Reblogging This So Hopefully More People See It. Im Temporarily Unflagged. For Now.

Reblogging this so hopefully more people see it.  I’m temporarily unflagged.  For now.

Whumptober Prompt Four- Human Shield

Hello all.  I’m trying here.  I’m very much trying to reach out to tumblr to stop the algorithm from targeting me but I am making very little success.  But I’m still trying.  Here’s day four- Human Shield.

AO3 link- https://archiveofourown.org/works/20899490

Keep reading

Whumptober Day #1 “Shaky Hands”

Hey guys!!! I’m so excited for this month!  I’m gonna dedicate this one to @the-wandering-whumper because without darling Marie’s encouragement I never would’ve started this blog nor had the courage to do Whumptober.  So thanks hon, I appreciate you lots.  So enjoy some Lucifer and some shaky hands y’all.

Link to ao3 if ya wanna read it there!- https://archiveofourown.org/works/20856719

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Whumptober Prompt #15- Scars

Yo- here’s another ColdFlash.  Author’s notes are getting kinda annoying.  Enjoy

...

The one thing Barry would never have called himself a year ago was lucky.  Losing his mother at such a young age, his father’s wrongful imprisonment right after, child psychologist after child psychologist telling him the yellow lightning was a manifestation of some bullshit or another, always denying the truth that he saw that night, the bullies, the consistent inability to be punctual to anything, the lightning strike, his powers… it was a long list on why Barry considered himself very unlucky.

But tonight?  Tonight, Barry was the luckiest man in the world.

Leonard Snart, Captain Cold himself, was lying asleep beside him, still just as in love with him as Barry was in love with him.  The Legend of Tomorrow had returned to Central City, after the Oculus explosion apparently didn’t kill him but simply sent him through time.  Once he’d regained the ability to travel back to Present Central City, he’d returned to Barry.  Thankfully, Barry hadn’t sold their apartment yet, as everyone else had been trying to convince him to do.  Granted, they thought Len had died so it had made sense but he hadn’t been ready to let go yet.  Barry had come home with groceries and another realtor business card to throw in the trash and Len had simply been waiting at the kitchen table with a cup of hot chocolate, the newspaper, and piping hot dinner.

Barry had dropped the groceries, unable to try and catch them, even with his super speed.  Len had cocked an eyebrow, and simply laughed.  “Didn’t think you’d be so clumsy, Scarlet.”

Hours later, once Len had proved that he was alive, and his Len, after dinner and a dance and a kiss that quickly led them to the bedroom, they laid in bed together but Barry had been unable to sleep.  Len had fallen asleep a little while ago, spent and exhausted.  Barry had been very demanding after losing Len for six months, and now that he had him back, he couldn’t stop staring at his partner.  Len’s face hadn’t changed, the same piercing blue eyes that made Barry’s knees weak, the same jawline now peppered in hickeys, the same mouth that worshiped Barry, infinitely pouring love from those wonderful lips, and yet… Barry couldn’t help but notice small differences.

There was a scar on Len’s right arm, from the Oculus no doubt.  It ran from about half his forearm all the way to his middle knuckle.  It wasn’t straight, like a knife, but almost a lichtenberg figure like the one he got from the lightning strike.  It branched out from the main scar, the littler scars fading easily into the skin.

There was another new one just behind Len’s ear, this one much smaller.  It seemed more like what had once been a small nick, or maybe a blow to the head, and Barry could really only see it because Len wore his hair so short.

Len’s left hand had a new scar as well, but this one obviously different from the others.  Maybe he was crazy, maybe he was reading too much into it, but Barry was ninety percent sure Len had done this one himself.  Len’s hand was unharmed, the same calluses, the same chips in his fingernails, the same scars on his hands from his father, but this one was new.  This one was a small slash across his wrist, right above where handcuffs would fit him.  It looked like a razor had torn up Len’s skin in one short but deep cut.  It looked too small and precise to be anything but razor, and a razor wasn’t a normal method of torture.  So, Len had to have done it himself.  He wasn’t sure why, but that question could wait.  They had all the time in the world now.  Len had promised to stay as long as he could.  Barry knew he would go back to the Legends eventually, Len missed Mick, and the thrill of working through time, but for right now, Len was home.

It was Len’s back though, where Barry noticed the biggest change.  Len was sleeping on his back, so Barry had an open view.  Len’s scars from childhood, the beatings, his father’s belt, those were all intact, but there was one new one.  It wasn’t quite a burn scar, but it was at the same time.  He knew it didn’t come from Mick, Len had a few burn scars from when Mick couldn’t protect Len from himself, and this wasn’t like that.  It was more like a sunburn on a regular scar.  Like light itself burned into Len’s skin.

“Scarlet, you’re supposed to be sleeping.”  Len’s tired voice brought him to reality.  “Not staring at me like a stalker.

Barry blushed.  “I couldn’t help it.”

Len turned over and his sleep-lidded eyes stared up at him curiously.  “And what, pray tell, couldn’t you help?”

“I thought I would never see you again.”  Barry whispered.  “Forgive me for making sure I get a good look this time.”

Len’s eyes softened.

“Besides, you’ve changed.”  Barry leaned over and kissed the new scar on Len’s ear.

