Chapter 7: Of Rigging and Romance

Author's Note: So I'm am seriously just making this up as I go along, which helps with the purposeful slow burn but they're already in love so it's a moot point. Once again, thank all of you lovely readers for your reviews and your favorites, they give me life(^.^) ALSO credit for some of the pick-up lines goes to (clexa-pick-up-lines) on Tumblr and (Clexa pick up lines) on Twitter. Go follow them

Lexa's POV

I am such a creep. A creepy, lovesick stalker-lady who likes to watch blonde girls as they sleep. Lexa thought, as she did just that. She bit her lip as Clarke rolled over on the wooden bench. She seemed to be a restless sleeper. Or maybe it's because I locked her up down here and didn't even give her a pillow. A mixture of guilt, longing, and apprehensiveness whirled through her. She had come down here to wake Clarke up; it was morning, and it was time to introduce her to the sailors. Lexa was unsure how they would react to her latest addition to their tight-knit group.

She stood quickly, panicking, and adopted a neutral expression as Clarke's eyes blinked open slowly. "Well, it's about time." She said with as much disdain as she could muster. Clarke sat up, rubbing her eyes tiredly, and looked Lexa up and down.

"You seem embarrassed. What's up?" she said sleepily. Lexa fought back the blush threatening to flood her face and stood even straighter.

"It's time for you to meet the crew."

Clarke arched an eyebrow in surprise. "I thought you were going to keep me down here for the rest of the voyage?"

"Contrary to popular belief, not all pirates are merciless, violent nut-cases." Lexa unlocked Clarke's cell. "And… I've changed my mind." She said, more to herself than anything.

Clarke stood and stretched. Lexa gulped and averted her eyes from Clarke's stunning figure, still clad in that fading blue silk gown. She could feel it threatening to spill out…her mouth opened slowly…No no no STOP shiiiiit….

"If I told you I liked your body, would you hold it against me?" The words tumbled from Lexa's mouth before she could stop them. She immediately turned red.

Clarke's mouth hung open in disbelief, her arms frozen, still stretched to the ceiling. The dead air between them only emphasized the sudden silence. The corners of her mouth turned up slowly, so slowly, until she was smiling hugely. She threw back her head, laughing loudly, tears of mirth streaming down her face. Her happiness echoed through the hull and pierced Lexa's heart. Clarke doubled over, clinging to the cell bars for support, attempting to regain some composure. "I-I-c-can't believe you just said that!" she hiccupped, still fighting back giggles.

"It…wasn't my best moment." Lexa was positively miserable. She couldn't really believe it either. Years of training to hide her feelings and give no quarter, and she is taken down in one fell swoop by a hot blonde mermaid-like chick that had literally flopped up on deck one day.

"Well, that was actually pretty smooth Captain." Clarke breezed past Lexa out of the cell. Her arm brushed the Captain's, sending a shock through Lexa. "I might take you up on that offer one day."

Lexa watched her mermaid smirk suggestively and turn to head up the ladder and onto the upper deck. She took a moment to wriggle out all of her feelings and calm her erratic heart before following her up into the sunshine.

Clarke's POV

Ah, sweet sun! Clarke tilted her face up to the warm light and breathed in air that didn't stink of tar and gunpowder. She wriggled her toes inside of her boots happily. She heard Lexa's boots on the deck behind her. She stifled a giggle, thinking about what had just transpired in the hold. She still could not believe Lexa had said that. Did she really have that much of an effect on her?

A sudden loud thud behind her made her jump in surprise. Lexa had banged a cannonball against the railing of the deck. The sailors stopped what they were doing, and all eyes focused on Lexa. "Gents!" she spoke loud and clear. "We have a new addition to our little family. This is Clarke." She gestured to her. Clarke felt all eyes on her, most sparking in confused recognition. She glanced down at her dress, feeling self-conscious. Its color had faded to a sky blue from the salt, and it was almost worn through in some areas. The hem was ratted and dirty (as was her hair, she noticed). She blushed a little, embarrassed by her less-than appealing appearance.

The sailors began muttering among themselves.

"Didn't we…?"

"Yeah, isn't she…?"

"I thought we floated her yesterday! What gives?" A sailor demanded arrogantly. Lexa glared at him.

"She managed to climb back aboard while we weren't looking. She took the initiative; she is smart and tough. I have deemed her worthy to join the Seikru." She narrowed her eyes at the sailors, who all shifted uncomfortably. "I expect you all to treat her as one of our own. And if any harm comes to her…" Lexa lowered her voice to a menacing whisper…"The punishment will be as if you had attacked me. Understood?"

"AYE, CAPTAIN!" the crew shouted, resigned. They didn't glare at Clarke, but they didn't give her particularly friendly looks.

"Alright you bilge rats!" Lexa hollered. "Get up to those yardarms and loose the main sail! Tack leeward and ease away, and bring us up to top knot! I want to see New Providence on the horizon in a week!" The sailors scrambled to carry out her orders. Clarke watched them, mesmerized by their movements as they hauled themselves up the rigging.

