Your lip was throbbing, it stung as you licked it, a familiar metallic taste hit your tongue, and you sighed. That wasn't what was important right now, the reopened wound on your side was a much more pressing matter. You were just happy it had been healing well before your little skirmish. It certainly wasn't bleeding as much compared to last time. Still the fact that it was bleeding at all was a cause for concern.
Did you go home though? Seek medical attention? Call someone?
No.
You went straight to Lucifer's penthouse, taking the back way he had shown you to avoid any party goers at Lux. Perhaps it was the fight you'd barely escaped from, or the bleeding wound on your side, but you felt compelled to go to his home. Whether he was there or not mattered very little to you.
He had the perfect remedy for your pain stalked to the ceiling, on glass shelves. You went straight for the bottle of Jack, taking a generous gulp before setting it on the piano, and searching through his cupboards. Praying to whoever would listen that he had a first aid kit, but you come up empty-handed.
You cursed under your breath, eyeing the bottle of whiskey for a moment. But shook your head, whiskey was good for pain, but you needed something stronger to sterilize your wound.
"Whiskey for pain, vodka for cleaning." You mumbled.
You hadn’t noticed the man walking down the steps from the bedroom, so focused on your pain you never even heard the shower running. Quite honestly you had assumed he'd be enjoying time down at Lux.
Lucifer froze a moment, smiling a little until he saw the blood on his previously pristine floors.
"Oh darling, what am I going to do with you..." He mumbled to himself.
His frown deepened when he saw that you were not drinking his very expensive bottle of Iordanov Vodka, but pouring it onto what he remembered to be your knife wound.
"Blood on Italian marble, I'm sure that's not damaging or anything..." You hissed in pain, gripping the bottle tightly as you set it on the bar. Before opening the cupboards under the bar, hoping to find a first aid kit, or at the very least a clean rag to press to your wound.
"Really a much easier clean than one would assume." Lucifer finally spook up.
You panicked, jumping in surprise, head slamming against the shelf above you.
"Damn it!"
Lucifer chuckled lightly at your unfortunate luck tonight before moving to help you up. He guided you to the couch, watching you settle back on it. He took in your appearance, busted lip, bruising cheek. Then of course there was the bleeding wound on your side.
"What have you been up to? Undoing all my hard work." He scolded you lightly.
You smiled as he lifted your shirt, clicking his tongue in disapproval at the sight of your torn stitches.
"Well good news you don't need stitches again, it's been healing quite nicely. We'll patch it right up, and you'll be right as rain." He hummed.
You raised an eyebrow watching Lucifer disappear into his bedroom before stepping back out carrying a small box with him.
"Right as rain? That's an old phrase."
"I've been around far longer then that phrase."
He chuckled, cleaning the blood from around your wound before pressing a thick gauze to your side. You flinched a bit but otherwise quietly watched him secure it into place with medical tape.
"Is this going to become a common occurrence for us, my dear? You sneaking around and me patching you up, all without Daniel being the wiser?" Lucifer inquired.
He stood to his feet, grabbing a rag to clean the blood from his hands.
"That depends, do you want it to be?" You asked raising an eyebrow.
He helped you sit up, grabbing your chin to turn your head to the side, closely inspecting the darkening bruise on your left cheek.
"I know you're far too stubborn to go to a hospital..." Lucifer began.
"Hospitals report knife and gun shot wounds to the police, Dan will find out." You pointed out.
He knew your reasoning was sound, logical even, but he still took the opportunity to tease you a bit. Eager to see you smile or possibly even hear your laugh.
"Yes of course, so as I was saying, stubborn." He smirked.
He was successful, and you laughed lightly as he released your chin, grabbing antiseptic from the little first aid kit. He grabbed your chin once more, his other hand moving to lightly dab the cut on your bottom lip, holding your chin firmly when you jerked back at the sting.
