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Chapter Text

A sharp exhaled and jolt is what Gabriel woke up with, He expected to see the walls of the sandy prison he was detained in, But instead was greeted by the beautiful murals on unfamiliar walls, Paintings of his kind amongst those they served, He wondered if he finally had gone to heaven or was dreaming.

The angel went to pinch himself only to find a quite elegant garb that could be described as a dark lavender on his body and his hands in dark gloves with gold rings that matched the holy symbolism on his attire.

He kicked his leg, Hearing no clink of metal against metal, Gabriel dared to sit up, Feeling a little light headed, The angel stretched his wings out, Only to find that they had darkened in color and were over-fluffed by lack of preening.

He frowned, Understanding that as a result of his foolishness. Gabriel tilted his head, Feeling surprised when short dark hair swished by instead of his long golden hair.

'Reincarnation?' He pondered, Gabriel knew that man could reincarnate if their souls so choose but angels? Let alone archangels??

Not likely, Regardless here he was, The angel wanted to figure out what happened and why he came back.

Gabriel hopped off of the alter he laid upon, Faling down to the floor immediately.

"O-Ow..." He whined, Unprepared for the slight pain from such a thing.

"Bro did you hear that!?"

"Fuck, Yeah, I don't think we're here alone Jo."

The angel heard the exchange between two distant voices, The angel rose to his feet, Clinging to the alter for support, His darkened wings shifted uncomfortably, But despite that unease, Gabriel felt an odd twinge of excitement, For he felt somewhat comforted by the fact that he was not alone, His excitement to meet and interact with living beings after so long motivated him to find the strength to stand again.

He somehow found his balance, Standing on his odd new shoes, They arched up at an angle, With a thin gold support beam for his heels, The gold matched the cross that adorned each side.

Gabriel found his way to the tall doors that guarded the exit, he peaked through it and saw that what he heard was true, There were a pair of humans at the end of the hall.

Gabriel could only get a good look at one of them due to the second having his back turned to him, The one he could see however, Was a dark skinned guy with two toned hair color, He watched the color leave his face as the angel approached.

"Be not afr-" The angel was cut off by him screaming.

"ADAM!! BEHIND YOU!!"

Instead of warm greetings or even fearful ones from the second, Gabriel was met with a sudden hatchet slash to his side when the other human spun back and attacked him.

Gabriel fell back with a cry from the pain and couldn't catch himself, Resulting in the angel clambering to the ground once more, Clutching his slashed and now bleeding side.

He crawled back from the two, Curling up on his side and shielding himself with his wings to protect it from further harm, The angel started to sob from the resurfacing pain of the betrayal that caused his death, At Lucifer's hands.

Gabriel's ears didn't catch the hurried footsteps that ran from him, All he knew was... He was alone again once he opened his wings and he would likely stay that way, But a shadow caught his eye as it emerged from his peripheral vision, The angel found himself unable to move, Caught under it's unrelenting gaze.

He wanted to scream, But Gabriel could not, He was forced to lay there, Tears still rolled down his face, The angel couldn't escape, Even if his life depended on it, And it did, He was once again, Captive.

The shadow seemed ready to go in for the kill as it lunged at Gabriel...

A bang rang through the place and the creature fell, Staggered, Barely avoiding the fate of falling forward on the angel, Thankfully it fell beside him.

Distant voices called out but Gabriel was already lost in shock and blood loss, Causing him to slip into the void of unconsciousness.

Adam blew out the smoke from the gun, It didn't make sense to him, Why would an alternate attack their own kind?? His partner finally caught up to him.

"WHAT THE FUCK ADAM!? WE NEED TO FUCKING LEAVE." As Jonah yelled, The young adult continued to stare, Causing the other to look the same way and let out a "Holy shit-"

"We need to help him." Adam blankly said, Causing a surprised gasp from his friend.

"Adam, Did that last job mean nothing to you!? You could have fucking died! And been host to these things-"

"But I didn't, And this is different, Look, What if this is really something beyond us!! Jonah! This thing didn't attack us! It bleeds red! What I'm saying is- What are you doing??" He was caught off guard by his friend approaching it.

"Helping you bring this fuckin thing into the car."

Chapter Text

Adam took the wheel on the drive afterward, As he had after the incident at the cat woman's place.

"Adam, Do you think it's gonna.. Y'know, Be upset that we attacked it?" Jonah asked sympathetically, Breaking the dead silence, 'It' being the winged creature they indirectly knocked out and then shoved into the trunk like a corpse.

"Probably, I mean, If I got fuckin sliced, I'd be a lil grumpy myself." The blonde one tried to make a little humor of the situation, Which usually was Jonah's job but obviously it was freaking him out quite a bit.

"Jo, We're going to get this handled, Worst thing that could happen? I dunno, We have to fight it? I mean, It almost got smacked by an alternate so surely it can't be that powerful." He tried to reassure, Feeling bad for putting his friend through all of this.

Another wave of silence fell over the two, The road ahead was so dark, Yet there was light, Illuminations of streetlights, It wasn't much but there was never just pitch black.

Adam pulled into a dark, Somewhat trashy neighborhood, It wasn't great but it was all they could get, Since one of their clients struck up a deal with the duo, Offering them a place to stay since the woman believed in their mission, She seemed believed in it more then Adam himself at this point.

Atleast the other people living here won't bat an eye at them pulling out an unconscious person from the trunk, Speaking of which, Time to do the deed.

The car slowed to a stop, The tires rumbling on the gravel driveway of the two bedroom house way back in the place.

"Let's do this shit I guess." Adam said, Offer his gun to Jonah who took it and made sure the safety was off before opening the door and meeting the other around the back.

Adam held the key up and clicked the unlock button on the key fob before sticking it back in his pocket, Now he reached for the car trunk handle, Holding the hatchet in his free hand just in case this was an ambush, The blonde teen took a deep breath before throwing the trunk open.

It was still out, And bleeding, It freaked him out a little how human it looked like this, Adam wanted to do one thing before lifting this thing and leaving himself vulnerable, He set his weapon aside, Asking Jonah to watch his back as he reached in the trunk for a flashlight, He got closer and carefully lifted one of the creature's eyelids, Grimacing at the odd, Elongated shape of his pupil.

Adam shined the light in his eye, The pupil constricted, Going thinner like a cat's but overall, The winged thing didn't react despite that, So Adam had a decent idea that it was actually unconscious instead of it's faint being a trick, He turned off the flashlight and instead reached for the creature, Not caring about getting it's blood on him, Adam could see his friend fighting the urge to help him lift but he waved him off, Telling him instead to "Open the doors for me." Since Jonah had a spare key.

-------

Gabriel awoke again but quickly closed his eyes at the sight of the blinding light in his eyes, Finding himself, In warmth he was surprised, He expected to bleed out again on that cold tile floor but he wasn't, The angel was covered up to his shoulders with a soft cover of sorts, On an odd but comfortable long piece of furniture.

He saw an odd house around him, Weird objects he wasn't familiar and design that was strange beyond his knowing, Gabriel sat up, Quickly recoiling from a pain in his side, Breathing sharply until a voice spoke up.

"Bro! Chill the f-"

"BRO DON'T FUCKING SWEAR AT IT!"

"What the fuck Adam!?"

"What the frick Jonah!"

It seemed like they were going to continue to go at it until the angel himself spoke up. "W-Where am I??"

The blonde one spoke first without hesitation. "Le hellhole-" He was quickly cut off by the other. "ADAM-"

The second guy spoke to Gabriel again, Finally shedding light on the subject. "You passed out... So we brought you here, Our home, And patched you up somewhat..." He pointed at the angel's side, Which was bare but only for the need of dressing his wound, Gabriel noticed some sort of linen wrapped around it and around his wrists.

".. Who are you??" Was the angel's next question.

"Oh yeah, I'm Jonah." The darker one said, Then pointed his thumb to the blonde who just stood off to the side. "That's Adam."

Gabriel perked up. "Oh?? Like Adam and Eve???"

"Nah bro, Adam and Steve."

"What!?" The angel asked, Confused, Befuddled, Bamboozled even!

Jonah slid by him. "Don't worry about it!, Who are you though?"

"G-Gabriel... The angel Gabriel." He spoke in a low tone, Timid, What made it worse was the looks of terror that slowly faded onto Adam and Jonah's faces.

In a quick motion, the hatchet was brought back out and held to his throat, He looked into Adam's rage filled eyes, Searing his soul. "What the fuck do you want!? I'll fucking kill you! Bastard!!"

"I wish you both no ill will!!! I'm quite aware of my misdeed and mistake and the grief I'm sure it caused, If death is my punishment, So be it.." He watched as Adam trembled with the weapon, His anger filled resolve fading into fear and hesitation.

Suddenly, The hatchet was yanked away from the two, By Jonah, Which incited a fearful and aggressive response.

"J-Jonah!? What the fuck are you doing!?"

"Stopping you from doing something you'd regret." He replied with a wave of his own fright in his voice. "You said it yourself, What if this really is something beyond us...Something to help humanity against the alternates?"

Adam fell quiet.

"If he were the king of alternates, He wouldn't have been so willing to surrender so quickly?"

Alternates... That was something awfully unfamiliar to Gabriel.

Jonah looked to Gabriel himself, Silently ordering him to speak.

"I...I was tricked... Lucifer, God's greatest adversary, We were once brothers... He told me he wanted to go b-back.. Change his ways, We met after the news of the lord's child, That's when he k-killed.. Killed me.. "

His wings wrapped around himself as he laid the story on the metaphorical table. "I understand if you are angry, I can't imagine the horrid things he has done after such a deed."

Gabriel half heartedly listened as the two discussed and debated quietly to eachother, He didn't care what happened to him, He felt that he deserved every bit of retribution that would strike him down from this point on.

"Okay, Okay, Gabriel." Adam spoke, Grabbing the angel's attention.

"Me and Jo, Jonah." He clarified before continuing. "Have come to the agreement of not kicking your ass, But-" The blonde pulled out his previous weapon and pointed it in his direction. "Try anything and we'll give you a one way ticket to hell."

Gabriel trembled, Terrified of making more mistakes that causes them to hate his guts more than they surely already do.

He could hear a sigh.

"Look, We're not gonna hurt you, Anymore atleast, If you don't hurt us, Got it?" The angel nodded. "Good, Get some rest Gabe."

"Well.. Us archangels don't really require sleep!!" Gabriel tried to protest but he did feel a certain heaviness to his body and eyelids, The angel laid back down regardless, He shivered upon feeling a cold breeze.

"Aww... He's chilly!!"

Gabriel felt the warm embrace of a blanket being lightly and oh so gently laid over his admittedly cold body.

-----

Jonah sat back down next to Adam, Watching the angel doze off, He wasn't so sure about Gabriel at first, But something about the creature made him warm up to him pretty fast actually, Maybe it was the way he sweetly snuggled into the blanket Jonah gave him or the innocent gaze he looked at the world with...

Or the fact that the teen found that he could relate to the circumstances vaguely and that this once divine being, Was in deep shit now, As much if not more than Adam and and Jonah himself were.

For the first time in a long time, The future held a glimmer of light to it.

Chapter Text

Gabriel didn't remember when he had awoken for the third time in that short time frame but he was more or less aimlessly staring off into space, He was about to drift off when he hear a snap near by.

"H-Huh what??" The angel frantically looked around and saw Adam with his hand in some sort of formation near him.

"Ohhh hi.. Adam." Gabriel replied, Trailing off from his drowsiness, Ready to fall back into his peaceful slumber when he was poked awake again, This time squeaking in response.

"Gabe, Stay awake, Jonah's cooking the good shit and who knows how long it's been since you've eaten."

Gabriel yawned. "But angels don't require to eat....Don't... need.....sleep." He explained tiredly, Drifting off again.

"Gaaabeee, Foods ready!!" The angel was unfortunately awoken again but his nose caught a whiff of a quite delectable scent, He opened his eyes, Looking down at the still steaming, Fresh bowl of something, He wasn't sure what it was but took the spoon near him to get a better sniff.

Once he had done that, The smell was very nice and almost enticing to him, He looked to Adam and Jonah, The latter having a spoon of his own and holding it to his mouth, Giving Gabriel a nudge to attempt to do the same.

"It's chiliy! Because you were chilly last night!!" Jonah announced, Getting a blank, Puzzled stare from the angel and then a loud laugh from Adam murray at his friend's failure to be punny. "Damn bro, You got the whole squad laughing."

"SHUT UP ADAM- We'll just have to work on the pun department!!"

Gabriel brushed the interaction off and brought the utensil closer to his mouth, Eventually bringing it into it.

