Chapter Text
It’s not surprising anymore for Clarke to wake up with Lexa already up and moving around their room.
She knows that Lexa doesn’t much care for the confining walls of the Ark, but she’s adjusted enough that she finds sleep.
If Clarke has to go the extra mile to help wear her out the night before, then so be it.
Still, it’s cute to wake up and roll over and watch Lexa try and navigate their tiny quarters to get dressed and ready for the day. She is so careful to be quiet, which Clarke finds funny because Lexa never leaves without telling Clarke she’s going.
It’s a rule they have, after living through so much, surviving so much - they’ve agreed to never start a morning without a hello.
Lexa is dressed in a white tank top and jeans. It’s a sight Clarke is trying to get used to but she still can’t fathom the idea of Lexa in Skaikru clothes, even six months since she left Polis.
When Lexa first tried them on she gave a big speech about how weak they were structurally impaired. How a blade could slip right through and if the weather changed a shirt like this would do nothing to stop the chill from taking hold.
Then as the days went on she settled into them more and more and Clarke kept giving her new outfits and new looks - one flannel button down in particular had quickly become her favorite.
As Lexa wanders around their room, boots in hand, Clarke is pretty sure that very flannel shirt is exactly what Lexa is looking for.
Clarke loves her so much sometimes she feels like she’s going to burst. This makeshift home they’ve made has been hard on both of them. There was a lot of pain in Arkadia that Clarke had ran to Polis with Lexa to get away from. Coming back here wasn't easy.
The first time she stepped into that medical bay and didn’t see her mom wandering around was the first time she truly felt her loss since the day Abby died in her arms. It was Raven who she found first, Raven who took her back to her room and held her. Then went and found Lexa to take care of her.
Then later that night, they had a small party in Abby’s honor in the medical wing. It was simple and warm and everyone spoke so kindly of her. Clarke was able to remember her mom with love and compassion. A woman who fought for them in the sky - who took care of them.
It gave Clarke a true sense of family - one she hadn't really had in years.
Arkadia was in a good place, but the gap created between them and the surrounding Trikru grew just a bit when the former Commander found shelter here.
That mostly came from the generals. Indra made her disapproval of Lexa’s choice known and Clarke knew it hurt her. Lexa was certain Indra meant well - that she put her duty above all and Lexa respected that - but deep down it wounded Lexa to be shunned like that.
Still, as with all things, time healed the wound and the camaraderie continued between the clan and the people of the sky.
Lexa was slowly starting to let go of her guilt and appreciate the future she’d claimed for herself. Clarke made sure to remind her as often as possible that she was allowed to have it.
Allowed to have these things that were simple and made her happy. Allowed to want, even something as simple as a flannel shirt.
“It’s behind the chair in the corner.” Clarke says, drawing Lexa’s attention.
“Love, did I wake you?”
Clarke smiles. “No, but you were going to in like one minute.”
Lexa moves to the corner to get her shirt and scoops it up off the ground. “Perhaps longer, since our room is such a mess right now.”
“I’ll do some cleaning after rounds.”
She watches Lexa lay the flannel on the bed and move around to sit next to Clarke on the mattress. It sinks a bit under her weight and Clarke looks up at her with what can only be adoration. “That tank top on you is my favorite thing in the whole damn world. I swear I can see your abs through it.”
“Oh?” Lexa raises a brow. “Do you enjoy it on me even more than when it is on the floor?”
“Well,” Clarke runs her finger over the low cut just above Lexa’s breasts, letting her finger slide across smooth skin. “Maybe this is my second favorite thing.”
Lexa hums in response and leans down to capture Clarke’s lips. It’s a soft kiss, meant more as a good morning - she knows Lexa has work she wants to get to. The work days have shortened as the heat rises.
When they pull apart, Clarke takes her hand. “Monty wants to have a campfire tonight. He says he’s mastered ale - Raven says he’s full of shit.”
“I have never found an ale I enjoyed.”
“You’ve tried some?”
Lexa nods. “There are a few stands in Polis - Anya used to bring some with her on long journeys to other clans. She said it was the only way she could deal with the other clan leaders. The boat people have their own that they call ‘blessed waters’. It mostly tastes like uncooked fish.”
