"Before you say anything, I know... I know it's a lot to take in, and it's going to take some time to get... Used to this... New me, but you're my best friend, Viv. If I couldn't tell you, then... Who could I tell?" I said, sitting on the couch across from Viv, who looked in deep thought. I had just told her... Everything, from the first night at Lux up to the day Lucifer and I had just spent together. After a long moment of her staring at me in thought, she cracked up with a loud laugh.

"I get it! You like Lucifer, so you're coming up with all these metaphors and storyline plots in your head to keep yourself from going after him!" she cupped my cheek in a caring motion, but I couldn't help but feel my heart break at the fact that she didn't believe me, "Hon, you shouldn't try to keep yourself away. Just go for him, get a little bit of his sexy ass. You deserve it, trust me," I shook my head and swatted her hand away from my face as I stood from the couch.

"You don't get it, Viv," I sighed and looked down at my shirt, "You think I'm covering up details of my life with dumb metaphors," I grabbed the hem of my shirt and pulled the fabric up and over my head, throwing it to the ground, leaving myself in just my bra which she had seen many times before, "Well, I'm not. Even if-!" I stopped myself, turning to her, "Even if my liking Lucifer was the case, it wouldn't change what I am. I am Angel Grace, put on this Earth to serve one purpose and one purpose only, and that is to watch the Devil and make sure he returns to hell," with that, I looked down, focusing entirely on how I'd figured out to hide my wings, only this time trying to do the opposite. When I heard a soft flapping sound, I knew I'd succeeded. I looked up at Viv once more, just in time to feel my feet lift up and off the ground, "Now, do you believe me, or not?"

"Y-you're a-a-a-" Her mouth gaped and her eyes widened. I sighed and dropped to the ground as I re-hid my wings.

"This was a mistake," I turned for the door. I loved her, but she wouldn't understand. I had a job to do, a duty to fulfill. Maybe it was just because I hated working as a waitress, or maybe it was because now that I knew these things existed, I didn't want to be damned to hell for not listening to God's direct orders, or maybe... Maybe I just felt comfortable around Lucifer that I hadn't felt in a long time, but I wanted--I needed to be around him.

Though, I didn't get a solid three steps in before Viv grabbed my wrist, just around where my newly formed scabs were. I let out a hiss and pulled my arm out of her grip, rubbing my now small open wounds.

"Angel, I'm sorry I didn't believe you, but I mean-" she stopped her heartfelt speech as she noticed my arm, "What did you do this time, babes?" she asked with a frown.

"It's not super new. I did it before we went clubbing--before I even found out I was an angel," I said, and she now gently reached for my hand, lowering my bare arm so she could see the scabs.

"Angel..." I could hear the disappointment in her voice. She knew why I cut. I'd told her my entire life story, up until Jase... "I just don't understand why you feel the need to do this. I am always here for you. I'm never not going to be here for you. You know that don't you?" she asked. I nodded sheepishly.

"I just don't want to always be putting my problems on you, Viv. I mean, you always help me out, but when's the last time you've had a problem on your shoulders that's not been mine?" I replied. I was not expecting to have this conversation right now, but I had to have known it would happen eventually.

"Angel, I have problems. They just aren't major. I've never been disowned by my shitty family. I was born here, I didn't move away from the only home I've known. And whether you realize it or not, you help me with problems every day. Like when I hated college so you suggested I look into real estate. You help me with my issues, so let me be there for yours," she looked into my eyes. Vivian was truly beautiful, someone you'd expect to see in Los Vegas "City Of Angels". She was so above me and most people, and yet she still had such a beautiful heart.

"Okay... Okay, thank you," she smiled at me, before dropping it in an almost scowl.

"Now, where's the wretched blade that I need to break and flush?"

𖤐𖤐𖤐

It had been a couple of days since I told Viv what I was. I'd given her time to process the whole situation and she'd only had a couple drinks to help herself with it. Then we made the decision to make a visit to LUX. She was interested to see Lucifer again, now knowing that he was the actual devil, but she mainly just wanted a drink. I had to admit though, on the way over as I tugged at Viv's weird dress that showed my entire midsection to cover up more of my skin, I couldn't help but think about her theory. I didn't like Lucifer, right? He was just some handsome British Devil guy I had to look after, nothing more, nothing less.

Right?

