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It had been years, decades, or perhaps just a few minutes since they landed here. It was cold dark and empty. Or at least it used to be, now thanks to his brother Michael it was warmer, less empty and though it was still dark at least he wasn't alone.
At least that's what he told himself. He would never dream of saying it to Michael's face. Knowing the kind of battles they could fight with each other in a place where nobody can truly die, at least on the outside. He had been dying inside for milliena now. He had been looking forward to end this.
Many think him prideful, that he is so proud he could never admit even to himself his older brother would win.
Truth is he did know, and he had been ready for death. It was better than a life not worth living.
But yet again here they were, in his cage. The one place in existence he hated more than anything. It was after all made to contain him, and make him suffer.
After crashing in here the second time, he had wanted to go after Sam. For making him end up here, instead of Heaven or the Empty, depending on if he could land a smart strike at his brother.
Instead he had fought with Michael, the older angel looked more muscled in his toned down true form they were currently in. He had a darker blond hair, and a bit tanned skin that looked just right with his hair, and of course his blue eyes, just a shade lighter than his own.
And so they fought, battles raged day and night, only to stop and lick at their wounds before starting again.
By the time the Cage had blood and feathers everywhere, there was a disturbance. Death. He had known the Entity would come here sooner than later for the two humans, but deep down he wished he could take him too, even if it's to the Empty..... especially if it's to the Empty.
Death looked much like he had in the apocalypse-that-wasn't except for the air of nothing around him, as if he could offer nothingness. Which he could.
Before Lucifer could decide wether to try his luck, Death turned to him.
"I know what you are going to ask, and the answer is sadly still no. Your Father would not allow you to pass prematurely to the Empty. For what it's worth I'd take you if I could nephew."
With that and the two humans souls in tow the promidal aspect of the end left.
Lucifer watched with a heavy hearth knowing that Death did not truly hold a grudge against him for what he did to him in the apocalypse. But it was still difficult, to watch him go, give the humans their freedom while he continued to rot.
But at least he wasn't alone, that was the last thought he had before by some miracle(Death's he just knew it, it had the Entity's calmness and hidden sarcasm all over it.) he felt heavy, he couldn't keep open his eyelids, and so he layed down and went to sleep. Curling his damaged wings around himself.
Michael watched as Death came to get the two humans out. He himself did not ask or beg the Entity, as his Father would get him if he wanted to. He didn't, thus he clearly wanted him here.
At first he thought it was to finish what he had started before the humans showed up. Killing that monster that wore his little brother's face. So he fought with him untill they both bled, and both had feathers ripped from their wings(he didn't want to think about the state of the younger angel's wings)
But then Deaths came, and when Lucifer looked like he was about to talk Death said something that chilled Michael to his bones."I know what you are going to ask, and the answer is sadly still no. Your Father would not allow you to pass prematurely to the Empty. For what it's worth I'd take you if I could nephew."
And then Lucifer's broken look that followed. It was so easy to believe he just wanted out to destroy, it was another to know he wanted to kill himself, had wanted him to kill him.
Then as Death left he watched as Lucifer suddenly looked like he was falling asleep standing, and considering angels rarely slept it was not a good sign. Or it was perfect, depending on your perspective.
On one hand, it could be that his brother is so tired mentally that he needs it so badly, on the other one, it could be a last little parting gift from Death.
He had a big brotherly feeling it was both.
As he looked at his brother curled up in his wings, as they formed a cocoon, he couldn't help but want to groom his wings. They looked like he hadn't done that in some time.
So Michael made up his mind and went to the other side of the Cage where his little brother slept.
First he snapped his fingers gently and summoned a textil cleaning rag, one of the used ones, as new ones always irritate the skin, and a bucket of water, which he heates up with a mere thought. He sits down, and brings Lucifer to rest most of his upper body in his lap, so he could begin.
And so he begins to clean all six wings, starting with the outmost pair, which is also the largest.
He gently touches the wet rag to the wings and starts to slowly get them wet. Meanwhile his brother makes no move or sound beyond sighing when the warm water first touches his wings.
In no time both of the uppest pair of wings were wet, and Michael immediately started combing his fingers through the feathers effectively. Straightening the messed up ones, pulling too damaged ones free, that he couldn't groom back to place, and trying to get as much sulfur and hell's ash out of the feathers as possible.
He repeated the same process with his middle pair of wings.
When he got to grooming the last set though Lucifer began to stir. His eyes fluttered open, and he tried to remember where he was, when a wave of relaxation ripped across his wings down to his spine and toward his entire body.
That's when he realized, he was being groomed. But who could it be? No one had to had touched his wings in eons, so who could be doing it now?
Ohhh and suddenly it didn't matter as whomever was doing it was doing it good, he went lax as he melted into the floor. Someone began to massage his oil glands. He wanted to say it was unfair on a whole new level, seeing as despite being fallen he had the most sensitive wings.
He just couldn't do it, he didn't want this feeling of pure bliss to end. And so he almost missed the low deep chuckle above his head.
After a few seconds he registered the sound as Michael's voice, in a bout of panic he didn't know how he managed, but he tried to jerk up, or away, or just roll over so he wouldn't be so vulnerable.
The first attempt was in vain. The second one however was successful, and Lucifer stood up. He looked like he wanted to flee, but wanted answers even more.
"Michael!! What in the name of out Father are you doing?" Asked the Morningstar is the most agitated voice he could manage.
"Easy, your wings are an eyesore, it was painful just looking at it. So I decided since you were not going to take care of yourself then I will." was said in a matter-of-fact calm voice.
Lucifer's mind short-circuited az the older archangel's words. It had been long before the Fall when he had asked Michael to groom his wings, and after what happened he didn't really want to let him near again. What if it was a ploy? A trick to get him to lower his guard? But that was not Michael's stile, he believed in facing his opponents and not fighting dirty to get what he wanted. At least he used to.
"Why?" Was the only question he could form at the moment. Luckily it was the most pressing one as well.
Michael sighed "because I want you to be able to take care of yourself, I don't want you to suffer, and for the longest time I didn't want to kill you either, I still don't, but the fact that you tried to do that to yourself is unthinkable. And I would rather die myself then watch you self-destruct."
Lucifer stared at him, trying to figure him out. Then he winced at the mention of his suicide attempts. No matter what came between them, he knew Michael would always try to get him to stop, even now.
So that leaves what they will do now.
Lucifer briefly grimaces at the outcome this could have, what he knew it likely would have. After all Michael isn't one to mess around and the fact he tried to end his own life could very bite him in the ass. Literally.
But instead Michael just sits down and motions him to come there and finish the rest of the grooming. Now only the most sensitive ones were left.
This was the smallest pair and it was done relatively quickly. It was silent and relaxing, except...
"Really Lucifer when have you cleaned these last? It looks like a disaster."
"I taught you better than that baby brother, you are not a fledgling anymore I shouldn't have to mention this!"
"It's not that bad Mike!"
"Not that bad? Not that bad?!! Are you looking at it Lucifer?!"