"Clarke." Lexa spoke her name softly. "I will have Raven take you to your quarters and show you around the ship. You're free to do as you please until dawn tomorrow; then I'll put you to work." She turned on her heel and headed to her quarters.

"Lexa, wait!" Clarke gulped at her informal tone but continued on. "I just have one question." Lexa turned to her, eyes glinting with an unknown emotion. "What is Seikru?"

Lexa smiled. "The name of my ship." She disappeared inside her cabin.

Clarke rubbed her temples and sighed. That woman is really in my head. She whirled around at the sound of laughter. Raven was leaned against the railing, eyebrows wiggling suggestively.

"I'm honestly tempted to not give you new clothes, just to see the Captain's face when there's nothing left of your current ones except your boots." She howled with laughter at Clarke's tomato-red blush and limped towards her, grinning. "But I'm not that mean. C'mon, let's get you out of that mermaid dress and into something sturdy." She led Clarke down into the hold, weaving between hammocks and barrels. "Just come down here and choose a hammock when it's time to turn in. Most are already claimed, but there are a few empty ones." They reached the stern, where a few chests were tucked closely together. Raven heaved one open and motioned for Clarke to look inside. "Take what you want."

Clarke bent over and rummaged through the trunk. "You seem to be a girl who's used to fine things." said Raven, watching her curiously.

"Yeah, I'm used to living it up. But I don't want that life anymore." Clarke brushed off the unspoken questioning in Raven's eyes. She pulled on a pair of sturdy brown pants and tucked them into her boots. She pulled her dress off over her head and it landed in a crumpled pile on the floor. A hint of a blush covered Clarke's cheeks as Raven looked her up and down shamelessly.

She reached into the trunk once more and pulled out a billowing white shirt, similar to what Lexa wore. She pulled it on, tucking it into her pants, and cinched a thick leather belt around her waist. "How do I look?" She turned to Raven, who regarded her thoughtfully.

"You need a jacket." Raven shuffled over to another trunk and pulled out a short, dark blue coat. "Blue seems to be your color." She grinned slyly and handed her the jacket. "Or do you prefer green? Maybe as an eye color?" Clarke swatted her on the shoulder, blushing once more. She pulled on the jacket and knotted a scarf around her neck.

"Alright, I think this is good. Thank you, Raven." Clarke turned around and ran face-first into two boys that seemingly appeared out of nowhere. She reeled back from the unexpected proximity. "Holy sh-"

"RAVEN!" the boys screeched, rushing past Clarke to where the dark haired girl stood. Her hands met their faces before they could get any closer, effectively preventing them from squeezing the life out of her. One of them was tall, and had large, peculiar-looking glasses on his head. The other was shorter and had black, floppy hair.

"Jasper, Monty!" Raven huffed in annoyance, but Clarke could see the mirth in her eyes. "What did you do this time?"

"Well, we were tinkering with Lexa's spyglass…"

"And some gunpowder."

"Aaaand we kind of maybe broke it a little…"

"We also had some rum."

"And now we can't fix it."

"We set some stuff on fire, including her spyglass." They spoke like they had grown up together, the words mixing together like pirates and rum; two halves of the same whole. A strange longing pierced Clarke's heart for just a second. "Hey Clarke!" They grinned at her, speaking in unison.

"Oh for the love of God." Raven turned to Clarke exasperatedly. "These yahoos are my apprentices. Sorry, but would you excuse us for a second? Just wait up on deck; I'll only be a moment." She turned back to Jasper and Monty, grabbing them by the ears.

They laughed and screeched, trying to pry their ears from Raven's grasp. "Ow, ooowwwUH! Bye Clarke! OW!" She dragged them away, muttering about recklessness and Lexa's wrath.

Clarke smiled and shook her head. It felt good to be accepted by at least some of the crew. She made her way back up to the deck, oddly comfortable in her new clothes.

Lexa's POV

Lexa paced up and down the length of her cabin, hands clenched behind her back in anger.

"Captain, this is unacceptable! We can't just allow a stowaway onto the Seikru! She needs to be punished! You cannot just allow her to join the crew and get a free ride to Nassau-"

"Yes, I can, Gustus! This is my ship; I can do what I please with it!" She growled at the seaman and his companions, who shifted uncomfortably. "Clarke showed her strength and her wits when she climbed back aboard. I rewarded her initiative. This isn't some kind of exclusive club; I will take whatever sailors I can get!" she said sternly.

"But Captain! She should be dead! We do not need more sailors, especially a stowaway!" He narrowed his eyes. "Only those loyal to you sail on this ship. We cannot trust the girl." He concluded. Lexa stepped forward, staring him down despite the foot of height difference.

"Are you questioning my orders, sailor? Think you can make better decisions?" She spoke in a sickly soft voice. He backed down a little, but still met her gaze evenly.

"Never, Captain. I only wish to express my concerns…many of the crew are unhappy with this decision you have made. I fear a mutiny."

Lexa sighed, suddenly very tired. She sat at her chart table and rubbed her temple. "I understand, Gustus. We share the same fears. Please, trust me. Clarke is no threat." She stood suddenly. "Octavia!" she commanded. A girl stepped forward, wary.

"Aye, Captain?"

