"Dean…?" A small, fearful voice cut through silence that had befell the brothers. Their gazes frozen on their now dead father. "Did we- is he?" Sam's eyes broke away from the corpse for a mere moment to glance at his brother.
Dean nodded shakily. His hands - his whole body was shaking from the adrenaline and from what he had just done. He swallowed, glancing down at the bloodied knife. The fire, or whatever that red mist was, faded. The burning sensation, however, lingered. "Yeah… we did. He's dead…" His voice was weak, it felt like he consumed hot coals.
Sam whimpered and hugged the blanket tighter around him. They didn't mean to kill John, but when he lunged at Sam things just happened. In panic, Sam had caused John to collapse from intense hunger. Dean saw red the moment his father tried attacking his brother and grabbed a hunting knife. It somehow lit on fire and he stabbed John while he was down. Dean didn't stop until he quit moving.
This wasn't the first time John tried hurting them. This wasn't the first time they hurt John in self-defense. And this wasn't the first time a weapon Dean was wielding enveloped in that red, misty, flame. These were abilities the brothers were born with.
Sam made people hungry. Not just for food but money, lust, or whatever that person deeply desired. He could incapacitate people with it and possibly kill them. It could be useful on hunts or it could make them worse.
Dean made people angry. Not in the usual sense. Just by being close by. He made them fight- arguments, physical altercations, etc- and it usually turned bloody. He could turn friends against each other and intensify feelings of irritation and rage. This could similarly be useful on hunts or make them worse. The same could be said for the fire abilities.
John hated their abilities. Blame fell on the boys when something went south and sneers awarded them if it was successful. He became more abusive as time passed. Dean usually blamed himself for that anger.
Things came to a head that night. A hunt had gone wrong. They were all stressed out and that made control harder for the boys. Sam was causing desires to fluctuate and Dean tensions to rise. It didn't help that John had wanted to kill his sons for a while now…
And now they stood in silence. Staring at their father's corpse.
They didn't know how to react or what to do.
They were just trying to defend themselves.
They didn't ask for these abilities.
Dean was startled out of his daze when Sam sniffed. He discarded the knife. "Come here, Sammy…" He pulled him into a hug. "It'll be fine. We'll figure something out…"
"Like what?"
"I… I don't know… but we will. I will. I won't let anything bad happen to you." Internally, Dean was panicking. They were in an unfamiliar location with nowhere to go, limited money - assuming John hadn't spent it all -, limited supplies at that, and no control over their powers. "We just got to pull together what we have and we'll figure it out from there," Dean pulled away to look Sam in the eyes. "But we'll be fine, alright? Now, let's see if dad had some cash."
Sam tentatively nodded and took a shaky breath. He had his doubts but he trusted Dean.
Dean tried to give a reassuring smile, hoping it effectively hid his own fears. He got to work rummaging through John's belongings while Sam checked the motel's kitchen.
War and Famine watched the brothers through a window. They had been keeping tabs on the Winchesters. War had wanted to kidnap them upon seeing how John was treating them. However, he didn't frame it that way and called it "surprise adoption" much to Famine's displeasure.
Now they were faced with a new decision.
"We should've just taken them when we had the chance. I knew this was going to happen. You knew this would happen!"
"Shut up, War," Famine snapped.
"Well, we're not gonna leave them, right?"
"Of course not. We'll take them in. Give them an actual home and teach them control."
"Great. But, uh… are we separating them or keeping them in rotation? Because I doubt they're going to agree to the former."
Famine hummed. Figures tapped on his cane. War had a good point. "We can keep them together for a while, until they get used to us. But they will have to get used to distance. I doubt you want to travel back and forth to teach Dean. And, quite frankly, neither do I."
War didn't exactly mind traveling - added a bit spice to life. Staying in one place got dull. But he did like some things to be close by. Training a polemomancer child would be one of those things, at least for a short time. However, there was another underlining point to Famine's words: those boys never had a stable home. Sure, going back and forth between two set locations was better than no permanence at all but it was taking a toll on the boys' mental and social health. Separating them would cause temporary distress, but they would learn not to worry over each other so much.
