Clarke
'Are we going to talk about it?'
Bellamy was silent beside her, hands stuffed into the pockets of the jacket he'd dug out of somewhere in Arkadia. Clarke risked a glance at him, kicking a small stone out of her path as she did.
His gaze was forward, scanning the distance. Scanning for Kane, as she should be doing. Her eyes flittered back to the horizon.
'Or are we just going to pretend it never happened?'
'What exactly are you expecting me to say?'
She shrugged. 'I don't know. I don't care. Just … something.' She sighed. 'I don't like this awkwardness.'
Silence. She frowned, and stopped walking. Bellamy didn't realise at first, but when her hand flew out to grab his arm, he came to a stop too. 'Bellamy.'
'What, Clarke?' He spun to her. 'What do you want from me? Do you want me to profess some eternal love bullshit right now? Or do you want me to agree that it was all a big mistake?'
'Neither! Bellamy, I want to know that we're alright still. That this isn't going to break us.' She dropped her hand, and her gaze. 'I want to know you don't hate me for taking advantage of a moment of weakness.'
'Clarke …' His voice trailed off. She steeled herself.
When it seemed that there was nothing further forthcoming, she nodded her head. 'It's okay, Bellamy. I get it.' She gave him a smile. 'I screwed it up between us.'
She started walking again, chin high and resolute. She barely made it five steps before he grabbed her arm this time.
'That's not what I meant, Clarke.' His voice was low, dangerous, and her eyes closed. 'Look … I'm not mad at you. It was just …' She heard him clear his throat, felt his fingers tighten around her arm.
'I spent six years thinking you were dead,' he finally whispered. 'I spent six years, looking down at the burning Earth and thinking you'd burnt along with it.'
She opened her eyes, but kept her back to him so he didn't see the tears glistening. 'Those six years were the hardest of my life. Harder than hiding Octavia. Harder than fighting for our lives down here.' He tugged her back, and she stumbled just slightly before his chest was there, breaking her fall. He spun her until her face was against his shoulder, and his arms folded around her back.
'You saved us, and we left you to die. Even after I swore I wouldn't let anything happen to you. So knowing you were alive, I … I don't even know. It changed something.' His words were muffled against her hair, and her hands hesitantly raised. Lay on his back, and then clasped together.
Her heart fluttered with hope that she immediately quenched. 'I had to prove to myself you were definitely alive. Ever since I woke up in that cave, and you were there, I was afraid I was dreaming. That we never left the Ring – or that the landing killed me.'
'You're still very much alive, and very much on the ground, Bellamy.' She nuzzled her face into his shoulder. 'Trust me, I pinch myself every day to make sure.'
He laughed, and she felt it vibrate through her own chest. 'I'm sorry if I worried you,' he finally continued. 'But, Clarke … right now, I have to focus on Octavia.'
Her muscles tightened, and her hands unclasped. 'And you need to focus on your mom.'
She pulled away, eyes downcast. 'I know.' She nodded at the floor. 'I know.'
One callused finger lifted her chin, turning her gaze to him. His face was soft. She could feel the tears beginning to burn their way down her cheeks. His expression fell.
'Clarke …'
Whatever he was about to say, or do – she wasn't sure what she wanted right then, or what would be worse – they were interrupted by the sound of screaming. Their surprised expressions must have mirrored one another, and as one, they took off, following the noise.
They rounded a large deposit of rubble to find Wonkru, some faces anguished, some disbelieving. Some still screaming.
Her eyes skimmed over all of them – she could see few faces she recognised until she at last noticed Indra.
And stood not far from Indra …
'Kane,' she breathed. Bellamy tensed, and she raised one shaking hand to point him out. Together, they made their way through the shocked stares – some of which switched to them – until they stood behind their friends.
Bellamy reached out, laying his hand on Kane's back. 'What happened?' he asked, and the older man started.
'Bellamy!' Indra's attention turned to him first, and Clarke offered a smile as the War Chief's gaze swept to her. 'Wanheda.'
'My God.' Kane's face was pale, and Clarke gave him a small smile. 'You're here. You're really here.'
Clarke nodded, and before she knew it, found herself swept up in an embrace. A very different embrace from the one she'd been in just moments before.
'Kane, what happened? We heard screaming.'
His hold loosened, and Clarke was able to step back. 'One of the young boys … he tried to move some of the rubble.' He gestured with one hand, and Clarke turned her head hesitantly. Now she looked, she could just see the awkward shape at the side that she'd dismissed as rocks – a hand.
'It set off a reaction. The turbine tunnel's been filled.' He nodded his head this time, towards a place Clarke would never have noticed the dust settling over. 'They only have what the scrubbers have stored.'
Beside her, Bellamy's jaw did its thing. 'How many are still down there?'
'Best guess … three, maybe four hundred healthy and another hundred sick.' Kane looked regretful. 'Octavia's still down there. And Abby.'
