After calling her sister to reassure her, Kara spent some time just looking around, she had never been to Lena's place. She was lost in her own mind, processing the recent events when she realized how late it was. She laid down on the couch, then she was twisting and turning. She was restless, it felt like she couldn't find the right position, or maybe it was just that she couldn't seem to turn off her thoughts. Until sleep came without Kara realizing it.
She didn't feel rested at all as she heard noises, clings and clangs coming from the kitchen nearby. It felt like her eyelids were so heavy, she didn't feel like she had the strength nor the will to open them. But the noise didn't stop. It might be Lena.
She wriggled on the couch, moving towards one side of the furniture until her head was off it so she could see behind it. She opened an eye to see the general. Was she making that much noise on purpose?
"What are you doing?" Groaned Kara as she moved back to her original position on the couch, this was more comfortable.
"Not being lazy"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kara sat up and glared over the back of the couch, which wasn't really effective seeing as her hair was a mess and she was obviously still sleepy.
"I'm making coffee" Overgirl gave a meaningful look at the other Kara as she finished.
"Can't you make it more quietly?"
"It's not like I'm waking anyone relevant" Was Overgirl dry comment without looking up from what she was doing.
Kara could practically hear her teeth grind. "what about Lena?"
"We're too far, and I checked on her, she's spread wide in the middle of her bed" She didn't add that there was a little drool.
Kara couldn't help but smile thinking about Lena, in such a position. Cute. It didn't last as her evil twin was still speaking.
"…which is why she'll need the coffee" They had a strange moment, giving each over a look, Overgirl's side was expectant while Kara's was quizzical, she knew she had missed something while she was thinking about her best friend.
She got up with a groan then ended up asking the first thing that went through her mind "Can I have some?"
She knew she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep with her obviously still evil doppelganger making a ruckus right next to her.
Overgirl's left eye twitched a little. Her first impulse was to say no, obviously, however she had to take Lena into account. Would she be disappointed if she was to shun the other blonde completely? Would Lena consider making a guest a cup of coffee common courtesy?
"Why do you want coffee anyway, it doesn't have any real effect on you?"
"I like how it tastes"
Overgirl made her decision as she grabbed a mug, half-filled it before unceremoniously putting it on the counter, any harder and it would have spilled. It didn't help that the Kara in front of her didn't seem to take offense, she just smiled for a second before asking "Sugar?"
Overgirl glared but she sighed, then pushed the white, obviously high-quality porcelain, sugar bowl without looking at the woman in front of her as she did so.
Supergirl opened it with a "Thank you", she grabbed the sugar tongs and started to grab a cube, another, and another…
"Can you even taste the coffee?"
Kara looked up as she dropped a sugar cube in the dark liquid, she was frowning, a little annoyed due to how many times people had commented on her eating habits. "Yes" She looked at Overgirl who was making some kind of breakfast. Could she ask for some too or would it be too much?
Overgirl was about to comment on the five sugar cubes when she heard a noise coming from the corridor, she spotted the Luthor.
Lena's mouth was dry, she had a headache, and everything was too bright and too loud. She was wearing the softest thing she owned, dark grey sweat pants and a wide blue green shirt. She was thankful she knew her flat so well, she didn't need to keep her eyes opened to be able to maker her way to her kitchen.
She felt like she would never want to drink again, but knew she would. She passed her hand through her hair, it was more practical to tie them, and it made her look more professional but it felt great in the morning to have it like that. She froze, her hand pretty much above her head. She had opened her eyes to see Supergirl without her cape, sitting at her counter with a coffee. Kara on the opposite side of it, without her glasses. They were the same, dressed differently. She was never drinking again.
Both Karas wouldn't dare move, not sure about what they should do next. Lena looked like a deer caught in headlights, she slowly lowered her arm.
It felt like a long moment passed, without any of them moving, until Lena moved forward which was when both Kara said at the same time. "Good morning"
It was obvious they had spooked her, she raised an eyebrow, lifted her hand as she raised her index finger before going back to where she came from.
