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Raguel braced himself as he saw an advancing Lucifer hold his blade above his head.
You have failed, Raguel...he thought darkly to himself.
But the blade never came down.
Raguel opened a wary eye to see Lucifer holding the golden steel just inches from him. The Devil wasn't looking at him though, he was looking towards the elevator doors. He had miraculously survived by some distraction that had caught his brother's eye.
Raguel didn't hesitate for a moment.
He kicked out with his uninjured leg, aiming for Lucifer's gash on his thigh.
Lucifer shouted in pain as he fell back, the blade dropped from his hands and skittered to a stop across the suite.
"Lucifer!" Raguel heard the voice of a female. He turned to see a human woman with long blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He recognized her as Chloe Decker based on his observations. She ran to her brother's side. Then, his eyes settled upon the demon beside her.
The Archangel felt himself recoil at Hell's spawn. She was clad in leather gear, and was clearly one of Lucifer's lapdogs.
Her blazing, evil eyes met with his, then looked at the celestial blade across the room.
She bolted for it.
Raguel just watched, waiting, as she picked the blade up and immediately dropped it. Her hand sizzled, like it was burning.
"Ah!" she cried out, holding her arm. Her was face a mixture of bewilderment, pain, and rage.
Raguel looked at Detective Decker. She was human, a mortal. Though Lucifer was very candid in his openess to reveal his identity to her, Raguel was not. He snapped his fingers, and Chloe disappeared.
"Where is she!?" Lucifer looked around for her with wild eyes, "What did you do to her!?"
"Unlike you, Lucifer," Raguel snarled, "I intend to keep my identity and reputation intact. Detective Decker is safe...for now."
Lucifer stood, expression a picture of anger. Mazikeen stood beside him, her burned and bleeding. Amenadiel was a little to the side, also getting to his feet.
"The odds are against you, brother," Amenadiel stated, "we will defeat you easily."
Raguel laughed a mocking laugh, "You forgot, dear Amenadiel, that Archangels are the finest warriors of Heaven," his eyes glowed blue with power, he was itching for a fight, "you can try."
The celestial blade was laying across the suite, far from Amenadiel. Lucifer was so focused in anger at Raguel, that he wasn't even paying attention to it. Mazikeen, a demon, could not touch the angelic metal. It was against her nature, not meant for her to carry it.
Maze struck first. She lashed out with a demon blade, but Raguel easily sidestepped and pushed to the ground. Mazikeen growled as she recovered her footing and attacked again, this time with Lucifer. Raguel ducked the demon blade once more, and balled his fist. He latched onto Maze's arm, holding her in place, while delivering a strong punch to Lucifer's slashed thigh. He buckled with pain, as he dropped to a knee. Raguel yanked Maze's arm down with a crack. She fell at his feet.
Raguel felt Amenadiel's punch coming before it hit. He easily blocked it and sidestepped, kicking his brother in the stomach with a strong boot. Amenadiel went falling back.
Mazikeen swiped with her foot, and it managed to make Raguel falter. As he was off balance, Maze kicked upwards and knocked him in the chest.
Amenadiel lunged and pinned Raguel to the ground. Though, he was no match for the Archangel's strength and power. He easily kicked Amenadiel away, and the former angel went flying behind the bar. Glass shattered and liquor spilled on his fall.
Maze threw herself at Raguel, who was advancing towards Lucifer, in an effort to protect him from the vengeful archangel. He was irritated by the demon, like she was a pesky fly buzzing around at his inconvenience. Raguel was tired of it.
Amenadiel had not appeared from behind the bar. When Mazikeen jumped at him, he closed a strong hand around her throat. Her eyes went wide with shock and slight panic, as he held her above the ground. Her feet could not reach the floor. His grip was just tight enough to hurt, but not kill.
Lucifer looked up from his crouched position, eyes wide, "No!"
"You really care so much for your pet, Lucifer?" Raguel scoffed, "pathetic."
"Do not hurt her," Lucifer growled, "You preach justice. Is this it?"
Raguel thought for a moment on Lucifer's words. He sighed, as Mazikeen turned blue, clawing at his hand. Lucifer dared not move, not wanting to provoke Raguel any further. He looked at his oldest friend with worry.
"Please, Raguel," Lucifer gulped, "release her."
Her eyes slowly closed as she fell unconscious. He released her, and her listless body fell at his feet.
Both Amenadiel and Mazikeen were out of the fight.
Raguel approached Lucifer victoriously. His stride reflected triumph and success.
He towered over the Devil.
"My, my, Lucifer. Who knew you would be so easy to defeat?" Raguel laughed, "Why, if I had known the Devil went soft, it wouldn't have been an Archangel that killed you-"
Raguel stopped his sentence because the edge of a knife was pressed against his throat. During his gloating, Lucifer struck like a viper. He launched himself to his feet, used one arm to restrain Raguel, and the other to hold the golden steel of the celestial blade against his windpiper.
"One more word, Raguel," Lucifer breathed sinisterly, "and I will kill you."
