ATARAXIA • BELLAMY BLAKE

[ 5 1 ]

Having been told that Bellamy was there, I step into our makeshift gym to find him shirtless and panting, locked in a sparring session with an equally shirtless Lincoln. A group of teens watches them intently, eager to learn from them.

Bellamy notices me just as I enter, then charges at Lincoln. But Lincoln swiftly catches his arm, twists it, and sends Bellamy crashing onto the mat. I wince as Lincoln looms over him, fist raised threateningly before stepping back, leaving Bellamy on the floor, struggling to catch his breath, sweat gleaming on his torso.

"He had me, but he was too aggressive," Lincoln says, stepping away.

I suppress a laugh as Bellamy gets to his feet, grumbling, "Whatever you say," as he steps away to grabs his shirt.

"Quitting already?" Lincoln taunts, watching Bellamy tug the shirt over his head, struggling as it sticks to his sweaty chest.

Bellamy jerks his head towards me, prompting Lincoln to meet my gaze. I offer a small smile. "Mapping run. Sector seven," Bellamy explains.

"Freya, let's get this over with," Bellamy calls, and I walk over, tossing a duffel bag to Lincoln.

"The Council wants you to have that," Bellamy says as Lincoln unzips the bag, revealing a Guard's jacket.

"I'm Trikru," Lincoln responds, his tone edged with resistance at the sight of the Sky Person symbol.

"A uniform doesn't change that," I tell him. Bellamy and I both received one as well, accepting it as a symbol of something new. I'm wearing mine now, ready to use Lexa's ceasefire to continue mapping the surrounding area.

"This is our home now, Lincoln," Bellamy says, addressing everyone in the room. "We fought for it. Too many of our friends died for it. On the Ark, the uniform meant something different. Down here, it means what we make it mean. Together."

Lincoln looks at the jacket in his hands, guilt etched across his face.

I step closer and quietly add, "Octavia will understand eventually," ensuring only the three of us hear.

Octavia's identity is deeply tied to what she learned from the Grounders. She trained under Indra in preparation for Mount Weather, but like Lincoln, she was shunned for refusing Lexa's order to retreat. She won't like Lincoln wearing a Guard's jacket, not just because the Guard and the Council were what kept her hidden in the floor for sixteen years, but because she'll see it as Lincoln abandoning his people. But it's not fair; Lincoln's people shunned him, not the other way around. Lexa even put a kill order on him.

Lincoln avoids my gaze, looking back down at the jacket before turning to the teens. "Pair up and fight."

The kids follow his command as Bellamy pulls on his own jacket. Lincoln still holds his, his expression unchanged. "Sector seven?" he asks. "That puts you near the Ice Nation border."

"Yeah, I know," Bellamy nods.

"Just because Azgeda is part of the Commander's coalition doesn't mean they respect the ceasefire," Lincoln warns. "I should be on that scout."

Azgeda, the Ice Nation, is notoriously difficult, so Lincoln's concern is valid. But as much as we'd like to bring him, we can't.

"You know we want you there, but—"

"But until the Commander lifts your kill order, you're more trouble than you're worth," Bellamy cuts in. Lincoln sighs, but nods in understanding. Then he returns his attention to the teens. "You ready?" Bellamy then asks me, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

"Yeah. Just need to check with Kane," I say, wrapping an arm around him as well as we start heading out of the gym and down the hall to the Chancellor's office where Abby and Kane spend most of their time.