Lucifer was starting to regret the whole letting-his-mother-remain-on-earth thing. Mainly because of her continued interruption of his personal life. To be more specific, his sex life. Nothing got the Devil out of the mood like his mother walking in on him while he poured wax along a woman's curves. It got worse when mother started asking inappropriate blunt questions like a prepubescent boy.

Lucifer was still mulling over mother's explanation from the other night. His mother claimed sending him to hell had been to save him. Mother said that after the rebellion Dad had been so angry he'd wanted Lucifer dead, and it had been her who'd convinced God to banish him instead. Lucifer wasn't totally sure he believed her, but he knew he wanted to. Despite her very annoying presence, he actually liked having his mother in his life again. There was no way to prove her story, no way to get dad's attention and ask, so what could he really do?

What his mother wanted to do was see Amenadiel, which Lucifer found preposterous. As soon as his brother learned who she was he'd fly her right back to hell! Lucifer was actually kinda surprised Amenadiel hadn't shown up already. It wasn't like him to just disappear like this and if Lucifer had the time or energy to add worries to his plate right now he'd be worried about his brother. But the Devil had more important things to worry about than his immortal and insanely powerful brother.

Mom was also less than understanding about what she called his 'human job'. Lucifer tried to tell her it was still punishment, just like he'd always done, but by the look on her face he could tell she wasn't convinced.

That definitely didn't stop Lucifer when the Detective next called him in for a case. As always, Chloe picked him up and Lucifer got into her car with a smile on his face.

"Another day another murder," Lucifer said cherrily by way of greating.

Along with the usual eye roll, Lucifer sensed something else in her expression. No, more like her eyes. This required further observation. Lucifer made a mental note.

"How did it go with your mother?" Chloe asked as she drove. "Did you find out what the cheese was for?"

"Oh that," Lucifer replied. "She tried to make me mac and cheese."

"She what?" Chloe chuckled. Lucifer could see she was trying not to turn her eyes from the road, but she clearly wanted to.

"Yep," Lucifer said. "When I say tried though I really mean failed. It was burnt so black it hardly resembled cheese, let alone noodles."

"Hey it's the thought that counts," Chloe told him, still holding back laughter.

"I suppose," Lucifer replied.

"It's actually a rather strange thought to imagine a goddess making kraft dinner," Chloe continued, still smiling though she had the giggles under control now.

"Her making them for me is even more bizarre," Lucifer replied.

"So does this mean you have decided what to do?" Chloe inquired.

"We are in a holding pattern, I'm afraid," Lucifer answered.

"What about your deal with dad?" Chloe asked next.

"What about it?" Lucifer replied. This topic of conversation was making his stomach clench unpleasantly, though he wasn't sure why.

"If you don't hold up your end of the deal, could God take back his side of it?" Chloe asked.

Lucifer hadn't once thought of this. Was it his mother's life or Chloe's? That was a dilemma he never wanted to face, and he wouldn't have to. God didn't care about a single mortal life. Besides, the whole deal was so vague anyway. All Lucifer had seen was an empty cell then he'd been thrown back to earth. Lucifer had just assumed what God meant but one could argue God didn't even want his ex-wife back in hell anyway.

If Chloe had thought of this why wasn't she more worried, but no, he'd never told her the details about his deal. Chloe probably believed the deal had been to save Lucifer's life.

"I'll cross that bridge when I come to it, Detective," Lucifer replied, trying to keep from showing how much the idea rattled him. "What's going on with you? Still being hard on Dan?"

"What do you mean by that?" Chloe asked.

"A cold shoulder here, a dismissive look there," Lucifer began. "While I don't condone his lying to you, I am totally on board with his shooting Malcolm to save you. I'd have done the same thing, though I wouldn't have needed the gun."

"Figures you'd take his side," Chloe grumbled. "He killed someone."

"I don't mean to point fingers, but didn't you kill Malcolm too?" Lucifer asked.

"That's different," Chloe replied.

"How?" Lucifer asked.

"It just is," Chloe grumbled.

