There's a little time jump here - about eight weeks.


7.

Chloe was bored. It had been nearly eight weeks at last count since she'd found herself trapped in Hell and time passed in such odd intervals that it was giving her headaches. She slept through a lot of it – despite Lucifer telling her that 'technically she didn't need sleep because she was dead', she'd grated him for the reminder and he'd simply laughed at her, given her that same soft tilted quizzical look he'd been giving her a lot these days, and wandered off. To do, whatever, she wasn't thinking about it. She wasn't stupid, she knew she was in Hell and she knew Lucifer was still - no matter how different he acted with her - the Devil… and when he vanished for hours, sometimes the odd day at a time, he was doing… Devil things. She just feigned ignorance and soldiered on.

She spent the rest of her time alternating between snooping around Lucifer's grand palace and reading, a lot. Sometimes days passed without her thinking about it, other days they dragged and dragged and dragged. Today was a dragging day. She'd spent hours in the library, curled up on one of the massive chairs reading one of the hundreds of books in Lucifer's collection. Many were written in different languages and she'd taken to learning French out of boredom about a week ago. She now knew the basics, but not enough to read books easily, so she mostly stuck to reading English to save herself eye strain. The book she was reading now was 1984, she'd read it before in high school for a class but she had forgotten just how much she'd enjoyed it.

The door opening behind her had her head bolting upwards in surprise. She had spent most of her time, apart from Lucifer and the odd sighting of Maze, utterly alone in the palace so the sound of the door opening had her placing the book in her lap and looking over as what looked to be a teenage boy scuffled into the room. Lucifer had explained to her, late one evening, how to vaguely tell the difference between souls and demons. She hadn't really had much practice, just the odd rare occasion when she'd crossed Lucifer's path when he'd been taking to someone. He usually ended what he was talking about pretty quickly, focusing all his attention on her. She was usually pretty grateful. But souls were not supposed to be wandering around, so she knew this was a demon who'd stumbled into her hidey hole as she read in quiet.

Teenage looking boy was staring at her in shock. "Oh, Miss, I'm s-sorry."

Pushing herself to her feet, she regarded the boy in front of her slowly. Lucifer had taken it upon himself to explain the hierarchy of demons. She hadn't asked him but he claimed she needed to know. She now knew that the lower the demon was the less deformed they were. Although when they were higher demons they could 'glamour' themselves so they looked human. He'd also shown her how to detect a glamour by the shift around the air as they walked. He'd explained to her that he didn't have a 'glamour' as both forms he took, as well as others he'd long abandoned, were not 'glamours' but belonged to him. He was an angel, albeit a fallen one, but not a demon and therefore the rules for him worked differently. Everything he told her she took in, using it to expand her understanding of his world. The demon now standing in front of her, looking about sixteen, did not have a glamour and was therefore a pretty lower demon considering the spectrum of things.

Obviously he had taken her silence as contempt as he took a step backwards, "I'll go, I just came to-" he shook his head as he caught himself, "never mind. I'll leave you be Miss."

Taking a small step forwards, she inwardly winced as he flinched. "No," he abruptly halted his step looked at her curiously at her sudden demand. Her eyes widened, "shit, no, that wasn't a command." She swallowed, keeping a distance away, "just, you can stay." She waved in general at the library as she looked at the teenage looking demon.

She'd forgotten her word carried as much weight as Lucifer's. After the little stunt he'd played on his balcony those nearly eight weeks ago they had quickly discovered that it meant his demons obeyed her every word. He'd found it hilarious when Maze had gone to fetch her a glass of water after she'd moaned about it being too hot; she hadn't and had glared at him as he laughed. She'd grumbled, saying it was stupid and she was going to bed, again, and that he could keep her water. Her days were spent always watching what she said, but she hadn't seen anyone but Lucifer in a while and it was easy to forget.

"Miss?" Said demon was still staring at her.

She tried to send him a reassuring smile. "What's your name?"

"Lukas, Miss."

"My name is Chloe." She took a few careful steps forwards, regarding him as he took a small step away from her. "Please stop calling me Miss."

