MARIAH THRIVED ON routine and habits, and that was why, against all odds, she wound up finding some sort of solace in roaming Lux after work hours with Ella by her side. They hadn't succeeded the first time around, but the Lopez had insisted that the suspect could very well be a regular and show his face a second time — and with no other leads to guide Mariah into another direction, she had no choice but to reluctantly agree and accept undercover clubbing into her daily agenda.

          "I wish I could go with you", Kai pouted at Mariah while the woman strode into the elevator with her bag over her shoulder and her hand ready to wave goodbye to the man. "But, I've got another hot date, at least", he went on, far from sneaky when it came to bragging about how well things were going with Chloe. Still, even when Mariah struggled to fully trust the Decker after her history with Kai, she didn't deny that she was happy for him and his long week of successful dates with the woman.

        "Lopez and I got it covered", she dismissed with a shrug, although a chuckle broke free from her while she held back the elevator door, "and since Mateo heard we're looking for a tall brunette in his forties, he did not waste any time offering his services." At the mention of her cousin, she couldn't help but stifle a smile. He had hardly changed over the years, except for the little influence Kai had had on him during the months they had spent as roommates — either way, Mariah had been happy to be reunited with something so reassuringly familiar.

         Searching exactly that, she made her way to Lux like she had for the past three nights, her car keys shoved into her leather jacket as she entered the club with ease. She had barely exchanged two words with Lucifer, but it seemed the man and his friends had enough pull to let half a stranger like her inside without standing in line for hours. Maybe, it was a tactic of winning her over, one that she wasn't going to blindly fall for, but she couldn't deny the relief of being allowed to sneak past the crowd of people and make her way over to the bar.

        "Oh, you're here!" Ella was the first one to acknowledge Mariah who, unlike the Lopez, was scanning the surroundings with a stern stare. She was not here to have fun, but the same obviously couldn't be said for the forensic scientist who proceeded to clink glasses with an equally inebriated Mateo.

       "Against all odds", Mariah pointed out with a careful chuckle as she eyed her cousin and the worn diamonds on the collar of his button-up. "How many have you had?" she questioned with an innate worry bleeding even through the amused smile directed at Mateo who was driven by the music and the drink in his hand to aimlessly bob his head back and forth.

        Breaking into a grin, he swatted Mariah's chest gently. "I decided to not keep count. Ever since I started hanging out with Kai, I always have to be the adult. Tonight, you'll be my Mateo", he insisted before humming thoughtfully and shrugging, "I'm sure in some universe that made sense."

        Unsurprisingly, it didn't take long for the man to eventually roll out onto the floor to put even the hired dancers to shame, while Ella made sure to stay back with Mariah at the bar. "You won't exactly blend in by yourself with your whole dark-and-brooding thing, you know", she had claimed, insistent that there was no other reason for her to linger around with Mariah than keeping their cover — although the detective knew very well about Ella's little celebrity crush, she didn't try and blow holes into her story. Clubs were far from her comfort-zone, so whatever solace she could get in even one familiar face, she accepted.

       "I asked Benji to keep an eye out, too", Ella announced over the music, gesturing at the other end of the counter where the man was serving drinks as much as charming smirks. "He's a handful but he's a good guy and he's great with faces", she added, and with an impressed nod, Mariah glanced between Ella and the man she hadn't exactly hit it off with. She supposed he had earned a second chance — and after all, she was best friends with Kai, and the loudest guy in the club was her family.

        Licking her lips, Mariah tilted her head over to Ella and awkwardly cleared her throat. "I never thanked you for the hotline and, you know, helping out", she noted, not exactly saying the words now, either, but the smile curling onto Ella's lips suggested that it was quite enough.

       "Oh my God, no problem!" she promised with one of her arms uncomfortably wringing around Mariah to give her a brief but tight hug by the bar, earning a huff from the Rose, yet she reluctantly submitted to her fate. It was the least she could do after all the lengths Ella had gone to for her sake, anyway.

       With a cough, Mariah pulled away and nodded towards the crowd of people where Mateo was earning cheers with his moves. "I'll make sure he doesn't break any body parts", she declared, and as if reading Ella's mind, she turned back to her to stop her from following. "You could check the other side of the club if you're up for it?" she suggested with a lifted eyebrow, and with a dramatic salute, Ella was following the instructions, complaint-free.

