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

Episode 4 & 5 - Many happy returns & Human trials

Riley stepped into President Wallace's office with a commanding presence. She no longer carried the uncertain air of a subordinate, but the poise of a battle-hardened leader. Her eyes scanned the room, sharp and calculating, taking in every detail. She was here for answers—and nothing less.

Wallace glanced up from his desk, leaning back in his chair with an air of someone who thought he had control. "Thank you for coming," he began, his voice a measured calm. "I've been told you've been visiting medical three, four times a day, asking about Clarke. Understandable, of course—you two are inseparable. Leaders, side by side, always."

Riley's expression didn't falter as Wallace rose to his feet, but there was an unmistakable steel in her gaze. She crossed her arms, her voice low but seething with restrained fury. "No one is allowing me to see her," she said sharply, each word cutting through the air like a blade. Her posture was rigid, defiant.

Wallace took a step forward, his face a mask of false concern. "That's because she's no longer here." He paused to let the words sink in, watching for any crack in her stoic façade. "Clarke ran away. I tried to tell her she was safe here, but she couldn't stop seeing enemies everywhere she looked, even among friends."

For a split second, shock flickered in Riley's eyes. Clarke had escaped. Relief surged through her, but she quickly buried it, refusing to let Wallace see her satisfaction. Clarke had succeeded. She would warn the others, rally them, maybe even reach the Ark. It was only a matter of time before they had the backup they needed.

Riley's lips curled into a slight, bitter smirk—more frustration than amusement. "I don't mean to be disrespectful, but Clarke wouldn't abandon us," she said, her voice carrying the weight of unshakable conviction. "She's a leader. Like me, she doesn't give up, not as long as she's breathing." Her arms stayed crossed, her posture resolute, the tone of someone who wouldn't bend to lies.

Wallace's smile faded, his attempt at manipulation falling flat. "I wish that were true," he muttered, his expression tightening. Riley's eyes narrowed—she knew he was hiding something, twisting the truth to suit his agenda. He had no idea what they had been through, the battles they had fought, the bond they had built with Clarke. It was clear to her now—this man didn't deserve her trust.

"So, are you going to look for her?" Riley asked, her voice cutting through the tension.

Wallace shook his head, feigning regret. "I can't risk the lives of my people for someone who doesn't want to stay," he replied, eyes hardening. "I hope you understand that." He paused, and Riley could hear the manipulation in his tone as he added, "They have you, though. Their true leader. You're capable, Riley. You know what to do."

Riley didn't move, didn't blink. She wasn't falling for his flattery, not for a second. She could see right through it. Wallace stepped closer, careful not to overstep, but enough to make her wary. "But I'll tell you this," he said, lowering his voice. "You want to go after Clarke? You can. You have a better chance of surviving out there than the rest of us, even your friends."

Riley tilted her head slightly, skeptical. "How?" she asked, her curiosity piqued despite herself.

Wallace crossed his arms, a faint smirk playing on his lips, as if he held some dark secret. "We were never going to tell you this, but I think you've noticed your blood is... different." Riley raised an eyebrow but said nothing, waiting for him to continue. "It's not just its appearance," Wallace went on. "When you and the others arrived at Mount Weather, we ran tests. Your blood has an extraordinary tolerance to radiation, more than we expected. It makes you stronger. You can survive out there, far better than any of us."

Riley's face remained impassive, her mind whirling with the revelation, but this wasn't what she cared about right now. She shook it off, dismissing it for the time being. "I'll need time to think," she said, her voice flat, not revealing her thoughts.