depth

ii

Lexa's arrival changes everything.

Her presence is announced by a quick text, sent off with all the fanfare that Lexa carries in her wake. (Tempered; insurmountable.) Clarke bounds over to the door, hears Lexa knock.

Three prim knocks that Clarke doesn't let her finish. The door slides open on knock two.

Clarke's characteristic smile bursts into life at the sight of her life-long best friend. Lexa's responding smile is the perfect mixture of bashful and confident that the blonde has loved over her whole lifetime. Everything seems to slot into place when they're reunited – hell, they don't even have to be touching to know where they fit.

Though Lexa's hug, like always, is a reassurance. Even when the sun's determined to melt the clothes off their tightly-pressed bodies. Clarke grins into the hug, wide and shameless, and knows Lexa can feel it. She can feel Lexa's smile, too.

So what if it's only been a week since she's seen the brunette in the flesh? So what if Lexa's presence in her life is as constant as it's ever been? Comfort has to be sought from somewhere.

"I would say I have no idea how you're wearing that many clothes..." Clarke starts when they break away from the hug. Her eyes are roaming down Lexa's body – in a friendly way, she reminds herself – and she raises an eyebrow at the outfit in question. The shorts are fine, passable, in this heat – but the denim jacket? With a thick patterned top underneath? Really?

Her teasing is expected, light and jokey rather than anything else. It's far too much for Clarke to imagine herself wearing in this heat; she would surely die if it were her.

But this is Lexa. Puzzle pieces identical in nature would never fit so perfectly together.

"...But you know I run at a temperature closer to a cold-blooded animal," the brunette finishes, reciting the opening line of the play they perform every summer with her usual dry delivery. The next line is all improvisation, however. "If I remember rightly, the whole purpose of today is to get me out of them."

Both of Clarke's eyebrows shoot up.

Lexa blanches.

"And into the pool," she quickly adds. "Into the pool."

The other girl chuckles. "Cute." To reassure the startled doe in front of her, Clarke changes the subject. "You can put your backpack in my room if you want."

"Thanks." It's muttered, though the underlying reprimand in the tone is more directed at Lexa herself than the smirking blonde behind her. After it comes a soft little smile, the one that tells Clarke her best friend is just as excited to be here as Clarke hoped she would be.

That's a relief. Clarke's going to need that comfort.

Lexa's comfort has always been her priority, though.

Clarke steps to the side to allow Lexa in; as the brunette strides past, Finn's pounding footsteps are unmistakeable. The blonde's almost-permanent smile quickly fades when he greets Lexa with a quick tackle and a rub of his knuckles on her head. Lexa takes it in her stride, of course she does, but her jaw clenches and she quickly marches away. Clarke just stares, mouth open to protest with no sound coming out.

Finn seems untroubled by the adverse reaction of either girls, simply strolling into the kitchen without a second thought.

What was that about? She watches him swagger off, frown tucked tightly into her features. That clear alpha-male behaviour was just... unnecessary. Something about it unnerves her, light shed on an unsightly truth she's yet to uncover. But she has to tuck that information away for now. It's not the right time.