The bar was packed, the low hum of conversation blending with the occasional burst of laughter and the rhythmic clinking of glasses. Lexa sat on a stool at the bar counter with Anya, while Lincoln, who owned the place, was behind the counter, helping his staff before his girlfriend, Octavia, arrived. Today was the day Lexa was finally supposed to meet her friends, since the last time she had introduced them, she had been away on a work trip.
But right now, her friends were, as always, getting on her case.
“I don’t get it.” Anya said, swirling her drink. “Why do you insist on being the most tragically single person I know?”
Lexa rolled her eyes. “I don’t insist on anything.”
Lincoln chuckled. “I think what Anya is trying to say—rudely—is that you could start to put yourself out there a little.”
“I do put myself out there.”
Anya scoffed. “Name one time.”
Lexa opened her mouth, then closed it.
“It’s just that, we think, you spend too much time with your nose stuck in your job, Lexa.” Lincoln added, trying to soften the teasing.
Before Anya could launch into a full lecture, her eyes caught something across the bar. She smirked and nudged Lexa. “Okay, new plan. See that hot woman over there?”
Lexa followed her gaze to a red head standing at the counter, sipping a drink.
Lexa frowned. “What? No.”
Anya grinned. “Oh, come on. I know she’s not exactly your type—”
“I don’t have a type.”
“Oh, you do,” Lincoln interjected with a smirk.
“And how would you know?” Lexa defied.
Anya gave her a deadpan look. “That’s not the point.”
“And what is your point?” Lexa asked warily.
“The point is, go over there and flirt with her. Just to get the rust off, okay? Because, God knows, you must be rusty.”
“That’s—” Lexa floundered before huffing. “Fine.”
“Go get ’er,” Anya smirked.
Lincoln held his thumbs up in encouragement.
Lexa straightened her shoulders, took a deep breath, and made her way over to the other side of the bar.
—
Lexa arrived at the woman’s side and cleared her throat. “Hey, uh—hello. Um.”
The woman turned, raising a brow. “Hi?”
Lexa nodded. “Hi. You, uh—you come here… often?”
The woman gave her an amused look. “First time, actually.”
Lexa swallowed. “Cool, cool. That’s cool. Very cool.”
An awkward pause stretched between them.
Lexa felt herself sweating. She scrambled for something—anything—to say. “So, uh… do you… like… stuff?”
The woman squinted. “Do I like… stuff?”
Oh god.
“Yes?”
Anya, appearing out of nowhere, clapped a hand on Lexa’s shoulder. “Okay. That’s enough, champ.”
Lexa turned, horrified. “What—”
“Hi.” Anya said smoothly, ignoring Lexa’s distress. “I’m Anya. And you are?”
The woman, now smiling, shook Anya’s hand. “Elena.”
Lexa watched as Anya lifted the woman’s hand and pressed a kiss to it. “Beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”
Lexa scowled. “Oh, come on.” she mumbled.
Anya grinned and leaned toward Lexa, whispering, “It’s not my fault you talk like an alien trying to mimic human speech.”
Completely mortified, Lexa turned and all but fled to an empty space not far from them, sinking onto a stool. She groaned, pressing her forehead to the counter. “I hate everything.”
“Wow. That was… hard to watch.”
A voice beside her startled her, and Lexa turned quickly, only to freeze when she saw the woman next to her.
She was the most beautiful woman Lexa had ever seen. Golden blonde hair framed a face that seemed effortlessly radiant, the warm glow of the bar lights catching on the strands and making them shine. Blue eyes—bright, sharp, and full of amusement—studied her with an almost mischievous glint. And that smile. A devastating, lopsided grin that made Lexa's stomach do something ridiculous.
Now that—if Lexa had a type—was her type.
Lexa tried but her mouth was suddenly incapable of forming coherent words. “I—my name is… uh.”
Her brain failed her entirely, and what came out was not her name, but a weird, garbled version of it. Something like 'Leshuh'.
The blonde blinked. Then, to Lexa’s absolute horror, she smiled and held up her left hand, flashing a ring. “You can relax. I’m taken.”
Lexa exhaled deeply, shoulders dropping. She didn’t know if it was from relief or disappointment. “Oh. Good.”
The woman arched a brow. “Good?”
Lexa turned red. “No! I mean—not good. I mean— it’s good because I can stop embarrassing myself.”
The blonde chuckled. “It might be a little too late for that.”
Before Lexa could say anything, her phone buzzed with a message. She glanced down—Lincoln, calling her over to a table because Octavia had just arrived.
She hesitated for a second, torn between fleeing the scene entirely and staying just a little longer. But no—this was already bad enough. At least now she had an excuse to escape before she made it worse.
She turned back to the blonde, who was still watching her with that stupidly charming smirk. “Well, uh… it was nice—uh, you know, talking. Or… trying to.”
The blonde laughed, tilting her head. “Sure.”
