"What are you two doing here?" I asked Sam when he rolled down the window.
"Do we know you?" he asked, confused.
"No, but every hunter in America, and probably where I'm from too, knows who you are."
"Dude, what's wrong with your ears?" Dean commented, confused.
"Nothing. What's wrong with your face?" I asked, smiling.
"There is nothing wrong with his face," someone with a deep voice pitched in from the back.
"It's a joke, Cas," I said, peering in to see his face.
"Oh. I don't get it."
"Nothing to worry about. Seriously, though, what are you guys doing here?"
"Someone from our mechanic shop called us here," Dean said.
"Why?"
"We don't need to tell you."
"Nothing looks wrong with the Impala, but whatever. Do you guys need directions or something? Because I'm really the wrong person to ask. I'm just working a case here."
"What kind of case?"
"I haven't figured much out yet. My...partner, I guess you'd call him, isn't being much help, and I've only been here two days. So far, all I know is there's a supernatural killing people on the bridge just back there, and a girl named Mary was killed by the same supernatural twenty-five years ago."
They looked at each other and nodded, and offered to let me in.
"That's not a great idea. If you hadn't noticed, I'm kind of soaked. I took a dip in the river. Jumping out of a car. Um, you know what, I'll just shut up and keep walking."
The guys all gave me weird looks, but I kept walking. I felt really stupid. Human interaction, or interaction of any kind, was not my strong point. They kept proceeding to try and pick me up, obviously Sam's idea.
"I really don't want to mess up the car. It's kind of my fault I'm walking, anyways. I didn't press driving my own car, and let Christopher give me a ride. We got in a fight, and he drove off. So, yeah."
"Who's Christopher?"
"I met him a few days ago after finishing up with a case. We both ended up coming down here for this case, and we've been working on it together. Call him my partner, or my acquaintance, or my biggest annoyance, or the idjit who ditched me in the woods. Take your pick. Whatever he is, he's not here now."
"Where is he?"
"He could be anywhere by now. I don't know. Like I said, he drove off."
"Where are you two staying?"
"I don't know where he's staying, but I'm at the Ranger's Inn."
"We'll check there first, get in."
"Check there first for what? Christopher? He's not going to be there."
"Where else could he be?"
"Anywhere in El Paso. He's not my family, Dean. We aren't together or anything. He doesn't care about me. All I know, is he won't be waiting at my hotel for me."
"Just get in the damn car," Sam said.
Surprised, I took very small steps and got in the backseat with Cas. I felt so awkward being with the Winchesters. I'd heard so many rumors and stories, and now they were giving me a ride.
"What's your name, anyway?" Dean asked.
"Nikolai. Or Nik, if you like," I said, putting my head in my hands over my lap.
"You're not about to start crying, are you, Nik?"
"No, Dean. I'm fine."
"You shouldn't be so insensitive, Dean," Cas chided.
"Whatever."
"Are you okay?" Cas asked me.
"Fine. I just want to get back to my hotel, change clothes, and go to sleep."
None of the three said anything else, which I was glad for. I didn't want to talk anymore, even if they were the Winchesters. When we pulled up outside the inn, I got out.
"Thank you very much for the ride, Dean. It would've been a long walk."
"Dangerous, too. You are a hunter, aren't you?" Cas asked.
"Yes. But I didn't really have any other choices did I?"
"Kinda unusual," Cas said, looking intensely at me.
"Yeah, well, I'm all around kind of unusual. See you around, boys."
I walked inside, heading for the stairs, when someone cleared their throat. I turned around, and there was Christopher, leaning against the stair rail, looking up at me.
"What are you doing here?"
"Took you long enough."
"I had to walk part of the way." I walked up the stairs, leaving Christopher to follow me up or just stay down there. I hadn't expected him to be here, but now that he was, I didn't know why.
"Are you okay?"
"Why are you asking?"
"I said some nasty things back there. Who brought you back?"
"You were saying what you think, and if that's what you think, then that's what you think. As for who gave me a ride, the Winchesters are in town."
"I guess you have a bigger problem then."
"No kidding. Dean already commented on my ears." I opened my room, and Christopher didn't even hesitate to follow me in.
"Why are you here?" I asked him again.
"To apologize and to ask if I can still help."
"Sure, you can help. But why are you apologizing to a monster?" I asked, my voice bitter.
"Because some monsters are nice."
"Some are. But I'm nothing to nobody. And, by the way, that's some really crappy grammar."
