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tigriswolf
When Dean was sixteen, he shoved his right hand into a hot oven and gripped the metal shelf hard. Marissa turned around from the sink and gasped, then rushed forward, pulling him away and shutting the oven with a bang.
Marissa called an ambulance and the hospital kept him for overnight evaluation after she told the doctor what happened.
Dean didn’t see why it mattered.
o0o
When Dean was six, his dad accidentally shot himself while cleaning guns. No one stepped forward to take Dean and his little brother Sammy in, so they went into the system. They were separated because of their ages and Sammy got adopted almost immediately. But Dean… he remembered Daddy. He remembered Mommy. And he didn’t like people trying to take their places.
But finally, when Dean was eleven, Micah and Beth Marston took him in, gave him a chance. They already had two kids, David and Marissa, and Dean expected to be gone quickly.
Despite his problems and quirks, the Marstons kept him.
o0o
When Dean was twenty, Beth divorced Micah and left the country, moving to
Dean visited infrequently and eventually no longer went.
o0o
When Dean was twenty-two, he stopped a bus from hitting an old woman on the street. His eyes widened when he saw the greyhound careening out of control and the bag-lady moving nowhere quick enough.
His instincts flared, hands shooting out—the entire street froze. Dean rushed to her, pulling her off the road. Once they were clear, everything started up again.
After making sure the woman was okay, Dean fled.
o0o
Dean practiced. He learned the limits of his talent, the nuances and quirks.
On the eve of his twenty-third birthday, he woke up in an abandoned frontier town with a handful of people his age. Each of them, he soon learned, had talents—Kathy could read minds, Jack levitate, Mark move things with a thought, and Cassandra heal.
Jack attacked after the first night, going for Mark. Mark swiftly won, then turned on Dean. Dean froze him. “What’re you gonna do?” Cassandra asked.
Dean licked his lips. “Can you heal Jack?”
She shook her head. “Only the living.”
Dean studied Cassandra and Kathy. “Either of you suddenly feeling homicidal?”
They shared a look. “I hate pain,” Cassandra said. “Anyone’s.”
Kathy moved quickly, but not faster than Dean. He froze her, too, and sighed. “Well, then.”
o0o
When Dean was twenty-three, he witnessed a murder, then murdered two people. He escaped the town with Cassandra and they went their separate ways.
Before that, though, she told him of the dream, the yellow-eyed shadow telling her about its sick game.
“It wants a leader for some army,” she said. “I think that’s why they flipped.”
Dean responded, “Well now, that’s fucked up.”
o0o
When Dean was twenty-five, he learned that Cassandra had died, burned herself out trying to heal a handful of children after a fire.
Dean wandered, never staying in one place long. He used his talent sparingly, not wanting to be traced and found. He hustled pool and took odd-jobs, spoke only when he had something to say.
He wasn’t happy. He could honestly say he hadn’t been happy since Mommy died.
o0o
When Dean was twenty-seven, he dreamed of that cursed town, the place where he became a killer. There were new people there, kids with talents like his.
Dean hurried. He’d failed Cassandra and the others, hadn’t been quick enough. But these new ones… he might be able to save them.
o0o
Every night showed a different group, with one woman as the common denominator. She must be the new Jack.
Dean crept through the woods and watched her trick the newest collection—a black soldier, a goth chick, a short white kid, and a tall white kid. Dean wondered what to do; no one but the traitor seemed to have any idea what was going on.
During the night, he made his move, sneaking into the building the kids had holed up in. He froze them all and then bound the traitor.
“Smart boy,” a deep voice crooned from the shadows. “My champion from the last game, who fled the crown and scepter.” Dean turned slowly and a figure wreathed in flame stepped forward. “You weren’t the favorite, I admit—have to say, I thought Mark would win, or Kathy.” The speaker seemed to smile. “That’s where you deviate, Dean. Your gift works on my other children and my army.”
Dean backed up, eyeing the figure warily. He looked around for anything to use as a weapon. “You’re that yellow-eyed shadow Cassandra mentioned.”
