Loverboy

Raphael smiled a bit more and got up, wrapping their arm around Gabriel’s and following him. “Drive?” The thought of two archangels moving around the city in wheels was kind of funny but at the same time he understood why it would be both more discreet and easier for them to go around that way.

“I didn’t know you knew how to drive.” Raphael bit their lower lip again, their head tilting a bit to the side to catch Gabriel’s smell. It was so soothing and he looked so good in human clothes it was unfair. There was a tiny voice in the back of the healer’s mind telling him that it was a better idea to stay inside, alone and together. Their mind wandering to dangerous waters so they stopped them before getting any ideas, clearing their throat, skipping a bit to keep the pace with Gabriel.

“Well, I had to learn how to” Gabriel said with a shrug. First to pass as human, then for the fun of it and lastly out of necessity when his wings were taken from him. “I think you’ll like it, it’s less tiring than flying” He smiled, making his way to the elevator, clicking the button that would take them to the garage, standing in front of Raphael after doing so, one of his hands casually resting on his hip, standing close. 

The closeness of Gabriel and the feeling of rough fingers against the smooth skin untouched by any other being was enough to make the healer shiver. They gently bit their lower lip, arms automatically moving to wrap and rest over Gabriel’s shoulders as he let his fingers toy with the short hairs at the back of his neck.

Raphael’s eyes filled with a delicate softness, a pinch of devotion and an ancient love that only each other could understand. “Thank you…I never doubted your sense of fashion.” They teased a little, leaning over to press a teasing kiss on Gabriel’s cheek before pulling away to sit on the bed and put on the jeans and the socks.

“You know what else I’d like to try now that I’m down here?” He spoke, putting on the shoes and getting up again, looking at Gabriel’s eyes. “Hot chocolate. Michael has such a sweet tooth and he’s told me about some sweets but I think the one I’m most curious about is hot chocolate. I think now is the perfect season for it?”

How could someone so holy could be so tempting was beyond Gabriel but he resisted the urge to pull Raphael closer, run his fingers up through his body. Instead he let out a soft sigh at the kiss in his cheek, going back to his closet to change into a nice blue turtleneck and a leather jacket with some dark jeans, putting on a pair of boots before going back to Raphael. 

Gabriel’s chuckle made feel warm inside. The healer looked at the clothes displayed in front of him and then the impressive wardrobe. He loved to dress up, think about his style and finding the perfect combination.

“I think something casual for tonight would be just enough. I’d like to reserve the more fancy dressing for later.” He suggested, walking into the closet and brushing his fingertips over the delicate expensive fabrics in there and then going to the jewlery, one of his most earthly whims.

“These are beautiful Gabriel, where did you get them?” They wondered with a little smile, picking up a pearl necklace and taking it with them to the bed, placing it carefully next to the rest of the outfit Gabriel had picked up for them.

“What about the shoes? I guess it won’t be the best idea to walk around bare feet with the cold, right?” He chuckled, hands going to the top of his robes to start undoing them, letting the celestial fabric slide down their shoulders and arms, easily exposing their upper body. Pristine and perfect, not a mark or a scar, not a single print of imperfection on their pale smooth skin, not a hair out of place.

Raphael used a ribbon of his own clothing to tie up their hair in a high pony tail, taking the sweater and putting it on. Once covered up, the rest of his robes fell to the ground, the sweater covering just a tad bellow their waist.

“Oh, I can’t remember” Gabriel lied, shrugging lightly as he went to get some new clothes for himself, something that would match Raphael’s outfit better. “My collection of things is pretty old” He added. The truth was that the pearl necklace was one of his oldest pieces, he had seen it on the pearls once upon a time, in his first decade or so wandering Earth after his fall. It made him think of Raphael and he had gotten it right then and there, kept it safe through the years, a lot of his things came and went but that necklace remained there, untouched. It made him happy that out of all the things he had, Raphael had picked the one he had picked for him. 

Promises were something Raphael held close to their heart, it made them feel some kind of childish hope that sometimes he wasn’t willing to acknowledge, but only coming from the right person.

