Father Where Art Thou

Supernatural AU

Chapter 1: Return Policies and ANGL

Gabe's POV(Italics are thoughts)

The first of the rumors made it out as a simple STD, you know that one weird night nobody remembers and you got down and dirty with that freaky but totally awesome chick with the nice tits and suddenly in the morning you just had it. No big deal, just go to the doctor, get your slip and you were ready to party again. It never really went that way though. Not for most of us, not at all. The fanatics coo about some great origin we all came from, the original infected source or mutation.

A father to us all, as ridiculous as that sounds but it made us all feel a little better about being one more part of this supernatural goo that had mutated an entire nation of people maybe even the world. Don't get me wrong, there were many lucky people who weren't infected. Outnumbered us even, the whole lot of them. Since after all in its most basic form, it's just like a birth defect. Little traits and kinks in our DNA that help make us "special". Blue eyes, blond hair, big and small schnauses and now this.

The egg heads down in the big medical department called it ANGL as some sort of cruel joke, a massive mutation in human DNA that caused physical and mental anomalies on a dramatic scale. Skeletal, Vascular, muscular, circulatory, nervous systems were all affected, nothing left untouched, some got more than others and even developed special powers. Abilities from this new exotic gene, considerable strength, telekinetic potential in the brain, heightened senses and recuperating powers. All wrapped up into the tiny unstable package that was from then on marked ANGL.

We were inhuman, that was it, it didn't matter if your mom or your dad weren't carriers of the disease or that you popped out of your momma's womb like every other Billy or Sally that went through the maternal ward of the hospital. Soon as they identified you with THAT, it'd follow you wherever you went. School, medical records even job applications were all given that extra little personal detail that apparently everyone needed to know. I even heard a guy down in Memphis got fired when they found out he had ANGL.

And they always do find it, I promise you that. Extensive body checks were no longer for airport visitors only since it's all about that mark and we all had one. No matter how little or big your piece of the ANGL food cake was, pun intended mind you, we all shared a mark one way or another. Each mark or marks like every individual with ANGL was different but they all bore the same physical message. Wings, big small, dark or light we all had one or two plastered onto our skin from birth. Like that one tattoo you and your buddies thought looked so cool up on the parlor wall but when it's suddenly drawn pitch black from both wrists to forearm, suddenly all those primary and secondary coverts and flights don't look so badass anymore.

They were messages to all the "normal" humans, a big STAY AWAY from all the feathered brothers and sisters as some called themselves. What a crappy excuse for a joke. Jokes will only go so far though especially with the big cats upstairs. As soon as the big epidemic came along, every fat cat and dirty or clean politician had their own opinion on what to do about this new "people" as if we weren't regular human beings. And the first three to come forward were what you would expect.

The two big dogs fighting it out on that stage were Lucifer and Michael. Both big figure heads in the whole ANGL debate as well as carriers of the rare gene, Michael's campaign focuses on the key points that those infected by ANGL are superior and therefore should have alternative rights than that of those unaffected. His main goal seems to be to have us run the government over regular humans as their "divine rulers" as he so daintily puts it. Lucifer on the opposite side, sees the unaffected pile as flawed, inferior beings in a time of evolution and sees it only fit that those not carrying the gene should either be forcefully infected or destroyed.

And then there are those like Zachariah who have fed off of public hysteria and these new ideals and fervently testified that those with ANGL are unclean and freaks of nature. Demons that should be separated from the pure just humans and cast out for their impurities before they "sully this great nation". Zachariah is one of the many on this side of the debate that showcases he is free of such a vile mutation and wants to lead the world into a new perfect paradise.

With this lovely setting the curtain rises on my cozy little establishment and place of residence, yep it's my pride and joy alright, the Heels To Jesus Pawn Shop and retail center along with my lovely employees and myself who run the joint like a well oiled machine or well…at least half baked loaf of bread.

Castiel, my pretty boy in the trench coat and dedicated cashier at the moment is dealing with the lovely and ever tenacious Ms. Missouri Mosely. A clever old bat really, she's been trying to sell me back the same damn colonial ceramic jar I gave to her for practically peanuts since before her hair started to gray. Never ask a lady her age indeed, I've seen mummies at the museum with less wrinkles than this old biddy.

