Lucifer's Mansion, Sunday Night

[my_own_advocate]

Not sleeping with Octavia for two days had seemed like a tolerable proposition after the initial suggestion of five entire days (oh lord). In practice, though, it was its own form of Hell.

So there had definitely been a bit of fumbling with the keys (and the take-out). And a bit of... rushing through the food part.

"We certainly ordered too much rice," he said, only halfway through his pad thai (sigh). "Who knew such a thing was possible."

[[ for her, and doomed to go nsfw ]]

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[okteiviakom]

"Already on it."

And she was. Putting it aside where they wouldn't have to worry about it, before crawling back up to him.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer wrapped both his arms around her again and pulled her close, sticking his face in her neck. "You are incredible," he said. "A harsh taskmaster, but incredibly so."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia nuzzled the side of his head, and did her part in pressing closer to him.

"You think so?" she murmured.

Yes, he'd just said. But she'd brushed up against parts of herself in the past while here that made her crave reassurance a little bit.

[my_own_advocate]

"Yes," Lucifer said softly. "I just-- I love you so much."

Hopefully she wouldn't expect intellectual thesis defenses out of him any time soon.

[okteiviakom]

After the last while? Octavia was done being that unfair for at least a bit, here.

"I'm glad."

That sounded very sincere, and therefore - in Octavia's ears - vulnerable.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer pressed a few soft kisses against her jaw. "You did rough me up a bit," he said, mostly teasing. "But the look on your face..."

[okteiviakom]

"You're the only one I can."

Oh.

That came out a little honest, too.

[my_own_advocate]

"I'm glad I can be," Lucifer said softly.

His fingers slid over the leather on her arms.

Undid one clasp.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia exhaled a sigh.

It came out a little more halting than she'd expected.

[my_own_advocate]

"Octavia?" Lucifer asked softly, even as he unclasped the next one.

[okteiviakom]

"Hm?"

And that sounded very small.

[my_own_advocate]

"Talk to me," Lucifer said softly.

[okteiviakom]

'About what?' would probably not really fly as a response. And beyond that first kneejerk impulse, it wasn't really one Octavia even wanted to reach for.

"That was... good," she murmured. "Like, really good. Letting you --"

Suffer?

She wasn't sure she wanted to say that.

[my_own_advocate]

"Letting me what?" Lucifer murmured.

The last clasp. At least for that arm.

[okteiviakom]

"Beg."

That was a good compromise.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer huffed softly. "Yes, you did seem to enjoy yourself with that," he said. "As well as with refusing me."

[okteiviakom]

"Sometimes power means refusing," Octavia muttered, shrugging the now-open side of the harness off her arm.

Because that was what it was really all about, wasn't it?

Power.

[my_own_advocate]

"Yes."

Lucifer's hand slid to her other arm and resumed opening the clasps. "You were quite beautiful throughout all that."

[okteiviakom]

"It doesn't feel like that," Octavia replied, softer again.

[my_own_advocate]

"How does it feel?" Lucifer asked quietly.

Click.

[okteiviakom]

"Like a darker thing."

She hesitated.

"But right. Somehow."

[my_own_advocate]

And the last one came loose. "Like it's what you need?" Lucifer asked. "Or what you deserve?"

[okteiviakom]

Octavia had been ready to answer after the first question, complete with a soft inhale before speaking, but the other one... She fell silet for a little moment.

And then just said, "Need."

She had a whole other category of things they did that she felt she deserved.

(At least when she wasn't caught up in the moment.)

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer kissed her temple, soft and fond. "Then I'll repeat myself," he murmured. "I'm glad I can give you that."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia tried hugging him closer.

"You trust me," she said quietly. It wasn't a question: she was almost painfully aware of how much none of this was possible without that.