Title: Home is Where the Heart Is
Characters/Pairings: Castiel/Dean

Fandom: Supernatural
Summary: Humans have a saying, "Home is where the heart is." Castiel's thoughts on that saying reveal far more than expected. Vague spoilers for season 4; Destiel.
Word count: 450
Warnings: very vague spoilers if you haven't seen season 4 and slash
Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural. Or any of the characters... yet.

Author's Note: This is mostly unbeta'd, so all mistakes are my own. I actually wrote this a while back and planned to post it for Valentine's Day, but I'm a master procrastinator... so here's an extremely late Destiel fic for you. Enjoy!

Humans have a saying, "Home is where the heart is." In a literal sense, I do not have a heart. I am a celestial being; I have no use or need of one. My vessel's heart is located on the left side of his body, protected by his ribcage. I am aware of its fluttering and pounding whenever I am in danger or with the Winchesters (although they are almost synonymous).

Figuratively, I couldn't have a heart. However, I have had doubts about this, among... other things. As an angel, I am bound to my duty. We are soldiers. Compassion and other human emotions only hinder us.

So why do I feel what I can only describe as a desire to protect Dean Winchester in particular? Is it not enough for me to obey and fulfill my duty? It seems the more time I spend around Dean and on Earth, the more I've begun to question my superiors. I've even begun to doubt my brothers and sisters — my family. My... home.

I used to think my loyalty was forever-lasting, eternal, yet I've disobeyed direct orders, all for the sake of Dean Winchester. There is something about Dean that has made him unlike any other human; may it be the pain he's experienced or the events he's been through, I do not know. What I am certain of is that his soul has moved me in a way unlike any other creature I've ever come across in my thousands of years of existing.

I fear I may be "falling" for him, as humans say — both literally and figuratively. My superiors are disappointed and disgusted by me; my equals shun me. I sense a big change soon. If I fall, I'm not sure it would have any effect on what I feel for Dean. Even the threat of being punished or demoted cannot keep me away from him.

Whenever I am not in his presence, I feel an emptiness that resounds through my Grace. It is as if I am not truly... alive. I have faith in Dean. I trust him and care deeply for him. I have reason to believe my loyalty lies with him, as well as a bond so profound from the moment I raised him from perdition that I am struck with its intensity.

Over time, I have come to a conclusion. I love Dean Winchester. I have no doubts about this. Therefore, my "heart" must lie with him, in one sense or another. They say, "Home is where the heart is."

If being among humans has taught me nothing else, it is that I have come to believe this is true.