Chapter summary: Kara and Lena have their afternoon/talk/date.
Hello again, lovely people.
Thank you for all the favorites and follows, and, especially, for the comments - they keep me motivated.
Something I forgot to mention... This story was written soon after "Alex" aired, so the elements of canon that transpired since then won't be featured here because that.
I hope you all enjoy this one as well!
Chapter 3
Two hours later, almost to the dot, Kara is holding a bouquet of pink, yellow and orange flowers inside the private elevator that would take her to Lena's penthouse.
"Knock, knock," Kara says when the elevator stops at Lena's floor and she is faced with an ajar door.
"Kara, hi," Lena says in greeting, walking up to her friend.
"Hey, Lena," Kara greets going for a hug.
"These are beautiful, Kara. Thank you," Lena compliments the arrangement of flowers Kara has just gifted her. A contagious smile on her face as she turns around and starts walking towards the living room to deposit the vase she was just presented with on the coffee table before she takes a seat on the couch.
"Our food should be here in about," Lena checks her watch, "Forty minutes. Hector is bringing it over. I stopped by that French restaurant you liked and pulled a few strings with the chef, so he would prepare something for us. Seeing as they don't prepare food to go," Lena says from her place on the sofa. Her back is to the arm rest, and both of her bare feet are off the ground, her legs tucked beside her bottom.
"Oh you definitely are my favorite," Kara replies with a pleased smile next to Lena. Their knees are touching, with Kara perched on one of her legs while the other allows for her foot to rest on the floor.
Their closeness is a reflection of their relationship's progress. When in the beginning they used to sit on opposite sides of the couch, for a while now they've started to always fall on the cushions as close to each other as friendly possible, always managing to have at least a bit of physical contact during their interactions.
"I bet you say that to everyone who feeds you," Lena says with a roll of her eyes and a laugh.
"First, mean. Second, I'll have you know that I only say this to beautiful green-eyed women who happen to be gigantic nerds, and about this tall," Kara sticks her arm up to allude to what supposedly is Lena's height, "With dark hair, a dazzling smile, a regal posture, and the biggest of the hearts. I think you might have even met her," she concludes with an enigmatic expression, the glint in her eyes betraying her attempt at mystery.
"And you call me a flirt," Lena retorts with a snort.
"Well, you are," Kara teases back.
Lena chuckles and asks, putting their banter aside, adopting a more serious tone, "How are you?"
"I'm, I'm good. Having you with me, your support, and spending time with my sister last night is exactly what I needed," Kara smiles. "Thank you, Lee."
"I'm here for you. Always," Lena says with a short nod, reinforcing their promise to each other. "And how is your sister?"
"She's," Kara adjusts her glasses, "She's going to be okay," Kara lets out a small sigh. "Alex, she's experiencing some stress response due to the trauma, so it's going to take a while for things to go back to normal for her, but she's already sought help, so she's going to be okay."
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Lena's asks. "There's this really great doctor I went to for a while, after the entire ordeal with Lex. Her practice is in Metropolis, but I'm sure I could talk to her and make arrangements for your sister, if she needs."
"That's very thoughtful of you. I'll talk to her about your offer, but she's told me she's made appointments with the DEO psychologist, so she'll probably stick with that, but thank you," Kara speaks with a smile, grateful Alex has another person on her side now.
"Good. Good. If she needs anything, anything at all," Lena emphasizes, "You just say the word, okay?"
"Thank you, Lena."
"DEO? What does that stand for? I'm sure it's not some texting lingo we haven't covered yet?" Lena asks curiously, bringing up the lessons Kara has been teaching her about texting lingo and slang.
"Hah no. Definitely not," Kara says chuckling. "Department of Extraterrestrial Operations."
"You work there," Lena states.
"Yes."
"And your sister... J'onn."
"Yes."
"Have you been working with the government ever since you arrived on Earth or ever since you've become Supergirl?" Lena inquires.
"Ever since I've became Supergirl. I didn't even know it existed until I came out as Supergirl. My foster father, Jeremiah, he worked for them, and my sister was recruited by J'onn a few years ago."
"Who knows about you?" Lena asks wanting to know how many people besides her knows about Kara's secret identity, how many people are allowed to see Kara as she is.
"You, my family, a couple of friends and the people of the DEO. Not all of them though, or maybe all of them because I'm pretty sure my sister yelled out my name during a particularly dangerous mission," Kara says, leaving out the part that the mission had been the one to rescue Lena from her mother. Kara doesn't want her friend to feel guilty or responsible in case something happens to Kara because of that slip. "And I'm pretty sure Cat Grant knows as well, and Lillian."
Upon hearing her mother's name Lena's eyes go wide. "My mother knows?"
"Yeah. She, umm, she works with someone who used to be a DEO agent. Henshaw?" Kara pauses to make sure Lena remembers the name. When she sees recognition on Lena's features she continues, "And I'm sure he's told her. When speaking to me she's never referred to me by my name, but seeing as she works with him, I'm inclined to believe she knows," Kara explains.
Lena nods, a gloomy look on her face.
"When did you know?" Kara asks trying to change the direction of the conversation to a lighter take.
"Instantly," Lena answers with a grin and bright eyes, an expression completely different from just a few seconds ago.
"I don't believe you," Kara says shaking her head in mock indignation.
"Okay, not instantly, then" Lena raises both hands in a surrender sign. "But you walking into my office alongside a one Mr. Kent also known as Man of Steel didn't help your cover."
"Of course you know Clark is Superman. I forget sometimes he and Lex used to be best friends," Kara speaks with a puzzled expression.
