Contents: Gn!reader ish, no use of y/n, established relationship
A/n: Gonna post a few posts so I can warm up then requests will be open! :P
☆ After many years of being touch starved and being alone let's be real. He absolutely loves you being clingy with him. At first he tried not to smother you in fear of you leaving him but when you start taking initiative as a silent promise that you don't mind being affectionate with him, then he is just as clingy
☆ When one of you guys decide its cuddle time then its cuddle time. Like absolutely no excuses, if Lucifer has a meeting then he may aswell cancel it. He didn't want to stay in the boring meeting anyway. He also totally has matching oversized sweaters with you.
☆ If you try and do that trend where you film him being soft with you then he will jump away in fear of people seeing the king of hell being sweet to his s/o. However he can't hold a grudge long enough to stay away from your warm embrace.
☆ He smells heavenly (pun not intended) but he smells like honey and vanilla naturally. Considering he was "made" in heaven I'd like to believe that he naturally smells lovely.
☆ He doesn't overly cling to you in Public all that much. He still holds your hand, arm, waist or puts his hand on your thigh. He says its because your clingy but we all know he is touch starved as hell.
☆ If your one for not having much PDA but very clingy in private then he will try to respect your boundaries but he will apologize for the littlest things because sometimes he can't help it because he loves you so much.
☆ He hates leaving you so he makes duck plushies with his cheeks and hat to remind you of him. He made many, one including a mechanism where you squeeze it then it gives you cheesy and very goofy lines that he made "just incase you would miss his voice".
☆ The best part of his day is coming home after stressful overlord meetings to you on the couch with snacks ready for a romcom and chill with him. Everytime it reminds him how much he loves you and how he would give up anything to spend the rest of eternity with you.
Did I do good? :>
[WROTE BY TAMMY U R NOT ALLOWED TO COPY MY WORK PLS AND TY]
Lucifer Morningstar x gn!reader
𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓: 1.5k | making out, spicy but not smutty, jokes, foolish teasing, slight mention of blood and injuries, dramatic Lucifer
This idea wasn't mine; I saw it in a @iamnearlyagod 's post and thought I'd give it a try… so I hope you liked it and that it met your expectations! :)
Lucifer was devastated when he discovered it. Or so you told yourself, because with how dramatic he was, you assured that it was just an exaggeration, trying not to laugh. He had even flown to a corner of the room! You swore he had started to cry.
You two had organized a movie night after a heavy week, which meant that the poor king would finally have a day of peace and rest with his beloved spouse. Hugs, snacks, cuddles, and kisses everywhere! The first half of the movie was adorable, both of you laughed like schoolboys while cuddling against each other, Lucifer's wings spread around you and drew you towards him like a warm, protective hug. But being the busy king of hell also builds up a lot of sexual frustration from stress, right?
Your arms were around his neck, his wings were ruffled, curving around you, yearning for your touch like a bird courting its mate. Your lips collided incessantly, struggling for control between longing and passion, overflowing with love. His hands were on your hips, you had been sitting on his lap for a while, your thighs around his hips, his hands not letting you go anywhere.
His bifid tongue was inside your mouth. Lucifer was not usually dominant—actually, neither of you "dominated" the other when you made love, very different from when you had sex. The simple name said it all. That’s why the pleasure was more passionate, not just lustful; when his hands moved you in circles over his lap, a discreet hint of how he wanted to grind against you, asking for permission but also claiming what was his from the moment the ring fell on your finger.
Your hands went from holding the hair at the nape of his neck to trailing down his back; your fingers caressed his back with devotion until they reached the base of his wings, the simple touch made him shudder under your caress. His lips parted from yours, inhaling breaths of air, trailing kisses from your jaw to your throat and the hollow of your neck. His sharp teeth sank into the junction of your neck and shoulder deeply, hearing the hiss that escaped you made him hum in satisfaction. He didn’t usually do that; he was careful with the marks, he didn’t like to hurt you, only when you asked for it; and that you had done before getting on his lap.
But there was something almost primitive about the new idea of seeing you marked, ravaged, that every part of your body screamed that you were his, and no one else’s. To show off with all Pride if necessary to let them see the beautiful lover he had. He deepened the bite; he wouldn’t be satisfied until he felt the metallic taste of your blood on his palate, but feeling that it was too much, he pulled away just a little.
And then…
“What?” he murmured. For a few moments, he stopped. He really did. His brow furrowed, his pupils almost constricted, and disbelief, surprise, and anger marked his face.
“Luci?” you asked, raising an eyebrow and lowering your gaze to his face. His hands rose to your cheeks to cradle your face, but instead of bringing it closer to his, they held it up. The shadow of your head must not fall where he was looking. “Luci!”
"Just a moment!" he replied, still astonished. He blinked; he blinked several times, you could see the gears guiding in a head, constructing a response. His astonished face melted into a terrified expression.
"W…Where is it?"
"What thing?"
"My bite! I just bit your shoulder and I don't see it, where is it?"
You also blinked. You got off his lap, and he was so astonished and stunned that he didn't even bother to protest as he would have in another case; rather, he focused on not diverting his gaze from your neck. At the junction of your shoulder and neck, where there was supposed to be a deep bite mark (perhaps with some blood), there was barely a pattern of teeth. Not even sharp like his, just… teeth, and barely visible.
He frowned; there was a sudden determination in his gaze, focused with concentration, a plan in mind. His hands went to the hem of your shirt and lifted it over your head, throwing it to the other side of the room. At another moment, he would have adored you, admired your body, your beauty, every scar, burn, insecurity—whatever it was, he was going to love it. But something was happening to him with how determined he was to test his hypothesis.
His long black nails slid with a scratch to your sides, closer to your lower back than to your waist. His face said it all, how he did not take his eyes off his nails on your skin, waiting to see a hint of skin opening and giving way to small drops of blood. And, for just a few moments, he swore he saw it, really! Only for moments later the wound to close up. He was horrified again.
"Dear" you placed your hands over his, letting out a sigh at how disappointed he looked, totally depressed and hurt. You tightened your grip, your fingers over his knuckles. "Do you want to tell me what’s going on in that little head of yours?"
Silence. The buzzing of the television that has been off since your lips collided, the muted noises from the street, the synchronized breaths. Then─
"I can't hurt sinners! Do you know what that means?" he spat, his voice strangled like an out-of-tune violin, immersed in exasperation and realization. "No bites, no hickeys, no scratches!" His hands went up to cover his face, while he pulled at the poor golden strands that were in his way.
But he looked so disappointed, so devastated─ Aha! There was the word that completely described his state, because it meant he couldn't give the kind of pleasure that his lover liked. What if they liked strangulation? No, it can't be! BDSM, slaps? Neither! It was as if your body didn't even register that you were being hurt, or on the contrary, his body couldn't make wounds.
This… hit him harder than you expected.
It was like this that Lucifer, the king of hell, the fallen angel, ended up sitting on the corner of the bed; he would have gone to the corner of the room but you didn’t let him! With his legs pulled to his chest, his wings closed around him like a shell, a thick blanket protecting him from the outside─ or from you, in either case. He had a pout on his lips, although you couldn’t see it, you were sure of what his face looked like; the furrowed brow, the wrinkled lips, the narrowed eyes filled with tears. You didn’t know whether to laugh or join him in his misery.
Your shoulders shook with a cruel contained laugh that you were seriously trying not to let out because his theatrical act of a broken heart would only worsen. You placed your hand on his back, which was where he was most exposed since his wings covered everything but his back. As if his body recognized you before he did, his wings opened, majestically flapping as if to say “look at me, we are precious!” with a song coming from nowhere. Lucifer felt betrayed by his own body.
“Don’t say anything!” he stopped you, raising a finger. He managed to fold his wings more calmly behind his back, letting out a sigh that you didn’t know if it was an emphasis for a monologue or a genuine part of his realization. “I just… didn’t think the punishment would affect me in something like making love!”
“Dear,” you placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked up, his lower lip protruding with what you recognized as a genuine pout, not just an extension of his act. You also let out a sigh, a calm smile that didn’t reach your eyes adorning your face. “We can still make love.”
“But not like you like…”
“Do you think that because you can’t scratch me or bite me I don’t like making love with you? For God’s sake!” you wanted to shake him by the shoulders until all the feathers fell from his wings. Instead, you leaned closer to him. “None of that matters to me if you’re in my bed!”
