"For the last time Ash, she was already gone by the time I got here." Lucifer sang wearily to Tony as they both sat on the porch of Henry's home. He held a bottle of liquor in his hand as he stared down at the empty street in deep regret of how he had treated Lila.
"But it doesn't mean that she wants to leave you- I mean Dr. Bates. She wouldn't do that would she, call off the engagement?" Tony feared.
"Now what would make you think that?" Lucifer grinned. "Of course not, I believe she went back because she was summoned urgently not because she wanted to stay away—"
Lucifer's explanation came to an abrupt stop at the sound of an unfamiliar voice.
Wh-What's going on? Where am I?
The voice conveyed a shivering fear that seemed strange to Lucifer.
"Do you hear that?" Lucifer asked Tony.
"Hear what?" Tony bore an alarmed look on his face as he sat up.
Hello, is anyone here? Please let me out!
Lucifer grimaced as a sharp pain tore through his head.
"I think it's in my head." He massaged his forehead.
It was like he was hearing himself think out loud but still it wasn't him. This voice was shaky and terrified- human. Soon he remembered whose body he was now in possession of.
"Henry is that you?" Lucifer inquired.
"Yes, my name is Henry, what's going on?"
Tony wondered the same as he gaped at Lucifer who kept massaging his forehead.
"Mhm, you're finally awake," Lucifer muttered.
"Dr. Bates?" Tony slapped his knees in excitement. "Like the real Dr. Bates his awake?"
Lucifer gave a frustrating nod in response. "Yes, so it seems."
"Finally awake?" Henry repeated to make sense of his words. "Where am I? And how is it that you're speaking through me? Who are you?"
"You sure ask a lot of questions at a go, don't you doctor?" Lucifer smirked. "I'm Lucifer by the way, nice to meet--"
Tony wouldn't let him finish his introduction as he chimed in.
"This is great news!" He jumped to his feet. "Dr. Bates is awake! Can I speak to him?" His lips parted, leaving his teeth exposed in a wide smile as he stared squarely at Lucifer.
"That won't be possible, his consciousness is now fully awake, yes but I'm still the one in control of his body."
The throbbing pain that ripped through his head was sharper this time, causing him to let out a little moan.
"Control of my body?" Henry repeated. Little did he know it was his agitation that was breaking down Lucifer. "I don't understand, how can possession of another human be possible? Let me out!"
Tony, on the other hand, was also adding to Lucifer's struggle.
"Fine, but you can just let him take control just once so I can speak to him. Please?"
"Tony, oh thank God!" Henry shouted the moment he heard and recognize his assistant's voice. "Tell him to let me out."
"He can't hear you." Lucifer groaned as the migraine increased.
"I know that that's why--"
"No, I meant you can't hear Henry."
"Yes, I know--"
"No, that statement was for Henry, not you."
Even as he tried to make them understand, they still kept on fueling his headache with their incessant nagging; Tony on one side pleading to hear from Henry and Henry on the other side begging to Tony who couldn't hear him release him from Lucifer's hold.
"Shut up the both of you!" Lucifer snapped soon enough. He first addressed Tony, his eyes glaring up in anger. "I think it's time you head home, Ash."
"But--"
"Now!" The manner in which his voice thundered instilled a bit of fear in Tony.
"Fine," Tony sighed. "Goodnight to you, and goodnight Dr. Bates." He said out loud even as he didn't expect any response.
Lucifer didn't wait to watch Tony leave as he sprang up to his feet and walked inside, jamming the door shut behind him.
"Listen to me, Henry." He instructed in a calm voice. "There's no need to be afraid, you're only causing yourself- I mean this body a massive load of headache. You're not in any danger and I'm not going to hurt you in any way. We just have to talk things out and make you understand so you need to calm down. Can you do that, doctor?"
There was no answer but then Lucifer began to sense a gush relief as the pain subsided. In no time the throbbing headache was gone.
"Good," Lucifer smiled. "Now, where were we?"
"You said you now had control of my body, and that you're Lucifer..."
