"What happened to them? The humans, I mean?" I asked tentatively, unsure of how to act after Michael's confession.
He smiled. "They are in heaven together. They are happy. Castiel visits them often. In fact I believe him and Dean have forged a more romantic relationship."
I returned Michael's smile before it flickered and died on his face.
"Michael, all this guilt that you carry. You can't blame yourself for everything, it'll kill you. You've spent the past hundred years fixing what you broke. You are blameless."
Michael's gaze washed over mine as if to isolate the truth in them.
"Anna, I can't do it. I can't bring myself to kill him. He's my brother. It was different last time. I was so sure of myself, I thought it wasn't my duty. But now my Father's been gone so long and I've been shouldering the responsibility. I could walk away and leave him. The choice to kill him is mine to make. And I can't." Michael choked out another shuddering sob. I knelt on the floor next to the bed as my hand rested on his clasped ones. "He was right, I am weak."
"Michael, no. Killing your family is a horrible thing to have to do. It was unfair of God to ask that of you."
Michael's features froze and his eyes became hard like steel.
"Father had his reasons. Lucifer is evil. Look what he's done. Look what he almost did to you. " His hand moved to rest on my cheek as he softly kissed my forehead.
"Come on" I muttered as the sweetness of Michael's actions washed over me. "We have hunting to do."
Finally after a month of preparation, and many half burnt maps, they were almost ready.
They just needed one last thing. I stood in my hotel room and fluttered my eyes closed.
"Castiel, I need your help. Michael needs your help."
A presence appeared behind me. I turned to see a tall man wearing a tan trenchcoat and a grin.
"You must be Anna." stated the man, still smiling broadly.
"And you must be Castiel." I replied feeling an uncontrolled smile creep onto my face. Seriously though, he was just too adorable.
"Please, call me Cas. Where's Mike?"
Michael walked into the room at that moment
"Hey, that's Prince Mike to you!" He grinned, the humour reaching his eyes so that they sparkled.
As the two angels greeted each other, I watched in awe. It was shocking to see the change in Michael around his friend. The weight of his guilt seemed to vanish as he joked and playfully punched his younger brother.
Mike? I mouthed at Michael as he hugged his brother, causing Michael to shrug.
"Right well, I assume you didn't call me here for my dashing good looks" Joked Castiel. "What is it that you need? "
Michael, who had regained a little of his solemnity, answered "We require my brother's blade."
Castiel glanced away sadly. From his reaction I assumed that the brother Michael was referring to was Raphael, the archangel that Castiel had killed in the civil war.
"Of course" said Castiel, reaching up as Michael had done to grasp the archangel blade from thin air. He looked at it sadly for a moment before passing it to Michael.
"Anything else, my Prince?" Cas muttered.
"Don't call me that, assbutt" replied Michael with a smirk as Castiel's face once again lifted with humour.
Assbutt? I mouthed to Michael, absolutely bewildered.
"Its a long story." said Cas "See you around Anna"
He was still laughing as he disappeared.
Michael handed the blade to me, residual laughter still on his face.
"This is for you, Anna. I'm not letting you go into a fight with Lucifer without anything to defend yourself with."
He stared wistfully at the blade in my hand.
"Raphael was always the kindest of us growing up, but I think our Father's abandonment hardened him. In the end, his desire to prove himself was his undoing. I long to see him again, the innocent boy I knew."
"You will, Michael. Someday. I will carry the blade with pride." I told Michael firmly, believing every word.
We tracked Lucifer's vessel to school in a nearby city. The possessed man was an RE teacher there. Luckily it was the middle of the Easter holidays, so the school was vacant.
Michael and I were in a stolen car parked outside the school, waiting for Lucifer to show himself. It had been 9 hours in a cramped space in expectant silence and I had just about had enough.
"Listen, Michael. He's not coming out anytime soon. Let's just go in and recon. If he's there then great, if he's not then we can just go home. All this waiting around is making me jittery." It was true. The prospect of facing Lucifer again was more scary than I was letting up. Every second we waited, another part of brain decided that this was just a little too big for me.
