Clarke woke up to the sound of someone knocking urgently on the door of their barrack.

"Claarrrke." She heard Octavia complain from the bed next to hers as the girl tossed around in bed, clearly upset at being woken up so early.

"What time is it?" Raven's sleep ladened voice spoke out.

Clarke sat up, squinting at her friends when the knocking paused briefly, offering a moment of repose, only to start again. She shot them both questioning gazes and received only confused, one eyed disgruntled expressions back in return.

"Claarrrrke," Octavia groaned once more, her voice muffled as she shoved her head under her pillow.

Clarke's reply was limited to an annoyed grunt, because whatever time it was, it was way too early for simple motor functions or coherent thoughts. Plus her body still ached from all the running they had to do last night during the Siege.

Forcing herself to get out of bed, because no, the knocking still hadn't stopped - gods whoever's at the door was persistent - Clarke stomped over to the door and yanked it open without a care in the world for her appearance. In hindsight she really should've fixed her hair and straightened her pajamas because standing in front of her was a very put together, hair already braided with a very complicated design, makeup already on, and altogether very disconcerting sight of the praetor of the Twelfth Legion, Lexa.

Clarke blinked bearily twice just to make sure she wasn't still sleeping and suddenly dreaming. She peeked over Lexa's shoulder briefly just out of curiosity. The sun was just rising in the horizon but the sky was still mostly dark.

So the answer to Raven's previous question was very early then.

"Who is it?" Raven slurred, half asleep and half awake.

"Good morning, Clarke," Lexa's clear voice, lovely as it was, was still too much for Clarke who felt like a fumbling drunk as she grasped for words. She looked past Clarke into the bunker. "Good morning Raven."

Raven's response came in the form of a light snore.

Lexa looked like she was trying hard to keep a stern expression and not laugh when she looked back at Clarke. Her eyes that twinkled like the stars at dawn were the only giveaway that Lexa found any humor in the current situation she'd found the Greeks in.

"I wouldn't really call this ' morning', Lexa." Clarke's voice came out low, raspy, and scratchy.

"Right." A small curl of the lip. "But unlike the Greeks, we Romans prefer to get an early start on our day," said Lexa. Her eyes briefly scanned Clarke's disheveled figure up and down. Clarke never felt more exposed than she did now, standing in front of a pretty girl in her crumpled pink Cerberus pajama set.

"Nice pajamas," Lexa complimented, a small smirk tugging at her lips. Clarke flushed. It was unfair for Lexa to look this good this early in the morning ( not morning, technically it was dawn ) when Clarke was still barely a functioning human person.

"Hades got it for me on my sixteenth birthday," Clarke mumbled, only half embarrassed as she picked at the hem of her pajama shirt.

The smirk on Lexa's face turned even more smug. "It looks good on you."

Before Clarke could respond - because honestly, what was she supposed to say to that? Why would Lexa compliment how she looked in her kiddie pajamas, wild bed hair and probably drool dried on her chin when Lexa was standing there looking like a goddess herself? - Raven's sleep laced frustrated voice cut into the conversation.

"Praetor, if you came to our barrack at freaking five in the morning just to flirt with Clarke in the doorway, please kindly find another place to do so because I am trying to sleep ."

"Word," Octavia agreed grumpily into her pillow. "Please go flirt somewhere else."

Lexa cleared her throat as Clarke turned even redder at her friend's teasing.

'I am so going to kill them later.'

"Right," Lexa seemed to gather herself, taking on her more serious and official persona again as she faced Clarke. Clarke, meanwhile, was still trying to wake up fully. "I came to tell you that there will be a senate meeting in half an hour at the Senate House near the west end of New Rome. I expect you to attend to represent your people of course. Though your friends may be exempt."

"Woo!" Raven gave a weak cheer from her bed.

"Their attendance is still highly recommended," added Lexa.

"Damn," came Raven's disappointed response.

