"What ya doing today?"

"Group patrol, then defence training before a cadet exam."

The brunette raised an eyebrow as he clipped his jacket into place. "An exam? Really? For cadets? That sounds like the stupidest thing ever."

"That's the cadets for you, O."

Returning to her sewing, her eyes glazed over as she worked away on auto-pilot.

"What you gonna get up to with Mom?"

"Well, she has to come home first. For now, it's this jacket, then a pair of pants and another jacket. Another thrilling day in the life of Octavia Blake."

The sarcasm dripped from every word she spoke. She was bored. That was plain to see and it tore Bellamy up inside to see her his way. She was meant to be out there living her life, like he was. But instead, she was kept hidden away, never to see outside of these four walls, unless you counted under the floor.

Letting out a short sigh, he dropped down to sit in the chair beside her. "You'll make it outside one day. I promise." She scoffed and carried on sewing. "Have I ever broken a promise to you?"

She paused mid-stitch. "No."

"So why would I start now?" He tried to give her a smile, and after a bit of coaxing, she finally gave him one in return.

"I want a life too, Bell. I want to go to school and meet people. I want friends. I want to just sit and watch a moon rise and forget about sewing with Mom and being cooped up in here. I want to live."

He could see the floodgates opening behind her dark brown eyes. He had watched her grow into a young woman but there was still so much she had missed out on in life. He felt like he had failed her. "I know, I promise I'll get you outside one day and it'll be everything you wished for." Ignoring the jacket, he pulled her in to him, his chin resting on top of her head as she wrapped her own arms around his midsection tightly.

"How about I bring you something back from goodwill? See what they've got?"

"How about something that isn't a ration pack that tastes like crap?" She quipped, her voice muffled in his jacket, but Bellamy's laugh rang louder.

"I'll see what I can do. Just for you, O." Bellamy pressed a kiss to her head, as he swore to one day make his promise come true. He couldn't disappoint his little sister. She was his responsibility to look after, despite their mother being there, she didn't see the way Octavia saw things.


His mother would not be pleased. Scratch that, she would be pissed as hell. He had been penalised during the exam, which meant a sub-par mark. Bellamy was just thankful it wasn't a crucial exam to their cadet program.

"Shumway is a hard ass." Jones says, shaking his head. "I could have aced this if it weren't for him."

He murmured an agreement, thinking about how he would explain this to his mom. Mindlessly, his scratched the back of his neck and finally looked up to see where they were going.

Bellamy's whole body froze when he spotted a figure in the distance, the red hair unmistakeable. Her eyes were hard and focussed as she stared down at the digital display in her hands. Her whole body was resting casually against the wall, with her legs crossed underneath herself.

"Blake, you listening?" Jones continued, watching as his friend zoned out. The blonde followed the trail his friends eyes left and found the object of his attention. "Ooh, I see how it is. I get ignored for a girl. But not just any girl..."

Snapping out of it and wondering why she was sat there on the floor, he turned to Jones with a straight face. The young man simply grinned wildly back at him.

"Nora know you're hot for her?"

Bellamy made a face, scoffing his friends remark off. "What are you talking about?"

Jones just raised an eyebrow at him. "You think I don't see how you look at her, Blake? You forget I've been training with you guys a couple times now. I see it."

"You're wrong, Jones."

"Am I?" Bellamy couldn't answer. For the life of him, the words didn't come to him in that moment. "See. It'd be a whole lot easier if you were honest with yourself. I reckon she'd go for you. Y'know... if she's interested in lanky cadets who can't even ace a test."

The dark haired man glared at Jones, before wrapping an arm around his neck in a mock chokehold. "You can be a real dick when you want, y'know that?!"

The blonde pushed the man off with a laugh, nodding towards the redhead. "Go see your girl, Blake." Before Bellamy could reach out to swipe him again, the man had quickly jogged down the corridor on Mecha.

Letting out a deep breath, the cadet turned back to see the redhead still looking down at the digital display in her hands. Was Jones right? Did he like her? In the months he had known her, he had become fiercely protective of her. He saw a bit of Octavia in her and he had always thought that was it, but maybe it was more than that.

Maybe he wanted something more with her.

