Corrupted Constructs

Chapter 25

The first thing Alexandria becomes aware of is the throbbing pain in her temple, closely followed by some sort of regular beeping. She groans and grabs for her head and her fingers are met with gauze. Next, she feels a tightness on her face, and she reaches for it while finally blinking open her eyes.

Instantly, her hand is pushed back down gently as a familiar voice speaks, "Leave it on. It's oxygen. You need it."

Lexa's head snaps to where the sound is coming from, and she's met with piercing blue eyes and a soft, tired smile. Clarke is sitting on a chair beside her, her hands clasped together on top of the blue hospital sheets. The sparkly ring is gone. Lexa scoffs inwardly. Good call on Clarke's part, not showing up wearing that thing in front of her again.

Still slightly dazed and very confused, Lexa studies the blonde by her side. The edge of what looks like a bandage, peeks from the sleeve of a dirty hoodie, but the blonde must have noticed her staring, because she rapidly pulls down her sleeve to cover whatever is there.

Again, Lexa reaches up to pull the oxygen mask away from her mouth and nose, and again, Clarke's hand reaches out to stop her, but this time Lexa pulls away briskly before sliding her entire body over to the other side of the mattress, away from Clarke.

The heartrate monitor picks up as Lexa's heartrate does as well, and Lexa curses the thing for betraying her inner turmoil and real feelings as she tries her best to keep her face stoic.

But when she notices Clarke's face fall next to her, an uncontrollable wave of anger washes over Alexandria.

Where did Clarke get the nerve to look at her with those big, blue eyes filled with sadness and hurt as if Lexa had been the one to break HER heart. As if Lexa was the one who ruined HER life rather than the other way around.

Tossing the oxygen mask aside and only regretting it for a little while as her lungs struggle to take in enough air, Lexa speaks with a croaky voice, "What the fuck are you doing here?"

Lexa's throat feels like it's on fire and in desperate need of some moisture, and it hurts bad enough that Lexa can't even feel any sense of satisfaction when the blonde recoils from her.

"I'm still your emergency contact. The hospital called, so I am here," the blonde speaks quietly as her eyes shift to the side for a second. "Don't worry, Anya is here as well, she just stepped out for a moment to buy some snacks," Clarke adds.

"Right, I'll be sure to have a word with Anya about what kind of people she lets into my space," the injured woman says, her tone nothing but cold.

"I... No, I...," the blonde starts, but when she opens her mouth again to add something to that sentiment, Lexa interrupts her. "Get. Out. I don't ever want to see you again."

"Lexa, please give me a chance to explain," Clarke speaks weakly.

"Alexandria. And no. Out. Now."

Finally, the blonde gets up and drags herself outside and Lexa stares through the window on the opposite side of the room.

From the corner of her eyes, she can see the blonde turning back in the doorframe, but she doesn't pay her any heed as she keeps her eyes focused on the window, her back ramrod straight and her jaw clenched tightly.

And it's not until she is certain that Clarke is completely out of view that she slumps down in the mattress, her shoulders dropping and her face turning from steely and unreadable to exhausted and sad.

"Oh good, you're awake. You had me worried there for a moment, bud," Anya says as she walks in with an armful of snacks. She walks to the bed and deposits all of the bags on Lexa's bed, ignoring the brunette's weak protests.