Have a Drink on Me, Brother: Chapter 5

Gabriel's head was pounding. His throat was dry. His eyes flickered open, reluctantly. Through the windows streamed a very annoying ray of sunlight that seemed to burn his eyes.

"Ugh," was all he said.

He got up as he rubbed his eyes, only to realise that his cast was off his arm and that he no longer needed it. He stretched his arm. It was fine.

Suddenly a man dressed in a satin bathrobe appeared out of nowhere with extravagant china cup filled with what he presumed was coffee.

"Morning," he said.

"Mornin'" Mumbled Gabe,"The hell happened?"

"Well!" Exclaimed the Devil happily as he occupied the seat next to him, "It would appear that you are more experienced in the art of partying than I would have thought. Coffee?"

"No…thanks. Why do I feel like as if my head was going to explode?" He asked casually.

"That is because you are having your very first hangover. As well as that my friend, you are a bloody lightweight."

"A what?"

"You heard me."

"Since when?!"

"Well I'm guessing your Holy Alcohol Intolerance is off duty for the time being…" He stopped abruptly, taking notice of the missing cast and his full functioning arm.

"Your arm. It's healed."

"Huh? Oh yeah…D'you know how that happened? Was it you?"

"What? No." He threw his hands up in defence, "Not much of a healer but it is strange…"

"Yeah…" he said as he clenched, then unclenched his fist.

"Anyway. I guess you have stuff to attend to in Dad's little joint."

"Thanks for reminding me, and for the hangover. Why did I even agree to this…"

"I'm the Devil, no mortal soul can resist me."

"Except for a certain blond haired lady…" He teased.

"Yes…you have no idea how frustrating that is." He commented remorsefully.

"Alright, I'm gonna head on. The new minister is supposed to arrive today. I'll have to meet him at – Dammit! It's already 12:30! Dammit! I'm late!"

"Oh dear, hang on I'll uber you a cab…"

"What?"

"You never heard of Uber? Shame on you.."

"No, but why would you take a cab. Why not you know…fly us there."

At that Lucifer let out a bitter laugh.

"That's cos I cut them off, actually my demon did it for me but- now what?"

"You cut you bloody wings off? You absolute idiot! Do you realise how badly-"

"I don't care."

"I can't believe you."

"I don't care!" He repeated, "I don't need anything that once was given to me by father. Or anything that would remind me of the job he assigned me with. When I came to Earth I wanted everything to be left behind. Including my wings."

Gabriel was baffled. Wings didn't just provide a handy form of transport, they were like a sign a massive billboard of their connection to the divine, to their Father. Each one individually crafted by the Creator… To give that up he must've felt an immense hatred towards…

He looked up at Lucifer, he seemed a little uncomfortable while swirling his whiskey in the glass.

"Well, one upside, you get to enjoy a human eye's view of the city while you take your fancy uber cab to places."

"Shut up." He said in a light tone.

"Anyway, on another note," said Gabriel as he put his coat on, "Do you have any ideas on how we are gonna get me home?"

Lucifer swallowed his drink thoughtfully before he answered.

"I don't know. But I know someone who might. I'll let you know if something's up."

"Thank you," said Gabe in a tone that was very uncharacteristic of him, "It's not every day I owe the Devil a favour."

Lucifer thought about it for a moment.

"Well you don't, not this time anyway."

"You're serious?" he said quizzically as his right eyebrow propped up.

Lucifer only inclined his head.

"How come?"

"Let's just say, it's not every day that I have a family member like you drop by."

Gabriel smirked.

"But you better not make a habit of this!"

Gabriel let out a laugh then immediately regretted it as his head began to pound. He rubbed his temples when he said.

"Don't make me laugh, it hurts!"

The setting sun painted the horizon a bloody orange as it disappeared. The black silhouettes of the skyscrapers nearby Lux were dotted with hundreds of illuminated windows. The sounds of traffic and the beeping of horns ascended from the streets up to the balcony but faded when it got to where Lucifer stood, deep in thought.

He wore his usual attire which consisted in a radiant white shirt and a pitch-black vest. The wind rushed past him, ruffling his hair and carrying the smoke of his cigarette with it.

Then all became still; a hush came over the balcony.

"Amenadiel," Greeted Lucifer flamboyantly, turning around to face his brother, wearing his traditional long, grey robe and his celestial silver necklace, a gift from his Father.

He was tall and well built, clearly more used to battle than he. His expression bore that of limited patience and spite. His eyes though, they seemed tired and not just in the physical sense of the word. Lucifer made a mental note of that, but electing to find out what was causing it.

"Have you changed your mind?" He asked.

