Whumptober Prompt #24- Secret Injury And Alt.#1-Wake Up

Whumptober Prompt #24- Secret Injury and alt.#1- “Wake Up”

I’m still sick, but have some Irondad and Spiderson.

...

Having Peter around for an actual internship had improved Tony’s mental health more than the mechanic cared to admit.  It was often just too hard to be miserable about the Rogues, worried about his and Pepper’s upcoming wedding, or anything that terrorists or fanatics could throw at him when he was surrounded by infectious smiles and puppy dog eyes.  Peter had somehow worked his way into the hearts of Stark Industries, even Happy likes the kid and Pepper adored him.  If Peter hadn’t had his Aunt Hottie, Pepper would’ve immediately applied for custody after she’d met him.  The kid was just too good.

Which is why Friday’s had become his favorite day.  Friday was lab day. Friday, Peter had a later curfew, as it wasn’t a school night, and often spent the night at the Tower, recently repurchased after the whole Vulture fiasco.  Because Peter has been the one to save the Towers tech, he’d renamed one of the intern labs “Soon to be Parker Industries”.  Peter had almost died on the spot.  Tony still had the footage saved for when he needed a pick-me-up.

So when Peter was late, without calling no less, Tony’s wonderful new mental state began to crumble.  Peter was never late, never wanting to burden Tony or act as if he didn’t want to be there.  Tony had found that out when Peter came in with a skyrocketing fever and enough nausea to light up the city of Toledo.  Worry was starting to eat at Tony’s normal Friday happiness.

“Peter is now in proximity to the Tower.”  FRIDAY’s voice soothed Tony’s mind.  “He’ll arrive on the landing pad in approximately fifteen point seven seconds.”

“Thanks, FRIDAY.”  Tony headed out to the landing pad to see a web above his head and a spandex Spider-Man landing badly on the landing pad.  Another shot of worry ate away at Tony’s heart.  Peter was usually so graceful.

“Bambino?”  Tony called out, heading over to the stumbling kid.

“I’m fine, Mister Stark.”  Came Peter’s strained voice.  “My healing factor will kick in a sec.  Spider-Man caught another mugger today.”

“Alright, kid.”  Tony clapped Peer on the back.  “You sure?”

“No need to worry about me, Mister Stark.”  Peter said.  “My healing factor is already working, I can feel it.”

“Well, let’s just take it easy tonight.”  Tony led the kid inside.  “Maybe just a movie and some popcorn?  You can finally show me some of those me-me’s you keep referencing.”

“Ugh, Mister Stark, it’s memes.”  Peter groaned.

The only thing he loved about getting older was making fun of the younger generation.  Peter had to know Tony was mispronouncing it on purpose, but that didn’t take from the fun.

“If you say so.”  Tony smirked. “Come on.  Let’s take the couch in the rec room.  No one should be using it.”

“I can work, Mister Stark.”  Peter protested.  “I just need a few minutes, nothing more.”

Tony frowned.   Peter was just like him, always pushing himself too far, never quitting until he crashed.  So he decided to intervene, taking a page out of Rhodey’s book.

“Eh, I’ve got nothing big to work on right now.”  Tony lied, knowing he could put the Iron Man upgrades until next week.  It was small stuff, nothing life-threatening, but he knew the kid would love to work on the Iron Man suit.  But it could wait until Peter was feeling better.  “Why don’t you sit at the counter and do your homework and I’ll get the food and drinks?”

“I mean, if you’re sure.”  Peter shrugged, his body language relaxing.

“I’m sure.”  Tony said.  After all, there was nothing more important than Peter’s health.

Peter then pulled his mask off and shoved it in the backpack he always carried.  He always picked it up after patrol around Queens so he could bring his homework to the Tower. Friday may be lab day, but May said homework first, and when May said something everyone listened.  She was just like Pepper that way.

