with a devil on the shoulder

[worldfelldown]

Sometimes, Sam looks across the tiny motel room and at the guy sprawled on his bed and wonders how it ended up like this. Lucifer riding shotgun... the real Lucifer. It's a million kinds of bad news and yet here they are, hunting, and probably slowly driving each other crazy.

Sam knows he's got to be going a little crazy, because sometimes Lucifer's company isn't even really that horrible. He's useful on hunts too. He knows plenty of lore, can pinpoint weaknesses with frightening accuracy.

And for now at least, Lucifer seems to accept that Sam's not going to agree to be his vessel again and that the apocalypse is off the table.

Shaking his head and clearing his thoughts, he nudges his laptop aside. "You want to go out? I'm starving now."

Comments

[castfromhome]

If Sam was confused, it was safe to say that it went double for Lucifer. Mortal and bound to Sam (not his vessel but Sam), reduced to hunting base monsters and ghosts, living in tiny motels with lumpy beds and lukewarm showers.

Strange, but it wasn't quite as horrible as he'd initially thought. He still had no patience for witnesses, victims or anyone that required any degree of empathy. But the hunts themselves? They were an entertaining diversion. After all, he'd been created for battle.

Lucifer used up most of the hot water, insisted on driving simply because it made Dean's teeth grate, and Sam kept engaging him, kept talking to him.

He stretches lazily, putting down the tablet Sam had purchased when he got sick of Lucifer using the laptop to hack various websites for his own amusement. "Yes, and stop researching. I told you already it's a vetch, not a wraith. We'll track the nest tomorrow."

[worldfelldown]

"I like knowing what I'm getting into." It was significantly harder to ignore Lucifer than he wanted to admit. He could try -- and he did when Lucifer was practically grating on his nerves like he seemed to do on occasion -- but there was still this draw there anyway. Sometimes, Lucifer could just wear him down too, prod him into reacting.

"And who said you're calling the shots all of a sudden?" There wasn't any real heat behind his words though. Shaking his head, he pushed himself up to his feet.

"Come on, let's head out. Dean's out for the night... he went to that bar we passed coming here, so it's just me and you tonight."

[castfromhome]

"Then keep researching. You'll see that I'm right." His lips twitch as he closes down the game he'd been fiddling with. Plague, Inc. The games humans come up with - plot the destruction of humanity with a virus. Been there, done that. It made Dean twitch and Sam just huff and roll his eyes.

"It's a vetch and if you go in there armed with silver and mirrors you'll wind up in over your head."

He shrugs into his jacket. Strange but since he'd been bound to Sam as a human he simply can't get enough of being warm. Warm jackets, hot showers, spicy food, he craved all of it.

"So he'll wind up with another room or find some woman to take him home, you mean."

[worldfelldown]

"Maybe I was researching vetch?" He shakes his head, though his lips quirk up slightly despite himself at Lucifer's continued insistence.

At least for the most part, Lucifer seemed to be getting the hang of humanity. He'd seen Cas when he'd fallen, seen him struggle with his dwindling Grace. Some part of Sam thought it served Lucifer right, more than the Cage had. He got to experience exactly what it was like to be one of the things he'd hated and wanted to destroy.

"Basically, yeah." No sense in denying it. Grabbing his own jacket, he went to get the door and head out. "He'll be back in the morning... probably with details."

Like always.

[castfromhome]

"If you were, then I'll buy dinner." Yes, he's that sure of himself. Just.. never mind where that money comes from. He may just have a tablet, but according to Dean, Lucifer had perfected the art of credit card fraud in a dangerously short period of time.

"And yet you never want to reciprocate." He's made no secret that since his fall he's been attracted to Sam. Sam, the one human he'd been waiting for since his Creation, how could he not hold him just a bit higher than other humans?

So far, it's been nothing but harmless snarking, teasing and Lucifer just daring him to get a little closer to that line in the dirt. It passes the time anyway, and makes the vein in Dean's forehead twitch in the most entertaining sort of manner. "I saw a Chinese takeout two blocks off."

