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Chapter Text

She was exhausted once she and Lucifer were finally allowed to leave. The scene had been chaos, and Dan and Ella had been taken in for questioning early on, so the most she could do was shoot them a group text that Lucifer was fine.

She’d stuck to the selectively honest rendition of the events that day, as Lucifer had suggested. The facts that Pierce had been her ex-fiancé and that she’d been the one to pull the trigger didn’t exactly paint her in the best light, from an investigative standpoint. So, she’d been questioned, processed for evidence, then questioned again. By the time they’d let her leave with the warning not to leave town, she’d been a zombie.

She headed back to her desk for no other reason than she was on autopilot after leaving the interrogation room, and found Lucifer waiting for her.

“Take you home?” he asked with concern.

She blinked and rubbed her hand over her eyes. She didn’t have the will nor the energy to fight him, and she was secretly glad to just turn over this responsibility to someone else.

“Sure,” she said.

It didn’t occur to her until he was opening his passenger door for her that he might expect them to talk about everything she’d learned that day.

She hadn’t really had time to properly think things through earlier, what with the shoot out, flight, and hours of interrogation. Now, she was painfully aware that she was alone with the Devil, himself.

Heaven, Hell, God, the Devil, angels, demons...She’d killed Cain. Too many details swarmed her mind. She felt dizzy. Her heart raced.

“Detective?” Lucifer’s voice called her back from the precipice.

“Sorry, I just...” She made a vague gesture with her hand and put on a rueful smile. She was just so tired.

He studied her for a moment, worry plain across his features.

“Perhaps Daniel could take the offspring tonight,” he offered.

“I doubt Dan’s in much better shape than me,” she said, sounding resigned.

“Your mother, then? I’m sure Beatrice would love to spend some more time with the Vampire Queen.”

Chloe nodded, and reached for her phone, but it had been collected for evidence. She scrubbed her hand over face.

“Penelope!” Lucifer’s voice rang out cheerfully.

Chloe blinked and turned her head to find him on his phone. He had her mother’s number. Of course he did.

“I’m afraid both the Detective and Daniel have had a rather rough go of things at work the last few hours, and we’d be terribly appreciative if you wouldn’t mind taking Beatrice for the next few days.”

Chloe watched him chat with her mother as if he’d done it a thousand times. She wondered idly if he had. Her mother had seemed to latch onto the idea of Lucifer and Chloe as a couple very early on in their partnership.

“Yes, everyone is fine. Chloe’s without her phone, so I offered to make arrangements...Ha! Not yet,” he said with a massive grin. “Thank you, love. I’ll pass it on.” He dropped his phone into his interior breast pocket, and turned to face her.

“All taken care of, Detective. You’re mother said she’s happy to keep your spawn over the weekend, and to tell you that a handsome, eligible bachelor such as myself will not wait around forever. She’s wrong, of course, but I enjoy the sentiment,” he said through a grin.

“Right,” Chloe said. She didn’t have it in her to process all of that, so she went with the simple answer. She sighed and let her head fall back against the headrest.

“Now that that’s sorted,” he began, “I think we could both use a bite to eat, a shower and some rest.”

Chloe hummed in agreement, allowing her eyes to fall closed. She felt the rumble of the engine starting, and the next thing she new, her seatbelt was being unfastened. She blinked awake to Lucifer pulling away.

“Can you walk, love?” he asked quietly.

She nodded, and stretched before climbing out of the car in a daze. Lucifer was clutching two takeout bags, and she realized he must have stopped at a drive through while she’d been asleep. She dug in her pocket for her keys and lead the way to her apartment.

“I’m not presumptuous enough to think I’ll be staying,” he said, setting the food down on the breakfast bar. “I just want to make sure you’re alright, Detective.”

“I don’t know, Lucifer,” she admitted, sleep making her more forthcoming than she might have been otherwise. “24 hours ago, I was investigating my ex-fiancé with my eccentric partner. Now I’m staring at the Devil, after having killed Cain...from the Bible.”

He looked down and nodded. “I won’t hold you to it,” he said after a moment.

She raised her eyebrows in confusion.

“Our date,” he reminded her. “I know the scope of things can be...overwhelming. I wouldn’t blame you if it was too much.”

She swallowed. He wasn’t wrong. She’d agreed to go out with him at the height of the day’s events. She’d been sticky with his blood, relieved he’d healed so completely, and still reeling from the revelation that’s she’d killed Pierce when he’d asked her out. She’d said yes because she trusted him, and because she couldn’t imagine her life without him.

Her stomach growled, and he blinked.

“Oh!” he exclaimed. “I hope you don’t mind, but you were snoring a sonata by the time I made it to the drive through, so I took the liberty of duplicating your typical order: cheeseburger, animal style, hold the ketchup.”

She stared at him. Here he was, the man she’d been in love with for at least the past two years, offering to walk away from her while reciting her lunch order from memory. He’d taken a shower of bullets to protect her, nearly drowned in his own blood, then made arrangements her daughter to stay elsewhere so Chloe could recuperate from her traumatic day.

“Thank you,” she said meaningfully.

“Of course.” He shrugged.

“No, I mean, thank you. For everything.”

His eyes met hers full of curiosity, but then he seemed to register her sincerity, and he nodded.

“Based on everything that’s happened today, I’m afraid to ask how many times you’ve had to do something like that for me,” Chloe said, crossing her arms over her chest.

He kept his face carefully neutral, the way he did, she knew, when he was holding something back. His hands slid into his pockets, and she was reminded of that same gesture he’d made after he’d announced that Malcolm had killed him all that time ago. Another day when he’d taken a bullet and bled freely for her sake.

Tears threatened, but she blinked them back. “But, I do know that I’ve been in love with you for a while, now.”

His eyebrows shot up into his hairline, and his carefully controlled expression melted away into confusion, then outright joy. If she hadn’t already been completely smitten with him, the tears gathering in his eyes at her declaration would have pushed her over the edge.

“Chloe,” he started.

“But,” she cut him off, “You’re right. It’s a lot. All of it.” He deflated, and she kicked herself. “I’m not saying no forever, Lucifer. I just need... I just need time.”

He straightened up, and nodded. “Of course.”

They stood there, staring at one another awkwardly until Chloe’s stomach rumbled again. They chuckled.

“Go on,” he urged, nudging the takeout bags towards her.

She smiled gratefully and laid her hand on top of the food, fingertips just brushing the back of his hand. Their eyes met, and something in his gaze spoke to a a part of her soul she didn’t even knew she had. It was as if the combination lock around her heart had finally popped open.

“Good night, Detective,” he said, eyes dark.

She swallowed, feeling the pull of his presence, and already mourning its loss.

She grabbed his wrist before he could pull back. “Don’t leave. Not yet,” she said.

He exhaled through his nose slowly. “If that’s what you truly desire,” he said carefully, almost a question.

“I know. Mixed signals. But I’ve had a truly shitty day. And you’re the only thing that makes me feel...safe, right now.”

His brow knit in concern and he took a step closer to her. “Detective, I’ll stay as long as you need me to.”

Chloe shot him a lopsided grin, and squeezed his wrist. She opened one of the bags and popped a french fry into her mouth. Then she threaded her fingers through his, grabbed the food with her free hand, and lead him to the couch. She tugged him down to sit next to her, then busied herself tearing open the fry bag so they’d both have access to the food, and withdrew her burger from the other bag. She leaned into his side, draped one of his arms over her shoulder so he was effectively holding her in his arms. Then she began eating her cheeseburger as though it was the most natural thing in the world to be nestled against the Devil while you ate fast food. He reached over and grabbed a few fries to eat, popping them into his mouth before wiping his greasy fingers on her jeans. He pulled her closer. She rolled her eyes even as she melted into his embrace. She finished her burger, then closed her eyes, turning her head to rest it against his chest.

“I feel the same way about you,” he said quietly. She covered his hand where it rested beneath her breasts. “And if it makes you feel any better,” he continued into her hair, “I’m not sure what to do with that information, either.”

She smiled. “So long as we’re on the same page,” she replied.

“What? Hopelessly confused?” he offered.

“And in love,” she supplied.

He pressed a kiss into her hair in reply.

Chapter Text

Chloe woke up to a buzzing vibration beneath her cheek. She blinked reluctantly, and pulled back just enough to register that she’d been asleep against Lucifer’s chest.

He blinked slowly, apparently just as disoriented as she was, before retrieving his phone from his interior breast pocket.

“Hello?” His voice was gruff with sleep.

Chloe sat back out of his embrace and glanced at the clock on her mantle. It was 9 AM. They’d fallen asleep on her couch after polishing off the rest of the fries somewhere around 2 that morning.

A dull thud beat behind her eyes, a combination of the stress from the previous day and her erratic sleep schedule during the investigation. Her mouth felt grimy and tasted like something had died.

Lucifer sat forward on the couch, and cut his eyes over to Chloe, listening to the speaker on the other side of the phone call intently. His brow furrowed.

“Thank you,” he said curtly. He hung up, and slipped his phone back in his pocket.

“Apologies, Detective, but it seems I’m needed elsewhere,” he said, rising from the couch.

“Can I make you a cup of coffee, first?” Chloe offered standing up next to him.

He smiled sweetly at her, and the crease in his brow smoothed out.

“Unnecessary.” His expression grew more serious. “Detective, I know,” he began, then started over. “Last night you said you required time.”

She nodded.

“Do you... That is, Detective, may I still see you while you take your time?” he asked nervously.

“Of course!” she replied taken aback. “Lucifer, I’m not afraid of you, I just...dating right now after everything that’s happened... I need time to process.”

He exhaled, seemingly relieved, and she bit back a smile. “I’m glad to hear that,” he admitted, almost shyly.

She allowed herself a soft smile, then. It seemed to reassure him, and he returned it. The tentative hope she saw in his eyes warmed her, and she wondered if taking some time before starting a relationship precluded her from kissing him.

His phone buzzed again, and he groaned and answered it. “What?!” he inquired sharply. “Yes, thank you. I’m aware,” he bit out. He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Bloody hell, just have Patrick sign for it! Yes, I know what I said, but now, I’m saying something else.”

Chloe quirked an eyebrow at him, as he huffed in frustration. The Devil was having a mundane argument about shipping in her living room.

She took the opportunity to study him. She knew his features well, but now with the knowledge of who he actually was, she felt compelled to search for some clue of his inhumanity. Nothing about his handsome face betrayed him, though. If anything, the state of him after spending the night on her couch—with his scruff in need of a trim, and smudged eyeliner—made him seem more human.

He coughed once, politely and artificially, and she started, embarrassed at being caught.

“I really must go, Detective,” he said regretfully.

“Yeah, sounds like you’re needed,” she replied.

He tucked his hands into his pockets, and his eyes danced mischievously, mouth opening to supply something filthy, she was sure.

“Don’t,” she cut him off. “I’ll call you later?”

He pursed his lips. “You don’t have a phone, Detective.”

“Shit, you’re right. I guess that’s what I’ll be doing today,” she mumbled to herself.

She’d been put on administrative leave the night before. Judging by the lead investigator’s warning, and how entrenched Pierce’s network had been, she figured it would be a long road before she was allowed back. At least she was still getting paid.

“Can I take you to lunch?” Lucifer asked.

She just managed to tamp back a grin. “Lucifer, I think I need more than 3 hours.”

“Right.” He coughed.

She reached out and pressed a hand over his lapel. “I have your number. I’ll call you once I get a new phone.”

He nodded, and brow knitting, leaned towards her uncertainly. He dropped a kiss to her temple, and pulled back.

“I hope that was alright?”

She felt a faint blush begin to paint her cheeks even as she smiled.

“It was fine,” she replied quietly.

He swallowed, and nodded once to himself before turning to leave.

“Lucifer,” she called out to him before he could exit the apartment. He turned back to her. “We still need to have that talk. About everything you’ve kept from me.”

He looked away for a moment, then back to her, resigned. “As you desire, Detective.”

Chapter Text

Chloe grimaced at the price tag of the smartphone. She’d been due for an upgrade for a while, but it didn’t make the purchase sting any less. She thanked the salesperson, and turned to leave. Next stop, the precinct. She’d need to update the department on her new contact information, anyway, and she hoped tech would be able to transfer her contacts over for her.

