Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

William Kinley was not having a good day.

He had landed in Los Angeles, the City of Angels, a week ago to try to hunt down and banish the Devil but was having no such luck. 

A couple of months ago, he had found an old dusty book in Latin at the bottom of the Vatican's basement. After translating it, he found that it contained a recipe for a poison that could knock out a celestial and a spell that could kill celestial and hellish creatures. William Kinley immediately knew what he had to do. This must be God's task for him. He went directly to the Pope with the book to ask him to send him, along with some other priests to Los Angeles to rid the universe of the Devil and his Demon and evil along with them.

The Pope just laughed, "Father Kinley, you have responsibilities here and services to preform. You can't just drop them and demand that I send some other priests with you on a foolhardy quest to kill the 'Devil' who you claim is a playboy club owner in Los Angeles with spells you found in an old dusty book in the Vatican basement."

"Ignorant old fool" Kinley muttered, "I was chosen by God. I'll show him when I banish evil from this world."

He had immediately taken some vacation time and headed off to Los Angeles with the book and evidence that Lucifer Morningstar, owner of Lux and one of Los Angeles' most eligible bachelors, was in fact the Devil. He would need some help on his god-ordained quest.   

After a week in Los Angeles William Kinley was not having much luck on his quest. "God is just testing you" he deluded himself into thinking, "He is just trying to see if you will give up. He is sure to reward you once you have completed what he wants you to do."

One day, he caught a break. 

"Father Kinley!" Father Williams shouted, "I just found out today that Morningstar is having movers go to his penthouse tomorrow to move some of his stuff. We could pose as the movers."

"Perfect..." Kinley smiled to himself. "Get ready Fathers. Tomorrow we will be doing God's will and banishing evil from this world."

Lucifer Morningstar was in a bad mood.

He had just spent six hours being questioned and interrogated about Pierce's death and his various criminal activities. The only bright spot of his day was the smiles and small touches that passed between him and Chloe whenever they saw each other during the breaks they were offered during their individual interrogations. He was relieved that she didn't blame him for killing Pierce. 

Before they were brought to the police station he had tentatively asked her how she felt about his actions, fearing her anger. She just replied "Good riddance" with a little smile on her face and he felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

Now, six hours later, he felt quite simply like crap. He felt dusty, tired, dirty, and itched to change his suit. Lucifer was quite incensed the police hadn't let him go home to change his bloody, bullet ridden suit. 

As Lucifer was walking out to his car after the police had finally let him go and cleared him and Chloe of any wrongdoing, he heard his phone ring. 

"Hello?" he answered, unsure who would be calling. Before the police had arrived onto the scene he had called Amenadiel and Maze to let them know what happened although Amenadiel had sounded weirdly worried and frenzied. 

"Lucifer. The movers are coming tomorrow to take away your unwanted furniture." Lucifer smiled as Maze's brusque voice came through the phone speakers. 

"I'm fine and I missed you too" he smirked, "How did you even know when they let me go?"

"Shut up. Chloe told me" Maze huffed, "I'm just calling to tell you when the movers are coming. Don't read anything into this." 

"Whatever you say" Lucifer sing-songed. It was nice to know Maze cared even if she showed so in her own unique way.

"Also Amenadiel and Linda told me to tell you they're glad you're fine and unhurt and Linda offered to speak to you if you feel guilty or whatever for killing that piece of scum. Amenadiel said there is something important he needs to tell us about Charlotte so he wants you and me to meet up tomorrow at Linda's house so he can tell us and so you can fill us in about what happened. He's also worried about you breaking your dad's rule about not killing humans" Maze responded, "I told him your dad should be glad you took care of that problem for him." 

"Loyal as ever Mazikeen" Lucifer chuckled "You can tell Linda I won't need the session. I feel surprisingly fine for a person who just violated one of theirs' and God's most closely held beliefs. I'll meet you guys at Linda's after the movers come."

"Okay bye" Maze said and then promptly hung up.

Lucifer whistled as he drove back to his penthouse. Things were finally looking up. Cain was gone, him and Amenadiel and him and Maze were improving their relationship, he decided that he was going to pursue a relationship with Chloe and stop pushing her away, and him and Chloe were in a good place. 

After getting home, changing, and making dinner for himself, Lucifer fell asleep with a smile on his face. He was happy about the direction his life was taking for the first time ever since he was cast out of the Silver City, not knowing that tomorrow would be one of the most fateful days in the history of humanity and his life. 

Chapter Text

William Kinley woke up the next morning with a big smile on his face.

