Chapter 34: Rivers and Bridges

'Halfway.' Lucifer decided, and left the zipper in place. 'There, "Casual Lucifer".'

Armed in cotton jeans, a band shirt he had managed to track down, and what he had been assured was called a "zipper hoodie", he checked the time and made his way to the elevator. He couldn't deny feeling a tad strange in the clothing, but it should serve well to act as an ice breaker. He hoped. Although the pockets of the hoodie were comically large. He'd have to check if he could fit a literal dictionary in one of the pockets later.

The address on the invitation lead to a small corner bar that had been over taken by Evan's party. People were shouting at the stage, singing along to pop songs, and commenting on the combo streaks of the competing duet. A large screen behind the singers showed the scoring for note and tone. Evan and his fiance sat on either side of the bar with matching mock-crowns. Before Lucifer could spy his date in the crowd, Evan waved him over.

"You're on my team!" The drunk young man yelled over the music.

"Where's Natalie?" Lucifer tried to ask back.

A hand was tossed over Lucifer's shoulder as Evan tipped back to finish his drink. "That traitor is on his team!" Came the angry response. Leaning close to Lucifer, Evan pointed at his lover with the hand that still held his empty cup.

"But it's okay. 'Cuz you... You're gonna win this for me. Everyone knows... Everyone-Everyone knows-you-sing-like-an-angel. And then, then I win and I'll get to walk FIRST!" He shouted with a manically smile, staring across the bar.

"Is this why you were in the bathroom all day?" Called back, "Practicing looking smug for loosing a bet?"

Their team's fearless leader slumped down and powered through a plate of nachos. Lucifer's gaze finally caught hers. She had worn her own GWAR shirt, and he fought the need to fuss over his. Even from across the room, he could see the surprise on her. Her attention was pulled from him when Devin leaned over and said something to her.

The whole room seemed to turn to the screen as the pair of dueling singers finished. The one from Evan's team was deemed the winner, and the respective part of the room exploded in cheers and toasting. The celebrations were cut short as the next song title appeared.

"Lucky Strike – Maroon 5"

"Okay... Now get up there and dig me out of that hole Nat buried me in!" Was all the warning Lucifer received before he was pushed toward the small stage.

From the challenging side, Devin paused Natalie's attempt to take up the second microphone. Instead, he sent the person in a very square suit. The literal square slammed his drink and jogged up to the microphone. With a nod to Lucifer, the two began their duel. The loudest cheers in the end came from Evan, as he screamed at Devin to "Suck it!".

"Haunted. Taunted.

But I'm what you've always wanted."

When Natalie's turn came, a reflection of light got his eye. On her wrist was the bracelet he had given her. To his joy, it clashed with her outfit. She had worn it out of sentiment. He nursed his drink and attempted to socialize with his new teammates.

"I know I said it a million times,

But I'll only stay with you one more night."\

Back and forth it went. Lucifer and then Natalie, but never together. Truth be told it was rather frustrating. The only explanation he received was that Evan was worried about Lucifer losing to Natalie. For someone that was rambunctiously drunk, Evan's thought that his lover had a similar concern made a considerable amount of sense.

"Imma work my fingers to the bone,

All the way to your throne."

Evan was overjoyed by the small lead Lucifer had managed for their team. Their impending victory felt sour as he watched what felt like everyone but him sing with her. There even came a point where Evan and Natalie preformed the cheesiest Disney duet. It wasn't until the soon-to-be newly weds wanted a duet of their own that Lucifer and Natalie crossed paths at the bar.

"Hello, Natalie."

"Lucifer, what are you doing here?"

Hearing her properly say his name gave him a forbidden thrill. His mind brought up an image of when her saying his name would be rougher. Breathless even, and flushed while her arms wrap around him. However, those pursuits would have to wait until later. She was still waiting for an answer.

"You invited me. Our own little scandal, if you recall."

"You should stay away from me." She reiterated softly, with a slightly broken look.

His empty glass came down against the bar-top with more force than he had intended.

"No." Lucifer said firmly. His hand curved under her chin to bring them eye-to-eye. "I don't want that."

His hand was batted away, tears turning storms into whirling tide-pools.

"You don't understand!" She half yelled at him. "That attack- I only use it when- It's killed an-" A shuddering breath filled Natalie as he tried to overcome his momentary shock. "How did you survive? I saw you, and all of your- How are you okay?"

Checking to make sure that their discussion was still unnoticed, Lucifer pulled her to a darker corner of the bar. Once they were as alone as was possible in the given situation, Natalie pulled her arm from his grip and gave him a guarded look. Slowly, he rested his hands on her shoulders. Her arms began to come up to cross, but she stayed still.

"Please, Natalie, I can explain. Rather, I can show you. Just not here, the consequences would be horrific. But please, you said once that you trusted me. That what I was didn't matter. I'm asking you to trust me now."

