Innocent (Lams prison au)

26

A/N two updates in one day y'all better praise me

"Solitary. Both of you."

"I'm sorry what?" Alex spoke back, looking up at her with his eyebrows furrowed, hearing boots approaching behind Peggy as two other officers arrived.
"You're both getting slotted, now get up." Peggy ordered, her hand hesitantly hovering over her taser. Alex's eyes widened and he shot her a scared expression, opening his mouth to protest again but being cut off. "Get. Up." She spat through clenched teeth. "Jefferson is watching." She whispered harshly, barely audible through her teeth as she tilted her head towards the security camera above the bathroom door.
Alex realised the message she was trying to convey and quickly stood up, letting Peggy cuff him while Conway was cuffed and lifted up by the other two officers. They started down the hall when a voice snapped through the air.

"Alex?" John's voice called out, wavering uneasily. Alex's head shot up and he met John's gaze with sad eyes, Hercules jogging up behind him.
"John," He muttered, his voice slightly croaky as Peggy grabbed his shoulder, shoving him forward in the direction of solitary.
"What's going on?" John asked nervously, advancing towards him.
"Please step back Mr Laurens," Peggy ordered as she pushed Alex forward.
"No, what's going on?" He insisted, stepping forward again. Peggy whipped out her taser and aimed it at John's chest, her expression helpless and regretful.
"John, step back." She snapped, her voice cracking as her confident facade slipped for a second. John's eyes widened and he stepped back, Hercules placing a strong hand on his shoulder.

'I'm sorry' Alex mouthed before he was shoved away down the hall.

---

"What the hell was that?" John exclaimed, throwing his hands on his hips, his voice echoing a little as they were alone in the laundry sector.
"John I'm sorry," Peggy apologised again helplessly, clutching her fists to her chest. "Jefferson was watching through the cameras I-"
"Who cares about Jefferson?" John yelped angrily, throwing his hands up. "Jefferson can fuck himse-"

"Listen! H-he found out I had a small thing for Offi-ngh, Seabury, and he said if I didn't get Alex out of the picture he'd have Conway put BOTH OF THEM in the medical wing," Peggy spat, running a hand through her thick hair. "All he fucking does is blackmail me! I was sent here to monitor and control him, but instead he's just been doing that to me! And h-he uses me, like some sexual object!"
"He what?" John hissed, anger bubbling in his stomach, but being replaced by sympathy when he fully registered Peggy's state. John shut up and watched her while she took a few slow breaths, trying to calm herself down but failing miserably.

She didn't end up replying and coughed up a few sobs, John walked closer to her, wrapping his arms around her supportively and letting her cry into his jacket.
"I want to resign." Peggy mumbled into John's jacket, her voice muffled by the fabric. "I want to get out of here and never have to see that asshole again," she cried, clutching John's jacket in her fists. John pulled away and stared at her worriedly.
"No."

"What do you mean no?" Peggy spoke, almost in offence, as her grip tightened on John's jacket.
"We need you here Peggy," John muttered, running his thumb along her cheek to wipe away her tears. She kept her gaze downcast, a frown still set firm on her features. "Look, with Jefferson as Governor and Conway as Top Dog, this prison needs you now more than ever." John spoke softly, watching her with sad eyes. She looked back up at him and dove back into his embrace.

"Why are you so nice? You get so much shit from assholes like Levi, but you're resilient and just bounce back from it so well," Peggy sighed, staring blankly into the distance with her ear pressed to John's chest, his heart beat helping to soothe her's.
"Because I know that even though there are 'assholes like Levi', there are also amazing people like you, and Alex, who help balance it out." John smiled, resting his chin on top of her head. She sighed shakily and closed her eyes.
"Thank you," she whispered. John looked down at her empathetically and sighed.