In Lucifer We Trust - superlc529

"Go back to Hell…" Dromos grumbled, "He actually told us to go home… without him. Can you believe it, Squee?"

"Lord Lucifer gave us an order, Dromos," Squee said, quickening his pace to keep up with his fellow demon. They ducked into an alley, "Don't you think we better do as he says? He's our King."

"Lord Lucifer just needs to see reason," Dromos walked on. He ducked through a torn gate. Squee was right behind him. They walked a few more feet and Dromos pushed in a rickety steel door leading into yet another abandoned warehouse.

"But he's our King," Squee stressed again, "Not this priest… isn't just working with him sacrilege?"

"It's not ideal," Dromos agreed, "But if it gets Lord Lucifer home, I'm all for it."

Squee sighed. Dromos might have a point. The two demons made their way down the dim hallway until they reached a door that led to one of the abandoned offices. Dromos opened the door and stepped into the office. Squee was still right by his side. They were greeted by the sight of William Kinley studying strewn papers and photographs on a desk in front of him.

"The perimeter is secure," Dromos announced his presence.

Kinley continued to sift through the papers. Dromos wasn't sure the priest had even heard him. He exchanged a glance with Squee before clearing his throat and repeating himself.

"I heard you," Kinley said without looking up.

"Any progress with the next step to get Lord Lucifer home?" Dromos stepped closer to the desk. He did have to admit that Squee had a point. Working with a priest of all people was not the most ideal of circumstances. But he wasn't very familiar with the Earthly plane and the extent of his knowledge of humans mostly consisted of popping out eyeballs and smashing in skulls – he wasn't exactly a mastermind when it came to planning.

As long as this priest remained useful, he'd submit to working for him. But if Kinley failed, well, even though he wasn't the best at plans, he'd just have to come up with something, wouldn't he?

"Possibly," Kinley stopped rifling through the strewn papers and photos on the desk and rubbed a thoughtful hand over his beard – his gaze still on the desk. He hadn't even spared a glance at the two demons.

"I'd hate to stoop even lower, but if it stops the prophecy…" Kinley muttered to himself. His hand moved in tandem with his chin as he spoke. His words were slightly muffled by his fingers. Kinley let out a breath and finally looked up.

"The Devil must return to Hell… I must stop the prophecy from being realized by any means necessary. The safety of the world depends on it. She must be taken out of the equation. I just hope it's not too late."

Squee stepped up next to Dromos closer to the desk to get a better look at the papers and photographs Kinley had been studying so closely. In all the photographs, he could clearly see Lord Lucifer. And in most of the pictures, he also could see a human woman by the King's side. Some photographs were in black and white, but it was clear this woman was blonde. She wore her hair in a tight ponytail and had an air of confidence that matched that of his King. Was she his Queen while he was on his extended vacation? She vaguely looked like one of the humans the priest had taken in their initial attempt to return Lord Lucifer home. But then again, all humans looked the same to him.

~*~

Ella let out a breath as she placed the (thankfully still present) bagged evidence from their investigation back on the table in her lab, "Everything else seems to be accounted for… That's a relief."

She looked up to see Maze hanging up from a phone call she didn't realize the other woman had even made. Maze had a mixed look of concern and confusion on her face. Ella was pretty sure she'd never seen that expression on the demon's face before.

"What is it?"

"That was one of Father Kinley's old associates in Rome," Maze said.

"How'd you get a hold of someone like that?" Ella asked.

"I just used Decker's badge number," Maze shrugged like it was no big deal. Ella shook her head at that. She needed to remind herself to tell Chloe about that another time.

"What'd he say that has you looking so confused?" Ella stepped closer to Maze.

"Kinley's been excommunicated, no surprise there," Maze replied, "But he said that Kinley had dedicated his whole priesthood to stopping "the prophecy" before it came to realization."

Ella could hear the air quotes in Maze's voice.

