i really don't like this chapter lmao it was pretty unnecessary fluff stuff? but hopefully after this it picks up the pace in terms of timeline, so it's not day-after-day and more like week-after-week instead. next chapter is going to for sure be the road trip one!
There's someone in her office.
It's too early for Jess to be here. In fact, no one except security and Lena are ever here this early. But as Lena walks down the hall to her office, she immediately notices that the door to her office is cracked open, not enough to give her an idea of who is in there but enough to give her pause outside the door. She has half a mind to reach for the taser she keeps in her purse or call security; unannounced visitors are not a common occurrence.
She doesn't get the chance to do either.
"Lena, took you long enough!" Lex crows, throwing open the door so suddenly Lena jumps. He looks awful, for a lack of a better word; his tie is undone, his suit wrinkled, his hair tousled and eyes alight with so much energy that Lena suspects he hasn't slept a wink all night.
"Have you ever heard of calling?" Lena gripes, shoving him out of the doorway. "I was about to call security on you."
"They let me in! Perks of being the ex CEO," Lex laughs, unfazed by the way Lena stalks past him to get to her desk. "I hope you don't mind, but I got a little whiskey from your stash."
"A little, or a lot?" Lena asks, setting her purse down and trying to busy herself so she won't look at her brother. But she's unable to; there is just something about Lex, something magnetic, that drives her to look at him again after a minute when he doesn't budge to move.
He's grinning back, unfazed by the frosty reception. "Just enough," he replies vaguely. "Come on, Lena! Get a glass. I want to make a toast." When Lena crosses her arms and doesn't move, he takes it upon himself to start rummaging through her stuff.
Lena lets him shove a glass in her hand. She even lets him pour her a few fingers of whiskey. "Why are you here so early, Lex?" she questions, finally.
"Couldn't sleep," Lex says, knocking his glass against hers. His has substantially more whiskey than hers does, but Lena doesn't mention that. "And I wanted to drop by before you get too busy with your CEO duties. I know what it's like, you know. It's pretty tough." He takes a sip out of his glass and sighs, light and dopey.
"You're scaring me," Lena says. "What happened?"
"What do you mean what happened? You're engaged, Lena. That's fucking fantastic!" Lex laughs, clinking his glass against hers again, this time so hard some of the whiskey sloshes over the edge. "That's why we need to toast. Holy shit, right? You're getting married!"
"I told you this days ago," Lena says. "What's really going on?"
"This is it, I promise! I've just—I've had an epiphany. You know how it is when you get one of those? You just have to hammer it out. Gotta get your brain moving, keep busy," Lex rants, pacing around Lena's desk like a madman. "You're going to get married. Wow. This is real."
Lena shifts uncomfortably. "Yes, I'm getting married," she says. "It's not a big deal."
"But it is," Lex insists, coming to a stop right in front of Lena's balcony window. It is an eerie sight, with the lights of her office off and the rising sun just barely illuminating indoors. "Mom was so worried you would get deported, you know."
Lena scoffs at that. "Oh, I'm sure," she says condescendingly, swirling her glass a little before biting the bullet and taking a sip. It burns pleasantly, but its taste lingers sourly. Toothpaste and whiskey don't mix.
"No, no, you should have seen her. She called me, worried out of her mind because she knew that I would have to come back to the company," Lex continues. His crazed smile is gone when he turns around, his eyes softer. "She was sure the board would be okay with it, but Lena. That would be—terrible."
Lena stares at him for a moment, unaware where he's taking his spiel. "So you're...glad I'm not being deported?"
"Of course! God, what would I do without you here?" That wild smile is back, and Lex winks at her as he drops down in Lena's desk chair. "I'm not saying that just because I'd rather jump off your balcony than take over your job, either."
It takes longer than Lena would like to admit to fully comprehend Lex's words. "Wait." She sets down her glass before she drops it, unable to mask her surprise. "What do you mean? Lex—this was your job."
"And it was great, sure," Lex says with a flippant wave of his hand. "But I hated it, and you knew that—let's be honest. It took a run-in with the fuzz to get that through my mind, I guess. But you, you're doing a great job with the company already. And I know you and Mom don't see eye-to-eye on a lot of things—"
"That's the understatement of the century," Lena murmurs.
"—but you're doing real work, not trying to break into the weapons industry and shit like I was. I really wanted to be some sort of global tycoon. I didn't realize how much work it took, of course..."
