Chapter Text
"I know you're there. You do not have to hide from me. Please, I would appreciate the company."
"I don't know about that. You might change your mind once you see me."
"Try me."
A diminutive blond man peeked out behind the boulder shyly, dressed in fancy white robes. His skin was as white as flour, but circular pink blushes adorned his cheeks, and his eyes glowed faintly with a golden light, encompassing red irises, giving his pale complexion some colour. Upon his soft curls rested a strange, tall, wide-brimmed hat with a crown resting neatly on the base. A golden sleeping snake coiled around the crown, also holding an apple in place like a jewel.
Despite his harmless appearance, Jesus recognised him. The Devil. The King of Hell. The Tempter who rebelled against Heaven's plans and allowed evil to latch their claws into the world, before it even barely begun. The very reason why he was sent into the world now.
Jesus assessed him curiously. From the stories the angels had told him, the devil looked nothing like he'd expected. Of course, Lucifer could have changed his appearance to look more harmless, but Jesus still had enough of his powers to look past any disguise. He could sense a darker, more dangerous version within him, but every angel had that second form. This really was the real him.
In fact, he looked a lot like Michael...
"Hello. What are you doing here?" Jesus looked more curious than wary, giving him a smile.
"I- uh, was a little curious," the devil admitted. Was that relief in his eyes? Was he actually relieved that Jesus had not turned him away? "They've never created anyone else after the First Angels took charge, until you. I guess I just wanted to meet my half-brother." He walked over, sitting down next to the young man on the ground, disregarding the dust and dirt that got on his white robes. "Sooooo... forty days and nights without food, huh? That's a little... cruel? And you're mostly human right now, aren't you?"
"It's just a test," Jesus said softly, hugging his knees up to his chest. "I have to prove that I have the dedication and will to save humanity."
The devil gazed at the young Saviour, compassion in his eyes and a deep aching pain that Jesus could not decipher.
Without a word, the devil held out a piece of bread to him with a hopeful smile on his face. Jesus recoiled a little, even as longing and hunger flooded him. His body, while mostly human, could sustain itself without food for far longer than a normal human, but he could still suffer hunger. Especially after going without eating for so long.
"What... what is this?"
"What they don't know won't hurt them," the devil gave him a playful wink. "I just turned one of the rocks into bread. So technically you wouldn't actually be eating real food... I usually just cook - it's a lot of fun - but I can create other dishes out of thin air too if you'd prefer. You ever heard of pancakes? My daughter goes crazy for them-"
Jesus hesitated, then smiled faintly, holding up a hand to stop him. "Thank you, but... no. I have to get through this on my own."
The devil deflated, that grieved look in his eyes again before he quickly looked away. "Oh- alright." He vanished the bread away, and leaned backwards, resting his hands on the ground behind him. Jesus was about to ask him what was wrong, but he quickly spoke up again. "This really is important to you, huh?"
"It is." Jesus smiled, excitement sparkling in his eyes. "For the first time, humanity will have a bigger chance to be redeemed before their death. I can teach them how to be better versions of themselves, to be kind, selfless, compassionate. I can change the world."
"Would they really listen to you, though? I'm sure many others have tried. And failed." The devil morosely peeled bits off a dead blade of grass he'd plucked from the rocky ground.
"Well, I wouldn't know until I've tried, will I?" Jesus grinned.
The devil made a non-committal sound as he continued shredding the dead leaves to specks of dust. Then he looked up and turned to him, a playful glint in his eyes.
"You know... now that I'm here, there might be an easy way to do that," he spoke up, tapping his chin speculatively. "Let's just say you get yourself into some sort of danger. Like- you could fall off a cliff or something. I'll swoop in and rescue you in full angelic glory, and then they'd have to believe anything you say now. Eh? Ehhh?" he nudged him playfully.
Jesus couldn't help laughing, hiding his giggles behind the back of his hand. No wonder they all said the devil was charming. "Thank you. But no. This is something I have to do on my own. It's important to me. Besides, they'd be treating me like a god, and doing everything I say regardless of what they wish. That's not what I want."
Respect flickered in the devil's gaze. "Suit yourself," he shrugged, pulling up a few more blades of grass, this time idly cross-weaving them into a non-specific pattern.
"What are you making?" Jesus leaned over curiously.
The devil flinched, his red irises briefly flicking up to meet Jesus' eyes before he looked away, but he wasn't quick enough to conceal the hint of fear in his gaze. It made the young Saviour's heart break, wondering what had happened to cause him to be this way. "Oh- it's just... something I do sometimes," he explained, his voice a little strained even though he was trying to sound casual. "It- it helps me focus."
"May I see, please?"
The fallen angel hesitated, staring at the patchwork of dead grass he'd woven into a messy pattern. "Uh, sure."
