Lucifer exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders as the grand finale of the Asgardian soap opera dragged on.
Thor was still mourning his fallen brother. Odin looked appropriately godly and detached. The mortals left behind were stunned into silence.
And Lucifer? He was bored.
Maze noticed immediately.
"You done?" she asked, watching as he swirled the last of his scotch in the glass, his usual amusement having dulled.
Lucifer sighed. "Oh, yes. The moment was deliciously dramatic, but now it's all just…" He waved a hand vaguely. "Grim. And I have very little interest in that."
Maze hummed. "Agreed. Besides, it's probably not a great time to visit Asgard."
Lucifer arched a brow at her.
"Oh? And when, pray tell, would be a great time?"
Maze smirked. "When everyone's relaxed and off guard—that's when it's really fun to challenge them to a fight."
Lucifer let out a low chuckle. "Ah, yes. A surprise round of stab-the-alien—how very you, Maze."
She shrugged, completely unapologetic.
"You'll take me later?" she asked, tilting her head.
Lucifer considered it. Fighting Asgardians wasn't really his thing, but there was something entertaining about causing just a little bit of controlled chaos in the realm of golden halls and endless feasts.
"Yes, yes," he waved a hand. "I'll take you later. But first—"
He glanced out at the desert town around him.
It was dull. Dreadfully dull.
"I need another drink," he announced.
Maze snorted. "Shocker."
"But not just any drink," he continued, tapping a thoughtful finger against his glass. "I miss my bar, Maze. Lux had a certain… ambiance you just don't find anywhere else."
Maze crossed her arms. "So rebuild it."
Lucifer sighed dramatically. "That takes time."
"Then buy an already-made place. Just remodel it as you wish," Maze said simply.
Lucifer blinked, actually pausing to consider it.
She had a point.
New York had no shortage of high-end lounges, exclusive clubs, or under-the-table deals to be made.
He could buy a place, renovate it, tailor it to his liking.
It wouldn't be Lux—but it could be something new.
Something his.
For the first time that day, Lucifer looked genuinely thoughtful.
Maze, watching him, smirked. "What? Shocked I have good ideas?"
Lucifer hummed, golden eyes gleaming with renewed interest.
"Oh no, my dear Maze," he said smoothly. "I always knew you had excellent ideas… when they involved violence. But business?" He smirked. "That's new."
Maze rolled her eyes. "So, what? We shopping for real estate now?"
Lucifer downed the last of his drink.
"Why not?"
Coulson, who had remained eerily silent throughout Lucifer and Maze's conversation, finally cleared his throat.
"If you're serious about finding a place," he said smoothly, "SHIELD can help."
Lucifer arched a brow, tilting his head toward the agent.
"Oh?"
Coulson nodded. "Consider it a repayment for the people you helped at the Stark Expo and here in Mexico." His tone remained polite, measured—but firm. "You made things… easier for us. This is a way to return the favor."
Maze looked at Coulson, then back at Lucifer. "That sounds suspiciously cooperative," she muttered.
Lucifer, however, merely smirked.
"How delightful." He set his empty glass down, leaning toward Coulson with glittering amusement. "A government agency repaying its debts? My, my, Coulson—SHIELD's quite the honorable one, huh?"
Coulson didn't blink.
"We don't like leaving debts unpaid," he said simply.
Lucifer grinned.
"Neither do I."
A slow stretch of silence passed between them—a silent understanding forming in the space of a few heartbeats.
Then, Lucifer sighed dramatically, straightening.
"Well, then. Since I do prefer efficiency, I suppose I'll accept your help," he mused. "After all—why waste my precious time when I can have the world handed to me on a silver platter?"
Coulson tilted his head slightly, but didn't comment.
Maze rolled her eyes. "And here I thought we were gonna have some fun breaking into places and claiming them as our own."
Lucifer chuckled. "Ah, Maze, darling—illegal real estate acquisition is hardly necessary when you have charm, wealth, and an entire government agency eager to please."
"Eager is a strong word," Coulson muttered.
Lucifer beamed. "Oh, but you're helping me, aren't you? Which means you want me happy, doesn't it?"
Coulson pinched the bridge of his nose. "I already regret this."
Lucifer stretched lazily, looking far too pleased with himself as he turned toward Coulson.
"Alright, Agent," he purred. "It's early, but I understand you've got to fly back to New York, so I suggest we meet before dinner at my penthouse. That should give you some time to search for some locations."
Coulson, already regretting his life choices, merely nodded. "I'll set it up."
"Splendid."
As Coulson pulled out a sleek SHIELD-issue tablet, he asked, "What are your preferences for the place?"
Lucifer opened his mouth—
Only for Maze to immediately interrupt.
"Before you say anything—" she cut in, pointing a finger at him. "You're going to remodel it anyway, so don't start whining about it needing a piano or some ridiculously rare imported marble flooring."
"Now, now, Maze," he sighed dramatically, hand over his chest. "You wound me. I was merely going to—"
Maze arched a brow.
Lucifer groaned. "Fine. I concede. I suppose I can install the piano later."
Coulson blinked. "You were seriously about to turn down places over a piano?"
Lucifer scowled. "Of course—I have standards, Coulson."
Maze snorted. "He's just upset he can't ask for a grand stage the size of a theater right away."
Lucifer huffed, but moved on.
"Now, as for what I do want," he said, voice returning to business, "I prefer a property that is a sole building—I don't share my space with strangers." His golden eyes glimmered in amusement. "I believe we both can guess I'm not the neighborly type. I barely can believe my penthouse has neighbors downstairs. I chose to ignore it, though."
Coulson nodded, taking notes.
"It doesn't have to be a skyscraper," Lucifer continued. "Though small is a relative term."
Maze rolled her eyes. "His 'small' is basically a villa to normal people."
Lucifer merely grinned.
"And most importantly," he added, tone deceptively casual, "it should be in the heart of New York. Ideally… somewhere near where we first appeared."
At this, Maze's brow lifted slightly.
She knew exactly why he wanted that. And it wasn't just about convenience. It was about the doctor. But she didn't call him out on it.
Instead, she simply smirked and said, "We're going to be picky, Coulson."
Lucifer chuckled. "Ah, Maze, darling—you say that like I'm not always picky."
Coulson, ever patient, exhaled slowly before tapping at his tablet.
"I'll see what SHIELD can arrange," he said simply.
Lucifer smirked.
"Good man."
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