Before I could say a word Cas lifted up into the sky and I could hear him laughing. "Oh no you don't!" I laughed out and followed him.
"So good of you to join, Dean. I see you can fly perfectly well...but can you dodge?" Cas smiled wickedly as he started going after me with his angel blade.
"Hey! What the hell Cas!"
"The other angels will not go easy on you at all once they figure out what has happened to you." He flew straight towards me and I tucked my wings in for a brief moment and then I let them out again, catching the wind beneath me which lifted me up higher. "Well, you can drop, and lift, that's something I suppose."
"Oh? I bet I could show you a thing or two old man!"
"HA! I said the same thing to Gabriel! Let's see if you can catch up, child!" He laughed and dove through the trees and he dodged them with such ease it honestly looked like someone sewing a stitch or suture.
"Wait...did you call me child? Oh you are so gonna get it!"
"That's if you can catch up."
I flew as fast as I could, quickly figuring out that one big flap every now and then would propel me just enough to get closer and if I let my wings out to catch the wind, tuck them in, flap and repeat...I caught up to him in no time. I tapped his shoulder carefully. "Tag, you're it!" I flew back towards the cabin and not two seconds after I turned around towards the cabin I heard a loud boom and suddenly Cas was flying in front of me. He slowed down just enough to give a cocky smirk just before speed flying to the ground and landing next to Sam who was pretty much jelly at this point. Once I landed I looked at Sammy first, and his jaw was still dropped. "Sammy, you alright man?"
"Y-You and Cas...the two of you raced and Cas...he seems so different now...I just...my mind is blown, Dean. You're a natural with your wings. Cas is still better but you acted as if you've had them all along. Also, you seemed...I don't know...you seemed more free and happier almost. Like you didn't have a care in the world."
"It did feel amazing, I'm not gonna lie. Although...Cas, what the hell was that when you suddenly appeared in front of me?"
"That was what you humans call super sonic speed. It is also similar to when I 'zap' to and from places. Anyway, at least I don't have to teach you flying or drop and lift, but it does seem you have to work on your dodging. You don't just have to avoid your body from getting pierced, you have to avoid your wings getting pierced. They are still very new so if they get pierced or torn in any way, you will not do well. You will become unbalanced. You are advanced in many things, but this is true for all new angels no matter how advanced. It's like...the way human skin gets tougher over time or how an immune system strengthens over time. Do you understand?"
"Yeah...I understand." As disappointing as it sounded, I knew I would have to learn whatever I can from Cas, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
"Dean, quit pouting." Cas raised an impatient eyebrow at me and it caught me slightly off guard.
"What are you talking about? I'm not pouting!"
"Hmm...well, your wings say differently." He leaned a little to the right and slightly pointed at my wings. I turned around and they were drooped like when Young Cas' wings were drooped because he was upset.
"Great." I rolled my eyes. "Now my emotions show in my wings."
"Indeed, onto the next lesson. Dodging properly while in air, but you will be learning on land."
"What why?" For some reason my voice came out as whiny as a child that isn't getting their way, and I kicked myself internally for that, because that was going to be something that Sammy was never going to let me live down.
"Because, you like flying so much...and besides, it's useful on land as well. Do you remember when you saw me fighting in hell?"
"Yeah, when you couldn't use the angel blade you used your wings...and you dodged with them too...alright, it sounds fair."
"Good, Sam...we may need you to go ahead and bring us some first aid just in case. Do not forget the blue cream."
"No problem...but I am curious...um...what is the blue cream?"
"It is a mixture of every healing herb known to man, and archangel grace. It's what allowed Dean's wounds to heal so rapidly."
"Ah...and I guess that's a bit personal?"
"Well, yes. Our grace is extremely personal and private, and our wings are a physical representation of our grace so..."
"Gotcha. I'm just gonna go...and get the first aid stuff..."
"Thank you, Sammy!" I shouted and like a dork he held up a big thumbs up as he ran back to the cabin. When I saw him go inside and come out a weird question came to mind. "Hey, Cas...why is there a cabin if you don't require food or sleep?"
"I...I actually never questioned it before, but now that I think about it, and after what we just found out...it was probably a place God made for Gabriel when he went into labor."
"That makes a bit of sense actually."
"You think so?"
"Yeah, I mean, sure God said he wouldn't show, but I imagine it would be near impossible for any of the other angels or archangels to NOT notice when another angel is being born, so it makes sense that he would need to bring Gabriel to a place that no one else knows about. Especially if he was growing weak as an archangel."
"I'm impressed, Dean. I hadn't thought quite that far. That is a perfect explanation."
"Well, thank you. I do try."
"Ah, Sam you're back."
"Yeah, here's the stuff."
"Sammy...you lookin' kind of down. What's wrong?"
"Well, you're training as an angel and I'm the pack mule."
"Not true!" I shouted. "You're my brother and...and I love ya man..." Feeling a bit strange and hearing the worda that came out of my mouth I quickly turned to Cas. "Cas...why am I having a chick flick moment?"
"Because...remember? You can't lie here dean."
"Well, that's just great. Well, anyway...Sammy, you're not just a pack mule. You're my brother and you mean the world to me. I've looked after you since you were small...and it feels like that still, but you're always there when I need ya, and besides, if both Cas and I get injured in training...someone is going to need to patch us up."
"Thank you, Dean..." The heartfelt look on Sammy's face made me cringe inside because of how sappy I sounded, but I also felt happy about it because now Sammy knows a little bit of his worth.
I cleared my throat and looked to Cas and nodded my head. "I'm ready."
"Good, but I just got an idea...slight change of plans...we're going to work on making your wings disappear and be placed onto a different plane...basically you will be making them invisible and able to constantly pass through anything. People, trees, buildings, objects, and even your own clothing. This way, we can surprise the angels a little bit."
