Sixth grade, two years after Lucius plummeted his reputation down to hell. He was still thriving. There was no reason he wouldn't be, not from what Lucifer could think of at least. Biggest difference was, the amount of people who liked them was significantly smaller. Lucifer, Lucius, and Lithia gained the prestigious title of the 'three L's' by Aleron, which soon spread like wildfire to everyone.

  Ah, right, Lithia.

  "Do you mind if I could copy down your notes, Lucius?" She asked politely, leaning over and seeing all the text he had written during class. "Please, oh great one."

  By the time everything happened, she understood it all. She had befriended a complete narcissist. It wasn't a dealbreaker somehow. Actually, she might've been the one left best off out of everyone. She was exclusive in that Lucius just never spoke to her or complimented her directly since the start of their friendship. Rather, it was a relief now that she knew to apologize for her sins at the age of… six. Sure as hell petty.

  "You may," Lucius grinned, "I've noted down every inconsistency as well, this physics teacher sure is stellar."

  A paper ball was thrown at him from the back of the classroom but Lucifer was quick to catch it in its trajectory. Childish snickers followed suit, voices which Lucifer had long since familiarized himself with.

  "...Aleron is so annoying." Lithia murmured, copying down the notes provided by Lucius. She saw certain things that he had written down that were very odd, stuff about magic and 'the great abyss'. It was normal for him though, the porcelain boy was always a bit of a weirdo. Physically and mentally.

  "Who?"

  "...Nevermind."

  The class ended with minimal issues. Lucifer would always be there to catch any strays coming at Lucius. Next class was a shared favorite between all three of them; lunch. The fourth L.

  "Lucifer, grant me today's lunch, whatever it may be." Lucius, posh as ever, snapped his finger at Lucifer who promptly followed his request. "I'm hungry after all that useless physics stuff." The three of them waddled over to the usual empty table. Lithia found it kinda funny how Lucifer was basically feeding Lucius whilst the latter boy just let himself be coddled.

  Lithia noticed, among the many students piling into the cafeteria hall, Michael was booming with excitement along with his sports recess buddies. She waved at him, to her surprise, he noticed. But while he waved back with a small smile, his smile completely shattered when his eyes drifted to the two next to her.

  "Michael hasn't really been the same since." She noted.

  "And? He should be thankful that I chose to insult him."

  Sixth, seventh, eighth, and now, ninth grade. Everyone changed, while Lucifer and Lucius never truly left their comfortable selves. Michael had gotten more comfortable talking to them now, screaming at the top of his lungs for Lucius each time they met in the hall. He did the same thing for Lithia, despite that not being something he had ever done prior. The way his eyes never truly reflected genuine happiness had Lithia second-guessing his intentions. She wasn't sure why he put himself up to this, she'd understand it better if he avoided him at all cost. In a way, it was almost like Michael strained himself to pretend as if they were friends.

  Even weirder was this asshole.

  "Fucking—" The tall, pale boy, with black hair and creepy red eyes stumbled backwards, clutching at his left cheek.

  Everyone changed physically, however. Lucius remained handsome but older, Lithia grew more comfortable in her looks, and Lucifer… well, Lucifer gained a lot of height.

  A delinquent, part of the friend group which Aleron had been building up these past few years, was thrown back with a swift and forceful kick from Lucifer. The tall strawberry blond was quick, enough to follow up with another kick, this time, to a different kid.

  "You've had this coming for a while, Solun." Lucifer said, icy in his tone. He was alone this time, Lucius had gone home after being threatened to 'meet us behind school after 4 pm'. Not because he particularly noticed the threat behind those words, actually, he went home because today he ended way before that time. Lucifer noticed however and he wasn't about to back down from such a lovely invitation. "What did I tell you on your first day coming here?"

