Talking In Your Sleep

Clarke, would you braid my hair?

Lexa was laying in her bed, sweating profusely and moaning in agony. Clarke was looking at her, trying not to blame herself. It was her fault really.

Jasper dared Clarke to use the rope and jump in the water, just like he has on their first day on Earth before a spear hit him in the chest. Clarke couldn't say no. Not when Raven, Octavia, Monty and Jasper were looking at her excitedly. Clarke should have been smarter, thinking with her head and not her heart. Jasper was finally getting better and Clarke knew if she said no it would take them a step back. She discharged her clothes until she wore nothing but her tank top and underwear. She took a deep breath and tugged on the robe before pushing herself off the rocks and towards water.

Lexa was observing Clarke from afar. She was glad to see Clarke enjoying herself amongst her people. Lexa had no need of being around her, of being here, but something pulled her towards Clarke and she found herself following the group of friends. When Clarke hit the water, everyone went silent. Her friends were laughing and pointing at her but Lexa knew she was in danger.

It took Clarke a really long time to emerge and gasp for air before she went under the water again. Clarke cursed at herself in her head. She should have learned how to swim after her incident with Anya.

Lexa pushed herself past the trees and sprinted towards the water, dropping her armor and weapons in a swift motion. She did not even remove her boots before she jumped in the water, diving in with elegance. She caught Clarke in the water and pulled her out of it. "Clarke," she said, hoping it would get Clarke to open her eyes.

Clarke gasped for air, leaning on her side and coughing up water. "Thank you," she rasped out.

And because Lexa was the commander she did not change out of her commander clothes. She waited for the sun to dry her but even that was not enough. Which is why she caught not only the flu but pneumonia as well.

"I'm sorry," Clarke said for the hundredth time probably. "You shouldn't have jumped after me. Or you should have changed out of wet clothes afterwards." She was scolding Lexa as if she was a little toddler.

"I would have not let you drown," Lexa weakly argued. The only thing providing her relief was Clarke pressing a cold, wet cloth to her forehead. "Have you not learned how to swim yet? Some of your people can do it."

"I haven't had time for that yet," Clarke replied. "Although considering Anya already saved me from drowning before I should have learned how to swim a long time ago." Clarke noticed that Lexa fell silent at the mention of Anya's name and Clarke sighed. Another thing she was guilty for. "Your fever won't drop." And it was nearly painful to hear the wheezing in Lexa's lungs every time she inhaled.

Lexa sat up and swung her legs to the side, resting her feet against the floor. "I have duties to attend."

"You can't leave the bed!" Clarke yelped. "Pneumonia is not deadly if it's treated correctly. And I need your spirit to stay where it is. So you will lay back down and drink some of the medicine or I'll get Indra and get you to Polis."

Lexa's jaw tightened, her cheeks bulging because of it. Clarke couldn't deny that it wasn't sexy. "I am the commander," Lexa tried to say harshly but ended up coughing and collapsing on furs. Clarke was rubbing her back as Lexa took in painful breaths. Breathing hurt. Everything hurt. She felt weak and useless and that was not the commander her people needed.

Clarke picked up some sort of remedy that her mom and Nyko prepared together. On The Ark they used to have a lotion to put on chest if someone had trouble breathing. It was soothing. Clarke was hoping this would have a similar effect but wasn't sure how to approach Lexa on this. "You're going to need to take your tunic off."

"Why?"

"This needs to be applied to your chest. You can do it yourself if you wish," Clarke answered. Lexa was still hesitant. "It will help you breathe," she said, this time her voice softer. She saw Lexa's shoulders drop from the tense pose and her face softening. Even on top of the tunic Lexa was wearing a corset and her metal braces and her small shoulder armor. How was she comfortable like this, Clarke couldn't understand. Under her tunic was a torn loose tank top. "You need to remove that as well."

Lexa furrowed her eyebrows. "If you wished to see me in nude you should have just said it."

Clarke's eyes widened and she felt heat rush in her cheeks. "I'm not trying to get you naked Lexa. I'm trying to make you healthy again."

Lexa laid back in bed, immediately reaching for furs to cover herself. She was shivering. She was only wearing her trousers and a chest binding. Her eyes fluttered close when Clarke started applying the cool ointment. She immediately felt lighter, her lungs not burning as much anymore. Maybe it was because of Clarke's soothing touch.

"Turn around," Clarke whispered, afraid that if she spoke any louder she would scare Lexa.

"Why?" Lexa asked, her eyes still closed.

Clarke smiled at the relaxed commander. Her favorite part of Lexa. "You trust me right?" She saw Lexa nod. It wasn't hesitant. If anything, it was a confident nod and it felt like yesterday when Clarke was begging Lexa to trust her and not to harm Octavia.

Lexa rolled over, groaning slightly. "It hurts." It wasn't supposed to come out as a whine. The commander did not whine. But she has never felt so much pain before and she has been through much more than a cold.

"I know. You should sleep. You'll feel better tomorrow," Clarke said, gently rubbing the ointment over her sides.

"Clarke," Lexa murmured and Clarke loved the way her name tasted on Lexa's lips, "would you braid my hair?"

It was only then that Clarke realized Lexa's hair was curly and everywhere, not pulled into neat braids like usually. Clarke assumed Lexa had other visitors, someone else that would braid her hair for her, but instead she realized Lexa has been on her own the whole day. Clarke came in the morning to check on her and now, just after the sun set. "I don't know if I'll be good at it," she finally replied.

"Just play with my hair," Lexa said, sighing in her pillow.

Clarke was completely shocked, more so because she knew that's what Costia used to do to help Lexa fall sleep. Clarke didn't know how or where to start. She thought on where to sit down so she wouldn't get uncomfortable. Lexa was still shivering from her fever. Clarke did the only thing she could think of. She straddled Lexa's hips. "Is this okay?" She didn't get an answer. But she also wasn't pushed away. Clarke treaded her fingers in Lexa's long, curly hair. It was surprisingly soft, despite the fact that she knew Grounders didn't really have shampoo especially for hair, like Clarke had on The Ark. Clarke wasn't sure how long she stayed there, braiding Lexa's hair and brushing her fingers through knots.

The wheezing in Lexa's lungs evened out and she was sure it was because Lexa fell asleep. When Clarke pulled her hands away she heard a soft murmur from Lexa. "Lexa?" she whispered. But she didn't get a reply. When Clarke moved away from Lexa's body there was another whisper of words. Clarke realized that Lexa was sleep talking. But her voice was soft and gentle, no hints of a nightmare. So Clarke covered her with fur blankets and left her hut.