![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
"If salt is causing you pain, you should take a long, hard look at yourself." Gadreel deadpanned as he inspected the vessel. No way was that guy ever saying yes, not with the hate that was currently radiating out from him. The brother was reloading so Gadreel moved fast, grabbing the barrel of the gun and then using it to smack right into Matty's face before he took it from him. He tossed it across the way so neither side could have it.
Matty held his face and spat blood onto the floor. Come on, Cas. They could really need an angel right now.
"What the hell do you want?!" Matty staggered to Sam and grabbed onto his arm, pulling him behind him and trying to get them both away from Gadreel and Lucifer.
Matty held his face and spat blood onto the floor. Come on, Cas. They could really need an angel right now.
"What the hell do you want?!" Matty staggered to Sam and grabbed onto his arm, pulling him behind him and trying to get them both away from Gadreel and Lucifer.
"It's not good for my clothes, is it?" And maybe sometimes it did smart just a little. Although that could be phantom pain. Lucifer watched Gadreel do the grunt work, then, with even more amusement, watched as Matty pulled Sam behind himself and Sam actually ducked for that move to be even somewhat effective. Aw. These brother shenanigans were making him miss Raphael.
"I have a task for you. I'm back to being King of Hell and from what I've heard, you ran errands for the last guy all the time."
"We're not going to do anything for you," Sam spat out, glaring, "Cas!" Maybe they could just yell for their angel.
"I have a task for you. I'm back to being King of Hell and from what I've heard, you ran errands for the last guy all the time."
"We're not going to do anything for you," Sam spat out, glaring, "Cas!" Maybe they could just yell for their angel.
"Yeah, I don't care what title you have, we're not doing jack-shit for you. Now get the hell away from my brother." He fumbled around in his pocket and then pulled out the angel knife he had. He couldn't kill an archangel but he could hurt him at least. The weapon made Gadreel back up a little, still in fighting stance but keeping distance now.
Matty narrowed his eyes. "So who's your pal, huh? You got a name, buddy."
"I'm Gadreel." Short and sweet, no further comment. That could have meant something to some but to Matty, he had no damn clue.
Matty narrowed his eyes. "So who's your pal, huh? You got a name, buddy."
"I'm Gadreel." Short and sweet, no further comment. That could have meant something to some but to Matty, he had no damn clue.
"Gadreel is the name of the angel who let the serpent tempt Eve," Sam muttered, his eyes wide. It had been years and, yes, he was literally the devil's perfect vessel, yet there was still a certain awe to facing yet another creature of myths and legends.
Lucifer had took a step to the side, to put himself between Matty and his angel blade and his Gadreel. He would not see him harmed over this. "Yes, I brought a VIP here with me tonight. You should feel honoured."
"It's an honour." That was Castiel's voice, suddenly from the side. And then Castiel attacked Gadreel without any warning, going for the kill.
Lucifer wasn't at full power, but he used what he had to throw Castiel backwards, making him land on the hood of the Impala.
"Will you calm down, baby brother?! Control your angel, Matteo."
Lucifer had took a step to the side, to put himself between Matty and his angel blade and his Gadreel. He would not see him harmed over this. "Yes, I brought a VIP here with me tonight. You should feel honoured."
"It's an honour." That was Castiel's voice, suddenly from the side. And then Castiel attacked Gadreel without any warning, going for the kill.
Lucifer wasn't at full power, but he used what he had to throw Castiel backwards, making him land on the hood of the Impala.
"Will you calm down, baby brother?! Control your angel, Matteo."
Gadreel wished he'd had better warning, he was confident he could take that punk but fortunately, Lucifer had his back. Gadreel staggered back up to his feet, turning to glare down Castiel. If he had to, he'd rip any of his brothers and sisters apart. Mercy was not an option when people hated you this instinctively.
"So what - you botched apple tree duty? Really, you just brought along a fellow loser, huh?" Matty asked as he cocked his head to the side to check on Cas. "You okay, man?"
He would have gone and checked but he had to keep his baby brother safe.
"I think you should get to the point." Gadreel told Lucifer as he came close to him, assuming that was the smarter path. It was three against two and while they had the better odds, he didn't fancy risks.
"So what - you botched apple tree duty? Really, you just brought along a fellow loser, huh?" Matty asked as he cocked his head to the side to check on Cas. "You okay, man?"
He would have gone and checked but he had to keep his baby brother safe.
"I think you should get to the point." Gadreel told Lucifer as he came close to him, assuming that was the smarter path. It was three against two and while they had the better odds, he didn't fancy risks.
"I'm fine, Matty," Castiel assured him, getting off the car to come to stand besides Matty, in front of Sam. Just in case. "I'm sorry I'm late."
