The Cape Rouge, Later Friday Afternoon

[okteiviakom]

Octavia had urged Lucifer to fly Duke back to the boat. Something about safety, and security, and a defendable spot that was closed off and sort of separate from the rest of the island --

So in one word: control. Which Octavia was grasping for, had been grasping for from just about the second she'd laid eyes on Mara at Selkie Peak. Something she'd thought she'd had, with the portal idea, only to immediately find out how wrong she'd been.

Making Lucifer get Duke home as soon as possible had been another flaily attempt at it.

Of course, as Octavia had come to realize very soon after, it meant she'd had to let both of them out of her sight. She didn't know if Duke had come to yet. Didn't know anything, except that this was the fastest she'd ever crossed the island, trying to race an angel back to port.

Her heart was thumping like thunder in her ears and her lungs ached when she burst onto, then into the Cape Rouge.

And yet: "Lucifer! Is he still out?"

[ooc: For the two modded with permission! Follows this. Note to squirrels: That Octavia and Lucifer got Duke back to the boat is fine for broadcast, everything else NFB pls and thank you!]

Comments

[betterthanaplan]

Duke closed his eyes. Matched her breath.

“I’m sorry you got troubled.”

[okteiviakom]

Octavia gave a vague hum. It was about all she could muster, aside from all that steady breathing.

On that topic, or much of anything else.

She didn't even think about the dead plants outside.

[betterthanaplan]

They could deal with that later too.

Duke breathed for another few moments, then dragged in another ling, shuddering (wet) breath.

“I, uh. I really think Luce needs you.”

[okteiviakom]

Octavia exhaled one last long breath.

Then she gave him one last squeeze, before slowly easing her arms back from around him.

[betterthanaplan]

That hurt. But so did everything else.

“I won’t go anywhere.”

[okteiviakom]

And for that, Octavia gave his shoulder a little squeeze as she got up. Her fingers trailed just barely through and over his hair before she pulled fully away.

And then she went to the bedroom door, and knocked on it.

More as an advance warning than anything else.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer's head tipped back against the nightstand and his eyes tracked down to the door. That would be Octavia, he guessed. He'd already given up on the idea of Duke bothering to come after him.

He cleared his throat.

That "Come in," was a touch unsteady, but it was there, at least.

[okteiviakom]

The door opened practically as he was saying it, because Octavia hadn't really bothered to wait. She slipped in and closed the door behind herself.

Took in how Lucifer looked, crossed the room, and sat down beside him.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer immediately reached for her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and tugging her in.

"Are you all right?" he asked, voice rough.

[okteiviakom]

Well, this was already going the wrong way 'round.

"Fine," Octavia said, tonelessly, sliding her hand onto his leg, for want of a better gesture of comfort he hadn't already beat her to.

[my_own_advocate]

He was upset at Duke. He was worried about her. "You don't sound fine," Lucifer said.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia had no retort for that. He was probably right, anyway.

So she said nothing.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer kissed her temple. Half-turned, and then pulled her into a full-on hug.

[okteiviakom]

At least that was a little more reciprocal. Octavia could work with that, sliding her own arms around him.

[my_own_advocate]

"I'm sorry you keep winding up with our messes, darling," Lucifer whispered in her ear.

[okteiviakom]

It felt too close for what Octavia was able to stand right now, but she took it anyway. Didn't flinch, didn't move.

Well, no. She held him a little tighter, instead.

[my_own_advocate]

She didn't want to talk. That much was obvious. So Lucifer fell silent, lingering in the hug.

There was still a distance, with her like this. But it felt much smaller than that between Duke and himself, and so he soaked it up.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia had nothing to say. Or had plenty to say but no urge to say it, all detached from everything she could have been feeling. A kind of survival mode, a conservation of energy. Giving something to them and spending nothing on anything else.

Of course, if she'd felt a little more present in herself, she'd have probably been able to figure out more of what Lucifer needed from her. But this was what they had.

Clinging in silence.

Breathing.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer's fingers eventually slid up, skimming along her cheekbone. Pushing into her hair, brushing it very gently behind her ear. He should say something, shouldn't he? At least-- tell her what had happened with Duke.

Why it was so frustrating.

Why it hurt. Why once again he felt this desperate fear for an empty future that could be right around the corner.

"Octavia," was as far as he got. And, "Thank you."

[okteiviakom]

And all Octavia said was a very, very quiet, "I know."

Because she did. Enough.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer nodded. Shallowly, so he didn't jostle her too much.

His hand settled against her cheek.

(He still wished for a conversation with Duke he just couldn't seem to have.)

[okteiviakom]

Breathing slowly, Octavia just wished for peace.

Time would tell whether either of them were going to get what they wanted.

[my_own_advocate]

So they stayed there, for a while.

At least until the anger had faded enough that the concern - not just for her, but also for Duke - began to gnaw, and Lucifer pulled back out of their embrace.

He let out a sigh.

[okteiviakom]

Octavia let go of him, straightened up, all of it less like it was a choice and more like it was automatic.

"He said he wouldn't go anywhere," she said, voice quiet and flat.

[my_own_advocate]

"Well, that's novel," Lucifer muttered.

Wishing he could do something to snap her out of it.