"Look, you guys," Sam started. They were walking down the hall, and with every step, they were closer and closer to Dean's room. As much as Sam actually wanted to see his brother, he knew he had a mission. Both Chloe and him had agreed on it – they needed to make their two angels talk before their sulking (Lucifer) and moping (Castiel) got on everyone's nerves. Also, it's not like it was healthy for them anyway. "Sometimes Dean and I, uh, we argue, too."

Castiel looked up at Sam, incredulous, while Lucifer closed his eyes. He heaved a sigh of deep suffering, mostly to make a show of it.

"This is torture," he muttered under his breath. "And I would know, after all."

"Dean and I argue, too." Sam made a point of ignoring them by repeating himself. "But, wherever's a problem, there's always a solution, too."

"And if there's a key, then there must also be a lock?" Castiel couldn't help himself this time, even though he knew Sam was trying to help him out here. It was just too good.

"Dude, that's not fair," Sam said, affronted, trying hard to ignore Lucifer stopping walking and just— blinking at them.

"Is this a game in which we say the most obvious things?" Lucifer asked, his interest piqued. Or maybe he was just attempting to avoid a more serious conversation. "Like, wherever's the Detective, the Devil surely follows?"

"No." Both of them replied almost instantly, making Lucifer raise his hands in a placating gesture.

"Alright, alright, no need to get so defensive, I was just asking."

"So, ekhm. As I was saying…" Sam started anew, only to be interrupted by Lucifer's loud exclamation.

"Oh, lookie here, Kidnapper Douche's room, how marvelous!"

This was a disaster. A disaster. Having two angels like those was worse than having two cats as pets. Sam rubbed his eyes hard with knuckles, not stopping until he saw bright spots dancing in the dark. That's why he always liked dogs more.

When he opened his eyes again, though, both Castiel and Lucifer were gone.

"Uh, guys?" He looked around, confused. "Guys?"

XXX

"Sooo…" Lucifer drawled out after he'd been pushed unceremoniously into an empty room. He heard the door being locked, and wasn't that interesting? "What are you going to do to me? Force-hug me? Keep apologizing to me until I beg to be let out? So many creative ways of torture right here, brother."

"Torture. Right." Castiel turned around to face Lucifer with a serious look on his face. "Are you comparing talking with me to being tortured by Michael?" He deliberately took a slow step forward. Lucifer didn't move, but there's was something haunted in his eyes at the memory.

"Why, should I be prepared to have my innards yanked out, again?" Lucifer smiled sweetly, greatly enjoying the nauseated look on his brother's face. "Do you want me to sing?"

Castiel blinked, baffled.

"What do you mean, sing? I don't understand."

"Ah, I guess it was a private joke." Lucifer moved closer, drumming his fingers against the wall. "I used to be an angel of music, you see. So my screams…"

"Stop." Castiel swallowed. He didn't want to hear more. He couldn't. "What Dean did to you…"

"What Kidnapper Douche did?" Lucifer tilted his head. "Oh, dear brother. You didn't stop him. No, you manipulated me into using my powers, into letting my temper get the better of me. I fought our Dad for us, and no one even thanked me for that. You all just… took me for granted. And when I was barely conscious, you let your precious boyfriend—"

"I didn't let him do anything!" Castiel pushed Lucifer against the wall, just to make him stop. Stop talking, stop provoking him. He already felt more guilty than he could handle. Lucifer smiled at him, all challenging, although he must have had a very unpleasant flashback right now if that slight hitch in his breathing was anything to go by.

"Come on…" Lucifer's grin was almost crazed. "Come on… Hit me, brother. Become like Michael. Become my torturer. Punish me for what I did!" He yelled out the last words after he fisted his hands in Castiel's coat, jerking him towards himself. "Punish me!"

"I am not going to punish you." Castiel growled when he gripped Lucifer's wrists. "Stop this, right now."

"Why? I imprisoned our Dad. I killed two of our brothers. I - deserve - to be punished."

"Two?" Castiel frowned because he only remembered Michael. It was enough for Lucifer to laugh bitterly, though. Of course Castiel was condemning him. Of course Lucifer thought that.

"Yes, two. As much as it surprises me, I haven't lost count yet." He let out a dry, bitter chuckle, even though it felt like a million tiny shards of glass cutting into his throat on their way up.

