For once in my life, I am on schedule!
A massive thanks to my new beta: /users/AyakaSpencer/profile
who without her help, this chapter would not be as good as it is! Also, she has an awesome new A/B/O fic out, go ahead and check it out show the love.
Now, on with the story:
After her morning with Kara and the DEO, Lena buries herself in her work, mentally cataloguing every piece of unknown tech from the last three years that she didn't recognise. Relieved that most of it was still the same. There was an odd familiarity to it, noting the similarities and finding acquisitions in cities she had never done business in. So engrossed in her project, it isn't until there is a faint knock on her door that she finally looks up.
"Come in."
"Sorry to disturb you, Ms Luthor," Jess apologised, hovering in the doorway. "I just wanted to let you know that I am going home."
Lena frowned, glancing at the clock. 7.30, sighing, "Right, yes of course. Thank you, Jess," When the secretary didn't make a show of moving Lena asked. "Was there anything else?"
"I just wanted to check that everything was alright?"
Nothing about this situation was ok but she feigned ignorance, "Why wouldn't it be?"
"Well, normally you're out of here by five on the dot, adamant to beat Ms Danvers home," Jess informed her. Lena stared blankly at the assistant, before catching herself, this was clearly something her other self would do on a regular basis.
Lena gritted her teeth, "Everything's fine. I still have a few proposals to get out and then I'll be away," Lena lied. Jess seemed to believe her with a nod of confirmation but made no effort to move. Jess watched as Lena made a show of leaving, grabbing her things, and packing them. It became clear that faking it wasn't an option, as Jess now seemed to be waiting for her. Maybe, she hoped, her old penthouse could be an option… Did she still even own the penthouse?
"Jess, can you remind me whatever happened to my old apartment?" She asked curiously, Jess frowned, suspiciously.
"It was sold to that young businesswoman from Star City," Jess explained, "Are you sure you're ok?" Jess asked, watching Lena carefully, her eyebrows knitting together in concern.
"Yes, of course, it just popped into my head," Lena lied smoothly as she lifted her keys. Jess nodded holding the door open pointedly and Lena clenched her teeth in irritation. Great, she thought, she was going to have to ride the elevator with her.
"It's odd that Ms Danvers didn't come and get you this evening," Jess said thoughtfully. Lena paled slightly, shuffling from one foot to the other. "Normally if you don't leave by a set time, she turns up to get you and make sure you go home."
Concern was laced in her tone as they stepped into the lift. Lena glanced at Jess to find a frown over her assistant's features. Apparently Kara taking her home was uncommon.
"Oh yes" Lena lied, "She's just very busy on a new article."
"It must be so exciting," Jess grinned. "Have you made any plans for your anniversary?"
"What?" Lena asked, shocked at the turn of questioning.
"Oh, I was just wondering" Jess blushed lightly, "If you've thought of what you might like to get her? So, I can start organising it as soon as possible?"
Lena squeezed her eyes shut, her headache from this morning returning.
"Right, no. I haven't thought of anything yet," Lena admitted. Luckily at that point, the elevator dinged.
"Have a nice night, Lena," Jess smiled, waving as she walked through the lobby.
She pressed urgently on the button leading to the parking garage before anyone else could inquire about her lie of a life. Pressing her head against the cool glass of the elevator she sighed. When had she started letting Jess call her Lena and when had she stopped working before 7.30?
Kara Danvers, what have you done to my life?
Kara floated over National City, listening as the city grew quiet. She had listened in on part of the conversation with Lena and her secretary, surprised and glad that in this reality Lena seemed to have a better handle on a work/life balance. It was something that as her friend, when they could be called that, always concerned Kara. Drifting over to their new place, seeing the small reading light in the corner still on, she wondered if Lena was still up, or (which she doubted to be true) had left it on for her. Her doubt was soon realized by movement that caught her eye as Lena's Irish lilt rose stiffly over traffic.