A pleasant sensation flooded his senses, The meal made him feel warm and content as it went down his throat, Gabriel's wings went from, Upright to fluttering happily as he continued to gobble down his food.

The boys watched Gabriel's eyes light up as soon as the chiliy hit his tongue.

Jonah felt prideful that a divine creature enjoyed his cooking, Even if they didn't have many ingredients on hand at the moment.

Gabriel finished the bowl quickly and messily, Causing Adam to throw him an already dirty shirt of his own, Telling him to. "Wipe his face." The angel did heed his request, though somewhat awkwardly.

There was a silence that hovered in the air, It made Gabriel go tense, He knew what he was trying to avoid thinking about, But it still came to him regardless, The sand tomb he spent, God knows how long in, Adam and Jonah seemed nice enough but Gabriel didn't want to talk about it, Not because he didn't trust them, He did, For better or worse, It was just that... He deserved his punishment.

The angel went to get up but was stopped by a searing pain that swept his side, Causing him to gasp and fall back down onto the couch.

He could hear the other two running to his aid. "Holy shit bro, You shouldn't be moving right now!!!" Adam exclaimed.

Gabriel didn't verbalize it but the idea staying in one place made him antsy, Thankfully his rescuers caught onto that. "C'mon Jo, Help me lift him up."

The angel was surprised at their gentleness when lifting him to stand. "I really don't deserve this..." Gabriel spoke at a low tone, merely thinking outloud, He didn't notice Adam and Jonah's concerned looks to eachother.

"Oookayyy." The partly silver haired one started, Changing the subject. "Okay, So the kitchen is that way, Help yourself when you get hungry." Gabriel wanted to cut in and reiterated that he did not experience hunger but he did eat a bowl of 'chiliy' so he really didn't have an argument.

Jonah continued. "Mine and Adam's room are upstairs! I think we actually have a mattress down in the basement, Adam, Is it still down there?"

Adam shrugged. "I mean, Probably? I'm sure as hell not going down there to check."

The former sighed. "Well, Assuming there is one down there, Would you be okay sleeping in the basement."

Gabriel didn't know what a basememt was nor did he feel like he should have the nerve to choose.

"Anything is quite alright, I do not nor would I question your generosity in such a trying time." Jonah just blinked a few times.

-----

Adam watched Jonah lead the angel around, He wanted to engage in the conversation aswell but couldn't shake the feeling that they were not alone tonight, And thus he went on the defensive and alert, The blonde didn't exactly see fit to disrupt the tour and as long as he could keep an eye on his friend then he'd feel the slightest bit secure.

Regardless, Adam needed that as he swore he saw a shadow move in the corner of his eye.

Chapter Text

Jonah led Gabriel down to the basement, Adam murray behind, But at a distance, The basement looked Rather odd to someone like Gabriel.

It had wood paneling and carpet, Gabriel thought it looked potentially cozy, With some sort of weird flat rectangle in the middle of the space. "What may that be?" The archangel asked.

"Oh! That's an air mattress-" Jonah realized that the angel might not understand the concept. "It's like a bed but with air inside instead, Sorta like-"

The room went pitch black as the door shut unexpectedly, Gabriel quivered in the dark, Frightened.

He heard footsteps go up the stairs. "Ha ha Adam, Very funny, Let us out!" Jonah replied, Attempting to turn the door knob, It didn't budge, He got no response so he went at the door with more force.

"Adam!! Let us out!! This isn't fucking funny-" He paused, Hearing something, Voices in the kitchen.

"Foolish man, You have brought the burden of your sin to be carried by the one you hold dear...It's your fault, Do you understand?"

Gabriel heard the voices, He heard Jonah beat on the door.

"ADAM DON'T LISTEN TO IT!!"

The archangel felt helpless in the moment, He took a step back from where he stood.

Jonah turned around, Hearing the noise of Gabriel, He almost asked the angel to help him ram the door down but quickly remembered that Gabe was still heavily injured.

Suddenly the room became illuminated, The source was Gabriel, More specifically his eyes, Glowing like, Fuckin, Headlights as he sat on his knees in a prayer position.

"The fuck??" He spat, Already stressed out by the situation.

Gabriel flinched but stayed in his spot. "I'm aiding Adam with a prayer."

The other tilted his head. "Aren't you, Y'know, Too injured to do that??"

"I'm borrowing power from one on my brethren." The angel spoke softly.

The two waited down there, Both silent and waiting, Concerned and worried for Adam as he fought the alternate, They heard sounds of yells, Both human and not human sounding, Thuds and crashes, And a gunshot... And then there was silence.

A golden shine accompanied the door when finally opened, A beaten and bruised Adam Murray stood in the frame, Appearing akin to one of Gabriel's own kin almost.

"Adam..." The angel watched Jonah look at Adam with a squint before tilting his head to the side, Looking past his friend to see a much more monstrous version, Drenched in still oozing, black blood, He sighed in relief and looked back to his friend, Some minor wounds bleeding red.

"What? Did you not think it was me?" Adam asked, His expression unreadable to Gabriel.

"Well I'm not going to take risks, Nothing is worth the risk, Besides, If you fucking died, I think being reckless would be the last thing you'd want me to do." Jonah replied.

Adam let out a chuckle and messed with Jonah's hair playfully, Causing the other to swat the hand away. "BRO, GROSS!!! YOU HAVE GROSS ALTERNATE BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS!!"

Though Gabriel watched the happy and playful exchange between the two, He kept looking to the corpse of the alternate, A demon no doubt, One of Lucifer's creations.

The archangel hugged himself, Trembling. "So... So that is what my brother has done, That is what Gabriel has done.."

"What do you mean? Aren't you the real Gabe though?"

The dark haired angel shook his head. "That name belongs to me no longer, My brother took it with my identity."

Adam Murray spoke in. "So, Uh, Do you want us to call you something else?"

"Yeah!" Jonah started. "You can change your name if it would make you more comfortable!!"

The angel pondered the idea, Silently asking the two for suggestions.

"If you want my opinion, He took your name? Take his." Adam said with a smirk.

The archangel smiled awkwardly. "I don't think I'd quite make a good Lucifer."

"What about a Lucid then?" Jonah asked, Gabriel actually liked the sound of that, Lucid, Clarity, Something he now possessed, Maybe he could redeem himself with that.

Adam and Jonah held out their hands, To help lift the angel up out of the basement. "C'mon Lucid!!"

He smiled and happily took the assistance, Hoping for this to be a clean slate for him.

Chapter Text

A few days passed, Lucid's presence became one of normality within the Murray & Marshall household, And who knew an archangel was capable of adjusting so soon to such modern tech... Well almost, Lucid did have great difficulty understanding that the shower was not alive, Nor did it have feelings, Other than internal personification of regular house hold items, The angel was doing well...

Or atleast that's what Jonah hoped, He looked over to the living room, And saw Adam and Lucid on the couch together, He smiled, And it didn't take long for the blonde to notice he was being watched and Adam showed an awkward smile and wave back to him.

Jonah went back to what he was doing, Which was throwing together dinner, He could hear the movie that the other two were watching in the background, Twilight, Adam had a weird hyper-fixation on it, Jonah never questioned it though, They were both entitled to their own likes and dislikes.

Speaking of dislikes, Jonah himself disliked the lack of ingredients and can goods he found in the cabnet, He looked back at the other two.

"Adam, I think we need to go to the store, We don't have anything in there to make dinner!"

"Are you kidding!? Jo, The police are swarming, If we go in anywhere, We're as good as gravy!"

"I want gravy..." Lucid said in a hungry daze before snapping back to reality with an idea. "Wait! You've told me about your local vendors! Maybe... If you tell me what to get, I can go in for you two!" The angel offered, Wanting to help as much as he could.

"That's... That's actually not a bad idea..." Adam admitted.

Jonah ran to the living room, Pulling a note pad off the table. "I'll make a list! Remember Lucid! Grab the cheapest stuff-"

"Wait wait, Hold on." The blonde spoke, Causing the other to pause.

"What?" Jonah asked, looking back.

Adam just, Motioned at Lucid's wings, Wings of which that shifted because of his nervously with his sheepish smile.

The blonde rested his hand on his chin. "I wonder if we can bind them... Hold still."

Adam scooted closer, He grabbed Lucid's wing, Gently, The angel tilted his head, Starring at the other with tall eyes.

Adam pulled the wing out, Unfolding it, Lucid remained unbothered by it as he watched.

The other pressed the opened wing against the angels chest. "Okay holy shit this will work." The blonde said, Sounding surprised before turning back to the owner of the limb. "You good with this? We're not gonna make you bind if you don't wanna."

Lucid showed a smile. "Of course! I don't mind! I want to be helpful!"

"That's the spirit!!!" Jonah praised, Enjoying the ray of positive they had as of late, He watched Adam scramble around the house for something.

Jonah looked to the angel in the meantime. "So what's God like?" He asked bluntly but still curious, Unexpectedly, The angel flinched, Jonah didn't exactly know what happened, Maybe he will later, Lucid hasn't snooped into their business so he won't throw the first rock.

The archangel replied anyway in a few moments. "Well, She-"

"SHE!?" Lucid flinched again but Jonah knew for a fact it was from his outburst, Who could blame him? "Uh.. Continue!" He showed a reassuring smile.

The angel tilted his head. "So, Me and my brethren were made by her! As well as your kind!!"

"Well I know that dip-" He could hear Adam yell from the bathroom. "DON'T CURSE AT THE ANGEL!!!"

Jonah rephrased his sentence. ".... I know that dip-...ping dots-"

'God that sounded so fucking stupid.' He thought to himself.

Thankfully he couldn't sulk in his cringe too long because Adam ran back in with a roll of white.

"Bro are you gonna tp the archangel!?"

"What the fuck!? No! This is medical wrap!!"

Lucid chimed in. "Similar to the linen you guys patched me up with?"

"Yep, It's safe.. Well, Safe for this one trip."

Adam cracked his knuckles. "Shall we get started?"

The other two nodded, And thus begun the second most confusing processes of Adam Murray's life, First being prom.

They started by getting Lucid out of his fancy smancy, Dress- Robe- Garb?? Whatver it was classified as.

Adam and Jonah already knew he had clothes underneath.

"I think, I think I can just bind them over his shirt? He needs another layer anyways, Hey Jo? Will you grab one of my hoodies? Not any of the Bps ones though."

While Jonah was off doing that, Adam started on binding.

He felt like one of those victorian maids, Pulling on strings to adjust the corset of his clientele.

"Can you breathe alright?" He asked the angel.

Lucid's posture was forced and stiff but he looked and sounded okay. "Mhm-aaAAA!" The angel let out a frightened noise when something was thrown at him.

He heard both Adam and Jonah laughing as he realized the displaced object was just a shirt, One with a hood.

"Oh.. It's just a shirt.." Lucid stared at it in his hands while Adam finished the binding with a knot, Finally, Boyscouts played off.

"Wrong, It's a hoodie, Now put it on!" The angel slid the hoodie over his head, Finding a little difficulty and confusion with it but figuring it out regardless.

He watched Adam turn to Jonah. "What do you think? Could he pass for human." Lucid tilted his head.

"Yep."

The two started walking to the door, Beckoning the angel to follow suit. "C'mon! Let's do this!"

Chapter Text

The car skidded to a stop in-front of a building, One donning a bright, Glowing sign, Lucid had to forcefully tear his gaze away, Otherwise he'd be staring at it for a half hour.

He was handed a few things, A list, Some green paper, Money he supposed, And was ushered verbally to go inside by Adam and Jonah while they hung around the back as not to be seen.

As soon as Lucid walked in, He thought his wings would snap the medical tape as a cold wave swooned over him, Giving him goosebumps and causing his wings to fluff up, But they stayed in place thankfully.

The angel was lucky to have had some interactions with humans, Therefor he knew how vendors worked, Though he remembered vendors selling, Meats, Fruits, Sometimes cattle, But all Lucid saw were things in some sort of noisy packaging.

Lucid took a peak at his list, He needed to get milk, But there weren't any cows here, After some scavenging, He was able to find it in a jug, Maybe he just needed to be creative.

Not too long later, The angel finished his shopping a half hour after he started, The cashier was really helpful and nice, He recalled glancing at her name tag, Her name was Sarah.

Lucid walked along the side of the establishment, His eyes got caught on a collection of papers taped to the wall, A missing poster for a person named 'Rachel "Ebony" Lamb' And then the angel's eyes drifted to a psa alerting people to stay away from a 'Cesar Torres' if encountered, It looked like attempts were made to claw the poster down but Lucid could still make out that it listed him as an alternate.

