Castiel got out of the car, ignoring the look on Jo's face. His blue eyes scanned the area they had just pulled into. The city was empty, to the human eye anyways. Castiel could see every single reaper that stood in silence, completely still. It gave him an uneasy feeling, and his gut hurt. He helped the Winchesters for one reason, and one reason only… to see Lucifer. Only, did Lucifer want to see him?

"I'll be back." Castiel said briefly before disappearing as he began to walk around in the limbo. None of the reapers noticed him. They were all oblivious to his presence, through the corner of his eye caught one that did see him. He turned to look up at supernatural being, eyes squinting in confusion as it turned around and walked away from the window. The angel flew up into the room as the reaper entered the hallway, and he followed before pausing in the middle of the dark corridor. Moments later, Castiel saw a bright white light that burned with an icy touch and he was unconscious before he could take flight.

The angel opened his eyes, blinking a few times. He was immediately on alert when he noticed the holy oil, which was lit on fire flickering in a circle around his feet. The light of the supernatural substance burned and it made him itch uncomfortably. That's when he looked up, and his breath caught in his throat, which was tightening in pain. His chest beat with hurt as his vessel's heart sped up and his grace buzzed within him. Before him was the one he was looking for… yet he changed. He looked like he had been through… Hell.

Lucifer stood before him, grace damaged. It was clear that whatever the devil went through in the cage affected him on a biblical level. He was no longer warm… but cold yet, it was comforting. However, he couldn't stop feeling the anger pointed toward his Father as it coursed through Castiel. Lucifer is in pain, he could see right it and it's all God's fault.

The archangel stood before Castiel, posture collected as his ice blue eyes studied how well he had grown to be. He didn't show it, his pride was far too high for that but Lucifer hurt. He missed the angel and his presence but he can't act like that now. Things are different, time has changed… and now he has an apocalypse to lead, a brother he doesn't want to kill that needs to be dealt with… and armies of demons depending on him and his power to win.

"It's nice to see you, little one." Lucifer spoke first, breaking the silence. His voice was emotionless, cold, and the words were so hard with ice that it felt like they were slicing into Castiel's grace. He didn't flinch, even though he wanted to. He just stood there, eyes on Lucifer, studying his vessel and its current state. The archangel's grace was far too powerful to be held in the human host, but Castiel could fix that too. If only Lucifer were to let him out.

"Lucifer-" the angel began to speak but the devil raised his hand, cutting him off. He wasn't done and Castiel didn't protest. He closed his mouth, waiting for what his brother had to say next.

"I would say it's pleasant to see you but… things have clearly changed." Lucifer began again. As he spoke, he walked back and forth, arms crossed behind his back. His posture was filled with authority, power, he clearly has changed but it was for survival. Castiel knew that though, he didn't mention it.

"Things have not-"

"Hush. I was told you came here in a car. Do not lie to me." Lucifer interrupted him again when he began to speak. He motioned at Meg, Azazel's daughter who was leaned against the stonewall of the cave they were in, picking at her nails. When Castiel looked over at her, and she noticed how silent it was, her gaze lifted to meet the angel's. The demon grinned wickedly, flirtatiously waving her fingers as a hello before Castiel looked away, his gaze averting back to Lucifer. "What was it like, anyway? Riding in a car." The devil paused, tilting his head as he questioned the angel, waiting for an answer.

Castiel was chewing at the inside of his cheek, fingers slightly clenching and unclenching in annoyance and anticipation. He wanted to be out of the ring of holy fire. He wanted to say so many things to Lucifer, but he couldn't figure out how he should even approach the topic. Whenever he spoke, the devil cut him off. Finally, he spoke. "Slow. It was very slow." he stated clearly and Lucifer nodded with a slight shrug.

"Interesting…" he seemed to mutter at himself as he continued his walking movement. Castiel watched him silently, and when it became clear that none of them would be saying anything for the next moment, he figured it would be a good chance to speak.

"Your vessel… it cannot contain your grace." he added quietly, and Lucifer nodded as he stopped in front of the holy fire. It was true, his grace was burning through his vessel and it saddened him. The devil was actually fond of Nick… and how he looked. He didn't want Sam Winchester at all. He wanted his current vessel but he doesn't have much of a choice. If he is to stay in Nick, his grace would eventually disintegrate it into nothing and he'll have to find a new human to possess.

"Unfortunately." Lucifer added after a brief moment. Like Castiel, he is lost. He had so much to say, but no way to say them. They were spinning in his head, but he couldn't find it in him to speak of it. He couldn't find how to even strike up the topic that the both of them clearly wanted to speak about. "So, you're working with the Winchesters now." Lucifer finally spoke again, his voice a bit disappointed.

"No." Castiel responded simply, and Lucifer stopped in his tracks. He lifted his head to look at the angel, blinking a few times in confusion. "I am not working with Sam and Dean. In fact, I am doing the opposite." Castiel stated clearly, finding the confidence in him to say such a thing. He held his ground, gaze upon Lucifer though he noticed the look of utter surprise on Meg's face. However, he was not worried about the demon. He paid merely no attention to her existence. He didn't care for her. The only thing he cared for was standing before him. His brother.

"I don't believe you." the devil responded and Castiel narrowed his eyes in offense. The angel took a step forward, wanting to stand up to Lucifer but he was stopped with the barrier of flames in front of him, which flared up when he got close. This caused the angel to back up in surprise, before his gaze once again lifted to meet Lucifer's.