"You wish, wouldn't you?" He sneered.

"One can have hopes." Replied Amenadiel casually and he crossed his arms.

"I have a question for you."

"A question? For me?" He asked doubtfully.

"Well, as you are aware I don't really have the best connections in Heaven," Amenadiel's eyebrow perked at that, "and I would need to know a few things."

"Really now, like what?"

"Has there been any fallen or stray angels, in hiding and stuff, perhaps?" He asked lightly, slamming his hands in his pockets.

"No, not that I know."

"And what about our brothers, Gabriel for example, is he still up in Heaven?"

"As far as I know he is, we'd know if he wasn't though. When an archangel descends, or falls, it reverberates on a cosmic level," He informed, "As you know." He added quietly.

"Yeah, yeah, so you're certain that Heaven isn't missing an angel?"

"Yes, but why would you care?"

"Let's just say, I promised a friend I'd ask."

"And who would that friend be?"

Lucifer pushed past Amenadiel and made his way towards the bar.

"That – is none of your business, brother; it's confidential. But, here is one more thing. Is there any possible way that Father, may have been tinkering with another…" Lucifer gestured with his hands aimlessly, "Universe while he was neglecting his sons?" He ended on a cynical note.

The older angel scowled as he considered the absurdity of Lucifer's suggestion.

"No, that- he never explicitly said but why does this interest you?" He asked, shaking his head.

"And you wouldn't be able to check up on that would you? For me?" Encouraged Lucifer, completely ignoring his brother's questions.

"Yes, I could but why-."

"Brilliant, so when-"

"Not until you tell me why? What are you planning?"

Lucifer let out a long sigh of annoyance.

"Fine," He began, "Last night a man came to see me about getting in touch with God because they struck some sort of deal and he was wondering if he could amend a few terms." He concluded.

Amenadiel's features contorted again. "This makes no sense. You must have realised by now that Father does not strike deals with humans so openly unless it is of global scale. Take Noah or Moses for that example, who is this man whom you speak of?"

"Well," Lucifer began awkwardly, "An ex…"

"An ex what?"

"An ex servant of Heaven."

"You do realise you aren't making any sense, do you?"

"Oh dammit, brother!" He blurt out, "An ex-angel okay? He was an angel beforehand and now he is human and not because he missed and step on the stairway down from Heaven and slipped. He struck a deal with dad and now it would be nice if he could get in touch, since the rest of you don't respond to anything now days!"

"Wait, an ex-angel? That's not possible, why would an angel desire to be fragile and live among the humans? To reject divinity like that…" He pondered angrily out loud.

"Listen, brother I just simply want you to ask about if you could get in touch with Father, it would be of the highest importance."

"Highest, I doubt that." He retorted sceptically, "So what is his name."

"That's none of your business," He said simply.

"Listen Lucy, if you want me to enquire- "

"I think Father remembers well the sons whom he makes deals with, wouldn't you say?"

Amenadiel sighed in frustration.

"Alright, fine. I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing this because it involves Heaven."

"Of course, Amenadiel, we are only brothers after all. It's not like as if we do favours for each other. Ain't that, right?" Lucifer sneered.

Amenadiel squinted at him and then he vanished with a whoosh. Leaving Lucifer to his thoughts again. His mind wandered to last night again. To Gabriel...

It didn't take very much effort on Lucifer's behalf to get Gabriel intoxicated. Between the shots and insane partying, he was completely gone in the first hour. Like he said before: lightweight.

But, nonetheless, he enjoyed the company of his new Enochian-speaking friend. He found him to be sassy, mischievous and easy-going but deep underneath the surface; the façade which Gabriel involuntarily lifted the next time they spoke in private revealed a much conscience-stricken, tired and lonelier side…

They were on the balcony and Lucifer was in the middle of telling one of his jokes which left them in fits of laughter. Gabriel's speech was barely comprehensible but the enjoyment on his face was evident.

Gabe suddenly slipped and fell on his ass. This resulted from another fit of laughter. He then leaned against the banister the best he could only to tap to the spot next to him twice in a very miss coordinated manner.

"Come si-sit."

"Alright, alright," said the Devil, gingerly taking a glass of scotch from Gabriel's grasp and set it on the parquet.

"You know I may be drunk but, listen, I watched you there and I see what you are like. For real I mean. You act like the prodigal son, but you aren't. You are good. You are hones- no hear me out. I know the whole tiff with Dad probably set you over the edge but I can-an see what you are doing underneath the whole devil façade. You like these creatures. You want to help them. Sincerely help them. Your sense of morality is untainted. It is amazing! No. But no- Listen to me!" He then grabbed Lucifer's suit and looked very seriously into his eyes, "My brothers. They are angels like you and me. And trust me. If only they were as half decent as you are," he lazily gestured around him, "This world. Dad's creation would be a much better place. And Luce! We may be from a different universe-ies but I see you as a brother. And imma glad you are my brother."

