I don't own these characters; DC/the CW does.

A/N: welcome to another omegaverse story by this Lunatic. You should know that involves g!p (girl penis)/futanari. In this case, Alex is the alpha. There's also partner-sharing. I don't want to call it consensual cheating, but it's something like that.

I want to send a big shoutout to my two betas, TheCrowDawg and Helpbutton95. They're awesome.

Second Thoughts

1: Seconded

Alex could usually ignore any presence in a lab setting unless that presence addressed her personally, even in a tiny cell of a lab like this. She had a lot of practice at ignoring, especially when people loomed over her shoulder as she attempted to use science to save the day. Hell, people waiting just a breath away to tell her she was doing something wrong. Even when it was Lena Luthor, she had learned to ignore her, even though Lena was now her boss. Since the destruction of the DEO, Lena had hired Alex as a favor to Kara. Although, sometimes, Alex believed Lena gave her a job just to bug her about Kara and advance their relationship. Alex did not usually mind. Usually.

Today was different. Lena hovered behind Alex, probably to bother her about Kara, who was off-world, or to reprimand her for some office faux pas, as Lena occasionally did. But, Lena had not said a word yet, just stood there, like she was nervous, which was strange.

Despite getting along well when in the thick of things, Lena and Alex were not on the best of terms thanks to the whole "everyone knows Kara is Supergirl, but me" thing, which continued to bother Lena. She had forgiven Kara, partially by deciding it was Alex's fault that Kara kept the secret in the first place. She was not wrong to think that, but the real insult for Lena was that she was the only one Alex decided did not need to know the secret. Of course, that was untrue, but Lena did not want to hear that. Alex was sure Lena's pride was actually hurt from not having figured it out on her own, but she would never say that or she might make things between her and Lena worse.

"Can I help you with something?" Alex asked, even though she could guess why Lena was there now. The sweet tang in the air gave it away. "Kara's still off-world."

"I know. Have you heard from her?" Lena replied, cell phone in hand, pressing at nothing from what Alex could tell at a glance.

"Not since the other day where she said she was fine and things might take longer than usual." She wished Kara had taken her, but it was an emergency and she had to leave right away. Alex was less prepared to run off for total war with the DEO gone. Not to mention, the planet Kara rushed off to had an atmosphere that could have killed Alex in an instant and, once again, they did not have time to figure out how to get around that. Hopefully, she's okay. Barry usually takes good care of her.

Lena scowled, but her eyes were lined with worry. "That's the last time I heard from her, too." That should have been the end, but Lena lingered without saying a word.

"Something else bring you to my little dungeon?" Alex asked after a few tense seconds. Her lab was separated from the main lab, Lena claiming she did not play well with others. J'onn used to say the same thing. She was not sure what she did at L-Corp to be branded "not a team player," but the stigma was there. Almost no one came into her space, which was fine. She had a lot to do and did not need people to distract her.

Lena sighed and fidgeted just in Alex's vision. "Do you have any idea when Kara might be back?"

"No more than you do." Alex stopped doing what she was doing and faced Lena. "It might not be too late for suppressants." The tang in the air suggested Lena was a day, but possibly hours away from her full-blown heat, but there were suppressants powerful enough to put that to rest. They would probably not be that good for Lena, but there were a lot of things preferable to going into her heat without Kara around.

Lena frowned and folded her arms, as if insulted. "I don't do suppressants. Do you have any idea what those do to an omega's body?"

Alex chuckled. "I'm one of the few alphas who can answer yes to that." Part of her training in medical school was studying omega biology, especially during heat, and to learn what suppressants did to their bodies during their heats. "They're still perfectly safe." There were a lot of side effects, especially for suppressants that would work at this late stage, and most of the time they still made omegas hurt through heat, but kept them from attracting alphas' attention. It was hard to believe there were still alphas who sniffed around omegas like that, but it was something to worry about.

"It's still best to let nature take its course."

Alex had to concede that point. "This is true, but…" There had to be a diplomatic way to say it. "You smell." That was not the diplomatic way. I used to be better at communicating than this. Maybe I have been in this dungeon too long.

Lena looked properly offended. "Oh, I'm sorry, you always smell of roses and moonbeams after a full day of work."

Alex pinched the bridge of her nose. "You know that's not what I meant. It's clear your heat's approaching and you're bound to catch the unwanted attention of alphas if you stay here."