Listening to Lexa talk about her past was getting better too - she spoke of it with more joy and less tragedy. “Anya and Raven would have been a match made in heaven, I think.”
“I believe they would have doomed us all if they found one another.”
Clarke laughs. “Perhaps in another life.”
“If so, let us be prepared for the chaos.” Lexa looks up at the window, where the sun has started to climb over the horizon. “I had best get started, Lincoln will be preparing already and he starts curling the logs like weights if I leave him alone for too long.”
“How’s the build going?”
Lexa’s face brightens at the question - it’s been amazing to watch Lexa find this. It was one simple, off-handed comment about how the little room on the Ark was too small, how great a home of their own would be. That was all it took. Lexa asked about homes, about how she might build one and then suddenly she was cutting wood and had Raven sketching plans and was talking to Bellamy about where she might put one on the land.
Now they were negotiating with Trikru and the Heda in Polis about expansion in order to build real homes.
Theirs would be the first, at least it would if Lexa has any say in it because building it has taken up most of her free time.
It’s honestly the sweetest thing when Clarke allows herself the chance to think about it. Lexa’s building her a home. Building them a home, near the water just outside of Arkadia. It’s more than she ever could have dreamed for herself when she first landed on Earth.
“After rounds I’ll come find you with some food, we can have lunch together.”
Lexa nods as she stands, grabbing her blue flannel and slipping it on. “I look forward to it.”
Clarke sits up, knowing her day has to get started as soon as Lexa leaves. They share another kiss, Lexa in the process of tying her hair behind her head as they do. “I love you,” Clarke says softly as they break apart.
One more kiss lands on Clarke’s nose. “I love you.” Lexa repeats and Clarke watches her go with a flutter in her chest.
------------------------------
Lexa doesn’t speak Trigedasleng anymore. Clarke didn’t notice it until the first time Octavia returned from a trip to Polis with news about how things were going there.
Marcus had been chosen as the new ambassador of Skaikru after everyone seemed to notice that he was a little bit lost here without Abby or Thelonious. The balance of Arkadia had shifted and with Clarke here and Bellamy, most people went to them for things they needed.
Of course, Clarke almost always deferred to Bellamy, who had taken to adding both Jackson and Miller to his council and they were all very good at keeping things steady.
Still, Kane needed change and when Lexa offhandedly mentioned him as a potential replacement for Clarke in Polis, it felt like an idea she should have had a long time ago.
Now, the only ones who really travel back and forth are Octavia and Lincoln, who have slotted in perfectly as the in-betweeners who relay information from Polis to Arkadia and back. They both have a hard time sitting still so the trips give them adventures to take together. Sometimes they race to see which one of them can make it there and back faster. Other times Clarke is certain they find the most out of the way routes to take and their trips last weeks.
Things in Polis remain steady; the added presence of the Commander through his Nightbloods has extended his reach and pleased many within the clans because they feel valued when a Nightblood goes to them with promise to get word into the ear of their Commander.
There was pushback, of course, and even a bounty on Lexa’s life at one point that reached as far as the fence when a group of soldiers came to them claiming they could rid Skaikru of its weakness.
Clarke was there, but Lexa had been off working on their home and missed the whole thing.
Raven was there too and she lit into them more than any electric fence possibly could.
This was Lexa’s home. These were Lexa’s people and if they threatened her, then they threatened everyone in Arkadia.
They had their chance with Lexa. She was their leader, their protector and she gave them peace and rid them of war and more bloodshed than they could ever repay her for - Raven held nothing back.
Clarke held Raven back.
It was enough to send them away, but Octavia traveled back to Polis to tell Commander Aden about the bounty and was assured three days later that it had been handled and those who created it had been found and that Lexa was still protected.
Lexa didn’t find out about it until four days later - thanks to an offhand comment from Jasper about the people who came to the gate.
That started the first big fight they had since Lexa came back with her.
“I do not need to be sheltered,” Lexa growls, pacing back and forth. This small room that usually feels so warm and comfortable is suffocating now. Clarke feels like Lexa is moments away from trying to tear down the walls.
Clarke sighs. “I wasn't trying to hide it from you. We just handled it - it wasn't-”
“Octavia rode three nights to Polis and spent a week there, away from her home, away from Lincoln and you told me nothing !”
