Have a Drink On Me, Brother: Chapter 4
The prestigious nightclub Lux was vacant from the usual hedonistic crowd on that particular Wednesday evening. Its lights were dimmed and the interior was quiet apart from the occasional notes from an onyx piano. The lone figure who played its keys played with an almost aching perfection for the human ears.
It has been three days since the death of Father Frank. Lucifer was not elevated. He was consumed with sudden flares of anger throughout the day towards that stinking excuse of a human. He felt anger towards his Father, for the way he has treated those who did not question his ways and were faithful to him. It wasn't fair. But perhaps he felt anger towards himself the most. He was not able to aid the Father when he needed protection. He could have easily crushed the dealer whom he was suspicious of in order to protect Father Frank. Yet, he wasn't there. Another thing to add on the list of things he screwed up.
Then he remembered the little duet with the Detective. He remembered his bafflement at her minimal yet amusing attempt as a pianist. He admitted it was very sweet of her to come by after…the incident. She seemed to have predicted Lucifer's mood and he was glad she did because no matter how amusing her choice of song was he was relieved she was here: that she cared.
Yet as he entertained these thoughts, he could not help but allow his mind to wander to the amusing caretaker whom they met in St. Morgan's…
He was rather surprised to find that he was the unfortunate victim of the Detective's car. Though he has never spoken to him before he couldn't shake the feeling that they were acquainted. Of course, his Enochian knowledge surprised him the most. It has been what? Five millennia? Ten? Since he has spoken it. He hasn't spoken it since… His stomach squirmed uncomfortably at the thought: Since his fall.
He adamantly decided never to speak in that tongue, just to defy heaven yet again. However, when he spoke it with the quirky caretaker it came back so naturally. He wondered where he might have learnt it.
Lucifer made a mental note to question Gabriel upon their next meeting.
Meeting.
His mind quickly flashed back to his terror-stricken face. He knew that face. It was the face of every living mortal who knew who he was. But at a certain moment, he could have sworn that he has seen something else in the man's eyes not just fear: it was pain. Not just any pain. Being the best punisher around he was very privy to every kind of pain there was so he knew what he saw in those eyes was the pain of betrayal.
He found it rather ironic, as that was the one type of pain he was personally familiar with.
Yet what could he have done to have betray that man if they have never spoken before?
These thoughts swirled in his mind as his fingers danced on the piano's pearly white keys until he heard footsteps descending from the steps. Along with them they carried a scent of incense and hot chocolate. And somehow he knew.
"Ah, if it is not the Church caretaker with a flair for Enochian. IRGIL G-CHIS-GE OL*?"
'The Trickster,' the King of Hell scoffed mentally, 'What kind of a title is that?'
A little while later the Devil found himself regarding the church caretaker opposite him with an expression of unmistakable curiosity and bafflement. He was not only immune to his powers but he has seen Hell. And not just seen Hell, helped Father in 'making it more terrifying'? To him it sounded nothing short of absurd.
He regarded the man in front of him once more. He wasn't anything exceptional, although he did have handsome features. He wore ordinary clothes and he clearly was not immortal, judging from the cast on his arm from the bullet wound which he probably sustained from…
Lucifer shook the unpleasant memories from his head.
Yet when he thought about it, he too was rather vulnerable near the formidable Detective. Could it be that he too was susceptible to her presence? But then again, she was not here and he did appear as if his arm was hurting him still.
The way his presence felt was another thing. His aura was so familiar, familiar like the beat of an old song but its lyrics forgotten… It did not feel supernatural either…
The fallen angel leaned half an inch to his right to look at him again and saw Gabriel down his shot of bourbon. Only to start coughing violently, clutching his throat.
"Wha-" He gulped loudly, "In the Holy Hell was that?"
Lucifer's eyebrows simply ascended closer to his hairline in amusement.
