betterthanaplan | Selkie Peak, Friday afternoon (Reply)

[continued from here]

Duke's text to Lucifer and Octavia was brief, but hopefully conveyed enough of his nervousness to bring them running.

Audrey is here. Something's wrong. Meet us at Selkie Peak

That was far enough into the rocky bits that they weren't likely to run into anyone else. Duke didn't much feel like inviting Audrey -- and thus Haven -- back to the boat. Not until he knew for sure the troubles were all done with.

Actually, considering how his partners were likely to react to her presence, probably not even then.

Octavia	Yeah, weird that he thought there was something other than 'Audrey is here' to bring Octavia running, at least. But having a location to run towards was appreciated. She'd paused to grab knives, not for much else.
Lucifer	Lucifer didn't even bother grabbing anything. He was moving as soon as Octavia was, hurrying towards Selkie Peak-- "I don't like this," he hissed to Octavia.
Duke & "Audrey"	Duke was pacing by the edge of the lake, Mara perched on a rock nearby. "I'm just saying," she said, "it's a little funny that you need a chaperone." "Yeah, well. Think of it as me avoiding getting yelled at when I get home if I didn't insist on waiting for them." "Never thought I'd see the day Duke Crocker was whipped." ". . . No comment."
Octavia	Octavia gave Lucifer a look that suggested 'yeah no shit' almost better than the actual words would have. And then, soon enough, they were close enough to see Duke and -- whoever the fuck that really was, with him. "Duke!" The tense bark that that was betrayed everything about how Octavia felt about things.
Lucifer	"What on earth is she doing here?" Lucifer asked, trailing not far behind.
Duke & "Audrey"	“Charming,” Mara said. “Don’t.” Duke stopped pacing. “I didn’t invite her. She just showed up.” “I wanted to check on him,” Mara said dryly. “Is that allowed?”
Octavia	"Not when it's you." Sorry, was she supposed to be buying this was Audrey? (It might not have mattered either way.)
Lucifer	"Considering it's massively out of character and every time we see you something terrible happens to him," Lucifer said, "Yes." Why were they even talking? He had half a mind to grab her and just fling her into the ocean.
Duke & "Audrey"	Duke let out a long, slow breath as he strangled a sigh. "They're protective." It wasn't an apology. Just a statement of fact. He gave Mara a shrug. "Can you blame them?" "The troubles were terrible for everyone," Mara said, aiming for soft and sad, but unable to keep her irritation with this reaction fully in check. "Not just your boytoy here. We've all had to do things we didn't like." Like put up with these . . . insects with delusions of grandeur.
Octavia	The feeling was mutual. "Cut the crap, Mara," Octavia said, her voice all dry rasp. Was it too early to call her out so directly? Maybe, but if Octavia was right - and she had no reason to think she wasn't because she remembered the last moments of her most recent involuntary trip to Haven - then she had zero patience for playing any kind of stupid game with the woman.
Lucifer	Well, if she hadn't done it, Lucifer would have done it, so whether or not it was early was immaterial. "I'm deeply impressed by how terrible that Audrey impression really is," Lucifer said. He clapped. Slowly. "Get away from him, or be flung into the sea. Your choice." He might fling her into the sea anyway.
Duke & Mara	Mara looked at Duke for support, only to find him staring back, his expression closed. She took a breath, opened her mouth to protest — then laughed. “I never could quite nail her sniveling,” she said. “Okay, we’ll cut to the chase. Octavia, you’re going to open me a thinny home. Or Duke goes ‘boom’.” That made Duke bark out a laugh, as he shifted closer to his partners. “Wow, are you barking up the wrong tree.”
Octavia	Funny how Octavia's expression or stance didn't shift a single bit at this reveal. "I'm not doing a damn thing for you." Irrelevant that it was something she didn't even have the ability to do.
Lucifer	Lucifer lifted his hand. "Is there any genuine reason why I shouldn't just fling her into the ocean?"
Duke & . . . Mara?	“Yeah,” Duke fairly growled. “I want to do it.” Mara started backpedaling, then stopped abruptly, trembling. Her chin lifted. Her eyes, when she met Duke’s were watery, but determined. “Do it,” she said. “Do it now. I can’t hold her for long.” Duke froze, eyes wide. “No.” He shook his head. “Swear to god, Mara, if you’re fucking with me —“ Mara’s mouth crumpled. She looked like she was in pain. “Duke, please.”