He nodded immediately, "yes Miss-" his eyes widened and he stammered, "s-sorry, Chloe."

She ignored his stammer. Being Lucifer's equal had apparently made the lesser demons afraid of her, despite the fact she'd never done anything for them to be afraid. Although it made her stomach sink at the thought of this demon, Lukas, feeling obliged to stay because she'd asked. "Well Lukas, what was it you came here to do?"

"Find a book for my Lord." He edged forwards towards the rows of meticulously alphabetically organized books. Chloe raised an eyebrow and he elaborated, voice – thankfully - sounding a little less terrified. "He wants a book on angel translations."

Well that didn't mean much to her but she shrugged a shoulder and stepped back, giving him access to the room. "You better go fetch it then." She watched him scurry past her and towards where she guessed the book he was looking for was kept and rolled her eyes but smiled sympathetically at the hurried demon. "Lucifer isn't exactly known for his patience, is he?"

He shook his head, "no Ma'am." At the unintentional narrow of her eyes he quickly corrected himself, "Chloe."

She tried for a reassuring smile as she followed him as he vanished amongst the stacks. Searching the aisles. His gaze getting more flustered as he searched. "Is everything okay Lukas?" She leaned against the wall as she watched him, her heart sinking for the demon and vowing to have a stern word with Lucifer about the treatment of his lower demons later.

"I can't find it." He looked at her, horrified, "I can't find it."

"Hey," she held her hands up to placate him, "hey, it's okay." He watched her warily as she approached. He looked terrified at the thought of returning to Lucifer without finding whatever he wanted and she took pity on him. "What does it look like and I'll help you look for it," she attempted a smile. "Although you'll have to explain to me what I'm looking for; I don't really have a clue."

"Old," she raised an eyebrow at that and he blinked owlishly at her, "it's brown and leather and has angel symbols on the binding." He looked around him, before frantically his eyes landed back on her. "I don't get it, it should be in this aisle."

Chloe frowned, remembering her quiet evening in here with Lucifer the other evening and what he'd been reading sounded suspiciously like the book Lukas was describing. Back tracking to the center of the library, she called for the demon to follow her, hearing his steps as he stumbled behind her as she found the book exactly where Lucifer had left it the other day. It was heavy and worn in her hands, but she turned and handed it to him.

He looked at it for a second before his shoulders seemed to drop in defeat and he looked up at her. "Thank you Ma'am." He took the book from her.

She ignored the title this time, exhausted from correcting, and softly nodded at him. "You're welcome, Lukas."

A tiny smile flitted over his features as he clutched the book to his chest, eyes landing on the chair she'd been sat in and the book laying open on the table. His eyes flitted to hers and away again; voice quiet as he spoke, "what are you reading?"

She dropped her hands by her sides, her eyes wandering to the discarded book and back to the demon in front of her. "1984."

Lukas was eyeing the book with intrigue and she briefly wandered how much 'free' time Lucifer's demons got to do things like read. "George Orwell?"

She nodded, a slight smile lighting up her face. "You've heard of it?" He nodded and she plopped herself on the edge of the table, fingering the book and crossing her legs, "it's a dystopian novel about the government controlling history and its subjects freewill." When describing it she briefly wondered why Lucifer even had it in his library, surely it was a dangerous book to keep around? Then again Big Brother did win in the end she supposed.

"Two unlikely lovers who betray each other." Lukas was staring at the book and Chloe swallowed, hard, and nodded. Seeming to notice her discomfort Lukas looked at her with interest as he looked at the small pile of books on the table next to the fireplace, "do you do a lot of reading?"

"I have a lot of time on my hands," she tilted her head to look at the demon, regarding him carefully as he uneasily watched her, "reading and exploring is all I really do."

He hesitated, shifting from one foot to another, "that sounds…" he trailed off, thinking, "relaxing."

She chuckled at the word Lukas had chosen to use, pretty sure he wanted to say 'boring'. "Hopefully I'll be going home soon."