The excitement in Gabriel’s voice made them smile, pulling back as well and letting go of his hands. He moved around to take a casual look to their surroundings as he thought about the implications. It didn’t seem like a big deal and far from being wrong so he nodded, turning again to look at Gabriel. “That sounds lovely. It’ll be interesting to walk among humans so upclose again.” There’s was a pinch of nervousness that came with this fact but was clouded by the healer’s own excitement.

The other claming he’d always be free to spend time with Raphael made their cheeks tint a fade shade of pink and look away with a pleased smile. That made them feel important and special. Gabriel was very good at tickling the healer’s pride and that could be a dangerous thing.

“Okay, let’s do it then.” At the end of the phrase Raphael’s voice got a bit higher, like those times they would explore Eden for the first times. “What kind of clothes should I wear?” He headed towards Gabriel’s room, getting a cold shiver down their spine when they passed by Lucifer’s door, ignoring that room like it didn’t exist.

“I don’t think I’ve ever worn other clothes.”

Gabriel smiled, happy to be at such ease with Raphael, glad that despite the time they had spend apart it still felt the same, they were still in tune with one another. So he followed Raphael to his room, biting his lower lip before holding their hand, wanting to remain close, fingers intertwined as he walked, just one step behind them. 

Lucifer grabbed a pillow from the couch and in a swift movement aimed for Gabriel’s head to smack him with it in response at the teasing. The pillow was dropped to the ground as Lucifer groaned and tilted his head back against the couch.

“Ah fuck.” It hurt but nothing too bad yet. He looked at the pills and grabbed them, tossing them in his mouth to swallow as if they were candies.

“It’s a long story.” He finally replied with a sigh, moving to lay down across the couch and kicking off his shoes, one arm covering his eyes. Finally he felt he could relax, the muscles of his shoulders were so tense he felt they would snap at any second.

“I don’t want you to freak out.” He licked his lips, how was he supposed to explain what he was doing? And with what purpose? “I started a new draft somewhere in existence…far away from here. I … wanted to make a new home for us.” That wasn’t exactly Lucifer’s main motives to create a whole new world with living beings in there, but to prove their Father wrong, to stroke his own ego and the fact that that place could serve as a safe place for him and his siblings was a plus.

He tensed his jaw and clenched his fists for a few seconds before letting go. It was frustrating, it was embarrassing and now that he said it out loud it even felt stupid. “Anyway I guess I wasn’t supposed to do that or whatever.”

“Careful” Gabriel said, letting the pillow hit him. “Don’t hurt yourself.” He picked up the pillow, moving to place it under Lucifer’s head, running his fingers through his hair and letting out a sigh, knowing that if Lucifer was asking him not to freak out, the story would take a bad turn. "I won’t freak out.” He assured, moving to sit down with his brother’s feet on his lap.

He listened to the story, staying silent for a moment. Part of him wanted to call Lucifer crazy, wanted to tell him it was a stupid idea, something that he shouldn’t have attempted, that if this was another attempt to piss of their Father, it was going a bit to far and yet....How could he blame him? Wanting to find a place away from His eyes, away from His judgement, away from His authority. It sounded tempting, if offered that chance, Gabriel wasn’t sure he’d turn it away, even when he knew it wouldn’t work out in the long run. 

ruined by loneliness.

you are so lonely. you are miserable in your solitude. you hate that you cannot bring yourself to reach out, to ask for help. you will be forgotten by all who never knew you. your biggest fear is that you will die alone, and you know this fear will be seen to fruition. you refuse to extend yourself beyond the box that others put you in. and it is a box that no one dare come near. you are lonely because you are afraid of yourself.

“Believe me, this wasn’t just because some game.” Lucifer rolled his eyes and started to undo his shirt to take it off, leaving it over the back of one of the chairs. “I got too confident when coming back and wasn’t expecting anyone to show up, it’s not like it’s a place with lots of traffic anyway.” Once undressed from the waist up he went to sit down on the couch, ignoring the pain as he did so because he didn’t want to make a big deal out of this.

“It won’t get infected, I just need a little help for it to close faster.” He put his feet up the coffee table and leaned back, his head resting on the back of the couch as he stared at the ceiling. Would He be watching? Would He be mad that someone hurt him? Or maybe He wasn’t even looking. That last thought made him huff annoyed and look away towards the window.