"That's not how I know about him, actually. I mean, I had a suspicion, because of how their friendship ended. It was ugly, and soon after my brother started to publicly go after Superman, I kind of put two and two together. My brother kept files on him, so when I had access to all of those records, I knew for sure," Lena reveals.
"Do you still have these files?"
"No," Lena says in a firm tone, shaking her head, "I've destroyed all of them."
"Did they have anything on me?" Kara asks.
"There was this section where Lex mentioned he suspected Mr. Kent wasn't the only one who had survived your planet's demise, but there wasn't anything more, and if there was, it would have been destroyed by now alongside everything else," Lena tries to reassure Kara she has nothing to fear about these files maybe being exposed someday.
"Thank you," Kara says.
"But you didn't answer me, how did you come to the conclusion I am Supergirl? Clearly, it wasn't because of your device," Kara asks tilting her head to the side in curiosity, eyes squinted and lips pursed.
"That one wasn't working how it should," Lena reveals with a grin.
"You were playing me!" Kara exclaims pretending to be exasperated.
"Busted," Lena says and they both laugh.
"But seriously, how?" Kara asks.
"I suspected when you walked into my office with your cousin. You didn't tell me you were related, of course, but you were not a reporter by then and there you were with him like a unit prodding me with questions about my whereabouts like a detective work. Then you made that remark about Supergirl being there to save the venture as well, and then I was almost sure you were her. Well, you. But the moment I knew without a doubt it was when you said you had flown to my office on a bus. Kara that was," Lena laughs shaking her head in amusement at the memory, "It took everything in me to not to react to that."
"You laugh, but I almost panicked. I honestly don't know how I would've come out of that if you had reacted. From day one you've made me all flustered, it was very confusing. I didn't know what it was back then, but now…" Kara lets the silence and her eyes searching for Lena's fill in the blanks.
"Now you know," Lena says in an almost shy tone, a small bite to her lower lip.
"Now I know," Kara echoes, almost whispering, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she looks into Lena's eyes She finds the same feelings reflected there.
"Also," Lena continues, ending their staring contest, "Your smile. The way you smile at me, and this scar you have right," Lena leans her body forward and lifts her hand so she can trace the place she's referring to, "Here," she says as her thumb caresses Kara's scar, just above her left eye. "They are also your biggest tells, but that only comes about for people who interacts closely with you and your secret identity, I guess. There's also the way you say my name, this mellifluous tone you use in each vowel, even when you are trying to go for a more severe attitude, as Supergirl, you never transfer that to my name," Lena says looking into Kara's eyes, where they stay enraptured by each other's gaze for a few seconds. This tension they've become too familiar with in the last few months making its way between them.
"Oh, and just last night it came to me about that time in court, when your sister was there as well and we were hiding and the room was cleared except for us and Metallo and my mother?" When Kara nods she continues, "When they left the premises your sister signaled for you to go, that was very telling. You both really need to work on your subtlety," Lena raises an eyebrow.
"Apparently," Kara says dramatically.
"So you are really okay with me being Supergirl?" Kara asks.
Lena grabs both of Kara's hands into hers. "We would not be here like this, having this conversation if I wasn't. I am really okay with you also being Supergirl. Kara, you are my hero, I've told you that. I respect Supergirl. I admire Supergirl. I've been doing anything in my power to help Supergirl, but you are the one I've fallen for. Your compassion, your willingness, your big heart, your smile that brightens up my day, the sight of you walking into my office, that little groan you let out when you are frustrated, your texts and phone calls, your sense of justice, your need to seek out the truth, your trust in me and in my ability to be good and do better, your friendship, you believing in me when no one else would. What you can do as Supergirl is just another facet of yourself. To me, it doesn't define you. If you lost all of your powers tomorrow, the person I've fallen for would still be here," Lena squeezes Kara's hands and gives her a soft smile, her eyes shimmering, reflecting everything she had just said.
"Lee," Kara lets out a deep exhale. "Come here," Kara says in a soft, reverent tone, not being able to put into words how grateful and relieved she is to hear what Lena has just said about her.
She loves her friends, she loves her family, and she knows without a shadow of doubt they love her right back. But more often than not, they see her as Supergirl first, as what she can do with her abilities when she's wearing her costume. Everyone in her life, with the exception of her sister, sees her as Supergirl first. Winn, who used to even be in love with her before finding out about her abilities, once he's found out, he has come to see her under a different light. Her foster parents have been chosen by Clark because they knew how to deal with her abilities. The reason James has come into her life is that Clark pointed him towards her. J'onn has met her because she's an alien, because Jeremiah has asked him to look after her. She loves them, they are her friends, her family, but that doesn't mean that she doesn't misses being seen as Kara first. Kal-el had been just a baby when he was sent to Earth and he didn't experience Krypton, he didn't know a life under the red sun. Even her aunt, Astra, her last real link to Krypton, seemed to have forgotten about their time there as a family. And when Lena voices one of her biggest inner turmoils, it cements something in her, something she's been telling herself for all of these months she's gotten to know Lena.
Lena leans forward and they encircle their arms around each other at the same time, Kara buries her face just below Lena's jaw. Lena's lips press gently on Kara's temple. One of Lena's hands cradles Kara's head, her thumb caressing the side of her face.
They stay like that for a few seconds, just relishing in their physical contact, enhancing the reassurance that Lena's words have brought.
"Why didn't you tell me you knew, early on? I mean, after a while we just weren't saying it out loud, but why didn't you ever bring it up?" Kara asks as she extricates herself from Lena.
