Luke's, Thursday

[betterthanaplan]

The troubles had started putting pressure on Duke again pretty much the moment he and his partners had gotten back to Haven. But in classic Duke fashion, he was determined to power through it.

His staff was . . . less willing to let him do that.

"You should sit down, boss," they said. "Let's fix you up something special."

He was herded into his usual booth. A hot tea appeared as if by magic in front of him.

"Take a load off, boss," they told him. "Self-care is important."

"What are you up to?" Duke asked, eyes narrowed.

They just smiled and went back to work.

Today's specials
Lobster rolls

Luke's was open.

Comments

[okteiviakom]

Duke had gone to work, Octavia had gone into the preserve. But by lunchtime, she was back in town again. And not to check up on Duke.

To get lunch.

Obviously.

(The checking up on him was just a side effect.)

"Ha yun, jaka."

[betterthanaplan]

"Ha yun, gona," Duke greeted with a smile. "I thought I was doing okay, but my staff seemed to have turned into mother-hens. So . . ." He shrugged.

[okteiviakom]

"You should give them a raise," Octavia decided, already coming over to give him a quick kiss hello. "It has my approval."

[betterthanaplan]

A cheer came from the kitchen.

"Oh, well now I'll never get their respect."

But Duke did get a kiss. So that was cool.

[okteiviakom]

He did, and it was a thorough one by diner standards. A little bit of something clearly lingered from the week of no touching.

"Now scoot a bit so I can sit with you."

[betterthanaplan]

"Sha, gona," Duke said cheerfully. He slid to the side to give her room. "Want some tea?"

[okteiviakom]

"Sure, why not," Octavia said. She had not come here to be complicated about her eating and drinking. "And maybe I'll get some fries with that."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke lifted a hand towards the kitchen. Billy was already coming out with a plate of fries and a bowl of chopped fruit.

"And another tea," Duke said when he set the dishes down. He nodded and headed off. "I think they like you more than me."

[okteiviakom]

"I'm lower maintenance," Octavia quipped. She reached for a bit of fruit. "And easy to please."

[betterthanaplan]

Oh, please don't mind the little burst of laughter that came out of Duke at "easy to please". He was smothering it with a cough.

"I am notoriously high maintenance as a diner boss. It's true."

[okteiviakom]

Hey now, just because it wasn't true for him or Lucifer didn't mean it also wasn't true for the diner staff! All they had to do was bring her something tasty and meat-free, after all.

Also please ignore the tiny spark of concern in Octavia's expression at the cough, in the split-second before she realized it was just to mask things.

"Well they have to deal with your moods." A beat. "And your partners."

[betterthanaplan]

“My partners are a delight, but my moods. . . . No one should have to deal with those!”

[okteiviakom]

"And that's why they like me better," Octavia replied, lightly.

With a quick press of a kiss against his cheek.

[betterthanaplan]

“Okay, okay,” Duke said with a laugh, leaning into her. “At least I get to share your fries, right?”

[okteiviakom]

"Yes," Octavia confirmed, reciprocating the lean. (Look, shut up, she needed to.) "Fruit, too, if you want."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke hummed softly. "Will you do the thing?"

It felt . . . important just now. Not just in the "guaranteed way to make Tavi smile" way, either.

[okteiviakom]

"Sharing?" Octavia asked, just as soft as his little hum had been.

[betterthanaplan]

"Yeah." He hadn't been sure if she had a name for the little food ritual or not. "I like that you make it important."

[okteiviakom]

It had had a name, but... not anymore.

But the ritual remained. And the expression on Octavia's face softened even further as she nodded.

She picked up the bowl, then picked up a piece of fruit from it. Put it in her mouth, chewed, enjoyed it. Appreciated it.

(Even more now that he'd called attention to the ritual.)

Then passed the bowl to him.

[betterthanaplan]

"Mochof." Duke took the bowl, re3turning her smile, and picked up a piece of his own. Kept eye contact as he savored it himself.

[okteiviakom]

He was so beautiful.

And Octavia watched him much too raptly, with a warmth in her gaze.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke's brow furrowed, just a little. Not quite sure how to interpret that expression.

"I'm doing it right?" he asked.

[okteiviakom]

"You're eating," Octavia replied, now with slightly more of a wry tilt. "Sha, jaka. Yu dula em op radon."

[betterthanaplan]

He had definitely done the ritual wrong before.

He wasn't going to point that out right now, though. He'd much rather just lean in and steal a kiss before setting the bowl back down in front of her.

[okteiviakom]

Maybe Octavia was past that point, now. Or just more forgiving.

Either way, he tasted vaguely like fruit and she swayed after him a little bit. "Tripi hef."

No real reason, just old memories.