"What are you doing here?" Emma asks, turning around in her seat to look back at him. "I mean, I get that you're not working with the Winchesters anymore, but why'd you come here? Were you chasing the werewolf, too?"

"No, I just went where the first bus took me," Castiel says. "I just happened to hear her scream as I was leaving."

"Why were you hanging out with the mall?" James asks. "I wouldn't think angels would be big shoppers."

"Oh, no, I was working," Castiel says.

"Okay, I really, really wouldn't think angels would work at a mall," James says. "How did you go from hunting monsters to working at a mall?"

Castiel shrugs. "I decided to live as a human for a while. This seemed like a good place to start."

"But you're a hero," Emma says. "You've saved the world. How do you just stop doing that?"

"I'm no hero," Castiel says. He'd been reminded numerous times of his failures, and how they overshadow any and all of his accomplishments. To call him a hero would be an insult to those that really are heroes.

"That's genuinely the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life," James says. "I grew up listening to stories about you, and how you left Heaven to stop the apocalypse — to stop the devil. You've been my role model since I was a kid!"

"Probably not your smartest idea," Castiel says.

"You really don't understand what you mean to hunters, do you?" Emma asks. "You turned your back on everything you knew because it was the right thing to do. Not many people would do that."

"I suppose," Castiel mutters, though he knows their opinions are misguided. Whatever stories they've heard certainly weren't complete. He changes the subject to something he finds less uncomfortable to discuss. "When did you start hunting?"

"My parents were both hunters, so I've grown up with it," James says.

"That does tend to happen a lot," Castiel remarks. It's remarkably similar to the Winchesters, though it was only John who dragged them into it, and it was mostly fate. But then, isn't everything fated to happen? Isn't that what Chuck told them?

"Well, not me," Emma says. "A shifter killed my parents when I was 11, so James and his family kinda adopted me."

"Well, that was nice of them," Castiel says, but all he can think of is that this is what the Winchesters did for him, too. He hopes it works out better for her. James does seem to truly like her, but then, that's what he thought of Dean for the longest time, and he was the driving force that convinced him to leave. "Are your parents here?" he asks James.

James shakes his head. "They died a few years ago. Vampires."

"Oh."

"Is there, uh..." He chuckles awkwardly. "I don't know if this is weird, but is there any way you could tell me if they're in Heaven?"

Castiel frowns. "Unfortunately not. Without my wings, getting there would be too much of a hassle for only a small chance of my brothers and sisters letting me look around."

"Oh," he says, disappointed.

"But if it's any consolation," Castiel adds, "it seems to me that most hunters go to Heaven. I would be surprised if they weren't there."

James smiles slightly at that. "Thank you."

"Of course."

Emma lets James have his moment, then asks, "What are you going to do after this?"

Castiel shrugs. "Go back to work, I suppose."

Emma scoffs. "You're kidding. You're really content working minimum wage jobs for the rest of eternity?"

"They don't pay minimum wage," Castiel says. "One of them pays nine dollars an hour." That's almost two whole dollars more than minimum wage every hour. He was rather proud of himself, getting that type of offer.

"Dude, there are 16-year-olds making more than that," James deadpans.

"Screw the mall," Emma says. "You should come hunt with us! We did make a really good team, right?" She pauses, then adds, "I mean, except when I shot you, but that won't happen again, I swear."

"I don't think that would go well for any of us." If the Winchesters couldn't handle hunting with him, there's not a chance these kids would enjoy it. It won't take long for them to realize he's not what they think he is. He's just a mistake.

"What are you talking about?" James says. "This would literally be a dream come true."

Castiel shakes his head. "I don't think so."

"Please?" Emma asks. "It'll be fun, I promise."

Castiel hesitates, then concedes, "I suppose I could join you for a hunt or two. But when you decide you want me to go —"

"We won't," James says immediately.

"I can't believe we get to hunt with the Castiel!" Emma squeals. "This is the single greatest thing to ever happen to me in my entire life!"