  Even now, nearing highschool, Aleron Solun never let go of his bothersome personality from third grade. He had grown taller, more muscular, and certainly stronger, but…

  Aleron's fist was blocked by Lucifer's sweeping forearm, leaving him wide open for another punch. As he closed his eyes and braced himself, the punch he was expecting never came.

  "What are you—"

  Slap.

  When Aleron had opened his eyes and mouth, a resounding slap hit him. Lucifer… slapped him.

  "Behave."

  …

  The next day, Aleron had come well prepared. A handwritten note was in hand and all he intended was to give it to the right person. Well, he had a bouquet of flowers too, except he tried his hardest to ignore its existence, and all the watchful gazes he received from his classmates flooding the hall.

  Sure, this was humiliating. However, if he got to choose between this and what he went through yesterday…

  "I'm sorry." Aleron bowed his head at the shorter boy, who all but gave him judgemental glares with those purple eyes. "I'm really sorry, take this as an apology." Aleron pushed the bouquet and card to Lucius.

  But the latter didn't raise his arms to take them. Noticing this, Aleron had to pull the gifts back to analyze whatever expression Lucius was making.

  To his surprise, it was disgust.

  "Apologize again,"

  "What?" Aleron had to gather what he had just heard.

  "Apologize again!" Lucius demanded.

  Due to his surprise, Aleron's mouth functioned like clockwork and did as Lucius had said. "S-sorry…"

  "Good," Lucius sighed, "Not only did you pull me aside to take my precious time, you just had to look ugly, and roses too? Really? Even the stars would've had a better sense for flowers." The porcelain boy's nose scrunched, it was undeniable disgust. If Aleron looked closer, it was certain that a tinge of green could be seen on his skin. If they stayed there for longer, Lucius would in all likelihood get sick purely out of that disgust.

  So, Lucius left, completely ignoring whatever had just happened to him. Opting to head back to class.

  Aleron was stuck in thought after being completely rejected.

  I'm… losing my patience.

  All these years compounded, year after year, things worked like clockwork. If Lucius were to describe it, he would say that it was a stroll to kill time until he gained his inheritance. To Lucifer, these years went by in a flash. Lithia would likely go on about all the interesting things that she'd gone through, beginning from first grade. The three of them saw things differently. Despite their differences, they'd stuck together through fate.

  Although, Lithia assumed that really, she was just lucky enough to have never been cast away from those two. The narcissist and his 'butler'.

  "Alas, Lucifer, just one more year." Lucius smiled, giddy over something. At first, Lithia imagined it was due to their graduation just an hour prior, but no part of her could justify the possibility of Lucius caring enough.

  "In a year, we're nineteen." She commented, sipping on the cup of coffee laid out for her.

  "Yes, exactly that, Lithia," Lucius said, "in a year from now, I'll transcend everything, I'll shed this physical body of mine and become something more incorporeal. I'll be allowed to do whatever I want."

  The girl narrowed her eyes, Lucius was on one of his weirdo spiels again. Again, she was really worried about his future. Now that highschool has ended, the likelihood of him being sent to a mental hospital was at an all time high.

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  "...Right, what do you plan to do when you're nineteen?"

  Lucius placed a pale hand on his chest, grinning proudly, "You wouldn't be able to comprehend the intricacies of my future plans, star."

  To that, Lithia rolled her eyes. He was always gonna be the same and although she felt melancholic during their graduation, it brought her an odd sense of security knowing that he'd never change. She placed her gaze on Lucifer, basically asking for a translation.

  "You mean you'll work and go to college, don't you, Lucius?" He sipped his coffee, side-eyeing Lucius with those orange eyes of his. The porcelain boy's expression dropped, a thin line replacing that smile of his.

  "...Do I have to?" He asked, cautious.

  "Yes."

  "Is that by your command?"

  "No."

  "I don't care if it's your request."

  "It's your mom's."

  "..."

  "Exactly, you have to go."

