❝ WHERE'S THE DREAMS THAT I'VE BEEN AFTER? ❞
In which Mariah Rose, an undercover legend, returns to the LAPD and faces her number one fan.
[LUCIFER SEASON 4]
BOOK FOUR IN THE ❝ CHILDREN OF DARKNESS ❞ SERIES
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
EVER SINCE MARIAH had first landed in Los Angeles, she had been nothing but reserved about making a life there. More accurately, she had refused to even entertain the idea of getting comfortable — her home was in New York with her fathers, and L.A was nothing but a temporary work situation and she didn't want or expect anything more. After the first year, her confidence in returning home as soon as possible had begun to wane and by the second year, she had been running on sheer spite, if nothing else.
And yet, now, as her 800th day in Los Angeles awaited around the corner, the part that craved her old city had simmered down — not entirely out of existence, but the despair had been easily quenched by visiting Andrew and Grayson with Ella by her side.
"This is so bittersweet", Kai sighed longingly from his chair as he rolled over to Mariah's desk; the one she was clearing out to make room for the next detective to take her place.
Snorting while piling what little knick-knacks had gathered around her keyboard, Mariah gave him a look. "Yeah, it is. But I'm staying in the city, at least. I'll just be working with Diane now", she reminded before reaching out to poke Kai's nose, "not like you're getting rid of me so easily."
With a scoff, Kai grabbed one of Mariah's pens and shoved it into his pocket to keep at least a piece of her with him. "Yeah, well, only a few weeks ago you were practically counting the cents for a plane ticket", he retorted, and nodding in all fairness, she couldn't argue with that. Once her gaze wandered from Kai to Ella's lab and her eyes caught sight of the woman prancing around with her glasses heavy on her nose, she broke into a smile.
"Yeah, well, I found something worth staying for", she sighed before continuing to hide her things in a box and then shooting Kai a smile. "That means you, too. And Mateo. Lord knows I'm happy he's back home", Mariah added, and with a chuckle, Kai ducked his head before tilting it back and groaning.
"Listen, I know I promised to help him out with anything he needs but I seriously— uh, what's the word — underestimated how much pampering he needs", he joked, and fully aware that Kai wasn't going to turn his back on Mateo, Mariah didn't feel bad about laughing. It had been a major relief to find out he was going to make a full recovery and that returning home was no longer impossible — even if she had heard all about how Kai had had to hold him through his first night back in the place where he had almost been murdered.
At the very least, the guy who had done it wasn't going to be committing any crimes outside a prison any longer.
As if on cue, Lucifer and Benjamin were rounding the corner to join Mariah's desk, celebratory donuts in the hands of the latter man while the first one smacked Kai on the shoulders as a greeting. "Hope you didn't think we'd let you go without some appreciation for all your hard work", Benji announced before tipping over the box of donuts to Mariah and giving her a grin, "and I just heard Edwards was found guilty on all charges, so congrats, Detective Rose."
