fromfryingpantofire | Now I'm strong and I won't kneel/Except to thank who's watching over me

It had been a very long day so far. For Sam, that day mostly meant waiting, fidgeting with the present in his hands.

More than a few of the others had watched him as they waited, wondering what he was doing here and, more than once, Sam had found himself wondering the same. The Novaks were a family with a lot of wealth and a lot of connections, political and otherwise. He'd done his research. The family was full of Alphas and Betas, insinuated into massive companies and running more than a few of their own. They were old money and old power and most of those who had come to court were the same.

Not Sam. Certainly, the Winchesters were an old family, but they weren't wealthy by a long shot. They were involved in law enforcement, which wasn't exactly a rich occupation to begin with. Sam was going to law school, but his interest wasn't in making money but in helping people and putting away those who abused their positions and their power. But, long ago, John Winchester had made a promise to the Novak family because Mary Campbell had mated him rather than Michael Novak. That one of his children would be offered as a mate to the Novaks should there be a compatible one. It had been a sop, meant to quiet tensions between the families but nobody had thought much of it. Dean had been a Beta and Sam had been an Alpha and that seemed that.

Until the Novaks threw an Omega. Not unheard of, but rare. And, suddenly, Sam seemed to be the one Winchester with a chance, small enough though it might be.

He started when he heard his name called, pulling himself to his full height with the present clutched in his hands. He followed Zachariah Novak trying to ignore the feeling of unworthiness. He was an Alpha from a good line. There was no reason, other than money, to think he didn't have a chance here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The comment had, in fact, been meant as a dry joke, but Castiel quickly remembers his place with the way silence falls for a moment. He's been sheltered, and doesn't always know how to talk to actual people - aside from his uncle's condescension towards those of 'lower birth'. Castiel learned etiquette, not social interaction. It's not surprising to him that his humor doesn't ring with these people.

"I'm not a glass figurine", he mutters under his breath, though he refrains from pointing that out. It's hardly surprising that these people would see him like that, and Castiel is beginning to realize that having been the victim in every way so far, he'll have to work on proving to them that he's not a fragile, naive flower maiden.

He doesn't break easy... although tonight under Sam, he wonders if he might.

Which is when Sam, at least, realizes it was meant to be a joke. He takes Castiel's hand, bringing it up to his mouth to press his lips to his husband's knuckles. "No. But we also don't know what your limits are, either. We're...very much not what you grew up with and we know it. So finding out what goes and what doesn't is going to take time. On both sides."

Castiel's expression softens at that, something warm seeping into his eyes. He appreciates the gesture, and for a moment forgets all about the guests around them. "We're still getting to know each other," he adds in agreement, eyes dropping to his own knuckles, as if transfixed by the soft kiss. Everything is new, and a lot of it is bordering on too much, but... at the end of the day, so far he doesn't have reason to think anything but highly of Sam Winchester.

"I appreciate the care. And the honesty."

"We both still have a lot of learning to do," Sam agrees, rubbing his thumb over the back of Castiel's hand. "And we're both going to make mistakes. But we'll manage."

Which leads to another round of glasses being tapped and Sam laughing as he shakes his head and leans in to kiss Castiel again.

So it goes for the rest of the meal, though Sam refrains from smooshing the cake in Castiel's face, no matter what the rest of the pack was trying to get him to do. The rest of the evening flies by and it's all too soon before they're making their way down to the cabin, Sam's arm at Castiel's waist as they walk through the moonlight.

It's obvious that Castiel is nervous. He's not a good enough liar to hide the signs of that, and it's only natural. It's his first time, and omegas are under a lot of pressure to do well, do please their mates - those raised in very conservative households more than others.

Castiel prays that he won't accidentally cue Sam in to the fact that he expects it to be painful, though. He doesn't think he wants to hear it confirmed before he experiences it.

They're silent all the way up to their bed chamber, and even then when they step closer together, kissing softly. Castiel wants to get it over with, but at the same time, isn't so eager that he'd rush. So he's content to kiss Sam for a while before dropping his hands lower and reaching for Sam's belt buckle.

To be honest, Sam would be far more concerned if he couldn't tell that Castiel's nervous. And he's pretty certain that Castiel thinks it will be painful, too. That's what families always tell Omegas to keep them from having sex until they're married and mated off.

He catches Castiel's hand before it reaches his belt buckle, bringing it back up to his mouth to kiss. "We have all night," he says, eyes warm and watching Castiel. "There's no need to hurry. I was thinking it might be best to take our time, do a lot of touching first."

Which, he hopes, will have the added benefit of letting Castiel get used to Sam's body and his own. "We can help each other get undressed, or we can undress ourselves and then go to bed?"

The moment Sam reaches for Castiel's hands, he worries he did something wrong. But he's learning to understand that Sam will always find a way to gentle his fears and worries with kindness and reason. He isn't in a rush to knot Castiel, and the omega is relieved. He doesn't feel ready enough, doesn't feel prepared enough. Doesn't know if he ever will, with all the myth spooking through his head regarding what he's to expect in bed.

So he kisses Sam and steps back a little, begins shrugging off his jacket and unbuttoning his own shirt slowly, never taking his eyes off Sam. Baring himself to his husband inch by untouched inch.

Not in a hurry, no. Not that Sam doesn't want to knot Castiel. And, for the purposes of the paperwork, he really does have to. Though, he doubts that anybody would be able to tell if he hadn't.

Sam steps back as well, taking off his tie first before he begins undressing slowly. Keeping his eyes on Castiel the entire time because he does want to see his husband's body very much.

Castiel isn't shy about his body. With all the things that he's been taught, that might be surprising - he bares himself to Sam efficiently and without much hesitation, unashamed of his body. He's made sure to stay desirable and beautiful, and Sam will reap the rewards of what Castiel has sown. The omega knows what he looks like, and he knows it's good.

What has his eyes widening is every inch of tan skin revealed on Sam's own body. It dries out his lips, makes his breath stutter a little, because he hasn't really been prepared for Sam himself to look so appealing to his own eyes.

The look on Castiel's face doesn't escape Sam in the least. He smiles, shucking off his shirt and laying it carefully over a nearby chair. Then he takes a moment to look over Castiel, fingers twitching with the desire to reach out and touch.

Something he doesn't stop himself doing, really, though he should get his trousers off, at least. Instead, he steps forward, brushing his fingers over Castiel's cheek before his hands slide down, gently stroking over Castiel's shoulder and down his chest.

It takes another moment before he raises his eyes to Castiel's face again with a smile. "You can touch, too. If you want."

Now I'm strong and I won't kneel/Except to thank who's watching over me

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject