It didn't take long for everyone to settle into their new lives. Routines quickly formed as they started to build their new homes. Cabins would be built and styled to each person's will, and other community buildings are under development, but for the moment, everyone is sharing tents.
Obviously, those in their group who are in relationships share a tent while Raven is sharing with Echo and Gaia is sharing with her mother. It all made the most sense. Though Raven was a bit put out when she discovered that Clarke was sharing a tent with Niylah stalking away muttering about wanting to share with the princess leaving behind a very confused Niylah and groaning Clarke who then had to explain why everyone had started to recall her princess.
But they all agreed that the couple would share tents together. So, Clarke and Niylah thought it would be pretty obvious that they started sharing a tent again, given their past relationship and the literal fact that they weren't hiding getting back together after defeating the Primes.
Yet apparently that wasn't enough for people to get the message as they discovered when fishing with Raven one afternoon. The three of them were joking about the stories people were sharing around the campfire the previous night.
Octavia had brought up how awkward everyone felt at the dropship with the whole Clarke, Finn and Raven triangle going on at the time. With Miller throwing it that Finn didn't even try to hide it following Clarke around like a lost puppy while she was actively trying to avoid him.
Raven had stepped and defended her arguing it wasn't a triangle just Finn being in love with Clarke. While Clarke joked it really was a triangle because near the end she was the one flirting with Raven. The mechanic stared at her weirdly for a few moments before Clarke saw the lightbulb go on in her mind. "Oh my god, you were flirting with me when you said that."
That being that Clarke would have picked her over everyone.
Barely suppressing a laugh Clarke just tipped her head in a what can you do manner. "I was flirting with you for a about a week before that. But it's nice to see you've finally picked up on it."
Niylah had then piped in nudging Clarke's shoulder. "Your flirting has got better since then." That should have been a clear hint to everyone else but seemingly the comment went over everyone's head. As did Clarke blushing and resting her head on Niylah's shoulder.
Stabbing a fish with a pole Clarke thanks Raven for backing her up last night. The others can joke about the whole love triangle between her, Raven and Finn but Clarke is aware of how much the whole hurt Raven at the time. And although they still got past it the hurt is still there. "Don't worry." Raven brushes her off. "Us singles got to stick together surrounded by all these couples." The dark-haired woman jokes as she stabs at the water narrowly missing a fish.
Clarke and Niylah side eye each other at Raven's words. "What." Clarke eventually asks wondering if she just misheard Raven.
Raven just shrugs clambering out of the water. "You know, Jordan and Hope, Murphy and Emori, Octavia and Levitt, Miller and Jackson." Raven lists off all the couples in the camp apart from her and Niylah. "It's nice to not be the only person here not in a relationship. I'll tell you those six years on the ring where hell for that." Raven laughs at her own joke.
Again, Clarke and Niylah side eye each other without Raven noticing. "Us singles." Clarke repeats slowly and incredulity.
"Yep." Raven replies popping the p. "You, me, Niylah, Echo, Gaia and Indra. It's the single life for us it seems." She says with a small shrug but that happy go lucky smile she always wears.
Echo calls Raven over for help and the woman gives them a mock salute before leaving the dumbstruck couple behind. The two of them still trying to make sense of what just occurred. "They know right." Clarke states looking towards Niylah for confirmation. "They know we're back together right."
Niylah just as confused about this as her slowly nods. "They have to. We've haven't exactly been hiding it."
That is true. From the very start, they hadn't been subtle about their relationship. Back in Arkadia they also shared a room, openly held hands with each other and more often than not when neither of them were working or were hanging out with the others they were wrapped in an embrace with one of them resting their chin on the other's shoulder.
When the fire set Arkadia a blaze Niylah had been her first priority. She had shoved a coughing Skaikru member out of the way to get to Niylah quicker before throwing herself at her helping her to the ground and fretting over her. Niylah had pushed her to check on Octavia since the girl had just had major surgery and once, she made sure that O was ok she darted right back to Niylah's side refusing to be parted with her again until she had to leave to Becca's Island.
Which was a few days later. She was glued to Niylah's side during that time. Where one went the other went. Or more likely she clung to Niylah in fear and followed her everywhere she needed to go before dragging the Trikru woman with her when she needed to do something.
Though looking back at that now no one from this group was really around at that time. Raven, Miller, Jackson, Murphy and Emori were all at the Island while Octavia was confined to her medical bed while she healed.
It was really only Monty, Harper and Bellamy around at that time. And Bellamy had joked at this rate he would need to kidnap Niylah to allow her to breathe. A joke that made Niylah roll her eyes and pull her closer muttering she didn't mind.
