Post by Cassiel on Mar 26, 2016 19:01:22 GMT
GABRIEL--
When Cas left, he sat there for a while, appreciating another slice of Nan’s pie. Nan finally sat down with him and studied him for a while, which made Gabe uncomfortable. Is this how humans felt when the angels did this? Did they feel like bugs under a giant magnifying glass? Then she outright asked him why he was there, Cas was doing just fine without him.
“He’s my little brother, Nan.” Gabe rumbled deep in his chest, almost finding his way back to the Angel he used to be before all the shit happened. “I protect my own.”
Nan lifted her eyebrow while leaning back in the seat that Castiel had previously occupied. “You do not get high and mighty with me in my restaurant, Mister.”
Gabriel looked at her with a flicker of amusement, here was a human that was not afraid of him at all. He lifted his eyebrow, “you know what I am and yet you do not bow down.”
“Oh, no. My faith is greater than my fear.”
Gabe started to say something but a ringing in his ears distracted him. He glanced away from Nan to a window, looking past the scenery right in front of him. He was being called. It wasn’t the Angel Radio, but something more. Almost like a walkie-talkie between the Archangel brothers. “I…” He had to tear his eyes away from the window to Nan, “I have to go.” He whispered, his voice heavy, no longer the rumble that it had been seconds before. “Thank you,” he gestured to the half-eaten pie. His eyes returning to the window, he barely heard what Nan had said in reply. The ringing was louder.
And a buzzing joined in.
He moved to stand, rubbing his sweaty palms on his jeans, he was suddenly scared. Which was funny, fear wasn’t supposed to be an emotion he could feel… but he felt it intensely right now. The fear that made your body want to run while peeing your pants. He said nothing else as he left the restaurant, heading to the back where it was hidden from the view of the highway. Once he was in its shadow, he snapped his fingers, disappearing while he bent time and space together so he’d cross a tiny distance.
“You called,” he spoke as he shimmered into view.
LUCIFER--
The Basilica of St. John Lateran. Rome's premiere cathedral. Okay, so, yes, visiting the works of art that the cathedrals of Europe were, built in his Father's name, amused him. He could admit to that. Watching the silly mixes of humans, those who still had faith in him, and those who were merely there to look, that also amused him. So, why not call out to Gabriel while in one of them? Maybe the similarity to the last meeting would put Gabriel at ease.
He sort of needed that, considering his current companion.
His gaze drifted to Michael, standing a bit away, and a bit sheltered from view unless you knew to look for him, then he closed his eyes and sent out his summons...adding a bit of a his old flash and flair to it, just to be sure Gabriel had to take notice. Despite parting on, well, maybe not entirely friendly terms, but at least not antagonistic ones, either, he guessed that Gabriel would be reluctant to answer. Oh, he'd come, but he probably wouldn't be thrilled by it.
Well, he'd be even less thrilled when he met with the surprise Lucifer had in store for him.
Lucifer himself had also taken care to stand a bit out of sight of the people milling around randomly in the cathedral, so that Gabriel's arrival wouldn't be as easily noticed. His lips twisted with amusement as Gabriel appeared. “I did,” he replied easily, pale eyes centering on him for a moment, then flicking away to look at Michael, before returning to Gabriel. Michael would make his way to them in his own time, Lucifer trusted in that. After all, it was Michael that had wanted to come along when this meeting happened.
“Castiel? Has it driven him mad, yet?” The words were harsh, but they were said in a surprisingly kind tone. He couldn't help it. He wanted to hold a grudge against the littlest archangel, but he just couldn't quite manage it. Too much time spent in too close with the peculiar little angel, probably. He shrugged it off, because, really, holding a grudge might have been what he would have done, once. But...holding a grudge had also been what started the whole terrible mess that he...well, almost regretted now.
MICHAEL--
Rome had been his idea. Truth be told, he actually just wanted to see the Coloseum. And the Pantheon, come to think of it. Lucifer had been the one who insisted up stopping at the cathedral. And, really, Michael didn’t have much of a problem with it.
When in Rome and all, right?
Besides. It simply meant that Michael got to drag him somewhere else later.
