Chapter 14

There were fireworks on the sky, sound filled the air as flares of light shot one by one from a box on the ground, moving upwards to the dark colored sky. A young man leaned on a car, laughing as he saw his little brother extend his hands up in an attempt to catch the gleams that fell from the explosions above. He shook his head and moved forward, a match on his hands, and knelt to light another set, but his movements suddenly halted. There was a frown marring his features as he looked around, silence slowly engulfing the previous noises. He looked over his shoulder and saw him.

Michael stepped forward. "There's not need to be afraid of me."

The young man gave a measured glance at his surroundings, his eyes locked on the figure of his brother. His eyes shining with understanding as a small, sad, smile formed on his lips.

"I died."

It was not a question, a simple statement. There wasn't the usual fear, sadness and anger some soul possessed, nor there was a calm acceptance either. The young man was simply full of guilt.

It didn't last, however, his gaze only stayed down for a second before he looked upwards with fierceness, his eyes lit with fire; determination clear on his posture. "Sam─ Where is he? I- I tried…"

"He is alive, if that's what you're asking."

He sighed, relief sagging his shoulders as it took the weight of responsibility away; one hand covered his mouth and he laughed, head throwing back. His soul shone brightly with love. "Yeah, he's too stubborn to die."

He did not know about that, what little he knew about Sam was his suicide attempt and the fondness Lucifer had towards him. But he did not mention that. There was something in this human telling him he would try to escape from and go back to Earth if he did. It also told him he could do it.

"I'm Dean, by the way," the human said with new-found lightness, "You?"

"My name is Michael."

Dean's eyes widened. "As in The Michael? Whoa. I suspected that you were an angel, you reek holiness though you lack some of the Hallmark touches, but, well, you're the one of the really few angels I know about, so that means you must be a pretty huge deal."

Michael tried to smother the pleased smile that wanted to spread. Humans sometimes amused him.

Dean leaned once again against the car. They were both alone in the road now. "So what brings the Michael to my little piece of Heaven… because this is Heaven, right?"

"Yes, it is. I just wanted to talk with you."

"Me?" he snorted. "Is this some kind of poll angels do to all inhabitants of Heaven? You want me to suggest stuff? Well, free wi-fi would come very handy, to tell the truth."

Michael huffed softly. "I merely wanted a human neutral perspective about something. I know your brother that's the reason I chose you."

Dean tensed, some wariness crept in his eyes. "How do you know my brother? You told me he was alive."

"He is. We know each other because of my brother. They're in what you humans refer as a romantic relationship at the moment."

"Hold on, hold on. Are you saying my little brother, Sammy, is dating an angel?"

"An archangel."

Michael did smile this time at the expression Dean was wearing. "And what's the friggin difference?"

"An archangel holds more power. It's older, too. The four of us were the ones watching Creation unfold."

Dean's mouth opened and closed several times. "Wait. How did my brother ended with one? As far as I know he doesn't like dating older people. And being with an archangel sound far worse than any cradle robber that I've heard. So much that isn't even funny."

Michael frowned. He didn't understood this human's worries. "I don't think my brother classifies as an older person. We're not humans."

"Oh, and that's so much better." He snorted. "Wait, did you say 'brother'?"

He had to admit the high pitch in his voice at the end of the sentence was indeed very amusing.

Dean took a deep breath when Michael nodded.

"Okay. I always knew he didn't care about gender, and considered some men attractive, but everyone can know when others are hot. You're even kind of hot, I guess. I mean, I just never knew he was into men. This explains so much."

"My brother is not a man. Angels don't possess a gender. My brother is simply using a male visage at the moment."

"Feathers, you're not helping. I'm one step away from hyperventilating. Too much information. Slow down a bit."

Michael sincerely couldn't understand the problem. Perhaps it was a human trait. They weren't made to process as easily as angels. "What bothers you?"

Dean pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don't care if my brother likes angel dick. It's just too much information."

Perhaps he should reassure him?

"If it makes you feel better, they haven't had sex yet."

He looked at him between his fingers.

"Do I want to know how you know that?"

"Our real voices can shatter your eardrums so, and from what I can recall from my younger brother who is on Earth, changing the wavelength of the sound that escaped him while in the middle of the intercourse was the only way to not harm humans. Although it still was in one we, angels, could discern."

Dean blinked a couple times away from him before sighing. "I don't think I needed to know you all angels always know when the other is having sex, but ─ okay, before we go into another tangent and I end traumatized for life, tell me what did you want to talk about."

Nodding, Michael leaned against the car, as to ease some of the tension in Dean with the human gesture. "I want to make changes in Heaven. I've already started with the angels, but I wanted to know a human's perspective of this, too."

"So this visit really is for a poll. Awesome." Dean chuckled. "Sorry, Feathers. I haven't even realized that I was in Heaven until you came. I don't know how long I've been here. It felt like being in a dream. Though I guess now that I've 'woken up' I can go and visit mom."

