Chapter 29
A few days had passed after that.
By then, Tony had managed to convince Steve to let him leave the bed and go to the workshop to finish something very important, after swearing to him that he will not strain his body in any way.
Steve relented grudgingly then, but that didn’t stop him from checking on Tony every hour, which Tony tolerated since the soldier bribed him with food every time he checks in.
After being in the workshop for five hours, he finally went up to the penthouse.
He wasn’t really looking when he entered the kitchen, he just saw someone rummaging through the open fridge and just assumed it was Steve.
“Hey, honey.” He greeted sweetly while making his way inside the kitchen.
“Hey, sweetie.” Dean, the bastard, was the one inside the fridge and greeted back without missing a beat with a complete straight face.
Tony just rolled his eyes and looked Dean over curiously, when he finally closed the fridge’s door with the things he needed to make a sandwich from the looks of it. He seemed like he was back to his feet pretty fast. No surprise there, that guy considered injuries a close friend.
However, he seemed to be still a little exhausted to even get out of his pajamas.
“Isn’t it ironic that every monster on the planet is deathly afraid of a man, who wears hotdog pajamas?” Tony smirked as he looked pointedly at the pajama pants with little hotdogs on them.
Dean raised an eyebrow at him as he looked him up and down. “Says the man who is wearing an Iron Man PJ pants and a Captain America shirt.” Dean snarked back without any real heat in his voice, just amusement.
“The pants aren’t mine.” Tony smirked smugly at the hunter, as he made his way to sit on the counter. Dean just made a room for him on it when he noticed him move, expecting him to jump on it like the toddler he was without commenting.
Friendship goals everyone.
“Yeah, I know they are Steve’s. I noticed from how they are practically falling off of you and the too long legs.” Dean smirked and Tony immediately took back his last thought.
“Asshole.” Tony scoffed with a glare.
“Dick.” Dean retorted back, again without missing a beat, and Tony couldn’t help but smile inwardly.
He will never admit it to the eldest Winchester, not even on his deathbed, but his day wasn’t complete anymore without their constant bantering. Tony honestly wasn’t aware of how much he cared for that fucker’s wellbeing, until the mute demon, practically, almost killed him. It almost killed Tony to watch it without being able to do anything.
Still, he will never say that to him. No need to make him more smug than he already was.
“What made you get out of your cave?” Dean asked while he was making his sandwich. He couldn’t help but notice that he was making two sandwiches now. “And what are you working on anyway? You are not exactly in good shape right now.”
“It’s important. I need it finished before Charles’ birthday in a few days.” Tony answered as he moved to sit cross-legged on the counter to be more comfortable.
“What? You planning another surprise party?”
“You know how pointless it is to throw a surprise birthday party for a telepath?”
“Yeah, I realized how stupid it sounded the moment I said it.” Dean grimaced at that. “Then what are you planning?”
“It’s a gift for him. A very special gift. But it is more complicated than I thought. I can’t make it right with me barley able to move at the moment. So I called Erik and he should be here any moment.”
“Erik?” Dean raised an eyebrow at that, while handing Tony the second sandwich. Wow, everyone could tell when he was hungry these days. Or maybe it was just how Steve and Dean tended to deal with him, when he was being a brat. Bribing him with food always worked, if he was being honest.
“Yeah, that tall, angry guy that can bend metal with a sneeze? Married to a certain cinnamon roll, that could make you an eight-year-old girl with a thought? Ring any bells?” Tony smirked as he started to eat his sandwich.
“I don’t know, let me check all the Eriks in my life that applied to that description.” Dean retorted blankly with a raised eyebrow. “I thought he was too busy with what’s happening back there in the mansion, and between him and Charles from what I heard from Bruce. Besides, he is also injured, remember? I could have helped you, if you told me what you wanted.”
“I know you could, but I need Erik in this for many reasons. Mainly, it will help the situation between him and Charles. Like a lot.”