Niylah had also joined them in the bunker and again shared Clarke's bed. Hell Niylah is still wearing her father's watch. Surely everyone at this point is aware of them.
Right...
Turns out no one knows.
Niylah at the fire pit that night during a game of ranking things asks everyone to rank the couples in the group. Gaining a bunch of ohhhs from the crowd. Going around the circle everyone listed the couples in their order of cuteness and not one person said her and Clarke.
They didn't either going last still reeling from the fact they were left out of the rankings and feeling since no one knew about them this wasn't really the time to reveal the secret. When they left to head back to their tent Clarke was the one to break the silence as they lay in the furs together. Clarke's fingers tracing Niylah's tattoo.
"Do you think they are messing with us." Clarke asks pausing in her actions. That is the only thing that really makes sense. The others are pulling a prank on them.
Niylah turns over to face her. "I don't know. Ai deimeika (my sun) it would be a strange prank."
"But kind of on point for our friends." The lighter blonde argues. "I mean... how could they not know." Clarke knows for a fact that Monty and Harper knew. She had made Monty promise to watch out for Niylah while she wasn't around in fear of something happening to her like it did Lincoln. Monty had agreed without hesitation and basically acted as Niylah's personal guard during her stay in Arkadia.
Bellamy knew and would also mock her for her blatant feelings for the grounder while trying to form a friendship with Niylah and mend the damage he helped caused in regards to her father's murder with Pike.
A friendship Clarke was unsure of as she quietly informed Niylah one night that she doesn't have to make nice with Bellamy for her sake. He and she would understand if Niylah needed some distance from him and she would make sure Bellamy left her alone if that was the case. But Niylah had told her that Bellamy was the other half to her leadership, and she needed him. She needed both of them to get everyone through this. That being around him sometimes was difficult, but she understood why he did what he did. She hated it but she understood. She just glad that it looks like they could be building towards a new future where everyone isn't always killing everyone.
"I don't mean this in a bad way." Niylah starts stroking Clarke's face earning a small smile as the younger woman's eyes flutter close at the loving gesture. "But how friends can be kind of oblivious sometimes."
Clicking her tongue she concedes to that point as well. "Do you think we should just... tell them." She asks with distaste. Not that is against the others knowing about her and Niylah. She has never cared for that for others being all knowing in her business. It's why the whole Finn situation really ticked her off. Everyone knew.
Everyone knew and everyone was constantly making comments about it or sending each other looks. She never wanted people to be gossiping about her like that.
She also doesn't know who one would address their relationship. Would they make an announcement, kiss in front of people and wait for their reactions, tell people one by one... what exactly would they do here.
"Do you know want to tell them." Niylah asks picking up on her discomfort.
Shifting her position from lying down to leaning on her hand to sit slightly above Niylah she tries her best to explain it. "I do want people to know. I'm not saying that I want to keep us a secret. You know I never wanted that or tried to do that. You were never something I felt like I had to hide. I just don't want to make such a big deal out of it. Especially when we have been clear with our care and affection towards each other." She slightly rambles in her effort to not offend Niylah.
"What if... what if we didn't tell them," Niylah asks after a moment of consideration.
Clarke feels her eyebrows scrunch together. "You don't want people to know about us."
Niylah moves to sit up properly and Clarke follows her up until she is still on her knees as well. "I'm saying we don't say anything. We just be us and see if anyone calls us out on it."
"We could be doing that until we die of old age with how unobservant our friends seem to be in regards to us."
Niylah rolls her eyes but the smile lining her face shows her true feelings. "It won't take them that long."
"We've together for months." Clarke deadpans.
"I reckon it will take them a week to figure it out." Niylah continues ignoring her last comment.
A week... if people haven't realised by now, she doubts another week of them acting the same wake people up. For bragging rights, she argues, "I reckon it will take a month." It will probably take longer but if after a month everyone is still unaware, she might just let it slip one night and get it over with. They can't go the rest of their lives walking around on eggshells around each other waiting for everyone to finally click.
Niylah's smile turns mischievous. A rare sight but one that never fails to swiftly amuse her. "Do you want to make a bet on that."
A bet. On how long it takes. She could see the fun in that. And she definitely has this in the bag anyways. "Sure. Why not. You bet less than a week I bet a month. Whoever is closest wins."
"Ok what do I win if I'm closest." Niylah asks coyly.
Ohhhh there's a prize up for grabs. Not just bragging rights. Now this just got interesting.
Clarke hums to herself trying to find of what she could give Niylah should her lover win. The first that comes to her mind on what she can give to Niylah is also a reward for her. "I'll do that thing with my tongue you like so much." Clarke offers smirking to herself thinking she's got the best deal here.
