Disclaimer: I do not own Lucifer, all credit goes to the writers and creators.

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Summary: They had to know he was their King. He controlled and contained them all. Even her.


Bow Down


"You'll bow down to your King."

Lucifer watched the demons before him kneel to the floor, each of them not daring to question his authority. It had been years since his vacation had started, longer for them then him and although he wanted to be retired, and claimed her was the former King of Hell, he wasn't. He would always be.
It did not go unnoticed by him that Chloe was frozen, yet she did not seem fearful of him in this state. It was pleasing to know that had reached a point, that she now saw him as more then what she had been taught based of readings. She was one of the very few that now saw him as more then the Devil, to her he was a being that deserved recognition for the good that he had done.

When the demons heads begun to flicker, he immediately understood what they were looking at. It was obvious that the one demon that didn't bow down was standing behind him. Maze was his best-friend. It didn't seem fair that he would now ask this of her but he had no choice. His demons could not believe that they could be free from under his authority.
Well, free to an extent. Maze was free because he allowed her to be. After all she was a demon, therefore she would always be his to contain and control. Exactly how his father had intended for it to be.

"Bow down." The words felt sour leaving his lips,and the tension in the room thickened around him. Not just from Maze but Amenadiel and surprisingly Chloe, because they knew exactly who he was speaking too.

Since they had been on Earth, Amenadiel had come to accept Maze, to treat her with a form of respect and friendship. No longer was she inconsequential to him. Which made it understandable that he felt bristled by the knowledge of what Lucifer was asking of her. Amenadiel didn't want his friend to be reduced to what she had once been, he didn't wish to witness again what he'd seen in the past.
And for Chloe, Lucifer understood that Mazikeen had been a friend, a protector at times...maybe, somewhat of a family member. And while Chloe had seen some of power he had held over Maze in the early days of their partnership, it had been a long time since he himself had used it over his demon.

"Lucifer,"

Lucifer tensed, his eyes focusing on his demons when they dared to raise their heads at the sound of Amenadiel's voice. He fixed them with the eyes of the devil and they resumed their places. They were rather defiant and he knew why. "Mazikeen," He spoke her name sharply. He knew that Maze was intelligent enough to know that she could not argue with him in front of the other demons, it was why she still hadn't voiced her anger and disgust at his sudden command. They both knew that if Maze revolted in front of them, he wouldn't be able to contain the aftermath. The fall out would be the demons attempting to gain their freedom. He could only imagine all the human lives that would be lost.

Maze's eyes flickered from Lucifer's back to Dromos. He was watching her with a look of amusement and hatred. It was well known that she had always been Lucifer's favorite. It was something they all despised about her. Not only had she been placed above them in Hell, she was also the only one he had taken to Earth.
Yet now, in front of them all, he was ordering her to kneel before him. It was not something she had done in years, since before their Earth time. She could only assume that one of the effects of being around humans was how she suddenly felt. Her insides were aching, the disappointment flowing, and she had the sudden need to throw a demonic tantrum, much like the one she had witnessed a child at Trixie's school do. The question at the forefront of her mind. Why should she had to kneel? It did have a simple answer though. He was her King, whether they had been acting like it or not. And that part of her that desperately wanted to rebel was silenced, she couldn't, not with all the other demons in the room.

Lucifer could feel the tension thickening with each passing moment. He couldn't turn his back on those kneeling to look at Maze, to portray to he the emotions he was feeling so instead he tapped into his powers that resided in his devil side.

Kneel, Maze. I wouldn't ask this of you but they must understand that no demon is beyond my reach. They're restless. If you challenge me, they'll revolt.

He pushed the thought into her head, listening for the sound of her reply.

I hate when you invade my mind.

He had to clear his throat in an attempt not to chuckle, the surprised tone of voice that accompanied her thoughts. She had always hated it when he pushed his thoughts into her mind, back in Hell, he had sometimes done it to pester her, enjoying the reactions she gave him.

I've done it before, why is it that this time seems so difficult? We both know your power over me has never left but this feels different. If I kneel then I am accepting the change. I'll won't be free, I won't be just your friend...your equal.

Neither of them added to the thought that while she was his friend, she had never truly been his equal. On the outside maybe, but he would always have the final say, if he truly wanted.
It was her voice, her thoughts that had his attention though. They weren't filled with anger as he had expected. The words were spoken as if she was resigned to the fact. It made it worse, not easier to ask this of her.

I hate this, Lucifer. If it weren't for a revolt I'd punch you.