Supergirl gave a curious look at her double who was glaring at her. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"We both know this is your fault, she never reacted like that when she got up before"
Kara just got up, she already had enough of this day, or maybe it was the General. She barely slept, still felt emotionally drained, her stomach was empty and that blonde was reminding her of her relationship with her best friend "How would you know, you haven't been there that long?"
"I'd know better than you, I'm living with her. How many times were you there to share her morning routine?"
"You know this living arrangement is most likely temporary. She took a stray in thinking it was me"
Supergirl didn't like the small smirk that was appearing on her opponent's face. "A stray you say…" She paused "Hmm… like a pet?" The smirk grew bigger while the Kara from this universe was frowning, not understanding.
She turned it around in her mind, until…her eyebrows went from down to up, eyes wide she exclaimed "No! Not like…That!"
"No? Never thought about Lena with her hair pulled perfectly back, tight skirt and stilettos?" Overgirl bit her lip to not laugh at loud as she was watching her doppelganger turn different shades of red, her mouth opening and closing.
They both jumped as they heard the woman in question speak. "Kara" She had a warning tone. Both blondes turned to her and Lena groaned. "Stop antagonizing…Kara" She made her way around the counter, she was pretty much like she was before, a little more tensed and wearing aviator sunglasses inside. Hangover it was.
Overgirl silently gave her the coffee she had prepared. Lena immediately picked it up and took as sip, letting out a contented sigh as she did so. Overgirl glanced at Supergirl, smiling at her, this was a victory.
Until it was broken. "This is not going to work" Stated Lena and the tension rose in the room. "I can't keep on calling you both Kara when you are together, this is bound to become confusing"
"I am Kara, she is Supergirl" Overgirl was obviously referring to the way they were both dressed.
"I. Am Kara. You are either Overgirl or General, and that's because I'm being polite"
Lena who was also hiding behind her mug lowered it. "Overgirl? What kind of name is that?"
"It was not my choice, over was making reference to the fact that I was seen as above or in a higher position than most"
"Yet they still used the word girl, not woman" Commented Supergirl.
Lena couldn't help but smile a little, that kind of remark was the Kara she knew and loved. Except she wasn't just dressed as Supergirl, a small voice reminded her. She couldn't solely use that name, it would only remind her of the betrayal. Not that the other option was something she liked either.
"That's just ridiculous. Kara, this is your universe, I can't call you anything else, things are weird enough as it as. Just like for you, is there a name you'd like to be called?"
Overgirl didn't like where this was going. She crossed her arms as she looked down. Not feeling so good all of a sudden. Would she be stripped of her identity once more?
She looked up when she felt a now familiar hand on her arm, rubbing up and down. "I need a way to call you both, you can't just be Kara 2"
Overgirl hid behind a smirk. "2.0, the better version"
Kara groaned "Or call her Cersei, she is the evil twin after all"
Lena chose to ignore that comment. Overgirl didn't get it but didn't want to make it obvious so she didn't respond, she just looked at Lena and she painfully said what she was thinking. "I don't want to be a number again. I was one in the camps for so long…"
Lena lowered her hand until it was resting on the blonde's and gave it a squeeze. "I know it isn't fair, but you get to chose who you want to be, try to see it like a new name for a fresh start"
"Like so many other Nazis did when they flew Germany after the D-day" Couldn't help but snark Kara, she was more than annoyed by the show of affection she was witnessing. Lena was supposed to care for her, not the other one, the evil one.
This time Lena turned towards her best friend, she lowered her glasses so her eyes were visible and she glared, hard. Kara gulped and looked down, because she didn't like making Lena mad. That was true though, but maybe not the best moment to bring it up.
"What would you like to call me?" Finally asked Overgirl, bringing the attention back to her.
"I don't think I should be the one to…" She trailed off, this Kara was pouting. "You'll always both be Kara, that will never change but I need a way to differentiate you when I speak to both of you at the same time"
"Fine. What about Special K?" Was Supergirl's next intervention. She just couldn't help it. This was ridiculous.
"No" Lena was firm as she turned towards the one who was supposed to be her best friend. The raven-haired woman wondered if the Super suit was making the blonde obnoxious? Was she more confident and speaking her mind? Not a morning person? Her hungover still taking a toll on her? A light went on in the Luthor's mind as she was looking at that S.
