A Room Facing the Harbor, The Inn at Henderson's Wharf, Tuesday Morning

[my_own_advocate]

When Lucifer had thought to himself that he'd probably spend the week in bed, this past Sunday, waking up pollen-free in a quaint harborside hotel in Baltimore with Duke while Octavia did Father knows what in the woods was not really what he'd had in mind. But, well. Frankly he was a bit proud of himself for not going with his gut instincts and doing the right thing.

At least, it felt like the right thing. There was a bit of that right-thing rush.

Or perhaps it was just the smell of the ocean again. Salt and fish. Sigh.

He sat up gingerly in the bed, briefly disoriented. Partly because of the room. Partly because he was actually wearing underwear in bed. He rubbed his forehead. "Mrfh."

[[ for that guy, and phone calls/messages ]]

Comments

[my_own_advocate]

"And normally I would have agreed with you," Lucifer said, "But this was important. And she could still have had space across the hall, or-- any other arrangement she would've preferred. I don't really understand what's in the preserve that's so damned important."

[betterthanaplan]

"It reminds her of the Ground," Duke said. "From before the bunker, with Trikru. It's the first place she really felt like she belonged." He looked back up at the ceiling.

It wasn't that interesting a ceiling, for all the staring at it he was doing.

"Maybe the only place she's felt that."

[my_own_advocate]

"Yes, I know," Lucifer said. "That first part, I mean, that second one seems unlikely. I just mean--"

He looked to the nightstand, hoping to find a bottle of liquor or something, but sadly he'd been too preoccupied with other things last night to concern himself with that.

"If even I can figure out this is important, she better have a damned good excuse for staying in the woods."

[betterthanaplan]

"Yeah," Duke said on a long sigh. "You know, I've got an issue with 'all or nothing', but sometimes I think maybe she does, too. At least when it comes to whether she's going to do something or not. Can't really talk that girl into or out of much of anything."

[my_own_advocate]

"Which is fine when we're all on the same wavelength, and I don't mind her running off to play magical hyperviolent woodland faerie for a bit when everything else is more or less normal, but right now it is bloody inconvenient, and I felt she should think about that," Lucifer said.

And nearly reached for a bottle that still wasn't there. Damn it.

[betterthanaplan]

"Hey." Duke reached for him. "I'm not arguing with you this time." He offered him a rueful smile. "Think I'm mostly just arguing with myself."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer let out a loud sigh. "Not exactly how I saw my week going," he muttered, and looked at Duke. "Has this been bouncing through your head all night?"

[betterthanaplan]

"No," Duke said. "Mostly just since I woke up." He stretched self-consciously. "Was hoping to settle it for myself before you woke up, but, uh. Clearly that did not work."

[my_own_advocate]

"And honestly, it's too early to argue with yourself about--" Lucifer waved his hand, "All of this emotional omnishambles."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke snorted. "'Omnishambles'?"

He rolled onto his side, letting himself look Lucifer over with fresh, non-pollen infested eyes.

[my_own_advocate]

"A big old mess," Lucifer said, watching him move with his head tilted.

[betterthanaplan]

"You just can't help but make it fancy, can you," Duke said, giving Lucifer a fond smile. He looked him over a moment longer, then rolled all the way onto his stomach, resting his head on his arms so he could keep looking at the Devil. "It's a good sign, you know. If I'm thinking about that big old mess, I'm not obsessing over all the memories the pollen dragged up. Or wondering if how hot you look all sleep-rumpled is just a side effect of that stupid island."

[my_own_advocate]

"Mhm, though, if it helps," Lucifer said, a smile curving around his mouth, "You seem much better at keeping your hands off me right now."

[betterthanaplan]

"Enjoying just looking, right now," Duke said. "You know, all that grumpy concern just makes you even hotter."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer shot him a faintly annoyed look. "I'm not-- grumpily concerned."

Yes, he was.

[betterthanaplan]

"Oh yeah?" Duke asked. "What'd you call it, then?"

[my_own_advocate]

"I'm just... doing what I can to make you feel better," Lucifer said. Beat. "Wait, that's worse. Fine. Perhaps I am concerned, but I'm not grumpy."

[betterthanaplan]

"If you say so," Duke said easily. Teasing was much easier than trying to talk through the crap in his head. "So, what should we do, today? I'm sure you've found all sorts of fun spots around town by now."

[my_own_advocate]

"To start, I found a great place for breakfast," Lucifer mused. He finally reached out, idly pushing some loose strands of Duke's hair behind his ear.

[betterthanaplan]

"Breakfast sounds good. I'm a little sad it's not quite 'lounging by the pool' weather around here yet."

[my_own_advocate]

"I mean, we could have also gone to San Diego," Lucifer mused, "I do miss SoCal."

He cupped Duke's cheek and watched him for a moment. "You think you'll be all right for the day?"

[betterthanaplan]

Duke gave that the thought it deserved, even as he leaned into Lucifer's touch. "Can't guarantee I won't end up moping again at some point," he admitted. "But . . . I probably won't meltdown on you."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer sighed, and shifted until he found himself face-to-face with Duke. "Well, tell me if you need to go back at any point," he said. "...Tell me anything you need to at any point, actually."

He pressed a kiss against Duke's mouth. It was gentle.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke kissed back, just as gentle. Reveling in the self-control he had to keep it that way. "I'll do my best," he promised. "Though I'm starting to understand why Octavia gets so frustrated with me when I ask her to do stuff like that."

How was he supposed to know what he needed all the time?

[my_own_advocate]

"Well, I'm not telling you to tell me anything right this minute," Lucifer said, rolling his eyes a bit. "Just no unnecessary attempts to be Fun Duke."