Maze knew the only natural conclusion was for her to kneel by him, submit to him, it would show that no demon was beyond his reach. It didn't mean she had to like the thought of placing herself back in that position. The freedom she had now was only because Lucifer allowed it, she knew that even if other people didn't and it felt good, it felt free. To be before him again would mean acknowledging that she had never truly been out on her own, that she had always been his.
Her mind was at war with itself, wasn't this what she had once wanted? A few years prior she had been desperate for him to return to his darker side. She had tried everything to cox it out of him.
Her eyes flickered to Decker, briefly wondering how this one human had been the cause of everything. If didn't kneel know then the revolt, with Chloe here, Lucifer would be hurt...guilt surrounded her at the thought, she didn't want, not really. It wasn't his fault that this had to happen.
Letting her eyes flick over Chloe again, she realized it was harder to submit to Lucifer knowing that Decker would be watching. Amenadiel had seen it in the past, but Chloe, it wasn't even that she was human, it was because they had this weird friendship and Maze didn't want Chloe to see her a lesser being.

You know she'd never think that of you. None us would. You are strong Mazie, you always have been.

The moment she took that first step forward, Amenadiel reached out to stop her, and Chloe, she gasped.

"No,"

Maze glanced at Amenadiel first, her eyes meeting his, knowing that he would understand with one look and he did. He drew his hand back, eyes falling to the floor. He wasn't going to watch, that filled her with gratitude.
Her eyes then moved to the mortal, with a subtle nod of the head. There was no other choice, she could already see some of the other demons attempting to look in her direction. They were waiting for her to make her move, either she was going to challenge their King, or she'd obey.

Lucifer glanced at her once she came into his line of vision, he saw the anger in her eyes that this had to happen and the resignation that it was the only way. When she paused, their eyes met and the silence was thick. Bracing himself, he inclined his head towards the floor by his feet, silently telling her where to kneel, though he didn't have to, she knew his favorite place for her, ingrained into her mind from eons.
She glared, her eyes screaming resentment and Lucifer's eyes followed her as she very slowly knelt down at his feet, positioning herself with her hands in her lap, head down, exactly how he had taught her a millennia ago.

I'm sorry.

He acted on impulse, pushing that thought into her mind. He shouldn't have felt the need to apologize but all this time with humans gave him emotions, feeling and this felt wrong, yet he also had to admit to himself, he was also apologizing because it felt right. It had been a very long time since Maze had been in this position, since any demon had.

"You do not belong here." He spoke confidence radiating from his voice as he commanded them to listen. "Go home!" It was direct order and his eyes wondered over the room watching as the bodies covering the floor fell, as the demons vacated and returned to Hell.
His eyes flamed red when he saw the few that lingered, the ones who had been watching Maze earlier. These were the ones that desired their freedom most. "Dare you defy me?!" His voice rang out, loud, full of anger. "You do not belong here!"

"Neither does she, my lord."

Lucifer could feel the tension that surrounded Maze, he could sense the fear. Just as he could sense while the other demons questioned him, they were also fearful. Fearful of the consequences that would befall them.
Maze's fear was different, it was the fear that he would send her back, just to enforce a point that he was attempting to make. It was irrational. He would never do that to her.

You're not going back to Hell.

Once again he pushed the thought into her mind, and the fear in her ceased.

"I do not answer to you!" Lucifer roared, his hand snapping out in front of Maze. "Blade."

Maze unsheathed her blade, handing it to him. She didn't need to question what was going to happen because she already knew. These demons would die if they didn't accept that Lucifer remained their King.

"You have a chance, return to Hell, or face the consequences." He knew that they would flee, their fear had spiked the second he had called for the blade. Their bodies feel, and Lucifer shifted back to his human form immediately, once he was certain the only demon remaining was Maze.
His gaze dropped to her, kneeling, head down. He knew that Chloe, Linda and even Amenadiel would despite the fact that he found it an incredibly beautiful sight. His demon, his perfect little creation kneeling before him. It had been so long since he'd seen it.

"Luci,"

Lucifer's thoughts were broken by his brother's voice, and he reached his hand out, fingertips gently resting on the top of Maze's head. "You did good." He told her, his voice was quiet and as soothing as he was able to make it. This was hard for her, he knew that. She'd be angry with him, but she wouldn't challenge him because they both knew it had to happen. She could never appear free to the other demons.

Maze felt the pride flood her body at those words, and she wanted to rip it from herself. Why was she feeling it? Wasn't this what humans would classify as disgusting behavior?
Yet for the first time in a long while she felt at ease. Following his order might have been a hard thought but once she shifted into the position she remembered. This was a different type of freedom. The freedom to not have to think about any emotion or any decision. All she had to do was follow Lucifer's direction. It was easy. It required practically no effort on her part. For the first time in a few years, she didn't have to drain herself, she just had to do the task before her.
Chloe would never understand it, not many humans did, especially not law enforcement personal.

