Lucifer woke to cold water being dumped on his face. Of course, his body adjusted. He felt the warmth sap out of the room and into his body as the water steamed away in seconds. Unfortunately, the goal was accomplished and he was awake. 

“(It is impossible to wake you. He’s your problem now. I’m making food).” 

“(Ferry, don’t be like that, let me sleep for, owo? What’s this)?” Lucifer’s eyes adjusted and he could see a collapsed figure sitting against the wall.

“(That’s your problem. Now let me cook).”

Lucifer still didn’t feel like standing, so he rolled out of bed and crawled to the still blurry human shape. He reached out and touched their shoulder. “Ahh,” he exclaimed. They were shaky and unstable and in so much anguish in their current state. 

“Shhh.” Lucifer sat against the wall with them. “I do not know you, but I can do this for you.” He shifted their body to lean against him, and he wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Lucifer’s body balanced their heat. He touched their skin and felt for tension throughout their body, applying a soft warmth. Lucifer felt the heat shock drain his own body and closed his eyes to rest as he adjusted with the temperature of the room. 

-

Lucifer’s eyes opened as he felt the boy stirring under him. Ferek was chopping or mixing something in the kitchen. 

“Good morning,” Lucifer said, trying not to sound like a morning grump. The stirring stopped. The boy turned his head and their eyes met. Their noses touched. Lucifer began laughing. It was the boy from yesterday.

Gust squealed and jumped up, bumping Lucifer’s head.

“Oh...I...I...I’m sorry...I” 

“I can feel that you know,” Lucifer said, smiling.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hit you.”

Lucifer laughed again. “Not that, you’re blushing. There’s so much warmth in your cheeks, it’s like you’ve just had your face out in the sun for hours.” Lucifer could feel the heat from the blush get even hotter.

Ferek called out to him in their native language. “Lucifer, can you get the fire going?”

“Coming,” he answered. “Come-on Gusty.” Lucifer beckoned Gust to follow him. He seemed to still be in a daze. He was shaking still, but less than before. Gust followed Lucifer silently. “Watcha making?”

“Omelettes. Cut more. Three.”

Ferek tried his best, but learning languages was not his forte. He was trying though. Lucifer snapped and the stove fire lit. “Gust, he’s making enough for you too. Hungry?”

Gust stood frozen in a corner. “Umm...yes. I didn’t eat.”

“Great!” Lucifer grabbed Gust’s hands and held them to his chest. “I’m glad. Ferek’s the best cook.”

Gust’s eyes traveled to the sword on the table. “Isn’t he going to be mad if you grab my hands like this?”

“What do you mean? What’s wrong with holding hands?”

Gust stared at the floor. “You were sleeping together.”

Lucifer flashed his smile. “Everyone wants to sleep with me. Come here.” Lucifer pulled Gusts arms in and gripped him in a full body hug. Lucifer felt Gust’s blush become hotter and cooled it down. He felt heat in his tension and relieved it all at once. 

“Whoa.”

“See. Plus I’m soft in the right places. Sleeping with me is like sleeping with a perfect little cuddly pillow. Do you wanna try it.”

“How do you keep doing that?” Gust asked.

“Doing what? Flirting with you?

Gust’s cheeks didn’t flare up this time. “I mean with the temperature. Everytime I start feeling,” he paused. His eyes were everywhere but on Lucifer. “..hot...I suddenly feel relieved and cooled. I don’t even feel sweaty or anything.”

“I am, what do you call it in your language. Er...something.”

“Eruli.”

“Eruli! Yes. I am an Eruli.”

“But how are you doing that.”

“That is a silly question, little boy. I just do it. Let us sit. I can smell that Ferek is almost done.”

“There is no way you’re any older than me, little boy,” Gust retorted. Gust was at least a few inches taller than Lucifer.

“I am twenty-two.”

“There’s no way.”

Lucifer took a seat and gestured for Gust to join. “By that sound, you are younger. I win.” He rolled his eyes. “Little boy.”

Despite his best efforts, Lucifer failed to get Gust to just relax. Plates were placed on the table, and Ferek sat with his sword.

Lucifer watched Gust poke around his food. He took a bite. Gust’s expression changed and he took another. Lucifer felt Gust’s blush from across the table. Blushing while eating? Absolutely adorable.Gust’s caught Lucifer staring, so Lucifer flashed his toothy grin and started eating himself. 

Ferek spoke. “(Did I do well?)”

“(Amazing, Ferek).”

Gust eyed them both confused. “What did he say?”

“Was it good?” Lucifer translated.

“Oh.” Gust gave Ferek a nervous smile and a thumbs up. 

Ferek clicked his tongue.

“He’s a big ol’ softy at heart, ya know.”

“I can understand the language just fine, Lucifer.” Turning, Ferek hid his pouting face from Gust.

Gust looked down at his omelet, and smothered a laugh. 

Finally, Lucifer thought.

 They all finished their meal with polite amiability. Overtime, as the sun rose, Lucifer managed his heat to be localized only in the cabin. If not, a scorched ring would form outside his zone of natural control. Gust couldn’t notice the change, but Ferek knew, and kept the conversation minimal. Lucifer could translate and shift the area at the same time. Gust didn’t seem interested in talking too much with Ferek anyway. Ferek learned how to cook so well during their time traveling, it was hard to ignore. 

“I...I should go.” Gust’s words breached Lucifer’s final moments of concentration.

“Already?” Lucifer pouted.

“I’ve already burdened you both already. I mean. I passed out and you took care of me and fed me. You’re a nice couple.”

Ferek paused. Lucifer covered his mouth as a grin spread across his face. White hot embarrassment spreading across Ferek’s body.

“(What does he mean by ‘couple),’” Ferek asked.

“(Gust believes that we are  romantically and/or sexually involved with one another).”

Ferek faced Gust and used the first word he learned in the Faver’s language. “Idiot.”

Gust jumped so far back in his chair he nearly tipped over. Lucifer lost it, his laughing filled the air. 

“Gust, I think you misunderstand me,” Lucifer said between laughs. “We are most definitely not a couple. Ferek is just overprotective.”

“(And you will come crying to me once anything goes wrong).”

“(I’m fine. It’s a safe city. I’m fine. Let me have fun).”

“(I promised Seraph).”

“(God), I’m going with you, Gust.”

“(What)?!”

“What?” Gust’s eyes widened.

Lucifer walked out the door. In seconds, the interior became stuffy with the heat of a summer’s day.

 Ferek uttered something. To Gust, it seemed like a curse. “(Keep him safe. Bring him back.)”