Chapter Text
After the fight with Amenadiel destroyed his private stash, Lucifer had to go downstairs into Lux, which which was thankfully empty, to pour himself a drink. Saying the past 24-hours had been tough would have been the understatement of the century - quite frankly they’d been disastrous. Between learning that it was only being in the presence of the detective that made him vulnerable, that some psychopath Malcolm was killing innocent humans in his name, and that Amenadiel had been using Maze against him all in a ploy to get him back to hell, Lucifer sat thinking that all the effort it took to stay on Earth might not even be worth it.
No sooner did he raise the glass to his lips and take a sip did he hear the sound of footsteps descending the stairs and he turned to see the detective coming toward him. He hummed in acknowledgement of her presence, his brain taking the opportunity to remind him of her effect on his immortality as the whiskey burned his throat on the way down and he sighed.
“Hello, Detective.” He greeted flatly, straightening in his chair. “If you’ve come to take a shot at me, now’s the time. Everyone’s doing it.” He noted.
“Yeah, your scuffle with the preacher made the local news.”
The what? Oh, right. Hell, that was ages ago. The interaction with the street-performing liar had barely registered to him on his scale of ‘incidences of him being under attack.’ Religious zealots, and even the barely believing humans blaming things that went wrong on him was so commonplace that he’d stopped being shocked by it eons ago. Still, though he tried to ignore it, it still stung, especially in cases like this where it took the form of committing atrocities against innocents.
“Where should I begin?” He commented. “With the grandest fall in the history of time? Or perhaps the far more agonizing punishment that followed? To be blamed for every morsel of evil humanity has endured? Every atrocity committed in my name? As if I wanted people to suffer…” The detective began to move to his other side now, and he turned his gaze to his drink, mostly talking to himself, only vaguely remaining aware of her presence.
“All I ever wanted was to be my own man here; to be judged for my own doing. And for that? I’ve been shown how truly powerless I am….that even the people I trusted, the one person..you…could be used to hurt me.”
He heard her gasp and then call his name and he startled slightly, as if broken from his reverie.
“Yes?” He responded, pulling himself from his morose thoughts and turning toward her. She didn’t speak, but her eyes looked stricken. More movement could be heard from behind him and it caught her attention, then she looked back at him and took out her firearm, training it on him.
Lucifer was confused enough to surprise a laugh out of him and he stood from his chair and stepped closer to her, curious about what kind of joke this was supposed to be. His face dropped when he looked down at the floor beside her and noticed a fresh pool of blood draining from a man’s head - the preacher - dead next to his bar.
’Malcolm.’ His mind fed him the name as realization set in. The detective wasn’t joking.
“Put your hands up, and move away from the bar.” She instructed him. This could not be happening. Surely she couldn’t really be thinking, after everything they’d been through, that he could have done this?
“Detective, there’s an explanation.”
“Stop!” She shouted forcefully, “Don’t say another word, put your hands up…or you’ll leave us no choice” She instructed. The detective’s face was unreadable, though her eyes looked wet, as though she was holding back tears, but what was causing them was unknown. Lucifer finally looked around himself, remembering the movements that had called her attention in the first place, thinking that perhaps she wasn’t speaking to him at all, but to someone else that had entered.
Half a dozen cops surrounded him, each of their weapons trained on him. No, then. Not someone else - he was the suspect here. His suspicions were confirmed when he turned back to face her, slowly, and she spoke again.
“Lucifer Morningstar, you’re under arrest.”
Meeting her gaze he slowly raised his hands up, as he’d seen dozens of suspects do before, tilting his head slightly to the side as he did, trying to read the expression on her face, to understand what she was thinking.
“Come on, detective.” He purred, trying to make sense of this. Perhaps it could still be a twisted joke..it had to be. “You can’t seriously believe I killed that pathetic malcontent.”
“It doesn’t matter what I believe.” She toned. Every trace of humor was wiped from his face.
