So mixed reactions with the last chapter while I sit here with little raccoon hands…hehehehe…um….anyway…
We will follow Lucifer through this first bit then switch over to Michael at the end, and we get a quick peak into a memory of Samael's instead of Mikael…hmmm…
OH…and for those waiting for a bit of twin action…well…possibly…GAH…just read already! Lol ****(This is a warning to those squeaked by twincest but reading anyway)****
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Samael dashed about looking for his twin. He looked in all the places Mikael liked to be; the Meadows, the pond, their alcove, but he was at none of them. There were only so many places his twin frequented with any regularity so where could his twin be? He had finally figured it all out and he wanted to share all of it with Mikael. Samael knew his brother would love every minute if he could just find him. His wings drooped a bit in disappointment.
"Samael? What's wrong?"
Samael looked over to find Amenadiel walking toward him. His wings perked up. His elder brother would know. "Looking for Mike, have you seen him?"
"Yes, he's at the training field sparing with Remiel. He seems upset though; did you two have a fight or something?" Amenadiel questioned.
"No." Samael shook his head. The training field? What would he be there for? Why was he sparring with Remiel and not him? And he and Mikael never fight each other seriously. He wondered what was wrong. "Thank you, Amenadiel."
Amenadiel watched his younger brother fly off in search of his twin. He was slightly concerned but shrugged it off. The twins would be fine.
Samael quickly spotted Mikael and Remiel. His younger, hawk winged sister was losing badly. Amenadiel was right. Mikael was upset if he was bashing into their sister like that. He knew just the thing to cheer his brother up. He flapped his wings and flew towards them with excitement.
"Mike!"
The two sparing siblings noticed him and landed ending their session. Remiel looked grateful for the interruption as Samael landed beside his brother.
"I have something to share with you. Will you come?" He whispered excitedly in his twins ear so that Remiel wouldn't overhear. Samael added a small nip to the lobe in hint.
Mikael shoved him off with a grimace and a grumble before turning away. "Go away, Samael."
Samael blinked at his twin hurt and confused. Even Remiel had paused in her stretching and was looking between them shocked and concerned. The twins never turned the other away and they never called each other by their full names.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Samael questioned following after his dark winged brother.
"Nothing." Mikael snapped.
Samael moved to stand in front of Mikael making him stop. "Come on, don't be like that. Talk to me, Mike."
Mikael shoved Samael hard enough that he lost his balance and fell back onto the ground. "Don't call me that." Mikael snarled. "I said go away."
Remiel stepped forward to intervene but wasn't sure how to. What was going on? "Mikael…"
One dark wing swung out hitting her in the chest and knocking her backwards. "Stay out of it!"
Remiel landed with a thud in the dirt. She glared up at Mikael in offense.
Samael jumped to his feet with a growl. "If you are mad at me you deal with me. Don't take it out on Remiel." That was their little sister damn it.
Mikael glared at him. "Fine."
Samael was unprepared for the punch he received to the face. The shock and the power of the hit knocked him back over. He sat up with wide eyes. Slowly, he touched his nose and his fingers came back bloody.
Remiel gasped from where she was watching not daring to move.
Samael looked up to find his twin glaring down at him with fists clenched, wings high and displayed in anger and dominance. He felt anger burn through him.
"What was that for?"
Mikael scoffed. "Don't pretend that you don't know." He sneered.
"I don't!" Samael had only wanted to share his discovery with his twin. Mikael had told him it was okay so why was he so mad at him? He stood back on his feet his own wings rising in defiance.
Mikael laughed cruelly. Samael had never heard his brother laugh like that; it sent cold shivers down his spine. What had happened to his twin? Where had his brothers light and warmth gone?
"I don't believe you. What did you think was going to happen after what you did?"
"What did I do?!" Samael yelled in anger and frustration.
Mikael answered with another punch that Samael was able to dodge before he tackled his brother. He'd had enough. Mikael wanted to fight, well so be it.
Lucifer knocked back his drink and motioned for another one. Patrick obliged giving his boss a concerned look that Lucifer pretended not to notice. Lux carried on behind him but it was mere background noise.
