Quiet Moments

33 - The Distraction

The morning starts out like any other, with Octavia standing in front of the mirror, pulling on her armour, buckling and fastening, her mind already spinning through the tasks ahead. The council needs her to address water rationing concerns, the hydrofarm is having another issue with mold, and there's always another fight to break up somewhere in the bunker.

Jade, meanwhile, is on her side of the room, tying up her boots with quick, efficient movements. Her shift at the med bay starts in less than half an hour, and she knows Abby is probably already there, fussing over charts and supplies. But Jade's not quite ready to leave just yet, not when Octavia is right there, looking far too good for someone who is perpetually stressed.

Octavia turned back to her own reflection, running a hand through her hair, trying to focus. But Jade glanced at her in the mirror, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "You keep looking at me like that, Blodreina," Jade murmured, "and we're both going to be late for our duties."

Octavia rolled her eyes, but the smile on her face betrayed her. "You're imagining things," she shot back, though her voice was soft.

Jade set down the brush and turned, closing the distance between them in two strides. She bent down slightly to catch Octavia's gaze. "Oh, I'm imagining, am I?" she teased, her voice low.

Octavia felt the heat in her cheeks, her breath catching in her throat. "Maybe," she whispered, a challenge in her tone. "Or maybe you're just distracting me on purpose."

Jade steps closer, her long fingers twisting a lock of Octavia's dark hair between them. "Maybe," she murmurs, but there's a playful glint in her dark eyes. "You look like you need a distraction."

Octavia huffs a soft laugh. "A distraction? Now?" she challenges, but her voice is already losing some of its edge. Jade is so close, and it's making it hard to think straight.

Jade shrugs, her hands finding their way to Octavia's waist, pulling her a little closer. "There's always time for a distraction," she whispers, dipping her head down. Octavia has to tilt her face up, standing on the tips of her toes to meet her.

It's supposed to be a quick kiss, just a fleeting brush of lips, but Octavia finds herself caught up in it, deepening the kiss without even realizing. Jade's hands tighten around her waist, and 

Octavia's fingers find the back of Jade's neck, tangling in those dark curls.

She forgets about the council, the endless meetings, and the pressure of leadership. She forgets about everything but the feel of Jade's mouth on hers, warm and insistent, the way Jade bends slightly to meet her lips, making her feel small in the best possible way.

It's Jade's height that gets Octavia every time, that towering presence that makes her feel both safe and daring, like she could fall apart and still be held together. She stretches up further on her toes, chasing the kiss, and Jade lets out a soft laugh against her lips.

"You know," Jade murmurs between kisses, "we really don't have time for this..."

Octavia just hums, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Then why are you still kissing me?"

Jade smirks. "Because you're impossible to resist."

Octavia is about to retort, something clever and cutting, but then there's a knock at the door—a sharp, authoritative knock that makes them both freeze.

Indra's voice comes through, gruff and no-nonsense. "Blodreina, are you ready? We have much to—"

There's a pause, and then the door creaks open. Indra steps inside, only to stop dead in her tracks at the sight in front of her: Octavia, still on her toes, lips inches away from Jade's, both of them caught in a moment of startled surprise.

Indra's eyes narrow, and she taps her foot impatiently, her face stern as ever. "Blodreina," she says, her tone dripping with disapproval. "You have duties to attend to. Now is not the time for... distractions."

Octavia's cheeks flush a deep, mortified red. "Indra, I—" she starts, flustered, trying to find the right words. But she's still pressed against Jade, and it's hard to sound authoritative when you're literally caught in the act.

Jade, however, seems completely unbothered. She grins, looking far too pleased with herself. "Oh, she has duties, alright," she quips, shooting a playful glance at Octavia. "Important ones."

Octavia groans, covering her face with one hand. "Jade," she mutters, mortified. "You're not helping."

Indra's expression doesn't soften, though there's a flicker of amusement in her eyes. "Blodreina," she repeats, more firmly this time. "Your people need you."

Octavia takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself, trying to find the mask of Blodreina again. "I know, Indra," she says, finally pulling herself away from Jade, though her skin still tingles where Jade's hands had been.

Indra nods curtly, but there's a small, knowing smile at the corner of her lips. "Then let's go," she says. "We have much to do."

Octavia turns to follow Indra, but Jade catches her hand, squeezing it briefly. "I'll see you later?" Jade murmurs, her tone soft and earnest, the teasing replaced with something more tender.

Octavia nods, a small smile breaking through her embarrassment. "Yeah," she says quietly. "Later."

Indra, standing at the door, clears her throat. "Blodreina," she calls, and Octavia jumps, snapping back to attention.

"Coming," Octavia replies quickly, giving Jade one last look—half exasperated, half affectionate—before she heads out the door, her cheeks still tinged with pink.

As the door closes behind her, Jade chuckles softly to herself, a satisfied grin spreading across her face. She knows she's in trouble for the teasing, but it's worth it just to see Octavia blush like that, just to remind her that even in a place as dark as the bunker, there's still room for a little lightness.

Indra shoots Jade one last, bemused look before she turns her attention back to the matters at hand. As they walk away, Jade hears her mutter under her breath, something about "young love" and "lack of priorities," and Jade just shakes her head, still grinning.

She knows she'll pay for the comment later, but for now, it feels like a small victory—one of the few that makes all the difference in a place like this.