Chapter Text
Lucifer clenched and unclenched his fists as he stood before Heaven's court, everyone yelling at him. His breathing was becoming increasingly strained and his heart pounded against his chest.
It was just like his trial before his and Lilith’s fall.
His eyes looked from angel to angel, his ears buzzing and tuning out their words. His heart squeezed painfully as he caught sight of his siblings in the court up in the stands. They remained silent during the ordeal.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and promptly slammed his hands down with a loud boom.
“For starters, nowhere in the contract does it state that they cannot fight back, that they can’t defend themselves; only I couldn’t! Only I could not defend Hell, could not fight back and attack the exterminators as they did to my people! If I did it would have been a sign of war, and I never did break it, not once! You broke the contract by killing a Hellborn and attacked my daughter, nearly killing her! Both of which have pardons from being killed! With the Hellborn killed and Charlie hurt, I was allowed to join the fight that was targeted at them. A direct target at her.
I didn’t kill Adam, a Sinner had done it. Yes I had beat his pathetic ass to a pulp and nearly did kill him, but I gave him mercy and walked away . If the roles were reversed, he would not have hesitated to kill me and there wouldn’t have been consequences for it! If anything, you lot would have celebrated and rejoiced!”
His wings unfurled behind him, reaching out as far as they could, his horns protruded from his head with his snake wrapping around them with a fire between as a mock halo that sucked out the light in the room, many eyes appeared around his coat and his barbed tail lashed and whipped out behind him, his eyes flashing red. With each word he spoke, his voice rose in volume with fire spitting from his mouth like that of a dragon.
Lucifer was fed up and done with it all. Done with them. Done with Heaven and it’s cruel angels.
None of them deserved their halos.
“You say you started the exterminations due to Hell rising in power, that it was a threat to you. Well guess what! Even if we were coming together and growing in strength to start a war, to fight back and attack you, there is no way we could even get here! There is no power in Hell that can get us here. Can rise and fight. Not my magic, not the Sins, even all combined we could never come here. It’s you who are able to make portals between our realms, and only you. My people growing in power and strength and coming together was to make Hell manageable! Functional! Grow and evolve into a proper functional governed society.
What sign was there for rebellion? What made you think we would knock on your doors? Absolutely nothing! There was no talk, no meeting, nothing. You made a cruel and heartless decision just because you were scared of me and for your hatred of both Lilith and I!
What’s worse, you forced me into signing and agreeing to that wretched contract by having your exterminators sneak into Hell and aim their weapons and hold my wife and child hostage, threatening their lives if I didn’t sign and bend to your will!”
The court burst into yelling and screaming at each other.
“You call yourselves angels, that you fight for what’s right, but all I see are demons with angel wings! You are the real demons here! You bastards all belong in Hell!” He screamed. “You speak ill of my name, paint me to be this ugly evil being who wants to destroy everything, disrupt and destroy your utopia yet you come into my domain and paint the streets with blood! Use my name to keep everyone in line!”
Lucifer bared his razor sharp teeth, near out of breath as he roared at the court, at the elders and Sera who cast him out, at his family for abandoning him and turning their backs on him when he needed them.
He saw how his family tensed, how Raphael and Gabriel stood and yelled at the court, at Sera for deceiving them, for not telling them, for hiding information and lying to them, for her challenging and disrespecting their authority. It surprised him that it wasn’t Michael who was doing the yelling, as he has always had quite the temper. Raphael surprised him as he was as neutral and soft spoken as they come.
“You lot play God like it’s some sort of game. It is sickening .”
The volume rose at his outburst, at his audacity to say such a thing. That he had no right to speak or to judge them. That he needed to show them respect and hold his tongue and know his place.
But why in all seven rings of Hell would he ever respect them? After everything they had done to him, to his family, to his people? Lucifer knows his place; it seems they do not.
He is the motherfucking king of Hell, and he refuses to take such disrespect from these devils.
Just as he opened his mouth to spit out more rage, the court flashed white, blinding everyone in attendance. Lucifer used a wing to shield his eyes from how bright the sudden light was. Lowering his wing, Lucifer's nerves raised and his anxiety spiked. This wasn’t good. Hundreds of eyes filled the court, a powerful and commanding force stood behind him, and it wasn’t himself with such a presence.
The court went silent, all the air having been sucked out of the room. A pin drop could ring the room if one were to be dropped.