She sighed, hoping, the interim lieutenant would allow that. Joseph Riner had been the head of Internal Affairs, but he’d been pulled to handle their department due to the accusation that the previous head, Marcus Pierce, had been the Sinnerman. Chloe hadn’t spoken to him, yet, but she’d been aware of his presence lurking on the outskirts of her second interrogation. His reputation as no nonsense might have warmed her to him, if it wasn’t for the fact that she was now partially covering up everything that had happened in the loft. She didn’t want to think about how he’d receive Lucifer. She pulled into a visitor space and prepared herself to face judgement.

“Decker!” Ella exclaimed as she made her way inside.

Chloe smiled, relieved to see a friendly face. “Ella, they let you back, already?”

Ella shrugged. “Nope. I’m here to clean my fridge out.”

Chloe’s brow furrowed. “You’re not leaving?”

“Don’t be loca chica! I just needed to toss a few unintentional experiments, if you get my drift.”

Chloe quirked an eyebrow.

“I left a half eaten sandwich in there two weeks ago, and was watching it mold over,” she clarified.

“Ew.”

Ella shrugged. “Wait, Lucifer! How is he? I’m so insensitive!” She grabbed Chloe in one of her signature oddly aggressive hugs. “All I got was a text from you, but you were so upset! What happened?”

Chloe bit her lip. This would be the first time she’d need to lie directly to someone she loved about everything. She looked down, and sighed.

“He’s fine. After all the shooting, we had to get out of there pretty quickly. With the running, he bled a lot more than he should have.”

“Is he at a hospital? They wouldn’t tell me anything about it, last night,” Ella asked, concerned.

“No, he—actually, he took me home last night. We were both so exhausted, we fell asleep on the couch together.”

Ella pressed her lips together and emitted a little squeal from her throat.

“What?”

“The man took a bullet for you, took you home, then you fell asleep together?” Ella clapped a hand over her heart.

Chloe closed her eyes. She thought the most difficult part of talking to Ella would be the lying. She hadn’t even considered the shifting nature of her and Lucifer’s relationship. She didn’t even know what it was, yet. How would she explain it to Ella?

“It’s... it’s not like that,” she began.

Ella shot her a skeptical look, and Chloe shifted uncomfortably.

“Okay, so maybe... maybe it’s a little like that?” Chloe allowed.

Ella’s eyes grew giant, and she clamped a hand over her mouth. “OMG. OMG, it’s finally happening,” she breathed.

“No, it’s not—nothing’s happened yet,” Chloe amended. “We’re going to talk about it, moving forward.”

“Mm-hmm,” Ella hummed knowingly. “Do a lot of talking last night, did you?”

“Nothing happened! We ate French fries!”

“Riiiight,” Ella said, shooting her an exaggerated wink.

Chloe scrubbed a hand over her face. “Look, I need to get my new phone set up. Do you think tech can get me settled?”

Ella shrugged. “I don’t see why not. They should be able to pull your contacts and photos, no prob.”

“Great. I need to check in with Lt. Riner, get him my new number.”

Ella bit her lip, looking concerned “Yeah...Have you talked to him, yet?”

“Not officially. Why?”

“He’s been asking a lot of questions about you, Chloe.”

Chloe blanched.

“Not that you have anything to worry about!” Ella cut into her thoughts. “Charlotte had so much evidence against Pierce. Who cares you used to be engaged, and that most murders are committed by loved ones! Not that you loved him. Unless you did, in which case I’m so totally sorry!”

Chloe shook her head. “Ella, I’m fine. Lt. Riner’s just doing his job. Like you said, all the evidence points to Pierce. We know what happened, and we have to trust the process.”

“Right,” Ella said, but she seemed doubtful. She wrapped Chloe in another hug, then headed to her lab.

Chloe steeled herself and headed for the Lieutenant’s office. Joseph Riner was a short balding man in his mid-fifties. He wore a rumpled gray suit, and sipped coffee from a styrofoam cup as Chloe entered.

“Detective Decker,” he acknowledged her without warmth.

“Good afternoon, sir. I’m here to update my contact info. New phone,” she supplied.

“And this required you to come in because...”

“Uh, well I was hoping to get my old contacts from the phone you have in evidence,” she hedged.

“That’s a gross misuse of the department’s time and resources, detective. I shouldn’t be surprised though, looking over you and your...partner’s records.”

Chloe bristled. “We have one of the highest solve rates in the department.”

“Yes, by cutting corners and roughing up your suspects. Don’t think I haven’t looked into your little civilian consultant. No trace of a Lucifer Morningstar before 2011, yet our top detective has no qualms allowing him intimate knowledge of ongoing investigations. A nightclub owner moonlighting as a cop. Who greenlit this?” he practically spat.

“Lt. Monroe, sir,” Chloe bit out.

“That was rhetorical, Decker. It’s safe to say, Lucifer Morningstar’s days are numbered as a consultant for the LAPD. And, I wouldn’t count on your retirement, either.”

Chloe’s blood pressure rose. “Respectfully, sir, Lucifer wasn't the Sinnerman. He was key in working the investigation before Lt. Pierce tried to kill us. Lucifer and I did what we had to do to survive,” she said, heart pounding.

Riner blinked, unimpressed. “And I’d be willing to believe that if you’d followed protocol and called for back up.”

“Back up from who?!” Chloe cut back. “Pierce was the Sinnerman. Who knows who he had on the take!”

“My department exists for a reason, Decker,” Riner said evenly. “Internal Affairs could have investigated this in the background, and no one would have had to die.”

Chloe saw red. “Bullshit! People started dying as soon as Pierce transferred in. He was making his mark in LA long before any of us suspected him. In fact, Lucifer is the one who figured out something was wrong with him the first place.”

Riner folded his hand in front of him on the desk. “So I’ve been told. And Charlotte Richards died because of Mr. Morningstar’s creative brand of honesty.”

“What? Lucifer had nothing to do with Charlotte’s murder.”

Riner nodded. “That may be true, but Detective Espinoza told me about Mr. Morningstar’s foreknowledge of Marcus Pierce’s alter ego, and his decision to keep it to himself. If everything had come out sooner, and my department had been involved, Ms. Richards might still be standing here, today.”

Chloe’s blood boiled. “Lucifer Morningstar is the best partner I’ve ever had. And,” she added, “he’s a good person. He took a bullet protecting me. How dare you place the blame on him!”

“Oh, I don’t. Mr. Morningstar is a civilian. He’s not properly trained in procedure and protocol,” Riner said sharply. “I lay the blame squarely on your shoulders, Detective Decker.”

Chloe jerked back, as though she’d been slapped.

“Now,” he said, clicking a pen and preparing to write. “You have new contact information for me?”

***

Chloe sat, numb in her car. Riner was out to ruin her. He’d confirmed as much in their meeting. The worst part was that he wasn't even wrong.

She was the trained Detective in her partnership with Lucifer. She was the one who knew procedure, right and wrong. She’d let Lucifer get away with far too many small indiscretions over the years. She’d thought herself powerless to stop him from breaking and entering, moving forward without warrants, but she’d been the one with a badge.

She’d been proud of the progress he’d made recently, up until he’d kidnapped the fake Sinnerman. Now, with both Charlotte and Pierce dead, it was clear to Chloe that she’d been fooling herself. She’d let her fondness for the man blind her to the bigger picture. And wasn’t that the story of her life? Dan, Pierce, and now Lucifer.

She scrubbed a hand over her face. She loved him—fully, completely—but perhaps it was time to put an end to their professional relationship. A memory, early in their partnership, resurfaced. Lucifer, heartbroken, resigned when she’d had to arrest him. This would destroy him.

Guilt gnawed at her as she considered. Riner was absolutely correct that everything was her fault. She’d been the senior most detective. She should have reported their suspicions immediately. If she claimed to have faith in the system, then why try to tackle this within her small circle? All she’d done was jeopardize all of their careers.

God, that didn’t even touch on the larger aspect of things. Lucifer was the literal Devil. She couldn’t even begrudge him his flippant regard for procedure, seeing as how small it must all seem to him on the cosmic scale. The way he must perceive things...No wonder he was so confused about their closeness. She was no one.

Yet, he still took blow after blow for her. Bullets, knives, heck he’d even thrown a guy off a balcony for commenting on her body. What did he even get out of this?

She couldn’t keep going around in circles. She had to talk to him. She needed to know his motivations, and everything she’d missed the last 3 years. She just hoped she could wrap her head around it. If the Devil walked the earth, there had to be a good reason.

Chapter Text

“Detective!” Lucifer greeted her enthusiastically.

She’d left the precinct and went straight to Lux. She didn’t even remember parking, or entering the elevator, she’d been so focused on the task at hand. It was time she learned everything.

The smile faded from his handsome face. “What’s wrong?”

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. How did she do this? She had to tell him about Riner. She needed to know the scope of everything she’d been in the dark about for the entirety of their partnership. None of this would be a feel good conversation.

But when she saw him, she wanted nothing more than to be wrapped safe in his arms.

“Chloe?”

To hell with it. She shook her head, and gave in, launching herself into his embrace. He froze, awkward for just a moment, before he hugged her back.

“Is everything alright?” he asked asked into the top of her head.

She tightened her arms around him, and inhaled his cologne. “I met with the new lieutenant,” she said.

“Ah,” he said. “I’m assuming it didn’t go well?”

She huffed against him. “What gave you that idea?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Perhaps the death grip you have on my torso.”

She grinned before pulling back, and growing serious. “He wants my badge,” she admitted.

Lucifer tensed beneath her touch. “What?”

“He told me that Charlotte and Pierce are both on me.”

Lucifer’s irises ignited into twin red flames. His voice dropped an octave and reverberated in her skull, “Preposterous!”

She felt that fleeting bit of rabbit like fear flare in her veins, before it dissipated. “Is it?” she mused, she turned from him and walked over to the bar, pouring herself a glass of whiskey.

The rage boiling beneath his surface receded just as quickly as it had appeared. His brow knit in confusion. “Yes,” he said vehemently, “it is.”

She sipped her liquor and relished the burn as it travel down her throat. “I was in charge, Lucifer.”

“No, Detective. Pierce was. You remember him? Man-ham that tried to murder us? Shagged you in the evidence room?”

She jerked around to face him. “You knew about that?”

“Of course, I bloody did. You weren’t exactly discreet.”

Her face flushed. She kicked back the rest of the whiskey with a grimace.

“I had sex with one of the first people, at work,” she said aloud, before refilling the tumbler.

“Not to beat a dead murderer, but are you sure you’re alright, Detective?”

Chloe took her drink to settle into one of Lucifer’s leather chairs. “No,” she said bluntly. “I’m not alright. I worked my ass off to make detective. You don’t know what it was like. No one took me seriously, not even Dan. When I finally stuck my neck out and did it, it was like... I don’t know, it was like all the stars aligned and my suspect practically dropped from the sky with his confession. Then Palmetto made me the department outcast, again. And then I met you.” She took a long drink of her whiskey.

He didn’t say anything.

“I guess, what I’m saying is, why did you show up, then? Was there some master plan involving the soul of a workaholic single mother?”

A ghost of a smile flitted across his face, and he dropped onto a seat across from her. “Hardly,” he replied, taking the whiskey from her hand, and finishing it off himself.

“Then tell me.”

“What do you want to know, Detective?”

“I don’t know how to answer that question. I don’t even know what it is I don’t know.”

“Fair point,” he conceded. “Perhaps...we could start with the beginning?”

Chloe studied him. “Maybe we skip ahead to LA 2011,” she offered.

His mouth twitched with a quick grin. “A wise decision,” he allowed. He sighed. “I was bored.”

Chloe stared at him. “Bored.”

“Yes, Detective. Bored. I’d been doing the same thing more or less for thousands of years. Punish this one, put that uprising down. Pick ash out of my feathers. I was due for a little break.” He shrugged.

She pressed her lips together. “So, that’s it. You’re basically a god and your only concern has been finding entertainment for yourself?”

He frowned. “I’m far from a god, darling.”

“So, why homicide?” She asked, changing tactics.

He studied her. “Because you were there.”

Her heart fluttered, but she tried to brush it aside. “You said...you said I was interesting back in our first case. What did you mean?”

He poured himself another whiskey, and took a sip before answering. “You don’t react to me the way everyone else does.”

“Your mojo,” she supplied.

“Yes,” he agreed. “I wanted to know why.”

“Did you find out?”

“I did,” he replied lightly before taking another drink. The quiet stretched between them.

“And?” Chloe pried after it was clear he didn’t intend to elaborate.

He looked desperate for a moment, then turned away from her. “Do you remember the night we realized you’d been poisoned?”

