Chapter 4
Adjustments

Lena Luthor was no slouch, intellectually speaking. She excelled in boarding school, at MIT, at Harvard Business School, never missed an assignment, never asked for an extension, always pushed harder and cleared every hurdle with inches to spare. She loved a challenge; whether in a lab or at a board meeting, she had a knack for taking things apart and putting them back together.

It was only in her personal life that the pieces never quite fit.

People were the only puzzle she could never seem to solve. No matter the time she devoted, Lena never could fully comprehend her mother's apathy toward her, her brother's disillusionment. They were enigmatic in their motives and no amount of toiling could bring her clarity. Despite the hostility in the hands that reared her, though, Lena had managed to grow into a decidedly even-tempered, objective, and affable businesswoman, with a healthy interest in the greater good. She was the foil to her wayward brother, lost in his own spiraling resentment, and sought to mend the damage he had inflicted on the Luthor name and the larger community.

She was well aware that, for most, the prospect of finding oneself suddenly face-to-face with a Luthor was terrifying and though Lena was fighting hard to change that perception, she was still undeniably intimidating. It was a rare person, indeed, who could hold their own in her presence, so when the young woman from the mailroom – a new hire even – spoke with such frank honesty, Lena had been, admittedly, intrigued. She had promoted Kara on the spot and had been rewarded with not only an excellent assistant, but also a fiercely loyal friend.

Kara's dedication to truth and goodness, her unbridled passion for doing right by the citizens of National City, regardless of planet of origin, even her inability to hold her tongue when she had a particularly strong opinion, made her a perfect asset in Lena's quest to reshape her company and her family's image. She relished their conversations, often held late at night – long after Kara had been given leave to go home. They spoke of everything and nothing, from pop culture and pot stickers, to aliens and Asian Fusion – Kara really seemed to have a fixation on food. They generally glossed over heavier topics like family or future; those were subjects best left for late night discussions with Supergirl.

After her first visit, the Girl of Steel had apparently decided to add regular check-ins to her nightly patrols, often staying with Lena until some crisis or another required her attention. While their conversations were frequently heavier than the discussions with her assistant, they were no less welcome. Lena was stunned at the ease with which she revealed parts of herself that hadn't ever seen the light of day to this woman as they lingered on her balcony. She laid bare painful memories of her past and in return Supergirl provided a comforting balm and shared memories of her own.

The hero had her own demons, Lena was sure of that, and while she didn't often go into much detail, the Luthor heiress could tell she didn't confide in many, which made their time together all the more precious.

It was, perhaps the second or third night Lena had been visited by the hero that the realization of her true identity suddenly dawned on the CEO. True, from the start there had been something familiar about the woman in crimson and blue – something Lena couldn't quite put her finger on – but it wasn't until she caught her guest attempting to adjust glasses not currently perched on her nose that the circuit actually completed. The spark of recognition flashed momentarily and she laughed to herself to think that the hero had become so use to wearing glasses in her daily life that she absentmindedly attempted to adjust them even when they weren't there. Lena knew the gesture well, as it was one she often noticed Kara make when resolving a tricky scheduling conflict or when Lena paid her a particularly flattering compliment, and it immediately shattered the illusion.

She felt all at once both giddy and also rather stupid, having allowed herself to be fooled by so simple a disguise, though it seemed National City hadn't caught on either, so perhaps it was rather genius in its simplicity. Lena decided to keep mum regarding her realization and her thoughts turned instead to the high volume of time she was spending with Kara, seeing as the woman with whom she spent all day and the woman she passed her evenings with were suddenly one and the same. To be fair, she never minded sharing space with either; she found Kara to be a loyal friend and excellent assistant, enthusiastic and full of light, whereas Supergirl was more stoic, dedicated and resolute, though no less radiant.

If Lena were truly honest with herself, she often felt something restless stirring inside her when spending time with either woman and often had to will her noisy heart into silence. She had been enjoying the time spent with Kara more and more, but was careful there, recognizing the impropriety inherent in developing feelings for one's assistant. And she was certain the fluttering in her chest was just as improper each time Supergirl landed on her balcony and pushed into the office; she was, after all, a Luthor and had no business blushing and beaming the way she did every time they shared confidences.

And yet...

Lena had become nothing but wistful sighs as of late; ceaseless sighing punctuated by the hammering of her heart against her ribs. It wasn't altogether unpleasant, but the blossoming of feeling with nowhere to grow, no roots to sink, seemed a cruel fate for anyone to endure. She was the rose growing up through concrete, but it was no less than she deserved. She had given up the idea of true connection years ago, the concept of love having withered years before that. She couldn't deny presence of the void within – the hole in her heart – but it was easy enough to fill with stress, with science, with sex and no strings attached. She never dreamed that someone could make that emptiness seem so small; With Kara, she felt warm and inspired, with Supergirl, she felt seen, understood. Lena was becoming whole thanks to a woman fractured in two.

