three things about huntercorp world that really stand out to me:
1. a world where the "family business" is a business in the sense that it also generates a considerable profit and doesn't rely on the family only for the labour is a world where John Winchester is, apparently, a smart, "best among men" father (who still lords over his sons' lives like the "if dad finds out we watch porn, goodbye trust fund" joke seems to imply). this is a world where john winchester is a self-made man transforming tragedy into dollars and i'm like, woah. this is thoughtsTM' treasure island.
2. this is the second time (that I can recall on the spot) that the show is equating corporate lifestyle with things that are, stereotypically, considered "unmanly". In Zachyworld (not the one in "The End" but the other one where Sam is a customer service agent and Dean is a sales manager) the corporate world was depicted as something that wasn't in Sam and Dean's nature, so to speak, because they were Hunters and the possibility of hunting as a corporate-like job wasn't even suggested. What was suggested, however, was the "queerness" of Sam and Dean's respective lifestyles (with the two different meanings of the word for each brother). And that's funny because Heaven is specifically portrayed like this big corporation that's made up of angels who are, supposedly, more "masculine" and military-minded than your average "feminine", "cheesy" (Mary's angel statue for Dean is described as "cheesy" by John) guardian angel. Zachariah thought he was being smart with his little tricks but he was revealing more than what he intended to with his banal analogies :P. In HunterCorp it's John himself who puts the "Corp" into "Hunting" thus creating a similar scenario that the angel had conjured up as a cautionary tale against the perils of a life outiside of the HuntingWorld.
3. in S14 Chuck is obsessing over the retelling of Abraham and Isaac's story, the father killing the son etc. but the existence of HunterCorp world reveals that he had been experimenting with other scenarios too, almost fanfic-like scenarios where frillier, more mundane things like hair buns and accessories are more appreciated. Like, this is a world where tragedy doesn't exist for Sam and Dean, where hunting is not a curse but "just" a job, albeit somewhat boring. And this is a world where they are wealthy people thanks to John's business acumen. it's almost as if Chuck was like "what if i create a world where money isn't a problem for John first and Sam and Dean second" and he was unimaginative enough to think that THAT would solve their problems and make them happy (and they're not, not really, like HunterCorp!Dean's words might suggest). I dunno, maybe I've watched too much "Succession", but if EYE were Chuck, HunterCorp!John would be way more like Roy Logan type and less the "loving father that spoils his sons" type.
Okay, NOW I really wish that Adam were the actual elder boy in the Winchester's family tree just because I need to imagine a fictional world where HunterCorp!Dean can scream "I'm the EldesT BoIIII" in HunterCorp! Sam's face.
Sam woke up first the next morning. He was surprised to hear the TV running outside the bedroom. He walked out, rubbing his eyes. Kafziel looked over at him. The living area looked a mess. Some things were broken, others just out of place.
“Did something happen?” Sam asked, putting his hair up into the signature man bun he was used to.
“We need to go to Missouri.” Kafziel sniffled and got up, setting everything back in place.
“Hey, talk to me. What’s going on?” Sam gently grabbed her forearm.
“We don’t have any time to talk.” Kafziel said, pulling her arm away. “Just meet me out by the car when you’re ready.” She brushed past him and out the room with her things.
About 15 minutes later, Dean and Sam could be seen walking up to the car.
“So I was thinking, we could go get breakfast and then head out to Missouri.” Dean said, walking around to the driver’s side.
“As long as you don’t take too long.” Kafziel grumbled and got in the back of the car. Sam got into the passenger seat.
“What’s up your ass today?” Dean retorted, glancing back at Kafziel.
“I don’t know, Dean. Maybe I’m stressed because my family is involved in my best friend’s disappearance. Maybe I’m stressed because I can’t trust if he’s alive or not.” Kafziel snapped, a look of hatred in her eyes.
“Dean, drop it.” Sam whispered to his brother. Dean disregarded this completely.
“You know, you came to us for help. Not the other way around. So we deserve to have some semblance of respect.” Dean raised his voice. Now he was angry. Kafziel inhaled deeply and then opened the car door.
“You know what? I’ll meet you at the IHOP about 15 minutes away.” Kafziel said, weakly feigning a tone of calmness.
“We are not eating at IHOP.”
“I’m not finding some five star restaurant!” Kafziel screamed and slammed the car door, shaking the car. In the blink of an eye she was gone. Sam sighed and looked at Dean.
