20. Trust
When the two of them returned to the camp, it was already dark and they quickly learned that the rest of the kids had been affected by the nuts, like Bellamy and was now currently suffering from one major headache. However because of the hallucinations they had grown overly suspicious about the grounders and what kind of threat they posed, although Clarke had to fight back in order not to laugh sarcastically over their assumptions. The real threat wasn't really the grounders unless you seriously did something to piss them off, which results in them attempting to kill you. Of course they had tortured Lincoln, but she was almost certain that Lincoln wouldn't report back for revenge, especially now when he knew she was in the camp.
"Let them come," Bellamy's voice booms over the others. Both of them were confident and were reassured that they were safe, but Clarke was sort of frustrated how they quickly they blamed the Grounders when the real enemy was the Mountain Men and her face expressed that frustration. "We have been scared of the Grounders for too long because of their knives and spears. I'm done being afraid."
Bellamy shows everyone the guns they discovered in the bunker, and quickly tells them that the training to use them starts the next morning. Clarke was quick to warn everyone that they are weapons, not toys. However something about this didn't sit quite right with her, especially since they thought they were targeting Grounders. She might not have the best relationship with the Grounders, with the exception of Lincoln and a few others, but that didn't mean she wanted to hurt the Grounders or anyone else. Still she also realized they needed weapons to defend themselves with if an attack should happen. And apparently she wasn't the only who shared her opinion about the weapons and the Grounders since both Octavia and Finn, who had gotten well enough to start walking around as long as he didn't overdo it, looked at them with unhappy expressions on their faces.
"Right, Bellamy. Can I talk with you for a second in private?" Clarke leaned in and said lowly so that no one else heard.
"Sure, lead the way, Princess," Bellamy replied lightly. She rolled her eyes over the nickname and dragged him away from the crowd. Once they were out of earshot, she turned and said annoyed, "I get that we need the weapons, but seriously the Grounders aren't the real concern here. They have more important things to do than care about us."
Bellamy scoffed and folded his arms against his chest and stared her down with the face that wondered if she truly was naïve.
"Trust me, they wouldn't attack unless they think it is necessary or consider us as a threat."
"How can you be so certain?" Bellamy asked with a cocky attitude. "Because your grounder friend said so?"
"No, I have lived here for a year so I should know it for a fact," Clarke replied seriously. "As long as we don't aggravate them, we should be safe. Besides they have their own problems to worry about and they don't consider us as a major threat yet."
"Right-right, the mystery enemy that you warned me about, but wouldn't tell in detail who they are," Bellamy commented rudely. "Because you don't trust me."
Clarke sighed frustrated. It was seriously starting to piss her off how he truly believed that she didn't trust him, especially after everything that went down with Dax. She might not be willing to give into her feelings for him, but she trusted and cared about him more than anything and anyone else.
"I'm not going to have this argument with you, since I'm pretty sure you are going to be just as stubborn as me and refuse to listen to whatever I got to say," Clarke said with a glare. "I'm going to radio the Ark and give them the recent update, feel free to join me once you are ready to listen and face your fears."
Then she walked away and headed over to the drop ship. She didn't turn around or stop to see if he followed her or not, but she didn't have to because shortly after he ran up to her and together walked to the drop ship and into the room where the radio was located. During the whole time they walked to the radio room, Clarke couldn't help grinning over Bellamy's stubbornness and pride. Guys had their issues about it and had to make it a point that they weren't afraid and intimidated by something or someone.
He and Clarke was sitting in front of the screen, facing Chancellor Jaha through a video chat. This was the first time the chancellor had made his appearance since his operation and when he saw Clarke he almost immediately jumped on the question about where his son was. Unfortunately she had to inform him about the death of his only son and child, and she did it with a heavy heart as she tried desperately not to lose her cool. That was why he snuck his hand into hers in order to comfort and calm her down. She responded by tightening the grip of her hand on his and turned her head slightly to face him before she smiled a small smile at him and then turned her gaze back at the screen. Then both the chancellor and Clarke went back to the real topic of the conversation.
"Please before we begin to talk about everything down here, I ask you to pardon Bellamy's actions," Clarke defended him. It surprised him that she was defending him against Jaha and even more begging him to excuse him for his crimes. "The only reason why these kids are alive right now is because of Bellamy. And I might not care about the council and the Ark anymore, but if there is anyone in this camp I trust with these kids and everything going down here it is Bellamy."
She turned to look at him, like she was trying to convince him that her words were honest and true despite what he and everyone else believed. The tingling feeling he had for her returned in intensity as he grinned at her over her confession. She trusted him and he wasn't going to betray that trust and leave her and the others to fend for themselves, not now when he finally knew some about her true feelings for him.
"It's not that easy," Jaha tried to explain her, but he wasn't about to let him shoot her down or deny him the chance to be pardon for her and his sister's sake.