Lucifer was right, however. Michael would join the pair in due time. For the time being, however, he felt it best if he let Gabriel and Lucifer talk first, before he joined them. Having been there right when Gabriel appeared, he felt, might have only of sent Gabriel right back off. And right now, that wasn’t a risk he was going to take.
So for the time being, he simply watched, waiting for the right moment to join their little discussion. He had no doubts at all that Gabriel probably already knew he was there now, but he still wasn’t going to just outright intrude.
Just yet, that was.
There was time for that later.
GABRIEL--
Gabriel stood there, straightening up as he looked at Lucifer with a quirked eyebrow, “well?” He waited for a response from Lucifer, slightly amused at their surroundings. A church. He gave a slow gesture toward the windows before looking at Lucifer, the question and amusement dancing in his eyes, he knew he wouldn’t have to ask much. “Beats hellfire and brimstone, no?”
He fell silent, squinting a bit as he tucked his hands into his pocket with a shake of his head. He felt unsure about the subject, it almost felt like a betrayal talking about Castiel to Lucifer. He knew how Castiel felt about Lucifer, even if Castiel didn’t outright say it.
“He’s dealing,” his voice was soft, “he wasn’t made like us.” He wanted to explain, but held back; he thought he had said enough. “When Castiel is ready, he will seek you out.”
Silence, he studied Lucifer, “why did you call me?”
LUCIFER--
“It's...pretty enough. It still doesn't touch the beauty of Father's creation. But...it's pleasant enough to look at,” Lucifer replied, pale eyes flicking up to the windows with light streaming in through coloured glass. He stared up at them for a moment or two, then returned his attention back to Gabriel.
He chuckled, amused at the hint of protectiveness Gabriel was giving off at the mention of Castiel. “No, he wasn't made like us. He wasn't made to be one of us. And yet.” Lucifer paused to study Gabriel, lips quirking into a smile that held a hint of mischievousness. “He still hates me, then. Or fears me. And he's already gained your loyalty.”
There was another pause as his eyes flicked away, looking off over Gabriel's shoulder, and then back to his little brother again. “Good.” He meant it, he really did. “You might do each other good.” He chuckled again. “I won't...ah, hold my breath, I believe is what the humans say, yes? He'll seek me out when he feels he has no other choice, and not likely before.” That was alright. He'd hurt Castiel in ways he found made him uncomfortable to think about, now. Not guilty, not quite that, but...uncomfortable, yes. “As long as he's willing to deal with one of us, it'll suffice.”
Leave it to Gabriel to pick up quickly that Castiel wasn't really the reason he'd sent out his call. Yes, he was curious still about what exactly the force was that had been able to accomplish the creation of a new archangel, and how the little angel was dealing with it. But, of course, there was more to it than just that. With Lucifer, there usually was.
“Well, I happened on someone that wanted to say hello, little brother.” His eyed flicked up over Gabriel's shoulder again, the mischievous grin back. “Seems like it's really just becoming a whole family reunion around here lately.”
MICHAEL--
There was a certain appreciation he had for the craftsmanship that was put into the building. The way that the windows were placed just so. The choices made for the décor. It all came together for a pretty impressive picture, that was for sure.
The one thing he had to remember, however, was that he couldn’t touch things. That was, apparently, seemingly frowned upon. So, he kept his hands to himself, as he’d hate to be the one that got them escorted out of there. That wouldn’t have been a very nice thing to do.
Plus, he was sure he’d never quite live that one down.
So, he watched for a bit longer, before catching that glance that Lucifer had given him, over Gabriel’s shoulder. In response, there was a bit of a nod and smile. So it seemed that the timing was right.
Or, at least, about as right as it ever would be for something like this.
“I asked him to arrange this.” Michael stepped closer to the pair finally as he filled in the rest of the blanks for their brother.
“Hello, Gabriel. It has been a while.”
GABRIEL--
Gabriel rolled his shoulders rather uncomfortably as they discussed Castiel, it was the same sort of feeling he had speaking about any of the brothers. He was back to playing the messenger, the same damn role he had been made for since the dawn of creation. His golden eyes flicked to his older brother, he was uncertain now. Was Lucifer being truthful, or up to something? It was so sad that he had to doubt, but Lucifer had given him a reason to.
