Might As Well

Chapter 9

"Good morning, Honey," Lexa smiled as she pulled up to the sidewalk outside of Clarke's building on Thursday. Clarke stood next to a suitcase with an oversized bag over her shoulder and a scowl on her face. She was dressed for travel in trendy sneakers and a chic black jumpsuit that was unbuttoned to reveal just enough of her cleavage to make Lexa swallow hard. Her hair was down and curly and had the tell-tale flatness on one side of having recently woken up.

"Is it even actually the morning yet?" Clarke grumbled. "I can't figure out if it's still late or starting to be early."

"Technically it is the morning," Lexa smirked as she popped the trunk and got out of the car. "Which I'm guessing is not your best time?"

"Lexa, we're staring down twelve hours of travel together and you're gonna start it off like that? With the way I'm going to be bitching at you by the time we get there, it will be very convincing that we've been together for years," Clarke snapped. She paused as Lexa took a hold of her suitcase. "What are you doing?"

"I'm putting your bags in the car for you," Lexa stuttered. "I'm sorry. I'm not being fake chivalrous. I'm just being polite."

"Normally I'd say something witty about not needing to be on right now, but I'm too tired, so I'm going to just let you be a gentlewoman," Clarke rubbed her eyes as she got settled in the passenger's seat.

"I remembered we had that conversation this week about how you hate to get up early, so I got you a coffee in case you didn't have time to make yours," Lexa nodded her head down to the cup holders between them that housed two large iced coffees.

"Who even are you?" Clarke shook her head.

"What do you mean?" Lexa let out a little laugh.

"What coffee place is even open right now? Why are you so chipper?" Clarke groaned. She took the coffee and sipped with relief, then let out a long, slow moan. "Fuck, that's the stuff."

"I always loved the early mornings," Lexa shrugged, using all of her will power to ignore Clarke's sexual response to caffeine. "I can get so much done before everyone wakes up and starts bothering me."

"Ah, yes," Clarke nodded, a sense of life returning with her coffee. "I do the opposite and I stay up all night so no one can bother me. Which I did last night trying to finish off a bunch of work, and before I knew it, it was two AM and I knew you were coming soon. I'm not even actually sure if I slept or not."

"Can you sleep on flights?" Lexa asked as she pulled onto the freeway. Clarke liked watching her drive. She was relaxed and moved through LA traffic with confidence and ease.

"I can sleep anywhere, Babe," Clarke replied.

They made their way through security uneventfully with the masses. Clarke stumbled behind Lexa as she slid her feet back into her sneakers and shoved her laptop back into her bag. Lexa moved through the airport and all of its natural stresses with a sense of calm. Clarke had started taking extra note of Lexa's athletic posture and runner's grace in every move she made. Walking directly behind Lexa in skinny jeans almost wiped away the distaste for the early hour plastered on Clarke's face.

"Hey, I have to pee. Can you take my bag and go find us two seats at the bar?" Clarke nodded to a spot near their gate.

"You want a drink right now?" Lexa yelped as Clarke heaved her bag into Lexa's arms.

"Tell me with a straight face you don't have a drink every time you're in an airport," Clarke scoffed. "I'll be right back."

Lexa took the bag and the instructions and found two seats on the end of the bar.