Title: The Problem Is Choice

Author: Coffeeofacoffee

Rating: PG

Spoilers: Supernatural S7, Reading Is Fundamental.

Summary: He feels no fear at her suddenly drawn blade only a sparse hope.

Disclaimer: Not mine, no infringement intended, no profit made, no offence intended.

Author's Notes: Someone made a cool graphic on Tumblr and - believe it or not - this drabble popped into my head because of it.


The Problem Is Choice

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Every little thing the reflex does leaves you answered with a question mark

- Duran Duran, The Reflex

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Somehow he forgot.

It's the blow to the face that sends him over, so that for one sharp, prolonged second instead of Hester he sees Anna. Yet where Anna always hid her pain so well - too well - Hester's pain is plain to see, plain to hear; she can't part with it and it gives her a terminal clarity.

Poor Hester, she used to be so placid, she used to have a belief in humanity - what it could achieve - but then Hester lost Anna to humanity, lost her family one by one, lost him. That glacial rage in her tone is betrayal - the betrayal of it all.

He remembers he betrayed Anna, sent her along to her fate. He thought he was being righteous - at best, he was being misguided.

When Hester took over leadership of the garrison it was almost a choice made by fate. And as each blow ripples through him he understands that he deserves it. He exists to let her choose his fate. Her destruction of another might quell her anger, might soothe her anguish, quiet her questions - bring her some measure of peace.

Bring him some measure of peace from his betrayal because he betrayed them all.

And he knows after all this, after yet another earthly demise - this might be it: he might come back but then, he might not. For once his death can guide someone else's choices - and not his own mistakes.

He feels no fear at her suddenly drawn blade only a sparse hope.

Inias tries to intervene and in a blur she strikes him too.

She is angry, Inias, and I am deserving. I no longer fight - and she, she must choose, just as I have. Just as I did. If I cannot explain choice to you, perhaps I can provide a means.

Or, as she puts it: "You wanted free will, now I'm making the choices."

It seems his deference of choice will become her right to take it up.

But then, Hester cries out, screaming light, bleeding light - her death filling the room. Extinguished, her empty, wilted vessel slides to the ground with a hollow thump.

His mouth is covered in blood and there is the demon, rising like a shadow, behind his dead sister, a smoking sword in her hand.

And he thinks: Why did you do it? Did I need to be saved?

But she, dark-eyed, is like an unrepentant child, so sure of her purpose.

"What?" She says. "Someone had to."

And another choice is made.