A Single White Lie

One

It's hurt...

It's really hurt...

He mused in his mind as he walked, hand on the wall as the only thing that could him balanced while he walked toward his destination, ignoring the pain and some part of him that still felt numb after numerous experiment the Astral had done to him. Sandalphon stopped at one point, closed his eyes as nausea come and couldn't help but grimaced at the sheer amount of pain all around his body. But he can't stop here now.

Because today...Today is the day when Lucifer will come after his mission and he want to greet him, welcome him home, like he always do. Yet he could feel his feet struggling to keep standing and he feel like his head just got hit by a massive tree. In short, he's not in the best condition to greet him, if he want him to keep oblivious about his condition.

He doesn't want Lucifer-sama to see him like this and today examination just need to be the most painful one among he had experienced so far.

"...I can't..." he murmured as he sank to his knees, his breath become hard and he could see his vision has become blurry. I can't let Lucifer-sama see me like this... Maybe... Maybe if he could go back to his room and rest for a bit to let his regeneration ability to do its job, maybe he could welcome him, he mused.

And yet, hours has been passed and his body doesn't show any sign to regenerated like it supposed to be. He could see the wound that the Astral inflicted on one of his finger, it wasn't that big now but, the process was too slow than his usual pace.

Something messed with his regenerative system, he know that and at this point he doesn't think he has much time before Lucifer come.

"Lucifer...sama..." He manage to say through his hard breath before darkness envelope him.

---

The next thing he could see when he first opened his eyes was a light and it was enough to sent him to a panic state for a moment before a familiar feminine voice called for him,

"Now, now, San-chan, you shouldn't move right away." She said as she put her hand through his hair, gently caressed it and he could feel all the tense and panic that he felt gradually gone and he could finally relaxed when he could see her face clearly.

"... Gabriel...san?"

"That's right~" She responded with her cheerful smile as she keep her gesture on his head. "I find you blacked out at the hallway before."

"Ah..."

"You're not in the condition to move around, San-chan. Where are you going to?"Genuine concern flashed on her blue eyes and it make him guilty to make her worried, he shouldn't make people worry."Lucifer-sama, isn't it?" she added when he gave no answer and this time, he could only nodded his head before he slowly turned it to her.

"...has he?"

"Not yet, I heard there would be a delay for his arrival. So, you should rest for now and safe your energy if you want to greet him, Right-hand man-san."She said playfully with a gentle tap on his nose that make him flinched.

He could feel his blood rush to his cheeks when she giggled while cooed how cute he is, resulting in him to quick to pull the blanket over his face to hide his red face. He was...glad to know that there's delay, for once, at least it'll give him enough time to recuperate, he hope.

"Now, go sleep and don't move around too much, understand?"

"Understood," he answered with a light nod. "Thank you very much, Gabriel-san."

"You're welcome."And her smile was the last thing he saw before he goes back to deep slumber.

---

"How is he?"

"He is resting now, so there is no need to be worried. I have healed most of his wounds too, the rest is up to his regenerative ability."

"I see. You have my gratitude, Gabriel. And my apologies that you must tell a lie to him"

"You do not need to, supreme primarch. I am glad to be any of help. Beside, I am sure he would be upset if he know about it." she giggled as she saw a hint of worried over the supreme primach's blue eyes. "Well then, supreme primarch. I suppose I should go back to my duty. Please excuse me." she said with a bow.

"Understood, once again, thank you very much."

"You are welcome, supreme primarch."