Abaddon looked for the kit Gabriel was talking about, taking it a bit to find it before coming back with that and a glass with tap water. “Those bastards were lucky that the boss wasn’t interested in fighting too much.” He said as he placed the things on the same table where Lucifer’s feet were and went to sit to the other side of the room as he knew the healing process involved divinity of some kind and he wasn’t in the mood to be burnt by that…maybe later tho.

He went to sit on the floor and crossed his legs, watching Gabriel move around the room. He wondered if he was as great as Lucifer had told him, he looked like any other scrawny Archangel.

“Hmph” was Gabriel’s only response. He felt like adding that his arrogance always got him in trouble but it went without saying. Instead he focused on taking some gauze out of the first aid kid, some cotton as well before placing his hand over the water, taking a deep breath before letting his graze flow into the container, the liquid glowing and the glass shaking for just a moment before Gabriel stopped, hand trembling a little, his fall and the loss of his heart and wings made his connection to his grace wobbly, harder to maintain but he managed, even now that he was rusty. How long had it been since he used his grace for something like this?

“Yeah, yeah....We’ll keep an eye on it.” Gabriel took some cotton and soaked it in the water before he started to clean Lucifer’s wound, hands moving quickly just as he had learned so many years ago. “Your boss is lucky his ass didn’t get handed to him” Gabriel teased, bandaging up the wound, taking some pain killers out of the first aid kit, holding them in his fists to bless them as well before handing them to the other. “Take this, it will make you feel better.” He said, knowing that Lucifer was in more pain that he cared to admit. 

The change of face of Gabriel made them relax again, taking a mental note of his mistake so it wouldn’t happen again. At the idea of being around for the holidays and to attend a ball no less made them feel some kind of childish happiness at the promise of what would be.

Raphael looked at the other through thick lashes when his lips were pressed against his knuckles, the only kind of touch the archangel knew about (the times where he had to spar in their younger years didn’t count because he said so).

He moved closer once more and rested their head on Gabriel’s shoulder, their nose brushing against his neck as their hand extended to interwine their fingers, the slow rocking of their bodies started once again. Their wings flapped once and stretched wide before folding close to their back and disappeared to be hidden within their form. It wasn’t common for the healer to be wingless but for the size of the room sometimes it was more comfortable like this.

Their robes had a window on the back that allowed to see their bare skin where the wings should be, Raphael’s clothes were a strong reminder of where he lived.

“You are promising so many things.” They teased, looking up at him for a moment before lifting their head to face them better. Gabriel was so handsome and beautiful at the same time. The relaxed factions, soft look and little smiles were a precious gift that the healer knew very well were rare. “I will come down for the holidays and we can go…shopping. I’m sure it’s a very exciting experience. Humans seem to love it so I don’t see why would be different for me.” He chuckled, their other hand caressing his shoulder and arm. “Maybe…we could go see some stores right now? Unless you’re busy.”

“Should I stop?” Gabriel asked, a smile forming on his lips as a shiver went down his spine, Raphael’s nose brushing against his neck. “I’m sure you will enjoy the experience.” Gabriel thought about how much Raphael enjoyed being praised for his beauty and how much they liked pretty things so he was certain the other archangel would have a lot of fun getting all dolled up.

“We can go now.” He said, pulling back to look at Raphael, a glint of excitement in his eyes. “I’ll lend you some clothes and then we can go get anything you want!” He took both of Raphael’s hands, gently kissing their knuckles. “We can go anywhere, just you and me.” He smiled, looking at the other, wanting nothing more than to prolongue their time together, for he didn’t know how long it would last or what Raphael would come back to Earth. 

Gabriel didn’t regret his choices, leaving Heaven had been the right call but he still missed his home, he still missed his siblings, missed being surrounded by others like him. Perhaps it was the reason he liked to be around humans and why he took so many to his bed, always searching for that same feeling, fill the silence of being away from the place he had called home. When Raphael was around, that feeling went away, he felt seen, for what he really was, for who he really was. It had been like that even on their best days in Heaven. 

“Right? Another reason to bring him along.” He replied, aware that Gabriel was looking at him and then he felt his arms around him in a way that felt almost childish in the best of ways. The elevator’s doors opened and Lucifer pulled him into the penthouse, the city lights illuminating only part of the living room through the windows.

