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Chapter 5: living the dream.
It had been three months since the incubus attacked the Winchesters. Dean was out at a bar and Cas had gone to God knows where. Sam was conducting research on an echidna in st. Louise, at the hotel when he heard a knock on the door. Who could that be? Sam thought as he walked to the door, opening it to see the small incubus in front of him umbrella open due to the storm outside. "Before you kill me, I'd like to ask that you accept my deepest apologies." Ink said bowing half expecting Sam to stab the demon killing knife in his head. Sam was surprised at the fact a demon, of all things, was apologizing to a Winchester. "Come in." Sam said gesturing for Ink to walk into the room. Ink walked in head remaining down, folding the umbrella back. "First off, what the hell are you doing here? Second off, why are you apologizing?" Sam asked watching the incubus seat himself in a small arm chair. "I came to apologize and warn you. Crowley wants you dead. And I'm apologizing because I felt bad about trying to kill you." Ink said his gaze never leaving Sam. "As I told you I do not wish to serve hell anymore, I would do anything to be forgiven by those I've killed or wounded, you and your brother are the first two I've ever really let go of...I understand if you want me dead, it'd serve me right. I only ask that you and Dean are the only two that witness my death." Ink said, trying his best to show off his better side. "How do I know you aren't lying? Other demons have and you know what happened to the last two who tried that." Sam said, considering the idea of killing the incubus. A flash of lightning caused their shadows to appear in the room, seeing comically sized gargoyle wings, along with elongated claws, a long tail with a barb at the end, and tiny horns on the head of the demons shadow. "You have wings?" Sam laughed. "I'm not proud of them, I get made fun of a lot because of them, well that and my tail, all the other demons call me a freak because I have a physical form." Ink said looking down at his shoes. Sam felt for the demon, seeing legitimate sadness in his eyes, he knew what it was like to be called weird and a freak. "I'm not going to kill you." Sam stated seeing the incubus in the same crestfallen expression on his face. "I know you don't belie-wait what? You aren't going to kill me? But I...I will never understand human nature." The incubus's shocked expression and wide eyes were enough for Sam to know killing this demon would be the wrong move. "Sam, I'm ba-what the hell is that doing here?" Dean cut-off seeing Ink sitting in the chair. "Nice to see you to, asshole." Ink said smelling Deans alcohol laced breath from a decent distance. "He came by to apologize, and before you say your typically can't trust a demon speech, I know for a fact he is different." Sam said clearly. "Oh, you mean like Ruby was different? I swear Sam, you're to nice for your own good! I don't care what you say say I'm killing 'Im!" Dean said grabbing the knife from Sams nightstand and running at Ink. "Okay, I did say I deserved it." Ink said holding Deans drunken hand steady. "Don't touch me!" Dean shouted at the demon dropping the knife. "I thought you wanted to kill me I was just helping you." Ink said eyes looking into the hunters. "Screw you, I'm out of here!" Dean shouted leaving the room. "I was just trying to help..." Ink said eyes falling to where the knife fell. "Dean's just doesn't understand, he's never been called a freak, everything comes so easily to him." Sam said looking down at the creature. "You should cut him some slack Sam, his life hasn't always been easy, yes he may never have been called a freak, but he doesn't have it as easy as you think." Ink said looking down at his hands. "How would you know that?" The hunter asked. "It's one of my individual abilities, I can see into the memories of those I touch, I don't know another demon that has that ability." Ink said looking up at the extremely tall hunter. "Damn...You are giraffe." Ink said finally realizing how tall Sam was. "Okay, and you need to state this why?" Sam asked smile playing across his face. "I just felt like lightening the mood, by the way what are you guys hunting I might be able to help." The incubus said more like a fact he was going to help rather than wait for Sam to answer. "Something called an echidna, it's been taking any kids sixteen and under, I need to figure out-" Sam was cutoff by Ink saying "These things are bitches to kill, you need a bronze sword covered in a nemean lions blood, and then light it on fire with the echidnas own flame, or just bind it, which is equally hard." The incubus stated the facts seeing Sams face fall in defeat. "Don't worry Sam I'll come back tomorrow with the blood and sword, who knows maybe your dick of a brother might warm up to the idea of having the help of someone who isn't an angel." Ink smiled disappearing, Sam smiled, he liked the idea of the incubus working with them instead of breaking their minds.