"If the alphas at L-Corp are unable to handle themselves around my scent, then maybe they should seek employment elsewhere." Lena leveled a glare at her, as if the statement was directed at her.

Alex arched an eyebrow. "Is that really fair? Even for me, the smell is a little distracting."

"Even for you?" Lena scoffed. "Because you're the definition of alpha self-control?" She smirked and then had the nerve to release pheromones on purpose.

Alex coughed and covered her nose. "What the hell are you doing?" She glared at Lena.

Lena chuckled. "Oh, are you distracted?"

Alex growled as her alpha flared, but she quickly took a deep breath and got that under control. Lena was antsy because of her heat and her mate was gone for the moment. Be patient. Problem was, Alex was not the best when it came to patience. She analyzed things quickly and acted accordingly or people died.

"Look, I know you're on edge because of this and Kara being gone," Alex said. She hated when Kara was off-world, too. "But, she's probably fine and she'll be back before your heat starts." Although, from the smell of things, Lena probably only had a few hours left. It was not likely Kara would be back that soon.

Lena scowled. "I am not on edge. I've made it through plenty of heats without Kara." None recently. "And besides, she's not even an alpha, so it's not like my heats are bad to begin with. Kara sates me just fine."

Kara, being a Kryptonian, was not an alpha, beta, or omega. Kara was not too sure how sex and sexual statuses worked on Krypton since she left before "sexual maturity," her exact words. But, Alex was very familiar with Kara's body, as she had become Alex's rut partner for a while. That halted as Alex got omega girlfriends, but she was aware that Kara was a very giving partner during those times, so she definitely would never leave Lena unsatisfied. Not that Alex ever wanted to know that. Ever.

"First off, TMI. I never said Kara didn't do anything for you and I promise I'll never ask. And, if you're not on edge, what are you doing down here?" Alex asked.

Lena's nostrils flared. "I wanted to know if you heard from Kara."

"And now you know, yet you're still here." Alex motioned to her with one hand. And then it hit her why Lena might actually be there and she had to hold in a flinch. "You want me to do the thing, don't you?" I really wish things wouldn't come to that, but I made a promise and it's looking very likely I'll have to fulfill that promise today.

Lena squared her shoulders, keeping her arms folded, and she glared at Alex, as if Alex had crossed the line. "I didn't."

Alex truly hoped that was the case, but nothing else made sense. With luck, Lena would come up with a plausible argument and they could go back to avoiding each other. "Then why else are you here? You're Kara's bond-mate. She'll reach out to you before me, especially since she has to know it's a delicate time for you, and you're still lingering despite the fact that I told you I haven't heard from her."

Lena sneered and then looked away for a long moment. "As you said, Kara's my bond-mate, so I have no intention of doing that thing with you." She sniffed, as if in total disgust.

Alex chuckled. "Yeah, if you don't ask nicely." She had to be snarky, but she did not want to do it any more than Lena wanted her to.

Lena scowled even more, but the way she shifted her weight from one leg to the other betrayed her. Really, her presence betrayed her. She could only be here for one reason. And, you made a promise, so you might as well get to it. Stringing Lena along would only torment both of them and it would prolong this.

With a sigh, Alex loosened up, hoping her being less defensive would make Lena less defensive. "Lena, I won't leave you to hurt, you know? You're Kara's bond-mate. If you need me, I'm here."

Lena was unmoved and glared harder. Alex nodded and turned away. It should not feel as insulting as it did, but there was a definite sting.

"Okay, wow." Alex blew out a breath. "You just hate me so much you'll go through your heat alone to spite me and have Kara come back upset with me. Okay." It was like a punch to the gut. I know I'm not the most likable person on Earth, but geez. We've gone through so much together and she hates me this much.

Lena sucked her teeth. "Maybe I don't like the arrangement and I just want my mate like any mated omega would."

Alex shrugged and pushed down the sting as she often did. "Plausible. I wasn't trying to diminish your bond in any way." While Lena and Kara were bond-mates in the Kryptonian sense, they were not true mates in alpha and omega bonding. Kara was not an alpha and could not provide the proper mating mark. They had gone as far as they could, but Kara's mark never stuck, which she lamented over very often. Alex was already familiar with the mark not lasting, as Kara once marked her as teenagers. Well, tried to mark her. She had also tried to mark Kara several times when they were younger. It was a good thing it did not work on either end.

