A/N: Nope – don't own Lucifer. I had another idea for a post-5A story. I just love Dan and Lucifer's relationship so much. Bracelet Bros – for the win! Let's see how this one goes. Hope you guys like it!
Little Chat with the Devil
Chloe tugged a little harder on the zipper on her suitcase. She was finally all packed. She turned around at the sound of a heavy sigh behind her.
"It's not the end of the world, Lucifer," Chloe said as she turned back around to make sure her suitcase was properly closed.
"Do you really have to go to this conference thing?" Lucifer asked from his position on the edge of their bed.
"Yes, Lucifer," Chloe straightened back up and turned to come up to stand in between Lucifer's legs. She rested her hands on his shoulders.
"You'll be just fine without me. It's only for a week."
"A week… still too long, if you ask me," Lucifer looked up at her, "I should be going with you. We are partners, after all."
"Actual detectives only, babe," Chloe cupped his cheek with one hand, "I told you."
"Well, why can't the Douche go instead?" Lucifer asked. He couldn't hide the slight whine in his voice.
"He's already gone before," Chloe dropped her hand and turned back to her suitcase. She wheeled it out of the room with Lucifer trailing behind her as she continued.
"It's my turn. To be honest, I haven't been to one of these things before and I could learn a lot."
"I doubt that," Lucifer followed Chloe into the living room. Trixie was on the couch quietly watching something on TV.
"You're already the best. What could they possibly teach you that you don't already know?"
"I could learn a thing or two," Chloe gave a self-deprecating shrug.
"Are you sure you can't convince Daniel to go again? I'm sure he could use a refresher. Those things are bound to have refresher courses," Lucifer tried.
"Are you two still avoiding each other?" Chloe asked.
Lucifer's silence was answer enough.
"That's what I thought. Promise me while I'm gone, you two will at least try to get along?"
"I can try," Lucifer replied, "But it is a bit difficult to hold a conversation when one half of the parties involved tends to stay at the other end of the room."
"You two have talked since my kidnapping, haven't you?" Chloe furrowed her brow. She knew that Dan had accompanied Lucifer and Maze when they rescued her from the abandoned zoo from Michael's kidnapping.
"In a way," Lucifer said, "I told him that I no longer wished to enact any plans from my revenge board since it was Michael that had convinced him to shoot me to begin with. He asked me: "What board?" and well… I may have told him about a few of my ideas."
"Lucifer," Chloe admonished.
"I told you, I'm done with that," Lucifer defended himself, "But Daniel has made himself scarce around me lately. I don't think he believes me."
"Right," Chloe sighed, "Well, I'm sure he's just got a lot of questions swirling through his mind about the reality of everything and doesn't know how to ask you. It really is a lot to process, trust me."
She reached up and caressed Lucifer's lapel, "It really would mean a lot to me if you two made-up while I'm gone. Promise me you'll at least try to talk to him?"
"I'll do my best, Detective," Lucifer nodded. He was helpless against those puppy-dog eyes of hers.
"Thank you," Chloe smiled and then turned her attention to her daughter on the couch.
"Trix! I'm leaving!"
Trixie immediately jumped off the couch to run up to Lucifer and Chloe.
"Now, I expect you to be on your best behavior while I'm gone. Don't get into too much trouble," Chloe grabbed her duffel from the ground and shouldered it with one hand while the other pulled her suitcase closer.
"I have gotten a lot better at Urchin-sitting, you know, Detective," Lucifer puffed his chest a bit, a look of pride spread across his face.
"Wasn't talking to Trixie," Chloe winked at her daughter and kissed Lucifer's adorable confused turned mock-offended expression. Chloe then hugged Trixie and kissed the top of her head.
"I'll text you when I get there, Lucifer," Chloe turned serious, her attention back on her boyfriend, "Love you."
With another kiss, this time on his lips, Chloe was out the door leaving Trixie and Lucifer alone in the apartment.
"You guys are so gross," Trixie made a disgusted face.
"I thought you liked us being together," Lucifer followed Trixie back over to the couch. She reclaimed her spot as Lucifer sat down on the other side of the couch on the far end.
