tw: slight mention of abuse
014.
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Maggie sat alongside Octavia, who had requested specifically for her company. The two had grown pretty close due to their similarities, but perhaps it was more-so because she was the only other one who seemed to give a shit about the Grounder.
All the Grounders seemed to know was violence and killing, but there had to be another way to get through to them.
It was blatantly obvious that the two had true feelings for one another, but Bellamy didn't want his little sister to be near the man. Magnolia could understand both sides; the tough Grounder could realistically be dangerous, but who the hell was he to tell Octavia who she could and couldn't spend time around? She was old enough to make her own calls.
Besides, if she got herself into trouble, then Bellamy could tell her he told her so. Sometimes things were meant for people to figure out on their own. That's how Maggie viewed it anyway, whether that was right or wrong.
Gray could feel a presence behind her; when she turned her head, there stood a still Bellamy with a couple of the blankets from the emergency depot they had scooped up earlier. She began to stand up to leave the siblings on their own, but when he signaled for her to stay put, Maggie turned back around and faced the same direction as Octavia.
The boy wrapped the bright orange blanket around his younger sister, who sat there and stared mindlessly out of the camp. Magnolia let a small grin creep in the corner of his mouth; he seemed to be attempting to mend his relationships with everyone, which was a good call on his part. About time they did so.
Without even realizing it, Maggie felt a pair of hands rest an orange blanket on her as well, and she sent Bellamy a small thank you, to which he nodded with a half-smile in response.
"I don't expect you to forgive me, O. But you'll have to find a way to live with me— cause I'm not going anywhere," Bellamy stood with his hands on his hips awaiting a response, only to not get one.
"Bellamy, Maggie!" Clarke suddenly hollered to the two from outside of one of the tents. "It's time."
With the traffic-cone colored material still draping her over her shoulders, Magnolia began to walk with Bellamy to the tent. They were going to talk to the chancellor to pardon their friend of his crime. It was a fair request, especially considering that all of the delinquents were claimed to of been given the same treatment.
Bellamy halted, turning back to Octavia. "That Grounder escaping— was that you?"
Of course it was, Maggie couldn't help but think. If it wasn't the Gray girl herself, who else would take the initiative? "I had nothing to do with it," Octavia replied dully , her focus still not shifting. "Thanks for the blanket."
The three entered the tent, each grabbing a headset so they could speak with Jaha and hear him properly. It was the first time Magnolia had spoken to the chancellor, but he still knew who she was regardless. Maybe those teenagers didn't realize it, but Jaha remembered everyone. Dead, floated, or in the Skybox, it didn't matter— he knew.
"Mr. Blake," Thelonius began once the call started. "I've wanted to talk to you for some time now."
"Before you do, I'd like to say something," Clarke intervened, stopping the man before he could get any further.
"Me too," Magnolia added, a neutral facial expression as she spoke. Partially, she anticipated Jaha to treat her differently as opposed to Alpha-Station living Clarke, but he didn't say a word.
"When you sent us down here, you sent us to die. But miraculously, most of us are still alive. In large part, that is because of him. Because of Bellamy," Clarke explained before Maggie took over, stating her piece.
"He's one of us. And he deserves to be pardoned of his crimes, just like the rest of us were. His motive this entire time was to protect the hundred. He's done an incredible job of that— many more would be dead if he weren't here," Maggie added, Bellamy eyeing her as she talked about him fondly. Needless to say, he was thankful they had spoke of him that nicely; he wasn't always the best towards the two girls. Nevertheless, they pulled through— he couldn't thank Clarke and Maggie enough.
"Clarke, Magnolia— I appreciate the point of view, but it's not that simple," chancellor Jaha disagreed.
"It is," Bellamy joined in, adding the final bang, "If you want to know who on the Ark wants you dead."
This was their last hope; if it wasn't enough, there wasn't any other backup plan to keep Bellamy safe. And for some bizarre reason, Maggie knew she'd go through lengths to make sure Jaha and his people didn't kill him once they arrived on Earth. So would Clarke. They both would.
After a moment or two of contemplation, the chancellor looked back up at the screen, and by the glint in his eye, Maggie knew what his answer would be.
"Bellamy Blake— you're pardoned for your crimes," Jaha sternly announced, trying his best to hide the tiniest smile that was creeping up onto his lips.
The three joined leaders sighed in synchronicity. Maggie allowed her shoulders to drop, releasing tension she didn't even realize was present in the first place. They did it— it was over. Bellamy was there to stay, even when the others came to the ground. He wouldn't have to leave his sister and friends; he wouldn't have to life off of the rations in his backpack and that alone. "Now— tell me who gave you the gun."
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"My friends," Jaha's voice spoke the next day over the radio Raven hooked up. "This is a historic Unity Day. Every year, we mark the moment our ancestors of the twelve stations joined to form the Ark, but this is the last time while we aboard her. Next year— on the Ground."
