Bellamy comes for a chat… that doesn't go as planned. Lexa vs Bellamy. Clarke makes a point.
"Bellamy," Clarke calls out surprised to see her friend.
Bellamy is about to take a step towards Clarke but stops remembering he is being observed. "Commander," he bends on one knee, head down but quickly reincorporates, waiting for Clarke's next instructions.
"Leave us," Clarke commands the guards.
They obey, leaving the premises and closing the doors.
With them gone, Clarke feels comfortable enough to approach Bellamy. "Hey," she greets with a smile.
"Hey," Bellamy opens his arms, enveloping Clarke in a tight hug.
"What are you doing here?" Clarke asks once they pull apart. "Is everything OK in Arkadia? Myrreh, the kids?" She stares at him genuinely concerned.
"They are all fine." Bellamy assures and continues. "I came early because I wanted to talk to you."
"Talk to me?" Clarke is curious now. "About what?"
"Um…" Bellamy looks behind them, eying the other woman in the room before requesting, "Can we talk in private."
Indra frowns jutting her chin, already defensive by Bellamy's affront.
Clarke's brows furrow confused; it takes her a second to figure out what Bellamy may want to discuss. "Oh," her lips purse as she turns around and walks to her throne.
The excitement the reunion had brought suffers a drastic twist, replacing it with emotional tension.
Slowly Clarke sits down, taking her time to arrange herself, assuming the commander's stance before she starts speaking. "Whatever you have to say to me, I will eventually be discussing it with my counselor anyways Bellamy, you may as well save me the time." She pronounces resolutely, sending a quick glance in Indra's direction for validation.
Indra glares at Bellamy with disdain, raising her brows in defiance.
"OK." Bellamy clears his throat pretending Indra's glower is not affecting him and proceeds with what he came to say. "So, I heard you have a girlfriend."
And it just happens to be exactly what Clarke thought.
"I'm guessing you're not here to congratulate me." Clarke states in an ironic manner.
Bellamy chuckles humorlessly. "Well I'm happy for you but, I'm also concerned; both me and your mother are."
"Oh, my mom of course." Clarke rolls her eyes at the expected conclusion. "I appreciate the gesture Bellamy but believe me when I say there's nothing to worry about; I can take care of myself." She tries not to sound too harsh or to lose her patience.
"I'm sure," Bellamy insists. "But perhaps there are some details that you may be omitting, cause you know the relationship is new and you're probably… distracted."
Indra rolls her eyes at Bellamy's nosiness which she finds annoying and intrusive. It's beyond her why Clarke puts up with his impudence. She wants so badly to take her sword out and aim the point of the blade at his neck; but knows it's not her place; she is sure Clarke can deal with him without the intervention of anyone.
"Details I may be omitting?" Clarke repeats hardening her face, little by little her temper catching up. "Not that any of this is your concern but I know everything I need to know about her, and that's frankly quite enough for me."
"Clarke," Bellamy protests. "You have to admit it has been too fast; many things have happened in a short period of time!"
"Oh yeah?" Clarke's jaw clenches but she still manages to not lose her temper. "And how do you know about these "things" that happened huh?" She interrogates him with a pointed look.
The question takes Bellamy aback and it shows. "Uh I… I heard it from people, you know? They gossip and one can't help but overhear it," he justifies lamely.
"You heard?" Clarke glares at him, "or is it that you were informed?" She accuses.
Bellamy opens his mouth to speak but Clarke won't let him.
"Do you think I'm stupid enough to not know that you have informants here in Polis? Did you believe you could fool me?" Truth be told she didn't really mind his intrusion because she knew his intentions were honorable but as much as she cared for him and let him off the hook many times, her limit stops right where her relationship starts. Clarke will never tolerate anyone messing around with Lexa and her relationship and intents to make it abundantly clear.
"I…" he is speechless for a moment but he reboots seconds later. "I did it only to protect you."
"I don't need your protection Bellamy!" Clarke retorts huffing to calm herself down. "I just need you to be a good friend, be happy for me and leave me to take care of my own life!"
"I care about you Clarke and I can't just watch someone taking advantage of you!" Bellamy stubbornly rebuts.
"Taking…" Clarke shakes her head bewildered. "What the fuck are you even talking about?"
"Presh keryon", Indra mutters under her breath feeling like she is on a live version of what Octavia and Raven love to watch on the screen monitors when they are together, 'was it a soap opera?' She briefly recalls but then focuses her attention back to the drama Bellamy has brought them.