"It is easy if you want to know whom on the Ark that wanted him dead and gave me the gun," He interrupted and his gaze was fully focused on the man who haunted his mind with guilt, but he wasn't going to squirm and run now.
Jaha appeared to be thinking about what he was suggesting and before he knew it the chancellor pardoned him for his crimes, much to his relief and gave Clarke a happy smile, which she responded by smiling back at him.
"Now tell me, who put you up to try and kill me as well handing you the gun in the first place?" Jaha asked.
Then he began explaining about Shumway involvement with the attempted assassination of the chancellor, but during the whole time he captured glances of Clarke smiling with pride over his actions. And he thought how incredible this girl was and was so strong that she was willing to trust and fight for him when no one, including himself wanted to or believed it was possible. Clarke Griffin was more than just a co-leader and a medic of the camp. And he was glad that she was a part of the 100, even though she could drive him crazy like no one else could, but that didn't matter because she truly had a lion's heart.
Clarke was truly glad and proud on Bellamy's behalf over being pardoned for his crimes. He was a good person and even a greater leader once he pushed the whole ass-attitude away. Still it sucked that people like Finn, who believed in peace and wanted nothing but obtain it considered Bellamy as a dangerous individual leading them all through a dangerous path by trying to aggravate the Grounders. In the end they ended their argument with her walking away, uninterested in listening to what more he had to say. However she couldn't help thinking that Finn was going to do something stupid, but she didn't want to think much about it since she was tired and just wanted to go to sleep. So she walked through the camp and was heading in the direction of Octavia's tent, where she had slept the last couple of times when she wasn't in the medical bay, and when she entered the tent she found the brunette girl in her sleeping bag barely able to keep her eyes open.
"Hey, rough day?" Octavia said tired. Clarke nodded and began undressing her clothes, only left wearing the underwear she had worn underneath her clothes. Then she found the pelt Lincoln had given her, which she had grabbed with her before she left her cave and became part of the camp, and used it to cover herself up before she slipped into the sleeping bag.
"Yeah, something like that," Clarke murmured. She was facing Octavia while her friend was facing her, looking at her with wondering eyes. "But I can't say I regret this day from happening."
"You and my brother made up?" Her voice was curious, but also sharp and straightforward like she wasn't in the mood for walking-around-the-bush tactic. "Are you two finally a couple now?"
"Yes and no, we made up in a way," Clarke replied. "But we are not a couple."
Clarke brushed her hair with her fingers in a tired manner, not really in the mood to talk about the whole couple issue with Bellamy. It was sad and hurting to remember and be reminded over her choices and how it restricted her from having close relationships with other people.
"Don't try and fool yourself, Clarke," Octavia argued, the tiredness was gone in one second as she sat up and looked down at her. "There is something there between you two, but for some reason neither one of you want to take the first step. How twisted is that for two people who was truly made for each other?"
Clarke sighed deeply. Octavia had no clue how right she was with her accusation, but she didn't really know or understand how messed up she was and how it complicated things with Bellamy.
"I agree," Clarke said wearily. "But right now I'm not capable to start a romantic relationship with him or anyone else for that matter, and I really don't want to hurt him by stringing him along because of my incapability."
Octavia nodded understandingly and sighed deeply before she leaned back and lied down in her sleeping bag.
"I understand a little," Octavia said sadly. "But Clarke, you should know that by hurting him and rejecting these feelings you have for each other hurt a lot. Probably even more than you think it does."
Clarke didn't say anything else about the conversation instead just said goodnight to Octavia and closed her eyes, welcoming the sleep with open arms.
The next morning Clarke was up early and was preparing the medical bay in case of an emergency when Finn stepped inside with this peculiar expression on her face that only said he was going to say or do something that she wasn't going to like. So she stepped right on it and asked bluntly, "What did you do?"
Finn tilted his head innocently, like he thought he could charm his way out of his problems, but Clarke was certainly not that kind of girl who fell for the innocent boy shout routine.
"What makes you think I did something?" Finn replied smoothly.
"Cut the crap, and tell me what you have done that's going to piss me off?" Her voice was serious and sharp like a knife.
"I arranged a peace meeting with the Grounders," Finn said. Clarke's eyes widen in surprise from hearing the news and the instant the surprise passed it was replaced with exasperation.
"You did what?" Clarke said exasperated. She could strangle him for what he had just done. And because of his actions, things were going to be a lot more complicated, especially now that he got himself involved with the Grounders.
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Thanks again for the amazing response, I truly appreciate it. Some news, I will be busy with taking my exam Friday and Saturdays, so I will be busy the whole week studying. In other words, I wouldn't be updating this story in the meantime, but once I'm done the next chapter should be up soon enough. Hopefully on Sunday, but if not then it will be on Monday. Anyways I hope you guys will be patient and understanding.
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