Chapter Text
For the first time in her life, Clarke wasn’t angry that she woke up at 5:45 am. Clarke hated mornings, and she had ever since she started school. When she was young, it was virtually impossible to wake her up before 9am. When she went to daycare, her parents would just get her dressed, while she was asleep, and then send her to daycare with her toothbrush. She slept in the napping area until she got up, and despite the employee’s protests, Clarke kept her own schedule. Come naptime, Clarke refused to nap. It drove the day care workers insane. She got to play on the educational computer, just to shut her up. It got worse as she grew, so she was never up before she had to be.
Yet, it was 5:48 am, and Clarke Griffin was perfectly content to be awake. She stretched her arm, which was wrapped around her sleeping girlfriend. With a content moan, Clarke nuzzled her nose into Lexa’s spine, between her shoulder blades. To her surprise, Lexa turned.
“Hi babe.” Lexa smiled, giving Clarke a lazy kiss.
“Did I wake you?” Clarke asked, her voice husky with fatigue, while she planted kisses across the other girl’s sternum.
Lexa shook her head. “Woke up about ten minutes ago. I’ve just been lying here.” Clarke looked up at Lexa, meeting her gaze.
“Hey,” Clarke’s eyebrows knit together, “Something wrong?” There was a shadow in Lexa’s eye as she had talked of her awakening.
“It’s nothing,” Lexa shook off Clarke’s concern, “Just a dream.” Clarke cuddled into Lexa’s chest, her eyes meeting Lexa’s.
“Sounds gnarly, anything you want to share?” She asked softly, arbitrarily circling her thumb on Lexa’s hip.
“Nothing important.” Lexa paused. “Just two conditions.” Clarke nodded, knowing she would do anything for the brunette whom she was pressed up against. “One, promise me, that you won’t leave, at least not without us talking first. I’m not asking forever, not yet at least.” Lexa blushed a little bit; so Clarke nodded in reassurance, “Promise me we’ll talk before one of use leaves.”
“I’m not planning on leaving, but babe if I do, it won’t be without a fight.” Clarke smiled, not capable of thinking of life without her person. “What’s the second condition?” Instead of responding, Lexa pulled Clarke into a kiss, and before Clarke would have woken up, she had already had the best day.
Clarke gnawed on her lip, trying to hold onto the memory that had been playing in her mind as she and Lexa walked to the ice cream shop. That ugly face before her, and all she did was whimper. She hated how he made her weak.
“Cage, like the Cage who raped you.” Lexa growled. The bloodlust was evident in not only her eyes, but also her posture, though the cashier didn’t seem to notice.
“Aw, Clarke, lying to your girlfriend about your indiscretions. How irresponsible of you.” Cage taunted from behind the counter. Clarke could see Lexa’s anger; when they had met, Lexa was just some kid with anger issues. She had come a long way since then, but Clarke could see she was about five seconds from losing control.
“C’mon Lex. We’ll get ice cream somewhere else.” Clarke’s voice was tense, and she wasn’t sure if she’d believe herself. Lexa however, seemed calmed by Clarke’s words. Her hands were still in fists and the skin over her knuckles was still pale, but she no longer looked like she was about to attack to the death.
“Clarke did you tell her how much you wanted me?” Cage continued on. Clarke went to pull Lexa away, when Lexa was no longer by her side.
Lexa had Cage by the shirt collar, and he was grinning. “Lay a hand on her, speak a sound to her, breath the same air as her,” Lexa growled, “ever again, and I will find you, and you will not escape in a good condition.” Apparently Lexa didn’t think Cage got the message, as she terminated their conversation with a fist to his right eye. Without another word, Lexa stalked out of the restaurant pulling a stunned Clarke behind her.
“Lex, you didn’t” Clarke started once they were a few blocks away from the parlor.
“Of course I did, that piece of human garbage doesn’t deserve to breathe. He needed a reminder.” Lexa’s jaw was still clenched, and Clarke could tell she was still steaming.
“Hey,” Clarke proposed, her hand still in Lexa’s, “how about, we stop at the Walgreen’s on the way to my apartment. Pick up some Ben and Jerry’s and just chill for the night?” It was kind of a ballsy move, considering the implications of her apartment, but Clarke didn’t really want to see anyone but Lexa for the rest of the night, and she could use a laugh or two from some stupid show on Netflix, that Lexa would probably end up choosing.
“Sounds good.” Clarke couldn’t stand walking in silence this time, even if it wasn’t awkward.
“Can I make a weird request?” Clarke asked softly; Lexa nodded. “Can we play I Spy?” Lexa’s grin grew.
“I spy something blue.” Lexa started, not even taking the time to agree to Clarke’s proposition. The girls laughed at the childish game as they guessed everything from the puke yellow hideous four-door Jeep to the bright green glow of a 7-eleven sign. Only once did Lexa stump Clarke, though Clarke declared that round unfair, as she couldn’t see her own eyes.
They got a pint of Americon Dream, a pint of Chubby Hubby, and a pint of Everything But The. Additionally, they grabbed some Cocoa Cola and some Dr. Pepper (because for some reason Lexa liked it, but Clarke would never understand). When they got back to Clarke’s apartment, Clarke motioned to the couch in front of the TV and Lexa nearly collapsed.
Clarke ventured a guess that Lexa had a lot of tension built up in her body. “Find something on Netflix.” Clarke called, heading to the other room to gather up a pile of blankets. When she had blankets piled up to the point where they covered her face, Clarke headed back to Lexa, only stopping to pick two spoons up from the kitchen.
“Got enough blankets Griffin?” Lexa teased. Clarke smiled, dumping the blankets on the brunette. “You still have this?” Lexa asked lightly, as Clarke plopped down next to her. Clarke had completely forgotten about that quilt. In Lexa’s hands, was a quilt made entirely of Clarke’s old show shirts from her days of painting musical theatre sets, and entirely made by Lexa.
“Yeah, it’s cozy in the winter.” Clarke lied. It may have been psychological (okay she knew it was psychological) but she swore that if she snuggled up to the Les Mis portion of the blanket she could still smell Lexa’s favorite perfume.
“Is Psych good for TV?” Lexa raised an eyebrow, snuggling into a cocoon of blankets. Clarke nodded, and snuggled closer to Lexa. While Lexa was glued to the screen, Clarke put her hands on Lexa’s shoulders and started to massage.
Lexa groaned, tilting her head backwards. “Clarke, you don’t…” Lexa trailed off. Clarke grinned; if there’s one thing Clarke prided herself it was her massage skills.
“Shh, just watch.” Clarke whispered, running her fingers along Lexa’s shoulder blades and down half of her back. Eventually, Clarke worked out all of Lexa’s anger and tension and repositioned herself, so she and Lexa were just a few inches away under the mass of blankets. Neither of them noticed that they fell asleep cuddling. They finally had their new beginning.