Renegades
“It’'s our time to make a move
it's our time to make amends
it's our time to breake the rules
let's begin.”
(X Ambassadors)
For a couple days Clarke had been doing everything Bellamy told her to in order to be safe and not to draw anymore attentions on her.
There were a few moments when she could swear she heard the click of a camera or footsteps following her, so she stayed in the crowds most of the time and, by the time she reached Friday, she was starting to feel like a hunted quarry.
On Friday morning Raven and her went back to the Busy Bean's, their usual café, and Clarke could tell her friend noticed something wrong with her and that she was waiting for her to bring it up once she was ready.
Clarke was thankful for that. A lot.
And yet, she didn’t know how to tell them ‘Hey, I think the rogues that killed my father want to probably kill me as well! Yay!’ though at the same time she felt bad for keeping this big of a secret from them… it was hard to pretend she wasn't scared to death.
Raven anyway always knew how to create a good distraction. She had just taught her a game in which you basically flicked a coin untill the edge of the table, then flipped it and had to catch it with both thumbs mid air to try to score the goal.
Needless to say, when the waitress got there she was miserably losing.
“Sorry Clarke, I'm just that awesome!” grinned the girl.
Clarke snorted, ordered a white coffee and took out her phone while Raven did the same.
Several minutes passed and Clarke presumed Raven had been on her phone as well, but when their orders arrived the blonde raised her eyes to find her friend looking at something behind her with a disgruntled expression.
She turned back just as Raven started whining “ I can't believe I've just been cockblocked by Steve Jobs!”
“What happened?” asked Clarke with a laugh.
“Look! Tall, dirty blond hair, killer cheekbones and almond eyes, see?” She looked and indeed she saw a girl that fitted the description perfectly. She gave a bit of an intimidating vibe with her even expression and austere gaze, still she was undoubtedly pretty nontheless. “I swear she's been staring at me for the past three minutes! I thought we were having a moment and then -Bam!- she takes her phone out and turns away.”
Clarke giggled as the brunette scoffed indignantly, but when she turned back again she saw the girl definitely looking at her friend and smiled. “I think I remember someone telling me to grow a pair and just go for it. Guess it's my turn to say it… go talk to her!”
Raven just made a face and said “Nah, I'll wait for her to realize I'm so great that she can't live without getting to know me or something like that…”
Clarke rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, sure… what if she doesn't?”
“Her loss” stated Raven with a shrug.
The blonde was about to retort when her phone started vibrating.
“Sorry, I have to take this.” She excused herself and got out. “Hey Bell! What’s up?”
Bellamy's hoarse voice greeted her from the device. “I have something… think you can meet me?”
“Ok, where and when?”
“Your place, now.”
She heard Bellamy hangin' up and looked at her phone with a puzzled expression for a second before going back in to tell Raven.
“Rae… something came up, I have to go”
“If I weren't a real delight I'd think you're just trying to get rid of me” joked the brunette.
“You know I couldn't if I wanted to” said the blonde with a smile. “I’m really sorry, though”
“Don't worry, I have to get to work in half an hour anyway” answered Raven with a shrug as they took their leave.
She pretty much ran home and found the man waiting for her on her front door. She greeted him and led him inside.
“So, I've been reading files from old cases for the most part of these days.” He started once they were both sitting on the couch. “At first I thought I was just wasting time, but then I found these”
He laid some documents on the table before them and waited for Clarke to read them.
The first few pages were just reports about strange demises in Arkadia throughout the last ten years. Most of them had been caused by several deseases some of which had been later connected to VCM poisoning.
Some others instead were victims of homicides by unknowns left unsolved still.
“These are just the ones that have been reported, who knows how many more have been disguised as casualties…” He said gathering the files back.
“So you're saying we were right about the VCM.”
“Yes but there's something that doesn't quite fit.” He said as he put the papers back in their folder. “These cases all lead to Ark Inc. Most of the victims were employees and their relatives, but apparently there's no evidence of them handling vynil chloride in their premises. None of their industries work with it and there's nothing hinting a connection between any of their top dogs or employees and any of the other crimes.”
