XX.

Midair Challenges and Mojo-School

I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

The three of them walked out of the office after learning that their wings could go right through the wall as long as they concentrated.

"So you—wow," Becky breathed. Eva stood up.

"I think it's time you called Gabriel. Mind taking him aside?" she asked Chuck, who nodded.

"What now?" Dean asked as Chuck called the final archangel into his office.

"We'll have to teach you three the basics of angel combat," Castiel answered, "Since we'll be dealing with Amara's angels. And maybe we can convince more of Heaven to join us. This won't be an easy fight."

"Sounds like fun," Dean grinned, "Mojo-school." Sam rolled his eyes at the phrase.

"You're not allowed to name things anymore, Dean. Ever."

"First lesson, then. Let's get your wings off this plane of existence to make things easier," Castiel advised, "Focus on the Grace in your wings—Becky, close your eyes for a moment—and pull it towards the core of your Grace. If we keep as much information from Crowley and Rowena as possible I also feel safer about our chances. He's already allied with Amara before." Each of them did as they were told, carefully concealing their powers as well. After getting a grip on their respective Graces, they even managed to look somewhat human. Castiel explained the mechanics of teleporting and summoning an angel blade. As he finished his explanation, Gabriel had come out of the office.

"Well, I suppose we should head back to the bunker then?" he said, "So we can figure out whatever final steps there are to turn you into angels now that you've completed the trials?" They glanced at one another. The opportunity to trick the trickster was just too great.

"Yeah, I guess so. Let's go, Cas." Grabbing hands, they flew—only it was Dean that took Castiel. Not that Gabriel would have noticed.

"Right. Thank you so much for the food, Becky," Eva smiled, pulling Adam along with her as they disappeared.

"Right. Our turn to go, Sammy," Gabriel's usual grin dropped as Sam snapped his fingers experimentally, sending them to the front doorstep of the bunker.

"What the?" Sam's only reply was a deep chuckle and a kiss before heading inside, tugging the surprised archangel with him.

"You—so you're already angels! Good to know, thanks for telling me," he grumbled. Sam only smiled and showed Gabriel his wings for a few moments, which caused the shorter man to blink a few times before attacking his Moose's mouth.

"So we need to do a crash course on angelic powers and combat," Adam summarized.

"I volunteer to help Samsquatch!" Gabriel announced.

"We'll have to work equally with all of them, Gabriel. You know tricks. I was a fighter. And Eva's got to learn how to wield her scythe as Death, so she won't be able to help as much."

"Well, we can start by getting blades for all those humans inside to help kill the demons," advised Eva, "Since we'll no doubt be focused on the archangels and Amara."

"I engraved multiple exorcisms, sigils, and protection symbols into these knives," Castiel explained, handing one each to Bobby, Charlie, Jo, and Ellen. "No demon, not even a Knight of Hell, could survive a major wound dealt by these."

"Thanks, Castiel," Jo said, examining the blade, giving a few experimental slices and jabs in the air to an imaginary foe.

"I like your thinking, Cassie," Gabriel praised. "More the merrier. And between you, me, and Eva, we can bring back any one of you four if need be."

"Assuming we win," Bobby grumbled.

"Oh, there's the pessimistic hunter I remember stabbing me!" the archangel declared gleefully. Bobby didn't seem to appreciate the sentiment.

"Idjit."

"First up, flying, since I think you two have been in enough knife fights that you don't need help wielding your blades to that extent," advised Eva, flipping her brand-new, shining scythe in her hand like she was twirling a baton.

"Flying?" Dean asked, brow furrowed. Sam laughed.

"Oh, come on you jerk, don't tell me you're gonna be scared of flying now."

"Sammy, you little bitch!" Dean hissed as Gabriel proceeded to roll on the floor with laughter.

"An angel—afraid of—" he shouted between guffaws, "A man that has faced hell and fought monsters all his life is afraid of flying?"

"Shut up before I shut you up myself," Dean grumbled. Castiel fought a smile at the display.

"I'll help you, don't worry, Dean. I'll catch you if you fall," he assured. Dean only felt the heat and no doubt redness in his cheeks grow.

"Damnit, Cas," he sighed, "Fine, teach me how to fly. Just don't let the chuckleheads anywhere near me."

"Duly noted," Castiel nodded.

"So, Sammy, angel training," Gabriel finally recovered from his laughing fit.

