I know it's taking a while, but I did warn that this was a slow burn.

Also, I love Theo and Bellamy. I think this is definitely one of the more real, natural relationships I've written.

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When I got inside, Bellamy was leaned over a table which had been set up to look like our camp and the surrounding area. He was moving little whittled figures and landmines around to try and make a plan for the morning.

"Hey," I said softly as I stood beside him. I was nervous about being there with him if I were being honest. "Are you okay?"

His head remained hung over the map, "O hasn't forgiven me for that Grounder, you're barely talking to me, and none of them out there understand."

I shook my head with a sigh, "Octavia really cares about Lincoln, and I think you need to accept that, Bellamy. And I'm pretty sure they do understand. But, I'm also pretty sure you scared the shit out of all of them."

"I'm not explaining myself again. The Grounders are coming and fear is the only thing that is keeping them working."

"What about hope?" I threw back.

He finally turned to face me, his eyes looking tired. "I can't give them that."

"You can try," I insisted. When he didn't respond, I felt a small sigh escape me.

I was about to leave when he took my hand in his and stopped me in my tracks. "Why are you avoiding me?"

Looking down, I stared at our hands, before meeting his eyes. I didn't want to waste time lying to him; I had already done that so many times.
"I came to talk to you. We never got to speak about Unity Day and what I said, and what happened after I told you about what happened that night, and everything else. And then I saw Raven leave your tent. That's why I've been avoiding you."

His eyes scanned my face slowly, looking for something. "She came to me, Sutton."

"Whatever," I replied drily.

His voice lowered as his eyes softened, "I'm sorry, Theo."

The way he said my name almost made me shiver.
"I don't care, Bellamy."

I went to remove my hand, but he only pulled me closer before I got the opportunity. Our bodies were less than thirty centimetres apart as he looked down at me, his eyes boring into mine.
"Yes, you do. And so do I."

I had no idea how to respond to that. We stood staring at each other as Jasper walked in, gun in hand. He didn't even try to hide his anger towards Bellamy.

"Don't you think I want to go after them, too?" Bellamy asked the boy, taking a step back from me and turning to look at him.

Jasper stopped, "If it was you out there, you think Monty, Maeve, Clarke, or Finn would hide behind these walls?"

Bellamy finally let go of my hand, walking over and stepping in front of him. He didn't do it menacingly or anything, he just did it so that they were facing each other, "No. They'd go after me. Then they'd be dead, too."

I winced at his words. Jasper had been through so much, I didn't think he'd be able to lose Monty and pull through like he has been doing.

When Jasper scoffed lightly, Bellamy jumped to defend his choices. "I am doing what I think is right for the group."

"It's funny," Jasper shook his head as he placed his gun on the table. "You didn't think that way when Octavia went missing."
He then walked away from us.

"Where are you going?"

"More gunpowder for your minefield. . . sir," Jasper saluted sarcastically before climbing up the ladder to the second level of the drop ship.

Bellamy ran a hand roughly through his hair, staring at his feet.
Knowing that Bellamy going up there would probably be useless, I walked over to the ladder. "I'll talk to him."

Bellamy put a hand on the rungs in front of me, getting me to stop. "We need to finish that conversation."

"We will," I promised. "But later."

Myles groaned from where he was laying, asking for water. Bellamy glanced at me, thinking for a moment, before nodding. "Fine. Later."
He then told the boy he would get him some water, and walked out.

I knew he thought he was doing the right thing, but Jasper did have a point when he brought up Octavia. However, we weren't expecting a whole Grounder army at that time.
I was just worried about Clarke, Finn, Maeve, and Monty. Who knew if they were still alive?

Grabbing the ladder, I climbed up after Jasper.
"Need a hand?" I asked as I reached the platform.

He rolled his eyes as he picked up the tin can of gun powder and began to pour it into a canister. I couldn't help but chuckle as I read the label - 'GUN POWDER - THIS STUFF WILL BLOW YOUR DAMN FACE OFF!!'

When Jasper still hadn't responded, I stepped closer to him. "Hey, what's with the attitude?"

"I could ask you the same," he mumbled.

My brows raised in shock, "And what's that supposed to mean?"

Jasper put down the can of gun powder and spun to look at me. "Suddenly you're siding with Bellamy?"

He looked so disappointed that I hadn't backed him up when he was talking to Bellamy. Like I had betrayed him.
"It's not like that, J. Things are different. He's just trying to do what he thinks is best."

