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HYPOTHETICAL ROMANCE

Ch. 4 - Snickertini

by il0vesunfl0wers

(athenaverse at AO3)

Summary: Happy hour at the alien bar. Sam meets Kara and friends.

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Notes

I decided to split this chapter up and bring in more social interaction. I'm living vicariously through our wily characters while this mandatory shelter-at-home persists. Sigh.

This chapter is brought to you by bar drinks! Btw, I don't write stories in a linear fashion. I tend to write in random sections, so I've been using section titles for fun, in this case using alcoholic drink names. Hopefully they're not too distracting.

Thank you fall all the kudos and reviews! 3 For those who made requests Narr_master, Hey_its_you, ShezNek here you go! I've incorporated them where I could to go with the flow. Enjoy!

Review of Irish terms of endearment:

— Mo ghrá ('moh 'graw'): 'my love' or 'my dear' - what Kara calls Katie, er, Lena

— Mo chroí ('moh 'kree'): 'my heart' or 'my treasure' - what Lena calls Kara

~oOo~

Flaming Blue Balls

Lena's first week at Catco passed by in a blur, though not without a few hiccups. It was a wonder how she and Kara managed to get any real work done. Kara Zor-El's allure—even when understated while posing as Kara Danvers—had the effect of a tractor beam that pulled Lena in like a wayward spaceship into a hangar bay. She was pleased to have a similar effect on Kara. They were like two galaxies destined to collide and merge at every turn, but they had to draw the line somewhere and not get way too distracted with their 'merges'. Besides, while it was fun and exciting to sneak around, it was tough to get some nookie beyond feverish stolen kisses in such a wide-open floor plan where people were constantly moving about. Together they drew too much attention. Heads would pop up like meerkats from their cubby holes as if observing the mating habits of a hot billionaire and their fellow reporter in the wild.

Hence, the lovers agreed to behave. (Or at least try. Sort of.) Lena did feel a little guilty when she did indeed deliberately distract Kara when the hero really should be paying attention to real emergencies that needed her attention, when she had articles to write and Snapper's wrath to contend with. (Lena didn't like him either, and she was sorely tempted to banish him to The Tribune, or another department.) Lena argued that sometimes she wasn't even doing anything remotely distracting, whereas Kara insisted that she totally was and it was all her fault. Lena would fire back that Kara really shouldn't be distracting her either or fanning the flames.

"I'm not entirely to blame here," Lena huffed while standing at the balcony one afternoon. Fortunately, the adjacent boss office was empty. Lena had closed the double (glass) doors as well as the blinds, which at least hid the side of the balcony, buying them a little privacy. "You're willfully participating in a self-perpetuating cycle, too."

"Oh yeah?" Kara asked, stepping closer till Lena's back pressed against the wall, shielding them from other buildings. Lena looked so tempting with her straightened hair parted in the middle, her patterned, fitted green dress that brought out her eyes, her glittery, sexy-as-hell Stuart Weitzman stilettos and her goddamn perfume that made Kara feel dizzy with want whenever Lena was near. "How exactly am I doing that?"

"Well, let's see." Lena glanced down. "Where's your right hand right now?"

"This hand? It's in a safe zone." Kara's other hand palmed the wall on the other side, next to the CEO's head.

"On my elbow?"

"A totally innocent, neutral spot."

"Where your thumb is slyly grazing my boob?" Lena eyed her with equal parts skepticism and amusement. "You know, that's grounds for sexual harassment of your superior."

"It's not my fault it's in close proximity." Kara licked her lips, eyes hooded and honed in on Lena's red, parted lips. "And that doesn't sound like a genuine complaint."

Lena chuckled softly before grabbing Kara's shirt and pulling her in for a sizzling kiss.

Meanwhile, James was on edge around Lena as if she was a predator encroaching on his territory. His hackles would rise, challenging her when she made decisions on what he still considered his purview. At times Kara would 'casually' appear to run interference, lightening the mood and putting some distance between them.

Then there was the matter of Supergirl's more horrendous battles. Now that Lena knew Kara's secret, it was nerve-wracking to see the hero's exploits all over the wall of TV screens. She began to understand that, by keeping her identity from Lena, Kara was trying to spare her from the anxiety that Alex experienced daily. At least Alex and the DEO could rush in as backup. Lena cleared some time on her schedule, resolving to start designing new technology for Kara's protection.

"I'm glad you're okay," Lena told her one day inside the bosslevator, filled with a mixture of pride, concern, relief, and a bit of awe when Kara returned in civilian attire. She finger-combed stray hairs and wiped smudges off the hero's cheek. "Sometimes I forget you're not completely invincible."

