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Lucifer sighed.
"Michael, can you just give it back to me? It's useless, it won't give me any powers and you know that already".
Michael looked directly at him in silence, and he could not decipher what was going on behind those turquoise eyes, it had been thousands of years since he could read them at all, now all that was left was someone he did not recognize.
"Huh oh well," his brother said, rolling his eyes as he stood up from the chair and materialized a square box right next to him, "I guess I can give it back, it has become quite an eyesore in my desk anyway."
Lucifer felt anger building up, he wanted to walk over and prove to Michael how his punishment had only made him tougher, how he could now fight back with the same intensity.
But for Charlie's sake he wouldn't, all her efforts over the past few years would be lost, so he had to remain silent.
"Ah, don't look at me like that! You damned yourself, brother, never forget that," Michael said, sliding the box down the table and into his hand.
Lucifer frowned and took it, the weight obvious and the magic inside resonating faintly with his own, but he would not open it here and give Michael the satisfaction of his reaction.
Then he drew in a breath, for a word had to be said, no matter how much the taste of it made his tongue recoil.
But it needed to be said.
"Thank you."
Michael smiled, "Who am I if not a loving older brother?" he said back, making Lucifer's eyes turn red as the pain in his back from a thousand years ago resurfaced.
"Now go and have fun with the others, they've missed you, Lucifer," Michael continued, turning to look at the window.
'Because you certainly haven't,' Lucifer thought.
Then he started heading for the door, his portals not available in Heaven.
"I never understood the change of names, they both mean the same thing, you know?"
Lucifer stopped, his hand clenching into a painful fist.
"I can't deny it's made it easier for us though, if you go by the park at the edge of the city you'll find something under your real name, quite a little monument, I won't lie," Michael continued.
Breathe in.
Exhale.
Lucifer stepped out of the room without a word.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
When the entire hotel staff was invited to spend All Saints' Day in Heaven to see for themselves how the crossing of souls worked, Alastor was quite surprised.
It had been three years since he had started helping out at the hotel, purely as entertainment and a fascination for lost causes, but the princess had succeeded when the snake demon managed to earn his halo and wings after his little act of sacrifice during their battle against the first man.
And with time, and many political conversations and clashes between realms, they had managed to come to an agreement, and now Charlie was slowly becoming a beacon for other sinners looking to leave the pothole they were currently living in.
Not for him though, he enjoyed his chaos, and he enjoyed his debauchery, his butcher, his shadow, his powers and influence, and in an unexpected chain of events, he loved his angel. He and Lucifer had become a couple after a year of tossing and turning. First as outright enemies, then as acquaintances, and finally as friends. But there was a moment when something more became apparent, little jalousies, flirtatious remarks leading to a kiss and deep thoughtful conversations.
So he was happy in Hell, but the possibility of visiting Heaven for a day was intriguing, even though he was sure it would be dull and obnoxious, it would also be great to assert his presence and power as the new partner of the King of Hell.
And, of course, there was the matter of finally being reunited with his mother. The thought of being back in her warm embrace made his heart scream.
So even if the journey ended up being dreary, he knew the reward waiting for him would be well worth it.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
There was no other word for the bridge other than breathtaking, the way it danced the vibrant colors beneath them, a force of the universe connecting Heaven and Earth.
The group walked along the bridge, the winners crossing it happily, excited at the prospect of being reunited with their families, but many paused when they saw their particular group of demons walking up, led by none other than the Angel of Death themselves.
Alastor was interested in the angel's persona, apparently they are present at the departure of every soul, winner or sinner, yet he could not remember much, probably due to his gruesome and quick death. However, the archangel remembered him and every other soul, their memory an infinite reservoir of billions of lives that did not cloud their minds or confuse them.
And there was the interesting fact of their personality, always so cheerful and happy despite the nature of their work.
"Al, dear, can you please stop staring at my sibling as if you were going to eat them?" Lucifer said, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Alastor chuckled at the remark, "Please darling! You know the only one I want to eat is you," he teased, leaning over to his angel.
