Chapter 10 - Sharing A Home (Part 2)

At Kara's loft, Kara and Clark were sitting on the couch while Alex faked to read a Catco magazine around the kitchen island.

Alex glanced up at Kara and Clark. They paid her no mind as they talked enthusiastically about the most dangerous saves they had pulled off ever since they both became Earth heroes. It was supposed to be their sisters' night, but yet her sister didn't even seem aware that she was there. She sighed and rose up. "I have to go."

Kara looked up at her sister for the first time that night. She furrowed her brow, "You okay?"

"Yeah. I just rather leave you two in peace." Alex said, stomping to the door.

Kara's brow furrowed deeper.

Alex pulled the door open so brutally that Kara feared that she might tear it apart.

"Alex..."

"See you later," Alex said without even glancing at her sister.

"Alex..." Kara tried again, but Alex had already slammed the door behind her.

Kara crinkled her nose and started fidgeting with her glasses as she made a mental note to have a conversation with her sister tomorrow.

"Kara..." Clark started, withdrawing Kara from her thoughts. "There's something I'd like to ask you before I get back to Metropolis."

Kara pushed her glasses up her nose and spun her head to her cousin, silently telling him that she was ready for whatever question he was about to ask.

"What's going on between you and Lena Luthor?" he asked.

Kara's eyes grew wide at the question she hadn't been expecting and wasn't prepared for at all. She gulped and stared frozen at him.

"I, um, uh," Kara sputtered. She looked down and stayed silent.

"Yeah. That's what I thought." She heard Clark say with a glimmer of amusement in his voice.

Kara frowned, still not looking at him. "I... I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure, you don't." Clark said with the same amused tone that made Kara understand that he knew more than she thought.

She sighed, and looked up at him. "How did you figure out?"

"I noticed something when I saw you two together." He paused for a couple of seconds. "Also, I've overheard a conversation between you and Alex. I'm sorry for that. I didn't mean to, but you know what it's like."

"Yeah." Kara agreed, thinking about all the conversations she had heard without even trying.

"How long were you two together?" Clark asked.

Kara stayed silent for a few seconds, the memories of that Summer hitting her with a strength that caused breathing to become difficult. She inhaled sharply. "A couple of weeks. It was Summer. It didn't last long, but she has marked my life forever. It happened over four years ago, but I'm still not able to..." She looked down, and swallowed thickly. "I can't get over her." She breathed out, and clasped both of her hands together over her lap.

They stayed in silence for long minutes. Kara still looked at the floor as if that was the most interesting thing she had ever seen and fiddled with her hands.

"Did you know she was a Luthor?" Clark broke the silence.

Kara sighed, and looked up. "Yeah. She's been honest with me once I've been honest with her."

Clark frowned.

"I told her I was an alien. I told her everything. That's when she told me she was a Luthor." Kara said, a lump lunging itself in her throat at the memory of the day she and Lena had kissed for the first time. Her heart fluttered slightly as well, and that made her even more confuse about the situation.

Clark stayed silent with an unreadable expression on his face.

Kara frowned. "You're not freaking out? Why are you not freaking out?" She adjusted her glasses.

Clark chuckled. "Why would I freak out?"

"I don't know. Because she's a Luthor, and I'm a Kryptonian."

Clark chuckled again.

Kara's brow furrowed in confusion. "Alex totally freaked out the day she learned Lena knew the truth about me."

"I'm not surprised. Protecting you has always been her priority."

"I do not need to be protected from Lena. She's not like... She's a good person." Despite the fact that she has shattered my heart, Kara thought, still feeling a sharp pain press heavily on her broken heart.

"I know," Clark approved that fact.

"That feels good not to be the only one to see this." Kara gave him a small smile. "Thanks, cuz." She gave him a pat on the shoulder.

"You're welcome," he smiled. "What are you going to do now that she's back in your life?"

Kara shook slightly her head. "I don't have anything to do. She's the one who broke up with me. I... I don't wanna overstep. I have to respect her decision."

Clark stayed silent, but Kara could see that he was skeptical.

"What?" Kara said.

"I think she still loves you. I saw it in her eyes the other day."

Kara pushed her glasses up her nose. She pressed her lips together, and sighed. "If she wants to fix things between us, I will be there."

"Lena won't try anything to fix things between you if she's not one hundred percent sure that's what you want."

Kara frowned. "You talk about her as if you knew her."

"I do." he said, surprising Kara. "I, I mean... I've been friends with her brother for a while. So, I... anyway. I think you're good for each other." He cleared his throat, and slightly looked away from Kara.