"'Things are different'?" Jasper scoffed. His lips curved in a frown as his eyes flicked in thought. "What? Are you sleeping with him?"

"No!" I shot back, shocked that he would jump to that conclusion. "I admit, things are a bit weird right now, but we haven't-"

"Whatever, I don't care," he muttered. "You know, the Theo I used to know would give a damn if her friends were missing."

"I do, Jasper, believe me."

"Then do something," he told me.

Taking a deep breath, I nodded, "I'll talk to him, but you need to help me, okay? Because jumping down people's throats doesn't do anyone any good. Trust me, I know."

A sudden rustling and thudding down on the first level had us both fall quiet, listening carefully.
"What's going on down there?" I whispered as I walked quietly over to the ladder.

Jasper grabbed my arm, "Wait here. I'll check it out."

"I can take care of myself," I reminded him.

"I know. Now, wait here."
He grabbed the canister of gunpowder and climbed down the ladder carefully. Unfortunately, he wasn't careful enough as the canister clanked against the ladder.

"He stopped breathing," I heard Murphy stutter. "I was - I was trying to help him."

Jasper was quiet as he continued down the ladder and I watched on out of view. Unexpectedly, it sounded like there was a lot of movement. It took all my willpower not to jump down after him.

"Murphy, just put the gun down," Jasper said to the boy. My hand covered my mouth in shock and horror. Murphy was pointing a gun at Jasper.

But why?

I thought back to what he had originally said about someone not breathing. Myles. Murphy had killed him.

Murphy stuttered slightly as he spoke again, "He tried to kill me. Hey, don't move."

"Okay. Okay," Jasper managed to remain somewhat calm. Me on the other hand; I had my nails dug into my palms to keep from moving. "It's cool."

"No, it's not. You know what'll happen to me if you tell Bellamy."

"Tell Bellamy what?" I heard the boy's voice crackle from a walkie. Jasper must've turned his walkie on during that conversation to send it to Bellamy.

I could hear Murphy take a deep breath in. He knew he was screwed.
"Give me the radio, Jasper."

It was quiet for a moment before Jasper spoke quickly into his radio, "Murphy has a gun. He killed Myles."

"Shut the hell up."

I heard a loud bang and a thump, like someone hitting the floor. That was enough to break my resolve. I got up and climbed down the ladder quickly to see my friend on the ground.
"Jasper!"

"Murphy, what the hell are you doing?" Bellamy's voice asked over the radio.

"You're insane," I informed him as I knelt beside Jasper.

He walked over to the controls and pulled the lever that raised the door. As his back was turned, I took the opportunity to pick up the closest looking object that would hurt.

With the canister Jasper had brought with him in hand, I walked up behind Murphy. I brought it up and swung it, making it connect with the side of his head.

He stumbled away, letting go of the controls. I ran up to them, pulling the lever.

But, apparently, I hadn't hit Murphy hard enough. The boy kicked the back of my knee, causing it to buckle, before hitting me in the side of the head with his gun.

I toppled to the floor, reaching a hand to my head. Disorientated, I looked around, only to meet the barrel of Murphy's gun.

"Move again, and I shoot," he warned.

I put my hands up, signalling that I was doing as he said. Looking to my right hand, I saw it had blood from the side of my head.

The boy returned to the controls, putting the door of the dropship up.

"Murphy! Murphy!" Bellamy shouted. His voice was somewhat muffled, but I could still hear him.

I got up and tried to approach Murphy again, but I was still dizzy enough from being hit in the head that he just shoved me to the ground. "Bellamy, help!"

"Stop, or I shoot him," Murphy told me, resetting the focus of the gun to Jasper's unconscious body, figuring I'd listen to that threat. He was right.

"Okay, okay, just. . . just leave him alone," I mumbled as I stayed down.

"Theo?" Bellamy shouted. "Murphy! Murphy! Open the damn door!"

The door closed with a click, sealing shut.
Murphy didn't put down the gun as he responded, "You try to be a hero, Jasper dies. Killer, too."

"Murphy, what are you doing? How do you think you get out of here alive?" I asked angrily.

"You don't understand," he ground out. "They tried to kill me!"

"Jasper and I didn't. I stood up for you," I pointed out. "So what the hell?"

He chuckled darkly, "Wrong place, wrong time?"

I gave it a few more minutes before I stood up and headed to the ladder, almost tripping a couple of times. I just hoped I didn't have a concussion, it was the last thing I needed right now.

"Woah, Woah, Woah," Murphy stopped me, pointing the gun. "Where're you going?"

