Chapter Eleven
Go the Distance
Author Note: I'm participating in Kinktober over on my Ao3 account. I'm behind, and they will likely still be going up in November, but they are there! If you're interested, take a look! Username is CassandraRose
December 13, 2009
Rowen watched the two angels face off against each other in the junkyard with a wary gaze. He wasn't sure if the others could feel it or not, but there was a palpable power in the air that set him on edge. It didn't help that Crowley's power was gleefully humming along with the angels', as if he couldn't wait for the fight to start. Every instinct in his body was screaming to get the hell out of the area, but he kept his ground and ended up sitting on the tailgate of Bobby's truck next to the hunter.
"They better not 'eff up everything."
The terse statement was laced with concern, and Rowen could tell his friend was worried about Castiel. He couldn't blame Bobby. Castiel had talked Azrial up quite a bit, and now he was willingly fighting her to prove a point. It spoke about how highly the angel thought of them, but also seemed like a very Winchester thing to do.
"I'm sure they'll try and keep it...calm."
Yeah, right, Rowen thought mutely as Crowley's power spiked when both angels slid into a fighting stance almost in tandem. Somehow he doubted either angel did calm. Especially not Azrial from what he'd seen.
"You ready, Castiel?"
Her voice was condescending, and Rowen could feel Bobby stiffen next to him. He shot a look at where the Winchesters had sat down on the hood of their car and could see the annoyance on Dean's face at the question.
"You were never one for pleasantries before a fight, Azrial. Draw your blade and shut up."
The venom attached to the statement actually made the archangel smile, and she drew a silver blade, identical to the one in Castiel's hand.
Rowen narrowed his eyes and whispered to Bobby, "Isn't that the normal angel blade you told me about?"
Bobby nodded but didn't move his gaze away from the tense angels as he muttered, "Yeah, the lore said she should have her own weapon though."
"Maybe it's even more deadly to other angels?"
"Maybe."
Bobby's terse response ended the conversation, and Rowen watched Castiel tense despite Azrial not having moved yet.
Then she wasn't there.
Rowen's eyes widened as she seemed to appear behind Castiel, her leg already in motion to cave in his skull. Castiel barely moved in time, but his coat was grabbed by Azrial when she landed, and she yanked him back by it. The angel cursed as he stumbled forward. Azrial started at him as she circled Castiel with a frown.
"You're weak, Castiel. Give this up."
Azrial sounded bored and annoyed, and Rowen shot a look at Crowley when he felt the demon's power drop. It was like they'd both been expecting more out of this. There was a flash of anger in Castiel's eyes, but the angel seemed to remain calm as he took his jacket off and threw it to the side. Azrial narrowed her eyes, and Rowen watched as she seemed to take in Castiel's every breath. It actually cued him into the way Castiel shifted his blade to sit differently in his hand. Azrial seemed pleased at the change but didn't move toward him.
"You've gotten cocky, Azrial. Something you always told us never to be."
"It's not cocky if you're the best, Castiel. It's simply showing you your place."'
Castiel frowned, and there was a slight twitch of annoyance before he launched at Azrial without another word. She sighed, clearly not pleased with his action, and simply sidestepped the blow at the last moment. She flipped her blade and jabbed the hilt into Castiel's side making the angel shoot up into a more rigid position.
"Your form is crap. It's like you've chosen to be sloppy. Get your shit together or stop wasting my time."
Her tone was biting, and the blade flipped again, but to Rowen's surprise, she sheathed it. Castiel didn't move but there was cold fury in his eyes at the reprimand. When he didn't attack again, Azrial huffed and turned to walk toward Crowley.
"You're not going, Castiel. Stay with your humans. I don't need a liability. At least Crowley is competent."
Rowen saw the moment the cold fury turned into a blaze, and he also caught the knowing smirk on Azrial's lips even as she walked away. She'd set Castiel up, and the angel was about to play right into her hand.
Castiel made another attack, but this time he forced Azrial to parry with her blade. It wasn't the silver one from earlier though, but a gold twisted blade with a rust-red cloth hilt. She looked pleased, and Rowen could see Castiel had forced her to take a step back.
"Don't turn your back on me, sister."
Castiel's voice had dropped an octave as he growled at his sister, and Rowen had to strain to hear him. Azrial laughed, it wasn't a warm sound, sending a shiver down his back.
"Then give me a reason not to, little brother."
