Archive of Our Own

Blood pounded in her ears as she turned her head and saw the assembled angels fall to their knees before Lucifer. Were those flickers of reverence on their faces? On the faces of the demons? Chloe felt something shift in that moment, as though she could only begin to feel the edges of a change in the cosmos.

As she turned her head back to where Lucifer was standing, she had to squint from rays of evening light shining through the Los Angeles Coliseum. For a second she felt her breath catch at the sight of him. He was perfect in a new way that Chloe could sense, but could not identify. He stepped forward as the crowd before him began to rise to greet him. It was then that Chloe sat down, leaning against a step. Her sudden movement caused Lucifer’s head to whip over to her, eyes searching for a non-existent threat. Almost automatically, Chloe waved him off and he accepted that she was fine.

Finally off her feet, Chloe’s vision once again began to clear. She was so tired. She didn’t know what was happening next, but for now, she was going to sit against this step and breathe. Chloe felt like she had been split in two and didn’t have the energy to examine that too closely for now.

Maze bypassed Lucifer as she walked over to Chloe. “Decker, you look like shit.” She said, not trying to hide the warmth in her voice.

Chloe let out a short laugh and let her eyes close. “Thanks, Maze.”

Maze knelt beside where she sat and gave her a long look as if confirming to herself that her friend wasn’t in immediate danger. Eyes shut, Chloe didn’t notice when Maze’s gaze narrowed at the presence of the ring on Chloe’s finger. 

Chloe opened her eyes and sincerely said, “You were pretty badass back there Maze.”

Maze shrugged off the compliment but patted her on the knee in silent acknowledgment. The pair watched as the crowd began to disperse. As she watched Michael being flown up to Heaven by two of his siblings, Maze was glad for the first time she could not follow. She knew she would not have the same restraint as Lucifer when it came to his twin. 

Seeing Michael finally leave Earth without any way to return, Chloe felt the weight in her chest lessen slightly. She knew if Lucifer had shown up any later than he had, she would’ve given in to the pull of Azrael’s blade and taken her revenge. Not just for herself, but for Dan, for Lucifer, for Trixie, for all of the others he had harmed in his desperate quest for power. The pull of the blade was strong combined with her anger at Michael. Lucifer’s serenity at the moment when he had arrived and asked her to hand over the blade was unexpected to her, but she was grateful for his clarity. Chloe didn’t need the death of an archangel on her conscience. 

When she saw Lucifer and Amenadiel begin to make their way over to them, she started to pull herself up to her feet. Maze helped her up. Chloe wiped some dirt off her jeans as she stood. As Lucifer approached the group with his brother, Chloe was intensely aware of the fact that she had not touched Lucifer since his mysterious return to Earth. Her fingers ached to reach out and make contact, yet she held herself back. As much as she wanted the closeness from him, the moment felt off. She felt off.

Amenadiel’s surprised expression confused Chloe for a second until she followed his gaze to her ruined and bloody t-shirt. She suddenly felt self-conscious and exposed. The evidence that her day had been grueling, to say the least, was all over the clothing she still wore. 

“Chloe… I’m so happy you’re alright,” Amenadiel said, grinning as he pulled her in for a hug. She felt tears prick at her eyes, but didn’t say anything in response. Amenadiel was always such a comforting presence and she was glad he had also emerged from the battle unscathed. 

Releasing her from the hug, Amenadiel’s hand was still on her arm as he looked at his brother. “I’ll stop by tomorrow afternoon?” he asked. Lucifer nodded his assent. As Amenadiel turned to leave, Maze and Eve followed. 

Chloe smiled as she caught a fragment of a comment by Amenadiel about how he was not an Uber before he took Maze and Eve home.

As she brought her attention back to Lucifer, Chloe felt her self-consciousness return as he took in the state of her appearance. He swallowed as his eyes raked over her blood-soaked clothing.

