East Los Angeles.

It's a community well known for its cultural diversity of Latin heritage, population density in the couple of hundreds and thousands. People were out in the streets to take on the cool weather which promised a whole heap of rain.

" Okay. Latin kings turf. I need you to behave, Lucifer. I don't need you in there causing more trouble, than you already have done in the last twenty four hours."

I tell Lucifer, re-checking if the address given matches up with the letter box number.

'Checks out. Right house.'

Lucifer circulates a finger on his hair drawing a Halo. I found humour, in how he could make anything such as a serious crime into a joke.

He's too.. I don't know. It's infuriating at times.

" You can count on me, Bets. I've got your back and your front. I'm more of a back door guy, to not be a prude. Just Kidding." His inability to talk unless he makes an inappropriate double entendre, and smutty comments, is head shake worthy. 'He is lucky I am not mom. Shoot him in his other leg.' I unlock the glove box, taking a firearm I was allocated for field duty.

" 'Kay. Dani and Diego Ramirez. A couple straight out of juvie, Married when they were released for good behaviour. both are real hot heads." I read and copied the information I see on paper. Lucifer, in the drivers side, yoinks it.

" Oou dear me. These two right charlatans are quite the trouble-makers. Oh! Do we get to do like in the movies? kick in the door? As your self sacrificing partner, I volunteer to go first."

'He strives on causing trouble.' I massage the space of my temple.

" No, There'll be nothing of that, Lucifer. No kicking in doors, None of it. I am surprised, with myself, that you made it this far without making a joke about sex. I jinxed it. Unless we have a warrant, or there are people in immediate danger. I need you to take this case serious."

I am starting to sound more like my mom than I'd thought I would. I want to be treated with the respect and regard my parents, biological and current, have now.

" If this escalates to a gang war.."

I trail off, the lives needlessly lost could be in the hundreds. I can't imagine the pain that would cause.

" Yes. Yes. It could spiral out of control, blood could run in the streets. With fire raining down. Yes, I know. You sound just like your uncle, sorry father, detective douche."

He, rather sarcastic, disparagingly admitted to me. 'Dad? He.. he talked to my dad?' Spanish lyrics to a song, that played on a radio station, acts as an echo.

" What do you mean by my.. dad? Did you talk to him?" Lucifer tugs on his blazer. It's a practice I noticed he did when he's annoyed.

" Your uncle made a stop by Lux. He made it sure to ramble on about keeping you safe. He pointed out, his words not mine, I don't want an asshole the likes of me to be near you. Quite condescending if you ask me."

Much as I am appreciative to my uncle, and his concerns for me, I'm eighteen years old. My choices of who I can be around are mine alone to decide. I am of legal age. My nineteenth falls on the same day that prom does.

I haven't told nobody it's close. Considering I don't think of it necessary, to make a big deal, and celebrate.

" Well. When I see uncle Dan, I'm gonna have a good talk to him. I don't know exactly how he thinks it's fine, for him, to tell you all of that."

I got out of the car. Clicking on the system central locking, it locks Lucifer inside. All I can hear is his protesting, stating loud how it was illegal of me to keep him detained in the car. I peered my eyes around for signs of activity. A couple of chip painted bikes were thrown in a rusted metal sidebar. Houses on this street are on the lower-level of income, but are rather well put together. Way nicer than some houses in the richest parts of the white picket suburbs.

I knocked three times.

" Diego and Dani Ramirez, this is the LAPD. I need to ask you a few q..questions." Rock music gets gradually more loud from in the home. 'They can't hear me.' I pound my fist, doing three more knocks. There is a feminine scream of shock and fear.

I aimed my gun, towards the peephole, raising a foot and kick in the door. I never expected it to be completely torn off its hinges. It flies up. Ignoring my brain, first thought of question, I follow the frantic path of accented voices to an ending of the house.

One girl, Dani, has a sheet covering her bare bra cladded chest and is quick to put a blue tank top on. Lucifer is cross-legged on a corner seat.

" I'm not going to ask how you got out of the car. But I am going to ask is why are you in here? In the room?" I had paused to look around at my surroundings. 'They are religious I see. Cross and all.'

Lucifer got up, gliding to my side.

" I was just in time! Darling. There was immediate danger. He was going to leave this poor woman completely unsatisfied."

Diego, taking full-offence to Lucifers snide quip, scrambled out of his bed but I aimed the pistol towards him.

" Don't act irrational. Just don't. Sit down, I'm sorry about him. He's out of line for this."

I told Dani, she scoffed before mumbling 'This Puta.' Bitch I knew enough of Spanish lingo to know that word.

