Chapter 12 - A Luthor and A Super
At the DEO, Kara, Alex, J'onn and Winn were trying to find a way to stop the Alien Fight Club. But despite the importance of this mission, Kara's mind was elsewhere. To someone else more precisely. Ever since she last saw Lena, she couldn't stop thinking about the talk they had. She also couldn't shake out of her mind what almost happened before she left. They had almost kissed, and Kara's heart still pounded from just thinking about it.
"I'm going to talk to M'gann." J'onn's voice withdrew Kara from her thoughts.
"You sure she'd be willing to cooperate?" Alex asked.
"I hope so," he replied and walked away.
"I'm gonna work on a way to track the Fight Club." Winn said, leaving the two sisters alone.
Alex stepped closer to Kara. "What's going on with you?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're focused on the mission, but I also can clearly see something else running in the back of your mind."
Kara sighed slightly. "When will I ever be able to hide something from you?" She let out a quick chuckle.
Alex gave her a look that meant never.
Kara looked around them, making sure there was no one else within earshot. She started fidgeting with the edge of her cape. "Lena and I almost kissed the other day."
"When?"
"The day my article about her got published."
Alex snorted at that, and stifled a laugh.
Kara's brow furrowed. "What?"
"Well, I think everyone who read your article is aware that you're in love with Lena Luthor."
"Am I that obvious?"
Alex nodded her head and silently answered yes. "What happened?"
"I'm not sure. We were talking, like really talking, then, I don't know why, but she became overwhelmed all of a sudden. I just couldn't not comfort her. Then, she started leaning in, and... We were so, so close to kiss. But her assistant came in, reminded her she had a meeting. That's when I left."
"Did you talk since that?"
Kara shook her head. "No. I haven't heard from her since then."
"Did you try to contact her?"
"No," Kara sighed. "I don't want to pressure her. Perhaps, that didn't even mean anything, and I'm just overthinking."
Alex snorted and sighed. "Wow, you really are so oblivious when it comes to relationships, Kara."
Kara narrowed her eyes at her sister, silently asking her what she meant.
Alex explained her thoughts, "Lena loves you just as much you love her. Anyone can see that."
Kara sighed, knowing she couldn't argue with this. But did Lena love her enough to fight for them? Kara wasn't certain of that fact. She began clutching at her cape, grateful the fabric couldn't be torn apart.
"I don't know what to do," she swallowed thickly.
Alex put an arm around her sister. "Give you both some time. You will find your way back to one another, I'm sure of that."
Kara stayed silent for long minutes, pondering her sister's words until a frown made its way on her face.
She spun her head to her sister. "Since when you're team Lena?"
"What?"
"You often give me the feeling you don't trust her. That makes me a bit surprised that you want us to be together again."
"It's not that I don't trust her. It's just..." Alex paused, looking for the right way to finish her sentence.
"Because she's a Luthor?" Kara rolled slightly her eyes.
"Not either. Although this fact made me freak out a bit. Especially when you told me she knew the truth about you. But I do think she can be trusted with this. I'm just not sure I can trust her to take care of your heart properly."
Kara's brow furrowed.
"She broke your heart, Kara. You had been a mess for months after that. I wouldn't want that to happen again. I will definitely kick her ass if that happens again."
Kara let out a chuckle. "You would have to get through me if you ever plan on hurting her."
"I know." Alex pulled her sister closer. "I want you to be happy, Kara. I'd be a moron not to see you and Lena are meant to be."
Kara rested her head on her sister's shoulder. "I wish I were as optimistic as you." She frowned. "Since when you've become the optimistic between the two us?"
Alex chuckled and rubbed her sister's shoulder. "One of us has to be on this matter, Kara."
Kara smiled. "Thank you for being the best sister of the entire galaxy."
Alex kissed her sister's head. She was about to say something when Winn ran to them with a panicked expression on his face.
"I think we have a problem," he said out of breath.
At L-Corp, Lena was sitting at her desk. She glanced behind her. It was dark outside. She could see the light of National City twinkling from behind her windows. Somehow, it settled a weird feeling of loneliness within her. It was late. She knew she should be home. But the idea of going back to her empty penthouse made her feel even more lonely. At least here she wasn't alone, even though she wasn't really interacting with anyone besides her assistant.