“My Morning Star, you have returned.”
Lucifer’s shoulders hunched up to his ears, his eyes wide with terror.
“This court is dismissed. Samael is innocent. We will reconvene at a later date to discuss the unjust actions that have been taken against Hell. Sera, you will have a separate trial.”
Sera stiffened from her position in the stands, though did not say a word or try to defend herself. She’d save it for the trial.
“Everyone, you are dismissed.”
Angels left the court at different speeds. Some racing out while others were slow to exit.
No one had seen the Almighty since Lucifer’s fall.
Some wanted to stay and get a good look as the majority of them had never seen the creator of the universe, while others were too afraid.
Lucifer’s six younger siblings were the only ones remaining.
“My children, I know it has been some time, but I will speak to you later. I need to speak to Samael. Alone.”
He watched as his siblings reluctantly left as well, leaving Lucifer with his creator alone. The hundreds of eyes disappeared once it was just them.
“My child…” Lucifer slowly turned around, his horns and tail and wings tuck themselves away as he looked up at his Mother.
His Mother looked down at him with the kindest of smiles and Her eyes filled with warmth as She gazed at Her first creation, Her first son.
The Mother of all Creation is the most beautiful being in the universe. With Her long flowing hair and Her beautiful wings, Her kind face and beautiful smile. She is the definition and epitome of beauty. The embodiment of vitality. The embodiment of purity. The embodiment of all that there is.
For the longest time Lucifer had held a grudge against Her. Had cursed Her name and told himself he hated Her. Blamed Her for his Fall as it had felt as though She had abandoned him, had turned Her back to him and left him to rot. She could have stepped in and protected him, could have stopped the elders and his younger siblings from casting him out into damnation. But She hadn’t. She hadn’t even shown her face that cursed day. Lucifer had never felt so alone as he had then. It felt as though She had not cared for him, had been embarrassed, had-
Oh.
She’s hugging him.
Lucifer froze up as his Mother held him close, running a hand through his already tousled hair. He was thankful that she mindful of her strength, as she could easily crush him by accident. He struggles controlling his own strength as he has nearly crushed Charlie one too many times with hugs.
He was so happy that it was just the two of them alone, as tears welled up in his eyes. He would be horrified if anyone besides his Mother saw him so vulnerable, so weak. He is the king of Hell, he can’t afford being vulnerable and weak.
“My son, how I have missed you.”
As much as he loathed to admit it, and he’d take this to the grave, he and the radio freak had one thing in common. They’re both mama boys.
Even though he had felt so much rage, so much resentment, near hatred, he had still missed his Mom and had wanted to see Her again, at least one more time. He yearned for her, had cried for Her, had loved Her though it all regardless.
His Mother had loved him, adored him, loved him with all Her being. She protected him from the cruelties and would comfort him when he was upset. She would step in when his brothers or elders or whoever would gang up on him. She had loved and cherished him; he was Her favorite. (Silently Lucifer selfishly wonders if he still is.)
All his anger, all his frustration, all his hurt disappeared instantly. He clung to his Mother tightly, not ready to let go. He had wanted this for so long, and now that he finally has it, he doesn’t want to lose it. He feared this was some sort of fever dream and would have believed it to be had he not felt Her warmth and love as She held him like a wee fledgling.
“My beautiful Morning Star, how I have longed for this day. For you to be back in my arms again.” Tears finally cascaded down his cheeks; She gently wiped them away. “I am not beautiful any longer, Mother. I am hideous.” Lucifer said with sorrow. He had been the most beautiful of angels, and to lose that and be turned into something so ugly and nasty had deeply wounded his pride and hurt his heart to lose it. He is showy and arrogant and does flaunt in public, but when he looks at his clawss, his teeth, his eyes, his everything, he scowls at himself. He is a failure of an angel, a clown, a mockery of all that is good and everything evil.
He was not beautiful. He is a monster.
Lucifer was taken out of his spiraling thoughts as She placed a hand on his cheek, cupping his face with a warm smile “my child, you will forever be beautiful, no matter what. Whether you have red and yellow eyes or blue, be it having pointy and sharp teeth or flat, or feathers of red interwar of white, be it pointy ears or round, be it claws and rough fingers instead of soft and round, be you covered in scars and have horns and a diamond tipped tail, you will forever be beautiful my son.”
Lucifer sobbed.