Jesus reached over, gently taking the patch of grass into his hands. There wasn't any particular shape to it yet, but it really was creative. The various blades of dried grass all had different hues to them, from a faint green to a dark brown, and he'd blended them together nicely. As he admired it, though, he noticed the fallen angel watching him, his hand hovering close to the patch tentatively, as if expecting it to be destroyed any moment.
Lucifer, whatever happened to you?
"It's beautiful," he smiled, meaning every word, as he returned it with the same gentleness when he'd accepted it.
"Really?" Lucifer lit up, a huge smile on his angelic face. Then he cleared his throat and looked away. "Uh... uh, yeah! Yeah, I knew that."
He continued weaving with the grass when it was back in his hands, the project slowly taking shape into something familiar, and for a while, the Saviour and the the King of Hell sat together in peaceful silence.
Until Lucifer spoke up again.
"I really can't talk you out of this?"
"No," Jesus said quietly.
Lucifer sighed, then stood, unfurling his wings where they'd been hidden behind his back, giving them a flap as he lifted into the air. They were truly majestic, just as some rumours in Heaven had whispered about him. Breathtaking. Beautiful. Blinding. For the first time, Jesus could understand why They called him the Lightbringer.
Instead of flying off, though, Lucifer turned back to him, holding out his hand with a soft smile.
"If nothing else... you've never seen the whole world, have you? If you can trust me for a few hours, I'll give you a little tour around the world. I come up here sometimes. I reckon I know more than you do right now. We'll come right back when we're done. I promise."
Jesus again hesitated. But this should be fine, right? This was not breaking any rules of his isolation and fast. And... he truly did want to see the world for once, especially when-
He knew what was going to happen to him, in a few years. He was taking his right in destiny, and more than willing to play his part. But, deep down, he yearned to see the world while he was still human. See the beauty They had created.
"If they complain, you can say I abducted you," Lucifer grinned, waggling his fingers enticingly.
Snorting, Jesus stood, reaching out for Lucifer's hand. He surprised him once again, having enough strength to pull him up, carrying him easily under his arms despite being more than a head shorter than he was.
With another powerful flap of his wings, they took off, leaving the wilderness behind in the blink of an eye. The exhilaration of the speed and the wind in his face and hair made him laugh, and he could tell that Lucifer was laughing too. It was such a lovely, carefree sound, and Jesus was reminded once again how different Lucifer had been compared to the scary stories they told of him in Heaven.
They passed several beautiful cities he would never have laid eyes on, people dressed in bright colours as they laughed and danced in merriment. Jesus would have longed to join them, but he was stretching the rules of his fast far enough. He let Lucifer take him further, out into the sea.
"Oh! Oh, look, whales!" Lucifer exclaimed, instinctively moving to point to a pod of whales swimming past them before hurriedly readjusting his grip on Jesus before he could drop him.
"Oh... they're lovely," Jesus whispered. Lucifer lowered him down closer towards the ocean, just as one of the whales blew out a spray of water from its spout, splashing them both.
"Hey!" Jesus exclaimed, but he was laughing, as was Lucifer. "You did that on purpose."
"I can neither confirm nor deny it," Lucifer snickered unrepentantly.
He slowed down for a while, letting Jesus see more of his Abbi's beautiful creations. Fishes of all kinds. Jellyfish that glowed in the water. Even a giant squid who briefly breached the surface of the water, as if greeting them.
A soft blue glow illuminated a small part of the sea with every crash of waves, and when Lucifer urged him to brush his hand across the water, he realised to his delight that they were very tiny creatures that gave off the light.
Lucifer picked up speed as they resumed flying again. Despite the speed, it still took a while before the blueness of the ocean changed to the green hues of a massive jungle.
"Brace yourself!" Lucifer warned cheerfully.
"Wh-"
Before he could ask, the fallen angel tucked his wings in slightly and swooped down into the thicket. After the brief roughness of leaves and branches brushing past them as they breached the surface, Lucifer regained control again, dodging and weaving between the tall trees with a grace many angels could never accomplish.
"Warn me before you do that!" Jesus clung to him like a spooked cat, his heart hammering in his chest.
"Then that's no fun, is it?" Lucifer laughed aloud, an infectious sound that Jesus couldn't help but join in.
They came across various creatures through the large jungle. Monkeys, birds of various colours, snakes, alligators, giant cats, capybaras, tapirs, even tiny ones like snails and caterpillars and earthworms. Lucifer even stopped for a while so the young Saviour could admire them. And Jesus was so in love with all of them. Heaven may be beautiful, but they did not compare to the thriving life on Earth, living against all odds.
After that, Lucifer took him up to one of the tallest mountains of the world, just as the sun started to set. The view was breathtaking, and Jesus could barely take his eyes off the scenery that lay before him, seeing vast forests and lakes and the sea stretching across the horizon for miles, the sky painted with pink and yellow hues.
