Chapter Text
“Hey, is anyone here alive?” a dim light passed through the basement. It was necessary for him to urgently find a place where he could wait out the Emission of Radiation.
“Here!” someone shouted back indignantly. As soon as the light fell into the one of the corners, Castiel was able to see the wounded man. The poor guy had an open wound on his leg, it looks like he was bitten by a false-hound. He also had a huge backpack lying nearby. His overalls were embroidered with the emblem of the "Hell" fraction. Yeah… Not the best “roommate”. Especially, if you take into account the fact that the "Hell" consists of not the most pleasant persons. Although Castiel was already familiar with some of them.
“The emission is soon, I’ll stay here,” stalker, whose name was often shortened to simply Cas, said.
“Well, okay, I’m not kicking you out…” the wounded man shrugged his shoulders and took off his mask. It was impossible not to recognize the red-eyed Crowley, who was the leader of the “Hell”. No one knew what he was doing, that he managed to take power in the fraction. Someone thought it was because of his character and desire to rule. Somebody was sure that it was because of his connections. And other stalkers were sure that it was because of his eyes, which became so due to interaction with some unknown artifact, which he was able to sell quite expensively, but did not. Actually, he was known even before the Zone as Fergus MacLeod.
"You need help," Castiel said, tightly closing the door of the basement. He was sometimes called "angel" not only because of his appearance, but also because of his membership in the famous “Heaven" fraction throughout the Zone. Although appearance played an important role here. Bright blue eyes looking straight into the soul, a light face and dark hair He didn't often take off his helmet with a mask, so there were often just rumors about what was underneath. Someone even thought that he was not human at all, like all members of the Heaven Group due to their unusual resistance to anomalies.
“And how did I not understand it? “ Crowley replied with obvious sarcasm, turning to the wall and clutching the wound on his leg with his hand. Judging by the pool of blood nearby, he has been sitting here for a long time.
"And you also don't have a first-aid kit," the "angel" stated, looking attentively at the leader of the "demons". He could have fired at any time, since the fact that the gun was lying quite close. But it seems that Crowley was not even going to, just rolled his eyes at Castiel's "observation".
" I can help you," the "angel" said a bit cheerfully, watching Crowley attentively. He tried to figure out if the “demon” could be trusted. In the Zone, he learned one true rule - you should NOT trust anyone. Even to those whom you consider a friend... Especially someone you consider a friend.
“Maybe you can also carry me to the bar in your arms, gooder?” Crowley snapped and almost tried to move up, but as soon as he moved, a pang of pain hit his leg and the stalker groaned.
“What happened?” Castiel asked as if he did not notice the mockery, taking off his backpack with a machine gun, placing it at the wall opposite the leader of the "Hell". He decided not to take the pistol off his belt, it was not necessary, and it was dangerous enough to stand in front of the "demon" without a weapon. Especially if you have not forgotten yet where they are.
"Maybe you can at least take off the mask, hero? Who knows, you can one of them…" Crowley said each word more and more quietly, looking attentively at the guest. He was also afraid. He had all rights to be afraid. After a moment's thought, Castiel took off the protective mask from his face, showing a long scar from his right cheek to his neck. Looking into Castiel’s blue eyes, the "demon" froze for a moment. It was as if those eyes were the ones he saw when he found the artifact that changed the color of his eyes forever. As soon as he touched it back then, an unpleasant shiver passed through his body, and a silhouette appeared in front of him with exactly the same eyes and... Wings behind his back. Fergus never thought this guy would look like this. In a shabby, but obviously good protective overalls, with a heavy backpack and a huge machine gun, a pistol on his belt and a scar... Then Crowley immediately realized that this guy would change his life. He realized it when he touched the artifact. In fact, he still regrets selling it... He would like to make sure now whether this is the same stalker at all. Then it seemed that it was just some guy in a beige trench coat, a black suit and a blue tie, and not... Stalker.
"So, what happened?" Castiel repeated his question, jolting the leader of “Hell” out of his thoughts. Or dreams?
“They tried to shoot me, that's what!” Crowley replied, again hiding his feelings behind a mask of sarcasm.
"And you ran at the dogs," Cas said thoughtfully, heading for his backpack. He hoped he would make it before the Emission. He looked into his backpack without letting Crowley out of his sight.
“I do not want to shoot you!” The stalker was a little indignant, noticing this. Although in fact he admired how the guy restrained his composure, while still keeping his hand on the pulse.
"I don't know what to expect from you," Castiel replied, finding a bandage, painkillers, and alcohol in his backpack. He found it quickly, he just didn't want to show Crowley how he looked at him. He was curious about him. He did not look as scary as he is usually described. On the contrary, he looked defenseless now, even despite the machine gun and the hidden weapon.
“Is that why you decided to help me?” The "demon" grinned slightly, carefully watching as the "angel" silently approached him. He did not know why he decided to help him. Maybe he just didn't want to be in the same room with the corpse, or maybe...
"Take your hand away," Cas said sternly, kneeling in front of the leader of “Hell”. The flashlight that the guest was holding was now placed on the floor, so that the entire room was illuminated. Now Crowley could carefully examine the face of the "angel" up close. Eyes... He could have sworn that these were the eyes he saw. Eyes the color of the morning sky with shimmering in azure... From his eyes, MacLeod's gaze moved to his nose, and then to his lips... Slightly swollen and cracked. Cas seems to have a habit of biting his lower lip. So, the gaze turned to the scar. Up close, it was even more terrible and mysterious. Who was able to leave such a "reward"?
"Drink," the "angel" drawled, disinfecting the wound, hoping that nothing had previously gotten into the blood and the stalker would not have to be pumped out of infection. After swallowing all the pills, Crowley lifted his leg, allowing Cas to bandage the wound right on top of his overalls. Yes, this is not the best treatment, but it is better this way than bleeding.
"The bandages won't last long, especially like this," Castiel said after finishing, looking up at the red eyes of the "demon". To be honest, they even fascinated him. Such... Interesting...
“At least thanks for that, “Crowley started to say, as notifications about the beginning of the Emission came to their PDA. The ground immediately shook. Cas swayed involuntarily and fell.
“Good that I fell on the fine leg,” Crowley thought, as the noise in the street blocked his ears. He involuntarily hugged the "angel", knowing that it would be even better.