"I dropped hints in hope that you'd be reassured that I knew and that I was okay with it. I, I didn't bring it up because even though I figured it out, that was your secret to tell, and when you were ready I knew you would tell me," Lena admits.
"You're an amazing friend," Kara interlocks their fingers and positions the hand she's just grabbed on her thigh. "I've wanted to tell you. So. Many. Times. I have only told my secret to one other person. All the others they've always known or they've found out for one reason or another," Kara shrugs. "When it's just you and me, I'm not Supergirl, I'm Kara. And everything you said just now about me, that's, that means the world to me," Kara says playing with their fingers.
"When I was on Krypton I didn't have any of these powers, I was simply Kara. Supergirl is something I can do, and Kara, Kara is who I am, and you've always seen me like me, and I just, I just didn't want to risk losing this, what we have, and that's the only reason I didn't tell you sooner," Kara confesses.
"You won't," Lena says squeezing the hand she has intertwined with Kara's.
"I know," Kara smiles at her, their eyes locking.
They are interrupted by Lena's phone beeping alerting her to a new text. She grabs the device from her back pocket and checks it, "It's Hector, our food is here."
"Oh good, because I'm starving," Kara declares and Lena laughs as she quickly answers the text telling her assistant he could come up.
"Of course you are," Lena says as she gets up to walk towards the entrance. She's just pushing the door open as the elevator slides open and she greets the assistant on call as she takes the items from him.
"Thank you, Hector," she says with a polite smile. "You can go home now and have the rest of the weekend to yourself," Lena tells him and he thanks her. "See you on Monday," Lena says just before the door slides closed and the elevator begins its descent. When she walks back into the living area, she spots Kara by the dining table on the adjacent space and is met with a set table, and a smiling Kara standing next to it, waiting for her.
"You super sped your way into arranging this, didn't you?" Lena asks amusedly.
"Maybe?" Kara answers impishly.
"I should get used to it now, I suppose," Lena chuckles while shaking her head.
"You definitely should," Kara encourages in a serious playful tone.
"So, I've ordered food for three people," Lena says as she deposits the paper bags on the table.
"Lena!"
"What? I know you need a higher calorie intake, Kara. I don't want you feeling self-conscious in front of me and only eating the amount that I would need. It's just food, and your metabolism isn't the same as mine. I actually think it's fascinating," she says as she takes the styrofoam containers out of the packages and places them on the table.
"What is all this, I thought you ordered food from a French restaurant?" Kara says as she peeks into one of the containers.
"Well, this was all prepared in a French restaurant kitchen, and it was all cooked by a French chef, who was so offended by my request, let me tell you. But I promised him I'd have my next businesses lunches and dinners at his place, so he begrudgingly accepted to prepare this for us," Lena explains. "Have you ever had burgers and fries that were prepared from scratch by a French chef before, Kara?" Lena asks enthusiastically.
"You're the best," Kara's eyes are sparkling and she has a smile so bright Lena thinks she would be able to taste the happiness there if she were to join their lips in that moment.
Lena pours them the iced hibiscus tea she prepared earlier and which Kara had retrieved from the fridge, as Kara fills their plates.
When Kara first bites into the burger, she lets an almost sinful moan that makes Lena stop mid-bite to look at her.
"I'm glad you're enjoying it," Lena says with a chuckle. "I wasn't sure if a gourmet burger would be appreciated by a junk food connoisseur such as you," she jokes.
"Oh, it definitely is. This is, this is something else," Kara says in appreciation for the food.
"There's also a salad I asked him to prepare, if you noticed," Lena says with a quirk of her eyebrows. "So it would make me immensely happy if you would give it a try, please? Because as much as I understand your body works differently than ours mere earthlings, I would think you need nutrients from fresh food as well, and burgers are not the best option for that," Lena reasons.
"As long as it's not like that kale salad or that green concoction you made me drink on our previous date," Kara bargains.
"It's not. I did promise you there would be no kale this time," Lena says.
"Okay, who am I to deny you the feeling of happiness then," Kara relents.
"You're incorrigible," Lena shakes her head trying not to laugh. "And thank you."
"So, how old were you when you came to Earth?" Lena breaks the comfortable silence they had fallen into, with them having their mouths occupied with their food for the past couple of minutes.
"13," Kara mumbles between bites.
"You've been here for…" Lena encourages her to continue.
"13 years, but I was in the phantom zone for 24 before coming here," Kara answers already anticipating the questions that would follow.
"Phantom zone?" Lena questions with a frown.
"Yeah, it's a place where time is frozen. Anyone who gets trapped in there doesn't age or see the time pass, really. It was like I was in this perpetual state of sleeping while there. When Krypton exploded, its debris knocked my pod to that region, and I stayed there for 24 years before finally arriving on Earth," Kara summarizes the region she had been stuck on for almost half of her life, if she was going to count it literally.
"So you are actually 50 years old?" Lena's eyes widen in disbelief.
"When you put it that way," Kara answers, bracing herself for the teasing that she knows Lena wouldn't miss the opportunity to engage on.
"I didn't peg you for a cougar, Miss Danvers. Or should I call you Mrs. from now on?" Lena says with laughter in her voice and a wiggle of her eyebrows.
"I'm not telling you anything else, if you keep that up." Kara tries to seem annoyed by the comment and failing miserably.
"But seriously now, do you not remember that time you spent there at all?" Lena asks with concern.
"No, it was like I've never been there, honestly." Kara reassures her, and Lena nods in acquiescence.
"What are your parents' names?" Lena asks.
"My mother's name was Alura and my father's was Zor-El. He was a scientist, and my mother was a-"
Lena interrupts her, "Sort of a lawyer."
