Chapter Text
Chapter 11
How am I different?
Lucifer had managed to finally convince Michael with much pleading, begging, and even sweet talking to his brother. His brother finally relented and allowed him to propose plans to him before presenting them to the council himself. For weeks, Lucifer had tired himself to craft plan after plan. All of which, Michael quickly pointed out the flaws and the mistakes. Even the grammar.
But that didn’t stop him.
He had also been visiting Adam again after months of absence because of worry of the human’s safety. However, this time, he needed to drill to Adam that what he was doing was wrong.
But his absence had a bigger impact on the man than he had expected.
“You stopped visiting for months!! And you came again because I hurt her? I thought I was your favorite human!”
“You are! I love you dearly, Adam. I’m only saying this for your own good!” Lucifer reasoned. “Demanding total obedience to someone who is supposed to be your equal is not something you can just have! You must earn their respect!”
“And why shouldn’t I have her respect?” Adam scowled. “I’m the man in the relationship! I should be the one on top!”
“There is no top or bottom in a partnership, Adam!”
“Then why are you angels always so high up your noses!”
Lucifer froze. “What?”
Adam scowled. “You angels live so high up and looking down at us! You can’t just boss us around! Not especially a useless doll of an angel like you!”
Lucifer’s face fell. “You heard of that...huh?”
Adam flinched and looked away. “Y-Yeah. Th-They said about not to listen to someone like you.”
Something in him burned and Lucifer couldn’t help but rub his chest. He gave a bitter chuckle. “Funny. They blame me for their failures.”
Adam looked at him, warily. “Luci...”
Lucifer sighed. “I... I just wanted you to be happy, Adam.”
Adam bit his lips and shifted on his feet. He had never seen such a blank and tired look on the energetic angel before. It unnerved him.
Tired of arguing, Lucifer quietly excused himself and left. Leaving Adam a little apprehensive.
Since then, Lucifer buried himself in his work. Occasionally visiting Eden at night to meet with Lilith.
Everything was not going perfectly well as he had hoped.
And he was starting to get frustrated.
“Try to eat some more, sire.” Samael, or Satan, as he now proclaims himself, places a plate of bread on his table. “It will not do you well if you starve.”
Lucifer gave his best friend a tired smile, before he sighed again, taking the bread and breaking it to bite size pieces. “I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I’ve gone through all the process, made sure that everything was within the law and rules of heaven, but they just don’t see what I see.”
Satan growled and looked away, a look of frustration and shame on his face. “I apologize if I am... useless in this perspective, sire. I have no experience or idea in the realm of politics.”
“It’s fine. Having you around and safe is all that I need.” Lucifer shook his head and smiled up at him.
Satan smiled a small blush on his cheek as he looked down on Lucifer as the latter picked up the papers.
For the past few weeks, he had been saving angels that were unjustly punished. He also recruited angels through Satan under his name. Some of which were Baal, Belflagel, and Pluto.
Flumenel was very much happy to be in his custody after Lucifer took him from Ramiel’s hands and joined Satan in changing his name to Leviathan.
Leviathan was quite a good spy, able to see, hear, and know things more than he ever hoped for. And although Lucifer could use his eyes, his brothers would be able to sense his magical signature and he’d rather not have that.
He took a deep breath and sighed. “Father help me, I know my siblings see these things as... evil. But why can’t they see that these defectives are still our people?”
Satan smiled softly at him. “Only you can see that. And... perhaps Lord Raphael.”
Lucifer's ears perked up. “Raphael...” He frowned. He remembered Leviathan’s advice about Raphael. And he had seen, himself, of Raphael mingling with other lower-ranked angels.
B̷u̴t̴ ̵w̸h̴y̵ ̸c̵a̴n̴'̶t̴ ̴h̴e̵ ̵s̴e̷e̴ ̶t̵h̵e̴i̴r̶ ̵s̷u̸f̸f̷e̷r̶i̷n̴g̴s̴?̴
Lucifer bit his lips in deep thought. ‘Perhaps he doesn’t know? I was pretty clueless before as well.’
“Your siblings wanted to have dinner with you .” Satan said as poured Lucifer some tea. “Will you join them tonight?”
Lucifer hummed. The thought of his actual siblings made him a little apprehensive. The more he immersed himself in the political realm of heaven, the more he saw these rules as exaggerated or inhumane. There were so many that it sounded impossible to follow.
