abraxaslogs | [Open] Call Me Little Sunshine

"Worried? About me?" That stops him. It isn't that Cas has never had anyone concerned for his well-being, Sam and Hannah have said so, and even if Dean rarely voices it, he knows the signs of it. Given his nature, Cas is far from the most fragile of the group. Concern isn't usually warranted.

It's just how Jack puts it out there so open and candidly, disarmingly sincere. The warmth the sentiment inspires feels a touch awkward in him, but appreciated nonetheless. What an endearing kid. Cas finds himself more invested in his arrival being more a blessing than an omen.

"Well, thank you, but I'm, um, I'm fine." Cas flashes a small smile, genuinely touched. "No need to worry."

"Yes, Jo Harvelle, she and her mother operated a roadhouse bar for hunters. Sam and Dean knew and worked with her several years ago, though... circumstance caused a separation." Circumstances like death, but Cas knows better than to air Jo's trauma for all and sundry. But on to that point about Dean looking older... Castiel's vessel doesn't age much (contrary to Misha Collins' mortal obligations), but the stress of the hunting life and all that the Winchesters endure will doubted show on them in years to come. "How old was Dean when you left home?"

The sadness in Jack's voice is telling, and it pangs him. Guilt gnaws at Cas, knowing he'll have to break it to the kid soon that he doesn't remember him either.

"Yes." He replied, as if it was never even a question. Worried. He worried about them all since the return of his soul. "I've lost you once before, I don't want to again." He had his nagging worries, but he spoke from his heart.

The fact Castiel didn't know him, well, that he could deal with when he finds out. At least his powers were still dampened. He could just zap himself away to go cry alone if it became too much.

"I see that, and I am glad." He replied, his smile remaining. Castiel was here, and clearly fine. He looked the same as ever. Unlike Dean and his smile lines, that they don't speak of. "That explains it yes. She told me a little of it. She... feels very trusty worthy. I like her." It was easy as that. If he felt it, he could generally say it. More so now that he had all the happiness and burdens of a freshly returned soul.

"I... don't think Dean's actually told me." He admitted. "It is the year 2020, Dean asked me about that, as did Jo." He explained, before choosing to try to distract his chosen father before they could delve into more of home. "How far away is where Sam is?"

"You lost me-" It takes him so much by surprise, Castiel's mind reeling from what all 'lost' could have been. It's not without precedent to him to die and resurrect, but how many damn times is that fate in his future? But 'lost' could mean any number of things, even just 'estranged'. There'll be time to dig through all of this later, once he finds Sam. "Of course. I'm sorry I worried you."

His speed picks up as Cas leads Jack through the streets, back towards Mag's inn, as he soaks in what Jack tells him. 2020 is still a good six years into their future, anything could has happened at that time, and it isn't like they haven't picked up strays along the way.

Castiel's memory flashes to Kevin, and he immediately regrets it. He can only hope this boy's time with them goes better than... well, nearly anyone that's remained in their sphere of influence for long. Clearing his throat, Cas pushes that line of worry aside - no point in getting anxious over it now, with so many questions still unanswered.

"Not far. We're staying at an inn, the Sarstina. We'll find Sam there. Then we can talk."

Accurately predicted, Sam is holed up at Mag's, instilled at a table he's made as something of a home base in the midst of this different kind of bustle. He's been people watching — taking in the color that Cadens has to offer — and it's only when Castiel's familiar face steps into view that Sam acknowledges this is the first time his concern hasn't flared.

Lifting a hand, he waves at the angel, signaling in such a manner that says he figures Castiel is here to see him. And he's not wrong, although he does note that Castiel seems to have a tagalong. Luckily there are just enough chairs for the three of them.

"Hey, Cas," he greets with a smile. "Who's your friend?" Figuring that's the case — Castiel isn't the type to suffer strangers for too long — it's an easy guess for Sam that this is leading to an introduction.

"It's okay, Cas. Dean once said it's a rite of passage." Jack replied with a sad, easy smile, one whose already had to tango with death more than once in his short years. "We all get lost and come back." At least in this family, anyway.

Jack following along, almost like a lost puppy. Looking back and up at Castiel when he cleared his throat. "Oh, okay." He replied with that same awkward tone he often spoke in. He didn't know where this place was, but he followed along.

His eyes landing on Sam when he waved as the two had come in. Happiness etched over the young man's face. A glimmer of hope, hoping Sam knows him too. He still hasn't realized Casteil doesn't, but doubts were there after the people he's already met today.

That bright smile fades some, as Jack hangs his head some. Oh, the lack of a soul would have made another blow easier but, he has to buck up. Just like Dean would have told him. Jacks eyes go to Castiel a moment before he forces up another smile. "My name's Jack. I don't think you know me yet." He spoke the words out, a hint of sorrow. He adores Casteil, he idolizes Dean, but Sam. Sam had always been the stable parental figure. The question asked to Castiel removed all doubt. Sam doesn't know him.

