Big Bang: Where We're Heading To: Interlude in Heaven
Interlude in Heaven
"Raphael," Castiel accused, turning to face the archangel. He was surprised to see what may have been the entire Host of Heaven staring back at him. "What is this?" He had been about to ask something else, but this was a pertinent question, in Castiel's opinion.
"This is an intervention," Raphael answered, frowning. The word sounded foreign on his tongue, as if he had never used it before. At least, not in this particular context.
Castiel had heard it once before, though. Dean had staged an intervention for his brother, once he'd discovered the source of
Sam's psychic powers. Castiel hadn't been drinking demon blood, however, which begged the question: "What for?" If it came out bitter and accusatory, well, Castiel could hardly be blamed. He had done nothing to deserve this.
"You have been," the archangel paused to search through his mind for the best word, "absent lately." A rumble of agreement rolled through the Host. They looked to Castiel, expectant on his response.
He frowned, brows knitted together in thought. "I have been busy," Castiel finally answered, carefully.
Another angel -- Jophiel, Cas thought -- snorted. "Yes, with that human of yours," he sneered.
Castiel bristled. "Leave Dean out of this. He has nothing to do with this."
"On the contrary," Raphael explained calmly. "He has everything to do with this."
Narrowing his eyes, Castiel nearly growled at the archangel, "What are you talking about?"
Raphael was unfazed by his boss's hostility. "Every moment that you are not in Heaven, you are with Dean Winchester. And much of the time you are in Heaven, you are searching for creatures to hunt on Earth." He shook his head reprovingly, and continued, "You've been blind to the problems both among the Host and down on Earth. No one has even been able to confer with you on the Sam Winchester Situation."
Castiel froze. He had heard nothing of Sam since their last ill-fated meeting in the cemetery. "What situation?" he asked.
"Haven't you heard?" Raphael laughed, knowing full well that Castiel, in fact, had not, "Lucifer's vessel walks the Earth once more."
"What?" This was big. He would have to tell Dean as soon as possible. However, there were a few questions that needed to be asked first. "How? Why?" And finally, "What about Lucifer?"
"Do not worry, our brothers are still locked in that Hellhole. Sam Winchester is the only one who escaped." Raphael sighed,
"We believe he made some sort of a deal to escape. Since he has returned to Earth, he has caused much trouble, and we can only see more coming in the future."
Castiel kept himself from growling. This was not good at all. "Why was I not told about this?"
Raphael gave a laugh that was mostly for show. "You were not here to be told."
Narrowing his eyes, Castiel still had to concede that point. It was difficult to reach him these days, even with important information. "What is to be done about the situation?" he asked finally.
Mocking an innocent smile, Raphael twisted his mouth, saying, "Well, wouldn't that be your place to decide?"
Castiel might have involuntarily twitched at that. Perhaps. He would never admit that, though. His voice did not reflect it, in any matter. "I suppose that it would be."
A lazy, insidious smile slid onto the archangel's face as he prepared to make his final point. "So, in conclusion, you have been neglecting your Heavenly duties to consort with Dean Winchester, a lowly human who no longer has any part in history."
"And what do you propose I do?" Castiel asked, because it seemed likely that Raphael would attempt to provide a solution to this so-called problem.
"About which Winchester?" This was a valid question, of course.
Not that Castiel felt as much. Obviously he could deal with Sam on his own. He'd spent two years with the man. "Dean," he said, nearly rolling his eyes.
A dangerous spark appeared in Raphael's eyes. It was hungry, and it seemed to have been waiting just for this particular moment. "If you intend to keep your position in Heaven, then you must leave the human to deal with life on his own."
To Castiel, it felt like his eyes nearly popped out of his vessel's skull. "But you were the one who advised me to interfere with Dean in the first place!"
Regarding him carefully, Raphael asked, "Do you have proof of this?"
"My memory, and yours," Castiel answered. It was the only proof that there could be of a conversation held so long ago. Even the little pool had likely forgotten it by now.
"You have no real evidence besides your word, then?"
"No," Castiel said slowly, frowning. That was a rather harsh way of putting it. "I suppose I do not." He glared at Raphael, and continued, "That does not make it untrue, though."
"It does make it irrelevant," Raphael pointed out smugly.
That argument did not make as much sense as Raphael believed, so Castiel suppressed the urge to punch the archangel in the face and just clenched his fists instead. Perhaps Dean had more of an influence over him than he had realized. "Well, what would happen if I were not to abandon Dean?"
Raphael smiled wickedly, and Castiel wondered idly if he had planned whatever was about to come out of his mouth right from the beginning. "If you wish to continue your relations with Dean Winchester, then you must abdicate the Throne of Heaven, and leave it to more capable hands."
"Presuming that there are capable hands," Castiel muttered.
Something twitched in Raphael's face, but it did not show when he spoke, "Me. I will take over when you leave."
So, yes, Raphael had most likely planned this. Castiel found that he couldn't be bothered to care, though. It wasn't like he had a choice in this. He couldn't leave Dean, and he wasn't honestly causing much a difference amongst the Host anyway. Even less than he had thought, if they were all siding with Raphael on this issue.
"Alright," he said, frowning slightly. "You can have it, if you'd like. I have no use for it."
The gleeful grin that lit up Raphael's vessel's face was downright maniac, Castiel thought. "Thank you brother," the archangel said, "You may join your human now, if you so wish."
Castiel didn't grace that with a spoken response. Instead, he gave Raphael a stern glare and disappeared, leaving Heaven for Earth. Previous~ Next