GRIM REAPER¹, bellamy blake

026 ━━ the black palette

━━━✦━━━

IONA HAS learned to heal fast.

Over the years, she's hurt herself more ways than she can count, broke more bones in her body than she knew existed, and has all the scars to prove it. Reiki was a great healer, too, which only helped in the long run for the not-so-careful leader.

This time, however, Iona's determined to heal faster than she's every healed before.

Although it'd be difficult considering she was drained of her blood, stabbed, and filled with drugs, she kept one goal in mind: recover for the sake of the man still stuck inside the damn mountain.

It was the least she could do for him, especially after everything he'd done to help her stay alive. He practically carried the injured woman around with him, had enough trust in her to assume she'd fulfill her part of the plan; most of all, he brought back her katana.

All of these things merely fed into the idea she'd finally realized prior: she needed Bellamy Blake.

Rolling out of her bed, Iona stared at herself in a mirror against the wall. She'd been sent back to camp, back to the aching comfort of her own village, and stared warily at the image before her.

Though most of her makeup had faded when the Mountain Men cleaned her, she still had hints of the tear-like mask covering her eyes. Actually, now that she looked at it, she wasn't sure if it was her makeup or bags- could be both.

Her hair was disgustingly messy, coated in thick layers of grime and blood that mixed to create a very oily appearance- one she knows Lexa would've scolded her for, had she not been injured- and her normal ferocity appeared dulled down because of the lack of her hostile eyes.

Instead, her eyes were empty, searching; searching herself to hopefully find some signs of who she was before she went into that mountain.

When she finally glanced down to her chest, she scoffed at the sight of a soft dress- it was so unlike her that she shook her head, almost staring at a new person entirely- that covered the bruises and needle marks, as well as the heavy bandages running across the entirety of her abdomen.

"You should be resting," A voice sounded from behind her. Iona didn't have to glance up to know it was Reiki, "A physically- and perhaps mentally- wounded commander does little for her people besides cause them grief."

"Nor does a sleeping commander that is not there to lead," Iona chided.

Reiki let a small smile slip out, admiring the woman she'd watch grow from a small child to the ferocious and determined woman she is today. Perhaps Iona was far too set in her ways, but that remained a problem to solve another day.

For now, she is just right as she is.

"Whatever you're thinking, it can wait."

Iona raised a brow, glancing over at the healer. She held up a palette of warpaint, sending a smile towards the commander.

"Perhaps a second voice would clear up your thoughts, yes? And maybe a-" she dipped a finger into the black paint, rubbing it with her thumb, "-makeover would clear your hesitations."

Iona nodded, smiling shyly, before sitting on the edge of her bed. She closed her eyes, allowing the woman's fingers to dance across Iona's face and create a pattern she was sure she'd adore- one that would restore Iona's confidence.

"He saved my life."

Reiki did not seem surprised by Iona's confession. She simply hummed in response, tugging Iona's chin upwards so she could gather a better angle on her lids.

"He... cares about our people," Iona shrugged, a somewhat saddened tone eating at her voice, a frown hinting at her lips, "and here we are, sacrificing them all when they were willing to put us first."

Reiki smiled, though Iona could not see it. "It was only a few days ago that you wanted to sacrifice them all. Now you sound saddened by the reality of it happening. Care to share what changed?"

Iona's eyes fluttered open. Instantly, she met a knowing look, and shook her head, "I've known him for a week, Reiki. It is not like that."

Reiki huffed, seemingly disappointed.

"But he did make me realize that they... are not so different from us. The alliance was a smart idea after all; I just did not see it."

"You make it sound like it was all his doing."

Iona shrugged, thinking.

Perhaps her perspective had entirely been swayed by Bellamy, and perhaps not. She couldn't tell. From what she could think of, however, she did realize that every shift in attitude she had displayed had been from something of his doing.

"The Blake siblings, yes. Octavia shows dedication and willingness to learn and change. Bellamy shows loyalty and acceptance," Iona nodded at her own words, momentarily forgetting she was speaking to someone. "They are both admirable."

Reiki sent her a very motherly grin (considering she had, in fact, been the woman's motherly figure for years, it was fitting) before raising from her spot kneeled down on the ground. She gestured to the mirror, humming.

"And you want to go on a suicide rescue mission again?" Reiki challenged, and Iona blocked her words out for a second.

Instead, she admired the freshly made pattern across her eyes. She had never seen this one before, let alone have it across her own skin, and the print was empowering.

The edges looked like fire, bristling flames eating away at her skin, whilst the tips carved up to reach her hairline, dancing out into little wispy circles that gave her a very fairylike appearance. It was unlike her, but she liked it.

"And if I did?" Iona continued to stare, occasionally glancing at Reiki's reflection in the mirror.

Reiki just grinned, "This time, pack some bandages, will you?"

━━━✦━━━

stan reiki