" He is your partner? Cops harass us not matter what we do! And now they're breaking in to our house?! I should sue that pervert."

She spat. Her eyes are fired-up, glaring heatedly between us.

" Feel free to sue him after you tell us about what you, and your husband, know 'bout Benny Choi." I place my gun in my holster. My eyes wander to Lucifer, he leaned over to leave little to the imagination.

" Yes. Did you two jail love birds attempt to use him as a target the other night?" He hummed, straight-to-the-point with his question.

" that wasn't us! No."

Dani and Diego argued, denying being there. I sighed.

" well there are witnesses that put you two at the front entrance. Making threats. Are you certain you don't want to tell us anything?"

" No, Nah. We-we just wanted in. We wanted a pair of benny's sweet kicks."

Diego admitted. I stared, glancing over the gang ink on his arm. I did remember seeing a mug-shot of Diego and Dani both adorning matching inked crests.

" It was enough to pay for them with the blood of Paola Cortez?" Lucifer stated, inculpating the words.

" Paola was Diego's cousin. Okay? It's wack what happened to her. Why do you think he's so upset?" Dani exclaimed, her hooped studded earrings flopping about with her.

'His cousin? That's sad.'

I felt sympathy of Diego.

" I promise I'd get her in show. There wasn't enough room for three, so.. we gave her our spot. She wanted to be a designer." Oh no. He's crying. 'I am not entirely sure we should be here.' I thought, arms falling loose.

" is that.. a tear on your face or flop sweat? Oh bloody hell. This is our bad guy? No wonder why he can't get it up." Lucifer said, wittily, puffing a little smoke out of his nose from cold air. Dani and Diego share an intimate huddle, she held him in her lap.

" Look. I know this is hard. Okay? I just need to know. If you didn't fire the shot at Benny, do you know who did? That'll help us. Help us, help you, get justice for Paola. All right? We'll be out of your hair."

'Just hope this doesn't backfire on us.'

~•~

Benny Choi had messaged to inform Lucifer and I he had found another dead body. There is no specifics to his text. His warehouse studio was less than dull in terms of quality and colour. Harley Davidson motorbikes put on for show are spaced out around the studio.

" This's quite the impressive collection. I'm no expert on art but those are quite the paintings. Benny is a triple threat." I noticed a trail of pooling blood. " That definitely isn't paint." My gun remains drawn, as Lucifer swivels a finger and I quizzically lowered my weapon to stare. I watch Lucifer lick clean the blood. " Definitely blood. But it's curiously, not human." I didn't just see him Taste blood. 'That is disgusting.'

" Benny?" The crying is louder when I round the corner, of a painting. Pig Diddy's mangled curly haired body is laid under a blooded tarp. I wanted to admire the orange Lamborghini, in its glory, but put my focus on Pig Diddy.

" this is the.. is the murder? You called in?"

Benny is distraught, which is an appropriate way to act, as his pig died.

" I'm sorry. I didn't know who else to call. you said to do so if there is an issue or emergency. This is an emergency! Ain't no Nine-one-one for pets." He, dejected, said. Pout on his lips. Sadness covering his entire face and eyes. My face sunk to the floor, treading careful to not step on his pigs butchered body, and I patted benny on his shoulder.

" Bacon for dinner. Eh? Sorry. Sorry. Inappropriate timing, you have my deepest condolences. Benny." Lucifer said, his reflection of humour breaking when I glare.

" Apologies. Again. Bad time to make a joke."

" What happened?"

I asked, using a soft tone. I listen to the soft tunes of Rap that ran in a play list on the studios radio.

" Hector and I went to an opening. I came back to find.. its pig Diddy. Dead."

He told Lucifer and I, with held backed tears. The tension built up in his shoulder, that I could feel, leaving at my touch.

" Are you aware your old friend the Yellow viper was release from prison last week?"

Lucifer asked.

" No. I had no idea he was out."

" No phone calls? No contact? No threatening letters? Nothing like that?" I ask, with the station changing to a Korean song. Had quite a nice beat to it.

" I sent him letters when he was inside San Quentin. Money for lawyers, too. I never got one back. Instead those letters were all sent back torn up. Didn't take a dime." My focus goes on hector coming out from behind a wall of paintings. Candles lighted for The pig.

I see Lucifer physically biting his teeth, holding himself from saying a smart ass reply.

" I felt bad for how things turned out. How I got..I got lucky. Viper went down, he was my best bud."

" Well, with friends like that, I'd hide all of the knives." Lucifer commented. His usual grin, on his arrogant face, lazily pulled up. 'Can he not read the room? There is a time and place.' My hand drags down my right side of my face.

