A/N: Hey guys it's been a hot minute... or a thousand. Sorry about that. I'm juggling quite a few stories. If you're interested my active ones (SUPERCORP) are mostly on AO3. Just search for Arryn_Larent and you'll find my works. Woven is up there too, but there are a few that aren't on . Same goes for AO3, some are only on . Anyhow, enjoy the read!

Chapter 6: Running Away or Towards

When Lena woke feeling hot and bothered, she was mildly embarrassed to admit why that was. Technically nothing from the in between realm should physically affect her, but the mind was a powerful thing. Her mental connection to Kara was more than enough to cause her body to remember just how intense Kara's touch was and just how much she craved it. She groaned and rolled out of bed; a cold shower should set her straight, or so she hoped.

As she prepared her shower, she decided hot water was needed granted how chilly it was. When she stepped into the shower, she closed her eyes and basked in the warmth that surrounded her. She could feel Kara's strong arms wrap around her and pull her from behind so that she was nestled into Kara's body. She would have stood there forever, but her alarm went off and she was scrambling to get out and get dressed before she was late to morning practice.

By the time she appeared downstairs, Bruce was waiting by the front door and Lex was nowhere in sight. She glanced around and picked up her bag before remembering that Lex had probably flown to Metropolis earlier this morning.

"Shouldn't you not go to morning practice?" Bruce posed the question even as he opened the back door for Lena.

"I already accepted the position; I'm not going to just back out suddenly." Lena explained coolly.

"Lex trusts you to make the right choices," Bruce added as he started the engine.

Lena bit her lip and sighed, "I know… you really respect him, don't you?"

"I do," Bruce glanced at the back mirror. "He's usually right."

"But not always," Lena reflected.

"No, not always," Bruce contended.

When he pulled up to the track, he looked back at the pale girl and said, "I respect you too, Lena."

"Yeah, well I haven't done anything," Lena protested humbly.

At this Bruce smiled and the gesture caught Lena off guard. She had never seen the burly man so much as smirk. "I'll see you later, Lena."

The youth nodded and hopped out of the car. Bruce watched her go and recalled a much younger Lena; one who had tamed his fury with a playful smile and a wave of her hand. After suffering at the hands of Lillian Luthor, Bruce had sworn to take his revenge on the lucrative family. He vowed to destroy the heirs that he had failed to become. He had cornered the two spellweavers on one of their outings to the woods, or so he thought. Lex had known he was tailing them and without mercy or much effort had pinned him to the floor. Bruce remembered how cold and depthless Lex's eyes had been as they glared down at him, how his hand cackled with dark energy as he readied to obliterate him, and how he closed his eyes shut to accept his demise. Then there was an out of place giggle and a small hand on his face that caused his eyes to flash open. The tiny brunette patted his cheek with light emitting from her palms and suddenly his veins that had always felt set on fire were calm.

"Good," Lena had murmured as she squished Bruce's face with both hands. "Be good."

The pain that had wracked his body seeped away as her magic weaved through him.

"Lena get away from him!" Bruce heard Lex cry, but the girl had created some kind of force field that kept the boy at bay. "He's an abomination."

"abom...nation?" Lena quirked her brow when she looked at Lex and then back to Bruce.

"A bad guy," Lex grunted as he tried to pierce the shield.

Lena shook her head and patted Bruce's cheek. "Lex be good!" Lena shouted and eyed her brother with a stern pout. "What's your name?" Lena asked the kneeling man.

"Bruce."

Lena smiled, "Bruce, good?"

Bruce nodded and the prickly energy that had always caused him discomfort in his chest gave way to a new feeling. When Lena let the forcefield down, Lex quickly cast a spell to knock Bruce out. Bruce chuckled as his memory receded from whence it came and thought how different his life had turned out all because a little girl had told him to be good. When he awoke, after extensive questioning, Lex eventually proposed for him to become Lena's guardian and Bruce readily accepted. He spent years training his newly refined and controllable powers, and finally when he thought himself prepared, he returned to the Luthors.

He wondered if Lena would remember him since he hadn't aged, and made Lex promise not to tell Lena a thing about the past. She had been such a small tyke back then, and somehow while he was off fending for himself in the natural elements, she had become a brooding teenager. Still he thought their connection might rattle something in her when she saw him, but to his dismay, she only seemed perturbed when Lex introduced him as her driver.

