Kara and Alex's first sisters' night after Alex begins her physical training at the DEO.

For Danvers Sisters Week Day #1 - Sisters' Night! Will post the rest here if I write for more of the days.

Alex nervously ran her hand over the back of her head, not yet used to the feel of the short hair there when just the day before her hair had fallen to nearly her waist. She had to admit, she definitely liked the feeling. It was far more comfortable in the already rapidly warming California summer. And it would be easier to deal with and more practical for her training at the DEO which had just begun earlier that week. Two days of dealing with pulling her hair back and having it get in the way of practically everything she tried to do was more than enough to convince Alex that short was the way to go.

But while she liked it, she wasn't really sure how anyone else would take it. That "anyone else" consisting pretty much of just her sister and mother given Alex's lack of real friends. The few "friends" she'd sort of made in grad school had drifted away once they realized she really meant it when she said she was going to stop partying and refocus on her studies. Of course, those friends had only appeared after she'd begun said partying in the first place. Her normal dedication to work didn't usually leave much time for socializing.

Except for Kara. Kara who she hadn't seen since graduation last Friday and who had no idea Alex had decided to cut off all her hair. Alex took a deep breath. It would be fine. It had to be fine. Kara would like it. Yes. Right. She took another deep breath. At least it wasn't Eliza, who Alex was fairly positive would not like it. But Eliza had left the day after graduation so it was just Alex and Kara. Having their first sisters' night in several weeks since Alex had been focused on wrapping up her clinical rotations and getting ready for graduation. And finishing up the final exams for the academic and shooting portions of her training at the DEO but Kara didn't know about that. If Alex had her way, Kara would never know about that.

Absently ruffling the pixie cut once more with her free hand, Alex exited the elevator and headed for Kara's apartment, absently shifting the weight of the bag of ice cream she carried in the other hand. Here went nothing. Not that she was really scared Kara wouldn't like it. Much. Quickly she reviewed her story to explain the hair change, knowing Kara was certain to ask, before knocking.

"It's open!"

Rolling her eyes, Alex pushed the door open. "You know, Kar, you really should lock your door. Especially if you're not going to get up to answer it."

"I knew it was you." Kara rolled her head on the back of the couch to look at her sister, grinning. Kara sat upright suddenly and froze, staring at Alex. Alex shifted nervously, resisting the urge to raise her hand to her hair again. After several seconds, Kara blurted, "You cut your hair!"

"I… uh, yeah, yeah I did."

"When?"

"Um, this morning." Kara bounded up from the couch and moved closer, still studying Alex intently. Alex smiled nervously, automatically reaching up to tuck hair that wasn't there behind her ear. "So… what do you think?"

"Oh!" Kara smiled blindingly. "I love it! I'm sorry. I just wasn't expecting it. I don't think you've had short hair since I moved in."

"No, I don't think so either." Alex relaxed, smile turning more natural now that it seemed her sister was ok with the drastic change.

Kara reached out as if to rub Alex's head and Alex laughed, swatting her sister's hand away. "You don't need to pet me, Kara."

"But it's so short!"

"Yes, and? I'm not a puppy. Even if you do resemble one sometimes." She grinned teasingly.

Kara gasped in mock-offense. "I am not!"

"Says the girl who's first reaction was to pet my head just because I cut my hair," Alex deadpanned.

"Hmph." Kara pouted briefly but Alex could see the happiness in her eyes.

Rolling her eyes, Alex patted Kara on the arm and moved toward the couch. "I see you already got a head start on the pizza."

"Only fair now that I know you didn't tell me about your haircut."

"You didn't know that when you started eating," Alex protested, putting the ice cream she was carrying in the fridge before flopping onto the couch and snagging a slice.

Kara shrugged, collapsing next to her. "Details."

Alex laughed and nudged her with a toe. "Dork."

"Takes one to know one," Kara sing-songed, smiling brightly. "Anyway, why so short? It's been long for so long I figured you would always keep it that way."

Alex shrugged nonchalantly, carefully remembering what Director Henshaw had taught her so far about deception. "It just seemed more practical for the lab. And yes, I know I've had it long in the lab up until now but I'm tired of pulling it back and having to worry about it. Also, I was thinking of maybe taking some self-defense classes so it will be easier to manage. And less of a target."

Kara nodded. "Oh, that makes sense." Then she straightened. "Wait, self-defense? Is something wrong, Alex, because I could—"

"No, no, nothing's wrong." Alex cut her off. "It just seems like a good idea now that I'll have some free time, that's all. Stay in shape and all that."

Kara watched her for a moment before nodding slowly. "Ok. But you know that I could—"

"Yes, Kara. But you need to keep your powers a secret and I can take care of myself. I promise. Ok? There's no problems, nothing I'm worried about, or anything like that. I just think it would be a good idea and kind of fun."

"Ok, ok. You're right. As usual."

Alex smirked. "Of course I am."

Kara rolled her eyes. "Just for that, we're watching Frozen."

"What? Again? No, come on, Kar."

"Yep, again. My turn to pick and that's what I pick. You promised I could pick anything after you had to stop coming to sisters' nights for a month."

Alex groaned dropping her head back. "Ugh, fine. Hand me more pizza and a beer. I'm going to need it."

"Let it go, Alex, let it go."

Alex poked her sister with her toes again. "Don't even start."

Kara just laughed at her and got up to put in the movie, asking as she did so, "So how's the lab? You started this week right?"

"Yeah. It's fine. Good. Just getting my bearings, you know. New person and all."

"You're going to do awesome! And they'll realize that soon! I mean, you have two doctorates!"

Alex shifted self-consciously. "Yeah, yep. It'll be good I'm sure. We're going to be looking at some new polymer stuff soon. For medical devices."

"That's great! That's part of what your thesis was on, right?"

Alex smiled gratefully. Kara may not have quite the interest in science that Alex did but she'd always listened intently when Alex talked about her work, even if she also sometimes asked a million questions. "Yeah, it was. So we'll see if any of my work there can be applied."

"I bet it can. You're a genius after all."

Alex shifted again, both pleased at the praise and uncomfortable with the partial lie. Partial because she was studying some polymers, alien ones, at the DEO and would continue to do so even through training. What was another couple hours if you were already there for 12? But medical devices? Not so much, at least not for the purposes Kara assumed. Not for helping humans but helping contain aliens.

Shaking off the slightly morose thoughts, Alex nudged Kara with a lopsided grin. "We gonna watch this thing or what? But no singing!"

"No promises." Kara grinned and started the movie, resuming munching her pizza.

They were barely halfway through, Alex trying not to fall asleep and Kara, of course, singing along to every song, when Kara suddenly exclaimed, "You know what we should do?!"

Alex startled slightly at the sudden noise. "What?"

"We should dress up as Elsa and Anna for Halloween!"

"What? Kara, no."

"It would be great! You could be Elsa. And with the short hair, a wig would work so much better than it did last year. And then I'll be Anna! Oh! And then Winn, you know my friend Winn from CatCo right? Have I introduced you yet? Well, Winn can be Olaf!"

"Kara…"

"It'll be great! I bet we could find a karaoke bar that night too! And then we can sing!"

Alex let her head flop back on the back of the couch studying the ceiling. "Why me?"

Kara didn't respond, already lost in excitedly planning for a holiday that was still over four months away.