Pardon The Way That I Stare

Stirring Realisations

A few hours later, the soft glow of the moonlight had shifted, casting long shadows across the room. The gentle sway of the cruise ship continued, cradling its passengers in a lull of peaceful slumber. But soon, Lucifer began to stir, slowly waking from his dream-filled rest.

As consciousness crept in, he became acutely aware of something warm beneath his head. It took him a moment to register where he was, and when he finally did, panic surged through him. His heart raced as he jolted upright, wide-eyed, realizing he had been sleeping on Alastor's chest.

"What—?!" he exclaimed, the shock of the situation sending adrenaline coursing through him.

Alastor, stirred awake by the sudden movement, blinked a few times before a reassuring smile broke across his face. "Lucifer, it's fine. I didn't mind at all." His voice was soothing, a stark contrast to Lucifer's startled reaction.

Lucifer's cheeks burned with embarrassment, his mind racing. "I—I'm sorry! I didn't mean to... I just—"

"Breathe, dear. It's quite all right," Alastor said, his tone calm and collected, even as he sat up slightly, adjusting the pillow behind him. "You looked comfortable."

Lucifer nodded quickly, feeling flustered. "I need to—uh, I'll be right back." He stumbled to his feet, making a hasty retreat to the bathroom.

Once inside, he closed the door behind him and leaned against it, letting out a shaky breath. "What the Hell was that?" he whispered-yelled at himself, pacing back and forth in the cramped space. "You can't just fall asleep on someone like that! Especially not on *him*! What are you even thinking?"

He splashed cold water on his face, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep and embarrassment. The reflection in the mirror showed a flustered demon with messy hair and flushed cheeks. "Get it together, Lucifer. You're supposed to be cool and composed. Not—this!"

After a few moments of pep-talking himself, he took a deep breath, splashed some more water on his face, and straightened his posture. He couldn't let a little panic derail him. He could handle this.

With one last look in the mirror, he opened the bathroom door, ready to face Alastor again. But inside, his heart still raced with uncertainty and confusion about what all of this meant.

Lucifer stepped back into the bedroom, his pulse still quickening as he found Alastor propped up against the headboard, looking both relaxed and alert. Alastor's eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief as he observed Lucifer's return.

"Did you manage to gather your thoughts, or was it a lost cause?" he asked, his tone teasing but gentle.

Lucifer rolled his eyes, trying to mask his embarrassment with a half-hearted grin. "Very funny. I was just... trying to wake up properly," he replied, attempting to sound nonchalant while mentally scolding himself for being so easily flustered.

Alastor chuckled softly, the sound rich and warm in the quiet room. "You know, it's perfectly normal to have a moment of vulnerability, especially after a long day filled with... social engagements," he said, emphasizing the last words with a hint of irony. "I assure you, it's not a crime to seek comfort."

"Yeah, well, comfort isn't exactly my style," Lucifer shot back, folding his arms defensively, though the corners of his mouth twitched upward at Alastor's playful demeanor.

"Ah, but perhaps it should be," Alastor replied, his tone shifting slightly, becoming more serious. "We all have our defenses, Lucifer, but sometimes letting them down can lead to... unexpected connections."

Lucifer's heart skipped a beat at the implication of Alastor's words, the tension creeping back into the air. He wanted to respond, to dive into whatever this was between them, but the moment felt too heavy, too charged.

"Anyway, I'll let you get back to sleep," Lucifer said quickly, moving toward the edge of the bed. "I just needed to clear my head a bit."

"Are you certain you don't want to talk about it?" Alastor asked, his gaze steady and searching.

"Not right now," Lucifer replied, perhaps a little too firmly. He felt overwhelmed by the weight of their earlier conversations and the revelations they'd both hinted at. "Let's just... take it one step at a time, okay?"

"Fair enough," Alastor conceded, though his expression suggested he still had more to say.

Lucifer nodded, feeling a mixture of gratitude and frustration at the unspoken words hanging between them. He headed to his side of the bed, preparing to slip under the covers once more, when he caught sight of Alastor's piercing gaze lingering on him.

"Goodnight, Alastor," Lucifer said, attempting to break the tension with a smile, but the moment felt oddly bittersweet.

"Goodnight, Lucifer," Alastor replied softly, watching as Lucifer settled in.

As Lucifer lay there, staring up at the ceiling, he couldn't shake the feeling that things were changing in ways he didn't fully understand. He could feel the weight of Alastor's gaze even with his eyes closed, the connection they had forged in the past days shifting into something deeper.

With a sigh, he rolled onto his side, facing away from Alastor, hoping that sleep would find him soon. But the flutter in his stomach refused to settle, and the lingering warmth of the earlier closeness kept him wide awake.

As the night continued, both demons remained lost in their thoughts, silently wrestling with the possibilities of what their next steps might entail. Little did they know, the cruise was just the beginning of their journey—one that would unravel many secrets and feelings they had yet to confront.