"You can't."

Dean looked up with a speed that surprised Michael. "What?"

"In order to maintain the status quo among souls, each one of you has a personalized Heaven for you to revive your fondest memories. That way you can live in peace without feeling any negative emotions."

"That's some Matrix crap, right here. We just get to revive our greatest hits for eternity? What comes next, you'll tell me that you use us as battery or something."

"Souls do possess energy, but we use it to supply the cycle of life and reincarnation. Is not for our own use, but for your species."

"Holy shit. This is Matrix. So, wait. I'll never see my mom, then?"

Michael looked away from him and waved a hand instead of answering, his surroundings turning into the living room of a house. Dean's clothes changed and they no longer were leaning against a car. Michael stood at the side while Dean looked around from his position in his seat. "I remember this. This is-"

A woman appeared and Michael watched how Dean's previous behavior softened, his soul lit with and softened as he leaned into his mother's touch. She then left and Dean stared into the plate in front of him. "This is a memory; she's not my mom, right?"

"Yes."

Dean touched the sandwich with a finger, as if he were appreciating the texture of it. "You wanted to know my perspective about Heaven, right? Well, it sucks." He looked up at him, determination making him tremble. "Feeding us memories and taking our choice away so we won't be able to say anything back. This is a jail where you practically drug us so we'll be the perfect, placid batteries you want. This ain't Heaven!"

Michael tilted his head. "What you feel now is anger, and what you felt when you saw your mother was sadness and grief. Before, you wouldn't have felt this."

"I don't care!" Dean stood up and started walking towards him, a finger pointed at his chest. "If you prefer to only feel what you want then bravo! But we humans are masochist like that, we've grown used to the pain. And I want it back."

Michael thought about it. "What about the ones that do prefer this type of Heaven? The souls that don't possess a family like you and only want to revive their favorite memories? Will you take that choice away from them?"

Dean moved even closer, until they were only inches apart and he was able to appreciate the freckles that dusted his cheeks. He had a nice color of eyes, Michael realized. A green that reminded of Eden. His jaw was tense. Michael noticed how hard he was restraining himself from yelling.

"But did you gave them the choice in the first place?" he whispered between clenched teeth.

"Do you really wish to renounce to this peace just so you can feel freedom?"

He let out a dry chuckle as he backed away. "You can take your peace and shove it up your lily-white ass, Feathers. I'll take the grief and sadness over this so called 'peace' any time."

Michael smiled. "Raphael wondered why I would go here to listen what a human had to say. I'm glad I didn't obey what she said."

That seemed to make Dean look at him at the eye again.

"So you're gonna stop the Matrix thing you've on?"

"I don't know what this Matrix is, but I'll take your words into consideration. I find myself dealing with other problems that take priority, but I'll see what I can do, Dean."

"Other problems? If you've got some other bigger stuff going on, why come to my little ol' piece of Heaven?"

Pursing his lips, Michael looked to the side. "This meeting was something I wanted to have for some time now. Although I can't stop working, I still wished to take what you call... a 'break'."

Dean raised an eyebrow, as he fidgeted on his spot. "Something I can help you with?"

He was ready to shook his head, but stopped his action and took into account Dean's words. He gave him some insight he hadn't thought before. Perhaps it could help him with his current problem. He had already lived long time without relying on others. If Lucifer could give his trust to a human, maybe he could, too. It was a time to change.

He slowly nodded. "There has been an increase in human's souls, lately. Unlike you, these ones don't deserve to be here. They came from Hell. I took them in an attempt to give them a second opportunity. However, they're tainted and unable to mend in Heaven without being burnt because of the nature of the place they were retrieved. They could serve as energy but the probability of tainting the other souls is high. It could work if they're placed in the reincarnation cycle, but…"

Michael didn't know how to explain to a human about the value of a soul's energy and how they work in the bigger scale of existence without going into the smallest details about the knowledge of life and Creation, information every angel possessed since their creation.

Running a hand through his hair, Dean shrugged. "I dunno, man. They're tainted, right? Why don't just clean them?"

Michael blinked at the simplicity of Dean's statement. He smiled, a soft laugh leaving his lips. "Perhaps you're right," he said. It was something that could prove impossible without something to purify them. But Michael was the oldest of the archangels. He might not be the brightest, like Lucifer, but he was the purest. If someone could, it would be him. "Thank you, Dean."

"Sure thing. And not to take advantage or anything, but could I return to where I was before? I love mom and all, but I think I'll prefer to be with Sam, for now."

Michael nodded, his hand moving to make a small wave but he was stopped by Dean's hand catching his wrist. He glanced at him curiously, realizing that Dean's attention was not on him, but his mother. She seemed to have finished some kind of conversation and was leaning on the counter, looking away as she sniffed. Dean let his wrist go and looked briefly over his shoulder. "One moment," he said, before going to hug his mother and giving her reassurances even when he knew she was nothing but a memory.

