Summary: Being a disgraced member of an admired, respected and powerful family, Lena Kieran is forced to move out from Metropolis, carve a new existence, and live as a nobody. For her family, she was ready to live a desolate and dull life for the rest of her days. But as with everything in her life, Lena never gets a say in it.
A soulmate universe where everyone knows their soulmate's biggest secrets by making the first skin-to-skin contact.
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AN: My first take at soulmate au. Please be nice.
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Lena should not have worn a pencil skirt to work today.
The fabric pulled taut around her thighs and her bare knees hurt from the coarse carpet where she knelt against.
"I need those printed hours ago, Intern!" A disembodied voice boomed somewhere behind.
She rolled her eyes. It's barely a minute since the printer machine stopped printing. And she damn well didn't need hours to yank the paper that's stuck in the inside tray.
Straightening herself, the whir of the machine started again smoothly./users/evil_otter/pseuds/evil_otter
"Here you go," Lena said, producing a stack of freshly printed papers to her boss, Frances who barely spared a glance. A noncommittal hum was all the replied as she gets back to her work.
Biting the inside of her cheek, Lena turned around to do the same.
For the umpteenth time that day, she refreshed her email inbox. Unsurprisingly, there's no new message. There was once a time when she dreamed of doing something significant in the span of her life. Like curing cancer or providing clean energy to the world—not holed up in a job way below her qualifications, wasting away. As it was, eventually, her dreams too became nothing more.
The moment where everything fell apart for Lena, the moment that reality gave a harsh slap on her face was the day a cab was waiting outside the Luthor's mansion a day after she came home after so many years away. She had barely left the mausoleum when Lex hooked his arm around one of hers, leading the path back to the manor. A letter was presented and her fate was sealed.
"This must be a mistake…right, Lex?" She had asked after having read it. The words CatCo, National City and apprenticeship imprinted in her vision.
Lex only smiles sadly, patting the back of her hand that he still held. "I'm afraid not."
Lena pulled her arm loose, facing her brother. "Why?"
"You know why."
Confusion gave way to bitter feelings. Her chest hurt from the phantom blade that added another tear to her insides. Lena knew why. When Lionel died, she never got the chance to say goodbye at that time, not until now. The funeral was a huge affair, everyone that mattered were there. News and media outlets were granted permission for full coverage, and Lena got to be a part of it from a dingy TV mounted on a wall, sitting among her not so-called friends with judging eyes and harsh whispers, miles away from home.
It was foolish of her to hope things would change once she's served her time.
"I love you, sis." Lex placated. Eyes soft. "But you know your being here would only cause unrest to everything that Father had built. His legacy—our family's legacy will be in jeopardy. You can't stay in Metropolis."
She thought of being all alone in a strange city and of even stranger people for the second time. Dread crawled its way up her throat. "I want to help make a difference where it matters in LuthorCorp Lex, not Catco. No one even needs to know who I am, like always." She pleaded. The paper in her hand scrunched at the taut grip.
"Lena," he sighed, squeezing her shoulders a shy too hard for it to hurt. "You should be grateful for this. Not many convicts can say they got a roof above their head, a respected job and all the wealth of a Luthor to last five generations."
Lena tried not to flinch at the words, masking her face to indifference instead. Lex patted her cheek affectionately before planting a kiss at her temple. "Mother and I love you. Never ever doubt that… Come on, I'll help you pack."
Blinking back, the memory faded, replaced by the all too familiar barren email inbox. Her vision starts to water and hastily she gets up to distance herself from the offensive blue light emitted from the desktop screen. Clearly, that's all there was to it, not because of her own self-pity.
Luthors don't cry. Lillian once said, and Lena is a Luthor after all—even if it's only half of it.
She found herself wandering aimlessly along the hallway, her limbs moving on her own consensus. Vaguely, she registered a vending machine at the end of the hall and decided to munch her feelings away. Ten steps away from it, however, a streak of pink beat her to it.
The pink blur materialized into a woman in a blonde bun. Her pink button-up stretched to reveal a strong-looking set of shoulders tucked inside midnight blue slim-fitting slacks, brown leather belt secured her small waist from behind.
Not that Lena was staring. She just wanted a granola bar.
So patiently, she waited for the blonde stranger to make her choice. But instead, what greeted her were sniffles and a low mumbling. Tilting her head to see better, there was nothing unusual besides the woman's growing distress.
"Excuse me," The woman flinched as if only realizing there was someone else with her.
