Seizing Bullets

 'So this went well.' Murphy muttered, but he soon hissed out in pain as his wrists were bound and he was tied between the posts.

Octavia was placed on his side and she was next to Lincoln, who was already tied up along with Kane and Sinclair.

Arkadia was still mostly engulfed by darkness but the glare of the spotlight from the guard tower focused upon them made Murphy squint. The air was cool around them and Murphy shivered against his restraints. He should have known that the Arkers would judge him and call him a liar and a criminal and they at least had a point, but he had to admit that he never thought he would be back here after surviving the sky box. Yet Pike had brought them out here in the middle of the night, as much as this was out in the open perhaps Pike was keen not to draw attention and if Clarke wasn't able to come up with a plan then that was bad news for all of them; Pike would execute them all with no crowd and no chance of opposition.

'I've helped you by rescuing Clarke and Murphy.' Octavia spat, struggling against the red bands that were holding her wrists.

'You can leave traitors to die next time.' Pike advised. 'You betrayed me. Whatever is going on here is not in my interests. I am not a fool, Octavia. I will spare you because of Bellamy but you will still await my decision.'

'Where is her dear brother?' Murphy drawled.

Pike just shook his head in Murphy's direction. Of course, Bellamy wouldn't be allowed here or Bellamy trusted Pike enough not to just kill Octavia. Murphy didn't know which option would work best for them.

'You can't just kill everyone you don't like!' Kane shouted.

'Why not?' Murphy smirked. 'He's a true Chancellor after all.'

Pike wiped his face and smirked before stepping forward until his face was mere inches from his own.

'You're right; I can, Mr Murphy,' Pike whispered, 'when it is for the good of Arkadia then I absolutely can.'

Bryan opened the door and both he and Clarke ducked inside. Clarke grabbed the nearest assault rifle from where it was held in the armoury and quickly loaded it.

'You're just going to walk about like that?' Bryan asked, eyeing the huge gun in her arms.

'Yes,' Clarke replied quickly, 'and I need an earpiece radio. I know Raven and Wick worked on them before we left to take Mount Weather.'

'Yeah, Raven finished them when you were gone.' Bryan said, confused, 'I've got one.'

He pulled out what looked like a small black bead and pulled out his radio from his belt and handed both to Clarke.

Clarke fiddled placed the bead in her ear and pulled her hair to shield it from view.

'If you sync up that radio-'

'I know how it works.' Clarke told him, but not unkindly. 'Bryan, you should go. You don't have to be a part of this.'

'I have to.' Bryan said desperately. 'Pike saved me when we landed but it's not right what he's doing. I spied on Nate.'

Clarke softened slightly and she put her gun on one of the metal shelves behind her and grasped Bryan's hand.

'That's why you need to leave me to do what needs to be done. Miller needs you.' Clarke urged. 'If you want to help, be prepared. Get Miller, Harper and whoever else ready so that if they need to flee Arkadia they can.'

Bryan nodded and Clarke slowly released his hand. Clarke handed the radio back to him and he slipped it in his belt, without even checking the channels or that it had been silenced.

'Good luck, Clarke.' He offered.

'You too,' Clarke replied, 'and thank you.'

Bryan offered her a small smile before he slipped back out of the armoury's door.

'Lexa, I'm here.' Clarke said quietly to the empty room.

'Are you alone?' Lexa's voice instantly filled Clarke's ear and Clarke couldn't help the wide smile that crossed over her face.

Clarke marvelled at Lexa's instincts to remain silent until Clarke had made contact. Anyone else may have panicked at static, especially when the grounders were not familiar with radios. Clarke needed Lexa's cool logic now.

'Yeah, and I'm okay.' Clarke replied. 'Pike took Octavia and Murphy to interrogate them. I'm going after him.'

'Clarke, how are you going to get close to him?'

'By causing enough chaos to draw him to me.' Clarke answered. 'He didn't fall for the bait- not if he's taken the others- which means he still believes I'm yours and that gives me value. He won't want to kill me when he thinks I might know your plans but I won't hesitate to kill him.'

Clarke was convinced she heard Lexa take a sharp intake of breath. She could imagine the small flashes of emotion in Lexa's eyes which everyone else would miss. The worry and pain would be evident but so would the trust.

'At dawn, I need your army to make as much noise as possible. I need you to threaten war unless Lincoln, Octavia and the other grounders are safely returned to you.'

'It's a good plan.' Lexa replied knowingly. 'The others will fear for their lives and demand Pike hands the prisoners over but Pike will refuse. It will help destabilise them.'

'While showing that you're not a monster,' Clarke emphasised, 'and that you're not a savage.'

Regret filled Clarke as she remembered those words. Lexa had been so stoic even then but Clarke wondered if that whole night she had been haunted by memories of Costia. It was an utterly tragic night for Clarke and yet despite how they had been so firmly on opposing sides of the battle for Finn's life, their respect for each other had grown more than either could have ever believed possible.

'We are what we are.' Lexa said, and Clarke could swore she could hear a smile behind those words.

Clarke knew who they both were now. There were no lies and nothing to hide behind. She knew what they were both capable of and she embraced. She felt lucky really, when she looked around and the dull grey metallic armoury she was in, filled with enough weapons to slaughter any number of people, she knew that only she and Lexa could bring about a resolution. They had shown that only they together could bring peace. Her people, and Lexa's people, doubted it so often but they would prove it once more. This they would do side by side and Clarke didn't doubt that Lexa would stay with her this time, and then they would ride back into Polis together.

'I'm Wanheda now,' Clarke replied, 'so let's finally use that against Arkadia.'