Lucifer turned golden, "Alastorrr," he complained in a low voice so no one could hear, but Angel Dust gave them a quick glance over his shoulder and smiled.
"You know I am riiight," Alastor continued teasing as he regained his posture, "But I do wonder what your sibling is hiding behind those wings on his face. The prophecy of the apocalypse perhaps?" he asked.
As that was another interesting fact, their appearance was nothing out of the ordinary, long black hair to the waist, alabaster skin like Lucifer's, no dots though, but they had two white wings covering their eyes, yet the archangel could look at you just the same, their sight beyond the physical.
"Pfff I won't tell you," Lucifer grinned at him, he certainly enjoyed keeping some mysteries from him.
"I guess I'll have to find out for myself," Alastor retorted, looking down at his cane.
"Oh yeah, you try that and tell me how it..."
Lucifer stopped, immediately grabbing his hand and pressing.
Alastor stopped as well, worried by the way Lucifer's attitude changed.
He looked up.
Ah.
They were close to the gates of Heaven.
And Lucifer had not been here since his fall.
He remembered when Charlie had told them about the sudden invitation, how Lucifer had kept up his normal untroubled and cheerful facade with his daughter, only to collapse to the floor and cry desperately when he reached their room. The only thing he could do at that moment was to hold Lucifer close to him, give him silent comfort, and let go of all the pain that never failed to resurface, a trauma so ingrained that it would take another billion years of Charlie's exercises to heal itself.
Heaven had not been kind to Lucifer, the memories his angel retained of his siblings were mostly fond, but no one had contacted him since his fall, only Azrael because of their work, so Lucifer had felt relieved when he was the one to show for the initial tour.
But now the golden door was only a few feet away, Lucifer's old home within reach.
"Mon coeur, it's going to be all right," he leaned over again, "Nothing's going to happen, and if they say anything, I'll be more than happy to eat them," he added, trying to lighten the mood, and he wasn't wrong, anyone who dared to hurt Lucifer, no matter their title or power, would taste a piece of him before they even got near.
Lucifer looked back at him and smiled "You're an idiot and I love you" he said, and Alastor felt the grip on his hand loosen.
Then Lucifer took a deep breath with his eyes closed "I'll be fine, we'll be fine" and then he exhaled and opened them back up "Let's go".
He hummed in response and gave Lucifer a peck on the wrist, which brought another gentle smile from his angel.
Then they both walked on, the group already at the gate, talking to the enthusiastic seraphim Emily and other angels they couldn't quite see. Probably a committee sent by Heaven to continue the journey, since Azrael told them they would show them the bridge and then leave to help other souls learn how to return to their families.
Suddenly an angel made his way through the group, as tall as he himself, with emerald green eyes and light honey brown hair, pulled back into a high ponytail with two long braids framing his face under his fringe.
The angel approached them cautiously, a warm smile on his face, and Alastor felt Lucifer gently release his hand and take a step toward the other.
Alastor recognized the yearning yet hesitation in Lucifer's eyes, a look he knew would probably be unavoidable in himself when he met his own mother later in the day.
"Would you let me hug you?" the angel said, his arms opening in welcome.
He saw Lucifer rush towards the embrace, burying his face in the angel's chest and sobbing softly as the taller one returned the sentiment, wrapping his arms around Lucifer with the same warmth, a relief to have him in his grasp again with a hint of desperation as if he did not want to let go.
"I'm sorry my daystar, I'm so sorry I should have done more"
"It'll be all right, I want to be there for you again"
"I love you, I still do"
Alastor could hear the angel's whisper through his powers, he just stood and watched as he was probably in the presence of one of Lucifer's siblings again.
The others continued to talk at the door, only Charlie turned around, but Alastor gave her a reassuring look, having already talked to her about the possible mental repercussions it would have for her father to see Heaven again. Charlie smiled softly back and returned to speaking with Azrael and Emily, trying for the group to keep their eyes on the door.
The embrace ended shortly after, both angels drying their tears and laughing softly at each other.