“Even if I can’t make you bleed?”
“Even when you can’t make me bleed,” you nodded, assuring your words with a hand on your heart.
Lucifer’s lips curved into a smile, shy but honest, relieved by your words despite the genuine anguish he hid behind his dramatic act, even when he hid beneath his wings. He placed a hand on your shoulder, leaned in for support, and his lips fell upon yours in a sealing kiss.
if you don’t mind i’d have another request for Lucifer x gn reader again </3
Basically yk how in some bird species male birds build a nest or elaborate structures to attract females, what if reader was like paying Lucifer a visit and they haven’t been together for long yet but pretty much they walk in to Lucifer having built a whole fortress of blankets and pillows, kinda like how Charlie did in s2
it’s fine if it takes a bit btw no pressure 🫶
cuddle castle | lucifer oneshot
summary: reader pays a visit to their boyfriend of just a few months… only to find him scrambling across his home with pillows and blankets, but what for?
includes: lucifer morningstar x gn!reader
warnings: not proofread
authors note: AWW THIS WAS SO FUN TO WRITE!! i’m sorry it took me so long tho :,) enjoy!
you weren’t expecting much when you told lucifer you were stopping by — maybe a quick chat, maybe him pretending he wasn’t waiting by the door like an anxious puppy, maybe a cup of tea he didn’t actually know how to make but would serve you with far too much bravado anyway.
what you didn’t expect was… this.
“ah—! you’re early!” lucifer squeaks the second you step inside, his wings puffed up like he’d been caught doing something illegal. which, honestly, considering who you’re dating, wouldn’t even crack the top ten.
the living room is unrecognizable. blankets draped over chairs, pillows stacked almost comically high, stolen cushions from every room gathered into one massive, towering fort right in the center of the floor.
“lucifer,” you pause, “did you… build a fort?”
he freezes. literally freezes. like someone hit the pause button on him. his wings twitch. his eyes dart everywhere except at you.
“it’s not a fort,” he insists, voice wobbling. “it’s a— a structure. a very dignified structure. for resting. and lounging. and— oh, stars, please stop smiling like that, i can feel my dignity slipping.”
but you can’t help it. because he’s standing there, covered in little bits of feathers (his own, probably shed from all the frantic building), a blanket draped around one shoulder like a makeshift cape, and a single decorative pillow stuck to the back of his coat like static cling.
you step closer. the fort— sorry, the structure— is huge up close, warm and soft and clearly meant for two. carefully crafted. overly crafted. obsessively crafted.
“luci,” you say gently, “did you build this for me?”
he swallows. hard. the bravado cracks just a little.
“i thought… you might be comfortable,” he admits, voice soft. “you mentioned being tired the other day, and i read that some creatures build elaborate resting places to… to attract their preferred mate and… oh god, why am i saying this aloud—?”
you laugh, but it’s soft, warm, not mocking. and lucifer’s shoulders relax just a fraction.
“hey,” you say, touching his hand. “it’s adorable.”
“adorable,” he repeats weakly, trying to play offended but failing miserably. “i built a masterpiece. a marvel of construction. an architectural wonder—”
“a fort,” you correct.
he deflates, wings curling inward as his face heats. “fine. yes. a fort. happy?”
“very.”
you climb into it, sinking into the ridiculous, over-the-top, unbelievably cozy pile of blankets and cushions. it smells like him — warm, sweet. lucifer watches you with this look like he’s waiting for your verdict, like the fate of the universe depends on whether or not you approve of his ridiculous bird-instinct fort.
you open your arms.
“come here.”
he practically dives in, wings curling around you like a cocoon the moment he’s close enough. he buries his face against your shoulder, muffling something that sounds suspiciously like a relieved sigh.
“is it good?” he asks softly.
“it’s perfect,” you say. “and very you.”
“i wanted it to be nice,” he murmurs, voice small in a way that makes your heart melt. “we haven’t been— you know— together long. i just wanted you to feel welcome. wanted this place to feel like it’s for you too.”
your fingers slide into his hair, scratching lightly at the back of his head. he melts instantly, all stiff royal posture dissolving into warm, clingy affection.
“honey,” you whisper, “i came here for you. not the pillows.”
“but the pillows help,” he mumbles, already settling deeper into your chest like he was made to fit there.
you laugh, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “yes, the pillows help.”
hcs for luci, alastor, vox and adam having their no. 1 party anthem “look of love” moment?
i fucking love that song
sorry i couldn't think of anything for Adam since its been a fat minute since ive wrriten for him— but heres the rest
"𝑳𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒐𝒇 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆" | 𝑯𝒂𝒛𝒃𝒊𝒏 𝑯𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒍 𝒙 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓
╰┈➤ 𝑭𝑻. 𝑨𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓, 𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒓, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑽𝒐𝒙
╰┈➤ 𝑭𝒍𝒖𝒇𝒇, 𝑺𝒖𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆, 𝑴𝑫𝑵𝑰
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𝑨𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓
Alastor was never quite sure why he kept you around. He usually enjoys solitude and makes an effort to keep to himself— but with you? Everything seemed to change.
His eyes follow you across his room, watching as you grab a record off the shelf and attempt to correctly place it on his gramophone. He exhales softly, shaking his head at you, "Now dear, there's no need for that".
One of his tentacles summons and curls around your waist, gently coaxing you backward. Alastor sits up and walks over to you, the tentacle releasing from your hips and falling to the ground. "What were you trying to listen to, mon cher?".
You hold up the record with a sheepish grin, "This one?".
Chuckling softly, he grabs the record from you and sets it down, "Sweethearts on parade?". His hand finds yours, the other sliding up to rest on the middle of your back, "You have good taste.".
Alastor's head tilts to the side, a soft static emitting from a nearby radio before playing the song, "This was one of my favorites during my time.".
"Well, thank you," you chuckle, your hand interlocking with his as you begin to sway, "Though, if I'm completely honest... I just picked a random record.".
He laughs softly and gazes down at you, "Is that so sweetheart?". Pulling apart from you, he spins you around and pulls you back to him, much closer then before.
You smile and look up at him, your chin resting against his chest as he looks into your eyes deeply, a sincere smile gently stretching his lips. "What's that look for?" you ask, quirking an eyebrow.
A soft breath escapes him, his hand leaving your back to tuck a stray strand of hair that'd fallen when you spun around, "Oh, nothing dear.".
But it wasn't truly nothing. To Alastor, this moment was everything. Nothing had been more clear to him then now, with your eyes looking back into his, he finally knew what compelled him to you. Love.
His hand gently cups your cheek, his eyes closing to focus on the feeling of your skin against his hand, the feel of your body swaying with his.
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𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒓
"Lu... Lu wake up... c'mon, you slept in," you whisper, gently shaking Lucifer awake, "people are gonna suspect something.".
You and Lucifer had been sleeping together for, well, awhile now. And as much as you enjoyed each others company, you weren't sure how the people in the Hotel would react to the two of you hooking up with each other.
The only people who knew were Charlie, Vaggie, and Alastor— unfortunately. You didn't tell him, God no! But Lucifer, being the king of pride, decided to blurt it out after Alastor made a comment about Lucifer being "lonley". Thankfully, Alastor never told anyone— though he did hold it over your heads on numerous occasions.
Lucifer stirs at your touch, his back arching off the bed as he rises awake, "Mmmph.... what time is it?". He stretches his bare, charred arms over his head, his tail stretching upward with him.
"It's 10am" you respond, a smile crossing your face at the sight of the sleepy devil.
"10am?" Lucifer's eyes shoot open, panicked red irises looking into yours, "I-I can't remember the last time I've slept in so late! Not since— hah... well, a-anyway...".
You exhale softly, turning over on the bed and closing your eyes. "You better get up, mister," you mutter, already half asleep again, "people are expecting you. My shift doesn't start until wayyy later.".
Lucifer's tail wraps around your waist and, with surprising strength, rolls you back over to face him. Wrapping his arms around you, he smiles and brushes a piece of hair away from your face, "Woah woah woah, sweetheart, I can spare a few minutes.".
"Hmm," you hum, feigning contemplation, "I suppose a few minutes wouldn't— Ah! Lu!". You're interrupted by Lucifer leaning in and peppering kisses across your neck and décolletage. "Lu!" you playfully through giggles, "Stoppp!".
"Nu uh," he mutters, continuing his ticklish pecks across you.