Far sooner than he wished, they were back in the wilderness. Lucifer gently set him down. Despite flying for hours, he showed no sign of exhaustion.
Jesus spun around to beam at him.
"That was so much fun! Thank you so much, Lucifer. I'd never have gotten to see any of this if it wasn't for you."
Lucifer looked surprised at being thanked, and he smiled and blushed. "No problem. Really."
He hesitated, taking off his hat and fidgeting with it as he gracefully landed on the ground, his wings disappearing behind him. It made him look a lot smaller and vulnerable, and Jesus longed to comfort him. "You know... I could come again, and take you anywhere you please. In fact- I can get you out of here. Right now. You don't have to stay here and waste your time. It's- it's not worth it."
A few hours ago, Jesus might have suspected that Lucifer was trying to tempt him. Now... he knew better.
Lucifer was trying to save him from the disappointment he believed would happen. He'd be horrified if he knew what really lay in store.
Jesus could never tell him.
"Thank you, but no. I have to stay here and complete my mission."
"You really do think humans have it in them to change, huh?"
"Yes. I know they do. People may do horrible things, but I've seen kindness and compassion and selflessness in many others I've met, growing up in a small town with my human parents, who are also wonderful people. And They agree too. That's why I'm here. To try to guide humans down a better path." Jesus stepped closer and gently took one of his friend's hands. "Lucifer, if it counts for anything, I... I don't begrudge you for giving humanity the gift of free will. Neither do They. We never did."
Lucifer froze, heartbreak and pain in his eyes again at the mention of their Creator. He sighed, choosing not to answer.
"Um. Here. I want you to have this. It's just a gift. No deals, no strings attached." He brought out the cross-weave patch of grass he'd been working on earlier, and Jesus took it, gazing at it in amazement when he recognised the shape of a little duckling.
"Oh! That's cute! Thank you! Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Anyway, I should be going now. Good luck, kid. Call me if you ever change your mind."
He vanished in a swirl of red and gold sparks, leaving Jesus standing there, wondering if what he'd just experienced was real or just a fever dream brought on by starvation-induced hallucinations. The duck in his hands told him otherwise, though.
And then he heard a few screams above him.
Jesus whirled around and glanced up, finding a group of horrified cherubs hovering around a portal that led them into the human realm. They had likely caught a glimpse of Lucifer before he'd vanished. He hurriedly hid the gift away before they approached him.
"My lord! Why that rotten, dirty, no good conniving devil! He didn't hurt you, did he??" a yellow lamb cherub zipped over to him and reached out, grabbing his face and checking it in concern. Another frantically flittered around him, looking for injuries.
"I'm fine-"
"He didn't tempt you with anything, did he?"
"Well- no. I didn't want anything, and he respected that. He was very nice-"
"He lies!! That's what he does! The Elders of Heaven cast him down for a reason!"
Before Jesus could speak again, the cherubs all started talking over each other, collectively panicking.
"Did he put subliminal thoughts into your mind? Do you feel any different, Lord Jesus?"
"Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh-"
"Someone call the seraphims!!"
"Silence!" Jesus shouted. He was hungry, frustrated, had some of his worldview of Heaven turned upside down, and he was at the end of his patience.
The cherubs fell quiet immediately, staring at the young Saviour anxiously.
He drew in a breath, then sighed and smiled apologetically, feeling bad for scaring them. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled. But as you can see, I am fine. He wasn't that b-" he cut himself off before he could finish the sentence. The cherubs had a one-track mind and anything he said to defend Lucifer would cause them to get upset again. "I did not accept any deals he'd tried to offer me, and he left after that." Technically the truth. "You do not need to contact the seraphims."
"Oh, of course!!" one of the cherubs gasped, clasping his hands together in reverence. "Only a mighty, strong-willed Saviour such as yourself would have been able to resist the Devil's dark, compelling manipulations! How could we have ever doubted your power, my lord!" The tiny angels all gazed at him in awe and admiration, some looking like they were about to swoon.
Jesus fought not to roll his eyes. "Uh- sure. Anyway, what are you all doing here?"
"Oh! Oh!! We have excellent news, your highness!!" one of the cherubs exclaimed, clapping their hands, effectively distracted. "Your trial is over! You've passed! We got you some food and drink. Come on, come on, eat!"
Jesus looked relieved. Either because the cherubs were now completely distracted from his new friend or that his fast was over, he wasn't sure. The cherubs were rowdy and noisy in their celebration, but he let them drag him along for once.
Even as he ate his fill for the first time in more than a month, his thoughts kept straying to the fallen angel. He lightly touched the memento Lucifer left him in his pocket, and hoped he could see him again.