Lena took her attention off her laptop screen. She glanced at the last drawer of her desk, fighting against her urge to open it. She knew seeing Kara's face right now, even only in pictures, would make her break in tears. Her gaze started to fixate on the couch, and the moment she spent on it with Kara began replaying in her mind, overflowing her body with sensations she had missed for years.
Kara's warmth and the feeling of safety she was still able to give her, even after all those times apart were the only things Lena could think about since the last time she saw her. She also couldn't stop thinking about their almost kiss, and wondering what had gotten into her.
The doors of her office busted open, yanking her out of her thoughts.
"Excuse me, you can't go in there," Jess' voice made its way to her ears.
Lena turned her head to the doors. Her heart skipped a couple of beats when she saw Kara standing in front of her.
Kara looked rather distraught, which caused Lena to feel extremely worried.
Feeling rooted on her seat, Lena couldn't move or talk. She could barely breathe. She swallowed thickly.
"I'm sorry. I barely got the time to blink, that she's just..." Jess started.
Wanting to keep her assistant from panicking, Lena finally found the strength to move.
She rose from her seat. "It's okay, Jess. Please, make a note downstairs that Kara Danvers is allowed to come in here whenever it's possible."
She saw Kara's face light up at the request. It made a little smile to take over her face.
Jess nodded and stepped out of the office, closing the doors behind them.
Kara walked closer to Lena's desk. "Lena, I'm sorry to barge in here like this. At this hour."
"It's okay. I'm glad to see you actually. I'm sorry about the last time we saw each other. If I overstepped, I..."
"You didn't do anything wrong." Kara smiled until her worries showed on her face again.
"What brings you here?"
"I need your help."
"Anything," Lena said.
"Do you know a woman named Veronica Sinclair?"
Lena sighed, knowing that name couldn't mean anything good. "Unfortunately for me yes. We went to boarding school together. I never liked her."
"Do you know about the Alien Fight Club?"
Lena nodded, already feeling sick from just thinking about it.
"She's taken J'onn. With another Green Martian. I don't know what she's planning, but I... I need to know where they are. Maybe you can help me."
Quickly, Lena wrote something on a paper and handed it out to Kara. "The next fight should be held there."
Kara carefully took the paper from Lena's hand, their fingers brushing slightly in the action.
Lena felt shivers run up and down her spine.
"Thank you." Kara said, her voice showing how much she was grateful.
A wave of intense fear washed over Lena. "Be careful, please."
Kara nodded and gave Lena a small smile before walking out of the office.
Lena sighed, too worried for Kara, and certain that she wouldn't get any sleep from knowing Kara was in danger, she sat down at her desk, trying to work, her mind being unfortunately too busy worrying to get something good done. She sighed louder, and propped her elbows on the desk, and buried her face into her palms.
Exhausted, emotionally and physically, Kara stepped inside her apartment. She didn't even have the energy to use her powers, and slowly took the time to take a shower. She put a soft pajama on, and slithered under the sheets, hoping to wash away the stress she had been under for the all day with a restful night.
Her brief encounter with Lena being the only good thing of her day, she smiled slightly thinking about it, and grabbed her phone from the bedside table, wanting to thank Lena again for her help.
Kara stared at her phone screen for long minutes, and finally began typing.
Thank you again for your help today. :)
She stared at the screen for long seconds and finally sent her text.
Ten minutes later, Lena's reply came.
You're welcome. I will always be there if you need me, Kara.
Kara felt flutters swirling in her chest as she read Lena's words. She read the message too many times to even count. She was so tired that Lena's words made tears well up into her eyes. She was about to answer, but stopped at the last second, not wanting to scare Lena with a declaration of love that could ruin the way they were slowly reconnecting with each other.
Kara sighed relieved when another message from Lena appeared on her phone.
How are your friends?
Kara typed her answer and quickly sent it.
They're good. Thanks to you. :)
Lena's reply came about three minutes later.
I'm sure you have a lot to do with their well-being, Supergirl. ;)
Kara let out a chuckle before sending another message.
Please tell me you're home, and not sitting at your desk.
Lena replied quickly.
I was about to go to bed actually.
Skeptical of the truth behind Lena's words, Kara sent another message.
Really?
Lena answered a couple of minutes later.
