The Cape Rouge, Saturday Afternoon

[my_own_advocate]

It had been a glorious week free of drama (bar what Eric predictably brought to the table), and they were capping it off with an even more glorious weekend of nudity, scarves, a light pirate 'abduction', and, well. .

A nap here and there, at least if you were Lucifer; he hadn't exactly been keeping track of where anyone else had been while he was out. Had to keep his strength up.

Which was why he was in the kitchen late into the afternoon, still naked. "First batch of grilled cheese is almost ready!" he called, flipping one sandwich with a practiced motion. Hey, if you were impervious to boiling butter, you made the most of it, no?

[[ for those on the boat. ]]

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[my_own_advocate]

It took time, and a few harsh, loud breaths. They'd said some of this to him before, Lucifer knew that. It had become less easy to deflect of late, and yet that was still his first instinct.

But he didn't want to ward himself off. He just wanted to be with them.

"I love you so much," he whispered, voice rough. He wasn't even sure whose limb he turned and pressed his face into - bar that it wasn't a hard cast under his skin. It didn't matter.

[okteiviakom]

The sound of his voice squeezed at Octavia's heart. But in a good way.

A really, really good way.

"We know," she replied, her voice a little strangled in its own right.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke's eyes weren't exactly dry either.

"We love you, too. So much."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer's eyes were closed, but he turned his head to press a kiss-- to Duke's cheek, not far from his mouth. Then to Octavia's leg, just over the fabric of that robe. "I," he mumbled.

[okteiviakom]

"Yeah?" Octavia murmured, prompting him very gently. Petting his hair.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke rubbed Lucifer’s back and waited.

[my_own_advocate]

"..."

Lucifer looked at the floor.

"Can we get on the bed, please?" he asked.

[okteiviakom]

"Yeah," Octavia murmured, like a promise, like permission, her hand sliding out of Lucifer's hair, onto his shoulder. "Get up."

That was soft, too.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke shifted in his crouch, pulling away just enough to start slowly standing up himself.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer watched him stand up first before he moved. He didn't know why. It just seemed-- right. Once Duke stood, Lucifer scooted back, until he was sitting down on the bed.

And then further back, until he hit the pillows, motioning for the two of them.

Yes, he was absolutely hogging the middle spot this time.

[okteiviakom]

He was unlikely to face any objection for that.

Octavia chose her side based on leaving Duke the one that would give him less trouble with his cast. She crawled in, and didn't hesitate about curling up against Lucifer's side.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke appreciated that, though he was thoroughly wishing he didn't have to worry about that cast at all right now. It was neither sexy nor comforting, and right now he really wanted to be both.

Ah well. He could work around it. He climbed in on the other side of Lucifer, fitting himself up against his other side, uncasted hand coming up to tug Lucifer's head gently to Duke's shoulder.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer went along with that willingly, dropping his head down on Duke's shoulder. "I realize I keep telling you this recently," he said, "But I may just keep on doing so for the next... whenever..."

He slid his arm around Octavia's shoulders.

"I cannot thank you enough for everything that you've done for me," he said. "I may never be done thanking you."

[okteiviakom]

"It's not like we're doing any of this selflessly," Octavia murmured. There should've been a teasing tone there, maybe, but there wasn't.

Her head settled against Lucifer's shoulder, although her face was tilted up towards his. Her hand settled over the middle of his chest.

"You're important to us."

[betterthanaplan]

"Here here," Duke agreed. "We're in all this together, man. That's how this works."

[my_own_advocate]

"Very true," Lucifer said, "But that's not the point, is it? At some point I... did something right, and you felt I was worth it."

Why was his mind wandering to a moment at the Arms Hotel years ago? Dumping a drunken Duke into bed before going home and running into an upset Octavia?

"Even though I have never been especially-- well. Easy."

[okteiviakom]

"'Easy' doesn't live here," Octavia said, quietly.

[betterthanaplan]

"We all make it difficult," Duke agreed. "In our own ways."

[my_own_advocate]

"Am I still allowed to be grateful?" Lucifer asked, a hint of amusement creeping into his voice.

[okteiviakom]

"Yes," Octavia said, rubbing at his chest. "But we're gonna be stubborn as shit about reminding you it goes both ways."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke chuckled softly. "I was going to be a smart ass and say 'no', but her answer is better."

[my_own_advocate]

"You're both ridiculous people," Lucifer said, and pressed a warm kiss into Duke's neck.

[okteiviakom]

Snort.

"Takes one to know -- two."

[betterthanaplan]

"Our ridiculous devil," Duke said, stroking his hand up and down Lucifer's neck.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer laughed softly. That felt like healing, too.

"I can't believe you made me into a boat person," he managed, pulling Octavia further into him as he snuggled into Duke.