“Okay, now I am curious.” Dean looked at him suspiciously, but intrigued. “What exactly are you working on?”
Tony was about to answer, but then they heard the sound of the elevator, announcing the arrival of someone.
A minute later, Erik was walking into the kitchen, or limping to be more specific.
“I am here.” Erik grumbled when he saw Tony perched on the counter. “What did you want so urgently, you couldn’t even say it on the phone?”
“Well, hello to you too.” Tony commented as he and Dean gave him a matching raised eyebrows, that made him pause with a frown at them.
“You look like crap.” Dean added bluntly, as he ate his sandwich with no care in the world.
His words were true though, Erik did look terrible. He was paler than usual with dark bags under his eyes. A tired look in his eyes, with stubble covering his face, like he didn’t bother to shave for a few days. Not to mention his obvious limp, that he seemed too tired to hide.
“Thank you. I know. We have mirrors from where I just came from.” Erik grumbled as he pinched the bridge of his nose tiredly, like he was trying to keep away a headache.
“Dude, have you slept at all these past days?” Tony frowned in concern. Really, he couldn’t help it. You don’t see Erik Lehnsherr look this tired and disheveled every day. He usually was so put-upon and spotless it was annoying.
“Not really.” He sighed as he sat heavily on one of the barstools. That must be because of his knee, since Erik normally preferred to stay standing like an ice statue all the time.
“Aren’t you supposed to be walking with crutches or something?” Dean wondered with a scowl.
“Who are you? Charles?” Erik snapped before he could help it, and then groaned when he realized what he just said.
“Why does everyone mistakes me for their husbands today?” Dean rolled his eyes with a sigh, before going back to his sandwich. Tony just looked at him blankly for second, before turning back to Erik.
“So this is what all this about?” Tony asked carefully, trying not to spook Erik away. Even though the mutant looked too tired to be spooked anyway. “Your current state because of what’s going on between you and Charles?”
Erik pursed his lips and turned away from their gazes.
“We are both on edge since what happened.” He eventually answered with a resigned sigh. “He damaged his mind badly and he is still trying to fix the damage. That makes him unable to sleep at night. His mind is too scattered for him to be able to control the voices of, pretty much everyone, in the school. He is also frustrated at me for not taking my injuries seriously, and I am frustrated from the fact that he didn’t care what would happen to him, when he did what he did with the demons. So, basically, we spend our day driving each other absolutely crazy.”
“Wow.” Dean blinked at him, trying to take all of that in. “I know this probably insensitive of me, but I need to know. What a frustrated Charles looks like?”
“Like an angry cat that keeps hissing at you whenever you show your face.” Tony was the one to answer with a shudder. “I have been on the receiving end of that for many years. It is horrible.”
“I don’t mind it. It’s just-“ Erik sighed again, looking more tired by each passing second. “I want him to be alright. He is a mess and I don’t know what to do to help him. He won’t even let me.”
“Blue eyed people man.” Dean muttered as he glared down at his sandwich like it offended him.
Tony and Erik raised their eyebrows at him.
“Dean, where is Cas?” Tony asked carefully, while trying so hard to suppress his smile from the petulant look on the hunter’s face.
“How should I know? I am not his mother and I don’t live in his ass.” Dean fumed defensively, as he took a rather aggressive bite from his sandwich.
“He won’t stay in bed and you are pissed about it?” Erik questioned with a small smirk, apparently liking the fact that he wasn’t the only one with trouble in paradise here.
“The guy is acting like I am asking for his kidney or something, when I insist he stay in bed!” Dean snapped in frustration.
“To be fair, Cas would give you his kidney without hesitation if you asked, but still won’t stay in bed.” Tony shrugged, unable to keep the amused smile from his face.
Dean turned towards him with a glare, and was about to shout at him, but Erik interjected.
“Tony, why did you tell me you needed me for something urgent?” Erik looked seriously at Tony, cutting off whatever rant Dean was about to spout at the genius’ face. “Surely, you didn’t call me here to ask me how I have been.”
