Catch Me, I'm Falling

April : Part III / May : Part I

Lexa furrowed her brow. "What do you mean, love?"

"I mean...." Clarke sighed. "I don't look like any of you. And I'm not saying that I look bad, or anything, I know I don't....I just can't help but feel...less than."

Lexa looked as if someone had stricken her senseless. "...Clarke." She gaped, the word barely above a whisper of disbelief.

Clarke sighed, lifting her shirt, and then shucking her shorts, revealing a very complimentary bikini that left Lexa drooling. She'd seen Clarke with nothing on, but still, it affected her in the nicest ways.

"...What are you talking about?" Lexa was practically humming in awe at the magnificence before her. She wrapped her arms around Clarke, resting her chin on Clarke's shoulder from behind as she ran her fingers down Clarke's body, watching her every movement in the mirror. "You're perfection. I don't think anyone outside holds a candle to you." Lexa's words were raw, and honest, and they shook Clarke to her core.

"...But...." Clarke protested, eyeing her scar in the mirror, feeling Lexa's fingers trace over it.

"Stunning." Lexa whispered, kissing the back of Clarke's neck. "You think that makes you any less beautiful? Have I not done my job well enough? Clarke, god, you're the most beautiful woman alive. If you covered up because you were self conscious, it'd be a damned shame, because you'd be depriving everyone of your beauty." Lexa sighed, turning Clarke around.

Clarke watched her, unable to form words. She hadn't exposed herself so vulnerably since the accident. She couldn't. She couldn't face the rejection, the pain, the stares she was so hellbent on believing she'd receive. But now?

Lexa was building her back up. Painstakingly. Brick by brick.

Clarke was learning to regain that same confidence and carefree self she'd once possessed.

"...Okay." Clarke whispered back, lacing her arms around Lexa's neck.

Lexa smiled, sliding her hands under Clarke's thighs, lifting her up as Clarke's legs wrapped around her waist.

"I love you." Lexa reminded, as if Clarke didn't know.

"I love you more." Clarke sighed happily, burying her face in the crook of Lexa's neck.

Lexa's fingers traced the small of her back as she held Clarke close, the two simply embracing.

"....Lexa." Clarke hummed happily. "I need a favor."

"Name it."

"Put me down, first." Clarke instructed.

Lexa obliged, watching as Clarke took a step back.

"Now, can you help me out, babe?" Clarke smirked as she snatched the bottle of lotion Lexa had dropped. "And make sure to get everywhere. I don't want uneven tan lines."

"Yes ma'am." Lexa smirked, practically squealing when Clarke undid her bikini knot.

"Don't look so smug, six-pack ." Clarke teased, and Lexa chuckled in her ear.
————————————————————————
Though she was surrounded by friends she knew and loved, Clarke couldn't help but feel exposed among people who she was usually so comfortable around. Lexa strode slightly ahead of her, offering Clarke the small bit of cover she craved.

Clarke didn't need to see her girlfriend's face to know that she had her 'commander look' on full blast, chin jutted out, as if daring anyone to say anything to Clarke.

"Griff!" Octavia cheered. "I was beginning to think you and Woods had abandoned us in favor of having wild sex."

"It's still not entirely out of the question," Clarke grinned, rolling her eyes, "you guys are such awful company, after all."