Title: You'd think the gates of Heaven were open
Disclaimer: not my characters; title from Denise Levertov.
Warnings: AU
Pairings: none
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 575
Point of view: third
Prompt: Supernatural, any, Castiel the hunter meets the two angels Sam and Dean
Note: Castiel's dad named his sons for the angels. The angels still exist, but their characters are completely different. If that makes sense. *hands*
"Hey," a man's voice calls. "Need a hand?"
Castiel glances up from the grave he's digging into to see two men, one quite a bit taller, watching him from across the cemetery. Neither of them appears to be law enforcement but it is night in a graveyard.
"No," he says after a moment, wishing Gabriel were with him instead of with Michael, dealing with the possession. (Honestly: a poltergeist and a demon in the same town in the same week? It lends credence to Dad's determination that the end of the world is soon.)
"Aww, that's cute," the shorter man says; it was his voice, earlier. "Isn't that cute, Sammy?"
The taller, (Sammy? His build defies the name.) says, "Your brothers are in trouble."
Castiel lets go of the shovel with his left hand, going for his gun.
"No need for that, kiddo," the shorter says. "We're here to help." He holds his hands up but all Castiel sees are shapes in the night and if his brothers are in trouble - "Look," the man says. "We'll let you finish here. We'll be waiting by the car and then we'll go with you to deal with that demon, and then, when your brothers are safe, we'll all talk. How's that sound?"
It sounds like a decision Castiel should not make by himself. But if Gabriel and Michael are in trouble... "Fine," he says.
"Good," the shorter says firmly. "I'm Dean. This is my brother, Sam. We'll be by the car."
Castiel watches them turn and walk away. He then takes a deep breath and resumes digging.
…
Do you honestly think this is the best idea? Sammael asks as they lean against the mortal's car.
I think with Dad fucked off to who knows where, it's the only idea, Azrael says.
Sammael sighs heavily; to the west, a tornado billows up and Sammael dissipates it with a thought. The hosts will not be pleased, he warns.
Azrael laughs and beneath them, the ground shudders. With Dad gone, Azrael says, who have we to fear?
Once, there were four mighty angels, the greatest and highest of all Father's works: Sammael, Michael, Gabriel, Uriel. And before even them, there had been the eldest, the Firstborn.
They think you're caged, Azrael tells him. And they think me long dead. We're the only game in town, now, and that's how it's gonna stay.
Once, there was a war in Heaven. It ended with Michael throwing Sammael into a cage and Sammael's name stripped from him to be known only as Lucifer the Deceiver.
Sammael looks up at the sky, at the waning moon, and he says, Millennia caged for not wanting to love lesser beings more than my father. And now we must save them because he is gone.
Azrael laughs again, soothing the trembling earth with a thought. Will you join me, brother, on the pale horse?
Turning to look at him, at the vessel they crafted together, Sammael nods. There is much he owes Azrael, the only one to stay true, the one who dove into Hell and tore open the cage, the one who wove a spell so powerful only Father could see through it, if He chose – but Father has not chosen. Father is gone.
Father is gone, and everything ripe for the taking.
We've got work to do, Sammael says and Azrael's grin is brighter than all the fires of Hell.