fragile | clexa

chapter eight

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The healer was there again when Lexa had left for her training session with the nightbloods.

"Really not it whoever did this," Yelena muttered, words heavy with her accent. She changed Clarke's bandages again. "Have I told you about the time my cat jumped out of the window?" she asked while doing so and Clarke nodded slightly. "Yeah, so stupid, she just went hop and was almost dead," Yelena went on with a gesture of her hand.

Then she started telling the story all over again. Once she was done with the bandages, she put ointment on Clarke's remaining injuries and gave her some weird liquid.

"It will make your muscles grow a bit uh- easier. Don't overuse it."

Clarke nodded. "Thank you."

And just when the girl thought the woman would leave again, she fell on a chair besides Clarke. "Have you ever had a cat?"

Clarke frowned. "I um- no."

"Yeah. Yeah, good, everyone says they're so smart but no, no, they're not. So stupid and clumsy." And for the rest of the hour, she told Clarke nothing but stories about her oh so stupid cat. When it knocked, she rushed up. "Ah, the Heda. I see you tomorrow."

-

Lexa entered the room with a sigh and plopped on a chair. "How was the visit of the healer?" she asked, sitting up a little straighter.

"Good," replied Clarke quietly. Lexa nodded.

"Right. What did she say about your body?"

"I look horrible but will be okay."

"Good. That's good. About TonDC, we'd be leaving in two days at dawn if you're sure you want to go."

"Yes." Even Clarke's voice seemed rigid. Her eyes were fixed on the floor and her shoulders were as squared as ever. "I'll go."

"Yeah? That's good, Clarke."

Clarke just nodded.

"Would you like to take a bath?" asked Lexa softly, leaning her head down a bit to try and meet Clarke's eyes.

The blonde's gaze flickered up. She just couldn't help it. There were Lexa's eyes, so relaxed and so gentle and Clarke had to nod, the power over her own body seemingly gone. What the hell was she doing?

"Okay. Would you like me to watch over you again or call a guard?" Lexa asked after setting up another bath. Her eyes were trained on Clarke as the girl entered, body looking as though it could break every second.

Clarke forced her eyes to stay down that time. She didn't know why they seemed to be magically drawn to Lexa's face. "You," she found herself saying, tone as steady and quiet as ever but the answer itself couldn't be hidden with any sort of voice. That was not what Jaha would have wanted her to say. It wasn't what she should have said. It wasn't about her. Why hadn't she thought before answering? The Heda had had a long day, looked tired and Clarke definitely didn't get to take her time like that.

"Alright," was all Lexa said. "Then I'll be right here sitting at the wall and if you need anything just tell me."

Clarke nodded and took off her shirt with shaky hands. Her arms felt sore just from keeping them up so the healer could wrap bandages around them. Then she took off the chest bindings that had been given to her, a really unusual feeling, and her pants. When she looked up, Lexa's eyes were on the floor.

It felt so wrong.

She slipped into the bathtub and was sure it was warmer than it had ever been. Maybe it didn't feel too wrong. The water wrapped around her body like the softest suit of protection and whatever thoughts had been in the back of her mind about Finn, about Jaha, about all the others, they seemed to be washed away, covered in the white foam.