(song titles or lyrics are all property of Natty Miles)
Dean took another swig of his beer and rolled his eyes.
Gabe was making out with his new boyfriend Castiel and Dean felt like the infamous fifth wheel.
There had been a time when he anything but minded going out with couples because it was a good pick up way. Waitresses – and waiters –or other hot chicks and chaps pitied him when they saw him with two love birds, and he almost every time ended up getting laid after all.
Tonight though, he felt out of place. He wasn't the one-night-stand type anymore, not after two years with Lisa. He had been ready for something steady. But something over two weeks ago she dumped him, had him clear his stuff from her apartment, so now he was living with his little brother Sammy.
Said brother almost literally kicked him out tonight since he had had enough of Dean's constant sulking and hiding from the world. He told him not to come back before midnight and not without a distinctive bar stench on his clothes.
So Dean had called Gabriel, Sammy's Ex, who had become his best buddy despite the break up with his brother.
It wasn't until Gabe's acidic yellow convertible stopped in front of him that he learned that Castiel would be coming along and that they were headed to a concert of the band Castiel's brother played in.
"They're a rock band, you're gonna like them," Gabe promised, but Dean wasn't very convinced. He'd never heard anything about them at all. For all he knew they could be a lame cover band. And that name ...
"Gabe really? Devil's Pit? For Heaven's sake, they're gonna suck for sure if they need a name like that for promotion." Dean huffed when Castiel had let them alone to get beer for them all.
"Look, you asked if I'd hang out with you, okay? We had promised Balthie weeks ago that we'd come, so either you stay and make the best of it, or you go back to Sasquatch, and beg to be let back in even though it's only nine and I'm sure there's not enough bar stench on you yet."
So that's how he had ended up here, getting nauseous watching Gabe and Castiel make out and waiting for the band to enter the stage.
He had just finished his beer and gone to get another when the band was announced. "And here they come, Devil's Pit ... " the lights went out "Abbadon!" a spotlight went on on the drum set where now a round-faced, dark-haired guy was sitting and started a beat. "Samael!" another spotlight went on to reveal a handsome ginger bassist, with the most wicked, shark-like grin Dean had ever seen. "Mephistoteles!" a third spotlight revealed a blonde guitarist and Dean could see Gabe searching the crowd for him with his eyes and, having found him, pointing at the guitarist, mouthing "that's him, Cassie's bro".
The three men on stage played for a while before the announcer went on, "And here comes" he dropped his voice "Lu-" the crowd joined in "ci-feeeeeeeeeeeer!" the crowd whistled, screamed, stomped as the fourth guy stormed onto stage and stirred up his fans even more.
Dean thought him to be about his height, he had short blonde hair and was all dressed in black.
Dean made his way through the throng back to his friends while "Lucifer" – Dean still thought it was just stupid, all that Devil references and was mentally rolling his eyes – started singing.
"A ghostly reminder lingered in his eyes
the pain that lurks is far from a surprise"
Dean couldn't help his eyes lingering on the singer. This guy lived for music, there was no doubt about it. Any show he put on was only because fans wanted a show. But Dean could see that "Lucifer", once he started singing, was gone, he was living in his own world, where there was only him and music.
Maybe he could enjoy this concert after all ...
"And how were you thinking you'd get back? Oh come on Dean!" Gabe tried talking Dean into coming with them to meet Castiel's brother backstage, but Dean claimed he wanted to go home.
"Gabe really, I just wanna be on my own again ... the concert was good, yes, you were right, they're good. But that was a lot more people than I can take ..."
"And there's a lot less backstage ... come on, he's Cassie's bro, I can't just skip out to bring you home."
"Then let me call a cab. What business do I have with him anyway? I don't even know your boyfriend well enough yet."
"See, perfect occasion to get to know him better. And by the way ..." Gabe dropped his voice to a whisper, leaned up to get closer to Dean's ear "I know you wanna go backstage, I saw you ogling the singer." When Gabe looked at Dean he had his cheeky mischievous grin on, the one you either loved or wanted to punch out of him.
"I did no such thing!" Dean claimed, maybe a hint too fast.
"Let's go," Castiel said coming back from the restrooms.
"I'm sorry, but I'll better go, Castiel ... " Dean apologized.
Castiel tilted his head. "Why? Come on, Balthie won't mind, neither will the others ..."
"He's shy ... " Gabe said grinning. Now Dean did want to punch him. But that could be seen as confirmation ... and he was his best buddy after all, that was like it always was with him and even if he didn't want to, Dean had to admit, he liked it about Gabe.
"No reason to be ... " Castiel grabbed Dean's wrist and dragged him towards the stage area. Gabriel followed chuckling.
"Cassy, hey bro!" Castiel was taken into a bear hug by his brother the moment he spotted the three of them in the backstage area. Gabriel received the same, but Dean put up his arms in defence.