Lucifer had never quite been able to figure out what he had done. He had let his anger get the better of him. He could remember being so excited and eager to share with Michael but having his brother be so cross with him had busted that bubble rather quickly. It never occurred to him that he had misunderstood Michael but he had been so clear and concise in his permission that he couldn't have misunderstood. They had agreed but Michael had turned on him after. It had hurt but he had refused to back down.
I can't…brothers…I'm sorry.
Did he not want to be brothers anymore? Did he not want to try? No, that didn't seem right. Michael had looked devastated before he had flown off. Could it be, that maybe, Michael had…Lucifer shook his head. No way. That was absolutely ridiculous. Wasn't it?
They had gotten so close before it fell apart; a lot closer than brothers ever should have. Lucifer sighed. Had he been too wrapped up in himself to notice what was happening with Michael? Very possibly. He had been thirsty for knowledge way back then but could he say that he hadn't noticed changing feelings himself? Why else would he want to run right back to Michael with his new found knowledge to share every pleasurable piece?
Lucifer finished his drink before leaving for the elevator. He didn't bother with removing any of his clothing and just collapsed face first onto his bed. A soft ding drew his attention to his phone resting on the bedside table. With a sigh, Lucifer grabbed it and opened the voicemail. The Detective's voice came forth. He closed his eyes and listened to her voice letting it calm him. Michael was there? Well she had mentioned wanting to talk with him earlier that day. Perhaps she had gotten through to him.
Lucifer checked the time: two in the morning. No way would the Detective want him calling back now. Lucifer laid his head down and closed his eyes. He'd call her once the sun was up.
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Lucifer did try calling first thing the next morning but received no answer. Usually the Detective was quick to answer her phone unless she was actively working a lead. Perhaps he could check in at the precinct. She most likely would have informed Daniel and Miss Lopez to get their help.
Dan sighed and shook his head. "I haven't seen her, Lucifer. She hasn't come in yet."
"She hasn't come in?" Lucifer parroted. He quickly checked the time. "It's after ten, Daniel."
"Everyone is allowed to be late occasionally." Dan took in Lucifer's worried expression. "Hey, man, calm down. Look, I'll call her real quick and see where she is. Chloe may have just got straight to work on her lead."
Dan turned to call the Detective as Miss Lopez joined them. "Chloe's late. Is she not with you?"
"No, afraid not, she left me a voicemail last night saying she had found a lead on our Whisper Killer though, and that she was talking with Michael."
Ella nodded. "I hope that went well. It seemed to really be bothering her yesterday."
Lucifer didn't quite know what to say in response so stayed silent. The Detective had been upset at Michael's reaction the night before, as was he. He felt like something was growing between the two and he wasn't certain how he felt about it at this point in time. On one side he was happy that the two were finding connection but on the other he didn't want to share. Chloe was his but an old desire to have his brother was cropping up again. Things were messy enough without adding Michael to the mix and yet... Focus, Lucifer…the voice sounded strangely like the Detectives.
"That's odd." Dan said looking down at his phone in confusion. Lucifer toned back in feeling uneasy. "Chloe didn't answer. It went straight to voicemail."
"It did for me too." Something wasn't right. The Detective always had her phone on.
Ella noticed the worried expressions. "Come on guys, maybe she lost track of it or something and it died." At their looks of disbelief she sighed. "Okay, that isn't Chloe, but it doesn't have to mean anything sinister." Ella motioned to Lucifer. "We'll go check her place. Come on, I'm sure she's just overslept and will be a right horror for rest of the day because of it."
Lucifer wished Miss Lopez had been right.
The Detective's home was trashed. Books and broken picture frames littered the floor. Her desk chair had fallen over. They found her gun lying halfway across the kitchen floor and her phone was crushed in the floor going into her living room. Lucifer felt panic wash over him.
"Detective!" He called out checking every room.