"One of these days I'll get to dance on all of your graves. I can't fucking wait." Lucifer breathed past his anger to find some chill, rolling his shoulders and, yes. Getting to the point. "Raphael died for your sins, you ungrateful assholes."
"...you killed him," Sam pointed out, but Lucifer waved that off.
"Details. Anyway, turns out that lil bro ain't quite as dead as advertised. He's being held captive somewhere on Earth, far as I can tell. You owe him, so you find him."
"One of these days I'll get to dance on all of your graves. I can't fucking wait." Lucifer breathed past his anger to find some chill, rolling his shoulders and, yes. Getting to the point. "Raphael died for your sins, you ungrateful assholes."
"...you killed him," Sam pointed out, but Lucifer waved that off.
"Details. Anyway, turns out that lil bro ain't quite as dead as advertised. He's being held captive somewhere on Earth, far as I can tell. You owe him, so you find him."
"I don't know man, you're one shitty big brother. I think you owe him more." Matty struck back, not willing to accept that Raphael was on them. They would try to find him, obviously, having a living non-douche archangel would be an amazing have but this was not a fuck up on their end.
"Does it matter who owes who? Just find him." Gadreel dusted himself off and hoped they could get through this before Lucifer's temper truly exploded.
"So what - you're just like an old pal from the fall? His guard dog or something?" Matty asked Gadreel, eyeing him up with disgust. What sort of asshole angel worked with Lucifer willingly like this. Gadreel just made a vague noise, not breaking eye contact.
"Whatever." Matty huffed. "You got a clue where Raphael is?"
"Does it matter who owes who? Just find him." Gadreel dusted himself off and hoped they could get through this before Lucifer's temper truly exploded.
"So what - you're just like an old pal from the fall? His guard dog or something?" Matty asked Gadreel, eyeing him up with disgust. What sort of asshole angel worked with Lucifer willingly like this. Gadreel just made a vague noise, not breaking eye contact.
"Whatever." Matty huffed. "You got a clue where Raphael is?"
"What I owe or don't owe him is mine and his business. Although if we're talking shitty big brothers, yowza! I've been in Sammy's head here, you really wanna talk to me about that, Matty?" Lucifer grinned and Sam immediately turned to his brother, telling him not to listen to, hey, the literal goddamn devil. He was sure he wouldn't, but still.
"Point is, if I go after a demon like that it's a big deal. I'm me. You are just you. Much more diplomatic that way." He rolled his shoulders and looked at the three of them. Castiel, Matty and Sam. All so very filled to the brim with righteousness. "Gadreel is on Team Free Will. Has been since before my Fall. He's an OG."
"He never fell," Castiel supplied helpfully, his eyes focused on Gadreel suspiciously.
"Yeah, he's handy that way. Anyway. Lazar. You should be able to find him easily enough. One of my creation. Careful though, I reckon he's gotten a major power upgrade with an archangel in his power."
"Point is, if I go after a demon like that it's a big deal. I'm me. You are just you. Much more diplomatic that way." He rolled his shoulders and looked at the three of them. Castiel, Matty and Sam. All so very filled to the brim with righteousness. "Gadreel is on Team Free Will. Has been since before my Fall. He's an OG."
"He never fell," Castiel supplied helpfully, his eyes focused on Gadreel suspiciously.
"Yeah, he's handy that way. Anyway. Lazar. You should be able to find him easily enough. One of my creation. Careful though, I reckon he's gotten a major power upgrade with an archangel in his power."
"Don't you dare talk about me and my brother like you understand any of it. We actually like each other and, uh, news flash douchebag - I still talk to my brother." Whereas Lucifer was alone, bitter and hated. He couldn't imagine Raphael was out there, excitedly waiting for Lucifer to come find him. Though he was going to shove his boot right up Raphael's ass when he found him. Hiding little coward. "Lazar." Matty repeated, knowing Sam would remember because he wouldn't. "Fine."
"You should probably mention he's a prince of hell." Gadreel pointed out to Lucifer as he crossed his arms, looking at Castiel without a hint of concern or uneasy. "You got something to say to me, trench coat?"
He wasn't going to be talked down about by some weak non-nothing angel he'd never even heard of.
"You should probably mention he's a prince of hell." Gadreel pointed out to Lucifer as he crossed his arms, looking at Castiel without a hint of concern or uneasy. "You got something to say to me, trench coat?"
He wasn't going to be talked down about by some weak non-nothing angel he'd never even heard of.