It was a level of happiness he had only seen Lucifer show towards him and Charlie, it was a state of mind he wished Lucifer would be in forever.
Lucifer turned to face him and wiped away one last tear, "Hey Al," he said, "I want you to meet my brother Raphael," he smiled.
Alastor smiled softly back at him and walked over to the archangel, "Greetings, I'm Alastor, the radio demon, it's a pleasure," he said, extending a hand, which the other took gracefully, "Oh hello there! I'm Raphael, one of the oldest angels, responsible for the health and well-being of Heaven and Earth," the angel explained, staring into Alastor's eyes for a second before smiling again.
"Is this your partner Luci?" he then asked turning to Lucifer as he released his hand.
"Oh! Yes it is! I know, I know, but we are fine, I promise," Lucifer reassured Raphael.
Um, what now?
Raphael quickly turned to face him, "Oh, sorry! Ah, sometimes I forget my manners," he chuckled, "You see, most people think my powers are only in the physical, but I can also sense the mental conditions of minds, yours is quite clouded, but so is Luci's, so I say you are a match made in Hell," he explained.
Alastor raised his eyebrows at this.
He felt exposed, the fact that his emotions could be sensed terrified him, but this was Heaven, of course, someone would have that ability, he could feel the seams of his smile straining across his face.
"It's all right Al," Lucifer approached, "He won't reveal what he senses to anyone, your dark and twisted mind is safe with him," he winked.
But Alastor was still uncomfortable despite the reassurance, and the air grew tense.
Fortunately, Azrael interrupted.
"Very well! I have to go now, but I'll see you all at dinner. Raphael and the others will take it from here! See ya!" the angel flew above them and then dove down into the bridge.
"Wait. The others?" Lucifer asked.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
Lucifer should have warned him about the number of siblings he possessed, prepare him for the amount of wings and halos and infinite questions that would make him want to rip Heaven out of the ground and set it on fire so everyone would scramble.
"Oh, a deer demon? How cute!"
"Does Lucifer know about your past?
"How did you go from rivals to partners?"
"You're so sweet in private, aren't you?"
"Oh, I like your eyelashes, do you use anything?"
The absurd questions and angels continued to pile up, and within their own powers more than one could sense the ins and outs of his relationship with Lucifer, which was none of their business, and the fact that they kept peaking was driving him completely insane.
However, it would not surprise him that Lucifer had not seen this coming either, it was a harsh contrast to what he had expected due to his tragic history as an angel.
He expected Lucifer to be greeted with nothing but scorn and disapproval.
But no, what awaited his partner was a group of his siblings throwing themselves at him, most of them crying and apologizing for their actions before the Fall, a time when the rules were the strictest, the tasks the fewest and there was not much to do but follow. And since Lucifer's heart was as soft as his daughters, he simply welcomed them back and cried with them.
It all started with a sorry, right?
That tune still made him sick, but if it meant that Lucifer would continue to smile during this ordeal, then so be it, but he would still be keeping an eye on them.
Speaking of which, their first target became their new niece, which many had only seen from a distance until now. They hovered over her, praising her beauty and her mind, like some fairy godmother from one of those old cartoons he had the displeasure of seeing thanks to those mandatory staff meetings.
Then it was his turn, but as their journey continued, the information switched delightfully.
"Oh, did you know that Lucifer used to be pink? Well, pink and golden"
"Oh yes, and so were his eyes"
"I think I have a picture, oh and also he had the longest robe, it went over his arms, so he just looked so tiny flying around"
"Oh yeah, he is the smallest of us all!"
"And the youngest, always flying around and coming up with the craziest ideas"
"He used to stumble over them a lot."
Alastor knew Lucifer was begging God to throw him back into Hell by the way he flushed, his upper set of wings, which he had pulled out since they arrived on the bridge, now covering his face.
A lovely sight.
"Oh my heavens, and you should have seen his face when he made his first duck, he cried for days".
"He's always been so cute!"
