Sam most definitely do not have any type of feelings for Lucifer. It's Lucifer. He trudges behind the two Archangels. They pull up, resting by the stream. A vampire, Benny Lafitte, travels with them. A goddamn vampire. He did save their lives, so Sam has nothing to say. But even the vampire is closer with Lucifer than he is- no, bad thoughts. They seem to get along.
Michael watches his brother and the vampire lean against the tree, joking with each other. Lucifer has always been fond of jokes. Perhaps that's where Gabriel got it from. He shook his head. Gabriel's death weighs on him and Lucifer. Michael is also to blame.
But Lucifer's odd friendship with the new addition with their crew is slowing the process of his deterioration, so Michael has nothing to say. He pulls Sam aside.
"Winchester." Michael growls. "Do not think of me as someone easily fooled. I see the way you look at my brother." Sam's eyes widen by a fraction. His lips twitches nervously.
"So this is a shovel talk? Are you asking me to back off?" He asks Michael. Physically, Sam is taller than Michael, but the Archangel exerts an air of power.
Michael frowns in confusion. "No. I am merely requesting you to actively pursue Lucifer." Sam gapes.
"What?"
"My brother. He is bonded to you."
"Right. Right." Sam runs his hand through his hair and looks back at Lucifer. What does that even mean- bonded? Sam would rather not think about Lucifer, at all. He tried to end the world. He helped Sam. The bond between Archangel and vessel goes both ways, and Sam can feel Lucifer tugging at him. There is definitely a bond there, like they are two halves of a whole, but he does not want to think of it that way, he does not want to think of it at all.
Sam ends up avoiding both Michael and Lucifer for the next few days, opting to talk to Benny instead. The vampire was good company, with his good natured humor and southern drawl. He can put this magnetic attraction to the back of his mind.
Then the Leviathans attacked. Benny warned them about the creatures, the primordial piles of black goo with their humanoid shapes. They are fast and powerful, throwing even the Archangels off their feet.
"Behind you!" Benny yells from the ground, the Leviathan's head rolling away from it's body. Sam turns around, the creature lunging for him. It was too late for him to move away, Michael grappling with another Leviathan, too far away to reach them.
Lucifer jumps on the Leviathan, his arm caught in it's jaws as he pushes it away from Sam, rolling down the steep hill. Michael throws the Leviathans off him, yelling "Lucifer!" and leaps down the hill after his brother. Lucifer yells as the Leviathan's sharp teeth pierces the skin on his arm, through muscle and sinew and into his grace, the white-blue liquid dripping down his arm.
The thing clamped down on his back, his neck, tearing into his shoulder blades and his wings, snapping the fragile bone as Lucifer screams, manifesting them into whatever plane Purgatory rests upon. The winds from the wings knocks over the Leviathan temporarily. It stood, glaring at Lucifer, and there is an uncanny intelligence in it's eyes. It disappears as soon as Michael appears, not keen on taking on two Archangels at once, even when Lucifer is injured.
Lucifer falls on Michael, and Michael manifests his large red wings, wrapping them around Lucifer. Lucifer is proud, and Michael knows that he does not wish to show his weakened state to their companions. His wings reach out, stroking Lucifer's light blue ones.
"Brother." Michael whispers, pressing his forehead against Lucifer's, stroking his face. Lucifer leans against Michael, gripping Michael's shirt tight. The pain in his damaged wing searing through his body, his grace, even the slightest movement drawing out a throb of pain. Michael's warm grace threaded itself within Lucifer's, fixing the worst of the damage.
Lucifer reaches back, fixing the subtle tears in Michael's grace. Michael is stubborn in his attempts to bring his mate back, but hope wears thin in a place like Purgatory. Michael presses two fingers to Lucifer's forehead, letting him rest. He carries his brother out to the clearing, Benny and Sam packing their supplies and weapons, moving away from the area of the battle as soon as possible.
He sets Lucifer down by a tree, the blond's head lolling to his shoulders, his entire body slumped against the ground.
Sam stares at Lucifer and Michael's wings. It's hard not to. Even Benny is casting appreciative glances at the large appendages, raising his eyebrows when Sam elbows him. Michael's wings are larger, a dark, vibrant red. What catches Sam's attention is Lucifer's wings. They are white, with a subtle blue glow, and Sam wants to stroke the feathers. No, he reminded himself. Devil. Must remember.
Benny sighs besides him, clapping his back and giving Sam a knowing look. Sam flushes- did he really project that loudly? Michael strides over, dragging Sam over to one side, body tense with anger, wings flexing and unflexing. He glares darkly at Sam.
"Lucifer-" He tilts his head in Lucifer's general direction, where Benny is setting up camp. "Will not be able to make it. Unless you pull your head out of your behind and do something." He growls, looking up.
It's like being hit over the head. Sam's mind rings with the finality of the statement. The thought of Lucifer dying- his body lying on the ground without a trace of life, wings fanned out, not moving- It makes Sam want to kneel over and throw up.
"What-" He forces himself to speak over the bile rising up in his throat- "What do I have to do?"
"Whatever you want with my brother, just do it. Don't fight the bond. Please." Michael asks, suddenly weary.
Sam bites his lower lip. He wants this- this is Michael giving explicit permission, begging him, even. And he wants. He wants to give in to the pull Lucifer has on him. Yet the panic still rises up in his mind. It's Lucifer, a traitorous voice in his mind says. Even if he don't need to wear you now, what will happen if you get back? Sam shifts uncomfortably.
"I-" He avoids Michael's gaze. "I can't."