"I am trying to understand you," Castiel said honestly, looking at Gadreel. He was powerful, definitely more powerful than him. Right now perhaps even more powerful than Lucifer, whose grace appeared to be depleted. Probably another reason he was not going up against Lazar directly himself. "I have done terrible things for reasons no one but me understood at the time."
So maybe him and Gadreel were alike. Lucifer glanced from Castiel to Gadreel, deciding that he wanted to nip that conversation in the bud. "He's just easily distracted, that's all. Piss off with your Greater Good 101 class, Castiel."
"Lazar has become more powerful by using Raphael." That was what Sam was putting together here. "A powerful Prince of Hell. Sure. Why not toss that to us? All in a day's work."
Lucifer hissed, but looked amused. "Ah, Sammy, Sammy, Sammy. Every time I meet you, you're more and more bitter. Sooner or later you'll be so sick of it all you can't stand it any more. Make sure to keep me on speed dial for that time."
"Fuck off. Never." Sam shook his head, unsure what to even deal with first here. "How are you out? Where's Aleister? Did you kill him?"
"Think you got all the info I'm willing to give already. Now go be good hunters, yeah? Raphael needs you."
So maybe him and Gadreel were alike. Lucifer glanced from Castiel to Gadreel, deciding that he wanted to nip that conversation in the bud. "He's just easily distracted, that's all. Piss off with your Greater Good 101 class, Castiel."
"Lazar has become more powerful by using Raphael." That was what Sam was putting together here. "A powerful Prince of Hell. Sure. Why not toss that to us? All in a day's work."
Lucifer hissed, but looked amused. "Ah, Sammy, Sammy, Sammy. Every time I meet you, you're more and more bitter. Sooner or later you'll be so sick of it all you can't stand it any more. Make sure to keep me on speed dial for that time."
"Fuck off. Never." Sam shook his head, unsure what to even deal with first here. "How are you out? Where's Aleister? Did you kill him?"
"Think you got all the info I'm willing to give already. Now go be good hunters, yeah? Raphael needs you."
Castiel was cute. He couldn't help but stare at him, idly curious but aware that his curiosity would just get a load of bitching from Lucifer. He was fine to be the villain, whatever it took - he just wanted freewill away from the Almighty. "I just thought apples tasted good. She was hungry."
Gadreel shrugged, happy to give an easy lie as he walked closer to Lucifer, clearly on guard to keep him from getting a retribution attack. "A demon is a demon in the end. Even a powerful demon is just a demon." And if they were anything like him, crushing demons wasn't just simple but also satisfying.
"Easy for you to say." Matty pointed out, looking at the strong ass angel in disbelief. Jesus. "When we got your brother, we ain't handing him over to the likes of you."
Whatever he wanted this for, Matty was going to give it to him.
"Let's go." Gadreel murmured, wanting to leave before Lucifer said anything he didn't want to.
Gadreel shrugged, happy to give an easy lie as he walked closer to Lucifer, clearly on guard to keep him from getting a retribution attack. "A demon is a demon in the end. Even a powerful demon is just a demon." And if they were anything like him, crushing demons wasn't just simple but also satisfying.
"Easy for you to say." Matty pointed out, looking at the strong ass angel in disbelief. Jesus. "When we got your brother, we ain't handing him over to the likes of you."
Whatever he wanted this for, Matty was going to give it to him.
"Let's go." Gadreel murmured, wanting to leave before Lucifer said anything he didn't want to.
"Save my brother. You're so good at that, the brother-saving. You two do it every other week. So do it. For Raphael's sake." Lucifer gave Castiel a pointed look after saying that, one that was supposed to warn him off of Gadreel. Castiel simply blinked, not wanting to understand or actually not understanding.
Either way, Lucifer huffed and reached for Gadreel's arm. "Go to Hell."
With him, obviously.
Either way, Lucifer huffed and reached for Gadreel's arm. "Go to Hell."
With him, obviously.
"Let me close, yeah? I don't want to hurt you." They had realised swiftly that Raphael seemed most calm when only Sam was close by. Maybe it was arbitrary, because Sam had been the first to get to him and therefore the one to lead him out. Maybe he recognised Sam because of the extended amount they had spent together around the Mystery Spot.
Sam had no idea, but he was standing by the door, trying to approach Raphael. He held his hands up, moving closer slowly and gesturing to his own mouth. "I want to free your mouth, Raphael."
It looked grotesque, the way it was stitched up. It looked so surreal it was hard to accept as something he was actually looking at.
Sam had no idea, but he was standing by the door, trying to approach Raphael. He held his hands up, moving closer slowly and gesturing to his own mouth. "I want to free your mouth, Raphael."
It looked grotesque, the way it was stitched up. It looked so surreal it was hard to accept as something he was actually looking at.