Cas arches his brows, tipping his chin up towards Sam briefly. Buckle up, friend, we've found some weird shit. Jack, the kid calls himself. This kid who's apparently much more than just some human young man - the glow of his grace nearly blinding, wings there apparent, but he doesn't seem to quite fit into angel entirely.

"Jack is from the year 2020, and seems to know us - you, Dean and I - very well." He's more slumped shoulders and sheepish frown than he is stiff and guarding; this boy isn't a threat, just an anomaly. An deeply curious one, and Cas paces around to the side, head at a tilt as he takes a better look over him, now that they aren't making a quick journey to find Sam. "And he's... an angel? Are you?"

'Jack' doesn't ring any bells, and at this point, Cas kind of wishes it did, so he didn't have to break the hard news. But now that they're at Mag's and off the street, he ought to be honest.

"I apologize for not mentioning it sooner, Jack, but the last year I remember is 2014." It actually hurts him to say it, seeing how fond this boy of them, and how crestfallen he seems with being a stranger now. But, just because they don't remember him doesn't mean he can't still be part of this found family unit.

"Can you tell us more about how we met you, back home?"

Edited 2023-01-01 21:09 (UTC)

Feeling much of the nuance of Castiel's look upon entering quickly coming into play, Sam observes the exchange between the two with both eyebrows raised high on his forehead. Jack, who appears young and immediately eager, draws Sam's attention the most. Observing eyes pinging over his features, what he recognizes of Jack is only what he sees of other people in him: a stiff but not unwelcoming stance not unlike Castiel, an enthusiastic but mistimed smile not unlike Dean. If there's something of Sam himself in there he doesn't quite see it (but odds are Sam wouldn't even bother looking at positive traits for his own influence so it might be easily missed).

Even at a distance and knowing only what he's been told, the shifts in the young man's moods are wholly apparent. Either he's sincere or a good actor, Sam thinks to himself, but doesn't forget Kevin Tran who found a way to be both. At least for a while.

Either way, he doesn't want to risk another end like that.

"Here, come sit down," Sam insists, standing only briefly to gesture to the two of them. "I'm from a bit later," he adds. A bare glance is offered at Castiel to clarify, "2015," but his attention quickly returns to Jack as he folds his arms on the tabletop and hunches as tall people are wont to do.

Once more he wishes he could be surprised by all of this, but after running into Jo earlier (not to mention decades in the family business), this all feels like another day on the job.

It was Castiel Jack would answer first. His eyes are sorrowful, but he tries to force his smile back in place. He didn't answer the question at first, how to answer and not get chased from the building was the most important thing.

Sam he didn't think would, Castiel maybe not, but this Castiel didn't have their bond from before his birth. His chosen father. His mother's protector.

The smile weak as he nodded. "I figured it out when you spoke to Sam just now, but I appreciate you telling me." His voice honest and open, Jack always preferred the truth to lies. He looked away from Castiel to take a seat when Sam offered.

Once the young nephilim had sat down, his hands awkwardly placed on the table, he nodded to Sam. "I will be born two years after 2015." He offered, yet sitting there looking nearly twenty at best. "You are the closest to my time, Sam." His smile stayed weak, but he tried, it was only then that he looked at Castiel. His choice made. He never wanted to be Lucifer's child, and who would know? His father wasn't here.

"I'm a Nephilim, my mother's name is Kelly Kline, she died giving birth to me." He explained looking to Sam, needing to keep his strength and do his best act without showing his lie. He knew he was a terrible liar, but this was for the best, and he had always felt Castiel was his father. "And Cas is my dad." There he said it, without faltering. "A lot of people wanted me dead or to use my power, so you all kept me with you. You all raised me as a family." Little lies didn't always hurt. Right?

Cas is my dad.

It doesn't hit him at first. It takes a moment of awkward, dead silence after Jack stops talking for his brain to rewind and remind himself that Cas means you. The dawning of it can be seen wash over him, sharp contemplative eyes widening, ponderous furrowed brows arching, and neutral set to his lips falling open.

"I— Wha—" He looks from Jack to Sam, as if Sam will tell him 'no, no, he obviously meant another Cas, the Cas standing behind you', and boomeranged back to Jack again. He points a finger to his chest, dumbly. Back, again, to Sam, mouth agape with helpless eyes in the tone of I didn't mean to. It's possibly the most expressive Castiel's been all year. This man is not prepared for a corner store beer run, let alone parenthood. "But that's—"

Impossible, well, not really, it's not like he doesn't know the mechanics, and there's already been moments like April, even if that ended with a double fatality. Highly unlikely, sure. But impossible? We'll just say, it's not the future Cas had anticipated for himself. Well, that makes not remembering Jack all the worse. Way to be a shitty dad, Cas.

"Me? I'm your- Your father?" Finally, Cas falls more than sits into the chair, watching Jack in wonder as if he's some glowing unicorn that just tumbled into his lap (kinda is), voice much less sturdy than he started this conversation with.

"How? And how are you—" A vague gesture to Jack's entire being. "Two?"

