A/N: Well...it's been a while, huh? And I kinda left off at a terrible spot...sorry about that, guys :) It was just school, and other issues, and...ah, who am I kidding. It was writer's block. Really bad writer's block. BUT IM BACK. This chapter's pretty short and fun (CROWLEY, ENOUGH SAID), but I already have a good chunk of the next chapter started. Right now I'm banking on this story being about ten chapters total. Enjoy!
.
.
"Well," Bobby sighed, gesturing toward the open field in front of them. It was full of people- hunters, presumably. "I thought it might kill me, but I managed to get everyone together long enough to explain the situation. They're all ready to go: a hundred self-armed and seasoned hunters, angels, and assorted monsters, all ready to fight in a war against Lucifer."
"Hah. I'd like to see Michael and his 'city guard' manage this," Dean smirked.
"It is rather impressive," Cas agreed, standing close by his side.
Sam, Dean, Cas, and Bobby walked through the field, weaving among groups of hunters. Dean and Sam often stopped to talk to friends and acquaintances, usually introducing them to Castiel as well. He met the hunters Gordon, Annie, Rufus, Jodi, Samuel and Gwen Cambell (who were apparently related to the Winchesters, though they didn't seem to be close), and Charlie Bradbury (who said she liked to think of herself as more of a "technical director" than a "hunter"). They weren't all human hunters, either. Castiel met Dean's good friend Benny, a vampire, and Sam's friend Amy, who was something called a kitsune. There was Garth, recently turned werewolf, a demon named Cain, and a reaper named Tessa.
At one point, Castiel thought he caught a glimpse of dappled gold feathers. He immediately broke from Dean's side to follow the disappearing wings.
"Gabriel?" Cas asked, squinting at the figure moving through the camp ahead of him. "Gabriel!" he repeated at a louder volume.
Gabriel turned, a mischievous smirk spreading across his face when he saw Sam and Dean. "Well if it isn't the Winchester boys. Who's your friend?" he turned to the bemused Castiel. Cas tilted his head and narrowed his eyes and Gabriel's eyebrows shot up. "Cassie?! Holy crap! Sorry about that, kiddo, I didn't recognize you without your black beauties."
"Black beauties?" Sam asked skeptically.
"Great. Gabe knows too?" Dean asked at the same time.
"Gabriel is the one who showed me how to hide them in the first place," Cas said, answering Dean.
"So you're still covering them, huh?" Gabe asked, patting Cas on the arm. "I was self-conscious about my wings when I was a young 'un too. But now I flaunt it," he smirked, flaring his wings proudly.
"Does someone want to fill me in?" Sam asked.
"Cassie's just embarrassed because his wings are black," Gabriel supplied cheerfully, convinced he was being helpful.
"I'm not embarrassed," Cas grumbled.
"Sure you're not."
"Wait, Cas has—" Sam looked between Dean and Cas, face scrunched up in concentration, "But Dean, you said the—but I thought the—oh. Oh. Cas, I had no idea—wow. Um. That's awesome."
Cas rolled his shoulders. "The hell with it," he growled, setting his wings loose.
The hunters around him all stopped their conversations to stare at the black-winged angel with the blue eyes, all of them having heard the stories of Eden's Vigilante. Seeing Castiel standing tall, wings arched proudly behind his back, there was no question of his identity.
Cas found it strangely liberating.
Gabriel pouted. "Since when have your wings been bigger than mine?" he whined. Cas rolled his eyes, choosing not to answer the indignant archangel.
"But what about the whole secret thing?" Dean asked, clenching his fists to avoid threading his fingers through the silky black feathers.
"I think the time for secrets has passed, Dean," Cas said wryly.
"Well, I'm proud of you for getting over the whole self-conscious thing, Cassie," Gabe whacked him on the shoulder. "Dean-o, I heard you the one to tell Michael about Lucifer? How'd that go?"
"Michael just flirted with him the whole time." It was Castiel's turn to pout.
Gabriel snorted. "Huh. Not the reaction I would have expected, but whatever. We'll talk more later, but I have to go find my girlfriend Kali. Good seeing ya, Cassie. Winchesters."
.
Meg rested her chin on her hand, watching Jo and Ellen as the cleaned up after rush hour.
Ellen glanced up from behind the counter, pursing her lips at the demon. "Were you planning on helping at all?"
"Sure," Meg said, snapping out of her daze. "What do you need done?"
"Really?" Ellen asked, setting aside her work to study Meg. "Okay, what's wrong?"
"Nothing! Fine. I just can't help but worry about Clarence."
"Why? Castiel can handle himself—and he's with Victor, Ash, and Dean."
"I don't know Dean. I don't like how easily he swept in here, I don't like that he and Cas have some sort of history, and I don't like Dean's influence over Castiel. The poor lovestruck angel looks at that damn hunter like he's his whole world. It's not gonna end well—Dean's going to find out about Cas, or one of them's gonna get hurt, or—"
Jo pouted. "Are you jealous of Dean?"
