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 ]]

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[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."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia looked out into the woods with a soft little sigh. "Living things."

Always the first thing to come to her, here. Like it was in the air itself.

"And a home. Maybe not mine, but... For so many other creatures."

[my_own_advocate]

"That's... such a kind way of seeing it," Lucifer murmured.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia would have given him a wry look, probably, had their heads not currently been together. She wasn't sacrificing that.

"Is it?" she murmured, instead. "It's just what I see."

[my_own_advocate]

"Because in your own way, you can have a kind of way of looking at the world," Lucifer said softly. "Warm."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's expression sobered some, slowly, unseen.

But her voice remained soft. "I know what the world looks like when this isn't here."

[my_own_advocate]

"I know." Lucifer's arm snuck around her waist. "And yet you didn't let that dull your appreciation for the beauty of it."

[okteiviakom]

"How could I?" Octavia murmured. "It's here."

They hadn't lost it yet.

[my_own_advocate]

"You'd be surprised how many people forget, even when it's right in front of them," Lucifer murmured. "Especially that sense of-- wonder."

[okteiviakom]

"Not an option for me." Her head tilted a little more against his shoulder. Leaning into the embrace a little more. "I've spent more of my life without this than with it."