Strangers On A Bench

Song : Charlie Boy By The Lumineers

Lexa slowly awoke; feeling like someone was watching her. Indeed, Clarke had her head on Lexa’s naked chest, feet entangled with hers and the sheets, and was looking up at her with staring blue eyes.

“What?” Lexa whispered, her voice raspy from sleep.

“I love you” Clarke answered, not tiring her eyes off the Brunette. Lexa felt herself blushing; she had heard Clarke telling her she loved her before, of course, but like this, out of nowhere? It was something else.

“Oh you’re blushing” Clarke smiled as Lexa was putting both her arms around Clarke’s body, hiding her face in blonde hair.

“Don’t make fun of me” Lexa pouted, half-smiling. Clarke chuckled, lightly kissing her bare shoulders. Lexa shivered, of course, and it made Clarke smile even more.

Clarke was aware of the one-way sex they had had the previous night; and was kind of worried Lexa wasn’t too pleased with it. Lexa obviously sensed that Clarke was thinking too much.

“What’s on your mind?” Lexa asked, running her fingers on Clarke’s back.

Clarke mumbled something; too low for Lexa to understand.

“What was that?” Lexa chuckled.

“Are you disappointed, with, hum... Last night?” Clarke shyly asked, making Lexa raise her brows.

“What? What would I be disappointed?” She didn’t understand; they had made love for the first time, Clarke hadn’t shielded herself from her touch, had let Lexa touch her and kiss her all over her body. What was Clarke talking about?

Clarke sighed, hiding her face in Lexa’s chest.

“Clarke, what is it?” Lexa asked again, beginning to get worried by her girlfriend’s behaviour, “Talk to me, please”.

“I just... I know you didn’t finish, yesterday night” Clarke began to ramble, “so I know you’re probably kind of pissed off because I fell asleep and...”

“Clarke, will you stop?” Lexa chuckled, kissing Clarke’s forehead and surprising the Blonde, “I am not disappointed in anything. It was perfect, and I couldn’t ask for more.”

“You’re sure?” Clarke shyly whispered.

“Yes, I am sure” Lexa confirmed in her serious voice, “I love you, and it was perfect. You’re perfect” Lexa added in a murmur, as if it was her most guarded secret.  

“I love you too” Clarke happily sighed, putting a kiss on Lexa’s shoulder bone.

Lexa smiled. She was happy. Genuinely happy, like she hasn’t been for almost a year now. And she wasn’t feeling guilty, not anymore; she was happy to be happy. She had understood Costia would want that for her. She had been a real someone, Costia, always caring about others before herself. A bit like Clarke, actually. Costia would be happy for Lexa; she would even be proud, too. And Lexa’s smile widened even more when thinking about her past lover. She would never forget Costia; but her life and heart now belonged to the beautiful and amazing Blonde she had in her arms.

“Lexa” Clarke asked, breaking Lexa’s trail of thoughts.

“Yes?”

“I don’t know if I want to live here” Clarke confessed, making Lexa raise her brows.

“You don’t?” Lexa was a bit confused; she thought Clarke wanted to be near her friends, and the only thing stopping her was Lexa not in Arcadia with her. But now that they would have an apartment big enough for three to live in, wasn’t the problem solved?

“No, I don’t really” Clarke whispered, “I...” She stopped. Clarke was afraid Lexa would jump on the occasion for Ayden and her to leave her loft and come back live in Arcadia so she wouldn’t be bothered by them anymore.

But clever Lexa understood the problem, and spoke before Clarke could voice her insecurities. “Clarke, listen to me” she said, taking the Blonde’s face in her hands, “I only suggested having a new place here because I thought you wanted to be close to your friends, and that you didn’t like your old flat” Lexa explained, “but if you rather prefer we live at my apartment, I’m ok with it too!”

Clarke stared at Lexa, not very sure she had heard well. Lexa had said we; meaning she hadn’t had the intention to get rid of them. Still, she needed to be sure.

“So it’s not to get rid of us...?” Clarke asked, her voice shivering.

Lexa quickly removed herself from under Clarke to look the girl in the eyes. Why would Clarke think she wanted to get rid of Ayden and she?

“Clarke, I love you!” Lexa protested, “I don’t ever want to get rid of you! I...” Lexa trailed off in a sigh, choosing her words in her head.