Lexa exhaled sharply and stood, resisting the urge to groan at herself. She should feel relieved. The woman was taken, which meant there was no pressure, no need to impress, no risk of further humiliating herself.
So why did she feel the tiniest sting of disappointment as she walked away?
—
“Lex, meet Octavia’s friend.” Lincoln said as she approached.
Lexa made her way over to them, where Octavia stood beside him with her arm wrapped around his waist, and another woman with dark hair and a cocky smile stood close by, sipping her drink.
“What’s up? I’m Raven.” Raven gave Lexa a quick once-over and smirked. “So you’re the one Lincoln’s always talking about.”
Lexa frowned. “That depends on what he’s saying.”
“Nothing bad.” Lincoln assured her with a laugh. “Mostly about how you’re married to your job.”
Lexa rolled her eyes, choosing to ignore her friend. “Well, Raven, it’s nice to meet you. Octavia talks a lot about you, too.” She gave her a friendly smile.
Raven looked at her friend with narrowed eyes. "All good things, I hope."
Octavia smirked. “Now, that’s impossible, Rae.”
Raven scoffed, nudging Octavia's shoulder. "I am an absolute delight. You wouldn't dare say anything bad."
Octavia took a long sip of her drink before responding, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh, I dared."
Lexa chuckled, watching the easy dynamic between them. It was clear that there was a solid friendship between the two, filled with playful jabs and unspoken understanding.
Then Octavia glanced around the bar, scanning the crowd with a slight frown. “My other friend should be here by now..." Her expression brightened suddenly. "Oh! There she is! Clarke!"
Lexa followed Octavia’s gaze, turning in the direction she pointed—and immediately regretted it.
Her stomach dropped.
Of course.
Of course, the stunning blonde she had just embarrassed herself in front of was Octavia’s friend.
Clarke was weaving through the crowd effortlessly, golden hair shining under the warm glow of the bar lights. There was an ease in the way she moved, as if she belonged everywhere she went. The amused smirk Lexa had seen earlier was replaced by a full-blown smile, and Lexa cursed internally at how unfairly attractive she was. And not at all single, Lexa reminded herself.
When Clarke finally reached them, she greeted Octavia and Raven first exchanging easy laughter and banter before moving to Lincoln hugging him.
“So, Lexa, this is Clake Griffin. The other half of Octavia’s best buddies.” Lincoln grinned
And then, finally, her piercing blue eyes landed on Lexa.
Lexa tensed.
Clarke’s smile stretched into something mischievous. "Hey, Leshuh."
Lexa felt herself die a little inside. Heat crept up her neck, her brain scrambling to find an answer. Anya, who had suddenly appeared beside her again, let out a loud snort.
"Oh, this is fantastic.” Anya said, clearly reveling in Lexa’s suffering.
Clarke’s gaze lingered on Lexa for a beat longer than necessary before she turned back to the group, seamlessly blending into the conversation. Meanwhile, Lexa was still trying to reboot her entire system.
Eventually, the drinks flowed, and the atmosphere grew warmer. The conversation bounced between playful teasing and deeper discussions, laughter ringing over the background music. Anya had fully inserted herself into the group, engaging in a competitive drinking challenge with Raven that neither of them seemed willing to lose.
At some point, Octavia was recounting a story about how Lincoln tried to win her heart when they met at the gym, with dramatic reenactments. Clarke was laughing beside Lexa, her body leaning in ever so slightly, close enough that Lexa could catch a hint of her perfume—something light, citrusy, and entirely too distracting.
And Lexa was in trouble.
Because Clarke was taken.
Lexa needed to remind herself… again.
After a while, Lincoln leaned back in his seat and stretched. "Alright, as much as I love this place, I spend way too much time here. Do you guys want to head to our place instead? We can keep drinking there."
The group murmured their agreement, finishing off their drinks and gathering their things, ready to continue the night elsewhere. As they made their way out of the bar, Lexa exhaled slowly, steeling herself for the rest of the night.
—
Lexa, Anya and Lincoln’s apartment was comfortably chaotic—worn-in couches, a coffee table littered with half-empty drinks, and the distant sound of Raven arguing with Anya over which classic rock band was superior. Lexa sat stiffly on the couch, hands clasped together, trying very hard to focus on anything except the blonde that just seated beside her.
Clarke Griffin was close. Too close. Close enough that Lexa could feel the warmth radiating from her arm, and could catch the scent of citrus and something subtly floral. It was distracting.
“So. Lexa.” Clarke began, tilting her head toward Lexa. “Why weren’t you at the big ‘friends meet friends’ dinner Lincoln and Octavia put together last month?”
Lexa cleared her throat. “Work.”
Clarke raised an eyebrow. “That’s it? Just ‘work’?”
Lexa sighed. “I had a deadline. I do freelance consulting, and sometimes that means traveling for work. The projects pile up fast.”
