Book 1: We are grounders - The 100 (Raven Reyes x reader)

Episode 11 - The calm

It was daytime, two days after the chaos, and Riley stepped out of her tent into the harsh light of camp. Her eyes scanned the makeshift settlement, her mind already racing. Word had spread that Raven was working on building landmines, and if Riley was going to venture out beyond the camp again, she needed to make sure every step she took was deliberate. Careful.

She couldn't help but think of how alone they all were now. Maybe it was a blessing that Marcus and Abby were stuck on the exodus ship. Their deaths would at least be swift if things went south—unlike the slow struggle they faced down here.

Passing by the smokehouse, Riley caught sight of Murphy, Octavia, and Del, their voices raised in frustration. She stepped in briefly, her voice cutting through the argument like a blade. "The fire's too big." She stated it with authority, her gaze lingering for just a moment before she disappeared as quickly as she arrived, leaving them to deal with the consequences.

Her feet carried her toward Raven's tent, a place that had become her refuge. There was something about it—maybe the way Raven filled the space with her presence—that made Riley feel grounded, as if the world wasn't falling apart around them. She stepped inside to find Raven and Finn already there, the tension between them hanging in the air.

"Split loads," Raven said without looking up, her hands busy as ever. "I'm turning one bullet into two. It's all I can do until we get more gunpowder. Jasper's working on it."

Riley leaned against the side of the tent, her eyes drifting over Raven's focused expression. There was something about watching Raven work, the intensity in her every movement, the way her mind seemed to never stop. It was... captivating.

Raven cracked a small, amused smile, still focused on her task. "Yesterday I saw Jasper taking buckets from the latrine. I didn't ask." The humor was dry, but it earned a snort from Riley, who couldn't help but be amused by the ridiculousness of their situation.

Finn, oblivious to the subtle undercurrents in the room, grinned. "Is one of those for me?" He asked, his tone playful.

Raven didn't turn to him, her attention fixed on her work. "Maybe. Still deciding."

Riley's jaw tightened when Finn opened his mouth again, the tension in her chest rising. "I keep wanting to apologize, again," Finn said, his voice low.

Riley shot him a sharp glance, her frustration barely concealed. What did he think an apology would fix? As if words could heal the damage he'd done to both Raven and Clarke.

Raven glanced at him, her expression neutral. "You don't have to. We're good. I need to finish this," she said, her voice steady, but there was something in her eyes—something that Riley didn't miss.

Finn crouched closer to Raven, speaking softly. "That's bad, you know. When you're really pissed off, you find a project. Something to keep your hands busy so you don't punch someone in the face."

Before Riley could stop herself, she stepped forward, her voice sharp with irritation. "She's not just keeping busy, Finn. She's keeping us alive. I don't see you doing anything," she shot back, the venom in her words undeniable. The tension in the room spiked, and Finn had the good sense to look chastised.

"Yeah, you're right. That was dumb," he muttered, before turning to leave. "See you both later."

Raven stopped him briefly, her voice soft, but final. "Wait. We're good. We're okay, Finn. I just want you to be happy." Her words were calm, but Riley knew there was more beneath the surface. She felt it too, the weight of things unsaid, the crack in Raven's armor that only someone close enough would notice.

Before they could process the moment, a gunshot rang out through camp. Riley rushed outside, her body tense with adrenaline. The smokehouse was on fire, and she spotted Octavia on the ground, coughing from the smoke.