"I'm talking about her background Clarke! I mean what did she do before you two met, with whom has she been in contact with? Who have been her mentors?" Bellamy explains like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "Have you run an investigation on her previous whereabouts? C'mon Clarke; do you even know what this girl really wants?!"
Clarke had refrained from making a sarcastic comment in front of her mother out of respect the last time she visited but she sure as hell is not going to give the same courtesy to Bellamy. "What she wants Bellamy, I give it to her every night and some mornings too if there's still time; thank you for asking."
Indra has to make a conscious effort to contain her laughter at the expression the Sky man is sporting.
After closing his mouth, coming out of his momentary shock, Bellamy counteracts. "I'm serious Clarke, she came out of the blue; you don't know anything about this girl." He gets closer to Clarke, to try to convince her, "you're putting at risk your position, maybe your own life!"
"Oh my God…" Clarke runs a hand thorough her hair, tired of the nonsense. "I can't do this right now; I've got things to do."
"Clarke, listen…" Bellamy pressures. "You're smarter than this; you can't blind yourself to just coincidences."
"Bellamy…" Clarke warns, knowing exactly where he is going "seriously just…"
"She's not Lexa?!"
Clarke has finally had enough.
"Stop Bellamy just stop!" Clarke abruptly rises; not being able to take her friend's intrusion in her private life anymore. "I didn't ask for your opinion, I don't need your permission; this is none of your business, just leave me the fuck alone!"
"But Clarke." Bellamy moves forward, ready to climb the few steps that lead to the throne.
"Don't!" Indra orders, pointing at Bellamy menacingly.
Bellamy freezes in position knowing not to mess with the woman. But just a couple seconds later and focusing back on Clarke he continues speaking. "Clarke…"
"That's enough Bellamy."
A voice calls from the door, causing the three of them to look back.
"You heard the commander, you have to go." Octavia states firmly advancing toward her brother.
Bellamy's first instinct is to embrace his sister but as enthusiastic as he is feeling upon seeing Octavia, he realizes it is not a good time for salutations. Instead he gets back to the discussion. "Stay out of this Octavia."
Octavia flares up at the way her brother is dismissing her. "Hey," she punches Bellamy's shoulder to get his full attention and in a more commanding tone she instructs, "I'm your fucking General and I'm warning you, leave Wanheda alone."
Bellamy huffs at Octavia's hostility. "Don't give me that bullshit."
That's all the excuse Octavia needs to set aside the blood ties she has with the man and in its place unleashes the severity of the General of the Commander's Army. She swiftly takes out her sword from the sheath and points the tip of the blade onto Bellamy's neck, enunciating slowly "I said; leave… Wanheda… alone."
The sting of the blade causes Bellamy to let out a short hiss of pain as he backs away. His hand reaches for his neck out of shock; and when he looks down at his palm his shock morphs into a mix of dread and anger at the blood he finds there.
Indra's chest soars with pride at Octavia's display of dexterity and determination. She feels pleased that her knowledge and skills have fallen into good hands.
Clarke only observes in silence the whole exchange; allowing Octavia to do her job.
If he had something to say; Bellamy opts to abstain from doing so, swallowing the words with bitterness. He stares at Octavia straight into her eyes, noticing the woman in front of him is not his sister but the highest authority of defense in the whole nation. With nothing else to do, Bellamy chances a glance at Clarke and then walks away from the throne room.
…
After Esiry –who had been training with Lexa - parted to do some errands, Lexa continued practicing by herself. Minutes later and despite being focused on the task at hand she sensed someone was observing her. Lexa spins around, sword in hand; only to find the least person she imaged to encounter on the training field.
"There she is; the new Lexa," Bellamy sarcastically remarks as he approaches the girl. He stands a couple of meters away from her, observing her with arms crossed, studying her.
Lexa's jaw twists at the vision of the man she has always disliked. She puts her sword down but doesn't put it away; never one to trust Bellamy, always keeping an eye on him.
"I don't know what people are talking about" Bellamy finally adds, "You look nothing like her," he judges in all seriousness.
Lexa rolls her eyes, not expecting much from him. As he continues to watch her, she becomes annoyed "what do you want, Bellamy of the Sky people?" Lexa doesn't bother to hide the disdain from her tone.
The fact Lexa knows about him doesn't surprise Bellamy in the least nor does he take it as proof she is actually Lexa; he imagines she learned about him in school, along with all the events that transpired since they arrived on earth. So he answers the question objectively. "I heard so much about you; I just wanted to meet you."
