Chapter Text
Chapter 17
Lexa beat hard down onto the punching back hanging in front of her, completely ignoring the other people training in the gym. Pearls of sweat found their way down from her face, dripping down onto her olive green top she was wearing.
It have been five days since they had come back to Polis after their tour and she was getting restless. Madison and Nick had decided to spend the first day she had been back with her, one of them always having an eye on her as if she might disappear any second. Of course her mother didn’t waste time berating her for joining one of the teams going outside for supply runs. Since the outbreak the blonde woman always tried to keep her family together and out of harm’s way.
What Madison didn’t understand was that danger was now lurking everywhere.
The fact that she finally had her memories back of a life similar to this one didn’t help either. In her past life Lexa was used to always keep her focus on her surroundings. The possibility of an assassination attempt had been ever-present. The brunette had been used to this kind of lifestyle. Now, after a few days of getting used to the fact that she indeed had already lived once before in another life, Lexa couldn’t just sit back and watch the others risk their lives.
Not even as Alicia Clark did she like to be a bystander. No, she had always been, in this life and in the other, someone whom took charge. May it be of twelve clans or just her own life.
Another thing that she learnt was that her memories of her past life got more and more into the forefront of her mind. She could remember things as Lexa easier than as Alicia. It was like Lexa was taking over, letting Alicia disappear into a distant memory.
It wasn’t like those memories were completely gone, but she identifies herself more with her life as Lexa than Alicia. And Lexa had always been in charge of things. The fact that now she wasn’t made her uncomfortable.
So after the first day with her family, which she had enjoyed a little in the beginning, Lexa had managed to wound herself from their grip and began to make herself useful again. Slowly but surely the brunette integrated herself in the current on-goings, letting people know that they could rely on her.
First she had searched for Bob. In her opinion he was the one who seemed to have the most influence after Elyza, despite there being more people on the council. She had asked him if she could be of any help securing the camp and after some arguing he had relented to the fact that she wanted to be in in the preparations.
Walls were added for their defense against outsiders, current ones were strengthened. People were assigned as guards in front of their storehouses securing their supplies. They upped their guards at the main entrance and the smaller exits they had for emergencies around the camp.
Most people just looked confused at those preparations though didn’t question anything, fully trusting in their council. It wasn’t treated as a secret but the prospect of an incoming thread wasn’t openly stated as well. The council was wary of the happenings and felt like their increase in defense was justified by the facts Bob had stated. Better safe than sorry.
Now Polis was secure and the guards were prepared for an attack which hopefully will never come. Normality came back and everyone settled back in their life and duties they had lived and done before the incident back in that apartment. And Lexa was once again without anything to do.
When they had finished the brunette had once again sought out Bob to discuss further things, though he had quickly shut her down telling her that there was nothing to do anymore. At least not for him. He’ll speak with Elyza once she was back and the council will again convene with all members, but until then there was nothing he could give her to do.
Out of boredom Lexa had started to spend most of her time in the gym to pass the time until Elyza’s team would be back. At least it gave her something to do and it was time that she got into shape again.
“What did the bag do to you?”
The sudden voice drew Lexa out of her thoughts. Turning around the brunette’s eyes fell upon the familiar figure of her ex-mentor. Yana stood a few steps away with her arms crossed as she stared unimpressed at her. Lexa almost felt like she had made a wrong move and was about to be reprimanded by Anya until she remembered that this wasn’t quite Anya. Yet, she hoped.
“I don’t know what you mean. I’m training, that’s all.” Maybe it was better that this wasn’t Anya she was speaking to. This answer would’ve certainly got her some punishment. Lexa had learnt early on to not talk back at her first. Later on the brunette natblida stayed quiet and waited for Anya to continue, telling her the mistake she had made and showing how to do better.
Anya hadn’t been a bad mentor, just a strict one. And Lexa had been grateful for her lessons as the blonde woman had been one of the reasons she had managed not to break by all of the decisions she had to make as the commander.
“Don’t you have better things to do?”
“I’m not going back to Medical if that’s what you mean. I don’t feel much of a help sorting out pills and filling out paperwork. Not to disregard those doing these kind of things, but I have to do more. I need to.”
