Regaining consciousness || Nickifer

03• There's always hope

Title: There's always hope

Triggers: Character death

Characters: Zelot. Mentions of Lucifer, Nick

Wordcount: 1468

**

There was a feeling right before letting go, a clear nothing before you went under, into the darkness. A limitless feeling before sleep took over, the endless black. There was a moment like this, a release so short on its own but increasingly so when a cold, harsh awakening took hold. Shock fired within Nick's body as he came to. He had no time to register before he was held under a body of water again. The water filling his lungs as he gasped in surprise.

Gasping for breath, Nick fell back against the wall. He choked from the previous intrusion as he held against the wall for support but receiving none as he slipped down the tiled surface. The perpetrator seeming to have little regard for Nick as he closed the running tap.

Nick almost growled as he recognized the figure. Dark-haired, blue eyed visage and seeming to have a permanent nonchalant expression plastered on his face. He wasn't someone Nick was expecting neither was he someone Nick wanted to see again. Nothing good followed the sparkle behind those eyes. A bad omen if he ever saw one.

"Zelot." Nick coughed out, not used to using his voice and still raw from the abuse he had put his body through the last few days. Nick tried standing but tumbled to the ground once again when he tried putting weight on his legs. There was no love in his voice and no attempt to insert it or hide the contempt.

"You look like shit." Zelot stated, leaning against the sink, his expression not giving any indication that he cared for the human and neither would he admit it if he did. He was just an obstacle at worst and tool at best.

"Yeah, well.." Nick settled in on the ground, knowing he wouldn't be able to get up by himself in this state. "It is what it is."

Zelot had to take a breath. Lucifer only knew what he saw in this human, they were all so pathetic and weak, a sentiment Lucifer only ever lifted when it came to this vessel. But here Nick stood, one setback and he gives up. After all that had transpired, you'd think he'd have some more hope. Too bad every plan he could and would come up with requires this broken man to come to fruition after his previous failures. How far hell had fallen that he had to stoop this low. You'd think Nick would've tried to find some solace in Lucifer's only born child but even that was too much to ask apparently. Just another puzzle that would need solving at a later date.

"You give up so easily. Lucifer would be proud." Zelot commented harshly, intending to hurt the man in the hole he already found himself in. He knew what this particular button would do and he relished in it.

Nick looked up sharply as his expression changed to one that bordered on hateful. "Don't." Nick could feel him losing the limited control he still had on his emotions, they were just waiting to burst. He did not want to fall apart especially in front of Zelot. God only knows why Lucifer hadn't killed him long ago. He was more problems than the work he did for hell.

"Truth hurts little man. Facts are facts but the question is are you going to do something about it." Zelot asked crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against the sink. "Except for drinking yourself into a stupor every chance you get and feeling sorry for yourself but that's how humans prefer to fix things, isn't it, or was that just you? "

Nick was quiet for a moment, Zelot had begun to think he had lost consciousness again until he heard a faint voice coming from Nick. It was filled with so much helplessness that Zelot almost felt empathy for the man but he had stooped low enough for one night, he would go no further.

"What else is there left to do?" It was a question, honest and not a retort. Nick honestly wondered how to move on, move further, go back. Anything but stay in this spot where the walls continuously pushed against his chest and the alcohol refused to kill him. He couldn't take his life and no matter how many others he took, he was still alone in this world. Retribution, revenge. It wasn't enough. He needed that which had been taken from him.

"There's so much you could be doing... You are a mere child in this world Lucifer put you in but you are stuck in it whether you like it or not." Zelot stated. "You are connected to Lucifer and others will come and they won't be as nice as I've been."

There was a part of Zelot that was surprised the human had still survived. Whispers spread like a virus and many counts spoke of searching for the human vessel, a sacrifice. Others spoke of revenge and offerings. Lucky.. or unlucky, depending on your perspective, no one got to him before he did.

"Who?" Nick furrowed his brows as he wondered if he could muster the strength to stand now that his mind was beginning to clear up.

"Anyone looking for revenge. Everyone thinking they can resurrect him and even the ones that think he might be resurrected. None of them think they need you alive. Unfortunately, they're likely wrong."

"He can be resurrected?" Nick asked, looking at Zelot in a way that reminded him of a puppy asking for a treat. He wasn't one to kick a puppy but he would kick a man while he's down which was what made this whole exchange sit awkwardly for him. Having to drag this pathetic excuse for a vessel out of this place to not see himself killed for a simple 7 days.

"Of course that's the only thing your little brain would cling onto." Zelot sighed as his hand ran over his face. How was he supposed to explain a thousand years of history and spells in a concise way for this human to get off his ass and go with him. "No." Zelot stated and then added for his own sanity. "Not yet."

"How do you know." Nick asked. "There's hope. You said it yourself I'm connected to Lucifer. How do you know they're wrong" Nick tried to stand and wobbled pathetically.

"Their plans are weak and littered with falsehoods. They're.. reckless" Zelot stated simply, not showing any reaction to Nick attempting to find his feet again. "You will die in the process and as it stands, unfortunately, you are our best chance at this moment. You don't throw away your best ingredient on half a word."

"And your plan isn't weak?" Nick asked, knowing better than to trust this demon that had done nothing but despise him since he had learned that Lucifer had been speaking with him. "I at least know better than to follow you blindly."

"You think they're a better bet?" Zelot tilted his head, his voice taunting. He wouldn't even know what was happening before the last breath left him if they were left to use him as an ingredient.

Nick clenched his jaw and closed his eyes momentarily. At least he knew Zelot was loyal to Lucifer but the same cannot be said for his feelings towards Nick. He probably had a harder stance on humans than Lucifer had. He wouldn't trust him if they were the last creatures to roam the Earth and he had the only mode of sustenance. He'd first watch Nick die than help.

"They might have some credit to their name. Maybe you just don't have the courage to take what you know he won't forgive." Nick stated, holding himself upright by holding onto the wall. "Or you're afraid of failing him for the last time. Lucifer used to say how young you were, so easy to please.. So please do cut the bullshit and tell me how your plan is somehow superior."

Zelot clenched his jaw. "You know what, You're right. Let them have at you. It's probably better they kill you and get it over with so I don't have to deal with you. I can probably still work with their leftovers." Zelot stated as he started for the door, smirk playing on his lips as he turned. No way Nick would let the chance slip to get Lucifer back. If there's one thing about loss, it's that it makes people desperate and dear Nick was quite evidently hanging on by a single thread.

"Wait." Nick said quickly. He may not trust Zelot but Lucifer did and he would do anything to get Lucifer back, do anything to make the pain stop, even if it meant he had to die. At least in death he could be free of this unrelenting burden of knowing he did not protect Lucifer.