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phenomenal1500 · 3 years

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The Azblida | The 100

Chapter 9: ~Long Live The King~

For Chapter 8: ~The Doors Are Open~ click here

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They were so lucky none of the guards assumed she was in here with him and after the prince was escorted downstairs and she made sure there were no other guards, Meave rolled from underneath his bed and pulled her shirt over her head before climbing from his balcony to hers. Afraid that if she had walked out of the doors like every other person, she would have perhaps been caught by a guard of his.

~~~

Meave had asked for a hot bath after 'escaping' from Roan's room to try and warm herself up in it the way her body warmed up when Roan was close to her, but nothing felt the same.

Steam still came from the bath because the hot water reacted with her cold skin and breathing out still caused visible cold air to leave her mouth.

It was still unbelievable to her how quickly one single man could change her life, but it was impossible to forget about him now.

The warming up did help a little and she carefully climbed out of the bath before wrapping a clean towel around her. She then quickly dried herself and wrung out her hair above the tub that was cooling down already, humming to a song that lingered in her head.

"The Dark Angel.... the commander has asked you to come down and join her!" The woman's voice that she heard coming from behind her massive doors sounded familiar, too familiar.

"Indra! How are you doing?" Meave playfully shouted while she got dressed and put her hair in a high tail, then opening the doors smilingly only to see Indra standing ahead of her with a stern expression. "Um.... did I do something wrong?"

"You looked pretty close to the prince yesterday." She narrowed her eyes and stared at her.

"I don't associate with Ice Nation." Meave shrugged and rolled her shoulders and neck to stretch them.

"You bought a sword made in Azgeda." She calmly stated and Meave tilted her head. She had no idea why it was so wrong to buy a sword that belonged to a different clan.

"That is something completely different."

"You carrying a sword around and the prince talking to you in public only makes me suspect you know him so pay attention to yourself next time. You can't get close to them. It could get you into a lot of trouble." Indra placed one of her hands on her hip as a powerful symbol that Meave should better listen to her and stop associating with Azgeda and the woman just rolled her eyes as she looked away with a sigh.

She probably wasn't going to win this one, but wasn't going to listen either.

"Don't worry."

"You know he sleeps next to you?"

"No, I actually didn't know that and that information is really irrelevant." Meave crossed her arms.

"Good, now forget it." She quickly stated and the woman scoffed, seeing exactly what Indra was trying to do. That woman was trying to catch her lying or giving into the fact she was indeed close with the prince, but unfortunately for her.... she wasn't so easy to read and definitely not if it meant it could benefit her or save her life.

"Either way.... what brings you to my room, Indra?"

"Heda as op gon yu ste ogud. Snap!" [Heda asked for you so be ready! Quick!] She spoke in Trigedasleng to sound more aggressive than she already was sounding.

"Where?"

"The assembly room, don't be late." Indra ordered and Meave grabbed her coat in the process.

"I'll just go with you right away." She stated and watched the frustrated Indra gesture that the woman had to follow her. Together they rushed into the elevator and waited for the doors to close in complete silence. After that awkward elevator ride, they got out again and arrived at the hallway where Roan was dragged out the day before that shortly afterwards.

Looking around slowly, Meave examined the ambassadors since she was growing bored mis Indra was talking to someone else and she suddenly took note of an arrogant-looking woman being dragged into the huge hallway and put to a halt in front of the beautiful large doors that led to the assembly room.

"Slak de docu!" [Open the doors!] Slowly the heavy doors were opened by two guards from the inside and Lexa appeared from behind it, standing before her throne in a powerful manner.

Meave had to admit that the current Heda was a very well trained leader and she had fairly earned her title.

She entered the room after the unfamiliar woman and her security and stopped for a second to find a place to stand. She could feel a lot of eyes focused on her while she took her time to find a nice spot, but she didn't pay that much attention to them and looked around for familiar eyes, seeing Roan glaring her up and down before giving her a quick nod.

She decided to stand between Clarke and him while the prince watched the unknown woman that entered as well, his face expression changing to a disgusted one immediately.

It looked like he knew her, but didn't seem to like her at all.

"Queen Nia of Azgeda has confessed to the destruction of Mount Weather, resulting in the death of 49 members of Skaikru. Wanheda, what say you?" The sound of chains hitting the ground was echoing through the entire room when the woman was pushed to her knees and Lexa's patient eyes landed on Clarke while Meave was trying to put the pieces together.

Queen Nia of Azgeda?

That woman was Roan's mother?

"Skaikru demand justice." Clarke stated and the queen started to gibberish some Trigedasleng, something Meave was too lazy to translate in her head.

"The punishment for your crime is death. Do you have anything to say in your defense?"

"I need no defense. She does." The queen nudged her head at Lexa and Roan narrowed his eyes, tilting his head a little.

From the looks he gave her, he really hated her.

"Today is judgment day. I call for a vote of no confidence." The woman smirked and all the ambassadors suddenly went silent, all watching the scene with wide eyes.

Meave tried to softly whisper something to Roan to get his attention, but before she could say anything, he had already slowly shook his head without looking at her. Apparently the Fleimkepa was watching them and they of course couldn't risk anything. She nodded slowly in understanding once she noticed it and sighed, focusing on the boring conversation ahead of her again.

"Commander, what is this?"

"This is a coup."

"This is the law. Her law-...." The queen spoke and the hazel eyed woman suddenly cleared her throat.

"Yu ste chichplei hashta a gonplei gon wamplei, ait?" [You are talking about a fight to the death, right?] Meave whispered in Trigedasleng to her so Clarke wasn't able to interfere and make her shut up.

"A gona kom skai cru? Chichplei trigedasleng? Deu de ste som brana gon ai." [A warrior from Skaikru? Talking in Trigedasleng? That is something new for me.]

"Ai laik nou kom Skaikru, o ani moun fous." [I am not among Skaikru, or any other group.]

"Yu ste nou azgeda, ba yu chek au osir. yu na don ste azgeda. ai hod daun don yu ona azgeda taim yu ste nou skaikru." [You are not from Azgeda, but yet you look like one of us.... you could have been from Azgeda. If you don't see yourself as Skaikru, I wouldn't mind you joining Azgeda.] The queen could already see the woman was strong, determined and had a similar hate for Skaikru and so shot her shot. Not that Meave was interested though. She had no interest in any clan and she had already seen in Roan's eyes that the ice queen could not be trusted so she preferred to stay away from her rather than live under her command.

Someone, well, Clarke next to her cleared her throat to have all eyes on her instead of Meave again and asked what it meant, noticeable that Clarke still couldn't speak Trigedasleng that good to follow such a conversation.

"An unanimous vote of the ambassadors or death are all that can remove a Commander from power."

"It's not unanimous." Meave rolled her eyes at Clarke interrupting the explanation, but knew herself that she had to keep her mouth shut.

"WE DON'T RECOGNIZE THE LEGitimacy of Skaikru!"

"Hate to break it to you ma'am, but we do." The playful woman pointed at the Fleimkepa next to Lexa who nodded.

"Yesterday, Skaikru took the brand. They are the 13th clan. This vote of no confidence fails. All these coup plotters will suffer the exact same fate as the Ice Queen." He explained and her jaw dropped a little.

"She won't take our heads because she knows our armies will retaliate. None of us here wants war."

"We both know what you want, Nia. If you think me unfit to command, issue the challenge and lets get on with it."

"Very well, you are challenged."

"And I accept your challenge."

"Could I challenge both of you if I wanted to....?" Meave whispered to herself and a small smirk was painted on her face, raising her eyebrow at them both when she suddenly noticed they had heard her. "Oops." Lexa tried to suppress a chuckle and Clarke elbowed her ribcage softly.

"Meave, shut up."

"Fine another day then." She complained as the rest switched their attention back to the two female leaders.

"SO BE IT!! Warrior against warrior. To the death. Nia of Azgeda, who do you choose to be your champion?"

"My son, Roan. Prince of Azgeda." She spoke proudly and Meave furrowed her brows, looking back at Roan who looked just as annoyed as she did.

"Heda, who'll fight for you?"

"Ai laik Heda, non throu daun gon ai." [I'm Heda, no one fights for me.] The Heda confirmed and everyone gasped for air and whispers filled the room.

The Heda fighting Roan?

Meave felt like she couldn't breathe anymore.

They were both strong, but even though Roan was raised training to be the strongest warrior.... the Heda was perhaps even stronger because she was a Natblida.

While the room was spinning, she tried to suppress her incomprehensible emotions that began to burn up and instead tried to, calmly like the rest, walk out of the assembly room. During that, she walked out, she said goodbye to a few ambassadors who greeted her and waited for everyone to be gone so she could find Roan as soon as possible....

However, sadly she had already spotted Roan getting escorted to the courtyard so he could prepare for the battle and Clarke was already walking the exact same way. It was pretty suspicious how she was looking around for people and following the prince, but it was best to just leave it be. She probably had a plan to tell him as usual so Meave decided to relax in the main streets again. Sitting on a roof while watching all the different clans joking around together, the first beginning signal was given and Meave climbed down the house and pushed herself through the crowd to try and find Roan before everything would begin for real.

Roan was, just like his girl, looking around the crowd to find her. He did have to do it unnoticeably though since his mother was walking right beside him. After a moment, the prince stopped walking when he finally spotted her and he gave her a small smile. He looked relieved and grateful that she was there to watch him, support him, and she returned the smile. The eye contact sadly didn't last long because of his mother who whispered some demotivating things to him. He had to win or else he probably would never return to his home, but something told Meave he somehow preferred to stay with her and not belong anywhere rather than living in Azgeda with his mother's judgements filling his head again. The man's jaw clenched and he simply stared at the ground until his mother turned his back to him and walked away.

Blood hell, she hated his mother and how she treated him, and she just met her so she couldn't imagine how Roan must have felt his whole life.

Slowly, he made his way to her and gently brushed his shoulder passed hers before he disappeared into a silent hallway. Seeing it as a sign to follow him, the woman followed his path once he was out of her sight and then turned left. Roan was casually leaning against the wall, his sword still resting in one of his hands.

"Roan?" She whispered his name softly, happy she could see him before battle.

"You're here to watch...." He sounded a bit surprised that she showed up because he thought she didn't want to look at the fight at all in case he lost.

She had more faith in him than he thought she would have.

"Of course I am.... it gives you yet another reason to not die out there." She rubbed the back of her neck and her eyes began to tear up. "I can't lose you, not when we just found each other again."

"Come here." He softened his voice and she sauntered into his spread arms, holding him close while she buried her face into his broad chest. He knew she was so worried about the outcome that this hug would probably made it way harder for her, but he really wanted to hold her. She did too. She smiled a bit when his hands rubbed her lower back and it calmed her down a little. "Don't worry about it, azblida. I will win."

"I know" She hummed and looked up at him, her hands trailing up his shoulders and stopping at his neck to play with his hair. "Why is it so hard to act like we're strangers out there?" She mumbled and stood on her toes to bury her face in the crook of his neck.

"We have to, love, just a little bit longer." He replied and moved one of his hands back up to hold the back of her head and stroke her smooth hair down.

"You better be safe out there, Roan." She bit her lip nervously and he messed up her hair, feeling their heartbeats beating on the same rhythm because their bodies were pressed against the other firmly.

"Always, Angel." He reassured her and she blushed while he placed a kiss on her forehead.

Then he sighed. "I...."

"I know.... go defeat her, my prince." Meave nodded in understanding and carefully pushed herself out of his arms.

Taking a step back, she stared into his bright blue eyes once more before walking out of the shadows again and blending into the crowd.

After a minute, Meave found and joined Clarke who was staring at Lexa the whole time. She was probably there for her, same as Meave was there for Roan.

Loud horns were blown and the single combat began after the Flamekeeper did his saying. It made Meave so nervous and afraid and she wasn't the one that was currently fighting. It was just that one sentence that floated around her head; 'In single combat, There is but one rule... someone must die today!'. God, it made her sick in the stomach.

Roan started off strong, disarming Lexa and bringing her to her knees instantly. Everybody that belonged to Azgeda cheered, but cheered way too soon when the Heda suddenly brought him to his knees as well and made him stumble backwards, losing his sword in the meantime. The next thing the prince did was punch a guard to receive his spear since there were no rooms and the guard went black and fell to the ground while Roan was trying to get used to the spear and moved around with it for a small second before they both were shouting from the bottom of their lungs and action came from both sides. Strongly.

Roan had elbowed Lexa in the stomach and first disarmed her left hand and then her right hand, leaving her completely vulnerable to his following attacks. Next thing she knew she had hit the floor with her back and she groaned out of pain. Roan twisted the spear in his hand before raising it and he had almost gutted her if it wasn't for Lexa to outrun the attack and make him fall to his back. Meave almost wanted to yell something motivating, but stopped herself very quickly. She couldn't let anyone know she was there for the prince. Roan tried to get back up, but was stopped when Lexa had punched the spear out of his hands and into hers. She quickly hit him on the jaw making him stumble back onto his back once again and placed the spear against his throat. Meave couldn't yell or make a sound because then it would be obvious to Clarke so instead she watched the scene in horror, trying to keep herself from running into the fight.

"GET UP! IF YOU DIE, YOU DON'T DIE A PRINCE, YOU DIE A COWARD!" Roan's mother screamed and if stares could kill, she would be dead by both Meave's and Roan's hateful glares. The woman clearly didn't have any respect for him or anybody around her and it angered Meave to the max. Strangely enough, Lexa murmured something to Roan which made Meave think back to when Clarke followed Roan and it somehow became clear to her. If he wasn't the one to die, but Lexa wasn't either, someone else was going to be the victim.

Within seconds the Ice Queen was impaled by the spear that Lexa had thrown her way and Roan, shocked, looked his girl's way.

"THE QUEEN IS DEAD! LONG LIVE THE KING!" Everybody started to repeat the same line and as did Meave with pride. She hadn't seen this all coming, but was proud nonetheless.

Nobody important had died at the hands of the single combat and she couldn't wait to wrap her arms around Roan again and tend to him.

#the 100 #the azblida #king roan #king roan kom azgeda #king roan x oc #oc #meave collins #romance

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turning-dreams-into-chaos · 4 years

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Banished (Part 38)

*Not my Gif*

~Banished Master~

Summary: When the 100 was sent to the ground, Y/N Y/L/N was one of them. Having been locked up for almost 8 years, how will she react to surviving on Earth? Especially when she gets banished…

Post Date: 3-21-20

Paring: Bellamy Blake x Reader

Word Count: 6.5K (wait... what?)

~Master~

~The 100 Master~

*Based off episode 3x09 of the 100, Stealing Fire*

Previously…

“Y/N YL/N, for the crimes of treason, kidnapping, and attempted murder,” Bellamy found himself standing straighter, his hands falling to his sides fast when he took a step forward, mentally pleading that Pike wouldn’t finished his sentence. That you’d get one more chance. That this wasn’t the end for you. “I hereby sentence you to death.”

Bellamy couldn’t breathe.

You didn’t move. You didn’t blink. You didn’t protest or say anything. Bellamy couldn’t believe it, he didn’t want to believe that after everything this was how it was going to end, with him watching a pair of guards hoist you to your feet and out the room, straight into the cell without a second word.

Bellamy brought a hand to his face, wiping beneath his eyes because he could’ve sworn his were watery. “Sir we’re killing our own people now?” Bellamy asked Pike the moment your body was pulled from the room. Pike sighed, putting his hands on his hips under his jacket as he looked at him.

“We’re at war. Crimes against leadership won’t be tolerated.”

“And she dies to be an example?” Bellamy lowered his voice, hoping the new level will keep him from showing his emotions but Pike saw right through him. The older man spared a glance to the door.

“Y/N’s actions put this whole camp at risk. I know what she means to you,” Bellamy adverted his eyes. “But am I making an example of her? Damn right I am, and I hope their executions make it clear where our people’s allegiances lie.” He finished as Bellamy quirked a brow.

“Their?”

Pike nodded, moving amongst the room to the door before looking back. “Their. Kane and Sinclair were in on this, they will be examples as well.” Bellamy’s eyes widened as Pike straightened his back. “Do I make myself clear?” Bellamy didn’t know what to do, but ultimately, he hesitated before nodding. Pike held the door open for him, dismissing him as Bellamy shuffled out fast. As soon as he left, he went looking for Monty, trying to think of how to reverse this whole situation.

Kane was pacing back and forth in the cell, Sinclair watching him the whole time until the door to the open to show you being escorted by 4 guards, two of them holding your biceps. You tried to pull yourself free from them briefly, but they held on strong and soon you gave up, closing your eyes before hearing Kane say your name.

You looked up, seeing all the grounders looking at you as well as Sinclair and Kane himself. You were shoved into the cell rather harshly as you glared at the man to your right. He didn’t say anything, just unlocking your hands and closing the door behind you. Kane was the first to step forward, his mouth opening to say something, but you just shook your head.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I failed.” Your voice cracked as Kane finished off the final distance, pulling you into his embrace. You let him wrap his arms around you and you tucked your head against his chest, feeling him hold his hand against the back of your head. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. It’s okay Y/N.” He said as you nodded against him, not coming out of his embrace as you looked up at him.

“I’m being executed.” you told him. Kane felt like he was punched in the stomach as his hold on you tightened. He licked his lip, glancing around him at all the crestfallen people around him. You didn’t need him to say anything for you to know he had no clue what to do.

You messed up.

You should’ve killed Pike.

You messed everything up.

Bellamy and Monty stood in the hallways of the ark. “What happened in there?” Monty asked Bellamy who placed his hands on his hips, his eyes wide as he liked his lips.

“They’re gonna execute her. They’re gonna execute Y/N. Kane, Sinclair, and Lincoln too.” He told Monty who sighed, leaning against the wall and closing his eyes.

“We have to do something. I mean, Sinclair, Kane, even Lincoln are one thing, but Y/N? I mean she’s one of us. She’s practically family now.” Monty said and Bellamy ignored the way his chest clenched at his words because to him, Monty was right. He wasn’t going to let this happen. “What about Harper and Miller?” Monty questioned, thinking about the last two of your accomplices. No sooner than he got the words out did Hannah, his mother, came through the set of doors next to them, stopping their conversation.

“Nicely done today.” She told them both with a smile that Bellamy wanted to peal off her face. In no way what today was nice. Were you able to identify anyone Kane and Y/N were working with?” Monty slowly looked up at her as Bellamy almost immediately answered a no, making Hannah eye him curiously. Monty followed with his eyes before shaking his head, lying to his own mother. Hannah knew something was up, but looked past it, reminding them about the correct sides of this war. “It’s not hard choosing what’s best for your people, isn’t it?”

Bellamy looked at her, biting the inside of his cheek as he again answered with a slight shake of his head. “No. I do it every day.” He spoke, similar words to his ordeals earlier but this time his ‘people’ were different. This time he was going to whatever was best for you. Because to him, right now you were the only ‘people’ that mattered.

Back in Polis, things have been going down since Lexa’s death. Clarke and Murphy were stuck in Polis thanks to the blockade and at the sound of a horn echoing throughout the city, they knew the conclave was to begin. The bed in the room was still covered in Lexa’s blood, slowly dripping onto the floor as Clarke stared at it. Murphy watched from across the room as Clarke seemed to snap out of her daze, pulling her eyes away from her love’s blood and pounding on the door.

“Clarke.” Murphy said in between her pounds as they stopped. “I’m sorry. I knew how much she meant to you.” He apologized, thinking about the prospect of finding Emori, the girl had grown to care about being in the same situation.

Clarke didn’t spare the boy a glance as she deflected her emotions. “This isn’t about me. We have to make sure Aden wins this conclave.” The door opened as Titus walked through it, barely glancing up as Murphy scoffed.

“What, you come here to finish the job?” Murphy asked bitterly, subconsciously talking a step back as he remembers all the torture ensued at Titus’ hands. Titus handed over some clothes to each of them before stepping back.

“I’m fulfilling a vow made to Lexa. Put these on.” He told them. Clarke looked at the grounder clothes with disgust as Murphy followed directions, putting the coat over his own.

He glanced over at Clarke, seeing her make no move to change. “The door we’ve been trying to open for the last 24 hours is open Clarke. Let’s use it.” He reminded her but Clarke ignored him, turning to Titus and throwing the clothes back at him.

“You killed your commander. How are you still free?” She asked him, biting back her words not to scream.

“I’m the only Fleimkepa.” He told her as she scoffed. “Please, if you go now, you can slip in the crowds arriving for the conclave.” He told her as Murphy stepped up, grabbing her arm.

“Clarke, Let’s go.”

“I need to see Aden.” She told Titus.

“That’s out of the question. The Natblidas have begun the purification ritual.” Titus informed her. After Clarke demanded once again to see him, Titus led them both to where the Natblidas, the Nightbloods, were in ritual. 5 nightbloods knelt on the ground, watching as Aden stuck his hand into a container of red powder and stood in front of a dead Lexa.

“Hofli Keryon kom Heda na sad ai op.” Aden whispered into the air as he sprinkled the red powder over Lexa’s dead body.

May the Spirit of the Commander choose me.

The door opened to reveal Clarke, Murphy and Titus standing in the doorway as Aden turned to look. Clarke asked to speak with Aden who offered her a moment to be with Lexa, but Clarke denied, insisting she needed to speak with him about honoring his promise to her people.

“If Heda’s spirit chooses me I will honor the promise. Lexa made us all vow it. We loved her.” The boy looked distraught as Clarke nodded, feeling relief in the fact her people would be supported.

Roan came into the ritual, Ontari, the nightblood Clarke had met earlier when Nia dripped her black blood across Clarke’s face, followed behind Roan and the second she saw Clarke she attacked. She took Clarke to the floor, holding a knife in the air only to be stopped by Titus after she pushed Aden away from his attempt. Roan ordered her to put the knife down, but she snapped at him. “She’s the reason your mother is dead.”

“You will obey your king.”

Ontari tightened the grip on her knife before pulling it away. Looking Clarke dead in the eyes. “No matter. When I am Heda and the king bows to me, you and every last Skaikru will die.”

You sat on the bench next to Kane, watching from across the room as Lincoln spoke to a woman bandaging up another before he stood up, walking across the room. You took a deep breath, crossing your arms as Lincoln stood in front of you.

“She going to be okay?” you nodded over to the woman as Lincoln looked over, sighing softly.

“She will be. So will you.”

You let out a defeated chuckle, knowing Lincoln was wrong. “You inspire them. That’s the Lincoln I knew.” He put his hand on your shoulder, making you look him in the eyes as he offered a sad smile.

“I’m not gonna let you give up, either.” You wanted to tell him to give up, to accept that this was your fate just as you had, but you couldn’t say anything as the door to the room opened.

Pike, Bryan, a few guards as well as Bellamy entered. Bellamy immediately caught your eyes through the cage as you got to your feet, looking towards Pike. “I thought I had more time.” You muttered.

“I’m not here for you.” He looked over your shoulders and around the room at the several grounders and Kane and Sinclair. “Each of you are guilty of the same crimes as Y/N. You will all share the same fate. Death.” You swallow back the awful dose of reality Pike just shot at you as you felt Bellamy’s eyes boring into the side of your face.

The grounder woman from earlier asked Lincoln what Pike was saying, not understanding English to which Lincoln told her not to worry. “My people are innocent. They know nothing. Don’t let them suffer for my crimes. Please.” You looked over your shoulder at Lincoln, watching his jaw rigid as he pleaded to Pike.

“Sir, Lincoln’s right.” You were shocked when Bellamy spoke up. “All the others did was run through an open door, same thing we would do if we were in the same position.” Pike paused as he looked at all of you before nodding.

“I agree that true. Kane, Lincoln, Sinclair, and Y/N as leaders of this coup, you will pay for your crimes with your lives.” You gasped, stepping forward to protest but the feeling of everyone’s eyes on you stopped you. Pike looked you up and down. “Execution is set for dawn.” He led the guards out of the room as they followed, everyone except Bellamy.

“Y/N-“

“Don’t. You chose your side. This, all this, is not your fault, but I wouldn’t be here if you’d chosen the right side.” You whispered barely loud enough for him to hear before you turned around, walking away and wiping tears trying to fall out of your eyes. You went years without crying, but on Earth Bellamy Blake managed to turn you into a damn waterfall. He doesn’t know the affect he has on you.

Bellamy watch you join a slumped Kane on the bench. Kane wrapped an arm around your shoulder as you let your eyes close and you could feel the soft trail of a tear making its way down your cheek. His eyes hardened and he practically dashed out of the room in search of Monty.

Monty and Bellamy stood outside Miller’s room, Bellamy having just pounded on the door. Miller and Harper exchanged glances before Miller opened it. “What are you doing here?” He asked as they let themselves in. Bellamy brought a finger to his lips, shushing them. He reached into his pocket pulling out a knife. Miller and Harper went into high alert, hands reaching for their guns before Bellamy calmed them down. He reached for Miller’s jacket, cutting open a part of it to reveal the bug Bryan had placed a few days ago. Miller looked to Harper, both equally as shocked as Monty dropped the microphone into a bag.

“The bag blocks the signal.” Monty told them.

“Who put it there?” Miller asked although deep down he already knew.

“That’s not important. Pike just sentenced Y/N to death. Lincoln, Sinclair, and Kane too.” Bellamy looked distressed; all he could think about was prospect of losing you. Harper just scoffed.

“Are you trying to scare us?” she asked.

“We’re here to help. You’re going to get them out right? What can we do?”

Harper and Miller exchanged looks, not believing a word they were saying. “What are you talking about?” Harper feigned confusion.

“Look, we can help from the inside, but we need people to hand them off to on the outside.” Miller and Harper continued their act, making Monty and Bellamy mad as Bellamy groaned. “You know what, forget it. If my sister wants to save Lincoln’s life, you tell her to meet me at the dropship in an hour. But I’m not letting anything happen to Y/N.” Bellamy stormed out of the room, shaking his head and running a hand over his face, wiping away any look of his troubles. Monty called after him before turning to Harper.

“After everything we’ve been through, you don’t trust me?”

Harper bit the inside of her cheek, shaking the hair out of her to look at him. “Does your mother know you’re here Monty?”

Bellamy stood outside the dropship, hoping on everything his sister would show up. He heard the clopping of a horse as he spun around, relaxing at the sight of his sister. “Octavia.”

She went in for a hug, almost wrapping her arm around him before she plunged a syringe into his neck. Bellamy fell onto her, slowly falling to the ground. “Sleep well, big brother.” She said softly as she caught him.

Bellamy came to in a cave, Octavia and Indra were standing over him as his hands were locked in front of him. “It was a mistake to bring him here.” Indra told the younger girl.

Octavia sighed, looking down at Bellamy sat on the floor. “He was out the whole way. I searched him for bugs.”

“You think I’d let them hurt you?” Bellamy questioned, hoping Octavia would realize everything Bellamy would do was for her.

“You let them capture Y/N, didn’t you?” Bellamy was taken back, his mouth falling open as he looked at her.

“You waste time.” Indra interrupted them, looking towards Octavia. “You should be in their camp by now.” Octavia nodded, reaching to grab her things.

“Pike will be expecting you. You won’t be able to get close, but I can. We work together and we can save them!” Bellamy tried to explain but Octavia refused to look at him. “They’re going to execute her, Octavia. They’re going to kill her!”

Octavia finally looked at him, taking a step forward to stand over him. “You’re the reason she needs saving Bellamy. If she does die, her death will be on you.”

“O…” he whispered. He tried to ignore the part in him that agreed with her, knowing that if you did die, if he couldn’t save you, it’s his fault. “You need me.” His voice was small as Octavia shook her head.

“For the first time in my life, that’s not true.” She turned around, heading right out the cave entrance as Bellamy called out her name. He was worried, of course he was, if this doesn’t work, he hated the fact he couldn’t even say goodbye.

He messed up.

He should’ve chosen your side.

He messed everything up.

You leaned against the wall as you watched Lincoln talk to a man laid on the ground. He stood up, looking down at you as you chuckled. “Did you ever think that day you found me in the woods, that we’d be here?” Lincoln quirked a brow at you as you shook off the question with a smile, but Lincoln just joined you against the wall. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get Pike out of the camp.”

“That wasn’t on you. Your people, they think they’re doing the right thing.” He said as you scoffed.

“Yeah, you don’t need to tell me that. I couldn’t even get through to Bellamy.” You didn’t miss the way Lincoln sent you a smirk out the corner of your eye as you felt your cheeks heat up. “I swear Lincoln, if you say anything right now.”