“Clarke. I meant what I said yesterday” Lexa said, looking at her girlfriend with loving eyes, “I want and will follow you everywhere you want to go. I want to be by your side, whatever we are going through, wherever you want to live. We can stay at my place, if that’s what you wish, ok?”

“I love you” Clarke said, tears rolling down her cheeks and her voice broken with emotions.

“I love you too. Now, no more tears you’re going to soak my shirt” Lexa chuckled, making Clarke laugh in the process.  

Downstairs, Octavia was just awakening with a weird feeling. An arm was on her waist, but it was too light to be Lincoln’s. She opened her eyes and smiled why she to noticed Ayden, lying next to her, his hand gripped on Octavia’s shirt.

Octavia lightly stroked his hair, cherishing this moment. It was not like Ayden was a stranger to them, but the boy wasn’t that close to them either. It was part of Clarke’s fault, obviously, but not entirely; Ayden, even if he was still very young, had always feared adults who weren’t his mother.

Of course it had broke the delinquents’ hearts, to see that Clarke didn’t trust them enough to let Ayden near them as a baby; but what had been even more heart-breaking had been every time Ayden would withdraw from their touch, or every time he would lower his eyes in fear because they were only looking at him.

Of course they understand the reasons why now; Clarke was afraid of what Finn would do to Ayden or herself, and she had extended her fear to each one of them. Finn had been violent, and Ayden feared him too; leading the little boy to fear everyone except Clarke. Octavia knew it was all making sense now, with everything they had learned about Clarke’s situation, and was so glad the boy was able to sleep with her, next to Lincoln, without fearing something bad to happen to him. It was a big step ahead; and Octavia had the feeling it had a lot to do with Lexa and the new life Clarke seemed to have. With the new self Clarke seemed to be, even.

Like the others, Octavia had been a bit wary of Lexa first; it was allowable really, since Lexa appeared to be the most powerful woman on Earth, and they first feared Lexa was using Clarke to achieve some goals. But after seeing the two women interact, and seeing the way Ayden was already attached to Lexa, this couldn’t be wrong. But Octavia wasn’t naïve; if she had accepted it, she knew it probably wasn’t the case for everyone.

She carefully removed herself from Ayden’s embrace and got up. Lincoln wasn’t in bed anymore, so Octavia figured he must have already left for work. She made her way into the kitchen, took a bowl and filled it with cereals. On the kitchen’s counter, there was a hand-written note, left by Lincoln.

Love,

I went to work early and took Raven to the basement for a meeting she needed to attend. We will be back for lunch; they all insist we have a meal with everyone. I’ll bring back groceries.

See you in a few hours, Hodnes

Lincoln

Octavia smiled at her boyfriend’s words. Lincoln could seem intimidating at first sight, but with her he really was a teddy bear.

She brought her bowl into the living-room where Bellamy was looking at some files. He had the whole weekend off as he had made too many hours the last month, and he was so focused on whatever he was doing that he didn’t noticed his sister coming towards him and jumped when he felt her sitting down next to him.

“What are you doing?” The girl asked her brother.

“Finishing the building’s plans for Lexa to have a base to work on” Bellamy answered.

“That’s not really your job” Octavia frowned, “why are you the one doing it? You’re no architect”

“I know that” Bellamy huffed, “but I just need to be sure everyone will have enough space and all”.

Octavia hummed, eating her cereals.

A few minutes later, Clarke and Lexa were entering the loft.

“Hi there” Octavia said, and smirked when she noticed the look on Clarke’s face. She had that weird expression she always had when something happened and she wants to hide it.

Oh my god, she totally got laid last night, the thought hit Octavia’s brain as her smile was widening. Clarke began to blush, well knowing Octavia had understood, as Lexa was looking between the two of them confused. Bellamy finally coughed.

“Hi Clarke, hello Lexa” he greeted them. He was going to say something else but was interrupted by a tiny man running full speed towards Lexa and Clarke.

“Mommy! Yexa! You’re back!” he happily shouted, hugging their legs and making them laugh at his enthusiasm.

“Hey there honey” Clarke said, “Did you sleep well?”

“Yeah!” he said, “I slept between uncle Lincoln and O! They protected me! Did you see how big their muscles are?”

It made the adults laugh again, and warmed Clarke’s heart. Finally, her son was opening up to adults, as she was opening up too.

