It had been roughly one year.

One year since torture, Verkur.. Alice.

Schedules became busy and unlikely. The demon, currently walking through a nice neighborhood, was saddened by the fact. Not that he expressed it emotionally. The blonde haired man tried to keep those feelings under wraps. The last Lucien let go, Verkur got the best of him and even before that he carved his phone number in Alice's shoulder as a reminder to never ignore him.

Needless to say, it was better this way.

The blonde man had his hair loosely tied back with those bangs of his crowding and covering ice blue. He was looking healthy and for the most part, happy. He was well groomed and well dressed. Lucien wore simple jeans, slung low on the hips, and a button up, black shirt. Simple.

Today though, he wore a grin on his lips, thinking of his destination.

Or more precisely, his target.

Alice. Lucien had not seen Alice in so long. The demon had lost contact with the Angel again for the second time in their life time. Today though, it was all going to change. He took in the neighborhood, leisurely strolling. It was nice- it suited Alice. Clean, nice, and with just the slight air of being back breakingly expensive. Very Alice indeed. Oh, how he missed that silly angel too. He missed making the other angry but knowing that there was still affection for him regardless of how infuriating his behavior was.

Getting to the door, he knocked once, twice- and a third time to no answer.

Well, when locked out, he had to do it. Lucien worked the lock, letting himself in. Straight to the devil himself reincarnated in a cat's body. Lucien leaned down, smiling, "Hey kitten." Removing his shoes, the demon was just about to reach out for the cat 'till it swatted him, claws out, straight on the cheek. Well, wasn't that thing a little pisser? Angry that the cat would strike him first round, Lucien threw his shoes off, grumbling. Watch him ever try to be nice.

Finding a couch, Lucien laid on his back, determined to wait it out.

However, it woldn't be consciously. Lucien had been traveling for days, returning to this strange city. A city that had both abandoned and welcomed home. Now, glad to be somewhere where a familiar face would be near, Luc could rest easy. He laid with his arms crossed and his head back against the arm of the couch, stretching his neck so that the ever constant bandages were visible.

Those scars. That was another story as well.

The couch Lucien settled on what yet another leather couch, this one was almost silvery in color. So many the past year had been ruined by blood, sex, and getting ripped up in general. Alice swore he might as well use cardboard boxes, at least ehy are cheap and easy to find. The living room was set up with a silver and blue color motif, with silver stars painted on a dark blue wall, white carpet, white ceiling, and black wooden furniture if it wasn't a light blue leather. There was a PS2 set up, controller on the black table in front of the couch. The game was in, but it's holder was on the table next to the controller; Kingdom Hearts 2. What can Alice say? It's his favorite game.

Speaking of Alice, he was pulling into his garage now, in his pretty little silver Polish Leopard 6 Liter Roadster, a new car with an old style, he had traded in his last expensive sports car for this beauty instead. Alice had been out, buying some groceries. Yes, yes, terribly boring but hey, he doesn't even go out much anymore except to clubs on Friday and maybe Saturday nights, and to the mall for random shopping sprees.

Currently, the 'Angel' was getting out of his, grabbing his four bags of groceries, and shutting the trunk with a knee. He was dressed in his latest eclectic style, of course. A tight white girl shirt with golden and pink swirls and hearts atop a long sleeved yellow shirt with thumb-holes and horizontal orange stripes. A pair of tight-ish, boot-cut girl pants, faded, with a studded belt holding them up - a rainbow studded belt in fact. He was wearing his pink flamingo Vans and had a few metal bangles and his different piercings all through his ears, the matching pair being some decent sized hoops. What was a little scary was that he was dressed down today because he felt too lazy to really style up. Yea, it's just a liiiiiittle scary.

He made it inside easily, opening the door to the house inside the garage - that door was always unlocked, and kicked it shut with his foot. He moved about the kitchen, not noticing the tall, handsome demon spread out on his couch, for there was a perfect view for both. He was too busy trying not to step on Bubbles, who was being nice for once and rubbing all against his leg, and putting the food away. Food being meat, meat, and more meat...And a carton of eggs. And a gallon of milk. But that was pretty much it.

