More Than Strangers
AU. Summary: Sam is kidnapped by Azazel in the house fire. Twenty years later he has no knowledge of his family, and his 'father' has sent him on a mission: Destroy Dean Winchester, through any means necessary. Sam has to earn Dean's trust and then break him, all the while fighting the growing attachment he feels towards the man. Loyalties divide and Sam must come to a decision: Lose the only family he's ever known, or stay with the man who he's become devoted to.
Pairings: Sam/Azazel. Sam/Dean. Dean/Castiel. Possibly some Sam/Gabriel towards the end.
Rating: M+, for language and lemons and some disturbing scenes. And if you don't like the whole 'Completely Brainwashed' thing you might find this really creepy.
Chapter One: Sammy Boy
September 2nd, 1983.
"Mary!" There was, of course, no answer from the room as it was slowly engulfed in flames, leaving John Winchester to flee the room with his one remaining son, or be forced to leave the child an orphan. He was almost all the way out when he remember his six-month-old, who would slowly but surely be suffocating in the black smoke that had by now replaced air in the entire top floor of the house. There may not have been any hope for his wife, pinned to the ceiling with her abdomen slashed open, but John wasn't going to let his other son die if he could help it.
He barked a sharp order to Dean to wait outside. Take Daddy's cell phone and call nine-one-one, he'd said. He knew Dean was old enough to understand and carry out the task. At least he hoped so. With that John left his four-year-old out on their front lawn, far enough away from the fire to be safe, as he bolted back inside to try and save Sammy.
He'd known he was too late when he rounded the corner at the top of the stairs and the hallway burst into flames. But he didn't stop. John made it out with severe burns on his arms and neck, several minor ones on his legs and head, and a six-month-old in his arms that wasn't breathing.
John had training, of course, in the army for survival. But how does one apply CPR for a fully grown, hardened man to a baby? How to you save a baby from drowning by fluid in its lungs? And so Sammy was left, unbreathing and slightly blue once the paramedics arrived, being told it was too late, and Sam was pronounced Dead on Arrival, taken away from John's arms so he could be attended to. The last thing John remembered about his little boy were the dark, lifeless blue eyes staring back at him.
"Daddy?" John turned his blurry gaze to his son. Dean…God, Dean. Just you and me now, buddy. "Daddy, where are they taking Sammy?"
"Away, son," he replied, mildly surprised to find that his voice cracked on the words. He cleared his throat, trying to force a brave face. It's hard when the love of your life and your son are taken away in one day, and it's very obvious that the cause wasn't natural. How did she end up pinned to that ceiling? "They took Sammy and Mommy away, but don't worry, we'll find them alright?" He reached down, ignoring the slight pain in the action and ruffled his son's dirty hair. "We'll find them."
Twenty Years Later
"Come on, come on!" The demon hissed, dodged another blow aimed for its stomach and, quick as a flash had me pinned to the wall. "Azazel won't be happy if you manage to get your ass kicked after only a few hours, Sammy."
It hadn't been a few hours. Not really; time moved differently in this room, which was available for my training. I knew that, though it seemed like the harsh sun they'd created had only breached the horizon a couple of hours ago, it had really been almost two full days. Two days without rest. My throat hurt from lack of water, and no matter how many times I swallowed down saliva for nourishment, or licked my lips they kept cracking, sometimes bled.
I was so tired. I knew my movements were getting slower and as a result I was getting the crap beaten out of me. "And the boss calls you his favorite! You can't even fight me off for a few hours!"
Okay, enough was enough.
I raised my hand, focusing all of my power on the demon. My arm shook with the effort it took to hold it up, let alone use it as an aim to focus my power along, but I managed to hold steady long enough to keep the demon still. The host – a young redhead I think had once been called 'Cecile' or something – began to cough as black smoke poured out of her mouth in thick smokey blobs. I lowered my hand slowly, fist tightening just a little to speed the process, as I felt my strength waning. The host and I collapsed at the same time.
"Sam!" Fuck, what now? I turned to see Azazel's second, another woman called Ruby, standing at the entrance to the now-normal room. Her arms were crossed, slight smirk on her semi-attractive face. I straightened, mindful of the whiplashes running down my back and making my shirt stick. Regardless of my intent, the fabric ripped open new scabs and I felt the warmth of blood running down my back.
Fuck was I thirsty.
"Boss wants to see you. Now." I nodded, waving a hand to send her on her way as I took a few deep breaths to calm my breathing and forced down the clawing hunger in my stomach, the burn and dryness of my throat. Damn it, this better be fucking important.
