Home Sweet Home
"Thank you." Hel kisses Claire as she and Rhys enter the halls of Helheim.
"Thank Krissy, when she gets back from seeing her greek boy toy. It was her knife that destroyed the ribbon." Claire rests her head against Hel's shoulder. There are advantages to having a ridiculously tall girlfriend and most of them involve snuggling. "I am exhausted."
"You can rest in my chambers. Where's Thor?"
"He lost a bet and has to guard some mortal." Rhys snorts. "He's in a casino, getting drunk and vetting prostitutes. Hara's vessel is even more pathetic then the angelic librarian usually possessing him."
"Hey, back off Hara. He's a sweetheart. We have all the badasses we need already." Claire scolds him. "How the hell did they get you anyways?"
"Honey trap. With blindfolds and bondage play. I am so hungry." he lunges to the table and grabs an entire roast duck. "Mmmm. Oh, yeah, That's the stuff." Rhys groans and plops down on his pile of cushions. "So, the cult is taken care of. I'm pretty sure. The badass angel took the kiddies and hunter to that preist an his daughter and son in law that... mmmmm... were at the winchesters that time when everyone was dead or dying...."
"You're going to have to narrow it down a bit more than that." Claire says dryly. Rhys snickers and nods.
"You know at the bunker. I forget their names but they're good people. I don't mind them calling themselves wolves, though I don't get how you get were wolf out of weird eyes and overgrown nails and teeth. It's like some cheap horror flick that cant afford real makeup."
"We had to make sure the cult's children got to Garth and his family." Claire explains a little further. "Zuriel wiped some memories so we didn't have to kill anyone else, which was nice. We had to decide on what to do with that traitor Joe. We ended up just letting Garth decide what to do. I think he's spreading word about what Joe did among the hunter community and he'll just be let go and ostracized. Which is not fucking enough, but I passed the buck so... I'll deal. But I'm fucking him up if he even thinks of going near Krissy again. Uggh, I just want to lie down and not get up until next year." Claire sighs. "Join me?" Hel just kisses the top of her forehead in that way she does that reminds her that a queen has different hours than a hunter. "Ah well, just thought I'd ask."
"You know if you're hungry you'd better get something before I turn back and just wreck this shit." Rhys oh so charmingly states, his mouth full as he talks. Claire's surprised she can understand him.
"Fenrisulf, will you at least not talk with your mouth open?" Hel scolds him. In the logic of little brother's everywhere he complies by chewing loudly with his mouth as open as possible.
"And you want us to let you at my sis... oh, fuck." Claire groans. "I was going to help Alex get some furniture. And I have to work on my car and am supposed to work with Death to try and give Billie incentive to come back to the land of the living. Crap. How do you flirt with Death? You know, more than I do already."
"Take up smoking?" Rhys suggests.
"I said flirt not start picking out baby names, Jesus." Claire rolls her eyes. "I'm going to lie down, honey. Thank you for letting me use your rooms." She gives Hel a kiss and goes back to the goddesses quarters to lie down. Rhys nods his head from his sister to her departing lover. Hel just ignores him and goes back to consulting with Hjorprimul.
"Oh for goodness sake, Hela. Go talk to her. It's the perfect time. Her partner's pregnant. She might be open to a career change. And she's sleepy so even though she'll have to think about it, or may not even remember it'll get in there and germinate. Ooo, whisper it in her ear as she's sleeping. Maybe she'll even think it's her idea." he shakes his finger excitedly.
"I will talk to her when she's awake and rested. And what have I told you about nudity in my halls?"
"I'm wearing shorts." Rhys protests looking down at his boxer breifs. Hel just gives him a steady look. "Oh, fine, just give me a minute, I'm drained." he grumbles and works on finishing the chicken. He'll sighs and snaps her fingers, covering his body ina grey jumpsuit. "You're so impatient."
"That's not true. I've been waiting thousands of years for you to grow up and show some semblance of maturity." Hel retorts.
"Hey, I just took care of that damn cult like you told me to, didn't I?"
"First off, a grown up doesn't need to be ordered and threatened into doing what he's supposed to do. And secondly you didn't take care of it. You got captured and everyone else had to come clean up after your mess."
