Chapter 10: Of Friends and Foes

Author's Notes: OMIGOD ITS SO LAAAAATE HEHEHEHE IM TIRED:) I'm sorry this is so late. Spring semester of junior year has been killer. And it's like two AM right now and I just got back from watching Civil War(which was amazing) so I'm kind of delirious but hey….anything for you, my darlings. Anything for you3

Clarke leaned heavily on the railing of the Seikru and sighed. She gazed out across the calm Caribbean waters, occasionally flicking her eyes up to drag along the plethora of stars twinkling down at her. It had been a few days since their encounter with Captain Kane, and she couldn't get the image of the knife at Lexa's throat out of her head. Lexa had been keeping to her quarters almost all hours of the day, coming out only to murmur orders to Anya and lock eyes with Clarke once or twice.

And Clarke was so, so lonely. Sleep continued to evade her, the hammock unbearably comfortable compared to Lexa's soft furs. Raven had been busy with some secret project even the Captain didn't know about, and Octavia was always snuggling with Lincoln in a corner somewhere.

She scrubbed at the tears that suddenly appeared on her cheeks, angry at her own weakness. A warm night breeze brushed across her face, feeling exactly like a soft hand on her skin. Clarke choked back a sob. "Costia…I-I miss you." She thought back to their midnight conversations about hopes and dreams. Costia had always talked about sailing the seas, saying that it was true freedom. "I'm sailing for you my friend…" Clarke whispered to the night air. Her heart ached, throbbing painfully in her chest, and she tried to swallow past the lump in her throat as more silent tears trekked down her cheeks.

"Clarke?" The blonde turned in surprise, quickly wiping her eyes.

"Lex-Captain. I…um, didn't expect you to be out so late…" She trailed off, a hint of pink coloring her face.

"Why are you crying, Clarke?" Lexa stepped over to her, boot heels clicking against the deck. She had only her flowing white shirt and trademark leather pants on; her bronze shoulders were bare, and her light curls were not even restrained by a bandana. Gold bangles clinked as she leaned on the rail next to Clarke. Breathtaking. Clarke thought absently. She sniffled a little.

"I'm just…thinking." She bit her lip at the obvious avoidance.

"About what?" Lexa stretched a hand out and brushed a tear away with her thumb. Clarke almost burst into another bout of crying.

"M-my friend…her name was Costia." Lexa tilted her head to the side, sadness and understanding in her eyes.

"Is she gone, Clarke?"

"Yeah…" The blonde blinked back tears. "She was murdered…just before I came here. She was supposed to come with me…well, I was supposed to go with her." Clarke slapped herself internally. She shouldn't be telling Lexa this. But there was something so trustworthy in those emerald orbs…

"Murdered…why?" Lexa asked softly.

"Because she wanted to…escape." Clarke breathed deeply as the anger began boiling up inside once more. "For her, it was slavery." Lexa gritted her teeth. "For me…an arranged marriage. To the man who killed her." Clarke turned to face the brunette, rage and regret sparking in her eyes. A small gasp escaped Lexa's lips.

"That man…that day, in Port-au-Prince…" Understanding spread across her countenance. "You were running from him?"

"Yes. He shot Costia. And one day…one day I'll make him pay, for everything. For all of the hurt he caused her family. And me."

"Clarke." Lexa took the blonde's hands in her own, earning a surprised squeak from Clarke. They locked eyes, crystal blue piercing into forest green. "I do not think you should pursue such a dark path of revenge. But if we ever come across this man, I will gladly fight by your side." She brought one of Clarke's hands up and kissed it sweetly, her full lips brushing along Clarke's knuckles. The blonde turned a brilliant shade of red.

"Th-thank you…" she sputtered, but did not withdraw her hands. "That means a lot to me." Lexa's lips curved upwards in a smile, still pressed to Clarke's skin. "You know, I was really worried about you…when that sailor had the knife against your throat…" Clarke reached out and lightly brushed her fingertips along the not-quite-healed cut on the Captain's neck. "I was ready to put a couple of rounds in his face, but you seemed to have it under control."

Lexa chuckled, the husky sound sending thrills up Clarke's spine. She leaned forward, so close, her breath brushing past Clarke's ear and sending goosebumps across her flesh. "I'm glad you care about me, Clarke," Lexa whispered. Clarke dazedly registered that their hands were still intertwined. "I care about you too, you know." The Captain murmured, her voice deep and sultry. Clarke's blood was pounding in her ears, and her heart was beating furiously in her ribcage. She thought she was going to explode. Lexa angled her face towards Clarke's and brushed her lips up and down her jaw. Heat shot through Clarke, and she let out a soft gasp.

"Goodnight sailor. Sleep well." Lexa slid away from her and sauntered back to her cabin. Clarke watched her go, her jaw practically resting on the deck.

"What a fucking tease…" Clarke muttered to no one in particular. But really, she was delighted. Because Lexa was there, and she was real, and so was her crew…her family. And Clarke was not alone.