It wasn't a long walk to Azazel's main room, but to my aching and exhausted body it felt like a marathon. I took another deep breath once I reached the door, knocked twice and let myself in.
I had always loved this room. It was ornate, beautiful and just the right side of tacky. Gold leaf framed the paneled walls, fashioned a lot after the grander palaces of English royalty, complete with full-length portraits of warriors, generals, angels and demons beautifully crafted and painted by the best artists of the era, ranging from perhaps the late eighteen-hundreds to more recent styles. It always took my breath away, stepping into the room and feeling the presence of so many powerful demons, knowing that I was treading in the steps of champions.
Perhaps this was how humans felt when they gazed upon the geographic wonder of the Grand Canyon, or the artistic and mechanical triumph of the pyramids, or the constructive genius of Ancient Roman monuments and when they gazed with their pathetic imagination on the workings, the personification of evil, heaven, hell…
I don't consider myself human. Not really. I'm better than they are, but less than a demon. I'm my Master's favorite.
I brought my mind back from wandering, focusing on the only other occupant of the room; Azazel. Yellow-Eyes, he was sometimes affectionately called, though I never dared. I address the demon as 'Sir' or 'Master' or, when he's feeling indulgent; I'm allowed to call him by name. I don't mind; the man is good to me. He saved me from a house fire when I was younger and he took care of me very well, made me strong, a good fighter, like he does with the other kids in his charge. He saved us all from death or abusive families.
First there's Ava. She's an alright fighter, came from a household where her father was a drunk and would beat her mother. She's good at summoning demons with her mind. Sorry, should say she was. Shame about her; she had to go out into the real world and fall in love with some human man. Azazel had to kill her off, for her own good of course. I'd always liked her, but that's the price you pay when you disobey. I would never do such a stupid thing as fall in love – to risk my neck for someone else? It was just…I couldn't fathom it.
I wasn't allowed out in the real world, but that's alright because it gave me more time to train. I wanted to impress Azazel when the time came. He said I had a very special mission, anyway.
Back to the other kids; there's Andy. I like him, too. He's getting really good at his psychic ability of suggesting thoughts, images into someone's mind. He's a little on the eccentric and talkative side for my tastes, but Azazel indulges him and the drugs mostly keep him to himself, so he doesn't get in the way of my own training. What can I say? I like being the favorite. It comes with tons of perks, like one-on-one time with my Master. Then there's Jake…I don't like him. At all. He's too cocky, too hardheaded. I can see him as the sort of person to question Master's orders, something that is not tolerated and, one day, will be the death of him.
I stood in the circular room, a foot from the door and allowed it to shut on oiled hinges and a soundless 'click'. I knew Azazel would be displeased with my sweaty, shaking state, but then again the demon also hated tardiness. Rather be on time than clean.
As soon as Azazel's bright yellow eyes flickered to me, I dropped to my knees in front of the demon, resting my forehead on the floor in front of him in the traditional respectful pose he's told me to take at every meeting. I couldn't help but wince as the move made pain flare up in my back and arms, but I focused quickly, like the trainers had told me to; 'Put the pain in a box, and shrink the box and push it down as far as you can until you can't even feel it anymore. Push it away like you do with your power.'
I was almost shaking with excitement when Azazel stood, smoothing down the dress shirt he wore on his meat suit and cracking a few of his knuckles together, loosening up the joints from where they'd settled. I knew the demon liked to spend many hours doing…whatever it was he did. I'm not really allowed to know, but I could tell from the nervous energy emanating from my Master that something big was going to happen soon. Which meant maybe I would finally be allowed a mission, to start giving back to the man who'd saved me all those years ago.
Hopefully, because that would be fucking awesome. I'm more than ready.
"Greet me properly, Sam," the demon whispered, and his voice was almost too low to hear, but I did anyway. I tilted my head up, knowing what he wanted of me – all demons seemed to greet Azazel this way, and I loved being treated like I was one of them, an equal. I slid my palms forward from where they'd been locked behind my legs, bracing myself on the hardwood floors before I pushed up, first into kneeling again and then to a small crouch. I had to fight to urge to straighten up all the way and give relief to my pained back, but I knew I was also much taller than my Master – it annoyed me sometimes that he didn't possess a taller person – and I could never have my head higher than his. It was disrespectful.