“Not that much.”  Len murmured, matching Barry’s soft tone.  “Not really.”

Barry made his way down Len’s spine, kissing the jagged edges of the newest scar.

A small gasp escaped Len’s lips.  Len had told him once that he didn’t like taking off his long-sleeve shirts, even in summer, because of his scars.  Tattoos could work their magic, but Len was proud of his scars.  They showed he survived.  But often he found lovers who were uncomfortable where his obvious childhood scars lay.  But Barry, with plenty of scars of his own, loved each and every scar.  He hated the man who put them there, but he admired how Len lived with them.  On a ship where scars could be healed within moments, where losing a limb was reversible, Len had made sure to keep his scars.  Len never shied away from his past, no matter how much he hated it.  He never ran from his problems like Barry did.

So Barry made sure to show Len just how much he loved Len, every part of him.  He kissed his way down Len’s spine, taking care to watch Len’s reaction. Len’s face held a touch of uncertainty he hadn’t seen since they first started dating, but also a kind of serenity.  Once he finished Len’s spine, he gently grabbed Len’s left arm, bringing himself over Len to try and not pull the hand behind him, pressing his lips against the line of raised skin, harder than before.  Len exhaled sharply, his breath catching at Barry’s touch.

“Your handiwork?”  Barry whispered.

“Long story, but yes.”  Len admitted softly.

Barry kissed it again.  “You wanna tell me?”

“Don’t ruin the moment, Scarlet.”

Barry took that for what it was, a promise to talk later.  So Barry moved to Len’s right side.  He kissed the lichtenberg figure, brushing his lips over each branch.

“Now we match.” Barry smirked, finishing up Len’s hand.

Len cocked an eyebrow, his body relaxed but his mind as sharp as ever.

“My lightning strike.”  Barry said.  “May not have been lightning, but it bears the same scar.”

Len conceded.  “Felt like it.  From what you told me of that night.”

Barry frowned.

“It was like getting hit by one of your punches but all over and you had your lightning going.”  Len explained.  “It was an all-encompassing eternity yet it must’ve only been a few seconds.  But the people who found me, the ones who helped me get back to the Legends, they said I didn’t stop shaking for a week.”

Barry nuzzled Len’s neck.  “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”  Len murmured into Barry’s hair, twisting himself around to wrap around Barry as the big spoon.  “I can see a bright side to it. Brought me back, let me come home to you, helps me understand you.”

Barry couldn’t help the laugh.

“What?!?”

“You, trying to look on the bright side.”  Barry said, still laughing. “And you say you haven’t changed, you big liar.”

Len snickered with him.  “Alright, so I’ve changed a little.”

The laugh went quiet as Len kissed Barry’s hair.

“I don’t care, you know.”  Barry said, stifling a yawn.  “Doesn’t matter how you come back to me.  You can come back with no hands, or in a wheelchair, or, hell, with more scars than Mick.  It doesn’t matter.  Just as long as you come back to me.”

Barry laid his head on the pillow between Len’s shoulder and neck so he missed Len’s grateful smile.

“I promise, Scarlet, I’m always trying to come back to you.”  Len’s arms wrapped around Barry, tight enough to feel comforting not trapped.  “Every time I leave, always remember I’m trying to come back to you.”

Barry hummed contentedly.  “Love you.”

“Love you, too.”  Len whispered.  “My hero.”

...

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/21052184

Whumptober Prompt #12 “Don’t Move”

@winedark-whump and anyone else who wants to know- I give you the death of a Soldier.

Line

“Don’t move.”

Fayelin struggled to consciousness, two words echoing in her mind.  It was a familiar voice but she just couldn’t place it.  She got her lead eyelids to open, and over one eye, she saw red.  That… wasn’t the right color.  The other eye saw a night sky, stars, and two shadowy figures running to her.

“Oh my god, Arrow!”  One high voice.

“Glitter, what do we do?”  One low voice.  “Oh god, there’s so much blood.”

“Don’t move.”

She frowned.  The voice in her head didn’t match the figures, one sparkling in the light, the other more of dull shine.  Neither was the warm, deep voice tinged with fear in her head.

“Okay, we gotta move… him off of her.”  The high voice said, taking charge.  “We gotta see if she’s injured beyond the lacerations on her face.”

Him?  What him were they referring to?  She couldn’t remember knowing any him.

Suddenly a large weight was lifted off her chest.  She could breathe easier.  Memory flowed a little more.

“Don’t move, my love.  It’ll be okay.”

“Oh god!”  The high voice shrieked.  Wait… that was Glitter, wasn’t it?  Glitter and Gold?  What were they doing there?

“Oh god, how did she survive?”  Gold asked.  That was definitely Gold.  She knew Gold’s low timber.

“I think… I think Soldier took most of the blow.”  Glitter said.  “His chest is… I think I’m going to be sick.”

“Be strong, Gold.”  Glitter said, barely holding herself together.  “We’ve seen death before.  We need to focus on Arrow’s injuries.”

Who were they talking about?  What was going on?  All she could hear was a ringing in her ears and their voices, all she could see was the sky and red on her left side.  What was she missing?