“I wasn’t going to say anything.”

“Uh huh, sure you weren’t.” you joked before seeing the smirk on his face fall slightly. You knew just by the look on his face what he was thinking about. “You’re thinking about Octavia, aren’t you?”

Lincoln nodded solemnly as you looked up into the ceiling, staring at the crack in the wall and thinking about your best friend. You didn’t know if you were going to see her again, and that hurt. You watched across the cell as Kane who was previously let out to talk to Abby came back, much more depressed than he was before.

You left your spot next to Lincoln when the man caught his attention again. You headed over to sit on Kane’s side. His arms rested on his knee and you could see the brand of the coalition peaking out from his rolled-up sleeves. You took his arm, turning it over to run your fingers across it. Kane watched you, paying more attention to your soft facial expression than the mark. “Could’ve worked.” You told him, letting the pad of your thumb run right down the center.

“Death can be an act of unity. We don’t break. No fear. The people will remember.” He told you. You sighed, looking to give him a sad smile.

“So, you and Abby Griffin.” You spoke referring to the disappearance he made with the woman earlier.

“So, you and Bellamy Blake.” He backed as you let out a small scoff, hiding the frown you would’ve worn behind a forced smile.

“You’re going to die and she visited you. I don’t even know where Bellamy’s at.” You stared at the floor in front of you, gently picking up the toes of your feet only to press them back down and distract you. Kane eyed you, knowing you were giving up hope when your shoulders slacked, resting your head against the wall and your fingers still tracing his mark.

“Bellamy’s going to figure it out eventually. He’ll come back for you.” He argued.

You just remained still, not moving at all. “How can you be sure?”

“You love him.” You inhaled quickly as you looked anywhere but him. Kane, being ever so knowledgeable about your predicament, put a hand on your knee, pulling your attention back to him. “And I’m willing to bet he feels the same about you.”

You let a small scoff leave your lips. “And look where that got us. We’re about to be executed.” You heard Kane sigh next to you, yet he followed your words with none of his own. This wasn’t how you thought you were going to die, given you imagined it many ways, yet an execution never made the list. “Kane… I’m sorry.

His brows pulled together. “What are you sorry for?”

“For what I am. For what I became. My parents would be disappointed in me.” You let go of his arm but Kane didn’t move it as his sight remained locked on your face, downcast as you took a deep breath. “They always taught me to be strong. To not let others decide my fate, that I needed to make my own.”

“You are one of the strongest people I know Y/N.” He grabbed your hand, giving it squeeze.

“Then why wasn’t I enough for them?!” Your voice cracked as you looked at him with broken eyes. It was as if in the final moments before the guards come in you needed to be free from your feelings, you needed to know. “Why did you leave me?”

“Y/N, your parents. There’s something you don’t know.” He whispered as he wiped a tear off your face as you gasped quietly.

“W-what are you talking about?”

“Chancellor on deck!” Someone shouted as you both jumped to your feet, feeling Kane grab your arms and stare out at the guards. Lincoln spoke to the grounders as you scanned the room, feeling your heart plummet when you don’t see the brown eyes you so wanted.

“I told you, Bellamy’s not here.” You mumbled right before Pike shouted for everyone to back against the walls. You listened, following directions as you peaked over to Lincoln. His eyes pierced through the room, sending daggers straight at Pike who was walking over to you. You glared at Pike as he handcuffed your wrists, tightening them more than necessary as you hissed.

The four of you were led through the hallways in a line. This is it. You thought. I’m about to die. You followed behind Kane, seeing him look over his shoulder at you but you didn’t meet his eyes. You knew this would be easier if you didn’t.

“Make way!” Pike yelled one the halls as you watched your feet shuffle against the ground, barely picking them up.

“Yes sir, Mr. Chancellor.” Someone says as you immediately shoot your head up, seeing Harper stand off to the side. Her lips curl up slightly when she sees you and for the first time in 24 hours you think you might have a chance to live.

“Package is on the move. I repeat package is on the move.” She spoke into a microphone after you’ve passed to not get caught.

But it was all for naught as Monty and Hannah were listening in on her call. “She’s talking about the prisoners.” Hannah pointed out as Monty leaned forward on his knees, bouncing his leg getting his whole body to shake. “Whose voice is that?” Monty didn’t want to lie to his mother, but he knew he had to. He shook her head, motioning he had no idea. Harper came on the call again before another’s.

“We’re in position. Ready to intercept.”

“Octavia kom Skaikru.” Hannah said when she realized the second voice belong to the girl. You heard Hannah’s voice come over the radio on Pike, telling him Octavia was here. You held back a gasp, knowing how much more trouble you could be in if Pike knew you were a part of this whole thing, you’d be in even more trouble than you could imagine.

Pike ordered you all to your knees and you obliged, feeling the nerves get to you. Pike scowled at you as he talked to Hannah over the radio. “Can you confirm a location?”

“Negative, sir.”

Bryan stepped up to Pike. “Sir, we can assume her friends already told her where were talking them. We shouldn’t move until we know the route’s secure.” Bryan told him as Pike nodded, finding an empty room just in front of him. He assured you all into the room, telling two men to stand by the door.

“Anyone comes out of there, shoot to kill. Anyone enters this corridor, one warning then shoot to kill. Everyone else, on me.” The guards nodded as they took positions, two of them staying with the four of you. The moment you were seated on the ground you looked to Kane; his mouth was upturned into a little smirk. You raised a brow at him before he mouthed ‘I told you so’. Your smirk then matched his.

Bellamy was still handcuffed in the cave, leaning against the wall as he clenched his fists. “Indra please. Pike tripled his security; he’ll see her coming.”

“Good. We’re counting on that.”

Bellamy just groaned. “He still trusts me. If anything goes wrong, we can use that.” He tried to tell her as Indra stood up to tower over him.

“I’ve seen where that trust came from. The battlefield where you massacred my brothers and sisters.” She snapped at him.

“Should I have let him kill you?”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Same reason you haven’t used that sword on me.”

She tilted her chin in the air, staring down at the boy. “Octavia.” Bellamy nodded, pleading one last time for release over the fact Octavia could die at Arkadia. “Then Octavia kom Skaikru will die the warrior’s death you denied me.”

Pike took his guards towards the hanger bay, they kept their guns in their hands, ready to shoot anyone threatening their safety. “Same drill!” He ordered as the guards separated. “Watch for blind spots.”

“Sir, the hangar’s secure.”

Pike wasted no time in pulling out his radio. “Unit 4 come in. Unit 4 what’s your status?” He asked again after a few minutes of silence. “Are the prisoners secured?” Still nothing came through as they left the hangar, running down the halls to get back to you all. They reached your door, seeing the two guards laying on the ground unconscious. Pike stepped past the guards on the floor, letting everyone care for them as he stepped into the room you were supposed to be in.

“Damn it!” He yelled out as the room was empty, not a trace of you all to be seen. “We did exactly what they wanted us to do.” He mumbled as he turned around to the others. “It won’t happen again.”

The left the room, a few seconds later the floorboards moving out from their spots as the five of you clamber out. You wore a relieved smile on your face as Kane helped you to your feet. “Bit right down there.” He said soon as you were all out and Octavia was unlocking his handcuffs.

Octavia just glared at him and scoffed. “Try doing it for 16 years.” She snapped. Kane was taken back as the tension in the air thickened. She turned to you, her glare still locked on Kane as she undid your own bounds.

“Hey.” You tapped Octavia on the shoulder, getting her to look at you. When she did, you wrapped your arms around her, bringing her in for a tight hug she returned. “Thank you for saving us.” You mumbled into her ear.

“Couldn’t let you suffer for my brother’s mistakes.” She replied before pulling away, seeing her boyfriend standing behind you. You watched them embrace, thankful they’d get many more. Abby came in the door as you went on alert, ready in case a guard decided to stop by.

“Abby… I told you not to do this.” Kane spoke in a hushed voice to her, asserting his authority as you watched carefully.

“Why would I start listening to you now?” You chuckled at the woman’s defiance. She was just like Clarke.

Harper’s voice was the one to break up the reunions this time as she informed you all of the numerous guards blocking your exit.”Stay put.”

“They’re trapped.” Hannah told Monty as they continued to eavesdrop on your radio calls. Monty didn’t look at her, wasting only a beat before grabbing their radio.

“Attention all guards. Calling all guards. The prisoners are headed for the main gate. The prisoners are headed for the main gate! Over!” He shouted as his mom stared on in shock at him.

“Monty, what are you doing?”

For the first time during their spy work, he turned to his mother and looked her in the eye. “I’m saving my friends.”

You looked around the room all equally confused. “Was that Monty?” You asked through the silence.

“Guess he’s with us after all.” Miller said with a shake of his head. You couldn’t help the way your heartbeat leaped. If Monty was helping then maybe Bellamy…

“Pike will figure it out.” Kane asked, bringing you back to your senses. Abby brought her hand up to comfort Kane’s arm.

“We don’t know that.” She assured him.

You shook your head, moving to look outside in the now empty hallway. “What we do know is we have to leave.” Everyone followed your lead out of the room, Octavia running ahead of you to show you the plan’s route.

Monty stayed in his seat after his little radio call. His mom on the other hand was pacing back and forth behind him. “Your friends are traitors!” She yelled.

“Then I guess I’m one too.” There was no doubt in Monty’s mind if he had to do it all over he would help you again, but next time he would be on the correct side from the beginning.

“How many men do we have on the gate?” Pike asked them as he barged into their roomHannah looked to her son, seeing him stand up for what he believed in as she sighed.

“Sir, we just got word. It was another false report.”

“Put this camp on lockdown.” He growled to the two guards behind him.

Octavia led you all to a hatch where Harper waited. The moment she saw you she smiled, pulling you in for a hug before dashing through the hatch. You stepped back, letting everyone go before you until Lincoln, Octavia, Kane, Abby and you were left. “Ok, Abby you’re next.” Kane said as he motioned for her to enter.

Abby just shook her, taking a step back. “I’m not going. They need someone to show them out of the darkness. Besides-“ her speech was cut short when Kane put his hand on the side of her face, pulling her flush against himself and kissing her. Your eyes went wide as you looked away, wanting to give Kane the privacy he deserved. You met Octavias eyes across the room and she smirked at you before going back to lookout. “May we meet again.” Kane told Abby when they finished kissing.

“We will.”

You listened for the sound of Abby making her way through the out the door by Lincoln before you finally turned around, seeing a slight dusting of blush on Kane’s face. “Go on.” He said to you, motioning to the hatch. You patted him on the back as you began to climb on through, only to be stopped by the sound of Pikes voice on Octavia’s radio.

“I have a message for the traitors in this camp. There will be an execution. Either turn yourselves in or the other grounder prisoners will die in your place.” You jumped out of the hatch, trying to figure out what to do.

Someone was going to die today.

“Let’s go.” Octavia said, giving Lincoln and you a slight push. You nodded wearily as you grabbed on the wall but Lincoln didn’t listen to Octavia. He was going to save his people. “Lincoln please!

“I can’t let them die because of me. Go.”

Octavia continued to plead and you joined in, not wanting to lose your friend. “I know what you’re feeling, but they’re searching the station. We have to go.”

“Go.” Lincoln repeated himself but you still shook your head.

“They‘ll kill you Lincoln.” It felt like you were screaming but to Kane and Lincoln your voice was small, trying not to waver as you bid your friend goodbye. Lincoln just smiled down at you, pulling you in for a hug as you shut your eyes tight, trying to wrap your arms around him.

“Take care of her.” He asked you, looking at a teary-eyed defiant Octavia as you nodded softly, sucking in a deep breath to keep yourself from joining her. “May we meet again Y/N.” He pulled away earlier than you wanted him to as you dropped your head, feeling tears prickle the side of your eyes as Kane put his hand on your shoulder.

You threw yourself into his arms, burying your face in the crook of his neck as he rubbed your back. You turned right back into that little girl who watched her parents float themselves, running to Kane for comfort.

“I’m going with you.” Octavia told him. “Oso throu daun ogeda.”

We fight together.

Lincoln smiled down at Octavia, bringing a hand up to caress her face. “I love you.” He whispered to her but you heard it, the feeling striking you on the gut hard. He pulled her into a kiss and while she was distracted, took the opportunity to sneak a hand into her satchel and pull out syringe, injecting it into her neck.

“No…” she mumbled as she fell unconscious. Lincoln lifted her into the air as you stepped back from Kane, letting him carry her.

“What are you doing?” Kane asked.

Lincoln looked down at his girlfriend sorrowfully. “Same thing you'd do for your people. Just get her out of here.” Kane nodded, taking the girl through the hatch as you let him, risking one last glance to Lincoln.

“Ste yuj, Lincoln.” You told him as you lent up to kiss his cheek, giving him one last smile.

Stay strong.

“You too.” He told you before watching you disappear into the hatch. He fixed the door, removing any evidence you were there before heading out of the room, right into the hands of Pike and the guards.

Somehow in Polis, everything was getting even worse. Ontari cheated the conclave, killing all the Natblidas in their sleep. Everyone was confused when the fight supposedly ended, and when they found out what happened, Clarke was scared. Ontari would in no way protect your people. Roan, in honor of Lexa sparing his life, tried to get Clarke and Murphy out of Polis, but Clarke refused to leave without the flame, the one physical connection to Lexa she has left. The flame was pulled out of Lexa after her death, it contained all the past commanders and shall be placed inside the next Heda. Which should’ve been Ontari, but Clarke remembered something Lexa had told her.

Another Natblida was left from Lexa’s conclave, a girl who ran. Titus told Clarke her name was Luna and Clarke knew Lincoln talked of a Luna once and figured it was the same girl. She took the flame from Titus with the promise of bringing Luna back as a commander. Clarke left Polis, leaving Murphy in the hands of Ontari. Titus, the only person able to perform the ascension confronted Ontari with Roan during the purification process. He told them he provided the flame for Clarke to take but wouldn’t tell them where. Ontari, angered at Titus’ defiance ordered Titus’ death, but Murphy reminded her she needed him. Titus, at the knowledge Ontari wouldn’t let him die, took the knife Roan had held and slit his own throat, killing himself. Ontari was outraged, she was going to be the new commander and Titus stopped her plans. No one outside of the room and Clarke knew Ontari wasn’t the commander, so she came up with a plan.

She was going to fake it.

Bellamy was going crazy in the cave. He didn’t think it would take this long unless something happened. No matter what he couldn’t get the feeling something happened out of his head. He sat up at the sound of horns seeming to come from Polis.

“Heda.” Indra whispered as Bellamy looked at her confused.

“What is it?”

“A new commander has risen.” Bellamy was on his feet as he watched Indra grab her things, getting ready to leave.

“And you go running?” She ignores him as she continued moving. “Well maybe, this time, Octavia will get it, your loyalty will always be with your people.”

“Octavia is my people.” She snapped at him over her shoulder.

“Then take these chains off me and we can help them together.” He hoped he was getting through to her and for a second he was, but Indra sighed, looking out into the forest with a shake of his head.

“Tell them I’m sorry.” She said before running out of the cave, leaving Bellamy alone.

You didn’t say a thing as you left the camp, not sparing a glance at anything besides the ground beneath your feet. “Lincoln.” You beard mumbled next to you from Octavia laid on a horse. You made no move to let her know you heard her and half of you suspected it was just in your head. She started to roll off before you looked up at her, helping her weak body off the horse. Octavia was stumbling as she looked for a clearing, finding one just in front of you that overlooked Arkadia. You joined her after a minute of needing to know what was happening. But the air was sucked out of your body at the sight of Lincoln kneeling on the ground in a mud puddle with Pike standing in font of him with a gun in hand. You knew it was coming but knowing it didn’t hurt any less. You felt Kane’s hand on your back, seeing him clutch Octavia out of the corner of your eyes but you paid him no mind, your eyes never leaving the scene playing out in front of you all.

Pike promised Lincoln his people would be cared for. Not free, but cared for. “Lincoln of Trikru, you have been sentenced to death by the rights of the Exodus charter. Any last words?” He asked your friend mere seconds away from being executed. Lincoln just stuck his head up in the air.

“Not for you.” Pike slowly brought the gun up, pointing it at Lincoln’s head. Lincoln slowly turned to look up, catching sight of Octavia above him. “Meibi oso na hit choda op nodotaim.”

May we meet again.

You could hear Octavia whimper next to you but still you stayed silent and stoic, your head screaming but the only moment occurring on your outside be the twitch of a finger. You counted the seconds in your head until this was all over, pleading that somehow Lincoln won’t be shot. Maybe Pike would come to his senses, or one of the guards, or even Bellamy coming to your rescue and stopping Lincoln’s execution.

1… 2…

Gunshots.

A/N: Long chapter, oh my. Also when this episode aired I was absolutely devastated because I LOVED Lincoln, Ricky Whittle was so amazing in his role. I think I cried for a while tbh... well, tell me what you think!

TAGLIST FOR THIS SERIES IS CLOSED!!!

*Reblogging with Banished*

Permanent: @literal-fand0m-trash @just4muggles @saturn-aka-six @nathaliabakes @whyamihere-bro @colored-confetti @wiseeggspickleslime @btsiguess-kpop @galacticstxrdust @independentgirl @wellhellotherelovey @hollymac79 @delicately-important-trash @emcchi @rauwz @herondalescecilys

Bellamy: @jodiereedus22 @nyxxxwtp @danielabetancourth

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kloxbian · 4 years

Text

To the Fire I Fall

Synopsis:

Clarke has been confined her whole life. To the Ark, and then, to Arkadia.

She’s done being confined.

Or maybe it would have been better to stay confined instead of accidentally wandering into enemy territory.

-AU with a twist: Elemental powers!

Notes: IMPORTANT: Though this contains nothing sexual, the relationship between Clarke and Lexa contains some not-so-subtle dom/sub undertones. This is my first time joining in on clexa week, and I have to say I’m very proud of myself for doing this. I started this as soon as possible because forbidden love is my weakness and I was goddamn ready to get on with it despite the fact that I had five (six?) fics going on at the time. I will also be making a second chapter to this after clexa week. Despite my love of open endings, this one deserves a more closed-off, certain one.

Ever since the Ark had fallen to Earth, Clarke had wanted to explore the world.

But she couldn’t because the fucking grounders wouldn’t let them.

The peace that was between Arkadia and the clans was… fragile. They had a treaty, but it was nothing more than ‘if you don’t bother us, we won’t bother you.’ There was a five-mile radius around Arkadia that the Trikru had generously gifted, but anything more was off-limits. The only people even allowed within the limits were the hunting parties and those that tended to the fields outside the fence.

Their peace had held for the past year since it was brokered, and, with a bit of support during the cold season, it hadn’t wavered. Neither side wanted it to.

Clarke didn’t want it to, either. But she at least wanted to explore their territory. Was that too much to ask?

According to her mother, it was.

So she did it herself.

“Shit, I never realized the trees were so tall.”

Well, not just herself.

“Raven, we could see them from inside Arkadia. They’re only, like, fifty feet from the border.” Octavia rolled her eyes. “Are they really that amazing?”

“Yes! I mean, look! This trunk is wider than I am!”

“Okay, you aren’t that fat.”

Raven pouted and Clarke laughed. She hadn’t laughed until she reached the ground. Not after her father was murdered.

“Ex-cuse you. I am sexier than you’ll ever be, bitch!”

Clarke smiled widely at her friend’s antics but was more admiring the forest than listening to them. The forest was alive with birds singing, brush rustling as small animals moved within them, and it was a beauty Clarke had never experienced. The forest had such diversity, such color, it was more than she could ever have dreamed.

“You still there, Clarke?” Octavia playfully knocked the side of her head, and Clarke smiled sheepishly.

“Yeah. This is all just… beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Ha! See, I told you, Octavia!”

“Shut up, Raven, that was not what you were telling me!”

Clarke’s smile was more genuine than it had ever been, in the forest with two of her best friends. But they were loud, exuberant, and, dare she say it, obnoxious.

So Clarke slipped off alone, her disappearance unnoticed by her bickering friends.

As their voices faded into the background, Clarke closed her eyes and just breathed. The air was fresh and tasted sweet on her tongue, the sunlight beaming through the trees warming her face and shoulders, the soft breeze caressing her face. It was the most amazing thing she had ever and likely would ever experience.

She wandered on, surrounded by the environment of the forest, for a long time. She knew she could walk on forever and it would never get any less exhilarating.

That was her last thought before she felt herself pulled against a body and cold metal press against her throat.

She felt breath wash over her ear. “Look at this; a Skai girl on the wrong side of the border. Did you get lost, idiot child?”

Clarke cursed internally. She was going to be in so much trouble when she got out of this.

The knife moved away from her throat, hovering just in front of it. “Talk.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know I intruded. I didn’t even know where the border was!” She pleaded, not even trying to escape from the woman’s strong grip.

“You didn’t know?” The woman laughed harshly. “Branwada. You should have.”

Clarke was about to retort before something hit her hard in the side of the head and her vision went black.

When Clarke wakes, she’s behind bars lying in the dirt.

She’s alone. There are no guards, no sounds, no nothing. Clarke wonders where the other prisoners are if they have any. She’d been told the grounders don’t take prisoners, that all offenses are punishable by death. They say it so harshly, like it’s the most terrible thing, even though they had done the same thing on the Ark. She’d always hated how they talked of the clans like they were a virus to be exterminated. She hopes she won’t agree after this experience.

If she survives the experience.

She hears footsteps coming down the corridor and a grounder steps in front of her cell. He looks at her passively, speaking over his shoulder. “Honon ste stomba raun, Oneda (The prisoner is awake, General).”

“Os. Bants osir. (Good. Leave us.)” A woman stepped past the guard, looking at Clarke with contempt. Clarke recognized the voice as the same woman that had captured her.

“What’s going to happen to me?” Clarke asked, wincing at the sound of her raspy voice. “Are you going to kill me?”

The woman tilted her head. “Why would I do that?”

“Isn’t that what you do to your prisoners?”

She snorted. “Your leaders know nothing of us, yet they tell their people that we are savages. I shouldn’t have expected any more from such arrogant leaders.” The woman shook her head, leaning casually against the bars. “No. You will not be killed. We have no proof that your intrusion was anything more than an innocent mistake made from Skaikru ignorance.”

“So are you going to let me go?”

She was silent for a moment. “No. You still are an intruder. You broke the treaty.”

Clarke gasped. “Please don’t hurt them because of this. I didn’t know, I swear!”

The woman considered her. “You protect your people. I do not see many Skaikru willing to do that. Are you one of the leaders?”

Clarke was taken aback. “Of course not! I’m not even eighteen yet!”

“Does that mean you cannot be a leader?”

“You can’t be on the council unless you’re over twenty-five.” Clarke sighed. “To them, I’m still a child.”

The woman looked amused. “Your ways are… intriguing, to say the least. Though you are still very much irritating, you are more competent than most of your leaders.”

Clarke decided to take that as a compliment.

“As for what will be done with you, I shall have to consider. You have broken the treaty accidentally, with no malicious intent. Not something fit for punishment, but to let you go free without repercussion would encourage more purposeful intrusions.”

The woman tilted her head thoughtfully. “You are an odd case. I will have to think this over, but I can assure you we will not kill you, and that you will, at some point, make it home.”

Clarke sighed. “Thank you…”

“I am General Anya. You will address me as General.” With those last words, Anya turned and said something to the guards in their language before striding out of the prisons. A guard brought a plate of food to her and then the entire prison cleared out.

Clarke groaned as she tasted the meat. Despite it being food they were feeding to a prisoner, it was the best meat she’d ever had. Sure, Arkadia had hunting parties who brought back meat, but it wasn’t nearly as good as this. She swiped her finger over the coating of flakes on top of the meat and figured it must be what old-world called ‘spices.’ She was thankful for such a good meal.

She settled against the wall at the back of the cell. Who knew how long she would be there for.

Clarke was awoken by two men grabbing either arm and hoisting her to her feet. She struggled. “Hey! Where am I going?”

“Quiet, honon,” a guard said, yanking roughly on her arm.

Clarke hissed, getting a hold on the ground and walking between them instead of being dragged. Outside, Anya was waiting on a horse with four other guards mounted around her. Another horse, this one without a rider, stood next to Anya.

The guards tossed her onto the horse, and she scrambled to sit on it correctly. “Where are we going?”

Anya spared her barely a glance. “I am taking you to Heda. She will decide your fate.”

Clarke was confused. “Don’t the guards call you heda?”

“They call me Oneda. It means ‘under Heda.’ Heda is the commander.” Clarke paled. She’d heard stories of the commander, how he was a ruthless murderer who wanted complete and total control, though considering what she’d seen here, it probably wasn’t accurate. She hoped.

Anya told her how to ride in the least amount of words possible before they were off. This was the first time Clarke had actually seen the village and she couldn’t help but gape. It was nothing like the council had described. Nobody looked miserable or angry, they all looked happy. Children ran around chasing each other, some carrying fake swords that they would pretend to fight with. Stalls were set up with merchants, bartering goods. There was a large pavilion off to the side that had smoke running out the side from a fire in which smoked meat lay. The chef tossed spices over the top of it and handed it out to people in exchange for what looked like trinkets.

Anya gave her an amused look from over her shoulder. “We aren’t savages, skai girl, no matter what your ‘council’ told you.”

No, they weren’t. Everything Clarke had heard about the grounders has so far been proven wrong. These people didn’t look like heartless brutes. They looked like normal people. Sure, most were bigger and far more muscled and maybe they wore different clothes and spoke a different language. They are still the same in the end. Just people trying to find their way in the world their predecessors created around them.

They passed through two large wooden gates that closed behind them and they went into the forest.

Only an hour in and Clarke’s legs were aching.

She’d never in her life ridden a horse. She’d heard of them, even seen a couple, but never came close, much less sit atop one. At first, it was nauseating, the swing of the horse’s steps swaying her back and forth, but she learned to let her hips swing with the rhythm, to move with it instead of against it. As long as she sat back and relaxed, everything was fine. Except for the fact that sitting like this for an hour was not so comfortable. Clarke couldn’t imagine doing this for the entire day, much less think about how the grounders were able to perform inexplicable stunts on them. Sitting and walking was one thing. Putting your trust in a two-ton creature that could crush you under its feet? Not so easy.

They rode for the rest of the day, stopping once in between for a slight rest before they were back on the path. They passed many other travelers, most merchants trying to sell their goods. Most seemed put off by her, and Clarke wondered if the grounders viewed Skaikru in the same way as Skaikru viewed them.

Clarke was relieved to be off of her horse. The mounts were tied up to a tree and the grounders set up tents, four of them, on flat, even ground. When everyone had eaten and drank, two guards took up positions on either side of the camp and the others each took a tent. “Try anything, Skai girl, and the guards will not hesitate to knock you out,” Anya warned before she sent Clarke into one of the tents. She passed out the moment her head hit the pillow despite sleeping half the day.

The following day proceeded much the same. Nothing of note happened, and that night they set up the same way. Clarke grew more comfortable around the grounders, though she still didn’t trust any of them, and her thighs weren’t as sore as they were yesterday, much to her relief.

On the fourth day, they reached their destination. The first thing Clarke saw was a large tower sticking out of the trees, towering above them higher than anything she’d seen. As they grew closer, she could see that the tower stood in the center of a city, a city that stretched wide on all sides. The wall surrounding it was at least twice the size of Arkadia’s, perhaps more.

The people in the city were the most diverse she’d ever seen. People of all colors walked the streets, many waving politely to their small party. She saw people covered in tattoos like Trikru, people with scarred faces and pale skin, people with dark skin and braided hair, and many more. She couldn’t see into the stalls from where she was, but she couldn’t imagine what sorts of things they sold.

The tower, at the foot of it, reminded her of an old-world skyscraper. From the bottom, it was impossible to see the top, the many windows blurring together into fuzzy shapes.

Anya spoke softly yet harshly to her in the elevator, which Clarke was startled to discover worked. “The commander is not someone to take lightly. You will show Heda proper respect, and if you do not there will be severe punishment. Do not speak unless spoken to, but do not bow to Heda. This one, in particular, is not fond of the gesture.”

Clarke fidgeted nervously as they stepped out of the elevator, staring at the large set of doors at the end of the hall. Four guards were positioned in front of it, large men with menacing spears obviously meant to intimidate. It worked.

Their eyes fixed on her as she walked behind Anya, eyes on the ground. She heard the men knock twice on the doors before pushing them open. Anya walked in confidently with Clarke straggling behind her.

