The Marina, Cat Island, Tuesday Night

[my_own_advocate]

They had traditions out here on Cat Island - or, well, ways to entertain the tourists that came through here week after week. Spirits had flowed freely well into the evening, and dances and costumes and all sorts of razzle dazzle had come through the diner and engulfed the docks in light.

But somewhere near the end of the evening, close to the big finale, three people wandered further and further away onto the beach. Lucifer, of course, was carrying a cooler in one hand, and his long, thin teal shirt hung loose and open around his body.

He was smiling a bit.

"I think we're almost far enough away," he said.

[[ for them ]]

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[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer straightened himself.

He let his hand fall to Duke's shoulder. "I love you," he said, softer. "I know you're trying your best."

Only then did he step away. Let his hand fall, and his eyes settle on Octavia's retreating back.

Then his feet followed.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia hadn't made it very far, stumbling like she was. First because of trying to get her shoes on, then because of simply trying to keep moving on uneven, sandy terrain, in the dark, while tears clouded her vision and rolled down her cheeks.

This was what she got for trying to go into a big conversation half-cocked. As if she didn't know how these things went, as if she didn't know what she was like. Wasn't she proving at least some of their points by storming off?

But she'd been trying to hold something in and hold something together for most of the time they'd been on this island.

And whatever she'd been holding that together with had just given out.

... Much like one of her legs seemed to, right then, as her foot caught on something, and sent her toppling onto her knees in the sand.

[my_own_advocate]

And here Lucifer had just been gearing himself up to have-- a fight? Something like that? With her?

Then she went down.

"Octavia!" he yelled, taking off into a run.

He didn't stop until he got to her.

[okteiviakom]

He found her still on her knees, slumped over and sobbing in a manner bordering on hysterical. Because all of this hadn't been embarrassing enough, so far.

(You know, for the Octavia later who would have to look back on her own actions.)

[my_own_advocate]

"Octavia," Lucifer said, dropping to his knees in the sand beside her.

He gathered her into his arms without even thinking.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's little flail when he touched her was reflexive, more than anything.

Same as the noise like a wounded animal that she made.

[my_own_advocate]

"Octavia, Octavia, darling, it's me," Lucifer babbled.

He didn't let go.

[okteiviakom]

After another, even weaker flail, Octavia slumped more against him. Almost like she had no choice.

Still crying, sobbing in a way that seemed to only barely give her a chance to get a breath.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke wasn't watching. (Fairly pointedly, trying to give Octavia the space she seemed to need.) But he couldn't help but hear.

The shout. The hurt noise. The sobbing.

(He'd done that to her. Again.)

He shoved that thought away.

(It must be nice to feel things out loud like that. Things that weren't anger.)

That one wasn't much better.

He started drinking the wine in long, deep swigs.

[my_own_advocate]

Duke really needed to work on his resentment towards Octavia.

"There, love, please, it'll be all right," Lucifer babbled, holding on.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia made another pained noise.

It sounded like 'no'.

(When was this ever supposed to be all right if they - she - couldn't even talk?)

[my_own_advocate]

"We just have to pick ourselves up and try again," Lucifer whispered.

[okteiviakom]

"How many times?"

It was louder than a whisper, but thanks to Octavia's currently limited lung capacity, not a full wail, either.

[my_own_advocate]

"As many times as it takes," Lucifer said quietly. "But you may have to learn a few new things in the process."

[okteiviakom]

And now Octavia's voice went small and broken.

"What if I can't?"

Useless question. She knew the outcome. It was a not-insignificant part of the reason for her current hysterics.

[my_own_advocate]

"Oh, niron," Lucifer said, his voice going softer. "You are capable of so much more than you allow yourself to believe - and you are so much more loved."

He leaned in to brush a kiss against her cheek.

"You won't be alone in this. I won't let you."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia answered with... another broken sob.

It wasn't her best work.

[my_own_advocate]

"So you can let it out now, with me," Lucifer said quietly, "And then we're going to get up. We'll go back. We'll tell him we love him. And then you'll tell him you struggle to find the right words to both be you and let him be him. That that scares you, because you don't want to lose him."

He ran his fingers over her hair, trying to soothe. "Because that's how he feels, too."

[okteiviakom]

It was... charitable of him to be saying so much in a moment where Octavia couldn't even begin to process half of it.

Also, she seemed to be trying to get up right now.

[my_own_advocate]

Well. He was trying, here.

Lucifer moved with her. He wasn't sure what else to do.

He stopped talking, at least.

[okteiviakom]

Even as she got back on her feet, Octavia was leaning on him heavily.

Gasped a few labored breaths.

"T-take me back?"

[my_own_advocate]

"I will," Lucifer promised.

He slid his arm around her waist. "Come on," he added, softer, and began to turn with her, towards Duke.

[okteiviakom]

Well, at least her legs and feet still worked, even with the heavy lean, even with how fuzzy and pained her mind felt.

She moved with Lucifer.

[my_own_advocate]

And so slowly, one step at a time, Lucifer led her back along the beach. Duke became clearer with each step.

Closer.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke heard the scrunch of their feet in the sand getting closer. He took another long swig from the wine and set it aside again.

His face was angled their way, but he was looking at the sand.

(He didn't resent Octavia her feelings. Or at least, it wasn't only resentment. He ached for it. For that kind of freedom for himself.)

(He'd always wanted to be more like her.)