"I'm fine, mo ghrá. Mostly unscathed, see?" Kara replied and Lena found it hard to stay worried in the face of such adoration. Kara continued, "I just think about coming back to you safe and sound, and then it's game over for the bad guy." She winked, wrapping her arms around Lena to kiss her tenderly.

~oOo~

Sex on the beach

After surviving their first week together at Catco, the pair was more than ready for some downtime. Kara invited Lena to hang out with her friends at Al's Dive Bar after work that Friday. Lena agreed, saying she would bring a couple of her own friends and meet Kara there. After patrolling the city, Kara landed and changed before heading into the bar. Kara spotted Winn, Maggie and Alex, already at their usual spot near the back entrance. This time they had a round table for eight. Apparently, James was running late and J'onn had to stay behind at the DEO. After she gave the others a big hug, Alex went to buy their first round of drinks, and Kara plopped down on the chair next to Winn.

Kara liked the alien bar, not because she was into booze or the bar scene. It gave her a chance to hang out with her friends who did like booze and the bar scene and, more importantly, because she felt less like an alien. Now and then, her superhearing would pick up a remark from a bar patron who assumed that Kara used an image inducer, which made her giggle privately. She didn't mind if they talked about her because, for one, it was rare and very brief. Secondly, they weren't gossiping behind her back like her coworkers, which were sometimes vile and made her want to hurl them over the balcony, especially when it was about Lena. Bar patrons didn't berate her for dating the gorgeous CEO with a Scarlet Letter 'L' as if it was painted on her chest in blood. They didn't speculate on what Lena saw in her or question her worthiness.

No, Kara Zor-El was simply another alien disguised in regular clothes, just trying to blend in like everyone else, with little care for who she needed to be.

This past week, she struggled at first with keeping her personas in check at Catco. It had become automatic to let her true nature show whenever Lena was in her orbit. Being around Lena Kieran Luthor made Kara Zor-El feel very debonair, made her want to dress nicer at work, to bring her flowers or a teddy bear, or to flirt shamelessly in public. Lena made her feel like she could do anything, like she could tell her coworkers (especially Snapper) to go screw themselves and strut around like she co-owned the place. However, she didn't need others to notice the traits she tended to express through Supergirl, not if she wanted to stay under the radar. Regretfully, she needed to keep playing the part of the bumbling, mild-mannered reporter because she had trained her coworkers to expect just that.

On the other hand, switching to her caped persona felt more satisfying now, allowing the bold and daring side of her to shine. It felt liberating that Lena knew her secret. She didn't need to give some lame excuse to fly away. The gossip and their questioning glances mattered less when she returned to her favorite person who had a smile so full of love and who held her tight, albeit discreetly.

"Fancy seeing you here for a change," Winn told Kara once she settled at their table. "I feel like we haven't seen you in ages. Are you too cool to hang out with us mere mortals now?"

"She's spending way too much time humping Lena." Maggie smirked.

"Oh, come on," Kara retorted, "it was just the one beach trip."

Maggie turned to Winn. "Notice how she didn't deny the humping?"

"Right?" Winn replied. "Excuse me, a beach trip is going to the coast with a beach towel and maybe a beach umbrella, a little cooler with brewskis, and then playing in the water. What you did, madame, is lounge on a deserted island, probably sipping fancy cocktails or Dom Perignon. On a big-ass yacht."

"And getting laid the whole time, I'll bet." Maggie added.

"It was Lena's private island! And hey, I rescued some whale sharks while I was there. And manta rays! I even hauled out all the floating plastic garbage in the area. It was horrible! And—and pirates!"

"Pirates?" Maggie's brows raised.

"Like Pirates of the Caribbean?" Winn asked with excitement.

Kara gaped. "Surely you saw it on the news? The cargo ship fiasco?"

"Oh right," Maggie replied. She tended to focus more on west coast shenanigans, but she remembered Alex grumbling about it while Kara was away.

"Okay, so more like Captain Phillips kinda pirates," Winn said. "You know, they also target cruise ships."

"See? I was still doing heroic work!"

"Sure." Maggie scratched her chin. "So much for your romantic weekend getaway."

Kara toyed with a napkin on the table, shredding little pieces at the edges. "Lena was taking a nap when I patrolled the high seas and stuff." Being sun-powered gave Kara a lot of energy to burn. So, she wore the cape while her love was recharging between sweaty romps, which her friends absolutely did not need to know about at this rate. "It was all done by the time she woke up."