Peter spread his homework across the counter, the normal routine easing Tony’s mind.  He was sure Peter wouldn’t outright lie to him.  If the kid said his healing factor was working strong, he was going to believe him.  He wasn’t going to be Howard and question everything out of the kid’s mouth.  He wasn’t going to create that kind of mistrust.

So Tony went about preparing for a movie night, fondly reminiscing on the movie nights between the Avengers to get Steve and Thor caught up on Earth pop culture.  He shoved down the more unfriendly memories that tried to poison his new life, wanting to just enjoy a movie night with the kid.  He couldn’t wait until the kid relaxed enough to cuddle up close, like a cat near a heater, and they could just sit and enjoy the movie as they did on nights like these.

“It’s funny, Bambi, I don’t think we’ve had a movie night since your midterms.”  Tony said aloud, knowing the kid didn’t do well with quiet.  It made him nervous, that he’d screwed up somehow, and Tony didn’t want to stress the kid out.

A small thump echoed in Tony’s ear.  He turned away from the popcorn he was about to put in the popcorn and found Peter with his head on his book.

“It’s okay, kid, you’ll figure it out.”  Tony sighed.  “Just try looking at another angle.”

Peter didn’t move, didn’t acknowledge his words.

“Bambi?”  Tony asked, starting to get unsettled.  “Bambino, wake up.”

Peter lay still.

Tony raced over to Peter and gently pulled him back, his body limp in Tony’s arms.  Peter was pale, paler than he should be.  It was then Tony saw it, his blood running cold.  A patch of dark spreading across Peter’s back, staining the Spider-Man suit.

“FRIDAY, alert medbay!”  Tony shouted.  “Peter’s been stabbed!”

Tony hauled Peter into his arms, racing down to medbay.

“Wake up, bambino, wake up.”  Tony pleaded.

Peter’s eyes stayed firmly shut.

Tony thanked whatever was up there, God, the universe, Thor that he had restaffed the medbay in case New York was attacked again.  He had wanted help close by, and now he truly needed it.

The doctors he had on staff immediately loaded Peter onto a gurney and whisked him into surgery.

“FRIDAY, call May Parker.”  Tony announced.

“Yes, Boss.”  The rings of the phone broadcasted across the room.

“This is May.”

“Hey May, it’s Tony.”

“Hey, Mister Stark.”  Like nephew, like aunt, he supposed.  “Is everything alright?  You don’t usually call on Fridays, is Peter there?”

“Yeah he’s here.”  Tony sighed.  “May, I have bad news.”

“Oh god, what is it?  Do I need to get over there?”

“My doctors are on top of it, giving him the greatest care in the world.  But… he got stabbed tonight.”

“Oh my-”  May cut off her choked gasp.  “Will he be okay?”

“According to my doctors, yes.  It wasn’t too deep but he is in surgery now. He hid it from me, May.  I didn’t even know he was in pain.”

May chuckled humorlessly.  “He was probably trying to protect you.”

“Self-sacrificial-” He cut himself off.  “I’ve already sent Happy to come get you, he should be there soon.  He was running some errands for SI.”

“Thank you, Mister Stark.”  May said.  “And thank you for looking out for him.  I can repay you-”

“Absolutely not.”  Tony interrupted.  “I will not hear a word about payment.  Your kid is one of the greatest things in my life, and I don’t want you to worry about spending a dime while he’s in my care.  It’s my fault, I missed it.  I should’ve checked him over when I first suspected he was hurt.”

“Don’t blame yourself, Mister Stark.”  May said, trying to sound more put together than she was.  He could hear the cracks in her seams.  “Peter’s always been like this.  Trying to shield the people he loves.”

He nodded before remembering May couldn’t see him. “I understand.”

And he did.  He often did the same thing, but he wasn’t going to let Peter walk down his same path.  He was going to teach the kid to prioritize himself if it was the last thing he did.

“I think that’s Happy.”  May said.  “Thank you, Mister Stark, I’ll see you soon.”

“I’ll keep you updated if anything changes, May.”