Michael waited for him to finish before he waved his hand.

When Sam woke up he didn't notice anything strange at first. He was warm under the sheets; his body, relaxed. Lucifer was not there but he had said the day before that he had a lot work to do. Normally, when that happens he cooked breakfast for him the next day so Sam was kind of excited for that. It was Tuesday, his shift started later than usual, after all. He could relax and stay in bed as long as he wanted.

He was thinking about how everything had returned to normal and how he wanted to enjoy this moment of pure happy laziness, even if it was cold outside. Not that it was a problem. Yesterday he put the A/C on its warmer temperature. Now he was kind of regretting doing that because without Lucifer to share the bed, he was sweating. His body feeling too warm for his liking.

He was shrugging the sheets off of his upper body and shifted on the bed, trying to go into his good side as to not let his scar face the bed, when he felt it. His eyes shot open and he sat up so fast it was a wonder he didn't get dizzy. He halted every movement for a second before he threw the sheets away from his and looked at his sweatpants. His hand slowly going to the top of his pants to lift the cloth and peer inside.

He had an erection.

Sam didn't know what to feel about it so, in the same way he lifted the cloth, he placed the pants in their normal position, moving his hands away.

Well, crap.

He stared at the wall for a long moment before his eyes went back to his crotch. He palmed his half hard erection, more out of curiosity than anything else, with the precision a doctor had on a surgery. He hasn't had one in years. Literally, years. He had wanted one from the moment he had kissed Lucifer (He doesn't count their deal as their first kiss because Lucifer was the one that kissed him), but now that he had a real one, he realized how uncomfortable it felt. He didn't know what to do with it.

Until he did.

Sam stood quickly, almost failing a step as he went to the bathroom and closed the door using the lock. He felt as if his walls were watching him, waiting to see the next thing he was going to do. He shouldn't feel like that inside his apartment, but somehow, he did. Without turning on the light, Sam sat on the toilet to look better at his erection in the dark. The nervousness only grew with each passing second.

Morning wood; caused by the warm atmosphere inside his room, most likely.

Not that it mattered the cause. He wanted to do this. He needed to. Or that was what he repeated himself as he looked at the curious form of his dick. Was his dick always like that when he was hard? He didn't remember that curious arc and the weird color it now had.

He poked at the head just because it looked funny.

Time to work, he thought, letting out a breath as he touched the length, inspecting the weight and size. When he realized what he was doing, he stopped. Taking a deep breath that was meant to get him going into the real business, he nodded.

Now, how he masturbated before?

He stroked the length a few times; it didn't feel good but it eased the pressure he was starting to feel somehow. Still. It felt too dry. Dry?

Sam looked up from his hand before checking his surroundings for some lube or lotion he could use, always careful to check if they had some weirds chemical in them. He settled for one Lisa gave him for his hands after she saw him washing the dishes without gloves, before pouring some onto his right hand. Then going back to his seat, he touched himself again. Now it felt better, but as he gave a few casual strokes, it began to feel too repetitive and not in the way he was sure it felt when he was a teenager just discovering himself.

Leaning back down, Sam closed his eyes, his hand moving lazily as he tried to think in a good fantasy to lose himself into but there was none that came into his mind. He didn't remember this being so hard. Maybe he just needed to start with something small like Lucifer kissing him. Yeah, he liked kissing Lucifer, loved how he sometimes left pecks on his lips while his hand took a hold of the back of his head before leaving open mouthed kisses that were this tad possessive, making him feel as if he couldn't get enough of him. Loved how his teeth grasped the surface of his skin, his hand moving under his shirt to grip his hip tight, pressing him close while his other hand moved up from his neck to his hair, long fingers twining between the long strands. The sounds he made when Sam was the one kissing him. How he closed his eyes tightly, a sharp exhale escaping him whenever Sam bit that spot under in his jaw. How sometimes his hips stuttered and he could feel him hard against him, fighting to keep the control while Sam only wanted to go down on his knees and nip his chest him until Lucifer's grip on his hair tightened, just as to show him how pleasurable it would be as his mouth went lower. He wanted to know how he would sound with Sam's respiration against the fine pubic hair near his navel, his hand squeezing him once before his tongue finally went down to lick—Yeah, no.

Leaving a sigh to escape pass his lips, Sam let his dick go. Still hard, now with some cream on it, but without knowing what to do with it. It hurt a little. The skin more sensible than before, but Sam was utterly bored. Didn't have it on him to continue.

"I'm fucked."

And he was thirsty, too. Well, his pants were in need of some laundry, anyways. Standing up and cleaning some of the hand lotion, he placed his sweatpants in place. Then, Sam left the room and went to his kitchen. He had some orange juice there.

Walking into his living room, he stopped when he noticed his new unnamed Hellhound, still asleep on the small bed Lucifer snapped for him. Next to the purple couch Lucifer always said he loathed but Sam knew he secretly loved.