Lena nibbled her lip. "I know you weren't." She took a deep breath. "Maybe that is why I came down here."

Okay, progress. Alex smiled, even though she did not want to. She really did not want to do this. "And that's fine. I know this can't be easy for you. Do you need my help?" It would be a huge deal if Lena admitted that and she would have to do this.

"I think so." Lena trembled, scratching at her forearm. "If she's not back by tonight."

Alex nodded. "I got you." Her stomach flipped. Until this moment, she never really considered she would have to make good on her deal with Kara. But, it was not so out of the ordinary. Alpha and omega couples sometimes arranged for a "second" if one worked a job that kept them away often and they would miss a heat or a rut. It was not so different from a single person having a heat/rut partner. Yeah, except this is Lena, who hates you and Kara's bond-mate, so it's kind of a big fucking deal. At least, it was when it was staring her in the face and blasting her with pheromones.

"Are you sure?" Lena asked, her voice surprisingly quiet.

"I wouldn't have agreed to it if I wasn't sure." It was really an honor Kara had such faith in her, even though their relationship was built like that. Well, in theory, but again, with it right in front of her, it was something very different. I can't believe this is actually happening.

Lena nodded. "Then, you can come by my place at eight. I'll have dinner ready. Whatever you want."

Alex shook her head. "You don't have to treat me." This was a favor to Kara, like when Lena gave her a job.

"It's not a treat. Don't be late." With that Lena turned around and marched away, making it clear that was the reason she had lowered herself to Alex's punishment corner.

Alex blew out a breath once the coast was clear. Okay, so this was happening unless Kara showed up within the next six hours. It had been a few months since Alex had been with anyone. Not since Kelly left her and her "dangerous lifestyle" to go help James. Beyond Kelly, she had only ever been with two women omegas. And with one of those, she was drunk and pushed it back in the closet where it belonged until Maggie showed up. She hoped she could sate Lena's heat with such limited practice.

-8-8-8-8-

Lena could not believe she invited Alex to her place, especially to take care of her heat, but she could feel it was going to be one hell of a heat. It gnawed at her nerves instead of the soft lick that let her know her heat was on the way. And the way alphas had eyed her, she wished Kara's mating mark would just stick. She was claimed, damn it! And she needed those nosy alphas to know that. But, that was a problem for another day.

For now, she would worry about having Alex over. She tried to avoid having Alex over whenever possible, even though she and Kara were bond-mates. There was only so much she could avoid Alex while being with Kara, though. It forced her to know more about Alex than she liked, but that knowledge would come in handy for now. She ordered a meal that was a favorite for Alex and hoped it would make her comfortable. Alex was about as interested in going through with this as Lena was, but unlike Lena, it would not hurt her if she decided she could not go through with it.

And, just as that thought crept through her mind, cramps seized Lena's insides. She reached out, clutching the edge of the table as her knees buckled. She gritted her teeth as pain ripped through her. Oh, Kara. I wish you were here. No heat had been this awful and demanding since she accepted her feelings for Kara and they entered a relationship, which was how it generally was when a mate was found.

The chime on her phone alerted her to Alex's presence down at the front door. While Lena already informed everyone to just let Alex up, she left on the door alert to have time to get herself before she had to face her destiny. She took a deep breath. I can't believe I'm doing this. The sweat gathering at the base of her spine told her she better believe it and she better get to it.

Lena checked herself out in the mirror one last time, smoothing non-existent wrinkles on her emerald green, form fitting dress. It was something she would wear to work, but considered feminine omega in a way that would usually annoy her. Makeup still perfect and the high pony tail that said she was in charge, even though the quiver in her knees and knot in her stomach made her feel like a hopeless, needy omega. Stupid heat.

Her phone went off once again, letting her know Alex was at the front door, and it was "do or die" time. She took a deep breath and marched to the door with confidence she did not feel, especially with the quiver in her belly. A smile she usually reserved for business dinners settled on her face as she opened the door to reveal Alex.

Alex was in a midnight blue suit with a couple of buttons open on her white, Oxford shirt, and held a small bouquet of three roses. This was something Kara used to do when they started dating, show up prim and proper with random bouquets. Funny to see where Kara got it from. Even though it's not surprising.

"Hi…" Alex was adorably insecure, holding the flowers out almost mechanically. Hard to believe she was not just a big, bad alpha, but she was a big, bad vigilante who saved the world and also one of the best scientific minds in the country. "Uh… these are for you." She waved the flowers slightly, or perhaps her hand trembled?