Chloe pulled her jacket tightly against herself and tried to keep her tone light. “Guess we can’t all come back in mint condition.” She reached out to smooth a crease in his pristine jacket that didn’t exist, still not bringing her eyes up to meet his.

At her words, he made an odd strangled sound in his throat and before she knew what was happening, he had her pulled in tightly against his chest. She felt his shuddering breaths as he gripped her so hard it might have hurt if she didn’t need the contact as much as he did.

Her arms wrapped around his waist with her face pressed up against his chest. “Lucifer … what happened to your vest?” she asked softly. 

Before she knew it, they were back at the penthouse. They had found Lucifer’s car right where he had parked it, before everything. It sat there waiting for them as if they had simply gone to a movie. Chloe let the familiar sights of Los Angeles speed past her as Lucifer drove. Her mind felt outside her body. Simultaneously, Chloe felt as though she had a thousand thoughts running through her mind and as though her mind was a blank space incapable of forming a single thought.  As the feel of the breeze against her face shifted her attention, she knew they had broken more speed limits than normal, but couldn’t bring herself to pretend to scold him for it or even care, for that matter.

He ushered her in, and then there they were, once again alone in his penthouse where they had been just twenty-four hours prior. Lucifer went over to his bar and poured himself a few fingers of scotch. She shook her head when he made a gesture offering to pour her a drink. 

Chloe walked over to his leather couch. She was beginning to feel the strong urge to be off her feet. However, one look at Lucifer’s pristine furniture and a glance down at her bloody clothes made her change her mind. She knew he couldn’t care less if anything happened to his couch, but she hesitated all the same. She looked up at Lucifer and caught his eye as he looked at her. She couldn’t quite identify what exactly felt different in that moment with him, but it was something.

Awkwardly, she broke the silence that had plagued them since they left the Coliseum as she began to gesture at her clothing. “I-I should probably go clean up or something, or-or I can get some new clothes from my house or …” her voice trailed off.

Her voice almost startled Lucifer, who had been staring at some unknown point in the distance. Lucifer jumped in. “No-well, ah, I mean there’s no reason for that, Detective. I believe there are a few of your things around here somewhere. No need to make a trip elsewhere. Unless of course, you’d like to go home? I can take you right away.”

The actual thought of leaving the penthouse and leaving Lucifer at that moment wasn’t anything Chloe was interested in. She was far too exhausted to be too far away from a bed. And she really wasn’t in the mood to be alone.

“Yeah. Okay.” she said slowly, “I’m going to go take a shower and change. And then sleep.” Nothing seemed more appealing at the moment than getting off her feet and sleeping for a few hours or maybe ten. 

Lucifer busied himself going into the bedroom and looking for some of the clothes she had left here at various points in the last couple of months. Chloe let herself into his giant bathroom. She was tempted by the sight of the gorgeous clawfoot tub in the middle of the room but knew she’d immediately fall asleep the second she was horizontal. Chloe resigned herself to a quick shower. And then bed. Bed.

She uncharacteristically threw her clothes on the floor in a heap as she undressed. Her limbs felt too heavy to do anything about it. Her jeans were ruined as well, and she felt a quick flash of irritation at the pain of having to buy new ones and break them in. Chloe pulled them off, then stood in front of the oversized mirror in just her bra and underwear after she divested herself of the remains of her t-shirt. 

There was a strong and sudden urge to inspect her lower stomach where she knew she had been fatally impaled by Michael. The adrenaline from the day was beginning to wear off. The skin was unblemished, save for a faint ring in the approximate diameter of the staff that had entered her gut. As she traced the outline with her fingers, Chloe heard a knock at the door as Lucifer entered.

“I’m not sure if I found an acceptable combination of clothing options, but as always, you’re welcome to borrow one of my-” the sentence stopped on his lips as he entered the room and saw her studying herself in his mirror.