She felt a new gaze on her, one much less harsh and more curious than the guards. “Heda, this skai girl invaded our territory just a few days earlier. She claims to have not known where the borders were.”

“Is this true, Skai girl?” Clarke felt a jolt of surprise at the voice. She had expected a hard, masculine tone, harsh and rough, not this smooth yet demanding feminine one. She looked up for the first time since entering the room and laid her eyes upon the most beautiful woman she’d ever seen.

The commander lounged lazily on her throne, a knife spinning between her fingers. Her hair was a dark chocolate, slightly wavy and entwined with intricate braids. Her outfit was black leather, all padded and protected, with a large pauldron on her shoulder sporting a red sash. Her face was smooth and soft, her skin tanned nicely, yet her eyes were hard and serious.

Clarke dipped her head politely. “Yes, commander.”

“Why were you unaware of the border? You should have known not to come close.”

Clarke nodded. “Apologies, commander, but the Skaikru forbid anyone except the hunting parties and field tenders to leave the camp. That was the first day I’d been outside the walls since they were built. I hadn’t been aware I’d walked a full five miles.”

A man was standing to the right of the commander, just behind the throne. His face was adorned with a permanent scowl. He scoffed. “These Skaikru are problematic, Heda, just like I told you they were. They are so inordinate they don’t even bother showing their people the rules. I say we drive them out.”

“Shof op, Titus. If I want your opinion I will ask for it.” The commander looked back to Clarke, who suddenly felt so insignificant under her gaze. “So you went against your people’s laws to leave camp?”

Clarke flushed red. “Yes,” she said sheepishly. “After being stuck in the Ark, and then Arkadia, we wanted to explore what was out there.”

The commander raised an eyebrow. “We?”

“Ah-yes,” she stuttered. “Two friends left with me. I separated from them and I expect they turned around before reaching the border if you haven’t seen them, or maybe were caught by our guards.”

“I see.” The commander turned to Anya. “And why couldn’t you figure this out yourself?”

“I was unsure of a fit punishment for the girl,” she replied. “Her crime is not her own fault but that of her people, though the only option is to punish her in some way to show that we will not tolerate trespassers.”

The commander nodded. “You are right. Join me and my advisors for dinner tonight. We will discuss the matter then. For now, give this girl arrangements in a guest room. She is not a prisoner and I will not treat her as such, at least not until an outcome has been decided.” She signaled to the guards, who gestured for Clarke to go with them, though before she could, the bald man spoke up.

“Wait.” All three hesitated, and the commander turned to him. He looked at her pleadingly. “Heda, she is a trespasser. We do not accommodate trespassers.”

“And whose fault is it that she trespassed?”

“It is her own, Heda! I beg of you, please consider the fact that she may be lying to gain information.”

“I don’t believe she is,” Anya said. “I saw her when she crossed the border. She was not looking for any guards, much less expecting an attack. She truly did not know she crossed the border.”

“You cannot be sure!” The man insisted. “For all we know, she is a spy! A deceiving woman feigning innocence to keep her in good favor!”

“Titus, she is not-”

“Enough!” The commander rose from her chair, throwing her arms out to the side. The braziers caught fire, the flames roaring up until they brushed the ceiling. Titus and Anya both froze. “We will settle this matter over dinner instead of arguing about it like children. Guards, take the girl to her rooms. Titus, Anya, remain.” Clarke looked at the commander fearfully, her piercing eyes boring right through her before the guards led her out of the throne room, the doors shutting behind them.

Clarke’s rooms were large, thrice the size of her old one on the Ark, even with her parent’s status on the council. She had an incredible view from the balcony, a comfortable fur bed instead of a hard cot, and, to her surprise, the drawers of the desk contained items in them. Most were simple, everyday things, nothing you would think twice about, but Clarke was surprised and delighted to find out they had paper and charcoal. They had practically none at Arkadia, and the resources on the Ark were scarce. She wondered how plentiful paper was to the grounders. They must have a lot if they would leave it laying in a guest room like this.

And so Clarke drew. The first thing she drew was Polis. It was grander than any city she’d seen, with the tower looming in the middle, a flame perched precariously atop it. She sketched it out and shaded it enough to form shape and distinction before she itched to move to something else. There were so many things to draw, she was impatient to get them all out. She’d finish that one later.

To her surprise, time passed quickly. By the time the guards brought in her dinner, she’d sketched out a picture of the forest, of a horse, and was in the middle of sketching the intricate throne she’d seen the commander sitting upon. The meal smelled heavenly, and she wolfed down the smoked meat and deliciously seasoned corn. If this was what she got to eat here, she’d happily stay a while.

After her meal, she finished her sketch of the throne and was trying to decide on what to draw next when the doors opened. She looked up from where she sat at the table to see the commander walking in. Her pauldron was gone, but the red ribbons twined into her hair still marked her as the commander.

Clarke stood up, brushing her drawings to the side. “Commander,” she said, inclining her head politely.

“We have come to a decision about your fate,” she said, skipping over pleasantries. “You are allowed to leave whenever you wish to return to your people with no punishment. However,” she paused, “you will deliver the message that any skaikru caught beyond the border, accidental or not, will be punished accordingly by my people.”

Clarke tilted her head. “Punished accordingly?”

“If it was a misunderstanding or curious children, the worst they would face might be captivity for some time or maybe working as an indentured servant, if the crime was so bad. If we have reason to believe they had malicious intent, they will be killed.”

Clarke was a bit startled by her casual stance on such a thing but nodded. “Of course. I will tell our leaders when I return.”

“And when will you return?”

Clarke was surprised. “I get a choice?”

“Yes. You are my guest for the time you remain at Polis. You may leave whenever you wish.”

She blinked, staying silent for a minute. “Can I stay a few more days?”

“If that is what you wish.” The commander walked over to her, looking down at her drawings before nodding to the couch. “May I?”

Clarke shifted over, allowing the Commander to sit with a few feet of space between them. The commander dragged one of her drawings over to look at, speaking without looking up. “Can I ask why you wish to stay instead of return to your people?”

She had to take a moment to process the question. “Um, yeah. I guess I just want to be somewhere new. As I told you, I’ve never left Arkadia since we came to Earth.”

The commander looked disturbed by that. “Not even once? You never explored the trees around your home?”

“Never. Unless you were hunting or gathering materials or some other task, you were forbidden from going past the treeline.”

The commander pursed her lips thoughtfully. “You were forbidden to explore the trees despite that you had grown up in a metal box your entire life.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I cannot say I pity you at all,” she replied. “I would much despair at such a life. It’s a wonder no one else has wandered out of your camp.”

“Security’s tight. It’s hard to leave without getting noticed.”

“Then how did you?”

Clarke shrugged. “One of my friends helped design the fence around Arkadia. She knew all the loopholes.”

The commander still looked a bit confused. “I’ve been told your fence is nothing more than wires. I do not understand how hard it could be to leave.”

Clarke hesitated at this. If she told the commander the strength of their fences, it was possible she’d use that against them. Then again, from what Clarke had seen, the commander had no intention of attacking. Even so, the grounders were likely strong enough to bring down the fence anyway. “The fence is electric. If you touch the wires, you’ll get shocked with a hundred volts at about a fifteen hundred milliamps.”

The commander looked even more confused. “I do not know what any of that means.”

“Oh. Right. If you touched it, it would hurt. A lot.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Would it?”

“Yeah. I know your warriors are tough and all, but trust me, they would definitely feel it.”

“If you say so.” The commander had tugged a couple more of Clarke’s sketches over to look at. “Would you mind if I asked about your life on your ‘Ark’? I find such a life hard to understand.”

“Uh, sure.” Clarke fidgeted in place. Though this woman couldn’t be much older than herself, she radiated an aura of power that made Clarke want to bend to her every command. It was no wonder she was the leader around here.

“Your ‘ship’ was in the sky for over a hundred years. How did it stay afloat?”

“Oh, um, well, up in space, there isn’t any gravity, which basically means there’s nothing pulling you toward the ground. The problem with space is that there isn’t any oxygen, so if you leave the ship without a suit, you’d die.”

“Like the maunon,” the commander muttered.

“The mountain men? Exactly like that.” Clarke leaned back against the cushions and sighed, memories flashing through her mind. “We had no dirt to grow our food in and no animals to get meat from, so everything was artificial. It all tasted bland. Even the water felt impure.”

“How do you get meat without animals?”

Clarke shrugged. “I have no idea how they did it, but they used the plants that they grew in this odd kind-of-dirt material to make it into something like meat. It was terrible, but it worked.” Memories of her first taste of real meat came back to her. “The half-raw rabbit we ate our first day was the best thing I’d ever had.”

The commander had a look of disgust on her face, and Clarke couldn’t blame her. The food an average grounder ate was a million times better than what the Ark had made. “What made your people come to the ground if you were surviving in ‘space’?”

“We were running out of air. When the Ark first launched from Earth, it was packed with a ton of oxygen, enough to last for centuries, but after living in it for two hundred years it began to run out, and so we had to leave. We didn’t even know if we’d survive on the ground, but likely death is better than certain death.” Clarke remembered feeling terrified as the Exodus ships launched, blasting them to the ground with no assurance of even making it down alive. She shuddered at the thought.

The commander hummed and was about to ask another question before there was a knock at the door. “Heda?”

She looked up sharply. “Chit ste em yu gaf (what is it you need)?”

` “Bandrona kom yujleda gada don kom op. Em seiso hit kom yu taim na kom au (An ambassador from Yujleda has arrived. She asked to meet with you as soon as possible).”

The commander nodded, standing from the couch. “I appreciate the knowledge you’ve given me and hope you will feel welcome for the next couple of days. Have a good night, skai girl.”

“Clarke.”

She turned back around, her eyebrows furrowing, and Clarke noticed just how bright of green her eyes were. “What?”

“You keep calling me sky girl,” she said. “My name’s Clarke.”

The commander nodded. “And I am Leksa kom Trikru, though, as is protocol, you must call me commander, or simply Heda.” She went to leave but paused a moment. “Would you mind if I came back around this time tomorrow?”

That wasn’t something Clarke was expecting. “Uh, sure, if you want.”

“Good. You’re a very interesting person, Klark kom Skaikru. I do hope you realize that.” With that final statement, she pulled open a door and left.

Clarke was left wondering if a person could be any more confusing.

Despite being alone in her room the entire next day, Clarke enjoyed her day. She cleaned up her drawings from the night before and began new ones, sitting on the balcony outside and drawing Polis from an above angle. She’d snagged some books from a dusty shelf in the corner, most in the grounder language but a couple of old-world books tucked in among them. She’d picked out something that was described as a ‘sci-fi thriller’ and began to read that.

The food was even better than she’d had previously. A steak of meat, wheat biscuit, a collection of fruits, and a goblet of light wine with her dinner. She’d never had alcohol, wasn’t allowed to at Arkadia, but it was slight enough that she wasn’t bothered.

True to her word, Lexa knocked on her doors about an hour after dinner. Clarke let her in and they sat down as they had the night before.

“Klark. How was your day?” Lexa began, stretching her arms over the top of the couch. Clarke ignored the fact that her hand was close enough to brush her shoulder.

“It was good. Not much to do in a single room, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. We don’t have actual paper at Arkadia, so I’m grateful for that.”

“I’m glad,” Lexa said. “If you’d like tomorrow, you may explore the city. The guards will accompany you, assist you if necessary, but they will not bother you. Do not feel as if you must remain in your room your entire stay. If you ever need anything, do not hesitate to ask.”

Clarke blinked. “I appreciate your kindness, Commander.”

“You are my guest. I will not have you restricted like a prisoner.”

Clarke didn’t know what to say to that, so she said nothing.

Lexa nodded toward her papers. “You said you had no paper at Arkadia. If you did not have any, how do you draw so well?”

“We had chalk up on the Ark, and my dad, being an engineer, had charcoal that he used to teach me. I learned from him. Down here, we don’t have anything. I haven’t been able to really draw in months.” She fingered the charcoal, rolling it until a fine black coat covered her fingertips. “It’s refreshing to be able to draw again.”

“If you’d like, I can have some of our watercolors brought here for you.”

“Watercolors? You mean colors I can draw with?” Clarke had seen such pictures in books, paintings done in all shades of the rainbow, colors she wished she could replicate. “You have those?”

“Yes. They are a form of dye mixed with water. Fairly easy to make, if you know what types of plants produce what color.” The corners of Lexa’s lips twitched up as she watched Clarke’s face morph into a mixture of awe and excitement. “I shall have them brought to you tomorrow.”

“I- would love that. Thank you,” Clarke breathed, unable to keep the smile off of her face.

Lexa scanned over the room. “I see you found the books.”

“Yeah. Most are in- whatever language you speak, but a couple are in English.”

“I have not practiced my Gonasleng reading in a while,” Lexa mused, tugging the book Clarke had been reading to her and flipping it open to a random page. The sun was setting beneath the horizon and darkening the corners of the room enough that reading the words on the page was impossible. With a flick of her wrist, Lexa had all the candles in the room alight with their tiny flames.

Clarke yelped at the sudden burst of light and Lexa gave her an odd look. “Are you alright?”

“What-how-” she took a moment, breathing in deeply. “How the hell did you just do that?”

“You mean light the candles, yes?” She nodded. Lexa seemed just as confused as she was. “I summoned the flames. Do you not have fayahakas (fire-makers) in Arkadia?”

“You summoned them?” Clarke had to stop a minute, reining in her mind. “You can summon fire?”

“Yes.”

“Can everyone summon fire?”

“Of course not,” Lexa said, her eyebrows furrowed inquisitively. “Only the strongest control fire. The others control weaker elements.”

“Hold on, let me get this straight,” Clarke said. “Your people can control elements.”

“Yes. Yours cannot?”

“No! I’ve never even heard of such a thing!” She exhaled heavily. “What about your general? Anya? What does she control?”

“Anya is a graunhaka. She controls the earth beneath our feet.” Lexa tilted her head. “You have no keryonakas? None at all?”

“If you mean people that can control stuff like earth and fire, no, we don’t. Everyone can control elements?”

“Yes. It is something you are born with. Children are taught to harness their powers at a young age.”

“Harness their powers,” Clarke muttered. “Do you think we would be able to if we were taught how?”

“It is possible,” Lexa said. “Do you wish to try?”

“I- yes, I would. Hell yes.”

Lexa looked her up and down, taking her in, and nodded. “Okay. We begin tomorrow.”

“Wait, really? What’s going to happen?”

“I will complete my duties as Heda and collect you after I have finished training with the natblidas, likely mid-afternoon. I will by then have chosen a place to go.” Lexa twitched her wrist, the flames from a single candle flowing to her and twirling around her finger. “Keryonak is not something to be treated lightly. A single mistake can be lethal to the controller or those around them. You must enter this seriously. Do you swear to do so?”

Clarke wasn’t sure she could say no even if she tried, with those eyes boring down on her. “I swear.”

“Good. Be ready tomorrow.” Lexa stood, her fingers brushing lightly over Clarke’s shoulder as she retracted her arms. “I will have the colors delivered to your room tomorrow morning, as promised.”

The watercolors. Clarke had forgotten about those. The excitement over such a thing was overshadowed by the idea of the grounders being some sort of magic. She dipped her head politely. “Good night, Heda.”

“Reshop, Klark.”

Lexa knocked on her door exactly when she’d promised she would.

“I will be taking you to a remote location just outside of Polis,” Lexa said as she led Clarke to the elevator at the end of the hallway. “There are still many who are opposed to keeping Skaikru alive and would not appreciate me revealing our powers of keryonak. We will be taking one of the lesser-traveled roads to one of the side gates. Try not to draw attention to yourself.”

Lexa turned out to be a hypocrite. She drew enough attention for both of them.

Clarke was in awe at how much the people revered her. Many came up to them offering Lexa their praises, gifts, or asking for a blessing. At one point, a small child of no more than five ran up to them and tugged on the side of Lexa’s coat. “Yu krei meizen, Heda. En yuj. Ai gaf ge belaik yu (You’re very pretty, Commander. And strong. I want to be strong like you)!” Lexa chuckled, ruffling his hair and whispering promises in his ear before sending him away. Her tenderness with the child did nothing but boost Clarke’s respect for her.

Their guards stopped at the side gates, joining the other gatekeepers as Lexa continued into the forest. She took the time to admire the scenery around them, not much different from the woods they’d traveled through to get to Polis, but still breathtakingly beautiful nonetheless. She noted the small smile on Lexa’s face when she looked back at her. “The trees amaze you.”

“Yeah, they do.” Clarke did not need to explain why. Lexa already knew.

“You will have time to admire them later. We are here.” They had only walked for maybe five minutes and now emerged into a small clearing, looking as if it had been created by man rather than naturally. There were racks of wooden swords to the side and thick lines traced in the dirt, forming a small arena.

“Working with the spirit powers is a delicate task. If you waver even slightly, you may lose your grasp, something which can be deadly when working with something such as fire,” Lexa said, drawing a line of fire out of thin air. “We will start small. Anything larger than the size of your palm is generally hard for anyone inexperienced to keep control of.”

Clarke shifted, unable to keep still. “How do I know what I am?”

“That is what we will figure out. All elements are usually an indicator of personality. Water is calm and soft but can turn deadly in an instant. Earth is a realist, someone who is firm in their beliefs and stubborn to the core. Storm is anger, people who are often unable to contain themselves. Fire is power, strength, a sign of great leadership. There has never been a commander who did not harness flames.” Lexa masterfully weaved tendrils of fire in and out, creating an intricate dance in the air. The sparks that came from then had Clarke taking a step back.

Lexa pulled the flames back into her. “We will try each element until we find which one you are. Water, fire, and storm can all be summoned using the same basic method, so we shall begin there. Are you ready?” Clarke took a deep breath and nodded. As exciting as this was, it scared her. She didn’t let that put her down.

Lexa began her instructions. “Draw the energy from the air. Feel the power around you, the spirit that chose you, and summon its power to you. Imagine it clustering above your palm, hovering there, still and unmoving.” Lexa demonstrated, a small ball of fire forming above her open hand.

Clarke did so and realized that she could feel something. The air around her seemed to hum, calling softly to her. “I can feel it.”

“Good. Draw it to you.”

Clarke tried to reach out, grasping for something she couldn’t reach. She tried tugging it closer, but it didn’t budge. “It isn’t coming. I can’t reach it.”

“Don’t reach for it. Ask for it. Call it to you. Be gentle with it. Show it the respect it deserves.”

She opened herself to the power, asking for it to come to her, treating it like she was coaxing a shy child. It edged closer to her, relenting to her requests and surrounding her in comfortable warmth. She urged it to gather in front of her, to form something solid.

It all moved forward and drew itself together into a ball of power that the moment it formed exploded into a blast of searing light. She yelped, blinking quickly to regain her sight after the sudden blinding light. Lexa was a bit disoriented, staring in disbelief at her.

Clarke let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “Did I… did I do it?”

Lexa was silent for a moment, composing herself before answering. “You did… something.”

“What do you mean? Did I do it wrong?”

“No, no, you did everything right. It was perfect. It’s just-” Lexa took a deep breath, closing her eyes and rubbing at her temples as if she had a headache. “What you summoned was not as I expected. Not water, storm, fire, or earth.”

Clarke couldn’t seem to grasp what that meant. “Them what did I summon?”

“I believe,” Lexa said slowly, “that you have just unearthed an entirely new element.”

Clarke was hyperventilating. Lexa barely seemed able to contain her emotions.

“What the hell do I do?” Clarke asked, her voice quiet. “This changes things, doesn’t it?”

“Yes,” Lexa admitted. “Such a discovery has not been made since Bekka Pramheda. This is groundbreaking.”

“Are you still going to let me go?”

“I will not have you kept prisoner here,” Lexa insisted. “You have done nothing wrong. Though, I would ask of you to stay a bit longer after this.”

“Why? What’s going to happen to me?”

“I will have to inform my people. There are many who would want to harness your power themselves, to take you and claim you as their own. But we will not tell them yet.” Clarke stood straighter at that. “We do not even know exactly what this is. With your permission, I would like to start active lessons between you and me, working with your spirit. Discovering what it is and what it holds. I will not have them informed until after you are back within the safety of your own people.”

Clarke felt a rush of sudden emotions toward the young commander, understanding just how much she had risked for her already. To house her even with the threat of others trying to kill her, to show her their secret powers, to train her in such powers, and now she was putting her life on the life to make sure she remained safe. “I cannot express how grateful I am to you for everything you’ve done for me. Thank you.”

Lexa seemed a bit miffed at the sudden announcement but smiled back. “Of course, Clarke. The lessons?”

“Oh!” As she could see it, Clarke had two options: accept the commander’s offer of teaching her more about her mysterious powers, or going home. The choice seemed obvious. “Of course. I’ll work with you.”

“Good. Could you find your way back to the gates we exited through tomorrow without my guidance?” Clarke nodded. “Then I shall meet you there two candlemarks after noon.”

“Candlemarks?”

“Yes. I believe you call them ‘hours.’ Have you noticed the candles the handmaiden brings in when she delivers your food?”

“You mean the ones with the nails in them? Yeah.”

“When a nail falls, it strikes the hour. The maid arrives at eight, so the sixth nail would be two after noon. Do you think you can be here by then?”

“I think so.”

Lexa nodded. “Very well. We must return. I have a few more duties to attend to before dinner.”

“Yeah, okay.” Clarke didn’t move to follow her, though, and Lexa turned to give her a confused look. Clarke focused around her, feeling the hum that somehow already felt familiar. This time she drew only a small bit, condensing it above her hand and forming a small glowing ball.

Lexa rushed back toward her, stopping a foot away. She hesitantly reached forward, her hand going right through the ball. “Light,” she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. “You are a sonchaka.”

“Light,” she repeated, trying to move the ball as Lexa had with her flame only for it to dissipate back into the air. The two women stood in silence for a moment, taking it all in.

Lexa gripped Clarke’s shoulders roughly. “Tell no one. Not a soul. This cannot get out, do you understand?”

“Yes, commander.”

“Good.” Lexa let go, sighing heavily. “And please, call me Leksa.”

Clarke froze mid-step. “But protocol-”

“Is not necessary when the only one I am around is you. Please, Klark. I would like to consider you a friend, especially if we are to continue meeting day after day.”

She nodded. “Okay. Lexa.”

They exchanged small smiles before finally beginning their return to Polis.

To Clarke’s surprise, Lexa visited her again that night, same time as she always did. She carried books in her hands.

“I had my fleimkepa scan our records on elementals,” she began once they were seated, placing the books on the table. “He found books on the discovery of the elements when the first people began to believe in the spirits from over a century ago. It was so long ago that many were written in English.” Lexa patted the books. “These are a few of them.”

Clarke took the top one. The cover said The Science of the Spirits, written in intricate cursive. Flipping to a random page, she saw that the entire thing was in English, more like a notebook than a novel. Sketches and graphs were scattered in among the words. She smiled at Lexa. “Thank you. I’ll be sure to look through them.”

Lexa dipped her head. “Have you worked any more on your soncha?”

“A bit.” She pulled up an orb of light, something she’d done so many times in the past couple of hours it came easily. “I can’t do much with it, though.”

“That’s to be expected. We will work on that more tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow. Okay.” The light dissipated, leaving the room in shadows.

They sat in silence for a minute, neither knowing what to say. “If you’d like, I can give you a tour of the city after tomorrow’s lesson.”

Clarke sat up. “I thought you had duties.”

Lexa shrugged. “I always have duties. They can be put off. I’d be glad to take a break from them for a little while, though I will be pressed on time. Unless you’d rather have one of your guards give you the tour?”

The thought of one of the large, quiet men who stood outside her room day and night giving her a tour was not very appealing. “No, no. I’d love if you would give me a tour of the city.”

“Very well.” She stood. “If there is nothing else to say, then I’ll be leaving. I shall do my own research on your soncha and inform you if there is anything you need to know.”

“Okay. Thanks.” Lexa nodded stiffly and left the room. Clarke sighed, adjusting to lean against the arm of the couch and tugging one of the books into her lap.

Her life had just become a hell of a lot more interesting.

Clarke and Lexa met at the gates and carried on to the arena. At first, their interactions were stiff and polite, nothing more than formal. Clarke managed to break that in a less than conventional way.

She held a ball of light in her hands, carefully increasing its size until it was twice the size of her fist. She added another pulse of energy and it exploded in her face.

Lexa snorted, barely able to contain her laughter as Clarke fell flat on her ass in surprise. She stood up, brushing the dirt off and looking at Lexa, who now had a playful smirk on her face. “Are you alright, Klark?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” she said, and Lexa exhaled sharply to keep from bursting out laughing. Clarke glared at her and Lexa’s grin only widened.

“Shall we try again?”

Clarke tossed a ball of light at Lexa’s face. It did nothing but amuse her more. Clarke buried her face in her hands and a soft glow began to waft off her body. Lexa informed her of such.

“Great, now I’m a fucking lightbulb.” Clarke stared at her arms with as much intensity as she could until the light flickered away. She grumbled about it under her breath and turned back to Lexa. “So, the tour?”

Lexa had gotten ahold of her expression, but her eyes still glinted with laughter. “Of course, Klark. Come.”

The guards followed behind at a distance as they stepped off the side streets and into the main market. It was filled to the brim, people from all tribes bustling around. Clarke stared slack-jawed at everything around her. Peering into one of the stalls, she saw someone drop a little bone necklace into the shopkeeper’s hand in return for a small carved figurine of a deer.

She felt Lexa brush up beside her. “Come, Klark. There is one place I think you will enjoy.”

Lexa led her into an art shop.

The walls were lined with pictures, done in charcoal, watercolor, paints, so vibrant and smooth that they looked unreal. Clarke gaped at them, reaching up to trace her fingers along a painted river flowing across. The texture was rough and layered, the foam sticking off the page just a bit more than the rest of it. She heard Lexa talking to the shopkeeper behind her but didn’t pay any attention to what they were saying. Walking through the racks of paintings, they were all she could focus on.

She paused at one. This was of Lexa. She was covered in thick armor, her red sash flowing out behind her, flames lighting it up. Lexa held balls of flame in her hand, the background being a reddish-brown background that looked more volcanic than anything she’d ever seen. Lexa’s face was covered in black warpaint, making her look terrifyingly striking.

She heard a laugh from behind her. “You will find multiple paintings of myself, I am sure. The commanders are viewed more like gods than humans, even myself. Some even say the commanders are the fire spirit itself.”

“Do you believe that?”

“No. I am Heda because I killed children, not because I’m a goddess.” Lexa’s lip curled. “I would much rather have ascended that way.”

“You did what you had to do.” Clarke sighed. “Why were you chosen to be commander?”

“I am a natblida. All natblidas are trained from a young age until the commander dies, in which they will fight to the death. The winner ascends to be commander and the hunt for a new generation of natblidas begins.”

Clarke winced. “Are all the natblidas fayahakas?”

“There are only two fayahakas in this generation, but there has never been a commander who was not one. The most promising of the natblidas is one.” Lexa’s lips twitched up into a grin. “You will have to meet them sometime. You will adore them.”

“How young are they?”

“The oldest is thirteen. The youngest is ten.”

Clarke felt a pang in her heart. “And they have to kill each other.”

“When I die, yes. I wish it did not have to be that way.” Lexa sighed. “I have suggested changing the tradition multiple times, but no one else agrees with me. It is a show of strength, they say.” She exhaled, reaching to the back of her neck.

Clarke rested a hand on Lexa’s bicep. “I’m sorry you had to do that, but you had no choice.”

“I did.” Lexa’s eyes unfocused as she thought back. “There were eight other natblidas in my generation, and contrary to belief, I was not the top of my class. There was another girl who could beat everyone she fought, including myself. I looked up to her as an older sister. When the conclave came, each fought our way through the other children. When it came time to fight each other, she fled. Disappeared from Polis. She didn’t resurface until two years ago as the leader of the floudonkru.”

“Two years ago? How long have you been Heda for?”

“I have been Heda for eight years. I ascended when I was twelve summers.”

“Twelve years,” Clarke murmured. She squeezed Lexa’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. It is something I regret, but to be stuck on their death would be to dishonor them. I can only be the best I can be.”

