Swear to the stars, I'll burn this whole city down.

[unjustvengeance]

For a moment Raguel just stood on the sidewalk, taking in the sight of the smoldering rubble and the pungent, sickly-sweet smell of charred flesh and bone mixing with sulfur. Then, with a shake of his head and an exasperated sigh, he stepped into the ashes to examine the debris. Most of it was just the remnants of the walls, but here and there a

Comments

[stillasoldier]

Lux wasn't the only neutral ground on Earth or even in Los Angeles. It was just the first one to be hit. Potentially a heads up for his brother. It was the strongest guarded, too. There was an overall plan to this whether or not the Fallen had admittedly found it a little satisfying.

As Raguel had deducted, no natural fire could have conveniently spread during a seemingly peak time of demonic presence and tearing them all down. Killing them. Killing the demons, and only the demons. That did indeed take a lot of power, but to the public eye it was just yet another fire in Los Angeles

[unjustvengeance]

It took him a few moments to find Michael. Not that the angel's energy was difficult to sense; it was there, hovering over the city like a miasma of rage and sadness, but it's so massive that pinpointing the incarnate body in it took time. Again Raguel hesitated before approaching him, muscles tensing as he ascended to the roof of the high-rise and stared at his brother's back. He'd never been fond of confrontations like this, built into his nature or not.

"What was that stunt for?" he asked, voice steady and neutral as it always was when he questioned someone. "That was childish, Michael. That was beneath you."

[stillasoldier]

Ironic that it would be Raguel to first seek him, wasn't it? Almost. Vengeance seeker. Was it destined that those of His anger, His vengeance, His rebellion, Pride, His "sins", would all be pushed away from Him at one point or another? He wondered, an innocent curiosity more than anything, in idle as he waited. Waited for those feet to touch ground. Moments later they did.

"Creating my field," he said. Others were slacking, and that was a fact. Many strayed, hesitated. He wasn't the only one that Fell. Hilariously he was still one that remained set on his path for this war. Another angel would deal with the souls he took from the fire. He was focused on the enemy, and yes.. there was a taint of self-hate in that move.

"Leaving the letter was childish," he admitted. Likewise to Raguel, Michael's tone remained controlled and certain as it always was. He slowly looked over a shoulder before rising to his feet. "Destroying that building was not."

[unjustvengeance]

It was hardly ironic in Raguel's eyes. Fitting, maybe, but unsettling. He did not want to be the one to confront Michael, didn't want to be the one who might have to tell the general of Heaven's army that his sins weren't just enough to damn him, but perhaps to destroy him entirely.

"You're ready for war, in your current state?" Raguel asked, cocking an eyebrow. "I realize the hypocrisy in asking this, but are you sure that's wise? Repeating the sin you were left behind for won't lessen the punishment.

"And why did you choose Lux?" he continued, hands settled in his pockets. "Of all the hubs of demonic activity, why demolish one that sheltered angels and humans as well?"

[stillasoldier]

So he knew, did he. Well, those who knew Michael would be able to guess easily why if they were not informed. He stared out over the edge of the building. Everything felt empty, all the time. Everything was dark, always. Seeing the light in anything was almost impossible. The pain it brought was unimaginable. Hidden, but clearly not hidden well enough. Not from some

[unjustvengeance]

The thought hung heavy in the air, almost tangible; Raguel would have sworn he could feel it more than hear it. He absorbed it like a shock, surprised by the sentiment but seeing the logic behind it no less. Raguel had never had Michael's temper, but the pain of separation from God was enough to anger anyone.

"No," Raguel replied. "Standing idly by would be against your nature. I expected you to fight, especially now. I'll admit, though, I didn't expect such an uncouth move on your part. I didn't expect you to destroy Lux. Somehow I thought you had better things to do than antagonize Lucifer."

[stillasoldier]

Fitting to what I've become, don't you think? Caught in his throat for a moment and nearly choked him, but was promptly squelched. A lot of things hung on Michael's decision. Having Lucifer on the opposing side was bad enough, having Michael join his ranks was disaster. There wasn't a hope at all save for God himself to fight, and Michael did not want that. That was exactly what had spun him onward. It was sloppy, but it hurt. It hurt to see his Father once again try and save something that proved itself over and over to be unsaveable. He did not claim to know everything, or even anything but what he was ordered to and told and that was exactly why, despite his current feelings, he still made sure only the demons had perished

[unjustvengeance]

The question may have been held back, but the slight look of hesitation on Michael's face prompted a curious tilt of the head. Raguel never claimed to understand the Lord's will. Quite the opposite, in fact; the only thing he really knew about it was that it was far more complicated than he was made to comprehend. He couldn't deny that he knew where Michael was coming from. He couldn't contest the pain and guilt Michael was experiencing, couldn't even begin to claim that his actions didn't make a twisted kind of sense.

But he couldn't exactly let the blatant bad logic of this explanation go, either.

"Key hit points," Raguel repeated incredulously. "There are demons all over this world and city, Michael, likely at least a few on this block, probably at least one in the building beneath us, and you choose to burn down a bar? Please, Michael. Don't insult my intelligence. You could have hunted down the more deserving damned, slain someone committing worse sins than being against your side while standing in sanctuary. Do you really

[stillasoldier]

"There is that," he said after taking a moment to grip hold of himself. He couldn't even begin to comprehend what he was all feeling and going through himself. All at once, everything was black. "I admit, yes. And it was necessary. I did enjoy myself if you were wondering."

He had to fight off the desire to smirk a little at that last comment, conflicted with feeling ashamed and feeling vaguely satisfied at the petty side of this move.

"But that was not the only reason. I'd wish you to not belittle my actions, Raguel. There cannot be places to hide any longer. This war will come to an End. Lucifer has risen and been here how long, and us how long have we been descended? How much has gone in our favor? Fallen or not, I will not have it be the end of our Father once more. I will not. He has suffered enough times. It is time to end it."