"What about Elle?" She finally proposed as she raised an eyebrow.
Supergirl shook her head from side to side. "No. No way"
"Why not? You are both…if I remember correctly, from the house El"
Kara had to stand up at that "She chose to wear that despicable sign over her chest instead of our coat or arm! She gave up that right!" She was pointing at her doppelganger who had lowered her head, bowed her back as to make herself as small as she could.
"Sign? What sign?" Inquired Lena.
"Well this one has two S" Spat out Supergirl.
Without looking up Overgirl tried to defend herself. "I didn't choose, the costume was designed to fit with Overman's. I just put on whatever they wanted me to"
"You could have said no. You could have just left. You did have a choice"
"Supergirl" Was the only word Lena had to say for the blond to close her mouth, as tight as she could, making her jaw and muscles pop out. " She was stuck in a toxic…environment. I can' t help but feel…would you say to a woman with an abusive partner that she could just leave and blame her if she doesn't?"
Kara groaned in frustration. "You can't compare someone who gets hurt to someone who hurt others"
Lena raised her chin as she removed her glasses to look into blue eyes. It was a staring contest. After a good minute of silence Lena offered. "You can say I use Elle for the tradition in my family"
Kara looked away with a sigh, she knew she wouldn't be able to change the other's woman mind, even less if she was being confrontational. "Whatever"
Lena closed her eyes, took a deep breath and suddenly stopped, she put down her coffee next to her glasses before she ran for it. To the bathroom. Both Kryptonians shifted, ready to go after her but stopped when the door was slammed shut. They went from looking in the corridor's direction to glaring at each other.
"Not so demure are you when Lena isn't there" Said Supergirl.
"It's nothing about demure. I just don't like you" Stated Overgirl before putting a piece of pancake in her mouth.
"The feeling is mutual"
Supergirl looked on the other side of the counter, there were some pancakes left. She listened to Lena puking a few doors away, she wouldn't want to eat them anyway. She grabbed the plate and sat as far away from the other…her, as she could.
Lena reappeared shorty after that, paler than usual, that was possible. She glared at her cup of coffee but still took a sip. "See, she was nice enough to make you pancakes"
Kara swallowed, her plate nearly empty. "I'm sorry" The sheepish blonde managed to say "I'm pretty sure I took yours"
"No. I rarely eat in the morning, she knows that. And after the night I had…" Lena trailed off, actually she wasn't used to eating breakfast at all, she was forcing herself so Kara would join her, to make her feel better. She went to the living room to pick up her tablet so she could get some work done.
As soon as Lena had turned around Overgirl smirked and Supergirl glared.
It didn't take long for Lena to come back and for the blondes to get their faces back to a different expression, something more neutral.
The young Luthor managed to smile before sitting down, leaning over her tablet while drinking her coffee. She couldn't help but feel like she was being watched, she looked up to find both blondes looking away. She groaned as she decided to put her sunglasses back on, that at least get her the impression she could hide behind something. She did her best to ignore the very tensed silence, it might be why she jumped when she heard someone knocking loudly on her door. She wasn't expecting anyone.
She groaned, maybe they would go away, she really didn't want to face anyone else. And she didn't look like her usual pristine self.
Supergirl looked through the door. "Alex?" She got up but stopped before turning to her best friend. "May I?"
Lena just made a hand gesture so the blonde would proceed, maybe the agent was here for her sister and would leave her in peace.
No such luck, she heard some arguing before the brunette appeared, Supergirl a step behind her.
"Lena" Greeted the D.E.O agent.
"Alex. How did you manage to get in?"
The older Danvers pulled out her badge.
"Ah" Was all Lena could say, she'd need to have a little talk with her staff, if they couldn't stop the authorities, they had to at least warn her that they were coming. "Are you here on official business then?"
"I am" Which was part of the truth, she really needed to check on her sister too. She walked up to the Luthor before dropping a stack of white papers next to her mug. "I need you to sign this"
"Hmm blue light?" Asked the raven-haired woman.
"Not exactly, it is of our own design" The agent handed out a light to the Luthor, it was purple and as she shed this light to the white papers, words, lines appeared.