"It wasn't MY MESS! It was our grandfather's mess. He's the one who made that damn prophecy and ruined our lives. I have NOTHING to do with Ragnarok! I never did!" Rhys yells and rips out of the jumpsuit into a grey wolf big enough to devour a third of the table in one bite, of which he takes three and storms out of the hall.
Alex walks back into her apartment, and kicks her shoes off. The keys are still on the counter. they probably went back to heaven. Or didn't need them to get in.
"Jesus Christ!" She puts a hand to her chest as she turns and sees Michael still sitting on the floor by the wall. "Did... did he just leave you here?"
"No." Michael says softly. "He had to do something. I just won't let him back in." he says quietly. Alex notices the back of her door where a sigil is burned on to the frame.
"Would you like to talk to Gabriel?" Alex asks taking her soda and walks back to sit beside him. "I could try and call her again."
"No."
"Do you have any freinds? Other siblings you were close to?"
"No."
"Do you want to just stay right here forever, staring at the wall until the world comes to an end?"
"Is it in trouble?" Is the unconcerned reply.
"I don't know. Probably. It usually is." She leans back against the wall.
"That's very true." Michael gives a wry grin.
"How are you feeling?"
"Does it matter?"
"No, I just like asking totally irrelevant questions about useless information for absolutely no reason at all." This just gets her a mildly annoyed look.
"Why do you care how I am? Why don't you just tell me what you need from me, and stop dancing around it." Michael demands.
"I could use a little less attitude but you were just in solitary so I understand you lack of social skills." Alex shoots back. "We don't need you for anything, Michael."
"Then I will just sit here and stare at the wall until you do." He turns his gaze away again. Alex just sighs.
"Okay. It's not like I don't have room." Alex shrugs and gets to her feet. "Do you want anything to read? Do you want to watch something? I have my laptop and a few dvds. We could watch Hot Fuzz, or Shaun of the Dead. The three flavors cornetto trilogy are my favorite. Actually I think Bree has all her movies downstairs still." Alex grimaces as she realizes the porn tote is probably there too. She should probably go down there and get rid of it before Michael takes up residence. And whatever other embarrassing things Bree accidentally left behind. There's a very loud knocking at the door. When she opens it, a crack, Raphael is standing outside.
"Why are you barred me from the apartment? Who taught you how to do such things? Was it Gabriel?" he demands.
"No one. I didn't do it. I just got home like two seconds ago... wait a minute." Alex closes the door again. "Michael. I... respect that for whatever reason, you may not want to see your siblings but this is my apartment and I reserve the right to bar or allow entry into it." Michael snaps his fingers and the burned sigil removes itself from the door. "That said, your brother clearly wants to see you. But if you don't want to see him enough to actually say it out loud, I won't let him in." She waits for a reply or explanation but doesn't get either so she opens the door.
"Michael doesn't want to see me?" Despite everything she's heard of him, the brief look of utter heartbreak on the angel's face tugs at Alex's heart.
"He didn't say that. I don't think he wants to see anyone."
"I'm not anyone. I'm his brother."
"I know. Come in." She steps back. "You two probably need to talk. I'm going to go raise Bree's movie bin and make sure there's nothing too disturbing accidentally left in the apartment."
"What about the disturbing things she left on purpose?" Rapahel asks dryly. Alex gives a shrug and grabs the keys from the counter.
"I'll be back up in an hour or two." Alex slips her shoes back on and walks out.
"Why did you shut me out?" Raphael asks almost plaintively. Michael just looks away. "I... I'm sorry. I ruined everything." he kneels down before his elder sibling. "I broke our younger siblings trying to fix them. I destroyed heaven. I... I failed you over and over. Helel was right. I'm a useless worthless brat and you deserved so much better. I never should have been brought back."
"Don't say that." Michael moves to embrace his baby brother, as a few tears start to falls from Raphael's eyes. "Don't. It's not your fault. I put so much on you. I didn't have any answers either and I barely even tried to find them. I don't care what you've done wrong, what mistakes you've made. You are a good angel and you tried your best. I was in charge. It was my responsibility to take care of you and instead you took care of me. You didn't fail me, I failed you. All of you. You're the ones who deserved better."
"Please come home."
"It's not my home. It hasn't been for a very long time."
"This isn't your home either. This is the lair of some... manipulative human temptress who's most likely just using you in your vulnerable emotional state...."
