Chapter Text
The first time it happened, it came as a complete surprise to him. It began as a tingling sensation deep within him – a feeling he hadn’t experienced since so long ago, not since before. With the somewhat recent return of his wings, the added divinity allowed him to hear them again – but he had long ago learned how to block out the incessant prayers. It had once been a way to communicate between his siblings – but no longer… not since the Rebellion (when he had been rejected by his family, and not one of his siblings stood by him as he was cast out…)
Instead, it was the worshippers and so-called followers who asked for nothing but the filth of the world. Committing acts in his name, even though that was the furthest thing from what he would ever want. It disgusted him, what these humans did “for him”, when he had never told anyone to participate in these acts, these atrocities. He could easily tune them out after many years of practice (it was more that he had to concentrate to hear them in particular) and was only left with a buzzing in his head – though even that he had been accustomed to ignoring.
He tried to ignore this one at first, a reminder of his past life and who he had been before. Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this one was different, it didn’t quite feel like all the others…
And then he heard it. Heard her.
A voice he would be able to recognize anywhere. One that stopped him in his tracks, his breath lodging in his throat. One that brought a warmth to his soul with its soft tones.
‘I miss you, Lucifer.’
It was her. The Detective. Chloe.
But why? How? (Prayers were meant for angels, and he certainly knew he no longer was one… never could be again after it all).
Surely it was accidental – after all, a prayer is merely a thought with intention. And that seemed to be exactly what this was. He just had never expected to be able to hear it.
Not when he could no longer be him – who he used to be. He had thought that the pleasant use of prayers was long gone for him, never to be accessed again. Though he couldn’t always admit it, he missed those times – longed for the times when it was simple, when he was among his siblings… when he hadn’t been the monster the world sees him as.
Anything directed in his name was usually the darker sides of humanity, praying to the Devil for ill-intentioned desires and heinous acts. But not this one – no, this was different. It was almost like it was back then, the tingling filling up his chest with a lightness and warmth – allowing a joy which he hadn’t felt in so long to wash over him. And it was Chloe, no less – he almost couldn’t believe it.
He found himself smiling at her words, the simple proof showing that she enjoyed being with him, being around him – that perhaps she cared for him as much as he cared for her. And he did care for her, didn’t he? Probably more than he was able to admit, even to himself – but this was a completely new experience to the Devil. And well, even with Linda’s help, he had trouble naming what he felt. But to know she felt the same? Or… perhaps at least cared for him in some manner…
He shook his head – he was probably getting ahead of himself – but he couldn’t stop the smile from growing wider at the thought of her. That she was missing him just as he was missing her. Even though they would surely see each other the next day at work… she still missed him. And this simple fact lit his being ablaze all over again, giving him an indescribable rush as he considered that she felt something for him as well.
He prepared himself for the night and slipped under the silk sheets of his bed – not even minding that no one was beside him this night. He could only think of her, how she was the only one to make him feel like he never had before. That night, he slept peacefully – an all-encompassing calm filling him.
The next time it happened, he was more prepared, yet equally as surprised. He was at the precinct with the Detective, having received a new case. They had already been to the scene, where Ella had filled them in on all of the details – cause and time of death and all the forensic details to which he never particularly paid attention. After questioning the witnesses on the scene, they had returned to the precinct to begin the search for suspects and any other leads – otherwise known as the boring part of the case.
Lucifer seated himself in his usual place besides the Detective’s desk – not wanting to assist in paperwork but not wanting to leave her side either. This didn’t stop him from complaining about the nuisance of paperwork - the unending pile of work when he would much rather be out asking people what they desired. But alas, it was a necessary part of the job – as the Detective had told him many times over. Besides, he found he didn’t want to be away from Chloe, even if it meant suffering through this intolerable task (nor did he ever, long as she would have him… when he was with her, he felt more whole than he ever had).
“Come on, Detective, surely you can see what a pointless endeavor all this paperwork is – I’d much rather put my talents to good use, and there are many ways I can think of to accomplish that,” Lucifer purred as he waggled his eyebrows suggestively. Chloe only sighed and shook her head, more than used to his antics by now (though he could tell she secretly found them amusing).
“You know, Lucifer – if this is all so insufferable, then you can go home you know. I’m sure I’m big enough to handle this on my own, even if I will be missing your invaluable input,” she said in amusement, sarcasm lacing her tone.
“And deprive you of the honor of my presence? I doubt either of us want that,” he responded coolly with a smirk.
She rolled her eyes as she regarded him, and once again he was struck by the return of that feeling – that tingling that traveled throughout his entire body, leaving warmth in its wake.
‘Lucifer, what am I going to do with you?’
