Angel Wings and Demon Pitchforks

43. It's My Party

Michael did not initially want a party or any sort of celebration resembling a party. He thought that he could maybe spend his birthday at home, have a dinner with the family, watch The Breakfast Club - casual stuff. But according to Bobby, Ellen, Jo and Sam, it was his "eighteenth birthday" and "he should spend it with his friends" at a "big party."

So that's how he ended up with a red solo cup filled with punch on his birthday. The car shed had been cleared out to accomodate for the twenty or so teenagers plus tables and chairs. Michael was sitting at one of the tables, staring into the orange, fizzy goodness in his cup and trying not to think about his boyfriend. Or his brother's boyfriend.

"'Sup."

"Oh." Michael looked up. "Hey Charlie." She crossed her legs over each other, her sparkly heels reflecting the many fairy lights strung around the room and ceiling.

"Why aren't you dancing?" She asked over the music. The middle of the shed was free, giving space for the teenagers to dance or stand around.

"I don't dance to this song," Michael said, shaking his head.

"But it's our song," Lucifer whispered, suddenly behind Michael's chair. "I love you baby!" Lucifer pulled away from Michael's ear and sung along with the song. "And if it's quite alright, I need you baby!"

"I'm guessing you didn't make the playlist?" Charlie laughed, leaning over to the table so Michael could hear her.

"Lucifer, Dean and Sam put it together," Michael replied. "I actually didn't have much say in the organisation of this event."

He looked out at the crowd of his friends, dancing and laughing and having an all-around good time. Sam and Gabriel were holding hands and dancing together. Cas and Dean were dancing in a group with Balthazar and Kevin.

It had been four months since their dad died. Four months; Michael had thought he and his brother's would be packing their bags and moving out to live on their own. That was the plan that Michael had since he was old enough to realise that their dad was a bad person. But sitting there, watching his friends and brothers have fun, as if nothing was wrong, the plan became redundant. It didn't matter anymore. They were happy.

So why did Michael feel so miserable?

"Come on, Mikey," Lucifer took Michael's hand and attempted to pull him up. "Dance with me."

"I'm a bit full from dinner," Michael lied. He had hardly eaten anything. Lucifer knew this and frowned. "I just want to sit here for a while."

"Is everything okay?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired." He pried his hand from Lucifer's. "Go dance without me. I'll join you later." Lucifer looked over at Charlie, who shot him a reassuring smile, before turning and walking away.

"He looks cute tonight," Charlie said as they watched him leave.

"I guess." No, Michael didn't guess. Lucifer looked hot. With his signature plain white t-shirt, his leather jacket and dark jeans, Lucifer looked like a movie star.

"So," Charlie changed the subject, adjusting the strap on her baby-blue singlet, "eighteen, huh? A legal adult."

"Yeah, I am old," Michael replied, still watching Lucifer.

"I don't understand what the problem is with you two," Charlie sighed. "If you like him, ask him out. Spare us all the pain."

Michael dropped the cup of punch, spilling it over the table cloth.

"I don't -- I don't like him... we're just-- just friends."

"That's not what I heard from Raphael," Charlie mumbled and reached over to grab the napkins to clean up his spill.

"What did you hear?" Michael snapped. Charlie held up her hands in mock surrender before placing the napkins down over his spill.

"Nothing! He just alluded to knowing that there was something going on between you and Lucifer," Charlie smirked, "something of the romantic kind."

Michael turned and searched the room for Lucifer, finding him talking with Meg, Alfie and Jack. His heart raced; what did Lucifer tell Raphael? Did anyone else know?

"Michael," Charlie said quickly, sensing his distress, "it's not a big deal. Lucifer cares a lot about you, anyone can see that. He's not ashamed of you. And if your problem is with being gay--"

"I'm not gay." Michael shot out of his seat.

"What? No, I never said--"

"I'm not, okay? I don't know why people keep saying I am. I may have had a boyfriend once, but that was just a phase."

"Okay," Charlie sighed. "Not gay. Got it. Sorry I brought it up."

Michael ran his hand through his hair. He had to get to the bottom of this. He had to find out what Lucifer had done. So he pushed through the room.

"Hey Michael!" Alfie greeted him with a grin. "Happy birthday!"

"Hi Alfie," Michael said. "Lucifer, we need to talk." Lucifer hesitated. Before he could respond, Ellen walked into the shed, holding a cake lit up with eighteen candles. Bobby was behind her with a camera phone, grinning wildly.

"Happy birthday to you!" Michael's friends started singing, completely off key and very loudly. "Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Michael! Happy birthday to you!"

"Hip hip!" Dean yelled.

"Hooray!" The crowd screamed. They continued and suddenly the cake was in front of Michael.

"Make a wish," Ellen said.

Michael hesitated. A wish. He looked over at Lucifer, who grinned back. He looked back at Ellen, and Bobby beside them, filming the whole thing. A wish. He looked down at the candles, the flames dancing around on the wicks.

A wish.

Before, in the past, he would have wished for John to leave him and his brothers alone. But that wish had come true. John was dead. They were free from that suffocating life.

So what did Michael want now?

I want to be with Lucifer, was the answer the voice in his head gave him.

I want to protect Sam and Dean, another added.

I can't do both.

A wish.

"Michael?" Ellen asked. "You okay honey?"

Michael blew out the candles quickly, all in one breath, and his friends cheered.

"All in one breath?" Alfie chuckled. "What was that thing that our mum always told us? Three breaths, they're far away. Two means they'll be here soon enough, and one: your soulmate is right beside you!"

Michael froze and the distance between him and Lucifer closed. Sam crossed his arms and rose an eyebrow, as if daring Michael to freak out. So he swallowed his panic and chuckled lightly.

"I'm sure that's not true, Alfie."

"You never know!" Balthazar said.

"No, I do. Soulmates don't exist."

"You just haven't found yours yet," Adam said.

Michael caught Gabriel look over at Sam with a frown. Sam never took his eyes off Michael.

Dean's eyes were wide. Michael didn't dare turn to see Lucifer's expression.

Charlie put on a smile that didn't reach her worried eyes.

"Let's have cake!"

Michael breathed a sigh of relief as he felt the awkward tension release.

"Michael. I need to talk to you." It sounded as if every muscle in Lucifer's body was tensed. Michael shivered but kept his eyes on Ellen taking the cake over to a table to cut, followed by several hungry teenagers.

"Okay. Go ahead."

"Not here." Lucifer grabbed Michael's arm and pulled him away roughly.