Chapter 7 –23165 Ord ^

"Good, let me see who or wha- " Lucifer abruptly froze when he saw who was beside Beelzebub.

Crowley and Beelzebub stood awkwardly, waiting for Lucifer to say something or for something to happen, but nothing did for at least three minutes.

"Is this some sort of joke? How dare you bring this shape shifting monster down here! Let alone let it take the form of him," Lucifer sneered and stormed towards them, shooting daggers with his red eyes. It would have looked even more threatening if Lucifer was not in his human form but, thankfully, he was.

In Crowley's panic, his mind could only register five things.

One: Big brother is back.

Two: He is mad, really mad.

Three: He should not have left earlier.

Four: He should hide. Like now.

Five: Please don't.

He quickly ran behind Beelzebub as Lucifer speed walked towards them. He knew it probably would not do much but, hey…

Beelzebub put her hands up in a calming gesture and quickly motioned for Lucifer to take it easy.

Lucifer stopped two feet away, still glaring daggers, his eyes glowing with fury and… guilt?

"He iz not a zhapezifter," Beelzebub quickly buzzed. "He iz real, I checked. Truzzt me."

Lucifer looked suspiciously from Beelzebub to whom ze claimed was not a shapeshifter, but, in fact, Raphael. He wanted to believe zer, he really did. But somehow, he could not. Lucifer was not sure why: maybe it was guilt, his subconsciousness nagging him, saying it was his fault, that he should have protected Raphael more, so he would not have died… But here he is again, alive. Supposedly.

Someone quietly said his name, snapping him out of his thoughts. He looked at the red-headed figure behind his second in command. He really looked at him, not letting his anger get the better of him this time.

Red eyes locked onto green eyes. Lucifer recognized them! Those eyes, they were filled with recognition and fear…

His brother was scared… of him.

He was immediately crushed with guilt. Lucifer was not sure what to do, seeing as it had been awhile since he last comforted someone. It wasn't in the job description, really.

He began to walk a little closer to the other two, but noticed Raphael trying to make himself appear smaller behind Beelzebub and stopped.

He stood and stared at his brother, debating what he should do next.

"Step aside Beelzebub," he said calmly, his voice cracking a little.

Ze stepped aside, but Raphael did not move. Ze looked over to him, but he still stood behind where ze stood a second ago. Lucifer paused, unsure what to do next. He wondered if Raphael thought he would hurt him, since he looked at him with that look. A worried, scared look. A look you often would receive from someone who just survived having been tortured or kidnapped for a long time. Had he been tortured? Where? In Hell? If so, he would personally kill whoever did it, but what if it were on Earth? He had sent two demons up earlier to search for whoever had radiated a lot of power in one go. He was very curious about who it was; he thought it might have been a seraph or something. He had silently hoped it had been one of his siblings, who had fallen, then he wouldn't have to be alone anymore! But he knew it was unfair making them fall and feel the immeasurable pain that comes with it.

But out of all his thoughts and silent hopes, he never ever, thought it would be him. He had hoped, of course, that his little brother would be alive somehow and here he was! But why couldn't he accept it? Why couldn't he be happy about it?

They say demons do not feel love, only hate and that was how they fell, in hate. But people forget. They fell because of love, so the love that they had felt was denied to them.

"Raphael..." Lucifer finally mustered courage to say, after what had felt like an eternity, but what was probably just a few minutes at most.

Raphael did not answer. He did not even raise his head and look at him. Which did not hurt him at all. Nope.

"Raphael," he said louder, Raphael flinched at the loud sound.

Was he shaking...?

Maybe...

He walked closer.

Lucifer slowly reached his hand out to Raphael. He was not sure why he did it, or what he should do with it, but he held it out anyway.

Lucifer stopped above Raphael's shoulder, his hand hovering slightly above it before he put his hand down onto his little brother for the first time in aeons.

Raphael looked down at the hand before sharply inhaling, choking down a sob. He promptly collapsed as more sobs came out; his sobbing quickly began turning into full-blown tears.

Lucifer suddenly felt his legs buckle under him, falling quickly after Raphael. Both of them were on the ground. One crying from years of repressed emotions and the other stressing, close to doing the same.

Lucifer quickly dragged himself towards Raphael and engulfed him in a hug, quietly drawing circles on his back.

Beelzebub looked at Lucifer and Raphael, she began feeling strangely uncomfortable. She knew this was a private moment. One she was not a part of.

Ze quietly began to slip away. When ze reached the door, ze opened it enough for zem to fit through.

Lucifer had not done this in a long time. Comforting, like he was doing right now. He was worried about Raphael. Was he doing it wrong? He wasn't sure, but he felt what he was doing was right since Raphael was slowly calming down.

He silently whispered soothing words in an ancient language: one almost forgotten to time.

His dear brother... Alive, was with him, but how? He was supposed to be dead. Did it matter? No, it did not, Lucifer decided silently. He was so happy his little brother was alive after all these millennia. He promised himself he would protect Raphael, no matter what.

