The Madi of it All

“Hi,” Clarke greets as she enters Lexa’s tent. Lexa greets Clarke with a smile.

“Good evening Clarke.” Lexa says, and looks behind Clarke. “And Madi?”

“With Harper. Apparently she’s more fun than I am. At least recently.” Clarke answers in defeat. Lexa laughs.

“You’ve been busy. She’ll understand one day.” Lexa comforts.

“You’re right. I think she’s a little overwhelmed. She’s never been around this many people. She’s never faced anything like this or a threat of any kind. I’m worried about her.” Clarke admits.

“It is because you’re a mom now.” Lexa says with a comforting smile. She may not know what it is like to be a mother, but she does know what's like to have people's lives and safety be your highest priority. She doesn't know exactly how Clarke is feeling, but she can empathize.

“Yeah.” Clarke sighs. “It actually makes me feel bad for my mom. All the things I put her through,” she says with a laugh.

“I just need to ask you something,” Lexa says, getting serious. “I have been trying to stop myself this whole time since I have returned to the ground, from asking you this, you know, with everything going on. But I have to. Emori told me something on the Ring, about something you said.”

“Oh,” Clarke says in surprise. She remembers. She’s been thinking about it everyday for six years. “Sorry about the,” Clarke gestures giving a shot. “I knew you weren’t going to survive, and I needed you too.”

“That’s fine Klark,” Lexa tells her honestly. “I was mad for awhile, but I was mostly sad. I thought you had died.”

“But I didn’t,” Clarke says, attempting a joke.

“No, you didn’t.” Lexa says, still serious, but now has a small smile. “This is not what I am wishing to discuss.” She steps closer to Clarke. “Emori told me that you told her that you loved me.”

“Oh,” is the only thing Clarke can say. Her deflecting has failed.

“Oh,” Lexa says, collecting herself. “I assumed as much. They were trying to make me feel better. Please forget I said anything.” Lexa feels her face warm, and turns herself around, busying herself with folding blankets.

“Wait, Lex,” Clarke steps forward, turning Lexa back around. “I did tell Emori to tell you that.” Lexa drops the blanket.

“Oh.”

“It’s been six years, Lexa.” Clarke reminds her. “I’ve changed. I’m sure you have too.” Lexa prepares herself for another rejection from Clarke. “I think we need to learn each other again. Get to know Madi, and we’ll see how things go.”

“Sounds very mature, Clarke.” Lexa complements, very impressed. “Things really have changed.” She jokes.

“But I don’t want to be mature right now. Ever since I saw you, I wanted to,” Clarke interrupts herself by kissing Lexa. Lexa, shocked at first, slowly reciprocates.

Lexa pulls back, “what happened to getting to know each other again?” Lexa asks. She doesn’t want Clarke to feel pushed to do anything she's not ready for.

“Well, I know that I want to kiss you,” Clarke says, giving Lexa another peck. “And I know you do too.” It is true, Lexa had missed Clarke, and kissing Clarke, and doing other things with Clarke. When she met Madi and connected the whole Bellamy and Clarke dots, her anger made her other desires subside. When she found out the truth and heard the whole story, it relit the fire- almost like no time had passed at all. But there’s the Madi of it all. What would that mean for them?

They don’t progress much further than just kissing before Harper enters the tent. Clarke and Lexa jump apart from each other, and collect themselves.

“I’m sorry,” she says, blushing.

“It’s fine,” Clarke responds. Not fine, Lexa wants to correct, but she keeps her composure.

“Is it okay if Madi sleeps in my tent? You seem busy in here and she’s tired.” Harper asks. “Everyone else is away scouting the woods, so it will be quiet for her.”

“Yeah, that’s fine. She likes you better than me these days anyway,” Clarke jokes. This is the second time she’s made the same joke, and Lexa wonders if there is more to it. “Let me go say goodnight.” The three of them leave the tent, but are quickly stopped.

“Heda,” a wonkru man says, visibly relieved at the sight of Lexa.

“Stop. She is not Heda anymore.” Octavia commands coming up behind the man.

“Yes, Blodreina,” the man says, and steps back from Lexa.

“Are we doing this now?” Lexa challenges.

“You’re not Heda anymore.” Octavia repeats, taunting Lexa into a fight. Lexa pulls the little gold gear-shaped trigeda symbol out of her pocket and presses it onto her forehead. It feels foreign, she hasn’t worn it in over six years- she hasn’t had a reason to. A peace rushes through her whole body. The commanders in her head are supportive. They’ve been yelling at her for days, but Lexa knew it was not the right time to reclaim her title.

“Yes, I am.”

“Heda!” People call.

“She’s becoming Heda again.” Around half of the remaining Wonkru kneel to Lexa. They’ve been waiting six years for her return, and several more days as she had seemed to be willing to hand over leadership to Octavia.

“You are Wonkru or you are an enemy of Wonkru!” Octavia shouts at the defectors. Those who remain loyal to Octavia pull out their weapons.

Someone screaming from a distance distracts the feuding groups.

“It’s the scouts!”

“Miller,” Octavia responds first. “What happened?”

“Medic! We need help! It’s Obika.” Miller answers, running quickly.

“I’ll get a med kit,” Clarke says at a run.

“Please help us,” Miller begs. “He needs help!”

“Are we under attack?” Octavia asks, inspecting the plains around them.

“I don’t know what’s wrong!” Miller cries out. Miller holds Obika over his shoulder, to be set on the ground gently. “Please help us! Hurry someone help him!” Obika writhes in pain.

“Out of my way! I can help him!” Clarke yells, running back to the scene.

“Not you,” she is stopped by Octavia’s right hand. Obika continues to scream in pain.

“Octavia!” Clarke argues.

“Let her in.” Octavia demands.

“She’s with the commander,” Cooper argues.

“Are you disobeying?” Octavia responds coolily, though Clarke can see the fire in her eyes. Cooper obliges and allows Clarke through. “She is the commander of nothing,” Octavia reminds her people.

“He’s alive, but his heart is racing,” Clarke tells them.

“What the hell happened out there?” Octavia demands to know.

“We separated to cover more ground,” Miller explains. “Then I hear him screaming out that their everywhere. Then I get to him and there’s nothing. It’s just more screaming.” A large bump appears on Obika’s abdomen and it moves. Octavia and others watching, jump back. Even Clarke gets spooked, falling onto her butt from where she had previously been on her knees.

Clarke takes a closer look. “There’s something inside him.”