Us Against Everyone!

Days passed.

Murphy could stand again. He was still wrecked, still marked, but breathing easier. Stronger. Angrier.

Every time Bellamy's name came up, something dark flashed in his eyes.

"Promise me something," I said quietly. We were alone in the dropship, his back against the wall, my knees touching his leg.

He looked at me. Waiting.

"When we leave," I said, "we leave all of this behind. Mount Weather isn't just a place. It's ours. Our start."

For a second — just a second — I saw him without the armor. Just John. Not Murphy.

He nodded. "Yeah, Kate. I promise."

I kissed him. I didn't even bother pretending anymore.

Octavia slipped in with a little grin like she'd known since day one. Which, to be fair... she had.

I headed out to fill canteens, and Clarke walked straight into my path.

"How is he?" she asked carefully.

"He's surviving," I said. "Lucky for him my mother was a good healer. Lucky for me I found someone worth healing."

Clarke breathed out. "I just wanted to say I'm sor—"

"Sorry?" I laughed. "Sorry for what, exactly? You haven't taken enough from me already?"

Her face tightened. I stepped closer.

"I was finally starting to feel something like happy. I finally had people I could trust. I finally had someone I—" My jaw flexed. "And you ripped it apart."

Her eyes were wet. I didn't care.

"Tell me something, Clarke," I whispered, inches from her face. "What's it like? Sleeping your way into power. Just like your mother."

Her control snapped. She launched at me, fists flying.

Good.

We hit the ground hard. She got a few in. I got more.

People gathered fast — of course they did. Everyone always wants front row seats when it's not their blood.

Bellamy came running.

I rolled Clarke onto her back and smashed my fist into her face.

"This one's for my mother," I hissed, striking again.

Another hit. "This one's for my father."

And then I stood and drove my boot into her ribs. She folded, choking for air.

"And this one," I said coldly, "this one's for Murphy."

I stepped back, breathing hard. "Good luck with your pretty little life, princess."

I turned and walked.

Bellamy followed me, catching up behind one of the tents. "Was that necessary?"

I ignored him, filling the canteen at the barrel.

He grabbed my arm.

I stared at him. "Are we really doing this right now? Because I'm not wasting time on someone I can't trust."

I yanked my arm free. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to take care of my boyfriend."

He blinked. "Seriously, Kate?"

I stopped. Slowly turned. "It's Katerina."

He swallowed. "Seriously, what? Boyfriend?"

I frowned like I honestly didn't understand the question. "Yes, John."

"You can't be serious," he said quietly. "He's nothing compared to you. You deserve better."

I laughed — sharp and ugly. "Oh? Better like you?"

He didn't answer.

"I haven't seen John do anything you haven't done yourself," I said. "Except, you know, string up his best friend in a tree and personally kick the chair out from under him."

Bellamy's face cracked. Tears hit his eyelashes, but no words came out.

"I thought so," I whispered.

I stepped closer, held his eyes. "He would've done anything for you. So would I. And you gave him to the wolves because she told you to."

I swallowed hard, anger burning hot behind my ribs. "Listen to me, Bellamy Blake. Whatever happens next — we'll still protect Octavia. Out there or in here. She's safe with us. Always."

I left him shaking in the dark.

Octavia turned the corner, eyes huge. "Is it true?" she blurted out. "You and Murphy?"

I couldn't help it — I started smiling. "Yeah, O. It's true."

Her hands flew to her mouth and she actually squealed. Then she threw her arms around me. I hugged back, and for a second I let myself feel happy.

"I'm so, so happy for you," she whispered.

"Me too," I said honestly.

Then I narrowed my eyes. "And were you listening to me and Bellamy just now?"

She looked up at the sky. "Noooooo..."

"Octavia."

"...Okay, maybe a little. I just wanted to make sure you two didn't kill each other. But I'm glad you said what you said."

I smirked. "Come on. Let's go see him."

We headed back into the dropship.

There was blood everywhere. Clarke had clearly tried to clean herself up and failed. Murphy stared, then looked at me, then at my face, then back at me.

"Okay," he said. "That explains the blood."

Octavia grinned. "First of all, congratulations on the girlfriend, Murphy. I literally called this the first day and nobody listened to me."

Murphy snorted. "Thanks, O. I think."

Octavia slipped back out to grab fruit and berries for us.

He leaned back against the wall and I did a slow assessment of his body. My throat tightened.

"They were brutal," I said quietly. "They ripped off fingernails and toenails. Cut into you, closed the wound, opened a new one the next day. Last day they used poison and left it open. Ribs, back, head... they didn't leave anything alone."

Octavia went pale when she came back in. I kept my voice steady.

"But," I added, "my dad used to say something good comes out of everyone. Because of Clarke, we now have the antidote they used. So you're still here."

I smeared more of the salve onto his skin.

"In a couple days," I whispered, "we walk. We're done with this place. Mount Weather is where we start over. Let Bellamy know we're leaving."

Octavia nodded and slipped out again.

I turned back to Murphy. He was watching me.

"What happened with you and Clarke?" he asked softly. "Looked intense."

"She tried to apologize," I said, rolling my eyes. "I didn't accept. I asked her what it felt like to screw her way to power like her mother. She jumped me."

He grinned, winced, grinned again. "God, I love you."

I laughed through my nose. "Yeah, well. Bellamy came after me next."

Murphy sat up a little. "What did he want?"

"To tell me you weren't right for me." I leaned forward on my elbows, smiling slow. "So I told him I'd already decided. You're mine."

His eyes went wide. Then soft. Then angry.

"What did he say?"

"Nothing."

Murphy's jaw tightened in fury, eyes burning. His fist curled.

I reached up and cupped his face. He stilled.

We kissed again — deeper this time, hungry, almost dangerous.

Heat flushed through me, all nerves and want. He bit my lip gently and I let out a quiet sound I'd never made before.

"John," I whispered against his mouth. "Not here."

He let out a breathy laugh. "Yeah. You're right."

Octavia came back with fruit and dropped down with us like she lived there. We ate. We talked. We caught up on three months of missing each other.

At some point I lay down with my head on his thigh, one hand still around his wrist like I was afraid he'd vanish if I let go.

"I thought you were dead," I admitted quietly. "I searched for you in the woods. Bellamy said—"

My voice cracked.

Murphy brushed his fingers through my hair. "I know you did, babe. I know you did. And I know he lied."

Tears hit my lashes.

"In a few days," he whispered, "it's done. We're gone. We don't come back."

I nodded.

"I'm gonna lie down," I said softly, sitting up.

"You could just sleep here," he said, opening his arms.

Yeah. I could.

I crawled over him and settled against his chest. His breathing shifted. Mine matched it.

I wanted him. God, I wanted him.

But not here. Not where someone could just walk in and take it from us like they take everything else.

So I closed my eyes and let sleep pull me under, right there on his heart.