Castiel sits in stunned silent for a long moment, merely staring at the cousin who'd been so important, and who'd left. The only member of the Novak family who'd had Castiel's back for as long as he can think, and he dares to say he can think back very clearly.
He remembers being nestles into Gabriel's side, peering at the pages of his favorite book as Gabriel read it. He remembers being pranked, but never maliciously, always in ways that made him laugh, too, once he got over having his pride bruised gently. He remembers Gabriel's spirit being whittled down as Michael and Lucifer fought, worse once they presented as alpha and had even more natural aggression to back them up. He remembers how Zachariah was trying to use those three as pawns in his business strategies, something their father, Chuck, couldn't even object to.
Castiel remembers so much that he tried not to think of ever since Gabriel left, because it would have hurt too much. Because Gabriel didn't mean it when he said he'd always have Castiel's back... because Gabriel walked away without looking back, and it still stings. And it can't be coincidence that he left when Castiel presented and shamed his pack by being nothing more than omega, even though Gabriel always advertised for their rights.
Sam standing behind him with a hand on his shoulder is a blessing. It reminds Castiel that he needs to keep his composure above all else. He can't crack. "Gabriel," he says, and if his voice is a little rougher than usual with unknown emotions, it's hard to tell for sure. Castiel is tense under Sam's hand. It's not a negative reaction. He just... he doesn't know what to do with all this, right now.
He doesn't know how he feels about seeing Gabriel, so he closes himself off, tries to be calm and dignified.
"Hello, Gabriel..."
There's something unsure in his voice as he greets his cousin, something that thinks nothing fits together right now, not as seamlessly as it had for a while now. He doesn't know what to make of it. Doesn't know how to react. So he doesn't.
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He remembers being nestles into Gabriel's side, peering at the pages of his favorite book as Gabriel read it. He remembers being pranked, but never maliciously, always in ways that made him laugh, too, once he got over having his pride bruised gently. He remembers Gabriel's spirit being whittled down as Michael and Lucifer fought, worse once they presented as alpha and had even more natural aggression to back them up. He remembers how Zachariah was trying to use those three as pawns in his business strategies, something their father, Chuck, couldn't even object to.
Castiel remembers so much that he tried not to think of ever since Gabriel left, because it would have hurt too much. Because Gabriel didn't mean it when he said he'd always have Castiel's back... because Gabriel walked away without looking back, and it still stings. And it can't be coincidence that he left when Castiel presented and shamed his pack by being nothing more than omega, even though Gabriel always advertised for their rights.
Sam standing behind him with a hand on his shoulder is a blessing. It reminds Castiel that he needs to keep his composure above all else. He can't crack. "Gabriel," he says, and if his voice is a little rougher than usual with unknown emotions, it's hard to tell for sure. Castiel is tense under Sam's hand. It's not a negative reaction. He just... he doesn't know what to do with all this, right now.
He doesn't know how he feels about seeing Gabriel, so he closes himself off, tries to be calm and dignified.
"Hello, Gabriel..."
There's something unsure in his voice as he greets his cousin, something that thinks nothing fits together right now, not as seamlessly as it had for a while now. He doesn't know what to make of it. Doesn't know how to react. So he doesn't.