"I mean, of course, he was made to resemble a porc--" Lucifer put a hand over his sister's mouth.
"Details no one needs to know, hahah" he laughed nervously "Right, Jophy, please?" Lucifer begged the golden angel with a smile.
Jophiel rolled her eyes, "Fineee, I won't tell, and don't think you're not still cute despite those new eyes and teeth," she said, pinching one of Lucifer's cheeks.
Oh no, he needed to know what he was modeled after right away.
Alastor turned to face them and opened his mouth to speak when the group suddenly stopped, Lucifer's demeanor changing to something somber and his eyes fixed on someone in front of him.
Alastor turned back around.
Ah.
Him.
He had heard of him.
Turquoise eyes, bright blue wings and blonde hair down to his shoulders, tied half up and half down, with two small braids framing his face from behind a fringe.
Everything matched the only picture he had managed to find in the records of Hell.
Michael.
The cause of Lucifer's nightmares, the real reason he feared for Charlie's well-being whenever she had a meeting with Heaven he couldn't attend, the one he'd considered a real threat if the archangel ever descended and engaged in combat.
The one who had condemned him to eternal Hell.
Alastor felt his static accumulate, holding back his regrettably weakened shadow as the light and power of Heaven was too bright for his own to be fully effective, but he would use what he could if he were to defend Lucifer.
“Well, well, well, well! Let me get a look at the menagerie!” The archangel said with a snarl.
Raphael then flew above them and landed gently on the ground, "Michael, mind your words, we talked about this," he pointed out in a calm voice.
The archangel grunted and Alastor took a step closer to Lucifer.
"Ah, you're right brother, we did, didn't we? Anyway," he took flight and landed directly in front of Charlie.
Alastor's eyes changed to radio dials and he was sure that Lucifer's were crimson by now.
"You must be Charlie!" Michael cheered, holding out his hand and the ever-naive Charlie took it.
He told Lucifer to warn her many times about him.
"Yes, nice to meet you! And, um, I'm sorry I don't," she said, smiling nervously.
"Ah, I see he didn't tell you. That's alright sweetie, I'm Michael, the eldest of the archangels and protector of humanity. You would be my nice, if my assumptions are correct, right?" he spoke, his voice melodic but with a hint of manipulation that Alastor could immediately recognize.
He wasn't going to let this escalate any further.
Before Charlie could respond, he stepped forward. He was just a little taller than the archangel, so he could still look down at him.
Michael stared and chuckled "And you must be Alastor, The Radio Demon".
In someone else's voice, he would have felt flattered, but coming from this particular archangel he could only feel disgust, too much knowledge for someone who had never even approached a meeting or written a letter.
"Indeed," he replied, holding out his hand, " Pleasure”.
Michael grabbed his hand and pulled him directly into his field of vision, "Pleased to meet my brother's new watchdog," he remarked in a low voice.
And now Alastor wanted to eviscerate him, his shadows looming.
"Michael!"
Raphael yelled and Michael nonchalantly let go of his hand.
‘If anyone was a dog around here, it was him’ Alastor thought pleasantly.
Alastor retreated his shadows as well, but did not move from Charlie's side.
"Well then!” Michael clapped his hands “I seem to have missed the first welcoming committee! But why don't I join –“
"I would like to speak to you, Michael,"
Lucifer's voice suddenly interrupted, and everyone turned to him in surprise, including Michael.
"In private if possible," Lucifer added in a deep voice, his arms crossed and his gaze unaffected.
Alastor tensed, he didn't understand why Lucifer would request a private meeting with Michael, maybe he wanted the archangel to step away from Charlie as much as possible.
"Huh, sure brother, why not?" Michael said, interrupting his thoughts, as he walked over to Lucifer "After you" he said signaling the main building of Heaven.
Lucifer started walking with his brother beside him, both of them strolling away in silence.
Alastor looked down at his shadow and it quickly followed, trying to blend in with Lucifer's.
But as the shadow reached them, something sparked and shot out of Michael's golden halo like an arrow, piercing it and pinning it to the ground, sending a stabbing pain through his chest, but he remained calm.