"The second floor," I stated, trying not to sound phased by the fact that he had a gun pointed at me. I don't know what made me think he would let me go up there, but I needed to get my hands on a weapon of some description.

Shaking his head firmly, he gestured downwards with the gun. "No way. You're staying down here."

"Fine," I rolled my eyes as I walked back over to Jasper, sitting beside him as he remained unconscious.

I grabbed his hand, squeezing it, "I'm sorry for everything, J. I should've sided with you, you're my best friend. I'm so sorry."

Murphy grabbed some belts and dragged Jasper over to a seat, bounding his wrists and then gagging him.

He probably thought we'd take the first opportunity to kill him.
He was right.

"Your turn," he muttered as he walked over to me.

✦✦✦✦✦

It was pretty hard to sleep sitting up with your arms tied behind your back and a gag around your mouth, believe it or not. Murphy had slept at one point during the night, but not for long.

I had attempted to loosen anything strapping me down, but nothing worked. Murphy had been thorough. I had also tried to call out to Bellamy, but the material that he had used as a gag was tied fairly tight around my mouth, making even breathing a bit difficult.

"Murphy!" Someone outside screamed. "Murphy, if you even touch either of them, I swear to God, you're dead."
It was Octavia.

I felt myself try to smile around the gag. I was glad that if we were going to be trapped down here, at least I had my friends with me. I knew they'd have my back.

"Murphy, I know you can hear me," Bellamy's voice came through the radio. My heart ached at the sound of his voice; I wanted nothing more than to be beside him. To tell him he was right - I did care.
"All our ammo and food is in the middle level. You know that. You're leaving us vulnerable to an attack. I can't let that happen."

After he finished draping a blanket over Myles, Murphy snatched up the radio and pressed the receiver, "Yeah, well, in case you haven't noticed, you're not exactly in control right now."

"Come on, Murphy. You don't want to hurt Jasper or Theo. You want to hurt me. So what do you say?"

Murphy looked over at Jasper and I. Jasper looked annoyed, his eyes glaring at Murphy. Since we were sitting beside each other, I stretched my hand to grab his. I was only able to reach his fingers, but it was enough.

"How about you trade them for me?"
My stomach dropped at his words, my eyes widening as I shook my head. He was not about to go through with this.
"All you have to do is let them go, and I'll take their place."

Jasper squeezed my hand back, knowing that I was growing concerned. It didn't help when Murphy looked our way and smiled wickedly.

"How?" The boy asked, knowing he was about to get what he wanted.

It took a moment, but then he responded. "Simple. You open the door, I walk in, they walk out."

Murphy stood there thinking for a moment before he approached us and undid the strap that tied Jasper to the chair. My friend protested as Murphy dragged him away from me, but I just nodded, telling him to go.

Murphy wasn't an idiot, he wasn't about to trade two for one.

He went over to the controls, making the door begin to lower slowly. I felt my heart rate speed up, worried about what Bellamy would do since Murphy wasn't agreeing to his terms.

"Just you, Bellamy, unarmed," Murphy shouted out to him. "Ten seconds or I'll put one in Theo's leg."

"Don't!" Jasper tried to shout through the gag, but it was all muffled.

As Murphy began to count, he forced Jasper to leave me and walk over to the door. "One. . . two. . . three. . . four. . . five. . ."

"I'm here," Bellamy called.

"No!" I cried out, but there was no way he would have heard me.

Bellamy walked in and then Murphy pushed Jasper out the door. The boy stumbled across the threshold, tumbling down the ramp. Thankfully, after hearing her voice on the walkie, I knew Octavia would be there. Once the boy was out, Murphy pulled the lever and made the door close once more.

Seeing the door rising and me still tied to a chair, Bellamy's face twisted in anger. "We had a deal. Both of them for me."

"Well, two for one is hardly fair, is it?" Murphy scoffed. "Besides, she's insurance."

Bellamy approached me, untying the material gagging my mouth, "It's going to be okay. I won't let him hurt you."

"Bellamy, he's going to kill you, don't you understand that? You shouldn't have come in here," I told him.

He was about to untie me when Murphy walked over and pulled Bellamy away from me. "Don't even think about it."

Bellamy's eyes didn't leave me as Murphy led him away, "It's okay. You'll be okay, I promise. I need you to trust me."

Breathing shakily, I nodded, pulling at my restraints. "I do."

"Enough," Murphy mumbled, walking back over to me and retying the gag. He then turned to Bellamy, "Let's talk."