Disclaimer: Don't own. Won't ever own. Now, pass me that gun right there...

Warnings: See chapter one.

Pairings: Balcifer, Sam/Dean.

And, on a personal note; Assassin's Creed 4: Blag Flag is totes fucking amazeballs! Avast ye, scurvy dogs!

Enjoy, assbutts.

~Walking the Feather's Edge~

'Full-Frontal'

The day of the fundraising gala, Balthazar and Lucifer donned their most elegant finery; Balthazar in a casual black Christian Dior suit with a gold tie, and Lucifer in a charcoal grey Hugo Boss three piece, and packed their bags for their luxurious overnight stay in the Plaza.

Lucifer still wasn't at all thrilled with the idea of attending the function, not one damned iota. He needn't possess fantastical physic abilities to know that one erroneous move, one misplaced word or fleeting glance thrown the wrong way, and it was the recipe for unmitigated disaster. Lucifer wouldn't trust Michael as far as he could throw the unctuous, conceited son of a bitch – and oh so gallantly offering to put them up for the night in one of the swankiest hotels in the world? Well, shit, Lucifer knew a fucking sales pitch when he heard it. Only problem was he had yet to figure out exactly what Michael was trying to pedal them.

Or rather, more specifically, what he was trying to entice out of Balthazar. Men like Michael always concealed an ulterior motive, always had a hidden agenda up their sleeves, and Lucifer would be damned if he didn't figure it out before his blonde got himself burned.

"Good lord, Luce," grumbled said Brit from the doorway to their en suite. "I think you've preened and pampered enough, wouldn't you agree? It's already past three, and don't forget we've to drop the boys off on the way."

Adjusting his blood red cravat tie one last time, Lucifer stepped away from the mirror. "Yes, I remember. How could I forget when you remind me every five minutes, my sweet?"

"Don't be snarky," Balthazar warned with a tsk. "Now come along, it's high time we got a move on."

As Balthazar turned to leave, Lucifer surged forward and caught him about the waist, pulling the startled blonde in tight to his chest. "You look absolutely ravishing, love," he murmured on a seductive breath, his lips brushing against the sensitive skin behind his ear.

A whip of excitement cracked down Balthazar's spine, and he was sorely tempted to take his husband up on his not so subtle suggestion, but instead he expertly twisted out of Lucifer's demanding hold and threw the pouty redhead a saucy little grin.

"I know I'm irresistible, darling, but do try and keep it in your pants tonight, hmm? Save it for the honeymoon suite…"

"The honeymoon suite?" Lucifer inquired with an arch of the brow.

"Mhmm," Balthazar replied, chuckling airily. "I knew how badly it would get Michael's goat, and just had to ask. I only wish I could have seen his face."

Lucifer couldn't help but laugh, dipping forward to kiss his beloved firm on the mouth. "You wily little minx. I ought to put you over my knee right here and now…"

Balthazar cupped the back of Lucifer's head, pulling him into a hungry kiss loaded with dark desire and scandalous promise. "Later, love," he smirked, stormy eyes hooded and lips pleasantly moist. "Definitely later."

Lucifer gave a wicked, razor sharp grin as he crudely palmed the blonde's shapely backside. "I'll hold you to that."

Playfully swatting his husband away, Balthazar sashayed out of the room, hips swaying to a beguiling beat that had Lucifer licking his lips and following helplessly behind like a foolish little puppy just hoping for a treat.

Sam quite enjoyed long car journeys; the passing scenery, the new and exciting smells, the wind blowing through his hair. Dean, however, did not. The shapes and colours whizzing by in a nondescript blur made him feel nauseas, the sporadic movements of the car, especially over dirt and uneven roads, made his stomach tie in knots, and all the foreign scents only served to remind him that he was nowhere familiar, nowhere near home.

