"What is it about potstickers that make me feel like I'm discovering the secrets of life?" Kara mumbles through a mouthful of said dumplings.
"You're disgusting, you know that?" Alex said as she too talks through her own mouthful.
"I learned my etiquette from you." Kara states proudly after swallowing and wiping her face with a napkin. Alex squinted her eyes and stuck out her tongue. She reached behind her to grab the last take out box from the sofa and placed it into the three they had just emptied on the coffee table. Both of them preferring to sit on the floor in Kara's living room rather than the perfectly fine, but much too formal dining table. She arched her back, stretching her now full stomach as she attempted to best the Kryptonian, or at least keep up with her and the obscene amount of dumplings being consumed throughout the night.
"You can quit, you know. I won't hold it against you." Kara said smugly as she popped two more into her mouth.
Alex wanted to grumble a complaint, but that would only alert her sister to her misery and she was much too prideful for that nonsense. So instead she threw her a sharp, challenging look and grabbed two of her own. She'd regret it later, but it would be in the confines of her own apartment, hovering over her own toilet, hidden from Kara's smug expression. She had her principles. Fuck her stomach.
Willing herself to keep the food down at this point and feeling the oncoming cold sweats looming in the near future she changed the subject hoping it would serve as a distraction. "So how serious is this thing between you and Diana?"
"I mean technically we've only gone out a couple of times, a few lunches and that one amazing dinner." Kara said nonchalantly.
"Kara, the woman kissed you on live television. That's going to create a PR nightmare for both of your alter egos. You could stand to be less cavalier about it." Alex said as she reached for her water.
Kara lifted her shoulders dismissively. "Lena said her public relations team could consult us so that there isn't a huge uproar."
"That was nice of her to offer."
"Yeah," Kara sighs. "The main issue is dealing with Andrea." Kara said her name a tad forcefully as she shoved another potsticker in her mouth. Ever since her movie night with Lena last week she can't help but feel irked every time she's around Andrea. "She wants an exclusive and since I'm her main writer on all things Supergirl she wants me to do it. I just don't know how to approach Diana about writing a story on our… Well, is it a relationship? Are we girlfriends now? We haven't even talked about this stuff between the two of us and I don't want that conversation to be had as an interview. We are still just getting to know each other right now."
"I'm sure you'll figure it out." Alex said sympathetically. "I don't envy the position you're in." She added as she grabbed another potsticker instinctively and because she couldn't look weak in front of Kara she shoved it into her mouth. "Well, currently, I'll be exceedingly envious of all the positions you'll be in soon enough." She implied, her eyebrows wiggling up and down.
"Oh Rao, I'm not having this conversation with you." Kara said, waving her hands in front of her as she leaned away. "No way."
"I bet she's wonderful."
"Stop! I'm begging you." Kara said as she blushed profusely and laughed at her sister's antics.
"You'll be begging her for things too I'm sure, like getting tied up with that lasso." Alex prodded knowing her sister was about to combust on sheer embarrassment and loving every second of it.
"Are you done?" Kara exasperated.
"She won't be, I'm sure she'll go all night." Alex said, cracking up as she watched Kara squirm, her face red as a tomato and beaming with a ridiculous smile.
"Alex!" Kara pleaded.
"Ok, ok." Alex conceded as she backed off. She locked eyes with her sister. "She seems great, Kara." Alex said sincerely.
Kara bit her lip and looked down. "It doesn't seem real, she's so understanding and funny, and so smart."
"Well I'd like to meet her when you work out the finer details of what y'all are. Someone has to give Wonder Woman the shovel talk and it'd really be my pleasure to be the one to do so."
"Enough about me already. Let's talk about you." Kara said, leaning forward, grabbing a couple more potstickers and throwing one into the air, catching it in her mouth effortlessly.
Alex rested her back against the sofa and crossed her arms. "My life is pretty boring currently. Ever since Kelly took that job in Central City I haven't really had much of a drive to get back out there. You know; Once shy, twice burned."
"I think you mean Once bitten, twice shy." Kara corrected.
Alex rolled her eyes. "Whatever, what I mean is after Maggie and now Kelly I'm a little reluctant to meet anyone new."
"You'll find someone who sees your worth." Kara said, scooting over and opening her arm for Alex to rest against her. She pulled her into a hug and rubbed her shoulder lightly with her thumb.
"I really thought that was going to be Kelly, so I'm not so sure anymore." Alex murmured as she leaned further into Kara. "Maybe I'll become a cat lady. I like cats."
Kara scoffs and nudges Alex gently. "Shut up. Wallowing isn't a good look on you. It's been six months, I think it's time you got back out there."
"We'll see, right now I'll just live vicariously through you."
"Great, maybe you can deal with Andrea then." Kara said begrudgingly.
"What's with you and Andrea?" Alex asked as she tilted her head back to look at her sister. Kara sighed and let her sister fall away from her embrace, arresting her hands in her lap as she looked down.