The flames faded out to reveal a smirking man. “Azazel,” he said.
Dean tried freezing him, but Azazel only smiled. “I gave you that talent, boy. I can take it away, easy as you breathe.”
Clenching his fists, Dean glared. “What’s the point?” he demanded. “And why haven’t you ever appeared in my dreams?”
Azazel shrugged. “Truth be told, Dean m’boy, I forgot about you. You’re not supposed to exist.” He spread his hands expansively. “You’re an accident, kiddo. A mistake that shouldn’t be.”
Dean shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. “What’s the point?” he asked again.
“You are new, Dean. I didn’t plan for you, and your talents are growing.” Azazel stepped forward, head canted, studying Dean like a science project. “If you tried, you’d learn that can use the talents of those you killed.” Azazel paused and turned, staring down at the sleeping kids.
The tall one was stirring, shifting in his sleep, even through the freeze. “His name is Sam,” Azazel said softly. “He’s my favorite of all. Has such potential…” Azazel glanced back at Dean. “Do you remember before the system, Deano?”
Dean didn’t answer, staring down at the tall kid, Sam. “He shouldn’t be moving,” Dean murmured. “It’s impossible.”
Azazel laughed and vanished, his voice lingering long enough to say, “So are you, kiddo.”
Sam’s eyes blinked open and he yawned, sitting up. He looked around and saw Dean. “Who’re you?”
“That girl’s a traitor,” Dean said, nodding towards her. “I can get ya’ll out of here safely.”
Sam frowned and rolled to his feet. “How’d you get here?”
Dean sighed. “I’m Dean Marston. I’ve been dreamin’ about this place and that bitch, and I got here by car then walking.”
Sam’s face lit up. “You see things in dreams, too?”
He nodded. “I can also stop time; that’s why none of ‘em have woken up.”
Sam looked around again. “Oh,” he said. “I didn’t even notice.”
They stood in uncomfortable silence for a moment. Finally, Sam said, “I’m Sam Ferguson.”
“Good for you.” Dean rolled his eyes. “We need to get out of here, Sam. I’ve been here before and it won’t end well.”
Sam studied him. Dean tried to appear sincere, since he was. “Okay,” Sam eventually murmured. Then, louder, “I believe you.”
“Thanks.” Dean’s tone was just this side of sarcastic.
Sam smiled, a bright grin that filled the room. “So, whatta we do now?”
Dean thought for a moment. “Wake everyone but her up, get ya’ll outta here.”
Sam pursed his lips. “But won’t it just start over? More of us for her to trick and kill?”
Dean met his eyes. He’d actually been planning to get the kids away and then come back to take care of her. But for this kid, who looked so innocent and goddamned young, to suggest it…
“Let the others wake up,” Sam told him. “Andy, Lily, and Jake. We should make a group decision.”
“Okay,” Dean said, letting his hold on them go.
o0o
While the kids talked amongst themselves about whether or not to trust Dean, he considered Azazel’s words.
An accident, a mistake. Able to use his powers on other ‘gifted’ children and whatever Azazel’s army was. Not supposed to exist.
Do you remember before the system, Deano?
“We’re not just gonna take some stranger’s word and kill Ava!” the soldier, Jake, roared. “He showed up while we slept. How’d he even get here, Sam?”
Dean didn’t glance over, just kept on staring at the wall, thinking.
Lily murmured something Dean didn’t hear over the rushing in his head.
He’d had a brother once. And a father. A mother. Mommy taken by fire, Daddy by grief, and little brother… what had been his name? He’d been Dean’s to watch out for, but Dean lost him to the system.
“Sam!” Jake yelled. “I’m not gonna let you kill her, especially on the word of some guy I don’t know!”
Jake made a move toward Sam, raising his hand. Dean reacted without thought, Mark’s long-dormant power flying from him and tossing Jake into the wall.
Only Sam looked at Dean, the other two focusing on Jake. Dean shrugged and stood, stretching.