"Cool," Winn said. "That's so convenient how you could fly Lena over to a private island just like that."

Kara swallowed. "Actually, uhhh, we took her jet."

"Why?" Maggie asked. "Doesn't it take, what, six hours to get to the Caribbean by plane?"

"Four. It's fast."

Winn's eye twitched like a Westworld host with a glitch. "W-why would you take a plane when—"

"Because it's a cool plane!" Kara twisted her hands. She had to distract him fast and nip this in the bud before more teasing could ensue. "It flies itself, Winn. It can go on stealth, military grade! You should ask Lena all about it."

"Awesome! You bet I will."

Detective Maggie wasn't so easily sidetracked. "What were you doing for four hours then?"

Kara blinked and gaped at her friends, who suddenly looked like two Cheshire cats closing in on a mouse ensnared in a trap. "None of your beeswax!"

Alex deposited a bucket of beers on the table and took a seat next to Maggie. "Kara, why are you yelling?"

"Kara joined the mile high club the old fashioned way," Maggie supplied. "On Lena's jet."

Alex's eyes turned into slits. "I do not need to know this!"

"Why do you get so worked up about sex?" Winn asked, moving behind Maggie just in case. "It's a natural part of growing up."

"First of all, you're talking about my sister. Second of all, nothing is natural about Kara—"

"Hey!"

"—And talking about her sex life is just... just... Ew! No. Uh-uh. Not going there." Alex took a huge gulp of beer. She mumbled, "I'm surrounded by assholes."

"Grow up." Maggie smirked, grabbing Alex's beer and taking a swig. "You gotta admit they're so cute together."

"Yeah, and it's nauseating," Alex groused, snatching back her beer bottle. "Kara, go get us some fries or something."

~oOo~

Screwdriver

As Kara stood, she saw Lena heading to their table with two women in tow. Kara hummed in approval at the dark brown leather bomber jacket and tight, black jeans, black tee, brown leather belt and black leather booties. Her hair was delightfully loose and wavy. She swaggered as she made a beeline into the blonde's open arms.

"Mmm, you look like trouble," Kara said in a low voice. She inhaled deeply, letting Lena's perfume permeate her senses and send tingles down her spine. "I may need to take you down later."

Lena giggled into the crook of Kara's neck as she was engulfed into a bear hug and hoped that no one heard said giggles. Kara kissed her cheek before glancing at her company. One was a tall and tan beauty, willowy, with brown eyes and wavy dark brown hair, streaked with bronze highlights. And the other was—

"Jess, hi!"

"Good to see you again, Miss Danvers."

"Oh, come on. I told you to call me Kara."

"Right. Hi, Kara."

"That's better." She introduced her to Alex, Maggie and Winn. The latter beamed at her.

"Hi," Winn greeted shyly. "You work with Lena?"

"I'm her executive assistant."

"And a force to be reckoned with," Kara added, earning a bashful smile from Jess.

"Thanks."

"I brought this tough cookie," Miss Tall, Dark and Pretty chimed in, "in case Lena here forgets all about me."

"You do get tiresome after a while," Lena retorted. "Everyone, this is Samantha Arias. She's also L-Corp's CFO and a longtime friend, though God only knows why."

"Nice to meet you all. Please call me Sam." She shook hands with new acquaintances as Lena introduced her to each person around the table.

"And this is Kara Danvers."

"Hi there," Sam offered her hand. "I've heard so much about you."

"Uh, good things, I hope." Kara side-eyed Lena, who shrugged and scrunched her nose, then shook Sam's hand as firmly as she could without breaking it. "I heard quite a lot about you, too."

"I'm sure," Sam replied. She turned to Alex. "You were at the waterfront. The FBI agent, right?"

Alex nodded. "And you have a daughter who wanted to meet Supergirl."

"Yes. Her name's Ruby."

Alex smiled, then gestured to Maggie. "She's a detective at NCPD."

"Good to know peeps from high places." Sam smiled, then turned to Winn.

"I'm the resident computer geek," he said. "I used to work with Kara and then now with Alex. I've also worked with Lena on a few tech gadgets."

"Nice," Sam replied. "You must be real smart then."

"Very bright," Lena confirmed. She turned to a preening Winn, "I heard you're partly responsible for Kara and I finally getting together."

"Oh, heh," Winn rubbed the back of his neck. "I just showed her some Twitter feeds."

"Let me guess," Sam replied, "Supercorp, Karalena and SuperKaraLena?"