“That’s all that matters, detective.” He toned, his arms dropping to his sides as he realized that though this might be some sick joke - it wasn’t the detective that was playing it. Realization ran through his head as her eyes quickly shot to the officers surrounding him; one was a rookie, and then back to her.
“Put your hands in the air, and surrender yourself.”
It was as if she was playing directly from the LAPD playbook, script and all. Lucifer placed his palm down on the bar, his mind playing out what was about to happen. He felt as though he was teetering on the edge of madness and a laugh nearly escaped his lips, prepared to simply surrender to the role that humanity, Dad’s favorite toys, seemed insistent on committing him to - the root of all evil - when instead, his gaze drifted once more over the detective’s face and he caught something in her expression that he hadn’t before.
A silent plea. Her eyes locked on his, still wet from unshed tears, as if she was trying to communicate something to him, it reminded him of how she looked on a case when she wanted him to follow her lead.
Lucifer took a breath, realizing himself at a crossroads. The detective made him vulnerable, mortal. She didn’t seem to realize that. It might have been the greatest joke of all time, with himself as the subject..
..or he could choose to trust her, as she seemed to be silently asking. The rookie twitched, and the detective’s breath seemed to catch.
“Don’t shoot, he’s unarmed!” She instructed.
Lucifer straightened, putting his hands up once again, deciding, for now, to trust.
“Alright, detective.” He relented. “You win. I’ll come peacefully.”
—————
Chloe exhaled a breath that she hadn’t realized she’d been holding as she holstered her weapon, stepping toward her partner. The detective in her knew that she had to do this, to take him in, especially when her backup showed up behind her in the club to find her, Lucifer, and the fresh corpse of Reverend Jacob Williams with a single gunshot wound to the head. Lucifer had started in protest, and Chloe was worried he would accidentally incriminate himself if she didn’t stop him. She took a steadying breath to calm herself as she reached up and curled her hand gently around his wrist and bringing it behind him, latching her cuff around it, but not too tight, and accepting his other wrist when he put it back behind himself for her.
“Thank you.” She whispered in his ear. “Don’t take them off this time.” She added, the edge of her lips curving up slightly, remembering the last time she’d put him in cuffs. “I’ve got this, guys.” She voiced to the officers that were present, watching as they holstered their weapons as well. “Start securing the scene until CSI gets here.” She instructed, and they went into motion, some of them glancing at Lucifer and herself as they passed, but not speaking as she began to lead him away to the stairs.
“You have the right to remain silent…” she began, reading his rights even though she was well aware that he was informed of them, and mostly needing to show that she was following procedure. Lucifer was oddly quiet, having not made any kind of sexual remarks about his familiarity with handcuffs or innuendos about where else he’d be willing to let her dominate, and it was making the whole situation tug at her chest. She wanted him to speak, to say anything, even though she was still in the process of informing him that his words could be used against him in a court of law.
When they reached the elevators and went inside, finally he broke his silence.
“I know the Miranda code quite well, detective. I’ve heard you state them plenty of times; you can stop.”
His voice lacked all his usual humor and irreverence, and she swallowed down the knot that was forming in her throat, feeling at a loss of what to say.
“Whatever it is that you believe, detective; I didn’t do this. You know I don’t lie…”
“I believe you, Lucifer.” She said plainly, cutting him off. His voice cut off and he turned, his mouth gaping as if he’d expected this to be a battle.
“You do?” He asked, his eyes searched into hers as though looking for something…maybe trying to check if she was lying. She nodded. “I don’t understand. If you believe me, then why am I standing here in cuffs?” He asked.
“Because ‘Detective Decker says he didn’t do it.’ won’t exactly stand up in court.” She answered, rolling her eyes. “I told you, what I believe doesn’t matter, Lucifer, not to the justice system - you were the only person on scene, and you were caught on local news earlier today threatening him; any DA with a degree would be able to get a conviction on that alone - I had to arrest you, or they’d pull me off the case.” She explained hurriedly as they descended. “But, I promise you.” She said, turning to face him squarely as he curved his body toward her as well. She placed hand reassuringly on his bicep and met his gaze. “I am going to figure out who did this and clear your name.” She promised. “I just need you to trust me.”