“He will come,” Gabriel nodded with the faith he didn’t quite feel.
“You do?” Gabriel tensed now, his shoulders hunched around his neck and his feet shifted, he was ready to run.
What the fuck had he been thinking coming back like this? He had been better hiding.
And… there was Michael.
“Michael?” His voice was soft, full of disbelief. He looked over to Lucifer, then back to Michael. Uncertainty flitted over his face, he was not sure why Michael had wanted to see him. “Why?” He still stayed tense, not trusting the situation.
LUCIFER--
Lucifer only gestured as Michael stepped closer, backing down a bit, allowing his older brother the stage, as it were, out of old habit that he'd found himself slipping into so easily once more with time spent traveling with him. But it didn't mean he wasn't watching, ready to step in...as he felt he would likely have to do. He knew Gabriel didn't entirely trust him. And that was probably for the best. Lucifer didn't entirely trust himself, either.
“It's alright, little brother. Just hear him out.” He shifted closer to Michael as he spoke, though his attention remained primarily for Gabriel. He found himself oddly nervous about this meeting, despite his mask of mischievous amusement. He wanted it to go well. He wanted his family, as strange as it still was to think like that. Unthinking, his hand reached out, seeking Michael's, a comfort he'd been able to both take and give during their time together. And he never thought how it might look to Gabriel, that trust Lucifer put in Michael, despite their history.
MICHAEL--
Of course Michael saw that tenseness that had taken hold of Gabriel. But he made no further move forward, at least. But he also didn’t back away. Instead, he stood where he had stopped, blue eyes watching his brother with a softer gaze. There was no tension there in him. No rigidity to his stance or in his gaze or even voice.
“Would you have come if I extended the invitation?” It was a bit of a rhetorical question as Michael didn’t exactly expect an answer to it. Besides. There really was no real need to do so because what was done, was done. He had chosen the most direct method to have this little arrangement made, and there was no regrets there.
It was so naturally that took Lucifer’s hand in his, fingers slowly lacing together. “Lucifer and I have already spoken to one another in great length. We’ve been apart for far too long. Old bridges cannot necessarily be rebuilt, but new ones can. We’ve spent… far too long at odds. Far too long wrapped up in stories as they were written.” There was a small pause, for just a moment.
“We’ve seen where that has gotten us. Broken apart. We were so wrapped up in everything that we’ve neglected what matters most. …family.”
GABRIEL--
Gabriel turned his full attention to Michael, dismissing Lucifer for a moment, he just gave a slow shake of his head. “I never would have come,” he curled his lips a bit, “putting me back in the same role,” he looked over at Lucifer now. “I should have just stayed hidden,” he scoffed a bit as he rocked back on his heels, his tension less but he was still ready to run if need be.
He wasn’t even sure what the fuck they wanted. Why they thought things would be better now.
“You’re kidding me,” he looked at their hands, “you think things will get better now?” He looked up at the ceiling in order to count slowly. “Why?” He returned his gaze to them.
LUCIFER--
“Because I, for one, am tired of playing to the role I was given,” he bit out. He regretted the outburst almost immediately, but...as with so many things between them, it couldn't be taken back once it happened. Forcing himself to calm, Lucifer offered a faint smile. “Things might get better. I mean...look, we've spent awhile together now. We haven't killed each other. Haven't...even tried.” He glanced to Michael, his smile warming in some small way.
With a sigh, he squeezed Michael's hand, then let his own drop away. “Just...hear us out, Gabriel? Hear Michael out?” There was a pause, then he said a word he rarely said to anyone, especially a sibling, or anyone associated in anyway, ever, with Heaven. “Please?”
MICHAEL--
“Nothing is instantaneous. Unlike your arrival here, one cannot just snap their fingers and fix everything in an instant. It would be something to actually work towards. Nobody is saying it’s going to be easy. Not by a long shot. Nor is it something that is going to happen overnight.” Looking down for a moment, there was a soft chuckle before he looked back up at him, his gaze turning a bit more serious.
