This is one of two fics that I have written for the Reverse Supercorp Big Bang, if you're interested, please go check out the other one! A huge thanks to NatUlian for drawing the picture that inspired this writing, I hope I have done it justice! Please go check out their artwork and show it some love! (It's on ao3!) works/31112948
Kara's New Haircut
"Breaking news!" A male news anchor announces, Lena hears in the background of her office, but she pays little attention to what is being said until she hears the next couple of words out of his mouth; "It appears that Supergirl has-". Suddenly her interest has peaked and her head swivels with great force to face the television. She turns it up so she can hear clearly and her work lies abandoned on her desk as her full attention lies with the news, as her heart pounds in her chest.
"-cut off her hair as she helps stop a bank robbery downtown." At these words, Lena releases a breath she didn't even realise that she was holding, extremely confused. As the news report continues, she thinks of her girlfriend. Kara had not said anything to her about cutting her hair, but she had been acting strangely lately; distant more so than strange. But still, Kara had not been her usual bubbly self, and Lena had been working out the approach to tease the issue out of her wife, as all the other methods she had tried had failed.
Lena fumbles for her phone, checking the time against the time of the robbery against the current time before clicking on Kara's name in her phone. Before the first ring has even rung, she hears the familiar thud of feet on her office balcony, so she hangs up the phone and turns around, apprehensive to see the blonde's new look in person.
She hears a soft knock against the glass of the tall glass sliding doors as she swivels her chair around to let Kara into the office.
"Miss Luthor" Kara greets her girlfriend with her hands hidden in the sleeves of her supergirl suit and a shy smile, her blue eyes not quite meeting Lena's green ones. Lena can sense some awkwardness in the air and that Kara, who is usually confident and unafraid, won't bring up the elephant in the room.
"Supergirl" Lena replies, smiling at her girlfriend, finding the blush that has spread across her face rather adorable. She breaks the silence, taking hold of Kara's hand and squeezing it lovingly. "So… You cut your hair"
Kara squeezes her hand back. Her head nods in agreement, though it's not like she can say anything else in response! "Do you like it?" She asks almost timidly, still not really meeting Lena's gaze.
"Yes." Lena says simply. Kara smiles, her eyes lighting up. Sensing a shift in Kara's mood and almost seeing the weight lifted off her shoulders. She takes a step closer, running her hands through Kara's new cropped blonde hair, ruffling it slightly.
Kara melts slightly at her touch, enjoying the feeling of Lena's nails scratching against her scalp.
"It looks really good. It makes your jawline even more defined which definitely isn't an issue for me" The brunette says flirtily, before changing her tone to a more serious one which makes her sound like the overprotective girlfriend she can be. "Why the big change? Did something happen?" She asks, concerned as to why Kara made such a drastic change to her hair almost out of the blue. She worries about Kara, and the pressure she is under, both at Catco and as Supergirl.
"Just needed a change" Kara mumbles, still not looking at Lena properly. Lena knows that there is more to this than Kara is saying, she never acts like this when everything is okay; she's only seen her girlfriend this closed off a couple of times and something has to be really bothering her significantly for it to happen. However, she knows not to push too hard for an answer, and that Kara will tell her when she's ready.
"Well, it looks lovely" She says with a gentle smile, though she is sure that Kara knows that she is not pressing the issue further at the moment and does look pleased at that as a slight smile forms on her lips. "Anyway, I have some Big Belly Burger waiting here with your name on it if you'd like?"
At the mention of food, Kara's head nods and she heads straight to the cream sofa on the other side of Lena's office, now with a spring in her step and an excited look on her face. Lena produces the burgers, chips from one of the cupboards in her office, which was converted into a hot box to keep food warm for whenever Kara showed up into her office for lunch. She then produces two milkshakes, one vanilla and one chocolate from the mini fridge next to the hot box, before carrying it over to Kara who is waiting patiently.
"How was the robbery? Did you catch everyone? Was anyone hurt?" Lena asks after Kara has taken a couple of bites of her burger.
"Yeah, it was a pretty simple job, they just needed me because a lot of the police were busy with some sports game or something in another part of town."
Before either of them can say anything else, Kara suddenly hears Alex's voice in through her ear calling her to a minor alien disturbance on the other side of town. After telling Alex that she will be there as soon as she can, Kara turns to Lena. "I'm so sorry, I know that I've only just got here, but there's an issue across town and they need me. I promise I'll do all I can to be home for dinner. Okay?"
"It's okay" Lena leans over and kisses Kara's cheek softly "Go save the world, Supergirl. But first, finish my burger - can't have National City's hero going hungry" She hands Kara the rest of her burger, and watches her girlfriend cram half of the large burger into her mouth, washing it down with the rest of her milkshake before kissing Lena briefly on the lips.
"I love you, Lena. I'll see you tonight" Kara says, before heading towards the balcony window.
"I'll see you then. I love you too, Kara." Lena blows her girlfriend a kiss as she jumps and flies off the balcony and off to protect the city.