The very next morning Sam and Dean woke up early rested and comfortable laying in their beds when Ink appeared before them, jar of blood in hand with two bronze gladiator swords strapped to his sides. "Morning boys, sleep well?" He said smiling softly at the brothers. "Way better than normal." Sam said, Dean wasn't going to talk to the incubus. "Good, what about you Dean? After all I did my best to make sure you were rested." "What did you do to us?" Dean asked in shock, fear in his voice. "Relax, I just gave you guys sweet dreams, that's all, seriously, you really need to loosen up." Ink said rolling his eyes, "Here's your official echidna killing kit, two bronze swords and a nemean lions blood." Ink said setting the items on a small table. He seated himself in the small armchair from last night. "Dean, I'll tell you what I told Sasquatch over here, I am absolutely sorry about trying to kill you, I'll do anything I have to, to prove that. I don't want to serve hell anymore, now that that's out in the open would you like breakfast?" He asked as the brothers roused from their beds. "What's in the jar?" Dean asked ignoring Inks question. "Real, nemean lions blood, you'll need it to kill the echidna." He stated civility leaving his voice. "How'd you know about that?" The hunter continued anger flaring in his eyes. "Listen Dean, I know you don't like me, and I'm certain I don't like you, but can we at least be civil for the Winchester I do like." Ink said pointing to Sam. "I am right here ya know." Sam said hurt lacing into his voice. "I'm sorry Sam, I just needed to explain something to your asshole brother." The incubus said in a huff of breath. "Fine I'll be civil, but don't think for a moment that I will not kill where you stand." Dean growled. "I'm calling Cas, I don't trust him." Dean whispered as he passed his brother. Ink stuck his forked tongue out at the older Winchester, and smiled at Sam. "I should get going, I don't want your brother to get to pissed off before two O'clock." Ink was getting ready to walk out the door when Castiel appeared in front of him. "Please stay, I'm curious about your actions." "Fine, flock head." Ink replied to the insane angel. "Don't talk to Cas like that!" Dean yelled. "Oh, so sweet, defending your angel boyfriend. Relax." Ink said falling into the same armchair. Castiel had tilted his head at the demon. There is something about him, he thought as he moved his eyes to the table where the jar was. "Nemean lions blood. How'd you two manage to come across that?" Cas asked moving his gaze to the Winchesters. "Ink got it for us." Sam said as Dean was about to swear at the little demon. "Guilty as charged." Ink said looking up at the men surrounding the tools he brought. "Right...this has been lovely but I must be going. Ciao." He was about to walk out the door, when he was stopped by Sams strong hand. "It'd mean a lot to us if you stayed and helped out with the case." Sam said making his signature puppy eyes. "If anyone else is going to stop me from leaving, I might as well stay." Ink said with a sigh, seating himself back down in the arm chair.
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Chapter 6: a cold embrace
Sam, Dean, and Ink were running down the hallway of a car factory, the echidna had left most of the kids alive, but mutilated. After Castiel began healing and teleporting the last of the kids to their homes, the creature appeared, hunched over large fanged goat head, on a man like lions body, one arm made of snakes the other manlike hand with long claws, it had hooves and fur, it's tail was like a long black barbed wire. Dean was limping and Sam had gotten some of his ribs cracked and was holding his chest as Ink carried him as quickly along the hall. "I thought you had this handled!" Dean yelled at the incubus as they continued to rush down the corridor, "I distinctly remember saying it wasn't going to be easy!" Ink snapped as he continued to half drag half carry the wounded man on his arm. They had reached an open room with conveyer belts and machinery, the smell of metal and motor oil filling the air. Castiel appeared in front of the door holding the echidna back, Ink set Sam down gently as Dean fell to side, gash in his leg feeling heavy and twisted. Sam began to cough violently, blood leaking out of his mouth. "Oh, this is bad." Ink said looking at the hidden damage. "Cas we need your help!" Dean shouted. Castiel only replied with a grunt as the echidna slammed into the door continuously. "He's a little busy at the moment." Ink said, his hand becoming long black claws. "What are you doing?" The hunter asked in horror seeing the creature hover over his brother. "If something isn't done soon, you won't have a little brother to worry about, I know I'm going to regret this." He ripped the front of Sam's shirt open with his claws. "What the hell are you doing?" Dean's voice echoed on the walls. "Do you want your brother to live or not?" Ink said back, Dean submitted and nodded his head. Ink cringed lightly at what he was about to do, he took his claws and made a long scratch above Sams