"We will be discussing this alliance and the quest," informed Lexa.

"Half an hour?" Clarke squinted, eyes still heavy with sleep. "That's so early."

"Early start," Lexa reminded her gently.

"Right," Clarke grumbled. "We'll be there," she promised. "Anything else?"

Lexa looked like she was going to turn and leave only to hesitate at the door. Given Clarke's drowsy state, she thought she almost imagined how unsure Lexa looked at that moment.

Lexa looked away briefly before seemingly gathering courage and looking back at Clarke. "I was wondering if you'd want to join me to grab a quick bite before the meeting," said Lexa almost shyly. "We don't know how long the meeting will go on for. And it's best not to debate on a hungry stomach. Plus… it is crucial, as the leaders of our people... for us to understand the other party."

At this point, it sounded like Lexa was just fishing for excuses to have breakfast with her. Clarke's heart warmed at the thought. She practically fell on herself in haste to nod her agreement.

"Yeah sure. Sounds great. We should definitely get to know each other." Clarke bit her lip. She really needed to stop talking before she embarrassed herself anymore with her half awake rambling. "Meet you down at the mess hall in ten?" The words tumbled out of her mouth faster than her head could keep up.

Lexa gave her a small tight smile. "Actually, I was thinking we could go down to the forum. There are some cute cafes and shops that I'd like to show you."

"Oh," Clarke blinked, finding the idea of cafes being open at five in the morning rather absurd. But hey, if the Romans didn't value their sleep, that's their problem. "Yeah sure. Just gimme a second to change and brush my teeth?"

Lexa nodded. "I'll be waiting outside."

"Cool," Clarke grinned, acutely aware that it was probably too wide. Her body was suddenly buzzing with energy. She definitely felt more awake than she did moments ago.

"I'll be right back then." She gently closed the door, before making a mad dash for her suitcase under her bed and quickly changing into her pair of jeans and an orange Camp Ark t-shirt.

"I can't believe Miss Scary But Hot Commander came pounding on our door like the world was ending at five in the morning just to ask you out on a breakfast date," Raven moaned in pain. "I can't decide if that's romantic or utterly inconsiderate because sleep is a thing, ya know."

"It's not a date," Clarke denied, hating the way she could feel her cheeks heat up at the thought of going on a date with Lexa. They'd only met two days ago for Zeus sake! This was a little fast, even for her.

"Oh it's a date alright," Octavia chimed in smugly, her close eyed smirk half hidden by her pillow. "I'm a daughter of Aphrodite, remember? It's literally in my blood to know stuff like this. It's definitely a date."

"Hah!" Raven cheered.

"Clarkey's got a crush," Octavia sang, joining in on the teasing.

"Shut up, no I don't," Clarke protested. "And aren't you two supposed to be sleeping?" Her friends grumbled in response.

Clarke quickly brushed her teeth and hair, making sure she looked presentable before swiftly walking towards the door.

"Have fun on your date!" Octavia called out just as her hand touched the doorknob.

"Buy us something will ya?" Raven's chimed in. "If we have to join you in the stupid meeting then I want food."

"Yeah, yeah. Y'all better be at the meeting later," Clarke grumbled in response. "I am not facing a bunch of Roman politicians by myself."

"Aye aye, Princess," Octavia responded lazily before sprawling into her most comfortable position, ready to go back to Hypnos's realm.

Clarke rolled her eyes at her friend before opening the door and walking out. True to her word, Lexa waited for her with her back leaning against the barrack wall, which she pushed off of as soon as she heard the door open.

Clarke didn't miss the way Lexa checked out her outfit, her eyes lingering at the words on her chest (or cough just her chest. Clarke knew this shirt was getting a little snug on her considering she'd had this shirt since she was twelve and now she was already seventeen.)

"You ready?" Lexa asked, tilting her heads towards New Rome.

"Yeah," Clarke inhaled, feeling the cool summer morning air in her lungs.

