Sorry this is late - I had to go to work early and didn't have time to update this morning! Anyways, here's an original chapter, so enjoy: (the title is definitely not from a7x's song which certainly I don't listen to when I write Lucifer and Alex)

January 11th , 2016
Lebanon, Kansas

Hot water pummeled against her back, and Alex tipped her head forward to keep the droplets from her face. Her blonde hair was pulled up into a hasty bun, a half-hearted attempt to keep it dry, but her wings were stretched out, thin feathers raised slightly to invite the water to rush between the vanes. Her grace was curled up loosely within her, resting, unmoving, beside Lucifer's and Castiel's, but at the moment, both were quiet.

Alex ran her hands up her face, tilting her head back as she arched her spine, her wings falling out behind her. She could sense the water on the ethereal feathers, an unnerving feeling, barely there, but she stretched her wings wider to chase it — what she wouldn't give to wash them properly.

She curled one forward, her fingers dancing across the new downy growth. Soft black feathers were sprouting out from pink skin, and the angel scowled as she tugged on one of the old, charred vanes; it came out at the gentle touch and fell to the ground, floating across the tile as it was washed towards the drain. With a sigh, Alex turned the water off and reached for her towel. Her wings shook out, flinging droplets of water across the slick floor as she stepped out of the shower.

She could feel the Winchesters down the hall, resting somewhere in the library, and she ducked out of the bathroom and scurried across the cold tile towards her room. Once there, she hastily threw on a pair of jeans and one of Sam's old sweatshirts, rolling up the oversized sleeves to her elbows as she dug around for a pair of socks. Lucifer's grace stirred within her, a curious, mindless question, but she shoved it down, reinforcing the wall she had built up around her mind with her grace. She hadn't heard anything from the archangel in almost two days — if he wanted to speak with her, he would have to do it in person.

Sam and Dean were still in the library when she entered, their heads bowed in conversation and their voices low, but one word caught the angel's attention. "Did I hear 'case'?" Alex jumped up the library stairs, grinning as both brothers' heads snapped up. "I could go for a case." Her eyes flickered down to a fast-food basket that was sitting in front of Dean, and she tipped her head. "What's that?"

"Elvis." Dean grinned, and Sam rolled his eyes. "It's like a Luther Burger, but with doughnuts."

"And it's got ... bacon." It took her a moment, but Alex eventually shrugged off her curiosity and joined the brothers at the table. She planted her hands on Sam's shoulders, leaning down to look at the laptop in front of him, but the screen was blank.

"It's not really a case, per se." Sam's eyes flickered over to her, his head turning only ever so slightly to avoid Alex's face, which was level with his ear. "Uh, Claire actually called. She thinks she may have found a case in Sioux Falls."

Alex scoffed. "I'm not surprised. When I talked with Jody last month, she said Claire's always seeing ghosts and ghouls where they don't belong." She dropped down into the chair next to Sam with a roll of her eyes. Both brothers exchanged looks, their eyebrows lifting, and she added defensively, "What? We keep in touch. It would be good to see her again, though. It's been way too long."

"Yeah, that's ... sort of the problem." Sam cleared his throat as he shifted awkwardly in his chair, and Alex's grin fell into a hesitant frown. "Claire sort of told us ..."

"She doesn't want you along," Dean finished, and Alex's eyes stretched wide. "You can't really blame her," he added, picking through his donut sandwich to pull out a chunk of bacon. "You're boning her dad."

Alex pulled her wings in with a scowl. "I ... I really don't like when you put it that way. Cas isn't Claire's dad, he's just sort of ... wearing Claire's dad. It's weird," she agreed when the brothers exchanged looks again, "but it's not really that hard to understand."

"We'll only be gone for a day or two," Sam promised, and Alex's scowl darkened before she forced her face back into neutrality. "You'll be fine on your own for a while."

"Of course I will." Alex shrugged off the comforting hand that came to rest on her shoulder, her wings tensed as she tried to keep the anger out of her voice. "I'm twenty four, Sam. I think I can survive unsupervised." She pushed herself to her feet, drawing in a slow breath through her nose to regain her composure. "You guys leaving now, or are you going to give Dean time to finish that monstrosity that he's got there?"

Dean's response was to roll his eyes, and Sam chuckled. "We'll head out once we finish lunch."

"Sounds good to me. I think I'll try my hand at a case of my own," Alex decided after a moment. "It's been a while since I've actually killed something, and I'm starting to get the itch." She grinned at her own joke, and she slipped out of the library with a shrug of her shoulders — only once she was out of sight did she let her eyes roll.

Lucifer's grace shifted again, a quiet, muffled suggestion, and Alex propped open her bedroom door as she dug around on her desk for her phone. She yanked the wall charger out of its socket and shoved it deep inside her sweatshirt before she grabbed the keys of the Marquis. "Are you okay?" Sam appeared in the doorway, the light of the hall framing his broad shoulders.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Alex tipped her head, confused by the softly spoken question. "Claire hates me — that's nothing new. I've got other stuff I can do. I'm sure Crowley's got something for me," she lied after a second, forcing a grimace. "He's been quiet way too long for my liking."

She pocketed the keys with a shrug, her good eye scanning the room to make sure she had grabbed everything that she needed, and she almost missed Sam's response. "I can talk to Claire —"

"Claire's a grown woman. She can decide who she likes and who she doesn't." Alex reached out to touch her blind eye, her finger brushing against the faded scar. "Besides, I don't think Jody would appreciate seeing this," she joked. "Give her my best, though." She squeezed past Sam, gently nudging him out of her way so she could enter the hall. She didn't wait for his response before she moved off in the opposite direction, pausing only once she reached the corner. Sam was still standing in the hallway, watching her go, and Alex hurried up out of sight. A case would be interesting, but the angel had a different plan in mind.

Fall Rivers, Massachusetts

The Marquis pulled up alongside the Needham Asylum, and Alex jumped out of the car, slamming the door behind her as she turned her eyes across the overgrown property. The building was almost hidden by the moonless night, but Alex's grace guided her way as she slunk through the half-opened iron gate. A shape flitted in the shadows; the angel's head snapped towards it, but she pressed on towards the front door.

It was unlocked and opened easily beneath her touch, and Alex slipped inside, her wings raised warily as she surveyed the empty halls. The air was tinged with sulfur, a sure sign that demons were nearby, and the angel hurried forward, her feet carrying her silently towards the throne room at the other end of the hall. Lucifer's grace had fallen still within her, but she could feel its presence growing as she drew closer to the source, a chill as refreshing as a mountain spring on a summer's day.

The arched double doors swung open as she reached them, and Alex lifted her chin to hide her surprise. Demons occupied the stone room, standing in front of the iron throne; though they blocked Alex's view, the angel could see the crimson pair of wings that stretched out on either side, the black-tipped feathers dragging lazily against the stone. A flick of a hand had the demons skittering away, and Alex stepped into the room as the doors closed behind them.

