WILD HEART • COMMANDER LEXA [1]

xvi. JUS DREIN JUS DAUN

Erica felt like this moment would never end. The peace she'd desperately been looking for was found in this one kiss. This one moment.

Erica pulled away slowly, attempting to hide the smile crossing her face. "What was that for?"

"I've been wanting to do that for a really long time," Lexa pressed her forehead against Erica's.

"I care about you," Erica admitted. "In a way I haven't cared about someone for a long time,"

"I doubt that," Lexa smiled at her feet. "You and your bleeding heart, always finding the next person you can give your love and kindness to along the way. I see it every day, with your people. You love them all so deeply, so shamelessly."

Erica pulled away, tucking a stray hair behind Lexa's ear. "I can't help it. I feel a lot of feelings, in case you haven't noticed," Erica chuckled at herself. "It all needs somewhere to go, and it goes to my people. They are my family. They're everything to me."

"Maybe I was wrong. Maybe love does make you stronger," Lexa looked up and saw Erica's expression. Her lip was in between her teeth, and she was picking at her fingernails. The blonde moved over a couple inches, sitting on the bed Lexa had been sleeping on while they were camped out.

It looked like a dream. Fur blankets covering it, with the most comfortable pillows and mattress Erica could even imagine. She ran her fingers over the fur, thinking to herself quietly as Lexa watched.

The Commander sat next to her and raised a gentle hand, turning Erica's chin to face her. "Are you alright?"

Erica nodded subtly. She wrapped her small hand around Lexa's wrist, leaning into her hand. "I just-" Erica paused and looked at Lexa sadly. "Things are different now,"

"In what way?"

"We are going into battle, probably sooner than we think," Erica sighed. "Maybe it's best if we wait until it's all over, after we save everyone,"

"What if we don't make it that far?" Lexa shifted uncomfortably in her place, showing Erica a side of her she'd never seen before.

"Then at least we have right now,"

Erica pressed her lips against Lexa's forehead, then her nose, then her lips. When she pulled away she saw tears brimming in the eyes of the Commander. Erica pulled her into a hug, and although she was stiff at first, Lexa eventually gave in and wrapped her arms around the blonde in front of her.

They stayed like this for several minutes, each young woman running through millions of thoughts in her head.

Erica was confused. She knew she cared for Lexa, she knew she didn't want to be away from her, but she was worried about what could come from a relationship between them. What would her people think? Was she betraying them?

Lexa was terrified. She hadn't thought she could love anyone again after losing Costia. What if she lost Erica too?

They laid together for several hours, anxiously awaiting any kind of news or change from the messengers. Erica had heard Clarke's voice outside the camp, and quickly got out of bed when she heard her footsteps drawing near. After she entered, Lexa left, leaving the two sky people to talk alone.