ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ: "Talk about perfect timing."
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WAR.

That's what Isaac—a supposed friend of Bobby and Arturo's—called it.

"You brought war down on all of us," he'd said when they gathered at his home that day—an unsettling truth that sent fear and guilt rippling through every hunter who heard it.

The reality of it hit home the next night.

Isaac and Tamara had walked straight into an ambush. Venus, Arturo, Dean, Sam, and Bobby all tried their damndest to break down the doors of The Old Terminal Pub, but there seemed to be only one option left. 

Ramming Bobby's beat-up Chevrolet through the front entrance of the small pub.

But inside, Isaac was already choking on his own blood, a bottle of drain cleaner forced down his throat.

Tamra wailed, thrashing against the demon's grip, while six others circled her like wolves. But the moment their black eyes locked onto the hunters pouring out of Bobby's car, the pack turned. The hunters moved as one, clutching flasks and canteens of holy water.

They wasted no time. The liquid hissed and burned through the demons' flesh. In response, the creatures erupted into a frantic scramble, desperately trying to attack despite the searing pain coursing through them.

Arturo lunged for Tamara, pulling her free. "Come on, T, we gotta go! He's gone!" His shout barely cut through her sobs, echoing in the chaos.

Still, she fought him, reaching back for Isaac's lifeless body. Arturo's jaw tightened, a flash of discomfort crossing his face. He pulled her toward the car. "Tamara, we can't save him!" he urged, struggling to keep his tone steady. With a final effort, he managed to coax her into the vehicle, pulling Venus and Sam in behind him.

"Dean, come on!" Sam yelled, panic creeping into his voice.

Bobby was already behind the wheel, his holy water emptied, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. But Dean wasn't done. He hurled the last of his holy water at Walter Rosen, and when that ran out, he somehow forced the possessed man into Bobby's trunk.

"Go, go, go!" shouted Dean, sinking into the passenger seat seconds later. Bobby's foot slammed on the gas, tire screeches echoing around them.

The car tore out of the bar, leaving rubble and six demons behind.

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"And I say we're going back—now!"

Tamara's voice cut through the room as she moved to leave. Arturo reached out, stopping her before she could storm out. "T, wait a second."

She spun around, tears streaming down her face. "Arturo, I left my husband bloody on the floor!"

"I know," he said gently, trying to stay calm. "But we can't go back, not like this."

"Fine. Then you stay. But I'm heading back to that bar."

Dean stepped in from the doorway. "I'll go with her."

"It's suicide, Dean!" Sam's voice rang out, desperate. The words stopped them both in their tracks.

Dean didn't hesitate. "So what? I'm dead already."

That was enough for Venus. She stepped out from the corner where she stood, her patience dwindling. "Stop being stupid," she sneered, her eyes locked on Dean.

Dean turned to face her, his expression hard. "Excuse me?"

"How're you gonna kill 'em, huh?" Venus pressed, growing increasingly agitated by the second. "You can't shoot 'em, can't stab em, and they won't exactly line up and take a number to get exorcised—"

"I don't care!" Tamara bellowed, her voice cracking with raw emotion.

Venus scoffed, shifting her attention to the grieving woman. "If you're so eager to die, just put your gun in your mouth and save yourself the time. Stop pretending this plan makes sense."

Arturo's eyes widened, his hand flying to his niece's shoulder as he shot Tamara an apologetic glance. "Venus María!" he hissed under his breath.

"We don't even know how many of them there are!" Sam argued next.

"Yes, we do. There's seven," Bobby said, stepping forward with one of Isaac and Tamara's lore books in hand. "Do you have any idea who we're up against?"

Dean stared at Bobby blankly. "No. Who?"

"The seven deadly sins, live and in the flesh!"

A heavy silence settled over the group. Venus shared a look with her uncle, both equally surprised. This wasn't just another demon hunt; this was mythology come to life.

Dean broke the silence with a grin. "What's in the box?!" 