"I do," Trixie said as she grabbed the remote, "But it doesn't mean that I always wanna see it."
"Noted."
A few moments of companionable silence passed between the two of them. The only sound came from the characters on the screen.
"What are you watching?" Lucifer cocked his head to the side, eyes on the screen.
"A Disney show," Trixie's eyes didn't leave the screen.
"That one sort of looks like you," Lucifer pointed at the young brunette on screen, "What's it called?"
"Bunk'd," Trixie replied, "Everybody tells me that, but I don't see it."
Lucifer made a non-committal noise and resumed watching alongside Trixie. He scrunched his nose up. This was definitely not his kind of show.
"You don't have to watch with me if you don't really want to, Lucifer," Trixie finally turned her attention away from the screen to look at him.
"Thank you," Lucifer breathed a sigh of relief before he took out his phone to entertain himself.
Trixie let out an amused laugh before turning back to the television. The episode was almost over and she really should get back to her homework. She had a book report due very soon.
"Actually, Lucifer, I should really finish some homework," Trixie shut the TV off, "I'll be in my room if you need me."
Lucifer waved a hand to indicate he heard her and Trixie disappeared into her room. There really wasn't much to this babysitting business. Speaking of business, he really should check on things at Lux. After ensuring all was well with Patrick, Lucifer found himself once again bored. With Chloe out of town and his nightclub running smoothly, Lucifer wasn't sure what to do.
A buzzing sound coming from the cushion next to him caught his attention. He reached for the culprit – Trixie's phone. A text message alert popped on the screen.
Dad: Running a little behind, Monkey. Should be there soon.
Dan.
Lucifer's thoughts turned to the pudding aficionado. Aside from his initial reaction of shooting him in his penthouse (prompted by his dickhead of a twin), Dan was adjusting well to becoming a Celestial Insider. At least from what he could ascertain from afar. Dan hadn't tried to shoot him again. That was a win. He would never admit it out loud, but the fact that Dan had been avoiding him did hurt. Why was Dan on his way to get Trixie? He knew that Chloe had left for the conference and that he'd be here.
Maybe that was why.
He didn't want him near his daughter.
Lucifer thoughtfully tapped his finger against the side of Trixie's phone. Did Trixie want him around her? Did she ask Dan to pick her up? What kid decides to do homework instead of watching TV? But she didn't seem uncomfortable with him on the couch with her. There was one way to find out.
"Spawn! Your father texted you," Lucifer called out.
After a second, he heard Trixie's door slide open and she ran up to the back of the couch, Lucifer already extending his hand to hand it over to her.
"He said he's running a little behind and should be here soon."
"Thanks," Trixie took her phone from him.
"Did you ask him to pick you up?" Lucifer tried for nonchalant.
Trixie furrowed her brows, "No, it's my weekend with him since Mom's gone for a week. You didn't think you'd have to babysit me the entire time, did you?"
"Of course not," Lucifer internally breathed a sigh of relief. It was the Douche's turn to mind the child. That made sense.
"Are you and Daddy fighting?" Trixie folded her arms.
"No," Lucifer shook his head.
Trixie cocked her head to the side in that take-no-prisoners, no-nonsense look that she most certainly got from her mother.
"We're not fighting," Lucifer assured her, "But Daniel did find out something about me that he finds a bit troubling and we haven't really had much of a chance to chat about it."
"What did he find out?" Trixie asked.
Lucifer parted his lips to reply but didn't get a chance.
"Did Daddy find out that you're really the Devil?"
"How did you-?" Lucifer was at a loss for words. So much for he and Chloe sitting Trixie down to tell her the truth when she got back from her trip – Chloe was going to kill him.
Trixie shrugged.
"You don't lie and you've always said you were the Devil."
"And you believed me? You're not scared?" Lucifer sat a little straighter.
"Why would I be scared of you?" Trixie scoffed.
"You are a wonder, Child," Lucifer gave her a soft smile, "Best you gather your things. I have a feeling your father won't want to spend too much time in my presence whilst he collects you."
