I let out a tired yawn as I stretched my arms above my head ignoring the dull ache in my muscles. The blankets shifted as I sat up and looked to the empty spot next to me. So it must have been a dream - Jaxon was never here. Letting out a disappointed sigh I pushed myself out of my pile of furs…. It had just felt so real with him laying beside me, his arm wrapped around me protectively. I had felt so safe.
Safe was a fleeting term on Earth though.
I pulled out clothes for the day - a thin strapped black tank top and dark brown pants, the typical wood clan color palette. I quickly shimmied into the clean pair of pants and I started to strip off my sleeping shirt when a rustling at my door caught my attention. I grabbed the knife I had kept from the landing ship and turned to face the intruder, forgetting completely about my state of undress. Fight first, be modest later I chided myself.
Jaxon walked in and paused, his eyes meeting mine before traveling down my body. Smirking he raised one of his eyebrows in a silent question.
"Shit Jaxon you scared me," I scolded, trying to hide my embarrassment. I grabbed the shirt I dropped and quickly pulled it on, turning away from him until my face returned to a normal non-beet red color.
"Not my intention," he replied, still with a smug grin on his face. "I brought you food. I thought I would get back before you woke up."
Well at least it hadn't been a dream, he had actually been here. Smiling I turned my attention to the the plate in his hands eyeing it greedily. It had some of the orange fruits that I loved, some of Bott's bread, and some bacon. I could feel my mouth watering.
"Sit and eat, these are your favorite," he told me, motioning to the small table I had shoved in the corner of my home.
"How do you know?" I questioned playfully, sitting at the table like he had instructed. He placed the food down in front of me and I automatically began peeling the fruit, not caring that the juice ran down my hands messily.
"Observation," he answered easily. I rolled my eyes. That did sound like him.
"Have you already eaten?" I asked him, deciding not to tease him on being creepy. That had earned me a half an hour lecture about his concern over my safety last time, and that was before everything with Delano had started.
"Yes," he said, moving towards my makeshift dresser and pulling a few small jars from his pocket. As I finished my fruit I moved on to the bacon - it was one of my favorite foods that I had tried so far on Earth. I continued to watch him silently as I finished my breakfast.
I watched in fascination as he dipped his fingers into the black jar and smeared it across his face in a straight line across his eyes. It was his war paint. I had seen him wear it before on hunts, but never for just around the village. He moved the black paint aside and opened the small jar of red. Dipping his fingers one by one into the jar he streaked it across his face diagonally, as if he had been clawed. As if Jaxon wasn't intimidating enough before, with his eyes standing out against the black and the red playing off the color of his tattoos, he looked absolutely terrifying.
"Hunting today?" I asked, not sure what the special occasion was. He just shook his head and motioned for me to come over to him. I wiped my hands on a nearby rag and walked over to him.
"The tribune will decide Delano's fate today," he told me, looking at hesitantly as if unsure on how I would react. "It is a formality, it is clear what we will decide."
He angled my chin up so I was looking at him and brought his fingers to my cheek. I let him paint my face while I thought over what he had just told me. I had no doubt that Jaxon and the others on the tribune would want to kill Delano, but a part of me hesitated at the thought. I was prepared to fight to the death last night to keep him from hurting Keller, but now that he was detained I wasn't so sure if that was the outcome I still wanted. I wanted him to hurt, no doubt about it. But whether or not I was ready to condemn a man to death was something else entirely. Jaxon must have sensed my internal struggle, because he paused for a moment before pulling me in front of him so we could both look into my makeshift mirror.
He had painted a thick black line across my eyes that faded into my hair, but what caught my attention was the red line he had painted over my scar across my eye. With my hair braided on one side leaving the other side loose, I looked like I belonged in the clan. You wouldn't ever be able to pick me out of a lineup of the others. The thought almost made me smile - Jaxon's hard stare reflecting back at me stopped me from doing that though.
"You will need to be strong today Cole," he told me softly, not breaking eye contact. "What he has done is punishable by a thousand cuts, and his death should be decided and carried out by your hands."
I sighed and looked away from the mirror. I wasn't feeling as strong as I looked.
"Do you want him to go free?" he asked accusingly. I shook my head and turned to face him.
"No of course not," I answered. "I want him to hurt for what he did to me, for what he almost did to Keller, and for what he threatened to do to everyone else. But I'm a healer Jaxon, I save people's lives not take them."