She blinked, unsure of where he was going with this. “Um, yeah?”

He took a deep breath. “I came to your home to confront you. I thought...well, it doesn’t matter what I thought. What matters is that I’d just found out that you weren’t just any old human with a quirk.”

“I’m not?”

“No,” he confirmed. “You, Detective, are a miracle.”

She bit back a disbelieving laugh. “What does that even mean?”

He exhaled. “I used to think it meant you were some kind of trap Dad laid for me.”

“What?”

“You weren’t meant to be here, Detective. The very fact of your existence means that my Father directly intervened in life on earth. He doesn’t do that. Or at least, He hasn’t. Not in a very, very long time.”

Chloe blinked trying to absorb what he’d told her. “So, I’m what? Am I even human?”

“Of course you are, darling,” he soothed. “You were just placed here, at this exact moment for an exact purpose.”

“What is it?” she asked breathlessly.

“Hell if I know,” he admitted taking another drink.

She deflated. Of course he didn’t know. This was the same man who’d mistaken the plot of a Bones episode for reality a few weeks ago.

Something niggled at the back of her mind, though. She was directly created by the hands of God. She’d been put here, now. At the same time that God’s most rebellious son came up for air.

“Wait. If I was put here specifically now, and your mojo doesn’t work on me...Lucifer, does that mean my purpose has something to do with you?”

“My clever Detective.” He regarded her fondly. Then his expression changed. “The going theory, at the moment, is that you’re...a gift.”

“A gift? What-what does that mean?”

He looked pained. “My mother thought that you were Dad’s way of trying to control me. Amenadiel seems to think that you’re His way of trying to make up with me.”

“So, I’m...your gift.”

There it was, that sense of coming untethered, again. Her heart beat loud in her ears. She felt dizzy. She couldn’t breath.

She’d been able to push it away before. To focus on the next step of the investigation or survival and set this clawing panic aside. But now? Now she didn’t have a next step, or a life threatening situation to contend with. She was just...here with the overwhelming knowledge that she was nothing. A present for the Devil

Chapter Text

When Chloe had been 19 years old, she’d received a phone call that had stolen her breath and buckled her knees. She’d been by herself when she’d gotten the news. The room had spun, and for a moment, she’d stepped outside of her body and curiously watched the young woman weeping in a heap on the floor.

The day her father had been murdered, Chloe was convinced that nothing could ever be more painful, and she wasn’t sure she would be able to survive. The one person she could rely on was gone.

Now, as she watched the hyperventilating blonde woman sitting in Lucifer’s Italian leather chair, she calmly wondered if this reframing of her reality might be worse.

The man that she’d come to rely on the last three years wasn’t just The Devil. He wasn’t just the son of God. He wasn’t just willing to sacrifice himself for her. He was her...what? Preordained partner? Celestially arranged husband?Owner?

No. It was worse than that. He wasn’t anything to her. She was something to him. Her worth was completely dependent upon his reception of her.

A wave of nausea overtook her, and forced her awareness fully back into her body. She hunched forward and tucked her head between her knees.

“Detective?” Lucifer’s voice was tentative, and that fact nearly turned her sobs into hysterical laughter. When was this man ever tentative?

His Louboutin loafers stepped into view. He stood still for a moment, then slowly crouched in an attempt to make eye contact with her. He rested one hand against the chair arm, and with the other he gripped the seat cushion to her left. He wasn’t touching her, and she was supremely grateful for that.

“I know there’s nothing I can say,” he began, “but you must understand, Detective. I was upset at first, too.”

“Upset?” she croaked. “Lucifer,” she pushed herself up to a sitting position, eyes aflame, “I am not just upset. I’m... I’m not even a person!” Her face crumpled.

“But you are!” he protested.

She sniffed back the next wave of tears ready to argue with him. “Ok, I’m technically human. How does that make this any better?”

He looked helplessly back at her, silent.

She exhaled and pushed herself into a standing position. “I need some air.” She pushed past him and called for the elevator.

“Wait, Detective,” he beseeched.

She boarded, then turned, eyebrows lifted.

“I—I didn’t ask for this. For you. But... it’s not terrible, is it?” he asked, desperately.

She huffed, incredulous. “I don't even know how to answer that. I trusted you, and this whole time you’ve been—what? Waiting to see when my programming would kick in?!”

“You make yourself sound like a fembot.”

She scrubbed a hand over her face. “Aren’t I?”

The elevator doors closed.

***

She made it back to her car, and rested her forehead on the steering wheel. She had come here for comfort. God, comfort from the Devil. What had she expected?

Some part of her protested that wasn’t fair. Lucifer had been nothing but supportive to her the past 48 hours.

It had only been 48 hours. She banged her head against the wheel and the horn beeped.

So in the past two days she had: killed her ex-fiancé; learned Lucifer’s true identity; nearly lost her job; and found out she was a miracle.

She banged her head against the wheel once more for good measure. It beeped again.

“Um, everything okay, Detective?” a slightly muffled voice asked from out side her car. She looked up to see one of Lux’s bouncers. “You want me to call the boss?”

“No!” she cut back. “No. Thanks, though. I’m just leaving,” she said more calmly.

He looked concerned but nodded, and continued his walk into the club. She thought she spied him whip out a cellphone, and she cringed.

She exhaled in frustration, and straightened up in her seat. She should go home, but home was where she’d been cuddled up against Lucifer last night.

Like a good little miracle.

She dug her fingernails into her palms. What was she supposed to do, now? She was in love with Lucifer. Fine. He reciprocated those feelings. Great. But she was hand-crafted to feel this way. She couldn’t trust her own thoughts and emotions. How could she ever be sure of anything ever again?

Suddenly, Lucifer’s seemingly insane rants against his Father in their early days made a lot more sense. Manipulation on this grand of a scale was enough to make anyone paranoid.

Then it hit her: Lucifer was also being manipulated. Did he have any say in his feelings for Chloe?

She had the sudden impulse to run back upstairs to comfort him. But, isn’t that what God would want her to do? And, even if He did, did it matter so long as she wanted to do it? But how could she trust that these desires were her own?

She groaned in frustration.

The only person in the world who could possibly understand her dilemma was upstairs.

She glanced down at her new cell phone. She had forgotten to give Lucifer her new number. She could call him...

She unbuckled her seatbelt, and climbed back out of her car. Running away from this wasn’t going to help her figure it out, and hiding behind technology was the coward’s way out. She took a deep breath, and called for the elevator.

Chapter Text

Chloe clenched and unclenched her fists as the elevator climbed back up to Lucifer’s penthouse. She felt half crazy after her panic attack and subsequent confusion over her own thoughts and emotions.

She didn’t know what to expect from Lucifer after her outburst. He’d been so gentle and understanding with her after the traumatic events of the past two days, but she wasn’t naive enough to think that he’d continue to shoulder everything without complaint.

He hadn’t done anything wrong. In fact, the more she thought about it, the more she realized he’d done the absolute best he could relaying the story of her creation to her, and she’d shot the messenger.

Guilt burned in her gut as the doors opened.

“Lucifer?” she called out timidly.

She heard his sigh before she could find him. She steeled herself for the accusation she felt she had coming.

“I did try, Detective,” he said sounding dejected. “After I found out about you, I tried to put space between us. You don’t deserve any of this. I’m truly sorry. I should have stayed away.”

She searched the room before she finally found him sitting in the chair she’d previously occupied. His back was to her, and he seemed to be hunched over with his head in his hands, or at least, she assumed that’s what he was doing. She couldn’t properly see him from her position in the elevator.

She swallowed, and took a few steps towards him. She hated hearing him sound so defeated, especially when he’d done nothing wrong.

“I’m glad you didn’t stay away,” she said finally. “Lucifer, I’m sorry. You’ve only ever been honest with me. I’m just under a lot of stress...which, is a shitty excuse since you’ve been right here with me the whole time.” She sighed, frustrated with herself.

“You’ve nothing to apologize for,” he said. “I have done nothing but bring trouble to your front door. I let Dad play puppet master because, in this case, I was happy to reap the benefits. I should have thought what that would mean to you. No matter what I do, I can’t escape this retched selfishness!” He stood abruptly and threw the empty tumbler they’d drank from earlier to shatter against the far window.

Chloe jumped at the sound, attention momentarily diverted to the shards of glass littering the floor. Then she began to process what he’d said.

“Lucifer, you’re not self—“ The words died on her lips.

She expected to see carefully styled jet black hair. She expected to see fair, handsome features possibly twisted in self-torment. She expected to see soulful brown eyes. What she saw instead made her blood run cold.

There, wearing her striking partner’s designer suit, stood a monster. There was no other word to describe it. Scarred and jagged musculature glistened a gory crimson in the afternoon sunlight, barely concealing the skull beneath it.

That scared rabbit impulse to flee backed her against the bar, before she’d even known she’d been moving.

The creature turned to face her more fully. Flame red eyes meeting hers inquisitively. She knew those eyes—had seen flashes of them when her partner was particularly enraged or upset.

“Detective?” Lucifer’s voice emerged impossibly from those scarred and desiccated lips.

She opened her mouth to respond, to say anything, but all that she managed was a breathy exhalation.

He took a step towards her, and she flinched. He stopped dead in his tracks, brow furrowed.

“Your-your face,” she managed to whisper.

His burning eyes grew wide, and he quickly turned to examine his reflection on the polished piano lid. He turned back to her in horror.

“Shit,” he muttered.

Chapter Text

Lucifer blinked and his crimson, scarred visage disappeared, replaced with his more familiar handsome face.

“Detective, I...” His mouth hung open helplessly for a moment. “I’m sorry you had to see that,” he said finally.

Fear held Chloe trapped against the bar, pinned down like a moth in a display case. Her heartbeat continued its hammering in her chest. She closed her eyes slowly, and took a long deep breath.

There had a been a time, early in their partnership, when she had thought she’d seen something...evil. The first case they’d worked together, she’d caught a glimpse of it just before she passed out from her bullet wound. Then, she’d seen it again in a reflection the night Lucifer had convinced her to shoot him.

She’d investigated Lucifer in her off time, going so far as re-interviewing witnesses. She couldn’t forget the aftermath of Jimmy Barnes’ encounter with Lucifer. He’d been left a slobbering mass ranting about the Devil. Now, having seen it up close, she understood why.

How could she reconcile the man she knew with the monster she didn’t? Which was the real Lucifer?

She forced her eyes open to study him once more. It had been less than 8 hours since the last time she’d inspected him for abnormalities. Maybe she’d missed something? But no, it was the same Lucifer. Same distinguished profile, same soft lips, same scar beneath his chin. His eyes, so understanding and soft the last two days, were filled with fear. He was afraid?

Then she remembered their conversation the night Charlotte had died. He’d confessed his feelings to Chloe, but he’d been so nervous.

“I was afraid. Afraid that you’d want me because you’ve only seen certain sides of me. That if you saw all of me, knew all of me, you would run away.”

Chloe realized that Lucifer was potentially staring down the barrel of his worst nightmare. Her reaction would make or break their relationship moving forward. Sure, she was absolutely terrified, but didn’t it say everything that he was, too?

She took a deep breath. She knew she should say something.

“Is that...Lucifer, is that your real face?” she asked quietly, still not quite able to move.

“Uh, that’s a complicated question,” he replied, visibly uncomfortable.

“Is it real?” she asked, trying another angle.

“Yes,” he supplied.

Chloe took a step forward. “And this face?”

“It’s real, too,” he assured her.

Chloe took another step towards him. He stood, stock still, visibly on edge.

“That’s what you used to do to people, wasn’t it? You’d show them that.”

“Yes,” he confirmed. He swallowed as she took another step towards him.

She reached towards his face, and paused, seeking permission. “Can I?”

He blinked several times, eyes glassy, and nodded, unable to speak. When her palm finally cupped his cheek, he sighed, his eyes falling closed. The tension in his body dissipated as she allowed her fingers to curl around his jaw. The flesh beneath her fingers was warm, and smooth save for the stubble he kept neatly trimmed. She swept her thumb over the swell of his lips, remembering the cracked and withered crimson ones she’d seen only moments before.

He was real. He didn’t lie. And with everything he’d done for her, he deserved to be accepted. She steeled herself.

“Show me again?” she asked, somehow keeping her body’s desire to tremble at bay.

His eyes flew open, and he fell back away from her. “Absolutely not.”

She tried to keep her relief hidden. “Why?”