Cassy's pretty darn adorable though I've got to admit even if Kali from the incense shop down the street's been my chronic stalker for almost a decade now, the kid's too cute. As bashful as he is about the whole thing, he has ANGL just like Anna and I but he's a lucky case. I'd say he's nearly twenty three now though he can hardly pass for twenty one without his ID due to his shockingly young appearance and puppy dog eyes. Scruffy light brown hair along with slightly pale skin and deep blue eyes tie the little guy together under trench coat-like jacket he wears CONSTANTLY. I'm actually starting to wonder if it's attached to the poor guy's skin.

Castiel has his mark luckily in a spot where most people would hardly see it unless his shirt was off, two rather large ragged tawny wings reaching down his back from his neck and down his lower back. And yeah I do know how far down they go heh heh. But he usually likes to keep them under wraps which explains the bulky trench coat and shy as a sheep attitude when it comes to customers and people alike. Meh what can you do? The kid's got social problems though but he knows his way around that eeeeevil cash register. I swear that damn thing hates me, nearly broke one of my fingers when I was fishing out change last weekend but I digress.

I honestly don't know what Cas's "special" abilities are other than what's normal for those with ANGL. That whole social awkwardness he has is pretty common, sad puppy look all his but from what I've seen just from perusing around ye old pawn shop he can heal mild wounds and cuts pretty easily and even break a few windows and speakers when he's really jazzed or angry about something. Kid apologizes over and over for it but I don't blame him for it, not his fault though it's funny as hell when it spooks Anna.

Here we meet the little fiery redhead of my little operation here at Heels To Jesus and I'm quite literal when I say fiery. Get this chick mad and it's like the president chugged a beer, threw his pants off and gave the thumbs up to go nuclear. Anna Milton as she calls herself is an ANGL case as well but with a much different set of symptoms than me or Castiel. When extremely angered or startled her brain can let loose a highly negative charge that results in a pulsating heat wave around her entire body. I like to call it her heat bubble but apparently that's too "perverse".

We've tried to control this "special" talent of hers before through simple breathing exercises and movements, the scorch marks on the pawn shop floor are evidence of that. Though for now only time will tell if any of it actually has considerable influence on her. Anna's marks aren't as easy to hide like good ol Cassy, due to her two plain as day little feather marks under each eye. She calls them her 'cutie marks' but hey I'm just a pawn shop owner what do I know.

Since she works the clothing and make-up department of the shop, she likes to dress her marks up with, glitter, rhinestones, eyeliner and all that junk. In my opinion it makes her look like a bedazzled raccoon. I usually get smoke from her about my little book burnings but other than that she's a sweet gal and even looks after Castiel every once in a while to make sure he doesn't get picked on by others.

So now that my little troupe has been introduced we can finally start the show.

Cas's POV

I mentally curse the day ceramic cats were invented as I put the numbers through the cash register again, pulling my coat around my shoulders all the while this strange old lady smelling of raisins, cat litter and hot sauce perhaps still has not refrained from her constant babbling. I honestly have no qualms with Ms. Mosley or Missouri as she always tells me to address her by, but it's just that I believe the human body shouldn't be physically capable of going on for that long without stopping for need of oxygen. And it's usually the same sequence over and over again.

"Now Castiel, honey child, I don't mean to pester you heaven forbid but I simply can't believe my purchase should cost over twenty dollars. That boss of yours is off his rocker to price things so high and these figurines aren't even in mint condition!" For the ninth time now I am shown the small china cats playing with string currently up for purchase. She is right though as I observe several cracks and chips in the figures that have been given makeshift repairs with what I can only guess Elmers glue and colored sharpies. He couldn't even spring the extra fifteen cents for a real adhesive…

Sighing softly, I look over my shoulder to face my current employer Gabe as he sits in his usual comfy leather recliner next to the usual wood burning stove set up in the middle of the store reading his current novel of interest. As much as Anna complains the stove is a fire hazard, Gabe always insists he's immature enough to want it around but mature enough to know how to use it. He also seems to enjoy informing Anna she is "the pot calling the wood burning stove black" when it comes to fire hazards which only seems to infuriate her more and earn yet another burn I must scrub from the floors.

