Three days. Three days since Lucifer had shown up at the docks with a flaming sword in hand, more terrified than she had ever seen him. Three days since he'd left that message, promising to come clean. Three days since she'd lost her partner.

Chloe knew she ought to be upset. Every time she and Lucifer got close, he retreated. She should have thought that this was another Vegas, another Candy Morningstar. But there had been something in his voice that night - he'd sounded hopeful. The poison had kept her from seeing it at the time, but the last time he'd left, he'd been angrier than she'd ever seen him. This was different. It had to be.

She needed fresh air.

"Maze?" she called.

Her roommate poked her head out the living room. "Yeah, Decker?"

"Can you watch Trixie tonight? I just-" Chloe closed her eyes, not knowing what to say.

"Need a distraction?" Maze smiled lazily, catlike. "I have some friends who-"

She blushed. "That's not what I had in mind." Maze opened her mouth, but she silenced her. "I just need some air, okay? I'll be back soon. Let me know if you hear anything." She met the demon's eyes.

The smile disappeared and Maze was, for once, serious. She nodded.

Trixie ran towards her, wrapping her arms around her mother. "Come back, okay, mommy?"

Chloe hugged her back. "I will, monkey. Don't worry." She shot a look at Maze. "No, ahem, swings."

Maze shrugged.

"Or knives," Chloe added.

Maze looked at Trixie, who was seemed disappointed. "Fine."

Chloe closed the door and let the cool night air wash over her. There was something comforting in the chill, her goosebumps reminders that she here, now. At home, at the station, she had to be perfectly composed all the time. But outside, she could break down the walls she'd built around her worries for Lucifer. She didn't have to be in control.

She didn't know how long she just stood there, waiting for her thoughts to quiet.

When she'd first heard the message, she'd been scared, terrified even. What could make Lucifer decide to tell her now? What could make him hide it from her for so long? What could make him think that being the literal devil was better than being himself?

She sighed. She couldn't pretend to understand him, but she wanted to, badly.

When she looked up again, Lux's bright lights shone in front of her. She didn't remember walking there.

Chloe pushed the doors open - Lucifer never bothered locking them - and entered the nightclub. She threw on all the lights, and a after a moment's consideration, flicked a couple back off. With all the lights on, the club seemed too… normal, like Lucifer could walk in at any moment.

The piano - what remained of it, anyway - lay in a heap on the floor, two polished legs still trying to support it. There were two gaping holes in the back like something had been thrown at it with force.

The piano wasn't a surprise. After Lucifer had gone missing, Lux had been the first place she'd checked, first by herself then with a small army of police in tow. They had dismissed it, saying that it was likely a product of one of Lucifer's rages. But she knew he would never do this. It seemed sometimes the only time he was truly happy was when he was playing. He would never destroy it. A possibility struck her. The last thing Lucifer had said at the club was that Charlotte was there...

She dismissed the thought and made her way up the stairs. Their lives were screwed up enough as it was without adding Lucifer's stepmom to the mix.

Lucifer's penthouse was untouched. Two glasses on the bar, just waiting to be filled. Curtains thrown wide open to the L.A. skyline. Except for the silence. Lucifer's absence dug deep into the silence until it was not just background but something very tangible and alive.

The last time he'd picked up and left, he'd left drop sheets over his stuff and taken his car with him. This time, his car had been found at the hospital, and one of his shoes. And everything here was just as he'd left it, like he could back in any minute.

It would have been easier if Lucifer's apartment was trashed. Even the drop sheets would have been easier. Anything would be better than this emptiness.

Her thoughts turned back to the broken piano. It couldn't mean anything good. What kind of enemies did Lucifer have?

How did she know so little about him?

She allowed herself a rare moment of emotion and poured whiskey into one of the empty glasses. Lucifer wouldn't mind.

A crash downstairs roused her from her thoughts.

Chloe reached for her gun, and cursed when her fingers found empty air. She'd left it at home along with her badge. She sighed. Of course. Even unarmed, her instincts kicked in and she crept down the stairs, careful not to make a noise.

A form was bent over the piano, shaking. They didn't seem to be much of a threat, but they were still trespassing.

"LAPD. Hands up," she called from the landing, hoping he wouldn't ask for a badge.

The man's shaking stopped, but he made no move to comply.

Her resolve abandoned her when she saw his back. The man's back was skin hung in tatters, angry flesh poking through. She had seen prettier burn victims in the ICU.

"Dear God, what- what happened to you?"

A little laugh. "He would know."

"Lucifer," she whispered.

With that, he turned to her. His face was covered in the same wounds as his back, ragged skin and burnt features. There were new lines carved into his face. It were those that worried her the most. Lucifer's mental state had only been getting worse lately.

"W-we need to get you to a hospital now."

He looked down at mangled flesh as if just remembering it was there. "I can assure you that I'm fine, Chloe."

"Lucifer, this is serious."

Another laugh. "This is nothing. Just a little reminder from dear old Dad of where I could be right now." He levered himself to his feet. "Excuse me, detective, while I get some more appropriate attire."

He started towards the stairs, his movement heavy but not pained. His shirt was gone and his black dress pants were torn and matted with dust.

"You can't just leave and then act like nothing has happened. We thought you'd been kidnapped or killed! You left me! Again. And now you won't even accept help. Should I be expecting another Candy Morningstar?" She was surprised at the venom in her own words. "I thought we were done hurting each other."

