Chapter 4: Deal With The Devil

It felt like the phone has been ringing forever by now. Chloe was sitting on her sofa, Dan next to her. She couldn't seem to find control over her knees as they shook up and down. Dan's eyes were fixed on the phone. Every time the phone ringed, he blinked twice. Eventually, the ninth ring was cut in half and she heard his pleasant British tone.

"Child, you really shouldn't take your mother's phone without permission."

She couldn't answer for a moment. Her voice was completely gone and it felt like her tongue would never be able to move again.

"Hello?" Lucifer's voice sounded through the speaker.

"Hey, Lucifer." Chloe choked out just in time.

The phone went completely silent. It seemed like even the static disappeared. She couldn't hear anything on the other end. Dan leaned in a bit closer, probably wondering if it was just him not hearing anything.

"… Detective." His voice came back after several moments.

The word brought images to her eyes. Memories started to swim through her head again. It pinpointed the last time she heard him call her. She was worried that she'd be having trouble answering again but this time a response came much sooner.

"Is everything alright?" She asked.

Awaiting for his answer felt extremely frustrating. It made her knees shake more. She wanted to see him. To stand in front of him and see his eyes. She hated speaking to him through the phone. Over the time they've spent together, she's managed to learn a bit and read certain thoughts just from his face. But through the phone, he was just the same mystery to her like to everyone else.

"Everything's fine. What about you?" He answered, finally.

Chloe didn't know what to say again, but words were coming to her easier now.

"I'm okay. Just a little shaken up still. I can't really remember everything very well at the moment."

His response came much faster than she expected.

"That's good to hear. I think there will be some things both of us would prefer to forget. Believe me."

She stood up from the couch and moved back toward the kitchen. She couldn't bear to sit any longer.

"Lucifer… I… would like to see you. There are some things I think we have to discuss. I don't want to do this over the phone."

Silence, again. "I believe that would be for the best. When would you like to come?"

"How about now?" She could feel her heart beginning to rumble in her chest.

After a brief moment of silence, his voice returned. "You're most welcome."

"Okay. I'm on my way." She informed.

"I'll be waiting," Lucifer answered, and then hung up.

Dan stood up from the sofa and marched after her into the kitchen, "Chloe, are you sure this is a good idea?

She looked back at him, confused. "Yeah. Why not?"

He shook his head slowly, "I don't know, Chloe. I mean… we found Pierce's dead body. Who do you think could have killed him if not Lucifer?"

"I don't know, Dan. Why does that matter?" Chloe asked.

"If Lucifer killed Pierce… well, that doesn't put him in the best place." Said Dan.

Chloe looked back at him, arms crossed. "So what are you trying to say? What that he's dangerous or something?"

"I don't know what I'm trying to say, Chloe. But I don't know if it's a good idea for you to go see him alone." Dan answered.

She glared at him in response, "He's my partner, Dan. I don't know what happened between Lucifer and Pierce. I didn't make it there in time. All I know is that Pierce's men shot at us. I got shot. Lucifer must've fought them back in defence."

"So you're saying he fought back twenty guys with fully loaded machine guns, Pierce included. Hands on. By himself."

Chloe shook her head, "Dan, I already told you, I don't know what happened! The only way for me to find out is if I go talk to him." As she finished, she grabbed her cars keys and made her way for the door. "Give Trixie some cereal when she wakes up, please. Tell her I'll be back as soon as I can."

"And you think Lucifer will tell you the truth?" Dan asked.

She was about to step out when she stopped and looked back at him. "Lucifer doesn't lie." She answered, before stepping outside and closing the door. That was the one thing she was sure of.

"She doesn't hesitate. Not even for a second." Lucifer muttered to himself, smiling as he made his way to the closet.

As he pondered on which shirt to wear, he heard the elevator doors open and Maze stepped into his bedroom. It made him realise that the elevator should require some kind of key to travel up to his penthouse.

"Lucifer?" Maze called out.

"I'm in the closet." He answered.

"Wait. Are you actually planning on leaving this cave?" She answered, happily surprised.

