Reckless was one thing. But his stubborn nature was far stronger than his reckless nature. Lucius was a stubborn bird. He'd stick to an idea and a plan until he had to absolutely drop it and even then... he wasn't going to be letting go of it easily.

Which was why he wasn't letting go of Feo. At all.

His sapphire eyes softened, running one hand through Feo's hair again, to brush the dark locks away from his face. He paused briefly as Feo nearly paused but continued to let it out. That was good, it was exhausting, like wringing a towel dry. Not just leaving it out to hang, but wringing it. Twisting the corners in... twisting it around until every last drop was out.

"No, no, I'm not sleeping," Lucius chided warmly, tilting his head to the side. "I'm not really tired, maybe a little hungry but not tired. Besides, I can always sleep later."

A faint freckled smile drifted over his lips once again, far more confident and gentle. At least Feo was looking like he was feeling a bit lighter. It didn't look like he was carrying such a weight anymore.

"I love you," Lucius echoed the words again, his head tilting to the other side. "My Raven. My everything. It doesn't matter to me what happens, as long as you are by my side."

The thought of losing Feo was ... enough to send Lucius into potentially starting a war. He would--he knew he would--without hesitation. The gods all thought that Feo was the dangerous one.

No, they were looking the wrong direction. They were missing the idiot, the beautiful idiot, right behind them that was ready to rain down his wrath upon the gods. Upon whoever was dumb enough to take Feo away from him.

He had already mouthed off to Heimdal, flipped Aera off and there was that threat that he was still going to carry through with. Oh he was going to enjoy that one.

"I'm not leaving," Lucius drew himself from his thoughts with words, looking toward the window. "It's raining... might as well stay inside, stay here. No reason to move or leave or do anything now. Might as well just stay here, it's comfortable, it's warm... we've got food over there if we really need..."

He lifted his hand again to cup Feo's cheek, looking down at his eyes. "I'm staying beside you, no matter what. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want, but I'm here either way. There's nothing that'll change that."

Nothing at all.

"Whatever you want to do," Lucius whispered, lowering his voice, "we will do."

Feo didn’t move for a long moment. His breath was still uneven, though the sobs had quieted to trembling inhales, the kind that stuck in his throat and made it hard to speak. The weight in his chest hadn’t lifted, not fully, but the pressure had lessened just enough to keep him from breaking all over again.

-

Lucius’s touch was steady, grounding. Fingers threading through his hair, brushing stray locks away from his face with a gentleness Feo wasn’t sure he deserved. A warmth that didn’t waver. He should have expected it by now—Lucius had never once hesitated when it came to him—but it still caught him off guard.

-

It always did.

-

Lucius never did anything halfway. When he decided something, he committed to it with the kind of reckless certainty that should have been infuriating, but Feo couldn’t bring himself to be annoyed. Not now. Not when he was the one Lucius had chosen to hold onto.

-

And gods, was he holding on.

-

Feo felt the shift in Lucius’s breathing just before he spoke again, his voice softer this time, filled with something warm and unshakable.

-

"I love you. My Raven. My everything."

-

Feo’s fingers tightened slightly where they had curled into Lucius’s shirt. He didn’t know if Lucius realized the weight of those words, how they cut through the static in his mind like a blade, carving away at walls that had been built long before they met.

-

“It doesn’t matter to me what happens, as long as you are by my side.”

-

He wanted to believe that. More than anything, he wanted to hold onto it like a lifeline and never let go. But the fear was still there, lurking beneath the surface, whispering reminders of everything he had already lost. Everything he could lose again.

-

Lucius wasn’t afraid.

-

Feo could hear it in his voice, feel it in the way he held him like nothing in the world could make him let go. Like the gods themselves could reach down and try to rip them apart, and he would still sink his teeth into fate and fight to keep them together.

-

Lucius had already gone toe-to-toe with Heimdal, openly defied Aera, and had made it abundantly clear that he wasn’t afraid of whatever consequences his defiance would bring. Feo knew it wasn’t just empty bravado. He had seen the way Lucius’s eyes burned when he was angry, the way his wings flared when he was ready to throw himself into danger without a second thought.

-

The gods feared the wrong one.

-

They should have feared Lucius.

-

The idiot who would break the world apart piece by piece if it meant protecting the people he loved.

-

Feo swallowed hard as Lucius tilted his head toward the window, watching the rain streak against the glass. The storm outside wasn’t violent—just steady, constant. The kind of rain that settled into the bones of a city, washing away the dust and grime of the day.

