A.N: I posted a one-shot from one of the earlier drafts of this story. If you're interested, check it out.

Six

The Opposite of Child's Play

"…and that concludes this morning's announcement. Now, may I turn your attention to Borusa." Epsilon, the Head of the House, gestured to a man stood beside her. He was a stranger, dressed in red robes with a golden cap. "He's a tutor at the Academy. He may tutor any one of you in the future, so be sure to listen well to what he says and show your appreciation."

Theta paused from doodling on the breakfast table and glanced up. He giggled. "His clothes are funny."

Koschei, who lounged beside him, bit back a snort.

"Thank you, Epsilon." said Borusa as he took up the podium. "First of all, I would like to congratulate all those who have passed the Initiation. You should be very proud. And, as Epsilon said, as a reward you'll be receiving no lessons for all of today. You certainly deserve the break." he chuckled, "But enjoy it while you can. Your Academic years begin in three months. This should give you plenty of time to get your affairs in order."

"He's acting like we're going to die." Koschei muttered. Someone shushed him.

"Only take what you need. Also, pay close attention to your prep-classes. The staff will be certainly giving you all the advice they can on what to expect when you're at the Academy. As per tradition, your final day here will host a celebration and you'll be able to see your family one last time."

This stirred a lot of noise from the boys. Borusa gave them a moment to expel their excitement.

Theta's hearts leaped. "We'll see mother again!"

Koschei scowled into his breakfast. "Yay…"

"Settle down, all of you!" Borusa said. The boys quickly obeyed. There was a lot of power in that voice. "I'm sure you're all very excited to see your parents, and I'm sure you'll be excited to see other children of your age after so long. Finally, I wish you all a successful Academic year and, on behalf of the Academy, I welcome you."

The boys burst into chatter again, but didn't get much time before Borusa spoke again.

"Now, I'd like to talk to Koschei and Torvic."

Silence. Koschei straightened up. On the opposite side of the room Torvic clenched his fingers around his father's knife. A couple dozen eyes stared at them.

"Don't be shy." Borusa said, "It's about your Initiation."

Theta and Koschei glanced at each other as Koschei stood. Torvic stood a moment later. The rest of the room stared while they made their way to Borusa. He whispered something to them, and all three of them left the room together. The moment the door closed behind them, the room exploded with noise.

Twenty minutes passed before Koschei and Torvic came back. The dinner hall was a lot quieter, as many of the boys had left already to get ready for a day of prep-classes, some even to begin packing for the Academy. Koschei slid back down in the seat in front of Theta. Torvic sat back down with his group of friends.

"What did he say?" Theta asked.

"My Initiation is in three weeks time. I just have to stay out of fights until then."

Theta grinned. "That's great!"

Koschei frowned, glancing at Torvic. He was talking excitedly with his friends.

"I don't think I'll be able to do that."

"I'll help you." Theta squeezed his arm, "Violence never gets you anywhere."

Koschei scoffed.

Theta pursed his lips and looked over at Torvic's group of friends. One of them was looking back at him and smiled when their eyes met. It didn't seem like a unfriendly smile, but Theta pulled a face anyway. "Let's get out of here. We'll sneak under the fence, yeah?"

Koschei grinned up at him. "Yeah."

After dressing, the two of them went outside into the yard. It was wide with a wooden fence running along its edge. It was well kept: the grass was short and there were flower beds in front of the fence. There was a pole in the middle of the yard which people danced around during celebrations. Children were chasing each other, screaming and laughing in the bright morning sun. Koschei and Theta moved pass them, running through flowerbeds. Theta ran his hand along the fence as they passed. About a hundred yards along the fence, was a large bush trimmed into a globe. Behind the bush was a gap in the fence. Koschei and Theta squeezed through, being careful not to let the others see.

They went to the barn and slipped inside.

"Castiel?"

Castiel peeked out from behind a haystack. "You're back!"

"We were sleeping. What? Didn't you think we were coming back?"

"Sleeping?" he said, "Oh. Right. Sleeping. I don't sleep."

Theta sat on the hay beside him, grinning. "So, what'cha been doing all night?"

"Meditating."

"What's meditating?" said Koschei.

"It's an act of training the mind. Don't you do it?"

