Archive of Our Own ^beta

Adam sighed, air cold, but dinner hot. He stood up, displeased, and walked away from the hot heaven sitting on his plate. Quietly, he searched his dinky apartment. Lightning crackled down, lighting up the dark apartment. Adam huffed, annoyed. Strong rain poured from the sky. The outside was soaked. It was thirty degrees outside, despite it being the middle of July. Adam grumbled to himself, finally mustering up the energy to go outside.

Adam opened the door to his patio. Strong winds carried rain inside. Adam looked to the empty street that sat in front of the complex. His body recoiled as he watched the dark-haired and soaked, white man across the street. As lightning struck Earth, the large shadows of his wings appeared behind the ‘man’. Adam huffed, turning away and locking the door shut. He began walking away from the chaos that was outside, and making his way to the peace that sat on his dining table.

There was an audible flap of feathers and Adam sighed. He turned around, expression decorated with displeasement.

“Adam—”

“Michael,” Adam’s voice was laced with a harsh irritation, “get out.”

“Adam—”

“I said ‘get out’, Michael. Out,” Adam stared daggers at the soaked angel in front of him. Adam frowned as he stared at the ever-growing puddle of water before him, “you’re making a mess.”

“I know — I’m sorry,” Michael apologized.

“Then you’ll leave,” Adam crossed his arms.

Michael frowned, “but I don’t know where to go,” the angel reasoned.

“Figure it out,” Adam turned away unsympathetically.

Michael appeared in front of him. “Adam,” he began, “I cannot return to Heaven. I have renounced the new God. If the Winchesters knew I was alive, they’d be dying to slice me up. Lucifer is back and ready to kill me, and I don’t have the ‘juice’ to take him on. Adam, please, I have no one else to follow.”

Adam shut his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened his eyes, making eye contact with the weak angel before him. “Michael,” he started, sighing, “you are your own person — you don’t need to follow anyone. You’re father’s got no mojo — he can’t control you anymore! Live your life — for however long it’ll last.”

Michael stared endlessly at his previous vessel. Now, he wore a dark-haired, white man dressed in a sloppy suit. His hair, skin, and clothes were absolutely drenched. Adam couldn’t help but pity him slightly.

“You know how I was created — you know what I was created for! I am meant to be a follower. Yes, I’ve led armies, but that was under my father’s command. Adam, I’m not meant to be my own person,” Michael reasoned, desperate.

“Fine,” Adam gave in, “just for tonight, you can stay. I’ll get you some dry clothes.” Adam turned, walking to his room.

The blond returned to the angel still positioned in the same spot. He smiled reminiscently, “go into my room and change. Put your wet clothes into the laundry bin — it’s brown.”

Michael nodded, appreciating the instruction. He walked the same path Adam had, mirroring his exact footsteps. Adam returned to his kitchen and grabbed a large spoon. He grabbed a shiny bowl from the cabinet and poured a second, large helping of spaghetti.

Behind him was the familiar ruffle of feathers. Adam turned to Michael, hot bowl in his hands, “yours.”

Michael hesitated, confused, “what?”

Adam sighed, “you were shivering earlier. I thought you would want something to eat.”

Michael nodded, “thank you.” He took the hot bowl from the human who’d previously cherished him.

The two sat across each other at the dining table. Michael, his almost untouched bowl in front of him, broke the silence, “I’m sorry for disrupting your night.”

Adam sighed as he watched the angsty angel play with his food, “it’s fine.”

Michael nodded, feeling no comfort. He sniffled, nose stuffy.

Adam raised an eyebrow, “that low on mojo, huh?”

Michael nodded, “yes. I’ve been feeling terrible lately — tired.”

Adam nodded, “must suck — feeling human after however long you’ve been alive being immortal.”

Michael nodded, “I feel things now — emotions, temperature.” Michael began to zone out, full of anxiety.

Adam placed a hand on Michael’s shoulder, now behind him and holding an empty bowl. Michael stared down, his own bowl half-empty.

Michael took a couple of bites before Adam returned to the table. Adam sat, an expectant look on his face. Michael put his fork down, staring back at Adam.

“Talk more,” Adam spoke. Michael cocked his head slightly. Adam sighed, “clearly, you have something you need to get off your chest. Talking about it is probably the only way you’re gonna leave me alone, so go on, get it out.”

Michael stared at Adam, reluctant. “Well,” he began, “if you insist.”

Adam nodded, “I do.”

“Jack is the new God. I’m sure you heard from Sam and Dean,” Michael began. Adam nodded. “Jack brought me back — to be with you. He told me that was the only reason and that he didn’t trust me — which is reasonable. I refused to accept him as the new God. I mean — a three year old? It’s hard to understand how he could be running everything properly, but never mind that, that’s not the point. When he brought me back, he restored very little of my grace. I’m weaker than your everyday angel at the moment, and they seem to want to take advantage of that.”

Adam raised an eyebrow, “how so?”

“They want to kill me, Adam,” Michael looked away. “I most likely will not live through this predicament,” Michael choked back a sob, “and if — when — I am killed, whether it’s Lucifer, or another angel, or even me who kills me, Jack will not bring me back, for I have no purpose. He likes you, feels bad for you, but I betrayed literally all of humanity. I am evil, whether I like it or not, and God hates me for it.”

Adam glared at Michael, “God’s not the only one who hates you, Michael. I do, too. You’re right. You betrayed humanity. You betrayed me. Defeat your dad and bring me back, or, help your dad win and let him continue to be a tyrant. You made a choice, Michael, and you have to face the consequences.”

Michael nodded, “I know, Adam. I know that we’ve had this conversation before. We’ve had this conversation over and over again. It’s just — when I die, I won’t be able to say ‘goodbye’ to you, Adam. I love you, and I am sorry for all the pain and stress that I’ve put you through. I was responsible for your imprisonment. I am responsible for your spending millenia in the Cage with Satan. I ruined your life, and I’m sorry. My selfish desires — my desperation for my father — ruined your life, ruined you. It almost cost 7 billion human lives. I’m selfish. I’m sorry.”

Adam stared blankly at his once best friend. He stared blankly at the angel that betrayed him after millenia of companionship.

“Did you think that I’d take you back in — when Jack brought you back,” Adam asked, voice slightly shaky.

“I hoped, but I understood your irritation. I did betray you, after all. I promised you that I’d left all love for my father behind. I lied. I lied to make you feel better,” Michael looked back towards Adam. He smiled fondly, “You may hate me, Adam, but I could — will — never hate you. You were my companion throughout the entirety of our time in the Cage, and I am forever grateful for — forever indebted to — you.”

Adam blinked, and there was the familiar ruffle of unkempt feathers again, and Michael was gone. The rain eased, and the temperatures began to slowly raise, but inside Adam’s dinky apartment, it was freezing.