7.0

The morning after the virus left camp, Sophia stood just outside the walls, watching Bellamy and Finn bury the handful of people that died. She watched as Bellamy lowered Connor down and started burying him.

"I thought he got better though..." Sophia frowned as Murphy walked over, standing next to her.

"Maybe it just lingered longer in Connor." Murphy shrugged, knowing full well that wasn't the case. Connor died because Murphy killed him. Because Murphy couldn't let a guy like Connor keep roaming the earth.

"You know we have to leave now, right? We're no longer sick. Bellamy will kill us if we stay any longer here." Sophia frowned, looking over where Bellamy was.

"With the threat of the grounders coming at any moment...I really hope not. We'd be dead before we even realize they're coming." Sophia pointed out. "I wouldn't let them." Murphy said, suddenly making Sophia look at him in surprise.

"You're joking, right? Murphy, you know firsthand what they're like! 'They're vicious and cruel.' Those were your exact words." Sophia crossed her arms as she turned to face him.

"Yeah? Well...they caught me off guard. I didn't know they were there until it was too late. But this time? This time I'll be on alert. I'm not going to let them do the same thing to you. Not as long as I'm breathing." Murphy swore. Sophia noticed the look in his eyes. Her heart beat a little faster as a light blush began to coat her face as she looked at him in confusion.

"What the hell's gotten into you, Murph? This has been the nicest and most genuine you've been to me. It's kind of freaking me out." Sophia's brows furrowed her brows as her eyes scanned Murphy as if trying to see if in front of her was a doppelganger instead of the John Murphy she knew. The John Murphy who would purposely try and get under her skin. The John Murphy who would probably not care if something happened to her.

Murphy sputtered slightly at being called out as he tried to find the words. "What? Am I not allowed to want to keep someone safe?" He questioned.

"Oh no, there's nothing wrong with that, I guess. But when it's you, Johnathan Murphy, worrying about me, Sophia Jordan, that's where I wonder if you're still sick with that virus that the Grounders gave you." Sophia pointed out.

Murphy rolled his eyes slightly as he looked away. The thought still lingered in his head, though. Why did he care so much about Sophia? Why did he care if she was safe or not? Why did he get so protective and kill someone just because of the things the person said about Sophia? "Maybe I just realized you're not that bad, Jordan. I could ask you the same thing, though, when you stole supplies for me when I was banished."

"I-- that was different! You had nothing. I would have done the same thing if it were anyone else." Sophia looked away.

"Right. I'm supposed to believe you're just that kind, that you'd do anything even for the people you hate?" Murphy questioned, making Sophia frown. She didn't necessarily hate Murphy. She might not be the biggest fan of his, but she definitely didn't hate him.

"I don't hate you, Murph." She admitted, once again shocking Murphy.

"You-- then you what?" Murphy questioned. Sophia shrugged her shoulders in response. She really couldn't place it. Whatever it was, the only thing Sophia knew was, she didn't hate John Murphy.

"I don't know...I guess it's a tolerance? I tolerate you to an extent." Sophia shrugged. Murphy snorted slightly, an amused smirk forming.

"Well then, I guess I tolerate you too, princess."

"And it's gone." Sophia groaned as she walked away into the smokehouse to help Octavia, trying to ignore some of the whispers from the other delinquents as she walked past.

"I thought Murphy and his little cocksleeve were supposed to be out of here." "They're both fine now. The longer they're here, the more of our resources they're taking." "Bellamy should just kill them both now."

Sophia gritted her teeth in annoyance. The nicknames were really starting to get on her nerves. More than Murphy calling her princess.

Sophia slumped down in a corner of the smokehouse whilst Octavia worked. "If it makes you feel better, I'm glad you're still here, Soph." Sophia looked over at the other girl, smiling small.

"It does a bit. Thanks, O." Octavia returned the smile as she worked. "Let's face it, your brother would probably get pissed and upset with Bellamy if you actually got kicked out."