"An NDA regarding Supergirl's identity. I'm not one of your employees, nor can you force me to do so. Why would I sign this?"
Alex crossed her arms and glared. "Read it"
Lena removed her glasses one last time to glare at the intruder. "I'm sorry?"
"Would you please read it, Miss Luthor?"
They were glaring at each other. Behind them the Kryptonians were watching. Kara hated it, she didn't know what to do, she definitely didn't want to step between her sister and her best friend. She glanced at her alter ego who had her head tilted to the side, Kara followed her line of sight. "Stop it!" She didn't say it too loud as to not her heard by the other women.
Overgirl glanced at her before going back to what she was doing.
"Stop looking at my sister's butt!" This time the two other women looked at her.
"I was just admiring, she has a really beautiful figure. It's…nice" Trailed off Overgirl, nearly biting her tongue.
"She's my sister!"
"Well she isn't mine" Stated the woman for an alternative reality. It wasn't even sexual, she honestly thought the agent had a great figure, more so with that confident pose, legs shoulder width apart, shoulders pulled a little back.
Alex groaned as she heard the argument her sister was having with the general, she was trying to look intimidating. She twisted to look at the blondes. "Do you mind?"
Kara lifted her hand, pointing at her doppelganger. "She started it. She was being inappropriate"
"I didn't do anything!"
"You were ogling my sister!"
Lena could see it, the differences between the Karas, and after spending quite some time with El she could see the lines on her face. The lines slightly pulled at the corner of her mouth, she was teasing, okay maybe antagonizing Supergirl. Though it seemed to work. She didn't like that Alex, a woman she thought she was getting closer to, thought she could just barge in and pretty much bully her into signing a contract with her agency regarding what she could and could not say or do. It hurt a little to think that maybe Alex had been playing her too.
A small smirk appeared on the Luthor's lips. El had managed to break the tension and to unsettle the agent even just a little bit. This was the opening she needed to finish destabilizing the D.E.O representative.
"El once again, stop antagonizing Kara. And Kara, you can't be mad every time someone enjoys your sister's figure. It's true, she is very nice…to look at" Lena bit her lower lip, she knew what it looked like but she was merely trying not to laugh. Alex was blushing, though she managed to still look somewhat composed, but Kara's jaw dropped and they all heard a sudden loud snap.
"Kara? Did you break my countertop?"
Kara looked down at her hand and the white piece of furniture in it. She hid it behind her back. "Would you believe me if I said no?"
"Are you lying to me again?" Lena raised her chin and an eyebrow.
Kara sighed as she tried to put the piece back where it came from, like a puzzle. "I'm so sorry, I barely…it must have been fragile…or…I can probably use superglue on it" It didn't want to remain in place. She kept it in her hands.
"It's granite" Stated the raven-haired woman.
Overgirl snorted and Supergirl glared at her.
"I will read your document, agent. I'm not promising anything"
Alex nodded, cheeks still a light shade of pink. She cleared her throat, not sure what to say she nodded.
Lena lowered her head, she'd read it right away, pretty sure Alex wasn't going to leave anytime soon otherwise.
Alex didn't like being so carelessly dismissed but she had something else to deal with. She walked back to her sister, taking the granite off her hands. "Give me that" She was surprised by its weigh and nearly dropped it.
Overgirl snickered as she saw the woman waver. Alex glared before handing it to her. She didn't spare her another look as she grabbed her sister's arm, dragging her to the living room.
Overgirl's eyes grew wide as she watched what she was holding in her one hand, without difficulty. She put it down on the counter before taking a step back. She rolled her wounded shoulder, it felt as usual, no pain. She removed the brace carefully, putting down it before picking up the broken piece of marble, turning it in her hands, once, twice, then she squeezed. It broke in half. Her powers were coming back.
Eyes wide she looked up at Lena who was looking right back at her.
The Luthor put down her light as she got up making her way to the blonde. She grabbed the marbles off El's hands, nearly falling down face first, this was heavy. El helped her, grabbing the marble too. They both looked towards the couch where the Danvers sisters seemed to be too engrossed in their conversation to realize what was happening.
