Chapter 9
Blood Earth Chapter 9
Pairing: Clexa
Rating: Children be wary (K+)
Clarke awoke with a low groan. A dull ache had started in her lower back due to sleeping in an almost upright position all night, but any regret she felt was quickly squashed when she took in the sight of Lexa, still sleeping, laying atop her, with arms encircling the blonde’s waist in a loose hug. The brunette’s head was still laying on her stomach, a gentle reassuring weight. Her breaths came in long slow draws, blowing out over Clarkes clothed torso, tickling any exposed skin that it could reach.
The sight was beautiful. Lexa’s face was relaxed, not furrowed by worry or regret. Unable to resist the urge, Clarke ran her fingers through the brown locks before her as she had last night, untangling the knots and snarls that had emerged through sleep. The older girl breathed in deeply, making Clarke pause, but she continued when Lexa burrow down deeper under the blankets, still asleep.
Clarke’s actions the night before had been completely intentional. She knew that Lexa would never make the first move due to the crushing guilt she felt for the Mountain. It was true that the blonde had been angry, furious even, and felt betrayed, but Lexa had done all she could to show how much she regretted leaving Clarke. Not for saving her people - the younger girl knew Lexa would never regret that - but leaving Clarke she would regret for a very, very long time.
To atone, she had tried to bring the Skykru into the Coalition, so she would never have to choose between her people and Clarke again. She had fought a prince for Clarke, she had made sure that her people weren’t harmed when the Coalition had every right to treat their prisoners however they chose. She had taken care of Clarke herself, when she could have easily assigned a healer. Thinking of all the things the girl cuddled in her lap had done for her made Clarke feel a wave of affection wash through her. Sighing happily, she lay back slowly, trying not to disturb the exhausted brunette, while she made herself comfortable.
This continued for a while, the relaxing calm and reprieve from the outside world, but it wasn’t to last as the sound of someone entering the tent drew her from her relaxation. It was still very early. The birds had only just started singing and the brightening of the tent was not enough to signal even mid morning. Whoever had entered the Heda’s tent without permission was either very important, or an assassin. Not wanting to wake the girl in her lap and possibly signal to the potential attacker that they were awake, Clarke reached carefully over to the table beside the bed where Lexa had deposited her weapons the day before. Grasping the brunettes dagger in her left hand, she hid it from sight with Lexa’s body. She then feigned sleep as the steps of booted feet grew closer.
‘It’s either this is the dumbest assassin ever or the rudest important person I’ll ever meet. At the very least they could have taken off their boots. We were doing so well with keeping the floor clean.’
She forced her thoughts to quiet as the intruder stopped outside the sleeping area. Carefully, Clarke watched through her eyelashes, prepared to strike should the need call for it. She let out a breath and opened her eyes fully when the sight of Titus emerged from between the curtains. Sighing, she reached back over to the table, returning the dagger to its proper place under the Flamekeeper’s critical gaze. Turning to fully looked at him, raising an eyebrow. She had no desire to wake Lex till it was necessary.
The bald mans mouth furrowed into a disapproving frown but understood the need for quiet. Tilting his head, he signaled for Clarke to wake Lexa, and retreated to the outer portion of the tent. Looking down at the sleeping girl before her, Clarke wished that she didn’t have to wake her but knew she must. They had duties to attend to, even if those duties had arrived much earlier than expected. Running a hand through the brunette’s hair and down to her shoulders, she gently massaged her back.
“Lexa, it’s time to wake up.”
She spoke quietly in what she hoped was a soothing voice. The older girl breathed in deeply, eyes fluttering. She flexed awkwardly, attempting to stretch while laying on top of Clarke. A low groan vibrated from Lexa’s throat as she fully relaxed back on top of the other girl.
“Five more minutes.”
The response was muffled by sleep and Clarke’s stomach as the brunette pressed her face into the blonde. Clarke held back her giggles at the adorable display of affection and laziness from the normally stoic girl. Unfortunately, they didn’t have five minutes. There were things to do and information to gather.
“We don’t have five minutes, Lex. Titus is here.”
Within seconds the brunette had stiffened, registering what Clarke had said. She attempted to get up quickly, although it only turned into an awkward vaulting off the bed, legs tangled by blankets, and on to the floor in a sprawled mess. Leaning over the edge of the bed, Clarke looked down at the slightly dazed girl. Lexa blinked up at her owlishly, slightly surprised at her current location. The expression brought forth the giggles that the blonde had been trying to stifle.
“Well, now that you’re up, we have to go meet with Titus.”
While still suppressing her mirth, Clarke helped Lexa into a standing position. The brunette, blushing slightly, coughed to regain her composure before going into the outer room. Clarke quickly followed after retrieving her sweater and the chip from the side table.
The older man stood, hands clasped behind his back, in an attempt to look professional even with the disapproving scowl that adorned his face. Lexa strode to stand in front of him, looking just as aggressive as Titus was making himself out to be. He was obviously displeased, and Lexa was displeased at him being displeased. Plus, both of them being displeased just made Clarke aggravated and irritable. She needed to put a stop to this before it went any further. The blonde was in no mood for a fight for dominance.
“Okay, you two, that’s enough, we have more important things to worry about.”
The two continued for another few moments before Titus glanced disapprovingly at her over Lexa’s shoulder.
