Chapter Two: Upside down
The first thing Chloe noticed was how Lucifer's eyes traveled around the room, desperately looking for a way out. She would too if she had most of the officers pointing guns at her. His wings twitched as if ready to form a shield around him and his brother, she couldn't blame him either. The tension around the air and all those people looking at him with fear and awe were overwhelming even for her.
She gave one step ahead bringing his attention back to her, she saw the fear growing inside his brown eyes and she felt her heart constrict. It was he partner there, her best friend, that never, ever, lied to her. She lifted her hands with her palms turned to him and gave him a half smile.
"Is okay Lucifer, no one is going to hurt you." The Detective said while approaching him slowly, never leaving his eyes. "Just look at me, is okay." This time she gave him a bigger and more truthful smile. It appeared to have some effect because his tense figure relaxed just a bit.
But it was broken when someone took a harsh breath intake, and someone pulled the safety pin of the gun, the sound echoing in the silence of the room, increasing the tension a tenfold. Chloe resisted her will to turn to whoever did that and glare. She kept her eyes trained on her partner was alerted once again, one of his wings half unfolded bending on top of his brother.
"Lucifer…" She said again, and his eyes turned back to hers. "No one is going to hurt you." She said punctuating each word. Praying that someone would understand when she spoke them.
Dan that was observing the situation still slightly dumbstruck understood the vailed orders under Chloe's soft voice and quickly spoke.
"Lower your weapons," he signaled with his hands at the same time "it is Lucifer guys, the same Lucifer we've been working for three years." His tone assumed a more serious note. Lucifer never hid his identity, none of them wanted to believe. And he knew the guy. He was a complete bastard when he wanted to, but he cared, he saved his ex-wife life more than once and he saved his daughter's too. And now was his time to pay for all that. Trusting the guy. Because Lucifer was many things, he could even be the actual Devil, but he wasn't evil.
Maybe they all got him wrong like he did once.
Most of his comrades looked at him confused, but with his strict stare, all lowered their weapons, safety pins back in place.
By his side, Ella was still clutching her cross, and she was mumbling under her breath, her eyes never leaving Lucifer's wings. He could understand that. Those impossibly white wings that shone so brightly seemed to attract all the stares to them, imbuing such a feeling of belief and glory.
That was so insane.
Chloe breathed in relief and kept approaching her partner, that even with all weapons lowered kept the same position, as if too afraid to move.
"Lucifer" she called him again and his eyes answered as quickly, looking directly at her blue-grayish ones. "It's okay, no one is going to hurt you or your brother…" She gave a few more steps and was in front of him.
He looked up at her, his lips trembling a bit, his eyes were showing all that was passing to him. His fear, his sadness, his anger, his uncertainty. But all Chloe could think was that she was a bad friend. Why couldn't she see that all those things she associated with delusions were the truth? The answer came flashing into her mind. Because she always buried things under a pile of logic. She needed the "eggs". She almost, almost, laughed at her stupidity.
Chloe felt when one of the tears she was holding spilled and came running down her cheek. She saw when confusion was added to the mix of emotions swimming in the deep brown pools that were Lucifer's eyes, but she didn't dwell much on that as she also kneeled and hugged him tightly, burying her face into his neck.
Strangled sobs climbed her throat as she left herself to cry for all the things she refused to believe, and how that has probably hurt him. Her partner. Her friend. She cried more when she felt his arms timidly circle her body, pulling her closer. With his head also buried into her neck she could feel his tears wet her skin.
He was finally consumed by all the feelings of that day. Because when he left his house earlier that day he never expected so much to happen. And all that Chloe could do was gently move her hands up and down his back. Both consumed by sorrow.
Ella was still in shock, she could feel all she knew tremble and tumble down inside her. Lucifer was the actual Lucifer. How could have she missed that?
She ignored those voices inside her head for long enough to know the answer.
The forensic expert was giving in to her freak out. All things she said to Lucifer and things he said to her were passing in the forefront of her mind, all gaining a new meaning and colors as she couldn't take her eyes from the huge wings behind her friend.
What he wanted here? Why was he talking to them? Why them at all?
She started to breathe in shallow and quick breaths, her vision starting to close around her, her head pounding and her heart thumping so fast she could feel it making its way out of her chest. It was the beginning of a panic attack.
But as she felt her knees start to give up she felt two hands held her in place and the warm blue eyes of Dan enter her narrow camp of vision.
