38 - FAMILIARITY

[ FAMILIARITY]

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   "Sayah, you could convince her." Clarke mumbled softly as a woman spoke a speech—her story, loudly to the crowd around them.

"To become Commander?" Sayah questioned, hands fiddling in her lap. "No, she won't. . . she won't listen to me."

"I think she will." Clarke replied, eyes serious. "You're the only one she'll take time to really listen to."

Suddenly, the doors opened and Luna and her partner, Derrick entered. "She's here. Maybe she changed her mind." Bellamy said as he got up. Clarke followed, pulling Sayah up by her hand and bringing her with them.

Sayah looked less than pleased—suddenly feeling very awkward.

The trio stopped in front of her and Luna's glanced between them, eyes lingering on Sayah. "The boats return at nightfall. Then you leave. Forever."

"Luna, let us explain." Clarke began.

"I said no." Luna went to brush past them.

"No, you need to hear this." Bellamy spoke up as he moved into her path. Derrick, who stood beside Luna put a hand on Bellamy's chest cautiously. Sayah's eyes followed it as it fell back to his side. When she looked over to Luna, the girl was already looking at her. Sayah broke the eye contact, glancing at Bellamy who began to speak.

"There is something out there that is going to destroy us all." Bellamy told her.

"Whatever it is," Luna began and Sayah couldn't get over how soft her voice was, even after all these years. "It can't reach us here."

She went to brush past them again and Clarke shot Sayah a desperate look. Sayah frowned at her, not wanting to attempt to talk to her. Clarke raised her eyebrows, urging her on. Sayah cursed her under breath before following after Luna, grabbing her hand lightly. "Hey."

Luna turned to her, lips quirked up slightly. "Yes?" Sayah dropped Luna's hand from hers slowly. "Did you want Lincoln's book back?"

"Uh, no. Octavia would though. I'm not here for that. Uh—Perhaps my methods of convincing you, will do better than theirs." Sayah gestured to Bellamy and Clarke as she searched Luna's eyes.

"And what would you have in mind?" Luna questioned softly. Sayah swallowed the lump forming in her throat.

"Asking 'please'?" Sayah cocked her head. Luna smiled warmly at her and Sayah couldn't help but smile as well. Luna still had that effect. She didn't say anything in return, the smile disappearing slowly as she took Sayah's hand in hers again and pulled her along as they made their way over to where Octavia and Jasper sat.

"We need to talk." Luna told Octavia gently.

Sayah didn't miss our Jasper rose a brow at the two girls' intertwined hands. She simply kicked his shin lightly. "That's my cue." He muttered before leaving the girls alone.

Sayah took a seat beside Luna. "I thought you'd want this back." Luna passed the Lincoln's book over to Octavia.

Octavia let out a small huff before taking it from her. "Thank you. And my sword?"

"Your weapons will be on the boat." Luna explained to her.

Octavia nodded, fiddling with the book. "Well, so much for the great Luna, the saviour of those in need."

"Via." Sayah scolded with a frown.

Luna glanced between the two girls, brows furrowed in thought. "You don't want saving. You want someone to fight with you."

"Damn right—we're at war." Octavia replied back and Sayah pursed her lips, looking away. "Luna, you can't just ignore that. Lincoln would've wanted you to help us."

Sayah's head snapped back over to Octavia quickly, lips parted. She didn't actually just. . .

"By becoming Commander?" Luna questioned and suddenly Sayah was well aware of the fact that Luna was still holding her hand as she felt Luna's thumb tap once, twice.

"I don't think so. Lincoln knew our rules. We take people in who are done fighting. Done killing." Luna paused, eyes on Octavia. "Look at you. Fighting is all you know. Death is all you know." She shook her head. "Lincoln would have never brought that here."

Applause erupted throughout the room as the girl at the front finished her story, hands clasped together at her stomach, eyes glancing around thankfully at the audience around her. Sayah met Clarke's stern gaze.

"Sayah," Luna murmured.

Sayah let out a hum in response, finishing an conversation between her and Clarke that was simply spoken through eye contact. It consisted of Clarke urging Sayah to convince Luna to take that flame—Sayah had replied with nervous glances.

"Come with me?" Luna stood up, gaze locking onto Sayah's as she turned to face her.

"Uh," Sayah glanced to Octavia who gave her a shrug, then back to Luna. "Yeah, okay. Alright." She stood up, hand still in Luna's and followed her outside.

