Copper

Chapter Twelve

"You said to stop sparring easy so I took the shot-"

"Miller there is a definitive difference between sparring and decking someone so hard in the face they get a black eye for weeks."

Having to tell everyone Clarke is dead is something I never want to repeat in my life. It was silent. Nobody said a word. Following the shock a few people shed some tears but given a lot of us are fighters, I watch them internalize it just like Bellamy and I. Keeping themselves together and their head clear. But telling Madi? I couldn't do it. I tried but I got choked up seeing her big doe eyes watching me with worry I couldn't stop myself. Instead, Bellamy moved me aside and told her for me. Watching Bellamy crouch to her level with unshed tears broke my heart to see. Instead of crumbling I watched Madi wrap her own arms around Bellamy, burying her face into the crook of his neck. Seeing her crying for the loss of the second parental figure in her life made me want to just pick her up and run her away from this mess.

That brings me to where I wander outside, finding Bellamy sitting alone on a bench overlooking the lake which occupies the centre of Sanctum. I see his shoulders shake and I know he'd left he tavern so he wouldn't break in front of them. With Clarke gone the responsibility to show them the way falls to us. What had been the three of us has diminished to just a pair and it couldn't feel more wrong. Clarke should be here. Be with us, with Madi, leading out people. Bellamy, Clarke and I. Despite everything we've been through the authority has always remained with us.

Gravel crunching under my boots, Bellamy spares a teary look at me and my heart sinks at how broken he looks. The hard exterior has fallen away to reveal his face awash with grief and sadness over her death. Silently biting my own lip to keep myself together, I sit beside Bellamy. I don't say a word as he ducks his raven curls to the floor. I merely place my hand on his back, rubbing circles as I let him fall apart. Once this happens I know Bellamy will build himself back up stronger than before. Cities have been rebuilt from ruins before. Call me a dreamer but I like to think people work that way too.