"No."

"Oh." he paused. "That reminds me. I'd like to ask you some questions about your world."

"Okay. Go on." Theta rested his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands, grinning at Castiel with wonder. Koschei chuckled when he saw this.

"Well, I know that our species are very similar, but with some differences. So, may I ask - that is, is it correct to ask - what your ages are?" He watched Koschei for any signs of amusement. Castiel wasn't keen to repeat the embarrassment yesterday with names, but Koschei just looked...fond.

"We're both eight." Theta said.

"I'm nearly nine!"

"And is that...young for a Time Lord?"

Koschei look disappointed. "Well, yeah... Really, once you get past a thousand, no one really talks about it."

"Some people talk in regenerations instead of years. So, we're in our first. We have twelve to go, unless we get more."

"Regenerations?"

"Where we get a new body." Koschei said, "I told you before! We get a new body when our old one dies."

"You live a long time then." Not nearly as long as an angel, though Castiel didn't say this.

"How old are you then, Cas?"

"Two hundred."

Theta blinked. "Is that young for you?"

"Yes. But it's different for us. Like with your regenerations, angels mostly count age by what we call our 'true forms' which are given out by status. Angels begin as Fledglings, who have the most basic forms, and they train to achieve a new form, whether it be a Seraphim, an Elite, a Cupid, or any other. The only form that isn't granted through training is the Archangel. Archangels are created in that form. They are seen as the oldest, strongest and wisest of us."

Theta looked enthralled. He was leaning closer. He looked as though he was about to topple over.

Koschei yawned.

Castiel scowled at him. Koschei saw and chuckled, leaning the back of his head into his arms.

"So..." Theta flushed, "What about...babies? If Fledglings are angel babies, then do you...you know..."

Koschei started laughing loudly. Castiel cocked his head.

Theta stammered, stringing out a mix of words, some aggressively aimed at Koschei and eventually settled on, "Do you have parents, Castiel?"

"We don't have parents like you think of them." he said, relieved when the boys finally calmed down. Such odd little creatures... "Fledglings are raised in a group, by many older angels. That way, we learn from one and then another. Our Father – our Creator – is not much like a parent in your way either. Very few of us even know what He looks like."

"Sounds like my dad!" Koschei said, laughing again.

This time, Theta laughed too.

Castiel blinked at them.

Koschei jumped to his feet suddenly. "We should do something!" he said, "I mean, look at us! We have an alien –"

Castiel twitched. "Can you not call me that?"

"- and we're just sitting here in the barn!"

"How about we show you some places?" Theta said to Castiel, "If I was ever lucky enough to get to another world, I'd want to see as much of it as possible!"

"I still have questions."

"Ask us on the way." Koschei said dismissively, unbolting the barn door and charging out.

Castiel glanced at Theta. "Is he alright?"

"Rough morning, I guess." Theta said with a shrug.

So they left the barn and wandered up the hill to the silver forest where the three of them first met, and where Castiel and Koschei met the second time. It was a cooler day than before and Castiel noticed the clouds were reddish-pink with streaks of yellow - and, in the distance, where the sky met the land, it had turned slightly blue. Was that because of the temperature? The weather? The time of day? Or even, the time of year? He asked Theta, but he didn't know. There were some things the boys were too young to understand. Whatever the case, it was beautiful: the blue fell behind the silver trees, making the forest look as if it was made from glass.

Koschei proposed they go to the Wild Endeavour - a place just beyond the forest, he said. They didn't get far however.

"Oh, shit, hide!" hissed Koschei, diving behind a tree. Theta did the same. "Castiel! Hide!"

Castiel copied, stepping behind his own tree, but peeking out to see what was happening.

In the forest clearing where Koschei and Castiel met, there were several other Time Lords. Castiel watched them carefully. They were taller - they must have been fully grown - and wore different robes than the boys. While the boys wore identical black robes, the adults were more brightly coloured. Some wore emerald, others scarlet, some heliotrope. The robes were shaped the same. They were long, reaching to the ankles, and some wore caps and large headresses that opened up behind their heads like a fan.

Something hit Castiel on his temple. He looked over. Koschei had thrown a seed at him and was motioning for them to go back. Castiel nodded.

