So, I've gotten a good start into Part 2 already and have finally gotten to the point where I can start re-watching the series to make my notes for how 5b will play out within this universe. I've been in such a funk, I'm super glad I had this part finished before I watched season 6, but I'm getting back with it.
So, we are moving right on over into "Spoiler Alert" in this chapter.
Obviously, we are starting to veer quite a bit off the beaten path. A lot of you were anxious for Michael's response to last chapter and here you go.
Michael goes through an array of emotions while Chloe is just done and in over her head. Some questions may also start to be answered.
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Mikael hovered high above the chaos watching the war unfold below him. His large black wings flapped every now and then to keep him airborne. Samael was easily spotted among their brothers and sisters as he was the only one among them with bright, shiny white wings. How had it come to this? This wasn't what he wanted. He had wanted to hurt his brother yes, but his words were said with anger. Not once had Mikael truly believed Samael would go this far. But he had.
Dark clouds were closing over the scene, lightning was flashing ominously among them. Father had given Mikael a choice. He needed to make that choice and soon before Father took the matter out of his hands. Lightning struck into the ground amongst his siblings. It was much too close to Samael for it to be random. He was sending a warning. The next one wouldn't miss.
Heart in his throat, burying the pain in his chest, Mikael dived. Only one thought ran through his mind: save Sam. Even if it meant his brothers banishment, Sam would at least still be alive.
Michael dropped to his knees beside his brother. He could barely draw breath his heart was pounding so fast and his hands shook. Chloe was crying repeating Lucifer's name over and over as though he might hear her. This couldn't be happening. Not now. Not like this.
"Sam."
Michael barely recognized his own voice. It cracked and was high pitched. His throat felt so tight he was surprised sound even came forth.
Chloe looked at Michael with tears streaming down her face. What had he called Lucifer? He looked in shock. His face was pale, eyes wide, hands shaking as he reached for his twin, and hesitating as though afraid to actually touch him; afraid of finding the lack of life. Chloe reached out and placed a hand on his arm.
"Michael."
Michael slowly looked down at her hand before making eye contact with her. He blinked slowly; once. One lone tear escaped causing Chloe's chest to constrict even more.
"Chloe." He breathed. "I…I…"
Chloe never got to hear what Michael was going to try to say. Lucifer sat straight up with a deep inhale followed shortly after by a deep cough. He clung to them both as he caught his breath.
"Bloody hell that hurt." Lucifer complained.
Michael and Chloe could only stare at him in shock and disbelief. One minute, Lucifer was lying there motionless and not breathing and the next he was sitting up like he simply got punched too hard.
"Lucifer." Chloe was the first to speak. "But you were…are you okay?" More tears rolled down her face as she cupped his face in her hands.
There wasn't enough air for Michael to catch his breath. What the fuck was happening?
A soft look took over Lucifer's features. "I'm really okay, Detective."
"But how?" A voice breathed behind them.
All three turned to look at the person responsible for shooting Lucifer. The man paled, suddenly realizing he should have left without a word.
Michael felt the fear turn into rage before he could even comprehend it. This human…this human stain dared to try to kill his nest mate. Michael was so lost in the feeling that the term did not even register with him.
The human turned to run for the elevator, sensing the danger on the air, but Michael grabbed him first and slammed him against the bar with a snarl.
"Easy, Michael." Lucifer purred stepping up beside his twin to glare down at the now shaking human. "We need information. Don't break him."
The dark haired man stuttered and shook in his fear.
Michael growled. "You have five seconds to start talking or I'm going to become your worst nightmare."
Lucifer grinned at the man. "He isn't lying, I'm afraid." The grin faded. "I've never seen you in my life. What could I possibly have done to warrant being shot?"
Chloe watched silently a few steps down the bar. Her mind was still processing what she was seeing and was not quite able to keep up so she did the one thing she could do. She called the guy in. Sure Michael and Lucifer would most likely have the guy scared enough to never so much a litter again but she needed to do something or risk breaking down. She also dialed Dan knowing it would be best to have someone that knew the twins come along.
