The room was silent.
The only sound was the faint hum of the rain tapping against the window, muffled and distant, like the world outside didn't exist. Lucifer sat in the chair, his head down, his hair still damp, strands sticking to his forehead. His eyes were red and puffy from crying, his shoulders slumped like the weight of the world was pressing down on him.
Eliza moved around quietly, her mind spinning too fast to process anything. Her heart still raced, pounding against her ribs as if it was trying to escape. Her emotions tangled together — hope, fear, confusion, and something dangerously close to longing. She wasn't sure which one was winning anymore.
She heated some water, her hands trembling as she poured it into a cup. It felt ridiculous to make tea at a moment like this, but she needed to do something — anything — to keep from breaking down. She found a towel and brought it over to him, setting the cup on the table beside him.
"You should dry off… and drink this," she said softly, her voice quieter than she meant it to be.
Lucifer didn't respond at first. He just sat there, his head still hung low, his hands resting limply on his knees. For a second, she thought he might not have heard her.
Then, slowly, he reached for the towel. His fingers brushed against hers for half a second — a brief, fleeting touch — but it felt like electricity shot through her veins. Her heart stuttered painfully in her chest. He didn't look up. He just took the towel, gripping it tightly like it was the only thing keeping him grounded.
Eliza swallowed hard. Her throat felt dry, even though her palms were clammy. She stood there awkwardly, shifting from one foot to the other. She didn't know what to say.
The silence dragged on, thick and suffocating.
She couldn't take it anymore.
"So… what do you mean?" The words tumbled out before she could stop them. Her voice came out shakier than she wanted. "What did you mean when you said all of that?"
Lucifer didn't lift his head. His voice was low, barely more than a mumble.
"I meant exactly what I said."
Eliza's heart twisted painfully.
"So… you mean…" She swallowed, trying to keep her voice steady. "We become friends again?"
She held her breath, not sure if she even wanted to hear his answer. She didn't want to hope — hope was dangerous. Hope could break her heart all over again.
"No."
Lucifer's head snapped up this time, his eyes meeting hers for a second before he looked away again, like it hurt too much to hold her gaze. His voice was rough, raw.
"No," he repeated, quieter. "I… don't want to be friends."
Her stomach flipped.
"I want more," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I always did. I was just too scared to face it… too scared to lose you. And I'm still scared."
Eliza stared at him, her chest tightening. Her head felt light, like the floor might vanish beneath her feet.
She exhaled a shaky breath, her voice breaking with all the emotions she tried so hard to bury.
"I hate you, you idiot," she choked out.
Lucifer let out a broken laugh, his voice hoarse.
"I know," he murmured, his head dropping again. "I hate me too. I ruined everything. I don't deserve you."
Her throat tightened. She felt like she was holding back tears and words and everything else that had been building inside her for so long.
"I like you," he continued, his voice barely steady. "I've liked you more than a friend should. It's more than that. It's deeper. And I was afraid to face it, afraid to lose you and ruin everything between us. But it's ruined already, isn't it?"
"You idiot," she repeated, her voice trembling. "It was never ruined. It was just broken… and I think we can fix broken things."
Lucifer's head snapped up again, his eyes locking onto hers this time — and this time, he didn't look away.
For a second, neither of them moved.
Then he stood up, slow and uncertain, like he wasn't sure if he had the right to.
Eliza didn't stop him.
He took a shaky breath.
"I'm still scared," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm more scared of losing you again."
Eliza swallowed hard. Her throat burned. Her heart screamed at her to say something, anything — to stop him from pulling away again.
"Then don't lose me," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Lucifer's eyes flickered with something — hope, maybe. Or maybe something deeper, something she wasn't ready to name.
He stepped closer, slow and careful, like he was afraid she'd pull away.
She didn't.
His hand brushed against hers — hesitant, waiting for permission.
Eliza didn't think. She laced her fingers through his without a second thought, her heart pounding so hard she was sure he could feel it through her fingertips.
Lucifer let out a shaky breath, his forehead resting gently against hers.
"I'm sorry," he whispered again.
Her eyes fluttered shut as her voice came out in a shaky breath.
"You're an idiot, you know," she murmured, her voice barely steady.
Lucifer let out a breath of laughter, soft and broken.
"I always knew."
The room was quiet, except for the sound of their uneven breathing.
For now… it was enough.
To be continued....