He was strapped down because they wanted to first give his Grace the chance to stretch itself instead of straining it. And he was also very violent.

At regular intervals a human would come in and silently tend his few wounds, as well as dab his vessel with water blessed by Raphael that strengthened his vessel's ability to contain him.

Although it wasn't as if he was currently powerful enough to damage it, anyway.

The human was his only visitor (as whenever Lucifer visited Michael roared himself into a mindless battle for freedom and only ended up making them worry that he would hurt himself trying to use his grace when it so obviously was not there).

He was tall, gentle, wrapped in the soft dull blue silks that shielded the majority of his soul from Michael so that he would not be able to tempt or coerce the boy. After all, he had taken Lucifer's place as the Devil, even if the world - demons included - thought them to be swapped.

He had soft-appearing hair that could only be seen when he bent over Michael and it fell out from behind the hood. it was brown, and long, and Michael wanted to tug on it. He also wanted to make the boy cry or run away.

The seals on the robes could only hid so much. And Michael was angry and hurt and cruel.

"So you were addicted, then?" He couldn't tell what to, but did it matter, in the end?

It was always the same with humans.

The boy almost dropped the bowl in his surprise. Horrified, he took a step back.

Michael grinned, "Did you make a lot of mistakes that you regret? You're probably regretting this, hmm?"

The human suddenly relaxed, and after hesitating another moment, resumed. It annoyed Michael immensely, that he could be ignored. He hissed, and suddenly manages to slide one of his hands out and knocks the bowl out of the boy's hand.

"Quim, do not ignore me." He snarls, grasping one of the boy's wrists.

The human's breath catches, but he doesn't fight Michael, which really just pisses Michael off more. He squeezes.

Suddenly Lucifer appears at the doorway.

"Michael, release him." He says, not without anger.

"Oh, there you are, Lucy, I was beginning to think you were ignoring me. You know how I don't like that."

Lucifer strides over, "Michael, do not take out your anger on him."

The human gives a little gasp as Michael squeezes. "of course not, brother."

"Michael." And Lucifer sounds furious, and Michael feels sick and broken because Lucifer is angry at him for threatening a human, and when did his priorities switch so drastically. And he should be happy but it's all too late.

"No, I'm fine." The human grunts as Lucifer narrows his eyes at Michael, and really, that just infuriates him further.

He squeezes until they hear a crack, and Sam gasps. He releases the human then, And the room crackles with Lucifer's energy as the boy leaves running, clutching his arm to his chest.

He's grinning up until the point he realizes nothing happened. He deflates, and at that moment Lucifer must realize why because the energy levels suddenly drop back down to normal. He glares at the wall, ignoring the almost pitying look Lucifer sends his way. "If your grace could be jumpstarted by more Grace, Michael, you would already be back to full power." He says gently. Michael sneers.

Lucifer sighs, then becomes serious. "Don't harm him, Michael, he's the only person willing to do this for you."

Michael laughs, "Why is that, brother? Does he like to take care of strays that were hit by buses? Or am I just special?"

As Lucifer leaves he hears a soft, sad, "For both your sakes I hope you never find out."

The door closed as Michael broke into laughter.