“Is she- is she awake?”  Gold asked, their voice choking on some emotion.  “I think her eyes are open.”

“I can’t tell.”  Glitter said solidly.  “We need to focus, sibling.  We have to get Arrow back to Caina, she needs medical assistance.”

“Right.”  Gold said, steeling their voice.  “We need to get her out of the rubble.  Her face and chest were protected, for the most part, so we gotta unbury the rest of them.”

“Right, sibling.”  Glitter said.

She could feel them shifting rubble off of her and whatever was once on her chest.  She gathered her strength.

“Rise up, ting, ting, like glitter and gold.”  She murmured, finally being able to focus her eyes on her friends.

“Yeah, yeah, Arrow, that’s us, Glitter and Gold.”  Glitter managed a shaky smile.  “Your friends.”

“I got fire in m’ soul.”  She replied.

“Fire?”  Gold questioned.  “Are you burned?”

“Sibling, I don’t think she’s coherent.”  Glitter said.  “Isn’t that one of those classical songs Soldier listens to?”

“I think so.”  Gold whispered.  “The one with the fake gifted?”

Glitter nodded.  “Arrow, what hurts?”

“Do you walk in the shadow?”  She answered.

“Walk, walk, you can’t move your legs?”  Glitter surmised.

“In the dark, dark.”  She said.

“Okay, I think that means she doesn’t know.”  Glitter said.  “Okay so we’ve got an uncertain leg injury, and a definite severe head injury.  She’s probably lost a lot of blood too.  Gold, we’ve got to get this rubble off of her completely.  She might bleed out before we get her to Caina otherwise.”

Gold nodded and together, the twins cleared her from her whatever she was trapped under.  They slid their hands under her.

“Don’t move.” 

She finally placed the voice.

“No!”  She shouted, as they started to lift her.

“Arrow?”  Glitter asked, her blonde hair falling into her face.

“He told me not to move.”  She said, knowing they would understand.  “He ordered me not to move.”

Killian threw her down and pinned her to the ground.  Explosions rocketed around her, and she caught a piece of rubble to the face, crying out in pain.

“Hush, Arrow.”  Killian snapped.  “Don’t let them know you’re in pain.”

“Yes, sir.”  She replied, holding back her tears.

Killian’s eyes softened.  “You’ll be okay.  It’s just pain.”

“It’s just pain.”  She repeated.  “Pain is a call.  Do not answer.”

“Good girl.”  Killian smiled.

“Heroes!”  A shout sing-songed from behind them, the explosions still going strong.  “Come out to play.”

“We need back-up.”  Killian hissed in her ear.  “Can you get to your sig?”

She struggled with her quiver, trying to reach her signalling device.

“I can’t reach it.”  She said, trying to control her fear.  The tests she took in Caina were nothing like this.  Her powers were going haywire, unable to focus on anything, and she was sure Killian was having trouble too.  He was usually never so curt with her.

“Try harder!”  Killian shouted, scaring her.  “We need that signal, we walked directly into an ambush.”

“I know!”  She cried, a few tears slipping down her cheek., trying to get a finger around her signal.

“Dammit, Arrow, we need back-up now, I can’t protect us forever.”  Killian shouted.  And she could tell he was scared.

“I’m trying, I’m trying!”  She shouted.

She finally wrapped her hand around her signaling device.  She brought it to Killians lips.

“This is Soldier, we’re pinned down on Fifth Street, we need immediate back-up.”  Killian screamed.  “Repeat, this is Soldier we need back-up!”

A loud rumbling sound shook the ground.

Fayelin meet Killian’s eyes, matching the fear in him.

“Don’t move, my love.  It’ll be okay.”  Killian whispered.  “I’ll protect you.  I’ve always protected you.”

“Soldier.”  Her voice broke.

“Don’t be afraid.”  Killian said, a tired smile on his lips.  “Don’t move.”

A loud boom.

White.

Black.

“I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.”  Fayelin shrieked.  “Don’t move, don’t move, don’t move.”

“Arrow, please, you’re bleeding, you’re hurt!”

“Don’t move, don’t move, don’t move, don’t move, don’t move!”  She screamed, unable to think anything besides her last given order.

“Stop struggling, Arrow!  You’re gonna hurt yourself more!”  Gold shouted.

“Gold, she’s beyond reason.  Her mind is unable to process her surroundings, I’m calling a medical override.  I outrank her now.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Four hands grabbed her and lifted her into the air.

She screamed.

Whumptober Prompt Four- Human Shield

Hello all.  I’m trying here.  I’m very much trying to reach out to tumblr to stop the algorithm from targeting me but I am making very little success.  But I’m still trying.  Here’s day four- Human Shield.

AO3 link- https://archiveofourown.org/works/20899490

Lucifer was laughing at some joke Miss Lopez was telling after a successful case when he first felt it. Even though it had been centuries, he always sensed when his twin landed near him.  It had been one of the benefits of being Heaven’s only twinship.

He turned and saw Michael walking down the stairs into the precinct. It seemed she had learned from her siblings as she wore clothes that fit naturally into the human world, not her normal armor, though she looked more like Maze than he would be dumb enough to tell her.  Her golden hair shining in the sun, her fair skin almost glowing, her lifeless blue eyes narrowed onto him.  Had he not known his twin, he would’ve assumed she was a normal human being in a police precinct.

