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Dean has wanted this for so long.
From the first mention of it, he has wondered. Wondered what Castiel looks like when he is truly himself. Not nestled inside of Jimmy, wearing a suit and tie and his beloved trenchcoat. But truly himself.
He had blinded Pam all those years ago, warned her to look away and leave him be. When she had persisted, she'd paid the price. For many years Dean thought the same thing would happen to him, and so he left the thought as just that; a thought, a dream, a fantasy. He didn't even think to say it to Castiel until a few nights ago, the two of them tucked beneath the sheets, glowing in the aftermaths.
"You want to see my true form?" Castiel had asked, his voice softer than usual. "Why?"
Dean couldn't help but laugh. "What do you mean, why? Of course I want to see your true form. I've always wanted to. But with what happened to Pam, I know it's not possible. So-"
"It's possible."
Dean's head snapped up at record speed. "What?"
"It's possible," Castiel had repeated. "To see my true form."
"But… how?"
"Do you remember when I said that we share a profound bond?" Castiel asked. When Dean nodded, he continued, "Well, that's a real thing. The profound bond between an angel and their human."
Their human had made Dean's cheeks colour.
"Because of it, were you to see my true form, you wouldn't be hurt. No harm can come to you from viewing my natural self."
Dean had wanted to see Castiel in all his glory there and then, but Castiel had asked for a few days to prepare his vessel. As he'd only be out of his human form for a short period of time, diving straight back into it could cause some issues. He needed a few days to prep his human form, and then, he'd promised whilst kissing Dean's cheeks, trying to rid him of his pout, Dean could see his true form.
"Are you sure about this?" Castiel asks, barely able to stop his hands from fidgeting. "I don't want you to think of me any differently."
Dean takes his cheek into his hands, kissing him gently on the mouth. "Stop worrying," he soothes.
With that, Castiel stands up. Dean watches as Castiel closes his eyes, tilts his head back, and puts his arms out to the side. For a moment, nothing.
Then everything goes white.
There's a high pitch frequency ringing in Dean's ears and he looks around in a panicked state, trying to figure out what's going on.
"Dean."
It's Cas. But his voice seems louder, booming, even. Like an echo.
Then, as soon as the white had appeared, it morphs. Dean watches in awe as bright streaks of blue in various hues dash in front of him, glimpses of gold and silver dancing in his view.
And then, he can see him.
Castiel.
He wasn't lying when he stressed how large his true form is. Dean feels like an ant in comparison, with thousands upon thousands of eyes on him, all in that gorgeous blue he's come to adore. They're nestled against infinite wings, and amongst them all, is a large eye. To no surprise, it is also blue, but it's lid is bright gold and has smaller eyes dotted across the top. Before Dean can say anything, two hands scoop him up out of nowhere, and he is brought in front of the large eye.
"You're beautiful," Dean whispers, knelt in the hands of the angel. He reaches out to touch Castiel's eyelid, and he is allowed, the eye—Castiel— closing it ever so slightly.
A warmth meets his hand, spreading up his arm and throughout his body. Dean had been sure it'd be cold—the gold looks so metallic, but he's happy to be proven wrong.
"I can't believe you didn't show me sooner," he says, bringing a hand up to rub at his eye. All of a sudden he's grown tired, but he has no intention of cutting this short. "You've been keeping this from me all this years… but I don't see why. Not when you're this…" he trails off, fighting back a yawn, "striking. Gorgeous."
Castiel's laugh sounds funny in this form, again deeper and richer than his human vessel self. "You did not tell me you longed to see my true form, Dean. I am not a mind reader."
Dean huffs but decides that's fair; he hadn't voiced his desire for the longest time. "Is it normal that I'm tired all of a sudden?" He asks, slumping against Castiel's thumb.
"Yes. Your brain is working overtime to make sense of this," Castiel explains. "Don't fight it. You'll only need more if you do not succumb to the desire."
"'Kay, but you better stay like this," Dean warns, bringing his knees up to his chest. He's tucked against the soft skin of the angel's hands, that warmth now covering his entire body. "I wanna admire you some more."
Castiel chuckles again, but when he speaks, Dean is already half way to his slumber. And though he could not see a pair of lips for Castiel's true form, he feels the unmistakeable press of his lips to the top of his head as he slips under.