"Wait why don't I have to say the password and use the scanners to prove it's me?"Kara asked confused when she was granted access to the elevator to Lena's lab by just walking up to the elevator door.After the incident with Alex, Kara had flown as fast as she could to meet up with Lena.Experiencing the suit and some of it's capabilities Kara had no doubt that Alex and the DEO were going to be visiting soon.The fact that it protected her from kryptonite exposure alone would probably have them storming the building demanding to have all the research and materials Lena used to make the suit.
"Because I set it up to automatically open if the suit was near by.That way if something happens and you aren't able to physically access it yourself the suit can bring you here."Lena explained when the elevator opened.
"That's handy."Kara said.
"Yes, it is."Lena agreed."Now what can I do for you SuperGirl?"
"Well first there is something I need to tell you."Kara nervously ran a finger over the button to retract the suit.It was on the way over to Luthor Corp that Kara realized she was still in civilian clothing having not put her original SuperGirl outfit back on.
"What would that be?"Lena asked.
"Well here's the thing.I kind of don't have my SuperGirl outfit on underneath the suit."Kara paused as she tried to figure out a way to tell Lena she had been lying to her the whole time they had known each other.
"I'm guessing either you are going to tell me you are naked under the suit or that your secret identity is Kara Danvers."Lena told her.
"Wait you know?"Kara didn't have any idea that Lena even suspected who she was.
Lena smiled."Of course Kara.Your glasses aren't the best disguise.It was quite obvious you were SuperGirl."
"Why didn't you say anything?"Kara asked
"I was respecting your privacy.I figured if you wanted me to know you would have told me."Lena also didn't say anything because she didn't think it was fair to know about Kara without Kara knowing about Lena's real identity.
Kara retracted the suit."I wish you had told me you would have saved me a lot of stress of what would happen if you found out."
"I wasn't going to push you to do something you weren't ready to do."Lena said.
"I wanted to tell you the first day we met but Alex and everyone else wouldn't let me.They said that if anyone knew it would make them targets for my enemies."Kara shook her head at the silliness of the whole situation."Now it doesn't matter because the people who told me that are the ones I have to worry about coming after the people I care about."
"What happened?"Lena was somewhat worried with how defeated Kara was.The woman was usually more optimistic and now she seemed like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders.
"This morning Alex called me while I was getting us coffee and donuts and told me she was at my apartment. I told her I was out and she wanted me to come home.When I told her I wouldn't she then asked where I was so that we could meet up.I once again denied her and she freaked out."Kara ran her hand through her hair."I knew that the DEO and Alex had trackers and other software on my phone so I crushed the phone and threw it out before I came here."
"If you trust me, I can give you a phone that they can't hack or install anything on."Lena offered.
Kara smiled."I was going to ask but I was going to wait until I was in my Kara persona before I did."
"I was working on something to interface with your suit so until it's ready I will lend you one of my personal ones."Lena kept secure phones she personally developed in her lab so that no-one could have access to the technology.That way they couldn't figure out a way to get past the security.
"Thank you."Kara was relived that Lena offered.She needed a phone for everyday life but didn't trust getting one from a public store.
"It's no problem."Lena assured her."Now what happened after you left here?"
"Well I spent over an hour trying out all the features of the suit.They are a lot more advanced than I could even begin to imagine.I haven't been able to set up everything but from what I have seen and experienced I know that whatever else is available is going to be amazing."Kara gushed.
"I'm glad you like it."Lena specifically designed the suit with Kara in mind so to see that Kara loved it so much made Lena beyond proud.
"I more than like it."Kara had to stop herself before her fan girling over Lena became embarrassing."Anyway, while I was testing out the suit I was alerted to a robbery in progress.I easily apprehended the robbers but when the police showed up they pulled their guns on me and tried to order me to the ground.I don't know how they were planning to do it but I think they were going to arrest me."
Lena rolled her eyes."National City's finest."
"Yeah,I of course ignored them and left them to take care of the criminals and flew back to my apartment.Alex was there when I got there and I was in stealth mode so she only saw the balcony door open.So she of course pulled a gun on me."Kara said.
"If I had known that having the suit would make people pull guns on you I would have designed the color scheme different."Lena told her.
"I don't think that would make a difference.Alex seemed to want to pull the gun on me even after she realized it was me in the suit."Kara grumbled.
"Why would she want to do that?"Lena asked.
"Well at first she was upset that I was wearing suit made by you.When I told her I trusted you she demanded that I give her the suit.I of course wouldn't do that not only because you gave me the suit as a gift but because I know that Alex didn't actually want the suit to make sure if was safe.She wanted it for personal reasons."Kara knew that Alex just wanted the technology available in the suit.
"It wouldn't be the first time Alex and the DEO have tried to get their hands on my inventions.I doubt it's the last either."Lena had protocols in place if any of her facilities where broken into or raided by law enforcement.There were even security measures in place if SuperMan showed up.
"I doubt it would be either."Kara agreed.
"So what happened after you refused to give her the suit?"Lena knew there was more to the story.From her experience with Alex, Lena knew she wouldn't give up so easily.
"After I told her no she actually pulled out this."Kara held a box for Lena to take."Don't open it."
"What's in it?"Lena had her suspicions but wasn't exactly sure.