Lucifer went pale as he no doubt saw her inspecting the site of the fatal attack by Michael.  “Chloe, what are you …” His eyebrows narrowed and for a second, Chloe wondered if he was second-guessing his earlier decision to spare Michael’s life. 

Lucifer made his way over to where she stood and faced her. Chloe felt the tension coming off him as he knelt in front of her and closely examined the same spot on her stomach. Tears sprang to her eyes as he ever so gently brushed the outline of the silvery scar with his fingers. He leaned forward and placed a kiss in the same spot before letting his head drop against her stomach. 

Almost instinctively, Chloe softly threaded her fingers through his hair trying to offer him some comfort. “It’s okay … it’s okay …” she told him softly and she continued to brush her fingers through his hair. She felt her voice start to catch as she worked to reassure him. As if at once, Chloe experienced the entirety of the day. 

Lucifer looked up to her as he heard her voice hitch and stood up. Now as he was in front of her, he softened his eyes as he looked at her. He reached out to pull her head closer to him and that moment of tenderness broke Chloe’s dam and she could not stop herself from sobbing.

Chloe was vaguely aware of him muttering soothing nonsense in her ear as he held her tightly and stroked gently up and down her bare back as she cried. The tears would not stop coming as the events of the day began to bubble up. The sight of her stomach looking normal as ever with only a small silvery scar to show for the day’s trauma had sent her over the edge. A lasting memory of her own murder. A reminder of how she almost left Trixie, left her friends, left Lucifer...

She slowly began to come back to herself once more as she heard Lucifer in her ear. 

“Shhh….Chloe…”

“You’re alright …. you’re here….”

“Darling …. please……”

He continued to rock her as her sobs slowed and she caught her breath. She settled down but made no effort to remove herself from his embrace. “Love, do you still want to shower or shall I just take you to bed?” His voice lacked the usual playful insinuation anytime he said the word bed to her. 

“I’m so tired, Lucifer. I’m so tired.” Chloe knew she was fading fast. Lucifer’s hands made very quick work of her bra and underwear before sliding one of his shirts over her head. His fingers undid the braids in her bun. Her hair loose, he placed an arm under her knees and carried her into the bedroom.

Chloe was nearly asleep by the time Lucifer pulled the comforter up and over her. He kissed her on the forehead.

As he pulled away, eyes closed, Chloe murmured “No … stay.”

Unable to deny her request he quickly pulled off his shoes and laid down beside her, still in the same suit he wore that day. Chloe turned toward him on her side and grabbed his hand with hers. 

“‘S nice…” she trailed off and a few moments later he could tell that she had finally fallen asleep.

Lucifer laid there on his back staring up at his ceiling with Chloe tucked up against his side. His hand that she had grabbed just before falling asleep absent-mindedly traced the delicate bones of her long fingers. He stopped for a second when he felt the cool metal of the ring that now graced her left hand. Renewed pleasure at its placement, he continued his gentle motions. Content for the first time in days, he allowed the temptations of sleep to overtake him.

The soft breeze ruffles the hem of her dress as she stands beside a serene lake. The golden twilight provides a perfect backdrop to a perfect moment. Chloe looks ahead and sees her father approach her with open arms. 

He takes her in for a tight hug; father and daughter reunited. She can’t put a finger on it but feels as though she should remember something. She relaxes, knowing it will come to her in time. She is in no hurry. She has all the time in the world. 

“Monkey!” The familiar endearment returns a piece of her heart she once thought missing.

“Dad!”

As he grips her shoulders tightly, he holds her at an arm’s length in front of him. “Lookin’ good kiddo. I can’t wait to hear everything. Although I thought I’d be greeting your mother before I ever saw you again.”

A distant memory flickers for a second. She finds herself looking down at her stomach, confused. Her father seems to sense her unease and guides her to sit and join him for a picnic near the lakeshore. 

Her father smiles. “Don’t worry Monkey, it’ll come back when you’re ready. For now, I’m here and I want to know everything.”

