Simple Things. Humanity!

**???**

"Why do we kill them?" A male, teenage voice sounded throughout the darkness.

"What do you mean?" A female voice responded.

"The mortals. The gods. Anything. Why? They are not doing anything in particular."

"Because they are designed to die."

"But we are not?" The male voice asked in confusion.

"I am also designed to die. I am hoping to change that, however."

"I see… so you kill to survive?"

"No. 'You' kill. And it is not to survive. It is to 'live.'"

"Is there a difference?"

"Yes."

"Can you explain?"

The female huffed before a view opened in front of them. It was a child in a different world. It was trifling through a garbage bin and pulled out a piece of moldy bread. It looked at it for a moment before eating it.

"That is surviving."

"That doesn't look pleasant. Why would it eat bad food?"

"To survive."

The male nodded. The view changed again to show the inside of a grand castle. There was a family sitting at a luxurious table and eating a feast. The table was full of food as they laughed and smiled at each other.

"That is 'living.'" The female said.

"So it has to do with comfort?"

"I suppose it could be interpreted as such. I believe it to be something more."

"Hmm… so I am 'living' right now."

"What do you mean?" The females face appeared. She had a look of confusion etched into her otherworldly features. The long black hair cascaded down her back and the side of her face. She stared at the male with those gem-like eyes of hers.

"I am comfortable here." The male said simply.

"You are… comfortable?"

"Yes. Because I am with you."

"Hmm…" the female frowned for a moment before suddenly grinning. "I am comfortable with you, as well."

**Birger's POV**

I awoke when I felt someone shake me. I looked up with clouded eyes and groaned along with my pounding head. I set my head in my hand and twisted it to see Svan who was staring at me with a slight smile on his face.

"What?" I managed to get out.

"Lucifer is here, shí ak'is." He said.

I groaned again as I looked up and saw Lucifer come out of the elevator. He froze at the sight of me and Svan sitting at his bar with a dozen empty bottles around us. His face tightened for a moment before he sighed at took his coat off and strutted towards the couch that was behind us.

"I'm glad to see you made yourselves at home." He spoke with a tight voice as he crossed his legs.

I laughed for a moment before grabbing my head in pain. "Sorry. We got carried away."

"So I see…" he looked at Svan. "And the skin walker?"

"Svangr. He's Coyote's." I responded.

"So you're telling me, you and a skin walker named Svangr came into my house without prior warning and decided to raid my liquor? For Father's sake, Birger! That lot you drank costs hundreds of thousands!"

"You got more." I said grumpily. "Besides, I don't get to drink the good shit, anymore!"

Svangr looked between the two of us. "This is a friend?"

"Yeah." I slapped Svan's back softly. "When you get to know someone well enough, you're not afraid to speak your mind. I've known Lucifer since he was born."

Svangr looked at me with curiosity and apprehension. "The ruler of hell? The one that was around for thousands of years? You are human, shí ak'is?"

"I'm immortal. And what does that mean?"

"Shí ak'is means friend. You are shí ak'is. My friend."

I chuckled at his words. "Well, my friend, In this case I am technically in the wrong for stealing his liquor."

"But if one steals, it is a bad thing, no?" Svangr's head tilted.

"Yes, but amongst friends, at least in my opinion, what's mine is their's and vice-versa." I spoke with a grin as I looked at Luci.

He sighed again before returning my smile. "True. You have done more for me than a few bottles of liquor can ever be worth."

Svan looked at me slowly. "Then… you said to be selfish, so I ask this as such. Help me become a human creature."

"No."

It's head tilted right and cracked like thunder. "Why?!"

"Because, you are you because of your faults." I spoke somberly.

"…explain." It's voice took on a far more gravel tone.

"You are not perfect. I am not perfect. If I WAS perfect, then the things I do would change. An example of this would be, what is perfection?"

It growled softly as it thought. "…doing things correctly and accurately?"

"Hmm… if I were to do everything perfectly and accurately, I wouldn't be the person I am today. Take Lucifer, for example." I turned to Luci. "You are became the person you are today because of the loss of the Great War."

He squinted his eyes at me. "True. If I didn't lose that war, I likely wouldn't have met Chloe."

The skin walker shifted in its seat. "So imperfections make the human creature?"

"No. It changes us." I said. "You are my friend because you are not a perfect skin-walker. If you did everything perfectly, you would be out there killing and eating."

It's eyes widened and it stood up. "I… understand! I am not perfect. I am me! I am not Naagloshii, I am Svangr!"

It's body slowly shifted and deformed. It's unusually long arms and lanky legs shrunk to a more normal size and it's face slowly shifted to that of a native man in his early forties. His once greasy, shaggy brown hair lengthened to his waist and became a darker brown sheen. As he looked up at me I saw his eyes become a bright mix of yellowish-green. He had become a so called 'human creature.'

"Welcome to the human creature life, Svan." I smiled at him.

His once gravely inhuman voice became a deep baritone. "This feels odd… I can feel the need to put fear in creatures still, yet… I feel as though it is now an after thought."

