Chapter Text
She had been up all night to drive to DC in time. President Jaha’s new law on abortion and women’s rights was not to be tolerated and Planned Parenthood had organized a protest march on the White House. And she had already missed the Women’s March in January. There was also the problem that she was a doctor and she believed that people, especially women, should have a right to decide over their body and that it should be their decision and that a President, may he be black and may he be Democrat should not be able to decide about a woman’s womb. So she had drawn a sign that said „MIND YOUR OWN UTERUS“ and had even put a really cute little uterus under the saying that showed everyone the finger.
After a while on the road she had called Raven to make sure that she had a place to spend the night and her friend had once again confirmed that she would even accompany Clarke to the protest march. Raven was not the kind to protest, she was more the kind to actually do something like throwing a self-built bomb on the frontyard of the White House and threatening to blow it up if the president didn’t reverse the law. But she had promised Clarke that she would not build bombs or do anything that could put her in jail and so Clarke was positive that the march would not only be a success but also a lot of fun since she got to spend time with her friends. Jasper and Monty would bring their self made Moonshine and Harper, Monroe and Lexa had sent pictures of their signs in the group chat they had.
They were already marching and chanting for about two hours when Raven asked for a coffee break. It was actually quite impressing that she had been able to walk for such a long time. Raven had had an accident about three years ago. A drunk idiot had crashed in her car and the girl had been stabbed in her lower back by a piece of metal. The whole thing had put a lot pressure on her spine and spinal cord. The nerves to her left leg had been damaged and now she was paralyzed from her knee downwards. While her boyfriend had build her an impressive brace so she could walk without crutches she was in constant pain and marching for a good two hours increased that pain. Clarke agreed. She had already had her fair share of Jasper and Monty’s Moonshine and a coffee and maybe a croissant would help to clear her thoughts.
„Hey guys, what do y’all want?“. The waitress, a pretty girl about their age, smiled at them. She had long black hair and cheek bones and a jaw line that were sharp as a knife. Clarke ordered a Cafe Latte and a doughnut and sighed.
„Do you really think this whole marching thing will lead to something?“. She asked no one in particular. Raven snorted. „Y’know, if protesting didn’t lead to something women would still not be allowed to vote or to work as doctors or mechanics“. She winked at Clarke. That was true, Clarke supposed. But would this march in particular put a stop to the abortion law? Would President Jaha understand his mistake? Would the senate change their law?
After the coffee break they went back on the road. They were only a few blocks away from the White House and they already heard the speeches from there echo through the city. Apparently Emma Watson and also Alicia Keys were to speak during the afternoon and Clarke was really excited about this. Alicia Keys had become an icon after her refusal to wear make up to every performance and this had finally given Clarke confidence so she could go to work without some mascara. And Emma Watson… brilliant Hermione, beautiful Belle, UN ambassador. The woman probably sweated feminism out of every pore. Clarke remembered watching an interview where she had said „feminism is not a stick to beat other women with“ and never before had Clarke so wholeheartedly agreed with a celebrity. Feminism was about equality, not the oppression of black or latino or muslim women and much less about oppressing men. It was about getting paid the same wages for doing the same work and it was about being able to decide about one’s body without laws or restrictions. And that was what they were here for.
Clarke thought back to her early college years when Finn had gotten her pregnant after a really drunk night. If she had not gotten an abortion she wouldn’t be a doctor now and she wouldn’t be friends with Raven and she would probably the unhappiest woman on earth. She didn’t see herself as a mother.
„Stop“. She looked up. Policemen had lined up to block the road. „The park and road in front of the White House are full. You are to stop here“. Clarke blinked in surprise. The policeman in front of her looked her hard in the eye and shook his head as if he knew that Clarke had thought about punching him in his face and breaking through the line.
„Listen“, she said as quietly as possible, „I really need to get to the White House. I have to be there“. She had tried to keep her voice as calm and steady as possible. She really needed to be there. She needed her mother to see what her husband and her president had done and she needed her mother to see that Clarke was ready to fight for her right as a woman. President Jaha and Vice President Kane had no right to put up such a law and her mother had refused Clarke to talk to her stepfather about this so she had to be in front of the White House, preferable to be seen on TV, showing what side she son. She wanted the headlines to be about her tomorrow. Something like „Vice President’s step daughter ready to fight“.
„Sorry princess but I can’t let you through“. The policeman smirked at her. He smirked. Suited him but that was not what she should be thinking about right now. Yeah, the guy was pretty but she wanted to riot.
„I’m gonna fight my way through“. Now he was laughing.
„Do it. I really wanna see this“. She threw her fist forward, ready to hit his nose, his perfect nose or really anything in his stupidly pretty face but he caught her fist and twisted her arm so she could feel her shoulder nearly dislocating.
„So you support this law or why won’t you let me through?“ She hissed through the pain. He brought his mouth to her ear.
„Princess, all I’m doing here is my job. And this either ends with you going to jail and me being relegated for failing in doing my job or with you keeping your calm and staying here and protesting from here. It’s up to you“. He smiled at her with careful eyes and slowly let go of her arm. „See? Was easy right? And to answer your question…“ he leaned towards her and whispered „This law is really fucking bullshit and I would rather be in the crowd with you and protesting than standing here and keeping you from doing what you came for“. He stood straight again and Clarke tried to hide her smile.
„Everything alright here, Officer Blake?“. Another policeman came over and stared at Clarke.
„Everything perfect, Sir“. When the guy left Officer Blake relaxed again. Then he turned to Clarke. „Y’know, when this is over, maybe you’d like to go out with me and we can talk about what you think about this law and maybe how to bring your step dad to see reason?“. He winked at her. So he had recognized her. But before she could answer, Raven put a hand on her shoulder.
„Are you fine? We thought we’d lost you in the crowd“. She looked at Officer Blake curiously and he grinned.
„Look after your friend, she wants to start a revolution“ he told her then and Raven laughed. Even Clarke couldn’t stop her smile.
„Believe me, we know that“ Raven told the policeman „you coming?“ She asked Clarke then.
„Give me a sec“ Raven nodded and turned around. „I’d like to go out with you“. Before she could really react Officer Blake pulled out a pen and wrote his number on the hand she had put on his arm.
„May we meet again“ he said then and winked again and Clarke grinned, turning around to find her friends. She wouldn’t make it to the front page of tomorrow’s news paper but she at least had a date. Her last date had been a long time ago with Lexa and while it had been fun, she had never felt more than friendship for the girl. And this policeman, Officer Blake – Bellamy (he had put his name under his number) – had not only been cute and understanding but also wanted to hear her opinion on politics and none of her friends listened to her rambling about politics because she got all caught up in it and wouldn’t stop talking for hours. Let’s see what it will be, she thought before catching up with her friends who were probably heading to a bar.