It had been three months since Octavia had been outed to the Ark. In that time, no one had become wiser to their planted documents or remarked that Bellamy and Octavia shared similar features. Their plan had worked and the pack began to relax as all twelve were now able to move about with relative freedom. Octavia had taken her new found freedom and poured it into her studies and training. Determined to catch up and pass her fellow packmates, excluding Charlotte. That of course, pushed Charlotte to work harder because she was going to be damned if she was left behind.
It was a source of entertainment for the rest of the group watching the two compete and push each other outside of their limits. Today was a free day in the Pit. None of the trainers were present and they decided to have a competition. This was something they did every once in a while and gave the winner bragging rights and first choice on what the group would do for the next two free days.
The reigning champ since the inception of the competition was Tennyson. She had won so many times that they instituted a new rule; Tennyson couldn't compete unless she was directly challenged. As much as she wanted to complain, it was only fair and the pack was all about fair play. Miller may have been the one chosen as their self-designated trainer, and he may be good, but his skills were nothing compared to Ten's. Like with all things, Ten learned and worked until she mastered every skill their trainers were willing to impart with. It was a part of who she was. What she was.
So, today she was lounging on the couch reading Don Quixote in Spanish as a challenge to herself while the others drew straws to see who would compete against who. She glanced up when Octavia's laugh echoed through the space.
"You're going down, Goggles," Octavia laughed as Jasper whined and looked over at Clarke pouting.
"Clarke, do I have to fight her," he whined. "She's mean when she spars."
Clarke just raised an eyebrow, "You know the rules, Jas. Whoever draws the same straws spar one another. No trading. No forfeiting. Come on, you've got years on her. Use what you have."
"But—"
"No, buts, Jasper," Tennyson called over. "You agreed to the rules, just like Clarke and I did. Why do you think I'm over here trying to entertain myself?"
"Because you'd wipe the floor with all of us," he pointed out.
Ten smirked, "Exactly. Now, stop you're whining or I'll fine something for you to really complan about and you'll still have to spar with Octavia. Understand me?"
He bowed his head in defeat and replied sullenly, "Yes, Tennyson."
"Good. Now, if you all are done, get to sparring," she said and turned her attention back to her book.
Clarke clapped her hands, "You heard her. First up is Charlotte versus Harper. May the better blonde win."
Charlotte and Harper walked into the middle of the mats and shook hands, giving each other the evil eye and slashing their thumbs across their throats in playful threats. Miller waited until they gave him a nod and started the match. Harper may have had three years on the younger blonde, but Charlotte used her smaller size to her advantage. In a surprise move, Harper threw a punch which Charlotte caught and using their momentum threw her over her shoulder. Harper landed with a thud and without releasing her arm, Charlotte twisted around in a grappling move that left Harper painfully tapping out.
Charlotte released her hold immediately and helped Harper up. They hugged before leaving the mat. Harper walked over to the lounge area, sweating and red in the face, massaging her shoulder before flopping down to watch the next competition.
Next up was Miller versus Bellamy. The match lasted a good ten minutes and Bellamy put up a good effort, but in the end, Miller won. The matches went on and on until it was time for the winner to face Monroe, who happened to be the odd man out this time around.
The winner was Octavia. The match between Octavia and Monroe lasted neary thirty minutes. Each girl had snaked out of tight holds and barely countered moves making the rest of the pack cheer them on in an increasing volume. Even Tennyson was drawn to the match. In the end, Octavia won with a series of kicks that had Monroe flying a couple of feet to land on her back breathless.
Clarke got up quickly to check on Monroe as Octavia bounced around gleefully. Monroe luckily only had the breath knocked out of her and when Clarke helped her to stand, she went over to Octavia and gave her a high-five on the win.
Once Clarke made sure that Monroe was seated and breathing regularly, she went back over to Octavia and with a smirk, "Congrats, O. I think I can safely say that we're all impressed with how far you've come in the last three months."
Octavia blushed, but she was still high on adrenaline, "Thanks, Clarke. But I'm not done yet."
"Oh, really," Clarke replied and crossed her arms in amusement. "Pray tell us, what's next?"
"I challenge Tennyson," she said with a smirk.
Clarke shared a surprised look with Tennyson, "You do know that if you lose, you lose bragging rights and choosing what we do on our free days, right?"