Before Sam and Lucifer had come into their lives, Dean had been used to travelling a lot. Balthazar would often take him out for long drives through the countryside, to visit friends, and even to accompany him at work the odd time. Dean suspected that his master didn't much like spending time alone. But ever since Balthazar's marriage to Lucifer and the joining of their two families, Dean was perfectly content to spend all of his time at home, in the little love nest he had created with his mate and alpha. He was settled now, comfortable; he had no desire to venture out and explore like he did when he was a young and curious fledgling – why should he when he had everything he could possibly want with his Sammy?

Glancing over at the demon now, Dean frowned at the look of pure excitement and wonderment Sam displayed so openly upon his face, like every sight, sound and smell was something to be awed. Sam had practically plastered himself against the window, eyes and head frantically darting back and forth, up and down, this way and that, as if he looked away for even a second he might miss something important. It was enough to make Dean snort. In contrast, he was slouched down low in his seat, determinedly not looking out at the scenery rushing by. He just could not get comfortable; his stomach felt like it was sloshing about in his gut, his throat felt parched with motion sickness, and his wings were beginning to cramp up. Yet another thing to envy of his alpha – Sam's big leathery wings were a lot more resilient than Dean's own feathery extensions, he could afford to sit in confined spaces for long periods of time and not have to worry about his plumage getting matted and tangled.

He didn't know how much longer he could take this nightmare before he either expelled the contents of his breakfast or throttled the dozy, happy-go-lucky grin from Sam's attractive face. And if that goddamn tail smacked him in the thigh just one more time…

Up front, Balthazar was stealing quick glances at their companions through the rear-view mirror whilst Lucifer drove the rumbling Jaguar down the long stretch of highway. He felt bad for Dean, the poor lad – he looked as miserable and pallid as Samuel did bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. He really did loathe to see him look so wretched, especially given what he'd been through recently…

"So," Lucifer suddenly spoke over the gentle hum of the engine, garnering Balthazar's attention. "Charlie called yesterday whilst you were out."

"Oh, yeah?" Balthazar hummed, feigning innocence – and failing quite miserably.

Lucifer cast the elusive blonde a sidelong glance before focusing back on the road ahead. "Yes. It's the damnedest thing, really – she said she's been having great difficulty reaching you these past few days." Lucifer didn't miss the slight tensing in Balthazar's shoulders. "Strange, huh?"

"Very," Balthazar agreed, surreptitiously avoiding Lucifer's penetrating gaze. "Though I suppose I have been awfully busy this past while, what with work and preparing for the gala and whatnot. It's not surprising, really. I mean, the amount of paperwork alone I had this week has been–"

"Oh, stop," Lucifer scorned, brows knitting into a scowl. "Who are you trying to bullshit here? When are you going to grow a pair and just admit that you've been avoiding her like the bubonic plague?" Scoffing, he pillowed his cheek on his fist, his elbow resting against the window. "You know, I never pegged you for a coward."

Mirroring Lucifer's posture, Balthazar stubbornly glowered out at their fellow motorists. "Can we please not argue about this right now? I rather think we have enough to deal with on our plates."

"Fine by me, sweetheart," Lucifer muttered sourly, hitting the gas a little harder as they lumbered onward toward their destination.

The rest of the journey was wrought with a dense and stagnant silence, the only sounds to fill the void being the animated, incomprehensible chatter of Sam and the occasional, ill-tempered grumble from Dean. So when the off-ramp for "Eden Sanctuary and Boarding" finally cropped up just outside of Yonkers, Balthazar could physically feel the tension draining from his pores.

Sam became extremely antsy as the car rolled to a stop, tail flicking and wings beating, and even Dean perked up straighter in his seat to view their new surroundings.

"Settle, Samuel," Lucifer admonished sternly, glaring at the restless demon. "You're going to ruin the upholstery."

Balthazar chuckled as he stepped out of the car, opening the back door for Dean and leaving Lucifer to deal with the excitable demon. Dean happily jumped out, rolling his stiff neck and stretching out his aching wings, sighing as the wind ruffled through his knotted feathers. Meanwhile, Sam damn near bowled Lucifer over in his haste to get out of the confines of the back seat, his bat-like wings arching high and wide and accidently smacking a cursing Lucifer upside the head.