Tangling your fingers through his messy blonde hair, you gently coax him away from you, "You're such a little devil".
"That is what they call me," he says with a smirk.
You roll your eyes before leaning in and pressing a soft kiss against his lips. He leans in, kissing you deeply, his hand coming up to hold your chin between his index finger and thumb.
Pulling back gently, Lucifer gazes at you with soft eyes, taking in every feature on your face: your nose, your eyes, your lips— everything. It was all completely beautiful to him. He wanted nothing more then to stay with you in bed for as long as possible— hell, he'd stay there forever if he could help it.
"Let's stay in today," he says.
"Really?" you ask, "What if—"
"I'll tell Charlie to tell everyone I'm sick," he releases your chin, his hand sliding over to take hold of your jaw.
"Can Angels get sick?" you ask with a chuckle.
"Oh, Gosh, no!" he says laughing.
"So... what if they find out?" you ask, directing your gaze downward, "I don't want to get you in trouble or anything—".
He sighs and gently coaxes you to look at him, "Darling, don't worry about what other people think. I just wanna be with you in this moment. I... wanna be with you always. A-And if that means people finding out, so be it!".
You chuckle soft lean against his touch, "Okay... so be it.".
Lucifer moves closer to you on the bed and spoons you, pressing a kiss to your temple. He rubs your hip with his thumb, coaxing you back to sleep.
"Sweetheart," he calls out, breaking the silence.
"Hm?"
"I-I love you," he whispers, biting his lip nervously as he awaits your response.
You're silent for a moment, taking a moment to think before replying, "I love you too.".
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𝑽𝒐𝒙
Velvette was always hosting some bullshit party as a "get together for overlord's and influencers"— But Vox knew it was an excuse to use the company credit card to get wasted. Nonetheless, he attended, even if he did have a shitty time.
Valentino was surrounded by the hottest people at the party, Velvette was recording all the cool amenities (that he paid for), and Vox? He was standing in the back, or sitting on the couch, scrolling on his phone.
He's quite the charmer, no doubt, but the crowd at these parties were people he'd rather not associate himself with. A bunch of new-to-hell nobodies who'd occasionally try to flirt with him and get a part in one of his movies or shows. Without missing a beat, he'd tell them to fuck off and then continue whatever he was doing on his phone at the time.
Tonight, at Velvette's latest "300k Threesome", (named by Valentino) party where social media influencers with over 300k were invited to the Vee tower for drinks, collaborations, and, confusingly, no threesomes.
Vox was in his usual corner, nursing a glass of whiskey and people watching. 'Loser. Untalented. Try-hard,' he thought to himself cynically. Why did Velvette want to be around these people anyways? They had no true power outside social media.
He was about to leave before spotting a demon by the food and drink table, sampling every beautifully crafted snack catered by Velvette that weirdly remained untouched by the other influencers.
Vox wasn't sure why, but something drew him to you. Curious, he approaches you and comments, "What are you doing here all by yourself, sweetheart?".
You glance back at him and roll your eyes, "Fuck off, creep. I'm not going home with you.".
Vox's heart skipped a beat, pleasant surprise washing over him at your blunt comment. "No I didn't—heh, I, well I um..." He clears his throat and introduces himself, "I'm Vox. I was just intrigued by your... lack of camaraderie with the other influencers.".
"I know who you are," you say, turning around to fully face him, "And, I don't really get along with them that much. If you can't benefit them in some way, they kinda leave you in the dust.".
Vox tilts his screen slightly upward and smiles at you, "Is that so? I'm not surprised.". His smile drops as you fail to continue to the conversation, and, instead continue your raid of the snacks laid out, watching as you take a cute photo of a caprese skewer before popping it in your mouth. Straightening out his posture, he attempts to continue conversation, "What did you say your name was again?".
"I never said my name," you comment, "It's y/n.".
"Y/n," he repeats, "Beautiful name".
Chuckling softly, you furrow your brows and respond, "Thanks.".
"Soooo, you wanna get out of here?" he asks.
You scoff and poke a finger at his chest, "I thought I made it clear that I'm not sleeping with you!".
"Woah, sweetheart, slow down," he says, putting an hand on your shoulder. "I just want to grab a drink— on me!" he says, holding his hands up in a placating gesture, "no funny business whatsoever, doll. I promise".
You sigh and relax your posture, relenting with a gallic shrug, "I guess one drink couldn't hurt... and it's not like I'm doing anything here anyway... Fine, let's go.".
You grab your bag and head out of the party— it wasn't like you were having the best time there anyway. Besides, you weren't going to get plastered with a total stranger! It was just a drink!
...Well, a few hours later, you found yourself doing the very thing you swore you wouldn't do— getting plastered with a total stranger.
Currently, you’re dancing in this old fashioned club-like bar, owned by a woman named Mimzy, completely oblivious and blissful in a drunken haze.
Vox danced alongside you, occasionally spinning you around and laughing with you— but what captivated him most was just watching you dance.
So free spirited and confident, like you hadn't a care in the world. He exhales softly, a smile spreading his lips as his heart thuds rapidly against his chest.
He hadn't felt this way in a long time, but he knew it well. Call it naivety or brashness— but he knew what it was. Love at first sight.
"Stop starin' at me and dance!" you say, pulling him in by the forearm. He stumbles before joining you shaken out of his love-struck gaze.
Vox grabs your waist instantly, engaging in a dance that he learned from his days on earth. "You're beautiful," he says, his voice barely audible over the loud swing music playing.
"What?" you say, unable to hear his words.
He sighs and continues to spin you around the dance floor, "Nothing, doll.".
TW: it's hell ? ... lecherous dudes, Canon typical violence, some canon typical religious overtones, alcohol consumption, eventual smut, fluff, tooth rotting fluff, fish learning to swim!
Part 2 | Part 4 - Coming Soon
Seven Rings & A Circus Tent 🪅 P.3
Consciousness came slowly, like surfacing from deep water. You were warm and comfortable, wrapped in soft satin sheets and something even softer—feathers. Lucifer's wings, you realized dimly, were cocooned around you like a protective blanket.
"Good morning, Mrs. Morningstar," came a soft voice near your ear, and you felt lips press against your temple. "That's you, by the way. Mrs. Morningstar. My wife. I'm never going to get tired of saying that—"
Another kiss, this one on your cheek.
"You're so beautiful when you sleep. Is that creepy? That might be creepy. I promise I wasn't watching you sleep in a weird way. Just in a loving way. A very appropriate spousal appreciation way—"
A kiss on your nose.
"I've been awake for about an hour. Maybe two. Possibly three. I didn't want to wake you because you looked so peaceful, but also I really wanted to wake you because I missed you even though you were right here, which doesn't make sense but feelings rarely do—"
You made a small sound, somewhere between a hum and a sigh, and burrowed closer to the warmth.
"Oh, you're waking up! That's good! Or bad if you needed more sleep! Do you need more sleep? I can be quiet! Very quiet! Extremely quiet! I'll just—"
"Lu," you murmured, your voice thick with sleep. "Keep talking. I like your voice."
You felt him melt against you. "—she likes my voice, okay, keep talking, you can do that, talking is your specialty—"
More kisses, scattered across your face like butterflies.
"Okay, so, talking. I can do that. Did you know that you smile in your sleep? You do. It's adorable. Possibly the most adorable thing I've ever witnessed. And I've seen a lot of things over the millennia, but nothing compares to my wife smiling in her sleep—"
"Mmm, wife," you repeated sleepily, finally opening your eyes to find yourself looking up at Lucifer's face, his expression so soft and loving it made your heart ache.
"Hi," he whispered, grinning.
"Hey," you whispered back.
"I love you."
"Love you too."
"—she said it, she said she loves you, this is real, you're married, she's here, this is the best morning ever—"
Somehow, without quite knowing how it happened, you ended up pulled into his lap, your head resting against his chest, his arms wrapped securely around you. You could hear his heartbeat—quick and excited and so very alive.
"Comfortable?" he asked, one hand running through your hair.
"Very," you sighed, settling against him. "What time is it?"
"Early! Well, Hell doesn't really have traditional time, but by Pride Ring standards, it's morning! Approximately! Time is a construct anyway! The important thing is—" He paused dramatically. "—it's the first day of our HONEYMOON!"
"Honeymoon?" you asked, tilting your head to look up at him.
