Non stared at the T.V in anger. It had been a simple, easy enough plan. One that didn't involve loosing his wife and he was watching it go down the drain as the agents loaded up the human formerly known as Reactron. His entire body practically vibrated with the fury of it.
He was so sure. So sure that the damn human would be the end of Kara Zor-El. That he wouldn't be forced to get his hands dirty. Not that he actually minded doing the deed himself….actually the more he thought about the better he liked the idea.
He would wrap his hands around her neck and watch the life fade from her eyes. The eyes that reminded him everyday of his wife's betrayal on Krypton. The pain it brought him at every family gathering, seeing the way the child moved, boundless energy and purpose, the way she asked so many questions, curious about everything just like her father. Just like his brother.
Yes. He reached up and yanked the T.V from the wall and tossed it at the only human in the bar that had been brave enough to try and stop him. He relished in the destruction and the way the huge bouncer collapsed in on himself as his head smashed through the electronic.
Yes. He would enjoy seeing life flee those blue eyes. It would be like killing his brother all over again.
~K~
Kara was ecstatic. She was so full of confidence after defeating Reactron it was positively radiating from her. She couldn't help the huge smile that seemed to be permanently plastered on her beautiful face. It didn't bother her that the rumor around the office was that she met someone and was in 'love', it didn't bother her that Winn kept asking her about this new 'guy' she was dating at that he didn't really believe her when she said there wasn't anyone, it didn't even bother her that James and Lucy got back together for like the millionth time and that he was being distant. In fact the only thing that did bother her was the fact that Alex was acting a little shifty, like she was hiding something, and nothing Kara usually did could get her to crack. But she was still determined that it would not destroy her happy mood.
She was proud of herself, she was doing good at her job and the super side job and she had defeated someone her cousin hadn't been able to. She knew it wasn't a contest but that didn't mean she couldn't be happy about it. For the first time since she had started she was believing she could do it, sure she needed help, Alex and Winn for one. The D.E.O was useful too. And yeah Kal did it alone but she had said in the beginning that wasn't the kind of hero she wanted to be.
"Kara, hey Kara!" Someone grabbed her arm as she stepped into he Catco lobby. She barely remembered not to keep going, which might have broken the small hand wrapped around her upper arm.
She turned and smiled brightly at Lucy. She hadn't expected to see her today, James hadn't said Lucy was visiting or if she was working for Cat again. "Hey, Luce, what are you doing here?"
"I came to see you, Alex mentioned you had been down lately and might want to test something for me." She eyed her smile skeptically, scrutinizing it for it's genuineness. "You don't look down to me though."
"I'm not anymore. I wouldn't mind trying it out for you though. What is it anyways?" She ushered Lucy into the elevator so she could get up to her floor before Cat decided to breeze in.
"Dad has some kind of robot he thinks will be able to best aliens in a fight." She held her hand up at Kara's frown. "I know how he is trust me. But if it puts the military at easy to have something at least seemingly equal to you and Superman," Kara still thought it was odd that Lucy and her father still didn't know Lois was married to Superman. Kent got away with it by telling Lucy he was related to the Danvers, Kara didn't care for the lie but it was his alias so she couldn't tell him how to share it. "Well I say let them do it. As long as they don't use it to target you guys for no reason."
That part was what Kara was worried about. She like Lucy but she didn't trust her father, he was a xenophobe, and he had a lot of pull when it came to the military.
"Are you still willing to test it?" She asked her as the doors slid open on her floor.
Kara stepped out and Lucy followed, they both headed toward Kara's desk, neither one concerned that no one else had arrived yet. Kara was often early.
"I suppose so. But what happens if it doesn't do as well as they hope? I can't imagine they want me to fight it if they don't believe it won't beat me."
"Then they will go home with their tails between their legs and with a nasty temper probably." The tanned woman admitted. "I don't really care if you pulverize the thing though Kara. Your my friend and I think it's ridiculous that they even want something like this. You and Superman have never done anything to prove your against humanity."
Kara sighed. "I do understand though. If we wanted to we could do a lot of damage. We do damage just fighting bad guys, Alex was telling me they are putting in Supergirl and Superman man clauses in insurance plans now." Lucy winced. It was true. And the plans were a bit expensive since it was more likely to have damage from a super fight than it was to have damage from weather or even fires.
"I'll tell him you agree then. But Kara please be careful. If it proves to be too much get away, destroy if, I don't care. Don't let it do any damage. I don't care if it pisses off my dad. If it's winning he won't be calling it off until it hurts you, I hate it but I know him. You know how he is."
Kara nodded and smiled, she was thankful Lucy was as understanding as she was. She hadn't been happy when James had told her Kara's identity. Especially not when they had split up for a while right after, she hadn't known Lucy well enough to trust her and she and James had a lot of issues to work through. Now she was pretty sure she trusted Lucy more than James, the woman was more steady, disciplined, and reliable than he was. In a lot of ways James reminded her of a large child. Fickle and relied too much on other people, herself and Kal, to solve his problems. And he had this childish desire to be the hero. She understood the concept but she also knew his desire didn't entirely stem from helping people so much as it did the attention.