Kara's brow furrowed as she felt if as her cousin was holding something back from her. Before she got the time to ask, Clark spun his head to look at her.

"Look, Kara, you don't have to listen to me, but... The most important thing I have learned on Earth is that love is always worth fighting for."

Kara felt tears slightly well up in her eyes. "Even when you feel that you're the only one fighting?"

Clark put an arm around Kara and pulled her closer. "Give it time, Kara. Give Lena some time. If things are meant to be between you, they will."

Kara smiled. She wiped away the tears that had spilled out from her eyes, and leaned deeper into her cousin's embrace. "Thank you," she whispered.

Clark rubbed softly Kara's shoulder as the two of them stayed like this until the news caught their attention. They both turned their heads to the TV and saw a man about to jump off a bridge.

Kara straightened her stance to look at her cousin. "One last team up before you go?" She smiled.

At L-Corp, Lena was sitting at her desk. The building was quiet, and the only sounds she could hear in the room were the TV that was on and the buzzing of her laptop. She wasn't working though. She was staring at pictures of Kara and she that had been taken years ago. Plunging herself in the happiest time of her life by gazing at old photos was the only thing she was doing outside of her work. It always fulfilled the emptiness that had settled within her since the day she broke up with Kara. But weirdly, it also always made her feel even more lonely.

Tears rolled down on Lena's cheeks without her realizing it until they landed on a photo of Kara beaming while Lena kissed her cheek. She remembered that day just like she remembered every moment she spent with Kara. Just like she told Kara in the letter she gave her, Lena cherished preciously those memories that were her greatest treasure.

She sniffled, and swept her tears away quickly with the back of her hands. She swallowed thickly, and tucked all the pictures in the last drawer of her desk, the one that was locked with a secret code that no one beside her could figure out, except maybe Kara.

Lena looked up at the TV. She narrowed her eyes when she saw Superman and Supergirl. Both were fighting against Corben, and didn't have the upper hand in front of the guy blasting Kryptonite through his heart. Fears overtook her as she stared frozen at the screen. She held her breath. Her body started shaking. Her heart sped up painfully. She released the breath she had been holding when the journalist announced that Supergirl and Superman were both okay. Her breathing quickened when it was also announced that Corben who called himself Metello now had yet to be apprehended.

Lena mentally packed her fears and anxiety into tiny boxes that she shoved far down within her. Her breathing calmed down. She stopped shaking. Her heart picked up its normal rate. She was all right, and could now focus on work.

Work that she hadn't planned to start doing in the middle of the night. But after what she just saw, it couldn't wait anymore.

After getting up from her seat, Lena exited her office and strode to a secret lab at L-Corp that no one was aware of.

With a biometric lock, she opened the door, and stepped inside, willing to spend the night finishing her most important project.

With the heaviness that seemed to have merged with her heart, Kara flew to the DEO. She felt overwhelmed by all the changes that happened lately, and those about to come. She choked back the tears that threatened to spill out and flew faster as if that could chase her overwhelming emotions away.

When she landed, Alex noticed from the start that something was off. Which made her feel even more guilty for ignoring her sister since Clark was there.

"What's wrong?" Alex asked.

Kara sighed and started walking, although she wasn't even sure where she was going.

Alex followed her.

Kara stopped walking and began fiddling the edge of her cape with both hands.

"Clark's leaving. Cat's leaving too. Lena is back. My world is upside down. And I am so, so sorry for having been a such terrible sister for you while Clark was here."

"Kara..."

Kara held up a hand, gently stopping her sister to go further. "Please, Alex, don't try to ease my guilt. I've ignored you for days, and I'm so sorry. I didn't realize what I did until you stomped away from my loft last night."

"I'm sorry for almost tearing your door apart." Alex tried to joke in the hope of making her sister feel better.

"It's okay," Kara half-smiled. "I'm sorry if I made you feel that you weren't as important as Clark to me." She stepped closer to Alex. "You're my sister, I don't know what I'd do without you. I love you."

"Love you too, Kara." Alex smiled, putting an arm around her sister.

"So, we're okay?"

"We're okay." Alex reassured.

Kara smiled widely.

"Now we can focus on catching the bad guy." Alex said, leading them to Clark.

"A bad guy who blasts Kryptonite." Kara sighed. "That's a first."

"We'll handle him." Alex tried to reassure her sister.

"I know someone who might have the means to protect us from the Kryptonite." Clark said.