"That, my friend was a simple shot of Jack Daniel's," He said as he made his way towards the bar counter, "And judging from your reaction, you have probably never drank it before."
Gabriel simply scowled at him. "I have, just under different circumstances."
Lucifer sneered at him playfully, "Oh really, what kind of circumstances?"
He could tell that Gabriel was getting more and more annoyed with him as he pinched the brim of his nose and shut his eyes before he exhaled furiously.
"Listen," he demanded, "I'm not here to drink."
"Then, what are you here for?" He shot back curtly.
There was a coldness in the club owner's eyes that confirmed Gabriel's suspicions: He knew that he wasn't human. And if he were to take a guess, his aura felt familiar to him as well. The real question was, if he could be trusted. Would this self-indulgent and witty … angel help him get home?
A moment of silence passed between the two. Dark brown clashing with whisky brown.
Trust it is then.
"I need to get in touch with the man upstairs."
Lucifer flinched, "What?"
"Okay, this is going to sound weirder than usual but from the vibes I'm getting from you, and if your flowery use of Enochian wasn't enough to prove it, I guess we can both agree that you, as well as I, are kind of supernatural," He made air quotation marks, "of origin."
Lucifer nodded acceptingly and gestured him to go on.
"So in short: I'm stranded and I need to know if I'm stuck here or if there's a way home. I need to get in touch with…," He hesitated for a moment unsure what name to call him by, "The Father to see if he can help me sort stuff out. There's also a time skip of roughly six or seven years which would make me totally jolly if he could clear it up for me."
Lucifer just scoffed and took a swig of his drink.
"So, you came to see me because you want to talk to God?"
"Yeah, he is around now isn't he?" Asked Gabe with a hint of uneasiness.
"You make it sound like he wasn't always." Lucifer pointed out.
"You'd be surprised." Replied Gabriel.
"Yes, the old bugger is still around, strutting around in Heaven doing what he always does," He said remorsefully as he poured himself and Gabriel some more whisky, "Being a pain in my ass."
He flashed a fake smile.
"Good." Gabriel downed his drink, without further sound effects this time.
"I mean don't get me wrong, I know exactly how you feel, but it's always a lot more reassuring to have an old bugger to strut around Heaven, otherwise, the world would just burn. Trust me."
"Huh, speaking from personal experience?"
"Yeah… unfortunately."
"Well, as devastating as your situation may sound, and as eager as I would be to help you, I'm afraid I can't. Him and I aren't exactly on speaking terms since, you know Adam & Eve became more daring, the courtesy of yours truly."
"That's just great," Gabriel groaned.
"It is not my fault I was cast down from Heaven." Lucifer protested, "I didn't ask to be the ruler of Hell.
"Please don't start with that crap again…"
"I beg your pardon?" He said cautiously.
"You did get my brother's persona right. You couldn't even deny that you are the Devil. Always playing the victim. And don't take offence but I am in no mood tonight to listen to an angel weep because life in unfair."
"At least I'm not the one begging the Almighty to be in his good graces again." He sneered as he got up and backed towards the piano.
"What?"
"Oh come on! It only makes sense. Fallen from the sky? Abrupt loss of powers?," He placed his whisky glass on the piano, "Fluent in Enochian? It doesn't take a genius to figure that you are a fallen angel."
"Bingo, you win today's who's who." Said Gabriel evenly.
"What piques my curiosity is, why Gabriel? A fan of his?"
"Don't be stupid."
"Then do enlighten me."
"I don't have to listen to this!" Snapped Gabe, "With your reputation I would have thought that a small favour such as talking to God would be easy enough to fulfil but no. Instead, I have to listen to the same whining my brother came out with and I don't even know why I thought –" He diverted his gaze angrily.
"Now, now! What's gotten your knickers in a twist?"
