Disclaimer: I do not own the 100. Sorry. Clexa would still be strong if I did ;)
A/N: Hola! Again, thank you for reading my crappy one-shots. Its an honor to write for all of you.
In answer to a question posted recently, "My fight is over" was written quickly so I didn't get a chance to elaborate. In that chapter, Charlotte was taken in by Clarke after her parents died. I just wanted them to have that support and relationship, mother to daughter. I hope it translated well in the story.
Also, I will be continuing "Sweet Nothing" because honestly I can't contain myself and its a good idea. However I do need a little bit of time to perfect it and make it worthy.
As Indra threatened me Anya stepped in front of me.
"Stop Indra. This is the girl who healed our village. She took care of the children, persevered against the sicknesses. She even healed Jaffa."
Indra stiffened. Her back straightened but I could see the unmistakeable pain in her eyes. "That is not possible. He was taken. By the Mountain Men."
Anya shook her head.
"He was turned by those monsters into a Reaper. Clarke turned him back." There was a commotion as a man with light skin burst into the tent. Lexa stood to her feet as he pushed through the crowd to the front and stared at Indra.
Indra cried out in surprise. She looked like she wanted to go embrace him but she cautiously looked at me, even now unwilling to leave the Commander. The man obviously did not care for her hesitation because he said "Indra" and stepped forward wrapping his arms around his beloved.
A depressing thought hit me. I wish that was me and Finn
Indra stood stock still, her hand still on the hilt of her sword. I was half afraid she would stab him, many not trusting their eyes when it came to Reapers.
"You can turn Reapers back into men?" asked Lexa.
I didn't take my eyes off the scene, for fear of what she'd find in my eyes. I was always too transperant with her.
I nod once then look away from the private moment.
"I've only done it to five so far. The trick is to keep them alive long enough for the drug to get out of their system. . . The latest capture was one, I think he was called Lincoln." I finally raise my eyes to meet hers.
"Would you like to see his transformation?" I ask silently.
Lexa steps forward, her eyes scanning my face rapidly. Her eyes hold a subtle challenge. I look back to Indra, who has seemed to come out of her paralysis to hug the man, not interested.
"Show me Lincoln." Lexa demands.
I take her and her guards to the drop ship.
A large part of me was glad that instead of Anya's 300 warriors, I used the rocket fuel to kill a large group of deadly Reapers. But the other part of me was still grieving over those sick people. The Mountain Men had turned strong men into monsters. At least now they were at peace.
The first time, they stared at the bodies in horror and grief. Now they stood in the ashes in only wonderous triumph. I stop at the entrance to see them looking at all the dead Reapers. Some stare at me in awe but I just catch sight of the burnt bones and my stomache rolls in sickness. They were people, just really sick people. I look to Lexa and her chin drops down in that challenge again.
I lower my eyes to the ground before her. Really, I couldn't handle it. She was too much. For some reason the 100 elected me leader. But I wasn't truly a leader, just a healer.
I concede defeat.
"He's this way." I whisper.
Jaffa scrambles up to my side before I enter and talks to me in rapid fire Tridasleng.
"Mochof. Mochof Clarke de skeikru! Moch-" his face was in earnest as he thanked me.
I smile faintly and bow my head. "Em pleni. You welcome, Jaffe de Tridekru." I say partly in Tridasleng.
I gently clasp his forearm in a handshake and say "Jus drein jus draun."
I hope he gets my meaning. This blood oath means something different to me. I was a part of his village now, so his blood was mine. And the sky people, well some of them, always looked out for their blood, their family.
If Lexa was surprised I knew their language she didn't comment on it. She just raised her eyebrow.
I ignored it and gestured her inside.
The Grounders this time didn't draw their swords. I was so thankful of their trust in me but it would happen when they saw Lincoln's haggard appearance.
"He is still not well. Please stay back, for your safety." I warn them.
I scramble up the ladder before I can see their offense.
Octavia just steps in front of me seeing I brought unexpected company. Only her eyes showed her alarm.
I brush her arm minutely to comfort her. "Its okay. They only wish to see him. I promise."
Her eyes scan me and she nods stepping back to Lincoln.
He was sleeping but still very much tied up. His hands and feet were tied down, his shirt open to leave his muscular torso bare.
As the Woods Clan slowly entered the room, the noise jarred him awake and he growled screaming and fighting against his binds.
I could hear the sound of metal scraping as the Tridekru unsheathed their swords.
Octavia hurried to his head, talking to Lincoln to let him know she was there. I stood above examining him before grabbing the electronic taser from the drawer where my Mom left it.
Here it comes.
As expected, Lincoln started to convulse. His muscles contracted in an effort to get oxygen through his veins. His back bowed and shook while his eyes rolled up into his head. He abruptly stopped moving, and a quick glance at his chest showed he wasn't breathing.
Octavia screamed, sobbing out shaking Lincoln and begging him to wake up.
"Lincoln. Lincoln! . . . Please, dont do this. Wake up. Please. Clarke. Save him."
Her blue eyes were leaking tears as she hovered over him.
I remembered Lexa's words from this the first time, filled with hate and fear. You lied.
Inwardly my heart rebelled. No. She's the liar.
I extend the taser fast, the glowing tip making the Grounders gasp.
I reach over his body and touch the baton to his heart. It makes a crack noise as the electricity courses through his body making it arch unnaturally.