He sputtered. “That face—my Devil face—it’s not meant for you. It’s—it’s...” he floundered, running his hands through his hair in frustration.

“It’s what?” she asked, her heart already breaking for him.

“It’s evil. Monstrous. Detective, I use it to punish people. You were never meant to see that,” he said desperately.

She bit her lower lip. Evil. Monster. She’d thought those exact words once his full Devil face had been revealed. But somehow, hearing him use them to describe himself devastated her.

“Lucifer, you’re not evil. You’re not a monster. You’re my partner,” she said firmly, a reminder for both of them.

He stared back at her in wonder, and the hope she saw in his eyes brought her to tears.

“Are you sure?” he asked, after a moment.

She took a deep breath and nodded. He approached her slowly, giving her the opportunity to change her mind. She took his hands when he stopped directly in front of her, and squeezed them in reassurance.

His eyes searched her own for a second before he spoke. “Are you ready?”

“Ready,” she murmured.

He blinked, and the Devil looked back at her. Her body froze up for just a moment, but she forced herself to stay calm. The warm fingers interlaced with her own still belonged to the man she loved, and so did this face. She let go of one hand to reach towards him.

“Is this okay?” she asked.

He didn’t seem to be able to speak. He opened his ruined mouth, then closed it. Those burning red eyes were heavy with emotion. He nodded, and she ghosted her fingertips along his jaw line.

She didn’t know what she’d been expecting to feel. Maybe something akin to grocery store flank steak, damp and pliant despite its texture. Whatever she thought this version of the man she loved would feel like, she was wrong.

His skin was dry and pitted, an old would that had never healed properly. She allowed her palm to rest fully against his toughened cheek, and realized he was shaking.

“Are you okay?” she asked him, her own fear forgotten in the face of his distress.

“Yes, Detective,” he croaked. “I’m more than okay,” he said with emotion. He sniffed back the tears pooling in his scarlet eyes, and cleared his throat.

She smiled softly up at him, and rested her forehead against his chin. He wrapped his arms around her, and they stood together, united against all the forces that sought to tear them asunder.

Chapter Text

Lucifer swallowed, and Chloe watched his Adam’s apple bob in his throat. She wasn’t actually sure which face he wore as they stood there. It would be easy enough to find out, but, somehow, it didn’t seem important.

She’d come back up to the penthouse with a purpose, hadn’t she? The smell of his cologne and the warmth he radiated made everything a bit fuzzy outside of his embrace, though.

“I’m glad you came back,” he said, voice gravelly with emotion.

She was glad she had, too. She had no idea how hard he’d taken her accusation, until she found him hunched over, drowning in guilt simply for loving her. Wasn’t it basically an impulse he had no control over, thanks to his Dad?

Right. That’s why she came back.

She leaned back in his embrace and smiled ruefully. “I came back because I was having a meltdown trying to figure out which thoughts and emotions were really mine. Then I remembered that you’ve been going through this for...ever.”

“Ah,” he said, looking thoughtful. He’d shifted back to the face she knew best. “I’d say it gets better, but...Well, you know I don’t lie, Detective.”

She bit her lower lip, and nodded. “I guess that’s why you’re in therapy,” she said, running a hand up his lapel.

“Indeed,” he confirmed. His eyes lit up. “Oh! Dr. Linda knows everything. Perhaps she could help you, too.”

“Linda knows? Like, knows knows?” she said, as he darted away excitedly.

“Yes. Do try to keep up, Detective. In fact,” he withdrew his cellphone, “she could probably fit you in, today.”

“Lucifer,” Chloe began.

He pressed the phone to his ear, extremely pleased with himself.

“Lucifer,” she tried more sharply. “I don’t—“

He waved her off. “Linda! I’m calling on behalf of the Detective,” he said through a bright smile.

Chloe rolled her eyes.

“Yes, I know, but I’m confident you’ll be able to help her...No, you misunderstand. She knows...Yes! Exactly!...Fairly well, all things considered. Some existential dread, but I’m sure you know all about that...Oh, no need for that, I have her right here.”

He thrust the phone into her hands, and she answered uncertainly. “Hello?”

“Chloe, how are you?” Linda sounded sympathetic, and Chloe felt suddenly awkward.

“Um...Fine, I guess?” She glanced over her shoulder and walked out on the balcony for privacy. Lucifer watched her go with a kind smile.

“When did you find out?” Linda asked.

“Yesterday, I saw his wings, and today...Today I saw—“

“His face?” her friend suggested.

“Yeah,” Chloe admitted. “And, apparently I’m a miracle. And I killed Pierce, who was really Cain from the Bible.” Now that she’d started she couldn’t stop. “And I might be losing my job. And I’m in love with the Devil so...” she laughed, feeling unhinged.

“That’s a lot for one person to handle on their own,” Linda said.

Chloe scrubbed a hand over her face. “It’s...yeah. You could say that.” Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Do you want to come in? I have a cancellation for my 4 PM slot, or I could come to you. Heaven knows I’ve made my fair share of house calls for Lucifer.”

Chloe winced. “I don’t think I’m ready for that,” she said. “I’ve barely had time to wrap my head around any of this. I wouldn’t even begin to know how to talk about it with someone else.”

Linda was silent for a moment. “Chloe, I won’t force you, but I think you would really benefit from a session. Maybe not today, but think about it, okay? My job is to help people process emotions, and I’ve personally been where you are right now. It’s...well, saying it’s a lot is putting it mildly. Don’t try to do this on your own. You don’t have to.”

“Yeah. Thanks, Linda,” Chloe said quietly.

She hung up, and took a moment to look out over the LA skyline. She knew she probably should take Linda up on her offer, but she’d barely had a moment to herself.

She huffed in frustration. All of her emotions felt insanely contradictory at the moment. She wanted to be with Lucifer, but she also didn’t want to be a cosmic puppet. She was overwhelmed by the enormity of his identity and all it entailed, yet weirdly not surprised. She wanted to comfort him, but also wanted to scream at him. This was probably exactly the kind of thing Linda could help her with.

She’d wanted to talk to Lucifer, though. She took a deep breath, and decided it was time to do just that.

He’d always been honest with her, hadn’t he? True, some of those truths had been carefully pruned, if his explanation of events yesterday was anything to go by.

The thought twisted in her gut. How many more of those truths did she need to unearth to truly understand their situation? How many full truths had he supplied to her that she’d outright disregarded? It must have been so frustrating for him. The thought made her burn with shame.

What sort of a gift was she, anyway? She’d brushed him off for years, spent the last 48 hours clinging to him like he was her own emotional support Devil, and then she’d taken her frustrations out on him.

He’d shown her something he was deeply insecure about with the reveal of his Devil face. That was clear to her. His feelings for her seemed genuine. No—they were genuine. He told her he was confused by them, and with her newly acquired knowledge that she’d been engineered for him, she understood the sentiment.

When she saw him leaning over the bar as she came back inside, a wave affection crashed over her. True, they were both being manipulated, but at least they had each other to commiserate with. God, wasn’t that a messed up thought.

She sidled up to him, sliding her palm up his back, and watched him turn to her, a soft look in his eyes. How could she have harbored any resentment towards him when he looked at her like that?

“Will you be seeing the good Doctor, then?” he asked.

“Not today. Not yet. I need...” she paused trying to find a way to articulate it, “I need it to just be us for a little while longer.”

His eyes flicked over her face, a devilish smile just making an appearance. “Oh?” he said, shifting closer to her.

She allowed a small smile to play over her lips at his obvious interest. “Yeah,” she replied. Then she grew more serious. “Lucifer, if we’re...fated to be with each other, does that mean neither of us has a choice?”

He drew himself up to his full height. “Detective, I will do everything in my power to ensure your free will,” he said gravely. “If you prefer that I leave—“”

“No! No, Lucifer. That’s not what I’m saying.” She took a deep breath. “Do you get a choice in all this? I mean... I’m...I’ve been awful to you. I’ve never believed you. I shot you.”

He stared at her, visibly confused. “Detective, are you somehow implying that I’m the one getting the raw end of the deal, in this situation?”

“Maybe? I just can’t wrap my head around the actual Devil having any real interest in me. I guess, it makes more sense if you’re being forced. I’m... I’m just a person, Lucifer.”

He blinked at her incredulously. “And I’m the actual Devil. I’ve been in Hell for thousands of years ensuring punishment and torture for the souls of the damned. It makes more sense that you’re being manipulated than it does that you actually care for me.”

They stared at each other.

“I guess we’re still on the same page, then,” Chloe said quietly.

“Indeed,” he agreed.

She sighed. “I’m so confused right now. The only thing that makes any sense to me is how right this feels.” She motioned between them. “But I don’t even know if I can trust that,” she admitted. “Do you?”

“I believe,” he said slowly, “the feelings I have for you are real.”

“How can you be sure?”

He rubbed at his forehead. “I... I suppose I have faith.”

She snorted, and he joined her in chuckling over that spectacularly ridiculous statement.

Once she stopped laughing, she found herself once again studying his features. Not for any signs of inhumanity, this time, though. She just wanted a moment to take him in.

“I’m sorry, for everything I’ve put you through,” she said.

“What in Dad’s name are you talking about?”

She chuckled, and shook her head. “Lucifer, you literally took multiple bullets for me, and I basically accused you of using me.”

He shot her a lopsided grin. “Forgiveness has always been more of my Father’s bag—Well, except when it comes to me, of course— but...Detective, of course I forgive you.”

She looped her arms around his neck. “Good. Now all that’s left is for us to kiss and make-up.”

He grinned at her lame joke, even as his eyes lingered on her lips. “I thought you required time?”

She slid her palm from the back of his neck to his cheek as she looked up at him through her lashes. “I do. I just...I need to feel close to you. Please.”

“As you desire,” he said softly, leaning towards her. She allowed her eyes to fall closed as their lips finally met.

Chapter Text

Chloe had once heard Lucifer describe himself as “walking heroin.” She’d scoffed at the time, utterly put off by his smugness, but now? Now she just wanted to continue kissing him for the rest of eternity.

The brush of his lips had started off sweet and gentle, the way their previous kisses had been, but then he’d slid his fingers into her hair, and changed his angle and she shivered. She opened her mouth to him, and he took full advantage deepening their kiss until her toes curled, and her hands fisted in his jacket.

When they finally separated, each gasping for air, Chloe found herself smiling. A quick bubble of laughter erupted from her throat, and Lucifer smiled brilliantly back at her. This is what they had been denying themselves?

Chloe captured his lips once more, and they were off, making out like teenagers against the bar. Her hands were wound in his hair, and his were on her ass, and she whimpered and he moaned, and it was by far the best thing that had happened to her all year.

Then her phone rang.

“You just got that blasted thing! Who the hell is calling you?” he whined, lips kiss swollen and hair tousled.

She understood his frustration. “Decker,” she answered reluctantly.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Decker,” Lt. Riner said.

Chloe went rigid. “ Detective, sir,” she corrected.

“That remains to be seen. I see you’ve made your way back to your parter’s place of residence. Working on getting your stories straight?”

“Are you tailing me?” she asked incredulously.

“I’d be piss poor at my job if I wasn’t. Tell me, have you settled on an explanation for how you ended up on the roof?”

She took a deep breath to hold back the white hot fury boiling on the tip of her tongue. “I already told Detectives Gains and
Flowers that. Maybe you should review their paperwork, sir.”

“Tell me again, just for shits and giggles.”

Chloe felt Lucifer looming behind her. She exhaled. “Lucifer had taken fire. We managed to escape to the building next door. My cellphone was having problems with reception, and I panicked. I don’t remember how I made it up to the roof. Dan called me, I updated him on our situation, and then ran as fast as I could back downstairs. Lucifer had managed to stop the bleeding by that point.”

“Good story,” Riner mused. “It’s got everything: thrills, chills, judging by the security footage of the two of you in the lobby, a splash of romance.”

Chloe bristled.

“So, how long have you been having an affair with Mr. Morningstar?”

Chloe closed her eyes, and breathed through her nose. “Lucifer and I have been partners for the last three years. The nature of our relationship has always been strictly professional while on the job,” she said.

“Right. What about off the job? Like now, for instance?” Riner asked in a noncommittal tone.

Chloe swallowed, the lingering taste of Lucifer still in her mouth. How did she answer this question?

She cleared her throat. “Recent events, like our near deaths, have made a difference,” she said finally.

