Disclaimer: TV/Comics/Books characters do not belong to me. I write for fun and the only thing I get from this is lots of more fun. There might be some TV/Comics/Books Canon, but it's mostly for background's sake. There might also be characters that are not TV/Comics/Books related – those are mine.
Note: This was supposed to be a one shot, but then the ideas started flowing and I couldn't stop, so... this is part one of three. I think...
Chapter One
National City was never a quiet city, not really. With aliens mingling around, the average bad guy and, every now and then, super villain trying to rule the world, it was never quiet. But lately, it seemed someone was advertising the city as a hotspot for villain internship. The last weeks had been plagued with constant attacks on the city, many directed to the general population, some with specific targets, with Supergirl leading the board with an apparent giant bulls-eye on her back.
Lena Luthor checked her phone for the nth time that day and sighed in frustration. Several unanswered calls and text messages blinked on the bright screen, demanding her immediate attention, but none was the one she was waiting for.
She'd hardly heard from Kara Danvers in the last month, since the string of attacks on the city begun. Kara was her best friend - her only friend - and she was worried about her, especially because she knew her secret. She knew she was Supergirl, or at least had a strong suspicion about it, and the series of events of the last months only weighed on her suspicion. Kara never talked about it, always maintained that she was friends with Supergirl, hence the superhero's almost miraculous rescues of Lena. That was hard for Lena, to know that she trusted Kara implicitly, but the trust was not returned. Never had she felt the weight of her family's legacy as heavily as now.
She wanted to be in Kara's live, wanted to...
She set her phone aside and tried to refocus on her work. She still had several unanswered emails to reply to, many urgent, but she just couldn't concentrate, her thoughts always slipping back to the sunny blonde, the last image of her, on national television, fighting a very strong foe. She looked exhausted, even from afar.
Lena covered her face with both hands and rubbed her temples in frustration.
"Where are you, dammit?" she grumbled desperately.
The sound of the office door opening caught her attention and she straightened without looking at the door, staring blankly at her laptop instead.
"Jess, I thought I asked not to be disturbed."
"I'm sorry, I can come back later."
The sweet, soft voice that was definitely not her secretary made her head snap up in recognition.
"Kara..." she whispered, her heart thundering in her chest.
The huge smile that lit up her face slowly faded as she took in the exhaustion and paleness of her always perky friend.
Kara smiled tentatively at her.
"Hi... I can come back later, when you're not busy."
"No!" Lena shouted as she left her chair. She cleared her throat, self-conscious. "No, I always have time for you."
Kara dropped her eyes at that, truly ashamed, fidgeting with her fingers.
"How can you say that?" she asked softly, her voice shaky. "I've been a terrible friend lately. Always cancelling our plans, not talking to you..."
A hand gently stroking her face stopped her rambling, but she kept her eyes down.
"I know you've been busy, Kara, helping your sister with the victims of the attacks and your job." Lena stepped closer. "Are you all right, Kara?"
Kara swallowed and shook her head.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Lena tried again, her voice gentling. Kara was definitely not all right.
Kara opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. She cleared her throat.
"I-I need to ask something of you." a pause for what sounded to Lena almost like a shuddering breath. "Something I never asked anyone before. Ever."
Lena frowned but didn't let go of her, instead stepping closer.
"Anything, Kara, you know that," she said softly, searching the pale face so close to hers, in hope of finding any clue to Kara's abnormal behavior. "What is it you need of me?"
Kara took a deep breath to gather her courage, she eyes still cast down.
"Kara, please look at me," Lena pleaded gently, her heart clenching in anticipation at Kara's request. "Please."
The gentle pleading had the desired effect and Kara slowly lifted dulled, teary blue eyes to Lena.
Lena gave what she hoped was an encouraging smile, her heart clenching in her chest.
"Tell me."
Kara's lips quivered slightly, and a hoarse whisper left her lips as she closed her eyes, not wanting to face Lena if the answer was no.
"Can I have a hug?"
Lena blinked, her brain frozen for a moment. Another blink and her brain rebooted.
"Oh Kara," Lena wrapped her arms around her friend and pulled her close into a tight embrace.
Kara slowly brought her arms up and hugged her back, holding on for dear life, her face burying in the crook of Lena's neck. Lena felt more than heard the quiet sobs that wracked the distraught woman's body.