"If you let him walk away from this others will see it as a sign of weakness, and Delano will not be the last person who attacks trying to take what they want from you," he countered, his voice losing all gentleness. "He deserves death."
I looked down, conflicted over what I was feeling. I knew strength was everything in the clan, and appearing weak would be as good as a death sentence for myself but I couldn't come to grip with having a person's blood on my hands. Fighting in battle was different than killing a man roped to a tree…
"There is no decision here Cole, you must do this," Jaxon told me now glaring.
"Did I ever tell you what I was arrested for back in space? What they were going to float me for?" I asked Jaxon suddenly. His glare turned into a confused look before he turned away from me, sighing and running one of his hands through his faux mohawk that had been tied back today.
"No," he responded, irritated that I had changed the subject. I had explained to him and Nyko about the justice system back on the Arc and how we were selected to come to Earth because of our crimes, but I hadn't ever told them what I had done in the first place. I never had a reason to until now.
"There was a boy on the Arc, his name was John," I started, my voice lowering as I recalled the memory. "He was only ten at the time, but he was one of the most frequent visitors to the medical clinic. For a year he came in and out, always only letting me treat him. Broken bones, burns from shock whips, bruises and cuts, the poor kid had been through it all. And while he never admitted it, I knew it was his mother who was hurting him every day. His father had been floated a few years before that for stealing medicine for him when he got really sick, I had tried to help then too, but I didn't have any real authority. After that though, his mother started drinking and abusing him, it started off as just small things. A bruise here and there, but after months of getting away with it, it only got worse."
I paused, taking a deep breath and trying to push the images of the injured boy out of my head. Jaxon was waiting patiently for me to continue, his attention not wavering since I had started my story.
"One night I went over to their dorm to drop off some extra burn cream for John but when I got there guards surrounding the place. I thought the worst, that maybe his mother had finally gone too far and done more than just scar him so I ran in to find him. He was curled up in a corner crying just staring at the body of his mother. When she had started to hit him he had pushed her back. When she fell she hit her head, it had only knocked her out but because she had been drinking vomit pooled in her throat and essentially drowned her. They arrested him for her death, but I made myself a promise that I would always try to look out for him, I felt guilty for not doing more. I kept in contact with him, visited him when I could but a few years later he got really sick again - the same virus that he had before his dad died. Knowing the consequences I stole medicine for him, because he would have died without it and I wasn't going to let that happen. the council found out I had been smuggling him medicine for years and arrested me. In my trial they told me that I deserved to die."
"You saved that boy," Jaxon interrupted. "Delano was not trying to save you."
"That's not the point," I replied shaking my head. "I guess what I'm trying to get across is that I knew by stealing that medicine that they would float me. But I had made a promise to myself to look after him, and the others on the Arc - that's why I wanted to become a doctor in the first place. I was willing to give my life to save his, and I've never regretted that choice. John made me see past myself and realize that every life is valuable, no one is inherently better or worse than anyone else. And now you're asking me to take someone elses life. And as justifiable as it may seem, who am I to say that my life is any more valuable than his?"
"He tried to kill you, to rape you and you want no justice?" he asked angrily.
"No, I want justice. But I don't want his life," I replied, angering Jaxon even more.
"So murderers should walk free?!" he countered.
"No," I answered quickly. "By taking someone's life you put a price on your own. But Delano didn't kill anyone. He deserves to be punished, but his punishment should fit his crime."
"He should die for hurting you," he growled.
"No. I get to decide his punishment don't I? Because I am the one he attacked?" I asked him.
"Yes," he responded after a moment, not liking how I was deciding to handle everything. He moved closer to me, placing his hands on the sides of my neck and rubbing his thumbs gently across my cheeks.
"You must be wise in how you handle this. If you appear to weak than not even I will be able to protect you from the backlash," he said gently, losing the anger in his voice. "You will make your own decision, I just hope the one you make is the right one."
He leaned down slightly and kissed my forehead gently before turning and leaving, not giving me a chance to say anything else. I groaned as I sunk to the floor, leaning my head against the concrete wall I shut my eyes and tried to calm my racing heart. What the hell was I going to do?