Michael considered my proposal for a second before agreeing with a nod of his head.
When we entered the school it was deadly quiet and dark. We dared not make too much noise in case we warned Lucifer of our arrival.
I was shaking despite myself. I knew I had Michael right beside me, nor to mention the entire heavenly host on speed dial in case anything went sideways, but I couldn't shake the apprehension in my bones.
We silently crept forward through corridors, Michael checking the left and I the right. Suddenly I heard a door slam on my left.
We swung around and saw a little girl standing in the doorway. Her plaits done up with ribbons and she was wearing a crisp school uniform.
"Hello" she said her head tilted to one side. "Are you here to see my daddy?"
And with that, her eyes flickered to black and she launched herself at Michael.
"Demon" he snarled before resting his hand on her forehead. Her eyes melted out of their sockets as Michael pushed white light into her brain. She slumped on the floor, dead.
I shook myself at the glimpse of Michael's true power. Sometimes I forget that he was one of the oldest beings ever created.
Then I looked back at the girl's body.
"Was she human once?" Michael had explained the basics of angels and demons to me but the finer points we're still a little confusing.
"Yes." came the unabashed reply. Michael was muttering to himself "I should have foreseen this, I should have known he would be protected"
"Michael. She was, what, five years old?! Barely a child. And she's dead now."
Michael growled "Anna, restrain your compassion, she was a demon. She could have killed you."
"No." I said firmly. I put my hand on Michael's shoulder, forcing him to look me in the eye. "Every human life matters right? Everyone who can be saved should be."
My conviction was absolute and I felt Michael yield.
"I'm sorry. The heat of battle. I was..not myself" Michael blinked looking shaken and he glanced, horrified, at the girl's body.
We agreed to try exorcism first and use the blades (or smiting) as a last resort.
Just then, dozens of little children started pouring into the corridors.
"Anna, run!" Michael shouted to me as the children approached, their teeth bared, their eyes black.
"No." I replied. I'll hold them off. You find Lucifer."
Still Michael hesitated
"Go. I know the exorcism, I'll be fine" I assumed the defensive position Michael had shown me as the first of the demon children attacked me.
I was running through the school, sliding on the linoleum floor. The possessed children had clawed and bit at me while I tried to bat them off, chanting in Enochian. The chant was only exorcising the nearest demon though, I needed to find another way. Hence the running. I heard the clattering of the demon's feet as they chased me. I had long cuts up my arms and even bite marks on my ankles but I had to keep running.
I rounded a corner and struck lucky, I had reached the gym.
"Come and get me you devil bastards" I called out loudly to the children, luring them towards me.
As they entered the gym, I closed the door behind them, preventing them from leaving. I wrenched open another door to my left and, slamming the door firmly behind me, I climbed the stairs. When I reached the top I grabbed the microphone and shouted the Enochian words Michael had taught me.
Below, the demons screamed collectively. I watched as black smoke forced it's way out of the children's mouths and floated to the ceiling. A huge fireball erupted around them, and when I looked a few seconds later, all the demons were gone. I sighed with relief.
It worked! Thank God it worked!
I looked around at the unconscious children, sprawled haphazardly on the floor. I checked their pulses to make sure they were still alive and then I rang the emergency services.
I ran out of the gym, listening for sounds that could lead me to Michael. The sound of crashing came from along the corridor on my left. As I looked, an immensely bright light shone from one of the windows.
Michael.
When I entered the room, Michael was lying, facing towards me, on the ground in a pool of blood. Silver grace leaked from his deep wounds. I could see a man leaning over him whispering in his ear.
I could hear his words even from across the room;
"So weak Michael. So..vulnerable. Whatever happened to to the all-conquering sword of heaven?"
Michael was panting with exhaustion and pain but his answer was strong. "I chose to change, Lucifer. I learnt that I was wrong. Hating humans. I..they are the better species, brother. They always were."