Clarke smiled softly at her. “And you are. You’re possibly the only person who actually treats me like a human here. Even at Arkadia, I was treated like a child, scolded for trying to be my own person. So thank you, Lexa. I’m sure the other novitiates are proud of what you’ve done with their sacrifice.”

Lexa chuckled quietly, her eyes glistening. She had a sad smile on her face that made Clarke’s bones ache. Lexa made her feel in a way no one ever had.

It was addictive.

They continued to meet outside every day. When Lexa started to get behind on her duties, they resigned to meeting after dinner in Clarke’s rooms like they had the first couple days.

Clarke couldn’t get enough of her. Lexa’s nightly visits were the highlight of her day. When they were alone, Lexa could strip off parts of her mask, and Clarke was slowly getting her to remove more and more. Beneath it all, Lexa was just a young girl who wanted to enjoy her life.

Clarke had basically mastered her powers. Drawing from her energy reserve took barely even a thought now and manipulating the light took just a twitch of her finger. Clarke was obsessed with it, and Lexa was too, though she didn’t let it stop her from lighting all the candles in the room whenever she came in.

They had draped themselves across the couch in Clarke’s solar, Lexa complaining about her work and Clarke listening intently. “The ambassadors refuse to see sense,” she groaned, making abstract shapes in the air with her fire. “Louwoda Kliron is complaining that they are outgrowing their land and is demanding that Yujleda surrender a portion of theirs. They are demanding too much for too little a price and refuse to negotiate past that.”

“Did they decide that?”

“No. I ended the meeting before it could escalate.” She dropped her head onto the back of the couch, sighing heavily. “The ambassadors will be returning to their clans in three days' time to make their seasonal report, thank the spirits. I will have almost a fortnight without them.”

“Why so long?” At Lexa’s scalding look, Clarke corrected herself. “Not that I’m complaining, but why would they be gone for so long?”

“Because the Ingranrona Kru are almost a week’s ride away from Polis. It is a break I have been looking forward to since the last one ended.”

Clarke snorted, leaning close enough that their shoulders brushed and adding a strand of light to Lexa’s dance. Lexa gave her an amused look, twirling her fire around the white ribbon. Clarke condensed it into a thicker glow and escaped from its fiery cage, brushing the edge of the flames.

Lexa paused. “Wait. Do that again.”

“Do what again?”

“Just keep still,” she commanded. Clarke balled up her light and held it in place. Lexa prodded at the light with her fire. Nothing happened. Lexa sighed.

“What are you trying to do?” Clarke asked softly.

“I just… thought I saw something. It was probably nothing.” She shook her head.

Clarke looked up at the disappearing stroke of fire. “Wait.”

Lexa looked up. “What?”

“Put the fire back.”

Lexa frowned but did as she asked. Clarke took her little globe of light and it flowed right into the core of the fire. It glowed white, the fire softening into a warm gold.

Clarke hummed. “That’s pretty cool.”

Lexa’s brows furrowed. “Cool? It is fire. Fire is not cold.”

Clarke chuckled. “No, no, not like that. It’s Skaikru slang. It means ‘amazing’ or ‘interesting.’”

“Then yes, I suppose it is ‘cool.’” Clarke grinned. Hearing Lexa say something like that wasn’t something she’d ever expected to hear.

A loud clang alerted them that the twenty-first candlemark had hit. Lexa sighed. “I must go.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, then,” Clarke said, standing up and offering Lexa a hand. She took it. Instead of releasing immediately after, Lexa tightened her hold and, after a moment of hesitation, leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on Clarke’s cheek. She left with a small smile gracing her face.

Clarke stood in place for a couple minutes after Lexa was gone. She reached up and touched the spot Lexa had kissed, staring at the door, stunned into silence. The commander of the twelve clans just kissed her. Lexa just kissed her.

She couldn’t think of a better way to end her evening.

Lexa came an hour later than usual the next day. She refused to meet Clarke’s eyes when she let her in.

“I’ve arranged for you to meet the natblidas,” Lexa said, standing by the couch awkwardly. “You had said you’d like to meet them, so I had it arranged. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Of course not,” Clarke said, leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees.

Lexa fidgeted, her gaze down at the floor. Clarke took note of her flushed cheeks. “Wonderful. I, um, will retrieve you tomorrow at the fourteenth candlemark. If that’s okay.”

“It’s perfect.” Clarke shifted closer, reaching out to skim her fingers over Lexa’s wrist. She flinched. “Lexa, look at me. Please. You’re acting odd.”

“I’m probably just tired.” Lexa backed away from the couch. “I should retire. Goodnight, Klark.”

“Lexa, wait.” Clarke stood, walking over to her. “Look at me. Beja, Lexa. You don’t need to hide from me.”

Lexa took a shuddering breath, angling her face away. Clarke rested a hand on the small of her back, feeling her stiffen under her touch. “Lexa.”

Lexa spun around suddenly, making Clarke stumble back. “What?” She demanded, her eyes red, lips trembling. “What do you want?”

“I want to help you.” Clarke stepped closer, carefully taking one of Lexa’s hands in hers. She shook and Clarke wrapped both hands around it. She sought out her eyes, forest green, which were looking everywhere but Clarke. “Tell me what’s wrong, love.”

Lexa’s eyes flickered up to her face, widening in surprise. Clarke understood then. Understood what Lexa wanted but was too afraid to ask for. What she was afraid of facing. Something Clarke was afraid of, too. But she would take the plunge. For both of them.

Clarke reached up and rested a hand lightly on Lexa’s cheek. She brushed her thumb over the corner of her lips, watching Lexa’s eyes dart between her face and the floor. Clarke slipped the hand beneath her chin, tilting her head up, angling her head slightly. Leaning in, she brushed their lips lightly. It was light, barely felt, but she tilted forward again, the feather of a touch merging into a kiss.

Lexa didn’t move for a moment, her body stock still, until with a single breath she practically melted. Their bodies melded together, sliding into place like two pieces of a puzzle. Clarke released Lexa’s hand, wrapping her arm around her waist and tugging her closer, the other hand massaging her jaw. Lexa’s hands wandered up, hesitantly brushing over Clarke’s shoulders, but Clarke squeezed Lexa closer and she relented, wrapping her arms around her neck.

They broke apart, panting, Lexa with tears dripping down her face. Clarke brushed them away, pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “Are you alright, love?”

Lexa closed her eyes at the pet name, leaning into Clarke’s hand. She hummed. “Mhm.”

Clarke felt her heart racing, threatening to beat out of her chest. She’d just kissed Lexa. God, she couldn’t process it. She hadn’t even been here a fortnight and she’d just kissed the commander. The fucking commander. Though at the moment, it wasn’t the commander she held in her arms, soft, warm, heavy.

Clarke led her back over to the couch, sitting down and pulling Lexa down on top of her. Lexa pressed a messy kiss to her cheek, arms tightening around her neck. Clarke brushed her lips over Lexa’s jawline, mouthing at the sharp jut that made her look so damn tough. Lexa groaned, dropping her head onto Clarke’s shoulder.

Clarke tore herself away from her neck, sitting back against the couch, keeping her arms loosely wrapped around Lexa’s waist. Lexa sat back as well, fingers twirling the baby hairs on the back of her neck. On her face was a wide grin. Sparks flew off of her, a section of her hair catching aflame. Clarke chuckled, patting it out. “You’re sparking, love.”

Lexa bit her lip. “And you’re glowing, hodnes.” Clarke scowled and Lexa dug her teeth into her lip to keep herself from giggling. She was the commander. She did not giggle.

Clarke leaned forward and pressed a light kiss to her nose. “You like me?”

“Is it not obvious?”

“You’re right,” she agreed. “Then it’s obvious that I like you?”

“Mm, I should hope so.” Lexa brought a hand around to stroke down her face. “You’re stunning, ai soncha. It was hard to keep my hands off you.”

Clarke exhaled with a small puff. “If I’d known you wouldn’t kill me for it I would have had my hands on you a long time ago.” She laughed quietly. “And to think that only two weeks ago I thought the commander was some giant, rough scar-faced man who would kill me on sight.” The absurdity of it all only made her laugh harder. “And now I have the commander sitting in my lap, a beautiful, terrifying woman who I can’t fucking resist.”

Lexa sighed, nuzzling her nose into Clarke’s cheek. “Flatterer.”

“It’s true. You’re lovely.” Lexa purred, kissing her neck. Clarke groaned as she started nipping at her skin. “Lexa, we should talk about this-”

“Later.” She lapped at the red skin she left after a particularly harsh bite. “Let us enjoy this. Just this moment.”

And how could she resist?

Lexa left a half hour later. Clarke’s mind was blurry and dizzy and she swore she couldn’t see straight.

They hadn’t had sex or anything; Clarke wasn’t at all prepared for that. It was all touches and kisses and caresses and the affection that they both had been denied for too long.

They hadn’t talked. About what this meant. About what it would do to them. About how it would work with them being who they were - an intruder skai girl and the grounder commander. An odd couple, to be sure.

Lexa came by at the fourteenth candlemark the following day, just as she had promised. The smiles they shared were different. More open and affectionate. Happier.

“The natblidas come up here to train every day,” Lexa told Clarke as they stood hundreds of feet above the city, the view even more impressive with the addition of the commander tower. “Usually Titus trains them, as I normally have duties to attend to, but the ambassadors departed today, so I offered to take over.” A smile graced her face. “The natblidas hold a place close to me.”

Clarke reached over and took her hand. “I’m excited to meet them.”

Lexa squeezed her hand. “You’ll love them. They’ll love you, too. Children are much more open-minded than adults. They won’t let your clan get in the way of who you are.”

Clarke huffed. “That’d be a first.” She raised an eyebrow at Lexa’s look. “You can’t deny that it doesn’t matter to you. It does. It matters to us.”

“I wish it didn’t,” she sighed. “For me to take you would make me look weak because you are an outsider. And I doubt your people would appreciate it either.”

“Fuck what my people have to say. They aren’t here right now.” She leaned closer. “And yours aren’t here right now, either.”

Lexa gave her an amused glance. “As much as I want to, the natblidas are here. We will have time later.”

“You’d better keep that promise.” The greenery behind them rustled and the two separated. The first to walk into the clearing was a boy, only a couple of inches shorter than Clarke, with tousled blonde-red hair and pale skin. He had slim muscle packed into his arms and legs, a show of strength despite his skinniness. He grinned. “Heda! You have not visited in a while!”

“I know. I apologize. I’ve been busy,” Lexa said, stepping forward to hug him. Six other kids crowded around her, the youngest clinging to her arm. Clarke almost cooed.

“Heda, who’s she?” All eyes turned to Clarke. She shifted her weight, smiling nervously.

Lexa ruffled the young girl’s hair. “This is Klark. You may have heard of her. She is Skaikru.”

Aden was the first to step forward. “Pleasure to meet you, Klark kom Skaikru. I am Aden kom Podakru.”

Clarke relaxed. “The pleasure’s all mine, Aden.”

He smiled at her. The other six natblidas introduced themselves, no two being from the same clan. Clarke was particularly drawn to a young brunette girl of eleven from the Sankru named Kalya. The young girl seemed genuinely happy to meet her, offering her arm in greeting, a sign of respect among their culture.

Lexa herded them away to train them and Clarke watched from the sides. First, Lexa fought each of them individually. Aden was the only one who got a hit on her; likely why Lexa claimed he was the most likely successor. It was incredible to see how they fought with their powers. Water, electricity, earth, fire, each of them had a beauty to them. Electricity was like a bullet; if you didn't know it was coming you couldn’t dodge it. Water was smooth and flowing; not solid but a good way to disorient. Earth made the entire arena a tricky place to maneuver. The ground would jut out or retract in, not something that happened quick but deadly if you didn’t avoid it. Fire was a whole different story.

Lexa and Aden fought with fire. It was a deadly dance, both fighting for control. Aden would lash out and Lexa would snap it away, sending her own projectile. Fire couldn’t hurt either of them but it could burn through armor, melt weapons if hot enough and could act as a blindfold. By the time Aden was down, the entire clearing was filled with smoke.

After that, they paired up to fight, Lexa working with one herself. She was harsh in her teachings but always kept her students safety in mind.

When it was all over, most of them collapsed to the ground to rest. Lexa walked back to her, slick with sweat that made Clarke’s core pulse. She leaned over, muttering in her ear. “You’re hot when you’re all sweaty.”

Lexa furrowed her brows. “Hot? Of course. Exercise always warms the body.”

Clarke snuffed a laugh. “That’s not what I meant.” She leaned back in. “In our culture, ‘hot’ means attractive.”

Lexa flushed. “Oh.”

Clarke snorted, shifting slightly away to a more respectable distance. One of the natblidas came over to them. “Heda, why did you bring the skaigada?” The other nightbloods crowded closer to hear her answer.

Lexa rested a hand on Clarke’s shoulder. “I wanted you to meet her. Klark has become a friend of mine. I thought you would like her.”

The youngest, a boy of Asian descent from the plain riders, tugged on her sleeve. “Can you tell us about Skaikru?”

Clarke smiled. “Of course. What do you wish to know?”

Clarke spent a good part of the next half-hour talking to them about Arkadia and the Ark. They seemed horrified at her life. “You don’t have keryonakas?”

She shook her head. “No. I didn’t even know such a thing existed until I came here.”

“So you don’t have a spirit?”

Clarke sent Lexa a questioning glance. Lexa’s eyes flickered to the nightbloods and she nodded.

“I do,” Clarke said. “Lexa taught me how to find it.”

“What are you?” The young boy was bouncing on his heels. “I bet you’re a wodahaka.”

“I think she’s a graunhaka!”

They turned eagerly back to her. “Which one are you?”

She chuckled. “Neither. Nor am I a fayahaka or a strakahaka.” She pulled out of the air a globe of white light, like a mini star held in her palm. “I am what you might call a sonchaka.”

“A light-maker.” Aden stepped forward, eyes wide. He reached forward. “Can I?” Clarke pushed the globe to him.

His fingers slipped right through it without any resistance. His face filled with wonder as the light trailed after his fingertips when he retreated. The other children pushed closer to get a better view.

Clarke pulled out a ribbon of light, twirling it around Kalya and making her look like some sort of ethereal goddess. She laughed, reaching up to touch the swirling glow. It recoiled from her touch, forming into a little fox and nuzzling her palm before dissipating.

She released more ribbons, the light spiraling around the clearing, dipping up and down and in and out. Lexa held up a hand, tendrils of flame joining in with the light show. Her fire sparked into a golden hue. The natblidas gaped at the impressive display of power.

Clarke pulled back, feeling the use of so much power take its toll on her. Lexa drew hers back as well, stepping up beside her. “Listen to me. You cannot tell anyone about this. I trust all of you to understand the importance of keeping this hidden.” The natblidas nodded along with Lexa’s words. “Good. Now, I believe you are late to Titus’s lessons. Tell him if he has a problem to take it up with me.”

The children rushed off, hastily saying their goodbyes to Clarke. Silence fell quickly.

Lexa reached out to grab her hand, not saying anything. Clarke turned to her. “You really want to deal with Titus?”

Lexa laughed at that, a sound that made Clarke smile widely. “Nobody wants to deal with Titus, but if anyone is to do it I might as well be it.”

“You shouldn’t have to be.” Clarke tugged her closer, planting a messy kiss on her cheek. “You’re young. You should live your life, not be weighed down by the needs of the people.”

“And yet that is the life that was chosen for me the moment I was born.” She wiped a drop of black blood off of her face, where a small cut sat on her cheek just beneath her eye. “I was cursed with nightblood. It was my destiny to ascend or die.”

“Has a commander ever retired?”

“Retired? No. They die before they can.” She sighed. “I imagine it would be impossible to retire anyway. If I did somehow manage to grow old, I would be assassinated for being weak. If I tried to retire, I would be assassinated for being weak.”

Clarke hooked their arms together. “Maybe once you get your peace you can work toward fixing that. Fixing your stupid weakness rule.”

“It is not stupid, Klark,” Lexa complained. “It keeps us strong. The weak die, the strong live on.”

“What do you consider weak? Sickness? Injury? Wanting to relax for a single fucking minute?”

“You’re right,” she admitted. “It is flawed in that sense. But we’ll deal with that when we get there.”

Clarke smiled. “I like the sound of that. We.”

Lexa turned to her. “Does that mean you wish to stay here?”

It was something she’d had on her mind for a while now. When she’d have to return. “I wish I could. I hope I can. But I can’t just leave my family and friends behind.”

Lexa’s happy expression dropped a bit. “I understand.”

“Hey, love, that doesn’t mean I don’t want to be with you. I want to. But I have an obligation to my people, just as you do to yours.”

Lexa smiled shyly. “Perhaps we can incorporate Skaikru into our peace. From what you have told me of their capabilities, they would be valuable trade partners, and your fayagons would be a useful long-range weapon of war if one were to come about.”

Clarke grinned and leaned over to press a kiss onto her lips. “I would love that. I’m sure my people would, too.”

Lexa’s smile widened and she surged forward, catching her lips once more.

It would be some time before they returned to the city.

Lexa visited her that night as usual. Her dress was different.

She wasn’t in her usual commander coat and armor, instead dressed in a thin nightgown with a long slit in the leg. Clarke let her in, eyes wandering, but Lexa didn’t care. Almost as if she’d done it on purpose. She probably had.

The first thing Clarke did was pull her down onto her lap, pulling her in for a proper kiss. Lexa grunted, mouth parting slightly, and kissed back, shifting to straddle her hips. Clarke rested a hand on Lexa’s leg, feeling the bare skin that radiated warmth on the cool evening. The other hand slipped into Lexa’s hair, scratching at her scalp. Lexa purred, smiling into the kiss.

Lexa pulled away first, hands resting on either side of Clarke’s neck. “Klark, how can we do this?”

“Hmm?” Clarke hummed, her mind still slightly disoriented from the sudden rush of attraction.

“Our relationship. How can we manage it?” Lexa rested her cheek against Clarke’s temple. “Our people will both despise it, and they already hate each other. Along with the fact that you cannot stay here forever and it will be hard for you to come back.”

Clarke sighed. “I know. This can’t end well, not as it is now. I’ll have to leave soon, and you’ll be alone here again, and I’ll be locked up in Arkadia again. So let’s just enjoy this while it lasts.”

“Enjoy it while it lasts,” Lexa said sadly. “It will have to be enough, won’t it?”

Clarke didn’t respond. She didn’t need to.

Lexa pulled away, their lips meeting ever so gently. With such thoughts at the front of their minds, they remained gentle and light, but it became a mere afterthought within the throngs of their affection.

Lexa wasn’t a very touchy-feely person, but Clarke was completely hands-on. She traced muscles through the gown, slipped a hand to her arm to feel the raised flesh of the tattoo, of which Clarke had never seen. She’d have to ask Lexa about her tattoos later.

Clarke prodded at Lexa’s lower lip with her tongue, skimming over it with her teeth. Lexa obediently parted her lips, allowing Clarke to feel her out. She bit down lightly on her tongue and Clarke dug her nails into Lexa’s arm. She let out a low moan, sinking down into her.

Clarke pulled back, eyes dark with lust. Evaluating Lexa’s behavior, she hoped she was reading this right. Leaning forward, she pressed her lips against her ear. “I want you to sit still like a good girl and take what I give.”

Lexa shivered, a gasp escaping her mouth. She nodded quickly, arms tightening around Clarke’s neck. Clarke kissed her on the lips and snagged her fingers in Lexa’s hair, tilting her head to the side. She began planting kisses up and down her jawline, sucking on her pulse point enough to leave the faintest of marks. It wouldn’t do to ruin the commander’s reputation.

Clarke kissed up and down her neck, nipping and sucking on the soft, delicate skin of her throat. Her free hand went to Lexa’s back, splaying across the bare skin to hold her tight. This was the first time she’d ever been in a relationship even remotely sexual, and she was surprised at how naturally her dominance came through.

Who would’ve thought the commander would be a damn sub.

Someone knocked on the door to Clarke’s room an hour after breakfast.

A handmaiden was standing at the door. “Klark kom Skaikru,” she began, dipping her head. “I come with a message from the commander.”

“What is it?”

“You must collect your things,” she said. “Heda has gifted you this sak to carry anything you wish to take with you. She says you will be departing in a candlemark.”

Clarke furrowed her eyebrows. “Did she say where I am going?”

“She gave no hint of the destination or purpose.”

Clarke nodded stiffly. “Thank you.” The handmaiden bowed slightly and turned to leave. Clarke closed the door, leaning her forehead against the thick, rich wood.

She was leaving Polis. Likely being delivered back to her people. Why? She doubted Lexa would make this decision without consulting her first unless there was something else playing into it. Had something happened?

She had no way to get her answers. She grabbed a change of clothes, her drawings, and, as a last minute thought, grabbed Lexa’s other gifts. The watercolors and the keryon books. She hoped she was allowed to take those.

The better part of the hour was spent pacing her room in silence. Her steps weighed heavy on the floor, her face scrunched up in thought as she went over the various scenarios of what could be happening. Did it have to with Skaikru? With Polis? The Kongeda? The questions rang in her mind with no way of answering them.

Another handmaiden came to fetch her, leading her outside of the tower and to a building at the edge of the city. It was a stable, filled with the smells and sounds of horses.

There were a dozen horses outside, all tacked up and ready to depart. All of the riders were warriors except one.

Clarke strode over. “Lexa,” she said quietly. The girl looked up from where she had been securing the horse’s girth. “What is going on?”

“I’ll tell you on the way. We have to arrive as soon as possible.” Lexa handed her the reins to a sturdy chestnut mare and turned to address the entire party. “Mount up.”

Clarke had to hold the stirrup in place with her hands to be able to get her foot in and swing herself over. Luckily, the mare was small, just short enough that she could do it herself, which saved her a bit of dignity. Lexa sat tall on her dark stallion, nodding for Clarke to flank her.

They rode out of Polis, pushing the pace to a slow lope. Lexa fell back to ride beside Clarke. “A messenger just arrived from Onya this morning. The Skaikru have been searching for you, and have begun to extend their search outside of their territory. Patrols on the border have turned them back, but they grow persistent. We fear they will turn to violence if you are not returned to them.”

It wasn’t until then that Clarke understood what she had been doing to them, staying in Polis. She’d known it wouldn’t do to live away from her family and friends, but she hadn’t considered the immediate consequences. They’d assume the worst. Most of them already hated the tribes, and if they thought the Trikru had kidnapped her…

Okay, technically, they had kidnapped her. But no one needed to know that.

The message had been vague, so Lexa couldn’t tell her much more than that. They rode side by side, occasionally picking up small talk but keeping a comfortable silence for the majority of the ride. They stopped every hour or so to rest the horses, slowing to a trot as the sun began to dip closer to the horizon.

They camped for the night by the riverside, the ground flattened by two graunhaka warriors in a way that she recognized had been done by Anya on their journey to Polis. She hadn’t realized how much the grounders depended on their powers to get things done more efficiently. Lexa sparked up an easy flame, adjusting it as needed to cook the deer meat to perfection. The water was purified by one of the wodahakas and the horses were given fresh patches of some of the best foods just grown from the ground.

Clarke discreetly lit up the tips of her fingers, letting the glow dance over her hand. She wondered about what it would mean for her back home.

She and Lexa didn’t have a single moment alone the entire four days it took to travel to TonDC. By the time they arrived, Clarke was aching for her in a way that seemed impossible.

They arrived back at dusk, setting up tents just beside the village walls. Most people gave them warm greetings, but Anya was less than pleased to see Clarke. “It is her fault we are in this situation in the first place,” she argued.

Clarke snorted. Anya scowled at her. “Have something to say, skaigada?”

“I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t forced me into custody.”

They could have gone back and forth for hours. Lexa knew that. She stopped it before it could even begin.

When they returned to their tents, Lexa tapped her wrist lightly and hooked their pinkies together, drawing her towards the commander’s tent.

Lexa sat down on the fur-covered cot and looked at Clarke. Clarke looked back. They both knew what this was.

This was goodbye.

Clarke walked toward her and removed her pauldron, setting it on a table behind her. Lexa stayed silent, hands ghosting over Clarke’s arms as she undid the many buckles of the commander’s coat, laying the heavy fabric on the table as well. She turned back, watching Lexa. Her eyes glistened and Clarke could feel tears pricking at the edges of hers as well. She leaned down, pressing her lips to Lexa’s forehead, hands coming up to cradle her face.

Lexa seemed to choke on her words. “Klark, I-”

“Shhhh,” Clarke mumbled, lips still against Lexa’s face. “No words. Not tonight. Nothing that will remind us of what is to come.”

Lexa wrapped her hands around Clarke’s wrists and squeezed lightly. Clarke sat down beside her and pulled her into a soft kiss, hands gentle and caring. Nothing of the hot passion they’d shared previous nights, and yet it was all the more powerful.

They fell asleep together in Lexa’s bed, shoes still on their feet, hair still braided tightly to the back of their heads, armor still strapped to their chests. When they woke once more come morning, neither moved, only soaking in the closeness of the other. Silently dreading what was to come.

Someone knocked on one of the poles of Lexa’s tent.

Clarke clutched Lexa tighter.

Their goodbyes outside are nothing short of formal protocol.

Lexa keeps her face schooled, chin raised high, though Clarke can see how her lower lip trembles, how her hands shake, how her eyes shine. She imagined she was much the same. Neither said more than was expected and Clarke was thankful. If Lexa had tried to say anything more, she wouldn’t have been able to keep her facade.

She was escorted to the border of Arkadia. Anya was thankful to be rid of her.

She walked alone back to the fallen Ark, feeling her heart close in on itself as the walls came into view. She pushed Lexa to the back of her mind. She knew she’d break down later when she was alone.

Someone called her name and people began to gather at the fences, looking out at her with surprise, relief, awe.

Her mother rushed up to the gates, standing just over the threshold. Raven and Octavia were there as well.

She was happy to see them. She would be, at least.

The flicker of the torchlight against their face only served to remind her of the red flames that spiraled from Lexa’s hands.

#clexaweek2020 #clexaweek2020 day 1 #Day 1 Forbidden Love #Forbidden Love #clexa fanfic #clexa deserved better

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helaintoloki · 5 years

Text

Season of the Witch | Michael Langdon

chapter seven: The Lion and the Lamb

masterlist

pairing: Michael Langdon x reader

warnings: language, angst, violence, graphic descriptions, adult content, deception, toxic relationships, abuse, death, witchcraft, satanism and all that other good ahs stuff

notes: not the best chapter I’ve written tbh but then again I’m not all here right now so I apologize in advance. also I’m open to any questions, comments, concerns, etc about this story so feel free to drop some messages in my inbox :)

summary: y/n is reunited with two old friends, putting Michael’s master plan into motion

“I still don’t understand why I couldn’t bring Binx,” y/n pouts for what seems like the hundredth time, and Michael is very close to smacking her silly in order to get her to shut up about her dumb fucking cat.

“Because he’s extra weight to carry. Besides, we wouldn’t want poor old Binx getting lost in the big, bad city, would we?” Michael pouts, feigning innocence and thoughtfulness towards her feline companion, when in reality he can’t wait to mangle that little monster.

“I suppose,” she frowns, struggling to keep up with his long strides, “but I still don’t see why we’re here.”

“Don’t fret, little lamb,” Michael coos, his large hand resting on the small of her back as he guides her through the entrance of the hotel, “you’ll see soon enough.”

Y/N immediately cowers back upon entering, the restless and unruly souls present in the building making her skin crawl. She can’t see them, but she can feel them grabbing at her, begging for her to help them. She clings to Michael’s arm and follows him towards the elevator.

The blond glances down at the trembling witch beside him as the elevator goes up, shaking hands gripping onto his coat sleeve for dear life. She looks so helpless, so small and scared. And he smiles fondly down at her, his little lamb. And he, the lion, who for some reason has not decided to pounce on his prey and feast on her flesh. With every passing second Michael could feel the urge to protect her grow, the need to keep her by his side, the want of her submission. But she’d get in the way of his Father’s righteous plans for him. Thus, like a little boy denied the gift of a new pet, Michael suppressed his emotions and wordlessly guided her down the hall and towards one of the rooms.

Y/N could faintly hear the voice of a man dealing cards, his speech seeming out of touch with the modern world. Yet it wasn’t the man that almost brought her to her knees, instead it was the woman partaking in the card game with him.

“Queenie?” She called gently, almost scared to speak her name in fear that it was not the sister she knew and loved.

“Holy shit, y/n!” Queenie exclaimed, rising out of her chair and pulling the now weeping witch into a hug. “What are you doing here?!”

“I-I don’t-“ she hiccuped, too emotional and overwhelmed to speak. “I missed you.”

“Look at you, you’ve gotten so big,” Queenie coos, pulling away to look down at the girl. The last time Queenie had saw her she’d been fourteen, still young and blossoming into the woman she was meant to be. She could still see the innocent, smiling face of a younger y/n when she gazed upon the grown witch.

“Why are you here? Why haven’t you come home?” Y/N sniffled.

“I can’t leave this place. My soul is trapped in this shit hotel,” she sighed frustrated. “Cordelia tried to get me out but it wouldn’t work.”

“That’s why I’m here,” Michael buts in, causing both women to look at him oddly.

“I’m sorry, who is this?” Queenie asks.

“Oh, umm, this is Michael. He’s a warlock... and my friend,” y/n smiles sheepishly.

“Oh, y/n. I’m absolutely flattered,” Michael quirks, a smirk playing at his lips. Queenie rolls her eyes.

“Listen, I’m sure you’re super powerful or whatever, but if Cordelia couldn’t do it what makes you think you can?”

Michael simply holds his hand out towards Queenie, a wordless invitation to follow him towards salvation. What with her desperation to get the hell out of that place and the teary eyed look of y/n, Queenie let out a reluctant sigh and took the blond boy’s hand.

“Goodbye Queenie,” the man called as the trio walked out the door. “And god bless that poor little girl’s soul.”