One of Tony’s doctors then came to Tony.  “He’s alright.  Just lost a lot of blood, that’s why he passed out.  He’s going to be fine, his healing factor has already kicked in.  He shouldn’t even scar.  He just needs a lot of rest.”

Tony sagged in relief, thanked the woman, and then raced to Peter’s bed.

Peter looked much better than he had when he first collapsed, with a saline IV and more color in his cheeks.  He texted Happy to tell May that Peter would be fine, he just needed rest, but she was more than welcome at the Tower.

“What am I gonna do with you, kid?”

I have decided that people don't love you enough so I'm going to be loving you now. Unfortunately anxiety will not allow me to always love you but I will try my best _💓

My dear darling anon,

I know not who you are, or where you come from.  All I know is you’re gonna make me cry.  You are a truly kind soul and I cannot put into mere words just how much I adore you, how much I appreciate your words.  I almost didn’t want to answer just because I didn’t want to lose your kind words (and then I realized I was a dumbass and it was sent to my emails and I could stare at it there) but I also wanted you to know just how much you are loved, anon.  Anxiety gets at me too, I understand what you’re going through, and it’s so rough and I’ll always be here to support you and do my absolute best to return the love you’ve given me.  😘😘😘💕💕💕💕💕💖💖💖💖💋💋😘😘❤❤❤ ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Attention writeblr, how do you guys deal when you get a comment that... disappoints. Like someone who didn’t need to comment that they didn’t like it, or if they’d properly read the tags they would’ve seen the thing they’re complaining about coming. I don’t want to be annoyed by this but I can’t help my thoughts always drifting back. Any suggestions?

Whumptober alt.Prompt #3- Fever

I’m still sick, this is self-indulgent fluff and angst, have some Obikin

...

It had come on so fast.  It had seemed like just yesterday that Anakin had been so excited for the holidays with Ben and now he could barely open his eyes.  Ben dabbed gently at Anakin’s forehead with a wet cloth, trying to keep his intense fever at bay.

Anakin moaned lightly, his uncoordinated hands swatting at him.

“Hush, dear one.”  Ben whispered, as Anakin had always been oversensitive to noise and light when sick.  Had been since Ben first met him.  “I know it’s cold to you, but I promise, it’ll make you feel better soon.”

Anakin whimpered.  “Hurts.”

“I know, dear one.”  Ben said, his heart breaking just a little further.  He hated to see such a vibrant young man like Anakin fall to a mere illness.  He did make a mental note, however, to check up on Anakin’s vaccinations.  His… unusual childhood had probably left several holes in a proper medical history.

“Do you think you can drink some water?”  Ben asked.

Anakin grunted, which Ben took to be a yes.

“Can you sit up on your own, or do you want me to help?”

Anakin, immediately tried to sit up on his own, only for his arms to be unable to support him and fall back down onto his bed.  Ben pursed his lips, cursing his partner’s stubborn nature and his own nature to assume that Anakin would be okay with needing help when so very obviously in need of it.  He should’ve known better, Anakin hated needing help and often went out of his way to avoid even seeming like he could need help.  Ben could blame that on his childhood too, but for now, he just needed to try and help the poor lad.

“It’s alright, dear one.”  Ben said, adjusting his position so he could lift Anakin onto his chest.  He now had to become very careful, to form his words so it all seemed like Anakin’s idea.  Anakin would lash out if he thought Ben was insisting he needed help, and in his current state, Ben was worried for what he could do to himself.  “How about we just snuggle instead?”

Anakin frowned at him, trying to glare at him through slitted eyes, his fevered mind unable to tell if Ben was coddling him.  Ben tried as gently as possible to have Anakin rest on his chest, where he could control the glass of water by the nightstand and still keep a handle on Anakin.

“Too hot.”  Anakin groaned, finally speaking, shoving lightly at Ben.

“Try this, it might help.”  Ben lifted the glass of water to Anakin’s lips.

Once the water touched his lips, Anakin greedily gulped down the whole glass, uncaring that some of the excess was spilling down his chin.

