Nora made it a rule to go at quieter times of ration day. It was one of the busiest days in the canteen; the table's barren as everyone queued up for their weekly box of food.
Each week was different, the rations slowly depleting in size and portion. The redhead noticed it with the centres food packs. The quality hadn't been affected yet, for which she was grateful. If they were to eat such small portions, they had better taste good.
She spotted the blonde haired man behind the glass counter. The corner of his mouth quirked up when he saw her. Waving her over, Nora took a few steps towards the counter and slipped the rations card over to him. The same cold hands as before grazed over hers, shivering, she pulled back. "Won't be a minute." He promised, before disappearing from the counter.
Stepping aside to let another person to the counter, she waited, her hands ringing together. Nora had never liked Xavier, his beady eyes always wandering. But he had been good with her and the centres rations. He had only showed malice towards her once. But it was enough to shock her and want to learn how to fight.
She remembered how his cold hand had gripped her before, asking something in return for a few extra rations. She hadn't even asked for them, but he knew how to play her.
The training sessions with Bellamy had been helpful, but she still had a silent fear to conquer. It was easy training with him because she trusted him. She just hadn't put those skills to use outside of their trainings grounds. She wasn't sure how she would react if she was put in that scenario again. Would she shrivel up and hide? Or would she take a stand for herself and fight back?
Nora watched as the queue disappeared and she wondered what was taking him so long. But before she could ask anyone else, he rounded the corner, holding the crate himself. He didn't slide it over the counter, like he had done with everyone else. No, he was walking towards her... with a small smile on his face. Glancing around the canteen, she saw only the janitor mopping the floors, not looking up once.
"Here you go, Nora."
"T-Thanks." Taking the crate from him, she tried to avoid his cold hands.
Before she could take another step forward, he was there, right in front of her. "You busy tonight?"
Stuttering, she looked up at his gleaming eyes and the hand that rested on the wall beside her. The crate felt heavy in her arms and all she wanted to do was go back to the centre and have a good meal for once. "Y-yeah, sorry, I'm with the kids." She didn't know why she apologised, but she did. She was grateful if anything that Gwen had given her an excuse and asked her to watch the kids tonight.
"How about tomorrow?" His smile grew bigger, his eyes scanning her small form that was caged into the wall. Looking down, she tried to avoid the question and his lingering gaze. "We can have a drink, watch the stars. What'd ya say?"
She felt awkward, nervous and sick. Her heart hammered in her chest as he leaned over her.
"I can't, I'm sorry."
She did it again, apologised. Mentally cursing herself, she tried to remember the self defence grabs Bellamy had been teaching her. But it was as if Xavier's closeness had wiped it from her memory. Her body rigid and small.
"C'mon, Nora." He took a step closer, making her feel cornered like prey. A cold hand grazed her cheek and she flinched to the side, shooting a hard look up at him. "Don't be like that." He looked so pleased with himself, as if he was winning this back and forth. He was a man who liked the chase, the hunt. She was the perfect prey.
"Any problems here?" A strong voice called out in the room.
Flinching, she looked over to see Bellamy Blake decked out in his cadet gear and his hand resting on his shock-lash by his side.
"Year, we're fine here." Xavier spared him a quick look, before waving him off and turning to look back at Nora.
The redheads eyes hadn't left Bellamy's. He had his jaw clenched tight, taking in Xavier's leering stance and his hand that went back to the wall, blocking Nora in. Bellamy looked different, like a proper guard. He didn't look like a small cadet anymore. Well, he had never been small, but he had suddenly lost all the youth in his face, his features hardened.
"You alright, miss?"
"Course she is." Xavier answered for her, sending a glare to the cadet, while Nora looked up at him. "She's fine."
"I didn't ask you." Bellamy voice was heard loud and clear as he took a step toward them.
Nora shrunk back to the wall, as Xavier looked over to him. She adjusted the crate in her arms, the weight feeling heavier than ever right now. Her eyes flickered between the two.
"I asked her. Not you." Bellamy emphasised, taking another step towards them, his eyes never leaving Xavier. If she reached out, she could touch him. She so wanted to step closer to him, to have him protect her like she knew he would.
"You got a problem?" Chuckling, Xavier's lip curled in distaste.
