n e e d s . m u s t . w h e n . t h e . d e v i l . d r i v e s

Needs Must When the Devil Drives
[by victoria p.]

Rating: G

Summary: Lucifer tries to bargain with Death.

Notes: Thanks as always to Jen, Pete/Melissa, Dot, and Meg. written for hossgal, who requested "Death. snowflake. irritated." This is actually Lucifer fic, rather than Sandman, and has spoilers through The Divine Comedy.

Date: March 10, 2004

"Isn't it beautiful?" Lucifer gestured to the falling snow, glistening white and pure in the extended twilight.

"Yes."

She crossed her arms over her chest and waited.

"Your brother understood the value of mise-en-scene."

"My brother was a bit of a drama queen," she replied. "You are, too."

He inclined his head, an amused smile playing on his perfect lips. "Guilty as charged."

"You're playing a dangerous game."

"When am I not?" Again, that amused smile. On a lesser being, she'd have called it a smirk. "You have no dominion over me, Teleute."

"I don't need dominion. I'm just me. Where there's life, there's death. Everybody seems to forget that."

"I would have you return Elaine Belloc to me."

She sighed, not surprised at the quick turn of the conversation. He was no more comfortable in her presence than most beings, despite his cool façade. "That's not within my power. You know that."

"You took her."

"Yes. And where she went after I left her is not for me to say, nor you."

"It's been done."

"Certainly."

"Isis did it for Osiris. Asclepius for Hippolytus. Gilgamesh for Enkidu, Orpheus for Eurydice--"

She stiffened at the mention of Orpheus. "Even the Christ himself," she reminded him. "'Dying he destroyed our death, rising he restored our life.'" The words felt silly in her mouth, but Lucifer straightened and lost his smile. "How did you get along with him, anyway? Were those three days sheer hell for you? Daddy's favorite came and played with all your toys?"

His nostrils flared and his jaw tightened. "It can be done," he repeated through gritted teeth.

She nodded. "Gods have their own rules, and they break them as they see fit. You and I are governed by older, harsher laws. We're not gods, Lucifer, though you've been worshipped as one in your time. But you gave that up, remember?"

She cocked her head, attempting to figure out why he wanted the child. They both knew there were ways and ways again of getting her back, though the cosmic order might be disrupted, or --

Oh. "I see."

"You see nothing," he said, irritation plain on his beautiful face.

"No, no. I do." She laughed. "It's not a bad plan, actually. You win Michael over and you thumb your nose at the Creator, plus you pay the debt you owe the girl."

"Debt I owe--" he began indignantly.

"It was her spark that rekindled your fire, Lightbringer. I was there and I know what she did." He opened his mouth, but she forestalled him. "You always pay your debts. It's the one trustworthy thing about you. And in this case, you'd come out ahead." She shrugged one shoulder. "But I'm not the one you have to talk to."

"Who, then?"

"Who do you think?"

Light dawned. "No."

She laughed then. "Oh, yes. But I've no doubt you'll figure out some other way. You always do." She winked at him. "Needs must, when the devil drives."

She left him standing at the window, watching the snowflakes dance on the evening wind.

end

~*~

Back to Phase Two Index

Back to Other Stories Index

Back to Main Stories Index

~*~

Disclaimer: All Lucifer and Sandman characters belong Mike Carey, Neil Gaiman, DC/Vertigo etc. This piece of fan-written fiction intends no infringement on any copyrights.