The OceaNyx, Somewhere At Sea, Sunday

[my_own_advocate]

There had been a brief moment at port to restock their increasingly-full pantry, but otherwise, the OceaNyx had been at sea (or at uninhabited bay) for the past few days, allowing its inhabitants to find some kind of peace. It had been helpful, at least for Lucifer, whose strong emotions towards both of his partners - anger, for Duke, worry, for Octavia - had finally settled back down. Allowing him to be in the moment.

Admittedly, 'the moment' involved a lot of cooking in the ship's incredibly tiny kitchen - how he'd managed to wrench that many cookies out of that oven was anyone's guess - but still.

It was a nice day. The climate was certainly growing warmer, as they moved further south. And so Lucifer eventually exited the kitchen to find a spot on some cushions near the back, enjoying the sight of the wind in the ship's sails, the way it bent slightly sideways as it made speed, the sound of the bow cutting through the water.

Why couldn't it be like this all the time?

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Comments

[okteiviakom]

Octavia shook her head.

"Being there was physical enough."

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer nodded slowly. "Well, there's no disputing that."

[okteiviakom]

"I mean, I got tossed out of an imploding lighthouse, but..."

That was just Haven.

[my_own_advocate]

"..." Lucifer looked at her. "...No injuries?"

[okteiviakom]

Octavia shrugged.

"Not really."

[my_own_advocate]

"Just making sure," Lucifer said. "I worried."

[okteiviakom]

"I had to cut my finger for Duke's trouble," Octavia added, after a pause, like an afterthought. "But even that's healed."

[my_own_advocate]

"No scars on the outside," Lucifer said. "How neat."

[okteiviakom]

"Mmh."

Well, what was there to say to that?

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer's hand slid away from her - and searched out her own hand.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia let him.

Her fingers brushed against his.

[my_own_advocate]

"Well, I'm glad it's healed," Lucifer said.

Sliding his fingers between hers.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia hummed again. Gave his fingers a little squeeze.

"I made sure it wasn't going to be too bad."

[my_own_advocate]

"That's my sensible Octavia," Lucifer said softly.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia shrugged one shoulder. Barely, as was her way.

"Just doing my best to... not make things worse." Sometimes in the smallest ways possible.

[my_own_advocate]

"I know," Lucifer murmured. "I see it."

[okteiviakom]

"Someone should," Octavia muttered.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer snorted softly. "Is that a criticism?"

[okteiviakom]

"Someone should notice," Octavia clarified.

Softer and quieter.

[my_own_advocate]

"Ah."

Lucifer pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "This is part of what I meant by trusting you," he said, softer. "I know how hard you try. Even when your instincts tell you otherwise."

[okteiviakom]

"I don't really have anything else I can do," Octavia admitted. It felt like admitting something, anyway. "So I have to cling even harder to the small stuff."

She swallowed.

"And it doesn't always feel like enough."

Understatement, as they'd already seen.

[my_own_advocate]

"I can't tell you what enough is," Lucifer said.

He squeezed her fingers again, wanting to steady her, somehow.

"But I can tell you that without your small things, I may well have lost my mind ages ago."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia squeezed his hand back.

"Mochof," she said, for all of it. Even though he was saying she'd done something. Continued to do something.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer smiled back at her.

"I love you."

[okteiviakom]

"I know."

It wasn't cocky or smug.

Just soft.