[worldfelldown]

"You say that after we've already left. I can't prove it." He shakes his head, lips quirking up slightly.

And there it is. That tease that has him shifting a little, disgruntled. Both probably because there is something there between them, much as he tries to ignore it, and because Lucifer is good at manipulating that fact. "There's not a lot to tell about my sex life, even if I was the type."

And really, he had no doubt that Lucifer knew that. Sam wasn't all that into random hookups and he didn't have the luxury of getting to know anyone for something more. "Not that I need to give you details. You were already in my head at one point. You know everything."

However brief it had been. "Alright, lead the way."

[castfromhome]

Lucifer manages to look affronted, even in the face of Sam's faint smile. "I've never lied to you Sam. I'd trust you to do the same." Or he's just that certain he's right.

And if he catches that shift and that vaguely uncomfortable look, he gives no indication of it as they head to the Impala. Something has been there since long before he woke up in the field, dazed and stuffed into a mortal body, but now when he lets his gaze linger over Sam it's with deliberate intent.

"Sam." Distaste colors his voice for a moment. "Do you really think I was rummaging around in such personal memories? You were a part of me, it would have been.. rude."

[worldfelldown]

"Really?" Well, Sam wasn't really feeling all that inclined to lie or anything anyway.

Circling around to get inside the Impala, he pauses and looks up, over at Lucifer. Well, he's only ever been possessed by one other thing -- and that would have been Meg, who had reminded him often that she knew everything in his head. He wasn't all that sure it would be different for Lucifer. "I didn't know you had boundaries for that kind of thing, that's all."

[castfromhome]

"Sam. You were my vessel, someone I'd been waiting for since my creation. I wouldn't violate your memories in such a way."

He slides into the passenger seat. "Even the Devil has boundaries, surprising as that may be."

[worldfelldown]

"Well..." He shakes his head, smiling slightly. It was a relief to know. Sam had always been a private person... having his memories on display for anyone else got under his skin in a way he hated. "I, uh. I appreciate that."

[castfromhome]

Strange, but he's getting used to the pleasant feeling that comes with making Sam smile. Somewhere along the line he'd become more than his vessel, more than the human he was bound to.

"You're welcome. Your memories are your own, Sam."

[worldfelldown]

It felt strange, thanking the devil himself for anything. He drove them to the Chinese lace Lucifer had pointed out and parked in front. "Alright, come on. Let's grab something so we can get back. If we've got a hunt tomorrow, we should take it easy tonight."

[castfromhome]

"I hope their Szechuan is better than the place in Little Rock." Lucifer pulled a face as they approached the door to the restaurant.

"It's just a vetch. Between the three of us, it'll be fine. Vetch don't nest until the full moon, it's just the one."

[worldfelldown]

"Alright, so... what else did you want to do tonight then?" Sam probably just set himself up for something, but the question was already out.

"There's free HBO at the motel... you can watch crap movies all night if you want."

[castfromhome]

"I think seeing 'Sharktopus' and 'Sharknado' in one night was all that I care to see in this or any other lifetime."

He won't admit that he found himself watching Sam more often than the predictable plots and terrible special effects anyway. Lucifer's mouth twitched as he held open the door for Sam.

"Find a way to get back at your brother for all the details that neither of us really want to hear?"

[worldfelldown]

He gave a look as he headed inside and got them a table. "I don't think we're picking up anyone here to do that..."

Though he had a feeling Lucifer wasn't exactly hinting at that. It wasn't like his interest wasn't obvious or that Sam didn't have some curiosity of his own either.

[castfromhome]

"I thought hunters were better at thinking on their feet." Lucifer waved away the menu, ordering in nearly flawless Cantonese for both of them. Hot and spicy for him, plenty of lighter vegetable dishes for Sam.

He'd hardly made it a secret that he was interested, and every day they seemed to get a little closer to the possibility of being intimate. Lucifer was a patient creature; he'd wait for San to be ready.

[worldfelldown]

"I think fine on my feet," Sam protested half-heartedly, shaking his head. He'd trust Lucifer to order for them both -- considering he'd just done it. He was hungry enough to eat whatever at the moment and Lucifer seemed to know what he liked anyway.

