Title: God's image was contrived
Disclaimer: not my characters
Warnings: AU during season 5
Pairings: none
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 310
Point of view: third
Prompt: any, the angels brought John Winchester back from the dead to be Michael's vessel
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we always knew Dean would say no, Azrael tells Castiel as they stand invisible in the hospital room. The patient doesn't see them or hear them, nor does the doctor or nurses, but all the humans in the building are walking softly. They know something is there, and they don't want to disturb it.
but we had to ask, so that he would refuse, Azrael continues, and Castiel cannot look at him. Will not.
there was more than one righteous man in Hell, Azrael says, and in his hand he clutches a bright, blinding soul.
this will end poorly, brother, Castiel tells him. the Winchesters will be devastated.
and our brother will walk again, to battle the Adversary, Azrael says, the words almost vicious. you focus too much on humans. Uriel warned us about your… unruly ideas.
Castiel tries to ignore Azrael as the Angel of Death focuses on the room John Winchester died in, the last place on Earth in which he lived. Using the soul as a guide, and the room's impressions, Azrael rebuilds the body and forces the soul back in.
Castiel tries to ignore Azrael as he says, John Winchester, will you do your duty to your sons and your world?
John gasps, "You'll save m'boys?"
Azrael replies, they will be saved.
John says, "Yes."
Castiel closes his eyes as Michael settles into every part of John Winchester, from his soul to his toes, and Azrael kneels, proclaiming, welcome, brother.
He doesn't want to think that Azrael is right, it could be better this way. Where Dean would have fought, where Dean had never said yes, John might know that Sam must die for the world to survive.
But Castiel still, for whatever reason, feels that this is wrong. And Dean will react quite poorly, as he has to all previous machinations of Heaven.