Lucifer’s eyes softened as he met her gaze. The expression on his face did strange things to her insides; it was soft, yet intense, reverent. She thought back to what he’d said earlier, that what she believed was all that mattered, and a soft flutter ran through her stomach, filling the air of the compact space of the elevator with an electric charge that made her feel warm and very aware of her heart.
“Very well, detective.” He murmured, his velvety voice sounding lower than usual, perhaps a touch husky. He blinked as the elevator jolted to a stop, seeming shaken from his thoughts, as he inhaled and straightened his posture. She hadn’t realized that he’d tilted his head down slightly until that moment when he straightened. “I’m in your hands, but how you intend to prove my innocence is beyond me.” He added as the doors opened.
Chloe nodded once, curtly, taking a breath and leading him out of the elevators, her hand gently holding his elbow as she frowned lightly, wondering the same thing. But she couldn’t believe that Lucifer killed that man, and if he was innocent, then the proof was somewhere; she just had to find it.
It was an odd drive back to the precinct, Lucifer in the back of her cruiser, rather than beside her, commenting on the discomfort of sitting with his hands behind his back.
“Do I really need to leave these on the whole way?” He asked her as if her request that he do so was the only reason they were still on.
“Yes, Lucifer - we do this by the book, so whatever your hiding in your sleeves to pick the lock or whatever you do, just don’t.” She stated. He was smirking at her in the mirror and it made her smile, at least the air between them felt better now that they’d cleared up her thoughts on his innocence.
“It’s not a trick, detective.” He told her, the joking tone back to his words. “I just have, let’s call it a gift, for undoing locks, opening doors. Believe me, the irony isn’t lost on me that I once ruled a dominion of entirely unlocked ones.” He mused.
Chloe simply shook her head rather than asking any follow up questions — she had learned not to bother when it came to the devil metaphors.
Lucifer was compliant all throughout processing, a seductive smirk on his face as he locked eyes with her whilst removing his shoes and sliding out of his jacket, allowing her to empty his pockets and check for any weapons or possessions. Chloe tried to ignore the way her heart seemed to speed up under his gaze and the way he smelled as she conducted the tactile inspection of his person, running her hands down his sides and legs, trying not to blush as he grinned coyly at her.
“Come on, detective. I’m the owner of one of LA’s most popular nightclubs - shouldn’t you perform a more thorough cavity search?” He suggested, wiggling his eyebrows at her.
Chloe rolled her eyes to cover the way her mind decided to insert a visual of what he described and shook her head.
“I’ll pass, thanks.” She responded, pleased that her voice sounded cool and collected. She couldn’t help but smile at him as he went through the whole process, seemingly completely unbothered by what it might do to his reputation or anything else. His eyes remaining bright as he watched her during photos and finally when she walked him to lock-up.
“I’m really sorry about this, Lucifer.” She told him through the bars as booking slid them closed and made sure they locked. “But I promise we’ll clear your name.”
“I don’t care about that, detective.” He answered plainly, as if this was obvious. “You believe I’m innocent - that’s all that matters to me.” He paused and eyed the booking officer as they made their way out, eying him, but otherwise saying nothing. When they were finally alone, he spoke in a hushed tone. “But be careful - I suspect Malcolm Graham has something to do with the murder of the preacher.” He told her.
Chloe’s eyes widened.
“Malcolm?” She asked. “What makes you say that?”
“He came into my penthouse earlier tonight and admitted to being responsible for the murders of those poor children playing at satanism.” He told her. “He said he was doing it ’for me’. His voice was rough as he spoke, and anger colored his eyes. He almost seemed to growl as he continued. “He actually thought I would be pleased that he’d-” Lucifer cut himself off, his mind going someplace else, someplace dark, and Chloe thought maybe it was best for everyone that he was locked in here so he wouldn’t go off and do something stupid.
Lucifer cleared his throat, coming back to the present.
Chloe nodded.