Meg would be lying if she said the disappointment in Jo's tone didn't thrill her.
"Of course not. I'm really just worried about the angel's safety. And Victor's. And the King's. And even Ash's, much as it pains me to admit it. When Lucifer wants something, he gets it. And then he crushed anyone that tried to stand in his way."
Jo wandered over to Meg, taking her hand. Meg leaned back in her seat and watched Jo cautiously. She tried to ignore the strange fluttering feeling that started somewhere near the pit of her stomach. "They'll be fine, Meg. And we'll stop Lucifer." Jo reached up and touched Meg's cheeks, trying to push a smile onto the demon's face. "Concerned is a good look on you, Meg."
"I don't like poetry, Jo. Put up or shut up."
"Well, isn't this touching."
Meg jumped out of her seat at the sound of the new voice, stepping in front of Jo protectively (despite the woman being slightly taller than the petite demon). Meg drew her knife and dropped into a defensive stance.
"Crowley," she growled, keeping her tone light and smug despite every instinct in her body screaming at her to run. "It's been a while, huh?"
"I'll say," the man replied, hands in his pockets. He glanced around the Roadhouse casually, walking between the tables to approach the bar. The man was dressed in a sleek black suit, and he wore a self-satisfied smirk on his smug dick face. Just as Meg remembered him.
The King of Hell was flanked by two other demons.
"Ruby!" Meg taunted the demon over Crowley's shoulder, "You've gained weight!"
The dark-haired woman sneered in response, reaching for her own weapon.
"Down, girl," Crowley said to Ruby in his smooth accent. Turning back to Meg, he raised his palms in a placating manner. "I just want to talk."
Meg hesitated. "Then talk. But you must be stupider than you look if you think I'm putting the knife away."
Crowley sighed. "So hostile." He turned to Jo and Ellen. "Crowley, by the way. King of Hell."
"Really? Because I heard you got kicked out," Jo smirked.
Ruby started forward with a growl. Meg dropped lower into her crouch and growled louder, challenging Ruby to try anything.
"Ruby!" Crowley scowled, "Learn to control yourself or I'll make outside! Sorry. Again. It's so hard to find good bodyguards nowadays. I like your little blonde pet, Meg. She's fiery."
"What do you want, Crowley?" Meg asked.
"I'm told this is the place to talk to the vigilante."
"Sorry," Meg sneered, "Clarence isn't home right now. Would you like to leave a message?"
"Where is he?" Crowley asked, beginning to lose his patience. He sighed when it was clear the Roadhouse crew wasn't going to answer him. "Look, you're right to be suspicious, but I'm your ally. The enemy of my enemy and all that. I need the devil back back in his stock. In fact, my delicate arse depends on it."
Meg raised an eyebrow.
Crowley sighed. "He drove me out of my home. I spent two weeks under a rock, like a bloody salamander! Every demon on Hell and Earth's got his eyes out for me! And yet, here I am, last place I should be- in Eden, talking to the vigilante's accomplices!"
"He has a point," Meg said, lowering his knife.
"What?" Jo asked, "Are you crazy?"
"Hey. Take it from a demon. We may be manipulative and cruel, but we're usually good on our word. And as long as we've got a common enemy, I'm sure we'll all get along famously."
"Yeah, and when Lucifer is gone?"
"Then I'll take the highway back to Hell and we can all go back to the way we were before this nasty business started. But you're facing an invasion, and I'm facing a revolution, so I say we combine our strengths and crush the opposition," Crowley interrupted.
Ellen shifted behind the bar. "I'd say that sounds fair. If Meg says he can be trusted."
"Trusted? No," Meg smiled, not taking her eyes of Crowley. "But we'd be stupid not to accept his help."
"Good," Crowley said, "Now that that's settled, may I please speak with the vigilante?"
"He's not here, but he should be back tomorrow morning. He was with a group escorting the King to Sioux Falls."
"Oh," Crowley turned to give Ruby a meaningful look. "Well in that case, there's not much I can do besides get as far from Eden as physically possible before Lucifer hits, and I suggest you do the same."
"What are you talking about? I thought you were going to help."
"The king's dead," Crowley shrugged.
Meg turned, wide-eyed, to look at Jo.
"Or at least," the demon continued, "he should be by now. Lucifer found out about Shurley's little escape plan and sent the best of his cronies that were in the city to ambush the group on the road. Twenty demons, at least. Probably more. And how many were in your party?"
"Six, not counting the king and queen," Jo grumbled.
"Exactly. Something tells me your angel isn't coming back."
"You underestimate him, then," Meg said, resolute, "he's alive, believe me. Your demons are probably rotting in a ditch right now."
"Lucifer's demons," Crowley corrected. "I'll wait one day. If your boy isn't back by then, I'm leaving."
"Fine."
"How'd you know about the ambush, anyways?" Jo asked, placing her hands on her hips.
"Never underestimate the king of Hell, darling. I know a lot of swell tricks."