"Ella, breath…" He said soothingly, breathing with her. "Yes, like this, in and out…" he kept breathing with her until she finally felt her heart slow down, her head stopped throbbing, and her vision getting back to normal.
"Dan… He is…" She said, her hand still clasping her cross like it was a lifeline.
"I know… But he still is Lucifer. Chloe's eccentric partner." He said with certainty, what made Ella pause.
All the flashes of memory stopped, and she looked at Dan, seeing that he wasn't afraid, nothing had changed. Although it had. Lucifer was still Lucifer, that tall guy that have the best hugs but didn't know how to give them, the guy that always did something thoughtful without noticing, the guy that was always ready to protect those he cared about.
He was Devil, yes, but it wasn't like he lied about his identity. He always told them who he was. He never lies. He just plays with the truth, he bluffs, she remembered their little trip to Las Vegas and Candy. It wasn't her also that said that the Devil was just misunderstood? Why was she freaking out then?
A smile appeared on her lips when things started to calm down in her mind. He was their Lucifer.
"He is just our Lucifer," she said, and this time without any doubt in her mind.
"Exactly!" Dan nodded in approval. "Just think like that and all will make some sense."
Ella nodded, feeling way better than she was before because all she had to do was to think about all the dork things their Lucifer did, to see the Lucifer they knew. Not someone else imagery of the Devil. As soon as her mind calmed down completely she remembered where they were.
"Shit! Dan, how are we going to explain this to Pierce? Fuck!" She started to panic again, for a whole different reason.
"I know, I know…" Dan sighed. "We have to say the truth, half of the officers saw it. We can't hide it. But we can take him out of here, him and his brother." He let go of her and places his hands on his waist. "Go to your van, we are going to transport the unconscious angel…" He stopped and laughed because then he remembered about Amenadiel, he was an angel too. Ella eyed him with worry. He shook his head and got back on track. "I will handle things here and I will tell Chloe and Lucifer, and then I will follow you."
At that Ella nodded and with one last look to Lucifer and his wings she exited the crime scene, or ex-crime scene, and made her way to her van.
Dan never expected that would have a day he would have to do something like that. He commanded for the officers to close the scene and grab all that was taken as evidence to the precinct. Minus the body, of course. And then sent all of them to do other chores.
He never received so many puzzled stares in his life, but for now was the best he could do. It was impossible to hide what happened there with so many eyes, and policemen and women loved a gossip like any other human group.
Detective Espinoza shook his head and sighed, finally approaching the couple in the center of the room. They had stopped crying when he was halfway through convincing the other cops to move along with his plan of action and were at that moment in their own world. He had witnessed things like that too many times. Whether things worked or not between them, they still had that capacity to enter in their own world where only the two of them existed.
Chloe was gently caressing Lucifer's face, while the Devil was looking intently at her, they were speaking in whispers. What Dan didn't know was that the Detective was asking forgiveness to Lucifer for not believing, while the Devil himself was asking sorry for taking so long to show her the proof she needed.
Dan felt a little bit uncomfortable in interrupting them, but he had to get them out of there before anyone else appeared. He didn't want to have to explain anything now. Because he could foresee all the headache he will have when he got back to the precinct.
He wasn't thrilled by the prospect. No one bit.
So, putting aside any other reservations he approached them both and cleared his throat, watching with certain amusement when both parties jumped in surprise.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I think is for the best that we get out of here. I don't know if anyone else is coming here and honestly, I don't want to risk it." He said quickly and before Lucifer could interrupt him. He had that face that meant he had a clever remark.
Chloe looked around and nodded. "Yes, you are right. Is better we move." She rose from the floor and patted her pants, trying her best to not look in the direction of both Dan and Lucifer. "I think that if the three of us help, we can get him out of here fast."
Lucifer that had moved as well spoke. "No need Detective, I can do it myself."
At those words, both humans looked at him, in time to see him rolling his shoulder and the wings disappearing into the thin air.
"What the fuck!?" Dan said surprised and before Lucifer could move he was behind him passing his hands where the wings were supposed to be.
Chloe was surprised herself, but she wasn't going to make fool of herself passing hands like a crazy behind Lucifer.
"They aren't here anymore, Daniel," Lucifer said with uncharacteristic flat tone. "They can be stored in another plane, so no worries, no one else is going to see them." He said while moving and picking up his brother from the ground with apparent no problem and started walking. "We should move, don't you think?" He said when both detectives were still in the same place, looking at him with surprised looks.
