A/N: I apologize for the shorter chapter. And I apologize to those that find this a bit too mushy. I'm a bit of a romantic sap. Also, I'm working on an ASOIAF/GOT fic, a Legends of Tomorrow fic, and a new Legends/Flash fic all at once. I'll never abandon a piece, ever. Though there may be long waits between chapters. Feel free to review.
2.The medbay is empty save for one orderly working through her round of check-ups. Hearing his skid-to-stop, she looks up from her work, a frown on her face. "Do you mind? I have patients in here, you know!"
"Apologies," he mutters, dark eyes surveying the space quickly. "Is Supergirl here?"
"Just left," the woman answers with disinterest and returns to the chart she held, turning from him. "And to be quite honest, I'd much prefer if you followed suit."
Normally, Querl would retaliate with wit and sarcasm, but he hadn't the time for that now. "Do you know where she went?"
The woman sighs loudly, flipping the pages on the clipboard. "Do you think National City's golden child shares the details of her schedule with me? Please."
He glares at her back, a growl growing deep within his chest. Without another word, he makes to leave.
"She was crying."
It freezes him and he snaps his head to stare at the woman, trying to decipher if she spoke truly or not. "She was?"
She doesn't look at him as she continues writing notes on her patient's chart. "Well, if she wasn't, she deserves an Oscar."
No, he genuinely feels guilty and curses himself for being so foolish. No, no, you imbecile!
He sighs, "If she returns, can I trust you'll let her know I came in search of her?"
The orderly rolls her eyes. "Can I trust that you haven't forgotten the biomedical tech from your ship? You did promise us you would replicate them for us."
"Oh," Shit. He'd completely forgotten. "Yes, of course. I'll -"
"Get to it as soon as possible?" She cuts him off with a glare. "I believe you said that four days ago. And here I am, still waiting on you."
"Tessa, knock it off," behind him Alex's voice quips. She limps up the last few steps of the staircase to stand next to him, glaring at the orderly. "Your attitude is not why you were hired here."
The girl snaps her mouth shut and turns away, clearly angry but unwilling to argue.
Alex flashes Querl a smile. "Kara went home."
"Home?" He frowns. Had he truly hurt her that badly?
"Yep. My dear little sister is a bit sensitive at times, though I can't really blame her." There's a twinkle in the older Danvers' woman that he cannot describe, a certain mix of mischief and knowing that unsettles his nerves. "But don't tell her I sent you." She winks. "Better hurry. And maybe wear a hood. Not everyone is as friendly to outsiders as we are."
***O***O***O***
You idiot, Kara shivers as anxiety hits her hard and pulls a blanket up and over her shoulders. Her TV is on, but she makes no effort to truly watch anything it plays. She's far too focused on the embarrassment she'd suffered earlier. You annoying, miserable idiot! Of course he yelled at you! You stupid-
Knock, knock, knock. "Kara?"
She whirls around, wiping at the tears in her eyes. Oh no. Collecting herself as best as she can, Kara rises from her couch and unlocks her loft door. "Oh, h-hello," she drops her gaze down and folds her hands in front of her. "I'm sorry I-"
"No, please," he steps forward. "Please, Kara, don't apologize. I was unforgivingly rude to you in the lab. I owe you an apology."
She shrugs her shoulders, "It's fine, really. I-I knew you were busy and I took a chance and well…" she shivers again.
His dark eyes drop and he fidgets with the flight ring he wears. Softly he makes a noise as if he's about to speak again, but decides against it and shakes his head. "I'm never too busy for you."
If she hadn't had super hearing, she may have missed the softly spoken confession. Her heart pounds in her chest as she chances a glance at him, hope rising.
He sighs and raises his eyes to hers, offers a small smile and says, "I'm sorry for being a brash fool, Kara. There is no excuse for it."
"It's-it's okay, Brainy, really. I -"
"Querl, please." He interjects. "I can't tell you how insufferable that nickname is."
She smiles. "Querl."
They stand awkwardly, trying to find the right words to breach the obvious, unspoken tension. "Would you like to come in?" Further opening the door, Kara steps aside, gesturing to the quant loft she calls home.
"Very much so," he answers softly and she can see shades of purple rising on his cheeks.