As Michael turned for a moment over his shoulder and smiled at him.
Some day he would certainly kill him.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
The streets of Heaven resembled Earth, autumn leaves filling the scenery with warm colors, parks, and trees in almost every corner for the children to play in. It was the perfect recreation for the season, the spices and hints of cinnamon made the streets smell of autumn, the various cafeterias, bakeries, and other businesses were bustling with life; families reunited on their front porches, swapping stories and talking about those who still remained down there.
It brought Alastor back to a memory of his life on Earth, when, in between his own sins, he enjoyed the fresh smell of petrichor, the change of seasons, and the warmth of his mother.
He'd forgotten what real life felt like.
And he could be enjoying these simple moments, but all he could think about was Lucifer.
His shadow couldn't follow, and while he knew Lucifer was fierce and could stand up to Michael, he also knew that the Archangel had left a permanent mark on him, betraying him as much as his own father had, the marks on Lucifer's mind still haunting him thousands of years later. And the physical effects of his fall, no matter how powerful he had managed to become, were a daily reminder of their last encounter.
He needed Lucifer to be okay.
"Are you all right, darling? Are you still worried about Lucifer?" his mother suddenly interrupted his train of thought.
After their meeting with Michael, they were escorted to the Winners' District, Charlie and Vaggie going with the other angels to help prepare for the big dinner, while he, Angel Dust and Husker were left to reunite with their families, with an open invitation to their relatives if they wished to join them.
He was grateful to have this moment alone to meet his mother, their reunion more heartbreaking than he had imagined, tears streaming down his face as he saw her waiting on the doorstep, as she did every day he came home from school. They embraced for what seemed an eternity, and he apologized for the pain he knew he had caused her when he departed, for not being the son she had raised.
And with a heart always too big for any realm she set foot on, the first angel he had ever met, she forgave him.
She greeted him with a plate of gumbo, which they both enjoyed in between laughs as they exchanged a few stories, hers all about the district and the neighbors and the children. Alastor, for his part, was honest, leaving out the gory details of course, but quickly proceeded to tell her about Lucifer.
He was frightened at first, as no mother would want her children to get mixed up with the devil, but she just laughed and told him she had to meet Lucifer immediately, which led to the conversation of where and who he was with at that moment. She offered him some chamomile to calm his nerves down, which caused him to become lost in thought, watching the window.
He nodded at his mother's question.
"Darling, don't worry, I don't think he would hurt him, didn't you say so yourself? Heaven has a treaty with Charlie, it would all fall apart if Lucifer got hurt and I doubt the archangel is that foolish to get his way," she said.
"You may be right, but emotionally, that dreadful angel has done enough damage to him," Alastor confessed.
His mother took his hand from across the table and he looked back into the amber eyes he once had.
"I can't promise you that won't happen, my boy, but just be there to support him, as you have over the years," she said with a gentle smile.
Alastor placed his free hand on hers and smiled back.
Suddenly, a loud crack of lightning followed by a bright thunderclap jolted them both out of their seats, Alastor's ears dropping.
"Manman, is it supposed to be storming in Heaven?" Alastor questioned.
"No dear, it shouldn't."
Shit.
Alastor rose from his seat and kissed his mother on the cheek before rushing through the door.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
The victors all around him were seeking shelter and running into the streets in panic, for this was not natural, of course, they had been promised and assured of paradise, no pain, with perfect weather, never too cold, never too hot, a recreation of their mortal life to enjoy for all eternity, where no sickness could harm them.
But a storm was raging, the rain was pouring, and the trees were being shaken with great force.
Something didn't feel right.
Alastor was walking to the main building where he was sure Lucifer and Michael were in when suddenly an angel stopped him in his tracks, descending with haste, his hair was light honey-brown like Raphael's, but it was cut short with a single braid that came down from his left cheek and stopped before reaching his shoulder. His clothes and six wings were of an auburn color, his skin porcelain and his eyes covered with golden bandages.