"They must be looking for you." Koschei said, when they felt they were a safe distance away. "No one is allowed on Gallifrey without clearance from the Gallifreyan Space Traffic Control, you know."

"I don't have clearance."

"I figured."

"We'll go another way." said Theta, "If they don't find anything soon, they'll probably leave and not bother. Pompous asses."

Koschei snorted.

Castiel stared at Theta. "You…You don't seem to like other Time Lords. Either of you."

Koschei shrugged nonchalantly.

Theta looked at his feet.

"If we sneak behind the Provision House," said Koschei, "and over the hill, we'll get to where we want to go."

They did just that. The two suns where high and bright. It was quiet. Not even the wind made a sound. The hills were empty. By seeing those Time Lords in the forest, Castiel suddenly realised how empty Gallifrey was. He asked Theta about this, who explained that most Time Lords lived in the Citadel, which was sealed off from the rest of Gallifrey. The idea seemed ridiculous. Hopefully, Castiel would see it some day for himself.

Eventually, the three of them came back to the forest, on the opposite side. There was the small lake Castiel had crash-landed beside, and the spurt of weeds and flowers were his Grace had touched. They kept walking until they found themselves beside a boulder, near a stumpy cliff that dipped into a river.

"This place is called Wild Endeavour. We used to play here all the time." Theta told him. "The Citadel is ahead, but its pretty far away. Still, we should keep a look out for aircraft or for those Time Lords in case they come through here after they've finished looking for you."

"You really think they're looking for me?"

"Well, they may not know it's you, but I think so. Don't worry. They won't look for long. Trust me. They're pompous. If they don't find anything interesting, they won't waste their time on it and they'll go back to the Citadel to sit in chairs and talk rubbish."

"The Citadel." Castiel repeated, "Koschei told me about it. It's where you used to live, isn't it? Why don't you live there now?"

"They take us out when they want to train us for our Initiation. When we're eight. I don't really understand why. I think maybe because it's quieter out here?" he paused, "My mama used to say it's to help us meet new people from the village, but I don't see why they have to take us away from our parents."

"My dad said its to mix us with peasants!" Koschei said, spitting "He said it's a trial – that we have to put up with people lesser than us to prove our greater worth in the Academy."

Theta frowned. "See, I don't understand that." He said, "If we're greater, then why do the…you know, 'peasants' or whatever go to the Academy too? When I did the Initiation, it seemed like everyone got an equal chance. Kids from the Citadel passed, and kids from the villages passed."

Koschei humphed. "Well, I don't know."

"Me neither. I hate that. Most kids just accept it. 'Who cares if they take us away? Its sad, but its just what happens. Our parents did it and our kids will do it too. Who cares if the Initiation makes no sense? The grown ups get it and they get a lot of stuff we don't, lets just play a game or something.' Not me. I don't like that. We should be questioning this stuff, if its so important, right? We should know everything we can. Question everything."

"This…Initiation, it's a test?"

Theta nodded, scowling.

"And the other day, you said you passed."

Suddenly, Theta blushed a furious red. He turned sharply away. "Yeah, well, don't ask me how!" he snapped, "I don't want to talk about it okay?"

Castiel blinked, taken aback. "…my apologises. I was just wondering what you did for it."

"Dangerous stuff!" Koschei said, excitedly. "Isn't that right, Theta? Oh. Oh! Did anyone go crazy? People say that some kids go insane it's so dangerous! Did anyone go crazy, Theta? I hope Torvic went crazy! That'd be funny!"

Theta frowned at the ground.

"Hey, Theta. Look at me. I'm Torvic and I'm mad. Hubluhahahahu!"

"Stop being dumb." Theta snapped. "Torvic didn't go mad. Even if he did, it wouldn't be funny. Okay?"

Koschei frowned. "Okay. Sorry. What's gotten you so touchy about the Initation? At least you got to do yours!"

"Who is this Torvic?"

Theta went red. "He's, um..."

"A monster." Koschei said quickly. Theta glared at him. Koschei flashed him a grin.

"A monster?"

"Yeah! He's...like, ten feet tall - No ten hundred feet tall! - but he doesn't bother us at all."

"Interesting."

Koschei nodded. "I had to spend the whole day with him yesterday."