"I was told to. It wasn't my idea." The guy said desperately.
"Who told you to? What did they look like?" Michael asked the growl still very present in his voice.
"I don't know." Michael shook the guy harshly. "I don't know! He kept to the shadows and didn't show his face."
"How perfectly convenient for him but not so much for you." Lucifer sighed. "What were you offered?"
"Offered?" The man looked confused. Michael shook him again. "I wasn't offered anything."
Lucifer sneered. "I really do abhor lying. Tread carefully."
"I'm not!" Blue eyes darted between the brothers. "He was very convincing."
Michael narrowed his eyes releasing his aura into the air around the man. He'd had enough of the vague answers. Those pleading eyes went wide as the man started shaking, mumbling, and begging in fear. Lucifer let it go about a minute before he laid a hand on Michael's shoulder.
"That's enough."
Michael gritted his teeth but pulled his aura back at the gentle command. The elevator dinged again to admit Dan and a uniformed officer. Lucifer pulled Michael to step back from the human who immediately clung to Dan admitting to everything. A few minutes later the dark haired man was taken away still shaking but clearly more than ready and willing to leave. Dan stayed a bit longer to get their statements, as was protocol.
Dan shook his head at Lucifer, pointing his pen at him, as he put his little notebook away. "Damn it man, you can't break all of them."
"It wasn't me this time, Daniel." Lucifer shook Michael's shoulder gently with a grin. "Michael here got a little overzealous."
Dan raised a brow at them. "A little?"
"Well, in his defense, the guy did try to kill me." Lucifer pointed out feeling the need to further protect his twin who remained silent at his side.
Dan simply shook his head turning to Chloe to make sure she was okay before heading out, ensuring Chloe that Trixie was being taken care of and that he would pick her up from her grandparents.
Lucifer did not move his hand from Michael's shoulder once during the entire exchange. Michael allowed the gentle weight to remain. The warmth was comforting and calming.
"If I didn't know any better I would say I had a sibling trying to kill me."
"Trying?!" Michael twisted to look at his brother coming alive in his shock and irritation. "They were more than trying, Lucifer, you're supposed to be vulnerable."
Michael's voice got softer as he took in Lucifer's appearance. He reached out a hand to rest it against Lucifer's chest where the bullet had hit him. Lucifer watched him with an unreadable expression. Michael ran his fingers over the hole in his twins shirt.
"No blood." He mumbled. There wasn't any blood. Not even a drop. Lucifer had never bled.
Chloe blinked at him taking in what Michael was saying. Lucifer shifted and searched in his shirt to bring forth the bullet that should have been buried in his chest. Chloe and Michael stared at it. It was flat where it had made impact but it had not penetrated.
Chloe looked at Lucifer confused. "But I don't understand. You are vulnerable when I'm close."
"I was." Lucifer looked between them wondering why they still seemed so upset. "I'm not now."
"But…" Chloe started still having trouble comprehending what was happening.
"Would you rather I was vulnerable?"
"NO!" Chloe and Michael chorused.
Lucifer watched them look at each other even more confused. "Then what is the problem?"
Michael looked back at Lucifer. "It's just you were and now you're not. What changed?"
Lucifer looked intently at his twin. Michael had started shaking some and looked genuinely unsettled. Chloe was only doing slightly better. "You said it yourself, Michael."
"Said what?" Chloe was confused. She looked between the two quickly.
"I can't protect you if I'm vulnerable all the time." Lucifer answered her softly.
Michael stepped back a few steps toward the couch. Lucifer had actually heard him and took him seriously. With everything going on he had half expected his statement to cause Lucifer to withdraw from Chloe, and yet, Lucifer had actually made himself invulnerable again, all to protect Chloe.
Chloe pressed herself close to Lucifer resting her hands against the back of his neck and pressing her forehead against his. "I'm just happy you're okay."