“Look around you, Gabriel. Everything has changed. You know it. Lucifer knows it. Even I know it.” As he spoke, there was a bit of a grand, sweeping gesture made with his hand. “You can either put some actual effort towards something or stick your head back in the sand and ignore everything around you some more.”
Though, he did grow silent for a few moments before glancing over at Lucifer and offering a softer smile. “He’s right, you know. I know… that I have been quite short-sighted, myself. I was so entirely wrapped up in playing out my own story as written that I lost sight of the greater picture. I played the part of the dutiful son well enough, and, well…” There was a small pause, and slight, sardonic chuckle. “You see where it got me.” There was a bit of a quieter silence for a few moments that time. One of slight tiredness. Weariness.
“But I’m done with mine. It’s just us. It has been for quite a while. We all know it. To believe otherwise is foolhardy. When was the last time any of us has ever really seen Father, let alone heard anything from him? He’s gone, Gabriel. And yet we’re still left.”
“The choice is yours, however. I’m not here to force you to do anything.”
GABRIEL--
“We all had our parts,” Gabriel snapped at them, “our roles. We all lost something because of it.” He shook his head before running his hands through his hair, he wasn’t even sure where to begin. Everything was too much all at once. Especially with his brothers actually getting along for once. “And what role does Castiel play in this, or is it just for us three? Coming back and claiming Father’s precious earth?”
He turned away, frowning as he realized he had spoke too much, too loud, too angry. He never was the one to lose control of his emotions like that, not in front of them. The last time he did was over…. Her. But that was different. That was a loss that he had felt far too keenly and it had left him feeling so alone for so long. Still now.
He cleared his throat, turning around to look at them once he had conquered his emotions. “I forget myself,” he tucked his hands into his pockets again, a slow shake of his head, “what is your grand plan, Michael? Haven’t you ever stopped to think we’re still playing out his Grand plan? There are 26 letters in the English alphabet, 45 in some other alphabet. So many plans.” He rolled his eyes, studying both of them.
“I’ll listen, but I won’t agree to anything. Not now.”
LUCIFER--
He wasn't really surprised at Gabriel's anger. But, he was still here. It was...something. “Castiel is...one of us.” It was soft, hesitant. Castiel was a subject he really wasn't sure of. He cared, and it almost irritated him at times. But he hadn't been kind to the little angel. And he had no idea how he would ever rectify that. He knew, just knew Castiel would have to approach him before anything could ever be resolved. And, he thought with the faintest amusement, Hell would probably truly freeze over before that happened.
He almost snapped back at Gabriel, though. He didn't want to claim anything, really. Except his family. He wanted to belong to something again, without plans and plots and prophecies getting in the way. Almost helplessly, he turned to Michael to deal with Gabriel's anger. Oh, how the mighty devil had fallen so low as to depend on anyone for anything. Yet...he just didn't care.
MICHAEL--
For the longest of time, there was absolutely nothing said. No words. No reaction. His face remained blank, giving away absolutely nothing as to what Michael may have been thinking or even feeling. Instead, he simply stood there, watching Gabriel.
Waiting. Listening.
“This was entirely a bad idea.” There was disappointment there as he shook his head. “But I don’t really know what else I was expecting. You’re far too intent on holding onto the past so tightly that you’ve blinded yourself to the future. We’ve already lost Raphael. But gained Castiel. Isn’t that enough of a sign for you that not even I know what is to come next? Or are you still so wrapped up in plans and plots that you need them to be there in order to function?” As he spoke, a hint of a frown flitted across his features.
“But then again, you always did choose to run, didn’t you? So it’s no surprise that you’re falling right back into old ways.” His tone was bitter, tinged with disappointment. For just a moment, Michael looked as if he was going to turn and walk away, leaving the two of them where they stood without so much as any further words but that anger and disappointment.
Yet, he didn’t. Michael didn’t turn and leave. Had Lucifer not been there? He would have. He would have turned and left with that previous sentiment. But because of Lucifer, he didn’t.
“I’m not asking you to agree to anything, Gabriel. Neither of us are. All we are asking is for you to try. To help us put a fractured family back together. The past cannot be changed. And things cannot go back to how they were before. Nobody has that delusion. Is the thought that your brothers want to reconcile so abhorrent to you that you cannot possibly bring yourself to even begin considering it?”
