┏━━━━━ ★ ━━━━━┑
𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄.
[0𝟗]. 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄
𝐃𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌𝐒?
【 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 】
━━━━━━━━━━━━

━━━━━━━━━━━━
❛ 𝘠𝘖𝘜'𝘙𝘌 𝘎𝘖𝘐𝘕𝘎 𝘛𝘖 𝘌𝘕𝘋
𝘜𝘗 𝘉𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘒𝘐𝘕𝘎 𝘔𝘠
𝘏𝘌𝘈𝘙𝘛, 𝘏𝘖𝘗𝘌 ❜
┗━━━━━ ★ ━━━━━┛

𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐄𝐋 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐁𝐄𝐒 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐘𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐃. So, falling asleep was the easy part as fate would have it. Contrary to that, facing Lucifer for the third time in less than twenty-four hours was much harder than fading out of consciousness. That was a fact. And it wasn't just that Lucifer was the devil that made it so hard. It was the connection that was so deep-routed, Nathaniel would even start questioning himself if Lucifer could even be that bad.

And Lucifer was.

Nathaniel couldn't forget the times God's favorite angel- fallen angel- tortured humanity. The chaos the light-bringer brought with him. And somehow, that darkness clung onto Nathaniel with brute force. You could call it what you want- genetics, God-given. Whatever. But Nathaniel couldn't inherently consider himself evil. Not like Lucifer. Yet, humanity had deemed him an abomination before the nephilim was even created.

What did that leave Nathaniel with? Was there even any good in him? The nephilim didn't know, but Nathaniel liked to think there was. And even more so when Hope was around.

And yet, the tribrid preferred someone else.

"Oh," Lucifer grinned, his head tilting back and forth as a hand came to cover his mouth. "Your rage is powerful. I can sense it. It's stronger than mine."

Nathaniel hummed, looking around. It was the first time the nephilim was aware of his surroundings and his senses perked up. They were in the woods, right where Hope and Nathaniel usually experimented with the nephilim's abilities. And for some odd reason, that didn't sit well with Nathaniel.

"What are we doing here?"

Lucifer looked around. "The question is- why did you bring us here? This is your subconscious, Nathaniel."

Nathaniel rolled his eyes. "Yeah, but you're in control of it- or actually, no, you aren't. The Oneiroi is."

"My, my," Lucifer smirked, his red eyes glowing in excitement. "You've figured it out. Your deduction skills are better than I imagined them to be. Very well done."

Nathaniel took a second after Lucifer's comment, and the comments he had been making since Nathaniel had been in contact with him again. Lucifer had pointed out so many things, like the fallen angel was checking off things from a list. The nephilim's intelligence, humanity, intuition, power and now deduction. Nathaniel could brush it off as pure curiosity, but this was the devil he was talking about. Brushing it off as pure curiosity would be downright stupid.

"You're sizing me up," Nathaniel stated confidently.

Lucifer narrowed his eyes on the nephilim. "What makes you say that?"

Nathaniel shook his head. "There's something you're not telling me. Which granted, makes sense, I don't trust you. But you've been marking off a mental checklist of my strengths and weaknesses, and I just came to realize it- you're not even being controlled by this thing, are you?"

There was a small silence.

And Lucifer smirked.

A slow clap ensued.

"Your father's son," Lucifer murmured to himself, the smirk not leaving his lips. "Well, Nathaniel, my mental checklist is now complete with what you've just told me. Congratulations."

Nathaniel scoffed. "Answer the question."

Lucifer huffed jeeringly. "You see, son. Oneiroi's are experimented demons- plural- you're dealing with the alpha. And I control everything that comes from hell, even if it was touched by Malivore. Hell doesn't forget. So, when the alpha was released to go after the urn, the Oneiroi took instructions from me. Which lead me to the loophole that is your subconscious."

"So, what?" Nathaniel's eyes narrowed. "This was just some test you wanted me to take?"

"Yes and no," Lucifer shrugged, waving Nathaniel off with his hand. "I did want to see how far along your abilities have come, and I'm not disappointed, but I also wanted to make a proposal."

Nathaniel crossed his arms over his chest.

