Cebalrai hated being woken up in the middle of the night, hated it even more when the bed was cold outside of himself. It meant Gabriel was with his wife. At the Lafant estate, instead of where he belonged. Instead of where Cebalrai needed him to be.
Margot hovered over him, her face white in panic. "Get up!" She hissed, quiet only for the purpose of keeping Este asleep, Cebalrai was sure. "Cebalrai, he's in trouble, we have to help him."
"What?" Cebalrai felt quite awake suddenly. He could be anyone. Bond or Walker, but his mind had settled on one man. Gabriel. It was unlikely, he thought, but his heart was stuck on the name. The same way it had been since he was fifteen. Gabriel Lafant, my undoing.
"Gabriel's in trouble."
So Cebalrai, tossing away his hatred of premature mornings, stood and left the Cresswell estate in his pyjamas. A sorry state he was, showing up at the doors of Gabriel's grand house with a horrified Margot.
No longer Margot Cash, but still carrying the spirit of her. Margot Dothan now, and far more empathetic because of it. Cebalrai wondered who was taking care of Steve, as he saw Walker waiting at the door for them.
"It's quiet, Marg, are you sure-" Walker began once Cebalrai and Margot were within speaking distance, but Margot only pushed past him and forced the door open.
"Gabriel!" She called, leading the group into the living room. Silence. "Gabriel!" She continued, turning to make her way into the kitchen. Three steps, around the island, and then a scream.
Cebalrai hit her back, and she stumbled into the wall in an attempt to not fall on whatever had made her scream. He had a perfect view of it.
A body, bloodied on the floor. Face-down, but he'd know that back anywhere. He'd know the legs, the clothes, the hair.
"Gabriel," It's choked. Panicked. His words feel more real than Cebalrai does right now, and he kneels down directly in the pool of blood. "Baby, get up." This sounds much more calm, it's the voice he takes on when Gabriel comes home with a black eye. It's an attempt to keep Gabriel calm, more than himself. Even though he's always more fussed than Gabriel is.
"Gabriel," he repeats when there is no answer, and Walker makes a devastated noise. Cebalrai hates him. The noise is unnecessary, because Gabriel is being dramatic. He will get up. Cebalrai shoves at his shoulder, but he does not get up. "Este's here, Lafant, this isn't funny."
Cebalrai figures making Gabriel feel bad will make him give up this ruse. But the man does not move, and it registers how cold his shoulder was.
"Cebalrai, he's dead." It's Walker, who has made his way to the other side of Gabriel's body. "Someone's-"
"Shut up," It's harsh. Almost like Cebalrai has spat it, and he grabs at Gabriel's shoulder to turn him. Once he's face up, the tears come without Cebalrai thinking about it. "Oh fuck-"
"We have to call someone-" Margot starts, but stops once Cebalrai gingerly reaches up to shut Gabriel's eyes.
"Fuck," and now his shoulders are shaking, his face contorted into something vulnerable. His breathing labored, and all he can think is This hurts worse than Sectumsempra. This hurts worse than father. You said you wouldn't hurt me. You promised you wouldn't hurt me. "Stop it, stop it-" He doesn't know who he's speaking to. He thinks maybe he's talking to Lucifer.
Lucifer. His babbling becomes pleas, a mantra that he hopes Lucifer will hear. Bring him back. Bring him back to me. I need him. I still need him.
Margot tries to lift him, but he shoves her away. She tries to lift Gabriel, but Cebalrai shouts at her before her hands even touch the body. The body. This cannot be the man he loves, he doesn't believe that. He doesn't think that's possible.