heart, he pulled the now bloody claws to his lips, made a disgusted face, and soon licked them, gagging and coughing a little bit. Dean looked on in horror until Sam leaned up with a loud gasp wound over his chest disappearing, leaving a scar, giving Dean a smile, he soon heard the banging on the door and the coughing and hacking of the incubus who saved his life. He was about to thank the demon until he saw where the coughing was coming from. He now saw Inks true form, a scaled and dead skinned creature with neon green globes, tiny horns, elongated furry black claws, fangs, comical bat wings, and a little devil tail. He smiled as he coughed up blood and bile, "Like what you see?" He asked still hacking up bile. Ink rose to his feet holding his abdomen as if it was the only thing keeping his intestines inside, his normally clean pristine white button down was now covered in blood. The brothers looked at the creature in awe as he pulled his bronze sword from its sheath and covered it in the nemean lions blood and walked towards the door Castiel was holding shut. "Go heal your boyfriend flock head, I got this." He said pushing the angel out of the way to get through the door. The echidna ran in flames billowing from its mouth , lighting the demons sword. Ink immediately stabbed the beast rushing at him in the heart. The echidna fell to the ground, turning to ashes. Sam and Dean, healed by Cas, ran to the incubus as he crumpled to the ground. His breathing became quick and shallow, adrenaline wearing off. "Are you okay?" Sam asked lifting Ink by his arm. "Just...peachy...oh yeah, except...for the...extremely fatal pain...I took from you." Ink said in pained sarcasm. Cas teleported them to hotel where the inspected the incubus's body. He was healing quickly, his heart rate returning to normal, large scratch on his chest disappearing. He sat up eyes glazed lightly, "What happened?" He asked still in a daze. "You ganked that son of bitch." Dean said small amount of joy in his voice. "It's rude to stare Sam." Ink said feeling the younger hunters eyes on him. "Sorry I just...what exactly did you do to save me?" He asked breaking his gaze from the demon. "I...uh...became your familiar." Ink said ducking his head. "His what?" Dean asked concern seeping into his voice. "It's kind of like I...uh...um...I kind of enslaved myself to him, so I could absorb the pain from his body." Ink explained. Deans eyes grew cold, "Get the hell out, now!" Dean growled looking at the demon. "I only listen to Sam now." He said passively looking up at Sam. "Please listen to Dean." Sam ducked his head as he turned his back to the incubus. "If that's what you want." Ink said rolling his eyes and disappearing from the room. "What the hell is it with you and demons?" Dean spat, Sam wasn't going to answer.
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Chapter 7: lost in thought
Ink sat on the roof outside of the hotel, Castiel suddenly appearing next to the little demon. "Thank you for saving Sam." Cas watched the little creature shift. "Not a problem flock head...those boys are more trouble than they're worth." He muttered shutting his eyes, "You shouldn't think like that," "Since when do angels give advice to demons, you know what, just leave me and go to your boyfriend for an awkwardly sexual staring contest." Ink was tired, he was ready to give up on the Winchesters all together, having an insane angel tell him to not think the brothers were a waste of time, adding insult to injury of now being bound to Sam for the remainder of his life. Castiel frowned disappeared and left Ink to wonder what his life had become. "How could it go so wrong so fast, all I wanted was freedom and now I'm stuck with Sam friggin Winchester." "Am I really that bad?" Sam yelled up to the incubus. Ink appeared before the hunter, might as well talk face to face. "No, you're not that bad, but...I'm just upset right now." Ink sighed looking up at Sam, "God, you're tall." He said laughing at the joke. "Listen, Dean just needs time to get used to the fact that I now own a demon." "It's not Dean or you or flock head, it's just...I'll never be free." Ink sighed yet again. Guilt tripping the man who was now his master wouldn't help, even if Sam said 'your free' it still wouldn't matter he'd have to listen to the hunters every command. "So...what, you're just going to follow us until we need your help?" Sam was amused and heartbroken by the incubus's plight. "No, now I'm kind of like your brothers angel, you call me I have to appear, I mean you don't pray to me just say you need my help and I have to come running. You could always call me by singing the red rover song. Oh well, maybe it won't be to bad to have friends." Ink laughed a little, his face fell, Dean was walking towards Sam and the demon, unbridled fury raging in his face. "I believe that's my que to leave, good night Sam." Ink disappeared before Dean could hurt him. "We have to have a serious talk about your attraction to demons." Dean punched Sam in the face and rushed back to the hotel, Dean seriously needed to sleep, as soon as possible.
