Chapter Text
Clarke was rounding the corner of the Ark ship when she heard the raised voices. Well, one familiar raised voice. Bellamy’s. The anger and betrayal sounded clear as day, and her steps quickened. The other voice was low and too smooth to be a good thing. Not if Bellamy was already pissed off.
“How could you do that? Don’t you understand just how fragile this truce is?”
“I understand perfectly well, Mr. Blake.”
Shit. It was Jaha. If Bellamy was taking on the chancellor, she had to get there now. She saw them as soon as she stepped outside: the two men stood far too close to each other, neither willing to budge. Everyone remained at their posts, pretending not to watch, but their eyes kept flicking over cautiously. Bellamy’s hands were clenched into fists by his side, and he was struggling to keep his voice steady.
“Was this put to a vote?”
“The council leaders were aware of what was happening.”
Clarke moved through the camp hastily.
“The council leaders.” Bellamy spit out the words. “So you left out Clarke.”
“Left me out of what?”
Several pairs of eyes turned to her as she approached them. She vaguely noticed her mother put a hand to her head in concern, though she stood behind Jaha - with Jaha - all the same. But it was Bellamy who had her attention. His jaw was set in a familiar stubborn stance, his eyes bright with anger. Ignoring everyone, she went right to his side.
“Left me out of what?” She repeated. When Jaha didn’t answer, Bellamy casually folded his arms in front of his chest and the look on his face became a familiar mask. Uh oh. She recognized this Bellamy. This was the smartass, the cocksure upstart that everyone prematurely expected him to be.
“It seems,” he drawled, “the Chancellor took it upon himself to send a small group across the river. Directly past the flags we so lovingly planted just two days ago.”
“What?” Clarke turned to the other man, outraged. When no denial came, she found herself stepping closer. “Why would you do that?”
“They’ve tested our boundaries several times in the past. It’s not like we were doing any different,” he answered calmly. “And you know supplies have been disappearing lately.”
“We have no proof it was them!” Clarke protested.
His dark eyes did not flinch. “The group has their directions. They will not accuse them of anything.”
“That won’t matter. Don’t you get it? Simply crossing the river will be seen as an offense on our part.”
“You can’t know that. Perhaps-”
“Perhaps nothing.” Clarke was suddenly furious. “We do know that because we’ve been there before. Our people have been hurt - sometimes nearly killed - by simply looking at them the wrong way. We have to live with these people and we are trying to learn their ways just as they learn ours. After everything that’s happened, you would risk our truce on a perhaps?”
She was shouting now, her anger boiling over. She would not lose this truce. Not on the stupidity and ignorance of one person. Not after everything they’d done - everything she’d done.
“Clarke, I understand you have been through some terrible things.” The chancellor’s words were smooth, but his patronizing voice made something ugly rise in her throat. “But we are here now to take that burden off you.”
Her bitter laugh echoed in the air, and now he did flinch. “Are you, now. Tell me, have you found a way to bring back the dead? Because I promise you, that is the only way you will ever begin to repay us.” She didn’t realize she was shaking until Bellamy’s hand squeezed her shoulder. His touch steadied her, gave her something to anchor to so that the rage didn’t overwhelm her.
“We have sacrificed so much for this,” she continued heatedly. She met Jaha’s gaze head on. “You should have told us. At the very least we could have sent Lincoln or Octavia with them. We need to fix this, now.”
She and Bellamy turned to go. Just two steps later, they found two guards in their path. Their guns weren’t out - yet. Jaha didn’t speak, but his orders were loud and clear.
“Thelonious…,” her mother’s weak plea sounded behind her, but Clarke didn’t turn. It would do no good. Glancing at Bellamy, she took a step forward.
The barrel of the gun touched her chest for two seconds before Bellamy’s arm shot out. In one fluid motion, he snatched the gun and rammed the butt into the guard’s chin, knocking him flat. He stood in front of her, the gun on his shoulder practically daring others to try. The second guard watched him apprehensively but didn’t move.