"Lex, what exactly has mother said about all this?" Lena cuts him off, careful not to look too invested in his answer. "About my engagement."
"What do you mean? She's shocked you're getting married, sure. But hey, so am I! You never told me about your girl," Lex says. He hesitates before he speaks next, clearly conflicted about what he's about to say. "And I know that was my fault. I was so busy traveling the world that I missed my baby sister falling in love."
Lena's resolve crumbles. "Lex," she says, all but begging. "That's not your fault."
"It is," Lex insists, and now it makes sense, the restless state he was in when Lena first walked in. He's blaming himself for everything, resting so much of Lena's lies on his shoulders that Lena suddenly feels sick to her stomach. "I haven't been around lately. What sort of brother doesn't even know that his sister got engaged? Why did it take an immigration lawyer for you to tell me?"
Because it's a lie. Because everything is a lie, Lena wants to admit.
"I should've told you," is what she says instead. She feels weird towering over him like this, him gazing up at her reverently. "I just didn't know how. I didn't mean to," lie to you, "fall in love. It was supposed to be casual..."
"Until it wasn't," Lex finishes. He gets up and sets his glass down, gripping both of Lena's shoulders warmly once his hands are free. His smile is bittersweet, but he looks younger all of a sudden, curly hair falling over his ears, even though his jaw is covered in stubble and his eyes heavy with sadness. "Tell me all about her," he says. "Let's make up for lost time."
Lena thinks about Jess—and by extension, what she said about olive branches—and feels conflicted. There is nothing more that she'd like to do than confide in her brother about everything: about Kara, about her mother, about just how scared she really is about losing not only the company but the only world she's ever known. But the painful truth is she doesn't know if she can trust Lex. That's the worst feeling in the world, to not be able to trust the brother who she used to tell everything, to not be able to trust the only person who made her feel welcome in the Luthor family.
"Let's get dinner," Lena suggests, instead. "I'll tell you all about her then. And you can tell me all about Mexico, about Greece, about India..."
Lex's answering grin is blinding, toothy and youthful. "Deal," he says, wrapping his arms securely around her. "I missed you."
Lena hugs back, ashamed to say she grips his shoulders a tad too tightly, briefly letting her eyes flutter shut. She lets his warmth, the familiar scent of his cologne, overtake her completely. When was the last time she hugged him? When was the last time she hugged anyone?
"I missed you, too," she whispers. It's the most truthful thing she's told him lately.
He lets go too soon, scratching at his jaw with a sheepish chuckle. "Sorry I barged in your office, by the way," he says. "I should probably get home. Get some sleep."
"Yes, you go do that," Lena says, smoothing her hands over the lapels over his suit jacket before pushing his chest back lightly. "You look awful."
"Thanks, sis. I can always count on you to make my day," Lex laughs, and as if he needs to show he doesn't mean it, he gives Lena's forehead a quick kiss. It's like he's back to his youthful CEO days, brushing kisses on the forehead of babies, award-winning grin shining. But that youth—that energy—is directed at Lena instead, and the thought weighs her down even after he's left.
Outside, she can hear the tell-tale sounds of her employees arriving. She goes to her door and watches Lex walk away, jovially throwing hellos and good mornings as he walks down the hallway. The early risers look about as awful as Lena feels, but the sight of Lex makes them brighten; he has that effect on people. Lena, on the other hand...
Well. It's lucky if her employees even make fearful eye contact when she does her rounds.
"Hey, boss," says a voice behind her. Jess is standing there, headset in place and tablet in hand, when Lena turns. "Ready to get started?" She doesn't mention Lex, and for that, Lena is grateful.
"Yes," Lena says, blinking back to reality. She takes one last look at Lex, exiting the premises, and notices (with a sinking heart) that he's stopped to talk to a just-arrived Kara. But she doesn't have time to fix that, so: "Let's go through my schedule."
.
.
.
"Hey! You're Lena's girlfriend!"
Kara is already running late as it is, so she's trying to be discreet as she gets to her desk. But at the unfamiliar voice behind her, she freezes; so much for sneaking in before Jess notices. Lex Luthor comes striding over to her desk, beaming widely, and it takes Kara a moment to realize he's talking to her.
"You are her girlfriend, right?" Lex asks when Kara doesn't reply. "Oh, my bad, I mean fiancé."
Kara fruitlessly looks around for a way out. "Yes, hi," she relents when it's clear Lena or Jess can't save her now. "Mr. Luthor, it's a honor to formally meet you."
