Chapter Text
Bellamy isn’t hiding; he needs a few minutes to think, to process everything that’s happened since he left the Ring, to convince himself Murphy and Emori are ok, Raven’s plan worked, and she isn’t being tortured. He needs to understand what he saw in the bunker and out in the desert. But his mind keeps stumbling over Octavia’s grip on the sides of his head. Her steely eyes, her cutting words, the fact that his heart swelled when she kissed his cheek. I am glad you’re alive, big brother. Only to be cut down the next instant. You are my enemy.
Bellamy knows this is how his sister has always been: stronger, more powerful than him, capable of taking the world in stride. But, after six years, he can’t remember if it always stung like this.
And then there’s Clarke, who, even after he mourned and buried her is still alive: as beautiful and kind and soft and hard and capable as always. A healer, a protector and a mother who survived on her own and never managed to lose herself, and Gods how he’s missed her!
“How are you holding up?”
Bellamy raises his head.
In the dim light of the dilapidated room he found, Echo towers over him, her sharp caramel eyes shining catlike. Harper has put a braid on her hair – Echo always lets Harper play with her hair when the guard’s nervous.
He sits a little bit straighter, the word fine it’s on the tip of his tongue, but then he remembers: this is Echo and says “I’ve been worse,” instead.
The ex-spy snorts: a nearly silent puff of air. In a fluid motion, she’s by his side, folding her long legs under her, leaning her back against the dilapidated wall beside him. Her skin glistens wet, and her tank top clings to her belly. Her usually warm skin is freezing when he takes her hand. Grateful for the distraction, Bellamy rubs the back of her hand, concentrating on getting some warmth back into her.
“So” Echo’s voice is atonal, face schooled and carefully neutral “Clarke’s back.”
He sighs. So much for a distraction.
“Yes.” His head falls heavily on her shoulder. “Is it weird that I miss her now more than when she wasn’t here?”
Echo doesn’t answer immediately. She worries the inside of her lips. “No. I don’t think it is.”
“I should be happy.”
The spy chuckles at his childish whine, turns her hand in his to entwine their fingers together. “You will be happy when the rest of our family is safe as well.”
He frowns not looking at her. “I don’t…”
“Bellamy, it’s been six years. People change. You knew your sister would be different.”
“I don’t recognize any of my friends.” He runs his tongue over his teeth. Clarke, Miller, Octavia. Even Jackson is completely different. Has he changed so much his own sister can’t recognize him anymore?
Echo presses her lips to his hair. “We’ll find out what happened in that bunker. And then we’ll take our place in their clan.”
But if you ever speak out against Wonkru again, you’re an enemy of Wonkru.
All his life, Bellamy has been sure of one thing: He belongs with his sister. Wherever he goes, whatever he does, he and his sister always fit together.
This is your fault.
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
There’s a commotion outside. “I think that’d be Blodreina resurfacing.”
Bellamy sighs, closes his eyes and nuzzles his head on her shoulder for just a few moments longer. “Come, let’s see if she’ll receive us now.”
He pushes himself up and holds a hand out to help her up. She has goosebumps all over her arms, and her shoulders shake slightly. Bellamy huffs and shrugs out of his jacket. “There is no need for that.”
“You’re soaking wet.”
“I should’ve brought my bag.” Bellamy raises an eyebrow until his girlfriend blushes and turns her head, accepting the jacket. “You’re so bossy,” she mock-complains even as she burrows into the jacket, discretely nuzzling the collar.
“Yeah, but you like it.”
“Whatever my sire says.” He kisses the smirk off her lips before stepping out of the ruins and into a busy street. Octavia stands proud and regal in the middle of the square with Cooper. That should be Indra at her right hand, whispers a tiny voice in his head. He pushes it down and crosses the distance, Echo at his side.
He can do this.