Octavia nodded but with a new look of determination on her face, "I know. This is for me. I need to know where I stand."
Tennyson got up and started to stretch, "Alright, O. I'll give you what you want. Just remember, you've gone through five rounds and you went pretty hard to beat Monroe. I'm still fresh."
Octavia nodded again, "Yeah, but I'm good to go. I swear."
"So be it," Ten said and walked to the middle of the mat. "Nate, will you do the honors?"
"Of course," he said as he walked over. "Ready?" They both gave him a nod. "And…go!"
They began circling each other, their eyes roaming and looking for weaknesses. Ten noted that Octavia was favoring her right side and that she was moving slower, like her left leg was bothering her slightly. She noted the weaknesses plus the fact that the younger brunette was sweating. Octavia on the other hand, couldn't detect any weaknesses in Ten's movements for her to exploit. That annoyed her. It also annoyed her that it looked like Ten wouldn't be making the first move.
So, with a low growl, Octavia closed in and feinted a jab to Ten's left side, but instead of dropping her guard slightly, Ten just stepped back and blocked Octavia's low kick before countering it with a kick to her hip. Octavia grunted from the impact.
Ten followed with a quick feint to Octavia's face which caused her to raise her fists higher leaving her midsection exposed slightly. Taking advantage of the move, Ten punched her in the stomach and hooked her leg behind Octavia's ankle throwing the girl off balance. Ten followed through by pushing on her chest and forcing the girl to the ground.
Octavia grabbed Ten's wrist wrapped her flailing legs around Ten's waist, pulling her down with her. Ten grunted at the impact, her elbow bending unpleasantly before using Octavia's hold to bring her close and immobilizing her arms. She rolled them until she was on top and lifted Octavia off the mat slightly before slamming her back down.
Octavia gasped for air but refused to relinquish her hold on Ten's waist. Instead, she squeezed tighter making Ten grunt and snarl slightly in discomfort. Straightening until she was upright on her knees and Octavia flushed to her front, she slammed back down again.
Octavia closed her eyes at the impact, her vision swimming slightly as all the air in her lungs left explosively. Before she could bring a full breath in, she felt Ten's weight settle fully on her with a weight on her throat. Her eyes flew open as she struggled to bring a breath in and Ten's face was inches from her own.
"Yield, Octavia," Ten growled out.
Octavia's mouth opened and closed as she continued to try and suck in breath until she could growl out, "No."
Ten huffed out in irritation, "Yield before you pass out, O. Be smart."
Octavia struggled under the weight to free her arms, but all she did was tire herself out even more and slowly her movements became sluggish. Her vision was becoming spotted with black dots swimming around, but she refused to quit. It wasn't until Ten saw her eyes fluttering close and her legs loosened that she relinquished her hold on Octavia's throat. Ten shoved her legs off her as Octavia lay their coughing and gasping as air was finally being brought into her lungs.
When she could finally focus on something besides breathing, she found Ten and Clarke kneeling on either side of her wearing identical looks of concern.
"I'm fine," Octavia choked out and shoved them back weakly.
"You're not fine, O," Clarke admonished her. "That was really stupid. You could've really hurt yourself. It's bad enough that you're gonna have a bruise on your throat for a good week. What were you thinking?"
"I could've gotten out of Ten's hold," she growled as she sat up. "I just needed a few more seconds."
Ten rolled her eyes, "Tavi, I had my whole weight on you and your arms pinned between us. You were already tired, sore, and I'd knocked the wind out of you twice. I applied pressure to your throat before you could get your breath back. Your only chance would have been to try and headbutt me, but instead you further weakened yourself by trying to free your arms. There was no way."
"I just needed a few more seconds," she reiterated.
"You didn't have a few more seconds," she scolded gently. "Sometimes the best strategy is to know when to stop. Why did you want to challenge me?"
Octavia looked between the two of them and shook her head, "You wouldn't understand."
"Try us," Clarke said gently, sitting more comfortably.
"It's the Ward," she finally relented. "I constantly have to prove that I'm not a pushover with the older kids. They're always trying to prove their dominance. Especially, the Alphas."
Ten narrowed her eyes in thought, "The ones that are already in apprenticeship programs? The sixteen and seventeen-year olds?"
Octavia nodded, "Yeah, them. It's mostly at night when the caretakers aren't really paying attention. Nothing overt, but it's wearing on me."