And at that Dan and Chloe followed him. They will have so much to talk. Or freak out, they weren't so sure yet.
It was the strangest trip to LUX those humans had ever experienced. After Dan explained his plan to Chloe and Lucifer, the latter said he was going with Ella and his brother in the van. Ignoring the looks he received from the officers that were still closing the scene he gave his keys to Chloe with some words.
"I hope you drive it safely, Detective." And entered the van, still uncharacteristically unemotional.
And with that Chloe drove his Corvette and Dan drove Chloe's cruise, parking the vehicles in the underground garage of LUX. And with a very silent entourage, they entered the elevator to reach the penthouse.
Dan was the first person to break the silence they were immersed.
"Should we call Amenadiel?"
"If you wish…" Lucifer answered still using a flat tone and looking straight ahead. But Chloe could see that something was stirring under the surface. "Maze also should be contacted."
Ella made noise and Chloe nodded. Of course, Maze. The Demon. Fumbling with her phone Ella was the first to make a call. Dan looked at Lucifer one more time before doing the same.
At that moment the elevator doors opened, and they exited the penthouse. The humans walking to the couches while Lucifer walked straight to his room.
The Devil had so many things passing through his head, but his brother was in the forefront of all. Had that call he had some weeks prior anything to do with Michael's appearance in Los Angeles? What could this possibly mean?
He placed Michael on his bed and looked at the clean shaved face so identical to his, the curly black hair, the sculpted nose, and jaw. And for the first time that day, after his complete fear of almost losing his twin, he felt that anger he had built for eons climbing his gut. He balled his fists and closes his eyes. He had to get the Hell out of there.
Turning around Lucifer exited his room, walking directly to his private bar. He grabbed a crystal cup and a decanter, pouring whiskey in his cup until it was full until the brim and gulped down the liquid. He filled his cup once again and drowned the liquid as it was the last water in the world.
However, he could feel his angriness grow and lash out, his eyes burning like he used to when he had his Devil face, but he knew it wasn't burning with the fires of Hell anymore. Lucifer squeezed the cup in his hand hearing it crack and give in under his force, a sharp pain climbing his arm. But he didn't care.
He let go of the shards of glass and grabbed another cup, but right after he filled he threw it in the direction of his Sumerian wall, screaming in rage and sorrow.
He barely registered the yelps his human friends produced. All he could think was that he wanted to destroy, to hurt, to… He screamed again and punched his marble counter, breaking both his hand and the stone. The pain was almost numbing, but he wanted more. He prepared to punch again, but a terrified scream stopped him in his tracks.
"Lucifer!" He felt a small hand hold his arm and the other place on his chest, and he looked down to see those lovable blue-grayish eyes filled with tears again. "Please, stop… You are hurting yourself. Please." She pleaded, and he just could look at her.
Everything was wrong, it wasn't supposed for her to know him that way, to see him that way. He freed himself from her hold and turned around to meet the looks of both Dan and Ella, both looking at him with a mix of worry and fear.
He couldn't bare those looks, he had to get out of there. However, before he could even give another step, he felt arms circling his waist and a face burry at his back.
"Stop, Lucifer." Chloe's voice was muffled and filled with sadness. "Please…"
And he did. He stopped. His shoulders giving in and all the weight of the world stepping on them.
"I'm sorry…" His voice broke as all the emotions he had been keeping came out in those two words. "I'm so sorry…"
And those humans, once again, saw the Devil break down.
Half an hour later they were all seated on his couches, with Ella gently bandaging his broken hand, Chloe seated by Lucifer's side, and holding his other hand as if she could stop him hurting himself again if she kept holding and Dan nursing a cup of whiskey himself.
"I'm sorry you had to discover this way" Lucifer broke the silence, his voice hoarse with all emotion and because of his screams. "I didn't want it to be this way."
"Dude, it is okay." Ella was the one that answered, her voice regaining some of her usual cheerfulness. "We understand, right?" She looked at both Chloe and Dan.
Chloe nodded while Dan made a noise of agreement. After all that happened, Dan was starting to feel all sinking in.
"I think wouldn't be the best way to know, man. But we are cool." He nodded and took a long sip of his drink. "Totally cool…" he nodded as if to convince himself.
Lucifer left out a chuckle, with not that much humor, but better than nothing.
"I can see that." He looked at his hands. "Thank you… Thank you for not run away and be here, that's more than I can ask of you."
