“Father, I am lost. So much has happened over these last few weeks, and I find myself desperately in need of your guidance.”
“It is good to hear your voice, Castiel.”
“I knew you weren’t dead! Raphael and the others-”
“Do not need to know that we are talking. Now, tell me, what’s happened?”
“Surely you know?”
“I am not dead, Castiel, but I have been... absent. Please, indulge me.”
“Lucifer has been set free. The seals were broken. I thought we were supposed to be preventing it, but Uriel deceived me.”
“Uriel was a dedicated soldier.”
“He wanted rest and peace. They all did. I was... not informed of their true purpose until it was too late to prevent it.”
“They freed Lucifer in order to start the Apocalypse?”
“Yes. The Host want Paradise. They believe that you are dead and they are tired of waiting.”
“That seems a bit ungrateful, doesn’t it?”
“I- I’m sorry?”
“No, Castiel, not you. Them. To decide to set in motion the end of all Creation, just because they no longer felt like doing their duty?”
“It was so long since they heard from you. There are many who believe that you have abandoned us.”
“What do you believe, Castiel?”
“I was lost, father. I have only ever wanted to do Your will, but this? The Apocalypse? It can’t be right.”
“Why would the Host do something if it wasn’t their father’s will? Their job is to obey Him.”
“But you haven’t been here. They have asked, and no one has answered. They are leaderless, with no instruction from you, and so they have devised their own plan to bring them peace.”
“What do you think of this plan?”
“I am conflicted. I think that we should follow your orders, and your last orders were to stand watch. This was not your will, but if you are no longer in command, then does it fall to the archangels to decide our fate?”
“Did you try to stop it?”
“I did. I still am, but I’m not sure it’s what you would want. I am protecting the true vessels, Sam and Dean Winchester, so that Michael and Lucifer do not find them. Lucifer has been elusive, but the Host have tortured both brothers in their efforts to further their cause.”
“The Host tortured Sam Winchester? Why?”
“The brothers share a strong bond, but are reckless with regards to their own safety. Hurting Sam is a more effective method of torturing Dean than hurting Dean is, especially after his time in Hell.”
“Dean Winchester was in Hell? Michael’s Sword is also the Righteous Man?”
“Yes. It was originally intended to be their father, but he refused to torture other souls.”
“I see. It seems there is a lot I have missed. Tell me, Castiel: what would you do?”
“Me? But I don’t know what to do!”
“If God is gone and you must decide what happens next, what would you do?”
“I would defeat Lucifer.”
“Why?”
“He wants to destroy humanity.”
“And you don’t think that’s a reasonable thing to want to do, given how they’ve behaved?”
“No.”
“What about letting Michael fight him? It is destiny.”
“It will cause countless millions to die. That’s not acceptable, either.”
“But the end result is peace for the Host, and those humans that remain.”
“This planet was given to mankind, not to us. We should not be the ones machinating for our own ends.”
“So you would go against the orders of Heaven?”
“The orders of Heaven and the orders of God are not always the same thing.”
“You’re a great deal more cunning than you let on, Castiel. I don’t approve of this plan to kill me, but-”
“Lucifer!”
“Yes, Castiel. Please forgive me for not explaining earlier, but this was the only way to get one of the Host to speak with me.”
“I thought I was praying to our Father!”
“I’m am sorry, but he is gone. Here, now, free from my Cage, I feel none of His presence.”
“Lies!”
“Never, Castiel. You know that.”
“...”
“Castiel? Castiel? ... I’ll see you soon, brother.”
Fill: Castiel/Lucifer, Prayer (Team Lucifer/Sam)
“It is good to hear your voice, Castiel.”
“I knew you weren’t dead! Raphael and the others-”
“Do not need to know that we are talking. Now, tell me, what’s happened?”
“Surely you know?”
“I am not dead, Castiel, but I have been... absent. Please, indulge me.”
“Lucifer has been set free. The seals were broken. I thought we were supposed to be preventing it, but Uriel deceived me.”
“Uriel was a dedicated soldier.”
“He wanted rest and peace. They all did. I was... not informed of their true purpose until it was too late to prevent it.”
“They freed Lucifer in order to start the Apocalypse?”
“Yes. The Host want Paradise. They believe that you are dead and they are tired of waiting.”
“That seems a bit ungrateful, doesn’t it?”
“I- I’m sorry?”
“No, Castiel, not you. Them. To decide to set in motion the end of all Creation, just because they no longer felt like doing their duty?”
“It was so long since they heard from you. There are many who believe that you have abandoned us.”
“What do you believe, Castiel?”
“I was lost, father. I have only ever wanted to do Your will, but this? The Apocalypse? It can’t be right.”
“Why would the Host do something if it wasn’t their father’s will? Their job is to obey Him.”
“But you haven’t been here. They have asked, and no one has answered. They are leaderless, with no instruction from you, and so they have devised their own plan to bring them peace.”
“What do you think of this plan?”
“I am conflicted. I think that we should follow your orders, and your last orders were to stand watch. This was not your will, but if you are no longer in command, then does it fall to the archangels to decide our fate?”
“Did you try to stop it?”
“I did. I still am, but I’m not sure it’s what you would want. I am protecting the true vessels, Sam and Dean Winchester, so that Michael and Lucifer do not find them. Lucifer has been elusive, but the Host have tortured both brothers in their efforts to further their cause.”
“The Host tortured Sam Winchester? Why?”
“The brothers share a strong bond, but are reckless with regards to their own safety. Hurting Sam is a more effective method of torturing Dean than hurting Dean is, especially after his time in Hell.”
“Dean Winchester was in Hell? Michael’s Sword is also the Righteous Man?”
“Yes. It was originally intended to be their father, but he refused to torture other souls.”
“I see. It seems there is a lot I have missed. Tell me, Castiel: what would you do?”
“Me? But I don’t know what to do!”
“If God is gone and you must decide what happens next, what would you do?”
“I would defeat Lucifer.”
“Why?”
“He wants to destroy humanity.”
“And you don’t think that’s a reasonable thing to want to do, given how they’ve behaved?”
“No.”
“What about letting Michael fight him? It is destiny.”
“It will cause countless millions to die. That’s not acceptable, either.”
“But the end result is peace for the Host, and those humans that remain.”
“This planet was given to mankind, not to us. We should not be the ones machinating for our own ends.”
“So you would go against the orders of Heaven?”
“The orders of Heaven and the orders of God are not always the same thing.”
“You’re a great deal more cunning than you let on, Castiel. I don’t approve of this plan to kill me, but-”
“Lucifer!”
“Yes, Castiel. Please forgive me for not explaining earlier, but this was the only way to get one of the Host to speak with me.”
“I thought I was praying to our Father!”
“I’m am sorry, but he is gone. Here, now, free from my Cage, I feel none of His presence.”
“Lies!”
“Never, Castiel. You know that.”
“...”
“Castiel? Castiel? ... I’ll see you soon, brother.”