Angels are watching :: Vivienne

[KingCrowley]

Dean knew he'd made a big mistake the night he left his five year old brother alone in that apartment, despite his Dad's warnings. And he was paying for it big time, but not with the beating of his life, oh no. Dean watched teary eyed as his Dad got Sam in the car seat and shipped him off to Bobby's. Then his Dad left without so much as a goodbye, he knew the man was really mad at him but ...this was a little extreme wasn't it.

The nine year old slammed the door angrily, a few tears slipping out of his green eyes and he sniffed. "Fuck them all!" he snapped, kicking the door and looking round the now empty apartment. It was getting dark outside, Dean put the lock on the door and slumped against it, wishing he could turn back time and undo what he'd done.

Now, he was all alone.

***

Michael was actually rather excited to know he was going to have a little brother, so far he had been the only angel and things were getting a little boring. God brought back with him a young blonde baby with the most mischievous face. He was named Gabriel and Michael was ordered to watch over him. A few years later, Gabriel was running around and causing havoc on Heaven, Michael sometimes found it hard to keep up with him.

On this particular day, Gabriel had managed to steal the horn Father had been saving for him and Michael was not happy with his little brother. He went off in search of the cherub and found him trying to dismantle it.

"Brother, thou shall not steal. It is written." Michael scolded, looming over him. "You deserve punishment, stand." he ordered, giving him a firm look.

[Vivienne]

Dean was not quite as alone as he thought. A particular angel had taken an interest in him, watching over him even as his father drove away with his little brother. The boy's father may have loved him dearly, but he seemed to struggle with expressing that to his son. His quest for vengeance against his wife's murderer blinded him to the plight of his eldest child. So when Castiel saw the distraught boy left alone, he could no longer stand idly by and leave the boy to stew in his guilt and misery.

He appeared in the apartment, wondering how Dean would receive a stranger arriving out of thin air. Hopefully his sudden coming wouldn't startle the boy too much when he spoke in a sympathetic voice, "I doubt that you mean that." Because if there was one thing that Castiel was sure of in his guarding Dean Winchester, it was that the boy loved his family dearly.

***

Gabriel was the youngest archangel, and like most children born last, he was spoiled and vied often for the attentions of his Father and siblings. Everything was so new and strange and remarkable to him, prompting the fledgling to spend the majority of his time exploring or eavesdropping or playing with others. He wanted to see, to touch, to hear, to feel it all - with or without permission. Perhaps that was why Michael had been the one placed in charge of him. Who else could keep up with the vivacious young archangel and his endless capacity for mischief? Certainly not the lower ranking angels - Gabriel had the power to send them away with a snap of his little fingers.

In fact, that's exactly what he had done to get the horn his Father had made for him. The guardians of the instrument - a couple of grave soldier angels - had disappeared and re-appeared on the other side of Paradise so Gabriel could take the horn and figure out how it worked. It was a grand time until he heard his elder brother's voice behind him. Then the young archangel swallowed and did his best to hide the pieces of the instrument behind his back by spreading his six golden wings wide.

"B-brother!" He smiled widely up at Michael, though it was easy to see the elder wasn't pleased in the slightest. "I-I was just borrowing it. I mean, Dad made it for me, right? So, it's not stealing if it's mine." As he tried to sweet talk his brother, he remained sitting, by no means eager to be punished.

[KingCrowley]

Dean looked up when he heard a sudden flapping sound and his eyes widened when he saw Castiel standing there. Of course, the boy had no idea who this was but he was clearly supernatural because he had appeared out of nowhere. Dean reached for the gun beside the door and aimed it at the Angel, his breathing deep and slow. He recalled his Father's teaching of shoot first ask questions later...but he hadn't been able to shoot the Striga...could he shoot this ....whatever thing was?

He pulled the trigger but missed, on purpose or not, it didn't matter, he missed. And now he was out of bullets. "Get out!" he snapped, still holding up the gun in a threatening manner. "N-Next time I won't miss." he told him, even if he was bluffing because that was indeed his last bullet. "What do you want? Why're you here?"


***

Michael found it tiring trailing around after Gabriel all day every day, so as Gabriel had stolen the horn, the oldest Archangel was enjoying some time to himself, even though that was hard to accomplish when all he could think about was what trouble Gabriel was getting in to. It was then that he heard from another Angel that the horn had been taken. Why his mind jumped to Gabriel...well, that was fairly obvious.

He went in search of his little brother, and sighed disappointed when he saw him dismantling the gift Father was going to present to Gabriel in a few years time. His blue eyes narrowed down at the child and he shook his head, "Father did make it for you, yes. But you were not to take it before Father could give it to you." he told him sternly, annoyed the angel was still sitting.

Michael reached down and pulled the cherub up to his feet and lifted the back of his white robe, quickly he administered some sharp smacks to his bare little bottom. "When I tell you to do something Gabriel, you will obey."