She hadn't remembered him but he supposed it was enough that he was able to repay her kindness by serving as her personal bodyguard of sorts. Lex had once asked him if there was anywhere else he'd like to be and Bruce couldn't fathom a life separate from the Luthors; whether he liked it or not, he was a part of their world now.

"Hey are you ok?"

A hand on her shoulder pulled her back from her wandering thoughts. Lena glanced to her side and found Lucy giving her a concerned look.

"I'm fine… still not fully awake, I guess."

"It gets easier, but… I'm actually surprised Kara isn't harping on me to leave you alone," Lucy spoke in a hushed tone as she looked ahead at the blonde who was leading drills on the field. "Did something happen between you two?"

"Wh,what?" Lena stammered. "No…"

"You sure?" Lucy gave her a suspicious look. "'Cause your face is all red."

"That's because it's freezing out here," Lena snapped but couldn't hold her glare. She sighed, her breath frosting as it escaped her lips. She looked ahead to see Kara shouting instructions, and found herself being drawn in by Kara's toned arms and back. "I don't understand how you all can run around in basically nothing."

"Move as much as we do and you'll understand how warm it gets. Actually, you should run laps with us at the beginning."

Lena shook her head, "I can't run."

Lucy rolled her eyes, "everyone can run; come with me." The spunky girl grabbed Lena's hand and practically dragged her from in front of the bleachers to the field. "Alright, stay here and run to me at the 20 yard line."

"Lucy, no," Lena protested even as Lucy pulled away her jacket and her body shivered in the brisk, cold morning air. "I can't run, so give that back!" Lena shouted as her teeth chattered.

"Oh what's this?" Lucy bent down and picked at something in the dirt. "Awww it's a little garden worm, look Lena!"

"Get away from me with that thing!" Lena yelped as she took a few steps back. "Put it down, Lucy!"

Lucy shook her head with a mischievous smirk plastered on her face, "nope; better start running Lena."

Lena darted in no particular direction as Lucy neared her. She huddled her arms to support her chest and let her legs carry her as far and as fast as possible.

"See you can run!" Lucy shouted as she continued the chase. "It's just a worm!"

Lena let out an undignified squeal before picking up her pace. Meanwhile Alex, Maggie and Kara watched from a distance.

"She runs like… well…kinda like," Alex started.

"A blind, baby t-rex," Maggie finished.

Kara coughed, "she's not that bad; she's actually pretty quick, but her form is just… a little bit off."

"Says our infatuated captain," Maggie teased. "Shouldn't you, ya know, save her or something? I'm actually surprised you're not chasing Luce down."

Kara blushed and took off towards the running girls without responding to Maggie. She hadn't meant to ignore Lena or seem indifferent towards her, but she was still at a loss of how to handle the whole Kieran situation. It didn't help that they looked exactly alike, especially after last night's dream activities. She had wanted to ask Kieran if she knew why that was, but one thing had led to another and all of Kara's questions receded as her desires took control. With ease and her longer stride, Kara placed herself in front of Lena with ample enough distance for her to get the girl to slow down. With one pointed glare she was able to repel Lucy, who snickered before darting off towards Maggie and Alex.

"Lena slow down," Kara called to the girl who was still, surprisingly, charging towards her. "Luce isn't chasing you anymore."

Lena turned slightly to confirm Kara's statement and found herself falling forward upon turning forward. Kara was quick to catch the girl before she could fall and helped her up as she gasped to catch her breath. The taller girl couldn't help but find Lena's flushed cheeks and neck, tousled hair and overall state of exertion, attractive, but tried her best in not ogling her new manager.

"You alright?" Kara asked, her arms still holding Lena.

"She had...had a worm," Lena huffed. "Said I'd be warmer… if I ran."

"Oh, well are you?" Kara asked with a small smile as Lena looked up at her.

Lena chuckled, "I suppose I am."

"It's a fake by the way," Kara noted while Lena collected herself and they walked towards the fieldhouse.

"What is?"