Lexa's POV

"Holy shit holy shit holy shitshitshit…" Lexa paced around and around her cabin, frantically running her fingers through her loose hair. A furious blush painted her cheeks, despite being alone. "What the hell was that Lexa?! That was Clarke!" She wanted to reverse time and redo that whole scene that had just occurred on the deck. But then again, maybe she didn't. "Uuuugh!" She threw herself down on her bed and curled up to one of her pillows. It still smelled faintly of Clarke…like caramel and a hint of sea salt. The phantom sensation of Clarke's jaw on her lips sent sparks of electricity through her. "That was stupid, so fucking stupid, but it was totally worth it…" she squeezed the pillow tighter and squirmed around a little, every bit a lovesick teenager. Oh god, if my crew could see me now… Lexa cringed internally at how they would react to her when every wall was down, all traces of the fearsome pirate captain gone. Right now, she was only Lexa.

She pulled the drawing that Clarke had made from her shirt and unfolded it carefully. She traced the lines of her own visage with her eyes. Clarke was truly a wonderful artist to be able to capture so much detail, right down to the reflection in her eyes. She clutched the page to her chest and sighed contentedly. It was proof that Clarke returned her feelings, if only a little. As was the erratic beating of her heart when Lexa had whispered in her ear…

Oh god. Good luck sleeping tonight, you freakin' lovesick fool…

Clarke's POV

"Haul the main line and tie off the topsail! Get every ounce of speed from her that you can, gentlemen!" Clarke pulled back on the rope, Octavia and another sailor heaving with her. The rough fibers bit into her palms, but she gritted her teeth and pulled harder. Octavia quickly tied it to the belaying pin and Clarke released the rope, letting it go taut on its own.

"Good work, sailor." Octavia panted, heartily slapping Clarke on the back. "You make a fine crewman. Only a few weeks at the mast, and you look like you've been at sea all your life." Clarke grinned at her.

"Thanks, O. You're a good teacher."

"And friend, I hope?" Octavia looked like a kicked puppy.

"Of course!" Clarke engulfed the brunette in a warm hug. The whole crew had become more than friends; they were family. And Clarke understood why they had been so hesitant to let her join them. If some stranger had stowed away on this boat, she would slit their throat immediately. No sense in risking harm to those she held dear. Especially a certain pirate Captain.

Speak of the devil. Lexa strutted towards them. She looked tired; there were light bags under her eyes and her pirate swagger wasn't quite up to par. But she was still drop-anchor gorgeous, of course.

"Lincoln is looking for you." Lexa dismissed Octavia with a wave of her hand, who promptly scrambled to find her strong silent…friend.

"Rough night, Captain?" Clarke winked at the dark-haired beauty. Although, she shouldn't be talking. Their little encounter last night had left Clarke tossing and turning in her uncomfortable hammock as well.

"Yes. It seems you didn't fair any better, however. Still not used to the sailor's quarters?" Lexa stepped just close enough to have Clarke's heart hammering away in her chest once more.

"No, not really." She muttered.

"Ahoy Captain!" Lexa irritatedly looked up at the man on watch, shielding her eyes from the bright Caribbean sun.

"What is it, sailor?"

"Ship ho, off to starboard!" The Captain quickly took out her spyglass and looked out across the waters at the smudge on the horizon.

"It's the Trikru!" she exclaimed suddenly, lowering her telescope. Clarke's breath caught in her throat. Exclamations of joy arose from the crew. "Anya, tack towards their position! Full sail ahead!" She tucked away her glass as the crew jumped into action. Clarke did a double-take at the distressed look that crossed her Captain's face.

"What is it?" she carefully laid a hand on Lexa's bronze shoulder. The pirate looked her in the eye.

"It looks like they've had company."

They sailed for quite a while, as the Trikru became bigger and bigger. The atmosphere on board was tense and expectant. By now, the whole crew could see the black marks scarring the hull, and the foremast was completely broken. Wisps of smoke still trailed from the ship, and many of the sails were torn and tattered, but it looked to be in one piece.

"Oh Indra, what have you gotten yourself into?" Lexa murmured. Clarke stood close to her on the upper deck, watching the Captain worry at her bottom lip with her teeth.

"We can help them, Captain." Lexa smiled at her gratefully. The ship was finally near enough that they could see the sailors scurrying about the deck. A cheer rose up from the Trikru as they recognized their sister ship, and Lexa's crew responded in kind. A plank was dropped between the two ships as they pulled up alongside each other.

Clarke watched as an African woman stalked across the plank. She looked quite terrifying; turquoise tattoos were swirled over her skin, she carried more weapons than Clarke could count, and a permanent snarl seemed etched into her face. Lexa stepped forward and clasped arms with the stranger, a slight smile on her face but eyes shining with obvious delight.

"Indra, it is good to see you alive and well."

"Barely." The dark-skinned woman snorted, but returned Lexa's smile. "I am glad you are here Captain. We have had a rough time for the past month."

"Who did this to your crew? What has happened that has left you in such a state?" Lexa gestured angrily to the disrepair of the Trikru.

"He has been tracking us for weeks now, shadowing our every move. He never lets up. My crew has been run to the ground from constant evasion, and we have had no time to make repairs." Clarke tilted her head in curiosity.

"Who?" Lexa hissed.

Indra's eyes flicked over to Clarke's then back to Lexa. She sucked in a breath, rage sparking through her eyes.

"Pike."

Author's Note:(Do you guys even read these?) Sorry for the little cliffhanger there. The writers of OUAT emotionally traumatized me tonight so I had to cut it off a little early. Gotta take the time to heal my poor shipper heart. I'll do my best to get the next chapter in on time!

P.S Reviews make me squeal in delight!:D