The main hallways. Good. And the coast seemed to be clear, so far. Link briefly wondered if the new clue would help the situation, or only make it more grim. He would know soon enough.
In the end, they were all able to slip by without detection, and Kratos breathed a sigh of relief as he hurried to catch up with the other two. Even though he'd volunteered to stay behind, he had been really hoping that a fight, or really anything that would risk either of his arms, could be avoided. For once, they'd had a spot of luck.
Regrouping turned out to be an easy task, given Castiel's current state of health; for a second, he considered offering his assistance, but seeing as the angel had already rejected his friend's help, he decided initially that perhaps he ought to just mind his own business for the time being.
Kratos had only taken a few steps forward, though, when he changed his mind. Deny things though he might, in this case, playing dumb was not the appropriate course of action. They needed to get to Rapunzel's room quickly, and Castiel needed to save his strength for the actual operation--reason enough to help, even if that came at the cost of losing face.
He fell back behind the angel. "Will you be able to walk on your own? We can't afford to linger here either."
When Castiel stopped, so did Gabriel, the Archangel mimicking his brother's worried glance back to make sure their companion was following. He really didn't mind at all that Castiel was leaning on him, so Gabriel's attention was diverted when the other angel pulled away, and Gabe's hands hovered near Castiel's arm just in case as the angel spoke. It didn't take the observant to see that Castiel was in pain.
"It's getting worse, isn't it?" the Archangel guessed softly, and glanced over his shoulder toward the changed patient again. He had to swallow hard against the dryness in his mouth, and failed to resist the urge to shiver at the way his back prickled.
He didn't want to see Castiel change. Right now, he was managing, just enough, to ward off the fact that this was so very similar to what he had done to himself. If Castiel turned too, Gabriel wasn't entirely certain how he would handle it--or if he'd be able to do for Castiel what Michael had done for him. Gabriel wasn't a healer even when he was at full strength.
Kratos's words made him turn back with a deep, bracing breath and a squeeze of the rosary. He summoned a rueful smile from somewhere, directing it at Kratos. "I'm not much of a warrior, I'm afraid. You'd be better to us with that sword unhindered. Come on, Castiel."
So saying, Gabriel took Castiel's elbow again, gently but firmly, and this time didn't allow his brother to try and pull away. Pride had no place here.
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Regrouping turned out to be an easy task, given Castiel's current state of health; for a second, he considered offering his assistance, but seeing as the angel had already rejected his friend's help, he decided initially that perhaps he ought to just mind his own business for the time being.
Kratos had only taken a few steps forward, though, when he changed his mind. Deny things though he might, in this case, playing dumb was not the appropriate course of action. They needed to get to Rapunzel's room quickly, and Castiel needed to save his strength for the actual operation--reason enough to help, even if that came at the cost of losing face.
He fell back behind the angel. "Will you be able to walk on your own? We can't afford to linger here either."
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"It's getting worse, isn't it?" the Archangel guessed softly, and glanced over his shoulder toward the changed patient again. He had to swallow hard against the dryness in his mouth, and failed to resist the urge to shiver at the way his back prickled.
He didn't want to see Castiel change. Right now, he was managing, just enough, to ward off the fact that this was so very similar to what he had done to himself. If Castiel turned too, Gabriel wasn't entirely certain how he would handle it--or if he'd be able to do for Castiel what Michael had done for him. Gabriel wasn't a healer even when he was at full strength.
Kratos's words made him turn back with a deep, bracing breath and a squeeze of the rosary. He summoned a rueful smile from somewhere, directing it at Kratos. "I'm not much of a warrior, I'm afraid. You'd be better to us with that sword unhindered. Come on, Castiel."
So saying, Gabriel took Castiel's elbow again, gently but firmly, and this time didn't allow his brother to try and pull away. Pride had no place here.
[to here.]