Clarke had been checking on Lexa regularly ever since they escaped the gorilla, well that's probably what it was at first.

She was used to the stares, but recently they had changed, so much that one night, during dinner, she asked the only person close enough who could reply.

"Am I paranoid or are the grounders giving me weird looks?"

Octavia cleared her throat.

"Well. Most of them are talking about you and the commander"

Clarke frowned, not understanding.

"You guys being lovers is a serious issue for them"

The blond spit out the water she had been trying to drink.

"What?!"

Octavia laughed. "So is it true? You and the commander?"

Clarke opened and closed her mouth a few times before getting up. She needed to talk to Lexa.

Most people watch her pass, but no one dared to stop her as she walked up to the commander, who was eating too, with her own.

She leaned close to their leader "We need to talk?"

"When I'm done eating"

"Please Lexa"

The commander gave her a look, so Clarke did the first thing that came to her mind she sat down next to the other woman. She received looks but it's not like it would change anything.

"It must be important for you to wait by my side"

Clarke grabbed an empty glass, filled it with the local alcohol before drinking it in one swig. Lexa raised an eyebrow but did not comment.

The blond winced then leaned as close as she could to the commander so she could whisper in her hear.

"Most of your people think we are…lovers"

"I know"

"You know!"

It was loud, so loud that everybody else in the room got quiet and looked at them.

The commander sighed, got up grabbing her plate in one hand and Clarke's arm in the other.

The blond heard one of the warrior speak in his native language, making most people laugh. She was pretty sure it was about her as she saw Lexa mumble for a second.

"What did he say?"

She got no reply as she was pulled into Lexa's tent. The brunette sat down and resumed eating.

Clarke couldn't wait. "So?"

"I'm waiting for you to say what you had to"

"Why do you people think we are lovers?"

"I would guess our interactions"

"Did you tell them it's not true?"

"No"

"Why not?!"

"Why would I? My people are not really fond of our alliance. It has progressed, thanks to Lincoln's mate but it still needs work. You are protected like this. Hurting you would mean hurting me"

"Isn't it a sign of weakness?"

"Not if they don't see you as a weakness to me."

"Won't they think this alliance is based on our relationship?"

"It's not uncommon for our people to forge alliances through lovers, even bonding ceremonies"

"So they have a problem with it if it's for mutual help, but not if you take a lover?"

Lexa put her plate down. "We have many tradition, respected traditions"

Many possibilities came up in Clarke's mind. She sat down beside the commander.

"How long are you going to let them think that?"

"I'm not sure. People need to see how much we can learn from one another. The help we could give each other. Is it a problem for you?"

"No"

"You're sure? You reaction is kind of strong"

"I was more than surprised"

"So like me, you're not going to say anything"

Clarke wasn't sure if it was a question or the commander telling her they would keep this charade up.

"Do I have to do anything to keep the rumors going?"

"I don't think so, it started on its own, just don't start any relationship"

Clarke sorted "Like that's the kind of thing on my mind at the moment"

"Good. I would rather not have to have to kill the competition"

The blond gave her a look. "You wouldn't?"

"As you said, no sign of weakness"

"So we are lovers. Wait a…we don't have to go through a bonded ceremony you mentioned earlier, right?"

"Not at this point"

Clarke's mouth fell open. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I didn't say anything about our relationship so the rumors are very different from a person to another. You are from my future official mate to an expensive sexual pleasure"

"They think I'm your sex toy?!"

"Some do"

"And they would agree to an alliance for this"

"Only for a short amount of time, but since no one is sure. No one will make a move"

"Fine, they can think we are lovers or whatever, but let it be known I'm not a sex slave or anything like that"

"If I make it official, you'll be expected to act as a lover"

They looked at each other for a minute before Clarke spoke again. "Fine. I guess I'll need to have a talk with my mother"

"She cannot know the truth"

"But…"

"It could be dangerous if people realized they had been deceived"

"That's just my mom"

"Is she known for keeping secrets?"

Clarke didn't speak but the expression on her face made Lexa wonder what had happened between them. The commander closed the discussion.

"The less people know about it, the most likely the truth will remain hidden"

"So just the two of us?"

Lexa nodded.

"Then I guess I still need to talk to my mom, to make my coming out?"

"Coming out?"

"I'd rather she learned the news of our relationship by me"

That the commander understood. The blond couldn't let it go.

"So really what did your warrior say as we were living?"

"Nothing interesting"

"He commented on our 'relationship', didn't he?"

"In a way"

"I'm bound to hear these kind of things. Let me know what I could be up against"

"It wasn't serious. He just commented on how you couldn't wait to…get some action going now that I could move without being in pain again"

"They thought I came looking for sex?"

"One just made a joke about it"

"Is it expected?"

"If you were my lover? Yes"

"I'm not sure how I should take that"

"I don't understand it but some men seem to respect sexual skills"

"So what? You have a reputation?" Seeing a smirk on Lexa's face for the first time, she continued "And an ego"

"I think. If you want this to work. You'll need to stay a little longer in here. Let them wonder"

"No. We both agree, we don't want them to think, we want them to know we are lovers?"

"I guess" Lexa wasn't sure where the sky princess was going with that.

Clarke had a grin on her face "Then let's give them something to talk about"

Lexa's eyes grew wide as she watched the blond started to moan, making noises as if she was having sex, then scream "Ah Yes! Lexa!"