A/n: Apologies for the delay. I moved and my computer almost didn't make it. But mini-SuuuuperFranky lives again.
Chapter 38: Consquences
'One foot in front of the other. Shift balance. One foot in front of the other. Shift Balance' Natalie chanted over and over in her mind. Anything to quiet herself until she could find the space to think.
She shrugged deeper into her jacket, one faint sniffle escaped. From an alcove of a building, a couple troublemakers took it as an invitation.
"Aw, your boyfriend leave ya, doll?" One taunted.
"We can help." The other sneered.
Natalie stopped in her tracks. After all, her world falling apart is no reason not to work out a little stress.
"You got good insurance?" She asked them.
Their nasty chuckles grew in volume as they closed around her. With a shrug, she rolled her shoulders and waited. When the first one took hold of her shoulder, she took the arm in one hand and grabbed the second one's shirt in her other hand. The two of them made a satisfying thump when she slammed them together. Dazed, they stumbled back.
After running trough the gambit of derogatory terms, they launched themselves at her. Rather than bother with dodging, Natalie slapped their fists away and threw each back into the alcove that they slithered out of. Groans fell out of them, but they didn't stand to face her again.
She gave a cleansing breath and looked down at them with a smile. "Thanks. That did help, and no, I was not dumped."
They muttered obscenities, but Natalie stepped past them and carried on. She had matters to think over. The best thinking was done on the shore, so she strolled to the ocean side. The ocean shimmered in the twilight. With just the sand, the sky, and the water, Natalie could finally really breath. Every breath she let her sorrows have their moment. Then, breathed them out.
Yes, Evan didn't trust her anymore and was afraid.
Yes, the right thing to do would be to return to the temple.
The thought of leaving brought a sting to her eyes. Evan would be fine, probably even happy. However, that would also mean leaving Lucifer. A flame of self-focused rage lit within her. She told Maze it was dangerous.
Yes, she should leave. But she wasn't going to.
However, if she was staying, where was she going to go? Evan most likely was going to need time and while she trusted he wouldn't just throw her things into the street, her physical person needed a place to stay. A traitorous part of her mind whispered that she could ask Lucifer. The flush that went across her entire face was instant.
"There you are!"
0-0 0-0 0-0
After the first hour, Lucifer put the glasses away. Another hour, he moved to the sofa and helped himself to the bottle. Another hour, he called Maze. She took the bottle and fetched herself a cup and had him explain. He summed up the events at the concert.
"So, she can do different versions of her light show. What's the big deal?"
"Well, Evan seemed rather scared of her, and the boy practically worships her. She seemed very distraught when he uninvited her to the party. She said something about a walk and took off."
"Yeah, rejection sucks. And Nat can handle herself."
"I'm not worried about her getting hurt. I'm worried about her being alone while she goes through this."
Maze paused and gave him a strange look. He couldn't help when he shifted slightly under her gaze.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Something changed between you two. Spill."
It was his turn to pause.
"I really shouldn't talk about that. If you were to hurt her with that knowledge-" He started firmly, but was cut off.
"Whoa! I would never seriously hurt Nat. If you're referencing to her not being human, I already know."
"She told you about being a dragon?"
In the following pause, Lucifer realized that was not what Natalie had told Maze.
"Wait. A dragon? Like wings, fire breathe, and that shit?"
"Well, it's mor-"
"I've never seen a horde of treasure at her apartment, do you think it's in a storage unit or something."
"Maze, would yo-"
"OH! Where is her tail? Is it like your wings, just comes and goes as needed?"
"If you are quite finished making jokes, Mazikeen, I could use your assistance."
A few more snickers left the demoness, but she stood and started toward the elevator.
"Fine, I'll just ask her later."
Lucifer walked a couple paces behind Maze as she stalked down the street. Since she was the resident expert in tracking, he opted to follow her lead and judgment. She happened on a couple of disagreeable men who had seen who they were looking for. With a general direction to follow, they made quick time. Behind them, the sun was beginning to tint the skies as they made their way to the beach.
Sitting in the sand, staring at the horizon and the retreating night, was Natalie. The peaking sun caused the shadows in her face to deepen. The ocean lapped back and forth, calm and steady. As the world brighten in the dawn, the sparse clouds looked like spun gold. Maze hollered out to Natalie and she turned toward them.
