Harsh beeping breaks through the quiet of the room.
Familiar beeping that Clarke thinks she's dreaming until Lexa groans and shifts against her. All warm skin against her own.
Clarke is still not completely over the feel of Lexa in bed, curled up with her. Tangled limbs and soft skin and sleepy sighs. It's only been a couple of weeks, but they've settled into this routine. Clarke meets Lexa at her house after work, banned from visiting the worksite until Anya has finished with the prettyfication, as she called it. Earning a groan from Clarke that was echoed and approved by Raven.
It felt like a bigger approval than even that.
And Lexa gets out of her truck with a smile and a kiss and they settle into an evening together. Cooking, ordering in, stepping around the cat that's constantly following them through the house.
It's easy and fun and more than Clarke expected… or even wanted until she met Lexa.
The beeping doesn't stop and Lexa pokes her rib lightly. "Clarke, please." Her voice is muffled and her words are slurred.
"Hmm?"
"Your phone…"
That wakes Clarke up fully and she shoots up, heart racing. Her work phone rarely goes off when she's off for the day. Only if there's something the crew can't handle in her absence.
It's happened only five times in the last year.
"Fuck-" she swats at the bedside table and grabs it, barely able to find the button to turn it off. "Fuck!" Her brain moves in a million different directions, more than fully awake now.
She swings out of bed and searches for her clothes on the floor of Lexa's bedroom. She finds her jeans, but can't seem to locate her shirt.
"What's wrong?"
"Tree crashed onto one of our exhibits. Two of our hyenas got out."
"Clarke, hey," Anya says into the phone. "I know it's been a couple weeks. But we're at that time, tile time."
Clarke laughs, "Tile time? Lexa warned me it was coming."
"Well it's here and I need to steal you away from the literal zoo you work at to get your opinions and choices on our selections. What does your schedule look like for the week?"
"For this? I can make myself available whenever you need me."
"Alright, how's tomorrow? No rush, you can come to the house after work and we'll take a drive over to some spots. How does that sound?"
"It sounds perfect actually. Are you ready to start putting things inside the house and stop taking them out?"
"Oh, Griffin, you have no idea. Lexa has been drooling to get your cupboards installed and start building back up. Don't get her started on countertops, you'll never hear the end of it."
Clarke buys an old house. Lexa is handy with tools.
The old house is just that- old.
Dilapidated, really.
It looks sad in the middle of the beautiful greenery that surrounds it. Was probably in need of more than just a fresh coat of paint before the old owners left.
Then it was a foreclosure.
And now it's officially a zombie property.
Zombie it is. Scary and gaping.
But Clarke fell in love with the sprawling yard. The large trees spread out on the property. The wrap around porch. The large front room with just enough light to be warm and welcoming in the morning.
So what if a shutter is literally hanging on by a thread?
The bones are good. The foundation is good.
She can see it- what it will be with some elbow grease and love. When she closes her eyes, she can see it.
"Uh...are you sure about this, Clarke?"
The skepticism is warranted. She knows. She was skeptical too. But one good look at the lawn from the back of the porch was enough to quell the doubts.
"Absolutely."
"It's literally falling apart…"
"It was a foreclosure."
"So are we gonna be finding a family of raccoons inside? Angry that we are disrupting their baby making and destruction?"
"I can handle the raccoons."
Octavia snorts.
"You've called some design teams, right? Like you know there's only so much we can do, yeah?"
"Hey." Clarke keeps her voice gentle in the way the early morning hours demand. She's so early to the house, only half the crew is there.
It's worth it, though, for the shy smile she gets out of Lexa.
"Hi," she replies warmly. Stepping closer to Clarke, eyes raking over her face, pausing on her lips, before finding the coffee Clarke has outstretched.
"I don't know how you take your coffee so I just grabbed a handful of stuff." Clarke is suddenly nervous. They haven't seen each other since the sex the other night and she tries to assess if the air between them feels different.
It does, but in the best way. More real.
Comforting.