-

“Might as well stay inside,” Lucius murmured, his voice thoughtful, as if he had just decided there was no reason to do anything else. “Stay here. No reason to move or leave or do anything now.”

-

Feo wasn’t sure if Lucius meant for that statement to feel as weighted as it did, but something in his chest twisted all the same.

-

Lucius’s hand found his cheek, warm and steady, guiding his gaze up until their eyes met.

-

Sapphire blue.

-

Lucius had the kind of eyes that never wavered, never faltered when they met his. Feo had spent so long looking for deception in others, waiting for the moment when their kindness turned sharp and their words became empty. But he never found it with Lucius. He never would.

-

“I'm staying beside you, no matter what.”

-

Lucius’s voice was quiet but firm.

-

“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, but I’m here either way. There’s nothing that’ll change that.”

-

Feo exhaled shakily, feeling another lump form in his throat. He didn’t know how to respond to that. Didn’t know how to put into words what it meant to have someone say that and actually mean it.

-

Lucius didn’t ask for anything. He didn’t push for explanations or answers, didn’t try to fix something that couldn’t be fixed. He just stayed.

-

“Whatever you want to do,” Lucius whispered, voice dropping to something softer, meant just for him. “We will do.”

-

Feo turned his face slightly into Lucius’s hand, barely aware of the movement. His eyes burned again, and he forced them shut, trying to steady his breathing. He should have said something—anything—but the words wouldn’t come.

-

Instead, he just let himself exist in this moment.

-

Let himself believe, just for a little while, that Lucius meant every word.

It came without a doubt, no surprise, that Lucius could concoct a story with ease. Put confidence into it and he could make it seem believable. Even if someone tried to pick at it, poke and try and pull it apart, Lucius would fill the gaps with ease.

But now?

Right then, right there, he had no story. It was just himself, just plain, open and raw. There was no deception, no ulterior motives--aside from wanting to exterminate the gods--but even then that wasn't really an ulterior motive. Feo knew that plan and was in on it.

His lips pulled into a smaller, wane smile as Feo turned into his hand. It then occurred to him that maybe, just maybe, he could stop talking long enough to let the norse demigod actually catch a break from being bombarded with emotions of all sorts.

"... maybe I should stop talking," Lucius whispered quietly, the faintest tinge of a slightly guilty laugh in his tone. "I just keep... bombarding you with... emotions and stuff."

He paused for another moment, thinking slowly. It was another one of those slightly stupid ideas but perhaps... it could help. It had a possibility to help out at the least.

Lucius ran his thumb along Feo's jaw, his eyes softening as he lowered his chin just slightly, keeping a tight hold on Feo as pressed a firm kiss to his forehead.

It wasn't one of passion. Rather, this one ... this carried the weight of showing Feo that he was his everything. The demigod he was holding was his entire world, this was the person that meant more to him than anything or anyone else. And that included himself.

The faint tinge of coconut still clung to Feo's warm scent, a reminder of the sacrifices he had made for Lucius. But Lucius was far more determined to make sure that this demigod was alright. That he wouldn't have to worry ever again. He would cling to him, protect him and take whatever came his way.

Lucius wanted nothing more than to have a life with Feo. He would start wars, throw hands, whatever it took to make sure that it happened.

He wanted nothing more than to just... just protect him. Besides, Lucius had the wrap of Apollo. Which meant that whatever injury he got could be healed. Easy as pie. It wasn't going to be that bad because he could heal it.

It'd suck for a day but it'd heal.

A day of pain was well worth this wonderful, clever, caring, kind and smart demigod that he had in his arms.

Feo felt the weight of Lucius’s kiss on his forehead, and something inside of him shifted. The gentleness of the gesture settled deep in his chest, stirring a mix of warmth and something else—something a little raw, a little fragile. It wasn’t the kind of kiss he expected, nor the kind of comfort he usually allowed himself, but it felt right. Like Lucius was anchoring him, grounding him in a way that Feo hadn’t even realized he needed.

-

His fingers brushed against Lucius’s chest, and for a moment, he hesitated. But then something inside him cracked just enough for him to lean in, just a little. His lips found Lucius’s cheek first, slow, tentative—he hadn’t meant to be so careful, but the moment felt too significant for him to rush through it. He lingered there for a heartbeat, inhaling the familiar warmth of Lucius, and then, before he could second guess it, his lips moved to Lucius’s mouth.

