Castiel and Uriel sat perched on the rooftop of St. Peter's Basilica, shrouded in an aura of invisibility that only angels could conjure. The early morning sun cast a golden glow over the sprawling city of Rome, unaware of the two celestial beings watching over it. The sky was a soft blend of pinks, blues, and oranges, a breathtaking canvas of color that seemed to stretch on forever. The air was crisp and cool, carrying the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the distant chirping of birds.
As they sat in silence, the city below them began to stir, the sounds of traffic and pedestrians slowly building into a gentle hum. The sun rose higher in the sky, casting a warm glow over the basilica's intricate architecture, its grandeur and beauty a testament to the ingenuity and craftsmanship of human hands.
In the stillness of that early morning hour, Castiel's grief and anger seemed to hang in the balance, suspended between the darkness of night and the promise of a new day.
"Hey kid, I heard what happened, I'm sorry for your loss," Uriel says, placing an arm around Caz's shoulders as she closed the space between them.
Castiel shrugs off her embrace, her eyes fixed on some distant point. "If only you had come a day earlier, Uriel... If only I hadn't been too slow..." Her voice trails off, the weight of her grief and regret hanging in the air.
"I know, Caz. I'm sorry," Uriel replies softly. "But I'm here now. And I'm not going anywhere."
Castiel's gaze snaps back to Uriel, her eyes flashing with anger. "You should have been here yesterday, Uriel. You should have been the one to guard Emily."
Uriel's expression is somber, her eyes filled with understanding. "I know, Caz. But I wasn't. And I can't change that now."
Castiel's hand dips into the gold box, pulling out a Gurkha royal courtesan cigar. She places it between her lips, lights it, and takes a long drag. The smoke curls out of her mouth, wreathing Uriel's face in a hazy veil.
"It's the tenth one I've smoked in the last hour, Uriel," Castiel says, her voice flat. "And it's not doing a damn thing to dull the pain."
Uriel's eyes narrow, her face pinched in distaste, but she says nothing, recognizing the storm brewing inside Castiel. The silence between them stretches out like a chasm, a reminder that sometimes, words are useless in the face of sorrow.
Uriel's eyes glaze over, lost in the memories of a thousand years past. She recalls the young boy, Fertz Enya, whose life she had sworn to protect. She remembers the day his father was killed by a wild boar, and how she had watched over him, invisible and silent, as he grew up. She had been his guardian angel, always lurking in the shadows, ready to defend him from harm.
But then, she had been called away by Mikhael, leaving Fertz vulnerable to the whims of fate. And fate had been cruel, taking him from her in a senseless war, just shy of his twentieth birthday. The pain of that loss still lingered, a scar that had taken a century to heal.
Uriel's gaze refocuses on Castiel, and she sees the same anguish and guilt reflected in her eyes. She knows that same pain, that same sense of responsibility for a life lost. And in this moment, she understands that some wounds never fully heal, but only scar over, waiting to be reopened by the next tragedy.Castiel's whisper breaks the silence, her voice barely audible. "Will I get to see her one day?"
Uriel's expression softens, her eyes filled with a deep understanding. "Of course you will, Caz. We will, after Armageddon." Her voice is laced with conviction, her words a promise of a future reunion.
But Castiel's gaze remains uncertain, her eyes searching for reassurance. "What if I don't go back after the war?" she asks, her voice laced with doubt.
Uriel's expression turns sharp, her eyes narrowing. "What do you mean by that, Azrael?" she asks, her voice firm but laced with a hint of concern.
Castiel's swallow is audible, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if I turn out to be like Samael? After all, he was once an angel of death." Her words hang in the air, a confession of her deepest fear.
Uriel's face softens, her eyes filled with understanding. "Caz, you are not Samael. You'd never be like him." She pauses, her hands reaching out to stroke Castiel's hair. "You are kind, beautiful inside and out, and I'm proud of you, sis. You're one of the most powerful angels, yet you haven't mistreated anyone." Her words are a balm to Castiel's soul, a reminder that she is not alone in her struggles. Castiel's eyes cloud with uncertainty and fear. "What if we don't win, what if I fail like I failed Emily?"
Uriel's grip on her shoulders tightens. "We will, you won't. We gotta be there for Em's sake, then we go find Mikhael."
Castiel's gaze drops, her voice barely audible. "I don't think I'm ready for this."
Uriel's expression softens, understanding the unspoken words. "I know, me neither. But we'll face it together, like we always do."
Castiel's head leans into Uriel's shoulder, her voice filled with emotion. "Have I ever told you, I love you, sis?"
Uriel's grin is warm, her eyes shining with affection. "Yeah, a million times."
Castiel's smile is faint, but genuine. "So, between Mikhael and you, who do I love more?"
Uriel's chuckle is low, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You love me more, of course."
"Hey! don't get a big head, Riri."
The silence between them is comfortable, the only sound the distant chirping of birds. Finally, Castiel speaks up, her voice soft. "Hey, Riri?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks a lot."
Uriel's nod is understanding, her eyes filled with warmth. "Anytime, Caz."
***