"Better than you, brother, but not me. Father loved me best. You were just his blunt little instrument." spat Lucifer. He grabbed his injured brother by the collar of his shirt and drew him even closer. "You are in love brother. With humanity. It has weakened you beyond recognition. Are you ready to die, Michael? To die for your pitiful love?" he said, twisting the words, lacing them with hatred.
He raised his blade high once more, malice and victory written all over his face.
And then I stuck Raphael's blade through his chest.
His eyes glazed as he keeled over, landing on his brother. Michael twisted him so that the dying angel was laying on the elder's chest. He raised a hand to stroke Lucifer's hair slowly.
"I love you Lucifer" Michael said softly as he cradled his brother in his arms.
Afterwards, I held Michael as he shook. The realisation that his brother was gone had hit him hard and grief had overtaken him.
"I'm sorry" I whispered over and over into his hair. "I'm so sorry."
That night had been tough to say the least but Michael talked until I felt asleep as usual. This time it was all his best memories of his brothers. Not just Lucifer but also Raphael, who's blade had finally ended him and Gabriel, his youngest and most tearaway brother. Gabriel was still MIA but Michael hoped that he would return after Lucifer's death.
The parting was awkward. Michael and I had grown close these past few weeks but that was before I killed his brother. Michael held no grudge. He understood that I had to do it but the hurt was evident in his blue eyes.
Still, he held me protectively for a few moments before I left and he kissed my hair in farewell.
I returned to my family. I explained my absence for the past 6 months as a "trip, to find myself."
I'm not sure if they believed me but I think they were just glad to have me back. My mum fussed over me relentlessly when she saw how thin I had gotten. It was so relievingly normal.
I returned to my work as well. In my absence my team had achieved a great deal and it only took a week for me to slot the pieces together. In our first medical trial to my utter relief, little Jimmy showed a great improvement.
My life continued as normal, getting better and better by the day. But still something was missing. At first, I thought it was just Michael. But I realised slowly that it was the little things. I missed his warm presence and his voice as I drifted off to sleep. I missed his smile and even his bossiness.
It was finally the day of the award ceremony. My team were being honoured by an esteemed medical council for their work on the drug. When the presentation came I stepped back, acknowledging my absence for most of the research, but my team pushed me forward. Laughing, I took the award for the team.
It was truly a great night. The group and I were just heading out of the hotel we were staying at to get some celebratory drinks when I heard his voice behind me.
I turned around, chills racing up my spine as I saw him.
"Michael" I said disbelievingly. "I.. what are you doing here?"
"I came to congratulate you on your achievement." he gestured to my colleagues, who were all giggling and gossiping like school girls.
"We'll go ahead" My friend Andy called as she marched the rest of them out the door, leaving me and Michael standing in the lobby.
"We need to talk Anna" Michael said levelly.
I took him to my room, opting to take the stairs rather than having to deal with the uncomfortable silence of the lift.
"Michael," I sighed. "you can't just turn up like this after a year and a half-"
"Why don't you pray anymore? " Michael interrupted quickly, as though he could not contain himself any longer.
"Erm..because.. oh I don't know Michael." I shifted from one foot to the other "It's different now that I know who I'm praying to."
Michael looked at me, confused. "If you'd prefer me not to hear them personally then it's done. I can assign you to another angel as quickly as-"
"No, listen, I just...after everything. We left it so awkwardly. You had just lost your brother and I, well I didn't want to burden you."
"You maddening creature." Michael said softly, sounding almost awestruck. "Hearing your prayers were the best part of being an angel. You brought my humanity back. You would talk so freely of your desires and fears...it brought me back to myself Anna.
"And this past year, hearing nothing, it was driving me mad. I was worried about you and anxious about what you thought of me." During his speech his hand moved to take mine. Right there in my hotel room, just like before.
"It was you Anna. You're the one that showed me that my brother was wrong." Michael placed his palms on my cheeks and held my face to meet his gaze. His blue eyes flickered with passion and conviction. "Your prayers were so heartfelt, you proved to me that humankind is truly worthy of my Father's love."