Ben sat the glass down when it was empty, gently mopping at Anakin’s mouth with his sleeve.  “Better, dear one?”

Anakin nodded slowly, as if nodding was the most physically demanding task he’d done.

“Still too hot?”  Ben asked.

Anakin grunted another ‘yes’.

“Okay.”  Ben said, starting the difficult process of extricating himself from Anakin’s fevered limbs without disturbing him too much.

Now free again, he settled Anakin back into the pillows.  Anakin let him, practically a rag doll in his arms.

“Try to get some sleep, dear one.”  Ben murmured into Anakin’s hair.  He placed a kiss on Anakin’s sweaty forehead, still unnerved at the heat radiating off of the young man.

“‘M sorry.”  Came a mumble so quiet Ben almost missed it.

“You’re ill, Anakin.”  Ben said lowly.  “It’s not your fault.”

“Wanted to do this right.”  Anakin mumbled, as if Ben hadn’t spoken.  “You deserve a nice holiday instead of taking care of stupid me.”

Ben sighed.  Anakin had never celebrated a proper holiday of this sort, his childhood had kept him and his mother from celebrating anything besides a small acknowledgement of their life day.  And now that Anakin was with Ben, Anakin had been so excited to properly celebrate this year with the money and freedom to get gifts as he saw fit.  The closet was filled with decorative packages ready to be distributed to their friends but Ben had already called everyone off, saying that Anakin could still be contagious and he wouldn’t want to infect any of them.  That could wait until after the holiday though, when Anakin could see the look on their friend’s faces when they saw his carefully picked out gifts.  But Ben hadn’t thought of what that would do to his mental state.  With Anakin, emotional was an understatement, and when he was sick, it was even worse.

“Anakin, it’s alright.”  Ben murmured.  “Holidays come, holidays go, but you are once in a lifetime.  I don’t care if we have to miss a day or two, it’s merely a day on the calendar.  Our friends will see us and we’ll laugh and live and love them and they’ll do it right back with us.  They don’t care about not meeting up, they care about you.”

Anakin’s eyes glistened with tears even in the dim light.

“Oh my dear one,” Ben said softly, cupping Anakin’s face with his hand, “don’t even think such terrible things.  You are never going to be less important than a simple day on the calendar.  You are my light, and you give love freely as if your life depended on it.  There is so much of you to love than I cannot possibly name each and every way I love you, have loved you for years.  Your heart is a thing of beauty, a joy forever, and I’m grateful every minute I get to spend with you.  Taking care of you is what I signed up for when I started this with you.  No matter where or when.”

They had met on the battlefield, Anakin as a pilot, and Ben as a field medic.  The draft had taken people from all walks of life, and while Ben could never be thankful for the things he had seen, the lives he couldn’t save, he would always be grateful for Anakin.  Without him, Ben would’ve simply gone mad.  Even now, without Anakin, Ben would go mad.

“Wanted it to be perfect.”  Anakin mumbled, nuzzling into Ben.  “You always seemed to excited about it.  Just wanted it to be perfect.”

“It is perfect.”  Ben whispered, running his thumb up and down Anakin’s cheek.  “I’m here, you’re here, there’s nothing more I need.  While I could do without you being ill, as long as I have you here, I need nothing else in life.”

Ben wiped away the tears streaming down Anakin’s face with the cloth as if they were simple beads of sweat.

“Can you turn on the lights?”  Anakin asked, in a voice too small for Ben to handle.

“Of course, dear one.”  Ben reached over and hit the button that illuminated their tiny apartment.  The lights danced off the aluminum, changing from red to blue to green to red again, but Ben only had eyes for Anakin.  The lights, traditionally saved only for the holiday itself, had him staring in amazement.  Simple lights against metal had been something Ben had always taken for granted when he was younger, now he knew with Anakin, nothing could be taken for granted.

“They’re beautiful.”  Anakin murmured, on the cusp of sleep.