Sayah was instantly hit with the strong breeze. Her nose filled with the smell of the ocean and she grinned, turning to Luna, who was looking at her with a fond smile. "I'm sorry about Lincoln." Luna said quietly. Sayah watched as her hair blew in the wind behind her, as well as her long coat.

"At least he is safe now." Sayah nodded, lips together in a tight line.

"Safe from?"

"What the others need you for." Sayah told her honestly. "What we need you for." Luna let out a sigh and Sayah tilted her head. "Lu, please. You know if there was any other way, I would—"

A small smile tugged at Luna's lips. "Long time since you've called me that."

All seriousness left Sayah's body for a moment. "Yes, well it has been a while." She frowned. "I wish I was here under different circumstances, but we need you."

"Me?" She repeated like it was a joke.

"Yes, you." Sayah thumbed the shell in her pocket as she watched Luna tap her finger on her other arm. Once, twice. "Clarke tried to get me to convince you."

"Isn't that what you're doing now? Trying to convince me?"

"Technically, no. And yes. . ." Sayah turned to look at the sea, averting her eyes from Luna's intense gaze. "I'm not doing it because she told me to." The shell paused in her fingers.

   "I'm doing it because it's the only way." Sayah looked back at her as she spoke truthfully. Luna was staring at her, just as she did when they were younger when Sayah would mention something about the sea, or the stars, or the trees—Luna was looking at her, deep in thought. She tapped her finger again. Once, twice.

"Do you remember when you and I went looking for shells on the shore that day, and I told you I didn't want to kill in the conclave, that I didn't want to have the duty of commander on my shoulders?"

"The day I stepped onto that jagged rock and sliced my foot?" Sayah mused.

Luna let out a soft laugh. "No, that was another day." The smile disappeared shortly after. "I am happy here, Sayah. As are the people." Then she looked away and Sayah knew there was something on her mind, and it would only be a matter of time before she blurted it out so it didn't explode inside of her later. "You should stay," Luna finally suggested as she turned back to Sayah. Sayah paused again, the shell between her fingers stopping it's movement as her fingers did. "I think you would be happy here. Safe."

Sayah inhaled deeply as she turned to the sea. "I am already happy."

Luna reached out a ran a thumb lightly down between the gap of Sayah's eyebrows. "Is that why you frown so much?"

Sayah huffed, lips twisting into an embarrassed smile as she crossed her arms over her chest, the shell in her pocket left alone once more. Luna then tucked a strand of hair behind Sayah's ear, her eyes falling down towards Sayah's neck.

"Who is he?" Luna spoke softly and Sayah pursed her lips. "J.M." Luna murmured aloud as her hand fell towards Sayah's exposed collarbone where the small initials surrounded by tiny stars rested; the ink printed on her skin as an eternal, permanent reminder. Luna brushed her fingers across it so softly that Sayah nearly shivered. "It's beautiful."

"He and I did love the stars." Sayah mused, eyes meeting Luna's as her hand dropped to her side.

"Is he. . ."

"No." Sayah answered, not entirely wanting to explain the situation to her. Luna must've understood because when she spoke, it wasn't a question about it.

"I never understood why you were so obsessed with the stars as a child, Sayah."

"And, do you now?"

"Still, no." Luna grinned, ignoring the obvious fact that Sayah loved the stars even now because it had something to do with her and a boy. "Perhaps you'll explain it to me one day."

"Perhaps, Lu."

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Sayah tried her best not to inhale too much of the stench that the man she had dodged on her way to the others, smelt terribly of. The others sat noticeably out of place in the room filled with men and women who had come purely because they had finished their fighting. The people who had stayed here because they deemed there was nothing left for them anywhere else. They were done killing, done fighting.

   Perhaps, Sayah mused, when this is over, she would come back here. To rest. Maybe, if John truly was done with her, she'd come here, spend time with Luna, and learn how to move on.

'Cause god knows she wouldn't be able to do it herself if it came down to it.

She glanced over to Luna who sat in the arms of her lover, Derrick. Sayah ignored how he stroked her hair in a way that reminded her of how she did it in the past.

"Jasper's actually smiling." Sayah heard Bellamy remark as she sat down beside Clarke.

"You say it like it's a bad thing." Sayah sniffled, rubbing her nose. Her hand faltered for a moment as she brought it down into her pocket, the shell greeting her fingertips happily after so long. Sayah remembered how John had a habit of rubbing his nose. It was funny how small, irrelevant things like that could make her think of him.

