Chapter Five: No Place Like It
Abby had given the go ahead for Lexa to leave the medical tent by sundown. Clarke was relieved when her Mother had assured her that Lexa had no lasting injuries, bar the burns on her hand. Clarke knew that their time together would inevitably have scares. But for something so unexpected to put Lexa's life in danger, Clarke felt as if she herself had been knocked flat. It was one thing if they ever went to war again. Then Clarke would know that danger was unavoidable. She would be able to steel herself as much as she could and prepare in case the worst should happen. But what had happened today had left no time for preparation and the intensity of her feelings for Lexa, the dread that she could have lost her, had hit Clarke full force.
Clarke glanced over at Lexa as they walked from the medical tent. Aldrin was a few paces behind as always. Clarke felt like she was unable to keep her eyes off of her lover, like she had to make sure that Lexa was still there beside her. Lexa must have felt Clarke's gaze because she also turned her head.
"I'm fine, Clarke. Really," Lexa stated and Clarke knew for sure that her worry was plain to see.
"But are you sure you're up for company tonight? We can always ask to do something tomorrow, I'm sure everyone will understand," Clarke fussed. Even though she did want to spend time with her friends now that the opportunity had presented itself, Clarke would still sacrifice that for another night if needed.
"Clarke," Lexa said evenly. It was the tone she used when she was about to impart wisdom. Not even an electric shock could keep Lexa from her lectures it seemed.
Clarke smiled to herself, she enjoyed them really, more than she would ever admit. Lexa's words were sincere and truthful and Clarke knew that Lexa did it out of concern for her wellbeing. Out of love. She waited to hear what Lexa had to say,
"The offer might not stand tomorrow. I know you are concerned for me. But we cannot let this opportunity pass. It's what we've been waiting for. It's what you want."
Lexa discussed the imminent get together like it was another negotiation. Clarke supposed it was in a sense. And she knew that Lexa was right. Monroe had made the suggestion following Lexa's brave actions. But if they gave Clarke's friends another night, the gratitude that Lexa had earned herself could easily fade away. Besides that, Clarke did want to be with her people and at the moment, that didn't mean choosing between them and Lexa. It was exactly what Clarke had wanted. Even when Lexa had previously been adamant that she should separate herself for the sake of being able to reach out to her friends.
"Alright. Come on then, I think I know where everyone will be."
Clarke lead Lexa and Aldrin around to the other side of the Ark ruin where there was a small area that remained pretty isolated from the rest of the Camp. As she suspected, a group of people were already sitting on the ground around a small campfire. The sounds of chatter and laughter grew louder as they approached. It seemed as though there'd already been a fair amount of alcohol consumption.
Lexa paused and turned to Aldrin, "Aldrin, you are excused for the evening."
"As you wish Commander, I will be in my tent if I am needed," he said and left them. Clarke knew that it was a risk for Lexa to be without her bodyguard but it would also seem rather formal to have him present. On top of that, what had happened with Gustus would only make her friends even more suspicious of anyone tasked with protecting the Commander at all costs.
Clarke scanned the scene to see who was there; Bellamy, Raven, Monty, Monroe, Harper, and surprisingly, Octavia and Lincoln, were all sat around the fire. Monty was prodding at the kindling with a stick, coaxing the flames. He stopped when he spotted Clarke and Lexa's approach and jumped to his feet. A few of the others also stood up after Monty.
"Hey!" he said and he came forward and enveloped Clarke in a hug. Clarke hugged him back tightly,
"Monty! It's so good to see you," she said into his shoulder,
Next Raven came forward and hugged her, "How's it going, grounder queen?" she said. As she stepped out of the hug, Raven lifted a hand to take Clarke's braid, the one with Lexa's favour plaited into it. She raised the braid above Clarke's head and then let it go so that it dropped back into place. Clarke sniggered and rolled her eyes and was about to say something back. Before she could she was crushed into a hug by Bellamy,
"Sorry for being an ass yesterday," he whispered to her, "I should have made more of an effort. We all should of."
