AN's at the bottom.
Disclaimer: I don't own the 100
She hated trains. She especially hated trains in foreign countries. They were loud, noisy, and people seemed to lack any sort of common sense they would seem to have outside of the train. People shoved, grumbled, and hurried to places that Lexa didn't quite care to know. But looking into the sea of colored shirts she knew that for the next month trains would be worse than normal.
Colors of every variety, ethnicities of all kind boarded the moving machine of death Lexa had learned to hate. Every nation was represented and where she should have took pride she only find a quiet apprehension. She weaved through people to find a quiet corner, trying to hide further into the hat covering her face.
Everyone had said London was wonderful, told her how much she would love it. Lexa was starting to think they had all lied. Two days here and she could barely make her way out the damn hotel without getting confused. She rarely left without one of her teammates by her side so how she had ended up alone was beyond her. Now all she wanted to do was get back to her room without being mobbed.
It wasn't always bad. Not everyone keeps up with sports, not everyone could pick her off the streets, but this year her face was plastered on just about every magazine. Right now it seemed like everyone knew her when she just wanted to fade away. This year she was the hopes and dreams of the nation. This year she was supposed to lead them to victory.
It was out of the corner of her eye that red, white, and blue flashed. A small child danced impatiently next to her parents with her last name Woods emblazoned on her back. You think after two world cups she'd be used to the popularity and devotion. She wasn't. She hid further into her shoulders wanting nothing more than to get through the train ride quietly and without getting lost.
She hadn't wanted the popularity. She hadn't even wanted to go international. It sort of just happened. Not all of it exactly made sense to Lexa, but when you put a ball at her feet everything seemed to fall back into place. In train stations, in work, in life she was a mess that barely kept it together. On the field though she was something else. And that's what people wanted to see. That's all they wanted from her.
And somewhere along the line that became all she wanted to.
Train. Eat. Sleep. Repeat.
It was when the train came to an abrupt stop that sent a smaller older Chinese woman flying into her. Her body threw itself forward at the impact and Lexa cursed under her breath as she raised her hands placating in apology. The elder woman grumbled and shoved past her towards the opening doors. She swore the lady just flicked her off.
She hated this part the most. When the doors opened it was a tidal wave of different people that flooded both in and out. No amount of manners or decency survived the assault and it left Lexa irritated and flushed with annoyance. This wasn't how she had planned to end her day, but Lincoln had been suddenly called out and couldn't pick her up.
Hence she was left alone in an unfamiliar city and lost on the train from hell. "Fuck me."
Her fingers drummed on the pole as she stood. It was hot and muggy and the Oompa Loompa next to her was far too close for her liking. She had just needed to work out some stress. The first match was in four days. Practices with the team in preparation were long, but not nearly long enough for Lexa who stayed behind. She juggled until her feet felt like lead. She ran until her body begged for her to stop. She shot at open nets until every one of them were deemed perfect.
She had to be ready. This was the year United States won.
Anxious nerves got the best of her as she began to weave through the crowd best she could. She didn't think too much about it when a business woman had accidently shoved her elbow into Lexa's side as she made her way pass. Didn't particularly mind as the drunkard sang a little too loudly in her ear for her liking. Nor did she even mind as the smell of smoke from the man sitting blew a cloud of cancer into her face. She didn't mind at all. Lexa was solid. More aptly put Lexa just wasn't allowed to lose her temper. Indra would have her head if she found her way into the tabloids again.
The brunette in her jogging sweats and hoodie finally came down to the metro map that was printed on to the wall. She tried to study the map, truly she did. After all Lincoln had given her clear directions. He told her even a child could do this. Green eyes found the word Unity Station and she quickly put her pinky on it.
"Okay." She thought tracing the line. "I started here and I need to follow the green line." Carefully she began to trace her way down the map. Lincoln had said her best bet was to make her way towards Albany Park and walk back to the hotel from there. Lexa bit her lip in concentration. For a moment she even believed she could do this.
It was simple. And then the line split.
The green line she had been tracing divided into three colors at Greenwich. And now she not only had green, but yellow and red. Lincoln had said stay on green, but Albany Park was on yellow. Did that mean she had to switch? But maybe if she stayed on green long enough it would switch to yellow? Well, shit. Lexa cursed the whole thing. Didn't these people know three was a fucking crowd? One color, one line damn it.
Everyone rides the train he said. There's no possible way you could mess this up he said.