"The worm," Kara chuckled. "I usually use it on unmotivated, incoming freshmen and sophomores. I used it on Luce a couple of times too."

"What is wrong with you people?" Lena rolled her eyes but smiled. "It's surprisingly effective; I never run."

"You were actually kinda fast." Kara added and scratched her cheek, "any chance you'd-"

"Never in a million years," Lena retorted.

"So ask again in a million and one years?" Kara teased.

"Not in this universe or any other universe… except for maybe the one where I don't run like a raptor."

Kara let out a loud laugh and nearly tripped. "Sorry, it's just… I remember how shocked your brother was when I reminded you about morning practice. I didn't realize you were infamous for your running."

"Har, har, don't be an ass… it's hard running when you're top heavy."

"And Kara here definitely does not have a problem with that," Alex quipped as she ran past them and straight into the locker room.

"Hey!" Kara blushed and furrowed her brows. "I… I got stuff!"

Lena watched abashedly as Kara lifted her hands to size her breasts. "It'd be hard to, you know, have more since you run so much." Lena spoke softly as she appeased Kara's wounded pride. "Your stuff is perfectly adequate."

Kara smiled dopily at Lena's words, but the moment shattered when Lucy ran by them and shouted "gayyyyy!" while throwing Lena her discarded jacket. Kara apologized profusely and then slipped into the locker room but not before asking Lena if she needed the showers after running all of 25 meters, and then chastising herself for making such a strange offer, smacking her head and finally being pulled in by one of the girls before she could make a bigger fool of herself. Lena laughed at the girl's antics but knew better than to wait around.

As Kieran she could be near the blonde without a care, but as Lena she needed to keep her distance as much as possible, so she headed to the cafeteria on her own. She hurried to get her food and then followed the signs that pointed towards the library. If Kara did seek her out, she was positive that she wouldn't immediately head towards the library; she'd probably check that quiet patio spot or the bathroom first. She frowned at her innate deception but it was necessary.

She walked into the library that was tucked at the end of a rather long hallway and was greeted by the smell of musty books. For being such a small school, Midvale's library was uncharacteristically large and ornate. Lena nearly did a double take to make sure she hadn't opened a portal to the library back at the Thorul mansion, but the longer she dallied at the entrance, the more pointed of a look she was getting from who she supposed was the librarian.

"Come to gawk at old Miss Arias, have you?"

Arias… like Sam… could she be related?

"No ma'am, I'm not here to gawk. I was wondering if I could spend my mornings here."

"With your food?" the elder lady's voice went up an octave.

Lena gulped, "well... yes?"

"Fine, just don't make any vile gnashing sounds."

Lena smiled and beheld the old woman with mild adoration; she seemed like the stern sort, but not necessarily unkind. She took a seat at the back table and nibbled on her toast while skimming over her chemistry textbook. She knew she probably shouldn't bother asking silly questions to someone she just met, but her curiosity pushed her to leave the rest of her tray untouched.

"Excuse me," Lena spoke softly as she approached the check out counter. The old woman looked up, peering over her glasses to assess Lena. "I was wondering… do you have a granddaughter named Sam?"

"What's it to you?" The old woman asked.

Lena sighed, "it's just… Arias isn't a common surname, and she was my friend at my previous school. My only friend."

"Hmmm, I do have a granddaughter named Samantha" the elder woman squinted warily at Lena. "What's your name?"

"Lena… Lena Luthor," Lena clarified and bit her lip. "I never really got the chance to say goodbye. Her number seems to have changed as well, but if you could forward mine to her, I'd really appreciate it." She wrote her number on a piece of paper and handed it to the librarian.

"Luthor...as in keepers of the Thorul Mansion?" The elder woman asked as she took the paper, skimming over Lena's scribbled number.

Lena nodded hesitantly, "we've just moved there; me and my brother Lex."

"So it would seem," the old woman pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and cleared her throat. "I'm Vera Arias. I've been the librarian at Midvale High for the last 60 years."

Lena's eyes widened, "wow that's quite the tenure."

"Indeed, I have known the Luthors a long time."

