How to Train Your TALON {Tal-meister)

[Dean Winchester]

There were just some days that a man had to sit back and accept the fact that he was an old fogey…and when walking in on one’s 35 year old, ripped son as he was coming out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel makes one want to cry, it was definitely time to let go of the ghost.

Eyeing him, Ben tugged his towel a bit higher up on his waist. ”Okay, Dad…you’re kinda creeping me out now. Can I go get dressed, or are you trying to paint happy faces on my chest with your eyes? This isn’t creepy at all.”

”Shut up, you little bastard. You don’t know where all my guns are hidden,” Came the automatic reply. Grumbling as his adopted son’s laughter followed him, Dean turned about face and headed back down the stairs where he’d came from.

That’ll teach him to let his kids back into the house. He just knew that he and Lisa should’ve upped and moved.

So, after some ego-petting by his dear wife and beating Ben at a game of foozeball to appease his random mind, the eldest Winchester contented himself with one of his favorite past times; inspecting the Impala to make sure a certain young Hunter didn’t have to die. Lovingly, he ran his hands over the gleaming sides and slid into the passenger’s seat, listening to his baby purr. Ah yeah, didn’t this bring back memories? Sam would be sitting in the passenger side seat and the windows would be down, introducing Creedence to the surrounding fields. Even though they’d been hard times, heartbreaking times…hell, fuckin’ times meant for the nearest soap opera; they’d been the best times of his life. He’d never felt more alive, than he’d had when trying to save the world.

Well, other than when his kids were born, that is. Ah, family life; there just wasn’t anything more fulfilling. Now, if only he could stop comparing damn Ben’s six pack to his own slightly melting belly…damn home cooking. If he’d known that eating three square meals a day would do this, he’d have freaking stuck with the deep fried crap.

Chuckling to himself, Dean paused, eyed the steering wheel, the house…then grinned. Chey had managed to catch him the other night and inform him that the kid he’d met over at the James estate would be getting his tutelage on all that was Hunting. He hadn’t been aware of it, but after some goo-goo eyes and special treatment by the smiling baby Jessie, he’d been putty in their hands.

But that didn’t mean that he couldn’t travel in style.

The Warricks, as it turned out after some research, had been a hunting family from way back. They’d tackled more than their fair share of baddies and had passed on their vast knowledge to their eldest son, Talon. Funny…he’d gotten a sense of something from the kid, when he’d taken his car over for some shop-work. It was probably in the swagger; the kid definitely had the confident walk of a guy who knew his way around someone’s spinal chord.

Pulling into Lexi and Tristian’s drive, the Impala purred happily as it slid into park. He revved the engine a few times, knowing that those inside would recognize the subtle roar, and waited. Any red blooded guy under 50 would know the sound of a well tuned machine, and hell…talking shop over his baby’s God-like engine was so much better than ‘how’s school’-ing the hell out of the kid.

[/blockquote]

[talon]

Talon was beginning to get the feeling that Chevrolet Winchester was one big instigator. Since his birthday, maybe save for the plans for his car, she was the sole reason for Talon managing to get himself out of school and concentrating on what was ‘important’. How’s school would have been pointless because after learning from Dean’s dear daughter how to crack computer systems, Talon had taken the initiative to test out of school and use his new skills to adjust a few English proficiency scores to get his GED… and not so he could get into college at such an early age.

Part of him regretted doing so. It was not that he was putting himself out there to make friends with stupid people his own age, he had not even bothered to do that back in Huntington Beach, but he was finding there was less to do to fill his days than when he had responsibilities. And then, who should it be to yet again dabble her lady fingers into dictating his future than Ms. Winchester yet again.

It would be a lie to say that both instances didn’t have him pretty stoked. Chey really knew how to impress a teenage boy (because clearly that was the ultimate goal of any 21-year-old woman). Talon certainly knew too that he needed a bit more training to pursue the same life of those surrounding him now, and that the basics of survival and know-how his parents had taught him as a child were not really enough. Save for testing out what he was told about finding the supernatural in suspicious stories and newspapers, successfully taking down two ghosts in one he might add, Talon had very little experience out of books and training (both of which could still be spruced up on). So he was not about to turn down the idea of THE DEAN WINCHESTER cruising by and making him ‘the shit’.

In fact, for as anxious as he was about doing this, he could really use some distraction from all the drama going on around him. Honestly, even if was not for monsters under the bed, he could not blame so many in these families taking off and staying to the road without connections for long durations of time. It felt like there was as much shit going on inside the walls as out half the time. Maybe it was a good thing. It had certainly kept his mind from lingering on what had brought him here.

