"Which one? Is it Michael?" It was usually Michael with him. If he still wanted that grudge match, things were about to become a snooze. Which was a shame, he did like Lucifer and he found him entertaining and fun to be around. He was about the only person in the world that didn't hate his guts so it was nice to be smiled at for a change. Besides, he didn't think Lucifer really wanted as much destruction as he claimed - he was just upset and angry at Him.
"No plan, no desire to end the world and family troubles? Hn. I'm listening." It was more interesting than his usual talking points, at least since he got so bitter and twisted up in his demons.
"No. Raphael. The little one." He indicated Raphael's height - far below any height Raphael had ever stood at - and then he finally sat down next to Gadreel. He sat facing him, one hand on his needlessly broad shoulder. It was a slight shame he couldn't be in his perfect vessel, they might finally be of an even built in that scenario. "Someone gave me a vial of archangel grace while I was stuck in the cage. I know it came from Raphael. So he can't be dead. So someone is extracting grace from him. I need to find him, Gadreel, and I can't trust anyone with this. Not anyone but you."
"Hm." That wasn't surprising. For any other brother, he doubted Lucifer would give it much thought but he always had a soft spot for his Raphael. He always liked that about Lucifer. Hidden deep down, he loved his family, he missed his father and he just wanted freedom from the destiny that was forced on him. It was just years of isolation, bitterness and dark power that had corrupted his friend.
"Any ideas who or where?" Gadreel didn't debate whether or not he'd do it, he'd just do it. Lucifer asked and it was so easy to fall into the 'how high' mindset again.
"Has to be down in Hell. Demonic work, in any case. Someone I created or someone who fell. Can't be anyone else, no demon that was once human could handle archangel grace." Lucifer hadn't gotten especially far in his plan here. It was a convoluted web down in Hell. "The one most likely to have a clue is Aleister. I'm sure you've heard about him."
King of Hell, kind of made him hard to miss. "I've made him my pet for the moment, but he's far from housebroken. I can't trust him."
"The crossroads demon? Yeah, I heard. Vaguely. Demons come looking for me all the time. Angels too." He killed anyone who tried to come for him but he wished he didn't have to. Life would just be so much easier if he didn't have to bother with all of that shit. He looked at Lucifer for a moment, studying him before frowned a little. Huh. "I like your vessel."
Gadreel just casually dropped that in there before looking away and resuming to the matter at hand. "Am I going to hell then?"
"He's hot, isn't he?" Lucifer did have time to flash a smirk and wink. He didn't want Gadreel to think he didn't appreciate the appreciation, after all. "You're too. As ever."
He gave that considerable biceps an affectionate squeeze and then held out a hand to Gadreel. "Yes. Go to hell. With me." Naturally. "I'll introduce you to the erstwhile King of Hell. Feel free to show openly just how loyal you are, by the way. I think knowing that will burn him worse than anything I've done to him so far."
And was he ever petty. "He mocked me in my cage, a lot. He's earned what he's getting."
"I don't play with demons. I kill demons." Gadreel pointed out, he wasn't really like Lucifer in that sense. He didn't mind playing every now and again but he wasn't bloodthirsty. He was just a survivor. He did what he had to do. "I'll come to hell this once, to find your brother, then I'll leave again. No complaints. I just don't want to stay long in that shithole. Never got why you did."
He turned to look at Lucifer and held his hand out to him. As confirmation, as assurance - hell, to just hold his hand. He looked like he needed to actually feel like people were loyal. That someone cared. Oh, morning star.
"We'll beat answers out of the former king, liberate the archangel and see where it goes from there. Deal?"
"Deal." A deal with the devil. Made a lot easier than anyone else might have. Lucifer smiled, despite himself, and his wings carried them both away and into Hell.
They appeared right in the throne room and Lucifer saw no reason to let go of Gadreel's hand. He was aware of the demons backing away fearfully. That was nice, really. Good to know Gadreel still had the it-factor. He gestured to various demons. "That's the one who fetches things for me and that one has a real taste for sadism. Even for a demon."
There, he knew his subjects. Somewhat. That done, he gestured to the one demon kneeling on the ground, holding his tiny brush. "And that little fella is my sweet puppy. Say hello, puppy. Give paw."