When Cas left, he sat there for a while, appreciating another slice of Nan’s pie. Nan finally sat down with him and studied him for a while, which made Gabe uncomfortable. Is this how humans felt when the angels did this? Did they feel like bugs under a giant magnifying glass? Then she outright asked him why he was there, Cas was doing just fine without him.
“He’s my little brother, Nan.” Gabe rumbled deep in his chest, almost finding his way back to the Angel he used to be before all the shit happened. “I protect my own.”
Nan lifted her eyebrow while leaning back in the seat that Castiel had previously occupied. “You do not get high and mighty with me in my restaurant, Mister.”
Gabriel looked at her with a flicker of amusement, here was a human that was not afraid of him at all. He lifted his eyebrow, “you know what I am and yet you do not bow down.”
“Oh, no. My faith is greater than my fear.”
Gabe started to say something but a ringing in his ears distracted him. He glanced away from Nan to a window, looking past the scenery right in front of him. He was being called. It wasn’t the Angel Radio, but something more. Almost like a walkie-talkie between the Archangel brothers. “I…” He had to tear his eyes away from the window to Nan, “I have to go.” He whispered, his voice heavy, no longer the rumble that it had been seconds before. “Thank you,” he gestured to the half-eaten pie. His eyes returning to the window, he barely heard what Nan had said in reply. The ringing was louder.
And a buzzing joined in.
He moved to stand, rubbing his sweaty palms on his jeans, he was suddenly scared. Which was funny, fear wasn’t supposed to be an emotion he could feel… but he felt it intensely right now. The fear that made your body want to run while peeing your pants. He said nothing else as he left the restaurant, heading to the back where it was hidden from the view of the highway. Once he was in its shadow, he snapped his fingers, disappearing while he bent time and space together so he’d cross a tiny distance.
“You called,” he spoke as he shimmered into view.
LUCIFER--
The Basilica of St. John Lateran. Rome's premiere cathedral. Okay, so, yes, visiting the works of art that the cathedrals of Europe were, built in his Father's name, amused him. He could admit to that. Watching the silly mixes of humans, those who still had faith in him, and those who were merely there to look, that also amused him. So, why not call out to Gabriel while in one of them? Maybe the similarity to the last meeting would put Gabriel at ease.
He sort of needed that, considering his current companion.
His gaze drifted to Michael, standing a bit away, and a bit sheltered from view unless you knew to look for him, then he closed his eyes and sent out his summons...adding a bit of a his old flash and flair to it, just to be sure Gabriel had to take notice. Despite parting on, well, maybe not entirely friendly terms, but at least not antagonistic ones, either, he guessed that Gabriel would be reluctant to answer. Oh, he'd come, but he probably wouldn't be thrilled by it.
Well, he'd be even less thrilled when he met with the surprise Lucifer had in store for him.
Lucifer himself had also taken care to stand a bit out of sight of the people milling around randomly in the cathedral, so that Gabriel's arrival wouldn't be as easily noticed. His lips twisted with amusement as Gabriel appeared. “I did,” he replied easily, pale eyes centering on him for a moment, then flicking away to look at Michael, before returning to Gabriel. Michael would make his way to them in his own time, Lucifer trusted in that. After all, it was Michael that had wanted to come along when this meeting happened.
“Castiel? Has it driven him mad, yet?” The words were harsh, but they were said in a surprisingly kind tone. He couldn't help it. He wanted to hold a grudge against the littlest archangel, but he just couldn't quite manage it. Too much time spent in too close with the peculiar little angel, probably. He shrugged it off, because, really, holding a grudge might have been what he would have done, once. But...holding a grudge had also been what started the whole terrible mess that he...well, almost regretted now.
MICHAEL--
Rome had been his idea. Truth be told, he actually just wanted to see the Coloseum. And the Pantheon, come to think of it. Lucifer had been the one who insisted up stopping at the cathedral. And, really, Michael didn’t have much of a problem with it.
When in Rome and all, right?
Besides. It simply meant that Michael got to drag him somewhere else later.
