A Spot in the Preserve, Sunday Evening

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer and Octavia had their Sunday rituals down to a T. And that-- well, that made Lucifer a bit contrarian, at times. There was nothing wrong with their tradition, healing as it was, but doing the same thing over and over again wasn't always that exciting.

And, all right. Perhaps he was still processing his own healing breakdown a week after the fact.

So he'd promised Octavia a surprise. Shown up with some take out bags and a smile.

She'd probably figured out where they were going well before the first trees came into view. It was a bit chilly, that couldn't be helped, but still: Lucifer thought the ambiance would help. "Almost there."

[[ for her ]]

Comments

[my_own_advocate]

"Blissful," Lucifer agreed. "but so are most mental images involving the three of us alone."

[okteiviakom]

"Sounds about right," Octavia decided, and licked pizza grease off her thumb.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer's gaze flicked up to her...

Yep, her thumb.

"Mm."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia gave him an impish, amused look.

"And you're distracted again."

[my_own_advocate]

"You're very distracting," Lucifer said, unabashed. "Would you like me to pretend otherwise?"

[okteiviakom]

"I don't think I would like you to pretend anything."

[my_own_advocate]

"Good," Lucifer said, smirking, "Because I don't particularly enjoy it, either."

[okteiviakom]

"Except under very specific circumstances," Octavia amended, with a tiny smirk of her own. "But this isn't that, right now."

Too much forest air in her lungs for it to be that.

[my_own_advocate]

"Only if we decide to go back to the mansion later," Lucifer agreed. He smiled a little. "I brought you here so you could be... you."

[okteiviakom]

The smirk softened into a smile.

"I know."

It was hard to imagine him coming here for any other reason.

[my_own_advocate]

"And I should become at least reasonably comfortable here," Lucifer said.

[okteiviakom]

"It would be nice if you were," Octavia admitted.

Because her yearning for being in places like this wasn't going to go anywhere.

[my_own_advocate]

"Well, I managed to adapt to Duke's environment by making it a little more... me," Lucifer said.

He waved at the picnic blanket. "This is the same, I suppose."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's gaze turned to the blanket again. And all the rest.

"You're carving a space for yourself," she said, softly.

[my_own_advocate]

"It's just a picnic, to start," Lucifer said, taking a sip of his drink. "Trying to coax myself away from hosting all of our dates in my own environs."

[okteiviakom]

"It doesn't have to be more than a picnic," Octavia pointed out. "I'm not expecting you to -- develop a love of camping, or anything."

[my_own_advocate]

"I know," Lucifer said, flashing her a small smile. "I'm just trying not to take too much credit."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia smiled back.

"Let me give you whatever credit I feel like giving you."

[my_own_advocate]

"If you must," Lucifer said, smile still in place. He reached for another slice of his pizza. "So far, this is... nice. Quiet."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia...

Leaned over to press a kiss against his cheek. What? It was an important part of dates.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer leaned into her, just a bit. "How do you like it?"

[okteiviakom]

Octavia slid her arm around him. "I think you're adorable." Not what he'd asked, still worth saying. "The pizza's tasty, the pillows are comfortable."

Another kiss, as soft as the last.

"I could not ask for more."

[my_own_advocate]

"Thank you," Lucifer said. He closed his eyes and let the side of his head knock gently against the side of hers.

It really did feel peaceful here. And so did being in her arms.

[okteiviakom]

"Pro," Octavia told him quietly, drawing him that tiny bit closer.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer's eyes flicked back open. He took a breath, and then looked up at the trees, swaying gently in the breeze.

"Tell me what you see right now," he said. "Sitting here."