She tells him of his grandchild and of being a detective with the LAPD. She ignores the persistent thought at the back of her mind that something is amiss. It is wonderful and it is perfect. 

It is Heaven. 

With a sharp breath, Chloe woke up and once again joined the land of the living. For a few moments, she is trapped in her memories of Heaven; they become fainter as every hour passes. She tried to recreate them in her mind, holding the vision of her father happy and whole. Chloe knew she shouldn’t ache to return, as she was quite happy to be alive. Probably why humans weren’t meant to go there and return to Earth. Just when she thought she finally had a grasp of the celestial, the universe provided her with a stark reminder that despite her connections, she was still just Chloe Decker, fully human.

She willed herself to open her eyes and move on from the pull of the dream. Her phone showed it was the middle of the night, too early for even her to get up. Finally awake despite her better judgment, she noticed the state of her attire. Or rather the lack thereof. The last thing Chloe remembered was arriving at the penthouse, exhausted to her core. A wave of warmth washed over her as she realized Lucifer must have helped her out of her ruined clothes and into bed. 

Speak of the devil. Well. Not anymore? Where was he?

Chloe flung an arm across the bed to find her partner and frowned when his side of the bed was empty. She knew he didn’t need as much sleep as she did, but he usually caught a few hours with her when she slept over. She couldn’t be the only one desiring a little extra closeness after the day they had shared. Chloe got out of bed to search for him, not wanting to fall asleep until he was at her side again. She ignored the voice inside her telling her that she was being clingy. She needed this. She needed him.

Of course, she knew where he would be. Still as predictable as ever, he was brooding on his balcony. Chloe watched him stand with his back to the penthouse, to her, his gaze fixed on the city before him. The wrinkles in his suit and the hunch in his shoulders made him look more disheveled than he usually let others see him.

Chloe studied his tense shoulders. She walked over to the door to the balcony but held back. She experienced an intense flash of grief as she considered the many changes that had occurred in their lives in the past two weeks, in the past twenty-four hours. Had everything changed? Had they changed? 

The man before her was her partner, her best friend, her lover and she knew him inside and out. And he her. The thought that he had irrevocably changed from the man she loved into someone else … something else ... was something she was too terrified to voice. 

He was, well, Him. As much as she couldn’t stop thinking about it, she forbade herself from spiraling further.

“You know darling, your thoughts are so loud you may as well be screaming.” Lucifer turned to face her.

Chloe’s cheeks turned red but she walked out onto the balcony to join him.

“My thoughts?” she didn’t try to hide the irritation in her voice.

He winced. “Sorry. Expression. You’re still as frustratingly immune to my charms as ever, Detective.”

Chloe exhaled in relief and wrapped her arms around his waist as his arm came around her shoulders. Instinctively, she lifted her face toward his for a kiss. He happily obliged her. 

Lucifer’s voice rumbled deep in his chest as he smirked. “Well, some of them anyway.”

In response, Chloe pinched his side but didn’t move from his embrace. 

“Naughty, Detective,” he teased. 

There were times when Chloe could really tell that therapy had made quite a difference with Lucifer. She knew she was on edge and he had already picked up on it earlier. So she wasn’t surprised when he asked her how she was feeling.

Chloe was enjoying the peace of being with him and for once, not being concerned for the life of someone she loved. She shrugged off his question. “Mmmm … much better now for the most part.”

He raised an eyebrow and hoped she would continue.

“I just… Lucifer…I don’t know. I feel off and wrong and bone-tired.” The words flowed out of her. “I know I’m physically fine. I know that. I feel like I’m being pulled in different directions and I want a bath and another few hours of sleep and to feel like myself again.” Chloe tried to keep her voice from rising. She didn’t want to burden Lucifer with every passing thought in her head right when he needed her support the most. Chloe had let herself momentarily forget that it was God standing in front of her and not just her boyfriend.

“It’ll be better in the morning, love,” he said as if he would simply not accept a reality where that was not the case.

