Music for the Soul

Ezra scribbled on his coloring book, trying to stay in the lines as he worked on a butterfly perched on a flower. He had another picture sitting on the floor by his feet of a sketch of him and Dan holding up a sign saying 'Get Well Soon!' in bold lettering. He had made it for Castiel. Dan had told him that Castiel was taking a long nap and wouldn't be waking up for a while, but it was the thought that counted, right? Dan thought it was a good idea. He'd given Ezra tons of praise for the drawing before leaving in search for a job to help pay for the rent. Dan had just returned from the morning job hunt an hour or two ago and had again turned up empty handed. Little Ezra had seen how disappointed the human was when returning home. The angel just hoped that maybe his drawing would cheer up his adopted father like he hoped Castiel would get better after getting his picture.

"Hey, Ezzy, what you up to?" Dan questioned, peaking into the living room of their tiny rundown apartment. The human's hair was sticking up all over the place after being fluffed by the wind after being out so long. Stress lines outlined his face and bags could be seen under his eyes.

Ezra quickly finished his picture and pattered over to his adopted father with it tight in his hands. Dan knelt down and grabbed Ezra before the baby angel could tip over. He looked over the drawing in his adopted son's hands and the weary glaze in his eyes disappeared, snuffed out by glee. "That's beautiful, Ezzy!" Ezra blushed and wrapped his arms around Dan's neck pulling his human into a hug. Dan squeezed Ezra back, letting out a long sigh while closing his eyes. "Too bad I don't have any talent like that, huh?" Ezra pulled back, looking at Dan sadly and Dan smiled a small, sad smile. "It's okay, buddy. I'm used to it. Let's get some lunch, okay?" Ezra opened his mouth, wanting to address how Dan did have talent, but decided against bringing up the subject. Dan wouldn't believe him. Instead, Ezra eagerly nodded his head and babbled something that sounded like McDonalds. At least the cute babbling had brought a smile back onto Dan's face. It even made him laugh a little. Ezra grinned to himself and wiggled in Dan's arms, reaching for the front door. Dan's laugh grew louder and the man did as his angel wanted, grabbing a coat for each of them before exiting their small apartment.

The closest McDonalds was only a few blocks away from their shitty apartment so Ezra sat on Dan's shoulders while the hunter strolled down the sidewalk, peaking into several shop windows as they went. There was one in particular that caught his eye and Ezra noticed instantly. There was a glow in the human's eyes. It almost looked like he was longing for something. But what was he longing for? Ezra looked through the glass and at the tiny shop. He needed to know.

Tears streamed down Ezra's face and the baby angel started to wail unhappily as they passed the store. Dan quickly stopped walking and pulled the child from his shoulder's to his chest.

"Hey! Hey! What's the matter, bud?" Dan cooed, rocking the angel side to side. "We're almost there –"

"Shoppy!" Ezra sniffled, waving a pudgy hand towards the shop they had passed. Dan frowned at the small building.

"Sorry, bud, but I don't have any money –"

"Lookie, lookie! Shoppy, Shoppy!" Ezra squealed, bouncing in Dan's arms and reaching for the store like he could grab hold of it. Dan let out a defeated sigh and turned on his heals towards the shop.

"Alright, but we're only looking, alright?" Ezra bobbed his head up and down in answer and focused all his attention on the inside of the store as the doorbell chimed. A guy at the counter had spiked hair with green tips was plucking away at the register. When he noticed them he gave the two a small greeting before turning his concentration back to the register. Dan and Ezra greeted the man with a small hello before walking around the store. It was a music shop stocked full of instruments and music of all kinds. There were bassoons, flutes, clarinets, drum sets, and some weird looking exotic instruments.

Ezra watched Dan the entire time as they searched through music and glimpsed at instruments. His human had been drawn to this store and Ezra wanted to find out why.

"Ezzy, look at this!" Dan gasped suddenly. Ezra turned his gaze from Dan's face and to the instrument hanging on the wall. It was a trombone set between two trumpets.

"You play?" a voice asked. Dan and Ezzy turned, eyes falling on the man with the colored and spiked hair. He reminded Ezra of one of his sisters. She'd always dye the hair of her vessel to blue, purple, and pink. She enjoyed being different than the other simple looking vessels most angels took. This man seemed very much the same.

"Ummm…back in high school, yeah," Dan answered the worker. The man nodded and reached for the instrument, taking it carefully from the wall. He held it out to Dan then, a smile on his face.

"Wanna give it a go?" the guy asked. Dan's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to decline, but Ezra suddenly started jumping in his arms excitedly, clapping his hands together.

"Daddy pway! Daddy pway!" Ezra cheered. Dan's face turned an even brighter shade of red, but he didn't decline his adopted son. Instead, he set Ezra by his feet and took the trombone in hand. After getting a quick feel of the instrument, he grabbed a book with sheet music and started to play. The little angel on the floor perked up at the beautiful, crisp sound of the trombone. There were a few spots where he could hear the slight hesitation or the misplacement of a note, but other than that it sounded beautiful to the tiny angel's ears.

The man from the counter seemed to think the same. He pursed his lips and let out a whistle while clapping his hands together.

"You're not half bad, man," the guy complimented. Dan lowered the trombone from his lips and smiled sheepishly.

"Uh…thank you." He held out the trombone, but the man pushed it back into his hands.

"Keep it," he stated, ignoring the shock that fell over Dan's face. Instead, he pulled out a card and held it up for Dan to see. "I've got a ton of kids that come in looking for instructors that know trombone and my usual guy retired." He slipped the card into Dan's front shirt pocket. "The name's Manny. Give me a call later and I'll set you up with some lessons, alright?"

"But…but I don't have a degree...I haven't played for years! I –"

"Dude…" Manny held up a hand, cutting Dan off. "Stop making excuses. I know talent when I see it. You just need a little practice yourself and you'll be set to teach." Manny reached out then and squeezed Dan's shoulder. "Now, do you want the job or not?" Dan nodded hesitantly, still a little shocked. Manny grinned at him in response and bent over to ruffle Ezra's hair before going back to the counter. "Now go home and practice!" he shouted, slipping from sight.

Ezra looked up, watching Dan carefully. The man was glancing back and forth between the trombone and the card in his pocket like he expected them both to suddenly disappear.

"Dwadwa got jwob?" Ezra asked hopefully. Dan jumped from his thoughts and looked to his adopted son, face softening when he met the angel's bright eyes. The angel's adopted father knelt down, setting the trombone and card gently to the floor. He wrapped his arms around the angel then pulling Ezra in tight.

"Yeah, Ezzy. Daddy's got a job."

Some fluff to lighten the mood a little. Thanks Sara (guest) for the request!