By the time we got there, it was already dark out and I had created a web of thought in my brain, backtracking all my actions with Lucifer. How he spoke to me and how I spoke to Viv about him to see why she thought I liked him more than a friend. I mean, honestly, I could see myself having a little crush on the guy, but Lucifer was top shit, he wasn't the cheap beer at the bar, he was the fuckin'... Whatever was the most expensive beer, I don't know, I don't drink. In nerd words, Lucifer was like the Doctor and I was his companion-he's from a totally different world than me and it would never work out between us anyway.

But hell, now I got to thinking about it, and my mind couldn't stay off of it as we entered the club. The loud music was drowned out in my train of thought and I didn't even comprehend where I was going as I made my way down the entrance stairs and to the elevator. I hated overthinking, and that was all I could do right now. I hoped, as dumb as it sounded, that if I actually saw him, all these thoughts would disappear and I could just be in the moment with him, whether I liked him or not.

God, were feelings always this hard to process?

I watched Viv take a seat at the bar where she was poured a glass by the pretty bartender, Maze as Lucifer had introduced her. Viv shot me a smile as I pressed the button for the top floor and the doors closed, emerging me into the loudest silent elevator ride in history. Does this guy really not invest in some elevator music?

When I got to the top floor, I was surprised to see Lucifer nowhere around, though not incredibly. He seemed to never be where I wanted him to be and always where I least expected him to be. It felt like the first time I had been here as I looked around, taking it in a whole new light. Instead of going to his couch, this time I went to his bar. The asshole had water and he didn't even offer me water the first night we met, though the more I thought about it, the more I figured he probably didn't even realize he had it. I'm pretty sure everything he drank was alcoholic. I poured myself a glass of water and made my way further into the apartment. I had never really gotten a good look around, seeing as both times I'd been here I had been stressed about something either right before or right after. It was a beautiful place, with a view over Los Angeles that was to die for. Everything about the place screamed, "I'm rich and beautiful".

I walked up the short steps to his bedroom, setting my half-empty glass down on his nightstand table as I continued to look around. I wondered where he was and why he'd leave his place so unlocked like this. I guess as the devil, he was less vulnerable than the average human being. I wondered if it was like the movies and he could get shot in the head and come back perfectly fine.

I wandered over to his closet, opened the door, and smelled the scent of his cologne on every one of his fancy jackets, suit jackets, vests, and button-ups as soon as the door cracked. It was like a poison that drew me in, and without even thinking about how strange it was, I reached out for one but shied away quickly. I knew this would be the awkward time in the movies where he'd walk in right behind me just as I was doing something weird, then he'd never speak to me again and I'd have to guard him from afar. I quickly shut his closet door with a heavy sigh, slumping away.

The more I saw of him, the more I had to convince myself that it wasn't true; that Viv's guess wasn't true. I didn't have feelings for the Devil, himself. The only problem was, the more I had to convince myself it wasn't true, the more I felt like I was lying to myself.

I shoved my face in the palms of my hands out of embarrassment and fell back onto his bed; it wasn't like I hadn't laid here before.

"God, Angel, what'd you get yourself into this time," I muttered to myself, only it wasn't me that put myself into this situation, it was the first word of the sentence--God. God had put me here only to serve Lucifer, and I'd be damned to say that it didn't hurt that I was only a ploy in this plan of the other angels to get Lucifer back to hell.

"You shouldn't be here," I heard and shot up quickly.

"Lucifer?" I questioned, though I knew the voice didn't sound anything at all like the British devil.

"Not quite," the owner of the voice was a tall dark-skinned man. He was bald, with a black goatee, and wore a dark grey robe. Quite frankly, he was beautiful and led me to wonder why everyone around this place was so damn good-looking.

"I-I'm sorry. Who are you?" I asked the stranger timidly. I'd never seen this man in my life, but he looked pretty intimidating right now. As he heard me stutter, though, his gaze seemed to soften.

"I'm Amenadiel. I'm Lucifer's brother," he introduced, "You must be Angel Grace, his Guardian," he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "I apologize if I startled you. I was looking for Luci, thought he might be here because you were. Why aren't you with him?" he asked. My mouth gaped open. The number of angels I was meeting these past couple of weeks was crazy. How many were there? I'd never even heard of Raguel or Amenadiel, and I haven't even met Michael or Gabriel or whoever else was in the bible.

"I-I thought he'd be here. I was looking for him too; I... I need to talk to him," Amenadiel nodded at my explanation.

"My brother... Seems like he's never in the right place at the right time," he let out a sigh. I sat up fully on the bed, scooting down to the bottom of it to prepare myself to stand.

"Maybe we could find him together?" I offered, though it seemed too late.

"No need."