Two weeks had passed since the marking ceremony, two weeks of Anya doing her best to avoid or limit her interaction with a particular redhead. A relatively simple task, seeing as Killick was restricted to staying within TonDC until her hand had healed and Anya was taking full advantage of her patrols outside the walls.
Lexa was no fool, she took notice to how each day Anya took them further and further from TonDC and deeper into Trikru territory. Most nights they returned later than the day before, if they returned at all.
Her mentor had almost run out of excuses for their extended trips. On this particular day Anya had taken them into the western reaches of Trikru territory, determined to mark out possible points of entry to the Reaper tunnels.
The blonde had put Lexa on look-out while she sat with a well-worn map of Trikru lands, extending into the lands of the clans bordering them and an old notebook under her arm. Charcoal in hand she scribbled their rough location and how far from TonDC they had ridden and cross checking with the map. There were so many uninhabited areas within Trikru borders, ruins of the old world, strange bunkers and caves. Really she was doing Trikru a favour.
The work was tedious but it helped what with the forgetting and bottling up of pesky emotions.
"Anya, don't think I haven't noticed that you've been avoiding TonDC." Lexa's voice echoed from the ground below where the blonde was perched, almost driving the soft point of the charcoal through her map.
Deciding to cut the unwanted conversation short Anya shoves the map into the open pages of her notebook and jams the works into her jacket pocket. Wrinkles be damned. "Shof op Lexa..."
"Would it really be so bad, letting yourself feel?" As soon as the words slip past her lips Lexa she wishes she could pull them back before they were shoved back in by Anya's fist.
Anya's fast in her reply, grabbing her Second by the collar of her jacket, jerking her roughly until they were eye to eye. She hadn't told Lexa what had almost happened the night Killick and the others arrived. If you don't talk about it, it never happened. Genius.
"Don't." Dark brown eyes bore down into Lexa's, daring her to defy her Mentor again.
"You know I'm right." A rough shove pushes Lexa away. "Anya, you're driving yourself insane! What happened?"
"Learn your place Goufa." A defeated look crosses Anya's face.
This was as close as the pair had gotten to a brawl in recent memory. The last fight they had gotten into was before Anya had managed to finally get Lexa to talk about her parents. It ended poorly, Lexa had needed stitches and Anya's ego was bruised for weeks.
But this, this was different.
"Lexa…I don't know what to do with." Anya's arm gesture around to herself wildly. "With this!"
"Like you could be in a crowd of a thousand people and still find her? Like lightning strikes you whenever you touch?" Lexa smiled as she watched her mentors face go through a series of emotions before her eyes; Anger, Excitement, Sadness, Doubt. "How close am I?" Anya's face finally settles; blank and emotionless, jaw set in a hard line.
"Too close." Anya shoves Lexa aside and grabs for the reins to her horse.
"Anya!" Lexa's hand is on the blondes arm before she can mount. "I'm not saying you have to dive in head first. But having someone other than me and Gustus might be nice. Actually, it is, you told me so yourself that love makes you strong. Don't be a hypocrite."
The older woman tosses Lexa a defeated look. "I'm the mentor, remember?"
"Keep telling yourself that." Lexa gives Anya a soft smile, mounting her own horse.
"So, how does it look?" Killick looks over her shoulder at Nyko, who's currently focused on her back.
"Anya did a good job. Now, the hand?"
"You mean the stump?" Lincoln calls from his work bench where he's currently mixing together vials of medicine. The balled up remains of a bandage bounce off the back of his bald head.
"I lost half a finger, not the whole fucking hand. And Anya thinks I'm an idiot."
"Anya doesn't care enough anyone in this village, except maybe Lexa, to tell them they're idiots." Lincoln turns in his chair, shooting a knowing look at the redhead.
"Shof op, both of you!" Nyko's outburst promptly shut Lincoln up, turning back to his work. "Gods, I'll be happy to not have to put up with the both of you in one room. Show me the hand."
Killick holds her left hand up touching the tip of each finger to her thumb, or nub if you count what's left of her pinky, then makes a fist.
"Good. I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to function normally."
"Wonderful!" Pulling her shirt back down, Killick hops up and begins replacing her gear. "No longer a Second and a working finger? This day is already better than I thought."