Within the apartment Lena looked up from her book, she knew Kara was out there. Avoiding her, trying to pretend they could get through this without conflict. But Lena knew this wasn't true as she snapped her book closed, as much as she hated to admit they were in this together. With a sigh she stood, walking out onto the balcony,
"Are you going to float out there all night or are you going to come down so we can talk about this?"
Unaware of the range of Kryptonian super hearing, she was unsure if the Super would even hear her. But when Supergirl dropped onto the balcony she had previously vacated minutes earlier, Lena knew Kara must have been listening. Stepping inside, Kara wasn't surprised to be met with Lena's stony gaze. The irritated set of her jaw told Kara that she was about to bear the brunt of the raven haired woman's anger.
"I didn't know this was going to happen," Kara stated after a moment of silence.
"I'm astute enough to presume that you wouldn't have planned this," Lena remarked snidely. "But, what did you think would happen? That you would wake up and it would all be fine and that we would go back to normal?"
"No! Of course-"
"Or what? You would come find me and pitch some self-righteous bullshit about how we should work together?"
"Lena, I didn't-"
But Lena continued on, not listening to Kara's protests. Her accent became more prominent with her rising temper, "Honestly, Kara, did you really think this could be fixed by some speech of hope and justice?"
"What? No-"
"Because you are sorely mistaken, you don't get to just waltz in where we were before Lex. You did this Kara, you ruined our friendship. I killed my brother to save you. To save what fucked up version of a family I had been deceived into believing." She punctuated each accusation with a point in Kara's direction, "And, after all that, you still think you can just walk back into this-"
"I didn't know," Kara shouted, startling Lena out of her rant. "I didn't know if we would survive. Do you know what I dreamt of this morning? Dying!"
Kara tried to regulate her breathing as she sagged slightly in defeat.
"I didn't know this was how we would wake up this morning. I didn't even think we would. And yes it's all mucked up and I'm doing everything I can to send us back to some form of reality that's ours, but until then we are going to have to suck it up. Do you really think I'm happy to be stuck with someone who used Kryptonite on me?"
Lena looked away and Kara was at least glad she looked ashamed. "If we're going to cope with this for a month or so then we are going to have to move past this Lena."
"And what happens if it's longer?" Lena countered. "And we can't get back to our lives, is this it? Do we continue like this?"
Kara deflated further, recalling the conversation with Lex and Barry, "I don't know" she admitted. "But until we get to that point I'm going to do everything I can to work out how to get us back."
"What do we do until then?" Lena asked, also deflating.
"Only J'onn knows what we were like before the crisis so until I have time to talk with him I think we have to play along. Learn as much about our other selves as we can, so we can fit in. Not upset the multiverse so when we do go back it's how we left it or as close to what it was," Kara suggested.
Lena sighed standing and grabbing the bottle of wine she had found that morning, pouring herself another glass. She sat, setting the bottle down dejectedly. Kara watched her, exhaustion etched over her features.
"It's not even similar, Kara" Lena sighed. "I went to L-Corp today and Jess was there."
"What?" Kara looked up in shock.
"Yes, exactly," Lena sighed. "She's already suspicious."
"How?" Kara asked. "I mean it's only been a day."
"Because I stayed late. Apparently we race each other home or you come get me so I don't stay there all night," She explained before muttering into her glass. "It's quite sickening actually."
Kara sighed, "It's all so different. Even Alex, she's the same but at the same time, she's not. Next thing we know, your mothers going to be walking in asking about Thanksgiving."
"Let's not chance fate," Lena warned. Kara smirked, she couldn't help it. Lena glanced at the clock wall before stating, "I'm going to go to bed and tomorrow we can at least try and be civil to one another"
Kara nodded, standing as Lena began putting things away, offering, "I'll take the guest room."
Lena nodded, as they closed in for the night she could only imagine how difficult it was going to be.
As it turned out, it would be very difficult.
Lena woke to warm rays of sunshine spilling in through the large windows. Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes hoping it had all been a terrible dream. That Kara hadn't been in bed with her yesterday, that she would get up and Lex would still be dead in the ground, that she didn't have two rings decorating her left ring finger.