He stretched, cracking his back, shirt raising t show his pale tummy, before he let his arms flop down, kicking his shoes off to where they belong next to the door. He turned, moving Bubbles out of the way with his foot, turning and walking into the living room and then sort of just...stopping. There, on his couch, was the last person he expected to see anytime soon. But he knew he had wanted to see him, for his heart thumped and swelled, and he almost felt like crying. But he didn't, because there was no reason to. He didn't say anything, didn't move, his face was like ice, but...it broke and a genuine smile - small, but genuine - came onto his face as he looked at the other. But he didn't say anything for he was still in a state of shock.

It was funny how their meetings went. At least, for once, this one was peace- if only because Lucien was asleep. Not for long though, the weight of Alice's stare lingered around Lucien's awareness. Enough was enough and the blonde man could no longer ignore it and eyelids were lifting slowly for him to awaken. At first, all he did was just take in his surroundings-

And then the arrival.

Getting to his feet, the first thing he took in was Alice's outfit with a raise of an eyebrow and a twitch at the corner of his lips. Then that twitch became an easy, calm smile. "It's been a long time, Alice." So calm. If only Alice could feel his heart. It was ready to burst straight out of his rib cage.

The other had been partially asleep. Alice knew plenty the difference between a completely out Lucien and a partially asleep Lucien. The times he's found himself in bed with the demon helped that out, not to mention the years they had spent together. He swallowed thickly, shouting in his mind at the other to wake-up-NOW. And, well...even if the shouting hadn't worked, his staring had and he relaxed when the other completely woke up, face softening as he stood up.

The other was too calm. Alice had always been the calm, cold, collected one. But right now? He didn't run, really, but he had moved so fast thanks to his inhuman speed, one could have sworn he did. He hadn't run into the other's arms, no, pride had taken a hold of him right before he had, and he had stopped himself. Only inches away from the other, only a few inches from that warm chest, those strong arms. But he was prideful, he didn't like his weakness for the other, how much he honestly cared and loved for him showing, so he had stopped himself. Slowly his face tilted up, glossed lips in an almost pained smile.

"It's...It's been..."

The other's statement though, crushed that pride, it reminded him of the time he'd been without the other. This once, just this once, maybe he can swallow his pride, though. Lucien has never mocked him. Alice sighed, head dropping forward and leaned forward, head touching the other's chest as one hand came up and grabbed onto the front of the other's shirt, fingers curling in the fabric.

"It's been too long, Lucien. I thought...I thought you were the one to leave this time...I...I thought you left me."

This was all.. Very dream-like feeling to Lucien. He knew that the other had feelings for him but Luc was also very aware of the other's previous calloused nature. Not that that has stopped him any time before. In fact, he would not let it now. His face, not blocked by glasses, clearly registered his surprise at Alice's behavior. Well, clearly as in Lucien's eyes widening.

Alice was so close. He could -feel- the other's body heat. In one action and a string of words, Lucien felt humbled but glad all in one swipe. The Angel's true feelings were made known. His lips quirked up in a little smile, bringing his arms to complete the act of just wanting to be near. His arms crossed over Alice's back, pulling the male close against his chest.

Kissing the top of Alice's head, Lucien spoke quietly into his hair, "I could never. I'm sorry for being so long but I could never leave you completely." If anything, Lucien was honest. Vague but honest. "Business is taken care of and I am back now. Tell me, what have you been doing for so long, Alice?" Then his voice dead panned, "And why did you get that cat?" Lucien and Bubbles were not on good terms.

Alice melted against Lucien's form, sighing as he did so, arms lowering and wrapping around the other's lean form, hand resting on the small of the demon's back. He breathed in deeply, inhaling the other's scent, and then let it go, rather shakily, actually. He won't cry though, you see, he never cries. He did swallow thickly, eyes closed, just listening to the other's heart beat and the demon's voice. His sniffed a little, looking up at the other almost defiantly.