Before he could get distracted with any more of the posts, He was blinded, The angel shielded his eyes and looked in the direction of the light, It was the BPS van.

He waved to them before making his way past the blinding rays of the headlights, He opened the doors to the back and hopped inside, Closing them, In which Adam wasted no time in starting the engine to get them going home.

"So, How was it?" Jonah asked, Looking back to Lucid from the passenger seat.

The angel perked up, Somewhat missing the two despite only being away from them for a short while. "Good!, I got everything on the list!!"

"Hell Yeah!" The other replied enthusiastically.

"Pfft- Congratulations on your citizen duties Lucid." Adam joked dryly.

They got home quickly, Due to Adam Murray being himself and pushing the speed limit, As soon as they got inside, He could see the angel's discomfort make itself known while Jonah was putting stuff away and aside for dinner, So Adam pulled a pair of scissors from the table.

"Okay Lucid, Your wings will be free in a second, I wanna show you something."

"What are those?"

"Scissors or shears, I guess, You see how I'm holding em?" He wanted to teach Lucid some basics of how to manage real world items, He watched as the angel nodded.

Adam proceeded to grab a torn envelope from the coffee table he had gotten the first item from, He slid the bottom jaw of the scissors under the paper, Closing his hand in the handles slowly, Thus snipping the paper holder in half.

"Okay, So, I want you to try that with the bandages we used." The blonde spoke, Watching Lucid's bewildered look snap back to reality.

The angel carefully took the sharp pair of scissors from Adam, Looking to his face for approval before getting a nod from him, Giving Lucid a surge of small scale confidence.

He set them to his side as he pulled off the hoodie, Leaving him in a dark shirt with short sleeves, Lucid grabbed the scissors, The grip a little slippery due to the angel still wearing gloves meanwhile.

Lucid opened up the scissors, One of the edges poking him a little. "Careful Lucid!" He heard his blonde companion warn, Causing him to pull the pair back a bit, He found the tool cut though without much effort and in no time, His wings were able to spread out again, And they involuntarily stretched out quickly, Smacking Adam in the face with one.

"OW-"

"SORRY ADAM!!!!" To his surprise, Adam laughed as soon as he pushed Lucid's dark feathered wing out of his face.

"Nah bro, It's fine!!"

Jonah made his way into the living room. "I think we might be able to take calls again, Y'know since we have an angel on our side?"

Adam was well aware that they really boxed themselves into this role, Since they riled up the police force, It was kinda hard to do anything else now. "Maybe, Only if Lucid is okay with it though."

"Of course! I'd very much enjoy helping people!!" The angel replied, Clasping his gloved hands together.

Adam sighed, Reaching for his phone. "Ight, It's settled I guess, I'll give one of these people a call back in a few."

Chapter Text

Lucid listened intently as he heard Adam talk on the phone.

"Okay so, Sir, You think there might be something otherworldly in the attic?" Jonah was in the kitchen, Making something, Mostly for the sake of keeping himself preoccupied in the meantime.

"Uh huh, Yeah, Okay, We'll be there soon, Quick question, Are you or anyone else going to be home? Well We have a new policy, These things can sense fear, And it's not worth risking the safety of our clientele to have them present, Alright, Good, Consider it a deal." Adam pressed a button on his cellphone to hang up the call.

He cleared his throat. "Okay so, We have a job, We're going to go into some guy's attic." He could see Lucid open his mouth to speak but assumed what he was going to say. "An attic is like another floor to someone's house." That seemed to answer the angel's unspoken inquiry.

"Do we know anything else about it?" Jonah asked, Looking with concern.

"Not much, All I got was, He went up to grab a box and then saw some dark figure, He called the cops but they didn't find anything, And the guy saw it again yesterday."

Lucid tilted his head. "How do you usually deal with them, Alternates? I mean."

Adam crossed his arms, With a grin. "I'm glad you asked, We use a variety of methods ranging from shoo-ing them via means of the true god and confronting them on behalf of the victims!"

"Bro that's.. That's not what we do at all, Don't we just run in there and hope for the best?" Jonah spoke, Causing the other to huff in slight annoyance.

"I was trying to hype it up man!!" The blonde retaliated.

The three of them all ran to get into the van, Adam and Jonah however being more on edge than Lucid, Due to that last one they took, They both hoped not to have any more repeats, The two Bps members had a discussion about it prior to the archangel's arrival, Agreeing to stay together, Agreeing to identify their own limits and the limits of those around them, Oh yeah, And pack holy water, In which they did.

It was in a mix of a country and suburban place, Out in the woods but still surrounded by other homes, In varying states of disrepair and inhabitance, They almost couldn't find it honestly.

"Is this the place? It looks shady as shit." Jonah criticized, Fidgeting with his jacket string.

"Looks like it." Adam replied, Double checking the address he was sent on his phone.

They waited a few minutes, Seeing if anything would spring up, Like neighbors or the owner of the house somehow not being the one who called, But thankfully that had not turned to be the case.

Adam opened his door, Prompting Jonah to do the same, They almost went inside but forgot about the elephant in the room, Or well more accurately, The angel in the back of the van.

The blonde went around and opened up the back doors, Getting a shy smile from Lucid as well as a small wave and a quiet "Hi."

As expected, The door was locked but Adam found the key hidden in the mailbox like the caller said.

He unlocked and opened the door, Leading his best friend and angel to where he was told the attic was.

Adam pulled down the string, The string that dragged the ladder down to the floor, He smirked and motioned Jonah to it. "Ladies first-" He was caught off guard when the angel went up the stairs, Being prompted by the joke somehow.

"Lucid!?" He called out, Confused.

"Gender is a social construct!!!" Was the reply he got, Adam blinked a few times giving a weird look to Jonah which received a shrug before he followed suit of the angel.

Adam could hear Lucid and Jonah coughing as he himself climbed up the stairs, And Holy shit, This place was dusty.

Once that cleared they were faced with another issue, The attic was both large and cluttered, Something could be hiding anywhere.

They agreed to somewhat split up, Adam and Jonah stayed together, Lucid went on his own, While being well armed with a nailed bat that that Adam gave him.

Lucid couldn't help but wonder if they were going about this the right way, He knew that Jonah atleast was doing it to keep food on the table but from Adam who seemed genuinely passionate about helping, It didn't make sense to pick off one or two if the're as prevalent as the angel had heard.

He saw a black blanket on the floor, Lucid kept looking, Paying no mind to it, Until his heel stepped on the mass and he heard it yowl and skitter out from under his footing, Causing the angel to fall back onto the floor, It whipped around, Aiming to fly directly at Lucid who let out a shriek and swung the bat he had blindly, Smacking what he assumed to be an alternate in the face.

That didn't stun it too long as it's white face, With it's stretched out features, Let out a screech, One that was short lived as it took a boot from the head, Lucid himself would feel his body being dragged backward, He looked back and his eyes met those of Adam's who replied to the look verbally. "I've got you, I've got you." He reassured

And He looked to his left and saw Jonah wielding his another shoe. "FUCK OFFF BRO!!!!"

The alternate looked like it would strike again but something seemed to stop it, Something made it flee, A loud blaring siren from outside, It ran off, Bumping against Jonah, Possibly in a last ditch effort to inflict harm on one of them atleast, Though it failed.

The three of them heard the sirens and saw the bright flashing lights, Blue and red, Lucid didn't know what they were but he knew what meant, Trouble, As he saw the horrified looks on Adam and Jonah's faces, They all stood frozen for a second, With the exception of the angel who was sitting on the floor still

Jonah had a revelation in that moment, He knew they could get away if they ran but the police would see Lucid's wings, And there could be a good chance for one of them to be caught even if that was brushed off.

"Adam... Grab that extension chord!" He saw a look of confusion as the blonde looked at him but he went through with it anyways, Tossing it to Jonah who caught the orange wire effortlessly.

The blonde slid down to sit behind Lucid. "We're in deep shit, We're going to have to bind your wings down again." The angel nodded, Muttering a scared and quiet. "Okay..."

"Lucid, When we get taken in, Deny knowing anything about us, Okay? And do what the officers say." Jonah's attempt at sounding casual could only go so far as the fear crept into his voice regardless.

The chord felt tighter around his upper and lower body than the medical tape did, In fact, Lucid gasped and fought to take in air in which the bind was loosened, Being accompanied by hushed apologies, Every feather on his now concealed wings was fluffed up, The angel was utterly terrified.

A loud constant banging was their cue that the door was being barged down, First down stairs, A megaphone gave them orders.

"Come down, With your hands up, Where we can see them." Adam and Jonah knew they were screwed.

Chapter Text

The three had no choice but to comply with the orders of law enforcement, They were cornered, Adam and Jonah stepped ahead, Trying to plea and argue that Lucid had no involvement, But it was damning evidence the fact that he was on a job with them.

Lucid didn't pay attention to that, What caught his gaze were the silver restraints applied to both before being ushered into the flashing cars, Those restrains sounded and looked like shackles, Like the ones he wore for so long...

One of the officers took a step towards the angel, Ordering for his hands to be placed behind his back, Lucid did not comply, He backed up like a frightened deer.

Adam and Jonah watched from the car, The door was left open, presumably because they were going to stuff Lucid in the same car as them.
Jonah leaned to the side practically throwing himself out of the car and then abruptly screaming at the top of his lungs.

The cop trying to apprehend Lucid turned around at the commotion, Allowing the angel to slip past and take off running. "GO GO GO!!! DONT STOP FOR NOTHING!!" Jonah yelled and cheered, As Adam looked over at him with an amazed and bewildered look. "Holy shit Jo, You're a genius."

Meanwhile Lucid ran for quite possibly, His life, As far as he knew, If he gets locked up again, There's not promised a third chance.

An electrical feeling surged his veins, He was far ahead of the officers but he knew not to get cocky, The angel didn't know where to go, He didn't want to lead them to Adam and Jonah's home.

Lucid could have flown if his wings weren't binded down, But alas, They were.

He started to slow down, What was he supposed to do? He needed Adam and Jonah, No, He wanted them, He missed them, The angel was too exhausted to care about the blaring sirens that spelled out his capture.

The angel gritted his teeth, If he turned his back he knew that he was as good as caught, The angel suddenly felt the wind of a large bird swooping over head, It triggered a memory as he watched it fly past through the night.

A memory from when the angel was still Gabriel, When he was still a fledgling, Watching his brethren fly before he himself was old and strong enough to join them in the golden skies of heaven, When his family was still that, A family.

Gabriel sat with his knees to his chest, Not particularly sad just, Missing his brothers at the moment.

"What is ever the matter little brother?" He heard Lucifer's usual, Hyper elegant voice almost boom.

"I just- I just wanna fly with them..." He glanced back at his small wings, Decorated with feathers in the gray color range, They wrapped themselves around his small body.

"And you will! One day brother! You just have to be patient!" Lucifer's features were fuzzy to the angel, He never was able to remember how he looked before...

Before the blood, Crimson water of a holy source, Pouring from the archangel's bloodied heart, Crying as he fled from that same brother, The same one who'd become him after his death.

Lucid remembered it in etched in detail, His body hurting from strain, His vision blurring from blood loss, Only making up to the lord's stairwell, Being surrounded by his brethren and mother, Everything going black as he died in the lap of God.

He was sure he'd be doomed to rot in eternity in a tomb of sand where his only hope was cracked and cracked until it shattered, That being his endless calls to his mother, The lord, Only to receive to help, No message, No reply, It was hard for Lucid to believe that God ever existed in the first place.

Lucid was given a second chance, For some god forsaken reason he was, Yet he was alone again, He knew that he was put here to right his wrong of letting himself be so foolish as to fall for the tricks of a traitor, But the angel wasn't sure he had it in him, He wouldn't even know, Luci- Gabriel's appearance even if he saw him.

He didn't know where the police had gone, Maybe he lost them, Maybe they went home, They had families too, Families plagued by the result of Lucid's actions, He couldn't blame them too much, Sweeping things under the rug wasn't a new tactic to see in others to the angel.

Lucid waited a few seconds to see what would happen if he stopped walking, Nothing, He fell to his knees, Suppressed tears and wails finally seeing light of day like he himself had, His wings freed themselves from the electrical chord, Forcing it apart with force, Lucid shielded his crying form with the limbs, Trying to comfort himself as he cried on the forest floor.

The angel never wanted any of this, He just wanted his brother back, Lucid just wanted his family back... But his fatal mistake not only caused his downfall but also the downfall of humanity and heaven.

He cried himself into a peaceful slumber.