Theta rolled his eyes, "Are you still talking about that? Let it go."

"Don't tell me what to do!"

Sensing a fight, Castiel grabbed both boys by the shoulder, making them look at him. "I have an idea." he said, "We all have telepathic abilities. How about we test the differences between us?"

Theta beamed. "Like a science experiment! That's a great idea." He looked at Koschei. "Koschei likes hypnosis, don't you?"

Koschei looked at Theta, and Castiel recognised the flicker of understanding that passed between them. Koschei smiled and nodded. "Yeah. I do."

Castiel felt a rush of relief. "Well, let's get started." he said quickly. "I'm already partially projecting inside your heads. I will push harder."

"We should sit down." Theta said, "I heard a story where someone pushed his telepathy so far he collapsed."

Castiel flinched. "Maybe we shouldn't."

"Oh come on!"

"You don't understand. You Creations, you're delicate. My very presence in this form should harm you."

"You keep saying 'Creations.'" Koschei said, narrowing his eyes, "What does it mean?"

Castiel stiffened, his eyes darting between the two boys. "Nothing. It's...I just don't want to hurt you."

"You won't know if you don't try." Theta said.

"Alright. Just tell me if I hurt you."

They all closed their eyes. Castiel saw their minds in the dark - two orbs of light, much like an angel's mind, but...the feel was different, the energy. It was more open to change. As Castiel brushed it, it fluttered. An angels energy was stiller. An angel was already perfect. These minds were imperfect and Castiel was drawn to their imperfections, like he was the stars he watched from the Pinnacle.

Castiel moved closer. No one said stop. Surely, this was enough? Hadn't he always been taught the Creations were sensitive to Grace? That's why angels needed vessels after all.

Theta's mind was bright with intelligence and curiosity. In Koschei's mind, he felt the boy's determination. Castiel pushed more. The orb that was Koschei's mind rippled and pushed towards him. Castiel jumped and yanked away completely.

He was back in the field, blinking. He stood. The boys stood too. Theta was saying something, but Castiel couldn't understand without the telepathic link. Castiel just shook his head, staring at Koschei. Koschei looked impassively back. Theta touched Castiel's arm and kept talking.

Eventually, Castiel calmed himself down and inched back into the boys minds again.

"...please tell us what happened? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." he projected. "My apologises."

"What happened?"

"I was startled, so I left your mind completely."

Koschei set his jaw. "What startled you?"

Castiel looked at him. "You both have telepathic abilities that I didn't expect but...Koschei. Yours were powerful. You moved towards my mind with ease. With time, you could possess any mind you wish. I never thought Creatio- that anything other than an angel could develop that much control."

"Then let's do it again!" Koschei said, "Theta you try too!"

Theta shook his head. "I don't even know what you did!"

"It was easy. Let's do it again and I'll show you."

"Koschei, stop."

"What?"

"Can't you see Castiel is shaken up?"

"It's not that. I'm just surprised. I...underestimated your species greatly." If Koschei, a child, could have an ability that matched an angels, what could the rest of them do? Castiel was amazed, he was terrified, he was confused, all at once! Everything heaven taught him, everything that had once been so important to him, had shrunk compared to this. What did it mean?

Koschei looked at him. "You okay?"

"Y-yes."

"Are you sure?"

Castiel nodded.

Koschei frowned at the grass. He didn't look angry - just pensive.

Theta looked between them. None of them said a word, but silence did not follow. Something growled on the wind, husky like a panting beast. Theta glanced up to the sky and spotted an incoming aircraft, a bronze shield, coming to pick up the Time Lords investigating the forest. He glanced at Castiel, at Koschei; both of them were so deep inside their heads they hadn't noticed. If the Time Lords had found nothing, or even if they found something it didn't matter, if they came through here and saw Castiel, who knows how they'd react? Theta ran to Castiel and Castiel blinked, turning to him, just before...

"Sorry, Cas." Theta said and pushed Castiel - straight off the bank and into the river.

Koschei charged forwards. "What did you just do?"

"They're coming." Theta pointed at the ship in the air.

Koschei smirked. "First one to find Castiel gets to treat the other like his slave for the week."

"You're on."

