Grounders.
They don't look as horrifying as the reapers but they were still freakishly different from The 100. Every grounder wore a tattoo proudly marking them as part of the clan, as a grounder. Every time The Grounders won a hockey match another fragment would be added to the original tattoo boasting their successes. Not acknowledging their losses.
The Grounders tactics were brutal, strategic and deadly. In their minds they were fair and logical but Monty couldn't see any fairness on the horizon. For example if one of them screwed up during a game afterwards they would be punished...severely. Monty had heard the screams, the pleading and then the silence. Monty couldn't understand their way of thinking or the laws of their team. One slip-up and they're tortured?! Monty thought they were too severe, too grounded in their ways. It was hard to accept them as people at times but as opponents or enemies on the battlefield it was easy.
But that didn't explain why they were here? Monty was terrified, met by predatory eyes and devilish smirks, this was bad. Monty had never met any of The Grounders away from hockey. Maybe nothing was going to happen; maybe it was just a coincidence that they were here. There were only two of them - their vice captains Anya and the bald one. Monty had forgotten his name and bald seemed appropriate. Monty knew Anya's skill and of Baldy's ruthlessness. If anything happened Monty would be completely vulnerable; he only knew how to run away and even then he wouldn't be able to get far thanks to his health.
"Back again Monty?" One of them, the male, drawled out. That rules out the possibility of them being here by coincidence. "So helpless, so weak, so desperate. It's so sad."
Monty was backing away slowly but walked straight into something hard and solid and warm. He turned his face just enough to see the familiar face of Lincoln one of their star players. Shit. Lincoln said nothing, didn't even look at Monty just held him firmly in place. Lincoln wasn't like the other grounders per say. He had an intense affection for one of The 100 - Octavia - and that had changed him yet he denied himself any contact any possibility of becoming something better than an enemy. But he allowed himself the occasional glance during half time.
"Did you really think we'd let you turn tail and run?" He laughed like a charred piece of charcoal was stuck in his throat, it was vile. Anya simple looked pissed, her eyes brimming with hatred. What had Monty ever done? He'd never even spoken to a Grounder before.
"Tristan stop intimidating him. We only need to do what we came here for."
"W-what do you want from me?" Monty squeaked out despite the desperate attempt to keep his voice level.
"Quit." Anya stated simply, her expression revealing nothing. Quit? Quit what? Monty didn't understand he didn't have a social life outside of The 100. They were the only thing...no. No. They couldn't possibly be suggesting that he... "You're their manager right? The only reason they're worth anything as a team so we want you to quit? If you leave them, then they'll be left to their own tactics and let's face it Bellamy's temper will get the better of him, Clarke is bound to make a brash decision. And the rest of them are only worthless underlings. Quit Monty." It was a demand that came out as a snarl.
"NO!" The words tore out of him. How could they ask that? It was astounding and infuriating. If they really believed that he would leave behind the only good thing he had then they were incredibly naive and stupid. He would never abandon one of his own.
"I don't suppose we could persuade you." Anya looked deadly like a predator stalking its prey. Monty was definitely the prey. She was inches from his face now and Monty knew what would happen if he didn't oblige. But he wasn't that weak.
"No." He said simply, he felt deflated and defeated that he couldn't come up with a better speech or phrase. Anything that sounded strong, with some fighting spirit.
"Make the boy quit or leave him in terror." She turned to Tristan who face stretched into a rotten smile. "You know what to do." Anya was walking away and she was replaced by Tristan. Before Monty could try to break free, scream or fight back a crack resounded through the silence. He thought that was his nose or maybe a rib. He wasn't sure where the pain was coming from anymore. He just knew it kept getting worse, spiking in different places. He could hear satanic laughter ringing in his ears and his vision blurred until he was dropped. Lincoln had let go of his firm grasp on his arms but Monty couldn't stay stood. His legs had become jelly, lost any power in them at all. He spluttered and coughed roughly blood spraying the ground in front of him. Then there was nothing but darkness.
"Monty?! Monty?! Oh God no. What did they do to you? Monty wake up, please Monty." Monty felt something wet dribble down his cheek and he felt something warm around him, a familiar voice reaching his ears, his only clarity. "Please don't die."