-

The kiss started as something gentle, barely there, a soft press of lips that felt almost too fragile for the weight of what was swirling around in his chest. But when Lucius didn’t pull away, when he just stayed, steady and calm, Feo felt something within him snap. It was like the floodgates opened, and all that pent-up grief, confusion, longing—it all rushed to the surface.

-

His lips moved against Lucius’s with more urgency, more hunger. His hand slid up, fingers threading into Lucius’s hair as he tugged him closer, deepening the kiss. There was something frantic about it, not desperate, but driven. Feo wanted to feel Lucius—every inch of him—wanted to be reminded that he was real, that he wasn’t going anywhere.

-

His heart raced, blood rushing in his ears, and he could feel the air between them thickening with everything unsaid. His mouth moved hungrily, almost greedily, against Lucius’s, as if he was trying to drink in the sensation of being here, of being wanted. He needed it. Needed this connection more than he’d ever admit.

-

His breath caught as he shifted, hands roaming, as though he were trying to draw Lucius into him, pull him deeper. He kissed him again and again, not giving himself time to think, to pull back, just letting his feelings spill out through the intensity of the kiss. His other hand found its way to Lucius’s chest, pressing him close, fingers curling around the fabric of his shirt as if it could somehow anchor him to this moment.

-

The world outside—the rain, the storm, everything—disappeared. The only thing that mattered was the steady warmth beneath his fingers, the familiar feeling of Lucius, the undeniable presence that wrapped around him and held him up when everything else felt too heavy.

-

It wasn’t until his breath started to falter, his body pressing against Lucius, desperate to stay connected, that Feo realized how much he had gotten carried away. He pulled back just enough to catch his breath, lips still grazing against Lucius’s, and his chest heaved as he looked up at him, eyes dark with emotion. He was flushed, cheeks burning, and it was like he had just woken up from a dream he hadn’t realized he was having.

-

Feo’s breath was still uneven as he pulled away slightly, his forehead resting against Lucius’s, eyes closed as he tried to steady himself. He could feel his heart still racing, a storm of emotions brewing inside him. He had never been good at controlling them, but this... this had been more than just a moment of vulnerability. It had been him losing control of everything—of the weight of his grief, of his need for connection, of the desperate need to feel real, to feel present in Lucius’s arms.

-

And now, as the adrenaline of the kiss faded, the warmth and closeness leaving him feeling both comforted and exposed, guilt started to seep in. He pulled back just a bit more, eyes wide with a mix of panic and shame, his hands moving away from Lucius’s chest as if to distance himself, to create some space between them.

-

“I... I’m sorry,” Feo said quickly, his voice shaking, his throat tight. “I didn’t mean to... I didn’t mean for it to be like that. I—" His words stumbled over themselves, his mind racing to find the right way to apologize, to somehow explain the overwhelming emotions that had led him to do what he had just done. “I just... I couldn’t stop myself. You’re the only one who’s been here for me, the only one who... who hasn’t... I just—" He cut himself off, his chest tightening again, and his hand flew up to rub at his face, wiping away the few stray tears he hadn’t noticed had fallen.

-

“I didn’t mean to make it weird or... push you. I don’t know what came over me,” Feo continued, his words tumbling out quickly, a nervous energy taking over as he tried to backpedal, as if somehow trying to justify his actions. “It’s just that I...” He exhaled sharply, trying to collect his thoughts. “I care about you so much, Lucius. And I didn’t know how to show you that without... without... doing something so... stupid.” His voice cracked as the words hit him, his hands fidgeting as if he couldn’t quite hold himself together.

-

“Please don’t think... I’m just—I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable. I didn’t mean to take it too far.”

-

Feo’s eyes met Lucius’s then, wide and vulnerable, like he was waiting for the worst. He wasn’t used to showing this side of himself, and certainly not in such an exposed way. The apology weighed heavy on him, but it wasn’t just guilt—he was afraid. Afraid that Lucius might think he was too much, or that he had crossed some invisible line. It wasn’t like Feo didn’t want Lucius to stay, to hold him, to be there, but sometimes... sometimes he worried he might ask for too much and push people away in the process.

-

“I... I just need you to know that I didn’t mean it like that,” he whispered, his voice smaller now, the nervousness taking over his body. “I don’t want to make things weird... but I do need you. I just... I don’t know how to say it without sounding like I’m—” His voice trailed off as he looked at Lucius, waiting for some kind of response, but his heart was racing, unsure of what would come next.