Lucifer’s arms wrapped around Gabriel as well, tightly. Hugs weren’t rare for Lucifer as he was a very physical being but they way he and Gabriel clung to each other was one of a kind. It was with protectivness of each other, with a need and love that was beyond simply family love. Lucifer held Gabriel so close that if this was anyone else he’d have a broken rib already. His eyes were closed as he focused on Gabriel’s skin, his scent, the movement of his chest as he breathed, the way his arms and hands felt around him. It wasn’t a subject the devil was eager to touch but being away from this universe wasn’t easy, many times he asked himself if it was even worth it to sacrifice this to get away from their Father, sometimes the answer was yes but many others it was a big no.

Gabriel made him feel he could trust someone, he made him feel less alone, stronger as well. “I missed you too.” He finally mumbled and winced, slowly pulling back to press the palm of his hand to his left side. “I’m glad you’re happy to see me because traveling between universes isn’t easy.” He then pulled his shirt up to reveal a nasty wound. The beings in charge of the existence’s order weren’t happy with Lucifer’s choice of creating his own world and much less with him then leaving it to get back home. They were powerful beings almost to their Father’s level or that’s what he thought, one of their weapons pierced his side just before he entered this universe but he wasn’t one to enter limping like some wounded stray dog.

“I think it’s closing on it’s own but I should clean it." 

Abaddon entered through the elevator a moment later and looked around to find the switch and turn on the lights. "I’ll bring water, maybe he can bless it.” He suggested, gesturing to Gabriel before heading towards the rooms to find the bathroom and something to bring the water in. 

Gabriel smiled lightly, only for a moment before a frown appeared in his brow as Lucifer revealed his injury, eyes going wide for a moment as his eyes inspected the wound, it was a nasty affair, surprising that it wasn’t healing on it’s own, worrying as well. Lucifer was strong and even fallen he could heal at a rapid pace. Whoever had done this wasn’t playing around and wasn’t a being to mess with so, of course, Lucifer would. 

“You are an idiot, you know that, right?” Gabriel told him, holding his wrist, his other hand barely brushing over the skin around the wound, trying to asses the damage from the times of the war, from the things he had learned from Raphael. He wasn’t a healer but he was better than most despite it not being his field of study. “This could get infected, Lucifer. Cleaning it is only going to help some, you need a healer.” He turned to look at the demon as he walked inside the room, body tensing as every part of his instinct told him to neutralize him, protect Lucifer at all costs. But he stopped himself, taking in a deep breath, reminding himself that this demon was on their side. 

Gabriel’s reactions were very loud for Raphael’s senses, the concern in his face was clear as he turned to try and find Gabriel’s gaze. They continued the slow dance, their thumb offering a gentle brush against the back of the other’s hand to try and soothe him. Should he apologize? Was his commentary out of place?

Their wings raised only an inch as his emotions changed and now he was the one to step closer once again towards the other. When Gabriel turned towards him he offered a little smile, apologetic one as he wasn’t sure if the subject was to be touched or left alone as it wasn’t properly brought up anyway.

“I adore winter holidays. The lights, the decorated trees…sometimes I wish I could participate more closely.” He confesed, going with the second option to try and deflect the subject to a less sore one as their goal wasn’t to make their brother uncomfortable.

“Would you really take me to one?” Raphael then stopped the swinging of their body to pull back only so they could look down at their robes, wings fluffing a tad with the passing excitement the simple idea of attending of those balls. “I wouldn’t even know what to wear.”

There was a moment of tension, awkwardness settling between them. It wasn’t as if Gabriel was ashamed of what had happened to him, at least he wasn’t ready to admit that it still affected him in some way, but with Raphael those emotions couldn’t be denied. He didn’t like Raphael knowing that he was...Broken. Damaged. So different from who he used to be. Still, he didn’t want this moment to be tainted by those feelings, not after spending so long apart so he did his best to push it all out of hid mind, focus on something else.

Dancing helped, the rhythmic movements, the feeling of Raphael’s hand on his, the warmth of their body, the smell of their hair. And then, their voice, changing the subject to something lighter, easier to digest, reading him like a book and knowing exactly the best way to act. It made Gabriel smile, if only a little, once again feeling at ease in their presence.

