Chapter Text
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-”What…F-for two weeks?” Adam blurted out, his mouth still gaping in disbelief.
His mother nodded, before seconding her initial statement:
-”Yes honey, you’ll watch over your sister for two weeks.” She then seemed to remember something “Oh ! And every Monday and Wednesdays she has ballet lessons, so when you pick her from school, you can directly take her there ! The address is on the fridge, love you sweetie.” She explained, getting on her feet’s tip, to reach the tall man’s cheek and plant a kiss there, bleeding with motherly love. Maybe Adam was twenty-eight, but he wouldn’t escape his mother’s love.
He barely had the time to grumble about not being a kid anymore under his breath, that his mother had followed his father outside waving goodbye before closing the door behind them.
The man’s shoulders dropped down in a defeated manner, as a loud sigh escaped his lips, quickly fading into a low and annoyed growl as he rolled his eyes up.
The brunette grabbed his pack of cigarettes from his pant’s pockets, as he walked toward the french window, placing the thin stick of industrially rolled tobacco between his lips as he opened the said window, and walked to the nearest chair, sitting on front the terrace’s table, where his ashtray was waiting for him.
He lit his cigarette, and took one drag, quickly letting his gaze fall onto the screen of his cellphone.
3:30 P.M , he still had around an hour to kill before he’d have to pick up Solène from school.
He quickly opened a text discussion from a contact simply called ‘babe’, before he started typing the following: -Sorry, won’t be able to come tomorrow. My mom wants me to watch over my lil’ sis.
He pressed send, before shoving the phone back in his pocket, as if he didn’t even want to see the other person’s reaction to the news.
Ignoring the many buzzes coming from his pocket, he just enjoys his cigarette.
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Adam was sure feeling out of place among all these parents waiting in front of the elementary school. He sighed, he wished he could light another cigarette, but this probably was a bad idea in front of a school.
So his hands shoved in his pocket, he waited, impatiently tapping his foot on the ground.
Finally, amidst all the children rushing out of school, a familiar little face popped up. green eyes like their mother, and brown, long messy hair. As she recognized her older brother, the little girl’s face got illuminated by a bright smile, as she ran toward him and jumped in his arms.
-” Adam !! ” She excitedly exclaimed as she hugged him tightly.
-” Wow uh, chill Solène, you just arrived…” He blurted out, seemingly left uncomfortable by the sudden display of physical affection. He gently leaned in to grab her shoulder and forcefully make her step back away from him.
-”Hmpf.” Scoffed the little girl, crossing her arms in discontent.
-”Whatever..” Adam began as he took her school bag from her back, to carry it on one of his shoulders. “Let’s go to your stupid ballet thing before we get late and mom kills me.”
-”It’s not stupid, you’re stupid !” The little girl protested before pulling out her tongue.
-”Yeah yeah, whatever…” He grumbled as he started walking away, turning his head to check that she was indeed following him.
The walk to the conservatory was made in silence, despite Solène’s attempt to babble about her day, but these were in vain, so the little girl quickly gave up.
Once they arrived in front of the building, Adam handed his little sister’s her backpack.
-”So uh…I come to pick you in one hour, is that it?” He asked, clearly annoyed by the situation.
-”What?!” Exclaimed Solène, quite offended. “No no !” The child grabbed her older brother’s sleeve, pulling on it. “Mom always stays to watch, so you will too !” As the only answer she gets from Adam is an annoyed growl, she tilts her head on the side and begs in a little voice: -”...Pretty please?”
He sighs heavily, almost in a dramatic way: -”Fine, but just for this time !” He chuntered, as he angrily pushed the glass door with his body weight, and watched her happily run in as she giggled.
He climbed the stairs to the dancing room, and as he opened the door… and his face fell as he saw the one teaching his sister. An audible gulp escaped his throat at the sight of the pale, shorter man, who was crouching down to talk to one of the kids.
No, no no, no ! Not him ! Why?! The taller man objected in his thoughts.
Once the teacher had noticed the new presence in the room, he stood up and turned around. His initial surprise quickly got replaced by a smirk, as he walked to the familiar man who was towering over him: -”Oh…Hi, Adam. Wasn’t expecting to see you there.” he sang in a pretty smug manner, before his sight dropped to the little girl still holding her brother’s sleeve. “I knew Solène was reminding me of someone.Didn’t know had a little sister.”
-”Shut up Lucifer, and just do your motherfucking job.” Adam hissed before running away to a corner of the room where he angrily sat, pulling out his phone.
-”So… You know my older brother?” Solène asked her teacher, curious and confused.
Lucifer crouched to her level, putting a friendly hand on her tiny shoulder:
-”He’s…An old acquaintance, let’s say.” Lucifer explained with an awkward smile.
