Our People (the Third Book of the Her Weakness series)

Chapter 77

Clarke's POV

Lexa holds me while I let myself break down and cry until I fall into an exhausted sleep. I keep having nightmares about me not catching that stupid weapon and having her die in my arms. I wake up each time and feel like I'm drowning in grief until Lexa tightens her arms around me. That's when I start crying again, my tears both happy and sad. Happy that she's alive, but sad nonetheless.

One time I even dream that Lexa got shot by Titus, which is weird. It was more elaborate than my other nightmares and I could feel my heart breaking in my chest as her life slipped away in front of me. In true Lexa manner, she keeps reassuring me that I'll be fine, that she's done everything she can to make sure I'm taken care of when she's gone. That one I don't wake up from until she dies.

It's the dream that breaks me. I try to get further into Lexa's arms, attempting to ward off the panic attack I can feel coming. Lexa murmurs reassurances and kisses the top of my head but I can't get the sight of her lifeless eyes out of my head. Lexa tilts my head up and kisses me gently until I feel my panic slowly receding. I don't think I'll be able to sleep much after that, so I curl up in her arms.

"What time is it?" I ask, my voice raspier than usual because of all the crying.

"It is a little past dinner time. Octavia and Raven just got back a few minutes ago. Would you like me to get you food?"

"No, I'd like to go out there."

Lexa nods. "Alright. Will you be okay with them for a bit? I would like to talk to Menelaus about something. I promise that I will be back soon."

"Yeah, that's okay. I'll stay with Octavia and Raven while you do that."

I get up from underneath the covers, shivering at the contrast between being under the warm sheets with Lexa and the cold air. Lexa starts lighting a few candles so we can see (of course, she lights more than necessary but her obsession is cute and harmless as long as she doesn't set other things on fire).

Lexa puts on an outfit I didn't know she brought. It's a black and silver shirt with some pretty cool black pants. Lexa helps me into a light blue dress and kisses me.

We walk out of the room and see Octavia and Raven on one of the couches, talking quietly and seeming worried. They relax when they notice that we came out.

Lexa kisses me quickly, giving me a warm smile that pushes the dreams further from my mind. "I will go talk to Menelaus but I will be back soon."

"We'll keep your food warm." Raven chimes in, earning a nudge from Octavia. "Ow, what?"

"They were having a moment, you doofus!"

Octavia and Raven start playfully bickering again (which I'm starting to think might be foreplay for them).

"You Skaikru use the oddest words." Lexa says, shaking her head. "Doofus. I am not sure I want to know what it means."

"It just means idiot." I explain, kissing her again. "Now go talk to him so I can cuddle with you sooner."

Lexa smiles brightly. "That is a very good incentive, ai hodnes (my love). I will hurry back to you."

With that, Lexa leaves and I definitely don't watch her butt as she walks away. I look back to Octavia and Raven, who seem to have been looking at the same thing. I raise an eyebrow at them.

"I hate to see her leave but love to watch her go." Raven says. "Also, what does hodnes mean?"

"It means love." Octavia responds.

"So ai hodnes is my love?" Raven muses. "Octavia, you're ai hotness."

"Don't you mean hodnes?" Octavia asks.

"Nope! You're hot and you're my girlfriend, therefore you aren't merely my love, you are ai hotness." Raven explains, grinning happily.

I sit down on the couch opposite them and try not to laugh. Where Raven gets her puns, I'll never know.

"You know it just sounds like you're talking about how hot you are, right?" Octavia sounds like she's trying to be annoyed, but her heart eyes and smile prevent that.

"That's just a bonus. Ai hotness." Raven winks and they both burst out into laughter, high fiveing.

I shake my head, rolling my eyes as they launch into a debate about the pros and cons of using ai hodnes or ai hotness. They completely ignore the steaming food on the table between us, so I take a plate and start eating. At least I have them for entertainment. Raven wins that debate, getting Octavia somehow to agree that ai hotness is better and agreeing to let Raven call her that.

Lexa comes back while Raven's doing her victory dance, somehow managing to do it while seated. Octavia and I are laughing with Raven while Lexa just looks confused.

"What is so funny?" Lexa asks as she sits next to me.

"Raven." I say, and Lexa just nods in understanding.

Raven finishes her dance and pants before pointing to Lexa. "I came up with ai hotness and I get to call Octavia that."

"Ai hotness?" Lexa cocks her head.

"Like ai hodnes." I explain.

"Oh. I thought you were saying hi hotness."

"Patayto, tomahto." Raven shrugs.

"Babe, that's not the saying." Octavia points out.

"It fits better though. Similar concept, different words." Raven snaps her fingers and then points a finger gun at Octavia, who just laughs at her antics.

Lexa shakes her head, smiling. She leans over and picks up food.

"So what did you talk to Menelaus about?" I ask.

"Well, assuming you are all okay with this and the Noukru camp does not need our assistance, we will be leaving in two days for our next destination."

Man, those references to 307 though... And for the ai hotness thing, that's something that I've thought basically since I first read the words ai hodnes... And recently I thought about Octavia and Raven calling each other that and couldn't get it out of my head, so here it is! Thank you all for reading and for your amazing comments! Stay awesome!