I broke gazes with his bright yellow eyes to kiss his neck, first, loving the scent of sulfur and ash every demon seemed to possess, but it was extra sharp with him, like even his smell had barbs. Dangerous, deadly, it gave me a thrill. I snaked my tongue out, longing for a taste but held myself back just in time – never. That was for lovers, not Master and Servant. So I satisfied myself with little nips along his jugular, where I could almost taste his blood, pulsing strong and sinful underneath his skin. I soothed over the reddened skin with my lips until he made a low, pleasured growl in his throat and I moved on from his neck to his jaw. A strong jaw, I liked this meat suit's face even if he was a little on the old side. Azazel took care of him well.
I was desperate to just kiss my Master like I knew he wanted me to, but I had to hold out. That was part of the game. He took control, always. So instead, to give him incentive and to hopefully get a little relief for my back, I curled my body into his, sighing a little in relief when the pain receded. The pose made me have to crouch down a little farther, crane my neck up to reach his face but it was so worth the little growl I got in response. One hand knotted in my hair savagely and his lips were on mine in an instant. He tasted like fire and brimstone and I loved it. I opened my mouth, let his tongue explore, his teeth tear through my skin enough to make me bleed but was silent. He didn't want to hear my pain.
When he broke from the kiss we were both gasping, breathing hard, and slowly I sank back to my knees, meeting his eyes, his hand still fisted tightly in my hair.
"Good evening to you too, my boy," he said, his voice easily portraying his amusement. I smiled up at him, flashing the dimples. I loved being the Master's favorite. He stroked his fingers through my hair once, nails scraping gently along my scalp before he let go, and returned to his chair. "Well, Sammy boy, it seems like the opportunity to prove your worth has finally presented itself." He turned to look at me, sitting down in the comfortable-looking chair – what I'd give to sit down right now – and fixed me with one of those unblinking stares of his. It would have been unnerving if not for my excitement at finally receiving a mission. Until now Azazel had protected me – you know, apart from having the crap kicked out of me by demons for 'training' purposes – from the outside world. I had never been allowed out of the compound without escort, and even then I never had permission to leave. I was too precious, he said. Too valuable.
But now he was letting me prove my worth and damn it all, I would succeed.
"There is a Hunter," he began, smirking at my slight grimace of distaste – I hated Hunters. They went after my kind. "His name is Dean Winchester." Again, he paused, searching my face. I don't know what he expected to find, but obviously he was satisfied because he continued the next instant; "I want you to break him. I don't care how, but I need you to emotionally ruin him. He is too big of a threat to me and the man Downstairs." Lucifer. Head demon. My eye unconsciously wandered to the giant painting in the room, dominating a whole wall depicting the final battle between Angels and Demons. Michael and Lucifer. The painter had been human, so of course Michael and the Angels were surrounded with light, white and beautiful and good and the demons were black, soulless things with the heads and limbs and bodies of various animals. But Lucifer was still beautiful, mighty and powerful as he fought his brother. The Dragon fighting the man with a flaming sword.
I wasn't ignorant. Azazel told me things. He told me the demons were fighting a war with the humans, and there were people who didn't want them to succeed. If they managed to bring Lucifer up from his prison, everything would be beautiful, made in his image.
Azazel's voice brought my focus back to him. He was looking at me intently, as though trying to see right into what I was thinking, my very soul. I didn't know if demons could do that but I was determined not to give him anything to hesitate about.
"Dean Winchester will be in Brevard, North Carolina within the week. You will meet him and make him yours. Again, be creative. I know you won't disappoint me," he said with a smile, pushing himself to his feet again to kneel in front of me. His hand gripped and lifted my chin sharply, our eyes locking yet again. "Do not be discovered. Do not give away any ties to me. Of course, you know this already. You will leave tomorrow morning, and until he arrives you will stay in a motel room with Ruby, who will help give you a little psyche profile on the man and help you learn everything you will need to know to get close to him. Should make your job easier." His grip tightened for just a moment, fingers splaying over my jaw as he pulled my head closer. I was forced to go onto my hands and knees to support myself and the action flared up aches I didn't even know I had, but it was so worth it when I was rewarded with another kiss. He shifted forward, crouching a little more closely to me, and I mimicked his action by sliding my knees forward, taking more of the weight onto my legs. Daring, hoping it wouldn't end in punishment, I slid a hand up his thigh to his hip, gentle tug pulling us closer as his tongue traced my lower lip and forced my mouth open, and my thumb pressed into the flesh of his inner thigh. A small taste was all I was allowed of his mouth, his tongue dominating my own until he pulled away. I couldn't stop the needy little whine that escaped me when he dropped my chin, standing straight and making my hand fall away. "You may leave now. Don't disappoint me, Sammy." He smirked.
