#protective michael

Adam: I’m just tired.

Michael: tired!? Are you hurt!?

Adam: *yawns*

Michael, frantically laying Adam on the bed: Are you dying!?

“Unbelievable...”

It was almost funny how this was the second time Adam Milligan was facing his brothers, uttering the same word he had breathed quietly to himself the first time he had ever interacted with them. It was almost funny how this was the second time he was being held captive by those same brothers, who were asking for his help - well, for Michael’s help at least - and it was almost funny how this was the second time they were expecting him to roll over and trust them like they hadn’t left him to burn in Hell without a second thought. Yes, it was almost funny.

Almost. Funny.

Michael was somewhat... quiet. Withdrawn, oddly enough. Adam hated it - because the archangel usually never hesitated to share control with him now, so the fact that he had retreated, retracted what was left of his own power and allowed Adam to take the reigns spoke volumes about how he was feeling about this particular situation, and in response to his uneasiness, Adam promptly wanted to see how hard he had to squeeze to crush Sam and Dean’s skulls.

Sam exchanged a look with Dean, both seeming equally uncertain as to what to say now. Adam allowed a small smile to tug at the corners of his lips, dry and cold and as dangerous as he could make it. Every part of him was aching to attack and, the second these handcuffs were off of him, he probably would.

“You know what’s funny?” He addressed his brothers again, eyebrows quirking upwards the slightest bit and his grin widening faintly, turning somewhat amused - in the most sickening way - as he flicked his gaze back and forth between them. “You trap us here, you-” He tugged his hands apart, rattling the handcuffs. Both Sam and Dean stiffened as he did, as if expecting him to break free, and he had to huff out a laugh at the looks on their faces. “You handcuff us, and then, uh... well, you ask for our help. It’s fucking hilarious.” He leaned forward a little, grinning even wider, and showing his teeth in the process. “It’s okay. No hard feelings. It’s not your fault that you’re insensitive, selfish, incompetent dicks. We’ll clean up your little mess for you, for sure- and then I’m gonna rip-”

“Adam,” Michael interrupted quickly, surging up to take control and cutting Adam off, before he could finish his threat. Sam and Dean tilted their heads slightly, exchanging another look - this one of confusion - and Adam curled his lips back slightly in a snarl but sank back into the chair once again, taking a moment to calm himself down. “Just... relax.”

“Yes, because these are very relaxing circumstances,” Adam responded sarcastically, flicking his gaze toward the ceiling. Michael sighed, soft and almost silent, and maybe if they weren’t sharing a body, he wouldn’t have even heard it. But he did, and he grimaced, and closed his eyes for a moment, once again taking the chance to reign in his own fury.

“Look...” Sam started, half-desperate, and Adam cracked one eye open to look at him, his scowl returning. “We just want to talk.”

“Talk?” Adam narrowed his eyes. “Sure. Take the cuffs off and we’ll talk all you want, Sammy.”

Sam opened his mouth, then visibly bit his tongue, seemingly choking back whatever he was going to say. Dean’s eyes narrowed slightly toward Adam, but he didn’t say a word, and the youngest brother merely curled his lips back in a sneer at them in response as he went on, “yeah, I didn’t think so. Jeez, no trust around here. And you guys are the ones that betrayed me.”

“You made your choice-”

“He didn’t choose to go to Hell,” Michael spoke up, quiet, but his voice was strained, holding a warning. Luckily, Dean caught onto it quickly enough, and it was enough to make the oldest hunter stand down, retreating to the other side of the room and mumbling something under his breath too soft for their ears to pick up. Adam exhaled and rolled his eyes, while Michael settled them back down into the chair again, looking down at the handcuffs for a moment.

Then he spoke again, just as quiet. “What do you need me to do?”

Adam bared his teeth, a growl rumbling in his throat, but he merely retreated for the time being, simply settling down where he could watch and listen and step in if he was needed to. He didn’t approve of this one bit, especially given the circumstances, since they were practically being held captive here now. He didn’t like Michael being forced into this, but he was going to support him.

Thank you, Michael murmured, soft and unspoken, but not unheard. It fizzled the rest of Adam’s anger out for the time being, the fury steadily diminishing, replaced by the archangel’s calm, soothing presence.