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You sat on a couch in the common room playing cards with Beel when Lucifer entered suddenly and loudly said your name, wanting your attention.
You looked at him, surprised, and set the cards in your hand face-down on the coffee table.
"Sorry to interrupt your game," Lucifer said, putting his hands behind his back, glancing at you and Beel. "But I need to speak to you." He finished, keeping his gaze on you.
You felt yourself wither slightly under Lucifer's intimidating stare, but nodded and threw Beel a glance and a smile as a good-bye as you stood up and followed Lucifer out of the room. You weren't sure where he was leading you, but didn't bother to ask, not wanting to risk irritating the Avatar of Pride.
Eventually you ended up in the library, and Lucifer turned to you, giving you his usual smug smile, though you could sense a bit of frustration behind it.
"Lord Diavolo has asked me to...run an errand for him in the human realm," Lucifer said, crossing his arms, trying his best to maintain his composure. You guessed that whatever the Demon Prince asked for, it was either really difficult or really ridiculous. But why did Lucifer need to talk to you about it?
You watched Lucifer squirm in his cool, collected way as he struggled to continue, debating whether or not you should try to coax out his next word.
You had to admit that you did enjoy seeing the infallible Lucifer let down his guard--allowing you to see his walls come down just a bit.
"He's asked me for a very specific edition of a very specific book that can only be found in a very specific place," Lucifer finally finished, with a loud sigh. "Not that I understand why I have to be the one to find it,” he added with a quiet grunt.
You were confused as to why this would require Lucifer to talk to you, and tilted your head to the side.
“Is there a specific reason why you needed to speak to me?” You asked carefully.
Lucifer looked back at you with what looked like a small flash of sheepishness before returning to his enigmatic smile.
“This very specific place is in the human realm, and I was thinking that perhaps you would like to join me,” he explained with a slight nod. Before you could ask why he had to ask you in private, he continued. “I wanted this to be a quiet trip, so that’s why I only asked you. My brothers tend to be...unrestrained when it comes to visiting the human realm, and I thought you might enjoy escaping the Devildom for a while."
A small, breathy laugh escaped through your nose and you smiled. For all of Lucifer's posturing, he knew how to be considerate.
"That sounds nice," you said, smiling.
"Excellent. We'll leave this weekend, so I'll make the necessary arrangements." Lucifer crossed his arms and gave his usual smile back at you. "Don't make any plans."
"Of course," you said with a nod.
"All right, you can go back to your card game with Beel." Lucifer dismissed you with a small wave and smile, and turned away from you, beginning to mumble to himself. You turned slowly and walked off, half-expecting Lucifer to have something else to add.
When he didn't call for you again, you sped up to a normal walking speed, heading back to the common room.
As you walked, however, a heaviness filled your heart and you let out a loud sigh. You absently focused on the sound of your own footsteps, thinking about Lucifer's invitation.
Your heart groaned as Lucifer's voice bounced around your mind.
A chance to escape the Devildom.
You had been back to the human realm a few times with the brothers, so this invitation should not have sounded any differently to you, but you couldn't explain the ache that now occupied your chest.
Were you...homesick?
You grunted to yourself, surprised. It was ages since you had felt homesick. The first week or two in the Devildom had you yearning for home, but the brothers had quickly become a replacement family for you, and those aching feelings quickly faded away.
But now?
What felt like an immeasurable sadness filled your lungs and heart and you just wanted to go back to your room and sit in silence.
Getting to travel to the human realm was an unexpected surprise, but for some reason this time, you were scared.
What if this time you didn't want to go back to the Devildom? You didn't have much of a choice in the matter, but it made a world of difference when your heart was willing. Lucifer would bring you back to complete your year in the Devildom, regardless...but you didn't want to continue to deal with this awful, invasive pain.
You hoped that maybe in the days that followed, it would fade, and your trip with Lucifer would be like any other.
