After the End [ The 100 ]

21. Lets ask questions and not let the person answer

filler

[bex]

At the edge of camp there's a small divider. It's more forest than settlement, but it's still somewhat protected by the wall. Behind it's the person I'm looking for. Holding my side, I slip through the small opening rather than wasting my time opening the gate.

Eiden's curly hair is tied in a long ponytail, and next to it's the arrow sheath. Back in my tent is the one that Clarke pulled out of my stomach because I felt like keeping it. Eiden has the rest of them tucked in the fabric on her shoulder.

It's fucking freezing out here, so much that it actually helps my pain, but she's wearing a tank top. The straps are wide, but there's no way she's actually warm in it. So her arms and shoulder blades flex when she tries pulling back the string, holding the arrow in place.

"Not so easy is it?" I sneak up. Actually, I thought I had, but Eiden doesn't flinch. If I was her, I'd use that excuse though, because the arrow completely misses the tree.

"You don't really appreciate advice do you?" She asks. Her head turns past her shoulder and she looks me up and down. "What are you doing out here?"

"Nobody else knows how to rewrap this other than Clarke who's busy with Finn's recovery. Figured you could just show me how to do the thing, and I'll be out of your curly hair."

She sighs and walks beside the trees. She drops to the ground, picks up the arrow, and comes back over. "Does it still hurt?"

"My ego's in recovery therefore I will not be answering that question."

"Trust me, you don't need it anymore. Alright then, come on."

We walk through the gate and head to the drop ship.

On the way, though, I make conversation. "So how long were you there for?"

"One... two hours? Gotta know how to use my own weapon."

"A-actually, every time I see it, it reminds me of that moment. Wh-when I got shot." She isn't looking at me, but my face is blank even as my voice quivers.

Her eyes are wide when her head whips down. A surprised look's on her face, and she asks, "Really?"

"No," I say with a slight smirk. "I couldn't fucking care less. Just let me use it once or twice, and I'll call it even."

Her features settle into a scowl and she turns her attention back to the path. "It's not a toy. It's difficult to use, actually."

"Oh I don't really care, I was shot with it, and it's in my face every day, so I think I'm entitled to use it."

"Well, you aren't," she says softly. Then she sighs. "When I get the hang of it, I'll show you what I know."

I shrug a shoulder just as we reach the drop ship. Eiden pulls the tarp and holds it for me. When I walk inside and sit down, the aching causes me to hold my side.

"You know, there's stuff here for your pain," she says. Her brown eyes have lifted up from the bandage, but her fingers stay in place. "I don't really know what's good or what's bad, but I can ask Clarke for you."

"So if you could tell it hurt, why'd you still ask?"

"Because there's no button on me that stops me from caring."

We hold each other's eye contact before I roll my eyes.

She takes that as an opportunity to peel the wrap off of me, and when it's down to the last layer, I can actually feel my skin around the wound lifting. It's like a suction cup pulling at my flesh, but I know it isn't infected. Strangely enough, Eiden actually knows what she's doing here.