He guessed it came with the whole vessel territory.

He leaned back once they were alone and studied Lucifer for a moment, quietly. "So you're suggesting what, we do something that's worth being shared?"

[castfromhome]

Lucifer hadn't pried that deeply into Sam's mind, he was simply observant. Sam favored lighter fare, so he could order with some degree of confidence that whatever he chose for Sam it would suit him.

"I think that would depend on whether or not you wanted to get a little bit of payback or watch your brother refrain from sharing details with anyone ever again."

Taking apart his chopsticks, he tapped one against the table restlessly. "In short, yes." Because he would never lie to Sam, even now.

[worldfelldown]

He laughed at that. "Well, if it's something between me and you, that probably would teach him to not share anymore. You're right."

He's pretty sure picturing Lucifer in any kind of sexual situation is something Dean wasn't all that eager to do after all.

"Dude, come on, don't tap that... The food'll be out soon."

[castfromhome]

Smirk.

"And here I thought we were talking about tapping things."

Unlike his younger brothers, Lucifer had a firm and easy grasp on modern slang. Very little went soaring over his head, as it tended to do around Castiel.

Still, he set down the chopsticks and took another swallow from his beer. An acquired taste, to be sure, but it was like the rest of humanity. It took getting used to. Learning what he did and did not like. Beer was good. Coffee and whiskey were good. Pie was too sweet (although he still stole Dean's just to watch him twitch) and sodas had too much carbonation.

Lucifer had to admit, he had a good teacher in Sam. Sam, who had lived a difficult life and instead of becoming bitter or angry about it, was kind to people. Gentle, despite his size and Lucifer wanted him. Wanted to drag the big hunter against him and drink in his warmth. Bask in it.

[worldfelldown]

"Don't be cute." Which might have been a little more effective if Sam's lips didn't curl up slightly in amusement before he tried to hide it.

"And that might be more appropriate to discuss when we're either back in the car or at the room again." Sam couldn't deny that he was interested. For all the times Lucifer could grate on him, there were times when he was fascinating to talk to, invaluable while they hunted.

And Sam liked to believe that others could make the right choice, no matter how far gone they were. A fool's hope, maybe, but he needed to believe it. He needed to know people had a choice even now, could change... even Lucifer himself.

He seemed to be, little by little. He wasn't exactly a threat anymore anyway, even if it was all an act to get closer to the Winchesters.

[castfromhome]

He got a faintly amused smile out of it. Success. Lucifer knows that his mock innocent face gets absolutely no traction with Sam, but he goes for it anyway. "I wouldn't dream of it, Sam."

This would probably be where any other human would get the check and immediately head back to either the car or the motel to have that long-awaited talk. But he was patient. He could wait through dinner, and if Sam was indeed interested, then he could wait too.

Lucifer didn't engage in any real navel-gazing or introspection. There had been time enough for that in the Cage and it had only left him exhausted. So many possibilities, chances not taken, decisions that could have been different. Now that he was human, he wasn't going to waste his now very short life on what if.

He was changing, and fairly certain that it was all due to the young man sitting across from him. Anyone else probably would have killed him on the spot.

"Then we can wait until we get back if that's what you want."

[worldfelldown]

Normally, yeah, if you told someone that... they'd want to get back to privacy as soon as possible. The fact that Lucifer didn't push it almost made him feel... something warm for the fallen angel. He nodded, glimpsing down at his chopsticks absently.

"Probably a good idea," he answers, glimpsing back across the table.

"It's not exactly appropriate to discuss details where people can overhear after all... they might not appreciate it."

[castfromhome]

Lucifer had no intention of pushing Sam into anything that he wasn't ready for. He'd waited for millenia for Sam already, what was a few days longer?

With a pleased sound, he dug into his food as it was delivered. Dark and spicy and exactly what he wanted. As for anything else he wanted? Well. That could wait. Smirking, Lucifer offered him a plate of heavily spiced chicken. "That's your sense of decorum Sam, not mine. If you want to wait, then we'll wait until we're finished."