Gabriel was doodling on a piece of paper, waiting patiently for his Father to come back, when little Samandriel came running in, face red from crying and looking terrified.

"Samandriel, what's wrong?" asked Gabriel, shocked.

"G-Gabe, where have you been?" Samandriel asked. "Big stuff is happening- bad stuff."

Gabriel scooped up Samandriel and hurried to the Great Hall, where Lucifer and Michael were arguing loudly. As soon as he set Samandriel down, the fledgling hid behind Gabriel, burying his face in his wings. Gabriel turned slightly and wrapped a wing around little Samandriel, hiding him from sight.

"It's necessary," said Michael. "I'm in charge now until Father comes back, and we will do things my way."

"Shut up," said Lucifer. "Don't you respect your elders? Little brother. I don't know why Father left an arrogant little scamp like you in charge, but it doesn't give you any right to make such important decisions without any input from the rest of us."

"The rest of you? And who is that? Fallen angels? Most of them don't have the nerve to come marching back into Heaven with their baseball caps askew even with Father gone. Surely you don't think any true angel will listen to you after you betrayed Father? You fell. Father rebuke you, Lucifer. You have no right to come here and bring disorder. I command you to leave."

"Ooo," said Lucifer. "I'm so scared. I forgot that Father left an upstart fledgling in charge when He ran off. You are so sure He's coming back, then? But what if He doesn't? You need a leader. And not some holified milksop of an archangel. Michael, you're no firstborn. What do you know of leadership? When you get tired of waiting for Father to come home and do His duty, just give me a call. I can lead Heaven just as well as He can."

Samandriel clung to Gabriel. Gabriel was glad to have someone to distract him from the argument. When he looked up, Michael and Lucifer were almost circling each other.

"I will rule Heaven until Father returns," said Michael. "Earth is dangerous. I will not have any more angels fall to your wiles. Every angel's wings must be clipped, to protect all of us."

Gabriel gasped. He was about to say something, but Lucifer beat him to it.

"You think destroying wings is a good idea? I will show you just what this means. Maybe you will find that you don't really see things so differently. Watch and learn, stupid little brother. I hope you feel sick." Lucifer snatched the youngest angel, Castiel, and started pulling out his feathers.

Most of the angels were too stunned to do anything but watch in sickened horror. The sight of their oldest brother, once the brightest angel, destroying Castiel's wings, pulling out his feathers mercilessly, one by one, shocked them so that they could not think. Samandriel screamed and ran out of the room. Gabriel let him go. He was sure Michael would stop Lucifer, but the second-born archangel just stared as Lucifer yanked out feather after feather, ignoring Castiel's terrified screams of pain.

Or was he ignoring them? Gabriel almost thought he saw glee in Lucifer's eyes. How could he already be so twisted that he could enjoy his brother's suffering? Perhaps Lucifer had gone mad since he fell.

"Stop," Gabriel heard himself begging, but Lucifer either ignored him or couldn't hear him over Castiel's screams. "Stop. Somebody stop him. Michael, please, do something!"

Lucifer smiled as he removed the last feather and tossed Castiel into Gabriel's arms.

"Do the wings of your brothers mean so little to you?" he taunted Michael. "I will rip out all of your feathers. You are no leader. Poor little Michael, look at him. He's crying," Lucifer mocked. It was true. A tear ran down Michael's cheek.

"Get out," said Michael. "Leave Heaven now, or I smite you."

Lucifer saw the glint in Michael's eyes and knew he meant every word. "Uh, 'nother day, maybe. I have some troublemaking to do while your Father's out of town. But don't worry. Someday we will duel, and I will win. It will be glorious. The look on your face as I slowly remove your pretty head-"

"Lucifer," Michael warned, voice low.

Lucifer waved goodbye and flew away. Michael sighed.

No idea whether I will write/post more or not. Reviews are always appreciated.