There’s an anger in her face Clarke hasn’t seen for some time. “I - I’m sorry. I thought you’d be more upset if you knew. It’s…” she knows she shouldn’t say it, but it’s the only point she has. “It’s not like you could have done anything about it, Lexa. You can’t go to Polis anymore.”
Lexa stops cold, her pacing halts mid step and she tenses.
Clarke knows what’s coming before it happens. She could say something, try and mend this beforehand, but Lexa needs this anger, she thinks. She needs something to fight.
“You’re right, Clarke. How foolish of me to forget my own banishment.”
With a sudden step, Lexa turns around and storms out of their room.
It won’t do any good to chase her. Lexa needs space and Clarke will give it to her. She waits five minutes to let Lexa find somewhere to be before making her way back outside.
“I take it you caused the storm that just blew through here?” Raven asks when Clarke finds her at a bench with a cracked open tablet and a half eaten sandwich.
Clarke sighs heavily as she sits beside her. “Yeah, Jasper and his big mouth.”
“Eh, she would have found out eventually. Kinda hard to get past having a bounty on your head.” Raven continues to work as she speaks, holding a screwdriver in one hand as she tries to eat her crumpling sandwich with the other. Reaching out, Clarke takes the screwdriver holding something in place in the tablet and keeps it steady. “Thanks,” Raven says before using both hands to gather up her food and take a bite.
“It’s just…she’s been doing so well. She wakes up and goes to work on the house, she comes back and talks about her day and how nice the weather has been and how much progress she’s making. She’s outside, she’s in the sun and working with her hands. I didn’t…I didn’t want to drag her away from that. You remember how hard it was for her to adjust here.”
Raven nods, taking back her screwdriver and swallowing. “I do, but you know better than anyone that you can’t just pretend shit isn’t shitty when it is actually pretty shitty.” Clarke frowns at the phrasing. “Shay tells me most people in Polis and Trikru still love her. She did a lot for them and they appreciate it. But traditionalists like those guys think she’s weak and unworthy of the happiness you just talked about. She didn’t die young like all the stories they grew up hearing, so to them that means she’s a coward.”
“It’s bullshit.”
“That’s what I just said.” Raven sighs and drops the screwdriver. “This thing is floated.” She pushes the tablet away. “Look I know you might not see it, you’ve always had a blind spot when it comes to Lexa, but despite how good working on that house by the lake might make her feel - I think she’s still kind of struggling sometimes.”
That catches Clarke’s attention. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, have you noticed she doesn’t go near the Trikru tents.”
“There’s no reason for her too.”
“No no, I mean she won’t even look at them, Clarke. She - when Indra came in to negotiate the expansion for some new housing Lexa hid in that pile of sticks she’s working with by the lake and did not come back until she knew Indra was gone.”
Clarke feels a rot in her stomach. “How did I not know this? Where was I?”
“You were negotiating - that’s what you do. I know you don’t like the leadership stuff and you don’t really do it like you used to, but Bellamy asked and you were there and Lexa wasn't about to say anything so she just kinda made herself scarce.” Clarke remembers being in the room when Indra was offering up space for them. It wasn't much and Bellamy pushed for a bit more, but he was never great with Indra or any of the generals. That was Clarke’s territory - she could negotiate and was better at finding ways to make it beneficial to both. She offered them unused wood and housing for fishers and hunters from the clan if they wandered in that direction. It worked and they got what they needed - but when it ended and she went to her room on the Ark, Lexa was there waiting for her with a smile.
“It makes sense I guess,” and it does - Lexa has been so focused on the house and on fitting in here - with new clothes and learning some history and - “she doesn’t speak Trigedasleng anymore.”
Raven gives her a knowing look - as much as she can with a sandwich hanging out of her mouth. “She’s repressing,” Raven mumbles through a bite.
Clarke’s eyes narrow. “You think she’s repressing?”
A nod. “Yep,” she smiles proudly. “Your mom told me the same thing after Mount Weather - you know, when a guy drilled a hole in my leg and I tried to pretend for three months that my leg wasn't as completely fucked as it turned out to be. If you deny something long enough you almost start to believe it.”
“What do you think Lexa is repressing?”
Raven shrugs, “I think you’ll have to ask her.”