“Do you want to go out for breakfast Ayden?” Clarke asked, and chuckled at the big smile on her son’s face, “ok so go get dressed, quick!”

Ayden furiously nodded and ran into the O’s bedroom to put some clothes on.

“I’m happy things are working between the two of you” Bellamy said with a big smile.

Octavia saw Clarke nod and Lexa slide an arm around Clarke’s waist. She frowned, because her brother’s behaviour was a bit weird.

“So, when do you need help to bring all of your stuff here in the new flat?” He then asked.

“Bellamy” Clarke started, “I’m not sure we are going to...” She was cut off by him.

“It’s ok I get it if you haven’t thought about a date yet, you’ll tell me!” he said and left the room before Clarke could protest.

Octavia sighed, because her brother had something in mind, she was sure of that. And knowing him... It couldn’t be good.

“Octavia, I...” Clarke tried to speak.

“It’s ok Clarke” Octavia gently answered with a smile, “We get it if you can’t live in Arcadia. We just care if you feel happy and safe. We know that doesn’t mean you’re forgetting about us and we’re losing you. Time to do what you want, Clarkey” she ended her sentence with a wink as Ayden was coming towards them, all dressed up.

“Thank you, O” Clarke said, moving to hug her friend. It surprised Octavia first, but she was quick to hug the Blonde back.

Then, Lexa, Clarke and Ayden left the loft to go find a place to have a proper breakfast. 

Bellamy came back into the living-room and sat on the couch, turning the TV off. Octavia sat next to him as she eying her brother. Bellamy noticed it, of course.

“What, O?” he said, a bit annoyed at being stared at.

“What are you doing?” Octavia coldly asked.

“What?” Bellamy frowned.

“With Clarke. Why are you suddenly rooting for Clarke and Lexa to be together?” Octavia asked again, because it was so weird. Not a month earlier, Bellamy had been opposed to Lexa being in Clarke’s life, and now he was practically forcing them to move together here in Arcadia.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about” Bellamy shrugged, trying to pretend as if he didn’t really know.

“Bellamy, Clarke doesn’t want to come back live here. She wants to stay at Lexa’s, with Lexa” Octavia said.

“No” Bellamy raised his brows, surprised by her sister’s words, “Yesterday she said she agreed with...”

“She only agreed because she couldn’t say no when everyone was looking at her Bell!” Octavia began to raise her voice, “didn’t you see the look on her face? She wasn’t even aware of Lexa and you talking about living arrangements for us!”

“But...” Bellamy tried to protest, only to be cut off by his pissed sister.

“There’s not but, Bellamy” Octavia hissed, “Clarke is doing better but she’s still hurt. And you’re not helping!”

“I just thought that...” Bellamy trailed off as if he was going to say something he would regret.

Octavia noticed, and it angered her even more. “You thought what? That if she came back here, she would see she wants her old life back?”

At the ashamed face Bellamy was wearing right now, Octavia could only deduce she was right. “What is wrong with you?!” She pushed him in the shoulder.

“I just thought that pushing Clarke with Lexa would make her realise they are moving too fast, ok?!” Bellamy shouted, “Realise that her real family is here, in Arcadia with us, not with that girl!” he ended his sentence, only to cover his mouth in horror at the second the words were out.

Octavia’s eyes widened at her brother’s words.

“Don’t tell Clarke...” Bellamy whined, clearly knowing there was no going back from what he had just said.

Octavia had a cold look, and it was only making Bellamy feel worse.

“Listen to me Bellamy” Octavia said through gritted teeth, “Lexa has done a lot more for Clarke in a single month than us in the lifetime we’ve known her. Clarke always, always, took care of us, it’s about damn time she has someone to take care of her for a change. Her relationship with Lexa, this is Clarke’s business, not ours, do you hear me? She’s old and wise enough to make her own decisions”.

Octavia took her coat and opened the door to leave.

“If you care for her” she added turning back to face him, “you would let her be with Lexa without trying to change her mind. And if you’re stupid enough to put yourself between the two of them, then...” Octavia trailed off.

Bellamy looked up at his sister; he knew there would be no coming back from her next words, either.

“... Then you’re no brother of mine” Octavia spit, banging the door behind her, leaving a very confused and ashamed Bellamy alone in the flat.

Anya was leading Raven into corridors Raven had no idea they existed. I mean, she thought she had already visited the whole lair yesterday; it seemed like she hadn’t, after all.

