Chapter Text
Lucifer had been out all night on buisness. After the student council meeting had concluded that afternoon, he had stayed behind with Diavolo to continue discussion on the topics they went over, then made use of the time by filling out some important paperwork. Afterwards, Diavolo had managed to talk him into returning to the Demon Lord’s Castle for dinner, and had kept him there for quite some time with aimless chatter.
Though it wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy his time (even if he’d never admit that he did,) he was exhausted by the time he returned home. It was late enough that the entire House of Lamentation was still. Not a sound could be heard. Even when that fact made Lucifer feel uneasy, he figured it was just late enough that everyone was keeping to themselves. He stood at the entrance as he briefly considered visiting your room to see if you were in bed already, and to say goodnight if you weren’t. Yet, he soon decided against it and turned through the halls to reach his own room instead.
When he arrived at his room, he felt a feeling in his gut telling him that something was off. He interpreted this feeling to mean something was wrong, and so he was immediately on guard, expecting another one of Satan and Belphegor’s lame tricks. He gripped the doorknob carefully, turning it slowly as he peered into the dark room.
His eyes immediately found you, lit by nothing but the candle on his bedside table. His first instinct was to be confused, although his guard was instantly lowered. What were you doing in his room? Was there something wrong with your own that made it uninhabitable? Perhaps Beel went on another one of his hunger-rampages, yet again destroying the kitchen and, consequently, your room as well. But why would you choose his room over anyone else’s to rest in?
Confusion turned into concern as he stood in the doorway, just staring, unsure. He stood there for a moment, not sure if he should disturb you. But eventually his feelings of concern and curiosity won over, and he walked over to kneel at your bedside.
His gloved hand reached out to shake your shoulder, even though he didn’t want to. He couldn’t help but think about how precious you looked, fast asleep, nestled in his bed. Of course, it wasn’t strange to see you relaxed, as time spent between the two of you was often spent in silence. But there was a special kind of feeling in his heart to see you so tranquil, without any sign of the stressors you faced.
Your eyes fluttering open brought him back from his thoughts, although he was distracted again only seconds later by the thought of how cute you were when you were sleepy.
Your half-lidded eyes ridden with fatigue focused on him after a few moments of rubbing them with your fist. Your gaze morphed to match his confusion, before it changed to realization, then embarassment.
“Oh, you’re back already?” You asked, eyes darting around the room, “What time is it?“
“Quite late,” He responded, “Why are you sleeping here? Is there something wrong with your room?”
”No, it’s nothing like that. It’s just…” Your voice got quiet as you lowered your head, "’M sorry, Luci, I just missed you.”
In that moment, all Lucifer could do was thank himself for the years of training himself to be more reserved, more stoic. Otherwise it would’ve been utterly embarrasing to show just how flustered that made him feel.
"I was only gone for a few hours.” He responded, voice staying leveled despite the way his heartbeat began picking up, “You just saw me this morning.”
Your only response was to shrug, looking sheepish. He sighed, shaking his head at your strangeness. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever understand you. And yet, with every odd little thing you did, he couldn’t help but become even more endeared to you. Couldn’t help but to fall even deeper in love.
Did you know that you were doing this? Did you know your effect on him? Did you know that you had him so tightly wrapped around your finger? It felt strange, he felt strange. How could he have let his guard down so much to let a human worm their way into his heart? How did you make this happen?
He cleared his throat to dismiss the thoughts from his mind. You looked nervous, like his silence meant that he was going to scold you. Instead, he was so lost in swirling thoughts of affection that, in that moment, he could never dream of doing so. Scolding you meant that you would never pull somehting like this again. And deep, deep down, he knew that he wanted you to. Even every night, if you so wished.
“Very well,” He said, and he heard his own voice waver. He hoped you hadn’t noticed as he got back onto his feet. The movement drew your eyes up to him, and your face changed from nerves to confusion again. “I’ll go sleep in the study. Goodnight, MC.”
He made it one single step away from his bed before your hand reached out to grab at his wrist. His entire body tensed, put off by the sudden contact. He did his best to will his muscles to relax, not wanting to exhibit any weakness. It wasn’t anything against you, just a reflex rooted deep within him. He wanted to be vulnerable with you, but he found it so hard to allow himself that pleasure.
“Wait,” Your voice came from behind him. Lucifer still hadn’t turned around, but he could tell by the sound of your voice that you were pleading with him.
Please don’t, he begged to you within his own thoughts, please don’t make it more difficult then it needs to be.
“Will you stay?”
Your voice sounded so soft. So innocent.
His knees felt weak.
Please don’t tempt me, MC.
He tried to resist the urge to turn around, but very soon he lost that battle. It was an impossible one to win. Your voice was like a siren’s song. Your touch, even through his sleeve, felt irresitable to shun away.
He turned to gaze at you over his shoulder. The moment your eyes met, he knew the war was over. You had won.
“Fine,” Lucifer murmured, his voice filled with surrender, “ I will stay, only until you fall alseep.”
You nodded, a smile spreading across your lips. Pride swelled within him when he realized that he caused that smile. It was one of his favorite things to do, to see you smile, and he wished to see it in his every waking moment. And he always wanted to be the cause of it.
When did that become such a top priority for him?
You scooted over towards the other side of his massive bed, forcing him to sit as you pulled him along with you. Resigning to the force of you dragging him along, Lucifer kicked off his shoes and stretched his legs out in front of him. He rested his back against the headboard of his bed and settled in, though he didn’t plan to be there for long. Just until you fell asleep, then he would slip away to sleep in his study as orginally planned.
Except, he didn’t stop you as you came in closer. Didn’t stop you as you rested your head on his chest. Didn’t stop you from draping your arm over his waist. How could he? If you truly missed him that much, how could he stop you from indulging in this moment?
What’s worse, however, was that Lucifer didn’t stop himself from wrapping an arm around you; from pulling you impossibly closer. Didn’t stop himself from basking in your warmth, or in your weight on top of him. He thought he was strong, one of the strongest demons there was. He took pride in his ability to never crack under pressure. Took pride in how he had no weakness to speak of, or at least that he never showed such a thing. And yet, here you were, and he simply couldn’t resist your gentle urging. Couldn’t resist basking in your affection the moment he had it.
What were you really? Because Lucifer was no longer sure he would take “human” as an answer. You had to be something else. Something more.
He was lost in these thoughts, staring accusatory at the top of your head, when he felt a weight settle on his hand. His eyes darted towards the feeling, and found your hand placed gently atop his. His heart surged again.
“G’night, Luci,” You mumbled, voice muffled and words slurred. Before he could respond, he already knew you had fallen asleep. You’d used your last bit of energy for the day to wish him a pleasant night. And no doubt, it was a good night indeed.
“Goodnight, MC.” He said in response, even despite your unconciousness. Perhaps you could still hear him, deep in the dreamworld you were being sucked into.
Then, and only then, did he let his fingers wrap around your own. Once he was sure you were lost to the waking world. Only then could he bear to respond to such affections. And he didn’t let go, even though you were sleeping. Even though he promised himself he would leave.
Even as his eyes slid closed. And even as he recognized, as he too was drifting to sleep, that his neck would ache come morning due to his position. He didn’t care, though. Not if it meant he would be able to rest there and keep your hand safe in his.