"Now who's this reserved gorgeous?" Balthazar asked.
"I'm Dean, hey. I'm just not into hugs, especially from people I don't know." He muttered softly, casting his gaze down to the ground to spare himself from any awkward eye contact. There was enough tension in the air as it was, and it only grew worse when Balthazar took a half step back and uttered an uncomfortable "Woah." under his breath.
"Dean!" Gabe lowly hissed, anger flaring up in his eyes.
"It's okay, Gabriel, let him be."
The bassist – 'Samael', Dean recalled – came over. "Bal, you got your stuff packed up?"
"Yeah, already in Crowley's van," the person in question replied. "Ready to go."
"Great." Samael was just about to turn and leave when Gabe piped in.
"Ey what? Leave? I thought we're gonna hang out?"
Balthazar patted his shoulder. "We are, just not here." He looked at the bassist. "Eric, it's cool if they come?"
'Samael' – Eric – nodded. "Sure, guess Crowley's got enough booze to get three more sloshed," he said before heading out.
"Cool, alright, see you at Crowley's, gonna go with my bro and give them directions."
Dean wondered if Castiel's brother had anything else to talk about then sex or anything sex related ... having to share the backseat of Gabe's convertible with this touch addicted guitarist was not his idea of a great night out. He felt like he was being stripped by Balthazar's eyes. God, this guy was annoying!
He was just glad when they finally arrived at what apparently was Crowley's place, the drummer, Abbadon, as he had learned. They had stopped in front of a former factory building. He climbed out of the car quickly.
Balthazar's band mates were unloading Crowley's van and Dean headed to help them. Just because he was a good guy and did such things, not because he wanted the singer to notice him, never because of that.
"Need any help?", he offered. They turned towards him.
"Hello Darling?" Crowley looked at him questioningly. The singer didn't seem to care and left with the drum part he had been about to bring in.
"Ah, so you're already here," Eric noticed, remembering his face. "That's one of the guys Bal's bringing," he explained for Crowley.
"Oh, okay, well, Bal's stuff still inside, you can bring that ... " Crowley said and turned to bring some last part of the drum set in. Eric climbed into the van and handed Dean Balthazar's guitar case and amp.
"Careful with that, Sweetie" Dean heard Balthazar behind him. He was close to giving him the finger, but he wasn't going to get on bad terms with the boyfriend of his best friend, just because his brother was a pain in the ass.
"Chill, I know how to handle a guitar, pal," he replied and headed to where Crowley and 'Lucifer' had gone. He entered the band's rehearsal room. "Where should I put this?" he asked 'Lucifer' who was just about passing him.
"Over there," was the reply, combined with a direction indicated by a finger.
"Kay, thanks," he said but the singer was already gone. He put the guitar where he had been asked to put it and turned to look around. There were no signs of the band being Satanists, there was nothing remotely occult around there. Dean wondered why they called themselves 'Devil's Pit' and yet seemed almost strangely normal. Or maybe it was just this room that seemed normal.
"You gonna come or stand here all night?", a voice brought Dean back from his reveries.
"Huh?", he turned to see Crowley talking to him.
"Drinks are in the apartment, not here," he explained.
"Oh ... okay ..." he walked towards the door.
"Let me just lock the doors and I'll show you the way," Crowley offered. "So, what makes Humptey Dumptey bring you?", he asked when they stood outside locking the door.
"Who?" Dean wanted to know.
"Oh, you know, Balthazar? About to hump anyone off age?" Crowley shrugged.
Dean chuckled. "Oh ... well, I'm just being dragged here by his brother's boyfriend." He answered the drummers question, both of them walking to another door of the building.
"Dragged, huh? Well, you'll have to make the best of it then," Crowley said, holding the door open for Dean.
"I'll try ... " They entered a huge room, clearly former factory, but made into a nice apartment now. A kitchen unit was lining the far off wall. Gabriel and Balthazar sat at a wooden dining table, Balthazar dealing out cards while seemingly wanting to eat the shoulder of girl that sat on his lap. Another girl was leaning over his shoulder.
Castiel sat on a sofa with Eric and 'Lucifer', talking animatedly. 'Lucifer' practically sat on Eric's lap. And, no! there was no reason why Dean noticed this, why would there be?
Crowley walked towards the fridge, stopping by the girl leaning over Balthazar.
"I told you to keep away from him, I don't like to share." He squeezed her ass before he went on and turned to Dean. "Beer?" he asked at which Dean nodded while he himself went over to the table to sit with Gabe and Balthazar.
"What you playing?" he asked, watching them.
"Rummy," Gabriel answered, "join next round?" Dean shrugged while at the same time nodding.
"Hello Gorgeous!" the blonde on Balthazar's lap greeted. "I'm Jo."
"Pam," the black haired still hovering over the guitarist stated. "And who would you be?"