A cracked, tear-filled, bark of a laugh came from the woman before him.

"Oh, you sweet fool. It's not you I don't trust."

"It's almost endearing the way you constantly insult me."

"I try not to lie to people I like if I can avoid it. And sometimes you are amazingly naive."

"So, you admit you like me." He dropped his tone. "Perhaps there are other things you'll find you like about me."

That marvelous flush returned, tide-pools returned to storms, and her smile teased through. Another strangled giggle sang out as his hands swept up to cup her face. Her cheeks were warmer than the rest of her face. That look of happy defeat was back, bringing a small smile to Lucifer's face. Her hands smoothed over the lettering that showed under the hoodie.

"Where did you even find this?" She asked in quiet wonder.

"Another story I will be happy to share after this party. Preferably in a private booth with dinner, if you could be tempted to join me."

Natalie's hands curled into his shirt. She appeared on the verge of asking him to kiss her when a loud voice interrupted their bubble of space.

"Natalie! Stop trying to distract my victory pony!" Evan shouted from the stage, amplified by the microphone.

"Y así, na' má',

Me enarmoró."

Summoned back to their respective sides, the competition continued. Natalie wiped down her face and punched the person that appeared to be too inquisitive to her momentary emotional state. Natalie's approach became more aggressive and the gap between the teams narrowed. Evan was beginning to look worried. Lucifer was beginning to have fun.

"But when you look at me,

The only memory is us kissing in the moonlight."

When Devin's team finally retook the lead, Evan's head sank to the table as he complained, "Not even the legendary Lucifer Morningstar can stop the monster that is Natalie Varquez."

Lucifer took exception to that.

"Ain't what you got, babe,

Girl, it's how you use it."

It soon became a competition strictly between Natalie and Lucifer. Whom ever was placed against them was only fighting to keep their side from drowning long enough to get to the next round. Drinks were plentiful as everyone had a wonderful time mocking the engaged love-birds as they panicked over the lead bouncing back and forth.

"Anybody can be good to you,

You need a bad girl to blow your mind."

Even the microphone became symbolic as the two heavy hitters passed it back and forth. Lingering hands and flirtatious smirks with every pass back and forth. The tables nearest the stage on each of their sides fell victim to their turf war next. Bottles and glasses came and left the table as fast as their teammates could manage. Dancing had broken out in pockets of the bar.

"I felt he'd found my letters,

And read each one out loud"

Neither of them danced, and no one bothered to try to interrupt the strange contest between the two. When the title flashed on the screen with a warning for the final duet duel, a muttering of "absolutely not" rumbled out of him. Under no condition was anyone else here going to sing with her this time. He was a tad rougher than intended when he took hold of Evan's shoulder.

"I'm calling in your favor. I sing for our team."

Evan chocked on his drink and stared at Lucifer as he sputtered. "Excuse me?"

"My Favor. Now. That microphone." Lucifer said, holding out his hand to Evan.

The drunk young man looked up to him, in near tears. "But... Moulin Rouge is my favorite movie."

"Oh look, some strapping young lad is talking to Devin." Lucifer looked over Evan's shoulder and commented.

Drunk and distracted, the microphone was pushed into Lucifer's hand and he made his way to the stage. The smile that crossed her face as they stood together burned itself into his mind. Natalie changed the hand that was holding her microphone to reach for his. In an instant, they were back on his piano bench. An unfinished song finally returning.

"Storm clouds may gather,

And stars may collide."

After the final note, Natalie stepped forward to press against him. The microphones were placed on the stand to free their other hands. It was subtle, but Lucifer would swear on the flaming sword itself, that her grip on his hand tightened. His free hand came around her waist to maintain their firm contact. Hers trailed up his arm. When her hand reached the nape of his neck, there was a gentle tug to prompt him. Her lips pressed against his, and a surge of relief chased everything else away.

Evan's loud, drunken declarations of victory reminded them of their surroundings. With a glance at the score board, Lucifer's night got even better. He was the undisputed champion. Natalie had lost the duel by a single point.

"Better luck next time." He murmured against her lips as he kissed her again.

Devin was the soberest human there, and thus ended up in charge of making sure everyone got into their respective taxi, uber, or hotel shuttle. He gave Lucifer and Natalie a casual wave and shuffled himself and his lover into the last waiting car. Once they were properly alone, a tense silence settled on them. Clearing his throat and motioning toward an alleyway, Lucifer resolved to get this over-with. A quick downing of his flask and he turned to face Natalie.

"The face I walk around with isn't my only one. You saw the other one that night. I'm not sure why it happened. But... I can show you again, to prove it, if you'd like." He offered softly.

Natalie's brows furled and she gave a slow nod. Focusing his attention, he pulled forward his devil face and watched those careful storms. Her initial silence unnerved him even though she didn't seem distressed. As though scared of startling him, she inched forward and gently touched his cheek. After a moment the hand retracted.