***
You sat in a small tram next to Lucifer, trying to make yourself small as he sat tall with his arms crossed. He was intimidatingly regal, wearing his well-tailored black and red waistcoat and shirt, his coat draped over his shoulders as always. He looked straight ahead, with what you recognized as frustration in his smile.
The other passengers on the tram also seemed to sense his irritation as the tram rode along and looked nervously in any direction besides his.
Lucifer had not told you where in the human realm you would be going right up until you left. His brothers were blissfully unaware of where you would even be going with Lucifer, being told that you were going to be spending the next few days at Diavolo’s castle with him working on something for RAD’s human curriculum.
It wasn't until you had left with him to see Diavolo again that Lucifer announced you would be in Portugal shortly. He said–or more ordered–that he would be doing all the talking and for you to just enjoy the sights.
However, it was clear now that Diavolo’s sense of humor plagued Lucifer even in the human realm.
You had already been to several bookstores, and at each one Lucifer received a note from each shopkeeper with clues to your next destination.
You weren't entirely sure how he pulled it off, but Diavolo had managed to create an entire treasure hunt for Lucifer to find this already-rare book. You supposed being the next ruler of the Devildom afforded Diavolo some strange privileges even in the human realm.
And now, you were sitting next to an increasingly irritated Avatar of Pride. He had mumbled some things about being too old for games like these, and you did your best to stifle any laughter that might escape your mouth–lest you also incur your traveling companion’s anger.
However, at each store while Lucifer spoke with the shopkeepers, you stopped to try and pick up a gift for each brother back home. You figured there was no harm in bringing them gifts after you returned.
Lucifer commended your thoughtfulness with the first gift you found, though lamented that it may be wasted on a few of his brothers. Then quickly received his first clue and you figured a different kind of lament was happening now.
You tried picking things you thought each demon would like, and it wasn't terribly hard to find something you thought was suitable–a shiny trinket for Mammon, an interesting looking novel for Satan, and so on. But you also secretly wanted to find a gift for Lucifer too, especially after finding out Diavolo’s game for him. You glanced at the bag on the floor with increasing gifts as it bumped your leg.
A long sigh shook you out of your thoughts and you looked at Lucifer. His expression had softened a bit from his earlier irritation and he glanced at you before speaking.
“I’m really sorry about this nonsense,” Lucifer said with another sigh.
You shook your head, smiling.
“It’s okay, I’m still enjoying the sights and everything.” You hoped you might relieve some pressure from his mind.
“That’s good to hear, but…” Lucifer replied, his voice colored with some disappointment. “I actually had a hotel booked and a brief itinerary for us to enjoy before we got to relax without any noisy brothers.”
You were a bit surprised at Lucifer’s consideration. You kind of thought he would just plan on getting the book and then maybe a quick meal before going back, but in hindsight it made sense that he would want to take a vacation.
But…he also wanted you to come along.
You became acutely aware of Lucifer’s arm pressed against yours, a butterfly or two starting to flutter in your stomach.
“That sounds really nice,” you said as evenly as you could, trying not to move at all and betray your sudden nervousness.
“It would have been, had Lord Diavolo not sent us on a goose chase,” Lucifer said as he pinched the bridge of his nose with his gloved hand. “We’ll be lucky if we can get back before nightfall at this point.”
“Any idea how many clues might be left?”
“Too many.”
You let out a breathy laugh as you realized Lucifer’s irritated, yet relaxed way of speaking. There were no brothers or Demon Prince around so he seemed to be at least a hair’s amount more easy-going. You glanced at Lucifer’s leg as the tram bounced and it briefly bounced against yours.
It must have been partly due to all the layers he was wearing, but the arm you were still pressed against was comfortingly warm.
Honestly, you were glad to be there with him, goose chase or not. As intimidating as Lucifer could be, you also always felt safe when he was around, even if he was scolding everyone. He was strict but always meant well for the residents of the House of Lamentation. He was a proud demon, and could rarely be disturbed.