"Fathers, get ready. We will be heading to the Devil's house at 12. I have the address to the warehouse here. Make sure you have your items..." he smiled maliciously. 

Today was the day his world would change although not the way he thought it would. 

Lucifer woke up apprehensively. He had a bad feeling in his gut — which was funny seeing as how angels didn't have 'guts' — that something bad was going to happen today. Lucifer had always needed to be alert and anxious every second in Hell to avoid being stabbed or maimed by his demons. Even after he got Maze, he still needed to be alert at all times so anxiety was a normal feeling to him. However, there was something deeply unsettling about this feeling, like it was trying to send him a message. Nevertheless, Lucifer ignored it and chalked it up to his nervousness about his meeting with Maze and Amenadiel. After all, he had things to do and movers to meet.

At 12 o'clock sharp, his phone rang.

"Hey boss, the movers are here. Can I let them up?" Patrick asked.

"Sure. I want this done quickly so I can meet my brother sooner" Lucifer answered as he put his glass of scotch down. 

Unbeknownst to them, the 'movers' were actually Father Kinley and his merry band of priests. He had bribed the real movers ahead of time to let him take this job. 

As they began to walk towards the interior of the club, some of the priests began to fidget and doubt their 'mission.' 

"Father Kinley, are you sure this is the right thing to do? Messing around with powerful entities beyond our understanding? I'm sure if God didn't want the Devil to be on Earth he would take care of it himself instead of sending us right?" Father James nervously asked. 

"BEGONE EVIL SPIRIT!" Father Kinley cried as he recited a chant and then threw holy water upon Father James who scurried off feeling ashamed, embarrassed, and angry, "Those are just the forces of the Devil trying to distract us from our God-ordained mission! Do not let evil forces stop you from fulfilling our holy mission. Are you on the side of good or evil?" 

This shut up all of the priests and they followed Kinley into Lux and up into the Devil's lair. 

Lucifer put down his glass and stood up to greet the movers as the elevator door dinged open and they stepped out. As Lucifer greeted the 'movers' and directed them to the pieces of furniture he needed removed, Father Kinley slipped the poison into his whiskey. 

"Mr. Morningstar, we can take care of this. Why don't you sit down and relax?" Kinley suggested with a saccharine smile while gesturing towards his unfinished glass. 

"Why thank you for your thoughtfulness Mr. Mover" Lucifer playfully said and then sat down with a sigh and downed the rest of his whiskey. 

For a second nothing happened. The priests stopped what they were doing and stared at Lucifer anxiously anticipating what would happen next, worried that the poison wouldn't work and worrying that it would. They had the feeling that what they were about to do would change everything. The penthouse was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. Lucifer looked back and forth at the priests confusedly then suddenly dropped to the floor unconscious.

"It's actually happening. What did I get myself into" raced through the heads of all the priests. None were sure how to feel except Kinley who was grinning manically and gleefully rubbing his hands together. 

"Put him into the box. Hurry up! We can't let anyone become suspicious" Kinley whispered.

The priests quickly placed Lucifer's unconscious body into a large moving box and carried it down to their van and drove to their ritual site. 

Once the priests arrived at the warehouse, they carried Lucifer inside and laid him out in the middle of an elaborate circle with enochian letters on the side that Father Kinley had learned from the ancient book. They then started chanting and reciting prayers and spells, using angel magic. As they did so the energy in the room began to shift and Lucifer's body began to twitch, you could see his lifeforce being slowly sucked out of him and destroyed. The mist emanating from him violently convulsed as if fighting off an unknown force but ultimately lost and began to be dissolved into nothingness. 

Across town, Amenadiel, Linda, and Maze were sitting around Linda's house waiting for Lucifer to come. Amenadiel kept on nervously tapping his finger on the table while Maze kept on looking at him suspiciously and Linda anxiously fiddled with her glasses. All of a sudden, Maze felt a sharp pain shoot through her body and doubled over, collapsing onto the floor. 

"Maze!" Linda yelled rushing over to her. She looked over at Amenadiel who looked concentrated and bewildered at the same time. 

"Something is wrong..." he muttered to himself. 

Maze suddenly jerked upright and dashed to the door. "Something is wrong with Lucifer. He's dying. His soul is being destroyed" she yelled, "I can feel where he is."

"Linda stay here. I'm going with Maze" Amenadiel frantically shouted back at Linda as he ran out the door after Maze, "It's too dangerous for you to come with us." 

"Maze I can fly you there. Just tell me where to go" Amenadiel said after he caught up to her, "We don't have any time to lose." 