"I never meant to hurt you." His face softened and she could see pain, real pain in his eyes. "I promise you, Chloe, I will tell you everything. I just-" His voice broke. "I'm covered in dust and my own blood. A-and I was changed - without my permission. I need everything to be normal right now. So please, give me five minutes."

This time, she didn't object when he disappeared up the stairs.

Chloe sipped at the whiskey she'd poured earlier while she waited. She had a feeling she didn't want to sober for whatever Lucifer was going to tell her.

Lucifer returned a few minutes later dressed in a midnight suit that covered most of his burns. The steam from the room behind him shrouded him in mist.

He filled the other glass and sat down beside her.

"Who did this to you?"

He gave her a knowing smile. "You won't believe me."

"Try me."

"I have," he said plainly, "I have never lied to you - about anything." He took a deep breath. "That in mind, what I am about to tell you is true. There are no metaphors," he fairly spat the word. "Please promise me you won't fear me for this. Hate, I can handle, but fear?" He trailed off.

She knit her eyebrows, but said, "Of course."

"Let's start at the beginning, shall we? A proper story." He took a swig. "I am the real Devil, the real Lucifer Morningstar, Beelzebub and whatever else you mortals like to call me. There are angels and demons and a God and Goddess in this world of ours."

"Lucifer, we've been through this before." She'd really thought this time would be different.

"I've been shot in the heart in front of your eyes, killed and brought back to life in our fight with Malcolm. I've disappeared, wielded the fucking Flaming Sword, Azrael's blade. What more do you have to see to believe?"

She wouldn't meet his eyes. "I'm sorry, but you were right. I don't believe you."

Lucifer stood abruptly. "I didn't want to have to do this. The last person I showed I almost lost. She almost cut me out of her life. I don't want that to happen with us. I'm sorry, Chloe."

Between one heartbeat and the next, Lucifer… changed. His face was bright red, hairless, wet and shiny as exposed flesh. It was not the face of any human. His eyes burned with what she could only describe as hellfire, something angry and incendiary. She'd seen flashes of those eyes in mirrors and memories she'd done her best to forget

She reached out and put her hand on his cheek. It was soft and feverish against her cold fingers. He flinched at her touch.

It was real. Everything.

Chloe bit back a sob her hands flying to her mouth. "I'm so, so sorry. I-" Tears streamed down her face. "I should've believed you."

Just as quickly as it had appeared, the inhuman face was replaced with Lucifer's usual one. He stared at her, motionless, as if afraid the smallest movement might startle her away.

But Chloe didn't leave.

She downed the last of her whiskey. "I'm going to need a lot more of this," she said weakly.

"Happy to oblige, detective." He returned moments later with the bottle in hand. He seemed surprised to find her still there. "You didn't leave."

"You're my partner." Chloe closed her shaking hands around Lucifer's. "I'm… I'm angry at myself for not believing you. How did I never notice?"

"I've wondered that myself, detective."

The pieces began to click together in her head. "Does that mean Amenadiel's an angel? What about Maze?" She scrunched her brows. "She can't be an angel."

He laughed. "Correct on all fronts. My brother is quite angelic, isn't he? Can't say I know where he got it from, certainly wasn't dear old mum. And Maze, an angel? She's a demon."

"I live with a demon. I left my daughter alone with a demon. I kissed a demon." She took another drink. "And when you say demon…"

"Forged in the fires of Hell, yes." He frowned at her. "What was that last one?"

She poured the rest of the bottle into her glass. "Tell me what happened to you."

"Very well, detective." He took a deep breath. "I don't know exactly, but it was a message from dear old dad. I made a deal with him: returning my mum to Hell to save you."

"What?"

"Malcolm killed me, the bloody bastard. Dad brought me back."

Her breath hitched. "You did that for me?"

"I couldn't let you die." Lucifer smiled, confused. "Anyway, mum changed my mind. I decided staying on Earth was punishment enough for her. Dad disagreed. Violently." His voice broke. "He sent Uriel after me - and you - and I had to make a choice: you and mum, or my brother. I killed him, Chloe. I killed my own brother."

"I'm so sorry, Lucifer."

He pulled his hand out from between hers. "Mum wanted to go back to Heaven. She was... leaking through her flesh suit. Me and Amenadiel went along with it at first, but I never had any intention of doing anything more than kicking her through the gates and returning to Earth." He closed his eyes. "She almost killed Dr. Linda to find out what my plan was. She killed Chet. She held you hostage."

"I was the one with the gun."

He snorted. "She's the goddess of creation."

"Point taken."

"I couldn't let her hurt anyone else, so I gave her a fresh start. She's building her own universe. Dad must've liked what I did because he gave me a present," he spat the word.

She looked at the red blotches on his hands. "God did this to you?"

He followed her eyes. "That? Just a side effect, I'm afraid. He took most of my grace and I don't have enough left for a proper glamour. The burns are the real me bleeding through."

"Does it hurt?" she asked softly.

Lucifer shrugged. "I was kidnapped and dropped in the middle of the desert with these- these things on my back, my glamour fading. I'm assuming dad was responsible, the control freak. It's not really his style though."

"What 'things'?"

In answer, feathers filled the air. Two wings sprouted from her partner's back, each two metres across and covered in pure white feathers that shone with a light of their own. The wings Lucifer had lost, she thought suddenly, the ones he'd been so desperate to find.

"Wings." He curled his lips in contempt. "Clearly cutting off the first pair wasn't hint enough."

Chloe was staring, her mouth open.

"What the hell, Lucifer," came a voice from behind them.