Fic: A Real Angel

[brightly_lit]

Title: A Real Angel
Author: brightly_lit
Rating: PG
Genre: gen, outsider POV
Characters: Cas, OFC
Word Count: ~500
Summary: Written for this beautiful prompt by just_ruth for the Outsider POV comment fic meme over at the spn_bigpretzel:

Some people come to Niagra Falls to begin new lives - some come to end the one they have.

She had everything planned for her exit; after all, who would even notice she was gone?

Then she saw the man in the gray trench coat staring at her. . .


Now with gorgeous art from the awesome and talented alexisjane!






"Why?" was all he said.

She flinched, deeply wrapped up in her thoughts and entirely convinced no one noticed her existence. She'd figured he was looking absently in her direction. "Huh?" she said.

He stepped closer, peering deeply into her eyes--intimately enough that it felt almost like an inappropriate touch. "Of course I noticed you," he said.

Okay, freaked out now. "Who ARE you?" she asked.

Suddenly, he grew circumspect. "Er ... um ... I guess I'm not supposed to say," he said, like her question made him feel abruptly naked. "I'm supposed to give you a last name similar to 'Jagger,' or perhaps, uhm ... well, that's the only one I remember."

She was glad she was no longer the only one feeling naked. "Since you already know my secret," she said briskly, "now you have to tell me yours."

He considered for only a moment, then looked pleased. "I've never seen any reason to lie about my identity," he confessed. "My friend Dean and I disagree on that point. So I will tell you: I'm an angel of the lord."

She stared at him a long moment, as he met her stare, unwaveringly serious. As much to her own surprise as to his, a giggle burst up out of her. He tilted his head, confused. His serious squint for some reason made the giggle turn to a guffaw. He didn't look offended exactly ... but as though he was beginning to realize maybe he should be. "I'm sorry," she spluttered. "Just ... 'angel of the lord'--like, what other kind of angel is there? 'Angel of the United States'? 'Angel of the ... kitchen'?"

He didn't appear to comprehend even one word, but he smiled, pleased. "I see you seem to feel better. It's the job of the angels to help people feel better in times of trouble, so it's unsurprising I was able to do this for you. Well, it's the job of some angels. It's actually kind of out of my jurisdiction, but right now I'm what you'd call AWOL, and I saw you standing here, and ...."

She shook her head and turned away, still smiling, catching sight of the falls, and her intentions came back to her in a flood. She turned her back to the sight quickly, turning instead to this stranger, who had made her forget all that for just a few minutes ... long enough to realize maybe, in the future, there would be other collections of happy minutes that might even add up to days, years ... maybe even a lifetime of mainly happy minutes. One thing was sure: if she took that leap, she would never get to find out. Maybe he was crazy; maybe he was off his rocker. But then again, in her life, in this moment, he was an angel to her.

She looked the stranger in the eye, who regarded her calmly. "Come on, let me buy you a coffee," she said, and headed for the nearby cafe.

He hurried his step to fall in beside her. "Do you suppose they have pie? I'd rather have pie; I see my friend eating it all the time and it looks delicious ...."


~ The End ~



Author's Notes:

- Thanks to my lovely friend alexisjane, who surprised me with this fantastic art for my birthday. It's perfect!!! :-D

Comments

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

Hehe! Very cute! Love the description and dialogue.

[brightly-lit.livejournal.com]

Ah! Thanks!

[brightly-lit.livejournal.com]

(Love your icon.)

[blackrabbit42.livejournal.com]

I love seeing how Cas appears to outsider POVs. It's like meeting him all over again. Beautiful little fic, thanks for sharing it with us.

:)

[brightly-lit.livejournal.com]

It's like meeting him all over again.

I love this! Yes, Cas is especially fun with outsiders, because he's SUCH A FREAK ... and I love him for it.

So glad you enjoyed it!

[monteseverus.livejournal.com]

I can see this happening as Cas wandered around trying to help people. Makes you think about how just a few kind words even from one of us non-angels can change a person life! You really have a great understanding of Castiel in all of his awkwardness here. Jagger!!!! :-D

[brightly-lit.livejournal.com]

hee hee Jagger .... :-D Yay, awkward Cas!! And awkward Misha, judging from some of those YouTube videos .... I just love that, about both of them.

Makes you think about how just a few kind words even from one of us non-angels can change a person life!

YES! That is so what I was going for; you always get what I'm after. :-)

[kalliel]

This was very lovely, especially in light of Castiel's recurring sense of having failed/being very useless. I love that this moment can exist for both him and this woman. Her laughter in the middle, spirited incredulity, seems so pitch-perfect. And I love Castiel's clarification that this is the job of 'some angels'; his reference back to the dark reality of angels in SPN keeps this moment grounded in the crazy that's undoubtedly happening around it--without pulling it back down into that vortex. Great ficlet!

[brightly-lit.livejournal.com]

Aw, you leave such great, thoughtful comments.

This was very lovely, especially in light of Castiel's recurring sense of having failed/being very useless. I love that this moment can exist for both him and this woman.

Beautifully put. I saw this great prompt and I just couldn't resist, because who better to help someone suffering from a sense of invisibility and ineffectiveness than our humble angel? Plus, he's goofy and unpredictable and bizarre and awkward--all things that can get someone's mind off their own troubles quick.

Glad you enjoyed!

[dracox-serdriel.livejournal.com]

I always wanted to see Castiel helping people sans-angelic powers during his 'penance' time frame. Very sweet, great outsider POV.

DS

[brightly-lit.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks, I'm glad you liked it! Yeah, dear Cas, just trying to help people whatever way he can. Warms my heart, it does.

[robynize.livejournal.com]

angel of the kitchen? *dies laughing* I always enjoy seeing Cas outside of the boys, he is so multi-faceted. reminds me of when he was "helping people" sigh..Oh Cas, Angel of whatever, I do so love you.
Absolutely adorable!

[brightly-lit.livejournal.com]

hee hee, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I don't get how some people can say his character is boring--you could literally do just about anything with him, because he has so many facets, just as you say. (Great icon, too!)