The road so far...

...

Dean & Castiel

"You could be a threat to Michael's reign, a dark horse."

"Go to the records room and have a look around."

"You sure?"

"I'll be fine, Dean."

Crowley, Metatron, Abaddon, and Kevin

"Have we met before?"

"I don't believe so,"

"No, I do remember you."

"No ma'am."

"There's a storm brewing, Kevin, I don't wanna be here to see it."

Castiel & Balthazar

Castiel saw the scabbed mounds on Balthazar's back where his wings used to be.

"Are you happy now, Balthazar?"

"Happier than I've ever been."

"So what will you do now? You can't stay in the house."

"I'm sorry, Castiel."

"Sorry won't bring your wings back, Balthazar."

"If they did, I would never apologize again."

Castiel crossed his arms, "You never apologize."

"I just did."

"Your apology was empty and we both know you didn't mean it."

"I was sick of those stupid wings, Castiel, they only gave me grief!"

Castiel felt his wings seemingly rip from their cloaking as his voice tore within his throat, "Well at least you didn't have to hide yours! I am a freak, Balthazar, and a bastard- you have no idea how it feels to hide such a large portion of who you are! To lock yourself in a room every day in absolute fear that if you don't, Michael will stroll in here like he did that day with a whip at the ready and a fist itching to break your bones. You watched as he beat me half to death, Balthazar! You did nothing to stop him and now I live in constant fear that the day will come again!"

"You were thirteen! You could've fought back!"

Castiel's eyes brimmed with angry, frustrated tears, "I know you were afraid of him- almost as much as I was- but Balthazar, you were supposed to protect me from him!"

"Castiel... you're my brother," Balthazar's voice lowered, his tone returning to one of patience as his younger brother used his fist to wipe away his tears like a child. "I do care about you... but I had to protect myself from his wrath. You were just a kid... his rage would eventually burn out at the sight of a bleeding little boy. I wasn't as small as you, kiddo," Balthazar pulled Castiel into a loose hug as the younger boy watched the floor with a rare anger skewing his features. "He could've killed me if I intervened. You know how his temper was, even more so when he tried to impress Father..."

Castiel continued to say nothing, his eyes glued to the floor, "Get out."

"What?"

"Get out! Go! If you want to be a human, go join them! Leave me to fend for myself! I'm big now and I can deal with whatever is thrown at me so just leave! I don't need you anymore!"

Balthazar let go of Castiel, soundless as he left the room to inform the council he was enforcing an act of self-exile to the outer-rings of Arya.

Dean finished his first box of many, having sorted them alphabetically and then by date, his mind pausing for a brief second to return to Castiel. Then, the idea dawned on him. Castiel was the angel he had saved in the alley before he came to work for Michael, he had felt the familiarity in Castiel's presence before and now it suddenly made sense to his wandering mind.

"Jesus..." he muttered to himself, sighing as he slumped to the floor to start on a new box.

Dean absolutely did not believe in destiny, but a coincidence such as the one he was being faced with was hard to ignore. He needed to think more about his decision. Should he choose Castiel, his "destiny", or should he choose his family and kill an angel, living on the run?

Kevin watched Crowley with a concerned expression, the twenty-something year old poking at his food with a fork.

"Something's bothering you, spill your guts, Crowley."

"I heard something... unsavory a few days ago from an officer in the city. He told me something and I don't know for sure... but I think that whatever it is, Abaddon is starting something we may not be able to prevent."

"What do you mean?"

"An uprising."

Gabriel and Lucifer met at the front gate to Central Arya, opting to share Gabriel's carriage for the ride there. Lucifer and his charge, Charlie, did not speak to one another- her eyes glassy and watching the world outside the window. Gabriel had his eyes glued to Jeremiah, their voices speaking in whispers, breathless and secretive. Charlie did not miss how Gabriel's hand rested on Jeremiah's, or how he affectionately played with the ends of the boy's hair.

They'd admit their feelings soon enough, Charlie told herself, judging by the letters she and Jeremiah had exchanged for the past few months.

Lucifer simply thought to himself about how much he really needed a drink. Now, if only he could do what Castiel could and hide his wings, he thought to himself, then he could go into the local bar. Then, if he got drunk enough, maybe he could get laid by an attractive barkeep or customer. His thoughts drifted even further in the gutter as his mind drifted elsewhere.

Charlie noticed a girl walking out of a building with a large garbage bag and putting it in the outdoor trash can. Long blonde hair wavy and gliding across her face, hiding her features. Charlie's eyes were glued to the girl as she put a tuft of hair behind her ear. Noticing the carriage, the girl's eyes locked with Charlie's and the blonde smiled, giving a small wave.

Well, Charlie thought pleasantly as she smiled shamelessly, it seems as though it's become worth the trip after all.

Metatron and Abaddon sat at the council table with Michael across them, Balthazar entering the room without knocking. Metatron stood with a sickly-sweet smile.

"Hello, son. Wait-" his expression turned cold. "What happened to your wings?"

"I got them surgically removed."

"When were you planning on mentioning this to me?" Michael ordered, standing from his seat.

"No need to get up. I just came to inform you I am exiling myself, so you don't have to. Give your boys my regards."

"Why would you do such a thing to yourself?" Abaddon spoke up, asking as if the event did not surprise her at all.

"What's the point of a social symbol if you're a bastard with no future?"

"Proceed, Balthazar, and survive well in the Outskirts." she replied, wiggling her fingers in a goodbye.

Balthazar did not say another word to them or take any of his things from his room, he just left- waving goodbye to Lucifer, Charlie, Jeremiah, and Gabriel as they walked in- intending to never return to the mansion again.