"However, with that being said, I'd much rather you come here to get fixed up. At the very least I'll know you're okay if I'm able to patch you up myself."
You stared at him, watching as he focused on your injuries, his thumb lightly grazed your lip, careful to avoid your cut.
"You don't have to patch me up Luc..." Your voice was so quiet.
He chuckled a bit, releasing your chin.
"Oh? Will you be staying out of trouble then?"
Your silence was answer enough, and he gave you a rather smug smile.
"Then I'll continue to patch you up, although I might start asking for some compensation if I'm to become your nurse."
Although he was joking you knew there was some truth behind his words.
"Tit for tat?"
He nodded, and you nestled back onto the couch, watching as he disappeared into his room once more, this time returning with a fresh shirt. You thanked him, and he helped you change, pausing a moment at the sight of your bruised ribs.
"If you're going to ask, just ask, I can see the gears turning in your head."
Lucifer fastened the last button on the shirt.
"You don't seem to have your usual grandeur that comes from taking care of awful people."
You laid back against the armrest, staring at the blackened ceiling.
"That's not a question." You pointed out.
"Very well, pray tell, why is it you seem to lack your usual bravado? There's a cloud hanging about you, and I'd like to know why?"
You opened your mouth, ready to answer his question, you owed him that much, but your words failed you. You frowned, suddenly realizing you had no idea why you'd gotten in a fight you didn't need to. Allowed yourself to be injured so badly, when you knew how to take care of yourself. You looked back at Lucifer, eyebrows drawing together.
"I...I don't know..."
He saw the panic in your eyes upon your realization. You looked so distraught realizing your emotions had spiraled out of your control. He cleared his throat, regretting even asking because now your smile was gone, and you looked pained.
"I guess I'm being a little self-destructive, huh? Why am I doing this to myself?" You laughed but there was no humor in it.
Lucifer noticed you clutch your chest, fingers grazing the scar by your heart.
"Oh..."
He sounded as though he'd just made an important discovery, and you fixed your gaze on him.
"You're punishing yourself." He said it as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
You only grew more confused.
"I'm not..." Your denial sounded weak even to your own ears.
Lucifer placed a hand on your knee, giving you a sad sort of smile.
"I know punishment darling, you're torturing yourself for something that wasn't your fault."
Something wet dripped onto hit your lap and you raised a hand to your face.
When did you start crying?
Lucifer, mindful of your injury, pulled you to his side, your head laying on his shoulder, he stroked your hair as you silently fought back the tears threatening to stain his shirt.
"I could have done something..."
"No, my dear, you couldn't have stopped something you never knew was happening."
Your breath caught in your throat, and you swallowed thickly.
"I should have known."
"But you didn't and hurting yourself won't bring your friend back. She wouldn't be very happy to see you doing this to yourself, now would she?"
You smiled lightly, thinking of the way she would have boxed your ears if she heard your self-loathing. You sat up, wiping your eyes with the back of your hand as you let out a breathless laugh.
"I'm going to crash here for the night, if that's alright..."
Lucifer smiled, draping his arms over the back of the couch as you stood up.
"Of course love, my bed is always open."
You snorted, shaking your head.
"I'm not taking your bed again Lucifer."
He smiled, nodding towards the hall by the library.
"Well I have a guest room."
You narrowed your eyes at him, placing your hands on your hips.
"Then why did you put me in your bed the other night?"
"Because mine is far more comfortable, besides you weren’t complaining before."
You shook your head, turning on your heel to walk towards the hall, but you paused, glancing at Lucifer over your shoulder.
"Can I ask a favor?"
He hummed a little, glancing back at you.
"I don't... I'm not normally a crier, at least not in front of people, so I guess what I'm trying to say..."
Lucifer smiled gently at you.
"You needn't ask a favor for that my dear, I won't tell a soul."
You smiled back and he waved you off.
"Now off you pop, get some rest, I'll treat you to a wonderful breakfast tomorrow."