The walk back was quiet, something that made 10k nervous and relaxed. She didn't try to talk to him, didn't ask questions, she didn't even ask about his name! Almost everyone up to her had asked about it, why wasn't she? She was just silently leading them back. Each step she took impressed him, she walked as silently as he did. Maybe even more so since she knew the area, while he was just starting to learn it.
He, on the other hand, had many questions he wanted to ask her, the problem was opening his mouth, which felt like it was glued shut. Finally, he forced himself to just enjoy the peacefulness that she gave off and worry about finding a way to talk to her later.
When they got back, the poker games had just ended and everyone was making their way to dinner. Something 10k still couldn't wrap his head around. These people had hot food daily. Not only food but clean water, hot showers, and fresh clothes. It was almost as if the Z's weren't right outside their doors and they were just living like normal, well, what used to be normal. Until you looked closer and saw that most of them wore their weapons all the time and carried backpacks anywhere they went, ready for anything that could happen.
Clarke showed him where to put his bag of apples, thanked him for his help and told him to go get some food. He was looking forward to filling his stomach again, he hadn't been fed like this in years and he was going to enjoy it for however long it lasted.
Looking around he saw that Clarke had joined a few others at a smaller table and there was room for him to join them. He dug up some courage, about to go and ask if he could join her but was stopped before he even managed a step. He turned his head, about to question why he was so rudely grabbed when Addy interrupted him. "Warren wants to talk to all of us, she's waiting for everyone in our room." With a sigh, he followed, but not before casting one last lingering look over his shoulder at the food he was not sitting down to eat.
10k walked in and stood next to Doc, smiling at him when he said hello. He didn't have to wonder long why they needed to get together, because almost as soon as everyone got close enough, Warren hushed them and began speaking in her "don't mess with me" voice, as 10k called it.
"Alright listen up. We need to find out who was bitten. Does anyone have ideas on who it could be?"
While he had his gut feeling and was almost one hundred percent positive, he wasn't going to offer her up like that. This wasn't his mission, he was just along for the ride and had made no promises to anyone.
No one had any ideas and so Warren did what she did best, issued orders for everyone.
"Addy, you see if you can get into their computers and find something out. Mac, help keep an eye out for her. Garnett and I will watch and listen. And Doc, you and 10k are down near the clinic, I want you guys to keep an ear out."
Just as 10k was about to question her, Doc surprised him. "Hey, that Citizen Z guy said the person wasn't going to leave with us. Why are we trying to figure it out?"
Warren scoffed at him. "Just because that guy said that doesn't mean a god damn thing. If this person was bitten, they have a duty to help find a cure. They have to come with us." She lowered her voice, making it sound softer, "Not to mention the fact that Murphy is getting worse. What if he can't make it all the way to California?"
The others nodded their heads at her logic, while 10k and Doc exchanged weary looks. Neither seemed very comfortable with this plan. 10K was so uncomfortable with it that he knew he had to say something, this went against his morals. Morals that he had already been bending since the world ended, and if he went against them completely, what did he have left of who he was and where he came from? He was sure his Ma was already looking down on him and shaking her head at some of the things he had to do, he didn't want to ignore the lesson on manners she had taught him.
"I won't spy on them."
They all spun their heads around, staring at him with wide, disbelieving eyes. Gosh, they act like I never speak! "They let us come here for Murphy's sake and not only are they sharing their supplies with us, they also promised us a vehicle and supplies for the road. If they are willing to help us out that much, why would we do something against Citizen Z's orders? Not to mention that if they wanted to come with us, they would have said so already. They obviously know about the mission." This wasn't a group of people that had attacked them first or something like that, these were good people that opened their home up to help them out, and he just could not, would not, agree with doing anything to them.
There was no way he could have missed the flash of irritation on Warren's face. "Listen here kid, we picked you up and let you come with us. You owe us!"
Owe them? What on earth would he owe them for? They didn't provide anything for him other than a ride and a share of the supplies. Which he felt was very fair since when they were running low on food, he was the one that went out and caught rabbits and some game, sometimes even fish to feed everyone. No one else bothered at all. If anything, they owed him. They would be much hungrier without him around.
Anger was starting to flow through him, hot, fast and almost out of control. He wasn't usually this quick to upset, this just struck a deep nerve. "I don't owe you anything. I was doing just fine by myself before I choose to go with you guys. I have traveled with you this far but this is not my mission."
Warren glared at him, "Where's your loyalty?"
If 10k was angry before, he was floored now. Loyalty? Most of them didn't know the meaning of the word. They wanted to have his when he didn't have theirs? That's not how it worked.
