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]

Duke gave up, throwing his hands in the air. “Tell Dr. Linda about that and see what she says.”

[my_own_advocate]

"Perhaps when she's done sleeping off her hangover," Lucifer said, still frowning. "Why were you just staring at me?"

[betterthanaplan]

“Because you’re acting like —“ Someone who wasn’t human. Someone who didn’t actually know his partners. “— like an idiot!”

[my_own_advocate]

Someone who had cut off his wings many times in a short span of time and still didn't understand why everyone else had been horrified by it even by the time he'd told Duke?

"Look, I didn't mean to set her off or worry you," Lucifer said, "But I'm not the first person to shoot me."

[betterthanaplan]

“What if he’d loaded it wrong?” Duke asked. “What if the first shot was stopped by, oh, I don’t know, your flask, and then you shot yourself in the heart? Do you have any idea what it would do to us if you died?”

[my_own_advocate]

"I didn't aim for my heart, and I likely would have just had to make my way back up from Hell," Lucifer said slowly.

It sounded more like he was processing something, though.

[betterthanaplan]

“It would still hurt,” Duke said, a little softer now that he could tell things were starting to click. “You and us. We hurt when you hurt. Even when you’re hurting yourself.”

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer's eyes sort of... darted around Duke's face, without ever quite leaving it.

"Why?"

Because he would be perfectly fine in the end.

[betterthanaplan]

“Because we —“ He wasn’t drunk enough to use the L word. “— care about you, you ass! You do the same with us, right?”

[my_own_advocate]

"Yes, but you're mortal," Lucifer said slowly, "And a good person."

He wasn't going to pretend Octavia wasn't likely destined for Hell, but Duke...

[betterthanaplan]

Okay now it was Duke’s turn to stare at Lucifer in confusion.

“Why would any of that mean I wouldn’t feel for you?”

[my_own_advocate]

"I mean," Lucifer said slowly, "Even if I did die, bar someone somehow bringing the Flaming Sword back, you know you'll see me again."

[betterthanaplan]

“But it would hurt you.” Duke shook his head. “I — look. You remember how frustrated you were when I didn’t think Audrey getting me to kill Nix was a big deal?”

[my_own_advocate]

"Vividly."

[betterthanaplan]

“Uh huh.” Duke nodded. “That? That’s what I’m feeling right now.”

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer sighed.

He wanted to try explaining again, but that hadn't helped so far. And-- well.

He did understand that frustration.

"All right," he said.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke nodded, then held out his arm. “C’mere.”

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer's gaze flicked up to Duke's face for a brief moment. But then he did, in fact, c'mere.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke took Lucifer’s jaw in both hands and gave him a gentle lingering kiss.

“I’m mad you might’ve gotten hurt. That’s not a bad thing.”

[my_own_advocate]

The kiss made Lucifer relax more than he was willing to admit. "It just seemed unnecessary," he said quietly.

[betterthanaplan]

“Yeah, well. Emotions are like that.” Duke ran his hands around to the back of Lucifer’s neck, them carded his fingers through Lucifer’s hair. “Should we go check on Tavi?”

[my_own_advocate]

"In a moment," Lucifer murmured.

He slid his arms around Duke and hugged him close.

[betterthanaplan]

"Okay," Duke agreed, holding him in return. "She probably won't mind an extra minute of air anyway."

[my_own_advocate]

"Or an hour," Lucifer muttered.

He held on for a while longer, until the last of the 'I screwed up and I don't get it' feeling had dissipated.

Only then did he let go.

[betterthanaplan]

"I don't know. I think sometimes she needs us to come find her," Duke said. He pulled away slowly, letting his hands linger on Lucifer's arm. "So she doesn't get too lost."