“No, I actually need you for something.” Tony nodded at him as he jumped off the counter, then immediately regretted it when pain shot through his chest at the sudden move. He groaned and pressed a hand against his still healing ribs.
“Dammit, Tony, take it easy, will you?” Dean muttered, as he looked at him in concern, while reaching over to place a hand on his shoulder.
“I’m fine.” Tony bit out, then looked up again at Erik, who was, surprisingly, watching him with worry. “Anyway, I need you to use your powers to shape something very sensitive for me. As you can see, I am in no shape to do it myself the hard way.”
“That’s it?” Erik raised a skeptical eyebrow at him.
“Well, it is very important and I need to finish that project before tomorrow.” Tony stated seriously, making his two friends look at him in surprised confusion.
“Alright, then.” Erik shrugged, as he got back to his feet. “Lead the way.”
***
Later that day, Castiel was in common room, sitting on one of the still brand new couches.
He was reading a book, that he placed over Steve’s feet in his lap. The soldier was sleeping next to him on the couch for a while now, and at some point he threw his legs over the angel’s lap. Castiel had shrugged and just propped his book over the feet.
It’s been more than a year. They were all comfortable around each other now and living in close quarters all the time. They could be sleeping over each other and it will still be completely platonic really.
By now, he considered Steve one of his best friends. He never thought he will ever get to say that, since more than a year ago, he only had Sam and Dean in his life. They were his only family. Seeing his world expanding like that, having more people close to him like that, was a very nice feeling.
He was so glad that him having to fight Steve when he was possessed didn’t put any strain on their friendship. Despite Steve’s teasing complains about Castiel throwing him against the staircase. Even with how his body surely was hurting from their fight, Steve was still grateful for Castiel’s interference then, and his trust in the angel never lessened obviously, otherwise he won’t be sleeping this soundly with the angel in the room, if he didn’t trust him.
He fell asleep half an hour ago, he was probably more tired than he was showing. Obviously, trying not to let Tony worry about him, while the genius himself was still healing.
Like he was summoned, the genius himself trudged into the room. He smiled when he saw Castiel, like he was hoping he would be the one he found here, then frowned when his eyes laid on Steve.
“So, that’s why it’s been awhile since he showed his mother bear self in the workshop.” Tony commented as he looked at his husband curiously for a second, before shrugging and walking over to set over his chest.
Steve grunted quietly, opening his eyes halfway to raise an eyebrow at Tony, who looked down at him with an innocent smile.
“There’s a perfectly empty couch over there, you know?” Steve muttered, but he didn’t look that bothered with Tony’s position over him, as he wrapped an arm around Tony’s waist sleepily.
“You are more comfy, honey.” Tony smirked at him, as he made himself a little more comfortable on his husband’s chest.
“Yeah, whatever.” Steve rolled his eyes, before closing them again to continue his nap. Tony kept looking at him fondly for a few more seconds.
“You two are adorable.” Castiel commented with a smirk, while he was still reading his book without bothering to move.
“Ohh, thank you. Not as adorable as you and Ken Doll when you slap each other’s hands in the car because you keep changing the radio.” Tony shot back, his smirk still firmly on his face.
“Yes, well, I don’t care about his shotgun-shuts-his-cakehole rule.” Castiel rolled his eyes fondly at that. “You are only okay with it, because you two have the same weird and loud taste in music.”
“How dare you? You are the ones who don’t understand true music. Our taste is the best.”
“No, it is not.” Steve pointed out under him, and Tony bounced on his chest pointedly, making grunt again and glare at him.
“Anyway,” Tony turned back to Castiel, his expression was turning serious. “I actually was looking for you, Cas. I need to ask you something.”
Castiel frowned at the sudden seriousness on the genius’ face. He closed his book and gave Tony his full attention, nodding at him to ask away.