Octavia	It was the first thing to actually give Octavia a little pause. "Duke," she said, like a warning not to fall for it - but she didn't sound sure, herself.
Lucifer	Lucifer did not bother commenting. He lurched forward, crossing the distance between himself and Mara, clearly intent on doing that flinging as soon as humanly possible. He was absolutely not unsure about this one.
Duke & . . . someone	“Shit.” Duke stepped between Lucifer and Mara — Audrey? — without taking his eyes off whoever she was. ”Luce, wait.” “Dammit, Duke!” Audrey grabbed his arm to move him out of the way, only to let go immediately with a shriek. She doubled over her hand, teeth clenched — and started to laugh. “Ohhh,” she said, clearly — to Duke at least — back to being Mara. “Oh this is too good.” She grinned at Octavia. “If you want him fixed, you have to get me home.” Duke shook his head, unaware of what Mara had just spotted: his eyes had gone full, shark-black.
Lucifer	Unfortunately, Lucifer could see. He pulled back. Stared at Duke's eyes for a moment. And then his voice came out of him like an earthquake. "What. Did. You. Do?!" His own eyes flickered red.
Octavia	Octavia could already tell from Mara's grinning that things had taken a sharp turn into shit - and then she practically felt Lucifer's voice in her spine and knew just how sharp. But neither prepared her for what she saw when she looked to Duke. She saw his eyes, and gasped. There was finally an unconcealed knife in her hand, now. Like she'd needed something to hold.
Duke & Mara	"I made him into something awesome," Mara said, with genuine joy in her voice. "The husk just provided the perfect emotional turmoil to get it primed." "What --" Duke shook his head sharply, black tears starting to leak from the corners of his black eyes. "No. No." "Careful there," Mara said gleefully, gesturing to the tears. "You don't want to go off prematurely." The tears lifted off his cheeks. Duke jerked away from them, startled, then grabbed them with his hand. They absorbed back into his palm just like troubled blood.
Lucifer	It was moments like this Lucifer longed to have Maze back in his life. She'd be perfectly equipped to commit the murder he would not permit himself. "Answer the question," he snapped, hands balling into fists.
Duke & Mara	"Don't worry, it's very simple," Mara gloated. "I just packed him extra full of troubles. Like powder in a keg." "No," Duke said again. He was starting to breathe hard. "You send me home or he explodes shiny shiny troubles all over this quaint little town of yours," Mara said. "Oh, and if you kill me? Boom goes the Crocker." She tilted her head at Duke. "I'd work fast now. I really don't know how long he'll last like this. He's an original, after all."
Octavia	Octavia had been fully primed for murder right up until Mara pulled out the 'kill me and he dies' card. It wouldn't have been the first time she'd bloodied her hands for the greater good. But now she - they, but when was Octavia ever good at sharing responsibility when it came right down to it? - had to think of something else. Mara wanted a portal. ... Her phone was in her pocket. She was thinking of a gamble, as her hand went to it.
Lucifer	"You are mad," Lucifer said. His own mind was racing, but it kept pinging off of things, bouncing off the walls. He didn't know what to do. "We don't even know where your bloody home is!"
Duke & Mara	Mara waved a hand, unconcerned. “Octavia opens thinnies. I saw it.” Duke gritted his teeth, forcing himself to slow his breathing. “You hugged me. Pretending to be Audrey. You hugged me and —“ “And now your little trust issues are crying. Yes, yes. I know.” Mara rolled her eyes. “You people are so annoying.”
Octavia	Octavia kept herself mostly behind Lucifer - crucially, she kept the hand that pulled the phone out of her pocket hidden behind him. "I can try," she cut in, with a waver in her voice that was both pretend and not. Trying to sell being rattled while also feeling rattled. Adrenaline had blood rushing in her ears. "But you have to give me a minute. I can't -- my trouble doesn't work like that." Please, boys, play along. (Please let this work.)
Lucifer	Had Lucifer properly communicated how badly he wanted to hurt Mara at the moment? His eyes filled with red once more-- he hoped that whatever Octavia was planning, she did quickly, or he couldn't be held responsible for what happened next. "I'm sorry we're apparently too annoying for your tastes," he gritted out, "But you'll have to bare with us a moment longer, and no, I'm not particularly happy about it either."