"You better not, you are-are /my/ demon, and...and...Well, you're my demon!"

He blinked at the other, business was taken care of, and he nodded. Whatever it was, it must've been serious for Lucien to be gone nearly a year. Alice didn't care what the other had done, at this moment, maybe later, but Lucien was back now. He looked up at Lucien, really looking at his face, then gave a slight chuckle.

"I see you met Bubbles...I got him because this house is big for one person and I..."

Just because his eyes are leaking doesn't mean he's crying! Alice looks shocked himself, touching his face with his hand, feeling the free flowing tears. He's not crying! He looked back up to Lucien though.

"I...was lonely. And Bubbles was the only thing annoying enough to remind me of..." He stopped there before just kicking himself in the head. Who cares? His pride was already shattered. "You. The only thing annoying enough to remind me of you."

There he gave a sudden sob-like choke and he raised a hand to cover his mouth, face clearly shocked. His...eye waterings were coming quicker and faster, causing his breath to get fast, and he tried to wiped both eyes with his hands. This can't be happening, he doesn't cry!

It felt good to hold onto someone and be held in return. Especially when it was Alice. Over the years, they have been through so much without each other and for each other. Lucien had gone a week without sex- and then into a rage because of the other. Then, when things fell into place, he learned to truly love the other. A big feat to keep him off the streets and out of strangers' beds so to speak.

His lips turned up slowly, "I am your demon alone, no one else's."

Then those same lips turned down- and quickly. "Yes. I tried to be friends with that demon cat and he scratched me. I hope you expect that we're at war now. No ammends will be made." Nope. Bubbles and him were on bad terms- even if Alice's admission of information made him chuckle. "A shame you had to stoop so low to that thing. You don't need him anymore."

His hands moved to rub Alice's back but then the demon thought of something more constructive to do. Long fingers slid up, gently brushing away the tears. "Cry, Alice." He didn't want to see the man he truly cared for to lock things up- like he did before. Smiling, Lucien dipped his head down, "Because I'm here. I love you." And with that, he sealed it with a kiss.

Though he didn't need to say that, in a way, Alice felt better when Lucien stated he was his. It was like, a final clarification, and nothing anyone else could say mattered. His mouth quirked slightly.

"For now he'll be staying, I've grown...attached to him, slightly. I want to see how long he'll last before I throw him out a window."

He didn't smile though, he wanted to, he found the thought amusing but...Another sob-cough, and he tried to hold it it, tried, until Lucien brushed away his tears. His own hands fell to the other's chest, curling back into that shirt. He opened his mouth to protest but the other interrupted him, and then, and then he kissed him. How long he'd missed these kisses, mind-boggling, sending a fire through him as he molded back against the other. And then, when they pulled away...He burst into tears, amongst the sobs was a single distinguished sentence.

"M-m-m-othe-e-er c-ca-ame..."

Everything was going the way that it should be. Alice was here, he was here- everything like it was said before. Even better, the other was expressions emotions. That was something that Lucien was sure he would never experience in this life time- for however many years he had to live. Oh man. And the -kissing-. Lucien missed the kissing. Being celibate for nearly a year really took a toll on one's mental state as well as his body.

Especially so when it concerned Alice's skills too.

Then, for however many times it has been, Lucien was shocked again. "Your mother?" Now this was something Lucien -never- expected. In fact, he counted on that as a given that he would never, ever be privvy to information concerning Alice's mother. He tipped his head a little, face frowning with concern. "What happened- if you want to tell me?"

That's why Alice took up gaming, playing games took away from having sex, and...it wasn't as boring if you do the same level three or more times over. The kiss was wonderful to the sex starved 'Angel', and when they finally pulled away, Lucien was there, ready to listen to what happened. He opened his mouth, but then he couldn't talk for that moment, choking as his tears thickened. When he could finally speak again, it was more of a whisper.

"Sh-She came after 'bout Christmas, and..."

He swallowed thickly.

