Kinley couldn't believe it. Those detectives, forensic scientist, and even the child seemed to be sticking with the Devil – even after seeing his true face. Even after seeing the Devil's true colors and staring Hell right in the face, their loyalty hadn't wavered. They must've been more far gone than he realized.
Such a shame.
If the demons' report was to be believed, their visit with their King had been unsuccessful. Working with demons… he despised the fact that he had to stoop so low. But it was the lesser of two evils. After all, what better way could there be to get the Devil to go back to Hell than through the influence of his own demons? So much for Plan A.
He just couldn't understand how such innocents could side with the Devil. Maybe they weren't so innocent. That might be an explanation for the adults, but the child… she had to be an innocent. Unless by just all of their very associations with the Adversary caused them to be corrupted. Or perhaps the Devil had some sort of hold over them all. That had to be the explanation. If only he had that book that had been in Wilson's possession, it might help explain some things. He only had time to obtain the coin from the precinct lab before his presence in the station was questioned. It was amazing what wearing the white collar could accomplish. Even now, the effects he had enacted on the Devil by activating the coin were starting to wear off. It seemed the coin might just be a one-trick pony.
With a deep exhale, he lazily spun the coin on the desk in front of him. It clattered to a stop, landing on the emblazoned pentagram. Kinley wiped a frustrated hand over his face. How was he going to send the Devil back to Hell on his own if the Devil's own demons couldn't accomplish it? He had to stop the prophecy. The Devil could not find his first love.
What now?
He dropped his hand from his face in a sudden realization. The woman detective seemed especially worried about the Devil. Granted that could've been because her daughter was in the Great Beast's presence, but it seemed more likely that she was worried about both her daughter and Lucifer. Could it be? Could this detective be the Devil's first love? Lucifer had been to Earth many times but had never stayed in one location for so long. He could have this Detective under some sort of spell or even less likely but completely feasible, the Devil could've fallen in love with her.
If that were true, the Devil has already found his first love and it was only a matter of time for evil to be released. If he couldn't get the Devil to return to Hell, he could at least take his first love out of the equation and ultimately stop the prophecy. How much time did he have?
He looked up with a renewed hope. Perhaps He would provide him with an answer soon.
~*~
Chloe rested her head on the passenger side window as their little family made their way to Lux. Once they made it outside of the storage facility, they all quickly realized that they had no transport to get to Lucifer's place. It's not like they could just call a cab. Plus, it had to at least be 1 or 2 in the morning. Luckily, Ella wasted no time in finding and hotwiring them a ride.
"Glad my old hobby's good for something," Ella had commented before they all piled into the car.
Since Ella hotwired the car, they collectively decided she would just drive – mostly because Lucifer had refused to drive such a ghastly looking vehicle. Chloe ushered Trixie into the backseat, followed by Dan. Lucifer got into the backseat on the driver's side so the girl was sandwiched between her two favorite men. Chloe got into the passenger seat up front and once Lucifer scooted down as best he could in an attempt to be out of sight by any potential passersby, they were off to Lux.
Chloe twisted in her seat to look in the back. Trixie's excitement to have a "Sleepover at Lucifer's!" was no match for her tiredness. The young girl had fallen asleep with her head resting on her dad's arm. Dan caught Chloe's gaze and gave her a small smile. They'd get through this together. Chloe then looked to Lucifer. He didn't look at all comfortable as he was crouched down in his seat. He had his arms folded with his hands tucked under his armpits, trying to make himself as small as possible so if anyone were to look into the backseat, they might just not see him. Streetlights passed over his red head as they drove. Chloe could see he had his eyes closed.
He was the Devil.
All this time, Lucifer had told her, but she would just dismiss them as metaphors – as his truth. But he really was the Devil. She just couldn't equate the Lucifer she knew and what history had said the Devil was in her head. They seemed like completely two separate entities. But which was to be believed?
Ella slowly came to a stop.
"Are we there?" Dan whispered. He didn't want to wake Trixie (and possibly Lucifer if he had indeed fallen asleep).
"No, we're a couple blocks out," Ella whispered back, "We ran out of gas… At least this hunk of junk got us this far."
"Are we there yet?" Trixie rubbed her sleep-laden eyes as she sat up straighter and let out a yawn.
"Not yet, Monkey, but we aren't far," Chloe replied.
"Why did we stop then?" Trixie asked as she looked out the car window.
"Out of gas," Ella replied quietly. She shifted in her seat and looked for a street sign, "But we are only a couple blocks away. We could all just walk the rest of the way."
