A Picnic for Two

Lucifer had no idea why he was so nervous. He and Fara had already confessed their feelings to each other just a few days ago, and she had smiled at him so sweetly, told him she had liked him too.... So why did his heart feel like it was about to burst as he set down the picnic blanket?

He took a deep breath, trying to shake off these pesky nerves. This was fine. It was just a picnic. He had planned everything down to the smallest detail: a nice, quiet spot in the sun on a hillside, a basket full of food he had carefully chosen, and even a few flowers he had picked on the way here. It was simple. Relaxed.

So why did he feel like he was about to go into battle?

“Lucifer,” Fara called gently, and his ears flicked up at the sound of her voice. She was standing nearby, watching him with that soft, amused expression she often wore when he got too in his head. “You look tense.”

He huffed, glancing away. “I don’t look tense.”

“You do.” Fara’s tail flicked as she stepped closer, her white fur glowing under the afternoon light. She settled onto the blanket, watching him expectantly. “Come sit with me.”

Lucifer hesitated for only a second before joining her, lowering himself onto the blanket. He focused on opening the basket, pulling out the food: freshly baked bread, slices of fruit, and a little container of honey. Anything to distract himself from the warmth that spread through him when she looked at him like that....

Fara giggled, leaning a little closer. “You’re still nervous, aren’t you?”

Lucifer sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I don’t know why.”

Fara tilted her head, a playful smile forming on her lips. “Maybe because you like me?”

Lucifer scoffed, but his ears twitched, betraying him. “Obviously.”

Fara laughed, and the sound made his chest feel light. She reached out and plucked a piece of fruit from the basket, holding it up toward him. “Here,” she said, her voice soft.

Lucifer hesitated for a moment before leaning in, taking the fruit from her paw. Their eyes met, and something warm and unspoken passed between them.

Fara smiled, resting her chin on her paws. “You know, I’m really glad we told each other how we felt.”

Lucifer swallowed, feeling a strange kind of relief wash over him. “Yeah. Me too.”

For a while, they just sat there, eating in comfortable silence. The breeze was gentle, rustling through the trees, and the scent of wildflowers drifted around them. It was peaceful, the kind of quiet Lucifer never really let himself enjoy before.

He glanced at Fara, watching as she dipped a piece of bread into the honey. The sunlight caught in her fur, making her glow in a way that made his heart ache.

Before he could second guess himself, he reached out, brushing a stray lock of fur from her face. It was a small gesture, but Fara blinked at him, surprised. Then, her expression softened, and she leaned into his touch ever so slightly.

Lucifer’s heart pounded. “Fara…”

She hummed in response, tilting her head slightly.

“I...I don’t know how to do this,” he admitted. “The whole… ‘being with someone’ thing.”

Fara smiled, her tail flicking playfully. “You’re doing just fine.”

Lucifer let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Fara nudged his paw lightly. “Besides, I think we’ll figure it out together.”

Lucifer chuckled, shaking his head. “You always make things sound so easy.”

Fara grinned. “That’s because it is.”

Lucifer wasn’t sure about that, but he figured, with her by his side, maybe she was right.

And as the afternoon sun warmed their fur, and Fara reached for his paw without hesitation, he decided that this moment, this quiet, simple moment, was perfect.

Maybe love didn’t have to be complicated? Maybe it could be as easy as a picnic on a warm afternoon, with someone who made everything feel a little less heavy.