Where's your flaming sword?

If he could convince Sam’s brother, surely he would be able to fool his own siblings. “Hey. Did you need something?”

        — “Don’t peg me for a fool, I know the difference between my charge and the angel his brother let possess him.”

"You're better than his own brother, then."

"Yes, something like that. I believe I can… I believe I can help reunite Heaven, with order rather than chaos. I’m sorry, but that is all I can tell you. Until then, innocent people and angels are dying." Conflict tore at him, but he squared his shoulders with newfound resolve. "I will do what is necessary."

"You’re going to reunite the angels. I don’t know how to fix that - I know that Heaven and Earth are a mess from this, and I’m just… I suppose I’m just going to trust you to do what you think is right." Gadriel seemed pretty sure, and Dean was going to let him be sure. "Then I’m going to trust you to do whatever that is and bring Sammy back to me when you’re done."

Those words caught him by surprise, and he lifted his chin, staring at Dean unblinkingly. "This is a kindness I will not soon forget. I will set right what has gone wrong. You have my word." 

"—Ezekiel? They told me you were dead."

“Fortunately — they — were false." Ezekiel spoke as he looked over to his Brother. A seat of disappointment covered over the General’s face, seeing Gadreel using Sam Winchester as a vessel confirmed Gadreel’s hidden agenda, as well as his current title. "They say that you have been using my name, Gadreel. I was faithful that, that too would just be another false echo of a rumor. Brother." The words slipped out of his mouth with slight hesitation. It pained him to see another lie, however, he knew much of Gadreel’s crimes. It was not, however, something that would stop Ezekiel from halting his care over his brothers; that also meant Gadreel.  

He had the grace to look sheepish at his brother's words, and he dropped his head. Despite his vessel's height, he seemed to shrink at the accusation. "You are known throughout Heaven as a good soldier, Ezekiel. The same cannot be said of me. I had only hoped to gain some form of trust, but it was not my intention to slight you." Raising his head, he fixed Ezekiel with a mournful look. "I apologize for using you in this way. I would not have done so if I felt I had any other options."

"I know that, Castiel— but you do not have the new prophet. And Metatron knows the list. You speak to me of noble causes, but what would you have me do? What other plan exists? Please, if there is one, tell me, because I would prefer it to this course of action."

"I might not know the list, but I know someone who does. I would not have you do anything, brother. I do not aspire to become God, there’s only one God and that isn’t Metatron, nor you, nor me, nor any of our brothers." he sighed and looked down briefly before meeting his brother’s eyes once again. "Why do we have to follow a plan?" he tilted his head and arched his eyebrows "Have you ever thought about why Father didn’t give humans a plan but rather free will?"

"No plan? You intend to take back Heaven from a solitary dictator with no plan? Castiel, I believe in you, but you are an idealist."

"And how do you plan to accomplish that, particularly without a prophet? Castiel, I have thought this through. You will thank me when I have pieced Heaven back together. You will all thank me.” Perhaps it was a result of spending so much time in such a strong vessel, but Gadriel’s brows furrowed more than usual. The doubt was there. But to back out now, after taking Kevin Tran, would be an insult to the boy’s memory.

Castiel huffed, impatience growing bigger inside. He was not sure what Metatron had told him or promised him but Gadreel seemed to be in denial.”When a prophet falls a victim to an untimely destiny, another prophet shall rise amongst the chosen ones. “Cas recited by heart. “Do you really want to keep killing innocent people, Gadreel? Because I can assure you, the feeling you get after doing so is not ever going to let you go.”

"I know that, Castiel-- but you do not have the new prophet. And Metatron knows the list. You speak to me of noble causes, but what would you have me do? What other plan exists? Please, if there is one, tell me, because I would prefer it to this course of action."

"…No. No, Kevin Tran did not deserve any of it. He did not deserve his death, just as he did not deserve the life he had been living of late. My family is killing one another, Dean. They are forming factions and warring, and I have the opportunity to stop that. Kevin Tran’s death was an unfortunate means to that end." His brows furrowed and he lowered his gaze. "I was fond of the prophet."

"Kevin was just a kid dragged in because he was the unlucky one that God chose to be a prophet. He didn’t deserve any of it, and I’m glad that you see that much." He kept his gaze focused on Gadriel as he heard the next comments, "So that’s what’s going on, then? Some sort of twisted angel gang war violence crap? And you think that you can stop it. How is that going to happen?"

"Yes, something like that. I believe I can... I believe I can help reunite Heaven, with order rather than chaos. I'm sorry, but that is all I can tell you. Until then, innocent people and angels are dying." Conflict tore at him, but he squared his shoulders with newfound resolve. "I will do what is necessary."

He smiled, but there was no joy in it. Only confirmation. “That is my point exactly.” At the question, his face fell, and he turned away. “It is my intention to return him to you unharmed if you cooperate and do not attempt to undermine me again. I am only doing what must be done.”

He would get his brother back. That was all that he needed - for Sam to be back, unharmed preferably. But he had a lot of explaining to do. The last sentence was what hit him - “Alright, I’ll think about it. But before I even think about trusting you, I need an answer. Why? Why did you kill Kevin? I get that he was a prophet, but was he really that much of a problem? Did the kid really deserve that?”

"...No. No, Kevin Tran did not deserve any of it. He did not deserve his death, just as he did not deserve the life he had been living of late. My family is killing one another, Dean. They are forming factions and warring, and I have the opportunity to stop that. Kevin Tran's death was an unfortunate means to that end." His brows furrowed and he lowered his gaze. "I was fond of the prophet."

"I have put myself in danger for you. I have risked retribution from Malachi and Bartholomew for assisting Castiel. I brought Castiel back at the expense of my own health, and I did the same for your red-haired friend. I have shown you at every turn that I am to be trusted."

      “For me? More like you were just trying to save your feathery ass. Listen, I don’t know who you really are or what you want but if you don’t give me Sam back I’ll just take him back. I don’t care what I have to do, understand?”

"If it was that simple, wouldn't it have been wiser to join forces with one of the warring factions? I believe in you and what you are doing. Yes, I have done some things for my own safety. How many times have you done what is necessary to save yourself or your brother?" He sighed, lowering his eyes. "I'm sorry, Dean. But the only way you'll get Sam back is when I release him to you."

"I will return your brother to you, Dean. But right now I have more pressing concerns.."

   ”And how am I supposed to believe that? I don’t trust a damn word you say.” 

"I have put myself in danger for you. I have risked retribution from Malachi and Bartholomew for assisting Castiel. I brought Castiel back at the expense of my own health, and I did the same for your red-haired friend. I have shown you at every turn that I am to be trusted."

"I don’t want any trouble."

    “Give Sam back and you wont get any.”  

"I will return your brother to you, Dean. But right now I have more pressing concerns.."

"I’m sorry, sister. I do not recognize you in this vessel. Anael?" 

"I do not care if you condemn my actions or praise them. I am not one of you, and therefore owe you no justification for my deeds. If I act wrongly, I will answer to my brethren— of which you are no longer one."

"I’ll always be one of you, whether you like it or not. And there’s not a damn thing you can do to change that, sweet cheeks. Because, let’s just say, you’ll mess up and then one day, whoever you’re answering to, is going to kick you to the curb. And because I hold some of you close to my heart, I might help, I might not."

"I am sorry that you fell so far astray, sister. But my concern now is for those who have yet to do the same. And this time, I will be putting my own interests first. Should you ever seek redemption, I may hold you close to my heart."