The Debt Collector

03. The Touch of the Divine

     Auriel lay sprawled across his bed, his inky black wings fanned out to their full span, draped across the soft mattress like shadows over moonlit snow. His eyes traced the ceiling aimlessly, though there was nothing to see. His thoughts wandered, slipping into that familiar state of calm detachment, a quiet refuge from the weight of eternity. But as always, that stillness didn't last long.
     "Auri?" A voice drifted through the door, accompanied by a gentle knock. The sound was soft, melodic, wrapping around him like a tender caress. He'd never admit it, but every time he heard that voice, his heart skipped just a fraction faster, only to settle into a steady, peaceful rhythm soon after. The voice calmed the storm in his soul, a balm for his frayed-nerves.
     With a feigned reluctant sigh, he pulled himself from his reverie, sitting up and flicking his wrist to unlock the door with a muted clink.
     "Enter," he called, his voice quieter than intended. The door creaked open, revealing Lucifer, golden hair glinting like sunlight through stained glass. His steps were unhurried, full of effortless grace, as he crossed the room toward Auriel.

     "Hey, hun. How've you been?" Lucifer's voice, as always, carried the warmth of honey, dripping with a softness that never failed to disarm the dark-haired angel.
     "Ah- Fine. Alive, I suppose, so I can't complain." Auriel shrugged, pulling himself off of his bed to lean lazily against one of the posts, stretching his wings slightly before folding them back. "Did you need something?"
     Lucifer chuckled, shaking his head. "Straight to the point as always," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He took a step closer, hands tucked casually into his pockets. "Actually, I was wondering if you might want to join me for a little outing. God's about to spark a new cosmos into existence. She won't be there personally—more of a remote project—but I figured we could watch the stars get born. Might be a nice distraction, yeah? Stars bursting, galaxies spinning..."
     Auriel paused, his gaze settling on Lucifer. He could see the subtle excitement behind the angel's golden eyes, and despite his usual reluctance, he couldn't help but feel a glimmer of warmth stir inside him. It wasn't just the idea of a new cosmos being born—it was the thought of sharing the moment with Lucifer. 

     Feigning indifference, Auriel gave a long, exaggerated sigh, crossing his arms over his chest. "I suppose," he muttered, though his lips quirked slightly at the corners. "If only to make sure you don't get into too much trouble."
     Lucifer's eyes lingered on Auriel for a beat longer than necessary, the smile on his lips softening as he watched him. It was a familiar game between them, the playful teasing, the pretense of indifference. But beneath it all, there was something unspoken, something neither of them dared to voice—at least, not yet.
     "Well, if you're going to be my chaperone, I suppose I should be on my best behavior." He turned toward the door, but not before glancing back over his shoulder, eyes catching Auriel's with a spark of something unsaid. "Shall we?"
     Auriel unfolded his wings slowly, his movements deliberate as if he needed a moment longer to prepare himself. There was always a tension when they were alone like this—an electricity that hummed in the silence between their words, in the brush of their wings, in the fleeting glances that lingered too long. It was an ancient dance, one that neither dared break. 

     With a soft huff, Auriel pushed himself away from the bedpost and strode toward the door, his wings trailing behind him like inky curtains. He kept his expression neutral, but there was a flicker of warmth in his chest, that same warmth that always appeared when Lucifer was near. It was infuriating in its subtlety, yet impossible to ignore.
     "Lead the way, then," Auriel said, his voice steady, though he could hear the faint edge of something almost fond creeping into his tone. He hated that, how easily Lucifer could slip through the cracks in his well-practiced composure. He despised that even though he had worked so hard to cut all his emotions off, so as not to feel pain, Lucifer just wrecked it all with a single smile.
     The golden-eyed angel chuckled, the sound rich and warm as he pushed open the door. "You make it sound like a chore," he said, casting a glance at Auriel as they stepped into the vast corridor. The halls of Heaven always had a certain ethereal glow about them, soft light filtering from unseen sources, but right now, the world felt smaller, more intimate with just the two of them walking side by side.
     "I didn't say it wasn't," Auriel replied, though there was a faint, barely-there smile tugging at his lips. He kept his eyes forward, unwilling to meet Lucifer's gaze again for fear of what it might stir in him. That tension, that pull, was always there, simmering beneath the surface.