[ After a long moment, Elio's breathing settles down, his body seemingly loosening up a little and Lucifer simply lets him slip back a little from within his grip when he moves, looking down to meet his gaze. He realises about the same time as Elio that the wings are well and truly in the way now and when the other man pushes at them - gently - he relaxes them, leaving them trailing down his shoulders and back for a moment before he simply leans forward enough to pull them in. They disappear against his back with a hard flap and a gust of wind.
He notes the tear tracks on Elio's cheeks and doesn't comment. After all, why wouldn't he be crying? He was almost abducted by a man he trusted enough to tell him his secrets, his love life, to bare his heart to him. Anger flaring, Lucifer takes a deep breath before he replies, blinking whatever tension might've gathered in his face away. It doesn't matter now. The man's been punished, after all, and Lucifer's done with him.
As is Elio. ]
Don't know. I admit, I didn't really think.
[ A sheepish smile as he sits back a little, reaching around Elio to grab his spiked tea. When he sips it, it's gone cold - obviously - and he winces, shaking his head, then dives right back in. The alcohol's still good; it's basically just watered-down brandy now. He's had worse. He gestures at the lake beyond, the trees stretching out on either side of them. There's no other cabin in sight, no other signs of life aside from the birds whistling through the air and the rustling between the trees. ]
This belongs to a... well. A friend, I suppose you could say. We can stay for as long as we like.
[ Meaning, not someone Lucifer's slept with, probably, they go by a different terminology, Elio's noticed. He raises one eyebrow at the other man's wording, mostly to show he gets the implications and how fortunate for them, isn't it? That there are people in the world who owes the Devil favors like, say, their log cabins far away from everyone and everything.
A small smile and he watches the way Lucifer puts his wings away before drinking his at this point no doubt pretty cold tea, but the alcohol he tends to spike all his drinks with should still work, right? The table's still got brandy on offer, too, another cup of cold tea, and Elio doesn't really feel like any of it, the same restlessness prickling in his limbs, along with the arctic temperatures that are biting into his skin even through his clothes. Layers of blanket, walls of pillows. He sighs and shifts onto his bum, drawing his legs up to his chest and resting first his arms across his knees, then his chin on his arms, curling in around himself a bit. It helps with the warmth. It helps with a lot of things.
And then there are things it doesn't help with at all.
No matter how long they stay here, the world will be waiting for them when they at some point return, no different than before. Even if Michel hopefully hurries back to Paris, he'll still be in Paris, Oliver will still be in New York, Chloe will be in LA like a reminder, they'll blemish so many places across Elio's inner map... Elio feels like this requires fundamental changes. Sure, he'll call in at Colburn, excuse himself profoundly to the principal, sorry I got kidnapped and then, eventually, he'll return to that life, although everything's different now. Lucifer and him are different. ]
I'll need to take a leave of absence at work. [ Glancing sideways up at the other man, the idea hits him out of the blue, like a rare, sudden impulse. The way Lucifer must have flown them here, not thinking. ] Actually, I'll probably just quit.
[ This time, his smile is wider, slightly amused. He reaches for the brandy again with the arm not pillowing his chin and only straightens up enough to chug down another mouthful. ]
If this isn't a sign to, I don't know what would be.
[ He watches over the rim of his cup as Elio shifts about before curling in on himself, his long limbs twisting amidst blankets and pillows, his cheeks slightly pink from the cold. Frowning, he gets to his feet while the other man speaks, raising his eyebrows at his words. He grabs the heater, bare-handed, then growls out a none-too-subtle damn it as it scorches his fingers. That's just dandy, isn't it. Bloody stupid vulnerability, making itself a nuisance - it's not like it really means anything of value, after all, not necessarily. Chloe could be used to hurt him. At this point, that's all he knows about it.
Brows furrowing, he stalks back to the not-quite-pillow fort and grabs a blanket, meeting Elio's gaze as he does so. ]
You want to quit?
[ He pauses, a blank look on his face. Then, a shrug as he turns away and heads for the heater once more, folding the blanket around his hands before grabbing it this time, the material taking the edge off the burn. ]
You know - [ He plops the heater down only a few feet away from Elio, shakes his hands a little and sits down next to him once more. ] - I've been thinking I need a break too. From my break.
[ A wry laugh. ]
Didn't know going on holiday would actually necessitate another holiday but there you have it.
[ Elio nods at Lucifer's question, putting the brandy back on the table and following the other man with his eyes as he gets up, the way his body moves, strong and steady. A heat gathers in his abdomen, it's a mix of the usual kind, the kind that says, I want and something else, something softer, fonder. I love. When Lucifer grabs the heater, Elio doesn't expect there to be a problem, really, usually nothing can hurt him unless Chloe's around, but even so the man growls a damn it and has obviously just burnt himself on the thing, Elio's hands slipping down his own legs. He's ten seconds from getting up, asking are you okay, but Lucifer provides him with the answer without saying a single word, grabbing a blanket and moving the heater closer with it. Sitting down next to him again, the other man's warmth and presence as well - and Elio considers crawling back in his lap, pretty much headfirst. Until he realizes that Lucifer is actually vulnerable. Here. Now. With him.
Oh.
But there you have it, he says. Elio blinks, watching him for a moment with a frown. ]
That's what happens, isn't it? When your way of life gets rudely interrupted by people who want to kill or kidnap you. [ With a loose wrist, Elio gestures softly between them, you and me, it means. It comes with a nod of his head and a small smile, that little comment. ] We need a new way of life, Lucifer. At least for a while. No people who're going to hurt us invited.
