The Baking Angel

Chapter 1

"It's good to see you, Michael." Lucifer smirked at him.

"You too. It's been too long. Can you believe it's finally here?" He prepared his angel blade.

"No. Not really."

"Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be. A part of me wishes we didn't have to do this."

"Yeah. Me too." I'm sorry, Luce.

"Then why are we?"

A simple question, but it sent Michael blazing. "Oh, you know why! I have no choice, after what you did."

"What I did? What if it's not my fault?"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Anger. Sorrow.

"Think about it. Dad made everything. Which means he made me who I am! God wanted the Devil."

"So?"

"So why? And why make us fight? I just can't figure out the point."

"What's your point?

"We're going to kill each other. And for what? One of Dad's tests. And we don't even know the answer. We're brothers. Let's just walk off the chessboard."

How dare he. "I'm sorry. I-I can't do that. I'm a good son, and I have my orders."

"But you don't have to follow them." Yes. Yes I do.

"What, you think I'm gonna rebel? Now? I'm not like you."

"Please, Michael-" I'm so sorry, brother. Forgive me, Lucifer.

"You know, you haven't changed a bit, older brother. Always blaming everybody but yourself. We were together. We were happy. But you betrayed me – all of us – and you made our father leave."

"No one makes Dad do anything. He is doing this to us." Liar.

"You're a monster, Lucifer. And I have to kill you." Michael dropped the angel blade into his hand.

Lucifer frowned. "If that's the way it's got to be... Then I'd like to see you try." Forgive me, Luce. I'm so sorry.

---

M

ichael bolted up, gasping for breath, and shivering in a cold sweat.  He choked out a sob before bringing his knees up and hugging them. Lucifer burst into the room.

Lucifer. His brother. His living brother.

"I'm sorry, Luci. I'm so, so very sorry." Whispered, broken words pasted over scratchy silence.

"No."

"What?“ Michael looked up at Lucifer with wet cheeks and red eyes.

"No, Michael." Lucifer wrapped his arms around the man in question and whispered, "Stop. Stop doing this to yourself. I won't forgive you if you don't forgive yourself."

Michael squeezed his brother tight with a watery smile.

Lucifer took Michael by the arms and held him away from his body. "Listen to me, Mikey. We never fought. You didn't kill me. I didn't kill you. Remember? 'Præter me stare, et ego dabo vobis mundus.'"

"Stand beside me, and I will give you the world," mumbled Michael.

"Exactly," said Lucifer, wiping Michael's tear-streaked face. "Now, feel like going back to sleep, or do ya wanna start baking?"

"Come on!" With sudden energy, Michael bounded out of bed and down the stairs. Shaking his head, Lucifer started to follow him.

"What am I going to do with you, little bro?"