"There you are." Lucifer's voice was low, a quiet purr, and he beckoned her forward with a flick of his wings. "I've been waiting."

Alex slowly crossed the stone floor, her eyes sweeping across the torch-lit walls. "So you actually did move camp up here," she noted, purposefully keeping her eyes from the archangel as she came to rest a few feet in front of him. "I wasn't sure if you would."

The devil chuckled, and his lips twisted into a mocking pout. "I told you I would be here," he reminded. "You know that I'll never lie to you." His grace snuck out, wrapping around her and pulling her forward, and Alex found herself toe-to-toe with him in seconds. His hands replaced his grace, his fingers curling through her belt loops, and a sharp tug had Alex falling forward. Her knees planted against the solid iron seat, and her hands went out to grab the headrest of the throne, but Lucifer's hands held her steady. "Now." He tugged again so Alex was sitting, straddling his thighs. "What brings you here?"

Unsure where to put her arms, Alex awkwardly folded them against her chest as she looked down at the archangel. "Sam and Dean had stuff they needed to do," she muttered, her wings stretching out behind her to keep her balanced on his lap. "And your grace kept fidgeting, so I thought you wanted me to come here."

Lucifer hummed, and a cold finger came up to brush across her blinded eye. "That's right." The finger moved down to tap the tip of her nose, a playful gesture that was undermined by a dark glint in his blue eyes. "You've learned a new trick, haven't you, angel?" His grace pressed up besides her, pulsing against the barrier around her mind, and with one sharp push, the wall fractured.

Alex couldn't hold back the yelp of surprise that slipped past her lips; Lucifer's grace rushed inwards, soothing the tiny pinpricks of pain. She opened her mouth, ready to speak, but Lucifer's hand dropped down to grip her chin, his tight hold bordering on painful.

"Don't ever do it again," he ordered, and Alex's wings flickered downwards at the command in his voice. "I don't know what Castiel expected of you —"

"Who do you think was the one who taught me that?" Alex pried her head free of Lucifer's grasp, and his hand dropped back down to her hip, keeping her still. "You can blame Cas for that one."

"I blame him for a lot." Lucifer's eyes slipped past her towards the ground at his side, and Alex followed his gaze, jerking back in surprise at the sight of Crowley.

The demon was crouched in the corner, his hands shackled with thick iron cuffs, and Alex's eyes widened. "Crowley?" She turned her head more fully so her good eye could take in the sight of his attire. A blue Hawaiian shirt, grey t-shirt, and cargo shorts — unusual clothes for the ex-King of Hell. She turned back to Lucifer, her head tipped to the side. "Why's he dressed like he just got off a cruise?"

The grin on Lucifer's face made it clear that he was pleased she had noticed. "You know, the suit and tie just wasn't doing it for me." He bounced one leg, a signal for Alex to move, and the young angel quickly slid back so she could stand on the floor once again. "I like it, don't you? It brings a little bit of festivity to the place."

She felt Lucifer's grace twist, a silent prompt for her to speak, and she pursed her lips. "Sure," she half-heartedly agreed. Lucifer reclined in the throne, tapping his chin as he regarded the demon at his side. Crowley's eyes never left the floor, and as Alex watched, a faint tremor passed through him: fear, anger? The angel couldn't tell.

She stepped back as Lucifer rose to his feet, and a crimson wing brushed across her back. "You know, I'm glad you showed up." Cold fingers ran across her shoulder, and Alex stifled a shiver as the touch moved to her wings. "I've been digging through Castiel's memories, and I want to return to Karachi. You're welcome to come with."

His lips brushed against her ear as he spoke, and Alex's wings drew in close as she forced her gaze to stay on Crowley. "You're sure you want to leave?"

Cold arms enveloped her waist. "The demons won't try anything," Lucifer promised. "You know how it is. Twist a few arms, snap a few necks. They always fall back into line." A hint of darkness crept into his voice as his eyes turned down onto Crowley, and Alex felt him stiffen. "Of course, he won't be able to stay here unattended. Isn't that right, puppy?"

"Yes, sir." Crowley didn't lift his eyes from the ground, and Alex frowned, her eyes flitting over to Lucifer.

The archangel snapped his fingers, and the thick chain that bound Crowley's hands to the far wall fell away. "Come on, puppy. Get up." He waved Crowley to his feet, and Alex shifted her weight onto her soles. The demon rose stifflu, shuffling across the concrete floor to stand in front of them, and Lucifer threw an arm around both of their shoulders, pulling them close. "Lighten up," he teased, and Crowley visibly flinched as Lucifer's grip tightened. "This is going to be fun."

Karachi, Pakistan

The heat of Karachi hit Alex like a ton of bricks the moment that they landed, and the young angel's wings unfurled from her side, feathers stretched to catch the hot breeze. She rolled up the sleeves of her thick, oversized sweatshirt as she looked around the cracked alleyway. Buildings loomed all around them, and Alex's good eye stretched wide as she looked towards the bustling streets. The air was humming with commotion, hot and arid, and it smelled like — like humanity.

Cold grace flicked up against her, and Alex whipped her head back towards the archangel to find that Lucifer was already moving in the opposite direction, Crowley trailing obediently behind him.

Alex hurried after them, slowing down to walk at Lucifer's side as they stepped out onto the busy market street. "Where are we going?" she asked, her voice a low whisper as they wove their way among the crowds; a quick glance behind her showed that Crowley was staying close, his eyes fixed submissively on the ground. "And why ... why did we bring him?"

"We brought him because leaving him on the other side of the world with a building full of his old supporters is a bad idea." Lucifer didn't alter his stride, and Alex flicked a wing, unsure if she shared in his confidence. "And we're here for this." He pushed his way into one of the dark, looming buildings, and Alex held the door open for Crowley to make sure that the demon followed him in.

"This ... is a library." The door swung closed behind her, and Alex turned to examine the dim interior, cool in comparison to the hot outside air. "And you said Cas had been here? I don't ever remember him coming to Karachi." She watched as the archangel moved deeper into the room, his eyes fixed on the shelves stuffed full of manuscripts, and she folded her arms across her chest. "You dragged me to the other side of the globe so I could watch you read scrolls? I wanted to She felt Lucifer's grace twist, a silent prompt for her to speak, and she pursed her lips. kill something today, not do ... this." Lucifer hummed, his wingtip flicking towards Crowley as he pulled an old papyrus book off of the shelf, and Alex pursed her lips at unspoken suggestion. "No, I'm not going to kill Crowley," she retorted. "Come on, Luce. Be serious."

