The quaint coffee shop on the corner of Maple and 5th seemed almost comically out of place amidst the wreckage of Paradise City. Its cheerful awning and neatly arranged outdoor seating stood in stark contrast to the debris-strewn streets and the distant wail of emergency sirens.
Lucifer sat across from Ezra, both of them nursing steaming cups of coffee that tasted like ash in their mouths. The events of the past few hours hung heavy in the air between them, unspoken but ever-present.
"So," Lucifer said, breaking the silence with forced levity, "is this everything you dreamed your first date with the Prince of Darkness would be? Overpriced coffee and the soundtrack of a city in crisis?"
Ezra's lips twitched in what might have been a smile. "Honestly? I never really allowed myself to dream about... this." She gestured vaguely between them.
Lucifer felt a pang in his chest. "Yeah, I get that. Kind of hard to plan for 'falling for the demonic entity you're supposed to be monitoring,' huh?"
"Kind of..."
Despite the world crumbling around them, Lucifer couldn't help but smile as he watched Ezra carefully blow on her steaming coffee. Her nose scrunched up adorably as she took a tentative sip, then grimaced at the bitter taste.
"Not up to your standards?" Lucifer teased, his own cup forgotten as he basked in her presence.
Ezra's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Let's just say I've had better. But being with you more than makes up for it."
She reached across the table, her fingers intertwining with his. The simple touch sent a jolt through him, more powerful than any surge of demonic energy.
They sat in silence for a moment, both marveling at the unexpected affection they'd found in each other. Ezra's thumb traced lazy circles on the back of Lucifer's hand, each movement a quiet declaration of affection.
"You know," Lucifer said, breaking the silence, "I never thought I'd be on a coffee date with a Sword Saint. Especially not one as pretty."
Ezra blushed, the pink in her cheeks a stark contrast to the gloom outside. "And I never thought I'd fall for the Prince of Darkness. Life's full of surprises, isn't it?"
Lucifer laughed, the sound bright and genuine. "That it is. Though I have to say, this is one surprise I'm quite happy about."
As if on cue, a commotion down the street caught their attention. But instead of turning, Ezra giggled, the sound felt so normal with their surroundings that Lucifer couldn't help but join in. Perhaps, a shopkeeper chasing down a customer. Nothing they should worry about.
Soon, they were both laughing.
The commotion caught their attention again.
"I hate to spoil this, but we have to check it out." Ezra said, turning. A group of people were gathered around a portable television in an electronics store window, they faces a mix of confusion and awe.
Exchanging a glance, Lucifer and Ezra abandoned their coffee and made their way over to the crowd. As they got closer, they could hear the urgent voice of a news anchor:
"...reports of similar anomalies appearing in major cities across the globe. Experts are baffled by these sudden rifts in space-time, which seem to defy all known laws of physics. The military has been mobilized in several countries, but so far, attempts to close or contain these portals have been met with limited success... chaos ensured, power grids went dark, but when all hope was lost, a glowing high-school kid, a priest and a Sword Saint were captured on camera, closing one of these rifts -possibly the biggest. Moments later, all the other rifts disappeared. We are inclined to believe that these rifts are connected somehow and our valiant hero is in fact the devil incarnate."
Images were shown of them sealing the rift in Paradise City, which seemed to cause a chain reaction, sealing every other rift around the world.
Lucifer felt his blood run cold. "Paradise wasn't the only victim." he muttered. "What happened here on Paradise City... it's happened everywhere."
Ezra's hand found his, squeezing tightly. "But, you fixed it. That's what matters now. We have to contact Margot. The Crimson Oath might have more information."
But as they turned to leave, a new voice cut through the crowd – one that sent chills down Lucifer's spine.
"I'm afraid your little organization is rather out of its depth in this situation, my dears."
Malphas, the demon duke she'd encountered earlier, stepped out of the shadows. His red eyes blazed with malevolent amusement.
"You," Ezra snarled, her hand going to her sword. "What are you doing here?"
Malphas smiled. "Why, I'm here to collect what's mine, of course." His gaze fixed on Lucifer. "It's time to come home, Morningstar. Hell awaits its prince."
Lucifer felt something stir within him. "I'm not going anywhere with you," he growled.