Lena held the old woman's gaze and felt that her words carried more meaning than she was letting on. According to Lex it had been some time since the Luthor's occupied Thorul Mansion, and no one in town mentioned knowing Lex or his parents, so she had been sure that it had been at least two generations since a Luthor lived in Midvale. Still Vera Arias seemed to be indicating otherwise.

"I'll be sure to pass this along to Samantha." Vera folded the paper into her pocket. "Try to keep out of trouble, dear."

Lena nodded and was about to respond when the bells rang and a few students trickled in. She wanted to ask which Luthor she had known and what she meant by keeping out of trouble. Times like this made her wish she had the power of mind reading, but Lex had said it was a nasty bit of magic that could never be trusted. She quickly returned for her tray and bag and headed to her first period class. Once disposing of her food, she lingered across the hall from her class. Up ahead were Kara and Mike were engaged in what looked like a rather tense conversation.

She zoned out the rest of the world and focused in on Kara's conversation. She may not have been able to mind read, but overhearing conversations was well within her purview. She halted her spell midways and sighed; she had no right to barge into Kara's privacy like that. Not when she was purposefully deceiving her.

"Rumors are spreading about you," Mike hissed into Kara's ear.

"I could care less," Kara retorted, her eyes rolling.

"Well you should. Someone said you two are dating!"

Kara chuckled, "and that should bother me?"

Mike's body bristled and he clenched his fist. "Are you?"

Kara shook her head, "No, but it's none of your business. I already told you there's nothing between you and me. Mike you need to stop acting like I'm yours."

Mike's chest puffed up and his jaw set firmly into a grimace. "No matter how you spin it, it's all that girl's fault. She's a walking, talking, in the flesh, curse."

"And you're turning into a real ass," Kara muttered and crossed her arms while taking a step back to lean on the lockers. She wished she was dating Lena just to see how Mike's face would have imploded at the news. Of course there were a multitude of other, better reasons for her to want to date Lena. She had expected the brunette to be waiting for her at the field house, but she hadn't, and she wasn't in the cafeteria either. It didn't take long for each of her teammates to ask her where Lena had run off to, and she felt uneasy not knowing, but she figured Lena had things to take care of.

"Ready for class?"

Kara whipped her head and found the girl she had just been thinking about, smiling up at her. Lena played with her lion keychain and tried her best to ignore the death glares that were coming from Mike. She had tried to wait it out; she hoped Mike would just walk into class and she wouldn't have to watch Kara look so bothered and sad, leaning against the lockers for so long. She couldn't help wanting to rescue Kara.

"Sorry about this morning, I offered to help our librarian in the mornings." Lena added.

Kara smiled wide as she had her 'aha' moment. "So that's where you ran off to; the whole team was convinced you had quit after the worm incident."

Lena rolled her eyes and added, "it'll take a lot more than that to run me off."

"Good to know," Mike interjected and briskly walked into the classroom.

"Ignore him," Kara sighed. "Have you… heard the rumors?"

Lena raised her brow. "Of me being a witch?"

Kara shook her head; perhaps it was best that Lena not know. "It's nothing…"

"Kara," Lena took her hand; a move Kieran would have done. "Tell me, please. Did Mike say something?"

Kara's hand tingled at the contact and she had to fight the urge to wind her fingers with Lena's, but it did put her at ease. "People think we're dating."

"Oh…" Lena bit her lip and receded her hand. "I guess we both have a habit of invading each other's personal bubbles," Lena clarified with a small smirk. "Sorry I know it's not easy to be paired with the school freak."

"Don't call yourself that," Kara took Lena's hand back and this time she laced their fingers together. "And… and," Kara faltered as her face flushed with warmth, "and I want to."

"Excuse me?" Lena's eyes went wide as she registered Kara's blush.

"I want to be… paired with you?" Kara parroted the words Lena had said earlier, but felt unsure she was coming across the way she wanted to. She knew Keiran said she could have both, but…

"I can't, Kara."

Kara's heart shook for a moment before she realized she hadn't taken a breath in a while. She wasn't sure why, but she hadn't really considered that Lena might not feel the same way. She wished she could curl into herself and disappear to the dream world for a bit, to look at Keiran and remember that they weren't one in the same.

"I… I don't know what got into me," Kara let out a forced chuckle and rescinded her hand. "Sorry. Need to get something from my locker."

