Corrupted Constructs

Chapter 47

Once dinner, which Clarke insisted on paying for even though Lexa was the one taking the blonde out for a date, is paid for, they step back into the car, and that's when nerves finally start settling into Lexa's body.

She gets so nervous that she has to move her hand, that had been resting on Clarke's thigh this entire time, to the steering wheel.

She didn't want the other woman to feel it shaking on her thigh because she was trying her hardest not to give anything away. She was trying to play it cool; trying to pretend that she wasn't nervous, and she wasn't feeling more and more like she had made a mistake.

But of course, perceptive as Clarke is, she did notice.

Whether she noticed Lexa chewing on her lip, her constant leg tapping, or Lexa's white knuckles as her hands were tightly wrapped around the steering wheel, Alexandria wasn't sure. But halfway through the ten-minute drive to their destination, their first destination anyway, Clarke places her own hand on Lexa's wobbling thigh as she asks, "What's going on, baby?"

Lexa keeps her eyes focused on the road as she weakly responds, "Nothing, all fine."

Clarke actually bursts out laughing at that.

"Oh, come on, Lex. I know you inside and out and even if I didn't, it doesn't take a genius to figure out you are shitting bricks. Spill," she says grinning while squeezing Lexa's thigh.

Lexa, not willing to spoil her surprise yet, but also growing increasingly uncertain about whether she should even go through with the surprise at all, chews on her lip harder, trying to think of something to say.

"Baby..." Clarke now says questioningly as the hand on her thigh now moves to her cheek, she leans in, and she uses her thumb to gently pry Lexa's lip from her teeth.

Still, Lexa hasn't been able to think of the right response just yet, so she can't bring herself to speak.

"Lexa?" Clarke tries for a third time, leaning away and dropping both hands in her lap as her voice now contains a trace of panic.

No, no, no. This is not what Lexa wants! It wasn't anything bad! Or maybe it was, but she didn't want her lover to panic.

So, as soon as it is safe, she pulls off the road and stops the car before turning to Clarke, who looks at her uncertainly.

"What...?" Clarke asks for a fourth time, her eyes frantically searching Lexa's, a hint of sadness in them.

"So, I may have done something really stupid..." Lexa starts. And of course, any sane person would know that isn't even close to a comforting thing to tell your lover.

Clarke doesn't respond, but Lexa can read the million questions behind her eyes that are mixed in with panic.

"I found five places for us to go look at. Homes. We talked about buying something together and I wanted to get a head-start, but I now realize I should have consulted you about this. I just thought... I don't know what I was thinking actually. Clearly. I'll just cancel the appointments and we can look at things online together and make new appointments," Lexa says as she frantically pulls out her phone, ready to call the realtor.

Clarke's mouth has fallen slightly open into a perfect little o-shape, but the panic has disappeared from her eyes. It's now replaced by confusion and something that could be described as awe.

"No way, don't cancel them! I'd love to go see them," Clarke quickly says, pushing Lexa's hand that's holding the phone down to her lap.

"We don't have to decide on any of them right now of course. We don't even have to pick any of today's options. We can start the search all over again," Alexandria continues rambling, trying to explain herself.