“Yes.  They are.”  Ben replied, and seeing Anakin finally drift into a peaceful sleep, decided to leave the lights on all night, in case Anakin woke up.

Hey you're an amazing writer

Awwwwwwww thank you soooooooooo much! I’m sorry this took so long, it’s been a long few days for me.  But you’re amazing too!  Thank you so much I cannot even!

Whumptober Prompt #31- Embrace and alt.Prompt#14- Touch-Starved

I can’t believe it!  My first Whumptober is already over!  Thirty-one days already gone past, thirty-one prompts filled.  It feels like just yesterday I started writing!  Well, I hope you all had as much fun reading them as I did writing them.  Thank you all so much for your support this last month, I treasure all of your comments and notes.  You really made me feel special. And now onto the story because I know that’s what y’all are waiting for ;) I started with Lucifer and I’m ending with Lucifer.  (Takes place after Prompt #4 Human Shield technically you don’t need to read it but it’ll help)

...

Lux was alive that night, as it always was, but Lucifer barely paid attention to the music and dancing.  He was waiting for Miss Lopez, as she had requested to speak to him.  She had yet to go up to his penthouse, so he was waiting at the bar for her.  He thrummed with anxious energy, though he never would’ve admitted to it, because he could not for the life of him figure out what she wanted to talk to him about.

Ever since that debacle with Michael, Miss Lopez had stuck to him like glue.  She hovered around him, getting closer than her usual, always trying to be bubbly but he could tell she was hiding something.  She was hesitating over something but he could not figure out what.

“Miss Lopez, may I ask you what exactly you are doing?”  Lucifer had finally broken when she asked to show him a new piece of evidence and it was nothing new.  “Why are you hovering over me like a vulture with its prey?”

“What?  No, I’m not.”  Miss Lopez had drawled out, her tone indicative that she knew had been caught but didn’t want to face it.  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Something is clearly different about how you treat me.”  Lucifer had insisted.  “You are on the precipice of a cliff, and I am getting tired of you hesitating to jump.  What is it?  Is it Michael?”

Miss Lopez sighed.  “Look, Lucifer-”

“You needn’t fear, Miss Lopez.”  Lucifer said.  “I will protect you should she return, though I doubt she will.  Michael does not like to be challenged, and she will not return when she knows you have no problems challenging her.  Even if it is just calling her out on her bullshit.  There is no need to hide behind me as if she were to jump out at any corner.  Besides, I would sense her presence before you.”

“I’m not afraid of Michael, Lucifer.”  Miss Lopez said.

Lucifer’s shoulders slumped ever-so-slightly.  “If you’re not afraid of her, then what are you afraid of?  Me?  I mean, I am the Devil but nothing has changed, I swear to you.”

“I’m not afraid of you, Lucifer.”  Miss Lopez said hurriedly.  “I’ve never been afraid of you.  I’ve been friends with the Angel of Death since I was eight, you don’t scare me.”

“Then what?”  Lucifer said.  “What are you so afraid of?  Because I’ve noticed, something’s changed since Michael.”

Unfortunately, at that moment, one of Miss Lopez’s machines beeped at her, drawing her attention elsewhere, likely back to the case.

“Lucifer, maybe now isn’t the best time for this conversation.” Miss Lopez said.  “My mass spectrometer just got a hit.  You’ll be at Lux tonight, right?”

“Of course.”  Lucifer said.

“Cool.  I’ll meet you at Lux at eight.  Sound good?”  Miss Lopez said, smiling in her way.

“I cannot wait.”  Lucifer had said, smiling back, though he hardly felt like it.  What conversation could she want to have that she couldn’t have in her lab?  It had seemed so strange and it set him on edge.

So here he was, eight sharp, waiting at the bar for Miss Lopez to arrive.  He saw her in her normal jeans and jacket, not in her usual club wear.  She saw him, and her smile lit up his world.  Miss Lopez’s constant optimism had always been infectious, even to him.

