Quiet Moments

40 - A Moment of Peace

The bunker's walls felt closer than ever, heavy with the weight of the day's struggles and decisions. Octavia's shoulders ached, muscles tensed from the constant battle to maintain order, to keep Wonkru from slipping into chaos. She had spent hours mediating arguments, distributing rations, and ensuring the safety of everyone within these steel and concrete walls.

Now, as she walked the dimly lit corridor back to their quarters, all she could think about was Jade. Her mind kept replaying the sound of Jade's laughter, the warmth of her smile. The past few weeks had been hard, harder than usual, but Jade had begun to heal. She was sleeping better, eating more, and even smiling again — little victories that felt like the greatest triumphs in this bleak underground world.

When Octavia reached their door, she hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath before pushing it open. The sight that greeted her made her heart swell.

Jade was on the couch, curled up in the corner, a worn blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Orion, their mischievous cat, was snuggled up against her chest, purring softly. Jade's fingers absently stroked the cat's fur as she looked up and saw Octavia. A slow, soft smile spread across her face, one that made Octavia's knees go weak.

"You're home," Jade said, her voice warm, filled with a calm Octavia hadn't heard in too long. She patted the empty space beside her. "Come join us?"

Octavia didn't need to be asked twice. She was out of her boots and halfway out of her armor before she even made it across the room. Her fingers fumbled with the straps, tugging and pulling, her impatience making the process more difficult. Jade's laughter, soft and melodic, filled the small room.

"Need a hand?" Jade teased, her eyes bright with amusement.

Octavia shot her a mock glare, but her heart was racing with a giddy kind of excitement. "I've got it," she muttered, finally getting the last strap undone and shrugging out of the heavy armor piece. The moment it hit the floor, she let out a sigh of relief, feeling lighter, more herself.

She moved quickly to the couch, practically diving into the space next to Jade. Jade opened her arms, and Octavia slid into them like she was coming home, burying her face in Jade's neck, inhaling the familiar scent of her skin, the lingering hints of antiseptic from the med bay.

Jade wrapped her arms around Octavia, pulling her close, and Orion shifted slightly, mewing in protest before settling back down against Jade's side.

"You seemed eager," Jade teased gently, her fingers combing through Octavia's hair, nails scraping lightly against her scalp in a way that made Octavia melt.

"Always," Octavia murmured, her voice muffled against Jade's skin. "For you... always."

Jade chuckled softly, pressing a kiss to Octavia's temple. "I've missed you today," she confessed. "Orion's good company, but he doesn't make me laugh like you do."

Octavia smiled against Jade's shoulder, her heart feeling light for the first time in hours. "I missed you too," she whispered. "The whole day... all I could think about was getting back here. Getting back to you."

Jade's hand moved to stroke the back of Octavia's neck, her thumb tracing soothing circles against her skin. "I'm glad you're here now," she said softly, her voice like a balm to the raw edges of Octavia's mind. "I was worried you'd be stuck in some meeting until morning."

Octavia snorted softly. "I almost was. Had to make up an excuse to leave early."

Jade smiled, leaning down to rest her forehead against Octavia's. "Good," she murmured. "You deserve a break."

Octavia felt her breath catch in her throat at the way Jade's eyes looked at her, filled with love and something deeper, something more. She couldn't find the words to respond, so she just leaned in, pressing her lips to Jade's, a soft, gentle kiss that tasted like home.

Jade's lips moved against hers, slow and tender, a reminder that despite everything, despite the darkness and the weight of leadership, this was still here — this love, this comfort, this small, precious space where they could just be. When they pulled away, Octavia sighed contentedly, snuggling deeper into Jade's arms, her head resting against her shoulder.

Orion stretched lazily, his little paws batting at Octavia's arm, and she chuckled, reaching out to scratch behind his ears. "You've got a good spot here, huh, buddy?" she whispered to the cat, who purred loudly in response.

Jade smiled, her fingers continuing to stroke Octavia's hair. "He's been keeping me company," she said softly. "But it's not the same without you."

Octavia closed her eyes, feeling the tension drain from her body as she relaxed into Jade's warmth. "I'm here now," she murmured, a sense of peace washing over her. "And I'm not going anywhere."

Jade's arms tightened around her, and for a moment, there was no bunker, no duties, no pain or fear. Just them, just this moment, just the sound of their breathing and the soft rumble of Orion's purring.

They stayed like that, entwined on the couch, finding solace in each other's presence. It was a simple thing, but in a world where everything felt uncertain and dark, it was enough. For now, it was more than enough.