The Pile II (T)
It was a certainty. Like the summer storm that always washed the lands, even when the skies didn't show any dark clouds at first; it was a certainty it would happen.
A somewhat feared event in their household. They all knew it would happen, but in some way, it surprised them all.
Lumi’s first suitor.
Serah had been the first. It wasn't that Lexa enjoyed seeing their first born finding a mate, but she couldn't deny her pride. Clarke knew how to interpret Lexa’s glances after so many years together, and when Serah brought an omega as shy as her to their home, Lexa accepted him.
Clarke would never know how her wife and her quiet daughter discussed the details about mating, knotting and biting marks, but she remembered well the furious blush on both sire and pup’s face after said conversation.
Jake had been next, surprising the entire family, especially Aden, who thought he would be the first twin to find a mate. Clarke knew the girl, one of her apprentices, and a good one. They were happy.
Aden tried to hide it at first. Clarke always knew — it was her pup — but she allowed him the faux ignorance. Lexa, on the other hand, had been surprised when Aden presented one of Lexa’s most promising warriors as a future mate. It was perfect, honestly. Aden needed someone to fight it out with him.
But Lumi … that one would be a problem.
And that day had come.
Lexa sat at the end of the dinner table as if it was her throne. Legs spread wide, chin high and eyes like dark green stones. Clarke had to shout at her not to put on the war paint, but lost the battle against the knife. Technically it was cutlery, but the way Lexa played with it, eyes never moving from the alpha at the other end of the long table, it was as menacing as a sword.
At Lexa’s left, Aden. He wore a cropped shirt to show off muscles, tattoos and scars alike. And his eyes; Clarke rolled her eyes at both Lexa and Aden’s murderous glares.
Jake was more composed, calm. At first look there was nothing different about him, and Clarke was proud for a moment. A short moment, since he was the one that broke the no-weapons-at-the-dinner-table rule, with an axe lying by his feet. Like seriously, an axe? It wasn't even his favorite weapon.
Clarke would have lost all hope if it wasn't for Serah. She was the first to greet the young alpha, a sincere smile on her lips. Clarke wasn't sure she was hiding something, but until then she seemed like the only present alpha who wasn't thinking with their knot.
“So, Cass,” Clarke broke the heavy silence and watched the young alpha warrior swallow. “Tell us more about your family.”
It was tradition, this meal with the nuclear family of the pursuited omega. No mates, not even the omega herself was present. Parents and siblings, and that was it. If they didn't approve of the suitor, it was a certainty it wouldn't happen, even if Lumi was the most stubborn omega in a 100 miles radio.
“My sire is the Ambassador of the Blue Cliff, as the Commander is aware,” the young girl responded, voice wavering at Lexa’s title.
Clarke winced before Lexa spoke up.
“I do not believe you have the knowledge of what I am aware of, child.”
Aden snickered and Clarke kicked Lexa’s shin under the table, but she didn't flinch.
“What about your mother?” Clarke smiled to relieve Lexa’s blow.
The alpha girl visibly paled, blue eyes widening. Everyone held their breath as she said, in an even tone, “My mother was Azgeda. She carried me after a diplomatic visit of the Blue Cliff. I chose to follow my sire’s clan and traditions.”
Clarke froze mid ale gulp, because there was only so much a mother could do. Aden growled, loud and clear, and Jake frowned in a way that reminded Lexa when she was angry and trying not to show it. Even Serah stopped her hand midair on her way to the bread loaves.
And Lexa … Lexa didn't move a muscle. That was when Clarke knew it was trouble.
At once, Lexa stood up without hesitation, ignoring the hand Clarke gripped on her forearm. Aden and Jake’s golden eyebrows shot to their hairline. Serah took a bite from her bread and watched.
Slowly, step by step, Lexa crossed their private dining room up in the Polis tower, her boots the only sound in the deadly silence that came after the girl’s admission. Hands clasped behind her back, Lexa reached destination.
Everyone could smell the fear on the young alpha’s scent, though she didn't look away from Lexa's stare.
“And why is an Azgeda pup trying to pursue the Commander's daughter? What made you think you were good enough to attempt this?”
The girl faced her dead on, Clarke had to give her that.
“I love your daughter, Commander.”
“Many love her. Why would you be any different?”
“I, I—”
Lexa sunk the knife she had been playing with on the wooden table, the noise loud enough to startle Clarke. A guard peeked from the front door, but Clarke shook her head for him to leave.
“Do you have any idea how many I killed to protect this family?”
Clarke couldn't see Lexa's eyes, only her intricate braids, grey battling with chestnut. However, Clarke was certain her eyes were ablaze with battle furor.
“How many of your people I killed—”Lexa didn't exactly spit the word, but the dislike was clear “—to protect the omegas I loved?”