Duke & Mara	Duke shut his eyes, continuing to breathe slow and careful, trying to keep himself as calm as possible. He thought he could feel it now, all the troubles bubbling in his gut, pressing against the backs of his eyes. "Let's see," Mara said. "What's your emotional trigger? Fear?" She tilted her head mock-thoughtfully, clearly enjoying herself. "Murderous rage, maybe? Let me know if I can help."
Octavia	Octavia wasn't going to answer that at all, since she was pretty sure whatever she said would just make Mara try and provoke her more. Instead, she kept darting quick glances at her phone, where the Portalocity app was now open. Come on, come on, something safe and fast -- Something with a two-minute wait time caught her eye. The destination was unfamiliar, but didn't seem particularly... populous. She booked the portal, and immediately squeezed her eyes shut. Like something was a lot of effort. "I'm trying."
Lucifer	The muscles around Lucifer's red eyes tightened, then relaxed, with all the force of someone clearly trying to control himself. "What's yours?" he snapped at Mara. "Cruelty?" Sharply.
Duke & Mara	“Oooo, aren’t you a sharp one. I can see why Duke likes you.” Mara moved to elbow Duke, and he full-body flinched away. “But no. I’m the mastermind. I don’t need a trigge.”
Octavia	Octavia had a lot to say about people who referred to themselves as masterminds. She said nothing. In fact, she only even inhaled again once the portal sprang into existence near them. Her eyes opened too wide, when they did. "There's your thinny."
Duke & Mara	“Finally!” Mara clapped her hands. “I’d say it’s been fun, but you’re not worth the effort to lie. Ta-ta!” She started for the portal. Duke grabbed her arm as she passed, making her shout. “Hey! What about fixing me?!” “Ugh. So needy.” Mara pursed her lips and flicked him in the forehead. His eyes cleared. “There. Bye now!” Duke let out a breath and watched her hop through the portal and vanish. “So . . . where the fuck did we just send her?”
Lucifer	"Please tell me that was a one-way portal?" Lucifer added, looking towards Octavia. If his tone was still tinged with something... off, it's because he wasn't inclined to believe this was the end of it.
Octavia	The portal winked out of existence soon after Mara had gone through it, and yet in Octavia's opinion that was not soon enough. Not that any of the tension went out of her body even after the portal - and Mara, with it - was gone. "I didn't book her a return," she said, eyes darting from Lucifer to Duke. (His eyes weren't black anymore. That was good. It was, right?) "I don't know where exactly. I'll -- have to look it up."
Duke	“Well. Uh. She’s gone.” Duke ran his hand through his hair. “That’s the important bit, right? She showed up and was really creepy and then she went away and we’re fine now.” He rubbed his eyes. He was feeling weird again. (Had that really been Audrey again for a second? Where was she now? This was all his fault and the nonsense trouble was going to come back along with Jordan’s trouble and she’d shown up in Fandom, Fandom was supposed to be safe and — and —) “Um.” He wiggled his fingers as he pulled his hand away from his face. “Something’s, uh, wrong.” He looked up — lifted his face anyway — his breath tight again. “I, uh. I can’t see.” His eyes had gone black again.
Lucifer	The red burned away from Lucifer's own eyes the moment he finished speaking. His gaze snapped to Duke. "Duke," he said, alarmed, "Duke, your eyes--" His feet took two steps towards Duke, entirely of their own volition. No. (Of course.) No, Duke had to be fine.
Octavia	Duke was obviously not fine and see, this was exactly why all that tension had stayed in Octavia's posture. There was never any time or reason to relax, only cold, harsh dread all down her spine. "They're black again." All the tone had fallen out of her voice. (Duke didn't know. It felt like it did something to tell him. What that something was supposed to be, she didn't know.) "Do we need her back?" Had she made a mistake, sending Mara away?
Duke	“I.” Duke swallowed. He was shaking. He stretched his arm out, still trying to see anything but black, and wobbled as his body tried to compensate. “I don’t think she fixed me.” A faint, insectoid buzz started as Duke’s wobble turned into a twitch. Then a jerk. He let out a muffled grunt, his jaw clenched too tight for speech. The troubles inside him were swarming, making his muscles spasm.