You looked out the tram window at the bright blue sky, peppered with clouds. It felt wrong to your eyes now, having gotten used to the perpetual night sky of the Devildom. Your heart stung a little as a cloud moved to reveal the sun and the world brightened.
You missed the Devildom as you sat there in the human realm.
The ache from before, when Lucifer asked you to come with him, landed in your stomach with a thud. You took a deep breath, as quietly as possible so you wouldn’t disturb or worry Lucifer, hoping to expel the feeling.
But the reason for the ache was crystal clear now:
You weren't scared that you’d want to stay in the human realm, but that you would have to leave the Devildom.
***
You finally arrived at the hotel Lucifer booked, but he was right when he said you wouldn't get there until night. The two of you went all over town, collecting riddle after riddle that Diavolo left for Lucifer. There was still no book, but Lucifer decided that the two of you would resume your search in the morning.
At some point during the search, Lucifer gave up on being frustrated and simply started trying to move as quickly as possible to get to the end of “this accursed treasure hunt,” he actually spat rather maliciously after he stepped in a puddle.
Even amid the hunting and moving, you couldn't shake the realization you had on the tram.
Were you really that scared to go back to the human realm to stay? The more you thought about it, the more a burning, guilty feeling rose in your throat.
But you loved the Devildom now. You couldn’t deny it.
You loved the seven brothers you lived with. You loved them and the thought of leaving them scared you. Especially as you watched Lucifer throughout the day.
His calm, collected way of speaking, even as he spoke Portuguese to the shopkeepers was enchanting. Catching those small moments when he thought no one was looking and would let out a big yawn before resuming his proud image. And you certainly noticed the way he kept you close as you walked to and from different shops.
He was protective–possessive, almost–the way he claimed his seat next to you on the trams or anytime you took a break and found a quiet place to rest. But it seemed so natural to him. And even as he checked in at the hotel, he kept you close.
And the fact that he only took you with him on this trip? He could have easily done this alone, heaven knows he’d probably be done if it was just him looking for clues.
But he kept you there with him.
Butterflies multiplied in your stomach and lungs at the thought, but the hot burning guilt from earlier seemed to melt their fervor.
How could you say you didn’t want to go back to the human realm? You were human. You hadn’t been in the Devildom all that long, but you didn’t want to leave.
Why?
Lucifer’s face flashed in your mind for a moment and you sharply inhaled.
You had rarely ever seen him sad, like truly sad, but the few times you did were heartbreaking. Perhaps because it was rare to see him making expressions other than happily calculating or angry, but the way his dark eyes looked when he was truly upset made you ache.
It was clear you meant something to him, and it was becoming clear that he meant a lot to you.
You squeezed your eyes shut and shook your head. All of these thoughts were starting to make your head spin.
You couldn’t risk being a liability to Lucifer before he could find Diavolo’s book. You would try to put all these thoughts aside and sleep so you could be prepared for an early start.
***
Your sleep was dreamless but also quite restless, and the morning came quickly.
Lucifer was determined to find the book today and make it back home to the Devildom before he encountered anything else ridiculous.
You followed his furiously determined steps as best as you could, but the weather was gray, cloudy, and threatened rain, which wasn’t doing your exhaustion any favors.
And you couldn’t shake the growing guilt you had over not wanting to stay or eventually return to the human realm. It made your steps even slower, though you were doing your best to stay distracted from it.
You figured you might focus on your gift for Lucifer and hopefully deal with all your confusing thoughts back in the Devildom.
You and Lucifer entered yet another bookshop and you watched him walk up to the shopkeeper, quickly hiding his disdain for the continuing treasure hunt. You chuckled as you snuck off to try and find a gift for him.
You peered on shelves and around corners, but nothing seemed to speak to you as the perfect gift for Lucifer. You sighed and shook your head, walking back to the front of the bookstore. You glanced around, looking for your tall, dark, prideful demon companion but he was nowhere to be seen.
