The first time Lexa met Wells, they scared each other. Lexa had just gotten in from London (Byrne had officially been named as head of that branch) and couldn't wait to see Clarke. She knew that the blonde was out with Raven until later, so she wanted to make dinner as a surprise. She'd texted Raven so that they didn't eat out.
She let herself in via Clarke's window (the woman still didn't lock it!) holding a bag of groceries, and strolled out into the open living space directly to the kitchen. She'd just put the groceries down and started pulling out dishes when the bathroom door opened behind her. She whirled, immediately going into a defensive crouch. The man emerging from the bathroom made a strangled sound, mimicking her position.
"Who are you?" He demanded. Lexa examined him critically. His form spoke of some training, but she didn't doubt her years of experience. She brandished her arm.
"I could ask you the same question." The man relaxed minutely as his gaze zeroed in on her hand which was (oh my God) clutching a wooden spoon. She glared at his expression, which was creeping into 'amused'. He held his hands up in a placating gesture, looking slightly bashful.
"You wouldn't be Lexa, would you?" She remained tense, even though he knew her name. "Raven said you came in through Clarke's window sometimes." To her chagrin, he shrugged and ambled toward her.
"I seem to be at a disadvantage." She growled, and he stopped after seeing that she was still in attack mode.
"I'm Wells Jaha. I grew up with Clarke and have been abroad for a while. My dad lives just outside of the city, next door to Clarke's mom. We all had dinner together for Thanksgiving and I hang out here sometimes." Lexa stayed on alert but dropped the spoon on the counter. He took that as a cue to move onto one of the stools. When she didn't make any other move (she still didn't really know who he was), he continued. "Are you making dinner? Do you want any help?"
Despite her reservations, Lexa found herself slowly relaxing around Wells (and, as he pointed out, she had been the one breaking in through a window). He was just one of those charismatic, easy going people. When Raven and Clarke finally returned, it was to Wells cracking up at some subtle joke Lexa had deadpanned. Lexa felt her heart warm as Clarke broke into a wide smile upon seeing her.
"You're back from London?" Lexa nodded as Wells gathered himself. Lexa ignored Raven basically shoving Clarke toward her, but smiled at the indignant look that passed quickly over Clarke's face. To alleviate any embarrassment (Raven had been more blatantly hinting at them to 'get it on already!' [ok, that was more than hinting]) and change the subject, Lexa pointed at Wells.
"He said he belonged to you. I nearly attacked him with the cutlery."
"It was a wooden spoon. I don't think you could've done much damage." Wells had a grin that faded as Lexa arched her brow.
"You would be surprised at my capabilities."
Lexa enjoyed keeping people on their toes, and was pleased with Wells' brief uncertainty before he turned to Clarke and Raven as the women moved toward the set table. Raven rolled her eyes and spoke up.
"Ok, Ronda Rousey. You're a badass, we get it. Wells is Clarke's friend from way back, but he belongs to me." Clarke grimaced at Raven's statement.
"That's possibly the most possessively weird way you could've put that, thank you Reyes."
L.W.L.W.L.W.
After a successful meal (during which Wells proudly lauded his salad and Clarke threw a carrot at him), Raven and Wells claimed the couch and started bickering about movies. Lexa saw Clarke roll her eyes before she tugged Lexa into the bedroom.
Lexa's hand was dropped as soon as the door shut. Clarke looked uncertain before her face cleared and she reached forward and pulled Lexa into an embrace. She heard Clarke mumble into her hair, felt the tickle of breath on her neck.
"You were gone a long time." Lexa relaxed into the embrace for a moment before pulling completely away (she did notice Clarke unconsciously following her before realizing that she was leaning into Lexa's space and retreating to sit on the bed).
"I am sorry. I had to attend matters in person." Clarke nodded and scooted back against the headboard, patting the space before her. Lexa took a brief moment to examine Clarke and the way she carried herself: she'd noticed a difference immediately. Overall Clarke's posture was more relaxed and her eyebrows didn't knit together nearly as often. Something positive had happened while she was away.
Wordlessly she climbed up beside Clarke and leaned back. They sat in silence for a moment before Clarke spoke.
"Do you have plans for Christmas?" Lexa allowed only a blink before shaking her head negatively. Clarke let out a breath and continued. "I mean...I don't either. Do you maybe want to be not alone?" Lexa felt herself smiling without thought.
"That is an odd way to put it." Clarke huffed, then nudged Lexa's shoulder.
"But you know what I mean. We could hang out." Lexa smiled wider.
"Is that what the kids these days are calling it?" Clarke mock-scowled and poked her in the side.
"You went there fast. It's evening, why are your thoughts so dirty?"
" I am still on London time. It is morning there already."
"Yeah, not the type of morning where you'd be awake."
"Clarke, have you been keeping track of the time zone I am in?" Lexa connected with wide blue eyes. She felt Clarke take her hand and rub a thumb across her knuckles. The air suddenly became charged and Lexa couldn't look away. They had been circling each other for nearly three months, keeping to light hearted jokes and innuendoes. Clarke was suddenly much closer, bringing her spare hand up and around to the back of Lexa's neck and Lexa shivered, heart starting to pound.
