Things were surprisingly normal despite the merging of two realities. If Barry hadn't shown up and told them it had happened than Kara wouldn't have known the difference. Things were changing though, but the momentum of the changes had started before the Flash had popped back into National City. Change was in the air.
Kara decided she wanted to be a journalist, but with Cat's backing, she was able to circumvent having to work directly under Snapper Carr. Instead, she worked on her own and sent the final polished pieces to Snapper to look over. After a rough week or so, the discontented man finally gave in and just rolled with how Cat and Kara had decided things should go. After things with Snapper got settled, Cat decided that she was going to take a leave of absence from CatCo. She felt like she needed another adventure to stretch and grow. Cat didn't know how long she would be gone, but she left James in charge while she was away. That surprised Kara. A career photographer running one of the world's largest media conglomerates; Kara wasn't sure how he would manage it, but she didn't worry. Assistant to the boss wasn't her job anymore.
Winn, after Barry had left, was offered a position with the DEO. With his knowledge of the multi-verse and it's effects, as well as his working relationship with Barry and his insights on Kara, it was deemed that he was a valuable asset to the organization. Kara's best friend had jumped at the chance to work doing something more important than fixing email bugs at CatCo. He and Barry's tech guru Cisco would email back and forth, and this led to Winn upgrading her suit. Kara was now decked out with as many sensors as Barry was to monitor her vitals. Part of her wondered why it took the merging of universes for someone to think if doing that for her. Then again, she always was the punch first, questions second, type of girl.
It was a Sunday morning when her phone rang, making her jump. She had been lazing in bed, enjoying her one real day off. Grumbling that it better not be another rogue alien she fumbled for her phone, not feeling very super. Between her new job and fighting the bad guys, she was drained. That was saying something, even for her. That's why she was laying in her bed soaking up the early morning sunshine. Kara didn't even look at who was calling when she answered,
"This had better be important, or I swear I will kick somebodys ass for bothering me on my day off."
"Hello yourself girl of steel." Barry chuckled, his voice giving Kara goosebumps. "What do you say to having a friend come over and hang out later?"
"How much later scarlet speedster?" She teased right back, getting up out of bed and moving to her closet to pick out something to wear. She heard a thump in her living room. Rolling her eyes she opened her door and walked down the short hallway to see Barry standing in her living room, five donut boxes in hand.
"Ten second heads up?" Kara asked staring at the handsome man in her apartment. "That's not even fair."
"You have super speed too, remember?" He laughed setting the boxes on the bar separating her living room from her kitchen before looking her up and down, eyes bright and captivating. "Cute pajamas. I like seeing you wear my logo."
Crap. Kara looked down and remembered what she was wearing. A red Flash tank top and black boy shorts. Everything important was covered, but it was also far less than she usually wore. Blushing to match her shirt she sped back into her room and dressed in more appropriate gray yoga pants and a looser fitting yellow shirt. She then pulled her hair back into a messy bun. She even slipped on her trusty lead lined glasses. Now if she could only keep her heart from racing she would be happy.
Coming back into the main room of the apartment Kara saw Barry had his head stuck in the refrigerator, digging around for something. It gave her an opportunity to indulge herself and look her fill. His hand on the door was big, with long lean fingers. She knew they were gentle from when he had rescued her from her freefall from CatCo. His shoulders were wide, but not bulky like her cousins. His legs were also long and covered in faded denim jeans. All in all he was a gorgeous package to look at, tall and lean, but strong and solid as well. He had the typical build of a swimmer or a runner. It made her giddy to know that he had come all the way from Central City just to spend the day with her.
"Got any orange juice in here?" Barry's voice was muffled as he continued to dig.
"No, I drank the last of it last night. I was going-" Before she could finish he was gone and back, a gallon jug in each hand. Shaking her head she got glasses for the both of them, tossing over her shoulder,
"You will not be drinking that right out of the jug. It's bad enough that we're going to get donut debris everywhere, I don't need orange juice all over my apartment too."
"You're just out to spoil my fun today." Barry griped as he took one of the glasses from her and poured himself a glass. He downed it and the refilled it. "You change out of perfectly delicious pajamas and into yoga pants, put your hair up and hide those pretty eyes of yours. Then I can't even drink my orange juice out of the jug."
Kara knew she was going to catch fire any moment from the blush that was burning her cheeks. Hoping to put some space between them, she hopped up on the bar stool across from Barry instead of beside him. They each got two boxes and then they would split the fifth box. They spent a few minutes in silence as they ate before Kara got up to wash her face and hands. She felt a rush of air and knew Barry was beside her needing to clean up too, heat radiating off of him. Lightning sparked along her skin as she felt his long arms come around her, his hands joining hers under the water.