“Okay, I’ll look into it. Thanks.” She moved to back away and head out when she felt a warm hand grab hold of hers over the bars. She stopped and turned to look at him, seemingly frozen with his mouth open like he wanted to speak. His eyes seemed…desperate, vulnerable.
“Be careful, detective.” He finally said, looking uncomfortable.
“I will.”
——————-
“He’s what???????” Maze shouted, slamming her fist down on the bar and making some of the techs jump as they continued to process the evidence of the murder in Lux.
“You heard me, Maze.” Dan responded calmly, rolling his eyes at the intensity of her reaction. Everything Maze did was overly dramatic. “He was the only one here, and everyone saw the interaction between him and the vic, so he’s been arrested. Chloe took him down to lockup at the station about an hour ago.
Maze hummed a laugh, finding the ridiculousness of this situation unreal. The LAPD had Satan himself locked in a puny human cage.
“And you people think that he did….this?” She asked, motioning to the dead body on the floor. She rolled her eyes. These stupid humans really didn’t get anything right.
“Chloe seems to think he’s innocent, but..I mean, the evidence is right here. He was the only one here, it was his club, the man got into a fight with him just a few hours ago…and the guy can be a little….crazy.” He said, feeling the word didn’t quite fit exactly, but it sort of summed it up.
Maze shook her head.
“Yeah well, you’re wrong - angels aren’t allowed to kill humans.” She noted, watching as the idiot detective just rolled his eyes, dismissing the whole devil/angel thing. She shook her head in amusement at how blind these humans were while her brain processed the rest of the information he’d said.
“So, if Decker thinks he’s innocent, then why’d she bring him in?” She asked.
“Because she knows the rules.” Dan answered. “She thinks someone might have tried to frame him, but without proof, it’s an open and shut case.” He said.
“You think she’s wrong.” The demon stated, assuming the answer to a question she didn’t ask. The cop paused.
“I think…she doesn’t want him to have done it…and that her hunches aren’t always nuts.” He allowed.
“So then, who does she think is trying to frame him?” She asked, frowning as she wondered whether Amenadiel…no…even he wouldn’t go so far as to actually kill a human…but that dirty cop that he’d resurrected….
Detective Espinoza, or ‘Douche’ as Lucifer usually called him turned to look at a human weapon in a plastic baggy that one of the other humans was showing him, when realization struck Maze’s mind.
That stupid zombie human was trying to set Lucifer up for murder…and recently tried to kill him, only now Lucifer was stuck in a human cage in the building where the reason that his mortality was at stake at all spent most of her time.
“Shit.” She muttered to herself, and was gone before Dan could turn back around to answer her question. The demon found herself at the police precinct easily enough, but when she discovered that sneaking into the area they called “lock up” where the King of Hell was currently being held would be harder than planned, she realized she was going to need some more angelic help. She grit her teeth together and left for the office of the only human she could think of that might try to help.
The doctor looked surprised to see her when she opened her office door.
“Maze, hi. I don’t think we have a session scheduled today.” She said, eying her with uncertainty.
“We don’t, but I need a favor.” She said directly, pushing past the woman into the room. “It won’t take long. I know you don’t believe in any of the stuff that Lucifer says to you, but, that doesn’t matter.” She said, rummaging through the woman’s desk and grabbing a pen and paper, scribbling down a message.
Dr. Linda stood still a moment, processing the actions of her very new sort of patient before shaking her head lightly, reminding herself that if she wanted to interact with normal people she would have become a different kind of doctor, and then closed the door and turning to Maze, who was holding out the paper.
“I need you to pray to Lucifer’s brother and say this.” She said, pushing the letter into the woman’s hands.
Linda looked down and read the paper, and then back up at Maze.
“O…kay….Maze…I know Lucifer operates in these kinds of metaphors, but I’m concerned about what purpose you think that this will serve?” She asked, wondering whether or not she should be sitting down to do a more thorough assessment of the woman.