"I was." Exasperation lined Lucifer's voice as he dropped the book down onto a rickety wooden table. "Unfortunately, I'm the only one who can stop the Darkness — only one who cares, anyways — so I'm sorry that I don't have time to play with you. Here." He waved a hand off towards Crowley again. "Take him outside and have a look around. This place is overrun with monsters, so I'm sure you can find something between the two of you."

He waved again, a dismissive flick of his hand, but Alex stood her ground, her wings flaring out. "Oh great, so on top of it all, you're making me babysit? Thanks."

"You're the one who insisted on keeping him." With a sigh and a roll of his head, Lucifer straightened up and circled around the table to stand in front of her. "If it helps, think of him as a ... tour guide." The archangel's eyes flashed as he turned to face the demon, and the softness left his face. "Don't let her get in over her head, and make sure you're back by dark," he ordered. Crowley nodded , and Lucifer grinned, his tongue pressed up against his teeth. "Good puppy."

He waved them away with a flick of his wing, returning to the table, and Alex let Crowley pull her back out of the door and into the hot street. "Come on." Crowley tugged her away from the library, and Alex had to break into a half-jog to keep up with him.

"Hey, hey. Slow down." Alex yanked her hand out of his, and the demon spun around, his brown eyes flashing furiously. "What's gotten into you, huh? This whole complacency act — that's not like you. You should be gone by now."

She snapped her fingers to emphasize her point, and Crowley scowled. "You think I don't want to?" he hissed, his eyes darting behind her towards the library they had just left. "Trust me, kitten, I'll be gone first chance I have, but with these ..." He held up his shackled hands to show off the familiar carved handcuffs. "Afraid I'm not going anywhere fast."

"Oh yeah. I forgot Cas still had a pair of those in his trunk." Alex flicked a wing, a signal for Crowley to follow her down the street. "So you're just going to roll over and be his bitch, huh? Not to be an asshole here, but I think we can all agree that you had this coming for a while now."

"Laugh about it while you can." Crowley spat the words out, and Alex glanced over at him, surprised by the uncontrolled anger that momentarily darkened his voice. "You don't see what you've done here, do you? Letting Lucifer out upon the world!"

"Hold up." Alex grabbed the demon by the shirt sleeve, pulling him back as she stepped in front of him to look up into his face. "Let's get something straight here, Crowley. I didn't do any of this. Maybe you can't remember, but I was specifically against him getting out from the get-go. You want to blame someone, you blame Cas, because he's the one who let Luce jump his bones and ride him out of hell."

A man jostled up against her wings, and Crowley reached out to nudge her to the side, his eyes narrowed warily as he scanned the streets. "And that's all well and good, little mouse, but that doesn't change the fact that he's here, and you're the only one who seems to appreciate that." He pulled her after him down the road, moving as quickly as he could through the crowded streets. "You do realize that you're just like me, right?" he added, his voice a low hiss.

"Excuse me?" Alex yanked herself free, and Crowley scowled to find that they had once again stopped in the middle of the street. "I'm nothing like you. You're ... you." She tugged on the thin shoulder of the Hawaiian shirt, her lips pulled up into a grimace to emphasize her point.

"Maybe I'm the one in chains, but you're just as bound as I am."

His voice was so low, Alex almost missed it beneath the clamor of the streets. "Why are you whispering?"

"Because he could hear! How do you think he knew about that wall you put up? He wants to be inside your head so he knows what you're doing." Crowley pulled her after him, and Alex glanced behind her to see that the library was no longer in sight. "For all we know, he's listening right now."

"Okay, well, here —" Alex lifted her grace, ready to construct another wall, but Lucifer's orders had her hesitating. The faintest hint of a smirk played on Crowley's lips — damn demon could see her reluctance — and Alex quickly threw the wall up with a shake of her wings. "There. Now he can't spy on us. Stop being so ... sulky and find me something to do."

They started down the street again, walking side by side, and Alex shoved her hands deep inside of her pockets to keep herself from dismantling the barrier that she had implemented: Lucifer couldn't tell her what to do.

Right?

"You're thinking about taking it down, aren't you?" Crowley's posture had changed; he held himself up higher, his head lifted, and despite the baggy outfit and unshaven face, he carried himself with an air of regality.

"No," Alex retorted, and she turned her eyes to the city around them, ignoring how her answer came too loud, too fast. "Of course not," she added after a moment's pause. "Lucifer ... well, I don't think he sees me as an equal, but I think he respects me."

"You want to know what I think?" Crowley didn't wait for a response before he answered his own question. "I think he's manipulating you. I don't know what the two of you got up to when you were younger, but I know Lucifer." Alex rolled his eyes, and the demon scowled. "He's a monster — incapable of any sort of love. He doesn't care for you — he doesn't even respect you — he is using you!"

"Maybe."

"Maybe?!" Incredulity filled Crowley's voice. "No, not maybe — definitely. You thought working for me was bad, wait until —"

"Can we please just focus?" Alex's wings flared up, her good eye flashing blue with grace, and Crowley fell silent, his lips pursed tightly together. "I appreciate the warning, and I appreciate you sticking around and not trying to run off and leave me stranded here alone, but can we not talk about Lucifer for five minutes?"

Defiance flickered across Crowley's face, followed by momentary amusement, but it all quickly fell back into a placid expression. "We'll keep heading east," he decided. "There's a few blocks that have been all but abandoned — gang violence, extremists — nothing out of the ordinary in these parts. And the closest monster hotspot, from what I recall."

He lead the way around the corner, turning down a thin, sparsely occupied street. Alex let her grace slip out, feeling along the empty buildings. "So, what kind of monsters run around here? Vampires? Shifters?"

"Not quite. We're dealing with a whole different ecosystem." Crowley walked down the middle of the street, his posture lax, but Alex caught sight of his eyes flickering warily towards a darkened, rotting building. Suddenly, he paused, his chin lifted as he inhaled deeply. "Do you smell that? That is death."

Alex's nostrils flared as she scented the air. The metallic tang of blood hung there, and beneath that, the taint of death. "It's close by." She hurried off towards one of the looming buildings, pausing in the doorway to make sure that Crowley was following. "Come on," she urged. "Let's see what it is." She drew her angel blade as she spoke, waiting for Crowley's nod before she plunged into the darkness.

The inside was dark and cool — almost damp, but the scent of death clung to the very walls. Alex reached out with her grace, feeling for the source as she moved inwards. Crowley walked at her side, toying impatiently with his handcuffs. "Body's upstairs," he announced. "Third floor."

He sauntered past her, heading for the stairs, and Alex followed after him with a frown. The concrete stairs were chipped and cracked, with large chunks missing every few feet, but Alex moved up them silently, her footing sure despite the darkness that enveloped her. Her wings folded in against her back as they reached the third level, and she slipped past Crowley the moment she stepped out onto the landing. Her grace led her to the room at the far end of the hall, and the angel lifted it to her eyes to peer into the dim room.