~~~

“Do I have to blow you or something?” Madison asks sarcastically, and y/n shifts uncomfortably beside Queenie at the thought. She loved Madison, but y/n didn’t really appreciate her presence right at this moment.

“So who is this guy?” Queenie asks, and y/n shrugs.

“I just met him. He seems alright,” she says, eyes focused on the Hawthorne boy. “Scary, but nice.”

“Well can I anyway? You’re a snack and I haven’t had a good dicking in a long time,” Madison smirks, and y/n almost gags.

“Damn, a hoe even in the after life,” Queenie sighs, emerging from her hidden spot behind a clothing rack. Y/N follows meekly behind, a small smile on her face as she politely waves at Madison.

“Oh my god!” Madison cries, rushing to hug the girls. Queenie denies her a hug, but y/n welcomes her with open arms.

“How did you get here?!” Madison cries, pulling away to also admire the grown witch. “You look so pretty. Aww, you really were paying attention during my makeup lessons.”

“Hell really has made you a better person, hasn’t it?” Y/N retorts teasingly, and Madison’s face falls.

“Yeah, well, whatever. Just get me the hell out of here.”

“Gladly,” Michael says, hand extended towards Madison. He doesn’t miss the way y/n’s mouth twitches slightly to hold back a scowl, and just to spite her he’s sure to be extra delicate and careful with Madison. Her anger is delicious, and with his head held high he struts out of hell with the witches in tow.

~~~

Cordelia Goode walks out of Hawthorne with Zoe and Myrtle in tow. While Binx is happily nestled in Myrtle’s arms, his mother y/n is nowhere to be found.

“I’m sure she’s just waiting in the car, dear,” Myrtle suggests to ease her anxiety. Cordelia didn’t trust any of those Hawthorne warlocks with her precious daughter. She didn’t trust the warlocks at all, for that matter.

Her eyes furrowed as she saw figures approaching from the horizon. Michael was front and center, a satisfied smirk plastered on his face as his posey of witches followed closely. Queenie on one side and Madison on the other. And on his arm? Staring up at him like he was the moon and the stars and the sky? Her y/n.

She felt it before she dropped, the sinking feeling in her gut and sudden nausea bubbling up her throat. Her daughter, the witches she could not save, and Michael as the head of the group, their future supreme.

Y/N picked up the skirt of her satin black dress, the one Michael had changed her into, and rushed towards her mother’s collapsing form. Queenie followed closely after her, Madison staying behind to roll her eyes and take a drag of her cigarette.

And Michael? Michael beamed proudly at his work. The first part of his plan had been executed beautifully. The supreme was weakening. The door of opportunity was opening. And soon y/n would be a lost little lamb out in the open and far away from her flock, ready for the lion’s picking.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/

tag list: @ticklish-leafy-plant @gx-nji @anacerta @bluebirdbts @heda-mikaelson @redlovett @fuck-yeah-bruno-buccerati @ateliefloresdaprimavera @quechulitaaa @theeonlyroman @hecohansen31 @frenchzodiacgirl @michaelsapostle

#american horror story #michael langdon #michael langdon x reader #michael langdon x witch!reader #michael langdon fic #ahs fic #ahs apocalypse #ahs coven #cordelia #witch #season of the witch

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ladywinchester1967 · 5 years

Text

Perfect

Pairing: Bucky Barnes/ Female Character

Warnings: SMUUUUT, all of the smut. All porn, no plot in sight.

A/N: I’m VERY SLOWLY getting back into the groove of writing and the picture below was a particular inspiration to me. Said picture (and all the others I’ve used) aren’t mine, I found them on Pinterest (side note: if anyone knows the original artist, please let me know!!)

It was a sweltering August day as she trudged through the compound, sweating like a whore in church after her work out with Natasha.

“You’re getting really good at kickboxing,” Natasha commented “I think once you get the basic technique down, you’ll kick ass with no problems.”

“Thanks Nat,” She said and then walked to her quarters that she shared with Bucky “I’m going to take a shower and meet up with you later okay?”

Natasha nodded and walked off, her red ponytail swinging in her wake. When the door was opened to the suite she shared with Bucky, she was blasted with cold air, which was a nice change from the brutal August heat. Wondering if she’ll accidentally left the AC on too cold, she made her way further in and found a rather intriguing sight waiting for her. Bucky was laying on the couch, sleeping in nothing but his underwear. His flesh arm dangling over the side of the couch, his metal arm propped up on the backrest and his feet dangling over the arm. With his head propped up on a pillow, his mouth hung slightly open as he lightly snored.

At least now she knew why the room was so cold, Bucky hated being hot, he must have returned while she was training with Natasha and passed out while waiting for her. She quickly hopped in the shower and quickly scrubbed down, not waiting to keep Bucky waiting for very long.

Once she was clean, she exited the bathroom and found Bucky exactly where she’d left him. She grinned and then gently pressed her hand against his chest.

“Hm?” Bucky asked sleepily without opening his eyes.

“Bucky, babe, welcome home.” She said as she crouched by his face.

She watched as his eyes fluttered open and he turned his head to her, his flesh hand buried in her wet hair. He grinned, obviously tired, but nonetheless excited to see her.

“Hey doll,” he greeted her and yawned as he opened his arms up to her “c’mere.”

She obliged and climbed on the couch with him. He rolled over so that he was on his side, his back to the door, while she lay with her back against the backrest. They tangled their arms and legs together as he kissed her forehead, grinning.

“When did you get in?” She asked as she let her hands roam up and down his bare back and shoulders.

“An hour ago,” he told her “FRIDAY said you were working out with Nat and I didn’t want to interrupt your session.”

“You can interrupt any time you want,” She told him as she peppered his neck with kisses “especially when I haven’t seen you in a week.”

He let out a low growl and then tilted her face up to his. He pressed his lips to hers as she moaned against his mouth. He tugged on her towel, ridding her of it and throwing it behind the couch, his metal hand deliciously roaming over all of her curves as he deepened the kiss. She hooked her leg over his hips and rolled on top of him, her hips rolling into his.

“Fuck doll,” he muttered as she repeated the action “you miss me or something?”

“Or something.” She teased as her nipples pebbled up from the friction and the cold air in the room. She leaned over him and heatedly kissed him as his hands slid up her sides and back. His thumbs flicked over her nipples, making her moan and sigh against his lips as the hardened buds stood at attention. Bucky sat up and took her left nipple in his mouth, his lips sealing around the flesh. She squirmed as his tongue lazily stroked over the pink bud.

“Bucky, oh Bucky.” She breathed as his metal hand curled around her hip and then slid between them, finding her sensitive bundle of nerves, the pad of his thumb flicking over it as he pushed his pointer and middle finger inside of her, making her gasp.

“Oh fuck!” She cried.

She felt him grin against her skin as his fingers matched the pace of his tongue, slow and tantalizing. She sighed, burying her hands in his hair and arching into him as he switched to her other nipple and continued the slow pace of pumping his fingers in and out of her.

“Bucky,” she whined “oh fuck, Bucky please. Faster.”

He looked up and tutted at her.

“I’m gone one week and you suddenly forget who’s in charge here.” He said with a glint in his eye “What happens to bratty girls?”

“Bratty girls don’t get to come.” She answered automatically, immediately backing down. Being edged by a super soldier who had enough patience that would make a saint jealous was no fun. He smirked up at her and continued his lazy pace.

“Be a good girl,” he told her “and I’ll give you what you want.”

“Yes sir.” She answered as his fingers curled into her g-spot, making her gasp and throw her head back. “Oh god, fuck!”

“That’s it,” he growled and planted open mouth kisses all over her chest “just like that doll.”

She moaned as he made the “come here” motion with his fingers and she whined loudly.

“Oh Bucky, Bucky!” She cried as she squeezed the metal digits tightly inside her.

His thumb found her swollen bundle of nerves and flicked over it, making her squirm even harder. She dug her nails into his shoulders as her hips thrust into his hand. She moaned and cried out swears and murmurs on his name as the tip of his tongue traced the dip in her throat.

“Fuck baby,” he moaned “you’re so close. You wanna come for me?”

“Please!” She begged, her thrusts becoming erratic, the knot in her lower belly threatening to snap at any second.

“Come,” He growled “soak my hand.”

A cold chill ran up her spine and spread through the rest of her body as she cried out, letting go hard, her nails sinking deeper into her shoulders. He pulled his fingers out of her and held them up, her arousal coating his metallic digits.

“Suck.” He commanded.

She nodded, took his wrist in her hands, opened her mouth and wrapped her lips around his fingers and gave them a hard suck. He licked his lips as her tongue swirled around his fingers, tasting her own tanginess. She opened her eyes and made eye contact with him as she made a show of sucking the last bits of herself off of his fingers. He pulled his hand away from her mouth, grabbed the back of her head and heatedly kissed her. She hummed in appreciation as he rolled her onto her back below him. She held his face in her hands and used her feet to push his underwear down, his painfully hard cock springing free. He took them off the rest of the way and immediately pushed inside her. She cried out with the sudden breach, her fingers tangling in his dark locks. His hips slowly began to move as she arched her back and moaned into his mouth.

“Bucky, oh god, Bucky!” She murmured as he started to kiss her neck and nibble on her flesh.

He hooked his arms behind her knees and opened her up wide as his pace picked up. She squirmed and cried out under him, her breasts bouncing with each slap of his flesh hitting hers.

“Fuck,” he moaned “you’re a fucking sight baby.”

“Bucky, Bucky!” She screamed as she clawed at the pillow and couch cushions. Without warning, he flipped her over onto her stomach, yanked her up by her shoulder so that she was on her knees, her back to his chest. He pushed back inside her before taking her chin in his hand and making her look at him. He kissed her as he restarted his languid pace, his tongue tracing over hers. He pulled back and then made her look in the mirror that was just adjacent to the couch. In the reflection was the two of them, her flesh on full display as he placed his hands on her hips. He had at least a head’s worth of height on her and his broad shoulders showed in the mirror as she bit her lip.

“Look at you,” he moaned in her ear “fucking perfect.”

He let his hands glide all over her body as he kissed and bit the juncture between her neck and shoulder. She placed her hands over his and followed his pattern. They made eye contact in the mirror and he gave her the mischievous smirk that she loved.

“All mine.” He said as he lightly wrapped one hand around her throat, but didn’t squeeze.

“Mh, Bucky!” She moaned “Yes, all yours.”

He turned her face to his once again and kissed her. He then bent her over the arm of the sofa and picked up the pace, slamming his hips into her backside as she held on, crying out loudly.

“Fuck!” He yelled as he tightly held her hips and felt her squeeze him hard. “Oh you’re ready aren’t you baby?” He asked “You ready to come for me?”

“Please!” She begged “Please may I come?!”

“Good girl,” he said “yes-FUCK-you can come.”

The wave of pleasure came crashing down over her as she let go, her eyes lifting up just in time to see Bucky throw his head back and cry out loudly as he emptied deep into her.

They both collapsed on the couch, laying on their sides as he held her against his chest, feeling her heart pound against his hand.

»»————-　♔　————-««

“Baby?” He asked and her eyes fluttered open.

“Hm?” She asked with a sweet smile on her face.

“You okay?” He asked “I didn’t hurt you did I?”

She shook her head, no, and pushed his sex tangled hair behind his ear.

“No babe, it was perfect.” She told him in a serene tone before gently kissing him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hope you guys enjoyed that!! Your kind feedback is always deeply loved and appreciated, don’t forget to like and share with your friends and followers. Maybe hit that “follow” button if you feel so inclined?

Bucky Barnes:

@loudherobanditgarden @hellrose45 @hyunjoonieeuniverse @booboo-icu@mogaruke @mogarukes @lets-love-little-me @clo-heda@marvelousbarnesss @marvelousbarnes @roonyxx @algud @your-average-wallflower @emoryhemsworth @gabcats5

#lady winchester writes #Bucky Barnes #bucky barnes smut #bucky barnes x ofc

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anonfanfic · 5 years

Note

After the fight at the drop ship, Clarke agrees to go with Anya as her prisoner and Clarke gets thrown into the pit with Jaha and Kane, meeting Lexa is a very different way.

This is a long one! I am already planning on doing a part two and probably putting both parts on Ao3. Please excuse if I got some of the Trigedasleng wrong. Let me know what you think!

Anya was ready for a fight and Clarke knew it. They may have escaped the mountain, but the war between their people was still burning like a wildfire. They had no hope of peace without one side conceding something.

“Take me to the Commander.”

Anya stopped, the rope in her hand that was binding Clarke’s wrists loosened as she turned to look back at Clarke.

“You will not receive mercy from the Commander. You will be taken as a prisoner.”

Clarke took a deep steadying breath. Ever since they had landed on the ground Clarke felt like she hadn’t been able to take a breath. Her body ached from the tension and anxiety she felt every moment. It needed to end. If she needed to submit to the Grounder’s to show how much she wanted this peace, she would do that.

“Fine, I’m your prisoner already. At least give me a moment with the Commander.”

Anya’s eyes narrowed and she looked like she was processing all the options she had. Clarke had helped get her out of the mountain that had to count for something. The Grounder took a step towards Clarke, standing at full height to look as menacing as she could.

“You are willing to risk your life for what? Peace? An alliance?” Anya questioned, her jaw tense and her body rigid.

“I’m willing to risk my life to show my desire for peace. For myself and my people.” Clarke knew what she needed to do. Anya was looking for weakness, she wanted Clarke to crack to prove that she truly was just a helpless girl.

Clarke gave a small nod and took a deep breath through her nose as she stepped up to Anya’s challenge. She felt her heart racing as she stared into the eyes of the trained warrior.

“We have a common enemy, Anya. If we can work together with our technology and your knowledge of the world we can bring down the mountain. But I need to talk to the Commander.”

They stood there staring at each other Clarke feeling like her body was going to shut down at any moment. Her heart was pounding against her chest and she felt her lungs begging for air. She wasn’t going to back down.

Anya blinked and stepped back. She released the rope and untied Clarke from her bonds.

“The Commander was my second, I can get an audience. But I cannot promise how your presence will be received. Once we are in camp I will not be able to protect you, nor will I try.”

Clarke finally released the breath she had been holding and nodded gratefully at her reluctant new partner.

“Thank you, Anya. That’s all I ask.”

Anya looked up at the tree line to the small pieces of sky that were visible.

“This way. If we keep a good pace we can make it by nightfall.” Anya walked off to the left of where they had been traveling. Clarke dropped the rope that had been tied around her wrists and quickly followed.

They walked in silence, the only sounds coming from the forest around them and their feet as they crunched through small twigs and dead leaves. Clarke enjoyed the silence, it gave her time to try and think of what she could say to the Commander. She knew that just like with Anya she would need to be strong and not show fear. Weakness was not something Grounder’s tolerated. They had fought to live in this world and that was how they continued to live to survive.

After a while, Clarke noticed it was getting dark in the woods, the sun had probably set half an hour before. There was a chill in the air that didn’t make the mud and grime she was coated in much more comfortable. She wrapped her arms around herself and kept her eye on Anya just ahead.

The smell of campfires burning was Clarke’s first hint that they were close to the camp. A new wave of adrenaline started coursing through Clarke’s veins.

“Stop.” Anya walked back to Clarke and pointed at a small river just off to the right of where they were walking.

“Anya, I’m not putting more mud on myself. I already feel like I need to bathe for a year.”

“No, wash. You need to look mildly presentable if you are standing before the Commander.” Anya pointed to the river and walked over to clean herself off.

Clarke let out a small ironic laugh and joined Anya at the water. “You know I wouldn’t have to wash myself first if you hadn’t thrown mud at me.” Clarke splashed her face with the ice cold water. Her skin prickled before going numb as she put another handful against her skin.

“I could have hit you with a rock. Would have solved many of my problems.” Anya countered, throwing the rest of the water cupped in her hands to the ground before getting up and continuing to walk.

Clarke washed most of the mud from her face and arms before jogging to catch up. Clarke came up a small hill and almost ran into Anya’s back. She moved around and saw the land below them speckled with burning fires and tents of different sizes. The biggest tent by a large margin standing in the middle of the camp.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” Anya asked, giving Clarke one more opportunity to run.

“Let’s go.” Clarke started walking down the hill toward the large tent she was sure belonged to the Commander.

They made their way through camp. Eyes shot up as Clarke passed, stopping short of confronting her because of Anya’s presence. Anya stuck close to Clarke until they reached the entrance of the tent.

“Ai need kom speak kom the Heda.” Anya spoke with the guards standing at the opening of the tent. One of the large men gave Clarke a hard look and then turned to Anya. He muttered something that Clarke couldn’t catch before standing back and letting them pass.

Anya led the way inside the tent. Clarke could feel her numb hands tingling and getting warm. The throne was the first thing Clarke saw; branches and sharp metal twisted together in the perfect mix of beautiful and menacing. The man who sat on the throne was just latter.

“Heda,” Anya bowed as the Commander stood and looked directly at Clarke.

“Chon ste disha, Onya?” The man’s voice was deep, sending a tremor through Clarke’s body.

“Klark kom Skaikru,” Anya responded, standing in front of the Commander.

“You’re the one who burned 300 of my warriors alive.” The man wasn’t looking for a response, he wasn’t interested in having a conversation. Clarke could see that in his posture and the way he looked at her. He wanted to kill her where she stood, he wanted vengeance for what had happened at the Dropship.

“You’re the one who sent them there to kill us.” Clarke needed to sound strong, now more than ever. She felt the eyes of every Grounder in the room on her. Anya was the only one who continued to stare straight ahead.

“Anya, why did you bring this girl here? Why not kill her for what she did to your army?” The Commander walked up to tower over Anya. “What you allowed her to do.”

“I’ve come to make you an offer,” Clarke spoke up.

The man turned to face her now, Anya still in his shadow and unmoving.

“Do you think this is a negotiation? You’ve come into our land and slaughtered our people.” He walked past Anya and stood in front of Clarke.

“Jus drein jus daun.” He motioned for the guards at the back of the tent. “I will decide your fate as I decide the other prisoners fate.” The Commander turned and walked back toward the throne. “Take here to the cell with the other.”

Clarke felt strong hands grab her and lift her off the ground.

“Anya!” Clarke shouted in desperation before a thick piece of cloth was shoved into her mouth.

Anya didn’t turn or acknowledge Clarke at all as she was carried out of the tent, the taste of blood and dirt fresh in her mouth again.

Clarke was taken underground to a metal gate that was locked tightly. The men set her down as the door opened and ripped the cloth from her mouth. They shoved her inside before slamming the metal door with a loud clang that echoed around the room. She looked up and nearly fell over when she saw the two other prisoners in the room.

“Kane? Jaha? How-how-what are you doing here?” Clarke ran over and embraced the two men. It felt odd to know the terrible things these two men had done, but also feel like in this strange world they were her only lifeline. She broke away and saw the only other person in the makeshift prison.

A young girl, probably Clarke’s age or a little older sat in the corner. She held a dried leaf in her hand, twirling it as she watched the scene before her unfold. When she noticed Clarke staring she cowered, pushing herself further into the dark corner. She wore plain, dark clothing and a ratty scarf over her long hair. Clarke noticed the large tattoo on her arm, it stuck out to her. Though every Grounder she met had different tattoos this stood in stark contrast to the simple clothing she was wearing.

“That’s Lexa,” Kane nodded toward the girl. “She’s watching over us. Waiting for one of us to kill the other.” Kane pointed to the knife on the ground between them.

“Kill? What?” It was almost too much for Clarke to process. She felt faint and walked over to the wall. Clarke pressed her forehead to the cool, broken tile and tried to breath. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could be strong, she felt like she could start to crack at any moment.

“Here.” Clarke jumped at the sound and looked over to see Lexa standing next to her with a dented metal cup in her hand. “Drink.” She offered Clarke the cup.

Clarke took it and put her nose over it to smell what was inside.

“It’s just water,” Lexa assured her.

Clarke took a drink and gave Lexa an appreciative nod as she drained the rest of the water from the cup in two gulps.

Kane and Jaha had started a hushed conversation between them. Clarke needed a break from plots and schemes, and decided to let them keep their secrets. She looked over at Lexa who had gone back to her place in the corner of the room.

Clarke walked over and handed Lexa the empty cup. “Thanks for that. Is this a punishment? Sitting with the prisoners?” Clarke asked, sitting down on the floor next to Lexa.

“We all work to protect our people however we can,” Lexa responded, again twirling a small leaf between her fingers.

“That’s what I’m trying to do.” Clarke wasn’t trying to reason with Lexa. She had no reason to expect this girl to understand what it was like fighting a war. She just wanted someone to hear her. “I just want to help my people.”

“By killing ours?” Lexa was looking at Clarke now, intense green eyes that reflected anger and also curiosity.

“No, we didn’t understand. We were scared. They…” Clarke looked over at the two men who were huddled together before looking back to Lexa. “Our people sent us down here. We thought this world was uninhabited. We had no idea…” Clarke trailed off, thinking about all of the chaos since they landed. She felt like it had been years when really barely any time had passed.

“Even if what happened was a misunderstanding blood must have blood, it is our way. Someone will die.” Lexa’s jaw tensed and her eyes went back to the leaf she was holding.

“I wish I had more time to explain to the Commander. We don’t need to fight each other. We have a common enemy.”

Lexa’s head turned back to Clarke, her eyes once again shining with interest. “The Mountain Men?”

Clarke nodded. “I’ve been there. I got out with Anya. We made it out, but some of my people didn’t.”

Lexa shook her head in disbelief. “No one makes it out of the mountain.”

“I did,” Clarke insisted, turning to face Lexa. “Anya and I got here together. She told me she could get me to the Commander. He was her second.”

Lexa smiled. “Anya is a great warrior. She would not lie to the Commander.”

Clarke watched as Lexa stood and removed the scarf from her head.

“Heda!” She called, the noise rousing Jaha and Kane from their conversation. Everyone in the cell stood and listened as voices came from above.

The two guards who had brought Clarke down appeared with the Commander directly behind them. They unlocked the door and walked into the cell.

“Ai don sen in chit bilaik ai gaf sen in.” Lexa’s voice was different, louder and more confident.

“Sha, heda.” All three men bowed as she walked over and stood in front of them.

“You’re the Commander?” Kane spoke first, the shock in his voice clear.

“I’ve learned much about you. And in speaking with Clarke I have learned there could be a peace between our people.” Lexa looked over at Clarke and nodded.

Clarke felt like she had been punched in the gut. She didn’t know what was real anymore. Lexa turned to the three men behind her.

“I will speak with Clarke and Anya about the events that transpired before they arrived. After that, I will make my decision about a peace. Until then, both men will stay here.”

Lexa turned back to face the others. “Clarke, come with me. You will be a guest under my protection.”

She then looked at the man who had been pretending to be the Commander.

“Gostos, ge onya en lid in em gon ai.” The man bowed and walked out without saying a word.

“Clarke.” Lexa gestured to the door, allowing her to lead the way out.

Clarke gave one last look at Kane and Jaha before walking out and up the stairs. This had been what she wanted, an audience with the Commander. She just hadn’t expected to meet the Commander in a prison cell.

#clexa #clexa fanfic #clexa fanfiction #prompt

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kokkoro · 5 years

Text

i’ll make my way to you

love tends to find its way home, or at least that’s what clarke has learned over the years.

read here on AO3

The first arrow lodges itself deep and Clarke watches it happen. It sinks into Lexa’s left shoulder with enough impact to unsettle the stance of her feet. Lodges just under the strap that keeps her guard in place, through the layers of clothes and buckles and the only sign of pain is the grimace that creases Lexa’s brow.

Clarke feels like it hits her instead.

“Lex--” and it's a breath, incomplete as a body crashes into her side amidst the chaos and sends her sprawling. She catches herself, barely. Half over her knees and her hair in her face, hands scraped raw by the dirt and rocks. It takes her a second to find Lexa again among the growing smoke and the sounds that rise until it's nothing but a low buzz in her ears.

The second arrow finds Lexa’s hip, followed by another in quick succession just below her ribs, and makes itself at home, but Lexa gives it as much thought as the first. Merely a wrinkle of her nose as she bares her teeth, switches her grip, and bashes an incoming enemy with the pommel of her sword.

He crumples to the ground, clutching his face. Another charges, roaring, only there’s a sudden and swift change in direction, the downward slash of her sword. The body follows with a thud and a plume of dust.

What happens next is slow, the catch of eyes as Lexa turns and Clarke knows Lexa’s looking for her. Maybe it’s the asdf in her eyes, urgent and open, before falling to the arrow lodged in her hip. Her sword drops, half embedded in the dirt before the weight of the hilt causes it to topple, the now empty hand gently gripping the shaft as if to pull it out--

“Lexa!”

Green eyes finally settle and for a moment things quiet. The cries and shouts grow soft, this far off white noise that fills her ears like cotton, but Clarke sees it; the softness with which Lexa’s lips form her name. She’s seen it more times than she can count.

The first step Lexa takes towards her wavers. A tenuous balance that in the end doesn’t hold and Clarke finally finds the wherewithal to move the moment Lexa sinks to a knee, heavy. Clarke scrambles upwards, using her hands, dirt wedging under her nails. Her eyes sting from the dirt and smoke, but the tears don’t come until she’s close.

Clarke grabs whatever she can. The strap across Lexa’s chest, the lapel of her jacket, and the weight drags her down, but she manages to lessen the impact, tugging Lexa into her to dampen the force. Lexa’s breath comes in long, drawn inhales, her skin blotched and sweaty, blood coating the hair near her temple. Clarke’s stomach twists and she pushes the clumped strands from Lexa’s face.

“You don’t--” Clarke starts, clenching her teeth, fingers trembling. Lexa’s eyes are listless but they focus on her. Or try to. “You don’t get to do this, Lexa, you don’t--”

An explosion sounds and Clarke ducks, hunching over Lexa’s body as bits of rubble fling past and she doesn’t waste time. When things settle, Clarke hooks her arms underneath Lexa’s and drags. Clarke curses at the weight, all the extra bulk Lexa wears, and she fumbles with the pauldron until it unhitches and falls away.

The next twenty or so feet towards relative safety are long, and she all but collapses, scrambling to drag Lexa behind the makeshift cover of some dilapidated market stall and out of the way. The arrows stick out, buried deep into the outer jacket and the shirt underneath, and Clarke places her palm flat over Lexa’s chest and holds it there.

They don’t stop shaking.

“Clarke,” Lexa says, attempting to clear her throat of the dirt and smoke.

“Shut up,” Clarke growls, but it's weak, half buried by the panic that claims her throat.

She’s been trained for this, been prepared for this, and yet out here nothing really matters. Far off shouts echo off the crumbled buildings, structures tumbling under the pressure of a deteriorating infrastructure, and her mind is dragged ten different ways at once. But she hears it.

Her hand immediately reaches for the knife tucked in her boot, slipping it free with surprising ease, and whirls. She sees red, wrath curling like a fire in the pit of her gut, and she wants to see blood in exchange for what Lexa has lost.

But at the last moment she stops, her mother’s dirt smeared face visible just a few feet away, worried and afraid. Abby pulls her hands back, palms out in evident surrender, and Clarke’s resolve crumbles in an instant.

The knife drops, sinks somewhere in the dirt.

“Mom--” Clarke chokes out, and the tears come unbidden, nose suddenly running, and she turns back to Lexa, pulling her up more securely into her lap. “Mom... please.”

Abby moves closer. “Clarke--”

“You have to--”

“Clarke.”

Her hands hurt and her eyes sting, throat dry from the dirt, and all she can smell is the ash and smoke of Polis burning, but in the following seconds, Clarke breathes.

Everything goes back to normal faster than Clarke thinks should be possible. Like a wound, she’s grown accustomed to the scab. The slow heal and the itch that makes the aftermath far worse than it is. But that time is essential and its absence Clarke feels somewhere in the pit of her gut. It doesn’t feel right, this peace, and it’s like she’s left waiting for the dam to break, for the other shoe to fall, because what’s life without a little bit more misery.

But it doesn’t. Life goes on as it is wont to do. People get back up, dust themselves off and move on, and to be honest it kind of makes her want to scream. Just a little bit. At the very least maybe just at Lexa, who sits reclined on her throne as if a mere twenty hours ago she wasn’t riddled with arrows on her mother’s medical table.

There’s this permanent grimace to her face hidden behind a carefully composed and yet subtle scowl. A pinch to her brows Clarke would find utterly endearing had it not been for the circumstances in which it arrived. Gone is the heavy leather, the buckles and straps. The pauldron and sash are left draped over the back of the throne. All Lexa wears is this thin slip of a white shirt, long sleeves and loose neckline, and fitted riding trousers and boots. Bandages, dirty and starting to seep red, stand out under the sheerness of her clothes.

Lexa doesn’t see it as a weakness. The bruises and the still healing wounds are a testament to her victory, but if it were up to Clarke, Lexa would still be in bed, healing as she should.

“You’re glaring,” Lexa states, and it’s so out of the blue it momentarily draws Clarke from her temporary glowering. The room has cleared, but it won’t last long. Lexa shifts on her throne, propping her elbow along the bone of the armrest, hand lax.

Clarke snorts. “Am I?”

“Yes.”

Clarke rolls her eyes.

“I’m fine, Clarke.”

“You’re not,” Clarke replies, avoiding eye contact, and she knows how childish that must seem.

Clarke hears a sigh followed by a soft grunt of pain as Lexa stands from her throne and then closes the distance. Lexa steps into her space, close, and Clarke inhales.

“Go see to the seconds, Clarke,” Lexa says, fingers gentle as she brushes the hair from Clarke’s face and Clarke lets the breath escape from her lungs.

“You’re trying to get rid of me.”

Lexa’s lips quirk, this small little curl, and it takes everything Clarke has not to kiss it. Not here and certainly not now. “Am I?”

“I swear to god, Lexa, if you don’t treat this properly--”

“I will.”

Clarke clicks her mouth shut, jaw clenched, and for a second she catches the exhaustion as it finds its way into the line of Lexa’s neck, her posture breaking. The shirt slips low with the motion, exposing the bandages wrapped around her shoulder and the swath of bruised skin near her neck and it’s hard not to stare. Clarke doesn’t think before angling her head upward, brushing the tip of her nose against Lexa’s, her hands finding the flair of Lexa’s waist.

Lexa’s lips part subtly, but she doesn’t move. Her breathing steadies, and Clarke’s hands splay over the soft fabric and the flair of Lexa’s ribs. Her thumb counts them one by one--to make sure of the things she isn’t.

The door creaks and Clarke pulls back, her hand lingering until the last possible moment when the guardsman appears just beyond the threshold. Lexa straightens.

“Heda,” he starts, folding into a bow. “The southern delegation is ready for you.”

“Send them in,” Lexa says, face suddenly impassive, and with resolute tap of his spear against the stone floor, the guardsman exits.

There’s a moment of silence, and a hand finds the small of Clarke’s back, nudges her towards the doors.

“I will find you.” Lexa words come out soft, a whisper as the noise beyond the door grows by the second, and Clarke trusts the sincerity in them. She nods in reluctant understanding, watching as Lexa gives a subtle inclination of her head before pulling away completely, retracing her steps back to her throne.

The southern leaders file in, and among them Clarke slips quietly out into the hall.

“We’ve been through this, honey, she’ll be fine,” Abby says, sterilizing and inspecting the medical equipment before filing them away into their proper compartments. “So long as she doesn’t aggravate her wounds and keeps them clean, she’ll be back in shape before you know it.” Abby casts her a glance. “Might as well make the most of the time while you have it.”

Clarke’s cheeks heat at the vague and yet blatant accusation and she swivels on the stool, peering out past the open curtain to glimpse the main area of the medical pavilion. Chaos, however controlled, is a certain kind of frenzy as healers rush to and fro between patients, all with a varying array of injuries. With the worse already gone, however, all that remains are the cuts and scrapes and broken bones. All easily fixable.

“And how are you? Really?”

Clarke starts, turning back to find her mother watching knowingly. Abby drags a towel over her hands, maneuvering around the exam table and resting against it. Clarke doesn’t know how to answer. She lifts her hands from her lap, studies the slight tremor through them, and it's not nearly as bad as it has been but at this point it never goes away.

She shrugs, clenching her hands into fists.

Abby smiles sympathetically, putting aside the towel. She makes her way carefully over, crouching in front of Clarke, a calm and gentle hand on her knee. “It’s a lot. Isn’t it?”

Clarke doesn’t say anything, not trusting her voice, and it’s the thought that one time, when they need it most, whatever they have won’t be enough.

“That’s just how life is down here, Clarke. It’s hard, it’s...dangerous. But we survive,” Abby says, and Clarke bites back a scoff. As if she hadn’t been privy to the ground’s particular brand of cruelness the moment she landed.

“By now shouldn’t we have better?” Clarke whispers.

She remembers it. That unnerving coolness of autumn and the sudden onset of war, but also the warmth of Lexa’s lips and the safety and hope she found there. It seems so long ago and yet sometimes it feels like nothing has changed. Peace has never been so fragile.

“Oh, Clarke.”

Clarke shakes her head, willing away the sudden rush of helplessness that settles in her stomach.

“Honey, you’re doing such a good job,” Abby says, scooting closer, placing a comforting hand on Clarke’s knee. “But progress is, and will always be, slow.” She pauses, cracks a smile. ”Definitely slower than we would like.”

Abby waits, watching but silent, and then stands and meanders again, cleaning up the last of the materials left out over the table and the makeshift counters.

“Do you love her?”

The question startles her and Clarke’s head snaps up. Things take a while to focus, and it’s like every thought turns to sludge and stretches. She had always struggled with that word, ever since the beginning, and it never got any easier. “Mom--”

“I’ve seen the way she looks at you.” Abby trails off, lets the statement sink in. “The way you look at her.”

“It wasn’t...”

“And now it is?” Abby finishes tentatively.

Clarke gives another small shake of her head. “No, that’s not…”

Clarke stops. There never was a ‘wasn’t’. No pinpoint moment. Merely a realization after the fall of Nia and the years that followed that even in spite of everything she had never stopped. Loving Lexa, that is. A part of her is glad, but the other, well, it understands life is precious and easy to take.

It’s not the right time. It may never be the right time.

“Do we deserve it?” Clarke forces the words out, purposefully vague and still afraid. She curls her fingers together until her knuckles go white from the strain and Clarke has to force herself to relax, watching the color rush back into her skin.

“Deserve what, honey?” Abby says, full of tender exasperation. “Love?”

Clarke hesitates--nods.

“Of course you do.”

The sun begins to set before Clarke manages to leave, but she can see the last bit of orange and red rays as they filter through the atrium. It's the first bits of quiet the medical pavilion has seen since before the attack and with it comes those first few deep breaths Clarke welcomes like a drug. She feels the air rest somewhere in the pit of lungs, a comfortable weight.

The heat stays, however, hung low over the earth and the dust that kicks up from the lack of rain. It doesn’t feel far off though. The humidity gathers in the crook of her elbow, the back of her neck, lies like a thin sheet over her skin. It’s easy to ignore.

A dull knock catches her attention and she glances back. She’s not all that surprised to find Lexa just by the entrance.

“I’m sorry.” Lexa stops, bumps her hand against her thigh in an uncharacteristic show of restlessness and Clarke turns away. “Have you eaten?”

“Have you?” Clarke shoots back, accusing, the last remnants of her anger. But it simmers, then cools, and Clarke peers back over her shoulder.

“Briefly,” Lexa says before falling quiet, holding her stare. She stands regal, proud even in her exhaustion, waiting patiently, and Clarke is defenseless against it. It’s the look of her, the entirety of her, and right now there’s nothing Clarke wants more than to test reality with her own two hands.

“Did you figure anything out?”

“Azgeda defectors,” Lexa says. “Allies of the old north following in Nia’s footsteps. They were apparently biding time over the last few years with a rebel group in the east.”

“How are you?”

Lexa blinks, and it’s like the words need time to sink in. “It’s nothing,” and she says it so surely that Clarke thinks Lexa truly believes it.

“Can I see?”

Lexa hesitates, but after a moment pulls herself from the threshold, pushing aside the bit of curtain. She positions herself in front of Clarke and Clarke reaches out without thinking, taking the hem of Lexa’s shirt. It’s a simple thing to remove it, a precursory tug and Lexa raises her arms. The garment slips off in one motion and all that’s left is strips of cloth and tan skin.

Clarke tests the tenderness, fingers careful along Lexa’s hip and the composite bandages plastered around her abdomen. There’s blood in splotches, dark and dried, but the worst is situated near her shoulder where the wound continues to weep. Continuous stress and movement is undoubtedly the cause and Clarke shoots a glare that goes unacknowledged. Clarke makes sure she’s gentle.