Aleister just looked like a deer caught in a headlight and Gadreel had to laugh. "It's a pretty shit dog. You're so bad at training. You always start off with intentions and then get bored and wander off."
He never really finished a project. It was quite funny. Of course, now the 'puppy' was awkwardly looking away to try and avoid getting his ass kicked. Gadreel approached and just kicked him in the face. Once Aleister fell, he pressed his boot into the man's neck so he bowed for Lucifer.
"It gets boring after a while. Easier to just forget to feed a pet." Lucifer shrugged and didn't really bother with looking anything other than intensely pleased with Gadreel's treatment of Aleister.
He walked over to the throne so he could let himself fall into it, getting one leg over the armrest. "Everyone but my puppy and my angel? OUT!"
The demons practically fell over themselves getting to the door and Lucifer waited for them all to be gone before he spoke. "It wasn't that difficult to tempt Eve, honestly. How difficult is it going to be to make the ex-king here be a good little puppy who shares his secrets, Gadreel? What do you think?"
"A guy like this? Not hard." He moved his foot off Aleister's neck and stood back, waiting for Aleister to look up. When he didn't, he kicked him in the ribs. "Hey, up. Get up and look at your master."
Aleister scrambled up, his ribs aching as he looked up at Lucifer. Oh good, the new king of hell got his boyfriend involved. Wasn't that just the look he needed.
"You're going to answer everything your master asks, aren't you? Or are you a bad puppy?"
"No, I will answer." Aleister found it a very easy question to answer.
"So a good puppy. Say it."
Aleister cringed into himself, his displeasure obvious. "I'm a good... puppy."
"See, that's the problem. I'm always torn. I love that thing he does with his face because it reminds me of how much he hates this. It's funny, right? But also, it's not exactly a sign of obedience. Your body language is all off, puppy." Lucifer sighed, deciding that he could deal with this slowly. Bit by bit. If nothing else, Gadreel's presence alone, in combination with everything else, had caused a tremble in Aleister. He loved seeing that.
"What do you know about grace? Do you know why any demon would want to get their hand on angelic grace?"
Aleister had no idea what he was after but he didn't want to get kicked in the chest again so he caught his breathe and wisely answered to the best of his knowledge. "To track an angel?" That was all he had ever seen grace really be used for. And that was when Sam and Castiel were using it to look for some angel or something. "Why?"
Gadreel cleared his throat. Aleister paused. He had fucked up somewhere. Where? His mind raced before he realised. Ah. "Master."
"He's got a bit of a Napoleon complex so this is really messing with him. He's told me while I was in the cage that some are born to rule. Evidently he missed the note all over my general existence." Lucifer shrugged, enjoying the ease of getting his respect now that he didn't have to deal out all the punishment personally. He really did slack with those things, just bored him after a while.
But Aleister had no clue. Good to know. "Next question. Have you ever noticed that any demon got more powerful than they ought to be?"
"What do you mean?" Aleister frowned, trying to wrap his head around the question but suddenly, Lucifer's giant fucking boyfriend was looming over him and he swiftly curled into himself, bracing for a hit.
"What do you think he means?"
"I-I don't know! What sort of power? In strength? Management? Power is a broad thing!" He got more powerful all the time but mostly in management, not really in strength or power.
"Do you need a reminder of what power feels like? Because I remember a tiny puppy whimpering and begging me not to do it again the last time I let you feel even a smidge of the power I could wield." Lucifer rolled his eyes, annoyed by the idiocy. Of course. Figured that someone like Aleister would have a different perspective on this. "I mean the kind of power that has you trembling before me, you pathetic mutt. Proper power."
He rolled his eyes and looked at Gadreel. "Feel free to give him a taste of yours if he still needs a demo."
Gadreel kicked Aleister again, knocking him over so he was rolling onto his back. Once he was prone, he placed his foot on Aleister's chest, applying light pressure. "Give us a name. Used to be weak, not he's strong. Likely angel stock, not one of your sinful humans. Think fast because I'm going to apply more pressure until I smash through your chest and into your organs."
And he did, slowly increasing pressure until Aleister could barely breathe, eyes wide with alarm, slapping at the leg on his chest as he wheezed out something. Aleister released the pressure. "What?"