"Listen…" Castiel closed his eyes for a moment. It was… personal to him, too, and he carried his fair share of guilt for killing his siblings as well. "You're not alone in this, Lucifer. I killed, too. I killed our brothers and sisters, but you know what helped me through it?" He asked calmly, now looking his brother in the eyes again. "Remembering my purpose. I'm a soldier, Lucifer. And you are too. We fight for the greater good, yet—"

"I'm a King, actually," Lucifer couldn't help but correct him. A small, almost hopeful smile was playing on his lips, because he had been fighting, hadn't he? For the greater good, like Cas had said. So maybe, just maybe, he could forgive himself. Eventually. The imaginary shards in his throat hurt a little less. "Formality, I know."

"And I was a God, Lucifer," Castiel said harshly. "For a moment, at least. I went on a killing spree, too. I started a civil war in Heaven. I was prideful, I betrayed Sam and Dean, I wanted to rule. I died, so many times. And I came back to life, experiencing guilt for what I've done. I was depressed and suicidal, so believe me, if I say that I understand what you're going through."

Lucifer said nothing, instead just staring at his brother, seeing him in an entirely new light. And it wasn't… a positive light, either. Even when he had rebelled himself, none of his siblings died by his hand. Also… how Cas could possibly understand what he was going through? He had never been on a killing spree, his civil war hadn't cost lives, he'd been the only one considered by dear Dad to be killed, to—

"You need to forgive yourself," Castiel continued, unaware of Lucifer's inner turmoil. "You went against our family because you had to protect people you loved or cared about. You saved the world. You saved us. Isn't that enough to call it self-defense? A necessary sacrifice?"

"Maybe," Lucifer said slowly, eyes unblinking and dark. He felt Hellfire burning under his skin. "Is that what you call it yourself to be able to sleep at night?"

"I don't sleep."

"Ah. Explains a lot." There was no trace of usual charm in Lucifer's smile this time. "Now, now, brother, off you pop. I believe your human is waiting for you to heal him."

"What?" Cas tilted his head. He was trying to get through to Lucifer, couldn't he see it? Why the sudden change of subject? "You have to realize it, Lucifer, you deserve forgiveness."

"Maybe. Maybe not." Lucifer shrugged. "I still think it'd be better if you left right now."

Because it wasn't about his crime, not anymore, and even though Lucifer didn't know the names of all those dead angels, he still desired to avenge them.

"I can't let you go without… without making you see," Castiel sighed. He felt… resigned, but still convinced that Lucifer would understand, soon. He was no therapist of course, but his brother didn't deserve to return to his world broken. Not after all things he'd done for them. "I'm really sorry about how I treated you. I shouldn't have manipulated you, sent you angry into those woods. I should have stopped Dean as soon as I knew what he was planning. I'm sorry," he said softly, "for everything you went through for us. And… you're right, nobody thanked you. So I am, now. Thank you."

"And you're most welcome." Lucifer pried Castiel's fingers off his wrists, smiling tightly. He didn't know what to do now. But, if he decided to focus on the positive side of this situation, he didn't feel like the worst person in this world anymore, so… yay for the small victories. "Alright! Let me remind you, your honey's waiting. Don't forget to tell him you love him. It's due to happen someday. And by someday I mean last month, obviously," Lucifer advised, his tone still not… right. Even the change of subject he kept insisting on was not right.

"I, uh… Is everything… okay?"

"Of course. Tell Kidnapper Douche that I'm leaving soon. That should lift his spirits right away." Lucifer forced himself to smile wider. "I know how much he likes me."

"Yes, I… If you want to talk again…"

"Yes, yes, I'll find you. Great talk. I'm feeling so much better now. Now bye! Hug Dean once for me!"

Lucifer waited until after the door was closed again and he was left alone.

"Who says that love is blind? You two deserve each other."

And for once, it wasn't a compliment.

XXX

"So." Maze was leaning against the wall, efficiently trapping Sam between it and her own body. The poor hunter resembled a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. "I heard you're single." She licked the knife, slowly, dragging the tongue along the blade. "Wanna have some fun?"

