ISADORA HAD COME to the conclusion that Halloween, ironically, was not the holiday for creatures from Hell — not only had Mazikeen stomped on her heart and then walked away just like that, it seemed that Lucifer had been a busy Devil as well. Izzy had been walking back to the police car with her mind swarming with thoughts and questions that she desperately tried to solve when Chloe had sent her a message. Already hopeful of something more to do in order to get her mind off of what had gone down, Izzy had eagerly taken out her phone, only to discover that Lucifer had, 1) stolen Dan's gun and badge, 2) used aforementioned badge to illegally get files from the hospital, and 3) punched Dan, therefore getting himself kicked off of the case.
"What is it with you two?", Izzy groaned while slumping down behind the wheel and shutting the door behind her, yet the annoyance lacing her words didn't stop her from making it her mission to find Lucifer and talk to him. Hopefully, he'd be better at communication than his right-hand demon.
She automatically assumed that Lucifer would make his way to Lux where he'd somberly sip on a drink, and she wasn't too far off. As she entered the club and let her gaze roam from the balcony, she found the man sitting by the piano, his fingers lazily wandering across the keys, the very familiar tune of The Unforgiven echoing throughout the eerily quiet club. Without even realizing, Izzy started to tap her fingers against the railing of the balcony to the notes, all the while looking down at the mess of a man — and she let herself wonder if the song choice was reflecting on what he was feeling on the inside. It was clear he was ridden with something dark, guilt perhaps, and although Izzy was curious regarding the case of his supposed angel brother, she was more worried. Sunken with it, really, she just wanted to hug Lucifer and tell him that it was going to be okay and that he wasn't as bad of a person as he seemed to deem himself.
Izzy jumped as the peace in the club was split apart, initially by the wrong, twisted notes that Lucifer carelessly slammed his hands onto, and then his roaring shouts. "Out! All of you out!", he stood up from the piano, and as the dressed ladies and dapper men rushed towards the exit, Izzy straightened her frame and remained footed right where she was, no intentions to leave him alone at a time like this. She waited until the club was empty, just her and Lucifer in the silent room, his anguish the loudest thing between them.
"Hey", Izzy started out slow and careful, not wanting to overstep or break any unspoken boundaries in her attempt to capture Lucifer's attention.
Turning to the source of the sound, Lucifer's eyes were tired, and so was the soft chuckle that escaped his mouth at the sight of Isadora. "Did the Detective send you here to reprimand me of my inappropriate actions?", he mocked while twirling back around to the piano, almost taking a sip of the glass he had left on top of it only to realize he had dumped his cigarette in it.
While quietly descending the stairs, Izzy shook her head. "Nothing like that. I wanted to check up on you, make sure you were okay, which clearly isn't the case, so...", she trailed off, slowly approaching the untamed beast she carried a heart full of sympathy for. "You really punched Dan?", she was too curious to not ask, and the laugh that rose from Lucifer's throat was confirmation enough, making Izzy smile shamelessly. Of course, she wasn't glad that Dan, who had been through so much already, had to be on the wrong end of a fist but the image she was picturing in her head was somewhat amusing, nevertheless. Lucifer and Dan certainly had an interesting dynamic.
Once Izzy was standing next to the piano, she didn't sit down, she granted Lucifer the privacy he had asked for but she still stood there as if to prove that she had his back even when he feared that everyone doing so would only get crushed by him. "Why are you really here, Ms. Holt?", Lucifer sighed then, his eyes meeting hers for a second before he glanced back down, much like Mazikeen had done — there was a difference, however. Lucifer seemed ashamed, full of regret, and that broke Izzy's heart.
"I already told you. And I told you this morning. I'm worried, and because I care about you, I want to help. You told me about Uriel and your other brother and Chloe being in danger but suddenly you just shut me, and everyone else, out. That's not good for you", Izzy explained, leaning against the grand piano while gazing at her friend, who in response, flinched at the name she had spoken — Uriel. "If you don't want to go into the details, that's okay with me, but—", she continued softly, only for Lucifer to face her with defiance, the drink on top of the piano spilling as he jumped up, startling Izzy to a point where she took a step back.
"Are you certain you don't mean it's not good for you? When's the last time you talked to someone, eh? Really poured your heart out? Everyone I care about ends up in harm's way one way or another, so save your breath and worry about yourself, instead. Even if I told you, you'd just think I'm crazy and—and, you wouldn't understand, so stop trying, and face the truth — you're only trying to solve everyone else's problems instead of solving your own, am I right? Maybe you're just trying to make up for the fact that Mazikeen—", Lucifer lashed out, ranting right in Izzy's face, only for the redhead to step up and stare him right in the eyes while clenching her jaw.
"Finish that sentence, I dare you", she stood up to him — even if she felt bad for him and whatever pain he was going through, she wasn't just going to take it. Perhaps the most hurtful part about his words was that he was hitting right in the bullseye, spouting nothing but truths. She wanted to help everyone else while helping herself was at the bottom of her priorities, and she wanted to ignore the coldness Maze had treated her with. But being told that so directly, didn't sit well with her.
