Thanks for all of the reviews, follows, and faves! I just couldn't wait to post this because I think this might be my favorite chapter yet! Not to worry, I'll try to get another chapter up tonight! Enjoy! :)
Chapter 37
Bellamy clutched Clarke's hand tightly in his own as they walked through the double doors that opened into the courtroom. His gaze traveled over every inch of the room, searching for any possible threats.
He led his blonde companion to their seats behind the prosecution, and then sat down beside her. He watched as the three criminals were led into the room, their sneers setting him on edge. He tensed, and then felt a gentle hand on his forearm.
"It's going to be ok", Clarke said softly, "Nothing that happens here today will change us, or your relationship with your sister."
"How can you be sure? What if I have to admit to some things that I'd prefer stayed buried in the past?"
"Bell, you don't have to admit to anything. You're not the one on trial. Just answer the questions honestly, and if you need to, look at me- I'll be rooting for you."
"Thanks Princess", Bellamy said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
Soon, the judge entered and the proceedings began again. Kane stepped forward and called a few of the guys from the shop to testify. Bellamy listened as they were examined and cross-examined. He could see the fear in their eyes, fear of retribution, and the mistrust of the legal system.
Then he watched as the young woman, the one who'd helped him find Clarke, took the stand. She was nervous, her hands wringing in agitation. Her voice shook as she answered the attorney's questions.
Her tale was a sad one, filled with her love of a man who'd only used her. She spoke on, silent tears coursing down her cheeks as she told of her fear, fear of losing the man she'd loved only to find that he'd never really loved her in the first place.
Her voice became stronger as she told of how he'd locked her away, treating her like an animal. She told of the things she'd heard him brag about, of killing the Rebel and taking his Princess.
Finally she finished with how Clarke had saved her, and how she'd run to the Silver Fox. She recounted how for the first time in months she felt safe, and she simply wanted to be free of the monster she'd once loved.
Bellamy watched as she walked from the witness stand, her head held high. She sat down beside Wick, and the man quickly took her hand in his. They didn't look at one another, but even from his vantage point Bellamy could see the budding relationship.
Then he heard his name called, and he froze, his breath hitching in his chest. His eyes widened, and his heart raced wildly in his chest. The urge to run was quelled by a soft touch, and then he looked into her eyes.
"I'm right here, and whatever happens I'm not going anywhere", she said softly.
Bellamy nodded, rising slowly and walking to the stand. He was sworn in, and then he sat in silence his eyes glued to the beautiful blonde, his anchor in the coming storm.
"Mr. Blake, please tell the court of the circumstances that let up to your joining of the Grounder Crew", Kane said loudly.
Bellamy cleared his mind, and spoke slowly. He told of his mother's death, of that fateful day he'd received the letter from Child Protective Services. He recounted his initiation, and the job he was given at the Silver Fox.
"You are the youngest captain the Grounder Crew has ever known, am I correct?"
"Yes, sir", Bellamy answered quietly.
"Why? What makes you different from the other captains", Kane asked.
"I lead with honor, sir. My men are human beings and are to be treated as such. I allowed a minimal amount of illegal activity in order to appease Lynx, but all in all my shop was run as a legitimate business. I gained a large number of men who were there under the same circumstances as I was, necessity. They'd had nowhere else to turn, the street was their only option."
"So, you joined out of necessity? Why didn't you just allow your sister and yourself to enter the foster care system?"
"Octavia and Clarke are all I have, all I've ever really had. My mother was an alcoholic, and my father left after O was born. My mother did what she could, but I've raised my sister all on my own from the time I was five. I couldn't imagine handing the job over to anyone else. I couldn't bear the thought that we would be split up, that our family would be torn apart. O wasn't the only one who needed me. There was a little blonde that needed a safe haven, and I was just the person to give it to her. Given a choice would I have done it any differently, NO. I did what I had to do for my family, for the two most important people in my life, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat if it meant keeping my family together."
Kane nodded in understanding and a new found respect for the young man before him.