"Dean," he replied, nodding at them friendly but turning his attention back to the guys' game quickly. He had his back towards the sofa or else he'd noticed the singer's eyes on him.
Crowley came back with the beer, handed Dean a bottle before wrapping his arm around Pam's waist and kissing her neck. With her hugged to him he turned around and went over to sit on a recliner joining the other's conversation.
"Dean, tell us about you, are you single?" Jo wanted to know and when Dean just looked at her, Gabe helped out.
"He is and he desperately needs to get laid." Dean glared at him.
"Yeah, why?" Jo asked and Balthazar said "Forget him, the little prude is immune to flirting ... " while finishing his hand and letting Gabe lose.
"Maybe you're just not his type, my big boy." Jo turned her head enough to kiss Balthazar sloppily.
Dean took the cards off the table and started shuffling them. "How about poker? Like that better than Rummy."
"Sure thing." Gabe answered while Balthazar, still kissing Jo gave him a thumbs-up. Dean wondered if she was his girlfriend, or just a girl for the night. And he wondered if Eric and the singer were just sitting comfortable as close friends, or if there was more. But no way was there any real interest behind his wondering, no bloody way, it was nothing but curiosity.
"Aren't you sitting in the wrong place?" Gabriel asked winking. Dean shot him a fuck-off glare, but, dealing out the cards, said calmly, "I have no idea what you're talking about, it's of no importance where the dealer sits."
Gabriel rolled his eyes at him. "Just live again, for once, Dean! The world hasn't ended just because bitchface left you." He had a lightly smug smile looking past Dean.
"Stop it, Gabe, it's my life ... " Dean glared at him and frowned.
"And I'm your friend and worried about you ... " the other man replied.
Balthazar and Jo had stopped kissing and while Balthazar took his cards, Jo was a little more curious. "What's wrong?" she asked, but just got a "None of your business" from Dean to which she just shrugged.
There was movement behind Dean and then he could feel someone standing behind him. He turned his head to find the singer at his side. He turned to the other side to find that Eric had gone to the fridge.
"Poker?" the singer asked.
"Yeah. Wanna join in, Lu? We haven't started yet." Balthazar asked. Dean looked up at the singer, wondering what his real name was, and wishing he wouldn't be standing so close.
"Sure, why not?" he pulled out the chair next to Dean and sat down. Dean took a deep breath and dealt the singer some cards as well – he didn't need to play it cool, he didn't have his eyes fixed on his hands, he wasn't glancing at "Lucifer's" fingers, and he sure as Hell (oh fuck this band and all this Antichrist shit!) didn't try take in all the features of the singer's face, when he was done dealing him cards.
Eric put a beer in front of his band mate and went back to the couch, without any affectionate gestures, not that it would have been any of Dean's business to notice anyway.
"So, forgive - "
"And what- " Dean and "Lucifer" started their sentences simultaneously, but the singer smiled politely and gestured for Dean to continue.
"Well, uh ... forgive my curiosity, but I haven't noticed anything, well ... Satanist ... in your bands room or in your backstage attitudes ... and well, the lyrics were, well ... rather harmless ... so why all this Devil stuff?"
Balthazar chuckled, and Gabriel smiled, contend that his friend actually talked to someone else but him now. Jo had wandered off, too little interested in poker.
"Well ... What can I say ..." the singer answered and then made a gesture pointing at his three band mates, "it's their fault ... and well, my parents are to blame as well ..."
"How?" Dean wanted to know.
"His name actually IS Lucifer," Balthazar answered.
"No, it's not ... it's only my middle name, okay? Bad enough as it is ..." he looked straight at Dean. "you should see people's faces when I fill out forms that ask for my middle name ..."
"Oh, come on Lu, it's not that bad ... you're unique." Eric offered.
Lu shrugged and smiled at Dean. "See, hard to get by these idjits ... when we were choosing our band name they couldn't be kept from making it anything to do with my name", he rolled his eyes and laughed.
"And you just don't see any Satan stuff round here because he's got it all covered beneath his clothes", Eric added.
"Ugh, Eric, really ... T-M-I! How often do I need to tell you I don't wanna know?" Crowley complained.
"I meant his tats! Like I'd talk about his mighty –"
"Guys, stop it, now! We've got guests!" Lucifer cut Eric off. Dean felt a pang and cursed himself for that. What the holy fudge was wrong with him? He'd seen this guy for the first time tonight and already he was behaving like a sheepish little school girl with a crush. Balthazar and Gabriel were laughing very much amused and Castiel was snickering. Eric and Crowley both smugly grinned, the girls were mostly minding their own business.
"How did you end up with this bunch of children?" Dean asked grinning broadly, thus telling Lucifer he didn't mean it any negatively.
Lucifer shrugged. "Your company doesn't seem that much better," he said winking.
"So true," Dean chuckled.
A/N - In case anyone was wondering, I casted Michael Fassbender as Samael/Eric