She offers him tea, to which he nods, and soon the pair settle at her kitchen table. The loft is filled with silence save for the television, which continues to play the I Love Lucy reruns Kara had on before his arrival.
"I,uh," he shifts uncomfortably in his seat. "I'd been informed that you were crying. Due to my lack of sensitivity, of course."
She nods, there was no point in lying if she'd already been outed. "Sometimes I can be a bit over sensitive."
Querl shakes his head. "That's not entirely fair of you to say. I've been known to be crass or heartless, especially in the lab. I shouldn't have snapped at you, and I apologize tremendously."
She dips her gaze to her mug of chamomile. "It's not a big deal."
"It is," he persists, trying to meet her eyes. "Kara, I like you." He says it so gently, she glances up at him, a bit of hope swirling in her heart.
Though, to think he had an inkling of interest in her was foolish, wasn't it? "I like you too, we work well together. All of the Legion has fit in so -"
"No, Kara," he cuts her off, voice stern and expression serious. "I like you. And I do not want to hurt you, ever."
She blinks, her hands tightening around her beverage. Her lips part in her shock and all she can muster to say is a small, "Oh." When she realizes he's waiting for her to say something else - anything else - she fumbles. "I-I, that is, I mean, of course I-"
Querl gently reaches across the table and lays his hand on top of her arm. "It's alright if you do not share these sentiments. I've been well aware of your past relationship with Mon-El and the feelings that were involved for a long time." He gives her a reassuring squeeze before pulling his hand away, leaving a coldness in its wake. "I am not a weak man, Kara. And I am capable of handling myself if you prefer I left you alone."
"No!" She practically yelps, causing herself to nearly jump out of her chair. "Please, Querl, stop. You have no idea what you're doing to me right now." She can't help the fresh tears that brim her eyes.
He looks at her with a confusion. "I only meant -"
"I know what you meant," her voice shakes. "And that's not what I want. I don't want you to leave me alone. And I -" she sniffles and wipes her eyes. "I don't care about my past with Mon-El. Not anymore; how can I? He's married, for crying out loud! To a lovely, wonderfully beautiful and sweet woman who obviously adores him." She lets out a shaky breath, meeting Querl's dark eyes with her own soft blue. "I want you. And I know it's sudden and unexpected and I can't even begin to understand it. But I, I just, I thought that maybe -"
"Shh," he reaches for her again, taking away her mug in order to hold her hands in his own. "Hush. You can have me. You can have all of me, if you want."
"I do!" She rushes the words, only to feel her face reddening at how desperate she sounds. "I really, truly do. And-and I know I'm coming off a little pathetic right now -"
"No," he grips her hands tighter. "No. Not at all. Honestly, Kara, you'd laugh if you knew how many times Imra has caught be thinking of you, pining and wishing I had the courage to come here and tell you exactly how I felt."
She bit her bottom lip. "How exactly do you feel?"
His smile is loving and kind, perhaps a little shy. "A bit proud of myself for all this really," he jokes, earning a small laugh from Kara's lips. "But in all seriousness, Kara, I-I," his voice shakes a little, revealing the fear he's kept buried until now. "I have longed for you for...quite some time. And now, having met you and shared such intimacy together while working to bring you out of your coma, I'd like nothing more than to spend as much time with you as you'll allow me. I would like the chance to make you happy."
"You're making me happy right now."
His smile spreads. "Excellent. But, I want more. I want to do more. Make you dinners, take you places. Dancing, I believe is a popular activity among couples - which, I intend us to be."
She giggles again and a warmth spreads through his chest. "I don't want to you cry anymore, not because of me at least. I'd like to be a source of your happiness, as best as I can provide. And that's what I truly want, Kara. I want to provide happiness for you. Terribly badly, I want you to seek and find comfort in me, come to me with your woes and despair. I want your heart, Kara. I want you to give it to me willingly, happily. You have mine already, my dear."
"Oh, Querl…" she breathes out his name in a way that makes him swell with pride. She nods, her eyes shining with joy and her lips pulled into the largest smile he's seen on her. "Yes, let's try. I want to try."
He smiles at her, genuine, happy, relieved. "Then I believe, as people of this era say, we are now going steady."