"Are prophecies real?" Ella's eyes bugged out in fear.

"None that I've seen," Maze shook her head.

"Oh… But then why do you look so concerned?" Ella asked.

"Because this one sounded like it might have some weight and actually has already been fulfilled," Maze reluctantly admitted.

"What's it say?"

"When the Devil walks the Earth and finds his first love… evil shall be released," Maze replied. Both women took a beat, exchanging knowing glances.

"Do you think if the two of them are both still blind to how they feel about each other, it doesn't count?" Ella reached.

"If this priest figured out just who Lucifer's "first love" is, I'm a little more worried about what he'll try to do to Decker to stop it," Maze folded her arms and bit her lip.

"Maybe he doesn't know," Ella tried to reason, "He didn't do anything to Chloe when he had all of us captive… 'Course he might not have realized who she was to Lucifer when he kidnapped us. Or maybe that's the real reason he made Lucifer's Devil Face come out. Maybe he thought if Chloe was scared enough of Lucifer, she'd help him send Lucifer to Hell?"

"Well, he probably knows it's her by now," Maze countered.

"Did Kinley's old associate tell you anything else that might help you track him down faster?" Ella asked.

"Just keep digging," Maze headed over to one of the lab's computers. That was answer enough for Ella.

"Right," Ella sighed. She looked out of her lab toward the coffee nook. She should really grab some coffee or a donut while they researched. She couldn't think on an empty stomach and she doubted an empty stomach would be good for the demon too. She looked back at Maze typing away on one of her computers. Hell, maybe she should grab the whole box of donuts. That should be enough for the both of them.

~*~

Linda picked up one of the throw pillows on her sofa and fluffed it before putting it right back in the same spot. She cocked her head at the pillow's position and adjusted it slightly. With a satisfied nod, she turned around and picked up a box of chocolates from her coffee table before tucking a leg underneath herself as she sat down to dig in.

Just as she was about to take her first bite, her phone rang.

"Of course," Linda commented before she leaned forward to pick up her ringing phone. She furrowed her brow when she saw it was Dan calling her.

"Dan? Is everything okay?" Linda answered her phone.

"That depends on your definition of okay," Dan replied.

Before Linda could utter a response, Dan continued.

"I'm actually almost to your place with Trixie. The short version is a situation has come up where we all need you to watch her."

"Is she in danger? Does it have to do with a case at work?" Linda stood up, immediately concerned.

"Not in immediate danger. We wouldn't want to put you at risk, but it has to do with Lucifer," Dan replied.

"Is he okay?" Linda tried.

"He's Lucifer," Dan simply replied, "Our case took on a supernatural connection and we all agreed that Trixie will be safer with you."

"Of course," Linda said, "Are you two far?"

Her answer was a knock at her front door.

"Not far at all," Dan answered as Linda opened the door.

"Hi, Trixie," Linda turned her greeting to the girl as she ended the call with her thumb before pocketing her phone in the back pocket of her jeans. It was her day off, after all.

"Hi," Trixie replied quietly.

Linda let them in and the three of them descended the few steps leading into her living room. There was a bit of awkward silence before the sound of Trixie's stomach gurgling broke it.

"Do you have any cereal? I didn't get a chance to eat any breakfast this morning," Trixie looked toward Linda's kitchen.

"Help yourself," Linda smiled at her. Trixie made a bee-line for the kitchen.

"Thank you for doing this, Linda," Dan said, "Sorry for the extremely short notice."

"What exactly is going on?" Linda asked as they walked further into her living room. Linda leaned against the back of her sofa so she was facing Dan.

"Well, last night's game night was cut short when we all were kidnapped by an evil priest," Dan started and proceeded to fill her in on the events of the previous night up through that morning.

Linda's eyes seemed to inch wider as Dan's tale progressed.

"Wow," Linda finally said once he finished.

"Yeah," Dan nodded.

