In Love with Lucifer

A Small Cafe in Hell

I've been in hell for two weeks which means it's application day! Maybe I can finally get out of politics and into a job I care about?

I fill in my name and put the slip in the box on the receptionist's desk.

'Leaving us so soon?'

'Wasn't really my choice to be here, was it?' I smile nervously. The receptionist laughs, but it's so obviously fake. I nod awkwardly and head upstairs.

I take a seat at the table. I know that Lucy doesn't mind me leaving, especially seeing we'll be living together, but I think that Marco and Laura are bitter about it. I've grown to be friends with them in the two weeks I've been in hell, but they don't seem convinced by my promises to keep in touch. I will though. We don't even know if I'll be leaving for certain, though, I might not be at all.

Lucy starts the meeting and I zone out completely. That's been happening a lot recently, I can't ever focus. Marco talks about the yearly speech that's coming up, and Laura tells us that the celebration will cost us more than usual, that Inferno and other cities are becoming overpopulated, that...

I don't care anymore. I never really cared to begin with. I just want to get out. I start to daydream about getting out, starting a cafe. Getting Lucy to finally quit, too. We could start a cafe together and live in an apartment above it. Like Edie and Veronica's bookstore.

'Hell to Aki, meeting's over.' Laura says loudly, snapping me out of my daydream. She stands up and smiles sadly at me, before leaving. Lucy gave me a phone, and I have her number, but she's acting like this is the last time we'll ever see each other.

'She's just worried you won't keep in touch. One of the people who left didn't.' Lucy says reassuringly.

'Oh.' I say simply. Then, 'Do we have any cases today?'

'No, thank our lucky stars.' Lucy chuckles. 'I'm gonna go to Edie's for a bit. I'll be back by six.'

'Okay. I'm probably gonna take a nap.'

'Aw, is Aki sleepy?'

'Very much so.' I say, hugging him. Or more like, collapsing into him.

'I'll teleport you home, then.'

Home. Is this my home? I live in an apartment with Lucy, and it was supposed to be a temporary arrangement while I find my own place, but it doesn't really seem like either of us want me to move out. I like living with Lucy, and he seems to like having company. And he could have just created me a separate apartment, come to think of it.

That's weird.

Then, suddenly I remember something. I pick up my phone, and text Leo.

You: Hey Leo, do you know what code cookie means?

LeoNERDo: Means the person you like or are talking to is with you rn. Like if I go who do you like when your crush right there you'll say code cookie.

You: OH WOW

LeoNERDo: wot

You: can't explain, ttyl!

Should I talk to Lucy about this? This is so crazy. I mean, to be honest, I've been seeing the signs but I thought I was being dumb.

I'm not a child. I'll talk to him about it when he comes home, like an adult does.

But for now, I'll take an afternoon nap.

When Lucy gets home, I stir slightly on the couch, but pretend to be asleep. He chuckles quietly and puts a blanket over me, kissing my forehead gently.