Well, I'm heading home right now. Then I will go to bed.
Convinced by Lena's words, Kara typed another text.
Yeah. Sounds more realistic. Please, get some rest.
Lena's reply came barely one minute later.
You too, Kara.
Kara smiled and answered without thinking too much about the words she typed.
Sleep well, my beautiful princess. :)
Without checking her message, Kara sent it.
Her eyes grew wide when she saw what she just sent.
"Oh, Rao!" She breathed out.
Kara felt a deep blush creeping up her neck, and spreading to her face and the tip of her ears. She began sweating, even though it was something that happened very rarely. She swallowed thickly with a feeling of panic washing over.
She was about to type another text to apologize for the pet name that had slipped out of her, but her fingers shook too much and made that task impossible.
Lena's reply came long minutes later.
Sweet dreams, darling.
All the uncomfortable sensations within Kara's body stopped at once.
She felt a dreamy smile take over her face.
She brought her phone to her mouth and kissed softly the screen before pressing it to her heart.
She closed her eyes, and allowed herself to focus on listening Lena's heartbeat.
For the first time in a very long time, Kara fell asleep quickly.
At L-Corp, Lena was standing in the middle of her office as she stared with anger at the TV screen.
TV screen that displayed a gang with alien weapons, wreaking-havoc on the city and terrorizing people, not caring at all about the number of them they put in danger.
A lump lunged itself in her throat when she saw Supergirl being struck by the ray of a laser gun. Which made Kara fall to the ground, looking in pain.
These images deepened Lena's anger so bad, that she would have shot laser beam from her eyes if she were Kryptonian. Her fists tightened and her jaw clenched instead.
I have to stop this, that thought swiftly made its way to Lena's brain, and a plan came into her mind quicker than it would have been humanly possible for someone else.
But for Lena, once she had set a goal, it didn't take her long to find a way to reach it. When it came to business, science, and technology, at least. When feelings and relationships were involved, it was another story entirely.
When the news moved to another subject, Lena's mind began wandering to the last text Kara sent her.
She looked around in the room, and spotted her phone on her desk. She took it in her hand, an opened the conversation she had with Kara.
Sleep well, my beautiful princess. :)
Lena's heart fluttered as she read it for the million times.
She shook slightly her head, knowing she had a mission to accomplish before allowing herself to think about what could eventually happen with Kara if she could feel brave enough to be honest with her about the real reasons she broke up years ago.
She swallowed thickly, and typed a text in which she tried not to show her overwhelming emotions.
Can we see each other today?
Fifteen long minutes later -minutes in which Lena had paced in her office and checked her phone every three second- Kara's reply came.
You can come over at my place if you want.
Lena gulped. Going to Kara's place weirdly stressed her out more than anything. Her breathing and her heart quickened.
A couple of minutes later, Kara sent her another text.
Is everything okay?
Lena blinked a few times, and exhaled heavily before typing her answer.
Yes. I have a mean to stop the gang with the alien weapons. I was hoping to talk about this with you.
I'm already home, was all Kara answered.
I'm on my way, Lena texted back.
Nervously, Lena made her way to the building Kara lived. She looked up at the window of Kara's loft.
She glanced away, and noticed that some people that passed by looked at her weirdly. Which made her realize that she was probably standing like this since a while.
Lena shook her head, and took a deep breath before finally stepping inside the building.
She made her way upstairs, and her breath hitched when she found herself standing in front of Kara's door.
Knowing that Kara had probably already heard her footsteps, her heartbeat, and her breathing, and also could see her from the other side of the door with her x-ray vision, she chose not to stay here like an idiot and knocked on the door, although she knew it was completely useless to make Kara aware that she was there.
She barely got the time to blink that the door creaked open.
"Hey." Kara smiled, fiddling with her glasses.
"Hi," Lena smiled back.
"Come on in." Kara opened the door wider and waved at Lena to get inside.
Lena looked around her, a smile took over her face at the sight of Kara's loft. This place truly did feel like home, and that made Lena feel safe and warm.
"Nice place," she said, turning her gaze on Kara.
Kara pushed her glasses up her nose. "I'm sure it's not as fancy as yours."
Lena folded her arms over her chest. "What you call fancy, I call it cold."
Speechless, Kara looked stunned and taken aback by this reply.