"I can't believe Trixie knew about Lucifer all this time," Linda shook her head and kept her voice down so said child wouldn't hear her.

"Tell me about it," Dan agreed, "Over the past couple of years, me and Chloe are really taking home all the awards for our parenting skills, aren't we?"

"I think you guys are doing a wonderful job," Linda said as she turned to see Trixie finishing her bowl of cereal and even taking the bowl and spoon to the sink to be washed later.

"Thanks," Dan said, "Hey, uh, I was going to head back to Lucifer's penthouse in a few and regroup, but would you mind if I grabbed something to eat too?"

"Not at all," Linda shook her head.

Dan nodded another thank you and headed into the kitchen before promptly picking up one of the muffins sitting in a basket on the counter.

Linda couldn't help but smile at the father and daughter duo in the kitchen as Dan held a small piece of his muffin for Trixie to take a bite. Her thoughts turned to a certain tall, dark, and handsome Angel. Her hands subconsciously drifted to her lower belly. Dan said that Amenadiel was back on Earth. How would the former Warrior Angel take the news of his impending fatherhood? Would he be happy? Excited? She knew how Amenadiel felt about humanity and divinity mixing. This baby would be the ultimate mixing of the two. Would he even be ready? Would he be accepting?

The important thing was that (this time) she was ready and she couldn't wait to meet her baby. Another smile slipped across her lips as she too headed for the kitchen to join Dan and Trixie, but another knock at the door interrupted her. She looked at Dan with a silent question if he was expecting anybody because she certainly hadn't been.

Sensing her trepidation in light of the active case, Dan placed the rest of his muffin down before passing Linda with a quick touch to her shoulder before making his way to the front door. Cautiously, he slowly opened it, only to be greeted with the smiling face of his best friend.

"Amenadiel."

Dan opened the door wider for Amenadiel to enter. He went straight over to Linda with an even wider smile on his face.

"Hello, Linda," Amenadiel took one of her hands. They had twin smiles adorned on their faces.

Dan looked back to Trixie who simply nodded her head to her dad and gave a pointed look at the front door, silently telling him that she was all good and to head back to help Lucifer and Chloe. Dan blew a kiss to his daughter before silently heading out the door and back to the penthouse.

~*~

"You promise you'll be careful, Lucifer?" Trixie stood by the elevator with her father.

"I'll do my best," Lucifer replied with what he hoped was a reassuring smile to the girl. She seemed to be worrying after him a lot lately.

The elevator doors slid open, but just as Dan stepped forward to get in, Trixie ran back over to Lucifer and enveloped him in a fierce hug. He had been accosted with quite a few hugs by the Urchin over the years, but something about this one felt different.

"I love you, Lucifer." Trixie said into his torso. He could feel her breath through his shirt.

He looked down at the young girl in stunned silence. His right hand hovered over the top of her head. Just as quickly as she had run over to hug him, she just as quickly re-joined Dan in the elevator. The doors closed on them.

"I love you, Lucifer," the Urchin's words echoed in his mind.

She loved him? Lucifer was frozen in place. He heard the conversation continue on with Maze, but the words didn't register in his brain. He was stuck on Trixie and her innocent words. She loved him. Was that even possible? What had he ever done for the Child that would elicit that response? Sure, there had been a few favors he had granted her over the years, but none of them would lead her to tell him she loved him.

The Urchin did seem genuinely worried for him whilst they were being held captive together by the evil priest. She didn't even blink at his Devil Face. In fact, she was only worried that the burns might be hurting him. Logically, he knew that Trixie must care about him – he is her mother's partner, after all, but to feel beyond that? Did she want anything in return?

"Just for you to be safe," a voice that sounded oddly like the Detective sounded in his mind.

Perhaps that was just what love was… nothing transactional. Love was just something pure. Just like the feelings that had been building in him for his partner; was what he felt for Chloe love? Would he even know if he had never felt anything like it in his entire existence?

