Chapter Text
Lucifer’s fall was something no one saw coming, least of all Gabriel.
Ever since the twins were born, Lucifer’s light had outshone everyone else. He excelled in all things, magic, art, command. He was untouchable, not only for his skill but for the pedestal their Father placed him on. The Almighty’s devotion and admiration for Lucifer were no secret. From the moment of his birth, he was named the Morningstar, the Bringer of Light. People adored him, no matter how much his brilliance blinded them.
Gabriel had always known that Lucifer would rise. There was an arrogance about him, a certainty that he was destined for the throne. Prideful, yes- that Gabriel can admit. Funny, how things turn out.
But no, Lucifer was never the one Gabriel worried about most.
Michael.
Gabriel could empathise with him, truly he could. But the way Michael faced his pain was where they always clashed. It wasn’t easy to be the twin of their Father’s pride and joy- to be less gifted, forever compared, judged for not reaching an unattainable standard.
If Lucifer was pride, then Michael was envy.
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Gabriel could remember the day heaven found out about Lucifers betrayal, there was no big rebellion announced with waving flags and anarchist, there was no real commotion… until there was. Gabriel had been with their father sorting through scrolls when Micheal had thrown open the door. He was a mess, his newly appointed General Uniform askew and his hair all lopsided, as if he flew for his life all the way here. He spoke franticly with wild hand to their father, describing what he saw, what he saw Lucifer doing in the Garden of Eden, their fathers’ greatest creation.
He remembers his blood running cold as he heard Micheals frantic confessions, staring at Micheals frame and a look of hollow horror, not for the act of sin Lucifer has committed, but because their father found out. This news was no secret to Gabriel’s ears, having Lucifer confide in him about his devout love for this Lilith, Adam’s wife, the first of mankind mere months ago. And having sworn secrecy for the safety and trust of his brother, he was adamant about keeping their affair a secret. But now, with Micheal’s discovery, Lucifer must face the wrath of the Almighty.
Once their father had stormed out of the room, leaving only Micheal and him in his wake he was left alone with the realisation if what Micheal had just done.
Micheals heated gaze landed on his brothers horrified expression, his blue eyes burned with a certain fire behind them, still out of breath he spoke.
“I know Gabriel, I was sick to my stomach when I found out Lucifers be running around with the likes of her,” Micheal smirked to himself “everyone thinks he’s so perfect all the time, cant do anything wrong, but he’s a trickster, a snake, literally” Micheal giggled to himself as he strolled over to sit next to Gabriel.
“it’s a good thing he’s about to be knocked down a peg”
Gabriels eyes snapped up, an unfamiliar coil rose in his gut, a sour feeling, one that churned, and looking across at his younger brother, his smirk, it twisted tighter.
“This isn’t funny Micheal. Do you have any idea what father will do to him now?” he spoke lowly
“please, its somewhat entertaining, I can’t remember the last time he got in trouble, it will be good for him, his ego was getting too full” Micheal rolled his eyes, further slouching in his chair, kicking his feet up to rest on the desk.
“No, Micheal, this is not funny. Do you remember when you spoke out of turn and father punished you? You couldn’t speak for weeks, and that was only minor, imagine what punishment will be instal for him!” his voice rose, his breath becoming heavy “Lucifer has fallen in love, but all our father will see is how he tainted his greatest creation!” Gabriel slammed his hands down on the desk, his wings flaring behind him, micheal flinching at the movement, bring his legs off the desk and haunching in his shoulder, he casted his eyes down his voice soft he spoke.
“I just wanted to get him in trouble”
“But why? Micheal? Why are you so fixated on this, people like him more, get over it!” Gabriel’s voice was raw, angry, his hands moved wildly with his words. Micheal sat still frozen, a small trickle of tears falling down his face, dampening the fabric of his pants.
“Oh, stop crying, don’t act like this is all about you, its not! This is about Lucifer, about what fathers going to do to him because you couldn’t deal with it!” Gabriel’s finger found its way towards Micheal’s tear soaked face. Quickly micheal went to franticly wipe at his face.
“Of course, it’s about Lucifer, it all ways has been, since the very beginning!” Micheals voice broke “Do you have an idea how it feels to constantly be compared, to be looked down upon, shoved aside, it has always been about Lucifer!” Micheal stood quickly a burst of energy that held a heat behind it, across the room the fire crackled viciously.
“Well, when will it be about me!” He screamed at Gabriel, now face to face, their heated gazes fighting. “I don’t care what happens to him, for once people will see he isn’t so perfect” he stalked slowly towards his older brother, his eyes narrowing and voice going sharp “I don’t care what happens, but by god, I hope it hurts.”
