Hot, Fiery, and Socially Anxious

A Short Story - Hot, Fiery, and Socially Anxious

Penulis: Grace Prikasih – UKI

“Demon, demon, hear my call. Please accompany this lonely soul… to a Ball?

I need your help, so hear my plea. I’m begging you, Help me!!!”

What a Coincidence We both Have...

This is… a nightmare coming true.

I just receive a message from my sister… her invite to her wedding. Don’t get me wrong, I was thrilled! She finally tie the knot after 5 years. But…

“Bring a date Luna!”
-Soriel.

A date.
Right.
Sure. Let me just go outside and— oh wait, I can’t even order food without mentally rehearsing my lines twelve times!

H-How can she do this to mee?! Nevermind a boyfriend, I hardly have any friends!

I know my sister means well, she really does. But the comparison can’t be more uncannily obvious…
She’s perfect — graceful, confident, the kind of person who somehow sparkles under sunlight like she’s in a shampoo commercial.

And me?
I’m the weird little gremlin sibling who hisses at human interaction.
I can’t even hold eye contact for more than 3 seconds.

And so, after crying for what’s like… 3 hours and a tub of ice cream later, I honestly STILL don’t know what to do!

That is, until I a thought popped in my head.

If I can’t bring human… maybe a demon would be fine? I-I mean, she doesn’t specify what kind of “date” I should be bringing so…
.
.
.
A summoning circle and 5 scented candles later (because anxiety smells better with cocoa), I start chanting.

Normally, I’d just steer away from supernatural things but… Desperate times makes people goes stupid.

And I, Luna Scarlett, am the Queen of Stupid Things™.

And then — the air cracks. The lights flicker. The floor actually glows.

“I-It’s working!” I exclaim.

And that’s when I realize:
“Oh no. It’s working.”

Because standing in the middle of my ruined carpet is a man who looks like he crawled out of a perfume ad for “Eternal Damnation for Men.”

Perfect suit. Cold, red eyes. Smile sharp enough to slice my self-esteem in half.

He looks at me.
I look at him.
And before I can even speak, he sighs.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

I just stand there struck because I forgot the very thing I’m bad at.

Interaction.

What. Have. You. Done to yourself, Luna?! You can barely talk to normal human, what makes you think talking to a demon any easier?! My brain scolded me as I look at the demon.

Not only I manage to summon a demon, I manage to summon THE Lucifer Morningstar, THE Lord of Pride HIMSELF, OUT OF SHEER DESPERATION!

AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO EXPLAIN WHY I SUMMONED HIM!

“U-Uhm… I-I…” Flustered and nervous, I avoid eye contact immediately, face flushed, stammering to the max. The were NOT kidding when they say demons are dangerous, why are they so damn handsome for no reason?!

And then, the stupidest move I ever done in my life.
“P-Please pretend to be my boyfriend!!” I say while I kneeled in a dogeza position at him.

What. The. Heck. Luna?!

I lift my head slightly to peek at him… e-eek-! H-he’s looking at me so scarily! A-Am I doomed?! Is he going to smite me?! oh no, oh no, this was a mistake-

“Sure.”

Eh?

I lift my head fully and look at him in disbelief.
“huh?” My eyes blink, once, twice. I just stare at him while he stare back blankly before he smirks

“What’s with the shocked face, mortal? Expected a different answer?”

My brain just stops before I scramble up to my feet and look down nervously.
“B-but is it really okay? I-I mean I didn’t think it’ll be that easy, and I-” I just start to ramble and spiraling out before he shush me with a finger on my lips.

“What a noisy mortal, huh. And here I thought you were bad at interaction.”

He smirks again before taking his hand back and crossing his arms.

“But, I do have to remind you that your wish has a price.”

Oh.
Right.
I almost forgot about that.
Of course this is contractual, he’s a demon.

Stammering as I look at him, I gulp, “T-Then… w-what do you need of me? B-Blood? Money? Soul? I-” He shush me again with a finger.

And then he grasps my chin gently in his hand and tilt my head up to meet his gaze

“You will come with me to accompany me to a friend’s party.”

…
Did…
Did I hear that right?

“Accompany you…? As in…”

“Yes. I need a partner. Just to shut up a certain Lord of Lust. A fair trade wouldn’t you think? A date for a date?”

He smirks again, And I am… trying not to burst from embarrassment from his gesture.

I manage to squeak a high pitched ‘yes’ before I scrambled back to a corner before my heart giving up.

