"I left with one request."
Castiel bows his head to the person in the circle of orange. The flames illuminate the harsh scowl aimed in his direction from someone of superior standing. Silver eyes bear into him, cutting into his very grace like the smooth blade of a knife.
"I had one request. What was it Castiel?"
The Seraph backs up a step, not so sure of himself in this moment, they'd had a long run of getting away with much, intimidating other angels into following their will, but not with this one. Never with him.
He itches for his blade though he knows it to be useless, he would never stand in a fight between him and the other, "You said to be left alone."
"And this Castiel?", he steps up to the edge of the holy fire, eyes almost as dangerous as the flames themselves, "Is this leaving me alone?"
Beside him, Dean Winchester butts in before he can stop him, "Okay okay, lets all back up. You're Azrael?"
Silver eyes glare at him, and for a moment the passing thought of 'If looks could kill' comes to mind and makes itself at home there, but he stands his ground. Dean hasn't let an angel bend him and he isn't about to start with half pint here.
"That would be me."
He smirks, "Sorry, was expecting something...Bigger?"
Of all the warnings Castiel had given against summoning this wild card, of all the things he had done, he'd expected something more akin to Death. Tall, slender, pale, terrifying. But this angel before him, vessel of not, looked like he should still be in grade school.
"I guess we were both disappointed, weren't we, Michaels Sword?"
He sneers at the name. Azrael grins at him, white teeth flashing against the dark background, his eyes flash silver, pulsing, like a heartbeat, "All the commotion and for what? A broken little man."
Sam tugs his older brother backwards, breaking the little staring match before it can even get a hold on itself, he eyes the vessel and makes a face of disgust. He had never seen an angel take the vessel of a child before and seeing this one made his blood boil, the life they could have had taken before it even started, the humane part of him wanted to banish the angel from the kid.
Azrael sneered at him, "What would you know of 'humane' boy with the demon blood? My vessel is young, yes, but do not doubt that I have enough power in my pinkie to erase you both from existence should I want it."
The younger hunter startles, still not used to having his mind read, "Why a kid? What did you promise him? What lies did you fill his head with?"
"I did not lie to him. I promised him comfort. That's what I do. I soothe the soul."
"You kill. Azrael. Archangel of Death."
"Well yes," he grinned at him, "That too."
Instead of waiting for the hunter to ask more asnine questions the angel turned to face the other, eyes hardening once more, tone becoming older then his face portrayed him to be. He was not happy to have been summoned, and he was going to make this very clear, he's told them to leave him alone.
"Why have you summoned me here Castiel?"
"The...Michael and Lucifer...They want to destroy the world."
The other angel shrugs, clearly not as phased about this as they are, Dean grinds his teeth. This is his planet they're talking about, his home, and this dicks brothers want to tear it up. Azrael shrugs again.
"I don't see why that should be my problem."
"Because there's people here!", he can't contain himself and the older hunter snarls, "Good people who are gonna die!"
Azrael shifts, looking him over, and gives Castiel a pointed look.
"Who's side are you egging for? Michael or Lucifer?"
A hand closes around his throat in the next second, not phased by the holy fire, and he watches the flames dance off his skin flawlessly through wide eyes as he chokes for breath. Azrael is in front of him, eyes burning bright silver, and in the light of the fire he can see the glint of a ring.
Of course Death would let Azrael carry his ring.
"Watch your tone human. I have not forgotten how you guilted my older brother to his death. You may be able to sway other angels but I am not so weak. I do not care one way or another. I have no pull for Michael or Lucifer. I wanted to be left alone. They will fight, one will die, and I will be there to reap them. And I don't care how many have to pass in the process."
He digs his fingers into Dean's throat and he whimpers between gags, "Castiel. What was my only request?"
"To...To be left alone."
Perhaps this time they had bitten off more then they could chew. Castiel had warned them. He'd told them not to go after Azrael and they had ignored him. Now they had Azrael here and the archangel was angry. He was one of the Archangels he would avoid angering at all costs.
...
Castiel can count on one hand the number of times he's actually met Azrael. The Archangel of Death is ellusive, he does not like to be around large crowds, a free spirit that follows the path of the wind. The youngest of the archangels is always with an older brother.
Reading in the libraries with Raphael.
Training in the feilds with Michael.
Gazing at the stars with Lucifer.
Or causing mayhem for the older archangels with Gabriel.
He talks to Father often, one of His favorites, one of the few who can get Him to smile.
Azrael is well tempered and soft spoken, he is the one who teaches the Rit Zien the art of peaceful death, but when angered he is as deadly as the plague.
He lives in harmony to his older brothers, under their eye and teachings, he plays and keeps to himself in their garden.
And then the harmony breaks, Lucifer betrays Father, Michael casts Lucifer out, Raphael turns inward for protection, and Gabriel barely holds them together. Azrael, seeing what his brothers had become, leaves them.
Azrael leaves Heaven with one final message.
He is not to be disturbed.
Not even Michael had disregarded his request.
But they had.