Shards

Lunch

"Much better," Shard says when she walks out of the bathroom.

Though Octavia won't admit it, she feels more comfortable being out of the tight dress her parents forced her into. The red shirt with a faded, grey circular print is a bit baggy, but the black pants ripped at the knees fit. Her socks were once a shade of red. Shard also supplied her with combat boots that could be considered fashionable to some and a dark denim jacket she doesn't wear. They don't smell like it, but she knows these clothes have been on someone else's body. Her disgust isn't hidden. She hates these comfortable clothes.

"Now that I can focus on eating," Shard says, "I'll go grab our food."

Shard gets the tray from outside, places it on the table, and removes its cover in front of Octavia from where she sits on her bed with her back pressed against the wall. Under the metal cloche are two glasses of water and two sandwiches.

"A perfect lunch for two!" Shard says. Amused by Octavia's confused face, he continues. "Peanut butter and grape jelly sandwiches. One for me. One for you. Never had one before?"

Octavia untrustingly looks at the sandwiches and water.

"They ain't poisoned," he says. "Take whichever water and sandwich ya want, and I'll take the ones you don't."

Slowly scooting from her spot on the bed and keeping as much distance between her and Shard as possible, Octavia reaches for a sandwich and water. Shard nearly closes the cloche on her fingers. She draws her hand to her chest.

"Nuh-uh," Shard says. "Ya ain't gonna be eating like that. Sit in the chair like a civilized person with some respect and manners. I know your parents have taught you at least that much."

Octavia slinks back to the wall.

Sitting in a chair, Shard hugs the covered food close to himself with an arm and pats the table in front of the empty chair. "C'mon. I don't bite. Kinda hard for me to with this on." He scratches the fabric on his face.

Octavia doesn't move.

"Hurry up, lunch buddy. I'm hungry." He whines his last few words and kicks his feet like a child.

Octavia refuses to move.

Shard stops kicking his feet. His shoulders slump. "Am I going to have to put you in and tie you to this chair and shove a sandwich down your throat? Ya know I'll do it. I just figure it's less traumatizing if you sit in the chair and eat of your own will."

"And you taking me here against my will is any less traumatizing?" The words slip out of Octavia's mouth. Wishing she could suck them back in, she bites her lip.

Admonishes from her parents for her quick lip knock in her head. Something she fears Shard is about to do.

"Hmm," Shard hums. He waves a pointed finger at her. "Ya make a rather convincing argument, Sweetheart. But we can make this whole experience a little less traumatizing if you cooperate."

Octavia shifts in her spot. She fights her desire not to comply with him because of who he is but squirms off the bunk in fear of what he can and will do to her. Sitting in the chair, she's close to Shard. If she stretched out her arm, her hand would touch his face. Her crawling skin stiffens her.

Shard removes the cloche. "There we go. Much more suitable for lunch conversations. Now go ahead. Take one."

With tortoise-like speed, she reaches for a sandwich, again. Her hand hovers above one when she notices the cloche coming back down. She snatches her hand away.

The cloche doesn't close. A space big enough for her hand stays open.

"Gotcha." Shard giggles. "Okay. No more tricks." He tosses the cloche behind him creating a loud crash causing the guards to jump and ready their weapons. Shard snickers. "Oops. It's all good," he says with a short wave.