"What's gotten my knickers in a twist? What's gotten my knickers in a twist?! I'll tell ya!," He erupted, "Being left on my own without my power on totally unfamiliar turf while I'm worrying my ass off whether my two brothers have killed each other off yet, or whether Kali got out of Elysium or whether Cas is even alive yet and don't get me started on the bloody Winchesters! Ah god! And it doesn't matter how much I pray, I am not getting answers! Literally nobody answers me! I even tried summoning people from upstairs! Nothing! Nobody is responding! I mean-!"
"Wow, now hang on, you're saying you tried to summon an angel?"
"Don't look at me like that, it should have worked even if I am a mortal."
"You're making it sound like child's play… You can't just summon angels when you feel like it. Those pricks upstairs have an ego you know…You'd sooner summon a demon before you'd get any of them to show their face."
"Great, that's very reassuring…thanks."
"So," He said as he perched himself on a bar stool beside him, "I'd be curious to find out what you meant by 'your powers' if you don't mind sharing."
Gabe thought for a moment. He might as well.
"Get me a whisky and we have a deal."
"Splendid. So?"
"As you can guessed. I wasn't always one! A mortal…I used to be an…" Gabriel motioned with his hands, "Angel."
"Well, I do not have a very hard time believing that. But if you were an angel that would've meant hanging out with you in Heaven before, making your daily life miserable and more importantly remembering you in Heaven. Which I don't by the way so enough with the jokes. What were you really?"
"Oh so that's how it is. You don't believe that I used to be a messenger? That's okay then tell me where would you find another human being who speaks Enochian that went out of fashion in like the 16th Century. Huh? Because if you'll find me a fluent speaker I'll lick the floor. Seriously though, I still don't know who found it a good idea to spell out military secrets to old Dee and Kelley, remind to whoop his ass if I find out who it was…-"
"Bloody Hell…"
"You tell me."
"No, no you misunderstand. You said the 16th Century right?"
"Yeah."
"So you've been around for what 300 years?"
"Try since the dawn of time."
"Okay you cannot be serious. But where were you?"
"Hiding mostly. From my idiotic siblings. Got myself an alias Loki, the trickster." Said Gabe as he wiggled his eyebrows in a mischievous way, "Hung around with the pagans for a while. They'll buy any crazy backstory you tell 'em. I had it going pretty well until...well, never mind."
"No, go on! I'm intrigued," He said as he poured him some more bourbon. This seems like the start of some really epic comic novel. Go on!" Encouraged Lucifer enthusiastically.
"Yeah it didn't start well and I'm not even sure it has ended…" He finished emotionlessly as he took a swig of his drink.
There was a moment of silence before Lucifer added.
"So this mortality thing…the loss of your powers...when did it start?"
"The moment I woke up from the hospital…maybe even before that…when I was hit by the car I guess."
"And the Detective?"
"What about her?"
"You haven't met her before, have you?"
"No. Where would I have met her?"
"And you say your mortality began after the car hit you…"
"Yeah."
"After you met the Detective…"
"Yeah why?"
"It all makes sense now! It's Detective Decker! She's the cause of your mortality!"
"Really now? The Detective? No offence but why would she be specia- wait a minute."
Lucifer was a tinsie bit worried. He had carelessly implied that the Detective made him mortal. And if he figured that out… He might even use it against him.
His eyes hardened. Earth really, has changed him. He wouldn't have let such a delicate piece of information slip before. He glanced at Gabriel. Surely he didn't have any hidden agendas?
"The Detective makes you vulnerable?" Gabe stated.
"Well…"
"Wow. Okay, this is new. How? And why? What is she?"
Lucifer almost grudgingly poured himself a drink as he replied. "I don't know. At first I thought she was sent to destroy me. But now I'm definite that she's a human. Which makes her even more mysterious."
"Yeah, well you know how women are. But no I'm definitely sure she is not the cause. I mean she's not here is she?"
"No I suppose she's not." He said as he tried his hardest to glance under the table to check for the Detective and look casual. He was very clearly failing.