“Lucifer, you okay?  You went all quiet all of a sudden.”  Miss Lopez touched his arm, causing him to jump.

“Get behind me.”  Lucifer hissed.  “Now.”

“Lucifer, what’s going on?”  Chloe, dear sweet Chloe, asked.

“Get behind me and stay behind me.”  Lucifer repeated.

He put his arms out to shield his humans from his sister’s wrath.

Michael had reached them by that point, letting out a humorless laugh.

“Unlike one of us, I still follow our Father’s laws.”

“What do you want, Michael?”  Lucifer asked.

“Can’t I just visit my twin brother?”  Michael pouted, the false exaggeration convincing his humans.

“Dude, you have a twin?”  Miss Lopez asked, sounding excited.

“Has he not told you about me?”  Michael’s eyes gleamed.  “Brother I’m disappointed.  I’m Michael. Lucifer’s twin.”

Dan went to extend his hand but Lucifer kept him back.

Michael rolled her eyes, the natural look for her when the twins met.

“I told you I wasn’t going to do anything to your pets.”  She sneered, her annoyance at him clear.

“Pets?”  Dan said offended, pulling his hand back.

“Why are you here?”  Lucifer demanded.  “You haven’t visited me ever, why are you here?”

“Father, of course.”  Michael said, as if talking to a five-year-old.  “He wanted to thank you for getting rid of his punishment. On Cain.”

Chloe gasped, and reached for her gun instinctively.

“Come, human, you know that won’t work on our kind.”  Michael condescended.

“It’s all right, Chloe, I’ve got this.”  Lucifer tried to give her a hopeful smile.  If her face was anything to go by, he didn’t manage it.

“I thought you never lied, brother.”  Michael teased.

“I’ve received the message.”  Lucifer said.  “There’s no reason for you to stay.”

“Oh, I can think of a few.”  Michael purred, low in her throat.  He took a step back, instinctively,  his arms trying to protect his humans.  She advanced, like a predator stalking prey.  “Uriel, for one.  Mom.  Cutting off your wings.  Running away from your post.  The Rebellion.”

“Go home, Michael.”  Lucifer tried to portray a confidence he didn’t feel.  “Unless you want to reveal yourself to all of these wonderful people.”

“No, I don’t really want to be seen right now.”  Michael replied.

Lucifer cursed under his breath.  When Michael didn’t want to be seen, she wasn’t.

Michael laughed at him.  “Besides, two have already had the revelation, I’m just surprised the male hasn’t gotten it.  Then again, he doesn’t seem to be the brightest type.  After all, Mom liked him.

“Daniel is a bloody brilliant human.”  Lucifer hissed.  “He may be a douche at times, but he’s a good human at heart.  I won’t hear you insult him.”

He felt Dan’s hand on his shoulder, nearly making him jump out of his skin.  Dan squeezed in a way Lucifer recognized as humans trying to assist.  “Maybe you oughta leave.  Lucifer doesn’t want you here.”

Michael laughed her laugh, high-pitched and just as cruel as he remembered it.

“I don’t take orders from humans.”  Michael said, disgust written clearly on her face.  “Let alone a human like you.”

“Why are you here, Michael?”  Lucifer pressed.  “If He just wanted to give me a message, He would be sent Gabriel.  Why did you come?”

“I volunteered, brother.”  Michael rolled her eyes again.  “Gabriel was busier with… more important matters.”

Realization dawned on Lucifer.  “He didn’t send you.  You came here of your own volition.”

Michael sighed.  “Fine.  You caught me.  He didn’t explicitly tell me yes or no so I decided to interpret our Father’s word in my favor.  Just like the humans do.  Just like you did.”

“Well Father never explicitly said I couldn’t go after the Flaming Sword so I decided to interpret his words in my favor.”

Lucifer had said that to her as they fought over access to the Flaming Sword, during his Rebellion.  That fight, while always very fresh in his mind, seemed so long ago right now.

“Just go home, Michael.”  Lucifer pleaded.  He hated submitting power in their conversation but usually when he submitted, Michael left him alone.  Michael liked to play with her food rather than eat it.

“Mhm, don’t really want to, Luci.”  Michael took another step towards him.  “You see, I don’t mind being on Earth as much as our brothers and sisters do.  There’s a few things I’ve missed about you.”

Like watching a train wreck in slow motion, he couldn’t tear his eyes away, knowing exactly what his sister meant.  She cocked a fist back and swung.

He flinched back, hard.

She had stopped maybe an inch from his face.

“Luci, you’re such a coward.”  Michael scoffed.  “Why don’t you just go running to Mom like you always do?  Maybe I should throw you back in Hell myself, since Ammemadiel won’t do his job anymore.  Send you back to where you belong like I did the first time.”

Michael’s boot making contact with his chest, sending him flying across Heaven, falling, unable to stop himself, his wings limp and useless behind him as he fell down, down, down… 

“Lucifer is where he belongs!”  Miss Lopez shouted, surprising him.  She escaped his hold on his humans and threw herself in front of Lucifer.  Lucifer was too stunned to stop her.  “How dare you come in here and try to hurt him?  He’s your brother, your twin, for Chrissake!”