Venus chuckled before she could stop herself. But she quickly cleared her throat, forcing her face back into a scowl before anyone could notice.

Dean glanced around at the unimpressed faces in the room, his grin faltering. "Brad Pitt, Se7en? No?"

Bobby shoved the lore book into his chest with more force than necessary.

"What's this?" Dean began to flip through its pages.

"Binsfeld's Classification of Demons. In 1589, Binsfeld I.D.'d the seven sins—not just as human vices but as actual devils."

Sam paused in thought. "The family...they were touched by sloth."

"And the girl in the shoe store..." Venus trailed off at the memory of her short interview with the blonde after she was taken into custody. "Oh, that's envy alright."

"The customer we got in the next room," Bobby confirmed. "I couldn't suss it out at first until Isaac," he glanced at Tamara. "He was touched with an awful gluttony."

"I don't give a rat's arse if they're the three stooges or the four tops!" Tamara snapped. "I'm gonna slaughter every last one of them!"

Bobby stormed forward, a scowl etched deep into his bearded face. "We already did it your way. You burst in there half-cocked and look what happened! These demons haven't been topside in half a millennium. We're talking medieval, dark ages—we've never faced anything close to this. So we are going to take a breath...and figure out what our next move is! "

His words hit their mark, silencing Tamara, though she still trembled with rage, refusing to back down.

Bobby's expression softened. "I am sorry for your loss," he added quietly, then turned toward the room where the kidnapped demon waited. Tamara hesitated, but followed, slightly more composed, casting a final glance at Arturo and the others.

"So, you know who I am, huh?" Envy's voice was laced with amusement when they entered.

The hunters filed into the cramped space, each taking their place around the demon.

"We do," Bobby said. "We're not impressed."

Sam stepped in, arms folded into his chest. "Why are you here? What are you after?"

Envy's silence stretched, a smile playing on his lips, eyes flicking over their attempts at intimidation.

Dean stepped closer, eyes narrowing. "He asked you a question. What do you want?"

The demon laughed.

So Dean opened his flask and splashed him in the face with holy water.

Envy's pained winces echoed in the small room, but the hunters stood still, waiting. "We...already have what we want," he panted, recovering from the holy water's burn.

Venus gestured impatiently. "Which is...?"

"We're out!" he said with a twisted grin. "We're free. Thanks to you, my kind are everywhere. I am legion, for we are many."

Venus rolled her eyes—demons always had a flair for the dramatic.

"So me? I'm just celebrating. Having a little fun."

"Fun," Venus repeated, scoffing bitterly.

"Yeah, fun. See, some people crochet, others golf. Me?" Envy's eyes gleamed as they traveled over Tamara. "I like to see people's insides...on their outside."

Tamara stepped forward, fury burning in her eyes. "I'm gonna put you down like a dog," she snarled.

"Please," the demon taunted. His gaze shifted to the other hunters, his smirk growing darker. "You really think you're better than me? Which one of you can cast the first stone, huh?" His eyes locked on Dean. "What about you, Dean? You're practically a walking billboard of gluttony and lust."

Dean's lips twitched, but he stayed silent.

Envy turned, zeroing in on Venus. "And you, Venus..." he trailed off, eyes briefly darting to where Arturo stood behind her. "Lust is practically in your blood, isn't it? A little drink to dull the noise, a little push to get what you want...it all comes so naturally doesn't it?"

Venus paused for a split second, her stomach twisting at the strange weight of his words. Lust in her blood?  Confusion flickered behind her eyes, but she didn't let it show. Instead, she shot him a mocking grin, flipping him off without missing a beat.

He chuckled darkly, his gaze drifting back to Dean. "A match made in hell. Gluttony, lust—both of you wrapped in it." Then his eyes landed on Tamara. "And, Tamara, all that wrath...ooh...it's the reason you and Isaac became hunters in the first place isn't it? It's so much easier to drink in the rage than to face what really happened all those years ago."