"Perfect. I'll show you my favorite cafe. Come on," said Lexa as she turned and lead the way.

The whole walk there, they talked about mundane things. Things like, what were are hobbies, what's your favorite color, and how old are you?

(Clarke found out Lexa liked fencing, was actually nationally ranked as a fencer. Clarke had quipped back saying it was probably unfair of Lexa to even compete in the sport given her faster reflexes due to her disposition as a demigod and a child of Jupiter nonetheless. Lexa brushed her off by saying her achievements in fencing were a result of hard work and discipline, and not because she fought monsters with a golden Roman sword every summer or had literally lightning fast reflexes. She also found out that Lexa liked the color purple - Clarke didn't have to ask why. She figured Lexa's pride as a Roman demigod expanded into her color biases. She also learned that Lexa was a year older than her, putting her at eighteen years old, and that Lexa was a summer baby, having been born on the first of July.)

(In return, Clarke told Lexa about her passion for painting, how she didn't have a favorite color because of that reason, and that she was a winter baby, born in the middle of December on the day of the winter's solstice - which was fitting really, for a child of Hades to be born on what was the darkest and shortest day of the year.)

"Here we are." Lexa was full on smiling now as she pointed a small little cafe in the center of the forum which was the center of life in New Rome.

Clarke squinted at the sign. She was greeted by a mash of what looked like English and foreign symbols. Gods, sometimes Clarke just hated her dyslexia.

"The Case Vines?" she tried her best.

"De Casu Venus," Lexa corrected gently. "It's Latin for Cafe of Venus."

"Oh." That would explain the stone fountain of a very naked goddess of love placed in front of the store.

"They make the best coffee and salads," insisted Lexa.

Clarke turned to look at Lexa scornfully. "Of course you would enjoy salads. You seem like the type."

Lexa laughed and Clarke's heart fluttered in her chest. Lexa was practically glowing against the backdrop of the rising sun. The artist in her itched to capture this moment on canvas. Instead, she'd just have to settle for the next best thing which was to bask in the glorious presence that was Lexa.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Lexa asked, lips curled into a small but carefree smile.

Clarke decided she rather liked Lexa when she was like this. She'd thought the Roman praetor to be cold and calculating. However, Lexa completely changed after Clarke practically tore her test apart during the siege.

"You know what it means," Clarke grumbled. Gods, what happened to her flirting game? Did it die along with Finn? ( Yikes, Clarke inwardly flinched. Too soon.)

"Let's head in." Lexa lead them inside the cafe. The doors opened with a light chime. The inside was decorated like a garden with flowers and live plants decorating and adorning the walls which were painted a light pink, undoubtedly as a tribute to Venus. Several stone cupid statues lay throughout the cafe, completing the overall look of the cafe.

All in all, it was definitely somewhere perfect to take someone out on a date. Clarke cursed Octavia and Raven in her head for planting the idea into her head. Now she couldn't help but overanalyze the situation.

'It's Lexa's favorite cafe. Stop overthinking it. Didn't peg her to like this type of cafe though. I bet she just likes their salads, which ugh. That is rabbit food.'

A girl with a head full of bushy curly hair and a pretty countenance popped her head over the counter at their entrance, straightening up when she realized she had customers.

"Praetor," the sole waitress of De Casu Venus seemed surprised to see Lexa, which Clarke thought was suspicious considering Lexa's claim about this being her favorite cafe. The waitress directed her attention to Clarke. Her eyes widened for a moment as she recognized Clarke. She took a second to take in Clarke's presence before sending the blonde a small knowing smile.

"Clarissimum Graeciae princeps, " she said, nodding her head once at Clarke in what looked like a gesture of respect.

Completely lost because her knowledge of latin was literally zilch, Clarke turned to Lexa who looked...proud? Clarke couldn't exactly read what emotion it was that Lexa was exhibiting.

"What did she just call me?" Clarke asked.

