The One Who's Fallen

Chapter 43

As Lexa and I wait for the guards to make dinner, I study our captives. I was right, their suits are to protect them from radiation, which I confirmed by asking them. They seemed taken aback and fearful that I figured it out. We're not so stupid now, are we?

"How can you eat?" I ask curiously.

"We can store some food in here in pouches, but we don't have much left. We didn't think we'd be out here this long." The guy who's radio I took says.

"And I'm guessing that giving you any food wouldn't be good."

"Only if you want us to die." The sexist guy says, looking bored. "So what's up with you and the Commander anyway?"

"You think I would tell you?" I cross my arms.

"Yeah why not? You're-"

"You're probably about to say something extremely insulting and sexist. If you do, just know that I will not hesitate to cut a hole in that flimsy suit of yours."

I'm proud to say that my words make him pale.

"Clarke." Lexa says, sitting next to me. "I think they are nearly done cooking. A few guards have volunteered to watch over them."

"Alright. We'll talk to them tomorrow. How much oxygen do you have left?"

"Only twenty hours." The radio guy sighs.

"Luckily for you, your base is just over there." I say.

"It's a three hour walk. Two if I run."

I exchange a look with Lexa and she nods to me. I turn back to our hostages. "We'll give you plenty of time to get there. Your friend might even be able to go too if he stops being an asshat."

"He's not my friend." The guy murmurs but looks up at Lexa and I. "Thank you both."

Sexist guy snorts. "They kidnapped us and you're thanking them?"

"Yes, because if they're letting us go, or at least me, that means they're not going to kill us.

Lexa and I leave them to their arguing and grab our dinner. We sit with Anya, Luna, and Indra. Anya and Luna are sitting close and pretty obviously flirting while Indra scowls but I can see a softness in her expression that she tries to hide. I think she's happy that Anya and Luna found each other again.

"Those were some good shots earlier, Clarke." Luna says, turning her attention away from Anya for a moment.

"Mochof (thank you)."

"Pro (you're welcome). Lexa, did I hear that one of the Maunon thinks there is something going on between you and Clarke?" Luna leans forward, smirking.

"Sha (yes). He was about to comment on our warmth when a female Maunon threatened to shoot him."

"That is odd." Luna says, frowning.

Warmth? Oh. "Lexa, that's not what he meant." I begin hesitantly. "He was going to say 'that's so hot' which means that he finds the thought of us together attractive."

Luna begins laughing and Anya smirks. "Oh, that is incredible. Even our enemies can pick up on your suppressed romantic feelings."

They're not suppressed anymore. At least, I hope they won't be after we talk tonight.

"Luna, tell Clarke the story with Lexa and the candles." Anya suggests, her smirk turning into an evil smile.

"Luna, no." Lexa pleads. Now I definitely want to hear this.

Luna grins, "Luna yes. Alright Clarke, there is one thing you must know about Lexa. She is obsessed with candles." I have noticed that she always seems to have two or three lit in her tent, even during the day. "When she is in a bad mood, she lights a lot of candles. Once she was in this terrible mood and lit so many candles. I did not even know there were that many in all of Polis! They covered nearly every inch of the ground. All of them were lit. I had come to our small home to check on Lexa, and came home to that sight. I was standing there, dumbfounded by what I was seeing."

"Luna." Lexa groans, sounding like a kid.

"Lexa." Luna teases. "She was sulking on the bed, pretty much surrounded by fire. Then, one of her furs that was hanging lower than the others off of her bed caught on fire. Lexa was stuck in the middle with no clear path out of the room. Me, being my heroic self, ran through the burning candles and carried her out to safety. Our house burned down and we had to live in the Heda's tower for months until our new one was ready. We lost almost everything. I still have the burn scars on my legs." Luna pulls up her pants slight to reveal them. She wasn't kidding. Those are some nasty burns. "After that, Lexa did not light more than ten candles in one room. At least that I know of."

"I keep them away from flammable things now." Lexa protests.

"So you are telling me that you still light a ton of candles?"

"... Yes."

"Lexa." Luna groans.

"I will be going back to my tent. Clarke, come with me." Lexa says, walking quickly away to escape Luna's exasperation. I shake my head fondly and follow her.

"Be safe!" Luna yells after us.

Since I'm behind Lexa, I can't see her face. But even in this dim light, I can see that her ears are turning red from blushing.

We walk to her tent side by side after I catch up with her (luckily she slows down a bit. I'm stronger than I used to be, but when she wants to she can walk really fast).

Lexa holds the flaps open for me and I feel my heart beating faster as my nervousness rise to the surface. Lexa comes in and closes the flaps behind her. When she turns to face me, it's obvious that she's just as scared as me.

Lexa steps forward until we're face to face, chest to chest. We're so close I can feel her warm breath on my face. We search each other's eyes to see if there's even a hint of either of us not wanting to do this. All of my fears and worries melt away when we both lean in. Our lips meet halfway and everything negative is gone from my mind. We should probably talk, but this is so much better.

Man, I really thought we'd get to the talk this chapter... Next chapter, definitely! And bonus, we got a random story about Lexa and candles! Thank you all for reading and for your wonderful comments! Stay awesome!