She wondered if he had taken the chip. He was with Jaha for a long time, she remembered. But no, if he did take it, he would find her, like Monty's mother had, and take advantage of her love for him, just to make her take it too. She wished for that to never happen as she sat there thinking about it.

Because what would the boy she love do, if she were to tell him no?

"Where were you?" Clarke turned to Sayah immediately.

Sayah recoiled a bit in confusion. "With Luna?"

"Did you convince her?" Clarke rushed out.

"No." Sayah told her honestly. "But I did try to, so don't completely hate me."

Clarke sighed in defeat as she too, looked over to Luna. Bellamy caught her eye. "Clarke, let it go."

"We can't just leave." Clarke protested softly.

"It's not like we have much of a choice." Sayah reminded her.

Octavia scoffed quietly. "I don't know, I think Luna will let you stay for as long as you want, Sayah."

Sayah tilted her head slightly as she turned to look over at Octavia. "Problem, Via?"

Octavia met her eyes. "Not at all."

Sayah fiddled with the shell in her pocket as she pursed her lips. "Right." Octavia averted her eyes, turning to look at the fire in front of her instead. Sayah watched how her mouth occasionally twisted in displeasure and she realised that Octavia was unhappy. Unhappy because of Luna. She would make it her plan to ask why later.

"Maybe we do have a choice." Clarke whispered suddenly and Sayah turned her head towards her.

"What are you talking about?" Bellamy voiced her concerns.

"I'm talking about putting this in her head without asking." Clarke whispered.

Sayah scoffed. "Are you insane?"

This was one of Clarke's worst plans yet, replacing number one: sending Bellamy into Mount Weather (which should probably be taken off the list because it did go pretty well for a little).

"No way, Clarke." Octavia added in a hushed voice. "This isn't like Emerson, he was trying to kill us."

"You think I don't know that?" Clarke asked Octavia, brows pulled together.

"Clarke," Bellamy caught her attention. "We don't have to do this."

"Why are we even considering it?" Sayah shook her head. "We aren't doing it at all."

"We can fight, we can go back to Arkadia. We arm up." Bellamy began to explain.

"Fight who? It's an army of our own people." Clarke argued. Sayah let out a huff, gaze flickering to Luna for a moment before Clarke began speaking again.

"Look, I don't like this any more than you do." Clarke told the trio. "But if Raven's right, then the code on this thing could stop Alie."

"Clarke." Sayah clenched her jaw as she watched someone call Luna. Luna got up to her feet, eyes meeting Sayah's for a moment before she looked away.

"Give me a better idea, Sayah." Clarke searched her eyes.

Sayah tightened her grip around the shell in her hand, feeling the rough edges of it press deep into her palm. She hated this. She hated it so much. Why was there never a better way? Why did the only ways to do the right thing, have to be so bad?

Bellamy spoke up, interrupting the silence between them. "We'll stay here. It's the only way they'll leave you alone with her."

Sayah let out a defeated sigh and looked away to the far end of the room where Jasper was smiling and laughing with the girl who told the shark story earlier. Sayah felt Clarke begin to stand up.

"Even Alie gives people a choice." Octavia said to Clarke, making her pause in her step.

"We gave Luna a choice." Bellamy argued.

"Did we?" Sayah questioned, eyes moving away from Jasper and back over to Bellamy. "I just remember begging her, and then trying to convince her, after she said no to our begging."

"Sayah—" Clarke started.

"She's my friend, Clarke." Sayah's lips pulled into a tight line as the shell dug deeper into her palm. "This isn't right."

Clarke sighed, sharing a look with Bellamy before sitting back down. "Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry."

Sayah eyed her suspiciously, not expecting her to give up so quickly. It was unlike her. Clarke was almost—almost, just as stubborn as Octavia, and when it came to saving her people. . . well, Clarke would do anything. Which only further proved Sayah's suspicions than the fact that Clarke continuously fiddled with the small rectangular tin that held the flame in it.

Clarke was Clarke. Of course she wasn't letting this go.

So Sayah assumed, Clarke would just wait until Sayah was gone. But question is, would Sayah leave? Would Sayah give Clarke the chance to involuntarily make Luna take the flame?

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   Sayah did end up leaving and giving Clarke the opportunity to involuntarily make Luna take the flame.

   Although, she did it because she knew Clarke would try. Key word: try. In other words, attempt.