"This place cleared out pretty quickly, huh?" he heard Chloe say, breaking through his thoughts.

He blinked rapidly and finally put his hand down to his side. Had he been holding it up that entire time? How much time had passed while he was lost in his thoughts? He looked to Chloe and then back up at the empty room.

"Where'd everyone go?"

Chloe stepped closer to him and reached out a concerned hand to his arm. She ducked her head to look up into his eyes, "Are you okay, Lucifer?"

Lucifer's lips started to form his patented response of "I'm fine" – always vague enough to never be a lie, but this time he replied, "I don't know."

Chloe rubbed her hand up and down his arm in what she hoped was a comforting gesture.

"Maze and Ella headed to the station to see what they can find on Kinley… Dan took Trixie to stay with Linda," Chloe told him, "And Amenadiel went to go change out of his Heaven Robe to head over to Linda's too."

"He better not mess with my system," Lucifer looked back in the direction of his closet. Amenadiel didn't have any regard for his wardrobe.

"Lucifer," Chloe tugged on his wrist to bring his attention back to her, "Do you think…?"

Chloe looked up into Lucifer's eyes. They had been avoiding the conversation of THEM for a long while now. Lucifer had her complete attention. Now might be the best time to discuss their relationship before they came up with a plan to take down the priest, but Chloe's intended words got lost in her throat.

"Do you think we can defeat Kinley?" is what ended up coming out.

"Together, we can do anything," Lucifer stated.

"Right," Chloe smiled.

Lucifer could tell there was more that she wanted to say, but he didn't want to push. He gestured for her to take a seat, knowing that they had to come up with a game plan to take down their latest killer. But instead of taking a seat on the leather couch as Lucifer thought she would, she headed up the steps to his bedroom and sat on the edge of his bed. Had it only been scarcely an hour since he woke up with her there? With her and the Urchin? It was all so domestic.

He slowly made his way up the steps and took a seat next to her as she made room for him. They sat in silence for a moment or two – Lucifer's feet planted firmly on the ground and his hands resting on the tops of his thighs as he sat on the edge of his bed. Chloe sat a little further back on the edge, her toes scarcely touching the floor; each of them began to open their mouths with the intention of starting a conversation, but neither one following through.

Chloe let out a deep exhale and shifted her one leg up on to the bed so she was facing Lucifer a little more fully.

Just as she once again opened her mouth to say something, Amenadiel spoke to them without sparing the two of them a glance, in a quick pace, heading straight for the penthouse elevator.

"I'm heading to Linda's, Luci!" Amenadiel called out, "I found one of my spare phones in your closet while I was changing, so just text me when you and Chloe come up with a plan to take down Kinley… Text with words, please!"

Without looking back, the elevator doors closed on Amenadiel as he descended and Chloe and Lucifer burst out in laughter – the awkward tension broken.

Lucifer brought his leg up on to the bed, mirroring Chloe so he too was facing her more fully as their giggles tapered off.

"Lucifer."

"Detective."

They both started at the same time.

They both stopped and laughed in embarrassment at their timing, slight blushes adorning both their cheeks. They were acting like a couple of shy, lovesick teenagers.

"Detective…" Lucifer started again, this time on his own. He had her full attention. Lucifer took another steadying breath before continuing, "Chloe… there's something I've wanted to say… something I've wanted to talk to you about."

Chloe nodded encouragingly for him to go on with a smile. She reached her hand out to cover his on the bed between them. Was Lucifer going to address their relationship? She couldn't fight the pride in her smile over the fact that he was the one to broach the subject.

"I can't tell you how relieved I am to know that you still choose to be partners despite knowing the truth about me," Lucifer began.

"There was never a danger of me not wanting to," Chloe brushed her thumb over his knuckles.

"I wished to talk about this at the end of Game Night, but you know how well everything turned out that night," Lucifer went on, "But given the events of this morning and depending on how things play out with Kinley… I was wondering if… if you might want…"

"Yes," Chloe squeezed his hand, scooting closer to him on the bed, as her already large smile somehow grew.