Natalie looked surprised to see them. However, the small smile that followed left him stilled. He realized this was the first time he had properly seen her in the first light of morning. A tell-tale flush across her face gave him a familiar feeling of warmth. Maze ventured into the sand and promptly hugged her friend.
"The kid will come around. Humans can be stupid, but they usually come around." She spewed at the rather confused looking woman.
When Natalie looked to Lucifer, he cleared his throat and offered an explanation.
"I unintentionally relieved more than intended. However, Maze does not appear to intend anything nefarious, so nothing to worry about. And for the record, she does know what she's talking about. Personal experience and all."
"I told you." Maze said firmly and pulled Natalie's face close to her own. "You're part of the squad tribe now. That means you're mine. So you're not alone. Not anymore." Maze paused to pinch Natalie's cheeks, stretching them slightly, in what may have been a show of dominance (Lucifer wasn't completely sure). "Can I have part of your horde of gold?"
Natalie gave Lucifer another confused look.
"I'll explain over breakfast. Come on then, back to Lux we go."
0-0 0-0 0-0
Breakfast ended up being a fantastic spread of pancakes, bacon, eggs, and fruits. After a long night of partying, brooding, and apologizing to Maze, Natalie needed a solid breakfast. Maybe a nap, too. Alas, somethings aren't meant to be.
"You don't have any gold?"
"Nope."
"You are the worst dragon ever."
Maze pouted and Natalie took the moment to steal the last pancake. Lucifer was an amazing cook when he applied himself. The questioning began again as Maze changed topics.
"What are you going to do about Evan?"
"Nothing. He has my number. He'll call if he's in trouble."
"So, where are you going to sleep?"
Natalie's thought on the beach returned. Through a feat of personal excellence, she set it aside before the burning sensation could sink into her face.
"I've got a slush fund. I'll pay off a place for a bit and lay low."
Maze stared at Natalie in open shock. When she regained herself there was a twinkle in her eye that made Natalie nervous.
"Or, you could come stay with me. Chloe and her family are going on some all-inclusive thing. I've got the place to myself for a week. Kiddo will sort himself out by then and you keep me company. Everyone wins."
"Does Decker know you're inviting me?"
"I pay to live there too. Besides, I let Dan stay there all the time. She owes me. See you tonight!"
Maze's hand shot out to snatch up the last orange before Natalie. With a smirk, the best menace that ever happened to her left. A quick and quiet trip through the kitchen left the remains of breakfast cleaned away. Without her place with Evan to run away to, Natalie wasn't sure how to handle herself. Lucifer strolled over to push her chair in and looked down at the red staining on the cuffs of her jacket.
"Is any of this yours?"
"No. I had a couple uninvited guests to my pity-party." She responded, with a sly grin.
He chuckled darkly and she leaned against the counter to give a bit of extra support to her failing knees.
"Ah. Yes, the poor souls who Maze disciplined. I imagine you two will compare notes at some point. She rarely gets such chances in our current life style. Shame, she is truly passionate about her work. And feral."
When he bobbed an eyebrow up and down after he finished speaking, Natalie couldn't stop the short peal of laughter that followed. Her cheeks began to sting again. A smile had wedged its way across her face. With a few deliberate steps, she crossed the small kitchen and cupped his cheek in her hand. She knew the name of the warmth that bloomed in her chest.
Lucifer gave her a worried look and asked, "Are you alright? That is a rather severe face."
"Yeah," She said with a nod, "I guess, I'm just basking in the moment. One of those selfish moments where I can be exactly where I want to be."
The soft smile he gave her made a part of her flutter. A gentle graze of his knuckles against her cheek left her breath shattered. His hand curved to her jaw, the other wrapped around her to pull them together. When his fingers tipped back her chin, she gave way to him. Mischief. Mischief was bright in his eyes as he whispered into the tiny space between them.
"Then stay with me. I'm also freed from the demands of work until the detective returns."
"But Maze-"
"We'll send her a photo from the plane. I'm sure she'll understand."
"Plane?"
"Well, jet, really."
"I mean, where-"
"Please Natalie. Let me do this for you."
The small burner phone in the bottom of her pocket felt like a weight. She couldn't help but think that a proper vacation did sound lovely. Although, she doubted she could deny Lucifer anything he asked of her anyway. So, she nodded and he quickly called someone to cash in on one of his infamous favors. With him distracted for the moment, Natalie took the small phone out and placed it on the counter-top.
Lucifer called out to her, "How do you feel about Italy?"
"Any where but Rome?"