"So, you made your choice out of love for your sister and for Clarke", Kane said gesturing to the two women.
"Yes, sir."
"You entered a life of crime, a life you knew would surely end in your death just so you could provide for those you love?"
"Yes, sir", Bellamy said, his gaze fastened on Clarke's tear filled eyes.
"No more questions, your honor", Kane said before regaining his seat.
The defense attorney stood, his hard gaze turning to the blonde woman sitting on the bench behind the DA.
"Mr. Blake, your love for your family is admirable, however what you did is still wrong. How is this court supposed to believe the words of a known criminal, of a rebel?"
"Someone once told me that who we are and who we have to be to survive are two very different things. I became who I needed to be to survive, to ensure the survival of the people I love most in the world. The things I did were wrong, I admit that, but the men sitting there forced me into doing many terrible things. They have blood on their hands, the blood of innocents", Bellamy spat.
"And you don't, Mr. Blake? What about the countless boys you brought into your shop", the man asked with a sneer.
"Those boys aren't part of the crew. I brought them in and gave them honest work for honest pay. They go to school and I keep them out of trouble. They are well cared for, and we try to insure that the street doesn't swallow them whole like it did so many others", Bellamy said quietly.
Everyone in the courtroom was silent, the jury's mouths hanging open in shock. Bellamy looked around, finding all eyes on him in surprise. All except Clarke, her blue eyes shone with pride and her smile brightened the darkness that threatened to consume him.
The defense attorney sputtered for a moment, before mumbling that he had no further questions. Bellamy returned to his seat, relaxing as Clarke's fingers tangled with his own.
He listened as both attorneys gave their closing statements, and then the jury was sent to deliberation. The courtroom emptied, people filing out quietly. He rose, the blonde at his side leading him through the throng of people until they'd reached the sunny courtyard.
Bellamy walked beside Clarke as they followed Lincoln and Octavia to a small diner. They entered, finding a table and picking up their menus. He sat there, eyes staring blankly at the words before him.
His fate hung in the hands of twelve individuals. If they didn't find Lynx and Cage guilty, then he and Clarke were both in danger. He turned to look at her, and his fear must have registered in his eyes because she immediately took his hand in her own.
"We'll get through this whatever they decide", she whispered.
He stared down at the conjoined hands, and then back at his menu. He tried to concentrate, but then he was back to that night so many years ago when Clarke had been the only thing keeping him together.
Bellamy ran like his life depended on it- because it did. The turf war had been bloody, and all he wanted to do was escape. He'd watched as his friend, Atom, fell, his throat slit.
As he ran down the darkened streets, his clothes splattered with red, his lungs burned and his cuts stung, but all he could think of was getting home. He fell to the grass outside his house before scrambling to his feet and crashing through his front door.
No one was supposed to be home. Octavia had stayed with a friend, which meant that Clarke would be at her house. He slid down the door, sitting on the floor and trying to breathe.
Then before him knelt an angel, blonde curls cascading around her shoulders and blue eyes wide with concern. Her hands were gentle when they reached out to him, and the next thing he knew he was pulling her to him.
He buried his face in her hair, inhaling the calming scent of her citrus shampoo. She held him tightly, murmuring quiet words of comfort against his chest. When his grip loosened, she pulled away and her eyes searching for injuries.
Bellamy couldn't think, let alone speak as she led him to the bathroom. She helped him out of his shirt, dabbing gently at his cuts. His hands shook, and silent tears rolled down his cheeks.
She hummed softly as she cleaned away the dirt and blood from his skin as he stared into space. Then her hands were cupping his face, her eyes pleading as she spoke.
"Bell, look at me."
His eyes met hers, and his breath caught. All of the fear came rushing back. What if they found him here? What if they hurt her?
Bellamy couldn't breathe, his chest constricted and he tumbled into the floor. He knelt on all fours, gasping and coughing, his vision blurring in and out of focus. Then she was there.
"Bellamy! Breathe! It's all right, I'm here. Just breathe", Clarke said, her voice firm yet gentle.
