Character POV: Michael.
A/N: Here's Chapter Two! It's a day late but I was busy. WARNING: this chapter does contain spoilers for the basis of the plots of series 5,6,7 and 8. So, if you don't wanna know: you can read up to the fist line break then stop until the next chapter. But if you don't care, or they aren't considered spoilers because you've watched them all then: ENJOY! And Merry Christmas Eve Eve! xxx
Chapter Two
A History Lesson:
Michael didn't think that his brother deserved those wings of his. They had always been beautiful and could easily rival his own and Michael hadn't minded it that much ... but that was back then. Back when his brother was his brother and cared about the other angels as well as himself. Now, he was no longer Lucifer: the smart, handsome, witty angel who loved their father more than any other; but he was Lucifer: the fallen archangel who disobeyed their fathers orders, tried to bring the apocalypse to earth, - their fathers greatest creation, - created demons as an added 'see here' and killed too many of his brothers and sisters to ever be truly forgiven. And Michael no longer thought he deserved to be called an archangel after it all, and he definitely did not deserve to keep such extraordinary wings as his.
He of course understood why his father had freed Lucifer from the cage too, how could he not? But despite his idol-ism he had when it came to his father, Michael couldn't help but think a threat of the cage, heaven arrest and following every order given to him or else, wasn't punishment enough.
Michael thought Lucifer deserved to be stripped of his ranks and title, and he more than deserved for his six grand archangel wings to be ripped away from him and replaced with two meager wings in replacement. He realised how horrid that sounded. After all, an angels wings are almost as sacred as their grace, they were basically the embodiment's of it. To knowingly cause harm to someone's wings was incredibly cruel and deserved a high punishment. But after everything that Lucifer had done, Michael couldn't think of a more fitting punishment than that. He could after all, earn his status and wings back, if it were possible to do so. If he could do enough penance. To Michael's dismay, Lucifer didn't seem to be paying any sort of penance for his sins. He actually seemed quite content, sitting around the table and awaiting Jacobs arrival.
Sadly though, it wasn't up to Michael to dish out Lucifer's punishment. Their father had done so and whatever he had said to the ex-archangel it seemed to be working for now and so Michael couldn't-wouldn'tsay otherwise or speak out about his views on the matter. He was a soldier. He was dealt orders and he followed them. Nothing would change that.
The four of them were seated around a large golden table; Gabriel, Lucifer, Balthazar and he. Balthazar had joined them a couple of minutes ago, striding in through the two hall doors, his back straight and a smile playing on his lips as he looked over them all.
Michael was at one head of the table: Lucifer was sat at the chair on his right: Gabriel was opposite him and Balthazar next to the playful archangel. He noticed as he looked around that they were all sitting incredibly differently to one another.
Michael was sat, with his hands placed on either arm rest, his back straight and his head held high awaiting his fathers consort.
Balthazar was sat, leant back slightly in his seat with his left foot resting on his right thigh, one hand clamping the ankle and his thumb tapping away signalling that he was most likely bored. The other hand clasped an empty wine glass resting on the arm rest. Michael had seen him have one drink since he came here, he probably did it for something to do since no one was talking because of the tension coming off Lucifer and Gabriel and maybe Michael himself.
His fellow archangel Gabriel,(despite Michael's earlier qualms of letting him back in after he ran off all those years ago, he had come to realise that Gabriel was all for regaining his post and being the good angel he should for father), was seated laziest of the four. He was leant back completely with one leg draped over the other, resting on the table before him. He had his arms tucked behind his head and he was staring at Lucifer with a barely-there-unless-you're-looking-for-it smirk.
Lucifer had been glaring back at Gabriel for just as long as Gabriel had been smirking at him. Michael was going to say something but had gotten sidetracked with his thoughts about suitable punishments. Now, he looked at how Lucifer was sitting. He frowned at him because he was sitting ... well ... provocatively for one. His arms were draped either side of the chair as if he couldn't care less and his legs were the same. It angered Michael to see him sitting there, so comfortable in himself, as if he belonged, as if he had never left and rebelled and ruined everything!
Michael felt snarkiness, a very Lucifer-esque trait overcome him. Which he hated. He wanted to say something. Something rude and cruel. Before he could open his mouth however Gabriel decided to voice his own opinion after countless minutes of silently critiquing him.
"You sit like a whore," said Gabriel, his voice calm and sounding as if he had just said that the sky was blue. Balthazar chuckled and Michael kept his eye on Lucifer in case of any backlash. "And as much as I like an easy ride, I'm sure no one would take one on you. I mean, you look like you'd give good stress relief but ... you'd probably give me Aid's or something ..." Here his smile grew wider as Lucifer narrowed his eyes, waiting for the inevitable next comment to come. "And you know what happens to people who catch that."
