Salt and Burn

Note- Yet again two Angels have invaded my story. I had only intented to write a short little bit about them at the beginning of the chapter but they demended an entire chapter for themselves and their brotherly moment.

Chapter 3- Angels

Castiel stood watching the elder Winchester while he waited for his younger brother to was flexing his hands open and closed, open and closed, as he stared up at the sky. Obviously he was having trouble rationalising what Sam had told himand the Angel couldn't blame him for that. He had never heard of a mutant losing their abiliy, hell he hadn't even known about the younger Winchester's other talent

"Well this is an interesting development."

Gabriel said snapping Castiel out of his thoughts. The younger Angel's eyes however didn't leave the man he was watching..

"Indeed"

He replied and Gabriel scoffed obviously irritated by his little brother's impasive tone even though he should be used to it by now.

"Oh come on Cassie! You have to admit it's pretting fucking weird that the giant has two, count them two, powers. But then he goes and loses one . Something freaking is going on."

Castiel sighed as the other Angel pulled another candy bar out of his seamingly never ending supply. Even though he was still watching 'Salt' he knew that was what he was doing. He could hear the rustling.

"First of all we are working, so can you refrain from calling me that. It is 'Saviour' while we are out here..."

Gabriel rolled his eyes lifting his free hand to mock his brother, blah blah blah.

"Second. It is not unusual to have more than one ability. I would say for example that although you may not think so, Illusion and Space manipulation are in fact mutually exclusive"

Castiel still hadn't turned to face him so Gabriel sneered at him for a moment before going back to his mocking impersonation with his hand. He didn't appreciate being used as an example so that his brother could prove a point.

"Third. It is posible that 'Burn' mistook his own reactions while around his father. It may be that he somehow picked up on some que as to what 'Hunter' was feeling whenever he sensed another mutant subconsciously and through a desire to be more connected to his father misinturpreded that as his own ability."

As his brother continued to talk Gabriel's movements became more and more exagerated so eventually he gave up on the hand and manifested a floating characatured simulation of his brother's head which took over the motion.

"And Fourth. Do you really think that just because my back is turned that I do not know what you are doing? It is actually hard to believe that you are my elder brother. You are such a child Gabriel."

Gabriel's face dropped for a moment as he dismissed the less than flattering illusion of his brother. But then Castiel's last words sunk in and he grinned deviously.

"Aha! Whatever happened to being professional 'SAVIOUR'. Which by the way I still think is the most pretentious name that father could have given you. "

Castiel sighed as he turned to look at his brother. He couldn't believe that Tessa had asked the two of them to help her. Yes he was happy to help others in any way that he could and she had insisted that he needed to get out in the real world more. But why did he have to be working with Gabriel. He loved his brother he truly did, but he was so laid back he was practically horizontal. In fact he was often literally horizontal.

"Fine. You are such a child 'Trickster'."

Unfortunately that didn't sound as scathing as he had intended it with that wording. A fact that Gabriel obviously knew as he winked at him. Castiel tried his best to keep his face a mask of emotionless professionalism. But it was difficult to do around his brother. They were so different the two of them.

Gabriel was incredibly powerful, in fact Castiel doubted that even the 'Trickster' knew exactly what he was capable of. Castiel had seen him create entire worlds within a small room. Had been tricked more than once into going through doors that led back into the very room he had been leaving. And he had always been awed by his creativity. Everything his brother created in his illusions were so detailed and so convincing that it was impossible to tell them apart from the real thing. But all Gabriel ever did was goof off. He hated responsibility and only took jobs that catered to his own bizarre sence of humour.

Castiel on the other hand looked at everything with cool professionalism. He took his assignments and he carried them out to the best of his abilities as efficiently as possible. He was a healer, and as such he didn't get to leave home very often. He mostly spent his time healing other Angels who came home from assignment injured. He didn't interact with others often which was probably why Tessa had been so determined to convince him to help.

Gabriel waved a hand in front of his brother's face after a few moments of silence as Castiel retreated into his thoughts.

"Hellooo? Anybody home?"

Castiel jumped slightly as he came out of his thoughts.

"Right. I'm sorry Gabriel. What were you saying?"

Gabriel grinned again happy that they were at least momentarily over all of the 'Saviour' and 'Trickster' nonsense. Yes what they were doing was very important, Tessa had stressed that to him enough. But she had also made it very clear that it was part of his job to make sure that little Cassie loosened up a bit. They were all a little worried about him. All he seemed to do was work and train, work and train, all day everyday and it wasn't good for him.

"Well I was just about to counter you're oh so accurate assessment of the situation lil bro."

When Castiel remained silent Gabriel continued.

"First. I'm your brother so I can call you anything I damn well please, working or not. Cassie-Wassie."

That caused a slight twitch from the corner of Castiel's mouth, but he didn't say anything. So Gabriel continued.

"Second. These things aren't random. Space manipulation is an extension of my illusionary abilities, not an additon. You don't just get two random powers."

Castiel nodded minutely at that. It was a small movement but Gabriel caught it and knew that he understood his point.

"Third. I think Sam is intelligent enough to be able to distinguish between what he and his father were feeling. There may be a dampener somewhere at the university. Someone or something affecting his ability to sense others. So I wouldn't count on him not being able to feel us when we are following them."

Again Castiel nodded and Gabriel could practicaly see him filing away the information in that weird brain of his.

"And Finally, Fourth. I AM your elder brother so deal with it."

Gabriel punctuated his last remark by sticking his tounge out at his younger brother before smiling as Castiel actually laughed. They heard the door that Sam had vanished through opening and turned towards it. Silently they watched as the two Winchester brothers got into their car and drove away. They had work to do.