Note: Ahh another story. I saw the prompt and couldn't help myself. Title is from the song of the same title by Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler
Lucifer pinches the bridge of his nose, annoyed at the news Amenadiel brought him. Why the heck is Michael on Earth doing un-angelic things and ruining his reputation? He could feel a massive headache coming on.
"Doesn't weasley, cowardly, Michael have anything else to do with his immortal life other than ruining mine?"
The devil sighs, growing more frustrated after his older brother told him about what his twin did to Chloe.
"I can't leave. Not after all the work I've done to regain what little trust the demons have for me."
"I'll hold down the fort for you,"
Lucifer raises a skeptical brow. This is the first time Amenadiel has offered to watch Hell willingly.
"Why can't you just send him back? Give him an atomic wedgie or something. Whatever you have to do."
"It's gonna take more than a wedgie. When I was in the Silver City, Michael managed to seat himself as Father's right hand. No one else has been able to talk to Father. He's bad news, Luci."
Lucifer clicks his tongue, "Yeah, rub it in, why don't you? Fine. Might as well smack his head while he's Earthbound. I'll be back as soon as I can. There better not be another coup while I'm gone."
He walks off, leaving a bewildered Amenadiel who shouts after him upon realizing what the latter meant.
"What?!"
Lucifer makes it to the precinct and actually enjoys the smell of burnt coffee and body odor. Then he spots the Detective who's signing some paperwork before she spots him herself.
"No. Get out of here, Michael."
"Michael — ugh. Look at the hair!" He gestures at his perfectly brushed up and straightened tresses and then points at his perfectly arranged red pocket square.
But all this does is have the Detective cross her arms and tell him, "If you did not understand the first four times I've shot you, I would gladly do it again."
Lucifer smirks at this as he imagines Michael getting worked up shot after shot; because those would hurt a few times, especially with someone who's never been riddled with bullets before.
"But, it's me. Look," He grabs Cacuzza and asks her what she desires, which the latter answers promptly. The stunned officer immediately makes her exit, away from the awkwardness, and Chloe, who Lucifer finally convinced, barrels to him for a much-needed embrace.
And then, when Chloe gets to the part about her being a gift from God according to dickhead Michael, Lucifer goes still. He cannot lie, and so the happy reunion that was supposed to be some reprieve for him just went to shit.
Yet he chases her like a lost puppy, but she continues to brush him off and refuses to talk about the elephant in the room.
The club owner understands this, he really does, and he'd be happy to hold her hand to help her get past this inconvenience. But he doesn't have the luxury of time, and forcing her to be okay with the celestial drama would make things worse.
However, Lucifer has his limits, too. He's exhausted, and it's beginning to show especially when he's this close to Chloe.
He didn't mean to raise his voice at her during their heated discussion. He's sure she didn't as well, but the stress affects him more than he would like to admit, and it sends a shooting pain in his chest.
Chloe has already made her way upstairs when he feels it again. His left arm is going numb, and he's having dizzy spells, enough to prevent him from leaving the immediate vicinity.
Lucifer clutches his chest as if ordering it to stop hurting, but the pain only intensifies. He's sweating profusely now, but he refuses to call for help and sits down in a futile attempt to calm himself.
So this is what a heart attack feels like.
He mutters and helplessly lays down, trying to control his breathing. This is unacceptable, though. He didn't come topside just to die from heart failure. That's so...human.
Although when he thinks about it, his heart got broken into a million pieces today. He knows Chloe's got it just as bad yet he's glad he got the brunt of it.
But fuck! It really hurts.
Resigned to his fate, he closes his eyes only to open them again to see a frantic Detective. She recognizes the signs and immediately calls 911.
Chloe knows he's in bad shape just by looking at his pallor. And then she remembers the vulnerability stint.
The Detective knows what to do, but she's reluctant to leave. At least until EMS arrives.
He doesn't want her to leave either if his hands clutching her arms were any indication.
"I need to leave. I need you to be okay. Please."
This reminded Chloe of that fateful night on the Penthouse balcony, and now the roles are reversed. She kisses his forehead and sprints out. Runs, even.
The Detective isn't sure how far she needs to be for his celestial juju to kick in, but she won't take any chances. So the minute she gets into her cruiser, she speeds up and goes to the beach where she assumes she's far enough away.
She's soon informed half an hour later that the patient is stable and is actually checking himself out of the hospital (most likely charming his way out, for sure). Chloe breathes a sigh of relief, giving herself a few minutes to let her mind wander.
But the reprieve is short-lived when the former consultant appears before her, wings and all, enhanced by the light from the full moon.
Lucifer furls his wings and asks the Detective if he could sit beside her, to which she agreed.
"I'm sorry about the ruckus. Self-actualization can be a real bother at times."
"You almost died. That's not something to be taken lightly."
"I know. Again, I apologize for what I have put you through. Michael's been dealt with and...I don't want to hurt you anymore," He says the last bit almost in a whisper, but she catches it anyway.
"That's it then? You're just gonna leave me again?" There's no anger behind the words, and that it sounded more like a plea.
Somehow they both know this is the end of the line for them, so they're savoring this very moment before leaving it behind.
He dares to take her hand in his. Chloe offers no resistance, so he starts again, "Detective. Chloe. I wanted to stay here… with you. But…"
Chloe covers his hands with her own and tells him, "I understand. I'm sorry I yelled at you,"
"And I'm sorry for trying to force you to be okay with all of this."
"I still love you, though. It just feels right even though it seems wrong. Does that make sense? Because I couldn't tell exactly if I was being made to feel that way about you."
"You're so good to me, Chloe," He pauses, then, "And I love you. Always have. Always will." Lucifer caresses her cheeks as the tears start to fall.
"I wish I could have done more," His voice quivers, and now they're both inconsolable.
"I have to go," Lucifer could barely get the words out, but one of them has to let go of the other, so he unclasps his hands from her tight grip.
She doesn't dare to look up as he stands and turns his back, then walks towards the shoreline.
The Detective couldn't not look after all. One minute he's standing there with his wings exposed, and the next, he's gone.
Her hair is blowing in the open window as they traverse the familiar road towards the sea. She does this every year without fail, even when her body doesn't permit her sometimes.
The first few years after he'd left was especially challenging, but she persevered. She knows he wouldn't want her life to stop.
So after retiring, she went to places she'd never been before and made the most out of her travels. She wants to be able to tell him that it had been a good life. But it will always be incomplete because he's not there to spend it with her.
As the sun settles on the horizon, the former Detective closes her eyes for a moment. Then, when she opens them, she sees his face. It must be a dream, she thinks, but she doesn't blink again because she's afraid he won't be there. But she couldn't really keep her eyes open for so long.
She blinks again, and he's still there, offering his hands.
"Shall we take a walk, Detective?"
Lucifer says as she takes his hand, and she's surprised to see herself get up and take several steps without a hitch. Her legs had been failing her for quite a while, so she had to be in a wheelchair to get around. It's a strange feeling.
She looks back and sees herself still sitting as realization dawns on her.
"Oh."
"I'll accompany you just until the pearly gates. That's as far as I can go."
"Thank you, Lucifer. For coming to see me no matter how brief."
"It's been an absolute honor, Detective. Partners til the end, I suppose?"
"Yeah."