"You remember," Kara states pleased.
"Of course I remember," Lena smiles.
"Any siblings?"
"Krypton had natality control, so no. Alex is my only sibling." Kara answers.
"How did you get placed with the Danvers?"
"My foster parents, Jeremiah and Eliza, they are both scientists. They've helped Kal, Clark, better understand his alien physiology and to better control his powers. So when my pod landed, Clark detected its arrival and took me to them. They are nice people, and they already had a teenage daughter, so my cousin thought I'd be better off with them. I'm glad he took me there," Kara tells Lena.
"They seem like the perfect fit for you," Lena says softly and smiles fondly, happy that Kara didn't have the same fate as her. Obviously Lena didn't have the same experiences as her, she didn't lose her planet, she wasn't sent to another one, but she did know what it was like to suddenly not have the family she's always known, she did know what it feels like to be taken to a completely strange place, to have to learn how to fit in, in some way.
"They are," Kara says. "There's something I should also tell you, about my foster father," Kara adds and Lena hums signaling for her to keep going.
"He, umm, for the longest time we thought he was dead, but, umm, recently we've found out that he's been… That he has been under Cadmus' reins," Kara stutters as she speaks, knowing it would hurt Lena to learn about that.
"Oh Kara," Lena says bowing her head a little. "I am so sorry for all the trials my family has put yours under," she says looking at Kara now.
"Lena," Kara grabs her hand, "Don't ever apologize to me for your mother and brother's wrongdoings. Those have nothing to do with you. Do you really think we'd be here, this close, completely exposed to one another, if I thought otherwise?" Kara says.
"I know," Lena nods with a weak smile, her thumb caressing Kara's hand.
"Good. And I'll tell you again and again and again until you really believe it, okay?" Kara says.
"Okay," Lena speaks and brings Kara's hand to her lips.
"How did he end up with Cadmus?"
"He went on a DEO mission with Hank Henshaw, your mother's thug. Henshaw was the DEO director at the time, and he had ordered a mission to kill J'onn, who is a Martian, the last one of his kind. Jeremiah was on that mission and J'onn saved his life. Jeremiah tried to convince Henshaw that J'onn wasn't a threat, Henshaw didn't listen, he got into a physical fight with Jeremiah and Henshaw ended up falling from a cliff, but not before he had impaled a knife in Jeremiah. J'onn promised Jeremiah he would look after Alex and I, that he would keep an eye on us, so he assumed Henshaw's identity and that's it. Jeremiah was rescued just like Henshaw, and Lillian threatened to hurt my sister and me to make Jeremiah work on a way to revive Henshaw and the rest you already know," Kara explains.
"Kara, that's, I don't even know what to say," Lena mutters.
"And, umm, there's something else," Kara says softly.
"Can we, can we move this back to the couch?" Lena asks, seeing as they have already finished their food.
Kara nods, "I think that's a great idea, actually." She then starts to get up without letting go of the hand Lena has claimed, pulling her friend with her as she guides them back to the couch.
Kara takes a seat with her back to the armrest with both legs splayed on the couch, propped in front of her and she pulls Lena down as she makes room for Lena to adjust herself between her legs, and to rest her back on Kara's front. Lena's head falls back to lay on Kara's shoulder, and Kara's arms encircle her, their hands linking in front of them on Lena's stomach.
"This is better," Lena says, allowing her body to mold into Kara's, making the both of them relax into each other.
"Mmmm, I agree," Kara says. "You ready to continue?" Kara asks to check if Lena is ready to resume their conversation, aware of the unspoken break Lena has asked for when she suggested they moved to the couch.
"Yes, you were saying there was something else?"
"Yeah," Kara picks up where they had stopped. "The virus you destroyed, the one that could have killed the entire alien population on Earth, it was created by my father."
"Jeremiah?" Lena asks tilting her head so she could glance up at Kara's face.
"No. My biological father," Kara answers with a sad, rueful tone.
"I don't understand," Lena states in a perplexed manner.
"Have you ever read in Lex's files about a place called the Fortress of Solitude?" Kara asks.
"No, I don't think so. At least not with that nomenclature," Lena answers.
"It's a place Clark uses for solace, and where all the information Kryptonians have ever gathered are stored in an artificial intelligence database. When Lillian kidnapped me, she extracted my blood and used it in order to have access to the Fortress and to collect the formula to the virus my dad had designed back on Krypton to eliminate all life that didn't share our DNA, in case of an invasion." Kara explains, hurt evident in her voice.
"Kara," Lena says sadly, squeezing her hand.
"See, my family is not that different from yours. Their visions on aliens are very similar one could even say. But you and I… We are doing everything in our power to make the world a better place, to change people's lives for the better, so, when I say you are not responsible for your family's transgressions-"
Lena interrupts her, "You say it because you know what it feels like to bear this guilt and responsibility."
"I do," Kara says somberly.
"I, umm, I have something I need to tell you as well, and," Lena says and falls silent.
"What is it, Lee, you know you can tell me anything," Kara squeezes her hand, starting to trace soothing patterns on Lena's palm.
"I know, it's just," Lena exhales sharply, and says it practically in one breath, "I am a Luthor by blood."
"What?" Kara can't help the surprise in her voice.
"When my mother broke me out of jail and kidnapped me, she told me I am Lionel's biological daughter. He had an affair with my biological mother, and when she passed away he and my mother, Lillian, adopted me. I didn't believe her at first, but Lex's vault was programmed to be opened only by Luthor DNA and that's why my mother sought me out, so she could access my brother's vault. And when I refused to cooperate, that partner of hers, the one who looks just like J'onn, he grabbed my hand and forced it into the scanner and it worked. I still didn't want to believe it, so I tested my blood, and it was there clear as water. Then I tested it again and I got the same result. I haven't told this to anyone." Lena confesses.
