He wasn't there this time, either; Castiel had kind of started to expect that, though he still came back to the park every few days. He needed advice, but there was no-one to give him one, now that even Aziraphale seemed to have abandoned him.

The situation had started to slip thorough his fingers: dead angels, Anna, Uriel's betrayal… Sometimes he felt like disobeying, but then he quickly gathered his thoughts and remembered that Heaven was Good; following orders was right thing to do. Yet, it didn't stop him from wondering if there was some other way, if the apocalypse could still be avoided…

And Dean Winchester, he and his brother, and the roles they were destined to play; was that really inevitable…?

"Why so gloomy, sweetheart?"

Castiel turned around and wrinkled his nose like he had just smelt something unpleasant. "Demon. You got some nerve, appearing before me like that…"

The demon didn't look particularly threatened by that; instead, he took an offended pose and said, "Is that any way to greet the one who saved your life?"

Castiel took another look, and it indeed was the demon who had helped him to escape from Hell. "Ah", he said, because really, what can you say in a situation like that?

Clearly, the demon had excepted something more than that. "Really? "Ah?" That's all you have to say? … Not the sharpest tool in the shed, are you? Well, good thing that you at least have your looks, then…"

"Cease your theatrics, demon. I find it hard to believe that you helped me out of the goodness of your heart… if you even had one", Castiel replied frostily.

The demon shrugged. "Got me there… But back to the business – Why are you showing such a long face, darling?"

"And what is it to you?"

"Nothing, really – It just seems like you always choose the same place when you feel like mooping, and it's kinda bothers me, since my old mentor lives close by, and he really could deal without an another angel wandering in his backyard, so to say."

Castiel raised his eyebrow. "And why should I care about that?" he asked, though was suddenly feeling little worried. He said "an another angel"… that means that he knows about Aziraphale living here.

"Full of love and care, aren't you?"

"I have no need to show any of those towards abominations like you."

"That hurt, darling! …And here I thought we were having something special…"

Castiel shook his head, feeling both confused and irritated. He had never understood demons, and even by their standards, this one was odd creature. "You know I could smite you, don't you?" he asked.

"Then why haven't you?" the Demon shot back, with a smirk.

"I… owe you one. And since I actually honor my debts, I will let you live… this time."

He was already planning to leave - feeling disappointed for failing again to meet Aziraphale, but also unwilling to spent any more time in the demon's company – when the said demon raised his voice again.

"Hey, why such hurry? You could at least spill out what has ruffled your feathers", he said and, as Castiel tilted his head, continued quickly, "Meaning, can you finally tell me why are you so upset? Was that simply enough for you?"

"I still fail to understand what's that for you", Castiel said, deciding to not acknowledge the offend.

The demon just shrugged again. "Maybe I'm trying to be a good person…" he said and feigned an innocent smile.

Castiel wasn't impressed. "So do you?" he pressed on.

The demon actually laughed. "Hell, no! I just want you to cheer up so you no longer stagger around like some lost chicken and make my mentor worry that soon there will be a whole garrison of angels drinking tea in his city… Aaaand maybe get some leverage from you that I can use later if things get nasty."

Castiel nodded, remembering Aziraphale's words: "You should never trust a demon who isn't having an ulterior motives – selfish kind, that is to say." Of course, the demon probably had hidden agendas, but the idea of speaking to someone who was in no place to criticize him felt oddly relieving… especially since Castiel would feel no remorse of smiting him later, if it came to that.

"… I presume it's pointless to ask if you know about the present situation?" Castiel started. The demon looked like someone who prided himself always knowing more than the most of people.

"Of course: The big event. Hell versus Heaven, and Earth get to pay the collateral damages… But hey, it's all for the bigger picture!"

"I don't appreciate your sarcasm", Castiel hissed.

"But that's what you think, too, aren't it?" the demon pointed out. "How stressing it has to to you; watching all these humans, looking after them, and all while planning their impending demise! I mean, that's what I do, but you should had been cut from something else, right?"

"They won't demise!" Castiel denied. "Of course, some of them will die –"

"Millions of them", the demon added casually, and Castiel glared at him.

"– Many of them will die, but those who survives will be living in paradise!"

"What ever you say, if it helps you to sleep at night… Wait, you don't sleep! Well, to be honest, neither do I… now my mentor here, he does sleep, quite a lot, actually – slept once a whole century! – Maybe I should try it, sometime…"

"Why do you keep spouting that nonsense?" Castiel grumbled.

"It's not any worse nonsense than what you're spouting to yourself, darling; Paradise? Really? Keep dreaming on…"

"It will be fulfilled! Everything will be perfect again, just God wanted it to be; World without pain and suffering, where humans can live peacefully without wars and hard work…"

"Also without sex", the demon pointed out. "Not really my idea of paradise…"

"They won't be carving that anymore", Castiel replied stiffly. "The will be ridden of fleshly wants and live their days in harmony, praising God."