The feeling of his hand on her hair, had her inside churning, the turmoil running through her body. She wanted to rip his hand away but also had a desire to keep it there. How long had it been since he had shown her his appreciation in the simplest way? Too long.

"Maze, why would you do that?! You are not some common demon!" Chloe snapped out of her shocked state and berated her friend, surprising herself with her words. Common Demon. It really wasn't a normal thing to say, not something she had ever imagined flowing from her mouth.

Lucifer's head raised in the direction of Chloe. He had heard Maze's thoughts regarding Chloe witnessing it and he was certain what the demons thought would be now. "Detective, Chloe..." He amended. "Don't." He held Maze's blade out to her, feeling her slowly take it from him.

"Don't start with me. How could you ask that of her?! She's your friend!"

"She's also my demon." He said it as though it explained everything.

Maze couldn't put into words what was occurring in her body. She felt the need to shout at Lucifer, to use her strength to hurt him...knowing that while Chloe was around, he would actually hurt. She wanted him to understand the angry she was feeling that he had made her do this in front of a mortal. Her anger wasn't that it had to occur, it was who witnessed it.

"Chloe,"

"Lucifer, it's wrong. I just told you...I told you that I'm okay with this but I'm not...I'm not okay with you treating Maze like this. She is supposed to be your friend. Our friend." Chloe looked down at the demon. "Get up. Don't sit there. You're not one of them."

Maze frowned, her head was still down so no one was able to see her facial expressions. She wanted to tell Chloe that she was. She was a demon, it was undeniable and no amount of human interaction or human emotion could change what she was. She was Lucifer's creation.
Yet she also agreed to a certain point that she was not just another demon, she was more then that to Lucifer.

Lucifer let his gaze fall down to his demon, soaking in the sight of her before he held his hand out, indicating to Maze that it was time to stand. He knew that her still kneeling had little to do with his order, it would be her thoughts keeping her bound.
Maze let her eyes meet his outstretched hand, and she almost hesitated before slipping her hand into his and in a swift movement he pulled her to her feet.

Lucifer took note that her eyes didn't flicker from the ground. Don't do that. You're not some meek human, Maze. You are a fierce demon.

Who kneels by you like some coward who needs the dominance of a man or in my case devil.

That isn't true. You submit to me. Only me. You still have the dominance. You are still strong.

I no longer have freedom.

Untrue.

Lucifer all but dismissed the statement. Pulling out of her head, allowing her the privacy of her thoughts once again.
He wondered just by looking at her, if maybe he had broken her by making her submit to him in front of Chloe, or by just making her submit in general. Yet Maze had never seemed breakable before.

"Maze,"

Maze looked in Chloe's direction. "What is it, Decker?"

"You okay?"

Those simple words made Maze cringe. Humans. She thought bitterly. All this time spent with them had changed her, turned to her into more then just a demon.
When Lucifer had told her to bow down he didn't know what it was going to do to her, it wasn't his fault, she had to remind herself.

"I'm fine." It was a lie. Chloe didn't know that, but Lucifer did, he always knew. She could tell by the way his eyes lingered on her.

You're lying.

Maze almost jumped, she hated when he did that, she never expected to hear his voice in her head. "It needed to be done, Decker. If I stood there, if I challenged Lucifer after he told me to bow, they would have revolted. The number of lives that could have been lost if they left this place would have been unimaginable." It was the truth, and she could tell by the look on Chloe's face that she now understood that.

"Chloe, let me escort you outside. You'll need to call the authorities and I need to see my son." Amenadiel squeezed Maze's arm as he walked by, a slight show of support. "Thank-you brother." He told Lucifer.

Lucifer nodded briefly. "Maze and I will join you in a moment." He reassured Chloe. "Right behind you." He waited until his brother gently took her arm and guided her away before he turned to Maze, the demon stood before him. "Give it your best shot." When she raise her eyebrow, he tapped his cheek. "One punch."

Maze couldn't help but smile slightly, a very small chuckle escaping her lips. "No need." It was a good opportunity, yet this time she knew it wouldn't make her feel any different.

"Mazikeen,"

"Lucifer,"

They stared at each other, looking deep into each others eyes, neither speaking a word.

Things have changed.

Things have changed.

They both thought the exact same thing at the same time.

What had just happened couldn't be erased.


What do you think?

If you have any prompts, please send them my way. I'd love to write more Lucifer fanfictions.

Much Love. x