"I don't see how," Lucifer continued. "He shot Malcolm to protect you. You shot Malcolm to protect your small human."

"Oh hush," Chloe said, clearly unhappy with Lucifer's brilliant logic.

Arriving at their destination, Chloe pulled over and parked. The crime scene today was a bit more crispy than normal. It reminded Lucifer of his mother's cheesy noodles. Someone had been tied to a pole and burned alive. Lucifer couldn't help but notice that same look in Chloe's eyes now that he's seen before. It had something to do with the scene but he hadn't figured out what yet.

A video had been posted of the victim's crying apology right before he died. To embarrass your victim before murdering them was rather more cruel than the typical killer. Seemed more to Lucifer like a punishment than anything else. Punishment was his area. Lucifer couldn't help but be a little peeved about a mortal trying to do his job.

Ella could only find common types of accelerent at the scene which didn't give them much, but she had one rather beautiful piece of information to share based on the burn patterns. The main focus for the blaze had been the dead guy's crotch. Lucifer's mind went wild with ideas. The Detective didn't appreciate any of his brilliant humor, though Lucifer gained new respect for Ella when she pitched in with his burning bush.

"Dead body," Chloe told them. "Can you please take this seriously?"

Lucifer turned to look at Chloe and again there it was. That something he couldn't identify in her eyes.

"I take this very seriously," Lucifer replied. "Someone is stealing my job."

Chloe just rolled her eyes at him and kept talking about the case. Something about finding out who had a grudge against the victim. She was also strangely against Lucifer satiating his curiosity to touch the victim's charred crotch and called out to tell him no twice! Such a buzzkill.

Instead Lucifer was back in her cop car as they followed up on a lead. Interviewing the victim's boss, Leila, resulted in a rather hilarious video. Lucifer laughed out loud but Chloe didn't laugh. Instead she had that look in her eyes. It was starting to intrigue him. What did that look mean? They followed up on the video lead by interviewing the guy who was pranked in the video. Lucifer had been about to use his desire trick, when the guy just confessed. A rather disappointing outcome.

"Something's not right here," Chloe said once they exited the interrogation room.

"Seems simple enough to me, Detective," Lucifer replied. "He wanted people to know he got his revenge."

"Nah, something feels off," Chloe said. "I can't explain it."

"Well in that case Detective," Lucifer smiled, but he was stopped in his tracks as he spotted someone out of the corner of his eye.

Turning his gaze, Lucifer confirmed her presence. None other than his mother was sitting on a desk across the room surrounded by fawning humans. He'd told her to go to a museum and take in the thousands of years of history she'd missed, not annoy him at work.

"What on earth is she doing here?" Lucifer said.

"Maybe she's come to bring you more of her burned cooking," Chloe chuckled.

"Not funny," Lucifer said as he walked over to his mother and held onto her arm. He then led her away so they could talk.

Lucifer was half way through lecturing his mother on how it wasn't a good idea to be here when Charlotte Richards had a husband looking for her and the Goddess had a son who wanted her back in hell, when he realized Chloe had followed him.

"But I had to see it for myself," his mother said. "My boy working, toiling amidst humanity's muck."

"Trust me," Chloe pitched in. "He doesn't do a lot of toiling."

"Kings shouldn't do any toiling," his mother snapped at Chloe. Lucifer couldn't help the anger his mother's dislike of the Detective created in him. Mother had no right to talk to Chloe that way.

"Of all the things you could do with your talent," mother continued. "Law enforcement?"

"What's wrong with law enforcement?" Chloe asked.

"It's just so small," mother replied dismissively. "So insignificant. My son is meant for bigger things."

"Yes? Well, too bad, because your son wants to solve crimes, so out you go mother," Lucifer said as he grabbed her arm and guided her to the elevator. Lucifer got her in it then pushed the button that would send her away. He felt relieved as the elevator door closed and she disappeared from view.

"She's that bad huh?" Chloe sniggered at him.

"It's not funny," Lucifer grumbled. "She's meddling in every aspect of my life!"

"You say medding," Chloe began. "I'd say learning."

