The City of Light (Bellamy Blake x Reader)

IV - Watch the Thrones

"Bellamy, c'mon," I huffed, getting fed up. "You can't quit the guard."

Bellamy sighed, and ran a hand through his wild curls. "I can't keep wearing this jacket when I failed to protect forty-nine of our people. I promised I would. And now they're dead."

I let my irritation fizzle away and took a seat next to him. Linking my arm through his, I leaned my head on his shoulder and gripped his hand with both of mine. "It's not your fault, Bel. If you'd stayed, you'd be dead too."

He planted a gentle kiss on my lips. "Maybe you're right, but-"

"No but. I'm right."

Silence followed. I knew he was having a hard time dealing with Mount Weather exploding, with being part of the Grounders, with living under Lexa's command. But I was going to be here with him until he got over it, because he'd have to get over it. Right now, he could wallow, but I'd resort to tough love if he kept it up. He said it himself months ago. We are Grounders now.

The door to the conference room opened, and Bellamy stood up. Currently, there was no changing his mind about this, so I let my arms drop to my lap. I sighed and rested my head against the cool wall. I wished Bellamy would stop torturing himself about things that weren't his fault, things he couldn't control.

I felt his terrible presence before I saw him. Pike rounded the corner, his eyes ablaze with annoyed fury. I smiled wryly. Must have been due to my father. I'd never been prouder.

Pike was muttering something beneath his breath, something contemptuous. I couldn't make out exactly what he was saying but I heard "Kane" and could infer the rest.

I knew it was a bad idea to start a fight with him right now, but I couldn't resist the temptation. And he probably wanted to take his anger out on me, so I guess it was a win-win, in a way. "What did you say about my father?"

Pike stopped in his tracks, and crossed his arms. "Everything that needed to be said. Your father is weak. A terrible leader that will get us all killed."

Ire flashed in my eyes and I snapped up to my feet. "He is moral and just, and knows what he's doing. You're the one that wants to start a war against the people defending us. You're the one who will kill us all."

"You have been a thorn in my side ever since you first walked into my class," Pike growled. "Maybe I never could get through to you, but perhaps I can teach your father a lesson."

I knew exactly where this was going, and I hated that every nerve in my body was revving with energy, desperate for him to follow through. Itching for my dagger in my boot, I curled my hands into fists and stood up straighter, daring him to challenge me.

"Do it," I goaded. "Teach my father a lesson and it will only prove how wrong you are. Prove you lust for war."

I think I got under his skin enough, because he made fists. I braced myself for what was to come. Pike punched me in the pace, but I was so high on adrenaline I barely felt it. All I registered was a faint throbbing in my cheek, and blood flooding my mouth, trickling down the corner of my lips.

"See," I laughed. It was a cold indignant laugh, driven by my hatred for him and his belief. "All you are is a violent hate-monger. Attacking Grounders, and now your own?"

Pike grabbed the front of my jacket and shoved me against the wall. "You Kanes are weak and blind. The people know better."

My smile dropped, replaced by a seething rage. He wanted to be Chancellor. If that happened, I couldn't imagine the horrors that would unfold. War would never end. "You're the blind one. Blinded by your rage, your misplaced fighting instincts. And you're going to kill us all."