That’s all Clarke needs to hear. She wants to give Lexa space and let Lexa sort this out but Lexa has been sorting out her anxieties on her own for her entire life - Clarke imagines. She doesn’t have to anymore. They're a team.
So she gives Raven a half hug and stands to make her way to where she knows Lexa is.
The location of their home is fairly isolated - or at least it is for now until Raven gets started on hers because Raven swears she’s living right next to them and surprisingly enough Lexa was okay with that.
Still, right now it is the perfect place for Lexa to slip away when Skaikru overwhelms her a little and it’s right by the water so Clarke knows Lexa finds comfort there.
Trees line the pathway towards the river on either side. A path made by footfalls that have worn down the ground from use. The sounds of Arkadia fade and quiet the deeper into the woods she goes and once she reaches the clearing and the sun overhead is free to shine without cover, Clarke has to use a hand to shade her eyes.
It’s beautiful, the sun setting overhead and the water steadily moving, masking the world around them with enough white noise to make it feel like they are the only two people in the world.
The home Lexa is working on has two of the three walls up - wood cut and trimmed just right from days and days of hard work. Raven has helped her, so have Lincoln and Octavia - even Bellamy had offered a time or two.
In a lot of ways, this home was Lexa’s way of coming to terms with her new life - her new place in the world. It was far enough away from Arkadia that she didn’t feel smothered, but close enough for Clarke to remain tethered to her people.
She finds Lexa sitting cross legged on the shore. She has her hands on her knees and her eyes are closed - she’s meditating. It’s been a few months now, but seeing Lexa in Skaikru clothes still throws her.
It’s an old practice that Lexa has mastered through years of training. It’s something Clarke respects, but in the two or three times she’s tried to join Lexa, has failed miserably at.
Her steps are soft but they still crunch under the rocks of the shore and she knows Lexa hears her. Still, Clarke waits to say anything, knowing there’s a small chance Lexa might tell her to go away.
Once she reaches the point where she can see Lexa’s face up close, she waits, enjoying the way the sun splashes across her face and makes her hair shine - she’s the most beautiful thing Clarke will ever see. Not a day has come that Lexa hasn’t, in some way, made Clarke’s heart flutter with delight.
“You may sit,” Lexa says, keeping her eyes closed. There’s just the slightest hint of her old commander voice in there somewhere.
Clarke moves closer to her and finds a spot right beside her. She crosses her legs as Lexa does and their knees touch. When Clarke reaches out and takes Lexa’s hand, she’s grateful for the return squeeze she’s offered.
“ Moba Ai don dula nou spe yu. ”
Lexa’s eyes snap open and she looks at Clarke with a deep frown. “Why are you speaking like that?”
“Why don’t you anymore?”
For a moment, there is anger and fury in Lexa’s eyes. Clarke thinks she’s overstepped and completely messed up, but then Lexa’s bottom lip shakes and she turns away, almost ashamed.
The one thing keeping Clarke anchored is that Lexa never lets her hand go.
Silence fills the warm night air for a long time before she finally speaks. “I am Skaikru . No one here speaks it.”
“Lincoln does. I do. Raven knows a few things.”
“It’s not the same,” Lexa says, almost dismissive.
There’s a fine line Clarke is walking, she can’t see it, but she knows it’s there. “That doesn’t mean it’s not a part of you still. It’s your language.”
“No, it isn’t.”
“Lex-”
“Why do you push this?” She turns and looks at Clarke again - her pleading voice matched only by her eyes. “I am here, I am with you. Let that be enough.”
There was a pleading tone to her voice, like she was desperate to end this conversation - but Clarke knew what happened today affected her and not just because she was kept in the dark. “It’s enough for me, Lexa, of course. You are enough and if you say that it is for you then I’ll drop it but…I don’t think it is.”
Lexa’s eyes shift to the water, her glare is deep and fragile. “Why would it not be?”
“Because it hurts you. Your people -”
“You are my people. Skaikru took me in, gave me a home, and cared for me.”
“We do,” Clarke runs her hand up Lexa’s arm, feeling the tension in her muscles. “This is your home and you are one of us, but you were one of them too. Hell, you dedicated your whole life to them. Your childhood and your love and in return they…they banished you.”