Lucifer was right, however. Michael would join the pair in due time. For the time being, however, he felt it best if he let Gabriel and Lucifer talk first, before he joined them. Having been there right when Gabriel appeared, he felt, might have only of sent Gabriel right back off. And right now, that wasn’t a risk he was going to take.
So for the time being, he simply watched, waiting for the right moment to join their little discussion. He had no doubts at all that Gabriel probably already knew he was there now, but he still wasn’t going to just outright intrude.
Just yet, that was.
There was time for that later.
GABRIEL--
Gabriel stood there, straightening up as he looked at Lucifer with a quirked eyebrow, “well?” He waited for a response from Lucifer, slightly amused at their surroundings. A church. He gave a slow gesture toward the windows before looking at Lucifer, the question and amusement dancing in his eyes, he knew he wouldn’t have to ask much. “Beats hellfire and brimstone, no?”
He fell silent, squinting a bit as he tucked his hands into his pocket with a shake of his head. He felt unsure about the subject, it almost felt like a betrayal talking about Castiel to Lucifer. He knew how Castiel felt about Lucifer, even if Castiel didn’t outright say it.
“He’s dealing,” his voice was soft, “he wasn’t made like us.” He wanted to explain, but held back; he thought he had said enough. “When Castiel is ready, he will seek you out.”
Silence, he studied Lucifer, “why did you call me?”
LUCIFER--
“It's...pretty enough. It still doesn't touch the beauty of Father's creation. But...it's pleasant enough to look at,” Lucifer replied, pale eyes flicking up to the windows with light streaming in through coloured glass. He stared up at them for a moment or two, then returned his attention back to Gabriel.
He chuckled, amused at the hint of protectiveness Gabriel was giving off at the mention of Castiel. “No, he wasn't made like us. He wasn't made to be one of us. And yet.” Lucifer paused to study Gabriel, lips quirking into a smile that held a hint of mischievousness. “He still hates me, then. Or fears me. And he's already gained your loyalty.”
There was another pause as his eyes flicked away, looking off over Gabriel's shoulder, and then back to his little brother again. “Good.” He meant it, he really did. “You might do each other good.” He chuckled again. “I won't...ah, hold my breath, I believe is what the humans say, yes? He'll seek me out when he feels he has no other choice, and not likely before.” That was alright. He'd hurt Castiel in ways he found made him uncomfortable to think about, now. Not guilty, not quite that, but...uncomfortable, yes. “As long as he's willing to deal with one of us, it'll suffice.”
Leave it to Gabriel to pick up quickly that Castiel wasn't really the reason he'd sent out his call. Yes, he was curious still about what exactly the force was that had been able to accomplish the creation of a new archangel, and how the little angel was dealing with it. But, of course, there was more to it than just that. With Lucifer, there usually was.
“Well, I happened on someone that wanted to say hello, little brother.” His eyed flicked up over Gabriel's shoulder again, the mischievous grin back. “Seems like it's really just becoming a whole family reunion around here lately.”
MICHAEL--
There was a certain appreciation he had for the craftsmanship that was put into the building. The way that the windows were placed just so. The choices made for the décor. It all came together for a pretty impressive picture, that was for sure.
The one thing he had to remember, however, was that he couldn’t touch things. That was, apparently, seemingly frowned upon. So, he kept his hands to himself, as he’d hate to be the one that got them escorted out of there. That wouldn’t have been a very nice thing to do.
Plus, he was sure he’d never quite live that one down.
So, he watched for a bit longer, before catching that glance that Lucifer had given him, over Gabriel’s shoulder. In response, there was a bit of a nod and smile. So it seemed that the timing was right.
Or, at least, about as right as it ever would be for something like this.
“I asked him to arrange this.” Michael stepped closer to the pair finally as he filled in the rest of the blanks for their brother.
“Hello, Gabriel. It has been a while.”
GABRIEL--
Gabriel rolled his shoulders rather uncomfortably as they discussed Castiel, it was the same sort of feeling he had speaking about any of the brothers. He was back to playing the messenger, the same damn role he had been made for since the dawn of creation. His golden eyes flicked to his older brother, he was uncertain now. Was Lucifer being truthful, or up to something? It was so sad that he had to doubt, but Lucifer had given him a reason to.