'God. Help, guide, me to not slap him over his pretty face.'

~•~

Korean Hangul inscriptions, and writing, cover walls to an area of aged painted walls. Lucifer and I were in a community building centred in downtown Los Angeles. Lucifer had taken the lead of holding my hand. I didn't take to reject his advance, habituated to his sudden random touches.

" According to his parole officer. Viper is here, at the centre, almost twenty four seven. That is what at least I'm told." I explain to him, leisurely walking the faint green glowing halls.

" Surely this isn't the place you go to. After five years behind bars, a brothel would be my go-to." Lucifer disclosed to me. Of all people. I get a reminder of who I am talking with. I stopped, and his immediate reaction is to look at me in tribulation.

" That favour. For Benny. I read he had charges for B&E, break and entering, that were laid off. Was that..that you? And in ended up with viper in prison instead of he?"

" Well. I may have pulled a few strings. Why?"

'Crap. If Viper manages to get that information out of Benny, if he does somehow visit him. He will be in danger from viper.' That won't end in a good way for Lucifer. 'What has he done.' My face sullens.

" this could get bad real fast. None of this would have happened and be prevented. If yellow viper hadn't gone to prison, he would have not targeted Benny and shot up his show. Paola would be alive. I'm not blaming you, for it, I'm simply pointing out intended cause and effect."

I told Lucifer, now realising I was now at least a foot in front of where he is taking his stance.

" You say you're not blaming me, Darling. But your tone says an entire configuration of what you aren't saying."

He contended, pretending he wasn't hurt with my insinuation.

" I am in no way responsible for what humans do, after I give them a favour. I mean. If there there's one thing the devil knows, is that people need to take responsibility for their own bad behaviour. Their choices."

In the case of ingenuity Lucifer's response of reprimanding Humans, for their ability to own their wrongdoings, had me think back when he saved me from Jimmy Barnes. A whole heap of 'What Ifs' went back and forth in my mind. " You're right. I'm sorry."

" I was hardly angry at your words. Darling."

~•~

There was an open back space loading dock. In the wide length section, just past a 'No parking in this area' sign on an adjacent double door, I notice a crowd formed in a semi-circle huddled in a tight-nit group. Canisters of spray paint is rattled. " Yellow Viper, I presume." I mumbled.

Lucifer, scoffing, snarks his response. Viper's voice echoed off shipping containers, as he taught the youth in his class meaning of art.

" He's teaching art to youngsters. I mean, this bad guy thing is gonna be all the joke now. What next? Cuddles and ice cream?"

The walls of this culture community centre told stories, drawn in ways I could understand just with a single glance of an eye. I admired it. An old rusted basketball hoop, which was once used to capture those orange sports balls, now forgotten. Viper, guard up, takes notice to us. I hear the murmurs of the teenagers and kids.

" Private class." Viper said, roughly. He had a right to be cautious. " I'm officer decker, I'm with the LAPD. This is.. well, never mind him. I need to ask you a few questions in concerns of the shooting at Benny Choi's fashion show." I could sense imperilment, coursing my blood, viper did a once over.

" do you have a warrant? If not.. beat it. I'm not talking to cops. Even if they're pretty ones such as you. I won't talk."

I backed up, out of instinct, back hitting Lucifer. " Ooh, Do you have something to hide, Huh. Mr viper? Or do you go by yellow? I don't want to sound like a dick, actually this is all of the offence I can give, but I don't appreciate your open flirtatious bull hockey."

Lucifer snaps, at the end, stepping forward rounding my body. I looked to all those young kids behind Viper. I did an awkward wave, which some give back.

" You think I'm gonna let you get away, with busting my balls, in front of these kids? Arrest me. Or step off." Viper backs off, his threat an lingering promise. He didn't need to officially give a verbal warning, his tone said it all.

" He seems to really care about those kids. It's odd for a criminal. Or anyone, really."

Lucifer commended, genuine confusion in his voice. I knitted both eyebrows, hip-hop music flooded in the docking loading area and space.

Toyota's and Cadillacs, with both high-beam head lights shining bright, rolled to a stop parking their vehicle. 'This couldn't be good.'

Dani, on a mission followed in close range with Diego, did a brief glance to me then sets her sight on Lucifer. " Our Lucky day. Viper, the perv and the pretty-mouthed Gringa."

They've must of been tipped off to where yellow Viper is. Lucifer and I are in the middle of a hostile war which could erupt into a blood-shed.

" Bravo, Crybaby. This is a bold move, isn't it?"