“Is that why Mr. Morningstar went home with you the night Marcus Pierce was killed, and was seen exiting your apartment the following morning?” He didn’t give her time to reply. “Pretty quick to move on after your fiancé died, don’t you think?” he said evenly.

Chloe scoffed. “Pierce and I called things off weeks ago.”

Lucifer took Chloe’s phone from her hand. “Thank you, but the Detective will not be answering any further questions without an attorney present. Have a pleasant evening.” He hung up, and handed the phone back to her.

Chloe’s eyes widened in horror. “Why did you do that?! It makes me look like I was letting you listen in!”

“Letting is a strong word,” he said mildly.

Chloe gaped at him.

He shrugged. “I have fantastic hearing, Detective. Though,” he smirked, “it’s not the only thing I’m fantastic at,” he purred.

“Lucifer,” she said flatly, “I’m not going to jail because you want to get laid. I should call him back.” She started to dial, and he stilled her hand.

“Regardless of my state of arousal, it’s clear to me, that were dear Charlotte still here to advise you, she would agree with me. Detective, allow me to handle this. I took the liberty of texting my lawyer once I realized who you were talking to.”

“Lucifer,” she warned, sensing a pattern.

“Detective, might I remind you of the last time you tried to take on the system by yourself? You and the urchin nearly died. It just so happens you’re one of the few people in this organization that cares about truth or justice.”

“That’s not true. What about Ella? What about Dan?”

He pressed his lips together. “Ms. Lopez follows the science,” he conceded, “but, Detective, need I remind you again about Palmetto?”

Chloe stared at him for a moment. She hadn’t even told him about Dan’s finger pointing in their current case. She hadn’t wanted to think about it.

Lucifer must have taken her silence as hurt or disbelief because he continued. “I’m not saying Daniel hasn’t proven himself an entertaining friend, but—“

She swallowed past the guilt she felt. He thought of Dan as a friend.

“You’re right. You’re right,” she cut in. She couldn’t tell him, not now. She scrubbed a hand over her face. “I’ve just never been on this side of things. God, what are we gonna do?”

He winced, then settled his hand on the tops of her shoulders. “We,” he said resolutely, “are going to break you of that nasty habit of calling on Dad, then order dinner. I’m thinking Thai, what are you in the mood for?”

She bit her lip. She didn’t have much of an appetite after everything that had happened. Riner was probably having both of their places watched. She should probably keep her distance for a while.

“I think I’m just going to go home,” she said.

He searched her face for a moment, and nodded. “It’s going to be alright, Detective.” Then he squeezed her shoulder and released her.

Dread clawed at her insides, but she managed a smile. It wouldn’t do to to add to his plate. He’d done so much for her already.

“Good night, Lucifer,” she said, reaching up to cup his face so she could pull him close enough to press a kiss to his cheek.

He caught her hand on the withdrawal, and pressed a kiss to her knuckles in return.

“Sleep well,” he said.

Why was he so sexy?

“You, too.”

He smiled.

***

Chloe pulled up to her apartment complex around 7 PM. An early end to the evening, but a necessary one.

Too many thoughts pinged around in her skull. Her job was on the line. She couldn’t give a fully truthful answer to anything in the investigation into Pierce’s death unless she wanted to be committed. Her ex-husband was one of the main reasons the investigation had turned against her. Lucifer offered to take care of this. How? Should she be worried? His unorthodox involvement in her professional life had also turned IA’s investigation towards her. How could she be sure he wouldn’t make things worse?

Sitting in her car and retreading over everything again and again wasn’t going to do anything tonight. Lucifer had been right about that. She needed to focus on the small realities in front of her. Go inside, take a shower. Maybe eat a few bites of something before bed.

Reluctantly, she she got out of the car, locked up, and started towards her apartment complex.

Maybe she would take a bath instead. A small smirk crept across her lips as she imagined Lucifer’s enthusiastic approval. She wasn’t ready for him to join her quite yet, but something told her that he’d trip over himself at the opportunity to watch her even approximate a recreation of her famous Hot Tub High School scene.

“Chloe!” Dan called out to her from over her shoulder.

She started, nearly blushing at where her thoughts had taken her. The real world crashed through her little fantasy when she caught sight of him, though. Dan looked bedraggled, and anguished.

“I messed up. Riner’s out for your badge. I didn’t think—“

Anger churned in her stomach. “You’re right. You didn’t think,” she practically spat.

He shook his head, his eyes flashing. “Chlo, you know Lucifer’s responsible for all of this,” he rejoined, matching her intensity.

“No, Dan. Pierce was responsible for everything. The man who Charlotte was investigating,” she said firmly.

“He knew!” Dan shouted. He swallowed back further emotion. “He knew, and he didn’t tell us.” He’d managed to calm himself down. “I had a responsibility to tell Riner. You know I’m right,” he said staring into her eyes.

She shook her head. “Funny how that sense of responsibility only makes itself known when you want what? Vengeance?”

Dan smiled bitterly. “See that’s another thing. Before Lucifer…You used to care about the truth, Chloe.”

She saw red. “Don’t you dare question my integrity after all the shit you pulled with Palmetto.”

“I saved your life!”

“You nearly ruined it! You want to talk about keeping pertinent information back? You let me twist in the wind, and become the department pariah to save your own career. Hell, at least Lucifer had an unselfish reason for not telling me about Pierce.”

Dan let out a humorless laugh. “I’m sure he did. If there’s one thing Lucifer Morningstar is known for, it’s his selflessness.”

“He took a bullet for me, Dan!”

“Yeah, well he can’t sleep with you if you’re dead.”

She slapped him. It was purely a reflex, and it surprised her.

Dan didn’t look at her. He didn’t say anything. He took a slow breath, and walked away.

She felt frozen in place. Her palm stung from where it had made contact. She was shaking. She drew in a breath, and exhaled on a sob.

Chapter Text

Tears stung Chloe’s eyes as she pushed into her apartment. Anxiety and rage were holding a tug of war in her body.

As angry as she was at Dan for his part in everything, and for what he’d just said, deep down, she knew he was right. She had changed. She’d started to put her personal relationships ahead of the job.

After visiting with Lucifer tonight, she’d almost allowed herself to relax for a moment. Just to take the night to recover from at least some of this new baggage weighing her down. But that wasn’t fair or right, was it?

Marcus was dead, and she’d shot him. It had been self-defense, but that didn’t stop the current investigation.

She couldn’t even begrudge the shadow of suspicion cast over her. She had been in a relationship with Pierce, and as any experienced cop could tell you, it was usually the lover. Throw in her new relationship with Lucifer, and things just looked worse. She knew Charlotte’s files could ultimately clear her, but that didn’t mean she would keep her job.

She sighed, and scrubbed her hands over her face.

Riner had been right when he’d assigned the blame to her. She was supposed to be a detective—one of LA’s finest. Yet she’d let the Sinnerman thrive right under her nose. Maybe, if she could have dragged her head out of her ass long enough to listen to Lucifer, she would have realized who Marcus Pierce really was sooner, and Charlotte would still be alive.

She bypassed the light switch, and collapsed on her couch in the dark. Suddenly, the idea of a bath exhausted her. She had no desire to eat anything. She kicked off her boots, shed her jacket, and laid back against the cushions.

Just last night she’d curled up with Lucifer, right here. He’d held her, and she’d actually felt like things might work out. Sure, she’d just learned he was the Devil, but he’d admitted his feelings for her, and she’d reciprocated. She’d felt safe, and happy for the first time in ages.

She glanced down at her new cellphone. She wanted to call him. He’d already done so much for her, though. He’d saved her life, arranged for childcare, taken care to explain the celestial side of things, and set up a meeting for her with a lawyer. She couldn’t in good conscience ask any more of him. He was a good man, and he didn’t deserve for things to be this messy. She could handle this on her own.

She exhaled, then grabbed the decorative throw off of the back of her couch. She pulled it over herself and curled into cushions, praying for a dreamless sleep.

Chapter Text

Chloe sat bolt-upright at the sound of the gunshot. Wild-eyed, she scanned the dark apartment. Nothing was disturbed. Nothing was out of place. Her heart beat loudly in her ears.

She’d heard a gunshot, hadn’t she? She’d felt the rattle in her skull, experienced the recoil.

Wait.

Had she heard it, or fired it herself?

She blinked rapidly as she realized her hands were clutching her sidearm. The safety was off.

The haze of sleep and the confusion surrounding her abrupt awakening was instantly gone at her realization: she could have discharged her weapon in her sleep.

Adrenaline flooded her veins as she searched the room for any sign of bullet holes or damage.

The apartment sat eerily still and silent. Chloe carefully climbed off the couch, and, keeping to the shadows, made her way to the window. She cautiously peeked out from between the blinds. Nothing. The courtyard was completely empty. The waxing crescent moon was still high in the night sky.

Chloe took a step back from the window. Blinking, she lowered her weapon. Her eyes swept the apartment once more. Nothing seemed out of place. She licked her lips, suddenly realizing how dry her mouth felt.

She bit her lower lip. It was still dark out. What time even was it? She strode purposefully towards the couch and retrieved the new cell phone from her jacket. It was 5 past midnight.

She let out a shaky breath, and re-holstered her weapon. It had been a nightmare.

Adrenaline was still pumping through her veins as she went to the kitchen to retrieve a glass of water. She downed it in two gulps, then refilled the glass under the tap. She sipped this one more slowly, and removed her weapon. She stared down at the gun on the kitchen island.

She’d fallen asleep wearing her gun. How could she be so careless? God, what if she had shot it? What if Trixie had been home?

A wave of nausea hit her hard, and she emptied the meager contents of her stomach into the kitchen sink. She wiped her mouth on the back of her hand, and fought the tears back.

If Trixie had been home… If the gunfire hadn’t been a dream…

Her stomach churned once more, and she sat heavily on one of the stools. She reached for her phone, and pulled up Lucifer in her contacts.

It was late, but not for Lucifer. He was probably down in his club. She could call him, and he’d no doubt drop everything to just to come sit with her.

She wanted him there, beside her, but was it really fair of her to ask that of him? What could he even do? It was foolish to bring him here just to comfort her. She didn’t deserve it.

For just a moment, she allowed herself the fantasy of imagining him next to her. He’d wrap her in his arms, and the smell of his cologne and the gentle rise and fall of his chest would drown out the rest of the world. They’d curl up together on her couch, and she’d drop off to sleep safe from the accusations of the outside world, and her own mind.

She stared at the phone for a moment. She shouldn’t call him. She’d told him she needed space. She’d given him so many mixed signals in the last 48 hours. She’d agreed to go out with him, then asked for time. She’d left in a huff, then turned right back around to apologize. She’d frozen in fear, then kissed him. It wasn’t right or fair for her to place more of her burdens on his shoulders. Devil or not, he was just a man.

She realized after a moment that she’d been worrying her bullet necklace between her fingers. She couldn’t help the small smile that crept over her lips as she remembered Lucifer’s nervousness when he’d presented it to her. He’d then immediately tossed out the filthiest possible explanation for it that he could muster in an attempt to cover any sentimentality the necklace revealed. It had been too late, though. She’d known what it meant, even if she couldn’t admit it to herself.

She dropped her phone on the counter top, and walked away. She needed a shower. Thoughts pinged around in her restless mind as she stripped and allowed the water to warm.

Riner was watching her every move like a hawk. He’d made it clear that all of his attention was focused on Chloe. He thought she was a terrible cop.

And wasn’t she? She’d fallen asleep with her sidearm. What if Trixie had been home?

There was one red line in her and Dan’s relationship. If Trixie wasn’t going to be safe…

She grabbed her robe and hastily donned it as she descended the stairs. She grabbed her phone, and dialed Dan.

He picked up on the fifth ring. “Chloe?” he answered tentatively.

She was confused by his reaction until their argument came flooding back. She closed her eyes, and breathed through her nose.

“Hey, I—I need you to take Trixie.”

The line was silent. “I thought she was still with your mom. Is everything alright?”

“No. No, it’s not. I um… I’m supposed to pick her up at 7, but… Dan, I need to know she’s safe. Promise me she’ll be safe.”

“Woah, Chloe, what’s wrong? Is it Lucifer? I’m coming over.”

“No! No. Dan, everything’s fine. I’m not, but everything else is. I’m just… A lot’s happened, you know?” Tears blurred her vision.