"Oh, no." Alex grimaced. "Not this again,"

"You pay attention to those, too?" Jess asked Winn, who nodded enthusiastically.

"And Jess," Lena said, "is the other one partly responsible for us getting together."

"You guys were so damn blind," Alex had to admit. "It was getting ridiculous."

Maggie chuckled. "Who knew it would take media exposure to get them together, huh?"

"Right?" everyone else chimed.

Soon, Winn and Jess fell into a huddle, hands waving animatedly. Occasionally they glanced surreptitiously in Kara and Lena's direction across the table, only to go back into a feverish exchange, sometimes giggling.

"Looks like Jess is the one who forgot all about you," Lena told Sam. "I'll get us some drinks. What would you like?"

"Sex on the Beach and Ménage à Trois for you and Kara," Sam deadpanned, timing it as Kara sipped water, who coughed at the comment. Lena glared at Sam while she patted Kara's back. Sam pressed her lips together to hold back a laugh and grabbed a happy hour menu. "Let's see..."

"Ooh, these look fun," Jess remarked while perusing the drink menu. "There's Pure Evil, Sassy Bitch, and 151 Ways to Die." She looked up, eyes twinkling.

"Does that last one contain cyanide?" Lena asked, batting her eyelashes at Sam.

Sam stuck her tongue out at her friend. "I'll have a Porn Star Martini." She was met with a blank stare. "No? A Mommy's Time Out, then."

Alex chuckled. "I like her."

"I'll have a Nuclear Rainbow, Miss L—er, Lena."

Lena softened when she looked at Kara. "And what would you like?"

"I'll have a Red Over Heels," Kara replied with an air of nonchalance. Lena tried not to smile, at least not with her lips. Kara asked, "What are you getting?"

"A Screaming Orgasm," Lena purred in Kara's ear, which earned a sharp intake of breath. "Though I might start with a Panties Unleashed first." She pulled back to see Kara's lips pressed together, seeming to suck on her lower lip, eyes darkened behind her glasses. Lena would rather drag her somewhere to unleash more than panties, but they had company, so for now she turned to Sam with a stern face and wagged a finger. "Behave while I'm gone."

"Don't worry, I won't grill her. Much," Sam retorted, waving her away like a servant. "Go get some food, too." Lena rolled her eyes at Sam before kissing Kara's cheek and heading toward the bar. Sam turned to the blonde once Lena was out of earshot. "So. You're the infamous Kara Danvers."

"Infamous?" Kara gave her a lopsided grin, which Sam found rather charming. "I don't remember doing anything nefarious to garner that adjective."

"But you certainly earned a reputation just for dating The Notorious Lena Fucking Luthor. In an open relationship with a Super, no less."

"Oh. Oh, that." Kara suddenly found the ice cubes in her glass quite fascinating.

"Yes, that. How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Don't be coy. I've always been monogamous, so I can't imagine being in your shoes. Don't you get jealous or territorial?"

"Ah." Kara looked Sam in the eye, remembering Lena's warning. Cuts to the chase indeed. She contemplated whether to show her some Awkward Kara Danvers™ or just be as direct, which she would prefer. She did say to Lena that she wanted to show more of her true self and being Lena's longtime friend should be good for that. "Well, first of all, Lena is not a possession or a toy to fight about. She's her own person and has enough room for both of us in her life." More like three, but who's counting?

"How progressive of you." Sam's brow twitched and the corner of her mouth quirked in a way that made Kara think she had given a good, or at least satisfactory, answer. "Aren't you intimidated, considering your third party?"

This is too weird, Kara thought. It was one thing to be interrogated by her friends, who did so just to rile her up, but it was another thing to be interrogated by a stranger who was ignorant about her personas. Sometimes it was hard to keep them in check when she had to justify her selves.

"Clearly it wouldn't be fair to compare myself to Supergirl, right? I mean, outside of Superman, who would?" Kara glanced away for a moment, adjusting her glasses on her face as if it went askew, this time out of genuine self-consciousness. "Although, as busy as Supergirl gets, I'm sure she gets lonely sometimes. So, in that sense we're all the same."

"Good point. So how do you make it work?"

"We, uh, have an understanding." That much was true. "We set boundaries. Honestly there's a learning curve in trying to balance it all out since we're all busy. You know, Supergirl chases after bad guys, I chase after stories, and Lena does CEO slave driver stuff."

Sam laughed, head tilting back in mirth, while Jess chuckled quietly, just in time for Lena's return.