Lexa’s skin is warm. It always has been and hopefully always will be.

“Sit please.”

Lexa does as she’s told. She takes a seat on one of the stools, the farthest one from the examination table, and Clarke sighs as she steals her mother’s chair, the one with the wheels, and rolls herself closer.

The cloth whispers as Clarke unwraps it, careful. That almost hush as the bandages slide against her fingers and then to the floor. Underneath the skin is red and angry, the stitches strained, and Clarke reaches for the closest bottle of antiseptic alcohol and a clean rag and gets to work.

“You’re an idiot, Lexa,” Clarke mutters, but there’s no reaction besides the stiffening of Lexa’s posture.

Despite her refusal for proper rest, Lexa is more than an adequate patient. She keeps her gaze forward and slightly to the right, over Clarke’s shoulder, and at a glance she looks bored. Disinterested. Clarke knows Lexa is no stranger to pain, but it’s the extent of her tolerance that always takes Clarke aback. Lexa feels. Perhaps more than most.

“What if I hadn’t seen you,” Clarke starts, and it feels like the tipping point. Her hand stills and Lexa turns to watch her and Clarke’s mind keeps going and doesn’t stop. “What if you had--”

“I will always find my way here,” Lexa says softly. “To you.”

Clarke swallows, her eyes watering. She drops her hand, curling inward until her head hits Lexa’s right shoulder, clenching the rag in her fist. Lexa smells like the earth and bits of sun, and Clarke tucks into the curve of her embrace.

The heat breaks sometime during the night. It starts with a drizzle against the doors to the balcony, but it’s not long before the droplets turn thick and heavy, pattering relentless against the glass. The room is dark and empty around her besides the few flickering candles placed on the side table near the couch. Thunder rumbles somewhere far off, a warning, and Clarke glances over at the shape of Lexa lain in bed.

Call it self inflicted punishment, maybe, or perhaps her lingering stubbornness, but she’s fooling no one. She pulls herself from the couch, putting aside her sketchbook and pencils, and snuffs the candles. The sounds are masked by the constant fall of rain and it makes sneaking easy as her feet carry her to the bed.

The mattress dips as Clarke crawls over and Lexa stirs awake almost instantly, turning towards the disturbance. She stands out among the pale sheets twisted around her legs, all tan skin and dark hair.

“Go back to sleep,” Clarke shushes before Lexa has a chance to speak.

“It’s too late for that,” Lexa murmurs. She blinks a couple times and there’s that telltale sign of discomfort laced between her brows as she shifts, pushes herself up.

“And I’m already regretting it,” Clarke teases.

“Are you just coming to bed?”

“I had some things on my mind.”

“Do you want to--”

Clarke shakes her head. “No.”

The wind changes direction, followed by a low rumble of thunder, and then a gentle flicker of lightning. Lexa props herself against the headboard and once she’s comfortable, she reaches out for Clarke’s hand, coaxing it from the bedsheets and into her own. She tugs lightly, pulling Clarke atop her.

“Lexa,” Clarke chides but complies, and Lexa exhales a short chuckle.

“Clarke,” and it sounds like a sigh.

“Don’t be stupid.”

“I will be fine,” Lexa says with this small self-assured smile, her hands on Clarke’s waist, fingers toying with the hemline of Clarke’s shirt. “And if I'm not, I'm sure you will tell me.”

Clarke rolls her eyes and sits back, legs straddling Lexa’s lap. Her hands seek out soft skin, the gentleness buried under years of war and she watches as Lexa relaxes under the touch.

“I love you,” Clarke says, whispered as if the walls have ears. She feels the declaration take root in the pit of her gut, and for a moment she feels sick. Scared at what it could mean in the long run with the odds stacked against them, but she watches Lexa’s eyes go wide, feels the grip on her waist tighten.

Lexa pushes herself up from her recline, and there’s a subtle wince Clarke catches, but she doesn’t say anything of it. Merely exhales at the contact of skin as Lexa presses her front flush against her, urgent. Lexa takes her lips in a kiss that, for a moment, leaves Clarke’s mind pleasantly blank and Clarke sinks into the safety she’s come to associate with warm skin and green eyes and wild hair.

“Say it again.” The edges of Lexa’s voice cracks, and Clarke’s throat tightens at the sound. “Please.”

“Lexa.”

“Please.”

"I love you."

Lexa tilts her head, stealing a kiss that lingers just long enough to be missed before pulling back and making quick work of the shirt hung loosely over Clarke’s frame. Clarke is quick to close the distance again.

“I love you,” Clarke murmurs against Lexa’s lips, falling easily back into the rhythm Lexa’s sets and this soft desperate whine escapes Lexa’s throat.

Her right arm wraps securely around Clarke’s waist while the other tosses aside the sheets still clumped around her legs. She flips them, presses Clarke back into the mattress and Clarke revels in the solid weight above her, the lips that find her neck and the underside of her jaw.

It’s the soft whispered things between kisses that make Clarke’s skin prickle, unable to hear clearly because of the hushed and reverent tone in which Lexa speaks, muffled against her skin.

I love you.

#clexa #clarke griffin #lexa #in which clarke gets all the support and praise she deserves #posted in the dead of night bc like idk about this #but i want it done

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lexa-griffins · 1 year

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Clarke fucks Lexa over the balcony in her room 🥵 They're so far up that no one below can see them but they for sure can hear someone moaning and crying. Lexa finds it hot that she's being taken like this in a semi-public setting

They are far up enough that if any of the merchants or the marketgoers were to look up, they'd not be able to make out more than the vague form of Lexa in the small balcony of her room. It would not be news to anyone seeing Heda watch over Polis. But if you were to zoom in you'd see Heda's open coat to reveal her shirt ruffled up above her naked chest, pants discarded on the floor as Clarke fucks her from behind. You'd notice how hard Lexa grips the railing, fighting the weight of her body to maintain a somewhat upright posture, lest someone not try to look too keenly and notice that the commander is actually bent over it.

When Clarke first suggested it Lexa refused immediately. It is one thing what they do behind closed doors, to do it right on the balcony would have been a step too far for her. But Clarke seemed to inch them closer and closer to the windows each day and Lexa cannot deny it excites her the idea of being fucked like that underneath everyone's noses - or, well, above everyone's noses.

It is rather liberating to have sex like this. Her and Clarke can barely hold hands while in public without receiving stares so to be having sex like this in the open is beyond anything Lexa ever thought she'd ever do. And it only turns her on more, something Clarke takes full advantage of as she plays with her nipples and clit, whispering warnings of Lexa being too loud and the people below hearing them. The sound of Clarke's front hitting Lexa's back, the sound of her thrusting inside of her, the low groans Clarke lets out accompanied by Lexa's moans all sound so loud to Lexa, muffling the sound of the noisy city underneath them that Lexa is certain everyone in Polis as heard them and the thought of it turns her on even more. She's the loudest when she cums and she is aware Clarke will not allow her a gentle release. She tries her best not to but she knows her voice traveled far down enough for some people to at least question if someone screamed.

Clarke is pulling her back inside before anyone has the thought of looking up to see if the scream originated from the form of Heda, letting her hide in her chest as Clarke praises her for doing so good and fulfilling Clarke little fantasy ✨️

#letter opened #wanheda's dagger #clarke is gonna mske lexa go to the market later that day and lexa is gonna spend the entire time trying to maintain her heda face #and not blush too hard #no one seems to have noticed anything #until she gets to a stall and hears two merchants question if the other heard a scream at around midday #or if they are just hearing voices shsjsjdh #the other didnt hear anything so while lexa feels bad this poor lady now thinks shes going a little insane #at least it is not something she has to worry about shzjzizjz

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isareed · 4 years

Text

literai samples

The sun was just setting, bathing the alleys of Ton DC with its last dying rays of orange and pink, when Raven stirred on the bed of furs. The shadows flowed across the room, and the beta girl lit the candles, keeping one eye on the naked omega chained to the bed. The skai omega had slept longer than expected, and the general had returned twice to check on her. But now she stirred, groaning in what the girl could only imagine was pain, perhaps from her heat, perhaps from her leg. The girl hadn’t looked too closely, but she had been able to see that the leg was a little smaller than her other one, a bit withered like a dying branch on an otherwise healthy tree.

She wondered what had happened to this Skai Omega, but she shook her head. It wasn’t her place to question, and wondering would be nothing more than a lesson in futility. But it had been surprising that Heda’s second in command had chosen this omega. Although, there hadn’t been many options. She was told the other girl omega, while stronger, was the lover of Lincoln. She knew the General had once had an omega boy as her mate. She thought she would have chosen the omega boy. He might have been scrawny, but at least all his limbs seemed to function. And rumor was that he had once been a sedkepa. That alone would have made him more desirable. Sedkepas played an important function in their society, although perhaps it was different among these invaders.

She shook her head again, she had spent long enough in this room wondering about things that were not for her to know. She need to find the General, tell her that her Omega was awake. She cast one last look over her shoulder at the naked omega squirming on the furs. She might have been a Beta, and her nose not as keen, but even she could detect the signs of the girl’s heat. But it was the pungent, acrid smell of pain swamping the girl’s scent that made her pause. She needed to tell the General.

********************************

Raven groaned as she tried to gather her limbs under her, but her leg refused to cooperate, and she fell back onto the furs, choking back a sob. Everything hurt. The pain in her leg was bone deep, and the muscles of her ass twitched at the pain shooting up the back of her leg. She could feel the sweat drying on her skin, only for her heat to send more beads of sweat down her chest and stomach, covering her in another layer of sticky sweat. The air was thick and humid, and she panted, wishing for fresh air.

She had heard another person moving around the room, had watched out of the corner of her eye as the shadows slipped away under the golden haze of dozens of candles that slowly flickered to life. The metal collar dug into her skin, restricting her movements, and her shoulders ached from the weight. It had only taken a moment to realize it was a Beta, moving quietly through the room.

She wondered when the General would return. The General. The tall Alpha with the blonde hair, thick ash painted across her face in a gruesome caricature of death. She had worn a crown, bone maybe. Raven wasn’t sure, but she had noticed the knives strapped to the Alpha’s thighs, the sword in her belt, the gauntlets around her forearms. Anya.That was her name. She remembered that much at least. She pushed her arms under her, so she could raise her chest off the bed, let the warm air of the room hopefully cool down the feverish skin on her chest. Her nipples were hard and the friction against the furs had become painful.

She yelped when she felt pain explode in her shoulder, and she choked on the sobs that tumbled past her lips. Branded. The memories came rushing forward, swamping her already taxed mind, and she trembled, screwing her eyes shut tightly. She’d been branded like an animal, a mark burned into her flesh. She craned her neck trying to see it, but the collar bit into her skin, and she wanted nothing more than to scream.

She tried to breathe through her nose, tried to gather her broken thoughts, but she could barely think. The room stank of her pheromones and pain. She could taste her own fear, sour on her tongue. She curled her fingers arounds the top of the collar, holding it tightly as the room spun, and she drifted quietly, her stomach rolling in a way that made her bite her tongue.

She didn’t hear the door open, didn’t hear the measured footsteps that walked to the bed, and it took a moment for her mind to clear enough to realize that she could barely smell her own pheromones, instead...she shivered violently, panting as her mouth filled with saliva. Alpha.

She didn’t dare turn her head as the pheromones slid along her body, and she shook and trembled at the Alpha’s call. It was strong, stronger than most calls, and she heaved violently, her tongue thick in her mouth. She tried to force herself into position, suddenly afraid of the beating she might receive, but as quickly as the pheromones had spiked, they receded, and a warm hand found it’s way to the small of her back.

“No. Lay down.”

Raven shuddered, letting her weak muscles collapse back into the bed. The voice was smooth, only a slight burr clinging to the words. She whimpered, the muscles in her damaged leg bunching, and she could barely hold back the cries of pain, as a cold ache settled deep in her bones. She bucked her hips slightly against the furs, the friction on her sex too much. She could feel her clit swell enough for it to hurt. She buried her face in the furs, ignoring the lack of oxygen, inhaling the smell of animal, in an attempt to drown out the Alpha’s scent. It smelled almost spicy, but not caustic.

Anya let her hand rest lightly on the small of the omega’s back. The girl was sweating, her heat settling in. But the sweet honey of her heat was overshadowed by the caustic singe of her pain. It smelled like burning fur and rotting fruit. She let her gaze drift over her naked body, admiring the strong shoulders and back, but her ribs...She frowned. The girl was underfed, which she had suspected. And the leg. She wore a special cage for the leg, and it was obvious she couldn’t walk without it. She glanced closely at the leg, noticing the way the muscles under the skin bunched. The leg was smaller than the other one, the muscles underused. This was the source of the omega’s pain.

She felt something tighten in her chest, and she recognized it for what it was. She might not have mated the girl yet, but already she was calling to her, her pain was becoming a source of discomfort for Anya. It reminded her of when her first omega had been in pain, how Anya could feel it clawing at her flesh, and how she ached to never see him hurt. She had failed her first mate, but this one, she would not fail. She would make sure no harm came to her.

She nodded thoughtfully, glad she had spoken to Tawa about the girl’s leg. She set the sack she was carrying on the small table, and pulled out the jars of ointment and long strips of linen. Tawa had a gift for healing, she had studied in Polis, reading books from the time before the war, and she understood more about how the body worked than anyone, how to break it and heal it.

She shrugged out of her heavy leather coat, carefully setting aside all of her weapons but one small blade. It was humid in the room, and after hesitating for a moment, she peeled of her shirt also that was beginning to stick to her skin. She pulled down her pants, ignoring the bulge in her tight shorts. Left only in her binder and shorts, she crossed the room and filled a mug with water. She took a sip, humming when the cold water hit her tongue. She filled two mugs and turned back to the bed, setting them on the table next to the jars of ointment. She set the small blade next to them.

She wrapped her hands around the omega’s slim waist, before sliding them up over her ribs, frowning again the way her palms bumped over each rib. The girl needed food. A lot of food. She was too weak for a mating. It would have to wait. The thought didn’t bother her as much as she thought it would. Her Alpha was anxious to plunder the omega, but she refused to allow it full rein. She needed to care for her omega first.

“Raven,” she coaxed the girl to turn over, running her hands lightly over the girl’s belly now. Her brow furrowed at the omega’s scrunched face, her refusal to open her eyes. She sighed.

“Look at me,” she commanded. Pleased when the girl’s eyes flew open. Her Alpha purred at the instant obedience, but she could see the fear lurking in her dark eyes. She did not want her mate to fear her. Respect her and hopefully love her, but never fear her.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” she muttered. She looked down at the girl’s belly, imagining it swollen with her pups, pups for her to love and protect; and suddenly she felt vulnerable, a feeling she hadn’t felt in a long time, not since her first mate. “I won’t hurt you. Ever. You have nothing to fear from me, Raven kom Trikru.” She looked up at the girl, raised her hand lightly to her face, letting her hard fingers rest against her cheek. “You will be my mate, and I will be yours.”

Raven stared in disbelief at the Alpha. Did that mean she wanted Raven to bite her also? Be her equal? She stared up into the Alpha’s dark hazel eyes, narrow face and high cheekbones. The dark ash had been wiped clean from her face, and she was still a fearsome sight to behold, but she looked less like an avenging predator and more like a blushing suitor.

She reached up, brushing her fingers against the back of the Alpha’s hand that cupped her cheek. She nodded slowly, too tired to speak. She licked her dry lips, suddenly aware of how thirsty she was.

“Water?” she croaked, looking hopefully up at the other woman.

Anya winced, having forgotten the water. She knew heats made omegas especially thirsty. She grabbed one of the mugs of water, and slipped her hand under the girl’s neck to help her drink. But she froze when her hand crashed into cold metal, and she suddenly became aware that the girl was chained. Titus. She snarled. She hated the Beta, and maybe it was time to speak with Lexa about him.

Raven pulled back sharply at the snarl, small tendrils of the Alpha’s aggression slithering against her skin. She cried out in fear, immediately trying to bare her neck in submission, but the the heavy collar prevented it.

Anya hurriedly set the mug down, shushing the girl quietly, cooing to her in an attempt to free her.

“Shusha, little omega. I’m not mad at you. The collar. I had forgotten about the collar.” She heaved herself to her feet quickly, suddenly anxious and frustrated. She hadn’t been given the key. She snarled again, before storming over to the door and yanking it open. She stuck her head out into the long hallway of the Great Hall.

All of the generals and their new mates were housed in the Great Hall of Ton DC. She could sense Lexa and her new mate down at the end of the hall. She wrinkled her nose at the pheromones seeping out from under the door. They were thick and pungent, cloyingly sweet and sour. Mating. Someone was being knotted. She smirked. Heda hadn’t wasted any time in claiming Wanheda for herself. She turned her head the other way, realizing immediately that Lincoln was in the next room with his love. She and Lincoln shared the same Sire, and he was one of the few from her Sire’s second litter that she actually cared about. She was happy he had found love.

She called for a Beta guard, demanding the key to the collar, swearing under her breath of how she was going to enact her revenge upon Titus’ bald head. Collaring Omegas was not common, rarely practiced, but it was part of the original, ancient ritual: The Presentation. But she’d be damned if she left her Omega chained a moment longer. She bristled and fumed in the doorway, waiting for the Beta to hurry back with the key.

Once he returned with it, she snatched it from him growling enough to make him cower. Good. She clutched the key in her fist and took a deep breath letting it out slowly, then another, and then another. She couldn’t afford to turn around and swamp the girl with her aggression. She relaxed as she felt her anger slowly start bleed out of her.

She returned to the bed, helping Raven sit up before unlocking the collar and then unlocking the chain from the bed post. “This was not my doing,” she whispered, anger and guilt coloring each word. “You will never be collared or chained again,” she spit out the words, anger flickering brightly in her chest.

Raven nodded slowly, relief rolling through her like a spring storm. She’d been so terrified this would be her life, collared forever, chained and used at a whim. She’d made this choice, refusing to allow Clarke and Octavia, and even Murphy to do this alone, but for all of her supposed bravery, she had been beyond petrified. Octavia had told her that grounders treated omegas better than the Arkers did, but that meant little at the time. She just couldn’t bear to be separated from Clarke and Octavia.

Anya sat on the bed after disposing of the collar and chain. She held the mug of cool water up to Raven’s lips, let the girl gulp it down greedily. She wiped her wet chin, her eyes shining in mirth. “You are a sloppy drinker, Raven.”

Raven rolled her eyes, “You suffer a heat and then tell me you wouldn’t do the same.” She turned her head slightly away from Anya, watching her out of the corner of her eye, wondering how the grounder would take her sassing her. She relaxed her shoulders when Anya simply chuckled and nodded.

She lay back on the bed with a sigh, her muscles still ached but at least her thirst had been satiated, and her heat had dulled for a few moments. She no longer felt like she was suffocating, and she racked her brain trying to understand why her heat had lessened, and when she inhaled deeply she realized it was the pheromones. The Alpha was emitting pheromones that were gently blanketing the room, they were so light that she hadn’t noticed them at first. They lacked the musk of arousal, they were almost...benign, perhaps even soothing.

“What are you doing?” she whispered, her eyes wide, anxiety fluttering in her chest.

Anya stared at her in confusion for a moment, cocking her head, unsure what the girl meant. She reached for the other mug of water and a clean strip of linen. “I’m taking care of you. Relax.” She dipped the linen in the water.

“No, your pheromones. They’ve changed,” she took a deep shuddering breath, “You don’t want me anymore.” Raven was surprised at the cold ache that settled in her chest at the thought. This beautiful, strong Alpha didn’t want her after all. She turned her face into the furs, the tears dripping down her hot cheeks. She should have known. She was too broken, too damaged. The grounders believed in strength above all else, and she was weak. Too weak.

Anya hesitated, sensing the omega’s distress. She wrung out the linen, and swiped it down Raven’s neck, then across her shoulders and down her chest. “You are overheated, your body is weak at the moment, but it will heal,” she murmured gently as she continued to wash the sweat from the Omega’s shivering body.

“We may not be mated, Raven kom Trikru, but I am your Alpha, and it it my duty to care for you,” she stated simply, rewetting the rag and wiping it across Raven’s belly. “I want to care for you. I used to be able to sooth my first mate with my pheromones when he was in pain,” she shrugged self-consciously. “I thought I would try it again.”

She let her hand rest flat on Raven’s belly, letting the warmth of her dulled heat radiate into her palm. It felt good, comforting almost. “You need to rest,” she murmured, resuming her washing along Raven’s ribs.

Raven turned her face back to Anya, her tears stopped as she tried to absorb what Anya was telling her, “But aren’t you going to mate me?”

“Are you so anxious to be mated, Raven, that you can’t wait a bit?” Anya teased, smiling at the blush that bloomed across the omega’s cheeks.

“Do not worry, little Omega, there will be plenty of time for you to take my cock,” she purred, her voice dropping, her eyes darkening. She leaned down, her arms on either side of Raven’s body, as she nuzzled Raven’s swollen gland under her jaw, “and you will take it over and over again.”

She scraped her teeth across the hot swollen gland, her mouth filling with saliva at the thought of sucking the gland into her mouth, crushing it with her teeth, drinking in the blood and victus of her omega. She groaned at the thought, feeling herself harden. She licked the gland, suckling it lightly, enjoying the way Raven’s breath rasped against her ear, the way she pushed her her chest up into Anya.

It had taken more willpower than she would have thought to keep from taking the omega’s nipples in her mouth when she had wiped the sweat from her breasts. They were deliciously hard, and she yearned to suck and bite them, and press her face in the girl’s belly, taste her slick on her tongue.

Raven shuddered at the feel of Anya’s hot breath splashing across her neck, the way she suckled her gland, and she shifted, anxious to feel the Alpha, but the pain seared her leg, and she cried out, tears threatening to fall again.

Anya sat up, the girl’s pain pushing against her skin. She tossed the linen aside and grabbed one of the small jars. She snapped the lid off and scooped out a small handful. She rubbed it between her hands, her nose scrunching the pungent smell of medicine. She shifted down the bed, wriggling her hips until she was situated, trying to ignore the pulsing in her cock every time she moved.

“Heda’s personal fisa gave me this medicine. She said it would help ease the pain in your leg.” She placed her hands around Raven’s ankle, “This is going to hurt a bit, little omega. But I promise it will help, and the pain will ease. Be strong,” she whispered as she leaned down, dropping a gentle kiss on Raven’s knee.

She started at the ankle, gently massaging the ointment into the skin, and as she worked her way up, she increased the pressure, stretching the tight muscles in Raven’s leg. The girl shuddered and whimpered under her firm touch, jerking backwards, trying to escape the stretching pain.

Anya felt her stomach roll at the knowledge that she was causing her omega more pain, but Tawa had been insistent, had told her that while the Akers might have better medical technology, they didn’t understand how their bodies were meant to work, how earth could take its toll on bodies that were not used to being used so strenuously.

“You branded me.”

Anya froze for a moment, before nodding slowly. “I didn’t personally brand you, but yes, you are branded.”

“Why?” Raven spit out the word, anger growing in her chest.

“You bare the second brand, a glyph of wheat. It represents food. We will share our food with your people, or they will not survive the Long Frost. And when your people are able, they will share their food also.” She slid her hands under Raven’s thigh, her fingers digging into the underside of Raven’s bottom. “It is a sign of honor. Your people will remember your sacrifice, what you gave to give them food. There is no dishonor in this brand, Raven. It shows how important you are to the alliance.”

Raven nodded, too tired to argue. “Am I a slave?” She whispered.

Anya’s head jerked up, her gaze narrowing. “Never,” she growled vehemently. She leaned down and kissed Raven’s belly gently, glad when the girl didn’t shy away. “You are to be mine, my partner, and I will be your’s.”

It took roughly twenty minutes, but by the end she could see that her omega had relaxed slightly, the ointment’s medicine spreading deep into her muscles. She smiled at the sleepy look the girl have her, and she quickly cleaned her hands, her mind distracted with other thoughts.

Once the omega had started to relax, her heat had come back, building slowly. Pheromones had slicked across her skin, and Anya’s teeth itched, her mouth filling with saliva again. When she had massaged the top of the girl’s thigh, her fingers had slipped in the slick painting the inside of the girl’s thigh, and she had fumbled, barely refraining from burying her face between her legs.

She tossed the linen aside, pulling herself to her hands and knees. She slipped one knee between the girl’s open thighs, and bracketed her palms on either side of the girl’s shoulders. She hovered over her, all sinewy muscles and alpha pheromones, like an avenging angel, her hair falling down her shoulders, her pupils chasing the hazel of her eyes into shadows. She leaned down, licking a long wet stripe up between Raven’s breasts, and up her neck to scrape her teeth along her jawline.

“I intend to make you mine, but you aren’t ready for me yet,” she muttered as she pressed her open mouth to the sweet spot where the omega’s neck met her shoulder. She nipped and sucked, dragging her teeth across the skin, wishing it was the omega’s gland, but knowing she wasn’t ready for a bite. She hoped if she distracted herself with the firmer, less sensitive flesh of her shoulder, she would be less tempted to bite her gland.

Raven whimpered at the feel of strong teeth worrying the spot where her neck met her shoulder. It felt better than it should have, but at the same time, it wasn’t enough. She grabbed the Alpha’s face, turning her face into her neck, jerking her hips vainly as she felt the heat building in her muscles. She shivered and squirmed, the sweat sliding down her cheeks, and she bit the inside of her mouth in an effort to keep from crying out.

She had suffered heats before while only on half-suppressants, and she had never been greatly bothered by them, but that was when she was whole and healthy, before pain had become her constant companion. “More,” she grunted when she felt the Alpha lick her neck, sucking and nipping at the tender skin. And she shuddered, her thighs squeezing Anya’s knee when she felt a hand trail down her belly and cover her mound.

Anya pulled back before she lost her battle to bite the omega, instead pressing wet kisses along her collarbone, tracing the refined definition with her tongue. She shifted so she could lay down, her body partially covering the omega’s, not wanting to hurt her with her weight. She nuzzled her face between her breasts, licking along the curve, before pulling one hard nipple into her mouth. She smiled around the bud, when Raven groaned loudly, pressing upward, while her hands found a home between the braids in Anya’s hair.

She pulled back, blowing across the wet nipple, smirking at the way the girl shuddered, “do you like that?” She teased, sliding her hand up her belly, rubbing it before her fingers found her other nipple, plucking at it until it turned a darker shade.

“Less talking,” growled Raven as she pulled on Anya’s hair, no longer afraid that the Alpah would be angry at her demands. She had nothing to fear from this Alpha, and she wanted nothing more than to feel her hot mouth on her skin again.

Anya chuckled, delighted at the way Raven pulled her face back to her breast, the rough husk of her voice, the demand behind each word. This was what she wanted, a mate who didn’t fear her but told her what she wanted, needed, even demanded it of her. She grinned wickedly as she bit down on Raven’s nipple, just enough to remind the girl that she was still Alpha, but she quickly sucked it gently, easing any small twinge of pain Raven might have felt.

She pulled herself back up to her hands and knees, smirking at the way Raven whined at her, trying to pull her down on top of her body. “Shusha, little omega, I promise i’m going to give you something better.”

Raven huffed in frustration, her muscles aching and trembling from the heat. Her belly ached, a finely honed pain that drilled down into the very center, and she clutched futilely at Anya, the tears pricking her eyelids as the Alpha pulled away from her.

Anya cupped her cheek, pressing her forehead against her own, “I’m going to make it better,” she whispered as she kissed her way down her chest and belly. She slipped further down the bed, careful not to jostle Raven too much. She grabbed a pillow and slipped it under Raven’s hip, wincing when Raven’s leg jerked, and she whimpered.

She situated herself on her belly, between Raven’s legs, inhaling deeply the tantalizing musk of Raven’s slick. She slid her hands around her thighs, gently caressing her skin with her calloused fingers. She kissed the insides of her thighs, purring at the taste. She wanted to dive in, bury her face in Raven’s slick, drink every part of her, bite her and make her beg, but she knew such violent love would only hurt her leg more.

She licked the slick from the inside of Raven’s thighs, enjoying the way the muscles twitched lightly under her tongue. She closed her mouth around the juncture of where her inside thigh met her pelvis, licking it and sucking harshly while Raven moaned and arched her back slightly. She rubbed her nose against the short, trimmed black hairs, inhaling the thick honey scent.

She licked a wet stripe across the hair, matting it against her tongue. She enjoyed the way the short curls pulled on her tongue, and she burrowed her tongue deeper into the cleft of her sex, grinning when she felt the tip of her tongue bump Raven’s swollen clit. She heard the Omega hiss, and she raised one arm and laid it across Raven’s hips, while her other arm lay across the top of her bad leg. She wanted to stabilize Raven as much as possible, keep her from moving too much.

She pushed her tongue between Raven’s lips, gathering her slick and pulling it into her mouth. It was thick and sweet, with just a tinge of spice that felt almost hot on her tongue. She groaned, pushing her face forward, her tongue delving deep into Raven’s sex. She flattened her tongue, licking a broad swath up between her inner lips, pulling the ruffles into her mouth and sucking on them. She flicked them with her tongue, teasing the small feathers of flesh.

Anya continued to gently lick Raven, keeping her tongue as soft as possible. She sucked gently on the red, throbbing clit. She pressed her tongue flat against it, feeling each harsh pulse slither down her spine. She shivered, her mind growing foggy as she felt Raven call to her, pull her into her heat. She could feel herself losing her focus, and she growled into Raven’s wet heat, tearing her mouth away for a moment, much to her omega’s distress. She pressed gentle kisses along her mound, breathing through her mouth, trying to regain control before returning to splay her tongue through Raven’s slick.

She nipped at her clit and ground her tongue down, then slid her tongue down her slit, to play at her entrance. She purred at the thick taste of her omega on her tongue, and she wiggled her tongue as deep as it would go inside of her. She growled in frustration that she couldn’t go deeper and taste her more directly from the source. But she smirked against Raven’s hot flesh, when she felt the omega shudder against her mouth. She pressed her mouth against Raven’s sex and growled deep in her throat, her eyes gleaming when she heard Raven’s breathy sighs, and felt her hips twist under her arms against the furs.

She pressed her hand against Raven’s hip bone, rubbing soft circles inside the divot, in an effort to soothe her and keep from jarring her leg too much. She smiled in triumph when she felt Raven’s hips stop twisting and change into a small rocking motion.

She twirled her tongue lightly around Raven’s clit enjoying the way the omega whimpered deep in her chest against her each time she did it. She pulled back just enough to blow on her clit, and Raven jumped in her hands. She slipped her hands under Raven’s bottom, resting her knuckles against the pillow only to pull her slick sex tighter against her mouth. She squeezed the firm globes each time she sucked on Raven’s clit, and she was finally rewarded with a long drawn out groan, and a small hand scrambling to find a hand-hold in her hair.

She felt the orgasm hit, and she hummed and licked eagerly at her Omega’s entrance, greedily drinking in as much of her release as possible. She pushed her tongue inside her sex, delighted in the way the omega rocked against her mouth, trying to pull her deeper inside. She could feel her cock harden to the point of pain, and she pressed her hips firmly into the bed, seeking friction and relief for the pounding ache.

She withdrew her tongue from the hot confines of Raven’s sex, pushing two fingers against her entrance. She circled her entrance while Raven continued to shudder in the grips of her orgasm, and the moment she sensed it starting to end, she sheathed both fingers inside of Raven. She curled her fingers against her front wall, rubbing firmly, and Raven bucked hard against her, her back arching off the bed, her fists buried in the furs.

Anya’s mouth dropped open slightly in surprise when Raven bore down hard on her fingers, clenching and dragging them further inside of her. She grunted, the air punched out of her chest as Raven milked her fingers, drawing out her own orgasm. Anya’s eyes glazed over as she imagined Raven’s tight heat clenching her swollen cock, and she actually considered that she might not be able to last long once she was finally inside of Raven, that the girl’s slick, velvety muscles might be too much for her, and rip her seed from her flesh. She groaned at the thought, her cock becoming unbearably hard, and she could feel her balls tightening against her shaft. She was ready to cum without even being touched.

Raven felt the small sparks ignite in her belly when Anya closed her mouth around her swollen clit. She jerked her hips away, her clit too sensitive, but relief was just out of reach, and she pushed her sex harder against Anya’s mouth, her body unable to decide between pleasure and delicious pain. Tendrils of heat wrapped around her hips to flush at the base of her spine, and her belly tensed, and the muscles in her ass clenched as she fisted Anya’s hair. She could barely breathe, and a black veil descended across her vision as the angry flush burned up her spine, and she groaned at the tide of pleasure that followed.

She twisted and moaned, rocking her hips, her whimpers falling on deaf ears, as Anya continued to suck and lick at her sex, slurping filthy at her slick, as she rubbed her fingers against her swollen flesh deep inside of her. She could feel the sweat gleaming across her skin, and the heat of her release settling deep into her bones and muscles. Her eyes drooped, and her Heat settled, satiated for the moment.

It was only after Anya felt the warm body in her hands grow pliant that she stopped, tenderly pulling out She carefully licked the last wisps of slick from inside Raven’s thighs, before she reluctantly pulled herself up. She popped both her fingers inside her mouth, sucking them clean.

Raven opened her eyes and squinted at Anya, too wrung out to move. She watched as the alpha licked and sucked at her fingers, clearly enjoying her taste, if her mumbles of pleasure meant anything. She felt herself blush, and she plucked nervously at the furs before yawning suddenly. Her eyes drooped, but shot open when she felt Anya’s hard, hot cock against her belly.

Anya had stripped binder and shorts off, the heat prickling her skin too much. She shuddered, and jogged her hips into the air, her cock slapping against her belly. She fisted her cock, squeezing hard at the base before leaning over Raven, peppering her breasts and neck with kisses.

“I’m sorry,” mumbled Raven, her voice thick and drowsy. She reached for Anya, but stopped when the Alpha growled lightly in her ear.

“No, lay back. I’ll do it. It’s ok,” she assured Raven, smelling the change in pheromones indicating Raven’s sudden anxiety.

“There will be time later,” she muttered as she she leaned down, dragging her cock along Raven’s belly. She shivered, gritting her teeth at the pounding pressure in her cock. And she groaned when she felt lips against her neck and a small hand reaching to fondle her balls. She huffed, stroking herself once, then twice, twisting her fist along the head of her cock, before the pressure became too much. She raised herself enough, and she groaned loudly when the pleasure zinged up her spine and exploded at the base of her skull as she shot long, wet ropes of cum all over Raven’s belly and chest.

Her chest heaved as she fisted her length, drawing out her orgasm as much as possible, shuddering at the way Raven gently rolled her balls in her hand. And once she was empty, she dropped onto the bed beside Raven, flopping onto her back, one arm thrown across her eyes.

Raven lay there, her belly and chest covered in Anya’s release. She was surprised by how much there was, and she tentatively reached down, running her fingers through it. She held her fingers up in the air before bringing them to her mouth and hesitantly licking the very tips. She recoiled slightly, the taste thick and sharp. She sniffed at it before licking again, and then slipping her fingers into her mouth. She sucked on her fingers, quickly growing accustomed to the sharp taste, and deciding she liked it.

Anya turned her head and watched as Raven carefully tasted her seed splashed all across her chest. She grinned when Raven had jerked back suddenly, knowing that Raven had tasted more than just her seed. It was power, thick and musky. She rolled over on to her side, pressing against Raven’s side. She let her fingers slip in her own fluids, painting one of own nipples with it. She smirked at Raven’s eye-roll, gesturing towards her chest. She smirked harder when Raven shifted, her mouth seeking out her painted nipple, and she hummed when Raven laved it with her tongue, before sucking it into her mouth.

