You’d had one of those days — the kind where every task felt twice as heavy, every hallway too loud, and every glance from the crew a little too sharp. By the time your shift ended, all you wanted was steam, silence, and maybe the comfort of bubbling water drowning out your thoughts. So, you grabbed your bag, tossed on your bathing suit, and made the long walk to Mira HQ’s rec wing.

---

The hot tub sat waiting in the far corner, fog rising from its surface like a warm invitation. Sixteen minutes to get here, and for once… it looked almost empty. Almost.

Because Indigo was already there.

---

They didn’t move when you entered, just sat half-submerged in the water, their sharp features lit faintly by the soft glow under the pool. Their eyes followed you as you approached, flat and unreadable. You never got along with Indigo — their words always cut, their temper was quick. Yet, seeing them here felt… strange. Out of place.

Maybe you knew why. Their child, Purple in his 20's, had shipped out not long ago — a dangerous mission, one without guarantees. Even Indigo’s usual fire seemed dimmer lately, replaced with something colder.

---

You hesitated at the edge. You could’ve turned back. But the day had wrung you dry, and you weren’t about to let Indigo chase you off.

So you stepped in. The heat wrapped around you instantly, easing the tension in your muscles. You sank deeper, letting bubbles fizz against your skin, pretending not to notice Indigo’s gaze burning across the water.

---

Minutes stretched. Neither of you spoke. The only sound was the hum of the heater and the occasional ripple when you flicked a few bubbles with your fingers. You risked a glance back at them. Indigo hadn’t looked away.

The silence wasn’t hostile. Not exactly. But it wasn’t safe either... It was something else.

---

You slid further into the bubbling water, trying to pretend his eyes weren’t drilling into you. The heat relaxed your body, but your chest stayed tight. Indigo never looked away. He wasn’t blinking much either. Just… watching.

Finally, his voice cut through the steam. Low, flat, the way he always sounded when he wasn’t in the mood for anyone’s nonsense.

“…You’re noisy, even when you’re quiet.”

The words startled you, though they weren’t shouted. He spoke like it was a fact, not an insult. Still, your instinct bristled. “Excuse me?” you muttered, flicking bubbles with your finger.

Indigo’s gaze didn’t waver. “Your face. Your hands. The way you fidget. You don’t know how to sit still.” He shifted slightly in the water, shoulders tense. “It’s… distracting.”

You blinked at him, unsure if he was mocking you or—something else.

“You’ve been staring at me this whole time,” you shot back, more defensive than you meant to.

His lips twitched, but not into a smile. More like a crack in his usual armor. “That’s because you’re acting like a child in a hot tub,” he muttered, leaning his head back against the edge. A pause. “…But I suppose it’s better than silence.”

For a second, the weight in his voice betrayed something softer. Something tired.

The bubbles fizzed louder in the quiet that followed, filling the gap he left hanging between you.

NOT MINE