“Heda, is it really wise to have Wanheda sit in on this? It was mentioned to me that it was an important matter.”
Lexa seethed, shocked that her most trusted advisor could be so disrespectful.
“This matter concerns Clarke’s people. She has every right to be a part of this meeting. She also has information that we don’t. Know your place Titus or I will put you there.”
The older man stepped back slightly at her sudden show of anger, obviously unused to seeing such a strong display of emotion. His boots shuffled slightly on the wood floor, tracking dirt wherever they stepped, making Lexa look down at them.
“Now, remove your boots and place them by the door. After that we shall begin this meeting.”
Clarke used all her will power not to snort at the incredulous look that adorned Titus’ face at his Commander’s words. Lexa and Clarke were currently on the same mental wave length and the blonde was loving it. With unbelievable willpower, she calmed herself as he took off his boots. Taking a deep breath to solidify her composure, she set the chip down in front of Titus.
“What do you know about this?”
The bald man took the chip carefully, examining it with a critical eye. After a moment, he reached into his robes and drew out a second identical chip. Clarke shared a look with Lexa, both questioning the same thing. How had Titus acquired a second chip?
“Titus…”
Lexa paused, her face stony.
“Where did you get this?”
He stood and began to pace. His posture spoke of one filled with self importance and arrogance. Lexa watched with disapproval in her eyes. Clarke could already tell that neither of them would like the answer. She also didn’t enjoy Titus’ current attitude, although it wasn’t her place to comment on it.
“I acquired it from a Skykru thief that was apprehended on the road to Polis. I took the Liberty of extracting information from him as well. He mentioned a man named Jaha.”
Titus continued prattling on but Clarke wasn’t listening. He had captured one of her people, granted they were stealing, but he had then decided to torture them without any form of contact or say from his people. Not only had he ignored the Skykru’s right to know about the crimes or the punishment, he had also completely undermined Lexa’s authority. The least that could be said was that she was pissed. However, before she could tear the old man a new one, Lexa beat her to the punch.
“Titus.”
Lexa’s voice was emotionless and deathly calm. Her tone sent a shiver running down Clarke’s spine. The brunette sat stiffly in her chair. Her hands, curled into fists, pressed into her thighs.
“Have you realized that you have fully admitted to undermining my authority, as well as ignored the right the Skykru have to sit in on a trial for the guilty, as well as overrode having a trial all together?”
The man stopped pacing, turning to look at both of them with stoic features.
“I do. As Flamekeeper, I do what I must to protect the Heda and the Flame.”
Lexa swallowed visibly, trying to contain her anger.
“Leave, interrogate Thelonious Jaha. Gain whatever information you can about this AI your thief mentioned.”
Clarke started. AI? She must have missed some information while she had stewed in her anger. She would ask Lexa about it later, once Titus had left. The bald man bowed low and left, but his air of self importance had not decreased, much to her aggravation. Before the blonde could turn to ask her counterpart about the AI, Lexa slammed her fists on the table. The sudden act of violence startled her, making her jump.
The brunette was hunched over, her face twisted into a mixture of fury and agony. Eyes wide and glaring, Lexa was tense beyond imagination. Any form of calm that had been present just a little earlier had been replaced by a tidal wave of emotions that threatened to breach the surface. At the sight of the older girl’s turmoil, Clarke forced her own boiling rage to quiet, knowing Lexa needed an open ear, not more anger. So, she sat and waited for the other girl to speak.
“He is like my father yet…”
The start of her words were mumbled, yet audible. Clarke said nothing, waiting for her to continue.
“He raised me like all the other Nightbloods from when we were children. His advice had always seemed sound, but now he…”
Lexa stuttered to a stop, slumping forward. All the tension her body had held was drained away as she cradled her head in her hands.
“He goes against our laws because he thinks he is doing it for the greater good. He acts as though he is above punishment, above me, but he says his actions are in the name of the Heda…”
The brunette paused for a long time, head resting in her hands with elbows propped on the table. Clarke shifted closer in her chair, thinking the older girl had finished, but just barely caught the last of her quiet words.
“Sometimes, I wonder. When Titus says what he does is for the protection and good of the Heda, does he mean me… or the Flame?”
In that moment, Clarke felt her heart crack. The girl before her was questioning the validity of her relationship with her father figure. Pushing back the swell of pride she felt at being the one Lexa confided in, she carefully laid her hand on the older girl’s shoulder. Now was not the time to be getting a big head. Lexa leaned into her touch slightly, seeking comfort. Drawing the brunette closer, she encircled her in her arms. While it was a bit of an awkward position, Clarke was determined to stay there as long as needed.
Lexa’s head rested on the blonde’s shoulder, face pressed into her neck. She didn’t feel the wetness of tears, but the intentional pressure from the other girl’s forehead on her pulse was enough to know that Lexa was wanting of this comfort, even if she wouldn’t say it aloud. After several minutes, they were forced away from their position when the sounds of the camp waking up began to filter through the thick canvas of the tent. Clarke suddenly felt exhausted. Even if she was mentally ready to get up and about, her body was not despite having just woken up. Add on the fact that dealing with Titus had been surprisingly energy sapping, she felt as though she could sleep the day away. She looked to Lexa, who looked just as exhausted as she felt.
“You should return to resting. I need to check the camp.”
Too tired to argue, Clarke nodded. All she could think to reply with was-
“Alright, hurry back.”