“She’s just frustrated.” He spoke up.
“Oh yeah, I’m sure you would know.” Dean snapped back, visibly irritated.
“Dean, you have to be worried too. He’s our friend also.” Sam stayed calm, trying to be reasonable.
“And we’re gonna find him. End of story.” Dean started to drive off still fuming.
“I just think you need to be a little more understanding.” Sam argued, earning a glare from his brother.
“Yeah? And where has that gotten you.”
There was a silence in the car. Dean had a way of saying things that really stung, but Sam tried his best to understand that he didn’t mean it. Dean just drove, listening to the rock music on the radio.
When they got to the IHOP, Kafziel was seated at a small table with just a glass of water. Her head was propped up on her hand. She looked a mess, dark eyes red and puffy. Sam and Dean walked to the table and sat down.
“I’m sorry I yelled in the car.” Kafziel whispered, her voice sounded a little hoarse.
“Don’t worry about it.” Sam said, giving her a small smile. Dean just rolled his eyes. He took notice of a waitress that was just now going on break.
“I’m gonna go talk to her.” Dean said, waving at the waitress, who waved back. Kafziel just grimaced, not saying anything. Dean got up and left the table. After ordering food, Sam started up a conversation.
“So what’s the plan for after we find Cas?” He asked.
“Well I’m going to find a world you can all be safe in, and then I’m going to leave.” Kafziel said, sipping her drink. Sam frowned slightly.
“Leave?”
“If I stay around you, you won’t be safe from my family. They’ve found me again.”
Sam sighed, taking a sip of his orange juice.
“So this is it, huh?” He gave a sad little smile. Kafziel placed her hand gently on his forearm.
“I’ll come and visit sometimes, I promise. It’s just that the last time I tried to stay with someone dear to me, she was killed.”
“She?”
“Yes. A long time ago, I had a girlfriend. She was lovely. Obviously I was pretending to be her boyfriend but she found me out. Obviously that was a shocker, but we got back together. But I stayed too long, and my brothers found her.” Kafziel took a shaky sigh. “So I decided I never wanted to be included in that fight since then. I’m not going back to my family.”
Sam put his free hand over her hand on his arm.
“A similar thing happened to me once. Not exactly the same situation, but I had a girlfriend who died.” Sam said, he had a somber look on his face.
“And it’s been hard for you to open up again.”
“Yeah.”
There was a moment of silence between them, which was interrupted by the food arriving to the table. The two began to eat.
“You know,” Kafziel spoke up, swallowing the food in her mouth. “Out of everyone, I think I’ll miss you and Cas the most.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” Kafziel chuckled and sighed. “Really.”
When they got back to the car, Dean was midway through a takeout box of miscellaneous breakfast foods. Sam sat shotgun, as always. Kafziel opened the door to sit in the back, but her face curled up in disgust at the idea of the activities that had gone on in the back.
“Cmon. I cleaned the back I promise.” Dean groaned.
“I think I’ll just sit on the roof.” Kafziel said, climbing up to the top of the car and sitting there.
The trip to Missouri was light hearted, yet sad with the knowledge that this would be their last venture together. Sam looked out the window at the rapidly passing fields and trees. Dean listened to rock and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, excited for the road ahead. Kafziel was laid on top the car, staring at the sky and just taking in the breeze. She was enjoying her last moment of peace.
Eventually, the Fiat pulled into an abandoned town. It parked in the lot of a crumbling abandoned asylum. With weapons loaded up, the three started their exploration of the asylum. Kafziel was tracking Castiel, mainly with her sense of smell.
They walked past crumbling walls and patches of open ceiling. The asylum had this foreboding aura to it. It felt old and tortured. It gave that impression that something terrible happened here.
Kafziel, Dean, and Sam turned down a back passageway, where grumbling and breathing could be heard behind a door. Kafziel carefully opened the door, and there was Castiel. Chained to a wall, still in his mechanic uniform. Kafziel ran over to him and hugged him, snapping his chains with just her hand.
“I’m so glad you’re alive.” Kafziel whispered, about to cry tears of joy. Castiel hugged her and pat her shoulder.
“I knew you’d find me.” Castiel smiled and chuckled, standing up and brushing himself off. Now Dean ran over and talked him in a hug, almost knocking the poor man over. “I missed you too.” Castiel hugged back, squeezing him slightly.