"Meet me?" Lexa sinks her sword into the ground, staring right in Bellamy face "or spy on me?"
Since his intentions evidently are out in the open, Bellamy comes clean. "I'm here to protect the best interest of my friend."
Lexa scoffs "please, you're here because as usual you don't trust Clarke's judgment; you've always thought you knew better than her, you arrogant Sky man." She accuses with a sour expression, her chest puffing.
"Are you gonna challenge me?" Bellamy taunts with half smile on his lips.
Even if she had tried, the snort escaped Lexa without even thinking. "Oh no, no never; I like a good fight this would be too easy." She looks at Bellamy up and down. "Besides I could never have you as a rival, I'm sure Clarke never even considered you as a choice of a partner. Not in life and not in her bed."
"Oh that's where you are wrong kid." Bellamy sports a smug little smirk at the chance to come back. "I've been in her bed alright… plenty of times as a matter of fact."
And with that statement, Lexa loses it. "argh nomonjoka!" She pulls her sword out of the ground and launches toward the man.
Bellamy barely has time to react and duck the blow.
"Fight me branwoda!" Lexa demands, striking Bellamy with ire.
"I'm not… gonna … fight you." Bellamy replies as he steps back and dodges the swings directed at him.
"Why? You scared?" Lexa gibes putting a momentary stop to her attack, to try and provoke Bellamy. "Or is it that you only feel brave when you have a gun, and shoot it into a group of sleeping people?"
That definitely gets a reaction from Bellamy.
"You know nothing about me little girl!" Bellamy's face shows traces of anger and guilt.
But Lexa doesn't stop there. "I know enough to understand how less of a man you are. Following another idiot like sheep to commit atrocities on defenseless people, on sleeping people like a coward; people that were there to protect you!"
The words hit Bellamy hard. "Shut the fuck up!" He exclaims among gritted teeth while taking his sword out.
Lexa welcomes the defiance with a sardonic smile. "Why don't you make me, sissy Sky man?"
Bellamy wastes no time in sending a blow toward Lexa, who deflects it with little effort. Soon enough and after just a couple of more strikes, Bellamy realizes Lexa is more skilled than he previously thought.
Lexa's assaults come one after another, occasionally scratching skin, forcing Bellamy backwards.
He has no other choice than to put more effort into his own attack, reaching a point where he actually succeeds in hurting Lexa's hand and in that moment he lifts his sword with force to strike hard. But in the blink of an eye, his sword is knocked out of his hands.
"You're screwed." Octavia- now right behind him- states, shaking her head and putting her sword back into its scabbard.
"What?" Bellamy questions with animosity realizing his sister is the one who interrupted the encounter. "You scared I hurt your little apprentice?"
Octavia has to laugh at that. "You wish," she stands by Lexa's side. "I just don't want my little niece and nephew to be orphans; they're still too young."
Lexa stands proud, sending a condescending glare at Bellamy; who in turn sends a death glare to Octavia.
"But well who cares, you're screwed anyway," Octavia shrugs disapprovingly. And just as if she had predicted a bad omen, Clarke strides toward them.
"What the fuck is this?!" Clarke yells, demanding an explanation from Bellamy. She briefly turns toward Lexa in a silent apology and then continues her rant. "You have no business with my girlfriend Bellamy, are you insane?! Is it fucking genetic?"
Octavia gives a long exasperated sigh knowing the last sentence is meant to include her.
"I was just …" Bellamy attempts to explain but is cut off by a fed up Clarke.
"You know what? I don't wanna hear it. You crossed a line here Bellamy; no one messes with my girlfriend, no one messes with my relationship, do you hear me?" Clarke points at him, declaring. "From now on, you will only enter Polis with my consent and always guarded by soldiers of the army."
"You're not serious…" Bellamy expresses in disbelief.
"Of fucking course." Octavia rolls her eyes irritated. "I get kicked out of Polis, relieved of my duties for a month and deprived of my General's sword but he just gets a scolding and two guards to watch over him … awesome."
Lexa's brows furrow, analyzing what Octavia is saying.
"Octavia, you almost killed her!" Clarke justifies.
"I was not going to do that!" Octavia defends herself but soon gives up "whatever, you've always had a soft spot for Bellamy."
The last sentence doesn't sound good in Lexa's ears.
"For Christ sake Octavia, you are a warrior; but Bellamy…" Clarke makes a gesture with her hand, "he would be the one in danger here."
