Chapter Text
Dean and Sam know that the Devil is amongst them. And he's using their friend as a meat suit. They chased signs of him all over the US, even considered hitting a few overseas, but signs had popped up in the US time-and-time again, until finally, they got the drop on him. Maybe just long enough to get some answers out of him.
But Lucifer is only answering them in riddles and half-truths. How? Why? When? But Dean is done playing his games; Cas may have said 'yes', but he's still in there, and if they don't do something, Lucifer would likely get him killed or burn him out himself.
“Give him back!” Dean shouts at the archangel with the visage of his dear friend. The brothers both are gripping angel blades, knowing they'd be next to useless in a fight with Lucifer.
One of Castiel's, no Lucifer's (Jimmy's? - hell if Dean could keep track) brows raises, and he shakes his head. “Sorry, Dean boy, I just can't do that. My little brother in here thinks he's some used up and expendable tool, but, you see, he's invaluable in keeping the Winchesters in check. As long as he's with me, you boys won't touch me.”
Dean grits his teeth, nose scrunching in his growing hatred for Lucifer. He's always hated Lucifer, but this – this is a new low. “You only need the vessel. Leave Cas out of this.”
“I've already told you why I can't do that,” Lucifer says with a shrug. “My patience is wearing thin, and I have things I need to do.”
“Cas!” Sam shouts. “This isn't your burden to bear. I'm sorry I said 'no', but you know that I can't let the Devil in. He's bad news, Cas!”
Lucifer rolls his eyes with such an air of sass that it reminds them again that they're not talking to Castiel. “Castiel knows what it'll take to defeat the Darkness, and I'm the answer to your prayers.”
Dean drops his eyes. He can't stand looking at Cas like this. It just isn't right. “We'll find another way,” Dean barks, “we always do.”
“And how many more people will die in the process?”
“Pot. Kettle. Nice to meet you,” Deans snaps back, “How many are going to continue to suffer by your hands before you deal with Amara?” he practically hisses. “You got your ride out. Don't drag Cas through that with you.”
Lucifer tucks his hands into pockets of the pants that Castiel had chosen to wear after he reclaimed his grace. “Sam won't let me in, and I like it here. You do realize that your pleas aren't working, that Castiel still hasn't kicked me out. It's his vessel now without that human in the way, so it's his choice. It is an angel's true vessel, so it should hold for quite some time even with a seraph and an archangel in here.” He pauses with a purse to his lips. “All those suffering 'people'... mostly Amara's doing. The two of us make a pretty good team, but we always seem to barely miss her. And as long as I leave you two alone, I still get to run the show.” He narrows his eyes. “But, please, try my patience some more. See if I don't maim either of you before I get the boot.”
Dean swallows around the lump in his throat. The Devil would keep his word on that. He'd be done for, and although he probably wouldn't kill Sam as his own true vessel, he'd beaten him to a pulp before. “Take the meat suit,” Dean says, his hands shaking, but his voice clear, “just give me the angel.”
“Oh?”
Dean knows it's a risks he's going to have to take. “If you can hear me, Cas, then I'm saying 'yes'.”
Lucifer claps with Castiel's hands and gives a throaty laugh. “Ha! What good will that do? Well, it was nice chatting, boys, but I have a big baddie to take care of.” He waves with his fingers and says, “Tootles.” before the sound of rustling fabric signals his leave.
“Dammit!” Dean groans, pitching his angel blade to the floor with a loud clank.
Sam watches Dean, taking in a deep breath before exclaiming, “That was your plan, Dean?!”
“No!”
“So what was it then?”
“I panicked,” Dean admits, “It was the first thing I could think of.”
“Wait.” Sam shakes his head, disbelieving. “You told me you had a plan. You lied to me?”
Dean waves his arms wildly as if the gesture will defend him. “Yeah! I lied! It's Cas, man. Whether I have a plan for the Devil or not, if I've got the chance to corner him, I'm going to take it. I'm taking it every time. One day, we'll get through to Cas, and he'll kick Lucifer to the curb. Until then we-”
He is stopped short by the rumbling of the walls around them. The brothers stand their ground, Dean bending down to retrieve the angel blade. The shaking intensifies, cracking a window pane until it finally shatters into pieces. They cover their ears to a high-pitched wailing, and there's light flooding every window and doorway from the outside. Sam drops to his knees, still clutching his ears, but when he looks up, Dean's eyes are closed, and his hands are dropped down to his sides.
Sam can hear his whispered “Yes” before everything is still again, only the light fading to a blue glow in the air that finds its way to Dean. Sam has to shield his eyes from the sudden onslaught of light and heat emanating from his brother standing near him.
Dean blinks hard, taking in a shuddering breath, and starts patting himself down. “Hey, you with me, buddy?” he asks out loud.
“Of course.” The voice Dean hears is all around him, close and distant all at once, but despite the disembodied voice, it's unmistakably the deep timber he'd come to know from Castiel.
“Woah,” Dean says, snorting a small laugh, “that's going to take some getting used to. Glad to have you back though.”
Sam stands up, the light and heat gone, and stares at Dean as if he's trying to look past him, “You... got him?”
“Yep.” Dean smiles. He looks off to the side and up, saying, “Don't get too cozy in there. We'll get your body back in no time, Cas.”
Sam continues to look at Dean, at his brother shaking his head and laughing. Clearly, he's only hearing one side of the conversation, but the joy on his brother's face tells him that it's all good.
As they're leaving, Dean warns Cas, “I've got some ground rules to lay out for inhabiting my body. We'll cover those on the way home.”
“Home.”