The man then stood up, clapping his hands to get the children’s attention, signaling the lesson was about to begin. He then leaned in to press the button on the CD player, starting the music.
Focused on his phone, Adam was biting his lips as he was typing his message to his best friend- and ex -Eve:
-What the fucking fuck, Eve. Her fucking ballet teacher is this bastard !
-What? What Bastard ?
-The asshole you and Lilith fucking slept with !
Adam had to wait a few second to get a reply:
-PWAHAHAHAHA DKGFLGLHKLG No ! No fucking way ! I knew Luci was teaching ballet but… but the odds…
Judging by her aggressive keysmash, Eve was much more amused than compassionate toward the situation.
-Fuck you Eve, stop mocking me. It is horrible ! Terrible ! Tragic, even ! I just want to jump out of the window !
-No need to be so dramatic you fucking baby, It’s been years…Just be an adult, okay?
Annoyed, Adam decided to check his other messages. He decided to finally answer to his girlfriend, to who he sent a message earlier this afternoon:
-What the hell, why?! Couldn't you tell me earlier? 3:30 P.M
-Hey Adam ! You could at least come during the afternoon, doesn’t she have school anyway? 3:32 P.M
-Oh yeah of course, don’t answer my messages 3:36 P.M
-No but I get it, I never was a priority to you… 3:40 P.M
As he read the plethora of angry messages, Adam found himself biting his lips in frustration again.
-Lute what the hell, I learned the news today ! My parents have to leave for two weeks because someone fucking died in the family. I didn’t know them tho, but fucking chill !
He pressed send, and shoved his phone back in his jacket’s pocket, not wanting to hear about her anymore.
Adam raised his gaze toward his little sister, who seemed to be focused on the exercise at hand. Words which were unknow to him were escaping Lucifer’s lips, leaving the other man confused. 'arabesque, Allégro, Adagio' and list goes on and on...
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The children were following the instructions in a sedulous way. Adam rested his chin in his palm, letting out a sigh. It was boring, so boring that death would feel like a relief to him. The classical music playing from the CD player was making him want to pull his own hair, he hated it. He wished he could throw that damn CD player out the window. He hoped that Solène wouldn't ask him to stay next time.
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Lucifer clapped his hands and stopped the music, bringing some relief to Adam.
-”Very good kiddos. You can take a breath for uh…” The man of a petite frame looked at the watch on his wrist. “Yeah, twenty minutes should be good. And don’t forget to drink water, that’s important !”
Obviously, being a clingy self, Solène rushed to her brother and sat next to him, pressing her frail shoulder against his arm: -”See, it wasn’t that terrible.”
-”Oh fucking please Solène.” He began, rolling his eyes up. “Don’t fucking begin. It’s not the time. Why don’t you like uh… fuck off and go play with the other brats?” He said, vaguely gesturing to the other kids.
Solène’s eyes widened, before her initial surprise was replaced by genuine sadness. She was hurt. Since her brother came back home a few months ago, he kept pushing her away.
She stood up, clenching her fists in frustration: -”You’re fu…” after a short hesitation, the child corrected herself “ Flippin’ stupid !” She barked at him, before storming out of the room.
Watching the scene unfold in front of his eyes, Lucifer’s mouth was hanging open in disbelief. Quickly anger gained him as he turned around to give Adam a cold, death stare. The kind of stare that would make your blood immediately freeze.
Well on his side, Lucifer’s blood was boiling. He took a deep breath and walked out the room, where he found the little girl crawled in a ball against the wall, sobbing.
This view alone was enough to make the single father’s heart sink.
Lucifer kneeled down to her level, resting a gentle hand on her shoulder:
-”Hey look at me sweetie…Wanna talk?”
Solène quickly raised her eyes misted with tears to meet his:
-” H-he…He’s always mean to me. I…I think he hates me.” She confessed in between sobs.
Lucifer shook his head no, gently rubbing her arm in a comforting gesture.
-”No…No I doubt he hates you.” He started, in a soft voice. “He is just… Grumpy, and like to act rough…I think…” He explains, in an attempt to reassure the little girl.
-”B-but…But he never wants me around ! He always pushes me away ! and…and It is worse when his stupid girlfriend is around…” Solène snivels quietly before muttering to herself: “I miss Eve…She was…kinder…”
Lucifer bites his lower lip when he remembers it is his fault if Eve left her brother, but whatever, it wasn’t the time to think about that.
-”Hey Solène…look at me.” He explains cupping her face with his hand, slightly guiding her to lift it up. “Maybe he acts annoyed, but if he didn’t love you, he wouldn’t have stayed during the lesson. Look, he could have left you there and just come back to pick you up, right?” Lucifer explains with a tender smile on his lips.