"Bloody hell, boy, watch where you're swinging those damn things," he groused, rubbing the back of his head and glowering over the roof of the car at the quietly snickering Brit. "Oh, you think this is funny, do you?"

"Very much so," Balthazar replied with a cheeky grin and a wave of the hand. "Quit your bellyaching and let's do this thing. We have to get back on the road tout de suite."

Grumbling darkly under his breath, Lucifer grabbed hold of the thick leather collar he'd had the fortunate foresight to slap on Samuel before they left and more or less hauled the demon into the grand compound behind an infinitely more calm and composed Dean.

Upon entering the reception, they were greeted with a high-pitched squeal with a frequency the likes of which made even hybrid and demon wince in pain. Dean was only just regaining his composure back when he was, for lack of a better word, bodily assaulted. Long, willowy arms wrapped tight about his neck, locking him in what could only be described as a chokehold, and a warm, supple body plastered itself to his front.

"Oh my gosh!" a sharp, feminine voice gushed in his ear, the smell of floral perfume and foreign skin infiltrating his senses. "I so totally didn't believe him when he told me! I was like; 'Get out, no way!' And yet, here you are! You have got to be the most adorable little thing I have ever seen!"

Dean wrinkled his nose, feather's bristling in offense. Adorable? Little? Thing?!

"Ahem," Balthazar coughed politely from the sidelines, his expression a potent mix of concern for his struggling companion and avid amusement at his delicate predicament.

The petite brunette woman gave him a brief onceover for his troubles, but otherwise seemed inclined to hang off of Dean's neck like a living, breathing fashion accessory. Lucifer, who was busy holding back a fairly incensed alpha, was just about to weigh in when a new presence suddenly joined them and stole focus.

"Ah, Becky," the scruffy looking man interceded gently, his voice timid and movements unsure. "We've talked about this before – several times, actually… Could you please release our, um, guest there?"

The brunette, Becky, audibly huffed, wringing one last lingering squeeze from Dean before reluctantly stepping back, a petulant pout painted across her lips. Dean immediately took several large steps back himself, edging closer to Sam who was all too happy to curl his tail possessively about his denim clad thigh.

Wringing his hands out in a nervous gesture, the man took a tentative step toward Balthazar. "My sincerest apologies about," he waved his hands in the general direction of Becky before a cold glare stopped him short, "all that," he eventually settled with. "My assistant here was, how you say, extremely enthusiastic when I told her we would be receiving a hybrid today. It's all she's talked about the past few days – and boy does she love to talk. A lot…"

"I see," Balthazar replied, biting his bottom lip to keep from laughing out loud; a feat made damn near impossible at Becky's indignant, 'Hey! I heard that, you know!' Instead, he stepped up to the man and extended his hand. "Balthazar. I believe you've been expecting us."

"Chuck Shurley," the man replied with a hearty shake, his hesitant, lopsided smile somewhat endearing. "And the introduction really isn't necessary." At the quirk of Balthazar's brow, he hurried to elaborate. "Oh, ah, that sounded a bit creepy… What I mean is, at the risk of sounded like some kind of rabid fanguy–"

"Fanboy," Becky corrected with an exaggerated eye roll in Dean's direction, like they should be sharing a private joke at the man's idiocy. Dean merely frowned and backed up that little bit closer to Sam.

"Right, fanboy, whatever," Chuck rambled, quickly dropping Balthazar's hand at the blonde's pointed stare. "Let's just cut to the chase; I am a great admirer of your work, Mr. Roché. Your every thesis, published dissertation and public seminar I've either read thoroughly or attended twice. Your outstanding research and dedication to the field of supernatural is what gave me the knowledge and inspiration to open Eden. Without you, I wouldn't be here today. I cannot thank you enough, Mr. Roché."

Balthazar was genuinely taken aback. Whilst true that he was somewhat used to praise and commendation for his accomplishments since joining the R&D department at Ethereal Inc., it had never been quite to this degree of worship, and certainly not from one man. He was speechless.

"Thank you, Chuck," he replied humbly. "It's always nice to know that one's lifework is appreciated."

