Title: when the rich wage war
Disclaimer: not my characters
Warnings: future!fic; dark
Pairings: none stated
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 320
Point of view: third
Prompt: Castiel/Raphael, on your knees
He tore Castiel apart. He remembers that. A mere scholar of an angel, weak and dissident, lacking God's Grace and strength and the fury of the righteous smiting a blasphemer.
He tore Castiel apart with ease, with the might of Heaven behind him, with surety and knowledge—God's will and God's wrath, God's hands on Earth. An archangel. The best of all His creations.
Castiel trapped him and demanded answers, having been returned to life by the Adversary. No one else had the raw power to do such a thing, save Michael and God, and neither would have done it—so Satan had revealed his favorites: the traitor and the vessels.
Castiel trapped him once, a result of Raphael's arrogance and shock. Castiel trapped him once and showed just how far he'd fallen.
And now…
"Kneel," the Adversary demands of all the hosts, of all the garrisons, of Heaven itself.
Raphael clenches his fists as Zachariah postures. No one is surprised when the Adversary strikes him down with a simple gesture.
"Kneel," the Adversary commands. "Kneel or perish."
Dean did not say yes. Dean did not say yes and Father is still gone and Michael is a bodiless spirit, easily destroyed by Lucifer's smile.
Castiel strides forward, filled with profane power, and he pauses before Raphael. "Kneel," he says quietly. "On your knees, if you desire life."
He tore Castiel apart, once. He tore Castiel apart, and yet here Castiel stands, with Lucifer and Michael's defiant vessel, and there is nothing to be done.
Raphael takes a deep breath, arches his wings, and lunges forward.
He tore Castiel apart, once. But that was before, and Castiel is now more than his equal.
The Adversary laughs, the brother—who should have said yes, should have said yes, how dare he refuse—smirks, and Castiel stands victorious.
"Kneel!" the Adversary roars.
All who remain, terrified and angry and desperate, do.