"I don't care. I mean, about the grammar thing. But I said a lot of really stupid things. I was mad, and I just…"
"Sometimes I think humans are the most truthful when they're angry, because they don't filter their thoughts. They just spit them out."
"No. That's never when humans are most truthful. That's when humans are defending themselves. That's when there's something they're hiding from you, because they don't want to be that vulnerable."
"Yeah? And what were you hiding from me? Plans to put a bullet in my head?"
"No! I was hiding my feelings. I was really offended by what you said. That I wouldn't care if you died? You're wrong. I would. A lot."
"Why?"
"I don't know! I just know I'd care, alright? When you jumped out of the car, I was scared. I thought you were about to die. I parked the car over at that family store and ran back to look for you. I thought you'd landed in the water, so that was the first place I checked, calling out for you in case you were lost in the woods somewhere."
"I didn't want you to stop because I was scared you would hit her. I wanted you to stop so I could try to talk to her again."
"If I would have stopped we would have ended up like the others that saw her and freaked out."
"We weren't freaking out though."
"We were going fast enough that the car would have slid right off."
"That car has some terrible traction then."
"It's still better than that Ford you have."
"Don't dis the Ford."
"What's it gonna do? Run me over?"
"No, but its owner will."
"I'd like to see you try."
"Don't tempt me."
"Are you still mad?"
"Yes. You made me jump out of a fucking car going forty miles an hour into a river. Then I had to swim and pull myself out. And I'm still dripping wet."
"Do you have a change of clothes?"
"Of course. But these are my only shoes."
"A beaten up pair of Guccis? Where does a hunter even get a pair of those?"
"From having them since you were fourteen."
"Those are three years old? Why aren't they more beaten up?"
"Because they're really good shoes."
"Whatever."
"Can you get out, now?"
"No."
"You stubborn bastard."
"That's the closest I've seen you to cursing," he said, slowly clapping.
"I'm Romanian. Now, get the fuck out. I'm not changing with you in here."
"Alright, but I'll be back. Watch out for the Winchesters. They're not as nice as I am."
"So far, they've been nicer to me than you have. They didn't even know my name yet and they gave me a ride."
I closed the door behind him and went to take a shower. I wanted to get the cold river off of me.
There was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?"
"Me," Christopher said.
"Get out for a few more minutes. I am taking a shower."
"I think I'll come in, then," he said, a teasing tone in his voice.
I rolled my eyes and stayed in the shower until he left the room.
"Don't worry, I'm in the living room, just put on a towel."
"Go outside. I'll come out when I'm dressed."
"I promise, I'm going to stay here."
"Please, just for once, listen to me?"
"I listen to you. I just choose not to comply most of the time."
"Well, comply this time!" Under my breath I muttered, "Fucking bastard."
I heard the door close, but that didn't mean anything. I did the safe thing and got mostly dressed in the shower, before stepping out so my pant legs wouldn't get soaked. I put my bracelet back on, and walked out into the living room.
Christopher was sitting on the couch, and he'd turned the TV on.
"Yes, because this is leaving."
"I stayed on the couch though, didn't I?"
"That's not the point."
"Are you okay? I really was worried when you jumped. You were lucky you didn't hit the railing."
"Sure. I mean, it was kind of cold, and I was happy to land in the deep part of the river so I didn't die. I got to talk to Mary like I wanted to, and I found her car. That's a big jump on the case."
"I don't care about the case right now. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. But, it's nice to know that you worry about me and you do actually care."
"Yeah, I still can't believe I'm friends with you."
"Only friends," I said, and glared at him.
"It's good to know we're still at least friends."
"For now."
He winked at me. And I slapped him.
"The pain only makes it better." He winked again and grabbed my arm before I slapped him again.
I yanked my arm away and shoved him, so he fell over on the couch. Somehow, I ended up up on top of him.
"How romantic," he said, smiling.
"I hate you so much," I said, getting up.
"If that was true, you wouldn't have gotten in that car with me."
"I can hate you and still get in a car with you. I like the Firebird, that's all."
"So you admit that your Ford is crap."
"I admit I like American muscle. That doesn't mean I agree with you about the Ford."
"You should, it's a piece of shit."
"What did I tell you. It's mine and I like it."
"Whatever."
"Not really. I just hate agreeing with you sometimes," I said, smirking.
"Ha! So, the Ford is a piece of crap."
"Was there a reason you came back?"
"To check up on you," he said smirking.
"Sure," I roll my eyes.
"Alright, not that way. But seriously."
"Well, go away. I want to go back to the car tomorrow, and I want to have time to eat breakfast."