All of a sudden she was broken from her reverie. "Hey." Green eyes chanced a look up from the chart. Double shit. A young man about her age grinned – a little too confidently for her taste – down at her. The first thing she noticed was that his nose was abnormally large for any normal human being. It was oddly out of place for his otherwise small face and Lexa blamed it on the fact that she was just a terrible human being. She thinks it was Gustus who told her who told her she had to give people a chance… despite any unfortunate features.
It was a really big nose though.
She watched as his eyes trailed her body and Lexa couldn't help but roll her eyes. Normally this was the point where she put her headphones in, but her ear buds were left long forgotten in her room back at the hotel. She didn't even have a half decent reason to pretend to ignore him. Sometimes Lexa wondered how she had the shittiest luck. Hoping he'd get the hint she ignored him and opted to just stare out the window.
She was lost. She was sweaty. She was stuck on the god awful train. And now Big Nose wanted to hit on her. It really just wasn't her day. And the last thing she wanted was to get recognized in the middle of the metro station. She'd never make it back to the hotel.
Head down, face covered. Indra's mantra repeated in her head.
Big Nose moved almost uncomfortably to get back into her line of sight. He leered and gave another wave. All Lexa saw was the way his eyes dropped to her bust where she realized the zipper to her hoodie was a little too far down. "Come on, I promise I don't bite… much." He finished winking.
Lexa wanted to gag. She had tried to be nice. She thought she had given the hint that she didn't want to talk or whatever the hell else this guy seemed to be interested in. This is where nice got you. She could feel the angry retort about to break loose from the back of her throat when a slim arm slid around her shoulders smoothly. A pale hand touched her arm gently as she was brought into a tight embrace.
"Hey babe, sorry I took so long." A feminine voice said. "You know how awkward I get trying to ask for directions." The brunette looked to her side to see a mountain of blonde curls and bright blue eyes. Lexa didn't even have time to properly register when plump lips came in for a chaste kiss on her cheek. "I hope you didn't miss me too much." The woman joked. Her voice was thick with an accent Lexa couldn't quite place.
For a split second she had the urge to push the other woman off of her. The audacity of people on the metro baffled her and how she had hit two assholes in one day seemed to show her how much the universe was against her. When she saw blue eyes flick meaningfully towards the younger man though she finally understood. The real question was if she wanted to play along.
Big Nose's face she noticed was tight with confusion and irritation, but the mysterious blonde seemed to take it all in stride. With the hand that was not currently wrapped around Lexa she extended her arm, smile bright on her face. "I'm Clarke," She nodded towards Lexa, "But you can just call me her gorgeous girlfriend." The brunette felt her jaw tighten at that. This Clarke was a piece of work.
The man looked at her for confirmation clearly not entirely believing Clarke's story. And to her side she saw a blonde eyebrow raise in question. Clearly the woman thought she had done her part and now the ball was in her court. Lexa didn't think when her hand easily moved down to Clarke's thigh, her fingers gently caressing the warm skin she found there as a small smile quirked at her lips.
"She's a little forward sometimes." She said meaningfully more towards her than him, but nonetheless leaning into the blonde's embrace. Lexa ignored the fact that her whole body tingled when touching the other woman's skin.
Clarke grinned a little too sweetly at Big Nose. "What can I say? I like people to know what's mine." That comment earned a small pinch at the blonde's thigh. Lexa relished in the small wince even though blue eyes still twinkled with mischief. "So did you need something or are you just gaping at my hot girlfriend?"
Big Nose at a loss for words just shook his head and frowned. As the train came to another stop his voice finally seemed to find him. "No… this is my stop though. Sorry for bothering you two." He finished quickly walking away.
The minute he walked off the train Lexa and Clarke separated almost instantly. But the brunette saw blue eyes grin victoriously seeing the young man walk away tail tucked between his legs. "Good riddance asshole." She ran a hand through her hair before awkwardly turning back towards Lexa. "You good mate?"
She stared silently beneath her cap before grunting and turning away. If possible she felt herself moving farther from Clarke not entirely comfortable with their semi-close proximity. She couldn't stop the quick way her eyes raked over the blonde as it was finally the two of them. Clarke – she could tell – was the type of person that stood out in a crowd even if she didn't want to. She made waves when waves weren't necessary. Lexa couldn't stand people like that. Clarke was trouble and she wanted no part of it.
The blonde woman cocked her head. "Geez don't thank me all at once. I wouldn't want to be overwhelmed by your gratitude." Clarke didn't move any closer to Lexa, but settled in her spot. Her arms gently folded across her chest as the confidence that she exuberated earlier faded away. A gentler calmer look overtook her blue eyes, but Lexa saw that underneath they were just as fierce.
