Merman AU that 2People2 inspried me to write. Thanks!
I experimented with this kind of AU before but it was never finished - I'm not even sure if I still have it anymore but anyways... On with the Story.
If people are enjoying this then I'll be uploading more Chapters later on. Please Read & Review as it would help with confidence.
Extra: In this Story, Mer Folk are technically immortal unless they have been dragged onto land and killed by any means.
In terms of 'Human Years' Castiel's age is in his mid-twenties but is still determined as a baby compared to his siblings, friends and family.
Angel Fish:
Castiel was a youngling in the Mer community, he was the last to be born and would grow to be riased and trained among the Shell-Clam Army to defend all creature of the seven seas against the vicious man-kind.
However he was shy of his 125th birthday by a month, meaning he could live' before he became the good little solider that was required of him.
The youngling returned to his favourite spot in all of the big blue, it bordered beneath Lawrence, Kansas where one place in particular flourished with campers and groups.
Castiel always wanted to meet a Human, one that wouldn't try to kill him like a drunken fisherman nearly did as Castiel wasn't paying attention, his older Brother Gabriel saved his life - Castiel still shudders at the thought of being sliced open my motor blades.
Snapping him out of his thoughts were people splashing and diving into the deep pond above him, Castiel knew to keep himself out of Human's line of vision. He smiled while his Cobalt tail swirled beneath him to keep him in the same spot. He could feel the children's happiness as they played, some adults joined them to keep their children safe, Castiel knew the only thing that was considered 'Dangerous' was him, the fish that kept him company were entertaining the little ones. Castiel lowered himself onto a rock to sit and watch the Humans as the hours past by.
It was reaching Dusk as Gabriel appeared "There you are"
"Hello Brother"
"We were starting to worry"
Castiel scoffed "You thought I ran away because I am nearly the right age for initiation"
"Castiel if I could do something about that I would"
"It doesn't matter, Gabriel. I accept that I will become a solider"
"You shouldn't be" Gabriel stormed upwards causing a current to develop for the Humans above "Castiel, you were the last of our kind to be born, our next generation will ne nothing but mindless drones if we keep up this tradition"
"Gabriel" Castiel warned casting his eyes above as Humans were beginning to struggle
"No! Castiel I won't lost you like I lost everyone else!"
"Gabriel, the Humans!" Castiel shouted
Gabriel finally realised what was happening, snapping his fingers the water settled and the Humans left rushed to land.
"Brother, I was cast out for abandoning my post after watched Lucifer and Michael tear each other apart doing what they thought was right, Naomi brainwashed how many of us and now Father is gone. He left and we are all blindly following Naomi, Raphael or whoever could pose powerful"
"I am aware Gabriel, I appreciate your concern but I know what has to be done"
The older Mer began to leave until Castiel spotted something "Gabriel, you're injured!"
"What?" Gabriel jolted as Castiel brushed his fingers against the fresh white scars the cascaded down Gabriel's golden tail
"I'm fine"
"No! No your shouldn't be marked" Castiel began to panic, nearly sobbing
"Whoa, hey, hey, hey. It's OK" Gabriel pulled his Brother into a hug, attempting to calm his distraught baby Brother. The scars were a week old, they were the signs of being cast out from the community but Gabriel could smuggle himself into tight corners and hide from the right Mer people when necessary.
Gabriel swayed them in the water to calm Castiel down, it worked while Castiel was growing up, it still worked to this day, being 310 always paid off.
"I'm sorry, Gabriel. I wish I could of helped"
"Don't worry about me little Bro, I'll always be there to help when you need it"
"Can I try to heal your wounds? So it doesn't hurt anymore"
"Sure" Gabriel knew it would only work to an extent but his little Brother always tried to do the best by everyone
Castiel pressed two fingers against Gabriel's forehead, summoning his Grace to tend to the wounds. Castiel closed his eyes and concentrated, he missed the saddened expression on Gabriel face. Castiel pulled his hand away.
"Did it help?" Castiel sounded so small
"Yeah" Gabriel lied with ease "No more pain"
Moonlight shone through from above
"When did it get so dark?" Castiel's confusion made Gabriel chuckle
"Why don't you go up and see?"
"We can't, we'll suffocate!"
"Not if it's just our heads and shoulders peaking out" Gabriel replied swimming towards the water's surface. Castiel followed hesitantly.
Gabriel was mere inches from the surface while Castiel hovered by his Brother's tail fins
"Don't make me drag you"
Castiel shimmied at the same height as Gabriel's head despite being taller than his older Brother now
"Take a deep breath"
Castiel did as instructed
"One"
Gabriel began
"Two"
Castiel was already regretting this
"Three"
Both heads burst from the water, Castiel was nearly hyperventilating already
"Easy, deep breath for me"
Castiel struggled but did take a breath, the surface was cold compared to the sea, the wind bit against his scales and gills.