“Hey, Lucifer!”  Miss Lopez called, racing to him.

“Hello again, Miss Lopez.”  Lucifer said.

“Wow, I didn’t think an early Wednesday night would be this busy.”  Miss Lopez said, glancing around at the throngs of dancers.

“Lux is always busy, love.”  Lucifer said.  “Perhaps we should pop up to my penthouse.  It’s quieter up there.”

“Yeah.  Yeah!”  Miss Lopez said, her smile spreading.  “I’ve never been up there!  Always wanted to see it!”

“Ask and ye shall receive.”  Lucifer led her over to his private elevator and called it down to them.

“You have your own elevator?”  Miss Lopez shrieked.  “That’s so cool!  Do you have a doorman? How do you stop people from going up? Is there a list?  Am I on the list?”

The bell dinged and they entered.

“In order, Miss Lopez?  No, I do it myself, I hardly have a need to stop people from going up, there’s isn’t a list but if there was you’d be on it.  My bouncers know you, that’s what matters.”

They arrived at his penthouse.  Miss Lopez whistled as she entered.

“Damn, Lucifer!”  Miss Lopez’s eyes went wide with shock.  “You’ve been holding out on me!”

“I’m glad you can appreciate it.”  Lucifer said, walking to the bar.  “Drink?”

“Lucifer, you should know better.”  Miss Lopez smirked.  “Of course.  Whatcha got?”

“Anything your heart desires.”  Lucifer gestured to his full stock.

“You know me pretty well, Lucifer.”  Miss Lopez said.  “Surprise me.”

He nodded, and poured her a glass of fifty-year-old scotch.

“So, Miss Lopez, why did you ask to meet me tonight?”  Lucifer asked, as he handed her the glass.  “I’m afraid I cannot understand why you hover over me nor why you insist to draw me closer than needed.”

Miss Lopez sighed.  “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, Lucifer. I just- I thought- I…”

He frowned at her.  “Miss Lopez, I’m afraid I still don’t understand.”

“IJUSTTHOUGHTYOUREALLYNEEDEDAHUG!”  Miss Lopez shouted, the dam clearly bursting.

He stared at her.  “What?”

“You need a hug!”  Miss Lopez shouted, startling him.  “Like really, really badly.”

“Miss Lopez?”  His voice sounded strangled, even to him.

“Meeting your sister, that was crazy!”  Miss Lopez kept going, apparently on a roll.  “I mean, she’s supposed to be the best of the angels!  And she’s the freaking worst!  I mean, four brothers wasn’t always great to grow up with but that must’ve been Heaven compared to growing up with her!  And you threw yourself on the line for us, knowing what she could do to you!  You protected us from the biggest threat to you, and you did it without hesitating!  And after that happened, after you kinda freaked when I hugged you, I realized why some of you is the way you are.  Growing up with a sister who hit you must’ve really freaked you out when it came to touching people.  I know Amenadiel isn’t the biggest touchy-feely guy so you must have grown-up so touch-starved.  Even Rae-Rae doesn’t really touch me and I’m, like, the biggest hugger ever!  And I haven’t been wanting to make you uncomfortable but you seriously need a hug!”

He just stared at her, completely stunned.  None of his human companions had ever told him he needed a hug of all things before.

Miss Lopez just groaned without words, clenching her jaw, and then threw her arms around Lucifer’s chest and arms.  He stood, still stunned, but after a moment, his skin started to crawl.

“Miss Lopez, while I appreciate that you are trying to show me affection, I am perfectly alright.”  He finally found his voice, the thrumming under his skin growing louder with each passing moment.  “I am in no need of a hug.”

He fought the urge to squirm, his skin was tickled with little pseudo-bugs, as if thousands of minuscule legs danced along his skin.  It felt awful, but he didn’t want to hurt Miss Lopez’s feelings.  She was trying to help in her own human way.

“How different biologically is this form from a humans?”  Miss Lopez asked, not letting go of him.