But the sweet moment was cut short by a new voice in the room.
“I knew you’d be here.” It was Lucifer. Everyone turned.
“Michael told you.” Kafziel walked over, standing in front of everyone.
“Bingo!” Lucifer smiled. “He said you’re still undecided, but you killed one of my best guys.” Lucifer kissed his teeth and paced around the room.
“It was an honest mistake.” Kafziel said, her wings unfolding behind her as a projection.
“Yeah, well, an eye for an eye, right?” Lucifer shrugged. His eyes glowed red. Kafziel’s eyes flickered between white and black. She plucked two blades from her wings and swung. Lucifer easily dodged these swipes, and shot a blast of energy at Kafziel’s chest. The faint sound of flesh searing along with bones cracking was heard. Sam made a move to go help Kafziel, but Dean held him back.
“This isn’t our fight.” Dean whispered. Sam opened his mouth to protest, but didn’t say a word.
Kafziel suddenly used her blade to slit her wrists, blood flowing out of them and forming chain like weapons. It was an ability she learned, but could only be kept up for about a minute, until she wore her magic out. Then she wouldn’t be able to heal. It was a very last ditch attempt.
Unfortunately for her, she was out matched. She managed to survive up to three minutes against Lucifer, but she was weak and weary. She landed a few blows before her steps got sloppy. Her head was spinning. Lucifer swiped her legs from under her. Kafziel crashed to the floor, smacking her head against the pavement with another disgusting crack.
“Say your goodbyes.” Was all Lucifer said before he disappeared. Sam ran over to Kafziel, who managed to pull herself against the chipped and broken tiles, to the wall. She pushed off the wall with one hand and turned. She sat there, a weary smile on her face. Her body started to fall sideways, but Castiel was now there to catch her.
“I tried.” Kafziel mumbled out, blood now leaking out from behind her eyes, due to the hit of her head against the ground. Sam’s eyes welled up with tears. He held one of Kafziel’s hands.
“We need to get her to a hospital.” Sam said, his voice more frantic than his regular calm one.
“It’s no use. There’s not one in miles and she won’t make it.” Dean said, kneeling down behind Sam. Kafziel weakly shook her head.
“It’s fine…” She sighed and coughed up some blood. It ran down her cheek and dripped onto her shoulder. She looked at Sam and squeezed his hand lightly. Her body was going cold and slowly draining itself of everything.
“You’re gonna be okay.” Sam whispered. He held her hand to his cheek.
“I’ll be seeing you.” Kafziel murmured, closing her eyes. Her breathing was ragged and slow. Every intake sounded more and more gurgled. The three men stayed with her until she finally succumbed to her injuries. Dean had a few tears in his eyes, whether it was from the situation, or from losing what could’ve been a long time friend. The whole room felt sad.
As a final goodbye, Dean, Sam, and Castiel lifted her body outside. They took all day, making a small platform with large branches and bramble. Castiel had gone out to find wild flowers to lay with the body.
The men finished making this platform at sunset. Kafziel’s body was laid to rest on top of it, wild flowers in her hands, and some petals stuck in her blood soaked hair. Dean then used his lighter to set the platform aflame. The trio sat there, watching it burn. The smoke reaching up to the heavens.
You know what supernatural needed for a S15 episode…Tulpa!Sam and Tulpa!Dean spawned from the popularity of the show due to the release of the show in-universe. Instead of Hunter!Corp Sam and Dean we get like Colin Ford and Dylan Everett as like S1 version of Sam and Dean that are tulpa going around hunting like them…because they though they were them.
Now I’m thinking of Tulpa!Emma and Dean conjuring her when thinking about his lost opportunities…
Part 2 of 4, inspired by Suptober, theme: Ladies. This started out as “What if Hunter Corp had been female?” and then I had to give all four of Team Free Will a female alternate. In this one, Dean finds his female counterpart has a perfect mirror-image of his angel’s handprint.
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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
In order to avoid telling his family the truth about his love life (or lack thereof) Castiel Novak kidnaps a handsome stranger (Dean Winchester) to take home for the holidays.
Rated T:
Fake Relationship
Mild Kidnapping
Hunter Dean Winchester
Artist Castiel (Supernatural)
Christmas
based off movie with the same name
mild mentions of kink
hunter corp
a kidnapping that's not really a kidnapping
They mean well but they're annoying family problems