Present day...
Castiel stared at the young recruit standing before him, an all too familiar figure taking up space in his small office. The air of arrogance and complete self assurance that seemed to radiate from the kid never ceased to amaze him.
"I've got all day, Winchester." He leaned back in his chair, his cold blue stare trained on the recruit.
The younger man kept his eyes trained on the far wall, a small self-satisfied smile tugging at his lips. One year. He had been in the program one year, and he was still a walking, talking 'fuck you' to the concept of authority as a whole. He was the sheer embodiment of self-perceived invincibility. He was constantly brawling, talking back to his higher-ups, taking creative licence on the orders he was given...He was, effectively, the most difficult recruit in the program.
And he was fucking lethal.
If not for his seemingly intrinsic combat ability and his keen mind for tactics, he would have been out on his ass on day one.
"What's it gonna be?" Castiel prompted, knowing he had about as much chance of getting a mere explanation as he did of getting an apology.
"Wasn't my fault." The recruit smiled. "It was self defence."
Castiel rose from his chair and circled around his desk to stand before the recruit.
"Mm, I vaguely remember the last few times being out of 'self defence' too. What is it about Michaels that seems to bring out your more violent tendencies?"
The young man refused to look at him.
"Differences in opinions, sir." The smirk grew.
Castiel stepped into his line of vision, stopping not two feet away from the recruit, his disquieting stare boring into the green eyes that he forcibly met with.
"In future, I suggest you find some other way to vent your frustration. We have inanimate objects, should the need for hand to hand combat practise arise, Winchester."
The boy nodded, his smile still firmly in place.
"Yes sir."
Castiel stepped back, turning his back on the recruit as he walked over to the cabinet under the window.
"As for right now," He turned back to face him, toothbrush in hand, "You've got about five seconds to hit the floor and start scrubbing before I really give you something to bitch about."
The cadet's smile faltered as the small brush was held out to him.
"Bucket's in the corner." Castiel's voice was flat, final, even though he knew the young soldier wouldn't argue with him. No one argued with him. It was why he had been put in charge of training up the bunch of rain man God-complex youths into what, if he succeeded, would be one of the most effective - and deadly - recon units at the marine corps disposal.
Castiel resumed his seated position behind his desk, eyeing the recruit as he sank to his knees and began scouring the floor with the tiny brush, the proud set of his jaw still visible even with his head ducked down. This kid...this one going to be a mission in and of himself.