"Do you even know what I wanted to ask?" Lucifer covered their interlaced hands with his other one.

"Well, I was hoping you were asking me out," Chloe shrugged, fighting the smirk that threatened to break out.

"That too," Lucifer said, "But I figured that since we were already in my bed that…"

"Shut up," Chloe cut him off as she surged up to his lips with a kiss.

He happily shut up, cupping her cheek with his right hand, his fingers splayed through her hair – remarkably only slightly tousled from their adventures after Game Night and sleeping in her clothes. He smiled into what slowly turned into a languid kiss. After a moment or two of their impromptu make-out session, they simultaneously came up for air and rested their foreheads on one another. Lucifer closed his eyes with a satisfied sigh, taking in the sensation.

"Chloe Decker, would you like to go out on a date with the Devil?"

He kept his eyes closed. Deep down he knew the Detective would never reject him, but there was that miniscule part of him that feared it. He couldn't bear to look her in the eye if she turned him down.

Taking Lucifer's lead, Chloe also closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Their foreheads still rested on one another. Breathing in the same air as her partner, she let out her whispered response, "There's nothing I'd desire more, Lucifer Morningstar."

They opened their eyes simultaneously and drank in each other's gazes, foreheads still pressed together.

"Really?" Lucifer couldn't help but let out that dash of disbelief mixed with hope tinged in his tone.

"Really," Chloe leant back only to cup Lucifer's face with both her hands to bring his forehead down to her lips in another tender kiss.

"You are what I truly desire, Lucifer," Chloe's breath whispered against his temple.

"You never cease to amaze me, Detective," Lucifer lifted his head, taking Chloe's hands in his, fingers entwined – and gave them a kiss.

"Somebody has to keep you on your toes," Chloe returned.

"There's another part of my anatomy that would much rather hold your attention," Lucifer grinned.

"Lucifer," Chloe rolled her eyes, but there was no fighting the loving smile on her face.

"Sorry, Detective," Lucifer didn't look too sorry for his comment, "Old habits die hard."

"And I wouldn't have you any other way," Chloe rubbed her thumb over his in their clasped hands.

Lucifer opened his mouth, another innuendo on the tip of his tongue, but Chloe silenced it with first her finger over his lips followed by her own to join his.

Chloe let out a pleased hum after their joined lips separated from yet another impromptu make-out session. They had exchanged more kisses in the last few minutes than they had over the course of the last few years – not that she was complaining. They really were acting like a couple of lovesick teenagers and she loved every second.

"Had I known that was the best method to shut you up, I would've done it much sooner," Chloe bit her bottom lip.

"I assure you, Detective… there are much more satisfying tasks you could have tasked my mouth with over the years over talking," Lucifer leered.

"Like brainstorming on what we need to do to take Kinley down?" Chloe returned. As much fun as she was having making out with Lucifer, there would be time for that later. They needed to get back to the problem on their hands.

"Once a Detective, always a detective," Lucifer sighed, feigning exasperation.

"And you wouldn't have me any other way," Chloe repeated, her eyes dared him to make the innuendo she knew he so desperately wanted to make.

Lucifer wisely let the sexual quip die on his tongue. His Detective was such a tease. She was right though – as usual. The sooner they dealt with the issue at hand, namely taking down the evil priest, the sooner they could engage in more satisfying activities.

"You said Mazikeen and Miss Lopez went to the station to gather information on the Father," Lucifer said, the statement coming off as a question for verification.

Chloe nodded.

"Well, if I know Mazikeen, she'll practically be on the priest's doorstep by now," Lucifer continued, "The only question is what she'll do with him once she has him."

"Maybe we should have her just bring him here," Chloe stood up, "We have to wrap up the supernatural aspect of this case before I can properly arrest him."