Chapter Text

The officer in charge of the two main members of BPS sat in-front of them at a desk, He slid an old fashion phone to them. "As part of protocol, You get one phone call, Keep in mind, Everything said can and will be used against you."

Jonah gulped as he reached for the phone, Nervously dialing in a number in the pad, His finger almost missing a few of the pin, Then it started ringing.

"Hello?" A woman's voice announced on the other line, Sounding somewhat tired and maybe worn, Jonah took in a deep breath. "Hi mom..."

The woman's voice suddenly upscaled in tone. "Jonah!! My boy!! What happened!? are you alright!?" He glanced at the officer's face before averting them back towards the phone.

"I got arrested... Please be gentle when telling dad, I don't want him to be mad..." What the police officer likely saw was a nervous teen, Telling his mom something shameful and upsetting, Being worried for his old man's reaction.

What really happened was greatly on the contrary, On the other line was Adam and Jonah's closest contact, Being also resided in Mandela County, Sarah Heathcliff.

And no, Jonah really didn't fancy the idea of telling his dad all this, Instead, His request was a well practiced plan B for the group, A plan b for the bps if you will.

"I think you should tell him in person, Maybe bring a coffee for him or something, Huh? Where does dad live? Oh right, Yeah he just moved, He lives at.." Jonah Marshall listed the address of not his dad's home, But Adam and Jonah's current place.

He got confirmation that Sarah would be there in the morning, To grab the important stuff lying around, Before the police could find and raid it themselves, Confiscating their important notes and gathered documents.

Jonah hung up the phone, Whining as he held his head in his hands. "dads gonna shit himself..." He added, To sell the deal, Adam would have applauded and congratulated him had they not been sitting in-front of an officer.

Lucid on the other hand was still in a messy situation himself.

He had awoken in a drowsy, Dazed state, Still on the forest floor, Even in that state, He felt something poking his side.

Lucid looked up and saw a pale faced man with a black hood staring down at him, Naturally, the angel shrieked and tried to scurry away.

"HOLY SHIT BRO, IT'S FUCKEN ALIVE!!!" The man yelled, In an odd accent.

"I told you it was!! I've been trying to tell you it was breathing for the past half hour Intruder!" Another voice spoke, Lucid would find that it belonged to a much normal, More human looking figure, Though there was something uncanny about his face.

"Look Crowley, Whatta we 'posed to do 'bout this thing then?"

"Tell Lord Gabriel of course! He'd of all people would want to know about such a masquerade!"

Lucid was previously confused about their lack of reaction to his blatant physical tells of being an angel, And then he heard his birth name muttered, The angel fell into a cycle of fear like before, Practically throwing himself to his feet, His wings spread out as he fled.

"Wait, Where the fuck you going!?" Was all he heard from the two men who he expected to be alternates, Alternates directly under Lucifer- Gabriel's authority, They both went by different identities now.

He didn't know where he was going, At least he could see, With the night sky being just a bit brighter of a blue as to illuminate shapes better.

Lucid's legs carried him to a road, His heels hitting against the concrete as he navigated the long stretch across the for lanes, Divided over a pasture, Eventually making his way to a place lined with gravel, With what looked like a pair of old, Slightly rusted metal tracks, Possibly outdated by cars like Adam and Jonah used.

The angel checked around him, He finally let his guard down to catch his breath, In the process of exhaling a ear piercing sound grazed his ears, He almost exhaled his angelic heart in shock, It was so loud that he had trouble finding where it was coming from, Until he saw them...

Bright lights approaching from the trees, Almost heavenly in their intensity, Like sister Uriel's own beams, He couldn't turn away, Why should he? This was most likely his family!! They've found him!!!

As the light approached, His ears picked up on a sound that was not so divine, Mechanical parts turning, Shifting, Moving, Heading directly towards the frozen angel, Fear froze his body, Replacing the wonderment and relief he previously felt in his body, He was wrong, Oh so wrong, He closed his eyes.

And just like that... As if a gust of wind swept him from danger, He felt the breeze caused by the fast, Large object past by, Leaving Lucid completely unharmed.

How? Why? Lucid opened his eyes, Being greeted by the fact that he laid safety in someone else's arms, Whom of which wore robes of white, The angel's gaze scaled up to meet the figures face, Finding a gentle, Yet irritated look of someone familiar.

"Who are you?" The angel asked in a daze caused by the overwhelming amount of things that happened, He watched the other's face contort in surprise before a shallow laugh followed.

He watched the figure's face warp in real time, His eyes growing large with his smile.

"I am your true savior..."

Chapter Text

Lucid was thrown to the ground immediately after, His body already ached from the fall and he let out a cry.

Lucifer, Having earned the name Gabriel, Stood over his younger brother.

"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?" The false angel screamed, Lucid knew he'd have to think fast to make it out of this one.

"....An alternate?" The true angel offered up, Cowering in the other's presence, He didn't think it would work, But Gabriel just stood there, Blinking.

"Okay, You may be telling the truth, But... What the hell did you expect!?" The false angel spoke. "Especially dressed like THAT!!" He motioned to Lucid's cross bearing garment, Causing the other angel to flinch, He wracked his brain for what to say next.

"Well, This is what the victim wore??" He said, Recalling what Adam and Jonah had told him about alts, The angel saw an odd look in his brother's large eyes.

"Ugh...I suppose you are new to this world, You did attempt to appeal to me through imitation and while I'm flattered, You shot yourself in the foot, Wings are hardly an advantage little one..."

Everything Gabriel did was menacing, Down to the way he contorted what used to be Lucid's body and his cold dead chuckle that could pierce even the souls of the dammed.

Lucid himself cowered. "S-Sorry.. Lord Gabriel..." The name and title felt overwhelmingly odd and almost wrong to speak on his tongue, But it seemed to relieve some of the tension held by the other.

The false angel sighed, Turning his back on Lucid. "Come, I'd rather not see you screw something up due to ignorance."

After some hesitation, Lucid sprung to his feet, Following his brother, Being after the height of him, He didn't want Gabriel to get angry and hurt him, He didn't know if his older brother still had a grip on his rage in the moment similar to how he did in the past.

It lead them deeper into the dark forest, Lucid wasn't afraid though, Well... Afraid of the creatures of the night as their darkness couldn't compare to Gabriel's.

Meanwhile...

The two main members of the bps sat in their jail cell.

"Do you think that job was a bait?" Jonah asked, Starring into the dark shadows of the shut down police station.

"I mean, There was an alternate, That was true."

"True, Maybe one of the hillbillies out there called? Still, How the hell do we get out of this one?" There was so much more on the line this time, God forbid another alternate is able to impersonate an angel.

God is real, Maybe he shouldn't be throwing her name around like that.

Though if she cared, The world probably wouldn't be in such disarray.

Speaking of disarray, Jonah had his eyes focused on Adam Murray, Who seemed to be staring off into the distance.

"Adam-"

"Jonah, There's something, Something in the dark, I see it in the distance, JONAH IT'S COMING CLOSER." His voice while low, Became more frantic as he spoke.

Jonah didn't know what the hell was going on nor how to feel, He reached into his hair, Pulling a bobbie pin, His hair lost it's structure, Looks didn't matter right now, What mattered was getting him and Adam out of here.

He stuck the small object in the lock to their cell.

"Jonah what are you-"

"Shut up for a second." He semi snapped, Trying to listen into the clicks and movements of the gears within the lock.

The door opened, That easily... Jonah couldn't help but think it was deliberate.

Like something or someone tipped the scale of fate that they'd escape and frankly?

He didn't give a shit, Jonah grabbed Adam by the sleeve, The place looked like the power had been completely cut.

Adam seemed to snap out of whatever the fuck he was in just moments before. "Jonah, Watch my back I gotta go get our stuff." Though it was dark, The other nodded and agreed, Following the blonde down the hall.

The station seemed deserted, Both of them kept their guard up, Suspicious scenarios like this just screamed, Alternate altercation.

Adam used the light shining in by the moon to guide his search, Eventually coming up with the containment unit for their stuff in which he quickly grabbed the drawer in its entirety. "I've got it! GO!" He yell whispered, Conveying an urgency to Jonah who whispered an enthusiastic "oh hell yeah!" back in response.

The two fled the station, Not stopping for anything as they made for the dense, Dark forest, Lined with thick shrubbery and trees, Perfect for hiding temporarily, Though the lights outside the station were dead too.

It had only been around a day, So chances are that the van would still be at that house because of investigation, That was their first priority, That being said, Adam needed help, So he rung up Sarah to tell her the news.

Chapter Text

The headquarters of the alternates was, Well, In a cave, The angel imagined it to be more industrial but he was surprised by elegant pillars carved out of stone that lined the long hallway.

"Wow!! When was this place made??" Lucid spoke up, Allowing himself to forget his situation for a moment, Though he knew to watch his words.

He saw a brief look of pride graze Gabriel's features. "Well.. It's the newest of our headquarters location, Though it's quite elaborate, I will fetch one of my subordinates for the time being, I'm rather busy so it's not like I have time to babysit you!!" The false angel spoke, With a teasing laugh.

The other angel stood there, Tilting his head to the side, Unsure if he should've laughed or not, His brother always did have unclear social cues.

His eyes looked to the left as he heard the sound of footsteps approaching, Seeing that same hooded figure from before. "What's up boss?"

"Can you please take care of this little one and show him around? I am much too busy to do it myself!"

"Yep, Will do boss." The alternate replied, Calmly and somewhat cool-ly in Lucid's opinion.

Gabriel let out a sigh before walking away.

"Bye!!" The angel spoke, Causing that of the false one to freeze and look back.

"Yo boss, Y'a good?"

Gabriel sighed. "Yes.. I'm alright I must leave now." He race walked before any more distractions could sway him off course, Leaving Lucid and the previous alternate, Questions held within the both of them.

Lucid felt eyes on him. "So, You're an alternate, Huh?" The angel didn't hesitate in blurting out something that resembled a confirmative reply.

Intruder poorly stifled a laugh, Audibly snickering into his sleeveless glove.

A sudden question came to mind to Lucid. "Why did he call me a 'little one'?" The angel was far from being short and nowhere near being a child either.

"Oh, Yeah, Okay so, We refer to newly formed alternates as the little ones, It's just easier to keep track and teach them that way." It sounded oddly wholesome to the angel.

That angel also figured now would be a good time to to steer the small talk to a more helpful direction.

"How were we formed?" Lucid asked, He knew needed to blend in better before asking possibly incriminating questions.

He watched the Intruder struggle with that one. "I dunno actually, Maybe ask Gabe when he has free time."

"He won't get annoyed with that?" The angel asked with a tilt of his head.

The alternate attempted waved off his concern. "Nah nah, He likes takin' care of y'all."

Lucid tilted his head.."He does??"

"Ya, Who wouldn't care for their creations?"

A certain god came to mind for the angel

Meanwhile elsewhere.

The entirety of Bps sat in the living room of an officer, Or well... Retired officer, A man named Thatcher Davis, He wasn't there to arrest them though, He was a friend of Sarah, One that was as fed up with the police and alternates almost if not more than the Bps themselves.

It was late at night still, So he was only around briefly before calling it a night, Allowing Adam and Jonah to stay and rest too if they needed.

But there was no way in hell they were resting.

Not now, Not with so much on the line, Lucid was still out there, Gabriel could have gotten him, The police, The government.

"I'm sure he's okay Adam!! You saw him!! He's probably resourceful!" Jonah attempted to console the blonde as he paced the floor.

"I think I'm missing something?" A third voice chimed in, The voice of Sarah Heathcliff, Adam nearly shit himself when he realized that they had to tell her.

The way she glared, They both knew they couldn't get away with a lie.

"Uh... So... We may or may not have.. A pet archangel?"

"Jonah What the fuck he's not our pet."

The two began to bicker until the eldest of the three spoke up. "Wait wait, You two found a fucking, Arch angel? And kept it? Oh my god, You two are so lucky to be alive, That thing was an alternate."

Adam gulped, He knew how intense Sarah could be about alternates, And she had good reason, Something the two could relate on.

"He's not an alternate, He's Gabriel, Not Lucifer, He was the holy angel Gabriel, I know we have no proof of that fact and we could be playing into his hands but, He helped me fight an alternate, He forgave us greeting him with purely hostility... Lucid deserves to be given the benefit of the doubt, Like we have for eachother." The blonde spoke, He caught a sweet smile from Jonah, It made him happy, Adam was never really good with words.

There was an uncomfortable silence that fell between the three, As Adam and Jonah stared and waited for approval or disapproval.

She sighed. "I guess, If it means that much to you, I'll help you find him after getting your car back."