"Gabriel sir, can't we give her some sort of discount? Missouri's a regular customer and honestly if you're going to try and cover up imperfections in the merchandise, use techniques other than that of a preschooler." With a grunt Gabe closed his book, the light catching his own dark indigo wings imprinted on his forearms from birth as he pushed himself off the chair. I've learned since I started working here that unlike most, Gabe has six of them, one on each of his arms from wrist to elbow and the other four crossing his chest and lining down his sides to his thighs. How do I know they go down that far? Casual Wednesdays have gotten far too casual in the past…

Sashaying his way over to the register, he motioned to the huge yellow sign resting on the wall just behind me and with a snort regarded our esteemed customer with a raised brow. "As a regular customer, my fair lady, you should do well to remember out key policy at Heels To Jesus Pawn Shop and Retail center." At this he patted my shoulder heavily, wordlessly instructing me to sing along to his favorite little scam. "This is not an auction, all prices listed are final."

Ms. Mosley gave her signature frown at that, a frown that if she were a nun I believe could shame any sinner no matter how great into converting to a life of compliance most assuredly. "Now look here you no good trickster. On your sign it says pawn shop, so wouldn't it be safe to say most people would see that and expect a place where one can negotiate prices?" Gabe just smirked and actually crawled up onto the counter sitting cross legged with his arms crossed as well, peering at Missouri like a snake with a mouse in its clutches. "Yes but I am NOT most people. I am Gabriel, king of this pawn shop and my word is law here."

Insert key grin and nasty reaction from our beloved regular Missouri. "You scam artist! I ought to bend you over my knee and teach you a lesson or two about running a business young man! You're no king, court jester maybe." Anna finally joined the scene, leaning in her usual spot to give me a friendly wink and watch the fun as Gabe actually stuck his tongue out at the woman only outraging her and in the process mortifying me more. "If I am in fact the court jester then I guess that makes you the town hag huh Ms. Mosley?"

By now I simply decided to slip out from behind the register and let Gabriel have his fun while I take my one daily 'coffee break'. Nodding to Anna who in turn nodded back and kept a steady watch on those passing by the shop through the window, I walked back through all the clutter and old junk Gabe chose to sell in the shop to the door in the back. Opening to the small secluded courtyard outside, I gave a sigh of relief finally breathing in fresh air.

The entire space is probably only about twenty feet or more all the way across from the door to the end of the tall fence that surrounds it. The fence itself is a good seven feet with barbed wire lining the tops. Gabe had the fence lined with barbed wire for two reasons, one to discourage robbers or worse, the other reason…

After the epidemic clearly marked ANGL was uncovered, many people formed their own opinions on how to deal with the issue of this new group of life forms introduced into the world. With opinions of course come limitations. Those with specific powers or abilities are given certain rules on when and where they can use them if at all. This is especially taken into account for cases of ANGL with physical anomalies. To prevent incidents from occurring, anyone in the ANGL category is especially limited to using their own devices especially flying.

The first ANGL case ever recorded of successfully obtaining a stable flight pattern in a public setting was shot down mere minutes later by a frightened passerby. The person was supposedly imprisoned but to prevent such things from happening again, any sort of flying or floating accomplished by those with capable abilities from ANGL is strictly prohibited.

Not many with ANGL can even fly, like I mentioned before it's a physical anomaly caused by the mutation that's very rare to begin with. Gabriel being the only one other than myself that i know of who's ever accomplished any successful flying during his lifetime, was also the first one to find out about the true form my wings could take. It had been an accident of course. I'd been cleaning up to close up the shop for the night and had trash duty that one night in particular. When I went outside and saw nobody was around in the alley, I shrugged off my coat to stretch them out.

Normally I can keep my wings in their original form as simple marks on my back but when looked at more closely through an x-ray one could see several irregular skeletal structures extending from my shoulders and upper back under the skin. They don't hurt or anything like that but from time to time they almost retain a mind of their own, causing me to grow restless and fidgety. In this sort of state I can't focus on work and at times can even lose sight of my powers and break a few windows or vases.