A single window sat in the far wall, letting light trickle in through the dirty glass. It illumined part of the floor, where dried blood stained the concrete. The puddle was disrupted, streaked by drag marks that led off to the corner.

That was where the body lay. At first, Alex didn't recognize it; the shapeless lump was red and slick, and it took the angel a moment to see that it was human. "What the hell?" She stepped into the room to make room for Crowley, her grace flicking curiously as she stared down at the corpse. "Hey, check it out." She crouched down beside it, her head tipped to one side. "Is this ... he's been skinned."

She glanced back up at Crowley, a grin playing on her lips, but the demon seemed far less impressed. "Yes," he agreed. "That happens a lot in these parts."

"And someone's been munching," Alex added, ignoring his quip. She pointed towards the neck and shoulders, where the muscle had been torn away in bite-sized depressions. "Cool, cool." Crowley hissed out a warning, and she pushed herself back to her feet, wiping her hands off on her jeans as she turned to face him. "Come on, Crowley, lighten up."

"Shh," he repeated, his voice a low whisper. "There's someone here."

Alex's grace snapped out, and her fingers tightened around her weapon as she turned back towards the door. "You're right," she mutteree, and she shook out her wings as she drew her grace back in. "Human."

Footsteps sounded from the stairs, drawing closer with each step, and with a glance back at Crowley, Alex stepped out into the hall. "Hello?" she called, her eyes flickering towards where the light of a flashlight peeked out from behind the corner. "Who's there?"

The footsteps stopped, and the hot scent of fear spiked the air, but it was quickly quelled. "Who's there?" came the response, and Alex rolled her eyes. After a second, the footsteps started up again, and a shape came around the corner. It was a female, from what Alex could tell; it was difficult to see past the bright flashlight. The stranger wore a dark blue shalwar kameez, hiding her thin frame, but Alex could sense the muscles that lay beneath; it was evident in the way she moved, the way she stood.

And in the way she held the gun. The shining black muzzle was pointed directly at the angel, and Alex slowly lifted her hands to show her innocence. "Calm down," she started. "We're not here to hurt anyone, are we, Crowley?" She glanced over her shoulder in search of the demon, but he hadn't followed her out of the room.

The flashlight dropped down, and Alex lowered her hands, reaching back to tuck her angel blade into her jeans. "Who are you?" The woman spoke again, her accent thick, but the foreign words translated easily in Alex's mind. "Identify yourselves."

"My name is Alex." Alex put a hand on her chest to gesture to herself before she jerked a thumb behind her. "I've got a friend in there with a body. We didn't put it there —"

"Of course you didn't." The woman cut her off with a dismissive sniff, and Alex frowned. "Let me guess — the body is missing its skin." When Alex nodded, she lowered the gun. "You should get out of here. It's not safe."

"Good." Alex flicked her wing off towards the door where the body lay. "That's why we're here." The woman stepped forward, sure and confident, and Alex squinted. "You ... you don't seem surprised. Are you a hunter?"

"A ... hunter?" The woman's head tipped to the side, and the fabric of her headscarf shifted in the dim light. "You're American, aren't you?" Her flashlight pointed downwards, illuminating the STANFORD scrawled across Alex's sweatshirt. "You speak perfect Balochi." Her eyes widened slightly as they slipped past her, and Alex felt Crowley step into view.

"Oh yeah. That's Crowley." She waved the demon forward with her wing. "He's ... he's with me, kinda. Ignore the ... the chains."

Confusion danced across the woman's face, but she hid it with a respectful dip of her head. "My name is Mahira Owais, daughter of Owais Nadeem. Peace be with you. You ... you call yourself hunters. You're shikari?"

The word didn't translate, and Alex tipped her head. "If you mean do we kill things that go bump in the night, then yeah. Do you have any idea of what did that in there?" Alex jerked a thumb back towards the body in the other room. "I ... I've never seen anything that skins a person like that. Was that intentional?"

"It was a Nesnas." Mahira's flashlight danced across the two of them, and several seconds of tense silence followed before her posture relaxed and she motioned them closer. "If you are shikari, you should return with me. Father will be pleased with more help."

"Sounds good to me." Alex followed the woman towards the stairs, only pausing when she found that Crowley wasn't following. "Come on," she added, her wings rising slightly in warning. "Luce said you had to stick with me, right? That means you're coming with."

"You're insane." Crowley hurried after her, following her down the stairs, and Alex rolled her eyes. "Do you know who these people are?"

"They're hunters —"

"English." Crowley hissed out the word, and Alex snapped her mouth shut. "These people are part of the bhangi caste — the untouchables. You really think that Lucifer wants you hanging around these people?"

"I think Lucifer isn't going to find out." Alex spoke slowly, carefully enunciating to keep her languages straight. "You catch my drift?"

"Loud and clear." Crowley's eyes darkened as they stepped out into the street, but the cocky confidence didn't leave his voice. "But if he does, just make it clear that I was against this from the start."

"Come on, Crowls. Live a little." The demon stiffened at the nickname, and Alex couldn't help but grin, drawing him closer with her broken wings. "People are people, and Lucifer hates them all equally. Mahira." Alex hurried forward to walk at the woman's side, leaving Crowley to scowl after her. "So, this Nesnas. What is it?"

The woman jumped, surprised to find the angel so near, but the shock was quickly quenched as her face hardened into placid stone. "They're monsters," she explained. "Half-human, half-demon."

"That's wrong," Crowley corrected from behind, but Alex ignored him with a flick of her wing.

Mahira glanced backwards, brown eyes narrowed as she tried to understand what the demon had said, but the English was lost upon her. "They feed on the good," she continued after a moment's pause, "and eat their skin. They appear every few years, but we've seen almost five in the past month."

She led the way down a darkened alleyway, her heels clicking on the cracked stone. "And I'm guessing that's unusual," Alex finished, and Mahira nodded. She rapped on a wooden door buried in the brick exterior, and Alex heard movement on the other side of the wall. She let her grace spread out, counting the souls within. One, two ... four. Four humans.

The door creaked open beneath Mahira's touch, and Alex glanced back to make sure that Crowley was close by before she followed the woman into the building. Her grace rose up to her good eye as she stepped across the threshold, but even then it took a moment for her to adjust to the thick darkness that clung to the bare walls. An electric lamp sat at the far end of the room, placed on the floor in the middle of several crates. Three men sat there, their heads turned to watch their entrance — as soon as Alex stepped aside, they jumped to their feet, eyes wide.

Crowley stood in the doorway, his head tipped back to look up towards the ceiling; Alex followed his gaze to find a black circle painted on the stone above his head. Symbols were scrawled in the center, unfamiliar to the young angel, but the meaning was clear. "Devil's trap."

"Bollocks," Crowley added, and his eyes momentarily flashed red as he turned his face back towards Alex. "Do you mind?"

