Chapter 230 — Heaven and Hell
Crowley had been waiting.
Not patiently.
Crowley was rarely patient.
But he had been waiting.
He stood alone on the western balcony of Asteria, one hand resting against the stone railing, a glass of something dark in the other.
Below him, the city moved.
People talked.
Guards changed positions.
Children ran through the streets.
Nothing looked particularly threatening.
That was usually when Crowley became most suspicious.
He heard footsteps behind him.
He didn't turn.
"You're following me."
Gabriel's voice came from the doorway.
"No."
Crowley took a drink.
"Then you're lost."
"I know where I am."
"That's disappointing."
Gabriel stepped onto the balcony.
For a while, neither spoke.
Crowley stared over the city.
Gabriel looked toward the horizon.
Eventually, Gabriel said,
"You wanted to speak with me."
Crowley smiled.
"I wanted to see whether you'd come."
"You asked me to."
"Yes."
"Then here I am."
Crowley turned his head.
"Annoyingly reasonable."
Gabriel smiled.
"I've heard that too."
Crowley turned back toward the city.
"You know what I am."
Gabriel didn't answer immediately.
"I know what you've shown me."
Crowley laughed.
"That's a careful answer."
"It should be."
Crowley took another drink.
"Most people see the coat, the sarcasm, the attitude."
Gabriel looked at him.
"You're not most people."
"No."
Crowley looked toward the horizon.
"I've spent a very long time making sure people don't look too closely."
Gabriel nodded.
"I understand."
"Do you?"
"More than you think."
Crowley studied him.
There was no fear in Gabriel's eyes.
No disgust.
No righteous judgment.
That bothered Crowley more than either would have.
"You're not afraid of Hell."
Gabriel shook his head.
"No."
"You should be."
"Perhaps."
Crowley smiled.
"You're terrible at being intimidated."
"I've had practice."
"With Lucifer?"
Gabriel's expression softened slightly.
"Among others."
Crowley noticed.
There was affection there.
Not weakness.
Not nostalgia.
Affection.
"You're still his brother."
Gabriel looked at him.
"Yes."
"And Michael's."
"Yes."
Crowley nodded.
"That's going to cause problems."
"I know."
"Good."
Crowley turned fully toward him.
"Then let's talk about Hell."
Gabriel leaned against the railing.
"I'm listening."
"Lucifer doesn't like losing control."
Crowley's voice was casual.
"Neither does Heaven."
Gabriel nodded.
"Probably."
"Not probably."
Crowley pointed toward him.
"Definitely."
Gabriel smiled.
"You've thought about this."
"I think about everything."
"That must be exhausting."
"It is."
Crowley took another drink.
"Lucifer will come eventually."
Gabriel didn't react.
"Maybe."
"He'll want Brook."
"I know."
"Why?"
Gabriel looked at the city.
"Because Brook carries his Source."
Crowley stared at him.
"You're saying it like it's obvious."
"It is."
"No."
Crowley's voice became colder.
"It's not."
Gabriel looked back.
Crowley continued.
"That's the mistake Heaven makes."
"What mistake?"
"Thinking possession is the same thing as connection."
Gabriel said nothing.
Crowley tapped his glass against the railing.
"Lucifer may have power inside Brook."
He paused.
"But that doesn't mean Lucifer owns Brook."
Gabriel nodded.
"Agreed."
Crowley raised an eyebrow.
"That easy?"
"Yes."
"You don't want to defend your brother?"
"I am defending him."
Crowley frowned.
"By agreeing with me?"
"Sometimes that's what defending someone looks like."
Crowley stared at him.
Then laughed.
"You're going to be a problem."
Gabriel smiled.
"I've been told."
Crowley took another drink.
"Tell me something."
Gabriel waited.
"Why did you really come?"
"I already told Brook."
"Yes."
"You don't believe me."
"I believe part of you."
Gabriel nodded.
"Which part?"
"You came because Michael went silent."
"Yes."
"And?"
Gabriel looked toward the horizon.
The sunlight was fading.
"I wanted to know why."
Crowley waited.
Gabriel continued.
"I didn't expect to find Brook."
Crowley narrowed his eyes.
"But you stayed."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Gabriel was silent.
Crowley waited.
"I don't know if there's one answer."
"Try."
Gabriel thought about it.
"Because Brook is carrying something he doesn't understand."
Crowley's expression hardened.
"So are a lot of people."
"Not like him."
"That's the problem."
Gabriel nodded.
"I know."
Crowley stared at him.
"You're not staying because you think you can save him."
"No."
"You're not staying because Heaven ordered you."
"No."
"You're not staying because Michael asked."
Gabriel shook his head.
"No."
"Then why?"
Gabriel looked directly at him.
"Because he's unfinished."
Crowley's expression became unreadable.
"Unfinished."
"Yes."