“There’s no time for that!” Maze protested, feeling frustrated. “I’d do it myself, but demons don’t have souls, no one would hear a prayer coming from me.” She explained. She could see the suspicion and concern in the woman’s eyes and she sighed.
“Look, just…think of it as a trust exercise or whatever.” She said, having heard about them during some of the research she and Lucifer did before opening Lux on how to build morale with employees. “All you need to do is press your hands together, lower your head and speak the words…just like as they’re written, and I’ll be out of your hair.” She said, mimicking the physical actions as she spoke them to show the woman what she meant.
Linda thought for a moment, her eyes moving from Maze, down to the paper, and back up before she sighed.
“Okay, I will do it, on one condition - you schedule to come meet with me again in the next week.”
“Deal.” Maze agreed without hesitation. She motioned to the paper with her hands to urge the doctor to hurry.
With a deep sigh, Linda did as she was asked, handing the paper to Maze to hold for her as she shook her head in disbelief that she was going along with this and pressing her palms together. She cleared her throat.
“Ah…I pray to the angel Amenadiel that you go to the Hollywood division precinct to meet Maze, she needs your help.” She said.
“Amen” Maze whispered in reminder.
“Ah right, Amen.” Linda added.
Maze nodded, satisfied and smiled.
“Thanks Linda!” She toned, rushing out of the office before Linda could speak another word. The doctor stared after her patient, her hands still together, feeling as though she herself perhaps needed a mental status exam, and noting a connection in the way that Maze and Lucifer both tended to abruptly leave the room.
She shook her head, blinking back to reality when her next patient knocked lightly on the doorjamb.
“Dr. Martin? We have session now, right?” Linda looked at her patient, then realized her hands were still clasped and abruptly moved them, straightening the skirt of her business dress and clearing her throat.
“Yes, yes of course, please, come on in; have a seat.” She instructed, clearing her thoughts and moving on to her session.
——-
Amenadiel was already waiting outside in the parking lot of the station when Maze arrived. He looked at her tentatively, not sure what this was about.
“Maze, I was glad to hear that you wanted to talk…I wasn’t happy with the way we left things and I wanted to apolo-“ The demon put a hand up to his mouth to interrupt his speech and shook her head.
“Yeah yeah, forget about that for now, I’m still pissed at you but I need your help; I think Lucifer’s in danger, and I can’t get to him. I need you to stop time so I can get passed their stupid security without killing a bunch of humans.” She told him briskly. A flash of hurt and disappointment came and left his eyes before he frowned and tilted his head.
“What do you mean, Luci’s in danger?”
Maze took a moment to quickly fill him with what she had learned and bring him up to speed.
“And so now that stupid human that you brought back to life is on a killing spree and stupid Lucifer is stuck in a box with the one thing on Earth that makes it actually possible to kill him.” Maze’s eyes widened as she realized that this might just be exactly what Amenadiel would be hoping for. Anger instantly flared in her and her eyes narrowed. “And I know you must just love that, but you owe me one and so you’re going to slow time so that I can get to Lucifer before that idiot cop does.” She insisted, plowing her finger into his chest as she spoke.
Amenadiel put his hands up in defense.
“Okay, okay! Maze relax! I’m going to help you!” He agreed, trying to appease her anger. “Truthfully, after my fight with Lucifer, I’ve realized some things about myself and my actions and I-”
“Not now, Amenadiel!” She said, interrupting him again. “Hurry up and get me in there!” She demanded.
“Right. Yeah, right, let’s go.” He said, moving with her inside and raising one hand, watching as the humans around them immediately started moving in slow motion until they were practically stopped. Maze and Amenadiel walked easily through he precinct and past the booking guard to where the cells were and Lucifer was being held.
He was sitting on the bench in the cell, his jacket folded neatly beside him and his eyes were closed as he rested his head back against the wall behind him. It was the stillest either of them had ever seen him for any length of time, and Maze could only watch it for a few seconds before it made her uncomfortable.
“Lucifer!” She called out, making both angels startle slightly with the sudden intrusion of sound. His eyes found the source of his name and they widened to see both Maze and Amenadiel standing before him.