"Kara-" Lena started but the blonde was swift and well out of arm's reach. The brunette sighed and watched the blonde round the corner with sad eyes. Today was going to be a long day.

Kara hummed in appreciation as dream Lena ran her fingers through her hair. Her head lay in the brunette's lap comfortably. She had slipped into the dream world as soon as she was able to.

"I'm such an idiot," Kara muttered and draped her arm over her eyes. "I just assumed she felt the same way."

"Maybe she does," Lena countered. "Maybe she's just not ready."

"Or maybe it's what I get for trying to have you and Lena. It's just so weird… that you look exactly alike."

Lena bit her bottom lip as she continued to comb Kara's hair. This was the part she hated about having to lie to Kara; surely the girl felt like she was going insane. It would be so easy to prove that she was in fact the same girl that Kara knew at Midvale high, but she couldn't risk the unknown factor that Lerus provided. Being able to play with Kara's hair while she lay in her lap was a nice reprieve from having to avoid her all day, but for Kara nothing was resolved. She still thought Lena wanted nothing to do with her.

"You really like her, huh?" Lena mused out loud as she twirled a golden strand around her finger.

"I do," Kara sighed. "I'm sorry that probably makes you feel awful."

Lena shook her head, "it doesn't… I wouldn't want you to be alone in the waking world."

"I swear it feels like she's you in the waking world. But that can't be… you're so affectionate, flirty and clearly in love with me."

"Wow confident much?" Lena teased.

"I'm in love with you so I know the feeling," Kara countered with a soft smile. "But Lena is… she seems closed off or something, like she's afraid something bad's going to happen… do you think she's in danger?"

Lena opened and closed her mouth; how was Kara always so naturally intuitive? "Nothing she can't handle, I'm sure."

"Or she's the type that doesn't know how to ask for help, so she pushes everyone away." Kara sat up and looked at Lena. "I'm not going to let her feel alone. Are you sure talking about Lena doesn't make you feel weird?"

"Not in the way you probably think." Lena pecked Kara's lips, "you're just too good; I could never fault you for that."

"You're the one that's too good," Kara murmured and leaned in for a fuller kiss. Lena savored the way Kara pulled her closer and held her firmly as she devoured her own desire. Her tongue always felt like a flicker of fire that evoked the most indecent sounds from her throat. Lena gasped when Kara shifted to nip at her neck and pulled back before she could get fully carried away.

"If she was in danger… what would you do?" Lena managed to ask as she caught her breath.

"Help her of course," Kara answered easily.

"Even if that put you in danger?"

Kara nodded. "I'd have her back no matter what… even if she pushes me away."

'That's what I'm afraid of.' Lena held in her sigh as she regarded Kara's stern gaze. "I wouldn't want you to get hurt."

"That's what these are for," Kara grinned and flexed her arm.

Lena couldn't help but laugh at Kara's goofy display of strength. "You're a dork."

"So I've been told," Kara chuckled. "Seriously though, I wouldn't let Lena face something that could hurt her alone. Like when she ran into that storm-actually..."

"What is it?" Lena perked her eyebrow up.

"I didn't even realize I was chasing her until I felt her in my arms and I was carrying us towards my house. It was weird. But I'm glad I got to her before she was blown away. She's a bit reckless, that one."

Lena listened as Kara continued to talk about how reckless she was, but her heart hammered and drowned out her voice. Kara had no control when it came to saving her, or so it seemed. Could that possibly be some kind of mind control on Lerus' part? Would he always influence Kara to save her at the expense of her own safety? It was possible.

"Keeeeiran, earth to Kieran!" Kara waved a hand in front of her eyes.

"Sorry, I was lost in thought."

"You mean blatantly ignoring me," Kara smirked playfully and kissed Lena on the forehead. "I forgive you. I should get back to the waking world"

Lena nodded and kissed Kara on the lips before she disappeared. When she opened her eyes again, she was lying comfortably on her bed. She stretched before heading to her desk. She needed a better plan than just distancing herself, if Lerus was going to intervene in such subtle ways. Of course, she couldn't be sure it was him that influenced Kara that day. Still it was best if she prepared for the worst. She needed a spell to protect Kara.