Part 1 — David
"...Yeah, D?"
Castiel slowly turned away from the horizon.
The faint smile on his face hadn't disappeared.
David walked back across the rooftop until he was standing beside him.
Neither spoke immediately.
Below them...
The Academy was beginning to settle for the night.
Lights disappeared one by one throughout the dormitories.
Soon...
Only the pathways and watchtowers remained illuminated.
David rested his forearms on the old stone railing.
"...Pretty quiet."
Castiel nodded.
"...For once."
Another comfortable silence settled between them.
The wind carried softly across the rooftop.
David looked out over the Academy grounds.
"You remember the first time we came up here?"
Castiel gave a quiet laugh.
"...June insisted the food tasted better on rooftops."
David smiled.
"He brought half the cafeteria with him."
"...He nearly got caught."
"He did get caught."
"...True."
They both laughed.
The memory felt strangely distant.
Like it belonged to someone else.
Not because it had been so long ago...
But because everything had changed since then.
David looked toward the Tournament Arena.
"...Feels weird."
Castiel glanced over.
"What does?"
"It feels like yesterday we were trying to survive orientation."
"And tomorrow..."
"...We're leading a military operation."
Castiel looked back toward the horizon.
"...Yeah."
Neither of them liked how true that sounded.
David folded his arms across the railing.
"Cass."
"...Yeah?"
"You nervous?"
Castiel didn't answer immediately.
Instead...
He watched the lights of the city flicker beyond the Academy walls.
Finally...
"...A little."
David smiled.
"I figured."
"You?"
David chuckled softly.
"...More than a little."
Castiel nodded once.
"I thought so."
David looked down at his hands.
"I keep running through every possible outcome."
"What if I make the wrong call?"
"What if I miss something?"
"What if somebody gets hurt because of me?"
The words came easier than he expected.
Maybe because...
It was Castiel.
Castiel leaned against the railing beside him.
"You know what I think?"
David looked over.
"What?"
"I think..."
"...You've been carrying the entire squad by yourself."
David frowned.
"I haven't."
"You have."
Castiel's voice remained calm.
"Every mission."
"Every decision."
"Every responsibility."
"You keep acting like all of it belongs to you."
David looked away.
"...Someone has to."
"No."
Castiel answered immediately.
"They don't."
David blinked.
Castiel continued looking out across the Academy.
"That's why there are six of us."
His voice remained quiet.
Steady.
"If Lucian sees something..."
"He speaks."
"If Mira notices something..."
"She tells us."
"If Nyra needs help..."
"She asks."
"If June thinks your plan is stupid..."
David laughed.
"...He definitely tells me."
"...Repeatedly."
A small smile appeared on Castiel's face.
"My point is..."
"...You don't have to carry six people's burdens."
"You only have to carry your own."
David thought about those words.
For a long time.
Eventually...
He smiled.
"...You know."
"What?"
"You're smarter than people give you credit for."
Castiel looked at him.
"...Don't tell June."
David laughed.
"He'll never let you live it down."
Silence returned.
Comfortable.
Familiar.
The kind only brothers shared.
Finally...
David pushed himself away from the railing.
"I should probably get some sleep."
Castiel nodded.
"...Probably."
David took a few steps toward the rooftop door.
Then stopped.
He turned back one last time.
"You coming?"
Castiel looked back toward the distant horizon.
"...In a little while."
David studied him for a second.
"...You alright?"
Castiel smiled.
"...Yeah."
"I just need a little time to myself."
David nodded.
He didn't question it.
He never had.
"...Okay."
He smiled.
"Don't stay up too long."
"...Tomorrow's the big day."
Castiel looked over.
"...I know."
David grinned.
"...Night, Cass."
"...Night, D."
The rooftop door closed quietly behind him.
Leaving Castiel alone beneath the stars.
---
David quietly opened the door to Room B-17.
The room was dark.
Moonlight filtered gently through the window.
He removed his white tactical coat.
Carefully placed his Claw Gauntlets beside the bed.
Then lay back on the mattress.
His eyes remained fixed on the ceiling.
For several minutes...
He simply listened.
The distant sounds of the Academy.
The breeze outside.
His own heartbeat.
Finally...
He spoke.
"...I AM."
Silence answered.
Then...
A familiar presence settled quietly around him.
Ancient.
Timeless.
Comforting.
**I AM**
*I am here.*
David closed his eyes.
"...Tomorrow..."
"...Everything changes."
The presence remained silent.
Waiting.
"I've been trying to think of every possible outcome."
"Every mistake."
"Every decision."
"I don't know if I'm ready."
Several moments passed.
Then—
**I AM**
*You ask the wrong question.*
David opened his eyes.
"...Then what should I ask?"
Another silence.
Long.
Patient.
Then—
**I AM**
*Ask not if you are ready.*
*Ask if you will continue...*
*When you discover you are not.*
David frowned.
"...I'm supposed to lead them."
"I can't fail."
**I AM**
*You will.*
David's heart skipped.
The answer came so simply.
So absolutely.
"...What?"
**I AM**
*You will make mistakes.*
*You will choose incorrectly.*
*You will arrive too late.*
*You will carry regret.*
David stared at the ceiling.
"...Then how can I protect them?"
The ancient presence answered almost immediately.
**I AM**
*By standing again.*
David remained silent.
**I AM**
*The greatest guardians were never those who never fell.*
*They were those who refused...*
*To remain there.*
The room became quiet once more.
David slowly closed his eyes.
"...Can you tell me something?"
**I AM**
*Ask.*
"...Will everyone come home?"
The silence this time felt endless.
David already knew the answer before it came.
**I AM**
*The future...*
*Is not mine to reveal.*
David let out a slow breath.
"...I figured."
Another long pause.
Then...
For the first time...
The ancient voice sounded almost...
Gentle.
**I AM**
*Rest now.*
*Tomorrow...*
*You begin discovering who you truly are.*
The presence faded.
The room became still once again.
David looked toward the moonlight spilling across the floor.
Then slowly closed his eyes.
Tomorrow...
Everything would change.