Lucifer slouched against his locker, trying to look nonchalant as he scanned the crowded hallway. His eyes landed on a familiar figure, and he felt his stomach do a little flip that he immediately tried to squash.
Ezra was making her way towards him, her face set in its usual mask of cool professionalism. But as she got closer, Lucifer caught a flicker of... something in her eyes. Uncertainty? Nervousness?
Great, he thought. Even the badass Sword Saint is freaked out by this mess.
"Morning," Ezra said, her voice low. "We need to talk."
Lucifer raised an eyebrow. "You know, normal people usually start with 'hello' or 'how are you?' Maybe even a 'lovely weather we're having.'"
Ezra's eyes narrowed slightly. "This isn't the time for jokes, Lucifer. I've received new orders from the Organization. Starting today, I'm to... shadow you more closely."
Lucifer blinked. "Shadow me? What, like... all the time?"
Ezra nodded, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "As much as possible, yes. We'll be in most of the same classes, and I'm to accompany you during free periods and after school."
Lucifer felt a mix of emotions swirling in his gut. On one hand, the idea of spending more time with Ezra wasn't exactly unpleasant. On the other... Margot's warnings echoed in his head. Could he really trust Ezra? Or the shadow organization she worked for?
"Uh, not that I don't love the idea of having a personal bodyguard and all," Lucifer said, trying to keep his tone light, "but won't that seem a little... suspicious? I mean, we barely knew each other a week ago."
Ezra's blush deepened slightly. "We've... come up with a cover story. As far as anyone else is concerned, we're... dating."
Lucifer choked on air. "We're WHAT?"
Several nearby students turned to look at them curiously. Ezra grabbed Lucifer's arm, pulling him close. To anyone watching, it probably looked like an intimate gesture between a couple. Lucifer tried to ignore the warmth of her touch and the faint scent of her shampoo.
"Keep your voice down," Ezra hissed. "It's just a cover, okay? We don't actually have to... you know. Just act natural."
Lucifer couldn't help but laugh at that. "Right. Natural. Because there's nothing more natural than pretending to date the girl who's been sent to spy on me by a shadowy supernatural organization. Just another day in the life of your average high school student."
Ezra's grip on his arm tightened painfully. "This isn't a joke, Lucifer. The Organization believes you're in real danger. This is the best way for me to protect you without raising suspicion."
Lucifer sobered, remembering Margot's warnings. "And what if the danger is coming from the Organization itself?" he asked quietly.
Ezra's eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed suspiciously. "What are you talking about?"
Before Lucifer could respond, a cheerful voice cut through the tension. "Lu-chan! Ezra-chan! There you are!"
They turned to see Sasha bounding towards them, her silver hair bouncing with each step. Her eyes lit up as she took in their close proximity.
"Ooooh," she cooed, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "What's this? Are you two finally admitting there's something going on between you?"
Lucifer opened his mouth to deny it, but Ezra beat him to the punch. To his utter shock, she slipped her hand into his, intertwining their fingers.
"Actually," Ezra said, her voice unnaturally bright, "Lucifer and I are dating now. We wanted to keep it quiet, but..."
She trailed off, looking up at Lucifer with an expression of such convincing adoration that he felt his heart skip a beat. Damn, he thought. She's good.
Sasha squealed in delight, clapping her hands together. "I knew it! Oh, this is so exciting! Wait until I tell Reagan-kun!"
As Sasha peppered them with questions about how they got together and when their first date was, Lucifer found himself struggling to keep up with Ezra's carefully crafted story.
She spun a tale of study sessions that turned into something more, of shared interests in obscure folklore and martial arts.
It was all so plausible, so perfectly tailored to fit their known interactions, that Lucifer almost found himself believing it. He had to admire Ezra's skill at deception, even as a part of him wondered what else she might be lying about.
The warning bell rang, saving them from further interrogation. As they made their way to class, still holding hands (for appearance's sake, Lucifer told himself), he leaned in close to whisper in Ezra's ear.
"We need to talk. For real. After school."
Ezra gave an almost imperceptible nod, her face once again a mask of cool professionalism.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of awkward moments and stolen glances. Lucifer found himself hyper-aware of Ezra's presence, of the way other students watched them and whispered behind their hands.
He caught Margot giving them a knowing look during Concord class, her eyes sparkling with what might have been amusement or concern.
By the time the final bell rang, Lucifer felt like he was going to explode from the tension. He all but dragged Ezra to a secluded spot behind the gym, away from prying eyes and ears.
"Okay," he said, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "What the hell is really going on here, Ezra? Why the sudden increase in surveillance? And don't give me that 'it's for your protection' line again."
Ezra's composure cracked slightly, a flicker of genuine worry crossing her face. "Lucifer," she said softly, "I swear to you, I'm not trying to deceive you. The Organization has received intelligence about increased demonic activity in the city. Activity that seems to be centered around... you."
Great! They're spinning the same old story and expecting me to buy it like a weak devil... well, I'm kinda weak... Lucifer thought, rolling his eyes. "What kind of activity?"
Ezra hesitated, then seemed to come to a decision. "Summoning rituals. Powerful ones. Someone is trying to call forth entities from... well, from wherever you came from. We think they might be trying to use you as some kind of conduit or anchor."
Hell's paying a visit... Lucifer thought, his head spinning. Memories flashed through his mind – fire, pain, the sensation of falling endlessly. He stumbled, and Ezra caught him, her touch surprisingly gentle.
"Hey," she said, her voice uncharacteristically soft. "I've got you. We'll figure this out, okay?"
Lucifer looked into her eyes, searching for any sign of deception. All he saw was determination and... something else. Something warm that made his chest tighten in a not entirely unpleasant way.
"Okay," he said finally. "But no more secrets, alright? If we're going to do this – whatever this is – we need to trust each other."
Ezra nodded solemnly. "No more secrets," she agreed. "Partners?"
She held out her hand, and Lucifer took it without hesitation. "Partners," he said.
***