Without thinking, his feet had carried him closer to the redhead one step at a time. Dropping down he sat next to her on the floor and her head snapped to the side, blinking from her daze. "What are you doing down here?"

A sigh fell from her lips and Bellamy felt his eye gravitate to them. "Just watching."

"Watching what?"

"Guard rotation."

He immediately frowned at her. "And why would that be interesting? It's the most boring thing ever."

Nora just shrugged, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear. "What ya got there?" She gestured to the piece of paper in his hand. He had since folded it, out of sight out of mind.

"Just proof that I'll never make the guard, I guess."

It was Nora's turn to frown. "What do you mean?" Reaching across, she swiped the paper from his hands and he let her, not fighting to take it back. She rested the display on her thighs as her eyes ran across the words.

"I had a cadet exam today. Shumway wasn't impressed."

"You have exams in the cadet program?" She couldn't be more like Octavia in that moment if she tried and Bellamy felt a smile come to rest on his lips.

"Yes, I know it sounds stupid."

"I thought it was more a performance based thing."

"Exams are just a technicality of it all." Her eyes went back to scanning the paper. "It didn't go well."

"Shumway an ass as always?"

"Got that right." It was Bellamy's turn to reach over and swipe the digital display from her lap before she could stop him. Tapping it, a clock came up and Bellamy quirked an eyebrow at her. "You just watching a clock? You sure do know how to kill time, Nor."

Nora looked around, scanning for anyone that could over hear before tapping the screen again, punching in a code. A map came up straight away and Bellamy recognised it as a map of Mecha. Tapping it again, she drew a red circle around certain points. "These spots are dead zones. When guards rotate, no one is on patrol here." Bellamy recognised one of the dead zones to be the spot they were sat in. "By recording times, I can monitor what time is best to get in and out without anyone seeing." She turned to look over at him. Bellamy wore a deep frown, his brows furrowed as she took back the digital display. "Rations are low again. The centre took the first hit and we don't get our ration allowance renewed for another 3 weeks. We're on the bare minimum until then."

"You're gonna steal again?" Bellamy made sure to keep his voice very low, so only she heard him.

"Don't look at me like that. I have to. Those kids depend on us. I can't disappoint them or make them go hungry. I don't care about myself, it's them that I worry for."

He couldn't get mad at her, even if he tried, he knew what she was doing and he knew she had good intentions behind it all. He would do it for Octavia. Placing his hand on her knee, over the ripped fabric patch, he gave it a squeeze. "I get it. I just wish you told me sooner that you were planning something like this, I could've helped."

Shifting under his gaze, Nora cancelled out the map and went back to the clock. "I don't want you getting involved. You're a cadet and something like this could get you thrown off the program... or worse."

"Yeah, it could get you killed." Bellamy could see the conflict in her hazel eyes.

"I know that, but starvation will kill the kids faster." The redhead gripped the display tighter in her hands. "I don't want you getting involved, Bellamy."

"And what if I refuse to accept that?"

Her jaw clenched as her eyes scanned his; they were unwavering as he stared back at her. How could she stop him? She knew she couldn't. She could try but it would be pointless; he was a stubborn man and would find a way.

"I can help you. You know that." He spoke, squeezing her knee once more, his thumb rubbing circles over a patch of skin that poked through the rips. "I want to help."

Gulping, she tried to rack her brains of ways to get him to accept her choice to do this on her own. But no logical reason came to mind; he knew the guards better than she did. The idea that his death could be on her hands just didn't sit right with her, she couldn't risk his life like that.

"What if I told you that you weren't a good thief?"

"I'd say teach me."

"You're feet are too big. You make too much noise when you walk."

Bellamy cocked his head and gave her a smirk. "I can be stealthy when I choose to be. What else you got?"

"You can't lie to save your life."

"You'd be surprised what hidden talents I have, Nor." She didn't know that every mention of home had involved a lie about his sister. Every time he couldn't meet up, the reason involved Octavia. Ever since she had been born, he had been lying to people to save his sister.

She raised an eyebrow at him, pursing her lips. "Is one of those talents having a damn answer for everything?"

"Yes." He answered, not missing a beat. Grinning at the redhead, he knew he had won their first argument. "Now teach me your thieving ways."