He ran upstairs calling out again but nothing was bothered. Lucifer raced back down and checked the urchin's room just to be sure. He breathed a sigh of relief that her room remained untouched as well glad that the child had been safe with her father.
"Lucifer, remember don't touch anything." Ella said anxiously pulling on a pair of latex gloves. "I've called it in. I'm going to start collecting evidence."
Lucifer nodded and looked around anxiously. Had the Whisper Killer done this? The real one? Had he figured out the Detective was onto him? Lucifer moved to look around the desk. The computer had been knocked off at some point during the struggle. The screen was broke and it would not come on. Lucifer gritted his teeth and growled in annoyance and fear. He should have been paying more attention to his phone instead of wallowing in self-pity.
Lucifer turned back to Ella but something in the kitchen floor caught his eye. Eyes narrowing he moved closer to it feeling his blood go cold as he realized what it was. He bent down and picked it up holding it between his fingers and twisting it. Ella noticed him and rushed over.
"Is that what I think it is?" She sounded scared now.
"A feather." Lucifer said monotone. "An angel feather."
Ella stared at it in awe and shock. The thing was as long as her fore arm. "Whose is it? Do you know?"
Lucifer nodded. The feather was black and only one of his siblings had black wings. "It's Michael's."
"Well, Chloe did say he was here in her message for you, so it would make sense that it be here."
"Yes." Lucifer agreed; his heart feeling like it had gotten stuck in his throat somehow. "But it also means that he is the last one to see her." He never took his eyes off the feather he held.
Ella watched him feeling worried. "You don't think…"
Lucifer hoped not. He really did, but it wouldn't be the first time his twin turned on him. Michael had not even crossed his mind as a possible suspect. Was that going to prove to be a mistake? Had he really dropped his guard enough to allow his brother back in only to end up betrayed again?
"Stay here and look for more clues. I'm going to see Michael."
Ella could only nod in response to the order and watched Lucifer leave. This wasn't looking good. She hated to think of Michael as a suspect but Lucifer was right. Michael being the last known person Chloe had contact with made him an automatic suspect. No, she would find evidence to prove it wasn't Michael. Ella turned back to her search with new determination.
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Lucifer was leaning against the back of the couch in the little villa when Michael came around the corner from the kitchen. Michael paused when he noticed him holding a plate of waffles, no syrup, a glass of orange juice, and one waffle in his mouth. If it was under different circumstances, Lucifer would have laughed at the ridiculous picture his brother made.
Michael blinked at Lucifer while Lucifer lifted an eyebrow at him before pressing a button on his phone.
Lucifer, I don't know why you are ghosting me again, but we really need to talk. In the meantime, I've found a lead. Look, Michael's here, call me back okay.
Michael hadn't moved yet but a look of confusion crossed his features.
"Where were you last night?" Lucifer asked with no emotion. He could not, would not give anything away here. The anger was simmering under the surface just waiting for a reason to be unleashed.
Michael turned enough to sit his obvious brunch on the breakfast bar and took the waffle he had in his mouth to lay it with the others. He turned back to Lucifer seriously. "Here. Reading." He motioned behind Lucifer toward the small coffee table that had a recent book sitting innocently atop it.
Lucifer turned back to his brother with narrowed his eyes. He put his phone in his pocket and held up the feather from Chloe's home watching Michael's reaction carefully. His twin looked even more confused. "How was this at her home then?"
Michael opened his mouth to reply but closed it again. He appeared to be thinking. Was he trying to come up with a convincing lie? It wasn't like his twin to take so long; his lies were always quick on the tongue. Lucifer felt just a hint of his anger dim. Michael only ever faltered when he was trying to piece puzzles together. Why would he have to do that if he had kidnapped the Detective?
"I was grooming?" Michael phrased it like a question as though he wasn't entirely sure it was the right answer but it was his best guess.
"You were grooming at her house?" Lucifer asked confused. For some reason, that information filled him with weariness and renewed anger. Had Michael…
Michael rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Of course not. I was here, remember? I washed the feathers in the pool just before she stopped by."
The Detective had come here? But then why would she say Michael was at her place? It was possible that Michael could have still visited her afterwards.