"Yes! Honeymoon! I have it all planned! It's going to be AMAZING!" His eyes were sparkling with barely contained excitement. "We're going on a tour! A grand tour! Of the most spectacular, the most incredible, the most—" He stopped himself. "—the most places! Very impressive places! You're going to love it!"
"Lu," you said, amused. "Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise! A very good surprise! The best surprise!" He was practically vibrating. "But I can tell you that we're starting in Envy! The Ring of Envy! Which is beautiful! Aquatic! Very wet! Not in a bad way! In an oceanic way! There's an aquarium! And sushi! The best sushi in all of Hell! And our hotel has this view that's just—"
He clapped his hands over his mouth.
"—you're ruining the surprise, stop talking, let her be surprised—"
"The Ring of Envy?" you repeated. "I thought Pentagram City was... all of Hell?"
Lucifer's eyes went wide. "You—you thought—oh, honey, no! There are SEVEN Rings! Seven! Each one unique! Pentagram City is just the Pride Ring! There's also Wrath, Gluttony, Greed, Lust, Envy, and Sloth! Each one has its own ruler—they're called Sins—and its own aesthetic and culture and—"
He stopped, noticing your slightly overwhelmed expression.
"—too much information, dial it back, she's still waking up—" He took a breath. "Sorry. I'm info-dumping again. The point is we're going on a tour of all seven rings! Our honeymoon! It's going to be romantic and educational and fun! Mostly romantic! Very romantic! Educational is just a bonus!"
You smiled up at him. "That sounds wonderful."
"—she thinks it sounds wonderful, you did good, excellent husband skills—" He beamed. "Really? You're not just saying that?"
"Really." You stretched slightly in his lap. "When do we leave?"
"Soon! Well, soonish! After breakfast! And getting dressed! And packing! Actually, I can handle the packing—" He snapped his fingers, and you heard the sound of drawers opening in the background. "—magic is very convenient for luggage! No folding required!"
You noticed something glinting on the bedside table and turned to look. Your crown sat there, the delicate white gold circlet with its seven red stones catching the light.
"Oh," you said softly. "I should pack that away."
You started to reach for the velvet box, but Lucifer caught your hand.
"Why would you pack it away?" he asked, looking genuinely confused.
"Well, I don't want to wear it all the time. It's too fancy. And people will stare—"
"You're the Queen of Hell," he said gently. "People are supposed to stare. You're supposed to be fancy. That crown is yours. It represents your position, yes, but more importantly—" His voice softened. "—it represents us. Seven rings. Seven stones. Our journey together through all of Hell."
"But—"
"At least wear it for the journey today?" he asked, and there was such hopeful earnestness in his expression. "Please? Just for me? You can take it off later if you want, but I'd really love to see you wear it. Even if it's just while we travel."
You looked at the crown, then back at his pleading expression.
"Okay," you agreed. "For the journey."
"—she said yes, she's going to wear it, she's going to look like a proper Queen—" He pressed a kiss to your forehead. "Thank you, duckie. Now! We should get ready! Lots to do! Places to see! Rings to visit!"
An hour later, you were dressed in a comfortable traveling outfit that Lucifer had produced with a snap of his fingers he had impeccable taste, you'd learned, the crown resting on your head feeling lighter than it looked. Lucifer had changed into one of his signature white suits, and he'd magicked up two suitcases that floated behind you as you walked.
"Where exactly are we going?" you asked as he led you through Pentagram City's streets, his hand firmly holding yours.
"The Embassy! The Heaven Embassy!" He seemed excited about this. "It's one of the only building in the Pride Ring that has access to the other rings! Very official! Very bureaucratic! Built after the last war as a 'neutral zone'—which is hilarious because nothing in Hell is neutral, but we pretend!"
The Embassy building was impressive—tall and gleaming white, looking almost out of place among the Gothic architecture of Pentagram City. Demons gave it a wide berth, and you could see angelic guards stationed at the entrance.
They straightened immediately when they saw Lucifer.
"Your Majesty," one of them said stiffly.
"Hello! Good morning! Lovely weather we're having! Is it weather? I'm never sure what to call Hell's atmospheric conditions—" Lucifer waved cheerfully as he pulled you inside. "Just passing through! Honeymoon! Very important marital business! With my Wife!"
The interior was pristine—white marble, gold accents, and an overwhelming sense of heavenly bureaucracy. Lucifer navigated through it with practiced ease, leading you past offices and conference rooms until you reached the very back corner of the building.
There, almost hidden behind a potted plant, was an elevator door.
Lucifer pulled out a golden key from his pocket. "Only certain people have access to this. Me, obviously. Charlie, I mean thats a give in. The other Sins. And now you!" He unlocked the elevator and the doors slid open. "After you, Mrs. Morningstar."
You stepped inside, and he followed with your floating suitcases. The elevator was surprisingly spacious, with mirrored walls and soft lighting.
"Now," Lucifer said, pressing a button marked with a symbol you didn't recognize. "The journey to Envy takes a bit. The rings are layered, you see. Pride is the top ring, then Wrath, then Gluttony, Greed, Lust, Envy, and finally Sloth at the bottom. We're going down quite a ways!"
The elevator started descending, and you felt your stomach drop slightly.
"How long is 'a bit'?" you asked.
"About forty-five minutes!" he said cheerfully. "But don't worry! I brought entertainment!"
He pulled out a rubber duck from his pocket.
"This is Gerald. He's a traveling duck. I made him specifically for trips like this. See his little suitcase?"
You looked closer. The duck did indeed have a tiny suitcase.
"Lu, did you make a duck to bring on our honeymoon?"
"I made THREE ducks for our honeymoon! One for each phase of the journey! Gerald here is for elevators. Then there's Beatrice for boats, and Ferdinand for flying—"
"—she's looking at you like you're insane, you are insane, but she loves you anyway—"
"You brought travel ducks," you said, trying not to laugh.
"It's important to be prepared! What if we got bored? What if we needed duck-based entertainment? These are valid concerns!"
You couldn't help it. You started laughing, and Lucifer looked so pleased with himself that you had to kiss him.
"You're ridiculous," you said against his lips.
"But you love me anyway," he replied, grinning.
"I really do."
The elevator finally slowed, and a pleasant chime sounded.
"Welcome to Envy," a smooth automated voice announced. "Please watch your step and remember that all aquatic demons have right of way."
The doors opened, and you gasped.
It was like stepping into an underwater hotel. Everything glowed with soft blue-green light. The architecture was flowing and organic, all curves and spirals that mimicked coral and shells. Through massive windows, you could see water—actual ocean water—surrounding the building, and shapes moving in the depths.
"It's beautiful," you breathed.
"—she likes it, she thinks it's beautiful, this was the right choice for the first stop—" Lucifer squeezed your hand. "Wait until you see the rest! Come on!"
He led you through the arrival area—which looked like the lobby of a very fancy underwater resort—and out onto a street that was somehow both above and below water at the same time. The buildings rose like coral towers, bioluminescent plants lit the walkways, and demons of all types moved through the space, many of them aquatic in nature with fins and scales and tentacles.
"Okay, so," Lucifer said, guiding you along a path made of mother-of-pearl. "Envy is ruled by Leviathan—we probably won't run into them, they mostly stay in the deep ocean palace—and it's known for beauty, luxury, and wanting what others have. Hence, Envy. The whole ring is aquatic-themed. Very aesthetic. Extremely photogenic—"
"Is that demon swimming through the air?" you asked, pointing at a creature that seemed to be moving through the atmosphere as if it were water.
"Oh, yeah! Some demons here don't need actual water! They just swim anyway! It's a whole thing! Very confusing physics! I stopped trying to understand it centuries ago!"
He led you to a hotel that looked like it had been carved from a single giant pearl. The entrance shimmered with iridescent light.
"This is where we're staying! The Abyssal Pearl! Five stars! Very exclusive! I made reservations months ago!" He paused. "—wait, you weren't even married to me months ago, that sounds presumptuous—I mean, I made them just in case! Optimistic reservations! Very hopeful!"
The lobby was breathtaking—all flowing water features and floating lights. Demons in elegant uniforms moved silently across floors that seemed to ripple like water with each step.
Lucifer approached the desk, and the concierge—a demon with pale blue skin and flowing fin-like appendages—looked up and immediately stood straighter.
"Your Majesty! And Your Highness!" They bowed deeply. "We've been expecting you. Your suite is ready."
