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Dark clouds thundered. Lead rain rolled. Lucifer clutched his creation closer to himself as he barreled through the storm, his heavenly light shooting across like lightning. The tail of a meteor fell behind him before he landed elegantly.
As the cloud of smoke caused by his arrival cleared, Lucifer caught sight of his surroundings. He found himself in a human camp. What he thought were dusty trees revealed themselves to be hastily set up tents. After a bit of wandering, Lucifer found the residence he was looking for; a bigger tent, composed of maybe two or three sections.
He cast open the flap door and ducked into the tent, sweeping his twelve wings in one by one. Once he was inside, he walked forwards.
For reasons unknown, Lucifer found his wings jittering and twitching, unable to sit still. With a frown, he tucked in his misbehaving wings. One stray appendage swept a pile of papers off a nearby desk, causing him to suck air through grit teeth. There were reasons he avoided human lodgings...
"Lucy?"
Lucifer's pointed ears perked up. He turned in surprise to see Lilith, quill in hand. Instead of wearing the violet armour he was familiar with, she was just wearing a white undershirt. Upon seeing Lucifer, she put down her quill onto a nearby table.
"What are you doing here?"
Lucifer paused. Despite having all the time in the world between his trip from the heavens to the human world to think, his thoughts were still asteroids avoiding the gravitational pull of his reasoning. A burning question pressed against his mind, one he had heard humans recite over again. And with it, what he could only deduce to be a "feeling".
A few months ago, Lucifer would have seen this feeling as a weakness; Angels weren't supposed to feel human "emotions". They lived to serve the Creator.
Of course, he did what he was best at as an avatar of the Creator; he pushed away what was pressed against his mind. Instead, he had something else to fall back on. His main reason for coming here.
Lucifer flexed his wings to the heavens, outspread like the expanse of stars from the celestial realm. Satin garments spread with the movement, coiled around his legs. His halo soared like the morning sun as he rose from the ground, as much as he could within a tent.
"I have something for you."
He outstretched his hand. A shower of light revealed the offering he had spent so long protecting.
It was a topaz crystal, carefully carved into the shape of what Lucifer remembered of one of Earth's creatures. The shape was round, with two long, thin peaks to act as ears on either side. Small onyx beads provided eyes for the creature, while a large, hexagonal piece was dug out where its forehead would be.
Lilith seemed intrigued. "What's this?"
"I made it." Lucifer smiled. He could clearly remember every time Lilith was unable to meet with him in his spare time, leading to him seeking out the planet's most beautiful crystals. The unholy ache in his hands from cutting and smoothing mortal materials was imprinted into his silken hands, having learnt the human's carving techniques from merely watching. Present still was the twang of guilt after he avoided his Creator, all to commit the act of creating by himself. "This is of my creation. It is what you would call a "bunny"."
Realisation dawned on Lilith's face as she opened her mouth in a silent gasp. Her violet eyes took in the sculpted topaz. Then, she laughed. Hard.
Confused, Lucifer narrowed his eyes. His light died down. "Is something the matter?"
"No, it's just...!" Lilith took the small trinket, smiling at it as she cupped it in her hands. Her laughter never ceased. "It's a weird looking bunny. Where does the head start and the body end?"
Lucifer's eyes narrowed, before he lowered to the ground. His wings fell one by one to his side, plucked from the heavens. He slumped. "Is this not what a bunny looks like?"
"Not quite!" She said through laughs. "You got the long ears, at least."
"Are you calling my work... Imperfect?"
"I would say so."
"But it cannot be imperfect." His eyes narrowed as a pout found itself on his face. "Only humans make imperfect things."
"Just because it's not perfect, doesn't mean I don't like it. I think it's cute."
That wasn't the point, was what he wanted to say. An angel? Making something imperfect? "Lilith, I am not able to make something imperfect."
"Sure you can. You just did." Her laughter died down as she held the shining ornament to the light. "I'd say you made something better than a real bunny. It's charming."