And Lucifer continued. "Come to hell, Nathan. Free me and we can rule hell and earth together. We can help each other, son."

Nathaniel snorted. "You really want me to help you after you sent an Oneiroi to kill me after he returns the urn? Or was that fabricated too?"

"You were never in immediate danger."

"Then why'd you burn me?"

Lucifer sighed heavily. "You needed to believe I was being controlled by what you thought was a Night Hag. To see if you were as smart as I believed you to be to decipher this whole thing. And you are, Nathan. You did just that."

Lucifer made a compelling offer. It almost made Nathaniel think the fallen angel was looking out for his best interests. But the nephilim knew better. Lucifer was a mass manipulator. And there wasn't a chance in hell Nathaniel was going to bust Lucifer out of the cage he was currently rotting in.

"Pass," Nathaniel affirmed.

Lucifer furrowed his brows. "What?"

"Pass," Nathaniel repeated himself. "I might not be all good, Lucifer, but that doesn't mean I'm rule-hell-evil or end-the-world-evil."

"Nathan, please-"

"My name is Nathaniel," Nathaniel interrupted.

Someone passed through Lucifer's eyes, but Nathaniel wasn't quick enough to catch it. Then the fallen angel stiffened, Lucifer's whole demeanor changed in a matter of seconds and Nathaniel mirrored him. A rigidness took ahold of the nephilim's stance, readying himself to take his father straight on if needed to.

"You know," Lucifer started, shrugging with a small shake of his head. "Hope Mikaelson won't save you from yourself if that's what you're hoping. You're hell's bitch, Nathaniel."

Nathaniel's jaw clenched. "I don't need Hope to save me- I'll save me."

Lucifer snorted. "No, you won't. I've seen how this story plays out a million times, and it never really matters what you change. It'll always ends up the same- you'll give up your life to save hers. And when that happens, you're mine."

"-What are you talking about?"

"Oh, Nate," Lucifer smirked satisfactory, knowing his words had struck a nerve. "Your love for her will be so strong that when her time comes, and she's dying in your arms, you won't even think twice about exchanging your life for hers."

"You're trying to screw with my head."

Lucifer tsked knowingly. "Believe what you want. But in every scenario possible, you die in her place."

Nathaniel was just about done with Lucifer's ominous threats, so the nephilim narrowed his eyes on his father. "Where's the Oneiroi?"

"Can't handle the truth?" Lucifer mocked.

"Show me the damn Oneiroi!"

And Nathaniel's wish would soon be granted.

Lucifer smirked wickedly, almost resembling Alice in Wonderland's Cheshire cat as red glowing eyes made an appearance. Chills ran down Nathaniel's back, but the nephilim kept his neutral expression, hoping to not give anything away. Because if there was one thing Nathaniel was certain, it was that Lucifer had him on total observation.

"As you wish," Lucifer voiced.

Wind blew, and the Oneiroi came into view with a set of red wings and a hideous face. "You're one ugly broad," Nathaniel murmured to himself before running towards it with extended arms and grasping the demon in a tight grip.

With that, the nephilim awoke with a start.

Around him, MG, Kaleb, Rafael and Landon were too brought back from their sleep, looking equally as anxious as Nathaniel did. And as they came back to themselves completely, everyone took a second to take in their surroundings with surprised looks.

"Did we win?" MG was the first to speak.

And Rafael followed. "Is everyone okay?"

In seconds, everyone was on their feet.

"I grabbed it," Nathaniel announced with agitation, looking at the four. "I'm pretty sure I brought it back, there's no way it stayed in the astral plane-"

Landon interrupted. "Where's Hope?"

Nathaniel had to breath in heavily to stop himself from doing something stupid. "Oh, looks like you didn't die in your sleep. Awesome."

"She was in my dream," Rafael stated.

This brought in Nathaniel's attention. "What?"

A loud bang caused the five to turn their heads towards the gym's doors. But Landon wasn't happy with Rafael's statement.

"What was Hope doing in your dream?"

Rafael seemed stunned by the question. "The usual, just being a badass."

