Antidepressant Withdrawal (2)

From the moment he started to pour his grace into the crack, Michael appeared on top, waiting patiently as Lucifer continued with his work. Always present, not moving or doing anything to stop him. Just watching. He had only seen the blurry form of his brother, barely able to sense him but knowing that it was him with the long time they've known each other. He had never forgotten he was there until the hole had become big enough to fit him. It had been difficult to not rush and use all his energy considering how close he was to the freedom he yearned. And how good had been to see it fall apart. He took a second to appreciate his surroundings before he finally turned towards his brother, feeling a longing deep inside of him despite all.

Lucifer's numerous eyes wanted to weep once they landed upon the brilliant form Michael wore. The tiny vessel with soft delicate features that contrasted with Michael's sharp grace, making his brother look marvelous next to the wings that spread high and wide at the sides. Her hair was a brilliant blonde that looked like a halo; her skin shone stunningly from the inside because of Michael's pure grace. Lucifer didn't have the courage to see his own form, afraid of what he would contemplate.

"Why, though? What made you so apprehensive. It had been a long time inside that box, it's obvious you won't look your best," Aaron whispered with heavy eyelids, tiredness weighing his form. But he didn't fell asleep, he continued listening attentively.

Lucifer didn't know how to tell him he had always been a little vain about his form.

Still, he told Aaron how once upon a time he was the most beautiful angel that ever existed, referred to as the noblest of all his brethren, with a grace that shone almost as brightly as God's did. He who had been allowed to sit alongside Him in the earlier days of creation; the days when innocence and beauty were used to describe the powerful flame his wings possessed. However, once he had fallen, his wings started to burn differently too. Not in the usual gold and orange colors that had been more beautiful than the precious gems that formed Gabriel's earthly wings.

Now the touch that once had been warm burned cold; the candid, livid colors that had gained him once the title of the bringer of Dawn was now shades of blue and turquoise that reminded him of the brother that had given him his back. Even if his wings were still bright, there was a clear taint in them caused by his time spent in Hell's Cage that not even the purity of Raphael's wings, that once could heal everything they touched, possessed the power to clean him.

It disgusted him now to watch the contrast between his once-perfect wings deteriorated by millennia with Michael's pure ones.

"What have you decide, brother?" she asked then, her true voice leaking from the human vessel that could barely hold her grace.

Lucifer smiled but didn't speak, not wanting his true voice to be heard by all Hell. He moved closer to Michael, not surprised when she didn't step back, and grabbed one hair from her head, using it to make himself a vessel. He chose to create a male because he wanted to have at least the height to use at his favor. One of the tricks he had seen many demons use before.

"I think I would accept," he spoke slowly, trying to get used to the vocal cords. "But I do not want to owe you anything, Michael."

His brother frowned. "And you would not."

"Oh, but we both know that you could use it against me whenever you want. I will not give you the advantage, Michael." Lucifer smirked when Michael's grace flared up, almost unnoticeable.

"That sounds more like you than me, Lucifer."

"If you want me to accept, then ask for something, Michael."

Michael smiled slightly and chose to think for several seconds before deciding to glance down; Lucifer followed her line of sigh, curious, but found nothing but horror and agony in Hell.

"I want the souls of the ones who do not belong to Hell."

Lucifer blinked in surprise. "Have you forgotten that it was Father the one who decreed who will go down the pit?"

"Of course not. But, wasn't our mission to protect those who cannot protect themselves?"

"And it had worked so well before, right?" Lucifer mocked, remembering all the wars he had seen angels bring down to earth.

"Perhaps Father's departure is meant to teach us something," she said with a pensive tone and Lucifer wanted to leave, not wanting to continue this old, boring charade. "Time has changed; I want to try different things."

"Fine, fine. Do you want those souls? You'll have them. But in my opinion, all belong there." Lucifer looked down, a mischievous smile slowly formed when an idea occurred to him.

"What if we do this then." He hummed. "I will give you the souls after they had spent a certain time in Hell; if the souls are weak and turn into demons quickly, you cannot have them, but if they last, then they are all yours."

Lucifer could felt clearly Aaron's glare when he told him that. He merely smirked, shrugging an arm as he snuggled him closer.

"Michael agreed to return after a few years had passed." Aaron rolled his eyes. "But it was a surprise to see my brother again because we never decided a day to meet."

Aaron's soul glinted adorably, tiny sparks brushed his grace making Lucifer want to press him closer. "But what if a soul that doesn't belong to Hell goes there just by the time Michael asks for them?"

"Well, then they're lucky." Lucifer felt an exasperated puff of breath on his neck when he playfully didn't let Aaron move away. He just huffed and writhed searching for a good spot for him to settle next to Lucifer

"Your suit is uncomfortable," he commented instead of telling him to back off. Lucifer startled Aaron when he waved a hand and copied his clothes. "So I guess that you're going to sleep here then?"

"I don't need to sleep."

The feeling of the tip of Aaron's nose brushing on his chin when he raised his head was pleasing. "That means that you can?"

"Yes, but I won't."

Aaron tried to move his head enough to see him, but he went to his previous position when he realized how close they would be. "Why?"

"Because I don't like to."

"So you're going to be like a creep and stay awake while I sleep?"

"I'm not a creep," Lucifer said stroking Aaron's hair, enjoying how he leaned into his touch. "I'm Hell's ruler."

"Uh-huh. The title kind of loses its charm when one realizes that you love Disney movies."

"Pixar and DreamWorks have lovely animation too. Not to forget how wonderful Studio Ghibli is." Aaron laughed and settled in a more comfortable position, his head on Lucifer's chest.

They stayed awake in silence for several minutes, Lucifer happy to just feel Aaron's soul content and calm beside him, hearing his pulse and respiration slowing as the tiredness of sleep began to grow. But then half an hour had passed, and Lucifer became worried when Aaron didn't fell asleep after

"Aaron?"

He sighed. "Yeah, I know. I'm really tired but I can't sleep."

"Is it because I'm here?" The way Aaron's soul pressed closer was enough answer. "Do you want me to help you sleep then?"

"You already told me a story and It didn't work out, are you going to sing to me now?" He yawned. "Because now I'm ready to accept anything."

"If you want to, I can. Though I think it would be easier if I just did this." He touched the back of his head and Aaron fell asleep instantly. Lucifer chuckled and brushed a kiss on his forehead before closing his eyes with a tiny curl of lips.