A/N This story is another hunters POV of what might be said about the Winchesters in hunting circles. Because, let's face it, they are kind of legends. I love stories like this and search obsessively for them, and thought I'd try my hand at it. It will be 3 chapters long. This first chapter is a bit fuzzy on the time line, but I did that on purpose. Technically the events in this chapter take place before Bobby dies, but it's also kind of a hunter reminiscing so it can really take place whenever.

Edited on 02/23/19

Disclaimer: I own nothing, except maybe my OC Austin.

Real Life Legends

By: ThornsHaveRoses

Austin had been a Hunter for about two years when he first heard the stories. He got in the usual way - his sister had been murdered one night, and no matter what the police and the forensics said, he had been the one to walk in on her mutilated body. He'd seen the inhuman destruction of his little sister, the person he'd loved most in the world. And he'd seen the hideous monster that had been crouched over her... feeding.

A mission for revenge had led him all sorts of places - to psychics and dreamwalkers and spirit-talkers and mediums, then to hunting stores and libraries and dusty old books that told him things he'd didn't want to believe. Then, finely, a bar called the Roadhouse, where he'd had his questions answered, and he'd finely got his revenge not long after. But the Roadhouse was were his eyes were truly opened to a world much bigger then he'd thought.

After that, Austin hunted all manner of things. After his sisters' murder had been avenged, he'd hunted ghosts and werewolves, a shifter or two, even a powerful Wendigo once - but he'd had help with that. He'd stumbled into this whole community of people fighting this dark battle unknown to the public. The Roadhouse was common meeting ground, and he tried to stop in every 6 months or so, but there were other Hunter hangouts he discovered after a while. A bar down in Maine, and a motel in California, and these other Hunters were like a sort of family. A badly-dressed, often crude, rough and scarred family, but still.

And the stories they told. Those first few years, they seemed crazy, that anyone had tackled that and lived. But he soon found out that Hunters never exaggerated their stories. It was like an unspoken code, because one day anothers life might depend on that information that you'd shared over a beer. Austin was only twenty-four when he first heard of 'The Winchesters'. Their name was spoken almost reventatly, and he immediately realised they were more then the average hunter.

The first few stories were about how The Winchesters (because that's what they were always referred to as) had tackled some serious shit. Aparently one of them had a girlfriend that was murdered. Rumor said burned alive even, and Austin cringed in horror hearing that. There was talk that one had died, but turns out it was just a shifter. Their old man got killed, and apparently he'd been a force to be reckoned with. Heard that John had had his sons hunting before they were old enough to drive. Then there was talk of demons. Austin was still new enough he'd never encountered a demon, but he guessed about four years ago, The Winchesters had opened Hell's Gate (it was never specified if it was an accident or on purpose) and they'd spent the better part of a year cleaning up a demon infestation the likes of which these seasoned hunters had never seen before.

But the thing was, it was barely enough to peak Austins curiosity. Demons weren't his thing. But really, he was only just beginning be to realise that there was bigger stuff out there, and his ganking a few vamps and an evil spirit, well that was small potatoes.

Not to long after that he was catching up with a few guys over drinks, and after Darren had had a few beers in him, he made some crack about The Winchesters and he spoke a little loudly, because that had a women from the bar turning around and giving him a glare. "Try not to speak ill of the dead, Darren Pete." She said.

"Dead?" Darren said "Magnolia, honey, what you talking about?"

That's when Austin learned that one of The Winchesters had gone to Hell. Magnolia had heard it from a guy named Bobby, and around hunters, he knows just about everything. Now the thought of one of their own going to Hell, that sobers up a group of hunters pretty darn quick, but not quite a year later, in the same bar, Magnolia said The Winchester boy was back. Again, she cited this Bobby as her source, and no one argued it.

Austin had heard of Bobby Singer off and on for about five years before he actually spoke to him. On the phone, of course and what he'd been expecting he wasn't quite sure, but it sure wasn't this gruff, foul-mouthed old man. But he got used to Bobby, as every one of them had - he was an invaluable source if knowledge. He was the guy you called when you were up shit's creek without a prayer. When you were stuck and needed a hand, he had a whole list of contacts he could call on. If Bobby Singer said it, you could damn well take it to the bank.

Anyways, Austin was always listening to other hunters stories. And over the years, he got so he had his own to tell, and still every time The Winchesters were spoke of, it was something unbelievable. After a while, those boys picked up a sidekick. No one was quite sure who or what the man in the tan trench coat was, but he was famous because if his mystery, and because of his proximity to The Winchesters. It was thought, just about universally agreed that whatever that mysterious figure was, he wasn't human. That just lead to more questions for Austin if course. What kind of hunter hangs out with a supernatural being? Those were the things they killed.

There was no facts about him, but it seemed where ever The Winchesters went, so did he.

Then came stories - first and second hand accounts - about Lucifer. He even heard that the youngest of The Winchesters was working with demon - was even working with the Devil. One of The Winchesters was walking around playing meat suit to Lucifer. There were a lot of grumblings for a while - a lot of hatred for the hero who turned out to betray humanity by collaborating with the big bad, and a sort of personal hatred because that boy had betrayed hunters, and well, hunters held grudges. But then it came down the pipeline that The Winchester had bested the freaking Devil, sacrificed himself, and locked that bastard back up. Turns out, maybe he was a hero all along.

And as the years passed, and Austin did his part by seeing to the end of all manner of possessions and haunted objects and vampires, he found himself thankful everyday that those Winchesters were out there taking care of Hell, and gods. Because that shit was too much for him. He was happy taking care of the small stuff, while The Winchesters in this awesome sounding vintage Impala with a trench coat wearing whatever-he-was, we're taking care of the really big shit-storms.

Eventually the stories got to many to count. Too many for any sort of order. One of the boys was dead, he heard, deals with a demon, then deals with the King of the Hell. He heard the one who sacrificed himself got out, but that he was souless. That scared Austin. But it turns out his brother fixed him, just had to make a deal with Death. Yeah, that's how most stories went, one of these brothers saving the other, and Austin had to admit that for someone like him for worked alone, it would be nice to have someone always watching your back.

There were casualties too, of course. The Roadhouse. Hunters he knew in passing, or just by name, but Austin tried not to deal on that too much. No need to be reminded of your own morality.

Austin, now a seasoned hunter - though still younger then many - could still remember the weeks if fear and uncertainty (though he might not admit it out loud) of a barely-averted apocalypse.

So he just kept doing his job, and prayed they kept doing there job. And the thing with tales like theirs, is he never expected to meet them. Because they may be hunters, but The Winchesters were not like the rest of them. They were bigger then them. Heros. Legends.