Flying Lessons
Prompt from patient-number-zero, who sent me a beautiful piece of art done by disizletzi on Tumblr.
It is a picture of Gabriel teaching a baby Castiel how to fly. The tiny Cas is clinging to Gabriel's foot in midair.

O_o I have dubbed this a "crack crumb" for being so short and ridiculous. Enjoy!

Gabriel stared at Sam. At least, he assumed Sam was in there, buried beneath the bundle of padding. It was also possible the awkward angel had decided to adopt a pile of laundry. My Dad, Cas is weird sometimes…

"Cassie, why did you strap pillows to Sam?" He leaned in close and saw two hazel eyes glaring out from underneath a too-large helmet.

"Sam needs to learn flight."

"Okaaay," Gabriel frowned as Castiel tightened another strap, "Are we launching him from a catapult or is this a new fashion statement?"

"It is a safety precaution." The seraph's scowl had Gabriel stepping back. "I have not forgotten my own experience."

"What?! I was a great teacher!"

"You were pushy."

"Don't be so dramatic," Gabriel said, rolling his eyes, "So you needed a little nudge out of the nest. You were clingy–like coaxing a koala to fly!"

"No, you literally pushed me, Gabriel!"

"I caught you," the archangel said with a shrug.

"With your foot!" Castiel ripped off another long strip of tape, wrapping it around a beach towel that seemed to cover Sam's arm.

"So you want him to just bounce? He can't even move!"

"I…want him to be safe."

The rush of wings made both angels pause. Raphael stood behind them looking bewildered. "Brothers, what are you doing?"

"I am teaching Sam to fly," Castiel answered, sending a glare at Gabriel.

"Teaching Sam to bounce, you mean." Gabriel pouted and turned imploring eyes on Raphael. "Cassie is trying to steal my Dad-given right to teach a fledgling how to fly because he doesn't trust my techniques. He thinks I'm just gonna fling the kid off a cloud!"

Raphael studied his brothers and the sadly bundled pile before turning his face to the heavens, as though praying for patience. A long-suffering sigh had the angels shifting nervously–the Healer was known for his lectures. But the older archangel didn't address them.

With his head still raised, Raphael crossed his arms and said with playful sternness, "Samuel."

A sound like chimes echoed from the rafters, making Gabriel and Castiel look around wildly. How the hell…

Sam appeared beside Raphael with barely a whisper of wings. His sweaty face grinned in triumph at the two confused angels.

Gabriel's mouth fell open. "How in Dad's name did you…? Where did you even come from?"

"Did you fly?" Castiel asked, standing frozen with the roll of tape still in his hands.

"Of course!" Sam huffed.

"How?!" Gabriel and Castiel demanded in unison.

"Raphael taught me weeks ago," Sam said with a shrug. "I'd heard you two fight for days about it, and went to him."

"You are an excellent student, Samuel," he said proudly and sent a pointed look to his brothers, "Especially to fly unnoticed while under the supervision of Heaven's finest."

"Thanks!" Sam blushed at the praise.

"Come along, then. I brought you a new book."

"Just a sec." Sam walked to Castiel and pulled on his trench coat until the seraph crouched down. "I know you really wanted to teach me. And I hope I didn't upset you."

"No, Sam, I assure…"

"Good, because I have a way to make it up to you."

Castiel's eyebrows disappeared into his hairline as Sam whispered his idea into his ear.

"Well?" Gabriel asked impatiently after the fledgling left with their older brother. "What did he say?"

"Brother," Castiel said, carefully gathering the boy-shaped laundry sculpture, "I need your help."

*LATER*

Gabriel snickered as he perched in the treetop and nodded his readiness to Castiel. The angel nodded back from his place on the bunker's roof.

Far below, Dean stretched out lazily on the lawn. Unsuspecting. Enjoying a rare moment to relax without worry or guilt.

Gabriel's voice shattered the peace. "Fly, mini-moose, fly!"

Castiel launched the bundle.

"SAAAAAAAAAM!"

AUTHOR'S NOTES:
And now I have this tiny headcanon for my series that includes Gabe and Cas using the boy-shaped laundry sculpture to continuously prank Dean.
And each other.
And newcomers.
-send help-

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