Frontlines || Castiel & Ty
It had become much easier to know when an angel, or two, had started tracking him. He had learned long ago that many never attempted to hide their signature graces. At first he had attempted to jump from city to city yet his trackers had managed to always catch up to him. It made it clear that he had no other choice but to confront them. And he needed to do it away from the view of any humans.
He finally touches down in New York City, hoping regain some strength from numerous trips while he plans on a battle ground, but fate isn’t on his side this time. “Castiel,” The level voice catches his attention and Castiel glances up to see two angels, one within the a well-dressed male body, the other within a female vessel dressed as a normal mother, standing above him; perched on the edge of a nearby roof. He recognizes them as two angels who’s garrison was almost identical to what his had been in terms of Heavenly tasks. Pahaliah and Gadreel.
“Castiel,” Pahaliah’s voice is soft, tinged with regret. They had been comrades in battle; and closer than he had been with Gadreel. “You destroyed Heaven. You killed so many of our brethren… I love you, but this is unforgivable.”
Castiel doesn’t try to refute it. Talking has never worked in his favor. Instead, he rotates on the ball of his foot and with a flutter of wings, pushing off to escape. He doesn’t get far.
Gadreel hurtles herself off the roof, managing to maneuver in front of him before he can even exit the alleyway and the angel in the coat forces himself to a hard stop with a frantic beat of still invisible wings, causing his heels to skid into the ground. There is no expression present on Gadreel’s face after she lands in front of Castiel and strides towards him across the dingy concrete. To his left, Pahaliah drops down to flank Castiel. His feet are on barely on the ground before he is rushing towards his target, sword at the ready to kill the angel.
“Don’t make me do this-,” He can hardly get the warning out before he has to duck down to avoid the first swipe from Pahaliah. Castiel places a hand near the others gut before blasting him back with a quick burst of grace, though he tries to keep from seriously injuring Pahaliah. Gadreel is on the attack before he has a chance to recover and he automatically lets his own sword drop from his sleeve into his hand. He barely has enough time to raise his blade to block the downward arch of hers.
The clang of metal is almost deafening when it echos in the confined area. “Gadreel. Just leave.” She doesn’t answer, but he can see the pain and rage within her eyes. He had killed too many of their breather to be forgiven. Instead, she lashes out with her foot, catching him in his side, sending him crashing to the floor. She’s on him before he can get his bearings, raising her sword for a kill shot. He manages to twist his arm, bringing the hilt of his sword into her forehead, causing her to fall off of him. The angel is on his feet instantly as Pahaliah appears behind him and Castiel turns, the blade catching and tearing his coat.
The fabric catches the blade near the end of the attack for a brief moment and Castiel takes the opening to grab Pahaliah’s arm as it finishes causing the cut. He slams his own blade into the others back, holding him tightly as Pahaliah screams, light exploding from his vessel’s eyes, nose, mouth, and ears as the angel dies. He can’t dwell on that death yet as Gadreel charges and he drops the now-empty vessel, trying to block the swift swipes of the others blade as she attacks relentlessly. All he can do is fend her off as the repeated clang of metal clashing rings through the alleyway. She somehow manages to switch her sword to her other hand and, while he’s recovering from one swipe, catches him in the jaw with her fist, causing him to stumble back into a lone dumpster flushed against the bricks.
“No more, Castiel,” she murmurs as he tries to balance himself upright. “No more death. No more suffering.” She charges and aims the thrust of her sword towards his chest. He manages to get his fingers around a stray pipe as she charges and he throws it at her to halt her advance. Of course it doesn’t faze her other than causing her to throw out an arm to stop it, but he takes the presented opening. He quickly raises his sword and swipes it quickly across her throat. Her blade clatters to the ground as she grabs for the wound, ignoring the spray of blood in favor of trying frantically to contain the grace spilling past it. Castiel stares at her with a hint of sorrow and regret on his face as he reaches out, pulling her to him while he digs the blade up into her gut for the finishing blow.
He no longer apologizes when he extinguishes another angel's light and stands over another deceased sibling. There’s too much bloodshed for those words to hold any meaning. Instead he quietly, and gently, removes his blade and sets her on the ground. Staring at the burned out outlines of wings of his fallen comrades, Castiel lets out a heavy exhale. He didn’t think it would ever get easier. The sudden sound of footsteps approaching from behind catches his attention and he glances over his shoulder to examine the newcomer; knowing immediately that it wasn’t another angel. For the moment however, he stays silent; curious to know what will happen due to the scene he had caused.