Bellamy felt the oxygen once again enter into his lungs as he took deep, even breaths. He regained his seat on the closed toilet lid, his head in his hands. Clarke sat on the side of the tub, her hand rubbing up and down his spine.
"What happened", she asked.
He looked at her, sixteen and so full of light. He would taint her; he would sully her with his darkness. He shook his head, refusing to speak.
"Bell", she whispered, "Tell me. Nothing you say will change the way I look at you."
Bellamy cursed his weakness as he stared into her cerulean pools, and began to speak.
"Turf war, Atom was killed", he rasped.
He felt her hand still, and then she wrapped both of her arms around him rocking back and forth as he cried.
"I'm so sorry, Bell", she whispered as she combed her fingers through his hair.
He should have been embarrassed, sobbing as he was, but all he felt was safe.
"I watched him die, Clarke, and there was nothing I could do about it", he sobbed.
"Shhh, I know it hurts. I know", Clarke said.
After a while, Bellamy pulled back and stood to pace the bathroom floor.
"You shouldn't be here, Princess", he said gruffly.
Bellamy heard her sigh, and then heard her approach. One of her hands came to rest on his shoulder, and the other tilted his face so she could look him in the eye.
"This is where I need to be, Bellamy. You're not in this alone. I know you think you'll somehow harm me by telling me about this part of your life, but it's my choice to be here. You make my life better, Bellamy Blake. You are my friend, and I never want there to be any secrets between us, you can, and always will, be able to tell me anything."
Bellamy's resolve crumbled at her words, and he once again found himself holding her close. He took a deep breath, mesmerized by how well she could read his thoughts.
"Thank you, Princess", he whispered finally.
"Your welcome. Now take a shower, and then come downstairs. I'll fix us some hot chocolate and we can finish Ms. Congeniality 2", Clarke said with a smirk.
Bellamy watched her leave, a small smile curving his lips. He showered quickly, and dressed in comfortable clothes. He made his way downstairs, moving to sit beside the blonde on the worn sofa.
She extended the popcorn bowl towards him, and he took a handful of the buttery kernels. He sat in silence, staring at her profile outlined in the dim glow of the television.
That night had been horrendous, and the pain of losing Atom still throbbed in his chest. However, sitting next to her all he felt was peace. He should have felt as if his whole world was falling apart at the seams, but he didn't.
He felt her take his hand, and he stared down at their intertwined fingers, hers a bright contrast to his own. He said nothing, instead reveling in her touch and the comfort it brought.
Bellamy Blake fell asleep that night, his nightmares held at bay by the angel who'd been with him through it all. Whatever the future held, he could face it as long as she was there to help him pick up the pieces.
Bellamy absently stroked his thumb over her knuckles, enjoying the feel of her skin against his calloused fingers. He felt her take the menu from his hands, heard her voice as she ordered him something to eat.
He turned to stare at her, smiling softly as she laughed at something that Octavia had said. Then her eyes met his own, blue depths shimmering with laughter. He leaned in, kissing her slowly and gently. She responded, warm and soothing.
When the kiss ended Bellamy felt Clarke lean her forehead against his. She smiled, and her hands were still tangled in his dark curls.
"I love you, Bellamy Blake. Nothing and no one could ever change that, not even you", she whispered.
"I love you too, Princess", Bellamy said, pecking her on the lips before turning back to find Lincoln and Octavia staring at them with bright smiles.
"I'm happy for you, big brother", O said with a grin.
"I'm happy for me too, O", Bellamy smiled.
Thanks for reading! Please review and tell my what you thought! :)
Wright: Thanks for the review! I'm so glad you like the flashbacks! They are probably my favorite part of this story! The Linctaiva chapter was really fun to write! I thought that since we see Bellamy protecting Clarke all the time it'd be fun to see a little role reversal! Happy you liked that as well! :)
Martha: Thank you for the review! I'm glad you also are a fan of the flashbacks! :) I think they had a nice depth to the story and they help with the background info which can be tedious at times lol