A warm crimson liquid dripped from your nose, and kept coming despite your best efforts to wipe it away. You could only manage to keep one eye open, blood clouding the other, seeping from the cut above your eyebrow.

"We had a story Y/N. I thought we agreed to tell the Doctors you closed your hand in the car door." A voice sighed.

You cradled your injured hand to your chest, hoping that would protect it from more harm.

"It's a knife cut, Carter. Slamming my hand in a car door wouldn't be this clean." You muttered.

He squatted in front of you, grabbing your injured hand, digging his fingers into the deep cut on your palm. You hissed in pain, trying to jerk your hand away.

"If you don't tell them what I tell you too, then they might get suspicious, and if that happens, I could lose my position as hospital administrator. You don't want that do you honey?"

Tears gathered in the corners of your eyes but you refused to let him see any weakness.

"No." You gritted out.

"No what?" He smiled, wiping the blood away from your eye almost gently.

"I don't want you to lose your position. I want you to rot in hell."

His smile vanished, and the back of his hand met the side of your face in a harsh blow.

~

You grabbed the stone wall of the alley, using it as support to keep you standing. Your cheek stung, and his ring had caught your lip, cutting it.

"I've given you plenty of time to get this little defiance phase over with, it's time to come home."

You pushed yourself off the wall, gingerly touching your bleeding lip.

"Home isn't anywhere you are Carter, I'd call it a prison, but even that would be better." You spat.

He didn't seem to appreciate your lip, and grabbed your throat, holding you against the wall. You struggled to breathe a little, clawing at his hand.

"I don't think this new attitude of yours suits you. I've been very patient with you, much more than you deserve."

"I promised him I'd never go back to you. It was a favor, I can't go back on. To hell with you, even if I didn't promise, I'd never go back."

You gasped as he held your throat just a little tighter, giving him the best glare you could.

"I deserve better than you! Better than a man who beats a girl to feel big."

"That's enough of that." He snapped.

He squeezed tighter and black spots began to cloud your vision. All at once you could breathe again, and the pressure around your neck vanished. You collapsed to your knees, coughing, and sputtering as air began to rush into your lungs. Dazed and confused you looked around until your eyes found the reason you were breathing freely once more.

"Maze..." You croaked.

The Demoness held your ex to the ground. His arm twisted behind his back at a painful angle. Fury burned in her eyes, and she looked ready to kill him.

And you almost let her.

"Let go of me!" Carter snarled.

She twisted his arm further and there was a snap, following by him crying out in pain.

"You stupid bitch! I'll kill you!"

You stood on shaky legs and tried to take a step, but the weight of everything was overwhelming you. But you were still thinking clearly enough to know that if she killed him, someone might notice. The three of you in plain view from anyone who might pass the alley.

"Maze... you can't kill him." You said voice hoarse.

She looked at you, confused, but still pissed as hell.

"But he-"

When your legs gave out though she released her grip on him, rushing over to you. After making sure you weren't about to pass out, she turned to deal with the man who'd hurt you, but he was gone. She let out a frustrated growl, but after hearing a quiet cry her attention was drawn back to you.

"Just take me to Lucifer, please Maze." You muttered.

She nodded, helping you to your feet and back towards Lux. She took you in through the back, keeping you standing, and promising you everything would be okay.

~

"Lucifer!" Maze shouted as she helped you out of the elevator.

"Must you shout so loudly Mazikeen, honestly you-"

Lucifer dropped the glass in his hand as soon as he saw you. He didn't care about the shattered glass or the liquid that was now littering his floor. Fresh tears fell as you saw him, and your voice shook as you said his name.

"Lucifer."

He rushed over to you, sweeping you into his arms, and carrying you to his bed. He sat you down gently, his eyes scanning every bruise and cut on your body.

"What happened."

It wasn't a question it was a demand, and his voice was cold and vicious. Even Maze seemed to be nervous as she explained to him what happened. His anger grew with the more she told him.

"And you let him go!" Lucifer roared.

He stormed past her, heading for the elevator. Maze chased after him, grabbing his arm to stop him.

"Where are you going?"

He jerked his arm free, his eyes redder than blood and filled with the intent to kill.

"I'm going to dissect that mortal. I'm going to tear apart his very soul." Lucifer hissed.

"What about Y/N!"

The fight seemed to leave his eyes after hearing your name, and he looked over at you. Hands fisted in your hair, as sobs shook your body.

"I'll find him Lucifer, I won't rest until I do, but Y/N, she needs you."

Lucifer nodded slowly, and approached you softly, be careful not to frighten you. He sat beside you, gently lifting your chin to inspect the cut on your lip.

"I'm sorry." You cried.

He released your chin, quickly pulling you into his arms. Cradling you close as your body shook from the force of your tears.

"No, my love no, none of this was your fault, it never has been." Lucifer assured you.

"I should have yelled for Maze, yelled for anyone but I..."

Lucifer knew there was no use in arguing with you right now, and so, he held you until your body quit shaking. He held you until your tears had dried and your breathing had returned to normal.

"You did what you had to, you were in an impossible situation, there was no right way to handle it."

You pulled away from him, your expression no longer frightened and in despair. Your eyes seemed almost hollow, and you wiped the tears from your cheeks.

"I'll get the first aid kit, it seems as though you need a moment my dear." Lucifer said.

You gave him a small smile, that didn't reach your eyes, and watched him go. Your fingers grazed your neck, feeling the bruises forming there.

~

"Here we are, I'd almost forgotten where I'd put it."

Lucifer walked back into the room, but you were nowhere in sight. He began to panic, until he heard water running in the bathroom, and slowly pushed the door open. You stood at the sink, carefully dabbing at the cut on your lip.

"Let me take care of that darling, you needn't worry about it."

You sat on the sink, watching as him as he cleaned the cut, putting antiseptic over it.

"From now on, I want someone with you when you go out, even if it's not me, I just want someone there. It's a favor." Lucifer said.

He expected you to argue, or tell him that wasn't fair, but you only nodded.

"Ok." Your voice was so broken, like you didn't have any fight left in you.

He turned your head to inspect the bruise forming from where Carter had slapped your cheek.

"I'm afraid I can't do much for the bruises on your neck, but I'll get you some ice for your cheek."

He turned to go get one, but you grabbed his sleeve.

"Please don't go."

Your voice cracked and your eyes became misty. Lucifer helped you off the sink, pulling you close to his chest. He held you, swaying with you in his arms, hoping it would help to soothe you.

"Never love."