Clarke looked at her with big eyes. “Traveling? That’s cool. Where do you usually go?”
Lexa shrugged. “It depends on the client. I’ve been to a few different cities recently. Mostly just airports and conference rooms, though.”
Clarke tilted her head. “Still, that sounds exciting.”
Lexa huffed a quiet laugh. “Exciting is one word for it. What about you? What do you do?”
"I'm a pediatrician."
Of course.
Of course, she’s a doctor.
A kids' doctor.
“Wow. That’s impressive”
Clarke hummed with a small smile “I thought maybe you were avoiding it.”
"Avoiding it?"
"Meeting the 'friends'. We have gone out a few times since that dinner and you never went to any of those. But Lincoln and Anya talked a lot about you."
“Oh” Lexa cleared her throat. “I wasn’t avoiding it, it’s just… I can get really busy with work, you know?”
Clarke nodded. “I do.”
They sat in silence for a beat until Clarke nudged her lightly. “So... I’ve been thinking…”
Lexa turned her head warily. “Okay?”
Clarke looked at her, her smile widening. “You’re terrible at flirting.”
Lexa groaned and dropped her head into her hands. “Is this about earlier? Because I’d really love to forget about that forever.”
“Nope. Not happening.” Clarke grinned. “But lucky for you, I’m feeling generous. I’m going to teach you.”
Lexa blinked. “Teach me?”
“Yeah. Flirting lessons. Right now.”
Lexa frowned. “That’s unnecessary.”
Clarke shrugged. “But it’ll be so fun for me.”
Lexa exhaled sharply, resigned. “Fine. If it’ll make you happy.”
Clarke’s eyes twinkled. “It will.” She straightened up and cleared her throat.“Okay, let’s pretend we’re at the bar. Imagine I’m a very pretty woman.”
Well, that part’s not hard to imagine.
She dramatically flipped her hair, adjusted her shirt slightly so her cleavage was more visible, and sighed dreamily. “Oh, I’m sooo thirsty,” she cooed, batting her lashes. “I sure wish someone would buy me a drink.”
Lexa was using every ounce of self-control she had to not look down at Clarke's... assets.
“I want- I was wondering- maybe - perchance—”
Clarke’s eyes widened. “Perchance?”
Lexa groaned. “That was—no. I meant—” She cleared her throat. “You’re a swell kind of gal.”
Clarke stared at her. “Lexa.”
“What?”
“That’s worse.”
Lexa clenched her jaw. “Okay, wait.” She squared her shoulders, deepened her voice, and said, “Hey girl, what your name is.”
Clarke made an actual choking sound. “Oh my God.”
Lexa winced. “No good?”
“No good,” Clarke confirmed, wheezing through her laughter.
Lexa inhaled sharply, grasping at the last shreds of her dignity. She locked eyes with Clarke, blue and amused, and summoned every ounce of nonexistent charm she had.
Say something smooth. Something clever.
“What that thang do?”
The words left her mouth before she could stop them. Her soul immediately departed her body.
Clarke nearly fell off the couch.
“Oh my God, Lexa.” Clarke clutched her stomach, unable to breathe from laughter. “What—that—where did you even—?”
Lexa crossed her arms, cheeks burning. “You said practice.”
“I didn’t say commit crimes against the art of seduction.” Clarke wiped at her eyes, trying to compose herself. She pointed at Lexa, still grinning. “You are actually hopeless.”
Lexa huffed. “Or maybe I’m just ahead of my time.”
Clarke shook her head, still giggling. “No, you’re definitely not.”
Lexa sighed dramatically. “So, what? You’re just going to make fun of me, or are you actually going to teach me?”
Clarke’s smirk returned, her blue eyes glinting with mischief. “Oh, don’t worry. I’m going to teach you. We’re just getting started.” She rubbed her hands together, clearly delighted.
Lexa had a feeling she was in for a long night.
—
Lexa had faced many challenges in her life. She had closed high-stakes business deals, navigated international airports on zero hours of sleep, and even once survived a weekend trip with Anya and Lincoln that involved a lost rental car and a near-death experience with a rogue seagull. But nothing—absolutely nothing—was as challenging as learning how to flirt with Clarke Griffin as her instructor.
The lessons started simple enough.
“Okay, eye contact,” Clarke said, leaning back against the couch. “It’s crucial. It makes people feel like you’re confident and that you care.”
Lexa nodded. “Right. Eye contact. Got it.”
Clarke smiled. “Okay, now, try it with me.”
Lexa turned to face her and locked eyes with Clarke’s bright blue ones.
Immediately, her brain stopped functioning.
Clarke tilted her head. “Uh, Lexa?”
Lexa, still frozen, blinked exactly once. Then twice.
“Lexa, you have to actually blink and breathe, or you’ll look like a serial killer,” Clarke teased.
Lexa exhaled quickly and looked away. “Right. Cool. Normal eye contact. I can do that.”