“Well, well…isn’t this a surprise?” He said, eyes moving from his brother to his best demon in turn. “Come to see the Devil in Chains?” He asked, his voice somewhat mocking. He huffed a laugh and then turned away from them again, but he didn’t close his eyes.
“Not exactly the prison you had in mind, is it brother?” He asked.
“Luci, what are you doing in here?” Amenadiel asked.
“Oh? You found out where I was but not why? You’re slipping, Maze.”
“No, we know the human reason.” Maze countered. “What I don’t get is why you letthem capture you?”
Lucifer nodded and then sighed.
“Seemed like as good a plan as any….given that the detective and a handful of her friends had their weapons trained on me, and I didn’t actually want to return to hell just yet.” He answered.
“But Chloe thinks your innocent.” Maze argued again. A look of peace washed over his face as he rested his head back.
“She does.” He agreed, a small smile crept onto his features.
“Lucifer!” Maze yelled, frustrated as she punched the prison bars, resulting in a loud clanging sound that resinated in slow motion throughout the room.
“Ah, I was wondering why they’d just let you in - that explains Amenadiel.” Lucifer mused, having only just noticed the slowed time.
“Don’t you realize that means the idiot that is framing you now has a vulnerable devil locked in a cage? He’s a detective, Lucifer, he’d have no trouble waltzing in here in the middle of the workday, while Decker is sitting at her desk, and offing you!” She pointed out, furious at how blind her King’s infatuation with the human woman was making him.
Her frustration was only exacerbated by the look of realization that spread across his features, as if he truly had only just now thought of that. She scoffed and turned away, running an exasperated hand through her hair.
“Well, I guess your plan is finally working out then, isn’t it brother.” He voiced, eying the firstborn angel who had remained silent and stoic this whole time.
“Actually, no.” Amenadiel answered finally, raising his head with his next breath as if having made a decision.
“No?” Lucifer eyed him, curiously. He let out a disbelieving scoff of a laugh “Did I punch you in the head too hard?”
“Maze was right, Luci. We used her. And Malcolm, people have died because of us.”
Lucifer stood, his face gone serious.
“Because of you, you mean.”
It was one thing for humanity to treat him like the root of all evil, but his bloody siblings should at least know better - they were there.
“Yes, because of me.” Amenadiel allowed, looking away with a look of shame.
“Right.” Lucifer relented, nodding an acquiesce that his brother, at least, would see the truth. He would never admit the bit of peace he felt, as much anger as he felt toward his siblings, that at least they knew who he was…who he started out as. He wasn’t always the monster he’d been made into, even if none of them admitted it.
“Brother, somehow I lost sight of the bigger picture,” Amenadiel was saying now, his face full of penance and confession. Well, this was new. He hadn’t been on the receiving end of a celestial confession since…well…since he was Samael. Still, as Amenadiel seemed stuck on Earth until he’d completed his mission, he supposed that he was his brother’s only option at the moment. “Of the cost of my actions, how truly selfish they were!” He spat the words, his expression filled with self-disgust and remorse. The picture of the penitent man. “But, Luci, my eyes are wide open now, and I need to make this right!”
Lucifer studied his brother, taking it all in.
“Do you know, I think this side of you’s actually scarier than the angry one.”
“I need to find Malcolm, and I need to send him back to hell.” Amenadiel paused, meeting Lucifer’s eyes and his face shifted as if what he was about to say pained him. “Will you help me, brother?”
Ah, that was why. Lucifer’s eyebrows rose as he recalled the last time Amenadiel had asked for Lucifer’s help, it was over 5 years ago, when a human had stolen his necklace that he’d received from their father. Asking Lucifer for help back then had resulted in the deal that plagued him from then forward - because he couldn’t just pick him up and drag him back to hell anymore.