Lena accepted the gift with her business smile. "Thanks, but you didn't have to. This isn't a date." Of course, she did not need to say that, but still did. Awkward, just like earlier. Calm down.

Alex shrugged. "I know, but I just… I dunno." Her eyes went to her feet where she had on boots instead of shoes. Something about that sent a shiver through Lena. "I wanted to… I'm not sure what I wanted." She wanted things to go smoothly, like Kara would.

"It was a sweet gesture." It was, especially since Alex did not have to do it and she seemed to be trying to make Lena comfortable. "Come in." Lena motioned into the penthouse.

Alex nodded and stepped inside, going past Lena and her scent, like gunpowder and citrus, invaded Lena's space. Every nerve in her body was on high alert. Her underwear was ruined despite being made especially for heats. Alex did not even glance at her, even though she had to smell it. Do not fall apart like some wanton omega in heat.

"I ordered food," Lena said to regain her normal and control.

"Thanks, even though I'm not sure I'll be able to keep anything down," Alex replied.

"Nervous?" That should have made her feel better, but the shivering omega inside of her would rather an alpha take the reins, which was crazy. She did not need that with Kara.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" Alex put her hands in her pockets.

That was true. Remember who you are dealing with. This is a Danvers. That made Lena square her shoulders and put that confidence back in place.

"The food might help you calm down," Lena said.

"I doubt it, but I'm not going to turn down a free meal either. I definitely won't turn down a drink," Alex replied with a small smile. The expression set Lena at ease for some reason.

Alex made her way to the table, where their plates already sat at opposite ends of the table. Grilled lemon salmon on a bed on wild rice sprinkled with diced vegetables. Alex's eyes took that in, but settled on the full glass of wine next to the plate. It would not surprise Lena if Alex downed her drink in one gulp. Alex had some control and took a long sip rather than a gulp. Lena sat down across her as Alex picked up her fork.

"I guess we can assume Kara is still off-world if I get to have the first bite of something," Alex said with an awkward laugh.

"That's true," Lena replied with a smile. There were times when she was a little envious of Alex and Kara's relationship, the ease of it, the ebb and flow, how they took care of each other. From big things, like Kara being there for Alex through her rut and for little things like Alex always letting Kara have the first bite of literally any food. The Danvers sisters were something special.

There was silence for a while and they both sort of pushed their food around. There was no Kara there to force them to engage or to act as an intermediary until they were unknowingly holding a conversation together. This was Lena's fault and she was very aware. She had not been friendly toward Alex for a very long time. But, it was hard to get over Alex being a fake-friend for several years and not trusting her. Hell, sometimes, she was not sure Alex trusted her now. There were times when she thought Alex took the job at L-Corp just to keep an eye on her, even though Kara assured her that was not true. Oh, I could talk to her about her job.

"So, you looked pretty busy earlier. What are you working on?" Lena asked, working to keep her voice steady. She had hoped the salmon smell would overpower Alex's scent, but there was a subtle alpha musk hanging in the air, even though she could smell the cologne Alex used to try to cover it. Lena was probably too far into her heat for that to work, but it was nice that Alex tried.

Alex shrugged and shoved food into her mouth quickly, as if to avoid having to actually answer the question. But, she had to swallow sometime. Until then, the tension in the room built, expanding like a balloon. It was bad enough that Lena's skin did not even prickle anymore. Her nerves were on edge, but from having to share such an uncomfortable space. I could just keep Alex here like this and probably avoid my heat altogether. She sipped her wine and watched Alex, who merely ate more when she was finished with one bite.

"Oh, come on, Alex. Tell me what you're working on. I'm sure it's brilliant," Lena said with a clumsy smile.

"It's nothing special." Alex shook her head and sipped more of her wine. "I'm studying some blood from an alien species that's similar to humans, except their immune system is strong enough to cure them of any diseases, even if they've never encountered it before. I'm just trying to figure out if I can use it to help cure any human illnesses. I haven't gotten very far with it." She played around with her food for a moment before taking another forkful.

Lena arched an eyebrow. "Why? You've had this project open for at least three months." What the hell was Alex doing with her time? There was no way her research was that lazy.

Alex frowned as she swallowed her food. "Checking up on me, I see."