Chloe looked back at Lucifer still sitting on the bed after he didn't immediately reply, only to see him looking up at her with what could only be described as heart eyes.

"What?" Chloe couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious under his gaze.

"You're incredible," Lucifer breathed.

"Yeah?" Chloe stepped in between his legs. Lucifer's hands instinctively came up to rest on her hips as he gazed up at her.

"Yes," Lucifer replied, "You've been thrust headfirst into all this Celestial nonsense and taking it better than I ever could have imagined."

"Like I said, somebody has to keep you on your toes," Chloe reached down to brush back an errant curl on his forehead.

After a beat of the two of them gazing adoringly into each other's eyes, Chloe took both of Lucifer's hands into her own.

"Lucifer, could you promise something for me?"

"Anything, Detective," Lucifer vowed.

"When we deal with Kinley, will you promise me that you'll let me handle it? By human means?" Chloe asked.

Lucifer furrowed his brow and opened his mouth to what Chloe assumed was to protest, but she cut him off as she elaborated.

"I know that every bone in your body wants to dole out a very Devilish punishment for everything that Father Kinley has put us all through," Chloe squeezed his hands in hers, "I have to admit, even I would love to see you do it, especially since he had the nerve to involve Trixie, but Ivan Wilson deserves to have his killer put behind bars… for justice to be served."

With their hands still clasped in one another, Lucifer stood up causing Chloe to take a step back. She looked up into his eyes, his expression still soft.

"Like I said… incredible," Lucifer replied.

"So, is that a promise?" Chloe had to ask.

"You have my word, Detective," Lucifer answered, "Besides, something tells me that after what is sure to be life in prison… Father Kinley will eventually find himself in my domain."

"Yes… then he'll be in your jurisdiction," Chloe said.

"Don't we make the perfect team?" Lucifer quipped.

"We do."

"Right… so once Maze tracks down the evil priest, we can have her bring him here," Lucifer got back on track.

"And hopefully we can get him to give up the coin if he still has it in his possession," Chloe continued, "It'd be best if we could take that game piece off the board."

"That shouldn't be an issue. It shouldn't take too much convincing if he thinks it's just a one-trick pony," Lucifer said, stepping out of Chloe's hands and heading over to his bar. Chloe followed.

Lucifer poured himself a drink to keep his hands busy. With how often he found his hands entwined with Chloe's in the span of the last twenty minutes, he feared that if he didn't busy them with another task, he'd happily leave his hands in hers forever.

"What do you think he's going to try next?" the worry in Chloe's voice was palpable, "You don't think that coin can do anything else to you, do you? Like actually be able to send you to Hell?"

"If the coin had the power to do that, he most certainly would've done it already. He wouldn't have even bothered with the whole show of kidnapping us or displaying my Devil Face," Lucifer gestured to his face with one hand and turned to place his decanter back into its place with the other.

"No, I honestly don't know what else it can do," Lucifer replied truthfully as he turned back around and reached out to hold Chloe's hand, drink and previous mission to busy his hands with something else forgotten, "But there's one thing I know for certain… and that's that my partner will do everything in her power to keep me safe. That's one constant I can always depend on, Detective."

"The feeling's mutual," Chloe squeezed his hand back.

"Now that we have some semblance of a plan, perhaps we can find something else to do together to pass the time until Maze finds Kinley," Lucifer leaned over the counter and gave Chloe his best bedroom eyes.

"Like plan our first date?" Chloe smirked and joined Lucifer in leaning over the bar, "I plan on being wooed, Lucifer Morningstar."

Lucifer let out a low hum of approval as his eyes dropped down to Chloe's lips, "Among other things."

As Lucifer and Chloe drew closer across the bar, the elevator doors dinged open and Father William Kinley stepped out with a pistol raised aiming at one Chloe Decker.