“ Of course not…” mumbled Clarke feeling defeated.
Bellamy smiled sadly and squeeze her shoulder. “Don’t be sad… I'm sure we'll find something eventually. Don't forget I'm a great cop” he said with a wink.
“Thank you, Bell” Said the girl with a small smile.
“There's something else, though… I've been visiting Arkham and I've met some interesting individuals.”
“Arkham as in the criminal asylum?” She asked with a frown.
“Precisely. And not all of the residents there are quite as loony as they're made out to be.”
“Get to the point Bell.”
He grinned. “I might have met a few guys with interesting things to say about a secret organization that, according to hearsays, operates here in Polis and has been for a long time, but has taken root in places scattered throughout the country. I haven't verified this information yet, but some believe that they might be responsible for some of these murders and I'm willing to take a shot.”
Clarke gave him a skeptical look but didn't say anything.
“Look, I know it sounds crazy but I think if we follow this lead we might shed some light on this riddle and move forward. You just keep doing what you're doing. I'm gonna scout this Ground Code I've been told about and see if there's anything suspitious there.”
Clarke still wasn't convinced but she knew once Bellamy was set on something there was very little she could do to make him change his mind. He usually learned the hard way, anyhow.
“Just be careful, ok? I know I'm the one that asked you to investigate but don't make me worry about you.” She told him as she stood.
“Are you growing soft on me, now? If I didn’t know any better I’d think you care about me” He answered with a smug smile.
“Against my better judgement, I guess I do, so don't go jump into danger recklessly as you usually do, please.” She said leaning for a hug and holding him tightly for a moment as he reciprocated.
Right in that moment they heard the door open and found Octavia looking at them with a stunned expression and her mouth agape in shock. She looked at them like they'd grown an additional head each for a beat, then Bellamy broke the silence and greeted her with a hug.
“Hey baby sis!”
She looked still a bit dazed but hugged him back nonetheless.
“Hey Bell, what are you doing in Polis?”
He looked at Clarke not knowing how much he could tell his sister about the matter and from the slightly panicked expression she was wearing he deduced the answer.
Octavia anyway just looked even more suspitious. “What’s going on here?”
“Nothing, O… I was just here for a quick visit, since I had some business here in Polis I thought I'd come and say hi… I'm heading out now, anyway. It was good to see you, Clarke.”
“You too, Bell. Take care”
He kissed his sister on the cheek and left right after.
Once he was gone the brunette turned to her with an inquisitive look and a hand on her hip. Clarke seriously could never get around to how someone so small could be so intimidating.
“So…”
“So…?”
“Are you secretly fucking my brother?”
Clarke almost choked on air. That was so not what she was expecting.
“It's alright, you can tell me. I'm not gonna judge… I mean, Blake genes? We're irresistible! Genetically we're a catch.” She said raising one eyebrow. “I just don't understand why you would hide it from me. You're one of my best friends, he's my brother, two of the people I love the most in the world! I wouldn't have minded!”
“Octavia, wait… it's not like that. Bellamy and I are just friends-“
“Then what was that thing I just walked in on? You sure looked cozy there… plus I'm his sister and he thought about calling you first?”
“O, no… look, Bellamy is just doing me a favour, there's nothing between us”
The younger girl scoffed. “I really don't wanna know what kind of favour he was doing you, if you wanna be fuckbuddies that's not my business. Just know that if you ever want to stop being a secretive little bitch I'll be in my room, ready to talk” said the brunette as she made her way out of the living room.
Clarke was left looking dumbfounded after her, not really knowing what to say.
She shook her head and got ready for her afternoon classes.
***
When Clarke got home that evening she found Raven lounging on the couch watching documentaries about space and planets while eating cheetos.
She sat next to her after taking off her jacket and shoes and sighed.
“So…” Started her friend without looking at her.
“Oh God, not you too…” she huffed.
“Is it true, though?” Asked the brunette taking another fistful of her snack and throwing it into her mouth.
Clarke sighed again. “Of curse not! It was a friendly hug!”
“Mmh.”