"I- I, um, I…"

"Maze. Maze, Maze, Maze." Chloe practically materialized next to them, looking both sheepish for Sam's benefit, and adamant for Maze's. "Sam here is not interested, okay? What about… finding more alcohol? I think this bottle just got empty!" Decker nodded at Amenadiel who discreetly poured the content of their last bottle of whisky down the drain. "Such a shame, good things don't last very long, do they?"

"Ah, hello everyone. I see we have some new guests!" Rowena looked around as she walked into the room. Two new faces, fascinating. The tall, dark and handsome angel, and the dangerous leather-clad demon. Huh. The latter was both angry and gorgeous. "I'm going to assume you're also from Lucifer's world."

"You." Maze looked the redheaded woman up and down, then licked her lips. "Wanna have sex?"

"Well…" Rowena shrugged noncommittally. "We've a little time. We could fill it."

"Ooh, I knew I'd like you." Maze's smile widened, looking downright predatory. Before she could stalk over to where Rowena was standing, Lucifer barged into the kitchen, mouth set in a straight line.

Chloe looked over at Amenadiel, worried, as she walked up to her Devil to ask what was wrong.

"I don't care what's it about, we're leaving," Lucifer said, interrupting her already. Chloe was barely able to open her mouth, and, fine. She should've been used to it by now. "Thank you for having us, Sam. Pleasure was all yours."

"Did, um, something happen?" Sam frowned, clearly confused. He wasn't the only one, though.

"Hey! I was about to have sex, could you stop cockblocking me?" Maze threw her hands up, irritated. "What the hell crawled up your ass now?"

Mazikeen was worried, too, she just wasn't used to showing it… in a normal, healthy way. In an ordinary-people's-behavior way.

"You can have as much sex in Lux as you want." Lucifer didn't even look at her. He was trying to focus on the Hellfire and bring it to the surface so he could open the portal. "Bollocks…", he muttered when nothing happened. "Should I use a lighter?"

"To set fire to your own hands?" Chloe looked horrified at the prospect. "Lucifer, talk to me, okay? I can't help you if you don't talk to me."

"I don't need help," he finally snapped, turning to Chloe with fire in his eyes. She gasped quietly, surprised, but didn't move away. She wasn't scared of him, and he knew that. "Everybody wants to help me. What if they're the ones who need it, not me?"

"What? What are you talking about?"

"He's talking about wanting to leave this world," Amenadiel spoke up, calm as always. He walked up to Lucifer and Chloe, just so he could put his hand on Lucifer's shoulder yet again. "And I think we should all respect his choice."

"You do know what a bad touch is, don't you?" Lucifer raised his eyebrow, but it said a lot that he didn't shrug off Amenadiel's hand. "And yes, please, listen to my sanctimonious brother, and respect my choice to leave."

"I don't think it's a bad touch. A good one, if anything," Amenadiel whispered, making Lucifer close his eyes in exasperation, but also smile a bit. "Don't you like it, Luci?"

"Shut up." Lucifer shook his hands before focusing on home again. "You're the biggest distraction this world has ever seen."

"You're not going to… wait for Cas to, um, say goodbye to him?" Sam asked after a moment of hesitation. Hadn't they worked things out?

"You'd think. No."

"Alright, stop it." Chloe frowned and caught Lucifer's wrists in both her hands. "What's going on?"

Her morning star sighed – it was a deep, long-suffering sigh of someone forced to waste valuable time instead of getting the hell out of this nightmare. Chloe winced a little because of it.

"I just don't want to be here anymore, Detective," Lucifer said softly, eyes and voice honest. He couldn't do it anymore. "I just want to leave."

And just like that, his hands were set alight.

A/N: Okay, an update. Two updates :D?

1) The last chapter will be posted tomorrow, not on Friday, so, 9.01., instead of 10.01. ;)

2) The sequel, "No Rest for the Devil", is posted here, all chapters at once (and I'm actually leaving FF when this week ends - love you allllll sooooo much! All the blame goes to Jaskier, because that little nightingale made me switch fandoms so fast I got a whiplash). Both stories are also on AO3, and any possible future ones will be posted there, too - just search for arsamandi :). It would mean the world to me if you visited and left a comment ;)! Buuuut those future ones will be about dandelions, if you know what I mean xdd