Tamara's face twisted in rage, and before anyone could stop her, she lunged forward, delivering two brutal backhands to the demon's face.

Arturo and Bobby rushed to pull her back, stopping her from doing any real damage.

"Whew!" Envy exclaimed, his jaw hanging crookedly before he snapped it back into place. "My point exactly. And you call us sins. We're not sins, man. We are natural human instinct. And you can repress and deny us all you want. But the truth is, you are just animals...horny, greedy, hungry, violent animals. And you know what? You'll be slaughtered like animals too."

"Well, aren't you just a ray of sunshine," Venus piped up. "You plan on publishing all this in a manifesto? I bet some scrawny, woman-hating loser living in his mom's basement would eat this up."

Envy threw his head back, laughing, but before he could retort, his laughter cut off. He froze, head snapping to the right. "The others," he said. "They're coming for me."

Venus dropped her voice, mimicking him. "They're coming for me." A grin spread across her face. "Thing is, when they get here, they won't find you...'cause you'll already be in hell."

For the first time that night, an ounce of fear crept into the demon's expression. 

"What, did you think you were here for a playdate?"

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"I don't think we're gonna have to worry about hunting them," Bobby said once they gathered in the adjoining room, leaving Tamara behind to complete the exorcism.

"What does that mean?" Sam questioned from where he was leaning against a shelf of herbs and books.

Arturo sighed deeply. "They're going to be hunting us. And they won't quit easy."

Dean nodded in understanding. "You guys, why don't you take Tamara and head for the hills? I'll stay back, slow 'em down, buy you a little time."

"You're insane, Dean," Sam spat. "Just forget about it, okay?"

"Sam's right," Bobby and Arturo chimed in, their synchronized objection making Dean quirk an eyebrow.

"There's six of 'em, guys," Dean reminded them. "We're outmanned, outgunned. We'll be dead by dawn."

Venus folded her arms tight against her chest, her mind racing. "Running is useless. They'll find us no matter where we hide."

"Exactly," Sam agreed. "So if we're going down, we're going down together, alright?"

Dean locked eyes with his younger brother and sighed. "Let's not make it easy for 'em."

Venus gave a slight nod in agreement, though the bitterness of their situation gnawed at her.

Upstairs in the attic, the minutes ticked by like a countdown to death. Venus sat by the boarded-up windows, methodically pouring holy water into canteens. Across the room, Dean loaded salt rounds into his shotgun, his movements sharp, almost angry. She could feel the heat of his gaze on her, but she refused to meet it—at least, not yet.

When she finally did glance up, his expression was already cold. His eyes locked onto her, unyielding, sending a chill through her chest. Venus clenched her jaw. Was this really how they were going to spend what could be their last moments? Every word she wanted to say caught in her throat, leaving her suffocated by unspoken confessions.

Then, for the briefest second, Dean's face cracked. Behind the anger, behind the walls he so desperately put up, was fear. The same fear she felt—an overwhelming terror of leaving this world with things unsaid, with regrets that would never see the light of day.

Venus opened her mouth, ready to break the silence between them, but the crackle of the radio behind her shattered the moment. A random blues song filled the room—a clear indication of the demons' arrival.

Dean cocked his shotgun and rose to his feet, his gaze shifting past Venus toward the windows. He exhaled harshly. "Here we go."

Sam hurried into the room, shotgun gripped tight, moving to Dean's side by the window.

Venus sighed, setting aside the bottles of holy water with a sense of inevitability settling in her chest. Her fingers brushed the cold metal of her shotgun. This was it—no more time to think, no more time to feel. Just fight.

They all stood, frozen in place, scanning the yard for any movement. The silence was maddening, pressing on her skull like a vice. Then, suddenly, a voice broke through.

"Tamara!"

Venus' heart lurched as Isaac came stumbling up the porch. "Tamara, help me, please!"

Isaac was dead, but there he was, wailing for his wife. It was a cruel trick, a calculated ploy to knock Tamara off her game—and let every last one of those demons through the door.

