The one thing no one would order him to do
Michael was in Heaven like he was most of the time. The only time he ever left was when he was ordered to go to Earth. Actually, the only time he really did anything was when he was ordered to. He would follow those orders without question and that is what made him a good soldier for Heaven. Now however, he was doubting his whole life. Gabriel had visited and he’d finally revealed the truth to Michael.
~~
Michael wasn’t really doing anything. Like always, he was waiting for orders, when Gabriel waltzed in.
“Still just waiting for orders?” Gabriel asked. It sounded like a joke, but Michael could hear the conviction in his brother’s voice.
“You know the answer to that, Gabriel.” Michael had answered.
“Have you ever considered to do something for yourself? Just even once?” Gabriel asked.
“Again, you know the answer to that, Gabriel. I don’t have time for pleasantries when I might be needed at any given moment.” Michael said.
“You should really try thinking for yourself, just once. You’ll realise life is better when you’re not just waiting around, waiting to live for our dad.” Gabriel told him before leaving.
At the time, Michael had dismissed it, but now it kept nagging at him. Gabriel was right. Michael wasn’t really living; he was just existing. He didn’t know what came over him, but Michael decided to follow Gabriel’s advice. He would do something just for himself. Now, he just had to figure out what he wanted. It didn’t take him long though, for there was one thing he’d always wanted to do and his father would never order him to. He wanted to try to make amends with Lucifer.
~~
Michael was at Lucifer’s door. He’d just rang the doorbell and he was waiting for either Lucifer or Clarissa to open the door. Considering the last time they saw each other, he was bracing himself to be sent away the second they saw him. Just as Michael thought, Lucifer’s face darkened once he saw who was at the door.
“What the hell are you doing here?” He asked.
“I came to ask for your forgiveness.” Michael got straight to the point.
“After all these years, you think you can just walk up to my home and ask for forgiveness? You think you deserve that?” Lucifer asked.
“No, I know I do not. I also know you will not just give it to me so, I am willing to do whatever it takes.” Michael said.
“Whatever? So, I can make you do anything?” Lucifer asked intrigued.
“Almost anything.” Michael amended.
“What are you playing at this time?” Lucifer asked sceptically.
“I am not playing at anything. I am being sincere here.”
“We both know you only follow our father’s orders. He would never order you to do this, so I ask again. What are you playing at here?”
“Nothing, I swear. Gabriel told me that I am living for father. I realised he was right and I wanted to do one thing for myself. This is me, doing that one thing, which is trying to get your forgiveness.”
Lucifer stayed quiet for a while, thinking. Michael was holding his breath, hoping that his brother would at least give him a chance.
“I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, but if I find out you have ulterior motives, you’ll wish you never even dared to show your face here.”
“Understood. How can I show to you that I mean it and try to earn your forgiveness?”
“If you get both Clarissa and Luke to forgive you for all that you’ve done, I might think about forgiving you.”
“Thank you.” Michael said when Lucifer let him in so he could talk to Clarissa.
“What the hell is he doing here?” Clarissa asked the second she saw him.
“That’s exactly what I said, but apparently, he wants my forgiveness.” Lucifer explained while rolling his eyes. This wouldn’t be an easy feat, but Michael had known this from the start.
“And you’ve forgiven him?” Clarissa asked her husband.
“No, don’t worry Love. It’s not that easy. First, he’ll have to earn your forgiveness. That is the only reason I let him in, but you don’t have to talk to him if you don’t want to.”
Clarissa stayed silent. She seemed to be considering her options.
“I’ll talk to him.” She told Lucifer before turning to Michael. “You better have one hell of an explanation if you want my forgiveness though.” Clarissa told him before motioning to Lucifer to give them some privacy. Michael wasn’t stupid, he knew that the privacy was just for show. Lucifer wouldn’t be far away in case Michael tried something.
“Thank you for the opportunity to explain myself.” Michael said to the woman.
“Before I listen, I want you to let my uncle go.” Clarissa demanded.
“I do not think you want me to do that.” Michael told her.
“Is that a threat?” Clarissa asked.
“No, I am not threatening you. I just genuinely do not think that is a good idea.” Michael said.
“And why not?”
“Because he will hurt you.”
“Bullshit, you let my uncle go, or you will lose this one chance to get Lucifer’s forgiveness.”
“Alright, I will give you a moment with him, but I will stay close. I can almost guarantee you that you will change your mind afterwards. If you do not however, I promise to let Matthew go and search for a new vessel.” Michael promised.
“Okay.”
With that, Michael left Matthew alone with his niece. Well, not completely alone, for he knew he’d have to keep watch in case he tried to hurt her which Michael was almost sure would happen. The moment started normal, with Matthew confused as to where Michael had gone, but once he learned that Michael left because Clarissa told him to, all hell broke loose. Just like Michael had predicted, Matthew tried to attack Clarissa even though he had no weapons. Just as Michael was about to jump back into his vessel, Lucifer ran in to safe his wife.
“What is this? Michael, get back here!” He yelled. Michael obeyed, not because Lucifer ordered him to do something, but because he was already doing it anyway. “Didn’t I tell you what would happen if you had ulterior motives?” He asked the second Michael was back.
“I was simply following your wife’s wishes. She wanted a moment with her uncle and I had warned her it would not be a good idea. I am not responsible for Matthew’s actions.”
“Is that true?” Lucifer asked Clarissa.
“Yes.” Clarissa breathed. “I didn’t believe him, but Matthew is clearly unstable.”
“I will leave you two alone again then, but yell if you need me.” Lucifer told his wife before leaving the room again.
“Okay, start talking. Why did you possess my uncle when he is clearly a psychopath? Why did you attack my dad all those years ago and why the hell would you make Lucifer choose between me and being an angel?”
“The answers to your first two questions intertwine. I wanted your father as a vessel because he would be a perfect fit for the orders I had at the time, but he kept declining me. So, I had to take the next best thing, Matthew. Back then, I didn’t know about his violent tendencies, although I learned about them soon enough. In my first conversation with him, I could tell something was not right. Still, I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Later I realised that he would not be the right person and told him so. He thought it was because Eric had agreed to be my vessel and went insane. He had threatened to hurt his brother, but I did not take him seriously and left. About a day later, I came back to see if asking their sister, Irene, would be an option when I found Matthew trying to kill Eric. The only way to save him and keep the rest of your family safe was to possess him, so that is what I did. I never attacked your father, but I understand why he thought it was me.”
“I believe you. What about the other stuff though?”
“All my life, all I’ve done is follow orders. I do not know how to do anything else, to be anything else. This is me trying to learn, but on that day three years ago, even the thought of not following one of father’s orders would make me feel like I had failed at being an angel. Even now that I am trying to be more, I do not think I could say no if he ever asks me to do something. No matter how much I would not want to.”
“Alright. So, I forgive you for the whole situation with my dad since that wasn’t you, but don’t think I can forgive you yet for three years ago. I’ll try though and that will have to be enough for Lucifer to give you a chance too.” Clarissa told him.
Michael thanked her before saying goodbye to the couple. He had already earned Clarissa’s possible forgiveness, now all he had to do was talk to Lucifer’s former vessel. With that he made his way to Luke’s home. Hopefully this would be easier than convincing Clarissa.