  "...Alright you guys." Lithia interrupted, snorting in the process. She settled her cup of coffee on the saucer, rising from the table whilst slinging her totebag over her shoulder. "I really loved all these years with you… middle-school, highschool… it was all a blast. Thank you." The blonde smiled, doing her best to prevent the memories from making her burst out in tears. "This isn't goodbye… I know I'll hear from you guys over the phone for many years to come."

  "Of course you will," Lucifer assured her, crossing his arms over his broad chest, a slight smile etched on his lips. "I'll make sure we keep in touch."

  Lithia really wanted to take a picture, to immortalize this moment of theirs in some way. Since Lucius hated having photos of him taken, saying something along the lines of 'photos can never replicate my true appearance', she couldn't. So, the next best option was for her to carve the image of the three of them into her head. With her last glance at the two of them, she left with a passing comment; "Don't forget to send me a marriage invitation when you two get down to it!"

  The cafeteria door swung open and one less person occupied this space.

  …

  "..."

  "She thought we were dating."

  "A stellar thought, coming from a mundane star now lost in the vast oceans of space."

  Lucifer raised a brow at his master, watching his now mellowed out facial features. "Your mom requested—"

  "...Why is it that my mom never tells me these things directly, hmm?" Lucius furrowed his brows, irked by the constant 'requests'.

  As if his ploy had been uncovered, Lucifer raised his hands in sign of defeat, "You got me." Lucifer tried, but Lucius wasn't an idiot. He knew what it meant when that boy smirked. "Truth be told, she mentioned that I can request what I think is necessary for you, and I believe, keeping human connections is one of those necessary things."

  Lucius scoffed, "Has the devil somehow softened up to humans by spending years simply grunting and staring at anyone asking him questions?"

  Lucifer hummed, the same tune Lissandra was prone to using, "I'm ensuring that my food marinades, as it appears humans tend to bother you more than they ever did me." He ran a hand through his curls, rising from the chair and reaching his arm out, "Shall we go, my lord?"

  Lucius sighed, rising from the table and taking up the demon's arm. "Since you're asking so nicely, yes, we shall."

  The porcelain boy couldn't help but smile. 'Lord' had a nice ring to it, sure, but it lacked the ability to force the world on its knees. There was one such title that did that, a title he was fated to have since birth. In a year from now, he expected an addition to what Lucifer called him, a single prefix;

  Grievous.

  Here we are. The present. The present of this Lucius Nox, who was on his way home, finally, this was the day he'd be free from everything.

  He walked past the white fences, speed walking his way to the porch, ignoring all the freshly gardened forget-me-nots displayed in their lawn, and, when he got his hands on the doorknob, he burst open through the door in excitement.

  "I'm home!" He rushed to take off his shoes, instantly running through the hall and sliding into the kitchen with his socks. He stopped his momentum by grabbing onto the wall, the floors were spotless as always, so he had to maneuver himself this way.

  Lissandra was in the kitchen as he expected. She was expertly chopping onions, carrots, and celleri. A pot sat on one of the burners, she was already preparing the bechamel sauce for the lasagna.

  "Mother, what are you doing?" Lucius approached her cautiously, so as to not interrupt her cooking process.

  Lissandra lifted her gaze, staring at him with her soft purple eyes. They had a darker shade than his and through the years he noticed how a hint of gold began to creep up in them. She was growing older, reaching the end of her role as the Witch of Night ever so slowly. "Ah, child of this one, welcome home."

  Lucius nodded, but still his question remained, "What are you cooking for? Don't we have a banquet?" He looked up at her, her tall stature was still much greater than anyone else he could think of. Not that there was anyone else the size of everything.

  She hummed, the tune of her own and Lucifer's. "One is simply making a contribution to this gathering," Lissandra added the mirepoix to the pan with minced meat, "as guests, it is only polite to bring something."

  Lucius normally wouldn't question her, but whatever she was doing was borderline demeaning, "It is a celebration for us, you shouldn't feel the need to lower yourself like this."

