Kara isn't sure that Winn is ever going to let go of her. He keeps one arm around her even as he pulls his phone out and she's shouting "James! James! SHE'S OKAY!" Kara is close enough to the phone that she can hear him reply "Yeah I saw it ten minutes ago, jerk!"
"Sorry I made you worry!" she leans next to Winn's head and yells into the phone. He winces. The girl of steel also had a voice of steel.
"You owe me an exclusive!" James shouts back. Winn holds the phone away from his head both so she can hear, and to save his poor ears. "Two exclusives!"
"Only with Kara Danvers!" she teases. Winn lowers the phone back to his ear, which only works about half as well now.
"Okay, that's enough you two. Yeah. Yeah, I got it, James, I'll- yes, I will call you immediately next time-" Winn finally lets go of Kara to stuff a finger in his ear, and take a few steps away from her. "Yes, I will tell Kara that Lena went back to her office-" Someone puts a hand on her shoulder. Kara turns to J'onn.
"Supergirl. There's someone waiting to see you."
Alex approaches and raises an eyebrow. "Whoever it is can wait until tomorrow." Kara is inclined to agree with her sister, but she also knows how protective J'onn is. He wouldn't bother her with anything trivial, and something in his expression has her nervous. "Who is it?"
Their space dad sighs. "Lena Luthor is entirely too smart for her own good." Kara's eyes go wide.
"Oh no. Ohhhhh no. No no no-does she…? Y'know… know?" If Lena learned she was Supergirl after the fight with Reign…. Kara's stomach drops with guilt, imaging her friend feeling betrayed and scared for her safety. J'onn nods, and Kara is about to take off without another word when Alex tugs at her arm.
"Kara, come on-you were just in a coma for two days!"
"Alex, I promise. I'm fine. I'll come right home after. I just... you know how worried you were? That's probably how she's feeling right now."
Alex bites her lip, then sighs, shoulders slumping. "I get it." She nods, letting go of Kara's hand. "Alright, but I'm going straight to your apartment and opening that box of wine."
"Okay, but If you eat all the ice cream again Alex, I swear to Rao, I will freeze the spoon to your hand." Alex smirks. "I will!" Kara insists. She narrows her eyes, pointing at Alex menacingly.
Winn, having just hung up the phone on James, walks back over to the group. "Hey, Kara, I gotta tell you-um?" he stops at the strange scene between Alex and Kara.
Alex finally raises her hands in a gesture of surrender, and satisfied, Kara leaps into the air.
Lena sits in the dark on the pristine white couch. It shines in the moonlight. She takes another swallow of her drink, willing her mind to stop playing horrific visions of Kara over and over-
There's a rustle of heavy fabric, and a shadow falls on the floor. Lena looks up to Supergirl standing on the balcony.
Kara lands and then… she doesn't know what. Lena is sitting at the couch, staring like she's seen a ghost - which, to be fair, isn't entirely wrong since Kara was, y'know, in a coma for the last two days.
"Lena..." Kara sighs and shuts her eyes, trying to find the words to apologize and console and thank and win back her trust all at once - but before she can say anything at all, someone has grabbed her and Kara has half a mind to fight back when she opens her eyes and sees the top of Lena's head buried in her shoulder.
Kara has seen Lena cry before, but her heart breaks that this time, it's because of her. But Lena doesn't yell, doesn't chastise, doesn't shame or guilt her or anything of the sort. She just takes a shuddering breath in, clings to Kara tighter, and whispers, "You're okay."
Kara wraps her arms around Lena, reveling in the beautiful humanity of it, and she might cry too. She rubs small circles into Lena's trembling back, the way she always does when Lena is the most distraught. After a moment, Lena pulls back with a jerk.
"God, you almost died, and you're comforting me," Lena says through the tears, and shifts to look at her. She wipes at her face, trying to compose herself. "I just… I don't know what I'd do without you, K- Supergirl." There's a horrible pause. They still haven't acknowledged it. Lena stammers quickly, "Can I… is there anything I can do? Are you really alright?"
"I am," Kara promises. She unwraps her arms from Lena, takes a step back. "I'm alright. But. Lena. I... I should be asking you that."
Lena lowers her eyes. "I… of course I'm not just okay…" Kara winces. She didn't want Lena to find out like this, secondhand and while she was practically on her deathbed.
"Lena. I trust-" but Lena holds up a hand before Kara can finish.
"I understand… not wanting to be judged based on your reputation. To just be normal." Lena takes a breath, and says before she can lose her nerve, "Supergirl, you and Kara Danvers deserves control over your lives just like the rest of us. You deserve privacy, and even if I want to be a part of your life - I will respect that."
Supergirl is silent.
"I will always be your friend. I will always believe in you." Her voice wavers at the end, and Lena bites her lip to keep some control on her emotions. She means what she's saying, she really does, but oh, how it hurts to be kept at arm's length from the most important person in her life-
This time it's Kara who grabs Lena, wraps her up in the biggest hug she can manage without breaking her friend. "Lena, you are the best friend I've ever had, and yes, it's me, it's Kara, I'm so sorry that I never told you but you-it's so hard, keeping everyone safe and I never want to see you get hurt-"
Kara is babbling, but all Lena hears is, It's me, it's Kara. All of her worst fears are confirmed- but Kara's here. She's okay. Knowing the truth, finally- putting Kara's face on the hero who's saved her time and time again - makes Lena feel more loved than she thought possible.
"Someday, Kara Danvers, we will have a talk about this," Lena interrupts, in the most stern voice she can muster. Kara dips her head, remorseful. "But." A smile breaks out on Lena's face. "Right now, I'm just so glad you're alive." She laughs with warm relief and feels like she could fly away herself.
Lena's smile drops suddenly, her voice low and deadly serious. "But don't you ever do that to me again."
"Yes, ma'am," Kara promises solemnly. Lena grins again. "Okay, now get in here," and they're hugging like hugs have been rationed their entire lives and have just now been un-rationed. Kara is overwhelmed at how well this went considering how royally she screwed up how Lena discovered her secret. She's never been so grateful for her friend's unending well of trust.
"Lena Luthor, you are the best friend a Super could ask for."
Lena grins. "Would you mind saying that again when James is around?"