"I'm not going to die, idiot." Monty heaved out, his voice raspy and damaged.
"Monty!" He was squished in the arms of the one he loved. He was ridiculously happy but fuck it hurt.
"Jasper little tight." Monty managed before bursting into a short coughing fit. Jasper rubbed his hands up and down his back; it helped in ways Monty couldn't explain. "Help me up?"
"Back to your place right?" Monty managed a nod in response. "Climb on." Huh? Monty opened his eyes to see Jasper crouched in front of him his back displayed it was so enticing and welcoming. "Hey Monty unless you want me to carry you princess style..."
Monty suddenly felt very hot and flushed. Why Jasper? He carefully tangled his arms and Jasper's neck and secured his legs around his waist. Jasper stood holding his legs closely to him securing him in place and started walking towards Monty's home. Monty spoke into Jasper's back the feeling was amazing and warm "Thank you. You're my hero."
The walk back to Monty's flat didn't take long since it wasn't far from the hockey court. Soon Jasper had gently placed him on the sofa and gone to find medical supplies to clean Monty's bleeding face. Monty swore it was Jasper whom was always coming to his rescue. He truly was his hero. But there was a constant dull ache in his heart that hung around like a thick fog. Monty desperately wanted to tell Jasper how he felt, it was just so difficult and Monty's fear of rejection was ever looming. What if it was worse than rejection and Jasper refused to have anything to do with him? No, Jasper probably wouldn't do that but their friendship would undoubtedly become strained and awkward. They'd drift apart. Monty hated that idea.
Jasper promptly returned but he didn't look like his usual self. He looked angry and worried and depressed but perhaps Monty was just seeing things. His vision still blurred if he moved his head too quickly. Jasper knelt in front of Monty; it was strange to be looking down at him since Jasper was usually taller than him, even if it wasn't by much Monty still had to tilt his head up a little. Jasper dabbed the medical cloth into the luke warm water he had prepared and carefully began to wipe at the dried blood on Monty's face. Monty winced. He bet his face looked awful.
"Sorry." Jasper spoke softly. He looked even more unfairly handsome at this angle. Monty had the urge to lean down and kiss him, it wouldn't take much - he was so close. "Monty what happened tonight?" Jasper was cupping his face now as he continued to tenderly wipe away the blood and clean his open cuts. "When I saw you there…" He trailed off looking away; Monty wasn't sure what to do. He wanted to reassure Jasper, tell him there was nothing to worry about but he couldn't convince himself of that. What good would it do to lie?
"Grounders." Monty mumbled weakly. "They want me to quit. To stop being manager for The 100." Jaspers looked shell shocked. "But I didn't! I refused! I swear I couldn't abandon everyone, you."
"So you took a beating for us all?"
"Yeah pretty much. I know everybody would do the same for me. I'm glad you found me. Thank you Jasper." Monty attempted a smile but it hurt his lip which had been split pretty badly. Then he thought about it "Jasper how did you find me? You don't live near this side of town." Jasper blushed. He frigging blushed. Monty was positive it was the most adorable thing he had ever seen.
"I came to err watch you." Jasper admitted sheepishly.
"Watch me?" Now it was Monty's turn to be shocked.
"Yeah, I err kind of know about you secretly training." Oh God, Monty felt mortified. How? How did he know? "I came to see you one day but you weren't in so I decided to go for a walk when I saw you there running laps. Didn't take me long to figure out why either."
"You know." It was more of a statement than a question.
"Monty you-" Jasper began but Monty was quick to interrupt. He didn't want to hear things like you don't need to do this or you already do enough for the team.
"I need the toilet, excuse me." Monty began to get up but was quickly pushed down, gently, by Jasper.
"Why're you running?" Monty didn't reply he didn't feel like explaining himself. "You don't know what I was going to say. I'm well aware that you feel that you're not good enough for the team and I know every time I try and convince you otherwise but I'm not going to anymore." Monty's head shot up. What did he mean? "When I saw you trying so hard despite your health, despite being told again and again that you don't need to go so far for us I realised how important this is to you. So I'm going to support you instead and help you if I can."
Jasper smiled awkwardly glancing up to meet Monty's stunned expression and sparkling eyes. Monty didn't think he just took action. He kissed Jasper.