"Wait...but won't they already know I've been turned into an angel?"
"They will know you are turning into one...but not that you are one yet. They will likely attack us as soon as we leave but before they attack they will assess you...it may be painful for Sam but not for you. They will speak to you in enochian, you will see their true forms, and you will be able to see their wings behind them despite them being hidden from humans. Until you show your wings, Dean, they will not know you have them."
"Wow. Alright what's the lesson?"
"To turn them invisible. For you it may be easy. Just picture how your body was and felt before you gained wings and just pretend they aren't there. Their weight should vanish too."
I did as he said and I didn't feel a difference. I looked at my wings and thet were still there. "Cas, I did as you said, man...so why am I still seeing my wings?"
"Because you looked at it from an ordered persepective. I should've been clearer. It has to be that you want them gone. They will disappear and not even you will see them, and eventually everything will pass through them, but you have to want them invisible."
"I..." I was breathless and speechless, but I don't know why, aside from the fact I don't know if I could do what Cas was asking of me.
"Dean, you don't want them gone...do you?" He narrowed his eyes at me the exact same way and used the exact same tone that he used when we met in the barn and he found out that I didn't think I deserved to be saved.
I searched for an answer to why it hurt when he talked about my wings going gone, and that seemed like as good a reason as any. "I...I don't think I do, Cas. What the hell is happening to me?"
"I can't say that I know for sure...but it seems...that when we made the bond that we did, you may have gained grace thag went even further than the runes giving you wings. The runes definitely gave you some grace but you may have gained a lot more through the bond...and that side of you is leaning more and more on your angel side."
"So wait...we're the same now? Cause...you were born with a soul and grace, and now you think that perhaps I have grace mixed with my soul...so..."
Cas smiled at me and put a hand on my shoulder. "Hmm...sounds like it."
I shook my head and cleared my throat to keep this from becoming a chick flick moment and I looked to the sky fkr a moment. "So um...I just have to want them gone? What if I just wanted them to turn invisible and to phase through anything?"
"That's essentially what I meant anyway so, it should work."
I quickly nodded my head and imagined if I were in a battle with anything I would hate it if they grabbed my wings, so I took it as a defensive strategy and since this was training for basically that, it wasn't so difficult keeping that mindset. Suddenly, I felt a huge weight being lifted off of my shoulders and lower back. I turned my head to see my wings and I saw nothing, yet I knew they were still there. It was almost as if I felt it in my soul. "Uh...Cas, I think I did it."
"Indeed you did. Now, I am going to throw this apple at your wings..."
"Like Gabriel did to you?"
"Yes."
"Okay, I'm ready." I watched as Cas through the apple and it went streight through where my wings should've been. "CAS IT WENT THROUGH IT WENT THROUGH!!!" I quickly heard Sammy laughing. I looked at him and he was completely doubled over. "Something funny Sammy?"
"Oh yeah! You acted like a kid who woke up and realized it was christmas!" He continued to laugh, so I continued to wait until he was done. "Sorry...heh...I'm done now. Seriously, I'm glad for you, Dean, and now you look like my brother again. Now, you're less intimidating."
"Oh really?" I raised an eyebrow and smirked at him as I walked to stand directly in front of him and I brought my wings back out and I raised them high over my head like Gabriel did to Cas, and Sammy seemed to have the same reaction that young Cas had. Unfortunately, I didn't get to bask in the glory of intimidating him for very long because the sudden weight on me again made md go off balance and I fell on my ass. I heard Sammy chuckle and I immediately glared at him. "Don't start, Sammy!" I shouted as I stood myself back up and hid my wings again. It was nice to get the weight off, but I did miss them when I did that. "Alright, Cas...fight me."
"You have no idea how much I have wanted to fight you on an even playing field!"
Almost without warning Cas took his angel blade out and his wings got vicious. He went after my neck, my shoulders, my ribs, and even my own heart. Thankfully I dodged it all, but then he used his wings in combination to the attack. I felt like a pinball and his wings felt as solid as steel if not stronger. Finally, I had had enough and something snapped. I wanted my own angel blade and wouldn't you know it, one appeared out of my arm like I was taking a bone out, but I could tell it was my grace. Now we really were on an even playing field and I slowly but surely let out my wings bit by bit as I went after Cas the same way he did me. I noticed as I was attacking, that his eyes were wide in slight fear and shock, and normally I would want to know why my best friend looks frightened of me, but I finally had the upper hand. Once my wings were fully out I used them on him like he did me, except I extended mine as far out as I could get them, wrapped them around him, pulled him close, and I cut both sides of his cheek before jumping back ten feet. "You alright there, Cas? Your old age slowing you down?" I saw his pupils get blown and I could tell he was going to come at me mlre viciously than before, because I remember reading somewhere that if someone's eyes dilate in a fight, they're going to go all out, because of the fight or flight response thing. After his pupils dilated to the size of saucers, he was in front of me in an instant. He cut my cheeks the same way and made one long cut vertically from the middle of my chest to my belly button.
"Oh, Dean...you really have no idea what I'm capable of. Your lesson is done for today before I get carried away. You've done well." He walked away and if I didn't know any better it looked like he was restraining himself from continuing to fight. "Dean could you come here please?"
I felt my legs move almost on their own, but really I was still in complete shock that Cas could be that agressive and methodical in a fight and there still be more...he was holding back. Way back. "Yeah Cas?"
"Sam would you please hand me the jar of cream?" Sammy did as he was asked and handed it to Cas. "Thank you." He took some out of the jar and walked away towards the crystal clear lake. "Please address Dean's wounds. I need to go clear my head."