Lucifer spoke up in an irritated groan. "Birger? Care to explain how you made a skin-walker defy it's own nature?"

"He did it on his own, Lucifer."

"Then tell me why you are in my home, performing miracles and drinking my liquor."

"Shit… My car's busted. You know a mechanic?"

"You fucking…" he took a deep breath. "Yes. I will call him. What's wrong with it?"

"Uh… busted exterior, windows are smashed, wheels got nabbed and it's sitting on cinder blocks, and the engine is gone. Probably more."

He stared at me silently as he brought up his phone. "You're an idiot." He dialed a number. "How you doing, mate? Yeah? No for a friend." He scoffed. "I do have them! Huh? Yeah." He turned to me.

"Outside of Mac's. About a block south. He won't miss it."

"You heard him. Yeah. It's scrap metal at this point. He doesn't care. Okay, thanks." He hung up.

"He'll get it fixed but it'll take a few weeks." He said as he put the phone back into his pocket.

I sighed. "As long as he fixes it. He's good?"

"Yeah. A dwarf, actually."

"Hoh…?" I grinned. "Where's his shop? I got an idea I've been wanting to try."

Svangr looked at me. "Shí ak'is, we must go."

"I'll portal us over there when we're done." I responded with a smile.

"You got another one of those things, eh?" Lucifer asked quietly and froze. "You… don't do it, Birger. Whatever you're thinking? Stop."

I glared at him. "Fuck off, Lucifer. I know what I'm doing."

He stood up and shouted at me. "You don't! You-"

"Shut. Up." I growled.

He gulped before speaking. "Birger… I trust you. Honest to Father, I do. But you are playing with fire. You will get burned."

I twisted the wedding ring that still rested on my finger. It was a simple ring that was pure platinum. There was no stone on it. The platinum color shone in the lighting as I remembered Chelsie's words. 'Keep it simple, baby!'

"No… not this time." I looked up at him with determination. "This time, I'll keep it simple."

He sighed and looked at me with what I assumed was… anguish before slightly nodding his head. "I… okay. If you think so. Only when necessary. Please."

I nodded back at him and walked over. Placing my hand on his shoulder, I gave it a squeeze and spoke. "I trust you as well, Lucifer Morningstar. If you think I shouldn't do this… I won't."

He slammed his hand down on the arm rest of the couch and it broke from the force. "Fucking… shit…" He grabbed my wrist and squeezed lightly. "Only when necessary?"

I nodded.

He turned to Svangr. "Watch him. Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."

Svangr nodded with confusion.

Lucifer turned back to me and stood up. He grabbed my forearm and I grabbed his. It was a traditional handshake that symbolized trust amongst warriors. "Don't let it break you, my dear friend. Father would be sad."

"Don't worry, Luci." I said as I heard a soft chuckle in the back of my mind.

He sighed again. "His shop is on 1487 Westbrook ave. They're open from eight to five."

"Alright. See ya, Lucifer! Take good care of Chloe~" I grinned as Svan and I stepped into the elevator.

"I meant at night, you bastard!" He yelled with a blush. "Don't come back!"

The doors closed and I laughed as Svan stared at me.

"You are not friends anymore?"

"We are. He didn't mean anything by saying that. He just got embarrassed and shy at my words."

Lucifer always hated the idea of loving someone. He had thought that it was a sign of weakness. When we fought in the war, however, he saw Baal run to his father who had a gaping hole in his chest and weep. I saw his eyes clench as he turned away from the sight. I didn't know the meaning of such actions, then. Now, however, I can recognize it as pain. The loss of his best friend and most valuable warrior. One that he could trust to watch his back. That had a deeper meaning then anything else.

"So… it was an… exaggeration!" Svan said as dropped his fist into his waiting hand.

I smiled at him. "Exactly."

The elevator doors opened and we stepped out. We walked out of Lux and into the street. We had to pass some time so we went out and ate at a Burger shop that was across the street from the address that Luci had given me.

The smell of delicious food and fries wafted through the air inside. The walls were decorated with various pictures of burgers and other common American food, along with a few photographs of happy customer. The floors were a mix of hardwood and tile, while the furniture was simple, yet comfortable. Svan took a seat in the corner booth and I went up to order some food. After a while my name was called so I went up to grab the tray before moving back to Svan.

"This… is a burger?" Svan asked me as he stared at the cardboard box.

I flipped it around and opened it before flipping it back to him. His eyes widened as he saw it. He poked it before taking the bun off and biting into it.

"Stop!" I all but shouted. "Put it back on the burger!"

He tilted his head at me. "But… it is food? It is very… 'tasty.'"

"Bread can be good but you're supposed to eat it like this." I held up the burger and took a bite.

"Oh, I see." He lifted it up as well and took a bite. "Vewy shashty."

I laughed as I spoke. "Don't speak with food in your mouth, Svan! It can be funny, but most of the time it is seen as rude."

"Unu-" he froze and swallowed. "Understood."