"What can I get you to drink?" the waitress asked.

"Orange juice," Serah said right away.

Lucifer continued to just stare at his menu.

"For you, darling?" the waitress asked.

It wasn't until Serah whispered his name that he realized the woman was talking to him.

"Luce?" Serah said. "To drink?"

"Water," he responded, staring at Serah. "And an apple to eat."

Her brow furrowed. "Just an apple?"

"Yes," he confirmed. "An apple."

It wasn't on the menu, but he was certain a place like this had one.

She blinked a few times, shrugging it off, as she took his menu and placed it on top of hers. She ordered for the both of them… just an apple for him, while she ordered a vast array of things.

The waitress wandered away then, taking much too long to leave them in peace. Serah regarded him warily, but remained quiet until after their drinks were brought to the table. Sticking a straw in her glass, she took a sip, eyes never leaving his. "Can I ask you something, Luce?"

He couldn't help but smile at the sound of his name on her lips. She'd said it twice now since they sat down. "You can ask whatever you'd like."

"How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Disappear," she said, her voice quiet. "One second you're right there, and then you're gone. It's like… magic. You're not a wizard, are you?"

He laughed. "What do you know about wizards?"

She shrugged, her face flushing as she averted her eyes, as if embarrassed. "I read books."

"Do you?"

"Yes."

"Just because you read it doesn't make it real."

"I know," she said, fidgeting in her seat. "I know wizards aren't real, but sometimes I question whether you are, too. Until that waitress spoke to you, I half-expected her to not see you. Nobody else ever seems to… and I just wonder why that is. It's unnatural."

Intuitive. Luce stared at her, surprised by her bluntness. She laid her cards all out on the table and asked to see his hand, a hand he wasn't quite ready to show. "Unnatural."

"Yes," she said. "Like… not normal."

Luce watched in silence as she took a sip of her orange juice, her eyes peeled to him.

"That's because I'm not," he said. "I'm not normal."

"What are you then?"

He laughed dryly. "An abomination, apparently."

She rolled her eyes, like he'd been joking. If she only knew…

Neither of them spoke again until after their food arrived—two plates for Serah, a lone apple for Luce. He picked it up, rolling it around in his palm as he stared at it. It looked quite similar to the one Eve ate that day in the garden, the skin the same shade of deep red.

"So," Serah hedged as she started to eat. "How is it you knew me?"

"Long story."

"Shorten it."

Luce let out a deep sigh. "Work."

Her eyes widened as she slowly chewed a bite, staring at him. Luce realized after a moment that she expected him to go on.

Apparently that answer had been too short.

"We were working on different sides," he explained, trying to word is so she'd understand without actually telling her the truth about it. It was a fine line to walk, one he was sure he was going to fuck up. "It was your job to try to bring me around to your side."

"Different sides of what?" she asked. "What do you do for work, Luce?"

"Nothing now," he said. "I was, uh… let go."

"Okay, so what did you do?"

"Babysat."

That answer made her laugh, again like she thought he was joking, but he'd meant it. It was glorified babysitting down in the pit.

"I supervised the imprisoned," he said. "And you worked for those who make it their job to keep the world safe, to make sure the bad was kept locked away."

"So you were like, a warden," she said. "And I was, what? One of the powers that be?"

"Uh…" Luce laughed at her wording. She couldn't have been more right if she tried. "Basically."

"Interesting," she said. "And did I sway you to our side?"

"Debatable," he said. "You put up a strong argument, though, which is a testament of my being here."

"Wow." She ate some more in silence, the air between them comfortable. Luce just watched her, not interrupting, saying nothing. Eventually she pushed a plate aside and cleared her throat. "You know none of that makes any sense to me, right? I'm still just as confused."

"I know you are," he said quietly. "If it's any consolation, I'm confused, too."

"Okay, new tactic," she said, pointing at him with her fork. "Since my memory's shot and you said you'd give anything to have a clean slate, why don't we start there?"

"Okay."

"Okay, good." She nodded firmly. "So tell me something."

"What?"

"Anything," she said. "Just tell me something, whatever you'd like me to know about you… no matter what it is. We're starting from scratch."

"Uh…" Luce wasn't quite sure what to say. She was taking this all in stride, way better than he expected her to take it.