“You don’t believe me.” Mumbled the blonde sinking in the couch, ready to bury her face in the comforter and scream.
“I do.”
“You do?” asked Clarke in surprise.
“Of curse I do. You and Bellamy have been friends for years and nothing ever happened. Plus it would have maybe made sense if you wanted to keep it secret from O but you would have told me, if this were the case.”
Clarke looked at her in astonishment. “Right… thanks, I guess. “
“I would have known anyway, ‘cause you wouldn't know subtle if it smacked you in the face… and don’t forget I'm a genius.” She added with a shrug.
Clarke sighed for the third time. “Good… brilliant.”
They kept watching the documentary in silence for a while untill Raven spoke again.
“There's something I don't understand, though.”
“What?”
Raven turned to look at her and the serious look in her big brown eyes made Clarke feel slightly uncomfortable.
“If you're not having an affair with Bellamy, which we have estabilished you aren't, what are you doing, exactly?”
“what do you mean?”
“Don't play dumb with me, Clarke… if it's something you don't wanna tell me, it's fine, I won't dig any further, but whatever it is its obviously eating away at you. I just want you to know that I'm here and I'm willing to help, if you'll let me.” She told her with conviction.
Clarke was left staring at her friend in awe. Raven really was something else.
“You don't always have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders alone, you know?”
A that Clarke practically tackled her and hugged her so tight Raven almost couldn't breathe, which made the brunette chuckle as she put her arms around her friend’s waist.
“I really wish I could, Rae… believe me.”
“I already told you, I do.”
“I love you”
“I bet, I'm awesome!”
“So what is it? The ‘hugs for everyone but Octavia' day? God, I feel so left out!”
Apparently Octavia was back from the gym and staring at the two with another curious look, although this time she was clearly biting back a smile.
“I swear I'm not fucking Raven behind your back!” The blonde blurted out quickly as she let go of the brunette.
“Jeez! No wonder why O didn’t believe you last time!” said Raven between laughters. Octavia joined her as she sat beside her on the couch. Clarke gave them an unimpressed look and then felt her phone buzzing in her pocket.
“Is it Bellamy? “
“Does he know about your crush on Belle?”
“Oh my God! Bell and Belle! Don't you ever get confused?”
“Ahah, really funny. It's my mum, you two have fun picking on me!” she said sticking out her tongue at them.
“Tell Abby ‘hi' for me!”
Clarke rolled her eyes and made it to her room before answering her mother's call.
“Hey mom”
“Hey, sweetheart… how are you?”
“Everything’s fine here. How are things back in Arkadia? “
“Same as ever, crazy days at the hospital and all. Jackson's out on an internship in Philadelphia and I'm stuck here with a man that peed himself approximately fifteen times in the last twenty minutes and an old woman covered in pustules and thank God for Cece that's been listening to me rant about this place for the last hour or else I really don't know what I would have done!”
Clarke chuckled. “Probably something your career would have been severely affected by. Say hi to Cece for me.”
“Sure… so how's it going with your studies?”
“I'm doing great mom, I'll be your favourite forensic scientist!”
“No doubt about that! Not that it’s a great accomplishment, you would be my favourite forensic scientist even if you didn’t know how to use a microscope or a computer.”
“That’s exactly what I was hoping!” said Clarke with a grin as Abby chuckled.
“Are you coming back home next week?”
“I’ll try, mom.”
They made small talk for a little bit longer and then Abby had to go back to work.
In ten days it would be April 14, the day Jake died. She usually stayed home during those days and visited her father's grave with her mom but, even though she felt bad for it, she really didn't want to go this time.
She didn't need a reminder that Jake was gone. She still felt his absence everyday like a hole in her chest. She wanted to keep the good memories of him alive, she didn't want to stand looking at an epitaph on a stele with the image of his defaced body burning to ashes in her mind.
She laid down on her bed and was about to doze off when she felt her phone go off again.
She didn't recognize the caller's number but hesitantly answered at the third ring.
“Hello?”
She heard a bit of a ruckus for a while and then a young male voice asking “Clarke? Clarke Griffin?”
