The strange loops in the leather reins burned Sam's skin the longer they rubbed against his hands. The Winchester narrowed his eyes and concentrated on his horse's neck. He did very little by way of guiding the beast, because it only knew to follow the horse in front of it. He hated being treated like he was incompetent.
The rider in front of him glanced over his shoulder. Gabriel's hazel eyes were pleasantly accented by the purple sash wrapped around his body. "You sure you're okay, Winchester?"
"I'm alright!" Sam couldn't help the red flush that filled his cheeks. The scout in front of him shrugged and turned his eyes back forward. Sam studied the curve of Gabriel's back. They had ridden steadily for three days, and the brunette checked on Sam every hour.
Sam blushed and looked back at the horse. Surely Gabriel was just carrying out his mission, but Sam wasn't sure. The ghost of the brunette's hot breath crept across the back of Sam's neck. The prince shook his head. He wasn't supposed to say a word about that.
The journey had been one Sam knew was coming, and he was numb to his departure. Dean had hugged Sam for five solid minutes, silent. Gabriel had watched solemnly, hand resting on his sword. Sam promised his brother that he would write often. Dean didn't believe him.
Sam did not personally see any advantage to his arrangement, but Dean was insistent. The Milton King was alright, Dean promised. Dean also swore to burn down the man's entire realm if any harm came to Sam. The younger Winchester didn't particularly think Dean would do that.
Sam's mind wandered to the Milton King. He had glanced through battle records, where the Milton King had led successful campaigns against factions in the north. Sam has brushed his fingers over the text, searching for a connection. He had none.
Lucifer Milton, the second son of Charles Milton and the king of Eden, left no traces of his personality anywhere. Sam hadn't so much as seen a picture of him. His horse suddenly slowed, and Sam glanced up. They had reached the castle, and Gabriel was dismounting his horse.
Sam followed suit, his feet welcoming solid ground. He rubbed the horse behind its ears and pulled the wrinkles out of his shirt. His red sash seemed so out of place here, and Sam crossed his arms. Gabriel gestured for the Winchester to follow him.
The castle seemed like a maze to Sam, but he knew he would find his way around before long. Gabriel knocked at a door. He cocked his head to listen, glancing at Sam. It was just the two of them, alone in the corridor. Sam shivered.
Gabriel twisted the handle and opened the door. He held it for Sam. A tall blonde man sat with his back to the door, reading over some papers on the desk. His body was filled out with bulky muscle, and his shirt left nothing to Sam's imagination. He turned his head and Sam caught sight of his brilliant, icy blue eyes.
The man cracked out in a smile and stood up. He grabbed Gabriel's hand and pulled him into a hug. "Safe travels, hm?"
"I caused all the trouble I could. Unfortunately, I'm still here." Gabriel hugged the man back, and Sam's breath caught in his throat.
The set of their cheekbones, the curve of their noses… Sam realized they were brothers. His face flushed. He forced a half smile to hide his discomfort.
The tall blonde glanced at Sam, who hung back by the door. "You look lost." He turned away from his brother and held out his hand. Sam stepped up and shook it. The blonde's grip was warm and firm. "Lucifer Milton." His smile was sly with an edge of challenge.
"Sam. Winchester." Sam looked down at their hands. Lucifer was more tanned than he. The blonde turned Sam's hands over in his fingers. He traced over the calluses that had developed on Sam's palms. "You rode here yourself?" Lucifer glanced at Gabriel.
"I'm capable of things." Sam looked at his hand. Lucifer raised Sam's fingers for his lips and sighed softly.
"I do suppose you are." Lucifer let Sam's hand go.
Gabriel chuckled. "He is a Winchester, after all."
Lucifer nodded. "You can take him up to his room for the night." He smiled at Sam. "I'll see you tomorrow, I guess."
Gabriel offered Sam his arm. Sam eyed the brunette warily before taking it and leaving the room. The Winchester waited until they took two turns before he shoved Gabriel away from him. "You're his brother?"
Gabriel chuckled and carded his fingers through his hair. "Why does that matter?"
Sam crossed his arms. "I can't believe this." He laughed incredulously. "You know I'm marrying your brother, right? Or did that detail slip your mind when you had me against the wall?" Sam hissed.
The brunette chuckled. "I was fully aware. Honestly, Sam, you can't walk around this place at any time of day without walking past at least three of Lucifer's former flings." Gabriel waved his hand dismissively. "You're allowed to have your own fun. He really won't care."
Sam shook his head, laughing to himself. "You don't fuck your fiancé's brother. It's in bad taste." He rubbed his fingers across his elbow.
