Antidepressant Withdrawal (3)

Aaron and other more patients did a movie night every few days; a tradition no one exactly knew who had started but everyone loved to do it all the same. Twice a week a patient gets to choose which movie to watch based on their alphabetical order─ if someone stays for a short period of time, they get benefits to choose first than others. The good thing was that nothing stopped you if you wanted to leave or to decline your turn. It was an optional time to bond and have a good time.

This time, it was Lisa's turn. She had passed her previous chances before but this time didn't; Aaron thought that it had something to do with the fact that she was going to leave soon.

She smirked as she stood up, pulling from her bag some romantic comedy movie for all to watch. She had told him before that she just wanted to cheer up the new patients with the comments she knew would come out from watching it. Aaron usually didn't stay because of the crowd but he was on friendly terms with Lisa (He was trying to make friends again), so he sat with everyone else on the seat that was behind every other, even though he's been feeling awful for the last couple of days.

He was getting used to, though, it was becoming common for him to feel really tired lately and not be able to sleep; when he finally did, nightmares awoke him covered in sweat. There was some kind of irony in the fact that he could only find some kind of peace in the Devil's arms. Lucifer only needed to brush his fingertips on his forehead for him to fall into a dreamless sleep.

Because of the headache, he couldn't concentrate on the words really well, so he merely settled in just hearing the background noise of the movie. He didn't even dare to try to eat some popcorn, afraid of throwing up. He still didn't know how anyone hadn't caught him yet in one of his frequent trips to the bathroom. But even with the pain he still found the strength to turn his head slightly when he heard the familiar flutter of wings.

"Hello, Aaron." Lucifer smiled as he made a chair appear next to his and sat, positioning his arm loosely behind Aaron's shoulders. He frowned at it for a second before he rolled with it and decided to use Lucifer's cold skin at his advantage. "Are we watching something good?"

"Well, Lisa told me it was really funny," he whispered.

Aaron would usually put his act and interact with others even with the headache, but he liked more to see them all like this from afar, hearing the laughs of the people in front of him as they mocked about some cheesy lines; and besides, there wasn't any nurse present. Michelle was in charge that night and she had a sixth sense that made her know when someone was doing something suspicious, so it wasn't necessary for her to be with them every single moment.

Aaron unconsciously started to lean more into his Lucifer's shoulder, closing his eyes and wanting to escape from the heat that even in the cool night seemed to be in the room.

He felt how a hand started to brush his forehead at the same time a soft weight rested on him, the contrast making him shiver against his will at the first contact. "You're burning, Aaron," Lucifer said when Aaron moved away.

Aaron sighed and turned towards Lucifer's face, leaning closer into him, not wanting him to think that the touch was uncomfortable. "Was that your wing?"

"Yes," he whispered back, lips close to his hairline. "Does it bother you?"

"It's okay, I kind of like it." Aaron closed his eyes against Lucifer's shoulder as he let the other watch the movie; every once in a while feeling fluttering touches ghosting absently the free skin they could find.

Aaron had noticed in the time he had known Lucifer that he was a touchy being, using always small touches to obtain his attention or to simply communicate something. He remembered having read somewhere about how tact could be used as a method of manipulation. He didn't know if Lucifer did it with that end in mind or if after having spent so much time secluded from everyone in that Jail, he now craved it. Something told him that it was a combination of both.

Lucifer's first touches had a purpose on them, but he couldn't remember when that changed. He was now always considerate and gentle around him even if it wasn't in his nature to be like that, just doing it for Aaron's comfort, knowing how uncomfortable he could get because of them. Though sometimes he even looked surprised when he did something too gentle.

He had tried to deny it at first, but it was becoming more evident with every day it passed that their relationship was evolving. Aaron didn't mind. A thing that may be a problem for most but, well, he liked Lucifer, someone whom he had now become friends with. He still didn't know if what he felt was love or if he was just trying to please Lucifer by giving him whatever he wanted so he wouldn't leave him. A thing which in this case seemed to be Aaron.

And that only made him feel guiltier.

The only serious relationship he had was with Erika and it also started from a friendship. Aaron had always admired her; she was kind and gentle since the beginning, with a strong and charming personality. She knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to achieve her goals. She was so secure in herself and had been there when he needed support, adding light into his life. Aaron loved her. But the circumstances were now different because Aaron wasn't fine; he knew that Lucifer was someone extremely powerful with limited patience who wouldn't wait until he was okay, that if he ever did.

Lucifer startled him when he stroked the back of his head. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," he croaked, realizing that he was starting to sweat. He cleared his dry throat to repeat the answer. "Yes."

"I don't believe you, you know." Aaron didn't bother to argue. "Perhaps you need some sleep? You look weary, Aaron."

Aaron hadn't mentioned to him how he couldn't sleep really well without him at his side to put him down; Lucifer was busier than before, keeping the demons in line as he tried to figure who was the one leading others against him; Aaron didn't want to trouble him more. He looked around with blurry eyes and saw the concentrated faces of the others as they kept watching the movie. He wanted to stay and be around more time but he did feel kind of tired and wanted to take advantage of Lucifer's presence that night.

He stood up. "Sorry, guys, but I'll go to bed early."

Shushing sounds and popcorn were thrown in his direction because he interrupted as one of the characters was declaring their undying love. Aaron laughed silently and held a hand in Lucifer's direction to stop him in case he decided to do something about this attack. But the chair he created from thin air was gone, as was his owner. He panicked for a moment but stopped when Lisa walked towards him, a smirk on her lips.

"Told you that they were going to love it."

"Yeah, you did." Aaron smiled, pushing a little popcorn from his shoulder. She didn't seem to notice his nervousness - her attention was still on the TV.

"Everyone says that they hate sappy movies but once they're down to it..." She shrugged.

"I think that now I owe you one pudding?"

"Tomorrow I'll haunt you until that pudding is in my hands." She then winked and returned towards her seat, the couch made a sound, which gained her some popcorn throwing too.