Michael stared at her, wide-eyed.  No one had ever challenged the Soldier of God in such a way before, let alone a tiny human.

Miss Lopez barely noticed, and continued on.  “You should be ready to throw down for him at any moment!  That’s what family is for!  You protect each other, help each other, love each other!  You don’t strike fear into their hearts!  You don’t make them flinch at your touch!  You support them, love them, make sure they know you’ve always got their back!  And you know what, if you won’t do it, then I guess I’ll have to do it for you!”

Miss Lopez stood, all five foot four of her, in front of Lucifer just as he had done moments ago, arms spread wide to protect him.  Chloe was next, putting herself in front of him, followed quickly by Dan.  Lucifer froze, unable to stop them, unable to force himself to put himself in front of his humans to protect them from his sister.

Michael looked dumbfounded, even unsettled, and Lucifer knew her well enough to see the smallest flash of fear in her eyes.  He knew no one had ever called out Michael like this, she ran the Soldiers of Heaven like her own personal army, and no one dared to go against what she said when she decided to say it.  Michael’s face twitched, as if she was unsure of what emotion she wanted to portray, finally settling on a crude smile.

“It was just a joke.”  Michael murmured, obviously trying to diminish the human’s perception of her power, to Lucifer’s astonishment even taking a couple steps back.  “Luci and I used to joke like this all the time. It’s not a big deal.”

“It is a big deal.”  Dan said.  “You need to leave.”

“I didn’t even touch him.”  Michael pouted, the same face she would always make to their Father when they fought sending a jolt through Lucifer.  “He’s just overreacting.  He always overreacts.”

“It doesn’t matter.”  Chloe said.  “You are not welcome here.  Lucifer does not want you here, and if you stay, I’m going to arrest you for trespassing.”

Michael dropped her victim act.  She looked angry, but he knew she wouldn’t strike at him with his humans in front of him.  “Lucifer, I don’t know how you did it, but somehow you’ve gone from leading an angelic Rebellion to leading humans.  If this is how you want to spend your time, go ahead.  Just make sure to remember who can enter the Silver City when she wants to, and who can’t.”

“Go to Hell, Michael.”  Lucifer snapped.  “Maybe you can rule there for a few hundred years.  See how you like it.”

Michael started to draw her fist back again, aborted her actions when Chloe, Dan and Miss Lopez all stood up straighter to protect him, and then stomped off.  He could feel her wings fly her back to Heaven until she was out of his range.

“Oh my gosh that’s your sister?!?  No wonder you never talk about her, growing up together must’ve been Hell.”

“Man, I had no idea your family was like that, I can’t believe your own sister would hurt you like that.”

“Lucifer, are you okay?  Did she hurt you?  Are all of your other siblings like that?  Oh my gosh, was Amenadiel like that?”

All of his humans were talking at the same time, and he could barely distinguish who was saying which words.

“Ella, Chlo, give him some air.”  Dan said, breaking the cacophony of sounds.  “He looks like he’s about to be sick.”

Miss Lopez backed up immediately, and Chloe helped him into her chair.  His chest felt tight, but he wasn’t sure whether to tell Chloe to leave or beg her to stay.  He wasn’t sure what was going on with him at the moment.

“Lucifer?”  Chloe asked, her beautiful eyes scanning him for any injuries.

“Why?”  He finally found his voice through the lump in his throat.

“Why what, man?”  Dan said, gentler than he’d ever heard Dan before.

“Why would you do that?”  Lucifer looked at them, his fear mixing in with his surprise.  His chest started heaving.  “You don’t know what she could’ve done to you.  My sister is one of the most powerful creatures my Father ever created.  She can do things that my siblings can barely dream of.  And you threw yourselves in front of me.”

Miss Lopez put a hand on his arm.  “Of course we did.  I’ve taken a few beatings for my brothers. That’s what you do for family.”

Miss Lopez’s words, while he knew they came from a place of affection, did nothing to help the pain in his chest.  If anything, they made it worse.  He couldn’t breathe.  He couldn’t think.  Michael was going to come back and hurt them, Michael was going to hurt them, Michael was going to hurt him, Michael, Michael Michael-

“Lucifer, you’re having a panic attack.”  Dr. Linda’s voice came through a phone that had been placed next to his ear, shocking him out of his spiral.  “I want you to listen to me very closely.  Can you hear me?”

“Y-y-y-yes.”  Lucifer gasped out.

“Good, good.”  Dr. Linda said.  “Now, I want you to follow my instructions.”

Lucifer tried to do as she asked, controlling his breathing and rationalizing that his heart wasn’t about to beat out of his chest, until the vice around his chest eased and he was himself again, if a little exhausted.

“What was that?”  Lucifer asked.

“A panic attack.”  Dr. Linda explained gently, using her therapy voice.  “People get them sometimes when they’re under a severe amount of stress, such as interacting with an abusive sibling again.”

“The Devil doesn’t panic, doctor.”  Lucifer recited on instinct.

“Of course not, Lucifer.”  Dr. Linda soothed.  “That’s just what humans named them.”