"And for the record, I have no idea where Chloe lives, and I still needed to finish grooming when she left, so I didn't follow her. Flying with wet wings isn't the most fun thing to do." Michael continued knowing exactly what questions were going through Lucifer's mind. He had been following them on cases, hadn't he? Of course he'd know procedure.
Lucifer stood to move closer to Michael, pocketing the feather as well, watching every move he made. Eye contact had remained during their entire interaction. His twin stood straighter the closer Lucifer got to him clearly preparing for a fight.
"It's a secondary feather. These don't just blow around easily when wet; they get heavy. The Detective would have needed to be close enough for it to catch on her clothes for her to have carried it home you unknowing." Lucifer stared into Michael's eyes noting the hesitance that flickered in them. "What was she doing so close, Michael? And why would she say you were at her house if you weren't?" The slightest hint of a growl entered his voice.
Michael swallowed but stood firm and did not shy away from Lucifer's stare. There was an emotion there, almost like Michael was begging Lucifer to believe him. His brother had been rather truthful lately according to the Detective. If only the Detective was actually here to say 'truth' or 'lie'. Lucifer was just going to have to go with his own gut intuition.
"I have no clue; I have never been to her house." He answered the second question first before taking a deep breath. "We kissed." He stated slowly and surely.
Lucifer felt as though his heart had been squeezed in his chest even as mixed emotions flowed through him. The Detective did not help groom Michael's wings; relief. Michael had kissed her; anger. Lucifer didn't get to see it; jealousy. Was her taste still lingering on Michael's lips; confusion and desire? Lucifer couldn't make sense of it all. His head was spinning but he did not feel as though his twin was lying.
"My wings wrapped around her." Michael continued softer than before almost as though he could understand the emotions rushing through Lucifer's head but still wanted to be truthful with him.
Something snapped in the confusion. Lucifer crowded Michael back against the kitchen island. Michael braced himself with his hands flinching a bit when Lucifer's were placed beside his to cage him in. Still those brown eyes never left their duplicates, never lost their soft plea.
"Did she touch them?" Lucifer growled.
It was irrational. Michael had kissed the Detective. He should be outraged at that but he was more concerned about her touching Michael's wings. Why? It didn't make sense. Surely their siblings had helped groom them since…Lucifer gritted his teeth against the obscene amount of jealousy that brought forth. What the actual fuck?
"No." Michael's eyes were wide as he shook his head. "No one." He added quickly.
Lucifer blinked. No one? Had Michael really not allowed any one to groom his wings since they fell apart? He felt sad and yet elated at the same time. Wait. Wasn't he here because of the Detective? Focus Lucifer.
"You kissed her?" He needed that clarified.
Michael slowly nodded his eyes turning a bit skittish.
"And she…"
Another nod came before Lucifer could finish his question. So, she had kissed his brother back?
Michael was frozen watching his twin cautiously as though waiting for the explosion that should be occurring and yet, Lucifer felt pained he had missed it, not upset that they had. He couldn't explain it but his hopeful feelings from before started to creep back in. If only they could figure things out. If only Michael would stop running away.
Lucifer shook his head. What the hell was wrong with him? He could not fall back into what they had. He had Chloe; she should be enough. She was enough.
"What's going on, Lucifer?" Michael asked quietly as though speaking too loudly would break the delicate rope Lucifer was balancing on.
"The Detective is gone."
"Gone?" Michael looked shocked. "Gone how?"
Lucifer hung his head but kept his eyes on Michael. "Taken."
His phone rang before he could say anything else. Lucifer answered it using speaker phone. He laid his phone on the island behind Michael continuing to block his twin in.
"Miss Lopez."
"It's not Michael." Came her immediate response.
Lucifer glanced at the phone noting Michael twist his head to do so as well. "You found more evidence?" Lucifer asked.
