steel's kiss and satin's touch - SN ficlet - PG
Title: steel’s kiss and satin’s touch
Fandom: “Supernatural”
Disclaimer: not my characters; just for fun.
Warnings: spoilers for “Lazarus Rising”
Pairings: none
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 730
Point of view: second
He doesn’t remember Hell. He remembers dying, the pain and the fear. He remembers waking in a box beneath half a foot of dirt. But what came in-between-a blank.
You’re thankful for that.
o0o
Tell us, Lord, your demons whisper. What next?
Find me Lilith, you command. You’ve been saying the same thing for three months, ever since you embraced Azazel’s curse.
They hurry away, like they have every night, but another approaches you. Ruby in her newest body hovers at your shoulder.
Leave us, you tell her. Go make sure Dean is safe.
With a pout, she goes. You watch as the stranger comes ever closer, and then you realize it is no stranger at all.
o0o
No demon would bargain with you. The devil’s gate wouldn’t open. You had power and will, anger and despair, but none of it mattered. Nothing worked, and Dean’s body rotted in the ground because you refused to burn him.
You are Samuel, a deep voice said two months after. Samuel, he who is Azazel’s chosen.
I am, you responded, raising your head from a tablet older than Christianity.
A shadow manifested before you. You seek to reclaim your brother from the Pit.
I do, you said. And I will.
If you swear to aid me in a single endeavor, Samuel, the shadow promised, I will return your brother to his body, healed and whole, with no memory of what he suffered Below.
Who are you? you demanded, hope causing you to be curt.
My name is unimportant. I can do what I say.
You’d tried everything else and nothing worked. So you agreed.
o0o
I kept my word, Samuel, the shadow says.
Yes, you reply. So you have. What do you ask in return? What endeavor do you want my help with?
I have been a warrior for longer than this planet has existed, Samuel. Make me a general in your army. The shadow coalesces into a masculine form. I am weary of the politics that plague Above. I tire of trumpets and pearls.
You stare at him, the shadow who gave you back your brother. You told Dean the Lord had work for him.
So you do, Samuel.
You throw back your head in a laugh. Very well, Castiel, you say. Destroy Ruby for me and you can take her place.
He nods and fades away.
o0o
Tell us, Lord, your demons whisper, begging at your feet. What next?
Seek out those receptive to our cause, you say. No matter what title they have or what form they wear. You watch them stream away, filling the sky with black wings only you can see.
And I, Lord? Castiel asks, standing at your left.
Go to Dean, you command. Watch over him, keep him safe. Lilith still wants him.
He nods and goes.
o0o
Alone, you sink to the ground, loosening your muscles. Closing your eyes, you center yourself.
Lilith is still free and that cannot be allowed. Ruby told you that you wouldn’t be able to track her, but Castiel said you could.
Lilith was one of the first of His creations, Castiel murmured, watching Dean watch you, invisible to all mortal eyes. That charlatan whose place I took could never track her, and so wouldn’t know you could.
Dean’s gaze flicked to Castiel in the corner, then shook himself and went back to pretending to watch Oprah.
Your brother is special, Lord, Castiel said.
I know, you replied. And until the war actually starts, you will keep him safe.
As you will it, he said, and you knew it was good.
o0o
You hunt Lilith, placate Dean, avoid Bobby, and command a force of demons. Slowly, steadily, that force grows, swelled by vampires and werewolves, ghouls and rakshasas-everything you’ve ever hunted and more.
It is no wonder when a handful of angels join you. Castiel greets them by name.
Your mark is on them all.
o0o
A year to the day Castiel gave you back Dean, four of your fallen bring you Lilith. She is diminished in both presence and power, and before your army, you completely destroy her.
They all roar and howl, and the war will soon begin.
o0o
Tell us, Lord, your acolytes and soldiers whisper. What next?
Your gaze turns skyward and you smile.
On your left, Castiel’s wings flare in preparation.
On your right, Dean says, Christ is mine.