Hardcore Mage AU

“For sure.” Ray’s eager to point out his bat. “We’ll be completely prepared when that ugly lizard shows its face again.”

Luke’s a little nervous - for good reason. “It’s a little... nervewracking. We’ve been stocking up these past few days, for sure. Hopefully we’ll have enough...”

A feeling of unease rests upon the group. 

Austin breaks the silence. “We will be ready! No dragon can defeat the power of friendship!”

“Pfft. Sure.” 

She grimaces a little. “He’s heard the tales. We all have. The adventurers who went off on their own and never returned.” With a shrug, Lucah continues. “I’m sure it’ll be fine. Us seven were chosen for a reason, I’m sure.”

After... whatever happened earlier, Dean rejoined the Squad. It’s dark again - not much seemed to happen that day. 

“A... favourite colour?” Ray questions, frowning a little.

“Yeah! Like... I think you can’t go wrong with yellow or gold.” Dean grins, leaning back. 

Ian scoffs. “They’re not even the same colour. I guess I like purple?”

Lucah pipes up, flushing a little. “I really like blue.”

“A specific blue? Associated with a certain man?” Jeff teases. 

He’s quiet for a bit.

“Can you just stop?” He snaps, slamming a hand on the table.

The pile of papers is not as neat as Dean would have liked. 

Dean was reading over some notes, something to do with the reason for their adventure. “What? What does that even mean?” 

Jeff is busy sorting a chest of various items. 

As the Magic Anon comes into effect, he freezes, staring into nothing.

There are flashes - something black and humanoid, a flash of purple, a world of pale stone and dark pillars, red - a lot of red - and then nothing. 

(Asks are now back in the Past)

It’s a little after his outburst earlier. He’s still sat where he was, by the door of the cottage. 

He’s silent. The silence stretches for a solid three minutes. Dean is staring at his hands. 

“... I’d apologise. For... everything. For failing them all. For having this power and not using it to save a single one of them. For just letting it all happen. For... for being a coward!”

“I... I don’t, okay! I didn’t deserve to live over them! Ian, Austin, Ray and Lucah had _lives_, they had people and pets waiting for them, Luke and Jeff, god, they didn’t deserve any of what they got!” 

“....”

The answer is quiet - almost too quiet to hear.

(Modern!Dean)

He’s currently being grounded by Bailey for doing something dangerous.