And without another word uttered, Hope and the Oneiroi busted through the gym doors by cracking them in full. And as both landed on the floor, Nathaniel quickly took his stance in front of Landon, protecting the nuisance with his body in the hopes to avoid more relationship drama with the tribrid.

The Oneiroi was the first to its feet, expanding its large wings and towering over Hope. Nathaniel was quick to lift his arms and bring them together, using his telekinesis abilities to clip the demon's wing shut so that it wasn't going anywhere.

"Now, Hope!" Nathaniel groaned.

Hope instantly jumped on the Oneiroi as it fell on its back to the floor with the tribrid straddling it. Without warning, the demon took ahold of Hope's neck, instantly choking her. And before Nathaniel could intervene, Alaric was there, calling out Hope's name and throwing an arrow in her direction.

"Eyes!" Alaric exclaimed.

And Hope obliged, splitting the arrow in two before puncturing the Oneiroi's eyes with both ends. With that, the demon vanished in a black smoke.

Everyone couldn't help but sigh in relief.

Hours after the Oneiroi's demise, Nathaniel sighed as he sat himself before the recently lit chimney in the living area. Thoughts running rampant in the nephilim's head. And every single one bringing him back to the Mikaelson tribrid- Hope. Which didn't help at all, seeing as Nathaniel still hadn't gotten the nerve to talk to her after their argument.

And Nathaniel couldn't.

Hope Mikaelson needed to make up her mind in who she wanted and what she wanted. Nathaniel couldn't keep playing close second to Landon Kirby when it came to Hope. The nephilim wouldn't allow himself to stoop that low.

Nathaniel didn't deserve it.

"Hey," Hope voiced from behind him.

"Hey," Nathaniel didn't turn around to meet her eyes.

Hope sighed. "Can I sit?"

Nathaniel shrugged. "Your call."

And Hope did. There was a small silence with just Hope's shuffling as the tribrid sat beside Nathaniel and the nephilim felt his heart beating all the way up in his throat. Nathaniel was angry, but somehow, Hope still made him nervous and jitterish. Like the nephilim was a damn schoolboy with a crush.

Silence prevailed.

"I'm mad at you," Nathaniel announced.

Hope nodded. "I know. I'm sorry."

Nathaniel breathed out. "You know, you could have told me you still felt a certain way about Wednesday instead of getting my hopes up. It hasn't always been me, Hope. There was a time where it was him too."

"I care about him," Hope confessed, and Nathaniel felt himself being stabbed in the back by it. "I always will. And maybe you're right, I feel a certain way. But it's not the same way I feel about you."

Nathaniel snorted. "You're going to end up breaking my heart, Hope."

Hope sighed. "That's not what I want."

Nathaniel shook his head. "It doesn't matter what you want. It's what you're going to do."

There was silence.

"And it sucks because I'm in love with you," Nathaniel continued, and for the first time since Hope sat herself beside him, the nephilim looked her in the eyes. "And I already feel my heart breaking."

"I'm sorry, Nate," Hope seemed pained.

And Nathaniel knew Hope was sincere.

"Do you want to be with him?"

Hope shook her head. "I want to be with you," she sighed, reaching for Nathaniel's hand, which the nephilim slowly grasped in his. "And if that means backing off from Landon's wellbeing, then I'm ready to do so. If you'll have me."

Nathaniel took a second. "I'm not being your second choice, Hope. I mean it."

"Nate, you're not my second choice because there isn't a second choice," Hope caressed Nathaniel's palm with her thumb before a soft smile made its way onto the tribrid's lips. "You're my only choice."

Nathaniel stared deeply into Hope's eyes, trying to find anything resembling truthfulness in them. When the nephilim did, Nathaniel let his whole body relax. And with a delicate touch, the nephilim held onto Hope's cheek before bringing her in for a soft kiss.

"I love you," Hope murmured.

And Nathaniel smiled. "I love you too."

▆▆▆▆▆▆ ★ ▆▆▆▆▆▆

unedited.
yay, nephilim and tribrid's can actually
talk about their feelings and fix their
problems together!
pretty quick update because i got inspired
to write, so you're welcome :).
anywho, any thoughts on Lucifer's
confession???