"What's so funny?" Lena asked. Their drinks were still being worked on, so she returned with a table number stand for a server to spot on top of their table when ready.

"She called you a slave driver." Sam grinned at Kara.

"It's true. Wapish!" Lena replied with a whipping motion, taking a seat next to Kara and winking at her.

"Kara, I know we don't know each other well yet, but I have a feeling we will," Sam declared with certainty, "and now that Lena's here I just have to know—"

"Oh, God," Lena came close to whining. "Here it comes."

"—How do you like sharing dear Miz Luthor with Supergirl, hmm?"

"Darling!" Lena patted Kara's back when she started coughing. "You don't have to answer that. Sam, I swear—"

Kara wheezed. "Are you asking what I think you're asking?"

"Okay, apparently I was being too subtle." Sam grinned. "Threesomes, Kara. Is that clear enough for you?"

All conversations ceased around the table as they zoomed in on Sam and Kara. The blonde felt like she was suddenly under a red sun powered spotlight and she could feel drops of sweat start to seep out of her temples.

"Uh, right. That." She took a long sip of ice water and glanced around to buy some time. Maggie, Winn and even Jess waited with baited breath, Alex looked constipated, and Lena's face held a mixture of irritation, curiosity and amusement. Kara looked back at Sam. "Um. Honestly Supergirl's not my type."

"Really?" Sam replied with surprise. Apparently, so did Jess, who whispered the same to herself, which was hard for the Kryptonian to miss. "You're the first I've ever heard to say that."

"Well, she—uh—she." She didn't even need to play Awkward Kara Danvers™ this time. "It would be weird because, uh, S-Supergirl kinda reminds me of—of—" She gulped. "My sister."

Alex sprayed her beer from her mouth, to poor Winn's dismay.

"Ugh! This is my favorite cardigan!" Winn whined, which Alex ignored.

"What?!" Alex squawked in indignation.

"Supergirl's very no-nonsense like you," Kara said.

Winn cringed. "I beg to differ. Supergirl is nothing like—"

"Shh!" Alex pointed an upturned forefinger at Winn's face like a karate chop, stopping right between his eyes, which made him jerk back. "I wanna hear this." She turned to Kara, batting her eyelashes, voice dripping with honey. "What else?"

Whether Alex knew it or not, Kara did mold her superhero image partly on her sister's better nature when she was trying to figure out—and still is—what Supergirl's persona should be like. Maybe it was time to voice it out, even though they had an audience. Kara smiled. "Even though you don't have superpowers, you're still my hero, Alex. So, to me, Supergirl is every bit the hero like you."

"Awww!" Winn sing-songed.

"So, sleeping with Supergirl would be like sleeping with my sister."

Alex groaned longer than usual. "You just had to ruin it!" He hands squeezed the sides of her face as if that would erase what she just heard, or at least the guffaws and giggles all around her. "Thanks a lot!" Alex threw a tater tot at her head, but Kara merely caught it in her mouth.

"Anytime!"

"I like her," Sam told Lena, eyes twinkling.

~oOo~

Dark & Stormy

On the way back from the restroom, Kara saw James hunching over the jukebox. He finished making his selection and straightened to his full height, offering a small smile for his friend. People around them cheered when Bob Marley's classic reggae 'No Woman No Cry' began to play. Kara loved his songs, and she and James even sang a few together on karaoke nights.

"Hi, James!"

"Hey, Kara."

She was glad he made it, but not so glad to see James so tense. He was unusually quiet and stiff all evening, sometimes even awkward. Sensing that something was off, Kara asked, "Everything okay?"

"Y-yeah. Everything's fine," James replied quickly. "Just peachy."

"Riiiight. Totally not buying it."

"What are you talking about?" James hedged, but Kara only tilted her head and looked at him pointedly. James sighed in resignation. "Why didn't you tell me you were dating Lena? I only found out this week."

That's interesting. Kara thought Winn would have spilled the beans by now. Maybe her friend didn't have a big mouth after all, at least not about this for some reason. Unfortunately, Kara wasn't prepared for this conversation with James. What was she supposed to say exactly?

I guess you didn't keep up with all the gossip, huh?

Or, Did you seriously buy into the whole 'we're just friends'?

Or, Sorry I friendzoned you so we weren't together long enough to be considered an actual couple, but did you see my hot new girlfriend?

Or maybe, Remember the woman you kept telling me was a Luthor through and through and I just kept proving you wrong? Yeah, she's my Luthor now.