With a frown, Lucifer reached for his failure of a bunny. Was this what became of using human techniques? "Allow me to remake it-"
The second he touched the gift, Lilith's hand overlapped it. "No, Lucy. It doesn't have to be perfect. I love it."
"Even though it's flawed?"
"Oh come on, loosen up!" Lilith grinned and punched Lucifer in the shoulder. If it was anyone else, he would have put that human in their place. However, he let Lilith continue. "You need to stop being so strung up all the time."
Lucifer bit his lip. "Then," He started, before stopping and restarting. How to put it into words? Maybe it was too early for that. Right, he had something else he wanted to mention first.
"You have heard of the Rubelcrack, correct?"
"Of course I have." Lilith raised an eyebrow. "The legendary red jewel said to be oh-so-strong-and-powerful that no one actually knows what it does. Everyone's heard of it."
"I was planning on finding and placing the Rubelcrack within its head. However..." His eyes drifted away from Lilith. "As a sign of my devotion to you, I wish to find the Rubelcrack with you."
Lilith's eyes widened. "You do? But the war-"
"After the war. Once we have worked something out between both sides."
"Lucy..."
"We could go exploring, and you could show me more of this mortal realm. That is what you wished for, is it not?"
Silence encompassed the tent. Lucifer waited with baited breath, trying his best to keep his twitching wings still. Their immense height difference was obvious now, as Lucifer looked down at Lilith. A great angel, joining a mere human? It was unheard of. The divine were not supposed to bow down to the mortals.
Is what he told himself, but failed to believe.
Lilith took her time to think about it. Lucifer felt like he had waited a hundred thousand years before she responded. "...Then, if the war ends, I will join you."
Lucifer lit up. Literally. The room burst into light for a second, causing Lilith to shield her eyes. After a few seconds Lucifer realised his mistake and calmed himself down. However, he left a broad smile across his face, a little too wide for a human. His wings fluffed up in pride. "Brilliant!"
"So, is there something you wanted to tell me?"
Lucifer stiffened. A feather fell with the motion. "What?"
"You seem to want to say something." Confidently, Lilith pointed at Lucifer's chest, as if that had anything to do with his current plight. What she was getting at, he couldn't tell.
"It is nothing but human emotions," He said as he cleared his throat.
"Well, I'm a human." Expectedly, Lilith pointed again. "C'mon, spill it."
The feathers on Lucifer's wings frizzed up. He took a deep breath. "...I want to spend more time with you."
"That's it?"
Lucifer's next words died in his throat. "What do you mean 'that's it'?"
"Well, by the way you were acting, it looked like you had a lot more to say."
Sharp as ever. Lilith always caught on quick. It was one of the traits Lucifer liked of her. However, when it was turned against him...
Lucifer bit his lip. This wasn't like him. Angels were not supposed to lose their words. They were not supposed to be able to lose their words. Yet, Lilith stole his speech over and over again. As much as it should have annoyed him...
"-Earth to Lucifer. Don't tell me the Creator stole your tongue. Come on, you're completely red!"
He blinked. Then, touched his face. To his surprise, it was obnoxiously hot, as hot as the stars that brought him into existence. Upon noticing, it only became hotter.
"That is nothing."
Lilith raised an eyebrow. "Did the great Lucifer just lie?"
"I do not lie!"
"Then why are you so red?"
Lucifer huffed. "Fine. Lilith..."
A pause. What was it that humans said, when they showed great devotion to a person? Lucifer could see Lilith's smile slowly grow as she waited.
Curse his tongue. Why did the words escape him yet again?!
"You love me."
Lucifer felt all of his thoughts come to a screeching halt. "What?!"
"I can tell by your eyes," She said as she stood on her tiptoes, pointing at her own eyes. She grinned up at him. "For an oh-so-powerful angel, you're really easy to read."
Lucifer puffed up, standing over her with his wings extended. His green hair stood on end. "You have no right to say that!"
"Well, now that I'm your lover, I do, don't I?"