He wondered if Gabriel the actual disturbances in the energy of this universe or more like within himself. Lucifer couldn’t help the prideful and egotistical thought that everyone was upset and affected by his absence and didn’t care to stop the delighted grin on his face.

“Don’t worry too early firefly, if anyone comes looking for trouble I’ll give it to them.” He moved to walk towards the elevator, his left arm hooking a finger on Gabriel’s belt loop to gently tug at him for him to follow before letting go and push the button to go to the penthouse. “Abaddon can’t handle a room yet, it will just be turned into a garbage pit and we don’t need that right now. He’ll be fine just anywhere.” He replied to Gabriel as he stepped into the elevator and waited for his brother to join him.

“It’s alright, the whole world is my room anyway.” Abaddon shouted for them to listen to him before pushing himself up and put his phone back in his pocket, rushing towards the elevator doors but it was too late as they closed before he arrived. “Stupid elevator.” He huffed and pushed the button again.

“Of course you will” Gabriel said, he didn’t expect Lucifer to cower or back out from whatever might be thrown his way but he still worried about what might happen, what consequences there would be, good or bad, big or small. It was dreadful to wait for something to happen and yet, Gabriel knew Lucifer was right, that if there would be calm before the storm all they could do was enjoy it before facing whatever came their way. Together again.

“I’d rather see him leave his mess in one spot, not the whole place.” Gabriel said, following after Lucifer, turning to look at the demon, making his way to the elevator chuckling and waving his fingers as the door closed before the demon could get in. “Your pet is...Entertaining.” He said, turning to look at Lucifer. Lucifer, who he hadn’t seen in almost thirty years. A blink of an ye in archangel time and yet, so long for one who roamed the Earth, who saw humans grow, come and go everyday at the pace that was natural to them. A human lifetime that Gabriel had witnessed.

Raphael’s gaze followed the other’s movements as he approached, a being so accustomed to praise and sweet talking that still bit down gently to their lower lip in a reflection of the tingle of delight that they felt at Gabriel’s words. Pride was a sin, Greed was a sin, they repeated on the back of their head as delicate fingers were placed on Gabriel’s extended hand. Their body followed, moving closer to him as a little gasp left their lips when a hand was placed on a very intimate place as was an archangel’s back, a part of their body heavily guarded at all times by their wings. It wasn’t the first time that Gabriel touched them like that but it never failed to make the healer shiver.

Raphael chuckled and closed their eyes, their free arm going to rest around Gabriel’s shoulders. “No I wouldn’t. I don’t seek human companion brother and I haven’t seen a single one of them that compares with the beauty of our own kind.” Their words could been taken as rude but that wasn’t the meaning behind them, as for Raphael that was their truth.

“I also don’t think hearts are to be stolen.” That phrase made the archangel swallow as it had been a while but they knew time passed differently for celestials and it was still notorious the lack of a heartbeat on their brother’s chest. Raphael opened their eyes slowly and looked through the window, hips starting to gently swing at the non-existent tune. “ But I think I’d like to experience the ritual of a ball some time.” Another desire of the healer that was meant to be kept under a lock as they weren’t made for some things.

Gabriel wasn’t surprised by Raphael’s words, in fact he found them amusing, endearing even. Raphael was the one archangel that remained on a pedestal, untouched by the ugliness of life, pristine and divine, unlike any of them who had been tainted. Perhaps it was that untouched beauty that called to Gabriel, a siren song that hypnotized him whenever Raphael was near. Everything else seemed so dull when compared to Raphael, everyone else less interesting. 

“Perhaps you haven’t met the right humans” Gabriel teased, body pressed close to Raphael, taking in a deep breath, the sweetness of his scent making him smile with ease, making him feel lighter and then....The comment of the heart had his non-existent one sinking into the pit of his stomach, the grip on Raphael’s hand tightening, shoulders tensing, only for a moment, less than a second, the blink of an eye. It had been just words but the implication that hearts were not to be stolen and yet Gabriel had gotten his taken made him feel embarrassed, angry, sad. His imperfections there for Raphael to see, to feel. Gabriel cleared his throat, pulled back a little, not wanting his chest to be so close to Raphael any longer. “Of course not, I doubt anyone would ever charm you so.”