"Nothing, it's stupid. More of a misunderstanding really. Ever since I found out she tried to get lucky with Lena I've just had this need to like…" Kara stared at the mid space in front of her and raised her hands and shook them slightly. "Wring her neck…"
"Did she?" Kara shook her head 'no' and Alex laughed. "Kara, they are grown, consenting women, and why would you care if they did?"
"Lena is—was my best friend, she's amazing and deserves the best. Andrea can be self centered and one-minded, just no, no way. To think she could even stand a chance is just…"
"Just what? Kara careful, you're starting to sound jealous." Alex warned.
"No concerned. I am not jealous. That's just ridiculous."
"Whatever, I really don't care. Either way it doesn't sound like Andrea did anything wrong and doesn't deserve your attitude so I would hope you aren't —"
"What?" Kara interrupted. "No I wouldn't do that." She sighed and then groaned. "You're right though I'm being very unfair and petty. So it's dropped."
"Good, cause you're better than that." Alex smiled back at Kara and pulled her into her own hug. "Now let's watch something and I'm sleeping over tonight because I think if I move any further than this couch my stomach is going to make me pay a hefty price for it."
Kara laughed boisterously, her eyes crinkling up as she threw her head back. "I told you to quit."
"I never quit." Alex grabbed the last potsticker from the box and tossed it into her mouth defiantly.
The newsroom was a scramble when Kara entered the next morning. Everyone was running around trying to meet Snapper's needs, revising and editing frantically while Snapper was unusually chipper, still barking orders but he had a smirk on his face as soon as he caught a glimpse of her, which was just completely and utterly unnerving. It didn't help that all eyes seemed to gravitate towards her as well. The hum of the room diminished only slightly before Snapper lived up to his name and got everyone's rears in gear again. Kara hitched her bag up on her shoulder a little higher and clutched her breakfast a little tighter as she walked further onto the bustling floor towards her desk. As soon as she set her food down Nia was thrusting an article from National Star in front of her.
"Good morning Nia, did you sleep well, oh I'm fine thank you for asking." Kara deadpanned.
Nia grunted and bounced anxiously on her toes, shoving the paper more forcefully into Kara's chest. "Can it, no time, I need you to read this please, tell me what you think." Kara smiled as she shrugged off her bag and calmly took the paper from Nia's hand.
"What's got you all ramped up this morning?" Kara asked as her eyes drifted down to the first page of the trash magazine. She swallowed thickly at the headline and looked up at Nia bewildered. "This is a joke right?" She asked before studying the article once more. "Please tell me it's a joke." She flipped the page reading more and felt a slow panic which was quickly turning into a boiling rage.
"I wish it was. He popped in first thing this morning, looking for you, when you weren't here he left just as quickly. Andrea is livid by the way, you're so late."
"There was a chemical fire at the plant by the docks and someone had severe burns that had to be escorted to the hospital. I planned on writing about it." Kara said quickly as her eyes furrowed, deeply troubled by the article. "You didn't answer my question. What did Andrea say about this? Please tell me Andrea has published a rebuttal." She shook it in front of Nia, who gulped audibly.
"Not yet, she was waiting for you." Nia said, her eyes looking sorrowful.
"Where is that annoying little imp?"
"You better not be referring to me." Kara spun around in her chair. Andrea was towering over her, eyebrows raised, arms crossed with a sour expression. "You're late."
Kara stood up quickly. "Andrea, no of course not. I'm sorry, I was at the chemical plant getting details about the fire that broke out this morning."
"Yes I heard. I expect that story to be ready to run by noon. In the meantime, why don't you explain that." Andrea eyed the article still clutched in Kara's hand.
"It's obviously not true. That imp has been kind of obsessed with me for years and is always finding new ways to make my life complicated. Why would they print this without consulting me first?" Kara asked, feeling cheated and very annoyed. This would have been so much more manageable if it weren't public fodder now. Andrea waved it off. "It's easily corrected with another article from us, but it has flair and its buzz worthy and excellent for click bait, which is why they ran it."
"But its not true!" Kara emphasized and had to reign in the urge to raise her voice.
"Kara, no one in their right mind will believe that a pulitzer prize winning journalist would marry a fifth dimensional imp. It's click bait at its finest and we will be issuing out a statement from you stating so. Meanwhile that trash has been out there for the better part of the day now and you need to figure out quickly how you want to proceed."
"By telling the truth. I have not nor will I ever accept a proposal from Mxyzptlk!"
"Oh you wound me."
Kara whipped her head around, her eyes narrowing dangerously as the imp himself made an appearance. Sitting on her desk no less, with his legs crossed and his hands held dramatically over his heart. If it weren't for the floor full of people she'd laser the pout clean off his face.
"You have some nerve Mxy." Kara said as she stepped toward the rodent.
"Oh it was all in good jest. I was bored and your my favorite Kry-" Kara narrowed her eyes, a scowl erupting lowly in her chest in warning to choose his words carefully. "Kara." He corrected, swallowing harshly as he raised his hands in surrender. He looked down at where her breakfast rested next to his knee and his eyes lit up as he helped himself to the breakfast burrito, unwrapping it from the foil.
