Clark continued her trek after dropping the news, while her cohorts stood still, shocked at what they had just heard. She was ten yards in front of them before Jasper finally broke the silence, "Clark, this will kill you," he said just loud enough to carry over the distance.
"It might," She paused, turning around to face her audience, "It might save all of us, too."
The group started to close the gap between them, "Clark, you can't be serious, this is suicide," Octavia stated vehemently.
Clark looked at her for a few moments. She then raised her chin slightly and replied, "It's what she would have done, if the roles were reversed."
No one could argue with this, or even comment on it. The group knew that Clark had become close to the Commander over the last few weeks. Bellamy and Jasper had their suspicions that she maybe even loved her, while Octavia knew for a fact that she was in love with the Heda. How could they question her motives given the circumstances?
They continued their journey in silence for some time until Bellamy asked, "When do you plan to do it?"
"When we return to Arkadia. I'm going to train one of you how to monitor vital signs and one of you to use a defibrillator," she replied. She had thought all of this through. There were risks, yes, but she had a contingency plan. This will work. It had to work. The Latin phrase will be recited and the AI will latch onto Clark's brain stem. This will occur in a controlled environment and her vitals will be watched and adjusted with proper medication or hormones if necessary.
Shit, they won't know which drugs to give me.
Her face fell into a frown as she thought this over. She completely missed spotting a snare trap and was pulled off the path towards it just before her boot hit the ground that would have sent her up and into the trees. She nodded her head slightly in appreciation towards Jasper for saving her.
Jasper. Jasper knows drugs, he'll have an idea of what to give me if I need it.
She started walking a little taller when she came to this realization.
Wait. Nightblood. It wasn't a natural condition. Becca altered her genetic code to be able to tolerate the chip. If she did it, it can be done again. We have her journal that documents everything, we just need someone smart enough to decipher it. This isn't a total gamble; this might actually work.
She frowned again when she realized that before this moment she was banking on nothing more than determination and her love for Lexa.
Did I actually think that true love really does conquer all? Really? Get your shit together, Clark. Life isn't a fairy tale.
"Yeah, Clark, mechanics and geneticists are interchangeable," Raven replied sarcastically, her eyes looked bored as she tinkered with the carburetor that lay in front of her. She loved her friends dearly, but when it came to matters such as these, she often felt very out of place with them, "This is the equivalent of me asking Octavia to do a pirouette because she's become good with a sword."
Octavia looked up at the sound of her name and seemed confused from the analogy. Her eyes darted from Raven to Clarke and she blushed slightly, "What?"
"Never mind," Clark muttered to the warrior, her face clearly showing her disappointment in Raven's response, "I understand it's a lot to ask and that it's not the same components. But if anyone can do this, it's you."
"No, it's not," Raven started to get flustered and raised her voice, "It's Abby. It's Sinclair. She's got the expertise of the human body and he had the knowledge of the engineering. This is not my field, Clark!"
"Do you think any of this is my field?" Clark snapped back, all patience lost, "I know the risks. I know that no one without night blood has ever survived taking the flame. I know I'm askin Mechanic to alter my fucking genetic code," she started towards Raven, closing the distance between the two women, "I know this is our only chance," she stated firmly, mere inches from Raven's face. She had backed the brunette up to the side of her workbench, Raven's back now slightly arched in an attempt to put some distance between herself and Clark.
Raven's defeat showed on her face, a rarity for the girl, "I'll take a look," she replied quietly.
Clark backed off and paused for a moment, staring at the mechanic, "My mother and Sinclair both put a lot of faith in you. If they were here, I would be asking them, but I have no doubt that they would be asking for your input as well," she stated. She left the room before a reply could be given.
Octavia looked at Raven with empathy in her eyes, "I know this sucks and I know you're worried about-"
"She's right," Raven interrupted taking a deep breath, "I'm the only one left that may be able to figure this out."
Octavia paused, "I didn't get a chance to say how sorry I was about Sinclair. I know you two were close," she stated, laying her hand on Raven's shoulder.
"Yeah," she replied, "I have work to do." She shrugged off the condolences and hobbled away.
"I don't understand how Luna could say no and just turn her back on humanity," Monty stated. He and Harper sat in the medical bay pouring over Abby and Jackson's reference books trying to find anything that may help Raven. She gave them some key phrases to watch for based on Becca's journal entries and so far, they had come up empty.