"None of that mister stuff, c'mon!" Lex exclaims. "It's Lex. We're going to be family, you know." He shakes Kara's hand with too much enthusiasm for someone in the office at 6:30 A.M., not bothered that Kara is much less enthusiastic.
"Right, of course," Kara laughs awkwardly.
Lex drops her hand with one final squeeze, smile morphing into something apologetic. "Sorry to just bombard you," he says. "But I didn't get a chance to properly meet you before. Say, Lena and I were going to get dinner tonight. Would you come? I'd love to get to know you better."
"I-I couldn't intrude..."
"You wouldn't be," Lex promises. "Just think about it. I swear I don't bite!"
"I'll, um, think about it," Kara agrees. "It is very kind of you to offer."
"There you go again, being so formal." Lex shakes his head. "We've got to change that."
Kara is hyperaware of the people around her desk watching them; to these people who have been working here since before Kara's time—these people who worked under Lex—Kara must be an entire new mystery. Mostly because Lex has just announced to the whole world that Kara is engaged to their boss.
"I'm sorry," Kara says. "Force of habit."
Lex smiles. "Habits can change," he says, like it's a promise. "I won't keep you. I know my sister probably overworks you as it is. Unless, of course, dating the boss gives you some extra perks..."
Kara frowns. "That would be illegal," she says.
Lex laughs, sticking his hands in his pockets and regarding Kara with a curious twinkle in his eye. "What a match made in heaven," he quips. "See you—Kara, right?" When Kara nods in confirmation, his smile only grows. "Kara. See you at dinner."
"Right. Bye...Lex," Kara says, smiling politely until he's gone. Then she breathes and starts to unpack before Jess can get on her ass about correctness and preparedness—the two words Kara's heard every day for the past year.
She gets a nagging feeling that she's being watched. A cursory glance at the cubicles behind her pretty much confirms the fact that, yes, the employees from earlier are still watching her. Pretty unabashedly, too. But then the click of heels sound and the onlookers bury themselves in work, heads ducking down in fear.
But it's not Lena. It's just Jess, wearing something higher than pumps for once. Kara could kiss her in relief.
"Ms. Luthor is preparing notes for her nine o'clock meeting," Jess says. "I will be answering calls up until then, so I need you to go down to IT and get someone to fix Ms. Luthor's computer."
"Got it," Kara says, grabbing the paperwork necessary to fill out a work order.
"And Kara?"
"Yes?"
"You forgot to put on your ring," Jess says, touching the bare spot on her own finger to demonstrate.
"Shoot," Kara swears, digging into her purse. She could've sworn she remembered to put it on, but at the very least she remembered to bring it. She slips it on her finger and looks up again, but Jess is already gone, heels clicking in her wake. Kara's thank you dies on her lips, and she picks up the paperwork again.
At least Jess has her back. Sort of.
When Kara actually does go down to the IT branch, she realizes that gossip spreads through this office faster than wildfire. People who usually tell her hello hide in their cubicles. Security guards who usually smile and joke with her stand rigid, chins lifted up when she passes. Even the guy from IT who usually flirts with her scurries away when she walks in. (The last one is sort of appreciated.)
Kara tries not to be hurt by it. But she is! She's a social person and she likes being around so many friendly people. And now they think she's a direct line to the boss and therefore someone to be avoided.
Then it hits her. If this is how she's treated just because she's engaged to Lena, how is Lena treated? Does no one tell her hello in the hallways? Does no one smile at her? Does no one treat her like she's a person? Not for the first time since she's gotten to know Lena more, Kara feels a pang of sympathy hit her chest.
(Lena Luthor is severely misjudged, and it's not fair).
Kara calls Alex just before her lunch starts. "I've become a social pariah, Alex," she says without preamble. Or as much as a hello.
"Aren't you at work?" Alex asks. Her voice is barely audible over children screaming, metal clanging, and electronic buzzes that indicate she's the unlucky teacher stuck with cafeteria duty. "I shouldn't even be on the phone."
"Alex." Kara pouts even if Alex can't see it. "Didn't you hear me?"
"Yes, Kara, you're a social pariah," Alex parrots back, but her words must finally sink in because a second later she says, "Wait. What?"
"Everyone at work found out I'm en—in a relationship. With Lena," Kara says, catching her slip-up before it turns out disastrous. "And no one trusts me anymore!"