"Excellent! Wonderful! Fantastically prepared!" Lucifer was practically bouncing.
The suite was on the top floor, and when Lucifer opened the door, you understood why he'd been so excited. The entire far wall was transparent—thick glass or maybe magic, you weren't sure—looking out into the ocean. Fish swam past, some glowing, some in colors that shouldn't exist. The water was deep blue fading to black in the distance, and you could see the lights of the underwater city spreading out below.
You moved to the window, pressing your hand against it. A large, graceful creature—like a manta ray but with far too many eyes—glided past, and you jumped back slightly.
"Don't worry! The glass is reinforced! Very strong! Nothing can get through! Well, technically I could break it with enough power, but I won't! That would be counterproductive! And wet!"
After dropping off your bags, Lucifer took you back out into the city, his hand firmly in yours, his excitement palpable.
"Okay, so, first stop the Grand Aquarium of Envy! Which I know sounds redundant because we're already underwater, but it's an aquarium INSIDE the underwater city! They have creatures from all seven rings! Very diverse collection! Educational!"
The aquarium was housed in a building that looked like a massive nautilus shell, spiraling up toward the surface far above. Inside, it was even more spectacular—tanks of every size and shape, each housing creatures that ranged from beautiful to terrifying.
"Oh! Oh, look at this one!" Lucifer pulled you toward a tank filled with tiny, glowing jellyfish-like creatures. "These are from Sloth! They move so slowly it takes them a week to cross the tank! Very lazy! Appropriately themed!"
You watched the creatures drift lazily, their bioluminescence pulsing in slow rhythms.
"They're pretty," you said.
"They're also mildly venomous! But only mildly! You'd just get sleepy! Maybe take a nap! Not dangerous, just inconvenient!"
He pulled you to the next exhibit—a massive tank with something large and dark moving in the depths.
"This one is from Wrath! Very aggressive! See how it's swimming? That's called the 'murder glide'! Sounds ominous, is ominous, accurately named—"
"Lu," you said gently, noticing he was starting to talk faster. "Slow down. We have time."
"—you're overwhelming her, too much information, breathe—" He took a visible breath. "Right. Sorry. I get excited. About fish. And sharing things with you. And making sure you have the best honeymoon possible. Very important goals. Possibly conflicting goals—"
You squeezed his hand. "I love that you're excited. But we don't have to see everything at once. We can take our time."
He looked at you with such love it made your chest tight. "You're right. You're absolutely right. Slow down. Enjoy the moment. Be present." He paused. "This is hard for me. Being present. I usually spend half my time in the past regretting things and the other half in the future worrying about things—"
"Then let me help you stay here," you said softly. "In the now. With me."
"—she's perfect, how is she so perfect, you don't deserve her but you're keeping her anyway—"
He lifted your hand to his lips and kissed it gently. "Okay. Present. Current. Here with you." He smiled. "Which is exactly where I want to be anyway."
You spent the next hour moving through the aquarium at a more leisurely pace. Lucifer still narrated—he couldn't seem to help himself—but it was gentler now, more about sharing wonder than overwhelming you with facts.
"See that one? With the rainbow scales? That's a Pride demon. They're very vain. Spend most of their time admiring their reflection. Can't really blame them—they are very pretty—"
"Like someone else I know," you teased.
He gasped in mock offense. "Are you calling me vain?!"
"You spent twenty minutes this morning making sure your hair was perfect."
"It's important to look good for one's wife! That's not vanity! That's respect! Romantic respect!"
You laughed, and he grinned, pulling you closer.
In front of a tank full of creatures that looked like living crystals, Lucifer got quiet.
"You know," he said softly, "I've been to this aquarium dozens of times. Hundreds, maybe. But I've never enjoyed it like this. Everything's better with you here. More colorful. More meaningful." He paused. "—too sentimental, dial it back—I mean, the fish are the same! Objectively! But subjectively they're much better fish now—"
"Lu," you said, turning to face him. "That was sweet. You don't have to take it back."
"—she liked the sentimental thing, remember this, being emotionally vulnerable is good sometimes—" He cupped your face gently. "I love you, duckie. So much. This—all of this—I'm doing it because I want to show you everything. All of Hell. All seven rings. I want you to see it through my eyes. See the beauty in it. The wonder. Because maybe if you can see it, you can be happy here. With me."
Your eyes stung with sudden tears. "I'm already happy. Because you're here."
He kissed you then, soft and sweet, surrounded by glowing fish and the deep blue light of the Envy Ring.
That evening, Lucifer took you to a restaurant—which he assured you was "the best sushi in all seven rings, possibly all of creation, extremely fresh fish, ethically sourced from the Envy oceans, well as ethical as Hell gets—"
The restaurant was elegant, all flowing water features and soft lighting. As you entered, several demons looked up, did a double-take, and immediately began whispering.
"Is that—"
"—the King himself—"
"—and that must be the new Queen—"
"—I heard he got married—"
"—she's his height—"
"—wearing the crown—"
You instinctively moved closer to Lucifer, who patted your hand reassuringly.
"It's okay," he murmured. "They're just curious. It's not every day they see—well, me. Here. With my wife. Actually looking happy—" He straightened slightly, his expression shifting to something more regal. "—time for public King mode, you can do this, you've done this for millennia—"
"Your Majesty!" The host rushed over, bowing deeply. "What an honor! We weren't expecting—that is, we have no reservation—but of course we have a table! Our best table! Please, right this way!"
Lucifer handled it with surprising grace. He smiled, thanked the host, made small talk about the restaurant's decor, and generally acted every bit the King he was.
But his hand never left yours.
As you were led to a private table overlooking one of the aquarium walls, demons whispered and stared. Some looked excited. Some looked nervous. Some looked openly envious—which, you supposed, was appropriate for this ring.
"Sorry about this," Lucifer said once you were seated. "The staring. I know it's uncomfortable. If you want to leave—"
"No," you said, surprising yourself. "It's okay. I'm with you. That's all that matters."
"—she's amazing, she's handling this so well, you married way above your station—" He beamed at you. "You're incredible. Truly incredible. Amazingly incredible—"
The meal was as good as promised. The sushi was fresh and perfectly prepared, and Lucifer kept up a running commentary about each piece.
"This one is made from a fish that only spawns once every hundred years! Very exclusive! Extremely limited! I might have used royal privilege to get it—"
"Lu, did you abuse your power for sushi?"
"It's not abuse if it's for a good cause! And my wife enjoying her honeymoon is an EXCELLENT cause! The best cause!"
Demons kept glancing over at your table. A few brave ones even approached to offer congratulations, which Lucifer accepted graciously while keeping you close.
"Thank you! Yes, very happy! Best decision I ever made! Well, second best—first best was asking her in the first place—third best was not completely messing up the proposal despite being in terrible pain at the time—"
By the time dessert arrived—some kind of molecular gastronomy creation that looked like edible art—you were full and happy and completely charmed by your ridiculous husband.
"This was wonderful," you said, squeezing his hand.
"—she had a good time, mission successful, excellent husband performance—" He lifted your hand to his lips. "I'm so glad. And the night's not over yet! We still have the best part!"
When you returned to your suite, you were tired but content. Inside the suite, he was still rambling as he helped you out of your shoes, kneeling in front of you with gentle hands.
"—and tomorrow we can explore more of the Envy Ring, or we can move on to the next ring, whatever you prefer, I'm flexible, very flexible, incredibly flexible—"
He looked up at you from where he was kneeling, and something in his expression shifted—became softer, more intense. He pressed a kiss to your ankle, then your calf, working his way up slowly.
"Lu," you said, your voice catching slightly.
"—she's nervous, be gentle, take your time, this is important, don't rush—" He stood slowly, his hands sliding up your legs, your hips, coming to rest on your waist. "We don't have to do anything you're not ready for. We can just sleep. Like last night. That was perfect. This can be perfect too, whatever you want—"
"I want—" you started, then felt your cheeks flush. "I'm just... I've never...actually..."
Understanding dawned in his eyes, followed immediately by such tenderness it made your chest ache. "Oh, honey. It's okay. We'll take it slow. So slow. Glacially slow. We have eternity, remember? No rush. Absolutely no pressure—"
Lucifer led you to the bedroom, and you finally saw what he'd been so excited about. The entire room was surrounded by thick glass walls, looking out into the ocean from all sides. Above, below, all around—you were completely immersed in the underwater world. And it was beautiful.