"It sounds like she just wants to be left alone. She didn't want the commander position when she was younger and she sure as hell doesn't want it now with all the blood that's been spilled," Harper replied. She was having trouble focusing as her mind continued to drift to the night she and Monty shared. She could feel her cheeks reddening at the memory. He was strangely distant since that night and she didn't know how to take it. She didn't want to seem clingy but she desperately wanted to kiss him every time she saw him. Based on his recent behavior, she had a strong feeling she should not act on her desires.
"Have you nerds found anything yet?" Octavia came marching in, snacking on the contents of a ration pouch in hand, "Or have you just been in here making googly eyes at each other and whispering sweet nothings back and forth?" she teased, smiling.
"Shut up, O," Harper said sternly, avoiding eye contact with Monty, "Would you just grow up?"
Octavia rolled her eyes and focused her attention on Monty, saying quietly, "Jeez, Monty, your girlfriend is really being a drag."
"We're not together," he said quickly, "We need to concentrate on this."
Octavia's face fell and she left, but not before saying, "You've got to be kidding me."
Clark woke up to feather-light kisses trailing down her bare back. She was laying face down on a bed of furs and her stomach began to flutter when she realized she was in Lexa's bedroom in Polis.
Lexa.
She smiled as she felt goosebumps raise on her skin, "Good morning," she stated quietly, breathing in Lexa's familiar scent of lilac and vanilla.
"Good morning Clark," Lexa replied, her voice low and husky, continuing her trail of kisses.
As much as she didn't want her to stop, Clark rolled over to face her, grinning from ear to ear. Lexa, also naked, was propped up on one arm, her tan skin looking as pristine as ever. She wore no war paint, no headpiece, she was just Lexa and she was breathtaking.
She leaned down into a kiss. The moment their lips connected, Clark could feel the heartache come swimming back to her. The gunshot. The look of betrayal on Lexa's face as she looked at Titus. The feeling of dread she felt when she knew Lexa couldn't be saved. The blood. All of the blood.
Warm tears streamed down her cheeks, but she continued kissing the brunette. As much as the memory of her death pained her, she was going to enjoy this time with her, even if it wasn't real.
Lexa pulled away, "You are upset," she observed as she wiped the tears from Clark's face.
"Please don't stop, Lexa," Clark looked up into the concerned green eyes with desperation, "I don't know how long we have together."
Lexa leaned down and began to kiss Clark's neck, uttering softly, "We have all of our lives together my love."
She felt her desire growing as Lexa's contact gained momentum. Her long, slender fingers grazed the blonde's hipbone, an area she knew was very sensitive to the woman beneath her. Clark inhaled sharply in reaction and let out a soft moan.
Lexa's mouth came crashing down on hers and was met with ferocity. Clark plunged her tongue into Lexa's mouth where a fiery battle ensued. Clark raked her fingernails down the brunette's back and the girl let out a low growl in response to the sensation. Conceding the battle, Lexa moved her lips down to Clark's breast, sucking and nipping, earning a loud moan as the blonde began to buck her hips in desire.
"Clark. Clark, wake up," Raven urged, shaking her shoulder.
Clark awoke in her room on the Ark, her face still wet with tears.
It felt so real. I was with her. I felt her lips on my skin, I felt her hands…
She realized then that she was extremely turned on; there was an uncomfortable pressure in between her legs that was all too familiar. Her cheeks instantly flushed when she remembered why she was awake and not with Lexa rectifying the urge that she felt.
"Are you okay? You were crying in your sleep," Raven asked hesitantly, she did not want another chastisement from her friend.
"I'm…I'm fine," she stammered, wiping her face with her hands, "Did you…I mean did I..." Clark took a deep breath trying to calm her emotions, "Did I say anything when I was sleeping?"
Raven's eyebrows furrowed as she replied, "No, you were just crying."
Clark closed her eyes.
Thank god.
She opened her eyes to find Raven still staring at her, perplexed and seemingly calculating the question.
"What is it, Raven? You came in here for a reason," Clark said with a little more edge than she intended; she was a bit preoccupied with other thoughts.
Raven's trademark grin slowly spread across her face, "I've discovered something."