"Lee," Kara says gently. "This doesn't change anything. If anything, it reinforces that blood, DNA, has nothing on what a person will become. You are good, you are caring, and anyone who doesn't see this by now is blind. You have chosen, forged your own path," Kara says disentangling their hands and bringing her own to Lena's shoulder and firmly pressing the muscles there in comfort and moving them forward to wrap them around Lena's torso, hugging her from behind.
"I am so lucky to have you in my life," Lena tells her. "Against all odds, you walked right into my office and it's like everything fell into place," Lena tells Kara, and Kara rests her head atop of Lena's.
"You and I, umm, are we in a place where we can kiss at any time?" Lena asks after silence falls upon them for a few seconds.
"Who do you think I am, Miss Luthor? I require at least a couple of dates first," Kara says teasingly, pressing Lena's body further into hers, and coming to rest her chin on Lena's shoulder.
"Well, technically, this would be our second date if the way last Sunday's lunch ended is any indication. And to answer your question, I think you are someone who was jealous of my teeth biting into my own lip so you went and did something about it," Lena states in a playful tone, bringing back the memories of what had turned out to be their first official date, in her books, at least.
"You, Lena Luthor," Kara says lifting her head from where it rested on Lena's shoulder and guiding Lena's face to look up at her. "Are a tease, biting your lip at every opportunity. And I have nothing to say in my defense, it seems," she says with a laugh when she sees Lena raising an eyebrow and doing exactly what prompted her to kiss her friend the previous Sunday. "To answer your question, I am… In that place… If you are."
"Good. Because I really, really, want to kiss you right now," Lena says as she gets out of Kara's embrace so she can reposition her upper body in a way that allows for her to look at Kara. Her eyes then searching Kara's for any signs of reluctance.
"I won't object to that," Kara's says before licking her lips, her eyes traveling from Lena's eyes to her mouth.
Lena then leans forward and joins their lips, their eyes closing before their mouths connect. Lena's hands go to Kara's face, gently caressing her cheeks and jaw. Kara's right-hand travels to Lena's waist, securing her there as her other hand rests on the space where Lena's neck meets her shoulder. They stay like that for a few seconds, their mouths moving leisurely, allowing one another to taste the other's lips. When they part with a content sigh, there is a gleam in their eyes, reflecting the bliss of the moment they have just shared.
"I've been dying to do this again," Kara admits grinning.
"Me too. I'm glad we agree on that," Lena says with a grin of her own, and then she pecks Kara's lips.
"So we're doing this," Kara says.
"I hope so," Lena is quick to say.
"This won't be easy," Kara arguments.
"Is anything ever?" Lena points out.
"We'll have to be so careful, especially when I'm Supergirl. We can't slip-up to Lena and Kara, that would be a PR disaster, and it would increase the chances of my real identity being revealed to the world. Not to mention the added risk it would bring to you," Kara voices her fears.
"I have thought about that as well," Lena says. "With being careful with what we talk about around my drivers, assistants, and personnel… We'll have to be careful at the office as well, with your visits in your costume. We can't risk them walking in on Supergirl and I making out or in a situation that would implicate I would be cheating on my journalist girlfriend with National City's superhero," Lena remarks.
"You've thought about making out with me in your office?" Kara teases.
"That's what you took out of what I've just said?" Lena says shaking her head in amusement, not at all surprised by what Kara has chosen to focus on.
"Well, that and… Girlfriend, huh?" Kara wiggles her eyebrows, a smirk stamping her face.
"You're impossible," Lena rolls her eyes.
"I'm just recapping what you said," Kara clarifies.
"Well, I realize we haven't gotten to that part yet of our talk, but that's where I hope this conversation will lead us?" Lena says with a tinge of shyness coming through.
"I'd love to be your girlfriend, if you'll have me," Kara declares happily, eyes glistening and her index finger coming up to stroke Lena's jaw.
"You have no idea how much I want that," Lena says leaning into Kara's hand.
"I think I might have a tiny notion," Kara says guiding Lena's face close to hers and then joining their lips again. Both women getting lost in each other. This kiss a bit more urgent than the previous ones they've shared until then. They part after a few seconds, their foreheads resting against one another's, their noses brushing. They both let out an exhale at the same time which makes them giggle.
"Rao, you're so beautiful," Kara says, her breath caressing Lena's lips.
Lena withdraws a little from Kara and brings her hands up and runs her thumbs through Kara's eyebrows, cheekbones, and makes its way to Kara's chin with her index fingers softly caressing the side of Kara's face, stopping when they reach Kara's jaw, and she then touches her lips to Kara's in an ever so gentle brush, keeping their mouths pressed to each other for a few seconds, their breaths mingling. When they part, Kara encircles her arms around Lena bringing their torsos closer together, both of them trying to reposition themselves on the couch, with Kara scooting down, and Lena laying on top of her, their chests pressed against each other's, their legs entwined.
"We'll have to be careful here as well, on some days at least," Lena says after a few moments of them just holding each other. "Mario, my housekeeper, he's over every Monday and Thursday. He's here before I leave for work, so you'll have to be mindful of him if you are here in those days. If you need to do Super work early in the morning, you'll have to change somewhere else, and if you stop by, it'll have to be as Kara Danvers, not Supergirl." Lena explains.
"Okay," Kara says softly, her hand running up and down on Lena's back.