Lexa's eyes are so, so green in this light. Clarke wants so badly to kiss her but she knows Lexa needs to keep up her professional appearances.
"I like a little cream," she says softly. A tilt to her lips and a glint in her eye.
“So, how many fake cobwebs are too many fake cobwebs?” The walkie-talkie on Clarke’s desk crackles to life.
“What did you do, Wells?”
“Just having some fun down in the sea lion cove.” Clarke can hear the smile on his face through the hunk of metal and plastic in her hands. “When are you gonna get off your ass and help out, by the way?”
“Someone has to run the clinic. We can’t all gallivant around the zoo.” She sasses back. The annual Zoo Boo is set to begin when Polis Zoo opens its gates in the morning. The majority of staff has been caught up in the excitement of spookifying the zoo; Clarke is a well-known exception.
“Has anyone ever told you what a party pooper you are?”
“Never not once. Speaking of, have you delivered the pumpkins to their appropriate enclosures?”
“Sure did. The lions got spooked for a few minutes, the polar bears immediately plunged into the water to investigate. You know, I gotta say, Clarke… you’re weird. You hate the decorations and shit, but you’re the one who goes out and gets pumpkins for the animals.”
Clarke rolls her eyes. “Yeah, that’s because pumpkins with treats on them are enrichment toys for as long as they survive. Plus, I like to remain enigmatic.”
“Are you implying that I don’t know what qualifies as enrichment, Clarke?” He teases.
“I would never. Hey, can you make sure to get eyes on Dave if you’re down that way.”
“Lexa better watch her back because you’re definitely obsessed with that penguin.”
Clarke doesn’t even bother responding, setting her walkie back on the desk and finishing the chart she was working on before the interruption.
Xx
“I cannot believe I got roped into this. Again.” The door to the clinic fwaps shut and a grumpy Octavia huffs as she finds Clarke rounding on her three overnight clinic patients. “I don’t really know how he does it, but Marcus is one convincing motherfucker.”
Clarke checks the dosage reminders in her charts one last time before signing off, ready to hand over the shift to Harper. “I think it’s the smile…” She’s not really paying attention, she just really wants to get home. Running the clinic alone is never ideal and she’s more exhausted than usual.
“Three solid years in a row. And Indra goes along with it!”
Clarke snorts, her attention hardly wavering from the very sad looking otter she’s got before her.
“I think Indra knows how easy it is to torture you. You know the reptile house always gets turned into scavenger hunt madness.”
“I’m not even going to be in my regular post this year.” She whips out a folded piece of paper from her back pocket and hastily works it open, leaning forward to shove it into Clarke’s face. “They’ve got me on mascot duty...I’m going to be a fucking handler.”
“Could be worse?” She tries to interrupt Octavia’s rant, but it’s no use. Octavia continues, just looking for somewhere to spit her ire before she closes out her shift.
“Since when did we become Disneyland? Wait, did you actually just say it could be worse?”
Clarke moves by her and Octavia follows her to the cluttered desk. “Uh, yeah. What’s worse- walking around with the penguin, or inhabiting the penguin?”
“Why would you even ask me such a thing, Clarke?”
Octavia glares at her long enough that Clarke starts cackling. “I can see it now, the face you’d make behind the mask in every picture! All the cursing you’d have to keep inside. I’m going to ask Marcus to make a note and declare you Queen Penguin for next year.”
“Fuck you. Seriously.” That sets Clarke laughing again. She can feel Octavia’s withering stare burning a hole through her back. “Hey, did you know Anya and Raven are coming tomorrow night?”
Clarke sighs heavily, “Yes. Lexa told me the other night… they didn’t want to be left out.” She air quotes and Octavia rolls her eyes. “I think they might have a decent costume idea though. Lexa said Anya usually gets pretty into it.”
“Anya? Are we talking about the same Anya?”
“Right? I thought it was weird, too. Anyway, Lexa was more mad I didn’t tell her about it than anything.”
“Babe.”
“I know…” Clarke whines. “Honestly I forgot about it until Anya told Lexa.”