"You live a strange little life, don't you?" Nyko smiles, showing Killick the door. "Best get to your meeting, you're late enough as it is."
The redhead had grown accustomed to TonDC since her arrival, especially given her predicament, spending most of her free days wandering the village and lending a hand where she could. Mostly she was limited to helping Nyko prepare poultices and other healing remedies since it was the least strenuous activity she could muster to avoid death threats from certain angry blondes for pulling stitches. Thankfully the healer and his Second, Lincoln, were good company but she was itching to get back to where she was needed most.
Her feet found their way to Chief Indra's hut; it was a safe bet to say that both leaders could be found inside discussing the state of the village among other things.
"Enter." The reply could only have come from Indra; no other woman could sound so menacing without meaning to.
Killick enters the hut to find Indra and Luna stood over old maps with several of the captains, Anya included.
"Nyko cleared you?" Luna doesn't bother looking up from the table.
"Sha." Clearly not a time for joking, Killick keeps her response short and to the point and falls in behind Anya and the others.
"Good. Indra, please continue."
Indra steps forward once more. "As you are all well aware the tributes paid to Heda Athena are set to leave before months end. However we have received word from Titus that the Heda's health has been failing. This trip is not just for paying tribute, but to see the rise of the next Heda. We suspect the Ice Nation to have foreseen or plotted for this and had ulterior motives in decimating Flokru. With Flokru no more, that would mean any number of Nightbloods removed from the line of succession not to mention unrestricted access to land and resources. We can only assume that other smaller clans have experienced similar attacks. Nevertheless we shall see our Nightbloods brought safely to Polis."
There's a murmur of agreement through the captains. Indra moves to the map on the table, small pieces show the known clan villages and a larger piece shows Polis.
"Taking the swiftest route would bring us too far North, therefore we shall move South and cross through the Deep Forest and press North to Polis from there."
"So you'd rather Pauna kill us instead?" the reply came from Quint; a weasel of a man who thought himself too good to be under anyone's command.
"If you're afraid to die Quint you can stay here." Was Anya's retort, she never could stand to be around him for too long. Killick snorts behind her, not one for being subtle.
"Why should we take orders from her?!" An accusatory finger points towards Luna. "We would have been better off letting Azgeda have their way and wipe you all out!" Quint's face was red as he yelled, spittle flying from his mouth.
"Who should we take orders from, you?!" Killick had pushed forward from her place behind Anya, knocking the blonde's shoulder as she moves. Anya had to reach out and take hold to the tail of her shirt before she thought it was a good idea to climb over the table. "If the rest of us weren't in here to show you the way out you'd be trapped in here for days! Let alone the fucking Deep Forest!"
Anya had to admit, the small redhead was colourful when she was angry.
The look on Quint's face was priceless. Anya wanted to put it in a little frame so she could look at it whenever she had a bad day.
"SHOF OP!" It was Indra's turn to join in the screaming match between Quint and Killick. "You two! Settle this nonsense in the ring and be done with it."
Anya tugs hard on the redheads shirt to pull her away from the table but doesn't let go in case the smaller woman makes a break for Quint again.
"Now, with the Heda's health in question we will be moving out tomorrow for Polis. Each rider will not only carry their own provisions but will also be taking a share of the tribute goods for the Heda in the event that one of yours is lost in some unfortunate turn of events." Luna makes no mistake in directing that comment to Quint.
"Is that a threat?!" Quint's hands move to the dagger in his belt.
Anya can almost see Killick bristle in front of her, shoulders tensing. She drops the other woman's shirt in favour of taking her wrist, tugging her backwards and leaning close to her ear.
"Relax. Quint isn't worth it. Put him in his place after." Anya grips her wrist a little tighter, not just to emphasize her point, but because she can just barely keep herself still. Being so close to the other woman was reaping havoc on her senses, the scent of her hair, and the feel of her skin. The overload of sensation causes Anya's breath to hitch.
"Enough!" Luna's hands slammed down onto the table, the sound reverberating through the room. "Our hope is that the Pauna have moved to warmer climates. But yes, I was hoping that you in particular would be killed by a Pauna. Save the rest of us the trouble of having to travel with you."
"Go, do what you can to prepare." Indra wastes no time in dismissing them all before tensions rise too high.