"I won't, sir," I said, already eager to be ready and on my way. I stood quickly, but was careful to stay lower than him. He smiled and clapped a hand harshly on my shoulder. I braced myself for the pain, realizing just a little late that there wasn't any. He'd healed me. I smiled. "Thank you, sir," I said again, and was out of the room in an instant. I had to get ready.
Ruby met me on the way to my room, which was situated on the polar opposite of the compound. I stretched my arms over my head as I walked, enjoying the stretch and pull of my newly healed flesh and skin, letting the arms drop with a heavy sigh. She noticed the restored state of my back and smiled slightly. "He needs you in tip-top shape, I guess," she commented lightly. I only nodded, pushing open the small black door that led the way to my room.
Don't get me wrong, I like Ruby. She's a relief to have around because she's still quite a young demon, and doesn't consider herself too big to hang around with the lower classes like me and the other children. She likes to play around and has fun and she's always got time for me. She's the closest thing I have to a friend, I guess, but there are just times when I want to be completely alone, and this was one of them. I was so full of energy suddenly, I felt like I could sprint the continent (technically I actually could, but that would require cheating) or swim an ocean (again, possible). I so desperately wanted to go outside, taste the world and learn the ways of it, how to bring it under the control of my Master.
Ava would always tell me of sunlight. She said it was a different color outside of the compound. I'm not quite sure what she meant, but I would soon find out. And Brevard was right at the foot of a mountain range. Everyone says the mountain air is fresh and clear, great for the mind and body and spirit. I'm not sure where I stand on the latter, but I honestly couldn't wait.
And to drive! Azazel would lend me a car, of that I was certain. I knew how, but again outside of the Training Room Simulations I never had. It would be exhilarating to feel the wind in my hair, to hear and feel the gentle rumble of an engine underneath me. And to break Dean Winchester…Again, I wasn't ignorant. I knew the name. At least his last one – Winchesters were legendary. The bane of demonic existence. No one had managed to bring them both down.
I would be given the chance.
I closed the small door, taking in my simple but cozy bedroom for what could be the last time for a long time. There wasn't much in it – a queen-sized bed, large bay window that overtook over half of one wall and let in sunlight so I slept and woke with the rising and setting of the sun. In one corner were several overly-plush pillows like one would expect a spoiled dog to lie on. I enjoyed spreading them out on the hardwood floor in the afternoon, a blank space of sunlight and stretch out on them, letting the sun warm my back while I studied or dozed. Like I said; Azazel treated us very, very well. And I knew I was the favorite because I was the only one with my own room – the others shared. They knew that, as well, and so when it came to fights that were against the others they felt extra incentive to beat me. That, of course, only made the victory more delicious.
There wasn't much to pack away – clothing that fit nicely into two duffels and my laptop, as well as a few choice books that I felt some sort of sentimental attachment to – I knew that Ruby and Azazel would take care of the rest. There was an hour left until the sun set so I, not being one to sleep before the star, decided to instead cleanse my still-sweaty and aching body. A long warm bath would be just the thing before a long night's sleep, and then up in the morning for final preparations.
Yes, that would do very nicely. Maybe even a little company as a treat for myself.
With merely a thought I summoned Ruby back to me, turning my hand lazily to get the water going, nice and hot. The large en-suite bathroom tiles grew slick with the steam and I climbed into the giant tub – it was big enough for me to completely lie down in, score – and settled back against the side with a huge sigh. The heat was fantastic; Azazel sometimes commented that the water came out as hot as Hell. I'd like to test that sometime – see the homeland of my Master. Must be a fascinating place.
I leaned by head back over the lip of the tub, cracking an eye open when I felt the water shift around me. Just in time to see Ruby slide into the water beside me. I smiled, glad for her company when she ducked her head under the water, coming up soaked. Mimicking her actions, I let the heat of the water overtake my brain, soothing the headache that always came with a frivolous use of my powers. Another twist of my hand and the water stopped at chest height. Ruby scooted close to me, and I felt her soft body pressed against my side before I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her ever closer. She smiled up at me, resting her head on my chest, fingers toying absently with mine.
"First mission tomorrow," she murmured.
I nodded. "Yep." What a completely unimpressive way to sum up what I was feeling, the nervous jump to my heartbeat that came with her reminding me of my pending trip to the Outside.
"You scared?"
