Her Weakness

Chapter 15

"Any ideas on how to not kill everybody, Raven and Kyle?" Clarke asks as she stops us in front of a large metal door.

The two turn to each other and talk Engineer again, arguing heatedly about something about pressure but luckily they keep their wits enough to stay quiet to not alert any stray guards.

I turn to Clarke, "What are they discussing?"

Her face scrunched adorably as she focuses on Raven and Kyle's argument. I almost sigh at my thoughts. I am in the enemy's compound with another leader to help rescue her people and I am thinking about her and how adorable she is. If Octavia knew my thoughts, she would never let me live them down. She still constantly teases me about my weakness for Clarke. It has been less teasing lately and more mocking. Hopefully she will not hate me for much longer. Luckily she does not tease when Clarke is around; it could shake up our people's already shaky alliance.

"They're talking about sealing that doorway behind us so none of the radiation gets in. Other than that, I'm not sure." Clarke frowns as she admits not knowing, clearly annoyed at her inability to speak Engineer.

"You understand more of that than I do, Clarke of the Sky People. To me, it is as if they are speaking a language I do not know." I say to make her feel better. It works and she gives me a smile that makes me look away so she does not see how my cheeks flush. I choose to look at Raven and Kyle and cock my head slightly as I study how close they are to each other. "Is this how they flirt?"

Clarke laughs and I would very much like to make her do so again. "I didn't think you even know the word 'flirt'." She is still smiling at me and I try to ignore how my throat dries and my heart flutters in my chest.

"I did not until recently," I admit. "Octavia taught me what it means."

Clarke shakes her head, "I'm not surprised."

"I figured it would distract her from worrying about her brother." I recall how broken yet determined she seemed as she trained with or without Indra. Clarke stares at me intently with a look I cannot begin to decipher. "What is it?" I ask, fighting not to shift under her watchful gaze.

"It's just... under all the war paint and tough exterior; you're really thoughtful and kind. I don't know why you don't show this part of you more often."

"My people view kindness as weakness." I watch as she nods, her eyes unfocused as if deep in thought.

"Like love?" She asks.

I freeze and force myself to reply. "Some view love as weakness."

I have not since I saw how strong her love makes her.

"Clarke!" A voice calls and we turn away from each other to face them.

I relax, glad for the interruption. I do not want to discuss love with anyone, especially not with Clarke. She said she is not ready and if I begin a conversation with her on the subject, she may see my weakness. That may make her feel uncomfortable or obligated to try to force herself to reciprocate my feelings. I am patient and can wait as long as she needs, and if she is never ready for me, I will find some way to get through that.

"We figured it out. I won't go into detail but we'll seal that doorway and then set it on automatic so it will unseal when it's safe." Raven speaks excitedly, but is considerate enough for those of us not as smart in technology to speak slowly and dumb down her words.

"How long will it take you?" Clarke asks.

"A few minutes to set it up. Just be ready. Do we have any weapons to fight the Reapers?" Raven moves to stand next to Kyle and they press buttons on a screen.

"We have Octavia waiting on the other side," I say and Clarke turns to me and raises an eyebrow. "It was the only way I could convince her not to come in here and kill every soldier in sight to get Bellamy and the others out."

"Thanks for that," Bellamy visibly relaxes.

I am about to respond when the metal door behind us slides shut with a clang. Air hisses and Raven and Kyle continue to calmly press buttons so I am guessing this is going as they planned. The other door swings open to reveal a darkened tunnel with Octavia standing there in full armor. I recognize it as one of Indra's old sets. She grins at Bellamy as he rushes forward and envelopes her in a tight hug. They clank as he shifts and her armor moves with them.

We stand back and let them have their moment until an alarm sounds again. They must know that we are escaping. "Sorry to interrupt, but we need to go."

The two nod and pull apart. Octavia goes into what she has called warrior mode and slides out a sword.

"Let's go." She says and Bellamy looks surprised at her change in attitude.

We all begin to move and Clarke taps my arm. I turn and she tells me she will bring up the back.

I nod, "I will stay in the middle."

We all move quietly and see no living Reapers. The Mountain Men must have made them fight my people. Or Octavia got to them.

Octavia seems to have memorized every twist and turn of this labyrinth.

Sunlight hurts my eyes after so long underground but the others cheer. Some of my people walk out of the trees to help escort the rescued.

I turn to count and make sure we did not lose anyone in that maze. I freeze and my blood turns to ice. We have been here for a few minutes, she should be here.

"Where is Clarke?" I turn to Octavia, who looks concerned but shrugs. "The Reapers... The Mountain Men have her!" I snarl and Octavia has to physically restrain me so I do not go in there. I spin around and she backs away and I know that murderous rage is once again in my eyes. "I will get her back."