"I suppose you'll be going to Polis?" Anya has finally dropped Killick's wrist as she turns to answer. Both relieved that she can breathe and longing to feel so breathless again.
"There's a chance. Luna's getting less and less subtle about trying to off me." There's that smile that Anya had been avoiding, the corners of Killick's mouth turning up at the action. "I mean, she's already promoted me so there's that."
"Better you than Quint." There we go, not implying anything. Quint is a bastard and everyone knows it. Anya files out with the other captains, hoping to catch her Second to fill her in on the events.
Killick kept close behind her, slipping alongside Anya when they were out in the open again. "I am much nicer to look at."
Seven fucking Hells. "You look like shit. Probably fight worse." The redhead was full of herself but Anya couldn't deny that it was easy to talk to the younger woman. Lexa might be on to something. Each conversation that had happened between them seemed easy, there was no need to second guess her words.
"What could be worse than shit?" Killick gave Anya a questioning look, not that Anya knew the answer. "Besides, you've seen how I fight and it's not too shabby."
Anya opened her mouth to answer, stopping when no sensible answer came to mind. The fact that Anya was speechless lit up Killick's face.
"That's what I thought." The redhead burst into laughter earning her a shove from Anya. The laugh was almost as infectious as her smile.
"Come on." Anya smiled at the girl before bringing the conversation back to a more serious topic. "I've been waiting for Quint to get what's coming for a long time"
"I knew you could be fun."
There was a small crowd gathered around the training ring when Anya and Killick turned up, Quint already in the center drawing favour from the younger warriors in the crowd.
"When Nyko cleared you for training I don't think he had this in mind." The voice came from Lincoln who stood at the edge of the ring nearest to the pair.
"Be happy this is the worst she's doing. She nearly went over the table at Quint, not that he didn't deserve it." Hard as she might, Anya couldn't help but feel like that sentence sounded almost proud.
"Thankfully someone was there to hold me back." Killick flashes Anya a cocky grin, dropping her axes in Lincoln's hands; who looks at Anya clearly confused.
Anya watches as the redhead struts into the ring and squares off against Quint.
"I knew there was something going on there." He points between Anya and Killick. "But I never thought you'd actually do something."
"Not another word Lincoln. Especially if you like your head firmly attached" Anya refused to look at the healer, her gaze focused on the redhead who had begun to circle the ring. The gesture alone gave Lincoln all he needed to know.
One of the younger Seconds hands wooden training weapons to the warriors; sword for Quint and a staff for Killick. Quint shoves the wooden sword back into the chest of the young warrior with a look of disgust.
"Live steel for this. Tristian, my sword." His hand was out, waiting for his Second to show up, and equally awful young man who should have been tossed to the Wastelands on principal alone. His sword was a gruesome thing, the cutting edge was notched, and making it to harder to close up the wounds it left behind.
Anya takes the axes from Lincoln, parting herself from the crowd to meet Killick in the ring.
"Don't you dare screw up that finger. I don't care if Nyko cleared you; you're ready when I say you are and I say it's too soon." She shoves the handles of the weapons into waiting hands, doing her damned best to glare at the grinning idiot in front of her. Try not to get hurt…
"You need to work on your pep talks." Killick gives the axes a testing twirl, tossing Anya a small smile.
"Quint fights dirty. Just...watch what you're doing."
"Why Anya, I didn't know you cared."
Apparently I do…too damn much.
Not that she needed to get into that here, with a crowd no less. Anya takes her place beside Lincoln once more; arms crossed and face dead set to portray feigned annoyance.
Anya can make out the mischievous glint in Killick's eyes as the other woman tightens her grip on the weapons in her hands, circling Quint.
Without warning Quint darts forward on the offensive, sword darting forward in a wide slash at the woman's abdomen. Thankfully she has enough sense to hop back before the blade catches her ribs, and retaliates by dropping under Quint's sword arm and driving her fist up, connecting hard against his chin.
Anya watches Quint stumble backwards, spitting blood and a wayward tooth to the ground. No doubt that shook his pride. She can't help when the corners of her mouth turn upwards.
The scorned warrior wastes no time in regaining his composure, attacking Killick with fast, angry strikes and closed fist blows. He's not leaving her a chance to fight back. Not that she needed too, Quint was attacking like a child all anger and no tact.