"Have you gotten bigger?"

"She has," Lucifer said from the middle of the living room where Sam was sure he hadn't been before. "When I got her, she was bigger than my current vessel, I modified her body structure to look as a dog would." A hand moved quickly around his waist and before he could think about it, Lucifer had already left a peck on the corner of his mouth. "However, she's not a dog so her current body is adjusting to the changes…"

Sam swallowed when he saw Lucifer's gaze slowly moving down. "Are you that happy to see me, today?"

"Eh…"

Lucifer arched an eyebrow and stayed silent as he waited for Sam to continue. But Sam couldn't think in any explanation.

"Do you want me to help you fix your little problem? Well, perhaps not so little." Luckily for Sam, Lucifer noticed his embarrassment growing as changed his words into something that would not make Sam punch him. "I can make the blood leave your lower regions."

"Please."

He felt a finger briefly touching his pelvis before he was finally able to relax. He no longer felt that building pressure. His dicks stills felt sticky and sensible, though. And he still wanted to wash himself. But he could ignore it for now.

"Do I want to ask what happened? I haven't heard your voice calling my name so I guess you haven't used me for any fantasies," Lucifer said as he moved away. And Sam had to fight the urge to ask Lucifer if he really would be able to hear him calling his name if he did masturbate using him in a fantasy.

"It's just a morning wood. I did try jerk off but apparently my libido is almost non-existent."

"Well, I would still call that a progress."

"I guess." Sam cleared his throat, wanting nothing more but to change the topic into something that wasn't his previous hard on. He loved Lucifer and really wanted to have sex with him. His psyche wasn't so ready though. "So… what's for breakfast?"

"Yesterday you ate the take out you forgot to eat. And there are leftovers from what you cooked yesterday with your friend. You made me promise to not bring food if there was something in the fridge, remember? If it makes you feel better, I still disagree with the idea by the way."

Sam rolled his eyes. "So leftover it is. Want some?"

Lucifer scrunched his nose almost childishly.

"I'm not going to eat."

"Yeah, I'd have guessed. You're a big prince who only eats the best of the best─"

"Plus your food. Besides, it's not as if I need to eat."

"The implied insult at my food aside, how work went?"

Lucifer snorted. "I like how you want to make it sound as if I just came from some normal human job and not from trying to organize which souls go for each demon to torture."

"You're lucky I'm not eating, right now," Sam said as he put the food inside the microwave. "Besides, a guy can dream, right? Someday maybe you would do some office work for a change."

"I'm hurt, Sam. Why try to make me more human? I'm just an archangel, standing in front of a guy, asking him to love him. With all and his ruling Hell and damning-souls side. It's not much."

Sam slowly turned towards Lucifer. "First, you're not standing in front of me. Second, stop quoting romantic movies."

"You love it."

"Keep telling yourself that," was on the tip of his tongue but he was stopped by a soft growl. Looking down, he saw the black dog whom, unlike yesterday, now seemed to be able to reach his knees. She sat at Lucifer's side, puffing her chest as if to intimidate others. It was a funny sight.

"Hello, nameless."

"Don't call her that."

"Well, you haven't chosen a name for her."

Sam sighed as he took his food out. "I still can't believe she's a Hellhound. When Rufus told me about them, he mentioned, well, something not as cute."

The dog growled as if she understood what Sam said. She probably had. Lucifer mentioned they were intelligent beings. And although it would follow only Lucifer's orders (as he was the one whom she had chosen as master), it would still protect Sam as it was his scent the one she sniffed first. Luckily, Lucifer had told her to follow Sam's orders as if they were his own. The Hellhound didn't seem so happy about that. So in a rebellious act, she had chosen to ignore Sam whenever she could. Not deigning him as a suitable master. So unless Sam ordered her to be by his side, she wouldn't do so. Part of him didn't want to order her much as he had already categorized her as a sentient, rational being in his mind.

So yeah, Sam supposed they would make a strange pair. But Lucifer was sure she would make great partner as it was in her nature to protect him.

"I think they've their own twisted beauty. It's not my fault humans can't see it."

"You called that monster in Aliens cute, so I really don't wish to know how one Hellhound really looks for you to call it beauty. Though we're together so I don't know what that says about me."

"That I've great taste, of course. Perhaps the only one in my family that does, considering they all wear the same black suits whenever they're in vessels."

Sam wisely didn't mention that most of the time he only wore white. Though, he had to admit his curiosity perked at the mention of Lucifer's family. He had mentioned that a couple weeks ago he talked with Raphael when he had wanted to talk with Michael.

"By the way, how are they? Have you talked with Michael since…?"

Lucifer sighed. "No. Raphael keeps interceding my calls."

He frowned, lips turning into a thin line as the silence stretched. The sounds only coming from the fork against his plate.

"It does sound suspicious. Michael didn't seem like the type to do that."