"Yeah, because they think you're going to stab them in their backs," Alex says. If Kara was a betting woman, she would bet her life savings that Alex is rolling her eyes. "I know Lena's, like, the devil incarnate—"
"That is not true."
"Okay, I know she's not exactly...favored by her employees," Alex amends.
"What do you mean she's not favored by her employees?" Kara furrows her brow.
"Everyone hates her, Kara. I'm sorry to break it to you," Alex says. "Reporters haven't stepped in her office in over a year. She fires so many people that Maggie's up to her neck in weird revenge plots and death threats. Even her own mom has given statements saying that her daughter's going about business the wrong way."
Kara grips her phone hard. "Alex, did you have Winn hack her?" she whisper-shouts in the phone, eyes darting to Jess's desk. Thankfully, Jess remains unaware of Kara's meltdown.
"No! It was just a normal background check. I had Maggie get it."
"That's..." Kara trails off, pinching the bridge of her nose and sighing. "Look. Lena's not like that. I know she isn't! There's no way."
"You've only been working for her about a year, Kara." Alex's voice is softer, empathetic. "I know you don't see it. But you need to take the romance goggles off. There has to be a reason why she's so hated. Maybe you should talk to her about it."
"I'm not going to tell her my paranoid sister is digging up her past," Kara argues. "You just don't understand her! You don't know what she's been through!"
"You're right," Alex says. "I don't." And then she levels Kara with her next words: "Do you?"
.
.
.
Jess knocks—unnecessarily—on Lena's door. "Ms. Danvers is here to see you for your lunch, Ms. Luthor," she says once Lena calls her in. "I ordered you both salads from the place on 47th."
Lena sighs. "Thank you, Jess," she says, beginning to organize the papers strewn over her desk. "You can let her in. And you know you don't have to knock, right?"
"I've learned my lesson from the Veronica days," Jess says, dropping the bag of food on Lena's desk.
Lena rolls her eyes at the memory. "You won't let me live that down, will you?"
Jess's only answer is a smirk, and then she's gone and Kara is coming up in her place.
"Hey," Kara says, giving an awkward half-wave and tentative smile.
"Hey," Lena echoes. "I, um, got you lunch."
"You didn't have to do that," Kara automatically says. "I mean. Not that I don't appreciate it..."
Lena doesn't have time for the blundering, or the mess of apologies, and much the awkward small talk. "Let's sit on the couch," she suggests. "We have a lot we need to talk about."
Kara's smile drops. "Right," she says. "Of course." She goes to take a seat while Lena takes the food, hand going up to readjust her glasses nervously. "So, full disclosure. The office may know that we're engaged now?"
Lena's shin hits the edge of the coffee table. "Fuck," she swears, dropping the bag onto the table in her surprise. (She really needs to talk to Kara about springing on news like that). "What do you mean they know? How do they know?"
"I-I didn't mean to reveal anything! It's just, your brother came by my desk and—"
"Lex, of course," Lena mutters, sitting down on the couch with a heavy groan. "It's fine, Kara. He doesn't know it's supposed to be a secret." She grabs her phone and sends Jess a quick text, detailing a company-wide email she needs within the hour. One making sure no one breathes a word of this to the press or their families lest her employees suddenly find themselves without a job.
"I'm still sorry." Kara is quiet, twiddling her thumbs for a minute. "Are you sure you're okay with telling my family next week?"
"Yes, that's fine." Lena jabs the send button harder than necessary, gritting her teeth when she realizes the wifi is so shitty it's just ending up in her drafts. "I need IT to fix the internet. Make a note for a work order."
Kara starts to pat her pockets down for a pencil. "Can I—?" she starts, head tilting towards Lena's desk.
"Go ahead," Lena sighs, gesturing uselessly as Kara scrambles up to go find a pen. "What's mine is yours now, anyway." It comes out more bitter than intended, and maybe that's why Kara hesitates so much when she sits back down.
"So we should really discuss this whole marriage thing," Kara blurts out. "Before it gets too late."
That is exactly what they need to do. That's the only reason why Kara is sitting here, so close that their thighs are nearly touching, and yet Lena can't find it in herself to want to discuss this. It'll only end in a headache. And maybe even more paperwork.
But instead of pushing it aside, she says, "Right." She unpacks their lunch and hands Kara a salad and a fork, digging into her own meal to get some calories in before she tries to over think. "I'm thinking we can get a marriage license after the interview is over with. Do you want a formal wedding?"
"Not really?" Kara crinkles her nose. "Is that...something you'd want?"
