"So? What do you think?" Kara held her arms out and spun back around to face Violet.
"It's… big. And… busy." Violet was understandably overwhelmed by the bustle of the CatCo media floor. The last time she'd been around this many people they were all running for their lives. Literally. This was a significantly different situation, but she couldn't help that it had her on edge.
"Ponytail!"
Kara winced at her nickname, and slowly turned to see Snapper coming towards her. "You're supposed to have a story for me," he barked, gruff and sour as always.
"Yes, I know, I'm working on it, I've got another week until my deadline, and I want to make sure I've got credible sources so I lined up a couple more interv—" Stop babbling, Kara, she scolded herself.
"Just get it done," Snapper huffed and retreated back into his office.
"What… the hell was that," Violet asked, wide eyed.
"That. Would be my boss." Kara closed her eyes. Not the first impression of CatCo she wanted Violet to be stuck with.
"He seems less than delightful."
"He's not as bad as he seems. Once you can get past his… prickly exterior, anyway," Kara wasn't sure why she was so quick to stick up for Snapper, he wasn't exactly her biggest fan. But CatCo was her place, and she was eager for Violet to see how special it was.
"Uh huh," Violet raised an eyebrow, "If only he knew who he was talking to…"
"I tried that once. Trust me, he talks to her – me – the same way. Regardless of which outfit I'm wearing." Kara responded.
"Seriously? Jesus. You'd think he'd be a little more impressed with, or grateful to, Supergirl." Violet knew she was biased, but the only person she knew that was more of a badass than her aunt was her mother. She couldn't help but feel annoyed at this 'Snapper' guy for not realizing that. Snapper's a stupid name anyway.
"Seriously. It doesn't matter though, it's kind of nice to have someone who doesn't place Supergirl up on such a different level than Kara Danvers. Makes me feel like I'm worth just as much as she is." Kara shrugged, not sure how else to explain it.
"Or just as little," Violet mumbled to herself, not interested in letting Snapper off the hook that easily, regardless of how well Kara could justify his attitude. She followed as Kara stepped into an empty elevator and pushed the button taking them to the top floor. As they got off, Kara lead her to a massive glass office that took up almost half the floor.
"And this, is James," Kara walked right into Cat's old office to introduce him to Violet. "He's a close friend, and he actually came here from Metropolis, knows Clark," she winked at her.
"Knows Clark? Or knows Kal?" Violet whispered over her shoulder to Kara as she stepped forward to shake James' hand.
"Knows Clark and Kal," James whispered as he grinned down at her. "You must be Violet, Kara's told me a lot about you." Violet turned her head back to Kara, curious what she had shared.
"Yup, I told him that you're Alex's and my cousin and you're in town for a while and staying with her and Maggie," Kara quickly explained. It wasn't that she didn't think James could keep a secret, but she knew how apprehensive Violet was about too many people knowing the truth about her. She had a feeling he would end up being in on the secret eventually, but for now she felt it should be up to Violet to decide who else knew what.
"So, this your first time in National City?" James leaned back onto his desk, crossing his arms and bringing one foot in front of the other, effortlessly warm and casual.
"Not quite, I was here a long time ago. Definitely much different back then," Violet answered, unable to tear her eyes from the breathtaking view of the city.
"There's something almost magical about this city, and trust me, there's no better view of it than this one," James nodded out to the balcony as he got up and lead them both to the door. Violet liked James, he was kind and up front. And funny. She knew he had been around when she was little, but had no real memory of him. If she remembered correctly, he had been killed in one of the earliest Dominator waves trying to get a story or a photo or something that got him a little too close.
"This is one of my favorite spots in the city," Kara murmured as she watched Violet stare off into the city, "and I know a lot of amazing spots." They all stepped onto the balcony and Violet felt the wind and the silence and all at once knew exactly what Kara meant. She knew what it meant to have a particularly meaningful place to retreat to.
"Aside from this little field trip, what do you ladies have planned for the day? Anything I can do for you?" James asked and offered after giving Violet a minute to take it all in.