“Wow, that’s a new low even for you, Clarke.”
“Oh, fuck off, Octavia.”
The door fwaps again, bringing Wells inside with fake cobwebs dusting his hair. “Who brought the party in here?” He jokes.
“O, I should have warned you that Wells is all about the Zoo Boo.” Clarke can see the way Octavia’s eyes flit between the cobwebs and Wells’ face, wondering if she should say something. “And the annual costume fundraiser.”
“It’s my favorite time of year, what’s not to love?” He’s the only one tall enough to hang decorations in the corners of the enclosed exhibits without a step stool and everyone else knows it. Clarke has had to go it alone in the clinic for two days while he’s been out there putting in extra work. And yet, he still looks like a kid about to go get a bag full of candy from strangers. “Also Clarke, it’s a gala. Don’t undercut the seriousness and fanciness of the night just because you hate fun.”
“I do not hate fun and gala schmala, it’s still a night of work.”
“A night of work with booze. Or should I say boos.” He wiggles his eyebrows as Clarke lets out a loud groan and Octavia swears. “You’re right, it’s not as fun as the weekend festivities with the kiddos.” He never wavers and Clarke finds it endearing.
“Says the guy who doesn’t have to spend the entire time making sure his animals don’t eat any of the decorations or clean them up on November 1st.” Octavia, however, does not.
“Hi, yes, I don’t know if you’ve met me but I am a vet at this fine establishment. Last year I spent three hours making sure the hyenas passed all the pieces of that cape they ate. There was poop. A lot of poop.”
“Right, so you see my point,” Octavia continues, swinging her legs as she sits on the desk.
“Nope, I still think it’s fun. It’s two weekends a year, will you guys seriously lighten up?” He turns his attention. “Clarke, why are you spreading your black cloud. You’re like the damn grinch but on the wrong holi--”
“Halloween isn’t even a real holiday...” Octavia cuts him off before he can finish and Clarke grabs her bag and her phone and ducks out of the clinic before the two come to actual blows.
Xx
“Lex you can’t be serious…”
“What’s wrong with it?” Lexa holds her hands out at her side with a wan expression on her face.
“You’re basically wearing what you wear every day! It was your idea to go to the Zoo Gala — I thought you were gonna pick out some fun costumes for us.”
“This is fun, and it is definitely not what I wear every day. Did you see the ax?” She points to where it leans by the door.
Clarke rolls her eyes. Hard. “Babe, seriously. That flannel is in your weekly rotation and those are your work boots. Lumberjack was definitely the easiest thing you could have picked.”
“Well, you only gave me like two days to figure it out. This was a good decision on short notice. Besides, what were you planning?” She crosses her arm and gets that look on her face that says her heels are dug in. It turns Clarke on. Plus her sleeves are rolled up and her forearms are Clarke’s weakness.
One of her weaknesses.
There’s a long, long list.
“You have that look in your eye, I know that look.”
A blush creeps up Clarke’s neck. “What look?”
“Oh, you know the look,” Lexa smirks and steps closer, and just like that, all talk of costumes is over.
Xx
When Clarke comes downstairs in her costume, Lexa’s eyes practically bug out of her head and her mouth falls open.
It’s a good reaction. Very good.
Clarke adjusts the hat on her head, her hair pulled up in twisted braids underneath.
“How’s it look?” She asks her girlfriend who still hasn’t said a word or maybe even taken a breath since Clarke revealed her outfit. Lexa had been banned from the bedroom for this exact reason.
“You just never play fair, you know that?” Lexa reaches out and grabs Clarke’s waist, pulling her closer. “You look…. hot. So hot.”
Clarke knew Lexa would like it. She pulled one of her dad’s old jerseys out of storage, a pair of semi-clean practice pants and dozens of socks to choose from. Topping it all off is Lexa’s hat. One of the newer, field official ones that hasn’t been worn much yet.
Lexa’s eyes get dark as she eyes it on top of Clarke’s head.
“I look like my dad,” Clarke giggles.