"My penthouse is not a cave, Mazikeen! People would give their souls and half of their families to live in a place like this."

She entered the closet, a smirk on her face, "So, what's the occasion?"

He sighed, "The Detective is coming."

Maze's eyes widened, "Already? Damn. Decker has more in her than I thought. Took her two days to get over your Devil face."

"Ahh but you see that's the thing. I don't know if she actually remembers that part." Lucifer informed.

"What do you mean?"

"Well. She said that she can't remember everything. I believe that her passing out must've affected her memory somehow. Or maybe it was just my face. We both know it can have that effect on some people." He answered.

"So what's your plan?"

Lucifer shook his head as he placed a tie around his collar, hands shaking slightly. "I'm not sure yet."

Chloe was stuck in traffic. Typical experience in LA. But for the first time in a while, she didn't mind. It was giving her time to think. She didn't know whether she made the right choice. A part of her was still struggling to comprehend what she saw a couple days ago. She could still see certain things when she closed her eyes. It's like it was imprinted into her vision. Like a watermark never to be removed. Or like the screen of an old TV still showing earlier images. It creeped her out. When she heard his voice over the phone… she could almost see his face. The one she knew. The handsome, soft, flawless face.

The sudden sound of a car horn shot her out of her trance as she accelerated forward. Going above the speed limit towards Lux.

After a couple of minutes, she finally reached the familiar street. Lucifer's giant skyscraper was staring down at her. It was the first time when she wondered how much the property must be worth. Such a huge building in the middle of Los Angeles. Probably more than she could imagine.

Everything was a blur until she reached the elevator. She pressed the very top button, knowing it will take her straight to the devil's lair. The doors closed and she was alone. Her heart started to go wild as the elevator climbed up the floors. She closed her eyes and tried to focus.

Relax. It's Lucifer. Your partner. The Devil.

The elevator rang and the doors opened, revealing Lucifer's penthouse. She hesitated at first, then slowly and carefully stepped out, checking every corner of the room. The penthouse seemed to be empty. Then she noticed a figure standing in the balcony. It was him. She could recognise that frame anywhere. His tall and formal posture. His pitch black hair and a matching suit. It was him. No flaming red skin, no scars. Just Lucifer. The one she knew. The elevator doors closed and then he turned around to face her. A glass of whisky in his hand.

He gazed at her from across the penthouse for a while before slowly stepping inside. And making his way towards her.

"Detective… it's good to see you." He said, not blinking. He had his usual three-piece suit on. Although she rarely saw him wear the same one. This one was fully black. Even the shirt and tie.

"Lucifer." Her voice came.

He took a couple more steps forward and stopped, making at least a car length between them.

"It's… it's good to see you too." Speaking was becoming easier again. Something about his eyes was making her calm again. She realised that this really was the same Lucifer. The one she knows.

Her answer must've surprised him, because his eyes widened and he stepped back, unsure of himself. "Really?"

She had no idea where this courage was coming from. But she actually took a step forward. "Of course… You're… Well, you're my partner. So I'm happy to see that you're okay. That ambush was… well, I think we can both agree that it went south."

Lucifer exhaled a quiet laugh, "The understatement of the year, detective."

"Listen, Lucifer. I don't exactly fully remember what happened in there. All I know is that everything you said… it's true. That's all I know. I've been trying to wrap all of it around my head, but I can't. I can still hardly comprehend it. So I'd be very glad if we could take things slow." She took a deep breath after speaking, afraid she might pass out.

Lucifer stepped closer now, clearly noticing her weak posture, "Detective, are you sure you shouldn't be resting right now?"

"I'm fine. Lucifer… I just need you to help me understand certain things. My head is a mess right now. I'm scared. I just keep seeing things when I close my eyes. I can barely sleep. My dreams are all over the place." She stepped towards the sofa for some support.

"Alright, detective, I think we should sit down. I don't want you passing out. Just sit, please." He gestured her to a seat.

She nodded and sat down, taking deep breaths. This was her Lucifer. Did I really just think that? MY Lucifer?