“Again I’m sorry for making you come down here when you only start on Monday” Anya apologized for what was like the tenth time in half an hour, “I really need to make you look at something”.

Raven nodded, but something hit her attention. Yesterday, Anya had said she wanted Raven to meet new people. And now, she wanted to show her something? That was weird. Like, creepy weird. Because Anya was part of a secret organisation, and who knew what those people could do or have in mind?

“This is it” Anya said, opening a door and holding it open for Raven.

They entered into a big room. Actually it wasn’t that big but the lack of real furniture was making it look big. Big screens –Raven had never seen screens that big- were hanging on every wall. People were fussing around, taping things on keyboards and moving their hands in the air, making holograms move and stuff.

“This is high tech you have here” Raven said, clearly impressed. She had seen stuff like this before of course, but never that much at the same place.

Anya hummed and led Raven to one of the post. Actually it was more like a desk with two keyboards in front of six different screens side by side. Anya pulled the chair for Raven to sit on. Raven did, but frowned when she noticed the serious look on Anya’s face. Something was wrong; at least, something was preoccupying the girl.

“What is it, Anya?” Raven asked, leaving her joking self aside for once.

Anya sighed. “I need you to look into some special files.”

“Ok..?” Raven said, not really understanding what big deal it was.

“Those files had been classified for years” Anya added, “and they contain vital information”.

“Ok” Raven said again, “But why me? I mean, you have a bunch of technicians, they could do it, it’s not like it’s...”

“Raven” Anya interrupted her, “this is serious. Those files... Those files are about you.”

Raven’s eyes shot open. “Me?”

“Yes. I mean, all of you” Anya clarified.

“Oh. You mean the whole crew”.

“Yes” Anya nodded.

“What is it?” Raven asked, turning the computer –if you could call that a computer- on.

As Anya wasn’t answering, Raven stopped looking at the screen to look at the taller girl.

“Anya. You’re making me work on something classified, which seems to concern me and every each of my friends. You’ve got to tell me what this is about”.

Anya sighed, a pulled a chair to herself. “Raven this is top secret. You can’t talk about it with anyone, anyone”

“But, what about...” Raven started to protest, but Anya didn’t give her time to do so.

“No telling your friends, nothing about what I’m going to tell you or about what we will find out is to go out of this place, is that clear?” Anya said in her most serious voice.

“But...”

“No telling Clarke, either” Anya shook her head, reading Raven’s mind.

“I can’t do that” Raven protested, “I can’t hide something from them, from her, if...”

“Raven please. You have to promise. We will tell them. Just, not now” Anya sighed.

Raven finally nodded, very confused and intrigued about all this. What data was worth keeping secrets from all of her friends?

“Thank you” Anya said. “Did you hear about the Sky people?”

Raven shook her head no.

“About Skaikru?” Anya tried again.

Raven shook her head no again, but remembered something. “Well, I think there’s like a part of the city named Skaikru, and there’s a Skaikru coffee too. That’s all I know.”

“You do know about the twelve companies Lexa leads, yes?” Anya then asked.

“Yes I do. Together, they make Coalition Corp. You’re the head of one of them” Raven answered.

“Indeed. I am the head of Trikru Company” Anya said, hoping it would ring a bell for Raven.

“Yes I know that” Raven chuckled, “that’s the company I work in, same for Octavia... Wait” Raven suddenly said. “Trikru. Skaikru. They sound the same”.

Anya nodded.

“I know the names of the twelve companies of Coalition Corp. Trikru. Sankru. Floukru” Raven thought at loud, “but there’s not Skaikru Company. Is Skaikru a Company I’ve never heard of? Like, one not part of Coalition Corp?”

“They were part of the Coalition, years ago” Anya sighed. “They were the thirteenth company Lexa was supposed to have”.

“What happened?” Raven frowned.

“The company was destroyed”.

“Destroyed? How can you destroy a company?” Raven raised her brows, not really knowing what Anya was trying to tell her.

“Skaikru’s leaders were assassinated or disappeared, one way or another. Every person working for Skaikru died. We think some of them tried to escape and succeeded. The company died, like this” Anya snapped her fingers. “Every child born Skaikru died from a weird disease. Well, not all of them”.

