week one, sunday

[jettisons]

[After the execution, Bellamy doesn't really want to be around anyone. He plants himself on the beach anyway, just in case anything happens, but he's stand offish and looks almost shut down. It's only after everyone disperses that he actually goes to look for Raven. She's the only one he thinks he can handle being around right now, because he knows he doesn't have to put on a brave face for her. It's a relief.

He finds her on the way back to her hut, jogging a bit to catch up. Hey, Raven, everything is fine, right?]

How's your brace holding up?

[It's been sounding concerningly creaky. Also, let's not talk about anything terrible just yet.]

Comments

[hydrazine]

[She stops when she hears him coming, giving him a small smile before she glances down at the brace.]

It's been better, but it could be a hell of a lot worse.

[A shrug.]

[jettisons]

The sand's not helping, huh?

[He holds out the bottle of olive oil for her to inspect.]

It's all they would give me.

[hydrazine]

[She looks a little surprised as he holds out the bottle, but that surprise quickly turns into a smile with a little more sincerity.]

You could've asked for anything else, you know.

[But the fond tone of her voice betrays the fact that it isn't a criticism. She's grateful.]

[jettisons]

[He shrugs. Seeing her smile makes it worth it.]

You needed it. Will it help?

[hydrazine]

[Another nod.]

...Yeah, it will. It's a lot better than nothing. Thank you.

[jettisons]

[He nods at the thanks.]

Good. How's Akira doing?

[hydrazine]

As well as anyone could expect, probably.

[So... Not great.]

He's a strong kid. He'll survive.

[jettisons]

[Bellamy's silent for a moment, crossing his arms as he stares down at the sand.]

He is strong. He shouldn't have to be.

[Bellamy is so, so sick of people dying.]

We need to stop this, Raven.

[hydrazine]

We need to stop this in a way that won't get all of us killed.

[That's her concern - that if they try something without enough prior planning, they'll all be killed.]

[jettisons]

I know.

[It comes out quiet, rougher than he meant it to. They need to be careful, but they're on a time limit, and the thought of someone else dying in four days is making him crazy.]

I'm not finding anything. Nothing about the roles, nothing we don't already know.

[hydrazine]

...If we could find something that indicates there might be a security system, it might be a start.

[But even she wouldn't know a good place to start with that. It could come in too many forms.]

[jettisons]

What do you need me to look for?

[He's getting almost desperate for something productive to do, but this isn't his wheelhouse. He can try to keep everyone focused and calm, he can work with Lief and Lelouch to keep them fed, but none of that matters if they're all just waiting to die.]

[hydrazine]

If anyone's going to be looking, it's going to be both of us.

[She's not letting him do something like this alone.]

[jettisons]

If something happens out there, who else is going to disarm whatever security system they might have?

[hydrazine]

[Her body language grows a bit more tense as she catches his meaning, and she draws herself up slightly.]

If it did, Newt or Hiro could, but it's not going to. If you're going, I'm going, too. We watch each other's backs.

[jettisons]

Raven, they need you here.

[It's not in the usual authoritative way he'd normal say it. In fact, it's soft and entreating.]

[hydrazine]

[She might not disagree, but she does add on.]

Yeah, well, they need you here, too. People are already looking to you. You're teaching them and helping them through.

how did i fuck up that last tag so bad whoops

[jettisons]

[He knows people are, and it's not like he's ready to march off into the jungle and die, but he can't lose Raven, not after Jasper and Gina and so many others. Not after Clarke.]

They need you on the Ark, too. Monty's good, but he can't do it by himself. [And then, a little more honestly:] I need you to be safe.

[hydrazine]

[A frustrated sigh.]

You think they don't need you there, too? You think anyone else is going to make sure Emori, Echo, Monty and Harper get along for the next five years? That's why we're doing this together. We're getting out of here together. Dammit, Bellamy, I can't...

[She cuts off, crossing her arms. It might be easy to guess what she was about to say, though: I can't lose you, too.]

[jettisons]

[He has no doubt Raven could do it, but he doesn't say so, just sighs, although his is far more exhausted than frustrated. Automatically, he's stepping forward, hand moving to her arm.]

What?

[hydrazine]

[She looks up to his face when he touches her arm, expression honest and vulnerable for a moment before she looks down at the ground again with an inhale.]

I can't lose you, too. I won't, Bellamy.

[jettisons]

[Oh, Raven. He smoothes his hand up her arm, and after a long moment of hesitation, finally reaches to tilt her chin up with a finger.]

Hey, look at me. I'm not going anywhere, alright?

[hydrazine]

[She looks back up towards him when he touches her, and though she tries to keep calm, it's not hard to read the emotion on her face.]

If you aren't careful, you don't know that.

[jettisons]

I'm always careful.

[It's the barest attempt at a joke.]

No stupid stunts, I promise.

[hydrazine]

...Okay. Okay.

[She nods, reaching up to the place where his hand rests on her arm to place hers over it.]

We'll be okay.