She mocked Castiel, and her voice sounded more demonic than angelic. Castiel bared his teeth slightly, and Rowen watched as the visage of humanity seemed to melt away from both of them. Azrial's eyes were bright, far too bright to be normal, and Castiel seemed to be itching to draw blood. The power in the area was pressing down on them, and the tinge of demonic energy that sang above it all made Rowen wonder if Crowley was somehow egging the angels on.
The blades clashed together, and for several minutes it seemed Castiel was keeping up with his sister. Rowen knew better just from the smirk that seemed a permanent fixture on the archangel's face. She was giving him a chance. That's all this was. As if to prove his point, Castiel managed to cut Azrial's cheek. It was a deep gash right below her eye, and Castiel had taken a deep cut to his side to manage it tearing the dress shirt he was wearing. Azrial's smirk became a full-blown smile, like a parent watching their child take their first teetering steps in the world.
It was disturbing, Rowen thought mutely, considering the primal fear that painted Castiel's face.
"Azrial, don't-"
Castiel was cut off by Azrial punching him in the stomach with enough force to send him careening into a stack of cars with a groan. Bobby shot to his feet, and Rowen dragged him back down with a hissed warning.
"Your boy is fine. Look, he's getting back up."
Castiel stumbled to his feet and coughed up some blood as he stared at his smiling sister. The angel took a deep breath, and Rowen watched as Castiel vanished from his sight for a moment and appeared in front of Azrial causing the angel to step back. She smiled brightly as she threw her blade in the air. Rowen watched as Castiel's eyes widened, and he immediately put distance between the two of them. Rowen didn't understand why until the blade fell back toward her hand, changing shape as it did so.
"Holy shit!"
Dean's voice carried, and Rowen silently agreed as he watched with wide eyes as a large, duel ended, scythe fell into the archangel's hand with practiced ease. The blade was easily as tall, if not taller, than Azrial. The end toward the sky had a short blade that almost mirrored a polearm, where the traditional scythe blade was aimed toward the ground. The weapon had kept its bronze color, and Castiel was eying it warily.
"That is hardly fair, Azrial."
Castiel's voice was hard, and it was clear he had no intention of getting within reach of the weapon. Azrial laughed and spun the blade with ease so it rested on her shoulders. The movements were more proof she was far from human. Rowen doubted a human would ever be able to wield such a cumbersome weapon, but Castiel was keeping his distance making it clear Azrial knew how to use it, and use it well.
"Lucifer won't fight fair, Castiel. Are you giving up?"
The condescending tone was gone, and Rowen wondered if Castiel had already shown he was capable of going. Castiel frowned at the question, and without warning launched at Azrial. The pride shining in her eyes made them even brighter, and with an expert swing, she brought the scythe forward. It was level with the angel's neck and Bobby shouted, "Move, idjit!"
Castiel didn't hesitate despite the yell, and at the last moment, he ducked under Azrial's blade and sliced her side as he continued moving past her. Azrial looked like the cat who got the cannery, and with an inhuman amount of speed, she slammed the smaller blade right through Castiel's ankle causing the angel to gasp in pain, and stumble forward. There was clear agony on Castiel's face as the blade was withdrawn, and Azrial turned on him like a viper and went to strike again. Castiel's eyes widened, and Rowen felt his jaw drop as Castiel managed to jump despite his injury, and suddenly he was in the air.
"Oh my God."
Rowen uttered the words as he stared at the large white wings, tinged with black throughout as if they'd been drenched in soot, held Castiel out of his sister's attack range.
"Did, did you know he could do that!"
Rowen turned to Bobby and demanded an answer, but his friend was staring in awe as much as he was. Rowen quickly turned back to the fight and saw Azrial eyeing Castiel's wings critically.
"What the hell happened to your wings, Castiel?"
"Hellfire."
The one-word answer was clipped, and Rowen caught the sharp exhale from Dean at the declaration. It seemed the wings were once pure white, and Rowen wondered about the story. Bobby never did explain how everything occurred, and this was likely a piece of the puzzle.
"They suit you, Castiel."
The compliment was genuine, and Rowen could see the surprise on Castiel's face at it. Then, Azrial ran forward and actually jumped onto the hood of a scrapper and launched herself into the air. The awe Rowen had felt at Castiel's wings was nothing compared to the sight in front of him now.