Bioluminescent creatures drifted past in schools, their bodies glowing in shades of blue and green and purple. Larger shapes moved in the distance—graceful and otherworldly. The water itself seemed to shimmer with light, particles of plankton or magic creating a soft, dreamy glow.
"Oh," you breathed, moving to the glass. "Lu, this is—"
"Amazing? Spectacular? Incredibly romantic? All part of my master plan?" He came up behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist and resting his chin on your shoulder. "I wanted our first night of the honeymoon to be special. Memorable. Something you'd never forget."
"I could never forget any of this," you said softly. "Today was perfect."
"—she said perfect, you did it, you made it perfect—"
He nuzzled into your neck, pressing soft kisses along your shoulder that made you shiver. His hands were warm on your waist, one sliding up to rest just below your ribs, the other holding you securely against him.
"—married now, this is allowed, encouraged even, very appropriate marital affection, she's your wife, your WIFE—"
"Lu," you said softly, feeling your cheeks warm as his lips traced a path up your neck.
"Mm?" He pressed a kiss just below your ear. "You smell so good. Always smell so good. Like vanilla and something sweet I can't quite identify. Possibly cinnamon? Sugar? Happiness? Can you smell happiness? If you could, it would smell like you—"
His hands were wandering now, not inappropriately but definitely more than casual—tracing your sides, your hips, pulling you impossibly closer. You could feel his heart racing against your back.
"Tell me if this is too much," he murmured against your skin. "Tell me if you want me to stop. Tell me if you need me to slow down. Communication is important. Very important. Extremely important for—for everything we're doing—"
"It's not too much," you whispered, though your own heart was hammering. "I'm just nervous."
"That's okay. Nervous is okay. Nervous is normal. I'm nervous too. Extremely nervous. Catastrophically nervous—" He turned you gently in his arms to face him. "We can just talk. Just hold each other. Whatever you need. There's no timeline. No schedule. No pressure—"
But the look in his eyes was pure want mixed with overwhelming love and tenderness.
"Duckie," he whispered, cupping your face in his hands. "I love you so much. So, so much. Have I mentioned that today? Because I feel like I should mention it more often. Possibly every five minutes. Mandatory love declarations—"
He leaned down to kiss you, and this kiss was different from the sweet morning kisses—deeper, more passionate, but still achingly tender. His hands cupped your face like you were something infinitely precious.
"—don't rush, take your time, let her set the pace, she's never done this before, be careful, be gentle, be perfect for her—"
"Is this okay?" he whispered against your lips. "Tell me this is okay. Tell me you want this. I need to know you want this—"
"I want this," you breathed, and he made a small, desperate sound.
"Okay. Okay. Good. Very good. Best thing I've ever heard—" He kissed you again, deeper this time, walking you slowly backward. "I'm going to take care of you. I promise. I'm going to make this perfect. So perfect. The most perfect—"
Your back hit the edge of the bed, and he eased you down gently, following you, his body covering yours but careful not to put his full weight on you.
"—she's so wow, be careful, don't crush her, support your weight, gentle, so gentle—"
"You're shaking," you observed softly, your hands coming up to frame his face.
"I know! I can't help it! You're just—you're here, and you're my wife, and I love you so much it's actually painful, and I want to be good for you, I want this to be perfect—" He pressed his forehead to yours. "I'm rambling. I'm rambling during—I should stop rambling. This is not the time for rambling—"
"I like your rambling," you assured him, running your fingers through his hair. "It makes me less nervous."
"—she likes the rambling, keep rambling, make her comfortable, that's what matters—"
"Okay, well, rambling I can do! Excellent at rambling! Professional rambler—" He pressed kisses along your jaw. "You're so beautiful. Did I mention that? So beautiful. The most beautiful. Every day I wake up and I can't believe you're real. Can't believe you chose me. Can't believe—"
One of his hands came up to cup your face, tilting your head to deepen the kiss, while the other traced patterns on your side that made you gasp softly against his lips. His touch was reverent, exploratory, patient.
"Tell me if you want me to stop," he whispered between kisses. "Any time. Any reason. No questions asked. Just say the word and I'll stop immediately—"
"Don't stop," you said, surprising yourself with the certainty in your voice.
He pulled back slightly to look at you, his eyes dark with affection and want. "You're sure? Because we can wait. We can wait forever if you need to. I'm immortal. Patience is built into the package. Infinite patience. All the patience—"
"I'm sure," you said, pulling him back down for another kiss.
"—okay, she's sure, she wants this, don't mess this up, be gentle, be careful, worship her like she deserves—"
"I love you," he whispered, his hands slowly, carefully beginning to explore. "Love you so much. My wife. My beautiful, perfect wife. Can't believe I get to call you that. Can't believe this is real—"
He was pressing kisses along your jaw now, down your neck, each one soft and reverent. His hands traced patterns on your sides, your hips, learning the shape of you through your dress.
"You're perfect," he murmured against your collarbone. "Absolutely perfect. Every part of you. Everything about you. The way you smile, the way you laugh, the way you look at me like I'm something good instead of—"
"You are good," you interrupted softly. "You're so good, Lu."
He made a choked sound against your neck. "—don't cry, definitely don't cry right now, very bad timing for crying—"
His hands found the zipper of your dress, and he paused, pulling back to look at you. "Can I...?"
You nodded, your own hands coming up to start unbuttoning his shirt with trembling fingers.
"—she's nervous, be reassuring, make her comfortable, this is about her, all about her—"
"We'll go slow," he promised, helping you with his buttons because your hands were shaking. "So slow. Slower than slow. We'll take all night. All week. However long you need. And if at any point you want to stop—"
"I know," you said softly. "I trust you."
Those three words seemed to undo him completely. His eyes went bright with unshed tears, and he kissed you with such overwhelming emotion it took your breath away.
"I'll be so careful with you," he whispered. "So gentle. I promise. I swear. On everything I am, everything I have—"
His fingers found your zipper again, slowly drawing it down while maintaining eye contact, making sure you were okay, before beginning to press kisses to your neck again.
But then you saw something over his shoulder. Movement outside the glass.
You tapped his shoulder gently.
He hummed against your neck, clearly not stopping, his lips finding that spot just below your ear that made you shiver. "—she's enjoying this, keep going, this is good, very good, don't stop now—"
You tapped his shoulder again, more insistently.
"Lu," you said softly, your voice a bit breathless.
"Mm?" Another kiss, this one on your collarbone, his hand still working on your zipper. "What is it, honey? Need me to slow down? I can slow down. Or speed up. Or stop. Whatever you need. Just tell me what you need—"
"We have an audience."
That got his attention. He pulled back, his hair mussed from your fingers, his lips kiss-swollen, his eyes still dark with affection, looking confused and slightly dazed.
"Audience?"
You gestured toward the window.
He turned his head, following your gaze
Pressed against the glass were at least fifteen glowing fish-creatures, their large eyes staring into the bedroom with what could only be described as intense curiosity. Even as he watched, more swam up to join them.
Lucifer stared at them.
They stared back.
One of them pressed closer to the glass, as if trying to get a better view.
Several seconds of silence passed.
"...seriously?" he said to the fish, his voice flat and distinctly frustrated. "Right now? This specific moment? This exact, incredibly important, once-in-an-eternity moment? You choose NOW to be curious about the bedroom activities?"
More creatures joined the growing crowd outside the window. A lot more.
"This is—" He stopped, took a breath. "This is ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. The most ridiculous thing that's ever happened. And I've been alive for millennia. I've seen EVERYTHING. But this? This is new. This is unprecedented levels of ridiculous—"
Even more fish appeared. The window was getting crowded.
"Are they... are they getting CLOSER?" He waved his hand at them. "Shoo! Go away! Find your own intimate moments! This one is TAKEN!"
You couldn't help but giggle at the sheer absurdity of it—here was the King of Hell, shirtless and flustered, yelling at fish through a window.
He looked down at you, and despite his obvious frustration, his expression softened at your laughter.
"This is not how I envisioned this evening going," he said, still braced above you, his arms on either side of your head.
"No?"