"I think you guys need to talk it out," Trixie said, "Like Mommy says, family doesn't pretend with each other."
With that, she skipped back off to her room.
Family.
Trixie thought of him as family. Well, wasn't that something?
Dan Espinoza pulled into the closest available parking spot near Chloe's apartment. As he turned off the engine, he looked up to see that he had parked next to Lucifer's Corvette.
Lucifer was here.
Of course he was. Why wouldn't he be? His thoughts turned to the Lord of Hell. He still couldn't believe that all of Lucifer's insane claims of being the Devil were nothing of the sort. He truly was the Fallen Angel that ruled the Underworld.
Invincible.
All-Powerful.
Pudding Thief.
He shook his head. It was really hard to combine all that he knew of the Devil from his upbringing to the man he had come to know over the years. Lucifer truly cared about Chloe and his daughter. He's proven that time and time again. But it still was hard for him to be near him for too long… He had a feeling as to where he'd be heading when the time came.
Dan took a deep breath and shook those thoughts away. It wouldn't do him any good for him to dwell on that. He had to be present. And the present was the fact that the Devil was his ex-wife's boyfriend and currently babysitting his daughter. What even was his life? He took another deep breath and let out a long exhale before he got out of the car.
Dan rapped his knuckles against the door to Chloe's apartment. Lucifer opened the door. For a moment, neither man made a move or said a word. They just stared at one another.
"Daniel," Lucifer finally greeted him, "Come in."
Dan gave him what was an attempt at a smile but came out more of a grimace before entering the apartment, passing the Devil.
"Trixie is in her room doing some homework," Lucifer raised his arm, gesturing toward her room.
"Cool," Dan breathed and stuck his hands in his pockets. Lucifer mirrored his action as they stood in awkward silence at least ten feet apart from each other.
"I'll go and fetch her then," Lucifer broke the silence.
"Thanks," Dan wandered over to the couch.
"Trix," Lucifer knocked on her door before sliding it open slightly, "Your father is here."
Trixie continued to read her book, ear buds in place, soft music emanating from them. Lucifer knocked a little louder and came into her room, thinking she hadn't heard him. He tapped her on the shoulder and she finally looked up at him, taking one ear bud out.
"Your father is here," Lucifer repeated himself.
"Okay," Trixie replied and turned back to her book and slipped her ear bud back in place. Lucifer blinked and then tapped her on the shoulder once more.
"Your father is here," Lucifer said once again once Trixie looked back up at him.
"I know, but I really need to finish my homework," Trixie said, "This book report is due really soon and I haven't finished the book yet."
"Can't you just watch the movie like all the other children?" Lucifer tried. She just gave him a deadpan look in return.
"Of course not," Lucifer sighed, "All right."
Lucifer left her room and saw Dan had his back to him, busying himself by attempting to look occupied by looking at some of Chloe's knick knacks.
"She's just going to be a bit longer," Lucifer said and Dan jumped.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
"You didn't- You didn't startle me," Dan swallowed. His hands still stuffed stiffly in his pockets.
"Look, Daniel," Lucifer took a step toward him and Dan involuntary took another step back.
Lucifer put up his hands up in a calming gesture.
"Daniel, you know that I would never intentionally harm you, don't you?" Lucifer asked. Trixie and Chloe's words echoed in his head, telling him that he should just talk to Dan.
"Yeah, yeah, I know that, man," Dan replied none too convincingly.
"You don't believe me about the revenge board," Lucifer sighed, "I told you that I have absolutely no intentions of following through with any of them. I know that my brother was the one that convinced you to shoot me. I know it wasn't your idea. I promise. I'm not looking to enact any revenge on you."
He put up his three fingers in the Boy Scouts' Salute. Dan just nodded.
"Did Trixie say how much longer she was going to be?" Dan looked like he wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.
"She said she wants to finish her book report first," Lucifer replied. After another beat of uncomfortable silence, he continued, "But she does have to finish the book first."
"Right, well, if you want, I can come back," Dan said and gestured for the door behind him with his thumb. He was already walking backwards toward it. As they were talking, Dan slowly made his way back around toward the door, staying a good distance away from Lucifer the entire time.
