Chapter Text
Ruqi flirts with him shamelessly when they meet, of course she does, because what else is she going to do for fun on Balmorra? She's stuck carrying out an assassination mission on a planet full of canyons and giant bugs and determined resistance fighters, and she's just made the delightful discovery that while Malavai Quinn is handsome standing in his perfect uniform and confidently dispensing military knowledge, he's lovely when he's stammering a polite deflection with a blush spreading across his pale cheeks. Like she isn't going to enjoy that for all it's worth.
Then he joins her crew, after going to one knee and pledging himself to her, like some kind of vassal in an old romance. She fights with him at her side, gets to know him not just as one of Baras's many agents, but as Quinn, her loyal captain, uptight and clever and charming without meaning to be (at least, she thinks it's unintentional, otherwise he's also a very skilled actor). And she realizes she has no idea how to proceed.
Ruqi has never had a captain under her direct command, or any soldier for that matter. Two months ago, she was still an acolyte, treated with deference by Imperial officers, but no more so than any other Sith. The only other member of her crew until now has been Vette, and their relationship doesn't exactly seem like a template Ruqi should base her relations with the Imperial military on.
Quinn is not a slave in even the nominal sense that Vette is, and for all his blushing and hesitance he's not a boy, either. He's more than ten years Ruqi's senior, and was serving in the military before she'd set foot in the Academy on Korriban. Yet he's almost painfully deferential, something that makes more sense to her after he discloses his history with Moff Broysc.
She still indulges in flirtation here and there, never pressing the issue when he deflects. She can sense his attraction to her, not just physical desire, but fascination with this Sith who's unlike any other he's known, and admiration of her strength even when she makes choices he doesn't agree with.
Ruqi waits, wanting to see if he'll be the one to acknowledge the tension between them. When he does, the manner in which he goes about it is so very Quinn (some time ago it seems you expressed an interest in me) that she feels a stab of frustration and a rush of affection for him in the same moment.
She can't resist the temptation to have a little fun at his expense, feigning hurt by his apparent lack of interest before now, but almost as soon as she goes down that road she realizes she doesn't truly want to play games with him.
Or rather, the games she wants to play are of a very different sort.
"Let's cut through this. I order you to kiss me, Captain."
It's a calculated risk, but a risk all the same. In addition to being aware of his interest in her since Balmorra, she's also been reading him as well as she can. She's taken note of the signs he gives off, the little hints that reveal what he wants--or at least, what she believes he wants. She's playing her hand now; time to find out if she's been reading him right.
"My lord!" he exclaims, sounding shocked, and for one terrible moment she thinks she's miscalculated. Then he steps closer to her and says, very softly, "Yes, my lord."
He puts his hand on her waist as he leans in, tilting his head down to fit his mouth against hers. It's a simple kiss, brief and close-mouthed, but Ruqi still savors the warmth and closeness of it, the softness of his lips and the slight rasp of stubble on his cheek.
Quinn is smiling as he pulls back, but then he shakes his head like a man coming up from water.
"My lord, this is inappropriate. I am...drawn to you, make no mistake, but this cannot continue."
Ruqi brushes her fingers over his cheek, tracing the shape of his mouth, and then pulls her hand back to rest at her side.
"I'm in no rush, Quinn," she tells him. "If you change your mind, do let me know."
She can only think of a handful of things she's ever wanted as badly as she wants him now, but if she pushes, tries to persuade him--or worse, intimidate him--it won't be nearly as sweet as if he comes to her on his own.
Quinn clasps his hands behind his back, a faint blush lingering on his face. "You've certainly given me much to think about, my lord."