He sighed. “Tell them that I’m....busy.” He stood up from his seat, drinking every drop of tea, just as the sun set.
“Will you be going to meet her again?” Satan asked as he watched him go to the window. He shook his head in amusement at Lucifer’s antics of preferring to fly out of the window instead of using a door.
Lucifer blushed and cleared his throat. “W-Well, we did have a promise.”
Satan nodded and hummed. “I have never met her so I can’t judge. But I do hope you are safe, sire.”
Lucifer grinned. “I’ll let you meet her someday. You’ll love her!"
Satan chuckled, eyes softening as he looked at the smaller angel. “I doubt it. I only have eyes for one.”
The former, oblivious, shrugged and grinned. “Suit yourself.” He flew out of the window and waved Satan goodbye before setting off to the place where he met with Lilith.
Lucifer felt that familiar warm feeling again, the eagerness to be next to the woman whose voice captivated him. Whose presence makes him forget all the frustrations of Heaven’s political system.
He landed on the grassy ground, using his senses to feel and see her presence. When he felt it behind him along with the soft rustling footsteps, he turned around and swooped her up in his arms.
“Lily!”
Lilith squealed in shock at the smaller man carrying her bridal style so easily. “Lucifer!” She laughed.
Lucifer placed her down gently and sat on the grass with her. “Tell me about your day, Lily.”
Lilith smiled and recounted all the things she did and discovered.
Lucifer listened attentively. He gave his insight and praised her when needed. He’d brush her hair and listen to her sing. It was a blissful night for him.
Sure, he felt a little guilty since he was doing this behind Adam’s back. But he’d also been telling Lilith about the common likes she and Adam had, so in a way he was trying to be a wingman to his mortal child.
Lucifer was brushing her hair from behind as she hummed her song, a feeling of serenity and peace overcame him during all the chaos that occurred.
That was when he saw more bruises on her back. “Lily, you’re hurt!”
Lilith frowned and shrugged. “Oh, yeah. It’s... It’s nothing.”
“Nothing?!” Lucifer looked at her bewildered. “This isn’t nothing, Lilith!”
She frowned. “Just forget about it.”
“I can’t!”
Lilith groaned. “Why can’t you just stop?! It’s not like you can stop that jerk from hurting me!”
“Jerk?” Lucifer narrowed his eyes. “Do you mean Adam?”
“Yes!” Lilith huffed. “He’s been all this and that. And was always talking about sex.”
Lucifer blushed at the mention of the word and cleared his throat. “Well, it is about time you two spawned an heir.”
Lilith scowled. “I don’t want to have children with that man whose face looks like a horse’s butt!”
Lucifer frowned. “Lilith, you and Adam are the first of your kind. You only have him and he only has you. You two were meant to be.”
She frowned and soon leaned closer so that her lips were a breath away from his. “What about you?”
Lucifer had a golden blush on his face at how close she was. “W-What about me?”
“I’ve got you... don’t I?” She said, in a seductive whisper.
He felt his heart thundering and he was starting to question whether he was sick or not. “I... I, um... W-Well, if you need me, I’ll be there to assist.”
Lilith pouted and sighed before leaning back away. “I see.”
Lucifer took a deep breath and sighed once she was in a more bearable distance. He saw her head down and looking so sullen, it just made him want to wrap her arms around and do whatever it takes to make her smile.
“I’ll... I’ll talk to Adam. Set him straight.” He said mentally scolding himself to not think of anything beyond a friend and guide.
“You’re forcing me?” Lilith looked at him, teary-eyed and angry. “Even if that jerk is the nicest man in Eden, I will never want him!”
Lucifer flinched at her declaration, fear fueling him. “Don’t say that! And...And I’m not forcing you or anything but...”
Aren’t I forcing her?
How different am I from the other angels when I’m forcing her to do the purpose of her own creation?
Lilith scowled and turned away from him. “I thought you’d be different.”
“I...” He sighed. “I wish I could help.”
“I do too.” Lilith whispered as she walked away, disappearing into the dark forest.
Lucifer sighed and decided to fly away. He returned to his room only to be greeted by a room full of angels. Baal, Belflagel, Pluto, Leviathan, Satan, and even Asmodel are there.
Satan was shirtless and sweaty. Lucifer could tell he just got out from exercising to release some energy and came to Lucifer’s room, forgetting to put on his shirt. Again. It happened a few times and Lucifer stopped questioning it long before.
Baal was blushing as she covered her mouth.