Alex frowned. "Who?"

"Lena Luthor." He said, glancing at Kara.

Kara felt something pinching her heart as every time Lena was mentioned. She swallowed thickly, and remembered a conversation she had had with Lena years ago.

I'm working on making a Kryptonite shield, she remembered Lena telling her.

She opened her mouth, about to speak, but her sister cut her off before she got the time to say something.

"I don't think it's a good idea to involve Lena in this."

Kara furrowed her brow and spun to her sister. "Why? I'm perfectly capable of keeping my personal feelings aside." she said, almost believing in her own words.

Alex's eyes slightly widened. She glanced at Clark who didn't look confused at all. She frowned and turned to her sister.

"He knows." Kara said, answering her sister's silent question.

"Okay, um." She cleared her throat. "Anyway. I still think we shouldn't involve her in this. Not because of your history, but because..."

"Please, don't say because she's a Luthor." Kara warned.

"I wasn't going to say that either. But the DEO doesn't formally exist, so I don't think bringing someone in our business is very wise. Besides, J'onn will never agree to that."

"He will if you convince him." Kara said.

Alex sighed. She stayed silent for a while, and Kara could see her sister silently pondering her options.

"Are you sure you're okay with that?" Alex asked Kara.

"Yes." Kara replied without hesitation even though shivers of nervousness started running on every inch of her skin at the possibility of seeing Lena again.

"Are you sure it's wise to involve her in this?" Alex asked both of them.

"Yes," they answered at the same time.

"She can be trusted." Clark added.

Kara smiled at her cousin, and he gave her a nod.

"Fine," Alex finally agreed. "Let me talk to J'onn." She stepped away.

Kara breathed out. She realized that Lena was eventually coming to the DEO, and therefore they were kind of going to team up. It made her anxious just as much as it made her eager. She swallowed thickly, hoping she wouldn't do something stupid, such as breaking in tears, or wrapping Lena in an embrace she missed more than any words could express it.

"I could contact Lena if it's easier for you." Clark said, withdrawing Kara from her thoughts.

"Thank you. I appreciate that."

Clark smiled and nodded at her again, waiting for Alex to return.

In her secret lab at L-Corp, Lena had finished her most important project. She simply hoped that it would work as it was supposed to. She trusted science and technology. She trusted her own abilities. But when someone she loved was involved, that was easier for doubts to make their way into her mind. She shook her head, not allowing the doubts to settle in.

Her phone rang, she grabbed it and smiled slightly when she saw the number calling her. She picked up. "Superman, what can I do for you?"

"I need your help."

Lena chuckled slightly. "What else is new?"

She heard him chuckling quietly over the phone.

"Kara needs your help too," he added after a couple of seconds.

Lena's heart leapt in her chest at hearing Kara's name, and from the tone in Clark's voice, she could easily guess that Clark knew she had a history with Kara.

"Lena?" He called after long seconds of silence.

She shook slightly her head, and looked at the two anti-Kryptonite suits she had spent the night finishing.

"I think I know what you're going to ask me."

At the DEO, in the conference room, J'onn, Winn, Clark, Alex, and Kara were gathered around Lena as she explained the way the suits worked.

Kara could see that Lena was trying to avoid her gaze as she spoke, and somehow she was grateful for that. She wasn't sure how much composure she could have kept if Lena's piercing green eyes had been on her. Being in the same room that Lena was overwhelming enough. It took Kara all the strength of the universe not to rush to her and wrapping her arms around her. Lena was even more beautiful than ever. She commended the room naturally as she spoke, and everyone who witnessed this moment could see the passion Lena had for science and technology.

As usual, when Lena Luthor was involved, Kara was awestruck.

"That is awesome!" Winn squealed in delight. "Sorry," he apologized when he saw that every eye was on him.

"Thank you for doing this, Miss Luthor." Clark said.

Lena gave him a polite nod and glanced at Kara.

Kara gave her a smile.

Lena's cheeks blushed slightly at this quick and subtle interaction.

"We should prepare the rest of our plan." Alex said, waving the others outside. She glanced at Kara, silently telling her to take a few minutes to talk to Lena.

The doors closed behind Kara and Lena, leaving them alone in the room.

They stared at each other.

Kara fiddled with the edge of her cape, and noticed that Lena was as nervous as her when she saw her twirl both of her hands together.

Understanding that Lena was too uneasy to say something, Kara cleared her throat. "So, um, Anti-Kryptonite suits, huh?"

Lena gave her a small chuckle that somehow showed even more how much she was nervous to be here with Kara.