He was not going to let his brother disappear again.

"I'm so sorry," He heard Raphael cry. Tightening his grip out of guilt.

Lucifer straightened himself a bit and placed both his hands on Raphael's cheeks, making him look up into his own eyes.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, you hear me? I mean it. If someone has to be sorry, it will be me. I-I should not have left you alone when…" Lucifer choked down a sob, tears beginning to run down his face.

"No! No… I-it was me, I am to blame here, not you. I was running around doing stupid, bad stuff. Ha… You know, in the end, I kind of was asking for it… Just not like that," He shivered as he voiced the last part. More tears began to form.

"How did… How did you really die? You-you are here now, alive." Lucifer questioned, wanting to know more about the last part, but letting it go for now.

Crowley tensed at the question.

How could you explain it? Oh, well, I was scooting about, back, and forth, until I saw it and tried to stop it, buttttttttttt, of course it would not be that easy.

He decided to avoid the subject and therefore change it.

"Trust me. You have nothing to be sorry for, Lu. "

"I did trust you and I still do. But what about when... You promised me you would not..."

…... Flashback -

"We should go and begin before well, you know," Samael tried after a comfortable silence.

Nodding, Raphael agreed, motioning for Samael to follow him. After Samael had placed the feather somewhere he could get it afterwards, Raphael realized he did not know the way. He chuckled, finding amusement in it.

"What is it?" Samael asked, curious as to why he chuckled.

"Well I-I motioned for you to follow so we could go but I just realized I did not know the way and yet I began moving away," he said between small laughs.

Samael looked at him, a smile slowly showing on his face. "Oh Raph, I cannot avoid loving your humour. What would we do without you?" Samael said as he began flying away with Raphael following behind, then flying up beside him.

"Probably something else. Really, just do not, do not get so sad if something ever happened… Do not worry, nothing is going to happen, nothing will, trust me," he babbled.

…...

Crowley tensed again.

How could Lucifer still remember that so well? And for him to have remembered his words and kept them in heart. Crowley knew angels and demons remember almost everything that has happened to them. But he never thought about what he said would have made such an impact on Lucifer.

'Trust me.'

He broke that trust... With his 'death.' He was not even aware that he had apparently died back then, strangely. Sa-Go-Someone, he just had to go through the garden back then! Why couldn't he just take his normal route like usual... Oh, wait he couldn't. Why? The War. He did not want to be caught in another battle and be forced to fight again.

He opened his mouth, willing the words to come out but none came

"I- I... Forgive me, I'm sorry..." he guiltily croaked out, after having gained control of his voice again. Crowley hugged Lucifer tighter.

After both brothers had stopped crying and gained some control over their composure, they stopped their tight hug.

"We are a mess," he croaked, beginning to stand up.

Lucifer chuckled, standing up as well. "That we are… You know, losing you was like losing someone you can't replace, no matter how hard you try. It just wouldn't be right."

"You know, I still have your feather, the one you gave me. I have been keeping it on me since," Crowley mentioned. Lucifer stiffened, knowing he probably should ask the question of the century, but unable to help himself.

"I can see you don't like talking about it but, I have to ask. How did you die but not actually die back then? Did something else happen?" he continued, uneasy curiosity in his voice.

Crowley got confused as to why Lucifer stiffened, looking like he was having an inner debate. But when Lucifer asked about that, he knew he had to give an explanation. He owed Lucifer and the others that at least.

"Well, uh, I actually wasn't aware that I 'died' and did not feel anything, but you are right about something else happening." Ha… WAIT!

"I-I did die actually but not back then. I did not so long ago, not even twenty-four hours ago, actually really die! You signed my death certificate! Oh yes, thanks for the torture trip, great refresher." Crowley pointed an accusing finger at Lucifer, who looked utterly confused. Not caring nor realizing the meaning with what he said. At least not before Lucifer uttered his demonic name did he stiffen, and think.

"Crowley? He died not long ago either as well, and he also had torture…" Lucifer looked up at him as it suddenly clicked for him. "Crowley? You are Crowley!?"

Well that is one way to break the news…

"I-I, shit, I got tortured! I got you killed as well. I am so sorry! I even recognized you, well kind of, Raph. I will still call you Raphael: I don't care if you used to be a demon."

Lucifer looked at Raphael/Crowley, knowing he actually killed his brother and not some random demon, and the torture! He made him go through white torture, Hell-style, for, he actually had no idea how long! Time in hell was confusing for even him at times. Immense guilt consumed him. He was sure he would have screamed right there and then had Raphael not hugged him, saying he forgave him and knew he did not know it was really him.

A loud bang came from the doors to the throne room, three more followed until the doors finally flew from its hinges, dramatically skidding across the floor in a burst of light.

Dust flew around the room, weakly hiding whoever forced the doors open.

