Chapter Text
“About the dessert…”
“What?”
Lucifer was literally hanging upside down, holding onto a branch with his legs. He couldn’t make too much noise, and although he loved these calls, he couldn’t help but wonder how long they would last each time.
“Listen, Lu.”
“I am listening, Al! You know how it is… the office is always a mess.”
The blood was starting to rush to his head, and by his calculations, a few more minutes and he’d pass out, falling from nearly five meters high. As he spoke to his beloved boyfriend, Lucifer scanned the area for his target.
Alastor sighed on the other end of the phone, knowing the blond was partially distracted. They had been together for almost ten years now, and he recognized Lucifer’s tone when his head was in the clouds.
“I was thinking about a shortcake. You know which one?”
“Custard and—”
“Whipped cream and strawberries.”
“That- that would be amazing, love!” His breath was getting shorter, and he was starting to feel the unmistakable chill inside his body, a sign that he was close to losing consciousness.
He realized Alastor would probably go on for a while, so he put the phone on speaker and held it between his lips.
“Or maybe a simple chocolate cake. It’s classic but elegant.”
“Mhm! Mhm!” He started to swing lightly back and forth, trying to reach the branch with his arms.
After a few swings, Lucifer’s hands finally brushed against the rough surface of the wood. With one final, stronger push, the blond managed to grab the branch, letting his legs drop and allowing the blood to flow properly again.
“Mhm is not an answer.”
He quickly grabbed the phone and put it back to his ear, now holding onto the branch with just one arm.
“I was thinking, sorry. I’d say last year’s pancake tower was better.” He tried to focus more on the conversation. He didn’t want to hurt him, and this occasion was important to him too.
“Again?! Lu, we’re celebrating ten years together and you want a pancake tower?” He let out a soft chuckle.
“Ah… well, I think—”
His eyes widened; his target was there! He’d been searching for it for days, almost to the point of tears.
“You think what?”
“A-Alastor, forgive me! The boss needs to speak to me! I’ll call you back right away—” He ended the call without waiting for a response.
Ponta. That damn black-and-white cat with a heart-shaped spot on its back was right under him. Lucifer slowly moved from branch to branch, descending carefully without making any noise. Luckily, he was small and light, so even the weakest twigs could support him.
“Piece of shit. You were about to ruin my anniversary…” he whispered, creeping closer.
Once he was right above it, Lucifer literally dropped down, pinning the cat to the ground with both hands, stopping it from moving. Naturally, the feline began hissing, trying to bite and scratch Lucifer, partly succeeding.
“I don’t like you either, relax! I just prefer dogs, nothing personal.” He grabbed it by the scruff and stood up.
He headed toward the cage he had hidden behind the large tree and shoved Ponta inside, not too gently. He kneeled in front of the grate, staring at the partially chubby cat with a triumphant smile.
“I know your owner’s a bitch, but she’s paying me to take your freedom again. If you want, you can escape once I’ve claimed my reward.”
As if understanding him, the cat hissed, baring all its teeth at Lucifer.
“Yeah, yeah… whatever.” He stood up and grabbed his phone, calling Alastor back.
“Everything okay…?”
“Yes, sorry, love… my boss was particularly… nervous today.” He glanced at his bleeding arm.
“You sure everything’s fine? He seems to be angry all the time lately. If he’s asking too much, you can always quit. We’ll manage somehow.”
Lucifer rolled his eyes. Alastor was always so overly protective of him.
“Don’t worry, darling. Anyway… I think the shortcake is a great option—”
“I got a heart-shaped red velvet.”
Lucifer stifled a laugh, covering his mouth with one hand. It often went like this, if not always. Alastor loved to involve him in various decisions, but in the end, it was always him who organized everything. From picking out their home furniture to deciding Saturday night’s dinner. From choosing which movie to see at the cinema to the anniversary dessert. The blond appreciated that, despite his boyfriend’s strong controlling tendencies, he still wanted Lucifer to feel like his opinion mattered… even though it often wasn’t followed.