"He doesn't have access to my panic room, though, and he only goes into my bedroom when I'm not home, so if you want to keep a spare suit in the panic room, you may," Lena offers.
"That would be helpful," Kara ponders.
"I'll upload your palm print to the safe room system, so you'll have access to it as well," Lena says.
"Thank you."
"No one other than you have free access to come up to my apartment at all times, not even my assistants, so on the other days, it'll be just me and you," Lena points out.
"I've just realized I've never been here as Supergirl," Kara says. "But I suppose that's going to change soon."
"The balcony door is already set to recognize your palm print, much like the elevator," Lena tells her.
"I love that I'm dating a high-tech aficionado genius," Kara says amused.
"You're a dork. And I love that now I can do this at any time you say something like that," Lena raises up her head from where it rests on Kara's shoulder and kisses the corner of her girlfriend's mouth.
"Oh that's another perk too," Kara says with a grin.
"What are you doing tonight?" Lena asks into Kara's neck.
"Yeah, I've been looking for an opening to bring that up."
"It sounds ominous," Lena says holding her head up to look at Kara's face.
"I hope it's not," Kara chuckles and starts to stroke Lena's hair. "So, after the entire ordeal with my sister, J'onn called my foster mom, and long story short, she's coming into town today. Her plane must have landed already, actually, and my sister is having a family dinner at her place tonight, and she has invited you as well," Kara speaks without taking a breath.
"Kara, darling, breathe." Lena says.
"I'm sorry. It's just, I don't want you feeling pressured into going, but at the same time, I'd love if you did go," Kara tells her nervously.
"I'll go."
"You will?"
"Of course. If you're sure it's something that you are ready for?" Lena checks.
"I am. I would love for you to meet my family as my girlfriend," Kara says.
"Okay, then. It's just that I was afraid it might be too soon, so I needed to make sure you were really comfortable with it," Lena explains.
"We've been best friends for months, Lee. We pretty much know everything that really matters about the other. We've just started dating, sure, but we're not strangers to each other," Kara speaks softly voicing what she herself has contemplated on when her sister had extended the invitation to Lena.
"So, I think we can't really pace ourselves thinking it's too soon or too fast for some steps or milestones because we didn't start hanging out just two weeks or even a month ago. So we'll just keep being honest with each other and keep communicating and we'll evolve as a couple by taking whatever steps feel natural and comfortable in no particular or socially expected order. And what we are, what we have here, it's not something fleeting, I am in love with you," Kara says the last part with awe in her voice, one arm securing Lena to her, and her other hand tracing the side of Lena's face.
"And I'm in love with you," Lena states tightening her hold on Kara, nuzzling into her neck.
"You are very wise, you know," Lena says.
"I think so too," Kara says cockily.
"It must be your old age," Lena retorts.
"Leeena. You'll never let that one go, huh?" Kara says pouting, faking annoyance.
"Never," Lena says in a serious playful tone, dropping a kiss on Kara's collarbone.
"Who will be there?" Lena asks wanting to know in advance who exactly the term family entails.
"My foster mom and Alex, of course. Maggie, my sister's girlfriend-"
"Who arrested me, how could I have forgotten," Lena interrupts Kara, her tone implying that it's all fine though.
"Lee," Kara says gently wanting to make sure Lena is really okay.
"It's fine, Kara, really. I just think it's kind of comical, well, now that's all water under the bridge, that is, that in a city this big your sister's girlfriend is the one who arrested me," Lena tells her.
"Yeah, tell me about it," Kara says remembering she almost got into an argument with Maggie because of that. Before she came to her senses realizing the detective was only doing her job and following the evidence at hand.
"Anyone else?" Lena gets them back on track about Alex's guest list.
"Winn might end up showing up, if it's a slow night. Alex texted me on my way over here to tell me he might join us. She thinks you and Winn will become fast friends," Kara says with a chuckle.
"He's the one who helped me set the device at the gala, right?" Kara nods. "I can see why your sister would think that, he's smart," Lena says.
"Hah, he'll be ecstatic to learn you said that about him. He's a fan," Kara tells Lena.
"If Winn is invited, James would be as well, but from what I gathered he will be busy tonight," Kara decides to not tell Lena yet about James' secret identity. Even though she's not sure how long she'll be able to keep that piece of information from Lena, seeing she'll be a constant presence in their lives from now on, but she thinks she should talk to James first since it's not her secret to tell.
"And J'onn will be there as well. He's like a surrogate father figure to us ever since Alex and I started working for the DEO. He's made that promise to Jeremiah that he would look after us, back when Jeremiah was supposedly dead, when he saved J'onn's life, and he's faithful to that," Kara says.
"Kara," Lena speaks alarmed, lifting her head to look at her girlfriend. "You are telling me that someone who is a father figure to you, a crucial detail you left out yesterday, has looked into my mind?" Lena says in a panicky tone, remembering the day before when J'onn stopped by to check if Kara was okay, the morning after she had spent the night consoling her now girlfriend.
Friday morning starts with Lena and Kara in the same positions they had fallen asleep the night before, with Lena resting her head on Kara's chest, both women holding each other like they've been doing that for years. Only it was the first time they had spent the night with each other, the first time they had shared a bed, and it should feel awkward, or foreign, but instead, it felt comfortable, familiar, like they were exactly where they were supposed to be.
Lena is the first to wake up, her bladder screaming at her for being neglected for hours, and as she tries as gently as possible to extricate herself from Kara's arms, she feels Kara's hold on her tighten, a soft hum leaving the other's woman's lips.
"Where are you going?" Lena hears Kara say.
"To the bathroom, my bladder has been protesting for quite some time," Lena says as she reluctantly manages to escape Kara's soft, warm embrace.