"He won't care, Sam." Gabriel shrugged. "Whatever, your room for the night is this way." The brunette gestured for Sam to follow.
Sam straightened his sash and followed.
Lucifer watched his brother and the Winchester prince leave the room, noting the tension in the tall one's shoulders. He frowned slightly and looked over his papers. Road conditions, harvest projections… it was starting to make his head hurt. Lucifer rubbed his eyes. He could deal with this later, after the charade party tomorrow.
He stood up and stretched, turning his head when he heard soft footsteps in the hallway. Ruffling his hair, Lucifer stepped into the hall. His shirt was roughspun grey, he noted. He should've worn something nicer, but he was tired. He had just made a tour of the military camps in the city and hated the stiff coat he wore with a passion.
The king walked down the hallway, taking a turn to go the back way to his room. He leaned against a doorway, rubbing his temples. Those stupid charts made his head hurt for hours.
"Fancy finding you here." A soft, catlike voice accompanied a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"You always know where to find me, sweetheart." Lucifer turned his head with a small smile.
Her auburn hair was thrown over one shoulder. The dress she wore was white and laced up the front, the hem brushing her knees. The blonde king shifted his stance to run his eyes down her body. "I just met the Winchester prince."
Ruby trailed her fingers across Lucifer's chest. "What did you think of him?" She licked her lips. The red paint on them, coupled with Ruby's pale pink tongue, hit Lucifer right in his stomach.
"We'll see." Lucifer cupped Ruby's cheek. "He's nervous."
Ruby slid her hands under the hem of the king's shirt, looking him in the eye. "Can I ask you something?"
The blonde let a coy smile play at his lips. "Depends. Can I do you in this hallway?"
Ruby giggled, her hands warm on Lucifer's chest. She traced his abs with a delicate slowness. "I couldn't help but notice that the contract was in Ancient Enochian." Her eyes were a warm chocolate, wide with a lustful promise.
"Dean Winchester's insistence." Lucifer closed the gap between them with a step, fingers teasing the lace holding the bosom of Ruby's dress together.
"No one in the castle except you and Master Crowley can read Ancient Enochian." She leaned her head down and caught one of Lucifer's fingers in her teeth. "Since when does Lucifer Milton take orders from anyone?"
"Winchester picked the language. I wrote the terms. I really think I came out ahead in that deal." Lucifer picked her up by her waist and took three steps to flatten her back against the wall.
"So why the Winchester bitch?" Ruby twirled the lace holding the front of her dress in her fingers before tugging it free.
Lucifer took a deep breath. "Insurance, honey. Don't you know that Winchesters would do anything for family?" He kissed Ruby on the cheek. "I do my research occasionally, you know."
Ruby giggled. "What will you do with him?" She pulled the front of her dress down.
"We'll see." He leaned down to kiss the hot skin on Ruby's collarbone. "He gets a chance before I decide what to do with him."
"Oh, god." Ruby squeaked as Lucifer pulled the hem of her dress up.
"Ah, ah," Lucifer smirked against her skin. "You know how I feel about that."
"Right, sorry." Ruby hooked her legs around his waist. "How ever could I make it up to you?"
Lucifer leaned his head back and looked up to the side. "Stop talking about my fiance." He decided.
The only name that Ruby gasped from that point was Lucifer's. He liked it better that way.
Sam gave Gabriel a threatening look as the brunette held a door for him.
"I'm really just being polite, Sam." Gabriel chuckled. "Don't read so far into it."
Sam rolled his eyes and walked into the room. It was small, sparsely decorated. Sam ran his hands over the blankets on the bed. They were soft, and Sam smiled a little. They reminded him of the blankets on Dean's bed. A bare memory of Dean holding a young Sam during a thunderstorm flashed across the prince's mind.
He turned to the man throwing wood in the hearth. He was short, Orient, with big brown eyes. Sam held out his hand. "I'm Sam."
The kid, he really was a kid, bowed awkwardly. "I'm Kevin."
Sam frowned. "You don't shake hands?"
"No, sir. Not this far above my rank." Kevin looked up at Sam.
Sam snorted out a laugh. "We're both just people. Here," Sam held his hand out again. "Like we just met in the street."
Kevin watched the door as he took Sam's hand. He had a weak handshake, but Sam would take it. He hated being treated like an alien, and rebuilding his array of trusted friends would be slow work.
"Does your High—" Kevin began. Sam held up a hand to cut him off.
"Sam. Please." Sam stepped back to let Kevin relax.
"Sam." Kevin repeated, watching the door. "Do you need anything?"
Sam looked at the window. "A glass of water, please."
Kevin hurried out of the room. Gabriel poked his head in. "You're one crazy royal, Sam. You know that?"