“Here’s the play, kiddies,” he said. “I’ve lived this nightmare before. This Ava-girl won’t stop till she’s the last bitch standing.” He met each of their gazes. “I’ll lead the four of you outta here and come back—none of you need to see it. Forget about this place and go back to your lives.”
Jake shook his head, forcing himself to his feet. “Can’t let you do that.”
Dean froze him. “Stupid kid,” he muttered, looking at Lily and Andy. “What do ya’ll say?”
“I have no problem leaving this freaky place,” Andy said. “But I don’t want anything to happen to Ava.”
“Same here,” Lily added.
“Fine.” He turned to Sam, brow raised. Sam inclined his head and Dean said, “I’ll bring these two. Stay close.”
o0o
Dean went first, the only one who knew the way. Jake and Ava floated beside him, Lily and Andy hurried behind him, with Sam last.
All of his senses were sharp, pealed for any threat. Nothing moved in the woods, not even the wind.
“Freaky,” Andy muttered.
“Quiet,” Dean snapped, all out of patience. “Keep your mouth shut.”
Andy grumbled something and Dean turned. “This is no joke,” he hissed. Andy jerked back, eyes wide. “I want to save your stupid hide, for some reason I can’t remember right now. But I’ll leave your ass here if you don’t stop making so much goddamned noise.”
“Dean,” Sam said softly. “Something moved.”
Dean raised his gaze from Andy, listening. A little girl’s voice giggled, high pitched and creepy. Dean shivered, trying to pinpoint the origin.
She giggled again and Dean decided to go on the offensive, freezing everything but the kids. “Let’s get the fuck out of here,” he growled and set off.
o0o
Once back at his car, Dean shoved Jake and Ava in the back. Lily and Andy squeezed in next to them; Sam took shotgun.
No one talked for the long miles back to civilization. Dean tried to think of something to do. Kill Ava, then what? Drop the kids off and hope they could go back to their lives like nothing happened? He doubted it’d be that easy.
“So now what?” Andy asked.
Dean took a deep breath, prepared to lash out again, but Sam said, “Maybe being away from that place is enough.” He turned his head and told Dean, “Pull off up here and let’s see.”
With a shrug, Dean did. Lily and Andy piled out of the car and Dean dealt with the other two. “At the same time or separately?” he asked Sam.
“Same time,” Sam decided.
Dean let them go. Ava was still asleep, but Jake lunged to his feet with a curse. “What the fuck?” he demanded, eyes wide and chest heaving.
“We’re out of the ghost town, kid,” Dean said. “And no one died. Happy?”
Jake’s gaze latched onto him. “Who are you?”
Dean’d had just about enough. “I’ve done my part. I got all ya’ll out of there. Go back to your lives, start over. I don’t care.”
“But—” Andy’s voice cut off, Dean’s glare silencing him.
“I’m done,” Dean repeated, avoiding Sam’s eyes.
o0o
When Dean was twenty-eight, he learned that Jake Talley died in a gas station shooting, Andy Gallagher in a plane crash, Lily Verne in a car accident, and Ava Wilson from a sleeping pill overdose.
There was no word about Sam Ferguson.
o0o
When Dean was twenty-nine, Azazel appeared to him in a dream. Azazel grinned at him, said, “I could give you the world, kiddo. All of creation would bow down before you, prostrate itself at your feet. Anything you want is mine to give.”
Dean scoffed. “I doubt that very much, dude. If you were so powerful, you wouldn’t need to play that sick game of murder and deception.”
Azazel looked affronted. “I never deceived anyone, Dean. If anything, I was the first to ever tell the truth.” Canting his head, Azazel licked his lips. “Dean, I can introduce you to your brother. You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Meet up with baby brother again?”
Dean’s mind froze and he blinked at Azazel. “You know about him?”
Azazel laughed. “I know everything about you, Dean. Your favorite food, your first fuck, your test scores from eighth-grade algebra—everything anyone could ever want to know about you, and more.” He smirked again, holding out a hand. “Join me, Dean. Take what I offer. I can give you back your family, what you had before the system, before the Marstons.”