“Well, I know that will probably sound insensitive. I already hate myself for asking this of you, after what we had just been through, and after what you did. I was planning this for months, but those demons came and ruined every-“ Tony was rambling and Castiel figured he needed to stop him or he will just ramble forever.
“Tony.” He interjected and the genius snapped his mouth shut. “It’s alright, just ask what you want.”
Tony pursed his lips for a second, before finally blurting out: “How much grace you could use at the moment?”
His question surprised Castiel a little. Tony never asked him to do anything for him with his grace. Like at all. Actually, no one ever did. Castiel was usually the one, who always used it to help without anyone needing to tell him.
So, that was new. Whatever Tony need him for, it must be important to him.
Even Steve was now fully awake as he staring up at Tony with furrowed brows, looking confused. So, the soldier didn’t know what Tony was up to.
“Depends on what you need me to do.” Castiel answered with a shrug, giving Tony a smile to make him more at ease.
“Okay. Okay, here’s the thing.” Tony took a deep breath to ready himself for a long and fast explanation. “I have been working for months-No, wait, years! Planning mostly. Well, planning for years and started working form months, to be more accurate, or maybe-“
“Tony.” Both Castiel and Steve interjected with matching raised eyebrows.
“Okay! I will get right to it.” Tony sighed, looking bewildered at the matching looks sent his way. “Anyway, finally, I managed to finish a very sensitive, very effective chip. Erik just made the last touches I needed on it, without him knowing what its purpose is. That chip is for Charles. I figured that since you didn’t heal him for months now, that meant you probably wished to do it, but couldn’t. So, I worked on that chip, using all the planning I had been doing for years and I-“
“Tony,” Castiel stopped him again, as understanding started to dawn on him. He literally felt his heart pound loudly in his chest. “That chip. Is it what I think it is?”
Tony looked at him silently for a second, before smiling excitedly.
“Yeah, Cas. That chip, if it was placed properly in Charles’ spine, he will walk again.” Tony announced with a proud smile on his face.
Castiel and Steve froze, before the latter shot up into a seating position, moving Tony into his lap.
“You actually managed to do it?” Steve breathed out with wide hopeful eyes. “Oh my God, Tony that’s amazing news!”
“Wait, if you were planning and working on that chip for years, why did you decide to finish it now? Why not sooner? Like, years ago?” Castiel asked in confusion. “What changed?”
“You. You are the change, Cas.” Tony said excitedly, earning a confused look from both of them. “That chip, normally, needs a very difficult and dangerous surgery to be placed in Charles’ spine. It could do more damage than fixing, if anything went wrong. I didn’t to get Charles’ hopes up, then I make it worse for him, like a full body paralysis or something. But then, I figured it out!”
He moved to place both his hands on Castiel’s shoulders, as he continued excitedly. “You might be unable to heal Charles, but maybe, just maybe, you will be able to place the chip in his spine without the need for surgery! So, that’s what I am asking. Two days from now, it’s Charles’ birthday. I wanted to give him back his legs on that same day. Could you do that? If you can’t, I will completely understand, Cas. There is no pressure or obligation for you to do this, I promise!”
Castiel just stared back at him quietly for a few seconds, as he thought about everything.
Tony was right. It will take less effort to place the chip in Charles’ spine than healing him. it was also less dangerous. Healing Charles with his current misbehaving grace was a suicide for the both of them. What Tony was suggesting might actually work.
He wasn’t completely sure of his grace’s current statues. He was getting better, of course. His grace was probably focusing on healing his body.
But he couldn’t refuse the first request for his grace Tony ever asked of him. And it wasn’t even for him, but for Charles. Charles who deserved to walk again, after feeling like he was useless and a burden for too long. Erik deserves to see his husband walking up to him. Deserves to be finally lifted from his ever present guilt.
He made his decision.
He looked up to meet Tony and Steve’s expectant eyes, trying desperately to hide their hopeful expressions.
They probably knew his answer already, but figured they should hear it anyway.