"Right," Nate Miller chimed in, rocking on his heels with hands in his pockets. "After we did all the work. Someone shut him up," he proceeded on, causing a few delinquents around him to chuckle to themselves.
"You shut up Miller; no one's forcing you to watch," Raven scolded half-serious and half-joking, playfully pushing Magnolia, who stood to her left.
"You were in charge of monitoring a Grounder— that managed to escape, Miller!" Maggie played along, joining in on the make-fun-of-Miller bandwagon. "Nice work." The two girls did a short secret handshake in success when Miller rolled his eyes at their commentary.
Jaha continued to make his announcements— apparently it was something he did every year, but Maggie was lucky if she could hear the faint voice on the speakers from the halls years ago in her cell. She never got to experience what all the fuss was about; it seemed nice— a way to make people form together and celebrate as a whole.
As for those on the ground, they all took it as a day to lay back, relax, and not focus on the Grounders outside of their walls, probably waiting to kill them.
"Whoooo! Yeah!" Jasper whooped, holding a large jug, surely of Monty's moonshine or some other alcohol. A giggle escaped Maggie's lips at his antics— and at the fact that he was wearing the goggles that usually just rested atop his head. "Monty strikes again! Hey, hey! Call this batch Unity Juice!" Jasper ran in a circle around some of the delinquents joyously, some clapping and cheering as he did so. "Who's thirsty?"
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"Hiii Bellamy Blake," a slightly drunken Maggie slurred as she stood beside the boy, who was standing by himself. It was still light out; the sun hadn't set just yet.
"Happy Unity Day Mags," gratitude and joy flowed through his veins. "You seem to be partying hard. You actually like Monty's moonshine?"
"Mhm," she hummed in response, childishly turning around herself in a circle while in her own world. For the record, she didn't like Monty's moonshine. Taste was the least of her focus— the sense of calmness and tranquility overpowered it by a mile.
"You're drunk as hell," Bellamy noted. "Careful spinning— the last thing you need is to puke."
"I-I'm drunk?" she asked— Maggie wasn't really one to go crazy with the alcohol, especially since she was aware of the negative effects it could have. It had made her overly nervous; she was paranoid that if she drank a sip, she'd get addicted to it and end up like her parents. However, somehow she managed to have a couple mugs worth of the moonshine, which was enough to leave her drunk until it got dark.
And even if she was drunk, the paranoia of becoming needy for alcohol was still drilled into her brain. "Watch out for me," she warned, "Don't want me turning all Ella and Aaron Gray on you, you got that? Don't let me."
Bellamy's expression fell after the last sentence. Another clue to add to the mental list. "And what do you mean by that, Mags?" he couldn't help but question. It was the only question he would ask to her while she was drunk; he didn't want to take advantage of her mindless state, even if he could get some means of information.
"Well— I mean," Maggie pointed to nothing in particular, the words rolling off her tongue quite freely. "Don't let me hurt you— or anyone else for that matter."
The freckled boy's face fell once more when she said that; everything was beginning to come together, and he didn't want to admit to himself what the logical explanation actually was. And for the first time ever, he took notice of the deep scar under her eye that was noticeable with the warm, celestial glow of the fire from a yard or two away. That had always been there for sure— it wasn't from her time on Earth.
Magnolia's hand ran along the fabric of Bellamy's coat. "This is a snazzy jacket, you know that?" she mentioned in hopes of making the boy laugh, but he was still dumbfounded from the previous things she had accidentally admitted. Maybe if she hadn't said that, he'd be laughing at the fact that out of everything, Maggie used the word snazzy.
"You can wear it if you want," he suggested, and the girl's dark eyes lit up in glee. He shrugged it off as Maggie took off the tattered jacket of her own, "Yours isn't doing much good for you anymore— whatcha' still wearing it for Mags?"
When her arms were revealed, it made sense as to why she wore it. A few indents and bruises dotted her arms, along with the marks from the panther from one of their first days on the ground. It seemed as if Maggie had been injured multiple times, but nothing was ever done to clean the wounds, leaving her with all of the messy scarring.
Magnolia let her torn-up leather jacket sit on a wood stump before taking Bellamy's in her hands. Her arms went through it with ease; she swam in that jacket. The clothing piece stopped at about her knees, and her hands barely poked out the ends of the sleeves.
"Let's get some water," Bellamy concluded, touching Magnolia's shoulder lightly, guiding her as they walked towards the tent that held jugs of water. "Here," he handed her a pouch of the luke-warm water.
"Thanks," Maggie put her thumb up as they exited the tent with the newly equipped drink.
"I'm keeping an on you so you don't do anything stupid Mags, you got it?"
"Yup, got it. I appreciate ya," she strolled off, leaving Bellamy speechless for many differing reasons. She was one crazy, strange— resilient girl.
△▽△
After a few more hours of sobering up while partying with the others, Magnolia found herself sauntering around camp, searching for Raven or Bellamy. For some odd reason, the girl had the boy's coat on, which was inexplicable. Whatever.