Amenadiel was frantic. He greatly regretted trying to get Lucifer to go back to Hell. He didn't do it out of spite or a belief that Lucifer was evil. He had mistakenly thought that without their King, the demons would revolt and come to Earth to cause chaos and kill innocent humans. The only reason he was so cruel was because he couldn't bear to send his own brother back to Hell. In order to do what he thought was his duty, he had to pretend that Lucifer was his enemy. Now they were on good terms and were bonding for the first time since Lucifer's fall. He wasn't about to let himself lose Lucifer forever.  Amenadiel resolved to do anything he could to save Lucifer once they got to where he was. Lucifer's banishment had shaken up the whole family. He had watched as all of his siblings had retreated from each other, choosing to devote all their effort and energy into their duties. They had all wallowed in sorrow for eons and some like Michael, who had become a recluse, were still grieving. Amenadiel was sure if Lucifer was destroyed, their family would be destroyed along with him. Hell, he was sure if Lucifer was destroyed, some part of him would die alongside Lucifer. Lucifer was the light of the family, the comedian. After his banishment, the silver city felt less warm, less like home. But at least then they knew he was still out there somewhere. If Lucifer was destroyed forever there was no telling what would happen to their family. 

Maze was equally as frantic. Lucifer had been her best friend and closest confidant for millennia. In Hell, where no one could be trusted except to stab you in the back when they got the opportunity to, she knew despite everything that may happen, Lucifer still had her back. Even after she had betrayed him on Earth in an attempt to get him and her to go back to Hell, Lucifer had always forgiven her in the end. She owed it to him to save him and was willing to give up her life in order to do so. 

Meanwhile up in the silver city,  God was starting to get worried. Although he usually closed off his mind to his omniscience because what's the fun in knowing everything, he could feel that some of the energy in the universe was seeping away. He quickly scanned through the universe and what he saw worried him immensely. Stars were beginning to dim and collapse in on themselves as if something was sucking away their energy. Not just one star but countless numbers of them scattered all across the universe. God knew something dire was going on and when he found the cause of the problem what he saw made his blood run cold. 

Chapter Text

"Raphael!" God bellowed, his voice tinged with fear, as he stepped foot outside of his workshop. 

At the sound of their Father's voice all the angels in Heaven abruptly stopped what they were doing and flew straight to their Father's workshop. They hadn't seen nor spoken to their him in eons, ever since their mother had been sent to Hell. After he had banished Goddess to Hell, he had retreated to his workshop and hadn't come out to see or speak to any of his children until this moment. The running of Heaven had always been Michael's responsibility but after his twin's banishment, Michael became a recluse and the actual day to day running of Heaven was left to Amenadiel. Ever since Amenadiel had become stuck on Earth, Michael had taken back the responsibility of the day to day running of Heaven. 

The angels were extremely worried by the tinge of fear in God's voice. They had never heard their father sound afraid or this angry — ever. Something must be terribly wrong.

"Father?" Raphael, or Raf as her siblings liked to call her, timidly answered. She was extremely worried she had done something wrong. Something so wrong it warranted her Father coming out of his self imposed isolation to yell at her.

God took note of her fear and sighed, letting go of his anger. It wasn't fair for his children to feel the effects of it when they had done nothing wrong. "Raphael, come here. You've done nothing wrong." God said holding out his arms. Raphael ran to him and hugged her father, savoring his comforting touch. It had been too long since her father had hugged her and made her feel like everything was going to be all right. "Relax child, I just have a request for you. I need you to set up the infirmary and get ready to heal a soul." God whispered while hugging her back. 

"Set up the infirmary? Heal a soul? What happened?" Raphael asked, her voice rising so quickly that she screeched the last word. The infirmary hadn't been used for millennia. It was almost impossible to injure an angel seriously and she had only needed to heal a soul once before. That's how rare soul related injuries were. 

"It's your brother. Something's happened to him." 

Raphael was about to answer when suddenly they heard someone yell "FATHER!!!!!!!" 

Michael came charging out of nowhere, his wings flapping furiously. He had flown straight from his residence all the way on the other side of Heaven. After landing in front of his father to the shock of all the other angels, Michael exclaimed crazily "Something's happened to Lucifer! I can feel it! He's dying! We have to do something!" with a wild look in his eyes, his black wings poised to cross the interdimensional barrier to help his twin if no one else agreed to help. 

The angels and even God had decided to respect Lucifer's decision to change his name. It was the least they could do for him. 