The Almighty chuckled and held him close “shh my son. No more tears” again She wiped his face with her thumbs to rid the tears. “Come, let us go and speak in private. We have much to catch up on.”
With a wave they were transported into another room, making Lucifer’s heart squeeze. His Mother had taken them to his old bedroom from before. Everything was still in place as it had when he was cast out, not a single speck of dust in sight. Everything was pristine. A hand landed on his shoulder as his Mother spoke “I kept it intact and how it had been when you… for when you would return to me one day, Samael.”
It made Lucifer squirm when his Creator called him his old name that had been stripped from him, but he would allow it and not say another word. If it were anyone else, sans God and Lilith, who called him Samael, he’d have their head. (Lilith would shout “SAMAEL LUCIFER MAGNE MORNINGSTAR!” When he was in trouble. Not fun times. Sometimes it was fun.)
Walking over to his work bench, he smiled as ducks littered the surface with papers strewn about. On the papers had been blueprints for possible creations - his favorite being a mammal that could range from 12-20 feet in height and 40 feet in length. Its hide would be covered in tough leather hide. The creature would stand on two legs with three claws on the feet, the front two arms would be itty bitty with two claws - he thought it would be hilarious and confusing. For the head it would be big, its mouth filled with 60 large serrated teeth and have the strongest bite force in all the animal kingdom. The sound the beast would make would be a low hum that reverberated through your chest. It would have been a fierce and scary predator that would have ruled the Earth, now that he thought about it. That would have been cool to see.
Scary, but cool.
Taking in his Mothers words, Lucifer looked back at her “you knew I would return?” He questioned, his voice nearly cracked as he asked his heavy question. The Almighty was known to know everything, to see and know what the future held for The Great Plan. She smiled sadly “yes, but I knew naught of when. I did not know if it would be a year or a thousand years, nor how or why, but I knew you would return home one day, and that day is today albeit on wrongful terms.”
Of course She would know. She knows everything. God knows all and sees all. Knowing that he would one day return to Paradise shouldn’t be a surprise.
The Mother of all creation went to his bed and sat down as She watched Her beloved son. “Your wings looked like they need some attention. Come, sit with me and allow me to preen them for you” although worded like a command, it was a question. It was a silent request.
Touching and preening another wings is something only those closest to you and deemed worthy in your eyes. Preening is a sacred affair, highly respected and taken seriously. Preening was a form of bonding and trust. To trust another to tend to the most delicate part of an angel. No matter how many, how big, how powerful an angels wings may be, they are a major weak and vulnerable aspect to angels. If one were to be harmed, it could damage the rest of their body depending on the damage.
Lucifer knew this all too well. Having his feathers pulled out and the appendages carved out of his back had left him with everlasting damage. His cane wasn’t for show, it was to help support him. There would always be chromic pain in his back, so bad he had to take medicine to help dull the pain, curtesy of Belphegor. He would since if he ever got a glimpse of his back; ugly large scars marred where his original beautiful set of wings had been ruthlessly taken from him. Taken so that Lucifer would never have a way to fly and return to Heaven - the angels must not have known they would grow back as it didn’t pass him that they had been shocked to see six large wings sprout from his back during the trial.
As much as Lucifer’s hurt wanted to deny his Mother, to shut her down as he had every right to, he still went over to the bed and sat down, his back facing his Mother and carefully pulled his six wings out from the pocket dimension they furled into when he hid them from view.
She may have hurt him, and he may have some resentment towards Her, but his Creator had never harmed him, not physically nor mentally, ever. Regardless of everything, Lucifer still trusted God with his entire being, even if it may be foolish considering everything that has happened.
Lucifer suppressed a shiver as the Almighty gently ran Her fingers through the scarlet feathers, taking Her time to examine and see them properly and note what needed to be focused on first.
As she gently started removing loose and dead feathers, aligning and correcting feathers that were at an odd angle, remove debris and so on, Lucifer was taken back to the time when he had still been a small fledgling, learning the ins and outs to existence. To taking care of his six beautiful wings, the most beautiful wings in all of Heaven. He would either sit in his Mothers lap and sing a song or tell Her his woes or sing as she took care of his wings. Later in life he would be the one teaching his little siblings how to tend and care for their own.
