I stood in front of Diana, my chest tight, my throat threatening to close. She was staring at me like I was a stranger, like the man she knew was already dead. And maybe, in her eyes, he was.

"Leave us" I told the guards, forcing my voice into the cold disciple calm they expected. They obeyed, the door hissing shut behind them. I glanced at the camera in the corner. Always watching. Always listening.

"Please don't tell me it's true?" She begged, her voice cracking, half of me breaking.

I forced the words out, the taste bitter as ash.
"It is. It's all true" I almost gagged just saying it.

"Who the hell are you? The man I love would not believe in this, he wouldn't be okay with any of this. I know these people, bell. I was trained by them. All they care about is their last war, and they'll do anything to get there. I became one of them so I could avenge you, when I thought you died." Her voices cracked into a cry

"I'm sorry you went through that" I said. The mask had to stay on. Even if every word i spoke felt like a betrayal.

"Are you? Because it looks to me that while I was out there doing everything I could to get to you, you were forgetting me, forgetting your friends, what we've been through. Forgetting who your family is. I scared my own skin to remind myself of who i was, so I wouldn't lose myself while I let them play with my mind." Her voices cracked into was sharp.

I glanced at her arm, seeing the scar.

God, Diana. I clenched my jaw, fighting to keep the act.

"I didn't forget you. You- and everyone else are the reason I'm here. I fought everyday to get back to you. Then the Shepard saved me." I said, steady, calm.

The words burned. Saved me? No. Saved me would've been her arms. Her voice. Not cadogans lies.

She looked at me with that fire again, wounded and furious.
"What's going to happen to us if we don't give them the flame?" She asked

I swallowed the bile in my throat.
"You're to be executed. Diana, this is how we do better, they want to end the wars, they want to have peace that lasts forever. We can have that" I say

Her glare cut straight through me.
"I'll never give them the flame. You should know that. Especially not when my people aren't safe" she said

And despite everything, despite the eyes watching, I almost smiled. That was her. That was my Diana.

"I know you think I've changed. That the Bellamy you knew is gone but I'm not. I'm here" I said, stepping closer with each word.

I wrapped my arms around her. For a moment, she didn't move. Didn't hug back. I tilted my head just enough, keeping the camera in mind, and slid my hand out of the cameras sight.

I tapped my finger once.

She stiffened against me.

Please, Diana. Please.

Then, slowly, her arms wrapped around me. A soft cry from her throat, muffled against my shoulder. I tapped again, my pulse pounding.

Dot. Dot. Line. Dot.
Pause.
Dot. Line.
Pause.
Line. Dot. Line.
Pause.
Dot.

F.A.K.E.

Then I waited.

She sighed against my neck, the sound trembling with relief. I nearly broke, nearly dropped the mask right then. She understood. She knew.

"Take me to m-cap. I'll fight it. I'll figure out a way to convince them" she whispered, barely audible.

My throat tightened, but I don't let it show.
"Guards." I called, the door slid open.

"Take her to m-cap" I said

They grabbed her by the arms.

"Family, huh?" She spat at me, her voice laced with bitterness, her glare sharp. But I saw it. The act. She was keeping it up, just like me.

I held my face cold, though my chest ached with the urge to grab her back. To hold her again.

Instead, I watched her disappear through the door.

I was going to find a way to save her again.

I had to.

Because I would do anything for her.