Edited 2023-01-09 03:03 (UTC)

Sam, having spent so very much time in hotel rooms with local channels, feels very much like he's audience to an episode of Jerry Springer unfolding. He watches as Cas grapples with this revelation, the familiar catchphrase bouncing around his head: You are the father! He wonders briefly if Dean knows.

"Nephilim must age differently," Sam finally offers, oh so helpfully. It's not blind faith — can any hunter just assume familial bonds so easily? — but his additional thoughts might provide a little clarity to Sam's thinking: "He does look a little like you..." Both shoulders lift a hair right along with his eyebrows. There's a resemblance.

"Where did your mother live?" Shifting gears, Sam decides to focus on the only other piece of information available. Her name doesn't sound particularly familiar, but considering the number of people they'd met on the road, it's perfectly possible that one (or all three of them) had run across a (or the) Kelly Kline in their travels.

He feels a little guilty but, it was for the best. It was what he always wanted. Dean wouldn't try to kill him for Lucifer's blood in him if he thought he was Castiel's child. Kelly had put all of her faith in to Castiel, and in turn Jack had done the same. He had spent many nights wishing Castiel had been his true father and as long as he played his cards right maybe he could fix that cosmic mistake and keep himself safe.

So long as he never shared what happened to Mary anyway.

He looked up at Castiel, the Angel clearly wanting Sam to say it's wrong. Jack's expression was closer to Castiel's normal default look than the smiles Jack usually wore. This city was emotionally draining.

"We do." He answered Sam when he spoke before looking back to Castiel, that awkward way of his own projecting. "I was born fully grown." Poor Kelly. "I am four years old as of May. And yes, Castiel, you are. I know it's probably weird, I'm sorry to be a bother." His birthday had been the night he was pulled from, honestly, but he'd keep that to himself too. Sometimes lies protect people.

He looked down a bit, awkwardly shifting a moment before looking back to Sam. "She was from New England, she worked in Washington DC when you all met her. I don't know a lot about her, I always felt safe with her but... I only had a video of her before..." He shook his head some. No, telling them he died and met his mother in heaven was just too much to share yet.

This is a lot. Castiel's struggling to keep up after that news, questions bouncing chaotically around in his head, but seeing the hurt in Jack, he swallows back on it. This boy's already been through so much. The first and most prominent instinct in him, knowing Jack is his child, is to protect, from all things. Including himself.

He failed Claire so profoundly, and now with his own son... He has to do this right, he must.

"No, Jack, you're not a bother at all. I was just, um, surprised." Cas inhales deeply, grounds and focuses himself, and brings his attention solely to the young man before him. Beyond the shock and confusion is a deep, personal joy blooming in his chest Cas can't quite find the words for, but the sentiment of family has never felt more real and true to him. He reaches out for Jack's hand and beams at him, each parts proud and awed. "Jack, it's incredible, it's miraculous to be meeting you here, I don't— It's nothing I ever expected, but I am beyond grateful for it."

The information about Kelly Kline is a new level of baffling, but he's not about to pick his son's brain to resurface all the trauma of losing a mother just for the sake of satisfying questions that have no real impact on the present moment.

"Please know you will be safe here. This new world can be frightening and confusing, but you'll always have your home with us." Cas glances back to Sam, hoping he gets the whole 'let's not overload this four-year-old super being with an interrogation right now' approach. "Arrival is a stressful process. Let's leave the questions for now and find you a room. Alright?"

Trusting Castiel to gather the bulk of information over time and disseminate it as he feels appropriate, Sam acquiesces to the suggestion and smiles tightly. Dipping his head, he can't help but wonder what the angel might be thinking — a surprise four-year-old is a shock in of itself — and as he gets the sense things are moving on, by way of support, he offers what he can to them both:

"We'll catch up more when everyone's settled in," he agrees. "But it's good to meet you, Jack. Welcome to the family," Sam adds, entirely unwitting of the fact that this perception of his instant approval of this stranger will only cast him as a hypocrite soon enough. For now, he boldly accepts Jack's proximity, even if he doesn't necessarily feel comfortable with the void of information yet to be filled.

Jack's expression hadn't changed much until Castiel took his hand. Then he smiled, a bright smile that reached his eyes. He'd done it. He had his family back, even if they didn't know him, or all he had done, or they had experienced together, that was okay. This was fine. "Thank you." He spoke lightly. That awkward nature showing again.

"I will try to not let you down, I am happy to be here with you all. You're my family." His eyes went to Sam then, still feeling happy from all of this. Everything else he could dwell on once he could be by himself. "Thank you, Sam. It means a lot." It did, Sam had always been kind to him, even when things were very bad Sam did his best to keep the peace and Jack could never think him enough.

Sam had been the first human he saw when he was born.

"I do admit, I feel... strange." He admitted. "I can't use my power, but they said that is normal. I think I may just be tired. I saw Dean and Jo earlier. I had never met Jo before... Settling in sounds good."

[Open] Call Me Little Sunshine

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