"Well I am not lying." the angel responded, straightening his posture. Lucifer studied him silently, blue eyes checking his frame as he bit his bottom lip. After a moment of silence, he nodded. He seemed to believe Castiel, a bit… because Lucifer turned to Meg and nodded. The demon rolled her eyes but she listened, disappearing moments later, leaving the two angels alone to speak privately.

"Why would you dare go against them, Castiel? Against humanity. Against Heaven. Why should I even believe you?" Lucifer began, pointing a sophisticated finger at the angel, who rolled his eyes in response to the archangel's words. Lucifer however, stood there, waiting for an answer of some kind.

"I understand it has been a long time, Lucifer… but do you not remember a single thing that happened in Heaven before your fall?" the angel spoke. Clearly, the devil was not prepared for that kind of question because the moment those words rung out, Lucifer's icy blue eyes showed surprise and then dropped to the ground. He pressed his lips together, clearing his throat before lifting his gaze once again. It was now as cold as it was before. He had regained himself but there was a clear moment of falter… which was enough for Castiel to know that his Lucifer was still in there. He wasn't all that gone.

"Yes, I remember everything. However, that has nothing to do with our current situation. It's in the past, little one. It no longer matters." The archangel spoke fiercely, but Castiel knew it was just another mask. He saw the moment of surprise and hurt in his eyes when he questioned the devil. The angel rolled his eyes again, clenching his fists in slight annoyance before relaxing once more. He did not come here to fight with Lucifer. He came here to bring him back, bring him home.

"Do not lie to me, Lucifer. I saw in your eyes, the surprise and pain when I spoke of it." the angel began, narrowing his eyes as he tilted his head just a bit. "And it does matter. If you remember it, then clearly it still holds onto you just as it holds onto me. That means… you are not all gone." Lucifer took a deep breath, licking his lips as he looked away. Castiel was right… he did remember it and if he does remember, it means its held on the entire time he was locked up… and it did hold on. Lucifer wouldn't ever let it go, his feelings for Castiel. It is the realest thing he has… the best thing he has and if he were to let it go, he would be letting go of himself as well. "Am I correct, brother?"

"Yes."

"Then why do you still have me trapped in this flame? Let me free… and we can continue again. Let me love you, just as I did in Heaven. My feelings have not changed once since you left… so please, let me back in. You trusted me once… you know I would never do a thing to hurt you so I am asking you to trust me again. Lucifer, please." The archangel looked back up at Castiel, studying him for a brief moment. The angel was right. He did trust him once… and the angel never did a thing to hurt him. He was always kind, always gentle… always so loving in a way that made Lucifer feel amazing indescribable things. It was in those moments where he felt most holy… as did Castiel.

After a brief second of standing in silence, eyes on the angel, Lucifer made a gesture and the fire lowered until it hissed and sizzled, burning out completely in just seconds. The moment those flames were gone, Castiel walked up to Lucifer and instantly took him in. His arms wrapped around the archangel, catching him because Lucifer collapsed directly into the hug, melting. Their graces collided, heat with the cold, fire with the ice, clean with the unclean… Heavenly with the Hell.

Lucifer closed his eyes as he buried his head in the crook of Castiel's neck, inhaling the familiar scent of home. His hands were resting on his upper back, arms wrapped around his waist. Castiel's arms were wrapped around his neck, one hand tangled in the devil's vessel's fluffy blond hair. The both of them felt relieved to be in each other's embraces, it was all so similar… and relieving. All that pain they both carried for years being apart disappeared the moment they touched. It was as if they both had been brought back from the dead.

"Castiel-"

"Shh… It's okay." the angel cut off the devil, hearing the pain in his voice. "I'm right here, Lucifer. I am right here… and I am not leaving your side- ever." he whispered, knowing that is what his brother needed to hear. The archangel nodded, clutching at the trench coat. They hugged for minutes, not daring to let either of them go yet. It felt so amazing to be back in the arms of their lover, one they missed for so long. They decided to pull away though, and Castiel took Lucifer's face in his hands, sending his grace through to heal his vessel. The devil groaned just a bit, the clean burn of the angel's grace mixing with the unclean iciness of his own was overwhelming… but it soon settled and he felt better, as did his vessel.

"Thank you…" Lucifer whispered and the angel shook his head.

"We don't have long… because you do need to raise Death and I must get the Winchesters out of here but listen to me and listen to me closely." Castiel spoke clearly and Lucifer nodded, ice blue eyes looking down at the angel. "You raise the horseman… I will take Sam and Dean Winchester back home. After that, I will wait till they are asleep and then I will pray to you, okay? You can either show up there, or tell me where you are staying and I can fly to you. We do need to talk, about so many things… but apocalypse business is far more important right now. I do promise you, I will come back to you tonight. Okay?" Lucifer sighed but he nodded. He didn't want to be apart from Castiel… he had just gotten him back but the younger angel was right. Apocalypse business was first priority. Raising Death was the first priority… and afterwards, they could talk.

"It sounds like a plan then, little one." The devil gave the angel a small smile, in which was returned and then he flew away first to get to business.

That is it for this chapter! If you enjoyed, leave a comment, a follow, and stay tuned for the next chapter! This is my first FanFiction and I've found it his harder to write than role-plays lmao but I hope you all enjoyed it.

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