Warpaint | Clexa (Completed)

Chapter 24: Another Love

Costia liked to think of herself as an extremely level headed person. She never lost control easily. She had heard herself being even compared to the ice queen Nia of Azgeda. But the truth was that for the first time in her life, she felt sunlight creeping in through the chinks in her armor. As much as she would like to believe that she was being overtly friendly to Lexa for political reasons, and that their impending marriage was solely for political reasons, she knew she was hooked.

Costia was hooked to a feeling called Lexa. As Lexa sat in the Polis throne room, listening to the problems and complaints of her people, providing solutions, and ruling, she couldn't help but marvel at her.

Lexa sat on the throne with a grace and poise that only be-fitted her. The sharp cut of her cheekbones, the smouldering gaze, those plump lips... Concentrate Costia, she told herself. You'll soon be married to her.

And she couldn't help but blush at the thought. Her, married to the Commander. The way Lexa's lips slightly curved up when she was pleased, the tattoos that peeked up from her collarbone, armour, and neck, or the way her eyes lit up when she was discussing strategy with her swordswoman Clarke...it would all be for her.

Costia felt both happy and proud for Clarke. One of their own, now serving as the Commander's personal guard. There could be no higher honor. She just wished Lexa would be as animated while interacting with her, as she was, whole interacting with Clarke. But that was because Lexa already knew Clarke, she reasoned. But still, she thought that Lexa was a little too personally attached to her personal guard. The way Lexa ran down the day of the duel when Clarke got hurt, the way Lexa spent all night on Clarke's bedside while she was unconscious...she knew that Clarke was lucky to get attention from the Commander at such a personal level. She wondered if Lexa cared the same way for all her guards.

No, she would have to get closer to Lexa. She was going to marry her, after all. However, nothing she did seemed to break through the Commander's tough exterior. And sitting there, watching Clarke, Lexa and Indra dicuss politics, she knew the answer. Clarke was the closest person to Lexa, Costia had noticed time and again. The Commander was almost friends with her. And who better to ask about a person than a friend. She'd ask Clarke more about Lexa. Before the marriage, she would get a little closer to Lexa no matter what.

***

Clarke ran her fingers over the smooth blade of her dagger, trying to distract herself from Lexa's face. As Indra and Lexa discussed the politics in the north, Clarke noticed Costia, sitting with the ambassadors, a d staring at Lexa. It was a distant longing stare, and for a very brief second, she actually felt a little bad for Costia.

She and Costia had been acquaintances, growing up. All the other kids had hated and bullied Costia for being a Jaha. And Clarke had time and again, tried to incorporate her into her friends' circle. But somehow there has always been a wedge between them. And now, she was sitting there, to be married to Lexa, who in turn was deeply in love with Clarke.

Clarke had noticed Costia and Lexa's interactions. They were uncomfortably cold, with Lexa not even meeting the other girl's eyes most of the time. And part of it was because Clarke knew that Lexa was not only wronging Clarke, but also Costia. Costia would soon be married to someone who would never really pay any heed to her. Lexa would always belong, mind-body-soul to Clarke. And given the current situation, Clarke was content with letting that keep her sane.

But tried as she might, she could not let go of the uneasy feeling whenever she thought about the fact that the love of her life was going to be married to another woman. She knew that Lexa's loyalty towards her would never waver, but there's no knowing what Costia might do. Now that she was her personal guard, she would stick to Lexa and not let the other woman even come near, forget touch her. "Hmmph" she convinced herself.