Instead, she went with, "You haven't exactly been her biggest fan from the start, James. And last I checked—" Kara crossed her arms. "—You still don't trust her."

"She's a Luthor."

"This again?" Kara flung her hands in the air in exasperation, not sure how many more times she had to repeat herself. "She's. Not. Lex. When are you going to accept that?"

"Look, I'm just trying to protect you. You're too trusting, and she could be a snake in the grass who will strike at you when you least expect it."

"I don't need your protection," Kara spat, balling her fists and striding forward till she was a few inches from his face.

He did his best not to flinch, but he couldn't stop his jaw from clenching. "Not physically, that's true, but she can still hurt you."

"As I've said before, she is not her family!" Kara hissed. "She's her own person and has a good heart. How many more times do I have to prove you wrong before you believe that? Why should I even have to when you could just trust my judgment?"

James gulped, the back of his neck starting to perspire. He had seen The Girl of Steel like this when taking on adversaries who truly pissed her off, but he never expected to be on the receiving end of her ire. He backed away, palms up in surrender. "I do trust you. It's her I don't trust."

"You don't know her like I do. If you would just unplug that stick up your ass and get to know her for who really is, maybe you'll start to see what I see."

His forehead wrinkled. Where did sweet Kara Danvers go? She never talked to him like this before. "It's just... I don't understand how you can trust her. You even told her who you are."

"She figured it out on her own. She knew for months and still told no one. And besides, I love her, James. And she loves me. We trust each other."

Her friend's lips thinned. "But she doesn't really know you, and you don't really know her."

Kara scoffed, arms crossing once again, hip cocked to one side. "And you think you do?"

"Look, I'm your friend. I've known you longer and I think I know you better than she does."

Kara's eyes narrowed, studying him. "I get the feeling there's more to this than you're really saying." When he stayed silent, she ventured, "Are you... jealous?"

"What? No! No, it's not like that."

"Oh, really?"

James prided himself in his ability to stay calm under pressure and hold his emotions in check, at least on the outside, but Kara had always been able to smash through his defenses. Something inside him seemed to rupture and he felt like the shield he held out front was made of glass, and he was unable to stop the cracks from spreading.

"Why couldn't you make us work?" he asked, feeling a little too vulnerable, but it was out there and it was too late to take it back. "You said being you-know-who made you too busy and left no room for a relationship. Yet here you are, juggling the cape with your personal life just fine. With her."

Why indeed? Kara wondered. James was good for her, she knew that, and they probably would have been good together. He was kind, caring and compassionate. He was brave and fought for what was right. Alex once said that maybe they were too similar, that he was too good and maybe he didn't challenge her enough. Or maybe, deep down Kara just didn't connect with him deeply the way she did with Lena. In any case, it looked like he needed some closure. She perched an arm over the jukebox and exhaled slowly, her stance loosening.

"It was different back then," she said with kindness. "I was still adjusting to leading a double life. I was learning how to be a reporter and managing how to be a hero at the same time. I wasn't in the right headspace for a relationship. Next thing I knew, I was interviewing Lena. We started hanging out. I got to know her better. It was nice having someone who didn't know about that other side of me. And then, somewhere along the way... we fell in love. Things just happened." Was it fair to tell him all that? Was it kinder to let him figure it out or just lay out her cards? Then again, she had always been comfortable enough with him to be open and honest.

James swallowed as if there was a huge lump in his throat. "What about your secret?"

"Like I said, she figured it out, and by then I felt safe enough not to deny it. I trust her, James." He nodded stiffly, glancing back at the jukebox. She touched his forearm gently, "I'm sorry it didn't work out between us. I guess the timing was off. The dice rolled this way and... here we are."

After a moment, he nodded, taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly. "Here we are." He put his hand on top of hers and squeezed. "For what it's worth, I'm glad to see that you're happy."

"Thanks. That means a lot." Kara blew her breath in relief. She hated this tension between them. Nor did she like the tension between him and Lena, two of his favorite people. "Just give her a chance, okay? I can see that things are a bit awkward between you two at work."

He snorted, shaking his head. "That's putting it mildly."

"Look, she's on the defense with you. You clearly don't trust her and she senses that. She's very sensitive about being pigeonholed because of Lex, for things she had nothing to do with." She held his gaze, pleading. "Come on, give her a break. Try to get to know her. It would at least make life easier at Catco, you know?"