"We are your friends, Lucifer. We won't run away from you just because you have been telling the truth all along." Chloe answered, frowning a bit. "We know you."
Lucifer raised his head and looked at her with admiration and gratefulness.
"I think the fact of seeing my wings, rather than my Devil face played a good factor…" He chuckled bitterly and rose from the couch he was seating, ignoring the curious glances he received. "I think is time to tell you a story, my friends."
"A story?" Ella asked curiously.
"Yes… Somethings those fat misogynist fellows that wrote that outdated book didn't know and if they knew they wouldn't want people to know." He said with certain scorn. "The Bible is a fiction, based on real facts, but fiction nonetheless. They didn't grasp half of what my dear half-brother wanted, anyway."
Linda squirmed under Maze's glare, feeling a mixture of anger and guilt. She didn't have any place to hide in that elevator, in the middle of the demoness and the fallen angel. And even if she wanted to, she had to face the consequences of her choice, and maybe, maybe, salvage what was left of her friendship with Maze.
Linda was with Amenadiel, retrieving with one of the few things she had left in his apartment, when the angel received a very confusing call from Dan, regarding Lucifer, and they both set their way to LUX, encountering Maze in the entrance. It was a very awkward moment considering all that happened the last time the three of them met.
But before the therapist could speak anything the elevator dinged, and the door opened, and they could catch Lucifer's voice, a very hoarse version of it anyway, speaking.
"…They didn't grasp half of what my dear half-brother wanted, anyway."
Maze stepped out first, frowning at the same time she grabbed one of her knives.
"Lucifer, what happened? Ellen was too cryptic in her call. The only things I caught was Lucifer, distress, brother." She marched into the room.
Lucifer turned in their direction and Linda could see his blood-shot eyes and trails of dry tears covering his cheek. What did the Hell happen?
"Lucifer" she spoke carefully, her eyes traveling the main room of the penthouse, noticing Chloe, Dan and Ella, a broken glass, a broken counter and his hand bandaged. "What happened here?" Maze glared at her.
Amenadiel was the only one quiet, his eyes assessing his brother as if he had the faint idea of what could possibly be happening.
"Oh, great! Doctor, Maze, Amenadiel, is good that you guys made in time." Lucifer said, a mask of cheerfulness settling into his features. That made Linda even more worried and she ignored Maze and the others and approached Lucifer. He for his part looked at her without bulging. "Yes, Doctor? I feel you have something to ask." His tone was flat and so uncommon for him.
"What happened?" She asked again, holding his hard gaze with one of her own.
Lucifer studied her face, his mouth setting itself into a line until he finally answered.
"Michael happened."
And then everything came upside down.
A/N: This chapter came faster than I thought. And it's all because of your lovely comments. They gave me the fuel to write, and I also must thank my inspiration that is on a roll for this last two weeks hahaha
Just to be clear, this story here doesn't have anything to do with ALMAT. And do not expect to see an evil Michael, or angels, or God, they will be a normal family, with their cosmic problems, but normal. We are made after them, after all. lol
So, bear with me, because for now, I'm introducing the world I created. Later things will start to get more interesting… I hope.
Let me know what you think! And thank you so much for all favorite, follows, bookmarks, kudos, and comments! :D
See you next chapter
Nath :*
Answers to Reviews:
Guest: I'm glad you liked, and I hope this second chapter did right to the expectations the first chapter created. I also agree we should have more supernatural stuff in the series. After all, we are talking about Lucifer. But I do like the cop stuff too hahaha I think it could be a mixture of both :D
I am glad that that moment of Ella was something that could fit in the show hehehe Thank you so much for reading and leaving a comment! :D
aluprine: I'm glad you liked! I hope this second chapter was good enough :3 Thank you for commenting and reading :D
Crystalyna du Starrvan: Thank you for reading and commenting! I hope the second chapter is also good :3
OldGirl-NoraArlani: I'm glad you liked my depiction of what could happen at this specific moment. I showed a bit more of Lucifer feelings this chapter, and I can tell you, he is pretty much conflicted. You will understand why next chapter :D But yes, he loves Michael. ;) I want to give another take in their relationship, one that I haven't seen so far in fanfictions too :3
Izzaj: I'm glad to know that you found Lucifer's action in character. I always had in mind he was the very emotional type of guy, so, I went with it. I hope you like Lucifer's emotions here too! :D
Elina: I'm glad you liked it so far, I hope the second chapter haven't disappointed you. :D