So now I’m stuck in a contract with a demon who’s dangerously charming, painfully confident, and very much enjoys making me flustered.

And somehow… I think that’s still better than going to the wedding alone.

A Pretender to One Another

On Soriel’s wedding…

I arrive with Lucifer right on time. He teleported us because he refuse to take the cab as he deemed it ‘unworthy for a demon of his caliber’ he says. Not that I complain, it’s efficient.

I was about to enter ahead before he clear his throat and eye me down.

“Hmm~? Here I thought you needed a date, but you’re going ahead? tsk, tsk~”

Not going to lie, he made me flinch and turn away fluster.
“I-I didn’t mean- I-I just-“
I stammer, because what else should I do? I never done this kind of thing!

“I-I never… have someone with me so I… don’t know how to really… act…” I shyly admit to him while avoiding eyes contact. I can feel his gaze boring into my soul before I hear him chuckle and sigh

“How charmingly honest you are, dear.”

Oh.

In that moment, the blush in my face is burning hotter than the sun itself and redder than the ripest tomato.

And to make it worst, he takes my arm and loop it around his.

“You said I need to pretend~ Come now, your sister is waiting.”

And he whisked me away as we enter together.

At this point I think I made a mistake because so many people is looking at us.
Or rather, why am I accompanied by a stupidly handsome man. Some stare in disbelief, others in envy, the rest are strangely supportive.

And here I am, wanting to disappear from the attention. I can’t help but hunching my back slightly and stare down. I never like to be the center of attention, and me standing with him is spiking my anxiety.

Oh no, this is bad. Maybe I shouldn’t have come. Maybe I should’ve just came alone. Maybe I-

“Straighten your back will you. You’re going to give yourself backpain at this rate.”

His voice pierce my thoughts and make my look up at him. He already looking at him with a blank face, but there’s something in his expression that I notice.

Annoyance? No… something softer. I just can’t put a finger on it.

“Straighten your back and lift your chin dear. You’re walking with the Lord of Pride. Contract or not, I want my date to exude the same pride.”

His word is oddly… soothing? Gentle?? He didn’t… talk me down… or even sneer at my behaviour…
“…Right. Thank you…”

“Hardly something that need to be thanked about. I would expect no less for a human that ask me to be a rental boyfriend.”

My ears burns when he said that but… I mean, he’s not really wrong… I did make a pact with him in exchange for me accompanying him later…

“Right… yes… I almost forgot…” I mumble. But I stand straighter and lift my chin up to walk along with him.

“Hmph, these mortals don’t even know they’re in my presence. Such foolishness, they should be kneeling the moment I come in-“

Hearing his complain I grip his arm tighter and stammer out “W-w-w-wait! Don’t just say that out loud!”
I look at him pleadingly, “I-I mean, they don’t really know you’re a demon and… a-anywho, you’re still pretending to be human, so please don’t say anything like that!” I plead to him as he just sighs.

“Hmph. Fine then, these mortals live for another day.”

I sigh in relief at his admission.

Though over the next few hours, things has… been… unpredictable to say the least.

I should’ve anticipated it from the Pride demon but, I didn’t think he’ll be THIS bad around human custom! I’ve been trying to mediate his prideful temper around everyone. Which is draining my social energy a lot.

I even need to stop him before he can THINK about burning the waiter for bringing him lukewarm soup and stays with him. Or even stop him from straight up incinerate a child for bumping onto him.

From outsider perspective, I might look like a fussy girlfriend – hell, even my SISTER thought I was just being fussy and funny! I’m trying to calm down a literally lord of hell from BRINGING said hell into a damn wedding!

Still… as infuriating as he is, he never actually makes me feel small.
Sure, he teases, he flirts in ways that make my brain short-circuit, and he probably enjoys my discomfort a little too much — but he doesn’t make fun of it.
On the contrary in fact, I have to calm him down and physically cling to restrain him (despite being far, FAR weaker than he is. Which I can TELL he finds my effort amusing!) from lashing out in anger when guests start to talk about my awkwardness behind my back.

As the wedding come to its peak, and the night goes colder I started shivering. Even after all those moving to make sure Lucifer didn’t start a fight our even end someone for being annoying.

“I should’ve brought thicker jacket…” I mumble, half-whine into my hand as I cup it to my face, blowing warm air to warm it up to no avail.

(Rustle of fabrics)

A quiet gasp escapes my mouth as I feel soft, warm coat around me. Is this…

“Such foolish little girl. If you knew it’ll be colder soon, you should’ve wearing something with more coverage.”