For a moment, she hoped that Bobby and Arturo would hold Tamara back. But the pit in her stomach told her otherwise.

And then, just as she feared, it happened.

"Shit," Venus hissed at the sight of Tamara bursting from the house and throwing herself at the demon that wore her husband's face. The salt ring shattered beneath her feet, and with it, all hell broke loose. The remaining demons rushed in like a wave, infiltrating the house within seconds.

Dean bolted without a second thought, leaving his shotgun behind. Venus moved to follow but her eyes darted back to Sam, who was standing by the bottles of holy water. "You good?"

Sam nodded, already reaching for a canteen.

Venus cocked her shotgun, listening to the thundering footsteps of the demons tearing up the stairs. She slipped into the hallway, her steps slow and measured. She could hear them—closer, closer. Her heart pounded in her ears but her hands were steady, gripping her gun with an iron resolve.

She stopped at the bathroom door, her breath shallow. She knew one of the demons—a woman—was tailing Dean. Venus braced herself, rushing inside with her gun raised. But what she saw stopped her cold.

There, in the middle of the room, was Dean, locked in a heated kiss with the demon. Lust. It had to be.

Venus' teeth gnashed, a bitter pang of disgust flaring in her chest. She cleared her throat loudly. 

The blonde demon released Dean with a teasing smirk, her black eyes gleaming with amusement. "Venus," she purred, her voice a sickly sweet hum. "No need to get all pouty. There's plenty of me to go around."

Venus' gaze darted briefly to Dean, standing behind her. His chest rose and fell quickly, guilt flickering in his eyes as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. But he remained still, watching Venus intently, as though waiting for her next move. 

Her focus shifted to the bathtub of holy water nearby, a plan already forming.

The demon's smirk widened when Venus slowly lowered her shotgun, placing it on the floor. "That's it. Attagirl," Lust cooed, stepping closer with a predatory gleam in her dark eyes.

Venus let the demon's hands slide up her body, the touch igniting an unwanted thrill beneath her skin. Lust leaned in, brushing their lips together in a teasing caress, her eyes fluttering shut in satisfaction. As Lust pressed closer, Venus' hand moved up, cupping the back of the demon's neck gently.

Venus allowed herself to sink into the moment, a pulse of heat rising within her. For a heartbeat, she felt the overwhelming urge to give in, to let lust overtake her. The temptation gnawed at her, and for a moment, it felt almost right—natural, like envy had mentioned earlier—but she forced herself to focus.

So then, with a swift, calculated movement, Venus tightened her grip and shoved Lust backward into the tub.

The splash of water cut off the demon's shocked gasp as she hit the surface. Dean lunged forward, hands gripping the back of Lust's head to hold her under, holy water hissing against her skin.

Venus didn't stop to look back. She scooped up her shotgun and was already halfway out of the room, her expression unreadable.

Dean watched her retreat, a low sigh escaping him before he turned his attention back to the demon thrashing beneath his grip.

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Morning came soon after, and with it, the grim task of burning and burying their dead.

According to Sam, three of the demons were single-handedly taken out by a young blonde with a very special knife. She disappeared before he could press her further, but she already knew his name—a fact that unsettled Venus.

She, along with Dean and Sam, stood above the shallow graves holding the vessels of Pride, Gluttony, and Greed, methodically pouring salt and gasoline over the corpses.

Not far off, Tamara stood by herself, eyes locked on the pyre for her husband. The sight made Venus' stomach twist painfully. For a brief, suffocating moment, she could see herself and Sam standing in Tamara's place, watching Dean's lifeless body burn atop a pile of wood in eleven and a half months. Her heart lurched, and she had to swallow down the bile rising in her throat, willing the horrific image away.

Sam's voice, thick with hesitation, broke through her haze. "Think she's gonna be alright?"

Venus glanced at him, a quiet sadness in her eyes. "Would you be?"