A small pit formed in your stomach as the possibility of being separated from Lucifer was becoming real and you walked outside to see if he was there.
Any hope you had was dashed when you still couldn’t find him.
You told yourself it was likely that Lucifer, in his frustrated haste, just assumed that you were still behind him and moved on to the next shop.
It was nothing personal and just a mistake, but that didn’t stop the heat from building behind your eyes and nose. Tears like pinpricks stung your eyes as you contemplated what to do.
You thought about going back into the bookstore, but felt embarrassed to wait there like a lost child. As you fruitlessly looked around for Lucifer again, you started to notice the streets and sidewalks clearing of people. Then raindrops began to hit your head and face.
You remembered a cathedral close by that Lucifer was very disappointed to pass without visiting. He sadly said it was on his brief itinerary before returning his focus to the treasure-book hunt. Thankfully, you were able to retrace your steps enough to get it within sight and you dashed to it as the rain got heavier.
Thankfully by the time you reached the cathedral, your clothes and head were only lightly wet, but the rain was cold and your sadness was returning. As you walked further in, you saw that there wasn’t anyone inside besides a priest or two. There was a little bit of relief that there wouldn’t be many people to see your embarrassment.
You sat down in a pew toward the back and rested your elbows on your knees.
Maybe now was as good a time as any to think.
You, a human, wanting to stay in the Devildom? And that you had any chance of staying with one of the most powerful beings there? You couldn’t even keep up with him in the human realm.
But…you couldn’t deny it. You wanted to stay there.
And you wanted to stay with Lucifer.
The rain fell harder as your thoughts intensified.
How shameful. A human not wanting to return to the human realm. You would leave everything behind for a demon?
You closed your eyes as hot tears rolled down your cheeks and onto the floor.
The sound of the rain echoed against the walls and ceiling.
“There you are,” Lucifer’s comfortingly deep voice rang in your ear.
You sat up at attention, hastily wiping your eyes and face. You turned to find Lucifer sitting surprisingly close to you and gasped.
“I’m glad I found you,” he said in a strangely reverent tone. His voice was deep and low, reverberating in your ears. “You could have waited at the bookstore and I could have found you sooner, you know.”
You felt your cheeks burn, knowing that it would have been the easiest solution, but your pride got the better of you. You looked back down at the floor, unsure of what to say.
“Then maybe you came here to repent?” He asked in a seductive, unearthly voice.
You felt a shiver run up and down your spine and you looked at Lucifer, half expecting him to be in his demon form–all in his dark glory. But he merely had a cool, teasing smile on his face.
He brushed a tear from your cheek, his smile fading a bit.
“There’s been something bothering you since yesterday. I assume it’s still on your mind?”
You closed your eyes and nodded solemnly. Of course he knew. There was no point in hiding it if Lucifer asked.
“When you told me you were bringing me to the human realm to escape from the Devildom for a while, I thought I was feeling homesick. It didn’t bother me again until we got here when I realized that I wasn’t homesick at all…that I was actually scared of leaving the Devildom and staying here. Scared of leaving…” you trailed off, nervous to admit your growing feelings for Lucifer.
Lucifer was quiet for a moment before responding with a small chuckle.
“You must be cold,” he said, effortlessly draping his coat over your shoulders.
The two of you were silent, but you were grateful to be covered with Lucifer’s coat. it was warm from his body heat and you gently grasped the edges and pulled it closed around you. Lucifer let out another chuckle and to your surprise, scooted as close to you as possible, his body pressing against yours and placed his hand on your thigh, squeezing gently.
“Perhaps this is disrespectful of me to say in a house of worship, but…it makes me incredibly pleased to know that you don’t want to leave the Devildom.” His voice was still low as he began stroking your leg with his thumb.
A warmth began spreading from your stomach to the rest of your body.
“I hope that I’ve made it clear to you just how much I…cherish you,” Lucifer continued, his voice soft and dark.
