The Gilbert house is quiet in the way it always is at night — too quiet for a place that's seen as much as it has.
At the end of the hallway, a large bedroom door is closed. Behind it, there's soft laughter, hushed voices.
Elena is sprawled across her bed, half under the covers, trying — and failing — to keep still. Something beneath the blankets shifts, deliberate and teasing, and she lets out a breathless laugh as she squirms.
"Luci," she says, voice light but warning, "stop teasing me."
The covers move once more before a dark head pops up, followed by a familiar smirk. Lucifer Morningstar looks entirely too pleased with herself. Dark hair, sharp features, that ever-present confidence — she barely gives Elena a second to react before leaning down and kissing her.
It's not rushed. It never is.
Elena melts into it anyway, hands gripping the sheets as Lucifer steals her breath like she always does. When they finally part, Elena exhales, flushed and a little dazed. No matter how long they've been together, she still hasn't gotten used to how good Lucifer is at kissing.
Lucifer's smile turns soft around the edges, her posh English accent slipping through effortlessly."Sorry, love," she murmurs. "You're just too sexy. I can't help myself."
Elena groans and hides her face for half a second, cheeks burning. Lucifer is always like this — always telling her she should show off more, that she has no idea how beautiful she is. Elena knows it's true, even if she still isn't used to hearing it out loud.
Half the boys in Mystic Falls would give anything to be where Lucifer is right now.
Once upon a time, Matt Donovan almost was.
The thought flickers through Lucifer's mind, uninvited, and she shakes it off immediately. That's history. Ancient history. She has Elena now, and that's all that matters.
Elena shifts, propping herself up on her elbows. "We've got that party tonight," she says. "In like… two hours."
Lucifer glances at the clock on the wall, then back at Elena, clearly amused."Plenty of time," she says with a quiet chuckle.
Before Elena can respond, Lucifer leans in again, one hand bracing beside her, the other grabbing Elena's leg and pulling it up around her waist like it belongs there. She kisses her without hesitation, confident and familiar, like there's nowhere else she'd rather be.
Two hours later, the night air hums with music and voices as Lucifer's car rolls to a stop near the edge of the clearing.
The Tuxedo Black 1962 Chevrolet Corvette looks wildly out of place among pickup trucks and beat-up sedans. Lucifer cuts the engine and steps out first, smooth and unhurried, before circling around to Elena's side. Her arm slips around Elena's waist without thinking, natural as breathing.
They walk toward the trees together, bass thumping somewhere ahead, fairy lights strung between branches. A few people call out greetings. Elena smiles, waves. Lucifer nods politely, eyes already scanning.
Elena notices Matt across the clearing. He's standing with a group, beer in hand, watching them a little too closely. Their eyes meet for half a second before he looks away.
Elena exhales and tells herself it means nothing.It always does, doesn't it?
The night stretches on. Music gets louder. Drinks disappear faster. At some point, Lucifer slips away to find alcohol that isn't watered down, leaving Elena with Caroline and a few others near the edge of the clearing.
"Elena?"
She turns.
Matt stands a little too close, swaying slightly. His smile doesn't reach his eyes.
"Hey," she says carefully.
He laughs under his breath. "You know, I've been thinking… maybe you and I never really got our chance."
Elena's stomach tightens. "Matt, I'm happy," she says, keeping her voice calm. "I'm with Luci."
He scoffs. "Yeah, but—" He gestures vaguely. "She's not a guy. I could show you things she can't."
Elena almost laughs. Almost.
Instead, her mind flashes with heat, with confidence, with hands that know exactly what they're doing.Yeah, she thinks. I don't think so.
"I'm sorry you feel that way," she says, stepping back. "I'm going to find her."
She turns to leave.
Matt grabs her arm.
Hard.
"Elena," he snaps, pulling her back. "I deserve you."
Her breath catches. Fear spikes sharp and sudden. "Let go," she says, voice shaking now. "Matt, stop."
He tightens his grip—
—and suddenly he's stumbling backward, hitting the ground with a surprised grunt.
Lucifer stands between them, calm as ever, hand clenched at her side.
"Matt," she says evenly. "You're drunk. Go home."
He opens his mouth to argue, then freezes when he sees Elena's face. Pale. Shaken.
Whatever fight he had left drains out of him. He pushes himself up without another word and disappears into the trees.
Lucifer turns immediately, pulling Elena into her arms. "Hey. Love," she murmurs. "Do you want to leave?"
Elena nods against her shoulder.
They walk away together as the clearing falls silent, eyes following them but no one saying a word.
Halfway to the car, a voice cuts through the night.
"Katherine?"
They turn.
A man stands near the trees, dark hair, sharp jaw, blue eyes locked onto her like he's seeing something familiar and impossible at the same time.
Lucifer steps slightly in front of Elena without looking back. "You've got the wrong person," she says coolly.
The man hesitates. He considers compelling them. The thought brushes his mind—
—and then he looks at Lucifer properly.
Something twists in his gut. Fear. Instinctive and wrong.
He says nothing.
Lucifer doesn't wait. She guides Elena into the car, starts the engine, and pulls away.
Rain starts suddenly, hard and loud. The roof slides into place as Lucifer drives, one hand steady on the wheel, the other resting firmly on Elena's knee, squeezing gently.
Elena's breathing slowly evens out.
"You okay?" Lucifer asks softly.
Before Elena can answer, the tires skid.
Correcting instantly, muscles tightening as she wrestles the car back under control. The Corvette stops inches from the edge of Wickery Bridge.
Silence. Rain. Heartbeats.
Lucifer turns fully, cupping Elena's face with shaking care. "Are you hurt?"
Elena swallows. "No. Just… scared."
Lucifer exhales, sharp and controlled. "I lost control for a moment."
She pulls Elena into her lap, holding her there as she eases the car back onto the road. Elena clings to her, burying her face against her chest, trembling.
Lucifer drives one-handed now, eyes forward.
As they pass the trees, she catches a glimpse of someone standing in the shadows, watching the car disappear.
"Bloody vampires," she mutters.