Chapter Text
THE HUNTER
Dean Winchester wanted to taste everyone. Just a taste. Boys, girls, men, women, black, white, young, old, gay, straight, every delicious flavor. He hunted for pets, prey that would satisfy his cravings. No, he wasn’t a cannibal, he was a collector.
He could spot a promising target a mile away. A nervous man, watching his feet instead of what’s in front of him. A shy girl, avoiding eye contact, offering an apologetic smile when it happened by accident. Maybe a stuck up bitch, clicking her heals over the pavement and ignoring everyone around her.
No one was off limits. Dean spotted someone interesting, tracked them, and when the time was right, grabbed them. Sometimes they screamed, other ones begged (please don’t hurt me) some bargained (I’ll do whatever you want, don’t kill me) once in a while they would threaten (you touch me and my husband will kill you). That one never failed to make Dean laugh.
His newest quest, a blue eyed boy he locked gazes with at a stoplight. His prey sat in the back of a pricey SUV, 4 other boys in the car, rowdy and loud. This kid sat quietly, watching out the window, until he noticed Dean looking. His sapphire eyes met Dean’s emerald ones for all of three seconds, before blushing and looking down.
Yummy
THE PREY
Castiel didn’t think much about the awkward exchange at the intersection. His brothers were being crazy loud and above average annoying. He couldn’t wait to get his driver’s license so he wouldn’t have to depend on Michael to take him to school.
The Engelmann Boys.
Michael, 18, senior, football, wrestling
Lucifer, 17, junior, basketball, football
Gabriel, 16, sophomore, drama, band
Samandriel, 14, senior, genius, class president
That left
Castiel, 15, freshman, no clubs, no sports, the ‘pretty one’ ‘the gay one’.
Cas was quiet, shy and beautiful. Raven black hair, sapphire eyes, clear pale skin, delicate features. Jokes were made that Mrs. Engelmann didn’t need to try for a girl, she already had one.
He didn’t find that funny.
Today was Friday, that meant family football night. Cheering for Michael and Lucifer, watching Gabriel play trumpet in the band at half time. Torture for Castiel. Crowds were not his favorite.
After his parents and Samandriel settled in the bleachers, Cas snuck off to the practice field behind the stands. Positioning himself smack dab in the middle, headphones in, he leaned back on his hands, legs stretched out before him and just studied the sky.
His solitude interrupted by a nudge of a foot to his shoulder. Yanking out his earbuds, he twisted to see who decided to bother him this time.
Crowley. Damn it. Narcissistic, British and all around creeper.
“Why, hello there, Castiel. What are you doing all alone out here? No bodyguards tonight?”
Swallowing nervously, “Hi Crowley”
The senior exchange student made Cas anxious, raking his eyes up and down his body. He had asked, then pestered, then stalked the beauty, dogged to secure a date. Castiel politely declined each invitation, making the older boy more determined.
Crowley dropped down in the grass next to him, sitting much too closely. Castiel attempted to stand when painful grip tucked him back down by the wrist.
“Bloody hell, Cas! You can sit and talk to me for a bit, I won’t bite” becoming more aggressive.
The sky grew dim, the band started up, signaling half time.
“I have to go, Crowley. I promised Gabriel I’d watch him perform.” trying to rise again but the hold tightened.
“Why don’t you like me, love? I could be so nice to you, treat you like a prince, you only need to give me a chance.” tone soft this time, spooking Cas more.
“He said to let go.”
A new, deeper voice traveled through the air, startling both boys. Crowley released Castiel and they both stood, turning towards the source. A tall man, chestnut hair, leather jacket and blue jeans. It was hard to make out his face in the dusk.
“You have a new bulldog, do you?” Crowley sneered.
Castiel shook his head but took advantage of the distraction to move away from the older boy.
“I think he wants to be left alone, you should go.”
The tall man moved closer, Crowley finally found the sense to be intimidated.
“I’ll speak to you later, love” he threw over his shoulder as he strolled away.
His unknown savior rotated to shadow him, Cas called quietly, sincerely,
“Thank you.”
He received a grin, green eyes locking with blue ones again,
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
THE HUNTER
The plan had been to tail his newest target. Watching another predator manhandle his prey, frankly, pissed him off. No one touches his pets.
No one.
The boy’s voice, addictive, quiet; unsure. His shy, solitary nature…
Scrumptious
He knew his name now. ‘Castiel’. A name he had never heard before, but fitting, beautiful and original. Dean continued to track him as he joined his parents and younger brother in the stands. The Hunter took a seat several rows back, never taking his eyes off his trophy until the game concluded. He had no idea who won, or who played for that matter. Afterwards, he watched the family pile in to their SUV and drive away.
Once he made certain his target was secure. The Hunter scoped the parking lot for another type of game. He had caught the scent of a rival predator, that rival must be eliminated. Locating Crowley climbing in a red convertible, Dean smirked. The kid spun his tires noisily as he exited, the older man close behind.
Crowley started up the walkway to his host family’s house. A moment before he reached the door with its brass knocker, hands took hold of his chin and the base of his skull. A simple, intent twist and the British exchange student lay lifeless across the Welcome mat. The Hunter strolled silently away.
Obstacle terminated.
THE PREY
Castiel failed to tell anyone about the confrontation with Crowley. His brothers would surely make a huge scene of it and the situation had been resolved, somewhat. He didn’t know who the man in the jacket was, or why he happened to be there, but Cas was grateful. Crowley had harassed him before, but this was the first time he had the balls to lay hands on him.
His weekend was uneventful. His brothers had their practices, meetings and clubs to attend to. His parents revolved in and out of the house, who knows what they did, Cas never had the curiosity to check.