Lexa shakes her head, with unshed tears in her eyes that tore at Clarke’s heart. “It was the only way.”
Reaching out, Clarke touches under Lexa’s chin and turns her head to meet her eyes. She smiles her best to comfort the blow. “That doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to feel hurt about it.”
“I do not want to, though. I want to be here with you. I want to feel like a part of this.”
“You are,” Clarke tries, but she knows it won’t be that easy.
Lexa shakes her head. “I do not feel that way when things are kept from me.”
“I know,” Clarke lifts Lexa’s hand and kisses it. Understanding now how much Lexa needs to feel needed. Not just by Clarke, but in the grand scheme of things. To be in the inner circle and to help fight off threats - even if they only threaten her. “Part of that is Raven’s fault, by the way. She yelled at them and told them to leave and threatened them.”
Finally, Lexa offers a smile. It’s small, but welcome. “I am not surprised.”
Clarke shifts, moving to sit on her knees in front of Lexa. She shades Lexa’s face from the sun, giving herself the perfect view of her. No war paint, no gear symbol on her forehead - just the woman she loves. “I won’t keep stuff from you anymore - we need your expertise and your leadership here. I won’t ask you to be anything more than my niron , but I won’t shield you from these things either.” She drops a soft kiss on Lexa’s nose, making her laugh. “You may not be Heda anymore, but you’re still a fighter. The best I know.”
“I taught Bellamy the same two days ago.”
“Oh?” Clarke leans back with a raised, curious brow.
Lexa nods firmly. “ Ai hon em daun nopro .”
-------------------------
Lexa’s love of candles has taken a severe hit since she was forced out of Polis. They only manage to get some whenever Octavia or Lincoln go there to check in with Marcus or if something needs to be relayed directly to Commander Aden.
It has taken Lexa almost eleven months to get a collection large enough that she feels comfortable lighting them.
Clarke asked her once what it was about them that she cared for so much and she simply said that it was a steadying comfort during the early stresses after she ascended.
No matter how hard things were, no matter how empty things felt or how, at times, she wished she could run away, candles were always there and did their job.
They burned and flickered and lit up the way forward. Carrying her through the night until the sun rose for the start of another day.
This is one of the many little things Clarke has learned about Lexa since they truly started living together in Arkadia. So much of who she is was shaped by those early days after the Conclave. She learned to meditate then, found what has become her lifelong struggle with sleep and also brought on a few superstitions in the process.
Lexa had no idea what these were until Clarke pointed them out. She always laces her left boot first. She cracks her knuckles three times before stretching her back and stomping her feet to make sure her boots are on properly.
Every morning she does this and when Clarke mentioned it, Lexa didn’t even realize. It was cute and also a bit telling of how precise Lexa was with her day to day life. Her clothes were always pristine, her hair never had a day off from being brushed (thank goodness Raven found a brush to give her).
Of course, she wasn't used to brushing it on her own, so Clarke had taken to doing it for her every night when they were turning in.
At first, Lexa basically refused and said it was not Clarke’s place - but after much insistence that she wanted to, Lexa relented and it had become part of their routine.
Nights were consistent for both of them. They’d wash up, they would talk about their day - sit in their bed side by side and while Clarke sketched, Lexa would read whatever she could get her hands on.
The Ark’s literature collection had taken a hit on it’s way to Earth but a lot did survive and most of the world’s history had as well. The physical copies were old and took a lot of convincing to allow Lexa to have them. She had to pass a test run with a few of them to make sure they didn’t come back damaged before Theresa, Arkadia’s self appointed historian, allowed her to use them freely.
“It’s all on the tablets!” Theresa said, absolutely appalled that her sacred texts were being asked for, but Lexa didn’t like the tablets and Clarke had some sway and knew Lexa wouldn't damage them so now Lexa had a big, hardback book she read every night.
The only thing that stopped them from going through their usual routine was nights like tonight. When they would turn off the glowing fluorescent lights in exchange for Lexa’s growing candle collection.
Something about the way Lexa’s body shined in that soft yellow glow was intoxicating and tonight was no different.