“Throwing punches at an unmovable object isn’t much of a help either.” Yana shot back.
“But at least I’m doing something. Besides, I need to get into better shape.”
Brown eyes mustered Lexa up and down and it took a few seconds until Yana replied. “You’re on Bob’s team?” A brief nod of her head was all the blonde got as a response. “When you aren’t out on a run you’ll meet me and the guards who aren’t on duty at the training area next to the council building. You’ll train with us from now on. That will help more than this punching bag. Now come on.”
Lexa bent down and picked up her towel and water bottle before hurrying after Yana who was already by the door of the gym, not even once turning around to see if Lexa was following her. Once again the brunette was reminded that there were some habits that were so much like Anya’s. “Where are we going?”
“I’m a man down on one of the teams stationed a block away from Polis.” They had begun to place teams of two persons around a block from Polis in each direction to warn the camp of any threats coming their way.
Green eyes widened at those news and hope fluttered up in her at the prospect of finally doing something to actively help in protecting Polis. “You’ll send me out?”
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”
“No!” Lexa replied instantly. Maybe she should be embarrassed by how eager she seemed, almost like a dog which finally got a bone to chew on, but the brunette didn’t care.
They arrived at the main entrance guarded by five people. A lone figure stood in front of the gates, knife firmly secured on his thigh and a gun in shoulder holster. As they got closer Lexa saw that the man had short, brunette hair and a stubble. He wasn’t too muscular, yet seemed fit enough and was a bit taller than herself. For a moment she felt like she knew him but she wasn’t able to place him.
“That’s Rick Johnsson, you’re partner. You’ll spend the day together out at your post so I hope you can work together. If not, that’s your problem. Just do your job and keep watch. Stay out of trouble and for the love of God, don’t bring trouble back towards Polis.”
Rick didn’t move an inch, not even acknowledging the orders while Lexa once again nodded her understanding. Yana equipped Lexa the same way Rick was, one knife and one gun. The blonde glanced one last time at them before she gave the signal for the guards to open the gates and turned wordlessly around to get back to her duties.
Rick picked up the bag that leaned against his legs and turned to the now open gates, walking a few steps before he glanced over his shoulder. “You coming, or what?”
She silently followed him out of the camp, trailing behind him as they walked to their post all the while mulling over where she had might seen him before. It must have been a brief meeting, like a passing in a hallway or in one of the villages she had visited, yet she still couldn’t put a name on his face.
“Have you been on patrol before?” Lexa asked.
“Yeah. I like it. No one out there to bother you.” He replied looking expectantly at her, probably in hopes of her shutting up.
“I take it you former partner didn’t talk much?”
“Exactly.”
Lexa chose not to reply for the moment and it didn’t take much longer until they reached their post. She didn’t know much about Rick yet, but as far as she could tell Lexa liked him. Especially his bluntness. Not many people told their opinions as directly as he did. It was oddly refreshing.
During her time as the commander of twelve clans, not many people dared to speak openly with her. The few who did dare to always asked beforehand if they could do so. Honestly, there were only two who had no problems stating their opinion, if Lexa wanted them to or no; Titus and Anya.
Anya had been with her since she had been a child. The blonde woman had seen something in her and took her in as a second. It didn’t take really long until the older woman became not only her mentor but family to her. Lexa had trusted her unconditional. Lexa just wished that Anya’s life wouldn’t have ended as soon as it had.
Titus, as her teacher and advisor, had seemed to entitle himself to the right to be as straightforward with her as he wanted to. Had been from the beginning. And she had let him, knowing that he always had wanted the best for her. Even as he had attacked Clarke, he had just wanted to act in Lexa’s best interest, as insane as it sounded. His protectiveness of her had been much more pronounced than she had thought. And maybe Lexa should’ve seen the signs of his behavior. Maybe she could’ve avoided his actions in time.
But what had happened, happened. There was nothing she could change now but perhaps doing better this time around. She couldn’t waste her second chance to dwell on the past. She had to concentrate on the here and now. It was the only way to guarantee a better future in this world.
