Chapter Twenty-Three: Betting:

Lucifer and God sat in a café with their tea. The man in black looked over at the man in white.

“Things have been unfolding nicely, haven’t they?” he asked.

“Yes, it has,” the man in white replied. He took another sip of his green tea. The man in black stirred in more sugar.

“So, which side will she pick?” he asked.

“Who can say?” the other man asked. The man in black frowned.

“Oh, come on,” he said. “Surely, you know the answer.”

“Sorry,” Kami answered. “Even if I knew, I’m not at liberty to tell you the outcome.” Lucifer pouted at him.

“Figures,” he mumbled. “You always do this!” Kami smiled as he set down his cup.

“It can’t be helped,” he responded. “Now, I have a question ask you.” The man in black raised an eyebrow at him.

“What would that be?” he asked.

“Which side do you think she’ll pick?” the man in white asked. Lucifer smirked at him as he finished off his tea.

“My side, obviously,” he bragged. “Can’t you tell?” Kami gave him his own smirk.

“My, my, my,” he muttered. “Just as corky as ever.” Lucifer narrowed his eyes at him.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked. The man in white swirled his cup around on the table.

“Humans are a strange breed,” he said. “Puppets are a boring, you know? I didn’t want puppets, so I gave them free will. It makes things more interesting that way.”

“Of course it does,” Lucifer pointed out. “You would be bored up there deciding every time all the time.” A waitress dressed in a Santa suite came by their table with a tray of green tea cheesecake.

“Thank you, darling,” Lucifer said. The waitress bowed and walked away. Kami looked at him with an eyebrow raised.

“You sure love sweets, don’t you?” he asked. Lucifer picked up his fork and took a bite.

“Sure do,” he said. “Which reminds me, who do you bet she’ll pick?” Kami sat back in his chair and pondered this question.

“It’s hard to say,” he admitted. “I thought she would go to you, but she’s certainly unpredictable. I want to say my side, but that could change, couldn’t it?” Lucifer frowned at him.

“So, what’s your answer?” he asked. The man in white shrugged at him.

“I’ll have her coming to me then,” he said at last. Lucifer frowned at him, unimpressed.

“You could’ve said that from the beginning, you know?” he asked.

“Yes, yes,” Kami answered. He finished up his tea and looked at his watch. “She should be getting to the next point right about now.” The man in white glanced over at his counterpart in black.

“Say, I’ll make a wager on this,” he said. “Loser has to pick up the tabs.” Lucifer narrowed his eyes at him.

“Plus tip?” he asked.

“Always,” Kami replied. The man in black smirked at him.

“Deal,” he said. They shook hands on it. “Want some cheesecake?” Lucifer asked. “It’s really good.” Kami shrugged his shoulders.

“Sure,” he said. “Don’t mind if I do.” The man in white helped himself to a slice as the next round began.