Michael suddenly felt like a third wheel as he watched them breathe each other in with eyes closed. He sunk down onto the couch and stared down at his shaking hands. What was even happening? He wanted to cling to Lucifer and press himself close just to feel the life under his hands. He wanted to hold Chloe to help reassure her that everything was fine. He wanted to be held close so he could feel like he wasn't falling apart at the seams. He wanted the feel of soft feathers surrounding him and blocking out the world.
All the hate and anger was just gone. He couldn't find it to cling to. The image of Lucifer so lifeless was seared into his retina. He had almost lost his brother for good. There wasn't the choice of banishment to fall back on. Yes, Lucifer had been in Hell. No, Lucifer could never return to the Silver City, but he had been alive. Alive; there was something to hate and be angry at. Dead; there would be nothing, a literal nothing that they could never come back from, a hole that would never have the chance of being filled again.
Michael groaned raking his hands through his hair leaning forward over his knees. He felt nauseous and lost. The shaking wouldn't stop.
Chloe and Lucifer looked over at the noise. Chloe moved to go to him alarmed but Lucifer held her back.
"Don't." Lucifer warned. Chloe went to argue but Lucifer hushed her. "I've got him."
Chloe nodded sadly. The urge to hold Michael close was overwhelming but she had to let Lucifer take lead here.
Lucifer moved just within reach of Michael. "Michael." He called softly with no response. "Michael." Still nothing.
Lucifer sighed and crouched down in front of his brother. "Mike." Michael jerked and tensed but otherwise didn't move.
"Mike, look at me." Michael slowly looked up. Lucifer smiled softly at him. "There you are. Can I touch you?"
Slowly, Michael nodded.
Lucifer shifted closer until he was sitting beside his twin. Carefully, he lifted a hand to start trailing his fingers softly over the back of Michael's neck. It was a trick he had learned that never failed to calm his brother when he was upset. The trick to the trick was Michael allowing him close enough to use it. True to form, Michael slowly began to relax and even leaned into Lucifer's side after a few moments.
That scent. It had been too long since it had been this close; since it had been wrapped around him. Michael leaned into it letting it seep into him and slow his racing heart. It eased the tightness in his chest until he could breathe again. Michael could just image their little nest back home. He kept his eyes closed as to not ruin the illusion. The steady sound of Lucifer's heart beating in his ear was a balm he didn't realize he needed.
Just a moment; he would go back to being angry and distant later. Michael needed this, needed Sam, just for a moment.
Lucifer felt warmth bloom in his chest. When was the last time he had been able to hold Michael like this? The fact that Michael was allowing his touch spoke volumes to the progress he had not known they were making, or Michael was too overwhelmed right now to care.
He leaned over pressing his nose into Michael's hair breathing in the scent he thought he'd never smell again letting it warm him further.
Lucifer didn't care. He didn't care if in about five or so minutes, when Michael gathered himself enough to be bothered, that Michael would push him away. He didn't care that they would most likely go back to being angry and tense. He didn't care that their trust in one another was still slim.
He had his brother. He had Mike and he would hold him as long as was needed.
Chloe watched the entire scene with calm fascination. Lucifer was so gentle with Michael and his eyes held a tender fondness to them that made Chloe's heart ache. And Michael, he leaned into Lucifer so calmly, so willingly, that Chloe could see how much Michael had craved the comfort even if he denied it and hid the desire away. Something had torn them apart, drastically, but they were ultimately brothers who had been so close and still craved that closeness deep underneath all the hurt and sadness. Her heart ached for them.
"Lucifer?" She whispered.
Was it wrong of her to feel left out? Should she want to mold herself within them? Not between them, she didn't want that, but as a part of them.
Lucifer looked over at her the same level of fondness never leaving his eyes. Chloe made note of it for later. He smiled and nodded softly. "Slowly." He whispered back. His fingers never stopped their gentle rhythm.
Chloe moved as bid to Michael's other side. Michael looked like he was asleep. His breathing was soft and slow; his body perfectly relaxed where he rested against Lucifer's side.
Michael felt Chloe's approach, felt the air change and shift. If she touched him, he would grab her and pin her between them, he knew it. He didn't remember smelling Lucifer on her. They should remedy that and meld all their scents together. No…what? What was he thinking?