She felt herself start to harden again, but Raven yawned against her breast, and she smiled ruefully. Her omega needed sleep. Her heat had settled for the moment. She pulled away from Raven, leaning over her reaching and fumbling blindly for the mug of water and linen. She spilled a little on the furs, but finally managed to dip the linen in it, and swipe it across Raven’s chest and belly, cleaning her of Anya’s release.

She set the mug back, and threw threw the linen to the floor. She lay back down, patting her shoulder, and when Raven shifted carefully and put her head on Anya’s shoulder and slung and arm across her waist, Anya drew the furs up around them.

“Sleep, Raven. Your Heat has settled for now.” She kissed Raven’s forehead, gratified when Raven muttered something unintelligible under her breath, her lips scraping across Anya’s jawline. And when she felt the slightly puckering of lips against her chin, she smiled. And soon sleep claimed her also as Raven in her arms.

************************************

Clarke groaned as she pressed her face harder into the furs beneath her. Every time Lexa slammed her cock deep inside of her, she wanted to scream, the pleasure too intense for her sensitive sex. She’d lost track of how many times she had taken Lexa deep inside of her, how many times she had clenched down on her knot, and how many times she had come undone under the careful furl of the Alpha’s eager tongue.

She whimpered, but it was lost in the sounds of the Alpha’s sharp pants, the sounds of their sticky skin slapping together. Her blood was roaring in her ears, and she could feel the orgasm just out of reach. She strained and pushed her hips back, matching Lexa in rhythm as much as she could. Her thighs shook, the muscles tight and sore from the constant fucking, but it was the type of sore that she could revel in, enjoy each twitch and tremble.

She was ready to cum, she wanted to cum, but first she needed to sooth the empty ache in her sex, needed to feel Lexa’s knot pushing insistently against her, needed to feel the snap of her own flesh clasping Lexa’s knot.

“Lex-Lexa,” she let out a strangled groan, “Knot me. Do it,” each word was pushed out of her with all the force Lexa could snap behind her hips.

Lexa growled, the sweat beading and dripping down her chest and abdomen. She tightened her grip around Clarke’s hips, as she snapped her hips forward as hard as she could, her cock driving deep into Clarke’s hot sheath. She grit her teeth as her aching knot finally popped, and she rolled her hips, grinding it against Clarke’s entrance, smirking ferally when Clarke’s sex resisted her intrusion.

She grunted, grinding harder, enjoying the feel of Clarke’s slick smearing across her knot, just a little more, and she would knot her omega again, fill her womb with so much seed, her lower belly would be distended with it. She shivered, continuing to grind slowly but firmly, anxious to knot Clarke, but something was buzzing in her head, itching at the base of her skull.

She cocked her head, her hips stuttering as she inhaled deeply, swamped in the rich honey of her omega’s slick, but underneath was something, a different smell, and she growled harshly, the air rippling with electricity.

She slowed her churning hips, her ears strained, and she heard it again; voices raised in the hallway, the stench of agitated Alphas seeping in under the door. She cursed angrily, as she inhaled again, now able to detect another sickeningly sweet scent: unmated Omega caught in the throe of their heat. Someone was calling to the Alphas, and she realized with a sickening lurch who it was.

She withdrew from Clarke’s wet sex, groaning at the way Clarke’s muscles slurped around her cock, desperately trying to hold her inside. Clarke groaned in distress, her hips dropping to the furs, tears burning her eyes. She could smell it now, and she buried her nose in the furs, trying to ignore the Alpha stench from outside.

Lexa fisted her cock, cursing angrily, muttering threats on all of her Alpha warriors, as she struggled to hold back. But the cool air hitting the tip of her cock was her undoing, and with a snarl, she came, spurting thick seed over Clarke’s ass. She quickly jerked her cock, wincing at the grinding pressure, trying to ignore her mate’s whines of disappointment.

When she was done, she grabbed her shorts yanking them on, and grabbed a dagger of the table. She pressed her hand to the small of Clarke’s back, holding her down in place. “Stay here. Something is wrong, the Alphas are agitated.”

Clarke pulled her arms under her, lifting herself up, trying not to whine pitifully. “It’s Raven. She’s calling everyone.” She sat up and swung her legs over the bed, but a hand to her chest stopped her.

“No, I don’t want you out there. It could be dangerous.”

Clarke scoffed, “I’m mated now. They won’t care. They don’t want me.”

Lexa shook her head, not wanting to waste any more time arguing. “They are agitated enough that some of them may not care that you are mated. You are still in heat, that might be enough for one of them to lose themselves in Rut Fever.” She pointed to the bed. “Stay. Here.”

*****************************

Anya wasn’t sure what woke her, if it was the suffocating heat rolling of of Raven, the knocking on her door, the Alpha stench reaching her nose, or her aching cock, already hard and dripping pre-cum. But she sat up immediately, her eyes frantically searching the room for the threat. She glanced down at Raven, her eyes widening at the sight of her mate on her belly, whining and whimpering, humping her hips against the furs. She placed her hand on the girl’s back, wincing at the heat pouring off her. Her hand was wet with sweat, and she leaned down, licking up her spine.

But the incessant pounding wouldn’t stop and the moment the door handle started to turn, she roared a challenge, kneeling on all fours over her mate and facing the door. She had grabbed the small blade from the table, ready to kill whomever stepped through the door. But she gagged and winced, shaking her head as the Alpha pheromones poured into the room, pushing against her, calling her to submit.

She grunted and wiped angrily at her nose, trying to get the burning stench out of her nose, and she panted harshly, the bitter taste on her tongue curdling her mouth. Heda. She growled in warning when Heda stepped through the room, her eyes dark and flashing.

She snarled another warning, crouching on the bed, her hand gripping the blade tightly. “Get out,” she growled, her voice scratching like a blade on glass.

Lexa stepped into the room carefully, trying not to rise to Anya’s challenge, knowing that she was no longer thinking clearly, the need to protect her omega overwhelming her good sense. But she instinctively pushed back against Anya, her pheromones rising and swelling and filling the room. She heard the anguished cry of the omega, and Anya’s roar filled the room. She tensed, readying herself to throw herself at Anya when another scent caught attention.

She froze, her eyes widening, and she backed up slowly her arm behind her, feeling until it scratched across fabric that she recognized as a sheet from her bed. The warm body beneath it told her everything she needed to know, and moved until she was in front of Clarke, her back pressed to her front.

“I told you to stay,” she muttered hoarsely, her gaze never straying from Anya who was rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet, one hand on her omega’s back, the other gripping the blade.

Lexa lowered her own blade a fraction of an inch, then another as she saw Anya lower her own. She reined in her pheromones, relieved when she felt Clarke’s soothing scent fill her nose.

Clarke wrapped an arm around Lexa’s waist, pushing her face between her shoulder blades. “I’m not really good at listening,” she chuckled quietly, continuing to pump out soothing pheromones, relieved when she felt Lexa start to relax.

“We’ll talk about this later,” muttered Lexa as she clasped Clarke’s hand around her waist for a brief moment before unpeeling it from around her. She gave her hand an affectionate squeeze, before stepping forward.

“You need to mate her, Anya,” she hoped her voice was soothing, but when Anya growled at her in warning, she chuckled mirthlessly. “Alphas have started to gather outside the hall. They are agitated. She is calling to them. They know you have chosen her, but soon one of them will push through the line, and the rest may follow.”

“She’s weak,” muttered Anya, her tongue thick in her mouth, her mind dizzy from the warring pheromones.

Clarke grunted in displeasure, angry on Raven’s behalf. How fucking dare this Alpha claim Raven was weak. She was the strongest Omega she knew. Raven had survived far worse on the Ark and on Earth.

Lexa stiffened when her mate’s scent turned acidic. Clarke was angry and Anya noticed, inhaling carefully, fixing her gaze on Clarke as Clarke stepped around Lexa, fury etched in every line of her face.

“How fucking dare you,” she hissed, ignoring Lexa’s warning growl, her attempt to grab her arm.

Anya shifted, straightening slightly, her eyes widening at the sight of Heda’s angry mate. She was a sight to behold, fresh mating mark on her neck, her eyes darkened with the impending storm, her curls falling in disarray around her red cheeks.

“I don’t want to hurt her...her leg,” blurted Anya, in an attempt to stop the stalking fury approaching her, unsure how to deal with such an angry omega who bore her Heda’s scent.

Clarke hesitated, biting her lip before she flicked her gaze to Lexa who was staring at her with thunder in her eyes. Oops.

“You hurt her more by not mating with her. She is tougher than she looks. She needs you,” Clarke gestured towards the bed, refocusing Anya’s attention to her whimpering mate. When Anya turned, lowering her blade completely, Lexa grabbed Clarke’s arm, hauling her quickly from the room.

She ordered the Beta guards to call in more and stand guard up and down the hallway, before returning to her rooms, her hand wrapped firmly around Clarke’s arm, Once through the door, she gave Clarke a small push towards the bed, both angry and relieved, both feelings warring within her breast. She breathed sharply through her nose, growling and muttering to herself as she paced, trying to calm down.

Fear. That was the root. She had been afraid Anya would hurt Clarke, and she sighed as she scrubbed her face with her hands, slightly calmer now as she turned back to her mate.

“You said you wanted a mate, a partner, someone to share all of this with. You said you didn’t just want to mount me.” Clarke shrugged and picked at the fur, not looking at Lexa. “I don’t always listen. I’m stubborn, but I’m not stupid. I knew what I was doing.”

“She could have hurt you, Clarke!” Lexa all but roared at her, anger igniting in her breast again, covering the real culprit of her distress, her fear of Clarke being hurt.

“But she didn’t. I had to check on Raven. Besides…” she tried to smirk at Lexa, but her smile quivered on her face, “Didn’t you know? Omegas are good at helping calm Alphas.” She let the sheet fall and pool at her waist, smiling a little when the Alpha’s eyes were inevitably drawn to her breasts. She leaned back on her hands, parted her legs teasingly, and she was rewarded with a huff from the Alpha who started to inch towards her.

She slid back onto the bed, beckoning Lexa to follow. And when the Alpha’s knees hit the bed, Clarke rose up on her knees, pressing her mouth hungrily against Lexa’s. She dropped her hands to the waistband of Lexa’s shorts, tracing her fingers over the growing bulge. She slipped her hand inside, rubbing her palm up and down her growing length.

“Now, how about we stop thinking about Anya and Raven, and think about us.” Lexa could only nod dumbly, as Clarke pulled away, laying back on the bed, pulling Lexa down on top of her, before pushing her face down between her thighs. “You owe me an orgasm, Alpha.”

************************************

Anya climbed slowly down from the bed, her head still fuzzy from the pheromones. Her skin prickled and itched, and the hair on her arms stood on end. She snarled as she looked back at Raven, her gaze softening slightly at the way her omega pushed against the furs with her hands, wiggled her hips in vain.

She strode to the door, making sure to lock it this time. She spread her hands on either side of the door jamb, growling deep in her chest. She filled the space with her pheromones, pushing them out, knowing they would seep under the door and through the cracks. Her face twisted into a satisfied grin, when she felt the Alphas pulling back. She waited a few more minutes to be sure, before she let her head hang.

She took deep shuddering breaths, trying to master her control that kept slipping through her tenuous hold. She didn’t want to return to the bed, snarling and overly-eager. She worried she might actually pounce on the girl. She hunched her shoulders, pushing her chest down and stretching her back as she breathed deeply, satisfied when her mind started to clear.

“Anya.” The single word was followed with a pained whimper, and Anya’s head whipped up, her eyes widening, before she shoved herself away from the bed, almost tripping in her eagerness to return to the omega calling for her.

She tried not to inhale too deeply, the girl’s rich musk redolent with heat and sex, was almost enough to send her into a frenzy. She panted, taking in shallow gasps, but it was a mistake, as Raven’s scent hit her tongue. She growled in pleasure, grinding her tongue against her teeth, tasting honey and earth.

She bent down over Raven, watching intently as the girl raised her hips again, whimpering while she jerked her shoulders. Anya fisted her aching length slapping against her belly, palming the omega’s bottom with her other hand. She hummed at the way the girl jerked and pressed back into her hand. She climbed onto the bed, straddling the back of Raven’s before, moving one knee between her legs like she had earlier.

She leaned down again, brushing the girl’s hair from her sweaty face, she licked at the back of her neck and cheek, sucking briefly on her earlobe before whispering in her ear.

“Tell me, little omega. What do you want.” She nuzzled behind her ear, balancing herself on one hand before running the fingers of her other hand up Raven’s arm, to slide her palm over Raven’s fist.

Raven whimpered again, craning her neck, trying to give Anya more access. The heat was burning her in rushing tides, and she sobbed at the hollow ache in her sex, and the lancing pain in her belly. But when she felt the larger hand cover the back of her fist, she willed herself to unclench her fingers, and she threaded her fingers with the Alphas.

“Make-make me your’s, she whimpered, stiffening slightly when she felt the hot length of Anya’s cock resting along her back now. She attempted to roll onto her side, but the cramp in her leg made her cringe in pain.

“Are you sure?” She barely got the words out before Raven nodded furiously. She knew it was the Heat talking more than Raven, but she accepted it anyway, her Alpha purring in delight. She eased her hands under Raven, helping her turn onto her back. She settled carefully between the omega’s legs, pleased when she automatically opened for her. She kept most of her weight off or the girl and on her elbows as she cupped Raven’s face.

She drank in the sight of the omega’s black eyes, and flushed skin, the wet shine on her lips. She bumped her nose against Raven’s gently, affection burrowing its way deep into her chest, when the omega raised both her arms and draped them around Anya’s neck.

Her eager mouth found Raven’s, and she groaned when the omega bit her lower lip, demanding entrance, and she felt herself harden even more when the omega slid her tongue inside of Anya’s mouth, tangling with her own tongue. She mapped each millimeter of Anya’s hot mouth, claiming her territory and making it her own, and Anya could do nothing but groan and allow her to take whatever prize she demanded.

Raven scraped her teeth along Anya’s jawline, delighting in the way it made the Alpha shiver. Now that she could feel Anya’s skin pressed against her own, could feel her thick, hot length between her thighs, she felt slightly calmer, like she wasn’t going to die from the burning of her own flesh.

“What do you want?” She murmured, her hands now mapping the muscles of Anya’s back, enjoying the feel of the satiny skin twitching under her palms. She sucked and bit lightly at Anya’s neck, sucking on her collarbone, leaving lilac blossoms in her wake.

Anya shuddered, her mind fogging with every press of Raven’ tongue, every scrape of her teeth against her skin. “You. A partner. Everything.” Her words certainly weren’t eloquent, but when she felt Raven draw her good leg up, and hook it over her hips, she knew she had been accepted.

She pushed up on her hands, before sliding one hand down between them, her fingers fumbling for a moment until they found Raven’s slippery clit. She rolled it lightly between her fingers, feeling it swell even more under her fingers. As much as she wanted to taste the girl, the pressure in her cock was too distracting.

“Inside,” muttered Raven as she lifted her hips, but when she felt two fingers press against her entrance, she drew back snarling a little in frustration. “No, you, she demanded as she dropped her hips, searching for the tip of Anya’s cock.

Anya could only nod, the ability to speak having left her completely. Her tongue felt thick in her mouth, and she reached between them, grabbing the head of her cock and dragging it through Raven’s slick. She bit her lip hard, blood welling up immediately, when her sensitive cock head rubbed against Raven’s entrance. She pushed in just the smallest bit, and felt Raven stiffen.

Raven whimpered, pulling Anya’s head down to her’s, flicking her lips across the blood on Anya’s lips. She suckled her bleeding lip into her mouth, groaning at the sweet copper that hit her tongue. She distracted herself from the slight discomfort, nerves suddenly plucking at her belly. She grounded herself in the scent of the Alpha, nibbling on her lips, before nodding her head and leaning back.

Anya nuzzled her neck and dropped kisses all along her shoulders, and when she felt Raven slowly relax, she pulled out slightly and pushed in again. She grit her teeth to keep from pushing when she felt Raven push her hips up slightly, trying to gain leverage by pulling Anya further inside with her leg wrapped around her waist.

Anya dropped her head onto Raven’s shoulder, burying her face in the dark crook of her neck. She laved the skin there with her tongue, working her way up to the swollen gland under her jaw. She nibbled and licked it, before drawing it into her mouth, distracting Raven while she withdrew slowly and then pushed back in. It was slow, but she pushed in a little deeper each time, groaning at the feel of Raven’s hot, wet muscles parting for her.

Raven wrapped her arms around Anya’s shoulders, pulling her down to her body to rest. She ignored the twinging in her leg, needing to feel Anya against her fully. She relaxed slightly when Anya’s palms slid under her shoulders to hold her, and she kissed her, their tongues tangling while she rocked her hips up. It had hurt at first, but her body had soon adjusted, and now she just wanted Anya to move, hard and fast.

She bit the Alpha’s earlobe and then sucked it into her mouth. She dug her nails into Anya’s back, “Move! I need you to move.” And she raised her hips up hard, and was rewarded with a long growl.

Anya growled and pulled back before pushed inside fully, bottoming out in Raven’s wet heat. She shuddered hard and almost came, but she grit her teeth and pulled her hips back, pushing harder and harder with each thrust. She groaned at the pressure building along her cock, and it felt so good being sheathed inside of her omega that it almost hurt, and she grit her teeth against the intensity of her desire. She never wanted it to end, but she could feel herself trembling and the waves of heat rolling down her cock with each thrust. She groaned and jerked her hips hard when she felt her knot form.

She pulled back out, and sat up on her knees, her hands going to Raven’s knees. She pulled the girl’s bottom up her to rest on her knees, and she held her legs open around her waist, careful not to twist her bad leg too much. She rubbed her palm across the omega’s twitching thigh muscles, helping her relax. She jogged her hips forward lightly, and hissed in pleasure when Raven groaned and tossed her head back, her hips pushing back against Anya. Anya tapped her clit, and then rubbed it with her thumb, she could only thrust shallowly from this position, but it was exactly what she wanted. She wanted Raven to cum, while her knot was growing, so it would be easier for her to work it inside Raven. She didn’t want to tear her or cause her too much pain.

It only took only a minute as she played with Raven’s clit, rubbing her thumb across it lightly, only then to wrap her fingers around the root and squeeze lightly, milking it. Soon Raven cried out and jerked hard, rhythmically squeezing Anya’s cock, as she felt the waves of pleasure roll down deep into her pelvis and into her thighs. She whimpered as she came around Anya’s cock, but it still wasn’t enough.

“More, please,” she half-sobbed. The aching heat pulling at her skin almost blinding her. She pressed her chest up, her nipples hard and aching. And she only relaxed slightly when she felt firm fingers pinch and roll first one nipple and then the other. She jerked her hips, pushing hard against Anya, who continued to play with her clit and nipples. The deep ache in her muscles and the gnawing bite in her bones still wasn’t relieved, and she felt herself grasping for something just out of reach. Anya’s cock felt so good, better than she had imagined it ever could, deep inside of her, but she wanted something else, and she wanted to cry, because her Alpha wouldn’t give it to her.

Anya jogged her hips lightly, helping Raven ride out the orgasm. She knew her Omega wasn’t satisfied yet, and she looked down at her growing, red knot of flesh. She grinned wolfishly, when it finally popped, and she shuddered at the pain that lanced through her muscles, and she quivered inside of Raven, barely holding back her own orgasm. Her eyes sharpened and her skin itched. When Raven’s legs splayed open, and the Omega was still panting and whining, she pulled all the way out, letting the tip of her cock rub against Raven’s clit, before she bent down suddenly, hunching her back as much as she could, and she wrapped her lips around Raven’s straining, red clit and sucked harshly. She was rewarded with a scream and sob, and she took pity on the over-sensitive omega. She positioned herself against Raven’s entrance, and with one smooth thrust, she buried herself all the way inside.

Raven let out a strangled whine, when the Alpha thrust into her so deeply, so completely. She hadn’t been expecting it, and her muscles clamped down to stop the intruder, but even as her muscles instinctively clamped down, her Omega let out a whine of relief and her arms came up grasping for Anya.

She sobbed into Anya’s shoulder, unable to contain the stress of the heat that poured through her. She imagined her muscles were liquefying and bursting like tiny supernovas all along her aching, cracking bones. She grasped tighter at Anya, relishing the feel of her strong, dominant Alpha starting to finally rut into her. She whimpered and twisted underneath Anya, pain searing her leg, but finally unnoticed as her pain gave way to pleasure. She was searching for something to cling to, to latch on to, something to ground her and fill her. She groaned in relief when she felt something heavy and hot pushing against her entrance, and she had a moment of clarity pierce the heavy heated fog in her mind, that this was her Alpha’s knot.

“D-do it,” She ground down as hard as she could, but she didn’t have enough leverage from being on her back. She was sure she babbled something nonsensical, but it didn’t matter, nothing mattered but the reassuring rumbling in her ear, and the pounding of her Alpha’s heart, and the growing need inside her. She could feel the Alpha’s mouth on her neck, sucking on her gland, and she knew at any moment she would pierce it, and then she would truly belong to the Alpha.

Anya hissed pressing firmly against Raven. She pressed her face into the crook of her neck, rumbling and purring as her beautiful Omega struggled, trying to reach something that she couldn’t quite find. Raven slide her arm under Raven’s shoulders, propping her up slightly, and bracing herself on the arm, as her other hand gripped Raven’s damaged leg, massaging the tight muscles. She pressed and rotated her hips, growling as she felt Raven’s flesh start to yield against her knot, and she panted with the strain of pushing but not pushing too hard unless she tear her.

She slowly worked her knot inside, and when she felt the ring of flesh snap around her knot, she let loose a long, pained grunt, and her Omega stilled beneath her. Anya opened her eyes, and looked down into Raven’s wide, black eyes, and she felt the other girl pull her under, and she fell and fell and fell, endlessly, and with one sharp snap of her hips, she came. She came with Raven’s name on her lips, and she pressed Raven’s face to her neck, relieved when she felt the Omega take her gland in her mouth and pierce it without hesitation. She shuddered and shook in Raven’s arms, as she felt a cold fire burn through her muscles, tying her forever to Raven.

She groaned and whimpered as she jogged her hips in relief, the heat rolling through her twitching length, and she felt her muscles tighten as her orgasm scratched across every muscle and tendon in her body, and she was sure her body would snap in two with the force of her orgasm. She could barely move as her body twitched and shuddered. She felt Raven bare down on her cock, clenching and massaging it, milking every drop of cum from her cock, and she could do nothing but choke and submit as Raven drank her blood and victus, claiming the Alpha for her own.

And when she felt Raven shake and shudder in her arms, biting harder on her neck, she turned just enough to lick Raven’s gland before suckling it into her mouth, crushing it between her teeth. She jerked her hips hard, another spurt of cum ripped from her as she drank the thick copper and victus, her head swimming as their scents fully merged. Her Alpha howled in relief, and she felt the salt burn her eyes, at the welcome relief and warmth that flowed into her chest.

The moment Anya’s knot popped inside her, Raven felt the itch deep in her womb burn, and when Anya came, she instinctively milked her cock, her Omega jealously trying to pull every drop deep into herself. And she couldn’t hold back the heat hurtling through her muscles as saliva filled her mouth, and she felt all of Anya’s victus and blood pour into her mouth. She came with a grunt, her teeth still buried in Anya’s neck, but she retracted just enough to press her gland into the Alpha’s waiting mouth, and when she felt it burst, she came hard, clenching around Anya’s cock, salt burning her eyes.

Anya lay there, slumped on top of Raven, knowing she needed to move, but when she pushed her hands under her to roll them, small but sturdy arms pulled her back down to rest against the smaller body.

“Not yet,” muttered Raven, enjoying the solid weight of the Alpha. Her Alpha. Her Anya. Her Partner. She smiled tiredly at the thought, pleasure still slipping along her nerves. And whenever she shifted, the Alpha groaned, spurting more cum deep inside of Raven.

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t.” Raven smiled at the feel of the soft lips of her partner tenderly kissing her new mating mark. It burned deep, but instead of prickling heat, it felt warm, soothing along her aching muscles. She yawned. Her eyes drifting close, content and satiated in Anya’s arms.

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bevioletskies · 5 years

Text

across the universe [prologue]

summary: Peter, the son of the Chancellor, has lived among the stars for the first ten years of his life. Gamora, the future Commander of Terra, has lived on the ground for the first ten years of hers. Though it’s finally time for the last survivors of the so-called apocalypse to return to Earth, they might not be prepared for what’s waiting for them. But when Peter and Gamora meet and find their worlds irreversibly tangled together, titles, obligations, and the impending war may be the very last thing on their minds.

a/n: The premise of this fic is very loosely based off of The 100, the television show more so than the book series. However, no previous knowledge is required, as I only used the basic concept and language, and none of the storylines or characters arcs from the show.

Fic title is from the song Across The Universe by The Beatles. Warning for mentions of canon-typical violence and injuries.

word count: 6.1k | ao3 | tag

Gamora crouched low in the grass, maintaining her near-perfect center of gravity while balancing delicately on her toes. Her eyes and ears were alert, the handle of her switchblade digging into the palm of her hand from clutching it too tightly. Out of the corner of her eye, she could only just spot her sister a little off to her left, their gazes fixated on the same target about fifteen feet away. She used her free hand to bring her finger to her mouth, silencing her before her breaths became too loud, too laborious.

However, she was too late; Nebula seemed too far gone to be reasoned with. Her ink-colored eyes narrowed to slits, and under her breath, she murmured, “Yu gonplei stei odon.”

With a feral shout, Nebula took a running leap, landing firmly on the shoulders of her intended prey, yanking the wooden staff from its holster on her back and swinging it around, across the column of his throat. She grappled its other end with her other hand and yanked, snarling viciously as it dug into his flesh. The man stumbled, gasping for breath, before suddenly rolling forward, sending Nebula tumbling to the ground in front of him, the staff shattering instantly upon impact. Gamora hung her head in disappointment.

“You failed again. Why am I not surprised?” Both girls looked up into the face of their father. They barely noticed the other man, one of many mid-ranking generals who’d been unlucky enough to be their trainer for the day, limping away, rubbing at the irritated skin on his throat like it only mildly inconvenienced him, another blow to Nebula’s already wounded pride. “Are you proud of the way your voice sounds? Do you enjoy having everyone know where you are and who you are? Why do you insist upon screaming like an animal instead of remaining silent like a warrior?”

“I wanted to practice my battle cry,” Nebula murmured, recoiling. “I’m...sorry, Father.”

Thanos drew to his full height, completely towering over them, his shadow engulfing them in darkness despite it being mid-afternoon. “We’re finished here today. Let me speak to heda, alone.” Nebula slinked off in dejected silence, picking up the remains of her staff along the way. “You performed well today, little one. You’ve become stronger, far stronger than she could ever hope to be.” He jerked his head sharply to the side, indicating he wanted Gamora to follow him further, away from their temporary camp.

“I don’t know if I will be ready by the time I’m of age,” Gamora replied, brushing her stray baby hairs out of her face. “Your gonakru don’t like me very much.”

“That is because you’re still a child,” Thanos said dismissively. “They don’t see the potential in you like I do. Your ferocity, your intelligence, they will carry us forward, Gamora. They don’t see how much more powerful you are compared to all the rest.”

“They want their children to become heda instead,” Gamora muttered. “They believe it’s their right.”

“Then they forget who keeps them alive. Who made sure they had soft beds and warm bellies? Who protected them from those who dared challenge our right to this earth?” Thanos came to a stop, his piercing gaze wandering across the horizon. Vast expanses of lush grass, trees as far as the eye could see, a rich blue sky that bathed them in fresh, warm light. It was almost impossible to tell what had really happened here a hundred years ago.

“You, wanheda. The commander of death.” Gamora stopped beside him, her fingers itching to reach out and pluck a single flower from the ground, just so she could have something to make her war-ridden tent feel more like a home. “They follow you. They fear you.”

“And they will come to fear you as well. As they should.” Thanos almost sounded proud, but Gamora couldn’t help but feel her stomach curl at the very thought. She tucked her hands behind her back, clenching her fists so tightly she could feel her fingernails drawing blood in her palms. “You have good instincts, Gamora, and far more gravitas than anyone I’ve ever met. Your worthiness will become known. I have no doubt.”

“I have eight years to prove myself,” Gamora said brightly, smiling just the slightest bit. “I have time.”

“Do not wait that long, little one,” Thanos warned, glancing down at her. “They may try to kill you first.”

Her bottom lip trembled. “Really?”

“They do not care for your age or your affiliation. Only your title,” Thanos said gravely. “If they find you a threat to their survival, they will slip into your room in the cover of night, and slit your throat before you ever wake again.”

Gamora shuddered, drawing away from him. “May I please return to camp, Father? I’m hungry.”

Thanos nodded sharply. “You have my permission to rest, but we return to Sanctuary tonight. We ride out when the sun begins to set, or else the reapers will find us from the trees. I need to have some words with the gonakru about setting up snipers across Shallow Canyon.”

“Why is that, Father?” Gamora asked.

“I believe war is coming.” Thanos turned, staring directly at the sun, barely moving to shield his eyes. “And not war among our people, but one of a different kind. The kind that comes from the skai.”

“How was school today, baby?” Peter glanced up from the dining table across the expanse of their modest apartment, surprised to see his mother smiling warmly in his direction. He hadn’t even heard the door open.

“It was okay,” he shrugged, grinning toothily when she walked over to kiss his forehead. “I’m still no good at math, even though I really like my teacher.”

“Should we get you a tutor, then? They’ve got a great system going with the older kids who need extra education credits,” Meredith suggested. She went back to the front door so she could hang up her doctor’s coat and kick off her shoes, then collapsed onto the couch with a relieved sigh. She never had anything but long, arduous shifts in the medical ward, and today was no exception. “I’m glad you like your teacher, though. You had a real big spat with that last one, didn’t you?”

“He was rude to Mantis,” Peter frowned. “He got all freaked out ‘cos of her powers, but she wasn’t gonna do nothin’.”

“People don’t like what they don’t understand,” Meredith said, shaking her head. “After all this time, some folk still don’t understand modern medicine. They think I’m trying to poison them!”

“You would never!” Peter exclaimed, sitting up in his chair. “They got real scared about that ant - anti - antidote? Yeah, that antidote that you tried to give ‘em last month for the air seal problem in Sector Six. It was only after they stopped swellin’ up that they stopped tryna protest.”

“I told ‘em, baby, I even let ‘em have a look at decades of science. But you would not believe what some people choose not to believe,” Meredith chuckled sadly. “Your sister over at farm station again?” Peter nodded. “And your daddy’s in Sector One, probably doing a late night...I’m not sure if he’ll be coming home today. There’s a big ol’ announcement he wants to make, won’t even tell me what it’s all about.”

“He don’t tell us anything, anyways,” Peter muttered derisively under his breath.

Meredith frowned, moving to join Peter at the table. “Come on now, you know that’s not fair. He’s got all those laws to obey, and if the Chancellor himself don’t follow them, then what are they good for?”

“But we’re his family,” Peter protested. “Can’t he at least...I dunno, give us a hint? He’s been talking about it for ages.”

“He could get floated for it, baby,” Meredith murmured, reaching over to squeeze Peter’s arm. “Not everyone on the Council likes him, and they’re looking for any excuse to get him out. If we know something we’re not supposed to...it’s his life on the line. It could be all of our lives on the line.”

“But he said it could change our lives,” Peter said. “But...I guess that could mean anything. Like more rations, so people don’t get the hollow stomach virus.”

“Or maybe they lifted the one-child policy,” Meredith suggested. “He’s been talking about it ever since we found Mantis.”

“Yeah, ‘cept no one knows Mantis is actually his kid,” Peter retorted. “They just think her daddy never spoke for her mama when Dad floated her.”

Meredith exhaled sharply. “We don’t talk about that, Peter. Ever.”

“There’s a lot of stuff we don’t talk about.” Peter yanked his arm out of her grasp and resumed his schoolwork with a scowl on his face. Meredith opened her mouth to reprimand him, but the wince-inducing screech of the front door’s poorly maintained hinges cut her off.

“I’m hungry,” Mantis announced loudly to the entire apartment, tossing her shoes aside and skipping over to the table, oblivious to their rigid expressions. “Hi, Mama.”

“Hi, baby.” The tension in Meredith’s face instantly vanished, and she leaned over to kiss Mantis’s cheek. “I hope you were careful today, you know I don’t like you being around all those harvest machines.”

“Renie’s daddy would not let us into the greenhouses,” Mantis frowned, walking over to the fridge to search for a snack. “But he did show me the brand new holoscreen that Renie’s got in her room. She wants to know why I don’t have one, ‘cos we’re s’posed to be the richest family here.”

“We aren’t the richest by any stretch, darling,” Meredith said gently. “The most powerful, maybe.”

“What’s the difference?” Peter asked. Mantis turned away from the fridge, also curious.

Meredith hesitated, glancing back and forth between their innocent faces. “Your daddy’s invested a lot of his own money into this secret project of his. That’s why we live in a smaller apartment now,” she said carefully.

“No, it’s ‘cos he wanted his own place in Sector One so he can keep avoidin’ us like he always does!” Peter snapped, slamming his fist onto the table. Mantis let out a startled shriek, nearly dropping the cup of water she was holding.

“Peter!”

“He’s only talked to me three times this week, and all he ever says is ‘good morning’,” Peter grumbled. “He don’t even look at Mantis at all. Not for one second.”

“Peter, keep your voice down,” Meredith said urgently. “You don’t want other people to hear speak badly about your daddy, or else - ”

“Or else they’ll float me?” Peter got to his feet, snatching his homework up in his arms and storming off to his and Mantis’s shared bedroom. “They gotta catch me first.”

Gamora rolled over on her makeshift cot, woven by her own hands, staring into the dying fire intently, watching the last of it flicker away. She could only just make out Nebula’s silhouette across from her, back turned firmly in her direction. “Did you hear about the incoming war?”

The silence stretched on for so long, Gamora wasn’t sure if Nebula had heard her. “You should really stop listening to the other children. They know nothing.”

“It wasn’t from the other children, Nebula, it was from Father,” Gamora whispered. “He said they come from the sky. Skaikru.”

“We’ve heard about the skaikru before. Why would they come now? They think their planet is gone,” Nebula scoffed.

“Maybe they know the truth.” Gamora turned onto her back once more, folding her hands neatly on her stomach. “That it survived. That there’s food, and life. Fresh air, air that we can breathe.”

“Maybe, but it can’t be better than what they have now.” Nebula paused. “There is nothing here for anyone. Not even us.”

“You don’t know that, Nebula,” Gamora protested. “Our home planets were dying when we were babies. Father took us to this planet for a reason.”

“He is not our father,” Nebula said darkly. “He is a man...who tells us to call him that.”

The flap of their tent was thrown open, casting a ray of blinding sunlight across their faces. They both squinted to see better, but regretted it instantly when an awful, gaunt face peered inside to sneer at them. “You dare waste firewood during the daytime, child?”

“Father gave us three hours to sleep before we leave at sunset,” Nebula snarled in return. “Leave us alone, Maw.”

“That’s General Maw to you,” he said smugly. “And I’m failing to hear the reason for your need for fire.”

“I was cold,” Gamora volunteered, sitting up in her cot and shivering exaggeratedly. “I didn’t want to take another blanket. Firewood is less wasteful than fabric.”

Maw retreated, bowing his head respectfully as he did. “Forgive my rudeness, heda. Sleep well, and I will send Proxima to wake you before we leave.”

The moment he disappeared from earshot, Nebula snorted. “You are such a hainofi.”

“I am no princess,” Gamora said haughtily, lying back down. “I’m the future commander, and I will be better than Father. I have to be.” Nebula merely scoffed and rolled over again, snuggling into the scratchy sheets, willing herself to fall asleep against the backdrop of noise outside, the armies chatting and rattling about, calling out orders and suiting up for one last raid before dark. Gamora, meanwhile, stared up at the small gap in the top of the tent, the daylight streaming in, highlighting the dust that danced in the air above the crackling fire. “I have to be,” she repeated, just barely above a whisper.

