Hook(er) Up - A Clexa Fic

Chapter 65- the warm in cold

It still made no sense to her why Clarke wanted to go upstate in such cold. It was already almost freezing in the city, and the forecast said there would be snow today up there. Honestly, it seemed like a bad idea for a hiking trip, just for the cold, but hey, maybe the pretty snow would make up for it?

Whatever, she wasn't going to mess with Clarke's plans. She'd already fucked up too much and made this a whole thing because of her asking of a break. She'd already set Clarke on the wrong foot. She wasn't going to let herself ruin this anymore.

Lexa stared at the heavy winter coat laying on her bed, pulling out a hat and scarf. It was way too much for walking out in the city- she was going to burn on her way to the car- but she knew all too well how cold it would be from her hundreds of trips to her upstate house.

...

Nerves riled up in her chest as she neared Clarke's house. It felt like forever since they last spoke. It felt like all that weight was on her- I mean, she did ask for some space to get herself together, but... 'No.' She shook her head. 'Clarke would understand.' They didn't make all this progress talking that night for nothing (even if she didn't completely believe Clarke when she said she wasn't being a bother to her.) Today was her tying to fix things.

Today was her going to fix things.

Which meant getting her Clarke back.

'Huh. Her Clarke.' It sounded so possessive, so protective. It sounded so close. So scary with the uncertainty that she could ever keep it that way- that she ever deserved it. But so comfortable... so... so homey. Or just a dream-

"Heya." Pearly blue eyes stared at her. 'Definitely a dream.'

'Shit. Say something. Don't be stupid. Say something. Think of something.'

"Clarke. Hi." For a moment she just stared at her, stuck in her seat, unable to think straight.

"Um.. may I?"

'Shit.' "Oh- yeah- sure- of course- let me just-" Lexa fumbled to open the car door. 'God, where were all of these nerves coming from?'

The car filled with the scent of roses and fresh pie, filling Lexa's lungs with a warm feeling most definitely reflected on the redness of her ears. She forgot how good Clarke smelt- fuck. Wow.

"Oh. Right. You probably need directions..." Clarke searched around her pockets, looking away from her. " If you you want to drive, I mean. If you want, we can switch or-"

"I'll drive." She smiled, getting a quick glance and smile in return.

'Oh boy, this was going to be a long ride.'

...

...

As they arrived, Lexa was surprised to see almost no snow, which, glancing at Clarkes thin coat, was probably for the better. "So, uh, why hiking?"

She watched Clarkes cheeks turn pink. "Well, I... I figured since you like going on walks, at least there'd be something more to see here than walking around Central Park for the 50th time. Though, I didn't really think about the" She opened the car door. "cold."

Lexa couldn't help but chuckle as the breeze instantly hit them both. "Would you like to switch coats?" she asked, wrapping herself in her scarf.

"No, it's fine. It's not that bad."

She knew she was prone to freezing, but it was definitely colder than what Clarke was making it out to be.

...

She couldn't not notice how quiet and disappointed Clarke looked as they spoke, despite the smiles the girl faked really well. It was just obvious by her voice, her whole aura. It made her worry that she was doing something wrong. 

Which made no sense. Well it did- but not now?

It seemed like they were having a pretty normal conversation... It was at the edge of small talk but still- it wasn't bad was it? Was she doing something wrong? Is it because they should be able to speak better than that but she just had to fuck it up a week ago and make it all awkward? Was she being awkward? Rude?

"I'm sorry."

"What?" Lexa turned to Clarke with confusion.

"I mean, I really didn't think this through. I kind of just hoped that-" The girl looked down at the ground, keeping her head low. "Well, now it just sounds embarrassing."

"I'm sure it isn't."

"No, it- it is."

"Tell me."

She watched Clarke bite her lip. "I kind of hoped that there'd still be some colorful leaves..."

"That's not-"

"And that they would cover the ground and it would be all orange and red still. Y'know pretty." She added in a much softer voice, "And romantic."

Lexa felt her face grow warm, and definitely not from the hat and scarf bundled on her.

"Instead there's just mainly empty branches and cold." Clarke kept her head low. "Told you it was dumb."

A smile cracked on Lexa's lips as she adored the embarrassed blonde next to her. She shuffled over a little closer to Clarke. "No, I think it's cute."

...

...

It didn't take long for snow to start pouring from the sky. Literally pouring. One second there was only a few snowflakes coming down, the next she could feel the frees all over her hair, seeping into her shirt.

And there wasn't any going back now. They were already halfway through a trail.

"Fuck. Does everything have to go wrong? Lexa, I'm so sorry-"

She couldn't help but laugh, but stopped herself as she watched Clarke's face turn red, realizing it just sounded like she was laughing at her. She smiled, pulling closer to Clarke till where their shoulders were brushed up against each other and looked over to her, ignoring the heavy white flakes accumulating on her eyelashes. "I'm just glad the world's not fucking me over this time."

With this, Clarke turned too look at her, a bit wide eyed realizing how close her face was to Lexa's. "What do you mean?"

"Remember our first date?"

"I- um.. yeah?"

Lexa shook her head smiling. "I don't think I ever told you. I had coffee spilled on my last good suit that day, right as I was heading out to get you. It's why I was late." She watched Clarke's ears rise in curiosity and couldn't stop herself from looking at her adoringly. "And you were all perfect and saved everything from becoming a shit-show." She took the scarf off herself, shaking all the snow off and wrapping it around Clarke's neck watching the shivering angel nuzzle her red nose into the fabric. "Can't promise I'm anywhere near as good as you at-"

Before she could finish her sentence, that same freezing nose was pressed against her cheek. And maybe she'd mind it- mind all the freezing shivers it gave her- if it didn't also come with a fuzzy warm feeling and a "God, you're perfect."