Talon was not really sure when to expect Dean, and to be honest he doubted he would even come through, but no kid who spent as much time out in that garage as he did was going to miss the deep rumbling call to his very soul to come out and play. He had only encountered the Impala once when Ben brought it for Christmas, and when he emerged wiping his hands on a greasy rag, he let out a sharp laugh. [white] “When’s the funeral? Was me, haveta pry it outta my cold dead fingers.”[/white] While he joked about Ben, he had to admit that Dean looked more in his element driving the Impala, just how Talon imagined him from the tales. Tossing the rag aside and grinning as enthusiastically as a kid at Christmas,[white] “Get the door for ya? Dun want ya throwin’ anythin’ out ‘fore I’m done with ya.”[/white]

[Dean Winchester]

…Okay, any minute now. The kid could come careening out of the house ANY minute now, so he could stop revving his baby and stripping the motor inside. Jeeze, what was Lexi feeding him? Cement? He’d thought teenager boys were supposed to come careening out into the drive when they heard smooth purrs like the ones the Impala were making…

Or sauntering. Damn, but he was very different when he was Talon’s age. Oh, no respect. There was just no respect for the God-like car that SOME people owned.

Or for said ‘people,’ apparently. Amusement and irritation flickered through the hunter’s face, as he watched Talon approach. Sliding out of the Impala after shutting her down, he leaned back against the driver’s door and raised a brow at the kid. He was filling out, thanks to some of the James Family home cooked meals…and there was an excitement about him that had amusement winning out. He knew the type; the ones who liked to act tough, but were the ones who were hurting the most inside. Hell, for a while there, he’d been one of those brooding few. But he’d give the kid a break; he wouldn’t go for the emotional sharing time until after he worked him to death.

”Hey, this’ MY car. Ben’s just got it on loan while I keep my business closer to home,” Came the reply, followed by a low chuckle, which immediately faded when the ‘old’ comment came out. ”Ha-ha; we got a little comedian over here, huh? I ain’t that damn old, I’ll have you know. I can still whip your ass into the ground; you remember that.”

Pushing himself off of the car, he slid his hands into the pockets of his jacket and gave Talon a once over. He looked tough enough and definitely had the sarcastic veneer going for him…but how would he manage in an actual hunt? He couldn’t remember if Chey had mentioned a first time or no…but Dean would pretend that the kid was as green as he’d like him to be.

”So, my daughter tells me that you wanna come into the family business. That true?”

[/blockquote]

[talon]

Was Dean lucky he did not go comparing his car to Talon’s or what? He would have gotten an earful from the kid who typically just kept to himself that would take him into next week. A teenage boy typically would come careening out of the house at the chance to molest a fire-breathing monster when it pulled up the drive. That was because most guys did not have those vibrating the path from the very earth everyday. To hear Talon tell it, his ’72 Mustang could take the Impala any day, if for no other reason pure aerodynamics. Of course, he did know that both cars were severely lacking because they were practically tanks. They needed groundbreaking horsepower just to get their asses off the line. But man, once those tires got traction again did they move.

[white]“Make is sound like passin’ fancy or somethin’. Yeah, know I got some places could use some advice, but not like I’m totally unprepared.”[/white] Talon shot defensively. He was all for these new people in his life and what not, but he would not have anyone disrespecting his origins, as though he didn’t know the 101 before he met any of them. Sure, he was stoked about meeting a guy he’d heard stories about, but he was not going to let on. No way. If anything, he was going to act entirely indifferent to his reputation. Even if Chey could easily tell him otherwise from the way his intrigue perked up with learning who she was related to.

Giving Dean a skeptical look, [white]“But I’m startin’ ta wonder that’s what ya really come for. Whatchu keep lookin’ at me like that for? I ain’t lookin’ ta trade anythin’ long those lines just ta learn somethin’.”[/white] He refrained from calling Dean a creepy old pedophile just to try and get a turn out of him. Although he did have his doubts about whether Dean would be as impressive as people made him out to be, he did not doubt that over the years he would have to learn a few moves to take down guys and monsters even bigger than him, much less smaller. That Jessie chick had already taken him down because he rushed in all hot headed, and Talon was a quick learner. They weren’t going to take it as easy wrestling about with him as Dad had done.