There were a lot of things that Lucius had expected. Perhaps another little round of breaking down, a couple shaking and shuddering breaths.

What he hadn't expected was the return. The weight of his own feelings to be returned to him in such a dazzlingly heavy manner. The kiss was soft at first, just right there. Like there was nothing else that they needed to worry about.

Lucius was perhaps, a little bit, worried that the weight of his unspoken promise and feelings would be too much. Or that perhaps, just maybe, they wouldn't be returned. Boy howdy was he wrong.

The kiss was soft at first but it turned to a bit more, slowly deeper and deeper. The emotions went from gratitude to a firm press, something that went from just thankfulness to a return of his own push. The feeling that Lucius was far more than just a friend, a mere replacement, it was far deeper than that. Feo was reminding him that he actually cared just as much as he did.

Just without words.

And Lucius drank it up. He longed for the attention, the reassurance that nothing else mattered at that moment. The storm outside was merely a background noise, the air tangled with the rush of emotions that began to blend together.

A mixture of longing, understanding, and the mingling of weighted understanding that the other cared deeply for the other demigod. In a way, perhaps, neither had actually known or felt before. There was something raw about it and Lucius felt his heart racing in his chest. It sent his head spinning, feeling strangely weightless and yet tied down right there.

The way Feo's hands tangled into his hair, the pressing of his warmth, the slightly tropical scent--everything. It was all right there. The way that Feo wanted him--not just for how he looked. Lucius sank into the embrace, returning the passion in an almost relieved way. There wasn't anything tight in his body, just melting into Feo's hands.

It wasn't until Feo pulled away that Lucius finally remembered he actually had to breathe. His sapphire eyes fluttered open, looking into the dual-color of Feo's for a few moments before he let out a small noise. His hands lifted up, taking hold of Feo's hands.

"It's alright," Lucius whispered, a touch breathless. The smile that he wore was far more warm and genuine, firm and determined. "Don't apologize, Feo. It's alright. I... I needed it too."

The reminder that Lucius wasn't just there, drifting in the world. Lucius had a place to be, a person to call home, someone who would be in his corner no matter what. That all of his emotions, the way he felt, the protectiveness he felt for this demigod was reciprocated. In a way that Lucius wasn't sure he understood right away but he wanted to. To learn how that fit together.

"I need you, I love you... and sometimes... words aren't enough," Lucius explained quietly, slowly shifting his weight on the bed to kneel down. "Don't apologize, Feo. It's alright... It's alright. I could never ask for anyone else. You are my everything," he echoed the words softly, taking his hands in his own as his sapphire eyes searched Feo's face.

Feo swallowed hard, searching Lucius’s face for any sign of discomfort, any trace of hesitation, but all he found was warmth. Steady, reassuring warmth. His chest still felt tight, his body still humming with the aftershocks of everything that had just happened, but the way Lucius held his hands—firm, unwavering—made the panic in his head quiet just a little.

-

“I—” He started, but his throat tightened, and he had to look away for a moment, forcing himself to breathe. The weight of his own emotions still sat heavy in his chest, and he wasn’t used to this. He wasn’t used to being the one who let things spill out so unfiltered, who acted without thinking. He wasn’t used to being vulnerable like this.

-

But Lucius wasn’t looking at him with judgment. He wasn’t pulling away. He wasn’t making some snide comment or acting like Feo had done something irreversibly stupid. No, Lucius was still right there, solid and warm, kneeling before him, holding his hands like they were something precious instead of something that had just gripped onto him so desperately.

-

Feo exhaled slowly, forcing himself to meet Lucius’s gaze again. His lips parted, another apology threatening to spill out, but Lucius’s words still lingered in the air between them. I needed it too. And maybe that was why Feo’s shoulders finally slumped just a little, the tension bleeding out of him in small increments.

-

“I just…” He licked his lips, feeling the phantom sensation of Lucius’s still lingering there. “I got carried away.” His fingers curled slightly in Lucius’s grasp, as if afraid that if he held on too tight, he’d somehow undo whatever fragile understanding had settled between them in the last few moments. “I wasn’t thinking. And I know—I know I shouldn’t apologize for feeling things, I know that’s what you’re going to say, but I just—” He cut himself off with a frustrated shake of his head, his free hand running through his dark hair before he forced himself to look at Lucius again.