Six pristine black wings, at least six feet apiece, spread out and seemed to absorb any light that hit them. He could see slight flecks of white, or was it silver, on the pitch feathers that reflected what little light made it through. There was a spike in demonic power, and Rowen shot Crowley a look. The demon was staring up at the archangel with a look that could only be described as hungry. His eyes had even bled red, and they were racking over the wings with a heat Rowen had only seen a few times.
It was covetous. Possessive. Wanting.
Everything Rowen expected given Crowley's demonic nature, and the pure power the archangel was displaying. It was disgusting.
Crowley's face seemed to fall, and his eyes changed back to normal and Rowen found himself on the end of a dark glare. Rowen scowled and turned back to the fight. The two angels were circling each other, neither wanting to make the first move. Both had several cuts and bruises but looked otherwise unscathed. By angel standards anyway. Azrial's mutilation of Castiel's ankle would have crippled a human. Suddenly they both launched at each other, and Rowen swore he saw feathers start to fly. The blows were harder, faster, and seemed to border on deadly. At one point he saw Castiel's blade graze Azrial's jugular. The archangel had moved at the last moment, but there was still a trickle of blood from the cut. Castiel's shirt was torn to shreds, and the angel was practically topless at this point and his chest was peppered with fine cuts that never went deep enough to cause any permanent damage.
The two angels were smiling. Hell, Rowen swore he saw Castiel laugh at something Azrial said. The looser the angel got, the better he fought, and it was clear this was what Azrial had hoped to accomplish. The minutes sped by, and it was obvious Castiel was tiring. In a move that saw Azrial's eyes widening in surprise, Castiel managed to get behind his sister and get a blade to her throat. Azrial though made a move that had to be the height of stupidity, at least to Rowen.
She let her wings vanish.
Castiel looked shocked, and his hesitance was enough for the now wingless archangel to drop her blade, shove Castiel's away from her throat, and drag the surprised angel down with her. The two angels crashed heavily into a stack of cars, and now there really were feathers everywhere as they finally hit the ground. Bobby shot up and ran toward them. Sam and Dean weren't far behind and Rowen followed them quickly. Castiel's wings were wrapped around the both of them and the feathers looked askew with the way he landed. Azrial's leg looked painfully out of place, and from what he could see of Castiel's arm that was broken as well.
"Cas, man, are you okay?"
Dean moved forward and slowly pulled the wing away, and Rowen was surprised Castiel allowed it. The other wing pulled away as well to reveal Azrial had been pulled close to Castiel as the two had fallen, and both were covered in blood, dirt, and bruises.
"Thanks for the concern, Winchester."
Azrial groaned the comment as she slowly pushed herself up, and when she reached out for a hand Rowen jumped when Crowley helped her up. He hadn't even seen the demon come over. Azrial stumbled slightly but with a hiss of pain and a sickening snap, there was a soft glow around her leg. She shook her leg carefully and then leaned down to help Castiel, but Dean slapped her hand away causing a pregnant pause.
"Dean, I'm fine. There was no need for-"
Castiel was cut off when Dean turned furiously to him, "Your arm is broken, Cas. That last move was completely unnecessary, and that bi-"
"Dean, stop."
Castiel's voice was firm, and Dean glared for several seconds before offering the angel a hand up. Castiel took it with his good hand and hoisted himself up dislodging several more soot-stained feathers as he did so. Azrial offered her hand to Castiel once he was on his feet, and Dean turned his glare on her.
"We don't need your damn help."
"Would you rather have to cast his arm? Stop being an ass."
Castiel stepped in front of Dean extending his arm to Azrail despite Dean's reservations. Her bloody fingers rand over his arm and she absentmindedly asked, "Crowley, could you grab my scythe?"
The demon hummed and turned to grab the massive weapon from where it had fallen several feet away. Azrial's eyes flashed silver and her fingers gave off a blue glow as she gently rubbed Castiel's arm. It was nowhere near the forced reset she'd done to her leg, and Rowen wondered why she was being so gentle.
"You can come."
The words were said with an audible pride, and Castiel stood a touch straighter when Aziral released his arm. She turned away as Crowley returned, and Rowen watched as even the demon struggled with the weapon.
"Can all archangel weapons do that?"
Sam's hesitant question made Azrial laugh as she gripped the scythe. It seemed to melt away, once more replaced by the bronze blade.
"Of course. Our power is greater than a normal angel, so it stands to reason we would have special weapons. We are far from the only class of angel that does though."
She resheathed the weapon allowing her shirt to cover it. Sam looked a touch sick at the thought, and Rowen shot Bobby a look. The man nodded in understanding, and Rowen knew that would be a long talk.