“I know, Chlo. I know. I—I’m sorry. Really. I’m so sorry Chloe. About everything. You were right. You’re always right. I miss Charlotte,” his voice wavered, “and I blamed Lucifer, and now you’ve been caught in the cross fire, and…”

Chloe took a deep breath. “It’s… it’s not alright, but… I understand. I’m so scared, Dan. What am I going to do?”

“I don't know, Chlo.” He sniffed once, then cleared his throat. “I’ve got Trix. Let me know what you need.”

“Thanks. Good night.”

“Night.”

Chloe swiped at her eyes, and brought the phone back up the stairs into the bathroom with her. The water had been running during their entire phone call and was now ice cold. She sighed, she’d her robe, then jumped into the frigid spray.

***

There was nothing like a cold shower to strip any semblance of sleep from your bones. Now certain of her daughter’s safety, and freshly bathed and dressed, Chloe considered the next thing on her impromptu to-do list.

Lucifer had arranged for her to meet with his lawyer. So, that was taken care of. Maybe she should take Linda up on her offer of therapy, too. She grabbed her phone, then stopped short when she saw the time. It was just past 2 AM.

God. She suddenly felt helpless again. She couldn’t call Linda this late, or early, so there went her productive streak.

What would she do if she lost her job? Stop. She couldn’t think like that.

She grabbed the television remote and flipped to the TV on.

She’d been using Lucifer. Yes, she loved him, but how could she possibly justify leeching more from him? What did he get out of this arrangement? She wouldn’t even have sex with him.

God, should she have sex with him? She wanted to, but the thought churned in her gut. She didn’t feel ready for that, but did it really matter? He’d saved her life. He’d all but declared his undying devotion to her. She needed to have sex with him. It was obvious.

She glanced at the time. He’d still be awake…

Chapter Text

Lucifer poured himself another drink, and frowned. Everything had changed.

He was worried for his Detective. The amount of stress she’d been put under, mostly thanks to him, was unacceptable. There had to be something he could do.

This Lt. Riner was proving to be a more formidable opponent than his previous experiences with the LAPD upper echelon. True, they hadn’t formally met, but the man’s preoccupation with the Detective was troubling. Perhaps he should drop in on the acting lieutenant, and get acquainted with his desires.

He took a sip of his whiskey and considered his options. On the one hand, he was confident that his intervention could only help the situation. After all, who could resist a deal with the Devil? On the other hand, he was equally confident that the Detective would not want him to interfere.

Well, what she didn’t know couldn’t hurt her. With everything that his Detective had gone through in the past two days, if he could ease her pain without inflicting more stress on her, why wouldn’t he?

He pulled out his phone and shot Maze a text. They weren’t exactly back to full speaking terms, but he had a feeling she’d be willing to help him track down the new Lieutenant.

The death of Cain at Chloe’s hands specifically ate at Lucifer. It had been his deal to fulfill, but the Detective had taken the fateful shot. He couldn’t forget her crumbling in his arms after she learned what she’d done. She’d clung to him as tears spilled down her cheeks, and Lucifer could almost feel the weight on her soul increase.

Then there had been the revelation of her creation. The last thing he’d wanted to do was unload everything on her at once, but his clever Detective knew just the right questions to ask. Watching her crumble yet again had triggered his own guilt, and he’d finally managed to show her his Devil face.

His miracle hadn’t rejected him, though. She’d embraced him in his most wretched form.

His phone vibrated in his hand and he glanced down.

“You awake?” Chloe inquired.

He frowned. It was well past time for her to be asleep. She’d left several hours ago.

“Everything alright?” He shot back.

Three tell-tale dots danced then disappeared.

“Detective?” He texted once the screen stayed blank for too long.

“Can you come over?” She finally replied.

“What’s wrong?” He demanded.

“I need you,” came her reply.

“I’m on my way,” he tapped out, as he walked to his balcony. Something was wrong, and he couldn’t bother with his car. He unfurled his wings, and he was off.

-

Chloe nodded at his reply. Right. He would be here. He was coming and she could finally give him what he wanted, what he deserved.

She glanced down at her pajamas with disgust. She needed to change. She ripped off the old t-shirt and stood over her meager lingerie drawer. Black lace seemed a safe bet. She was just stepping into the teddy when she heard her front door slam open.

“Detective!” Lucifer’s voice sounded worried.

She groaned, abandoning the teddy, and pulling on her silky robe. He was here too soon, and judging by the anxiety in his voice, in completely the wrong mood.

“Coming!” She shouted back. She let out a sigh and clasped her shaking hands together.

“Are you alright?” He asked, footsteps climbing up her stairs.

“Um…I—“

He pushed open her bedroom door in true Lucifer fashion, and she pulled her robe tighter around herself.

“Chloe?”

Something about the use of her name and his concerned eyes struck a chord. Suddenly her eyes filled with tears.

“Detective, what’s wrong?”

“I…I—“ she broke into sobs and collapsed into his arms, hot tears rolling down her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” she cried.

“Detective, sorry for what? Are you alright? Did something happen?”

“I-I had a nightmare,” she managed between broken sobs.

“You’ve nothing to apologize for, darling,” he assured her, stroking her hair.

She took a deep breath against his shirt. “No, I do. I do. You’ve been so great. But, I can’t—I’m not ready. And Riner wants to terminate your contract. And it’s all my fault.”

“Slow down, detective. Just breathe. Just breathe.” He continued holding her tightly and stroking her hair. “The interim lieutenant can wait until morning. You won’t be rid of me that easily.”

“Why is this happening?” She asked no one in particular.

“I don’t know, darling, but I intend to find out. I’m going to pay him a little visit. It’s going to be alright. You’ll see,” he assured her.

Chloe took another deep breath. “Lucifer, I almost discharged my weapon in my sleep. I don’t know what to do. I thought… It doesn’t matter what I thought. What if Riner has a point about me? I’m a terrible partner.”

Lucifer blinked down at her through her tirade. “Darling…” he said finally. He squeezed her tightly in a hug. “You are an amazing partner. I don’t know how to help you right now. Tell me what you need.”

“I… I think I just need to sleep,” she realized.

“Okay. Let’s get you into bed. I’ll set up on the couch, downstairs,” he said, removing his coat.

She smiled weakly. He was going to stay with her. She didn’t need to ask him. He just knew.

He pulled back her duvet, and helped her get settled in bed, tucking her in like a small child.

“Thank you, Lucifer,” she said.

He smiled sweetly at her. “Of course, detective.” He turned to leave.

“Would you stay up here with me? Just until I fall asleep?” She asked, feeling needy, and craving his presence.

“Of course, detective.” He removed his cufflinks and began to roll up his sleeves. He toed his shoes off, removed his belt, and climbed into bed next to her.

“Hold me?” She asked, feeling the weight of her exhaustion begin to pull her under. She felt the mattress dip, as Lucifer scooted towards the center, and wrapped his arms around her. She rested her head against his chest and fell into a dreamless sleep.

…

Sunlight and contentment were the first things she was aware of. The faint scent of Lucifer’s cologne was the second. A snore sounded above her and she smiled. Chloe stretched in his arms, and sat up gingerly once she realized the Devil was still fast asleep.

This was the second time she’d awoken in his arms this week. A small part of her, the part that could look past the present crises, wished she could everyday. She chuckled to herself at the ridiculousness of that thought. There were so many things more important than her love life, right now.

Despite her careful, quiet movements, Lucifer’s eyes fluttered, and he blinked awake.

“Good morning,” Chloe whispered.

“Detective,” he said through a yawn. “My apologies. I must have fallen asleep.”

She smiled. “That’s okay,” she assured him.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, sitting up against the headboard. He wiped at his eyes with the heel of his palm.

Chloe considered. “Better, I think.”

“Perhaps a trip to the good doctor is in order?” he hedged.

Chloe sat up on the edge of the bed. She sighed. “I don’t know, Lucifer.”

He sighed. “Fancy a little brekkie, then?”

She turned to face him more fully. “You’ve already done so much for me. Let me make you breakfast.”

He considered her. “Let’s make a deal. You can make me breakfast if you’ll talk to Linda.”

Chloe took him in: the serious set of his jaw, the sincerity shining through his deep, brown eyes. “Ok,” she heard herself say before she could fully process that she’d even made a decision.

He beamed. “Splendid. I’ll make the arrangements while you get started.”

…

Chloe flipped the egg sandwich with one hand and fiddled with her necklace with the other. Talking to Linda shouldn’t be this hard. She was tribe. This should be natural.

Except the idea of going over all of her failures while someone else watched made her stomach churn.

The door swung open and Lucifer stepped inside. He tucked his phone into his breast pocket and grinned at her.

“My, but that’s smells sinful.”

She shook her head even as she smiled. “Would you mind making coffee?” She asked.

He hummed as he entered the kitchen, reaching over her head into one of the high cabinets.

“Oh, it’s actually over—“ Chloe stopped short as he pulled down a bag of coffee beans she’d never seen before.

“You didn’t think I’d be making that two-for-one swill you buy,” he proclaimed, digging in the lower cabinet for her coffee grinder. He frowned at the dust accumulated on top. “Detective,” he admonished.

Chloe rolled her eyes. “Pre-ground is fine, Lucifer.”

“I’ll pretend you didn’t say that,” he said primly a he set the machine up on her countertop.

Chloe winced at the loud grinder, as she plated their sandwiches.

“Hurry up,” she told him. “They’re going to get cold.”

“Yes, Detective,” he placated as he finally turned her coffee pot on.

Chloe took a bite of her sandwich and hummed appreciatively. Lucifer sat across from her and ate his with gusto.

Chloe licked her lips and shifted her weight uncomfortably as she remembered their deal. “What time will Linda be seeing me?” she asked, shooting for nonchalance.

Lucifer wiped his mouth and studied her. “She has an opening at 10:15.”

Chloe swallowed her bite of egg sandwich. “That soon?”

“I could go with you,” he offered.

Chloe blinked. “N-no. That’s okay. I… I need to do this on my own.”

“No, you don’t,” he said with finality. “You don’t need to do any of this alone.”

Chloe blew her hair out of her face. “I know.”

“Do you?” he asked.

“I called you last night, didn’t I?” she shot back, annoyed. Sure she’d called him with the ill-conceived notion of having sex with him, but he didn’t need to know that.

His eyes grew soft. “Darling, I’m merely worried about you.”

Tears began to well in her eyes, but she fought them back until her throat ached. “I know you are. Thank you.”

He stood up and walked around the breakfast bar to wrap her in an awkward hug. She sniffled back the threatening tears, and took a deep breath against him.

Time to put on her big girl pants and talk to Linda.

Chapter Text

Linda straightened the files on her desk as a soft knock sounded at her door.

“Come in,” she called.

Chloe smiled politely as she entered the room. She coughed and ducked her head as she sat awkwardly on the couch.

“How are you feeling, Chloe?”

“Not great.. Obviously, right?” She chuckled nervously.

Linda smiled sympathetically. “Tell me.”

Chloe bit her lip and nodded. “Lucifer—and you— said I don’t have to do this alone. But that’s the only thing I’ve ever done. I mean… It’s different at work. Lucifer and I are partners… I know I can count on him in the field, but I still do most of paperwork alone.”

“You take pride in your work.”

“Yeah. I uh, I know what to do as a detective. There are rules that I follow. Procedures. But… what I’ve learned—the whole celestial side of things— it’s so much bigger than these silly human rules. How do I reconcile procedure with-with all of it? I mean… God. The Devil brings me coffee every morning.” She laughed.

“It’s a lot,” Linda agreed.

“Yeah. It is. It’s not just that, though. Linda, what if I lose my job?”

“Well, let’s explore that. What would that mean for you? What would change?”

“I would have no income. My life’s work would have been meaningless.”

“Would it? Chloe, have you or have you not put dozens of criminals behind bars? If your life takes a new path, will that disappear?”

“I—I guess not. But if I lose my job, Trixie… what will that mean for her future?”

Linda leaned forward. “Chloe, we both know your daughter is incredibly smart. She’ll be fine.”

“Lucifer…”

“Will still follow you around like a lost puppy,” Linda said with a smirk.

Chloe exhaled. “You’re saying nothing big will really change. But that’s not true. I am a detective. It’s who I’m meant to be. Or, I thought it was. Turns out I’m just meant to be Lucifer’s… something.”

“Hmm. So maybe that’s what we should focus on. Who is Chloe Decker?”

Chloe chuckled nervously. “Yeah…”

…

Riner stretched behind his desk, and eyed his empty styrofoam cup. He blew out a heavy sigh and began the process of standing with his bad knees. He groaned as he finally stood to his full height.