It was then he realized his humans were still crowding around him, shielding him from onlookers and the outside world.  Each one wore an expression of concern and mild fear.

“You back with us?”  Chloe asked.

“When did I leave?”  Lucifer replied.  “I have not left the precinct since we closed the case.  I would not abandon you to my sister’s wrath.”

That elicited small but strained smiles from his humans.

“Lucifer, I’ve got another patient coming in.”  Dr. Linda said, sounding regretful.  “Will you be alright until your appointment tomorrow?”

“I think so, thank you doctor.”  Lucifer said, hanging up Chloe’s phone and handing it back to her.

A stiff silence hung around them for a moment.

Miss Lopez, as expected, broke it.  “Are you okay?”

“I will be, darling.”  Lucifer said.  “Just need a couple tumblers of whiskey, I think.”

“So that’s Michael.”  Dan said, as if testing the name out.  “That’s Saint Michael.  The archangel.”

“Heaven doesn’t actually really have archangels as you humans have created them.”  Lucifer explained.  “Technically, we have ranks in the Heavenly Host but that didn’t matter like you humans assumed it did.  No, what mattered most was who was our Father’s favorites.  Michael was one of them.  I wasn’t.”

Dan wiped a hand across his face.  “That’s nuts.  Man, I used to pray to Saint Michael when I was younger.”

“I doubt she heard you, if it makes you feel better.”  Lucifer said.  “Sainthood is a human creation.  Especially for my brothers and sisters.  Angels have little cares about what happens on the mortal world.  Unless dear old Dad instructs us to.”

Dan nodded.

“Wait, so you finally understand what I am?”  Lucifer asked.

“Kinda hard to not right now.”  Dan shrugged, looking afraid but he didn’t seem to be coming undone at the seams.  “Your sister walks in here and no one notices.  She dresses like Maze but with less visible knives and no one notices.  She threw a punch at you and no one notices.  She says she doesn’t want to be seen and you freak.  She’s been calling us humans and pets and talks about wings and throwing you in hell, again?  Amenadiel promised me Charlotte was in Heaven, and somehow I believed him.  I finally felt at peace after that shitshow with Marcus.   And you’ve been calling yourself the Devil since day one, saying you don’t lie?  Yeah man, I get it now.”

Lucifer stared at him for a moment.  “How do you feel?”

“Don’t focus on me, you’re the one with the fucked up family.”  Dan said.

“Was-” Chloe’s voice was hesitant, “Were all of your siblings like that?”

“No.”  Lucifer said, and all three of them sagged in relief.  “Michael was the only one who ever got physical.  Michael and I were the only twins in the entire Heavenly Host so we had a different relationship than with any of my other siblings.  A lot of them disagreed with me, or just didn’t like me, but Michael was the only one.  The problem wasn’t my other siblings joining in.  The problem was none of my other siblings, nor my parents, believing me.  Michael was the perfect daughter, the perfect angel, the firstborn of the twins.  I was the one who asked too many questions and didn’t do as he was told.”

“I have never wanted to punch God in the face more than I do right now.”  Miss Lopez said, and made to remove her necklace.

“Please don’t, Miss Lopez.”  Lucifer stood on shaky legs, grabbing her hand.  “My father and I may not have the best relationship, but I do know my sister adores you.  Don’t throw away the whole barrel because you don’t like one apple.”

Miss Lopez stopped, and wrapped her arms around Lucifer.  He patted her back.

“Oh my gosh, you don’t like touch, you probably don’t want to be touched right now, do you?  Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry.”  Miss Lopez pulled herself back, though he could tell all she wanted to do was wrap him up and never let him go.

“Thank you, Miss Lopez.  I appreciate the effort.”  Lucifer made sure to give her the most comforting smile he could manage.  She smiled back so he considered that a win.

“Since the case has been solved, the murderer punished, and warm, fuzzy feelings felt, I think it time I retired to Lux.”  Lucifer said, his skin crawling like he wanted to escape his body and this conversation.  “I thank you all for your bravery, and for your affection.  I… do not know how to properly thank you all for this so this will have to do the moment.”

Miss Lopez gave him a much more fleeting hug, this time followed by Chloe.  Dan stuck out his hand, and Lucifer took it, Dan then clapping him on the back.  Miss Lopez went back to her station, and Chloe joined her.

“Hey, Lucifer?”  Dan asked, just as Lucifer was about to walk away from this conversation and escape to his penthouse.

“Yes, Daniel?”

“Do you really think I’m a bloody brilliant human being?”  Dan asked, his tone taking on their usual banter.

Lucifer huffed out a laugh.  “I never lie, Daniel.”

Dan smiled.

“However,” Lucifer added, “do not take this to mean I will stop stealing your pudding, calling you a douche, or making fun of you every chance I get.”

Dan laughed, a genuine one, one he had scarcely heard since Charlotte’s death.  “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Whumptober Prompt #2 and #6- Explosion and Dragged Away

@winedark-whump you wanted to know who Sam was, and how he died.  Your wish is granted.