Alastor stepped back, the presence of the angel overwhelming his senses.
He was most likely facing another one of Lucifer's siblings.
"Where is Michael?" he hissed at the angel.
The angel turned halfway and pointed in the direction of the main building that Alastor was already heading for, so he just continued on.
But the angel stopped him as he crossed his path by grabbing his shoulder with force.
Alastor was about to lash out with all the strength he currently possessed when the angel quickly shook his head in denial, prompting him to turn to face him, now pointing behind him, to his former left.
He looked back at the angel who remained emotionless, he turned and looked where he was aiming, the street above was completely empty, not a house in sight, but as the thunder illuminated the sky again, he could see an iron gate framed by two stone pillar walls on either side.
He turned to face the angel, "Is that where Lucifer is?" he asked him, and the angel nodded in agreement.
Alastor looked back at the place the angel had gestured to and then at the path leading to the main building.
He sighed, "I'll believe you, but I won't be kind to you next time if Lucifer isn't there," he spat, then headed towards the iron gates.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
The storm was intensifying as Alastor approached the gates, branches ripped from trees and leaves scattered with fury, Heaven clearly unaccustomed to such suddenly violent climates.
Alastor reached the ornate iron gate, intricately carved with swirling designs. At first he thought it was merely another park, but before he entered he caught sight of the words 'Cemetery' carved into a plaque on one of the walls.
And it didn't make sense to have such an illogical place in Heaven, Alastor thought of many reasons, but it all became clear as he made his way through, various statues of angels rose above in stone, tombstones with wings carved on the ledgers with other various symbols he couldn't identify, except for one he had seen during the extermination.
This was a graveyard for angels.
Because, of course, as in Hell, once your life was over, there was no going back, both sinners and imps had graveyards dedicated to their loved ones, a reminder rather than a hope that they were in a better place, except for the occasional redemption as they now knew. And angels were pure souls as well, once perished there was no place for them to respawn, as proven with the first man.
Lucifer was a soul like them.
The thought made Alastor stomach take a turn, but he pushed those thoughts away as now he could feel his angel presence, or rather his scent, sweet apples with cinnamon, mixed with the current strong scent of petrichor.
He was here somewhere.
Alastor continued to make his way inside, the thundering too loud as he tried to find Lucifer's voice and breathing; the whistling of the wind muffling any sound, his ears flattened against his skull, defending themselves from the current that stung when it reached them.
But the wind continued picking up the further he went, forcing Alastor to cover his face with both arms, his legs struggling to stay in place, only held steady by the tendrils wrapped around them.
He thought about taking cover under one of the larger trees for a moment, assessing the area around him rather than going in blind, the scent strong but harder to pick up the more he progressed.
And as he briefly lowered his arms to change his course, he spotted him.
Draped over a pedestal, Lucifer lying motionless.
Alastor's breath stopped, his ears up despite the pain, frantically searching for any sound that would indicate Lucifer was alive, fear sinking in that his most recurrent nightmare was coming true.
Had Michael killed him?
Was that always the plan?
After all, Lucifer and Charlie were the only thing stopping Heaven from doing what it wished with Hell, turning the current pit of torture into an even crueler one.
Was it all just a setup?
They were the greater force, even if he would like to deny it.
God created Lucifer and the other angels, here Lucifer could be challenged, no matter how vast his power had become in Hell.
In the blink of an eye, Heaven could change their minds, and this would be the perfect opportunity.
Walls crumbling, family extending false arms of comfort, and with Lucifer's heart always on his sleeve, he easily fell into their web of lies, exposed himself and let his guard down.
All of which led to Michael intercepting and isolating him, only to pierce his sword through his heart and finally lay the rebel to rest.
And he was a fool for not seeing it all, he was supposed to be the one with impenetrable walls, the one to keep an eye out for deceptions like this, to protect his family's tendency to have a bleeding heart for everything.
He was supposed to be the one on high alert.
Alastor pushed forward, trying to shield his ears with his shadows and keep searching for a sound, a sigh, a cry from Lucifer's stiff body, but the wind proved too strong and his powers too weak from the realm he was currently in.
