Chapter 15: Early Weekend
Chloe had her badge and gun out and ready. "That's far enough. You're under arrest. Put down the weapon."
The man in the coat growled and swiveled to fire on his chasers. Chloe dived to the side, while Maze charged forward. The man started to mutter something about "more than one", when Maze's grip closed on his gun. She flicked it to the other side of the alley and backhanded the human into submission. As she dropped the unconscious body, she headed toward Chloe. "Are you okay?" She called out as she approach.
"Yeah, he missed." Chloe responded as she stood and dusted herself off. "I don't know what's going on, but I'm taking this guy to the station. If your employee kills Christenson, even if he did hire assassins, I'll still have to arrest her."
Maze nodded, and took off after Natalie. When she couldn't find a trail to follow, she followed her gut and made her way to the club she had over-heard the two meeting at. She made quick time to that district of town and as she rounded the block she watched as Natalie chock-slam the bouncer into a car hood. Before the walking rampage could enter the building, Maze sprinted up on her and called out her name.
Natalie stopped and turned to face her with a look of surprise. "Maze? What are you doing here? How was the hunt?"
"Don't be fucking casual with me! Why aren't you watching Lucifer?"
"He's at a party, he's safe, and the only guy in town that has made an attempt on him is about to regret it."
"You can't kill him. Knock him out, turn him over to Chloe."
Natalie scoffed, but nodded before entering the building. The sounds of a scuffle came through the door before she returned with an unconscious human in tow. She tossed him to Maze.
"I'm not answering any of her questions, you can take him. And since you're back, you can babysit that trouble-making lunatic." Natalie said firmly. She turned to walk down an alleyway. Maze let the chance to ask questions of her own slide and made her way to Chloe's station.
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Life returned to some resemblance of normality for a few weeks. Fate would choose Linda to bare the force of the next crisis of Lucifer's life. It was only a few hours into her Monday morning of paperwork at the office when Lucifer stormed in.
"She's taking him back!" He stated as though it explained everything. He stood with his hands on the sleek belt around his hips.
Linda smiled and took a deep breath. "Context is a very important part of a conversation, Lucifer."
"Right, right, of course." He said slightly calmer than before. Once he was seated on the couch and Linda had closed the door, he began his tirade.
"This morning, while the Lieutenant was assigning cases, Chloe and Daniel slipped off to have a private conversation while yours truly was distracted by the remarkably low shirt that the Lieutenant was wearing. Apparently Daniel made an appeal to let him take her out to dinner, and she agreed!"
"Well, did you ask her what it meant to her? It could just be dinner to discuss something about Trixie."
"I don't need to ask while she blushes and giggles at his poorly made jokes."
"Lucifer, you can't learn anything without asking." Linda said softly, but firmly.
"Asking... That reminds me! Thank you, Doctor."
Then as quick as he appeared, he was gone. For once, he seemed fairly on point. Perhaps this time Linda wouldn't have to worry.
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After a quick stop at his loft, Lucifer made his way to the apartment of Miss. Varquez. When he had knocked, it took a few minutes for the sounds of shuffling to come from behind the door. It open to the woman in question, hair tussled from sleep, clad in a large green t-shirt with a sheep printed on it. She blinked and rubbed her face before realizing who was at her door.
"Mr. Morningstar? What time is it? Am I late for work or something?" She paused and looked at the window behind her. "No, sun's up... What are you doing here?"
He held out a large container with a medical child-proof top. Natalie looked over the container, and reread the label a few times.
"But this is... How did you? I've never actually seen..." She mumbled as she took the container and stepped aside to allow him entry.
"You commented that I smoked all of your pot without ever repaying you. I have a friend with his own medicinal greenhouse. He sends me his new strains. For 'testing' purposes." Lucifer explained with a smile.
She looked up at him after she set the container on the coffee table, "Thank you." she said.
"Although, I do have a question to ask."
Natalie chuckled, and went to the kitchenette to make some coffee. "Are you sure? It's not one of your special days." She joked.
Lucifer stepped into the kitchenette behind her, taking down a mug to place beside hers. "The only way to find if the days have expanded is to experiment." He commented, dropping his tone slightly at the end.
For a moment, with him standing behind her, his hand resting on the counter near her, a sense of warmth filled Natalie. She closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. When she opened her eyes again, she focused on the coffee pot in front of her.
"I can commend a desire to try new things." She responded, a tad warmer than she intended. She knew she shouldn't encourage him, but the tingling sensation that followed his flirtations was rather addictive.
"Are you still taking contracts for gathering information?"
The sudden serious tone threw Natalie for a moment. "What did you have in mind?" She asked, more to stall for time.
"The detective is attending a dinner tonight, and I want to know the discussion topic."
Once again, Lucifer found himself being laughed at by strange woman. He closed his eyes and listened to the rare music. He almost missed her response.
"I'm not helping you spy on your ex-girlfriend."
"My what?" He responded in confusion as his eyes snapped open.
"Well, I assume ex-girlfriend, I never asked. Maze and I don't talk about her Johnny Law friends. And you obsess like an ex. So..." Natalie explained, filling the cups on the counter.
"I am not obsessed with the detective." He said as he took his mug and moved to the couch.
"Okay, then why do you want to know about her dinner date?" She retorted, joining him on the couch with her own mug.
"I... Well..."
"Then the answer is still no."
"I'm a curious creature, and her making foolish mistakes is a subject of great curiosity for me."
"What makes it foolish?"
"He's not good enough for her."
"Who?"
"Her ex-husband."
Natalie gave him that knowing little smirk. "Well, that explains everything. Very no."
"Fine, then I will go myself." He responded firmly, turning to reach toward the door.
Natalie scoffed a laugh and said, "Stalker much."
Lucifer froze in place, turning back to face her with an angry glare. She only raised an eyebrow at him in defiance. When he spoke, his voice was low and full of warning. "And what was it called, Miss Varquez, when you followed the detective and myself for a week?"
"Doing Maze a favor and watching a man-baby and his ex-girlfriend for her, Mr. Morningstar." She responded light as air, still smirking. She brought the cup up to her lips and slurped the coffee loudly.
With a growl, Lucifer whipped back around and stormed out of the apartment. He returned to Lux, frustrated and determined to jump-start a morning party to forget his troubles.