Jonah got up from his spot and ran up and hugged Adam tightly in response to the good news. "Hell yeah! We can do this Adam!!" The blonde in question smiled, Hugging him back.

Chapter Text

Lucid stayed by the intruder's side, Wanting to follow his lead and learn from him but also because of all things, Lucid didn't want to be by himself, Not after being so for oh so long in the past.

"Ight so you gotta find someone you think y' can crack in a reasonable timeframe, Like uh, Don't plan long term I guess? I wouldn't really know, That's jus' what I've heard." The alternate said, Giving the angel an idea of how to get out of this possibly or stay on both sides for safety.

"Can I pick two?" Lucid asked, Aiming to frame it as him choosing Adam and Jonah as his 'victims'

The intruder scratched his head. "I mean, I guess? It's gonna be harder tho, Since they can weed ya out easier amongst eachother."

"I'll take that chance."

It seemed like what felt a few hours later that Lucid found himself in a new location, One unfamiliar to him, The angel saw a dinner table in the distance where he saw Adam and Jonah, Huddled to watch a small rectangular object.

Lucid sprinted to them without hesitation, Leaning on the table, It didn't move with his weight. "Adam!! Jonah!!! How'd you get here?? There's alternates!!"

Adam's expressions went from joyous to alarmed and oddly more awake. "Lucid???"

The angel nodded, Jonah wasn't reacting to either of them.

Lucid felt like something was surely off.

"Jonah!?" Adam called out, Shaking the other but only getting irrelevant responses like a toy with a few preprogrammed lines.

Lucid was distracted by something else, A paper on the fridge, The writting looked smudged, Blurry despite being inked down with a pen on the pale yellow note.

The angel was extremely well versed in language, He had to be, But his knowledge was failing him somehow

"Oh fuck." He heard the blonde curse, Making him turn back.

"This is all a dream isn't it? Adam continued, Lucid looked at him with the expression of an unintelligent animal as he was no thoughts head empty.

"You're not even real.. Are you!?" He accused.

The angel frowned. "I am real!! I can prove it!!"

Adam crossed his arms. "Fine, Tell me a fact I wouldn't know."

He scoured his memories for a moment. "Uh.. I may or may not be a term called a third wheel?"

The blonde blinked. "Wait what the fuck why are you right??"

Suddenly things started to go fuzzy, Adam quickly ran to Lucid, Gripping him by the arms. "Lucid, Lucid, Meet us back at the house as soon as you can? Okay??"

He nodded and then the angel jolted, Finding himself in a bed, A bed in a rather plain room, White walls, White bed, Perhaps there was color but his natural night sight couldn't pick up on it, It didn't matter.

What mattered was Lucid sneaking out, And heading back to Adam and Jonah's house.

The angel quickly got up, Loudly running because of his heeled boots as the bps duo would call the footwear.

He was at the exit...

"Leaving so soon..? Why.. You just got here, Lucid?" It was the archangel Gabriel, The false god...

The true angel turned around, Grinning and staring at the pure white wings on his back to divert his eyes from Gabriel's own, Soul stealing ones.

"I.. I want.. To... Hunt?" It sounded and felt weird on his passive tongue, Lucid in his mind would never hurt a fly, No matter how many diseases he was told they'd have.

Gabriel took a step towards Lucid, Causing him to back up against the door.

"You fascinate me."

The false angel tilted his head

I want to find out why that is... Little one, Though I'd be foolish to stop you from using that oddity to further cripple humanity, I will be monitoring your progress, Lucid, Expect my visits, I wish you luck." The angel nodded feeling around for the door handle before quickly opening it and fleeing, Hearing Gabriel's chilling laughter bidding him farewell.

Finding the house again wasn't hard, He remembered the route they took to that vendor, So he made his way back that way, His wings were too overfeathered to fly, Otherwise he'd be home sooner...

Lucid learning to fly was an interesting experience.

He didn't think too much of it at the time since he was a fledgling still but Lucid had grown familiar with his three older brothers sharing the story.

Apparently, He had grown to impatient to wait for one of his brothers to assist him in learning flight, So Lucid had taken it in his own hands.

He thought fondly about the way his brothers described their reactions.

Michael pleaded with him to be careful.

Raphael claimed to had handled it calm and professionally, Only for Michael to reveal that the healer in reality, Ran around in circles, screaming.

Lucid didn't have time to ponder the oldest of his siblings as he reached the porch of the home.

For a second he thought he couldn't get back inside, Until he remembered Adam pulling out a key from under the doormat.

The same trick actually worked...

Sadly, No sign of his new friends, But at least he had the familiar setting.

A little bit later...

Lucid was putting together something for himself to eat for the night, That's when he heard it, The sound of the door unlocking, The angel looked back and nearly dropped his plate in surprise.

It was Adam and Jonah, He didn't even notice the third person to walk in because he was so happy and trilled to see them back that he scooped them up to hug tightly in the moment.

Lucid let out a happy giggle, Lightly flapping his wings and scattering his dark feathers. "Hehe!! You guys are back!! I missed you!!!"

"Aww, We missed you too bud!!" Jonah said, Sweetly.

Lucid pulled away from the hug to look at Adam. "Adam!! Adam!! I did what you told me to do!!!" The angel spoke excitedly.

The blonde felt whiplash. "Oh holy shit, That was actually you, Dreamwalking huh? That's badass Lucid!!" He reached out and messed with the angel's curly dark hair.

"So.. This archangel is like a mix between a child and cat?"

Lucid turned his head back to see a new person, She looked like a stranger until he recognized her.

"Oh my god!! You're Sarah!! from the store!! I loved the snacks!!"

Sarah originally came into this intending to soley grill the archangel for info, But couldn't help but be charmed by his enthusiasm.

She noticed the state of his wings, Evelin would have a conniption had she been here, Being an animal activist and all, The girl even carried around a big ass snake and treated it like a puppy.

A part of Sarah was skeptical about Lucid, Who wouldn't be, But going off what Adam and Jonah said and seeing how this, Reborn deity was laughing and giggling over among us sus memes.

It made her feel happy and hopeful for the three.

Chapter Text

Adam and Jonah didn't know exactly when or why Sarah had left so suddenly, All they knew from Lucid was that she had an odd look of determination on her face.

Both teens were well aware of just how aloof she could be at times, They agreed she was a girlboss but Jonah always worried that her obsession to avenge her brother would influence Adam's self imposed quest to his mom.

He'd never ask to confirm, Jonah's eyes fell to Lucid, What he saw was a sweet sight honestly, That sight being Adam trying his best to teach an archangel gaming, Old school Mario specifically.

The half blonde recalled a moment where Lucid got briefly upset because he didn't want to scare Luigi by going into a ghost house while playing as him.

In which Adam tried explained best he could that Luigi was made of code and shit, Of course the archangel didn't know what that meant, The strawberry blonde went for a different approach, Instead telling Lucid to think about it like a play, It's all actors, No harm no fowl.

Jonah could swear that, That was literally the premise for Super Mario Bros 3.

Regardless, That explanation was enough for the angel to continue without feeling seemingly guilty for it.

Jonah looked at Lucid, Not just at his form but the archangel as a whole.

He knew why him and Adam would want to be around the angel, Lucid was kind, Kinder than he should be, God knows what he went though, Most people would be shut off from emotion and rightfully so, But Lucid wasn't most people.

Maybe it was dumb to compare an archangel to humanity but at the end of the day they saw him as that, Not a creature to use, But a person with human emotions and feelings.

Jonah looked to the tv, There's a lot of things they probably shouldn't do, Like own a tv here in Mandela county, But who cares, Jonah Marshall would pay to see that fat fuck alternate try and squeeze his way through their small flatscreen tv.

Jonah caught a look cast to him by the angel, He audibly snickered in response to the food dirtied face of Lucid's.

"Pfft, Bro clean your face!! Haha!!"

The angel gently put a gloved hand to his mouth, Realizing that yes,
He was in need of tidying up a bit from the food that they had eaten not too long ago.

Lucid also let out a small giggle in the light hearted moment, Handing his game controller to Jonah.

"I'll be right back!!" He lightly exclaimed, Heading towards the nearby restroom.

Lucid went into the grungy bathroom, It was quite unkept in terms of structural maintenance, His eyes explored the room, He felt uneased by the yellow lighting of it, Which is why he had taken quick showers and left it at that.

He made his way to the bathrooms sink, As he did so, He noticed what looked to be a frame or window, Whatever it was, There was someone, They stared back at him.

"H-Hello??" The angel flinched when he noticed it mimic him in real time. Infact it copied all his movements.

"What do you want!?" He cried out, Cowering against the wall in fear, Again, The figure mimicked, Flinching back as well.

Lucid heard footsteps. "Lucid!? Are you okay!?" It was Jonah, Jonah Marshall.

The angel clung to his arm and pointed at the copying figure, When he did so he also saw another one, One that looked like Jonah.

"Aw, Lucid, That's a mirror, It's not gonna hurt you!! Watch this." Jonah gently pulled himself out of the others grip, Going closer to it, His mirrored self followed suit.

"Gimme five!" The half blonde said before meeting palms with the mirror, Nothing happened, He turned around. "See? It's safe-" A realization dawned on him. "Lucid have you never seen your reflection??"

"No... We didn't really have objects like these back in the day."

"Brooo you gotta!!" The angel still felt hesitant and off put, That fear was noticed though it seemed. "Alright, Yeah, Your fear is valid but I think you should atleast see what you look like? I'll be here beside you in case of anything, K?"

Lucid gladly accepted that compromise, Peering to the mirror with a death grip on his friend's arm.

He expected as much as having black, Hair, Though it appeared to have a slightly blue hue to it.

It didn't look bad on him, Or well he didn't think so atleast, It looked... Nice, Quite nice actually! It went well with his eyes!

Eyes that were green instead of their past blue, To be fair Lucid had never seen them but he was told they were of a blue sky shade.

All things considered, The angel wasn't opposed or even bothered by his new appearence, That and he felt as if it would be ungrateful even if he was.

What did puzzle him the most however is the tiny plate of gold that rested on the bridge of his nose.

"What's this??" Lucid asked Jonah, Tilting his head as he stared at his own reflection.

"Oh bro! That looks like a nose piercing actually, It looks like your ears are as well!! That's sick!!"

"What's a piercing? The angel questioned curiously and innocently.

"It's a uh, A decoration for your body, I'll help you with it, They can kinda be annoying, If you wanna keep it?"

Lucid sort of liked the look, It was rather nice and subtle for his appearence.

"I will!! Do you have any of these piercings Jonah?"

The guy in question felt a little sheepish in admitting "No, Not really.. But I'd like to!! We just.. Don't really have the time or money honestly, But that's okay."

Lucid frowned a little as he looked back to his reflection, Feeling somewhat like he could be a burden to them.

Jonah may have noticed by the way he gently grasped the angel's shoulder.

"Did you hear that? I think Adam just ordered a dessert pizza! Lucid do you-" He wasn't even able to finish his sentence as the other verbally cut him off with-

"WANT!"

Lucid sat there, Smiling once more after his cute, Food motivated outburst.

It gained a surprised laugh from Jonah, Who braced himself to the side of the doorway so he won't get trampled by the always hungry heel wearing archangel.

Jonah followed behind, Savioring Adam's startled and confused reaction to having Lucid yell. "WANT!" as soon as the strawberry blonde put down the phone, At least the angel had manners!

"Woah there Lucid, You still hungry??" Adam asked, Humor evident in his tone.

The angel nodded in an exaggerated and enthusiastic sense.

Little did they know if the fact that they weren't quite alone in this shitty rental place...

Chapter Text

Eventually, Adam and Jonah had to go sleep, After all They're only human, Which left Lucid on his own, He felt a presence in their home, One he couldn't very well identify from aura alone, All he knew was that it was something rather unpleasant.

Lucid wandered around the small house, Not needing to turn back on the lights due to his eye's ability to adapt to such darkness.

The dark didn't last long as eyes were blasted with a bright beam from the kitchen, The angel whined a little, Shielding his face from the offensive element.

"Oh sorry bro, Didn't see ya there." Lucid sunk back instinctively, His gloved had sliding along the wall until it caught onto something.

And with a simple flick with his finger, The lights turned on, Exposing the intruder.... Which turned out to be Intruder... And he was raiding the fridge, The pale alternate went wide eyed as the angel approached.

Lucid wasn't looking for a fight, No, He beyond terrified at the moment.

"Did lord G-Gabriel send y-you!? Please give me more time!! Don't h-hurt them!!" The angel pleaded, Continuing to go on with his pleas.