“Please, allow me,” a deep, lilting voice said.

Riner started as Lucifer emerged from the shadows, holding out a fresh cup of coffee.

“Mr. Morningstar,” he acknowledged taking the proffered cup.

Lucifer smiled tightly. “And you are the illustrious Interim Lieutenant Riner.”

Riner nodded and took a sip of the coffee. “Thanks,” he said.

“I understand you object to my presence, here,” Lucifer said.

“You understand correctly. Mr. Morningstar,” Riner began, “I’m sure you enjoy your police procedural dramas on T.V., but the truth is you have no formal training.”

“My love of Bones notwithstanding, I’ve worked with the best detective on the force for three years. I’d call that training.”

Riner sighed. “Ms. Decker notwithstanding, you haven’t went through the academy, you’ve never walked a beat, you what? Bribed the previous lieutenant to get where you are? The truth is you’re not qualified.”

“Detective,” Lucifer seethed.

“What?”

“Detective Decker.”

Riner shook his head. “Sure…Mr. Morningstar, can I give you some advice?”

Lucifer grinned dangerously, “Sure.”

“You want so badly to play cop? Don’t shit where you eat. She’s pretty, but she likely won’t have a badge this time next week.”

Lucifer lunged over the desk and grabbed Riner by his collar. “The Detective is excellent at her job. We have the highest close rate in the department.”

Riner stared him down. “Because you treat perps like this?”

Lucifer scoffed. “Let’s cut to the chase, shall we? Tell me Interim Lieutenant, what is it that you desire?”

Riner’s eyes went glassy. “I…I want…What?”

“Complicated are you? Come on Joseph, you can tell me. What’s the desire of that twisted, sexist, little heart of yours?”

“I… want…to retire. I’m so damn tired. I’ve been doing this for thirty years and no matter what I do, bad cops get away. Not this time. Decker and you are the epitome of cutting corners. Maybe it was self defense, but I will find something in her case history to put a stop to your reign of terror!”

Lucifer released him, then drew himself ip to his full height. “You won’t find anything. The Detective is as good as they come. She never cuts corners.”

“But you do,” Riner replied coldly. “You aren’t one of us, Morningstar, and sooner or later your crooked fingerprints are going to show up. When that happens? Both of you are out. Then I can rest.”

…

Maze flipped her knife a few times and popped her bubblegum idly while she waited. Lucifer emerged from the station with a frown.

“So, what’s he want?” she asked flipping her knife again for good measure.

“Retirement,” Lucifer blew out.

Maze smacked her gum. “That’s it?”

“That, the detective’s resignation, and my involvement with the LAPD terminated.”

“Huh. Didn’t you already know all that?”

Lucifer ignored her. “He claims I’m an outsider, which is preposterous. I couldn’t be more inside if I tried.”

Maze nodded. “You and Chloe finally boned. Nice.”

“What? No. I mean I’ve worked with the LAPD for years. I know procedure.” He scoffed. “Don’t I?”

Maze popped her gum. “Why do you care what some stupid human thinks, anyway?”

“I don’t. Not really. It’s just, do my actions put the detective in jeopardy?”

Maze shrugged. “That’s why I became a bounty hunter. Epic amounts of violence and very little paperwork.”

Lucifer blinked. “That’s it, Maze.”

“Hey, I work alone.”

“No, not that. I only stick around for the fun parts. Riner thinks I’m reckless? Fine. Let’s show him just how much of a rule follower I can be.”

“How are you going to do that? Chloe won’t let you near the paperwork after the last stunt you pulled at her desk.”

Lucifer grinned. “I’m going to join the academy!”

Chapter Text

Lucifer poured the champagne giddily. He’d found the perfect solution to the quandary the detective and he had found themselves in. Riner thought Lucifer a liability? He’d show him. Officer Lucifer Morningstar had quite the ring to it.

The elevator doors opened and in stepped his detective. He beamed at her.

“Detective! You’re just in time!”

“Is that champagne?” Chloe asked, confused.

“Observant as always, detective!” he replied offering her a flute.

She giggled at his enthusiasm before she took a sip. “Why?”

“We’re celebrating! You’ve just completed a successful therapy session, and I’ve just solved our problem!”

Chloe chuckled. “Oh?”

“I paid the interim lieutenant a visit this morning.”

The smile left Chloe’s face immediately.

“And I think I’ve come up with the perfect compromise.” He grinned at her. “You’re looking at the LAPD’s soon-to-be newest recruit.”

Chloe choked on her champagne. “What?”

“Riner said I haven’t had the proper training to be your partner. So, I get the proper training, and everything goes back to normal,” he explained, beaming.

Chloe bit her lip. “Is that what he said, or is this one of those times you’ve jumped to conclusions?”

He scoffed. “I don’t jump to conclusions!” He studied her. “I thought you’d be happy.”

“I… Lucifer, this is a big commitment. Years of work. There’s not even a guarantee that you’ll be accepted.”

“With my years of experience, and charm? Detective, I’m a shoe-in.” He sipped his champagne with satisfaction.

“Okay… okay I can see that you’re really excited about this,” Chloe placated. “But Lucifer, there’s a real possibility that I’ll lose my job. Will you still be this excited if you’re doing this alone?”

He fixed her with a stern look. “You will not lose your job. You are the detective.”

“Yeah… about that. Linda wants me to explore other parts of me.”

His eyebrows quirked, and she held up her hand. “Don’t.”

He deflated.

“She thinks that I put too much of my self-worth into my job.”

“Speaking of your job, we still have that appointment with my lawyer this week. Should I cancel?”

“No. No, I still want to be a detective. I just… it’s a lot, knowing I was made for you.”

“Detective,” he began, eyes softening.

“I know that there’s more to me than just…” she blew out a breath. “I love you. I do. But I’m more than that. Aren’t I?”

“Of course you are,” he said.

She nodded and nursed her champagne.

“It’s just… when I think of myself, I think of my job. I’m Trixie’s mother…”

“You’re intelligent, compassionate, beautiful…” he continued.

Chloe blushed, and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. He grinned and set his champagne aside as he approached her. She smiled prettily as he rested his hands on her hips.

“You’re brave, and sincere…” He drew her closer. “Determined, wise…” He leaned in.

She closed the gap between them with a kiss. He hummed against her mouth as she cupped his face. He pulled back a little to grin down at her.

“And just think how good I’ll look in that uniform,” he said leaning back in to steal another kiss.

Chloe pushed him back with a hand on his chest.

“Lucifer, about that… It’s not that I don’t think you can handle it, but I… You hate when you think your Dad is ordering you around. How will you feel when someone else is?”

“As long as it’s consensual,” he said through a filthy grin.

She rolled her eyes. “I mean it, Lucifer.”

“So do I. Believe it or not, there was a time that I followed orders like a good little angel.”

She sighed. “If you really want to do this…”

“I really do,” he assured her.

“Then, I support you.”

“Excellent. What do you say we practice me following orders?” he growled.

She swallowed, and bit her lower lip.

“Oh, methinks the lady likes that idea. Whatever you desire, darling. I’m very good at following instructions.”

“Maybe…maybe later?” She hedged, feeling heat stir in her core. “I should get back home.”

“Stay for dinner?” he offered hopefully.

“Okay.”

He kissed the tip of her nose in celebration. “Splendid!” He pulled away. “Italian?”

Chapter Text

Chloe smiled to herself as she reflected over the previous night. Lucifer could be so romantic when she least expected him to be. Their dinner had been delivered from a little place that Chloe had passed a hundred times without much thought, but the food, it turned out, was incredible. They’d shared their meal out on the balcony near the fire, and, unlike the last time they’d done it, they actually ended their night with a long, passionate kiss that left her with butterflies.

Now, in the light of day, she was relieved to have had such a quiet night alone with him. Her week had been so stressful. Who knew a little therapy and champagne could seemingly turn it around?

Chloe checked her watch more out of habit than actually having anything to do. She had the day completely to herself. Dan was taking Trixie for the remainder of the week, and her meeting with Lucifer’s lawyer wasn’t until tomorrow. Perhaps today would be a good time for reflection.

Lucifer had listed several qualities that he considered her to have, and Linda had encouraged her to self-explore a little. Today, she decided, was the day to really think about Chloe Decker.

…

The packet hit Riner’s desk with a thud. “There you are,” Lucifer exclaimed.

The old man raised his eyebrows. “What’s that?”

“You said I don’t have training, there’s my application for training. When do I start?”

Riner bit back a laugh. “Mr. Morningstar, you’re a club owner with a not-so-secret drug habit. What makes you think I’d hire you?”

Lucifer smoothed down his tie and straightened his ring. “Because, interim lieutenant, I have several connections with some of the best retirement communities in California, and, if you’re feeling adventurous, Florida. Bring me in for training and you’ll be playing shuffle board with the best of them.”

Riner sighed. “One of your deals, then?” He clicked his pen a few times. “I won’t say I’m not tempted… if only to see you fail basic.”

Lucifer smiled tightly. “I think I’ll surprise you.”

Riner pushed back from his desk, and folded his arms. He studied Lucifer.

“…Fine. But I don’t want your favors.”

“Oh, a man of principle, I see. You know, if you would just give the detective a chance, I think you’d get along swimmingly.”

“See you Monday, Morningstar.”

…

Chloe grimaced. She was sat cross-legged, eyes closed, with a meditation app on her phone attempting lead her into inner peace. She felt like an idiot.

Maybe finding herself could be more active? She decided to go on a run, instead.
Those always cleared her head. Maybe that was something?

Her run proved fruitless, however. She felt better, the endorphins from the run easing some of her anxiety, but as for clarity on who she was without her job? She blew out a breath.

As if on cue, her phone buzzed. She fished it out of her pocket and answered, feeling grateful for the distraction.

“Listen, Decker. I know it’s late for you—“

“Maze, it’s 7:00,” Chloe rejoined.

Maze sighed heavily. “Me and Linda are splitting a pizza. She thought you might want to hang. So, you coming or what?” she demanded.

Chloe searched the apartment, looking for a reason to decline the invitation. She hadn’t gotten very far with her mission of self-discovery. She huffed, and acquiesced.

“Sure, Maze. See you in a few.”

“Bring booze.”

…

The door swung open before she could knock. Maze stared at her, unblinking.

“Damn, Decker. You look like shit.”

“Thanks,” she said.

“Hey, Chloe!” Linda called from her couch.

Maze moved aside to let Chloe enter the psychiatrist’s house. She took the bottle of wine Chloe had haphazardly grabbed from her cabinet on the way out of her house. Maze pulled a face.

“Why is it pink?”

“It’s rosé,” Linda said cutting Maze a scolding look, “and it’s lovely. Thank you,” she said sincerely.

Maze rolled her eyes.

“So…pizza?” Chloe said, awkwardly.

Linda grinned, and waved Chloe over to the kitchen. Eyes wide with an exaggerated smile she opened the pizza box. Jalapeño and pineapple greeted her.

“Maze ordered,” Linda said by way of explanation.

Chloe tamped down a grin. “My favorite.”

“See, told you!” Maze said, before ripping the cork out of the wine bottle with her teeth.

Linda nodded with a knowing smile.

Once they’d settled on with their pizza, and Chloe’s wine poured over ice (Lucifer wasn’t there to scold them), conversation flowed more easily.

“So, I told him, suck it up. It’s a frickin’ goldfish!” Maze exclaimed.

Chloe giggled uncontrollably, remembering the exact bounty Maze was referring to.

“We haven’t had a proper girls night in ages,” Linda said.

“I so needed this,” Chloe agreed. “Should we call Ella?”

“Uh, well, Maze and I thought it should just be us in the celestial know, tonight. Just in case you had something you wanted to get off your chest.”

Chloe smiled ruefully. “I’m doing okay. I’ve been thinking about what you told me, about who I really am… I don’t really know how to answer that.”

“Easy, you’re human,” Maze said shrugging.

Linda tapped her chin. “Maze might actually have a point.”

“Duh,” Maze exclaimed shooting back her wine.

“I’m not following,” Chloe confessed.

“Part of what makes you a great detective is that you understand what it means to be human, to be flawed. Give yourself some grace, Chloe.”

“I know I’m not perfect, but I suppose I do hold myself to a higher standard…”

Linda smiled kindly.

“So, you ride Lucifer’s dick into the sunset, yet?” Maze inquired taking a giant bite of pizza.

“What? No!” Chloe said vehemently.

