And here we go...
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As they come up closer the house looks even more enormous. Each step makes the Victorian style mansion even more daunting.
They begin to walk up the stone stairs and if Lena's lesson in the connection between aesthetics and wealth are accurate then she surmises her friend must be quite affluent. Kara's steps grow heavier as she begins to realize that there are probably many beautiful, expensive, and breakable things inside. She wants to turn away but Lena's holding onto her hand tightly as though she's foreseen her friend's trepidations.
The patio floor matches the stairs that leads to a small yet still sizable pool that is connected to a Jacuzzi. There's a barbeque grill placed on a counter near a dinning table with enough seating for eight. Near the edge of the patio is a fire pit surrounded by chairs.
Lena continues to pull her through the glass doors and her feet land on wooden floorboards.
"Welcome." her taller friend says as she closes the door.
"Your home is quite elegant." she gushes. "And quite large." the Danvers home has more than enough room to accommodate a family of five or six but she figures it can probably fit in just the first floor of Lena's family's beach front property.
"It's not really my home." Lena corrects.
"But you reside here?" her brows knit in confusion once again and still, even after the days they've spent together, Lena finds it quite endearing.
"Yes, temporarily and I associate home with the place where I belong." and despite the sandy beach, ocean view, and solitude this isn't her home. "Home they say is where the heart is." and Lena doesn't even know if she still has one. "I don't quite know where mine is at the moment." at least she's found someone she can be honest with.
"I understand." Kara knows the feeling of being without a home, a place to belong, more than anyone. Lena knows this of course so she squeezes the blonde's hand comfortingly. "Regardless, it is quite beautiful."
Lena doesn't like to talk about her life. Fortunately for Kara, she knows how to infer from facts she's given.
"Quite empty too." Lena remarks, thankful for her segue. Kara seems to accept that if she wishes to talk about something, she'll broach the subject herself. She knows Kara will listen but today isn't a day for reminiscing depressing memories. "Of course it's filled with an abundance of furniture in every room." she knows this because she walked all over this place on her arrival. "And I had a new entertainment system placed in my room." the last time Lionel stayed here, televisions were still boxed monstrosities so she figured she might as well drown herself in movies. "Aside from the caretaker and his wife who reside in the small house near the garage," they were a sweet old couple that has been watching over the house since before Lionel procured the place. A thumb circles the back of her hand. A gesture of comfort she can't remember ever being bestowed. "There is only myself in this massive domicile."
"I am…" Kara finds herself interrupted.
"Not here to hear me gripe about these things." Lena cuts off her friend's unnecessary, yet appreciated, apology. "We can take a little tour of the first and second floor." seeing as her room is located in the third floor, she figures they could save that part for later.
Lena guides her, hand still clasped around her own, as they walk further into the living room.
They pause by the aquarium as Kara is completely absorbed by the fish so they stand still. Kara's baby blues shine with embarrassment as she turns toward her friend who smiles reassuringly. She doesn't mind waiting for Kara to bask in the glory of her new discovery as long as she can witness that look of awe on the honey blonde's face. With Kara's hand enclosed in her own, she gently begins pulling her into the hall. They make their way through passing through the den and sitting room before they reach the library.
The Kryptonian briefly scans through the selections of books before Lena tells her she's allowed to borrow whatever she wishes.
She's then lead through the foyer and up the stairs. Lena gives her the quick run through of a bedroom before they reach the master suite. They make their way toward a room that's been converted into Lionel's sparsely used study. It's connected to the master suite so Lena doesn't spend time here either.
They walk slowly, allowing Kara to view her surroundings. Lena bites her lower lip, wishing to incite a positive reaction, but uncertain about the blonde's tastes.
The Kryptonian turns her head, taking in the vast collection or art. Much to Lena's delight, her friend takes an interest in the artwork. The honey blonde gently drags the dark haired girl toward each masterpiece, spending a few moments to look at each work before moving onto the next.
One particular painting catches Kara's eyes. It takes up nearly the entire wall but it isn't the size that captures her interest.