Clarke smiled and hugged her friend back tight, "Well you are now, yeah? But thanks." Clarke accepted his apology but did not for a second want him or the others to think that their behaviour since she arrived hadn't hurt. She certainly hadn't wanted or expected any sort of heroes welcome when she came back, but she had been gone a whole year. Some acknowledgement of that, some sign that they were glad to see she was alive and well would have been nice. Better late than never though, she thought.
She stepped out of the hug and smiled as her other friends came forward to pat her on the arm or give her a quick hug of their own. The only people that did not come to greet her and remained sat next to the fire throughout were Octavia and Lincoln. Octavia would not even look in their direction but Clarke did see Lincoln offer a smile from where he sat. Once the greetings had finished everyone turned their attention towards Lexa, who had been standing next to Clarke silently.
"So." Clarke said and then she motioned towards Lexa, "I think everyone knows who you are…" Clarke said it in a light tone and they all shared a laugh, "Oh, except for Monty."
Monty gave a wave in Lexa's direction and Lexa nodded back. Then Lexa looked towards Harper, "Harper? Are you well?"
Harper regarded Lexa a moment, "Calmer now," she held up her drink to make a point, "Thank you. You didn't have to put yourself in danger like that."
"I did," Lexa stated. Clarke could tell that the Commander was well outside of her comfort zone. She wondered when Lexa had last had the opportunity to just sit and drink with people her own age. Had she ever done anything like it before?
"Why don't you get yourselves comfy? I will go fetch you both some moonshine. My own recipe." Monty said and he took off in the direction of the bar.
Clarke approached the campfire and waited as everyone retook their own places around the crackling fire. Then she sat down next to Raven and patted the ground next to her, telling Lexa that she should sit too. Lexa seemed to hesitate for a second before she sat down, crossing her legs and holding her good hand up to the fire to warm it. Clarke leaned herself back against the metal hull of the Ark and looked across the flames to the other couple present. She took note of the way that Octavia rested against Lincoln's side. They were so confident to be seen together.
Despite Octavia's coldness towards her, it made Clarke happy to see Octavia like that, with Lincoln and her brother at her side. It also gave her hope. Octavia had been the first of them to grow close to a grounder. Her relationship with Lincoln had been frowned upon, taunted, even feared at first and yet here they were now. But the sight also instilled a sense of something else in Clarke. Not competition exactly, but a need to challenge everyone. If they could be so calm about Octavia dating an 'outsider' then they could afford her the same respect. Clarke reached out and took the hand that Lexa had been holding up to the fire and pulled it into her lap, clasping it with both of her hands.
Lexa turned towards her, a look of surprise on her face followed by a grin. Lexa laced their fingers together and seemed content to stay like that. Then Clarke felt a light punch to her shoulder and she turned to Raven,
"So you two have been shacking up this whole time, huh?" Raven asked and Clarke could tell that Raven was already starting to feel the effects of her own moonshine,
"Yeah. I've been living in Polis, the Trigeda capital. I've been working as a healer there,"
That earned her a few positive murmurs from the group,
"That's pretty awesome," Monroe said to her, "Lincoln has shown us loads of tricks. The tree people really know their stuff."
"They do. I've learned a lot," Clarke confirmed and then she looked at Lincoln again, "It's good to see you Lincoln. I'm glad you've made a home here,"
Lincoln stared at her and then his eyes darted towards his old Commander. Clarke thought she knew what he was thinking, that he'd had little choice but to stay at Camp Jaha after being exiled. "It's good to see you too, Clarke," was all the reply she got.
Luckily Monty returned carrying drinks before the tension in the group could grow. He offered one cup to Lexa, who took it with her bandaged free hand, and the other to Clarke. Clarke sniffed at the moonshine and wrinkled her nose, it smelled as potent as ever. She went to take a sip but was interrupted as a cheer went up. Everyone was looking towards Lexa and when Clarke turned her head to find out why, she found that Lexa had downed her own moonshine in one long gulp. Clarke raised her eyebrows and thought that she probably should have warned Lexa to sip the stuff. But it was too late now. Lexa turned to her with a look of disgust and Clarke laughed,
"You drink this by choice?" Lexa asked and then she looked at Lincoln, "You could have taught them how to make berry wine."