"Thanks for breakfast." She said softly, ducking under his arm to wipe her hands on a dishtowel. She then tossed the destroyed boxes and empty orange juice jugs in the trash. "You didn't have to run all the way over here to spend the day with me."
"I missed you." Barry shrugged as they both collapsed onto her couch. "I've been emailing Winn back and forth, but I haven't heard from you in weeks. I thought you were avoiding me."
Kara saw something in his eyes and in the way he sat next to her. He was nervous like she was. There had been a connection the first time he had come across, but since he was going back to his world, neither one wanted to dwell on it. Now that they were in the same universe, it seemed like he wanted to see where things went between them. To be honest, Kara wanted to know what was next as well. It would be nice to have someone in her life that she could potentially be more than just friends with. She shook her head with a smile.
"I'm not avoiding you Barry, I promise. Things have been busy between settling into my new job, dealing with all the rogues and then having to be at the DEO several times a week for Winn to test the systems in my new suit. I don't normally get worn out, but I am feeling quite human today."
"Is that why all your windows are wide open?" His light green eyes darted around taking everything in. His skills as a CSI still unnerved her. It was almost like he had the super vision she did. "And why you were wearing barely there pajamas?"
"You're never gonna let me live that down, are you?" Kara pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around her legs, shy about talking about her body. He laughed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, tucking her against his side. It was a bold move, but they both knew she could break his grip if needed. This close he felt like a furnace, heat just pouring off of him due to his high metabolism.
"No way. I liked seeing Kara be human. I'm sure no one ever gets to see you that way." She felt Barry lay his head against hers as she watched the curtains dance in the breeze. Her heart was racing and she could hear that his was as well. They were starting something new. It was exciting.
"Not since I-" Swiftly Barry leaned down and kissed her, arms tightening around her. Suddenly fire poured through her, making her feel like she was melting. His lips were soft on hers, just a gentle press, chaste yet full of promise. The room seemed to be spinning as she opened her mouth and felt him deepen the kiss. The hunger she could feel in his touch shocked Kara to the core. She never dreamed anyone would want her the way Barry was devouring her right now.
Loosening her grip on her legs, she slid her arms around his neck, finally burying her fingers into his thick hair. He snaked an arm under her knees and pulled her into his lap, making the angle of their kiss sweeter and easier. Barry smelled delightful to her. Rich and warm, with the ever present tang of ozone. She could also pick up traces of the shampoo he used, something minty and fresh. The stubble on his chin was rough on hers, but in a pleasant way. A familiar way. His embrace and kiss felt like coming home to Kara, filling a hole inside her that she hadn't even known existed. For once in her life since having left Krypton, Kara felt at peace.
"Wow." Barry was breathing rough, arms tightening around her even more than Kara had thought possible. She could hear his heart facing in time with hers. "That was better than I dreamed it would be."
"You've dreamed about me?" She couldn't be hearing him right. No one dreamed of an alien like that. Most people were terrified of her or respected her enough to not think like that in regards to her. Kal, though, seemed to be what all the ladies fawned over, either as Clark or as Superman.
"More than you know." His voice was deeper and darker than she had ever heard before. Everything in her jumped to attention at his tone. His eyes, so close to her own, were intense and feverish. He reached up and pulled her glasses away, setting them on the arm of the couch. He then reached up and removed her hair from it's bun, threading his fingers through it and pulling it down around her shoulders.
"Every night in the weeks since I left the first time, I've dreamed of you." Kara was riveted to his confession. "Some nights were innocent, others were nightmares. For the most part though, I got to know you much more; in so many ways that I'm looking forward to trying."
"You mean-?" Now Kara knew her ears were playing tricks on her, even as her heart prayed it was true.
"You know what I mean." Now Barry's eyes were almost black as he leaned forward and nibbled on her lips again.
The shrill ring of Barry's phone made them jump apart, breathing furiously. Kara blushed and tried to tame her hair as he answered the phone, listening in on the conversation.
"Yeah Cisco? You know, I'm in the middle of something right now."
"I know man, you're with Kara." Cisco sounded agitated. "But this is urgent. We have a meta-human in the medical district attacking pedestrians and wrecking buildings. We need the Flash and maybe even Supergirl on this one."
Before Cisco could finish Kara was dressed and ready to go. Barry winked at her and told his friend,
"Be there in a few minutes."
Any good? Should I continue?