"And... it doesn't hurt?" She asked softly.

He smiled softly and shook his head. Her eyes focused on his cheek again as she reached up to touch it once more. The focus of her eyes flicked across his face, looking for any signs that she was hurting him. It only took a few minute for the truth to set in. Relief was clear on her face as tears sprung to her eyes again.

Her voice sounded broken as she muttered, "You're okay" over and over again. Kissing every part of his face she could reach, Lucifer was taken back by such open affection to a gruesome sight. Returning her frantic kisses, he let his devil face fade back. Before they could become completely lost in each other, Lucifer reminded her of the offer for dinner. Wrapped in each other, they made their way to his convertible.

The hostess was too dazzled by Lucifer to enforce the dress-code and escorted them to his reserved private table. It was a corner booth, with a velvet curtain that covered the entryway. His requested bottle was already on the table and the hostess was thrilled to pour him a glass. Once he relieved her of the bottle, he sent her off. Curtain closed, he turned back and poured a glass for Natalie.

"To every time I think you can't be any odder." She toasted.

"So kind." He teased back. "Now, I promised you a story.

"I was out shopping with Daniel and the Detective-"

"That sounds like a bad sitcom."

"Quiet you, it's story time. Now, I was out shopping with Daniel and the Detective and we had gone to a thrift store. We were quite desperate to find something not completely awful for me to wear. And yours truly found it on a mannequin the in the back. Of course, neither of them knew what it was. They both thought I was out of my mind, but I bought it anyway."

The laughter that followed left a smile on both their faces. She shifted over and patted the bench next to her. He set the bottle back on the table and sat down. An arm rested against the back of the seat. Slowly, Natalie leaned into him. Another small toast sealed with a kiss.

"So, no menus. Must be one of those snooty places where you eat what they say?" She inquired from behind her glass.

/

"No, I ordered ahead. I remembered your preference from when you and Maze decided my penthouse was appropriate for one of your booze-fueled rampages because you couldn't agree on take-out."

The sigh that followed was whimsical.

"I miss those days. When sparring with Maze didn't have a hint of murder on the side."

"She's new to forgiveness, only practiced a couple times. New skills take time."

"Speaking of new skills. I'm glad your okay, but how are you immune to that blast?"

"The light bubble? Oh that tickled in a most sensational way. In another setting, one could even call it arousing." He responded calmly, and picked his glass back up.

Natalie pulled away to stare at him. "Tickled?"

He nodded while sipping. Her question came out so soft, he had almost missed it.

"Could... Could I test that?"

He nodded and she placed her hand over his. A look of focus came over her and a faint sensation of being tickled followed. In an instant, her hand retreated and she looked over his face. Terror morphed into shocked relief as Lucifer merely sat and smiled at her. He topped off his glass and then handed back hers.

"Final weapon, I assume?"

"Yeah, the first time I were use it was by accident with horrid results."

"I could imagine." He murmured.

"So, shopping with the detective?"

"We're friends. Yes, there was an attempt to set us up together, however, I objected to it. She deserves someone worthy of her, and that isn't me."

"Did she decide that? Or did you?"

"I-"

A snort answered him. "I knew it."

"Knew what, exactly?" He asked defensively.

"You have this whole 'I'm so irredeemable' vibe you always push. So the question is: why don't you let anyone choose you?"

He couldn't response initially. For a few minutes he stared, brow furled and jaw slightly slacked.

"... Natalie... Who are you?"

"Me." She said with a smile and a shrug. "Ya' know, if we keep doing things like this, Maze is going to kick my ass again."

"Don't worry, I'll explain it to her, she'll see your harmless, and everything will be normal."

"That is incredibly optimistic."

"Good thing I know a place we could go, where she can't "

"Lucifer Morningstar. Are you trying to charm your way into my bedroom?"

"Yes, is it working?"

Their conversation was interrupted when the food arrived. Natalie's stomach gave a grateful roar that cause her to mutter an apology before she began eating. Once the staff that left, Lucifer began he light teasing.

"That was a lot of drinking on an empty stomach, can't be good on you, immortal or not."

She froze and looked up at him. Clear concern and conflict came over her face. The fork in her hand trilled as she thought. With a sigh, she slammed back the rest of her wine and turned to face Lucifer.

"You showed me your secret, so I'll tell you mine. I'm half human, I'm not actually, properly immortal."

"Half human? How is that even possible?"

All timidness fell away and she barked out a cruel laugh.

"What? Once upon a time it was common! I had siblings once, we all had our own cities, and we did things our own ways. Now I'm the only one left here. All around the world, we're just... being hunted out."

"If you're half human, what's the other half?"

She fidgeted again. "There's not a good way to explain it to someone that isn't one of us. But many of the humans call us 'Dragons'."