Lincoln actually smiled at Lexa and let out a small laugh, "You're supposed to sip, Commander. But I'll make it my next priority."
"Seconded!" Raven said before she too downed what was left of her beverage with a grimace, "Now who wants to get me a refill?"
Bellamy reached for the empty cup and got up off the floor, "Want another?" he asked Lexa.
Lexa shrugged, "Sure,"
"Awesome. I can't wait to see what Commander Lexa is like when she's drunk," Monroe laughed,
"That's true!" Clarke was shocked when she realised she'd never seen her own partner inebriated. "Even I haven't seen you drunk, babe." Clarke used the pet name as another test and she was pleased when it received no raised eyebrows, not even from Lexa herself.
"Place your bets!" Monty piped up, "I vote sleepy drunk."
"What are we betting?" Harper asked him,
"The satisfaction of being right," Monty replied.
"Fair. I'm going to go out there and say talkative drunk," Harper decided,
Clarke waited for the next guess, it came from Raven;
"Over-sharer."
Then Monroe; "Clingy drunk!"
Bellamy returned then and passed Lexa her new drink, "What are you all up to?"
"Placing bets on what sort of drunk the Commander is!" Monty gleefully explained,
"Alright. Octavia what have you bet?"
"Haven't yet. Hoping for a good old guilty drunk though." Clarke winced at the hostility in Octavia's voice. She watched as Lincoln wrapped an arm around her and squeezed.
Bellamy sat back down and considered, "Hell, I don't know...giggly drunk."
Lexa scoffed at that suggestion, although she'd diligently remained silent before hand. "What about you, Clarke?" Lexa asked her.
Clarke had to think about it. Of all the suggestions so far, she was most inclined to agree with Monroe, since she knew already that Lexa was a surprisingly affectionate person. Maybe the drink would make her comfortable enough to show that side to others. But then again Lexa was still a very closed off person when she wasn't alone with Clarke. "You're going to be the drunk that denies that you are drunk."
"Okay, cool!" Monty said,
"Wait! Lincoln hasn't guessed!" Octavia said. She patted him on the knee and then took a healthy gulp of moonshine.
"I'll abstain,"
"Why? Do you know? Have you seen drunk Lexa?" Raven asked. Everyone listened intently,
"Once. It was a long time ago and things might have changed. But I still have an unfair advantage."
Clarke made a note to ask Lexa about when Lincoln had seen her drunk.
"Alright. Now everybody better remember what they guessed, because I won't be able to after another few of these." Monty closed the bets and took a swig.
Clarke turned to look at Lexa again and found that she was staring intently at her cup. She was still worried that this get together was expecting too much of Lexa, that she'd find it difficult to be in such a casual surrounding. Clarke squeezed the hand that she still held in her lap and Lexa looked up from her cup and towards Clarke,
"You with us?" she asked softly.
Lexa nodded, "Yes." Then she looked around at the others, "Forgive me. It has been a long time since I've found myself in a situation like this. I appreciate the invitation. But I'm at a bit of a loss,"
"Hey, you know what Jasper and I always used to do back on the Ark when we were drinking with someone new?" Monty asked,
Clarke suddenly became aware of Jasper's absence. She wanted to ask where he was, how he was. It occurred to her that she hadn't seen him around the camp since she arrived. But she thought she might not like the answer and she didn't want to make the atmosphere any more awkward so she just asked, "What?"
"Truth or dare." Monty stated proudly.
"Yes!" Monroe piped up her approval.