"Hey!" Bellamy protests offended.
"So you are protecting him!" Lexa accuses, jealous of how caring Clarke seems to be for the man.
"That's not… Oh my God!" Clarke pinches the bridge of her nose; feeling things are getting ridiculously out of hand.
The lack of response from her girlfriend only makes Lexa feel even angrier, but she refuses to make a scene in front of her. "I… I better go." She opts to leave the training area in peace.
"Lexa, wait!" Clarke's call falls on deaf ears as Lexa stomps away from the training area. Watching helplessly the retreating figure of her girl, she now requests her friend's attention, "Octavia."
The General waits for the command, assuming automatically her authoritative posture.
"You know what to do." Saying that Clarke storms off the field, not bothering to spare Bellamy a glance.
Bellamy refrains from stopping Clarke, sure if he does, he will only be digging his own grave.
Both siblings observe silently as Clarke disappears from their view.
That is of course until Octavia can't help to point out. "Told ya, you're screwed."
…
Late that night; unable to sleep, Lexa sits up in her bed deep in thought. She can't understand why she is so upset by what Bellamy told her. 'What if they slept together? It happened a long time ago, it shouldn't bother me like this, I shouldn't care; ugh' she groans powerlessly. Truth be told, she has always been resentful of the fact that Clarke seems to care about him more than anybody else –even in her previous life. The idea of them being intimate, of Clarke in the arms of that man infuriates Lexa to no end, more than imagining Clarke with any other girl. Lexa just can't understand why Bellamy is so important in Clarke's life, why she – as Octavia pointed out- has such a soft spot for him; especially knowing the horrible things he has done to her people. She keeps going around the same issue in her head for a while until she hears a knock on the door.
"Lexa, can I come in?" Clarke's hushed voice comes through from behind the door.
Lexa exhales loudly. She was aware Clarke would want to talk to her about the incident but she didn't imagine it would be this soon. "Yes," she calls with resignation.
Clarke makes her way inside slowly, stepping closer to the bed but not imposing her presence; waiting for Lexa to give her some sort of acknowledgment, when she gets it she starts. "I'm sorry about what happened there, he had no right to…"
"Now you're going to apologize for him too?" Lexa spats before she can stop herself.
The hostile response causes Clarke to wince, regretting her choice of words. "No of course not, I just think it was my fault, I should have prevented it, I don't know; have him followed or something."
In her defense, Clarke seems genuinely sorry, not in search of excusing her friend, Lexa can tell; but still there is a nagging sensation in her heart. And apparently it is evident.
"Lexa talk to me, what's wrong." Clarke can see there is more than Bellamy's impertinence bothering her girlfriend.
Lexa looks to the side, avoiding Clarke's gaze.
"Hey! We promised to be honest with each other; to say what's on our minds?" Clarke reminds her.
That is an argument Lexa can't argue with. "I just…" She hesitates not sure if she should bring up the topic right now; finally she decides to go for it. "I want to know what you saw in him?"
"huh?"
"I'm talking about you and him…"
"What about me and him? What do you mean?" Clarke is truly confused.
With a sigh of annoyance at the necessity to actually say it word by word, Lexa continues. "He told me you and him had slept together… plenty of times." She ends the sentence with bile in her throat.
"He did what?!" Clarke exclaims incredulously. She then turns around running a hand through her hair. "Jesus that asshole," she mutters under her breath.
"So it's true huh? Lexa concludes with shoulders sunk at Clarke's silence.
"hmm?" Clarke shakes her head to get rid of the images of her murdering Bellamy in different ways. "You wanna know if I slept with him?" She questions, and when she receives a reluctant nod Clarke clears her throat and replies "well, yes I have."
Lexa is not sure if it is the way Clarke chose to answer or if it is the answer per se but she can feel her blood boiling inside of her veins; she can't stand it, actually she doesn't want to. "Could you please leave me alone? I don't feel like talking with you anymore." She tries to sound respectful but firm. She is so into her own sulking that she misses Clarke's little smirk.
It is quite a surprise, but Clarke never imagined she would enjoy seeing Lexa this jealous. She knows it's kinda cruel, especially if Bellamy is the one involved of all the people, but man! It is so satisfying. Either way she doesn't allow herself to enjoy it more than she should - and before Lexa kicks her out- Clarke adds. "We've slept together, as in the verb sleep, Lexa!"
Lexa's head snaps up at the comment, hearing clearly but the jealousy not allowing her to understand it fully.