"And it's Pellegrino, actually," Lucifer spoke up for the first time since entering the building, his hands tucked neatly into the pockets of his slacks as he stared unwaveringly at the now stammering owner.

Chuck gave a nervous little laugh, rubbing at the back of his neck. "Ah, yes, of course! I knew that, honest, uh…?"

"Lucifer," he answered casually, taking a certain degree of pleasure from Chuck's obvious discomfort. "Lucifer Pellegrino."

"Chuck," the younger man offered again, quickly discarding his attempted handshake when Lucifer merely cocked a brow at the action, and instead corralled Becky in close with an arm about her waist. "This is Becky Rosen, my assistant slash receptionist and, uh, fiancé." He felt compelled to mention the latter, not at all liking the dark, calculative gaze Lucifer was shooting his way. Clearing his throat, he decided it was probably best to get down to business. "Right, okay… So this must be Dean and Sam."

Hybrid and demon snapped to attention at the mention of their names, both anxious in their own ways as to what they were doing there.

"Yes," Balthazar supplied, beckoning the companions forward with a wave. "Samuel here is an alpha archdemon and succubus mix, and Dean is a beta hybrid, archangel and kitsune yōkai mix."

"Such an amazing specimen," Chuck awed, studying Dean for a lingering moment before quickly shaking out of it and gesturing for the small group to follow his lead. "If you want to step this way, I can give you a tour of our facilities and show you where your companions will be staying." Glancing back he caught sight of Lucifer ostentatiously checking his watch. Swallowing thickly, he picked up the pace a little. "A brief tour, of course, is what I meant."

"Please, we would love to," Balthazar replied, throwing Lucifer a condemning glare over his shoulder as he went. Lucifer simply rolled his eyes and tagged along behind with Becky bringing up the rear, her eyes fixated on the muscular back of the alpha demon and wondering silently to herself if she wasn't a tad bit hasty in declaring her undying love for Dean…

A short ten minutes later and Chuck was concluding their tour. Sam and Dean had been left with Becky in a secure room where there was no risk of accidently bumping into other supernatural companions – though Balthazar couldn't help but think what was going to save his boys from Becky herself?

He stubbornly pushed that harrowing thought to the back of his mind, and instead focused on their surroundings. Balthazar had to admit that he was rather impressed with the place. Chuck mostly stuck to the boarding side of the compound, showing them the spacious sleeping quarters, each 'nest' stocked with a plentiful supply of pillows, bedding and blankets, and carefully sectioned off from one another with steel bars so as to award each companion with their own space and yet still allowing for interaction with those around them if they so desired. Each nest was big enough to easily accommodate mated pairs, though as they passed through Balthazar noticed that the majority only housed singular companions.

Chuck then lead them up a set of stairs and into a room marked 'Observatory', a room with a panoramic view of a vast and expansive exercise/respite area, where they were able to, unsurprisingly, observe the many boarded companions that were currently exploring an awe inspiring jungle of sprawling grasslands and dense forestry, all encased in a large, protective dome, allowing the ethereal beings to laze and play and fly as they saw fit without risk or harm.

"Meal times are twice a day, at ten in the morning and then five in the evening," Chuck was explaining as they surveyed the dome from behind what he assured was a thick and protective layer of glass. "We feed every companion healthy, nutritious foods like fruit, vegetables and red meats, but if you have a specific dietary requirement just let us know and we'll do our best to accommodate those needs."

"Uh, no," Balthazar answered distractedly, his focus enraptured completely on the many different sizes, breeds and colours of companions milling around in the dome. "Nothing like that. Whatever you have will suffice."

"Excellent," Chuck grinned, thrilled to see the Balthazar Roché–eh, that is Pellegrino, so enthralled with his little empire. "Apart from meals and lights out at eleven pm, we pretty much allow the companions to do as they please out in the dome. I firmly believe that a well rested and invigorated companion, one exposed to a good diet and plenty of exercise, is ultimately a happy one."