"Indeed… Michael's must be really weak if he had transferred all his prayers to Raphael. That or his attention was needed in something else."

Sam's eyes widened as he remembered Lucifer once telling him about the quantity of prayers Michael received, his and God's. "Hang on. All of them?"

"Yes. Including her own if I had to guess. And Raphael is very well-known, too. Her prayers don't compare to Michael's but they're still a large amount. It's hard to convince Michael to delegate some of his 'duty', almost impossible. However, somehow Raphael managed to do so."

Sam placed his fork next to his plate and gave all his attention to Lucifer. He didn't know how to reassure him, this was way over his pay grade, but he had to try.

"Do you've any idea what it must be causing this?"

Lucifer shook his head. "The souls should have given Michael a great amount of power. They're not pure and it'd be hard to work with them, but they're still energy."

Sam tilted his head ─a gesture he had picked from Lucifer. "Energy?"

"Yes, a human's soul can be used as a form of power."

"Do I want to know what do you use it for? Wait, you always say that you like being close to me because of my soul. Do I reek energy or something?"

"Don't worry. Even if your soul does shed some energy, it's nothing that will kill you. That small quantity merely helps the life's cycle to turn into something more beneficial."

"Like the conversion of mass's law? The energy of a soul it isn't destroyed, just transformed? This case, into more energy?"

Lucifer smiled. "Yes, you could say that. A soul is self-sustaining so Heaven uses it to create the Heaven of each soul and to keep the universe working. Dad did that before, but he's gone so they had to get creative."

"Huh. And what do you use the energy for?"

"It's… complicated. Before, when the souls twisted themselves into demons, they longed to feel the purity of a soul while at the same time loathed the presence of something purer than them. They wanted to turn the new souls that went to Hell into demons, or just make them suffer. Demons evolved, got smarter. Somehow along the way, they realized they could become stronger with the power of souls. Now, the one that has more of that energy is more powerful and rises in rank."

Sam blinked and glanced down. Moments like those were the ones where reality smacked Sam in the face to tell him that, yes, you're dating that Lucifer. He was the one that created the first demon. The one that started this whole ordeal just because he wasn't God's favorite anymore. Yeah, sure, Sam knew that there was more in that. Lucifer wasn't that simple, but it was still basically that.

Sam looked up and met Lucifer's patient eyes. When he saw he had his attention again, Lucifer continued, "Although because I, as an archangel, still have to follow some kind of balance, my demons can't just take a human's soul without its consent. From that, Hell separates into branches. Some demons wish to obtain purer souls than Hell so they make deals even if they've to wait the usual ten years. Others prefer to obtain its power by torturing the soul and, like a craftsman, they work until they reach its core. It's harder, but if you're good you can obtain it without damaging it… You could almost say it's a lost art."

"And I don't think I want to eat anymore," Sam said, pushing his plate away. He looked at the half eaten food in disgust… He really didn't want to ask, but had to. "Do you enjoy torturing?"

Lucifer had never lied to him, but that moment Sam thought he looked almost as if he wanted to. He was almost surprised when he shrugged and with his head held high, he said, "It relaxes me."

Sam's hands covered his face as he let out a groan. He couldn't say he didn't understand in some weird twisted way, after all, the scars on his skin show how much inflicting pain can relax one person. You never hurt anyone but yourself, a voice said inside his mind. And he knew he was lying because he hurt others, perhaps not directly, but he still did. It still disgusted him, though. That may be the difference. Sam understood it was wrong.

Taking a deep breath, Sam pulled his hands away, on the table as to use them for support as he leaned forward to kiss Lucifer. The angel was surprised at first, but not for long as Sam continued the kiss, turning it into something deeper. And there. As always, Sam could feel the raw power that still made his tongue tingle, the ozone which took his breath away and the lingering dark feeling of death, blood and destruction. He had recoiled the first time they kissed like this, but he'd got used to it, grew to love it even. It still made the fine hairs of his skin stand up, though.

He backed away, slowly, before nodding once.

"Not that I complain, but that was…?"

"Just checking."

"Checking?"

Sam sighed as he returned to his seat and slumped on the table. "Yeah, it seems I really love you. Even with all and your ruling Hell and damning-souls side"

There was a silence. And then, "Aw, Sam. You just now the right words to make an archangel a blushing mess."

Sam glanced up, just out of curiosity. Lucifer was not flushing, neither seemed flustered. But he did look incredibly pleased. His eyes seemed to be glowing and his skin had something otherworldly in a way that made him look more of what he thought an angel would look like.

Returning his head to the table with a thump, Sam tried to change the topic. "So Michael has all those extra souls that once belonged to Hell, right?"

"Yes, he chose the less rotten ones, that bastard."

"Ignoring how you're talking about human as if they were fruits, in your opinion Michael should have more power or something, right?"

"You could say that. He's an angel, too. One that goes by the rules so he's all for maintaining the balance. So, the souls would not be for him. Maybe he could use them as how you humans use fertilizer in order to help grow plants. The manure are the souls and the plant is the universe."

