Title: dreams were all they gave for free

Disclaimer: not my characters; title from Janis Ian.

Warnings: very AU; implied past non-con

Rating: PG13

Wordcount: 785

Point of view: third

Prompt: Lucifer/Castiel + any, AU wherein the angels are a giant mafia family and Lucifer's helping Castiel with training/gun skills/etc.

Castiel never wanted to join the family business. He was angry when Gabriel left because Gabe didn't ask him to go. And now, all of Father's attention is on Castiel, grooming him to take Gabriel's place, whether Castiel wants to or not.

"C'mon, little brother," Lucifer says, one hand low on Castiel's back, the other wrapped around a knife. Lucifer has always been one of Castiel's least favorite brothers, just below Raphael on the list.

"You know," Lucifer continues, moving his free hand to grasp Castiel's right, arranging his fingers around the knife's hilt, "ever since Uriel's betrayal, Father has kept a special eye on you, Cas."

Castiel nods, because he did know that. He followed Uriel around like a puppy, eager for any scraps of attention. Uriel kept him safe from Raphael's grasp, though Uriel didn't know it. But Uriel was so intimidating that even Raphael stayed a safe distance away.

Gabe, Michael, and Lucifer are the only ones who didn't fear Uriel. And when he finally turned on Castiel, only Anna's sudden appearance saved him.

And if Father or Lucifer or even Joshua, the eldest son and Father's heir, knew what Castiel was doing…

"Hold it like this," Lucifer whispers in Castiel's ear; Castiel shudders, wishing desperately he could pull away, angry at Gabriel for not taking him along, and hoping that the Winchester brothers can help him.

"Father thinks you could really be something one day, kid," Lucifer tells him, correcting his grip on the knife. "Balthazar wants you with him, shadowing him for the next few months."

"I'll go wherever Father wants me to," Castiel responds. "I'll do whatever he wants."

His single chance of escaping this life and surviving is if the Winchesters come through. Why didn't Gabriel take him, too?

"Remember, Cas," Lucifer says, "Father's always got eyes on you."

Castiel nods. "I understand." His fingers tighten on the knife and Lucifer smiles.

He was supposed to meet Sam tonight, hand over a few copies of some of Father's more incriminating files. Sam swore that his brother had connections, would be able to help.

Castiel was once Father's favorite, his boy with a sweet grin and laughing eyes. Castiel isn't cut out for this life and everyone knows it. And with Uriel's betrayal a fresh wound… Azazel and Alistair would even enjoy it, if Castiel proved traitor. In Father's grief, he'd most likely give them permission to show Castiel the error of his ways.

"C'mon," Lucifer says. "Throw the knife. If you hit the target in the heart, I'll give you prize."

Castiel doesn't want anything Lucifer would consider a prize. But he imagines Lucifer's smirking face and the knife goes in, straight through the middle. Lucifer whoops and turns Castiel to face him, with that same damnable smirk twisting his lips.

"Little brother," he says, "you really should invest in stealth training. Meg followed you last week." He makes a show of his hands being empty before revealing a driver's license.

"If I give the word," Lucifer says, "she'll strike and your pretty little lawyer is dead."

Castiel's mouth is dry, and he thinks his heart might have skipped a beat or three.

"And Michael," Lucifer continues, so gently Castiel wants to bury a knife in his throat. "Our dear brother wants to taste the lawyer's brother. It's been so long since Father really let him loose… how long do you think it would take, before Special Agent Winchester screamed? He doesn't look that tough to me." Lucifer's eyes are sharp when he adds, "Of course, I never thought you'd betray us."

"I… I haven't yet," Castiel stammers, backing up a step. "I just… Father wouldn't let me go, you know he wouldn't, and I can't stay here, Lucifer. I can't."

Lucifer nods but doesn't speak. "I do understand," he says softly, reaching out to trace his fingers along Castiel's jaw. "And if you do me a favor, Castiel, I'll see to it that Lilith creates a new identity for you. I can even send you to Gabriel, if that's what you want."

Any favor Lucifer could want isn't a favor Castiel wants to do. But… "The Winchesters," he asks. "If I do this for you, you'll get me a new identity and you'll leave them alone."

"Of course," Lucifer murmurs, leaning in. "Don't you trust me, little brother?" he breathes into Castiel's neck before his lips are warm on Castiel's skin and his teeth bite down just enough to feel, but not enough to hurt. Not yet.

No, Castiel doesn't trust him. The only one he's ever trusted was Gabriel, and Gabriel left him behind.

"What's the favor?" Castiel asks.

He already knows he'll do it, whatever it is.