Face Value
Lucifer walked over to his beloved baby grand piano. It had been already in the bar when he bought it, but it fitted the atmosphere he wanted and he loved it. Frowning he realised what word he had used. "Love." He sat at the piano. "What do my brothers know? How can I fall in love with anyone when no one has ever taught me how?" He sighed heavily. "I can do hate, jealousy, vengefulness but love."
"Son, is it that difficult to see?" Lucifer span around.
"What are you doing here?"
"Is that anyway to great your Father?"
"Jay spoke with you."
"I wish you would not call him that. He has a perfectly good name." The bearded man stepped towards him.
"Does Mum know you are here?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know? You tell everyone you are omnipresent. That you know and see everything." Lucifer raised an eyebrow. God shrugged.
"When it comes to your mother I am in the dark."
"She went to Hell because of you. I went to Hell because of you. I'm the Devil. Satan. Evil. You banished me to Hell. That I could deal with. Just! But then you send Mom? Maze has known nothing other than hate and evil. Why? Why shouldn't she have a chance to be in the world?"
God nodded. "Maze is settled into this world. I admit she is learning every day. As are you."
"Me?"
"Yes." The bearded man laughed. "You came here because you escaped Hell. I'm proud of that."
"Oh please." Lucifer rolled his eyes.
"I mean it. Just now. You spoke about Maze and your mother before yourself. Since you have been here you have learned trust, compassion and empathy. I dare say it you've made friends. Forged relationships that matter to you." He frowned as Lucifer looked away.
"I have tried to show Chloe my real face. My demonic face."
"I know."
Lucifer nodded.
"I can't. I've tried. She knows I'm not like other men. None she has known in any case." He slumped back at the piano. His father nodded.
"Son, have you not listened to anything me or your brothers have said?"
"What?"
"Chloe Decker trusts you. She has give Maze a place to live, despite her quirks."
Lucifer nodded and smiled. "Yes."
"She trusts you with the most precious being in her life. Beatrix. She trusts you with her baby." God watched as Lucifer looked at his feet. "Would a sensible, intelligent woman trust a monster with her child? Trixie adores you."
"I'm a bad influence."
"You are fun! That's what she needs. Both parents are detectives, her grandmother is a crazy actress. She never really sees her. You are the fun adult as far as she can see."
Lucifer laughed. "I'm over a million years old. Trixie is seven."
"And you still have a lot of growing up to do."
Lucifer shot his father a filthy look. He knew there would always be something. "She doesn't know who I am. Neither does Chloe."
God shook his head. "Your brother is right. You smile every time you think of her. You love her."
"Don't be ridiculous."
"You told her. And I quote 'she deserves someone better than you.' That's love. Putting her first. You went to Hell for her when you didn't have to. You let her get engaged to a complete jerk because you believed it made her happy."
Lucifer felt his eyes fill with tears. "She deserves better."
"Yes, Son. She deserves better than her ex fiancé. She deserves a man who smiles every time she is mentioned. A man who believes in her, wants the best for her and the child."
"She'll age and die and I'll be the same."
"Who says?"
"it's what humans do. A major design flaw on your part. Humans get sick, they decay as they age. They die. They actually die and."
"Their souls rest in Heaven."
"Or Hell." Lucifer snapped. "I won't have Chloe or Trixie brought to my level. Not a chance." He glared at his father. God raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe you've brought yourself to theirs. You want to be with Chloe, play detective and run this bar?"
"I want to be here. Just getting on with my life."
"Fine." God looked him in the eye. "I admit I could have been a better father to you. But now, one year. I give you one year on this Earth as a regular man. You'll still see Maze and Amenadiel. You'll still be you but human."
"What's the catch? Who said I wanted to be a man?"
God shook his head. "I'm giving you a chance here. You are Lucifer Morningstar. A man. Not the Devil. Not for the next twelve months. You've half changed yourself as it is. As Jesus said you let yourself fall in love."
"What's the catch?"
"Tell Chloe. Tell her how you feel. Really."
"Be selfish? Because that's evil. Dad! I came up with the twelve deadly sins. Remember? I."
God laughed loudly. The ground shook slightly. "I remember. You thought it was sarcasm that led me to name a species after one of them."
"Sloth." Lucifer held up a hand. "Dad."
"You, my boy are not the most evil being in the universe any more. You have let love change you. One year as a man. See how you get on. Tell Chloe." He tapped his son's back. "She deserves the truth." Lucifer groaned.
"I did. I told her she deserves better than me."
God got to his feet. "And if you don't tell her how I feel?"
"We go back to how things were. You love that girl. She can help you be the man you should always have been. Had I not screwed you up." God sighed.
"Is that an apology?"
"I'm God. I have a plan. Trust me. Tell Chloe." He smiled before turning to leave. Lucifer groaned before turning his attention back to the piano. It was then he realised he wasn't alone. Sensing someone behind him he turned.
"Detective." He felt his heart pound. Frowning he tried to hide his shock of having actual blood pumping in his veins. Chloe held his gaze.
"Tell me what, Lucifer?"
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