So, with Dean’s return came the need for change. It was time to shed the beard. His beard of grief as someone had dubbed it. He couldn’t even remember who had called it that. Another thing that didn’t matter. What had mattered was Dean’s reaction to it. Dean had narrowed his eyes at him, those green eyes taking him in, breaking him down to his soul and shaking his head no in response to it. Dean had hated it. His snarky comment about Duck Dynasty calling and wanting the beard back had been one of only countless ways Dean had given his opinion on his facial hair.
He stood staring at himself in the mirror. Freshly showered. His razor and shaving cream to the right of the sink. Waiting to be used. It was like they were taunting him. Daring him to shave. His chest tightened as his hazel eyes ticked over to them and then flicked away. He couldn’t look at them for long. He felt his breathing coming in sharp little gasps. He braced his hands on the counter, steadying himself. He hung his head down, resting his chin against his chest. He closed his eyes as his vision swam in front of him. He had to get control over himself. Why was this so hard? It was only a beard for Christ’s sake. He could grow another one. But, he knew it was what the beard had represented that was stopping him. The beard had marked time. The time without Dean. The time he had been on his own, even if he had their family there with him. They hadn’t been Dean.
He forced his eyes open and raised his head. With shaking hands, he reached for the shaving cream and razor, pulling them closer. He took a deep breath, finding his resolve as he picked up the can, shook it and sprayed the thick foam onto his hand. He watched himself as he raised his hand and brought it to his face, coating his cheeks, chin and neck in the white lather. He rinsed his hands and then grabbed at the razor, feeling the cool metal against his fingers. He brought the blade to his cheek and began to scrape the coarse hair from his face, revealing the soft smooth skin underneath. After the first pass, he dipped the razor into the water that filled the sink, cleaning it before beginning again. He repeated the process, feeling his heart lighten, his stress and grief over Dean dissolve. When he was done; clean shaven, he tidied up the bathroom before dressing. He took one more look at himself before leaving the bathroom. He smiled at his reflection. The first genuine smile since Dean had returned. It would take them time to unravel Michael’s plan for this world. But, they’d manage it together; Sam and Dean Winchester.
RE: Fill: Time For A Shave - P2
He stood staring at himself in the mirror. Freshly showered. His razor and shaving cream to the right of the sink. Waiting to be used. It was like they were taunting him. Daring him to shave. His chest tightened as his hazel eyes ticked over to them and then flicked away. He couldn’t look at them for long. He felt his breathing coming in sharp little gasps. He braced his hands on the counter, steadying himself. He hung his head down, resting his chin against his chest. He closed his eyes as his vision swam in front of him. He had to get control over himself. Why was this so hard? It was only a beard for Christ’s sake. He could grow another one. But, he knew it was what the beard had represented that was stopping him. The beard had marked time. The time without Dean. The time he had been on his own, even if he had their family there with him. They hadn’t been Dean.
He forced his eyes open and raised his head. With shaking hands, he reached for the shaving cream and razor, pulling them closer. He took a deep breath, finding his resolve as he picked up the can, shook it and sprayed the thick foam onto his hand. He watched himself as he raised his hand and brought it to his face, coating his cheeks, chin and neck in the white lather. He rinsed his hands and then grabbed at the razor, feeling the cool metal against his fingers. He brought the blade to his cheek and began to scrape the coarse hair from his face, revealing the soft smooth skin underneath. After the first pass, he dipped the razor into the water that filled the sink, cleaning it before beginning again. He repeated the process, feeling his heart lighten, his stress and grief over Dean dissolve. When he was done; clean shaven, he tidied up the bathroom before dressing. He took one more look at himself before leaving the bathroom. He smiled at his reflection. The first genuine smile since Dean had returned. It would take them time to unravel Michael’s plan for this world. But, they’d manage it together; Sam and Dean Winchester.