After picking up Indra and Lincoln, they all headed back to the apartment building where the rest of Clarke's group were safely boarded in. Raven opened the door after Clarke knocked and grabbed her into a hug. "I can't believe it! I thought you were dead! Finn said you were attacked by zombies."
"Yeah, well your precious Finn is a coward." Lexa deadpanned, not liking the way the girl was clinging to Clarke, but trying not to show it.
"We're okay, Raven. Finn left me to get swarmed by zombies but Lexa saved me." Clarke smiled at the memory of the girl with the green eyes coming to her rescue.
Raven looked at the group of newbies with a puzzled expression. "Lexa?"
Clarke waved her off. "We'll do introductions inside and head to bed." They went inside and introduced everyone.
Lexa pulled Clarke off to the side as they were all finding somewhere to sleep. "We will stay the night and then leave in the morning."
"Just stay here, Lexa. You guys can all stay here as long as you need to."
"There isn't enough room for us, Clarke. We can't stay here. We are on the move to wipe out all the zombies." Lexa replied looking at the Trikru.
Clarke placed her hand lightly on Lexa's arm. "Take the night to consider it, at least." Although Clarke had only just met Lexa, there was something that was upsetting her when she thought about her leaving in the morning.
"Okay, I'll think about it."
Everyone was set up to sleep. Clarke's group weren't too sure about the newbies yet so the four of them were on one side of the room with Lexa and Clarke sleeping right next to each other to separate the two groups. Clarke watched Lexa as she tossed and turned in her sleep. She was thrashing around as if she was having a nightmare. The blonde didn't know whether to wake her or not. She was just about to reach out and wake her up.
Lexa's eyes shot open suddenly and were immediately set on blue. "Hey, it's okay." Clarke whispered, unsure whether to reach out to the other girl or not. Lexa just stared at her, still half amidst her nightmare. Clarke laughed quietly, realising that she'd been caught out staring at Lexa while she slept. "I was having trouble sleeping and you were having a bad dream so I was just about to wake you."
Lexa nodded but was still a little shook. Her nightmare had been different this time. It started out the same as always but instead, she escaped out of Indra's hold and made it out of the building which led her into an alley where the most beautiful blonde she'd ever seen was calling for help. The blonde was surrounded by zombies but Lexa was unarmed. She ran at the hoard but it was too late. The blonde had been devoured. Lexa collapsed to the ground. Everything she had was gone. The zombies started to come towards her and that's when she jolted awake.
Clarke took her silence as a sign that she didn't want to talk about it. "I'll let you go back to sleep."
"No." Lexa finally spoke. "Don't."
"Do you want to go for a walk?" Clarke whispered.
"Like outside?" Clarke nodded. "Okay, I'll get my swords."
The night was still, peaceful, silent. They walked for about five minutes without saying a word to each other before Clarke spoke up. "I really hope you consider staying, Lexa."
"There's not enough space, Clarke. We barely fit last night and I've clearly kept you up all night. It just won't work." Lexa wanted to stay. For some reason she felt so drawn to Clarke that she needed to be there to be the one who kept her safe. But she had to think of the Trikru. She couldn't let them live like that. She couldn't burden Clarke with everything she carried around with her.
"It'll be fine. It's not forever. Just until this blows over. I know it's not the perfect living situation."
That sprung an idea in Lexa's head. "I'll consider we stay if you consider something for me. I want to open up the whole top floor of the apartment as living space. I can assure you that we will make the whole place zombie proof. Also the roof. So we can have our own vegetable gardens and a trough for water. That would mean less supply runs so essentially less risk. We can pair up, one trikru with one of your crew to do security at night if you're worried." Lexa rambled on about the details of the plan.
"Nope. It's too risky having the whole floor open."
"You guys can all stay in your little room while we board up every entry, including windows. You asked me to consider staying, Clarke. I have considered it. This is my compromise. Now it's your turn to consider."
Clarke didn't respond. She turned the idea over in her head, weighing up the pros and cons. "Are we going to be able to work together? I mean, you're a leader and I'm a leader. How will that work?" Clarke asked. She wouldn't mind having some of her responsibility lifted but she didn't want to get pushed around and told what to do.