"Temptress?" Michael moves back, giving his brother an amused look that Raphael doesn't appreciate.
"I'm being polite." Raphael crosses his arms and looks away, "She's a very handsome woman and you are in the body of a young male close to her age, likely closer to your vessel than you have been before and.." Raphael's voice trails off as Michael tries not to laugh at him. "Healing you is my job."
"I'm not broken in a way you can fix, Raphi." Michael smiles gently, putting a hand to his brother's cheek.
"You think she can?"
"No, I'm not... I'm not here for her to heal me. I... I don't even know why I am here, honestly." He confesses.
"Because that siren wants you to be, obviously."
"Okay, Raphael." Michael grins, patting his cheek.
"She's already managed to work her wiles on Zuriel and Amitiel."
"I know she told me she counseled them. Raphael, we already discussed this. I simply want to know what she wants from me."
"Did you find out?"
"I think so." Michael muses. Though it would hardly go over well with Raphael to say 'my happiness'. The truth is this girl seems like she's just as caring and empathetic as Raphael. He's hardly in the mood to hear that either. Raphael is clearly waiting to be told, but accepts it when Michael makes it clear with a look that he's not going to say.
"Then why are you still here?"
"I don't know. I feel comfortable here."
"Can you please come back to heaven with me?" Raphael returns to that again. "I have to reopen the gates."
"You need my help to do so?"
"I don't think so, but I really want you there with me. I... I'm no good on my own. My death is proof enough of taht."
"Who was? Who killed you? Are they still there?" Michael demands.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Are you still in danger?"
"I doubt it." A confident statement, but not nearly absolute enough of a no for Michael's liking.
"I'll go with you." Michael slowly gets to his feet. No one is going to hurt his brother again, not while there is one speck of grace in his body.
"Saul." The quiet whisper squeals through the room like an accidentally dialed fax machine. Saul winces as his 'date' covers her ears. "Are you busy?"
"What was that?" She looks around as Saul gives a sigh.
"Not a good time, Hara." He mutters quietly.
"Sorry. When..."
"I'll call you." Saul hisses. There's no more from the angel but the mood is effectively broken. "Crap." he sighs, covering his eyes.
"Everything alright, stud?" the woman runs a finger down his chest.
"Yes, no... I ... fuck." Saul sits up and goes for his wallet. "I'm sorry. You'll have to go." He puts the full fee on the nightstand. Just knowing the angel is waiting is enough to irreparably dampen his spirits.
"Suit yourself." She shrugs and puts her dress back on, tucking the money into her small cocktail purse.
"Alright, what?" He snaps, wrapping the comforter around his waist when she leaves. "Hara? What?"
"Can I come back?"
"No! I'm done, Harahel. No more vessel. I'm out. This... this disaster is the last straw. I'm sorry, I like you and all but no more. I can't take this kind of thing. I can't. It's not me. it's not my life. You could use anybody. Why does it have to be me?"
"I like you." Is the mournful reply. "I got my wings back."
"No. I'm sorry. Just... no."
"Will you be safe? I could ask one of my other siblings to help you if you want."
"God, no!" Saul shudders remembering the horrible experience that was Zachariah. It was like those pictures he'd seen of people being shoved into a subway car in japan like sardines, only combined with that static from a signal less tv screen. It was awful. If he ever says yes to any angel ever again it will only be Harahel but he won't. "I'm fine. I have a body guard. I won a year or so of guarding from Thor in a game of poker. Thanks though." he starts to feel a little guilty.
"Alright. If you need me just pray and I'll be right there. Could.... could you let Krissy know I'm okay and have my wings back an am looking for a vessel? She can't understand me like you can and It might take a while."
"Sure. I can do that."
"I'm sorry I interrupted your date."
"It's fine." Saul sighs. "Take care, okay? Don't let them drag you into more dangerous situations. There's no shame in just being a librarian."
"Thanks, Saul," There's silence finally, though it feels very heavy. Tell Krissy. She'll just chew him out. Tell him he's being selfish. They're such good friends. Hara wants to be there for her, but Saul has a right to his own life, his own body. If he doesn't want to hand it out just so those two can hang out together, that's not selfish. Krissy's selfish for thinking it.