“Peter?” The door creaked open slowly; he saw her antennae before he saw her face. “Can I come in?”

“It’s your room, too,” Peter mumbled, burying his face back into his pillow. “What d’you want?”

Mantis tiptoed into the room and hopped up onto the foot of his bed, swinging her legs over the edge. She folded her hands in her lap, twiddling her thumbs nervously. “Renie says that people talk about Mama and Daddy a lot. She told me the Council don’t know if Daddy can be a good Chancellor if he cannot be a good ‘family man’ to us and Mama. What does that mean?”

“Well...what do you feel when he’s here?” Peter asked, lifting his head to meet her puzzled expression.

“I feel...love,” Mantis said, though she sounded uncertain. “They love each other, and they love us.”

“But if Dad loves us, then why doesn’t he talk to us? He don’t even look at you before he leaves in the morning,” Peter grumbled. “He doesn’t tell Mom anything, either. It’s like he’s not really here. Maybe he isn’t a ‘family man’. He’s just...a man.”

“Do you think he is doing it again?” Her voice sounded impossibly small. “Like he did with my real mom.”

“I dunno...maybe.” Peter threw back his sheets and sat up, joining Mantis at the end of his bed. He gently placed his hand over hers. “Sorry ‘bout yelling earlier. I don’t mean to scare you. I’m just real mad at him.”

“You gotta tell Mama that you are sorry, too,” Mantis insisted. “She feels very sad. She has been feeling sad all the time. I do not think she likes thinking about what Daddy might be doing when he is not here.”

“None of us do,” Peter sighed, sinking into Mantis’s side. He swung his legs beside hers, matching her pace, enjoying the way it made her giggle. Just as the tension seemed to evaporate out of both of their bodies, his foot caught on something just underneath his bed. “Ow!”

Mantis slid off the bed and knelt on the floor, peering underneath. Her large eyes grew even wider at what she saw - a door handle, leading to the crawlspace under the floor. She sat back on her behind, pulling her knees into her chest. “It is just like the one in our first apartment. Where Daddy used to make me sleep, when no one was s’posed to know who I was.”

“Don’t think about that stuff, okay? You’re gonna make the hurt come back.” Peter held out his hand for her to take. She reluctantly accepted it, allowing him to pull her back onto the bed, into his arms. “No one’s gonna make you hide under the floor again.”

She sniffled. “But...the Council does not like me, ‘cos of my powers. They say that I scare people. That I am a...a...a burden.” She struggled to recall the word that was still foreign to her young mind, and yet simultaneously made her terrified of her own existence.

“You’re not,” Peter promised. “You’re my baby sister, and you’re Mom’s little girl, an’ you got friends and teachers who like you a whole lot. You ain’t a burden, Mantis. You’re a person.”

“He’s right.” They both looked up to see Meredith leaning against the doorframe, watching them fondly. “Don’t think that way, baby. You’re loved. You are so loved. You feel that, don’t you?”

A smile crept across Mantis’s face. “Yes, Mama.” She then turned to Peter and fixed him with a knowing look, silently urging him to apologize.

“Sorry about getting mad, Mom,” Peter said, his shoulders slumping. “I know I shouldn’t be yellin’, or talkin’ about getting floated like it’s nothin’. I just want Dad to care about us.”

“He does, Peter. He’s just really, really busy right now, and he has to put Chancellor duties first. When it’s all over, whatever it is he’s doing, he’s going to put being part of this family first,” Meredith said gently, kneeling in front of them both. She held out her hands to them, smiling when they immediately accepted, and squeezed in reassurance. “Now...since it’s just the three of us tonight, I think I can convince Nelia to get me some dessert rations for you two. How does that sound?”

They both cheered, letting her go to jump off the bed and run out into the living room in excitement. Meredith watched them go before turning back to look at the crawlspace door, twisting her wedding band consideringly around her finger. She straightened up, sighing, and followed them with a false smile.

The darkness crept in without much fanfare, and Thanos’s army was on their way, crossing back through the forest to return to Sanctuary. Gamora and Nebula were placed in the middle of the proceedings that were travelling by horseback, surrounded by soldiers, though they carried weapons of their own. The two of them kept quiet, their hoods drawn over their eyes, so they could eavesdrop on the conversations carried out by the nearby Black Order generals.

“Today’s raid would have been more successful if Father had been there,” Proxima said derisively. “Instead, he chose to remain behind and train those...branwodas. He could have done that any other day, any other place, and he picked today, of all days. When we needed him.”

“You question his decisions?” Corvus said, raising an eyebrow. “We had a near-flawless victory against Azgeda without his help and you still find something to complain about.”

“Flawless? We are carrying home fifteen soldiers on stretchers, and seven in bags,” Proxima snapped. “You are not the one who has to tell our people when their husbands and wives didn’t make it. I am.”

“Do I hear yet another petty argument between lovers? You two amuse me greatly,” Maw simpered, cantering up beside them. Even his horse had an aura of self-importance in its trot. “It is not about winning every battle, generals. It’s about winning the war.”

“Forgive us for not kneeling to kiss Father’s feet at every chance we get,” Corvus said, shaking his head in disgust. “How does the dirt taste without blood, Maw? After all, you wouldn’t know otherwise, since you never join us in the real war.” Cull grunted his agreement from a few feet behind.

“My role is to utilize my vast array of mental manipulation abilities, not apply brute force like some common thug,” Maw replied. “It takes real skill to do what I do, something I don’t expect you to understand.”

“What you do? You mean supervise heda? A real hardship, protecting a ten-year-old girl,” Proxima said bitingly. “It’s an insult to bestow the title on her so early. We should at least wait until the Conclave, see if she can survive for more than thirty seconds.”

“I can, and I will.” Gamora rode up beside Proxima, staring up into her surrogate sister’s blood-red eyes. “I will be the last one in the ring. You’ll see.”

“Even if it means having to face Nebula?” Proxima said smugly. Gamora’s breath hitched. “What if Father asks you to kill her?”

“He wouldn’t,” Gamora said a little too quickly, though she knew it was a lie. Her stomach turned unpleasantly; Proxima sent her one last smirk as the Black Order generals sped up to join Thanos at the front of the line. Gamora fell back to Nebula’s side, suddenly finding it harder to look her way.

They carried on through the forest for what felt like forever, their vision obscured by both the dense treeline and the pitch-black darkness. Conversations began to subside, now replaced by the sounds of stifled yawns and short coughs, with everyone trying hard not to draw too much attention to themselves. Even Nebula was starting to drift off despite resting earlier, the reins going slack in her hands. Gamora was still alert, however, scanning her surroundings diligently, like she’d been taught. She inhaled deeply, finding that something smelled...off, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was. It was only when she saw a flash of orange light in her peripheral vision that she knew exactly what was about to happen.

“Bak op!” she shouted.

The dreamy silence was broken by the sound of bodies hitting the ground, with every last soldier throwing themselves down and covering their heads and necks with their bare hands, their horses whinnying in fright as they were unintentionally dragged down with them, now stranded on their sides. Flaming arrows whistled through the air and whizzed past their ears, sticking into the ground and igniting the pine needles beneath their feet, along with striking a few unfortunate individuals who cried out in pain. Thanos shouted for order, calling for soldiers to fire at the tops of the trees where the snipers were hiding, while others tried to help the wounded back onto their horses and lead them back to Sanctuary.

Proxima knelt by Corvus, cradling him in her arms protectively. “Get up,” she ordered sharply, though her voice shook when she saw the arrow stuck in his shoulder, burning a hole through his armor.

“I can’t,” he panted, struggling to yank out the other one that had hit him in the leg. “Help me, my love.” She didn’t need to be told twice, hefting him over her shoulder and lifting them both onto one of the few horses left standing. After a quick order to Cull to stay behind with Thanos (Maw, unsurprisingly, was long gone), they took off to join the others.

Gamora pulled herself back up onto her horse, dragging Nebula alongside her before she could protest, and rode up to join Thanos at the front. “Fall back, daughters, it’s too dangerous for you here,” he called over the gunfire. He had an expression of grim satisfaction, watching bodies fall out of the trees like ragdolls. Nebula cowered a little behind Gamora’s shoulder at the sight.

“Guns won’t solve this, Father.” Gamora leaned over to grasp his elbow in urgency; he turned back to look down at her, surprised by her boldness.

“You suggest we bomb them, little one?”

“No. I suggest we run.” Gamora released him. “If we go now, no one else will have to get hurt. But if we fight...we will lose more people. Good people.”

To her astonishment, Thanos hesitated, staring at her like he was seeing her for the first time. Then he lifted his head and shouted, “Heda sei ban em op!” Instantly, everyone holstered their weapons and began stampeding down the pathway in pursuit of the others who were now miles and miles ahead, shouting over the chaos and carrying the retreat order down the line while arrows continued to rain down around them.

Gamora’s heart was racing in her throat as she dug her heels into her horse’s sides, breaking into a gallop, keeping herself flat against its neck while trying to block out the cries of the army behind her. Nebula’s fingers were digging into her waist, holding on for dear life, the distance between them and Sanctuary seemingly never getting smaller. It was only when they reached the gates that she finally slowed down, daring herself to look over her shoulder at the soldiers that followed.

She brought them to a stop and climbed off, clutching at her chest, willing her breath to find her again. Nebula collapsed beside her, also panting heavily. “How could you tell?” she rasped.

“Smoke,” Gamora said, letting out a long exhale. “I smelled smoke.” She straightened up and turned to look at Sanctuary, an ill-fitting name for such an imposing ship, and yet, she’d never been happier to see its darkened doors.

Sanctuary was, by far, the most advanced ship on the planet, perhaps the most advanced thing that had ever existed on Terra. When they’d arrived ten years ago, when Gamora and Nebula were babies, Thanos had brought his ship down into a huge stretch of forest that melted into farmland, in hopes of cultivating food instead of relying on rations. That soon became less relevant once people started leaving to start their own clans, refusing to remain under Thanos’s rule. Still, families expanded, and people slowly began spreading across the spaces within Sanctuary’s halls, taking up whole apartments instead of single rooms, now that they’d gone from thousands to hundreds of occupants. Now, when Gamora walked back to her own bunk on the top floor, she could go minutes without seeing another soul. Sanctuary was the hollow, empty shell of its own glory days, and to many, it was nothing more than a cold comfort in a world occupied only by them, and those who betrayed them.

“Gamora.”

She turned, stumbling backward over her own feet at the alarming sight of the entire army coming to a halt in front of her. Nebula retreated to her side, looking apprehensive. Thanos was stood in front of the crowd, facing her, an unsettlingly wide grin on his face. “...Father?”

“You did well, little one. No more lives have been lost tonight.” He stepped aside, gesturing for the crowd to address her.

One particular soldier stepped forward, his eyes shining with gratitude. “We return to our families because of you, heda.” He got down on one knee and took off his helmet, holding it over his heart. “Accept our eternal servitude, daughter of Thanos.”

Gamora watched in utter shock as every last member of the gonakru followed suit, kneeling before her like she was their new deity, their perfect god. It felt wrong, somehow, having grown men and women swearing their loyalty to her, a young girl not five feet tall, with no kills to her name. Her hands curled into fists behind her back, her fingernails digging welts into her palms once more. She clenched her jaw.

“Thank you. But remember...oso gonplei nou ste odon. The Sky People are coming.”

Once Meredith managed to steer her children into their seats at the dining table, she made a quick trip to the canteen to pick up their rations - with dessert, of course - and bring it back to their apartment. The three of them chatted idly about school, Meredith’s work, and Mantis’s visit to farm station. It felt...nice, honest, quiet in a way that even Peter’s rambunctious nature could appreciate, until they were interrupted by an alert on the holoscreen.

“Calling all residents to the main deck. The Chancellor has an announcement to make. I repeat, mandatory call for all residents to the main deck.”

Peter perked up instantly. “Is this it, Mom? The big one?”

“It could be,” Meredith said, putting her fork down. “Quick, put on your shoes. Would be bad form for the Chancellor’s family to be late, don’t you think?”

They shuffled out the door a moment later, knowing their dinner was going to go cold, and weaved their way through the halls, struggling against the dense crowd. Even with their status, people seemed unmotivated to let them get by when Meredith politely asked, some even scoffing in her face like she’d committed a great personal insult. “Privileged folk,” one of them muttered under his breath to his companion.

Meredith, having been raised right, opted to bite her tongue, but the moment she spotted a familiar fin bobbing above the crowd, she knew they weren’t going to make it through quietly. “You watch how you talk to them Quills! Meredith saved your damn life jus’ three weeks ago, you ungrateful - ”

“Yondu!” Peter cried happily, reaching for the man making his way towards them. “You’re here, too!”

“Where else would I go? Your daddy would kick my ass if I missed out on his big day,” Yondu snorted, clapping Peter on the back. “I got an actual job outside of teachin’ you how to wrestle, y’know.”

“And you know I don’t approve of you going behind my husband’s back,” Meredith said exasperatedly, falling into step beside Yondu regardless, with Mantis tucked neatly into her side. “There’s no need for Peter to learn how to fight. He don’t wanna be one of your guardsmen.”

“Your boy don’t know what he wants half the time, Mer, but that don’t mean I can’t teach him anyway,” Yondu said airily. “And ‘sides, Kraglin needs a sparring partner.”

“Kraglin’s a teenager, he could break Peter without trying,” Meredith scolded. “Use another one of your guard trainees, not my son. Forget about losing your job, the Chancellor would float you if he knew.”

“Can’t even call him by his name, can you?” Yondu shook his head. “Damn shame.” He leaned around Meredith to grin toothily at Mantis. “Hey, girl, you doin’ alright? Heard you was up at farm station.” Mantis’s shyness evaporated instantly, and she began excitedly repeating all the things she’d told Meredith and Peter earlier, only stopping when they finally arrived at the main deck.

Despite being the “main” area of the ship, it was hardly ever used, and was only open to the public for major events. However, it was a spectacle in itself - the size of a football field and then some, with a large viewing window that spanned across three of its four walls, the vastness of space spelled out for them in all its majesty. There was an elevated stage at the front, and there, Peter and Mantis could see their father waiting with his back turned to the crowd. Mantis called out to him, but her voice was lost in the chatter of the hundreds of people spilling into the room.

Once the deck was packed to its very limits, a hush fell over the crowd, everyone holding their breath in anticipation. Finally, Ego turned around to face them with his usual slick, undeniably charismatic grin. He opened his arms wide. “Our time has come,” he boomed. “I promised the day that I woke you from your chambers fifteen years ago...no, the day that we came up here a hundred years ago, the day that I welcomed you aboard my Ark, that we would be returning home someday. That day, my friends...that day is today.”

“What?” Peter whispered, clutching at Meredith’s arm in disbelief.

“You heard right, Arkadians. Today...we reclaim the Earth.”

The entire room exploded with sound, everyone cheering, clapping, some even bursting into tears of joy as they clutched at each other, jumped, danced, and sung their praises like never before. Peter and Mantis had to hold their hands over their ears; Meredith pulled them both into her side, keeping them close while the entire Ark seemed to shake with the force of everyone’s pure, uncontrollable, unstoppable joy.

The three of them barely heard the rest of the announcement, even after the crowd settled down, where Ego rattled off some statistics and facts that didn’t interest them, or really, anyone much. When he brought his speech to a close, he mentioned the guardsmen placed at every station entrance and exit, ready to answer questions and provide codes for digital instruction booklets on how to prepare for their descent. “That’s my cue,” Yondu muttered. “I’ll see you Quills on the ground.”

“Wait, Yondu - ” Peter tugged on his coat sleeve before he could go. “Are you still gonna teach me how to fight? Y’know, once we’re on Earth?”

“I dunno, boy, your daddy’ll be keepin’ a mighty close eye on you,” Yondu said, smiling ruefully. “Take care of you and your family, alrigh’?” With that, he disappeared into the crowd. Meredith rubbed Peter’s back in sympathy, but the despairing look on his face told her that he definitely still needed his dessert ration.

The citizens began filing off the deck, chatting excitedly to one another, looking more animated than they ever had in their entire existence, because finally, there was something to look forward to, something beyond their day-to-day of utterly joyless monotony. Peter and Mantis, however, only had eyes for their father, and ran the length of the deck towards him the moment a path was cleared. “Dad!” Peter exclaimed.

Ego didn’t miss a beat, immediately sweeping them up into his arms and off their feet. “You made it! It’s a happy day for us all, isn’t it?” he laughed, setting them back down. “And oh, there’s my river lily.”

“Hi, darling.” Meredith was slightly out of breath from chasing her children, but smiled regardless, wrapping her arms around Ego’s waist and kissing his cheek in greeting. “So this is what all that kerfuffle’s been about, huh? No wonder you couldn’t tell me a dang thing.”

“I’m sorry, Mer, you know if I could’ve told you, I would have,” Ego said apologetically. “I know how long you’ve waited for this, and it’s finally here. You get to go home again. You get to be on the planet you’ve always dreamed of returning to, your planet.”

“Oh, it does feel like a dream,” Meredith sighed; her smile was radiant in a way that Peter and Mantis had never really seen before. “We have to celebrate, darling. Won’t you come have dinner with us? I’d love a big ol’ slice of pie, and maybe a song or two before bed. I’ve been itchin’ to play you more of my daddy’s favorites.”

Ego stepped back suddenly, looking at her like she’d sprouted an extra head. “Come on now, Meredith, you know I don’t have time for all that. We’ve got hours of work ahead of us before we even get close to landing, and I’m not letting the Council out of my sight. You know they’ll take over the whole damn bridge if I do!”

“Watch your language,” Meredith said quietly, nodding towards Peter and Mantis. Ego seemed to have already forgotten they were there, looking rather flustered as he smiled tightly in silent apology.

“I’ll come find you before we land,” Ego said shortly, kissing her for a brief moment before he swept out of the room, his dark cape fluttering behind him. Peter and Mantis exchanged resigned looks.

Meredith, not to be deterred, took their hands and walked them right up to the glass, watching as her planet idly went by, just as bright and bold as she remembered it. “Why don’t we take a second before we have to go back? I’d hate to miss out on this view.”

“It is so dark in here, I cannot see anything,” Mantis complained, straining her neck to no avail.

“Wait, lemme - ” With a snap of his fingers, Peter’s hand began to glow faintly, and he held it over Mantis’s head, delighting in the way the light reflected off the glass, illuminating her face. “Better?”

“Thank you,” Mantis beamed. Peter teasingly ruffled her hair in response, both of them seemingly far more relaxed than they had a minute ago.

Meredith smiled in relief. “Earth it is, then. I hope you’ll love it there, darlings. I hope it’s still beautiful.”

a/n: I have been waiting to post this fic for a very long time and it's finally here!! I'm excited for a bunch of reasons - namely, being able to combine some of my favorite tropes I've used before in different ways, writing something (loosely) based off one of my favorite TV shows, and maybe the most important reason of all: featuring Meredith as a major character, which I've never done before but wish I had since she's so wonderful!

If you've read my previous fics, I'd say this one is most similar to everybody wants to rule the world in terms of plot weightiness and worldbuilding. Each chapter will cover one year of their lives (with the exception of both this prologue and chapter one featuring them at age ten), finishing with the epilogue at age eighteen. I'll also provide translations for the Trigedasleng (the language from the TV show) in the endnotes, though since it's based on English, some may be self-explanatory/explained in context and will not be included.

I have no clue whether this premise will be of interest to anyone else, but I'm certainly having a good time writing it! And I don't necessarily have a set posting schedule (I'll try to post once per month) but I do have the entire thing plotted out in detail, so I promise it will be finished. Thank you so much for reading, likes and reblogs would be much appreciated, and I hope you enjoyed :)

Trigedasleng translations: yu gonplei stei odon - your fight is over / oso gonplei nou ste odon - our fight isn't over heda - commander / wanheda - commander of death branwoda - idiot bak op - go back / heda sei ban em op - commander says to abandon [it]

#starmora #starmora fic #peter x gamora #gamora x peter #gotg fic #myfic #myfic: across the universe #marvel #i have no idea if anyone's gonna be interested in this one #but gosh dang i like writing it haha

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puthyflapps · 5 years

Text

NFWMB chapter five

Merry Christmas, happy holigays! I’m back with an update. Sorry, it took a little longer than usual. I was sick and then Christmas happened and all that jazz but, I'm back now. Warning for this chapter: graphic depictions of sexual assault/rape. Read at your own risk

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Morning finds her showered in golden light and surrounded by exquisite furs. She realizes she is no longer in her resting spot on the floor but rather in the Commander’s bed. The brunette seemed to have a habit of transporting Clarke in her sleep (not that she minded). The mattress beneath her beaten body is so soft it feels like she’s sinking into the material. The alpha’s scent engulfs her senses and soothes her in a way she’s never experienced before. She was typically repulsed by alpha’s and their overbearing scents, however, Lexa’s soft pine scent seemed to have her taking deep breaths just to catch as much of it as possible in her lungs.

Clarke feels a slight stirring next to her and turns over to find the source of her current favorite smell. The alpha laid flat on her stomach with her chestnut tresses free from their usual intricate braids and splayed all over the pillow beneath her head. There was no trace of her usual black mask anywhere on her face and if Clarke looked close enough she could see the lightest dusting of freckles covering the brunette’s nose. Dropping her cerulean eyes down to the woman’s plump lips she noticed that the alpha also had one tiny freckle resting on her top lip. The alpha had such soft features for a woman who seemed so hardened by the world around her. It was an interesting juxtaposition and the blonde couldn’t help but to reach her hand out towards the other woman’s face and use her finger to lightly trace the highs and lows of her face.

She ran her small, porcelain finger from the top of the alpha’s forehead where her thick hairline began, down to the tip of her nose. Clarke could barely bite back her smile at hearing the alpha purr at her motions. She continued to drag her finger from Lexa’s nose over her pillowy lips to her chin. The Omega can almost feel the alpha’s purrs in her own chest as they increase in volume. Clarke would be lying if she said it wasn’t possibly the cutest thing she had ever experienced. She had never seen such a strong alpha behave so softly. In fact, she had never experienced an alpha as kind as Lexa.

It had only been what? Two days and the woman before her had treated her better than any other alpha she had ever come into contact with besides her mother. Lexa had made sure she had fresh clothes, she had sat on the ground and ate with her the previous night, and she had held her as she sobbed uncontrollably — unable to confess the horrors of what she experienced in her camp. Something about Lexa made this feeling of warmth bubble in her stomach and rise to fill her chest every time she was near the alpha or thought about her. Clarke had never experienced anything like it and it relaxed her and made her anxious all at the same time. The female alpha calmed her and she couldn’t help but feel drawn to her and like she could trust her. But she also felt nervous because of her past. Last time she thought alphas weren’t bad had been before the 100 figured out she and Raven weren’t one of them.

The day Clarke was forced onto the dropship and informed that she and 99 others would be testing the earth to see if it was inhabitable her mother had been able to slip her two suppressants. The pills should’ve lasted six months but when she had met Raven and discovered she too was an omega she made the decision to take one pill and give Raven the other. The pills had done their job for the most part. Two months went by and no one had suspected anything. The suppressants had caused them to appear as though they were betas rather than omegas. Although they weren’t regarded as highly as the alphas they were still treated rather well until the third month of being on the ground had rolled around.

By the third month, the effects of the pills had started to wear off. Their scents weren’t nearly as dulled and Clarke had begun experiencing symptoms of her heat. She and Raven tried their best to hide it but it was no use. Octavia Blake was the first one to figure it out and broadcast it to the whole camp. Sometimes Clarke would sit and think if Octavia was proud of outing the omegas if she felt a sense of pride at ratting them out to her psychopathic brother. When she freely walked past them in their cage did her chest swell with satisfaction at the sight of the omegas withering away? It was something that dug away at her constantly when she spent her days and nights locked up like a zoo animal while the betas and alphas reveled in their new found freedom from the ark.

“Why did you stop?” Asked the powerful female alpha, not even bothering to open her eyes. The question was enough to draw her out of her reverie.

“I’m sorry, I thought you were asleep. I didn’t mean to wake you,” she apologizes quickly removing her hand from the tan face before her. Lexa finally cracks her eyes open revealing those beautiful green orbs of hers. Lifting a long, tan finger of her own she traces the same path down the omegas face being careful not to bother any bruises or scrapes along the pretty face.

“It is okay, I found it rather soothing,” the woman admits shyly. Clarke smiles at the memory of the Commander’s purrs. A giggle slips past the blonde’s lips causing the corners of Lexa’s mouth to twitch up into a smile.

“You were purring like a pup,” she teases.

“No such thing happened,” the alpha argues back in faux sternness. “I am Heda, Commander of the twelve clans. I do not purr,” she states puffing her chest up in arrogance that soon vanishes when the omega draws her finger along the brunette’s chiseled jawline causing another purr to escape the back of her throat. Clarke lets out a boisterous laugh before teasing Lexa once more, “…Pup.”

The Commander rolled her eyes and let out a huff at the omega’s antics. “I am glad to hear you laugh Klark kom Skaikru, even if it is at my expense.” She watches as the happiness that was just etched across the other woman’s face slowly disappear and become replaced by a solemn look. “I feel guilty for it,” she admits. “I feel guilty for smiling, for being in this bed. I feel guilty for finding you.”

“Klark…”

“It’s not fair that I’m here with you, being treated so well while she’s stuck there with them. It’s not right.” Tears well up in her ocean eyes as she thinks about all the possibilities of what Raven could be going through while she lays wrapped up in the Commander’s furs. Lexa makes quick work of wiping away any of the omega’s stray tears before replying, “We are going to help her, Klark. Anya has assembled a group to travel with her to your people’s campsite to retrieve your friend and my General has made it abundantly clear that she is not returning empty-handed.”

Clarke sniffled as she attempted to get her emotions in check. She wants to believe Lexa. She wants to believe that Anya will return with her friend by nightfall and the two won’t ever have to worry about Bellamy or any of the other delinquents again. Everything in her wants to believe she’ll be reunited with her friend in no time but part of her, the realist in her knows that it won't be that simple. Nothing is ever that easy when it comes to the ark alphas and the only thing she can do is hope and pray that Bellamy had enough mercy not to kill Raven. The Omega doesn’t know what she would do if Anya returned with the news that her friend had been beaten to death.

“When does she leave?”

“They’re probably still preparing the horses for the journey so she will set out in about an hour,” the alpha answered.

“Can I speak with her before she goes?” Clarke asked timidly.

“Of course. Allow me to bathe and dress and I will take you to her.” The omega smiled weakly at the Commander’s willingness to grant her wish. She mumbled a soft ‘thank you’ and watched on in amusement as the alpha rolled onto her back before quickly reaching for a pillow to place over her lap. The brunette’s cheeks were tinged pink as she tried her best to slide out of the bed while making sure the pillow stayed in place. Clarke wasn’t naïve, she knew what was happening in Lexa’s pants.

The omega was well aware of the issues that arise in the morning for alphas and the Commander was not exempt from it either it seemed. She watched on as the woman clumsily made her way through the tent trying to ignore the goings-on in the spandex of her shorts. The blonde couldn’t help but tease her one last time as she made her way to the area of the large tent that housed the pseudo bathroom, “Pup.”

Clarke couldn’t help the laugh that escaped when the only response she received from the alpha was a playful growl followed by a soft utterance of ‘not a pup’ as she continued to make her way into the bathroom.

———————————————————————————————————————

“Then you die.”

Anya watches as the weight of her words settle on the skaikru’s shoulders. Their once smug faces are now coated in fear at the information. Good, the alpha thought to herself. It was only right that those savages felt the same kind of fear that they had made Clarke and Raven feel. It was Anya’s goal to one day make each and every one of them especially Bellamy, feel the same kind of pain that they had inflicted upon the two omegas. It took everything in her not to rip the arrogant man limb from limb. She had to muster all the strength and self-control she could to turn her back to him and signal for her warriors to follow her out of the camp.

The group of grounders had only made it a little ways past the camp before Cypress, a beta from the Trishana Kru, voiced his concerns, “General, we did not find the omega, Reivon. What are we to do?”

Anya stills her horse and waits for the others to gather around her before speaking, “I need the fastest rider among us to send word to the Commander of what we have learned about the Skaikru’s camp.” It was important to the alpha that she informs her friend and leader of the conditions of the camp and those who inhabited it. The image of that cage that she had seen seemed to be burned into her brain and she can’t explain why. Something about the smell of shit and piss mixed with blood and the knowledge that whatever was held in there was clearly not take care of almost made bile rise and burn in the Generals throat. The voice of one of her warriors is what finally manages to free her mind of the horrid memories.

“Is that all?” Asks Orion, an omega from Delfikru, as he prepares himself for the journey knowing that he is indeed the fastest warrior among the bunch. The blonde shakes her head gripping the reigns of her mare so tight that her knuckles begin to turn white. “No, I request that you inform Heda that we will not be returning to camp. Tell her that we will not be leaving these forests until we find out where they are hiding the omega,” her voice booms with nothing but pure power.

The female alpha can’t help the aggressive pheromones that roll off of her at the mention the missing omega. She had promised Clarke that she would not return without her friend and she had made it a personal mission to find the beautiful woman in the thick foliage of the Trikru lands. She can feel anger rumbling in her chest and radiating out to every nerve in her body. The sound of her blood pumping with a combination of adrenaline and authority filled her ears as she rallied her troop. “When we find Reivon kom Skaikru, we will find her abusers and we cut their heads off and hang them outside the gates of Polis as a warning to those who enter of what happens when you place your hands on an omega.”

The General can feel her warriors energy beginning to match the intensity of her own. Those not on horses begin to stomp their feet and staffs against the ground as the others raise their raise their weapons to the sky. It is unclear where it starts but once it has begun it can't be stopped. The grounders, whether they were alphas, betas, or omegas all joined together to chant in unison:

“JUS DREIN, JUS DAUN! JUS DREIN, JUS DAUN! JUS DREIN, JUS DAUN!”

———————————————————————————————————————

Raven has no idea where she is. It's been so long that the usual searing pain in her leg has been replaced by a dull throbbing in her shoulder. Her body is so cold from being exposed to the frigid night air that it almost feels as though her skin is burning. The only thing she has resembling an article of clothing is a thick strip of cloth that the alpha had tied around her eyes to keep any semblance of light out. She has no idea exactly how long she’s been hanging but the rope has started to dig into her wrists causing blood to trickle down her arms. The only thing she’s been able to smell since he drug her out here was the iron of her own blood.

The omega isn’t sure how much longer she can last. If she doesn’t die of her injuries then the malnutrition will do it. She remembers being cooped up in the pen with Clarke and being able to run her hands over her torso and watch her fingers bump along caramel skin as they trailed over where her ribs should’ve been hidden. She had always been rather thin, it came with the territory of being an omega with an alcoholic mother who sold what little food rations she got for her booze but this, this was different. She could barely manage to stay awake for more than an hour at a time. It would only get worse when he would return to find her passed out and beat her awake.

As she hung there she could feel herself coming closer to unconsciousness as her body swayed back and forth. Her toes lightly drug along the forest floor as she rocked to and fro. The omega couldn’t even bear to try and stand on her tiptoes anymore and it came as no surprise when the weight of her swinging body caused the bindings on her wrists to tighten even more creating a tourniquet effect. The Latina remained like that for a few short moments before her right shoulder gave out. All she heard was a pop followed by agonizing pain as she drooped lower signaling that her shoulder had been dislocated.

Raven’s eyes water behind the blindfold as she does her best to hold in a scream at the painful injury. She can feel her heart thumping in her chest and she can hear her blood pumping in her ears. The pain is so intense that it causes the omega to rid her stomach of what little content is in there. The vomit burns her esophagus and when her stomach cant wretch out any more matter she begins to dry heave for several minutes. The battered woman only pauses her ministrations when she hears what appears to be the sound of sticks and leaves crunching under the weight of someone’s foot. Raven is so exhausted that she doesn’t even bother to move as the person approaches her weak frame.

The omega inhales and she can smell it — smell him. The alpha had always smelled like a combination of aggression and something else, perhaps gasoline. It was a harsh scent and it always burned her nostrils whenever she would catch a whiff of it and it was no different now. She knows he’s close and when he reaches out his calloused hands and runs them over her naked form it almost makes her puke again. His hands trail from her shoulder blades down to grope her rear before continuing their path to the front of her body where her sex is. More tears begin to fall from her covered eyes as she hyperventilates and begs, “Please…please don’t.”

Raven hears the man shush her as he unzips his pants to reveal his hard member. The alpha presses himself up against her making her squirm which only causes even more pain to shoot through her dislocated shoulder. He must have decided that he didn’t like the angle because she can feel him step away briefly and her body crumples to the ground shortly after. The relief she feels from finally being cut down from the tree doesn’t last long. The Omega can feel the alpha mount her from behind and use one of his large hands to push her face down into the earth beneath her.

Dirt starts to fill her mouth and she can hardly breathe with him on top of her. She tries her best to move but he’s so heavy and her leg hardly works and she just can’t shake him. All her movements seem to do is anger him. The woman can feel him line his shaft up with her entrance before slamming into her. She’s not wet and he used no kind of lubrication thus causing his thrust to feel as though she was being impaled. It hurt so bad that it had her seeing stars behind her blindfold.

“She came looking for you today,” he pants in her ear as continues with his harsh movements. “One of those grounders; said she was their General.” His words intrigue her and she tries her best to listen but the intensity of the pain she’s feeling between her thighs is becoming so unbearable that it's hard to maintain consciousness let alone pay attention to whatever it is the alpha was telling her. Raven can feel his thrusts becoming less rhythmic signaling his release was coming soon. She can also feel his knot forming and she prays that he isn’t cruel enough to insert it in her tight entrance.

“She didn’t find anything though. She didn’t find you and she won’t ever find you. She won’t ever take you away from me because you’re mine, understand?” He asks. His hot breath beats against the dirt and blood stained cheek of the omega below him as he keeps hammering into her. Raven can feel her eyes beginning to roll into the back of her head as unconsciousness rapidly approaches her. The woman can’t form any words so the man gets his answer by way of marking her. The alpha digs his teeth into the spot on her neck where her scent gland resides before he finishes pumping jets of his seed into her and whispering, “Mine.” He only releases his hold on her throat when he’s done filling her.

He removes himself from the omegas battered sex leaving her to lie on the cold ground for a moment as he readjusts himself. The alpha moves to hang the Latina on the large tree once more. When he deems his job well done he turns his back and makes his way back to camp leaving the omega suspended in the air as a mixture of blood and semen slowly start to drip down and coat the now unconscious woman’s inner thighs.

#clexa #clexa au #clexa abo #not mafia au #NFWMB fic #alpha Lexa #alpha anya #omega raven #send me the asks and the headcanons

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