Lexa’s lips hit her cheek, and then her ear. “Don’t ruin it.”
Xx
The party is in full swing when Lexa and Clarke arrive, and Clarke has to admit that the pavilion area looks great and swanky enough for all of these potential donors to be impressed. Lexa grabs them two flutes is champagne off a passing tray and smiles, clearly loving this perk of Clarke’s employment.
“Do you know what your sister and Raven are wearing?”
Lexa smirks, “Anya has never told me any costume ideas ever. I hardly expect her to start now.”
“I’ve gotta say, I’m surprised at how intense she is with this.”
“Are you?” Lexa raises a skeptical eyebrow and Clarke giggles.
“You know, someday you’re gonna have to tell me more about this. I’m gonna need stories, Woods. Lots of ‘em.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Lexa replies with a wink and Clarke’s knees almost give out.
They make their way through the crowd slowly, taking advantage of passing bites of food and more champagne. Clarke introduces Lexa to fellow zoo employees who all take the time to sing praises over Lexa’s renovation work. Several of them talk about the magazine feature.
Clarke may have bought about a dozen extra copies and left them lying about in the various break rooms and offices around the zoo.
It’s cute watching Lexa simultaneously blush and also fluff up and preen at the compliments.
Clarke schmoozes. It’s part of her job tonight to butter up the patrons and donors present and earn more money for the zoo. Lexa teases her under her breath and makes sly comments here and there and Clarke’s stomach swoops.
She spots Octavia and Lincoln as soon as they arrive clad in leather head to toe. They’d be hard to miss on a normal day but have somehow found a way to get even more formidable.
“Holy shit,” Clarke says, nudging Lexa and gesturing to the entrance.
“Oh, yeah. Biker is Lincoln’s standby.” She nods and finishes the small onion tart Clarke was just about to steal off the napkin in her hand.
“Lincoln has a standby?” Clarke gives her a look.
Lexa shrugs. “My sister loves Halloween. Lincoln gets roped into her web just as easily as I do.”
Octavia grabs his arm and makes a beeline for Clarke as soon as she spots her by the bar.
“Have I mentioned lately how annoyingly good looking your entire bloodline is?”
Lexa laughs and Clarke yearns to ditch the party, take her home and kiss her.
“Wow, Lexa… you really went all out, didn’t you?” Octavia pulls Clarke into a hug as soon as they’re close enough.
“See?” Clarke rounds on Lexa, smug. “Also, be nice, O.”
“I’m always nice.”
Lincoln has a bright smile on his face and his hand tucks behind Octavia’s small waist, pulling her closer to him. “It’s not like we did anything original either, babe.”
She shrugs.
“Anyway,” he continues, “wait until you see Raven and Anya…”
“Wait, how do you know what they’re wearing?” Lexa sounds more than a little jealous.
“We just saw them in the parking lot.”
“Fashionably late as always. My sister the drama queen.”
Clarke stands on her tiptoes to try to see if they’ve arrived yet.
They haven’t, but she does find Wells on the other side of the crowd locked in deep conversation with a small group of interested women. She enjoys the wide smile he wears and the admittedly amazing zombie makeup he’s plastered on his face. He is completely in his element.
“Oh,” Lexa says, pulling on Clarke’s elbow to get her attention. “Look.”
Anya and Raven stroll in, arm in arm. Raven in a full astronaut suit that looks as real as Clarke has ever seen. Anya in a slinky, so, so fucking slinky, red dress. There’s a snake tattoo that works its way down her arm, and her back.
“Holy shit,” she whispers.
Anya and Raven stop and survey the crowd, seemingly enjoying the way they’ve literally turned heads.
“Where’d she even get a dress like that?” Octavia leans in to ask Lexa.
“Fuck if I know,” Lexa shrugs again. “She’s always gotta make a statement though.” Lexa tugs on Clarke’s hand and they move closer to the front. Clarke spies a long slit in Anya’s dress, impressed and definitely a little jealous. The snake tattoo winds around her calf.
“You two both with the legs,” she teases.