Hastily, she wiped at her tear-streaked cheeks which Lena pretended she didn't notice. "Oh, gosh. Sorry! Are you—Do you want to use— Of course, you want to get something too. Why else would you be here. Sorry. I just realized I didn't bring any money with me."
Clear sky-blue eyes owlishly stare at her. Lena blinks back. "What do you want? I have enough money."
"Really?"
A note far too much slid into the vending machine before Lena pushed a button for her granola bars to prove a point.
"Well, can I have the cookies, please?" The blonde spoke timidly, adjusting her glasses. "And the pretzels, MMs , the peanuts one and the regular, and Snickers."
A brow rose incredulously but Lena pressed every selection without missing a beat. "Anything else?"
"Oh, two beef jerky and a soda if you don't mind, or maybe two sodas? Do you want a soda?"
Lena bites back a smile. "No, the water's fine for me."
As soon as the vending machine vomited their food rather violently, the blonde crouched down and swept everything into her arms. A smile so wide and bright enough to blind anyone by its sheer intensity was on her face.
"Wow, thank you so much for this. You saved my life." She moved so fast that Lena missed grabbing her own portion from her grip. So, she had to follow after the blonde as she placed her load safely onto a small table and took a seat. Still, with a smile, mesmerizing cerulean eyes found hers again. "You're my hero."
Lena stilled. Blood rushed through her heart and heat crept up her neck. She yanked a chair opposite the blonde and plopped herself down. "You're welcome. Get me five granola bars next time and we're even."
That was not what she wanted to say. At all. She sounded all snobbish and wrong. Fearing that she had offended the woman, she avoided those kind eyes and reached for her cursed granola bars and bottle of water.
"Deal!"A voice chirped. Lena emerged behind the curtain of her hair to find the said woman happily stuffing her face. It was both endearing and appalling. "I'm Kara Danvers, from Editorial."
A hand was extended and waiting unwaveringly in the air. Lena didn't know what made her extend hers too—probably the fact that beautiful blue eyes with an equal stunning smile were presented in an open invitation. But she stopped herself, just barely touching the skin presented before pulling back with growing panic as she realized the disaster that could happen if the woman in front was to be more than a friendly colleague.
And by the way the blonde—Kara, she reminded herself—seemed to pull back almost at the same time lessened Lena's fear considerably. At least, she's not the only one with a secret far too risky to share with a potential soulmate. Though, she doubted anyone could top hers.
"Lena. Marketing." It had grown far too awkward and too long before she said it.
But, Kara took it in stride. Wiping the stillness and gifted an honest smile as if they weren't potentially breaking down at the prospect of sharing each other's secrets moments before.
"Are you new? I've never seen you before." Kara's grin turned brighter by the second, already forgetting the elephant in the room.
"Just started two weeks ago."
"Ah, no wonder. I know everyone in CatCo. I was Cat's assistant for five years before I move to Editorial and become a reporter. So… how do you find it here so far?"
Lena managed a shrug, overwhelmed that the blonde was genuinely interested.
Kara misinterpreted it, a cute crinkle formed between her brows. "That bad, huh?"
"No, no…not bad," Lena quickly corrected. "Just bored." At the questioning look, she continued, "They don't really give me anything to do. I don't even think they need new hire right now."
"Then, why…?"
There was a pause in the air that might have lasted only a second but for Lena, it seemed to stretch on forever as she debated what to say. Something about Kara and her calming presence made it easy to tell the truth though so she did.
"My family pull some string so here I am."
Kara definitely had paused then. Her chewing stopped, eyes unblinking as gears turned inside her head. "Oh."
She looked uncomfortable and Lena cursed herself inwardly. Since when had the truth ever done her any favour?
"I better get back or else they're going to send a search party." She tried smiling, but it felt unnatural along her lips.
Without waiting for any kind of response, she all but fled, barely snatching her untouched granola bars and bottle of water. Despite her quickening steps, they felt awfully leaden and the feel of Kara's burning stare at the back of her head only weighed them more.
No one batted an eyelid at her entrance back in the office. She tossed her bounty inside a drawer and shut it closed, willing the warmth of sky blue eyes and sunny smile to be locked away as well. Closing her email tab, Lena opened a new browser. Determination replacing whatever that was moments ago.
She will not waste away. She'll prove to Lex and Lillian how worthy of a Luthor she really is
*.
Papers were scattered all over her desk. Drawings and calculations even Lena had a hard time distinguishing where they came from strewn about and pinned on her little task board that days ago were bare.