He looked at her, eyes a little wide. "You're going back to Earth?" She was pretty sure she was imagining the slightly crestfallen lilt in his voice.

She nodded, "I have a daughter and a life to get back too." He was watching her with what Chloe would have guessed was wistfulness and she wondered if this demon was happy with the life created for him. Shaking off the thoughts she looked at the book still clutched to his chest. "Well, you better be getting back with that."

Nodding hurriedly, he shifted on his feet, eyes flicking towards the door. "I-"

"Is there a problem in here?" Maze had waltzed into the library, eyes first landing on Lukas and then on her, where they narrowed. "Oh, hello Chloe."

"Hello Mazikeen." She nodded, despite knowing she could call the demon what she wanted; she respected Maze's preference for her calling her by her full name. She eyed the female demon carefully before uncrossing her legs and gesturing towards the male demon who seemed to have shrunken into himself as he stared at Maze. "No problem. My fault, I seized Lukas's company."

"Ah, well, he's needed." Maze moved a few steps forwards.

Chloe rolled her eyes, and clasped her hands in her lap. "By all means, I'm sorry to have kept him." Her conversation with Maze was always strained, despite Lucifer's right hand having a preference for her daughter the female demon still very much distained Chloe. "He's all yours."

Ignoring her, she had turned to the scared looking male demon. "Is this is what was taking you so long?" Maze demanded of Lukas. "You shouldn't be distracted so easily."

"I- I couldn't find the book." He held it up to show her. "It wasn't where Sir said it would be."

Maze had her eyes narrowed into slits as she glared at the lesser demon. "Then you decided to hang around for," she glanced at Chloe, "what? A chat?" When Lukas went to open his mouth the female demon interrupted, "don't you dare make up excuses. We are working; there is no time to be chatting."

Dropping his head, his eyes on the floor Lukas nodded. "Yes, I know, I'm sorry."

"Good, well then-"

Chloe smoothly stood up as Maze went to leave the room, Lukas on her tail, "hold on." Maze froze and turned to look at her, "it's not his fault he didn't return like a good little errand boy. I distracted him."

Raising an eyebrow, Chloe mirrored the female demon's expression, "-and? He should know better."

She waved her hands in Lukas's direction. "Just don't go punishing him when he's done nothing wrong."

Maze took a few step forwards, growling. "He's Lucifer's demon, not yours, you don't have a say in what happens to him."

Chloe rolled her eyes at that; "perhaps, but there's need to punish someone when they've done nothing wrong. Even Lucifer knows that at least."

"Are you questioning-"

Waving a hand she interrupted, "I'm not doing anything, you're throwing the hissy fit," Chloe clasped her hands behind her back and raised an eyebrow. Knowing provoking the female demon probably wasn't a good idea, but Lukas shouldn't be blamed for something that was her fault. She really didn't feel like getting into a 'bitch' fight with Lucifer's right hand but she was not having poor Lukas punished.

"You are the most insufferable-" Maze had started for her.

Chloe unlocked her hands from her back and held them up to ward off the angry demons advance. "Mazikeen-" she warned.

"Leave her alone."

Both Chloe and Maze's heads whipped around to the small voice in the doorway where Lukas was still clutching his book and staring at Maze. "What did you say?" Maze demanded.

Lukas set his chin, for the first time not looking as feeble as he looked Maze in the eyes. "Leave Chloe alone."

Chloe felt a little affectionate surge for the male demon who had taken it upon himself to stand up for her. "Lukas," she smiled at him reassuringly, "it's fine. Don't worry about me."

"No, he should be worrying about himself." Maze had turned and stalked back towards the insubordinate demon who was backing away and further into the room. She stepped up and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and growled in his face. "What do you think you're doing?"

Lukas appeared to get strength from nowhere and managed to get himself free, stepping backwards and dropping the book. Chloe watched it fall to the floor, wincing at the muffled sound the ancient book made as it slumped. He shifted, "you shouldn't talk to her that way."

"You have no business interjecting yourself into our business." Maze stalked Lukas who had apparently placed himself between Chloe and Maze.

