Author's Note: This idea has been bugging me for quite some time now. So, last night, at approximately midnight, I wrote this first chapter. I also wrote the next chapter, and part of the one after that. I apologize for the extremely short length of these first two chapters. They will almost definitely get longer. This is indeed an AU. Also, a warning before you read this: multiple character deaths.
ALSO. If anybody's interested in being a beta for this, please let me know!
THINGS I DON'T OWN: The reaper idea/concept/whatever (from the TV show Dead Like Me), the fic title (from the song Gone Away by The Offspring), and Supernatural.
A soul. That's all he was, the man reminded himself. That's all anybody really was. He watched as a specific man walked towards him on the rather crowded New York City sidewalk.
He began walking towards the man, taking in his blue eyes and dark brown hair. This man, Castiel Milton, would be his last before he could leave. While he would never wish this onto anyone, he was glad that he would finally be able to pass on. Gabriel was tired of having to collect the souls of people about to die. He'd had enough of the constant whining about how it wasn't their time yet. And convincing them to move on was always the best.
But this man, this Castiel, would be the soul to free him this job.
Gabriel glanced at his watch before taking a last look at the piece of paper in his hand. Six minutes until death time.
Still walking, Gabriel passed Castiel, reaching up to brush the other man's arm with his hand. Castiel didn't notice. They never did.
The soul, successfully pulled from the body, stayed where it was. Castiel didn't notice anything, though, continuing on his way to wherever he was going. Gabriel didn't care about those details. He didn't have time to. Not in this line of work.
Gabriel stopped walking, instead turning to stand outside one of the many buildings lining the street.
Four minutes until death time.
He began examining the soul better now. Castiel's soul still appeared human, dressed in what the body was wearing; black dress pants, a white collared shirt, a backwards blue tie, a suit jacket, and a tan trenchcoat. The trenchcoat was unnecessary in the early fall weather, but Gabriel wasn't about to complain about Castiel's fashion sense.
More people filed past, all trying to get somewhere.
Two minutes until death time.
Gabriel looked around at his surroundings. This would be the last time he ever saw them.
The sound of tires screeching to a halt and a high pitched screech broke him out of his trance. Gabriel glanced at his watch once more.
5:31
It was right on schedule.
A great weight seemed to lift off his shoulder.
His last soul had been collected.
His time to move on was mere minutes away.
Castiel Milton was dead.