"Delano has been found guilty of the crimes against him, our laws dictate death. But because you are the one who he has wronged, his fate is left to you," Indra said, addressing me from her seat amongst the tribune. The entire village was gathered in the center surrounding the tribune table, myself and Delano who had been tied to a tree. I kept my face even as Indra led the summoning, both Jaxon and Nyko - plus two others - were also seated with her but had yet to speak.
Delano was groaning quietly from next to me, I spared a glance in his direction as Indra continued her speech. Despite me having the final say in his punishment, it was clear that others in the village had made it clear of their opinions on the matter. He was looking worse for wear than I had left him in the woods. Stripped to just a basic t-shirt and pants, he had countless lacerations on his arms and dark bruises covering his body. Nyko had told me that Keller had already implemented her revenge and had him surgically cut key tendons in Delano's groin so he would never have the chance to force himself on another woman again. He was being spared no torture thus far.
"Cole, have you made a decision for his punishment?" Tristian asked me from the tribune - he was the other member from Jaxon's clan. I nodded in response.
"Yes I have," I voiced, though more for myself than anyone else. I steeled myself for what I was about to do. I had struggled with the decision for hours before Artigas had come to fetch me for the trial. But I was now resolved in my decision. I glanced up at Jaxon who just continued to observe quietly - I prayed he wouldn't be to upset with my choice.
"By your own clan rules your punishment should be death," I told Delano as I turned to face him, moving closer with each word. I pulled my knife from its holster on my belt and dragged it slowly down his shirt, pressing in enough so he could feel it but not enough to draw blood. If I hoped to get away with this, I needed to make it a show. I have to convince others that I made a wise decision, and that I wasn't weak I reminded myself.
"But I think death would be too kind," I continued, ignoring the hushed whispers from the others around me. "You have paid with your mahood for your attack on Keller."
I emphasized my point but dragging my knife lower below his belt, his sharp intake of breath and mumbled curses at the pain confirming my statement.
"And you will pay for your attack on me, blood must have blood," I told him as his eyes locked with mine. I slipped my knife back into its holster and reached down to open the leather pouch that strapped around my waist and thigh that Nyko had made for me so I could carry medicine and tools around with me at all times.
"I want you to live everyday in pain, and I want every dull throb and every ache to remind you of what you've done," I growled at him, letting my anger build for my upcoming task. "I want you to feel as weak and helpless as you made me feel."
I pulled out a small, sharp scalpel from my pouch surprising everyone. Delano's eyes darted to my tool and then back to mine, he was unsure of what I was going to do - but I was about to make it perfectly clear for him.
Taking one last deep breath and channeling all the anger and pain he had ever caused me I lunged at him without warning. Using my elbow I knocked his head hard against the tree momentarily stunning him, and giving me the opening I needed. I wasted no time running my scalpel across his face, scarring him like he had scarred me - content that it was deep enough to leave a lasting mark I continued on to his real punishment. I plunged my knife into his eye, trying not to think too deeply on what I was actually doing, and quickly sliced through his retina and optic nerve.
Delano's screams echoed in the forest and I stepped back once I was done to avoid the gushing blood. I had taken his sight and his eye, leaving only a bloody mess in its absence. This was his punishment, a life of struggle in exile. With his dominant eye gone, the once accomplished hunter would struggle for the rest of his life.
I turned back to the tribune holding my head high, not letting my expression reflect the disgust I truly felt.
"Blood has answered for blood," I called out so everyone in the village center could hear me clearly. "An eye for an eye, I trust the tribune will be satisfied with this and send him into exile."
The tribune talked amongst themselves for only a brief moment before silencing the clan. A small nod from Jaxon helped to slightly ease my tension.
"Blood has answered for blood," Indra agreed. "Delano you are banished from this clan for your actions. You will be killed on sight if we ever find you near here and anyone found helping you will share your fate."
With that the trial was over, two warriors cut Delano down and took him away. I didn't care to ask where, as far as I was concerned it was over with. Sighing I moved my way over to a small bucket of dirty water that was used for cleaning and dunked my hands in it. I was meticulous in making sure every bit of Delano's blood was off my hands and my scalpel before returning it to its pouch. No one who passed said anything to me, but nodded once in acknowledgement. Better than nothing I guess.
Turning around I saw Jaxon standing behind me waiting. I wiped my hands on my pants before looking up at him, neither of us saying anything for a few moments.