Lucifer fell silent, as did Isadora, the two of them simply staring at each other in the undeniable tension. Eventually, however, the deafening silence in the club broke when the speaker microphone attached to Izzy's shoulder buzzed to life, and Dan's voice spoke through, announcing the need for back-up at Strode Pharmaceuticals, where the shooter had been spotted. Sucking in the side of her cheek to swallow the frustration that was loading the air between her and Lucifer, Izzy stepped back and turned away. Without another word, she began walking away, her hands shaking and legs wobbly, but she needed to snap back to the role of an LAPD officer instead of a hurt friend. Even if both Maze and Lucifer had twisted the knife, she couldn't focus on that — she needed to help with a shooting situation, and that was the thing she tried to uphold in her mind, not the burn behind her eyes.
Outside, Izzy unlocked the car doors again, the hot L.A air making her feel even more suffocated as she sighed deeply and sat in the vehicle. She had barely gotten the engine started when Lucifer's shiny Corvette had sped past her, revving as he drove down the streets much faster than allowed, no doubt headed to the same destination. "Son of a—", Izzy grunted, twirling the wheel in her hands as she went after Lucifer, her heart racing almost as fast as the car she couldn't possibly catch with her own.
As soon as she reached the parking lot of the building, Izzy made sure she had her gun before locking the doors and running inside, just in time to catch a glimpse of Lucifer's carelessly worn suit. Bursting through the doors, Isadora was rushing both after the shooter and after Lucifer, only to find him stepping in front of a woman at the coffee cart — undoubtedly the next victim of the shooter. "Lucifer!", she hissed, "what the hell are you doing?", but her words went ignored, though not unheard by the man who was bravely facing the criminal.
"I know you're out there Mr. Sniper!", he yelled out, eyes scanning the surroundings as he shielded the woman — Sally Peterson — crouching behind him in utter fear. "Shoot me!"
Izzy wasn't quite sure whether it was ultimately the duty to protect the target or the desire to protect Lucifer, but acting in the heat of the moment, she followed the man's lead and found a place in front of him, setting herself in the line of fire. "Ma'am, please remain calm and still", she instructed Mrs. Peterson, her arms reaching out for her, but from somewhere above, the sniper took his shot and a bullet ended up piercing the coffee cart, making both of them jump at the incoming attack. In conclusion, getting her out was a risk she could not take, so all she could do was wait for Chloe or Dan to get the shooter, all the while putting her own life in danger solely to protect the civilian and her friend.
Both horrified and amazed by her actions, Lucifer looked down at Izzy with wide eyes and parted lips. "Ms. Holt—", he started, but Isadora didn't let him finish when she had already snapped her eyes up to him and sent a glare his way — however, it wasn't as angry as it came across.
"Don't you Ms. Holt me. My friends call me Izzy, and you are my friend. One of the greatest I've had in a long time, so if you think I'm just gonna stand aside and watch you suffer alone, you sir, are very mistaken", she shook her head while her arms remained by Lucifer's sides to also reach out for the woman behind him. As another shot rang through the building, landing right next to them, Izzy inhaled sharply but let the stare in her eyes soften into something more caring, and it didn't take a detective to understand that she wasn't talking about only the current situation. "Lucifer, if you don't want to tell me what happened, that's okay. I don't want to push you, but you gotta stop pushing me away, too. You were right, I am trying to solve everyone else's problems and neglecting my own, but that's not only because of myself. I do care, in case it wasn't obvious already", she forced out a laugh, trying to act like she wasn't about to die, and all Lucifer could do was stare at her, blank and speechless.
It became suspiciously quiet then, until Chloe spoke from one of the floors above them, "I got him! It's over", her voice relieved, and the same kind of relaxation instantly flooded into Izzy's tense shoulders.
With her hand, she guided Mrs. Peterson from behind Lucifer's back, but before she led her away, she turned to him one last time with a sad smile on her lips. "Talk to someone, please. And just know, that whatever you did, it's not unforgivable, and you are not a bad person", Isadora insisted, feeling like it was an important reminder, before guiding Sally Peterson to safety with gentle arms and reassuring words.
And all she could do was take her own advice and truly hope that Lucifer believed her.
—————
THE DAY WAS coming to an end after Izzy had stopped by the Espinoza household to check up on Benjamin and also alert him of what had gone down with Lucifer, and with her and a bunch of other officers now packing their bags, the police department was emptying out one by one. Even with coffee flowing through her veins, Izzy was barely standing after such a tiring day, but she and Chloe were yet to stop by The Paddock, which she was, surprisingly, excited to see for the first time ever — and spending time with Detective Decker didn't sound half-bad, either.
"You ready?", Chloe arrived from her own desk to Isadora, who was packing her stuff in the kitchen, and lifting her head, the deputy nodded as a response.