Later that evening, Kara makes it home before Lena. She showers, washing the dirt and grime from her hair and skin, enjoying how her new hair length feels under her fingers as she cleans it. Once she's finished, smelling like her shampoo and body wash which has the faint scent of freshly washed sheets that have been dried in the sun and breeze; something that isn't too overpowering for her senses but the scent of freshly dried laundry is something that she finds calming, ever since she would sit in the garden of the Danvers' house when she first arrived on earth. She puts on a fresh pair of pyjamas, still warm from drying on the radiator, finding comfort in the feeling of warm material against her skin.
Lena arrives home just as Kara pulls a lasagne out from the oven. She's not the best chef, she knows that but cooking a lasagne is one of the few things that she can cook well, as well as finding the process calming.
"Something smells nice" Lena says as soon as she walks through the door and when she sees its lasagne, a huge smile spreads across her face "My favourite" Her lips brush against Kara's with a loving kiss. "Hello you" she whispers, "Is there any reason that you're cooking lasagne after a hard day?"
"Can I not just treat my girlfriend?" Kara responds, smiling sweetly at Lena.
"Do you want to go and set the table so we can eat? I'll go and change into my pyjamas and then we can eat?"
As Kara sets the table, Lena slips out of her suit, and into her pyjamas and slippers. Now much more comfy, she sits at the table opposite Kara and they tuck into their lasagne. They eat in silence, content in each other's company apart from the occasional question about the other's day.
After they have finished, the pair put the dishes in the dishwasher, they sit on the sofa; both under a blanket with Lena wrapped up in Kara's strong arms.
After they have finished, the pair put the dishes in the dishwasher, they sit on the sofa; both under a blanket with Lena wrapped up in Kara's strong arms.
"I was just fed up of the comments," Kara says quietly into the softness of the quietness of the room. Lena remains silent, allowing Kara to continue when she's ready to open up more. After a few moments, Kara continues. "I'm just so done with magazines and so called news outlets focusing on how I look when Supergirl helps people, rather on the good that she does. It's the main reason I was so for getting the trousers on the Supergirl suit. Well, that and the fact that I was always terrified I would flash my underwear to the world by accident. They never comment on how Kal-El looks when he does exactly what I do. I'm even stronger than him but no one cares about that, they care about the fact that I'm a woman. It's infuriating. I've been trying to get more muscular over the past few years, to try and be a similar size to Kal-El but people just report on me being unladylike and how I should 'feminise' my figure. But how is that helpful? I'm trying to help people but all they care about is my figure."
"I'm so sorry, my love" Lena responds with tears in her eyes "I'm so sorry that you have to deal with that.
"You have to deal with it too though"
"To nowhere near the extent. Sure, people comment on my physical appearance but that only tends to happen when the media doesn't hate me, because why comment on me gaining a few pounds or crap like that, when they can tear me down for something that actually matters, like how my brother is a complete monster or how I am apparently an evil alien hating monster just like him. And anyway, that doesn't make it okay does it, does it? No one should be torn down for how they look." Lena sighs, thinking about how awful it must be for Kara. No matter how much good the blonde Kryptonian did for the earth and the universe, there would still be so called news outlets who would comment on her appearance, whether she was wearing something too 'modest' or the opposite. No matter what she did, they would never be happy, the same as with any other woman in the media spotlight.
"Back on Krypton" Kara continues "Gender expression wasn't such a big deal so women often had short hair and men often had long hair. We didn't really care about those things. But, when I came to Earth everyone cared about it so much and I still don't understand why. For my 14th birthday on Krypton, I was going to get my hair cut short like my dad, as I was supposed to follow in his footsteps into science but I left Krypton before that happened. I've been wanting to cut my hair short since before I left but I never felt confident enough to do it because of how people on Earth could react. But when I got it cut this morning, I saw my dad's face when I looked in the mirror and I couldn't stop crying. I saw his face in the mirror looking back at me and I have never felt closer to my family on Krypton since I left. This haircut, it just, feels right. I feel more like me, no matter what anyone says so that's all that matters, right?"
"I'm so glad that you feel more connected to your parents, and to Krypton. I know how important that is to you, and no matter how hard either Alex, Eliza or I try, it's not the same and we know that. But this hair suits you and I'm so glad that it helps you to feel closer to your dad. I'm just sorry that it took all those horrible comments and people being sexist and just plain stupid." Lena says, turning around to press a kiss against Kara's cheek. "Although being sexist is being stupid" Lena mutters under her breath before snuggling into Kara's embrace and rests her head on Kara's chest, looking up into her eyes with nothing but pure love.
"I'm still scared though. Which I know is unreasonable, I just hate people commenting twenty four seven how I look. I know you understand though, and that I'm not going crazy and that makes me feel better." Kara sighs with despair. "It is probably the thing I hate most about Earth" Kara continues, "The stupid gender roles and how much people want to force people into a little box. It's just so primitive and closed minded. I do not understand it, no matter how hard I try."
