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

Chapter 109

Clarke's POV

There's another set of stairs that leads down again. The first thing I notice when I'm at the bottom of them is that There's a large common room where the crew can gather and talk. It's nice, with a bunch of couches and chairs. Captain Nakai greets a few crew members that stumble out of the closed doors that are all around the common area. I'm guessing those are their bedrooms for when they're on the ship.

We head back to the main deck after that. Captain Nakai leaves us with Luna while she heads up the stairs on either side of the ship to head up to the steering wheel. That doesn't sound like that is the right word, but I'm not sure what that's called on a boat.

Raven and Octavia are sitting down on the floor, talking while Raven tinkers with some things she pulled out of her backpack. The guards are talking to Luna, who looks happy as she gestures around the boat. She must be explaining how things work.

Lexa squeezes my hand to get my attention. "Would you like to sit down?"

"Yeah."

We choose a spot where we can lean up against the entrance to the lower decks and sit side by side. Lexa keeps our hands entwined and looks at me with a gentle expression. I blush under the weight of her gaze. Even after all of this time together, the feelings I have for her only strengthen and grow.

I scoot closer to Lexa and snuggle up against her side. The crew begins coming out of the door by us. Some of them don't notice us and those who do smile, seeming unsurprised to see their Heda cuddling with her girlfriend. I guess word about us and our relationship really has gone through the clans.

Without even needing orders, the crew starts to go to what must be their posts and start to carefully work the ropes to get the sails to open. Captain Nakai is at her command post, at the back of the ship standing in front of the steering wheel. Alawa is apparently her right-hand woman and walks around giving orders. She smiles at us as she passes us on her way to help Tanak with a sail at the front of the boat that isn't cooperating.

Raven and Octavia come over to sit opposite of us. "What are you building?" Octavia asks.

"You'll just have to wait and see. But, spoiler, it's going to be awesome!" Raven says proudly, using her screwdriver to screw two thin sheets of metal together.

Octavia rolls her eyes and acts like she gives up trying to figure it out, but she still keeps an eye on what Raven's doing. I have to admit, I'm curious too but I know Raven will tell us (or most likely show us) when she's ready. She lays it gently on the floor and starts working on something else. Maybe she will put them together later or something.

"What do you want to do?" Raven asks. It isn't until she speaks again that I realize she was talking to us. "Clarke? Lexa?"

"Oh, uh. I don't know." I respond. "I'm kind of liking just being here and feeling the breeze."

As if on cue, the wind blows a bit harder for a moment, just hard enough to blow Raven's hair in her face. She blows it back in place without losing focus on what she's working on.

"That's nice, Princess. But boring." Raven says, looking up long enough to give me a cocky grin.

"What do you suggest?" I ask.

"Grenades."

That is not an answer I was expecting and I nearly choke on my spit. "What? No!"

"Let's have a logical, semi-same person decide." Octavia comments. "Lexa?"

She thinks for a moment and then turns to me with a beaming smile that could light up the darkest of nights. I automatically grin back. She must've thought of something great to do.

"Puns." Is all she says. But that needs no explanation.

I gasp happily and we high five. "Yes! I knew I loved you for a reason!"

Lexa's smile grows softer and she leans in and presses her lips to mine gently for a quick kiss that we let deepen for a moment until Raven clears her throat.

"I just want to remind you two that you're nerds." Raven says in a serious tone.

"Like you don't love puns." I scoff.

"Of coral I love puns!" Raven cries.

"That was bad, babe." Octavia laughs.

"It made you laugh!" Raven points out. "I'm the master of puns. You guys can't even get on my sea level!"Octavia snorts as Lexa and I stifle our laughter.

"That was better." Octavia admits, earning a kiss from Raven. "Let's see what Clexa can do." She raises an eyebrow at us in challenge.

"Wait, wait." I say, making Lexa freeze up beside me. "I just remembered two amazing jokes. Hodnes (love), what do you call a fish with no eye?"

"Blind?" Lexa responds, making Octavia and Raven chuckle. I find it adorable and lean in to kiss her.

"Nope. Well, technically but that's not the answer. It's a fsh! No eye, no 'I' get it?"

"Okay, that was good. What's the other one?" Raven asks.

"This one isn't sea related, but good nonetheless. What do you call a doe with no eyes?" I pause for dramatic effect. "No eye deer."

Raven and Octavia groan good-naturedly while Lexa bursts into laughter.

"Water you thinking of doing for your next pun?" Lexa asks when she catches her breath. I snicker at how she emphasizes her puns.

"I don't know, I can't sea into the future. Well, if I could maybe my life would have a sense of porpoise." I sigh theatrically while the others burst into giggles, then grin triumphantly. "Boom! You guys just got schooled!"

Raven and Octavia laugh harder.

"Oh my god, Griffin." Raven wheezes out. "That was legendary. Iconic."

Next, more puns! And maybe you'll find out what Raven's building... :) Thank you all for reading and for your lovely comments! Stay awesome!