She had done it again – had prayed to him without even realizing it – alighting his very being with an indescribable pleasant feeling.
He smirked and redirected his attention – not wanting to alert her to the fact that he could in a way hear her thoughts (though only if she allowed him to) – in an attempt to hold back his snarky response: Oh Detective, there’s plenty you could do with me.
Instead, he turned back to face her and softly said, “Besides, I’d rather be here with you.” He offered her a gentle smile, turning even brighter when she returned a beautiful smile of her own – that alone being enough to send a trail of warmth through his chest.
Their last case had been particularly hard on everyone, but Lucifer especially. A young man had been rejected by his family – abandoned and kicked out of his own home. Lucifer couldn’t help but draw parallels…
With nowhere to go and no one to rely on, one thing led to another and unfortunately the man had gotten himself in a bad situation – one he didn’t survive. He could tell the Detective was struggling too – it had been an unfair situation that the young man didn’t deserve to be in… and to make matters worse, the parents weren’t particularly upset by the news. Regardless, she was working as hard as ever to secure justice for the victim, just as she did for each and every victim, and Lucifer admired that about her – her dedication and perseverance, how simply and truly good she was.
After the case was solved and the killer was caught, the effects from the case still lingered within him. And he knew that Chloe saw this as well. He saw it in every glance directed his way, the way her soft features hardened in concern. She would ask if he was okay but… he didn’t know how to talk about it (not that he didn’t want to, especially with her, but he just didn’t know where to begin). She noticed this too, and instead offered her comfort – her presence and soft touches to bring him back to the present. The simple gesture was just what he needed…
Later he found himself in Ella’s lab (the forensic scientist always knew how to make him feel… better, even simply through her company), leaving the Detective behind at her desk, nose deep in paperwork. He turned just before entering to see Chloe glancing his way thoughtfully, giving him a small, hesitant smile. Greeting Miss Lopez as he entered the lab, she spun from her position across the lab and burst into motion as she wrapped her arms around his waist. He stumbled back in surprise but gently patted her back in return. As she released her grip, he found himself eagerly listening to her newest findings and seemingly endless facts, the tension within him draining ever so slightly from the comfort and familiarity of her words.
Even when silences rose between conversations, it was companionable and further worked to soothe his being. Then he felt it again – already becoming more adept in recognizing it – and released a breath as the feeling washed over him, the warmth quickly spreading as he heard her.
‘Lucifer, you deserved so much more…’
He glanced over to the Detective’s desk, who was now looking up at him from across the precinct – concern etched in the lines between her brow yet offering him – him – a smile full of so much warmth he felt it alighting again within his chest, compounding the feeling already coursing through him.
And her words… so sincere and full of love. But no one ever… he was the Devil… and no one had… No one had ever defended him before, not after knowing who he was. He was the Devil, and the Devil deserves neither compassion nor love nor… and here she was, offering it wholeheartedly.
He blinked to clear himself of the swirling shock and awe, and while meeting her gaze through the lab, tried to convey all that he felt in a soft smile of his own.
And he felt it again – that way that he felt when he was only around her. Something he still couldn’t quite put a name to but sent a surge of… belonging through him. Somehow, she had come to care for him, despite who he was – or perhaps because of that – and never before had he felt such a feeling of… home.
His fingers idly danced across the keys, playing directionless tunes as his thoughts wandered elsewhere. The amber of his drink atop the piano reflected the warm lights in his penthouse as he reached for his glass for another sip. He couldn’t help feeling different these days… he somehow felt lonelier without the Detective. He was always surrounded by people in Lux and yet he still felt alone – until the Detective was by his side that is.
Through all their time working together, their relationship had become so much more – he wasn’t sure what to name it, but he could hardly stand being apart from her anymore. There had always been that connection between them since they first met, and that had only grown stronger the more he worked with her.
His fingers stilled as he abruptly stood from his bench at the piano, shaking his head to clear himself of his thoughts and emotions. Futile it seemed, as he couldn’t get her out of his head – he missed her. The emotions swelling up within him at the thought of her were hard to describe – he knew he deeply cared for her… but it felt like more than that. Like the feeling was deeper somehow.
He grabbed a bottle off his bar shelf and began to poor himself another glass before he froze – it was that feeling again, the one he had become so familiar with. The tingling was subtle at first, before growing in intensity and urgency. It felt the same as all the other times, and yet something was different about it that caused his concern to build.
‘Lucifer, where are you?’
