UnderStanding (Clexa)

Chapter Twelve

TonDC - but burns brightest when you are near

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Lexa blinked her eyes a few times adjusting to the light in the room. The sun was up and the sounds of the village being rebuilt and life moving on could be heard. She took a deep breath and sighed out, letting her fingers on her left hand slowly glide over the tender but healing flesh of Clarke's back.

The blonde was still laying against her, head resting lower on her chest, her breasts acting as a pillow. She may have slept sitting up all night, but she'd never felt better. Clarke had one arm resting on her neck and the other wrapped around her back. She smiled when she heard a soft sigh and felt a nuzzle on her chest.

"That feels nice." Clarke whispered, slowly waking and feeling the light tracing motion of Lexa's fingertips gliding along her mostly bare back.

"Are you comfortable?" Lexa asked, remembering what Octavia had said about Clarke's preference to not sleep on her stomach.

"If I were anywhere else but where I am right now, I would say no." She responded, lowering her hands to the floor on either side of Lexa, preparing to rise.

"You don't have to move…" Lexa started, pushing away a lock of blonde hair that had fallen in Clarke's eyes as the blonde raised her head up. She locked eyes with focused blue that looked clearer than she ever remembered seeing.

"I don't want to, but I should." She pushed upwards, cringing at the feeling of her skin stretching and gasped out a strained breath as she sat upright with Lexa's soft palm on her chest. "Thank you."

Lexa stood, holding her hands out to help Clarke rise to her feet with her assistance. She watched as the blonde took a deep breath and stretched as best she could without further agitating her wounds. She noticed a couple spots of blood, one on her side and on her arm from the angry man she still had to deal with. "I'll fetch a healer." She turned and made her way to the door only stopping as Clarke called out to her.

"Leksa," she called, her voice sounding like more of a question, her eyes never leaving the commander.

"I'm just going to speak to the guards, I'm not going anywhere." She promised and poked her head outside, speaking quickly before turning back. "You have people wanting to see you," she hesitated, seeing Clarke bite her lip in worry. "Perhaps after your wounds have been treated and you've had something to eat." Seeing relief, she made her requests, and what sounded like a command a bit louder and then turned back.

"I'm sorry." Clarke started, stepping towards the woman she couldn't bear to be away from, "I know I'm probably being weak but-"

Lexa cut her off with two fingers on her lips, "You are the strongest person I have ever met, Klark. Do not apologize. Not to me. Not for anything."

A knock on the door interrupted them and upon Lexa's call, Lincoln stepped inside carrying a fresh jug of water and some food, along with a satchel over his shoulder. "Heda, Klark" he addressed them, placing the food on the table and gathering some supplies out of his bag.

Clarke drank the water Lexa poured and passed to her, enjoying the cool liquid as it soothed her dry and aching throat. With a sheepish look, she passed it back to her for a refill. "Slower this time." Lexa suggested and Clarke nodded.

Taking a sip she turned to Lincoln, "How is she?" She asked, knowing he would understand.

He smiled as he began removing the bandages against her side, noticing blood had begun to leak through. As he cleaned and dressed the cuts he filled her in. "She's worried about you." He raised his eyes to meet hers, "We all are."