"Quick" Whispered Lena as she started to move, Elle right along with her, they carried the two pieces of marble into Lena's room.
Alex sat next to her sister on the white couch. "Kara, I need you to breathe"
"I'm breathing" Argued the blonde, she got a look for it so she made a show out of breathing slowly in, and out. It did make her feel a little better. "Happy?"
"You had an argument about my ass and broke an expensive piece of furniture while I was trying to look intimidating"
"Sorry" Kara pouted "I can't help it, the general always manage to get under my skin I just wish I just could…" She trailed off as she mimed some kind of wringling motion.
Alex put her hand on top of her sisters, lowering them. "I've rarely seen you this worked up before. It's not the first time you've seen someone checking me out"
Kara nodded "It's different when it's my own face doing it. It's disturbing" The looked at each other before simultaneously grimacing.
"And Lena is not supposed to like your butt" Let out Kara, so used to sharing with her sister.
Alex leaned back into the couch, crossing her arms, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh Rao! Do you like Lena?!" Exclaimed Kara.
"No!" Alex was sitting back to straight up.
"There is no need to sound offended. You could do so much worse"
Alex rubbed her hand on her face, a little exasperated. Her sister could be so oblivious. "I'm not offended at all. Lena is a very gorgeous…" She trailed off, her sister was giving her a mean glare. "There it is. There is no need to be jealous of me, and you really need to face it, you feel something more than friendship for Lena"
"Pff" Kara looked out the window "No I don't"
"Right. Then what is it that you feel when you see alternative you interact with your best friend?"
Kara turned back to her, glaring hard.
"What about if I was to tell you how attractive she is?"
The glare turned into a death stare.
"If only you could only see yourself right now"
Kara signed, dropped in head into her hands. "It feels so wrong"
"What does?"
"The way I feel, it's so primitive. I…I never felt like this before…like she is supposed to be mine. Mine and no one else's" She looked at her sister, seeking comfort.
Alex raised har hand as she went and rubbed the blonde's back. "It's okay"
"No. No, it's not. I know she is her own person, I respect that. I respect her, so much. I hate that little voice in my mind telling me I should just grab her and…"
"Stop right there, I don't need to know more"
Kara blushed, sputtered a few times before she could speak again. "Get your mind out of the gutter, I just want her to see that I'm the best match possible for her"
There was a pause, during this moment of silence Alex was realizing what her sister was saying, it was more than a crush, it was more than she could understand. A match was used in the Kryptonian culture. She understood the magnitude of what she was being told. Kara was telling her they could have been mates, that her Kryptonian society would have approved.
She gave her a questioning look. "Do you just see her as appropriate or do you feel something for her?"
Kara didn't verbalize an answer, she raised her hand above her chest, grabbing her costume tight on top of her heart. She looked a little hurt before glancing at the raven-haired woman, still reading the document Alex had given her.
Then there was a movement and Supergirl looked at the general as she turned the page of her book, Discourses on Livy by Niccolò Machiavelli. Kara snorted and Overgirl looked up at her. "Do you have something to say?"
"No, I already knew you were… Machiavellian"
Overgirl smirked and Kara didn't like it.
"Actually, I recommended it" Interrupted Lena without looking up from her own readings.
Kara opened and closed her mouth, glaring at her alter ego.
Overgirl added. "I was surprised to see a few books by Niccolo Machiavelli, Lena argued that he was misunderstood for that one book people were taking out of context. I was willing to learn more"
Kara felt a little embarrassed, she only knew of The Prince written by that author. "What? You grew tired of The Art Of War?"
"Never. Lena owns a great copy by the way, but I value her opinion and wanted to try something new"
"Kiss ass" coughed Alex in her hand.
Overgirl glared.
"I could use a good read, what else is in Lena's library then?"
"From what' I'm hearing Kara I don't think there is anything in Lena's library you'd like" Commented her sister.
"She owns all the Jane Austen books" Went passed Overgirl's lips, she couldn't help it, that was what she could picture the other blonde read. That and she might not like being called a kiss ass, even if that one…
It created a very strange moment; the three women exchanged a look before turning to the young Luthor who was blushing. There was no way Lena was acknowledging it or raising her head.