As he approached, leaves began to cling to his suit, the mud making his feet sink, vines trying to trap or trip him, but Alastor persevered, tearing them off in anger as he continued.
And then, at last, Lucifer's body was almost within his reach.
"Lucifer!" he shouted, pushing his static forward, trying to get his voice to reach his angel's ears, but the wind picked it up like a thin veil, drowning out the sound and making his attempts futile.
When he reached the gravestone, Alastor grabbed his staff and planted it on the ground, burying the stick as far as he physically could, his claws clutching the microphone as he tried to stabilize himself in the never-ending rush of wind and rain.
He then looked up again.
And Lucifer remained motionless, his golden hair dirty from rain and leaves, his wings falling to his sides like a bird shot in mid-air, his head buried under one forearm and the other extended downward, his hands limp but holding a blinking object, and as Alastor focused his gaze on it, he quickly recognized what it was.
A halo.
But it was shattered, with cracks around it, pieces crumbling, and holy light flickering as if recently separated from its angel.
Alastor squinted more, then recognized a pattern he'd only seen once before when he'd stumbled upon one of Charlie's old toys, constructed by her father.
Three starts, the middle one larger, the flickering returning their once heavenly power.
Lucifer was holding his former halo.
Alastor then looked at the grave's ledger, his eyes opening wide as he read to who it belonged.
Helel
The Morning ✧ Star
And his stomach turned, because he was more than aware of the many names and titles people had given Lucifer over the years, Helel being one of them: 'The Shining One', 'Daystar', an ode to the planet Venus, which he could only think of as a possible physical replacement for the real Morning Star that now resided in Hell.
Yet he had never expected any of them to be real, because even Lucifer's original story had been twisted into the illusion of a fake war and hatred towards his God.
When all the angel wanted to do was to impart to mankind the joy of knowledge, of the experiences and possibilities of free will.
But the headstone before him was real, and it was revolting, a fabricated monument to someone who was still breathing, whose aspirations were deemed harmful as his soul was forced into a realm of his one mistake. A punishment that compelled Lucifer to conceal his true angelic nature at the back of his mind, hiding behind the many masks with which Heaven had cursed him.
The King of Hell.
The Sin of Pride.
The Father of Lies.
The Devil
However, Lucifer’s mask had always been fragile to him, the cracks of his insecurities as clear as the halo between those frail, cold fingers, and Alastor had once mocked that, but as he began to peel back the layers beneath the self-deprecating jokes, he recognized it as strength, a way to protect his never-ending trauma.
By now he had a better understanding of the angel behind it all. An angel with dreams bigger than himself, an angel who couldn't stop creating, an angel whose eyes lit up like stars when he saw any living creature, no matter how small; an angel who loved Charlie beyond words; an angel who ran into his older brother's arms; an angel who forgave most of his siblings with a million laughs and a warm smile.
An angel who had nothing but immense understanding for his many mistakes and fears.
Helel never died, he was shattered into a million pieces, left for Lucifer to pick and conceal for thousands of years.
Alastor took a hasty step toward Lucifer, almost stumbling, but his shadow pushed him forward with his tendrils and he landed on his knees right in front of the gravestone, Lucifer's wings sheltering him from the strong current.
And then he could finally hear Lucifer's sobs, his breathing rapid and erratic.
Alastor took a deep breath and then lifted himself up on his knees enough to wrap his arms around Lucifer's shoulders and plant soft, tender kisses on his head.
"It's all right mon ange," he said, "It's all right, let it go, I'm here," he repeated, relieved more than anything that Lucifer was breathing.
Because he could handle that, even if he still wanted to grab Michael and see him writhe in pain under his grip, he knew he could support Lucifer and give him everything he needed to get himself better.
He ran his hand through his hair, carefully untangling the leaves and mud, then laid his head on top of it without pressing, and continued to whisper soft, sweet words to his angel.
Everything would be all right.