"Yup, let's go", she smiled, one of the more genuine ones this time — frankly, all the stress and pressure was kind of getting to her, which was why she was happy to have a beer, sit back and talk about her worries with Chloe. Not to mention she had just hours ago stood at gunpoint, at the mercy of a very skilled sniper, and that alone was good enough of an excuse to get a drink or two.
The two women were heading out of the building, but the hastily spoken, "Izzy, wait", from behind her stopped the Holt on her tracks, and when she twirled around, she came face to face with Lucifer. The Lucifer she was more used to, too, with the fancy suit and styled hair and no smeared guyliner — he had picked himself up, and Izzy liked to think that she had had at least some kind of an impact on that very decision.
"I'll meet you at the car", Izzy quickly turned back to Chloe, before taking a deep breath and readjusting the weight of her bag on her shoulder. "I just saw Benji, I think he went looking for you", she swallowed thickly while taking slow steps towards Lucifer, unsure of what the man wanted with her — if he was going to reject her friendship as well. It was, admittedly, making her a little scared of what was to follow, but the warm smile that melted onto Lucifer's lips wasn't quite so alarming for that particular scenario.
"Ah, I'll have to meet up with him later. I wanted to thank you, for what you said. I may not be a firm believer in the human concept of comfort, but truly, I appreciate it. And what you did— you could have gotten shot, because of me", his gaze didn't falter, not even for a second skipping away from Izzy whose cheeks flushed at the mention of her impulsive act.
Shaking her head, she disagreed. "Not because of you, but for you. Besides, I was pretty sure that he was only going to shoot the targets he had, no one he deemed innocent. And you know, that included you", Isadora nudged him with his fist gently, and as he let out a breathless laugh, Lucifer shrugged. He didn't seem to consider himself as innocent, the look that dawned onto his features when he glanced down said as much, and that guilt seeped right into his words as he finally spoke up again.
"Why?"
"What do you mean why?", Izzy couldn't help but let her confusion get the best of her, eyebrows knitted together as she took a step closer — not enough to invade the personal space she knew Lucifer valued deeply, but enough to convince him of her presence and devoted attention.
Lucifer laughed again, not all too amused but questioning if Izzy was being serious. Still, he shared. "I treated you— and yet, you...", he tried, nearly speechless, but it was obvious now — he had not been a very good friend to Izzy, and yet, she would have been ready to take a bullet for him. Just like that, she had thrown herself in front of him, and granted, it had been to also protect Mrs. Peterson, but there was no denying that she would have protected Lucifer with her life in a heartbeat, no questions asked.
"Yeah", Izzy chuckled, "you could have said those things a lot more nicely, but even if they came from a place of negativity... I mean, you had a point. It's not something I'm good at, but I'm gonna try. And, I also know that you're going through something right now and that sometimes, you just gotta have faith in your friends and forgive them", she exhaled heavily, and before complete silence could land between them, she quirked her lips up in a teasing smirk. "Even if they act like complete dumbasses."
Both of them laughed, their shared joy echoing throughout the precinct, but the gratitude in Lucifer's eyes proved that he did care about their friendship beyond the jokes. "And I shall talk to Dr. Linda, while you and the Detective go and have a well-deserved drink", he gestured towards the exit, and Izzy responded by snapping her fingers, as if just remembering that she had, indeed, agreed to spend the evening with Chloe.
"Yes, good plan. Now we should just get Maze to open up", she sighed, half-joking but partly not, her hand lifting into a goodbye wave, but she didn't have the time to leave when Lucifer had interjected once more.
"Worry not, Izzy. What I almost said was... not tasteful, but it also wasn't true. Mazikeen... She is a complicated creature, but much to her dismay, she does have feelings. And I know she cares about you greatly. So, if there is any advice to offer without getting too involved, it would be to not give up", he shed some light on the situation, and with her lips already twisting into a smile of hope and disbelief, Izzy nodded with twinkling eyes.
Perhaps, what had started out as an exhausting day, could still turn for the better, with Lucifer finally getting the support he needed and Izzy getting the encouragement she needed to improve and keep on going — just two guarded people finally letting their walls down for a little while.
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y'all i love their friendship so much omg, i'm not even sorry for the amount of lucifer & izzy in this chapter,, though that is partly because it had some important effects on them and leads to more exciting stuff (:
episodes 6 & 7 are probably my favorite ones to write because even if there's always humor in the show, there is so much emotion in those ones and especially with lucifer himself?? and now, even though izzy isn't lucifer's love interest, his struggles affected her too ++ also, people are really moving on too quickly from the fact that in 2x07 when he is talking about himself, he says "the world would be a better place without him" and in 2x06 he tries to get shot and now i'm ranting but in conclusion lucifer deserves the world and i love him so much
this is a messy author's note but thank you for reading! this book has suddenly gained more attention and i am so grateful, thank you tons xx another chapter will be out soon and a major moment with maze is also coming up in a few chapters (: