Jason had seen some dumb things since the drop, kids arguing over rabbits, fights over blankets, Miller nearly stabbing a guy for a flashlight but this?
This took the cake.
He was following Octavia when he noticed a kid swaying oddly, giggling to himself, eyes wide and unfocused. Jason frowned. "Oh, shit," he muttered. Then his eyes darted around the camp and his stomach dropped.
Everywhere he looked, people were moving weird. Laughing, stumbling, pointing at nothing. One guy was talking to a tree. Another was trying to dig a hole with his bare hands.
"Shit, shit, shit…" Jason hissed under his breath. "They're all high! All of them!"
He rubbed his temples, trying not to laugh and scream at the same time. 'Stupid idiots all of them are as high as a damn kite.'
He started collecting handfuls of nuts, smacking them out of hands where he could, muttering curses the entire way.
"Put that down, that's not food that's 'hallucination surprise,' kid!"
"You, yeah you stop laughing at the dirt!"
"God help me, if one more of you eats that, I'm building a fence and living alone!"
As he moved around camp, his tone turned almost fatherly, like a teacher dealing with hyper toddlers. At one point, he stopped, exhaled sharply, and thought, 'So this is what the women at the orphanage felt like dealing with me and the other delinquents. Great. Karma's a bitch.'
"Hey, hey, hey! Don't even think about that!" he yelled suddenly as one girl tried to climb a spike barricade.
The girl looked over her shoulder, eyes glazed and a smile playing on her lips.
"Why don't you come punish me instead?" she giggled, leaning just enough to give him a full view of her cleavage and one of her boobs almost poked out… he could see the areola.
Jason blinked once, then sighed. "Yeah, I'd love that, but no get your high ass away from there before you fall on your face."
He dragged her away, still muttering as more chaos unfolded. Someone was climbing a tree and another was trying to "feed" it. Two others were trying to pet a very irritated squirrel.
Jason turned just in time to see miller laughing like a lunatic near the fire pit, tossing rocks into the air. Jason let out a small, humorless chuckle.
"Well, at least he's enjoying himself," Jason said dryly. "Good for you, Miller. Never thought your sense of humor would need drugs to show up."
He was just about to walk over when he spotted Octavia emerging from the dropship. His brow furrowed as there was something about her movement felt off. Then he noticed the clothes clutched in her hand and groaned internally.
'what the hell is she doing now?'
But before he could move toward her, a girl at the other end of the camp started undressing.
"Roma! No! Don't you dare—" he barked, marching toward her. Just as he did, a giggling guy tapped him on the shoulder.
Jason turned slowly, deadpan expression in place. "Where your clothes at, man?"
The guy just laughed and pointed at the sky like he'd discovered God.
Jason sighed again. "This is my life now. Babysitting high teenagers in a murder camp. Perfect."
———————-
Meanwhile, Octavia rushed to the third level of the dropship, heart pounding. She didn't waste a second as she grabbed the knife and cut through Lincoln's bindings.
"We need to go now," she said urgently, freeing his hands and legs.
Lincoln winced, confusion and pain in his voice. "Why are you doing this?"
"Just get dressed." She thrust a shirt and jacket into his hands.
"They'll know you helped me. Especially that other one, Jason. He'll figure it out."
"And who cares?" she snapped, helping him up. "You stay here, you'll die. I'm not gonna let that happen."
"I'm not going to put you in danger," Lincoln insisted, grimacing as he struggled to pull on the jacket.
"You need to do this now." Octavia supported him, tugging the sleeves into place.
"Even in these clothes, I'll be seen."
"Not if you've eaten the nuts today," she said quickly, voice rising. "People are seeing plenty of things right now. Come on!"
Lincoln let out a weak laugh despite his pain. Octavia helped him stand, and together they made for the hatch.
She opened it and froze. Her breath hitched.
Standing at the bottom of the ladder was Jason arms crossed, expression unreadable.
"Well, hello there," he said flatly. "Kids having fun, I see."
Octavia's heart nearly stopped. "Jason—"
He raised a brow, tone dripping sarcasm. "I mean, I leave you alone for five minutes, and suddenly you're breaking out prisoners. What's next, O? Adopt a grounder?"
Lincoln shifted, tense, trying to step forward, but Jason's glare cut through the air like a blade.
"Shut up," Jason ordered without even looking at him. His tone was calm, almost casual which somehow made it worse.
Jason turned his gaze back to Octavia. "And what exactly do you think you're doing, O?"
She swallowed hard. "Please, Jason. He'll be killed when the Ark comes down. Half the camp already wants him dead. It's only a matter of time and you know it."
Jason was silent for a long moment. His expression stayed neutral, but his eyes… his eyes softened. Then he sighed.
"I was coming to help him escape," Jason said finally, shaking his head. "But looks like you beat me to it."
Relief washed over Octavia's face.
Jason walked toward the entrance, glancing back once more. "Not that I didn't expect this. But your brother's gonna know it was you."
"I don't care," she said firmly.
Jason smirked faintly. "Good."
Lincoln met his gaze. "Thank you."
Jason waved a hand dismissively. "Don't thank me dude thank her."
Then, suddenly he head a heavy thud and looked outside, his expression twisted in exasperation.
"HEY! Hey, you! Don't play with fire, you stupid square-faced animal!" Jason yelled as he bolted out of the dropship after a kid trying to light a tent on fire.
Octavia blinked, watching him go, then turned back to Lincoln helping him down the ladder. And before she could process it, Lincoln leaned forward and kissed her.
———————
Jason had never seen a bigger circus in his life.
Kids were still stumbling around the camp like drunken zombies, some laughing, some crying, a few trying to "hug the trees" because they "missed their mothers."
He was trying, really trying to keep things together.
"Sit down! No, don't pet the fire! That's not your friend!" Jason barked as he guided two dazed boys away from the flames. He was so busy that he almost didn't notice Monty slipping into Finn's tent.
A few minutes later, Raven emerged.
Her eyes met Jason's across the camp just for a heartbeat. A silent pause. Her expression softened, conflicted, before she broke eye contact and turned back into the tent.
Jason's chest tightened for a moment, though he wasn't sure why.
Then Finn came out, walking with a limp, hand pressed against his side but standing tall.
"Hey," he called out, voice still rough.
Jason looked up from the mess of kids. "How're you feeling?"
"Still in pain," Finn admitted, forcing a small smile, "but I'll manage."
"Good. Because I need you to help me calm them down," Jason said, waving at the chaos around them.
Finn chuckled weakly. "You're serious?"
"Pain means you're alive, right? Prove it," Jason said dryly.
Raven came closer just as a few more kids started giggling near the gate. Jason pointed toward them.
"Try to make sure they don't wander out of the camp, yeah? Last thing we need is someone hugging a bear."
Raven nodded and went to work, her sharp voice somehow soothing to the panicked teens. She guided one sobbing boy to sit down, whispering something Jason couldn't hear but recognized as comfort. For a brief moment, she caught Jason's eye again. This time, she smiled faintly and he couldn't help but return it.
But then Jason's attention snapped to movement near the edge of camp.
Wait…
A hooded figure was slipping through the trees. Jason's eyes narrowed. No way.
It was Lincoln.
Jason's heart skipped because Finn was standing right in his path.
'Shit. Shit. Shit.'
He moved, ready to intercept in case of any altercation, but froze when he saw Finn stop… look at Lincoln… and step aside.
No words and no violence. Just a silent understanding between two men.
Jason exhaled softly, running a hand through his hair. 'Huh. Didn't expect that. Guess there's still hope for humanity after all.'
——————
By the time the camp quieted down, most of the "highs" had faded.
Octavia emerged from her tent, rubbing her head. She looked pale and played along with the crowd.
Monty approached her with a smile. "Rough night?"
"Yeah, my head's killing me," she answered, playing along.
"I'm pretty sure I ate a pine cone," Monty said solemnly. "Because it told me to."
Octavia chuckled. "Yeah, sounds about right."
Before either could say more, Miller's voice rang out across the camp.