It had always been so relaxing, had felt so warm and filled his heart to connect with his loved ones. To care for everyone. To teach and love the little fledglings. No words could express how happy it had made Lucifer to be the second being his siblings looked up to and idolized. He is only idolized by those in Hell, the biggest three being Paimon, Leviathan, and Frederick, as odd as the list goes, and it’s not the same type of idolization that Heavens angels held for him eons ago. Closest to that had maybe been Charlie when she was a little girl, but that was so long ago and again, a different type of idolizing.
Gods voice gently broke through his thoughts “you said you have a daughter?”
Lucifer smiled and nodded “yes. I have a little girl, her name is Charlie.”
“Tell me about her.”
His smile widened. He could talk about his precious daughter for hours on end and still have so much more to share. Yes he was absent, Lucifer will admit to this, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t watching. Wasn’t being updated. Wasn’t always not there. There had been a time he had always been there, been with her and making happy everlasting memories with his Charlie. But his marriage… Lilith…
Well. Best not to think about that now. Everything is in the past and all you can do is push forward and fix your mistakes and make sure to not make a repeat of them. To own up to your mistakes and make amends. Say sorry. It starts with “sorry” for the road of forgiveness and effort to move on and be better.
“She’s wonderful. So bright and outgoing and happy . She never lets anything deter her from her goals and dreams. She’s strong and resilient, always sees the good in others and wants to help everyone, no matter how bad they may be. No matter if they deserve it or not.” Lucifer started fondly “she gives everyone a second chance, regardless of what they had done. To her or to her friends.” That trait was so important and amazing, a trait he could never thank whoever blessed her with it, as that forgiveness and offers for a second chance had let him back into her life; Charlie had given him a second chance to be a part of her world, to see what she sees, and Lucifer will be damned if he throws that away. His perfect Char, his apple blossom, his little lady. So perfect in every sense of the word.
His Mother hummed “how old is she? What does she look like?” She inquired, asking for details about her granddaughter “Charlie is 200, will be 201 come fall. She’s tall, tall like her mother and has long blonde hair that reaches past her hips. Big beautiful eyes, yellow irises and red pupils. Her skin is as white as mine and she too has red cheek dots like mine. Heh, in a lot of ways we look very familiar, near idental. But she of course has her differences, for one she has a little goats nose and big beautiful eyelashes. Also tall.” His phone get heavier in his pocket, reminding him of its existence. “Oh! I have a photo of her I can show you.” Unlocking the device, he went to his photos and selected a new favorite; he and Charlie stood side by side in front of the newly built hotel, his arm wrapped around her waist and hers his back, big happy smiles on their faces as Razzle took the photo of them together.
They were smiling for different reasons though. Charlie had been smiling due to her hotel being rebuilt, better than ever, and was with her dad. Lucifer too was smiling because he was with her, but he was smiling from relief that she was okay, that she is still here and Adam hadn’t seriously injured her or worse. He was so happy to be by her side again and feel that things were going to be okay, that things were going to get better and the future looked promising.
Lucifer was smiling from the absolute joy that he got to see Charlie everyday. That he lived with her again. That they weren’t apart.
God smiled fondly as She looked at the photo of the father and daughter duo. Charlie was indeed near identical to Her son, but had her own unique features. It had surprised Her only a little that Charlie appeared to already be an adult at such a young age, but remember that her mother was a mortal, that their aging was different from celestial beings. “Goodness, she certainly is tall! How much taller is she than you?” Lucifer groaned “nearly over a foot” he grumbled as his Mother teased him. “She is absolutely beautiful, my son. Just like you.”
The two sat in silence as She resumed carefully preening his wings, taking care not to hurt or ruffle others as She felt for loose feathers and gently remove debris.
Lucifer nearly startled himself as he began to hum a little tune. When he was younger he would sing a song or two as his Mother cared for him like she is now, and later would hum to the little ones once they came around and it was his turn to teach them how to care for their own wings as he preened them for the little angels.
Neither said a word about it. Didn’t comment or acknowledge it. Lucifer hummed an unfamiliar tune to himself, enjoying the pleasure he felt from having his wings preened by another, by a holy being, by his Mother again after so long of only having Lilith or himself do it alone.
