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“It's always the same,” you complained as you entered the elevator with Lucifer. “Pharmacies never have everything I need. Instead, I have to visit five different locations just to get two medications. It's such a pain in the ass. And why is this one so high up anyway?” You pressed the button back down to the first floor, perhaps with more force than necessary.
Stifling an amused chuckle, he leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms. “At least you now have everything you set out to get and we can return to the Devildom.”
“I guess,” you sighed exasperatedly, running a hand through your hair as you watched the digits slowly decrease with your descent. “But we could have been done sooner.”
He hummed in agreement. “I suppose that is true. Although, I don't particularly mind spending time with you.”
Feeling his eyes on you, you stiffened at those words. How were you supposed to respond to that? “Ah, well, I can say the same about you,” was your awkward response. Heat crawled up your cheeks, and you scratched your neck sheepishly, avoiding his gaze.
Ever since you had come to terms with the fact you harbored feelings for him, it had become difficult to act normally around him. And lately, he seemed to spend more time with you, which didn't make it any easier.
You shook your head to dispel the thoughts. “Anyway, I-”
A sudden ominous rumble cut you off, and the elevator came to an abrupt stop, the entire construction shaking slightly around you. His hand immediately reached for your arm, steadying you when you threatened to stumble to the floor. Your heart jumped into your throat and you couldn't quite decide what you should be more preoccupied with - Lucifer touching you or the fact that the elevator was stuck.
“No way,” you mumbled in disbelief. “No fucking way.” Before he could act or even say anything, you had already bolted towards the control panel, pressing the alarm button frantically. To no avail. “Fuck…”
The next thing you tried was taking out your phone. Upon turning the screen on, the dreaded two words greeted you; no reception. “Seriously?” you muttered to yourself, pocketing the device again. “Do you have any reception?”
He shook his head, already having checked his own alongside you. “Unfortunately not, no,” he responded and you sighed heavily.
You glanced up at him, only to be met with his intense, piercing gaze. Had his eyes always been this brilliantly red? Clearing your throat awkwardly, you turned your attention back to your hands, lowering your head. The heat in your cheeks was undeniable, but…
“It's- it's getting really stuffy in here,” you commented with a nervous laugh.
“I suppose it is,” he gave back evenly. “Will you be alright?”
“Y-yes, I just… I hate- I hate being confined like this, it's- it's just- ugh! You don't get it!” You continued wringing your hands, forming them into tight fists before releasing them, never keeping still for a second. Lucifer watched you silently, his eyes tracking your movement. “We're stuck here for- for who knows how long. And you're just- you're just fine with it?”
“There is little to be done about it,” he said smoothly. “And we are not in any physical danger. Regardless, I do understand that this must be very stressful to you.”
“Sure. Yeah. Stressful. Not any physical danger. I guess,” you scoffed. “It feels like there's hardly any air left to breathe, Lucifer. And out of everyone I could have gotten stuck with, it just had to be you. Just my rotten luck, not to mention that this thing could-”
“Pray tell, what is so bad about being stuck with me?” he interrupted you, curiosity lacing his tone.
Still too caught up in your anxiety and frustration, you simply blurted out, “Because I really like you and this is embarrassing.”
Silence. Only your uneven breathing was painfully audible.
Fuck.
That wasn't what you had meant to say. And yet you did. The edges of your vision were dark and frayed, and your body felt numb, almost foreign. There was no sound anymore. No words, not even your ragged breaths. Just the loud ringing in your ears drowning everything else out.
You blinked and glanced to your side. Something filled your vision, not the oppressive cold grey below and around you, it was a mix of blue and black instead. At least you thought those were the colours you were seeing.
Another blink. It felt like something was compressing your chest. When you looked down, nothing was there. But you could see it falling and rising erratically, quickly. Too quickly.
A tug on your hand, a slight pressure around it, and you blinked again. The ringing in your ears faded away. You raised your head, the shapes and colours slowly clicking back into place, forming a presence sitting beside you.
“Lucifer…?” you mumbled and you barely recognised the sound of your own voice.
He squeezed your hand in his. “Yes. Are you with me again?”
Looking away, you nodded slightly, not trusting yourself to speak yet. Distantly, you understood what had just happened; not only did you confess your feelings to Lucifer, but you had then proceeded to freak out in front of him. You hadn't exactly made a great impression on him with that, you knew that.
A part of you was still on edge, wanting to run off, but the rest of you was too exhausted and, of course, with the elevator stuck, there was nowhere to go. Had the ground beneath you opened up and swallowed you whole, you certainly wouldn't have complained.
“I'm sorry, that was…” you trailed off, your voice unsteady. “Well, I… don't know…”
Silence, once more. Then, “I must confess, I have grown rather… fond of you myself.”
At that, your head snapped up, disbelief painted across your face. Maybe you had misunderstood him?
He held your gaze, his eyes unusually soft. Intertwining his fingers with yours, he held your hand a little tighter, his thumb stroking your skin. “This is not how I had intended to tell you, although… I suppose life doesn't always go according to plan, does it?”
You stared at him, at a loss for words, but the uncomfortable tightness in your chest was easing. Lucifer seemed amused at your befuddled expression, the corners of his eyes crinkling as his lips curved upwards. “I wish to court you. Will you allow me to?”
“Of- of course, yes,” was your still audibly stunned answer.
Slowly, he lifted your hand to his mouth, watching you carefully to make sure he wasn't overstepping any boundaries, before pressing a kiss to the back of it. “I'm glad to hear that.”
“I… uh… you're welcome?”
Lucifer chuckled, opening his arms. “Come here, will you?”
Shifting closer until you were touching him, you embraced him as he wrapped his arms around you in turn. Feeling the warmth and sturdiness of his frame, the frantic pounding of your heart gradually ebbed and you couldn't help the relieved sigh escaping your lips.
“Do you think we'll be stuck in here forever?” you mumbled, your words a little muffled against his shirt.
His chest vibrated with laughter. “I doubt that. I'm sure we'll be out of here sooner rather than later. But until then, let us stay like this, hm?”
Simply nodding, you allowed your body to relax. The circles Lucifer was rubbing on your back and the steady rise and fall of his breath against you finally made you feel at ease despite the situation.
It was silent for several moments as you dozed lightly leaning against him, drained from the earlier stress. Only when the elevator shook slightly around you did you jolt, returning to your senses.
“It's alright,” he reassured you quickly, his fingers combing through the strands of your hair that had become disheveled from the way he had been holding you. “Seems like we will be getting out any minute now.”
Easily, he stood up and helped you to your feet, taking your hand back in his own. As you looked up at him, a smile curved his lips when you met his soft gaze. Heat colored your cheeks and you averted your eyes, prompting a small, fond chuckle from him.
After another rattle, the elevator resumed its journey to the first floor and soon enough, it stopped again. With a ding, the doors slid open and Lucifer squeezed your hand in his, walking out with you by his side.