“I will do it.”
333
Two days later, Charles arrived in the Tower. Alone. Like Tony asked him to do.
The telepath rolled out of the elevator, only to stop and stare at the Avengers and Winchesters staring at him with excited, nervous grins.
“Uhm, what?” Charles asked with a raised eyebrow, not bothering to find the answer himself from their minds, they already look on the verge of blurting out what’s going on.
“Happy Birthday, Charles!” they all said together with way too big smiles on their faces.
Charles smiled fondly at them. He figured this was the case. For some reason, Tony churched birthdays. He feels an utter need to make a big deal of each one of his family’s birthdays. He knew the date of each one and always prepared for it. It was hilarious to see how he almost gave Dean a heart attack on his birthday, since the eldest Winchester didn’t expect anyone would care and came home unaware of the surprise waiting for him.
Tony always cared too much. it was one of his best qualities.
“Thank you, everyone.” His smile widened as he trailed his eyes over them. There were a few things that confused him. the main thing was: “I am just curious, why would you ask me to come alone without Erik and the others?”
They exchanged silent looks, that made Charles frown. As much as he appreciated all of this, he was in no shape for this. Since the demons incident, he was mentally exhausted from trying to fix everything that broken, including his own mind. So he was currently in terrible shape and had no energy to deal with what Tony was preparing at the moment.
“Tony, my mind is really a mess at the moment, so don’t make me use it to see what’s going on. We might both regret it.” Charles stated calmly with a raised eyebrow at the genius.
Tony looked over at Castiel, who nodded at him with a small smile. He turned back to Charles, then walked over to him, only to crouch down in front of him.
Charles looked down at him in confusion, while Tony smiled warmly up at him as he placed a hand over Charles’.
“I have a gift for you.” Tony started quietly, his smile widening a little.
“You know you don’t have to-“
“Charles, just-“ Tony took hold of Charles’ hand and placed his fingers over his own temple, looking at the telepath expectedly. “Just look at what I have for you.”
Charles frowned, before he relented. He pressed his fingers to Tony’s temple and looked into his mind to see what he the genius wanted him to see.
When he did, his entire being froze. Every inch of him just stopped as he stared with wide eyes at Tony.
He snapped his eyes towards Castiel, who was giving him a small, meaningful smile. He turned back to Tony, as the genius waited for him as he processed everything.
“Tony, you-“ Charles swallowed heavily. Unable to believe what was happening. What Tony had planned. What his gift for him was. “Are you serious?”
“Deadly.” Tony stated seriously, eyes never looking away from Charles’ wide ones.
Castiel then moved so he crouch down next to Tony, taking Charles’ free hand in his.
“Are you ready to get back your legs, Charles?” Castiel asked with a soft smile, as they both looked at him expectantly.
Charles’ breath hitched and he already felt his eyes burning from the tears threatening to fall. He gave up years ago. He never imagined this moment would actually happen. His heart was beating loudly in his chest, as hope threatened to choke him.
He felt like he couldn’t speak, so he just trailed his eyes between the both of them, then nodded breathlessly, afraid his voice will ruin the moment and it will be taken away from him.
“Let’s get this started, before Angereto shows up to look for you.” Tony smirked as he and the angel got back to his feet. “This is also an early birthday present for him. No need to spoil it.”
***
After Tony and Castiel took a still shocked Charles to the room they prepared to start their work, the rest of the team waited in the living room anxiously, worried that it might not work or something would go wrong.
That would be a hard hit on Charles. He won’t be able to handle hoping, then be crushed all over again. The telepath already took way too many hits already.
A part of Dean was worried about Castiel using his grace so soon, before he got the chance to regain his full strength. But he didn’t have the heart to tell not to do it. Charles deserved this. Deserved to be happy and Dean had no right to choose his husband’s wellbeing over Charles’ happiness. The telepath was his friend too and he cared about him a lot. So, he didn’t try to talk to Castiel out of it and wait until he was back to full strength, knowing that angel was still going to do it anyway.
