Between Our Love
Chapter 11 - stones and starlight
Clarke’s gaze shifts from the strokes of graphite to the girl beyond the edge of the sketchbook, languidly stretching, arms above her head, before she’s even opened her eyes. Yeah, the drawings never come close to capturing the grace of the real thing.
Even when the real thing has messy bed-head and sleepy eyes as she blinks at Clarke as though surprised to see her there. Clarke snaps her sketchbook shut and looks at her, lips pressed together again in a vain attempt to curb the soft smile curving her lips. It doesn’t matter, really—not since Lexa’s lips are curving too, and she’s ducking her head into the pillow almost bashfully.
“Good morning,” she says, voice still a sleepy rasp. “How long have you been up?”
“Not long,” Clarke says, though a glance at the clock tells her she’s been sketching for over half an hour. She doesn’t correct herself, and stands to slip the sketchbook in a random drawer. “You want some breakfast?”
Lexa’s noncommittal hum has Clarke huffing as she turns to face her. She knows Lexa. She’s hungry, she’s always hungry—but she doesn’t want to get out of bed. By Lexa’s lips tugging up into a grin, she’s fully aware Clarke is reading her like a book, but she knows Clarke, too. She pointedly pats the mattress beside her.
They both giggle when Clarke immediately flops into bed. Lexa shifts back a little bit to make room, but they still share the same pillow, faces inches apart. Lexa’s eyes are a lovely pale shade of green this morning.
They avert after a moment, Lexa turning to burrow her face into the pillow again. Clarke snorts, and after a beat, Lexa’s muffled voice says, “I’m still sleepy.”
Clarke laughs quietly. “This is late for you, you’re usually up for a run by now.”
“What time is it?”
“Eight thirty.”
Lexa makes a sound somewhere between a grunt and a groan, and Clarke’s amusement grows, especially when Lexa finally lifts her head to turn to face her again. The fine baby hairs around Lexa’s hairline are fluffy and wild from the pillow; her eyes are so green right now, flecks of gold visible and glowing in the pale sunlight streaming through the blinds.
Clarke’s smile is as soft as the way she brushes errant hair out of Lexa’s face. “How are you doing?”
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