Lena shook slightly her head. "Anyway. I need your help."
"You're not going to put yourself in danger, are you?" Kara fidgeted with her glasses, already knowing the answer to that question and not liking it at all.
"I'll do my best not to. But I can't promise you anything."
Kara pushed her glasses up her nose and gestured for Lena to sit on the couch with her.
This time, they sat down close to each other without hesitation, their knees touching on purpose and sending waves of warmth through both of them.
"So, what's your plan to stop the gang with the alien weapons?" Kara asked.
"I plan to set a trap for them at the fundraiser." Lena replied.
"How do you know they're gonna come?"
"These guys are driven by greed. They won't be able to stay away from an event with some of the wealthiest of National City. I know they will be there."
Kara furrowed her brow. "That sounds pretty dangerous."
"I admit it is. That's where you come in. Well, Supergirl more accurately."
Kara smiled, silently inviting Lena to continue.
"The thing that makes me most anxious about going on with this plan is the fact that someone might get hurt. I could never forgive myself if that happens. That's why I wish you could be there. That way, I'm sure everyone will be safe. Although I'm also terrified that you get hurt. You're not immune to these weapons, and..." Lena started to feel overwhelmed by the fact that Kara could get hurt with her plan, and suddenly regretted involving her in it. She swallowed thickly.
Kara softly slid her hand in Lena's, soothing her turmoil. "Don't worry about me, Lena. I'm tough. I can take care of myself, and I can protect everyone at the same time."
Lena entwined her fingers with Kara's without even realizing it. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. I dealt with worse." Kara let out a chuckle.
"I know," Lena smiled. "I followed you from afar ever since you've become Supergirl."
Kara's heart missed a beat at this revelation, although she wasn't really surprised by it. She looked down at her hand holding Lena's, and stroked her thumb over the back of it until it began being too overwhelming. She squeezed gently Lena's hand before letting go. She looked up, and refusing to linger on her feelings, she cleared her throat.
"Do you feel comfortable involving the DEO in this?" Kara asked.
"I'm not sure it'll be very discreet to have a strike team in there." Lena replied.
"Of course. I meant, are you okay with them knowing your plan?"
"As long as they don't try to stop me."
"They won't. I promise." Kara smiled, loving Lena's determination.
"Can we go there right now? I could explain my plan."
"Sure." Kara said, getting to her feet. "I can't wait to know what you have planned."
"Something only a nerd could come up with." Lena let out a chuckle as she rose from the couch.
At the DEO, Lena was at the center of the room, explaining her plan to Kara, J'onn, Alex and Winn.
Like the first time, she commended the room naturally.
This time she wasn't avoiding Kara's gaze. Instead she found the strength to continue to speak every time her eyes met Kara's.
As usual, Kara was awestruck, and proud of her. She still had to fight against her urge to hug her though, and was grateful to have a cape she could fidget with instead.
Everyone listened Lena with attention, which caused a feeling of warmth to spread through Kara when she realized that she wasn't the only one to trust and believe in Lena anymore.
Alex was amazed by the plan she came up with.
J'onn looked at her in a way that showed how much he respected her.
Winn had his mouth agape in astonishment.
All of these things made Kara smile as Lena finished speaking.
Lena clasped both of her hands together, and the room went silent when she stopped speaking.
Winn broke the silence when he exclaimed cheerful, "That's amazing!"
Like the first time, every eye turned on him.
He shrugged. "What? That's amazing." He turned to Lena. "You are amazing. That is Genius."
Kara and Lena let out a laugh at this.
Lena smiled, looking at him. "Actually, I could use some help."
Winn pointed a hand at himself, seeming about to cry. "From me?"
Lena nodded with a smile.
"Okay. Come here." He waved her to follow him.
Satisfied, J'onn exited the room as well, leaving the two sisters alone.
Alex stepped closer to Kara. "Things seem to look better between you and Lena."
Kara smiled. "Yeah. We're getting close again. I'm not sure what's happening, or even where we're heading... But that feels good."
"I'm happy for you, Kara."
Kara felt a dreamy smile made its way over her face. She shook her head. "Anyway. We have bad guys to catch for now."
At the end of the gala, and after Lena's plan had perfectly worked, everyone started to leave.
Kara and Lena gazed at each other from across the place.
They shared a smile.