“I’d say that was the best choice you could make!” he said loudly.
“Exactly.” He couldn’t see him, but he knew Alastor was doing his usual shoulder shrug, eyes closed, eyebrows raised, as if to say, “After all, I’m always right.”
Lucifer smiled warmly, thinking of Alastor. He loved him so much, and their relationship was going perfectly. They had met in university, and everything had gone smoothly since then. Never a fight, a betrayal, a jealous outburst, or dishes thrown against the walls. Their lives were perfectly intertwined. The redhead had his peaceful, fragrant flower shop. His assistant, old Susan, was insufferable but often helped, especially on important days or if one of them was sick. Lucifer…
Well, officially, Lucifer had a simple office job that started at eight in the morning and ended at four in the afternoon. In reality, things were quite different.
The blond scratched his cheek, wondering how he would hide all those scratches when he got home.
“Al, I really have to go, love. I’ll see you this afternoon when I’m done here, okay?”
“Okay, Lu… I love you.”
“I love you too, darling.” He ended the call, glancing at the screen where there was a photo of the two of them, hugging and smiling.
He still remembered that wonderful vacation in Italy they took right after university. It was during that trip that Alastor asked him to move in together. He asked with so much embarrassment and seriousness that Lucifer thought he was about to get a marriage proposal at just twenty-six. Nine years had passed since that vacation, yet they were still there, loving and caring for each other.
Lucifer turned toward Ponta’s cage, kneeling again and watching the now-calm cat.
“How could I ever tell him, Ponta?” he whispered.
“Meow.”
“Just as I thought.”
Although their relationship was perfect, there were secrets swept under the rug, hidden from view. The little blond didn’t work for any company. In fact, he worked for himself, and the business he ran would definitely… not be accepted by his other half.
Ever since he was a boy, Lucifer had been fascinated by the work of a detective. A mysterious figure, agile, lurking in the shadows, with eyes everywhere. He knew everything, uncovering every detail or lie. It was simply fascinating. For that reason, he chose to study criminology at university. Once they were together, Alastor admitted how worried he was about the profession Lucifer would pursue with that degree. He didn’t know what he was aiming for, but it would surely be dangerous. The blond deeply loved his coursemate from the start, so he promised to get a simple job, lying to him and not being able to ignore the passion coursing through his veins.
As soon as he graduated, Lucifer opened his own agency. It had been nine years now, and his successes kept piling up. He handled serious, dangerous, and sometimes lengthy investigations. Occasionally, he’d take on simpler jobs, like the one he was working on that week.
The blond stood up and selected a contact in his phonebook before bringing the phone to his ear.
BRRRRING
BRRRRING
Lucifer glanced at the cat again, a doubtful expression on his face. The lady who hired him was particularly anxious, and when he had his work phone on, she would call him practically every hour.
BRRRRING
BRRRRING
“How strange… she was so worried about you.”
"Meow."
"I think so too. Maybe she'll call back as soon as she's out of the bathroom."
He ended the call and grabbed the carrier with Ponta inside, lifting it up as he started walking back to his office.
"You're so heavy, damn it..."
"Meow."
"That's not a very mature response, Ponta."
-
"AAAawwwwwWW… Lucifer, can we—"
"No way, Char."
"But if the owner doesn’t come back for him, can we keep him?"
Lucifer was disinfecting his numerous bleeding wounds, sitting in his enormous office chair. He glanced at the girl from the corner of his eye, making it clear how much he disagreed with that idea. He didn’t like cats, although he did manage to have some interesting conversations with Ponta.
"She’ll come, don’t worry. Remember how anxious she was?"
The girl, a little younger than Lucifer, was playing with the fat cat through the cage, slipping her slender fingers between the bars.
"Careful, he scratches. He’s a beast from Hell."
