[she'll always be the easiest one for him to find. as quiet as she may be, her presence has always been loud to him. has always resonated deep within his grace. the call of familiarity, of family. of home. so waking back up on the ship again, with his memories of tablets and naomi and dean's blood on his hands--

he's beside her a moment later, clean and clothed and wholly uncomfortable with being out in the open. with the tablet buried inside him, he knows it's hidden from the outside world. but that doesn't mean he can ignore the possibility of its existence being discovered here.]

Seraphim.

[it's different to before. he's different. bridging the gap between them hadn't been easy on his part. an entire existence without the need for physical contact, and it'd taken forgetting everything he is for that to change. with seraphim, it was easier. but never natural.

now though, he has no trouble returning the hug. no trouble taking what he needs from it; that comfort that comes from being in her presence. it's something he wants to keep for himself, even as she breaks that contact so she can talk.]

I was. [a glance down to his sleeved arm and--] Eleven jumps. I didn't mean to leave you.

What happened?

[because as oblivious as he may be to the intricacies of human behavior, it's impossible to ignore the sheer amount of pain and discomfort that those around him are facing. it's more than just the jump. more than the usual nausea that accompanies their waking up routines. he just can't pinpoint a cause.

despite his question though, his attention is on their surroundings. on their lack of privacy. he doesn't want to be out in the open any longer than he has to. but leaving seraphim behind isn't an option. not again. which is why there isn't any warning, isn't any permission asked, before they're in his old room, violin on the table and sigils still intact enough to keep them hidden.]

Were you hurt?

[a continuation as though the relocation hadn't just taken place]

I'm sorry.

[it's a muttered apology; the very least he can say for not being there for her. again. for leaving her to suffer. to be afraid and on her own. his arm is tight around her, keeping her close and with no sign of letting go any time soon. his free hand comes up, palm resting against her forehead momentarily. enough to try and get a reading on just how well she is now.

it's a wasted effort though, he knows that already. he doesn't have anywhere near enough power left right now to fix anything he could potentially find.]

How are you feeling now?

What?

[he backs away at that; enough to get a better look at seraphim. to keep himself from hurting her as his hands curl in to fists and his body tenses up. of all the people who could possibly turn up here--]

From your world?

[or another? his? he doesn't know which option is worse.]

He's dangerous, Seraphim.

[an understatement, of course. and doubtlessly something she's already well aware of. humanity itself knows how big of a threat lucifer can be. but his reasons go further than just the stories shared in the bible. he still remembers how it felt to be torn apart; to see the face of a friend holding the grace of an enemy. the brothers had suffered. heaven had been torn apart. and now--

lucifer. he's aboard the tranquility too.]

Does he know what you are?

[it's a reference he doesn't get, so the violin only earns a look of confusion. he'd assumed that was how it'd arrived. the idea of lucifer having changed it to this makes no sense. but the questioning can wait. there are more important things to take care of first.]

Lucifer is stronger than I am. [he was an archangel afterall] If he chooses to come after you--

[well, he'll do his best to protect her. but he knows that he wouldn't last long in that fight.]

There's a way to hide you from him. But it's painful, and it would hide you from all angels. [himself included. it may be selfish, but he doesn't want that]

[there's a hand on her shoulder, another cupping the side of her face. while he may have only just returned, there's one promise he can still make. one he can stick to, indefinitely.]

As long as I'm here, I'll hear you. I'll always be able to find you if you call for me.

[because she's impossible to ignore, even if he tries. even when he wanted to keep that distance all those months ago.]

I don't know if it would work. I don't know if He'd let it.

[as much as he wants to promise her that she won't, that he isn't going anywhere, he can't. not while lucifer is aboard the ship. not when he knows that the two of them will have to speak at some point. he can't put seraphim in harms way like that.

and then there's the tablet--]

I want to stay with you, Seraphim. But there are times when I won't be able to.

[he had been a member of security before he left too.]

As long as I have a choice, I'll always come back to you.

[a variation on his previous promise, but one he'll do his best to stick to. he doesn't know what's going to happen during their stay; there's no way he could. but he can at least try to stay by her side.]

[there's a tension released at those words that castiel isn't aware he was holding. a relief at the fact that she really hasn't given up on him yet. easing the gap back between them again, there's an almost serene smile on his face as he wraps his fingers around the slate in her hand.]

We both need to rest.

[because there's nowhere else he'd rather spend the night than resting alongside her again]

[the prompt is more than enough to get him moving, stepping away to take off his coat. despite physically removing it though, it's between one blink and the next that he's instead clad in the clothing he'd taken to wearing to bed; white scrubs that'd come from his stay in hospital. ones comfortable enough for him to relax in, despite the connection.

there's a moment spent looking between seraphim and the bed, before he's rethinking his plans.]

Do you need to go back to your room first?

[for something to get changed in to.]