those were words sam would've died to hear from anyone else.
dean. castiel. his father. bobby. anyone. but lucifer is the one to speak them to him. lucifer's lips are the ones to deliver the acceptance he has so desperately craved his entire lifeโand it feels wrong. it poisons the entire thing, leaving a sour taste in his mouth. sam's breath stutters when lucifer's thumb brushes away the tear. the gentleness only makes it worse. he wants to flinch away. he wants to lean into it.
both impulses war so violently inside his chest that he feels nauseous.
the archangel's hands on his face feel like home and hell at the same time.
safe, in the most horrifying way possible. sam hates how his body relaxes under that touch, how something deep in his chest aches to believe the words. you're not doomed to anything. a broken sound escapes him. half-laugh, half-sob. his fingers stay locked around lucifer's wrists, nails still digging in like he's terrified if he lets go he'll fall apart completely. โ you say that, โ sam whispers, voice cracking. โ but you're the one who made sure i am doomed. you put this... thing inside me. you poisoned me before i even took my first breath. โ
his eyes squeeze shut again as fresh tears slip free. he never, ever, stood a chance. his destiny had been written for him before he was even born. he was doomed. how could lucifer say he wasn't? he can feel lucifer's thumbs stroking his cheekbones, so careful, so loving in their own twisted way, and it makes his stomach twist. part of him wants to scream. another part sants to press closer and let those cold hands erase everything else. he forces his eyes open again, meeting lucifer's.
โ you're just... keeping me. like i'm something you own. it isn't because you believe in me. because you refuse to give up on me. it's because i am the only thing in this world that can hold all of your... rotten light. because i am just as rotten as you. โ his grip tightens on lucifer's wrists, knuckles white. โ and you know what the worst part is? โ he lets out a bitter laugh. โ sometimes i want you to. sometimes i'm so tired of fighting that i just want to let you have me. โ
sam's breath hitches sharply. he's shaking now, the tremors running through his broad frame as he stares at the being wearing his father's face, his brother's face, and something far worse. โ i don't know how to be me without you anymore, โ he confesses, barely audible. โ you took that from me. and you stand here acting like you're the only one who won't abandon me... when you're the reason everyone else is gone. โ
another bitter, wet laugh escapes him as more tears fall.
โ who's going to protect me from you? โ