"Definitely not. There were plans. Very detailed plans. Romantic plans. Carefully choreographed plans that did NOT involve an audience of voyeuristic fish—" He glanced back at the window, where even more creatures had gathered. "Is that one taking notes? Are they TAKING NOTES?! What are they—is this educational for them?! Where are the curtains, why are there no FUCKING CURTAINS"
You laughed harder, and despite his obvious frustration and disappointment, he started laughing too, collapsing beside you on the bed and pulling you against him.
"I'm sorry," you said, trying to catch your breath. "I know you had plans—"
"Hey, no." He turned you to face him, his hand cupping your cheek. "Don't apologize. Not your fault. Blame the fish. Very nosy fish. Extremely intrusive fish with terrible timing—"
He glanced at the window again, where the crowd of creatures had grown to at least thirty, all pressed against the glass like they were watching the most fascinating thing they'd ever seen.
He sighed, long and dramatic. "Okay. Okay. I'm making an executive decision. New plan."
"New plan?"
"Modified plan. We're ignoring the fish. They can watch whatever they want. I don't care. I'm with my wife and nothing is going to ruin this moment—"
He looked at the window again, where the crowd had grown even larger. One fish was definitely pressing so close to the glass its face was squished.
"—I care. I care so much. This is too weird. Even for Hell. Especially for Hell. This shouldn't be weird for Hell but it IS—"
With a wave of his hand and a slightly defeated expression, two mugs of hot chocolate appeared, complete with marshmallows and whipped cream.
"There," he said, pulling you fully into his arms and tugging the blanket over both of you, adjusting your dress carefully and buttoning his shirt back up with magic. "Perfectly romantic. Completely wholesome. The fish can watch us be adorable instead. Hope they're taking good notes for their fish relationships—"
"I'm sorry our plans got ruined," you said softly, snuggling against his chest.
"Ruined? No, no, no—" He tilted your chin up to look at him. "Not ruined. Modified. Adjusted. We have forever, remember? Eternity. Literally infinite time. One night doesn't matter. Well, it matters, but not in the grand scheme—what matters is that you're here. You're in my arms. You're my wife. The fish can't ruin that—"
He pressed a kiss to your forehead, then your nose, then your lips—soft and sweet and full of love.
"Besides," he continued, his voice softer now, "you were nervous. And I was probably rushing anyway. Too excited. Too eager. This is better. This gives us time. Time to just be together. Time for you to be ready. Really ready—"
"—she was nervous, she's never done this, this is better, take your time, you have forever, don't rush something so important—"
You pressed your face into his chest, feeling tears prick your eyes. "You're really okay with this?"
"Okay with it? Honey, I'm RELIEVED. Because I was terrified I was going to mess it up. Go too fast. Be too much. Not be enough. The fish might have actually saved me from myself—" He laughed softly. "Never thought I'd be grateful to aquatic voyeurs, but here we are."
He held you tighter, his wings manifesting to curl around you both, creating a cocoon that blocked the view of the window—and more importantly, blocked the fish's view of you.
"There," he said with satisfaction. "Privacy screen. Should have thought of that earlier. Much earlier. Before the entire ocean decided to join us—"
Outside, the glowing creatures continued their dance, creating patterns of light in the dark water.
Inside, the King of Hell held his wife close, watching the underwater show with her in his arms, and thought that maybe—just maybe—this was even better than his original plans.
Because she was right.
It was perfect.
Simply because they were together.
"Tomorrow," he murmured as you both started to drift off, the hot chocolate warming you from the inside, "we'll go to the Lust Ring. Asmodeus is going to love you. Everyone's going to love you. But not as much as I do. That's impossible. Mathematically impossible—"
"Lu," you mumbled sleepily. "You're rambling."
"I know. It's my love language. Rambling. Very romantic rambling—"
You smiled against his chest, and he pressed another kiss to your hair.
~ Lucifer heard about your recent success and went to congratulate you in person. But when he finds you, you don't seem happy at all.
W.C 2.8k
a/n: do you ever have one of those moments where you are on top of the world and then BOOM someone feels the need to send you back down to earth? If you’re reading this, I hope you are able to give yourself a bit more credit!
The dinner table is unusually quiet tonight. The silence has Lucifer’s gaze unconsciously lingering on your empty seat as he cuts through the steak on his plate.
“Where’s Mc?” Beel asks, breaking the silence with a mouth full of potatoes. Studying,” Mammon replies, a slight pout in his lip as he too stares at your empty place setting. “They said they would eat later.”
“Ohhh, right, they did say they have that advanced potion test tomorrow at RAD.” Asmo adds, “I heard it’s a super difficult test.”
“It is,” Satan shudders, recalling last year when the demon next to him added the wrong ingredient to their cauldron, creating a gas that filled the room with something called devil-skunk incense.
He wasn't allowed inside the house for days after that.
“It is a very prestigious test,” Lucifer nods, “If they pass tomorrow, they would be the first human ever to do so at RAD.”
The idea of you, his beloved human, achieving such a feat fills his heart with Pride. No one else has put more effort into studying and memorising, trying and failing. If there is anyone in that exam room tomorrow who will pass, he is one hundred percent positive it will be you.
~
You are sprawled across the floor, surrounded by notes, textbooks, and homemade flashcards as you try to memorize the very specific ingredient quantities you’d need to brew a specific potion on the fly.
As one of the test’s creators, Solomon is unable to help you out this time, so you are on your own, studying everything you can get your hands on and making yourself increasingly paranoid while doing it.
You are so engrossed in the material, you don’t even register the soft knocking on your door until it grows persistent. Prying yourself from the carpet, there is a lingering stiffness in your back that definitely wasn't there a few hours ago.
“I’m coming,” you call, your knees cracking with every step you take. Unlocking your door with a twist, you open it wide, coming face to face with Lucifer. Out of all the Brothers he was certainly the last one you would expect to be banging on your door so late at night. In his left hand, he holds a mug of steaming liquid; in his right is a plate with a slice of Haunted Forest cake. The sweet smell of the demonus-infused cherries makes your mouth water as you struggle to tear your eyes away from the treat.
“You missed dessert,” he smiles softly, his eyes looking almost as tired as yours. “You deserve a treat after all that studying.”
“And the tea?” you ask knowingly, the blend being one you give to him on those nights he keeps ignoring the urge to sleep.
“To help you sleep,” he chuckles slowly as he enters your room. He stops when he sees the mess of research materials sprawled across your floor. To him, you are sure it looks like chaos, but to you, it’s organized chaos.
“It’s not as bad as it looks," you add, quickly blocking his line of sight. “I was just trying to study, and there is way too much stuff to go over, so I can’t just balance everything on my desk and~”
“You’re nervous, aren't you?” he asks gently, putting a stop to your rambling, setting the cake and tea down on your little nightstand.
“Terrified,” you admit, a hand absentmindedly holding your stomach. The idea of failure makes you feel nauseous. “There is a lot riding on this test, and you and I both know it.”
He’s silent for a moment, pondering your words as reality shines a light on your current situation.
Passing this test is about more than your personal accomplishments. The exchange program is still new, and what you accomplish at RAD will be the human benchmark for all other future candidates, whether you like it or not.
If this test is impossible for normal humans to pass, it could throw the whole program off course.
His lips press gently against your forehead, “You should get some rest. No matter what happens tomorrow, my feelings for you will stay the same, as will everyone else’s. But if you continue to push on like this, refusing to take breaks, you will only be hurting yourself.”
“You’re trying to give me advice?” You ask, a pleasant warmth blooming in your chest. “Just how many all-nighters have you pulled in that office of yours?”
He turns and crouches down, his face conveniently hidden as he begins to pick up your mess of study materials, placing them into orderly piles. The same way you do for him when trying to get him to wrap up his work for the night.
It’s funny how the tables turn.
“ I suppose I could be a better example for you,” he says at last, placing the neat stack on your desk. "No more studying tonight. I know you’ve been giving it your all, but if you don’t know the material now, you won’t in the morning.”
He’s right, and you know he knows it.
”Fine, you win. I’ll get a full night's sleep,” you relent, noting the subtle look of satisfaction that flickers on his features at the victory.
“Very well, I won’t keep you,” he says, scanning the room. “Have you set your alarm and picked out your lab attire?”
“Yes and yes,” you say, ticking through your mental checklist. With the exception of taking the test, you have pretty much everything checked off. “Thank you for thinking of me.”
“Thinking of you is as easy as breathing,” he says, “It’s stopping that poses a challenge.”
“Is that really a problem?” You ask, stepping closer to him, your beating hearts just inches apart from each other now.