"Yeah, in the form of one Chloe Decker." Ella continued into her explanation quickly. "I found the notes she was taking. There is an address, most likely the lead she was talking about, but there are short hand notes below it, that honestly don't make much sense to me right now, but at the bottom, in all caps and underlined is one saying 'Not Michael'. Lucifer, she knew she had left that message for you and knew where our minds would automatically go concerning the evidence. She eliminated a suspect for us."
A soft smile made its way onto Michael's face. "Clever, Chloe."
Lucifer looked at Michael with mixed feelings. Had his brother fallen for the Detective too?
"Michael!" Ella called out having heard Michael's voice. "Hey, I was hoping I caught Lucifer before he banged you up too bad."
Michael chuckled dryly looking back to Lucifer. "I'm still in one piece so far. Thanks, Ella."
"No prob." Her voice held the smile she was undoubtedly sporting. "I'll text you the address, Lucifer. I'll meet you there."
The phone went silent and disconnected. The twins continued to stare at one another.
"Will you come?" Lucifer asked quietly. Regardless of the craziness, he wanted his brother with him.
Pain reflected in Michael's eyes just before he looked away. "Lucifer…I can't."
Lucifer stepped back grabbing his phone as he went. He schooled his features to mask the hurt. "Can't what?"
Michael didn't answer nor did he move. He continued to look at the floor.
Lucifer ground his teeth together to keep from snapping. "Fine." He was so tired of circles and second guessing, of getting his hopes up just to have them torn down again. "You want to be alone so damn bad then so be it." He winced internally at the crack in his voice as he finished his sentence. Damn it. When was he going to learn?
Michael's head snapped up eyes wide and desperate as Lucifer turned and stormed out of the villa ignoring his phone as it chimed in his hand.
"Lucifer!"
He ignored Michael's call, tossing his phone into the passenger seat, and opening the door of his corvette.
"Damn it, Lucifer." Michael had caught up and slammed the door back closed.
Lucifer grabbed Michael by the shirt with a snarl bending him backwards to press him onto the corvettes hood. He stepped forward placing himself between his twins' legs to be able to lean over him. Michael gripped his arms with both hands his feet slipping against the rock.
"I am so damn tired of the games, Michael." He growled.
"I don't want to be alone." His twin gasped out his feet still fighting for traction.
"Then what the bloody hell do you want?!" Lucifer yelled back. This constant back and forth was wearing on him.
Michael opened his mouth and closed it so many times he started to look like a fish. Lucifer growled again leaning closer pressing himself fully against his twin using his body to hold him in place. Brown eyes went wide as Michael froze beneath him not even daring to breathe. He dipped his voice low, his normal brightness turning dark.
"What do you desire, Michael?"
Michael gasped as he felt Lucifer's mojo wash over him. The truth was right there on the tip of his tongue, all he had to do was open his mouth, and let the power take him. He could easily fight it off; push it away like an annoying fly if he wanted, their powers only worked on each other to a certain extent, but Michael was so tired of fighting.
He watched Lucifer and Chloe so much lately, their warmth, their joy, and their love. Michael used to hate it; used to loathe the happiness his brother had found while he remained broken and frayed. Why did his brother get to have a miracle while he got left in the dark; cold and alone?
Then he actually met Chloe and got to see just how much of a miracle she was; how special she was, how caring, and spunky, and brave. He wanted her but then saw how connected she and Lucifer actually were; how they moved together and worked together. An old desire had resurfaced; one that scared him, terrified him. He had already been broken apart once he didn't know if he could handle it again, but all he wanted, all he desired now…
"I want you, Lucifer." Lucifer pulled back a bit in shock. Michael held onto the mojo a little bit longer. He needed to say this and he wouldn't any other way. "I want Chloe. I want you both." The mojo faded and Michael felt panic take its place.
Lucifer felt like he was spinning. I want you, Lucifer. I want Chloe. His brother wanted him? He wanted Chloe? Shit, why was his heart racing so suddenly?
