"Why would anyone want to host a gala in the middle of the forest?"
Lena scoffs. "We're hardly in the middle of the forest, just merely on the outskirts."
"In my eyes, if they have to have armed guards out in case wild animals attack, we're in the middle of the forest." Kara retorts, walking along the edge of the trees away from the fading sound of the music playing.
Lena walks alongside her, smiling at Kara's attitude. She knows that it's just because she doesn't like being at galas, being surrounded by snobby rich people that look down on everyone they meet that does have at least few million in their bank account.
When they get far enough away that they can only just hear the terrible music, they stop, making sure they keep the lights from the place in their view so they can get back if they are attacked by a bear or something.
"You want to sit on those rocks over there?" Lena asks, pointing to some rocks wedged between the trees. They have to climb a couple of low branches to get up there, but both manage it with very little difficulty, even in their fancy dresses and heels.
Only once they reach the top and take a seat with their legs swinging down from the side do they realize how cold they are away from the smothering bodies of the other guests. "It's freezing out here, only crazy rich people have parties in places like this."
"Don't let them hear you calling it a party, anything less than 'gala' or 'professional gathering' would get you publicly hanged." Lena accentuates the official words by making goofy little quotation marks with her fingers.
"I know you're joking but I wouldn't put it past the majority of those people." Kara pulls her lips down into a frown and pretends to look scared, even going as far as to bring her hands up to mime biting her fingernails in a panic.
Lena just ignores her for the most part, letting a small smile sit on her face as she just lets Kara keep her in a good mood. Her face suddenly drops though. "Why are you cold? You don't get cold, Kara."
Kara's eyes shift away, and her playful demeanour slips away. "I – uh…may have solar flared last night."
"What the hell were you thinking coming here? My mother is in that gala somewhere and while we have managed to avoid her thus far, we don't know what the rest of the night will bring. She would love an opportunity to get a steak knife into a vulnerable Supergirl."
Kara nods along, an awkward jolt to the movements. "I would expect her to be more of a poison kind of gal, I wouldn't take her to like the messy aftermath of a stabbing."
"She wouldn't mind so much if it was in someone's back." Lena deadpans, her eyes sharp and glaring. She doesn't appreciate how jovially Kara is acting when her life could be in danger.
Lena's happy to see that Kara has the sense to look a little bit more serious after that. "You're right, I'm sorry. I was just looking forward to coming here with you and didn't want you to worry so I was hoping to just get through it without anything going massively wrong."
"You were willing to put yourself in danger just so you could come to a boring event with me? Why?" Lena questions, her head tilting the way a confused puppy's would.
Kara just nods. "You're my favourite person, I thought that would be obvious by now."
Lena has no idea what to do with that, aware of how strong their feeling for each other are but afraid of pushing the relationship to be too much too fast, but for now, it's probably a good idea for them to head back up to civilisation. "Alright, let's head back up and hope they still have some alcohol left, ooh speaking of, you can drink without needing it to be anything special so if my mom has left by the time we get back, I want to see you drink. You have no idea how much I want to see how red your cheeks will get."
"How do you go from protective to mean in less than a minute?"
"It's a real talent."
With a shake of her head, Kara slides forward off the rock, letting herself drop down a few feet and bracing her fall at the bottom. As soon as she steadies herself, she turns towards Lena and offers to help her down, holding onto her to slow her descent.
Lena happily accepts and slides into Kara's waiting arms, finding her even more attractive knowing she can catch her even when she doesn't have her superstrength.
They clasp their hands together with a loose grip as they walk, only separating when they are close enough to the gala to be seen. As much as they are confident in their relationship, being public to their friends and family is a lot different to being public to people they don't know.
They don't seem to have a lot of luck on their side tonight though because they barely get one step onto the makeshift floor that have been put down for the outdoor event before the one and only Lillian Luthor appears, dressed to the nines.
"Hello, Lena."
"Hello, Mother."
"What, no hug?" Lillian holds her arms out in offering.
Lena crosses her arms, showing her that she isn't in the mood for games. "I'd be worried you found a way to make your skin acidic."
"I hadn't but that's a great idea. You are a Luthor after all. However, I was hoping to talk to you."
"I thought that was what we were already doing, Mother."
Lillian nods, looking slightly accepting of Lena and her actions, something that doesn't happen often. "We haven't spoken properly in a long time, not since everything that happened with Lex and well, I've heard it's perfectly normal for an aging woman to have regrets."
Lena quirks an eyebrow. "So what? You want forgiveness? Or maybe you want us to pretend to be a happy family when we both know that's not something that is or ever will be in the cards for us?"
Lillian takes a seat at the nearest empty table, offering both women to sit with the wave of her hand. "Please, sit with me. I know that there is years of betrayals and poor judgement within our family and while I can't change it, I can change how I act now. I don't want to be the bad guy, Lena."
"You could've fooled me. You can't just pretend you haven't done the things you have and try to be the good guy now that your precious baby boy is rotting in a cell."
"I know I can't." Lillian ducks her head in what almost looks like shame. "However, I have come to the conclusion that I have lost my son because of my actions and my influence, and I would very much like to prevent that from happening with my daughter. You're all I have left and despite everything, I do love you, Lena."
Kara takes Lena's hand beneath the table, unwilling to leave her side. She doesn't know what Lillian's goal is but whatever happens after this, it will be Lena's call and she will back her up 100%.
"Mother, what do you really want?"
"I want a relationship with my daughter, in whatever form that may be. Like I said, I can't change the past, but I can mould the future. I don't want to miss my daughter's wedding or the birth or my grandchildren or family Christmases, not anymore. I want a real family, something that we never managed to achieve before."
Lena pins her gaze to the tablecloth. "I don't think I can trust you."
"I'm not asking for your trust, I'm asking for a chance to let me earn it, something I should have done long ago."
Lena looks deep into Lillian's eyes, trying to figure out exactly what she wants but can't see anything past the tears building in her mother's eyes, a sight she hasn't seen before. "I wouldn't even know what that looks like."
"Well, I suppose a good place to start would be by letting me congratulate the pair of you on your budding relationship. I may not have even been the biggest fan of you, Kara, or your other persona, but you have always kept my daughter safe, so thank you for that."
Kara clears her throat. "Thank you, Ms Luthor."
"I suppose that if you're going to be my daughter-in-law someday, you should call me Lillian." She forces a smile, still not a fan of the supers, or aliens in general but she's working on it.
"Well then, thank you, Lillian. However, I hope that you understand that the choice is completely up to Lena and I'm going to support her decision on this, whatever that may be."
Lillian lifts her chin, examining the Kryptonian briefly before giving her a single nod in approval. "I suppose you are quite well fitted to my daughter, all things considered. You don't need it, but I want you to know that you have my blessing, even if that means nothing to you."
Lena and Kara share a look, one where they are both looking for answers from the other, but both really quite confused by the whole interaction.
"I can see that I've given you a lot to think about, so I'll give you time. You have my contact details so please, if you ever have it in your heart to give me a second chance, get in touch. Enjoy your night, ladies." With that Lillian takes her leave, taking one last glance over her shoulder as she heads to the line of cars waiting to take people home.
Kara turns in her seat to face Lena properly. "Do you think she was being sincere?"
"I don't know but I'd like to have a couple of drinks and process it all tomorrow."
"Whatever you need, I'll grab the drinks."
Lena grabs Kara's hand as she stands and pulls her back down into her chair. "Hey, Kara."
"Yeah?"
"I'm really glad she didn't stab you."
"Me too."