"I like you, Lexa." A simple admission that had Lexa's eyes fluttering closed as she pressed her forehead to Clarke's. Each breath across her lips brought more awareness- of the fact that Clarke's hand slowly left hers to travel to her waist, of the press of Clarke's thigh against her own, of the heartbeat thrumming through her body, of breaths increasing, of her own hands bunching into Clarke's shirt and drawing the other woman closer, of legs tangling out of necessity, of soft lips and...oh.
Lexa sighed into the kiss as she felt a tongue swipe her bottom lip. She opened her mouth in response and felt Clarke smile as they deepened their contact. Lexa felt Clarke's hand tangle in her hair, lightly tugging as their mouths stayed connected. Clarke's other hand was wandering her torso, but when it brushed the underside of her breast Lexa stopped focusing on the fact that Clarke was a fantastic kisser and squeaked. Clarke drew her hand and her mouth back immediately. Lexa wasn't sure when it had happened, but they were both laying down. Clarke smirked, slightly wild eyes crinkled in amusement as Lexa covered her face with her hands in embarrassment.
"That was adorable," Clarke husked. Lexa flushed further.
"Was not. That was a very dignified way of…" she trailed off, unable to think clearly as she peeked between her fingers and caught sight of Clarke biting her bottom lip to stop herself from laughing.
"See something you like?" Clarke teased, pulling her bottom lip entirely behind her teeth and slowly releasing it again. Lexa, unable to resist the sight, surged upward and connected them once again. This kiss was more heated, both women fighting for dominance.
Lexa had no idea how long they'd been kissing when Clarke's door suddenly banged open and they broke apart suddenly. Lexa felt Clarke tense immediately.
"You owe me twenty, Jaha. They were totally making out." A muffled groan from the living room caused Lexa to sit up and straighten her shirt.
"Reyes. What the hell!" Clarke was still tense, and Lexa starting rubbing circles in her back before Clarke stood, abruptly moving a step toward Raven. Raven's eyes flickered with regret as Clarke took another step toward her.
"First of all, don't fucking bang in here whenever you want."
"Clarke, I…" Raven took a step back now. Lexa saw Wells stand up over Raven's shoulder.
"Second of all, you were there and fucking know..." Raven took a step back. Lexa stayed with Clarke, in her peripheral but close enough that she could see Clarke's arm hair standing up. She debated only a moment before initiating contact by reaching out and lacing their hands together. Clarke broke off her rant to glance at her and took a big gulp of air. Raven retreated a few more steps and Wells met her halfway, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry," Raven murmured, not looking directly at Clarke. Clarke turned completely away from Raven, looking up to the ceiling and trying to compose herself. She didn't acknowledge Lexa, but she also didn't release her hand. She turned back around after what seemed an endless minute.
"I'm sorry, too. I know I've been doing better, but please try your best not to startle me like that." Clarke tugged Lexa closer to where Raven and Wells were standing. "I see everything." Raven finally looked up, eyes slightly glazed, and nodded.
"I know you didn't do it on purpose, Raven, but right now I need a bit of space."
"You are not sleeping in a library tonight!" Lexa could see that Wells was just as confused as she was, but she spoke up.
"Clarke can stay at my place tonight." Clarke latched onto the idea immediately and turned back to the bedroom, pulling Lexa with her again.
"I'll be back in the morning." They paused in the doorway as Clarke looked over her shoulder. "And Wells, you were always going to lose that bet." Lexa heard a weak chuckle as the door closed.
A few minutes gathering Clarke's things and an outdoor egress later, she and Clarke stood side by side brushing their teeth.
"Sorry you had to see that," Clarke muttered around the white froth in her mouth. Lexa spit before answering, thinking of the framing of her response.
"You do not need to apologize. I understand." Clarke tilted her head.
"You do?" Lexa rinsed her toothbrush and put it in the holder as she answered.
"My entire childhood was spent on Army bases, and my father was deployed on multiple occasions. I have encountered...much worse responses to someone being startled." Clarke was clearly surprised, and Lexa could practically see the questions forming in her mind. Lexa rarely talked about her background with anyone, but was unsurprised that it hadn't come up in her talks with Clarke thus far- she'd perfected vaguing her answers up and misdirecting whenever the topic strayed too close, and Clarke had tended to avoid talking about service in general.
Clarke didn't ask anything though, just put down her toothbrush and started washing her face. Lexa left her to it, heading out to set up bedding on the floor (she'd slept on Clarke's floor several more times since the night a few weeks before Thanksgiving). She was settling into the blankets when Clarke emerged from the bathroom and paused before slipping into the bed (she'd stopped protesting when Lexa took the floor). Lexa heard her rustling around getting comfortable before it was quiet.
"For the record," she offered, "I really enjoyed kissing you." There was a beat, but then Clarke agreed,
"I enjoyed it, too, Lex." Lexa smiled as warmth bloomed again in her heart. A few minutes passed before Clarke called out her name again.
"Yes, Clarke?"
"Can you come and just hold me until I go to sleep?" Lexa was up before Clarke finished her request, slipping under the covers (it was impractical of her not to slide under, really) and pulling Clarke to her. She felt Clarke go boneless against her shoulder and they both sighed. Lexa lay still, listening to Clarke's breathing become regular over time, and felt herself drifting off. Her last thought before she fell asleep was 'I should really move back to the floor.'