Before he could retaliate however Michael scolded the trickster. "Gabriel, enough!" his voice was hard and commanding. Not that he wanted to defend Lucifer or anything but Gabriel would keep making snarky comments at his expense and with only two or three in he was already irritated by them. This was not the time or place for such things. Not anymore. "I have told you that father was clear air between the two of you and that means no provoking him in the slightest. Do you understand, Gabriel?"
The archangel huffed. Unamused. "Yes," he mumbled in answer.
"Good. Find something else to keep you entertained and keep out of mischief."
He heard Balthazar snort at that, probably thinking that telling Gabriel to find something to entertain himself with was like giving a knife to a baby; no good would come of it. But Michael payed no heed and kept his gaze fixed on Gabriel.
A suspicious glint formed in his brothers almost golden eyes at his words but before Michael could question it further, the sound of metal and wood being scraped and pushed filled the room and the doors to the hall opened once again and in walked a just-past-middle-aged man who he instantly knew to be Jacob.
He walked over to the other side of the table, the doors to the hall slamming shut at the wave of his hand. "Ok, boys. Let's get straight to business, shall we?"
Michael stiffened, ready to listen. The other three seemed to slumps down more, if it were possible, awaiting what Balthazar called 'story time'.
When Jacob told the room that Dean said no to Michael: Michael grimaced at the memory. Lucifer smirked because he was able to get his vessel to say 'yes'. Balthazar didn't really seem to care and Gabriel laughed.
When Jacob told the room about Castiel Molotoving Michael: Gabriel choked on the candycane he had started to eat and couldn't stop laughing at Michael for getting whipped by their baby brother until Jacob himself silenced him.
When Jacob told the room about Lucifer killing Castiel for Molotoving Michael: Gabriel said a comment about more than brotherly love and Balthazar couldn't help but splutter over the fact that he killed him with a simple snap of his fingers. To which Lucifer replied: "Yeah, so you two idiots better watch yourselves."
When Jacob told the room about Sam overpowering Lucifer and throwing Michael, Lucifer, Adam and he into the pit: Gabriel snorted and said: "Wow. You can kill little Castiel with a click of your fingers and yet you allowed the great Moose to overpower you. Maybe you're not so great as you think you are." Michael had to grab the angel blade that. Went flying through the air, almost hitting Gabriel in the arm before things escalated.
When Jacob told the room about Castiel's return and proclaiming himself the new God: Lucifer laughed along with Gabriel, but for two very different reasons and Michael frowned at that delusion of his.
When Jacob told the room about Raphael and the civil war he started in heaven: well ... a lot of things were said from everyone around the table and none of them suitable to tell.
When Jacob told the room about Castiel, Balthazar and Titanic: Balthazar became ashamed and trying to differentiate the conversation along said how much he hated the film adaption of the historic event and Celine Dionne. This didn't go according to plan however when Gabriel began to sing 'My Heart Will Go On' at the top of his lungs and only shut up when Balthazar threw his empty wine glass at his head.
When Jacob told the room about Balthazar dying: no one said much. But the murdered himself didn't seem too mad.
When Jacob told the room about Castiel partnering up with Crowley to get the souls out of purgatory so he could win against Raphael: Lucifer looked disgusted at the thought of being friendly with a demon. Michael couldn't help but feel the same. Both Balthazar and Gabriel agreed, said it was a really stupid idea but ... probably the only one that would work.
When Jacob told the room about Raphael dying: Lucifer smiled an actual smile; he never really liked Raphael. Michael tried his best to keep face but admittedly it was hard. And the other two didn't even bother controlling themselves and cheered themselves silly whilst spouting insults at the dead archangels expense.
When Jacob told the room about Castiel agreeing to put the souls back and then being taken over by Leviathan and dying: Michael was happy Castiel saw the errors of his ways. Everyone was disgusted with how he died.
When Jacob told the room about Sam's hallucinations because Castiel broke the wall in his head when he was God: Lucifer looked a little ashamed, but then said it wasn't him and continued to pout at everyone's unsure glaring.
When Jacob told the room about Castiel's rebirth as Emmanuel, gaining his memory back and then taking on Sam's madness: Michael was proud, but became a little sad along with Gabriel and Balthazar when the heard what happened to him for doing so.
When Jacob told the room about Castiel helping the Winchesters to kill the head Leviathan, Dick Roman, even though he was still crazy and about Dean and Castiel ending up in Purgatory as a result: "Purgatory?" said Balthazar. "They spent a year in Purgatory? Bloody hell. They must've been fighting for their lives every moment in there."
When Jacob told the room about Castiel running away from Dean in Purgatory to keep him safe because he had a price on his head: Lucifer rolled his eyes. Michael tried not to read too much into that. And Gabriel and Balthazar sent knowing looks to one another.