Turning to the bedroom, her hopes shattering at the sight of the same unfamiliar room from the day before. The same white sheets, the same bedside table with photos of her and Kara, that she hadn't seen prior to yesterday. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she glanced down at her hands clenching the mattress, the faint pressure of the two bands on her finger, reminded her of the growing ache in her chest, squeezing her eyes shut, bothered by the whole situation. And now, she was going to have to navigate at minimum a month of playing house with Kara.
Kara who had lied to her for three years, and manipulated her to get what she wanted. Lena concluded she would just have to work her way through it. She was a Luthor after all, she could handle the small aggravation of a misplaced reality.
Staring up at the ceiling, listening as Lena heads into the shower, Kara had known that Lena was up by the faint shift of the sleepy rhythms of her heartbeat. The increased rhythmic beats like a siren waking her from her own sleep. She listened, noting the way it relaxed as Lena showered and soon thoughts of Lena in said shower flooded her brain. Quickly Kara shook them away, now was not the time to be thinking such thoughts about her best friend.
Slipping from bed, Kara decided that she should also start her morning, mentally bracing herself for another day at the DEO of digging through old files, which she knew would be as difficult as the day before. Once Kara finished showering she realised that none of her things were in this bathroom, but were in the en-suite of the master bedroom that she was not in. Slipping back into her pyjamas, Kara padded to the door of the master.
With a sigh Kara stared at the softwood door trying to figure out what to do. She could use her x-ray vision to look and check where Lena was before sneaking in to get her clothes but she knew that would be a further violation of Lena's trust and she wasn't in the mood for that type of lecture.
Reaching up she knocked softly, she thought of the argument from the night before, wondering if Lena could still be angry? Or had Lena gone back to repressing it like always and would blow up at Kara for disturbing her space and triggering another bout of fury from the CEO.
Kara had seen Lena at her worst, wrapped in Kara's National City University hoodie, dishevelled from sleeping on a couch and still drunk from the night before or having Lena shout at her in a closet with nothing more than a sheet covering her. But nothing compared to Lena Luthor, opening the door, dripping wet in a towel.
"I-um... I just need," Kara stammered, blush rising in her cheeks as she looked down at her toes that were suddenly very interesting.
"Clothes?" Lena finishes with a huff.
"What?" Kara squeaked, looking up at Lena
"Do you need your clothes, Kara?" Lena repeats, a perfectly sculpted eyebrow lifting in question.
"Yes, please," Kara nods. Lena steps aside and Kara rushes to the closet. Looking around haphazardly, glancing from time to time checking to see where Lena is. She feels herself relax once the hairdryer comes on, knowing that Lena is no longer likely to walk in on her. Quickly grabbing clothes, she pauses at the site of the Kryptonian decorated box once more, she thinks about placing the bracelet on to make more of a show before pushing the thought away. No, she had a human wedding band that'd be enough. She reassures herself. Kara retreats to the guest bed to get dressed before Lena notices her.
Once dressed and ready for her day, she heads down to the kitchen and begins making something that resembles breakfast trying to win Lena over, the faint clicking of heels alerting her to Lena's movements. She descends the stairs dressed in a familiar black pencil skirt and a white blouse, her hair perfectly pulled back in its usual no nonsense style. Her black patent leather heels continue over the hardwood floor moving towards Kara.
"Pancakes?" The reporter asks with a slight smile.
"I'm good" Lena makes her way to the familiar coffee machine. Their morning engagement is minimal, neither wanting to discuss the giant elephant in the room. That was until Kara broke the silence as Lena scowled at her emails.
"I'm going back to the DEO today, hopefully I'll be able to find something on the multiverse." Kara states as she picks at the food in front of her. Lena nods, her red lips drawn into a thin line as Kara watches her carefully.
"Would you maybe, I don't know, maybe like to meet me there, and we can go through them together," Kara suggests, nervously.
Lena slowly looks up from her phone. "Unless you've forgotten Kara, I have a business to run."
"I know, but this is important too," Kara pouts and Lena feels her temper begin to rise at the sight of Kara pouting and fidgeting with her glasses, at least in this world she doesn't have those ridiculous bangs.