"You did good," he finally admitted quietly.
"I did what I had to do," I replied back, sending him a half hazard smile that didn't quite reach my eyes.
"Yes, you did," he agreed. "Come with me."
He motioned for me to follow but I stayed rooted in my spot. He was going in the opposite direction of my house, which is the only place I wanted to be right now. Cuddled under my mountain of furs and avoiding the world. I told Jaxon as much but he just shook his head and grabbed my hand gently.
"Come on," he urged. "Trust me."
I let him tug me behind him as we made our way through the village. I ignored the questioning glances from the others and kept my eyes trained on Jaxon's back. I didn't stop and ask him where we were going, I doubted he would tell me anyways. We kept walking until we were almost a mile away from the village until Jaxon had reached his intended destination.
Realizing that we had finally stopped I looked around to see where he had brought me. We were standing at the top of a waterfall that overlooked a small lake. With the sun starting to set the orange hues reflected off the water and illuminated the surrounding area in a blanket of glowing light - it was gorgeous.
I turned back to Jaxon to find him sitting on a rock unlacing his boots.
"What are you doing?" I asked, speaking for the first time since we had left the village. He just smirked at me but didn't reply. Once his boots were off, he laid down his sword and the multiple knives he carried in a pile next to them. Standing up he motioned for me to take his spot on the rock. Sitting down hesitantly I continued to stare at him questioningly.
"Jaxon?" I called out as he knelt down in front of me and started unlacing my own boots. Once they were off he pulled me up so I was standing inches in front of his kneeling form which caused me to blush slightly. He gently unlatched the buckle around my thigh, running his hand up my leg as he did so, before unclipping it from around my waist as well. Pulling my leather knife off my hip too he stood up and pushed my jacket off my shoulders as well.
"Uhm Jaxon, what are you doing?" I sputtered out, now flushed at his actions. I wasn't used to his hands being so, well, all over me…. not that I wanted to complain.
Satisfied that I was ready for whatever task he had come up with he started to pull me into the shallow steam. I stopped at the waters edge and shook my head at him.
"Are you crazy?" I asked him refusing to go any further. The water wasn't all that deep at the top of the waterfall but that was besides the point - I couldn't go wading fully clothed!
Jaxon just rolled his eyes and walked back over to me.
"You need to trust me," he told me as he looked down and smiled softly.
"I do," I replied. "But…"
I didn't get a chance to formulate my argument because in a swift motion he bent down and picked me up quickly, causing me to wrap my legs around his waist so I wouldn't fall backwards. Without another word he waded back into the river, obviously not as bothered by the biting cold water as I was. Once we reached the edge of the waterfall he stopped and let me stand on my own as we peered down into the lake below.
"Jump," he suggested nodding down to the lake. I immediately shook my head. Nope.
"Can you swim?" he asked.
"Not well," I admitted.
"I won't let you drown," he promised, locking his eyes with mine. He stood up out of the water and onto the rocks at the edge of the waterfall, offering his hand he helped pull me up next to him. "Forget about today and just jump - trust me."
Looking down at the water I gulped. It seemed offly high. But with Jaxon looking at me expectantly I gave in.
"Jump with me?" I asked hopefully with my hand extended out towards him. He nodded and laced his fingers in mine. Taking one last look at Jaxon I pushed off the rocks.
For a moment once I hit the water I had lost Jaxon's hand, which caused me to panic. But within a second he was next to me pulling me up to the surface. Taking a deep breath of air I started laughing, the adrenalin in my system pushing away the negative feelings from earlier.
"I guess that wasn't so bad," I admitted as Jaxon wrapped my arms around his neck so I could use him as a floatie. He moved us over so were in a shallower spot of the lake - which I could now tell was a hot spring. It was shallow enough for me to stand now, but I continued to rest against Jaxon, content being wrapped around him momentarily. As his hands settled on my back I took it as a sign that he didn't mind either.
"What is this place?" I asked him curiously as I leaned my head back to get my hair wet again.
"A hot water lake," he explained simply. "I come here after hunts sometimes to relax."
I could see why, the water was a nice change of pace from the typical freezing temperatures of the surrounding rivers - like the one that fed into the spring. It must act as a natural temperature regulator I mused before turning my attention back to Jaxon.