“I don’t know what you mean.”  He said, unable to fight the urge any longer.  The legs were now sharp, the crawling across his skin unbearable to him.  He felt like his skin was tearing itself apart.

“I mean, does this body you have react similarly to humans when introduced to stimuli?”  Miss Lopez clutched him harder to evade his writhing.

“I don’t know.”  Lucifer growled, unable to keep his voice down.  “Will you- Miss Lopez, please- I cannot- Will you release me?!?”

Miss Lopez finally released him at his nigh scream.  He scrambled back away from her.

“Lucifer?”  She asked, sounding almost afraid.

He struggled to get his breathing under control, his skin screaming out at him.

“What did you do to me?”  He asked.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Lucifer, it was just a hug.”  She said, starting to ramble.

“Must’ve been more.”  He snapped, unable to figure out what his nerves were screaming at him for.  She had let go.  “Why do I… feel this way?”

“What?”  She asked.

“Why do I still feel it?!?”  He shouted, startling her.  “My every nerve is on fire, I cannot stand it!  My skin is trying to…. something!  What did you do?”

Miss Lopez steeled her features.  “You’re touch-starved.”

“Touch- what?”

“Touch-starved.”  She repeated.  “Humans need touch to survive, we can fall into deep depressions, or even get aggressive to others because of it.  I was sure I recognized the symptoms when I first met you, and when I found out you were an angel, I dismissed it as a human flaw.  But after seeing Michael, and seeing how you view touch, you’re definitely touch-starved.  Another way to say it is skin hunger.  I think that’s what you’re feeling.”

“My skin is hungry?”  He asked, appalled.  “I’m dying!”

“No, no, Lucifer,” She held up a hand.  Part of him lurched for it and another part pulled him back.  “It’s just the word for it.  Because your nerves, your C-tactile afferents, haven’t been getting the gentle contact they need to function, your skin is unable to process it the way it’s supposed to.  You haven’t been touched enough.”

“I get more than my fair share, Miss Lopez.”  He snapped.  “I mean, just last night, I met this wonderful man who could-”

“Not sexual touch.”  She insisted.  “Gentle touch, sensual but not sexual.  I mean, when’s the last time you get a proper hug that wasn’t from me?  Or cuddled with someone instead of just sex?”

Lucifer’s mouth opened but no sound came out.  He tried a few times, searching his memory, but within Miss Lopez’s parameters, nothing came.

“That’s why you’re freaking.”  She very carefully came closer.  “You’re so used to painful touch your body has no idea how to process good touch.  Trust me, sex isn’t enough to satisfy your body’s needs.”

She gently touched his arm and rubbed up and down.  His skin screamed again, but the smooth, rhythmic motions made any protests he could make die in his throat.

“Miss Lopez, are you propositioning me?”  He asked, unsure of himself.

“No.”  She shook her head sadly.  “All I want to do tonight is watch Netflix with you on your expensive looking couch, drink your definitely expensive liquor, and cuddle you until morning comes.  That’s all.”

“My club, the case, I don’t- I can’t.”  He found himself being led to the couch, his heart not in his words.

“Lux will survive without you for one night.”  Miss Lopez said soothingly.  “Tell you what.  Why don’t you take off your jacket and nice suit, go sit on the couch, and pick something you wanna watch?  I can take it from there.”

He stared at her, the five-four human who had taken on the Soldier of God herself.  He decided to do as she said.  If she could offer him respite to this… hunger, as she called it, he would take it.  He didn’t understand why he was feeling this way, so he had to defer to her judgement.  So he started to remove his clothing.

“You want food or do you just want a drink?”  Miss Lopez called.

“Whatever you want.”  He answered on instinct.

“Food it is.”  She said.  “My treat.”

He barely heard her, his heart was beating hard against his chest.  He now was only in his underwear, and for the first time in his life, he felt rather exposed.  Maybe this was why Chloe hated it when he went without clothing.  When she returned, he found her only in a tank top and some booty shorts.  He frowned.