The alternate gently but also gruffly hushed him.

"Hey hey bro, I'm not gonna, Don't worry, Y'a..." It sounded like he planned to say more but trailed off.

The angel wasn't calmed though yet because Intruder was still in his- Adam and Jonah's home without reason, A stray fear tear rolled down from his eye.

"Bro what the fuck? Y'good??" The pale figure spoke, With concern in his ragged voice.

Lucid looked at him with mild confusion, Wiping the tear and looking at his glove, He saw a deep red color in it's fabric, His eyes widened but relaxed almost immediately.

How could he forget such a thing? This was a sort of silly moment, The angel let out a small laugh.

Contrary to him, The other backed away, Holding his pale hands up in defense. "Oh god oh fuck- I didn't think that woulda made y'a lose it."

Lucid tilted his head, With an apologetic look. "Oh no!! I'm okay!! It's not blood!"

Intruder seemed nice enough at the moment, So the angel found no reason to be mean, Not that Lucid ever wanted to be rude in general.

"Wait- Uh.. Why do y'a cry red!?"

He sort of assumed that alternates would probably have colored tears like Lucid's own siblings did, Lucid wiped the crimson drops from his eyes, The angel looked to him with a fresh gaze.

"Y'know.. Nevahmind." The intruder replied, Seemingly not prying further, Which was much appreciated by the heavenly host.

Lucid's eyes opened to the opportunity he had in this presence.

The angel tilted his head. "Would it be too much too soon to ask for a favor."

"What kind of favor?"

–––––

The two headed down to a nearby park, It was dark out, Too dark for anyone in their right minds to feel comfortable out in.

Lucid found enjoyment in the variety of lands and how different it was to his time.

Intruder cleared his throat. "Uh, Good job on the catch by the way."

The angel blinked. "Huh? What catch??"

There was a pause before the alternate replied. "Ah y'know, Anyways what was that favor again?"

Lucid sighed, He felt so confused at every turn.

"I don't want to hurt anyone, I'm not one of you guys, How do I play along like I will and like I am."

Intruder's eyes widened slightly. "Uh huh... Wait, So yer not really an alternate... Are ya?"

The angel nodded his head in confirmation. "I'm so very sorry, Deception was not my agenda.."

"Y'did it to survive, Right?" The other's gruff voice asked.

"Yes.."

"There's nothin' wrong with that, I get it man, I mean, Y'a didn't hurt or get anyone hurt, so, No harm no foul, I kinda figured anyways..." There was a pause from the alternate before he continued.

"So. You wanna pretend to be something that lives by pretendin' huh?"

Lucid perked up, But a part of him felt on edge still. "Yes, But I need to ask, How are you so helpful and accepting of this??"

"Ya seem like a nice dude alright? Plus I..." He trailed off for a moment. "I've never thought she'd send another angel down... I jus' don't wanna be the one to throw away what could be, Y'know?" Intruder seemed almost whimsical for a moment.

The angel smiled. "Thank you, Genuinely, How do I get started?"

The alternate adjusted his hood. "Lyin' with jus' words might work in the short term, If y' want fool him in the long run, Ya gotta get the boys involved, Have them play the part as your victims."

"I don't want to put them in danger though.." Lucid replied, Frowning.

"I mean, The're part of the BPS, The're human, There's really nothin' else they could do to end up more in danger."

The angel's posture fell in defeat. "I suppose that's true."

"Look, It's gonna be okay, Okay? Hell, We might even be able to explain this shit to Gabriel some day." Intruder said, Likely to lighten up the grim circumstances.

Lucid shivered, He wasn't cold, It was more so the idea of giving his former brother a clear reason and shot to tear him to shreds once more.

"....Or not, You have time, I'll hang around to bail you out if you need it!" The gruff creature spoke.

"Thank you, Again, Genuinely." Lucid was well aware that at any point Intruder could go back and tell Gabriel everything, But, The alternate seemed sincere in his words and actions, It gave Lucid a small hope that he could somehow manage this.

He put a mental letter down to speak to Adam and Jonah about this as soon as he saw fit.

Chapter Text

Jonah was the first to wake up that next morning, He was an early riser despite his slacker disposition, He went to the living room first, Checking on the plant that they had been gifted.

As far as he knew, Adam was still asleep, Then again, The half blonde wasn't going to barge into his room to confirm, He found Lucid on the couch, Curled up in his wings...Shaking.

The half blonde walked closer, Taking a moment to observe him, He could hear faint noises from the angel, Whimpers and whines, Jonah figured one thing.

He was having a nightmare.

"Lucid, Lucid, Hey, Wake up!" Jonah shook him gently, Opting to wake him up from the nightmare than to let him deal with it longer than needed.

The angel's eyes shot open, His tall pupils were thin like a cat's, Only a moment though as they quickly dilated back to normal size as the angel recognized his surroundings, Lucid still looked shaken up.

Jonah sat down next to him, Pushing one of the wings of the angel away from his own face before the dander could get to him. "You're okay, You're safe." He repeated it a few times as he tested the waters with touch.

The half blonde saw that Lucid leaned into it so he gently pulled the angel close, Reaching below his wings to reach and rub his back comfortingly.

It was the same process he ran through whenever Adam had a nightmare.

Speak of the devil, Here he was.

The strawberry blonde walked in, Yawning and rubbing his eye. "Hi Jo- Oh shit, Is the want okay?"

Jonah could see a dazed look of confusion on the angel's face.

"The want?" Lucid asked, Tilting his head.

"Yeah, Anytime we mention any sort of food around you, You go 'Waaaaannt!!!' It's cute honestly." Adam explained, Snickering a little.

The angel let out his own little laugh in response, Though he felt a little lightheaded, Perhaps it was an after effect of his nightmare.

Jonah chuckled along and as he looked at the other's wings, He had a thought. "Hey, You have wings, Do you know if you can still use them?"

Truthfully the thought hadn't crossed the angel's mind due to everything going on. "I suppose I can!" They thankfully didn't feel sore or stiff, Possibly because Lucid used them reflexively so they were unlikely to become atrophied.

"Hey Jo, Your dad did his better call Saul shit here in Mandela county right?" The strawberry blonde asked, With a humorous smirk.

Jonah groaned. "Oh fuck, How could I forget, He still does that stuff to this day!"

"My point is, You've been here atleast a little bit, Do you think there is any place we can go to take the angel airlines on the road without being seen?"

Lucid tilted his head again. "Who's Saul?"

"Oh he's a relative of Candice-"

"NO! SHUT THE FUCK UP ADAM!"

The two members of BPS went back and fourth, Throwing playful insults, They didn't phase the angel, As he was used to the intense sibling rivalry that Raphael and Michael had...Oh how Lucid missed them.

His mood dropped a little, He really had no way to tell them the truth of his status, Perhaps that was his punishment, To be isolated from the family he betrayed, Lucid really thought Gabriel would change, They were family at one point.

Maybe he'll meet them again someday.

"Lucid? Are you okay??" Jonah called out, Seemingly noticing his spaced out look.

Atleast he had Adam and Jonah now...

"Yikes, Bro did we say something out of line?" The strawberry blonde joined in.

Though he didn't deserve them...

Lucid's breathing hitched, The two boys rushed to his aid, Jonah more so, Since he was better with physical affection than Adam, But Adam stayed by his side regardless.

"I'm such a fool..." The angel admitted, Though muffled as he pressed his face into the soft knitted fabric of his friend's sweater.

"No you aren't!" Jonah insisted, Yet he felt something more was afoot than just a moment of weakness being shown. "Lucid, Talk to us, You can!"

The angel looked up from his embrace, Staring at the half blonde with his tall green eyes, Jonah would have been scared had Lucid not had the personality of a cuddly kitten.

"I ran into Gabriel..." The blood from Adam and Jonah's faces drained upon hearing that statement.

"Holy shit, Dude are you okay?? That bastard didn't hurt you at all right!? Right!??" The strawberry blonde spoke up, His body arched defensively. "We'll kick his ass if he did!"

"Adam, Calm down, It's okay, He's okay, That's what matters right now." Jonah's words did get through, He wondered why they were so attached to an angel they met only a few weeks ago, Maybe it was related to some holy destiny.

Or the fact that Lucid had been one of the few people they've met to greet them with kindness and compassion..

"He thinks I'm an alternate, He wants me to harm you both, But I don't want to put you guys in peril!! I don't want to hurt anyone else with my actions!!" The angel cried, Devolving into a sob before snuggling into the half blonde's chest again.

Jonah sighed, He looked to Adam who struggled to bury his still shocked expression. "Is that what you were dreaming about?" The half blonde asked, Receiving a small nod from the dark haired angel as confirmation.

"You aren't going to hurt us Lucid! I know wouldn't." The strawberry blonde reassured.

"Yeah!...W_'ll -e th-" Lucid felt dizzy, He couldn't catch was Jonah had said to him.

"Lucid? Lucid!!! ADAM-"

His consciousness started to slip as whispers welcomed him into the dark.

Chapter Text

It was with a gentle breeze that Lucid awoke, The first thing he was greeted by was a saturated field of dandelions.

"Hello My decomposing dove."

The angel recognized that voice, He rose his head and sure enough, The archangel Gabriel stood across from him.

"G-Gabriel!?" Lucid cried, Fearful of his intent.

The false angel grinned, A look of muted surprise. "In all of my years... Very few have refrained from referring to me proper... You really are something... Aren't you?"

Gabriel's neck stretched to hover his face menacingly over Lucid's small form in comparison, The true angel backed away in the field.

"I can smell your fear, Hell I can see it in your eyes..." The false angel twitched, A look of unease on his sunken features.

"What do you want??" Lucid cried.

Gabriel's creepily confident facade returned. "Fret not my unkindly kindred, I am simply here to congratulate you, How you have made yourself a permanent placement within their household.. They'd spill each others blood before a drop of yours leaves your veins."

Lucid stayed silent, If he spoke in protest, The false angel could find out too much, Like his true identity, If he didn't already.

"My, My, I hardly imagined I'd face this situation once more..." He knew, There's no way the false angel couldn't. "I can smell the fear you've caused those boys." Gabriel giggled, Covering his mouth with his hand. "Keep it up and that combined with your abilities, You might just find yourself in the higher ranks heheha!!"

"Please just leave me be..." Lucid witnessed something utterly shocking, A flinch, The angel made his false copy flinch, That can't be good, The dandelions around him were wilting and the sky darkened.

The blonde angel quickly recovered. "V-Very well, I shan't keep you from your duties, I'm looking oh so forward to what you will do next~"

Before the angel could get in a reply, Everything faded.

"Oh my god, Okay, Okay, He's waking up I think."

Lucid steadily awoke, The first things he saw were Adam and Jonah's concerned faces.

"Oh thank god, Lucid?? Can you hear us??"

"M-Mhm..!!" The angel still felt awfully groggy.

Adam spoke up. "Bro you look like shit-"

"ADAM!!" Jonah shouted in reply.

"I'm serious, Check his head, He looks sick, bro."

Despite their small interaction, The half blonde mentally agreed, Reaching out his hand to check Lucid's temperature, Watching as the angel's eyes lazily followed his action.

Shit, He was warm, So that's why he passed out. "Yeah, You're sick."

Lucid weakly rose up, Looking around, They had put him on the couch. "B-But! We archangels don't get sick-" He knew very well the ironic exception out of his siblings to that statement. "Well... Not most of us!!"

"Uh- Maybe it has something to do with you coming back from the dead? Maybe it made you the free trial version of an archangel." The strawberry blond suggested.

The angel still didn't know how he had come back, Obviously he wasn't in the same body but it was close enough that he didn't notice most the time.

Jonah got up off the ground. "Adam, Look after him, I'm going to make some soup and see if we have any more Tylenol."

"Got it bro."

Adam watched as Jonah left into the kitchen, Starting the process of cleaning a pan to boil water in, The strawberry blonde leaned closer to their angel companion.

"So... Do you have any idea why he thought you were an alternate?"

Lucid's wings shifted. "I'm not sure honestly.. Perhaps a copycat alternate is a more likely conclusion than an angel?"

"Hm, Yeah, That checks out, He doesn't seem like the brightest lightbulb anyways, Despite being the morningstar." There was a silence. "Do you have any sort of plan?" Adam added.

The angel frowned. "Not really, I've just been playing along with it, I know taking him down can be done, Michael did it, Mother did it, I just... I don't know if I am able... Of all of my siblings, I was the easiest target because I was undertrained and I still am."