"Mostly research, she's just tagging along. Nothing special today," Kara answered for Violet, knowing how she felt about causing anything unusual or out of the ordinary to happen in other people's lives. And aside from dropping in from 20 something years in the future, she was pretty good at staying out of the way.
"You know, there's an empty office right below this one. Similar view if you're interested," James smiled at Violet. He knew Kara's 'quarters' down on Snapper's floor didn't have much in the way of privacy. Or space. Especially if Violet was going to be spending the day there.
"Are you sure? It wouldn't be an inconvenience?" Kara asked, pretty sure she knew what the reasoning behind Violet's impending, yet polite, decline would be. Violet looked back at her, impressed that she was that intuitive.
"Not at all, the guy that usually uses it is out of the country, it could use some life. And if anyone tries to give you trouble, just send them to me. Maybe I'll get a chance to stop in after the conference call I've got coming up. I think Cat probably had much more fun with this CEO stuff than I do," James grinned at them as they made their way back inside.
Kara and Violet sat together in the bright and airy office that James had set them up in, having gotten sushi delivered from one of Cat's favorite places. Kara didn't correct their assumption that the order was for Cat; she tended to get much faster service that way. Perks of being a former assistant.
They ate and talked, light and happy. Violet was pleased to admit that not being at the D.E.O. for once was a nice change. This place had windows. And people wearing something other than black. Much less… somber. And Violet had enjoyed spending time with James, it was nice to see how Kara was around other people that made her happy.
As Violet finished up a hand-roll she watched Kara pause, mouth full, and pull a vibrating cell phone out of her pocket. She looked at the caller ID, swallowed, and rolled her eyes in amusement. "It's Alex. Checking up on us I'm sure," she winked at Violet, who responded with a grin as Kara picked up her phone. "Hiiiii, Alex, we're all good here, I told you, you don't need to worry—"
"Hey Kar, I know you're with Violet, but I kind of need you." Alex's rushed request came through before Kara could even finish teasing her.
"Ok, what's going on?" Kara immediately dropped the playful banter in favor of seriousness and concern.
"It's nothing huge, I just need your x-ray vision."
Kara let out a brief sigh of relief, "You could have lead with that, I thought you were in some sort of trouble." Violet looked up, a flash of inquisitive confusion on her face. What were they talking about? What did Kara mean by trouble?
"No, no, I'm fine, everything's fine. I'm following a Cadmus lead—"
"Wait, you're supposed to be off today, you're there alone?" Violet didn't particularly like only being able to hear Kara's side of the conversation, and sat up a little straighter.
"It's fine, it's supposed to be a cold lead, I just hate chasing dead ends. This place is huge and I can't go through the whole thing on my own and Maggie is swamped and – wait hang on –" Alex paused and went completely silent.
"Alex? What's going on? What's happening?" Kara stood up quickly, and suddenly Violet found herself filled with dread.
"Shh, hang on!" Alex's strangled whisper came through the phone, only serving to further spook Kara.
She wasn't about to wait around to find out exactly what Cadmus disaster her sister was currently walking through. Speaker glued to her ear, she placed a hand over the mouthpiece of her phone, "Violet I gotta go, I need you to wait here."
"What, no! I can help, I'm coming with you!"
"Absolutely not. Alex would kill me, and I would deserve it."
Violet opened her mouth to argue, but stopped herself when Kara raised her hand for silence as she heard Alex's voice come back through the phone.
"Kara? Hey sorry, I thought I heard something. I cleared this place the best I could, but thought maybe there was someone here. It's fine, I think."
"Don't go anywhere, I'm on my way."
"Ok, thanks I'll see you in a few."
Kara hung up, already on her way out of the office, "Violet, I'll be right back, I need you to—"
"No way. I'm not staying here. Even if you think you guys don't need my help, I'm not staying here and risking messing something up on my own. Everyone is safer if I'm with you guys."
"Fine," Kara huffed. She really did not have time to argue with Violet; she had a bad feeling and needed to get to Alex as soon as possible. "But the second we land you go find Alex's car and you wait there until the building is cleared. Completely."
"Promise." Violet took off behind Kara, ready to go.