes over, a mixture between embarrassment and empathy, caught between the two like a vice.
"You don't have to apologize," he starts slowly, unsure if Castiel means to make a quick exit. He wouldn't blame him for it. After a second he steps forward, closer but not as close as Dean had gotten.
"I should apologize, I didn't realize you two were - " Something. He winces, immediately regretting saying that, and shakes his head.
"The way he's acting, it's because of a curse?"
Lucifer had explained something about it to him, in what feels like decades ago now.