"What about-?" Chloe looked to Lucifer whose eyes were still closed. Perhaps he had fallen asleep. "It might be 2:30 in the morning, but Lux will probably still be packed. We can't have all his patrons see Lucifer like this."
"Lucifer?" Trixie slowly patted Lucifer's arm to gently wake him up.
"Fetch me the goat!" Lucifer jerked awake before looking down at Trixie. He furrowed his non-existent brow in confusion at the young girl before the events of the night came flooding back to his now awake mind.
"This isn't my place," Lucifer observed as he looked out the car window.
"We ran out of gas," Ella said again, "We were just going to walk the rest of the way, but…"
"But what?" Lucifer wasn't following.
Ella gestured to her own face to get the point across.
Ah. Right. He couldn't exactly let his patrons see him in his current state.
"You all can head to my penthouse and I'll catch up," Lucifer suggested.
"I don't want to split up," Trixie shook her head, grasping Lucifer's arm as if he weren't in her sight, he'd disappear. Those demons threatening to take Lucifer back to Hell had more of an effect on her than she thought.
"Maybe we can sneak Lucifer past everybody by hiding his face somehow," Dan shrugged.
"If I can refrain from putting a bag over your head, I'd hope you'd extend me that same courtesy," Lucifer quipped.
Dan rolled his eyes.
Chloe bit her lip in thought.
"The Prohibition tunnels! Lucifer, didn't you say that there were Prohibition tunnels running all under Lux? Maybe we can use those."
"Brilliant idea, Detective," Lucifer beamed. His smile may have looked different with his Devil Face in place with his yellowed teeth and cracked lips, but Chloe could've sworn she could still see those precious eye crinkles through his red, leathery scars.
With that plan in place, the five of them abandoned their borrowed car and headed for the Prohibition tunnels under Lux. Lucifer led the way while keeping to the shadows and out of sight of any passersby. After crossing the temporary setback of the tunnels being bricked up ("Celestial strength comes in handy sometimes, Detective."), they found themselves in Lux's parking garage.
"Now how are we gonna get you past everybody to get up to your penthouse?" Dan asked once they reached the service elevator that would take them to the main floor of the club.
"I'll find my way up there," Lucifer assured them, "Trust me. You lot just take my personal lift and I'll meet you up there."
"But how…?" Chloe asked as he gently led them all into the service elevator before stepping out of it.
"Trust me, Detective," Lucifer said as his scarred lips formed a small (and what he hoped was a reassuring) smile even in his Devilish visage. He quickly looked to a worried looking Trixie, "We'll only be separated for a few minutes, Urchin. I promise. I'll see you up there."
The doors closed on the service elevator separating the four of them from the Devil. Not one patron spared a second glance at the three tired adults and child making their way into the club and toward the main elevator to Lucifer's penthouse. A tiny ding indicated their arrival to their desired floor.
Ella let out a relieved sigh once the doors opened, "Man, I've never been so happy to be at Lucifer's place."
Slowly, they all made their way off the elevator.
"How is Lucifer supposed to get past all those club-goers without them all seeing him?" Dan commented as he made his way straight for the leather couch before promptly flopping back on to it.
"He said he would," Chloe said, "I'm sure he'll figure it out."
"Maybe he's got a secret entrance or something he doesn't want us to know about," Ella suggested before plopping down right next to Dan.
Trixie stepped out of her mom's hold on her shoulders as she took a moment and looked around in awe at the space, having never had the pleasure of being up there before. He had a piano up here! And were those stairs leading up to his bedroom? He really was a King. She looked around once more before her eyes landed on a silhouetted figure on the balcony (Lucifer had a balcony too!).
"Lucifer!" Trixie ran toward the balcony.
"Trixie!" Chloe reached out for her daughter, not seeing what caught her attention, only to see her run toward the balcony's doors and slide it open for Lucifer. Chloe blinked. How did he get out there?
"Thank you, Urchin," Lucifer thanked Trixie for opening the door for him though it was unnecessary given his proclivities with locks. As they say, it's the thought that counts.
"How'd you get out there?" Ella twisted in her seat as Lucifer entered the room and Trixie slowly closed the balcony door behind him.
"I said I'd meet you all up here," Lucifer said as he headed toward a bookshelf.
"Yes, but how'd you get out there?" Ella repeated, standing up and pointing out toward the balcony, "What, you got another secret elevator out there or something?"
