Chapter Text
“I've, uh, I've been thinking a lot about what you said. About Lucifer, and, um… You know, I need you to know that… he… he and I, we're… we're good partners, and… we're good friends. And I… you know, I don't want to lose that.”
“It wasn't a fair ask.”
“No. It's-it's… it's also unfair of me to ask you to deal with this, you know?”
As Lucifer emerged from the stairwell leading to the parking lot, he came to an abrupt halt. There they were—Chloe and Pierce, standing close, locked in an intense conversation. Together.
Lucifer couldn’t stop himself from lurking in the shadows, eavesdropping as they chatted, his heart heavy with a weight he couldn't shake. Watching Chloe with Pierce felt like watching someone else take the piece of him that he thought was hers to hold.
The Detective looked almost nervous having this conversation with the Lieutenant. She fidgeted and it looked as if she didn't know what to do with her hands. But then, Lucifer saw her reaching for her necklace, the one he'd gifted her on her birthday. The sight of her fingers snatching his necklace from her neck before slipping it into her pocket, the symbol of their bond, felt like a betrayal.
It hurt. The Devil didn’t know much about feeling pain—true enough. But this... this hurt more than any bullet wound. It was like dying. Again. Only worse this time, because she was the one who pulled the trigger, aiming straight for his heart. And as if it was not enough already, he saw Chloe rise on her tiptoes and kiss him. She. Kisses. Him. Caïn. The Sinnerman. The first murderer in History.
Truth be told, he probably could have overcome the kiss. He would've surely thrown up a few times, then taken some of the best drugs he could find at Lux. But this… The way she'd just gotten rid of the necklace that he had made especially for her.. Gotten rid of him…
Now, standing here, he wasn't sure what was left. His heart wanted to chase after her, but his pride kept him rooted in place as they passed him by. Leaning against the wall, stared at the empty space where Chloe had just stood with Pierce. The ache in his chest was familiar, a constant companion, but it felt sharper today. He had always prided himself on not needing anyone. He had convinced himself that he was immune to emotions—except now, he realized, they were all he felt. With Chloe, everything felt different. She made him want things he never knew he wanted before. Every time she stepped further away from him, it was like a piece of his soul was being ripped out. But what hurted more than her distance was the fact that he couldn’t bring himself to tell her. He couldn’t say the words, couldn't make her understand that the connection they shared wasn’t just something he wanted—it was something he needed.
There was so much left unsaid as the silence between them now spoke louder than any words could.
He would undoubtedly need a flood of drugs and alcohol to get through the night. Otherwise, he might as well let himself be consumed by the fiery depths of his own torment. If not hell, then a whisky bottle would surely devour him until he hit rock bottom. Whatever.
Lucifer had overestimated his tolerance to alcohol and drugs. He didn’t know if it was thinking about the Detective all night long that had made him vulnerable, but it seemed the only plausible solution to such a bloody hangover.
Adjusting his aviator sunglasses firmly over his eyes, he strode confidently toward the precinct’s coffee machine. Surely, the mere stench of the cheap, revolting brew would be enough to revive him—no need to actually drink a single drop of it.
He poured himself a cup of coffee, staring blankly at the swirling liquid then inhaled the smell of it. Grimacing, he quickly emptied the contents of the cup straight into the sink—it only made him feel even more nauseous.
Maybe he'd better just go home after all. Just thinking back: he didn't even know what he was doing here. The Detective was doing fine without him. She now had the... Lieutenant.
Ready to return to his nightclub and fight fire with fire, he turned on his heels, only to bump into someone.
He was so pissed off. “Bloody hell,” he mumbled under his alcoholic breath. “Can't you pay attention where you—”
“Rough night?”
Her voice gave her away. His gaze fell on none other than Detective Chloe Decker.
He couldn't help but notice that she was wearing the same clothes as yesterday, only a little more wrinkled. There was hardly much left to the imagination about what she’d been up to all night. And then, there was the missing piece to her usual outfit that caught his eyes. It took up all his focus, as if there was nothing else around. The background was blurred, but her collarless neck was in sharp focus.
It dragged all the pain out again. It sobered him up in the blink of an eye. Not sure it was any better, though.
“Lucifer? Are you okay?”
Chloe tilted her head as she stared inquisitively at him, and Lucifer instantly missed the way her bullet necklace usually slid on her blouse with her every movement.
He shook his head off the thought. “Yes, um… Rough night. Just as you said. I was on my way back home, actually,” he stated, his pitch rising an octave higher than usual.
“You're not staying? I've just been assigned a new case… and I thought… maybe you coul—”
Lucifer cut her off. “You should ask Pierce.” It came out a little rougher than he had expected it at first.
“I see.” She went on the defensive. “Be careful then. I'll see you later?”
“I'll call you,” he replied as he walked away.
He felt as if his legs were going to give out on him. Either he hadn't really sobered up yet. Or it was the feeling of letting her go that was having that effect on him. He paused atop of the stairs and peeked at the Detective over his shoulder. His eyes followed her every frantic movement as she rummaged through her pockets before she grabbed her bag, her fingers fumbling clumsily through its contents.
And then she stilled. Her expression shifted, relief washing over her face as she pulled her hand free.
Dangling from her fingers was the bullet necklace.
The sight of it hit him like a punch to the chest, sharp and unrelenting. He sucked in a breath as memories came flooding back unbidden. That small piece of metal carried so much weight. More than it should. More than he could bear.
Lucifer couldn't tear his gaze away as she lifted it to her neck, her movements hurried, almost nervous. She fumbled with the clasp, her hands shaking, failing once, twice. When she finally secured it, for the first time in what felt like forever, something inside him broke free. He’d spent so long building walls around himself, convincing everyone, including her, that he was untouchable. Yet, overt the time spent with the Detective, those walls crumbled a little more. He wished he could step forward, could close the distance between them, but the fear of being rejected held him back.
Her head snapped up, her eyes going wide when she met Lucifer’s gaze. Their eyes locked, time seeming to slow around them. And then Chloe touched the necklace, her fingers brushing over the worn bullet with a soft smile that made his heart ache.
Lucifer smiled back at her, and she nodded. There was a silent making up passing in the air amidst.
Then Pierce came out of nowhere and stood between them. Lucifer didn’t see him coming. Neither did Chloe.
It took the Detective a few seconds to look away from Lucifer to Marcus who leaned in to kiss her. She nearly failed that simple task, kissing the corner of his mouth as if she'd been aiming for his cheek instead of his lips.
Pierce noticed her slip up. Just as he noticed Lucifer's necklace back where it belonged.
The satisfaction bubbling up in every part of Lucifer's body didn't go unnoticed as Marcus Pierce turned around and glared at him. And so as to punish Lucifer for being a bullet in his side, the Lieutenant took Chloe by the hand and led her into his office.
Lucifer wasn't impressed. Besides, he had more than one trick up his sleeve—well, into his pocket, actually. Pulling his phone out of it, he called his partner.
“Allo?”
“Told you I'd call.”
He never lied.
“Feeling any better?”
“Couldn't be better.”
He still didn't lie.
“Great. I’m comin’.”
“I'll be there, Detective. I'll be there.”
Screw Pierce!