Small Cuts (Supernatural Dark!fic)

e i g h t

"Oh, Father tell me, do we get what we deserve?
Whoa, we get what we deserve
And way down we go"
Way Down We Go - KALEO 

The morning after Dean returned with the supplies, Amara found herself standing in the bunker's main room, shifting nervously from foot to foot as Sam and Dean moved the heavy wooden table to the side, clearing space in the centre of the room. The old lamps cast a soft, golden glow across the room, giving it a warm, almost comforting atmosphere, but the air between them was crackling with something else—anticipation.

"You ready for this?" Dean asked, his tone teasing as he shot her a smirk. "Don't worry, we'll go easy on you... at first."

Amara let out a small, nervous laugh, though there was an edge of excitement in her chest. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Sam, standing nearby with his arms crossed, offered her a reassuring smile. "It's just some basic self-defence for now. We'll start slow."

Amara nodded, her heartbeat quickening. She hadn't been in a situation like this before—she'd never thought she'd need to know how to fight, how to defend herself from supernatural threats. But here she was, standing in the middle of an underground bunker with two experienced hunters, about to learn how to protect herself in ways she'd never imagined.

Dean rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck as he stepped toward her. "Okay, first rule: don't hesitate. If something's coming at you, hesitation will get you killed. You see an opening, you take it."

His voice was sharp, but there was a lightness to it too, a playful edge that made Amara feel like maybe this wasn't going to be as terrifying as she thought. She gave him a quick nod, her fingers curling into fists at her sides.

"Got it."

Dean flashed her a grin before turning to Sam. "Alright, you start her off. I'll step in when you get tired of being the nice guy."

Sam chuckled, shaking his head as he walked toward her, his demeanour calm and steady. He moved with an ease that made it clear he'd done this a thousand times before, and it immediately put her at ease.

"Okay," Sam said, his tone soft but focused. "Let's start with something simple. We're going to practice getting out of holds. It's about leverage and speed, not strength."

Amara nodded, her heart racing with a mix of nervousness and curiosity. Sam moved behind her, explaining as he went. "I'm going to grab you from behind, like this." He wrapped his arms gently but firmly around her, trapping her arms against her sides. "Your goal is to break free, fast."

Amara swallowed, the warmth of his arms around her bringing an unexpected flush to her cheeks, but she shook it off quickly, focusing on his instructions.

"You don't have to be stronger than the person holding you," Sam continued, his voice low in her ear. "You just have to know where to hit."

Before she could overthink it, Sam loosened his grip slightly, giving her an opening. "Now, elbow me in the ribs, hard, and twist out."

Amara hesitated for only a second before she acted on instinct. Her elbow shot backward, hitting Sam's ribs with surprising force, and she twisted her body sharply, breaking free of his hold in a fluid motion. She stumbled slightly as she turned to face him, her breath coming quicker, but her mind was buzzing with a rush of adrenaline.

Sam stepped back, raising an eyebrow in mild surprise. "Not bad," he said, rubbing his side with a small smile. "You've got good instincts."

Dean, watching from the sidelines, let out a low whistle. "Damn, she's a natural."