"No, I just like to be aware of as many projects as I can because I know what happens when people start doing their own thing." She had suspected Alex would do her own thing. For someone who was part of an organization that required team work to take down aliens and being part of a team to save the world, Alex certainly went rogue often. But, that was to be expected when nepotism came into play.

Alex's frown deepened, like she was insulted by the truth. "Well, you can relax. I'm not doing my own thing."

"Then what are you doing on company time?" Lena leaned forward. "You've had this for three months and gotten nowhere? I find that hard to believe." She had witnessed Alex come up with complex solutions in the blink of an eye in the field and worked with Alex to have her bouncing science back to Lena like they were playing ping-pong. There was just no way Alex had nothing after three months. Something was up.

"I'm not stealing company time and working on my own stuff, if that's what you think." Alex played with her food, but also took another drink from her glass.

"Then, just what are you doing on L-Corp time?" Lena did not mean that to come out as sharp as it did, but now she was a little upset. It sounded like Alex took advantage of this little favor and felt like she did not have to meet her work obligations because of her relationship with Lena's mate. It was a little disappointing. Kara would never do such a thing.

Alex flinched and down went the silverware as her eyes went up. There was a fury Lena was familiar with burning bright, ready to ignite the world. "Well, if you must know, I spend a lot of time walking around L-Corp headquarters pointing out security flaws, which there are a ton of."

Lena blinked. "What?" She had not been expecting that answer. L-Corp had excellent security, as per her orders.

"Yeah, you're Kara's most precious person. Her bond-mate, so I like to make sure you're safe. The building is full of places where there could be breaches and dozens of places where if someone isn't alert enough, who knows what the hell could happen. So, I walk around a lot with Devin, your head of security, who I am on a first name basis with, and plug the holes. It was so much I had to talk her into hiring Vasquez to help out and there's still so much. It's mind boggling."

Lena ground her teeth together. "You're not serious." There was no way her building was in such disarray. She knew all too well what sort of dangers lurked around her, around the city, and around her work.

"I assure you I am. " Alex folded her hands in front of her on the table. "I've broken into the White House before. I could be in and out here so much easier. Beyond that, I've also taken to training some of the security. They're good, but they haven't fought aliens. But, whatever. I guess I'll just focus on those blood samples, though, since that's what L-Corp is paying me for."

Lena tried to stave off the sensation of feeling like an asshole, but it was impossible. "I'm sorry, Alex. I—I didn't know." She picked up her fork and ate some of the food, hoping it would help make things normal. I really stepped in that one. "How do you even have time for that? How do I not even know?" She liked to pride herself on knowing what most of her employees did, not daily, but in general. No one had ever reported to her that Alex was wandering around with her head of security.

"I make time. Like I said, you're Kara's most precious person, so you're precious to me. Beyond that, no one checks on me. I can do what I want and no one knows I've left my little cell. I'm persona-non-grata," Alex replied.

Lena could not believe that. "Why?"

Alex looked at her like she could not believe the question. "Oh, I dunno, maybe because the CEO hates me, but obviously hired me because she's fucking my sister."

"No one says that!"

Alex scoffed. "Not to your face, of course. And, it doesn't matter."

"Of course it matters. My feelings towards you should not determine how others treat you at work." All that time, she thought Alex was the one avoiding people, keeping to herself, and instead she was in exile because people picked up on Lena's dislike of her.

"Lena, you're not so naive. You know good and well that if people know the boss didn't want to hire someone they're probably not there on merit. I'm sure everyone looks at me and thinks of the hundreds of other scientists who could be there in my place and probably appreciate it a hell of a lot more than I do."

"You're well over-qualified for that position." It hurt to say it, even though it was true.

Alex rolled her eyes. "No one knows that. After all, my last job was very off the books."

"They're still aware of your work. Your mother's a world-renowned scientist for crying out loud."

Alex waved it off and ate some of her food. "That's my mother, not me, and it's fine. It's not the first time and probably won't be the last time I've gotten a job because of a favor."

"Do you plan on leaving L-Corp?"

"Eventually. I mean, it's not like you want me there. No reason to stay somewhere I'm not wanted."

"Then, why did you take the job in the first place?" Lena did not even know why she asked that question. She answered right along with Alex. "Kara."

Alex shrugged and had more of her food. "I just need to make sure you're all right for her and then I'll find some place else."

"And what do you mean by 'all right'? Like security wise?"

"In general, I suppose."