"I didn't need your help." Lexa stated simply. She hadn't asked for her help nor had she wanted it. Therefore she did not in the slightest feel obligated to thank her in return. Help unwanted was not needed. Lexa was more than capable of taking care of herself.
The blonde laughed quietly settling into the hum of the busy train. She looked much more at ease in the crowd than Lexa did. "No, you sure as hell didn't." She admitted to the both of them. "But when people look like they've had a shitty day I try not to be a complete bastard and leave them to bite off the heads of little boys who've been staring at your ass all train ride." She gave a pointed look at her companion. "And I do mean the whole damn train ride."
A silence ensued between them after that. Lexa figured if she didn't encourage conversation then the blonde would just leave. She began to count the number of stops. At this point she was helplessly lost. She had no clue where she was and no clue where to go. It was only after another six more stops had passed that she inclined her head and noticed Clarke was still there. She didn't bother to hide her distaste.
Small talk had never exactly been her strong suit and Lexa much preferred to be left alone. Lincoln chalked it up to her dislike of people in general. Lexa chalked it up to everyone being complete idiots. Still another two stops passed and neither them had left their spots quite yet.
I'm fucking lost. That was the only reason she hadn't been long gone. But she had better chances of finding her way back on the train then getting off and trying to find her way back on dark unfamiliar streets. The logical part of her brain realized that asking for help might be a start. Green eyes flicked to blonde hair.
No. I'd rather be lost. She thought stubbornly.
"Is there a reason you're still here or are you just there to annoy me?"
"Well someone thinks highly of themselves." Clarke retorted. "Especially since someone has no idea where they are."
Lexa flushed red in embarrassment.
The blonde held in her laugh. "Lost isn't a good look for you."
"You annoy me." Lexa said turning her head away. She was impossible. She could feel her blood boil at the other girl's comment. Lexa chose to be lost. If she wanted to make her way back to her hotel than she would.
"I'm people watching."
"So you are creepy then." Lexa remarked. "Good to know."
This time Clarke did laugh. "It's a habit I can't seem to shake. I used to do it with an old friend, easy way to pass the time you know?"
Lexa merely hummed in response. She felt blue eyes study her and then Clarke was speaking again. "So do I get to know my pretend girlfriend's name or is this the part where I get dumped?" She said teasingly.
Lexa scoffed at her childishness. "You really are forward."
"You have no idea."
Green eyes watched her for a moment. Lexa would blame it on temporary insanity when her mouth moved again. "Lexa." She said curtly.
Clarke smiled softly and Lexa felt her cheeks heat up unwantedly. "Well Lexa I'm in desperate need of coffee and my friend told me this place around the corner wasn't too bad. I'd love some company, but I warn you I'm a pretty fast walker." She finished winking.
As the train station came to a stop the blonde didn't wait for a response before she began to file out towards the door. The only sign she left Lexa was a hopeful grin over her shoulder. Green eyes stared at her as Clarke walked away. It wasn't until the speakers began to beep warning of closing doors that Lexa moved. Her feet shuffling quickly before her mind could tell her no. When she came face to face with wild blonde hair and blue eyes waiting for her as the train swooshed by she found she didn't regret it.
"This is all Lincoln's fault." Her face was flushed and she couldn't decide if she was irritated or crazy or if her day really just had been that shitty that she had gone completely insane. Clearly she had forgotten the basic rules of stranger danger.
"So you like coffee." A side of her mouth was quirked in a half-smile.
Lexa frowned. "Don't look so smug. I just want a free drink."
"Or you were lost and had no idea where to go." The blonde said turning on the balls of her feet knowing Lexa would reluctantly follow. "Or maybe you just like my company because of my dashing good looks."
They fell into an easy rhythm walking with each other. "Keep on dreaming blondie."
For whatever it was Clarke didn't seem to recognize her. And for whatever it was Lexa didn't seem to care. She just wanted free coffee.
A/N: Long time no see everybody! This is just something that came to me because the Women's World Cup is on and I'm like the biggest dork ever, but that's besides the point so you know just leave a review, I really do appreciate all comments and critiques. And I hope you enjoyed the first small bit of this and I'm hoping with the summer I'll be able to update all of my stories now much more frequently. If anything in particular sticks out, if you have any suggestions just shoot me a PM or leave a review. Either way I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Until next time!
~CF