The panic he heard in her voice caused his own to crash over him like an incoming tide. He didn’t waste any time as he unfurled his wings and immediately set out to Chloe’s home. He arrived on her porch, shrugging away his wings, and surveyed the area, not seeing any immediate danger but remaining alert. With a simple touch to her doorknob, the door unlocked under his hand as he cautiously entered. He felt a bit of guilt rising as he entered her home, but he had to make sure she was safe – he would never forgive himself if she were in danger because of him… he brushed it aside and pushed on.
The house was silent as he carefully stalked through. He peered inside the urchin’s room as he passed, breathing a sigh of relief as he spotted her sleeping soundly, limbs spread out to take up the entirety of the bed. He continued on, making his way to the Detective’s room and debated whether he should bother her if it appeared everyone was still asleep. The open door to her room served as his answer as he turned the corner to see Chloe awake, sitting on the edge of her bed with tears in her eyes. She looked up as he came into view, letting out a gasp as she softly called his name in surprise. She beckoned him to enter as she patted her hand on the spot beside her, using the other hand to wipe her tears.
Lucifer entered hesitantly, gently lowering himself to sit next to her as some of the tension drained from him at the lack of any apparent threats. He raised his arm behind her, his hand hovering above her shoulder – wanting to offer her comfort but unsure if he was overstepping. She scooted closer to him, leaning her body into his as if she could barely hold herself up, and he lowered his hand and firmly squeezed her shoulder.
She was finally able to find the words to break the silence, finding strength in his calming presence. He listened carefully as she explained how she had just woken from a nightmare about the incident with Malcolm of all people (he was certain his eyes flashed red at the thought of him still causing so much pain to Chloe and the urchin even long after he was gone).
“You didn’t get there in time and you couldn’t save us… and he… Trixie could have…” she tried to speak through broken sobs, and his own anger and pain only grew at seeing the Detective so upset.
He raised his hand to brush away the tears falling down her cheek. “It’s alright, darling. He didn’t and I’m here now. You’re safe and the urchin is safe – he’ll never hurt you again. No one else will either, I’ll make sure of it.”
She nodded, seemingly both in agreement to his words and to reassure herself of them. “Could you just… could you hold me?” she asked quietly, her voice barely a whisper as her fear weaved itself between her words.
“Of- of course,” he responded tentatively (he couldn’t believe that she would want him by her side, how his presence somehow comforted her, but he could never deny her anything, though he truly wanted nothing more than to stay by her side).
He pulled her closer into his side, bringing up both of his arms to wrap her into his embrace. He rested his head atop hers as she buried her face into him, soothingly rubbing her arm with his hand. Her breathing eased over time as he felt the tension bleed from her frame – he breathed out a sigh as he equally felt the tension drain from him. Here, with her safe in his arms, the warmth within him settled into place and a feeling of belonging washed over him.
The clouds hung low in the sky that night, opening up the canopy to the stars above. Despite living in the city, there were still nights like these where his creations shone so brightly – conquering the city lights surrounding them. It had been one of the reasons he had chosen Lux in the first place – it allowed him to be closer to his stars (and no, not Heaven – he didn’t miss that place and all that had come with it, though he found himself longing for those times from before occasionally, before correcting himself).
Though unlike those other nights, Chloe was by his side as he stood on his balcony, both of them looking at the sparkling night sky that stretched all around them. He basked in her nearness, the warmth he felt radiating from her… the pure joy she always seemed to bring him by a simple glance. He lost himself in her gaze, her sparkling depths grander than any sky he could paint with stars.
She always had a way of seeing past what he presented on the surface, breaking down his walls and exposing his vulnerability… And he oh so wanted to let her in…
So, he told her the stories from long ago – how he strung the stars across the sky, how proud he was of his own creations, how it had felt so… right. He recounted the memories with a fond smile spreading across his face, growing even larger when he saw the awe in Chloe’s expression.
She moved closer to him and settled against his side, her warmth seeping into him, as he instinctively raised his arm around her. He drew her even closer and felt something within him settle – a peace he didn’t often experience.
Her warmth mixed with a rising warmth from his chest, a tingling growing in intensity in the back of his mind. He smiled softly before even hearing her.
‘Lucifer, they’re beautiful…’
He heard the wonder sewn throughout her prayer, saw the love filling her eyes as she turned to face him. His hand drifted until reaching the small of her back, his other coming up to brush a few hairs away from her face, before settling against her cheek.
They both leaned in closer, meeting in the middle as their lips pressed together in a gentle yet passionate kiss. Lost in the moment and lost in each other, he felt that feeling again surge within him as they deepened the kiss. He leaned back as a sigh escaped past his lips, overtaken by the emotions passing between them… all the words they couldn’t say.