   So when Clarke returned with a sour look of defeat as they were making their way back to the boats, Sayah tried her best to hide her smile. She failed. Just as Clarke had. How ironic.

   "She drop you on your ass?" Sayah cleared her throat.

   "And took the flame with her." Clarke grumbled. "We get it back before we leave." She furrowed her brows at Sayah. "You knew I was still going to try?"

   "Obviously." Sayah mused as they followed Derrick, turning a corner. "But then I remembered how many times she dropped me, so I knew you didn't stand a chance."

   "Where's Jasper?" Bellamy questioned, turning to us momentarily.

   "Saying goodbye to his new friend." Octavia replied as they reached the doors to the shipping container. Luna was waiting patiently there for them, like Sayah had expected, her hair flowing slightly each time a breeze passed through.

   The doors opened and revealed the warriors that they had met at the shore. They all piled out slowly. "Sorry, Cap, we gotta take them back." Luna said to the leader— Captain, Sayah realised from Luna's use of the words when talking to him. "Your gear." She sighed, throwing a bag inside the container. "You get your weapons once you land."

   "Inside," Derrick shoved Bellamy harshly and Sayah sent him a glare. Bellamy and Octavia entered, hands raised in surrender.

   "The flame?" Clarke spoke up beside Sayah, both girls facing Luna.

   Luna held it up in her hand. "Remember, Clarke. A path of violence is a choice."

   "When the choice is fight or die, there is no choice." Clarke argued.

   Suddenly a hand reached out to Luna and grabbed the flame. Before Sayah could react, her and Clarke were shoved harshly into the shipping container. All Sayah saw was Luna be taken away before the doors shut on them loudly and darkness enveloped them.

"They took the Flame." Octavia rushed forward, pushing on the door. "They're locking us in."

"Hey! What is this?" Clarke yelled out.

"Luna's people are attacking her." Bellamy noted.

Sayah let out a sigh, realisation hitting her. "I saw them go for the Flame. It's Alie. She's here."

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"This place was safe before we got here." Octavia remarked as the four of them sat quietly in the shipping container. Octavia was right, Sayah admitted to herself, eyes following the light from the flashlight that raised up and down every time Octavia moved it.

She hoped Luna was okay. And Jasper. Maybe Jasper realised and stopped it before it could happen. Before Luna could get hurt. Luna didn't deserve this. She came here for peace. She had peace. The spotlight moved up and down. Sayah reached for the shell in her pocket.

   They had come and messed this safe place up. Wrecked it. Ruined it. How could Sayah come back here when this was all over after what she had done? The spotlight went up once more, down again.

Luna probably hated her; despised her for ruining the thing she had spent so long to create. Something Sayah had wanted for so long. Sayah ruined it and Luna probably hated her for it. If she wasn't already chipped that is.

She ran her thumb over the indents and notches of the shell. The spotlight went up and down. Then it stopped.

A clanking noise resonated from the door. The four rushed up to their feet and Octavia pointed the flashlight in the direction of the door. They suddenly opened slightly, and Sayah heard someone gasping, choking.

They rushed forward and opened the door, revealing the girl Jasper had become close with, Shay, panting on the ground, blood surrounding her bottom lip, an arrow deep in her back.

Sayah crouched down near her and rested Shay's head in her lap as she brushed away the hair from her face. "A—A machine. . ." Shay choked out. "P level."

Sayah shushed the girl slowly when she realised there was nothing more she could say to them. She could feel her heartbeat slowing down so faintly, and Sayah continued to brush away the extra strands of hair from her face. "You're okay." Sayah whispered, eyes glancing up at Clarke momentarily. "You're okay." She whispered again to Shay quietly.

Shay's jagged breathing had stopped after a few seconds, and she let out one last breath of life, before going still in Sayah's arms.

"She's gone." Clarke concluded sadly.

"Strong girl." Sayah murmured to herself as she laid Shay down gently onto the concrete. When she stood up, she could feel patches of wet blood seeping through her clothes. Wouldn't be the first time.

She stared at Shay for a little longer, clenching and unclenching her hands for a moment before putting them each in a pocket. The shell in the right one was cold when it met her fingers.

"Come on." Clarke said slowly. "We have to go."

With one last glance to the girl, Sayah pursed her lips before nodding and they all took off in a run, hoping to find Luna.

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"Sayah, be careful!" Bellamy had called out to her as she burst through the doors to P Level. She paused when she took in the sight. Clarke and Octavia followed after her, but also stopped when they had a look around.