"I think I'll veto you from using analogies from now on in any topic that relates to humanity."

Lucifer frowned, looking at Sam as he just gave him a time-out. "I was worse."

"I bet." Sam rolled his eyes. "Though there's something I don't understand. Hasn't Michael told you that he wanted to change things and protect humans?"

"Yes…?"

"Well, if he wanted to change things then why would he use the power of the souls? I thought he wanted to put them in Heaven so they'd be there."

"That sounds something only a human could think of. Besides, it'd be almost impossible to cleanse those souls until they were pure enough for Heaven to not damage…"

Lucifer blinked slowly, not looking at Sam as he thought.

"How impossible?" Sam asked when Lucifer stayed silent for a long seconds.

He almost jumped when Lucifer said, "Oh, Hell," aloud. Sam had never heard him cursing before, so it really came as a surprise. He looked up at him. "That was why Raphael told me that the souls were being protected. Michael was protecting them."

"So you're okay now?"

"Yeah, I guess. We talked. He got me a dog. He returned to work but was back for breakfast. We got a nice breakfast moment until he got a sudden epiphany of his family and then flew to… call them."

Lucifer actually stood up, grabbed some herbs and said he needed to retrieve some other materials to summon an archangel and something stronger than holy oil to keep them in place long enough for them to have an actual conversation. And then he flew. But details.

Sam was worried, though; Lucifer even forgot to say goodbye.

"Wait, he got you a dog?"

Sam blinked down at Lisa. The bar was almost empty and they had enough free time to chat. "Uh, yeah. She's black and even if she looks inoffensive enough, apparently can protect you very well."

"That's sweet. What's her name?"

Resisting the urge to turn and glance at the empty space near the corner of the bar, which was the place where his new Hellhounds was (because apparently, Hellhounds can turn invisible), Sam answered with an "I don't have one yet."

Because what name could one give a Hellhound that wasn't cliché?

"So, you're almost living together, have a pet and have their own Hallmark moments? I'm afraid to tell you, Sam, but you're married. You only need the kids and you're done," she said before going to the back of the bar to retrieve some bottles.

Luckily, she didn't know that, apparently, in some strange, twisted way, all demons were Lucifer's children. It was disturbing enough for Sam to ponder in the quietness of his room. Even worse if now those 'children' now thought he was their new 'Lord'.

"If you're ready to make the step, I'm in."

Sam blinked before looking quickly over the glasses he was cleaning towards Lucifer's familiar form. Sam was glad that Lisa wasn't present at the moment. It would have been a weird discussion to have if she saw him appear from thin air.

He was also glad that the place is dark and there was no one sitting near them.

Sam was still going to kill Lucifer. He was already preparing his best bitchface and had some words in the tip of his tongue but his expression stopped him.

"Are you brooding?"

"No, I'm not. I don't brood. I'm simply disgruntled."

He was brooding. There was even certain gloom around him he had only seen in cartoons. He didn't know if Lucifer was doing it voluntarily or if Disney had finally screwed with his brain. Sam wanted to ask what happened but Lisa just came out from the back and was looking at them with some surprise. Lucifer wasn't wearing his white suit so he didn't look out of place. Sam would clap for the small miracles if he could get away without looking suspicious.

Taking a deep breath, Lisa walked towards them with a smile. "Hi! I think we didn't introduced properly before. I'm Lisa, Sam's friend. You're Sam's famous boyfriend, huh?"

Lucifer's gloom seemed to evaporate at hearing someone address him as Sam's boyfriend. It was kind of endearing how his 'Ugh humans' frown that appeared at seeing her turned into a 'Hey, you're not so bad' smile. Maybe it was strange he considered that endearing but Sam couldn't help but also smile.

"Yes, Lisa. Sam mentioned you. I'm Lucifer."

And the smile that formed just froze on his face.

"… Lucifer?"

Lisa glanced at Sam with a questioning eyebrow but Sam didn't know how to answer. He shrugged and chuckled nervously. "His family is really religious."

Apparently, Lucifer liked getting some fun at Sam's expense. He recognized that smirk.

"Completely devoted. We've got the complete set of angels and an absent father to boot. Curiously enough, I'm not the only rebellious one in our family."

"Huh. Well, you must have some really funny stories with that kind of name."

"You could say that. I wouldn't call them funny, but definitely worthy of being written."

Yeah, without a doubt, Sam was sure Lucifer was getting a kick out of this.

He needed to stop him. And if Sam had to be his own scapegoat so be it.

"So! Why are you here so early? There's still an hour left before we close."

Lucifer frowned in a way Sam knew he would take revenge on him for taking his fun away, but still smiled genially at him. "Well, people like to drink their problems away. Never tried it myself, but you work in a bar so I figured why not."