"That doesn't mean you can't learn!!" Jonah joined in as he walked over, Putting a bowl of soup on the table next to the couch with mismatching oven mitts.

As Lucid thought of how to reply he felt a tickling sensation in his nose, Followed by a soft sneeze, Though he was unfamiliar with the concept.

"We just need to find you a-" Adam froze, Both humans looked in the direction of the angel.

"WHY DOES HE SNEEZE LIKE A KITTEN???" The strawberry blonde shouted.

The dark haired angel tilted his head. "What does sneeze mean????"

"Oh, Uh, It's a bodily function? To dispel harmful stuff from your body?? Yeah I think that's it." Jonah explained.

Lucid looked past him and noticed the new hanging, Almost velvet like plant on the wall. "What's that?" He pointed.

Jonah perked up. "Oh that's a sage plant!! Our friend Evelin gave it to us! She said it's good against dark spirits, I honestly don't know if that's true but who cares!"

Then it clicked, The sudden illness, The weakening of his mind enough for Gabriel to get in, Maybe the nightmare too even.

"I seem to have forgotten to explain something rather dire about myself..." Lucid looked away shamefully.

Both of them sat down across from him.

Lucid's wings shifted nervously. "I don't know all of the details, As I wasn't created yet but, During my creation, Mother allowed Gabriel- Lucifer to have a hand in mine, Which as you may assume, Makes me unholy in nature...I very well understand if that is alarming and scary."

Adam and Jonah fell silent in the moment.

The half blonde spoke first. "... And the sage.... Was it hurting you?" The dark angel nodded in confirmation.

"Shit." Adam cursed. "Jonah will you-"

"Already on it!" Jonah replied with the plant in hand, Knowing that his friend was asking him to get rid of it.

"Wait, You two aren't appalled or afraid of me??" Lucid asked in disbelief.

The strawberry blonde replied first since he was still sitting there. "Obviously I can't speak for Jonah but, You're our friend, Lucid, I honestly couldn't care less what you are, Even if you were a damn, sentient cheese wheel." He joked to lighten the mood some, And it worked as the two wore small grins.

"But I didn't tell you until now!"

"Yeah and that's probably a good thing! You can't trust people with sensitive info until you really know them!" Jonah chimed in from outside the open front door.

Lucid did feel quite a bit of the sickness on his body lift once that plant had been removed from the room.

"So no sage, No priests, No sacred candles or incense, No salt, No holy water? What about crosses? I mean I've seen you wear them so, Uh." Adam asked.

"I'm not quite sure about priests, Crosses don't bother me! The rest of that is correct! I think!"

There was a small slam as Jonah closed the door. "Yeah, That plant was definitely it, You look a lot better already.

Lucid regained his usual cheerful mood, Smiling softly.

"Y'know, You being unholy, It makes a lot of sense actually." Jonah stated, Vaguely.

The angel tilted his head. "Oh? How so?"

"I mean, No offense, But you have those tall eyes.... It's uncanny sometimes, But in a badass way!! Oh.. And your tears look like blood kinda, I just assumed it was some freaky angel anatomy shit."

He let out a small laugh in response to Jonah's words, Taking no offense from it, Truthfully he had scared many a humans in his day as the lord's messenger, Then he recalled something.

"I...I do believe I'd still be up to practice my flying again soon!!!"

"Oh hell yeah!" Adam replied, Getting a dirty look from his other friend.

"Adam that's my line!"

Chapter Text

Lucid's recovery came swiftly, He had still been sick after the exposure to the sacred flora, Regardless, They still needed to go fourth with their plans, Those plans being, Lucid's relearning of flight.

After a bit of snooping and some quick googling, They were able to find somewhere obscured in Mandela county, Where the angel wouldn't be seen, Not that the police would do anything if it was an alternate, But if they suspected him of being Gabriel, The three would be in big trouble.

Adam hopped into the driver's seat of the Bps van, Glancing back at Lucid who occupied the back, He grimaced a little, Not because of anything the angel had done, But the thought that they'd at some point have to teach a thousands of years old, Plus some, Archangel how to parallel park.

He wasn't excited for that day but atleast Lucid was taking the reins for this, Or well, Adam hoped he would.

Meanwhile Lucid gazed out the window, A fluttering feeling in his not so holy heart.

It was a twinge of anxiety for him... But also a taste of excitement.

He just didn't want to disappoint them, Few humans got to see the flight of an angel, Let alone archangel.

The destination was actually really pretty, It was a clearing in the local woods with what seemed to be the remnants of a playground, Partially re-possessed by the flora reclaiming the built structures, The two alternate hunters had to explain the context of the site to the, Very confused angel.

"So.. It's like flying?" Lucid spoke, Inquiring about the swing set with a gloved hand cupped under his chin.

"Yeah, Though most humans are honestly scared shitless of flight." Adam confirmed.

"Speak for yourself Adam!! When I was a kid I wanted to be a pilot!!"

"But you can barely drive-"

"Then who was your god damn getaway driver!?"

Adam and Jonah proceeded to go at it again, Roasting eachother in a manner that didn't bother Lucid, It never did as his own siblings did the same.

On normal circumstances, The angel had gotten used to letting it run it's course but the threat of law enforcement intervention made him somewhat anxious.

The unholy being cleared his throat, Gaining the attention of his friends.

His strawberry blonde friend looked like a deer in the headlights for a moment. "Oh.. Right, Sorry, Let's get on with it huh?" Adam looked to Lucid and then Jonah for agreement, The two sharing approving looks.

The two humans moved back, Giving Lucid ample room do what he needed, The angel let his wings spread out to their full glory, When stretched, He could tell it nearly reached the length of the entire van.

"Holy shit!!! Dude!! Your wings are massive!! Why didn't you show us before??"

Lucid smiled at Jonah's enthusiasm. "I, Well..." His grin faded to sheepishness. "I didn't want to knock anything over!!" Having the feathered limbs expanded felt indescribably relieving to the angel.

The angel hesitated to flap them enough to lift, What if he couldn't? What if these dark feathers forbid his flight? If they were a punishment from the lord?

Before Lucid could continue to be consumed by his intrusive ideas, His ears caught onto Adam and Jonah's not so quiet chatter.

He listened as the two gushed to eachother in excitement.

The boys's enthusiasm was enough to give Lucid the courage to try

Stretching his feathery limbs, The angel started by flapping his wings strongly, This aided in dispelling some dark feathers from crowding his flight feathers.

Lucid briefly saw the two's reaction, That being Jonah letting out a faux shriek before using Adam as a human shield against the free flowing quills.

He smiled, His wings ended their warm up, The angel adjusted his posture, Leaning closer to the ground to get into position before taking increasingly accelerated steps.

It was rougher lift off that Lucid remembered, But soon enough he was in the air, His friends looked like mice to the height he had soared in such time, But Lucid liked it, He loved it.

The wind in his hair, The chill seeping though his feathers, His wings kept altitude on their own accord, Lucid continued to practice his flight, Seeming reckless to others but being perfectly safe to what others of his find.

Lucid was suddenly slapped with an unpredictable gust of wind, One that led him tumbling to the ground quicker than he could react besides shielding himself instinctively with his wings, Which protected the angel from his blunder.

"Holy shit, Dude just wiped out!"

"Lucid?? You good??"

His friends spoke with concern as the angel peeled his wings away from his body, He raised a hand, Gently waving it as he spoke.

"I'm quite alright!!! Just a little out of practice is all!!" The angel stood back up, Shaking off the dirt and dust from his wings.

Feeling much more confident this time, It took even less time for Lucid to get off the ground, And this time he prepared himself for the wind.

Once again his fear and worries faded from his mind, Truly the air was his element.

Adam and Jonah watched as their angelic companion flew around, He reminded the strawberry blonde of a dolphin, Being released to the open sea.

"He looks like-" Adam spoke to voice that comparison but as he turned his head to his friend, Jonah was gone, Only a strangled yelp as he was dragged away.

"JO!?" The strawberry blonde yelled, Looking around for the teen in question

"JONAH!??? WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU!? He froze as he heard his friend's shrieking turn to laughter.

He then noticed that it was Lucid that swept Jonah away, Now holding him, Bridal style as he flew.

"JESUS CHRIST, LUCID, JONAH, YOU TWO ABOUT GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK." The leader of the Bps screeched, Despite being airborne so high, He could see Lucid's expression shift, Being more sympathetic as the angel lowered himself to the ground, Gently.

"Sorry!!" He spoke, Adam remembered the fact that he can't be too upset with Lucid, Despite his appearance and the way he acts, Lucid isn't human.

He sighed. "It's okay, Just.. Don't scare me like that again, Okay?" The angel nodded, Accepting those terms.

Meanwhile Jonah looked dizzy as fuck. "Brooo you should trrry that!! it's so funnnnn!!" As if he were talking about a carnival ride and not being swooped up into the sky! by an archangel!! And then he promptly passed out.

Lucid looked down at the friend he held, Guilt still on his expression. "Sorry..." He apologized again.

"Don't, He's a dumbass."

"Sorry.."

"I'm not mad, Lucid. I was just scared."

"I-I didn't m-mean to scare y-you..I-I swear!!" Lucid looked like he'd burst into tears, Maybe he was just sensitive or maybe Adam was just projecting but he couldn't help but think that something was extremely wrong about the angel's reaction.

There was one of two things Adam could do, He could reply and say it's fine and leave it at that or...

The strawberry blonde sat down, On the yellow grass that has been dead since November. "Lucid c'mere, Put Jo down first though." The angel's face portrayed confusion, But he obliged, Adam watched his actions.

He put Jonah down so gently that Adam wouldn't be surprised if someone had threatened him not to leave a scratch on the teen or else.

Then the angel sat down infront of the leader of the bps, On his knees, Averting his gaze.

"Lucid, What happened to you? You can tell me, neither me nor Jo would judge."

Adam could read the expression of hesitance, The internal debate to play peacemaker, Say he's okay and shelve the hurt for a day that will never come, Because neither would let it.

"I don't want to burden you guys..." The strawberry blonde sighed.

"You won't." That seemed to be the key, Opening up Lucid's locked chains, He had yet to know the irony of that metaphor.

The angel let out a broken sigh. "I suppose I should start..I-"

Lucid could feel the tears well up in his eyes, He couldn't hold back the flood of emotions.

Mother abandoned him, His siblings couldn't get there, His eldest put him in there, The tomb.

Lucid didn't register being pulled into a warm, Soft, Loving embrace.

"Cry it out dude, As long as you need to." Adam gently spoke.

"Sh-She left m-me-" He couldn't finish it as his hiccuping breaths cut him off, His fingers latched onto Adams hoodie, As if he'd vanish if let go.

"I-I- They- Don't w-want-" Lucid ended up sobbing into Adam's shoulder.

"Me and Jo aren't gonna leave you, You aren't alone anymore, Okay? You don't have to face it all alone again, We're here, We always will be."

"I don't.. D-Deserve it A-Adam!!"

"Lucid- Lucid, You do." The strawberry blonde said with a patient smile, Lucid felt another pair of arms wrap around the two.

"Morning, Jo." Adam said with a smirk upon seeing that the joining party was none other than Jonah Marshall.

"Hey, How about we grab some sort of treat on the way home?" The half blonde said.

Lucid sniffled, But smiled "I-I'd like t-that..!!" He then let out a squeak as he was lifted, Being carried by Adam despite the other's scrawny appearance.

Adam seemed to carry him to the opening in the back of the van, And then he paused. "Do you want shotgun?"

The term momentarily confused the angel but he quickly remembered it's usage. "I do.. But what if I'm seen..?" His smile fell

"I doubt any fast food workers would care, There's weirder shit here, Plus, People dress up like this all the time at conventions."

Lucid didn't verbally reply, He just smiled and let himself be put in the passenger seat of the van, Thankfully his wings folded up enough to fit within the seat, And Adam stayed in the back.

Jonah buckled himself in, He looked to his friend in the back with a smirk. "So I'm driving, Huh?"

Adam glared, Replying with a single. "Shut up."

The half blonde let out a strong laugh as he started the car, The laugh was contagious even for the archangel and the other.

Lucid's laughter died down, As he looked at his reflection in the window, A feeling resurfaced that he couldn't quite identify.

He nearly flinched when he felt a hand on his shoulder, He looked to his left and saw Jonah, With a reassuring look.

The other looked back to the road where a sheepish smirk formed on his face. "Oops- Just ran a stop sign."

Chapter Text

Lucid awoke in a dark room, He fumbled around, A small panic in his chest when the sounding surfaces from the basement vanished, He scrambled but got to his feet, Swiftly flicking on a light switch in the room.

