Part XXIV: Domesticity

"So, Lena hired a bodyguard? Why?" Alex asked as she set the plates on the table.

"To keep up appearances? Maybe L Corp's board wanted to protect their investments? Maybe Kara suggested it? I'm not totally sure." Maggie replied. She wasn't really paying attention to Alex's question; not that the auburn-haired woman could really blame her wife.

"Isa's gonna be fine, she's going to the best school in the city, she'll be home any minute now." Alex tried to assure her wife.

Maggie nodded, subconsciously flexing the fingers of her Lena Luthor-designed prosthetic prototype. Alex lightly put her hand over Maggie's prosthetic one.

"Maggie, look at me," Alex used her other hand to lightly tilt the shorter woman's chin up so that they were making eye contact. "Isabella will be fine. We've done everything we can, it's in her hands now. And she's got damn capable hands," Alex squeezed and released Maggie's metal hand as she says it.

Maggie can't help but crack a grin at this. "Fine, I'll try to calm down. No promises though."

She goes over to get a cup of water. The opens the cabinet and uses her right arm (the prosthetic) to fetch one of the metal cups. They figured out pretty quickly that while Lena's prototype was beyond anything Maggie could've hoped for after losing her arm, it wasn't without an adjustment period; an adjustment period in which she'd broken many glasses, and given Alex a hairline fracture. Maggie still apologized for that. But Alex would hear none of it. She'd remark instead that Kara had done far worse when she gives too excitable hugs, even now. So, while Maggie learned on trusting herself, they used metal cups instead.

"So, new jobs huh? Did you ever think you'd leave the DEO?" Maggie asked softly. Truth be told, she was also nervous about embarking on a new career. But while she loved being a detective with the NCPD Science Branch, at the end of the day, staying alive was more important; for Isa, but also for Alex. Besides, with Lena occasionally helping out when there was a truly dangerous threat, and J'onn recruiting other aliens to help patrol the more dangerously inclined of their number was a genius move…that Isabella offhandedly suggested one day as a hypothetical during game night. Alex was sure to take that suggestion to her space dad/former superior.

Alex had left the DEO. formally, at least. That wasn't to say she wouldn't consult on a mission, or give her insight when a batch of trafficked aliens were recovered, but her days of armed combat were behind her. Unless of course some city-wide nightmare like the Daxamite invasion happened again. The horrors of that day were still being felt, a few years later. Catco Media may have saturated the news with stories of sunny recovery and positivity (which was very much needed), but there were so many people who's lives were destroyed.

"I really didn't," Alex replied softly. It had not been an easy decision. There was yelling and arguments with basically everyone she knew. Maggie looked at the far away look in Alex's eyes as she retrieved the sparkling apple cider.

"Hey, it's alright if you don't have something lined up yet. Hell, I'm still looking for something." Maggie was swishing her water around aimlessly in her remaining human hand. "Do you think I should go into the arts? That's pretty safe, right?" Maggie asked.

"I think it depends on what you enjoy. I think you'd be a great mystery-crime writer if you wanted to, you've certainly got the research department covered," Alex said as she sat by Maggie on their couch.

Maggie chuckled. "Maybe I'll write about a badass FBI agent who falls for a gorgeous cop named–"

"Named Alex?" Alex drawled, seeing where this was going.

"Named Fernando Santiago." Maggie finished with a shit-eating grin. Alex casually reached over and tossed a throw pillow at her wife.

Maggie relented trying to smother her giggles, "Okay okay. They'd both be lesbians, obviously."

There was a knock from the front door. Maggie sprung up from the couch, nailing Alex in the face with the pillow as an added bonus, and practically sprinted to the door.

There was laughter coming from the other side. Two voices, girls.

Maggie opened the door.

Isa's smiling face was the first thing she saw. "Hey there kiddo," Maggie paused, taking into account the shorter unfamiliar girl who was clearly trying not to laugh at something her Isa had said. "Who's this?"

Isa turned to introduce her friend, but the girl had already extended her hand in a firm and confident gesture. "I'm Ruby Reign." Her voice was slightly high pitched, probably hit puberty late. Or nervous.

Maggie's eyes turned to her young cousin, "I'm Maggie, pleased to meet you," she said shaking the other girl's hand.

Once they released each other, Ruby seemed to pull back a bit. "Well, I'll just go now."

Maggie frowned. Isa said, "Are you sure? You could totally join us for dinner if you want." Isa quick glancee at Maggie, who blinked in silent confirmation.

"Maybe next time. My mom will want me home for dinner. She has a thing for celebrating first days and sh-stuff like that." Ruby's cheeks coloured a little as she narrowly avoided swearing in front of an adult. Even if the adult in question was shorter than her.

"Is that so? We should call a taxi then," Alex chimed in as she had followed her wife to the door. "I'm Alex by the way."

"Ruby," the teenager replied and quicly shook the taller woman's hand. Isa rolled her eyes at all the formalities.

"Ruby, are you sure?" Isa asked.

Ruby took a small breath and said, "Yeah. I said I might be over at someone's house, but I could tell she really wanted to spend tonight with me. And you don't need to call a taxi, Miss…" Ruby trailed off, having no clue how to address Alex.

"It's just Alex sweetie." Alex replied, waving away all formalities. "Are you sure about the taxi? Are you close by?"

Ruby shrugged, "Not really, but my mom's driver is nearly here," Ruby said as she pulled out her phone, which indeed had a text open which said, "2 MIN."

Ruby rolled her eyes and chuckled a little. "My mom just got a new job, and her boss got her a driver. The first think she has the poor bastard do is pick up her daughter. But if I had my way, I'd have taken the bus," She rushed to say. She didn't want these people to think she was a snob. Oops, probably could've just said Uber or Lyft instead.

Both Alex and Maggie smirked. They were friends of Lena Luthor after all. That flustered 'I'm really wealthy but I sometimes accidently throw it around in benign ways, but I'm still really frugal when I can be' expression on the new girl's face was something they were well aquainted with.

"Don't sweat it kid. Thanks for walking Isa home," Maggie said with a wide smile.

Ruby's eyes found Isa's questioningly with the use of 'Isa' instead of the 'Adelaide' that the girl had mandated teachers use at school. Isa mouthed 'Later' at her new friend, which wasn't missed by either of her guardians.

Ruby's phone dinged and she checked it. "Seems like my ride's here. It was great to meet you two. See you tomorrow then!" With a chipper grin, Ruby walked back down the hallway leading to the stairs.

As soon as Ruby was gone, Isa found herself smothered in a double hug. "Guys, chill," Isa said. But she should've known by now that neither Alex nor Maggie had any sort of chill when Isa was involved.

After the awkwardly long, but never unwelcome, hug, the three went back into their flat. "So, you made a friend?" Maggie couldn't resist asking.

"Yep. She's great." Isa replied.

Downstairs on the curb, a sleek new Tesla loitered in the loading zone. After a couple of minutes, Ruby walked out of the building, thanking the door-man as she left. She got into the car. "You know," a sultry voice coming from the front-passenger side said, "you should really check which car you're getting into, kid." Ruby rolled her eyes.

"C'mon, you knew I could see you through the tinted windows right?" Ruby smirked.

"Yes Gayle, don't give Miss Reign a hard time," a softer and distinctly English voice replied pointedly. "Seatbelt on, and we're off, Miss Reign" she finished.

"Hi Imra, Gayle. Seatbelt is on. Let's go home," Ruby smiled at the two beautiful women in the front of the car.