[Dean Winchester]

Holding his hands up in mock surrender, Dean fought the urge to smile. So, his little comment about ‘welcoming him into the fold’ had hit some kind of nerve…and he wasn’t afraid to put him in his place. Good. Chey had told him about Talon’s family and the fact that he’d been introduced into the business early on, much like Dean and his brother had, but that he lacked a certain polish. If it was one thing that he’d learned over the years, it was that a Hunter needed two things if they wanted to survive;

1) Some unbreakable moxy; and 2) good intuition.

Given the fact that Talon wasn’t afraid to tell him what was what, it was obvious that the kid had number one in spades. Crossing his arms over his chest, the elder Winchester gave him a once over, a look of respect on his face.

Not that it stayed there for very long, because moxy or no…if he was going to be ‘polishing’ anything about the kid, it would be on his terms. Backtalk and all that defensive crap was going to go out the window, because as far as he was concerned? Talon knew nothing.

It was always easier to fill up an empty cup, than one that was half full, after all.

”Ah, shut the hell up; your skinny ass wouldn’t tempt me unless you suddenly grew boobs and told me your name was Lisa,” He replied good naturedly. Then, shifting a bit as a serious expression came onto his face, he looked his would-be ‘pupil’ right in the eye.

And tried to keep from laughing. Holy crap; who would’ve thought that he’d actually be teaching anyone anything not having to do with cars. Sam would shit a brick.

”Now, lemme give it to you straight; I respect the fact that you come from a Hunter family…but Chey tells me that you need some help with things. I’m willing to show you some moves I’m sure you haven’t seen before, but you’re gonna have to stow away all that ‘I know everything’ crap. Understand? So…you still want me here, or should I leave?”

[/blockquote]

[talon]

Dean had hit a nerve, but Talon knew that he could not actually blame him for that. If anything, Dean was showing the most respect for where Talon came from than anyone. And yet here he was, taking it out on him the most. Which sounded about entirely right for someone like him. Because he would be damned if he was going to let on to the elation he felt when Dean took his attitude with a grain of salt and assured him that he was not there to take that sort of advantage of him. Not that Talon had a fear of that, but it did unnerve him a bit when a guy he really didn’t know was sizing him up. Because as far as Talon was concerned, he was about as polished as a kid could get when having to fend for himself before legality. This was hit the road and get launched into a new, unknown life polished.

Grinning in spite of himself, Talon could not help that teenage admiration for older people who did not measure themselves just because they did not want to ‘expose’ you. It was one of the reasons he looked up to Dean’s daughter so much. She just talked to him real, like a person. Now he knew where she got it from. He might have had mixed feelings about the ‘sensitive’ one in the family, but clearly that could not be said for all of them.

He regarded Dean quietly for a moment. Even though he had that ‘real’ edge, he also had the subtle fathering edge that Talon had forgotten. Giving him the choice to shape up and keep him there. Making him act like a grown up. Frowning for a moment, not sure that he entirely liked surrendering, and his thoughts manipulating his face, he suddenly let out a sharp laugh and nodded with a shrug. [white] “Sure. Why not? Got nothin’ hell else better ta do. Prob’ly save me killin’ myself ‘fore I’m twenty. Dunnit sound so bad.”[/white] Making a little face and holding out his arms, now inviting visual scrutiny,[white] “See whatcha got ta work with, whatcha got in mind?”[/white]

[Dean Winchester]

Tucking his hands into his pockets, Dean made a show of glancing around; looking anywhere but Talon’s face. He wanted to make it look like the entire decision was his, and that his time there could easily be cut in half. Hell, if he wanted to be truthful, training new Hunters wasn’t exactly his favorite thing on the planet, but knew it was a necessity. He’d made sure his kids knew the right side of a pistol, tutored some of the James kids on how to make sure the ‘vampire’ in front of them didn’t get close enough to strike, and came in a time or two to awe some of the younger Academy kids with his prowess.

But, all in all, he wasn’t a fan of introducing kids to the life. God knew that he’d have been a happier, healthier, saner person if he’d grown up like everyone else; without the knowledge that the things that went bump in the night ACTUALLY went bump in the night. Sure, he didn’t mind making sure the ones who were going to get themselves into trouble anyway knew how not to die, but…damn, he didn’t know. There was upsides and downsides to being a Hunter, just like every job.

…Then again, the ups and downs for an accountant didn’t exactly cover ‘get mauled by a rampaging werewolf and die horribly.’