Clarke nearly laughed at them. In that moment she was reminded of how young some of her friends still were, of how young she was. But she didn't feel anything like a teenager anymore. Especially after a year of living with Lexa and working in Polis. She felt like an older sibling that had returned to her family home after having moved away. Of course that wasn't possible to do on the Ark. At best you might get assigned sleeping quarters on a different deck to your parents once you had a partner. But it's how Clarke imagined that situation would feel. Camp Jaha was familiar and, now that she'd finally been welcomed, she felt safe and settled to be around her friends again. But it didn't feel like home anymore, she didn't feel like she really belonged. At some point in her year away, Polis had become what she thought of as home.
"I do not know what that is." Lexa spoke and shook Clarke from her thoughts. Clarke regarded her with a smile,
"It's a silly game to play whilst drinking. We go around in a circle and you have to choose whether to answer a question truthfully or complete a dare. If you pass, or refuse you have to do a forfeit- namely drink. But if you answer or do the dare then you should also drink in celebration."
Lexa raised an eyebrow, "Sky people have strange customs."
"But are you in?" Clarke asked and Lexa gave a sigh and nodded. "Great. Let me fetch some pitchers of moonshine so that we don't have to keep getting up during the game and then we can start." Clarke picked herself up off the ground.
"Huh. Why didn't we think to do that in the first place?" Harper asked,
Bellamy gave a snigger, "Common-sense-Clarke makes her grand return! Yeah, you've been missed, Clarke."
Clarke smiled at Bellamy and shrugged. She walked over to the bar and located two empty jugs. She took them over to the barrel of moonshine- Monty had been productive it seemed- and filled them both up. She was about to carry them back when Raven appeared next to her.
"Hey, can we talk?" Raven asked as she leaned against the bar and leaned down to readjust her leg brace.
"Sure," Clarke replied, though she felt her stomach drop in anticipation.
Raven took a moment to think about what to say. In that time she studied Clarke, "So you really look like a grounder now,"
Clarke smirked, "Well, I didn't want to stay in that old jacket much longer-"
"Don't you think it's all a bit quick?" Raven interrupted her.
Clarke raised her eyebrows at that and waited for Raven to continue. She obviously wasn't finished making her point,
"I mean yeah, it's been a year now, but even before that I guessed something was up between you and Lexa. And, it kinda hurt, you know? Because you are the person that the love of my life chose over me. So seeing you move on so quickly, never seeing you mourn, sucks. It makes me feel like he chose someone who didn't even love him back in the end."
Clarke frowned, "Didn't you and Wick end up sleeping together in less time?" she shot back. She didn't want an argument, but as ever Clarke found herself leaping to her own defense even before she'd considered what she was saying. Or how much trouble it could get her in.
Raven scoffed, "Yeah and it was a mistake because I wasn't ready. It never happened again. We're still just friends," she explained, "Not that you'd know that, being gone for a year."
"Yeah. Sorry, Raven. I shouldn't have jumped on that. And I understand how things must look for you. But I promise you that I did care a lot about Finn, and I could have loved him if you hadn't of arrived when you did. Or perhaps more honestly, I did love him even though I wished I didn't, because I saw how much it hurt you."
"But you didn't mourn him."
"I didn't mourn Wells either. I'd known Finn a few weeks. Wells and I were best friends since we were kids. But I didn't have time to mourn them, Raven. I wish I could of sooner, but I was busy keeping us safe and planning a war. This world doesn't play by fair rules. Things are so fleeting down here. I feel like if you blink you'll miss everything that makes life worth fighting for. So maybe I did move on quickly, but it's because I was scared of missing out on something that seemed so precious. And I have found the chance to grieve this past year. So has Lexa for that matter."
Clarke paused to consider how many details she could give about Lexa's own experiences. She thought back to their first months together, how they had moved slowly to allow themselves the chance to take stock of all that they had been through. For Clarke, that meant finding the chance to grieve over the loss of Finn and Wells. Living in Polis had granted her the opportunity to do that. And Lexa had finally allowed herself to mourn too with a little coaxing. For Gustus, for Anya, and for Costia. By burying her emotions, Lexa had prevented herself from getting real closure for over two years. But they helped each other however they could whilst they both went on these deeply personal journeys. They'd spend nights telling stories to each other about the people they'd lost; allow themselves to remember memories that had been too painful to face alone. Slowly, they had worked away at the burdens they both carried and emerged on the other side stronger and more ready to face whatever came next together. But of course, Raven knew none of that.
