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022. Enemies

"What is it with you and indecent clothing?" Aziraphale frowned as he saw Crowley's attire. It wasn't that the demon wasn't clothed, rather that the clothing only emphatized the parts it was supposed to hide. It made him very awkward to look at.

"Indecent? What do you mean?" Crowley grinned. "I happen to think this is perfect. And it's at least more than what I wore when we first met after the Flood, remember?"

Aziraphale remembered. And, despite himself, he blushed.

"Aw, the angel is blushing," Crowley said, laughing. "You know, we really should get drunk together some day. I bet I could get you to loosen up a bit."

"I don't want to 'loosen up a bit,'" Aziraphale replied stiffly. "Especially not with you. I've no desire to join your side due to some stupid sins committed under the influence of alcohol."

"Oh, come on, Aziraphale. It's not like mere wine will cause you to Fall." The golden eyes flickered with mirth as a forked tongue slipped out to taste the demon's lips. Aziraphale suppressed a shiver.

"Mere wine may not, but your tempting just might," he said uncomfortably. "Stop that, vile serpent. I will not fall to your temptations."

Crowley pouted. "You are boring."

"Maybe," Aziraphale replied, "but still an angel. Despite everything."

"What are you doing here, anyway?" asked Crowley then. "Shouldn't you be working? Doing all good angel-y things and such? There are hardly any humans around here."

"I should rather ask what you are doing here," Aziraphale snapped. "Last week I saw you on the other side of the world. I'm here to keep an eye on a particular situation, if you absolutely must know."

"You were on the other side of the world last week, too," Crowley said. "And what kind of a situation might that be, exactly?"

Aziraphale smirked rather un-angelically. "Try to find out."

Frowning, the demon reached out with his senses. There was something there, something he couldn't quite catch, and –

The golden snake-like eyes widened. "Oh. That's – that's an archangel, at least. Gabriel? Or Uriel?"

"Michael," replied Aziraphale. "I'm not sure what he is doing here, but I was told to keep an eye on him. His presence on Earth might draw some… undesired elements… here. Some demons might even be foolish enough to think that they can win him should they join together."

"Understandable," Crowley replied. "There aren't many demons who wouldn't gladly teach him a lesson. It might even cause –" Suddenly, his eyes got even wider. Then, he hissed, "Get your aura down, angel, if you don't want to get killed. Now."

Aziraphale frowned. "What do you –" Then he fell silent. "Oh," he said quietly after getting over his first shock. "I understand what you mean."

"As I said," Crowley said grimly, "there aren't many demons who wouldn't like to beat Michael. However, there is only one in particular who would do almost anything to do that…"

"Yes," Aziraphale agreed, his voice very quiet. "The greatest grudge against him is that of Lucifer Morningstar."

Michael was quiet as he looked into the icy blue eyes. Finally, he broke the silence, saying, "It's been a long time, Lucifer."

"I should think so," replied the other being, smirking. "I trust you have been well."

"Very well, thank you," replied the angel, his hand constantly kept on the hilt of his sword, ready to attack at the smallest sign of threat. "In fact, I've been better than ever before. Being rid of your presence might explain that."

"You liked my presence well enough, as I recall," replied Lucifer, still smirking. "I can still remember how you used to beg for more… Do you miss that, Michael? Do you ever lie awake at night and wish I was there?"

The Morningstar was radiating temptation, his whole being focused on reminding Michael of the pleasures they'd shared in the past. However, Michael fixed his mind's eye on another image, an image of green eyes and onyx hair, and eyes full of innocent love instead of lustful desire. Ignoring the Fallen's attempt at charming him, he stood firm, his expression calm as ever.

"Of course, I forgot," Lucifer continued. "You've probably found yourself somebody else by now, haven't you? How is it, Michael? Did you find somebody who could give you the same kind of pleasure I did? Or have you taken somebody else as your slut instead?"

Now, Michael's expression turned into a grimace, something that didn't go unnoticed by his enemy. Grinning triumphantly, Lucifer went on.

"Oh, wasn't that the rumour in Heaven now? The recently Fallen are good for gossip, you know. So you managed to drag the prim and proper Uriel into your bed at last, eh? I always thought he was so full of Him he hardly even noticed anybody else. Tell me, how is he? He must be quite a nice lay. Being so used to obeying orders, he probably does whatever you ask him to, doesn't he?"

"That," Michael said, forcing himself not to attack, "is none of your business, I believe. Though I may tell you," he then said, smirking rather unangelically, "that he is a thousand times better than you ever were."

"Is that so?" Lucifer raised an eyebrow. "One of these days I shall maybe have a try at him myself. If he is as good as you say, it'd be a waste to leave him to you."

Michael narrowed his eyes. "You will never lay a finger on Uriel," he said. "Even if you could get through me, which I very much doubt, His Presence would kill you the moment you attempted to hurt him."

"If I were you," Lucifer said, still smirking, "I wouldn't be so sure." At Michael's doubtful gaze, he seemed even more triumphant than before. "My plans have been set in motion a long time ago," he announced, "and one day, sooner than you might expect, you will lose your dear Uriel to me… forever."

Now, Michael's resolve finally broke, and he drew his sword, in full flame. However, as he made to strike the Adversary, Lucifer was already away.

"Did you hear that?" asked Aziraphale, glancing at Crowley. He was infinitely grateful the two powerful beings had been too concentrated on each other to notice their muffled auras. "How in Heaven's name does Lucifer think he could get Uriel? I know Uriel's the one angel who would be the last to Fall..."

Crowley seemed a bit uncomfortable. "I'm wondering more about why Michael didn't attack right away," he said. "It would have been the perfect opportunity. If he'd done it, he would have probably damaged the Morningstart a lot."

"I thought you knew," Aziraphale said, confused. "They used to be lovers before the Fall. Of course Michael wouldn't be too eager to attack him. And besides, it is very probable that Lucifer would have won him, instead. The only angel who could completely defeat him is Uriel, and even that's only because of the Presence."

"But they haven't been together for millennia!" Crowley protested. "How could he still love Lucifer enough not to want to harm him?"

"I wouldn't expect you to understand," Aziraphale sighed. "After all, you are not an angel." He glanced at where the archangel and the Adversary had just moments before stood. "I'm worried about whatever it is Lucifer is planning, though. He didn't sound like he was just taunting Michael. It was like he truly has something in mind to trap Uriel."

"You shouldn't worry," Crowley muttered. "I know Uriel. He's so stubborn that nothing can make him go to Lucifer's side." His grim expression then turned into a tiny smirk. "So he's sleeping with Michael now, eh? Well, that's something I never expected..."

"None of us did," Aziraphale replied. "Especially after Uriel had turned him down and they avoided each other for centuries..."

Crowley's smirk got even broader. "What did I tell you? Stubborn as ever."

"Michael?" Uriel frowned as he saw his lover. "What is wrong? You look awful."

Michael didn't say anything. Instead, Uriel found to his great surprise himself drawn into an almost desperate embrace, the warrior clinging to him as though his life depended on it.

"I met Lucifer," Michael finally muttered after a long silence. "And he… he said he would take you from me…"

Sighing, Uriel wound his fingers in the taller angel's long hair. "That's not going to happen and you know it," he said. "Neither of us is going to Fall. Lucifer will never get either of us. He just said that to taunt you."

"I know that," Michael agreed quietly. "However, even the mere thought of Lucifer getting his filthy hands at you… It made me want to die."

"Well, don't you dare die on me," Uriel said with a faint smile. "Because then, Lucifer would have won."

Michael didn't say anything. He just held on even tighter.

Next Prompt: Lovers