That could also end up benefiting the apocalypse but… well, the Horsemen had their plans to deal with that.
War noticed that Sam and Dean were finishing putting their things together and decided now would be a good time to intervene. "Let's go."
Knocking would be a good idea.
"Okay… okay. This should be good…" Dean stressed over what they had gathered. It wasn't a lot but they could make do, right? They just had to figure out where to go and-
A knock on the door made them freeze. Room service shouldn't come at this hour. And John wasn't expecting anyone… They didn't think so, anyway.
Another knock.
"Maybe they're friends of dad?" Sam offered warily.
"Doubt it. Dad would have said something… Stay here." Dean grabbed the hastily-cleaned knife and approached the door. He tried peering out the window next to it, but there was a bush in the way. Another knock and Dean pressed himself against the door. "Who's there!?" He called with a glance toward Sam, who had hidden by the coffee table.
"Just a friend - well, two friends, actually… We're here to help."
"…With what?"
"Your powers."
Dean backed away from the door and Sam's eyes widened. How did these people know about them, especially their abilities?
"What are you talking about!? Who are you!?"
"We know about your powers, kiddo. And what happened."
There was a sigh. "We're not going to hurt you boys… We have the same powers as you."
Sam and Dean looked at each other. They still didn't trust the situation- sounded too good to be true and, besides, that didn't answer how they knew.
"We're Horsemen, Dean..." The second voice continued to explain. "We know what happened. We've been keeping watch over you both to see how your powers developed. Obliviously we should have stepped in sooner…"
"Horsemen? Like the Four Horsemen?" Sam crept out of his hiding spot, but not too far. "But why us?"
Dean grunted, wondering the same. That and he didn't know if he could trust these Horsemen and their claims. They might be some demons trying to trick them for all he knew! Just some monsters trying to get to them. Monsters… just like us…
"Relax, kid… Your abilities are going to spill over into the other rooms. I can counteract them for a while but you need to relax."
His teeth gritted, trying to restrain himself but that was proving difficult. Though, the last part startled him. Can we do the opposite of our abilities? He huffed at the thought. "Why should we trust you!? You're probably just some demons thinking you can easily trick us! If you're not, then you're something else!" He probably shouldn't be snapping at something that could kill them but he couldn't bring himself to care.
"Your distrust is understandable, Dean. You've never encountered our kind before much less those who share your abilities. Do you have holy water and silver?" The second voice tried, "If testing us would ease your concerns?"
"Then we could prove our claims further!"
"They have a point," Sam agreed while Dean stared down at his feet. "We have holy water and silver. But salt should also work, shouldn't it?"
"Yeah…" He muttered and caved. He can't argue with their logic as much as he wanted to keep them away. "Fine. We'll do the tests." He walked over to the duffle bag and shuffled through it, eventually pulling out the vial of holy water. He already held the silver knife. Dean unscrewed the vial's cap and reluctantly opened the door.
Famine was leaning on a cane with a carved rabbit's head. He wore a simple black suit that was slightly disheveled. As if there was not time to straighten it out.
War was taller than Famine. A hooded black jacket with coppery-brown fur lining its innards and dark-brown jeans adorned his person.
But the most striking thing about them were their eyes. Famine's pitch black irises swirled with dark blues and violets. While War's looked as if they contained a fire.
Dean tried not to show fear upon seeing the Horsemen and hastily splashed them with the holy water.
War huffed a laugh and dried off his glasses - not that he needed them, he liked the look - while Famine wiped off his face. "Good aim, kid. Here." War extended his hand to Dean to cut. War examined the cut as Famine offered his hand. "A bit deep but clean," The wound healed itself, "You're quite skilled with a blade already, aren't you? Can we come in now?"
Dean made a face, still uncomfortable but relieved they weren't demons or shifters. "I guess so..."