"No," Lena says. "But if your family would find it suspicious if you didn't, we can have a small ceremony. The press would benefit either way."
"I guess it would be suspicious if we didn't have a real wedding." Kara intently studies her salad, pushing the lettuce around with her fork. "It doesn't have to be big."
"We can set that for soon afterwards, then. The quicker the better," Lena says. She refrains from adding like ripping off a band-aid, because somehow it seems that will add insult to injury. There's something indistinguishable in Kara's eyes, a mix of melancholy sadness and worry perhaps; at the very least, something Lena can't decipher. She's never been apt at reading emotions.
"Would I be able to keep my job once we're married?" Kara asks, suddenly. "Or would it be unethical?"
Of all the questions Lena anticipates, this isn't one of them. "I don't see why it would be," she replies unsurely. "I could reassign you if you'd prefer, but I don't think it would be an issue."
"Okay." Kara's body visibly relaxes, and she sags into the couch with a quiet sigh. "We would have to move in together, wouldn't we?"
"Yes, for all intents and purposes," Lena says. "My apartment is pretty big. But if you want, we can stay at yours instead."
Kara shakes her head. "I, um," she says. "I live with a roommate. It's her apartment, and her lease, so..."
"My place it is," Lena says wryly. "I have an extra bedroom. You can move in whenever, it doesn't matter. I imagine you'll want to let your roommate find a new roommate first."
Kara nods. They sit in uncomfortable silence, Lena stabbing her kale and Kara tapping the edge of her bowl. Eventually Kara breaks the silence to ask,
"What about my Dad's birthday?"
"It's next weekend, isn't it?" Lena says. "What about it?"
"We're going to have to pretend that we're...you know..." Kara trails off, going bright red.
"In love?" Lena finishes. She quirks an eyebrow, unimpressed. "That's the least of my worries. I'll need to pack and arrange us a plane—"
"Oh no, I actually thought we'd go driving. We're all making a road trip of it," Kara says. "I-if that's okay with you, of course."
"A road trip. Lovely," Lena says, refraining from making a face. She hates flying, but she hates long drives even more. "Should I arrange for a hotel, at least?"
Kara assures her she has no need to, explaining something about a beach house that should have enough rooms to fit them all. She even shows Lena pictures of the house. And of the other people going on the trip with them: her mother, her sister, her sister's wife, their daughter, and three of her closest friends.
"And my dad," Kara adds. "He's not really my dad. But he lives next door to Eliza—that's my mom—and he's been there for me ever since I moved in with the Danvers so he's sort of like my dad. And he's obviously going because it's his party—"
"Got it," Lena says, cutting her off before Kara somehow manages to run out of air. "Should I bring a present?"
"Oh, I got him something," Kara says, waving the idea off. "I'll just put your name on it."
"Okay," Lena says, making a mental note to run background checks on everyone Kara's showed her. "Then I guess we're doing this."
"I guess we are," Kara agrees, and when Lena looks at her, she's smiling.
.
.
.
(Lena cancels the dinner plans. Kara's not sure if she's relieved or offended.)
Lucy is sleeping on the couch when Kara gets home, face smushed against the cushions, snoring quietly even though she swears she doesn't snore. She's just worked a ten hour shift, so Kara resolves not to tell her about the news yet about moving out. What she does do is throw a blanket over Lucy and turn off the TV that's likely been acting as background noise. (Lucy hates silence.)
Kara goes to the kitchen to fix herself dinner. Well, sort of dinner. It's just pancakes and scrambled eggs—which isn't really a dinner food—but it's easy and it's not takeout so it's already a far step ahead of what she usually has.
"Kara?" Lucy calls, voice thick with sleep. It seems Kara accidentally woke her. "You're home late again."
"Yeah, I had to finish something at work," Kara says. "Do you want eggs?"
Lucy doesn't answer. When Kara pokes her head out of the kitchen, she sees it's because Lucy has rolled off the couch and is currently groaning into the carpet.
"Eggs, yes or no?" Kara repeats. "Have you eaten?"
"No eggs," Lucy says, nearly falling over again as she stands up, shakily brushing off her pants. She's still in her uniform, hair still pinned up, and she uncomfortably pulls at her bun. "I ordered pizza. There's some in the fridge, if you want."