Bellamy looked past her to Jaha, his mouth twisted in disgust. “Really? You’re going to set a gun on the one person who’s responsible for saving all of our sorry lives?” His eyes searched the guards, leveling a glare at each one. “And you’re going to listen to someone who wants to take away our best chance at peace?”
Clarke was the only one who could see his hands shaking. But she knew it was from the same anger that she felt; he was trying very hard not to fly off the handle.
“Arrest him.”
Jaha’s voice rang loud and clear into the air, and Clarke whirled around. “What?”
“He attacked a member of the guard. That is a punishable offense.” he said, as if that explained everything.
She gaped at him in shock. He couldn’t be serious. And yet, from the corner of her eye, she saw a few guards move closer. She stepped back and reached for Bellamy’s hand, feeling his fingers wrap around hers. One of the guards took out a pair of silver handcuffs and approached. Clarke nearly laughed, realizing he thought he was actually a threat.
He had no idea the things she’d seen.
“Get out of the way, Clarke.” The chancellor’s voice was quiet but firm. It only served to make her angrier.
“You don’t even know him. What he’s done for all of us. For me.” She made her case directly to her mother, who stood a few feet behind Jaha. “Locking him up is the worst thing you could do right now.”
She felt Bellamy’s hand on the small of her back. “Clarke.” It was part plea and part weariness. She understood. They’d been fighting this battle for so long. Between the Grounders, the Reapers, and their own people, she didn’t know how much more they could take. But she didn’t turn to him, instead eyeing the adults in front of her. Jaha stood firm, though her mother was clearly conflicted. Not enough to speak up, though, she thought bitterly.
Now Clarke felt the anger surge through her veins, making her reckless. If they were going to take him, then they’d have to take her, too.
“Fine. Then there’s one more thing.”
She faced Bellamy, her hands bringing his surprised face down to hers. The kiss was hard and demanding, leaving no question as to whether it was her choice. After a momentary shock, his lips responded to hers. His hands dug into the skin at her hip, reforming impressions from earlier encounters. They had done this countless times before - but usually when they were safely hidden away, not so exposed. There were a few gasps, and something that might have been a cheer before it was quickly shushed. Clarke didn’t care anymore.
When she let go, she offered him a quick smile before turning around. As expected, her actions had made everyone pause. Her mother was looking between them with some measure of surprise, but more curiosity than anything else. Octavia’s smile was blinding.
Clarke stepped towards the guard with the handcuffs. As with most of the adults, he wasn’t expecting her to actually do anything, so when she kneed him in the groin, he folded easily. Grabbing his gun, she slammed the butt into his head for good measure. Looking up, she saw with grim satisfaction that the remaining guards had their guns out and trained on her. Her mom had moved in front of Jaha, her mouth agape. The chancellor was watching her curiously.
“Brave princess.” Bellamy’s low whisper was meant for her only, and Clarke bit her lip to hide her grin.
She threw the gun on the ground next to the man's prone form. Mockingly, her hands raised in surrender. “There. I attacked a guard. Arrest me, too.”
The guards looked uncertainly at Jaha, whose gaze remained locked on Clarke. She raised an eyebrow, waiting. He didn't disappoint - one sharp nod later, her arms were pulled behind her back and steel cuffs snapped down on her wrists. She caught Octavia’s grateful glance and Raven’s smirk as they were marched onto the ship. She tried to give them silent instructions before they passed out of sight. The rest of the 47 didn’t appear too surprised. If anything, they were doing their best to hide their amusement. The adults, meanwhile, stood and stared in astonishment.
Well, it was their own stupid fault for not listening, she thought angrily. It wasn’t as if she wanted to make a habit of this. But enough was enough.
She and Bellamy were taken to a small cell, the door snapping shut behind them. There was a definitive click of the lock and then they were alone. Bellamy pressed his face to the wall in frustration. Clarke immediately went to his side.