"I have a job for you. Hopefully it will help ease everyone's distrust of Clarke. I want you to become friends with her, and find out everything you can about how she got here, and why she stowed away in the first place. Gain her trust." The crewmen grumbled happily, eyebrows raised, nodding their approval.

"Aye, Captain. That sounds like a good plan." Octavia smiled. "I will relay your decision to the rest of the crew." The sailors filed out contentedly. Anya stepped out of the shadows once they were gone.

"I was ready to bust some faces, but you handled that well Captain." Lexa smiled in gratitude at her first mate.

"Thank you Anya. I just hope they accept her….I don't want her to wake up to a pistol in her face one day."

Clarke's POV

It was soon dusk. She had spent the whole day literally learning the ropes of working on a ship. Raven and another sailor, Octavia, had offered to take her on as an apprentice, which she had gladly accepted. The sun was sinking slowly on the horizon, the sky awash with color, pinks and oranges tinting the white wisps of cloud in the sky. Most of the sailors were turning in for the night. Clarke followed them down into the hold.

"Clarke, you can sleep here." Raven whispered, gesturing to a hammock. Clarke smiled at her gratefully and nestled herself into the canvas. "Sleep tight." Raven held aloft a flickering lantern, going from each sailor to the next and bidding them goodnight. Jasper and Monty were curled up together in a hammock to the left of hers, and Murphy was on her right. It was a homely atmosphere.

But something was missing. She shifted uncomfortably, unused to the heaving of the ship and the rough material under her. I am used to finer things. She thought miserably, rolling over once more. The canvas rubbed against her cheek unpleasantly. Huffing in frustration, she rolled out of the hammock and snuck quietly between the rows of sleeping sailors and up the ladder to the deck. Maybe she just needed some air.

Clarke leaned against the railing, gazing up at the twinkling lights. It was difficult to tell where the sky ended and the sea began. She breathed deeply, enjoying the night breeze that washed over her skin. Her mind flew back to the last few nights she had spent on the plantation, and she almost fell to her knees at the pain of her heart aching for Costia.

"Can't sleep?" Clarke jumped a little at the unexpected voice. Lexa leaned on the rail next to her, white sleeves and long hair billowing in the breeze.

"Yeah. I guess I'm just not used to sleeping on a ship. I should…go." Clarke bit her lip, torn between exhaustion and a decent conversation with the gorgeous woman in front of her. She turned away.

Lexa laid a hand on Clarke's, making a zing of electricity race up her skin. "No, please stay. What are you used to?" Clarke turned back to her; there was a hint of desperation in Lexa's eyes. Her hand lingered.

"Well…I'm used to finer things. A large bed with lots of warm pillows and blankets." Clarke furrowed her brow. I shouldn't be opening up to her. Why do I trust her so much? "Huge meals and pretty dresses. People waiting on me." Her tone suddenly became bitter. "And not getting to choose what was best for me…" Her eyes suddenly flicked up to Lexa's, sky blue locking onto sea green. "…or who to love."

Lexa's eyes widened a little. They stared at each other for what seemed an eternity. Clarke could see the confusion on her face, the curiosity. She wanted to know more. Clarke finally slid her hand out from under Lexa's and moved away from the railing, towards the trapdoor that led to the hold.

"Wait…" Lexa called out from behind her. Clarke turned around once more, only to be greeted by the stunning sight of a smiling pirate captain. "I know a place where you will sleep more comfortably."

Clarke grinned at her. "Again with the pick up lines, Captain? I swear to god, if you say in your arms…"

Lexa blushed lightly. "Not exactly." She winked at the blonde. "In my bed." Clarke gaped at her, speechless. "C'mon." Lexa chuckled and grabbed Clarke's hand, leading her into her cabin. "If you're used to an actual bed, you can use mine. I'll just sleep there…" she waved at a comfy-looking chair in the corner, "…I do most nights, anyways." Clarke released Lexa's hand and ran her fingers along the soft furs of the Captain's bed.

"Are you sure?" Clarke muttered, blushing a little. "I don't want to be a bother…"

"Oh, just sleep Clarke." The way Lexa said her name sent shivers through Clarke, that sultry voice worming its way into her mind. "A tired sailor is no good to me." At that, Lexa slipped off her boots and curled up in the chair, watching expectantly.

Clarke huffed in resignation and pulled off her own boots and jacket, slipping between the covers. She sighed contentedly and snuggled into the warm pillows. Lexa got up and lit a candle, setting it on the nightstand. That's my candle…Clarke thought drowsily, her eyelids heavy with sleep. Now this…this feels like home. As her eyes closed and her mind began to drift, a tentative hand gently brushed her hair back, grazing her cheek.

"Goodnight Clarke."

Author's Notes: *SQUEALS IN DELIGHT* I had way too much fun writing that!XD I'm falling into a pattern now, so next chapter will probably be posted next weekend!

Thank you desdentado for being awesome on Tumblr and giving me the muse to finish this tonight!

I also put up some sketches of Clarke and Lexa's pirate outfits on Tumblr if you guys want to check them out! Just search the tag pirate lexa and/or check out my profile, archangels187-n3rd.