"I should get up as well, I need to stop by CatCo before heading to my sister's," Kara speaks loud enough from the bed so Lena can hear her from the bathroom.
When Lena emerges after relieving herself and freshening up, Kara is in the kitchen already making coffee, putting bread on the toaster and scrambling some eggs in a pan.
"How are you feeling?" Lena asks as she takes a seat at the breakfast table.
Kara turns around with a soft smile on her lips, "I'm feeling better. Thank you for being here for me."
"Anytime," Lena says with a smile of her own.
"I hope coffee, toast, and scrambled eggs are okay?" Kara asks.
"Of course," Lena says.
"There's tea and orange juice as well, if this is a caffeine free morning," Kara offers, remembering that in some mornings Lena forgoes coffee preferring tea instead.
"Coffee is fine," Lena tells Kara who grins at her as she transfers the eggs from the pan to the two plates she had retrieved from a cabinet. The domesticity of that morning not lost in either of them.
They eat in a comfortable silence, exchanging glances and smiles every now and then, and once they are finished, Kara declines Lena's offer to help clear the table by telling her it would only take her a literal second which makes Lena laugh. So Lena concedes and goes into the bathroom to change.
Once Kara puts the dishes away, she goes into the bedroom to change as well, and just as she finishes putting on her shirt, she hears a faint knock at her door. Kara grabs her shoes and Lena's and takes them with her to the living room and goes to see who is at her door.
"J'onn? Hi!" Kara exclaims as she opens the door. "Is everything okay?"
"Hello, Kara. Yes, yes everything is fine," J'onn tells her.
"Come on in," Kara makes way for him to enter the place.
"Thanks. I won't be long, I just wanted to-" J'onn is cut off by the sight of Lena emerging from Kara's bedroom.
"Kara, darling, have you seen my shoes? I swear I thought I had left them by the be-" Lena stops in her tracks as she adjusts her skirt, finally realizing they have company.
"Kara?" Lena says concerned after having recognized his face.
"Everything is fine. Lena, this is J'onn. He's my boss and, he's also family." Kara says reassuring Lena, having caught up on why Lena seemed alarmed upon seeing J'onn.
"Oh, yes, of course. I remember you. You were at the docks with Supergirl, the night I neutralized the virus. I'm sorry, I just confused you with someone else. I'm Lena," Lena says coming forward and extending her hand to J'onn in greeting.
"It's fine, Ms. Luthor," J'onn says as they shake hands.
"J'onn, can I get you anything?" Kara asks breaking the awkward silence that seemed to have fallen upon them after the acknowledgments.
"No, no. I see you are busy. I just stopped by to check on you after… you know," J'onn alludes to the events of the previous days.
"Lena knows. It's okay," Kara tells him and J'onn looks at Kara suspiciously.
"She knows everything. Well, a good portion of it, the more pressing points," Kara tells him.
"I see," J'onn searches Lena's face, and when he's met only with a look of interest and a little reserve she's trying very hard to conceal, he continues, "I just wanted to see how you are doing, but I see you are in good hands. I'll be going now," he says going for the door handle.
"Thank you J'onn, for stopping by," Kara says fondly when she catches up with him by her door.
"Of course," he says affectionately. "And Miss Danvers?" He adds, his voice adopting a boss like tone Kara is very familiar with, "Unless I personally call you for an emergency, I don't expect to see you at work until Monday, understood?"
"Yes sir," Kara says in a firm yet light-hearted tone.
"I'll have Pam wait for you with the NDA papers when you're back. Enjoy your time off. It was great meeting you, Miss Luthor," he says looking over to Lena and turning to open the door.
"Likewise," Lena says with a nod.
"You're good for each other," J'onn says quietly as he steps out into the corridor.
"Yeah, we are," Kara agrees with a smile. "You read her mind, didn't you?"
J'onn just smirks at her, "Have a nice day, Kara," he says and adds, "You'll have some more explaining to do," J'onn signals with his head to her apartment and then turns to leave.
Kara turns around to get back into her place, a puzzled look on her face at what J'onn had just said before leaving.
"What do you mean by 'you read her mind'?" Lena's question makes her widen her eyes in understanding, that's the explaining. This should be fun.
"Oh, you heard that," Kara says casually.
"Yes," Lena nods.
"He can read minds. He doesn't do it often, don't worry. He respects our privacy and all of that, but-"
Lena interrupts her, "But seeing I have a last name that doesn't exactly inspire trust he had to check."
"I'm sorry," Kara says somberly.
"I understand," Lena reassures with a weak smile before she turns around to go into the bedroom so she can arrange her hair into a ponytail.
"Are J'onn and my mother's goon related somehow?" Lena asks intrigued from her place in front of the mirror.
"Oh, umm, no. Long story short, J'onn is also a shape-shifter and many years ago he had to disguise himself as Henshaw, that's your mother's associate name, and ever since he's been using that persona, though now he doesn't go by that name anymore," Kara gives her the short version.
"Oh," Lena says trying to process the information she's just received.
"We can talk more about it when we unpause our talk, if you'd like?" Kara suggests, leaning into the door frame.
Lena nods and says, "I think that's a good idea."
"Oh god, he, he read my mind, Kara." Lena says after a few seconds in a slightly freaked tone, the realization of what reading minds imply dawning on her.
"He did. Anything to be embarrassed about?" Kara asks entertained by the sight of her friend freaking out over J'onn's abilities.
"Oh god, Kara. I was absolutely checking you out just before he had gotten here," Lena says not really seeing the point in keeping something like that from Kara when someone she had just met, someone who is Kara's boss, someone who Kara had referred to as being family had just been privy to.