Sam fell silent, the weight of her words hanging between them. The unspoken truth—that this could be them one day—clawed at the edges of their minds, but neither dared to voice it.

Bobby and Arturo trudged over, both looking drained and battered, as though the night's events had aged them years.

"You two look like hell warmed over," Dean greeted.

Bobby gave a tired smirk. "Well, you try exorcisin' all night and see how you feel," he shot back.

Venus turned to her uncle, searching his face for an ounce of hope, maybe. "Any survivors?"

Arturo sighed, running a hand through his hair, the lines of exhaustion clear. "The big guy and the blonde, they'll be okay—as much as anyone can after something like this."

Dean fished a matchbox from his jacket, pausing for a fleeting moment to look down at the bodies before them. His usual bravado slipped, just a fraction, before he forced it back into place. "That's more than you can say for these poor bastards," he muttered, flicking a match and tossing it onto the gasoline-soaked graves.

"Guys," Sam began, sighing. "That knife—what kind of blade can kill a demon?"

Bobby and Arturo exchanged baffled glances. The question had been weighing on them, both men mentally sifting through every piece of lore they knew, coming up short.

"Yesterday, I would've said there was no such thing," Bobby admitted, a note of helplessness in his words.

Dean chimed in. "I'm just gonna ask again. Who was that masked chick?" He paused, then added with a smirk, "Actually, the more troubling question would be, how come a girl can fight—" He halted mid-sentence when Venus cleared her throat behind him, "Sorry, how come a girl—who's not Venus—can fight better than you?"

Sam chuckled dryly. "Three demons, Dean...at once."

Dean flashed a cocky grin, reaching up to pat Sam's shoulder. "Hey, whatever it takes to get you through the night, pal."

While Venus stood silently next to the bantering brothers, a gentle hand on her shoulder grabbed her attention. 

"Let's talk," Arturo said quietly. He gestured for her to follow him away from the group. Venus raised a brow at his words, but she followed, shoving her hands deep into her pockets, bracing herself.

"¿Estás bien? " she asked, worry creeping into her voice.

"Si," Arturo reassured her with a small smile. But the smile didn't reach his eyes. He hesitated, as if trying to find the right words. After a quick glance at Tamara, standing frozen as she watched the last remnants of her husband burn, Arturo sighed deeply. "There's something I've been thinking about for a while. After today...I've made my decision."

Venus froze. "Tío, you're scaring me."

Arturo exhaled slowly, his voice quieter now. "I'm retiring...from hunting."

Her heart dropped at the words, the air suddenly too thick to breathe. Venus stared at him, struggling to process what he'd just said. This was not the conversation she was expecting—she wasn't ready for this.

"Breaking my leg in the accident last year?" Arturo continued, a bittersweet smile tugging at his lips. "It ended up being the best thing that ever happened to me. At first, I felt useless, like my life had no purpose if I wasn't hunting. But after a while...I got to be me again. Not a hunter, not a soldier. Just Arturo. I missed making gorditas, and Mamá's huevos rancheros. I missed...living."

Venus blinked back the burn of tears, forcing a small smile at the mention of their family. But beneath that, a creeping fear unsettled her. What did this mean for them? For her? She had no idea how her relationship with her uncle would look once hunting was no longer in the picture. Would she lose him like she had lost everyone else? It was a selfish thought, and she hated herself for it the moment it crossed her mind, but she couldn't push it away.

"You've been there for everything," Venus whispered, barely audible. "I don't know what I'm gonna do without you."

Arturo's expression softened, and he gently cupped her face. "Mija, I am not abandoning you. I'll always be a phone call or a few hours' drive away. But I need this. I don't want to wait until it's too late to start living again."

She held his gaze, her chest tight with the conflict between the love she felt for him and the raw terror of losing another person she cared about. The words to beg him to stay were on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't say them. She understood all too well what this life did to people—how it chewed them up and spat them out, piece by piece. Arturo deserved a life outside of all this death. Even if it broke her heart, she had to let him go.