Except Niylah then laughs bursting that little bubble. "Seriously that's your offer. We both know you like doing that just much as I enjoy it. Like you weren't going to do that anyways." Niylah challenges and Clarke concedes to that. She would do that anyways... Anytime... definitely tonight if Niylah is up for it.
Rolling her eyes Clarke admits defeating. "Fine what do you want."
Niylah clicks her tongue as she thinks about it. "How about any duties I'm assigned that I don't want you'll have to do them."
"I can do that. And I win you have to do all my to my chores around the campfire." She supplies feeling somewhat proud at thinking of a decent prize. Only that pride lasts for all of two seconds as she watches the teasing grins slip off of Niylah's face followed by a dark understanding.
Niylah reaches out and draws her into a hug allowing Clarke to burry herself into Niylah's neck. "You never told me that was bothering you again." Niylah mutters with worry.
Sighing Clarke realises she walks herself into a hole. "It's not as bad as it used to be." She admits. "But the smell of it still makes me feel uncomfortable at times and I would rather not be around it." After what happened at the dropship, Finn's death, Ton DC and Mount Weather the smell of fire and burning would start to cause panic attacks, flashbacks and discomfort. This was furthered after being caught in the radiation wave and destruction of the valley.
Niylah and Madi were the only ones aware of this. And she intends to keep it that way. She enjoys their nightly meetings around the campfire. But she can never remain too long otherwise the smell of the smoke starts to take her down a dark path. Ushering in memories she would rather leave in the past.
When Arkadia was set ablaze and she almost lost both Niylah and Octavia to the flames that fear grew exponentially. She used to have nightmares about it. Ones were Niylah would be trapped inside of the flaming building and no matter what she did Clarke couldn't get to her and would have to watch her burn as so many of her kills had. Many times Niylah had been woken up by and then have to try and calm her down. Reassuring her that she wasn't dead. That she was safe. That they both were. She hasn't really had one in a while, and she would rather keep it that way.
Niylah nods to her terms pulling her closer and allowing Clarke to seek comfort in her. "Deal. Now what are the rules." The older woman asks thankfully moving the conversation on long lingering on the issue. But she knows at the campfires for now on Niylah will be paying extra close attention.
Thinking about the best way to do this they need to have a set of boundaries. Things that can't do or say to make it obvious... well more than obvious that they are together. Otherwise, they could just do it and then win the bet when they want.
She doubts either of them would do that but it's best to put some rules into play so they can't accuse the other of cheating when they don't want to do something. "We can't outright say we are together. No kissing on the lips as that is a giveaway and no mention of our past relationship. We can do everything else."
Niylah pulls back from her smiling and kissing her quickly when she whines at the sudden distance between them. "Shake on it." Offering her hand in order to cerement their bet.
The childish giddy they share over the it last for a few seconds before a dark thought crosses her mind. "I love you." Clarke says seriously. A sort of desperate need clawing at her to make Niylah understand. One that takes the former Trikru woman off guard. "You know that right. That I love you." The whole bet things sounds like its going to be fun. But the reason behind it nags at her. Her insecurities about not being good enough rearing their ugly heads as she wonders that maybe she isn't being a good partner.
She knows she has never really been one for public displays. Her time as a leader meant her every action was monitored and judged. And the whole fiasco with Finn and Raven made the dropship sometimes feel like she was just everyone's own personal entertainment. After that, she tried to not be as open with her feelings towards others.
And as her duties took on more responsibilities and more eyes on her the need to bury that side of her from them before it could be used against her started to prevail. With Lexa, both of them were in a similar position and they understood it.
Although Niylah understands why she was never really open and lovey dovey with her she always tried to show her care and affection with the others around in different ways. Saving the more personal aspects for when they were alone and away from prying eyes.
She's getting better about being more open but now she's starting to if she was just making herself believe that. She's never wanted Niylah to think that she needed to hide their relationship or that she was lesser than Lexa.
Leaning forward Niylah cups her face and kisses her sweetly. "I know you do. I've never doubted your feelings for me. I love you too." Niylah kisses her again. This time lingering and tightening her hold on Clarke. "Now I believe you said something about doing that thing with your tongue."
Chuckling into Niylah's neck she pushes the older woman back down into the furs. And quickly removing her shirt. "Only if you promise not to wake up the camp just to win this bet." That is also an awful way to tell everyone. One where she might never leave this tent again in fear of having to face the others.
Niylah scoffs in amusement. "Please out of the two of us, you're the loud one," Niylah replies settling more into the fur blankets.
Clarke nips at her skin earning a quiet hiss. "Shush or I won't do it." They both laugh one final time before Clarke leans down to capture Niylah's lips before slowly making her way down the taller woman's body.