Lexa stifled a laugh to try remain serious. "I'm sure we will figure it out, Clarke."
"I'll have to talk to my people, see what they think."
"I thought you were their leader, Clarke. You make the decisions and they either follow or they leave." Lexa told Clarke with a stern tone in her voice. "Like that Finn. I would have banished him a long time ago."
Clarke raised her eyebrows. "Jealous, Commander?"
Lexa scoffed indifferently. "Why would I be jealous of Finn? He's bad for your team. A dead weight. He abandoned you. Octavia. Now, she's a warrior. She ran to save you, even when she stood no chance at all."
Silence again. They had been walking all night, yet neither were ready to return to reality. Lexa's hand bumped Clarke's slightly, making her blush and pull her hand away. "Sorry, Clarke."
"Don't apologise." Clarke laughed. "In fact..." She grabbed Lexa's hand and entwined their fingers together. "It's quite nice. Just for tonight, I want someone to at least pretend to be interested in anything other than sleeping with me. For someone to make a romantic gesture. I feel like all I'm good for is sex."
"Well then..." Lexa dropped Clarke's hand and pulled away slightly.
"Great. Now I've weirded you out."
"Just shut up, will you?" Lexa giggled and turned to Clarke, extending her hand. "Miss Griffin, would you do me the honor of holding my hand whilst we stroll?"
Clarke blushed profusely. "You're a dork!" Lexa wriggled her fingers to hurry Clarke up. Clarke took Lexa's hand back. "Thank you."
"It's my pleasure, Clarke."
"Tell me about the Trikru. I heard you guys talking a different language amongst yourselves. Where did it all come from?"
"Anya, Lincoln and I have been friends since we were very young. Indra has been my Dad's assistant for a long time. She used to tell us tales of an old tribe called the Trikru. She taught us Trigedasleng and it stuck. I was always a leader so my name became Heda. It all just stuck."
"Oh that's cool. Maybe you could teach me some Trigedasleng sometime?" Clarke smiled hopefully.
"Who makes you feel like all you're good for is sex?" The question was playing on Lexa's mind since Clarke brought it up but she only just got the nerve to ask.
"Well, I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't think they mean to all of the time. A couple of years ago, I would get invited to parties, get wasted and wake up in some guys or girls bed. No one ever asked me out or on a date until I met Octavia's brother, Bellamy. It started with sex and then he asked me out. I ended it because I felt like our whole relationship was just sex and it was going to ruin our friendship. He still has feelings for me, yet instead of just talking to me about it, he's tried to hit me up for sex several times since we broke up." Clarke didn't feel much like telling Lexa about her pat sex life but it all had to do with the question. "Finn. I had a stupid crush on him and we ended up sleeping together. I knew he wasn't going to ask me out but I secretly still hoped. Turned out, he was dating Raven. Which leads to why Raven slept with me. She wanted to get back at Finn." Clarke laughed at herself for sounding so naive. "I must admit I was grateful for that. I really needed a release and my only other options were Finn or Bellamy."
"I'm sorry, Clarke. You shouldn't feel that way. I don't know why nobody asked you out. You're beautiful."
"Are you flirting with me, Commander?" Clarke smirked, looking down at their joint hands.
"Just trying to keep the romance in the air, Clarke. How am I doing?"
"Fine." Clarke deadpanned.
Lexa looked at the blonde curiously. "Only fine?"
"No, the romance is lovely, thank you. I meant fine, you can open the whole top floor and the roof." Clarke looked at Lexa to try catch her reaction but her face gave nothing away.
"What made you change your mind?"
"I decided that I'm not ready for you to leave. You're a mysterious person, Lexa Woods, and I want to crack into you. Put all the pieces together to solve the puzzle"
"Good luck with that." Lexa muttered to herself. Clarke caught it but knew it wasn't said to try and hurt her feelings so she let it slide. "I guess you're stuck with me for a bit longer. The Trikru will go out for supplies to board up the top floor. We will let you know when it's ready."
Clarke pursed her lips. "I want you to know how against this I am, but I guess compromise is what the co-leadership thing is about. I will also help prepare the top floor."
"Fine, but it'll be dangerous so you will stay with me the whole time." Lexa demanded.