Linda shot back the remainder of her wine.

Chapter Text

Chloe straightened her blazer and stood up taller as she waited outside of the elevators. Lucifer was supposed to meet her at his lawyer’s office. He’d texted her a string of incomprehensible emojis that she assumed meant he was on his way.

The elevator doors opened to reveal him straightening his cufflinks. He looked incredible in a charcoal three piece suit with a deep purple shirt, and matching pocket square.

“Detective!” He grinned at the sight of her.

She smiled back. “Hey.”

He stepped into her space without hesitation and leaned down to drop a quick kiss her lips. She blushed, taken aback at his boldness in public.

Not that she didn’t like it. Her stomach flipped at his familiarity. She made an undignified sound somewhere between a laugh and a hum, and squeezed his forearms.

“Now, let’s get this over with,” he drawled. He offered her his arm and she took it.

She was so glad that she didn’t have to do this on her own. She smiled up at him.

“What?” he asked at her attention.

“Thank you,” she said, “for being here.”

“Of course!”

“Lucifer!” a tall, thin man with hazel eyes, greeted them. “And this must be the illustrious Detective Decker. I’ve heard so much about you! Come in! Come in!”

Lucifer led her into a modern office furnished with glass tables and an imposing black desk.

“This is my lawyer, Chip Helms,” Lucifer completed the introduction.

Chloe shook Chip’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Helms.”

“Please, call me Chip. Lucifer and I are on a first name basis. That should extend to you, too, Chloe.”

Chloe swallowed, not entirely comfortable with the use of her first name. While handsome, Chip’s smile left an oily coating of smarm as an aftertaste.

“Chip,” Chloe corrected reluctantly.

Chip took a seat behind his desk and motioned for them to have a seat in the plush, gray chairs in front.

“So, I understand there’s some trouble brewing with the LAPD. Let me assure you, Chloe, this is nothing I haven’t dealt with before. By this time next month you’ll be at least five million dollars richer. Hello early retirement!”

“Uh, no. I don’t want to sue them.”

“The detective would like her job back,” Lucifer clarified.

“Oh. Well, tell me about the case. I have the briefing right here, but I like to hear it from my client’s perspective.”

“I killed the previous lieutenant in self defense after it was revealed he was a crime boss. I’d been engaged to him previously, which is why there’s so much doubt about what I knew, when I knew, and if it was self-defense at all.”

Chip nodded. “Very efficient explanation. I understand that you and Lucifer are a couple, now, as well?”

Chloe blanched. Just how much had Lucifer told him? “Um, yeah.”

Lucifer squeezed her hand.

“The tapes show the two of you entwined in an embrace. I must say, not great for optics…”

“She’d just shot a man!” Lucifer cut in.

“Yes, but she’s a cop. Do you hold her like that every time she discharges her weapon?”

Chloe bit her lower lip, remembering the nightmare she’d had, and the relief she’d felt in Lucifer’s arms.

“Whose side are you on, exactly?” Lucifer thundered.

Chip held up his hands. “Just testing the waters, Lucifer. This is exactly the kind of questioning you’ll face in an actual courtroom.

“There’s evidence,” Chloe said quietly, “Charlotte Richards had been investigating Pierce before she died.”

“Great. I’ll get copies of that, and we’ll work on our defense. Oh, one more thing.”

“Yes?” Chloe asked, feeling her head spin.

“When exactly did the two of you happen? Were you having an affair?”

Chloe lost the battle with her patience, “Lucifer and I have nothing to do with the case. Everyone keeps harping on that, and I know why, but it’s simply not related. We’ve been partners for three years. Feelings developed, but they never interfered with an investigation.”

Chip nodded. “Good to know. Just so we’re clear, your goal is to be reinstated?”

“Yes. I love my job,” Chloe confirmed.

“Alright.”

…

Lucifer refilled Chloe’s tea as the waiter brought their sushi by.

“I can’t believe him!” Lucifer exclaimed.

Chloe sank back into her chair. “I can. Without Charlotte’s evidence and the forensics at the crime scene, it looks bad. Once the hard evidence comes back, it will corroborate our story.”

Lucifer shelled some edamame. “Yes, yes. Then everything will be back to normal.”

Chloe pushed her California roll around with her chopsticks. “Not exactly. You go in for basic training, Monday?”

Lucifer brightened. “Yes! For a man so concerned with proper protocol, Riner had no problem allowing me to forego the usual onboarding process.”

Chloe took a bite and nodded her head. “That’s because he thinks you’ll give up.”

Lucifer grinned. “Oh, I don’t give up,” he said eyeing Chloe sinfully.

She blushed.

“So, um, does this count as that date I agreed to?” Chloe asked, not meeting his eyes.

Lucifer balked. ”Of course, not, detective. This is a business lunch.”

She grinned, reaching across the table to take his hand. “Because I wouldn’t mind, if it was.”

He played with her fingers. “Trust me, you’ll know when it’s a date.”

“Can I know soon?”

He met her eyes and smiled wholeheartedly. “What do you say to Monday night? I can brag about how amazing I was in basic training.”

Chloe bit her lip. “Maybe that’s not such a good idea. Basic is brutal. I know you’re the devil, but even you have to tire out, right?”

His grin turned wicked. “Darling, my stamina is legendary.”

Chapter Text

Riner sighed as he took in the new recruits. Thirty fresh-faced twenty-something’s stood at attention on the obstacle course field. Normally, he wouldn’t have made a point to come if it wasn’t for the promise of watching Decker’s lush of a partner fail spectacularly, but the idiot hadn’t even bothered showing up.

“Apologies. Apologies,” a familiar voice came. Lucifer trotted onto the field sporting designer workout gear. “Five of my dancers called out. A nasty bug has been going around.”

Riner blew a puff of air out. Morningstar actually had the balls. He’d be impressed if he wasn’t so sure a smoker with an ever-present flask would be wheezing his way through warm-up sprints.

Just then, Lucifer spotted him and waved enthusiastically.

Riner grinned. This was going to be fun.

…

At the sound of the whistle, they were off sprinting from one end of the field to the other. Lucifer kept pace with them easily, eventually tiring of pretending to be human and ultimately pulling ahead.

At the obstacle course, he easily cleared the climbing wall, pausing at the top to blow Riner a kiss. On the other side, however, cadets were required to crawl through the dirt, and Lucifer grumbled, eventually joining the rest of his classmates, easily pulling ahead once he’d reached the other side.

Sweat poured from the other recruits, and one unfortunate young man paused to vomit on the sidelines. Lucifer, though, maintained his perfectly coiffed hair and sunny demeanor throughout the obstacle course and subsequent mile run.

While on any other day he might have long ago lost interest, Riner’s gaze kept his motivation up. It was true he didn’t care to follow orders, but it was even truer that he liked proving authority wrong.
…

Riner couldn’t believe his eyes. By all accounts it didn’t make any sense. Morningstar was the head of his class by the end of the first day. Maybe he had the man pegged wrong.

He at least expected the other recruits to resent the older man taking all of the attention, but Morningstar was well-liked by everyone, including the sergeant.

“Told you I’d surprise you,” Lucifer said, passing on his way to the locker room.

…

Chloe smoothed her little black dress, and bit back a smile. Lucifer had selected an out of the way French restaurant for their first date, and judging by the candlelit table, she was in for a special night.

She’d beat him to the restaurant, and part of her flashed back to that night a year ago when he’d stood her up. She shook the feelings away, however. He’d made it no secret how he felt about her, now. He’d be here. She went ahead and ordered wine while she waited.

“Hello, Chloe,” his voice was gentle, and he wore a warm smile in addition to a classic black suit with a white shirt and red pocket square.

A smile lit her features as she took him in. She rose to greet him and he cupped her chin as he leaned in to kiss her. The warm smell of sandalwood wrapped her in its embrace as she allowed him to deepen the kiss.

“You look lovely,” he said once they finally broke apart.

“And you look very handsome,” she replied. “How was your first day?” she inquired as they took their seats.

He grinned. “You’re looking at the top performer in class. The lieutenant never saw it coming.”

Chloe grinned in spite of herself. He wasn’t human, so him winning a race was hardly surprising. She sipped her wine.

“I hope you’re not antagonizing him,” she added.

Lucifer scoffed. “Just a little friendly ribbing. Nothing to be upset about.”

She bit her lip. “Lucifer, he controls partner assignments.”

He took her hand. “I’ll be careful. But, come on, who would split us up? We’re the dream team.”

They laughed together.

Lucifer brought her hand up to his mouth to place a kiss along her knuckles. “It occurs to me that you also went through this. What was your time like?”

Chloe looked away. “Uh, not great. I did fine on all of the tests, but… well, let’s just say that my classmates were aware of my movie, and let me know about it.”

Lucifer narrowed his eyes. “They harassed you.”

“It’s been a long time. Most of those guys are gone, now anyway.”

He squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

“Yeah, me too, but if I hadn’t gone through it, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.”

“I suppose that is one way of looking at it. And I do quite like the person you are, today.” He shot her a goofy smile and she blushed.

“I’m glad,” she said. “I really like who you are, too.”

He pressed another kiss to her knuckles in reply.

“Lucifer, I never thanked you for saving my life, back at the loft. Everything happened so fast.”

“We’re partners,” he said with a shrug.

She squeezed his hand. “Yeah. We are.” She smiled. “But even so.”

“Thank you, detective,” he said, eyes shining, “for trusting me.”

“Always, Lucifer.”

Chapter Text

Chloe hummed against Lucifer’s lips as she angled her head and opened her mouth to him. He wasted no time, deepening the kiss until they were both breathless. She pulled back and nuzzled his nose, eyes closed, enjoying his scent and nearness.

“Chloe,” he breathed into the space between them.

She rested her forehead against his, and opened her eyes. He looked half drunk on her, eyes half lidded and lips kiss swollen. She’d done that to him. She grasped his lapels and pressed another, softer kiss to his lips. He chased her mouth when she pulled back.

“It’s late,” she said, voice raspy.

“Stay?” He nearly begged. His large palm cupped her cheek and pulled her face close to his once more.

“I shouldn’t,” she said.

“Are you sure?” he replied, his voice a tempting whisper.

Dinner had been exquisite, and the company even better. Now they were back at his place, sharing an after dinner drink which quickly turned into this intimate exchange of saliva and air.

“You have work,” she rasped, as his lips began exploring her neck.

“I’ll be fine,” he slurred into her pulse point.

Chloe whimpered as he began to nibble there, not enough to leave a mark, but definitely enough to drive her mad.

“Lucifer,” she gasped, as his hand brushed the bare skin just under the hem of her skirt.

“Say it again. Just like that,” he groaned, tugging her closer.

Her phone buzzed in her bag.

He groaned as she pulled away and fished it out of her purse.

Trixie had sent her a selfie featuring Dan and her eating popcorn at the movies.

On school night? was her first thought, the effect like a bucket of ice water.

Lucifer tipped the phone to see and huffed a laugh. “And here I thought someone had been murdered,” he drawled. Chloe shook her head, as he took the phone from her and snapped an answering picture with his tongue out, like a perturbed ten-year-old.

A text came back, “Real mature,” typed Trixie.

Chloe laughed, and took the phone back. “Don’t go to bed too late,” she shot back.

Lucifer squeezed her thigh, and stood up, crossing the room to refill his forgotten tumbler of whiskey. He took a sip and regarded her.

“I should get going,” Chloe said reluctantly.

“If that’s what you desire,” he answered.

She chuckled. “I don’t know if desire is the word I’d use…”

He grinned. “And here I thought you were repulsed by me. What was it? On a chemical level?”

She rolled her eyes. “You grew on me.”

His grin turned wicked. “I would much rather grow in you.”

“Gross!”

He cackled.

“Now I really am going.” She grabbed her purse and stood, though she was still smiling.

“I’m kidding. I’m kidding. Mostly.”

“I had a great time,” she said.

He crossed the room to stand before her. “As did I. Really, there’s no rush to leave, detective.”

She smoothed his lapels. “If I don’t leave now, I won’t leave, at all.”

“And that’s a problem?”

She bit her lip, considering. “Not a problem… just… it’s too soon. We’ve had one date.”

“Two, if you count our business lunch.”

She smiled. “You said that didn’t count.”

“I’m desperate, here.”

She laughed and stood on her toes to press a soft kiss to his lips.

“Goodnight, Lucifer.”

He sighed, and brushed her hair back behind her ear. “Goodnight, Chloe.”