"Thank you for bringing me here," I thanked him quietly, my fingers playing with his hair absentmindedly. His eyes darkened slightly when I accidently tugged it a little harder than I had meant to and with a brief glance down his lips met mine.
I met his passion and slipped out a small moan when he ran his hand up my back to entangle his fingers in my hair. At the sound he only increased his attention, his mouth kissing down my jaw and settling on my neck. I gasped again when he found a sensitive spot just below my ear.
"Oh god Jaxon," I whimpered before pulling him back up so I could kiss him properly. I found feel him smirking against me so I bit and pulled at his lip playfully causing him to groan in response. I gasped when he pushed me up against a rock, I hadn't even realized we were moving. Taking advantage of my surprise he slipped his tongue into my mouth, we both moaned at the contact.
After a few minutes I pulled back for air realizing just how out breath I was. I studied him as I tried to even out my breathing realizing again just how ruggedly attractive he was. I furrowed my brow as I thought about how many women would probably actually kill to be in the spot I was with him. I wonder if relationships work the same way on Earth as they did in space?
"What's on your mind," he asked gently, apparently sensing my internal debate. He was good at that. I blushed slightly not sure how to bring up what I wanted to ask.
"What is this?" I asked shyly motioning to us and everything around. He looked confused for a second … maybe that was the wrong thing to ask?
"A lake?" he responded, causing me to laugh.
"No I mean, like, what are we? I'm not sure how relationships work down here, but in the Arc usually when two people like each other they start dating and become girlfriend and boyfriend and stuff like that. So are we dating, or boyfriend/girlfriend…." I told him, cutting my rambling short after seeing the amused look on his face.
"You could call it that if you wanted," he replied.
"What would you call it?" I countered, not sure how to interpret his answer. It was a real possibility that this would mean nothing to him, I was just some girl who fell from the sky. But I hoped it was something more than that.
He tightened his grip around my waist and moved one hand to cup my face gently, "I would call you mine. And I am yours. I don't care what words you use for it."
He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips, passionate in an entirely different way than our makeout session moments before. I couldn't help but smile against his lips.
We stayed in the hot spring and swam around for a while longer but got out before the sun started to disappear from the sky completely. Gathering our stuff from the top of the waterfall we walked back to the village side by side in a comfortable silence.
There was a roaring bonfire back at the village that I instantly moved closer to - my clothes still slightly damp and sticky. Jaxon moved over to sit next to Nyko, Artigas, Penn, and some other warriors I recognized - grabbing us both food on his way. I smiled and raised my hands out to the fire to warm them up quicker, I was eager to join my friends but wanted to at least be rid of this chill before I did so.
My smile widened as Lucas moved up next to me nudging me slightly in greeting.
"How are you holding up?" he asked delicately. His soft tone caused me to freeze for a second, I had almost forgotten about the trial from the afternoon, how strange.
"I'm alright," I answered honestly, my voice light as I shrugged as well.
"Are you sure?" he questioned, obviously thinking I was holding something back.
"Yeah Lucas, I promise. I'm alright," I assured him as I turned around so the fire would warm my back. I glanced over at the group I was waiting to join and saw Jaxon watching us carefully, well, watching Lucas carefully that is. I just rolled my eyes. Somethings are exactly the same on Earth as they were on the Arc.
"If you need anything I'm here," he offered. I did a once over on my jacket and pants, content that I was now mostly dry before responding.
"Thank you Lucas, I appreciate it. But really, I'm fine," I told him, leaving no room for argument in my tone. "I'm going to go eat with the others, would you like to join?"
He hesitated before refusing, "I'm actually already eating with some of the others from the stable. I was actually going to see if you wanted to join us."
I smiled but shook my head, looking over at my group of friends who were now all looking up and staring at us.
"Not tonight, but thanks," I replied. He gave me a quick hug before leaving to join his own group. Now thoroughly warm I made my way over to the others, pleased that Keller and Indra had joined them as well. Taking a seat next to Jaxon, I wordlessly accept the plate he offered and listened to a story that Penn was telling excitedly.
Warm, full and surrounded by friends - this was something I could get used to.
Well there ya go! Got a little extra back story on Delano, or at least an explanation on why he looks like he does in the 100 series! And a little history on Cole in the Arc with John (who may or may not be a part of the original 100). This one was bit harder to write without it getting too dark or too sweet, but it is what it is.
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