[Vivienne]

As the boy watched him with wide green eyes, eventually leveling the barrel of the gun at Castiel, the angel showed no sign of unease or concern for his well-being. The harm bullets could do to his vessel were easily mended, and it was simply part of Dean's upbringing to respond to strange, supernatural beings with deadly violence. Really, more upsetting than the thought of being shot was the understanding that the boy was more inclined to shoot than speak to him. Practical, given his father's occupation? Perhaps. But it was unsettling to see the child being molded into a soldier. This was not what childhood was meant to be.

The angel didn't flinch when the gun went off, didn't even blink. Dean's fear was natural, healthy, considering the monsters his father fought on a daily basis. Instead, Castiel spoke in his customary serious, gravelly tone, "I am Castiel, an angel of the Lord, assigned to act as your guardian." Of course, most angels weren't allowed to directly interfere with their charges. But Dean Winchester was something of a special case.

"Your bullets will not harm me."

***

As Michael loomed over him with stern reprimand, Gabriel decided that perhaps it hadn't such a great idea to steal- er- borrow the horn. Less because it was wrong than because it was really obvious that he was the one who did it. Next time he'd just have to be more careful not to get caught. Or that's what he thought before he was pulled upright so his brother could spank him.

The little archangel yelped and bounced on his toes, squirming to away from the firm hand as a familiar stinging pain started up in his backside. "M-Michael!" He fussed, little wings flapping quickly behind him as he tried to fly away. "Stooop! It huuurts!" But as quick and clever as the fledgling was, his elder brother was stronger than him.

[KingCrowley]

It was indeed Dean's instinct to fear the unknown and judge everything as a threat, his Father had drilled that into him but only because he wanted to protect him and didn't want to lose him like he lost his wife. He kept wide, fearful green eyes on the Angel and listened to what he was saying, the kid didn't believe a word of it, even for a second. "Angels have white robes and halos and stuff, everyone knows that." he told him when Castiel said he was an Angel of the Lord.

He frowned when Cas said the bullets would not harm him. What could he do? He was out of bullets, had no idea who this person was and if he was telling the truth, he felt trapped. The kid put the gun down and crossed his arms. "Prove you're an angel." he ordered.


***

Michael continued to swat his little brother's bouncy, chubby little bottom and ignored his pleas of desperation. Though he only smacked his bottom a total of five times...for now. He didn't ease up the grip he had on the cherub's arm either and just looked right into his little, curious eyes. "The purpose of a spanking is punishment, without pain there would be no reason for it to be a punishment, it is supposed to hurt." he told him and started pulling him along to his own personal piece of heaven where only he, God and Gabriel were allowed.

Though the reason for Gabriel being in there was certainly never pleasant. Michael sat down in a golden chair and held his little brother before him, his robe still held up from around his waist so his bottom was very much bare to the room. "You will be punished for your wrong doing, and you shall have forgiveness once your suffering is over." he told him, then he lifted the cherub up and placed him over his knee.

Michael easily pinned little Gabriel in place and rested a large hand on his small backside.

[Vivienne]

Castiel, if he had a better sense of humor, might have cracked a smile at the boy's misconceptions. Human understanding of angelic beings was often incorrect, and the iconography was no exception. "I do not wear a robe." He said matter-of-factly, looking down at his suit and trench coat before regarding Dean with an almost dry quip, "I assume all of the supernatural beings you have encountered were exactly as your society believes."

But the boy's command had some merit. If 'proving' his angelic nature would allow Dean to relax and begin to trust him, he would find a way to do so. "My true form would strike you blind, but..." He informed the boy, but he had one idea. The display of an angel's wings was an intimate and very dangerous thing. The wings were a physical manifestation of an angel's Grace, like wearing one's soul outside of your body. But Dean was Castiel's charge. If anyone was worthy of the sight, it was him. So he allowed his wings to unfurl from his back: large, raven black and shimmering behind him.

***

Gabriel pouted up at his brother with watery, honey-hued eyes, his lower lip wobbling as Michael explained once again to him that a spanking wouldn't very well be a punishment if it didn't hurt. He reached back with his free hand to try and pull his robe back down over his bottom, hoping against hope that it was over and he was forgiven. But the vicelike grip of his elder brother and his insistent pull told him otherwise.

The young archangel resisted every step of the way, growing more and more alarmed as he realised exactly what Michael had in mind. He dug in his heels, tried to fly away with frantic flaps of his wings, but once the futility of it set in, Gabriel gave up and just let out an audible whine to see that ominous golden chair. He hated that stupid chair. He hated this stupid place. And he hated getting spanked! So he pulled out all the stops, giving Michael his best pleading look and honey-sweet voice, "Mikeeeey. I'm sorryyyy." But sure enough, he found himself facedown in the archangel's lap, already tearing up to think of what was in store for him. "P-please don't, brother!"