Kara who was still dressed as Supergirl got closer to her.
"Good job, Miss Luthor." She smiled widely.
"I couldn't have done this without you."
"I don't think it's true, but I appreciate the praise."
Lena let out an amused laugh, until she began gazing fondly at Kara. "Thank you. For being here tonight, and for supporting me."
"Always." Kara beamed, looking dreamily at Lena.
They kept gazing at each other, wonderstruck to be together until they heard sirens blaring through the city.
"Isn't it your cue, Supergirl?" She smiled.
Kara forced herself to get out of her daydreams, and shook slightly her head as if that could make things easier. "Yeah, I... I gotta go. See you later?"
"See you later." Lena nodded, and smiled brightly at Kara.
Kara smiled back before taking off in the air.
Lena looked up, gazing awestruck at Kara.
Kara was flying high above National City.
For once, her day had been quiet, and the only thing she had done as Supergirl was to rescue a cat stuck up in a tree. She loved actions, and would never back away from pulling off rescues that would let anyone speechless. But there was something so calming in flying peacefully in the night sky after a day in which no life and death situations had occurred.
Kara closed her eyes, and easily picked up the sound of a familiar heartbeat that added a sense of serenity in her own heart. Before she realized it, she was in front of L-Corp.
She opened her eyes, and saw Lena sitting at her desk, staring at her laptop.
Kara smiled and softly landed onto the balcony of Lena's office.
As if she had sensed her presence nearby, Lena spun her head, and a smile swept on her face when their gazes met.
Lena rose from her seat and stepped onto the balcony.
"Supergirl, to what do I owe this pleasure?" She smiled with that particular smile that was one of the reasons Kara had fallen in love with her years ago.
Kara's heart fluttered in her chest, and she couldn't contain her own smile.
"I just wanted to see you."
Lena shifted her weight from one foot to the other, looking a bit stressed out.
Kara gripped at the edge of her cape with one hand. "I'm sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have showed up here unannounced."
"I..." Lena started before interrupting herself.
Kara cleared her throat, feeling a weight press on her heart. "I should go." She turned around.
"Wait!" Lena's voice stopped her from taking off.
She spun around, and faced Lena.
Gazing into Lena's green eyes that reflected the kindness in her heart removed the weight from Kara's heart, and all she could feel was a feeling of warmth swirl within her.
They gazed at each other in silence, Kara waited for Lena to start speaking, and could guess that Lena was trying to gather her courage by staring into her eyes.
"Actually, I... um, I wanted to see you too. I need to talk to you about... certain things." Lena finally said.
Kara's face lit up.
"Would you like to come in?" Lena waved at Kara to come inside.
"Sure." Kara beamed, following Lena into her office.
Lena smiled at Kara. "First I'd really want to thank you again for helping me the other day. And I really do hope that we could keep working together. Regardless of what could happen between us."
Kara felt her heart leap in her chest, and for one second, she was afraid it might burst out. She also heard that Lena's heart was faster than when she got in.
She wants something more to happen between us. Rao, Kara! Keep it calm. Don't squeal, she thought as she fiddled with her cape.
Kara managed to hold back her squeal of happiness, but she couldn't stop the silly grin that took over her face.
"Of course, Lena. I will always be there for you."
Lena smiled, and stayed silent for a while.
Kara could see from the serious look on Lena's face that she was trying to formulate her thoughts.
"Kara, I..."
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize you had company." A voice that Kara didn't recognize interrupted them.
Worries began settling within Kara when she heard Lena's heart quicken.
They both turned around, seeing a woman that Kara didn't recognize, but caused a bad feeling to lunge in her heart.
Lena stiffened her stance, and looked at the woman before turning to Kara. "Would you excuse me, Supergirl? I have to take this."
Every instinct within Kara's was telling her not to let Lena alone with this woman Kara already knew she couldn't trust. But she knew she didn't have a choice. Lena had gently asked her to leave, so she wasn't going to force her way into a situation she wasn't welcome into.
"Sure," she said with regrets and spun around before taking off, fighting her instincts telling her that she should stay there and make sure Lena was okay.
No matter how much she was worried about Lena, Kara didn't want to be disrespectful.
At least, she could listen to Lena's heartbeat no matter where she was, and that was enough to reassure her for now.