The morning sun streamed through the tall windows of Wayne Manor's dining room.
Bruce Wayne sat at the head, sipping his coffee while scanning the financial section of the Gotham Gazette.
The headline announced another quarter of record profits for Wayne Enterprises, though Bruce's attention was more focused on a smaller article about LexCorp's mysterious new research division.
Across from him, John Constantine slouched in his chair, looking decidedly out of place among the manor's refined elegance.
His tie hung loose around his neck, and stubble darkened his jaw despite Alfred's pointed comments about the manor's "grooming standards."
"Pass the marmalade, would you, mate?" Constantine asked, gesturing toward Manny, who sat rigidly beside him.
The angel glanced at the jar near his elbow but made no move to pick it up. "It's directly in front of you, John. Surely even your limited human faculties can manage that distance."
"Would it kill you to be helpful for once?" Constantine retorted, reaching across to grab the jar himself. "Or is courtesy not part of the heavenly curriculum?"
"Courtesy is reserved for those who deserve it," Manny replied coolly. "Your recent actions hardly qualify you for such consideration."
Constantine spread marmalade on his toast with deliberate slowness. "Still sore about that little summoning business, are we? Thought angels were supposed to be all about forgiveness."
"Forgiveness requires repentance," Manny said, his voice taking on an edge. "Something you seem constitutionally incapable of."
"Gentlemen," Bruce interjected without looking up from his paper, his tone carrying just enough authority to halt the escalating tension. "It's too early for this."
Constantine muttered something under his breath about "celestial pricks," while Manny straightened his already perfect posture, a picture of affronted dignity.
Bruce had grown accustomed to these morning exchanges over the past week.
Having both Constantine and an angel staying at the manor was proving to be an exercise in patience, but the strategic value of keeping them close outweighed the inconvenience.
With Samael Luthor's presence in Gotham and everything that came with it, he needed all the supernatural intelligence he could gather.
The unexpected sound of the doorbell cut through the momentary silence.
Bruce frowned, setting down his paper.
The security protocols at Wayne Manor were extensive; visitors couldn't reach the front door without first being cleared at the gate, where guards would call ahead to announce their arrival.
Today's schedule was also deliberately clear until his afternoon meeting at Wayne Tower.
"Are we expecting anyone?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.
Constantine shrugged, while Manny's expression became alert, his head tilting slightly as if listening to something.
The sound of Alfred's measured footsteps echoed down the hallway toward the front entrance.
Bruce tensed imperceptibly, his senses heightening as he assessed potential threats and escape routes - a habit ingrained from years as Gotham's Dark Knight.
From the foyer came the sound of the heavy oak door opening, followed by Alfred's impeccable English accent. "Good morning, sir. How may I help you?"
"Good morning," replied a smooth, cultured voice that Bruce recognized immediately. "I was hoping to speak with Mr. Wayne. Is he available? It concerns a matter of some importance - specifically, I want to speak with the Batman."
Bruce went very still. Beside him, Constantine choked slightly on his toast while Manny's eyes widened.
Alfred's response betrayed nothing of the shock he must have felt. "I'm afraid I don't understand what you're referring to, sir. If you'd like to make an appointment with Mr. Wayne, I'd be happy to-"
"Please," the voice interrupted gently. "Very little can be hidden from an archangel. May I come in? I assure you my intentions are peaceful."
A brief pause followed - Alfred likely weighing his options - before the butler replied, "Very well, sir. Please follow me."
Footsteps approached the dining room, and Bruce composed his expression into one of mild curiosity rather than the alarm he felt.
Constantine straightened in his chair, his hand slipping casually into his pocket where Bruce knew he kept various mystical trinkets.
Manny remained perfectly still, his eyes fixed on the doorway.
Alfred appeared first, his professional demeanor intact though Bruce could read the subtle signs of tension in his posture. "Master Bruce, you have visitors. Mr. Samael Luthor and Ms. Vesper."
Samael Luthor entered the dining room with the casual confidence of someone who belonged there, his tailored suit impeccable despite the early hour.
Behind him walked a young woman with short dark hair and watchful eyes that missed nothing - Cassandra Cain, according to Batman's files, though she was currently using the alias "Wren Vesper."
"Good morning, everyone," Samael said pleasantly, as if his appearance at the home of a man whose secret identity he'd just exposed was perfectly normal. "I hope I'm not interrupting breakfast."
Without waiting for an invitation, he pulled out a chair and seated himself at the table, Cassandra taking up position behind him like a shadow.
"Mr. Wayne - or should I say Batman? - Mr. Constantine, and... Manny, is it? The angel who serves as Heaven's messenger to Constantine. Quite the gathering."
Bruce noted that Manny appeared genuinely startled when Samael arrived, suggesting that he had somehow approached without triggering angelic awareness - a concerning demonstration of his abilities.
"What can I do for you, Mr. Luthor?" Bruce asked, deliberately maintaining his playboy persona despite Samael's clear knowledge of his secret. "I don't believe we had an appointment."
"We don't," Samael acknowledged with an apologetic smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "And please, call me Samael. I apologize for the unannounced visit, but it's a matter of... well, let's say celestial importance."
Alfred, ever the perfect butler, had already produced an extra teacup and was pouring for their unexpected guest. Samael accepted it with a nod of thanks.
"I need to meet Gabriel," Samael stated, dropping the bombshell casually as he added an unusually large amount of sugar to his tea.
Cassandra's eyes narrowed slightly at this uncharacteristic behavior - Bruce filed away the observation that Samael typically preferred natural tastes.
Manny stiffened visibly. "Why do you seek the fallen one?"
"Gabriel has fallen?" Samael raised an eyebrow - though he actually knew that, stirring his overly sweetened tea. "Interesting. That wasn't in the files I accessed."