He then began laughing hysterically that melted into a whimper. "How sad – sad … has the world become, brother?" He said, Lucifer noted how easily the word came to him, "No offence, no offece but you bro, the fallen son is more honest that the whole bunch put together!

Gabe began crying.

"I failed Father, Luce. I'm a coward. I stinking coward!" He roared above the city. Luckily, inside the music was blaring and the balcony was closed.

"Okay, okay now. Hey, don't go so hard on yourself. We all screw up-"

"No, you don't understand! Father asked us. The day before he left- Senior meeting and shit – and he commanded one thing – its all he ever truly asked: look after them. That's all he said: Look after them, guide them because they are lost and watch over them. And you know what we did? We abandoned them. Used them as puppets to stage the apocalypse. I didn't know it at the time but that's what we were doing. I was on Earth more than I was in Heaven which is why I didn't know but God when I did! I ran away once cos I couldn't take it. I also came back cos Father asked me to tell Mary she be pregs and I thought all be good then what does Mike do? Orders the guys to kill those kids. All those innocent- it was not God's will Luce. The faculties they wiped our brothers and sisters mind Luce. They used them as psycho soldiers thinking they are serving Heaven – and that's why I ditched them all. I killed humans too but they were dicks. And I know that doesn't jus-justify it but I guess I'm no better than the rest of them… we are all murderers … But you Luce you are pure. Bright. And untainted. I wish I were like you. I wish I still knew what I stood for…"

And with that he fell asleep, his head rested on Lucifers shoulder while the dark haired angel stared at him in shock after what he just heard.

"Oh." His eyes darted around them until they rested on the snoring fallen angel's face. "We need to ban you from vod, Gabe." And he took a blanket from a nearby seat and wrapped him up. Gabe shuffled quietly. The Devil regarded the heavens from his penthouse balcony.

'What has the world come to?'

Gabriel never actually realised how noisy a city can be – especially with a hangover. His Uber cab driver took mercy on him and did not talk while Gabriel crossed his arms and curled up on a seat.

He was going to die. This was it. This is how it will end.

"We're here." Called the driver.

"Ugh," grunted Gabe as he got himself upright and reached for the door.

"Thanks buddy, we're all good yeah?" He inquired hopefully.

"Sure thing, Lucifer helped me out with a favour once, it's the least I can do for him."

Gabe nodded in approval.

"Thanks buddy." He said as he exited the cab.

"No problem."

Thump.

Gabe slammed the doors shut and the car rolled away.

St. Morgan's towered above him.

He sneaked a cynical glance at his watch.

13:55

"Nice…" He groaned. He straightened his jacket and ran his finger through his hair in a small effort to look decent. It was not everyday you get a new boss who decides your fate.

He walked into the silent church. The doors complained as always and he was welcomed by a row of lit candles and the smell of incense.

The priest he was supposed to meet was sitting at the very front pew. The exact same place where Father Frank sat the first time they met only a couple of weeks ago. The thought made him sad. He already missed the old bugger.

"Father Jeremiah!" He called, his voice bouncing off the walls, "I am so sorry Father Jeremiah, I got caught up and I didn't realise-"

"It is quite alright." Was his only reply. His voice, deep and formidable, was laced with a hint of understanding.

Gabriel continued advancing towards him gesturing apologetically.

The priest got up and turned. His uniform, black and immaculate, was undeniably similar to Father Frank's. But as Gabriel regarded him, he knew he could never take his place.

The Father was tall, lean and surprisingly young with light brown curly hair and bright green eyes. Upon first glance he looked in his very late twenties.

He gave Gabriel a small understanding smile.

"It is not easy to lose a friend, especially like the kind of Father Frank. From what I hear he was a very good man."

The words didn't come easy for Gabriel.

"Yes, he was." He agreed, "I'm Gabriel, the caretaker." He said as he extended his hand.

The Father took it and placed his left hand on top.

Gabe looked up in confusion.

It was only then that he realised.

"It is nice to meet you, nephew."

And with that the priest's eyes flared white.

Author's note:

THANK YOU FOR FAVOURITING AND REVIEWING IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME YOU ARE TOO NICE!

Please let me know if you spot any mistakes!

Lemme know your thoughts and ideas! I would love to hear them!

[Upload date: 03/04/18]