"Oh, please. He's still too busy basking in the girls that are all over him for killing those two grounders." Sophia rolled her eyes, still annoyed by the stunt her brother pulled.

"He's still your brother, Soph..." Octavia frowned.

"God, you're sounding like Monty now. You're really saying that if Bellamy pulled this same shit you wouldn't be pissed?" Sophia questioned. Octavia went silent as she looked away. "Exactly." Sophia sighed as she got up to help Octavia.

"Point is, he'd be upset if you left. And Bellamy knows it's for the best that you and Murphy stay here in case the grounders attack." Octavia added.

"He's only keeping us here because he thinks we'll rat you all out to the grounders. Besides, you and maybe Clarke and Finn, no one wants us here. I'm sure you've heard the things they're saying." Sophia frowned.

"Yeah...they're saying similar things about me because of Lincoln..." Octavia sighed.

The two worked in silence after that. Octavia eventually headed out, leaving Sophia alone.

"Don't you have some banished dick you should be sucking?" Sophia's brow twitched as Myles came in. "Go float yourself, Myles." She muttered in annoyance.

"You know no one wants a traitor like you here anymore, right, dick rider?" Myles questioned, adding fuel to the fire building inside of her. "Go float yourself." She hissed.

"Or what? You gonna go run off crying to your precious Murphy?" Myles cocked his head to the side. "I-"

"Did she stutter? I'm pretty sure the lady told you to fuck off, Myles." Murphy chimed in as he entered the smokehouse.

"Oh, of course, the roach to the rescue." Myles rolled his eyes in annoyance as he walked out of the smokehouse. Murphy glared daggers at him the whole time before looking back over at Sophia, whose back was towards him.

"Are you alright?" Murphy questioned, reaching a hand out to touch her shoulder. Sophia tensed slightly as she quickly wiped her eyes. "Y...yeah. I'm fine..." She mumbled.

"You're crying." Murphy frowned, turning Sophia around. She went with little to no resistance as she looked up at him. The rims of her eyes were brimming with tears that were threatening to fall. Murphy frowned; that same protective feeling when Sophia was sick started flaring up inside him again.

Myles caused this. Myles was another one responsible for Murphy almost hanging to death. Myles was the reason why Sophia was currently trying everything in her power not to start crying.

"Sophia-..." Murphy frowned, squeezing her shoulder. "I'm fine. I'll be fine. Just all the name-calling...the bullshit with Myles...I'm tired..." Sophia admitted, letting her walls come down as she leaned forward until her forehead made contact with Murphy's shoulder.

Murphy hesitated before slowly encircling his arms around Sophia, pulling her against him in a tight hug. He wasn't used to comforting people, yet here he was, in the smokehouse, holding Sophia while awkwardly trying to comfort her, mumbling the same comforting words he had mumbled when Sophia was throwing up from the virus. "You're okay. You're okay, all right? I got you. Just breathe..."

Sophia trembled slightly at Murphy's comforting words. A small broken sob left her as she held onto Murphy. It was definitely a strange sight, John Murphy holding and comforting Sophia Jordan. The same pair that were arguing nonstop when they got to earth, now holding onto each other, one quietly sobbing while the other just kept mumbling comforting words.

An unspoken bond was beginning to form in that moment. A small spark started when Murphy came back and Sophia got sick, but now...now it seems as if the bond was beginning to form properly. A connection that, if the cards played out right, could become something more than rivals. Something even more than friends. But right now, it was just two delinquents who were set to be kicked out of camp at any moment, wondering how much time they had left before they inevitably got sent out to their demises, as the grounders wouldn't hesitate if they caught the pair.

"Murphy?" Sophia mumbled into his shoulder. "Yeah?" He looked down at her curiously, looking at the top of her head.

"I'm glad you're back." She mumbled. John's heart seemed to skip a beat at Sophia's words.

"I-...me to prince-...Sophia. Me too."