"Then why would you leave any time soon?" Lena was not sure why she asked that question. She should not care if Alex left, beyond the fact that L-Corp would definitely lose an amazing asset and it would be her fault. Not a great business move, but it was unlikely Alex would go work for a rival company. Her goals were too lofty for that.

Alex gave her another look as if questioning her intelligence. "Because you don't want me around."

That did not make much sense. There was no reason for Alex to take the job in the first place. She could have easily just had Kara walk her around and identify any trouble spots, even if it took as long as it was. "But, I never wanted you around, yet you took the job to make sure I was all right, in general. You don't have a specific reason for any of this."

Alex scowled. "I guess I don't." She sipped her wine.

That did not make any sense either. Alex did not do things for no reason. "Then, why are you really sticking around?"

Alex's brow wrinkled. "A lot of reasons. None of which would interest you."

Lena curled her lip. "Because I'm never worthy of your secrets, hmm?"

Alex growled and clutched her flatware a little tighter. "No, because you can never move forward, so there's no point in me sharing anything with you as none of them will happen anyway."

"What do you mean?"

Alex pursed her lips and looked away for a moment. Then, she sighed, putting down her fork. "Fine. You know what, whatever. I stick around for the hope that one day you'll forgive me and be my fucking friend. You're Kara's bond-mate, her most precious person, and she's my most precious person, okay? It sucks that the person she loves hates me and doesn't even want to try to stop hating me. And, I get why, okay? But, hope sucks because it makes us think we can change the inevitable. So, I sit there and hope one day you'll come down to my stupid little lab and ask me what I'm working on and I'll actually have something worth showing you and you'll take an interest and maybe even help me on it. But, it's stupid to hope for."

Lena had expected a lot of answers, but that was not on the list. Alex wanted forgiveness? Friendship? She did not think Alex cared that much beyond whatever was going on with Kara. But, Alex wanted to be her friend? Wanted to talk science with her? Do science with her?

"You… you really want to be friends?" Lena asked. A part of her she thought died a long time ago perked up. On the rare moments it happened and she got to work with Alex, speak with Alex, there was always so much substance there. A connection she had not felt with anyone else for some reason she could not quite explain. Yes, but it was built on a lie.

Alex frowned. "You'll notice I don't have many. I'm honestly shocked Vasquez still talks to me. I thought we had a work relationship, but when I asked her for help with security, she was right there. She texts me and checks up on me. I don't know why. She's all I have left really. I mean, there's J'onn, but he's not a friend. He's… J'onn. Everyone else is Kara's friend and they just put up with me."

Lena shook her head. "That's not true. Brainy's your friend."

Alex scoffed. "Brainy hardly looks in my direction when you're in the same room and even if he's talking to me and you come over, eventually the conversation is between you and him."

"Come on, Brainy respects your intellect." They all did.

"Brainy sees me as a commander, not a peer. You don't talk to your commander like a friend."

Lena opened her mouth, but could not dispute that. The people they mostly hung around with were Kara's friends and the only one who really treated Alex like Alex was Kara. And, even with J'onn, while he was still a mentor to Alex, she did not him exclusively to herself anymore. He was a father figure to all of them.

"I'm sorry, Alex," Lena said. She knew the isolation Alex felt and she was ashamed that part of it was her fault. Yes, she was upset with Alex, but she did not want to make Alex suffer. I don't want Alex to suffer. It was a revelation. Despite the ache Alex put her through, she did not wish any bad on Alex.

"Don't be. Maybe we should just get to this." Alex pushed her plate away. There was no way they could do anything in this atmosphere. Even with her heat clawing at her insides, Lena had never felt more turned off in her life.

Lena held up a hand. "No, no. Please, eat, and I am sorry." She motioned to Alex's plate. "I didn't realize how isolated you've been all this time and it's my fault. I know how that feels and I know what that can do to someone. So, I'm sorry."

Alex shook her head. "Like I said, don't be."

This had spiraled very quickly and the mood was all but gone, not that there was much to begin with. It was just that things were probably at their worst right now. Still, Lena could feel the nip of her heat at the base of her spine. Alex did not seem affected by what she knew was air thick with pheromones. Despite Alex's feelings, she had still come over to this for Lena, for Kara. Lena sighed.

"I know it hurts," Lena said. She knew better than anyone maybe. She had sentenced Alex to a fate she would not wish on anyone, especially not her bond-mate's favorite person.

