"Are you sure she didn't see you?" Clarke asks holding her hand out for Lexa to cross the rocks at the edge of the water.
"I'm sure. She's still sleeping."
"Would you stop worrying and just enjoy this." Lexa says exasperated, gesturing towards the imminent sunrise on the horizon.
"She's so strict. Last time she caught you sneaking off she wouldn't let you out of her sight for a week."
"Anya's just doing what she thinks is right to make a good warrior out of me."
"All work and no play makes Lexa a cranky warrior." Clarke says pinching the darker girl's cheeks.
"When I'm older I'll be a lethal fighter just like her. I will strike fear in the heart of my enemies."
"When you're a big scary warrior will you still steal away with me to watch the sunrise?" Clarke asks tentatively.
"Always." Lexa answers without hesitation. She unbuckles her fur jacket, rolls it up and lays her head down on it. Clarke lies back, nestling her head into the taller girls shoulder and resting her hand across Lexa's abdomen.
"It's so pretty here." Clarke admires, looking up at the sun's rays starting to peak over the water.
"Beautiful." Lexa adds, looking down at Clarke.
"Where were you?" Anya accuses as soon as Lexa steps into her tent.
"I went hunting but I couldn't find anything."
Anya stalks up to her, towering at least a foot above her. "I can smell her on you. You were with that Sky girl again."
"I ran into her on the way back. She wanted to know when the market opened."
"The Sky people can't be trusted Lexa. It's been less than six full moons since they landed here. All hold up in that metal fortress. We don't know what they want, what kind of weapons they're amassing in there."
"The commander says we should be at peace while we learn from them. They have better medicines. Their healers are saving our people."
"We save our people! They are outsiders! Enough of this. You shouldn't be thinking about girls, it's affecting your training."
"It isn't affecting me… I mean I'm not thinking about her."
Anya drops down, spinning around she swipes Lexa's legs from underneath her, causing her to fall with a thud. The older girl stands back up. "You were saying?" She rolls her eyes and walks out of the tent. Lexa punches the dirt floor.
Clarke navigates her way into TonDC under the moonlight. She tiptoes up to Lexa's bed, careful not to wake the other seconds before reaching Lexa's partition. She reaches to light a candle by the bedside.
"Don't." Lexa whispers, catching her hand.
"Why?"
"I don't want you to see me like this."
Clarke immediately lights the match and an amber glow illuminates the room. "Oh my God, what did she do to you?"
"We sparred. She knew I was with you again so she didn't hold back any punches. It looks worse than it is." Lexa responds, touching the black and blue hues which cover her face and arms.
"Alexandria. Do not lie to me."
"Ok, it hurts like hell. I can't even sleep."
"Come with me, I'm getting you some ice."
"Clarke, there is no ice for miles. It's Spring.
"We have some in the freezers back at the Ark. Come with me it'll be ok, she assures placing a kiss on Lexa's forehead."
She leads Lexa by the hand into the Ark, which has now been extended with living quarters, a canteen and a medical centre. They walk up the now silent corridors to Clarke's pod. She swipes her key card on the door and it opens with a swoosh.
Lexa jolts back. "I don't know if I'll ever get used to that."
"Let's go fearless warrior." Clarke smirks.
She walks through the living room and presses the button to open her bedroom door.
"Don't worry, there's no one here. My mom is working late at the clinic."
Leaving Lexa on her bed she runs to the canteen to get some ice. Lexa stands up to inspect Clarke's room, she has never been in here before. Her eyes admire the large colourful murals on the walls.
Clarke returns shortly to find Lexa fixated on her work.
"Did you draw these? They're magnificent. I feel like I'm a million trees tall with my head resting among the stars."
"Drawing takes my mind off things. Also everything is kinda grey around here."
Lexa turns to look at her and Clarke once again gets a full view of her battered form.
"Lay down." Clarke instructs.
"Yes healer." Lexa obeys, playing along.
"I am going to be a fully fledged doctor one day, just like my mom. I'll patch up your arrow holes and sword slices." She grimaces thinking of anything bad happening to Lexa.
Placing the bag of ice gently onto Lexa's swollen cheekbone she hears the girl breathe a sigh of relief.
"That feels nice."
As soon as the area feels cooled Clarke moves on to the next affected patch until she runs out of bruised flesh to soothe.
"Does it hurt anywhere else?"
"My ribs, right here." She motions, pulling up her top to reveal a taught, tanned midriff.
Clarke sees two blotchy red lines tracing the taller girls ribs, she runs her fingers lightly over them and Lexa shivers.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you." Clarke apologises.
"You didn't." Lexa replies, suddenly very aware of where they are and how uncovered she is. She moves to get up but Clarke places a firm hand on her shoulder holding her back.
"Wait. I should ice these." She places the bag of partially melted but still freezing cold ice onto the injured ribs and the young warrior quickly relaxes back into the bed.
Clarke goes to the kitchen and returns with 4 little white pills and a glass of water. "Take two now and two in the morning, they'll lessen the pain."
Lexa sits up to take the pills and Clarke sits beside her.
"You take such good care of me." Lexa appreciates.
"Well I have to keep you around a while."
"A while?" Lexa raises an eyebrow.
"Yeah, till I get bored of you." The fairer girl laughs.
"Hey! You're stuck with me for good. You know that right?"
"I know." Clarke smiles, leaning toward Lexa. "Does it hurt here?" Clarke points at the taller girl's lips.
"No." Lexa answers.
"Good." Clarke leans in and kisses her tenderly, placing her hand softly along Lexa's defined jaw, careful not to hurt the tender flesh there.
Lexa feels as though a rush of sunlight is forcing its way through every vein in her body. She deepens the kiss, pulling Clarke closer, tangling her hands in the girl's gilded locks. Clarke pulls back just long enough to take her top off and throw it across the room. She meets Lexa's plump lips again fervently. Tugging at Lexa's sweater the taller girl carefully lifts her arms up to allow it to be pulled off. It falls in the same pile as Clarke's.
The fairer girl lies back, pulling her warrior on top of her. Clarke's bare skin sets Lexa on fire, she can't get enough, wanting to touch or kiss every inch of this girl. They kiss and caress each other for hours, until finally falling asleep contentedly wrapped up together.