Pandemonium then promptly broke out with angels talking over the other, all saying something along the lines of "What are we doing standing here? We should be helping Lucifer right now!" Contrary to what humanity may believe, Lucifer was neither evil nor hated by his family. How could they hate their brother? Their brother who never failed to cheer them up and make them laugh. Their brother who taught them how to prank each other and have fun. Their brother who was the jokester and light of the family. No, they could never hate him. Some tried after he was banished but failed. They just felt overwhelming sadness. 

One voice rose above the mass of voices. "I bet it's those nasty humans" Remiel snarled speaking to her father, "I told you they were good for nothing pests and what did you do? Nothing. Now they've come back to bite us in the butt." 

Remiel had always been close to Lucifer. The angelic family was so big that some siblings were closer than others. The five archangels and oldest siblings (in order): Amenadiel, Raphael, Lucifer, Michael, Gabriel, and Remiel were an especially tight knit group.

"QUIET!" God barked. "I know you're all worried for your brother and want to help but this —"  he said pointing at the chaos occurring in front of him, "isn't helping. Raphael, you set up the infirmary and be prepared to treat Lucifer after we've brought him in. Michael, Gabriel, and Remiel — I want you to come with me. The rest of you go back to your duties. Standing around doing nothing isn't going to do you any good"

Michael, Gabriel, and Remiel stood next to the edge of Heaven with their wings out, ready to save their brother. 

Maze and Amenadiel got to the warehouse in minutes with Maze directing him where to go following the feeling in her gut. 

They burst in through the door sending old boxes and some of the priests flying. 

Most of the priests stopped chanting and stood there stock-still, staring at Amenadiel's wings. However, Father Kinley kept on chanting, not even perturbed by the disturbance. 

"Amenadiel... You take care of them. I want to personally deal with that bastard over there." Maze growled pointing at Kinley. 

As much as Amenadiel wanted to be the one to throw Kinley around, he knew it was impossible to discourage Maze after she'd made up her mind about something. Besides, he had to figure out how these humans had managed to obtain the knowledge on how to perform this ritual. This ritual was the most dangerous form of angelic magic for it could kill destroy an angel's soul which not only would end their existence but would cause unimaginable pain. This form of angelic magic was so dangerous that only God knew what it entailed. 

Maze darted over to Father Kinley and threw him into the wall yet he still kept on chanting. "You want to make this difficult huh?" she taunted maliciously, "As much as I would like to toy with you right now, Lucifer's in trouble so I'll just save our one-on-one time for later." She then punched him so hard his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell unconcious. 

Maze immediately ran over to Lucifer who was laid out in the middle of a glowing circle surrounded by glowing enochian letters, twitching and moaning unintelligibly. Just stopping the chant wouldn't be enough to stop the ritual. She would need to break the circle and get Lucifer out. However, every time she tried to cross over the circle, she too felt her life being sucked away. It didn't hurt but she felt herself get weaker since demons don't have a soul. She tried again, and again, but got weaker and weaker after each try. She finally managed to stagger to the middle where Lucifer was and attempt to pull him out, but touching him made him cry out even louder. If she couldn't pull Lucifer out then maybe she could break the circle. She tried to wipe the letters and circle away but the letters and circle felt white hot to the touch and burned her hands. They felt hotter than anything she had every felt before. Hotter than even the fiery pits of Hell. For the first time in a long time, Maze started to panic thinking about the very real possibility that she would fail to protect her friend and King and that he would be gone — forever. 

Panting, Maze called out for Amenadiel. He was an angel so perhaps he would have more luck getting Lucifer out. By this time, Amenadiel had already taken out the other priests and recovered the book Kinley discovered in the Vatican basement. He crossed over the circle and promptly collapsed. His body started to twitch like Lucifer's and he started to scream. At least Lucifer was knocked out during the ritual — thank god for small mercies. Amenadiel, meanwhile, felt unimaginable and overwhelming pain. 

Maze used the last bit of strength she had to stagger over to Amenadiel and pull him out of the circle seeing as how he was close to the edge, ignoring the stabbing pain in her burned hands. After dragging him to safety, Maze was completely exhausted and crumpled down to the floor. The situation was so desperate she did something she never thought she would ever in her lifetime do. Mazikeen of the Lilum began to pray. 

As she began, four beings showed up out of nowhere. The three in the back had wings and were obviously angels. She could only surmise the one in the front was God. He radiated pure power and glowed brighter than anything she had ever seen before. As she looked at the angels more closely she could see that one of the angels looked exactly like Lucifer except for the scar that ran down his face. Lucifer had never mentioned having a twin to her.