  Lissandra raised a brow, seeing how her son had a massive misconception, "This one is free, are they not?" She pointed to herself, "These actions are not degrading, these are the choices one makes with their own free will."

  The porcelain boy gave it a thought, completely different from how I see it, but alright.

  "...Well, alright, I'll go to my room and change." Lucius headed upstairs, slamming the door open to his room, immediately checking his closet.

  …

  Half an hour passed, still, Lucius couldn't decide on his suit. Would he wear a cravat? A tie? Should he wear a bowtie with his blue suit? Should he wear a white blazer over a pink dress shirt? No, those colors would never work on him. Would an ascot be better than a cravat? Black has been quite overused…

  Lucius wanted to present the best in front of his mother. Today was the day he'd officially succeed her, not a single thing was allowed to be out of place.

  If only—

  "You seem like you could get some help," Lucifer said, leaning against the doorframe.

  "I thought you went to hell." Lucius let go of his failed attempt at tying a tie, allowing Lucifer to do it for him as he neared.

  "Ah, my lord, hell is relative." Lucifer gazed at his work, a dissatisfied glint shining in his eye, "Hell could be a place, it could be the state of being exiled from God, it can be anything as long as the numbers define it as such." He lectured Lucius as if he were still the same petty kid on the playground. The porcelain boy hated it. "Your hell is different from mine, it just so happens that I live in it, and you have yet to reach yours."

  Lucifer began undressing Lucius, picking out the ill-fitting overcoat, and then moving on to unbutton his dress shirt.

  "Telling me that being my partner is hell for you won't make your life any easier, butler."

  "That's the thing, isn't it? I'm not your butler." He moved downwards, gaining no physical resistance from the short menace, "As far as the contract goes, we're partners, fifty-fifty equals."

  Lucius, annoyed, shook the pants off, freeing himself from the off-colored… jeans? Since when did he wear jeans?

  "Being in my presence is enough of a reward to fulfill that 50 percent of the contract." Now, almost completely naked and laid against the soft mattress with the devil hovering over him, he waved his frail hands at the door, "You barely complete yours with the bare minimum that you give me."

  A soft shut and a click resonated from the door, signifying its now locked status.

  Lucius and Lucifer stood side-by-side. The taller supported his lord with an arm. They wore black and white, blue and red, mirroring each other in a way that could give off the wrong impression on anyone seeing them. The two were partners, both too prideful to let the other look physically worse.

  If Lucifer had worn anything else that wasn't matching, he wagered that Lucius would go around pretending they didn't know each other. So, he mirrored the shorter.

  Lucius strode with a confidence worthy of a ruler. His wavy black hair bounced with each step, the star-shaped brooch on his white jabot reflected an explosion of color reminiscent of a supernova. That's what that boy was, really, a supernova, creating ripples wherever he went. His black overcoat mirrored the great expanse of space, those black seas encompassing everything, beneath was a midnight blue dress shirt, reminiscent of the night.

  "Ah, my handsome little boy!" Lissandra greeted him with open arms. Lucius knew why she spoke differently. They were outside, in front of their car and for all the neighbors to see. "Nineteen and all grown up! I can't wait for you to receive your grandfather's inheritance."

  She definitely had room to lessen the dramatics.

  Lucifer bowed, heading for the driver's seat. With her staff, Lissandra prevented him from going any further. She leaned in, her entire demeanor changing back to 'home'.

  "Lucifer, if one may request it," she whispered, "stay by his side at all times, it looks best if The Grievous Lord is accompanied by his partner."

  "He's always with me regardless." Lucius blurted out.

  "And so will he stay, until you yourself perish and he may take your soul." Lissandra moved past the strawberry blond, taking his intended spot in the driver's seat. "Unless he wishes to risk a different demon sweeping in like a vulture to take all the credit."

  "..." Lucifer tensed, however, his slowness was rewarded with an excited Lucius simply pushing him to the back seat.

  "Get in there, Hellspawn."