Malphas's smile widened. "Oh, but you don't have a choice. You see, those rifts appearing around the world? They're a result of your little... performance earlier. You've outdone yourself, proven that you still a force to be reckoned with, with or without hell, Lucifer. We deem you worthy of the throne, and now, all of Hell is reaching out to reclaim its fallen son."
Ezra stepped in front of Lucifer, her sword drawn and glowing.
"You'll have to go through me first," she said, her voice steady despite the fear Lucifer could see in her eyes.
Malphas laughed, the sound like breaking glass. "How adorably futile. You're nothing but a gnat to me, little Sword Saint. But if you insist on making this difficult..."
With a casual flick of his wrist, Malphas sent a wave of dark energy hurtling towards them. Ezra braced herself, raising her sword to deflect the attack. But Lucifer knew it wouldn't be enough. Malphas's power was on a whole different level.
In that moment, time seemed to slow. Lucifer saw Ezra standing there, prepared to sacrifice herself for him. He saw the terrified civilians running for their lives.
And something inside him snapped.
"Enough," Lucifer said, his voice resonating with power that shook the very air around them.
He stepped forward, placing a hand on Ezra's shoulder and gently moving her aside. As he faced Malphas, Lucifer felt the last of his restraints fall away. The power he'd been unable to control, the true essence of the Morningstar, surged through him like a tidal wave.
Light exploded from Lucifer's body – not hellfire. It was the light of creation.
Great wings of fire unfurled from his back, stretching towards the heavens. His eyes blazed with an otherworldly radiance, and when he spoke, his voice echoed with the weight of eons.
"I am Lucifer, the Morningstar," he proclaimed, his words carrying across dimensions. "I am the Lightbringer, the First of the Fallen. And I say this world is under my protection."
Malphas stumbled back, his earlier confidence evaporating in the face of Lucifer's true power. "My lord," he stammered, dropping to one knee. "I... I didn't realize..."
But Lucifer was beyond listening. With a gesture, he sent Malphas flying, the demon duke crashing through several buildings before disappearing in a puff of sulfurous smoke.
Lucifer slowly descended to the ground. The light surrounding him faded, his wings folding back into nothingness. He turned to face Ezra, suddenly unsure of what he'd see in her eyes. Fear? Awe? Rejection?
What he found instead was understanding, tinged with something that looked a lot like pride.
"So," Lucifer said, his voice rough and tired. "I guess the cat's out of the bag, huh? Or should I say, the devil's out of hell?"
Ezra stepped forward, reaching out to touch his face gently. "You idiot," she said, but her tone was fond. "Did you really think this would change how I feel about you? Fuck what the world thinks."
Lucifer leaned into her touch, a weight he hadn't even realized he'd been carrying lifting from his shoulders. "Well, you know, cosmic power, wings of fire... it's a lot to take in. You know I'm... what I am, but this is a bit too much. I wasn't sure if you or the world was ready for the full Morningstar experience."
Ezra's laugh was soft but genuine. "Lucifer, I've been ready since the day I met you. Morningstar star or not, you're still the same ridiculous, brave, infuriating person I..." She trailed off, a blush coloring her cheeks.
"You what?" Lucifer pressed, a grin tugging at his lips despite his exhaustion.
"I love," Ezra finished softly. "The same person I love."
For a moment, Lucifer forgot how to breathe. Then, with a joy he hadn't felt in millennia, he pulled Ezra close.
Their lips met, and it was like the first spark of creation all over again. Soft at first, tentative, as if they were both afraid the other might disappear. Then, as reality sank in, the kiss deepened.
Lucifer could taste the bitter coffee on Ezra's lips, mixed with something sweeter that was uniquely her. Her scent enveloped him - a hint of cherry blossoms overlaid with the smoke and dust of their battles. It was intoxicating.
Ezra's hands found their way to the nape of his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair. The touch sent shivers down his spine, igniting a warmth that spread through his entire body. It was a different kind of fire than the hellish flames he was used to - this was gentle, nurturing, alive.
Lucifer's arms wrapped around Ezra's waist, pulling her closer. He could feel her heartbeat, racing in time with his own. In that moment, they were just two people, finding solace and joy in each other amidst a world gone mad.
As they broke apart, breathless and grinning, Lucifer couldn't help but quip, "You know, as far as first dates go, I'd say this one was pretty unforgettable."
Ezra rolled her eyes, but her smile was radiant. "Only you could save the world and still find time for bad jokes."
***