"Trust me, I don't understand it either and I was born and raised on Earth. Unfortunately, we humans are just stupid in so many regards. But as long as you feel comfortable in your skin, then that's all that matters. I've spent almost my whole life being scrutinised by either the press, or Lillian and it takes a lot of work to try and ignore them, but you have every reason to love yourself Kara Zor-El Danvers, because you are a wonderful, talented, kind, generous and beautiful person and no one can take that away from you, no matter what any person or stupid news outlet says."
"I love you" Kara says simply, her voice soft before pulling into a tighter embrace.
"I love you too." Lena replies. "Also, if it means anything, I think you're way more impressive than your cousin. In strength, heart and also beauty. Your cousin doesn't hold a candle to you in so many ways. People are just stupid and don't understand that women can be powerful. They fear powerful women so all they can do to stroke their egos is to put down women. All just to make themselves feel better."
"I should hope that you would prefer me to my cousin! We've been dating for five years now and I would be really hurt if Kal-El was your favourite Kryptonian!" Kara protests playfully, a huge weight lifted off her shoulders from sharing her thoughts with her girlfriend.
The smirk on Kara's face is too adorable to Lena, so she cocks her eyebrow playfully before crashing her lips against the blonde Kryptonian's; kissing her passionately. Lena's hands run through Kara's cropped hair before cupping her face, stroking the pads of her thumbs against Kara's tanned, soft cheeks.
Somehow, Kara's hair feels even softer short than it did long and is thankfully, Lena thinks it is still long enough for her to twiddle around her fingers when she is stressed, anxious or overwhelmed. This is something that she finds really calming and a good destresser before she drifts off to sleep.
Kara smiles up at Lena, "I know that in reality I shouldn't care if you don't like my hair because I do and I feel close to my parents, but I still want you to like it. Does that make sense?"
Lena smiles back lovingly, "Don't worry, I understand where you're coming from. But I promise that I really do love it." She returns her hands to Kara's hair, ruffling it playfully. "Anyway, you could grow three bright green heads and tentacles and I would still love you"
Kara chuckles at her girlfriend's words. "Well, you never know the side effects of different types of kryptonite so maybe one day we'll see if that's accurate! But, hopefully that'll never happen. Green isn't really my colour!"
"Hey! Green is a brilliant colour! You always say how much you love it!" Lena exclaims with mock protest
"On you, absolutely. Your eyes are the most beautiful shade of green, like emeralds that sparkle in the light. Green just doesn't suit me; it washes me out. We all know red, blue and purple are more my colours, and I know how much you love me in black!"
"Okay, I'll let you off for that. But you look good in everything; you'd still manage to make a bin bag look like you were ready for a runway." Kara blushes at Lena's words, her cheeks blushing a deep shade of red.
"Oh shush you" Kara says, playfully swatting at Lena's shoulder before starting to tickle underneath her armpits. Lena lets out a snort, before laughing. It took a few years for Kara to know just how ticklish Lena is, it was something that she had kept hidden for years from everyone as it was something that Lex used to do to manipulate her to do what he wanted; only stopping when she'd agree to be tested on for his experiments or other things she didn't want to do like example. But one night, Kara accidently tickled the bottom of Lena's feet which had caused her to curl up into a ball and had let out a shriek of laughter.
Kara had been stunned at first, shocked to see her girlfriend laugh in such a manner. But found it adorable how ticklish she is. She had checked in with Lena, making sure that she felt okay, but then had explored tickling Lena's body; enjoying the laughs that were coming out of the brunette.
The blonde's hands move down to tickle her girlfriend's stomach, another place she is particularly ticklish, laughing along with her. Lena's hands are flailing in the air, attempting to tickle Kara without much success; the blonde's movements were just too fast and ticklish!
Their actions are stopped, and the mood of the room brought down, by Kara's supergirl phone ringing. With reluctance, Lena slides off of Kara's lap to allow her to answer the call. "Yes. Yes. Okay then. I'll be right there then Alex. See you in a bit okay? Stay safe." Kara hangs up the phone before turning back to the brunette.
"I'm so sorry" She apologises, pressing a kiss against Lena's temple. "Apparently, the police aren't finished with the fans of the sports thingy today, so they need me to deal with some petty crimes that usually they would deal with. Honestly don't know why they need me, surely there are some police left in the city not working but oh well. I'll try and be as quick as I can okay?"
"It's okay, go and save some people again. Go be Supergirl and inspire young girls across the city to be strong and powerful." Lena responds, a smile spread across her face. Sure, Kara leaving at random times always sucks, but at least she should be home soon. "Just make it back safely, okay?" She gets up and goes over to Kara before wrapping her arms around her to give her a quick hug and a kiss. "See you soon" Lena says with a final kiss and a ruffle of Kara's hair, enjoying how it feels between her fingers.
With one final goodbye kiss, Kara goes to the window to make her departure off into the night, with Lena watching, just thinking about just how matter she loves her girlfriend and how happy she is to have her in her life, no matter what.