"I don't need you to protect me, Lexa." Clarke started to get annoyed but saw the look of loss and pain in the older girl's eyes. "I suppose I could continue to be your damsel in distress."
Lexa laughed at Clarke's quick change in demeanor. "Thank you, Clarke. I appreciate it."
"Hey, I'd let a hot brunette save me any day."
Lexa smiled to herself but quickly hid it. "We'd better get back. We have lots to do to improve our living space.
"So, if you want to help, you're more than welcome. It really would make the whole thing go quicker." Lexa stood in front of the group. She had gone through the whole plan while they all stared at her. Clarke stood by her the whole time but left the floor to her since it was her idea, after all.
"Clarke." Bellamy looked between the two girls. "What's your input in this?"
Clarke shrugged at the older boy. "I think it's a fine idea. Less supply runs for food and water, more space, more men."
"Wait, so you're agreeing with this?" Finn took a step forward.
Lexa took a step closer to Finn. "If anyone has a problem with this, then they can leave."
"Or, I mean, you could just stay locked in this tiny room." Clarke quickly interjected.
Lexa took a step back and rolled her eyes at Clarke's sheer lack of authority. "Fine, but you won't get access to the food or water if you don't help out with the set up and the garden." She turned to Clarke. "May I have a word with you?"
"Sure." They started to walk towards the bathroom. Clarke turned back as she got to the bathroom door. "Except for you, Raven. Until your leg gets better, you don't have to help unless you want to try."
After the bathroom door was shut, Lexa turned to Clarke, her expression unreadable. "You undermined me out there, Clarke."
"You didn't have to be so harsh. I think the arrangement we came to was a fair one."
Lexa turned to face the wall, her back to Clarke. "I agree but you made me look like a fool."
"You didn't look like... okay. I'm sorry, Lexa. Maybe next time we should discuss big decisions like that." Clarke smiled softly to try calm the other girl down.
"I'm sorry, Clarke. Finn just... after what he did to you... I shouldn't have made a decision like that without consulting with you first."
"Lexa, Finn is an idiot. He's made a lot of bad choices. But he doesn't deserve to get sent out there on his own." Clarke took Lexa's hand and gave it a tiny peck with her lips. "I know that you feel like you need to protect me. But when it comes to Finn, I've got it covered."
Lexa couldn't respond. She gulped and stared deep into blue eyes, as if she was lost. The skin on the back of her hand burned where fiery lips had been momentarily. Eventually, she managed to nod her head. "Okay, I understand." Her mouth was so dry that the words came out as a whisper.
"Why do you feel like it's your responsibility to save everyone, Lexa?" Lexa dropped Clarke's hand and took a step back. "Why do you feel like you need to protect me so badly?" Clarke felt bad for pushing but she needed to know.
"Clarke, just leave it." Lexa demanded. Her usually emotionless face was twisted with anger and maybe fear.
Clarke took a step closer, backing Lexa into a wall. "You can trust me, Lexa. I'm here for you."
In one swift motion, Lexa's hand cupped Clarke's cheek and crashed their lips together. At first Clarke was stiff with shock. Lexa pulled away slightly only to have Clarke pull her back in and immediately deepen the kiss. Clarke's hand wrapped around Lexa's waist so that they were pushed flush against each other. The kiss was soft and slow with no urgency behind it at all. Lexa knew how Clarke felt about being used for sexual reasons so she wanted to give her the romance instead.
The kiss ended when Clarke pulled away slowly. "Lexa, whatever this is between you and me... I think it's best if we just put a hold on it."
Lexa blinked a few times, unsure how to respond. "I'm sorry, Clarke. I didn't want to make you feel like I was pushing you."
Clarke gave Lexa a quick, sweet kiss on the lips. "Don't be sorry, Lexa. It was a perfect kiss and a perfect night just walking and talking. I just need some time. I'm all screwed up in the head from Finn and Bellamy and all the other guys. Let's just go super slow, okay?"
"You're interested in me still trying to woo you? That wasn't a polite rejection?" Lexa laughed nervously.
"Oh Lexa. You have nothing to worry about." Clarke smiled sweetly. "Come on. We have lots to do."
