Written for Amber via the Drabble Game Challenge (Clexa, liars). Amber, I kind of hate this show right now but I always adore you. Thank you for dealing with my rants.
Lexa comes at dawn, dressed in all her battle gear and Clarke's heart drops long before Lexa utters a word.
"They have offered my people a choice to abandon yours and save ours," Lexa says, so blandly that Clarke knows, without a single doubt, that she has practiced this over and over. Folded hands, set posture, rigid back. Clarke knows from experience what kind of blows come with you have to steady yourself to deliver them. "My advisors tell me I should take it. After all, my people should always be the first priority."
She should grovel. She should get on her knees and pray for mercy for her people and her dreams but there are words tumbling out of her mouth and she is doing anything but pleading.
"Jus drein jus daun. Your people deserve vengeance, Lexa," Clarke says and Lexa stills. She does not flinch. Neither of them does. Neither of them can.
"My ancestors warn me against your words," Lexa states. It is a plea. This time, they will both lose regardless of what Lexa chooses, for that is war and they have both been turned into warriors.
"Don't become a liar, Lexa. Please." Clarke says and she hates them way her voice cracks on the words and the way Lexa stands so close she can feel her body heat. She hates a lot of thing about this world and this war but she can't seem to hate Lexa.
There is silence between them for a while and when Lexa speaks it is in a whisper that echoes. "My people will stand by you in Mount Weather, Clarke of Skaikru. Do not let me down."
"I won't. I promise," Clarke says and tries to will her hands to stop shaking. She doesn't succeed and folds them together like she can hide.
"Good," Lexa whispers and it doesn't sound like the commander who could slit a man's throat with his own blade. It sounds like Bellamy riling an army in fear and her name on Finn's lips before she has to kill him and Octavia's screams upon seeing Lincoln's blood. Clarke tastes bile and swallows down her demons.
"I must go now," Lexa states and turns so quickly Clarke can barely think until she is pressing her lips against Lexa's and all of a sudden, it is like the rest of the world has gone silent, just the two of them and the way Lexa's lips taste like peace.
"Stay with me," one of them murmurs and Clarke does not care who because the other one whispers "yes," and she does not feel alone anymore.
(They fight back to back for the rest of their lives and it is not nearly long enough.)