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]

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."

[my_own_advocate]

"Would've been an option for many people in your position with similar experiences," Lucifer said softly. "But not you, no. That's what makes you so incredible."

[okteiviakom]

"I'm not," Octavia murmured softly.

But she liked that he thought that.

[my_own_advocate]

"To go through so much pain and find yourself still desiring the beauty of the world is incredible," Lucifer said, and turned his head a bit so he could press a kiss to her temple. "I love you."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's eyes closed, and she made a little humming sound.

It sounded like acceptance.

[my_own_advocate]

"Would you like to see it from a different perspective when we're done eating?" Lucifer murmured. "The woods."

[okteiviakom]

"Which perspective is that?" Octavia wondered. "Do you want to take a walk?"

[my_own_advocate]

"Above," Lucifer specified, running his fingers along her arm, towards her hand.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's head finally turned as what he meant sunk in.

"You want to go flying?"

[my_own_advocate]

"I... thought it might be nice...?" Lucifer offered.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's surprise was turning into awe before he'd even managed to say that.

"I think I'd like that."

Of course she'd like that. The only time she'd really seen the island from above at all had been during that one weird weekend, and Silver Swan had been a little more concerned with trying to break through an invisible dome in the sky than admiring the view.

[my_own_advocate]

"All right," Lucifer said, a smile blossoming on his face. "Then after dinner, that's what we'll do."

[okteiviakom]

"Good," Octavia murmured.

And leaned in to kiss him properly, this time.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer made a soft noise against her mouth before he fell into it, kissing her back with all the love in his heart.

There was quite a bit of it.

[okteiviakom]

There was quite a bit that Octavia responded with, too.

She was telling him he was good. And that she was happy.

[my_own_advocate]

At least this time, it wasn't making him cry. There was that.

Lucifer was smiling like a loon when he finally pulled away, though. Like she was utterly brilliant. Best thing in the world.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's answering smile was gentler and more quiet. And maybe a little amused once she saw his face, but in the fondest way possible.

"Now eat your pizza," she said. "Important things are waiting."