Verbena
"So... what was the reason you brought me along, Luci?"
Walking through thinning heaven throngs. Letting the chits and chatters fade, the pure white of golden wells, dim into a chill hues of space whispers and celestial benignity glows.
"The Virtues are assigning me with a new wished angel."
"And?"
"I want you to help, my dear Loquel-"
"Stop. By the Nile's... they have eyes on me still?"
The one named Luci sighed, eyeing the other with a worried front. Leaving for the dark to groan.
"It leaves a lot of grey areas, you know? Endo is a crime, based to those that once followed you."
The dark gives a short chuckle, hollow in each hitch as they reached the cosmic edge. They watched as the solarims twisting and gliding in the dark voids, cold in sight and inch by touch, while planets and warm gasket bright helios bring color and heaten grasps. Edge by realms not of humane nor quite extraterrestrial.
"Yet, the Almighty let me stay. How witless. We all make mistakes, Lucifer."
"Is there any, just anyway to lessen those truths?"
"This is my iniquity to deal with and I know well. Simple as it ills me. I ask if you just pray for me." The dark on groans, as the words an oily slime filtering through his lips. Leading for an eyebrow to twitch when hearing the other loose a chuckle.
"I'll leave it as that." Lucifer stated, golden tint eyes watch the sterling hatchlings, twinkling against the gaseous spherules. Out of to calm his slowly arising nerves, straighten the simple tunic and robe cloths, laying limp over his crossed arm near his being.
"Why the thimbles, Luci? Fearing that you can't be big brother?"
"Oh, silence you. I was told of the cluster and that is what worries me."
A growing smirk from the other can't withhold the mischief, saying. "Ah! Wait... let me sooth this. Do we have another from Abaddon? If so, I say we were vice to fail, brother. Or maybe, nay, the posh realm of Malakbel or the cynical Radueriel. Now, that has it's own reward." The dark roots a harsh laughter out, in landish in not to fall over by the irony before the angel.
"Loquel."
"The threat isn't in your bite. Answer though."
"Artiya'il."
A beat of silence rested between them.
"Oh..." Was all the one dubbed Loquel echoed, eyeing his fellow angel. Understanding the worries now. Releasing a low whistle, finishing his reply. "What a lonely cluster. How many wishes reach there? Three or so every zettasecond. What a pray that must have been."
"Agreed."
"We were still called to fail, brother."
"I know. But I hope to make of something of this fate."
"In what the Almighty commands?"
A hollow leaves with the words. "We all know how that ended last time. No. I'm going to try."
"Bold."
"And?"
"I shall enjoy for y-"
His words were stumped by a thud. Light and quick. Landing to his back and arching feather wings to cushion the blow. Luicfer standing near in shock at the sight before him. A shakey laugh breaks as the emotions set in what felt fine. Seeing a tiny bare wraith, no large then a small child of eight or nine with a golden tan and dark wild locks near their shoulders, shivering from the sudden change in temperature laying in a daze on top of the dark angel.
"Quiet you." Loquel grounded out, slowly sitting up and in care of the small being nestled in his side, eyeing the new arrival. Heaved a sighed, wanting to give into the will to shove the new arrival off him, before gently patting the small one's head. A brow arched when a murmuring of hisses and sobs reach his ears. Though, added nothing back. Easing the shiver enough to stand and lean the little one to Lucifer, saying. "Your neophyte."
Lucifer snickered from the other's dull annoyance, taking the small one, sparing a glance in seeing Loquel strighten himself, huffing now and then. Filtched when hearing. "I think you mean our neophyte. You are not getting out of this... brother."
Ignoring the grumbling, Lucifer had the small one face him. A frown slipping from his grin when seeing the small one's closed off stance. Head down, eyes shut, wiry limbs secure around themselves like a wall. Lucifer held a hand to brush some loose locks of hair that frame rounded face, pausing when the small one pulled back.
"No need to fear us. We're hear to help you. Looks like your not hurt at least." Lucifer said kindly, eyeing Loquel in sign to bend in tune, which was reluctantly answered. Sparing to speak while the cloths out as a peace offering. "I'm Lucifer. This is-"
"I go by eleventy names. Use them at your own risk."
"Really, Loquel, did you have to be like this? Shameful." Lucifer chastised, leaning back to the small on to hold out the tunic, saying. "Here, you must be cold after such a glide. Go on."
The small one didn't move. Annoying the dark angel. Leaving a jump from the small one groaned deeply, as he spoke roughly. "Strighten up, child. You're elders are talking to you. Eyes up or get a beating."
"Loquel!"
"It work. Child is a fast learner." Loquel pointed out, as the small one stood ramrod, eyes open like a owl. Adding, somewhat kindly. "Take the cloths, child."
Twitchy fingers take the cloth, yet let Lucifer help guide the ware go right. Lucifer letting a small smile show when the tiny spirit seem to enjoy the warmth the cloths gave. Though when Lucifer went to fix the robes, the content face snap wide in caution to the other. Looking into plum dark eyes as irises of stars expand in wonderment and confusion.
"Your robes were just askew. It's alright."
Once the little one nodded, pause in silence before eyes look to the dark angel. A whimper bleed through the thin lips.
"Take your time. Your voice will come. Takes time for most new souls."
"Really, Luci, don't start spoiling. You haven't spoke a name to it."
Lucifer just rolled his eyes at the other, about to speak but stopped when hearing a whispy chirp voice slipped the new spirit's thin lips.
"What was that, little one?"
A pause. Silence was their only reply back.
"It's going to be a long day."
"Loquel, your charm is slip-"
"I-I... didn't h-h-hurt you?"
Both looked in shock. One pleasant. Another in bewilderment.
"Excuse me?"
The sudden snap from the dark one had the child close up again.
Lucifer chuckled, running a kind hand through the little one's windwand feral hair, which again leaned away but not as far. Speaking softly. "Well. Seems we were blessed with a fast learner, indeed. He's fine, child. Just a natural cross."
"Says a lot coming from you."
"Don't start. You thirst of a petty fight, is just shameful."
"Wasn't doing anything, Luci."
"I don't quite-" Words skipped, when Lucifer felt a small hand touched his, looking to see the small one holding tight, as a child could do, tugging with those wide eyes. Lucifer could see the little wingless angel try to find words to speak.
"Yes?"
"D-don't fight... please. I don't l-like it."
"Wonderful. The child is a dove too." Loquel stated, standing tall while ruffling the child's hair. A smirk in place when hearing the other's displeasure. Chuckling when the child duck away and hid behind Lucifer, pouting back.
"Loquel. Stop while you're ahead."
"What? I'm just making the most of it."
"Your humor is horrid, brother."
"B-brother is-s-s horrid, y-yes."
They looked to child, only for the child to tuck behind Lucifer further. Peaking out when feeling first than hearing the laughter echo out of the pale one.
"You brat."
The tone, though it held no bite had the child gripping to the giggling Lucifer despite better judgment.