I look up to Lucifer and blink, “You’re… giving me your coat…? B-But you’ll be cold-“
He cut me off with a scoff and a roll of his eyes

“Darling, I’m a demon, I am not bothered by mortal temperature.”

And then that smirk again.

“What a cute shade of red.”

And now he made me blush again. As much as I want to give the coat back, this place is very cold… and I just wrap myself more in it because it’s warm.

It… faintly smell like him… Like sandalwood and old books…

“Like my scent, little one?”

He whispers to my ears, making me jolt to reality from my zoning out. My face burns in embarrassment before I notice that… his arms are… around me?!
“E-Eh-?! S-Since when-?!”

“Since you were clinging to me for warmth.”

He muses with a smirk, and sure enough, I AM clinging onto him. I am practically NESSTLED against this man (demon? man? whatever) chest, shivering my pantaloons off.
“I-I didn’t mean to get so close-! I-I will get off-“

“Tsk- How noisy. Relax, darling, I have you. Sit still before you freeze yourself, I still need you to fulfill your end of the contract.”

He lifts me and puts me onto his lap, holding me close for the rest of my sister’s wedding.
Sure, there’s nothing technically wrong with that — plenty of couples are doing the same thing — but we’re not even a couple!
I’m so embarrassed I can feel my heart trying to break free from my ribcage and file for emotional distress.

Lucifer doesn’t say anything. He just sits there, perfectly composed, as if holding a panicking mortal like me is the most natural thing in the world. Then, absentmindedly, he starts tracing slow circles on my back — gentle, steady. A small, soothing motion I did not expect from the literal embodiment of Pride.

But… it’s nice.
Too nice.

For a fleeting second, the noise of the wedding fades — the laughter, the clinking glasses, the music. It’s just his warmth, his faint scent of something expensive and infernal, and the steady rhythm of my heart trying to outpace his calm breathing.

And then — it’s over.

The next morning, the leftover wedding cake has gone dry, Soriel’s off on her honeymoon, and my life is supposed to go back to normal. Except it doesn’t.
Because the contract isn’t over.

I promised him something in return.

Which is how I find myself standing before a mirror, wearing a dress Lucifer personally picked — because apparently, “humans shouldn’t embarrass the Avatar of Pride in public.” His words, not mine.

He appears beside me in that effortless, too-smooth way of his, adjusting his cufflinks like he’s preparing for world domination instead of a party.

“Ready, little mortal?” he says with a smirk.

I’m not. I’m absolutely not.
But I still nod.

Because tonight isn’t about me.
It’s his turn to face the music — and by music, I mean Asmodeus’s party.
And if Hell’s Lord of Lust throws a celebration, I have a feeling I’m about to discover a whole new definition of “social anxiety.”

The Party in Hell

At Asmodeus’s Party…

Asmodeus’s parties are always the same — loud, indulgent, and absolutely beneath me.

Gold firelight drips down obsidian walls, music thrums through the floor, and laughter curls in the air like smoke. Lust and vanity, hand in hand. Every corner reeks of desire and performance.

And yet here I am, attending it anyway.
Not because I care, of course. But because if I didn’t, Asmodeus would never let me hear the end of it.

“Lucifer Morningstar — The Great Avatar of Pride — too prudish to bring a date~♡”

He would have said, with that infuriating grin.

So I brought one.

And now the room goes silent when I enter.

Every eye turns to me — or rather, to her. The little mortal standing beside me, wide-eyed, draped in the silver dress I chose. She looks like she’s one breath away from bolting, and yet she doesn’t. She stands there, trembling, but refusing to move away from my side.

It’s strange, how that steadiness makes something tighten in my chest.

Asmodeus glides toward us, radiant and smug, his smile sharp enough to draw blood.

“Oh, Lucy~” he purrs, “you actually did bring someone! And she’s— oh, how precious~! You summoned yourself a kitten~?”

Luna flinches at his tone. The guests snicker. I can feel the heat rising — that familiar hum of wrath curling under my skin, begging to be unleashed.

How dare they.

Before I can open my mouth, she speaks.
“I-It’s nice to meet you, Lord Asmodeus.”

Her voice stutters, sure, but it’s steady enough to quiet the laughter. The Lust demon pauses, one eyebrow raised, clearly not expecting a mortal to speak to him directly — let alone with such polite composure.

The silence that follows is brief but deafening.

And for the first time in centuries, I find myself smiling — not the practiced, perfect smirk I wear like armor, but something small, real, and dangerous.