Lucifer was brought back into reality when Michael shoved against him. He kept his grip on Michael's shirt. Michael was not going to run this time which was what his twin was trying desperately to do. He pulled Michael back with him. Lucifer moved a foot back to brace so he was able to keep upright. Michael hadn't expected Lucifer to keep hold of him by the shock on his face when he was pulled against Lucifer. Hands were placed on his shoulders in an attempt to keep distance between them, but Lucifer had Michael's unsteady momentum on his side.
Their lips crashed together. Lucifer had expected Michael to fight him but he melted into him instead eyes closing. Both groaned in unison letting their lips glide against the other. Hands clutched at Lucifer's suit while his own let go to slide up, tracing his fingers over his twins neck in a gentle caress pulling out a small needy whine. He cradled Michael's head, tilting it for a better angle, pressing close until they were flush against one another. It was an overwhelming feeling; like coming home after eons and eons apart.
Lucifer broke the kiss before he got too lost in it but stayed close resting his forehead against Michael's. They breathed with each other slowly opening eyes allowing brown to meet brown.
"Let's find the Detective, and then all of us need to have a talk. Together." Lucifer whispered.
Michael nodded shakily. Lucifer breathed him in, watching Michael do the same, before he let him go. Both got into the corvette to meet Ella at the address she had texted.
The Detective had kissed Michael, hadn't she? Would she even be interested in something like this? Would Michael even agree to the practice when it actually came down to it? Was Lucifer actually going to entertain the idea and damn the consequences? Apparently so, but the Detective had to be found first.
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Michael received a tight hug from Ella the minute he stepped out of the corvette.
"I knew you had nothing to do with it." She told him firmly.
Michael smiled tightly hugging her back gently with one arm. "Your faith is astounding, Ella. Thank you."
Ella smiled warmly at him as she let him go. They both had to catch up to Lucifer who was already walking into the building.
"You know, I just thought of something. What if we are walking right into the killers den? What am I going to do? I'm just a forensic scientist."
"We are only following a lead, Miss Lopez. No need to panic."
Michael snorted in amusement. "You do have the literal Devil and an angel with you. I don't think you could be any safer."
Ella pushed at him a bit for teasing her before walking ahead to try the door. "It's locked."
Michael grabbed her to move her out of the way as Lucifer kicked the door in as though it was made out of paper instead of metal. The three of them walked into the dark room. Michael felt uneasy at the horror room they had entered.
"What was that about only following a lead?" Ella asked sarcastically toward Lucifer.
Michael branched off to inspect the knives and various other implements that lay out on the stainless steel tables. None of them looked sharp. If the killer really did use this room, wouldn't he need his tools sharp?
A flush alerted them to someone else being with them. Lucifer hid behind a shelf while Michael motioned Ella closer to him. Michael took the moment to inspect one of the knives closer knowing Lucifer could handle the human behind the door. It was blunt edged. Wait, all of them were. He handed one to Ella who looked at him confused, reaching the same conclusion he had, just as Lucifer slammed the human into the medical chair by the table.
"Where is she?" Lucifer snarled into the humans face. "If you killed her I swear to Dad…"
"Lucifer!" Michael jumped forward to grab hold of his twin pulling him back. "He's not the killer. They're fake. It's all fake."
Lucifer looked between him and the human. "Fake?"
"Yeah, man." The human man sat up looking fearfully between them. "It's all props. I use this room to get my crew into the right headspace."
"Crew? Headspace?" Lucifer asked.
Michael continued the thought still staying in contact with Lucifer in an attempt to subtly calm him down. "For what?"
"I'm a game developer. We're working on a game that allows players to be serial killers."
Michael glared. "You humans."
Lucifer rested a hand on his shoulder and moved away a step or two. "Why would the Detective think this was a lead?"
"Detective? You mean Detective Decker? You guys work with her?"
Ella moved up beside Michael. "Are you Scotty Thomas?"
"Yeah." Scotty nodded. "I was supposed to meet the Detective here but she never showed. She wanted to look over my transcripts."
Lucifer growled and stepped forward but Michael stopped him with his arm. He released his aura just a little a bit; just enough to have Scotty leaning back from them. "Show us."
Scotty nodded shakily standing and leading them to a backroom.