“Mine are better though,” Lexa volleys back.
“They are.”
Raven’s eyes light up when Clarke and Lexa approach. She turns to Anya to get her attention and they both giggle.
“I still can’t believe Lexa had no idea who you were,” Raven says with a loud cackle as soon as Clarke is within earshot.
Lexa huffs. “Isn’t that old yet, Raven?”
“You wish. Were you planning on doing some work today at this party or?” she points up and down at Lexa’s outfit. Clarke doesn’t add on this time, noting the look of annoyance that falls on Lexa’s face. “Babe, look…”
Anya, for whatever reason, doesn’t say anything about Lexa’s poor choice. Instead, she addresses Raven. “Do you want champagne or something else from the bar?”
“Champagne is fine.”
Clarke gets a better look at their costumes, admiring the detail stitched onto Raven’s suit. It looks like a real flight suit and Clarke wouldn’t be surprised if it somehow was.
“You look great, Clarke.” Anya compliments her and they both ignore the rapid patter that spills between their girlfriends.
“Thanks, we’re required to dress up for this thing.”
“So, this is what you do all day at the zoo, huh?”
“You should have seen it earlier when it was crawling with little kids in costumes. Weekends in October are for the Polis Zoo Boo.”
“Do you actually work?” Anya laughs. “Or do you just get to have fun all the time?”
“Oh, this isn’t fun. This is insane.” She feels a warm hand on her waist and recognizes the calming touch instantly.
“I beg to differ. Anyway, I’m glad they still had tickets since you didn’t invite us.” Her eyes glint.
“She didn’t even invite me,” Lexa laughs next to her.
“What even are you, An?” Clarke stops that conversation before it gets any further.
Raven wiggles her eyebrows. “She’s my hot alien girlfriend, duh. Hey- where’s the lughead?”
“Uh,” Clarke looks around to find where O and Linc ended up. She laughs when she finds them, cornered by Indra and Marcus. Lincoln wears a calm smile and nods his head politely, but Octavia looks like she wants to die. “Oh, they got trapped by our boss. You should watch out for him, Lex. Marcus gets chatty when he’s had a glass or two.”
“Marcus is chatty when he hasn’t had a glass or two.”
“Right, so you see my point.” She turns to Anya and Raven. “Anyway, it’s my formal duty to inform you two as patrons and guests that the silent auction table is over there by the stage, and that this wing of the zoo is open in case you’d like to walk around. However, I should note, most of the animals are sleeping or inside because they don’t give a fuck.”
“Is that how you’ve welcomed every potential donor, Clarke?”
“This is the VIP treatment, duh.” She echoes Raven’s earlier statement and everyone laughs.
And she supposes that this year, this year with her girlfriend on her arm and her friends here with her, that it’s not so bad after all.
“So, tell me, Dr. Griffin… what does the Zoo do for Christmas?”
Nieje to až tak dávno, keď vznikla nahrávka v štúdiu Zlý Pes Records @lewel_official_ na skladbu Uprostred špiny, ktorú nájdeš spolu s klipom na #youtube #ownway#rap#hiphop#hiphopculture#hiphopmusic#music#beat#normal#acapella#morisdown#sound#rec#zpr#martin#03601#slovakia#boy#follow
Nieje to až tak dávno, keď vznikla nahrávka v štúdiu Zlý Pes Records @lewel_official_ na skladbu Uprostred špiny, ktorú nájdeš spolu s klipom na #youtube #ownway#rap#hiphop#hiphopculture#hiphopmusic#music#beat#normal#acapella#morisdown#sound#rec#zpr#martin#03601#slovakia#boy#follow
Nieje to až tak dávno, keď vznikla nahrávka v štúdiu Zlý Pes Records @lewel_official_ na skladbu Uprostred špiny, ktorú nájdeš spolu s klipom na #youtube #ownway#rap#hiphop#hiphopculture#hiphopmusic#music#beat#normal#acapella#morisdown#sound#rec#zpr#martin#03601#slovakia#boy#follow