I wrap an arm loosely around her waist. Not as a show of possession, but as acknowledgment.

“You heard the lady,” I say smoothly. “Precious little thing just greet you. Feel the honor, Asmo.”

Asmodeus chuckles, but there’s a flicker of surprise in his eyes — and something like amusement, maybe even approval.

“Oh, Lucy… you’ve changed.”

Maybe I have.
Because instead of basking in the attention, I find myself watching Luna — how her hands still tremble, how her eyes dart around the room but never leave me for long. She doesn’t belong here, and yet she’s trying. For me.

And that… does something I cannot explain.

The rest of the night blurs into glitter and laughter. She smiles more than I expect. She even laughs once — a soft, uncertain sound that cuts through the noise like light. And for that one fragile moment, Hell itself feels a little less cold.

When the party finally fades into silence, Asmodeus catches my eye across the room, sharp as ever. He raises his glass in a toast.

“Careful, Pride,” he says, grinning. “You’re starting to look human.”

I don’t answer. Merely acknowledging it. I just tighten my hold on Luna’s hand and lead her away from the noise, from the staring eyes, from the endless masquerade.

Because for the first time in a very long time, I don’t need to prove anything.

I already have everything I need —
right here, trembling softly beside me.

Summoned Once, Staying Forever

After all was said and done, the contract should have ended there.
No more weddings, no more deals, no more shared glances between a human and a demon that should’ve never crossed paths.

But as Luna returned to her apartment — cold, quiet, and far too empty — she found it impossible to ignore the hollow ache in her chest. The silence pressed on her ears, the hum of the fridge mocking in its steadiness.

She sighed, dropping her coat onto the couch.
“Back to normal,” she whispered. “Right… Normal…”

Except normal didn’t usually come with a six-foot-tall demon lounging on said couch.

Lucifer looked perfectly at ease, one arm draped over the backrest, the other holding a glass of something that definitely wasn’t from her fridge. His red eyes gleamed like polished amber as he greeted her with a lazy smirk.

“You’re late.”

Luna froze mid-step, startled like a kitten. “You— you’re still here?!”

“Naturally,” he replied smoothly, “I realized I’d forgotten something important.”

“W-w-w-what could you possibly forget?!” she snapped, flustered.

“You.”

Her brain short-circuited. “Th—that’s not funny.” Blush slowly creeping on the face.

“Who said I was joking?”

Lucifer stood, moving with the slow confidence of someone who knew exactly the effect he had. His presence filled the room — warmth and danger mingled like smoke and silk. Luna instinctively took a step back, only for him to close the distance, stopping just close enough that she could feel the heat radiating off him.

He tilted his head, voice low.

“You look adorable when you’re nervous.”

Luna’s face burned crimson. “D-Don’t say things like that!”

“Why not? You summoned me, little mortal. It’s only fair I haunt you properly.”

Her heart skipped — traitorously. “Y-You’re impossible.”

“And you,” he said, tone softening, “are far too easy to fluster.”

Lucifer chuckled quietly, then — almost without thought — reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from her face. His fingers lingered for a moment too long, grazing her cheek.

“You did well at that wedding,” he murmured. “You were… brave.”

The sincerity caught her off guard. Her throat tightened. “I-I just didn’t want you to punch anyone…”

“You stopped me,” he said, a smile tugging at his lips. “No one’s ever done that before. More so when they looked like a kitten trying to hold back a dragon on a leash.” He smirks.

They stood there for a heartbeat — two mismatched souls caught in something neither planned for.

When he finally pulled away, there was a glint of something sharper in his gaze — possessive, restrained, but unmistakable.

“You know,” Lucifer said softly, “in Hell, when a demon finds someone worth keeping, they don’t call it a contract.”

Luna blinked. “Then what do they call it?”

His smirk deepened.

“A courtship.”

Her breath hitched. “Y-you’re not serious—”

“Deadly.” He leaned in, his breath brushing her ear. “I don’t chase often, Luna Scarlett. But when I do… I don’t stop halfway.”

Her heart was pounding so loud she swore he could hear it. “You— you barely know me.”

“And yet,” he said, straightening, eyes gleaming like sunlight through amber, “I already know I don’t want anyone else standing by your side at the next wedding.”

The silence stretched, charged and fragile.

Luna swallowed hard, and squeak out. “N-Next wedding…? W-Whose…?”

Lucifer chuckled — low, amused, and devastatingly fond.