"I don't think anyone realises how much Lexa and I understand each other. Or how important that is," Clarke began, and now Raven listened intently. "She's barely out of her teens and yet she leads her people. She's lost most of the people she holds most dear. Her mentor. Her bodyguard and best friend. Even her first love. Same as me with my dad, Wells, and Finn. I think we both recognised these similarities early on. And yeah, things- feelings- developed from there. But I just wish people would give her a second chance. Because if they saw what I saw when I look at Lexa, they would think I'm the opposite of crazy for loving her." Clarke jumped slightly as she felt Raven's hand reach out and touch her own.
"You know, from what I've seen today, she kind of reminds me of Lincoln, I guess," Raven spoke softly.
Clarke nodded, "They are similar. They share the same vision, the same goals for their people. But as Commander, Lexa's hands are often tied where Lincoln's aren't. She can push against the more hostile traditions of the Trigeda, but only so far. But my goodness, she does push,"
"Guess we'd all of been dead long ago if she didn't, right?"
Clarke knew it was a rhetorical question and didn't respond.
"Ok, you've satisfied me for now." Raven said and she moved to give Clarke a quick hug. Clarke hugged back and almost let out a sigh of relief. "Shall we go play truth or dare and get your girlfriend royally pissed?"
"Oh yeah," Clarke replied with a grin.
Clarke had no idea how long they'd been going at the game of truth and dare, but she knew that everyone had consumed a great deal of alcohol, including herself. Her vision was beginning to swim a little and she struggled to concentrate as Monroe asked her,
"Clarke, truth or dare?"
"Truth," Clarke said.
"Okay, what's the craziest thing you've done whilst living in Polis?"
Clarke considered this. Most of the questions she'd been asked had centred around what she'd been up to the past year. She'd already divulged plenty of information about being a healer and about the Trigeda customs she had learned. Now she considered what Monroe was asking,
"Probably this," she said and she rolled up her left sleeve to reveal a tattoo on her arm. She'd gotten it to commemorate a successful operation a few months ago after she'd finally managed to make a blood transfusion work. Getting it had hurt like hell since the equipment used was rather rudimentary. The design covered the length of her upper arm and depicted a lined design that resembled both a hand and forearm reaching to the stars, and a tree. The hand and forearm formed the trunk and branches, whilst the pattern of stars looked like the canopy.
The tattoo garnered plenty of approval,
"Awesome. You're even more 'groundered' than O," Harper said,
"Yeah, I think we already established that one with the missile," Octavia sneered. She downed the rest of her drink and got up to fetch another, moving away silently. Clarke grit her teeth.
"Pfft, barely. It'll take some catching up to Lincoln or Lexa," she said.
"Okay, Lexa, I dare you to show us your tats!" Harper said.
Lexa grumbled, "I thought I was supposed to choose?"
"Fine truth or dare?" Harper asked,
"Truth," Lexa said, trying to avoid the dare.
"Okay. With examples, tell us how many tats you have?" Harper out-maneuvered her.
"Two." Lexa said,
"That's it?" Monroe sounded disappointed,
"No wait for it," said Clarke.
Lexa narrowed her eyes at Clarke for encouraging the others before she gave in with a sigh. Lexa took off her trench coat, Aldrin had diligently retrieved it from outside the camp after Lexa's accident. She pointed to her right arm, "One," she said. Then, with the difficulty of someone who was rather tipsy, she turned herself around so that her back was to the crowd. She lifted her vest up to reveal her ink-covered back. Although it was something she'd seen many times before, Clarke gulped at the sight. She enjoyed the way that the flickering orange glow of the fire highlighted Lexa's back muscles. There were audible gasps from the rest of the group,
"Whoah that's big," Harper said,
"Oh that's what she said!" Raven shouted with a grin and then, "So who wants to bet that Clarke could draw that with her eyes closed." Raven wiggled her eyebrows at Clarke and Clarke shook her head,
"She can." Lexa spoke as she maneuvered herself back around, "She has drawn several pictures of me, from memory." Lexa's speech was noticeably slurred, "Clarke is as talented as she is beautiful."