Once again, James stared at the jukebox in contemplation, then back at Kara. "I'll try. And if you can tell her to ease up on me, that would help." When Kara frowned in question, he sighed. "Look, I'm not completely blind, but I didn't want to see what's going on with you two. Though I'll admit I've been too busy being on the defense with her, too. But clearly, she's soft around you and cold towards me. She makes decisions and calls for meetings without clueing me in, like she's cutting me out on purpose, and that doesn't make things easier."

"Okay, I'll talk to her, but only if you do, too. Deal?"

James nodded, if a bit grudgingly. Lena appeared at Kara's side, wrapping an arm around her waist, which drew his gaze. Kara wrapped her own arm around Lena as well, and Lena noticed his jaw clench.

"I'm sorry, am I interrupting?" Lena asked.

"No, not at all." He smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes.

"I need to steal her for a moment. If you'll excuse us." Before he could say or do anything, Lena steered Kara away. "You looked like you needed rescuing," Lena said, which earned a huff. "What were you guys talking about? It looked tense back there."

"Eh, just something we needed to sort out. Don't worry about it."

"If you say so, mo chroí." Lena smiled, pausing mid-stride when Kara's frown lifted. She preferred to use the term of endearment in private, but she knew saying it in public would have a guaranteed effect and she was right. It amazed her how two simple words could instantly light up Kara's face. "There it is." She fingered Kara's cheek, making the smile stretch further on her lover's face. "Much better. I thought that crinkle on your forehead might stay permanent."

Kara's head tilted back when she laughed. "No crinkle!"

~oOo~

Exotic Passion

Kara took a seat armed with a mountain of nachos. Maggie and Winn swooped in like vultures the moment she set the huge plate down on the table. Sam, Jess and even James had already left, while Alex and Lena were engaged in a game of pool to determine who was buying the next round. Kara, however, could not wait for the winner to buy more food, so she took the initiative.

"So, how's it going with the whole fake open relationship?" Maggie asked.

"Our non-fake relationship is fantastic! But the open part is weird. I mean it's already a lot to pose as two different people, and now we're 'dating the same woman'." Kara finished with air quotes. She grabbed a few nachos, humming as she crunched on the cheesy goodness.

Winn waved a nacho in the air. "And then there's the media craziness."

Kara scoffed. "I'll never get used to them."

"You know," Maggie said mid-chew, "when I see you in regular clothes I forget that you're a celebrity."

"Uh, thanks?"

Winn asked Kara, "Do you think you can actually have a serious relationship with two people at once?"

"Hypothetically speaking, I don't know how I would find the time or energy for two people. Lena and I are already so busy on our own. I'm just happy we can make time for each other as it is."

Winn nodded. "A relationship with just one person is a lot of work."

"Believe me," Maggie said, "I've tried the whole dating simultaneous people at once—"

"As in playing the field?" Winn asked. Crunch—crunch—crunch.

"Well, okay, there was that."

"Or as in swinging?" Crunch—crunch—crunch.

"That, too."

"Or do you mean polyamory?" Crunch—crunch.

"My point is—" Maggie glowered, daring Winn to interrupt her again, but he simply swallowed hard. "—For any relationship to work, the people involved need to be on the same page, want the same things and are willing to put in the time and energy to make it work."

"Right," Kara said. "I suppose some folks out there can manage being in an open relationship with multiple partners, but honestly I can't really think of being with anyone else. Lena's who I want. We're together, we're happy and that's all that matters."

Maggie smiled. "I'll drink to that."

"What are we drinking to?" Alex asked, returning with Lena. She set down a tray of drinks on the table, looking a little peeved when she grabbed a Kamikaze. Lena, however, sipped her Irish Slammer with the air of victory.

Kara gazed at Lena proudly, never doubting for a moment that she'd win against Alex. Kara pulled her close with one arm. She held a glass of Mango Booby. "To loving the one we've got!"

"Hear hear!" They toasted, glasses clinking.

Lena smiled affectionately, hugging Kara back with one arm and giving her a big kiss on her cheek.

~oOo~

Their friends had spent most of the night teasing the loving couple, setting them up, especially Kara, for embarrassment at every opportunity. By this point only Maggie, Alex, Kara and Lena remained. The latter couple claimed a small table at the other end of the room, as far from the other pair as possible so they didn't have to hear Alex grumbling about their so-called sappiness. They only had one chair since the bar started getting more patrons, but Kara solved that minor inconvenience by having Lena sit on her lap crosswise. Lena would feed her a sweet potato fry periodically, and Kara would chew them up with relish.

"So, you delegated some stuff to Sam. How's that going?" Kara asked.

"It's a huge relief. Sam's terrific, despite her sass." Lena offered a pair of fries and watched Kara chew them up.

