A/N: Hey guess what guys?! My birthday is the 2nd of May! So I am posting this dead on midnight so it's now my birthday haha! Anyway, this chapter had stressed me out to write more than I thought it would because I really wanted to get it right. Please enjoy the chapter and let me know what you think about it, I can't wait to hear from you all! xxx

The two boys dashed through the streets excitedly, laughing as they raced past market stalls. Aden showed off for Cal, launching off of boxes to flip his body through the air, prompting awed gasps from the younger boy.

Eventually, Cal slowed, clutching at his sides as he gasped for breath, Aden easily slowing his pace to stop beside him.

"What's wrong Cal?" He asked kindly.

"My side hurts." Cal whined pitifully.

Aden grinned, and held his arm over his head, showing him out to lean to the side to ease the stitch, "Don't worry Cal, it happens a lot when people aren't used to running for a long time. Just watch, I'll make a runner of you in no time."

"Ontari says I'm going to be a warrior." Cal said proudly, grinning wildly at Aden.

Aden smiled back and held his hand up for a high five, "Me too."

Cal slapped his hand as hard as he could, Aden humoured him and pretended it had hurt before laughing and grabbing Cal under one arm before swinging him onto his back so they could start heading home.

"Why are you wasting your time with the sky brat Aden." One of the teenagers living in the city said to Aden as he walked past with Cal on his shoulders.

Cal looked at him in confusion, not understanding him because he was speaking in Trigedasleng.

"Leave it Mikal." Aden said warningly, rubbing at Cal's knee to reassure him that everything was fine before trying to walk past the small group of lads.

The other lad grabbed Aden's arm as he went to move past him, "Is this what the Commander is using night bloods for? Watching stupid children, too dumb to even speak our language."

Aden growled warningly and gave a pointed look to the hand lying on his upper arm until Mikal released his grip. "Watch yourself, the Commander would not approve of how you are speaking to me."

"I'm not saying anything to you Aden, I just think that such a waste of space isn't worth the time required to keep them alive." Mikal called after him as he walked back towards the tower, ignoring the mean comments and pretending that nothing was wrong for Cal.

Aden's footsteps paused and he let Cal slip from his back, kneeling in front of him to tell him to stay put.

"Awww, have I hurt his feeli-"

Aden's fist connected with Mikal's jaw as he launched himself at the older boy, before dancing back to stand in front of Aden pathetically.

"All you are, and all you will ever be is a fisherman Mikal. One day Cal will be a warrior of both the Ice Nation and Sky People, ranking him far above you and your pathetic gaggle of friends." His voice was dark as he loomed over them, despite being shorter than anyone, his anger making him appear as the Commander he would one day be.

"Ice Nation?" One of Mikal's friends whispered in surprise.

Aden smiled sweetly, "He is the adopted child of Ontari of the Ice Nation, and she would do anything to protect him. I would think of that next time you make comments that could be interpreted as threats to his life."

Mikal looked scared as he held a hand to his jaw, "I didn't mean-"

"I don't care, watch yourself Mikal."

Turning his back on them, Aden took Cal's hand and stalked away, with Cal looking up at him as though Aden was his hero.

Once they were out of sight, Aden visibly sagged against a wall, "Lexa's going to kill me." He groaned, "I hit him, and technically we weren't even meant to be this far into the city."

Cal patted his arm, "They were being mean about me weren't they?" He asked, his high little voice soft as he stared at Aden questioningly.

Reluctantly Aden nodded, knowing that there was no way Cal would believe him if he lied.

"And you protected me even though you knew you'd get in trouble?" Cal asked, sounding surprised that Aden had been willing to do that.

Aden sank to his knees in front of Cal, taking both of his hands, "Cal you are the brother I never had. No matter what, I will always protect you."

Cal giggled happily and threw his arms round Aden's neck, "Love you!"

Faltering slightly at Cal's words, Aden wrapped his arms round his waist, picking him up and carrying him in his arms as he began walking, "I love you too, little brother."

"You did what?!" Lexa voice was dangerous as she looked at Aden, "I trust you above any other of the young night bloods, and in return you start fights with children who have no hope of matching you in combat."

Cal ran in front of Aden and shouted back at Lexa, which caused all of them to stop in shock.

Ontari and Raven's jaws dropped as Lincoln and Octavia struggled to hold back a snicker from behind Lexa where she couldn't see them to yell at them as well.

"You don't understand, you weren't there!"

Clarke stepped in to fill the gap caused by Lexa's shock at being shouted at, probably for the first time since she had become the Commander, "What are you talking about Cal?" She asked gently, as Lexa shook her head slightly.

"They were saying mean things about me, Aden made them stop." He said, standing in front of Aden protectively like Aden had done for him.

"Is this true?" Lexa asked quietly, her voice softening as she saw Aden nod his head, "Why didn't you tell us this straight away?"

Aden straightened his back and looked at Lexa directly, "It doesn't matter why I hit him, I shouldn't have done it and I accept full responsibility for my actions without excuses."

Lexa walked towards him slowly, placing a hand on his shoulder, "Let me guess, it was Mikal and his friends that you got into the altercation with?"

The corners of her lips turned up into a smile when he dipped his head again, "You stood up for Cal against that group of bullies, you should have just told me because I'm not angry with you Aden. I am proud."

Aden grinned at her happily, not only was Lexa not angry with him but she had told him that he had made her proud, it was something all the night bloods loved hearing from her but she made them earn it every single time.

Ontari walked towards them and picked Cal up, holding him on her hip as she touched his other shoulder, "Thank you for looking after him Aden."

Raven nodded as well and reiterated what Ontari had said as the two of them slipped out, followed by Octavia and Lincoln, to leave just Lexa, Clarke and Aden alone.

Clarke laughed as she looped her arm round Lexa's waist, "So just to check, we're happy that Aden hit the other kid."

"Not happy." Lexa corrected, "But certainly not sorry. Mikal delights in making life difficult for younger children and even some adults, I have no doubt that he fully deserved being punched by Aden. I'm especially proud that Aden came back without a scratch as well." She smirked, shooting a wink at Aden as Clarke chuckled.

"Please don't be angry at Cal." Aden said quietly, "He doesn't realize how bad it is to shout at you, I'm really sorry."

Lexa shook her head, "He stood up for you like you stood up for him, I will have Ontari and Raven explain to him the significance of confronting me head on like that, but I am not angry because of it."

Clarke smiled at them both before hugging Aden and then gently shoving him towards the door to indicate that he should head to bed.

"So." Clarke grinned when they were alone, "How did it feel to get yelled at by a five year old?"

Lexa rolled her eyes, "Skaikru." She said, saying the word like an insult, walking out of the throne room to head to the bed room with Clarke trailing after her, still laughing about the entire thing.