Now that she has Lexa's full attention, Clarke elaborates. "During those years of war we would end up in the most unexpected circumstances and places. Sometimes awake for days, and others with barely time to close an eye; and well usually the accommodations weren't exactly the most appropriate or the weather not the most clement so, we would be forced to share a bed," she shrugs dismissively.
"But…"
"But I assure you," Clarke cuts Lexa off before she can make any assumption, "nothing ever happened between us. I have never seen him as a man; he is like a brother to me and nothing more," she asserts.
It is a very compelling explanation, Lexa knows it makes sense; but she just needs to get something off her chest. "I don't understand"
Clarke lifts a brow, to prompt Lexa to continue.
"Why is he so important to you after all he has done to my people… to you; I … I don't get it?"
"Oh." Clarke considers for a second or two, choosing her words carefully before replying. "We were so young when everything happened, I needed someone to rely on; we suddenly became leaders… we've gone through a lot together." She loses herself in her own memories as she speaks. "I know it may sound as if I'm justifying his actions but I understand why he did certain things. We were lost back then; not even knowing what was right or wrong at some moments, crossing so many lines; we needed desperately to hold on to something, we needed guidance, but there wasn't any," Clarke swallows her own regrets. "We had to move with what we had, follow our instincts and hope we were doing the right thing. So yeah, I get it."
"And you forgave him that easily? You're willing to forget all his transgressions just like that?"
"No," Clarke states confidently. "Because I know that behind the joy of living in peace, behind his family and new life... he is still haunted by his actions. I don't need to punish him every single day for his wrong doings, I don't need to remind him of the innocent people he killed; his conscious takes care of that just fine; and that will follow him forever." She ends with a blank stare, putting her arms around herself; keeping to herself the "like it does with all of us."
Still not convinced but completely able to relate; Lexa decides to put the topic to rest. She stands up, and does what her heart is telling her to do: comfort her woman.
They embrace in the quietness of the room for a long while; each of them with their own ghosts haunting them.
"We are here now." Lexa murmurs some minutes later. "If you survived the worst this world threw at you and I came back from the dead; I think shushing our demons can't be that hard."
Clarke gives a bittersweet smile at the irony. "We can try" she whispers back, clutching onto Lexa tightly. And at that moment, in the arms of her love; where only the two of them exist she really believes they can do anything.
…
With a peck goodnight the evening ended for the both of them; but Clarke had other things in store for someone else.
…
Bellamy's door slams against the wall startling him awake. Even in his groggy state he is pretty sure who the person is that barged into the room that way.
"Stand up!" Clarke orders once she is inside.
"What now?" Bellamy rubs the sleep from his eyes as he rises from the bed. "I already feel like a prisoner here."
Clarke completely disregards what he just said and comes straight to the point. "Why the fuck did you say something like that to her?!"
"Oh that," Bellamy chuckles. "Well, it is the truth, right? I mean I've been in your bed many times; she didn't really ask me to specify in what sense" he shrugs; sarcasm in his tone.
The answer is not at all satisfactory to Clarke. "What were you trying to achieve; hmm? Aggravate her? Hurt her?"
"I don't know, but it worked."
The smug attitude he is displaying only works to unnerve Clarke; she wants nothing more than to wallop the damn smirk off his face. "Idiot," she mutters and strides towards Bellamy.
The man is caught off guard by Clarke's sudden proximity, forcing him to take a step back.
"Listen to me you asshole;" Clarke fixes her eyes on Bellamy, intimidatingly so. "If you ever dare put a finger on her again, if you as much as breath in her direction, I swear on my father's memory that I will personally take care of you myself." And just like she did with Octavia, her hand moves close to her gun in a very obvious demonstration of what she is referring to.
But Clarke hasn't anything to worry about as Bellamy gets the message loud and clear. He involuntarily gulps, seeing in Clarke's eyes that the threat is as real as the air they breathe.
"Have I made myself clear?" Clarke asks in her characteristic raspy voice, one she reserves for insolent subjects.
At the expectant glower he is getting, Bellamy complies clearing his throat "yes; very clear."
"Good." With that Clarke, in a subconscious way to establish her authority, shoves Bellamy away.
Bellamy falls back on the bed, stunned and a bit frighten; having never seen this side of his friend before.
Clarke storms out of the room, hoping he has learned his lesson: No one messes around with her or Lexa. She will protect her relationship at all cost, even if she has to go against her own grain.