The painting is composed of three equal sized canvases, vertically divided, which forms the entire painting. On one end, the background of the paint is covered in a dark red hue, reminiscent of blood drying. Splashes of bright red all around, as though someone bled directly onto the painting. It seeps through the middle piece, a half white and gray background with black and white and gray splashes all around, mixing and diluting the red. The other corner is mostly black, streaked with grays of different hues, a hint of white and darkening red.
"The colors are vibrant." simple yet it says so much, Kara thinks.
"I'm not usually fond of abstract art but when I first walked in here, I found myself just staring at this." she confesses. "It's one of my favorite pieces of art, ever." she divulges, understanding why Kara would be drawn to this painting. "It's called The Order of Chaos." Lena informs. "It's quite evocative don't you think?" she turns to Kara who's absolutely absorbed with the reds, whites, and blacks splattered all over the canvas.
"Quite." Kara agrees feeling as though it's her inner turmoil mapped out on the surface, not knowing where the end or beginning is.
"When I was younger, I would look at art and think why would anyone pay to have a bunch of lines decorating their walls." Lena smirks. "But as I've grown older I've come to realize that art is a form of expression." she turns to her shy friend. "Don't suppose you've ever tried painting or drawing before?" she chances and receives a shake of the head in return.
"They did not really paint where I am from." the arts, while considered a necessary guild, were not part of the elite cooperative. "They sculpted, built." she remembers the monoliths, sculptures, and towering buildings.
"And you?"
"I did not have the opportunity…" she looks away from the painting. "My instructor told me it was frivolous for the offspring of a respectable judge and renowned scientist to be involved in such activities." she recites the words of her instructor on Krypton when she'd asked if she could give artistry a try.
"I'm not really artistic." Lena informs her friend, not that she had any aspirations to be. "But I'm sure I'm capable of scrounging up some materials if you wish to give it a try." Kara bows her head.
"I do not want you to go through the trouble."
"Nonsense." Lena waves off her protests readily. "It would be nice if you picked up a hobby. Plus it'll give me something to do this weekend."
On weekends the Danvers are home so Kara finds it impossible to sneak off and meet her friend. Lena understands that her friend should spend time with her foster parents. Of course she'd prefer if Kara could spend more time with her but she figures five days of the week is enough.
"Do you have a hobby?" she inquires, wishing to know more about her generous friend.
"I tinker."
"Tinker?" Kara's absolutely intrigued by her enigmatic companion. "What do you mean by tinker?"
"I'll show you what I mean another day." Lena declares, glad Kara possesses genuine interest and wishes to know her. "But for now, we are going on a little food expedition downstairs." after discovering her friend's lack of experience regarding food, she's making it her mission to expand Kara's palate.
She had asked the caretaker and his wife to get spices and things from the nearest city, which was about an hour away, seeing as Midvale's most ethnic eatery was one Chinese restaurant. His wife then painstakingly learned to prepare multicultural meal over the weeks. She practiced and Lena even helped her seeing as the woman was going beyond her call of duty. So Lena gladly sliced and diced ingredients whilst the caretaker's wife perfected recipes without complaint or inquiries over their employer's insistence on expanding their cuisine. Suffice to say they'll be getting a huge tip from her when she leaves.
And when they rounded the corner and saw the dinning table, Lena felt all their efforts rewarded as Kara's face filled with glee.
Located on the large dining table that easily seats eight were large serving dishes with food the Kryptonian had never seen before. Lena's spent enough time with her friend to know that the food won't go to waste, despite the caretaker's objections.
"Rao…" Kara whispers in utter reverence.
"I thought we'd start with the most popular foods from the Asian continent since it's something you're familiar with." her hostess has prepared dishes from the better-known countries of the East.
"I know the noodles but not those." she points toward the cream colored dough and Lena's brow arches.
