Castiel is tracing symbols in the dust of the earth when he feels the shift, space bending around one of his brethren. He learned these runes from Anna herself, back when they were still soldiers together, and these same runes call her to him now. She breathes into existence before him, and it still throws him to see her in this mortal body. Castiel remembers the barn, the way his sister's true form had bled out of Anna Milton's body, and that is the image seared into his mind. That is the Annael he recognizes, the one he fought beside, the one he loved and loves still.
Cas, Anna says by way of greeting.
He says, The last time we met, I told you I was considering disobedience.
I remember. Well?
Well what?
Are you disobedient?
Castiel hesitates, because he isn't sure.
He tells her what happened: the Prophet's visions, Sam and Lilith, Dean praying. He prayed, Castiel repeats in wonderment. He prayed, and I helped him. I don't think I was disobedient.
Anna smiles with one side of her mouth, and says, You're adorable, Cas.
He frowns.
She says, Everyone should be so lucky, getting their prayers answered just like that. But where would the world be if everyone got what they want, huh? And then she asks, What do you want, Cas?
What I want is irrelevant.
Do you want to be disobedient?
I... (What a question, he thinks.) I want to do the right thing.
She smiles with her whole face now, and says, Now you're getting it. Then, to Castiel's bewilderment, Anna does the most inexplicable thing: she pinches his cheek, and giggles, My little brother's growing up.
Castiel shakes his head to shake off her hand, and Anna laughs.
4x18 coda
Cas, Anna says by way of greeting.
He says, The last time we met, I told you I was considering disobedience.
I remember. Well?
Well what?
Are you disobedient?
Castiel hesitates, because he isn't sure.
He tells her what happened: the Prophet's visions, Sam and Lilith, Dean praying. He prayed, Castiel repeats in wonderment. He prayed, and I helped him. I don't think I was disobedient.
Anna smiles with one side of her mouth, and says, You're adorable, Cas.
He frowns.
She says, Everyone should be so lucky, getting their prayers answered just like that. But where would the world be if everyone got what they want, huh? And then she asks, What do you want, Cas?
What I want is irrelevant.
Do you want to be disobedient?
I... (What a question, he thinks.) I want to do the right thing.
She smiles with her whole face now, and says, Now you're getting it. Then, to Castiel's bewilderment, Anna does the most inexplicable thing: she pinches his cheek, and giggles, My little brother's growing up.
Castiel shakes his head to shake off her hand, and Anna laughs.