"Not quite," Lucifer said. He looked to Chloe. She was looking at him like a puzzle she couldn't quite solve. At least it was better than repulsion or fear.
"I flew up here, Miss Lopez."
"Oh… right," Ella understood.
"You flew?" Chloe furrowed her brows.
"Cool! Can we go flying?! Mom! Can Lucifer take me flying?" Trixie's tiredness seemed to have vanished at the prospect of flying with Lucifer like Superman.
Ignoring Trixie's exuberant bouncing by his side in the hope that he'd take her flying, his focus was only on his partner; Lucifer explained, "Yes, Detective… I told you I'd find my way up here. I just had my own method of doing so… via flight."
"Lucifer has wings," Ella came up next to Chloe behind the couch where Dan was lying back, "It goes with the territory of being an Archangel."
But I thought you didn't have any wings. Chloe wanted to say but she just stood staring at the enigma that was her partner.
"Wait… could you have just flown up here from the car? Did you even need to take the tunnels?" Ella turned Lucifer's attention to her.
"Where would the fun be in that?" Lucifer remarked with a slight smirk.
"Lucifer! Can we go flying?" Trixie pulled on his sleeve.
"Not tonight," Lucifer shook his scarred head.
Trixie sagged in disappointment. But he had said "Not tonight" and not a flat out "NO" – so maybe there was hope for a trip another night.
"Monkey, come here," Chloe beckoned her daughter to her, "Leave Lucifer alone."
"Yes, I believe it's a great deal past your bedtime, Child," Lucifer said and looked to each of his friends. Their exhaustion was evident in all their faces.
"Perhaps you all should retire for the evening," Lucifer suggested and looked back at his bookshelf, "I can see if I can get a jump on our research into my predicament."
"Sounds good to me," Dan sighed and rotated on the couch until he was horizontal and put his arm over his eyes, settling further into the couch with a low groan.
"Right, so I guess Dan's got the couch," Ella commented as she picked up a throw pillow and dropped it not so subtly on to Dan's face-covered arm. He sputtered and grabbed the pillow before sitting up.
"Sorry, Ella, did you want the couch?" Dan got the hint.
"Why thank you, Dan," Ella took the pillow from his grasp, "It's a big couch though, how about we share?"
"Great," Dan shifted over to give Ella some space.
Chloe shook her head at their antics and looked to Lucifer. He didn't look like he had moved an inch from his bookshelf. Was he really so afraid of her reaction to his Devil-ness that he was going to walk on eggshells with her all night? Or from now on? She couldn't help but compare him to a scared puppy, avoiding eye contact with her.
"Do you have some place for us to sleep?" Chloe slowly walked over to Lucifer.
"If you'd like, Detective, you and the Urchin can take my bed," Lucifer offered, "I don't think I'll be getting much sleep tonight anyway."
"Awesome!" Trixie didn't need to be told twice. She barreled toward Lucifer's giant bed and took a flying spread-eagle leap on to it – she bounced on it in place once or twice before she scrambled toward the pillows and snuggled into his pillows with a deep sigh.
Chloe muffled a laugh behind her hand as she cast an apologetic look to Lucifer who looked completely scandalized – even in his other visage. In a way, it was reassuring. Even behind all the crimson and leathery scars, he was still the same old Lucifer.
"I'm so sorry, Lucifer," Chloe laughed.
"It's all right, Detective," Lucifer replied with a sigh, "I guess I can give her this one… after the night she's had."
"Right… after being drugged, kidnapped, escaping said kidnapping, and trudging through Prohibition tunnels with the added excitement of staying the night at your place… I think she'll be out for awhile," Chloe agreed, "I'm really winning the Mom of the Year Award with my A+ parenting tonight, aren't I?"
"You're an amazing mother, Detective," Lucifer breathed.
"Thanks," Chloe's lips quirked up in a small smile. She looked back up at Lucifer and took in his face one more time. She really could see all the familiar contours of the features she's come to know and lo- care for over the years. She slowly got closer to him and reached out a tentative hand toward Lucifer's cheek. This form was a lot warmer than she thought it'd be. He fluttered his eyes closed.
"It doesn't hurt, does it?" Chloe lightly traced his cheek with her middle finger.
"Not anymore," Lucifer sighed out as his own hand came up to cup hers to press against his cheek. He brought her hand down from his face and gave it a light squeeze, "Best you get some sleep, Detective."
"Goodnight, Lucifer," Chloe whispered.