"This is your mess Kara, you fix it. When you've worked it out then come find me," Lena states turning from the counter to take her things. Lena pauses taking a calming breath, she would spend the day getting a grip on the changes to her company, similar to the day before, keeping her distance from Kara and all other DEO matters.
By late morning, however, that had been completely derailed by Winn's appearance and a request for an update to some software. She had been trying to fix Winn's subsonic hearing device as quickly as she could before a morning meeting. Before any questions could be asked that would catch her unawares.
However, that was thwarted when Sam walked in. Rattling off business numbers causing Lena to falter. Even though in this reality she was meant to be her sister in law, Lena still hadn't seen her since she had moved back to Metropolis. She moved to embrace the CFO, to hug her tight and tell her how much she's missed her. She wants to tell Sam every crazy small detail going on in her life to break down and cry, to be Lena but she knows she can't, she can't alert Sam to her change in nature, to upset something that could be catastrophic later in her own world. So, Lena pauses. She kicks herself as she is reminded that Sam is part of their life permanently now and would be seeing Sam regularly. Lena almost lets the tears of happiness form in her eyes at the thought of Sam being here, to stop her from being alone. To have someone who hasn't lied or manipulated her for their own gain. Lena's mouth forms questions before realisation falls over her. Sam wouldn't remember those things because they haven't happened. Lena pulls away blinking back tears as she grips the subsonic device.
"Sam, what can I help you with?" Lena plasters a professional smile on her face.
"Ugh, yeah, I just needed confirmation on the Zortek deal," Sam admits with a frown, Lena kicks herself, she's being weird.
She'd like to think she wouldn't bring her personal life to work but from the photo of Kara and herself on her desk she knows that isn't true.
"Are you ok?" Sam asks in her signature mom voice and Lena nods quickly to distract from her hiccup.
"Winn, this is ready with the latest encryption software downloaded," Lena declares, thrusting the device into his hands.
"Great! Thanks, Lena," Winn grins, glancing awkwardly between the two, "I'll catch you both later."
Lena leant against the desk fidgeting slightly, as soon as the door shut, Sam sat down with a small smile.
"So, in regard to the expansion over Zortek we should be looking at a risk factor of 15%, however, by buying them out we eliminate the risk and we could be making profits of double their current quarter," Sam explained.
Lena frowned, she had briefly read her pack for that morning and knew of the company barely.
"Sorry, Sam, I didn't sleep well, could you just give me a run down?" Lena tried but Sam frowned.
"Lena you've been heading this project for weeks, they're our biggest competition with the concealment devices you produced last month for the Ullian's that arrived on refugee immigration six months ago."
Lena nodded, she would have to pretend and catch up later. Sam launches into a brief explanation but it wouldn't be enough for the board.
"Lena are you sure you're ok?" Sam asked gently.
"I um, hit my head last night, I'm fine but I've been struggling to remember things," Lena lied. Sam frowns immediately at the news.
"This isn't a sex thing is it?" Sam asks with a smirk but stops as soon as Lena's glare meets her, she shrugs before fawning over her to make sure she is fine. After reassuring her that she had tests done and was fine Sam pulled her into a tight hug. After a long hug, Sam pulls back smiling down at her.
"Now before we tackle the board, is there anything you want to ask first?"
Lena swallows her emotions shaking her head,
"Nothing that can't wait till after."
Across town, Kara was desperately trying to do some subtle digging in the DEO files thanks to J'onn,
"Did you find anything?" J'onn asks, slipping into his old office.
"No, there's nothing here about Interdimensional extrapolation," Kara sighed.
"That's disappointing," J'onn sighs, sitting next to her.
"How can you be ok about all of this?" Kara asked in exasperation.
"I'm not, but my life is very similar to the one I left. Other than my work life." J'onn admitted.
"I just don't know how I'm going to sort this," Kara slumps in defeat.
"If Earth-38 does exist then I will do everything I can to get you there Kara," J'onn reassures her.