"Michael.." I breathed as his thumbs brushed my cheekbone. I began to process what Michael was saying. "You have lived so long, you've seen so much. I am..well, utterly insignificant"
"You are anything but, Anna. You've shown me the person I was made to be. For the first time in an eternity, I see my Father's work with clarity. And it is good."
His hands moved during this speech from my face to my waist, pulling me gently towards him. With his closing statement, he lent down and placed his lips on mine.
He pulled back slowly with his eyes still closed. An overwhelming sense of peace came over me as my heart swelled for him.
"You saved me" He said, leaning in again for a second kiss.
"Make that twice, feather boy" I whispered against his lips as he chuckled.
With that Michael grabbed a handful of my hair from the back of my neck and kissed me ferociously. He closed his fingers into a fist, causing me to tilt my head back.
I moaned sharply as Michael kissed my throat. I was laid bare to his attacks, unable to defend myself from the onslaught.
I came to my senses as Micheal kissed my collarbone roughly. I pulled my hands from where they had rested, lightly on his chest, to his belt buckle. I pushed them up to feel his chest under his shirt. His skin was smooth and his muscles firm as I ghosted over them lightly.
Michael let out a weak moan against my clavicle as my fingers reached his hard nipples. I had never before heard Michael make such a vulnerable sound. I was thrilled to hear that I had reached beyond Michael's "Prince" facade.
Michael's hands roamed all over my body, longing to feel the humanity in them. My skin was warm under his attention, my blood sang for him. I pulled his shirt off and started placing kisses on his collarbone, just as he had done previously.
"Turn around." Michael said, his voice an even richer bass than usual. The phrase was an order but when my eyes met his, the lust was diluted with a purer emotion.
I did as he bid, reluctantly removing my hands from his body. I felt Michael pull down the zip on my dress feverishly, clearly desperate to see my skin. He pushed the dress gently from my shoulders, the change of pace surprising me.
I pulled the tight formal dress the rest of the way down, feeling the material slide over my curves lent me even more confidence as I bent forward to remove my high heels. My position meant that I was bent directly in front of Michael, the perfect height to grind slowly into his growing erection.
Michael gulped at the brazen movement. As I straighted up, only in my emerald green bra and underwear, Michael put his arms around me.
"You are incomparable" he muttered, almost to himself. "to anything, on Heaven and on Earth. "
His soft words ignited every nerve in my body. Heat pooled in my belly as I felt how hard he was through his jeans. Michael once again spun me around to face him. He gazed up and down my body almost reverently before once again kissing me. My hands threaded into his hair as Michael's lips moved over mine. His hand moved to grip my hip as I moaned, his tongue in my mouth. I gently bit his bottom lip, a low growl slipping from his throat.
I gasped at the noise. "Michael."
He broke the kiss to look deep into my eyes. The understanding there surprised and exhilarated me. "Michael. There are no words." I said, desperately trying to express to him how he made me feel. How my heart contracted when he touched me. How it swelled when he looked at me.
"I.. I love you" I finally said, hoping that my eyes revealed all that I meant by that. As I blinked, they filled with tears at the baring of my soul.
"Anna. I would say it back but..it's not.. it's not enough. It doesn't express fully what you are to me."
"Then show me, Michael" I told him, once again taking his face in my hands.
And with that Michael lay me gently on the bed and preceded to show me how deep his devotion truly was.
Annnnndddd..I'm done
Super cheesy ending, I know, but it had to be done. Kind of proud to have done this in one day but as my dear strange mother would say "Needs must when the Devil farts in your face."
How appropriate :L
Soznotsoz for the Destiel feels btw, c'mon though, you all love it.
Honestly soz for any grammar/spelling mistakes but also breaks with canon. There are a few things that bugged me (Like Lucifer still having a grace even though he's fallen? idk Supernatural innit)
Also quick disclaimer: Supernatural belongs to Master Kripke ofc
A HUGE thank you to the reviewers, Guest and grandprincessanastasiaromanov5, and to Missa Bearr who followed and favourited in the short time between these chapters going up. You rock!
Lots of love
Anna