"I c- I can't!" Castiel dove himself back into the water, taking only five deep strides to return to the seabed, the cloud of sand burst around him as Castiel curled into a ball.
"Castiel" Gabriel reprimanded
"No! The Humans will kill us!"
"Castiel, I have surfaced many times, no-one has ever hurt me. I got these scars for disobedience, there are no rules about surfacing"
"Then what about Hael!"
Gabriel leaned back "What?"
"Hael! She surfaced, fishermen dragged her up to land and slaughtered her, I could only watch as her blood, tail, scales... every little piece of her sink away and be eaten into nothing as she was murdered!"
Gabriel had to calm his Brother, knowing the Shell-Clam Army would destroy him for acting so emotional, too much heart and emotional involvement was always Castiel's problem.
"Castiel, what happened to Hael was not your fault. Humans killed her while you were helpless to watch, had you tried to intervene you may not be alive today" Gabriel trapped Castiel inside his arms, gently squeezing his little Brother to calm him down
"But, but-"
"You are not to blame" Gabriel was firm "I'm not taking 'it was my fault' for an answer"
Castiel sighed, relaxing into his Brother's hold "If you resurface again, please come home in one piece" Castile begged
"Promise, Cassie. Do you want to try again?"
"OK"
The pair swam back up towards the surface again in silence, they stopped merely centimetres away from breaking the water.
"Going on or near land, is that a test?"
"From the Shell's, yes. A test of durability and determination"
"OK"
Castiel took a number of deep breathes before popping his head and shoulders back above water, the shock wasn't as bad the second time around but it was still nerving.
There was one car left on the bank next to the docking station of the harbour, it contained two males, they were lying on the hood with an unknown drink in their gasp while they watched the sky above them completely unaware of the two mermen in their presence.
Castiel found a deep interest in watching them, in his trance he lost track of time, until he chocked on his breath, Gabriel tugged him down before either Human could see him
Gabriel dove back to the sand and held Castiel tight until Castiel reacted. It took nearly five minutes for Castiel to open his eyes. Gabriel hugged his Brother damning himself for not keeping an eye on Castiel when he needed it.
"I'm sorry, Castiel"
Castiel didn't reply, he was distracted by hoping he would see the Humans again.
Meanwhile Sam and Dean were watching as the night grew darker, lying on the Impala's hood was relaxing as both could stretch their legs.
Dean grabbed two beers and gave one to Sam, it was nice, a small break in-between the hunts and no world-ending threats. Bobby had called them saying he needed them in South Dakota as soon as possible but Dean wanted to savour being in Lawrence for just a little while longer, Sam held no objections either.
Dean was the first to hear what sounded like a choking noise before a noisy splash of water caught both Winchester's attention.
"I'll check it out" Dean slid of Baby and grabbed a flashlight "Hello?" Dean walked around the bank then checking the docking.
"Find anything?" Sam called over
"No. Must of been a fish being caught or something" The elder Winchester shrugged returning to his Brother.
Castiel listened from beneath the dock panels, his head tilting, Gabriel joined him
"What are you doing?" He hissed
"Someone there?"
Both froze, the Humans had heard them
"Hello?" The Human's boots heavily clunked above them
Gabriel turned protective of his Brother, he sunk towards the dock's end, brushing against the pole for attention
"Is someone there?" The voice that Castiel could listen to forever moved away from him towards the edge
Castiel dunked himself under water seeing Gabriel with his blade ready to pounce when ready
"Gabriel, wait. They aren't trying to hurt us. You've even told me that no-one has attempted to hurt you"
"I was alone last time, I won't let them lay a finger on you"
"Dean!" Another voice from the surface
"Nothing's here, Sam. Must just be my imagination"
Footsteps faded away, Gabriel relaxed after hearing a roaring noise occur then leave seconds later
"You always were a protective big Brother" Castiel muttered
"I wasn't going to let you get hunted. Too many friends have been netted, slaughtered or harpooned"
"They mistake us for dolphins or sharks, poor creatures, they are only protecting themselves which does cause more Human death but they are the one trespassing" Castiel grumbled
Gabriel chuckled "Most Humans find dolphins cute or so I've heard. Sharks... not so much"
"I think I should return home. Are you going to disappear again?"
Gabriel sighed "For now"
Castiel mirrored his elder Brother's hurt expression sighing himself "If I could stay you know I would" Gabriel smiled, remembering what he always said while Castiel was a baby "Until the next time, Cassie"
"Next time" Castiel returned home with curiosity and sadness behind him.