"That's a dangerous word."
"I know."
"Especially when you're talking about Brook."
"I know."
Crowley looked away.
"He's not a weapon."
"I know."
"He's not Heaven's property."
"I know."
"He's not Hell's property."
"I know."
Crowley turned back.
"Then remember it."
Gabriel's expression became serious.
"I will."
The silence between them lasted longer this time.
Then Crowley said,
"Do you know what Hell thinks of you?"
Gabriel smiled faintly.
"Probably not kindly."
"You're a traitor."
Gabriel shrugged.
"Apparently."
"You're an archangel standing in a city full of people who have no idea what they've become involved in."
"Yes."
"And you're sitting here having a conversation with the King of Hell."
Gabriel looked at him.
"Yes."
Crowley froze.
He hadn't expected the words.
Gabriel continued calmly.
"I know who you are."
Crowley stared.
The balcony suddenly felt smaller.
"You knew?"
"I suspected."
"Since when?"
"Yesterday."
Crowley narrowed his eyes.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"You didn't."
Crowley smiled slowly.
"Interesting."
Gabriel looked toward the city.
"I don't need everyone to announce what they are."
Crowley laughed under his breath.
"That's convenient."
"It isn't meant to be."
"No."
Crowley shook his head.
"You're genuinely like this."
"Like what?"
"Annoyingly decent."
Gabriel smiled.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Don't."
Crowley looked up at the sky.
Stars were beginning to appear.
"Do you remember Hell?"
"Yes."
"Do you miss it?"
Gabriel considered the question.
"I've never lived there."
"That's not what I meant."
Gabriel looked at him.
"Then ask again."
Crowley smiled.
"Do you miss Heaven?"
Gabriel's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Crowley noticed.
"Sometimes."
"That's honest."
"I don't hate Heaven."
Crowley nodded.
"But?"
"I don't belong to it simply because I was born there."
Crowley looked at him.
That answer stayed between them.
"You know," Crowley said, "that's exactly the kind of thing that gets people killed."
Gabriel smiled faintly.
"I know."
"Then why say it?"
"Because it's true."
Crowley laughed.
"You're either very brave or very stupid."
"Possibly both."
"Good."
Crowley looked toward the city.
"I can work with that."
A sound came from below.
Brook's voice.
"Are you two plotting something?"
Crowley looked over the railing.
Brook stood in the courtyard below.
Gabriel leaned over.
"No."
Brook narrowed his eyes.
"That sounded like a lie."
Crowley called down.
"We're discussing the weather."
Brook looked at the clear sky.
"You're discussing Hell."
Crowley froze.
Gabriel smiled.
Brook pointed upward.
"I can literally hear you."
Crowley frowned.
"How?"
"Because you talk loudly."
"I don't."
"You do."
Gabriel laughed.
Brook shook his head.
"Are you done?"
Crowley looked at Gabriel.
"Apparently."
Gabriel nodded.
"We're done."
Brook looked between them.
"Good."
He walked away.
Crowley watched him disappear.
Then quietly said,
"He trusts you more than he trusts me."
Gabriel looked at him.
"That's not a competition."
"It wasn't."
"Good."
Crowley smiled.
"Because you'd lose."
Gabriel laughed.
Crowley finished his drink.
"One last thing."
Gabriel waited.
"If Heaven comes for Brook…"
"I know."
"If Hell comes for Brook…"
"I know."
Crowley turned toward him.
"If either side tries to take him by force, what will you do?"
Gabriel didn't answer immediately.
He looked at Asteria.
At the people living inside it.
At the walls.
At the place Brook called home.
Then he said,
"I'll stand with him."
Crowley watched him carefully.
"And if standing with him means standing against Heaven?"
"I will."
"And against Hell?"
"I will."
Crowley nodded slowly.
"Even if Lucifer stands on the other side?"
Gabriel's expression hardened.
"Even then."
Crowley smiled.
"Good."
Gabriel looked at him.
"You expected a different answer."
"No."
Crowley stepped toward the doorway.
"I wanted to hear you say it."
He stopped.
Then looked back.
"Don't misunderstand me."
Gabriel waited.
"I still don't trust Heaven."
"I wouldn't expect you to."
"I don't completely trust you."
"I wouldn't expect that either."
"But…"
Crowley smiled faintly.
"…I trust that you mean what you say."
Gabriel nodded.
"That's enough."
Crowley walked away.
Gabriel remained on the balcony.
The night deepened around him.
Far above, Heaven remained silent.
Far below, Hell waited.
And between them—
Asteria.
Brook.
Xcution.
Gabriel looked toward the city.
He didn't pray.
He didn't ask Heaven for guidance.
He simply watched.
Because he had already chosen one thing.
Not Heaven.
Not Hell.
Not a throne.
Not a side.
A person.
And for now—
that was enough.
End of Chapter 230