When Talon finally spoke up, he turned his attention back to him and raised a questioning brow. At the ‘sure, why not,’ the elder Winchester couldn’t help the grin that tilted his lips and returned the nonchalant shrug with one of his own. Thanks for letting him be the teacher, he thought with an inner chuckle. Oh, happy day.

”Well, first off, you can lower your arms; I ain’t looking to give you a fitting, kid,” He said, chuckling aloud now. ”First step is to see what you do know how to do, and then to teach you how to do it better. Since this’ your first run at the Winchester School of How Not to Die, you get to choose; firearms, or hand-to-hand?”

Personally, he was hoping the kid would choose the firearms. Given that cocky attitude and obvious stubborn streak, he just knew that hand-to-hand would result in the two of them rolling around on the ground in some kind of weird ass wrestling show. And while he could still hold his own…man, call him old, but he did want to shit right for the rest of the week. Being kneed in the kidneys by a younger version of himself would just ruin his entire night.

[/blockquote]

[talon]

Talon may have hero-worshiped his late father, but he simply would have been beside himself if he knew Dean imagined him a younger version of himself. After all, it was just about like being equated to a superhero… a ghostbuster at the very least. Dean might have ended up being a regular guy, but there was a reason the academy kids ooed and awed about him. He was not the only one from the blossoming new generation of hunters who looked up to the track record he had. The things he had done were near impossible to believe, and Talon was almost sure a lot of it had been blown out of proportion, even out of necessity. But the more he was finally exposed to this world he had always known about, the more he was incline to trust that maybe their was truth in the absurdities that made Dean Winchester a legend.

Laughing sharply again and looking away, Talon lowered his arms and thought about it. He did not want to tell the truth because he did not like to admit to his deficiencies. And he would clean a stand of stuffed animals at carnival shooting game. Shooting was not what he needed, and as much as Talon would prefer to impress him, he was serious about what he was meant to be doing. And if he had already tested out of having to go to school anymore, he certainly was not in any hurry to race off to the academy. So he was not so inclined to waste Dean’s time as he might like. Looking back, sizing Dean up, he nodded, [white]“Yeah, not the biggest guy… dunnit really matter in long run though, does it? Still be cool know howta use size ‘gainst person, that sorta thing… look, know how I work… not gonna ‘member that textbook crap ‘til I need it, ya know?”[/white] Shifting awkwardly, because he was unused to asking for what he wanted directly, [white]“Teach me what ya think need ta know… but what I wan’ is out there… experience s’what’s gonna drive it home. Even if I do nearly get ‘self killed doin’ it.”[/white]

[Dean Winchester]

And similarly, thank all that was holy that Dean wasn’t privy to Talon’s own thoughts. He’d always seen himself as an Average Joe with a pretty good right hook and a knack for hitting the target. God’s punch line, and a guy cursed to walk through life, forcibly having to live through drama only kept on television; nothing more. Being a hero had never been in the cards, as far as he could tell. He’d just done his job, protected his family and then passed on the know how to his kids. And a whole bunch of other kids.

But hero? Definitely something to add a bit more strut into his gait.

Biting back a sigh, Dean did his best to keep his face plastered on neutral, crossing his arms over his chest. Damn, of course the kid wouldn’t give him an out and show off with a gun. Of course he’d have to be the mature one, and basically say that he’d love to know whatever Dean had to teach him…and then hint at hand-to-hand. Oh, he was going to need an icepack like there was no tomorrow!

He had to grin when the kid sized him up, and once again, the elder Hunter was struck by the similarities between him and his younger self. Thank God that Talon seemed to be much less cocky and bit more respectful, or things would have really been awkward.

“I never put a lotta stock in learning from books, either,” He said, shifting a bit where he stood. “But I’m not about to bring you into the field until I think you’re ready to handle things. Which means training. Building on the skills you already have, to make sure you’re ready for a ten ton shifter who wants to rip your throat out. In our line of work, bud, we don’t want half dead Hunters lounging around in their motel rooms, waiting to heal up for the next job. We want efficient ones, who can do back to backs and keep the kiddies and their mommies safe. Understand?”

He knew the kid already did and would probably scoff at the logic, but it had to be said. The last thing he wanted was Lexi or Chey coming for his blood, because Talon there went off to ‘bring the lesson home’ with a blood crazed vampire. Shaking his head at the thought, he eyed the kid thoughtfully.

“Alright, enough talk. Come on; show me what you’ve got.”

[/blockquote]