Before The Bruises Fade

Word Count: 1593

Pairings: Lucifer Morningstar x Reader

Warnings: angst, possible trigger, mentions of abuse, mentions of blood

A/N: Request from ,requests are open again! Enjoy!

Summary: No one had ever looked twice at you walking down the street with a busted lip or bruises covering your arms. They all looked the other way, that is until you're stopped by a man who's a little to curious for your comfort.

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You kept your head down as you walked slowly. It was late and you were trying to get home as fast as you could. You were so focused on the task at hand you hadn't noticed the man walking towards you. You ran into him, the contents of your bag spilling out onto the side walk.

"Shit..."

You fell to your knees, scrabbling to pick up the items.

"Oh dear, I'm terribly sorry about that, would you like some help?"

He bent down in an attempt to grab a bottle that had rolled away, but you snatched it from him.

"No, I got it." You said quickly.

Lucifer watched you curiously, but his curiosity faded to concern when saw the blood that had begun to soak through your bandage. You ignored the stinging pain in your arm, trying to shove everything back into the bag as fast as you could. Your father was going to be so angry.

"Are you alright darling? You're bleeding."

You glanced at him for a second before standing. The pity he had in his eyes made you panic, if he found out the truth it wouldn't end well for you.

"I'm fine, I ran into a door, busted my lip was all." You lied.

You had become something of an expert in lying, doing it with such ease no one questioned you. This man, however seemed to be the exception to that. He didn't look like he believed you for even a second.

"Oh I'm sure you did, but I was referring to your arm my dear."

You looked down, turning your arm a little to get a better look at it. Blood was seeping through the poorly bandaged cut on your arm.

"Bar fight."

He stared at you, raising an eyebrow, clearly not buying your lies, and you turned to walk away. He walked after you and you tried your hardest to ignore him. He asked you questions that were a little to invasive, and a little to focused on your injuries.

"Do you always follow strangers home Mr...."

"Morningstar, Lucifer Morningstar, and who might you be?"

"Y/N, and you're not answering my question."

He merely smiled, and you grew more nervous the closer to home you got.

"You seem rather nervous my dear, jealous husband waiting for you at home?"

He was asking to many questions, probably forming to many theories in his mind.

"I'm not married, my father is waiting for me."

"Oh? Moved back in with the parents, did you fall on hard times?"

You thought bitterly.

You were trying to formulate a lie or any believable excuse to give him. You finally settled on an answer you felt wouldn't arouse much if any  suspicion.

"Something like that."

Lucifer fell silent for a few moments, still walking beside you. Though you had only known him for a very short amount of time you could tell that him being silent wasn't going to lead to anything good.

"I suppose those bruises scattered about your arms are from your rather unfortunate luck as well."

Lucifer watched you closely, looking for anything that could confirm what he was suspecting. When he saw your body tense and the panicked look you gave him, he began to realize he was right.

"Well it was nice chatting with you, this is my stop, enjoy the rest of your night." You mumbled turning to walk up the stairs.

Lucifer grabbed your wrist careful to avoid your bruises. You jerked your arm away in a panic, nearly falling onto the steps. Lucifer immediately released your wrist and took a step back.

"I apologize that was not very wise of me, I mean you no harm love, I assure you."

You looked at him skeptically and Lucifer offered you a comforting smile. You stepped back reaching for the door handle.

"I really do need to get inside I'm already late."

You turned the handle but his next words grounded you to your spot.

"It's not going to get any better darling, I know you think if you do everything perfectly or listen to everything he says it will get better but it won't."

You turned your head to give him a cold look.

" don't know anything."

Lucifer shrugged, putting his hands in his pockets.

"I've been around for a very long time love, I know more then most."

He watched your hand fall away from the handle, he watched you gingerly touch the cut on your lip. You were at war with yourself, standing on the edge but to scared to take that leap. You just needed a little nudge.

"Let me help, or at the very least find someone who can."

