Chapter Text
Gran shifts his legs, trying to get comfortable. They have been waiting for nearly ten minutes and his right leg has fallen asleep.
“Shhh!” Djeeta hisses. “He has super hearing, he might notice us!”
Gran rolls his eyes. “He’s not even here yet,” he whispers back. However, he doesn’t move again, despite the painful pins and needles shooting through his leg. This closet is not nearly spacious enough for both him and Djeeta. Oh, the things he will do for the sake of pride. However, no physical pain will stop him from winning this prank war for him and Djeeta’s team.
Suddenly, voices sound from down the hall. Djeeta shoots him a look that says Don’t fuck this up, and he sticks his tongue out at her. Nevertheless, he holds still, his hand gripping the slice of cheese tightly. Across from him, Djeeta also holds a similar flat slice of cheese. The ultimate prank: slapping unsuspecting crew members in the face with pieces of cheese.
The voices get closer. They are right outside the door.
It seems like they are going to be killing two birds with one stone, or more specifically, cheese-slapping two archangels in one go.
The door opens and their next victims enter.
“Come on in, we shouldn’t be disturbed in here,” Sandalphon says.
Gran has to suppress the urge to snicker at that. Oh, if only you knew what was in store.
The sounds of two pairs of boots entering and a door clicking shut behind them carries over from beyond the closet door.
“Ah, I apologize for the condition of my quarters. The Captains say I still have much to learn about interior decorating,” are Sandalphon’s next words.
Across from him, Djeeta nods emphatically, and Gran finds himself agreeing with her. Even after three years together, Sandalphon’s room is still quite sparse. Aside from some journals and a sad vase of wilting flowers, there usually was not much in terms of personal items inside. Especially since his clothes and armor were apparently crafted from magic or something, he doesn’t even have those filling up the empty space.
“There’s nothing to apologize for,” Lucifer replies. “My current room is no better. Perhaps we can learn about skydweller customs of decoration together.”
Gran has to suppress a laugh. He hasn’t known Lucifer all that long, but that was such a Lucifer thing to say. Always clueless about the skydwellers, but eager to learn even the most mundane of things. He hopes that Lucifer’s presence will be able to help finally draw Sandalphon all the way out of his shell.
“Of course! I’d like that a lot! I shall traverse this obstacle by your side!” Sandalphon gasps. Gran can imagine the determined posture he strikes, back straight and fists clenched by his sides. It’s easy to forget because of how human he seems most of the time, but he is also a bumbling primal who struggles to understand and properly react to anything skydweller-related. Gran supposes he and Djeeta can look forward to helping some clueless angels learn how to decorate in the near future. That is, if they forgive them for what they are about to do.
Gran meets Djeeta’s eyes across the dim closet. Any moment now, the perfect opportunity will arrive to leap out of the closet and prank some of the ship’s oldest and most powerful crew members.
Three...
“Anyhow, if you’re still up for it, shall we get on with what we really came here for?” Sandalphon’s voice sounds strange. Does he usually pitch his voice that low and throatily at the ends of his sentences?
Two…
“Of course.” the bed creaks with the sounds of two bodies settling upon it. Wait, wasn’t Sandalphon’s bed only sized for one person?
One…
There is a rustling sound and the fluttering of large wings, before a soft half-sigh half-moan carries out across the air.
“Oh Sandalphon, that feels… wonderful,” comes Lucifer’s languid sigh.
Go…?
Gran chokes and has to suppress his spluttering coughs. He doesn’t think he’s ever heard Lucifer sound like that. He shoots a look at Djeeta. She already has her hand on the door, ready to fling it open so that they can surprise the two unsuspecting archangels, but she too, now crouches frozen in place.
“Already? But I’ve barely even started,” Is the surprised reply.
There is more rustling and a soft partially stifled gasp.
“Does that feel good? If you like it, I can keep going. I’ll make you feel even better,” Sandalphon’s voice definitely sounds at least an octave lower, and it falls into a velvety purr that sends tingles going up Gran’s spine.
“Yes, just like that,” Lucifer murmurs, sounding slightly breathless. “Ah-!”
“Don’t worry about being quiet,” Sandalphon says. “We’re alone here. I won’t hold back either,” the last words come out as a husky whisper that has the heat rushing to Gran’s ears.
Face burning, he catches Djeeta’s eye. He sees that she has a similar look on her face, equal parts shock and mortification, and perhaps a bit of confused arousal. It surely must be a mirror of his own expression. It couldn’t be… surely they hadn’t chosen to hide out in Sandalphon’s closet right as he and Lucifer had decided to- to- he really doesn’t want to finish that thought.
Lucifer lets out a sound that definitely sounds a lot like a moan. “Sandalphon…”
“Lucifer-sama, you’re so beautiful like this,” Sandalphon rasps. “And you’re so sensitive… I don’t remember you being this responsive back in the garden…”
“Ah, well, it has been quite a while since- ah!” Lucifer’s soft utterance is cut off by another gasp. “Wait, not so roughly, my body isn’t used to this yet.”
“I’m sorry Lucifer-sama! I got too eager. It’s just… it’s been so long since we could do this,” Sandalphon sounds more normal when he apologizes, but his tone is still far too deep and sensual to be mistaken for his regular voice.
