For the Drabble Game Challenge (Clexa, kiss in the rain, for Em)
Thunder rolls somewhere in the distance. Lexa watches the worry fall over her lover's face, and she smiles to herself. She wonders if Clarke ever just relaxes. From what she's seen, she highly doubts it.
"We should get back to Polis," Clarke tells her.
Lexa's smile broadens to a grin. "Not yet," she decides, pausing to admire a cluster of yellow flowers at the edge of the trail.
"It's going to rain. If we get caught in it-"
"We'll be fine."
It's been so long since Lexa has been able to stop and enjoy the little things. She can barely remember the last time, but she knows it was when Costia was still alive.
"Being Commander is…" Lexa trails off, pondering the correct words to say. She has to be careful. Clarke worries so much, and the wrong word choice might send her into a panic. "You forget things sometimes, Clarke. You lead your people. You watch your warriors train. You pour everything in your soul into keeping the clans running."
Clarke nods as though she understands. Lexa supposes that she does. Skaikru has their leaders. They look to Marcus and Abby. But they also look to Clarke. So young and forced to carry a burden she never asked for. Clarke understands to an extent what it is like to have to lead.
"It can be too much," Lexa continues, plucking a fragrant yellow flower, then another. A gentle rain begins to fall, a thin haze of water, barely more than a mist. "You forget to stop and enjoy life. After all, how can you find the time when you have to keep your people safe and alive."
"It's starting to rain. If we go now-"
The rain picks up. Lexa smiles and turns. She places the flowers in Clarke's hair as Costia once did with hers.
You're too serious, Commander. If you don't relax, I fear you may go insane.
She trails her hand along Clarke's cheek. Beads of water cling to her face, racing each other along her jaw and to her chin.
"Relax," Lexa says, pressing a kiss to her lover's lips.
And Clarke does. Lexa can feel her body soften at the touch of their lips. Lexa pulls her closer, closing her eyes.
Somehow, the weight of everything lifts. The old war with the Mountain Men no longer mattered. Her choice to betray Clarke washes away. Talks of the Skaikru men threatening war against her people disappears, if only for a few moments. All that matters is that their lips have found one another, and the rain washes over them.
Clarke pulls away, and it's amazing how different she looks. However briefly, she has allowed herself to forget her worries. The smile on her lips is not weighed down with fear for her people, concern for survival. This must be what Clarke looked like so long ago, before everything in her life fell apart.
"You're beautiful," Lexa whispers.
A pink as soft as roses grows in Clarke's cheeks, beneath the droplets of water. Clarke takes her hand. "We should get back," she says again. "Before it's raining too hard."
"As you wish," Lexa says, stealing one last kiss before returning to her horse.
…
Titus is not happy when Lexa returns. He so rarely is. Lexa cannot go too long without him reminding her that no other Commander he's served has ever given him as much trouble.
"You should have taken a guard with you," he insists.
Lexa rolls her eyes and sets up a curtain, stripping away her wet clothes. She doesn't speak as the Flamekeeper continues his usual lecture. By now, Lexa has heard every speech that he has to offer, and she finds herself mouthing out his points just seconds before he says them.
When she's dressed again, she steps out, patting his cheek. "When's the last time you picked flowers?"
"I- What?"
Lexa smiles. "Relax. It'll do you some good."
Before Titus can speak, Lexa hurries off. Clarke is still out there. Rain is still pouring. There's still so much to do.