"I thought you've had Chinese food." the dark haired girl begins to hand Kara a pair of chopsticks. The blonde's lips jut outward as she stares at the two sticks like they are her sworn enemies. Kara takes them, a frown forming on her face as she does. "May I?" she takes Kara's hand, positions the chopsticks correctly, before creating the proper motion by guiding Kara's fingers.
"Thank you." she begins to try the movements on her own when Lena releases her hand and finds it easier to maneuver the two sticks and pick up food.
"Now, I introduce to you pot stickers." Lena gracefully maneuvers her chopsticks grabbing a pot sticker before gently moving toward Kara's mouth. The blonde opens her mouth, biting the cuisine experimentally. "What do you think?"
"Wow!" Kara remarks after she swallows the flavorful concoction. "These are magnificent." she exclaims in excitement upon her new food discovery.
"I believe these are shrimp and ginger pot stickers." Lena remarks after she finishes Kara's pot sticker. "They can have different fillings so next time I'll have more for you to try." she promises. "What about Shumai? Have you tried that?"
"The Chinese food the Danvers procure usually consists of Mushu pork, combination fried rice, beef with broccoli or Mongolian beef, or shrimp with walnuts." Kara lists.
They begin their feast and Lena eats as well, but she finishes quicker. She's content to watch as Kara takes yet another hearty bite. The blonde releases small silent hums of appreciation each time she tries something she likes.
"I never thought I would enjoy eating." food was a source of nourishment on Krypton so feeding had little to do with taste and more to do with providing sustenance. "Not that food tasted horrible where I am from." she defends but Lena smiles assuring she's not judging Kara. "It just never tasted so good before." flavors on Earth are truly remarkable.
"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself." green meets blue and Kara finds herself unbelievably happy because of her unexpected new friend.
"I seriously cannot fathom how I can ever repay your kindness Lena."
"There's no need." a protest on the tip of her tongue but a thought comes to mind. She tilts her head, taking her lower lip between her teeth once again as uncertainty floods her once more. "But I suppose," she begins. "If you really want to." Kara's on the edge of her seat, waiting. "There is something you could do for me."
"What is it?" Kara's eager to hear what her friend could possibly desire.
"It's nothing untoward." she assures but Kara is certain she'll do it even it is. "Make a list of things you'd want to do, to try." there's a spark of in her eyes that never ceases to draw Kara in.
"That sounds wonderful!" the blonde squeals in excitement. There've been so many activities she's been curious about. "We would attempt them together?" Lena didn't think it possible but Kara seems even happier at the prospect of trying things with her than earlier when she first laid eyes on the feast made for her.
"That's the plan." this guarantees they'll spend time together and she can learn about things she'll need to perform whatever will be on the younger girl's list ahead of time.
"I would be delighted." Kara responds with unconfined enthusiasm. "And you?"
"What about me?"
"Will you make a list too?" she's certain there are things Lena has yet to try even if she is a native from Earth.
"I suppose I can list some things for us." despite her resources there's a plethora of activities she's yet to participate in. "Now mind you, if you're having trouble starting you can keep it simple for now and add just add onto it."
"Thank you, Lena."
"Anything for you, Kara." and it should frighten her how much she means these words but as Kara's looks at her with those eyes, earnest and blue, she finds herself unable to associate any negative emotion when it comes to her virtuous friend. "Anything." Lena stresses, hoping Kara will heed her words.
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So Alex and Maggie happened a lot sooner than I thought it would. Totally thought they'd prolong it and give Alex an opportunity to explore her sexuality with other women, preferably Lena.
oftherose13 but that's what I mean about the conflict! Imagine Alex is attracted to Lena and actually grows to like her as they spend time together trying to shut down the remaining Cadmus faction. She wants to trust Lena with everything and when she's getting to that point there's that issue where her dad was held hostage by Cadmus so she doesn't know how her mom will react to her having feelings for a Luthor! That's conflict that can last for a while and it won't feel like it's being dragged on if done properly.
SSACakeloverk I'm a night owl. And it's 2 am where I'm at.
Anyway, what do you all think so far?