God erased the circle and enochian letters along with the priests' knowledge of the ritual and obliterated the troublesome book with a swipe of his hand. "Michael. Take Lucifer and Amenadiel to the infirmary. Raphael is waiting. She will heal them. You may stay with them. I know you've been waiting to reunite with your twin for eons." God ordered. 

Michael flew over to where Lucifer and Amenadiel were, gingerly placed them over his shoulder, and flew away with a nod at his Father. 

Maze was shocked. "Michael?!?!?! As in Saint Michael the Prince of the Heavenly Host, Commander of Heaven's Armies? He's Lucifer's twin?!?!" She thought letting out a not so subtle snort which caught God and the other angels' attention. 

Their attention was immediately on her. God waved his hand and Maze immediately flinched back scared that he was going to smite her because she was a demon. Instead to her surprise, her strength was restored and the burns in her hands healed. Maze stood up, testing her strength and clenching her fists, and awkwardly thanked him. He nodded at her then turned around, turning his attention towards the unconscious priests. The female angel looked at Maze confused, furrowing her brow, and then turned around following her Father. The male angel gave Maze a comforting and friendly smile and then turned around to look at the priests.

"His smile's cute.." Maze thought then immediately snapped out of her thoughts, “Ugh what am I thinking?" She shook her head and turned her attention to Father Kinley and the priests. She  couldn't wait for them to get their comeuppance. But first, she needed to make sure Lucifer and Amenadiel would be ok. "Um God? Will Lucifer and Amenadiel be ok?" 

God turned back to Maze. "Yes, my child. Raphael will heal them. They will be perfectly fine." He then turned back to the priests. 

God waved his arm and the unconscious priests started to gain consciousness. 

Father Kinley groaned as he blinked his bleary eyes and tried to get a hold on his surroundings. The last thing he remembered was the demon throwing him into the wall and punching him. He suddenly remembered "The ritual!" but when he tried to chant again he found that he couldn't remember what to say. He started panicking and as he began to regain his vision, Father Kinley looked up and saw the Lord standing in front of him in all of his glory. He tired to kneel down and sing God's praises but discovered that his whole body except his head was immobilized and that he couldn't speak. "What is the meaning of this?" he thought, "The Lord must be here to thank me. I've done his work for my whole life."

"William Kinley" God gravely said, his voice booming throughout the whole warehouse, "You will be transported to the holding cell in the Silver City to wait for your trial for your crimes against my son, Lucifer Morningstar."

God hated the hypocrisy and fanaticism that many so-called priests and holy men exhibited.

"The Lord's son? I only tried rid the world of the Devil." William Kinley puzzled over. He was thoroughly confused. He looked around a bit more to gauge the situation and saw two very angry looking angels standing behind God staring at him as if they wanted to rip his limbs off. "Did I accidentally try to use the ritual on an angel instead of the Devil? If so, then I deserve to be punished. Heavenly Father, I am sorry. I will accept any punishment you deem necessary but I want you to know I would never hurt an angel. I only wanted to rid the world of the Devil and evil along with him. Please, please. I want you to know I am terribly sorry, so sorry for harming an angel. Please forgive me." 

Listening to William Kinley's thoughts was making God angrier and angrier. He didn't have the patience to correct everything Kinley got wrong right now. Everything would come out at his trial and he didn't want to stand in this human's presence for a minute longer than necessary. However, God did realize what Kinley thought was what most humans thought of Lucifer. He decided it was time to clear his son's name once and for all. He had no idea how humans had come up with the idea that His son was evil but he was not going to see his son's name besmirched any longer. But first, William Kinley would have to stand trial for his numerous sins in the Silver City and to that he would have to be dead. After all, living humans couldn't enter the Silver City. God enjoyed snapping the puny human's neck. He itched to kill William Kinley from the first moment he saw Lucifer's battered body laying on the ground. He then smote Kinley's lifeless body. After all, he didn't want human law enforcement to discover the bodies and think that one of his sons had committed a crime. 

Next, he turned his attention to the terrified priests, "The rest of you will be sentenced to Hell. I trust that the demons will take good care of you down there." He ended their lives just and efficiently and smote their bodies. 

God called Azrael to come collect the souls. 

"Father?" Azrael asked as she appeared next to him.

"I want you to bring William Kinley's soul to the cells in the Silver City and the other priests down to Hell." God ordered.

"Gladly" Azrael answered smiling cruelly as she collected the souls and flew away. 

"Now, Mazikeen." God stated smiling kindly, "I would like to reward you for your loyalty and selflessness by gifting you a soul." He waved his hand and a white mist began to flow from his hand into Maze.