Ink was in the largest room of a mansion in Oregon, that no demon but him could find, making it a good hiding place from the world, he laid down in an over sized circular bed, warm spring green pajamas on his body rather than the normal dignified outfit he always wore but was now covered in blood, the large bed was comfortingly lonely, no pain in the ass Winchesters or insane angels to bother him. The bed felt softer than normal. He sighed. Alone again. He thought about what he'd just given up for the hunter, then he pulled down the neck of his shirt to look at the newly formed claw scar he now shared with Sam, "Well at least I'll have a reminder of how my life went to hell in a teapot." He sighed pulling the covers over himself, time to wander aimlessly through dreams.
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Chapter 8: Familiar Faces
It had been almost a month until they saw Ink again, outside of their dreams of course, Sam enjoyed the visits in his subconscious, until the incubus stopped his visits for a whole making the hunter worried and his brother groggy. The were hunting a small nest of vampires in Mississippi, getting all of there equipment in line, making sure their machetes were sharp, when they heard a loud slap on the door of their room, Sam instantly knew who it was and answered the door to see the incubus, looking sick even in his true form, eyes glazed over, sweat on his brow, he coughed when he made his way past the hunter falling onto Sams bed curling up in a small ball, he looked panicked now. "Ink what's wrong?" Sam asked confusion and fear lacing his voice, Dean seemed to ignore the small creature, whispering and mumbling rolling his head a little, "Bluh...blo...agh!" He began coughing again, Sam grabbed his shoulders, "Tell us what's wrong." Sam commanded, Dean laughed "He's probably just faking-" he was cutoff by loud disgruntled coughing. "Nee...bluh...Sa..." He was barely even able to get that sentence out, Sam glanced at his brother until he felt a sharp pain in his wrist, the incubus raised Sams arm over his mouth squeezing it to allow the hunters blood to drip into his mouth, color returning to his face, which Sam now saw was a teenager, no longer a scaled dead skinned demon, his claws were retracting his tail flicked back and forth quickly, the last drop of blood from the cut dripped into the demons mouth, eyes returning to normal. Sighing loudly in satisfaction and curled up into a little ball removing his hat and soon his chest was rising and falling in a slow rhythm and quiet snoring ensued. "What the hell did he just do?" Dean was ready to chop the demons head off, "I don't know...let's go kill some vampires and when we get back we can ask." Sam said half in shock half in calm sadness at the creature was curled up in a ball on his bed.
Dean and Sam returned to their room, covered in the blood of the vampires they just killed, seeing Castiel watching the slumbering demon who had a large smile plastered to his sleeping face. "Cas what're you doing here?" Dean asked eyeing the sleeping incubus carefully, "I wanted to examine him, he is a strange being." The angel said. "Keep it down, I'm trying to sleep!" Ink said throwing a pillow at Cas. "Oh no you don't, you're telling us why you drank my blood." Sam said walking to the side of his bed. "Fine, it's a familiar thing. I have to drink three helpings of your blood before I'm completely enslaved to you. You saw what happens if I don't, I get deathly ill and I would have died. Considering the look on your brothers face, I should be going." Ink tried standing up, but fell back onto the bed the moment he got both feet on the ground. "Can one of you boys hand me my umbrella I need some form of leg support." Dean tossed the demon his umbrella and walked to the sink to wash his hands, Ink attempted to stand again, this time succeeding and walked to the door, "Actually will you stay?" Sam asked practically hearing Deans angry gaze. "If you're telling me to stay I have to." He rolled his eyes at Dean, "Yeah, I'm telling you to stay here and actually stick with us until after our next hunt. And Dean shut your mouth." The younger hunter said pointing at his brother. Ink stuck his forked tongue out playfully at Dean, giving him a smart ass smile. "How can I say no to you moose, I have to go get a few things first if I'm going to stay with you guys for awhile, I shall return." He laughed disappearing from the room. "Am I the only one here who thinks that having a demon stay with us is a bad idea? Cas c'mon." Dean said exasperated, "My apologies Dean, however I agree with Sam." He said ducking the hunters accusing words. Ink reappeared in the room with a suit case and a light purple duffel bag. "What's in the duffel bag?" Dean asked a little skeptical of the demon. "None of your damn business." Ink retorted, "So...what do you guys do when you aren't kicking ass or being annoying?" The incubus asked falling onto a small couch.