I didn't break eye contact, moving a foot forward, hands in a 'Calm' direction. Dani had her hand itching to reach for her Glock. There are kids here who are not involved.

" Go back home. Dani. Turn around, you know this won't end well for you or Diego. I won't arrest you or your friends. No one will be, or has to get, hurt." Diego, fired-up, points his finger direct at viper.

" That son of a bitch killed my cousin. I'm here to get justice!" He grits out, members of the Latin Kings glare dangerously at Viper. I had a bad feeling there is going to be trouble.

" No has to get hurt. We have it under control."

I repeated, Dani didn't agree raising her gun at me. 'What is it with me and guns?'

She prowls towards where I'm standing, I had both hands up.

" If you, and that Pervy partner of yours, want to be in the middle of the crossfire. Be my guest. I actually kinda liked looking at your pretty face. Oh well, Goodbye Pendeja."

They would shoot the kids? As well? There are half of a dozen barrels, trigger happy fingers jerking to pull the first shot, wanting us dead.

" Dani. Please, don't do this." I spoke to her, wanting to break through to her. " Think of the consequences this could lead you to. For you and Diego. Nothing good will come out."

" What my associate said. Now, Darling, if you just me that gun of yours-" Lucifer tried reason to convince me to hand over my pistol.

" Please be quiet." I said, using my hand to usher him off. " Diego. Dani. This is not the answer." My heart is about to jump out of my rib cage. Fear of being shot, again, at the sight of a gun made cold sweat form.

" We're doing it for Paola! Get out of our way. It's Viper we want. I said get out of our way! Now!"

Dani instructed, each second Lucifer steps away directing her firing line away from me. Well— ordered more like it." You know, as the master of punishment, I completely under stand your desire to make viper pay. For the tragic death of your cousin." Does he have an eye for the rush of danger? What is he doing?

" Lucifer, If I remember correct. You do get hurt. Bullets can hurt you, just like me? Right? Please s..stop."

Lucifer pointedly looked over his shoulder, and spared his attention to the kids using his finger to direct me. He wants me to move Viper. The kids. It would mean Dani and the Latin kings would see. I can't risk it.

" Furthermore. You have This danger thing down pat, don't you? I mean the devil could learn a thing or two." I turned on my heels, and Viper looked where I am, mouthing 'Go.' If they left undetected there would be no deaths.

" The devil? What the hell are you talking 'bout now, Perv?"

Dani seethes, his mind games was working.

" So answer me this; you engage in turf wars, yet nobody actually owns any turf? And those.. those trousers. I mean, you wear em so slow that, your ass is exposed to the other naughty men. We all know what kind of danger that can bring. Don't we? I mean you can park your bike in there."

I would find this entertaining if there wasn't a whole gang in front of Lucifer, and I. Wanting to kill viper and us. Viper had moved the kids out of the area from the gang.

" You making fun of his pants, Yo?" Dani asked unsure whether to be mad or bemused. Both are shown on in her wild eyes. " Are we talking about pants or trousers. Because it's very hard and confusing with what you Americans call clothes in the last decade."

Diego is the first to be vocal of viper disappearing.

" Hey! Where did he go?" It doesn't even matter no more. I'll kill you, then her second as she watches."

He's a second from pulling the first kill shot but as he did all lights are switched off.

One by one.

The Latin kings all clamour, panic setting in. I dragged Lucifer to a safe spot. I used some of my strength, pulling him down on the floor but I landed on top of his chest. His arms acted as an anchor to weigh me down.

" I'd like to stay like this."

He grinned, purring. There and then my cheeks decided to brightly burn red. I hear men shouting, grunts and gun shots.

I get off Lucifer ducking behind a barb wired fence. In the dark I take sight of a dark silhouette figure. A woman. From the outline, height structure, I got a sense of realism that I knew who it was. " Maze. It's maze?!"

'She followed me here? Did Lucifer call her?'

" Yes, My dear. That is indeed hells own well-known torturer, Mazikeen!"

'She really is kicking serious ass.'

I thought, wincing. Witnessing a Latin king member violently being tossed in the side of a car. Breaking all bones in his body from the force of impact alone.

'Ouch.'

JASMINE SPEAKS;

Maze came to save the day. How did you think maze knew where to find Lucifer and Ellie in the community centre? Lucifer didn't like how viper spoke to Betty. No one gets away with the disrespect, or rudeness, when they do talk to her that way.

What song would you give them?

I have a question. What would you like to see, in this story, Friendship wise concerning Ellie and the main girls of the Lucifer cast?? I have a few with Linda and the later seasons when she is pregnant with Charlie.

I have a surprise I hope you will like.