Lexa is on her hands and knees, shaking under Clarke’s perfectly practiced strokes. She slides her fingers through Lexa’s wet heat in a rhythm meant to draw this out as long as possible. She knows what speed will get Lexa there the fastest, but that won’t get all the sounds and cries of pleasure she wants to draw out first.
Clarke is on her knees, hovering over Lexa who’s back is arched deliciously as she pants and moans with each pump of Clarke’s fingers. The sounds of Lexa’s arousal fill the gaps between her panting moans.
With her free hand, Clarke runs it up and down Lexa’s spine and down the curve of her butt. It’s on full display and she’s shaking with the force of Clarke’s ministrations and without thinking, Clarke leans down and sinks her teeth into one of the cheeks.
It’s not hard, not enough to break skin, but the contact causes Lexa to throw her head back and cry out. If the walls around them weren’t metal, their neighbors on both sides would have heard it.
“Clarke, beja . beja, Ai gaf yu .”
Dropping slow kisses up Lexa’s back and shoulder, she reaches her ear, still moving in and out of her and whispers. “What do you need, baby?”
Lexa leans her head against Clarke’s temple and squeaks before she can even find words. “I cannot…I cannot release like this. I need…more.”
“Tell me,” Clarke loves this part. She loves making Lexa say what she wants - making her scream for it. “Tell me what you want.”
Lexa turns away just enough to look at Clarke and she is an absolute vision. Her hair is hanging over her eyes and her face and neck are damp with sweat - she’s glowing in the soft light of the candles and the desire in her eyes almost makes Clarke forget she’s the one in control.
It’s jarring, how beautiful she is. How in love she is. How through all the pain and suffering and loss that she’s been through that she somehow managed to find this girl and this life with her.
The sentimental moment hangs for only a split second before Lexa speaks. “Your mouth, beja . Use your mouth.”
Clarke would give up the world for Lexa, so this is the least she can do.
With no more prodding, Clarke shifts and positions herself on her back right between Lexa’s legs. She grabs onto her hips, feeling the benefits of her effort dripping onto her chin as Lexa sinks down on top of her.
She’s teased enough and instead dives in and clamps her lips around Lexa’s clit. The result is a hand fisting into her hair as another slams into the wall above their bed. It’s like taming a wild horse trying to keep Lexa steady above her, but Clarke uses both hands to keep her in range to continue her attack.
Lexa’s legs squeeze her head and air is honestly getting a little slim as Clarke pours so much effort into making Lexa cum.
When it does happen, Lexa’s hips snap up and away from her mouth in a jarring motion. Clarke lets her go, watching from below as Lexa spasms and shakes, a low and guttural moan leaving her. Clarke uses a gentle swirl of her fingers on Lexa’s clit to help her ride the rest of her orgasm out. It’s amazing to watch her stomach muscles flex as the pulses of pleasure coarse through her. She’s an absolute fucking vision and Clarke is the luckiest girl on the damn planet.
When the last of her cries fade out, Lexa falls to her side just enough not to land right on top of Clarke.
Sitting up, Clarke watches Lexa lay there, legs closed tightly together as she shakes and tries to catch her breath.
She can only watch for a moment before she has to do something and lays down beside her. Clarke gathers Lexa into her arms, not surprised when she’s suddenly being held like that weird historian clutches her books.
It takes Lexa at least three minutes to find even some semblance of stability in her breathing and Clarke can feel her heart racing as it pounds against her own chest. There is no place in the world that she would rather be than right here.
“That was a good one.” Clarke teases, as she likes to do after Lexa orgasms.
She feels a mumble against her shoulder. “ Hosh op ,” Lexa shakes her head, holding tighter. “I think you broke me.”
Clarke nuzzles into her hair, a smile on her face so bright the candles pale in comparison.
-------------------------------
Things are better the following summer.
Clarke wakes up to the first truly warm day of the year and can’t stop herself from smiling.
Even though she wakes up alone, she doesn’t have it in her to care - she knows where Lexa is and knows what today means.
As she climbs out of bed, she takes in the sight of their room on the Ark. Everything that is theirs, what minimal belongings they have, are neatly tucked away in bags and boxes and ready to be moved.
Their home is done, Lexa is putting the final touches on it right now and Clarke cannot wait to spend the night there tonight.