Smoke wafted lightly passed the floor to ceiling windows in the lobby outside her office and Lena could hear the distant sounds of sirens. She stood opposite the Girl of Steel who was dusted in a light coating of rubble and what looked like shards of glass.

"I – I can explain." Supergirl stammered out a response to Lena's slightly accusatory observation.

"I look forward to it, Miss Danvers." She felt Kara lift the glasses from her open palm visibly flustered. "But for now, we both have a lot of work to do," Lena paused and collected herself, "Why don't you do what you can for the paramedics and make sure everyone is safe, and I'll do the same."

"Al-alright."

"Meet me in my office later tonight and we'll talk." Lena crossed her arms across her chest, making sure to keep her face open, but demure. She didn't want Kara to get the impression she was in any sort of trouble, "In the meantime, I hope it goes without saying, but your secret is safe with me."

"I – Thank you." Kara pushed a short breath forcefully from her lungs and smiled, uncertainly, at Lena before leaving.

Lena swirled the scotch in her glass before setting it on the balcony railing with a soft clink. A light breeze picked up and she shivered slightly in the evening air.

"You should come inside," a voice sounded from within the office, "you'll catch your death out there."

The dark-haired woman turned and took in the sight of her assistant, bespectacled and cardiganed once more. Gone was the brash blue and crimson, instead replaced by neutral tones, pink gingham, and pastel wool. Kara looked sheepish, an expression the CEO had never observed on her so often smiling face. Lena wanted so much to assuage the worry pooling in her friend's eyes and so crossed to her and did the only thing she could think of: she stepped in close and gathered Kara up in her arms. She could feel the blonde sigh as the tension drained from her lithe but sturdy frame and she settled briefly in the cradle of Lena's shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Kara murmured as they separated.

"You have nothing to apologize for." Lena caught herself before reaching up to brush a strand of hair back from Kara's face and instead, cleared her throat and took a step back. "I would assume keeping something like this a secret is paramount to your safety and the safety of your family, though might I recommend something a bit more misleading than a pair of glasses and some bobby pins?" Lena let a silvery laugh escape before folding her hands delicately, "All joking aside, Kara, I need you to know that I meant what I said before: your secret it safe with me."

"So," the blonde wrung her fingers nervously, looking worried still, "you're not going to fire me?"

"And why on earth would I do that?" Lena almost laughed then took a breath, "Though I suppose every moment you're filing papers for me is a moment Supergirl could be protecting the city."

"Please Lena," Kara sobered and straightened at the sound of her own pleading, "Miss Luthor, I mean. This job is so important to me, please understand. The time I spend here, the work I do for you, the friends I've made, they're a grounding influence I desperately need. Working here day after day makes me feel..."

"Human?" Lena offered and Kara bit back her bottom lip, nodding. "You can relax, Kara. If working here is important to you, I am happy to keep you on, though I may bring in a second assistant to help you. I won't have National City burn to the ground because you're stuck on hold with the patent office."

"I – thank you." The blonde shook her head, visibly taken aback and Lena crossed to the bar to pour a glass of water. After a protracted silence, she turned back to face a still-stunned Kara.

"You're surprised?" Lena crossed to the couch and, motioning for Kara to join her, lowered herself gracefully.

"I- I am." Her assistant shuffled over and sank unceremoniously down, as Lena placed the glass of water into the other woman's hand.

"May I ask which part of this is surprising to you?"

Kara took a gulp, too large, and swallowed audibly. "All of it?" She seemed to be searching for the right words. "You knew. How long?"

"Two weeks ago," Lena bit back a smile, "you came to visit me after that fire in the warehouse district and adjusted your glasses."

"I adjusted my glasses?" Kara pulled a face that landed somewhere between confused and frustrated, "That's all it took?"

"Well, you weren't actually wearing them at the time, and you went to adjust them out of habit, I suppose." Kara's hand stalled; it seemed she was in the midst of performing the very action Lena was describing. She lowered her hand, awkwardly. "It was such an adorably ordinary thing to do. I don't know, suddenly you were just a regular person with normal quirks and habits and I realized I recognized you. Suddenly you became Kara."

"And you're just... okay with that?"