Raven was very confused. “Anya, I don’t understand. If Skaikru was a company, how could children be born Skaikru? It doesn’t make sense!”

“Yes it does” Anya explained. “Fifty years ago, the thirteen companies were ruling the continent, each one in specific places, as if they were tribes or separated countries. You belonged to a clan, to the company leading the town you were born in. Polis City was the only city with people from every company, because of it being the capital. Polis was, and is still, divided in districts with the companies’ names. But today not a lot of people know about it”.  

“But what does it have to do with us?” Raven was getting upset.

“Crack the files open, please” Anya gestured on the screen. Raven mumbled something the other girl didn’t understand but did as she was told. It took a few minutes of Raven typing furiously on the keyboard, but she managed to open the files.

A sort of list appeared on the screen and Anya was up in a second. “I knew it” She whispered, confusing Raven even more. 

“What? What is it?” Raven asked, not seeing anything except random names scrolling.

Anya didn’t answer and took the keyboard from Raven’s hands and typed on it. “There” she said, pointing at the screen.

Raven’s eyes widened. “That’s my name. Raven Reyes. That’s me!” Raven said, not believing it, “Why is my name on this fucking weird list?” And as she was seeing that Anya wasn’t about to explain things to her, she insisted. “Anya, you have to tell me now”.

Anya still didn’t say anything and typed something again. It was Monty’s name. Then, Anya showed her the names of all her friends from high school. Bellamy. Octavia. Monty, Jasper, Harper. Murphy. But then, she noticed something on the list. Names were written in three different colours; red, blue and yellow.

“What is the meaning of this...?” Raven whispered, staring at the screen. Because really, there was nothing else she could do.

“This is a list of every Skaikru ever identified” Anya carefully began.

“Ok, so... Wait, what?” Raven said, not sure she had heard well, “Every Skaikru? But that would mean... No, that’s impossible. We’re not Skaikru. We are not part of anything!” Raven protested.

“Come on Raven, think” Anya asked, “Deep inside you, you know it makes sense. A lot of you have dead parents or parents you don’t know about”.

“That doesn’t mean anything” Raven huffed.

“Yes it does” Anya insisted, “didn’t any of you ever wonder why your lives had been so hard, so weird? Every one of you had had a terrible childhood, and yet you found yourselves all together at the same school? All with crappy, drunk, dead or missing parents? Doesn’t it ring a bell to you Raven?”

“I... I don’t know anymore...” Raven sadly sighed. Everything was messing with her head. It was true none of them had had a happy childhood. Maybe Clarke, thanks to her dad, but still. It was true they had all found each other in high school and became friends because their lives were the same creepy ones. But the high school they went to was kind of known for teaching to kids with problems, so it didn’t mean anything. Right?

“Look” Anya said, “I’m not trying to confuse you. But listen to me. You, all of the original group, are the descendants of the last Skaikru members. And look” Anya pointed again at the screen.

“Three colours. I believe each one has a signification; but I don’t know which yet.” Anya explained.

Raven frowned, and scrolled through the screen, reading the names and looking at the colour they had.

“Red is for dead people” Raven said after a while. Anya raised a brow.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes I am” Raven confirmed, showing a name to Anya, “This one, Charlotte, killed herself in Arcadia. We all saw her dead body at the foot of the building.”

“I am sorry” Anya murmured. Raven nodded as a thank you.

“Wells Jaha. Clarke’s best friend. Died by a stray bullet. Zoe Monroe, died in a secret operation with Octavia”.

“I remember this one” Anya hummed. It had been a hard time for the team; losing one of their fellows.

“This is my mother’s name. And this is my father” Raven continued, “I knew my father had died, but I wasn’t aware my mother had joined him, too”.

“I am sorry Raven” Anya repeated, only to be shushed by Raven.

“Don’t be. She never was a mother to me”.

“This one, Aurora Blake, is Bellamy’s and Octavia’s mother” Raven continued, “All those names are real dead people, Anya. A red name means a dead person.”

“Ok. So there’re two more colours to figure out. What do you think they mean?” Anya asked.

“I don’t know” Raven sighed, “but it seems like all of our names are in yellow” and then frowned, “except Abby. Abby is written in blue. That’s weird”.

“Who’s... Abby Griffin?” Anya read the screen and then her eyes widened, “Wait, Griffin, as in....?” Anya asked.

“As in Clarke Griffin, yes. Her mother” Raven shrugged.