The little girl look at him with some sort of hope for comfort:
-”you…You really think so?”
The teacher nodded:
-”Yeah I do. Listen, I have a brother who hates my guts, like, genuinely , so…I can tell you, Adam doesn’t hate you.” His smile tasted bittersweet on his lips as he let this personal part of his life slip out. He quickly ruffled her hair, and attempted to switch topics “Anyway, go drink water and rinse your face, okay honey?”
With that, the short man came back in the room, and one of his colleague followed him, she was a singing teacher:
-”Oh Luce’ “ She exclaimed.
-”Yes Diana?” He asked as he take a sip of his duck themed bottle of water.
-”I just wanted to give you the planning for the future meeting between the teachers and all…” She explained handing him a piece of paper.
He took it, and nodded:
-”No prob. Also perfect timing.” Lucifer begins as he puts down his water bottle back in his bag, and takes out his pack of cigarettes and lighter “you’ll watch over the kids as I go out to smoke.” He explained with a smug smile and winked at her proudly.
-”Yeah of course Luce’...zip it and go ruin your lungs.” She teased with a little giggle.
Adam looked at the pack of cigarettes that Lucifer was holding, biting his lower lip in hesitation. On one hand, he didn’t want to talk to the man, he’d rather die to be honest…But on the other one…He smoked his last cigarette earlier, and maybe his nicotine addiction was stronger than his petty ego.
He sighed and stood up, walking to the shorter man nonchalantly:
-”Hey dwarf, mind if I borrow one?” He said with the kind of grin that makes you want to bash his head in the wall.
Lucifer frowned:
-”The dwarf has a name, but whatever. Yeah, follow me.”
Once both men had exited the building, Lucifer leaned back against the wall, handing his cigarettes to Adam.
The taller man grabbed the pack of Vogues, pulling one out. The cigarette was thin, and on top of that, mint flavored.
-”What kind of fag cig’ is that shit?” Adam commented with a mocking smirk on his lips.
Lucifer, annoyed, snatched the packet out of his hand.
-”If you’re not happy, I can take it back.” Retorted the blond man, taking one out for himself and lighting it.
-”Nah, that’s fine, you fucking snowflake…” Adam grumbled, as he was struggling with his own lighter. “Why does that shit never work !” He barked, shaking the object as if it would change anything.
Lucifer let out a little chuckle, before grabbing Adam by his collar and pulling him down to his level.
-”W…W-what the …What the hell dude?!” The brunette hissed in confusion, almost dropping the cigarette from his mouth.
-”Shh…Stay still.” Lucifer muttered, as he pressed his cigarette’s ember against Adam’s one.
Once the initially grumpy man understood that the blond one was just trying to help him light his cigarette, and that nothing weird was happening, a rosé color slowly gained his cheeks.
He froze for a bit, before gently pulling on the cigarette to light it on.
The proximity felt weird, especially… Especially with him .
Finally he stepped back, and exhaled the mint flavored smoke, attempting to not choke on it due to how destabilized he was.
-”You…Y-you could have just give me your fucking lighter.” He grumbled under his breath, averting his gaze from the other man.
Lucifer chuckled:
-”No, It would have been less entertaining.”
-”E-entertaining?! The fuck you’re talking about, fucking weirdo…!” Adam blurted out, choking on the fresh tasting smoke.
Lucifer chuckled again, trying to let it turn into a full on laughter.
-”Yeah, that. Exactly that.” Lucifer shook his head, trying to take a deep breath to calm down his laugh “Anyway, I wanted to ask you…Why are you that harsh with Solène?”
-”Tch. None of your fucking business, asshole.” Adam retorted, instantly becoming defensive;
-”Oh wow, no need to bite.” He smiles, despite the insults directed at him. “I was just asking. You know, you’re pushing thirty and I thought you’d have…You know…” Lucifer explained as he gestured in the air, looking for the right word.”...Matured?”
Adam sighed exaggeratedly, rolling his eyes up, as he slouched against the wall behind him as a petty teenager would.
-”Oh fuck you Lucifer. Don’t nag me ! Who do you think you are, my fucking mom?!” The brunette protested.
-”Well, I’m your little sister’s dance teacher. I just tryna make sure my students are okay, even outside of classes…” The man explained to his taller peer as he walked by him to crush his cigarette against the trash can. “All I’m asking is that you think about it, okay?”He finally concluded with a little smile, before entering the building.
-” ...I fucking hate you, Lucifer. ” Adam angrily mumbled under his breath, clenching his fists and biting on his cigarette.
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