Asmodel gave him a milkshake as Lucifer casually sat on his bed with Belflagel sleeping behind him.
“What happened here?” He asked as he proceeded to drink his milkshake
“Oh, Baal just saw Sam—I mean, Satan, shirtless and blurted out how hot he is as she stared at the man’s pecs.” Asmodel smirked. “She’s not wrong though.”
Lucifer shot the cold drink through his nose from shock and groaned.
The others who saw it were quick to his side but seeing the infectious laughter of Lucifer, they couldn’t help but smile and laugh as well. Soon that laughter turned into playful jabs.
“Put on a shirt! Nobody wants to see those!” Pluto, now Mammon, scoffed at Satan.
“Speak for yourself.” Asmodel, or Asmodeus, joining in on the new name thing, purred.
“Hey! I’ve got a great body. Unlike you! You’ve gained more weight since the last I saw ya!”
“Ooh~ I smell a fight coming.” Baal, now Beelzebub, giggled.
“So noisy.” Belflagel, now Belphegor, courtesy of Bee, groaned as she buried herself deeper into Lucifer’s pillow.
“Wait, Levi, is that my old toothbrush?” Lucifer raised a brow.
“It’s for my collection, sire. I have a place filled with your old unused stuff.”
“.... I’m not gonna question that.”
For the first time in a long time, Lucifer didn’t feel alone. Surrounded by the angels he had grown close with as they thanked him for taking them into his custody. For accepting them for who they are and for saving them from the depth of despair given to them by the place that is supposed to be a paradise.
They drank and cheered and laughed all night long.
Lucifer watched as his friends lay asleep all around his room. Belphegor slept on his bed with Beelzebub. Mammon took the sofa chair, curling around the stuffy that Lucifer gave to him. Satan lay on the floor all tuckered out from doing drunken push-ups. Leviathan was in his closet, something about ‘being able to smell his idol's scent the most there’? Lucifer doesn’t want to think about it.
Leaning out to the window, he watched as the day started to shine.
“You’re doing a great job, you know.” Asmodeus joined him by the window. “Many of the angels are cheering for you. You helped them gain friends and family that were unjustly trialed.”
Lucifer took deep breaths and sighed. “I... I don’t think I’m winning though.” He frowned. “Yes, I’m being given these opportunities, but why does it feel... strange.”
Asmodeus raised a brow. “What do you mean?”
Lucifer shook his head. “I’ve... tried convincing Lilith to get along with Adam. She had... She had said that I was forcing her like the other angels. I feel like a hypocrite for trying to enact freedom but forcing Lilith to do her destined path.”
Asmodeus hummed. “I see...”
“I mean, sure I’ve saved what? 10 angels? But I failed thousands!” Lucifer continued, waving his arms exaggeratedly. “And I have yet to change the system of heaven. And I’ve been at it for months! Maybe... Maybe I just... I don’t know. Am I wrong on this one?”
Asmodeus sighed and rubbed his back. “You’re not wrong, Luce. You are trying to do what you think is right and I, for one, see it as right. I mean, this system had been with us for millennia. Created even before the beginning of creation. It’s not going to be easy changing it. And not many angels are privy to change. Many are terrified of it.”
Lucifer sighed. “Will I be able to change anything?”
Asmodeus placed a hand on his shoulder. “You silly angel. You changed heaven more than you know. Look around you, these angels here...They’re here for you . Because you were there to see them in their suffering and help them grow. You... You helped me grow.”
Lucifer smiled. “So, I take it, you’re going to cancel the wedding? And I won’t have you as a brother-in-law?”
Asmodeus snorted. “I mean, I don’t mind free and open love. But he could have asked me about it. I want consent. And we don’t need a marriage for us to be brothers.” His shoulders bumped into him playfully. “You showed us that we are.”
Lucifer chuckled. “Yeah. I... I’m glad that I have you guys. I... I don’t know what I’d do without you all.”
The other hummed. “None of us would be here without you, Luci. To us, you are our everything.” He smiled. “And as for Lilith... perhaps while changing heaven, you can add a little change to earth as well.”
Lucifer smiled. “Yeah... That sounds nice. I might do that.”
He bid Asmodeus goodnight as the other took the longer couch to sleep.
Despite the reassurance he felt, Lucifer still thought something wasn’t right.
Like there was something wrong was about to happen.
His suspicions were confirmed when he heard of Lilith’s departure from Eden the next morning.