~*~

"Step away from her, Serpent!" Kinley yelled. His small pistol trembled in his grip with his words, but it still aimed true at Chloe. Instinctively, she reached for her own weapon at her hip, but was only met with empty space instead of her own gun.

"Father Kinley?" Chloe took a step back and raised her hands up in the universal sign of "I mean no harm." She and Lucifer were separated by the bar, but it might as well be by a mile.

"One move from you, Devil and you'll be sorry," Kinley shifted his aim quickly back and forth between Lucifer and Chloe before once again settling on Chloe.

"I'll have to have a word with Patrick about Lux's security," Lucifer also lifted his hands into the air, same as Chloe, "How'd you get in here?"

"The collar can allow me to gain entry anywhere I seek," Kinley replied.

"I swear, the entitlement of those who serve my Father," Lucifer mumbled under his breath and rolled his eyes.

Chloe took a step away from the bar, hands still raised, "What do you want?"

"The Devil in Hell," Kinley replied.

"Good luck with that," Lucifer said, "Last time it took the power of God to accomplish that and I don't see Him around, do you?"

"Why do you want Lucifer to go to Hell so badly?" Chloe tapped into her police training – best to keep them talking.

"I must stop the prophecy. I've dedicated my whole life in preventing it from happening," Kinley took another step closer to Chloe, gun still aimed at her.

"What prophecy might that be?" Chloe slowly lowered her hands, but kept them up more at chest level.

Lucifer mirrored her action, darting his eyes in her direction as she had stepped further away from him and the bar. There was no way he could inch his way out from behind the bar without the insane priest noticing. Never had he ever hated his bar before. But at the moment, as it was the one thing keeping him separated from Chloe, it was at the top of his shit list.

His eyes darted down to one of the extra sets of whiskey glasses out of sight. Slowly, he reached over and very subtly squeezed until the glass cracked under the pressure of his hand. Carefully, he took a shard about four inches long from the glass and slid it closer to himself and covered it with his palm.

"When the Devil walks the Earth," Kinley gestured emphatically at Lucifer with his gun as he said "Devil" and said it with such disdain, as if just speaking about Lucifer tasted acrid on his tongue, "And finds his first love… evil shall be released."

Chloe's eyes widened a fraction as Kinley mentioned Lucifer's "first love." Was there truth to this prophecy? What kind of "evil" would release? Thankfully, it seemed Kinley didn't notice her subtle reaction.

"HA!"

Chloe startled at Lucifer's exclamation; her hands completely lowered to her sides. Kinley turned his attention to him, but kept his gun trained on Chloe.

"What are you laughing about, Snake?" Kinley narrowed his eyes at him.

"You!" Lucifer skimmed his palm across the bar, dragging the glass shard with it, as he started to walk around the bar in the opposite direction of where Chloe stood, in hope Kinley would take his aim off of her. He managed to keep the victory smirk off of his face when Kinley indeed shifted his aim toward him as he came around the bar.

When Kinley's concentration was on him, he subtly slid the glass shard across the bar after quickly catching Chloe's gaze. It stopped just short of the spot where Chloe had been standing not a moment before Kinley had entered the penthouse. Catching on quickly, Chloe grabbed the piece of glass off the bar and resumed her spot behind Kinley.

"You humans," Lucifer shook his head as he stepped closer to the priest. Lucifer's back was to the elevator. Kinley was fully facing him. Chloe stood behind Kinley, safely out of his deadly aim.

"You humans, especially those who serve Dad. You come up with the most random things to suit your beliefs and label them as prophecies to give yourself some Divine purpose…"

"I did not make it up," Kinley protested, cutting the tail-end of Lucifer's sentence off. He sounded like a petulant child.

"Sounds pretty made up to me," Lucifer smoothly slipped his hands into his pockets.

"If there were any truth to it, surely it would've happened a long time ago," Chloe drew Kinley's attention back to her. Lucifer mentally slammed his fist down in frustration as Kinley turned around to once again train his pistol on her.