She turned to look at him. “Lucifer? Do you remember anything from before you came back? To the Coliseum?”

His face grew concerned. “In Heaven? Chloe, of course I do. I-”

She stopped him before he was able to continue. “No-I mean, parts of it are hazy for me. I know my father was there, but the details are fading.” She frowned and his eyes searched her face but he didn’t say anything. Chloe had a far-off look in her eyes that made his stomach flip in an unpleasant way.

Lucifer nodded. He wasn’t surprised. Chloe was special and created by his father, but she still was human and humans on Earth weren’t supposed to have such first-hand knowledge of the realms of Heaven and Hell. True knowledge of these other worlds provoked altogether more intense reactions than a single accidental sighting of angel wings or a devil face here or there. He knew the memories she had of Heaven and her father would mostly fade away.

He knew Chloe would want to hang on to the memories of her father. She had a wonderful childhood with two parents who doted on her. Of course, she wanted to remember seeing her father in a place as wonderful as Heaven. Yet Lucifer acknowledged there was a part of him deep down that wanted to pretend as though her little trip never happened. As if she had never suffered and he had never sobbed over her lifeless body before embarking on a suicidal quest to pull her back from death itself. 

Chloe noticed Lucifer look at her as though he felt sorry for her. It was a look on his face she was unaccustomed to and she did not care for it. For all of the ups and downs in their relationship, Chloe had never felt unequal to Lucifer. She internally squirmed at the idea of it all, knowing he would vehemently disagree with her assessment. 

“Sweetheart, if it were up to me, none of this would have ever happened. And since it is up to me now, you’ll keep your memories if that is what you wish. Usually, humans are ill-equipped to reconcile it all. But you, my dear Detective, have had some personal tutoring in the subject and passed with flying colors.”

Struck by his authority over her mind, she was simultaneously grateful to him and resentful of his power over her memories. Chloe sensed Lucifer’s underlying genuine concern and desire to appease her however he could.

“Didn’t hurt that I was sleeping with the professor, did it?”

“Full marks, Detective.”

The pair stood next to each other in silence for a while and took in the night air. Chloe considered the entirety of those she knew who had stood in her shoes before. There was Charlotte, of course, she had been to Hell briefly. Chloe knew she had been affected by her experience, but then not even a year later, had been killed by Pierce. No long-term study there. 

And then there was Malcolm Graham. Chloe barely recognized herself from so many years ago. Her gut twisted as she remembered the terror Malcolm had subjected her to. How he had kidnapped Trixie. How she and Dan had to comfort their daughter through nightmares for weeks after. 

Malcolm was an asshole and dirty cop, but after he returned from death, he was worse. He was paranoid and dangerous. He was unhinged. Chloe had first-hand knowledge of the extent of the depraved lengths he went to get his way. Malcolm suffered because he was returned to Earth and took it out on not only Chloe, but also his friends, family, and those with whom he worked.

Chloe knew she didn’t have a large sample, but the idea of considering Charlotte a best-case scenario for this sort of thing was unsettling. Maybe the reason both Charlotte and Malcolm had suffered in varying degrees and then ended up dying once more was the universe correcting itself. Maybe-

“Your thoughts continue to be as loud as ever, love.” Lucifer gently prompted.

She wasn’t sure where to begin. “I was thinking about how Charlotte was when she came back. And then died again. Malcolm, he was dead, right? And then when he came back, it was worse. Worse than he ever had been before. And then I killed him and sent him right back again. Maybe I should’ve… I don’t want to …” her thoughts trailed off.

Chloe had never seen the look in Lucifer’s eyes directed at her before. She half expected his irises to glow red. She took a step back from him.

“What exactly are you saying, Detective?”

Chloe looked down at her bare feet and fidgeted with the long sleeves of his shirt that she still wore. “I don’t know. You said it yourself - I’m not even supposed to remember any of this because it’s so against the order of the universe or whatever. Maybe I’m not that special. I’m still me. I’m human. Maybe you can’t just do things like that, Lucifer.”