They charged alongside the river. They scrambled over rocks and grass, watching the river the whole time. They could see Castiel's light, swirling like a vortex as the river pushed and pushed and pushed him all the way down, eventually depositing him on a sandy bank at the bottom of the hill. Castiel spluttered - but it was with shock rather than breathlessness. Theta and Koschei scrambled to get to him and pull him to his feet.

"Are you alright?"

Castiel glared. "I'm. Wet. Through."

Theta smiled. "At least you didn't get caught."

"And its a good look on you." added Koschei.

Castiel opened his wings and sprayed them with water.

The next day, Theta met up with Koschei after his second prep-class. Even though he'd done his Initiation, the classes didn't stop – they became stricter. Every day it was 'sit right, eat right, walk like this, talk like that.' Koschei had been taken out of classes since his detention. Theta was almost jealous. Almost.

"Hey, are you okay?" Theta said and he walked beside Koschei to the dinner hall. Koschei was staring at the wall as they walked, away from Theta.

"I won't be able to go out today. Ra'an wants me to talk to some 'expert' about anger. I don't know what he's talking about. I'm not angry!"

Theta smiled ruefully. "Is there no way you can miss it?"

"No. Ra'an said if I don't go, he'll post-pone my Initiation until next year. Next year! And you know what? He would actually do it! He's complete slime, that one."

Theta nodded in agreement.

As they sat down at their table in the dinner hall, Koschei winked at Theta, "So tell our little secret that I'll see him tomorrow, if I can, okay? Don't do anything too fun without me."

"Sure."

"What are you two losers talking about?" at the voice, the boys glanced up. Torvic stood over their table, arms folded, chin title upwards in a look of smugness. "You shouldn't keep secrets."

"Why are you here, Torvic?" Theta said, "The no-fights rule applies to you too. Do you want to go to the Academy or not?"

"You're the reason I'm in this mess, cobblemouse." Torvic spat, "You hadn't run off, your friend and me wouldn't have gotten caught."

"You started that fight." Koschei hissed, clenching his fists on the table edge.

"Actually, you started that fight so this is both of y'all's fault."

Koschei stood. "What are you going to do about it?"

Theta grabbed Koschei's arm, "Kos. Remember the Initiation."

Torvic opened his mouth to speak when another voice interrupted.

"Tor."

Another boy came up to the table. He was blond, with green eyes and freckles. Theta recognised him. His name was Zetar. He was part of Torvic's gang and was Torvic's best friend.

"What?" Torvic snapped at him.

Zetar put a hand on Torvic's shoulder. "Come on. Ahkar told me to come get you. 'Sides, we have more important stuff to do than talk to these two."

Torvic grunted, pushing Zetar's hand off his shoulder and marching away. Zetar, casting a hesitant glance over his shoulder, followed.

Koschei slumped back down in his seat. "The sooner we get to the Academy, the better."

"I hope so."

"I should probably go too." Koschei sighed, "I'll see you later." Koschei squeezed Theta's arm, and Theta waved him goodbye.

At dinner, instead of eating with the other boys, Theta stuffed a handful of food in his pockets and went into the yard to sneak under the fence again. It was a dark, cool afternoon, with a cloudy sky. A thunderstorm would be rolling in soon. Theta thought about Castiel, alone in the barn, and couldn't help but feel guilty. Not only was he far from home, alone for hours on end, he'd be caught in the storm and Theta knew better than anyone that the old barn was no place to be when it was raining. He'd spent many nights awake because of the noise and the icy raindrops falling onto him through the holes in the roof. If he wasn't too proud to march back into the House, he wouldn't have stayed there. Besides, walking in all sodden would have only prompted more torment from Torvic and the other boys.

He wondered if he could sneak out some extra bed sheets to cover the hayloft window, to keep the rain out. He'd never been able to reach the rafters to hang it up, but with Castiel around it would be easy!

He was halfway across the field to the barn when a voice behind him shouted, "Hey, cobblemouse!"

Gasping, Theta spun round. "T-Torvic? B-bu…I thought you was with Akhar."

"I was. Then I wasn't." said Torvic, shrugging as he came closer, "I saw you wandering off under the fence. Very sneaky. How long have you been doing that? Ages, I'll bet."

"You shouldn't be out here."

