[ Indecision still roils in Castiel's gut, and seeing Dean again, dejected but still righteous in his fury, only increases Castiel's doubts. He looks away, hesitating momentarily under the weight of Dean's judgement. He's right to be upset and to scorn Castiel as much as the others. He may be wearing hospital scrubs and slippers instead of more practical clothing, but he's cleaned and nourished and whole, which is more than can be said of Dean. ]
I'm sorry.
[ Castiel finally says with genuine regret, at last deciding that nothing else would be worth the breath to speak, except for that. Slowly, like a persona approaching an injured bird, he walks towards Dean, kneels beside him, and lifts his hands towards the collar at Dean's neck, key in hand. ]
For what it's worth, I had no idea that this is how you would be treated.
[ He turns the key in the lock— or tries to. It sticks. There's no satisfying click and release of the mechanism. He turns it again, stubbornly. Stubbornly, the lock resists, and nothing happens. It requires a different key, Castiel realizes. The realization dawns: Naomi knew that when she gave it to him. She never intended to release Dean from this room, only give Castiel access to him. "We don't trust you." The words echo in his head and wrap around his throat, their own kind of collar. ]
no subject
I'm sorry.
[ Castiel finally says with genuine regret, at last deciding that nothing else would be worth the breath to speak, except for that. Slowly, like a persona approaching an injured bird, he walks towards Dean, kneels beside him, and lifts his hands towards the collar at Dean's neck, key in hand. ]
For what it's worth, I had no idea that this is how you would be treated.
[ He turns the key in the lock— or tries to. It sticks. There's no satisfying click and release of the mechanism. He turns it again, stubbornly. Stubbornly, the lock resists, and nothing happens. It requires a different key, Castiel realizes. The realization dawns: Naomi knew that when she gave it to him. She never intended to release Dean from this room, only give Castiel access to him. "We don't trust you." The words echo in his head and wrap around his throat, their own kind of collar. ]