"I'll admit, I thought about it for a long while after it happened, but it turns out, yes, I am." Lena reclined slightly and propped her elbow along the back of the couch, "I have had the opportunity to spend a great deal of time with Supergirl and Kara Danvers and I find I like them both – quite a bit, in fact. Kara, you are strong and passionate and Supergirl is... surprisingly vulnerable."

Kara cocked her head to one side and listened intently as the woman across from her remarked on her character. She was surprised and flattered that Lena had given her so much consideration and her ears went pink at the thought of it.

"To be perfectly honest, I wasn't expecting to like Supergirl, I was anticipating a struggle. Instead, I came away with a friend." Lena shifted slightly and leaned in, laying her hand close to Kara's own. "Listen, Kara, the only thing that's changed, since the proverbial cat's been let out of bag is, now, neither of us have to lie."

The blonde heaved an audible sigh and let some of the tension out of her shoulders. She let her eyes drop to her hand, just inches from Lena's and, on impulse, moved to close the space between them, covering Lena's fingers with her own, and raised her gaze once more. Kara's blue eyes met icy green and she took in the kind expression on her employer's face.

"I won't say I'm not nervous; the fewer people who know I'm Supergirl, the better it is for me and for them – safer." Kara paused and shifted slightly, "but I'm grateful, too. I hated lying to you." She pushed this last phrase out in a great rush of words and air, happy to be free of the subterfuge.

Lena, for her part, had a slight smile playing around the corners of her mouth and was treating Kara to a look the Kryptonian could not quite identify. "You hated lying to me? And why should I be more worthy of your honesty than any other person in National City?"

Kara suddenly recognized the look; it was coy and teasing, she sputtered and tried to backtrack slightly, "You're not! I mean you are. Of course you are! You're my boss and – and Supergirl's friend. I mean, my friend, I guess? But really, in general, I hate lying. I mean specifically too, but also generally? Not that I lie all the time. I don't. Lie. Well, I mean I do, but only because I have to. But even so, I hate it. The lying." She tripped over her words and tried desperately to slow her hurried speech, "But, I hated lying. To you. Also." She folded her hands, awkwardly wringing her fingers.

Kara steadied her breathing and tried to calm the blush that was rapidly spreading to her cheeks. She wasn't often the subject of such intense focus and she couldn't help but feel the dark-haired woman's steady gaze upon her. She brought a hand up and gently adjusted the frame of her glasses before she could stop herself. She caught the smirk as it flashed and faded from Lena's face and stalled her hand self-consciously.

"Well then, Miss Danvers," Lena was fighting back the broad smile pulling at her pursed lips, "As I'd hate to be the source of any discomfort for you, let's embrace honesty. It is, as they say, the best policy."

If she'd had any less self-control, the Luthor heiress would be blushing as hard as the blonde across from her. Instead, she was maintaining a low simmer, playing coy, keeping her wits about her. For the moment, at least.

"And I hope that this newfound truth won't discourage future visits from Supergirl. I've started to really enjoy our evening conversations. It's bad enough that my only two friends in National City have turned out to be the same person, I would hate to lose my late night confidante as well." The CEO smiled genially and Kara returned the grin with effervescent warmth, her blush fading slightly.

Lena's dark, defined brows fell into a loose knit and she posed a question to her guest, "Is it strange that even though I know you and she are the same person, I still think of you as two different people?"

"Not at all." Kara pushed air from her lungs in a light puff. "I've worked so hard to keep them separate, that sometimes I feel like two separate people."

"I think we're all a mix of different people, though, don't you? Probably not to the same extent, but we all adopt different mannerisms, different personalities, dependent on who we're with. I'm not the same person in an investor's meeting as I am sitting here, with you, on this couch."

"Thank Rao," Kara teased, feigning exasperation.

Lena's lips pulled back into a cheeky grin, white teeth flashing brightly, at the exclamation. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing!" Kara laughed and clammed up. Lena inclined her head, cutting her eyes playfully, and the blonde threw up her hands defensively. "I just mean that I like this Lena. The Lena who leads the investor's meeting is..." She paused and grappled for the right word.

"Bold? Effective? Commanding?" Lena supplied.

"Scary." Kara countered.

"Hey!" Lena laughed, incredulous.

"You're a badass, okay? It's not a bad thing," Kara teased, "Look, when you're telling some of the most influential people in the country how to spend their billions of tech dollars, it helps to be a little intimidating." Lena's eyebrow shot up and Kara considered her words for a brief moment. "Okay, a lot intimidating."

"I'm a Luthor." Lena sighed, the smile falling slightly. "Scary comes with the territory."

"You're not though."

"Not what?"

