SOULmates

7- Morality Game

Zaria had never seen her boss in a romantic light before. Upon their first meeting, she noticed that he was quite attractive but distanced that mindset to keep things professional. She had no idea how she was supposed to maintain that same professionalism upon returning to the office.

She wasn't quite paying attention to where they were going, her mind was somewhere between Jesus Christ you're on a date your boss what the fuck is wrong with you?! and What the fuck you're literally living with the Devil. In your home. Holy fuck you dirty heathen!

But then she realized Nicholas had reserved a table for them at a nice, classy restaurant. When she settled in, she picked up the menu, feeling a little self conscious after looking around.

"Wow, I feel a little under dressed," she chuckled nervously. Nicholas smiled.

"You look radiant, Zaria."

Well... she sure hadn't ever been called that before. She felt her face heat up, and hid in her menu. She figured out he could see her anyway when he laughed softly. Her ears detected a few piano notes, and that's when she realized that there was someone really talented playing live music.

"Wowza, you really know how to impress a lady," she said absentmindedly. She cringed inside. Wowza? What the fuck?

"Well you did help me get rid of a stalker and you know, I'd do the same for you." She thought about all the times Lucifer popped into her mirror, and smiled wryly. It's a little late for that.

The rest of the evening went on a little too normal, she was half expecting to get mugged as they walked hand in hand to the park. Another time, she was CONVINCED that someone from work would spot them on a date. Was this a date? A really elaborate thank you?

"Hey Zaria, are you okay?" Nicholas asked, shaking her out of her troublesome thoughts. She smiled.

"Uh yeah sorry, I'm fine. This is just a little weird."

"Weird?" Nicholas asked, rubbing his thumb over the back of Zaria's hand. Zaria's face heated up.

"Not weird! Definitely not weird! Just... different. You just really go out of your way to make everything perfect and I'm just... eh." Nicholas tilted her chin up so her eyes met his.

"Zaria... you DO know that you're phenomenal, right? I mean, the way you tackle everything that gets thrown at you and have a clear head even when something horrible happens..." Zaria snorted.

"Ah, if only you knew," she said. Before Nicholas's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, Zaria wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a kiss. He kissed back, without hesitation.

~~

After Melanie left, Lucifer awkwardly carried Zach to his room and plopped him down in his bed. He noticed Mr. Giraffe on the floor and picked him up, smiling fondly at the stuffed toy, placing it next to Zach's sleeping face. He really couldn't understand why Zaria hated that thing. She clearly wouldn't last a day in Hell.

He slumped over on the sofa, reaching his arms towards the ceiling and admiring his new apendages.

"I am so well adjusted," he said to no one. For some reason, an image of Zaria rolling her eyes floated around in his mind. It felt unnatural that his large consciousness was crammed in such a tiny form. He supposed he's had worse. He chuckled as stray hair fell into his face and bolted upright, a tingling sensation in the pit of his stomach. He wrapped his arms around his body as if to suppress the feeling.

"I don't know what that is but I feel terrible," he mumbled. He wondered what Zaria was getting herself into. Then he wondered why he cared. He shrugged and wandered off to Zaria's room. Perhaps out of spite or maybe just to mark his territory, he buried himself under Zaria's blankets, falling asleep tangled in the warm blankets.