Chapter Text
Friday night had rolled around again and just like every previous week found Lucifer hanging out at the local bar. He wasn’t looking to hook up with anyone-he didn’t have time for a relationship until after quarter finals at least, not to mention he was gay and most of the people who hit on him at the bar were women. Mostly he was bored.
Sometimes he got comments about his ‘punk’ look, complete with leather jacket, diamond earring, and studded leather boots. Today was one of those days.
The girl who sat down next to him had a similar look, with a form fitting leather jacket and extreme colorful makeup. Immediately she complimented his style, earning a half-hearted, “Thanks,” in return. But she didn’t give up that easily. Lucifer found himself bombarded with random questions that he tried to deflect.
Finally she stopped with the questions, instead holding out her hand with a grin and saying, “I’m Meg by the way. You?”
With a forced smile, Lucifer replied, “Luke.” Whoever this Meg was was starting to get on his nerves, and something about her smirk unsettled him. It didn’t take him long to figure out what when she leaned over suggestively and asked in a low voice, “What d’you say we get out of here, Luke?’
For all his tough look, Lucifer was generally a very solitary person and he didn’t know quite what was the best way to turn her down, stammering, “Um...I-I don’t...not tonight,” he finally got out, taking a drink immediately after.
Meg pouted flirtatiously, “Oh come on now, handsome, what’s one night? I bet-”
But Lucifer was never to know what Meg bet because at that moment the most beautiful voice he’d ever heard interrupted her and someone clapped a hand on his shoulder from behind.
“Man, I must’ve missed you on my way in! I thought you decided not to show up!”
Lucifer turned to face the stranger, confused, only to be met with a face that absolutely matched the voice. A dark haired, muscular yet lean man about an inch shorter than himself was standing there, a dazzling smile on his face.
Looking into clear green eyes, Lucifer registered the concern there for what it was and realized what was going on. Deciding to play along, he took the opportunity gratefully to turn to Meg and say, “Right, well, always nice to meet new people. I’ll be going now, though.” Meg frowned and crowded into his personal space to whisper, “Are you sure you can’t ditch him? He doesn’t look half as fun as us!”
Apparently, people in button downs and slacks were not ‘fun’ in Meg’s mind. Lucifer didn’t care, he just wanted to get away from her. She seemed extremely untrustworthy, and he had no intention of getting kidnapped or the like. So he ignored her statement and followed the gorgeous stranger back to a booth in the corner.
When they got there, the man turned to him, “Sorry, you just looked really uncomfortable.”
“You have no idea how thankful I am to you for that,” he replied, unsure of what to do now. The man gestured at the table, “Care for a drink? If you don’t, I totally understand. But that woman’s still watching, so it might add to the illusion that we know each other.”
Lucifer sat down gladly, “I don’t object in the slightest.”
The man slid into the booth across from him with another smile, “Oh, and my name is Mike, if you were curious.”
He had been, but he wasn’t about to say so, “I’m Luc...Luke. I’m Luke.” Damn, he’d almost given his real name. This guy was distracting. Truth be told, he liked the name Lucifer, but it wasn’t often received well, so he generally introduced himself as Luke.
Mike raised an eyebrow-holy shit, he’d never known perfect eyebrows ‘til that day-but didn’t say anything.
“Anything you want to know about me?” he asked, trying to break the somewhat awkward silence. Lucifer considered, “Are you a student?”
Mike nodded, “Yeah, I’m studying archaeology at the university.”
“No kidding? Maybe we’ll work together! I’m working with anthropology, hoping to be a curator one day!” Lucifer responded, surprised. But he wasn’t half as surprised as Mike looked, “Really? You’re into history? I never would have guessed with that look?”
Lucifer mocked offense, “Punks can be into history too! Besides, actual historical people probably dressed closer to me than you. I mean, jackets, jewelry, and boots have been in fashion way longer than whatever middle-aged businessman look you’re going for has. Actually, I’m not sure middle-aged businessman has ever been in fashion.”
The man opposite him snorted, “Just because I dress professionally does not mean I’m not twenty-three. Last I checked twenty-three wasn’t middle-aged.”
“Twenty-three? You’re older than me?”
“Am I?” Now Mike looked curious.
“Yeah, by just a year, though.”
“Interesting. Although I am wondering why we don’t have any classes together. Archaeology is kind of a sub-section of anthropology, after all,” he mused. Lucifer shrugged, “You said you were going to university. I can’t afford that and an apartment, so I’m going to the local college.”
“Ah, that explains it. Although couldn’t you just get a dorm instead of an apartment?”
Lucifer froze. He didn’t discuss his family life with strangers. He didn’t discuss it with anyone. Mike seemed to sense that, as he continued after a pause, “It’s fine if you don’t want to tell me. I have an apartment too, ‘cause my sister lives with me. But we inherited plenty of money from our parents.”
“Your parents are dead?” he asked. Mike nodded. Inclining his head, he added the obligatory, “I’m sorry. So’s my mom.”
Why the fuck did he say that? Hadn’t he just stopped himself from discussing his family with strangers? Mike just shared that empathetic look, also obligatory, before moving on to a lighter subject, “So, any specific reason you’re hanging out here, or no?”
“Not really. I should stop coming. That sort of thing happens way too often to me.”
“Oh? I’m here a lot and it never happens to me…”
“Middle-aged businessman look, I told you,” Lucifer retorted and Mike laughed.
“You know, you might just be the most interesting person I’ve met at this bar? Normally I wouldn’t even approach a guy in leather, but hey,” he shrugged. Lucifer studied him for a bit, “From over here, I doubt you’d be able to tell I was uncomfortable. Why did you come over?”
Mike fiddled with his glass, “I saw you when I was going to order drinks and you looked so adorably nervous,” he froze, horrified at what he’d just let slip, “and...and anyways when I got closer I heard you trying to get rid of her and failing miserably. I figured I should probably help you out.”
Lucifer smirked a little, “You think I’m adorable?”
“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to hit on you. I-I don’t do that. Not if it makes people uncomfortable. You can leave if you want…” he floundered, staring pointedly at the table. Lucifer’s smirk grew, “Look who’s adorably nervous now.”
Mike glanced up at him, confused, “But you-”
“-have no interest in punk girls who flirt at bars. You are literally as far from that as it is possible to get,” he finished the statement with a chuckle.
“Oh.”
Reaching across the table, Lucifer picked up one of Mike’s hands and held it, brushing his fingers across his knuckles, “We could catch a movie or something, if you’re interested. I’d suggest a museum, considering, but I think they’re all about to close. Or we could just keep talking. I don’t much care. I’ve nothing to do on a Friday.”
“Not really what I expected to do this evening, but that’s life. You got a movie in mind?”
“You a fan of sci-fi?”
“Hell yes.”
“There’s a cheap theater a few streets down from where I live that picks up movies out of the big theaters but not yet on dvd. They’ve got Star Trek Into Darkness. Interested?”
Mike grinned, and Lucifer was sure it was impossible for somebody to get tired of that smile, “Definitely. Do you have a car?”
“I thought I made my financial state clear? No? Then, no. I don’t have a car,” Lucifer drawled sarcastically. Mike shrugged, “Good, ‘cause I do,” he suddenly reverted to his awkward side, “That is, if you’re okay with that. I mean, it’s fine if you don’t trust me. I probably wouldn’t trust someone I just met enough to get in their car.”
Lucifer rolled his eyes, “And I also thought I made my judgement of your character clear. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.”