[Detroit!AU: when the man comes around]

[stilljustandrew]

Ever since they started what he's been mentally referring to as the Interdimensional Witness Relocation Program, Andrew's been getting most of his sleep at Milliways. Between helping Sam Winchester settle in at the Academy as a putative Watcher-in-training and trying to juggle his own schedule around that, there hasn't been time to sleep at home.

Especially since about half the time he finds himself lying awake anyway, jittering from a combination of nerves and caffeine.

Andrew rolls over, bunches up the pillow under his head, and lets out a sigh of tired frustration as he tries to relax again.

Comments

[gavemea_45]

Lucifer's gaze, briefly distant and more than human, changes again as he returns his attention to Andrew.

"And now that you know..."

A beat.

"Will you help me, Andrew? Will you help Sam?"

[stilljustandrew]

"What do you want me to do."

He feels cold.

[gavemea_45]

"Convince him to return," Lucifer says, without hesitation. "To accept what must be."

[stilljustandrew]

"No." Just as unhesitating. "Not a chance."

[gavemea_45]

He nods, unsurprised.

"Then I'll find another way." There's no hint of anger; Lucifer is calm, even as he adds, "And when I do... you will never see Sam Winchester again."

A beat.

"And he will know that you abandoned him, just like everyone else."

[stilljustandrew]

Something twists inside him, and his vision blurs.



"I'm not going to abandon him."

[gavemea_45]

Lucifer shrugs.

"I'm sure you know he's heard that before." A beat. "If you refuse to accept him as what he will become, how is that any different?"

[stilljustandrew]

He shakes his head. "It's not like that."

It's not.

[gavemea_45]

"It will be," Lucifer promises him, very, very softly -- and with absolute certainty.

"Because if you deny me, then what will happen is that Sam will find that you, like Dean, won't be there when he needs you most."

[stilljustandrew]

Very clear: When he needs me most is now.

Andrew bows his head as though in defeat -- and so as not to let Lucifer see his face.



"I won't leave him when he needs me. Not ever."

[gavemea_45]

He smiles, warm and approving.

"I'm very pleased to hear that. Sam's fortunate to have someone like you standing by him."

Lucifer glances out the window one last time, then turns and walks across the room to the door. He pauses there, glancing back at Andrew.

"I'm glad we had this little talk. I think it'll turn out to be very helpful. Don't you?"

[stilljustandrew]

"Do you promise not to hurt him?"

It's entirely too easy to get the right quaver into his voice.

[gavemea_45]

Lucifer shakes his head.

"I can't promise that, I'm afraid," he says, regretfully. "Considering the nature of the transfer. But I won't cause him any more pain than is necessary."

[stilljustandrew]

Necessary.

Andrew doesn't look up.

[gavemea_45]

"Goodbye, Andrew. For now, at least."

A beat.

"Try to get some sleep."

One instant he's there, and the next, he's gone.

[stilljustandrew]

And the next, Andrew's starting up in bed in his room at Milliways, drenched with sweat.

He takes enough time to catch his breath, splash water on his face, and thrash into his clothes before heading out of his room and downstairs.

By the time he reaches the front door, he's running.




It's late enough at night, back in his own world, that he doesn't run into anybody else on his way to Sam's room. That's probably a good thing.

He knocks hesitantly at first, in case Sam's asleep.

[gavemea_45]

"It's open," comes the low reply.

Some things are drilled into new Watchers almost immediately -- such as why never to explicitly invite anyone in.

[stilljustandrew]

He opens the door just enough to put his head through.

"Hey." It comes about a bit more strained than he would like. "You busy?"

[gavemea_45]

Sam looks up from the dusty tome he's been poring over.

The small, dormitory-style Academy room is spartan, but comfortable enough. It's clear Sam's been keeping it clean and organized in near-military fashion; his bed is made, his weapons remain neatly packed in his duffel save for any that he's wearing, and his few clothes are folded neatly on the wardrobe shelf or arranged in straight lines on hangers below.

"Andrew, hey-- and no, I'm not," he adds, immediately, pushing his chair back. "What's up?"

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew slips in and shuts the door behind him before he answers.

"I, uh." He rubs his palms unthinkingly against his jeans. "I was, I was at Milliways to get some sleep, and ... I just had a visitor."

[gavemea_45]

"A visitor?" Sam straightens in his seat, his glance going past Andrew to the door as if he might be able to see someone there.

"-- Dean?"

[stilljustandrew]

His heart constricts, sharply and painfully.

"No," he says, and hates how flat and bald it sounds.

Lower: "Sorry. No."

[gavemea_45]

"... oh," he says, and tries not to let his disappointment show.

"Then who was it?"

[stilljustandrew]

He tries to say the name.

Swallows, and tries again.

[gavemea_45]

Unease coils at the base of his spine, spreading tendrils of dread through him as he watches Andrew struggle to get it out.

No. No--