"Demon." The word was hissed out, and Mahira jumped away, her brown eyes wide as she stared at Crowley. An older man pushed his way forward, his face dark. "Mahira. What have you done?"

"It's okay." Alex shifted to place herself in front of the stranger, and he pulled up short, his thick brow furrowed. "He's as harmless as a puppy." Crowley huffed, displeased with her choice in words, and Alex lifted her chin higher to try and match the man's height. "My name is Alex."

"They are shikari, just like us." Mahira hurried forward to stand at Alex's side. "They were hunting the Nesnas. I thought ..." Her eyes dropped down to the ground, her sudden rush of courage dissipating. "I thought that maybe more hands would be better."

Alex's grace snuck out, cracking the devil's trap so Crowley could walk free, and she motioned him closer with a wing. The man's eyes darkened as he watched the demon cross over to stand just behind Alex, his jaw tight, but it relaxed when his gaze turned down onto the carved handcuffs. "They're American," he stated, and when Mahira nodded, his lips pursed. "We don't often let foreigners into our home," he warned, "but perhaps tonight can be made an exception."

He walked away, and Alex watched him go through narrowed eyes. "Seems like a nice guy," she muttered under her breath.

"That is my father. Owais Nadeem. Those two are my brothers. Syed Dhiren Owais and Syed Kishan Owais." Mahira pointed to the two young men in turn; neither openly acknowledged them, but Alex could feel that she held their attention. "My mother, Hiya Malik Owais, is in the back room." Mahira moved off towards the lantern, and Alex followed with a shrug. "Ren, Kishan. This is Alex." She delicately sat down on the wooden crate across from her brothers, and Alex dropped down into the seat next to her.

Two sets of eyes turned onto her, one light, one dark, and Alex flicked her chin upwards in a short, quick greeting. "Hey. Nice to meet you." The eyes turned past her onto Crowley, and the angel rolled her eyes. "Come on, Crowley, take a seat." She patted the bench next to her, and the demon did as she asked with a thin frown. Pleased, Alex turned back to the shikari. "So, what's so special about tonight?"

Ren and Kishan exchanged looks, a smile playing upon their lips. "Nesnas," Kishan finally answered, reaching up to sweep black hair out of his angular face. "There is a whole nest of them up near the Tower. Father wants to move on them tonight."

"If you are shikari," Ren added, "your help would be greatly appreciated." He was clearly the oldest of the two; it was obvious in the way he held his head. "And you, sister," he added to Mahira, "are just in time to help Mother with supper."

Mahira hurried away, and Alex watched her go. "Alex, this isn't a good idea." Crowley's shackles clanked as he shifted uncomfortably upon the crate. "Lucifer told me to do two things. This plan — it violates both of those."

Alex reached up to probe at the wall around her mind before she dropped her attention down to Lucifer's grace; it sat there, silent, and she drew away with a small, relieved sigh. "So," she began, turning back to the brothers, "this is your home?" She looked around the dark building with a frown; the only features were two doors and the crates upon which they sat.

Ren frowned, but Kishan laughed. "No, it isn't," he promised. "We move around to where the monsters are. And when there are none, we stay with our Ammi and Appi."

"Our grandparents have a home outside the city," Ren added, his frown redirected towards his brother. "It isn't much, but it's big enough for all of us."

"Our mother's parents have a big house," Kishan added, and Ren's frown sharpened into a glare. Kishan shook his head. "Relax, brother, they are American. Such information means nothing to them. They live in India," he added over to Alex. "In Rajkot. Have you ever been there?"

Crowley gave a nondescript shrug, but Alex shook her head. "This is my first time leaving the states — America," she quickly corrected.

Small footsteps came from the door behind her, and Alex turned to watch a young boy rush in, dressed in a brown sherwani and white pants. His brown eyes went wide at the sight of Alex and Crowley. "Daniyal." Ren waved the boy over, and the child bolted to stand behind him, peeking out from around his brother's shoulder. Kishan chuckled, his golden-brown eyes alight with amusement, but Ren's face remained stony. "You must excuse my younger brother," he apologized. "He's never seen strangers such as yourselves."

"He's likely more frightened by your eye," Kishan added, and Alex's hand went up to cover her blindness. "Shikari, it's a dangerous business."

He spoke lightly, but the intensity in his eyes made it clear he hoped for a story. "It is," was all Alex said.

"If I may —"

"You may say nothing, demon!" The crate tipped as Ren sharply rose to his feet. Daniyal flinched away, caught off guard by the rage, and Ren reached down to comfort him. "Dinner will be ready shortly," he announced; a gently push on Daniyal's shoulders had the boy hurrying back towards the kitchen. "I'll go find Father."

He left, and Alex watched him go, waiting until he was out of earshot before she spoke again. "You don't have to worry about Crowley," she promised Kishan. "He's not going to harm anyone, with or without these chains."

The humor had died from the teen's face. "I don't know your traditions," he warned, "but in our land, working with demons is forbidden."

"It's not exactly promoted where I'm from, either." Alex shifted on the wooden crate, a sidelong glance cast in Crowley's direction. "But sometimes circumstances change. And these here —" She pointed down to the handcuffs, "— they make him as harmless as you or I."

"Perhaps." Kishan rose to his feet, bending slightly in a quick bow. "I should go help with dinner. If you will excuse me." He hurried away, and Alex flicked a wing dismissively as he left the room.

"What do you know about Nesnas?" Alex propped one elbow up on her knee as she turned to face the demon; a quick glance at Ren and Kishan showed that they had turned away to talk among themselves. "You seemed to know a bit back there."

"I know what I need to," Crowley cryptically promised. "For example, they are not demons in any shape or form. They do, however, feed on the holy, so perhaps these hunters aren't as incompetent as they first seem."

Alex rolled her eyes, but she refused to take the demon's bait. "Feed on the holy, huh? Guess you're safe, then."

"Likewise," Crowley retorted, and Alex's wings flittered at the insult. "The girl was right about them being uncommon. They're like wendigos: poor-tempered and territorial. You said that Castiel was here recently?"

"Apparently. It couldn't have been more than two weeks ago." Alex rolled her eyes back into her head as she thought. "Maybe three. What, you think —"

"Wretched as he is, he's more holy than anything these lot have seen." Crowley's blunt fingernails scratched at the iron cuffs, and he scowled. "Last time I've seen them congregate like this, Gabriel was popping his head up in places it didn't belong." His eyes flickered off to scan the empty room. "We should go now, while they're not looking."

"We're not prisoners. And no, we're not going." Alex lowered her voice, casting a glance over her shoulder towards the kitchen. "That would be rude." She folded her hands in her lap as she settled down upon her crate. "We're staying for dinner, and we're staying for the hunt."