So seeing an opportunity display itself so fully, I had released the simple binding I placed over them back then and allowed them to manifest themselves. Light cobalt gray feathers spilling forth into great wings on my back, I heard something resembling a can dropped behind me from the shop door. Looking back petrified, I realized Gabe must've had a beer recently and had just come out to throw it in with the rest of the trash, the can resting at his feet as he gaped at my true form.

The fact he was smiling as if he'd won the damn lottery did little to calm my fears until he took me inside and showed me his own manifested wings, six golden brown wings stretching nearly all the way across the room and to the ceiling. After that, Gabriel taught me how to fly and hide my wings properly so they wouldn't get cramped or restless. This was also around the time he had this courtyard constructed.

It was here he taught me everything I'd need to know about flying and using my own powers as well as teaching me about his own. Currently we've been trying to teach Anna with little success, large scorch marks across the grassy field evidence of her frustration and annoyance with Gabe's "teaching habits"

Sighing with a content smile I let loose my wings, chuckling softly as the feathers tickled my ears as I stretched them up to lift myself off the ground. It was around late evening and the sun was setting so visibility and shadows wouldn't be a problem this time. Due to their hue and depth of color, my wings aren't usually easy to see no matter what time of day but Gabe still always instructed that it was best to wait till later in the day out of caution. With that I lifted myself of the ground with a soft ruffle of my feathers and took off around the secluded courtyard.

Even with all of Gabriel's past taunting and persisting of my cute nature, I could never help but chuckle and laugh whenever I got to fly. There really was no feeling like it, being able to see, smell and feel so much more way up high as I am than I ever could on the ground like everyone else. Being the stone face that I am, I suppose it really is a sight to Gabe after all his efforts to get even a snort out of me from his many pranks to witness me reduced to mere giggles just from something so simple.

There was even a light breeze that brushed across the arch of my primaries and coverts so perfectly that it had me smiling a real smile for the first time in a long time. Looking up, I could see just how deep and far up the sky really was, stars sparkling in their wake seeming so close I could just reach out and grab one. There had been so many disturbances due to the discovery of my kind. All orphans whether we chose to follow Lucifer or Michael or even walk to our own damnation under Zacariah. I just wished for it all to stop, that we could all move forward…for dad to come back.

A brisk movement from atop the gate suddenly jarred me from my thoughts as I stopped midair and hovered over the middle of the field. Even with all the barbed wire and locks around the gate, Gabe has chosen to keep one spot clear for a door so we could put out the trash in the alley. Simply a three foot wide space clear of any lock or barbed wire over the seven foot tall door blocking the rest from view. And he was just sitting there watching me.

Some random guy who from appearance looked too well off with his spotless jeans and black suit jacket to be peeking into random people's yards behind pawn shops at six thirty in the evening. But there he was plain as day, just smirking up at me and seeming quite pleased now that I'd noticed him. The man couldn't have been younger than twenty seven, had to be older than me at least, with dull blonde hair that brightened near the tips and shiny blue eyes that seemed to glimmer with amusement and maybe even wonder at my fluttering wings.

By now I was frozen in fear and apprehension. Whoever this assbut was, he'd seen me flying no question about that and definitely not in a designated area to do so. I could be arrested, no worse I could very much be killed. Gabe could be arrested, Anna could be arrested anyone who knew about this place or me could now be thrown in a locked cell and rot all because this guy seemed to find whatever reason he could to peek over a damn fence with barbed wire and locks on it in the middle of the evening.

"Well now, aren't you beautiful…" A voice with a heavy British accent cutting through my thoughts, all I registered after that was he had jumped down into the yard by then and I was running for my life back to the shop, wings gone into the dark marks on my back.

Alright that's my debut chapter of this fic ^^ for any Supernatural fans who don't remember, Missouri is from the first season and for any Gabe fans out there I hope you know who Kali is. Alchemy Academy fans I will update before the weekend hopefully and for those who are wondering, coverts and primaries are the separate parts of a bird's wing so I decided to slip that in there. Hope you've enjoyed and I'll try to continue this soon. Reviews are always appreciated and this will be a Calthazar fic so Castiel/Balthazar and maybe some other pairings I don't know. Ciao