Lena gently kissed the blonde head so close to her, soothingly rubbing her back in a calming motion. They stayed like that for the longest time, until Lena felt Kara starting to lean heavier on her, her breath still catching from crying.
"Better?" Lena asked softly.
Kara nodded slowly against her shoulder, not trusting her voice.
"I think we should move onto the couch before you fall asleep on me." Lena kept her soothing motion.
"I don't think I have the energy left to move..." Kara finally whispered softly.
"I can give you a piggyback ride to the couch." Lena offered with a smile.
It had the desired effect as she finally heard a small chuckle from the younger woman.
"Come on." Lena slowly let go of her and took her hand, pulling her to the couch.
She briefly wondered about how good their hands fit together.
Stop it. Stop it right now, Lena! This is not the time. She needs you. For whatever reason you can't fathom, she needs you.
"Here, sit down."
Lena walked to a nearby closet to retrieve a blanket and returned to the couch under watchful, puffy blue eyes.
"You don't need to bother, Lena..." Kara said hoarsely. "I... I'm sorry... I know I'm overstepping our boundaries, but..."
Her speech was cut off by a finger on her lips. Lena sat down close to her, never letting go of her hand.
"It saddens me, Kara, that you still think that." her green eyes bore unflinching into Kara's eyes, true regret lurking behind them. "It saddens me that you come here to ask for comfort, but still find it so hard to give in; that you still don't trust me."
Kara's eyes widened slightly.
"That's not true, Lena. I wouldn't be here if I didn't trust you."
Lena sighed. Kara didn't need this now, but why was she here, with her, seeking comfort from a Luther?
"I'm really glad to hear that, Kara, because I do want you to trust me. I want you to always come to me whenever you feel like."
Hot tears spilled from Kara's eyes. Rao, she was making a fool of herself in front of Lena Luthor, the most powerful woman in National City, but it felt so good to finally be with her after so long, to be held after all she'd been through the past month. Held by her.
She didn't really understand it, this need to be with Lena; didn't really understand why just being in the same room as she made her feel all better, but she didn't have the mental energy to go into that now.
Lena wrapped her arms around her and gently forced her down on the coach, without letting go of her. Kara immediately snuggled closer, her head resting on her shoulder, her ears trained on the strong, steady heartbeat - it calmed her instantly. Her free arm wrapped around Lena's stomach as she closed her eyes, the hypnotic sound lulling her to sleep.
Lena's heart skipped a few beats and started beating erratically at the feel of Kara's warm touch and she swallowed hard, hoping Kara wouldn't notice.
"Lena?" Kara slurred, exhausted, her hand slowly moving to rest to on Lena's heart.
Lena blinked and forced herself to focus on her breath and not on the warmth coming hand resting on her chest.
"Shhh... sleep. You need rest." she kissed the blonde head on her shoulder, gently inhaling the sweet scent of her shampoo. Kara always smelled so nice, fresh and clean.
Kara sagged against her, finally allowing herself to fully relax.
"Stay..." she whispered so softly, Lena almost missed it.
"I'm not going anywhere, I promise."
She felt Kara's breathing deepen and took the blanket from the floor, where she'd dropped it, awkwardly pulling it over them.
Another kiss to Kara's head. She couldn't sleep, her heart still reeling from Kara's unexpected meltdown. Then her brain skidded and stopped abruptly, as it finally acknowledged Kara's words. 'Something I never asked anyone before. Ever.'
Her heart stopped again at the implications and Kara stirred in her arms.
"Le..."
"Shhh... everything's all right. Sleep."
Even half asleep, Kara pulled her closer, her hand now grabbing her shirt above her heart in a tight fist. It was impossibly endearing, and Lena felt herself fall deeper and deeper for the wonderful woman in her arms.
Oh Kara, you silly, sweet, wonderful woman, what are you doing to me?
Bravely, she covered Kara's hand with her own, holding it securely against her chest, reveling in the warmth coming from the younger woman. She briefly wondered what it would be like to wake up next to Kara every day.
She squeezed her eyes shut. Bad thoughts! Bad thoughts!
Oh, she had it bad for Kara Danvers and she knew it.