"There is only one of you that I have any feelings of loyalty towards. And it was him that I came along for when he asked if I needed a ride." He had to stop himself, he was starting to say things he wouldn't ever speak out loud if his emotions weren't running all over the place. Doc pulled him into a one arm hug, smiling at him like he had just given him the largest steak left in the world, "Aw hell kid!"
Cassandra then spoke up, saying something she had been saying over and over, so often that it was starting to become her end of the world motto. "You don't get a choice in who you survive with. You're with us."
"Who says I don't? The Z's may have taken everything else away from me but I still have power over my own actions. I still have free will."
Garnett stopped Warren from whatever she was about to spit out. "Alright calm down, this is getting out of hand. Why don't we go eat and then head to bed? We could all use some sleep. We'll talk about this some more tomorrow after we have had some time to think about things."
10k was angry, hurt and mostly just confused. He had no idea what would happen when they talked next, the only thing he knew was that even though they had just met Clarke and her group today, he knew, he just knew, that if he was forced to pick, he would stay here. And it wasn't even because he found Clarke pretty and amazing. It was even more than the fact that they had a safe place here, with food, water and just about every other comfort one would want. No, it was because this is what felt right to him.
It was the end of the world. Did he really want to spend it making his way across the US with people that said he owed them when he didn't? He didn't want to owe anyone anything.
Did he go to spend his last moments helping someone like Murphy? With a group of people, he (mostly) didn't even like most of the time?
No. No, he didn't.
When Clarke woke the next morning, she was pleased to see that it was earlier than she expected. She thought with how tired she had been the night before, that she would have slept in until breakfast. Grateful for the extra free time, she got dressed quickly, deciding to go to the spot she had found that was great for relaxing and drawing.
Mount Weather was a huge place, both above ground and below ground. Citizen Z told them they had over 400 acres above ground, and that below ground was over a half a million square feet. True, much of it that was shut off for now, as it still needed a walkthrough to make sure there was no dead walking about, but there was still plenty of room for so few of them. Yet, it was so hard to find a spot and time to be completely alone. Therefore, Clarke guarded her secret spot and made sure no one else ever followed her there. She wasn't the only one, she knew a few of the others did the same and made sure to respect their privacy like they did for her.
The only exception to this was the spot Jasper and Monty had claimed. Everyone knew where their spot was because the guys had gotten them all together once and let everyone know what their plans were. She had no idea how they even got the stuff to plant, she asked once and they both gave her identical smirks that had her not even wanting to know anymore. They went from growing and selling herbs up on the Ark to setting up their own mini marijuana garden down here. It was funny how when some things changed so drastically, some things still stayed the same.
So since, as far as she knew, no one knew about her spot, she was baffled to find someone there when she walked in.
10k woke up with his knife in his hand, shaking and sweating, unsure of where he for a few heartbeats until his mind fully woke up, he was safe at Mount Weather. He had been dreaming of his Pa's death again, a memory that he desperately wished was something that just haunted his dreams.
He grabbed some of the new, clean, clothes from the rather large amount he had been given, along with the small basket of showering supplies, planning on showering since there was no way he would be going back to sleep now.
Being able to take a hot shower (or cold if he felt like it) was going to take some time to get used to. He couldn't remember the last time he had a shower. Or even when he last properly washed his face. Not to mention toilet paper and an actual running toilet. As he closed the bathroom door behind him and went about his morning business, he silently thanked Murphy in his head for being sick enough that they were able to come here for this.
After getting fully dressed and strapping on half of his weapons, many in hidden or out of the way places, he grabbed the fresh pack of smokes he was given the day before and left to go find a place where he could smoke in peace. He had noticed that despite being underground, there were a few places that opened up into the side of the mountain. There was a small garden, full of green plants that he didn't recognize, and an area with large solar panels. Either of those might have been good enough for what he wanted, but he went to neither. Instead, he went down the hall from the clinic to a door he noticed Clarke go into. There was no sign on the door, in fact, he wouldn't have even known it was there if he didn't see her enter it. That part of the hallway was darker and it was hard to see the door. 10k figured it would at least be quiet enough for him to have a smoke, or two, in peace before he either had to deal with another talk with Warren or he went back to the farm to help finish the trading, whichever came first.
As he opened the door, he paused for a brief moment to admire the silence and the beauty of this little place. The rest of the world was dead or dying but walking into this place made it all fade into the background. There was a wooden bench running along the wall that went almost fully around the whole room, with padded seats that looked wide enough to lay down and still be comfy, and art supplies scattered all around on the floor, bench and on a few of the tables.