She gave Lucifer the smuggest, most annoying grin. And yet, Lucifer couldn't argue with her. Lover. That sounded pleasant, actually. He tried the word out loud to see how it would feel on his tongue.
"Lover..."
"Just come here, you big bird."
Before he knew it, Lilith reached up and took his lips with her own. He squeaked in surprise. Despite how human the notion was, Lucifer accepted it. He found himself wrapped around Lilith, wings cradling her corporeal, human body.
She was a burst of heaven, held within his arms and wings. A piece he found for himself, to love and cherish like the Creator had him. But it didn't feel like the same love. This felt stronger. More devoted.
Was this a sin against his father, Lucifer thought? To have something to rule over? To have something to protect for himself?
Their lips separated, but their bodies did not. Feathers lay entangled in brunette hair, wings softly combed by human hands. An intertwined mess of the celestial and the mortal.
Lucifer smiled in a red daze. As short as that was, it felt like whole universes were exploding right in his chest, blossoming into his heart, sending tingles down his feathers. Every strand of primordial spirit that made up his form wavered, almost causing him to ascend back to the heavens.
Lilith laughed. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it?"
It took Lucifer a few seconds to recover. Then, he barked out a loud laugh as well. "Wahahaha! I suppose you are right!"
"There's the Lucifer I know and love. Jeez, for a holy being your laugh sounds so evil."
"Hey!"
Once their laughter died out, the duo sat down, never once breaking the embrace. Comfortably, they sat in silence.
How long would it last, Lucifer wondered? How long could they be together, with the war threatening to split them apart? Though doubts slowly crept up his back, clinging onto the body the Creator made, Lucifer pushed them out of sight.
He was content. That was all that mattered now.
Lucifer inhaled. Lilith smelt of dirt and fabric, unlike the ethereal aromas of the heavens. It was imperfect. Fit for the imperfect world below. Her world.
Lilith stirred. "I can't wait for this war to end. An adventure with you sounds like a lot of fun."
"I too."
"It could be like a vacation, now that we're a couple."
"A vacation?"
"Have you really not been on a vacation before?" She looked at Lucifer like he was crazy. The expression soon melted into concern after Lucifer didn't respond. "Well, it's when you go somewhere far away to take a break from your work. Like the beach or something."
Lucifer let out a "hmm" sound. A break away for a couple? Now that was an idea. After thinking about it for a few seconds, he suddenly realised.
"How long did you know of my feelings for you?"
"Since you started meeting up with me. It was really obvious, you big dummy."
"What?!"
"Oh come on, think about it!" Lilith attempted to raise a hand, but found it stuck underneath a blue-white wing. "The great, princely, marvellous, magnificent and powerful Lucifer constantly talked about in my ranks, showing up to my door time and time again?"
"Why, I am nothing of the sort!"
"Stop being so humble and take some praise for once!"
"Maybe for you I will."
"...Not to mention cheesy."
"Lil..."
Lilith wrapped one of Lucifer's wings around her like a blanket. He swore he saw red dust her cheeks for a second, like celestial red dwarfs dusting the galaxy. "But I like that about you."
Lucifer smiled softly. "I love you, Lil."
"Love you too, Lucy."
Still cradled within Lucifer's wings, Lilith leaned forward and positioned the topaz trinket in front of her. She examined it for a few seconds, dragging her finger around its outline, before she held it out. "Since it's a bunny, you have to give it a name."
"Do I?"
"Yes. Like a pet!"
A pet? Lucifer had heard about pets. Animal companions that mutually held a relationship with a human. Perhaps a bunny was one of these pets? He mused the thought for a few seconds. "I suppose I will entertain your idea."
She smiled. "Then what will you name it?"
Lucifer raised a hand to his chin as he thought. Another wing coiled around Lilith to help him think. Names from all stretches of the upper world filled his head, which he cleared away like clouds. Perhaps he needed something more simple for something made from elements of the surface world.
Finally, he had it.
"Carbuncle."