Instead of her usual lay around in bed for an hour trying to wake up, Clarke is on her feet in a hurry and after washing up and brushing her teeth, she is still pulling on her jeans as she steps out in the halls of the Ark to go to her home.
Arkadia is bustling already - there are so many things in motion. Farm Station has plenty of work to do to get enough crops to carry them through next winter; they cannot start working soon enough. Trade between the nearby Trikru is alive and well and some of them have even taken in a new batch of Skaikru kids to train in various things from combat to cooking.
“Heads up!” Someone calls and Clarke turns just in time to see Linlcon and Octavia carrying a bench right behind her.
She jumps out of the way, watching as they set it down next to a few other benches that are neatly aligned with one another. “What’s this about?”
“Raven’s birthday party,” Octavia says with a sigh as she wipes at her brow.
Clarke frowns. “It’s Raven’s birthday?”
“She has no idea,” Octavia’s clearly had this conversation a few times. “Like the rest of us, we’ve all kinda lost track of time. The clocks on our tablets don’t have anything to sync to anymore so she’s taken to guessing that the first warm day of summer has to be her birthday.”
Lincoln has a wide smirk at this poor girlfriend’s struggles. “It only makes sense.” He finishes and Octavia glares at him. “Her words, not mine.”
“Well I think today is a great day for a party,” Clarke can already feel Octavia’s glare moving to her. “I’m just saying we-”
There is suddenly a shout from the entrance of the gate, then another and suddenly a loud horn rips through the air, sending birds scattering out of the trees around Arkadia.
Clarke knows that horn, she’s heard it before. It usually meant Lexa was coming - the Commander was arriving.
Lexa is near the river working on their home. That means…
“ Heda ,” Lincoln says and he turns as everyone else does, towards the gate as a convoy approaches.
At the front is Aden, ashy blonde hair longer than she remembers and Clarke swears he’s grown another four inches from the last time she saw him. Half of his face is decorated with a flame design made of orange and black paint.
He is flanked by two other soldiers, both dressed in heavy armor and carrying banners. There are more behind him, no doubt Aden’s personal guard and handmaids - a healer probably too.
Only when they're close enough does Clarke see her; little Faye on a horse of her own with her head held high.
She’s grown too, not as much as Aden, but it’s clear the last year has strengthened her. She rides proudly.
Clarke’s feet carry her to the gate, Bellamy is already there and some of the Trikru have gathered as well. The Trikru all kneel, Bellamy puts his hands behind his back and nods to the Commander.
“ Skaikru , Something told me this was an appropriate day to make my first visit - alslo because the mud on the path here has finally dried.” Humor, Clarke’s heard from Octavia that he’s good with that and people do laugh as he speaks - even his own people.
Aden quickly dismounts, the guards behind him follow. There was no sharp backlash to his rise to power - for now they all believe he carries the flame. Clarke doesn’t know if or when he plans to tell them.
It’s not her concern anymore.
When Clarke catches Faye looking at her with bright eyes, she smiles and waves. Faye waves back much too excitedly and has to reel herself in.
Aden speaks briefly with Bellamy, who is more or less Chancellor at this point. Of course he is different from most Chancellors in that he listens to those around him and has yet to make a decision without consulting with Clarke.
She has said time and time again that she doesn't want anything to do with leadership - but there are too many things in Arkadia that she loves to not speak up about if necessary.
After a handshake and a few more words with Bell, Aden’s eyes find hers and he nods. She does the same, smiling at how well he seems to have fit into his role.
He strides over to her, guards behind him and little Faye chases to catch up. “ Klark kom Skaikru . It is good to see you.”
“And you, Heda . We are honored to have you here.”
“ Klark !” Faye’s voice carries through the space between them and Clarke sees her coming and kneels down. She is engulfed in a hug and can’t stop herself from laughing at the joy in the girl who squeezes her as tightly as she can.
“It is good to see you too, Faye.”
She pulls back, her face beaming. “This is my first assignment. Coming here to see you, to see Arkadia for the first time. It’s kind of weird,” she pouts but it only lasts a second. “I also want to see Leksa kom Skaikru !”
Everyone around them is tense. The guard behind Aden, Octavia who is just within hearing distance and even Clarke herself.