He just waited nervously with others, hoping that this will work. That Charles will be back to his feet, literally.
“Isn’t weird that Magnets didn’t show up it?” Clint asked curiously as he adjusted his broken leg more comfortably.
“Raven, Hank and Logan are supposed to keep him as occupied as possible to notice Charles’ absence.” Steve answered from his place besides Dean.
“I doubt that will work for long. The man is always aware of Charles’ absence.” Thor commented with a frown.
The moment he said that, the elevators’ doors opened, revealing a frustrated Erik as he marched into the room despite his limp, followed by the three X-men, who were still trying to stop him.
“You had to say it, Point Break.” Dean rolled his eyes, as he and Steve stood up to face the frustrated mutant.
“Hey, Erik, you look better today.” Steve greeted with an awkward smile.
“Where’s Charles, Steve?” Erik asked instead with a raised eyebrow at his awkwardness. “It’s been years since he went out of the mansion alone without one of us with him. What’s so important that he snuck out to come here alone? What’s going on?”
They exchanged looks, trying to find a good answer. Steve readied himself to answer, but Thor beat him to it.
“Charles’ birthday!” Thor blurted out and they all turned to glare at him hard.
“You held a birthday party for Charles without telling me?” Erik’s eyes widened a little and his frowned intensified, which they came to translate as his hurt expression.
“Well, it wasn’t exactly a party.” Steve said with a nervous smile, after he and Thor elbowed Thor in the chest discreetly. “It was more of a gathering really. See? No cake! No decoration. Just a gathering.”
“And that ‘gathering’ would be spoiled if I was here?” Erik raised his eyebrow at him, looking pissed.
“We feel terrible?” Sam tried with an awkward smile.
“Oh, I am sorry, did my back hurt your knife?” the mutant retorted sharply with a roll of his eyes, making them wince a little. Pissed Erik was a bad Erik. Very bad.
“Look, Erik, it’s not what you think.” Steve started carefully, placing a hand on Erik’s shoulder. He looked like he was handling a wild, angry animal. “Just calm down and sit for a few minutes, and you won’t regret it.”
“I don’t want to sit down. I want to know what’s going on and where is Charles?” Erik practically shouted and Dean’s eyes landed on a few metallic things in the room as it vibrated.
Dealing with a worried, pissed Erik was like dealing with a fucking tornado.
“I am here, Erik.” Charles’ voice rang in the room, saving Steve from his very awkward situation.
They all turned sharply towards where the voice came from, to see Charles on his chair between Tony and Castiel.
For a moment there, Dean’s heart almost stopped in disappointment when he saw that Charles was still in his chair, but from the smiles on both Tony and Castiel’s faces, he figured he shouldn’t worry.
“Charles.” Erik called out, both in relief and confusion from the smile Charles was giving him. he started to walk towards him. “Why did you-“
“Stay right there.” Charles ordered sternly, making Erik stop and look at him with a confused frown. “I will come to you myself.”
They all watched with held breaths as Tony and Castiel leaned down a little to take hold of each of Charles’ arms and started to pull him up. Erik was watching in confusion, but didn’t ask or try to demand what’s going on, knowing that Tony and Castiel wouldn’t hurt Charles in anyway.
The whole room froze when Tony and Castiel pulled Charles up until his feet touched the floor.
And he stood up.
They stared at him breathlessly as he straightened himself, while still being supported by his two friends. Charles took a deep stuttered breath, like he couldn’t really believe what was happening, before he looked up slowly to meet his husband’s eyes.
They all turned together to look at Erik, who didn’t move an inch the entire time.
Erik was staring hard with wide eyes, looking like the only thing he sees at the moment was Charles and Charles only. Not believing what he was seeing in the slightest. No one could blame him, they really did take him off guard.
His eyes trailed over Charles, from his feet up to his eyes, still not moving a muscle.