Lisa's smile became strained. She seemed as if she wanted to comment, perhaps lecture Lucifer but stopped herself. Sam knew her problem, but he also knew Lucifer. Something must have gone terribly wrong if he wanted to follow the examples from 'lowly humans'. Also, there was a small part of him that was curious and wanted to see him drunk. So Sam grabbed a bottle of their strongest liquor in the hopes it would affect the archangel.

"So I get that your talk with Michael didn't go well?"

Lucifer gave a glance at the glass before drinking it in one go. Sam gave an apologetic glance at the Lisa when she let a small noise of surprise. She shook her head and left to attend others.

"It was wonderful. Although Michael wasn't the one who came."

Sam pushed another glass towards him. "Raphael?"

He nodded. "I had to trap her so she could give me some answers. And Dad, did she try to escape."

"But it was what we thought?"

He huffed. "Yes. Michael's going to go supernova if he keeps like that. I know this. Raphael knows this. I thought she would try to hide it better, but it was most likely Michael the one who made her swear to not tell me anything because she kept leaving subtle hints all the time. As soon as she realized I knew what was happening, she tried to rope me into some plan to help him. Apparently, if Michael's does it alone, it'll leave him weak for some years, maybe decades. If I help him instead, it'll take less time to complete it and the risks would decrease."

"Why doesn't she do it herself then?"

Humming, Lucifer looked up from his glass to send him a dry smile. "There needs to be an archangel leading Heaven. Though my guess is that she doesn't care too much about it. It's more that she can't help Michael. I'm more attuned to Michael, so I can. Our power is similar. It complements each other."

If Sam didn't know better, he'd have felt a little bit of jealously at their apparent 'fated' closeness. But even if the angels weren't real 'siblings', the four archangels still considered themselves in that regard so Sam had learned how to ignore how Lucifer and Michael were practically made to complement each other.

"What are you going to do then?"

"Well, I'm not going to return there, of that I'm sure. They were the ones that threw me out."

Giving a quick glance at Lisa, who was now attending some guy sitting a couple of seats away from Lucifer, he whispered, "Wait. So she wants you to go back to Heaven?"

"Yes, can you believe it? Me? Help the one that held his sword against my throat until Father cast me out?"

Sam tapped his fingers against the bar as he leaned on it, using both elbows to support his weight. "You're still worried about him though. And don't roll your eyes. I know you, Lucifer. Maybe I can't understand because I haven't lived as long as you, nor have lived the same as you, but it was the fact that it was Michael, the one you considered your closest brother, that probably hurt you more. I know I'd feel betrayed if Dean had done that. But even if he did so, I can't see myself hating him."

Lucifer narrowed his eyes at him.

"You want me to go and help Michael?"

"I only know it's likely that you'll regret it if you don't help him."

"No, I won't. And I won't return there. And if I once do, it'll be to destroy everything there."

That sounded awfully like a temper tantrum. Considering his rebellion also started like one, just in heavenly proportions, well, he could picture Lucifer doing it. That perhaps was the worst thing, knowing Lucifer was capable of doing it. But there was something inside him telling him that Lucifer wouldn't do it. And he had faith in that small part of him. He had faith in Lucifer.

"You won't destroy Heaven."

Lucifer snorted and Sam didn't know how he could make such action look regal

"Why not? It's expected of me, Sam. The devil isn't supposed to be meek and subtle. Rage and resentment all the time, that's in the job description." Lucifer hissed, his grip on the glass so tight it made it crack. "Do you know how many of my brethren have brushed me as a fool after I started saying that my Father was wrong? How many thought I had gone crazy? Gossips and whispers ruled Heaven, spread as easily as air. I had no more choice but remain firm in proving my point while trying to prove wrong to those that gave me their backs when once they did nothing but praise my beauty and look at me in awe. The Father of Lies, the Adversary, Murderer, Thief; those are some of my titles."

The temperature dropped and Lucifer's eyes glowed a scarlet red. Sam noticed how quiet everything went, how people moved slowly, as if time was afraid to disturb Lucifer.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour," he said, not out loud, but in his mind. The deep, cold voice echoing inside of him with the same finality of a beast ready to strike his prey. "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb."

He tilted his head, darkness seeming to engulf him as his eyes roamed on his face, lit with an eerily light as he searched something in him. Sam didn't know what.

"Finished? Because by this point I don't think you could do something to scare me. Even if I sometimes wish not to, it seems that you'll always be just Lucifer to me. The one whom I accidentally made a deal to sell my soul and somehow ended as my boyfriend. You know? That cleaning-freak archangel who likes to read a comic with his own name, quotes cheesy phrases from romantic movies, watches animated movies and likes white suits a little too much. He's not a morning person, or even a person, but still likes to cuddle and turns into goo whenever I massage him. He's an awful cook that can only do breakfasts and likes spicy food because he likes how the flavor tingles his tongue.