You turned to look at his face and saw that a pink blush was starting to cover his cheeks. His expression looked a bit helpless as he quietly took a deep breath.
“I didn’t bring you with me just for your sake. With my brothers around, it’s hard for me to properly articulate how I feel.”
He squeezed your thigh a bit harder, almost bordering on uncomfortable but you still welcomed his grip.
“Though even while we’ve been here, I’m not sure my feelings have been entirely clear to you,” Lucifer murmured as he let go of your leg and covered his mouth, closing his eyes as the blush grew darker.
You smiled as you realized Lucifer’s pride was likely pulling his thoughts in several different directions.
His feelings were clear.
You leaned into his arm with a bump, surprising him. He looked at you, shocked for a longer moment than you expected from the Avatar of Pride, but quickly wrapped his arm around you.
However, this was for an even shorter moment as he then pulled you deep into his chest and held you tight.
The oaky smell of his cologne was incredibly soothing and you carefully wrapped your arms around his waist.
You couldn’t believe how warm he felt.
“I love you,” he said, his chest rumbling. “And if I had my way, you would never leave my side.”
You squeezed him tighter, butterflies fluttering up into your throat. You could actually feel his heart pounding against his ribs.
“I want to kiss you so badly. I have for quite some time now,” Lucifer added, pulling away just enough to see your face.
The blush somehow only intensified his serious expression and you could feel his hands, now bare, moving to your neck, his thumbs resting on your jawline. His touch was firm and possessive, but you welcomed this too. You could feel your cheeks burning now as Lucifer’s black-and-red eyes smoldered.
You became lost in the touch of his exposed hands against your skin and his unearthly, burning eyes, filled with thousands of years of passion.
His thumb then moved to caress your lips, gently and thoughtfully pulling your lower lip down as you tried to summon the clarity to answer.
“May I?” Lucifer asked, a hint of ego painting his smile. He knew what he was doing.
You whispered a near-inaudible yes and nodded in his hands, catching a glint in his eyes before he moved in and pressed his lips to yours.
His lips were soft, but his intent was deliberate and firm. He took the lead, kissing you quickly and decisively a few times before leaving his lips pressed to you to let you respond with your own action.
You tried to match his intensity and pressed your lips against him, which drew a quiet, low moan from his throat as he gently took your bottom lip in his teeth and pulled. His fingers dragged across the skin and bone where your jawline met your ear and you moaned back.
He was growing more intense and hot, and you instinctively reached to grab his chest, which was remarkably large, causing him to let out a smug laugh.
“Oh, and in a holy place…” Lucifer crooned in a deep, teasing voice, his lips touching yours.
You were suddenly aware of where you were again and tried to pull back from him, but he kept you locked firmly in place. You could feel a wicked smile play across his lips.
“Oh no…” he playfully scolded, brushing his lips against your cheek as he moved close to your ear. “You made your loyalties clear. I’m afraid I can’t let you go now…”
The warmth in your body grew hotter still as you squeezed his chest harder and another deep, low laugh left Lucifer’s throat.
“Very good…” he growled, moving his lips back to yours and kissing again. “But you were right…perhaps we can finish this at the hotel?”
The way he asked wasn’t actually a question, but a polite command. And you were more than willing to comply.
“What about Diavolo’s book…?” You asked teasingly.
Lucifer sensed your playing and he let out a deep scoff, still smiling.
“Diavolo isn’t here, and now I think he owes me another day or two…especially with how eager you seem to be.”
He planted another firm kiss on your lips, quickly sliding his tongue past your teeth and then finished by pulling on your lip again. He pulled you to your feet, smiling his self-assured smile, and still blushing. He pulled you from the pew and out of the cathedral, where the rain had lightened to a mild sprinkle.
The Avatar of Pride was undeterred as he continued pulling you close and began walking.
Whatever guilt you felt before was gone, replaced by Lucifer’s burning, star-like passion and intensity.
All that mattered now was him.