"You're not the one doing the stealing." Nora said to him, sparing a glance at a passing Arker before clicking on the display. "You'll be the distraction. That will be your only part in this whole thing."

"Like a damsel in distress?"

The look Bellamy gave her made a laugh bubble up, "something like that."


"Bellamy!"

The cadet had only just stepped through the doors of the children centre and barely had a moment to prepare before a small body was launched at him. He caught the short person in his arms, briefly recognising the laughing face of Jimmy. The boy chuckled wildly as Bellamy swung him until he was upside; Jimmy only laughed louder. "Who do you think you are sneaking up on me, kiddo?" Bellamy joked, poking and tickling the child.

"I was testing you."

"Testing me?!" Bellamy continued tickling him until he turned him up and stood him on his feet. "You better watch out, bud, I'll test you next time."

The pair were oblivious to the watchful hazel eyes from the kitchen doorway. The bond between them was undeniable and Jimmy had been waiting for the next time that Bellamy could drop in. Nora made a mental note to ask him later if he maybe had more time to stop in to see him more often.

She overheard the 9 year old reel off a list of questions as long as his arm about training for the guard. His eyes were as wide as saucers as he listened intently to Bellamy's answers. She didn't want to interrupt their time together and instead chose to wait, leaning against the doorframe with a smile on her lips.

Eventually, dark eyes floated up to find hers and a smile greeted her on his face. Nora watched on as his eyes returned to Jimmy and he pulled something out of his pocket for him; a book. The redhead squinted, trying to get a better look at what it was, but before she could, Jimmy had given him a fist bump and ran off to the reading corner.

Rising up, Bellamy strode over to where she stood, with her arms crossed and a playful smile on her face. "You sure do know how to win him over."

"Kid's got good taste."

"Mm-hmm." She nodded, slipping past him for the door. She nodded to Gwen on her way out, looking forward to her few hours off. "So what did you give him?"

"A cadet book. I got given it before I joined the program. Talks about values, skills, everything a guard should have. It's a good book, even if he never joins."

Nodding, Nora couldn't stop the smile. "You're good to him." Holding the door open for her, she slipped out of the centre before him and together they walked along to their spot for another moonrise. "Sorry if I smell, by the way. We're nearing our monthly quota for water since they reduced it and kids are taking priority."

"You don't smell to me."

"Good. Because I haven't showered in 5 days. It's gonna be a long two weeks." She laughs it off as they walk through the halls of Mecha.

"If I could, I'd sneak you into mine." Bellamy jokes with a smirk. Nora bit back her grin but watched carefully as his expression changes suddenly. "I uh… I just can't." Bellamy scratched the back of his neck, something she noticed he only did when he felt nervous.

"It's okay. I'm not asking you too." Nora nudged him, jokingly. "I don't care about the showers. The kids come first."

"Yeah, they do." Octavia flashed into his min instantly; she came first. He couldn't risk Nora finding out about his sister, not after all this time. However much he trusted Nora, he couldn't do it. "There's a mechanics shower not far from mine. I could sneak you in there."

"Isn't that risky? It's not worth it, or is my stench too much to be near?" Jokes.

Bellamy laughed, "I don't care about the stink."

"So I do stink!" She mocked shock, her jaw dropping as she held back a laugh. "I knew it."

"Shut up." Bellamy pulled on her arm, dragging her down a different hallway. "We're gonna get you a shower."

"We'll miss the moonrise!" She protests, pulling back on his grip. "Later. You can deal with the stink until then, can't you?" Giggles.

"I think so."

Nora slapped his shoulder as she pulled back towards their moonrise spot, a hidden deck shut away from other watchful eyes. Dropping down to the ground, she pulled her knees up to her chest. Bellamy saw the same familiar rips and tattered holes in her tight combats. Little patches of creamy flesh were revealed to him. He reached over to place his hand over one of the larger rips over her knee and gave her smile.

His hand radiated heat into her legs and she gave out a shiver of delight. Biting back her smile, she looked to him to see him smile at her. It felt too good, being here with him. Nora felt safe and content. There was no responsibility. No one who relied on her. It was just the two of them in this moment, staring out the window on the Ark watching another beautiful moon rise.