No, Castiel was perfectly content by himself. He read, played with the dogs, drifting to the kitchen around 4pm each night to help Anna, the housekeeper, prepare dinner. He loved to cook and Anna was kind enough to teach him. Not sure if his parents would approve didn’t hinder him, they were hardly ever there until 6pm.
Family dinners were the worst. Everyone chatting about their activities, their girlfriends, attempting to rope Castiel into the conversation. He would only answer direct questions politely, rearranging the food on his plate to resemble happy faces or flowers. Although his parents expressly forbid him to do so, if they weren’t paying attention, he would sneak in and help Anna with the clean-up. He felt closer to Anna than any of his siblings.
News of Crowley’s murder monopolized the 6 o’clock news Saturday night. Castiel watched, stunned, with a horrible sick feeling in his stomach. That tall man, he had followed Crowley off the practice field.
Could this have been Castiel’s fault?
“Isn’t that the creepy dude that kept asking you out?” Gabriel inquired.
Cas nodded in confirmation, continuing to look at the screen.
Neck broken Friday night, found by host family Saturday morning, parents in Europe notified, funeral arrangements to be announced, how could this happen in our small town, etc. etc. etc.
“Geez, his neck was snapped” Michael breathed, “who does that?”
“A psycho, obviously!” Lucifer answered
“We should go to his service.” suggested Samandriel
Castiel’s head shot up at that advice. Um…no…
“Come on, Cas. The guy majorly crushed on you, we should at least go and pay our respects to his family.” The youngest Engelmann continued.
With that, Castiel shook his head and escaped to his room. Seeing creepy Crowley in his coffin with a broken neck was high on his list of ‘things not to do’.
THE HUNTER
Dean hadn’t expected the strange kid’s death to be so newsworthy. The community declaring it a ‘shock’ and a ‘tragedy’. The Hunter didn’t live in town, ‘never shit where you eat’ kind of thing. All his pets came from different counties, no sense in drawing attention to his collecting.
He never kept more than 4 pets at any given time. Most he killed when he tired of them, a few he felt safe enough to release, being too traumatized to provide assistance in catching their abductor.
Currently, he possessed two specimens, both female
Lisa, 25 year old yoga instructor. Man, is she bendy. She’s been with him for almost a month, whines every day about her little boy and how he needs her.
Pathetic
Cassie, 22 year old reporter. Gorgeous body, he’s been keeping company with her for about 10 days. She was a cocky little bitch, kept running her mouth about how people would be looking for her, she was important.
Laughable
Lisa had broken right away, Cassie was still fighting. Frankly, she was pissing him off. Lisa had a chance at getting released, a threat to her kid would secure her silence. Cassie, she may not live through the night.
Dean had to work the weekend, no time to stalk his newest prey or train his pets. However, he did visit Lisa at night, enjoying her flexibility as she wept.
Tasty
THE PREY
School Monday morning consisted of whispers and rumors surrounding Crowley’s death. The principal announced of the loud speaker that counselling would be available for anyone grieving. All of a sudden, everyone claimed to be Crowley’s good friend, he was such a great guy, why would anyone do this?
Blah blah blah
Castiel spent his school day as he always did, sat in the back of class, did his work and ate by himself, under a tree, at lunchtime. Sitting in the empty bleachers reading as his older brothers’ practice, waiting impatiently for a ride home. He really needed that license.
He was watching a few birds, munching stale popcorn off the ground, glancing at his brothers tackling or whatever it was they do, when he spotted a familiar brown jacket by the fence. He couldn’t see the man’s face, he was positioned towards the field, but the hair, jacket and jeans were enough to recognize him as the stranger from Friday night. Cas couldn’t tear his eyes away; curious and a bit unsettled, thinking this guy may have been the one that snapped Crowley’s neck. Brown jacket turned, walking down the sidelines and then glanced up at Castiel. Cas’s heart stopped and his face flooded hot. The man simply nodded at him, casually walking out of sight.
It wasn’t until he couldn’t see him anymore that Castiel realized he had been holding his breath and hadn’t even nodded back at the man. Cas was shy to a fault, but prided himself on being polite. Staring at the guy with his mouth open, not returning the acknowledgement was rude. He needs to apologize if he ever saw him again. He kind of hoped he would.
THE HUNTER
Dean relished the look on the boy’s face when he spotted him. Castiel seemed surprised and a little afraid.
Mmmmmmm
The Hunter spent the next month, watching, waiting and learning everything he could about his newest prey. He gave Castiel more time than any of his previous victims. The anticipation was as appetizing as the capture.
Saturdays and Sundays, Cas’s family scattered, leaving the boy alone from around noon until the housekeeper came in at 4pm. On the eighth Saturday of surveillance, Dean invited himself in through the back door the moment his obstacles left. He had been in the home several times before, knew the layout with his eyes closed. He located Castiel in his bedroom, earbuds on, typing on his computer with his back to the door.
It was like the boy was waiting for him.
Stealthy, silently, The Hunter approached his prey, armed with a single white cloth, soaked in chloroform. Dean proudly made the compound himself, reaction time cut in half, effects lasting twice as long.
Wrapping his forearm around Castiel’s neck, he blanketed his nose and mouth with the rag.
Castiel fought harder than the Hunter had expected. He shook his head, clawed at arms around his neck and face, screaming in to the cloth. This, of course, labored his breathing, inhaling the solution quicker and promptly losing consciousness.
The beautiful boy looked positively angelic, eyes closed, face passive, as Dean carried him bridal style out the back door, through the yard, in to the alleyway to his Impala. He had lined the trunk with pillows and blankets, his pets need to be pampered. Placing his prey’s limp body inside, he grinned with triumph and adoration before clicking the lid closed.
Leaving Castiel in the darkness, he drove nonchalantly home. Obeying every speed limit, stopping at every stop sign.
He had all the time in the world…