Existence

7. rock bottom

"I'm not afraid, I can be myself and I hope you can be yourself as well. 'Cause I make you feel alright, and there is so much happiness that we were still yet to find." - Rex Orange County

The images of Mandy's graduation were still vivid in her mind, and she honestly didn't think that it would change any time soon. She began to give up on trying to figure out Lucifer's motive behind all of this. Saving someone's life was God's work, and everyone knows that the devil doesn't do God's work. He is the very definition of evil. The prototypical villain in everybody's story. Yet, why did it feel like he was trying to be the hero of hers?

"Hey." She turned around to the sound of voice, a voice she will never forget. 

"Hey."

"You come up here often. It's like I always know where to find you." He smiled. It was such a beautiful smile. 

"I haven't been here long. I don't know where else to go." She shrugged. 

"Why didn't you try and explore the house? Or hell for that matter?"

"Well, I already found my favorite spot in the house," She turned around again, looking at the view, "and in hell."

"Why is that?" 

"I like balconies." She simply said. 

The next moments that followed were nothing short of pure silence. Not awkward or uncomfortable silence. Just a silence that seemed to cloak around them in a calming way. It was crazy how open they were with each other from the start. He seen her at her worst, so it was like building their relationship from rock bottom. He believed that there was hope for her, and she continues to surprise him. It was a bittersweet feeling for him. To finally click with someone after a millennia, with their fate resting solely on her. But that's how it is on Earth too, isn't it? 

He didn't know what humans did to deserve the battles they face everyday. They know that they are fighting a losing battle, yet they do it anyway. With nothing but faith to get them through the battlefield. He understands Mandy, because he has seen it all before. Nothing is more heart breaking than a human on the verge of losing love. Or one who craves it more than anything in the world. 

The thing about love that they seem to get wrong, is the fact that think its value lies in its reciprocity. They seem to think that romantic love means more than platonic love. But, love is love. The value of it doesn't lie in the frivolous text messages of one's partner or in the vehement lyrics of a song. The value must be felt. And for some reason, he felt something around her. It was refreshing, like a ghost of who he used to be. He knew that there was no way he was in love with her, but there was love there. He couldn't lie about that. Why else was he trying so hard to show her the meaning of life? Especially when he didn't even know what the meaning was?

"You're awfully quiet." She mused from beside him, giving him a sideways glance. 

"Can't the devil be quiet?" 

"You know, I've never met someone quite like you before."

"Of course not darling. There is no one like me." He smirked. 

"You have a real talent for twisting my words, you know that?" She laughed lightly, a melodic sound escaping her lips, "What I am saying, or trying to say at least, is that I like you. Wait! Not like that. Um, it's just that it's nice finally having someone to talk to."

"Oh Mandy, I'm flattered." He joked, clutching his heart mockingly as her cheeks flushed. 

"Shut up." She muttered. 

"No, no," The corner of his lips was turned up in a boyish grin, "Tell me more."

"Well," She started, "I know it may be ironic, but I love the way we met. It was probably a twist of fate, who knows. I just think it was the best start possible. We have only been around each other for a couple days, yet I feel like we know so much about each other. Sure, you have a couple thousand years on me, but I don't think I am boring you. I think that I pique your interest just as much as you do mine."

"Your assumption is correct love."

"It is better to show all your cards at once. Because otherwise, what's the point? You just hide the real you away while you find yourself getting attached to that person, and once you trust them enough to tell them, they leave and take a piece of you with them. You can't let yourself be taken away because you are scared to show who you really are. Just be yourself with everyone you meet. If they leave, they were never worth it and at least they knew the real you before they left."

"You're absolutely right. I wish you had that mindset back when you were, you know, conscious."

"Who says I didn't? Maybe I never showed people the real me because they didn't deserve to know."

"And I do?"

"You do."

"Why?"

"You believe in me."

The two locked eyes again, and it was a replay of the moment before. They seemed to search for themselves in each other's eyes, as the electricity sparked around them. In every movement, in every word, in every breathe. There was no denying what they shared. Even though they had no idea what it was they had, they'd be lying if they said it wasn't special. 

Her fingers traveled up his chest, leaving a hot trail behind and her eyes never left his. It was an intimate gesture, so when she suddenly jerked his body closer to hers, he was surprised. Their hips bumped and he bit a groan as she gasped. He then realized that he will do anything to hear that noise escape her lips. To see her face contort in that expression again. 

He grabbed her waist tightly and held her body closer. She looked up at him before standing on the tips of her toes and brushed her cheek against his. His body shivered when she brought her lips to his earlobe as her hands glided across his shoulder blades. 

"Thank you." She whispered. 

That was all she said, before she detangled herself from him and made her way back inside. Her hips were swaying slightly, with a ghost of a smirk playing at her lips. It was fun to keep them guessing. 

Lucifer just stood there, watching her leave. It took him a moment to recollect himself, but he did so with ease. He liked the chase. 

He was going to show her, no one leaves the devil hanging.