Balthazar couldn't help but grin, recognising the words as a citation of his own from one research journal or another. "I couldn't agree with you more, my good man. I have to say, this place is simply astounding. You have done a marvellous job."

To the left of the duo, Lucifer rolled his eyes at the way Chuck practically glowed under the praise, and only just resisted the petulant urge to tell them to get a room already. Instead, he interjected himself back into the conversation (and existence) with a comment of his own. "Are fights a common occurrence here?" he inquired, pointing out what looked to be a minor skirmish between an alpha angel and alpha demon down in the dirt by the edge of the trees. "Perhaps the merging of angels and demons in the same vicinity isn't as wise as you might have thought."

"Oh, on the contrary, Mr. Pellegrino," Chuck replied in a light but assuring tone. "Studies have conclusively proven that angels and demons are more than capable of being around and tolerating one another's company. Alpha, beta, omega – it doesn't matter one iota as long as none are in season. That's why our only stipulation is that none of the companions we take in are close to entering or, indeed, finishing a heat cycle. Aside from general aggressive behaviour in dominant males, excessive pheromones are the only real cause of sudden and sporadic hostility."

"Well, somebody's certainly done their homework," Balthazar hummed with a smirk, watching himself as the scuffle down below began to escalate. "Though I am curious as to what measures you have in place to deal with this sort of thing? Do you simply let it play out, or personally get involved and intervene yourselves?"

"No, no, nothing like that. We have completely non-violent ways of dealing with trivial tussles like this." Balthazar noted the self-satisfied grin edging across Chuck's mouth, and found his curiosity well and truly piqued for the fact. "Just watch, gentlemen, and you'll see what I mean."

Fascinated, Balthazar eagerly leaned forward on the rail, eyes glued to the spectacle, and even Lucifer inclined himself forward, albeit much more subtly than his husband. At first, nothing appeared to be happening; demon and angel were rolling around on the dusty earth, hands grappling and teeth snapping, both trying to gain the advantage and assert their natural dominance whilst a small gathering of other companions circled around them. And then Balthazar's keen concentration picked up on the sudden change; both angel and demon became more sluggish, their every blow and nipping bite growing heavy, like they were brawling underwater. In mere seconds both had collapsed, the angel sprawled out on top of the demon, chest heaving as if in great exertion before gradually slowing down to deep, even breaths.

Balthazar blinked, his jaw a little slack – they were both out cold!

"How on earth…?" he breathed, turning an inquisitive brow on the proudly grinning Chuck. "What happened to them? I've never seen anything like that before!"

Lucifer, too, favoured the man with a curious look.

Chuck cleared his throat, suddenly uncomfortable being in the centre of attention. "It's, ah, my own invention," he began, rubbing his palms against the thighs of his jeans. "See the collars they're all wearing?" Balthazar and Lucifer glanced out, studying, before nodding in confirmation. "Well, they're fitted with clever little sensors that read the rate of their pulse and can detect the slightest change in hormone levels. So say, for example, an angel or demon becomes aggressive or, ah, overly enamoured with another companion, their collar will pick up their elevated heart rate and pheromone imbalance, and once it reaches a certain level it will administer a powerful–yet totally safe, I assure you, electrical shock. And, if that isn't enough to deter them, and the levels continue to rise, the collar will then inject a small dosage of tranquiliser directly into the neck." At Balthazar's raised brows and Lucifer's uncertain frown, he hastened to add, "It's a very mild sedative that only knocks them out for five to ten minutes given their size and body mass – usually just enough time for them to forget why they were fighting in the first place, or for my staff to separate them if needs be." Glancing back toward the dome, he gestured with a jut of his chin to the KO'd duo. "Ah, see, see? Completely harmless."

Sure enough, as Balthazar turned to look, the demon caught up in the fight slowly began to come around, wriggling itself out from beneath the angel's bulkier frame. Stumbling slightly as it regained it's balance, the demon shook out it's likely cramped wings before swiftly taking flight and disappearing into the trees, not once looking back.