"Lazar?" Lucifer said the name as if he had barely ever remembered it until this moment, sounding confused more than anything. He focused on what did spring to mind, shaking his head. "Oh, Gadreel, my sweet, pure love. That's a nasty creation, I'll admit. You're not going to like him."
Poor Raphael. Lucifer tapped his foot and gestured. "Let the puppy up. He's done well. Come here, puppy." He tapped his foot again. "You've been good, maybe you deserve a treat."
"You and your rancid demons. What is wrong with you?"
Gadreel moved his foot off of Aleister and the other rolled over, coughing hard as blood splattered onto the floor. Great, he'd have to fucking clean that too. Aleister looked up at Lucifer and his body ached so much, he didn't really fancy moving. Then again, he didn't fancy getting stomped on again.
He knew he had to just get through this so he crawled his way to Lucifer, honestly glad to be closer to someone who was a bit more pro-demon than this asshole. He looked at Lucifer, curious and obviously afraid. This could only go badly. "What treat, master?"
"Look, it's part of the creative process. You kind of put your feelings into it. Some days I just wasn't feeling so hot. Ergo, nasty demons. The old man was the same way. How do you think mosquitoes happened?" It was just so like Gadreel, disapproving of his creations and yet he'd likely just love the Tenaz brothers.
Whatever. As long as he adored him. He looked at Aleister and moved his foot right in front of him. "You get to kiss my boot. Say thank you."
Yep, it was about as bad as expected. Well, he'd already licked the floor, how could it get any worse? He leaned forward, licked along the boot and then pulled back, his face scrunched up. It tasted like dirt. He just had to survive this, that was all. What did it matter what he did, as long as he could live through it. This was still better than hellfire. "Thank you." Gadreel cleared his throat. "Master."
"Touching. Good dog." Gadreel sighed and then looked at Lucifer. "We have to find Lazar then. Any ideas?"
"Lie down," Lucifer instructed, leaning forward to pet Aleister's surprisingly soft hair. He was gaining some new-found appreciation for the demon now that he had him completely under his thumb. Really opened him up to showing some hidden charms. Most people looked better grovelling, he supposed.
"I could simply summon him before my throne. He's one of mine, he'd come. But he'd have to be an idiot to not clear his house first." No chance of finding Raphael that way. "I suppose sending someone after him undercover might be less conspicuous. I want no further damage to what matters to me."
"Undercover seems like your best bet. Know any loyal demons or do you think he'd fancy working with a fallen angel?" Gadreel asked as he watched Aleister lie down - well, he more flopped down than lay down. He must have been exhausted, he looked like shit. Gadreel looked around the place ideal, dismay on his face as he took it in.
He hoped the archangel hadn't been trapped anywhere like this. That was a mind breaker. This place was a nightmare. "What's the plan, boss?"
"Best discussed away from my puppy's ever curious ears." Lucifer got up off his throne, heading toward the doors and expecting Gadreel to follow him. It didn't occur to him that he ever wouldn't. "I'll send the other demons back in, puppy, you won't be lonely."
He wouldn't have time alone to do anything Lucifer didn't want him to. "Now come along, Gadreel. I'll give you the grand tour. Show you what's left of the cage they had me rot in."
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"No plan, no desire to end the world and family troubles? Hn. I'm listening." It was more interesting than his usual talking points, at least since he got so bitter and twisted up in his demons.
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"Any ideas who or where?" Gadreel didn't debate whether or not he'd do it, he'd just do it. Lucifer asked and it was so easy to fall into the 'how high' mindset again.
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King of Hell, kind of made him hard to miss. "I've made him my pet for the moment, but he's far from housebroken. I can't trust him."
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Gadreel just casually dropped that in there before looking away and resuming to the matter at hand. "Am I going to hell then?"
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He gave that considerable biceps an affectionate squeeze and then held out a hand to Gadreel. "Yes. Go to hell. With me." Naturally. "I'll introduce you to the erstwhile King of Hell. Feel free to show openly just how loyal you are, by the way. I think knowing that will burn him worse than anything I've done to him so far."
And was he ever petty. "He mocked me in my cage, a lot. He's earned what he's getting."
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He turned to look at Lucifer and held his hand out to him. As confirmation, as assurance - hell, to just hold his hand. He looked like he needed to actually feel like people were loyal. That someone cared. Oh, morning star.
"We'll beat answers out of the former king, liberate the archangel and see where it goes from there. Deal?"
