Chapter II

Neal and Peter had arrived forty five minutes later, the former holding a large case filled with various paints and the latter a large canvas. The ex-con had no qualms about entering the Lux, noting the lack of guests and dancers upon first entry. Really, the only person he saw was Lucifer, at the bar with a drink in his hand, who looked up when the two came in.

"Agent Burke, Mr. Caffrey, a pleasure to see you two again!" He greeted, getting up with three cups balancing in his hands, offering two to his guests. Peter declined politely, saying he was still on the job, and Neal saying he didn't want a careless hand. Lucifer merely winked at his excuse before taking a last drink, setting it on the counter and gesturing for them to follow up the stairs.

"I'm assuming that my study's usual temperature is alright, considering how well the paintings in there have stayed." He commented casually, opening the door to reveal the room. Black and glass, with accents of red here and there. But Neal's eyes were drawn to a particular painting.

"You have the lost painting." He breathed out, setting his case down and moving over to study the painting. Peter glanced at the club owner, surprised, before narrowing his eyes. This was suspicious... Too suspicious, his agent side decided.

"Why did you not mention it when we were talking about them?"

"I won't just give this up, Agent." Lucifer started. "If it falls into the wrong hands, the world might end, and none of us want that, do we?"

"You actually believe the curse?" Peter asked, incredulous and slightly amused. Lucifer looked shocked at the idea of not believing, and the agent nodded in understanding. Really, anyone that went by the name Lucifer Morningstar had to believe in religious curses and Armageddon.

"Neal believes it too, doesn't he?" Lucifer asked, and the two changed their gazes to Neal, who looked away from the painting. He gave a shrug, but seemed hesitant.

"Curse or not, it's still a valuable painting. A copy would be better, just in case."

"Then I'll get us some drinks, non-alcoholic, just for you two."

Lucifer wouldn't say he was upset at the lack of development, but he was... Disappointed. Not that he wanted his son to start spouting nonsense and try to destroy the world, but an informant, really? Like father, like son he supposed. 'Neal' had a life that seemed to have taken years to create- he wasn't too excited to bring about the end of the world, it seemed. He was reminded with a pang of guilt about the fact that his son had been on earth for years, and Lucifer hadn't even known, hadn't even checked once. For a lack of a better word, Neal was a mistake- the devil didn't plan to impregnate a mortal woman years ago and create the Antichrist. He was put up for adoption once his mother died in childbirth, and Lucifer assumed that would be it.

Neal was fine in his younger years, never a boy to throw tantrums, and so the family never knew of his set of... skills. But he was a hormonal and emotional teenager, as he neared thirteen. Things were being set on fire, people were spouting their secrets to him and he was using them for his own personal gain, and when one of the demons were sent to check up on him, they never returned. So Lucifer went in and did what he had to, to ensure that he didn't hurt anyone or do anything rash.

He locked Neal up on his fourteenth birthday. He didn't expect Neal to escape. The club owner made his way back up the stairs, pausing when he heard a conversation going on without him.

"It's just for a few hours, Neal, Decker says she found something she needed to show me-"

"Why can't I see it too?" He countered, and Peter rolled his eyes.

"I'll tell you about it after we're done. Really, you need to get over whatever your problem is with Morningstar, Neal. We're all working together until this case is over."

"Peter, please-" Lucifer knocked on the open door, where Neal and Peter paused in their conversation. They both glanced to him, the former shifting as if he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, the latter stiff.

"Sorry, Mr. Morningstar-"

"Lucifer, please." He interrupted with a smile. Peter paused, before continuing, explaining the situation and vague details of what Detective Decker had told him.

"I'll have to leave you two for a while." He concluded, already at the door and grabbing his jacket. Peter didn't put it on- why was LA so hot? How could Neal still be wearing a suit outside?- but he gave a single wave goodbye, heading out the door and shutting it behind him. Neal moved his eyes from the closed door to Lucifer, staying uncharacteristically silent. Lucifer scoffed, setting the extra drinks to the side and taking a sip of his own. The artist went back to work.

"Really though, 'Neal?'" Lucifer asked, curious to see that the con artist was still steady with his hand, not applying any extra pressure to the painting even though he was obviously tense. "Was the name I bestowed upon you not good enough?"

Now it was Neal's turn to scoff. "You weren't particularly creative."

It was an insult, but he was talking, so Lucifer would count that as a win. He looked indignant, defending himself quickly. "Lucius is a wonderful name!"

"You just changed the ending of your name."

"Your mother wanted to name you Michael, you should be thankful that I was there to stop her from giving you that! Just imagine, the Antichrist with the name of my uptight brother." A flash of an indescribable emotion passed Neal's face, and Lucifer caught sight of it, amending his wording. "Even if you are not planning on bringing about the end of the world, you're still my son. You have the title of Antichrist, no matter what you do with said title."

"I'm surprised you aren't trying to make me cause the end of the world." His voice was softer, quiet. He set his paintbrush to the side, needing the first layer to dry as he stared. If he wanted, he could speed things up, but using any power on it terrified him- what if it made it so that the painting could work?

"Please, I grounded you so that you wouldn't bring about the end of the world-"

"Grounded?" He repeated, chuckling at the choice of words. Lucifer ignored him.

"I... like this place, believe it or not. And the humans are amusing." Neal couldn't help but agree to that. The two engaged in chatter about their respective sets of humans (and animals, though Neal doubted that "Trixie" was an energetic dog.).

Miles away, two officers did the same.

A/N: Should Maze be here? Her fate was left rather ambiguous at the end of Season 1, so she likely is still alive. But know that if she's involved I will somehow find a way to ship Maze and Diana.