Lexa turned to Clarke, her eyes searching into Clarke's. "She called you, The Brilliant Greek Leader . A fitting title," said Lexa, a hint of amusement to her tone. "Considering how you managed to upstage my best legionnaires yesterday." Her words held no bite and the small smile on her lips told Clarke that she rather enjoyed watching Clarke make a mess of her first Cohorts.

Clarke blushed, having been hit with a double compliment. She turned to the waitress with a shy look. "Uh, thank you…"

"Niylah," the girl responded, eyes disappearing into adorable crescents as she beamed at Clarke, who was struck for a second by how understated Niylah's beauty was given her first impression. Clarke had a feeling she could guess who Niylah's godly parent was despite it not being obvious at first.

"Nice to meet you, Niylah," Clarke offered a kind smile. "I'm Clarke."

"Yes, we all know of you Clarke," Niylah grinned, her teeth white and perfect. "I'm in Cohort Five, so I got a taste of your brilliance first hand yesterday. I can't say I've ever had that much fun during a siege before."

"Ah," Clarke could feel Lexa's eyes boring into the side of her head for some reason and it made her feel clammy for unknown reasons. "Thank you."

"No, thank you," Niylah grinned. "Your breakfast is on me today." Her eyes flickered to Lexa. "Your usual, Praetor?" She seemed hesitant for some reason, but Lexa nodded like everything was normal so Clarke dropped her suspicions.

"Yes, please. Thank you, Niylah," said Lexa. "And I can pay for-"

"Nonsense," Niylah waved her hand dismissively. "Let me do this for the two of you. Now sit." She ushered them to take a seat and Clarke and Lexa didn't need any further encouragement, quickly taking a seat at the table for two in the middle of the cafe.

"I recommend a-"

"I'm not eating a salad, Lexa," Clarke interrupted, her nose scrunched up in mock disgust.

Lexa sent her a look that was a mix between adoration and exasperation. "I was going to say Niylah's sandwiches are always great."

"Oh," Clarke scanned the menu. "I guess I'll try the…Genovese Trappizino?" She looked over to Lexa for validation because frankly, she just picked whatever, but Lexa was staring at her as if she'd seen a ghost - which was honestly not too crazy considering the fact that Clarke was a daughter of Hades and lost ghosts tended to cling to her for guidance. Clarke threw a cursory glance over shoulder for any wandering souls but found nothing.

"Uh, everything okay?" Clarke asked. She'd only taken her eyes off Lexa for a second to look at the menu.

Lexa shook her head slightly, blinking down once, before shooting Clarke a smile that Clarke could tell was forced. "Nothing. You just reminded me of someone.."

"Oh." Clarke didn't know what to say. It was obvious to her that she didn't trigger a pleasant memory otherwise Lexa wouldn't have looked like that.

"So, there is something I've been dying to know and you have to tell me," Clarke stated suddenly, flipping the mood one hundred eighty degrees as she threw on a brilliant smile. She watched as Lexa relaxed minisculely in her seat before nodding, a bit of color returning to her visage and Clarke knew she made the right choice in switching topics.

"What is it? I will try my best to answer you, if I can," said Lexa.

Clarke leaned in as if she were about to spill the biggest tea of the century. "So...how did you manage to snag a war elephant?"

Ten minutes into their not date, the door chimed, signaling another customer. Clarke wondered who else in this camp was crazy enough to crave a sandwich this badly at five in the morning.

Turned out, it was Luna.

"Wassup, Niylah!"

"Good morning, Centurion. I'll have the usual out in a few," Niylah greeted.

"Thank you, you're a lifesaver!" Luna called out before whirling around to face Clarke and Lexa, a scandalous look on her face. Despite not having been doing anything, Clarke felt like she'd been caught doing something she wasn't supposed to.

"Why, good morning," Luna greeted, surprised at seeing the two of them inside the cafe. She pulled up an empty chair to their table and sat down without waiting for an invitation.

