Dr. Linda Martin's House, Thursday Morning

[my_own_advocate]

Was Dr. Linda's floor really where Lucifer wanted to wake up this morning? Absolutely not.

But Duke had been in no state to go to the penthouse last night, and Octavia had been in some kind of shock, and it had just seemed easier to stay here. Linda only had one couch, and that seemed better-suited for the drunk, so Lucifer had found himself on a mattress on the floor for the first time in... quite some time.

It was not ideal.

Which was likely why he woke up as early as he did, the floor poking against his shoulder as the air mattress had apparently sprung a leak during the night.

"Ugggh."

[[ for octavia and duke ]]

Comments

[betterthanaplan]

"That's, uh. That's big, right?"

[okteiviakom]

There was a hesitation to Octavia's voice.

"It's... new."

[betterthanaplan]

"Do you think . . . could we still. . . ?"

[okteiviakom]

"I'm not going to try," Octavia said. It was firmer, if not by a lot.

Funny how it also kind of sounded like she didn't want to know.

[betterthanaplan]

"Right, no, me neither," Duke said quickly.

But angels self-actualized, and Duke's already muzzy head was spinning.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's arms had been hanging limply at her sides until now.

And now, finally, one of her hands came up to curl around one of the arms he had around her shoulders. It was a light touch, but... Still.

[my_own_advocate]

"Does anyone want any wine?" Lucifer called, from well inside the house. "I finished this bottle but I'm fairly sure Linda still has a few!"

[betterthanaplan]

Duke squeezed his eyes shut and jerked his head a little in an incredulous shake. He dropped the hand in her hair to her shoulder and pulled her into a quick, firm hug.

"I should, uh, get back in there before he drinks Linda out of house and home. Even if I do kind of think she deserves it. . . ." He pulled back a little but didn't entirely let go. "You want to come in, too, or stay out here a bit longer?"

[okteiviakom]

"I'll stay out," Octavia muttered, already pulling away.

Even if she was slow about it.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke let one hand linger on her shoulder until the last minute, then ducked back into the house.

"Right. How much of Linda's stash have you blown through?"

[my_own_advocate]

"Just the one bottle," Lucifer said, scandalized.

Like this wasn't an absurdly short window to drink one full bottle of wine in.

[betterthanaplan]

Even for a confused angel?

"Well, good. Not sure what I think of her technique of getting me drunk to grill me last night, but she should still get to drink most of her own wine."

[my_own_advocate]

"I don't think you have to worry about that. She has quite the bar," Lucifer asked. Wondered if he should ask or if he was still in trouble somehow.

[betterthanaplan]

He really didn’t get why Duke was angry, did he.

“How does that not surprise me?” Duke mused. He shook his head and gave Lucifer a look. “Tavi is not okay.”

[my_own_advocate]

Absolutely not a clue.

"I noticed," Lucifer said, sparing a look towards the door. "Do we know why?"

[betterthanaplan]

“Because she broke a nail,” Duke said, rolling his eyes. “She’s not okay for the same reason I’m not okay.”

[my_own_advocate]

"Because I got shot."

[betterthanaplan]

“Yeah. And then you shot yourself.”

[my_own_advocate]

"Yes?" Lucifer said, not comprehending. "I don't understand why you're so hung up on that part."

[betterthanaplan]

“Because you scared the shit out of me. And she won’t admit it but I’m pretty sure you triggered Tavi.”

[my_own_advocate]

"How?"

Well, the confused expression on Lucifer's face was getting more helpless by the second.

[betterthanaplan]

“By shooting a gun?! When she was basically next to you? she fought a war for the last green space in Earth. And lost. After, oh yeah, watching her first love be executed by a shot to the head. . . .”

[my_own_advocate]

"Ah," Lucifer said.

A pause.

"I didn't think about that."

Yeah, people had noticed.

[betterthanaplan]

“You didn’t think about anything!”

[my_own_advocate]

"I was just trying to make sure I knew what happened."