A high pitched ringing was going back in forth from one side of his head to the other. He blinked slowly, the darkness mixing in with colors, until he could finally distinguish the sky from the buildings under it. The ringing shifted, assaulting both ears now that he could focus better. He tried to pull himself up, they needed to go… somewhere. He wasn’t sure exactly where but he knew it wasn’t here. Here had fallen debris all around, lots of little fires, tons of smoke, and was that blood? Not a good place to be. He tried to lift himself by his arms but fell to his left side. He looked down and saw dirt. He frowned. Dirt? Shouldn’t there be something there that’s not dirt? His eyes slowly traveled upwards and saw what was left of his left arm. Memory hit him like a freight train.

Ever since Arrow had lost her Hero, she’d become almost as fanatic as the rest of them. Phoenix and Mirror Mirror had just been causing a little mayhem, nothing too big, just a casual museum heist. They’d hoped not to run into any Heroes but together, they were unstoppable so it didn’t really matter. It seemed, however, that someone was dumb enough to try.

“Fucking lousy criminals.” Arrow sneered, Michael catching her first arrow from up in the rafters of the museum. He knew that was merely a warning shot, Arrow always hit her targets. “Always have to ruin everyone else’s day. This artwork is supposed to inspire love for humanity, for life. And taking it just leave those without. How cruel.”

Michael clenched his fist, her arrow exploding in his hand. He sneered right back at her, “Lousy Heroes. Always ruining our day.”

Arrow rolled her eyes and notched another arrow, the tip glinting in the light. Michael snarled, recognizing one of her cracked diamond arrows. Those were a bitch to get out, as if you weren’t careful, the diamond would shatter in you, forcing you to go to a hospital or risk having diamonds enter your bloodstream.

Michael grabbed a button out of his pocket, he always kept spares in case he needed a weapon, or more importantly, if one popped off his corset. He charged up, and threw it upwards. He wasn’t Arrow, with the gift of impossible accuracy, but he was a pretty good shot. She dived as the button exploded, using the rafters as a gymnastics bar, swinging herself down to their level.

He motioned for Sam to take the props and leave the ringers behind, while he charged straight at Arrow. He had to admit, some of the best parts of a classic museum heist is leaving the fake artwork behind so cops have no idea what they’ve stolen.

She jumped back at his straightforward attack, knowing he only needed one slip up to get all five fingers around her. He wouldn’t kill the little shit, but singeing her a little wouldn’t be too bad.

Suddenly, there was a rope around his neck.

“We’re taking this outside so you don’t break shit!” Arrow shouted, throwing him through a window.

His back hit the glass first, and he felt it crack underneath his weight. The shards embedded themselves in his back and legs as the force propelled him through the now shattered window. Somehow, he landed on his right foot before crumpling to the ground. Pain flirted with his body but never truly stayed in one place too long so he knew nothing was broken. Trying to ignore the bruises forming all over him, he pulled himself up, knowing in the back of his head it had been her ability to accurately throw him that had saved him from permanent damage.

A sharp cry brought his attention back to the shattered window. Sam had Arrow pinned to the edge, nearly succeeding in throwing her off. She threw a punch Sam easily deflected, tried to kick Sam’s feet out from under him which he easily blocked, then grabbed an arrow from her quiver and sprayed him with a foamy substance, which caused him to pull back and which sent herself over the edge. She grabbed onto one of the banners advertising the very painting Michael was stealing, flipping and landing without any injury to her perfect high-heels.

“You know, for someone who doesn’t want to break shit, you seemed to have no problem throwing me out a window.” Michael said, grabbing a couple pieces of broken glass around him. He charged them up slowly, knowing glass was a very dangerous weapon for him, as too much power would cause the glass to break and simply latch onto the nearest surface.

“Better to replace a window than mourn a priceless Monet.” Arrow fired back, notching another arrow.

“It’s Mo-ney, you idiot.” Michael jeered as it were a schoolyard tiff. “He was French, the T is silent.”

“Whatever!” She shouted back, clearly embarrassed. She fired her first arrow, easily and quickly notching another, and Michael threw his first piece. They hit each other straight on, resulting in a small explosion. Arrow narrowed her eyes at him, and smirked.

Then Sam hit her from behind with what was left of a nearby lamppost.

Arrow collapsed to the ground, seemingly unconscious. Michael stared.

Sam jogged over to him, and kissed him lightly. “Hey, babe.”

Michael cocked an eyebrow.

“Hmm? Oh that was easy. Once I copied her, I figured out her weakness. Hyperfocus. Don’t know if she’s ADHD but she can’t focus on the two of us at once without putting one of us on the backburner of her mind.”

“You’re the best, babe.” Michael smiled. “How’d I end up with such an amazing partner like you?”

“You’re a thief.” Sam smirked. “You stole my heart.”

“Would you still love me if I never gave it back?” Michael teased, the familiar words rolling off his tongue like raindrops off a leaf.

“I will always love you.” Sam whispered.

Michael gently kissed his fiancé. “I lo-”

Before he could finish, an arrow shaped like a boxing glove hit him in the mouth. A second with a net attached to it hit Sam, slamming him into a nearby wall. Sam’s head lolled haphazardly, blood trickling down a cut on his face.

“Sam!”