"NoooOOoo, he's a lovely chubby boy!" she said in a ridiculously sweet and affectionate tone.
Lucifer rolled his eyes, realizing he had mentally lost his assistant, at least for the moment. He wondered if she'd at least still be able to open the door for clients or answer the phone. He no longer expected her to handle more complex tasks like scheduling appointments or grabbing him pancakes from the café downstairs.
The sound of the doorbell indicated that a client had arrived, drawing the detective's and the girl’s attention.
"Ooh, too bad. She’s come to get him."
"You really don’t want your paycheck..." Lucifer muttered, tossing the blood-soaked cotton balls into the trash.
The blond man stood up, heading toward the door to greet the client. When the person rounded the corner, both Lucifer and Charlie’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. This wasn’t Ponta's owner but rather a woman they'd never seen before, possibly a new client.
"Good morning," Lucifer greeted with his usual professional seriousness, adjusting the gray vest that matched his trousers and his white shirt.
"Hello..." The woman nodded.
She was stunning—tall, with long blonde hair. Her eyes could make any straight person—or lesbian—fall in love. Standing before Lucifer, the detective seemed even smaller than usual. Charlie got up, leaving Ponta in his cage and approaching the client.
"Can I get you something to drink? Coffee, water... tea, or maybe some hot chocolate?"
Lucifer smiled slightly, reassured that he hadn’t completely lost his beloved assistant. Over the years, he had grown fond of Charlie. She had enrolled in the same university and the same program as the blond, hoping to become a detective herself one day. Now, in her final year, Lucifer was starting to understand Alastor’s concern for her. Though his affection for her was purely platonic—he saw her as a little sister—he was deeply worried about sweet Charlie entering dangerous situations or dealing with shady individuals. He tried to push these paranoid thoughts aside, hoping to delay such concerns until she graduated.
"Lemon tea, please."
"Hot… or cold?"
"Hot, thank you. It's especially cold today."
Lucifer’s slightly pointed ears twitched. He stood still, hands in his pockets, observing the woman in every detail. She must have a preference for sour flavors, as Charlie followed her instructions, offering bitter, sweet, sour, diet, or indulgent drinks. That little analysis, while seemingly a casual exchange, already helped him frame the client’s personality.
"Please, have a seat…" Lucifer almost whispered, gesturing toward the chair with a slight wave of his hand.
After all, he was a gentleman. The woman sat down, and when she raised her gaze to meet his with icy blue eyes, Lucifer felt a brief jolt in his chest. She was breathtaking, but she had nothing on his Alastor. Regardless of what was between their legs, the blond loved and adored his partner, and not even an angel fallen from heaven could change his mind.
"How can I help you, Miss…?"
"Lilith. You can drop the formalities, detective."
Lucifer walked around the table, sitting across from her. She was asking him to drop the barriers, to create an emotional connection. The detective lifted his chin, studying the woman as if she were a book to be read and analyzed. She was a manipulator, no doubt. She had tried to seduce him with her gaze, and when that didn’t work, she was now attempting to connect with his personal identity—the real Lucifer behind the detective facade. The only reason he could think of was that she was about to ask him for a very important or difficult task.
"Alright, Lilith. I’m Lucifer."
"Nice to meet you." She nodded slightly, leaning forward slowly to show off her cleavage.
The blond man was starting to lose his patience. Not only did he have to live a lie to avoid worrying his partner, but now he also had to deal with flirtation in his office?
"Nice to meet you too. Can we get to the job you wanted to propose?"
The blonde was clearly irritated by the failure of her gestures. Her attempts only served to annoy the detective, who was an extremely polite and formal person—unless someone crossed the line. Among his clients, it was well known that Lucifer could either accept or reject a job. If he believed the case was a lost cause or a waste of time, he’d refuse. If the client was unpleasant or disrespectful, he’d refuse. He still remembered like it was yesterday the nobleman who had asked Charlie to hang up his coat. Lucifer probably left a permanent and free shoe print on that man’s backside.