Kara chuckles. "You were, weren't you, I noticed it."
"Liar." Lena retorts.
"You got a glimpse of me putting on my shirt, and that's how you didn't hear when I told you that I would place our shoes by the sofa just as I was going to see who it was that was knocking on my door," Kara speaks what exactly had happened.
Lena groans. "I didn't even hear the knock. And I really didn't mean to, umm stare, that is, but then I got out of the bathroom and you have really, really nice latissimus dorsi."
"I'm glad you enjoyed the view," Kara says grinning.
"You're trouble." Lena declares with a smile of her own.
"I was simply changing out of my pajamas. I thought I had a bit more time since you had just gotten into the bathroom," Kara defends herself in a completely non-convincing manner.
"Mhmm." Lena hums in mock disbelief, and her phone interrupts their flirty banter with a series of beeps alerting her she has a meeting soon.
"I need to go," Lena's shoulders drop and Kara pouts. "I have a meeting in about an hour, and I still have to go home and change," she says as she starts moving again gathering her purse and coat.
She puts on her shoes, and hugs Kara who has followed her into the living room. "Call me if you need anything," Lena says when they let go of each other.
"I will. Thank you again, Lena." Kara says, her tone and eyes conveying how grateful she is Lena had come over, how grateful she is Lena has been by her side through all of this, how grateful she is she has Lena.
Lena nods in acknowledgment, "I'll see you tomorrow, okay," she presses her lips to Kara's cheek for a few seconds, too long to be considered friendly, then she says goodbye and leaves the apartment.
Kara laughs, "Lena, it's fine. I'm sure he's learned worse, more traumatic things, seeing how much time he spends with my sister and her girlfriend. Plus, it's not like he reads your every thought. He has control over it."
"It's still something that's going to take me a while to wrap my head around," Lena says still alarmed with the prospect of someone having access to her thoughts.
"Afraid he'll have a repeat of yesterday's morning?" Kara says teasingly. "If it's any consolation, if he were to read my mind, he would find similar thoughts in there," Kara admits biting her lip and winking at Lena.
"This doesn't help. At all. You tease," Lena says and Kara pecks her lips.
"Don't worry, he respects our privacy," Kara reassures her, and Lena nods.
"Exactly how long until we have to be at your sister's?" Lena asks.
"I told her I'd be there by seven-ish, so in three hours? I have to go home first though, to shower and change." Kara tells her.
"You can do that here, if you want. I'm sure I have a blouse that would fit you." Lena offers.
"I'm sure you have, beautiful, and I'm grateful for the offer, but I'm not sure you want me showing up in your clothes at my sister's place for dinner when you are meeting my family, officially, as my girlfriend. The teasing would be relentless." Kara points out.
"Good point," Lena chuckles. "I rescind my offer. Where does your sister live?"
"About 5 blocks from CatCo." Kara answers.
"Definitely picking you up then?" Lena concludes after making a mental trajectory to the place.
"Are you kicking me out?" Kara asks.
"What? Of course not, I just offered to loan you clothes, Kara. I asked because I wanted to know how long we have until we need to get ready." Lena says lifting her head so she could look at Kara who has a grin on her face.
"You're teasing me," Lena says shaking her head and reassuming her position on Kara's chest.
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Kara says jokingly.
"You're impossible," Lena mutters.
"You keep calling me that," Kara laughs. "What do you have in mind for this free time we have?" Kara asks with interest evident in her voice.
"Oh, something very scandalous," Lena says provocatively, enjoying the opportunity to tease her girlfriend right back.
"Oh?" Kara inquiries.
"A nap with my girlfriend," Lena reveals, her body feeling very tired and sluggish from Kara's gentle strokes and caresses throughout the past hour.
Kara laughs having already noticed her girlfriend has gone limb on top of her some time ago. "And you call me a tease. I'd love to take a nap with you," Kara says. "Here… Or do you want to move this party to the bed?"
"Here is fine by me, if you're comfortable?" Lena asks.
"Very," Kara tells her.
"Okay then. Set the alarm?"
Kara moves a bit to grab the phone on the coffee table. "Done. Where is the blinds' remote?" Kara asks.
"It should be here somewhere," Lena says lifting her head to scan the room, propping her body on her hands to give her some leverage so she could look around.
"Found it," Kara says lifting the device from behind her. "It was behind the cushion," she tells Lena as she presses the buttons to close the shades.
They adjust themselves once again. Kara lets her body slide down a bit further, so her head would rest against the pillows and Lena gets accommodated so Kara's chest would serve as her own cushion. Once they are both comfortable, they let out a deep content sigh.
"Sweet dreams, beautiful," Lena hears Kara say before she drifts off to sleep.
Even though Kara has told her girlfriend she would love to take a nap with her, the thought of the new title making Kara's stomach do somersaults, it takes her a while to surrender to sleep as she stares at the person cuddled into her.
Kara reminisces about how much her life has changed after coming to Earth, after coming out as Supergirl, after meeting Lena. How at one point she feared she would never have this connection with another being, how she feared she would never find her perfect game night partner. And right now, looking at the fast asleep woman in her arms, she thinks she couldn't have been more wrong in those instances because right now, the feeling she has is one of fulfillment. She has her sister safe and sound; she has her friends and family; she has the career she's worked so hard to accomplish and succeed at; she has her superhero duties that make the world a better place, which makes her a better person; and she has Lena, the last piece she has been missing all this time.
Please let me know your thoughts on what you have just read? I value your comments so much, y'all have no idea.