Chloe placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Lukas. You can stop." She squeezed as he looked at her uncertain. Although she had to quickly step out the way when Maze decided it was a good idea to launch herself at Lukas. The both of them went crashing into the table behind her and Chloe watched it buckle and break under their weight. She glowered at them, this was absurd. They were in a library; a place to read and relax, not for demons to be scrapping. "Stop," when they both ignored her and continued to struggle she raised her voice and glared at them. "Stop. Now." Immediately the both of them obeyed, their bodies freezing as they stilled.

Chloe was trying to think of something she could say when a voice sounded from behind her. "I heard an intriguing commotion," Chloe turned around to find Lucifer leaning against the doorjamb, his amused eyes landing on her, "trust you to be in the middle of it."

She rolled her eyes, lifting her head to the ceiling in exasperation before meeting his gaze. "I swear was only trying to read," she sighed, and added, "peacefully."

Stepping into the room he chuckled. "You draw trouble almost as much as I do." He turned his gaze and eyed his broken table. "What's going on in here?"

Mazikeen had untangled herself and gracefully stood up, brushing herself off. "Chloe got herself a bodyguard." She looked in disgust at Lukas who was scrambling to pick himself up, Chloe took pity on him and went to help him stand.

He looked at her as she wrapped a hand around his elbow and helped pull him up. "Thank you," he whispered and she sent him an encouraging smile as he looked worriedly at Lucifer. "Sir."

"Lukas." Lucifer regarded him before looking at Chloe and raising an eyebrow.

She shrugged a shoulder, placing a hand on Lukas's shoulder for support. "He hasn't done anything wrong."

"He was insubordinate." Maze hissed.

Rolling her eyes, Chloe folded her arms and sighed. "He was only protecting me-" she shot a side glance at the demon next to her, "-not that he needed too." She emphasized.

Lukas had the decency to look a little sheepish despite still looking terrified. "I'm sorry," he hung his head.

Wandering a little closer, Lucifer peered at her and raised his eyebrows. "Why do you need protecting?"

Chloe fixed him with a disbelieving stare, "your demon bodyguard has anger management problems." Before shifting her glare to the female demon.

Pausing, "Maze?" Lucifer looked at his right hand.

Said demon raised a hand slightly. "I may have lost my temper," she smirked, pinching her fingers together, "a little." She rolled her eyes, "it's not as though I can do anything though, is it?" She gestured at Chloe.

"Yes, not really the point though Maze," Lucifer sighed. "I'll deal with you in a minute." He turned to Chloe and Lukas, his eyes landing on the latter. "Thank you for trying to protect Chloe," he smirked, "although she can take care of herself… so you know for next time."

Lukas hesitated, looking unsure. "Next time, Sir?"

"Well-" Lucifer drawled, looking amused, "if you want to play bodyguard you may as well be made a bodyguard." He paused looking at Chloe pointedly. "That is of course if you'll let him."

She waved him off, figuring if Lukas got a promotion – pretty sure that was what was happening here – he'd be a lot more confident in himself. Not that she needed a bodyguard being stuck in this stupid palace day in and day out. "Sure, fine, although I can protect myself." He'd be company, she supposed.

"Oh I know," he grinned, before clapping his hands loudly. "Brilliant. Every day's an adventure with the detective. You'll have a wonderful time!" He stopped, a shifty look entering his eyes as a conspiring grin played at the corner of his lips.

Chloe looked at him suspiciously and he grinned at her before refocusing on Lukas. "Now, if you're going to be by her side you better learn how to fight-" He raised a pointed eyebrow at Maze, who looked horrified. "Maze, if you'd be ever so kind."

"But-"

"Ah," he tutted, "go ahead and be a good little demon and teach Lukas here how to fight. And well," he paused, before grinning deviously, "please."

"Fine." Maze tugged on her top and shot a disdainful glance towards where Lukas was hovering uncertainly. "Come on then." She turned on her heel and marched from the room, Lukas hesitating before following.

