Author's Note: Trigger warning for discussion of domestic violence.

Lena's next success took significantly longer to materialize than Kara's had, which caused her to be increasingly frustrated.

"These scripts are fucking garbage!" Lena shouted, tossing the latest one on the floor. "Absolute hot, steaming fucking garbage."

"Lena—"

"No. If he keeps sending me fluff pieces where I'd be typecast as some sexy bimbo, I'm gonna go fucking murder him! What doesn't he understand about a 'serious' film?!"

"Lena. Baby. He's just not used to what you're asking for. He's used to finding you roles that appeal to the masses of—"

"This is bullshit!" the star screamed, kicking over the nearest side table beside the couch.

Flinching from shock, Kara reflexively cowered slightly into the corner of the couch where she was sitting, thankfully on the opposite end of where Lena had kicked over the table. Mouth hanging open, not having seen such intense violence from her before, Kara stared in disbelief.

"What?" Lena hissed, scowling. "You try being spoon-fed 13 scripts that are all a fucking waste of paper and then tell me you're not— Ugh! You just don't understand!"

As soon as Lena grabbed the expensive lamp on the other side table and chucked it at the wall, shattering it into hundreds of pieces, Kara recoiled again and blurted, "I'm gonna go," as she rose from the couch on shaky legs.

Suddenly snapping back to reality and realizing that her partner was obviously triggered and exceptionally uncomfortable, Lena reached out and took Kara's hand, as gently as possible. But the blonde flinched a third time anyway.

"Kara, wait," Lena pleaded. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

"You didn't upset me," Kara said flatly, pulling her shaking hand out of Lena's grasp. "You scared me."

Lena's lips parted as an expression of her own shock and horror gave away the intense wave of shame she was feeling.

"Kar—"

"Don't."

"Kara," Lena begged. "Please. I'm sorry. I don't know what just happened. I lost my cool. I'm just frustrated. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Kara, please."

"I need space," fell out of Kara's mouth as soon as her partner stopped talking.

"Wait. Wait. Kara. Kara, honey, please."

But the blonde had already taken three steps towards the door. She only turned around when she heard a loud 'thump.' Shocked to find Lena on her knees, crying as she wrapped her hands around Kara's waist, the younger girl didn't know what to say or do. She'd never seen Lena so incredibly dysregulated.

"S-Stop," Kara sniffled, trying to pull away, but Lena was holding on tightly.

"Please. Please, don't leave. Please. I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry. Please."

With a heavy sigh, the blonde wiped her own tears and looked down at her partner, whose face was pressed against her abdomen.

"Let. Go. Now," Kara said firmly.

Only then did Lena drop her arms to her sides and look up at the girl with pleading eyes.

But Kara just shook her head and walked away, letting the front door slam shut behind her.

~!~!~

Lena tried to call a few times over the next few hours, but Kara didn't answer until late that night, when she felt fully ready to talk. Setting boundaries was hard - and uncomfortable - but she knew it was the only way to keep the relationship healthy, and besides, she needed time to process.

Eventually, once she'd finally reached a place to share her feelings and hear Lena out, she answered the phone.

"Hi."

"Kara—"

"Listen, Lena, I know you want to talk this out and apologize, but when I don't answer your call the first time, it doesn't mean call me again and again and again until I pick up."

Blushing on the other end of the line, Lena mumbled, "Sorry. You're right. I guess I just got really anxious. I… I was having… urges… and I know that's not your problem! I know that. I just… I needed to hear your voice and know you don't hate me."

"I don't hate you," Kara said simply. "Did you call your therapist?"

"Yes."

"You did…?" the blonde asked, sounding as surprised as she felt.

"Yeah. She talked me through it and helped me calm down. I'm okay now. But I still wanted to apologize and make sure we're okay."

"I'm really glad to hear you reached out when you needed support," Kara told her, a slight smile shining through in her voice that Lena noticed immediately.

"Kara," Lena sighed. "Are we okay?"

There was an uncomfortably long pause before the girl's partner answered, "Yeah. We're okay. I just think I need some space right now."

"Wait… does that mean… we're… on—"

"No, no, honey. We're not on a break. I just need a little room to breathe and collect myself. You really scared and triggered me today and it wasn't okay."

"I know. I know. I didn't mean to, Kar. Really. And I'm so, so—"

"I was triggered, Lena."

Another pause.

"What happened to you?" Lena suddenly blurted, realizing that triggered meant reminded of something in her past.

"Nia hit me with a lamp once. My head was split open."

"What?!" Lena gaped. "She hit you?!"

"She threw a lamp and it hit me. She didn't hit me."

"That's even worse! What—"

"It was an accident. She got really angry and threw it on impulse. She didn't mean to hit me. But she was so angry that she wasn't thinking about the risk, and… well… being in the emergency room all night sucked."

"What the f—"

"Okay. Enough. I don't want to talk about this anymore. We need to just—"

"Why didn't you tell me? I would've slit her throat instead of egged her car! I—"

"You almost hit me, too, Lena."

Jaw nearly hitting the floor, the star went silent as the horror of this realization struck her.

"Lena?" Kara asked, after a decent chunk of time had passed without words.

"You need to leave me," were the words that tumbled from the brunette's lips, and Kara could hear the tears as her voice cracked. "I am a literal piece of dogshit, Kara. I'm so sorry."

"Okay, calm down. I wasn't trying to make you feel guilty. I was trying to explain why it affected me the way it did. We can get through this."

"No. You need to leave me," the celebrity sobbed. "This is not okay."

"Lena. Lena, honey. Shh. It's okay. I know you didn't mean to."

"Yeah, but that's not an excuse! I can't just—"

"Lena. Hush. It's okay. It's okay. We'll get through this. I don't want to leave you. It just can't happen again, okay?"

"Okay," Lena sniffled. "I promise. I promise."

"So… Are you… Are you really okay now?" Kara asked hesitantly, referencing Lena's previously reported 'urges.'

"Yeah. I'm okay. Just needed a quick coaching call to remind me of my skills."

"I'm proud of you."

"What?" Lena asked. "Why?"

"You're putting in the work."

"But it's not helping. I'm still—"

"Still trying. Not giving up. I love you, Lena."

"Love you too, Kar," the brunette sniffled, wiping her eyes on her sleeve.

"Come get me, okay?"

"What? I thought you wanted space."

"I did. But now all I want to do is hold you."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, honey. I'm sure. It's okay. I just want to be close to you."

"O-Okay. I'll be over in a minute."

"See you soon, honey."