Clarke chuckled. “Sure, we’ll come back to that one. Let’s try casual compliments.”
Lexa nodded. “I can do compliments.”
“Alright.” Clarke leaned in slightly. “What would you say to impress me?”
Lexa thought for a moment “Your hair is… like, really nice. Like sunshine. Or—no, not sunshine, that’s too much—uh, like, wheat?”
Clarke’s lips twitched. “Like wheat?”
Lexa groaned. “I mean, in a good way! Like, if wheat was very pretty.”
Clarke bit her lip, clearly trying not to laugh. “Can’t say I’ve heard that one before.”
“Ugh. Next.”
They moved on to body language.
"Alright, body language, let me show you how it’s done," Clarke said, shifting slightly closer to Lexa. "You have to make someone feel like they’re the only person in the room."
Before Lexa could react, Clarke placed a hand on Lexa’s knee and leaned in just enough for Lexa to catch the faint scent of her perfume. Then Clarke tilted her head, her blue eyes locking onto Lexa’s with a slow smile. "There must be something wrong with my eyes—I can't seem to take them off of you.”
Her mouth opened, but absolutely no words came out. Clarke’s voice had dipped just slightly, husky and confident, and Lexa suddenly forgot how to breathe.
Lexa’s brain promptly stopped functioning.
Clarke grinned, pulling back. "See? That’s how it’s done."
Lexa blinked rapidly, willing her brain to restart. Clarke is taken. Clarke is taken. Clarke is— "Yep. Uh-huh. Got it. Totally. Makes sense."
Clarke chuckled. "So you understand that?"
"Yeah. Definitely. Got that.” Lexa insisted, sitting rigidly as Clarke leaned back.
“Okay, so subtle touches help build connection.” Clarke cleared her throat. “Like a light hand on the arm when you’re laughing.”
Lexa nodded and, determined to prove herself, reached out to place a casual hand on Clarke’s arm.
Except she somehow miscalculated the distance and fully palmed Clarke’s bicep like she was checking for muscle mass.
Clarke raised an eyebrow. “Lexa, are you… assessing my strength?”
Lexa yanked her hand back so fast she nearly dislocated her shoulder. “No! That was—it was meant to be casual.”
Clarke nodded, her bottom lip between her teeth. “Casual.”
They continued with the lessons, but Lexa found herself getting frustrated with how bad she was at it. How could she be so confident when working with clients, but at the sight of a beautiful woman, she just… disappeared?
Clarke must have picked up on her feelings because, instead of teasing her again, she softened. Her voice gentled, her posture relaxed, and when she spoke next, it wasn’t a challenge—it was encouragement.
The blonde tilts her head, thinking. “Let’s try something different.”
Lexa exhales, drumming her fingers against her knee. “Alright. What now?”
“Just say something. Anything. Don’t rehearse it. Just… whatever comes to mind.”
Lexa scoffs, crossing her arms. “That’s vague.”
Clarke smiles. “That’s flirting.”
Lexa rolls her eyes but humors her. She lets her mind go blank and stops thinking so hard. She looked at Clarke, then, before she could second guess it
“You have the most captivating smile I’ve ever seen.”
Clarke stills. Just for a second. It’s barely noticeable—the way her fingers tense around the cup in her hands, the way her lips part like she might say something but doesn’t.
She lets out a small laugh, tilting her head. “Not bad, Lexa.”
Lexa blinks. “What?”
Clarke was smirking now. “See? You can flirt.”
Lexa narrows her eyes, suspicious. Clarke looks way too amused. “You’re messing with me.”
Clarke shrugs, sipping her drink. “Am I?”
Lexa groans, flopping back against the couch. “This is the worst.”
Clarke just smiles behind her cup.
And the lessons continued. Some went slightly better, others… not so much.
Now they were in the pickup line part. But to Lexa's dismay (or luck), Clarke decided to demonstrate that too.
"Alright, Lexa, let’s say you’re the hot stranger at the bar," Clarke said, giving her a look and a playful nudge. "And I’m trying to impress you."
Before Lexa could prepare, Clarke shifted even closer than before and let her voice drop into something softer, more deliberate. "You know, I could spend all night counting the freckles on your skin, or looking at those deep green eyes but I’d rather get lost in the way you blush when I say things like this."
Lexa made a noise. It was not human.
Her face burned as Clarke pulled back with a small smile. “So… That’s how you do it."
Lexa opened her mouth, then closed it.
Clarke is not single.
"Cool. Yeah. That was… very educational." Lexa cleared her throat
“Alright. Hit me with your best shot.”
Lexa took a deep breath, mustering all the charm she could. She leaned in slightly, just like Clarke had done it, and, in what she hoped was a sultry tone, said, “Are you French? Because Eiffel for you.”
Clarke blinked at her.
“No, wait.” Lexa immediately panicked. “Are you a bank loan? Because you've got my interest.”
Clarke put her face in her hands, laughing. “Lexa, oh my God.”