Clarke shared a worried glance with Serah, who stood and approached Lexa. Everyone knew Serah would never be able to stop anything if Lexa so wanted, but she would try to avoid a murder at their dining table.
“Are you sure, Azgeda pup, that you have the necessary strength to kill the ones that will certainly threaten my daughter?”
The girl stuttered, but no words came forward.
Lexa waited for ten painful seconds until the alpha lowered her head and showed her neck in submission.
Clarke was pissed, but God, Lexa was hot when demanding submission.
Lexa, who had inclined to hover over Lumi’s suitor, righted her spine and turned to meet Clarke's eyes. No one else would notice the mischief behind the sparkling green.
“Thank you for dinner. I will be in my private quarters.” It was Lexa’s final statement, and Serah, Aden and Jake followed behind her out of the room.
Jake offered a small comfort touch to the girl’s shoulder before leaving, though she was still mute.
Clarke, the last one in the room, took a deep breath.
“Lumi didn't tell us,” Clarke apologized as she stood up. “Lexa doesn't like surprises, as you can see. I'm sorry.”
She wasn't a bad kid, Clarke could see it. But she probably wasn't the best for Lumi if Clarke’s daughter hid such valuable information. Clarke asked for the guards to escort Cass out of the tower.
Clarke was halfway back to their family quarters when Clarke heard a door slamming and an indignant huff.
She found Lexa in the hallway, hands on her waist and face flushed with anger.
“She slammed the door on my face,” Lexa said in disbelief when Clarke approached.
Clarke shrugged, lips in a thin line.
“You just scared her girlfriend to death, Lexa. She's a teenager, what did you expect?”
“It wasn't that bad,” Lexa mumbled while knocking on Lumi’s door. When Clarke continued to walk towards their bedroom, Lexa asked behind her, “Aren't you going to help me?”
“That was all you.”
It took forty minutes for Clarke to cave in and walk back to the hallway, where Lumi’s door was ajar. She stopped before entering the room, silently spying the scene inside.
Lexa sat on the intricate bed, furs messed and pillows on the floor — probably from Lumi’s tantrum, she still did that at fifteen. Lexa’s boot lay obediently by the door, and the feet propped on the bed had a toe poking out from the sock. Lexa laid on the headboard, her pauldron carelessly thrown by the bedside.
A pile of dirty blonde hair laid on the Commander's lap. Lexa’s hand ran over the wild mane of Lumi’s hair, trying to tame it with the same care she claimed she could tame Clarke's.
Clarke felt her heart thumping, the certainty that days with their younger pup were numbered. Lumi’s first suitor wasn't approved, but one day she would find someone worthy of Lexa’s blessing.
“It's okay, baby,” Lexa whispered to the crying teen on her lap, and Clarke heard an answering sniff. “I am sure there is someone for you. There is no need to rush, child.”
Lumi’s hands tightened around Lexa’s waist, moving the furs. She asked something Clarke couldn't listen, but heard Lexa’s answering chuckle.
“You should ask her that.” Lexa looked up to find Clarke's eyes, as if she knew Clarke was there all along.
Clarke bit her lip, invading the little bubble between sire and pup and plopping herself on Lumi’s other side, resting her head on Lexa’s strong shoulder. She laced their hands over their daughter's hair.
Lumi wiggled her body between her parents and looked up to meet Clarke with soft blue eyes, red-rimmed. Her lips trembled and she hugged her mother.
“How did you know when you found the right alpha?”
Clarke kissed her daughter's forehead before answering in a calm voice, “It's not a breathtaking moment with fireworks, like in books. I — ” She looked at her side to find Lexa, silent and willing, plump lips bended in the softest of smiles. “I like to think it is the right one when you are not able to not forgive them, no matter what. When your heart wins over your brain no matter how hard you fight against it.” Clarke, looking down at Lumi, felt the kiss Lexa left on her cheek.
Lumi watched her parents, lips trembling.
Clarke laughed and hugged her daughter and wife.
“I'll let you two talk,” Lexa excused herself, slipping out of the bed. She leaned down once more to peck Clarke's lips. “I'll be waiting for you.”
“Gross!” Lumi complained, hands covering her eyes.
With a small pinch to Lumi’s feet under the covers, much like she used to do when Lumi was little, Lexa left the room.
Clarke waited until the click of the wooden door echoed in the silent bedroom, hand steadily threading through blonde hair.
“An Azgeda alpha, Lu? Seriously?”
“Was she mad?”
“Serah almost had to interfere.”
“Was Jake with his spear?”
Clarke couldn't suppress a small laugh. “Axe. But you should have told me.”
“But then she wouldn't have a chance!”
“She almost lost her finger.”
“No, I like her finger.”
“Let your mom hear that and she's going to lose another appendage.”