"She had me to come bed with her again, but we didn't really do anything. I was too busy trying to remain polite and alive. But we talked and she reminded me that...just by her being there, I remember how much she enjoys killing and hurting, and I realized if I continue doing the same, I'll become like her. And I can't do that..."

Christmas. What a time for someone so awful to come. It struck a guilty cord in his chest- Lucien should have been around at least for Christmas. The demon was sentimental and took special care to observe big holidays. Though, he realized, he couldn't get too hung up on it. The present is now and now Alice needed his full attention.

Wrapping his arms tightly around the other, but not tight enough that he couldn't see Alice's face, Lucien listened. When the last word fell off the angel's lips, Luci unraveled one arm and gently caressed his cheek. "Don't worry." This was something crucial and delicate. "You're not like her or you wouldn't be like this right now." A grin threatened to emerge, "You would have tried to kill me by now."

A good way to live really; what's done is done, don't look to the past because that has already happened, and don't look to the future because that has yet to happen, focus on on the present moment. That's how Alice was trying to live, now, in fact. He wrapped his arms back around the other's waist, then pushed against the other, indicating he wanted to go the couch so they could sit.

He did manage to give a smile, but also shook his head.

"Never could and I don't plan on it at all."

He pulled the other to the couch, sitting down with a sigh, stretched out his feet; clad in mismatching ankle socks. He let himself lean against Lucien's shoulder.

"After she left I decided that I would have to change some, so I don't become her. Thus, I've been living a boring, uneventful life. Especially with you and Verkur gone."

This Alice was so much more different than the Alice that he had left behind. While he liked the other Alice, Lucien had the same feelings for this new version. He smiled, taking a seat on the couch before arranging himself to hold onto the angel, perhaps a little too tightly and protectively.

"Just wait until I do something to your cat. Remember you said you wouldn't kill me."

Bubbles is his number one enemy right now.

"Boring life?" Now Lucien was smirking for sure. "I'm back now. It won't be boring anymore." Poor Alice. He was stuck with Lucien for sure now.

Alice didn't mind the other holding onto him. He was lacking in the snuggling department severely. In fact, he was cuddling up the other right now, entwining his long legs with the other's longer legs. His face was on the other's chest, and one arm behind the other with the other atop his chest. He gave another snort.

"You may have a hard time doing something. He's very sneaky, and he's positively vicious when it comes to revenge. He'll do things to you in your sleep, like try to suffocate you, or attack your arms or legs. He has yet to go for the face but..."

He eyed Lucien.

"I can see he has made an exception for you."

Alice paused as the other spoke, looking down so the other wouldn't see how they got a little brighter, and he tried to his the smile coming on his face.

"Does that mean...you're moving in?

He cocked his head, pretending to not be interested. He didn't mind the thought of being stuck with Lucien one bit, truthfully.

Well, this was very nice. He hadn't held anyone like this.. Well, since he was last with Alice. He kissed his cheek once before dropping the nice and happy face. As Alice talked about the cat, Lucien could only come up with one answer. Bubbles was a very evil, -evil- cat and truly wasn't a cat at all. He was a monster instead.

"I'll make sure he can't get to me. I hope you know, if he sleeps with you, he's not going to any longer." Though, he probably will. There's no stopping a determined cat. "Your.. monster dislikes me," Regarding the scratch. "And I dislike him too."

Lucien did the one thing he was sure Alice would love. He gave him an exaggerated, sloppy kiss- just to be bothersome. "I'm moving in and sleeping in your bed."

"Fuzzass is a monster, isn't he?"

Alice chuckled, looking up and brushing some stray hairs out of Lucien's handsome face.

"He'll sometimes sleep with me, but he has his own little bed area, it is in my-" He paused for a moment, then smiled softly, because technically now it was their bedroom, but whatever. Alice totally bought this house and lived here first. "-bedroom, near the window."

Oh yea, Lucien was sooo right, of course Alice loved sloppy kisses. Not. But this time he just laughed, making a face and pushing the other's face away.

"Mm, is this all you have? Alice motioned to Lucien's clothing. "I still have a lot of your clothing from whenever you'd come over...in fact, you have a whole section in the closet because you left so much clothing."

