18. âThis is without a doubt the stupidest plan youâve ever had. Of course Iâm in.â
This ended up being way longer than I expected. Itâs more Lucifer and Maze brotp, hope thatâs okay?
âSo. Let me get this straight,â Maze says, lounging with her feet up on Luciferâs coffee table. âYou want to convince Chloeâs potential suitor not only that sheâs already in a relationship, but that youâre actually her boyfriend?â
âRight,â Lucifer says, wondering where the problem is.
âAll because you think this guy has the hots for Chloe?â
âI know desire, Maze. I can see it when he looks at her.â He grits his teeth.Â
âAnd you canât stand the thought of her being with anyone else now that youâve realized she has the Free Will and can choose another because youâre to chickenshit to act on how you feel.â Maze sums up.
âMazikeen,â he growls at her ineffectually. She glares back, unremorseful. âAre you going to help me or not?â he asks, words clipped, but nearly on the edge of groveling.
âThis is without a doubt the stupidest plan youâve ever had. Of course Iâm in,â Maze scoffs.
It starts off with a lot of pet names being dropped, even more so than usual. Lucifer intermittently slipping âloveâ between âdarlingâ and âdearâ. Chloe looks a bit suspicious, but says nothing about it.
The man clearly interested in pursuing Chloe - a detective from the Narcotics division named, hilariously, Adam - gets waylaid by an excited Ella.
Maze had insisted on bringing the Tribe in on the plan. Lucifer had been doubtful, but Ella keeps Adam distracted while he slips on Chloeâs coat for her and smooths it across her shoulders. The other manâs gaze flickers over to them, but Lucifer pays him no mind as advised by Linda.
Heâd been surprised by his therapist being on board with such subterfuge, but sheâs been surprisingly helpful.
âYou have to behave as if youâre already in a relationship with the Detective, Lucifer. No insecurity,â Linda says.
Itâs with that thought in mind that he actually approaches Adam the next time the man comes around.
âDetective Baker, was it?â Lucifer says, introducing himself with a handshake that is firm enough to be polite and no more. Itâs oddly freeing, this facade, he feels⌠Settled. Like Adam is a mere blip and nothing to be overly concerned about.
Adam seems surprised Lucifer has approached him. âUh, yeah. Thatâs me.â He looks at Lucifer and swallows. âYouâre Deckerâs partner, arenât you?â
âI am.â Lucifer fairly beams with pride. âSheâs off at the moment, however. Is there something I can do for you?â
âUm, no. Not - thatâs very kind, but -â
âAh, here she comes now actually.â Lucifer looks at her with all the tenderness he can muster.
She glances at him, pleased, but confused. âWhatâs going on here?â she asks with a bit of a laugh.
âJust waiting on you, love. Itâs nearly time to pick up the child from school,â Lucifer reminds her gently.
âLook, Iâll take a bounty and tell Decker I canât pick up the kid,â Maze explains.
âWhat good does that do me?â Lucifer asks.
âAre you kidding? What kind of fake boyfriend are you?â
Lucifer looks at her affronted. âThe best kind,â he replies.
âThen, as Chloeâs boyfriend, you would have no problem picking her daughter up from school, would you?â
âI suppose not,â he concedes. Chloe did often consider things done for Trixie as an extension of things done for her.
âSo youâll go get the kid and youâll bring her back here and have fun,â Maze says like a threat.
âYes, alright,â Lucifer rolls his eyes. âYouâve made your point.â
Chloe checks at her watch. âCrap, youâre right.â Then she looks at her stack of work, frustrated.
Lucifer reaches out and squeezes her arm. âHow about I go and retrieve Beatrice and have dinner waiting for you when you come home? How does that sound?â
âOh, Lucifer that would be wonderful,â Chloe says, grateful.
âOf course.â Lucifer angles himself to include Adam in the conversation. âI believe Detective Baker needed something of youâŚ?â Lucifer tails off.
âUm, no actually. It seems Iâve misunderstood. Iâve got a case on my desk calling my name.â Adam grins, a bit rueful, a little disappointed, but takes a step back all the same.
Lucifer makes himself look slightly interested. âWell, I hope it goes well for you and you catch the bad guys.â
Adamâs grin goes suddenly genuine. âMe, too. See you guys around.â
Lucifer turns back to Chloe and thereâs something in her gaze, like when sheâs working out a lead, that makes him a little nervous.
Lucifer makes a show of checking the little pocket watch on his waistcoat. âWell. I ought to be off if I am to collect the spawn. See you in a few hours, darling.â Then he sweeps out of the precinct.
Trixie is easy enough to manage compared to the unruly demons he once ruled. Between the two of them, they complete her homework, including an art project that manages to get glitter everywhere. Lucifer finds the vacuum and gets most of it, except for whatâs lodged in his hair and stuck to his person. Trixie giggles, but makes no mention of the silver specks when he questions her on what she finds so funny.
Then he starts on dinner, calculating Chloe will be home just as it finishes. He confers with Trixie and the contents of the fridge and makes a baked chicken dish. Itâs just being pulled out of the oven when Chloe steps inside, kicking her shoes off and inhaling the delicious smells.
Trixie is setting out silverware as Lucifer puts plates down. âMommy!â Trixie cries and abandons her job to run bodily into Chloeâs legs. âLucifer and I finished the art project for science class!â she announces.
âThatâs wonderful, baby. Can you show me after dinner?â
Trixie nods against her motherâs hip, grinning.
She turns her attention to him, then, something soft in her gaze. âHi,â she says, almost shy.
He looks up at her and smiles warmly. âHello, love.â
She swallows, but quickly gathers herself. âLucifer, it smells amazing in here.â
âJust wait till you taste it, then,â he teases and he turns to finish setting the table. Unknowingly the light catches at the glitter in his hair, caught in his shirt, dappling him like stars.
Lucifer nearly drops the plate in his hand when Chloe strides over to him, takes his face on her hands and kisses him soundly.
Maze, watching from the shadows, grins. Trixie spots her and returns the expression, giving the demon a thumbs up. Lucifer is going to owe her big time for this.