"He's gone! The grounder's gone!"
Jason groaned loudly, rubbing his temples. "Oh, for crying out loud…"
He pushed through the crowd that was gathering by the dropship.
"Alright, everyone calm down!" he barked, his tone slicing through the noise. "Yelling won't bring him back!"
"What if he brings other grounders?" someone shouted.
"He'll kill us all!" another added.
"Or worse!" a girl cried, clutching her arms.
Jason was about to retort when familiar voices carried across the clearing.
"Let the grounders come!" Bellamy announced, his voice strong and confident as he strode into the camp beside Clarke. "We've been afraid for too long. Why? Because of their knives and spears? I don't know about you, but I'm done being afraid!"
Jason's eyebrows lifted as he noticed the rifles slung over their shoulders. Clarke and Bellamy standing side by side, not arguing for once.
He smirked. "About time you two got back," he muttered, moving toward the weapons and crouching down to inspect one.
"These are weapons," Clarke said firmly. "Not toys. And we'll give them up to the guard when the Ark comes. But until then, they'll help keep us safe."
"And there are plenty more where these came from," Bellamy added, eyes scanning the crowd. "Tomorrow, we start training. If the grounders come, we'll be ready."
Jason stood, dusting his hands, watching the spark in everyone's eyes. Fear turning into resolve. Chaos into purpose.
He took a few steps forward. "Alright," he said with a calm and commanding voice. "You all heard them. We've been beaten, hunted, and apparently drugged." That drew a ripple of laughter. "But look at us, we're still standing. That's what matters. We survive because we adapt. We survive because we don't quit. They think we're kids? Fine. Then let's show them what kids can do when the world tries to break us."
Cheers erupted across the camp. Raven grinned from the crowd, catching Jason's gaze and giving him a nod. He returned it with a half-smile before turning back toward the others.
——————-
Later, as the energy settled, Octavia stood at the edge of camp, staring into the dark forest. The chill crept into her bones until a blanket was draped over her shoulders.
Bellamy stood behind her. "I don't expect you to forgive me," he said quietly. "But you'll have to live with it because I'm not going anywhere."
Before she could respond, Clarke's voice came from behind. "Bellamy, it's time. They want to speak with you and Jason." Jason was beside her, hands in his pockets.
Bellamy glanced back at Octavia. "That grounder escaping… was that you?"
Octavia hesitated, then shrugged. "I had nothing to do with it. Thanks for the blanket."
Jason smirked slightly, saying nothing. Her act was terrible, but he wasn't about to call her out.
————————-
After Clarke and Bellamy finished their transmission with the Ark, Bellamy stepped out of the tent, visibly lighter, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Jason guessed he'd been pardoned.
"Your turn," Bellamy said, clapping Jason on the shoulder.
Jason sighed. "Well, here goes nothing."
He stepped inside. Clarke was still there, seated before the screen. Jason sat beside her and took the earpiece, adjusting it before the feed cleared.
"Jason," Jaha's voice came through, calm and composed. "I hear you've been keeping our people safe."
Jason straightened slightly. "Well sir, not everyone, but the few we can, yes. We're trying our best."
Clarke nodded beside him in agreement. "He's been one of the reasons we've held it together down here."
Jaha smiled faintly. "I'll admit, I don't remember you well, Jason. But I've heard the reports and the council is proud of your work."
Jason's jaw tightened a little. "With all due respect, sir… I didn't do this for the council. I don't care if you're proud or not. I'll keep doing what I have to because that's what survival means down here."
A moment of silence followed and then, unexpectedly, Jaha smiled wider.
"Be that as it may… thank you. The Ark owes you, all of you."
Jason inclined his head slightly. "Then make sure you get down here in one piece."
Jaha chuckled softly. "We'll try. Jaha out."
The screen went dark. Clarke turned to Jason, smiling faintly. "Thank you," she said quietly.
Jason leaned back in his chair with a half-smirk. "For what?"
"For not saying something reckless," she said with a small laugh.
Jason chuckled. "Give me time, Clarke. I've still got the rest of the day."
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