Ella shivered slightly. "Holy crap, dude."
Michael winced giving her an apologetic look. "Sorry."
She shook her head. "Nah, you're good. I just hope that never gets directed at me."
"Never." Michael promised knowing it was one promise he could, and would, keep.
The small group followed Scotty into a room lined with multiple people at computers hard at work.
"Sweet." Ella praised. "Nice set up."
"Thank you. We use KillShare to do our research. All posts are anonymous and unmoderated. There are some pretty strange people on there." He talked as he moved behind a computer desk as the head of the room.
"All this for a computer game that allows people to be serial killers?" Lucifer was definitely not impressed.
"Hey, if they are doing it online then they aren't doing it in real life." Scotty argued.
Michael scoffed. "You mentioned transcripts?"
"Oh, yeah." Scotty turned to get a large stack of paper from one of the drawers. "Here you go." He handed them to Ella.
Lucifer groaned. "This is going to take forever."
Michael motioned for them. "Let me see those."
Ella handed over the stack of papers for Michael to flip through. "Klumsky frequently messages a LilyMan85. Maybe you can find him?"
Ella nodded quickly moving behind the desk. "You mind?"
Scotty stepped back. "Not at all." He looked at Michael. "Impressive reading skills my friend."
Michael continued flipping through the pages acting like he hadn't heard Scotty while Ella searched for LilyMan. She chuckled nervously. "Yeah, he loves to read. Here we go." She took a minute to read a few entries. "Guys, LilyMan has to be our killer. Klumsky is just a copycat. This guy is sharing details about the first three murders that were never shared with the press."
"Is it possible to find this LilyMan?" Lucifer asked beginning to fidget.
Ella nodded. "Yeah, we could track his IP addresses but it will take time, Lucifer."
"We don't have time." His voice rose in barely concealed frustration.
Michael handed the papers to Ella and moved to stand closer to Lucifer. He could feel Lucifer's fear for Chloe starting to ramp up, and even though he had never been good with taking fear without touch, he felt like he needed to try knowing Lucifer wouldn't allow his touch in front of the others.
"You can borrow my team. Will that help?" Scotty asked Ella.
Ella thanked him and they quickly got to work.
Lucifer stepped outside the room to call Maze. Michael followed. It took a couple of times but she eventually answered. Their conversation was short but did nothing to settle Lucifer down. He started to pace while Ella and the team worked. Michael checked to make sure everyone was busy, before he intercepted, cupping the back of Lucifer's neck to force their foreheads to meet. He closed his eyes and focused on the fear ramping through Lucifer and forced it down. Lucifer took a few deep breaths.
"I had forgotten you could do that." Lucifer whispered not moving away, hands holding onto Michael's hips, greedily soaking in the comfort.
Michael sighed. "You need to keep focused, Lucifer. Fear will not help us find Chloe."
Lucifer stepped back but stayed close enough they could keep their hands on each other. "Easy for you." He grumbled with no heat. "But if she…if she's…" Lucifer sighed. "I'd never get to see her again."
Michael sent him a sad smile. "You really love her, don't you?"
What was the point of even trying not to care anymore? He had admitted his desire and now he had to live with it. There was no more chance for denial. His only hope now was that they deemed him worthy enough to share even a hint of their care and affection with him. Could he ever get so lucky?
Lucifer looked away toward the floor. It took him a moment. "Yes." He finally whispered.
That hurt. Michael moved forward to wrap an arm fully around his brother. "Then you should tell her." He said softly even though he felt his heart start to crack anew over the scars that were already there. He was such a damned hypocrite and so damn desperate just to feel wanted. They were going to ruin him and damn if he wasn't going to let them.
"If we find her."
Michael bopped Lucifer over the head and received a glare for his trouble. "When we find her."
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The beginning note was written after I did the final edit before I got the news. I wanted to leave it as a happy note before the chapter.
I have posted this chapter a bit early this week as I won't have the chance tomorrow. There will not be a chapter posted next week to give myself time to process my moms passing. I'm going to try to post the week after but no promises.