"Ah, yes I am the devil, real and live in the flesh- well, your flesh that is. I understand you scientists have a hard time believing in supernatural realities."
"And how is it that you're now inside me?" Henry demanded.
"Tell me, doctor, what is the last thing you remember?"
"The last thing I remember was being in the facility, we were experimenting on the mirror bridge project... it worked- I saw the portal open up and there was something on the other side; a hand!"
"Yes, go on." Lucifer was glad Henry's story matched his.
"That is all I remember, I blacked out shortly ."
"Are you certain?" Lucifer confirmed.
"Yes, I don't remember anything else."
"Alright then, I'll take it from here." As he spoke, he took a stroll to the kitchen where he popped open another bottle of whiskey which he poured into a glass. "So first of all, that hand you saw was mine." He said taking a sip of his drink. "I don't understand it yet but somehow your project opened a door to my realm and out of curiosity, I couldn't help but stick my hand out and that was how we came in contact with each other."
"And what happened next?"
"Then there was an explosion and I woke up in your body."
"An explosion? But the machine worked, how can it be?"
"Well, your buddy Cortez is responsible" Lucifer answered. "But long story short, you don't have to worry about him cause I already took care of it, he's rotting in jail as we speak... You don't seem particularly happy to hear that last part." He added as he didn't get any response from Henry.
"How long have you been in my body?" Henry asked.
"For about a week or two,"
"So you were living as me all these while?"
"Oh, I didn't just live like you, I upgraded you. I'm the reason you're still alive and not in the morgue. I gave you strength, speed, and a great personality."
"From the way you sound and from the amount of alcohol you have consumed since I began speaking to you, I have to believe you have done more harm than good." Henry objected.
"Relax, this doesn't affect me." He shook the glass slightly in the air.
"And what about Lila, she must be so worried." Henry feared.
"Oh, she loves me already!" Lucifer beamed.
His response stirred up a bit of anger in Lucifer.
"So you just assumed my identity and took over my life?" Henry yelled. "Worst of all you lied to Lila through it all."
"Hey, come on, I thought we were friends here." Lucifer chuckled.
"No, we're not, Mr. Devil. Thank you for saving me and thank you for helping out with Cortez but I think it's time for you to leave. You can, can you not?"
"Please, call me Lucifer. And of course, I can leave anytime I want to." Lucifer scoffed. "But there's no way I'm leaving now."
"Why, don't you have something better to do in hell or something?"
"Let's just say I'm taking a little vacation," Lucifer answered. "I've decided to see what it is to be human through the eyes of a human. Plus, I haven't still figured out what or who opened the portal to my realm yet."
"Then why don't you just go look for another insignificant human and leave me alone!"
Henry's voice drowned as soon as he had a realization- more like an inside feeling that told him those weren't Lucifer's only reason for staying in his body.
"Unless, that's not the reason you don't want to leave... you want to remain inside me because of Lila."
The only response Lucifer could give was an awkward silence.
"Are you in love with Lila?"
The question tore at Lucifer's mind for a while but his answer was still the same as when he asked himself before.
"Of course not. I've grown fond of Lila, true but then if I said I loved her, I'd be lying. The prince of darkness isn't capable of love."
Then why are you still here then? He asked himself.
Lucifer shrugged at the question and continued. "Now listen, I'm staying and that's final. Also, you should understand that I am the stronger being in this vessel so there's no way you gaining control unless I let you to so you shouldn't get cocky and try anything stupid, capisce?"
"So what do you expect me to do while you roam about in my body?"
"Well, you can be my inside voice. Besides, now that you are back, you can help brief me on certain things and people so I don't have to try to play along like I know what I'm doing anymore."
Henry scoffed. "And if I choose not to cooperate?"
"Then you can sit back and watch as I ruin your laugh." Lucifer laughed.
Henry gave no further reply but Lucifer was certain he got the memo of how things would turn out in the days to come.
"Alright then, it's been a long day and we have to get rested for tomorrow. Nothing beats a good night's sleep, don't you think so, doctor?"