A figure stepped into the room. It was Michael, in all her glory and heavenly wrath. She stepped in the room. The infamous lance on her back, and her famous flaming sword in hand. Behind her came both Uriel and Aziraphale, with flaming swords in hand.

Both Crowley and Lucifer immediately backed up, both knowing that you do not mess with Michael when she is mad. They were not suicidal, thank you very much.

Neither of the two made any implication they would try to fight. At least not yet, having both Michael and Lucifer in the same room was the same as having a time ticking bomb waiting to explode.

They had both backed up at the same time, not realizing where exactly until they backed sideways into each other.

They made eye contact, neither sure what to do while the others stood there all threatening with flaming swords.

Lucifer decided to speak, best let him handle it.

"Michael, what brings you down to Hell? All the way down to the scum?" Lucifer purred, taking on a sarcastic manner.

Raphael stiffened.

"Be quiet! You know exactly why Satan," Michael hissed at him.

"First off. No, I don't. Second, it's Lucifer, not Satan. At least not for you. Third, for all I know you could have come down to apologize, or maybe it is another one of your 'secret' liberations."

Michael looked surprised for a second before she quickly hid it. "And how would you know?"

Lucifer smugly raised an eyebrow before answering, "I am not stupid, you know."

She rolled her eyes.

"Enough of this chat. Hand him back now, we do not want any more trouble. We have already made the demons in the hall flee; they can't help you."

"Trouble? Ha! You have already caused trouble just by coming down here. And no, I will not just hand him over. He is not a toy to be passed back and forth," Lucifer sneered back at Michael.

Both still ignoring everyone else in the room.

"How dare you!" Michael walked forward, a threatening expression in her eyes.

Lucifer began walking forward as well, a dangerous expression in his eyes.

In three seconds Crowley managed to realize Michael and Lucifer still had trouble being in the same room. And he knew he had to try and stop both of them from at least tearing Hell apart. He may not like the place very much, but he knew it was not fair to let them destroy it in their petty fighting.

So, he did the only thing he thought of and that was running right in the middle of their fight again, before it really could become one.

"STOP!" he shouted, wishing he would not be a victim of yet another stabbing or murder. Crowley was done with dying, thank you very much.

Both Michael and Lucifer's swords were too close to him for his liking. When did Lucifer materialize his sword? Doesn't matter.

"Please," he quietly whispered.

"Raphael, what are you doing? Get away from him!" Michael ordered.

He tensed a bit from the yell but did not back down. But moved over beside Lucifer, acting as a shield, albeit a weak one but he tried.

"No, no! Stop please, don't kill him!" Crowley protested, giving Michael his biggest puppy eyes.

Michael looked torn between continuing trying to get Lucifer or backing down.

Lucifer glared smugly at her, daring her to continue fighting. It did not go unseen by Crowley.

"You, Lucifer, don't kill her either."

Lucifer looked ready to pout as Michael stepped down with a sigh.

"Fine. I am doing this for you Raphael. It is okay to stand down," Michael proclaimed. "Stand down, Uriel," Michael repeated after Uriel didn't lower her sword.

"What now?" she asked, looking at Raphael.

"Well uhh, can we talk? Finally, talk, a real talk? All of us? No fighting or harming allowed. Yes, even words can do harm, they hurt more than you'd think," he slowly said.

The others looked at him shocked and surprised. Aziraphale acted and failed to look like he fully understood what he meant by 'talk'. Talking for them was like swallowing thallium. But really? Had they never just thought about talking it out instead of fighting? Never?

They really were lost without him.

Why were they all looking insulted all of a sudden? Oh. He said the last part out loud, didn't he?

"Did I..?"

Nods were his answer.

Mouthing a quick sorry he continued slightly embarrassed.

"Right... Um, let's go back to Earth, you probably already know where."

…..

-Earth, England, Tadfield.

Walking.

That is what they were doing right now. They had appeared somewhere in the forest and just began walking somewhere they did not know. Crowley and Aziraphale did, but the others did not need to know where they were heading, especially Lucifer - he would probably head straight back to Hell if he knew.

When they had reached the outskirts of the forest, Crowley broke the silence, which had fallen back in Hell just before they left for Earth.

"You do realize we have to get Gabriel down here as well or else this won't be a 'talk, right?" he slowly said.

The archangels stiffened, they knew and remembered how close Crowley and Gabriel were.

"Might I chip in, Raphael? Were you two close?" Aziraphale asked him, having been walking beside him since Crowley did not leave his side, which Aziraphale probably found strange but he didn't comment on it.

Crowley nodded.

"Ah, you know, I hope you find him... Sorry to admit it but he was kind of rude, I suppose he was really hiding it."

Uriel and Michael looked smugly at each other then back at Raphael and Aziraphale. Michael nodded and Uriel began walking up to them. Lucifer looked curiously at her.

"Raphael?"

"Yeah?"

"Why don't we go and get Gabriel now?" She said, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"Wait- now? Uriel no-" His words were cut off as Uriel teleported them both into Heaven to find Gabriel. What could go wrong?