“I can’t?” 

Chloe took a full step back as he challenged her statement.

“I don’t mean it like that. Lucifer, people die every day. It happens. When people are brought back, bad things happen. Maybe you shouldn’t have-”

Lucifer holds up a hand as if to stop her stream of consciousness. With his other hand, he rubs the bridge of his nose. His voice was raised as he spoke. “What exactly should I have done then, Detective? What would you suggest? Let you go? Let Trixie grow up without a mother as well as a father? An orphan?”

He stopped suddenly. Lucifer knew that if there was a line that existed between the two of them, he had crossed it. He tried to reach out to her, but Chloe stepped further back away from him and crossed her arms around herself defensively.

“Chloe, darling, I didn’t mean-” He was interrupted by her finger in his face.

“Yes, you did. Of course you did. How dare you throw my daughter in my face like that.” Chloe had never known Lucifer to be cruel, and especially not to her. She resented the tears she felt running down her cheeks. She wiped at them with the cuff of the shirt but continued to fix her stare at him.

“Lucifer, I love you so much, but if you think for a second that Trixie wasn’t front and center of my mind during every agonizing second I was bleeding out, then you don’t really know me at all. She’s my baby. And she needs me and I knew I wasn’t going to be there for her. I knew I was leaving her alone and leaving you and leaving-”

Chloe hiccuped as the tears started coming faster. Lucifer, to his credit, didn’t hesitate and took her in his arms once more and tucked her head underneath his. “I know, sweetheart, I know. I love you and I thought I lost you forever. I had to do something … anything to bring you back. The world still needs you, Chloe Decker.”

Chloe’s stomach flipped, still not used to hearing those words on his lips. And yet, for all the time it took him to finally say them to her, they seemed to come to him naturally.  

He could feel her nod against his chest as Chloe calmed down and replied, “I know babe, I know. I want to be here. I want to be with you. I want to be with Trixie and see her grow up.” 

Chloe looked up at him. Her eyes were still glassy as she continued, “It feels like everything has changed. And I know that it has in some ways. But I know I’m here. You’re here. We’re here together.”

Lucifer made a sound of agreement as he continued to hold her. 

Making an effort to imbue her voice with warmth, Chloe said, “Well with that sorted, I suppose I’ll let you have your ring back. I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen you without it.” She shifted in his arms as she moved to take his ring off her finger and return it to him.

He gently grabbed her forearms to stop her movements. His face is puzzled. 

“Detective, I gave it to you. It’s yours.” He paused for a second. “No backsies.”

He gave her a familiar smirk to cement his statement. 

“Lucifer…” Chloe let the question die in her throat and looked away. It was the middle of the night, she had just died and come back to life a few hours ago, and she was wondering about her relationship status with a man who, by the way, was now God.

Somehow he managed to sense her unasked question without the use of any of his omnis.  With his fingers, he brought her chin up so she was once again looking at him. “Chloe, I meant what I said. I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time. You’ve no idea how much it pains me that I let you leave this life thanks to my dick of a brother without me telling you. The ring is yours, darling. If you’d like something more traditional, we can go to Cartier tomorrow.”

“Lucifer!” 

“What?”

“You cannot just say that!” Seeing his confused expression, she huffed. “Exactly what am I supposed to tell Trixie or Ella or my mom when they ask how we are suddenly engaged?”

“The truth?” he said, knowing she wouldn’t see it as a real option.

As if on cue, Chloe rolled her eyes. Easy for him to say. “Yeah, sure, you see mom, there was a gathering of angels here in LA and in the fight for their father’s throne, Lucifer’s evil twin brother stabbed and killed me so then Lucifer flew up to Heaven with his wings where I was with Dad and then gave me this ring to save my life. Oh yeah, and did I mention my fiancé is now God ?” 

