The softer look on Castiel's face wasn't new, the way he watched Jason as he spoke, as if he could see the words changed as they went from brain to mouth. He watched as if there were so much more to see than just the young man in front of him talking. It wasn't only pinched brows and lips tugged down as he formed the words he was using to describe his experience. It was so much more than that. The angel saw colors, and light, and wavelengths and sound moving through the air. He saw the thought process and the struggle to get the words out. He saw Jason's soul as he relived the horrible ordeal.
And you know what?
It was beautiful.
So the former Robin would have to excuse the look that his dinner date companion was wearing. It was an odd mixture of awe, in the wake of the determination and selflessness that Jay had shown in those last few moments of his life. It was pride, so proud of this young human for having been so brave and so true to himself even with such a messy end. And it was love. Of course there was love. God had commanded angels to love humans above himself.. and Castiel had obeyed. He looked on Jason with the look a proper, proud father might have.
"You forgot. It's not unusual, to forget. But you didn't cease to exist. Your body died, but your soul didn't move on as it was supposed to. It's strange. You lingered, like a spirit. Stuck in limbo." He narrowed his eyes down a little, as if that would help him to understand why it happened that way. It didn't help, of course, Castiel hadn't been there and he couldn't know the truth without laying his hands on Jason's soul-- and that wasn't even an option.
"I'm sorry that happened to you." He said after a few long seconds of silence. "I'm sorry that you lost your mother." And that Bruce hadn't shown up in time. But Cas wouldn't say that much. It didn't need to be said.