[KingCrowley]

Dean frowned a bit when Castiel said that his true form would strike him blind and he scoffed, "Just as I suspected, you aint no Angel, you're a-" but then his eyes widened and he was speechless as two, large black Angel wings erupted from this man's shoulder blades. Dean fell on his butt in surprise and scrambled back a little, the bullet-less gun at his feet. "Y-You...you...you r-really are a-a...." he swallowed and slowly got up on his feet, being a child, he had that natural curiosity and he started slowly edging toward Castiel.

He reached out a hand and gently touched one of the feather's, it was hot but...it didn't hurt his hand, not at all. "Y-You're...a real..A-Angel..." he gasped, turning his green eyes up to Castiel and pulling his hand back away from his wing.


***

Michael would never admit it to anyone, but he hated punishing Gabriel and wished he did not have to. The child was adorable and pitiful, and so loveable when he wasn't being so naughty. Michael loved him with all his heart and that would never change, it made it difficult for him to spank his baby brother, but he knew he had no choice in the matter. He sighed when Gabriel called him 'Mikey' and shook his head, that tugging at his heart strings, "It is Michael, or sir, when you are in trouble, Gabriel."

Then he put the cherub over his lap and patted his round little bottom, "I have no choice, you have forced my hand, Gabriel." with that, Michael flicked his wrist and delivered the first swat, right across the middle of both cheeks.

[Vivienne]

Castiel said nothing, made no motion to approach the boy as he processed that he had been telling the truth. He had expected that the realisation would be something of a shock, though he hoped the boy wouldn't hit his head on the door when he backed up on the floor. He only showed a bit of hesitation when the child reached to touch one of his wings. The feathers vibrated around where his fingers brushed, a shudder trailing all the way back to the base between his shoulder blades. Dean couldn't know, but it was an intimate act of trust for an angel to allow another to touch his or her wings. There was no real human equivalent.

So Castiel was silently relieved when the boy retracted his hand, nodding his affirmation of both the action and his conclusion. "I am. I am your angel, Dean." This prompted a rare smile, bringing warmth to those usually cool and calm blue eyes deep-set in his face. "Your protection, development, and well-being are my priority."

***

The little archangel had tried to brace himself, determined to not let his big brother know how much it hurt. He was gonna be strong and tough, a good soldier like Michael, a least when it came to taking his licks. His fingers and toes curled up and he screwed his face in concentration. This time he wasn't gonna cry. This time, he was sure of it. But when the first blow fell, he still let out a little sound of pain. This was gonna hurt, and he didn't want any part of it.

“S'not fair!” He complained, “I was gonna put it back!” And in his childish understanding, that was enough. The horn was his, he just wanted to figure it out, and he was gonna put it back. What was so bad about that? Kicking a bit, he kept up his little hissy fit. “Lemme gooo, Michaaael!”

[KingCrowley]

Dean looked at Castiel when he said he was his angel, "What do I need an Angel for?" he asked with a shake of his head and then sighed some, wondering what Castiel meant by his protection, development and well being, being his priority. "You mean like...a parent? Well...I got a Dad, but he's just sorta left me here cause I did somethin' bad..." he told him and put the gun away, sighing sadly and sitting down on the sofa.

"But I guess you can stay..."

****

Michael hated to hear the pleas of his baby brother but he held firm and continued swatting his bouncy little bottom with some vigour, though nothing that would hurt the child much, it would just sting for a while. "I do not care, you were not meant to touch it, that is that." he scolded and focused some of the smacks to his under curves. "Now you stop making such a fuss, I could just as easily switch your bottom, you are getting off lightly, Gabriel." he scolded and gave his upper thighs some smacks.

"Now why are you being punished, brother?"

[Vivienne]

Now that Castiel considered it, the role of a guardian angel was not so different from that of a parent, albeit most angels couldn't interact directly with their charges. As he listened to the boy talk about his father leaving him behind, Castiel's Grace was moved to compassion for him. He was tempted to close the distance between himself and Dean, to sit beside him, but they were not yet so well acquainted, and he didn't know how well received the action would be. So instead he took a few steps forward and spoke with a worried frown, "I know what you have done, Dean. I have watched over you for a long time." He hesitated, not wanting to harm the boy's perception of his father, but feeling the need to add, "your father was not right to leave you behind. You are still a child and need protection and guidance as much as your brother."

***

Most angels, once convicted of a sin and given chastisement, would submit entirely in order to receive forgiveness and feel the guilt lifted from their shoulders. But Gabriel was still young and headstrong, aware of his power over most even at his age. So he resisted his punishment, wriggled helplessly to try and escape Michael's grip. In response to his brother's question he whined, "I'm being punished because you're mean and no fun!" Though he realised a second later it might have been a mistake to mouth off again. Spankings were bad, but switchings were so much worse.