Raven studied the feather curiously, her gaze shifting to Lucifer. "How are you so insecure?" she asked gently, her raven-red eyes reflecting a mix of intent and confusion. Lucifer shook his head slightly, a confident smile masking what Raven sensed was a deeper uncertainty. With Raven, his usual self-assurance seemed to falter.
"I'm not insecure," Lucifer chuckled, but Raven saw the tension in his posture, his straight but stiff stance betraying an underlying unease. "You are," she said honestly, "but it's not about your appearance. It's more about..." She paused, her curiosity piqued. "Well, I don't understand the rest. You're seeking a distraction, Lucifer. But be more specific - is it about your mother or your father?"
Without hesitation, Lucifer responded to Raven's question. However, he posed his own question in return, seemingly to avoid directly addressing Raven's inquiry. Lucifer answered swiftly, as if he had already rehearsed the response. "Which one abandoned or caused harm to you?" he asked.
Raven observed Lucifer's body language, noting that his shoulders had relaxed and he appeared calm, as if the previous tension had dissipated. Raven assumed she had struck a nerve, unaware that the subject was a sensitive one for Lucifer. After all, what topic wasn't emotionally charged for him?
Raven sat calmly in her black leather chair, facing the couch. In a measured tone, she said, "I don't know how to answer that, so let me put it in a metaphorical perspective for you." With a gentle gesture, she offered the seat in front of her, as if speaking to a patient. Though she was letting Lucifer take the lead this time, she continued softly, "All you need to do is listen and try your best to articulate and understand what this metaphor means."
Lucifer straightened his posture as he strode to the couch, arriving before Raven. With his right hand, Lucifer unbuttoned his Irish midnight blue tuxedo before taking a seat. Raven found Lucifer's old-fashioned mannerisms oddly admirable.
"The Crooked Man's ShadowCrooked and uneven, it stands before me,
Towering, a daunting sight to see. I descend the endless, winding stair, Each step smaller, my gaze meets the lair.A twisted path, this staircase unfurls,
Leading both up and down, its mystery swirls. Uncertain directions, a journey unknown, Yet to me, no walk is worth the moan.Above, grey clouds loom, thunder's embrace,
Fabricated memories light each step's trace. Cracks deepen, steps shrink, a downward spiral, As darkness yawns, a void so primal."Unworthy souls," the darkness decrees,
"Filled in the waters," a crooked smile sees. The mice now dress like the crooked man, Seeking the light, a goal they plan.But what lingers in this darkness so?
A mystery deeper than we may know. The crooked staircase, a path to behold, Revealing secrets, stories untold."Raven said with a soft yet in-depth voice. Her voice was gentle as she looked to the left imagining lost in her own world as she places words together with an emotion Lucifer couldn't read.
"Now in the Crooked Man's lamentNow let's say I chose to walk back up the stairs,
Avoiding contact with the crooked man. The clouds ahead would darken, the stairs would wither - No choice but to walk with him, hand in hand.In that instant, I took that final step,
To meet the crooked man, face to face. The only choice was to take his outstretched hand, And follow every twisted, cruel command.Needles and knives, pushes and shoves, punches too -
All would not be enough to convey the pain. Each word they spoke proved they need not such things To overpower their new, helpless refrain.Yet overpower they did, with glee and disdain,
For I was their mouse, their plaything, their prey. No matter how I struggled, no matter my cries - The crooked man's will would have its cruel way."Raven gazed into Lucifer's soft eyes, as if he understood so much, yet truly understood so little. She crossed her legs and gently placed her hands on her thighs, her soft gaze shifting to one of interest, even anticipation, as she awaited his reply. "Now, little mouse," she smirked, tilting her head with a crooked smile.
Lucifer chuckled, his brow furrowed in confusion as he grappled with Raven's words. The conclusion he had reached seemed evident, yet something about it felt off. "I'll give you this - you're certainly creative," Lucifer mused, now intent on unraveling this riddle. "Ugh, I can't stand riddles," he sighed, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice.
Raven met his gaze, an amused smile playing on her lips. "You'll learn to love them," she shrugged.
Lucifer wanted to save his questions, having earned the right to solve this riddle. "A parent must be the crooked man, so I assume it is your father?" he said, his words sounding more like a question than a statement.
Raven smirked, tilting her head and arching just one brow. "Rhetorical, I assume?" she asked, her tone conveying confusion over whether Lucifer's previous statement was a genuine question or just a thought spoken aloud.
Lucifer sighed and nodded, struggling to organize his thoughts. His mind was filled with uncertainty, yet a hint of confidence lingered. "I believe your father was the crooked man," he said, his voice projecting certainty. "He threatened you, forcing you to make a choice that was worse than before. As if you preferred the lightning to the void below, but that very threat is what made you choose to walk with your father," Lucifer looked at Raven, his expression uncertain about his own deductions.
Raven stood up and gently patted her brown leggings. Suddenly, a slight tingle spread across the back of her neck, and the hair there stood up quickly, sensing that something exciting was about to happen. "Next time, I get to ask the questions and get to know you," Raven said, fully aware that Lucifer would never have the answers he needed.
Raven stared at the phone on her desk, remarking, "It was a pleasure talking to you, but I sense something exciting is about to happen." Seconds later, the phone began buzzing. Raven rushed over, took a calming breath, and answered softly, a wide smile on her face. "Hello?"
"So much for taking a day or two off - there's a serial killer you must find," the lieutenant said sternly.
"Do I get a raise this paycheck if I solve it?" Raven asked bluntly, her unwavering excitement still evident.
"Obviously, freak," the lieutenant replied, hanging up with a smile
Lucifer chuckled as he detected Raven's sudden excitement. "Case? Of course! Serial killers are always a challenge. Let's see if they've made a mistake this time." Raven giggled and rushed out of the room, Lucifer following closely behind.