Author's Note: This chapter takes place between episodes 204 & 205.
Lena feels a little distracted this morning. Normally, she wakes up thinking about her to-do list for the day (and the next day, and often the day after that, as well). She's used to the sensation of thinking about multiple things at once, placing mental bookmarks with things she needs to go back to and/or making an actual note in her phone to follow up on something later. It's part and parcel of being the CEO of a multinational, billion dollar corporation. Honestly, it's also a welcome-but-probably-not-very-healthy way for Lena to cope with the fact that her family is one of the most hated on the planet and that she doesn't have any friends in National City. No one would here would care if she went missing. No one would ask for information on her whereabouts…
"Kara Danvers is on her way up, Miss Luthor."
Jess's voice jolts her. Lena hits the intercom button on her phone. "Thank you, Jess. Let her in when she gets here."
"Yes ma'am."
Lena quickly straightens the minimal mess on her desk. She finishes just as the office door opens and Kara strides in, smiling and carrying a takeout tray with two coffee cups. The blonde looks much more relaxed than she did last night, and Lena feels something inside herself ease. "How is your friend?"
Kara's smile widens. "He's home safe, thanks to you." Lena tries to ignore the way her cheeks warm at that statement as the reporter passes her a cup. "I wasn't sure what you like, so I just guessed."
"Thank you." Lena accepts the drink, takes a sip to cover the fact that she doesn't know what to say next. Her eyes widen as she realizes that, somehow, Kara figured out the exact amount of cream and sugar she likes. "Well, your guess was perfect," she admits, motioning for Kara to have a seat.
Kara ducks her head, although it doesn't prevent Lena seeing the faint blush on the other woman's face. "Oh, I, I have to get to work. I just wanted to say thank you, again, for your help."
The absolute gratitude in her voice hits Lena square in the chest. She can't remember the last time someone sought her out just to thank her, like a friend… "You're welcome," she says, inwardly relieved at how steady her voice sounds. "I'm glad I could help." And she actually is.
Kara looks up again, fiddling with her glasses, another smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Me too. I'll see you around?"
Lena feels her own lips turn up. "I'm sure you will."
Kara smiles fully at that. "Have a good day!"
"You too," Lena replies. The blonde gives a little wave as she exits the office. Lena stares after her for a moment before turning back to her work, finally able to focus.
*SC*SC*SC*
"Kara!" the barista's voice calls, loud enough to be heard over the morning crowd at Noonan's. Kara collects her cup with a thanks and smile and starts working her way towards the front door.
She's about halfway there when she happens to spot a familiar figure at a nearby high table. With barely a thought, Kara detours that direction. "Lena?"
The brunette looks up from her tablet at the sound of her name, eyes widening slightly when she recognizes the other woman. "Kara."
"I didn't know you came to Noonan's." Kara looks questioningly at the table.
Lena motions for Kara to join her. "I didn't until yesterday. Someone introduced me to their wonderful coffee a couple of days ago."
Kara can feel her cheeks heat up. "I'm glad you liked it," she says, adjusting her glasses. Lena looks at her with an odd expression, her head cocked slightly to one side. "Is something wrong?"
"I can't figure you out, Kara Danvers. Most people I know only talk with me when they want something from me. They rarely thank me for my time, let alone bring me coffee."
Kara panics. "Should I not have done that? I'm sorry, I just, we, I mean, they never would have found my friend in time without your help and I just wanted to tell you how much that meant to me-"
"Kara," Lena cuts her off gently. "It's okay. It… I liked knowing that I was able to help, that you told me how helpful I was. It's just…" Lena hesitates a moment, like she's not sure how to phrase whatever she wants to say next it. "What do you want from me, Kara?" When Kara only looks at her, confused, the CEO continues. "Are you just cultivating me as a source? Are you hoping I'll turn into some sort of news goldmine for you?"