A punch to the face sent him reeling. A punch to the stomach caused him to double over. Arrow then brought her clasped fists on Michael’s neck, sending him to the ground with a grunt. A sharp stiletto dug itself into his left wrist, hitting the ligaments in between his hand and arm. Instinctively, he had let go of the piece of glass he was holding but found himself unable to stop the charge, as all five fingers were being forced upon the ground with the toe of her boot.

“You gotta let me up.” Michael gasped through the pain. “I can’t turn my power off.”

“Impossible.” Arrow snapped. “I’ve severed your median nerve and your transverse carpal ligament. There’s no way you can be using your gift. Even you’re human.”

The ground beneath the glass began to shift into a more fuchsia type color.

“Seriously!” Michael implored, panic starting to seep into his voice. “I don’t know how but I can’t turn it off! You gotta let me up!”

Arrow simply notched another arrow, this one tipped with what looked like a stunner.

“Liar.”

“Please!” Michael begged. The concrete beneath him began to crack, fuchsia energy building up underneath the surface.

“No!” Arrow screamed, and for a second, they locked eyes, and all Michael saw was a frightened child behind her mask. “All you criminals do is lie, cheat, and steal to get what you want. You can never trust a criminal. They’re incapable of trying to do anything good! Their hearts are black, their minds are corrupted, and their gifts are evil incarnate! Only those who use their gifts for the betterment of all humanity can truly have a heart!”

Unable to fight the growing power in his palm, Michael forced out a small breath. Small fissures raced down his hand, across his whole arm, bleeding raw energy. Arrow gasped at the sight, and looked at him, fear evident on her face. Helpless against what was about to happen, he simply gathered what was left of his strength. He had to release the energy before it got worse, and threatened Sam. Above all, if he got captured, if he got killed for killing a Hero, it didn’t matter. No matter what, he had to save Sam.

So, he simply… let go.

It seemed his left arm just couldn’t contain the power.

Ears still ringing, fires still burning, smoke still choking the breath out of his lungs, he forced himself to stand. He had to find Sam. They had to get out of there. He didn’t see Arrow but that doesn’t necessarily mean she was dead or gone. Heroes had a nasty habit of appearing out of nowhere when you least expect them. Horrifically off balance without his left arm, he turned to try and get a glimpse of the wall Sam had been thrown into.

He stumbled around for what seemed like an eternity, coughing up who knows what, nearly falling every two steps, until he finally found a collapsed wall with a familiar glove sticking out of it.

“Sam!” Michael shouted, and collapsed near his fiancé. Sam’s eyes were closed, with blood trickling out of his mouth, head leaning to his left side. “Sam, come on, wake up, we gotta get outta here.”

Sam didn’t stir.

You’re gonna make me do it, huh?” Michael gasped, dread settling into his stomach. “Fine but you don’t get to yell at me when we get home.”

Still nothing.

“Black is the color of my true love’s hair,” Michael crooned. He wasn’t the best singer but Sam always loved it. Michael had never done it in public. It was their little secret. “His face so soft and wondrous fair, the purest eyes, and the gentlest hands, I love the ground whereon he stands, I love the ground… C’mon Sam, wake up! Please wake up!”

He shook Sam by the shoulder, and Sam’s head rolled limply to the side.

Michael screamed.

The very same lamppost that he’d used to knock out Arrow was now embedded in his skull. Blood poured from the wound, slowly, as if the motion itself had no life left.

“Sam! Please, no, Sam, please don’t be dead, please, don’t be dead.” Michael screamed. “You can’t leave me here alone. Please, I love you, Sam, I love you! I love you more than life itself! Please. You can’t be gone, you just can’t!”

“Phoenix, c’mon, you gotta get out of here.” A new voice said, tugging on his jacket. This one sounded young, and very, very scared. “You gotta move! They’re going to arrest you!”

He ignored her.

“Please, Phoenix, you’ve got to move! This is my fault, not yours. You can’t stay here!”

He whipped around, his left arm dead weight. There stood Arrow, covered in blood, bruises but with an unblemished face. She looked shell-shocked, as if unable to comprehend the reality of the situation.

“Don’t die with him. Please.”

The “please” shattered what was left of his heart. A scream escaped his lips without conscious thought, a sound he never knew he could make, and he flung the broken-hearted shell of what used to be Michael Winters upon the chest of his dead love.

“No, I’m not letting you take the fall for this. This was my doing, not yours. We’re leaving now!”

With a strength Michael didn’t know was possible, Arrow lifted him under the arms and heaved. Michael, unexpectedly limp in her arms at first, lurched away from Sam.

“No! Don’t take me from him, please, he needs me, no, no!”

“I’m sorry!” Arrow shouted, but continued to haul him away.

Little fuchsia sparks flew past his fingers and out of his stump. “Stop! Let me go! Sam, I won’t leave you! I won’t leave you, Sam, I promise! Let me go!”

He fought against her hold but she had leverage against him so all he could do was skid his feet along the road and try to elbow her as she dragged him away. He got in one good shot to her ribs, eliciting a hard cry. He went to aim for that same spot.

“I’m sorry.” She murmured, then he felt a strong electrostatic charge and finally succumbed back down into the never-ending darkness.