"Dressed in the skin,

the wolf strolled into the pasture with the sheep.

Soon the little lamb was following him about,

and was quickly led away to slaughter."

- Aesop's Fables, "The Wolf In Sheep's Clothing"

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Warning: Lucifer/Percy fluff (?)

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Lucifer woke up to a warm body next to him, and he smiled softly as he combed his fingers through the black feathers that were draped over him like a blanket. His partner shivered but didn't wake, and Lucifer moved to run his hands through the equally black, mussed hair. This was all his for the taking, and it made him a bit power-crazed, even though he was in charge of the second-largest military in all of Heaven and Hell.

He nuzzled his partner's neck, breathing in the smell of the sea that he was always getting drunk on, and other began to stir, his eyelids fluttering and eventually opening to reveal the most beautiful set of sea green eyes that Lucifer had ever seen. He shifted a bit from his position, his back pressed against Lucifer's front with his wings draped over the man's body, their legs tangled together under the sheets.

"Good morning, sweetheart," he mumbled, and the angel let out a soft hum in reply, stretching to get all of the kinks out. Lucifer watched the strong muscles of his back stretch and relax with a very ravenous gleam in his eye, tracing a finger over his sharp shoulder blades and the light imprints of his vertebrae. He eventually reached the place where wing fused with flesh, where the feathers were more rumpled and haphazard than the glossy neatness of the outer ones. The wings were one of the reasons why Lucifer preferred this partner over Lilith, his wife of many millennia. She'd been a joke, really; always too snobbish and whiny, wanting and wanting and wanting to the point where the King of Hell was considering throwing himself off a cliff.

Perseus was different, though. All of his bad traits had been suppressed, and he was now left with a submissive and pliant mate that sent zings up and down his spine. He was quiet, respectful, and affectionate; the perfect image of a mate that Lucifer had for so long sought out. He'd never really belonged with a demon; demons didn't get the concept of mates, for they were the usually the hit-and-run type. They didn't settle down with one partner, but were in truth the embodiment of one night stands that usually ended with pregnancy, and that's how demons kept their numbers up when soul counts were low. Lucifer was from Heaven originally, and craved that satisfaction that mates provided. Sure, his views of mates were slightly old-fashioned and traditional, but Perseus didn't have a problem with it at all, so all was well. It used to be just to cause Michael that extra emotional pain, but now Lucifer allowed himself to indulge, and was greatly enjoying

He let out a huff when Perseus hoisted himself up, with many grunts and winces, and looked at the clock, groaning. "I think you overslept," he grumbled sleepily in that gorgeous voice of his, his eyes half closed and adorably bleary.

"I'm the King of Hell. Time will just have to wait," Lucifer replied smoothly, and wrapped his arms around the angel's middle, pulling him close once more. Perseus mumbled something incoherent and melted into the touch.

He knew that the spell had been modified to perfection, and even though Perseus' eyes still needed to look a little less…dead, at least he was now responsive and witty, with facial expressions to smiled at this, and, with reluctance, got up from bed.

Perseus let out an indignant huff at the loss of warmth before he got up as well. Lucifer turned and quirked an eyebrow, knowing fully well that Perseus was a fan of sleeping late, "You can stay in bed if you want."

"Nah, I'm hungry," his mate replied. You're always hungry, the Archangel wanted to say, but refrained from it. "I'll get that fallen angel cook Polybotes to make me some blue pancakes." Lucifer knew that yes, Polybotes was a good cook, especially when he fried up some unsuspecting mortal and served it to the more traditional fallen angels and demons, however he didn't like the way the fallen angel acted towards his lover. Rudely, yes, and he seemed keen to pounce on the poor thing if Lucifer kicked the bucket, and the Archangel wouldn't put it past him to drug the pancakes.

"Why don't you go find Alcyoneus? Polybotes is more of the deep-fried barbeque type," he suggested, knowing fully well that the other fallen angel was safer and more respectful to authority.

"Even better! I just gotta take a shower," he said and trekked across their huge master bedroom towards their master bathroom, though Lucifer was very, very happy to see that he was hobbling slightly. Their bathroom was almost, if not larger than the bedroom and contained a hot tub, regular tub, two stand-up showers, one shower/tub combo with an incorporated Jacuzzi, two toilets that came with seat warmers and a whole bunch of different settings, and a view of the Los Angeles skyline from a huge one-way window. Their quarters were the only personal room that contained any form of magic, as demonstrated by the fact that they were so far underground that any chance of seeing a skyline of any sort out of a window was impossible, on top of all the heavy warding against the heavenly host and their minions alike.

"Mind if I join you?" Lucifer asked.

"I actually intend to get some bathing done, thank you very much."

-Ω-

Percy knew the halls of the palace well, even if the palace was underground. He walked in his black suit, which Lucifer insisted upon and he'd taken without question, with a regal air, and people bowed and curtsied when he passed. He was merely going to the kitchens to consult with the main cook there, Alcyoneus, about his blue pancakes. They'd become rather close, with Perseus' bizarre orders and Alcyoneus' bizarre desire for a challenge, and he was looking forward to the meal. He was still slightly sore but greatly content, though there was something inside of him that he just couldn't pinpoint, a screaming and pounding that told him that no, he didn't want this. But why ever not? Lucifer was a kind and loving mate who took good care of him, and in return Percy was determined to do the same.