"Well, that is… amazing," Balthazar raved, his inner scientist positively purring with the logistics and possibilities of such a marvel invention. "You are quite the little genius, Chuck. Seriously, you should think about marketing those bad boys; I know of some very reputable companies that would be very interested in such a product."

Chuck felt heat rush to his cheeks. "Ah, yes, well I only just implemented the collars late last year, and thus far haven't had much success gaining a foothold in the retail side of things…"

Balthazar knew a business opportunity when it smacked him in square the face and eagerly pounced right on board. "Well, I'd be only too happy to help you out, mate. As I said, I know some exceptionally influential people who would be all over this little venture of yours. If you'd be willing, I could throw you up that ladder so fast it'd make your head spin." Blatantly disregarding the obnoxious cough Lucifer gave in warning, the Englishman turned fully to the endearing budding entrepreneur, flashing him the most charming grin in his arsenal. "Whaddaya say… partner?"

Chuck nearly choked on his own saliva at the generous offer, hurriedly slapping his hand into the blonde's open palm before he could think to take it back. "Y-Yes, of course! I couldn't possibly express my gratitude enough, Mr. Ro-eh, Pellegrino!"

"Excellent!" Balthazar beamed, searching through his suit pockets and producing a business card which he handed to Chuck. "Give me a call Monday, and we'll set up a meeting."

"I will," Chuck assured him, tucking the card safely away in the pocket of his jeans. "Thank you again."

"Don't mention it," Balthazar waved him off with a flattered smile.

"Oh, but I mean it, I honestly–"

"He said don't mention it," Lucifer brusquely cut in, laying a heavy hand on Balthazar's shoulder and steering him toward the observatory exit. "If you'll excuse us, we have a very important prior engagement to attend, and we've dwindled quite enough time away here as it is."

Chuck floundered like a fish out of water, before starting in with a myriad of apologies. "Yes, o-of course, right this way." He led the duo back down the stairs and through to a corridor Balthazar recognised as the one they had originally travelled down. Here Chuck stopped, turning to eye the two men curiously. "Would you like to stay while we introduce Sam and Dean into the dome? Some people prefer to witness the initial acclimation for peace of mind."

Balthazar opened his mouth, ready to agree to the proposal, but Lucifer beat him to it. "No, that won't be necessary. I'm sure everything will go smoothly regardless of our presence." Taking Balthazar's elbow, he guided the grumbling blonde back toward the reception area. "Thanks for, well…" He shrugged, not entirely sure he was going with that particular sentiment, firmly tugging Balthazar along behind him. "Come along, love. We're going to be late, and then I'll never hear the end of it."

"Goodbye, Chuck – call me if there are any complications!" Balthazar hastened to call over his shoulder before he was directed through the double doors leading to the foyer and Chuck and his hesitant little wave were severed from view. As soon as the doors swung shut, he wrenched himself from Lucifer's hold and gave him an icy glower. "Well, that was incredibly rude. Congratulations, darling; you are now officially an ass."

"Oh, please," Lucifer scoffed, straightening out the lapels of his suit. "You would have stood prattling on and on with that simpering sycophant all the live long day if I hadn't literally dragged you away. It was like watching a pair of lovesick puppies slobber all over one another."

Sniffing, Balthazar brushed past his husband with a certain swagger in his step. "You know, green is such an ugly colour on you…"

It took a moment or two for the penny to drop, but when it did; "Don't be absurd! Like that scrawny scruffball is any competition!"

"Oh?" Balthazar returned, a cunning smirk curling his lips as he paused at the exit. "Then why so defensive, love? Hmm?"

The door clicked shut behind him, and for a long minute Lucifer just stood there, dumbstruck, and seriously re-evaluating his priorities, before he abruptly snapped himself out of it and marched toward the exit, mumbling a heated, "Ridiculous. I am not jealous," to nothing but thin air.

Dean was extremely relieved when the haggard looking male finally returned after what seemed like a lifetime left alone with the obsessive, sparkly-eyed brunette chick. She hadn't put any moves on him since the horror that was their first meeting, and Dean would wager that had mostly to do with the fact that Sam was present and hovering close beside him, but he could tell that she wanted to – oh how desperately she wanted to. And what was worse, she was fervently eyeballing his Sammy now, too! She was like a woman possessed!