This unsuspected admonishment had Clarke spluttering on the drink she'd just had. But Lexa wasn't finished yet,
"It seems like everyday she surprises me. She is kind. Intelligent. Not a day goes by that I don't feel lucky that she fell from the sky into my forest." now Lexa turned towards Clarke with the most sincere smile on her face, "I'm awful with words. I don't tell you these things enough, Clarke."
Clarke had actually turned red. She knew that it was the drink that Lexa had consumed doing the talking but people did say that you are often most honest when drunk.
"Gross," came a voice from behind them. Clarke turned and saw that Octavia had returned with the refilled jug. Octavia sat back down next to Lincoln.
"Totally gross. But guess who just won the bet!" Harper pointed to herself, "Talkative drunk it is,"
"No way!" Raven argued, "That was clearly over-sharing. Watch." Raven fixed her gaze on Lexa, "Truth or dare?"
Clarke watched Lexa narrow her eyes at being asked twice in a row.
"Dare." Lexa said. The fact that she did not call out Raven's breaking of the rules was yet more proof that the alcohol was starting to have a serious effect on the Commander's behaviour. Clarke felt torn between not wanting to let Lexa embarrass herself and letting Lexa do this. With each moment, Lexa was surely seeming more and more human to her friends. Just another young adult who needed times like these to wind down and have fun.
"I dare you to…" Raven considered for a moment. "To give a practical demonstration of your favourite sexual position. With Clarke as your glamorous assistant,"
Bellamy gave a laugh and even Octavia, who had been whispering to Lincoln, stopped and paid attention.
Clarke turned to Lexa and shook her head, "Don't you dare."
It was too late and the drink had already done it's damage. Lexa scooted closer to the fire, giving herself room to lie back on the ground. She waited a moment for Clarke to move before she prompted, "Clarke? You have to sit on my face, Clarke."
The whole group exploded into raucous laughter, the loudest of which came from Raven and Octavia, whose mask of ire had finally slipped. Clarke wasn't laughing of course, she was mortified, but at least Octavia's tears of laughter were a sort of victory.
"Everything alright back here?" Abby startled everyone when she appeared by the campfire. Nobody had heard her approach. Clarke snapped her hand over Lexa's mouth before Lexa could cause any more embarrassment,
"We're fine Mom. Just having a laugh," Clarke said evenly.
Abby smiled, "Good. That's good. I'll leave you all to it then."
Clarke sighed in relief as her mother left them alone and looked down at Lexa with narrowed eyes. Lexa narrowed her eyes back and then began to laugh against Clarke's hand. Normally when Lexa laughed, it was a brief thing before she caught herself. But this was something else. Her whole body shook with it and her cheeks grew red. Lexa was having a giggle fit.
"Victory is mine!" Bellamy stated proudly, earning him a swat on the arm from Raven,
"Yeah, after a massive over-share by the way…" she argued.
Bellamy shrugged, "So that makes three of us winners."
"Or two. Once I've ended Raven for that dare," Clarke joked and Raven turned to her with a skeptical look,
"Clarke please. If I die everybody dies. Need I remind you all how many times I've saved your sweet butts?"
Monty nodded vigorously, "She has a point there."
Lexa's giggles died away and she sat back up and looked serious all of a sudden, "I have heard a lot about your talents Raven. Have you found out anything about the drone?"
Clarke furrowed her brow, surprised that Lexa was lucid enough to ask that sort of question. She briefly wondered if Lexa had only been acting drunk the whole time but that seemed like too much of a push given how inappropriate things had gotten. It just seemed as though no amount of drink would make Lexa forget her duties as Commander and her concern for the safety of others. Clarke gave Lexa's knee a squeeze.
