Chapter 81

"You know," Lucifer says, glancing at the boy lying naked in bed next to him, "I was sure we were going to do that again eventually, but I never thought it would be your idea."

Sam lets out a long breath. "Too hard to resist, I guess."

"I Satan, after all," he replies with a smirk.

Sam chuckles softly. "You know, most people would take the name 'Satan' as an insult."

"Yes, the people," Lucifer replies in a fake but very realistic British accent. Seeing Sam's confused look, he adds, "And it turns out ordinary, just like the rest of them."

Sam laughs. "I may be on the side of angels, but don't think for a second that I'm one of them." He says it uncertainly; a question of sorts, wondering if that's what he was referencing.

Lucifer grins. "Would make more sense if you actually on the side of angels, though."

"I think I'll just stay on side," Sam replies. "'Team Free Will.'"

"Interesting name."

"But accurate," Sam adds.

"Very much so," Lucifer agrees.

Sam covers a yawn with his hand, not even bothering to try to be discreet about it. That sleepless night is really catching up to him. "I'm gonna take a nap," he announces. "You wanna stay, feel free. Up to you."

"It's not like I have anywhere else to be," he replies. "Want me to knock you out?"

"Yeah, thanks." Not that he couldn't fall asleep by himself — he's definitely tired — but this will probably save him a good ten minutes.

Lucifer doesn't have to touch him to put him to sleep. Some angels do it, maybe because it's necessary for the less powerful ones, but probably for show, because there's really no reason to. Sam falls asleep instantly, just as Lucifer knew he would.

Lucifer sighs. Now what? Part of him wants to go pop into Sam's dream just to kill his own boredom, but he decides against it. He doesn't want to seem clingy. But when he feels — hears? — Sam's pulse quicken, he decides to pop in and calm him down.

He recognizes this place immediately, much to his dismay. The dim lighting and dead silence is all too familiar to him. He slides a finger over one of the bars, and it freezes at his touch.

"You still have dreams about this place?" Lucifer says, turning around to face Sam, who's cowering in the corner in fear. Wow, how things don't change.

"I — what?"

"It's a dream," Lucifer repeats. "You're not actually in the cage." Sometimes, he forgets that humans don't always know when they're dreaming, but usually, a brief reminder can jog their memories.

He walks over to his beloved torture table, picking up his sharp metal hook thing he liked playing around with. He's not sure exactly how it's supposed to be used, but creative license was his friend. He turns it over a few times, then puts it down again.

Lucifer glances around the cage, then asks, "I'm gonna go out on a limb and say you don't want to be here, so give me a place and I'll get you out of here."

"Um... I don't know," Sam says finally. "Only place I ever really called home was the bunker, but I'm kinda sick of that place by now."

"Exactly how I feel about this place," Lucifer mutters to himself, not sure if Sam hears it and not caring, either. "Here, I'll give you a house."

The cage morphs into a large living room, the light blue walls giving it a much calmer feel than the harsh reddish glow of the cage. Lucifer admires his beautiful handiwork for a moment. "Better?"

"Yeah, much," Sam replies. "Is this somewhere specific, or...?"

"Nope. I'm just a hell of an architect," Lucifer jokes. "So, now that I've saved you from yourself, you're welcome to kick me out."

"Then neither of us would have anything to do," Sam reminds him. "You might as well stay. Just don't let us stay in here too long."

"'Too long' is subjective," Lucifer replies.

Sam ignores that, instead making a mental note to wake himself up in a few minutes — an hour tops. "So, what's there to do in this dream world?"

"Whatever you want, really," Lucifer replies. "It's dream, after all."

Sam grins when an idea comes to him, and he asks, "This is technically lucid dreaming, right?"

Lucifer shrugs. "Yeah, I guess. I mean, you're dreaming. You're aware that you're dreaming. Sure."

"So I can control my dream?"

Lucifer pauses, thinking this over. "I don't see why not. Go for it."

Sam glances around for something to do. Finally, he decides to do something simple — create a picture of himself with Dean and Castiel hanging on the wall. Sure enough, it appears, just as he expected.

"Looks like we're equals here, huh?" Sam says.

Lucifer looks between him and the picture a few times before saying, "I refuse to believe that. Here, try moving this —" An empty cardboard box appears on the floor between them "— to the left and I'll move it to the right. It's gotta move one way or the other, right?"

After a brief countdown, they do that, and it just sits there. And sits there. And sits there. Finally, it inches to the left slowly, then becomes slightly faster until it hits the wall. Lucifer just stares at it in awe. Did Sam seriously just overpower

Sam laughs. "Just knocked you right off that pedestal, huh?"

"You just..."

"Proved that I'm better than you?" Sam finishes with a satisfied smirk. It may only be while he's in this dreamland, but he'll savor every moment of it.

"How did you even do that?" Lucifer asks. "How did you know to do that?"

Sam shrugs. "I don't know. I just kind of wanted it to move, and it moved. Is there supposed to be more to it than that?"

"Well, for an angel, yeah, but you're not one, so probably not," Lucifer replies. "That's the only reason you could do that, by the way; it's your turf, so you control everything."

"Everything?" Sam repeats with a mischievous grin.

"Yes?" Lucifer says uncertainly.

Sam uses his dream powers to push Lucifer into the wall without another word.

"The hell was that for?" Lucifer demands.

"Well, partially to see if it was possible," Sam replies. "But mostly for revenge."

"Revenge?" Lucifer repeats as if he doesn't understand why Sam thinks he deserves revenge.

"Uh, yeah. You've been nothing but a pain in the ass since you got out of the cage the first time. I think it's about time I get at least a little payback."

"Well, I think that's all the 'payback' you're gonna get, because you try that again and I'm out of here," Lucifer replies.

"What, can't handle it rough?" Sam mocks him.

Lucifer just crosses his arms in annoyance.

"You're just mad that you're not on top anymore," Sam teases.

"Oh, you love it when I'm on top," Lucifer replies with a smirk, deflecting his actual point because it's completely true.

"Yeah, maybe 'til morning hits," Sam replies. The only downside to good sex is having to move the next day.