        Feeling the beat of the music thud beneath her boots with every step, Mariah weaved her way to Mateo who had attracted more than enough men to his sides by the time she reached the dance floor. Before she could grab the man by the arm, though, someone taller stood in her way — well, not that tall if it wasn't for the leather heels, but enough to stop Mariah by one of the booths.

       "Problem?" the brunette staring into Mariah's eyes inquired, her strong arms crossing over her chest as she reviewed the Rose with an unimpressed look.

         Squinting at the woman in disbelief, Mariah took a step back and scoffed. "Might be, now", she challenged before gesturing at Mateo and then looking back at the stranger with annoyance, "what's it to you?"

       "I'm keeping an eye out for my friend", she insisted before rolling her eyes. "Friend might be a little too generous. A friend's friend, more like", she corrected before looking up and down Mariah with a thoughtful stare — one that, for a second, seemed almost curious. "You got a name or should I kick your ass first?"

         With a dry laugh, Mariah's fingers itched to dig out her badge but supposing that anyone looking out for Mateo's safety couldn't be that bad, she nodded. "Mariah Rose. That's my cousin, so, uh, if you don't mind", she sighed before making a move to step past the woman, only to feel an iron grip wrap around her wrist, instead.

        "You're her, huh?" the brunette smirked down at her before sliding her hand from Mariah's wrist to her palm to wrap in a smooth greeting. "I'm Mazikeen, but if all the rumors about you are true... Maze is just fine", she nodded in some sort of amazement — not quite the kind that Ella seemed to radiate, but almost like an understanding. The kind of delight that touched your heart at finding a kindred spirit, Mariah supposed.

       "Oh, yeah, you're uh—um—Izzy's girlfriend", Mariah remembered what she had heard around the precinct, but at the memory of the Devil and his association with the woman in front of her eyes, she couldn't help but yank her hand away. Nevertheless, she was intrigued by her and the way she managed to stand so intimidatingly all the while grinning down at Mariah like she wouldn't have been able to cut her in pieces within seconds. Kindred spirits, indeed.

        "I'm a lot more than just someone's girlfriend", she reminded before nodding. "But, yeah. Izzy's my girl. She asked me to keep an eye on your cousin once and I try not to break any promises I make her", she elaborated with one last wave at Mateo, still too enchanted by the music to notice Mariah crossing paths with the most formidable fighter in the city.

        Unsure what else to say, Mariah tried to part from Maze, but once more, the woman stopped her with her name on her tongue. "I heard you're looking for someone. Just so happens, I'm the best bounty hunter in the country, so if you need someone in your corner... I'm sure we can work something out", she offered, and as tempting as it sounded to have a quick solution, Mariah's entire body came to life with refusal. The last thing she needed was an alleged demon following her every move and melting into her daily routines, and so, she forced a weak smile to politely shoot her down.

       "Thanks", she pondered before spotting Ella wandering around the club and giving Maze one more look, "but someone's already got my back."

       It wasn't a lie... but it wasn't the full truth, either. As far as potential allies went, though, Mariah was definitely going to choose the overtly optimistic nerd rather than the demonic soul torturer from Hell.

—————

         VERY FEW PEOPLE enjoyed staying at work by the time the sun had gone down and there was only subtle chatter in some corners of the bullpen, but Mariah thrived on the darkness outside and the peace inside. Kai was the same way like that, but whereas he brought life and energy to the quietest night, Mariah reveled in the opportunity to be at one with her thoughts and fill out even a boring report about her uneventful night at Lux. Most detectives had already clocked out for the night, her best friend included, but when she got out of her seat for a refill at the coffee station, she was met with company.

         Caught between a half-hearted apology and a curt recommendation to watch his step, Mariah nearly bumped into another detective growing weary after a long day — when she saw the unhappy look in his eyes, though, she swallowed down her temptation to tell him off and settled for making room for the man needing more coffee, as well.

        "Big shot like you, I would've thought you had something better to do than paperwork at this hour", he contemplated out loud, his eyes trained on the mug he filled to the brim but with no one around but them, Mariah took the liberty to respond.

        "That's what everyone says", she grumbled before taking the coffee pot from him and pouring a mug for herself, "but I'm really not as big of a deal as people insist."