"And how's fighting with Dan going, hmm?" Lucifer inquired, changing the topic. "Still punishing him for saving your life?"

"It's more than that," Chloe admitted. "I'm avoiding a difficult conversation."

"Well by all means then. Avoid away," Lucifer continued. "Just don't pretend like you don't know how good it feels to punish someone who's wronged you."

Chloe glared at him in that way that she did when she knew he had a point but wouldn't admit it. Lucifer just smiled.

Detective Douche interupted their little moment seconds later by telling them there'd been another murder victum and another apology video. Same MO as last time, which likely meant they were dealing with a serial killer.

A trip to the second crime scene confirmed the serial killer theory. The guy who'd confessed in the interrogation room couldn't have done this. The more Lucifer learned about this killer and victim the more he couldn't help but feel like the dead guy got his due. Whoever was punishing people was doing a rather good job as far as he was concerned. The murder part was a bit extreme but overall quite creative and impressive punishment going on here. Lucifer's motivation for catching this killer was dwindling by the second.

He actually went home for a drink, which was quickly interrupted by the sight of his mother dancing on a table. She said she was trying to take his lead exploring humanity. When she mentioned rubbing up against the other humans, the phrase 'traumatized for life' came to mind. Lucifer ended up picking her up right off the table and carrying her away.

Their argument picked up right where it left off. All the club dancing seemed to have given her clarification on a few things, but she still didn't understand his human job.

"And that detective," mother continued. "She knows everything. Mortals aren't supposed to."

"You sound like Amenadiel," Lucifer sighed.

"Well he has a point," mother replied. "Why did you reveal yourself to that human?"

"I just did, mother," Lucifer grumbled. "I'm a civilian consultant who works with a human who knows about celestials. Deal with it!"

"Is she why you are doing that silly human job?" the Goddess asked.

"Just punishing people," Lucifer replied. He didn't like this topic one bit. Why couldn't his mother stop meddling in his life!

"Why?" she asked. "Why do you still punish?

"It's what I've always done."

"No, that's who your father wanted you to be," she counted. "Are you still trying to win him over?"

Lucifer's smile of annoyance disappeared. He pulled back, stunned, and then suddenly became angry. Before he had time to think his Devil's eyes were out and he was threatening his mother. But she didn't so much as flinch. Lucifer's anger faded and instead he wondered.

Why was he doing this? Why did he still feel it was his job to punish the guilty? Because his mother was right. Even if it had been part of him for so long it didn't mean it had to be now. So why did he do it?

And just like that Lucifer knew exactly who he was going to ask. Their murderer on this case was more a punisher than a senseless killer. Maybe they'd have the answer!

Right, but that meant finding the Detective. When he'd last left her she'd been focused on the website Wobble, that both pre-death apology videos had been posted on. That would be a good place to start.

Once he arrived at the Wobble offices, Lucifer used his charms to get in. He was planning on looking for Chloe right away, but he got very distracted by a room full of people watching the most hilarious videos on the internet. He was just rewatching the one where the naked guy jumps on the back of the rhino when he heard his name.

"Lucifer?" the Detective's voice made him look up. It was just so considerate of her to save him the trouble of looking for her.

Ignoring his attempts to share the humorous wonder he'd found with her, Chloe gestured for him to come and Lucifer followed. Once they were unable to be overheard by the staff she lectured him on leaving halfway through a case and coming back. He explained it wasn't about justice anymore.

"Mom asked a question," Lucifer explained. "And I'm having a hard time answering it so I want to get this punisher's opinion."

"I'm not even going to go there," Chloe sighed. "Alright you can help but no more flaking out on me."

"Oh I wasn't flaking on you Detective," Lucifer said. "I was flaking on the killer. Totally different."

"Whatever," Chloe said dismissively. Then her expression changed. Lucifer recognized it as her serious cop face.

Lucifer had seen far worse than these videos, but never so many in one place. If he ever went back to hell he would definitely be getting himself a similar setup.