Maze was speechless. She had never in her wildest dreams thought this was possible. Ever since she had started to develop feelings other than anger after arriving on Earth, Maze wished for a soul. She hoped that having a soul would help her cope with her newfound emotions better and wanted the chance to be reunited with her friends in their afterlives if she died instead of fading away into nothingness. She had grown as a being and now wished to live her life on her own terms and find love instead of having tons of meaningless, unfulfilling one-night stands. After receiving the soul, Maze found that she physically didn't feel any different but that she felt positive emotions like joy more strongly. 

Remiel was shocked. She didn't exactly have the best opinion of demons. "Father? Are you sure about this? Is it even possible for a demons to have souls?" she asked questioningly.

"Remiel. Mazikeen was willing to sacrifice her own life for your brothers' lives. Even as her own strength was weakening and she was dying, she went back into the circle and pulled Amenadiel out despite the fact that her hands were burned. She endured immense pain and exhaustion in order to save Amenadiel. The only reason she didn't save Lucifer too is because she couldn't without hurting him more. She displayed an amount of loyalty I have not seen in eons. She has earned a soul and I extend to her my blessing."  

Remiel grudgingly admitted to herself that Mazikeen had earned her soul but she was still unsure about her. However, since her Father had extended to Mazikeen his blessing, she would treat her with the respect that that commanded. To be blessed my God himself was the greatest honor anyone could have. It was a permanent mark on your soul that said to celestials and demonic creatures that you were not to be harmed or else risk God's wrath. 

"Remiel. Go back home and share the news of what has happened with your siblings and prepare for the human's trial. It will convene soon." God commanded.

Remiel curtly nodded and flew away. She knew that everyone up in the Silver City was anxiously waiting for updates. 

"Now, I have something I want you two to do." 

Maze was surprised. She had thought that God would just let her go after the whole situation was cleaned up. As she looked up and studied her 'partner' more seriously, she realized he was gorgeous — even more so than Lucifer and Amenadiel which she thought to be impossible. He had wavy, shoulder length blond hair, clear grey eyes that looked as though they could see into your very soul, a clean-shaven face that looked as if it had been carved from marble, and an aura of authority and control. When he smiled, his eyes lit up and his dimples appeared. He had one on each cheek. She couldn't see his body very well since he was wearing flowing robes but knowing what his brothers' looked like, Maze could infer that his looked similar — lean, fit, and muscular. How was it that their family was so stupidly attractive? 

Unbeknownst to her, Gabriel was having similar thoughts. 

Smiling to himself, God thought "I hope they don't take as long as Lucifer and Chloe Decker." He cleared his throat and Gabriel and Maze immediately turned to look at him, blushes on both of their faces. "I want you two to tell Lucifer's friends what has happened and who he is. It is more fair to them for them to find out now than to find out with everyone else" God cryptically said with a little knowing smile on his face, "Now that you know what to do, I have some children to check up on." God left as quickly and silently as he had arrived. He had plans to make and a son to speak to and make amends with.

"I wonder what Father's planning now" Gabriel thought with a sigh. 

Maze looked around not quite believing what she had just experienced. The warehouse looked normal, no sign of what had just taken place except for the ten little mounds of ash on the floor and the hottest being she had ever seen standing next to her. "So...I'm Mazikeen but you can call me Maze." she awkwardly said after what felt like ten minutes of them glancing at each other and looking around the warehouse, unsure what to do.

"I'm Gabriel" he said, "Do you know how we're going to do this? I haven't had many experiences with real live humans in hundreds of years." 

"I can text Linda and tell her to gather everyone up. I think you should show them your wings first since that's much more likely to get a favorable reaction." 

"Sure! That sounds good. I guess I'll be taking orders from you from now on on what to do." 

"I guess the tables have turned. Aren't you the one usually telling people what to do with you being The Messenger and all. I've never really understood what your gift is though. Do you just give speeches really well or fly really fast?" Maze rambled, trying to cover up the awkwardness of the situation. 

"Not exactly... at it's most extreme, I can command humans and demons to do what I tell them to. I try not to use this 'setting' as much as possible. In it's weakest form, whenever I speak, the intended audience will feel compelled to listen to me and consider whatever it is I had said instead of brushing it off." 

"Sexy" Maze lewdly said, "I like a man who can take charge." Immediately after saying that Maze regretted it. She was so used to saying inappropriate things it just kind of came out of her mouth. 

Gabriel froze. He wasn't sure how to answer, shocked and oddly aroused by what she said. 

Maze tried to cover up her mistake by slapping him on the back saying, "It's just a joke! Don't look so scandalized. With a face like that you've surely had sex before" and then immediately freezing. She shouldn't have said that. Ugh why did she keep on messing up and saying the wrong things to him?! She's never not known what to say before. 

