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[always_enduphere]

There's no way he's getting across town.

He's healed up enough for the walk, however exhausting it might prove, but the chances of losing Castiel long enough to get to Ishiah's and getting away with it, even if Cas doesn't see him in action, are slim to none.

Idling down the hallway outside his apartment, Dean grimaces. This isn't a conversation he wants to have over the phone, and part of him's not convinced it even needs having at all. Dean might be stubborn, but so is Cas, and if Cas really wants to reclaim his grace there will be little Dean can do about it. Maybe he should talk to Robin instead - if anyone knows the tricks to dealing with one's resident angel, it will be him.

Nodding to himself, Dean takes the stairs up to Robin's floor, sweating but triumphant when he finally arrives in front of his door and knocks.

Comments

[priorcommitment]

If there is one thing that Ishiah can consistently credit Robin for, it's the fact that Robin doesn't spring surprise visitors on the apartment when Ishiah spends his time there. While both their apartments are open to the other without a need to ask permission, Ishiah tends to shoot Robin a text regardless to let the puck know of his whereabouts in case he should be needed. Unless he's in a mood.

Fortunately, today, he isn't.

When a knock sounds on the door, Ishiah suspects that it's someone close to Robin, striding easily across the space without pause. Finding Dean waiting at the door, the line of his mouth hardens before he steps forward and lifts Dean into his arms to carry him inside.

"You could have asked him to meet you in a more central location," Ishiah says, kicking the door shut with the heel of his foot.

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Dean doesn't have time for more than an indignant squawk before Ishiah's arms are around him and lifting, princess carrying him into the room and closing the door with a flourish Dean's come to associate with pissy angels.

"I live right below him," he says, pushing ineffectually at Ishiah's hands. "Doesn't get more central than that. Besides." In his surprise and embarrassment, Dean had almost forgotten to be grateful to find his original choice of consult. "I was looking for you."

[priorcommitment]

"Then you could have asked him to stop by your apartment. Or asked me. Robin keeps a closer eye on you than you know; it wouldn't be hard to catch his attention," Ishiah says, ignoring Dean's physical protests, though he keeps his hold on Dean loose and comfortable. It's not his place to overly discipline Dean for the mistake he's made in dropping by the apartment, only his job to make sure Dean doesn't worsen his health in the process. "You could also ask for my phone number. I have enough experience with smartphones and am a fast texter."

He lays Dean out on the sofa, careful to arrange the cushions in a way that will make breathing as easy as possible. An easy task after so many years of watching over his brothers.

"Something that I imagine Castiel cannot say for himself yet," he adds, guessing at the reason why Dean's here. Why else would he look for Ishiah?

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"Didn't want to do it on the phone," Dean mutters, and he tries to resent the fact that he's so comfortable - of course Robin would own a couch perfect for lounging - but his legs are all but vibrating with relief for him being off of them, and Ishiah's even done something to the cushions that doesn't hurt his back.

"Look," he says, wondering if angels take some kind of course in shaming, because damn if they aren't good at it, "I didn't know I was coming up here until I was coming up here. I just." Dean rubs at his eyes. "I need to talk to you. About Castiel."

[priorcommitment]

"You should still text next time so any of us can make arrangements," Ishiah says briefly, not wanting his point to be lost, but not caring to overly beat the topic either. Of all the possible mistakes Dean could have made, this one is fairly harmless, and certainly not in any way ill-intentioned. Still, even the most innocent mistakes must be corrected.

"But, I trust that you've learned," he adds, glancing at Dean's legs before meeting his gaze again. "What is it that you would like to speak of with respect to Castiel?"

[always_enduphere]

Dean's never been good at receiving orders or advice from anyone but his daddy, and stubbornly refuses to acknowledge that he's learned anything. Instead, he leans his head back against the armrest, determined expression soon melting into something tired.

"He wants to take his grace back if he get the chance. But I don't think he actually wants to. It's more like he's scared of what will happen if he doesn't."

[priorcommitment]

Ishiah inhales deeply halfway through Dean's words, leaning back slightly, his posture as straight as a board. Considering Castiel's never been bad about turning to Ishiah for advice, he assumes that he'll have to talk to Castiel in the days to come. Folding his hands together, Ishiah nods his understanding.

"Returning to service out of a fear of what may happen if one doesn't is a valid decision, provided the faith is actually there and the intent is selfless, geared towards the needs of the collective," Ishiah explains. "If the world were collapsing around us and I felt that the angels were best equipped to stop that from happening, I would most likely return to duty. However."

His gaze fixes directly on Dean's, lips drawn thin. "My immediate impulse is to ask whether you think Castiel would be making this choice for the greater good, or simply because he wants to better protect you."

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"He says it's both," says Dean, mouth the same flat line as Ishiah's. "But I don't think I need to tell you it's me. And he's not wrong."

Dean sighs, hand resting over the wound in his side. "I see more than my fair share of trouble, even when I'm not out looking for it. He's saved my life more than a few times when I should have lost it, and he couldn't have done it without his powers."

Dean pauses. "But I still don't think that's good enough reason. Not if being human is what he really wants."

[priorcommitment]

"There's no greater good in him regaining his grace when his motivations are so compromised. Believe me," Ishiah says, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his fingers over his forehead, trying to ease out the wrinkles. Perhaps Dean will be angry with him for voicing the sentiment; perhaps Castiel will be even more frustrated.

It doesn't change how Ishiah feels.

"My concern is that his only aim is to protect you. And I am afraid of what he could do in the name of doing just that, not because I believe you to be easy to corrupt, but instead because any person, any angel, any peri must maintain perspective."

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"That's just it," says Dean. "He's not - I don't know what angels are like where you come from, if there are degrees of intensity, or whatever. But Cas is just...he's built for worship."

And as much as Dean likes being, for once, someone's first and best love..."I never asked for that kind of heat. And I don't think it's good for him, while he's stuck here or even at home. And I got no idea how to get him off that track."

[priorcommitment]

"So he must experience other things. Spread his efforts more broadly than simply watching to keep you safe. Give him other tasks to focus on, or have him convene again with man and the rest of God's creatures," Ishiah insists, his voice growing harder, insistent. If there is a chance to bring some sense to Castiel, after all, Ishiah would like to take it. It's been some time since he's spent a significant amount of time with an angel — one not already on shore leave, as he himself is.

"I'm not sure whether he would rather hear it from you or myself, but he must not place you on a pedestal, else his obsession will only increase over time. And that serves neither him nor you."

[always_enduphere]

"He works," says Dean, bristling as he always does against the harsher tone he's come to associate with the celestial. "He works in that pet store, and he's got friends like he never had at home. I don't know what to do, aside from signing him up for a book club. Darrow's so small."

Dean sighs. "There's not a lot of places he can go to get away from me and experience other things."

[priorcommitment]

"Believe me, if you want to learn the best way to make the most out of a small space, you already know the person best poised to offer that advice," says Ishiah, softening slightly at Dean's willingness to think on the matter and rubbing lightly at his temples. "Robin would be very happy to show Castiel the ropes."

He very nearly rolls his eyes at the thought. "Although he would have to be careful not to overwhelm Castiel, as I'm sure you can imagine."