Nia growled and clenched her jaw. "Can I please punch him?"
"What do you want Mxy?" Kara asked, her patience running very thin as it is. This was not how she saw her day going.
"To see you happy, Kara, you know me and I know how happy I can make you…" Mxy said innocently. Kara wasn't buying it. She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed heavily. "Mxy, why? Why me?"
"Because he's a loathsome troll and enjoys tormenting others." Kara's eyes snapped open and she looked up to see Lena walking briskly towards them. A sigh of relief left Kara's mouth at the same time her favorite person's name did. Lena smiled softly at Kara before reverting her attention back to Mxyzptlk, giving him a withering stare.
"What are you doing here?" Andrea asked.
"Jess showed me the article half an hour ago." Lena said dismissively, not even glancing in Andrea's direction as she approached Mxyzptlk. "Listen you little gremlin, give me one good reason why I shouldn't punch you in the face." Lena's voice was icy and gave no room for compromise. Mxy, to his credit, cowarded slightly and actually covered his nose in case she decided to follow through with the threat.
"Because I did it for love?" Mxy tried, quite unsuccessfully too because Lena was already clenching and pulling back her fist. Nia quickly stepped in front of her. "Easy Lena he isn't worth it." She turned to look back at him who sighed in relief and slowly lowered his hand away from his face. He glanced down and remembering the confiscated meal, took a slow, tentative bite out of Kara's breakfast. "Besides I called dibs first."
"Get in line." Kara said, her own annoyance was starting to brim over. "And so help me Mxy if you take another bite of my meal I'll–"
"I can see y'all are mad." Mxy placated as he bounced off the desk, placing the food gingerly back into the bag and stepping away. Kara stepped closer to him, her hands naturally finding her hips as she stood tall and imposing. "You have every reason to be, but this was all in good fun really. After I saw Wonder Woman smooching Supergirl yesterday, well I felt a sudden and urgent need to stake my claim on a rather fiery blonde." He eyed Kara warily and chuckled nervously as he glanced around the unamused audience. "I'm sure we will all look back on this and laugh one day."
"You have three seconds to snap your fingers and disappear, Mxy, or so help me I'll throw you into the phantom zone myself."
"Now, now Kara, let's not forget where we are." Mxy shook his finger and tutted disapprovingly. Kara snarled and lunged at him only just missing his scrawny little neck as it disappeared with a snap of his fingers.
"Well that was entertaining." Andrea said after a handful of seconds passed. She straightened out invisible wrinkles from her dress and stood a bit taller, her eyebrow raising as she looked at Kara. "I expect a written statement denying this drabble within the hour. Our PR team will handle the finer details and make sure that the article and any others that have sprung up since are removed."
Kara started to nod, when Lena chimed in. "I'll contact my PR firm and have them consult with your team as added assurance that this doesn't spread further."
Andrea assessed Lena silently then let out a short breath. "Very well. I suppose that may be beneficial. Come to my office and we can sort out the details." Andrea turned and made her way back to her office. Snapper called Nia to him and she sighed and gave Lena a quick hug before bounding off in his direction.
Lena turned to Kara and both visibly relaxed. "You've had quite the morning Ms. Danvers."
Kara sunk into her office chair and didn't know whether to sigh or laugh so she just stared blankly. "I don't know why things like this ever surprise me anymore. At this point you'd think I'd be immune." She swiveled left and right slightly as she let the morning's events sink in.
"He's pretty harmless all things considered." Lena offered.
"Yeah I guess that's true. He can be such a nuisance though." Kara looked up at Lena and took her in fully for the first time since she showed up. She had obviously come straight from LCorp; her black suit pants and navy blouse were both striking and imposing. Her hair was flat and parted to the side and she had on light makeup with dark lip stain and looked for all intents and purposes dressed to kill. Which she supposed helped in making the 5th dimensional cretin cower accordingly.
"You were really going to punch Mxy weren't you?" Kara mused.
Lena smiled and jutted out her jaw. "That bastard should be groveling at Nia's feet thanking her for saving his life. That's really all I have to say about that."
Kara's smile took up her whole face and Lena saw the small crinkle form just between her brow. "My hero." Kara said softly.
"And don't you forget it." Lena volleyed back. She watched Kara blush slightly and smiled inwardly at having accomplished such a feat admiring how the shade of pink made Kara glow just a bit brighter in her opinion. Another moment of silence passed between them before she cleared her throat and fidgeted with her fingers suddenly feeling like a fish out of water. "I should probably go meet with Andrea now."
"Oh right, of course. Thank you Lena. You've done so much for me lately, I wish there was something I could do in return." Kara said as she stood to give Lena a hug. After their small embraces a week ago, she felt like this was something she could confidently reimplement back into their interactions. Lena leaned into the embrace and squeezed just slightly tighter right before they released. "Getting more official Kara Danver's hugs is enough for me."
"You'll regret saying that, I'm likely to abuse the privilege." Kara joked.
One can hope. Thought Lena. "I should go now, before Andrea sends a search party."
"I'll see you soon?"
"Of course."