The edges of his mouth twitched up in the beginning of a smile. “Fiancé? I thought we might skip all that. Detective, do you want a wedding? With flowers and bad DJ music?” Lucifer made it a point to emphasize the bad in bad DJ music. He stopped and seemed to consider something for a moment. “Though I have to admit love, I am intrigued and open to the prospect of escaping a stuffy reception to find a closet somewhere where we might engage in a little consummation activity and I put a blush on your cheeks whilst you wear enough taffeta to-”

Chloe interjected before he got too far with this newfound fantasy, “Gross, Lucifer.” Exasperated, she continued, “Lucifer, my point still stands. You cannot give me a ring, die, come back as God, and declare us married.”

Lucifer tilted his head as if in thought. “Well… actually I think that’s exactly on the list of things I get to do now. You know, by the power vested in me by me and all.” He seemed to be quite pleased with himself. 

“Hilarious,” Chloe said dryly. She raised an eyebrow. “Do I get a say in any of this?”

Lucifer leaned in closer to her. “Can I at least have a chance to plead my case before you decide my fate, darling?” He placed a trail of kisses down her throat as she giggled. “Besides, I believe I asked you outside the winery two weeks ago.” 

It took Chloe a minute to realize what he was referring to. “Lucifer, you called me future Mrs. God.”

“And you liked it!”

“That is not the point. It was a statement. Not a proposal.” She did not argue his point about having enjoyed it when he used that endearment.

“That can be easily rectified, Detective.” His warm hand on her back drifted lower as his mouth found her clavicle.

Despite the warmth of his body around her, Chloe shivered in the night air. She was still underdressed, only in one of his dress shirts. Although it was LA, it was the middle of the night and the penthouse was high in the air. She relaxed slightly as she felt a warm breeze take the edge off the chill.

“You know Detective, there are a few benefits to being the wife of the almighty.”

“You cannot seriously call yourself that, Lucifer.” Not for the first time, Chloe wondered if it was ever going to be possible to keep his ego in check ever again. She continued suggestively, “And here I thought I already had the biggest benefit for the past couple of months.”

He grinned at the compliment. “Thank you.” And pulled her chin up for a kiss.

Chloe pulled back from his lips and shivered again. 

“As fun as it is to impress you with a few parlor tricks, darling, I fear altering the weather patterns too much would spell disaster. This state’s barely a century away from breaking off into the ocean as it is.”

She held onto his forearms and raised her eyebrows at his comment. “You can’t just say things like that now! People might think you’re actually serious.”

“Aren’t I?”

She studied the look on his face, trying to discern if he was teasing her. Chloe gently swatted him on the chest.

“Asshole. You’re the worst.”

“Blasphemy, detective,” he said, his eyes sparkling as he looked at her.

“Guess I’ll have to do my penance. Say a few hail Lucifers for you,” she replied playfully.

His face was suddenly serious as he told her, “I’ll personally see that you do.”

“Is that a promise?” She came close to him, their noses nearly touching.

“On my honor, love.” Lucifer closed the gap between them and had one hand in her hair as he kissed her deeply. His other hand was on her ass, pulling her closer to him. 

After she broke away from the kiss to catch her breath, Chloe hummed with satisfaction. She was beginning to come back to herself and she could tell some of the tension had disappeared from Lucifer’s shoulders. She reached up to grip his hand that was still buried in her hair. Her thumb gently stroked the back of his hand.

Chloe didn’t want the moment to end, but they couldn’t stand here making out on his balcony forever.

“Lucifer, I’m going in. I’m going to go take that shower.”

He nodded, letting her leave to go inside. “Okay.”

Chloe gave him a look. He wasn’t getting it. “And you’re gonna join me, Mr. G,” she stated.

He nodded his assent and grinned. “Better, Mrs. G.” 

Lucifer followed her inside. He tickled at her sides until she gave in and he swept her up into his arms as they made their way into the penthouse.