A few hours had passed. The sun was dipping low, casting a golden hue across the field where Castiel sat beneath a tree, eyes half-closed, the soft glow of holy power fading from his hands. Illyana lay nearby, unconscious but finally stable. Healing her had taken a toll—not physically, but emotionally. The damage he had done to her during their battle wasn't just skin-deep, and he had felt every wound as he tried to repair them.
Her breathing was steady now. Quiet. Peaceful.
As the night cooled, Castiel slumped beside her, exhausted. He didn't expect what happened next.
Illyana, still unconscious, shifted in her sleep—and suddenly, she rolled toward him and wrapped her arms around his chest. Castiel blinked, stunned. His angelic senses could feel her warmth, her vulnerability. He could've pulled away, but… he didn't. He simply sighed, murmured a quiet "I deserve this," and leaned back against the tree. Minutes passed. Then hours.
Underneath the moonlit sky, he drifted off to sleep, Illyana's head resting softly against his chest.
---
When Castiel finally woke, sunlight was filtering through the trees.
The warmth beside him was gone.
He sat up, heart skipping a beat. "Illyana?"
The space where she had been lying was empty. Her soul sword, now cracked down the middle, lay nearby in the grass. Still faintly pulsing with magical energy.
He stood quickly, eyes scanning the area, until he spotted footprints in the dirt—small, barefoot ones, leading away from the tree and toward a glittering lake a few hundred meters away.
Following the trail, Castiel soon found her.
Illyana was waist-deep in the water, her blonde hair slicked back, eyes closed, letting the cold mountain lake cleanse her. Her back was turned. But the moment she heard a twig snap under Castiel's foot, she whirled.
Their eyes met. Illyana's cheeks immediately flushed red.
"You—! Turn around!" she snapped, splashing water as she rushed to the edge of the lake.
"Sorry! Sorry!" Castiel turned so fast he nearly tripped over himself, covering his face with both hands. "I was just making sure you didn't vanish or die or something."
"Next time, speak first," she growled, yanking on her clothes behind him.
He kept his back turned until he heard her voice again, softer now. "Don't tell anyone what happened. The fight. The… everything."
He peeked over his shoulder, saw she was fully dressed again, and nodded. "Okay. I won't."
Illyana crossed her arms. "Since you won, I forgive you. You're lucky I keep my word."
Castiel smiled. "Thank you."
She turned to walk back toward the tree. "Don't thank me. You earned it."
On the way, he tried to ask, "So… what was that Darkchylde thing? And Limbo—"
"Nope." She cut him off flatly. "Not talking about that."
Castiel raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay."
Back under the tree, she bent down to retrieve her broken soul sword. The blade's once-pristine energy shimmered with cracks, as if it might shatter at any moment.
"Sorry I broke it," Castiel said, genuinely remorseful.
Illyana gave him a sideways glance. "It's my fault. I got careless. Too weak."
"You're not weak," he replied instinctively.
Her glare shut him up instantly.
"Okay. Not talking," he muttered, zipping his lips.
A moment passed. Then another.
Finally, Castiel tilted his head. " you could have just teleported the whole time… why didn't you just leave?"
She didn't look at him. "I wanted to hear what you had to say. That's all."
There was a silence between them—not uncomfortable, but thoughtful.
"Ready to go back?" Castiel asked after a beat.
Illyana nodded.
In a flash of white light, they teleported back to the X-Mansion courtyard.
Waiting for them was Colossus.
The tall Russian immediately embraced his sister, almost lifting her off the ground. "Where were you? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Illyana replied stiffly, not meeting his gaze. "We fought. Castiel won."
That was all she said. She turned and disappeared into the school, brushing past them both.
Colossus turned to Castiel, his brow furrowed. "You didn't hurt her… did you?"
Castiel gave a faint smile. "Does she look hurt?"
Colossus stared at him for a moment, then sighed. "You've got guts, I'll give you that."
Castiel nodded, then made his way back to his dorm. He went straight to the shower, letting the hot water wash away the sweat and the weight of everything that had happened.
When he stepped out, towel slung around his neck, Mr. Summers was waiting just outside the room.
"Welcome back," Cyclops said. "Illyana told me she's forgiven you. You're cleared for the Danger Room again, starting tomorrow."
Castiel grinned. "Thanks."
He changed into fresh clothes, flopped onto his bed, and let out a long breath.
Peace. Forgiveness. And maybe, finally… a clean start.
As he drifted off to sleep, a single thought crossed his mind.
Stupid pizza man.