“Are you sure about what you’re asking, dear brother?” Lucifer asked, feeling wary himself. Remnants of his old self seemed to flicker as his brain informed him that this was Amenadiel’s way of offering penance for his sins, and the proper response would be to accept and help him in earnest. His eyes twitched of rebellion and he nearly rejected his brother flat out before another twinge of information came to his consciousness.
The detective had already gone after Malcolm, on her own, now that Lucifer was locked away in this cell, and Amenadiel was not vulnerable in her presence.
“It will come at a cost.” He added. Amenadiel seemed disappointed, but not surprised, and he took a breath before responding. Maze seemed to pace by the wall, inspecting it as if she was casing the structure, but her attention was on their conversation.
“What is the deal?” Amenadiel asked, his voice resigned.
“Detective Decker is already looking into Malcolm, for the murders that have been committed falsely in my name. But because I’m in here, she’s looking into it alone, without my protection.”
Amenadiel’s head tilted to the side, seeming interested in the way this deal seemed to be forming.
“She will be a greater help to you in finding him than I will - if I tell her that I’ve sent you to assist in my stead, she may let you tag along. All I ask in return is that you protect her at all costs.” He finished. “Do we have a deal?”
The elder angel straightened in surprise as his eyes widened ever so slightly. Lucifer usually made deals for his own gain, but this one, he was using his favor to protect a human?
Maze, from her position in the corner, had also stopped and directed her full attention on them for this moment, not quite sure what to make of this turn of events.
“Agreed.” Amenadiel agreed easily, extending his hand to Lucifer. The devil nodded, pleased with this and asked for Maze’s cell phone, as his had been confiscated during his booking. He entered the numbers for Detective Decker and pressed send.
“Maze, now’s not such a great time…”
“It’s actually me, detective, using Maze’s phone…”
“Lucifer? How are you using…where are you?” She asked, apparently having started to assume that Maze had somehow staged a prison break.
“I’m still in lockup at the precinct, detective, as agreed - I just wanted to tell you that I’m sending my brother Amenadiel as backup to help you in my stead.” He purred, his voice smooth velvet.
“..Lucifer, I don’t need backup, I’m a big girl-”
“I absolutely insist, detective - he can be of use to you, at minimum he can offer you some protection whilst I’m locked in here.” He insisted, cutting her off.
“Lucifer….” She voiced, sounding annoyed. Lucifer took a breath and his face lost it’s facade of bravado, looking almost pained as his voice softened and took on a languid edge.
“Chloe, please.” He requested, plainly.
Maze watched the display with an expression that was a cross between concern and disgust as a moment of silence came over the line.
“Okay, Lucifer. Fine. Just this once.”
The Devil breathed a sigh of relief as the detective informed them of her current whereabouts and they ended the call.
“There you go, brother - don’t forget your end of the bargain.”
“I’ll keep her safe.” Amenadiel confirmed. “At all costs.”
Lucifer nodded, and Amenadiel turned to leave.
“Maze?” He questioned, motioning for her to come along. She shook her head.
“I’m staying.” She declared, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.
“You’re what?” Lucifer questioned. “Absolutely not!”
“I’m staying!” She insisted again, her face so stubborn that it was threatening. “You’re totally defenseless in here, and a madman is on the loose that wants you dead. I’m staying put.”
“But Maze, I’m only vulnerable when the detective is around.”
“Yeah, and she works in the building, you don’t think she’s going to be coming back and forth gathering her evidence or whatever while she tries to put this guy away? It’s not like she’d just kill him like a normal person.”
“Mazikeen.” He stated, but his tone was that of a command, more than anything else.
“You’re wasting time arguing with her, Luci.” Amenadiel concluded. Lucifer eyed his brother, then Maze, and sighed, letting out an exasperated breath and throwing his hands up in the air.
“Fine, but you know they’re going to throw you out as soon as Amenadiel releases time and they see you on the cameras.
“Let me handle that.” She voiced.
“No!” Both angels protested in unison.
“Relax!” She defended, “I’m not gonna kill anybody, geeze!”
The two angels eyed each other and Lucifer shook his head.
“Go, brother, I’ll handle Maze.”