The Cape Rouge, Sunday Afternoon

[my_own_advocate]

He just wanted to be home.

For the second time that day, Lucifer fell. Not far this time, though. Just a few inches, really. His back hit the ground? with more noise than was strictly necessary for the impact that he'd made.

Oh.

Maybe it was the other two bodies making the same impact beside him.

He stared up at the sky, disoriented for many more reasons than just the fall itself. Oh my Me, indeed.

[[ for the two other people who just got teleported across the country out of nowhere. ]]

Comments

[my_own_advocate]

"Octavia," Lucifer said softly, holding her as close as he damned well could. "I'm here, I-- I love you."

[okteiviakom]

Well fuck you, too, Lucifer. Which was to say Octavia was now just fully sobbing, immediately following that.

It didn't sound like 'goodbye' wrapped in prettier clothes, this time.

It just sounded like exactly what it was.

[my_own_advocate]

Well. Talking just made her cry harder. So Lucifer... stopped. Just stayed there, his arms wrapped around her, his hand moving over her back with soothing motions.

[okteiviakom]

Sometimes crying harder was good. The yelling had been a release of pressure. Maybe this was the rest of it breaking free.

Whichever it was, she was trembling in his arms, and getting the front of his shirt all damp.

[my_own_advocate]

She could get his shirt damp any day. Lucifer held on, and eventually, started talking again. Mostly soothing noises. Just... letting her know he was there, that he was alive. (Eager to climb in bed with her and Duke and forget about the day for as long as he could...)

[okteiviakom]

Eventually, Octavia managed a deeper inhale. It wasn't much steadier, but it was a start, as the sobs shaking her shoulders seemed to ease away.

"Tell me again?" she asked, her voice quiet and thick.

She wouldn't have, without the rum.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer blew out a long breath. It was funny, how the words had always gotten stuck in his throat before. Something had dislodged them today, and now he didn't know why this used to be so hard.

"I love you," he said softly, "Miss Octavia."

[okteiviakom]

So guess that still caused a little sob-like sound. But Octavia also nuzzled at his chest.

Or maybe she was just shaking her head at her own reaction.

"Ai hod yu in seintaim," she croaked, "skaifaya."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer huffed softly.

He leaned down just enough to brush a kiss against the top of her head.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia exhaled a long sigh.

"Do you think he'll let us in yet?"

[my_own_advocate]

"Well, I don't feel like yelling anymore," Lucifer murmured. "Do you?"

[okteiviakom]

This time, it was definitely a headshake.

"No."

Mostly she just felt exhausted, and maybe a little woozy.

[my_own_advocate]

"Then let's go to bed," Lucifer said. He pulled away, but only so he could take her hand. Pull her to the door.

He knocked once. "We come in peace."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia was pretty careful about following him. She didn't remember the galley floor being this uneven!

And when they stopped at the door, she tried to wipe her face with her free hand. It did nothing about how puffy and red her eyes were.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer glanced back at her, and saw what she was doing. "Oh, hold on," he said. He pulled his pocket square out of his breast pocket and held it out for her.

[okteiviakom]

You were not going to want that back, Luce.

Still, Octavia took it with some gratitude. Worked much better than her hand for cleaning up some of the tears and, okay, snot.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke opened the door a crack, his head leaned against the door jam, then flung it the rest of the way and headed back to the bed.

“Thank god. I was a little worried you’d killed each other.”

It had just gone quiet so fast!

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer snorted. "Hardly," he said, passing into the room.

He definitely did not want that handkerchief back, no. But he was too relieved to be here to say so; he tugged Octavia towards the bed and sat down immediately.

[okteiviakom]

Meanwhile, Octavia swayed by the bed, and reclaimed her hand so that she could blow her nose.

Which was an action that was extremely attractive and also not at all loud.

She looked at Duke once she had finished, expression full of regret. "I'm sorry, Duke."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke was already sprawling as best he could on the bed, trying to figure out how to best prop his arm up to help the swelling.

“You were upset,” he said, tilting his head at her. “I get it.”

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer tugged off his jacket while they were speaking, and began to work on the buttons of his shirt.

Look, these past few minutes had been messy, and he didn't want to accidentally inspire another bout of that.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's face did another scrunching up thing, like she was about to start crying again. She swallowed and forced that urge down, then tried shoving Lucifer's handkerchief in her pocket, but missed.

Looked down.

Realized she was still in full armor. The weapons were gone, left in LA, but this was all still here, and her uncoordinated hands went for the first buckle they found.

She couldn't go to bed wearing this. Not this bed.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke hadn’t bothered to shed anything but his shoes and his sling. He made no move now to take off anything else, just curled himself around a pillow and watched them both with soft, tired eyes.

[my_own_advocate]

"Would you like me to get you out of those trousers?" Lucifer asked him, as he worked on his own.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia kept working at her own clothing.

Remarkably fast for someone having a little bit of trouble standing straight.