At some point during his monologue, Chloe figured something out. He didn't quite know what until a bit later when she was asking for information on the content moderator employees. Lucifer couldn't help but disagree with her. No one chooses to be a sin-eater. These people all still had hope. They weren't serial killer material. It took quite a bit of convincing, but in the end he succeeded. That, plus learning the boss lady from before used to be a moderator, switched their prime suspect, but just as they were about to confront her she was nowhere to be found. Security footage showed Leila driving her car off company property.

That was that. Since Lucifer had come on his own, he drove his own car back to the precinct to meet up with Chloe. She wanted to go over everything again to figure out what to do next, but it seemed pretty simple to Lucifer. The killer got away. They were good, but no one was perfect. One had to get away sometime.

That was until another video went online. It seemed Leila was going to kill herself live on the internet to embarrass her company. A suicidal punisher? It didn't really fit the pattern. They had a second look at the footage of her leaving the building and just barely saw what could be a gun pointed at her while she drove. Leila wasn't the killer, but rather the next victim.

It only took the Detective seconds to put everything together and figure out where they needed to go. Next thing Lucifer knew he was in the Detective's car on the way to the server rooms for Wobble.

When they arrived, Leila was being held at gunpoint and forced to confess her sins. They recognized the gunman as the HR rep who had first shown them the prank video. He was holding a lighter. Chloe said she didn't have a clean shot with the gasoline Leila had poured on herself.

"If he drops that lighter he'll kill her," Chloe whispered. "We need a plan."

"Right, well as you ponder that I'm going to have a quick word with our killer," Lucifer replied, expecting her to stop him or at least protest.

"That's a great idea," Chloe said. Lucifer did a double take. Was she feeling okay? "Go," Chloe whispered, and Lucifer obliged.

Engaging the killer in conversation, Lucifer asked his question. Even if the man's answers weren't true, Lucifer found the truth in the man's eyes. He loved it. He enjoyed being a punisher. Once Lucifer pointed this out the man finally admitted it.

"See the difference between us," Lucifer stated. "Is that you became part of the problem. Someone deserving of punishment."

"You're right," Ray said. "We all do." And he held up the lighter and dropped it, so that they'd all burn. Lucifer called out to stop them - Chloe was still here somewhere - but it was too late.

Just as the fire suppression system activated he realized what the Detective's plan was. Another suit ruined. Oh well. Lucifer untied the hostage from her chair and Chloe came back down the ladder to cuff the killer.

It was all in a day's work for the LAPD consultant, Satan himself! Lucifer chuckled at his own joke.

Once they'd finished things up with the arrest, Chloe drove him back to the precinct where he'd parked his car, and then Lucifer drove home. He had his jacket off since it was now covered in fire suppressant foam.

Lucifer walked off the elevator into his penthouse headed straight for the bar, but he was stopped short by a familiar voice. He turned around to see his brother sitting at his desk.

Lucifer's first thought was that this meant Amenadiel knew mother was here which meant mother was gone, but then he heard his mother's voice and turned around. It didn't make any sense. Amenadiel said things changed, and their mother claimed a mother's love could overcome anything. Both their stories seemed fishy to him, but that hardly mattered.

He knew what to do now. He knew why he was a punisher. It wasn't because of his father or because he wanted to prove anything. He was simply good at it. Lucifer enjoyed giving people their due and he knew what his mother's punishment should be now.

Another chapter for you! Looking forward to hearing what you think. :)

Sneak Peek Chapter 28

Chloe shook her head. Celestials were weird. "If you say so," Chloe sighed. "Let's get to work then."

"Ah yes distraction!" Lucifer said. "At my last session with doctor Linda I just learned how brilliant a tool it is to avoid worrying. Maybe it will help you with all the stuff on your mind. When was the last time you had fun, Detective?"

Chloe so didn't have time for this. She tried to turn away and ignore him but the Devil was nothing if not persistent.

"Seriously," Lucifer continued. "Name three friends you could call right now for a drink? And you can't say me, your child or the man you're divorcing."

"I would never take my child drinking Lucifer," Chloe groaned at him. "Can you please focus?"