"Actually, I think we need to talk. Your daughter is occupied with her homework, music in her ears," Lucifer pointed to his ear, "We should clear the air between us. I'm sure you have a ton of questions for me… come on, don't you want to satiate your curiosity?"
"I kinda do a little," Dan replied sheepishly.
"Excellent!" Lucifer lit up, "May I offer you a drink?"
Lucifer headed to the kitchen to retrieve one for himself. Since he had found himself frequenting the Detective's apartment more and more often since they became a couple, practically living there, he kept a stash of his good stuff around.
"No, I'm good," Dan said before he took a seat on the couch.
"Suit yourself," Lucifer poured himself a scotch.
"Feel free to ask anything you want. I'm an open book. I'm still the lovable rogue you've come to know over the years."
He purposely sat in the chair opposite the couch, far away from his nervous friend, before taking a sip of his drink and crossing his legs – assuming his trademark posture.
"Why are you here?" Dan asked as he clasped his hands together, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees.
"The Detective has gone to her conference and I was Urchin-sitting until you got here," Lucifer replied. Dan gave him a 'you know that's not what I meant' look.
"I needed a break from the endless torture and ash-filled ambiance of Hell," Lucifer said, "Millenia down there can get a bit… much."
"So, you're not after anything? You don't want anything from us?" Dan asked.
Lucifer raised an eyebrow.
"I have absolutely no idea where you lot got the idea that I'd have any interest in souls," Lucifer shook his head, "No, Daniel, your soul is safe. All your souls are safe."
Dan scoffed.
"You know I don't lie, Dan," Lucifer sat forward and set his glass on a coaster with a little too much force, "I don't deal in souls."
"I wasn't thinking about a deal damning my soul, Lucifer," Dan said and sat further back on the couch. He took a long exhale and closed his eyes as he rested his head on the back of the couch before rubbing the base of his palms against his eyes.
Lucifer observed him for a moment as he realized something.
"You think you're going to Hell."
Dan let out a humorless laugh with his head still back and his eyes still closed before sitting back up.
"Yeah, no shit, Lucifer."
"What makes you think you're going to Hell?" Lucifer scooted a little closer to the edge of his seat.
"Come on, man," Dan slapped his thigh, "Pick a sin… Palmetto, Charlotte, Tiernan, shooting you – that should clinch it. You know exactly where I'm headed."
"I don't actually," Lucifer replied, "I have no control over who goes to Hell and the last thing I'd ever want to see is any of you down there."
Dan raised a disbelieving eyebrow.
"You torture me every day," Dan returned.
"I'm only joking around, Daniel," Lucifer replied, "You're just too fun to rile up. But I would never want you to end up in Hell."
"So if you don't control who goes to Hell, who does?" Dan asked.
"You do," Lucifer replied.
"Me?"
"Humans," Lucifer clarified and Dan's look of confusion dropped to turn into interest, "Humans decide where they end up. Heaven. Hell. It all depends on a person's guilt. If you feel enough guilt, well, you end up downstairs."
"Well, that settles that," Dan sighed.
"No it doesn't," Lucifer shook his head. He was adamant, "Listen to me carefully, Daniel. You don't belong in Hell. I have witnessed true evil time and time again and you are not it. You may be a douche…"
Dan gave him a look as Lucifer continued.
"But you're not evil. You've made mistakes, but you've been trying to lead a better life. You've been trying to make things better."
He eyed the bracelet Dan still wore around his wrist.
"Amenadiel sort of told me something like that once," Dan admitted as he absentmindedly fiddled with his bracelet.
"He has his moments," Lucifer smirked.
"Is Charlotte really in Heaven?" Dan's voice cracked. He looked at Lucifer teary-eyed.
"She is," Lucifer gave him a sad smile, "Charlotte got a first-class ticket to the Silver City – flown there by Amenadiel himself."
"Good," Dan gave him a watery smile, "Good. That's good… so you really think that I actually have any shot at joining her one day?"
"I do," Lucifer replied honestly, "And you know I don't lie."