“Dude, are you breathing?” Dean asked with a small smile, placing a hand on the mutant’s shoulder, making him flinch like he just woke up from a dream.
They all watched as he blinked several times, trying to wake up from his trance.
“Charles, you are-you are-“ he stuttered as he stared at his husband, he made a move towards him, but Charles shook his head.
“Wait, no. I want to walk up to you.” Charles insisted with a determined look on his face.
“W-walk?” Erik murmured as he paused in his place.
“Charles, I hate to say this, but your legs are still too weak to walk on, it’s been years after all.” Tony stated carefully, tightening his grip on his arm. “You still need a lot of work to be able to walk as probably as before. You need to take it easy.”
“I know. I know. I just need to take these few steps.” Charles said stubbornly as he gave Tony a small smile. “I need to know that I can at least take these few steps.”
Tony and Castiel exchanged a silent look before sighing and stepping back a little, but still remained close.
Charles’ shook hard and he looked like he was struggling to balance himself, but he was standing on his own! That was better than anyone had hoped.
He took one small step forward towards Erik, who was rooted on place, unable to move from shock, but that didn’t stop him from holding his arms in front of him towards Charles, in case he fell forward.
They all watched breathlessly, as Charles stubbornly took small careful steps towards his stunned husband. They all remained close to catch the telepath if he fell over.
But he didn’t. He finally reached Erik and fell right into his open arms with a breathless laugh. Erik immediately wrapped his around him tightly, arms wide.
“You just walked up to me.” Erik whispered in disbelieve. “Charles, you just walked up to me. How-how did this-“
“It’s Tony and Castiel’s gift for me.” Charles interrupted with a joyful laugh, that made his entire face light up happily. “I got my legs back, Erik! I can walk!”
Erik stared down at him for a second, before pulling him tightly into his arms after letting out a happy laugh, that they never heard coming out of him before.
The pure joy on both their faces and voices, made everyone watch silently with soft smiles and tear filled eyes, afraid to say anything that might break their moment.
Raven couldn’t hold back anymore and just threw herself into their embrace, placing happy kisses on her brother’s face, while tears of joy were falling down her face. Hank and Logan just watched a few steps back, the former with tears of joy running down his face, while the latter was trying hard to hide his own tears.
Erik’s eyes met Tony and Castiel’s over Charles’ shoulder. He gave them the most genuine smile they ever saw on the mutant’s face and eyes filled with so much gratitude that it was almost too hard to handle.
They smiled back at him softly, before they exchanged looks.
“Thank you, Cas.” Tony murmured softly, as he looked at the angel with the same amount of gratitude as Erik. “For everything.”
“You did most of the work, Tony.” The angel murmured back with a smile. “This wouldn’t have been possible without you.”
Tony’s smile widened, as he placed a hand on Castiel’s shoulder to squeeze it gratefully.
By that point, the others finally moved to remove Charles from Erik’s arms, who growled at them for it, so they could hug the happiest telepath alive as well.
Steve and Dean moved to stand next to their husbands to watch the heartwarming scene fondly.
“You did an amazing job.” Steve whispered fondly, looking at them. “Both of you.”
Tony grinned as he leaned into Steve’s warmth, as he wrapped an arm around him.
Castiel turned to Dean, who was watching him with unreadable expression.
“What?” Castiel raised a curious eyebrow at him.
Dean watched him silently for a second, before reaching up to trail his hand down his face gently.
“Sometimes I don’t know if you are even real.” He murmured gently, then moved to place a kiss against his lips. “Don’t ever change, Cas.”
Castiel watched him with a warm look for a second, before he trailed his eyes towards the mutant couple. Erik was removing a laughing Charles from anyone who dared to hug him, only to pull him back into his own arms with a pure, happy smile on his face, making it hard for the others to be mad at his possessive behavior.
The angel turned back to Dean with a small grin, then leaned down to press his lips against his.
“I will never change, Dean.”