He smirks devilishly, flashing a quick glimpse of gleaming porcelain. “I know what you’re doing,” his fingers coming into view as he brushes your lips with the pad of his thumb. “And as much as I wish to indulge you, you should rest. If you desire to do so, we can resume this tomorrow after you pass that exam.” he turns to leave, his fingers almost twisting the doorknob, when you call after him.
“But what if I fail?”
“You won’t.” His reply is matter-of-fact.
“But if I do?” you ask, weakness and anxiety pummeling the words as they slip past your lips.
He turns. “Then I shall still be by your side.”
~
Even three hours after you left the testing room, your hand is still cramped in your quill-holding position.
You went through a whole pot of ink, all your note paper and questioned your sanity multiple times as you tossed potentially deadly ingredients into your cauldron. But you did it, you finished the exam with just minutes to spare.
The test was everything you thought it would be and more, but the tense weight that was resting on your shoulders got lighter and lighter as you worked diligently through the questions, spurred forward by the hours and hours of memorisation and studying you had done.
The clock chimes, signalling the top of the hour.
It’s time.
The test results have been posted outside the exam room.
Each step across the steady stone feels like walking on a waterbed as you head back to the potions wing, where the passing test results are being posted for all to see. You worry that your feelings of hope aren't just misguided overconfidence.
You spot the list right away, positioned in the center of the wall like a portrait.
A few other test takers linger in the hallway, whispering amongst one another. Most seem too nervous to look themselves, and are urging their friends to check for them instead. Alone, you decide to waste no more time stressing about the unknown, when the answer is just feet away from you.
Walking down the hallway with your head held high, you approach the list, ready to rip off this band-aid. But as you get closer, your confidence wanes when you realize that out of the hundreds of test takers, you see only twenty or so names on the board.
You start at the bottom, hoping to find your name amongst those who just barely passed by the hair of their chin. Those little flames of hope in your chest grow weaker as you scan the list, not recognizing your own.
Fueled on delusion, or desperation, your eyes travel upwards until you reach the top of the list.
What?
How?
You must be dreaming, You have to be dreaming. Not only is your name on the list, it is right at the top of the page. Out of the hundreds of test takers, you not only passed the exam but you managed to get the top score.
Elation brightens your face as your heart pounds with the imaginary drums of victory as you grin, excited to get home and tell the others the good news.
You are so proud of yourself.
Each step feels like zero gravity as you turn away from the list. Trying to keep your composure so you don’t rub your victory in the faces of those who failed.
Off to the side, you come across two classmates, their horns razor sharp as they vent to each other with unpleasant expressions on their faces. When they see you, their eyes fill with venom but they don’t address you. Opting instead to raise their voices so you can hear them better.
“Of course, the human got the top score, Lord Diavolos' precious exchange student isn't allowed to flunk out of RAD.”
“I bet one of the Brothers rigged the test for them. They couldn't've taken the same exam we did.”
“The Sorcerer wrote the test; he probably gave them private tutoring or something. There is no way they could’ve actually passed on their own merit.”
They snicker as they walk away, each of their words stabs into your chest. That little happy balloon inside of you deflates, getting smaller and smaller as you start to wonder if there is any truth behind their taunts.
What if you didn't actually earn that top spot?
Self doubt fills your weary, overworked mind as you silence your DDD and start to walk home in contemplative silence. Your mood worse than it would’ve been if you had failed.
~
Lucifer was reading over an expense report in the Student Council Office when his DDD lit up. He snatches it up quickly hoping it’s you giving him some good news, instead finding that Mammon has sent a photo into a group chat containing pretty much everyone but you.
He is about to ignore his younger brother and get back to work when a second message pops up on the screen.
‘Look, they did it. I knew MY human would ace this thing.’
The photo loads revealing a slightly blurry image of the posted results page in the testing area. Clearly the anticipation got the better of the avatar of greed and he decided to sneak in. Replies from the others stream in faster than Lucifer can blink.
‘WAIT! They got the top score? Mc Solo’d that test.’
‘That’s my apprentice for you, they are brilliant.’
‘Mc’s a total package, smart and hot.’
’Simeon forgot his password, but he would like to pass along his congratulations.’
Lucifer smirks as he reads over the messages, typing out one of his own to add to the pile of praise. ‘I never had any doubts that they wouldn't succeed, but Mammon, how did you get access to the testing wing? That area is strictly off limits.’
‘Mammon…’
‘This isn't about me, it’s about Mc. We should take them out to celebrate.’
‘Yes! WITH all their favorite foods’
‘I shall throw a feast on their behalf at the Castle. Barbatos, can we start making preparations for tonight?’
‘Of course, Young Master. I would love nothing more than to celebrate Mc’s accomplishment.’
‘I can bake a cake!’
As the messages roll on, Lucifer smiles and slides his phone into his pocket. His eyes glow with Pride as he thinks of you surpassing all the others you had taken the exam with.
Of course you did, you are wonderful.
With your celebratory dinner just hours away, the demon rises from his desk abandoning his work for today.
He has to see you.
He has to spend time with you before the others hog it all.
With a flick of his wrist, he teleports himself to the HOL., The house is dark, but your wet shoes are in their usual spot by the door, so he knows you’re home. But where?
His sharp footsteps carry him noiselessly through the quiet house, finding himself outside your cracked door, just like he was the night before.
Slivered light illuminates the hallway, growing brighter as he silently pushes open the door.
You’re studying, once again hunched over your desk, flipping furiously through pages. As much as he admires your work ethic, something seems off about the scene in front of him.
“Studying again,” he coos, lowering his voice and placing a firm hand on your shoulder. “You deserve a break.”
You hardly pay him any mind. “There’s more to be done,” you say simply, unaffected by his attention as you flip through another page.
He’s never been good at being ignored, especially by you. “There will be a feast at the Castle tonight. When he heard the news, Diavolo jumped at the chance to celebrate.”
“That’s nice,” you reply, “But I can’t go, I’m too busy.”
His jaw tightens, and he leers at your study materials as if they have offended him. You seem to be looking over the same textbook you were studying the night before. “Mc, these are your notes for the potions exam. Why are you looking over them again? You passed.”
“I want to retake the exam,” you mutter. He can’t put his finger on what it is about your tone, but it makes his chest tighten painfully.
“Why? You received the top score,” he exclaims. “That is such a huge accomplishment for~”
“For a human?” you cut him off, finally meeting his gaze. Your eyes are red, puffy, as if you have been crying. “I need to be better.”
“Darling,” he breathes, the air disappearing from his chest as he takes in your melancholy image. You should be on top of the world right now. “What is the matter?”
“You and I both know I didn't deserve to get the top score.” you say, voice shaky as you clench your fist. “I want to retake the exam at a different location. I heard there is a make-up test being held next week, maybe if I pass that one, things will be different.”
“Different how?” he crosses his arms. “Do you truly believe you are undeserving of your score?”
The unconscious drooping of your shoulders tells him all that he needs to know. You would’ve been on top of the world when you saw those test results.
There are still some demons who believe they are superior to humans. These are Cowardly beings that would never confront you when he or his brothers were nearby. Someone must’ve said something to you after the results were posted. Souring your sweet accomplishment.
As much as Lucifer wishes to find whoever made you think you were undeserving of this honor and string them upside down for all to see, that wouldn't do anything for you.
The pins of rage dull as he turns his attention to you.
“Look at me,” he commands with a pillowsoft authority reserved for only you.
Willingly, you meet his eyes, your feelings of inadequacy staring back at him.
“You have achieved something very few have.” he says, his heart swelling with each world. “And you did this all on your own. In this moment, you should take pride in your accomplishment. Give that amazing brain of yours a rest, at least for tonight.”
You seem to snap out of it. Lucifer would never lie to you, nor would he, or anyone else falsify your exam results to please you.
Something in you brightens, as if his words ripped open the curtains of an eastern-facing bedroom at sunrise. “I really did it?” you ask, that little paranoid voice growing smaller under the burden of truth. “I got the top score all by myself?”
“Yes,” he breathes. “You should feel proud.
“I am,” you say, beaming. “I fucking rock.”
He laughs, his smile is befitting of heaven’s most beautiful angel as you bask in its warmth and throw your arms around him and crashing your lips onto his. Finally, allowing yourself to taste the sweet taste of victory before your special feast.