Raphael made a strange whine noise from his safe corner, ready to scratch the shit out of the next person to touch him. Castiel had tried earlier and he still bore the marks of his attack. Raphael was not especially strong right now, he was weak with low grace and healing slower than he should. He was covered in blood and filth as he looked up at Sam, far from the picture of an archangel.
At the request, Raphael raised his hands and touched the stitches. They hurt a lot and he wanted them out but any time Sam approached, he backed up until he had no wall left.
He watched Sam intently, eyeing up his hands to try and see if he had any weapons with him. Raising his hand, he pulled at the thread and then whimper. Ow.
At the request, Raphael raised his hands and touched the stitches. They hurt a lot and he wanted them out but any time Sam approached, he backed up until he had no wall left.
He watched Sam intently, eyeing up his hands to try and see if he had any weapons with him. Raising his hand, he pulled at the thread and then whimper. Ow.
"I have these." Sam held up the smallest pair of scissors he'd found, the one by one of the first aid kits they kept around. He hoped it looked as non-threatening as possible, while also being a good tool for the job. "Let me cut it, yeah? You're only going to hurt yourself more if you pull on it."
His heart hurt looking at Raphael like this. It wasn't right. He was an archangel. He was a hero, he had fought for the good of humanity. For the world. "Please, Raphael. I won't hurt you. I want to help."
His heart hurt looking at Raphael like this. It wasn't right. He was an archangel. He was a hero, he had fought for the good of humanity. For the world. "Please, Raphael. I won't hurt you. I want to help."
Raphael fought against all the instincts built in by Lazar and tried to let the other approach without giving into fear and running. After all, he wasn't allowed to run from Lazar - why would he ever be allowed to run from Sam? He watched the other get closer and tilted his head back, looking at him with wide, curious eyes.
He supposed he wanted the stitches out, they pulled and hurt. Sam saved him so Sam had to be safe - right?
He supposed he wanted the stitches out, they pulled and hurt. Sam saved him so Sam had to be safe - right?
"All right. I'm going to sit down in front of you, yeah?" He did it as he spoke, pretty much narrating his actions. Then he held the scissors up, making sure Raphael was watching. "Hold still. I'll cut the thread slowly."
He moved the scissors to Raphael's lips and snipped through the first stitch, then looked at Raphael to make sure it was all right. "Can I keep going?"
He moved the scissors to Raphael's lips and snipped through the first stitch, then looked at Raphael to make sure it was all right. "Can I keep going?"
His eyes were scrunched up as the scissors cut into the first stitch, his whole body shaking with anticipation. Lazar always liked to undo it to play then redo it before he got sent away. He ripped them open with a knife. The scissors were slower - they hurt less too. He nodded slightly as Sam went slowly, stitch by stitch, undoing them until he could open his mouth.
With his lips parted, his tongue peeked out and nudged the string stuck in his mouth. Everything tasted like pennies. Old pennies.
With his lips parted, his tongue peeked out and nudged the string stuck in his mouth. Everything tasted like pennies. Old pennies.
"Let me pull out the thread, yeah? That's going to sting a bit." Sam tried to be as gentle as he possibly could, pulling the pieces of thread out one by one. Still a horrendous sight, but much better than he had looked before.
He knew that an angel could not get infections, even one as low on grace as Raphael. So he had brought a bottle of coke with him, which he took out of his pocket now and opened. He held it out to Raphael, gesturing. "You should drink. Get a better taste in your mouth."
He knew that an angel could not get infections, even one as low on grace as Raphael. So he had brought a bottle of coke with him, which he took out of his pocket now and opened. He held it out to Raphael, gesturing. "You should drink. Get a better taste in your mouth."
He took the drink curiously and then sniffed it. Sugary. He missed sugar. He felt a moment of fear and guilt as he checked for Lazar before guzzling it down greedily, hastily, eager to drink. He finished it fast and dropped the can at his feet, his mouth tasting of sweetness and no longer metallic and coppery.
He squinted at Sam, trying to recall why he knew him and where from. His voice was familiar. He remembered it, not just from talks but from voices in his head. Prayers. Asking for help. And now he was helping him instead.
Reaching out, he touched the bruise on the side of Sam's face. Ouch.
He squinted at Sam, trying to recall why he knew him and where from. His voice was familiar. He remembered it, not just from talks but from voices in his head. Prayers. Asking for help. And now he was helping him instead.
Reaching out, he touched the bruise on the side of Sam's face. Ouch.
"It's nothing. Cas will handle it later. He's already healed Matty." Which made sense, they'd been next to each other. As was usually the case. Anyway, Matty often got more injured, he was that kind of fighter. "Just a few bruises. I think my rib too."