"So, you thought that if you could take me, that would what? Prove that you're stronger than they are?"
She shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe?"
Ten sighed heavily and leaned back on heels and looked at Clarke, "Maybe we should talk to our parents, Clarke. See if maybe they would be willing to petition to adopt Octavia. I'm sure my mom would be willing, but she'd need the backing of a Council member."
Clarke thought about it, "And you think that since Mom knows about our blood and a Council member, she'd back a petition. Maybe put in her own petition?"
She shrugged, "Possibly. We stress how uncomfortable Octavia is in the Ward, how the presented are treating the younger kids, and how well she's doing in school and training. Maybe tell them that she's starting to have anger issues because of what's going on in the Ward."
"Hey, I'm right here," Octavia interjected hotly. "And I don't have anger issues."
Ten snorted in amusement, "Octavia, yes you do. You constantly let your emotions control your matches. You got impatient during our match and struck first. You got frustrated and angry when I had the upperhand. You were cocky and overconfident. Need I go on?"
Octavia flopped back and groaned at the truth of what Ten was saying, "I hate you."
Clarke and Ten chuckled, "No, you don't. You're ruled by your emotions, Tavi. You just need to learn how to not let them. That's one thing you and Bellamy struggle with. Too much heart without enough head."
"Do you think if I was out of the Ward that would help?"
Clarke shrugged, "It couldn't hurt. One less stressor is a good thing, but it's only if we talk to our parents about it."
"Why not see if I could move back in with Mom and Bellamy? Have her send in a petition."
"It would get rejected," she replied, apologetically. "She's a seamstress and an Omega, O. An unmated Omega, at that. As much as the Council seems to think that the only thing Omegas are good for are servicing Alphas and raising a pup, she's not in a position that will be viewed favorably. I'm sorry."
Octavia let out a growl in anger, "It's not fair how they treat Omegas, Clarke. You know my mom. She's overworked and given such meager rations that she's barely surviving."
"We know," Ten replied gently. "And when it comes time, we'll change that. Right now, you have to worry about yourself. If you don't get a handle on your anger, you could end up in Lockup. Regardless, of your blood. We can't afford for that to happen to you. One possible answer is to see if our parents are open to the idea of petitioning for adoption. Both of our parents are influential and we can take advantage of that. Another answer is that I start working with you on meditation techniques and finding a better outlet for your anger besides sparring. You'll end up hurt if you continue to spar the way you are. The last answer is to drop this discussion and let you continue the way it's going. That choice will lead you to making a mistake in front of the wrong people and you'll end up in Lockup."
Octavia sighed, sat up and looked at them, "Those are my only choices?" Clarke and Ten nodded. "Let's try the mediation and finding something else to let out my pent up frustration first. If it doesn't work, I guess you can ask your parents."
Ten nodded, "Alright. Then starting tomorrow morning, meet me at my place two hours before breakfast. Mom and I usually do a round of meditation and Tai Chi to start the day. You can join us."
"Okay. Thank you guys for not making a big deal out of this," she relented.
"It's what we're here for, Octavia," Clarke said, smiling and squeezing her shoulder in support. "We're a pack. A family and we help each other out. You should have come to us sooner with this. You don't need to fight Ten to prove that you're a badass."
"Yeah," Ten replied, smirking. "We already know you're one. Feeling better?"
Octavia nodded, "Yeah, but my throat is going to hurt tomorrow."
"You're also going to feel all those bruises tomorrow, too," Ten said, standing up and holding out a hand. Octavia took the proffered help as she continued, "You should've just taken the bragging rights and choices. Now, I get to have my fun."
Clarke groaned as she stood up too, "Oh, god, you're going to make it something educational, aren't you?"
Ten laughed and hugged Clarke close to her, "Maybe. Or maybe I'll send everyone out of the Pit and it'll just be you and me."
Clarke brightened up at the thought and leaned up to kiss her chastely on the lips, "I like that idea even better."
"Yeah, you need to work on your guard. You keep opening yourself up," she teased the blonde.
Clarke growled playfully and smacked Ten on the stomach, "You ass. See if I let you cuddle with me during movie night."
Ten smirked as they joined the rest of the pack, "You like cuddling up with me. You'd be punishing yourself."
She harrumphed and leaned into her more, "I hate that you're right."
"I know," she said and kissed her on top her her head.