-

His expression softened, the panic dimming just a little. “I meant it,” he admitted quietly, the words feeling foreign in his mouth, but not untrue. “All of it. I just… I didn’t mean to push so much at once. I don’t want to make you feel like you have to… I don’t know. Prove something. Or fix something.”

-

Feo’s hands squeezed Lucius’s instinctively, grounding himself in the warmth of his grip. “You already give me more than enough, Lucius. You are enough.” His voice wavered slightly, but there was a deep sincerity behind it, something raw and real. “And I don’t want to ruin this by rushing things or—” He let out a shaky laugh, running a hand over his face again. “By being a fucking mess, apparently.”

-

His dual-colored eyes flickered over Lucius’s face again, and this time, he managed a small smile—tired, a little self-deprecating, but real. “So… if you say it’s alright, then I’m gonna try to believe you.” His voice dropped to something almost uncertain, almost hesitant. “Just… tell me if I ever do too much. I—I don’t want to be too much for you.”

-

He didn’t know what he’d do if Lucius ever said yes to that. But in that moment, as he held onto him, as he looked into those brilliant sapphire eyes, Feo wanted to believe that he wouldn’t have to find out.

-

Feo let out a slow breath, trying to push away the lingering embarrassment, the overwhelming rush of emotions still swirling inside of him. But Lucius’s hands were warm around his, grounding him, steadying him. He didn’t have to apologize, not really. Not when Lucius was looking at him like that, like he wasn’t regretting a single second of what had just happened.

-

Still, he needed to do something. Sitting still, being vulnerable, feeling things so openly—it was exhausting. Feo needed motion, needed something to shake off the tension still humming in his limbs. His dual-colored eyes flickered toward the window, where the rain had picked up, drumming steadily against the glass. The sound was rhythmic, familiar, something that had always calmed him when he was younger.

-

“I should—” He started, then exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “I should go get us some dinner.” His voice was a little rougher, still weighted with everything unspoken, but there was a quiet certainty in it. “You said you were hungry, right? Just tell me what you want, and I’ll go grab it.”

-

He squeezed Lucius’s hands once before finally, finally pulling away, running a hand through his dark hair in an attempt to shake off the lingering vulnerability. “I don’t mind the rain. I’ve always liked it, actually. Kind of peaceful, in a weird way.” He shot Lucius a small, wry smile, as if daring him to argue. “Besides, you hate being cold, and I know you’re not going to want to go out there. So, just tell me what you want, and I’ll be back before you know it.”

-

His fingers lingered at his side for a second, as if resisting the urge to reach for Lucius again. Instead, he huffed out a breath, turning toward the door. “I’ll get whatever you need. Just… stay here, get comfortable.” There was a softness to his voice, an unspoken let me do this for you woven into the words.

-

Maybe stepping out into the rain would help clear his head. Maybe it wouldn’t. Either way, at least he could do something.

There was uncertainty in Feo's gaze. A sort of hesitating guilt that crossed his features. Somehow, Lucius came to the conclusion that somewhere down the line... someone had hurt him. It sent a small tiny spark in his chest that he stifled in favor of just being in the moment. "That's okay," he echoed the words, softly.

"It's... hard not to apologize," Lucius confirmed, his voice soft and subtle. He understood that aspect. It became habit to just apologize, to try and make the other person feel better even if it wasn't their fault at all but someone else's. It seemed easier to just take the blame so that they could fix it later. It was too easy to do something.

"You're not a mess at all," Lucius replied fondly, his eyes glittering. "You'll never be too much for me--Feo, I should be the one saying that. I know I'm a lot. In a lot of ways. But you're never going to be too much."

He let his hands fall to his lap, sapphire eyes following his gaze to the window. It couldn't hurt... but it's alright. It was all going to be alright. That was the beauty of it.

There wasn't a doubt in his head that it wasn't going to be alright at some point. Lucius stood up with Feo, looking up toward the other demigod as he began to speak. "I don't mind going," he responded lightly, "we can find an umbrella or something, it can't be that hard. I'm sure we could even just borrow one from the motel," he slid off the bed. There was a slightly daring look in Feo's eyes that brought a spark of a stubborn grin into his own. "Besides, you already got to go outside. I'd like to go too, listen to the rain and whatnot," Lucius chuckled.

In reality? He really didn't want to be alone. And he definitely didn't want to let Feo go out alone. Not with Aera... Arse-a out yonder. If she actually showed up, Lucius wanted to be the first one there.

