The motel room smelled faintly like stale coffee, old carpet, and whatever weird herbal tea Castiel had decided counted as “helpful.” Rain tapped against the windows while the four of them stood around in tense silence, staring at the corpse laid out on the bed.
“Couples killing each other,” Dean muttered, rubbing a hand over his jaw. Dean Winchester looked exhausted, dark circles under his eyes after days of hunting. “Whole town’s gone psycho over love. Awesome. Just in time for Valentine’s Day.”
“It is not love,” Castiel corrected seriously. “It is famine amplifying desire.”
“Yeah, Cas, we got that part.”
Sam Winchester leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, brows furrowed. “So the Cupid thing? You’re sure that’s connected?”
“Yes.” Castiel tilted his head slightly. “I can summon one.”
You blinked. “You can what now?”
Before anyone could answer, Castiel suddenly looked over Dean’s shoulder.
“Oh,” he said simply. “He’s here.”
Dean frowned. “Who’s—”
A naked man appeared directly behind him and wrapped both arms around him in a disturbingly affectionate hug.
Dean let out a strangled yell. “WHOA—!”
You nearly dropped the coffee cup in your hand as Dean jerked forward, horrified, while the completely nude stranger clung to him with a peaceful smile.
“That is their handshake,” Castiel explained.
Dean looked traumatized. “Why is he naked?!”
“I don’t understand the vessel choice either.”
The so-called Cupid released Dean and immediately turned toward Sam with unsettling enthusiasm.
Sam’s eyes widened. “Uh, no, no—”
Too late.
The Cupid pulled Sam into the same full-body hug.
That was when you finally got a full look at the guy.
Your face went scarlet instantly.
“Oh! Oh God, my eyes!” you yelped, throwing a hand over your face and turning away. “Why is nobody warning me about the naked angel?!”
Dean pointed aggressively. “See? Traumatized. We’re all traumatized.”
The Cupid smiled warmly at you next.
“Oh no,” Sam muttered.
“Oh absolutely not,” Dean said at the exact same time.
The Cupid started toward you with open arms.
You squeaked and stumbled backward blindly, still covering your eyes, but before the angel could reach you, Dean grabbed your arm and hauled you behind him like he was shielding a civilian from an explosion.
“Nope. Nope. Naked man is not touching her.”
“Dean—” Castiel started.
“No! She is nineteen, Cas!”
“I am aware of her age.”
“And she does not need weird naked angel hugs!”
From behind Dean’s shoulder, you peeked through your fingers cautiously. “I’m with Dean on this one.”
The Cupid blinked slowly, head tilting as though hearing something far away.
Then his expression shifted.
Confusion.
Interest.
“You…” he murmured, staring directly at you now.
Dean immediately moved more in front of you. “Don’t make it weird.”
But the Cupid barely acknowledged him. His eyes stayed fixed on you, distant and almost dreamy.
“There is a connection,” he said softly.
Sam frowned. “Connection?”
“A pull.” The Cupid looked almost fascinated now. “Strong. Unfinished.”
Your stomach tightened uncomfortably.
Dean crossed his arms. “Okay, I officially hate this conversation.”
The Cupid stepped closer again, though more cautiously this time. “Your heart is tied to another angel.”
The room went silent.
Even Castiel looked surprised.
You lowered your hand slowly. “…What?”
The Cupid smiled faintly, like he could see something none of you could.
“He watches over you constantly,” he said. “Though he pretends otherwise.”
Dean’s face twisted immediately into suspicion. “Cas.”
“It is not me,” Castiel said flatly.
“Good, because that’d be horrifying.”
Sam rubbed a hand over his face. “Can we maybe focus on the apocalypse and not our sisters mystery angel stalker?”
But the Cupid kept staring at you with knowing amusement.
“He is afraid,” he said quietly. “Because loving a human never ends well for our kind.”
A strange chill ran down your spine.
And somewhere far away, unseen and unheard, a certain archangel suddenly felt the unmistakable tug of fate pull tighter around his grace.