Just what are they- are they really-?! We need to get out of here, Gran thinks desperately. But there is no way they can burst out of the closet now, not when they don’t know what they might see upon opening the oaken doors. Besides, even the gentle Lucifer might not forgive them for stumbling in on something so private, if they managed to survive the wrath that Sandalphon would surely wreak upon them. He has a feeling not even their powers as Singularities would save them from a terrible fate.
Is there really no way to escape? Are they going to have to listen to Sandalphon and Lucifer….?
“Please, don’t call me Lucifer-sama now. Not when we are currently equals, and not when we are… like this,” Lucifer’s voice carries over to where Gran and Djeeta crouch, frozen. “Now let me...” The bed creaks with the weight of shifting bodies.
“No wait, but I’m not done with yours yet,” Sandalphon protests.
“Nonsense,” Lucifer murmurs. “I’ve allowed myself to be bereft for 2000 years, waiting for this. Let’s finish together.” There is another rustle of feathers.
Sandalphon lets out a loud groan.
“Oh? It seems like I’m not the only one who is sensitive,” Lucifer teases playfully. “You’ve grown so well over the years, Sandalphon,” his voice caresses the air between them. “You truly are the more beautiful of the two of us…”
Through another moan, Sandalphon forces out a hoarse reply, “Now who is talking nonsense? As though I could ever compare to your radiance, Lucifer-sa-Lucifer,” the last words are a breathy exhale. The temperature of the room seems to rise to a hundred degrees, the air heavy with the crackling tension between the two angels.
“Sandalphon, you-” Lucifer doesn’t get to finish his sentence, as his voice is cut off by a sharp intake of breath. “Ah, wait, you’re-” The frame of the bed creaks loudly.
“Yes, Lucifer, you feel so good.” Sandalphon’s tone is downright worshipful. The rustling gets louder and faster. The sound of wings fluttering fills the room. “But did you really mean it when you said you’ve been waiting for 2000 years? I mean, obviously when I was imprisoned in Pandemonium, I didn’t have time- I couldn’t- but surely you would have- after all this time- I mean, with someone else-Ahh!” whatever he had been trying to say is broken off by a throaty gasp.
“No. I didn’t want to do this with anyone else. I’ve been waiting all this time for you, Sandalphon. My solace.”
“Lucifer-my guiding light-”
“Sandalphon-”
“Lucifer-!”
Gran covers his ears and resigns himself to his fate.
Sandalphon’s body feels hot and sweaty with exertion. He closes his eyes and breathes in deep, allowing Lucifer’s sweet scent to calm his racing heart. He opens his eyes to look down at Lucifer, to admire the handiwork he has wrought. Lucifer looks absolutely divine, sprawled out on the mattress beneath him, his serene demeanor completely wrecked. His normally porcelain pale cheeks are colored with a slight flush, making him look softer and more alive than ever. His hair is in disarray, framing his head against the pillow like a silvery halo. Just as beautiful as the sight of his sprawled form are the glorious white wings spread out behind him. Every single feather, from the stark white primaries, to the rose gold secondaries, to the primary and secondary coverts blushing pink like the dawn sky; every feather is arranged in perfect harmony with the others.
Sandalphon turns to look at his own brown wings at his back. Each feather is neatly aligned with the next, not a single plume sits out of place. He gives an experimental flutter. It feels wonderful. His wings haven’t felt this pleasantly relaxed for millennia. He smiles, a genuine, satisfied smile. When he turns back to meet Lucifer’s eyes, he sees his smile returned. Indescribable warmth blossoms in his chest.
“What shall we do now?” Lucifer asks from below him. He seems content to just lay there and stare up at Sandalphon.
As much as Sandalphon is tempted to join him and press himself against Lucifer’s side, he also feels restless. Such well-arranged wings that they both have right now, they need to show them off a bit at least. Perhaps even go for a fly to stretch them a bit. Surely it would feel incredible to fly right now, with his feathers organized so perfectly by Lucifer’s own hands. And he has to see what Lucifer’s wings that he had touched look like framed against the clear blue sky.
And if their feathers so happened to become disordered again, well, that only meant that they would have to do this again, and he is sure Lucifer would have no objections to such an occurrence. Reluctantly, and eagerly, he extricates himself from the sheets and stands up. He holds out a hand to help Lucifer up. “Shall we head up above? I’m itching to go flying with you today, and perhaps afterwards, a cup of coffee on the upper deck?” he suggests. He feels a warm smile tugging at his lips.
Lucifer returns the smile and takes his proffered hand. Once he has risen from the bed, he doesn’t let go, which Sandalphon is more than okay with. They head out the door together, hand-in-hand, wings brushing against one another. As they make their way down the hall, Sandalphon finds himself unable to stop shooting tender looks and bright smiles in Lucifer’s direction. Luckily, Lucifer seems to be filled with just as much elation, and when Sandalphon squeezes his hand and leans into him, he finds the gesture returned with just as much fervor.
The cool wind that brushes through his feathers as they step on deck does feel heavenly. He hasn’t felt like this in over 2000 years. Lucifer’s contented sigh from beside him tells him that he feels the same. After all, they had long been overdue for a good preening session.