Hoping to ease the tension, Kara smiled at Lena. "I was expecting a shield actually."

"I, uh... I've made those too actually. But then I realized that an entire suit would be much more efficient." Lena smiled slightly. "I really wanted to do something to keep you safe. I mean, you and Superman."

Kara's heart skipped a beat at Lena's words.

"Thank you, Lena. Thank you for..." keeping me safe, was what she wanted to say, but somehow she knew saying that would only increase the lingering awkwardness between them. "Just thank you."

Lena smiled at her, and nodded her head. It wasn't the same polite nod she gave Clark earlier. It was the kind of nod that told Kara that she wanted to say more, but couldn't put her thoughts into words.

They stood in the middle of room for a long moment, staring at each other in silence, Kara fiddling with her cape, and Lena fiddling with her hands.

"Kara, I..." Lena began quietly until the doors slid open and J'onn walked into the room.

"I have a few papers for you to sign, Miss Luthor." J'onn said, putting a huge pile of paperwork on the table.

"I will leave you both to that." Kara said. "Good luck," she chuckled to Lena before stepping out of the room.

Lena did her best to contain her smile as she watched Kara leave the room. Somehow this interaction made her feel that moving to National City had been the right choice.

From the screens of the DEO, Lena followed the fights that took place in Metropolis and National City. Superman and Supergirl both had powerful backup helping them to fight the two Metallos. The two superheroes dodged easily the attacks thrown at them, which only served to anger their aggressors even more. Lena was relieved to see that her technology worked perfectly. She became even more relieved when the two Metellos were vanquished, and everyone was safe and sound.

She sat in front of a laptop. Winn sat beside her, and started asking her a lot of science-y questions. Not being treated like a villain Luthor who was probably plotting to destroy the world was a new feeling for Lena, and she wasn't sure she could ever get used to that. She decided not think about that though, and answered Winn's questions, which only led him to ask even more questions.

"Is everything okay here?" J'onn asked when they all made their way back after the fights.

"Everything is awesome!" Winn jumped off his seat cheerful. "Miss Luthor was teaching me a lot of cool stuff." He stuck out his arm for a high-five.

Lena frowned, but high-fived him anyway before he stepped away. She got to her feet quickly. "I should go." she said, starting to walk away.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" Clark's voice halted her steps.

"Sure." she said, a bit taken aback.

From a distance, Lena saw Kara furrow her brow as she watched them stepping away.

"You should talk to Kara." Clark said.

Lena folded her arms across her chest. "I'm assuming that you know what happened between us."

"I don't know the details. But I know you used to date. I know you broke up with her. I know she still loves you, and I can easily see that you love her too."

Lena looked down. "I don't know if it's possible to fix things."

"You will never know if you don't try."

Lena looked up. She smiled slightly. "I would've never thought you would support our relationship."

"I'd be crazy not to. I haven't seen you together that much, but from what I've seen, it's obvious how much you love each other."

"Is love really enough?" Lena swallowed thickly.

"Not if you're not willing to fight for it." Clark smiled. "You both deserve to be happy, Lena. That's worth fighting for."

"You really think so?"

"I do. But it doesn't matter what I think." Clark shrugged. "Kara and you are the ones who need to believe in that."

Lena stayed silent, pondering Clark's words. "I'll think about it," she finally said.

"Good," he smiled and walked away.

With a renewed hope in her heart, Lena began heading to the exit when a familiar voice that she had missed more than the words could tell made her stop in her track.

"Lena," Kara said as if that was the most important thing that had ever come out of her mouth.

Lena spun around, and faced Kara. She smiled. "I'm glad you're all right." she said relieved.

"You're the one to thank for that." Kara replied, fighting her need to hug Lena, she started gripping her cape.

"Somehow I have a feeling you would've made it out of that okay even without me."

"Perhaps. But I'm glad I won't have to find out."

Not knowing what to answer at that, Lena smiled.

Kara smiled back. "Thank you, Lena. Really, thank you for coming here today. Thank you for..." She exhaled. "Thank you for keeping me safe."

"Always." Lena gave Kara her most genuine smile.

Kara's heart swelled with love at seeing that smile she had missed so much. Warmth washed over. Hope spread through her. She finally released her hold on her cape.

"It was great to see you." Kara said, a beaming smile spreading on her face.

"You too," Lena smiled before walking out of the DEO.

Kara watched Lena go, and for the first time since Lena had settled at National City, she didn't feel any anxiety about seeing her again.