Lexa groaned, burying her face in a couch pillow. “I should not be allowed to speak to people.”
And yet, despite all the fumbles, the awkwardness, and the occasional absolute disasters, Lexa was getting better. By the time they reached their final lesson, Clarke sat back, arms crossed, watching her with a small, impressed smile.
“You know,” Clarke mused, “you’re actually kind of getting the hang of this.”
Lexa smiled. “I’m an excellent student.”
Clarke snorted. “I’d say you’re more of a persistent one.”
Lexa huffed. “Semantics.”
Clarke shook her head, still grinning. But there was something soft in her expression now, something almost… fond. She leaned forward slightly as if considering something. “Alright, one final test.”
Lexa straightened. “Bring it on.”
Clarke’s lips curled mischievously. “Flirt with me. Right now.”
Lexa hesitated for only a moment before she let a slow, confident smile spread across her face—despite the absolute chaos Clarke had put her through all night. She leaned in just slightly, holding Clarke’s gaze without freezing this time.
“Well,” Lexa said, her voice smooth, and lightly touched her forearm “If eyes are the windows to the soul, then yours must be the view I’ve been searching for my entire life.”
Clarke’s eyes widened slightly, and for the first time all night, she seemed to be the one caught off guard.
Lexa smirked. “So?”
Clarke recovered quickly, narrowing her eyes playfully. “Alright. I’ll admit it. You’ve improved.”
Lexa leaned back, victorious. “Guess I had a good teacher.”
Clarke rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the smile playing on her lips. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t get cocky.”
But as they sat there, a comfortable silence settling between them, Clarke glanced at Lexa with something unreadable in her expression.
—
The group was now all gathered in the living room, the air light with laughter and the easy rhythm of friends sharing stories. Raven, Octavia, Lincoln, and Clarke were lounging on the couch, Anya was sitting on the ground next to the coffee table, while Lexa was in the chair beside them. They had been at it for hours—trading embarrassing stories, teasing each other mercilessly, and generally enjoying each other's company in a way that made Lexa feel like she could get used to this. Octavia and her friends were a good mix with her own friend group, a welcome change.
Octavia was mid-story, hands gesturing wildly as she recounted an embarrassing tale from their college days. “—so there we were, sprinting across campus, absolutely covered in glitter and regret, when suddenly—”
“Boom! A flashlight right in our faces—campus security had caught us,” Clarke finished for her, shaking her head with a grin. “We tried to explain, but honestly? We looked so guilty.”
“Because you couldn’t stop laughing!” Octavia accused, pointing at Clarke. “Meanwhile, I had to do all the talking, and Raven just stood there, acting like she had no idea who we were.”
Raven smirked from her spot on the couch. “It’s called survival instincts, O. I wasn’t going down with you two.”
"You're the one who made that glitter bomb!" Clarke shot back while Raven just shrugged with a cocky smile.
The group burst into laughter, and Lincoln leaned back, shaking his head. “You three are a menace. No wonder security keeps an eye on you at any event.”
“Well, that’s not fair.” Raven defended. “Sometimes we behave.”
“Sometimes.” Octavia and Clarke chorused together, making everyone laugh again.
“Well, I, for one, know you’ve got your own fair share of wild stories, though. Right, Linc?” Octavia said looking at her boyfriend.
“Oh, yeah.” Lincoln, now eager to jump in, leaned forward, grinning. “Alright, you wanna hear about the day that I almost died?” He looked around at the group, pausing for dramatic effect.
Lexa scoffed from her place, already knowing which story he would tell. “That’s an exaggeration.”
Lincoln ignored Lexa and continued. “So, Anya, Lexa, and I decide to go on this relaxing little trip, right? Just a casual thing. Nothing could possibly go wrong.”
Anya chimed in. “We went to this lake and rented a boat. Because this one,” she pointed at Lexa, “told us she could drive a boat. Said she was a pilot and all.” Anya smirked.
Lexa turned to her with a playful glare. “I am a good pilot!”
Lincoln raised an eyebrow. “She was steering, feeling like the queen of the world when she made a sudden turn.” He looked at the group, who all seemed eager to know the rest.
Anya continued the story. “Lincoln was in the seat at the back… and he fell off the boat!”
Octavia, Raven, and Clarke gasped, wide-eyed.
“Lexa didn’t even notice. She left me there, all by myself, for hours before she came back to get me!” Lincoln said with a pretend hurt face.
“That’s not how it went down!” Lexa exasperated. “And it wasn’t even five minutes before I rescued you.”
The group laughed hard at the story.
“I would pay to see that.” Octavia said still laughing. “So, who’s next?”
Anya grinned. “Raven must have something up her sleeve.”
“Oh, always.” Raven leaned forward, her eyes glinting mischievously as she looked at Clarke. “Actually, you know what? I have a great Clarke story.”
Clarke groaned. “Oh, no.”