"Just doing our regular checks." Bellamy gave him a confident smile. "Follow me, miss, I'll walk you back." Bellamy nodded to her before turning.
Nora went to move, never looking up at Xavier. But a cold hand on her arm drew her back. "I'll be waiting." He whispered, low enough for only her to hear as he mouth hovered over her ear. She could feel him breathing her in and she shuddered.
Pulling away, she followed Bellamy's footsteps, the cadet oblivious to Xavier's promise. He held the door open for her and slipped out of the canteen behind her.
The second the made it round the corner and to the adjoining corridor, the crate slipped from her grasp, her breathing hard. Nora's back met the cold, solid wall and she was instantly reminded of Xavier's cold hands.
Bellamy watched as the redhead lurched forward, dropping to her knees suddenly.
"Nora." He reached out for her, grasping her shoulders as he watched her breathing get heavier. "Hey, you're safe, it's fine. Just relax." He watched with wide eyes as she shook her own head, her breathing not slowing.
"I... I..."
Grasping her upper arms, he pulled her to standing. "Slow deep breaths. Look at me. Nora." Her eyes watered, her mouth parted in a soft pant. Even when her eyes met his, the breathing didn't slow. She had worked herself up after Xavier, her hair dishevelled and her cheeks flushed.
He mentally thanked Shumway for sending him on routine patrol, however much he hated it. He was thankful he had found her. Bellamy remembering seeing her familiar red hair through the tinted glass. It was when he saw the figure of a man leer over her he had sprung into action. "Breathe, Nora."
"I c-can't..."
The helpless look she wore tore him up and he was suddenly reminded of Octavia. He remembered how O would get worked up, more so when she was younger, and had to get under the floor to hide from inspections. He'd grabbed her and held her tightly, squeezing her until her breathing slowed back to normal. Octavia's hands had clung to him in a vice grip, refusing to loosen her hold until her body relaxed.
There were times when he had gotten under the floor with her, because she had been so scared, and he had just held her until she had fallen asleep.
With the memories of Octavia's panic attacks flowing through his brain, without thinking or hesitating, he wrapped his arms around her back and held her tightly to his chest. His mouth rested by her temple as he spoke calming words into her ear. At first, her breaths had sped up, but eventually, he could feel her relaxing. Her hands still gripped the back of his uniform, as her forehead rested on his chest.
Slow breaths.
Deep breaths.
Her body gave in to his, her energy draining. "You're okay." He whispered again, one hand moving up to run through her hair. "He's never gonna hurt you." Bellamy promised her, whether she heard it or not, he didn't know. It was just as much of a promise to himself; one he would never break.
Xavier had been the reason for her wanting to learn how to defend herself.
But when it came down to it, she froze.
"You ever had a panic attack before?" He felt her shake her head before resting her cheek to his chest. The calming beat of his heart, calming her own down as she breathed in his scent. She had never noticed it before, the musky, soft tones consuming her senses.
Rooted on the spot in the isolated corridor, his arms wrapped tightly around her as she rested against him. Bellamy wouldn't admit how nice it actually felt.
Suddenly, realising she was relying on him to hold her up, she straightened. "Sorry." She apologised for what felt like the hundredth time that day.
When she began to pull away, on instinct, Bellamy wanted to tug her back into his arms. But she slipped out of his grasp and stood in front of him with her head bowed. "It's okay."
"Thanks." Looking up, she saw the soft expression he wore as he nodded to her. "How did you— Y'know, know what to do?"
Bellamy stilled, his brain running through multiple reasons. "My mom has them." She accepted the answer with no hesitation. "He's why you wanted to learn how to fight?" Her expression said it all. Xavier was the one. But she had never been afraid of him in training, so it couldn't be men in general that had her scared. "Has he ever—"
"No." Cutting him off, she watched his face relax. "He just likes to push his luck sometimes. He started putting in extra rations recently. He never used to be like this, it's only recently."
Bellamy made a mental note to check in on Xavier one day. He had muscle and height factor over him, he could make his presence known easily.
Until then, he had an idea to change up their training. He'd have to ask around, but he thought it would work. He would just need a helping hand and he knew just the person.
A/N: I love that you're all loving this story. It seriously puts the biggest smile on my face :) You guys are the best and a HUGE thank you to those who are reviewing!
