Fame Crazy (Sequel to Strings Attached)

Chapter 185

"I can multitask," Castiel replies simply.

"Well, I can't," Lucifer says, turning his chair back to face his computer. "I've got a video to edit."

"But —"

"Good night, Castiel."

Castiel sighs. Looks like he's not getting Lucifer to talk to him tonight. He'll try again tomorrow.

"Good night, Luce."

~~

When Castiel wakes up, the only other people awake are Claire and Samandriel, who are playing some card game. Twice in under 24 hours? Since when are cards a popular pastime for the Novaks?

"What are you playing?" Castiel asks.

"Cribbage," Samandriel says.

Castiel raises an eyebrow. He's no expert at card games, but he's pretty sure you need a cribbage board to play cribbage.

"We're keeping score on our phones," Claire adds, holding hers up to reveal her calculator.

"How — You know what? I'm not gonna question it." Castiel sits down at the table with them to watch.

It's a few minutes later when Lucifer bounds into the room. "'Morning, friendos!" He gives Claire a brief kiss on the forehead, then leans down and whispers to Samandriel, "Let her win or she'll kill you," loudly enough that everyone can hear. He takes a seat next to him like nothing ever happened.

"I'm already winning by enough that Claire's basically already lost," Samandriel says, grinning.

"Then you're already dead."

Deciding now is as good a time as any, especially seeing that Lucifer seems to be in a good mood, though he's almost always in a good mood, Castiel says, "Hey, Luce, can I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure," Lucifer says, but doesn't move.

"Alone?" Castiel adds, though he knows Lucifer knew what he meant.

"Ugh, but that would involve standing up and walking and I'm just too lazy for that," he whines.

Castiel frowns. "Later?"

Lucifer shrugs. "Maybe."

Castiel already knows he really means no, but he's persistent, so if Lucifer won't talk to him, he'll find another way.

Castiel pulls out his phone, and, when Claire asks, says he's texting Dean, which is a complete lie.

Castiel: Hey.

Lucifer pulls out his own phone, probably having felt it vibrate. He glances at Castiel, then starts to put his phone away again.

"Wow, you guys are popular today," Claire says. "Who's that?"

"Michael," Lucifer lies.

"You can't leave Michael hanging like that," Castiel protests, though he really means "You can't leave me hanging like that."

Lucifer pauses, then sighs. "I guess you're right."

Lucifer: Woah hey Cassie! I haven't seen you in so long!

Castiel can't tell if he's being sarcastic or just being a dork.

Castiel: What's up?

Lucifer: It's a movie about a Boy Scout and a grumpy old man who fly away in a house attached to a bunch of balloons and they meet a talking dog and a bird named Kevin who likes chocolate.

Castiel: -_-

Lucifer: Ooohhhh you mean what's up in life, don't you?

Castiel: -_-

Lucifer: Well

Lucifer: Mark kept biting his cage all night

Lucifer: And it was really loud

Lucifer: And I usually don't have to deal with that

Lucifer: Because he's usually in your room

Lucifer: So that was annoying

Lucifer: But he's really cute so it's okay.

Castiel looks over at him to make sure he's done text spamming, because he makes the mistake of assuming his brother is done when he's not far too often. Lucifer just looks at him, which he takes to mean he's done.

Castiel: That's not quite what I was talking about.

Lucifer: I know

Lucifer: But

Lucifer: I also know what you were talking about

Lucifer: And I don't want to talk about that

Lucifer: And you already know that

Lucifer: Because I told you that last night

Lucifer: So

Lucifer: That's going to stay out of our conversation

Lucifer: Or I will block your phone number so you can't text me

Lucifer: M'kay?

Castiel frowns. He looks over at his brother, who just shrugs slightly.

Castiel: Fine, but if you need someone to talk to, I'm here.

Lucifer: I'm very much aware that you're here.

Lucifer: In fact

Lucifer: You're sitting right across from me right now

Lucifer: So I don't know how I wouldn't be aware that you're here

Lucifer: Unless I was blind

Lucifer: And I'm not.

Castiel bites back a sigh. If there's one thing Lucifer is good at, it's only having fun, lighthearted conversations. Well, that and text spamming, which seems to be his favorite pastime.