"Not much." Raven answered. "It's solar powered. Really high tech stuff. But it's innards are pretty much fried so I doubt I'll be able to find out where it came from or who it belongs to. Scary though,"
The mood around the fire became quiet and somber.
"We'll deal with it right?" Clarke said to the group, "Whatever it is."
"I won't let any harm come to your people, Clarke," Lexa stated to her, "Or mine," she said and Clarke saw her look towards Lincoln.
Lincoln lifted his head.
"I thought he was exiled?" Octavia asked, venom returning to her voice,
"He is. He defied a direct order from his Commander and risked breaking the terms of the deal I had made. He could have put everyone in danger. It is a crime punishable by death had he not been freed from his tethers," Lexa paused for a moment. "But exile will suffice now. Indra was not punished for her actions, if you were worried."
Clarke could see the relief in Lincoln's face when Lexa said this.
"That was a risk, Commander," Lincoln said.
Lexa nodded, "I'm sorry that I cannot do more. We share the same goals for our people, Lincoln. I think you know that. But I have to consider our people's traditions and my own responsibilities as Commander. Know that it brings me great comfort to see you follow your heart," Lexa spoke. Clarke noted that Lexa's words mirrored what she herself had said to Raven earlier that night.
"Boom! Guilty drunk," Octavia exclaimed.
Lincoln looked at Clarke and then back to Lexa, "You too, Commander."
Truth or dare was turning into something of an emotional rollercoaster and Clarke felt her chest tighten at Lincoln's touching words. The next thing she knew she was being enveloped into a hug by Lexa, she had obviously been just as inspired by what Lincoln had said. The hug was awkward because of how they were sat, it was more like Lexa was leaning on her than anything else. Still Clarke returned the gesture the best she could. When it seemed like Lexa wasn't about to let go anytime soon she sighed; "Oh come here," she said.
She adjusted her position, sitting upright against the Ark's hull. She kept her legs apart so that Lexa could clamber over into the space between them and rest her head against Clarke's chest.
"More like boom! Clingy drunk…" Monroe announced victoriously, "Now can we all stop being serious and get back to more important things. Like drinking. And dares. I want a dare."
Raven was the one who spoke; "Fine. I dare you, Monroe, to ask H-"
The engineer was cut off however by a loud yawn emanating from Lexa. The Commander had her eyes closed and looked like she was about to fall asleep. Clarke rolled her eyes, "Lexa!" There was no response, "Lexa!" she said louder and now Lexa opened her eyes and grinned up at her. "I'm taking you to bed,"
The grin grew wider,
"To sleep,"
The grin disappeared.
Clarke began to get up, forcing Lexa to do the same or fall backwards. Once they were both stood up, Clarke wrapped an arm around Lexa's shoulders to prevent her from swaying too much.
"See you all in the morning?" Clarke said.
Bellamy sniggered, "Try the afternoon."
"Touché."
"This has been nice." Lexa said, sounding as tired as she looked. Then she pointed towards Monroe, "I dare you to ask Harper out on a date. That's what you people call doing activities with people you like, right?"
Even in the low light of the campfire, Clarke could see Monroe's ears turn pink as she blushed. With a roll of her eyes, Clarke turned away and began to walk, dragging Lexa with her before anymore damage could be done.
The pair staggered towards Lexa's tent and made their way inside. Clarke immediately guided Lexa towards the bed. She pulled back the covers with one hand and then deposited Lexa onto the mattress. She removed Lexa's boots and chucked them aside and then pulled the covers over Lexa. Lexa was surprisingly cooperative.
"I'm going to fetch water for the night," Clarke said,
"Thank you," Lexa mumbled.
"You are the most ridiculous drunk I've ever seen, you know."
There was a pause and Clarke thought that Lexa had already fallen asleep. She retrieved the water jug from the side table and went to leave the tent,
"I'm not drunk!" Lexa exclaimed matter-of-factly.
Clarke laughed and shook her head. She was a winner too tonight.