drabbles: Supernatural, Aspern Papers, and SN/Biblical

[tigriswolf]

Title: those who reap what they didn’t sow
Fandom: Supernatural
Disclaimer: not my characters
Warnings: spoilers for everything aired
Pairings: John/Mary, John/Kate Milligan
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 210
Point of view: third

John cherished his too-few days as Adam’s father. He could be the man he’d been before the fire with Adam, the laughing daddy Dean barely remembers and Sam never knew. He could hold Kate in the night, bury himself in her arms, pretend he was simply a mechanic from Kansas, an ex-marine, a husband and a father.

John took Adam to baseball games, taught him to drive, gave him his first beer. He showed Adam a man he’d thought died with Mary.

But Adam only had a week of his life, spread out over a couple of years, and when John bargained with Azazel, he didn’t even spare Adam a thought.

Adam was a good boy, but he had no place in John’s life. He knew only a shadow, and never even fathomed the possibility of the warrior.

Adam was lucky, though, John realized, because he wasn’t Mary’s son. Adam would never be more than a bystander in the war to come, and John chose to let him keep his innocence.

So John warned Dean, knowing his oldest boy would make the right decision, wished he could apologize to Sammy, and went to keep his end of the deal to save Dean’s life.

In those final moments, Adam never crossed his mind.

Title: What is to give light must endure burning
Fandom: The Aspern Papers
Disclaimer: not my characters; title from Viktor Frank
Warnings: spoilers for book
Pairings: mentions of het
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 355
Point of view: third

She waits until midnight and then she goes to her aunt’s room. She removes the sheaf of papers from its hiding spot, studying each piece for a moment. She does not read them, just looks long enough to ascertain what it is—a poem, a love letter, an angry admonition, a plea for absolution. So many repeated. Each in that hand she recognizes as her aunt’s once-beloved Jeffrey Aspern.

Her aunt would have commanded her to destroy these documents, had she been able. Such things are private, between a man and a woman, between a poet and his muse. Not for the eyes of everyone, for public view.

But she would have given them to him, that scoundrel who killed her aunt. Had he said yes, agreed to her hinted proposal—she would have handed over the last hidden part of her aunt’s privacy for grudgingly-given, false affection.

Her aunt is dead. Tina feared her, but never doubted her love. Now, after a long life, Tina is alone. Every decision from here-on-out is her own. No demands, no commands. Her choices, her actions.

She holds in her hand papers a man would steal in the night, would lie and cheat to possess, would frighten an old woman to death for the possibility of touching them.

Her aunt would have said to destroy them, the last link to the poet she loved. Tina takes the bundle to the kitchen and separates the papers on the counter by type: love letter, angry note, poem, plea for pardon. Over two dozen, precious and unique, each addressed to Juliana. Poems for her eyes alone, sonnets, free-verse. Priceless.

One by one, Tina holds them over a candle till they catch fire and then lets them fall into an empty basin.

She does not burn them for her aunt, or out of anger or grief or despair. She burns them simply because they are a private matter and their intended audience can no longer read them.

(And if she feels a small burst of vindictive joy at the dumbstruck, horror-filled look on his face—well, that is a private matter, too.)

Title: Favored of Heaven
Fandom: “Supernatural”
Disclaimer: not my characters; title from Milton
Warnings: blasphemy? Spoilers for aired season 5; AU
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 410
Point of view: third
Notes: inspired by caffienekitty here
More notes: heavily leans on Paradise Lost for a couple of phrases and word choice

i

Father, We have waited long enough, the only begotten Child says. It is time for Us to return.

The Creator turns, expression serene. No, dear one. We must let things happen as they will.

You are Mother and Father to all, the Child says, meeting God’s eternal, all-knowing gaze. But, My wondrous Parent, You have never carried another life inside You, nourishing that tiny being of Your Own body, Your Own blood and flesh. I have done so three times now, and each of My sons died far too young.

Mary, the Parent tries to interject, but the Child continues.

I became human for You, and I bore my Own Self, out of love and adoration for You, My God and My King, the Most High. I let My firstborn die a painful, lingering death and spend eternities in Hell for sins He never committed. I let my secondborn go to Hell as well, let him break beneath the weight of Alistair’s razor-sharp touch.

The Child steps forward, voice soft yet firm, spring rain and mighty hurricane in one. I let My third son die in a senseless game, and My second return him to life at the cost of his own. But, My Father, My Author—I let Myself be born a third time, purely to give birth to those boys, the greatest of Your angels.

The Lord of Creation holds out a hand. Mary, He says softly. My chief delight, most beautiful, selfless and kind of all My children, My Daughter and My Son, Myself in another body—what is Your will?

She smiles, all colors of the rainbow in Her eyes. I wish to live again, Father. To know My sons. To be a part of the tapestry You weave, not simply an observer at the end.

The ultimate Being, Painter of the cosmos, inclines His head. If You wish to return, Child, go. You are Myself and as such Your will is Law.

She kisses His cheek and says, Thank You.

Mary, He calls and she pauses at the door. You will be Me on Earth.

She turns, questioning, What?

God tells Her, You may do as You like. Take whatever measures You see fit, Daughter of My soul. I endorse and agree with each one.

Mary nods. I understand, Father. I shall do You proud.

He smiles, sunrise and a warm breeze, a star lighting creation. You will, Mary. Now, go back to Your boys.

Comments

[tifaching.livejournal.com]

Re" Those who reap what they didn't sow. In a way I'm glad John had that normal time. It hurts that he couldn't be that father to Dean and Sam, but he's right. They're Mary's sons and Adam will never know the nightmare that that entails. I'm sad and happy at the same time that John didn't spare Adam a thought when he went to make his deal. Adam deserved a better father, but then so did Sam and Dean. Wonderful ficlet.

Re: Favored of Heaven. That's a mind bender, but in a good way. Mary is the favored only begotten child of God and he's going to let her go back to Earth to be with her own children and be the instrument of his will. Fantastic.

[tigriswolf]

Thank you!