"Go easy on him!" Lucifer chortled after them as they vanished, turning his gaze back to her. "Now-"

She rolled her eyes heavenward. "Don't start. I really was only trying to read." She collapsed onto the armchair she was originally curled up in and stared at her book now on floor along with whatever he wanted the angel translation book for. "The book you wanted is over there," she pointed at it as she leaned to pick up her own.

"You and Lukas seemed to get on well," he grinned, plopping himself down in the seat opposite her, book in hand, and smoothly raising an eyebrow. "He's always been a little on the shy side. Trust you to bring out the demon in him."

Chloe snorted. "He couldn't find the stupid book, I helped him find it."

"Well, you certainly helped him come out his shell." Lucifer chuckled and Chloe rolled her eyes realizing he sounded like an overly enthused parent. He eyed her, peering at the title of the book she was reading and a small smile curling his lips before he asked. "You okay?"

She waved him off, "I'm fine," and closed her eyes briefly before looking at him, "how's your day?"

He raised his eyebrows shooting her a pointed look. "Tedious until this little debacle."

"So was mine." She muttered, staring at the book in her hands before looking at him as he stood up, she shot him a questioning glance and inwardly sighed; "back to work?"

He sent her an apologetic smile and shrugged a shoulder, "duty calls." She nodded as he brushed off his trousers and absently pulled on his cuffs, "I'll see you tonight Detective."

She smiled at him, slightly pleased that she'd get to spend the evening with him as he had been busy the past few nights. "See you tonight."

He shot her a quick smile before walking out the room, leaving her to her thoughts once more. "Oh-" she jumped as he popped his head around the corner. "I'll send someone to clean up the mess," he smirked. Rolling her eyes she grabbed a broken table leg and threw it at him. It hit the doorjamb as he ducked out the way, and she could hear him laughing, the sound echoing, as he waltzed away.

The rest of the day passed in a blur, thankfully. She'd left the library before the table was cleaned up and replaced, going for another wander around the vast halls. She could lose hours mooching around Lucifer's hallways; she'd always loved old houses as a kid and the inner child in her loved finding the numerous empty long forgotten bedrooms. She wondered who had stayed in them, once upon a time, and carefully shut the doors as she continued her snooping.

She hadn't really done much exploring in the older parts of the palace before. Feeling a little unsettled at the darker long forgotten areas, but she had run out of places to explore and had therefore steeled herself and ventured into the darkness. Lucifer had told her she was allowed anywhere in Hell, asserting that she could go outside if she wanted, but she hadn't wanted to step outside without him and the thoughts of bumping into Lilith or some other probably not very respectful higher demon were not very appealing. Plus there was a good chance if she braved stepping outside she'd end up going to find out how Malcolm was faring – and she knew that wasn't a good idea. So she figured wandering the forgotten halls wasn't a problem. Much safer.

She had just found some old fashioned looking bathroom, the massive round top bath standing proudly in the middle of the dark room, when a clock chimed from somewhere down the hall. She jumped, her heart leaping into her throat and she covered her chest for a second to settle herself before she followed the sound.

She discovered a huge grandfather clock down another two hallways, standing tall at the end and dominating the hallway. As she approached her eyes widened as she realized this was the first clock she'd actually seen in the whole of Hell. Lucifer didn't seem to be too bothered about time and there were no wall clocks, he didn't wear a watch, and not even the kitchen had a clock on the oven. The clock was still, silent, when she approached and she realized that it hadn't been moving for a while as dust was collected on the weights and pendulum.

She ran a finger up the side, and she frowned as she realized this was the only thing she'd found covered with the fine fluffy substance. All the abandoned rooms had been empty; a sense of forgotten loneliness hung in the rooms and the air had been stale, but there wasn't a speck of dust. But, she stared at her finger, there was definitely dust on this clock. She rubbed it between her fingers and looked up at the clock in confusion, she'd definitely heard it chime so why was it so silent and still?

A sense of foreboding filled her as she stared at the silent looming clock and back at her fingers peering at the definitely still pendulum and debating whether she should pull it open – just to check.

"Chloe?" She whipped around to see Lucifer approach her, slowly, his eyes carefully regarding her and the clock behind her. "What are you doing?"

