Two figures sat at the long library table, islands in a sea of open books and scattered notes. Sam and Dean had left hours ago for a salt-and-burn in Nebraska, leaving instructions to research a potential Djinn nest in Missouri.

Castiel sat perfectly still, his trench coat draped over the back of his chair. He was frowning at a heavy, leather-bound tome, his blue eyes scanning the Enochian script with intense, unblinking focus. His brow was furrowed, a single line of concentration between his eyes.

The only sounds were the soft rustle of him turning a parchment page, and the occasional shift of Y/n in the chair opposite.

Castiel's eyes lifted from the page. They traveled across the table, past the stack of bestiaries, and settled on Y/n. He watched for a long moment, his head tilting slightly to one side in that bird-like, considering way of his.