“Oh, yes.” Raven waggled her eyebrows, clearly enjoying herself. “So, you know how Clarke wears that ring?” She gestured toward Clarke’s hand, the small band on her left hand. “You guys ever wonder why?”
Lincoln and Anya shook their heads while Lexa stiffened, her heart skipping a beat.
“Oh, this one is a classic.” Raven smirked, rubbing her hands together like a villain about to deliver the final blow. “So we were at this club, right? Having a great time, when this guy—let’s call him Chad because, trust me, he was the epitome of a Chad—just would not take a hint. Clarke told him she wasn’t interested, but Chad was built differently—by which I mean he was built without shame or self-awareness.”
Octavia winced. “This guy was relentless.”
“So what does Clarke do?” Raven continued, leaning forward with an impish grin. "She looked at the counter and found that wire thingy that holds the champagne cork, you know?"
"Oh, no," Lincoln chimed in.
"Oh yes," Octavia said, grinning. "She made a ring out of it, and put it around her finger." Octavia laughed.
“She holds up her hand, flashes the ring, and with the most dramatic, Oscar-worthy performance of her life, goes, ‘Sorry, taken.’”
Lexa blinked. “…What?”
“Yeah,” Raven continued, thoroughly enjoying herself. “You should see it. Works like a charm. Some guy gets too handsy? Boom.” She mimed holding up a hand. “‘Sorry, taken.’”
“Some guy doesn’t leave her alone?” Octavia now held her hand imitating “Taken.”
Lexa's brain short-circuited.
Clarke. Wasn’t. Taken?
Lexa slowly turned her head toward Clarke, who was now rubbing the back of her neck, looking only mildly guilty.
“I mean… yeah,” Clarke admitted, laughing lightly. “It’s just easier. Keeps the creeps away.”
Lexa.exe had officially stopped working.
Her thoughts spiraled at warp speed.
Wait. She’s single?
Single?!
Her mind raced through every moment from the night—the way Clarke had leaned in, the way she had smiled at her, the way she had absolutely obliterated her with those damn flirting lessons.
Was Clarke flirting with her this whole time?
Lexa swallowed, trying to maintain her composure, but she was pretty sure she looked like a deer in headlights. Across from her, Anya had clocked the exact moment Lexa realized what was happening, and now she was smirking behind her glass, enjoying the show.
“Well…” Anya said, looking between Clarke and Lexa with an amused expression. “That’s some information.”
Lexa said nothing. She couldn’t. Her brain had officially left the building.
Clarke looked at her, probably completely unaware of the existential crisis she had just triggered. “You okay?”
Lexa made a strangled noise that she hoped sounded like agreement.
She heard Lincoln snorting into his drink.
Oh, Lexa was in so much trouble.
—
Lexa sat on the edge of her bed, elbows on her knees, fingers tangled in her hair. Her mind was still running at full speed, processing the absolute bombshell that had been dropped on her just an hour ago. She steps out to her room to gather herself.
Clarke was single.
Single.
She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. This changed everything. All the interactions they’d had tonight—the teasing, the eye contact, the way Clarke had leaned in so close during the flirting lesson—was that real? Was she actually into her?
A sudden knock at the door made Lexa’s breath hitch.
She shot up to her feet before immediately realizing she had no idea what to do with her hands. Shoving them in her pockets felt too casual. Crossing her arms felt too closed off. She settled for clasping them together behind her back as she moved toward the door and pulled it open.
Clarke stood there, looking unfairly good in the dim lighting of the apartment hallway. Her blonde hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, and there was a slight flush to her cheeks, likely from the drinks. She gave Lexa a small, easy smile.
“Hey.” Clarke said.
Lexa, still very much in processing mode, blinked at her.
Clarke tilted her head slightly, then gestured toward the open door. “Can I come in?”
“Oh! Yeah, of course.” Lexa stepped aside, her brain screaming at her to act normal, for the love of everything.
Clarke wandered in, eyes scanning the room with interest. “So, how long have you, Anya, and Lincoln lived together?”
Lexa took a beat to answer, forcing herself to focus on the question and not the fact that Clarke was standing in her space, looking effortlessly comfortable. “Uh, a while. A few years.” she finally managed.
Clarke hummed in acknowledgment, trailing her fingers lightly along the edge of Lexa’s bookshelf. “I like your room. It suits you.”
Lexa raised an eyebrow. “You’ve known me for all of five minutes.”
Clarke smirked, and Lexa’s stomach did something that could only be described as an embarrassing little flip. “True, but it still feels very you. It’s organized but lived in. Minimalist, but thoughtful. Plus, the amount of books.” She nodded toward the bookshelf lining the wall. “A dead giveaway.”
Lexa felt warmth creep up her neck. Clarke had just casually read her entire personality like it was a book she’d already finished.
Lexa, still locked in her own head, barely processed the compliment. Her chest tightened. She needed to know.