##
The low sound of a phone's ringtone forced Kara awake and she stirred abruptly in the warm haven that enveloped her.
"Easy..."
A soft kiss on the top of her head and the gentle pressure on her shoulder forced her back down.
She felt so tired...
Kara fumbled with her jacket's pocket to search for the offending phone. She hadn't even removed her jacket before falling asleep almost on top of Lena Luthor. Rao, she was such a mess... her eyes widened when she realized where she'd fallen asleep, but her fingers had already pressed the answer button before she could panic.
"Hello?" she replied hoarsely, her voice still so full of much needed sleep.
"Kara, we have a situation. We need you back here asap."
Her sister's voice sounded as tired as hers and she knew Alex needed as much sleep as she did. They all did.
"Be right there."
She put her phone away and dared peer at Lena, who looked down at her with a sweet smile and she couldn't help herself and smiled back, momentarily forgetting she was practically laying on top of the executive.
"How long was I out?" Kara asked softly.
"Not long enough." Lena carefully pushed a strand of blonde hair behind an ear and Kara blushed at the intimate contact. "Just under an hour."
Kara sighed, still struggling with the heat creeping up from her neck to her face. She had hardly slept, rested or ate since the attacks begun, and while she had far more resistance than humans, the fact was she was she could not go on non-stop forever. She also needed rest and her powers where beginning to wan dangerously.
"Sorry I slept on you. You're always so busy and I..."
A warm hand covered her mouth.
"Kara, we've been over this," Lena said softly. "I... I care for you and I always have time for you. Besides, I needed a break as well and if you hadn't showed up, I'd still be hunched over that laptop."
Kara seemed mollified with that and started to sit, feeling the loss of the contact immediately.
"I have to go," she said rather dejectedly. She really didn't want to.
"Trouble?"
Kara nodded rubbing her eyes in the most endearing way and Lena just barely stopped herself from pulling her back into her arms again.
"My sister needs me," she said softly.
Lena nodded, unhappy, and rubbed her back in silent support.
"You need to rest, Kara. Have you eaten at all today?"
Kara nodded shyly and adjusted her glasses. She'd only had time for breakfast today. After that, Winn had called her in to debrief and then it was lunch time, but she really wasn't that hungry, her stomach in knots with everything that was going on and she really, really wanted to see Lena.
"Breakfast."
Lena looked at her expensive watch: almost 5pm.
"Kara, you can't spend all day with just breakfast!" she was aghast. Not that she didn't skip enough meals herself, but this was Kara. Kara did not skip meals!
Kara fidgeted with her fingers.
"I´m not very hungry today." she tried to smile but failed miserably.
Lena knew for a fact that Kara was always hungry and could pack away more food than anyone else she'd ever seen.
"Kara," Lena rested a warm hand on the blonde's arm, noticing how it tensed slightly under her touch, feeling the hidden strength underneath, "what's going on?"
Kara swallowed hard and adjusted her glasses again, a nervous quirk Lena had since long memorized.
"I... can we talk later? Please? I really have to go."
Kara turned pleading blue eyes on the hapless executive.
Lena sighed. Kara was running from her.
"Later then, but Kara, I won't forget about it."
Kara gave her a shy smile and, before she lost her nerve, leaned in and kissed her cheek.
"I know," she whispered softly in her ear.
Lena's heart skipped several beats as the soft breath trickled her ear.
"Thank you." Kara gave her a quick hug and walked quickly to the door before she forgot about Alex's emergency call and did something that might jeopardize her growing and bonding friendship with Lena Luther.
"Kara," Lena called out to her, getting up from the couch.
Kara turned, her hand on the knob.
"Please be careful," Lena pleaded softly.
Kara flashed her a sweet smile as she left.
"Always."
Lena walked to her balcony, hugging herself, and watched as a patch of red and blue crossed the sky at high speed.
"You better be," she whispered to herself, inhaling the lingering scent of Kara on her shirt. She might never get it washed again.
She smacked herself on the forehead. "Get a grip, Luthor, it's just a silly crush. Get back to work."
She stared at the horizon longingly, knowing she could no longer see her.
"Please be safe."
She went back inside and turned on the national news, waiting for an update on National City's newest crisis, work all forgotten.
##