Sunday sat on the campus bench, her phone in hand as she scrolled absentmindedly through her social media feed. The mid-afternoon sun cast a golden glow over her skin, and her curly hair caught the light in a way that made her look almost ethereal. She was lost in her own world until a shadow loomed over her.

"Hey there," a guy said, his tone far too confident for her liking.

Sunday looked up, startled. The guy, tall and broad-shouldered, flashed a grin that was more sleazy than charming. She gave him a polite smile, hoping he would take the hint and leave her alone.

"Uh, hi," she replied curtly, her fingers tightening around her phone.

The guy, undeterred, plopped down on the bench next to her. "So, what's a pretty girl like you doing here all alone? Waiting for someone?"

Sunday's discomfort grew as she shifted away slightly. "Just sitting," she said, her tone firm. "Not really looking for company, though."

He laughed, ignoring her clear disinterest. "Aw, don't be like that. I'm just trying to be friendly. What's your name?"

Sunday's lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm not interested, sorry."

The guy leaned closer, his persistence grating. "Come on, don't be so cold. You don't even know me yet. Maybe I could show you a good time."

Before Sunday could muster up the courage to tell him off more assertively, a large, tattooed arm appeared out of nowhere, draping itself over the guy's shoulder. The weight of it made the man flinch.

"Hey, buddy," a deep voice drawled.

The guy turned his head to find Lucifer sitting beside the guy, his frame casting an imposing shadow over them. His brown eyes were sharp, his expression unreadable but tinged with something dangerous. His locs framed his face, and his tattoos peeked out from the sleeves of his black t-shirt, emphasizing his muscular build.

His gaze shifted to Sunday. "Is he botherin' you?"

"Uh..." The guy hesitated, visibly thrown off. "We're just talking, man. Nothing serious."

Lucifer's grip on his shoulder tightened, and the guy winced. "I wasn't talkin' to you," Lucifer said, his voice calm but laced with an unmistakable edge.

Sunday's tense posture relaxed slightly as she nodded. "Yeah, he is."

Lucifer's jaw clenched as he turned his attention back to the guy. "We'll be right back," he said, his tone final.

Before the guy could protest, Lucifer hauled him to his feet and dragged him a few steps away, his grip like a vise. The guy squirmed, trying to free himself, but Lucifer was unfazed.

"Yo, what the hell, man?" the guy spat, his voice tinged with fear. "Let me go!"

Lucifer shoved him up against a nearby tree, pinning him effortlessly. His expression was calm, almost bored, but his eyes burned with intensity. "Listen, lil' dude," he began, his tone low and menacing. "You're gonna leave her alone, and you ain't gon' come near her again. You feel me?" His voice was dangerously calm.

The guy swallowed hard, his bravado crumbling. "Yeah, okay, fine! I get it! Just let me go!"

Lucifer leaned in closer, his voice dropping even lower. "Good. 'Cause if I catch you botherin' her again, I ain't gon' be so nice next time."

He let the guy go abruptly, watching as he stumbled back, clutching his shoulder. The guy muttered something under his breath and hurried away, not daring to look back.

Lucifer turned and made his way back to Sunday, his demeanor calm as if nothing had happened. She looked up at him, her expression a mix of surprise and gratitude.

"Is he gone?" she asked, her voice soft.

Lucifer nodded, sliding his hands into his pockets. "Yeah. He won't be botherin' you no more."

He sat down next to her on the bench, leaving a small gap between them. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Sunday studied him, her lips twitching as if she was trying to hold back a smile.

Lucifer raised an eyebrow at her. "What?" he asked, his deep voice tinged with curiosity.

Sunday shook her head, a small laugh escaping her. "Nothing," she said, though the amused glint in her eyes betrayed her.

Lucifer leaned back, his gaze fixed on her. "Nah, it ain't nothin'. What's funny?"

She shrugged, her smile widening. "It's just... I didn't know you had a whole 'knight in shining armor' side to you. It's kinda cute."

Lucifer snorted, shaking his head. "Cute, huh? That what you call it?"

Sunday nodded, her curls bouncing. "Yep. Big, scary Lucifer out here rescuing damsels in distress. Who would've thought?"

Lucifer smirked, leaning closer to her. "Ain't nobody say I was scary."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Not to me but others find you scary."

Lucifer shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Maybe. But it worked, didn't it?"

Sunday rolled her eyes, standing up and stretching. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks for saving me, hero."

Lucifer watched her, his gaze softening. "You're welcome, weirdo."

As she started to walk away, he stood up and fell into step beside her. "Where you headed?" he asked.

"Nowhere special," she replied, glancing up at him. "Why? You tryna tag along?"

Lucifer shrugged, his hands still in his pockets. "Maybe. Depends on if you're gonna be annoyin' or not."

Sunday gasped, feigning offense. "Annoying? Me? Never."

He chuckled, the sound deep and warm. "We'll see about that."

They walked together in companionable silence for a while, the afternoon sun casting long shadows on the pavement. Sunday glanced down at their hands, and on a whim, she reached out and laced her fingers through his.

Lucifer tensed slightly at the unexpected contact, his heart skipping a beat. He looked down at their joined hands, then up at her face. She was smiling softly, her gaze fixed ahead.

"What's this about?" he asked, his voice quieter than usual.

Sunday shrugged, her thumb brushing against his. "Just felt like it."

Lucifer didn't pull away. Instead, he tightened his grip slightly, his large hand enveloping hers. "You're somethin' else, you know that?"

She grinned up at him. "Takes one to know one."

Lucifer chuckled, shaking his head. "You're lucky I don't mind your crazy ass."

"Oh, please. You love it," she teased, bumping her shoulder against his.

Lucifer smirked, glancing down at her. "Maybe."

As they continued walking, Sunday started swinging their joined hands playfully. "Hey, can I ask you something?" she said, glancing up at him.

"Depends. Is it dumb?"

"Probably," she admitted with a laugh.

"Alright, shoot."

She tilted her head, her expression curious. "How do you afford that big ol' house you live in? You don't even work."

Lucifer raised an eyebrow at her. "Why you tryna pocket-watch me?"

"I'm not!" she protested, though her curiosity was evident. "I'm just wondering. You live like a king, and you don't do anything. It's suspicious."

He smirked, shaking his head. "Ain't no secret. My pops left me a lotta money when he got locked up."

Sunday's eyes widened. "Wait, for real? Like, rich rich?"

Lucifer shrugged. "Yeah, somethin' like that."

She squinted at him, her lips twitching with amusement. "You sure you're not in the mafia?"

Lucifer burst out laughing, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. "The mafia? Girl, you watch too many movies."

"Hey, I'm just saying. It'd explain a lot."

He shook his head, a grin on his face. "You're ridiculous."

Sunday grinned back at him, her eyes sparkling. "No I'm not."

Lucifer glanced down at her, his smirk softening into something more genuine.

For a moment, the world seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them walking hand in hand, their laughter echoing in the air.

note; funfact— this book originally had thirteen chapters