"Efficient, as I was told." She whispered, almost intrigued.
"It’s one of our trademarks, Lilith." He hissed, wanting to get to the heart of the matter.
"Good..."
Charlie entered the room with a teapot full of hot water, two cups, and two tea bags beside them. On the tray she held in her delicate hands, she had also placed a small plate of cookies. Lucifer raised an eyebrow, giving the girl a look she knew well. She shrugged in response. This excess of kindness and sudden change of plan was ruining part of his silent investigation.
When Charlie set the tray on the desk that separated her boss and the potential client, she quickly left the room, leaving them alone. Lucifer allowed himself a tender smile but tried to regain control of the situation, showing seriousness again. He didn’t want to reveal his true personality or his bond with his assistant. Lilith picked up the teapot and poured the hot water for both of them, slowly dipping the tea bags into the cups. Now she was playing the role of the accommodating one. This wasn’t just simple politeness; she was still trying to win Lucifer over for some yet unknown reason.
Lucifer didn’t want to show impatience or the annoyance he was feeling. He settled back in his chair, clasping his hands together and resting his elbows on the armrests. When the woman handed him the cup, with the tea bag still floating in the now-infusing water, Lucifer nodded in acknowledgment, his face betraying no emotion. He took the cup and sipped slowly, waiting. Lilith did the same, drinking sip by sip. The two fell into a brief silence, likely a test of who would grow impatient first. When Lucifer remained still, even closing his eyes and pretending to relax, Lilith finally spoke, much to his satisfaction.
"I need your help with a series of murders."
The jolt of adrenaline that hit Lucifer's heart remained hidden behind the mask of calm he was wearing. He set the cup down on the table, shifting his focus to her.
"Recent or…?"
"Both. They started years ago, but no one has been able to find a solution."
Lucifer tilted his head, processing her words carefully.
"The killer is still at large."
"How many victims?"
"About one every three months…"
"How do you know it’s the same person responsible for all the killings?"
"The modus operandi is always the same. People die inexplicably."
"I-inexplicably?"
Why hadn’t Lucifer heard about this serial killer before? It struck him as odd that such a case hadn't crossed his radar. He straightened up in his chair, listening closely to what the woman had to say, her satisfaction evident now that she had his full attention.
"Apparently, they fall asleep and never wake up again."
Lucifer blinked several times. One every three months... they could be coincidences, especially if there were no wounds or signs of struggle, strangulation, or poisoning.
“Forgive me if I seem cold, but they could be perfectly normal heart attacks, Lilith. Once every three months... in a big city like this, it could easily be pure chance.”
“But I don’t live in this city.” She almost smiled, satisfied that she had caught Lucifer off guard in what seemed inexplicably like a battle of wits between them.
“T-then why are you here?”
“I’m here because one of your clients recommended your contact. This person is also a dear friend of mine and knew I needed a detective.”
Reasonable? He thought.
“And... where do you live exactly?”
“In the city next door, about an hour from here.”
Lucifer nodded, understanding why he hadn’t heard news of these murders. He didn’t work outside the city. He couldn’t stray too far, or Alastor would start getting suspicious and worried.
“Lilith, let me stop you right there. I don’t work outside this city. I can’t investigate this case.”
“I figured.” She stood up, causing Lucifer to raise an eyebrow as he remained seated.
She pulled a piece of paper from her purse, placing it on the desk and letting it slide forward, once again showing off her generous cleavage. He wanted to shout that he was gay, but he didn’t want to reveal details about his private life. When Lilith stepped back to stand again, Lucifer took the slip of paper and opened it.
It was a number. Presumably a figure. A figure... that was absurdly, ridiculously high. Although he didn’t want to show any emotion, he probably paled a bit. With a sum like that, he could even retire early and live out his life with Alastor without having to work another single day—though he probably would continue, since he loved his job.