Dean thought for a second, staring at Azazel’s broad, dark palm. “You’re afraid,” he finally whispered. “I haven’t chosen a side and you’re afraid of that.”
Azazel flinched and Dean woke up.
o0o
Dean didn’t use his multiple talents. He took a job as a mechanic in a town on the outskirts of
But when Dean was thirty-one, a long shadow fell over the town. Watching the news, Dean realized a shadow had fallen over the whole world.
Azazel appeared to him again, in his waking hours this time.
“Last chance, Dean,” Azazel purred. “You’re not my favorite, but you have potential.” Azazel paused and Dean waited. “You’re a survivor, kiddo. So surivive.”
Dean closed his eyes. “Does that offer still hold?” he asked softly. “My brother…”
“Yes,” Azazel told him. “It does.”
o0o
Azazel’s army was spread out in the
Dean didn’t know what he meant, but suspicion was building in him. “What’s my brother’s name?”
“Before the system,” Azazel drawled, “your last name was
A door popped into existence in the rock. “And behind this door,” Azazel said with a grin, “is my general, the most powerful and gifted of all my children.”
Dean glanced at him, hesitant now that the time had come.
“Well, go on, then, son,” Azazel prodded. “Open the door. Your brother waits.”
Dean bit his lip. “I didn’t save him, did I? I didn’t save any of them.”
Azazel smiled. “If it’s any consolation, you tried.”
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-30 02:54 am (UTC)Azazel smiled. “If it’s any consolation, you tried.”
Oh, boys.
Nicely done. I think what struck me most was the contrast between Sam as Dean met him when Dean was 27 (when Sam was so innocent) and the way Sam ended up (so very deadly). I like that you didn't show that happen, that we only saw Sam in that earlier state. It makes his rise to power that much more sad and awful.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-30 03:20 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-30 07:50 am (UTC)Oh, that was... I'm...
*flails*
I LOVE how Azazel calls him 'kiddo' - all avuncular and jolly and jolly and creepy as fuck.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-30 03:20 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-30 10:18 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-30 03:21 pm (UTC)Is that the new baby? So itty!
(no subject)
Date: 2008-08-30 03:23 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-09-01 03:19 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-09-01 04:35 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-09-01 02:01 pm (UTC)I love your AUs. Hell, I love your empowered!boys.
And Azazel...
It's thrilling and chilling to think about this. See Sam through Dean's eyes in Cold Oak and then the shadow of what happened, what he became...
Thank you, love!
I hope Gustav will be gentle.
*waves a fist at it*
(no subject)
Date: 2008-09-07 04:06 pm (UTC)Thank you for reading!
(no subject)
Date: 2008-09-01 02:31 pm (UTC)And you broke him.
*sob*
(no subject)
Date: 2008-09-07 04:06 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-09-03 04:08 am (UTC)Also, I think that's actually an Alfred Lord Tennyson quote.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-09-07 04:07 pm (UTC)Really? I'll doublecheck that.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-09-15 12:05 pm (UTC)Not exactly reassuring, but different and moving.
No one can save a mortal being from death in the end. I wish this Dean had had more of a life, so that he could see why saving someone, even for a little while, is worth doing. Perhaps there's nothing to be done in this universe, but I hate to see him accept Azazel's confirmation at face value.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-09-15 10:33 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-10-02 07:17 pm (UTC)also, I googled and found your Devour fic, which I really liked. I care a lot more about the Dakota in your story than I have before. I wrote a Devour/SPN crossover (au post s3) if you'd like to read! :)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-10-02 10:08 pm (UTC)(It's been awhile since I saw Devour, but for some reason, it really resonated with me. If you didn't, check out the rest of my Devour fic.)
I'll give your fic a go.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-20 08:06 am (UTC)*Claws self!!*
Oh...ohhhhhh!!!
*Cries*
*hisses with dark!Happiness*
Thank you honey...
*hugs*
(no subject)
Date: 2009-09-20 02:01 pm (UTC)