Deck of the Cape Rouge to Elsewhere, Thursday Morning

[my_own_advocate]

Yesterday had not been good.

And now, a day later, they were still holed up within the bowels of the Cape Rouge. But Lucifer-- well, Lucifer needed some air.

He unlocked the door carefully, and stuck his head outside. No strange women so far...

[[ for two plus one ]]

Comments

[okteiviakom]

"I didn't bring us here," Octavia murmured.

But that was not an answer.

[betterthanaplan]

"And you're not the reason I needed . . . that."

She hadn't helped, but it wasn't really on her.

[okteiviakom]

Most things felt like they were on her, lately.

She smoothed the fabric over her thigh and forced her hand to still. Looked over at him. "Will you get back to it?"

[betterthanaplan]

"The swimming?" Duke looked back out at the water and shrugged. "Yeah. Can't keep me away from that for long."

It wouldn't be the same for awhile, but he'd try.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's nod was maybe firmer than might have been expected. "Good."

The comfort had gotten spooked right out of one or two of her comfort things, very recently. She didn't want that for him, too.

[betterthanaplan]

“I could have warned you guys,” Duke said. “It was, uh. Spur of the moment. I know you guys worry.”

[okteiviakom]

Octavia did not have it in her to cycle through that again, what he should or should not have done. Instead, she let her hand rest on her thigh, the one closest to him. Palm up.

He was likely to recognize the gesture.

[betterthanaplan]

It took him a moment to spot it, his eyes still mostly on the water, but when he did, his mouth curled up just a little.

He rested his hand in hers.

[okteiviakom]

It said something about how Octavia's last few days had gone that she found herself almost completely numb to the idea that he might not take the offer.

But then he did.

And her fingers curled gently around his.