"Thank you, Kara. I'll text Alex the details okay?"
"Okay." Kara nodded toward the elevator. "James and a few more of our co-workers are on the way up if you want to wait around. I'm sure he will be pleased to see you."
"Yeah…he isn't exactly in the best mood. He still feels bad about calling in Superman the other night." Kara shrugged. She had been rather angry at the time because it seemed like he had no faith in her abilities. But she had to admit he had been right. She hadn't defeated Reactron that night and she had needed help.
"I'll talk to him." Lucy shot her a grateful smile.
"Thanks, his ego I guess took a good hit too. I'm pretty sure he thought you would swoon something about him being your hero." Kara laughed easily.
"Not gonna happen." She sat Cat's coffee down at her desk and took a seat just as the elevator doors opened. James smiled brightly when he spotted Lucy.
He walked over with Winn and kissed her upturned cheek. " What are you doing here, babe?" Winn made a face behind their back and Kara laughed as he had intended. He shot her a mischievous grin and sat down with his fingers threaded behind his head.
"I came to propose something to Kara." Lucy reached out and tugged gently on the back of Winn's chair as he rocked back, he nearly fell out and shot her a sheepish look as he jerked forward to counter balance. Lucy stuck her tongue out at him in happy childishness. "I got to get back to work though," She pulled away from James and waved at them as she climbed into the elevator.
"Propose?"
"Hmm? Oh yeah. The military made a robot. They want me to test it out. Should be fun." Kara shrugged and pulled out a folder, one she knew she was going to need for the hospital project she was working on for Cat and Lena Luthor. Her head titled to the side as she heard Cat's heals in the lobby below. "Here comes the boss." She muttered to the two. Winn instantly went to 'work' and James waved at her and headed off in the direction of his office.
"See you two later."
She looked through her files and contacts until Cat's elevator made it to the floor bellow. She subtly used her heat vision to heat up Cat's latte and was on her feet with it held out the second her boss' elevator slid open. Cat didn't even pause her stride as she took the offered drink and walked with Kara into her office.
"Have you looked over the plans I sent you about the hospital?" She pulled the sunglasses off her face and set them on her desk as she sipped the perfectly heated liquid. Kara was pretty sure it should have burnt her tongue but Cat never said anything.
"Some." Kara held out a paper toward her. "Here is a list of bids contractors have submitted. There is one I checked off because of reputation. They were the lowest." Cat glanced at the list and nodded.
"Contact Ms. Luthor, since we are going in as equal partners in this she has to approve the contractor as well. I want the best bargain of course, but I also want someone reputable. It's a children's wing. We don't need it falling down because of cheap materials." She waved her hand and sat at her desk to look over the layouts and numbers from last week. "Call her now, Kiera." Cat glanced up and smiled slyly as Kara turned around to nod.
"Of course, Ms. Grant."
Kara found it odd her heart was racing. She both wanted to put off calling Lena Luthor and call her immediately just to hear her voice. It was a strange feeling. One she definitely wasn't used to.
Cat hadn't given her a choice though, she imagined it was going to be five minutes before Cat was calling her and asking her what Luthor's response had been.
She sat heavily at her desk and reached for her phone. She didn't need to pull up the number, her near eidetic memory let her recall it instantly, even after only seeing it once.
She expected a secretary to answer, to tell her Ms. Luthor would call her back when she was available. She hadn't expected the woman to put her private cell phone number on the papers she sent to Kara for their correspondence. When the woman answered the phone Kara nearly dropped hers in surprise.
"Hello? Is anyone there?"
"I- uh….yes Ms. Luthor. This is-"
"Kara, right?" The blonde nearly melted at the soft laughter she heard over the phone. She could imagine Lena sitting at her desk smiling at the blundering mess she made of herself.
"Yes. Ms. Grant insisted I call about the contractors. She wants to make sure you're on the same page before she commits to one." This was work, she could focus on work.
"Of course. How about we do lunch, we can talk about it then." She could hear papers rustling on the end of the line.
"Uh…lunch? Today? I….I have to check with Ms. Grant."
"Will she be coming?"
Kara sputtered. "I assume….I mean it's your project, your working on it together I'm just her assistant."
Cat stuck her head out the door. "Is that Ms. Luthor?" Kara nodded dumbly. "What does she say."
"She wants to do lunch." Kara said simply.
Cat smiled. "I am busy today, Carter is out of school he is coming by for lunch. You can go for me. I trust your judgment on everything else this is no different." She had a funny smile on her face as she moved back into her office.
"Oh I heard that. I'll pick you up at Twelve."
"Uh…okay." She really couldn't say anything else, the two women had effectively planned her lunch for her today, she made a mental note to call and cancel with Alex. Her sister had mentioned having something important to show her at the D.E.O but it was going to have to wait now as she effectively had no time.