The ex-angel opposite him just looked as if he's gone bonkers.
"Anyway…you see for a moment I thought you were one of those minor angels, since she might affect you on larger scale..."
Gabe almost slammed his glass down.
"Minor Angel, you say?" He retorted, "Minor Angel? Bro. I'll have you know: I was an archangel alright? Not to brag anything but I was in Senior Management in Heaven and I pretty much near damn stopped the Apocalypse and FYI I had powers you couldn't even dream of. I mean I helped kick our Aunt's butt at the dawn of time!"
Lucifer couldn't help but look impressed if not curious… their Aunt?
"An archangel huh? But you do not sound like that brother of mine…" He repeated in amusement.
"Ever heard of an alternate universe pal?" He questioned mockingly. As soon as he said it, it made sense to him that instant.
"This is getting absurd…"
"You bet buddy, but let me tell you, I was not just any archangel. Oh no, no, no," He gestured side to side with his index finger. "I was simply the coolest and perhaps the only one who didn't have a stick up their ass," He boasted, "But of course there were a few exceptions like Balthazar – Jeez he was one perv I tell you, then Luce-"
He stopped abruptly. The memories were too much. Though he didn't get panicky at the mere mention of him, he did get a knot in his stomach. A very unpleasant one.
The tall, fallen angel beside him looked at him intently. For a second he thought he could read the man's emotions: hurt, angst, betrayal and regret. All at once.
"Let me guess, my namesake, Lucifer?"
He only nodded solemnly.
"You know it did make me wonder why you freaked out when I introduced myself to you when we've never stroke a deal or anything of the sort."
"No…my brother and I didn't part on the friendliest of terms..."
"How come?"
"Well he tried to start the apocalypse and I tried to stop it."
"Oh, well I guess it does happen…And did you?"
"I dunno."
"How the hell can you not know?"
"Cos he stabbed me with an angel blade before I could find out okay? He killed me, the son of a … If I hadn't prayed to father, then I probably wouldn't even be here to tell the tale… I didn't want to die okay? So, I asked him to keep me alive, no matter how…"
Lucifer allowed that to sink in.
"An angel blade…," were his first words after a bit of contemplation, "Forged of celestial metal I suppose… Well I must say that must have been rather traumatic in a sense."
"Not traumatic, just…just painful. He was my brother you know. He was a great big bag of dicks but I loved him. You should've seen the pranks we have pulled on our siblings. He taught me everything I know: flying, angel mojo, everything… And the way he just," He imitated a stabbing motion with his good arm…
Lucifer pondered deeply about what he has heard and in a way, he couldn't help but feel sympathy towards him. Even he couldn't imagine anything that could make him take the life of one of his own siblings even if he was never close to most of them…but this other Lucifer… he seemed more like the rotten souls that he used to punish.
The silence between them got a little depressing and not to mention awkward, so Lucifer tried to soothe the man's soul: he poured him another shot.
"Here, you need this. Take it. It's on me."
"Thanks. I feel like I'm getting better at this."
"Yes, but you have still far to go. We are going to have to get you trained up if you are going to visit me again. And I have a feeling it will be very soon."
Gabe hummed a reply.
"You know, it may be a Wednesday night but you'd be surprised at how quickly I can rally up a party. What do you say?"
"No I, I should get going. Thanks, but as far as I know this could be just some dream – some conjured up reality."
"Well if it is a dream why not make it a good one, eh?"
A smirk slowly emerged on Gabe's lips and Lucifer pulled out his cell with a satisfied smirk on his face.
Author's Notes: THANK YOU SO MUCh FOR STICKING WITH ME I WAS SO HAPPY WHEN I READ ALL THOSE REVIEWS!
I am so very sorry for the very late update. My only excuse is that I started university and life is chaotic.
*Enochian: "How are you?"
Please lemme know your thoughts & if you spot any grammatical errors please point them out to me.
[Upload Date: 03/04/18]