When Jacob told the room about Dean meeting Benny and spending every minute searching for the angel and eventually getting out: Balthazar and Gabriel sent more knowing looks at each other. Michael had to admit he was a little shocked that the Winchester refused to leave without Castiel and something weird felt in his gut when he was told that Castiel didn't go with Dean through the portal because he thought Purgatory was his penance.
When Jacob told the room about Castiel getting out and becoming a hunter: they all asked why only for Jacob to tell them next.
When Jacob told the room about Castiel's guilt over what he did to heaven and how he couldn't bring himself to come back here in fear of what he might be inclined to do to himself as punishment: well they were all stunned and no one could get anything out not matter how hard they tried.
And when Jacob told the room what Naomi did to him: Michael couldn't stop himself from whispering hoarsely: "That's why, as soon as I was out, that killing her was my first order." Jacob replied 'yes' and both his brothers said: "Good. The bitch."
Everyone in the room was silent for a while after that, each of them taking in everything they'd heard in their own way.
Balthazar was the first to speak up.
"Cassie really thinks he deserves to die?" His was low and soft with emotion.
"Why do you care if he's verging on suicidal?"asked Lucifer. "He killed you. You should be happy."
"Of course I'm not happy," said Balthazar incredulously, looking at Lucifer as if he had turned into a fish. "I love Cassie. Yeah, he killed me but to be honest it's not like I didn't half deserve it. Besides, unlike you when you ruined heaven, Castiel didn't mean to. Everything he's ever done seemed to be done for what he thought was right for heaven, for earth and the humans. What father would have wanted. Yeah, some of it was unconventional, but his heart was in the right place throughout it all."
"I agree with Balthazar," added Gabriel straight after, "Castiel's always had too much heart. He doesn't deserve to die or be hurt for what he's done, I would assume taking on the Winchesters madness and spending over a year in Purgatory is penance enough. Even if the idiot doesn't think so. He only wanted what was best for his brothers and sisters, more than Raphael did."
Silence once again descended upon the room. Gabriel and Balthazar seem set in the views on the matter and when Michael looked at Lucifer, he could tell he was still thinking about everything. Michael had to admit, he agreed wholeheartedly with his brothers. He held no grudge against Castiel for molotoving him and he held no grudge against his actions since. He cast a gaze over to Jacob who was staring at him pointedly, willing him to saying something final on the matter before Jacob finished up.
"They are right," conceded Michael, "Castiel didn't take joy in obliterating thousands of our kind, he hates himself for it when, yes he should feel bad, but he shouldn't think he deserves to die. Raphael had lost his way, starting a war and trying to re-start the apocalypse. All our little brother did was try and save fathers greatest creations and he should be forgiven as long as father agrees. Does father agree, Jacob?"
A small smile graced Jacobs lips. "Yes. Your father has forgiven Castiel of his sins and one day he himself will too. But today is not that day and I have to leave now. Goodbye gentleman, keep up the good work."
Michael watched him leave and turned back to his companions when Balthazar said he had somewhere to be and disappeared too.
"Well," began Gabriel, taking his legs off the table and leaning forward against it, "I don't know about you two but I feel like we've been left off the guest list to the cool party and had to make do with a makeshift one in our parents basement."
"You wanted to be a part of that? You:who hates violence between us?" asked Michael, a little shocked and ignoring his brothers stupid party metaphor.
"Well I wouldn't have really waned to be involved in the front lines. But it would've been interesting to witness from the sidelines ..."
Michael saw Lucifer shake his head out of the corner of his eye. "So, you're still a coward then?"
Michael snapped his head toward Lucifer and narrowed his eyes. "Provoking goes both ways, Lucifer so stop," Michael projected into his head. The ex-archangel didn't bother with a reply which was more than a thin smile. Gabriel, luckily, didn't take the bait and excused himself. Or so Michael thought. But he was wrong.
When Gabriel reached the now open doors, he turned on his heel, his body was angled away from them but his face was turned to them. He had his hands shoved into his jacket pockets and he was wearing that half smirk of his and that mischievous glint in his eye was back. This can't be good."See ya later, Michael," he waved one hand goodbye. "Oh, and Lucifer?"
"What?" Lucifer practically hissed at him, turning in his chair.
"You're still a great big bag of dicks."
A/N: Also, in a few of the coming chapters Gabriel and Balthazar are gonna be playing pranks on the Winchesters(because why stop a lifetime of it?) so, if there are any prank ideas that you'd like to see, let me know in a comment/PM and I'll see what I can do.
Oh yeah, if you have any prompts that you'd like to see in this AU then tell me as well. I like to have loads of ideas to play with.
xxx