Dusk came, and Alex found herself standing outside on the cracked concrete streets. The sun's rays were still barely visible in the sky, tinging it a faint purple. Lucifer would be wondering where they were soon. Alex pushed the thought away as soon as it surfaced, turning her attention back onto the people who stood in front of her. Ren and Kishan stood close by, stiff and silent. Mahira stood at their side; she had changed her clothes, now dressed in black — with her headscarf drawn up, she was almost invisible in the dark. Owais, the father, stood the furthest from her. A second man was with him, older and darker; he was Rashid, Owais' brother, if Alex remembered the whispered introductions correctly. "Here." She was stirred from her thoughts by Ren, a brass knife in his hand — the blade was almost as long as Alex's forearm. "You will be needing this."

"Actually, I'm good. I've got my own." Alex reached back to draw her angel blade. The silver metal glowed dimly in the night, and she felt the others' attention turn onto her. "It'll kill everything short of Gabriel himself."

Her joke was met with silence; Kishan chuckled, but it was quickly silenced by his father's frown. "Let's go." Owais led the way towards the looming building, handing out directions as he went. "Rashid, Kishan take the north stairwell. Mahira, go east and take our guests. Ren, with me."

Ren hesitated, the blade in his hand still outstretched. His eyes flickered towards Crowley, darkening as a thought passed through his mind. Alex shook her head before he could voice it. "He'll be fine," she promised. "He doesn't need to be armed. Come on, Crowley." She hurried after Mahira, glancing behind to make sure that the demon was following; he was, albeit reluctantly.

"This is a bad idea." Crowley lengthened his stride to walk beside her as they entered the building, the darkness hiding the scowl on his face. "Lucifer is going to find out where we are any minute —"

"Crowley, stop. He gave me the okay to hunt, remember, and second — second, I don't need his permission anyways!" She followed Mahira towards a dark, yawning staircase, her grace going out to feel along the concrete walls. "So, Mahira, where exactly are we heading?" she added, careful to use her grace to speak.

"This building was once used to for government transportation. It was abandoned long before I was born due to growing tensions between local groups. There are tunnels down below — we think that is how the nesnas are getting around the city."

"You're brave." Crowley spoke in the native tongue, and Mahira spared him a look. "It's shocking that Daddy let his little girl go off on her own. Especially with such ... dangerous creatures around."

Mahira's eyes flashed. "You think that I am afraid of you?" The long bronze knife in her hand pointed towards the demon's chest as she turned to face him. "I have no fear for a lowly demon that is bound to a shikari!"

"Lowly demon." Crowley repeated the phrase, his eyes alight in amusement. "I suppose that's all you see, isn't it, darling? A crossroads demon following a girl around like a dog." He spat out the last word, but Mahira's indignation didn't fade. "I was the bloody King of Hell until last week!"

"Let's keep going." Alex inserted herself between the two of them, nodding towards the stairs. "Crowley, shut up for once in your goddamn life." She stalked down the stairs; a flick of her grace showed that both were following.

"Just remember that everything is not always what it seems," she heard Crowley murmur. "You of all people should know that."

"Crowley!" Alex's grace snapped out, and Mahira's lantern flickered violently. She could feel the demon's smug smirk, and she quickened her pace to reach the landing of the basement. Crowley did the same, his handcuffs clinking as he looked around through the darkness. "There's something down here," Alex whispered, just loud enough for him and Mahira to hear. Her grace snaked upstairs, feeling for the four human souls that scoured the upper floors.

"Two," Crowley added. "And a third further away. We should split up."

"There's only one lantern." Mahira lifted hers to emphasize her words. "Nesnas thrive in the dark. They will be upon you before you can see them coming."

"That isn't a problem for Crowley and I." Alex's grace rose to her eyes, and the shadows of the dark room faded away, revealing every nook and cranny in the large room. "But I think we should stick together," she added after a second. "I don't want to leave you on your own."

To her surprise, Mahira scoffed. "I was my father's firstborn, and I was expected to follow in his footsteps. He has trained me since I first learned to walk." She twirled her blade in her hand as she spoke, and she ended by pointing the knife off behind her shoulder. "We should go left."

A scream pierced the air, high-pitched and inhuman, and Alex's wings flared up, feathers ruffled outwards to make herself appear larger than life. "There's four now." Crowley's eyes narrowed, lifting his chin as he spoke. "They're calling for more."

"Why?" To Mahira's credit, her voice didn't shake, but Alex could smell the hint of fear that filled the air.

"They're attracted to feed on the good and holy. And what's a better feast than an angel?" Crowley stepped forward to stand at Alex's side, his eyes narrowed as he peered into the darkness. "Be careful," he added in English, his voice a low hum. "Even nesnas can harm you if there are enough."

"I'll be fine." Something flickered through the shadows, tall, dark, and fast, and Alex's weight shifted onto the balls of her feet, ready to move at a moment's notice. "They're here."

The shadows exploded into life. Something ducked past her, thin and rotting, and Alex's head recoiled. Her wings drew in, out of the creature's reach, and she felt Crowley's back brush up against hers. "One on the left," he murmured, his voice quiet and calm. "Two more up ahead."

"Fourth's circling around," Alex finished, and she heard Crowley hum in agreement. "Alright, that's doable —"

"I saw one." Mahira broke into their whispers, and her lantern turned away from them. "It's trying to get behind us."

"They're flanking us — wait, Mahira!" Alex's wings flicked angrily as the woman rushed away, chasing after the nesnas. She moved to follow, but Crowley caught her by the sleeve of her sweatshirt. "They're after us, not her," he reminded. "Let's kill them and get out of here."

He nodded off behind her, and Alex turned to watch two figures staggering towards them. The rotting scent of death filled the air; rotten flesh clung to their bones, sluffing off on the extremities. One was missing its arm, the other its leg. Neither had eyes.

The taller one snarled, revealing ragged, yellowed teeth, and Alex twisted her weapon in her hand. "Stay back," she ordered Crowley, "I got —"

The creatures leapt forward, claws extended and blackened sockets wide. The shorter one lagged behind, slowed by its missing leg, and Alex lunged forward to meet the first. A large hand swung out, claws flashing through the air, and the angel's shoes squeaked against the concrete floor as she slid to duck the blow. She threw her shoulder into the creature's stomach, hissing as she felt the flesh squish — their momentum sent the nesnas tumbling over her shoulder.

The second creature was upon her before she could regain her footing, and Alex hissed as claws tore into her cheek. Her grace immediately rose, healing the wound, but the blow sent her to the ground. She caught herself with her hands, grunting as the hilt of her weapon dug into her hands. Alex twisted, pivoting on one foot as she threw the other out, and she swept the beast's one leg out from under it.

