You don't have to like me
but you're gonna respect me.
[Just a heads up: in this fanfic, Pike is not dead. You will figure out why later ;) ]
The ride had been a long one, taking Cress and her crew until noon to arrive at Polis- even though they had left at dawn. By the time they arrived, Polis was bustling with life and rigor; vendors chattering, people walking, and children playing with one another. Cress looked around nervously, chewing on her lip. She already missed Raven's presence, and the large group of people she would have to face did not calm her nerves. Clarke led Cress towards a rather large building, the same one that they had found Clarke in on that first day, and straight up to the guards.
"Disha ste oso au nes heda," Clarke told the guards, who eyed Cress before giving a brief nod. The stepped aside to let Cress's party pass. Clarke looked over at Cress, "We'll have to fit you into something bold. The ambassadors will be here soon. Are you nervous?"
Cress offered a half smile. "Me? Nervous? The Heda doesn't get nervous, Yuj-won."
Clarke quirked an eyebrow at Cress's statement, leading her to the lift- which, fortunately, had been fixed. "Wait here," Clarke instructed the others- which consisted of Octavia, Bellamy, two girls that Cress had not yet learned the names of (though she believed she had heard Clarke calling them Harper and Zoe), and a guy named Miller. At that point, the lift had begun to move. They rode in silence for some time, Cress looking around as she tried to take in the size of the building; Clarke simply looking straight ahead, her face pulled into a blank, stoic expression. Then, after a while, Clarke spoke. "I'm sure there's something of Lexa's that will fit you. She was nearly your size, maybe a little smaller."
Cress offered a soft nod, "Thank you," She said. Clarke didn't respond, she only pulled Cress behind her when the lift had reached its final destination. Again, Cress found herself in the previous Heda's chambers, admiring the way it was set up. She could tell that commander Lexa had been rather organized, and she decided that if Lexa appeared to her again, she would speak to the woman about it and try to learn something. She sat back on the bed and watched Clarke root through some of Lexa's old belongings, murmuring soft words beneath her breath that Cress didn't understand. So, Cress simply watched and waited. Clarke pulled a dark shirt and a rather worn pair of torn leggings from a chest, draping them over an old chair.
"Did you forget your cape?" Clarke asked Cress, looking up at her.
"My cape? No, I did not forget it.. I.. left it behind. With Raven." Cress admitted, watching Clarke size her up.
There was a moment of silence, then, "Come here."
So, Cress approached the Flamekeeper, curious, just as Clarke took Cress's face in her hands and kissed her. The kiss they shared was not like the one Cress had shared with Raven where thousands of knowing, understanding words had been passed through the simple gesture; this kiss tasted of desperation and sorrow and longing. Yet Cress could not find the will to pull herself away. They pulled apart for a moment, simply to breathe, and in that moment Cress could read all the emotion in Clarke's aged eyes. Clarke leaned up and kissed her again, the need- or want- becoming more desperate; hungrier, more powerful.
"I... won't they miss us?" Cress asked, trying to weasel her way out of this. She did not have the heart to break Clarke, who had already lost the love of her life.
"They can wait." Was Clarke's quiet answer. The Flamekeeper pulled Cress on top of her, lying back on the bed. Unaware of what else to do, Cress gingerly molded her lips against Clarke's to try and appease her. Cress didn't know when Clarke began to peel off layers of clothing and cast them onto the floor, but suddenly there are hands that run along her back and chest and stomach, heeding the wounds she has and exploring the lines of scars and tattoos that have been earned over the years. Cress finds her own lips betraying her, exploring the docile woman beneath her's body, the sounds of moans and groans and the creaking of springs filling the room.
When they are done, Cress is sitting on the edge of the bed, the blanket pulled around her in order to conceal her bare form. Cress was frowning, deep in thought. Clarke tore her back to reality by brushing her fingers along the small of Cress's back. "I'm sorry,"
"No," Cress said, glancing back at her, "you aren't. You did what you thought was right."
"Sounds like something Lexa would say," Clarke murmured, sitting up. She rested her chin on Cress's shoulder, her movements and intentions gentle and innocent.
"What you do for me you do because of Lexa. You love Lexa, Clarke, not me." Cress said, turning to face Clarke. "But I am not Lexa, Clarke.. you must understand that. I.. I do not have feelings for you, Clarke. I am sorry. My heart, it belongs to another."
"Then why didn't you stop me?" Clarke demanded, standing.
Cress didn't look at her, too ashamed. "I do not know."
Clarke rubbed her eyes. "Get dressed, Commander. They're waiting for us." And with that, Clarke exited.
The clothes that Clarke had lain out for Cress were a bit small and tight, but they were better than nothing. Gathering her confidence and strength, Cress entered the room that held the ambassadors, making her way to the throne.
"Rise for the Heda," Clarke announced, her eyes on Cress. Cress only watched the throne, and when she was finally at her destination; she sat, crossing her legs. She held herself to a standard, now, knowing who she must be and who she must follow. "Commander Cress has ascended the throne." The ambassadors stood, respectively bowing their heads to Cress- all except one.
"Is there a problem, Skaikru?" Cress asked. Her tone was completely different, taking on a smooth, silky tone.
"Yes, there is." Charles Pike, Chancellor of the Sky People, said. He raised his chin in the manner that Cress did, as if in mockery. "How can we trust you? How do we know that you aren't another Ontari waiting to happen?"
"Do not compare me to a power hungry monster, Skaikru." Cress said, her voice lowering. "I am not here to harm, only to rebuild. I am here to follow in the footsteps of my predecessor, Lexa."
"Lexa? That's just what we need. Another Commander hellbent on weaseling into the pants of our women-"
"Excuse me, Ambassador of Skaikru, but I will not tolerate such allegations. I have been Commander a day, and you already accuse me of an allegation that is too serious to be said as lightly as you have." Cress told him, standing. She approached the man, her hands clasped behind her. "From what I have been told, Chancellor Pike, you attacked a group of peaceful grounders who were sent to protect you."
"Skaikru did not need protecting." Pike said simply.
"But didn't you? Clarke took the liberty of informing me that just the day before, thirty-five of your people were murdered under your command. Is that not true?"
"It is, but-"
"But this only proves that Skaikru needed assistance, that you had been made a target and needed protecting. Especially with hardly a thousand people, nowhere near large enough to defend yourselves against the army of Azgeda, who is now fortunately under the rule of King Roan."
"Yes, but-"
"There is no use in arguing, Chancellor Pike. If I must, I will remove you- Chancellor or not. Now, the first order of business- Clarke of the Sky People has been given the honor of becoming our new Flamekeeper. In her place, Skaikru will need a new ambassador."
"My first choice would be Bellamy Blake," Pike began, but Cress cut him off.
"No." She said simply. "I need someone I can trust. Someone I know. Raven Reyes is the one you need for the job,"
"Raven Reyes? The mechanic? I doubt she is qualified-"
"I do not tolerate doubters, Chancellor. I trust my wishes will be carried out." Cress said dismissively.
Pike set his jaw. "As you wish, Commander." He hissed, folding his arms over his chest.
