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“This is a bad idea...” it wasn’t the first time he said it, and it probably wouldn’t be the last either. Still, Dean continued to ignore Benny, marching on with purpose. The sun - or whatever constituted for the sun in this world - was starting to set, and Dean was adamant to cover as much as distance as possible.
Technically, even nightfall wouldn’t usually stop them. But Dean was in heat - and the second day, tomorrow, would hit hardest. By then, if Dean didn’t find shelter, he was going to be as good as useless, but useless and out in the open at time same time? As much as Dean was trusting Benny to cover for him - he hadn’t even looked at him wrong throughout today, wonder of wonders - to a certain extent, Benny still wouldn’t be able to cover him from all angles. And Dean would much rather have a direct view of Benny at all times as well.
Which is why when they found the cave, a land marker from the latest werewolf, Benny nodded at it.
“Here we are.”
Dean ducked inside, glancing around before straightening again to look at Benny. “So...” he swallowed thickly. Smirking, Benny jutted his chin.
“Might as well get some rest. You’re gonna need it.” He wasn’t wrong. But that didn’t mean Dean was happy when he ducked back inside and made camp, Benny left outside keeping guard. The sounds of him sharpening his blade soothed Dean into slumber.
oOo
The second day of his heat went as well as could be expected. For the most part, Dean lay there, desperately trying to ride the waves out, only giving into fucking himself on his fingers when the urge became to great of a burden to bear. Other times, he bit his lips and fought himself from making any noises, silent enough so that despite the blood rushing to his ears from shame, he could still hear Benny occasionally hacking away at any monster that got too curious and eager for its own good.
When he had finally emerged, fingers muddier than usual in his attempt to wipe away his slick in the ground, face aflame, and unable to meet Benny’s eyes, the vampire only gave him a single appraising look before raising an eyebrow.
“Well, what’re you waiting for? Lead the way.”
oOo
They found Cas three months later, right by the stream, as had been promised as a vampire’s last words. The moment Dean’s eyes fell on his mate, everything else slipped away, ceasing to matter as much as the sight of Cas in front of him, only a few feet away. Invading of the fact that Benny was right behind him, Dean strode forward, and with the hand that wasn’t clutching his makeshift Purgatory-style machete, he grabbed onto the back of Cas’s head, and tugged him forward into a kiss.
The feeling of Cas’s lips against his, frozen before eventually softening, moving and opening up to Dean... they may have still yet to get home, but the sensation Dean was drowning in was as if he’d already arrived anyway.
From behind them, Benny cleared his throat, breaking Dean’s bubble.
He didn’t really regain it after that, not when it was too busy shattering with every word Cas uttered, telling Dean that he wantonly ran away from Dean. That he was leading the leviathans away, taking them on his own tail.
Benny and Cas were clearly not fond of each other. But of all the things they could agree on, it had to be about leaving Cas behind.
He was glad the grime of purgatory he’d let accumulate covered his scent enough to not let either of the alphas know how much misery they were putting Dean in with their unrelenting words. It was probably the only thing that let him be steady, stubborn and refusing to hear another word from his mate on the matter.
oOo
The next time Dean’s heat hit, he was still in purgatory. This time, however, he had Cas with him, and on that second day, together, they took shelter under the same cave he spent his first heat in. Curled up with his alpha, his heat was simultaneously abated and raging with increased fervor, demanding Dean’s body to be kept knotted by his mate. But Cas couldn’t knot him, not here, not like this. He only fucked him when it got to a point where Dean couldn’t resist its temptation anymore.
Benny dutifully stayed outside to keep watch again. But regardless, Dean kept his machete close by the entire time.
When they came out, Benny was stared at Cas, something unreadable in his eyes, before turning to Dean. He didn’t miss his eyes dropping down to his neck, where, by all means, a mating bite could have been. Dean refused to fidget under his stare, looking back at Benny challengingly.
He didn’t say anything, except for an impatient prompt to get them moving again.
oOo
“ Why'd you do it, Dean?”
“Do what?”
“Resurrect me. You could have drained my soul into any culvert, and no one would have been the wiser.”
“What the hell are you talking about? Hey, you good?”
“Man... I don't know what I am.”
oOo
In all honesty, Dean was surprised the leviathans hadn’t gotten them sooner. As it was, he didn’t really stop to think of that anymore when he first one turned and started to attack him. He had just finished taking care of his own when he saw Cas pinned to the ground, too far away for Dean to get to him in time. The leviathan reared -
And Benny chopped its head off in one neat swing.
Feeling his frozen heart finally bear aggressively, Dean let out a deep breath, watching Benny help his mate up, the two sharing a silent glance that spoke many words between them, before turning to Dean. He could see it in their eyes, a silent agreement. Be it for the moment, or...
He didn’t think of that anymore, too busy capturing Cas into a tight hug, inhaling his mate’s scent before letting go.
“Let’s get outta here.”