"I don't want to talk about it," Alex replied.

"Then, you can get up and leave." Lena's stomach twisted at the suggestion, but she did not want to fight with Alex, not after finding out Alex actually still wanted to be her friend. Why the hell does that change things? She did not have the brainpower to ponder that right now.

"You know I'm not going to do that." The statement was punctuated with Alex eating more of her food.

"Then, shut up and listen. I know it hurts." Lena sighed, but gave her a hard stare. "This is how I felt when I learned about Kara's alter ego and then learned everyone knew but me. I felt like I was on the outside looking in and I didn't have anyone to talk about it with. And, I feel like you put me in that position and I understand why, but it still hurts. And, it hurts to think I didn't prove myself to you in all the times I helped save the day, save the world."

Alex sat back, drinking the rest of her wine. "First of all, if it was up to me, there would be no alter ego. Kara would be safe in Cat Co. and that would be the end of things. I tried really hard to limit those who did know because you and I both know she would be in danger or people who she knows would be in danger if her identity got out. Unfortunately, Kara told people before I could tell her that was a bad idea. Maggie figured it out. Brainy already knew because he's from the future. I wasn't leading a conspiracy to keep you from knowing. I was trying to contain her identity the best I could."

"From the untrust-able Luthor."

"From everyone." Alex glared at her from across the table. "You think I trust anybody? After my dad died the first time, all my trust went out the window. I don't trust anyone."

"You trusted Maggie."

"Yeah, and you see where that got us. Even if I do trust, I will self-sabotage very fast. I don't know how to be happy or relaxed. Maggie was the test and Kelly was the confirmation. Honestly, I don't even know I still have Kara in my life, okay? Although, I probably won't have that much longer. I can barely help her now that I don't have a government agency backing me."

Lena scowled. "Stop that! You mean everything to Kara. She's not just going to leave you because you can't be Super Agent anymore. And you're damn good as Sentinel."

"Yeah, when I get the chance to be." Alex did not have the time to just run off and be a hero like she used to. She had a day job, and apparently a side gig at that day job.

"Right, you have your job now, that you hate apparently."

"I never said I hated it. Everything I get to do at L-Corp is something I enjoy and I get to see Vas."

"Yet somehow you're unfulfilled."

"Yes, well, imagined Lex got you a job working for a CEO who hates you."

"I don't hate you, so stop saying that. How could I hate you? You're Kara's favorite entity." She was annoyed with Alex at best.

Alex snorted. "Former. I know when I'm beat." She gave Lena a blatant once-over in a very non-sexy way.

"No, you just know how to have a pity party. I'm something of an expert. How about we start over?" Lena asked with a smile.

Alex sighed. "I don't have a better plan, so fine." She pulled her plate back to her.

Lena grabbed her plate and glass and walked to sit closer to Alex. Now, they were close enough to touch. Alex watched her with caution as she poured Alex more wine.

"So, how about you tell me about one of your projects? Whichever seems the most exciting to you," Lena said before taking a drink from her own glass.

Alex frowned, but opened her mouth. "I'm really looking forward to getting to those blood samples. Everyone was happy to give me a sample, to try to help humanity. They're human-passing for the most part and said life on Earth has been good to them and they'd love to give back. But, I'm eager just to break things down and get an understanding of how their immune system works."

"So, how far are you in your analysis?" Lena asked, genuinely curious. Typically, most of her science endeavors leaned toward technology, but she was well-versed in biology and would love to hear about this.

With that one simple question, Alex was off with an almost childlike enthusiasm Lena had never seen in her. Yes, she had witnessed Alex do science in a pinch, but never just talk about her research or her work. Lena did not really need to add anything to the conversation. Alex had plans for her analysis when she got the time, the steps she would take, ideas on what to look for, suspicions on what she would find, and explanations for everything. And then she made a face.

"What?" Lena asked, not realizing she had her chin resting in her palm until now.

"This is really doing it for you, huh?"

"What?" Then Lena realized she had released almost a cloud of pheromones into the air. Her cheeks were on fire within a moment and her body followed immediately now that it was brought to her attention. Okay, yes, that did it for her. "Apparently."

Alex smiled. "Shall we get to this then?"

Lena took a deep, trembling breath. "Please." She needed this. Now.

-8-8-8-8-

Next time: Alex does her duty while Lena's heat takes over.