Wayward Sons
Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or Destiny.
He takes the first breath of his new life under a sky filled with stars like he's never seen. Doesn't remember ever seeing. Which is weird. . .And waitaminute, what's this thing buzzing around his head? A four-point star with a glowing blue eye in the center. Currently yelling he's being obstinate.
No, he's not being stubborn, he's just weirded out. No idea where he is, what he's doing, and he doesn't even remember his own damn name. So he stands, and starts walking. Just walking away from the drone or whatever, who flits after him.
It explains as they walk, well, he's walking and the drone, or whatever, just floats along. It's a Ghost, he's a Guardian, and a Hunter, apparently. The Ghost also says he's done the best he can to provide him with gear-a ratty hood and some armor he wouldn't classify as armor. But the Ghost says he'll get better gear when they get to the City. Wherever it is.
He finally stops around dark the first day of his new life. The Ghost says he can keep walking, but he wants to stop. To think.
He woke with a broken gun in his hand. It's old, rusty, with a star and circle carved into the wooden grip. He has the same symbol inked over his heart on the left side of his chest, embellished with flames. On the gun's barrel is etched three words "non timebo mala." His Ghost explains it means "I shall fear no evil."
The gun, the Ghost says, is ancient. Pre-Golden Age, from a company called Colt. The Ghost suggests it as a possible surname, because his Guardian has already chosen to call himself Dean. They argue about surnames, before the Ghost runs down a name of ancient weapon manufacturers, and Dean settles on Winchester for his surname.
And he gifts the Ghost with his own name-Castiel, after the angel of Thursday. No reason, other than it sticks in his head for some reason, and the Ghost has been the angel on his shoulder during the short time they've known one another.
Dean takes to calling Castiel "Cas" for short. Easier for him to yell, but it annoys the serious and obtuse Ghost.
Cas sticks, because he ends up yelling at him. A lot. Like the first time they come across a nest of Fallen and Dean dies his first death as a Guardian, and Cas resurrects him. Which leads to confusion, more yelling, and a longer explanation about what a Guardian and Ghost can and cannot do, and the limits of their powers.
It's also the first time Dean calls the sun, and lights the ancient, broken weapon he carries with solar fire. It scares him so much he gets sniped dead, but it's a start.
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A couple of months they've been walking, and they're no closer to the city, and they've seen no other life beyond plants and animals and the occasional remnants of civilization left crumbling out in the wild. Cas is going on about how he lost his Light for a few months back during the Red War, and Dean is barely listening because there's a ship heading their way.
Cas stops rambling and goes about hailing the ship, and the next thing Dean knows, it's swooping low and he's puking his guts out on the deck plating inside the ship.
The armored man throws a towel at him, and the Hunter wipes his mouth and mops up the mess he's made.
"First transmat?" the man asks.
"Yeah, if that's what the transporter beam is called," Dean said.
"New Light?" he directs at the Ghost.
"Yes. I'm Castiel and my Guardian is Dean Winchester," Cas replied.
"Nice to meet you both. I'm Luca Reeve and my Ghost is Pan," he said. "I'm on my way back to the City, and I'll drop you off when we hit the Tower."
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Four hours and a nap later, they're approaching the City. The last safe City on Earth. Cas buzzes around his head with excitement, talking about all the people they're going to meet, how they'll be helpful, and they can finally start being the Guardian-Ghost pair they're meant to be.
Dean doesn't dampen the Ghost's enthusiasm, but all he wants is a shower, a hot meal, and to sleep in an actual bed, if at all possible. He tiredly voices this, and the Ghost assures him it is, but they'll have to meet the Vanguard first. Whatever the hell that is, fine. As long as after he gets what he wants.
Cas transmats himself and his Guardian into the Tower hangar with directions to the Hunter Vanguard from their new Titan friend.
The meeting goes as less perfect than expected, and will be used to create protocols for when new Guardians come to the Tower. It will also go down in Vanguard infamy. Because Dean Winchester has not been around any kind of humanity since his resurrection almost six months before. And he's never seen an Exo before. Ever.
So the Hunter follows Castiel to where the Hunter Vanguard, his Vanguard, is supposed to be. He can hear the guy before they see him, and he's kind of a loud mouth.
He turns around, and Dean stares. Hard to be polite, because he think's he's probably never been that in his old or new life. Right now just wants an introduction and to know where he can faceplant into hopefully a pillow. He's not expecting a robot.
"Huh. A kinderguardian. Wasn't expecting one of you today. What can I do for you kid? I'm Cayde-6, your illustrious Hunter Vanguard, at your service," the robot said.
"I'm not a kid," Dean said.
"You're a kid until you die, or live long enough to prove otherwise, and something tells me, kid, you're gonna be a great Guardian. With my help, of course," Cayde said.
"Fuck. Nobody told me I wasn't gonna be speaking to an actual person, Tin Man," Dean replied.
Funny how Dean could read the abrupt change in emotion on the robot's face.
"What did you call me?" the robot asked.
"You heard me, tin man," Dean said. "I'm not gonna stand here and argue with a robot. I just wanna. . ."
"Did he say I wasn't a real person?"
The statement was directed at Cas, not him.
"Yes."
Dean barely registered the sound of the Golden Gun as he hit the ground in front of the Hunter Vanguard.
Neither of them knew it yet, but it was going to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.