Dan smiled back at him, the tension in his shoulders easing a bit.
"Right. Then, can I ask you another question?" Dan turned a little more to face Lucifer, his arm resting on the couch's arm rest.
"That is what we're doing, Daniel," Lucifer answered.
"If you're really the Devil," Dan started, "H-How was it possible that Charlotte was your Step-Mom?"
"Ah, that's a bit complicated actually," Lucifer said.
Dan turned around to check on Trixie's door to make sure it was still closed. He really should've checked to make sure Trixie was substantially out of ear-shot while they had this conversation before they started, but he wasn't thinking too clearly. Thankfully her door remained closed and Lucifer had said she was occupied.
Dan turned back to Lucifer.
"Looks like we've got time," Dan said.
"Well, the Charlotte you first met wasn't really Charlotte," Lucifer started.
"What do you mean?" Dan wasn't following.
"Charlotte wasn't Charlotte again until after the Santa Monica Pier incident," Lucifer explained, "When you first met Charlotte, she was… my Mother."
"How the hell is that possible?" Dan was still confused.
"Hell… Yes, exactly. My Mother, the Goddess of All Creation was in Hell. Charlotte actually had been murdered by her Junior Associate. The first go-round, her soul ended up in Hell leaving her body vacant for my real Mum to inhabit. Her Celestial Light started to leak out of Her midsection. I sent Her to another universe so She wouldn't explode here and once my Mum was gone, the real Charlotte came back – the one you knew," Lucifer explained quickly.
"My favorite human," Dan murmured.
"What was that?"
"That day at the Santa Monica Pier with the Chet Ruiz case," Dan spoke a little louder, "Charlotte told me that I was her favorite human. I had no idea what she meant."
"Yes. Though I loathe to admit it, you did make quite the impression on my Mum," Lucifer picked his drink back up to take another sip before moving to sit on the other end of the couch next to Dan.
"Yeah," Dan laughed and then his face dropped as realization dawned on him.
"Oh my God… I really slept with your-"
"Don't!" Lucifer shot up a finger to stop Dan mid-sentence. Dan snapped his mouth shut.
"If it's all the same to you, I'd rather we not talk about that. I'm trying my hardest to forget it ever happened," Lucifer put his drink back down.
"Right," Dan agreed. He once again turned to look back at Trixie's room.
"Does Trixie know about you?" Dan asked.
"If you had asked me that yesterday, I would've thought not," Lucifer replied, "But apparently she does."
"You didn't know that she knew?" Dan furrowed his brow.
"No," Lucifer stretched his arm on the back of the couch, "The Detective and I were planning on telling her when she came back from the conference – to let her know that I truly am the Devil…"
"But," Dan prompted him.
"But the Urchin informed me just a little bit ago that she's always believed me – from the moment we met actually," Lucifer had a wistful look on his face.
"Trixie's something else," Dan looked proud.
"She truly is," Lucifer agreed, "Clearly, she gets it from her mother."
Lucifer and Dan shared a laugh at that.
"Has she seen your-" Dan gestured at his face.
"No," Lucifer was quick to respond, "Or at least, not to my knowledge, no."
"Is that what you really look like?" Dan wondered.
"You mean my "scary-ass, red face"?" Lucifer smirked at him. Dan nodded.
"No," Lucifer explained, "In a way, both faces are what I look like."
"So, you just have two faces?" Dan asked.
"I suppose you could think of it like that, yes," Lucifer mused, "My Devil face is used more for punishment."
"That explains a lot actually," Dan said. Now, it was Lucifer's turn to look confused.
"I always wondered what the hell you did to suspects to make them cower in fear," Dan clarified, "Showing them your Devil face explains it."
Lucifer hummed in agreement.
"Then why did you show Charlie your Devil face?" Dan asked, looking to Lucifer to make sure he was referring to his other face correctly.
"Oh, that," Lucifer laughed, "My nephew thinks it's hilarious. It was the only thing that would calm him down."
"Really?" Dan laughed incredulously.