“Are you okay?" Her gaze drifted over his arms. "They shouldn’t have cuffed your hands so awkwardly. Your shoulder’s ruined enough as it is.”
He smirked, although his eyes remained closed. “Do you ever stop thinking about everyone else?”
Underneath the amusement, there was a tenderness in his voice that never failed to warm her heart.
“About everyone else? Sometimes. About you? No.”
He looked at her with a surprised smile and she leaned up, their lips meeting. His forehead remained against hers for a moment longer before he leaned against the wall and slid to the floor. He sighed heavily.
“So what’s the plan? You got some way out of these cuffs that I don’t know about?” She bit her lip, not answering, and his eyebrows lifted. “Don’t tell me Clarke Griffin doesn’t have a plan,” he teased.
“Shut up.” She sat next to him and bumped his shoulder lightly. " I didn’t exactly have time to think. I just… reacted.”
“That you did.” There was laughter in his voice. “That was pretty badass, princess.”
Despite herself, she grinned. “I wish I could say it didn’t feel good.”
“Oh I know that felt great. Seeing as they’ve been such-”
“-assholes,” she finished, and his mouth curved up in a familiar smile.
They were silent for some time, and Clarke lost track of how long they sat there. She had the thought that she wouldn’t have minded being here with him as long as his hands weren’t cuffed. She was used to their silences - they were comfortable and unassuming, and one of the few moments that her mind managed to quiet down. Plus, it wasn’t as if they had many moments alone. The few stolen times they did have, she treasured greatly.
But her her shoulders were already beginning to protest, and she could only imagine how much pain Bellamy was in. The thought made her angry all over again.
“You know everyone’s going to be talking about us now, right?” His quiet voice cut through her thoughts.
Clarke looked at him carefully. “Does that bother you?”
“No. Does it bother you?”
She shook her head, returning his smile. “Also,” she muttered, “maybe Lara will finally stop fluttering her eyes and touching your arm every time you walk by.”
Bellamy’s laugh echoed through the room. He nipped gently at the spot below her jaw that made her eyes roll back. “Jealous, princess?”
She turned her head and captured his lips roughly to make her point. His small groan vibrated against her mouth and she grinned smugly, kissing him harder. When he pulled away, he ducked his head and nuzzled her neck. The stubble on his chin made her giggle and squirm, and for a few moments they were lost in their own small bubble again.
Finally, when she thought she might fall asleep right there, he murmured, “Do you think they’ll ever take us seriously?”
The exhaustion in his voice mirrored her own feelings. “I don’t know. But we can’t stop trying. We’ve come so far, Bell.”
“They’re always going to look at us and see children,” he argued.
She tilted her head, looking up at him. “That’s why I had do this. They’re being stubborn and selfish, and I won’t have it anymore. They can’t keep treating us like that. Everytime Jaha looks at you or Monroe or even Miller, he just sees another criminal.”
He shrugged. “It’s nothing new.”
“That’s the worst part.” Clarke leaned in, trying to make him understand. “I don’t want to just continue on the way we did before. We’ve built something down here, Bellamy. Something good. Something that could be better. I won’t let that go to waste. Not after- after-”
Her voice caught, but as usual he knew where her mind was. He pressed his forehead to hers, their noses brushing. It was the most comfort he could provide in their current position. “I know,” he whispered. “We won’t lose it. I promise, Clarke. We’ll get there somehow.”
She nodded, dropping her head to his shoulder once more. After a minute she asked, “Do you think Octavia found them in time?”
“I hope so. I’m sure she and Lincoln tracked them. Especially if Jaha sent who I think he did.” A corner of his mouth lifted. “Taylor and Kim might be sharpshooters, but you can hear them coming a mile away.”
Clarke chuckled. If there was anyone else she trusted to maintain this truce, it was Octavia. She’d earned the respect of the Grounders in a way nobody else could. Clarke could only hope luck was on their side today.
