The First On The Ground

Acceptable Losses

(BELLAMY POV)

"Bellamy, you've been staring at that all night," Harper scolds as she walks into the room to find me still at the computer waiting for Echo to succeed. "Go. Get some sleep, okay? I got this."

"It's been 8 hours. Raven could have built a cathedral by now," I tell her not moving from my spot. On top of being worried about Echo, I am having a battle with my feelings for Echo and August.

"They'll get it done," Harper responds.

"I know. I just wish it was me over there," I explain before the door is opened and my sister walks in with Indra and August behind her. Even after the incident with Madi, August is still by Octavia's side.

"Well? Any word?" Octavia questions.

"Look, we knew it would take some time. We can count on Echo," Harper answers her.

"Wouldn't be the first time she betrayed us," Octavia retorts.

"If your brother trusts her, maybe we should, too," Indra tells Octavia.

"You're still upset we shot the traitors," Octavia states since I won't turn to face her. "I get how that must look to you, but we're fighting for our lives here, Bellamy. The hydrofarm is on its last legs. Truth is, it's a miracle you showed up when you did. I haven't thanked you enough for that." Octavia rests her hand on my shoulder causing me to glance at her. "If we can just get to Shallow Valley, things will be better, I promise."

"Funny, that's the same thing we said about getting back down to the ground," I start before turning to face Octavia. "Then we found you." I notice a hint of a smile on August's face as my sister glares at me before leaving the room with Indra behind her. August smiles at Harper before glancing at me, then leaving the room. One thing I missed most in the six years in space, was August's smile. It always seems to put me at ease.

(AUGUST POV)

"Okay," I say as I finish Madi's braid. Madi and Mika were about to go to training. I was a little more at ease that Octavia had accepted Madi but I still didn't trust Octavia. Madi grabs her bag before she and Mika go to leave. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, hey. Canteen."

"They have water there," Mika tells me with a smile. She had grown up so much in the six years that we were apart and it makes me sad that I missed that.

"Take it anyway," Clarke argues.

"Aug, Clarke, I'm not a baby anymore," Madi says with a frown.

"I know, which is why people are more likely to notice how special you are, and that's why you're gonna suck today," Clarke explains causing Madi to look down. Clarke has already grown attached to Madi but she is a bit over protective. "You're not gonna stand out in any way. No one can think that you'd make a good Commander, not Gaia and especially not Octavia."

"Clarke, I understand," Madi tells her. I could tell that it frustrates Madi to have to hold back but Clarke thinks it's for the best so we shall see.

"Once Echo gets that camera in the sky down, we all get to go home to Shallow Valley," I say with a small smile.

"Great. Maybe when we fight the war there, I won't have to suck," Madi retorts causing me to playfully roll my eyes at her. Mika and Madi give me a kiss on a cheek and a hug before Clarke takes them to practice. I start picking up some of my stuff before letting out a sigh as I see Jasper's goggles and the letter to Monty.

"Harper told me I might find you down here," I say as I walk into the hydro farm to find Monty.

"I miss my algae farm. I thought being around all this might help," Monty explains.