Anya hummed. She didn’t think one of the kids still had living relatives, but she was glad learning it was not the case. “Abby Griffin, Thelonius Jaha and Marcus Kane were the last leaders of Skaikru” Anya said.

It was Raven’s eyes’ turn to widen. That couldn’t be possible.

“Impossible. Jaha was a cop” Raven protested, “Abby is a doctor and Kane is one of Clarke’s neighbour! They didn’t lead a company or anything!”

“This is the truth, Raven” Anya said, typing on the keyboard to open another file, showing the board of Skaikru Company.

Raven stared at the screen, completely thoughtless. She couldn’t believe none of them was aware of all this mess. Maybe their lives had been living hells for a reason, after all.

“Ok so. Who’s in yellow, except you and your friends?” Anya asked, “Do you recognise some names?”

“No I don’t, Anya!” Raven huffed, “I just learned we were part of some company or something, how do you want me to recognise names? I was alone all my life, we don’t know anyone except our parents names!”

“I’m sorry Raven” Anya said, “I am not trying to piss you off”.

“Yes, I know, it’s ok” Raven sighed, “it’s just a lot to take in at the same time”.

Anya nodded.

“What does it implies?” Raven asked after a few silent minutes at looking at the screen.

“What does what implies?”

“Us being the last Skaikru members” Raven clarified.

Anya leaned on her chair with a sigh. She knew she probably shouldn’t tell Raven about it – she had even convinced Indra not to tell them – but Raven was smart; she would probably figure it out on her own anyway.

“Have you ever heard of Azgeda Company?” Anya asked.

“They’re making frozen food products, right?”

“Yes” Anya nodded, “They are the Company the less loyal to Lexa and Coalition Corp”.

“Why?”

“Nia White, the head of Azgeda, wants to take Lexa’s place. At least, she wants to rule Coalition Corp. She’s a real bitch” Anya said through gritted teeth.

Raven raised her brows, because she had never heard Anya swear before.

“We think they are behind the destruction of Skaikru” Anya added, careful with her words.

“Azgeda brought down Skaikru? What does that even mean?” Raven asked a bit annoyed with not understanding what Anya was trying to tell her.

“Ok I’m going to make it simple” Anya sighed. “We think Azgeda is behind the murders and disappearances of Skaikru people. This list,” Anya pointed the screen, “Was found in Azgeda archives a few years ago”.

“It’s like they listed every Skaikru and took them down one by one” Raven pensively said.

“That’s what we think too” Anya nodded. “And since there wasn’t anyone left to claim the company, it died. Well, Skaikru Company is still up, but without anyone to lead it.”

“I get that. What does it have to do with us though?” Raven asked.

“If we look at the list, there’s not a lot of Skaikru still alive” Anya started, “But some of you survived”

“That’s obvious” Raven snorted, raising her brow at Anya because she knew the girl was hiding something.

Anya took a deep breath. “Raven. You and your friends are the last Skaikru alive, when everyone thought they all died.” Anya watched the Brunette’s face as understanding was imprinting itself on her face.

“We could claim Skaikru Company back” Raven whispered. Anya nodded.

But then, Raven frowned when she thought about something. “Anya. Is Lexa aware of this?”

“She’s aware the Skaikru people died, yes” Anya said, not really understanding Raven’s question.

“The little bitch” Raven hissed, “of course she would have found Clarke Griffin, daughter of the last leader of Skaikru, to use her to bring the company back in Coalition Corp” Raven angrily said, “Of course such an important character as Lexa would only care for money and power and...”

“STOP, Raven!” Anya shouted to make the girl stop speaking. She waited as Raven was looking at her with surprised eyes. “Lexa knows about Skaikru’s faith, that’s true, but she doesn’t even know Clarke’s last name!”

Raven’s mouth shaped in an “o” form, realising the presumptions she had made on Anya’s little cousin.

“Lexa doesn’t know you’re all Skaikru. Only Indra and I know. And even if she had known, she would have never, never, used a woman like this.”

“I’m sorry Anya” Raven apologised, “It’s just so complicated....”’

Anya nodded as silence was settling between the two women.

“So, what’s next?” Raven asked after a while.

“Next,” Anya said, “We have to find anything we can on Skaikru”.

Raven nodded as they both began to type on keyboards, eyes locked on the screens.