ʙᴇʜᴏʟᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ

“ don't play cute, ” pushed through a bared-teeth scoff, her skin prickles with the heat equal heat of her shame and irritation, driven by lexa's cool tone. ( the natural humidity of the day surely isn't helping. ) clarke circles around to lexa's front, forcing her to meet the wavering blue of her gaze, and cants her head to the side like the point is made by gesture alone. “ were those your words back there too, then? just mirrored by somebody else's mouth? ” her anger falters briefly, tripping over the spasm of uncertainty in her chest. she clenches her fists at her sides. IMPULSIVE CHILD, IS THIS WHO YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN?

the smirk lingers as leksa sees she's garnered a reaction. however, the smugness doesn't last. that look, that damned scorned expression. she's seen it before - clarke's seething glare. the image reminds her of when the blonde was first brought to polis, now moons ago. that gaze haunted her then and it haunts her now." what is this really about, clarke? " there's something deeper under the surface, she just can't say what for certain. shoulders roll back, and as she listens to what the ambassador shares, the tension in her muscles slowly releases. suddenly a part of leksa cares what the other thinks of her. she's...invested ( if that even is the word ) in their dynamic. is there a way to make this right?

Robin freezes up as soon as Lexa talks about Vecna. She was trying her best to live a normal life. A life that didn't have Russians under the mall or Vecna at every corner. Sometimes she wished that she could just have lived in any other town. Kids in Kokomo didn't have to deal with the end of the world every thirty seconds. Maybe people in Gary did... she'd heard stories.

Based on the patterns associated with the other victims, the COUNTDOWN has already started. Lexa can practically hear the tick, tick, tick of an old, grandfather clock echoing in her mind. That means they had...forty-eight, or seventy-two hours maximum, if they're lucky. Not a lot of time to pursue other options and strategies. Tris hasn't mentioned nightmares or visions yet, but Lexa has a sneaking suspicion the younger girl might not be revealing everything.

Before crossing the threshold completely, Haven peels off her shoes so as not to track mud through the house, the least she could do to thank Lexa for her hospitality. A suitable assembly of sweat pants and a fresh tee are procured, and though the outfit change is not nearly as glamorous nor climactic as a Sailor Moon transformation, she still feels infinitely better already.

" Yes, as a matter of fact, I am. " Though when she turns to face the other once more, her brain admittedly short circuits a little. Seeing another girl wearing her clothes will always be a form of kryptonite for her. It takes a few moments to collect her thoughts. " I'm surprised you remember how to get here. " The safe house isn't impossible to locate, but it's pretty secluded without much in the surrounding area. The rare visitor happened upon it by CHANCE rather than knowing where it was and seeking it out.

"I figured leaving Hawkins wouldn't be too long of a thing. It loves to pull people back." Jonathan tries to joke, flashing her a little smile. He's sad of course because he liked Lenore. He liked Arygle. He liked California. They had to come back even if he would've preffered college in California and some quiet life on the beach. When Hawkins called they just had to answer. "Mom's good. Will's good. Will is so happy to be back at Hawkins schools with all his friends."

For a moment, she wonders if Jonathan means that literally or figuratively about the town. Hawkins is a strange place. Normal and quaint one moment, then monstrous and MYSTERIOUS the next. Never did she anticipate this much action in small-town Indiana. " I'm glad to hear that, " Lexa smiles. Joyce's presence was certainly missed the past year. The woman often times stepped in as a secondary mother for those whose parents were out of the picture or otherwise preoccupied.

She motions towards her car with her head, planning on driving them into town. With the windows rolled down a smidge and the radio faintly buzzing in the background, the ride reminds her of all the times they cruised around the previous summer. California seems to suit him well. It's a shame their family only had so much time to enjoy the break from chaos. " We should plan a visit after. Once things blow over. We deserve a vacation. " A comfortable silence settles in as the pair take in the sun's rays over the landscape.

"Three whole sessions? And they didn't even send you home with some grippy socks or anything?" They've got jokes. In reality, Haven knows that if either of them ever talked to a professional about this kind of stuff, they'd be institutionalized in record time. Not that a therapist would have any frame of reference or resources to be of any help in the first place.