"You think I'm attractive?" Gabriel asked hesitantly ignoring the whole sex thing because he didn't want Maze, this extremely attractive and hot demon (or is she a demon anymore?) he was pretty sure he had a crush on, knowing he was woefully inexperienced. Heck, he had never even been kissed before.  

"Uhhhhhh I think your whole family is insanely attractive" Maze blurted out trying to keep her little crush under wraps. After all, she was looking for love and not meaningless one night stands anymore and there was no way an archangel as powerful and important as Gabriel would deign to date a demon — even a blessed one. "Anyways, we should get going. I'm going to text Linda right now." 

Gabriel was crushed and felt even more insecure than before. Was he really that unattractive compared to his siblings? Did she think he was ugly and was just saying that to spare his feelings? 

Maze glanced at Gabriel and saw his frown. Did he not approve of what she said? Was he disgusted by the thought of a lowly demon even thinking that him and his family were attractive? If he was disgusted with that, he would be revolted by the thought of her having a crush on him. Her heart fell. Choosing to worry about what this all meant later, she started to text Linda. She must be worried by now. 

Meanwhile across LA, Linda was pacing back and forth in her living room. Maze and Amenadiel had unceremoniously bust out of her house hours ago yelling about how Lucifer was dying. "Why weren't they back yet? Was Lucifer ok?" kept racing through her mind. She kept trying to think of what she could do to help but her mind remained blank.  

Suddenly, her phone pinged. Linda raced over to the coffee table to grab it and let out a huge sigh of relief after seeing Maze had texted her. However, her anxiety spiked up again after reading Maze's message. 

Maze 😈

I need you to gather up everyone. Something's happened and it will be easier to tell you all at one time. I also need to tell everyone who Lucifer and I really are.

Linda

What's happened???? Are you, Lucifer, and Amenadiel ok???? How are you going to do that??? Are you going to show them your demon face??

Maze 😈

A lot has happened. It would be easier to tell you in person. Lucifer and Amenadiel were hurt but they'll be ok. They're upstairs being cared for. I have an angel with me so we'll show them his wings

Linda

Wait what???? I thought Lucifer wasn't allowed in Heaven?? What angel?? I thought they all hated demons and Lucifer?

Maze 😈

It's a long story. Could you gather up everyone at your house? I'm bringing along the Archangel Gabriel. God's orders.

Linda

GOD????? Ok — I'm not even going to comment on the Archangel Gabriel thing. I'll get everyone. Does that include Trixie or just Dan, Chloe, and Ella? When can you guys get here?

Maze 😈

Trixie too. Just text me after everyone arrives. We can be over in less than a minute. 

Linda

Ok.

Linda put down her phone both more and less worried than before she had picked it up. She had no idea what had happened and what to expect. Taking a deep breath in, she made a group chat with Ella, Chloe, and Dan. 

Linda

Hey guys. Can you come over to my house right now? Something's happened to Lucifer and Amenadiel.

Chloe

I'll be right over. What happened??? are they ok??? 

Linda

Can you bring Trixie too? Lucifer was hurt pretty badly but he's recovering right now. Amenadiel wasn't hurt as badly and he's also recovering. I'm not exactly sure what happened but Maze will fill us in. I just know that something happened.

Dan

Yeah sure I'm coming over. By the way, has anyone seen Charlotte? After the chaos of yesterday I completely forgot to cancel our dinner date and when I called her today she didn't answer. I also went over to her apartment but no one was there. Did she tell you guys if she was going somewhere?

Linda

It may have been a last minute thing and she may be somewhere with no service. I wouldn't worry too much. She's quite close to Lucifer and Amenadiel. Maybe you can ask them after they're better. 

Ella 😊😊😊

OMG poor Luci and Amenadiel!! Are you sure they are going to be alright? I'll be right over 

Linda

Maze assured me they would be ok

Chloe

What hospital are they in? Could we visit? 

Linda

They aren't exactly in a hospital...but they're being cared for. Maze will explain.

Chloe

Ok but this better be a hell of a good explanation because they should be in a hospital being cared for by doctors  

Linda

It is...quite literally.

Linda 🤓

Everyone's here

Maze

Ok. We’re on our way.

"Gabriel," Maze called, looking up from her phone, "they're there. Let's go."

"You can call me Gabe. That's what everyone who knows me calls me." Gabriel responded.

"Gabe" Maze said, testing the name out. 

"Um I think I'm going to have to carry you" Gabriel blurted out.