"What makes you say that?" Kinley wondered.

"Lucifer has been around for literal eons and I know this isn't the first time he's ever been on Earth," Chloe began, "If there were any truth to this prophecy, surely it would've been realized eons ago."

"You're missing the most integral piece of the prophecy, Detective Decker," Kinley raised his aim a little higher on Chloe with an itchy trigger finger.

"What part would that be?" Chloe took a fearful step back as her eyes locked with Lucifer's for a split second. There was realization in his eyes, but for once, she wasn't on the same page as her partner.

"When he finds his first love," Kinley stated, slightly gesturing toward her with his pistol.

"What would make you think I'm his first love?" Chloe pressed a hand to her chest; her eyes darted back to Lucifer. The answer was crystal clear in his eyes.

She, Chloe Decker, a failed starlet turned homicide detective and mother of one, was the first love of one Lucifer Morningstar.

"Please, Detective Decker, don't insult my intelligence," Kinley took another step forward as Chloe took another step back.

"The Devil may have walked the Earth plenty of times over the millennia, but I can say with certainty that there has never been any other being to love him," Kinley sneered, "The creature behind me isn't worthy of receiving anything of the sort."

Lucifer exhaled heavily, reigning in his anger. This human stain had a gun trained on the Detective and given her close proximity; he wasn't immune to the bullets. That wasn't what he worried about though. He worried he wouldn't be able to shield her in time. Not to mention, he had promised Chloe that he wouldn't dole out any Devilish punishment and he was nothing if not a Devil of his word.

Everything happened all at once in the next moment.

A look of pure rage entered Chloe's eyes before she let out a yell and tackled Kinley to the ground. Caught completely off-guard by the sudden tackle, the pistol went off in the priest's outstretched, raised hand before skittering across the penthouse floor far out of reach.

Chloe was seeing red. How dare this man claim that Lucifer was unworthy of love. He was the kindest soul Chloe had ever met. Upon her first meeting of said club owner, she never would have thought that to be true. But over the years, as she got to know the real Lucifer, she could say it with complete certainty. He was more than capable of love – both to give it and to be on the receiving end. He's demonstrated it over the years in a multitude of ways.

She pushed herself up on Kinley. It was a pretty clumsy tackle, but all rational thought had disappeared at Kinley bad-mouthing her Lucifer. Reeling her fist back, she doled out a strong right hook square into Kinley's jaw. He spat out blood and then lunged up at Chloe, hands going straight for her neck.

"Of course, the simplest and most effective method of preventing the prophecy would be to take out the first love from the equation," Kinley gritted, his blood matted across his teeth, as he squeezed his hands around Chloe's neck.

Chloe choked, but Kinley had moved over her at an awkward angle. The glass shard Lucifer had slid to her was still clutched in her fist. She barely felt it biting into her palm. With one smooth movement, she fingered the glass shard and punched Kinley right in his stomach, shard first. The sudden impact caused him to release the hold he had on her neck.

Choking in air, Chloe managed to get one more punch in before she managed to get the upper hand and wrestled him on to his front. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she heard the elevator ding, indicating someone had arrived.

She roughly pulled Kinley's arms behind him, ready to slap on handcuffs she didn't have in her possession. His struggles started to slow slightly as she sat on top of him.

A pair of handcuffs appeared out of the corner of her eye. She looked up to see that it was Dan handing her a pair. Without question, she swiftly grabbed them from Dan before harshly squeezing the handcuffs into place on Kinley's wrists. She pushed off of him, chest heaving from the exertion.

Kinley's struggles ceased. He didn't make any move to get up. In fact, he was smiling. There appeared to be even MORE blood splattered across his grin. His gaze was locked on to something off to the side of the bar. What was he even looking at?

Chloe's gaze followed the direction of his stare and her heart dropped.

Lucifer was on the ground, flat on his back, eyes wide open staring blankly at the ceiling.