“Are you single?” The words left her mouth before she could overthink them.
Clarke turned, something shifting in her expression. “Yeah.”
Lexa’s throat tightened. She thought about that moment at the bar when Clarke had lifted her hand and flashed the ring. Was that because Clarke had thought she was too much? Was Lexa just another one of those people Clarke had tried to fend off? The thought twisted her stomach.
She exhaled through her nose, trying to make sense of everything. Her gaze dropped to Clarke’s hand, where the little ring still sat on her finger. “So, earlier… when you told me you were taken…” Lexa hesitated, nerves making her voice quieter. “Was it because you thought I was… creepy?”
Clarke’s eyes widened, and she quickly shook her head. “No! God, no, Lexa.” She took a small step closer, her expression sincere. “I said that because you looked so nervous, and I didn’t want to make you more uncomfortable. That’s all.”
Lexa swallowed. “Oh.”
Clarke hesitated for a moment, then bit her lip before adding, “And… I already knew who you were, so I didn’t want to make things weird for later.”
Lexa blinked. “What?”
Clarke shrugged, looking slightly sheepish. “I mean, I put two and two together. When I saw you with that woman and then saw Anya, I figured you had to be Lexa.”
Lexa frowned, processing that.
“So… you knew who I was, and you still made me suffer through that embarrassment?”
Clarke grinned. “Oh, absolutely, Leshuh.”
Lexa huffed, crossing her arms, but Clarke only laughed, clearly enjoying herself. The air between them felt warmer now, charged with something neither of them was quite addressing.
"So, the flirting lessons." Lexa was still processing everything that happened today. She needed to know "Why did you do it?"
"Well, besides you being bad at it?" Clarke smirked and Lexa felt her face warming up. But then Clarke's smirk shifted to a smile, a shy but confident one, how is this possible, Lexa didn’t know. "I just wanted to help you. Nothing wrong about helping a gorgeous woman become more confident, right?"
Gorgeous woman?
If Lexa's face wasn't already the reddest red in the universe she didn't know. She didn't even know what to say.
Clarke glanced down at her ring, twisting it slightly, and in a smooth movement, took it off and put it in her pocket. Then she looked back up, her blue eyes glinting with something unreadable yet unmistakable. “So,” she said slowly, stepping just a little closer, “just to be clear… yes, I’m single.”
Lexa’s heart hammered against her ribs.
Clarke’s lips curved into a smirk. “What are you going to do about it, Lexa?”
Lexa’s brain short-circuited for the millionth time that night.
For an agonizing moment, she couldn’t think, couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. Clarke was looking at her like that like she wanted her to do something about it, and—
Then, somehow, something else took over—a boldness she hadn’t been able to grasp before.
She took a slow breath, steadied herself, and then—finally—put Clarke’s flirting lessons into action.
Lexa stepped closer, closing the last bit of distance between them. She tilted her head just slightly, lowering her voice to that calm, smooth tone Clarke had demonstrated so many times. “Well, Clarke… I guess I’ll just have to ask you out.”
Clarke’s breath hitched, her smirk faltering just slightly. “Oh?”
Lexa nodded, feeling more confident now. “Yeah.” She let the silence stretch for just a second longer before adding, “Would you like to go on a date with me?”
Clarke’s eyes searched hers, and for a moment, Lexa thought she might actually pass out waiting for an answer.
Then Clarke smiled, slow and bright. “Yeah. I would.”
Lexa felt something inside her settle—like the pieces of a puzzle finally clicking into place.
But she still had to ask. “You would?”
Clarke huffed out a small laugh and, before Lexa could process what was happening, took her hand and pulled her closer. Warm fingers brushed against the back of her neck, sending shivers down Lexa’s spine.
Everything happened so fast.
One second, Lexa was drowning in blue eyes. The next, she felt Clarke’s lips press against hers—soft, fleeting, but already everything.
Lexa barely had time to react before Clarke pulled back, her bright smile lighting up the dimly lit room.
“I really would.” Clarke murmured.
Lexa’s heart stuttered in her chest. She exhaled slowly, trying to ground herself, but it was impossible. Clarke Griffin had just kissed her. Clarke Griffin had just said yes to a date.
And for the first time that night, Lexa knew she wasn’t dreaming.
Lexa had faced many nerve-wracking situations in her life. Big presentations, tight deadlines, that time she accidentally sent an email meant for Anya to her biggest client. But none of that compared to this.
Because tonight, she was going to propose to Clarke.
Her Clarke.
She paced their shared apartment, running a hand through her hair as she stole yet another glance at the little velvet box sitting innocently on the coffee table. It was so small. So simple. And yet, it carried the weight of everything.
“You’re being ridiculous,” Anya’s voice cut through the phone speaker. “You literally live with her. You’ve been dating for 3 years. She’s not going to say no.”
“I know that,” Lexa hissed, rubbing her temples. “It’s just… it has to be perfect.”