It toppled, and Alex threw herself after him, burying the hilt of her blade into its chest. The nesnas died with a scream, but Alex didn't waste time to gloat, rolling off to the side to avoid the second's counterattack. She felt its claws rip at the air above her, and she flared her wings out to balance as she spun around. The moment her feet planted against the ground, she threw herself forward, tackling the second beast.

She buried her weapon into its heart, and it died with a twitch, leaving Alex gasping for breath. She looked up for Crowley, grinning wide at the adrenaline, but the demon was nowhere to be found —

Hands gripped her sweatshirt and hauled her to her feet, spinning her around and slamming her into the wall. Alex gasped, her wings folding to try and cushion her fall, but the impact knocked her weapon from her hand. Her fists curled, ready to strike, but Lucifer's cold grace rising within her had the fight draining from her very bones.

Blue eyes glinted, icy cold, and Alex reached up to wrap her hands around the wrists that held her pinned. "Lucifer?" The name sounded quiet and pained, and Alex steeled her voice before she spoke again. "Luce?" she repeated. "The hell are you doing here?"

"I thought I told you to be back before dark." Lucifer's eyes flickered off to the side, and Alex followed his gaze to where Crowley stood, pressed against the wall. His eyes were on the ground, his hands folded in front of him, and Alex hissed at his submissiveness. A cold finger tilted her chin back towards him, and Alex reluctantly returned her eyes to the archangel. "And," he added, "I thought I told you never to do this."

His grace swelled up within her, shattering the barrier she had constructed, and Alex shrieked as its shards flew everywhere, embedding themselves inside her skull. She expected Lucifer's grace to flood through her, soothing the pain like it had last time, but it pulled away, staying just out of reach.

It took a second or two, but she felt him relax, his fingers letting go of her sweatshirt. "I'm sorry." His grace rose up as it had before, soothing the pain, and his forehead pressed into hers. "I get ... scared when I can't feel you. When I can't find you." He pulled back, his face softening and his wings falling back to his side. "This part of town is dangerous, little one. How did you find yourself here?"

"I —" Crowley opened his mouth to speak, but Lucifer held up a hand, and the demon cut off with a spluttered choke, his eyes going wide as he gasped for air.

"I wanted to go hunting." Alex pressed her grace up against Lucifer, and the archangel released his hold on Crowley. "This was the best spot I could find. I —"

Lucifer stiffened, his wings snapping up in shock, and Alex felt his grace quiver. She could feel why — a bronze blade was thrust between his ribs, buried deep into the flesh. His hands fell away from her sweatshirt, and he spun around, one hand going out to catch the perpetrator by the throat. "Excuse me?" Lucifer lifted the man up, his eyes glowing orange with his grace, and in their light Alex could make out the man's face; Rashid, Mahira's uncle. "That wasn't very nice."

The sound of cracking bone echoed through the quiet room, a sharp, wet sound, and Rashid's head rolled to the side. "Hey!" Alex's shout was lost beneath the thud as the body hit the ground. "What the hell!" She slid out from behind Lucifer, but she knew the man was dead even before she stood in front of him; his eyes were glassy, his neck twisted.

A sound had Alex's head snapping to the side in time to watch Kishan scrambled to his feet, having tripped over a discarded pipe. It skittered across the floor, and the teen ran in the other direction, struggling to stay upright as he bolted. Lucifer's wings rose, ready to pursue, but Alex grabbed onto his wrist. "Don't!" She tugged at his arm, and Lucifer immediately turned back to her, his wings falling back to his side. "What was that? You didn't have to kill him."

"I didn't," he conceded, "but I did." He pulled the bronze knife out of his side and discarded it to the side with a roll of his eyes. "I think attempted homicide is justification for self-defense." Alex's mouth fell open, and Lucifer pulled her close, an arm wrapped around her waist. "Time to go home, little one." His wings unfolded, and then they were gone.

Fall Rivers, Massachusetts

Alex tapped her fingers along the edge of the iron throne, running them up and down the armrest as she waited impatiently for Lucifer's return. The room was empty, devoid of life, but despite the emptiness, the air was warm — borderline uncomfortable, even. She could hear movement from deeper within the asylum, could smell the sulfur that lingered in the air, and she shifted uncomfortably on the hard seat.

Feathers ruffled, followed immediately by a cool, calming presence, and Alex's broken wings flicked in greeting as she let her eyes turn onto Lucifer. He stood alone, Crowley nowhere in sight, and the angel's head tipped. "Where is he?" she asked, and her eyes shifted past him.

Lucifer chuckled, and he circled around the back of the throne as his wings brushed against her. "Your little pet is safe," he promised, his fingers brushing across her shoulder; a gentle tap signaled for her to stand, and Alex rose so Lucifer could sit down in her place. He tugged her onto his lap, and Alex flattened her wings so she could sit comfortably against his chest. It vibrated slightly in a purr, pleased at her actions, and his chin rested comfortably on her shoulder. "I'm sorry." The murmured apology came as a surprise, and Alex's grace pressed up against his. The archangel heaved a dramatic sigh, settling further down into the throne. "You're still mad at me, aren't you?"

One arm settled across her waist, keeping her close, while the other leaned on the armrest, his blunt nails clicking against the metal as he awaited her answer. "Course I am." Alex huffed. "I was handling things, and you had no business just — just showing up and killing people!"

His grace moved her in a blink of an eye, and Alex's head snapped back to find herself face-to-face with Lucifer. "Perhaps," came the cryptic agreement, and the hand that had been around her waist moved up to dance along her jawline. "But you had me worried, and I'm not responsible for my actions when I'm concerned for your safety."

His face darkened as he spoke, and Alex curled her wings forward, raising her own hand to cautiously cup one of his cheeks. "What's wrong?" She pressed her grace against him, frowning at the anger hidden behind his eyes. "You're acting so differently from when you were in my dreams. You feel ... angry. Mad."

"I am mad," came the quiet reply, and Alex felt her face flush red with embarrassment before she even realized she had no idea of what had caused his frustrations. Her eyes flickered down, unable to hold his gaze. "Yes, at you," he added, answering her unasked question, and Alex's wings drew in close.

His knuckles stroked her cheek, and Alex's fingers fell down to toy with one of the buttons of his coat, caught off guard by the sudden wave of shame that overtook her at his admission. "I ..." Her wings twitched, confused, and she chanced a look upwards into his face. "What did I do?" She watched as Lucifer's jaw clenched, and she tugged sharply on the large tan button as the embarrassment faded, replaced with irritation. "It's about Cas, isn't it? Come on, Luce, really?"

"Don't." The quiet word had Alex pulling her anger in, settling back upon his knees with a sulking frown. "I always knew that we would end up here. I don't have to be God to know that. Castiel always leaves, or he dies, or he hides away, and time after time, he leaves you with me." His crimson wings folded forward, and his hand dropped down to her chin, one finger slipping under it to trace the thin scar that sat there. "Do you remember what happened last time he left? You were so distressed, you tried to kill yourself."