"I'm guessing you're getting some food in ya stomachs before the big senate meeting later?" Luna asked the two of them. "Smart. You'll want some sustenance in you before you're forced to listen to the Centurions fight and argue over each other."

"What's a Senate meeting like anyway?" Clarke asked, realizing she was heading into this practically blind, and despite the fact that Clarke was fine with winging it some of the time, Clarke liked to be prepared. "Who's coming? What should I expect?"

Luna gestured for Lexa to explain, considering she was the praetor and all.

"The Senate is made of the twelve Centurions and the praetor for a total of thirteen people. We oversee important matters regarding the Camp. It's modeled after the Roman Republic," explained Lexa. "Even though I am the praetor and hold the highest position, I technically cannot act on big matters without the Senate's approval to prevent tyranny. And this-" Lexa gestured at Clarke and herself, "alliance is a huge matter."

"Also, Lexa is required by Roman law to consult the Senate before going to war," said Luna. Lexa nodded grimly. The previously light hearted atmosphere quickly turned into something a lot heavier as the topic switched.

"More will be explained at the meeting," said Lexa, looking into Clarke's eyes. "But yes, we are going to war and we need your help."

"Against the Mountain," said Clarke, feeling herself sit up straighter in her chair. She'd just finished fighting in a war last summer and now here she was getting involved in another war. She fidgeted with the bracelet on her wrist. "My camp director mentioned something about that."

"What do you know about the Mountain?" Lexa asked Clarke, her eyes critical. Any previous traces of softness on her face or in her eyes were replaced by hard lines and a calculating stare.

Clarke shrugged, reeling from the difference in personas Lexa presented her. "Not much. Just what Bellamy knew and reported, honestly."

Lexa narrowed her eyes. "I never did ask why they sent you instead of Bellamy. Or why they never sent you before instead of Bellamy, considering you and your friends seem much more competent than his ever did." She paused, considering Clarke with furrowed eyebrows. "I even visited Camp Ark last year during that diplomatic trip, but I don't recall meeting you or your friends."

"Me neither," said Luna.

"No," Clarke swallowed. "You wouldn't have seen me or my friends. We were...busy." Flashes of a small home in Wisconsin invaded her mind, a woman that looked just like Finn, her descent into a crazed fit, the cold sting and pang of emptiness from the River of Styx, Achilles's haunting voice telling her to turn away, Finn's cold smirk, Finn, Finn, Finn.

"Clarke? Clarke!"

Clarke blinked rapidly. Both Lexa and Luna were looking at her, the former more curious, while the latter looked more concerned.

"Sorry," Clarke shook her head. She hadn't thought about that stuff in months now. The nightmares had stopped just two months ago. She blinked the images back into the mental boxes she'd created for them and shoved them as deep down as they'll go.

"I had something I needed to do in order to stand a chance against Kronos so I was away for a while. Raven and Octavia were with me. We were gone for a week and you happened to just miss us. And the summers before that, we were out on quests so Bellamy and his team were the only ones available."

Lexa nodded slowly, accepting the answer though she still looked at Clarke as if she were a puzzle to figure out.

"So what do you know about the Mountain then?" Lexa asked.

Clarke shook her head slowly. "Only that they've been a thorn in your side for the longest time."

"That's an understatement," Lexa muttered darkly. "They've been a plague on our land for hundreds of years. Any legionnaire that ventured too near to the Mountain would disappear and never come back. Whoever the Mountain men are, they capture our legionnaires, and then send them back to us, crazed, delusional, and practically inhumane."

Clarke furrowed her eyebrows at the description. "What do you mean?"

Luna glanced at the watch on her wrist. "We need to go. Meeting starts in five. And the praetor really shouldn't be late." She turned to Clarke. "You'll find out more at the meeting. You ready?"

Clarke gulped. She looked to Lexa for reassurance who nodded her head slightly showing her support. Clarke nodded back. "Let's go."