When Bellamy shifted again, he was unable to contain his grunt of pain, and she knocked her cuffs against the wall in frustration. This was one thing she couldn’t abide; feeling utterly helpless.
“It’s not so bad,” he murmured.
She rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Do what?”
“Act so tough all the time.” She nudged him. “Not around me. Sometimes it’s okay to just say you’re hurting.”
His mouth quirked to one side. “What are you, my therapist now?”
“I thought I was your princess,” she teased.
He blinked, staring at her, and Clarke found herself blushing.
“I can’t argue with that,” he said softly. She looked up to see him smiling at her - a smile that made his eyes crinkle at the corners and brought out a hidden dimple in his cheek. It was the smile he sent her way the first time they'd discovered a lake, the first time they'd sat around a fire with all their friends again, after the first time she'd kissed him nearly into the ground with worry. Somewhere along the way, she'd begun to think of it as her smile. It sent a familiar tingle through her body from head to toe. Just as she was leaning closer, the door lock lifted and they both turned startled faces towards Jaha, who stood in the doorway.
Bellamy looked at the ground, his features masked once more. Clarke made no move to stand up, not even when the chancellor stepped inside.
“You’re free to go.”
“Both of us?” She questioned. When there was hesitation, she set her jaw. “Either we both go, or neither of us does.”
“Clarke, don’t be difficult.”
“I’m not the one who’s being difficult.” Clarke stared straight ahead at the wall.
The older man sighed. “You know I could have you taken out of here in a second.”
“And you know I’d be back in here a second later after I took out another guard. Or maybe this time I’ll go after someone more important.” She finally leveled a glare at him. “The least you could do is uncuff his hands. You know he hurt his shoulder the other day trying to help Kane and Byrne. He’s in a lot of pain.”
Jaha’s gaze drifted to Bellamy, who was hunched over without a word. When he didn’t move, Clarke huffed and laid her head on Bellamy’s shoulder in silent apology, curling her feet under her.
“Just go, then,” she said quietly.
He stood watching them for a minute longer before finally turning on his heel and leaving. The door bolted shut again behind him.
Clarke glanced up to apologize and instead found a faint grin on Bellamy’s face.
“What?”
“Nothing, it’s just fun to watch you argue with someone else now and then.” His grin widened as she tried to kick him.
His laughter lightened her heart, and Clarke decided if they were going to be stuck there for sometime she may as well take advantage of it. She covered his remaining chuckles with her lips, their mouths sliding together in easy familiarity.
The kiss was slow and searching, and she savored every second. They were so often a jumble of limbs and quick, heated kisses in cramped corners - which was fun in its own way. But for the first time in a while, they weren’t in a rush. They simply had no choice but to wait. So Clarke took her time, cataloging every small moan and stuttered breath that came from him. Bellamy was more hesitant than he’d ever been, and she wondered if he was doing the same thing. When her lips finally parted on a sigh, his tongue snuck in eagerly and her knees became weak. (Which was odd, because she was already sitting, but right now was not the time to make sense of her thoughts, not when she was exploring Bellamy’s mouth and trying to figure out when he’d had time to find blueberries.)
Only when her lungs protested vehemently did she break away, tucking her face against his jacket. Heat crept into her face as she tried to gulp in air. Bellamy’s cheek rested atop her hair, his own chest rising and falling deeply.
“Now I want these damn handcuffs off,” he said hoarsely, and Clarke felt a giggle bubble up out of her. She could feel his grin as his lips touched her forehead before traveling down to capture her lower lip between his teeth. A bolt of heat shot through her and she struggled to catch her breath all over again. Then his lips covered hers and it didn’t matter anymore.
Here, tucked away from the rest of the world, Clarke heard his voice again in her head. I promise. We’ll get there somehow.
Yes, she thought. They would, in the same the way they did everything else: together.