"What? No! Lena, I… I just want to be your friend." Kara's a little startled to realize that she actually means it, too. There's something about Lena that calls out to Kara, saying that they would make the best friends. And, a traitorous little voice in her head says, it couldn't hurt to keep an eye on the sister of one of Kal's worst enemies… "That's it," Kara insists out loud. "I know what it's like to move to a new place and not know anybody. Making new friends helped me settle in faster, and-" Her phone cuts her off, saving her from further rambling. Thank Rao. Her relief is short lived, however, as Snapper's name glares at her from the screen. "Shoot, I'm so sorry, Lena, I have to get to work. I'll see you around?"
Lena looks confused, like she doesn't understand what Kara's been saying, but she nods. "Actually, I need to be going, too."
"Oh, okay, I'll walk out with you? Or, wait, would you rather I leave you-"
"You can walk with me, Kara." Lena pauses as she collects her things, looking rather unsure of herself. "And I… I like the idea of having a friend, if you're absolutely sure."
"Absolutely," Kara states. The corners of Lena's mouth turn up in the tiniest of smiles, and Kara grins in return.
*SC*SC*SC*
Supergirl duties keep Kara away from Noonan's the next morning, but when she returns the following day she once again runs into Lena. This time, they get to have an actual conversation, although much of it revolves around their respective jobs. Kara has the distinct impression that Lena doesn't usually talk about herself, but she does manage to steer the conversation towards their tastes in music (and squeals a little when Lena admits that she also enjoys N*SYNC) just before the CEO's phone chimes. Lena looks at the screen, and Kara would almost swear she sees the other woman's face fall. "I'm sorry, Kara. I have a meeting in fifteen minutes."
"No worries! I need to head to the office, too." Kara gathers her things and picks up the thread of their previous conversation, and Lena smiles at her as they walk out of the café together.
*SC*SC*SC*
As she enters Noonan's on Saturday morning, Lena notices a distinctly different atmosphere. Part of that could be the later hour, but she strongly suspects that most of it has to do with the fact that it's the weekend. The people around her look and sound more relaxed than on a week day. From her spot in line, Lena overhears several conversations that sound like they're about plans for today or tomorrow, and what she hears sounds a lot more appealing than going in to the office. She tries to tell herself it's part of the job description when you're in charge of a billion-dollar corporation, but a nagging little voice also chimes in with It also helps to have friends who want to spend time with you.
Lena shoves that little voice into a corner of her mind and forces herself to focus on the menu so she has her order ready when she reaches the counter. As she looks over the board, the customer at the front of the line steps to the side, and Lena thinks she recognizes the blonde ponytail. "Kara?"
Sure enough, the reporter turns, smiling when she recognizes Lena. "Hi Lena!" Blue eyes sweep over Lena as Kara walks over, and Kara's smile gives way to a confused look. "Lena, you're not going in to work today, are you?"
"A CEO's work is never done," Lena tries for levity, although it sounds flat to her ears.
Kara doesn't seem to notice. "But it's the weekend! Weekends are for comfy clothes," Lena notes that Kara's outfit of jeans and a soft grey sweater certainly match that description, "and doing fun things!"
"Work is fun," Lena defends as she steps forward with the line. The person in front of her starts to order, and Lena turns her eyes back to the menu, even though she already knows what she'll order. The incredulous look on Kara's face is a little amusing, but it also makes her vaguely uncomfortable, like she's said something wrong.
"Well yeah," Kara continues, apparently not noticing Lena's apprehension, "work can be fun, but you can't do it twenty-four-seven." The customer ahead of Lena finishes and steps aside, so Lena approaches the counter. Kara stays quiet during the exchange, but continues as soon as Lena steps back to wait. "Come on Lena, what do you like to do for fun?"
"Test new prototypes. Run experiments."
"Lena!" The way Kara groans her name should probably grate on Lena's nerves, but honestly, it's kind of funny. "Fun-fun, not work-fun!"