“He will come,” Gabriel nodded with the faith he didn’t quite feel.
“You do?” Gabriel tensed now, his shoulders hunched around his neck and his feet shifted, he was ready to run.
What the fuck had he been thinking coming back like this? He had been better hiding.
And… there was Michael.
“Michael?” His voice was soft, full of disbelief. He looked over to Lucifer, then back to Michael. Uncertainty flitted over his face, he was not sure why Michael had wanted to see him. “Why?” He still stayed tense, not trusting the situation.
LUCIFER--
Lucifer only gestured as Michael stepped closer, backing down a bit, allowing his older brother the stage, as it were, out of old habit that he'd found himself slipping into so easily once more with time spent traveling with him. But it didn't mean he wasn't watching, ready to step in...as he felt he would likely have to do. He knew Gabriel didn't entirely trust him. And that was probably for the best. Lucifer didn't entirely trust himself, either.
“It's alright, little brother. Just hear him out.” He shifted closer to Michael as he spoke, though his attention remained primarily for Gabriel. He found himself oddly nervous about this meeting, despite his mask of mischievous amusement. He wanted it to go well. He wanted his family, as strange as it still was to think like that. Unthinking, his hand reached out, seeking Michael's, a comfort he'd been able to both take and give during their time together. And he never thought how it might look to Gabriel, that trust Lucifer put in Michael, despite their history.
MICHAEL--
Of course Michael saw that tenseness that had taken hold of Gabriel. But he made no further move forward, at least. But he also didn’t back away. Instead, he stood where he had stopped, blue eyes watching his brother with a softer gaze. There was no tension there in him. No rigidity to his stance or in his gaze or even voice.
“Would you have come if I extended the invitation?” It was a bit of a rhetorical question as Michael didn’t exactly expect an answer to it. Besides. There really was no real need to do so because what was done, was done. He had chosen the most direct method to have this little arrangement made, and there was no regrets there.
It was so naturally that took Lucifer’s hand in his, fingers slowly lacing together. “Lucifer and I have already spoken to one another in great length. We’ve been apart for far too long. Old bridges cannot necessarily be rebuilt, but new ones can. We’ve spent… far too long at odds. Far too long wrapped up in stories as they were written.” There was a small pause, for just a moment.
“We’ve seen where that has gotten us. Broken apart. We were so wrapped up in everything that we’ve neglected what matters most. …family.”
GABRIEL--
Gabriel turned his full attention to Michael, dismissing Lucifer for a moment, he just gave a slow shake of his head. “I never would have come,” he curled his lips a bit, “putting me back in the same role,” he looked over at Lucifer now. “I should have just stayed hidden,” he scoffed a bit as he rocked back on his heels, his tension less but he was still ready to run if need be.
He wasn’t even sure what the fuck they wanted. Why they thought things would be better now.
“You’re kidding me,” he looked at their hands, “you think things will get better now?” He looked up at the ceiling in order to count slowly. “Why?” He returned his gaze to them.
LUCIFER--
“Because I, for one, am tired of playing to the role I was given,” he bit out. He regretted the outburst almost immediately, but...as with so many things between them, it couldn't be taken back once it happened. Forcing himself to calm, Lucifer offered a faint smile. “Things might get better. I mean...look, we've spent awhile together now. We haven't killed each other. Haven't...even tried.” He glanced to Michael, his smile warming in some small way.
With a sigh, he squeezed Michael's hand, then let his own drop away. “Just...hear us out, Gabriel? Hear Michael out?” There was a pause, then he said a word he rarely said to anyone, especially a sibling, or anyone associated in anyway, ever, with Heaven. “Please?”
MICHAEL--
“Nothing is instantaneous. Unlike your arrival here, one cannot just snap their fingers and fix everything in an instant. It would be something to actually work towards. Nobody is saying it’s going to be easy. Not by a long shot. Nor is it something that is going to happen overnight.” Looking down for a moment, there was a soft chuckle before he looked back up at him, his gaze turning a bit more serious.
“Look around you, Gabriel. Everything has changed. You know it. Lucifer knows it. Even I know it.” As he spoke, there was a bit of a grand, sweeping gesture made with his hand. “You can either put some actual effort towards something or stick your head back in the sand and ignore everything around you some more.”