“Yes, it's me. Who's asking?”
“I’m sorry… my name's Nathan Miller, I work with Bellamy Blake. I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to alarm you, I got your phone number from a friend at the station.”
She frowned and listened quietly as the man kept speaking.
“Bellamy told me he was going to meet you and I hoped you could tell me where he is ‘cause he's been untraceable since this morning.”
Her mind started racing with dreadful images of the things that might have possibly happened to him and she felt her heart stop.
‘Not again.’ She thought ‘Please, not again!’
“Clarke?”
“Yeah, I'm here…” she said with a calm she really didn't feel at all. “I think I know where he might be.”
“Good. I'm on my way to Polis, I'm almost there, can you give me directions?”
“It's a place called Ground Code. He said he was going there to follow some lead this morning. I'll meet you there.”
“Wait, I don't think its a good thing for a civilian to meddle with police business…”
“If I put him in danger you can bet your ass I'll do everything I can to get him out!”
She didn't wait for an answer as she hung up and exited the room.
“Hey, everything alright?” She met Octavia’s questioning glance as she put her shoes and jacket back on.
“Yeah… yeah, sure! I just… have some errands to run really fast” She intentionally avoided looking them in the
eyes as she took her car keys.
“Is Abby ok?”
“Of course, O! Don't worry! I'd just forgotten about some things and now I'm really late, sorry for making you worry, I'll be back soon! Love you! Bye!”
She put on a fake smile, waved at them and closed the door behind her.
***
Twentythree minutes later she was waiting for Nathan to arrive.
She was starting to get nervous and she didn't like standing before that place. At all.
It was filled with menacing shabby-looking men and very few, even scarier, women.
Clarke felt like a duck during hunting season but was determined not to show it.
As she ignored the unflattering comments of a large bald man with one eye, she received a text from Octavia asking her if she was going to make it that night.
‘I hope so but I really don't think I can, O. Sorry' she texted back.
“Clarke?” She recognized the voice instantly and turned to find a tall young man with dark skin and neatly shaved beard and hair, squared broad shoulders and a sort of military stance.
“Nathan, right?”
He nodded and then turned towards the pub's front door. It didn't look dirty, but gloomy and somehow scary. The two exchanged a worried look and got in.
Suddenly it felt like all eyes had fallen on them. As soon as they crossed the door they were met with various glares and dirty looks, the smell of smoke, and some really distinctive hard rock music.
Clarke swallowed subtly and made her way to the counter with a wary Nathan at her side. A waiter with long brown dreadlocks and several tattoos on his face, neck and thick arms greeted them with a barely visibile nod and a scowl.
“Two beers, please.” Nathan asked.
The man turned with a disapproving grunt and reluctantly tapped their drinks.
“Maybe we should have thought about a plan, first.” He whispered leaning close to her while taking out some money to pay.
She took her glass and rapidly scanned the place.
“We'll have to go freestyle… I hope you're not a lightweight.” She replied chugging a significant amount of her beer and heading straight towards the pool table.
She approached the biggest of them all, a heap of muscles on a tall, fierce man, with a mane of dark brown mohican hair and a long thick braided beard. Judging from his death stare, Nathan wouldn’t have been surprised if he had the habit to kill six men every morning before breakfast and eat their guts.
That guy looked utterly lethal.
So the boy was more than a little appalled when Clarke stood right before him with a defying look on her face.
He was down right terrified.
“Up for a challenge?” She said with a meschievous voice picking up a stick to play.
“What’s the prize?” He growled, his voice hoarse and low as a thunder, Nathan felt it resonate through his whole body.
“If I win, you'll pay my drinks for the rest of the night.” Said the girl simply, keeping a straight face.
“What do I get?”
She gave him a sly smile and she dared get closer to him. “I pay for your drinks and you don't look like you're afraid of a little girl.”
He ground his teeth and gave her a nasty glare that would have been enough to make a man twice her size literally scared to death, and yet she didn't even flinch.
Nathan, for maybe the first time in his life, really wished he had a God to pray.
***