"She hates me you know" Kara admitted,
"Lena is just as confused as you are, Kara, give her some time. In the meantime, I think you should go to Catco, get back some sense of a normal life," J'onn instructed.
Kara nods, he was right in some form, Kara knew it, she just didn't want to face her own reality.
Stepping from the elevator and into the foyer of Catco, Kara makes her way to her desk. Only to find Nia there with coffee.
"Brainy gave me the heads up," she smiles, handing her a familiar Noonans cup.
"Thanks," Kara said, taking the coffee warily. She began to look for her personal things in the hope of finding her desk. Luckily, Nia begins walking so Kara willingly follows along.
"So, I've begun the drafting of those articles on Alien identification in schools that we spoke about last week and I think McKenzie is looking into the reopening of Lord Tek," Nia continues rattling off. Kara looks up from her search in shock.
"Wait, as in Maxwell Lord?" Kara asks with a frown,
"Yeah, they are holding a press release next week about it," Nia confirms, matching Kara's frown. "Oh right, sorry, let's talk in your office. I can give you the rundown"
"My Office?" Kara asks as Nia leads her into Snappers old office. Except it wasn't his office. It was Kara's. It was warm and welcoming and her desk was here with photos of her and Alex. She could see one of herself and Lena she had never seen before but she quickly looked away, still not ready for the reality of Lena in her life as more than a friend.
"So, you got promoted about six months ago and you report to Cat," Nia informs her.
"Wait, Cat?" Kara asks, in surprise.
"Yeah, after James left for Calvintown, Cat took Catco back from Andrea who was more than happy to sell it back to her. Cat said it was because Andrea was turning it into a shambles and that Catco would not be reduced to clickbait but I think it's cause she missed us," Nia replies thoughtfully.
"Ok, so why do I have an office?" Kara asked, looking around at the large whiteboards, and screens.
"Oh, you're the Content Director," Nia explained flippantly. Content Director, Kara thought paling at the idea.
"Content Director, right" Kara muttered, moving around her new office, taking in her sudden change in workspace. "So, you all report into me?" Kara asks, carefully.
"Yeah, by the way, you have a meeting with Miss Grant in half an hour to discuss the next issue and potential articles. I'll make you a cheat sheet," Nia added, as she turns from the office leaving Kara alone to get on with her day, while Kara works to absorb the new information and the developments in her life.
She was the Content Director for Catco. Cat was back. Cat Grant, press secretary to the president was back as her boss in a job she had no idea how to do. Walking into Cat's office 25 minutes later, Kara is fidgety and nervous, she hasn't seen Cat in over two years and now she was supposed to know everything about the articles people were writing in her department.
"Ah Kara, there you are," Cat's voice sends chills down Kara's spine. Her office had returned to its sharp white walls and rose gold accents, with Cat situated in the large chair in front of her laptop.
"Miss Grant," Kara smiled nervously, notepad in hand.
"Nice of you to join us today. I was worried your wife had whisked you away somewhere," Cat sneered. "Or was it you who whisked her away?"
"I ugh, I don't know what you're talking about Miss Grant, I was out investigating some new sources yesterday," Kara lied flagrantly.
"I'm sure," Cat said dismissively. "Now tell me, what have you got for the next issue?"
Kara rattles off Nia's list of upcoming projects and Cat seems pleased from the small smirk that decorates her lips.
"I want the alien school identification to be at the forefront, we need to show people that it is not acceptable to have lists of children's origins in some excel spreadsheet somewhere," Cat ranted in disgust.
"Excellent I'll get Nia on it, what about Lord Technologies?" Kara asks as she scribbles down notes on her pad.
"It's your content Keira, you bring the best to me. I shouldn't have to answer this for you," Cat stressed.
"Right, yes of course, sorry Miss Grant, I'll get these to you by the end of the week," Kara excuses herself with a huff from Cat. Walking from the office, sighing, this was going to be harder than she thought.
As always let me know your thoughts, feelings down below without you all this story would probably not survive. I will also be posting weekly previews on my tumblr:
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Until next week folks!