Before he could blink, Gabriel’s fist collided with his jaw. The crack echoed through the room, and he hit the ground hard, breath torn from his chest, vision flashing white. Gabriel stalked over micheal, slowly crouching down, his hand snapping out to snatch Michael’s face, blue eyes looked up in horror as lavender narrowed, his claws pressing into the porcelain skin of Michaels jaw, golden blood pricking out, he leaned in.
“Do you want to know why no one looks at you the way they look at him?” Gabriel hissed, his hand jerking Michael’s head up, claws digging deeper until golden blood welled beneath his fingers. His voice shook, not from hesitation, but from something raw and breaking. “It’s because there’s nothing left in you, Michael. You’re a shell, all rules and duty and orders, nothing true left. You think being Father’s favourite makes you strong, but it’s made you hollow.”
Michael tried to pull back, but Gabriel slammed him down, the crack of his skull against the marble echoing. “You talk about love like you understand it,” Gabriel spat, “but you don’t. You’ve never loved anyone unless it made you look good. You’ve never felt anything that wasn’t safe. Lucifer loved too much, too freely, and that’s why they saw him. That’s why they loved him.”
Gabriel’s breath came ragged now, tears cutting hot tracks down his cheeks even as he pressed harder. “You hate him for it, don’t you? Because no matter what you do, no matter how perfect you play your part, you’ll never be what he was. You’ll never burn like he did. You’ll never shine the way he could.”
Michael’s wings trembled beneath him, but Gabriel wasn’t done. He shoved him back again, hard, his voice cracking open. “You do everything right, and somehow, it’s still not enough. It’s never enough. You think they love you for it? They don’t. They pity you.”
Gabriel stood then, suddenly pulling away like he couldn’t stand to touch him anymore. His chest heaved; his eyes were red and wild. “You want to know the truth?” he whispered, voice hoarse. “You’re not the light of Heaven, Michael. You’re just its shadow.”
He turned to leave, shoulders trembling, and paused at the door. When he looked back, his voice was quiet, not sharp now, but heavy and final.
“You’ll never be half the man Lucifer is.”
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Perhaps Gabriel was too harsh, to cruel, and he knows this… he just hasn’t been able to bring himself to apologies to Micheal, deep down he doesn’t want to, a rotten part of him says Micheal deserved it. But that is all behind him, it is not healthy to dwell on the mistakes of the past, he’s got a new purpose, a new mission that must be completed!
Currently he stood in front of a glass display, Lucifers departed Halo sat resting gently on a pillow, Gabriel’s face illuminated by the faint glow. It was a solum feeling staring down at the glowing wring, it once lit up a room, shone so bright you could only cover your eyes and smile. It now pulsed with little angelic magic it held left.
Lucifers magic was once a light that brought hope, laughter, joy. His very core was a beacon of passion, creation, one that did not stop at the simple bounds of pre-existence, he expanded, transcended to new bounds that inspired. And now he watches as Lucifers light dims in front of him, locked behind glass, dying.
An Angels Halo is not as simple as a conductor of power, of magic, but a halo acts as an extension of ones very self, a reflection of morals, values, of those that drive the very fire of being. An Angel without its halo is as if living without your heart, a Halo without its core, well, the power it manifests in its rings and spirals has nowhere to go, no outlet that allows that magic to flow, so it leaks, weakens, until magic that was once so powerful and pure dwindles into… nothing.
Power such as lucifers once untouched by sin can not be wasted, can not be forgotten and allowed to die. Gabriel will not allow it.
Through a series of rumours, whispers, and connections Gabriels ears had found the knowledge of the birth of the princess of hell, Charlotte Morningstar, the child of Lucifer and Lilith. A child that would also be the perfect host for Lucifers angelic power.
Later Gabriel would battle with the ethics of all of this, whether or not this was the right thing to do, if this was fair on the child or lucifer. But as of now Gabriel was blinded by his grief of his brother. The days passed after lucifers banishment and heaven slowly began to regain normalcy, never forgetting lucifer, but moving on. Gabriel moved with along with them, but he could never proceed as far as they could, he could never reach the levels of acceptance he needed because every night he found himself back at the same spot, staring into glass, his face illuminated.
As the years passed Gabriel watched as the light of lucifers halo dimmed, he watched every flicker, pulse, and burst, he watched until he took it.
Stealing the halo was an easy feat, having been tucked away in a secure room in Gabriels own wing of the palace, forgotten by everyone else, no one noticed that it was missing. Normally Gabriel would feel sick even at the thought of stealing something that wasn’t his, but that nauseating feeling disappeared the minute he clutched the halo in his hands, the warmth that once burned was still there, but weaker, a blistering feeling use to emit when anyone other than lucifer would try to touch the ring, but now the warmth was comforting to Gabriel. His throat bobbed as his eyes stung, quickly shoving the halo into a messenger bag before the threat of tears could spill.
Lucifers power will live on, Gabriel will make sure of it.