Sensing her internal struggle, Arturo gave her a warm, reassuring smile, attempting to lighten the weight that had fallen between them. "You know," he began, his tone softening with a playful glint in his eyes. "A few months ago, I made a tres leches cake so good that Bobby took a bite and shed a tear. He'll deny it if you ask him now, but trust me, it happened."

Venus blinked in surprise at the sudden shift but couldn't help the burst of laughter that escaped her lips. She quickly brought a hand up to stifle her giggles before she could catch the others' attention. The moment was fleeting, but it was exactly what she needed. No matter how uncertain everything felt, Arturo still had a way of making her feel safe, even for just a second.

Arturo's grin widened, clearly pleased to see her laugh. "And I guess there's no use hiding it now. I—"

"Met a girl," Venus interjected, her smile still teary but more genuine this time.

Arturo chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Not exactly. I'd known her my whole life. It was dumb luck finding her again...in Minneapolis of all places. Elena."

Venus' eyes widened, lighting up in recognition. "The cubana from down the block?"

Arturo's brows creased in surprise. "How do you know about her?"

"Tío, everybody knew about her. We lived in a small town, and you had four siblings and ten nieces and nephews. Someone was bound to see you 'sneaking around'," she teased, throwing up air quotes with a smirk.

Arturo groaned, dragging a palm down his face, embarrassment coloring his features.

"She knows what we do, doesn't she? Probably always did."

Reluctantly, Arturo confirmed her words with a nod. Elena Núñez was the first and last person he had ever revealed the secret to. None of the flings and temporary girlfriends he'd had over the years had ever really compared. Elena was the only one who made him feel comfortable enough to share that part of himself—and stuck around when he did.

Venus looped her arm through his, steering them toward his truck. "So, are you two getting a place in Minneapolis?"

"She already has a house there. Her last husband was...well, a mean bastard. She got most everything in the divorce," Arturo explained, shaking his head with a wry grin.

Venus gave a soft laugh. "Talk about perfect timing."

"That's exactly it, mija," he agreed, his voice thick with emotion. "Elena and I finding each other again, right after her divorce, right after my accident...it feels like fate. She makes me feel like I'm sixteen again, chasing after her in Santa Fe. I didn't think I could ever feel this happy again." He paused, glancing at Venus with something close to reverence in his eyes. "I told myself I needed to stay for you, to keep hunting to protect you," he said, his tone heavier. "But look at you. You're so mature, so strong—stronger than I ever was. You don't need me anymore."

Venus sniffled, barely keeping her tears at bay. "Of course I need you, tío. I'll always need you."

Arturo's smile faltered for a moment.

"But for more than twenty years, I've watched you put everyone else before yourself—me, the boys, John. It was never fair. You deserved better." She placed her hands on his shoulders, offering him a teary smile. "I wish it didn't take so long, but I'm glad you found it."

Arturo let out a deep, relieved sigh and pulled her into his arms. He cradled her head against his chest, her soft sobs muffling into his jacket. "Siempre estaré contigo," he whispered into her hair.

Venus nodded against him, pulling back just enough to wipe her tears with the back of her hand. "I know," she murmured. "I'm just...so happy for you."

Arturo gave her a gentle smile. "One more thing, okay?"

Venus frowned slighty, unsure of what to expect.

"You were never a burden," he said firmly. "You're my family, Venus. And I would do anything for you—don't ever doubt that."

Her breath hitched, another sob slipping out as she sank into his arms again. "I love you, tío." she choked out.

Arturo pressed a tender kiss to her temple, holding her close and swaying gently. "I love you too, mija."

The moment lingered, bittersweet and full of unspoken emotions, until Bobby's low cough interrupted them. They pulled apart, but the closeness remained, a new understanding settling between them.

Venus looked up to see the older hunter walking toward them, the Winchester boys trailing behind with puzzled expressions. The weight of the conversation still clung to the air around her, but the moment had passed, interrupted by reality.