She stands, meeting Aden’s eyes again. She’s not sure exactly what she wants to convey, but she knows she doesn’t want any of this to hurt Lexa. She says nothing, but waits for him to acknowledge the weight in the air.
After a moment, he nods once and smiles. “I wish to see her as well. I have heard she has adapted-” His voice cuts off as his eyes stare beyond Clarke and into the forest behind her.
Looking behind her, Clarke sees Lexa standing about forty yards or so behind her. She’s wearing a pair of denim suspenders with one of the straps hanging unclasped on the right side. A white t-shirt underneath and her boots.
She looks every bit the Skaikru she is now - probably unrecognizable to most of the new arrivals from Polis.
Clarke offers her a smile and waves at her to come over - they’ve come so far in the last few months. Lexa laughs more, smiles more. She went driving with Raven last week and came home going on and on about how exciting it was.
Monty has been teaching her how to use a tablet and Clarke found her climbing trees with Octavia just yesterday. She hunts and fishes and they have weekly campfires where Lexa learned how to roast a marshmallow and told a horror story to scare everyone about a deformed bear that ate a village that Clarke is only 40% sure was made up.
When their home is finished Lexa already wants to build a boat so she and Clarke can go into the water and spend a day in the quiet of one another.
It’s taken time, but Lexa finally acts like a person who can do anything she wants with her life. Like a person who has seized control of her future.
After a short pause, Lexa takes a deep breath and nods before her feet start to move and carry her to Clarke.
She stops beside Clarke, her head bows down a bit, in respect to Aden. “ Heda , it is good to see you.” There’s a strain in her voice, Clarke knows she wants to say more. She wants to say how she’s missed him. How she’s so happy to see him. How proud she is of him.
Clarke watches with hopeful eyes as Aden’s hand rises and touches Lexa’s shoulder - drawing her attention. She stares at him, eyes glistening just a bit and he smiles at her. “ Em ste meizen gon ai op yu seintaim .” Lexa reaches up and grabs the wrist of the hand on her shoulder and squeezes it. “You look well.”
“As do you, Heda .” She gives him that magical half smile. “You chose fire.” She reaches up and brushes her thumb over the paint on his cheek.
He nods, a bit of that old shyness returning as his mentor studies him over. “A warmth for my people, and a danger to my enemies.”
Lexa’s smile grows as her hand falls to her side. When it does, Clarke finds it and laces their fingers together.
“What’s brought you here today, Heda ?” Clarke asks as Faye moves around to press herself into Lexa’s side and hug her.
Aden looks around at Arkadia, taking it in, truly, for the first time. “I have meant to travel here for some time, but I was told that there was a celebration today. Something grand and very important to your people.”
The absolute confusion on Lexa’s face is almost worth it.
Clarke pinches the bridge of her nose. “It’s not that important.”
“Speak for yourself!” Raven’s voice shouts through the air and Clarke turns to see her, literally, in Shay’s arms.
“Shay has returned?” Lexa asks, glancing back at Clarke who can only shrug.
Aden clears his throat. “I was told to bring a gift for today’s celebration - a…very specific one at that.”
Clarke sighs, so deep and pained that it makes Lexa laugh. “Raven always gets her way, does she not?”
“So it would seem.”
“Is there going to be a celebration?” Faye asks, her voice so hopeful.
Clarke meets Lexa’s eyes, there’s a softness in them that she cherishes - they’ve come so far. It is worth celebrating.
“Definitely,” Clarke confirms and Faye throws her hands up with a cheer. It’s nice that Aden lets her keep her wonder of the world.
“ Heda ,” Lexa steps forward, still holding Clarke’s hand. “Would you like to see our home? It is nearly finished.”
Our home .
Clarke couldn’t stop smiling if she tried.
Aden nods with a smile of his own. “I would like to, yes.”
Lexa turns, still holding Clarke’s arm and drags her along. “Come, it’s near the water.” She walks quickly, with excitement and the whole way there she talks about the work she’s been doing. Aden is clearly surprised by this side of her, but he nods along and pays attention - his own smile clear to see.
There’s laughter in Lexa’s voice, a bounce in her step and she doesn’t even hesitate to scoop Faye up into her arms.
Clarke follows her, as she intends to do for the rest of her life - at her side through whatever might come.
Lexa’s found her home, finally.
They both have.