"Are ya done trashing my yard?"
"Didn't enjoy the show, Robert?"
Crowley's voice was laced with amusement, and Bobby glared at the demon.
Azrial snorted and shook her head, "Lay off him, Crowley. Not everyone can appreciate the degree of skill Castiel just showed, isn't that right Dean?"
The slight at both Bobby and Dean was clear even if it was delivered in a nonchalant tone. Bobby looked furious, and Dean snarled back.
"You call that a show of skill? That was dangerous. You could have kill-"
"But I didn't because Castiel is more than skilled enough for such training. A piece of advice, Winchester, Castiel isn't human. Stop pretending he is. It's insulting."
There was a bite in her words now, and Rowen couldn't bear to look at his friend. If the shock and hurt on Dean's face was anything to go off of, Bobby wouldn't be much better.
"That ain't-"
Azrial cut off Dean with a sharp laugh, and Crowley looked rather smug at her words.
"It is. He's supposed to be your friend, family if your outburst earlier is anything to go by. I won't be a hypocrite and say he shouldn't be close with you idiots, not with Crowley standing next to me,"
Azrial paused and took a steadying breath, and her anger simmered down before she continued, "But you can't make him human. If Castiel chose to be human, ripped out his grace, and fell, he wouldn't be him anymore."
There was a warning in her voice and Rowen watched as the Winchesters paled, and Castiel looked away from Dean. It seemed she'd touched on something that was an ongoing problem, or perhaps she spoke from experience.
"And Crowley's different? He doesn't try and change ya?"
Bobby snapped the questions and Azrial rolled her eyes and went to answer when Crowley cut her off.
"Why would I? She's an archangel, one of the most powerful beings in existence. Why the hell would I want her to be anything else?"
"Crowley has a point, no matter how crudely he put it," Azrial said.
There was a tense silence and Azrial turned back to Castiel with a smile, "Come with me, brother. I'd like to get you in more suitable clothing. That coat really isn't safe in a fight."
Castiel hesitated for a moment, but when Dean wouldn't meet his eyes the angel sighed and allowed his sister to grab his arm, and they vanished from the area. Crowley stayed for several moments, and Rowen was surprised at the rather civil tone the demon took.
"Angels are prideful beings. May I recommend you don't ignore that fact in the future?"
The demon left as well, and Rowen watched as Dean stormed off toward the house. Sam ran after his brother, and Rowen wished the younger hunter luck in calming his brother down. Bobby didn't move for several moments and actually leaned down to pick up two of the feathers that had fallen. One belonged to Castiel, and the other to Azrial. The researcher eyed them curiously and Rowen hesitantly asked, "You doing okay?"
"Do you think that bastard was right?"
Bobby's voice held no emotion, and Rowen winced. His next words made bile creep up his throat.
"Honestly? Yes. I know the three of you see Castiel as family, but I think sometimes you choose to see him as human when he clearly isn't."
"We're hunters we ain't supposed to-"
Rowen cut Bobby off and tried to keep his voice calm. This was one of those things he and Bobby disagreed on. Bobby leaned, like many hunters, that if it wasn't human, best to kill it. As an exorcist, Rowen had met many creatures, and not all of them tried to harm humans. Castiel blurred that rule so much, and he had a feeling the presence of Crowley and Aziral wasn't helping things.
"Then stop thinking like a damn hunter, and think like a father, Bobby."
Bobby froze, and for a moment his friend looked furious at being called out. Rowen couldn't afford to play nice on this topic anymore. Best to treat it like a bandaid.
"Tell me I'm wrong, Bobby, and I'll apologize. I don't think lying to an ordained priest will get you many points though."
The fury melted off Bobby's face, and Rowen watched his words sink in. Rowen sighed and added softly, "Bobby, I know it's easier to paint monsters as evil. To ignore that there are vamps out there that wouldn't touch a human, or that the Fair Folk aren't all out to eat babies, but sometimes we have to."
"Drop it, Anderson."
The warning was clear, and Rowen sighed. He knew he'd pissed off his friend so he simply said, "Just think about it, Robert. God knows now more than ever, you should hold the people you love close."
Rowen walked away from his friend, not wanting to piss Bobby off more than he already had. He remembered the last time they'd had this argument, and all that it had cost them, and Rowen didn't want to go down that path again. Their friendship meant far too much to him, so Rowen retreated to the house to start creating protections for Bobby and his boys just in case things went tits up without warning.