Famine spied John's already covered corpse. The light brown sheet was staining with blood. "We need to deal with that soon."
"I can," War offered. "I'll teleport him out of here and burn him to be safe. Would you rather me do it before or after this?"
"Go on ahead get rid of it," Famine waved at the body. "Lessen the tension while I talk with the boys." War nodded and teleported out with the body, surprising the boys. "He'll be back in moment." Famine assured, giving them a friendly smile. "Now, we have a lot to discuss…"
"Damn right we do…" Dean growled but flinched when Famine's hard gaze snapped to him.
"Son, I understand you're tense but watch your mouth," He took a breath and sat on the couch. Both hands rested on the cane. "Now then… Your powers, how long have you had them?"
"I thought you were watching us…" Dean huffed with a mocking tone and crossed his arms.
"We only picked up on you boys a year ago. But it's clear you've had your abilities for much longer. You, especially, Dean."
"Mine started when I was 4, I think," Sam piped up, thinking about his experiences. "Dean already had his. Dad wasn't too please that I had powers too."
Dean sighed and grumbled. "Mine started at 4, too. After mom-" He stopped talking there but Famine nodded, already aware of what Azazel did.
"Both at 4... Yes, that's usually when they manifest," He hummed, remembering similar children of the past. Particularly the viromancer child Pestilence had adopted a few years prior. "You boys haven't had much practice with them, have you?"
"No, sir…" Sam shook his head. "Dad didn't want us using them. Even when they were helpful on hunts… He tried finding people who could get rid of them. Or spells…"
"I don't blame him…" Dean murmured with a glare to the floor. "Who wants monsters as children?"
Famine sighed deeply and gave him a gentle but stern gaze. "You're not monsters, Dean… No matter what your father claimed."
"Yes, we are! Did you not see what we did to him!? We killed him!"
"Out of self-defense. He was going to kill you boys."
"Maybe he should have! It would have been better that way…"
A tense silence draped the room. Dean glared back at the floor while Famine fixed him with a mournful look.
Granted, Dean wanted to protect Sam more than himself. But they were both monsters, right? And that meant they deserved to die, right? At least, that's what John and his hunts taught them…
"Dean…" Famine started softly, "you have a right to defend yourselves. Having powers beyond humans, and not being human, does not make you monsters. Having to kill to survive does not make you monsters. Things are not as black and white as your father made them out to be. You have as much a right to live as any human does."
Dean was doubtful. What of the families out there his dad saved? Sure, the bastards he killed needed to eat but did they need to eat humans? What about demons and ghosts who didn't need to eat? Were they not rightfully monsters?
War cleared his throat to let them know he returned. "Look, kid, these creatures have limited options when it comes to food. And feeding from animals isn't going to work for all of them nor is it practical. Yeah, sure, you can make a case for demons since they kill purely for fun or some messed up purpose-"
"And what about ghosts?" Dean questioned.
"Ghosts are wandering spirits that should've just gone to the afterlife. But death is hard for everyone involved, kiddo." War reminded him with a pointed look. "It usually isn't the ghost's intention to be vengeful. And if the intention was to harm? They were bad when they were human. But regular creatures like vampires, werewolves, and banshees? They need to eat. Their diet is out of their control, and they can't just pick and choose who they eat with ease."
"Hunters have just as much innocent blood on their hands as any vampire does. And don't think some non-humans don't feel guilt. It's something they have to get used to…" Famine muttered with an almost distant look.
Dean's arms remained crossed as he once again glared at the ground. They had a point but he had trouble accepting it. For 6 years he was taught to hunt, chasing after the yellow-eyed demon, being taught that all things supernatural were evil - including him. And now he was being told the opposite by those supernatural things. Things he's never encountered until now… But Dean couldn't deny that he and Sam never wanted to harm people. They wanted to use their abilities to help others but didn't know how…! They only called themselves monsters because John said they were, because a hunter told them they were.
Dean grunted in frustration, wanting away from it all. Why must everything be complicated!?