Raguel gulped, but did not speak a word. Lucifer was pressing the razor sharp blade so far against his skin, that a small trickle of blood started to trickle down his neck.
Lucifer smiled malevolently, eyes glowing red, "Is that fear I see in your eyes, dear brother? As I said before, I'm the King of Hell. My expertise is in torture. Yet, you think you can so brazenly challenge me? Well, you've mistaken!"
Amenadiel struggled to stand up from behind the bar. He appeared woozy, and there was a small cut on his forehead. He looked at the sight before him and his eyes widened.
"Lucifer, stop!"
"Amenadiel, it's what he deserves!" Lucifer shouted back scornfully.
Raguel was eyeing the deadly blade with fear, knowing his long life could end any minute.
"He is your brother!"
"Yet, he has shown me as much love as our Father has!" Lucifer growled in return, "Our family doesn't give a damn about me, Amenadiel, so I had to create one for myself."
"I understand, Lucifer," Amenadiel tried to act calmly, "and do you think Detective Decker would approve of this? Would she want you to kill a man?"
"He's no man, Amenadiel," Lucifer's temper flared, "He's an Archangel, but he seems more of the Devil to me than I am."
"Raguel's actions, however wrong they are, emanate from scorn and vengenace, Lucifer. This is exactly how he sees you, as some cold-blooded killer. No wonder he wanted to strike you down, because it looks as if you haven't changed after all those millenia."
Lucifer looked up, "I'm no killer, Amenadiel, I only punish those who deserve it."
"Then show him, Lucifer," Amenadiel pleaded, "show me. Prove that you are not a killer. You have done good here, Lucy, and I don't tell you that enough. I'm proud of your change and your accomplishments. So, let him go. Show that you've changed."
Lucifer looked down at his vulnerable brother, Raguel. The Archangel's eyes were filled with fear...of Lucifer. At one point of his long life, he might have relished in that scared look. Now, it made him seem...like a monster.
And he was no monster. Sure he was the Devil, but he was not bad. He was good. He could change, he could be loved, he could be useful.
Lucifer released Raguel.
The Archangel fell to his feet, backing away from Lucifer with fear.
"You-you let me go," Raguel seemed to say it in disbelief.
"Yes," Lucifer said sternly, "Go, before I change my mind."
"Go!?" Raguel scoffed.
"Raguel," Amenadiel stood beside Lucifer, "your work here is done. You say you seek justice, but no longer. If Father were to know of your actions here, then He would be very unhappy with your work."
"Me? Lucifer nearly killed me!"
"As if you didn't nearly kill him? Or me? Or Mazikeen? Or Detective Decker? Or Detective Espinoza?"
Raguel looked to the floor, with no response.
"You haven't created justice," Lucifer huffed, "you've only sparked chaos."
"Lucifer, I cannot just let you go for what you did."
"I spent millenia in Hell, Raguel! What more do you ask of me!?"
"Not just that...what you did to me. You tricked me into thinking I was saving Heaven, when really you roped me in to destroy it."
"And for that," Lucifer exhaled deeply, the words almost too painful to say, "I am sorry, brother."
Raguel looked up at Lucifer in disbelief.
"What?"
"Oh, I'm not saying it again," Lucifer raised a brow, "there. You've tortured me, you nearly killed me, our brother, and my friends, and I apologized. Are we even now? Is that just and fair?"
Raguel stood. Angels were stubborn creatures, who never forgot, yet Lucifer apologized. Satan himself apologized to him.
And after all these long, long years, Raguel was done being angry.
Horror washed over him. He had hurt people, nearly killed them because he was so blinded by his mission for justice and revenge. He was the Angel of Justice and Fairness, yet nothing here served his overall purpose.
"Yes," Raguel nodded sadly, "I have done enough damage here already. I must go."
"Good," Amenadiel nodded, "see to it that you correct your mistakes, Raguel. Lucifer and I will clean the mess you've made. Go to Father, tell him of your actions."
Raguel hung his head and nodded, "Thank you, Amenadiel…."
He passed by the Devil.
"Lucifer," he nodded his head in goodbye.
Lucifer didn't so much as raise a finger in farewell.
Raguel limped to the corner of the penthouse suite, by the window. He surveyed his damage again, and sighed in regret.
"It is my turn to apologize for my actions. I will surrender myself inside the Silver City for the turmoil I've caused and the people I've hurt. Perhaps it is my time to reassess my values."
"Your time?" Lucifer asked.
Raguel smiled, nodding, "You have changed, Lucifer, but you have not grown soft. In fact, you are stronger now than I've ever seen you. I will be sure our Father knows that as well."
With a snap of his fingers, Raguel, the Archangel, the Angel of Justice, disappeared.
That left Amenadiel and Lucifer alone in the penthouse.
Lucifer, exhausted, stumbled to the couch and leaned against it.
Amenadiel sighed, "We're not finished yet. Time to clean this up, Lucifer, you have some explaining to do."
"Chloe!" Lucifer's eyes widened.
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