#i headcanon that Bakuli and Julian speak a lot of Prakran with one another

[bakuliwrites]

OT3 Challenge, Day 3

All prompts can be found here. All of my OT3 Challenge stories can be found here.

Day Three- Date

In which Julian, Bakuli, and Lucio go on a peaceful boat ride, where everyone ends up in the water by the end.

Bakuli trails her fingers through the emerald water, watching as she sends gentle ripples across the surface. The lake around her is still, save her slight disturbance of it and the gentle rocking of the rowboat. An iridescent dragonfly hovers just a few feet away, its wings nearly invisible in their swift, repetitive motion. Bakuli glances at her partners. Julian looks utterly serene, leaning back in the boat, letting the gilded autumn sunlight wash over him. His hair sparks like threads of copper and gold and his long eyelashes create gentle shadows on his high cheekbones. Lucio, across from them, dozes peacefully, a white handkerchief draped over his face to shield out the light. He sports a jaunty, cream-colored linen ensemble and maroon boat shoes.

This lazy afternoon is just what the three of them have needed: silently basking in the warmth of the afternoon sun, tranquilly enjoying one another's presences. Bakuli gives a contented sigh before picking up the booklet of poetry resting on her lap and leaning back into Julian's welcoming embrace. He hums softly as she rests her head against his chest.

"What are you reading, my darling?" he murmurs, cracking one eye open to look at the book she holds open in her hands.

"Some Prakran love poems I found at a rare book stall at the market last week," Bakuli returns, angling the book so Julian has a better view.

"That's some awfully spicy stuff, my darling," Julian purrs, quirking an eyebrow up as he scans the page. He leans down to whisper in her ear, voice low and husky, "Would you care for a spirited reading of one?"

Bakuli feels heat rise to her cheeks, which are no doubt painted pink at Julian's suggestion. An impish smile tugs at the corners of her lips.

"Why, I would absolutely love one," she coos, passing the book to Julian and making herself quite comfortable in his lap. Julian takes the book from her, keeping it open with one hand while the other traces the top of the lacy stockings that peek out just underneath the bunched up hem of Bakuli's elegant, white dress. He clears his throat before launching into a sultry, albeit melodramatic, reading of a romantic Prakran ballad. His voice is velvety, the sensual words rolling off his tongue with ease. He has a mastery over the language and a mastery over the poem, itself. It's music to Bakuli's ears.

It's then that Lucio perks up, throwing off the handkerchief and leaning forward in his seat. His silver eyes gaze curiously over towards his partners. Bakuli knows he can't understand Prakran, but he can certainly guess at the contents of the poem based on Julian's roguish grin and the drawl in his voice. Bakuli casts a coquettish look his way, something impish glimmering in her hazel eyes. Lucio beams something wicked back at her.

"Mind translating for me, Jules?" Lucio croons when the doctor is finished, "Or maybe demonstrating on our lovely Bakuli?"

This last part he suggests with a devilish wink at Bakuli, who turns a deep crimson in response.

"Is that what you'd like, my dear Bakuli?" Julian offers, setting the book down and tilting her head so he might press his lips softly to hers. As their kisses turn heated, Julian's hand slinks further up Bakuli's skirt. She gasps into him, before giggling as she feels Lucio trail searing kisses from the top of her foot, all the way up her leg.

"Don't have all the fun without me, Jules," Lucio whines, inching off of his seat and trying to make his way closer to the two of them. He stands- ready to cross over the middle seat- when suddenly, the boat lurches, causing Julian and Bakuli to pull back from one another.

"Lucio, the boat!" Bakuli cries, just as Lucio starts to take another step. He balances on one leg for a mere second before losing his balance altogether, silver eyes wide with panic as he tips over into the emerald water below. The boat rocks violently, water splashing up the sides, but Julian manages to steady it just as Lucio resurfaces, sputtering and utterly drenched.

"Dear God, Lucio" Julian wheezes before bursting into laughter at the sight of Lucio, make-up smeared across his face and blonde hair hanging limply in front of his eyes, "What did you think was going to happen when you stood up?"

The mercenary scowls at the doctor, before a wide-grin splits his lips. Before Julian has the chance to react, Lucio grips him by the wrist and pulls him down into the water. Bakuli gasps as the cold water splashes up against her.

"What'd you do that for?!" Julian cries, skimming his hand along the water, launching some at Lucio.

"You deserved it!" the mercenary returns, beaming wickedly as he returns Julian's splash with an even larger one.

"You two are terrible!" Bakuli scolds through her laughter, peering over the boat as Julian shakes off his wet ringlets. She regrets her words as soon as Julian and Lucio share a silent, mischievous look.

"You know, I don't think it's fair that we're the only two in the water. Don't you agree, Lucio?" Julian begins, turning back to Bakuli.

"Oh, no you don't," she giggles, backing away towards the other side of the boat. But there's really nowhere for her to escape to.

"I think it's only fair we all get wet," Lucio returns. And suddenly, Bakuli feels herself being pulled over the edge of the boat, the sting of the cold hitting her skin almost immediately. She resurfaces with a gasp, blinking water way from her eyes before dissolving into laughter with Julian and Lucio.

"You'll pay for that!" she shouts teasingly, skipping her hand across the rippling surface, hoping to catch both Julian and Lucio with her splash. The air is filled with laughter and the sound of splashing water for the remainder of the afternoon.