Title: Beginnings
Author: Bianca Valdez
Pairings: None
Characters: Castiel, Gabriel, Naomi, assorted other members of the heavenly host
Rating: K+
Spoilers: Up to season 8
Disclaimer: Rights to Supernatural go to Eric Kripke and co.
Castiel stands in a crowd of his siblings, hushed murmurs sweeping around him like a wind. His Grace writhes in a mixture of nervousness and excitement.
Gabriel stands above the Garrison, a smile on his face as he watches the younger angels. "Quiet down," he says, popping a date into his mouth and chewing on it. "There's something you need to see."
There is a glow on Earth's horizon, the light of a hundred angels in descent. They stand by the ocean, the sea breeze blowing past them. Waves crash on the shoreline and Castiel can taste the salt on his lips.
Uriel shifts by his side, looking bored. "What are we waiting for?" he asks disdainfully. Anael shoves him, but she too looks impatient. In fact, similar whispers spread throughout the entire host.
Castiel does not say anything, instead looking up to the archangel who brought them here. Gabriel looks displeased, frowning deeply. He seems to sense Castiel's gaze, turning so that their eyes meet. The archangel smiles encouragingly at his younger brother.
There is a splash in the water at Castiel's feet. He looks down curiously at the surf, only to find that there is a strange, amphibious creature struggling its way along the sand towards the beach above.
The host gasps, all eyes peering forwards at the entrepreneurial creature. Castiel says nothing, his whole world zeroing down in wonder of the animal at his feet.
There is a hand on his shoulder and he realizes that Gabriel has moved to stand by his side. "Don't step on that fish," he says quietly. "Big plans for that fish."
Zachariah leans around Castiel, a skeptical look on his face. "It's kind of ugly," he says.
Castiel does not understand why none of his siblings see the wonder in this spectacular being. He is enthralled, so much so that he barely notices them leave.
As several more of the creatures splash their way from the surf, as the first animal crawls its way up the beach, the host has been reduced to not but a few. Anael stays for a while, along with Balthazar and Hannah and several others, but soon they also leave.
The amphibians disappear into the treeline as the moon rises in the sky. One of them glances at Castiel with glimmering black eyes, and he can see his own shining reflection in the beady orbs.
Gabriel puts a hand on Castiel's back, in the place where his wings meet. "Come on, little brother," he says, his voice proud. "Let's go home."
Castiel nods and follows him back to Heaven, but the wonder stays with him forever.
Years later, an angel called Naomi will sift through his memories, picking out anything remotely mutinous and destroying it.
The memory of the walking fish will be one of the first to go, and yet the wonder will remain.
Memories can be erased, but not the feelings they leave behind, and it is for this reason that Castiel could never be made into the brainless soldier that they wanted him to be.
Wonder is the reason he was chosen to raise Dean Winchester from Hell, and the reason he chose those two human brothers over his own siblings.
Castiel has always been different, but it started that day on the beach, so many millennia ago.
I should be doing NaNoWriMo, but I was in the car for two hours and I neglected to bring my laptop so this is what I typed into my phone. Happy now, Steven (mah muse)? Please review and tell me your thoughts!
