Henry and Lila lived in a quiet neighborhood called Glover Hills, upstate New York. It was filled with small but fancy houses, white picket fences, and was pretty obvious this part of the city was mostly inhabited by rich folks. As Lucifer and Tony rode in the back seat of a taxi over to Henry's house, Tony took the liberty of filling Lucifer in on the things he should know about Henry's life although he only stuck to the major things.
"So, in summary, you're saying that this Henry guy is an intelligent but slightly arrogant scientist who does nothing but works all the time? That's pretty boring." Lucifer blurted.
"Is anything wrong with that?" Tony retorted but regretted his tone immediately. "Shit, I'm sorry for talking back like that."
Lucifer smiled softly.
"All I'm saying is that science is like an unending loop of yarn, and it only takes a strong, devoted, and disciplined mind to untangle mysteries and break bounds. In my opinion, we need more men like Dr. Bates."
"No Ash, you have more than enough. But you humans are so complex yet narrow-minded at the same time that you keep chasing after things that don't matter with all you have until it destroys everything else in your life, like Henry's love life for example. Maybe I'll be doing him a favor." Lucifer smirked.
Tony shot a lingering stare at him before he asked a question.
"What about Dr. Bates? Is he in there?
Yes, he is. I feel his essence, I mean his soul inside but it's a bit faint." Lucifer replied. "I believe it is still asleep and hasn't recovered from our unnatural symbiosis."
Tony looked surprised at his final words.
"Don't look at me like that, I can speak science too." Lucifer grinned.
"Finally, the cab pulled up in front of a bungalow and stopped."
"We are here!" Tony exclaimed. "Just as he was about to step out of the car, Lucifer held him by the shoulder.
Where do you think you're going to?" Lucifer frowned.
"To go see Miss Lila of course,"
Lucifer gave a short sarcastic laugh.
"Funny, you're going home Ash. He straightened his face immediately.
But—"
"Go home to your mother and pet Ash, Lucifer said in a colder tone that frightened Tony."
Tony sighed. "Okay. He stressed as he closed the car door."
"Good, I'll come to find you tomorrow," Lucifer said stepping out of the car and walking away.
"You didn't say goodnight," Tony yelled, making Lucifer turn. Dr. Bates always says goodnight.
Lucifer chuckled. "Goodnight, Ash."
"Goodnight, Dr. Bates." Tony replied, wondering if he would ever get used to being called Ash or being the devil's assistant as the car zoomed off.
Now alone, Lucifer advanced into the terrace. He could see a figure pacing about the dimly lit living room through a window. Lila, he figured. He walked into the balcony and gave three gentle taps on the door.
Lucifer held his breath for a tiny moment. What if she sees through him and realizes he was not her Henry?
The door was soon jerked open halfway, revealing a tall, slim woman with black short hair that partially covered her forehead. She wore a brown sleeveless top and a pair of black leather pants and above all wore a worried look in her eyes that Lucifer didn't expect as a welcome.
She immediately opened the door wider and swung her arms around him, clinging to him tightly.
"Thank God you're alright." She whispered in relief and kissed his neck. When I saw the explosion on the news, I imagined the worst. She touched his face then traced her fingers down his shoulders and held them tightly. "There's not even a scratch on you, how?"
Lucifer just stared blankly. For the first time since he had been in Henry's body, he couldn't think of a reply to the woman who hugged him so passionately before.
"You had me worried, Henry." Lila continued. "I couldn't find you when I got to the hospital and the nurses had no idea where you went. I had gone to the police and I was about to bring the FBI into this when you knocked on the door."
Lucifer began to rub her back slowly. "It's okay darling, I'm here now Why don't we go inside?"
Lila led Lucifer inside the living room and shut the door behind them.
"So why did you leave the hospital without even getting discharged?" She asked as she headed for the dining table and picked up a glass of red wine which she had been nursing before he came.
"Everything was so bizarre and I needed answers." He said standing as he watched her every move. "Can you pour me some of that too?" He asked.
Lila did as he requested and came back to the living room, handing him a glass. Lucifer took a sip of the wine and savored its taste before taking another.
"You are right about everything being bizarre," Lila added. "I mean, people died, some are in the hospital in critical condition and you don't even have a single scratch on you. Is it true?"
"That I was the closest to the blast, yes. And yet I'm still alive... Luck, I guess." Lucifer said with a shrug.
"Mhm," Lila said thoughtfully as she rested on the arm of the white leather sofa. "And where did you go to look for answers?"
"Well, Tony took me to the facility first before and then to the company's headquarters--"
"Wait, Tony is alive?" She said as she climbed on his lap.
"Yes, he is alive and annoying as ever."
Lila took the cup from his hand and dropped it gently on the floor.
"So, what answers did you find?"
"Nothing other than the fact that Cortez is a snake in human form--" Lucifer fell silent and stared blankly at Lila who started kissing him all over.
"I missed you so much," Lila said in a moan as she kissed his neck.
Lucifer immediately understood what was going on. Her hands were now rubbing his chest rubbing as her mouth traced the veins popping out on his neck. Lucifer smiled. His first day in a human body and he was already about to experience the sensual warmth of lovemaking.
He grabbed Lila by her butt and buried his face between the softness of her bosom. Lila let out a moan in response to his kisses and reached down for his zipper. She pulled it down and slid her hands inside his trousers but to her and Lucifer's surprise, there was no erection. She tried stroking him a little but he still wasn't getting aroused.
Lucifer soon became frustrated as he cleared his throat and pulled backward. Lila got the message immediately.
"I don't know what's wrong." He said looking blanked out.
"No, it's my fault," Lila said getting off of him. "You were just survived a ghastly accident; I shouldn't have tried to force anything." She added as she wrapped her arms around him and rested on his shoulder.
Wanting to avoid discussing his incompetence, Lucifer decided to change the subject.
"How was your trip?" He asked her. Tony had told him earlier that Lila was an Archeologist that worked with the government. She was away in Washington for an emergency meeting at the pentagon.
"It was good, but you know it's highly confidential so I can't say why." She replied.
"Sure," Lucifer said. He could see that both Henry and Lila took both their jobs very seriously.
"Hey, how about I fix us something to eat?" Lila offered with a soft smile.
"I would like that," Lucifer answered. "I'm famished."
"Alright, be right back," Lila said springing on her feet and then striding to the kitchen.