He raised an eyebrow at Lucien, kissing him on the corner of his mouth.

"He is a monster." Lucien groaned, much for effect and also because he just wasn't pleased. "Can't his "bed area" be moved? He'll put a kink in our sex life." As if the self professed pervert would let a cat sleeping change anything. Especially with one year of seperation and nothing.

Lucien laughed, licking at the hand that was pushing at him. "Yeah. This is all I basically have. I'm glad you kept them." Because honestly, he only had a small bag of clothes he had dropped off in some odd room of Alice's when he first came. He had traveled too much to keep anything extensive.

Suddenly, Lucien spotted the cat- and admitted a growl. They were enemies to the death.

Alice let a breath of air reminiscent of a snort, raising an eyebrow, stating the obvious.

"As if you'd let some animal stop us from having sex...though..." A chuckle. "He might jump on you and claw your back, or worse..."

Don't worry, he'll move it. He already was planning on, 'cause the other did a lot of midnight walking around the room that kept him up, especially when he jumps on his stomach. Damn, any other time he can take up, but completely relaxed? Nope, that hurt like a bitch.

Alice had closed his eyes partway, only to have them widen when the other growled. He looked up, and there was Bubbles, slinking across the room. The two of them were on /his/ couch, and he obviously didn't appreciate it. Alice has, and always will be, a quick thinker. He grabbed the game case on the table and chucked it at the cat, hitting the floor near him. Que a hiss and the other turning tail and taking his fat ass out of the room.

That was a close one. Alice simply looked back to Luc and smiled.

That was probably the worst thing he had heard yet. "It wouldn't stop me but I hope you know we'd be having sex with lots of mirrors around." There was no way Lucien was trusting such a horrible creature while he was possibly at his most distracted state. He didn't put it past the cat to try to sink its claws into his penis. Or worse.

"That cat.. It's the spawn of evil."

But Alice was the opposite. He was his savior. Lucien wrapped his arms around the other, grinning ear to ear, seeing that cat high tail it. He was unaware that this couch was "Bubble's couch"; he was just aware that Lucien did not like the cat anywhere near Alice. Or himself. "You genius." And Alice was given many grateful kisses.

"Mirrors? You'd end up staring too much at your own reflection."

Alice's expression changed to what one could describe only as amused, the way an eyebrow was raised, the way the corner of his cheshire mouth was raised. Definitely amused. Sex with mirrors, isn't that some sort of kink that a few couples have? Mirrors on the ceiling and everything. Sounds a bit...70s, maybe 80s. Anyways, he wasn't too fond of the idea, and if Lucien were to suggest it, he'd shoot it down. He shook his head, giving a snort. Lucien really didn't like Bubbles, well, the feelings seemed to be very mutual.

"He's not /evil/, he's just grumpy. And pissy. And moody."

A pause there of an awkward silence of sorts.

"He's pretty much me in the form of a cat. Except he's fixed and has no sex drive, and I don't have violent urges anymore...except every now and then."

His smile turned into a smirk as the other kissed him. If he new that because he scared the cat away, that he was Lucien's 'savior' he'd be laughing. After all, he was used to Bubbles and didn't see him as a threat.

"Mmm, thanks for the worship, Luci."

"Perhaps but I'd also see that cat coming a mile away."

Shame that Alice was against the idea. Lucien could go for it. He wouldn't mind seeing all angles of Alice, but oh well. He'd have to do it some other way. Alice had enough kinks in him that Lucien could find something to satisfy him with.

"He's horrible." Luci finished Alice's description. Kissing the other soundly, the demon pulled back with a smirk. "You're nothing like him. You're much better. And- you're welcome. You are too much of a "hot thing" to let go." Corny.

Alice would have said something, but the other cut him off with another kiss, and he blinked, looking at the other with a smile - until he said that damned, corny old line. It was an old inside joke, you see, but there is no need to explain it. It just has to do with nicknames for each other that dealt with corny puns. Alice was not going to drop himself down to /that/ level again, but he didn't mind Lucien doing as much - only if he did it every now and then and not all the time. To add emphasis to his point, he mock glared at the other.