Lucifer	And then-- Lucifer was moving. More than a few steps, reaching for him, blind instinct sending him hurtling towards-- "Duke!"
Duke	Duke’s head went back, his back arching like he was going to go into bridge pose. But there was nothing controlled or intentional about this movement. He’d lost consciousness shortly after he started spasming. His body was moving of its own accord, nerves set off into a seizure by the mass of troubles inside him. The mass of troubles that started to pour from his eyes, like little sentient ink spots. Or black holes in the fabric of reality.
Octavia	... Octavia had made a mistake, sending Mara away. Octavia had made a mistake, and now there were -- was that a mass of troubles pouring out of Duke's eyes like blood from an artery? Had to be. And was that her voice, screaming Lucifer's name? Had to be. She rushed forward (her body rushed forward) but Lucifer was already there.
Lucifer	That dark mass flowed from Duke's eyes and set something in Lucifer's stomach turning-- the wrongness of it, an affront to a natural order even he himself would have claimed he did not care for. And yet, some instinct-- or was it affection? Worry? A desire to protect Duke?-- propelled him forward. Faster. Faster. Mara was a blight. He would not allow her machinations to cause any further damage. His wings came to him without a thought, spreading wide from his back, white and massive and blocking out the rays the sun struggled to deliver to Octavia through the air. They cast a large shadow across the lawn, and then-- Lucifer reached him. He wrapped those massive wings around Duke like a coccoon as his arms closed around the man. (Felt an instant of perceived pain, like bullets burying themselves into sensitive tissue, thought about a limp body in his arms--)
Duke	Duke shook in Lucifer's grip with the force of the troubles that continued to pour out of his eyes -- and right into Lucifer's wings, where they disappeared. The little blobs were chaos and entropy made solid, and were no match for the celestial order represented by those glorious, gleaming feathers. There were a hell of a lot of them, though. Enough to have troubled every resident of the little island multiple times over. And the stream from Duke showed no signs of slacking.
Octavia	But Lucifer's wings were catching them. All of them. Right? Except right as Octavia made it to them, right as Lucifer's wings closed all around Duke, a single blob just barely flitted past the feathers without touching them. Free, dangerous. Octavia didn't think. She darted her hand out, caught it. Saw it absorb into her palm. And didn't think about it then, either, too caught up in making sure it was the only one.
Lucifer	Lucifer didn't see. If he had, perhaps he would have moved. Perhaps. Then again, perhaps that would have been worse. It didn't matter, though. He merely remained. He held on. Felt the whole rotten bloody mess melt away and thought, with grim satisfaction, good. (And with something much more fragile: at last I'm useful for something)
Duke	If Duke ever found out Lucifer was thinking that way, he'd happily compile a list of things Lucifer was "good for". Duke wouldn't be finding out about anything for a little while though. The stream of troubles abruptly ran dry, and he collapsed bonelessly in Lucifer's grip, out cold. But breathing, slow and steady. So . . . at least there was that.
Octavia	Octavia couldn't tell what was happening, couldn't see past Lucifer's wings. Couldn't really hear, either, though maybe that was from the sound of blood rushing in her ears. "Lucifer?" she tried. And then, much more hesitant, "Duke?"
Lucifer	Lucifer's feathers... folded back into him, as he shifted Duke in his grasp. "Duke?" he said, a little frantic. "Duke, are you-- you're breathing--"
Octavia	Octavia all but collapsed closer to them. "He's breathing? He's breathing." Unconscious but alive. She could deal with that. Barely, but she could. "Is that -- were those all of the troubles in him?"
Lucifer	"I believe so," Lucifer said, sounding bewildered, a touch lost, in the grip of fading terror. "I-- do you think. Is it over? He's breathing."
Octavia	Octavia wished the terror she was feeling had actually been fading. She was searching Duke's face for something, then looked at Lucifer again. "Is this what she wanted?" Just another question neither of them had an answer for.
Lucifer	"For him to explode?" Lucifer inquired. "I imagine so." He felt a hopeless anger. "I hope she wound up in a world full of nothing but porcupines."
Octavia	Octavia had more questions, but it felt fruitless to ask them. She hesitated for a second, then reached out to touch her hand to Duke's cheek. Resisting the urge to check for a pulse that she knew was there because she could see him breathing.