"His temper tantrums are legendary, he might have some serious daddy issues, and I could do without him being so possessive and overprotective, but I really like how he still takes his time to cut coupons and walk with me even if he can fly and do so much more with just a snap of his fingers."

And just like that whatever illusion he placed on himself disappeared, his face returned to normal, his eyes once again were icy blue and that feeling of death looming went away.

Sam let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, the pressure being lifted leaving him lightheaded.

"Lucifer, You once told me that you were going to love me for both of us, and I accepted because I admit I don't love me, I'm not even sure I like me but I'm sure as hell that I do love you. So let me be there for you too. I might be a weak human but I can still take some weight. Let me remind you that you're not only the Devil. You're so much more, Lucifer." Gripping his arm tight, Sam pulled him closer, "If you don't go and help your Michael, believe me, you'll regret it."

Lucifer sighed, his shoulders dropping slightly, not enough for someone who didn't know him to notice. He tried to lean closer, erase the inches separating them but Sam placed his hand on his mouth and stopped his attempts with a gentle shove.

"I'm working."

"And I want to kiss you. I really, really want to."

Sam took a quick glance at his surroundings; time seemed to continue as always at the same pace, the guy near them was looking at his phone, Lisa was looking at the A/C next to the door at the back to check the sudden drop in temperature, everyone else seemed distracted. He leaned down and pressed a chaste kiss on Lucifer's mouth before retreating.

"That didn't satisfy me."

"Tough." He rolled his eyes and grabbed the small glass Lucifer almost destroyed. There were many cracks and Sam sincerely hoped Ellen wouldn't notice. "Being honest, I met Michael only once, he seemed too intense ans serious for my liking but I did notice he was worried about about. He did care about you. Heck, he did the whole 'If you hurt my little brother, I'll kill you' ordeal and just for that, he's passed Dean's big brother test."

"I still owe him one for touching your soul without my permission. His scent was hard to take away from your soul." He huffed. "Even so, it doesn't matter if I help, to do this type of process with as many souls as he took we would need the others. Raphael can help giving some of her energy but without something to stabilize her then it would end being more trouble than help. We'd need some of Gabriel's help here."

"Gabriel?"

"Our youngest brother. I told you about him. We know he's alive and on Earth, but not where."

Lucifer noticed Sam placing the almost empty bottle away. He raised an eyebrow.

"You broke the glass, no more drinks for you." When Lucifer continued to stare blankly at him, Sam rolled his eyes. "Okay, I'll make you a cocktail."

Lisa then appeared with a couple glasses. "I hope those aren't on the house because Ellen would eat you alive otherwise."

"Don't worry, I'll pay everything Sam has served me."

"You better. You were the one that wanted to drink his problems away, not me." He waved at Lisa, before placing a glass with blue liquid in it. "This is the Blue Devil cocktail."

Lucifer glanced at his now blue exotic glass with a small red dot at the bottom. "You're not funny, Sam."

"I know. I'm hilarious." Sam smirked, watching as Lucifer drank with a pleased faced unlike those sour ones he got when drinking the stronger stuff Ellen had. "So… let's say you could find Gabriel, what would you need from him? One of his feathers maybe?"

Lucifer narrowed his eyes. "Angel's feathers are energy, they're almost impossible to keep them materialized. Usually, when an angels grooms his wings, the feather that falls becomes energy and loses its form, becoming one with the universe."

"So, if the feather was still materialized, it could work, right?"

"Perhaps… Where are you going with this?" Lucifer pushed his empty glass at him. "I want another."

Sam ignored his request and chose to cross his arms on the surface of the large table. "Okay, so get this. Remember the day we fought and I went for walk? Well, I may or may not have met your brother. And he might or might not have gave me a feather as a present."

Lucifer stayed silent for a couple seconds. Enough for Lisa to take the empty glass and for Sam to tell ask her if she could make another one.

"Are you sure it was Gabriel?"

"This high, chestnut colored hair, golden eyes, seems to like sweets and has your devious smirk, thing I thought no one was able to pull it off but you."

"Yes… it sounds like his previous choices in appearance. And he does have a sweet tooth." Lisa placed his glass in front of him and he nodded distractedly in thanks. "That tricky little bastard."

"Well, does this mean you'll help Michael?"

Lucifer hummed. "Where did you met him and where is that present he gave you?"

"A small coffee shop that's parallel to that park near my phone company? And the present is inside the third drawer where I put my clothes."

Lucifer took some money out from a wallet Sam was sure he just snapped it in existence, and pulled out a couple of bills.

"I'll try to come back before you close, but if I don't made it, I'll see you tonight."

He then nodded at Lisa and gave a small peck at Sam's mouth without caring who might see, before he leaned completely back, he whispered, "And I don't have daddy issues."

"Keep telling yourself that," he said when Lucifer turned back.

Lucifer looked over his shoulders and pulled his tongue out, everything in the right angle for only Sam to see the now forked tongue.

A/N some nice comments would lift my sour mood, guys :c