They end up sitting at their kitchen table that's really a low coffee table, eating cold pizza and sharing Kara's pancakes. Kara eats her eggs with ketchup and Lucy fake gags; then Lucy sandwiches her pizza in a rolled-over pancake sticky with syrup and Kara returns the favor. And they talk about their jobs, about Lucy's dating life (or lack thereof), and even the weather before Lucy breaks and says,
"So what's this Alex is telling me about you dating Lena Luthor?"
Kara's pizza stops halfway to her mouth. "Oh my God, Lucy, I totally forgot to tell you, too."
"You sure did forget," Lucy snorts. "Six months? Really? How did you manage to hide that?" She narrows her eyes, a thought dawning. "I swear, Kara, if you snuck her in here while I was sleeping to have sex on my couch—"
"I never snuck her in here!" Kara cries, cheeks burning hot. "And I wouldn't—that's unsanitary!"
"Oh, I get it," Lucy scoffs. "Too ashamed to show off your apartment to your fancy, rich girlfriend?"
"No, that's not it either," Kara says, frustrated enough that she sets down her pizza altogether. "We didn't mean for it to be serious. And I didn't want to bring her by to meet you if it ended badly, so it was just—easier to keep it in the office."
Lucy raises her eyebrows. "So that's why you're always so late home," she gasps. "Holy shit, you're banging the boss after hours. And you're getting paid to do it. Is this what your communications major taught you? Because oh man, I need to get on your level."
Kara feels like she's about to have a stroke. "There is no banging!" she exclaims.
"Well, then I guess that explains why she's so uptight," Lucy says. "Alex complained for, like, an hour about why your new girlfriend's sort of a bitch."
"She's not a bitch," Kara argues. "That's mean."
"That's why I said sort of a bitch."
Kara shakes her head. "Lena's a good person," she says. "I know it. Even though she comes across as a little cold, she's just—trying her best. I think she'll surprise you."
"That's right, I get to meet her," Lucy says, a smirk making its way on her lips. "She's getting a shovel talk."
"Lucy."
"I'm messing with you. It's a joke," Lucy teases, kicking Kara's leg. "I would, but Alex will probably have you covered."
"No one's giving Lena a shovel talk," Kara says. "I want her to have fun. And to not stress for once."
"Oh, I see," Lucy says with a mischievous quirk of her lips. "This is your little getaway, isn't it? How sexy."
Kara's jaw drops. "You are so—" she stops when Lucy starts to laugh, rolling her eyes when the laughter doesn't let up for a full minute. "You're delirious and you need sleep. Come on, go to bed. And take off your uniform!"
"Okay, Mom," Lucy says, but the quip morphs into a sheepish yawn. "Want to help me with my hair?"
"No," Kara says, but she sits obediently on the edge of the couch and works out the bobby pins as Lucy gathers the freed hair to the side. "I don't know how you'll ever live by yourself."
"So long as you and your boss don't elope anytime soon, I won't have to," Lucy jokes.
Kara's fingers still. "Right," she says belatedly, yanking a pin out harder than intended. She's glad Lucy can't see her in this position, because suddenly she feels a sinking guilt, drawing her mouth into a worried line that Lucy remains unaware of.
"Hey, watch your hands, I have thin hair," Lucy says, smacking at Kara's fingers. "Was it because I made an eloping joke? Too soon?"
"It's been a year," Kara says, shaking her head even though Lucy can't see it. "I'm over it."
"You don't have to be over it," Lucy says. She turns around, and Kara can see that the laughter is gone; Lucy looks regretful, eyes softened and smile gone. "Are you happy? With Lena?"
"Yes," Kara promises, but her heart picks up at the lie. "I wouldn't bring her to meet you if I wasn't sure."
"Okay." Lucy seems to sense there's something Kara isn't telling her, but she doesn't press. She tucks a strand of hair behind Kara's ear and says, "That's all I care about. Need help washing dishes?"
"I've got it. You got to bed," Kara says, pushing Lucy's shoulder lightly; she hopes it conveys her thanks in a way she'd get too choked up over if she tried to say it aloud. The guilt is beginning to overwhelm her now, cold and heavy in the pit of her stomach, but her words seem to satisfy Lucy.
"Don't have to tell me twice," Lucy says with a small, understanding smile. She disappears down the hallway after good-naturedly shoving Kara's shoulder in return, feet padding over the carpet in slow, sleepy movements.
Kara leans back into the couch and exhales deeply. This is going to be harder than she thought.
.
you all are way too nice to me omg, i can't believe how many people read this. thank you all so much! as always, find me over on tumblr at pippytmi.