And he'd have a lot of words to say. With a knife.

But that was a thought for later. Right now it was trying to figure out how to obtain an umbrella.

"We can ask the front desk," he tapped his cheek, moving forward to the door. "She's been so helpful this entire time, I'm sure she'll have something."

His sapphire eyes glittered with some delight and the excitement of going out again. This time in the rain. Rain made things slightly cold but they had changes of clothes this time.

His hand replaced the watch on his wrist, letting the feathers fade from view. Lucius stepped up beside Feo to bump against his side with a brighter smile. "Just the two of us, going out to find something to eat, enjoying the city sights under the shine of rain..."

Feo let out a breath, shaking his head, but there was no real argument in it. Just a quiet acceptance, a reluctant amusement at Lucius’s unwavering stubbornness. He should have known better than to think he’d go alone. Of course Lucius wasn’t going to sit still, wasn’t going to let Feo disappear into the rain on his own.

-

Not with the way things were. Not with Aera lurking around like a bad stench in the wind.

-

Still, a part of him had wanted to handle this on his own—just a simple task, just one thing to keep himself from dwelling too much on everything that had just happened. But Lucius, in all his shining, stubborn, ridiculous Lucius-ness, wasn’t going to let that happen.

-

And Feo? He found he didn’t really mind.

-

Lucius’s enthusiasm was almost infectious, the spark in his sapphire eyes pulling something lighter into Feo’s own expression. He bumped against Lucius in return, a small, quiet huff of laughter escaping him. “Romanticizing a walk to get food in the rain now, are we?” His voice was still a little rough around the edges, but it carried a warmth beneath the teasing. “I swear, you make everything sound like some grand adventure.”

-

Feo reached for his (new!) coat, tugging it on as he made his way to the door. The idea of asking the front desk for an umbrella wasn’t bad—not that he minded getting wet, but he was sure Lucius would complain about the cold at some point, even if he was determined to go out anyway. Feo opened the door, pausing briefly in the threshold to glance back at Lucius, his expression softer now, the storm within him quieting just a little.

-

“Alright,” he murmured. “Let’s go see what this city has to offer.”

-

And with that, he stepped out into the hallway, the sound of rain pattering against the windows following them as they made their way downstairs.

The vague sort of amusement that rolled off of Feo was only egging him on. There were times to be alone and this was not one of them. Lucius gave Feo a brighter grin, eyes light and full of delight.

There was a slightly smug grin etched in his features, humming warmly before he slid to the door. "You can romanticize a lot of things, it doesn't take much. But I mean, what's more romantic than a calm walk to get dinner in the rain? Tucked under the same umbrella..." he chuckled and slid toward the door. "It helps to make it... more than what it could be if you do. Things aren't quite as unbearable."

He closed the door behind them, letting it latch shut--and double checked to make sure that it was locked. No extra intruders or visitors staying in there.

He followed Feo down the stairs, humming and chuckling as he gladly filled the silence with casual mentions of what he had seen while they were out, what could possibly be open and what they wanted to buy--if they wanted to go cheaper or not.

He paused by the front desk, leaning forward with a flash of a dazzling smile. "You wouldn't by chance happen to have an umbrella we could rent at all...?"

"Rent? Honey? Just take that one by the door," the older woman waved one hand. "What on earth are you doing going out there?"

Lucius chuckled loosely. "Well, our plans for dinner earlier fell through, so we haven't eaten yet... and unfortunately that means we gotta brave the rain. You sure we can't pay you for it?"

"Honey, I know you're coming back," she waved one hand. "Just take it and head out, mkay?"

Lucius bobbed his head and gave Feo a teasing grin. "Care to share?" He reached toward the umbrella, popping the dark cover up as he stepped out of the motel. The sky was darkening, the rain soft and gentle. Some cars passed by but not too many as Lucius waited for Feo.

He took in a deep breath through his nose, enjoying the rush of crisp air. The fresh air that heightened his senses, sent just a faint chill in the air but nothing too heavy. A faint and gentle breeze blew somewhat, but there wasn't much. It was a calm and subtle autumn storm. Something soft, gentle and calming. There wasn't a pouring, pounding rain, just a light little drizzle.

"What sounds good to eat?" Lucius prompted. "A good solid steak... a solid American burger... what do you want to try tonight? Might as well treat ourselves after a really, really long day."