"You realize that then they wont be humans anymore?" the demon said.

That hit little too close, because Castiel had been wondering the same thing. If humans were shed from their… "humanity", then what would they became? Angels? And if that was their Fathers plan, then why were humans so different than them from the beginning?

"I won't question Lord's will", Castiel said sternly.

"Oh, but you do, don't you, darling? Deep in your heart, you've got all kinds of questions… "Is it necessary?", "Is this truly His will?", "Is Dean going to forgive me for playing him like a fool?"…"

"I'm not playing him!" Castiel denied hastily. "I'm doing what I have to! One day, he will understand that it was worth it -"

"Worth of what, exactly? What could you give to him that would be worth of killing his own brother, even if he was possessed by Lucifer and Dean himself had Mikael pulling his strings? Those to have a bond, feathers, so deep that it's more like symbiotic than brotherly; like they physically couldn't exist without each other. Sick, if you ask me… Now, tell me, what can you offer him that would made him to forgive you his brother's death?"

"I have no need of his forgiveness", Castiel said, but faintly. Surely Dean would understand, eventually… Surely he would see that Castiel had no choice?

"Don't lie to a liar, honey; and more importantly, don't lie to yourself. Seriously, don't your code forbid dishonestly, or something…?"

"Quiet", Castiel hissed. "Be quiet, you filthy abomination!"

"Did I piss you off? Aww, did I maybe poke your weakest point? Tell me, what does it feel – guiltiness? I've never felt that, not even while I was still a man…"

"I wont let you corrupt me against my duty! I'm an angel of Lord, I have faith…"

The demon snorted. "Yeah, so I see… Which why you're still a kid. Older and wiser learn to leave that behind."

"And what is left of them, after that?" Castiel asked cuttingly.

The demon rolled his eyes. "Oh, I don't know… How about hope and love? Not that that works on me, mind you…"

That actually managed to silence Castiel. He simply couldn't think of any counterargument that wouldn't talk against his Father's Word.

"… You're a low creature", he said, with a grudging admiration.

"Aren't you just a flirt?" the demon jeered back.

"…Why did you came, truly? What do you want from me?" Castiel pressed on.

"Didn't I already answer that – or do you expect me to actually give you my true reasoning's? Let's just say that I have those, but – at least now – I'm no threat for you."

Castiel scrutinized the demon, who shrugged before continuing, "Maybe I just want you to make your decision and stop hovering around, wasting everyone else's time. If you're on Heaven's side, then fine, stop pretending on being anything else. If you instead choose humanity's side, then stop mulling over it and act up! Of course", he said with a smirk, "you can always choose Hell's side, too, but considering that even Lucifer himself aren't really on our side, it wouldn't be on my benefit if you did."

"What you mean, Lucifer aren't on your side?" Castiel wondered. "He created you, didn't he?"

"Yes, and as soon as he's done with humans, he'll end us too! Really, honey, how dim are you? If Lucifer HATES HUMANS, then what would you expect that he thinks about US!? All in downstairs are idiots, who can't think with their brains – kind of like you, really."

Castiel decided to not care about the demon's opinions considering his intelligence (or the lack of it), since he had finally got what he'd asked for. "That's your agenda, then… You want to stop Lucifer's rising", he said, feeling little smug.

"Oh, really? And you found that out all by yourself, after I practically shouted it against your face? Well, good to you…"

The demon's grumpiness eased Castiel own frustration about the superior attitude he had shown during their whole conversation. So he can get frustrated, too…

"But what I said earlier, still stands: choose your fucking side, Thursday! If you're going to betray Dean Winchester, then stop playing to be his friend! If you're going to take a stand against Heaven, tell him what it going on here! Stop running away and looking excuses, or thinking that you can use two saddles; make your decision and then stick with it!" The demon took some deep breaths. "I'm not here to coddle you or tell you, what to do; just make sure that you know in whose camp you're standing on", he said, now much calmer, before continuing, "I'm leaving; you're cute as a button, honey, but talking with you makes me miss some non-braided company, or at least a strong drink. But, if you choose to join on humanity's side… Give me a call. I think we two could accomplish some great stuff together."

The demon vanished in a puff of sulfur; Castiel could see something slowly flowing down, something that looked like a piece of paper… He took it on his hand and looked more closely.

On the paper stood: 666 – Call any time you want, darling!

Castiel contemplated if he should throw the note away, but finally put it in his pocket, just in case, as he reasoned to himself.

Choose your side, the demon had said.

Maybe he should finally do just that.

Maybe it really was time to stop running away…