"You self-righteous scum! Don't talk to me about rules when you're breaking them."

Theta inched away. "Look, just leave me alone. You'll get in trouble. It's your Initiation on the line, not mine."

Torvic scoffed. "About that. How the hell did you pass the Initiation?"

Theta shrugged. "I honestly don't know. I don't know how they judge it. No one does. That's the point."

"Oh shut up! You think you're so much better than me don't you?"

"N-no. I don't. Look, just…just go away, okay? I want to be on my own."

"Why should I? What are you hiding out here?" He looked behind him, at the barn, and back again. He grinned. "You're hiding something in the barn, aren't you? That's why you always go out here."

Theta's hearts began to pound fast. "No!" he said, "That's stupid!"

Torvic's grin only widened at the other boy's fear, his own enjoyment increasing with every moment. "Oh is that right?"

"Right. Just leave me alone. I asked you nicely."

"I don't care."

Suddenly he shot forwards, shoving Theta hard in the chest so he fell on the ground. Theta grunted, wincing as pain shuddered through him. He twisted round. Torvic was heading toward the barn. Forgetting his fear, Theta sprang up and chased after him. "There's nothing in there, Torvic!"

"Then why are you panicking?"

"I'm not! There's nothing there!"

Torvic started running backwards so he could pull faces at Theta and laugh as the boy pleaded with him to stop. He didn't notice the glow of Castiel's Grace from under the barn door. Theta did. And there was no escape. No other way out of the barn – except for the window, but Castiel couldn't fly away without Torvic seeing.

"I'm going to tell everyone!" Torvic taunted, "Whatever it is, everyone's gonna know! That'll teach you for lying." Torvic turned and reached for the bolt on the barn door. He slid it open.

Theta pounced on his back. He wrapped his arms around his neck.

"Hey!" Torvic tumbled away from the barn. He tried to push him off. "Get off me, you freak!"

As he struggled to hang on, Theta stuck his fingers in Torvic's mouth and neck. Torvic gagged and fell back, crushing Theta under his body weight. Both boys cried out. Torvic rolled over, pinning Theta to the ground.

"Is that how you want to play it?"

Theta glanced at the barn door. It had opened just a crack. Castiel was peeking through the gap. Theta screamed at him. "NO!" Castiel flinched but otherwise didn't move.

"No, huh?" scoffed Torvic. "You really are pathetic."

Theta struggled and managed to get one of his arms free. He hit Torvic on the chin. It was a clumsy, weak move, and Torvic laughed. Torvic punched Theta in the nose. A dull stinging pain shocked Theta's face and blood ran into his mouth. His nose felt swollen. He whimpered.

Torvic punched him in the stomach. Theta curled in on himself, sobbing. Torvic stumbled to his feet, panting, and after watching Theta curl and sob, he kicked him in the stomach until Theta threw up. Theta spluttered.

"That'll teach you." Torvic said.

Theta's vision was blurry and his body was aching all over. Darkness pricked the corners of his vision, clouding over until he closed his eyes.

Torvic stared at the boy lying in front of him, panting. He'd forgotten all about the barn, about what was supposedly inside it, and instead just stared at the body in front of him, bruised and bloody, with a pile of vomit next to the head. Torvic screwed his eyes shut and shook his head. "Not my fault." he whispered, "Not my fault." Then, in a swell of terror, he glanced left and right and was relieved to see no one was around. He turned and ran back the way he came before someone found him.

Castiel rushed from the barn to Theta's side. Theta was awake again. Just barely.

"Oh, Theta."

Theta moaned, rolling his head back. The telepathy made his head ache. He drifted away again.

Castiel held Theta's head in his arm and carried him carefully into the barn. He lay him down on the hay and looked him over. His nose was bleeding and appeared broken and his stomach was bruised black. He swallowed. The Time Lord's healing ability was much slower than he thought. Maybe I could…

He'd never healed another being before, but he tried anyway. Closing his eyes, he lay his hand on Theta's forehead and directed his energy towards him. There was some resistance. The Time Lord energy fought against him, but after some coaxing, it accepted his help and his Grace sank into Theta's flesh and healed his nose, his brain, before flushing down to his stomach to heal everything there, inside and out.

