As everyone else headed to bed, Lucifer caught Blackwood's arm.
"I'll just take a moment of your time," he said.
"Like heaven you will," Blackwood snarled, pulling his arm away.
Lucifer smirked. "Cheesy," he said. "Actually, that is what I
wanted to talk with you about. You're a High Priest, but of...."
"Not you," said Blackwood stoutly. "You are but an imposter. I
should spit in your eye."
"That's not my kink," Lucifer said dryly. "Though I do like this
display of emotion from you. You usually seem so... buttoned-up."
Blackwood drew himself up to his full height. "I take my position and my
status seriously," he sniffed.
"Yes, I can see that. Your version of me--"
"It's not a 'version of you,' stop saying that--"
"--seems like he lacks my hedonistic charm, if he requires his priests to
be as uptight as, well, my father's priests."
Blackwood glared at him. "We must command the respect of the masses if we
are to command the masses," he said primly. "And you amaze me."
"Why, thank you. I do believe that's the kindest thing--"
"You steal the name of my Dark Lord and prance around here doing this
bit."
For the first time since they'd met, Lucifer looked irritated. "It is not
a bit," he said, "I can assure you. I've no inclination to lie,
least of all to some insane cultist."
A muscle went in Blackwood's jaw as he backhanded Lucifer. "That," he
spat, "is the last time you impugn my sanity."
Lucifer's head shifted, becoming red and raw-looking, as though his skin had
been burnt off in an inferno. His eyes blazed red-orange as he glared at
Blackwood, who immediately sank to his knees.
"How... is this possible?" Blackwood breathed. "The Lucifer
Morningstar I know appears in the form of a large, anthropomorphic goat--"
"I always did hate that rumor," Lucifer said, his voice echoing
eerily, before he shook his head and shifted back to his regular, handsome
human visage. His voice returned to normal as he continued, "Something one
of my siblings started as a joke. No idea why it caught on."
"No, I... I've seen him in that form," Blackwood insisted, though
his conviction wavered. "And as an angel, his wings were shorn, leaving
permanent wounds on his back."
Lucifer cocked his head to one side and furrowed his brow. The gesture reminded
Blackwood unpleasantly of Trent.
"Interesting," Lucifer said. He removed his suit jacket and shirt.
"What are you--?" Blackwood stammered out, but before he could
finish, Lucifer's shoulders twitched and two lovely, voluminous white wings
sprouted from his back.
"You see, I've had my wings shorn off multiple times in rebellion against
my father," the angel explained, "but somehow they just keep coming
back. Then I learned that we angels self-actualize. I have my wings because I
see myself as an angel, and my devil face when I see myself as a punisher. And
then, of course...."
His form shifted before Blackwood's eyes, his entire body becoming that
blistered dark red, and his wings transformed into leathery appendages like
those of a bat. Blackwood's entire body shivered pleasurably as he watched.
"Magnificent," he breathed, gazing open-mouthed. Lucifer reached a
large, clawed hand down and pulled Blackwood up by his ascot, and Blackwood
couldn't help but bring his face very near to Lucifer's. Lucifer gave an odd
sort of half-smile as he resumed his angelic form.
"You ought to change your trousers," he said matter-of-factly,
stepping back from Blackwood. "Though I must say, I've never had quite
that reaction before. Most flee in horror. Some go truly insane."
"If what you say is true and we are indeed from different realities, then
perhaps the way you're rendered... does differ from reality to reality," Blackwood
said, swaying slightly on the spot. "Nevertheless, I feel compelled to
pledge myself to you."
Lucifer shook his head. "I've no need for a priest," he said.
"But if you'd like to come back to Lux with me, perhaps we can have a
nightcap and continue our discussion."
Blackwood blinked. "Lux?" he repeated. It was the Latin word for
'light', but he had no idea what Lucifer was referring to.
"Yes, the nightclub I own in Los Angeles. I can take us there."
Blackwood nodded. "Very well," he said. "Er... Could you perhaps
lend me a change of clothes?"
--
They talked for hours that night, on various subjects, and found that they
actually had quite a lot in common. They played piano and sang together, tried
each other's favorite drinks and declared them to be marvelous, and chatted
about the goings-on in world history.