“Is that... your offer?”
“It’s precisely the amount I’m proposing. I also have drivers ready to pick you up, take you wherever you need to go, and bring you home again, in very short time.”
Damn... It was all so temptingly perfect.
“How... how do you know these are serial murders? Even in your city there are still a lot of people. It could easily be heart attacks.”
“The victims are always relatively young. But the loudest clue is the note left behind.”
“A serial killer, then.” He nodded. “What... what do the notes say?”
“Only the mark of a snowflake.”
So much information to process. Lucifer closed his eyes, thinking. Young people killed in their homes, about once every three months. They fell asleep and never woke up. The killer left a note with a snowflake symbol. Could it be a clue as to how they were killed? Or a hint about the name the killer wanted to be known by? Serial killers are often vain and enjoy creating an image.
“Why are you so invested in finding this person?” He reopened his eyes, looking directly at her.
Lilith knew she had him now and smiled, clearly pleased. Though there was a hint of sadism in her, the smile was entirely angelic.
“The last victim... was my sister Eva.”
Lucifer flinched, now showing a sincere expression of sympathy.
“I-I’m sorry, Lilith, I didn’t know.”
“Don’t worry... it’s been a few weeks now. During this time, I’ve been gathering evidence on my own, since the police aren’t releasing much information.”
“That’s dangerous, dear. You shouldn’t have.”
“I know. My husband kept telling me that. That’s why I came here.”
She has a husband and behaves like this around men? he thought honestly.
The blond couldn’t say for sure, so he just reflected privately that the money being offered was probably from Lilith’s husband, possibly to give his wife peace after the tragic loss of her sister. The way she presented herself, perfectly made-up, smelling sweet, in what looked like an evening gown, adorned with jewelry, a branded handbag, and high heels, didn’t suggest she was a working woman. But he could be wrong and had fallen into the trap of stereotypes.
“Give me a few days to gather information and see if I can actually take the case.”
Lilith approached him, taking his hand and placing it on her chest.
“You don’t know how grateful I am... I need to know who did this to Eva and why...” She now seemed to drop her mask of confidence and superiority.
Her eyes filled with tears, causing Lucifer to swallow hard. The detective pulled his hand back and stood, grabbing a business card from his desk. He handed it to her, looking at her seriously.
“Call me in two days, around this time.” He gazed at her with suspicion. He had to admit he didn’t like Lilith, especially due to her manipulative ways, which he knew all too well, and the way she used her natural beauty so perfectly.
“Thank you... thank you so much, detective,” she said, her voice breaking.
She seemed sincere. After all, it was her sister. Lucifer had many siblings, but they lived quite far from him. Although they kept in touch once a week by phone or video call, he couldn’t imagine the pain of losing one of them.
He saw that Lilith wanted to hug him and appreciated the fact that she held back. Lucifer wasn’t fond of physical contact, especially with people he didn’t know.
“No problem, it’s my job.”
He escorted the woman to the door, where Charlie was waiting to show her out. Lucifer closed the door, silently sighing. It was a big case, probably dangerous, and one that would cause even more problems with his charade with Alastor. He walked over to Ponta’s cage and knelt on the floor, so he could look his apparent friend in the eyes.
“What do you think?”
“Meow…”
“It stinks to me too…” He sat beside the cage, staring at the wall in front of him, which was covered with certificates from all the courses he had taken, along with his diploma in the center, framed in a slightly more colorful and decorated frame than the others.
“But catching a serial killer... that’s every detective’s dream, isn’t it?”
“Meo…”
“I know, I know. I have to think about my family too. I should keep a low profile, like I usually do. But it’s so damn tempting.” Lucifer could feel his blood literally boiling with excitement. New places, lots of people to question, disguises, the thrill of danger... He just couldn’t hold himself back.
"I think I’ll accept, Ponta."
"Meow."