Somewhere in Los Angeles, Tuesday Night

[my_own_advocate]

He'd started walking again. Just like Monday, when Father had shown up for the first time.

Lucifer just walked, leaving Linda's house far behind him. He kept walking blindly, thoughts racing, barely even aware of Duke and Octavia following behind.

He kept walking until his thoughts were calmer.

Until they found themselves at a fountain in a park, somewhere, he only barely knew where.

He sat down by the fountain's edge and crossed his arms, staring into nothing.

[[ for those who are here. ]]

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[betterthanaplan]

"I was made by a serial killer and a useless junkie," Duke said. "I'm not incapable of love." He tried pressing a kiss to Lucifer's cheek. "Neither are you."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia crouched down in front of Lucifer, trying to catch his eyes.

(Tried not to think about the times Duke had done the same with her.)

"Where the hell do you think you're going to sleep?"

[my_own_advocate]

"The couch, obviously," Lucifer said. He glanced up at her eyes only briefly, and then to Duke, and then back at the floor.

(He didn't flinch away from Duke's kiss, at least.)

"I mean my parents made me," he said. "Yours-- smashed their DNA together and somehow managed to pass on only the good bits."

[betterthanaplan]

"What about your mom?" Duke asked. If Lucifer was sleeping on the couch, Duke would just sleep on the couch too. He was much too stubborn to be put off like that. "She made you, too, right? Was she incapable of love?"

[okteiviakom]

Octavia was slightly more likely to choose the slightly more subtle approach to sleep next to the couch on the floor, but the thought was the same.

She tried putting her hand on Lucifer's knee, the expression on her face slowly morphing into concern.

[my_own_advocate]

Goddess adored him, and on some level Lucifer knew that. But right now all he could think of was how broken everything had been, how much he was letting everyone down by being him, again.

So he said nothing. He couldn't parse the question.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke moved to slide his arms around Lucifer's waist.

"You're tired," he said, barely more than a whisper. "Let's just get you back to your loft, huh?"

He wanted to wrap Lucifer up in a blanket and hiss at anyone who came close who wasn't him or Octavia. (Or maybe Chloe, but she was on thin ice.)

[okteiviakom]

And to think they'd been worried over Lucifer kissing Chloe. And how that had felt like it might be a step away from them.

"Yeah," Octavia agreed in a murmur. "We should do that."

[my_own_advocate]

"Right," Lucifer said.

He really was tired. And miserable, and in pain, but also very, very tired. "All right."

He rose gingerly from his seat.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke moved with him, unwilling to let him go for any longer than he absolutely had to. Like when he had to use one hand to dip into his pocket and pull out his phone.

"I'll get us an Uber."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia stood up, too.

And found herself just watching them. It wasn't like she could help. And her chest felt --

Too tight.

[my_own_advocate]

Octavia had at least figured it out, Lucifer reflected.

"I don't deserve this," he told Duke, who clearly hadn't.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke knew that feeling.

"I don't give a shit if you deserve it or not. You're getting it."

He tucked his phone away again.

"Carlos will be here in a red Honda Civic in six minutes."

[okteiviakom]

"Deserve's got nothing to do with it," Octavia murmured.

Not for the first time.

[my_own_advocate]

"A Civic," Lucifer muttered.

Yeah, he was going to judge the car choice because otherwise he'd have to engage with what they were saying.

[betterthanaplan]

What? Carlos was the closest one who wasn't picking up multiple people at once!

"Deal with it, babe," Duke said gently, and moved to kiss Lucifer on the hair.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia didn't know what else to say. Maybe one of these days she would learn Duke's strategy of going for the touching, even in a public place like this, but she wasn't there yet.

She just wanted them to get home.

(Except that wasn't where they were going.)

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer sighed, knowing he should really move away from Duke and not let him continue to indulge this-- fool's errand. He really should.

(It was also the one thing holding him together right now.)

So he stood there, muttered something about the indignity of the car, and then fell silent. Waiting.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke was going to hang onto him as long as Lucifer would let him. After a few moments of them all standing around in silence, he started humming.

Sorry, Luce, but Jimmy Buffet had long since become his go-to quiet soothing song, and you were just going to have to deal with it.

(Or maybe get distracted by ranting about it. Duke would be happy with either reaction.)

[okteiviakom]

It didn't take Octavia long to figure out what it was.

The small, soft snort was reflexive.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer groaned. At least in that respect, he was still utterly predictable. If a bit sluggish about the reaction, which took a bit longer than it otherwise would have.

"Jimmy bloody Buffet, Duke?" he said. "I want to say your timing needs work, but there's never a reasonable time for Buffet."

[betterthanaplan]

"Shhh," Duke said, hiding a smile in Lucifer's hair. When all else failed, he could always rely on being obnoxious. "It's soothing."

[okteiviakom]

"Careful, Lucifer," Octavia said, managing a low rasp that was meant to have some lightness to it. Didn't quite hit it. "It's my favorite."

She was looking down the street, as if she knew what a Honda Civic looked like.

[my_own_advocate]

It was ugly, was what it was.

"Yes, well, I don't go to either of you for your musical suggestions," Lucifer muttered.

Well, fine. He and Duke had shared a few moments, here and there.

[betterthanaplan]

"Could go with Iggy Pop instead?" Duke asked, chuckling. "Or Lou Reed? The Cure?"