"Oh uh ok" Maze blushed, climbing onto Gabriel's waiting arms. They looked like a newly married couple crossing over the threshold. Maze thought his arms felt really, really nice. He had a strong grip and nice big hands... 

"Ok, hold on. I'm going to teleport so I don't want you to be startled."

"I thought angels flew?"

"We usually like to take our time and enjoy flying but we can also get anywhere instantaneously with our wings. We just choose not to most of the time. It's hard to explain how we do it if you have never experienced it before." 

Gabriel pulled out his wings with a whoosh and Maze could only stare. They were a silvery grey color with darker grey feathers peppered throughout his wings. All the feathers were luminous, shining with divine light, not a dull patch to be seen. The feathers were in pristine condition and in their right place like someone had combed them recently. The feathers looked soft to the touch, like she could use them as a pillow or blanket on a cold winter night cuddled in front of a fireplace... As her mind started to go down a rabbit hole, Maze snapped back to the present moment and immediately sobered up, dreading what they would have to do. 

Gabriel noticed Maze checking out his wings and had to stop himself from preening. Tamping down that line of thought because why would someone like her want to pursue a relationship with him, he sighed, "Let's get this over with." The both of them were dreading telling the humans what had happened, not wanting to relive the events of today. 

Gabriel flapped his wings once and with a great burst of air, they landed gracefully in Linda's backyard. 

Chloe was pacing along the living room floor anxiously waiting for Maze to arrive. She was worried for Lucifer and Amenadiel and itched to put whomever had hurt them into jail.

Ella wasn't doing too much better. She was practically vibrating with anxiety on the couch.

Trixie looked confused, shooting her mom and dad bewildered looks. Chloe and Dan had decided not to tell Trixie what was going on yet until Maze arrived, not wanting her to be consumed with concern and fear for Lucifer and Amenadiel. 

Dan was getting impatient. The only reason he had come was because Linda had sounded worried and was extremely cryptic in the chat. It was almost impossible to make her panic. "Is Maze here yet?" he asked.

"Yes...they should be here soon." Linda responded distractedly. She looked as though her mind was a million miles away. "Oh!" she suddenly exclaimed and shot up from the couch, "Please don't freak out after Gabriel shows you. Just remember Maze, Amenadiel, and Lucifer the same people you know." 

Everyone looked at each other confused. 

"Who's Gabriel?" Chloe asked. 

"Maze and Gabriel are coming. I've never met Gabriel but he's another one of Lucifer's brothers," Linda responded.

"Doesn't Lucifer's family hate him?" Dan asked, "I've always heard him complaining about them and how they hate him and how he hates them — especially his Father."

"Well from what I understand there have been some recent developments" 

"Did his family hurt him?????" Chloe asked gesturing wildly.

"I highly doubt Maze would be coming here with him to explain what happened if they did. Plus they were the ones — well his Father was the one — that saved Lucifer and Amenadiel." Linda said.

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the back door. The door opened to reveal Maze and a drop-dead gorgeous blond man wearing a strange robe. 

"Is that him?" Ella and Chloe asked simultaneously, their jaws dropping open. 

Gabriel grimaced, not used to so much attention from humans when he wasn't delivering a message from his Father. He didn't have much experience with humans outside of missions from his Father. Usually he just popped down to Earth to fulfill his duty, picked up a knick knack or two, and went right back to Heaven afterwards. 

"That's Gabriel. He's one of Lucifer's brothers." Maze butted in, noticing how uncomfortable Gabriel was with the scrutiny and attention. 

"What was it you wanted us to come here for?" Dan asked. 

"Oh. Yeah." Maze said, her face falling, "You should all sit down." 

Dan, Chloe, Ella, and Trixie sat down on the couch, utterly confused by what was happening. Linda moved to stand next to the couch to keep an eye on them in case they needed someone to calm them down after the big reveal.

Gabriel took a deep breath in and unfurled his wings. 

Chapter Text

Hi everyone! I've been away for a long time and a lot has happened. I lost my original plans and outlines for this work so to be honest I don't really remember where I was going. I'm not in the same state of mind or stage of life I was when I originally wrote this. However, I'm hoping to finish this so I'll be going back and reading what I have and brainstorming where to go from hereon. I know what a pain reading an unfinished work is so please bear with me!

And thank you all for the supportive words and kind messages I have gotten. You guys are a big motivator and reason I have decided to come back!

Update pt. 2

Upon rereading the existing chapters I'm not that satisfied with what I have, especially the flow. So before adding to the story I'm going to rework some things in the existing chapters which will most likely mean new details and material!