"You knew Oscar Wilde personally?" Blackwood asked. "When he was
alive?"
Lucifer nodded.
"Brilliant!" said Blackwood. "I know Dorian Gray! He's also a
club owner, in Greendale. My, er, reality, I suppose. It's on the other side of
the country."
"I should like to meet him," Lucifer said.
"Certainly," Blackwood burbled. "We should meet all each other's
friends and associates! It would be quite the experience."
"Hmm...."
"You disagree?" Blackwood read the doubt in Lucifer's handsome face.
"Well, to introduce myself to all of your associates would upset the
balance of your reality. I'm happy enough just knowing you and Freya, and
perhaps meeting your Dorian."
"He hasn't been my Dorian for years, not since-- sorry, do go on."
Lucifer's eyebrows rose. "Well, then," he said, intrigued.
Blackwood's cheeks burned slightly. "You were saying...." he
prompted.
"Hmm? Oh, yes. Well, I'm afraid if you met my associates, they'd laugh you
clean out of the room, er, 'Father Blackwood'."
Blackwood grimaced. "Yes, very well. Point taken," he said. "Out
of curiosity, what do you think of Freya? She's my most promising student, a
witch of great untapped potential." He brought his drink to his lips.
"Yes," said Lucifer, "she does have some uncommon abilities.
Though I imagine it's not just her potential she'd like you to tap."
Blackwood choked on his drink, to Lucifer's great amusement.
"You need to loosen up," Lucifer said, clapping his back. "I'd
suggest you start by loosening her up for a night. What? Is that not what you
want?" He looked Blackwood dead in the eye. "Tell me, Faustus
Blackwood, what do you truly desire?"
Blackwood didn't want to respond, but those hypnotic eyes compelled him.
"Normally I would say I want to obtain greater power. But tonight, I want
you to help loosen me up. Your demon form is the most beautiful thing I've
ever seen, next to Freya herself. If she and I and you were to...." He
trailed off as Lucifer got distracted by something and broke eye contact.
Blackwood blinked, going crimson. "Er, forget I said that."
"Hmm, yes," Lucifer said vaguely, returning his attention to
Blackwood, "you and Freya do seem to have something of destiny about you,
as though you're written in the stars." He gestured to Blackwood's glass.
"Finish your drink," he said. "That'll help you loosen up a
bit."
Blackwood downed the rest of the drink, then grabbed Lucifer's face and kissed
him forcefully. Lucifer kissed him back, surprisingly gentle, yet with an
undercurrent of passion Blackwood felt he should have expected but which still
took him by surprise.
--
The next thing he knew, he was waking up in a strange bed, fully clothed and
alone. He sat up, blinking, and took in his surroundings. Nice space,
sumptuous, and the bed he was in was huge, and directly down the hall was an
elevator. He started to leave the bed and make his way to the elevator, when it
opened and in stepped Lucifer with a tray of food.
"Good morning," he said cheerfully, setting the tray down in
Blackwood's lap. "Sleep well?"
"Er-- yes, I think." Blackwood blinked up at him, confused.
"Yes, well, I thought I'd let you get your rest. You kissed me, then
passed out cold." Lucifer chuckled. "You can stay as long as you
like, but when you're ready to leave, the elevator will take you right down to
the street," he said.
Blackwood nodded slowly. "Thank you," he said, dazed. How could
anyone be so carefree? he wondered. Lucifer didn't seem the slightest bit
awkward about what had happened last night, and had even tucked him in and made
him breakfast. It was oddly... considerate.
Lucifer smiled at him and sat down on the edge of the bed beside him. "We
will be seeing quite a lot of each other, as I've been contracted to act as
bodyguard to those two boys," he said. "I think it's best if we all
try to play nicely, and I also don't think my charges would take too kindly to
me hooking up with someone who tried to kill them. We'll wait until tensions in
the group have dissipated, hmm?"
Blackwood couldn't argue with that. Besides, he should really be seeing to his
own charge, not holed up here in this den of pleasure and opulence....
Next!
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