Luna was sobbing, clutching a bleeding Derrick tight in her arms, dead warriors surrounding her. A young girl stood to the side, eyes wide while Jasper was tied up by his wrists. Bellamy moved to the young girl while Octavia and Clarke helped to get Jasper down. Sayah turned to Luna and watched as Derrick breathed out — just as Shay had moments earlier — his last breath.

Sayah could only stand and watch as Luna let out a heart-wrenching wail, bringing Derrick closer to her, holding him as she cried and repeated over and over again. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Sayah held the shell tighter in her palm as Luna sobbed painfully.

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"Any one of them could be chipped and we'd never know." Bellamy muttered quietly as his eyes searched around the room.

"If they are, they'll make their move before we put the Flame in Luna." Clarke replied. "Stay sharp."

Sayah grew tense as Luna approached the five of them, drink in hand. Another woman followed her, a tray in her hands with five more drinks. Sayah moved to take one first, sharp gaze on Luna. The others followed, nodding a thank you. Sayah didn't take her eyes off of Luna even as she took a large sip.

"The ceremony is about to begin." Luna informed them, as the woman beside left, empty tray in hand.

"Luna, wait." Clarke stopped her as Luna turned to leave. "I'm so sorry. But now you see what we're facing. An enemy that will do anything to win. She won't stop until she has everyone."

Luna stared at her blankly before holding the Flame up in her fingers. "People I love died today. Needlessly, at my hand." She met Clarke's eyes. "I can't let that happen again."

Then with a short glance to Sayah, she turned to the audience. They all stood as she raised a hand. When she dropped it to her side, she spoke. "As we prepare to give our brothers and sister to the sea, we honour their lives." She then raised her drink high in the air. "From water we are born, to water we will return."

Everyone in the room repeated the phrase, raising their drinks high before taking a sip. When Luna turned back to the the five of them, Sayah noticed everyone take a seat. She wasn't surprised to see that Luna was treated as a goddess — Sayah wouldn't even be surprised if she truly was one.

Luna was incredible, Sayah mused, although that's not new information. And suddenly, it was as if Luna could read her thoughts — or perhaps it was the way she was looking at Luna that was so obvious — because her gaze met Sayah's and even though Luna's face was blank, showing almost boredom, her eyes told a whole different story. The intensity made Sayah want to cower; made her want to hide. However she simply stared back, unfazed.

   History repeated itself.

"If we're gonna do this, we need to hurry it." Clarke was speaking but it sounded almost faint to Sayah. Muffled. But then suddenly, everything cleared when Luna looked away, meeting Clarke's eyes. Sound filled her ears again, the hum of chatter and murmurs of the people around them. Sayah's throat felt dry.

"Alie will send reinforcements." Clarke added. "And we have to find someplace private to perform the ascension."

Luna looked blankly at Clarke. "You believe that to defeat an enemy who will stop at nothing, you must stop at nothing." She paused. "How's that different from 'blood must have blood'?"

Sayah's lips parted in a mixture of shock and realisation. Luna wasn't going to take the flame.

"Wait a second, Luna. . ." Octavia began. "You can't just. . ." She then stumbled and fell to the ground.

Jasper dropped, and then Bellamy. Sayah smirked, glancing down at the cup. "You're sneaky, LuLu. I'll miss you." She glanced up to see Luna in front of her.

Suddenly, she felt herself fall back, but two arms caught her just in time, before gently placing her down onto the concrete. Fingers brushed her hair away from her eyes and Sayah squinted to see the blurred image of Luna's beautiful face.

"You know I hate it when you call me LuLu." Luna murmured, as her fingers brushed Sayah's cheek softly.

Sayah chuckled as her eyelids dropped. "Whatever, Lulu. . ." The words felt like they spilt out of her mouth like liquid and she couldn't keep her eyes open any longer so she let them close shut.

"I'll miss you too. . ." Sayah heard the last part of the words drift away like a thief had stolen them before they could fully reach her. Darkness swallowed everything.

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a/n

luna n sayah AHHH i love them smperhaps one time ill write little flashbacks of moments they had bc theyre the cutest thing i swear

hope u enjoyed this chapter! probably one of my personal favourites ngl

^ sayah @ clarke when clarke suddenly decided that she didnt want to go and force luna to take the flame

^ sayah everytime luna would look back at her n they'd have some intense staring competition