Anya groaned. “Nothing is perfect. Just do it. Worst-case scenario, she laughs at you and says no, and you cry a little.”
Lexa whipped around, scandalized. “That’s your worst-case scenario?”
“Yeah,” Anya said dryly. “What, were you expecting a fiery explosion or something?”
Lexa groaned. “Wow. Thanks for that, Anya. Super helpful.”
“Anytime,” Anya deadpanned. “Now, go propose to your ‘already obsessed with you’ girlfriend before I have to listen to you spiral any longer.”
Lexa hung up with a huff and took a deep breath.
Okay. Just breathe. You got this.
She took one final look at the apartment. Candles flickered around the room, casting a golden glow across the space. The table was set for two, Clarke’s favorite meal on their plates. A bottle of wine inside a bucket full of ice, the soft hum of music playing in the background.
Lexa had planned everything. Every detail. Every moment.
And then—
The door opened.
Clarke stepped in, shaking off her coat, cheeks pink from the cold, golden hair slightly windblown. Lexa swore she could feel her heart physically swell at the sight of her.
“Wow,” Clarke breathed, taking in the setup. “What’s all this, babe?”
Lexa smiled, took a deep breath, and stepped forward.
“I made dinner for us.” She gestured dramatically to the table, a playful smirk on her lips. “Would you do me the honor of having dinner with me, Miss Griffin?”
Clarke laughed, stepping closer. She gave Lexa a teasing bow. “It would be my honor, Miss Woods.”
They shared a brief kiss before sitting down, easily falling into conversation as they ate. They talked about their day, about work, about the absurdly long line at Clarke’s favorite coffee shop that morning. It was simple. Effortless.
It was them. Lexa and Clarke.
And then, somewhere between laughter and stolen glances, Lexa felt it.
The moment.
Her heart pounded.
It was now or never.
She set down her glass. “Do you remember our first date?”
Clarke grinned immediately. “Of course. How could I forget?”
~~
It had been a disaster.
Lexa had spent days planning it. A casual-but-nice restaurant. A walk under the stars. Maybe even a smooth, romantic kiss at the end of the night.
What actually happened?
Lexa had knocked over a glass of water within the first five minutes.
Spent way too long panicking over whether or not to hold Clarke’s hand.
And when Clarke finally did hold her hand, Lexa forgot how to walk and nearly tripped over absolutely nothing.
Clarke had laughed at her.
Lexa had melted.
And when she had walked Clarke to her door at the end of the night, she’d leaned in and—
Lexa had panicked.
Clarke had stared at her for a long, long moment.
Then, with a roll of her eyes, she grabbed Lexa by the jacket, pulled her forward, and kissed her properly.
That was the moment Lexa knew.
She was a goner.
~~
Lexa chuckled, shaking her head. “I was such a mess that night.”
Clarke laughed, slipping her arms around Lexa’s waist. “You were perfect.”
“I tripped and almost fell five times.” Lexa pointed out.
“Seven.” Clarke corrected, smirking. “But who’s counting?”
Lexa rolled her eyes fondly, but the nerves in her stomach tightened again.
She pulled back slightly, reaching into her pocket, shaking fingers brushing over the little box.
Clarke frowned. “Lex? You okay?”
Lexa took a deep breath.
Then, with all the love in her heart, she dropped to one knee.
Clarke gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.
Lexa looked up at her, her heart full to the point of bursting. “Clarke, from the moment you made fun of me at the bar, to the moment you stole my first date kiss because I was an idiot, to every morning I’ve woken up next to you since… I have loved you.”
Clarke let out a soft, shaky breath.
Lexa smiled, her voice steady, sure. “You are my best friend. My safe place. My greatest adventure. And I want to spend every single day making sure you know that.”
She flipped the box open, revealing the ring.
“Clarke Griffin, do you want to finally be taken?”
Clarke let out a watery laugh, dropping to her knees so fast that she nearly tackled Lexa.
“Yes,” she whispered, cradling Lexa’s face between her hands. “Yes, a million times, yes.”
Lexa barely had time to slip the ring onto her finger before Clarke kissed her, full of laughter and love and everything that had ever been good in Lexa’s world.
When they finally pulled apart, Clarke wiggled her fingers, admiring the ring through teary eyes.
She smirked. “Guess I’m really taken now, huh?”
Lexa let out a soft, breathy laugh, her heart so full it hurt.
“I love you.” Lexa murmured, voice thick with emotion.
Clarke’s face softened instantly.
“I love you too.” Clarke whispered, brushing a hand over Lexa’s cheek before leaning in again, sealing her words with a kiss.
It was slow. Deep. Full of everything they had ever felt for each other.
When they finally broke apart, Lexa grinned. “You’re stuck with me forever.”
Clarke traced a finger over Lexa’s lips, her voice soft and warm. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Lexa was pretty sure she had never been happier in her entire life.