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They appeared right in the throne room and Lucifer saw no reason to let go of Gadreel's hand. He was aware of the demons backing away fearfully. That was nice, really. Good to know Gadreel still had the it-factor. He gestured to various demons. "That's the one who fetches things for me and that one has a real taste for sadism. Even for a demon."
There, he knew his subjects. Somewhat. That done, he gestured to the one demon kneeling on the ground, holding his tiny brush. "And that little fella is my sweet puppy. Say hello, puppy. Give paw."
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He never really finished a project. It was quite funny. Of course, now the 'puppy' was awkwardly looking away to try and avoid getting his ass kicked. Gadreel approached and just kicked him in the face. Once Aleister fell, he pressed his boot into the man's neck so he bowed for Lucifer.
"That's how you greet your master."
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He walked over to the throne so he could let himself fall into it, getting one leg over the armrest. "Everyone but my puppy and my angel? OUT!"
The demons practically fell over themselves getting to the door and Lucifer waited for them all to be gone before he spoke. "It wasn't that difficult to tempt Eve, honestly. How difficult is it going to be to make the ex-king here be a good little puppy who shares his secrets, Gadreel? What do you think?"
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Aleister scrambled up, his ribs aching as he looked up at Lucifer. Oh good, the new king of hell got his boyfriend involved. Wasn't that just the look he needed.
"You're going to answer everything your master asks, aren't you? Or are you a bad puppy?"
"No, I will answer." Aleister found it a very easy question to answer.
"So a good puppy. Say it."
Aleister cringed into himself, his displeasure obvious. "I'm a good... puppy."
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"What do you know about grace? Do you know why any demon would want to get their hand on angelic grace?"
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Gadreel cleared his throat. Aleister paused. He had fucked up somewhere. Where? His mind raced before he realised. Ah. "Master."
"He hates calling you that, huh?"
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But Aleister had no clue. Good to know. "Next question. Have you ever noticed that any demon got more powerful than they ought to be?"
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"What do you think he means?"
"I-I don't know! What sort of power? In strength? Management? Power is a broad thing!" He got more powerful all the time but mostly in management, not really in strength or power.
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He rolled his eyes and looked at Gadreel. "Feel free to give him a taste of yours if he still needs a demo."
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Gadreel kicked Aleister again, knocking him over so he was rolling onto his back. Once he was prone, he placed his foot on Aleister's chest, applying light pressure. "Give us a name. Used to be weak, not he's strong. Likely angel stock, not one of your sinful humans. Think fast because I'm going to apply more pressure until I smash through your chest and into your organs."
And he did, slowly increasing pressure until Aleister could barely breathe, eyes wide with alarm, slapping at the leg on his chest as he wheezed out something. Aleister released the pressure. "What?"
"Lazar!"
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Poor Raphael. Lucifer tapped his foot and gestured. "Let the puppy up. He's done well. Come here, puppy." He tapped his foot again. "You've been good, maybe you deserve a treat."
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Gadreel moved his foot off of Aleister and the other rolled over, coughing hard as blood splattered onto the floor. Great, he'd have to fucking clean that too. Aleister looked up at Lucifer and his body ached so much, he didn't really fancy moving. Then again, he didn't fancy getting stomped on again.
He knew he had to just get through this so he crawled his way to Lucifer, honestly glad to be closer to someone who was a bit more pro-demon than this asshole. He looked at Lucifer, curious and obviously afraid. This could only go badly. "What treat, master?"
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Whatever. As long as he adored him. He looked at Aleister and moved his foot right in front of him. "You get to kiss my boot. Say thank you."
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"Touching. Good dog." Gadreel sighed and then looked at Lucifer. "We have to find Lazar then. Any ideas?"
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"I could simply summon him before my throne. He's one of mine, he'd come. But he'd have to be an idiot to not clear his house first." No chance of finding Raphael that way. "I suppose sending someone after him undercover might be less conspicuous. I want no further damage to what matters to me."
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He hoped the archangel hadn't been trapped anywhere like this. That was a mind breaker. This place was a nightmare. "What's the plan, boss?"
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He wouldn't have time alone to do anything Lucifer didn't want him to. "Now come along, Gadreel. I'll give you the grand tour. Show you what's left of the cage they had me rot in."