Sam shrugged. "I'm not any different than someone else."
The brunette opened the door a little wide and leaned against the frame. "But you are. You're a very big deal here. Big enough that my brother wants to keep you close."
Sam frowned. "I read over the treaty summary, and I really don't understand how Eden benefitted from this…" Sam gestured to himself, "...at all."
Gabriel shrugged. "Maybe you should read the whole thing." He suggested.
"I couldn't." Sam sat down on the bed. "I couldn't tell what language it was."
Gabriel looked up and nodded. "Good point." The brunette looked into the hallway, then stepped aside to let Kevin back into the room. Gabriel settled on the doorframe again to watch.
Kevin carried a tray with a jug of water and a small sandwich. He set it on the end table next to the bed. Sam picked up the sandwich and broke it in half on reflex, offering the bigger half to Kevin.
The servant raised his eyebrows and didn't touch it. "That's yours, sir."
"Sam." The prince corrected, frowning at his hands. He remembered this: Dean sneaking a cold sandwich to Sam's room at a low hour of the night. Sam always split it with him, offering the bigger half to his brother. Dean always grabbed the smaller one. They took care of each other. "Sorry."
He set the sandwich down and picked up the glass. The water looked smooth, no powder touching the rim of the cup. Sam decided he could drink it and downed the glass.
Kevin watched him uneasily. Sam set the glass down. "Can I ask you a question?" Sam waved his hand at Gabriel. The brunette nodded and shut the door as he stepped into the hallway.
"Of course." Kevin shifted on his feet. "Anything."
Sam looked at the window, stars shining through the glass. "Does Lucifer have a favorite color?"
Kevin looked taken aback. "I… am not sure. I can go ask, I think?"
Sam shrugged. "if you want. You know where I'll be."
The boy nodded and rushed out the door.
"Where'd you send him off to in a hurry?" Gabriel poked his head in again.
"Your brother." Sam kneaded the blankets in his hands.
"Why the hell did you send Kevin?" Gabriel carded his fingers through his hair.
Sam shrugged. "I'm not asking you about your brother." Sam's cheeks flushed. "I have talked to you about enough."
The brunette chuckled and licked his lips. "I'm on for another conversation if you are."
Sam covered his eyes. "No frickin way."
Lucifer had bid Ruby goodbye with a promise to find her soon. He smoothed his hair down and double checked his belt. He looked fine, he decided. He made his way to the library, pleased to find his court wizard bent over an open tome on the table.
"Crowley." Lucifer knocked on a bookshelf. "You have a minute?"
The man, short, balding, looked up from his book. "Always for my favorite menace." He marked the page with a strip of paper and shut the book with a soft thud. "This is about the Winchester prince?"
Lucifer chuckled. "Am I really so easy to read?" He sat down in the rough wooden chair across the table from Crowley.
"From the very intricate document that came into my possession this morning, I would think you'd be thinking about nothing else." Crowley put his elbows on the table and leaned forward.
"Tell me about Samuel Winchester." Lucifer folded his hands and rested them on top of a leather bound book.
"You and I know the same things about him." Crowley said.
Lucifer shrugged. "He's educated, that much I understand. He is taller than his brother, and seems very nervous."
Crowley shrugged. "Your brother has spent more time with him than I have. Maybe you should ask him."
A knock on the bookshelf startled them both. Crowley jumped violently and Lucifer leaned back in his chair. The king cast a glance over his shoulder. "Mr. Tran."
The servant lingered around the bookshelf. "Mr. Winchester has a question."
Lucifer cocked his head to the side. "And what might that be?"
The boy's hands shook. "He wishes to inquire about… your favorite color."
The king couldn't hold back his laughter. Any question, of anything in the whole world to ask about, Samuel Winchester asked about his favorite color. He wiped at his eyes and took a breath. "I can't say I've ever really thought about that."
Kevin looked at Lucifer's feet. "What should I tell Mr. Winchester?"
Lucifer touched his chin, idly remembering that he needed to shave before tomorrow. "Tell him… green. Like the forest."
The servant bowed and rushed away. Crowley chuckled. "Samuel Winchester's eyes are green."
Lucifer looked back at him. "Oh. I hadn't noticed."
"Green." Sam bit his lip in concentration. "Like the forest." He pulled the blankets up to his chin and sighed. Gabriel was standing watch outside the door, and Sam knew better than to invite the brunette in. He wouldn't be able to stop himself in the dark, he thought.
Sam laid his head on the pillow and closed his eyes. He was numb to the knowledge that he had to play his part in the charades the next day, and then he had to face the Milton King alone. Sam sighed. He could do that. If Dean believed in him, that was enough for Sam.