Chloe looked to Lucifer for reassurance to which he nodded softly. His eyes looked bright and different but he closed them before Chloe could process the change. No sooner had she gently touched Michael's arm did he jerk and bolt away from them. Chloe fell back with a pained grunt. Lucifer coughed from being elbowed in the ribs.
Michael scrambled to his feet and shook himself as though trying to shake off Lucifer's gentle touch. Lucifer and Chloe quickly got to their feet but before they could get to Michael he turned on them.
"I can't! I can't do this!"
"Do what?" Lucifer barked out.
"Michael." Chloe called softly. "No one is asking you to do anything."
Michael ignored her and instead pinned Lucifer in his gaze. "I can't, Lucifer…brothers…I can't. I'm sorry."
Before Chloe could move, before she could call out to him, Michael was gone in a flurry of feathers. She turned to Lucifer but he was staring at the floor pensively. "What just happened?" She demanded.
Lucifer closed his eyes his body tense. "I…I think I know what I did."
Chloe blinked at him feeling frustration rise. She was so close to crying again. "What did you do?"
Lucifer opened sad eyes. "I can't say, Detective. I swore I wouldn't."
"You can't…" Chloe wanted to pull her hair out. "What the hell, Lucifer? I am trying to help but I can't if I don't know anything!"
Lucifer said nothing but turned and walked up into his bedroom and out of sight. Chloe stood, fresh tears of hurt and frustration running down her face.
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Chloe was frustrated, upset, and hurt. Michael jerking away from her had stung more than she could admit. Lucifer had come with her the next morning to interrogate Klumsky but had been sullen and silent. She almost wished he hadn't come with her in the first place. They had all been doing so well. What the fuck happened to make it all go to, well, hell?
Dan and Ella both suggested she should just leave it alone a few days but the panic and pain in Michael's expression as he fled haunted her. What had happened?
Chloe pushed through the small gate of the villa and was startled to find Michael just getting out of the pool. Not only was he just wearing shorts but his wings were heavy and dripping behind him. She swallowed thickly realizing that he wasn't quite so groomed as Lucifer and forced her eyes not to follow the little trail of hair down. Michael looked resigned to her being there when he noticed her.
"Stay over there."
The commanding tone of his voice just served to turn her frustration into mild anger. She stepped forward to snap at him only to get drenched in a downpour of water. She screamed as she tried to cover her head and step back but the damage had already been done. Chloe gasped holding her arms out from her body taking in the soaked status of her clothes and hair.
"Michael!" She snapped in irritation.
He rolled his eyes unapologetically. "I told you to stay over there, Chloe. It's not my fault you didn't listen."
Chloe stared at him in simmering anger. Michael sighed moving to grab a towel from the stack sitting on the table and tossed it to her. She caught it watching him start running his fingers through the feathers on the inside of his left wing gently using a smaller towel to dry them.
"Are you grooming?" Chloe asked in surprise and awe. So angels really did have to groom their wings.
Michael glanced at her briefly before turning his attention back to his wing. "Just because you invited yourself does not mean I have to drop what I am doing. Are you going to dry yourself off or not?"
Right. Chloe watched him a minute more before she towel dried her hair. She used the towel to get the most of the water out of her clothes but without more to change into she would just have to deal with damp clothes. Thankfully, she had decided not to wear white today.
By the time she was done, Michael had moved from the inside of his wing to getting the feathers on the back; or attempting to anyway. He had it held down in front of him but couldn't quite get his hand to reach all the feathers. The wing moved up in another attempt in a different position but it obviously wasn't working by the irritated grumble and curse she heard from behind it. Chloe felt air rush past her as the wing was jerked back to settle behind Michael. It shook itself out but water still dripped from the tips of the feathers.
Chloe walked to the chairs by the table to place her towel over one so it could dry in the sun. "Um…want some help?" She winced a bit. Why would she ask that? Because she wanted to run her own fingers through the soft looking feathers; that's why.