"Not a scary Luthor." Kara pulled her legs up under her, "I've seen what a scary Luthor looks like, and you're nothing like that. You're confident, self-assured, and strong, which –yeah – can be more than a little intimidating to some, but you, Lena Luthor, are not scary." Kara placed her hand over Lena's once more, hoping to inspire a bit of comfort.

"You mean my brother." The Luthor heiress dropped her gaze to her lap and Kara watched the sharp rise and fall of her shoulders caught in the throes of a deep sigh.

"Can I tell you something?" Lena nodded almost imperceptibly, and Kara continued, "My cousin told me stories about your brother that used to keep me awake at night. At first, they kept me awake because I didn't understand how someone I'd never met could hate me so, so deeply just because I was different. Then they kept me up because I was so sad for him, sad that his heart had been so hardened by hate. Then I couldn't sleep because I was afraid he'd come after me. In a world where I am virtually invulnerable, he scares me."

"I'm so sorry, Kara."

"I know you are. And that's why."

"Why what?" Lena raised her eyes to meet Kara's, but only for a moment.

"Why I'm not scared of you. You care, so deeply. It took me less than a day to realize: you are nothing like your brother. You outshine him in almost every way; you are smart, resourceful, generous, and most important of all, you are one of the most compassionate people I've ever met."

Lena placed her other hand over Kara's, holding the blonde's hand between her own lithe, ringed fingers. Her head was bowed and she couldn't seem to pick the right words from the fog of ether in her mind. Memories of Lex were tangling with feelings of guilt and hope for the future such that she wasn't certain which emotions were true and which were conditioned responses. In that moment, Lena said the only thing that surfaced with any sort of clarity, the only thing that felt true.

"Thank you."

Kara smiled, earnestly and they passed another few moments in personable silence.

Kara was spinning idly in one of the oversized computer chairs positioned at the terminals in the DEO. She had flown straight there after her meeting with Lena and was having trouble focusing on anything other than her most recent conversation with her employer.

"Hey! What happened at LuthorCorp?" Alex rounded the desk and hip-checked Kara's chair, breaking her momentary reverie. Kara lurched forward to catch herself before she spilled from the chair and sat awkwardly up before correcting her sister.

"L Corp," Kara chirped.

"What?"

"L Corp." Kara repeated, "She's renaming the company. The ceremony is Friday."

"Well, that might have to be postponed, because I'm pretty sure someone purposefully attacked the company – whatever it's called – today." Alex stood with her hands on her hips, "The sonic readings from the sight suggest percussive force bombs."

Kara stared blankly at Alex and raised a quizzical eyebrow.

"They used sound waves to blow stuff up." Alex rephrased, rolling her eyes.

"Ah, right." Kara nodded. "Wait, who's they?"

"We don't know. We were hoping you might have a better idea of who might want to disrupt things in the lab." Alex sidestepped to the other side of the desk chair and Kara swiveled around to face her.

"How much time do you have?" Kara tightened her lips and made a vaguely pained expression. "Look, Lena's doing a lot of good, but she's still a Luthor, Alex."

"Right, I guess enemies sort of come with the territory." Alex ran a frustrated hand through her hair.

"We have been filing a lot of patents lately, though, for projects funded with government money." Kara offered.

"What, like weapons?" Alex raised an eyebrow.

Kara knew Lena had jumpstarted a lot of new projects since wiping out and rebuilding the R&D department, but she couldn't believe that any of them had any application beyond improvement and intelligence.

"I don't think so. She's been more focused on innovation: curing disease, funding research, that sort of thing." Kara rocked back in her seat, "Though there was a particularly heated meeting with one of the potential investors the other day. He wanted to purchase some of the tech she'd been personally developing – to buy the patents outright – but she refused."

"Why? Did she tell you?"

"No, but I could hear her." Kara looked vaguely smug and tapped her ear. Super hearing. "She said she didn't trust his intentions, that his ideas for application could be potentially dangerous."

"What did he want to buy?" Alex narrowed her eyes.

"A design for wireless electricity Lena had been working on since before she came to National City." Kara shrugged.

"Okay. Well, it's probably too late to ask her about it tonight. Get some sleep and see what you can find out from Lena tomorrow. If she won't tell Kara, maybe she'll talk to Supergirl." Alex put a light hand on Kara's shoulder.

"Actually..." Kara started and pushed to stand up.

Alex's hands flew back to her hips and her eyebrows shot up, "What? Actually what?"

"Nevermind." Kara dismissed her sister's concern with a wave and turned to leave as quickly as she could without arousing suspicion, "I'll let you know what I find out tomorrow."

And with that, she tried to, casually, make her way out of the DEO without further incident.