It had been so long since he had been the Lightbringer, since he had so proudly hung the stars – lighting the darkness ablaze with creations of his own… But the light she had brought to him was unlike any he had ever known. A sense of belonging and home he had never known.
Whatever had come to grow between them, it felt so right – the feeling he felt whenever she glanced his way, graced him with her warm smiles, rolled her eyes at him in that fond way she so often did… fashioning the stars themselves couldn’t even compare.
The moonlight filtered through the windows of the penthouse and cast shadows across their bodies as they lay tangled together on the couch. The late evening light caught in the highlights of her hair, giving her a glow he couldn’t help but label angelic.
He still wasn’t used to this affection, and he so rarely received this kind of comfort, but with her – he craved it desperately. If it had been anyone else, he never would have imagined wanting this type of affection, but with Chloe, he found he didn’t desire anything greater. Her mere presence by his side, being able to hold her safely in his arms, as they talked into the night became his new paradise (after all this time, he could finally keep her close as he always wanted… show her how much he wanted her and apparently how much she wanted him in return).
Their conversations had gradually died off as her sentences began to grow more mumbled, leaving him with such a fond smile at the sight of her, filling him with a joy he had never known. He was content to remain in these moments for the rest of his life, watching as she peacefully drifted to sleep and feeling his chest tighten even greater with affection.
He could tell she was slowly easing further into sleep, her breaths becoming deeper and more even. Even in her state, she seemed to instinctively draw herself closer to him, seeking his comfort. He reached out and pulled her closer, wrapped in his arms as she snuggled further into his side. He smiled contentedly as he listened to her gentle breathing, feeling the steady beating of her heart underneath his palm as he moved his hand.
He suddenly felt the warmth welling up within him, spreading from where she lay against him, and filling his entire being to the brim. He sighed contentedly as the feeling washed over him, magnified by her presence in his arms (he never felt such belonging and a sense of home until she was there beside him).
‘I love you, Lucifer…’
And no matter how many times she told him that, he would never tire of hearing those words that brought such a lightness to his chest. The awe and wonderment that arose from what had become a simple truth (and yet here he was, still wondering how he ever got so lucky for that to be true – for these moments that they could now share).
“And I you, Chloe.” He tilted his head down to look at her, watching as the sleepiness quickly cleared as her eyes shot open at his words.
She abruptly turned in his arms, looking up at him questioningly with a bleariness in her eyes. “Did I…?”
“No, darling, you didn’t,” he said with a dazzling smile lighting up his face. He adored the way her brow furrowed in confusion… how he could see the questions in her eyes as she tried to solve the puzzle he had presented.
“Turns out, you’ve been praying to me without knowing it,” he supplemented.
The confusion in her features only grew as she narrowed her eyes. “But I don’t pray or anything – how could I…”
“A thought with intention is all it takes, Detective.” He continued before she could reach the inappropriate conclusion, “And no, I cannot read your mind – you have to allow me permission by thinking in my direction so to speak.”
“And how many times has this happened, exactly?”
A sly grin crept up his face. “Oh just a few times now. Not to worry though, it hasn’t been anything you wouldn’t say out loud I would like to believe.” His eyes slightly darkened as his face fell a bit, letting out a weary sigh. “Which is absurd I must say, not many people often pray to the Devil, especially not with good intention…”
“The Devil isn’t who you are, not to me…” she interrupted firmly before he could continue. Her gaze locked onto his and her voice softened in a way that soothed his soul. She raised her hand to cradle his cheek tenderly. “I wasn’t praying to the Devil – I was praying to you.”
His eyes fluttered shut as he leaned into her touch, soaking up her affection. When he opened them again, he met her eyes – sparkling so blue and filled with such love that he felt his breath catch.
“I love you for you, Lucifer – not as the Devil or as an angel or anything else you don’t want to be, but who you are. Because who you are is incredible and I couldn’t imagine loving anyone else… but I want you to believe that, cause it’s true.” She spoke softly, her words pleading with him to believe her, as she affectionately cradled his face.
His chest constricted as the emotions welled up within him, dragging the air from his chest. He could only gaze into her eyes, awestruck, as he let the sincerity of her words hit him.
“I think I’m starting to.” And that was it, wasn’t it? She truly loved him and well… he found that he loved her too. Truly. Intensely. Without a doubt.
He’s struggled to put a name to it, to identify all that he felt for her, how deeply he cared for her – and yet, now it came simple… Never before in his immortal life had he loved anyone but without question he was in love with Chloe Decker.
The words never seemed to want to come out, always lodging in his throat every time he tried… but now, he felt as if they were the simplest and most true thing he could say.
So, without hesitation, without interruption, without doubt… he said, “I love you too.”