Bobby gave them a knowing look, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Guessin' you finally told her?"

Arturo chuckled shyly, shifting on his feet, eyes fixed on the ground.

"Told her what?" Sam asked, glancing between Venus and Arturo curiously.

Arturo looked down at Venus. She gave him a soft, encouraging smile—the kind that told him she was ready to share this news with their extended family. With a nod, Arturo turned to face the others. 

"I quit."

Sam's mouth fell open, a startled laugh escaping him. "Wait, what?"

Dean blinked, his brows knitting together. "Quit what?"

Arturo gave another chuckle, one that was light but carried the weight of years of sacrifice behind it. "Hunting, mijo. I'm heading out to Minneapolis to settle down."

For a moment, there was silence. The kind that sinks into your skin, not from awkwardness but from the sheer significance of the revelation. Then, in a flash of movement, Dean surged forward and pulled Arturo into a tight embrace, clapping him on the back hard enough to make him wince but full of affection nonetheless.

"Congrats, Artie," Dean said, his voice a little softer than usual, though the smirk he wore was still trademark Dean. "You deserve it, man."

Sam followed suit, reaching out to give Arturo a firm handshake before pulling him into a quick hug. "Minneapolis, huh?" Sam asked, his grin wide. "You got yourself a place lined up yet?"

Arturo's smile was humble but full of life. "Actually, my...girlfriend, Elena—she's got a house. Decent-sized place, real cozy. She's got room for me...and my baggage."

The brothers shared a knowing look at the mention of Elena. They recalled Venus' old stories of Arturo's secret rendezvous with her back in the day.

"Elena, huh?" Dean mused, nodding in approval. "You don't say..."

Venus watched the exchange, her heart full but aching. It was bittersweet—Arturo moving on meant more than just leaving the hunt. It meant the end of an era. The loss of another protector. But it also meant he was free. Free from the weight of a world she still had to carry.

Arturo's gaze softened as he glanced back at the group, "Sorry to be leaving you kids in the middle of a war, but..." he trailed off, the weight of that statement lingering in the air.

Dean, ever quick to cut through the tension, shook his head with a smirk. "Hey, I get it. If the end days are really coming, why not make the most of it?"

Sam chuckled, his tone light but understanding. "Yeah, if there's any time to retire, this might be it." He glanced at Dean and Venus. "Besides, we've survived plenty already. We'll manage."

Arturo let out a small, relieved sigh. "I just don't want to leave you all shorthanded, that's all."

Dean placed a hand on Arturo's shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly. "You've done more than enough, Artie. Hell, we probably wouldn't still be kicking if it wasn't for you. Now it's your turn to live a little."

"Just promise you won't check out completely, okay?" Sam added with a playful grin. "We might need your skills to save our asses one more time."

Arturo chuckled but nodded. He'd made a similar promise to John before he died, to always be there for his boys. "Deal. No matter where I go, my door's always open for you guys. All of you," he emphasized the last part with a glance at Bobby, who stood slightly apart, watching the scene unfold with a mix of pride and quiet reflection.

"Don't go getting all sentimental on me," Bobby waved him off, though the smile tugging at his lips gave him away.

Arturo shook his head with a laugh, then turned to Venus, his voice softening as he spoke just to her. "You're gonna be alright, chiquita. I know it."

Venus smiled through the tears threatening to spill over again. "I'll hold you to that, Tío."

With one final nod to the group, Arturo started toward his truck, a new chapter of his life waiting just over the horizon.

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A/N:  Arturo settling down. Who woulda thunk it!
Don't worry guys, he'll still be around! I have...plans for him... :)

Sorry for disappearing for a month...again...
I locked in this past week tho and drafted the chapters for like...half-ish of season 3...and oh MAN...

Translations:
¿Estás bien? - Are you okay?
Siempre estaré contigo - I'll always be with you.

Lovely GIF banner up above made by the incredibly talented prodigybitxhhh

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