"I was in a bad place —"

"And he knew that. And he knows about this." He tapped the scar again before he pulled his hand away. "But he left you again, and here we are."

"He did it because you can beat the Darkness —" Alex cut off when Lucifer placed a finger against her lips, a gentle, cold pressure that had her falling silent.

The archangel didn't speak immediately, his blue eyes narrowed as he thought, and as the silence lengthened, Alex's feathers rustled impatiently. "When I was in the Cage," he began, "— the second time — it was almost worse than the first. The heat, the emptiness, the solidarity. The plunge back down to drown underwater is always so much worse after you're allowed to come up for air." He paused for emphasis, but the analogy was lost on Alex, who merely shrugged. "Sure, I wasn't alone, but prison life didn't exactly agree with Michael. He just spent his time in the corner. And I had Sam for a bit, but Sam ... Sam's so boring. You break him once, and then it's just the same dog and pony show over and over again. But you ..." Lucifer's wings curled around her, brushing down her back. "You were my air. Li gipah."

My breath. Alex's wings flittered at the Enochian, and she reached out to steady herself on Lucifer's chest as she adjusted, placing her knees on either side of his hips. "I'm sorry," she started, "but I don't see how —"

"Do you feel this?" Lucifer's grace rose within her, curled against her own, and Alex nodded. "This wasn't supposed to happen. My grace resided in you, some way, somehow, and even after it was broken by Castiel, it still returned. It's a part of you."

"I know," Alex admitted after a moment. "When it wasn't there, I didn't feel ..." She cut off with a strong shake of her head, her eyes snapping back up onto Lucifer. "I chose Castiel for a reason."

Lucifer scoffed. "You chose him because he chose you first. Because he made you into what you are, and you couldn't imagine what it would be like without him." He shifted in his seat, and Alex's fingers dug into his coat to steady herself. "Call me what you want, but you can't deny that I was always the one there when you needed me. You could always come back to me. I kept you sane, kept you safe, all while Castiel pulled you in circles."

"He was doing the best that he could. And ... I loved him." Alex shifted closer, and she watched how some of Lucifer's stiffness softened at the past tense, and even Alex gave pause. Loved him. Not love. "H-How much do you know?"

"Everything." Lucifer's eyes glinted. "What happened? You were so confident that you'd get your storybook ending if only the big, bad devil would get out of your head." His fingers brushed across her neck, his grace sparking against her, and Alex felt her grace rise up against her will, glowing blue beneath the skin where her bond with Castiel rested. Lucifer's face darkened, and when Alex knocked away his hand, the anger faded. "But all you learned was that Castiel is a pushover. Sort of became a ... wet, lumpy sock, you know?"

"He's had a ... difficult past couple of months."

"So that's what they're calling it these days." Lucifer's hands dropped to her hips, his cold fingers slipping under her shirt to rest on her smooth skin. "I think you bring out the worst in him, and him in you."

Alex scowled, and her broken wings flittered angrily at the implications. "And you're suggesting that the solution to all of that is that I just abandon him and run off with the devil instead," she muttered, wrapping her fingers around his wrists before his hands could stray further south.

"I'm just saying ... give me a chance. I can be a good guy, too." Alex scoffed, and Lucifer pouted. "Come on. The apocalypse — that was so 2010. I'm moving on to bigger and better things." His hand moved once again, drifting up her arm to press cold fingers against her cheek. "Just come back to me. After so long, it's almost easy, isn't it?" Alex hummed, and the fingers fell away. "Let me show you what I can do."

He leaned forward, his chin tilted up so his lips hovered just in front of hers, and Alex's broken wings trembled in anticipation. "Fine," she breathed, and she felt his lips vibrated as the archangel hummed in pleasure.

Her phone rang, startling her out of the intimate moment, and Alex would have fallen backwards if Lucifer hadn't caught her, the epitome of calm composure. "S-Sorry." Alex fumbled to grab her phone, scowling down at the name that flashed across the screen. "I — I gotta take this."

"Hurry back." Lucifer's wings fell away to let her up, and Alex scrambled to her feet to rush to the other side of the room.

"Uh, hey, Jody." She paused in the corner, her wings drawn in tight as she answered the phone. "Is everything okay? I thought Sam and Dean were headed your way."

"Hello to you, too," Jody Mills teased. "Yeah, they actually just left. Sorry to hear you weren't able to make it up." Alex heard a door click shut in the background, and she cast a glance towards Lucifer as she grunted out an apology. "I sent some leftover ribs home with the boys, though, in case you got hungry. Nothing beats a home cooked meal."

"I can't wait," Alex promised absent-mindedly; Lucifer's eyes were traversing the room, seemingly uninterested in her conversation, but she could feel that his grace was taut with curiosity. "I'm just hoping that Dean doesn't eat them all before they get back."

She was rewarded with a laugh that quickly died away. "I hope this isn't a bad time," Jody began. "Sam mentioned you were disappointed that you couldn't make it up, so I just wanted to call and check in, see if there's anything you might need."

"No, no, I'm actually fine." Alex pressed her back up against the stone wall, her wings spread out against the cold stone; the action drew Lucifer's attention, and she turned her head away so he couldn't see her lips move. "Everything okay with Claire? Sam mentioned something about ..."

She trailed off, unsure how to finish, and Jody heaved a sigh. "Yeah, she's been seeing cases where they aren't," she admitted. "Although, this time there actually was something. Some vampires came back for Alex — Annie," she corrected, and Alex hummed in understanding. "My Alex." Jody sighed again, and her voice dropped in defeat. "I thought ... I thought that by taking Claire in, maybe I could help her, but she's dead set on hunting."

"Yup," Alex distantly agreed. "It's hard to talk to kids ..." Her words died in her throat as Lucifer rose to his feet.

Her hesitation was misinterpreted as disinterest. "I'm sorry, I'm boring you. Uh, Sam told me that you and Cas were back together," Jody said. "I know you guys were having a rough patch, but I'm glad to hear you're working through it." Lucifer crossed the room, his crimson wings hanging casually at his side, and Alex's own wings fell down, inviting him forward. "Listen," she distantly heard Jody say, "just make sure that he's treating you right, alright?"

Guilt flashed through Alex, hot and sharp, and she dropped her eyes onto the ground. "Alright," she agreed, careful to keep her voice under control as Lucifer sniggered. "T-Thanks, Jody. I'll let him know." She felt Lucifer's grace snake out to hang up the phone, and she reached back to tuck it into her pocket as the archangel stepped close. "Sorry," she muttered. "Work stuff."

"Sounds boring." Lucifer grabbed her waist, pulling her close, and Alex wrapped her arms around his neck. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, eyes closing as she felt his wings curl around her. His lips pressed up against her temple, a laugh vibrating through him. "We've got better things to do."