I wait a moment, his breathing not coming back. His body is still. Octavia cries loudly wanting to touch him but knowing enough about these devices to stay well enough back.
I reach out and hit him again. His breath comes back and his eyes open wide in surprise.
He barely evens his breathing before he croaks out, "Octavia?"
She cries out then bends her head covering him with kisses. "Thank you Clarke. Thankyou. Lincoln, Lincoln. Lincoln." croons Octavia.
I smile at her gently, glad to have him back. He was a good person. I just had to keep an eye on his addiction. I know he would fight it eventually, for Octavia and himself, but its best to assist.
I snap my wrist detracting the baton to its basic handle. I swiftly turn on my heel, ignoring the astonished looks Lexa and her group was giving me returning the weapon to its rightful place in the weapons cabinet behind them.
They parted before me like the Red Sea. My lips twitch just a bit. So strange.
"Come on. I expect there's much to discuss." I say as I close the cabinet and turn to face the warriors before me.
Before the Grounders could respond steps were heard on the metal ladder. I waited patiently but stiffened as I saw Charlotte hurrying over. She dodged the Grounders running up to me. Her blonde hair was matted to her forehead, it being obvious she ran for a long length of time. Her face showed she wasn't afraid just anxious.
Charlotte looked up at the tall, domineering Grounder closest to me. His face was scowling but his eyes were twinkling in amusement. He was easily 4 times her size!
She ripped her gaze away as I softly asked, "Charlotte? What are you doing here? You know you're suppose to stay in camp."
She darted up to me tugging my jacket until I hunched down for her to whisper in my ear. Her small hands cupped around my ear as she spoke trying to hide her words from our audience.
I smile at her childlike quirks. I tilted my head for her, my eyes warm with love looking to the ground. The warmth slowly receded as she whispered to me.
"Murphy showed back at camp. He attacked Wells again and almost got me too. I knew you'd want to know."
My eyes glared down at the floor. I tried to keep still, wanting to burst into action, rip open the cabinet grab a sword and go to camp to hack Murphy to pieces. How dare he attack Charlotte! And Wells? No. No he will never put his hands on her or anyone ever again. This ends right now.
"Clarke?" asks Charlotte worriedly. I swallow and smooth my hands over her tangled hair.
I put both hands on each side of her face and stare into her eyes, wanting to be clear.
"Okay Char, here's what I want you to do. You are going to go to Auntie Octavia and you are not to leave her side, okay? Not for anything."
Her face showed doubt. "But-"
"No Charlotte. Not for anything", my voice doesn't change but she could see in my eyes I am absolutely serious.
She nods her head and hurries over to Octavia who was huddled near Lincoln. She hugged Charlotte tightly, nodding at me when she was my alarm and worse, fear.
I breathe glancing up at the Grounders. "I apologize. There's a disruption at my camp."
I back away until I'm leaning on the metal wall behind us. I casually bend my knee and kick back at the metal making a bang noise three times.
"Raven?" I call out. She's usually in the vents, working on the rocket fuel gauge that Murphy shot out last time.
The grounders almost jerk in startled realization as Raven pops her head out of the vent opening above us. "Yeah?"
Her dark hair is around her face as her body hangs upside down, half out of the chute.
"Can you hand me your gun? There's someone I have to kill." I casually ask. My icy eyes and worn frown tell her everything.
Her face drops sympathetically. She knew this would happen. He almost killed her too.
"Murphy?" she asks assuming who it was.
I nod and raise my hands out to catch the weapon as she nimbly reaches into her pocket and passes it down.
"Did he . . . ?" she asks not knowing if she should say in front of the Woods Clan.
I nod my head. "Wells. But Charlotte is safe." I say nodding my head over to my girl next to Octavia as I routinely check the gun for bullets and cock it sliding it in the back of my jeans.
"I am sorry Commander. I have business to attend to. This wont take but a hour. Can I meet you somewhere?" I ask.
Her eyes trace over my face then at everyone in the room before she nods, sheathing her sword. "Yes. Indra will show you in once you arrive back in Tondc." She says this then stalks off, her people glancing around curiously before they too leave.
Charlotte breaks away from Octavia's arms before I leave.
"What are you going to do?" she asks, standing before me.
I sigh and kneel down. "What I have to. You and everyone else needs to be safe."
Her face saddens. She never wanted me to kill for her. "Don't."
I shake my head sadly and trace her arms holding her hands. "I cant promise that. But you know what? When this is over, its you and me. Pinky promise?" I hold my pinky out secretly enjoying our foolish tradition. Whenever things got to be too much for either of us we would climb the trees high as we could go and watch the stars, wishing on the ones that shot across the sky. It was becoming my favorite thing to do. We mostly went because neither of us could sleep.
She dejectedly holds my pinky. She nods and hurries back to Octavia, her arms wrapping about the little girl.
Octavia looks up at me, relief at her lover being okay playing across her face. She mouths at me, Give him hell. And winks. Her anger at what he tried to do in the past sparking the warrior in her.
I wink back before unfolding myself and jumping down the ladder wanting to get this over with. Murphy was going to die. Tonight.
*Sorry if its confusing, but I often like to do some chapters with Clarke having foreknowledge. Like she has traveled back in time and has to live through this again. I'll do my best to warn you of this mindset, it is not often very clear x)