And she had a throbbing headache. A massive headache.
"Maggie," the girl felt a hasty tug on her arm. There stood Finn. "You have a minute?"
"Yeah— w-what's up?" Gray nodded, wondering what he had been up to. It was supposedly Unity Day; why wasn't he celebrating? With Raven or Clarke— whichever girl he had chosen to be with that day.
"I set up a meeting with the Grounders," he stated, making Magnolia's jaw drop slightly and eyes widen in confusion. She wasn't surprised however; if anyone were to do so, Finn, the peacemaker, would be who. "I'm asking you and Clarke to come with me. Leader to leader."
"Bellamy?" she naturally inquired, even though the answer was pretty simple. He wouldn't agree to it.
Finn shook his head, the black strands of hair in his face moving a little as he did so. "No weapons— we made that deal. I think you and I both know he'd bring guns. Clarke's grabbing her things; I know you feel like you should, but don't tell Bellamy. It'll be much easier that way."
"Sounds good," Maggie replied firmly, zipping up Bellamy's coat. If they were going to go, it had to be now— before he noticed one of them were gone. Guilt was in the back of her mind for not telling the third leader, but it was really the right route. There wouldn't be a shot at peace if one of them brought guns when directly told not to.
About ten minutes later, the three were on their way. Although the two weren't together anymore (at least she thought), Magnolia couldn't help but feel like a third wheel. Finn and Raven were apparently dating again, but it took an idiot to not notice the obvious tension rising between the boy and Clarke.
"Why'd you ask me to come anyway?" Maggie spoke up, watching her step so she didn't fall into any holes or Grounder traps.
"Word around the delinquents is that you have a way with words, Magnolia Gray," Finn answered with a light tone, his hands interlacing behind his back as he walked through the woods. "Figured that if Clarke couldn't find the right words to say, you'd do just fine. Besides— you seem to be a peacemaker yourself."
True. Magnolia was one to choose the most peaceful route— if she could help it anyway. In her mind, the last thing they should have to worry about was war. On top of surviving the winter. Everyone was mostly teenagers. "Fair point," she shrugged casually, understanding his point.
"Bellamy's jacket?" Clarke's eyebrow raised with a teasing smirk, changing the subject. Why this?
The jacket was nice, Maggie easily could admit that to herself. But she would never say it; not unless she—
Got drunk.
Fuck.
If she did something embarrassing, she had no idea on what she would do about it. So Maggie just rolled her eyes, not even bothering to give the two an explanation.
As they trudged through the forest more, Magnolia found herself wondering how much longer. Maybe Clarke and Finn were just downright boring, or maybe she wasn't looking forward to speaking with the Grounder leader.
"I'd love it if you were right about this, but did you ever consider it might be a trap?" Clarke questioned as the three dodged bushes and trees, with nothing but more trees for all they could see.
"Yep, but since it's Unity Day, I decided to have hope instead," Finn contradicted.
Maggie's lips pursed upon his response. "It's the difference between being an optimist and a pessimist, Clarke. They're human— I think we've been letting that go over our heads."
"Ah," Finn grunted, clutching his abdomen. Magnolia assumed it was from the stab wound, but she couldn't be bothered to remember if it was on his left side or right.
The Griffin teenager stopped him. "Oh hey. Let me have a look at that," his t-shirt was lifted, revealing the oozing laceration that had colorful, prominent bruising around it. Clarke's hand made contact with it, and Magnolia glanced away when she realized they were having some kind of moment. Hopefully they wouldn't get undressed and have sex in the middle of the forest, she thought to herself.
This was fucked— the more she thought about it she grasped the fact. Finn was dating Raven— but his eyes were on Clarke. How hadn't her best friend taken some kind of notice to that?
"Seriously, guys. You two putting a lot of faith in a guy that stuck a knife in you, Finn."
"And you're sounding more and more like Bellamy," Finn noted, and Maggie couldn't help but wonder if she was changing to be more like him as well. She felt as if she were the same as when she made it to the ground, but honestly— there were multiple differences between that girl and the girl she was now.
First day on the ground rookie Magnolia Gray had full intentions of being an independent gal— hoping that the bare minimum she had actually picked up from Pike's class would do her good. She wasn't going to get attached to anyone, but she had done quite literally the opposite.
Was that a good thing? Or would it come back at some point to bite her in the ass? Would she regret allowing herself to get attached to her peers?
Whatever.
Either route she ended up choosing, she'd ultimately have second thoughts and question her choice. It was just how it would've worked.
"I'm just trying to keep us alive," the blonde defended, as if Finn had the wrong idea and made the wrong choice. Besides Maggie, he seemed to be the only one that wanted to solve this composedly as opposed to violently. With war.
"So are we," Finn challenged, his eyes making their way to Magnolia.
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hm whats my favorite maggie x character brotp?
maven?
magamy?
minn?
marke?
magtavia?
hm anyway
oh well