Michael fixed her with a firm look that made Chloe feel like she had just insulted him. "No." His answer was firm and clipped. He moved to start the process again with the right wing grabbing another towel.
"Don't snap at me, Michael. You are not mad at me." Chloe said just as firmly.
"What are you even doing here?" he groused.
Chloe sighed. "I'm…I… don't know." She could say she wanted to help but was that really the case? Who was she trying to help? Lucifer? Michael? She only seemed to make things worse.
Michael sighed letting go of his wing to look at her. She was watching him almost sadly now. A quick search told him she was beginning to fear that she was hurting all of them; hurting him. Michael tilted his head. "Why do you even care, Chloe?"
Chloe looked at Michael standing in front of her. He was watching her calmly but his eyes were weary.
His wings shifted behind him while the feathers rustled in the gentle breeze that blew through. They looked so surreal, but very alive as they moved with each breath. The left one shook slightly to remove a leaf that had landed on it. Chloe knew they had wings but she had only gotten glimpses of the extra appendages. They moved independently of each other much like an extra set of arms.
"Eyes here, Chloe."
Chloe snapped her eyes back to Michael's face. A small amused smile graced his features. Those wings shook drawing her eyes again for a moment before she moved them back to the angel in front of her. He had asked her a question. Shouldn't she answer it? Chloe moved closer until she was standing right in front of him. Michael tensed but did not move from her.
"Why do I care? Because I see you."
Michael was confused but didn't say anything. Chloe gently placed a hand on his chest. She could feel his steady heartbeat. His wings shifted again almost nervously, drafting a hint of that same warm scent that she had picked up on earlier. Chloe met his eyes. She needed to take a chance.
"I've seen you smile. I've seen you laugh; heard you laugh." She traced the fingers of her other hand over the soft stubble on his cheek. Michael continued to watch her even as nervousness filled his eyes.
"I've watched you poke at your brother just to get his attention. I've watched you comfort and protect even when there was nothing in it for you. I saw your fear and anguish last night."
His eyes were dancing between hers now with the slightest little sliver of fear in them. He shifted, allowing one hand to rest on her hip. It didn't pull nor push; just simply rested there.
Chloe continued softly. "I see your warmth, Michael. I see you. You have a big heart and yes it is damaged and broken and scarred but it is still there. You hide it away behind the masks of anger and hate. I have no idea what happened but I see you. It may be selfish, no, it is selfish, but I want more of that warmth."
A hand carded through her hair, that she had taken down to dry, still damp from him shaking his feathers out earlier. His eyes held an emotion she couldn't quite lay name to.
"You are a fool, Chloe." Michael whispered before he pressed his lips to hers.
She should have resisted. She should have pushed him away.
Chloe sighed into the kiss. His lips were soft and gentle as they caressed hers. The warmth from his body burned through her still damp clothes. Michael kept the kiss gentle; just a simple glide of lips, just a simple taste. Chloe shivered and large wings wrapped around her instinctively. A warm musk surrounded her making her toes curl in her shoes. The hand on his chest slid up to rest on his shoulder, the other moving to slide through his hair.
Michael pulled back from her; his brown eyes blinked a couple times before his wings retracted from around her and he pushed her gently away from him taking her hands in his. The heated look in his eyes made her heart race.
"You should leave, Chloe."
"Michael…"
Michael shook his head letting go of her hands and turning away. "Go, before we both do something we'll regret."
Chloe sighed but nodded. He was right. Her hands clenched into fists to keep from reaching for him again, as she turned away. Chloe stopped just at the gate and looked back. Michael had gone back to grooming his wings but the motions seemed dulled now, slow and sad. Chloe felt a sense of foreboding settle over her. Why did she feel like he had told her goodbye?
Chloe attempted to call Lucifer multiple times on her way home but he never picked up. She threw the phone across the car with a frustrated yell. Dan and Ella had both been right. She should have left things alone and now look where she was.
Her chest tight, Chloe made the firm decision to focus on the Whisper Killer until she could handle things less emotionally. She had gotten in too deep and she needed to step back to try to figure a way out.