"Alastor?" Lucifer said suddenly, looking back at him, his eyes filled with silver stardust that trickled from the corners of his eyes. The reaction of his powers and angelic essence manifested the raw emotions of his depression.
Alastor had seen this display a few times before.
He cupped Lucifer's face and wiped a tear from his thumb, "I'm here mon coeur," he said as he planted a kiss right in between his angel's eyes.
And then Lucifer carefully pulled down his sleeve, another sign he knew well, he slowly pressed his forehead against him and smiled softly, the rain still pouring down heavily around them, trees on the verge of being torn from their roots.
Alastor lifted Lucifer's head a little more before their lips finally met.
It was a soft, tender kiss, an acknowledgment of Lucifer’s current tortured state, an acceptance of his mistakes, an understanding of his grief, and a reassurance that all would be fine, that there was a solution to whatever was clouding his angel's mind.
A promise of enduring love and support, even in between the fiercest storms.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
The rain subsided, the lighting and thunder ceased, leaves and branches reassembled in place, the trees around them blooming as if winter had decided to just skip ahead and rest for the year.
Lucifer and Alastor sat under a tree among the remnants of autumn leaves.
"I thought your sister Ariel was the one with the power of nature," Alastor observed.
Lucifer rested his head on his shoulder and fiddled with the broken halo in his hand.
"Well yes, but I was originally created with the purpose of bringing joy, so my initial powers were a mixture of nature and creation, tools to be able to provide that," Lucifer explained, "I worked a lot with her in the beginning, trying to make Earth as happy and bright as we could”
"Well, the results were certainly joyful, let me tell you," Alastor said, looking at the pink flowers above them.
"I'm grateful she kept the colors we created, Jophiel helped too, finding beauty in nature and all."
Alastor chuckled, "You never told me you had sisters, or that many siblings” he retorted.
"Well, I didn't tell you I had another name either," Lucifer scoffed, Alastor looked down at his angel and noticed that the halo was now completely devoid of light, resting in the leaves.
"Did you like your name?" Alastor asked, a bit hesitantly.
Lucifer looked at him, their eyes locked.
Then he sighed, "Isn't it obvious? I chose my current one because someone mistranslated it," he explained, "They both mean basically the same thing, even my last name, in case you hadn't noticed. There is no history of anger or rage here, sorry love."
Lucifer laughed, then took a deep breath, before continuing "I just wanted to forget, to start over, but I didn't want to lose myself in a name that felt too obscure, I never wanted any of this to happen," he put his hand to his forehead and snorted, "I spent so long hiding behind Satan in the beginning, oh hell, I'm the reason they confuse us, aren't I?"
Alastor laughed along, "Well mon coeur, you never were the brightest, let me tell you," he teased, looking at his claws.
Lucifer elbowed him, "You're such an idiot, you know that right?" he pouted.
Alastor grabbed Lucifer's chin with one hand, "But aren't I your favorite?" he teased, shaking his angel's head as he spoke.
Lucifer blushed, but then grinned back at him, "Maybe, but don't get your hopes up," he teased back, sticking out his tongue.
But in this game, Alastor loved to have the last word, so he pressed their lips together, nipping Lucifer's tongue in the process, but his angel just laughed at the sudden action.
Alastor let go of him and planted a kiss on his cheek before leaning his head back against the tree and contemplating a few questions.
"Would you ever want to try using that name again?" he asked.
And then there was silence, the only sound coming from the soft brush of the leaves against the wind, accompanied by Lucifer's heartbeat. He kept his eyes on the trees, letting Lucifer process his answer.
"We can... try," Alastor heard as a hand intertwined with his.
He chuckled and watched as a small pink petal fell from a branch, his eyes following its movements.
"All right, my Helel, we can try," he said.
The hand holding his grip hardened and then he looked back, Lucifer's eyes shimmering, small golden tears forming in the corners of his eyes, a reaction he had never seen before.
He caught one with his finger and quickly brought it to his lips.
"Hey!" Lucifer complained.
The tears tasted of joy.