"/That/ was horrible."

But he was still obviously amused.

"Doesn't make sense, because hot things burn, you know? We can really hurt you if you aren't careful..."

Corny lines like that were one of Lucien's favorite methods of torture for Alice. In fact, he was trying to think up of another one. Well, that until Alice had interrupted his thoughts and drew his focus right back onto him. "It wasn't horrible. I thought it was one of my best ones yet." Well, he didn't telling by the chesire grin. Never the less, it worked in teasing Alice.

His favorite past time was teasing Alice- even after so long.

"I'll have to be careful now.." He murmured, kissing his forehead. "But I won't get burnt. Singed maybe, but not burnt." Lucien paused, thinking it over. "Well.. Even if I do, I've got a good pain tolerance." His lips twitched up, sure the other would get his joke about pain.

"Mmm...No, Lucien, you've had plenty better, I can fully assure you of that."

Alice has been through so many of Lucien's puns and bad jokes. It couldn't be a male thing, because he never did those, or was he too feminine? The thought made his eye twitch. He was not womanly in any way. No, most definitely /not/ feminine. Gah, what a horrid thought. The other kissed him on his forehead, and he returned with a kiss to his jaw, letting his head drop to rest on one of Lucien's strong shoulders.

"Mm mm, even if you were to get burnt by me, you'd still like it, you little masochistic cream puff.

His mouth twitched into a smile in the corner. Gone to name calling, have we? No, he's always teased Lucien about being a softie.

"Oh? Do I? I'll take that was a compliment."

Lucky Alice. Lucien still had an ego that could inflate at the slightest of compliments. Though, he liked to return them. Luci smiled when he received the kiss to his jaw. Little things like that often warmed him. He appreciated each affection- especially because it was coming from his generally "cold" companion, Alice. Well, cold to everyone else but him.

"Oh? Cream puff?" He laughed and wrinkled his nose simultaneously, "I don't think so. I'm as tough as they come!"

Alice knew how Lucien's ego worked, and how fragile it could be at times. Whether he was aware of it or not, he always subconsciously made sure to never go over the borderline - anymore at least. He'd started to be much more careful the past year, after they got to know each other again.

"Yes, your body may be tough, but you...sir, are a complete and total softie on the inside."

Despite it all, Lucien had the personality that was healthy for Alice, he was someone who can show Alice that there is such a thing as forgiving, and that you can love someone no matter what happens between the two of them. But he'll never tell Lucien that. At least right now. He smiled and leaned up, kissing the other on the mouth, slowly pulling away after a minute.

"You are /my/ cream puff.

This was comfortable. Unaware of how Alice tiptoed around his ego, Lucien treaded on, teasing and goading at the other. Though, if he ever was aware, he'd be thankful somewhere in that head of his. Alice took care of him whether or not he made his actions known. Though, what the demon did know was that he was glad to have the angel.

Laughing, he gave in, "I'm your cream puff only. No one else gets the soft, sugary insides."

"No one needs to see that sweet side of you but me. You can just be the friendly pervert."

He pursed his lips. Was that a pun? Mm, it could be in a way, he supposed. Ah well, whatever, he wasn't going to point is out, lest Lucien see it as another way to tease him. That is, if he hadn't already made a connection. Alice smiled one of his true smiles, once again, climbing onto the other's lap, cuddling into him.

"Whatever be the case, right now, I don't care, just snuggle with me. I haven't snuggled in forever."

"Oh, you're going to hoard my sweet side to yourself? Someone might want to see that, you know."

Complying to Alice's request, he put his arms around him. Well, not that it was such a chore. He placed a kiss to his forehead, now moving to lean into the corner of the couch with the angel still in arms. "You've always had a thing for snuggling that you've tried to hide. Shame on you." His eyes twinkled just show, proving that Lucien was near laughing, still teasing the angel. He liked the fact that he was the only one to see Alice being a softie but it didn't mean he would not tease him about it.