Though, he did grow silent for a few moments before glancing over at Lucifer and offering a softer smile. “He’s right, you know. I know… that I have been quite short-sighted, myself. I was so entirely wrapped up in playing out my own story as written that I lost sight of the greater picture. I played the part of the dutiful son well enough, and, well…” There was a small pause, and slight, sardonic chuckle. “You see where it got me.” There was a bit of a quieter silence for a few moments that time. One of slight tiredness. Weariness.
“But I’m done with mine. It’s just us. It has been for quite a while. We all know it. To believe otherwise is foolhardy. When was the last time any of us has ever really seen Father, let alone heard anything from him? He’s gone, Gabriel. And yet we’re still left.”
“The choice is yours, however. I’m not here to force you to do anything.”
GABRIEL--
“We all had our parts,” Gabriel snapped at them, “our roles. We all lost something because of it.” He shook his head before running his hands through his hair, he wasn’t even sure where to begin. Everything was too much all at once. Especially with his brothers actually getting along for once. “And what role does Castiel play in this, or is it just for us three? Coming back and claiming Father’s precious earth?”
He turned away, frowning as he realized he had spoke too much, too loud, too angry. He never was the one to lose control of his emotions like that, not in front of them. The last time he did was over…. Her. But that was different. That was a loss that he had felt far too keenly and it had left him feeling so alone for so long. Still now.
He cleared his throat, turning around to look at them once he had conquered his emotions. “I forget myself,” he tucked his hands into his pockets again, a slow shake of his head, “what is your grand plan, Michael? Haven’t you ever stopped to think we’re still playing out his Grand plan? There are 26 letters in the English alphabet, 45 in some other alphabet. So many plans.” He rolled his eyes, studying both of them.
“I’ll listen, but I won’t agree to anything. Not now.”
LUCIFER--
He wasn't really surprised at Gabriel's anger. But, he was still here. It was...something. “Castiel is...one of us.” It was soft, hesitant. Castiel was a subject he really wasn't sure of. He cared, and it almost irritated him at times. But he hadn't been kind to the little angel. And he had no idea how he would ever rectify that. He knew, just knew Castiel would have to approach him before anything could ever be resolved. And, he thought with the faintest amusement, Hell would probably truly freeze over before that happened.
He almost snapped back at Gabriel, though. He didn't want to claim anything, really. Except his family. He wanted to belong to something again, without plans and plots and prophecies getting in the way. Almost helplessly, he turned to Michael to deal with Gabriel's anger. Oh, how the mighty devil had fallen so low as to depend on anyone for anything. Yet...he just didn't care.
MICHAEL--
For the longest of time, there was absolutely nothing said. No words. No reaction. His face remained blank, giving away absolutely nothing as to what Michael may have been thinking or even feeling. Instead, he simply stood there, watching Gabriel.
Waiting. Listening.
“This was entirely a bad idea.” There was disappointment there as he shook his head. “But I don’t really know what else I was expecting. You’re far too intent on holding onto the past so tightly that you’ve blinded yourself to the future. We’ve already lost Raphael. But gained Castiel. Isn’t that enough of a sign for you that not even I know what is to come next? Or are you still so wrapped up in plans and plots that you need them to be there in order to function?” As he spoke, a hint of a frown flitted across his features.
“But then again, you always did choose to run, didn’t you? So it’s no surprise that you’re falling right back into old ways.” His tone was bitter, tinged with disappointment. For just a moment, Michael looked as if he was going to turn and walk away, leaving the two of them where they stood without so much as any further words but that anger and disappointment.
Yet, he didn’t. Michael didn’t turn and leave. Had Lucifer not been there? He would have. He would have turned and left with that previous sentiment. But because of Lucifer, he didn’t.
“I’m not asking you to agree to anything, Gabriel. Neither of us are. All we are asking is for you to try. To help us put a fractured family back together. The past cannot be changed. And things cannot go back to how they were before. Nobody has that delusion. Is the thought that your brothers want to reconcile so abhorrent to you that you cannot possibly bring yourself to even begin considering it?”