"Oh yes, I don't understand it either," Lucifer swung his leg around to cross them, "Amenadiel even asked me to make a video of me making silly faces with my Devil face to have on hand for when I'm not around."
"Did you make it?" Dan asked.
Lucifer simply shrugged.
"You really are nothing like…" Dan thought out loud.
"Like… what?"
"Like you're described throughout history," Dan finished.
"You can't always believe what you read in the history books, Daniel," Lucifer replied, "History is written by the winners, after all."
"I still can't believe that your twin, an angel, is a dick and the Devil isn't so bad," Dan stretched his leg out as he leaned further back on the couch, getting comfortable.
"My siblings do tend to be sanctimonious pricks," Lucifer agreed as he mirrored Dan's position, their arms resting on the back of the couch, almost meeting.
"But Amenadiel's not so bad," Dan turned his head to look at Lucifer.
"It took him a few thousand years to finally be at least somewhat tolerable," Lucifer indirectly agreed.
A moment of comfortable silence passed between the two men. Lucifer got up to get another drink. He offered Dan one again. This time, Dan agreed to one. He poured two glasses and came back over to the couch, handing Dan his drink.
"Thank you, Lucifer," Dan said as he took the glass.
"For what?" Lucifer cocked his head as he sat back down, this time a little closer to his friend.
"For taking the time to talk with me," Dan said sincerely, "For being patient… and for not going through with any of your revenge ideas."
Lucifer laughed at that.
"Yes, I did come up with quite a few ingenious ones," Lucifer smirked with a teasing eyebrow wiggle.
"And for forgiving me for shooting you," Dan finished seriously.
"You're welcome," Lucifer bowed his head with a smile. He tapped his finger on his glass as he opened his mouth to say something else, but hesitated, letting out a long exhale.
"What?" Dan was curious.
"I have to admit, I only really decided to have this little heart-to-heart because the Detective asked me to try to make up with you while she was away," Lucifer admitted.
"Well, I appreciate you humoring me, man," Dan said as he took a sip of his drink.
"That's just it. I'm not humoring you, Dan," Lucifer said sincerely, "I may have only decided to have this conversation with you upon Chloe's insistence, but…"
Dan raised his eyebrows, awaiting Lucifer to finish his thought.
"But you really have grown on me over the years," Lucifer said, "You've become a good friend."
"Despite my douchiness?" Dan teased.
"Yes, in spite of that," Lucifer grinned, "In fact, you've really become more than a friend recently."
Dan furrowed his brows at that.
"You've actually been more like a brother to me," Lucifer confessed, "Or at least, what I think brothers are supposed to be like. What I wish a brother to be. I haven't had much of an example of a good one in eons."
A look of deep thought crossed Lucifer's face.
"It's truly nice to be a part of a family again. To be accepted – Devil and all."
"Good to know the Devil is just a big softie," Dan teased.
"I am n-!" Lucifer began to protest but Dan just gave him a look. Lucifer let out a resigned sigh.
"Only for family."
A shit-eating grin spread across Dan's face.
"What's that look for?" Lucifer asked.
"You like me," Dan grinned.
"I wouldn't go that far," Lucifer sniffed, "Don't let this little chat with the Devil go to that head of yours, Daniel."
"You like me," Dan repeated with another smile.
"Maybe somewhere deep, deep, deep, deep down," Lucifer acquiesced.
"But don't go spreading that around," Lucifer raised his glass, pointing at Dan warningly, "I have a reputation to uphold."
"Your secret's safe with me," Dan smiled and reached out his glass to clink with Lucifer's. They each took a drink and turned to face forward, a comfortable silence once again stretching between them.
"Douche."
"Dick."
Trixie very slowly and very quietly slid her door closed with a smile on her face. She had finished her homework about five minutes ago and had witnessed the last few moments between her father and Step-Devil on the couch. She should give them a little bit longer to bond. Grown-ups always were always a little bit slower on the uptake.
THE END
Well, there you have it. I think that was a much-needed conversation between our favorite Devil and Dan after the events of 5A. I wrote this all before 5B came out (obviously). Not long now! 13 more days! Hope you guys liked it – let me know what you thought! :)