Theta opened his eyes.

Castiel pulled back, feeling dizzy. Certainly, he needed more practise. Not that he would ever want to it to be under such circumstances again. "Are you alright?"

Theta nodded. "You healed me?"

"Yes." He furrowed his brow. "Who was that boy? Why did he do that?"

"That's Torvic."

"That's Torvic? But...He's a boy, like you. He's nothing. Koschei said..."

"Forget about what Koschei said!" Theta yelled.

Castiel stared at him, stunned.

Theta blinked. His face went pale and then bright red. He scowled, wrapped his arms around himself like a shield because oh - Castiel felt immediately guilty - how much less humiliating would it be if Torvic was a monster? Not just a boy, not - how had he put it? - 'nothing'? Castiel thought about Daniel and how much he would like to pretend that that was a noble fight, a fight against more than just another angel, who Castiel should be equal to, so at least the failed attempt was noble enough.

Oh.

Castiel looked at Theta. "I'm sorry."

"...what are you saying sorry for?"

"...Because he hurt you."

Theta peeked at him through the corner of his eye. "Don't feel bad. He would have found you otherwise."

"That's twice now." Castiel shuddered. "I asked you to keep me secret but I didn't mean for you to get hurt over it."

"Don'eave."

"Pardon?"

"You want to leave because of this. Please don't. I won't let anyone that close again."

"That's not it. I just don't want you hurt." Castiel shook his head and sighed. "What am I doing? I didn't think about you at all. I just...arrived and didn't tell you anything and now you're getting hurt trying to keep my secrets."

"I would have gotten hurt even if you hadn't come."

Castiel bristled. "Torvic hurt you before now?"

Theta pushed at the hay. "Yeah. I actually feel better about it now though. Its worth it when you get hurt for a good reason. Not to mention you healed me. I've never healed that fast." he looked at his hands. "I bet that's what regeneration is like."

Castiel looked at him closely. "You have a lot of honour in your heart."

"Hearts." Theta corrected. Then he shrugged. "And I don't think so. Honour is like...hero stuff. People who run around saving people. That sort of thing. And I...I..." he spluttered, "I do math!"

Castiel chortled.

"and I read, and I'm small and not muscly, and I just got beaten up!"

"That's not what honour is."

"Well, whatever it is, I'm not it. I'm not brave or anything." Theta turned away in embarrassment. "What are we talking about this for anyway? Koschei would laugh if he heard all of this."

"I think you're brave."

"La, la, la! Not listening!"

"I do." Castiel insisted, grinning. "One day, you'll know it. Even if I have to convince you myself."

"Now you sound like Taluma."

"Well then Taluma is a wise...er..."

"Woman! She's a lady."

"Taluma is a wise womanlady."

Theta snorted. Castiel laughed.

It took a few silent moments for Theta's embarrassment to fade away. Castiel was still smiling from his teasing but his smile slowly disappeared as he watched the solemn look stiffen Theta's youthful features. Theta pushed himself up straight and looked Castiel in the eye.

"Koschei can't know about this." he said. "He'll want revenge - he's always looking for an excuse to fight - and if he and Torvic fight one more time, he won't be able to go to the Academy. Promise you won't tell him, Castiel."

"You've protected my secret. I'll do anything to repay that." Castiel put a gentle hand on Theta's shoulder. "Koschei will never know about this."

References:

"His clothes are funny" is a reference to how the Doctor in the Classic series didn't like Time Lord fashion.

"Violence will never get you anywhere." - The Doctor to the Master (Classic Who: Sea Devils)

"Imaging what I'll be without him and him without me." is kind of a reference to the End of Time episode where the Doctor says to the Master "I wonder what I would be, without you."

Ten thousand year old body - Classic Who: Tomb of the Cybermen

Borusa – he was a recurring character in the Classic series, starting off as a tutor to the young Doctor and Master.

Zetar – a renegade Time Lord mentioned in the prose Shada.

And here's an odd one, but it's still a reference: Castiel's explanation about parents is taken from the movie K-PAX, one of my favourite movies, which I actually got the idea for this story from. For those who have seen it, this story is based on what we hear about the relationship between Prot and Robert Porter. But don't worry - watching that film won't spoil the plot of this story. ;)