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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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."