He was just about to descend the stairs into the kitchen when he was stopped by a fallen angel that he knew all too well. Polybotes. He was a good cook and brother of Alcyoneus, Otis, Encleadas, Ephialtes, Orion, Damasen, Mimas, Hippolytus, Clytius, Thoon, and Periboia, as well as half-brother to the demon Porphyrion. All of those fallen angels were a part of the Watchers, or the original third that fell from Heaven. They all still had their wings, or what was left of them, since Uriel couldn't formally cut them off in the chaos of the War in Heaven. He was nice enough, but a little too touchy-feely for Perseus' liking.

"Hello, sweetie," he crooned, emerging from the shadow of a pillar. Perseus ignored him and continued on, keeping his gaze locked ahead. "I'm surprised you're not busy following Lucifer around like a lost puppy." The only thing that signaled Percy's irritation was the fact that a muscle in his jaw jumped and his wings twitched slightly. Polybotes wasn't going to be deterred that easily, though, and cut in front of him, grinning. His teeth were a bit yellowed and his eyes held that light that Percy could only pinpoint as pure malevolence, a light that he seldom saw in Lucifer's eyes.

"Please, let me through," the black-winged angel ground out through clenched teeth. Sure, Polybotes was always rude, but never this much so. He certainly didn't remark on his and Lucifer's romantic life, thank you very much, or Percy would've taken to avoiding the fallen angel much sooner.

"I could be better to you, you know," Polybotes pointed out, his voice a serpent's whisper that couldn't be ignored, and took a step closer. Percy started at this and leapt back, finally allowing his wings to flare wide in a threatening position. He was taken, dammit, and this fallen angel had no right to try and flirt with hom. The fallen angel was now showing off his plumage, and Percy realized that not only was he being flirted with, but propositioned as well. "I could show you things you've never even dreamed of."

"Leave me alone. I could report you for this," Perseus snarled.

"But you won't, because you're Lucifer's perfect little bitch, and violence isn't in your program." Percy faltered, though he kept his eyes narrowed and his wings flared. He wouldn't allow this grade-A d-bag get the best of him. Polybotes continued, circling around him like a vulture. "Clipped your pretty little wings, too. Such a shame."

"Shut up!" Perseus snapped, darting to get to the kitchens where he knew he'd receive sanctuary, but Polybotes snagged the collar of his suit and he stumbled, narly careening right into Polybotes' chest, but he managed to teist out of his grip.

"I could take you away from this place, you know." Perseus let out a panicked cry, trying to get around Polybotes, but the giant was too fast. Seriously, all he'd wanted were some pancakes. He didn't sign up for this shit.

"You sick son of a bitch!" Percy spat, beating his wings furiously to try and intimidate the fallen angel, but he wasn't surprised when it didn't work. It neither caused Polybotes to back down nor allowed the angel to take flight. He was completely and utterly helpless, though for some reason he couldn't be mad at Lucifer for it, though that part of his head was screaming louder than ever before. "Lucifer will tear you to shreds!"

"If you won't go willingly, I just might have to steal you." Polybotes snarled, his hand clamping down on Percy's wrist. He was just beginning to drag Percy away when an ungodly roar ripped through the hallway. Polybotes whirled around, releasing Percy in the process, and the angel scrambled back, his teeth bared and his wings raised. Lucifer stood fifty yards away, his shoulders trembling with fury and his eyes completely consumed by black, merely bottomless pits, and his wings arched over him, much larger than Polybotes' by far; they were the wings of an Archangel, and Archangels were not to be defied or crossed.

Lucifer roared again, his torn and battered white suit giving him an even more sinister air, and for the first time Percy was genuinely afraid of him and his power. Polybotes was trembling, his wings brushing the ground in attempt to show obedience and submission, which Perseus found funny since it's what he'd been insulted for five minutes ago, but it was doing no good in easing the fallen Archangel's fury.

"You don't touch him!" he bellowed and in an instant Polybotes was being hoisted into the air by his neck, his wings flailing uselessly as Lucifer bared fangs that had only just now slid from his gums. Gasping out apologies, Polybotes was going blue, and even though it wouldn't kill him it sure as hell would be uncomfortable. Percy sneered at him when their eyes met, though inside he felt a twinge of pity for the creep; Lucifer's wrath was a painful one, and nobody who suffered through it would be the same ever again. A small crowd had begun to assemble, drawn by the commotion, and it included Kronos, Lucifer's commanding officer, and many of Polybotes' siblings. Nobody, however, was stepping in, possibly for fear of punishment, but Perseus saw it in their eyes; they liked this. They liked seeing the misfortune and pain of others, and as a few helped him to his feet and dusted him off, he couldn't help but see them for what they really were; unholy beings that could kill and ravage like savage beasts and love it all the same.

Lucifer dropped an unconscious Polybotes onto the floor and everyone clapped and jeered, spitting at the still form that would wake from the Healing Slumber soon enough.

"Take him to Archangel Raphael's cell. I'm sure that sucker would like a word or two with him," Lucifer growled lowly, an alpha wolf who'd protected their title and their pack. The Archangel's eyes met Percy's and the angel ran to him, the seriousness of the situation crashing down upon him. He could've been raped in that hallway. He could've been claimed by an angel he didn't want claiming him. But as Lucifer held him close and nuzzled his neck as the crowd dispersed, the voice in his head told him that that had already happened.

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(A/N) I loved writing this chapter because angels, like birds, have mates and it was a whole bunch of fluff that made me make this strange sound that had my entire family wondering 'tf is wrong with her'. I hope you like it!