The front door banged open as Alex stepped in, brushing wet hair from his forehead.
Rain spat heavily against the glass windows, as if the world itself was in a rush to say something.
"Sure is pouring out there," Alex muttered, his tone light…a little too light. His eyes scanned the living room.
And then he saw them—Lucifer and Ivy, sitting a bit too close on the couch.
His smile cracked, not fully but just enough to be noticeable.
Lucifer didn't flinch, but he didn't lean away either. He just stayed there, sitting straight with his arm close enough to brush against Ivy's.
A silent choice.
Alex's eye twitched. "It's already dinner time," he said casually, pulling off his wet coat. "You two plan on talking all night?"
Ivy ignored the comment, chin placed on her hand as she looked at her father with mock sweetness. "Hmm… I'll only eat if you brought what you promised."
"Yeah, yeah," Alex said through clenched teeth. "Bought the damn game."
The moment he pulled the small package from his bag, Ivy squealed and practically leapt off the couch. "Yes!"
She sprinted over, wrapping her arms around him like nothing in the world had just happened.
'Damned girl—' Alex thought silently, his lips twitching silently at her flip in attitude.
Lucifer stood up slowly, his hands still tingling from her warmth.
He watched her hug Alex and wondered for a moment what it must be like…having an actual family.
Alex didn't return the hug immediately.
His eyes were still locked on Lucifer.
Dinner was a quiet storm.
Ivy spoke enough for all three of them, chatting and teasing as she clung to Lucifer's arm and shot little glances his way.
Every time she leaned closer, Alex's jaw tensed a little more.
He was continuously debating whether bringing the boy home was a good choice or not.
Lucifer stayed calm, but inside, he was a boiling pot kept barely under control.
He didn't understand why this man—who adopted him for whatever twisted reason, had to glare at him like that.
And Ivy…she was the one thing in his life that felt real.
The only person who did not judge him based on his status…
After dinner, the girl snatched the package from the table and tore it open. Inside was a sleek, futuristic-looking headgear.
"Try it with me, Lucifer!" she giggled, already halfway down the hall.
Lucifer stood awkwardly, stuck alone with Alex again.
Alex sighed. "She's got energy, doesn't she?"
"Yeah." Lucifer's voice was steady.
Alex turned towards him, brows slightly raised. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Lucifer met his gaze, arms folded. "I didn't ask to be here. You didn't ask to adopt me. But Ivy's the only person who's ever treated me like more than just some…broken kid in a file folder."
Alex clenched his teeth again as he debated if he should say the words out or not. "Watch how close you get to her."
Lucifer stepped forward, just once. His tone stayed respectful, but there was steel beneath it. "Or what? You'll send me back?"
For a second, Alex looked like he might say yes, but then Ivy's scream tore through the house.
Both men moved instantly.
They rushed into Ivy's room to find her pale and shaking, the headset tossed roughly to the floor, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
Lucifer was the first to reach her. "Ivy—hey, hey, what happened?"
She didn't answer. She just wrapped her arms around him tightly, burying her face into his body.
Alex watched, lips a tight line, but said nothing.
Not this time.
"What happened?" he asked finally, his voice low.
Although the man thought of it to be another one of her tricks, the look on the girl's face said otherwise.
She was on the floor, scrambling at Lucifer, her eyes still wide with panic.
"It—It's real! The game, the system—It appeared in front of me!" she cried, pointing at thin air.
Lucifer helped her up, holding her by the shoulders. "What do you mean, Ivy? You must be hallucinating…"
"I-It popped up like some kind of message box! Right in front of my eyes!" The girl screamed again, hitting at Lucifer's chest.
Alex stepped closer, ready to scold her for being dramatic, but before he could say another word, a ding chimed inside his mind followed by a string of floating blocks that almost made the man's body shut down.
[System Message]
[Apocalypse Countdown: 30 minutes left.]
[It has been noticed that the user is not a native resident of Earth.]
[System Awakening!!]
(3…2…..1....START!)
[Status]
Name: Alex Morningstar
Race: Pureblood Demon
Lineage: Analysing...
———-
Ignoring the already restless Ivy, Alex's hands started trembling.
He took a step back, using a wall to support himself as he kept muttering a weird string of sentences.
"…No. This can't be happening," he muttered finally, trying to steady himself when Lucifer turned to him, half confused and half worried.
"What do you mean?"
Alex didn't answer at first. His hands trembled as memories he had buried long ago came rushing back—his family, the strange rituals, the strict rules…
His father's voice echoed in his mind:
"You may try to live like them, Alex…but your blood will always betray you."
***