So when Chuck entered the room Dean immediately sagged with relief, only to stress right back up again when he realised that neither Balthazar nor Lucifer were accompanying him. What the hell?

Sam, sensing his mate's distress, curled his tail high around Dean's thigh and ran his fingers softly through his ruffled feathers. "What's the matter, Dean? You're unusually tense."

"Unusually tense? Are you freakin' kiddin' me?" Dean snapped harshly, jade eyes narrowed. "We're in a strange place teeming with the scent of other alphas, betas and omegas, our masters are gone, without so much as a 'see ya later!', and to top it all off we were left alone with some kind of rabid harpy going through what I can only assume is some kind of human heat cycle! Of course I'm fucking tense, Sam!"

Sam eyebrows shot up to his hairline, bewildered at his mate's hostile response. "You mean you don't like it here?" Dean gave him a hard look that answered his question without the need for words. Sam snorted. "What's not to like? Everything is new; the sights, the sounds, the smells… I can't wait to get out of here and explore them all!"

Dean just looked perplexed, like he had no idea who this gibbering demon in front of him even was, and was about to demand that he snap the fuck out of it and find a way for them to get the hell out of this nightmarish prison, when the perpetually edgy human male and his peppy sidekick suddenly approached them. He was speaking in soft and soothing tones – or at least what Dean presumed were supposed to be as such, considering everything the man said sounded nervous and awkward to his ears. That's when Dean noticed that he was carrying a long strap of leather in his hands.

Dean instantly backed away, eyes darting warily between man and contraption. "Sammy?" he uttered anxiously.

"Calm down, Dean. It's just a collar," Sam answered, Dean glancing over in his direction to discover that Lucifer's own collar had been switched out for the new one, Becky fussing and fawning over what a good boy Sam had been throughout the transition.

Dean wasn't used to being collared. He was never one to cause trouble where it wasn't warranted, and so Balthazar had never seen just cause to ever use one. The idea of putting one on now, especially without the calming influence of his master's presence, was unsettling to say the very least.

"I don't like this," Dean growled, swatting away Chuck's every attempt to get close enough to put the collar on. "It's not like I'm in trouble or anything… Why do I have to wear the damn thing?"

"I think it's just one of their rules," Sam shrugged, preening under Becky's ministrations as she scratched her long nails over his scalp. "I caught a glimpse into the nesting area earlier, and the angels and demons I saw in there were all wearing them."

Dean was having none of it, though. "Oi!" he barked at his purring alpha. "Ya think you could pull yourself away from Miss Grabs-a-lot there for just a second and back up your mate, huh?!"

"Oh don't be such a fledgling," Sam admonished, though he did pull away from a pouting Becky. "Just let him put the collar on, please Angel? For me? I want to get out of this stuffy room already…"

Dean had an infinitely bad feeling about all of this, but how could he refuse his alpha his wish? Especially when he used those big, soulful hazel eyes on him. He fell hook, line and sinker every damn time.

Gritting his teeth, he allowed Chuck to carefully approach and place the collar around his neck, hissing in warning when he tried to tighten it past what Dean himself deemed comfortable.

Adequately satisfied, Chuck and Becky then beckoned hybrid and demon out of the room and down a large corridor toward another set of doors guarded by a keypad and mechanised locks. Sam was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet as Chuck entered a six-digit code into the pad, wings arching and beating as the whir and clunk of the locking system gradually slid free and the double doors opened up wide. Blinding sunlight and a dizzying symphony of sounds and intermingling scents immediately assaulted Dean and Sam's senses, the hybrid licking his lips as his vision slowly adjusted and he cautiously surveyed the sprawling dome.

With a gentle nudge he was urged further into the immense enclosure, reluctantly following behind his eager mate as the doors slammed closed behind them. The first thing Sam did was rip off his constricting leather pants, a quick scan of the other companions milling around revealing that clothes weren't exactly a necessity. Dean rolled his eyes, opting to keep his own ripped denim jeans on – he didn't want any unfamiliar alphas misconstruing his nakedness as an open invitation to get fresh.