" Three. " She repeats, as if she's proud the method didn't stick. Of course, years later in her adult life, lexa has gone back and forth over the idea of seeing a shrink. But like the two have established, what could they possibly share about the types of phenomenon they witnessed? What would the point be if she couldn't be her AUTHENTIC self? Waste of time and money if you asked her. " Hmm none yet, but I heard the traction on those babies are superb. " She flashes Haven a smug look.

regina does not move when lexa tosses a command at her . to get OUT of her head , somewhere regina knew she never wanted to be fully inside . not when she could see the pain that was behind her eyes . her expression shifts , it's subtle and yet , precise . like a blade turning under a lamp to catch the light correctly . and for the first time , there is no amusement in her gaze , only focus . a careful calculation . she watches the way that lexa's grip tightens , the micro-twitch of muscles that are fighting to betray their retreat with an impulse that has been barely restrained . regina however , she withdraws , not physically but mentally , signalled with the crossing of her legs and her hand resting there in plain sight . the invisible pressure she had been applying loosens , it's controlled . a perfect choice . " i'm not in your head , and i wouldn't want to be . " she says ever so gentle , and for once the velvet of her tone disappears , it only sounds like clean and unadorned truth . " the truth is just loud . "

her eyes flicker down to the knife , then back up to lexa's face , unbothered by the threat but not dismissive of it either . " grief tends to be louder than anything . " a beat passes , it was heavier than the last , their conversation taking a turn . " you're right you know . that my kind destroys , and manipulates . we take what we believe is ours with no regrets . " her lips press together only briefly , not in guilt but acknowledgement of lexa's belief . " but don't confused capability with guilt . if i had been there that night . . . " her voice dips, there is a chill threaded through it . " you wouldn't be wondering what happened to your beloved . you would know . " regina leans forward again , SLOWER than before , giving lexa every second to track her movement , to decide if she is going to react or not . regina's hands remain visible , one on the bar , one on her crossed knees , a silent concession , or perhaps a calculated RISK . " you want a better argument ? fine . " she murmurs as her eyes snap to look into lexa's . there is no attempt at compulsion , she's smarter than that . but she wants to be intentional . this is all strategy , the allure of seduction gone . " you said it yourself , you weren't fast enough . you weren't prepared and whatever did what they did  . . . " she didn't know all the specifics , but she could infer them . " they possibly moved in a group , feeding without care and left witnesses alive . "  her head tilts slightly , her eyes narrowing in . " that isn't discipline , or control . that isn't how i hunt . " the distinction hangs heavy in the air between them , " which means you are probably chasing a group that is sloppy , or something that is feral . either way , lexa , you cannot catch this alone . "

who is she? a former coven member? a rival of some sort? what kind of vampire would make this sort of offer deal? it sounds...while RISKY, too good to be true. what would the blonde get out of this arrangement? lexa stews in her seat, desperately trying to find an angle. why would this vampire vocalize openness to harm her own kind ( or at the very least, play a hand in harming them ) ? self-hating? trying to make amends for terrible actions from the past? maybe she'd learn down the line, or maybe she'd never find out at all. at the end of the day she has a choice like the vampire said. pride or revenge. for better or for worse.

the hunter's jaw twitches and the anger begins to pool up again. " you don't need to remind me what happened, " words are uttered through grit teeth, tension returning to her neck and shoulders. " i was there. " it doesn't matter that each day brings them further and further from the event. in lexa's mind, the incident is fresh and her inability to protect kostia a glaring failure replayed over and over and over. the wound will not heal until she digs into the root. until she rips and gouges out the cause. it feels wrong to entertain this alliance. use a vampire to hunt more vampires. but the tactic and strategy were sound. who better to understand strength, speed and weakness than one of their own. surely they would not see it coming, either, so the element of SURPRISE would be won. still, many questions float around lexa's mind. some could be answered later, but others? the uncertainty makes her antsy.

　　𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 as kleya pursed her lips, stared at the ceiling, and rubbed at her temples. she was lucky it was a quiet night or she would be even more irritated, probably hanging up before she said anything. but there was enough downtime that she could sit down and lean back in her chair rather than hunched over her board.

at the accusation, lexa scoffed, however there wasn't an immediate response prepared to follow. a semi-confident " no-o, " eventually came through the line. glancing at the bottle beside her, she realized more had been consumed that night than initially intended. " okay, not really. maybe a little buzzed. at most." Final answer. That was sure to convince the other rebel.

it was stupid, but having a distraction someone to focus on - in this case, kleya - helped eased the DISCOMFORT. lexa brought her hands closer to eye level, so she could more accurately thread the needle. Just one more set of stitches and she'd be good as new ( er...on the mend, really ) throbbing pain greets her when finger tips brush at the skin outside the wound. this was going to sting among other things. eyes dart back to the alcohol within arms reach. would it be enough to get the job done?