        Her words earned a snort from the man, not quite amused but the small lift of his mouth suggested that it was close. "You took an entire group of criminals down almost by yourself", he huffed, "I'd say that's pretty impressive." With that, he was stirring sugar into his coffee while eyeing Mariah, who couldn't help but scowl at his praise — she had never been good at receiving compliments, but even less so when she felt undeserving of them.

       "One got away", she reminded bitterly, and supposing she was right with a mere nod, the detective headed out of the break room with another wry smile.

        "Life sucks that way", he settled before stepping towards his desk, and unable to stop her curiosity from rearing its head, Mariah peeked out of the room enough to see the name plaque awaiting him on the table.

      Huh, she chuckled in disbelief, Espinoza. Of course.

        Before Mariah could duck back to her own desk, she found herself yet again cornered at the coffee machine — this time, though, rather than a gloomy man, it was the resident nerd of the LAPD grinning up at Mariah.

       "Hey, Mar. Can I call you Mar?" Ella wondered out loud, and despite Mariah simply shaking her head, the Lopez went on, undeterred. "Anyway, same time tomorrow? I've got a good feeling that it'll be a productive night. We might need some other reinforcements than Mateo, though", she blabbered, and at the last part, Mariah had to nod in agreement — she had had to drive the drunken man to Kai's good care before getting back to the precinct.

        As for the rest of Ella's plan, though... She was hardly convinced. "Actually, I think the club isn't really the place to be. I vote we stick by the hotline and wait for other tips", Mariah announced nonchalantly before stepping past Ella, only for the woman to take her arm and pause her escape. Gritting her teeth at being stopped by someone again, the Rose turned back to Ella, but the latter seemed to get the hint as she retrieved her hand soon enough.

         "I thought we were having fun", Ella pouted, and at that, Mariah set down her coffee and sighed.

      "That wasn't the point, was it?" she recalled before taking a step closer to Ella and giving her a sympathetic look. "I get you're struggling with your faith right now, but this was work, alright? If you want to party in your free time, I'm not stopping you", Mariah insisted, although it did nothing to dissolve the disappointment contorting Ella's face into a frown.

       "But you won't join me, either", she confirmed, and when Mariah shrugged in response, the Lopez sighed and crossed her arms over her chest in a way that was far from intimidating. "Why do you hate everyone?" she questioned, and while Mariah wasn't sure whether she was joking or not, the fire in her eyes only doubled as she snatched her coffee mug from the counter.

        "Screw you, I'm loving as hell. And I don't hate people without a reason", she snapped, though she couldn't deny that she had something of a pessimistic approach to most. Ella still pressed with an urging nod, and for someone who didn't care about what others thought, Mariah sure found herself in the need of defending herself now. "Look, I'm—I don't know, shy, I guess", she muttered quietly, rubbing a hand across her forehead as she recoiled at her own words. "And after the time I've had in L.A, it's not exactly easy for me to make friends and trust everyone from the get-go", Mariah went on, annoyance mixing in with wariness as she nervously glanced at Ella.

      Rather than similar frustration, however, the scientist stared back with apologetic eyes and lips parted in what was undoubtedly going to be a vehement promise that she hadn't meant to be so mean. Her arms twitched with a hug, certainly, and yet, when she reviewed Mariah and the reserved look in her eyes, she knew that wasn't the right way to go about it. Instead of forcing the woman into a tight embrace, then, Ella reached with a gentle hand on Mariah's arm and smiled carefully.

       "You can trust me", she vowed, and despite every inch of her soul yelling her to run in the other direction, Mariah couldn't help but nod and firmly believe that she was telling the truth.

        She couldn't and wouldn't trust everyone, but she guessed that Ella Lopez was the best place to start, and welcoming her into her routines — through partying or otherwise — wasn't such a bad idea, after all.

»»»

Author's note

OooOoOo now Mariah's met Maze and Dan, too. (': Slowly but surely she's getting to know everyone,,, though to be fair she is definitely going to get along with all of them. But it's very interesting to write!

It's taken me a while to get this book started, but my Christmas break is only a few days so I'm optimistic I'll be able to write more for the rest of the month!! I've got some good things planned but also some heartbreaking ones, whoops.

Lastly, thank you guys so much for 1K! I cannot put into words how much it means to me that this book has received so much love even when my updates have been a little infrequent. I appreciate you all so much ❤️