With his unique DNA, it was often hard to discern Sam's possession over him, their bond unbreakable in heart and soul, yet hard to secure on body. Even Sam's scent was diluted and weak against his skin, unless, of course, they had copulated fairly recently. Dean was hoping that their rampant fucking the previous night would be enough to advertise Sam's mark of ownership, and made a mental note to entice the demon into scenting him just as soon as the alpha calmed down. Christ, he was like a human child in one of those confectionary stores – he didn't quite know where to look first, his beautiful leathery wings rising high and wide in a sociable arch, and his exotic olive skin practically glittering in the golden rays pouring in from above. He was devastatingly gorgeous, Dean mused, the thought only reaffirming his determination for that scenting session to happen as soon as humanly possible…

It wasn't long at all before they had garnered enough attention to make Dean anxious, dozens of pairs of eyes swivelling in their direction as angel and demon alike stopped what they were doing to evaluate the newcomers. There were no other hybrids in sight, which was of no real surprise, though it did add to the mounting sense of trepidation crawling beneath Dean's skin.

Dean was about to reach out for Sam – not to cling on for reassurance or any other kind of mushy crap like that, fuck no! But rather to demand that, as alpha and self-proclaimed 'provider', he find them a one-way ticket out of this hellhole, when a sudden rush of wind and the distinct, heavy beat of demon wings pulled him up short.

Peering around Sam's broad shoulders, Dean felt his stomach drop like a lead weight and his teeth grit down to the bone. Standing in front of Sam was a slender, dark haired demoness, her every supple dip and sloping curve out in full-frontal viewing pleasure as she cocked her hip and folded her arms beneath two perfectly round, perky breasts. Her pretty features and smokin' hot body made her a knockout – and fuck if that alone didn't make Dean seethe.

"Hey," she greeted in a sultry voice, her gaze flicking to Dean briefly as though to include the hybrid when they both knew rightly that she was speaking solely to Sam. "We haven't had fresh meat around here in a few days… Pleasure to meet'cha."

Sam wisely chose to refuse the proffered neck for scenting when the demoness tilted her head, though he didn't back away from her either. "Hey! The name's Sam, and this is my mate, Dean," he offered with a grin, his tail lashing to and fro in anticipation of gaining a new friend.

The demoness let a slow smirk curl her luscious pink lips, casting another covert glance in Dean's direction before sidling up closer to Sam and letting her tail slither around and entwine itself with Sam's own – a common sign of companionship between demons, though Dean knew it was anything but innocent 'companionship' this harlot was after.

"Ruby," she introduced herself, her smile positively toxic. "Come on, Sam. Lemme show you around…"

Sam glanced back at Dean with a bright and utterly clueless grin, urging his mate to tag along. Dean curled his lip and grudgingly traipsed along behind the pair, his blood simmering quietly beneath the surface.

Oh, yeah. He definitely had a bad feeling about this…

A/N: Huh. Well, I didn't get nearly as far as I had originally hoped with this particular chapter. I had wanted to be well into the whole gala shindig, with Michael and Balthy and Luce in a delicious little triangle of love and lust and deceit... But oh well, that will come next, I suppose.

The whole sanctuary/boarding refuge idea is for LeeMarieJack, who wanted to see a manipulative!Dean enticing Sam into a jealous rage - so, here ya go, sweetpea! Plenty of opportunities for perhaps a scorned and cruelly ignored Dean to win back Sam's attentions and affections through underhanded methods, ne? We'll have fun, I'm sure.

As always, if anyone has any requests/suggestions/desires, lemme know and I'll try to accommodate (:

Oh, and yes, in case anyone is wondering, I know Castiel is listed as a character, and Destiel as a pairing, and it will happen - it's just taking much longer than I had ever planned or anticipated to get there... Oops, laugh ^^'

Until next time, drop a line and enjoy bitches!

FMV