This time you turned around fully to look at him, walking down the stairs to stand in front of him.

"Why should I trust you? I don't know you."

His smile held no malicious or ill intent.

"Oh you shouldn't, I could be a psychopath, you should never trust someone you've just met." He teased.

You gave him a small smile and sat the bag down on the side walk.

"Ok. I'm not saying I trust you, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt."

"Marvelous! Shall we?"

~

You walked around the large penthouse in awe, running your hands over the rough texture of the walls. Your house wasn't nearly as big as this place was. Your gaze drifted to the piano and you softly played a few keys.

"Aha! Here it is!"

Lucifer walked out of his bedroom carrying a first aid kit that seemed a little worse for ware. You raised an eyebrow and he glanced down at it.

"Yes well, it's not in the best shape I admit but I've really no need for it most of the time, perks of immortality and all that."

This time you raised both eyebrows and Lucifer sat on the tan leather couch, patting the spot next to him.

"Immortality?"

You looked at him like he had grown a second head.

"Well I am the devil darling, immortality is a given, unless the Detective is around, but that is a story for another day. Come sit, I don't bite, unless of course you'd prefer I did." He winked.

"Right."

Lucifer frowned a little and you had to stifle a laugh at the sight of him pouting.

"You don't believe I'm the devil do you?"

You shrugged giving him an apologetic smile.

"I'm open-minded, but I'd need proof."

He sighed dramatically and you rolled your eyes but sat down beside him. Lucifer opened the first aid kit pulling out various items. He turned to you holding a q-tip and a bottle of antiseptic.

"This may sting a bit." He warned grabbing your chin.

"I think I can handle it." You smiled.

Lucifer dabbed the cut on your lip before grabbing a cotton ball and practically soaking it in antiseptic.

"Now let's see about that cut."

He could visibly see the change in your behavior, the way your body went rigid and how you seemed to curl in on yourself.

"It's fine really, I can take care of that one."

"We wouldn't want it to get infected, I'm not sure the hospital staff will be quite as inclined at keeping this from the authorities as I am."

He was right, they would see the tell-tale signs of abuse, and immediately contact the police. They would investigate your father, and that would only cause more problems for you. You nodded slowly and let him cut the old bandage away. His smile fell, and you refused to meet his eyes.

"Oh my..."

It was a nasty gash, that was most likely going to scar, and bits of glass were still stuck in it.

"Beer bottle, I forgot to make dinner." You muttered.

Lucifer nodded slowly, and for a moment you thought his eyes turned red. You pushed that thought from your mind, that was ridiculous. Lucifer inspected the cut on your arm then began to pick the glass out of it as carefully as he could.

"Why not just leave? You're an adult darling, nothing was keeping you there."

You watched him wrapped a fresh bandage around the wound.

"It's not that easy, I'd be homeless, I have no job, no one to go to."

Lucifer cleaned up the mess he had made, and brought you back a drink to dull the pain. You thanked him and stared at the amber liquid in silence. Lucifer watched you, seeing the dread in your eyes at the thought of going home to your abuser. He suddenly stood up, making you jump slightly.

"Then you'll just have to stay with me!"

"What?"

You furrowed your eyebrows and Lucifer grinned like he had just came up with the best idea.

"You can stay here, with me! I have a spare room and if you'd like you can tend the bar at Lux! We'll find you a place of your own once you land on your feet."

You watched him talk excitedly but you couldn't help the feeling of him wanting something in return.

"And what do you get out of this?" Your voice sounded cynical and Lucifer frowned.

"What do I get? Is it so wrong for me to want to help? strings attached?"

"Yes."

Your answer was blunt and it made him laugh a little.

"If it makes you feel better darling, we'll just say you owe me a favor, to be repaid at a later date."

You thought about it for a moment before standing up.

"Ok, but I pay rent, I don't need anyone's charity."

Lucifer clinked his glass against your own, his smile full of mischief.

"It's a deal then."