Sam, meanwhile, was thoughtful. Thinking the same as Dean but more accepting. Surely, there was more to life than what John taught them? He never got to hear the supernatural's side of things. Other than his own experiences. He wanted to live like those families, why should these powers stop him?
Famine and War waited patiently for them to consider their words.
Sam finally looked at Famine, curious. "You said you were Horsemen, right? That you have the same abilities as us?"
He smiled kindly and nodded. "Yes, we do. I am Famine, I have similar desire manipulation powers as you do, Sam." He pointed to War who waved in greeting. "He is War and has Polemomancy like your brother. Albeit ours are much stronger." They allowed their auras to wash over the Winchesters, let them feel the familiar powers themselves.
Sam nodded in awe, he and Dean had those! "Could you help us control ours?"
"That's what we're here for!" War smiled and pushed himself off the wall. "Well, that and to give you both a home."
"Really!?" He asked excitedly and Dean's head shot up, looking between War and Famine in suspicion.
"Yeah, with us. Famine and I have our own homes. We can easily take you both in and teach you both about your powers while also giving you a stable home. Or, well, homes."
"I'm not leaving Sammy alone…"
"And you don't have to, Dean, not now," Famine assured him. "You can both rotate between ours for the time."
He didn't trust them fully yet but it's not like he and his brother had anywhere else to go. Plus, a stable home did sound nice…
Sam came over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "They're being honest Dean… I don't know how but I can sense it."
Dean side-eyed his brother in question, Famine seemed equally curious.
"That's your powers, Sam. They should allow you to pick up on other's desires, not just intensify them. It is very useful when picking out lies from truths."
"Oh… That's cool!" Sam said in wounder.
"And Dean-o should be able to sense hostility from people," War chimed in, an unspoken question hanging from his words.
Dean pressed his lips together, that was true… He slumped with a sigh, defeated. "Yeah… Vaguely but I don't sense any from them…"
Sam perked up further. "Then they can be trusted, right?"
"Yeah, I guess…"
Sam beamed and turned back to the Horsemen. He nodded at them.
"I suppose it's settled then?" War asked and got another excited nod. "Good! You'll both be staying at my cabin first. Do you, uh," he pointed at the duffle bag, "have everything packed in there or do you both need to grab a few more things?"
"We were going to leave some stuff behind. Clothes, some of mine and Dean's toys… But I guess we don't need to now."
"Nah, we can bring the rest of your stuff. And you won't need all your dad's old hunting gear, either."
"But what about hunting!?" Dean asked, slightly frantic.
"Don't worry about hunting for now, kiddo. We've got a lot of tools, weapons, and books that can be used for that. But, for now, you can relax. If you want to hunt again later down the line, we can."
Dean didn't know how to respond, no more worrying about hunting? Sounded like a dream. But a dream was just that…and yet, here it was. At least he didn't have to stop, he would just be getting a break from it. He simply nodded, agreeing to War's terms, and willed himself to relax. Which was easier said than done.
"We don't have to hunt anymore…" Sam echoed, amazed. They would not be getting a normal life, sure, but not being forced to hunt was always a bonus for Sam.
Famine smiled at him. "Not if you don't want to, no. But you will have to watch out for demons and angels still."
"Angels are real?" Both brothers asked in unison.
Both Horsemen chuckled. "Yes, but that's something we can cover later," Famine said and stood. "This is all already a lot for you boys, so why don't we focus on packing your things?"
Dean cast a final, wistful, look at the Impala after they put their bags into Famine's SUV. He would miss that car but some things had to be left behind. War touched his shoulder, "I know it won't be the same, but we can always look for another Impala when you get older. We can even modify it for hunting if you still want to by then."
"I guess…" Dean muttered bitterly before climbing into the SUV. War shut his door and climbed into the passenger's seat.
Famine pulled out of the motel parking lot and Dean watched as their old life disappeared into the distance.
To their new homes… Their new lives.