Chapter Text
Not soon after they enter Camp Jaha, Bellamy approaches them and tells them that Clarke left. Octavia doesn’t care and walks away.
Lincoln goes to follow her, but Bellamy holds him back. The young man is looking at Lincoln with pleading eyes, and Lincoln can guess what he’s going to say.
“She’s vulnerable in this state,” Bellamy says, and Lincoln nods. “Can you make sure she’s safe?”
Lincoln doesn’t respond. His feelings about Clarke are mixed, but he can’t deny Bellamy this. Not after what he did to him at the Mountain.
So he nods and adds, “Don’t tell Octavia.”
Bellamy agrees. It’s for the best.
Lincoln doesn’t like lying to her, so he doesn’t. They have a tent set up where the rest of the Delinquents are. It’s big enough for the both of them and the few items they have.
They curl up for a quick nap and manage to wash up later.
Octavia frowns when he gets dressed and grabs his pack.
“I need to grab my things from the cave,” he says, which is the truth. He does need to grab anything of use to them. But he’s also going to make a slight detour.
She’s sad to see him go, but with a kiss he promises to come back to her. He always does.
With every step he makes towards the cave, Lincoln is reminded of a time when life was simpler.
When Octavia would sneak away to meet with him, and they would make love until they were exhausted. Or when he would teach her how to fight.
But those days were gone. Life had left their scars on them, and now they were changed forever. For the better? He didn’t know.
He’s not surprised to see Clarke there, curled up by the fire. Her eyes are glassy, and if he didn’t see her chest moving, he would assume she was dead.
“I can’t get their faces out of my head,” she whispers. He sees the haunted look on her face, and he remembers when his would mirror it.
“You’re not safe here. My people know where this cave is,” he replies. Clarke nods and sits up.
Lincoln goes to one of his tables and picks up a map and a pencil. He starts making marks all over it and scribbling notes on the side. Then he moves onto a journal and fills it with as much information as he can.
When he’s done, he hands both of them to her. Her eyes briefly scan both, and she looks up in confusion.
“What’s this?” she asks.
“Hideouts and shelters all over this area and beyond. I didn’t report them all when I was a scout,” he explains, and understanding dawns on her.
“I will be safe at any of these places?”
Lincoln nods. “I’ve also marked the areas where there’s clean water and heavily populated game areas. You’ll need the food and water to survive.”
“Why are you helping me? After everything I’ve done to you and Octavia?” It’s a valid question, and he wonders why himself.
He sighs and shakes his head. “Because you did save my life once. You and your mother, and I was able to reunite with Octavia. A life for a life. That’s it. But don’t think I won’t forget about leaving Octavia to die in TonDC. This is as far as my generosity goes.”
What she does next surprises him. She laughs. He’s not sure if it’s genuine or filled with sadness, but it puts some color back in her cheeks.
“You’ve done more than enough to help me, Lincoln. And it’s not just this. We would all be dead if it wasn’t for you. You warned Octavia about your people coming to kill us, and you brought the Reapers to give us a fighting change. You owe me nothing, and you know it. Still, I am thankful.”
She stands up, and her legs are shaking. Her shoulders are relaxed for the first time since he’s known her.
The weight of leadership is hard, but she’s free of it. Bellamy now solely carries it, and he worries for the young man.
Despite everything, he empathizes with Clarke. The things she did would haunt her for the rest of her life; a struggle he knows all too well. Maybe that’s why he’s helping her. To prevent her from going down the same dark path as him.
“I’m only taking half of the supplies here,” Lincoln says. “You can have the rest.”
Clarke frowns. “Aren’t you going to need it?”
“I know how to make them. You don’t. There’s enough here that you can learn how to replicate it. If you choose to not use them, give me a sign, and I’ll come back for them.”
Clarke shakes her head. “Take them. They won’t be of much use to me.”
Lincoln can see the darkness consuming her already. She’s not planning on living long. “If you want a way out, there’s a vial for that too. But know that you’re leaving others to clean up your mess.”
His voice is bitter and angry, and it surprises her. “You can wallow in self-pity, or you can do something about it. Don’t just leave them like this. They will forever blame themselves for a choice you made. Don’t put that guilt on them. They don’t deserve it.”
She’s staring at him with wide eyes, but she nods. “Then what do you suggest?”
“Finish what you started. Ensure their safety. The Commander has to listen to the Coalition. Luna is a part of it. Seek shelter there. She’ll protect you.”
Lincoln goes about grabbing his things while Clarke watches him. When he’s done, he faces her.
“Be safe, Clarke. Your time here is not done.”
She surprises him with a hug. It’s brief, but it startles him all the same.
“I won’t let you down. Bellamy either,” she says.
As Lincoln heads back to Camp Jaha, his heavy heart feels a smidgen lighter. So much death in this world, but he is glad that he prevents another.