"Go to the gym?" Lena suspects what Kara's reaction to this will be, and is not disappointed: The blonde groans with all the melodrama of a teenager and drops her face into her hands, completely missing Lena's smile. At that moment, one of the baristas calls Kara's name. The woman's head snaps up and she turns her attention to the box and tray the café employee passes over. By the time she turns her attention back to Lena, the brunette has schooled her features back to their usual neutral mask.
"I meant things like movie marathons, or, or, reading a fun novel! Or having game nights with friends!"
"Kara, you may not have noticed, but most people don't even like being in the same room with me once they know who I am." Thankfully, the barista calls Lena's name as she finishes speaking, giving her a chance to get away from Kara's pitying gaze.
"Do you want to hang out with me and Winn today?" Lena's eyes snap up immediately, trying to figure out if Kara's joking. "He's my friend, and we're planning a movie marathon at my place and I know the two of you would get along great, he won't mind if you join us-" The blonde continues to ramble, and Lena can't quite believe her ears because she sounds entirely sincere. "—I know he'd love to talk tech with someone who would understand-"
"I can't, Kara," Lena manages to say, even as a part of her desperately wishes she would. "I have some things at work that really can't wait," liar, "and a couple of other projects that could really benefit from an hour or two of my undivided attention." True, although none of said projects are exactly high on the priority list right now.
Kara looks a little disappointed, but nods her head in understanding. "Maybe next time?"
"Maybe," Lena allows as she starts for the exit. She's honestly surprised that Kara apparently meant it when she said she just wanted to be friends. Lena can admit to herself that she likes the idea of getting to know the blonde a little better, but the idea of mixing with the rest of the other woman's friends right now is… stressful.
Kara perks up as she follows Lena out of the shop. "Great! Well, I guess I'll see you around."
Lena means to give her own farewell. What comes out of her mouth instead is, "Would you like a ride?"
Kara looks surprised, but smiles. "Sure!" Lena smiles back, glad that she apparently did something right, and turns her attention to her purse to retrieve her car keys. "Don't you usually have a driver?" Kara sounds a little confused.
"It's the weekend, and he has a family." Lena looks up to see Kara smiling at her. "What?"
"You're a good person, Lena."
Lena feels her cheeks warming from the compliment. She leads Kara to the car and climbs in, setting her coffee in the cupholder and buckling her seatbelt. Kara also buckles in, settling the box and tray on her lap. "Where to?"
"Hope Street. What?"
Lena shakes her head slightly. How appropriate. "Nothing. You'll have to help me with directions. I'm still learning my way around." Kara proves an able navigator and it's not long before Lena pulls up in front of the building.
"Home sweet home!" Kara chirps. "Do you want to come in?"
Lena's mouth apparently has a mind of its own today. "Just for a few minutes." So she parks the car and follows Kara inside, the blonde chattering happily the whole way. For her part, Lena doesn't really listen, just lets the sound of Kara's voice wash over her as she takes in her surroundings. Despite its age, the building looks well maintained. Lena appreciates the effort someone has gone to in making even the hallways look welcoming. In next to no time, Kara lets her into unit 4A.
"Make yourself at home!" the reporter says, tossing her keys on a shelf next to the door before walking over to the tall table to set down the food.
Lena enters a little more slowly, her eyes darting all around, taking everything in: The massive windows, the furniture arranged to break up the otherwise open floor plan, how homey the whole place looks, how comfortable it feels. In fact, Lena feels so comfortable that she starts to reconsider Kara's invitation to join the movie marathon. She's just about to ask if the offer is still good when her phone chimes, loudly. Twice.
Stifling a sigh, Lena pulls the device out. The messages glare at her from the screen, their subject lines making it very clear that now she has to go in to the office. "I'm sorry Kara, but I have to go."
Lena looks up to find Kara giving her an understanding smile. "A CEO's work is never done," the blonde echoes Lena's earlier words. "Thanks for the ride. I'll see you around?"
"You're welcome, and yes." I'll make sure of it.