“Skin to skin contact.”  She said simply, settling in beside him.

She wrapped herself around him, where he was the little spoon for once, with his head tucked into the nape of her neck, his chest enshrined in her arms, her legs wrapped around his, but yet, he could tell that if he wanted to escape her hold, he would be able to.  But he found himself unable to force himself to.  He was… comfortable, for lack of a better word.

“What do you want to watch?”  She murmured, her lips almost brushing his ear, sending an unfamiliar feeling across his body.

“Bones?”  He offered.

Miss Lopez snorted.  “You know that show isn’t scientifically accurate in the least.”

“It’s fun.”  He pouted.  “Reminds me of the Detective and myself.”

“Alright, alright, since this is your night.”  She laughed into his hair.

“Thank you, Miss Lopez.”  He mumbled, switching on the television.

“We’re literally cuddling on the couch right now with takeout on it’s way.  We’re basically Netflix and chilling.”  She said.  “Least you can do is call me Ella.”

“Ella, then.”  He tested the name out.  It felt odd but safe, in a strange way.

Something very strange was definitely happening to him.  His skin no longer felt pain at her touch, especially since she had given him a way out if need be.  In fact, he felt a craving he had not felt since a time before he could remember.  He wondered if this was a side effect of the Detective making him mortal, or spending too much time on Earth.  But the longer he spent in Ella’s embrace, the less he cared.  Cuddling with her made him feel safe, sated, satisfied in a way he’d never felt before.  He realized that no matter what else happened tonight, he didn’t want Ella moving.  She was too close, too strong, too necessary for his happiness tonight.  Without a word, he nuzzled deeper into her neck, pleasure seeping into every fiber of his being.  He heard her chuckle breathlessly, and she started to lightly scratch at his scalp with her fingernails.  It sent shiver after shiver down his spine.  His brothers and sisters were wrong, the Silver City wasn’t Heaven.  Simply sitting with Ella with her fingers in his hair was Heaven.

They remained in silence until the food arrived.  Ella made to get up grab her wallet but Lucifer, having already grabbed his before he sat down, shoved money in her hands.  He wasn’t sure how much but he was sure it would cover the cost.

“I said I got this one.”  Ella protested.

“Ella, I believe you are doing me the favor here.”  He murmured.  “I’ll pay.  And I absolutely do not want you to move whatsoever and I don’t care what money it takes to keep you right here.”

As he was buried deep in her embrace, he missed the smile that had overtaken her face.  His usual delivery boy for Chinese takeout, doing favors for all of his favorite restaurants and always tipping well had its perks, didn’t say anything about the odd arrangement and simply placed the food on the coffee table.  Ella gave him the money, and the delivery boy went back down the elevator.

“I wasn’t sure what you wanted so I just asked for your usual.”  Ella whispered.

Lucifer only hummed in response to her.  He didn’t want food, he wanted this, never-ending.  Just him and his human, cuddled up close, without a care in the world.

“Well, when you want it, it’s here.”  She chuckled.  He wasn’t sure what she found amusing but he was glad she did.  She deserved to laugh, to be as happy as he was in this moment.

He paid less and less attention to “Bones”, his mind lazily drifting as the familiar episodes washed over him.  He had started with season one, in case Ella hadn’t seen any of the episodes, so she wouldn’t be lost.  Contentment filled his body and his mind, ever so slightly pushing him over the edge of sleep.  By the time a gentle voice was singing of a Winter Wonderland, his eyes were closed, his body lax, and his arms wrapped tight around Ella.  But he did not want to sleep.  Sleep meant he would lose Ella, he would wake up and she’d be gone, off solving crimes and examining evidence, and the world would begin to turn again.

“Go to sleep, Lucifer.”  Ella whispered in his ear, as if somehow reading his thoughts.  “I’ll still be here when you wake up.”

That seemed to be the final piece that pushed him over the edge.  He fell into a deep sleep, dreaming of soft laughter and light touches.  He’d never slept better.