These were her favourite times.

Leaning back, her head flopped to the side and came to rest on his shoulder, the bright light of the moon illuminating the two of them.


"I told you that you made too much noise when you walked." Nora quipped, walking alongside Bellamy as his footsteps echoed around them. "They teach you how to stomp like that in the cadets?"

A laugh bubbled up through him, "You're just full of compliments today." He shot her a look, before stopping at a door; his home. But before she could question him, he spoke, "I'll be out in a minute."

She waited outside, walking a few steps to the edge of the hallway as she knew his mother didn't like visitors. She had only ever caught glimpses of the woman, her cold eyes as they saw Nora waiting. But she didn't want to piss her off before their first proper introductions.

Nora was sure she heard a third voice inside his home, but brushed it off as the door opened. She peered round, expecting to see Bellamy, but was surprised when an older woman was there instead. His mom.

"You're Nora."

She spied Bellamy behind her as the older woman raised a brow at her. "Yeah, that's me. Nice to meet you." She extended her hand to his mother with a smile.

Bellamy sighed as his mother hesitated in shaking Nora's hand, before she finally gave it a brief shake. "Don't be long, Bellamy. You have training in the morning, remember." She turned quickly, and Bellamy shut the door behind her.

"Sorry… about her… she doesn't like people coming by unannounced."

Guilt filled her and she took a step back from Bellamy. "I'll go then, I don't mind. You've got training in the morning anyway."

"No, wait." He reached for her and she stilled. "Just come with me. Please." Silently, she nodded and followed him round the corner.

The cadet checked both sides before unlocking the door to the mechanics washroom. He nodded her inside the small room, filled with a metal sink and toilet on one side and a shower cubicle on the other. It wasn't the cleanest thing on Mecha but it would do, she was far dirtier than the bathroom anyway. "I'll stand guard outside but you can lock the door from the inside." She turned to Bellamy, the door was shut behind them and with his massive figure, she felt tiny. Gulping once, she nodded. "Here, there's a towel and cleaner shirt in their too." He held out a bag for her to take; that's why he had wanted to go home first.

She shot him a look. "Bell-"

"Now you can wash the one you're wearing and have a spare." The smile he gave her made it hard to refuse him. "There's some soap and shampoo in there too. Don't be long." With a wink, he slipped out the door.

He smiled to himself as he heard the lock slip into place behind him and the water turn on. She always went out of her way to help others that it was about time someone helped her. Bellamy wished he could do more. Like get her new combats or a better jacket or some better place to live on the Ark, one where she wasn't sharing a bed with two other kids or didn't even have a blanket to herself.

It made him realise how lucky him and Octavia were.

Even though they shared a bed sometimes, he made sure she had her own blanket and pillow to rest easy as she slept beside him. He had tried to make the hatch under the floor as comfy as possible for her, but she always felt safest beside him.

He had kept her safe this long and a secret that he couldn't risk telling anyone else now. Even Nora. The redhead had told him so much about her life that he felt like he was lying to her when he couldn't talk about O. His little sister. The one person he loved most. He couldn't share the stories or the funny things she would tell him or—

"Is it clear?"

The familiar voice behind the door pulled him from his thoughts.

He checked round the corner and to his left. No one. "Yeah, come on out."

The door opened quickly and she slipped out, her dirty t-shirt and fleece jacket in the bag he had given her. Her hair hung in wet dark waves down her shoulder. But that wasn't what held his attention. He smiled to himself when he saw his t-shirt on her. It was baggy on her so she had tucked it into the waistband of her combats. "Feel better?"

"Like a new person. You should have seen the dirt that came off me." She joked, elbowing him in the side as he locked the door once more. "Thank you."

"Any time." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in to his side. Her skin was warm to touch and strands of wet dark hair brushed against his hand as they walked. "Just let me know when you next want to shower and I'll stand watch."

"My very own guard! I'm honoured."

"You should be. My services aren't cheap."

"I'll pay you in stolen crackers." His laugh warmed her heart and she bit back the grin that wanted to engulf her.

A/N: We're getting closer to some big moments on the Ark… :) What do you think's next? Thank you for reading! Let me know what you thought..