"I found a clock." She jabbed a thumb behind her, before frowning looking at him curiously. "Wait, why are you here?"

His smile was strained as he came to a stop beside her, also staring at the clock. "Something felt off so I came to find you."

"It chimed," she muttered; it seemed significant.

"What?" His head abruptly snapped to look at her, "what did you say?"

She looked at him, a little confused. "I said it chimed."

Shaking his head, he stared at her before whispering; "no it didn't."

She frowned, looking at him and nodding. "Yeah, it did. I followed the sound."

"It hasn't made a sound, since-" he cut himself off, staring at the looming structure, "-I had it built." She looked at him sensing there was something else, so she placed a hand on his upper arm in support as she turned to face him. He glanced down at her before looking at the clock and swallowing, the sound almost audible. "That's the time I fell."

Her gasp definitely was audible and she turned to look at the time the clock was apparently ever frozen on. It read 03:26. "What?" She whispered, staring at it. "Why would you keep that?"

He shook his head, smiling brokenly at her. "As a reminder."

"Reminder of what?" She shook her head and glared at him. "You're torturing yourself."

"Well, this is Hell, Chloe." He sighed, looking at the clock and she internally rolled her eyes at him. "Are you positive it was this you heard?"

"I heard a clock chime," she mirrored his position, glancing at him from the corner of her eyes, "do you have any other grandfather clocks around here?"

He shook his head. "No."

Dubiously, she looked at him and then back at the clock. "Well, then, I definitely heard it chime." They both stared at the silent intimidating structure, and she watched him from the corner of her eyes as he rolled his shoulders uncomfortably. The air felt heavy as she flicked her gaze between them both before awkwardly clearing her throat, "well, it appears I was ima-" she was cut off as the second hand on the clock ticked, once, and she stared aghast at it as there was a few beats and it ticked again. There was no doubt about it, it was moving-

"Chloe-" Lucifer's voice was strained, teeth gritted as he watched the clock, "I-" he hissed in pain, doubling over and she watched in horror immediately moving to help him. He threw up a hand and she stopped in her place. "Don't, just-" He gritted his teeth and flinched, a small sound of pain wheezing from his lips.

Her heart was beating triple speed, she was pretty sure if she wasn't already technically dead she would be having a heart attack, as she watched him cripple over. She felt powerless and wondered if she should raise the alarm – somehow, her eyes wide as her breath halted in her throat. "Lucifer-?"

"Down," he muttered, voice strained, and she looked at him in confusion for a second before his pain eyes met hers and he repeated himself, "get down." He shook his head as she took a step forwards and he shot up, stumbling backwards a few steps before gasping in pain, urgently fixing his expression on her. "Chloe, hit the deck, now!" Understanding that demand, she dropped just in time to close her eyes against an overwhelming bright light that seemed to explode out of him.

She remained where she was, head down and sheltered by her arms, until the light and heat from it died down to normal levels. Peeking her head up, her eyes widened as they landed on Lucifer kneeled on the floor, panting, breaths heaving. His hair damp and sticking to his forehead. Her breath halted in her throat and she scurried upwards as her eyes landed on the… the wings, that were now spanning from his back. They were a dark satin black, the exact opposite of the fake white ones she had seen a few months ago and these shimmered in the dim light as they flexed. If she had thought the previous ones were beautiful; then these were otherworldly. "Lucifer?" She questioned, pulling herself onto her knees.

There was a few beats of silence as he breathed heavily, before his eyes slowly raised to hers and he swallowed, his body beginning to shake as his eyes bored into hers and his voice broke. "Chloe."

Taking that as permission she scrambled to his side, dropping in front of him and placing her hands around his face. "It's okay," she mumbled, pressing her forehead against his as he shook slightly, "shh, it's okay." She didn't really know whether it was, but as the shakes wracked his body she knew she had to, to comfort him. He leaned heavily against her and she let him, stroking the back of his head as he quivered.