"Kryptonite."Kara told her."Alex apparently has been keeping this kryptonite on her person incase I needed to be handled."
Lena rushed forward and pulled Kara into a hug when she noticed Kara's eyes fill with tears."Oh, Kara I'm so sorry."
Kara buried her face into Lena's hair breathing in deeply taking in Lena's perfume.The scent had a calming effect and Kara found herself feeling better."I knew that she didn't have my best interest at heart but it still hurts."
"Of course it does."Lena badly wanted to go after Alex but knew she couldn't do anything.Maybe she could find a spell in one of the books her mother had sent over with Bethany to use against Alex.A fire ball would be nice but Lena knew she had to be more subtle.
"Thankfully you set up precautions for the that.If not I don't think I would have been able to fight against her."Kara said.
Lena began to rub her hand up and down Kara's back."I didn't think you would need it against your own family."
"They aren't my family."Kara didn't consider someone willing to hurt her family.
"Still Alex was someone you trusted. I know it must of hurt when she pulled out that box."Lena was no stranger to betrayal as Lex had betrayed her more than once.She had chalked those experiences up to her being young and trying to have a relationship with her brother for her father's sake not because she really wanted to.When it became obvious that Lex didn't care about Lionel or his legacy Lena wiped her hands clean of him and ignored all attempts he and Lillian made to contact her.
Kara reluctantly pulled back from the hug."It did at first but then I almost felt relieved."
"What do you mean?"Lena asked.
"I mean that it gave me the ability to finally be free of Alex, the DEO and everyone else's expectations of me.Thanks to your suit no one can force me to do anything.Unless they are freakishly stronger than me and can defend against not only my abilities but the suits as well then I am free to be my own person.I can do whatever I want with my life.I am no more a pawn to be used by the government."Kara explained.
"I'm happy I could help you."Lena liked the way Kara seemed to be more confident now.The Kara Lena had hung out with previous times had a sadness that seemed to cling to the superhero.That sadness had now almost completely evaporated.
"You did more that help me you broke the chains that were holding me down.I don't think there is anything I can ever do to ever repay you for what you have given me."Kara had thought about what she could do for Lena but every idea she had come up with didn't seem to be enough to actually repay Lena for what she did.
"It was nothing."Lena waved away the thanks."Now what do you think Alex is going to do now that you have broken ties with her?"
Kara smiled at the obvious attempt to change the subject.She could tell that the praise was making Lena uncomfortable so she allowed it."That was the reason I came here.When the suit protected me from kryptonite Alex made one more attempt to get me to give it to her.After I wouldn't give it to her she left and promised she would be back with backup."
"So you think that because of how advanced the suit is that she will gather the DEO and storm my buildings looking for the technology and materials used to make the suit."Lena said coming to the obvious conclusion.
"Exactly.I personally wouldn't be surprised if SuperMan comes with them."Kara figured that Clark would be one of the first people called.
"Maybe not."Seeing Kara doubtful look Lena explained."The suit protects you from kryptonite.I doubt the government would want not only SuperGirl but SuperMan as well to be immune to the one thing that keeps them in line."
"That's true.I wouldn't tell him if I was them."Kara wouldn't be telling him anyway.It was her hope that she never had to speak to him again.That was wishful thinking though.A showdown with her cousin was inevitable once he found out she quit working for the government.
"I wouldn't be surprised if they actually do have a way for you to be protected from the material already.I have only been working on it for a couple months.SuperMan has been active for over a decade.In all that time they should have been able to come up with something."Lena said.
"I never even thought of that.I have asked Alex and some of the other agents if they had made any progress but they always said it was impossible."Kara wondered if there was a way to find out.She then remembered the access she had to the security cameras in the DEO."Do I have access to the digital files in the DEO?"
"Of course the suit gives you access to servers from governments and institutions from all over the world.It's technology that only I have available in my personal secure server in that room."Lena pointed to one of the closed doors in the lab."Your suit is connected to it so it gives you access as well."
"Do you mind if I use it to look through some of the DEO's top secret projects?"Kara asked.
Lena shook her head and handed Kara a lap top."You can use this.The suit gives you an automatic login to most of the things in this lab.If someone else tries to use it then it has an internal EMP that fries the whole thing.It's safe to take with you if you want."
"Is it alright if I stay here?I'm feeling kind of on edge and want to be here in case Alex decides to make a move."Kara really wanted to stay close to Lena because being in the other woman's presence comforted her.
"No problem.You can use that desk in the corner if you want. There are snacks and drinks in the little kitchenette by the room next to the sofa."Lena told her.
"Thanks Lena."Kara carried the laptop and put it on the desk.While the computer loaded Kara thought about how the day was turning out.This morning when she woke up she would have never imagined that not only would she have seen Lena's private lab but given a suit as well.Then there was the fact that she basically quit being SuperGirl.Maybe after she was finished looking over some of the information from the DEO she would talk to Lena about changing the design of the suit.She didn't want it to be linked to the crest anymore.While she was more in tune with their culture Clark had shamed the family name with his use of the crest. Kara had known Clark's parents and they would have been horrified with how Clark not only treated Kara but by the way he refused to learn anything about their culture.Kara was just happy she wouldn't have to deal with him anymore.It was one less headache she didn't need in her life.