I shook my head, unable to form the word. She sighed a little, the warm water shifting around her body as she sat up, looking me straight in the eye. "Sam, listen, Boss wouldn't send you on a mission he didn't think you were capable of. 'Sides, you'll have me," she said with a toss of her wet hair. I had to laugh at her attitude – honestly, she always managed to cheer me up no matter how nervous or angry or afraid I was. "I won't let anything happen to you…Non-consensually." She winked and I had to laugh again, pulling her in for a light kiss before resting my forehead against hers.
"Thanks, Ruby. What would I do without you?"
"Crash and burn," she replied with another shrug, grinning as she looked up at me, her eyes flickering black for a moment. God, I want that. One day…when I prove myself to Azazel, maybe he'll grant me the honor of joining the demon hordes, serving him and Lucifer. I couldn't wait; this mission would be the first rung in climbing the company ladder.
Smiling, I pressed my lips to hers again. She sighed softly, bracing herself on my shoulders so that she could move her legs to straddle my lap. She tasted different than Azazel, but in a good way. I felt like we were more equals than I did with him and, while I loved the dominating control of my Master, I also liked meeting on an even plane, getting mutual comfort and pleasure from each other's company. She opened her mouth, allowing my tongue to slide in, taste the sulfur lining her mouth and she, in turn, tasted mine. I don't know what she, a demon, saw in me – a half-breed at best – but I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. She was Azazel's second in command, technically my boss but she didn't act like it. As I said before; she's my best friend, my closest confidante.
She purred softly when I transferred my lips from hers to her neck, knotting a hand gently in her hair to pull her head to one side, giving me more room. I nipped gently at her artery, inhaling the blood that flowed underneath. When I first came to the compound Azazel had put me on a regimen of demon blood to improve my strength, and once I became strong enough he began to wean me off of it, so that I no longer needed it to wield my powers…but still, I remembered the taste, the extra surge of power and I'd never quite gotten over it.
"One for the road?" she asked, grinning as he flicked open the old-fashioned razor I typically used to shave. I kept the blade honed to ridiculous sharpness – hell, I loved blades, even ones for such menial tasks – and I knew that I would easily be able to slice the skin of her meat suit with it, drink some of the delicious liquid underneath.
I smiled the secretive smile of someone who knows they're technically doing something wrong, but knew there was no way of getting caught or any repercussions coming back to bite them in the ass. "Sure," I replied, taking the handle from her and flipping the blade open, before I laid it against her skin, right above her collarbone. Her eyes met mine and flashed black again when I pressed down, skin parting easily to give way to a rivulet of blood. I'd just nicked a vein, so there was no possibility of her bleeding out. Even with that knowledge I didn't want to risk her well-being, nor did I want to waste any of the blood, so I sealed my mouth over the cut almost immediately, hands circling around to grip her hips and pull her closer to me so she could rest while I drank from her.
The blood tasted like sin and Lucifer, it was delicious. I couldn't stop the moan from escaping me even if I wanted to. I took one, two, three long draughts from the vein, finally stopping the suction when I felt her grip on my shoulders begin to loosen, once I'd gotten to ten. She could heal herself that much I knew, and so I satisfied myself with small kittenish licks around the cut until it closed over, becoming just another scar littering her pale, soft body.
Pulling away I smiled up at her. "Thanks Ruby," I murmured, causing her to giggle and lean forward. Her lips were warm on my skin, licking at the blood I was sure had trickled down my jaw and chin – I was never much of a clean eater.
"No problem, stud. Now come on, the water's getting cold." I smiled, taking her hand and following her out of the tub. It wasn't cold, not by human standards – the equivalent to a heated pool, perhaps – but to demons anything colder than near-boiling was too frigid for comfort. I let her lead me to the bed, without a care for the water drops still traveling down our bodies. We both slid under the sheets of my bed and she curled her body, back to my chest while I draped an arm around her waist. "You're going to do great on the mission, Sam. I'd stake my reputation on it."
I laughed, feeling in a much better mood – I was right; the bath was exactly what I'd needed. I felt more relaxed, ready to launch myself into the real world and complete Azazel's mission. That and the demon blood settling warm and filling inside my belly combined to help me relax like nobody's business. The sun had just set over the horizon, sky fading from red to black when my eyes finally slid shut and I relaxed into sleep.
Author's Note: Feel free to tell me what you think. This story bitchslapped me right in the face and it would not be denied. I've only ever written this chapter and the next one so updates may be slow, but they are coming. I love this story and where it's going to go. Yay xD
Much loves,
HigherMagic x