Anya watches as red hair whips in the wind, dodging and weaving around Quint, blue eyes shining bright enough to match the grin on her lips, the sound of his blade whistling in the wind like music to her ears.
She's…gorgeous. Is all Anya can think, watching the redhead toy with Quint, mouth suddenly dry.
The grin vanishes as Quint feigns left, sliding the jagged edge of his weapon over the back of Killick's thigh, leaving a river of blood in its wake and the woman to her knees before slamming his fist into her jaw sending her to her back.
Oh Fucking hells! The first thing to spring to Killick's mind is how bloody mad Anya will be over her taunting, she can almost hear Anya's voice in her head.
Killick barely had time to finish he thought as a frustrated Quint brings his weapon in a downward arc fueled by pure rage, sending a shower of mud and dirt into the air as the redhead rolls away and to her feet.
Anya watches the cascade of blood that was winding its way from Killick's lips as she spits a bloody mixture from her mouth, teeth stained a hellish pink. Wild blue eyes finding Anya from over Quint's shoulder.
"She won't help you." Quint mutters dangerously low as he edges closer. "But maybe I can help her once you're gone.
"And where am I going?"
"How should I know what comes after death?" With that he brings his sword downward, blade catching on the crossed blades of the redhead's axes, notches edge dragging over smooth steel as he presses his height and weight advantage over the smaller warrior.
Keeping one axe raised against Quint's blade, drawing ever closer, Killick drops one and flips it hooked side face forward. Swinging outward she catches the cross guard of the offending sword, pulling it sharply towards herself. Shifting slightly the blade passes over her shoulder, cutting a thin ribbon from the junction of her neck and shoulder, bringing Quint down on her. Rearing her head back Killick slams her forehead into Quint's nose, feeling it shatter on impact.
Stepping back she brings the axe from Quint's cross guard and drags the point of the hooked end over his throat and up to his chin, daring him to make a move.
After a tense moment it is Gustus who steps forward to put an end to the match.
"Alright that's enough; you each got your knocks in." His large hands separate the two so he could stand between them, shoving them in separate directions.
"That was stupid." Anya's eyes flicker over the red welt on the woman's chin and down to the scratch on her neck. "Gloating gets you nowhere."
"Remember that little thing we talked about, fun? That was me, having some." Pink tongue darts out to swipe over blood flecked lips. "I could show you sometime."
Lincoln steps between the two, ignoring the heated looks passing between them. "Not that I didn't enjoy what just happened, but why did it happen?"
Anya is the first to look away, not that she wants to. "Quint may have said some things to Luna, and then there was almost a brawl in the Chief's hut."
"You're joking!" He looks over the redhead next to him. "And you thought it'd be a good idea to test out your hand on his face?"
Killick huffs, as if Lincoln should have known that was exactly her plan. "It worked didn't it? Hands in working order and Quint is where he belongs." As if on que Quint walks past with some help from another man. "And he's walking! You couldn't ask for a better outcome."
"Killick, he's missing teeth."
"And? He could be missing worse! I could name a few parts he could do without."
It was almost comical watching the two of them bicker over the state Quint was left in; Lincoln ever the pacifist trying to reason against the fight in the first place while Killick talked over him, listing all the parts Quint could do without. Unfortunately if they were going to leave in the morning the two of them were going to have to start preparing.
"Okay children, let's agree to disagree and get a move on. You" One slender finger prodding Lincoln in the chest. "Don't you have things to do? And you!" The other pointed at Killick. "Have to pack and get cleaned up. I was right, you look like shit. Go."
She turns the both of them and shoves them in their respective directions, disregarding the muttering still going on between them.
A/N!
Hello all! Just a heads up that the next chapter will be delayed until next week or the following week. I've noticed that in the wake of "The Incident" that a lot of fictions are either not updating or have stopped, this is not the case. Simply put, I'll be on the road with work related nonsense and won't have the time to edit and post new chapters. I'm sure many of you (me too!) are still reeling from what happened but chin up :) I'd like to think that we haven't seen the last of Lexa. If not, then someone has to make me a super-cut of the show ending at the cuddle post-sex scene. THE END.
P.S- Big thanks to everyone who has liked, left comments, or just read the thing and the fluff monstrosity I posted. Means oodles that people seem to be enjoying what I'm putting down!
See you guys soon with new chapter. Thanks b'ys