"She's funny."

"Yeah, well. Since she's in charge of finances to begin with, people take her extra seriously now."

"Can't mess with the one with keys to the money."

"Uh-huh. Her bullshit detector is even better than mine." Lena took the fry that Kara offered her. "Honestly, I think she's more suited to the business side of things. It's something I can do, of course, but I'd rather not spend all my time on just that."

"Hmm. So, Miss I Have a Bazillion PhD's, what would make you happiest?" Kara watched as Lena's brow arched, her lips twisted and eyes sparkled with mischief. Kara grinned, pinching Lena's butt, making her yelp. "Besides that."

Lena stuck out her tongue before chewing. "Inventing," she replied eventually. "Creating. Problem solving."

"Right." Kara sort of missed interviewing the CEO. She was suddenly feeling like a reporter. "So, why be the new queen bee of a media empire instead of spending more time doing what you enjoy the most? Like tinkering with toys in your lab?"

"What, already sick of working together?"

"Silly, you know that's not what I mean." Kara pinched her butt again, making Lena squirm in her arms. "You're still one busy woman. Sure, you offloaded some things, and it must be exciting to buy a new company. I just wonder what Catco does for you. Is it really where you want to allocate your time and energy, where you think you can make the most impact?" Lena sat in contemplation. Kara continued, "It's kind of like... while I had a lot of fun working on Project Red Bang with you—" Kara paused when Lena snorted. "Lenaaa!" The woman in her lap chewed on a fry innocently. "Seriously. When we worked on that, it was like a side project for me. I'm good at math and science, but I'm not passionate about it. You, on the other hand." Kara smiled at the memory. "You were on fire! I'm not even sure you really needed me."

"You were extremely helpful!" Lena's arms looped around Kara's neck and leaned in to whisper in her ear, knowing the Kryptonian would hear her despite the noise around them. "I really like it when you talk nerdy. Your brain is sooo sexy."

Kara chuckled, wrapping her arms a little tighter around Lena's waist. Her mind drifted to when they began their project, during which they drew diagrams and wrote equations on the whiteboard. Kara solved some equations that had stumped the scientist-slash-engineer and even introduced alien mathematical and scientific concepts that left Lena gaping in wonder. Kara simply shrugged, only to find herself suddenly attacked in the most pleasurable way. It was a miracle they made any progress with all the kiss-terruptions.

"Is this how your lab team ups usually go?" Kara had asked between kisses, unzipping Lena's pants with urgency.

Lena grabbed Kara's collar and practically ripped her shirt open. It was one of Kara's favorite button-down shirts, and Kara was glad it was the one with the snap buttons instead of regular buttons that would have scattered all over the floor.

"Only with you," Lena rasped, shoving Kara's shirt off her shoulders, while Kara unsnapped Lena's bra and let her pants fall. No more was said after that when Kara carried her to the nearest desk and put her mouth to better use.

"My point is, you're extraordinary. You come up with all these brilliant inventions and innovations. It's different when you're working on something you're passionate about. For me, being a reporter lets me expose what's wrong in society so others can also take action, makes it convenient for me to go out there when I need to save the day. I spend my time and energy righting wrongs and fighting injustice from both fronts, and that's what I'm passionate about."

"That's a good point. I'll give it some serious thought." Lena leaned her forehead against Kara's. "Not right now, though, because I can't think past wanting to kiss you."

"You wanna get out of here?" Kara asked, hands itching to latch on to Lena's ass and other delicious parts. She contented herself with massaging Lena's back for now.

Lena pulled back to find Kara licking her lips. "What about Maggie and Alex?"

"They're busy playing pool. I'd rather play with you." Kara waggled her brows.

Lena glanced at the other side of the bar. "Shouldn't we at least say goodbye?"

"Eh, they'll get over it."

"You're so smart. I knew you were good for something."

Kara slapped some bills on the bar counter and stood. "Come on." She helped Lena put her leather jacket on and led her to the exit with a leer. "Let me show you what else I'm good at."

~oOo~

Endnotes

I wish I could say I made up those funny drink names. I found them online. XD

This story started out with a simple just-for-fun fic meant for 2 chaps. As it gets longer, I'm not really sure where it's headed and I'm trying to corral it back so I can finish by maybe chapter 6 or 7 (I hope). I'm trying to keep it light, tho' sometimes I want to have KZ kick Edge's ass or something. Maybe that'll be another fic, who knows?

Let me know what you think! I read them all and appreciate your feedback. :)