"'Night, Detective," Lucifer replied barely above a whisper. He turned back to the bookshelf and started to peruse the titles when he felt a pull on his arm, turning him back toward Chloe. He then felt a very quick peck on his cheek before the culprit of the kiss headed toward her sleeping daughter. Lucifer couldn't help but raise a hand to his cheek as if by just placing his fingers in the spot where she had laid her lips, it would keep the kiss in place.
~*~
"Useless."
"Boring."
"Why do I even have this one?" Lucifer tossed another book to the side. He looked back toward his bed to see two lumps sleeping soundly. He peered over to his couch to see Dan and Ella also asleep akin to how Dan and Linda had slept that night he had returned from Vegas. He needed to be quieter. He didn't want to wake anybody up from all the noise. Lucifer had been at his "research" for nearly an hour or more (he had honestly lost track). He even had taken the liberty to collect their phones and charge them with his spare phone chargers. He had come up completely empty with his research. So much for having textbooks in his library to help shed light on what was happening with him…
Lucifer let out a long exhale and brought his hands up to his face, rubbing it in frustration. His Devil Face was still in place. He hoped it wasn't going to be a permanent fixture. He looked down at his hands. At least they were back to normal. That had to be a good thing, right? He just had to be patient – not something he was really known for, but he'd try. He looked back to his shelves. There were more books he could try, but to be honest, he wasn't entirely sure what he needed to be on the lookout for to help. Amenadiel would know.
Amenadiel.
His holier-than-thou brother was back up in the Silver City. After finally finding his way back home, there was no way he'd return to Los Angeles to help his Devilish little brother with this new problem… Would he?
He wouldn't know unless he tried.
Pressing his palms together and closing his eyes, Lucifer began to pray.
Amenadiel. Brother… I've got a problem. I know what you're thinking: "What Lucifer considers a problem is probably nothing." But you'd be wrong. It appears my Devil Face is stuck. As in I can't control it and I seem to be stuck with my Devil Face on full display. If you took issue with humanity being exposed to Divinity, I'm sure you wouldn't want too much of humanity be exposed to the Infernal. Perhaps you might put that Angelic ego aside and come back down to Earth to help a brother out? If not, I hope you're at least happy up there, Brother. You're where you wanted to be.
Amen.
Oh, wait, one more thing actually, if you do decide to pop down here, even if it isn't for me… you might want to see the good Doctor. I think she might have something she needs to tell you. Thanks anyway, Brother.
Lucifer slowly opened one eye as if expecting to see Amenadiel appear as he had in the past after a summons. No such luck. He looked back to his bed. They looked like they were both still asleep. With a stifled yawn, he turned back to his bookshelf… He might as well try another book.
~*~
Chloe slowly blinked her eyes open to darkness. She could hear soft breathing behind her. The sheets beneath her felt different and yet oh so familiar. She was in Lucifer's bed. The person softly breathing behind her was her daughter. Shifting slightly under the covers and turning her head, her eyes adjusted to the darkness and she could just about make out her daughter's sleeping face. Chloe reached out and lovingly tucked a stray hair behind Trixie's ear. Stretching forward, she gave her daughter's forehead a tender kiss.
Once again, shifting in the bed, she slowly sat up and looked in the general direction where she last saw her partner. In the darkness, she could almost make out his silhouette by the less-stocked bookshelf. How many books had he gone through? Did he get any rest? What time was it? She looked around the bedroom, but she couldn't find a clock. It was just like Lucifer to not have one nearby. What use did he really have for them anyway?
She felt a little more rested so she had to have slept some. Very slowly, as to not disturb Trixie, she quietly scooted out of the bed, her bare feet gently slapped against the marbled floor. She stood up and softly made her way over to Lucifer. As she got closer, she could see him a little better – whether that was due to her eyes adjusting to the dark that much better or due to the dim starlight shining on him, she wasn't sure. She saw his shoulders sag in defeat and him run a frustrated hand over his still-bald red head.
This other face of his was quite a lot to take in, but after a longer exposure to it, she had to admit, she was getting used to it. Of course, it helped that she focused on the familiar aspects of his features. Starlight glinted off his black onyx ring – his hands had returned to their normal appearance after some time. She had to have faith that with whatever was happening to him, his face would revert back to normal too.
"L-Lucifer?" Chloe softly called out.
Lucifer quickly whirled around at the sound of his name, "Detective? What are you doing up?"
"I… I was worried about you," Chloe replied truthfully as she stepped closer to him, "You should get some rest too."
