Lucifer’s mansion, Wednesday night

[betterthanaplan]

Lucifer and Octavia had done a good job on the immediate needs to get the pool into shape after being neglected for a while. But there was still more to do (there was always more to do) so Duke had been spending a lot of his time down here, cleaning and checking and doing all the little tasks that an indoor pool required.

He managed to only apologize out loud to the pool once, at least.

It also made it extremely easy to just slip into the water and swim or float when the mood struck him. It was painfully tragic too bad he now knew reincarnation wasn’t in the cards for him. He was beginning to think he should have been born an actual otter.

[for the gentleman named in the subject line please! DATE NIGHT!]

Comments

[betterthanaplan]

“But you did pull it. And you paid attention to free will. And you made sure there’s back up if things go wrong.”

Advantage of the water, Duke could hang on with his arms and legs and not worry about falling or being “too much.”

“I am so proud of you.”

[my_own_advocate]

"Thank you," Lucifer murmured.

He sagged into Duke as well as the water allowed. He'd carried a great deal these past few months; hopefully Duke wouldn't mind if he dropped some of it, here.

[betterthanaplan]

Not even a little. Duke might not understand all of it, but he was happy to listen, anyway.

“I’m glad Amenadiel helped. I might have to send him a card or something.”

[my_own_advocate]

"He did return to Earth, so he even has a fridge to stick it on," Lucifer muttered, hugging Duke as closely as he could.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke was glad to hear Linda wasn’t raising her half-angel baby alone.

“Let’s move to a lounger,” he suggested, pulling back a little. “I want you to be able to wrap around me too.”

[my_own_advocate]

Amenadiel loved that child entirely too much to let that happen.

"So much for a pool date," Lucifer said, a little wanly - though they could always come back to it. "Shall we grab the charcuterie, then?"

It would probably make eating easier, at least.

[betterthanaplan]

“Pool’s still here,” Duke promised. “We can dive back in any time.”

He started for the edge, tugging Lucifer along with him.

[my_own_advocate]

Lucifer went with him. He even hoisted himself up over the edge as soon as he reached it. "I don't think it's a bad idea," he admitted. "To just sit."

Here he'd thought that when he finally got back, he'd spend most of his time making up for lost time between the sheets.

Instead he found himself needing this... physical reassurance.

How odd.

[betterthanaplan]

“I’m not surprised,” Duke said, sliding out of the water as smoothly as he went in. “You seem like you could use some good cuddling.”

[my_own_advocate]

"I honestly thought we'd have had more sex by now," Lucifer admitted, because he'd rarely met an inside thought he wasn't dying to externalize. He righted himself, and turned towards the loungers.

[betterthanaplan]

“It’s hard to feel sexy when you’re exhausted,” Duke said. “And . . . you’re about as exhausted as I’ve ever seen you.”

He aimed himself at the same one, hand out to catch Lucifer’s as they went.

“I think we should be pampering you. With cuddles, with sex, whatever you’re in the mood for. You worked hard.”

[my_own_advocate]

And Lucifer sank down in a lounger, pulling Duke with him. He was suddenly rather desperate to get tangled up with him, his arms sliding around the man as quickly as they could. "I do like pampering," he murmured.

In both directions.

[betterthanaplan]

“You deserve it,” Duke said. They forgot the charcuterie, but they’d get there eventually.

He let himself be pulled and wrapped himself up around Lucifer. Bonus of being naked, they’d dry easily.

[my_own_advocate]

And Lucifer hadn't let the mansion get cold, which helped. Even if he appeared to be soaking up all of Duke's body heat at the moment, arms and at least one leg wound tight around him.

"I think I may genuinely be exhausted," he sighed. "How the mighty have fallen."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke huffed softly. “You’re allowed,” he said. “Especially with us. You don’t have to be God with us.”

[my_own_advocate]

"I know," Lucifer said. "I just... thought I'd come back, and I'd spoil the two of you as I've been planning for months, and we'd go back to-- being happy."

[betterthanaplan]

“We don’t need you to spoil us,” Duke said. “We’re just happy you’re here. We have the rest of our lives to do all the things you’ve been imagining.”

[my_own_advocate]

"It just doesn't sit right with me that I left you two for so long," Lucifer said. He dropped his chin on Duke's shoulder. "I'm just not feeling all of the things I thought I'd be feeling. I'm only feeling around... 75 percent."

[betterthanaplan]

“You did what you had to do,” Duke said. “It was hard for all of us, but mostly for you.” He nuzzled into Lucifer’s shoulder. “Be patient with yourself.”

He knew that was so easy to say and deeply hard to do. Dr. Shin had to remind him to do it regularly.

[my_own_advocate]

Especially for Lucifer, who may have been one of the most impatient beings in the entire multiverse. "Right, but what if there's a shortcut?" he tried.

[betterthanaplan]

“I suppose you could use your God powers on yourself,” Duke noted. “But do you really want to?”

[my_own_advocate]

Well. That made him pause. Lucifer had spoken to Octavia about this yesterday. His-- reluctance.

"I'm not sure," he admitted. "I almost used them to clean the pool earlier, but... it feels... wrong."

[betterthanaplan]

“Then . . . don’t. Sometimes doing things the human way makes for a nice project.”

[my_own_advocate]

"I have done everything in my power to make sure everyone gets to live... 'the human way'," Lucifer murmured. "I'd like to join you. Well, to an extent."

It wasn't like he was giving up his immortality or anything.

[betterthanaplan]

“Well, I for one and happy to have you,” Duke said, a gentle teasing. “Even when it means you’re exhausted and just want to cuddle.”