She jumped a little as his wings moved, wrapping themselves around her as she held him. She tried to ignore how soft they felt as she shifted slightly and he mumbled an apology as his arms wrapped around her middle as one of her hands softly ran through his hair and the other rubbed smoothing circles onto his back.

They remained like that for longer than she could comprehend. Her knees were beginning to ache and her shoulders were stiffening when Mazikeen found them; wavering on the edge of their little bubble as she watched a little unsure. Chloe lifted her eyes slowly to acknowledge her. She gradually slowed her hand as it played with the strands of his hair and making sure to keep her voice soft as she murmured, "Luce?" Barely registering it was the first time she had called him anything but his full name.

It took a second but he lifted his head from her, his eyes dry but slightly wider than usual. He smiled a little weakly at her and sat back on his haunches, running his hands down his face as he registered the presence of his demon. "I'm okay." He flexed his wings a little and they brushed against Chloe as he moved. Pulling them away from her she felt a little cold and lost as the warmth left her, he smiled gently in understanding as he stretched them out like he was stretching an overused limb. He hissed slightly but as he shook them, the odd feather flying off, and his eyes landed on Chloe as she shifted herself wincing as her legs protested the movement. It seemed the both of them were tense as they moved and she smiled at him reassuringly as she watched his wings flex, "they're beautiful Lucifer."

The smile he shot her was glorious, before his eyes fell serious as he regarded her. "I thought you weren't going to get down in time for a minute."

Pulling a face, "I nearly didn't," she acknowledged. She tried to stand up but found her legs were still pretty dead and she wobbled, Lucifer grabbed a hold of her and she laughed at him as he staggered as well. "Looks like we're both pretty useless."

He looked at her, "it isn't funny," he murmured before turning her as they used each other to stand up, "I'm sorry."

"For what?" She brushed her hand against Lucifer's shoulder. "It's only a little stiffness. I'll be fine in a sec."

He brushed her hair from her face, and cupped her chin as his eyes bored into hers. "You know for what."

She stared at him, "not a problem," she affirmed, digging her fingers into his shoulders to cement her point.

"If you two are done with your little-" Mazikeen pulled a face of contempt as she looked at them, "angelic moment," her gaze shifted to Lucifer. "Lucifer, you need to rest."

Rolling her eyes at Maze's dig, she looked back at Lucifer who was still watching her warily as though she may bolt. "She's right, and I'm not going anywhere." She murmured, not as though there were many places to go; she wouldn't leave his side as long as he needed her. "I promise."

He swallowed, shifting his gaze to his demon and nodded. "Okay, I do feel a little tired," he made to move and stumbled.

Chloe caught him, her legs protesting at the movement, but she managed to prop him up.

"I can do it." He gritted his teeth and Chloe was reminded of the time she shot him in the leg, and winced at the memory. "Just," he cleared his throat and pushed himself upwards, wobbling a little but standing alone, "there," he grinned at them.

"Can you hide those?" Maze pointed at his wings that were still fluttering and flexing. "Unless you want to explain to everyone why you've got them."

"I don't even know why I've got them," he glowered, but concentrated and Chloe watched the air shimmer as they folded up and disappeared. She look at him as he grinned smugly at her, "I don't know where they go either."

His blink was a little too long and Chloe shook her head in exasperation. "Right, bed."

Raising and wiggling his eyebrows as his voice raised several octaves he tried for a lecherous smile but the tiredness that lined his face made it fall flat. "Ooh Detective. Really?"

She rolled her eyes. "To sleep," she stressed.

He pouted, but fell into step beside her as she walked them back towards his bedroom. "You're no fun." He moped, but she knew he was grateful as she linked her elbow with his as they took a route out of the way from the main lobby; Maze trailing behind them as Chloe used her limited memory of exploration to guide them in the right direction.


After reading so many fics with Luci getting his wings back I was debating taking this out - but then I thought it is highly unlikely I'll probably write the whole 'wings return' scene in the future so I thought I'd leave it in. This is my take. :)

Thoughts?

Also, Lukas will be making a reappearance. I kinda like the lil demon - I'm all maternal over a made up character...