[ Carefully letting himself tumble over onto his side, mostly very controlled, he stretches out and puts his head on the other man's thigh, looking up at his face from below. It's a good angle on him. It says, will you trust me with that? Elio meets his eyes, holding his gaze. ]
[ Elio gestures between them, talking about getting rudely interrupted in your life and a part of Lucifer bristles at the thought of Chloe being referred to as people, as someone on par with, say, Michel, that miserable bastard. All the same, when Elio rolls down onto his side and puts his head on Lucifer's thigh, his tension completely dissipates, leaving just the urge to touch, to emphasise the connection between them, physical, incidental, cosmic - whatever it might be. Gaze sliding away from the other man's, he runs his hand through Elio's thick curls, initially at a lazy, uncoordinated pace.
Then, he settles down a little bit further, finds a better angle for his hand and starts picking curls apart from each other, putting them in order, one after the other. It'll leave Elio's hair all puffy once he's done and Lucifer probably shouldn't, it's making him look all sorts of bird-like and unfortunate. Regardless, he keeps going. Puts them in order, strand after strand, pulling gently at the curls and feeling them slide between his fingertips, warm and soft.
When he speaks, his eyes are downcast, following the motion of his own hand. ]
Then, I'll do my utmost.
[ He looks at Elio then, carefully. It's so hard, he thinks, to know what's up and down these days. Whether doing the right thing is even possible when your actions, well-intentioned, open and true, can lead to... He sighs. Continues, lips curving ever-so-slightly: ]
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He notes the tear tracks on Elio's cheeks and doesn't comment. After all, why wouldn't he be crying? He was almost abducted by a man he trusted enough to tell him his secrets, his love life, to bare his heart to him. Anger flaring, Lucifer takes a deep breath before he replies, blinking whatever tension might've gathered in his face away. It doesn't matter now. The man's been punished, after all, and Lucifer's done with him.
As is Elio. ]
Don't know. I admit, I didn't really think.
[ A sheepish smile as he sits back a little, reaching around Elio to grab his spiked tea. When he sips it, it's gone cold - obviously - and he winces, shaking his head, then dives right back in. The alcohol's still good; it's basically just watered-down brandy now. He's had worse. He gestures at the lake beyond, the trees stretching out on either side of them. There's no other cabin in sight, no other signs of life aside from the birds whistling through the air and the rustling between the trees. ]
This belongs to a... well. A friend, I suppose you could say. We can stay for as long as we like.
no subject
A small smile and he watches the way Lucifer puts his wings away before drinking his at this point no doubt pretty cold tea, but the alcohol he tends to spike all his drinks with should still work, right? The table's still got brandy on offer, too, another cup of cold tea, and Elio doesn't really feel like any of it, the same restlessness prickling in his limbs, along with the arctic temperatures that are biting into his skin even through his clothes. Layers of blanket, walls of pillows. He sighs and shifts onto his bum, drawing his legs up to his chest and resting first his arms across his knees, then his chin on his arms, curling in around himself a bit. It helps with the warmth. It helps with a lot of things.
And then there are things it doesn't help with at all.
No matter how long they stay here, the world will be waiting for them when they at some point return, no different than before. Even if Michel hopefully hurries back to Paris, he'll still be in Paris, Oliver will still be in New York, Chloe will be in LA like a reminder, they'll blemish so many places across Elio's inner map... Elio feels like this requires fundamental changes. Sure, he'll call in at Colburn, excuse himself profoundly to the principal, sorry I got kidnapped and then, eventually, he'll return to that life, although everything's different now. Lucifer and him are different. ]
I'll need to take a leave of absence at work. [ Glancing sideways up at the other man, the idea hits him out of the blue, like a rare, sudden impulse. The way Lucifer must have flown them here, not thinking. ] Actually, I'll probably just quit.
[ This time, his smile is wider, slightly amused. He reaches for the brandy again with the arm not pillowing his chin and only straightens up enough to chug down another mouthful. ]
If this isn't a sign to, I don't know what would be.
no subject
Brows furrowing, he stalks back to the not-quite-pillow fort and grabs a blanket, meeting Elio's gaze as he does so. ]
You want to quit?
[ He pauses, a blank look on his face. Then, a shrug as he turns away and heads for the heater once more, folding the blanket around his hands before grabbing it this time, the material taking the edge off the burn. ]
You know - [ He plops the heater down only a few feet away from Elio, shakes his hands a little and sits down next to him once more. ] - I've been thinking I need a break too. From my break.
[ A wry laugh. ]
Didn't know going on holiday would actually necessitate another holiday but there you have it.
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Oh.
But there you have it, he says. Elio blinks, watching him for a moment with a frown. ]
That's what happens, isn't it? When your way of life gets rudely interrupted by people who want to kill or kidnap you. [ With a loose wrist, Elio gestures softly between them, you and me, it means. It comes with a nod of his head and a small smile, that little comment. ] We need a new way of life, Lucifer. At least for a while. No people who're going to hurt us invited.
[ Carefully letting himself tumble over onto his side, mostly very controlled, he stretches out and puts his head on the other man's thigh, looking up at his face from below. It's a good angle on him. It says, will you trust me with that? Elio meets his eyes, holding his gaze. ]
no subject
Then, he settles down a little bit further, finds a better angle for his hand and starts picking curls apart from each other, putting them in order, one after the other. It'll leave Elio's hair all puffy once he's done and Lucifer probably shouldn't, it's making him look all sorts of bird-like and unfortunate. Regardless, he keeps going. Puts them in order, strand after strand, pulling gently at the curls and feeling them slide between his fingertips, warm and soft.
When he speaks, his eyes are downcast, following the motion of his own hand. ]
Then, I'll do my utmost.
[ He looks at Elio then, carefully. It's so hard, he thinks, to know what's up and down these days. Whether doing the right thing is even possible when your actions, well-intentioned, open and true, can lead to... He sighs. Continues, lips curving ever-so-slightly: ]
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