They took position at a bus station a little over a block away from Polis. This location gave them the ability to keep the road ahead of them in sight, as well as the streets leading to their left and to their right. Lexa took a brief glance at each direction noting their emptiness, and turned around to take place at the bench of the bus station, leaving some space between her and Rick who had immediately sat down after arriving at their position.
“We should regularly inspect the streets. The walkers aren’t the quickest, but humans are. If they really are planning an attack, they surely will try to take us by surprise.” Lexa exclaimed while her eyes roamed over the different buildings in front of her.
It was nothing, really. Just some grumbled words barely audible. Still, Rick’s response startled her and as quiet as they had been, she still had heard them clear enough. Green eyes widened and she whipped around to focus on her new partner instead of the buildings. Could it be? “What did you just say?”
“It was nothing.”
“No, it wasn’t nothing. You did say something.”
Confused by the brunette’s persistence Rick just kept staring at her as if he tried to figure something out. Then, after a beat he finally relented. “I just said, sure thing, Commander.”
“Commander?” It couldn’t be a coincident, could it? First she felt like she had seen him before and now he addressed her with her old title. He had to be from the other world, like her. And maybe, just maybe he too did remember. Hope blossomed up in her at the prospect of not being the only one to remember.
Once again she mustered him up and down, taking in every aspect of him. It shouldn’t be that hard to place him. Seeing that everyone seemed to have the same bodily features as in the old world the brunette dismissed the idea of him being one of her guards – or any other warrior for that. While he was well-defined he didn’t look as packed as any other warrior, and he didn’t strike her the type of man to enter readily a war.
“Yeah well, you seem to be the commanding type, hence Commander.” He quickly dismissed her, turning away from her stare to gaze at nothing in particular all the while trying to cover up his nervousness.
But she did see it. And as she looked at his profile for a moment seeing him sitting there like that, it suddenly hit her where she had seen him before. Back then it had barely been a few seconds her eyes had rested on him. Other things had taken over her attention, things like gunshots and dying.
But he had been there, she was sure of it.
“You’re the one who had been chained to a chair in Clarke’s room!”
He just briefly glanced at her as he scoffed at her. “Yeah, well. You’re the one who died there. Good times, huh?”
“So you remember it, too.” By now Lexa had turned her body towards Rick. She couldn’t believe it. There was someone else who remembered!
“Oh yeah, I do.”
“Are there others? Why do we remember and the others don’t?”
There was a long exhale from the man in front of her. For a moment she thought he wouldn’t answer but after a few seconds he finally opened his mouth to reply, a careless shrug accompanying his answer. “Don’t know. Don’t care. I know that I remember, and now I know you remember. That’s it.”
“No one else?” She didn’t know what she had expected. Until now she had met no one she knew from the old world who had indicated that they remember. Having now one more person who knows should be an achievement. Yet the brunette could still feel the familiar feeling of disappointment in her chest.
“Not that I know of. It’s not exactly something that comes up at dinner time.” There’s a brief, sarcastic laugh before he continued, this time in a deeper voice. “By the way, remember the time were you hung me up on a tree? Fun times, weren’t they?”
“Do I want to know this story?”
“Probably not.”
“You Sky People have always been strange.” Lexa breathed, thinking back to all the strange behavior and sayings of those who came from the sky.
“Haven’t heard that term in a very long time.”
“What-“ Lexa swallowed slightly as she tried to find the right words. “May I ask what happened after I….”
“…..bit the dust?” He continued and she looked uncomfortable though nodded. “The usual. Mindless people controlled by an I.A., Apocalypse 2.0, a war for the last remaining place on earth….”
“What?!” She couldn’t even fathom all the things he said. Lexa had expected that things might have gotten a little rocky but that everything would be okay in the end. However it seemed like things went downhill after her death and she felt guilty for leaving her people to deal with all of this on their own. Especially for her successor it couldn’t have been an easy time.
She opened her mouth to get more details about the life after her death when they suddenly heard the sound of wheels coming closer to their location. Both jumped up in surprise and moved up to the intersection to get a better look.
There was an old pick-up coming from their right and as it got closer both of them relaxed immediately after recognizing it as the car the scouts usually used.
Lexa smiled at the approaching vehicle.
Elyza was finally back.