"He's a Winchester. He's cursed the same as us."
Dean stared at his brother, unsure whether he should be amused or annoyed at what he just said. Granted, his statement carried more than a little truth to it. Being a Winchester did come with some sort of curse attached. Why, he didn't know. Just was one of those things he learned to accept.
Adam wasn't really a Winchester. Not in the way he and Sam were Winchester's. Sure, they shared Dad's DNA. He hadn't been raised by him, though. He didn't grow up wondering if Dad'd come home or in what condition he'd be in when he did.
He didn't have to put up with Dad's constant criticism or stern lectures. He never saw Dad so drunk he couldn't stand up. He didn't learn how to kill the monsters in the dark before he could read.
No, Adam grew up in a safe little bubble where the monsters were people named Dahmer, Bundy, and Gacy. Vampires and werewolves were just a buncha of actors in makeup and fur suits. Ghosts were these little orb things. Demons didn't exist as anything other than paranormal mumbo jumbo.
For Sam to say the kid was cursed just because he shared their DNA? Well, that was laughable. 'Cause Dean saw it as Adam being lucky. He got to have that normal life Sam used to piss and moan about wanting. Adam wasn't a freak. He was a normal kid who might have had a chance had some ghoul not decided to make a snack outta him.
"You know, I finally get why you and Dad butted heads so much."
"Yeah?" Sam arched a brow. "And why's that?"
"You two were practically the same person." He ran a hand over his face. "I mean, I worshiped the guy, you know? I dress like him, I act like him, I listen to the same damn music as him. But you?" He barked a hollow laugh. "You are more like him than I will ever be."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"You can take it any damn way you want."
And he walked away before he said something he might really end up regretting.
A/N: Hello, all! I hope this finds you well!
This is tagged to 04x19.