Lucifer sat down on the opposite side, worried. "You were at the doctor, weren't you? What did he say?"

"He just said I needed to take it easy and rest." She answered.

"Well, by now you should know that I'm not the right company for that, detective." He stood up again and went to look out the window, "especially after all you've seen."

"Lucifer… what happened back there?" She didn't know if she was ready to hear everything. But she needed to know something at least.

Lucifer was silent for long while before turning back to her, "I… well, I somehow lost control. For the first time in my existence." He gave her a miserable look.

"Lost control?"

He sat down opposite her again and allowed for another couple of seconds to pass without speaking. "I… killed Cain."

So it really was true. Lucifer killed Pierce. This meant that he was now personally involved with the case. Making Chloe's presence a very bad factor in the eyes of the court. But she didn't care. Lucifer killed him in self-defence. In defence of both of them. Besides, Chloe was the one who shot first. She attempted to kill him before Lucifer. The only difference was that Chloe was a cop.

"I stabbed him with Mazikeen's demon blade. He was trying to kill me with it. Funny how that turned out." Lucifer explained.

"Alright. So, you killed him in self-defence?" Chloe asked.

"After you got shot, Cain ordered his men to finish me. I was able to get us out of there just in time."

Chloe sat up slightly. This is exactly what she wanted to know. "How did you get us out?"

Lucifer took a deep breath before speaking "I used my wings."

Chloe could feel her pulse increase. There was still a part of her, trying so hard to stick to logic and the world she knew. But at this point, it was just stupid to ignore everything that happened. Lucifer really does have wings. He really is the fallen angel. She knew getting used to that fact would take ages.

"Okay. And you flew us to that rooftop, right?" She answered.

Lucifer nodded, "Yes, after sponging about two hundred bullets."

"Did it hurt?"

Another nod, "A little, yes. Remember when I told you that you make me vulnerable too?"

It was Chloe's turn to nod, "You didn't mean that as a metaphor?"

"Not in the slightest. You see when I'm not around you… well… I'm invincible. Bullets can't hurt me. Nothing can. Even poisonous gas like the one we encountered back at that lab. But when you're in my presence. I lose that privilege." He explained.

Chloe wasn't sure what to make of that. "Why is that?"

Lucifer smiled, "I have no idea. But I know that the mighty one up there probably does. And I'm almost certain it's all part of his lovely plan."

"You mean… God." Could this really be happening? She was speaking to Lucifer, the fallen angel. The son of God himself.

Lucifer stood up, "Alright. Remember when you came here, you asked me to take things slow when I explain myself. So I think it's best if I leave it there for now. We can talk more about it next time around."

Chloe stood up too, "No. Lucifer, I want to know everything!"

"Detective, too much has happened for me to just explain it all right now. It's better this way. For both of us. You'll learn about everything slowly. If I was to drop everything on you now, I'd be risking another fainting episode. And father knows I do not want that to happen again." Lucifer protested.

"Fine. But promise that you'll explain everything to me eventually." Said Chloe.

"You have a deal," Lucifer answered and extended his hand.

Chloe hesitated before shaking his hand. "Deal."

He walked back with her to the elevator and then she turned back to him, "Are you still my partner?"

He looked surprised at first. "Do you still want me to be?"

Chloe nodded. Smiling at him, "Lucifer, I know that things have happened. But everything that I've said to you… none of that has changed. I still mean all of it." The memory of their last kiss came to her mind as she spoke. "So yeah. The job offer is still opened."

Lucifer was frozen for a while, then he smiled back at her, "How could I decline such a generous offer. Not everyone gets to work with the best detective in the LA."

Chloe tried her best to fight a blush. Then she surprised both of them and she hugged him. "I'm glad you're still here, Lucifer." She muttered into his shoulder.

"Me too, Chloe." He answered.

They broke apart eventually, and Chloe stepped into the lift. "I'll see you at the precinct tomorrow, then."

Lucifer gave her one last smile, "Of course, detective."

"And don't be late!" She added, as the elevator doors closed.