Oh right, He was in Adam's room, The two had a proper heart to heart once they got home and the strawberry blonde didn't feel right about leaving Lucid to himself in the basement after that, The angel was thankful for that, He recalled feeling safer in his friend's room.

The angel smiled as he walked back to his little nest of covers in the corner, That was when he noticed the small piece of paper next to it, A note most likely, Lucid fetched it from the floor.

'Me and Jo are going out for a job, There's dinner in the fridge, We will be gone awhile.

Don't answer the door for anyone.

-Adam'

He set the note down on a nearby table, Making his way to the kitchen because he WANT!

Aside from that, Lucid sincerely hoped this job would go much smoother than the last one they had taken, He was distracted by his thoughts and quest by a flicker of light, Not from the artificial light in the home, But a bright blue beam from outside, Followed by a loud roar.

The angel flinched and looked to one of the windows, Lucid made his way over to them, Peaking through the blinds, He saw rain, And realized, This was a thunderstorm, He was told it would storm tonight, That's why the three went for flying earlier.

Little did he know the storm was yet to begin.

Lucid's ears suddenly picked up a voice close by.

"Hello my familiar feathered friend, Or are we fiends today? I can't ever tell with you!" The hush, Yet intimidating voice giggled.

Lucid turned around, Spotting his false copy, His stomach ached with anxiety and worry.

"I- Y-You?? Gabriel??" The true angel choked out.

The false shepherd opened his arms, Motioning towards himself. "In the flesh, But not my own...!!"

Lucid though his blood couldn't run colder, Yet it found a way.

Another bright beam of lighting flashed, It didn't scare him, The loud almost house shaking thunder did, The angel yelped as the feathers on his wings fluffed up.

"Oh poor thing... Worry not, I have no intent to harm you, I have a job for you." Gabriel spoke, His mouth curling up into that smile, One that the younger angel would have found amusing if not for Gabriel's intimidation.

"I don't want to h-hurt anyone!!!" Lucid cried, Cowering from his warped reflection.

The false god's expression softened somehow. "Be not afraid, You shalln't bloody your hands tonight, No... This is a special kind of task."

He felt an incomplete sense of relief, The angel was told that he wasn't being forced to hurt someone, But Gabriel's plans were never that simple.

"We are much alike, I once thought it flattery by intimidation, But.. You remind me of someone I knew..." Lucid's head was screaming.

HE KNOWS HE KNOWS HE KNOWS-

"But alas, That one is dead and gone, Pardon my tangent, Your likeness, The reason I brought it up, I want you to deliver a message for me."

Lucid tilted his head, Was that really all? Just to be a middle man to someone? Lucid could do that. After all, That's what he was supposed to do.

Yet Gabriel's observation unnerved him, Was he truly oblivious? or was he seeing how long it would take for the angel's own fear and panic to make him break himself? Like sprinkling stray sparks into a pool of gasoline.

"Do you know something I do not? Little angel?" His voice broke Lucid from his thoughts.

"N-No??" The angel blurted out quickly. "W-What do you mean??"

Gabriel tilted his head to the side, Glaring at him with his eyes so dilated that the whites were barely visible.

Lucid let out a snicker before realizing and covering his mouth. "I'm so s-sorry!! I don't know what that was!!!" He lied, Lucid knew exactly what it was, He didn't have time to mentally delve into his past or how his older sibling would use that face to get laughter out of him as a fledgeling.

All he knew that he was dead, This is how he'll die a second time, Because of a slip up-

Gabriel started laughing, Scratch that, Howling, Not in a way to intimidate or condescend, But seemingly a genuine bout of laughter prompted by god knows what, He wiped a tear from his eye with a slender finger. "Goodness! You should have seen you expression!!" The false angel seemingly suppressed more giggles from coming back up.

Lucid felt so much relief in that moment that he felt he could collapse, Of course he's not out of the woods yet, He realized this as Gabriel put an arm around his shoulder, Keen position to strangle or snap his neck if he slips up and actually offends him.

"Come with me Lucid, I will provide you with the details on our flight there, In a quick motion, The true angel found himself scooped up into the arms of the false.

"G-Gabriel!!" He choked out, Mostly in surprise but also in fear.

The other angel glared slightly. "What? Would you rather be out and about in this storm!?" Lucid let out a tiny and meek. "no.." in response.

"Thought so!"

The two promptly headed out, Into the night sky, Lucid was thankful for the fact that he wouldn't have to learn how to fly in storms yet, It was something his siblings knew but he hadn't experienced it himself.

"Who are we visiting?" The angel assumed it to be a human, Since Gabriel wouldn't need to visit an alternate like this, Maybe Lucid was death fodder to something more powerful than the false angel, He'd likely be killed anyways if he had declined or argued.

"Oh, That is rather unimportant, What is important to you is that he is expecting a fellow he knows as "O'Brien.""

Lucid just hoped he could get home before Adam and Jonah do.

Chapter Text

The storm seemed to quell as they approached their destination, Lucid was given fairly basic instructions, Scare him, So Gabriel save him and prove that he was the true savior, The false angel promised not to lay a finger on him.

Lucid expected to be thrown to the ground like the last time.

Instead he was lowered gently to the ground, In the distance he saw a man who stood infront of a tall and imposing cathedral, The angel felt a pair of hands nudge him forward, He turned his head back to see Gabriel smiling with an aura of impatience.

It's time.

Lucid gulped as he trudged forward with slow and unsteady steps on the uneven grass due to their current location being on a hill.

It was so dark, It scared him, The angel's gut twisted with an uneasy feeling, Like something bad was going to happen.

The man turned around, Lucid couldn't see his eyes as he wore dark sunglasses. "O'brien? Is that you."

Lucid froze, Swallowing down the rest of his dread in the moment, He choked out a small. "yes..?"

"You sound different than on the phone." The angel took another step forward, Into the light, He noticed an odd expression graze the face of the man before a realization that caused the stranger to cower.

Lucid could imagine Gabriel's satisfaction at this, The true angel didn't like it, But if it was just scaring someone a bit, He'd much rather do that than actually hurt them, He opened his wings.

The man's breath hitched as he backed away.

"You really are a fool..." The angel taunted.

Lucid never intentionally made others fearful of him, He never wanted to, The angel was being careful, If he said or did too much, He could drive this poor guy MAD.

He let his jaw fall slack, Letting it unhinge to imitate what most found frightening about his older brother, Lucid felt so guilty for doing this.

"Huh!? O'Brien!??" The other cried, Confused and scared as he fell back, Lucid quickly closed the distance between the two of them, Towering over the helpless being of humanity, The angel leaned down and started to whisper.

His trembling made Lucid feel more guilty.

A shadow fell over him, Followed by a booming voice. "BE NOT AFRAID, It is I, The archangel Gabriel, Your true savior! I shan't let this detestable fiend threaten you any longer!" Gabriel turned to him. "Begone foul creature, In the name of the lord!"

The angel took this as a cue to flee, Judging that he didn't receive a negative reaction from said true savior, He guessed this was the right choice.

Lucid waited in the dark, Near the bottom of the hill, He worried as he fixed his lower jaw back into place, Gabriel said he wouldn't hurt that man, But when has he ever kept his word, When has he ever not broken a promise, Before he could continue to over think, A voice spoke to him.

"I'm curious." It belonged to a new figure Lucid could see it in muted colors in the dark, It looked like a teenager like Adam and Jonah.

The aura told him that it was an alternate, He could tell that it was wearing a formal suit of sorts.

"Howww does a pathetic fool like you think you can get away with tricking the lord Gabriel?? He probably knowsss!! He's luring you into a false sense of security!! Who gives you the rrriGHT!?" It slurred angrily.

Lucid stepped back, The alternate stepped forward, This repeated for what felt like minutes rather than seconds, All while the angel tried to plea his case.

It hit him, The missing poster, This is.. Was,, Cesar Torres.

He heard his name yelled, Lucid's head snapped to the side, Looking up at the hill where the last thing he saw was the silhouette of the false angel Gabriel before something lunged at him and turned out the lights.

"Oh.. I think the're waking up..." The angel heard a soft, Nasally voice speak.

Lucid opened eyes, The first thing he saw was a bright light which caused him to let out a yelp and close his eyes again.

"Oh sorry... My bad." The bright light dimmed enough for him be able to open them again and look around.

He couldn't tell where he was, There was tons of unfamiliar objects and an indescribable smell.

"Hello Lucid." The angel looked over and saw Crowley, Atleast there was a familiar face.

"Where am I?" He clutched his blanket tightly for comfort.

The alternate smiled, Not maliciously or intimidatingly, It was an awkward little grin but friendly and welcoming none the less. "Ah, You're in the infirmary, I believe Lord Gabriel said you had gotten mauled by a fellow alternate."

Lucid brought a hand up to his own cheek upon feeling an itch and quickly pulled it away. "O-Oh! Don't touch that..!! There was a nasty scratch there."

The angel sat up, Pulling up the blanket with him as he felt cold. "Did you bandage me up?" Another gentle smile grazed Crowley's face.

"I did." His expression fell to a neutral one. "Your shoulder and rib got awfully tore up so I removed your garb to access the damages, I've found that they aren't too bad, And you likely only need to keep up with the bandage on your face."

A voice called for the alternate. "Ah, Pardon me, I am needed elsewhere, Call if you need anything." With that Crowley turned and left the infirmary, Closing a teal curtain and giving the angel privacy with that.

Lucid's brain scrambled with what happened, Cesar had attacked him, Cesar knew who he was, How? Was he right? If the alternate knew who Lucid was then surely Gabriel would? But why would Gabriel bring him to get patched up or even care to stop Cesar from mauling him??

His head hurt from all of it, He glanced at the clock beside his bed, It was getting late, He should get home, Lucid didn't want to worry Adam and Jonah if they weren't already.

The angel's robe was hung up on a hook on a wall beside the bed, He was able to pull it down without putting too much stress on his body, But before he started to get dressed again, Lucid decided to look at the wounds for himself, His shoulder didn't look too bad like Crowley said.

And his rib had light bruising, What really had caught his eye were the identical scars on his chest, They looked too precise to be natural scaring, Almost purposeful..

They looked old too, And well taken care of enough to heal this cleanly.

The scars added a whole new question to his ever growing pile of confusion regarding his new form.

Lucid got dressed and headed out swiftly, Not wanting to run into anyone or stay longer than needed, He missed his friends already.

Thankfully his flight had gone smoothly, And he landed near by the house, The angel smiled as he unlocked the door and went inside, He didn't see the van so Lucid guessed that he may had beaten them home.

He felt the tension leave his shoulders with a sigh of relief, The angel crawled over to the couch and laid down, Closing his eyes for a few minutes until a loud voice disrupted him, Sounds like a pattern over the course of the night.

"LUCID WE'RE HOMEEEEEE-"

"JONAH SHUT UP HE MIGHT BE SLEEPING DUMBASS!!"

It was a welcomed sound to say the least.

"Oh hey Lucid- Yikes dude you look like shit." Adam started.

"I Got attacked by an alternate." Lucid's expression and tone of voice was lighthearted despite what had happened.

"Bro same." Jonah walked in, Having a tissue half stuck up his nose.

"Jonah are you okay???" The angel asked, Concerned despite the humor in how he looked.

"He's fine, Jonah tried to ratio an alternate, And It just decked him." The strawberry blonde explained, A slightly annoyed expression on his face.

"It was funny though!!!" The half blonde defended

Adam rolled his eyes as he walked over to the kitchen, "Whatever." He looked to Lucid. "I'm getting leftovers, Lucid do you-"

"WANT!"

The strawberry blonde couldn't stop himself from snickering in response to the angel's reaction as he pulled out too bowls. "Pfft- Alright.

Lucid smiled and scooted over on the couch as Jonah walked over so he could sit down as well, His eyelids were heavy but his want for dinner was stronger.

Jonah looked back at Adam. "Adam!! We should have a movie night!!"

Adam raised an eyebrow. "That.. That's actually a good idea, No horror movies though."

"Why? Are you scared?" The half blonde teased.

The other scoffed. "What? No! It's just that like 90% of horror movies have satan in them."

Lucid spoke up "What's a horror movie??" He's seen movies at this point and some humor he got, Some he didn't, Lucid really enjoyed colorful and lighthearted films regardless of if he understood them or not.

"It's a movie that is meant to be scary! We won't make you watch any though." Adam explained, Jonah verbally agreeing as well.

"We could show him halloween at some point!! That ones just a guy in a mask!!"

"True."

"I decided, Hes watching the Shrek trilogy tonight." Jonah declared.

"Dear god..."