"Uh-uh, Uncle. You'll distract him more than help him if you start. You and Adam, me and Sam. I've got wings too, so this part I'm actually of use for," Eva said, crossing her arms.

"But Evaaaa," Heaven's Herald whined.

"Do what she says," Adam chuckled.

"But Adaaam," he continued. The glint in his eye returned. "Adaaaam and Eeevvv—a. Adam and Eve. So many first human jokes I could make—snakes, forbidden fruit-"

"I hate you." Her eyes narrowed.

"No you don't," he teased back.

Bobby, Jo, Ellen, Charlie, Crowley, and Rowena were all at the bunker. It was probably one of the awkwardest dinners Jo had ever been a part of, and that was saying something.

"So. Anything you can inform me of, then?" Rowena asked, a pout on her lips.

"Nope. There's a lot of it we don't even know," Charlie said smugly. Bobby coughed awkwardly.

"They . . . explained it to me. And I don't know all the details. But whatever Amara's doing . . . God's apparently planning against it."

"Huh. The Big Man stepping in. Pass the rolls, if you would," Crowley requested.

"You don't even need to eat," Ellen grumbled, still passing the food over.

"Doesn't mean I can't enjoy it," the King of Hell shrugged.

"Got any cases lately, Bobby?" Jo asked, "In the meantime while we prepare for the big showdown?"

"Some ghost activity a few miles south. You up for it?"

"Always," Jo grinned, "Charlie, you in?"

"No thanks. I'm not much of a ghostbuster. I'm going to look up Amara and see if she's done anything big again yet."

"I'll make some more calls, tell others to watch out," Ellen nodded. When they were done with dinner, that left Bobby, Rowena, and Crowley.

"Any updates from Hell?" he asked.

"Some demons are going missing. Amara's a draw for them—darkness and demons seem like a good fit," Crowley shrugged.

"Don't be silly sweetheart. It has nothing to do with demons. Power is a draw for everything, and she's one of the two most powerful things on the planet."

"Any Lucifer sightings?" the hunter continued.

"Some murmurs. I think that's why some are leaving even if they don't know about the Darkness. Of course, I can only know so much while I'm cooped up in here the majority of the time."

"And if our positions were switched, you wouldn't keep an eye on me?" Bobby retorted, eyebrow raised. A chuckle.

"I would keep a tight leash, too."

Eva nodded.

"You've picked up pretty quickly on this. I'm impressed."

"Really?" Sam was riding air currents at first, but he was much more in control now of where he went.

"Really. I learned on my own, so there isn't much to go off of, but you've picked it up really well."

"Always wanted to fly," he chuckled, "Broke my arm in one attempt." She chuckled.

"Want to try a little air-combat? Sparring?" she suggested.

"Got to get to it at some point," he shrugged, and they readied themselves.

Adam was doing okay, but Gabriel was threatening him with teases of pranks, and he was so not waking up with his hair or wings a color they shouldn't be. So he pushed himself.

"How fast can archangels go?" he wondered aloud, seeing as he wasn't even remotely tired.

"You could probably circle the world in a few hours and only break a minor sweat if you really go for it," the former trickster replied casually, "Not that I'd recommend it. If you're in that desperate of a hurry you can teleport."

"You're just slower than you'd like to admit. All those years as Loki has made you rusty, hasn't it?" Adam challenged. Gabriel's wings spread a little wider.

"Oh, you're so on. Where's the race to and from?"

"Why don't we 'break a minor sweat'?" Adam suggested. "Or are you not up for it, old man?"

"Your loss, whippersnapper," Gabriel taunted back, "I'm older than the planet. I was around when you were made. You think just because you've got wings now means you can beat me?"

"Yes, actually."

"Okay. In that direction, once around the world, back here. Three—two—one—" A sonic boom silenced any hope of a "go" as they took off.

Dean was actually a good flyer.

"I guess since I'm the one in control . . . I'm not cooped up in a tin can in the air. It wasn't flying, it was flying on a plane," the eldest Winchester reasoned, "Because this is awesome."

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself," Castiel smiled, amused. And wasn't that strange, because Dean really was.

"I think I'd better learn about midair fighting if I want to stand a chance against Lucifer, Michael, or Raphael," Dean admitted, slowing down his air—acrobatics.

"That's what I'm here for now, right?"