He shrugged, smiling at Raphael. "I'm glad you drank the coke." Seemed like a good sign. "I can bring you some candy, if you want. You love candy."
He wondered whether Raphael could actually understand him. He wasn't certain he could. "Do you want to wash? You could have a shower."
He shrugged, smiling at Raphael. "I'm glad you drank the coke." Seemed like a good sign. "I can bring you some candy, if you want. You love candy."
He wondered whether Raphael could actually understand him. He wasn't certain he could. "Do you want to wash? You could have a shower."
Raphael hadn't used his grace for anything he wanted in a long time. He was low, he barely had any kicking around, but he reached out and stroked Sam's cheek until the bruise was gone. Then his hand went lower, tapping against Sam's chest until the pain left him. It was exhausting to do but Sam was in pain, he wanted to help. All those years and he heard the prayers. Sam wanted him. Sam wanted an angel. He was Sam's angel, obviously, so he was going to protect him.
He didn't really listen to what he was saying, he was more focused on the job. Exhaustion wriggled through his bones and he slumped back, tired but satisfied.
Now Sam wasn't in pain any more. Now he was a good angel.
He didn't really listen to what he was saying, he was more focused on the job. Exhaustion wriggled through his bones and he slumped back, tired but satisfied.
Now Sam wasn't in pain any more. Now he was a good angel.
"Huh." He had just been healed by Raphael. "I didn't even know you could-- I guess it figures. You're the archangel of healing, aren't you?"
Of course, he had been healed by Castiel many times now. This felt different somehow. He felt no pain at the moment. Not that slight ache in his left leg from sitting like this. Not the crank in his neck. Nothing. Completely healed.
And, clearly, it had exhausted Raphael. Great. "Thanks. But you didn't have to do that."
He smiled despite his words, shaking his head. "You should rest. Do I... Should I stay with you?"
Of course, he had been healed by Castiel many times now. This felt different somehow. He felt no pain at the moment. Not that slight ache in his left leg from sitting like this. Not the crank in his neck. Nothing. Completely healed.
And, clearly, it had exhausted Raphael. Great. "Thanks. But you didn't have to do that."
He smiled despite his words, shaking his head. "You should rest. Do I... Should I stay with you?"
Raphael wrapped his arms around his legs and watched Sam. He looked happier, healthier but guilty. Sad, almost. He understood that. He was sad too. He watched him for a bit longer and then pressed his face into his legs, hiding from Lazar.
When Sam needed him, he would come and help. He would show his worth as an angel. He wasn't weak and broken, he could still be of use. He could still be a guardian angel.
When Sam needed him, he would come and help. He would show his worth as an angel. He wasn't weak and broken, he could still be of use. He could still be a guardian angel.
Raphael woke up with a start. It was unusual for angels to sleep but with no grace, he used it to power himself up. He heard Sam, felt Sam, outside of the room. Outside of the bunker. He felt panic and fear. He almost felt hope.
Raphael staggered to his feet. If he left the bunker, he was vulnerable to Lazar. But if he stayed, he couldn't protect Sam. He only debated it for a few moments before he clicked his fingers and travelled.
There were a lot of demons. Tons of them. They were rushing into whatever house the Tenaz were in and while Raphael had no context, he didn't need it. He heard Sam yelling for Matty and a gun going off.
Cocking his head to the side, he summoned all of his remaining grace and then let his eyes turn a blinding white as he started to smite every demon near him. Reinforcements were here. The demons tried to escape but every door was blocked, every window was slammed tight as Raphael unleashed a wave of righteous energy.
There was suddenly quite. A strange stillness. Matteo was staring at him, wide eyed and opened mouthed. Raphael turned and saw Sam. Then suddenly, he smiled. A bright, innocent smile. "Sam."
Raphael staggered to his feet. If he left the bunker, he was vulnerable to Lazar. But if he stayed, he couldn't protect Sam. He only debated it for a few moments before he clicked his fingers and travelled.
There were a lot of demons. Tons of them. They were rushing into whatever house the Tenaz were in and while Raphael had no context, he didn't need it. He heard Sam yelling for Matty and a gun going off.
Cocking his head to the side, he summoned all of his remaining grace and then let his eyes turn a blinding white as he started to smite every demon near him. Reinforcements were here. The demons tried to escape but every door was blocked, every window was slammed tight as Raphael unleashed a wave of righteous energy.
There was suddenly quite. A strange stillness. Matteo was staring at him, wide eyed and opened mouthed. Raphael turned and saw Sam. Then suddenly, he smiled. A bright, innocent smile. "Sam."
Page 6 of 8