"I could just stay here with you."
"No."
"Aww, why not?"
"No."
"I promise I'll be good?"
"No you won't. Now, go."
He got off the couch, but pulled me up with him.
"Come with me?"
"Hell no!"
"I thought not."
He let go, and I fell back on the couch. I looked around, but he'd already left.
"Maybe I'll finally get a peaceful night's sleep," I muttered. I flopped back on the messy bed, running my hands through my hair and trying to silence my thoughts.
I didn't remember actually falling asleep, but I woke up to knocking again.
"Go away, Christopher!"
"It's not your sort of partner," a gruff voice called.
I got up and changed clothes as quickly as I could.
I opened the door as I tugged my shirt the rest of the way down, finding Dean in front of me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, thoroughly confused.
"I know you aren't human."
"What are you talking about?"
Dean chuckled, but there wasn't anything funny in his tone.
"You aren't human. Does your partner know that?"
"I'm as human as you are, Dean."
"The irony in that is unbelievable."
"Why is that?" I asked as he backed me into my room, and closed the door.
"Because I'm not human, either."
His normally green eyes flicked, turning black as hell. The perfect description, because Dean wasn't lying. He wasn't human. At least, not anymore. He was a demon.
"You knew before you even actually saw me, didn't you? You sensed me, and you did it again to find me here, so you can kill me."
"Well, that's kind of my job. I hunt and kill supernaturals."
"Except for yourself and Castiel."
"Leave Cas out of this."
"So the rule only applies as long as you don't know or don't like the person."
Dean pointed a finger at me and opened his mouth to argue, then stopped. He sighed and dropped on the couch.
"You're right. I don't even know you, or what you do. Why are you hanging out with a hunter?"
"I've been a hunter far longer than he has. We just met a few days ago."
"Why are you hunting supernaturals?"
"Because I was normal once. I thought I was human. Then a demon took my family away, because it was looking for me. I've been trying to track it down since, and I've been hunting other evil creatures along the way."
"How old are you, Nik?"
"I'm surprised you even bothered to remember my name," I said sarcastically.
"Me too, honestly. So, how old are you?"
"Seventeen. And if you're wondering, Christopher is eighteen."
"This ain't about him. It's about you. You're the supernatural."
"So kill me, if that's what you came here to do."
"Does Christopher know you aren't human?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't he kill you?"
"I don't know."
"Do you want to be killed?"
"I wonder sometimes."
Dean's head cocked to the side and his black eyes changed back to their usual green.
"What do you mean? Like, you've actually considered it?"
"I actually have. Dean, you're immortal now. I've been immortal since birth, but didn't know until shortly after my fifteenth birthday. But, think about that concept. Never dying. Being here for ages while you watch any humans you know, including your brother, grow old, and eventually, die. But you never change."
"What about you?"
"I told you. My family is dead. Christopher is the only human I know much of anything about. I wouldn't mind getting to know Sam, as a friend."
"You like Christopher, don't you?" Dean asked, a smirk lighting up his face, clearing away any signs he was a demon.
"I don't know. Sometimes I hate him and swear I want to strangle him."
"That's the makings of a crush."
I looked at him like, Really? You want to bring this up now?
He shrugged.
"Dean, do you know who killed my family? Or, at least why they were looking for me?"
"Can't say I know either of those things. I've been a demon all of two weeks."
"Are you going to try to make yourself human again?"
"Yeah. If I can. I feel bad for you. There isn't a way for you to become a human, is there? You have no choice but to take your life, let something kill you, or live forever."
"That's right. As a Changeling, I was raised as a human. I tend to act humanely, and I speak like many of you. But, being an elf, I'll never grow to be older than twenty, and I'll look the same way, always."
"You're kinda formal."
"I'm Romanian. Not American."
"Hey, are you fugly or somethin, cause I've never seen your face behind those bangs."
I pulled my bangs up out of my face.
"Okay. Not fugly."
I let my bangs drop again.
"If you cut your bangs, Christopher could see your face. He'd fall at your feet."
"Why are you giving me advice about getting Christopher to like me?"
"I dunno."
"Didn't you come here-"
"To gank you. Yes, I know. Shut up about it. I'm not going to kill you."
"Why are you still here, then?"
"To talk?"
"Get back to Sam and Cas, you idjit."
Dean paused.
"What'd you call me?"
"An idjit?"
Dean gave me strange look, then he got up and walked to the door.
"I'll be seeing you, Nik."
"Bye." I flopped down on the couch, already regretting getting up.