He missed this. He would never admit it, not ever, but he missed this. He missed Heaven, he missed his siblings, he missed his Mother, he missed it all. Lucifer had accepted long ago that he would never be allowed to live amongst the angels ever again, that things could never go back to how they were before it all. That he was caged in purgatory for the rest of his miserable existence with the rest of damnation due to the sins he had committed. But that does not mean he had moved on. That he didn’t still dream of a day where he could see Heaven again, see his family again. Dream of stepping foot back home . Lucifer had been awfully homesick. Even on days he cursed Heavens name and all its inhabitants and everything it stood for, for its own sins and transgressions, he was still homesick.
“Samael” he suppressed a shiver “how would you feel about seeing your siblings? They have missed you terribly. They don’t speak of it, but their actions show it, as do their thoughts. They have missed you, their big brother. Gabriel, Jophiel, Azarael, Uriel and Raphael, have missed you so dearly. They have all wished to say sorry, and to make amends with you.” It did not escape him that Michael wasn’t mentioned, but that is to be expected, and Lucifer in all honesty was grateful for it. As much as Lucifer had missed them as well, had wanted nothing more than to go see them, he wasn’t ready for it.
Lucifer still had nightmares of his Fall. Nightmares of his little siblings, the angels he had very carefully taken care of and raise, point their weapons at him and stand behind Michael as he had cruelly carved out his wings and declared him Fallen from Grace and had cast him out forever.
He loved his siblings. Each one of them.
Technically all angels are family; Heavenborn, Elders, Cherubs, Seraphims, all of the like, are family as it were. But there was a distinct difference between the first seven angels and everyone else. The first seven angels were a family in their own way, a way that mortals have their direct family. They were closer, more in tune, more everything than everyone else. The seven angels, later Seven Virtues, were more than brothers and sister. They were true siblings.
Gabriel for how funny he could be and for his pranks he’d have Lucifer join him in on and help pull off. For his boisterous laugh that was so infectious, everyone would laugh with him, regardless if they were the victim to his games.
Jophiel for her soft nature and care for the little things. For seeing the beauty and love in everything she touched. In everywhere there is she would see more than others did. For her own beauty and grace. Lucifer is Gods most beautiful creation above all else, but his little sister was a close contender.
Azrael for how hard he tried to play cool and nonchalant about everything. About how his eyes would sparkle as he watched Lucifer create new things. How he’d ask questions and admire the eldests work, even from afar as he grew older.
Uriel for playing with him and for tending to nature, taking care of the Garden. Care for its plants and animals. When the two would visit the Garden together, Uriel would always drag Lucifer to where ducks would be. He’d even pick up a duck and bring it to Lucifer and tell him all sorts of things about the animal. It was endearing and cute.
Raphael for how detailed and determined he was to complete his goals and fulfill his purpose and duties. The youngest of the virtues was so smart, so bright, so admirable in his work. He and Lucifer would gossip together when Raphael had the time, sharing secrets between each other. Lucifer would watch later on how his baby brother would teach and guide other angels that were eventually created in the art of healing and health and medicine and cures. Yes, no illness could take hold of the celestial beings, but it was best to know how the world works and how to be prepared.
And Michael… Michael is the second oldest, the next angel to have been created some centuries after Lucifer’s own creation.
Michael had been such a joy to watch being created. Be brought to life and into existence. For the longest time it had only been Lucifer and God, so to have another was absolutely amazing and breathtaking. He had someone to look after now, someone to guide and be with besides the Mother of the universe.
Watching Michael grow and become his own angel, grow into his wings and into his duty, had been such a whirlwind of emotions for Lucifer. They had been close in the beginning, but with time Michael had slowly pulled himself away, turning his focus onto becoming Gods Sword, becoming the best of the best and stronger each day, carrying out Justice.
It had hurt to watch his little brother, the second angel to have been created, pull away. Lucifer and Michael had always been at the hip with each other. Always together. Yet it changed and Michael… Michael left him. Lucifer’s other siblings didn’t leave him, not like Michael had, so it had been confusing and hurtful. When taking it to God, She did not give him an answer as to why Michael had pulled away from him and had abandoned him. Left him to wonder why. What he had done wrong to have caused such distance.
Memories and emotions bubbled up to the surface, feelings he had long shoved down a metaphorical hole to never breach the surface, arose again. Lucifer took a deep breath and willed everything down and shoved them into a closet and locked the doors and tossed the key.
The king of Hell shook his head, telling her no. He missed them, yes, but for now.
For now all he wanted was to be treasured by his Mother again, to be with her once more, alone.
This he was fine with. This, he was content with.
This was all he ever wanted.