Time moved relentlessly. Not that she noticed. Her surroundings became a blur and white noises as she worked—actually worked, using her brain and hands.
"Guess you found something to do."
Lena froze mid-calculation, sure that Frances was going to ask her to print something mundane again. Instead, she found familiar blue eyes.
"Kara," The said woman adjusted her already perfect glasses and gave a small smile, almost shy.
Lena stood and stared dumbly taking the blonde in. Warmth began to bloom again inside her chest.
"Who would've thought you're a Hardy-Weinberg Principle kinda gal." Kara suddenly said as her gaze fixed on one of the many sticky notes. Lena had a hard time computing the social cue, still regulating if the blonde was really there. At the growing silence, Kara forced a chuckle. "Not that you can't be. Obviously, you know the theorem really well… did you use HWP to find DNA mutation? And nanocarrier in the same calculation? Gosh, is that possible?"
Finally getting a hold of herself, Lena managed an answer. "No. Not yet at least."
"Huh. I'm sorry…this is the marketing department, right?" Kara asked, trying hard to smooth the line of her smile.
Lena did not. "Says the reporter of a media company who knows bioengineering principles."
"I read a lot?"
"You don't sound so sure about that."
Kara huffed, feigning offence. "What's your reason?"
"I had a PhD in mechanical engineering, minor in biomedical and computer science," Lena said as a matter of fact.
"What? Get out of here!"
"You have no idea."
"Lena! Why didn't you say that you're a genius?"
Kara honest to god seemed to be waiting for an answer. "Um, I'm sorry?"
"That's fine. I'll let it slide if you let me know what you're trying to do here."
Lena forced herself not to fidget, choosing to cross her arms. "Finding a cure for cancer."
Instead of laughing, Kara's eyes widened in awe. "You really are a hero."
The warmth in those cerulean eyes grew to a point of almost uncomfortable. "There's still a lot to do. I barely scratch the surface and I'm not any closer than any scientist before me. There are too many variables and causes I need to go through and it's not like I found any new discovery or revolution or anything like that. It's more or less what I already did in my final year's exposition." She paused, only noticing that she had blabbered on.
Lena did not blabber. Ever. Horrified, she settled at a minuscule, "It's nothing really."
Kara didn't smile any more but her features softened and became certain. "No, it's everything… You're a good person, Lena." She then produced a granola bar out of nowhere and placed it at the side of the table.
Lena remembered the debt they had agreed to. "There's only one."
"I know," Kara said brightly, slowly retreating without breaking her gaze. "I'll get you another one tomorrow!" She promised before turning and disappearing down the aisles.
Lena unceremoniously fell down her seat, her mind playing on repeat what Kara said last. A heavy breath left her mouth and she closed her eyes as regret started to fill in. She should've asked for more than five granola bars.
*
It was well past ten in the evening that Lena decided to go for a run. She had been working on her research all day, continuing them at her house once she got back and decided to finally stop when all the letters and numbers might possibly drown her. All of the other tools she ordered online had yet to arrive. So, with nothing left to do, she changed to more comfortable attire, put her hair up in a loose ponytail, grabbed her keys and walked out.
Gradually, sweat began to form as she pushed herself harder and harder along the walking path. Willing every thought in her mind to be swept away by the wind gushing through her body. Only when her sides screamed and her chest heaved fiercely did Lena stop running. Bending over in gasping breath as air filled her lungs again.
The city's park was left almost abandoned. A few stragglers walking along the path and a few others who had the same mind as hers jogging the opposite way. Once she was able to catch her breath again, she started walking the direction back to her house, enjoying the cool wind that was caressing her damp skin.
Just then, a tiny mewl stopped her track right on top of a bridge. Lena wiped the sweat off her brow and looked around, noting that she was all alone. Though, she didn't have the luxury to feel uneasy about the vacant park when another yowl, louder this time, broke her concentration again.
Moving to lean down the railing, she used her phone's flashlight to light up under the bridge. Three sets of eyes belonging to three kittens stared back at her.
"Well," She breathed, feeling both relieved and troubled.
For a while, Lena did nothing but stared at the open space, weighing her choice. Another pitiful cry under her feet decided to make the choice for her and with a sigh, she walked down the bridge before climbing into the ditch. Her foot found purchase near the steep bank and ever so carefully she moved further and further towards the waiting kittens.