"You needn't worry about me, Detective," Lucifer waved off her concern.
"I can't help it," Chloe replied with a shrug, "That's what you do when you're partners… you worry about them."
"You still want to be partners after all this?" Lucifer couldn't help but ask.
"Why wouldn't I?" Chloe asked.
"Now that you know…" Lucifer trailed off, "Well, I didn't think you'd want me around anymore – especially after everything that's happened tonight."
"Newsflash, Lucifer," Chloe said, "You didn't kidnap us. It's not your fault."
"But I did bring all this Celestial nonsense into your life," Lucifer argued, "More than you're even aware of actually."
"Are you trying to convince me to not be partners with you anymore?" Chloe folded her arms in defiance. Lucifer opened his mouth to reply, but she cut him off, "Because I have news for you, Lucifer… it would take a Hell of a lot more than that to convince me. I have been known to be somewhat stubborn."
Lucifer couldn't help the small quirk of his lip in a smile at that comment.
"You're the actual Devil," Chloe said, "I can't believe it, but it's hard to refute what's right in front of my eyes."
"Exactly, Detective… And you really would still be willing to be partners with a monster?" Lucifer shook his head. She was starting to make his point for him. Perhaps he had broken the Detective more than he thought. It must be some sort of delayed reaction. She must not be thinking clearly. It would be expected, given how long she and the others had been exposed to his Devil Face. Perhaps when they'd wake, they'd gain sense and hightail it out of there, taking the Detective with them to make her see reason.
"What monster?" Chloe stepped even closer to him so she was in his personal bubble. She looked up into his eyes as she reached out her left arm to bracket hers with his right as his arm instinctively came up to meet hers.
"Would a monster protect his partner in an ambush?" Chloe cocked her head to the side. She knew Lucifer had to have been the one to somehow get her out of that sticky situation with Pierce. She wasn't aware of all the details of all that he did, but given what she knew now, he had to have been her savior.
"Would a monster make it a point to make sure a little girl got to safety first over his own?" Chloe nodded her head toward his bed and a sleeping Trixie. She had seen how protective Lucifer was over Trixie in their makeshift prison when Kinley was talking to them over the speaker system.
"Would a monster make sure that his friends had someplace safe to go to and to rest while the real monster was still out there?" Chloe reached out her hand to cup Lucifer's leathery cheek as Lucifer's one hand instinctively cupped her hip and his other once again cupped her hand pressed against his cheek. He closed his eyes and leaned into her touch.
"You're not a monster, Lucifer Morningstar," Chloe gently rubbed her thumb over Lucifer's fingers against his cheek and in a single move, clasped that same hand with his as she brought their hands down. Once Lucifer opened his crimson eyes, she gazed into them. She found the dancing fire in his irises actually rather soothing, "You're my partner… and I need you."
Lucifer was speechless. Chloe Decker would never cease to amaze him.
For a beat, Chloe just looked into Lucifer's eyes. Though they were a different color, they still had the same feel to her. No matter what the world thought of or said about the Devil, she had drawn her own conclusions about him. There was absolutely no denying the evidence she could see with her own two eyes or what she felt in her heart – he was simply just her Lucifer Morningstar.
He broke the moment as he let out another yawn.
"And you're coming to bed with me, mister," Chloe pulled him toward his bedroom.
"You have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say those words, Detective," Lucifer quipped as they climbed the steps toward his bed.
Chloe shook her head in amusement as she climbed into the bed on one side of a still-sleeping Trixie. She nodded her head to the other side of the bed to indicate he should get in on her daughter's other side.
"Though, I must admit, this is in much different circumstances than I dreamed," Lucifer finished as he toed off his shoes and climbed in the other side of his bed.
"Get some sleep, Lucifer," Chloe whispered as Trixie sleepily snuggled into her mom's embrace. Chloe saw Lucifer finally rest his head on his pillow closer to the two of them than she would've given him credit.
"Thank you, Chloe," Lucifer settled into his bed. Chloe reached over Trixie to rub Lucifer's slightly outstretched arm.
"Sweet dreams, Lucifer," Chloe closed her eyes; her hand didn't leave his arm.
Lucifer's eyesight was much better than that of the average human's – especially in the darkness. He took one last look at Chloe slowly drifting off to sleep and at the sleeping child in her arms. He had no idea what he had done to deserve their presence, but he hoped it would last.
He closed his eyes and breathed out, "I will now, Detective" as the Devil succumbed to a peaceful sleep.