The Cape Rouge, Port of Fandom, Monday afternoon

[betterthanaplan]

So the daemons this weekend had made for an excellent excuse for Duke not to think about what Evi might be up to, running around Haven.

But Monday morning dawned with no extra talking animals, just a porg coughing up a rock on Duke's pillow. And a handful of voicemails from various people around Haven, wanting to know why the hell he'd never told any of them that he was married.

Duke didn't want to go back. He especially didn't want to go back for a reason as dumb as his terrible not-technically-quite-ex-wife running around, doing who knew what. But even Nathan had called -- drunk -- and spilled while he was at it the news that he was a) adopted and b) now an orphan. And something about Audrey being Lucy that surely had to be the result of not being able to feel when he was giving himself alcohol poisoning.

Duke had always known he'd end up going back when his people needed him. Now he just had to figure out how to break it to Octavia.

[specifically for one, but can also be open! This will be Duke's last post on-island for a couple weeks as he heads out to do a speed run of Haven season 2.]

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[okteiviakom]

Octavia was fairly certain your soul was supposed to be on the inside. All of it, and not just most. But there had still been a sense of loss to waking up today and Regulus no longer being there. There was something to be said for being around a being who understood you fully.

So to fight that feeling, Octavia had gone out for a little tour of the preserve, today. And now she was back, with a takeaway cup from the Perk in hand.

"Ha yun."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke turned and offered her a smile.

Even he could tell it was a weak attempt.

"Ha yun, gona. Monin hou."

[okteiviakom]

Yeah.

Octavia's head tilted a little, watching his face. "Chit's gon daun, jaka?"

[betterthanaplan]

Duke pulled out his phone and held it up.

"Evi's in Haven."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's voice went raspy and flat. "Of course she is."

She really didn't want them to have to do anything about that. But she could already tell that wasn't going to be the case.

Might as well rip the bandaid right off.

"You want to go back."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke sighed and shut his eyes. And slowly nodded.

"She's up to something, Tavi. And -- Nathan's dad just died, and something's going on with Audrey -- that's like blood in the water for someone like Evi."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia's eyebrows ticked up just a fraction.

"The Chief died?"

[betterthanaplan]

"Yeah. And apparently the guy the Chief adopted Nathan from. Which he didn't know about. He's a wreck." Duke shook his head. "Which isn't my problem, except that Evi would eat him alive."

[okteiviakom]

"Think that's giving Nathan too little credit," Octavia rasped.

And no, she didn't say so just because she didn't want them to return to Haven. Especially not so soon after the last bullshit trip.

[betterthanaplan]

“You don’t have to come with me,” Duke said. “I understand if you’d rather just. Not deal with it.”

[okteiviakom]

Octavia looked the opposite of thrilled at that idea.

"You're not going alone to a place that's prophesied to murder you."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke went over to pull her into a firm hug.

"I don't deserve you."

[okteiviakom]

Octavia wrapped her arms tightly around him.

"Don't say that."

[betterthanaplan]

"I'm about to drag you back into Hell." He let out a humorous chuckle. "Or close to it. I don't."

[okteiviakom]

"Haven isn't Hell."

She would know.

"And you're not dragging me anywhere. I'm forcing you to take me with you."

[betterthanaplan]

"Because you want to protect me," Duke said. "From my own idiot heart."

[okteiviakom]

"That, too," Octavia replied, a little more mildly.

Still clinging.

[betterthanaplan]

"We should get going," Duke said, pulling back just a little. "I want to bring the Rouge this time. She's more comfortable than the Sanguine Moon."

And they could delay the inevitable that much longer.

[okteiviakom]

"And it's slower than a portal," Octavia noted. Because that would not escape her notice, no.

She finally loosened her hold on him, but slowly.

"I don't need anything from town."

[betterthanaplan]

"We've got plenty of food left over from Saturday," Duke said. "I'll just . . . send a couple texts, and then we can head out."

[okteiviakom]

"Okay," Octavia nodded, as she stepped back fully. "Sure. Let's go back to Haven."

She was not looking forward to it.

[betterthanaplan]

"I'm sorry," Duke said. "I'm so sorry."

He was maybe expecting her to break up with him over this, yeah.

[okteiviakom]

"Save it for when we get back, snogon."

Oh, if only she knew.