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Chloe glared at the numerous shopping bags crammed into her trunk, as if her ire alone would be enough to magically shift them into her kitchen. She knew she should have brought Lucifer grocery shopping with her. He was the ideal pack mule when it came to bringing everything inside. She could load up those long arms of his with a dozen bags at once, and he’d carry them with ease. One of the many perks of dating a celestial.
Grabbing a few bags, she lurched awkwardly towards her condo, wincing as the contents knocked into her legs with each step. It was her own fault, really. She’d been the one to recommend Lucifer stayed home. Not that he’d given her much choice after last time. Turns out, people complain when a six foot three man decides to demonstrate his deep throating abilities with a cucumber in the middle of the produce aisle. Who knew?
Reaching the front door, she set down her bags to fumble with her keys, inwardly cursing as she dropped them. As she stooped to pick them up, one of her grocery bags decided it's time had come, leaning dangerously to the side and threatening to spill all over the entryway.
By the time Chloe had managed to unlock the door - only losing two apples in the process - she was ready to call it quits on the day. They could order a pizza or something, all she wanted now was a shower, pajamas, and possibly a nap.
“Lucifer,” she called as she shoved open the door, almost tripping over someone’s carelessly placed Chelsea Boots.
Said someone was looking at her from over the back of the couch, his eyes widening as she kicked his shoes. “Are you okay, darling? I, er, did mean to move those.”
“Fine,” she said shortly, shoving the boots under the small table beside the door. Usually he preferred to keep them upstairs in their closet where they were protected, but if he wanted them there, he could do it himself. Actually, he rarely left out his shoes in general. He was a rather clean person, which extended to his possessions. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d had to pick up something he’d left out.
Lucifer was giving her an exceptionally wary look now, not daring to rise from where he was watching tv. “How did the shopping go?”
“Store security followed me around the entire time.” She hefted her bags onto the counter. “Which is completely unfair. I didn’t touch the cucumber last time!”
His eyes hardened. “Security harassed you?” he asked, voice low and dangerous.
She sighed. “No, it’s fine. It doesn’t matter.”
Lucifer wasn’t listening, phone already in hand. “How dare they! Do they’ve any idea what you’ve done for this bloody city? You deserve far more than being stalked through the store by a glorified, overweight mall cop!” He began to dial a number furiously.
“Nope. Nope, nope, nope.” Striding over, she leaned over the back of the couch and plucked the phone out of his hands before he could press call. “It wasn’t a big deal.”
“It was a travesty!”
She was really trying not to smile, afraid of what the positive reinforcement would do. “Babe, I love you, and it’s cute you want to do battle with every single person who inconveniences me, but you can’t fight the world.”
He gave her an unimpressed look that said he most certainly could. But then he deflated, settling back into the couch with a huff. “It’s no fun when you insist on being the bigger person,” he groused.
“Yes, well,” she leaned forwards, kissing the side of his head, “we all have our flaws.”
Immediately, he twisted, searching for a proper kiss. She indulged him despite the awkward angle, his scruff rough against her cheek but his lips soft, gentle and unhurried. Once, their every kiss had been flavored by that hint of desperation, both of them waiting for the other to leave. But months together had soothed the uncertainty.
Pulling away, she smiled, intending to ask if he wanted to watch a movie with her and cuddle - though using those exact words would elicit an indigent squawk from him - her gaze drifted to the rest of the couch.
And then, she froze.
“Um… Lucifer? What are you doing?”
Because beside Lucifer was a stack of pillows. Unfamiliar, red velvet pillows with gold trim of all things, looking impressively expensive and painfully out of place in her home. And atop the stack, silent and regal, sat their rabbit.
“Oh.” Lucifer looked between her and Sprinkles. “Well, no one was home, and he was kicking up a right fuss in his cage.”
“That’s because you’re always taking him out of it,” she chastised without real disapproval, knowing this battle was long lost. “He probably sees the cage as a punishment at this point.”
“I don’t know why he can’t just roam around the house. It’s his too.” He stroked the rabbit down its fluffy back with his broad thumb, fingers scratching lightly at its neck. The rabbit was oddly complacent. It always had been towards Lucifer, really.
“Because he’s still small enough to get stepped on,” she reminded him, wondering how much longer that excuse would really hold up. Sprinkles had at least doubled in size since they’d first gotten him. “But back to…” this gestured awkwardly, “this.”
“Like I said, he was making a fuss so I took him out and put on his favorite show-”
“He has a favorite show?”
Lucifer nodded emphatically, pointing at the television. “General Hospital, yes. Personally, I find it to be complete drivel, but he seems to like it.”
Chloe almost asked how he knew that. Almost. “And the pillows?”
“He can’t see the screen properly on the couch. I tried to purchase a little throne for him but I’ve yet to find an adequate craftsman skilled enough to make one to my specifications.”
Their rabbit. On a throne. So he could watch General Hospital.
She was so thankful this was her life.
Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she hugged Lucifer from behind. “I really do love you.”
He startled slightly, then chuckled. “Darling, you said that already.”
“And I’ll say it again. As many times as I want to.” As many times as he needed to hear them to realize they were true.
One of his hands came up to intertwine with hers, resting over his heart. “I love you too,” he said. Always softly. Always hesitantly. But a bit stronger each time.
She inhaled deeply, the thick scent of his hair products and cologne making her feel slightly dizzy. “Help me get the rest of the groceries? Then I’ll join you two and we can watch a movie?”
“Of course.” Disentangling from her, he got up, shooting Sprinkles a look. “You. Stay. I’m not chasing you around the complex again.”
“Again?”
Lucifer shrugged. “I thought he would like to go outside and explore the back patio. I didn’t know he would try to escape.”
“I - indoor pet, Lucifer. Rabbits are indoor pets.”
“Well, he is now that I know he cannot be trusted.” He sniffed. “Though, apparently humans have made harnesses for cats? Maybe we can get him one of those too. We could take him to the beach.” He looked down contemplatively.
“Er… maybe we should hold off on that one,” she said hesitantly. “You get the groceries and I’ll put them away?”
Lucifer agreed, disappearing outside as she began to unpack the first few grocery bags. And finally, she let her grin break free, the warmth in her gut soothing. Their life was an interesting one, to be sure, and full of the sorts of challenges she had never once considered. But these moments were some of her favorites.
Taking a baby carrot out of the bag she’d bought, she went back to the living room and knelt, holding it out to Sprinkles. “I know Lucifer’s your favorite,” she said, petting him, “but I’m the whole reason you’re still alive. Never forget that.” She glanced up as Lucifer burst through the door, a dozen bags hanging off him. Lowering her voice, she whispered. “And I know he might be annoying but don’t you dare break his heart.”
Sprinkles stared back at her from black eyes, nose twitching. Right, he wouldn’t be answering. Because rabbits didn’t talk. Despite what Lucifer thought.
That was, until she picked up the remote and changed the channel, only to feel something soft hit the back of her leg.
She spun around, staring down uncomprehendingly. “Did you just headbutt me?”
“I told you General Hospital is his favorite,” Lucifer said, already digging through one of the bags of chips she had bought.
Okay… maybe Lucifer was on to something. Not that she would tell him that. But if she started putting General Hospital reruns on in the evening when Lucifer was at Lux, that was her own business entirely.