"You deserve someone… better. Because you, Detective, are selfless to a nauseating degree. You always put your daughter first, even though the ungrateful urchin does nothing to contribute to the rent, so you deserve someone worthy of that grace. Someone who knows that every crime scene breaks your heart even though you'd never admit it. Someone who actually appreciates your impossibly boring middle name, Jane. More importantly, Detective, you deserve someone as good as you. Because… well, you're special. And I'm… I'm not worth it."
Lucifer turned his gaze to the sea, bereft, but also comforted. There was only one thing that he wanted more than Chloe, and that was Chloe's happiness. He had wanted so much for the two to be compatible, but the realization that it was one or the other gave him at least a peaceful sense of permanence. Without him, Chloe would be happy. And that is what he truly desired.
Chloe had never felt more seen, nor had she ever seen Lucifer with such clarity. While he was making peace with a future wherein he would be able to watch her flourish, albeit from the outside, he was unaware that his thoughts reflected back to her, erasing all doubt.
"Yeah," she said with a smirk. "You're probably right." She drew herself up toward him, and before he knew where he was, he found that his lips were on hers and the whole world had shifted.
Gone was the serenity that accompanied his acquiescence. What he saw as he stared into her eyes did buoy hope, but also uncertainty, insecurity. Hadn't he just told her he wasn't worthy of her? Was he wrong to yield to the powerful force that was drawing his lips back toward hers?
"Detective—" he whispered huskily. This is dangerous. I am dangerous. But the words never came out. Chloe's eyes were clear as the sky, unmuddled by indecision or doubt. Although he seldom went against his instincts, he somehow knew that in that moment that she knew more than he did, and he submitted.
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Another chaste kiss. This wasn't about lust; it was about openness and connection and trust. It was a gift and a promise. And when it ended, they found themselves knitted together forever.
/ / / / / / / / /
The wind had picked up, and Chloe shivered. Lucifer's lips lifted into the tiniest of smiles, and he stroked her cheek with his hand. His eyes, soft and peaceful, locked with Chloe's as he took a small step back, and with a slight roll of his shoulders, a pair of majestic wings unfurled behind him. Chloe's breath caught at the beauty of what she saw in front of her. The feathers were pure white, but bathed in the pink-orange glow of sunset. And somehow, she wasn't scared or even surprised. / It was a part of him, of course it was. She stepped into his open arms and nestled against his chest. He gathered her in his arms, leaned his cheek against her head, and folded his wings over their joined bodies. She was happy as she'd ever been in her life.
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