They took a commercial flight back to Manhattan.
The entire time, Raven sat silently, clutching Lucifer's hand, ensuring his safety through a continuous, subtle tether of focused emotional energy.
They arrived at Stark Tower late that evening.
Tony Stark, having finalized the new element, was in a good mood until Lucifer pulled him aside.
"Mr. Stark, we have a problem,"
Lucifer said, presenting the ruined data card he had retrieved from the back of the abandoned S.H.I.E.L.D. car.
"I completed the delivery, but S.H.I.E.L.D. tried to kidnap me. They used your Chief of Compliance, 'Natalie,' to do it."
Tony's genial mood evaporated. His face hardened.
"Fury sent his agent after my logistics consultant? After you literally saved my life?"
"They wanted to know how I moved the Vibranium,"
Lucifer explained.
"And they wanted to classify my power. I lost one of their bases on the West Coast making my escape."
Tony's jaw dropped slightly, then he recovered, a terrifying glint of pure, wounded ego and possessiveness filling his eyes.
"They blew up my delivery boy's operational security? They targeted my people?"
Tony slammed his fist on the console.
"That is an international incident. Fury doesn't get to threaten my business and my health. You are my consultant, Morningstar. Not S.H.I.E.L.D.'s asset."
He immediately initiated a high-level secure call.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., I want every bit of intelligence we have on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s unaccounted black funds and any questionable procurement decisions in the last decade. Fury just declared war. And no one touches my people."
He looked at Lucifer.
"Get some rest, Kid. You're grounded for the next twenty-four hours, but don't worry about the lack of deliveries. I'll make sure you get a massive hazard bonus that will dwarf your last payout. Consider this a retaliatory investment."
Back at the apartment, Raven was quiet. Lucifer was exhausted, but he had to address the new, volatile situation.
"You can't be left alone, Raven,"
Lucifer stated, pouring them both water.
"You almost disintegrated a federal agent, and you blew up a strategic base because I didn't call you back."
Raven looked down at her hands.
"I cannot tolerate hostile emotional intent directed at you. You are the only person who provides genuine stability. If I feel that you are in danger, my power will act to remove the source of the threat. It is self-preservation."
"Exactly,"
Lucifer sighed.
"So, we change the rules. From now on, you come with me on deliveries."
Raven looked up, a spark of curiosity in her eyes.
"Accompany you? Into the field?"
"Yeah. That way, I'm always within your sight, and you can confirm I'm fine without having to obliterate government buildings,"
Lucifer explained.
"Plus, I need to hit the next rank, and these Platinum deliveries are getting nastier. I need the guaranteed focus boost. I'll be safer with the world-ender beside me."
Raven considered this, a slow smile touching her lips.
"This is highly unconventional. A demon's daughter escorting a delivery operative."
"It's a Platinum-Tier contract, Raven. Unconventional is just Tuesday,"
Lucifer countered.
"Besides, I noticed you were fascinated by the logistics of the job. You were asking a lot of questions about delivery routes and secure packaging."
Raven's face softened, replacing the terrifying demon look with the earnest curiosity of a young woman trying to understand the world.
"It is fascinating. The application of low-level, high-speed logistics in a meta-human environment. It is… ordered chaos. And I wish to observe the next phase of your work."
"Good,"
Lucifer said, relieved.
"Get ready, Raven. You're my new official, very dangerous, co-pilot."
[Side-Quest Update: The Escort]
[Objective: Bring Raven (Rachel Roth) on all subsequent deliveries to maintain emotional stability.]
[Reward: Guaranteed Perfect Focus/Fatigue Suppression during all future tasks and increased combat reliability.]
Lucifer knew he was taking a world-ending risk, but with the threat of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the future Avengers looming, having a guaranteed Tier-S companion was better than running solo.
Lucifer decided to take a full day of rest and training with Raven before accepting his next job.
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