"It seems unlike us you aren't as caught up on recent celestial news," Constantine finally spoke, his voice carrying its usual devil-may-care tone, though Bruce could detect the underlying tension.
"Like for example, we know about you blowing up God's palace, care to explain why?"
Samael smiled as he took a sip of his tea. "Ah yes that. It isn't really the point of my visit, but it is as good a starting point as any."
He set down his cup, his expression becoming more serious. "My meeting with my Father didn't go as planned.
I went to Him asking for help with my vessel - this human body that can't properly contain my power - as you all should know.
Instead of assistance, I received a warning about my Mother, Asherah, who apparently has been imprisoned in Hell since before my creation."
Bruce noticed Alfred's subtle reaction to the casual mention of God as "Father" - a slight tightening around the eyes, the only indication of his shock.
"Shortly after that enlightening conversation, I did indeed express my... displeasure with His silence by destroying the Palace," Samael continued.
"Since then, I've encountered Asherah herself. She's taken possession of a preserved human body - Melisande al Ghul, Talia's mother."
Constantine muttered a colorful curse under his breath, while Manny's expression grew increasingly troubled as he remembered stories about the fallen Goddess, who he himself barely could remember.
"My Mother had quite the story to tell," Samael said, "According to her, I am not merely an archangel or even the new Lightbringer.
I am the Demiurge - the complete Demiurge, as my Father originally intended before the split that created Lucifer and Michael.
She tells me He has made me to be His tool only, His extension, and wishes to keep me on a leash by keeping a perfect vessel away from me."
Bruce immediately saw Manny tense up, a bit of shock appearing on his face, as John himself also went completely rigid.
He turned to Manny, his Batman persona fully emerging despite his civilian attire. "Is what he's saying true? Could he be lying? And what exactly is the Demiurge?" he asked, all three questions currently plaguing his mind since Samael began speaking.
He was as uncaring as ever, even towards the archangel himself by implying the possibility of him lying in front of him.
Manny looked visibly distraught, he remained silent for a moment. "The Lightbringer is the angel of truth. Lying goes against his very nature.
Samael, as a human transformed, should technically be capable of falsehood, but..." He hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. "I don't believe he is lying."
The angel straightened, addressing Bruce directly. "The Demiurge is the divine power of creation itself - the ability to create from nothing, to shape reality according to will.
It was made in two halves by God, split into twins: Lucifer, who received the Will, and Michael, who received the Power.
Together, they could create as God does. Apart, they are incomplete.
As for the rest... I can not tell you as I have no knowledge of what is within the Heavenly Father."
"Enough with the cosmic history lesson," Constantine interrupted, leaning forward. "Cut to the chase, mate. Why are you really here?"
Samael remained silent for a moment, as the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.
As he finished taking a sip from his tea, his smile began to have an edge to it, "Most people show me more respect, Mr. Constantine," he said, his voice soft as falling snow yet perfectly audible to everyone present.
A visible shiver ran down Constantine's spine, and he began to backpedal. "Look, I didn't mean to-"
"It's quite alright," Samael interrupted, his pleasant demeanor returning so quickly it was almost more unsettling than his momentary displeasure.
"Again, as you're all aware, my vessel is... inadequate for containing my power. Using too much of it causes damage that even I struggle to repair."
He took another sip of his tea, finishing the cup. "But given what I've explained, you should understand the importance of gaining more knowledge about my situation.
I can't simply accept my Mother's version of events, nor can I fully trust that my Father doesn't have motives of His own."
Samael set down his empty cup with deliberate care. "There are three beings who can provide me with perspective: Michael, whose whereabouts are unknown to me; Lucifer, who may be somewhat biased; and Gabriel.
While Gabriel might have his own biases, he represents a different viewpoint from both my parents."
He turned his gaze to Constantine. "Gabriel, despite his fall - which you caused by tricking him into sleeping with a succubus - isn't part of the anti-God faction, is he?"
Bruce immediately took note of Samael's way of questioning, it seems in the beginning he was attempting to have them let their guard down by looking as if he wasn't as informed as them, but seeing as that didn't work, he dropped the act.
Constantine shifted uncomfortably. "No, last I met him, he blamed himself more than anything. Took the whole 'fallen from grace' thing pretty hard."
"As I suspected," Samael nodded.
"Now, here's my dilemma. Traveling to another universe and offering Gabriel something worthy of the information I seek requires significant power - power that would further damage my vessel if I used it directly."
His gaze shifted to Bruce, his voice taking a mock contemplative tone as he put a finger on his chin, tapping it as he spoke, "Which brings me to why I'm here. I need a vessel, one that is available, one that is capable of containing me without much strain.
One that is at the peak of limited human capability. The blood of Cain and Abel running quite pure through it.
Catch my drift?" Samael questioned as his face formed a no longer hidden predatory smile.
"With you as my vessel, I could potentially stand against even my Mother at her peak power level without harming you - her being equal to Gabriel at full power."
The statement hung in the air like a thunderclap.
Constantine looked as if someone had struck him, while Manny's expression was one of pure shock.
"Possession?" Bruce asked, his voice steady despite the enormity of what was being suggested.
"Angels aren't demons," Samael clarified. "We cannot possess unwilling vessels. It requires explicit consent. Hence my direct approach."
He leaned forward slightly, his eyes meeting Bruce's. "I'm asking for your permission, Mr. Wayne. Will you help me?"
The question lingered in the silence that followed.
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(Author note: So! Sammy is here to finally trying to get a new suit - a temporary one albeit.
Will Bruce be the girl that accepts going to the prom with him? (I hope you caught my reference.)
Do tell me what you think of that, will Bruce agree, or no? And if he will, what conditions will he make?
Well, I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)