Once home, and freshly changed, she dived into her notes and research. Time passed by without her knowledge. She only turned her lamp on when it got too dark to see her notes. Finally, she found something, a lead to the real Whisper Killer. Once again, she dialed Lucifer only to receive no answer once again. She gritted her teeth but left him a message this time.
"Lucifer, I don't know why you are ghosting me again, but we really need to talk. In the meantime, I've found a lead." The soft sound of wings startled Chloe into turning around to find Michael standing nervously behind her. He shrugged his wings away without saying anything. "Look, Michael's here, call me back okay." Chloe pushed the end button laying her phone on the desk. "Michael, what are you doing here? You okay?"
He smiled softly at her but the smile seemed off somehow. "I'm fine. I've just been thinking." Michael moved closer until he was standing within arms-length of her.
Chloe felt chills race down her spine. Something felt wrong. "About what?" His posture was the same. He still stood with a slight lean to the left.
"I don't want to leave things the way it was when you left earlier." A hand reached up to caress her cheek. His touch felt wrong.
"Okay." Chloe agreed softly removing the hand and turning back to her notes staying as calm as she could. Something wasn't right. Something was wrong but she couldn't determine what it was. "I want to finish this case then we can talk, okay?"
"There's a new case?"
Chloe narrowed her eyes but continued to write down notes on her pad of paper. "I felt something was wrong with The Silencer case so I'm digging deeper into it."
Michael hummed behind her. "Yes, The Silencer. What are you finding?"
Chloe felt her heart seize up in fear. Michael knew she doubted their recent case and was looking into it. Michael would have corrected the name to the Whisper Killer. He was so detail oriented he wouldn't have been able to let the slip go. Chloe tore off the top sheet of paper quickly folding it and went to put it in her pocket but let it drop to the floor turning around gun in hand.
Michael tilted his head at her surprised. "Chloe?"
"You're not Michael. I don't know how you are doing it, but you are not him." Chloe said firmly.
The intruder laughed nervously. "Come on, Chloe. You've been working long hours maybe…"
Chloe shot him in the knee feeling pleased when he winced. "Stop using his voice." She had heard the wings. Her shot not taking him down finalized her assumption into fact. A strange angel was in her home.
Michael's face turned cold as he sneered at her. She watched horrified as the image filtered away to reveal a completely different face. This face was more angular, sharp, and clean shaven. Brown strands of hair slightly covered bright green eyes that continued to glare at her. Dark washed jeans and leather jacket replaced the slacks and turtle neck. Chloe blinked trying to make sense of it. What the hell was happening?
"You couldn't make this easy, could you?" His voice was deep with the slightest gravely sound. Large wings appeared with a rush of air just before he reached for her.
Chloe threw the gun at him hitting him in the face. He hissed; his hands covered his face. Those large wings flared out knocking things into the floor. Shooting him wouldn't help her but if he got his hands on her she was screwed. She grabbed her phone and made a dash toward the door hitting speed dial at the same time. Please, Lucifer, pick up! Her mind screamed.
Chloe crashed face first into feathers that appeared out of nowhere. The wing pushed her back. Somehow, Chloe was able to keep her feet under her and dodge the hand that tried to grab her ducking and rolling under the other wing. The bad thing; she lost her phone in the process. Chloe watched helplessly as her phone was crushed under foot before it could even get to voicemail. Fuck.
"You won't be needing that." The angel growled. His wings were raised and tense in anger but they looked odd. She couldn't get a clear look at them because of how the light casted shadows over them, but the feathers looked brittle, nothing like the healthy sheen of Michael's or Lucifer's. "Now be a good human and cooperate."
Fuck that. Chloe tried to dodge him but he was too quick. His wing knocked into her again and this time he was close enough that his hand was able to grab a fistful of her hair. Chloe screamed in pain and fear. The angel laughed at her before he flapped his wings and they were gone.
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Another cliffhanger…I'm sorry…please don't kill me…