And doesn't Harahel have a library to run? How can he take care of heaven's library if he's of galivanting with Krissy? Just because she's his only real freind and she's pregnant and reckless and probably needs an angel like him to rein her in a little... It doesn't have to be Saul. Why would it have to be Saul? He can't possibly be the only available vessel in the world.
There are tons of possible vessels out there. Tons of them. just because he doesn't have a family to be taken away from or a job with regular hours or stationary location or a boss, or a home or commitments of any kind..... Hara would never ask someone who did unless it was an absolute emergency. He'd find someone who wouldn't be inconvenienced. he's sweet like that. Being a vessel doesn't mean you're a good person. Like being a hunter doesn't mean you're a good person either.
Hara's too nice and who knows what the wrong person might try and make him do for the privilege of using them. Hara really wants to be there for Krissy as she figures out the whole pregnancy thing. What if the other vessel takes advantage of that? What if they try to get him involved in something dangerous? Or get him in trouble with heaven again? What if he dies again?
"Everything okay in there? She didn't kill you and steal your money did she?" Thor bangs on the door. "Can I come back in?"
"Yes. It's fine and Give me a second." Saul grabs his pants and gets them on just as Thor barges in.
"This is absurdly boring. Let's go to where your enemies are so I can smash them into the ground and have it done with." He plops onto the other bed.
"No way. Your position as bodyguard is defensive only." Saul shakes his head.
"You didn't tell me you found a way to make gambling boring." Thor accuses him.
"It's a job just like any other." Saul lays back. "Do you think Krissy will be okay?"
"How should I know?" Thor opens the mini fridge taking a mini vodka.
"Hey! Don't drink those things they're expensive!"
"If I'm your servant my care and feeding are your responsibility, mortal one. Real men eat and drink actual meals not these little niblets you provide." Thor retorts.
"I do what I can afford..." Saul protests. "I can't... what about the buffet? It's all you can eat."
"That waste? They serve juice to drink. Juice! And they don't let you take a whole rack of ribs. They make you fit things on those tiny plates. And they don't let you pull a chair up to the serving table either even if you do intend to eat a whole tray. " Thor complains. "You wish the son of Odin to stand, doing nothing, eating and drinking nothing, when you said you needed a guard I assumed you would be in actual danger."
"Well, if you're welshing on your bet, there's not exactly anything I could do to stop you."
"Are you implying that I am not a man of my word?" Thor stands up menacingly.
"No. Geez. I just didn't expect the son of Odin to be so... particular. That's all." Saul holds his hands up.
"Yeah, Thor's always been a whiny little bitch." That tiny blonde woman with curly hair and a mischeivous smile appears. "Hey, Odinson, want to go wreck havok? Torture a rogue hunter?"
"Is that how you greet me after returning from the dead? Insults and an invitation to debauchery?" Thor doesn't quite succeed in sounding as offended as he's trying to.
"No. I said wreck havok, not furniture. I'm a one man woman, now. Everyone's mad at me so I need to go lay low for a little bit."
"And you think I would not be angry with you as well?"
"Well, you're not beating me with your hammer so..." She shrugs. Thor just crosses his arms and glowers at her. "Oh, great, what did I do now?"
"Mjolnir? My brother the pig? Yuri is in a foul mood because of that and I'm suffering for it." Thor scolds the woman.
"Ah, c'mon, just beat on me a bit and we'll go tease Heimdall. I was thinking of turning the bifrost into roast beef, the whole tower and everthing. I can do it now that I don't have to hide from my siblings."
"My blows mean nothing to you. You were faking this entire time."
"Ah, but it makes you feel better." She appears at his back, arms draped across his neck. "C'monnnn. You know you want to."
"I can't. I'm working. I lost a bet and must guard this mortal." Thor sighs. "Could you do so regardless? Without me? And take pictures?"
"I'll do better than that! I'll make you a jotun sized french dip! Later, sturmkind!" She kisses his cheek and vanishes.
"That is the weirdest angel I have ever even heard of." Saul shakes his head. The archangel Gabriel. It's still incredibly hard to believe. But then Hara stretches the imagination as well.
"Heh. My blood brother is one of a kind. Pain in the ass. An angel." Thor laughs. "That still slays me." he takes the bottles from the mini fridge and opens them before Saul can try to object again.