It was quiet and empty which is what he was looking for, as he put his bag down and light up a cigarette he forgot briefly that this was someone else's spot. In no time at all he found himself completely relaxed, his guard was down and his mind was blank, he could almost literally feel the stress of the last few years leaving his body. A half hour later he lit up another up and walked around, looking at the walls. He thought the most amazing part of the room was the drawings pinned up on the walls. There were dozens of them, of the people here, of the outside world, a few of some Z's, some of space, but the most impressive ones were the two portraits in the middle of one of the walls. He walked closer to look at the better, in awe of how real they looked.
He was so lost in his relaxation and staring at the unknown man and woman from the drawings that his reaction time was embarrassingly slow, he didn't hear the door open, didn't even know someone else was in the room with him until they spoke. He pushed down the flicker of fear that rose at being caught unaware of his surroundings and turned around to see who was behind him, happy it was her.
"You know, we've been here for months now and until now, no one has ever been in my spot before."
He was teasing her back before he even realized what he was doing. "I didn't know it was yours, I don't see your name anywhere." Where did that even come from? His mind wanted to shut down, he felt like his almost had no control over the words that were coming out of his mouth.
Her eyes widened as if she didn't expect him to be playful. Something he agreed with, man she really had him all twisted up inside, doing and saying things out of the ordinary. One moment she had him tongue-tied, the next he was blurting out things he would never normally say. It was confusing. Maybe he would talk with Doc later about it. Maybe.
"Does it count if my stuff is all over the place?"
Clarke wasn't sure what she was feeling about having him in her place. She was itching to grab a pencil and draw him, he was attractive before but now, all showered and clean? He oozed innocent sex appeal and silent predator. It drew her to him, more than she was already feeling. Hearing the news that he didn't have a girlfriend pleased her more than it should have. Clarke knew that she shouldn't be having thoughts like that when there was so much else going on, but she couldn't help it. It felt like her world just seemed brighter, easier and her burdens less and lighter around him. He was intoxicating and he didn't even know it.
"All of this is yours? Then did you draw all of these?"
Clarke could hear the almost disbelief in his voice, and couldn't blame him. The two he couldn't take his eyes off of were her best work and even she thought they looked very life like.
"Yes, all of them. Those are my parents."
At her words he turned to look at her, what he was looking for, she had no idea. She hoped he didn't ask about them. Moments passed but he granted her unspoken wish and didn't ask anything. Just instead went to sit down and finish smoking.
"Do you mind if I smoke in here? I am sorry I didn't ask."
It amused her that he asked even as he leaned back, stretching his long legs out in front of him and continued to smoke. "No, it's fine. Just bring in something for the ashes and butts please." Walking to the other side of the room to where she last left her art pad, she was fully aware of what she had hinted at to him. She didn't mind him coming into her space, not even when she was drawing.
10k was insanely happy with her offer to come back, he knew he would be a frequent visitor. When he was done smoking he closed his eyes, letting his head rest against the wall and just relaxed even further, letting the sounds of her pencil and paper flipping lull him into an almost sleepy state. He knew he needed to figure out what he was feeling around her, but he did know one thing for sure. He felt whole around her, at peace and like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. If nothing else, he would enjoy being around her for that.
An hour later he heard her getting up and figured it was about time to leave and get the day started. Maybe the group ready to go to the farm was ready and he could prolong the talk Warren no doubt wanted to have.
Clarke finished up as well, and they both left the room together, walking in silence to breakfast.
Breakfast had already drawn a crowd, and after smelling the delicious aroma in the air, it was easy to see why. Doc met him in the middle of the room, grinning at him. "Morning kid, smell that? Apple pancakes for breakfast! Hot, fresh, homemade apple pancakes, can you believe it?!"
Doc was right, there were plates piled high with fresh, piping hot pancakes along with bowls of the fresh apples, dried fruit, oatmeal, honey and hot coffee. It looked like a feast to 10k, still not used to seeing so much food. They wasted no time in getting in line with the others for some food but didn't get a chance to sit and enjoy it for as long as they wanted because Warren came in the room and quickly made her way to them, a grimace on her face.
10k knew she was about to call together another one of her meetings but luck was on his side as Miller was closer and made it to 10k first. "Hey man, did you still want to come with us? We're leaving right after we eat if you do."
10k nodded, thankful for the excuse to get out of a talk with Warren, even knowing that it would just prolong it.
"Awesome, thanks, man. See you in 10 at the main doors."
Warren was next to them by then and scowled when she head Miller, but didn't try and stop him from going, instead, she gave him a stern look and said they would talk when he returned.
Murphy and the rest came and sat with them as 10k hurried to finish, not wanting to spend time with them as he was still upset about their talk last night. Rest and his relaxing time with Clarke didn't do much to lessen is anger, he just knew that when they finished their discussion, someone was going to be very pissed. And it wasn't going to be him, he was going to be heard and decide his own fate.