"Come on then. Your saviour's here." She unzipped her windbreaker and gathered the tiny ball of fluffs into her jacket. The little devils didn't make it easy. One was running away and another was jumping back out from the makeshift carrier.
Only minutes later when her thighs felt like cramping did she finally have them all secured. Turning to get out of there as fast as she could, her feet lose their footing just as she came out under the bridge. "Fuck!" The ditch—no, it's a fucking river—swallowed her as she slide down until just below her hips. "Shit!" and it's cold. "Fuck!" She cried again, hoping she was anywhere but here.
A soft thud landed above the land followed by a, "Everything okay down there?"
Lena gasped in shock at the new presence. Supergirl in all her glory stood there glowing under the street lamp and the moonlight. Blonde curls waving from the night's wind with both her hands on hips, looking down. Lena swore she saw a smirk lit up that face for a second before it's gone, turning serious.
"Out for a swim?" Supergirl asked before breaking into a full grin unashamedly.
Lena drew a breath to calm herself and more importantly not to lose any more dignity. "Supergirl," She greeted and started moving ever carefully to the bank and deposited the kittens first safely at the higher ground where Supergirl instantly settled herself down, opening the bundle and cooed in awe.
The three kittens mewed and pounced at the fingers that petted them. Their bite left nothing to the impenetrable skin. "Aw, they so cute." The Super said in an annoying baby voice which Lena found not endearing at all. Because she's far too busy climbing her way up and finally out of the cold stream.
"Really appreciate the help," Lena huffed all the while unceremoniously laying herself flat down the ground, closing her eyes to catch her breath.
When there's nothing but silence for a while, she blinked her eyes open, finding the Kryptonian transfixed where blue eyes gave a quick appraisal down her exposed skin before returning respectfully on her face. Warmth flooded her entire being despite her wet clothes—which Lena belatedly realized that she was wearing only a sports bra now with yoga pants that clung skin tight.
In a flash, she sat herself up facing Supergirl trying hard to swallow. Her throat suddenly parched.
"Hi." Supergirl beamed. Clear blue eyes sparkled inhumanly, taking Lena in.
"Hello."
"I didn't know there's a new hero in town."
Lena's mouth twitched at the corner. "I'm not trespassing any jurisdiction, am I?"
Supergirl just smiled, not deeming the question worth an answer as she stood up and unbuckled her cape before offering it. "You look cold."
Lena was shivering, she realized and with a mumble of thanks and heat crawling up her neck and face, she accepted the offer. Her skin was warmly covered by the red sheet that she's sure was not from Earth's fabric.
"Where do you live?"
As soon as Lena told her address, she tuned out the rest of the world. Safely blanketed by her cape, Supergirl carried her in a bridal carry. The bundle of fluffs hugged tightly on Lena's chest and her gaze planted firmly on Supergirl's face, studying the superhero; of her flawless skin, her cupid bows of lips, a cute crinkle between her brows as she focused into the horizon but the most prominent features of hers was those cerulean eyes. They were her favourite shade of blue and she had only thought so with one other person before.
"Here we are," Supergirl said, breaking her train of thoughts.
Lena looked around, finally noticing the familiar neighbourhood. "You didn't have to fly me home."
"You should've said that earlier. We're already here." Supergirl said good-naturedly.
Heat crept up Lena's face anyway, remembering she was busy ogling to voice any coherent thoughts.
"Thank you for the ride home."
"Don't mention it."
It was an innocent act of gesture where Lena was trying to return Supergirl's cape back. Their hands wouldn't be touching at all due to the cape's long and wide surface area. But then, Lena didn't count the three devils wrapped around her other arm in her jacket as one managed to peek out and jump out.
Lena leaned forward in shock at the sudden weight loss when all three now scattered on the pavement. And then Supergirl had made a grab at her bare arm trying to catch the kittens from falling or something.
All Lena knew there was an electric shock coursing through her skin that Supergirl's fingers had tightened around. And then, there's a woman. Blonde with glasses, Kara, Lena realized. Kara, whipping her glasses off and fly into the sky. Kara, with a proud smile, wore her family crest on her chest. And Kara, who Lena saw with tears on her eyes as Kryptonite blade impaled her heart.
Lena gasped and stumbled away from the contact. Her eyes and chest burn from the image that still danced behind her vision. When she looks up at Supergirl—Kara, Lena remembered. Oh, Kara Danvers is Supergirl—the Kryptonian didn't look much better.
Kara stumbled backwards, eyes wide, unblinking. "You— you're a murderer."