"Great, see you then. Goodbye Kara." She hung up and Kara stared blankly down stairs the phone for a second in stunned silence. Luthor hadn't said anything per say….but the way she said everything…..Kara felt like the woman was perpetually flirting. And for some reason it made her stomach roll and her chest ache when she wondered if she was like that with everyone. She shook the feeling off and ignored Winn's scrutinizing gaze as she pulled out her cell and dialed Alex.
~A~
Alex was in the training room sparing with a new recruit, one from the Marines, when her sister called. He seemed very grateful for the pause as she made to answer.
"Hey Kar, what's up?" She was a little breathless from the workout but far from bent over like the well muscled man still in the circle behind her.
"Cat has me going to lunch with Lena Luthor to go over the children wing project. I won't be able to make it to the D.E.O today, unless you want me to come by after work?"
Alex bit her lip. There was no good time to show Kara the hologram and she knew Kara's lunch break wasn't the best time to do it anytime. She had watched it a hundred times already and she couldn't find any other way to translate Alura's words. She couldn't put off telling Kara. Or at least showing her the hologram and letting her come to her own conclusions.
"That would be best then, it is important."
"I'll see you then." Alex muttered her agreement. "Love you."
"Love you too." Kara hung up and Alex turned her attention back to the decorated soldier. "Ready for round two?" He grimaced but jumped back into battle stance. She had to give it to the Marines, normally the soldiers Hank had her train called out uncle by now. "Alright, let's go."
~K~
Lunch came a lot faster than Kara was ready for. Cat had kept her super busy running back and forth between departments gathering things for her and then sending them back with red ink all over the place. Cat seemed to be in a good mood but she was driving everyone else crazy. The woman normally demanded perfection but she was usually only this bad when she was angry. Today Cat was overly happy and Kara was sure no one like it a bit.
She was sitting back at her desk luckily enough when Lena came up to fetch her. She was surprised she didn't notice when the brunette was on her way up but she hadn't memorized Lena's heartbeat, or any other sound from the woman for that matter, so she hadn't been on the lookout for her as she was Cat.
Lena didn't seem to mind that Kara had no idea she was standing in front of her desk as the girl was bent over searching through her bottom drawer. "I just had it." Kara groaned.
"What are you looking for?" Lena asked in amusement.
Kara was so embedded in her search she didn't register the voice. " My spare phone. I broke mine again." She muttered as she pushed the draw closed carefully and pulled the next one open. She was sure she had put a few more spares in her work drawer. It had been a while since she needed to use them though. She was blaming Lena on this break though, the woman had her all frazzled, that was why she had accidentally sat on hers.
"Aha! I knew I had a spare somewhere." She pulled out the slim device with the pretty pink hard case. It wasn't her favorite but it was charged and effectively not broken. She glanced up to smile triumphantly at the person and nearly dropped it. "L-Lena!"
The C.E.O waggled her fingers and smiled in greeting. "Now that you have a phone are you ready to go?" Kara stared at her for a minute, taking in her fitting business suit and straight dark hair. She looked like a model out of a magazine. A perfect eyebrow arched in question and all Kara could do was nod. She made sure the phone worked and was backed up with her contacts before she followed Lena to the elevator. She probably should have told Cat she was headed to lunch but she didn't even think about it until Lena had pressed the button for the ground floor and the doors slid close. Then she had an entire new worry to think about as she was effectively alone with the gorgeous woman in the tiny box.
Lena chuckled. "I promise not to bite, you look incredibly tense."
Kara blew out a breath, carefully aware not to freeze anything because of her nervousness. Nerves apparently made it harder to control her powers. "I mean…you're Lena Luthor. I can't help it." Lena's expression darkened a bit and she looked away so Kara wouldn't see. Kara didn't but she did continue. "I looked you up you know," she admitted softly. "You're amazing. Intelligent and kind. And from what I could read you worked hard to get where you are and keep the Luthor name from only being about Lex and…." She trailed off, aware now of Lena's wide eyed look. "Sorry, did I cross a line? I didn't mean to I just never, well I had never heard of you…."
"So you don't think I'm going to turn out to be an evil Luthor." Kara jerked as if the woman had hit her.
"I- well I mean maybe it crossed my mind before I met you, I'm not exactly proud of it," They reached their stop and the elevator doors slid open. Neither woman climbed out. "I'm glad I was wrong. It didn't take but a few seconds of meeting you for me to change my opinion." Kara was hoping the other woman believed her. She didn't quite know why but it seemed utterly important for Lena to believe her. "I like you." She colored after she realized how her words could be construed. "I mean I think your awesome."
Lena smiled slowly and Kara stuck her hand out just in time to keep the doors from closing again. "Does that smile mean I haven't made an ass out of myself and we can still do lunch." Kara's stomach rumbled at the question making Lena laugh.
"Yes. We can still do lunch. A little Birdy told me you have a penchant for pot stickers." She grinned mischievously and pulled the stunned blonde out of the elevator. She answered the question before it could be asked. "I am a C.E.O I have my ways," Lena did not add that she had her assistant call and ask Cat Grant what Kara's favorite food was. Nor that she actually had to bribe Cat with an exclusive interview to get the shrewd woman to agree to reveal the secret of Kara and her love affair with Chinese food, mainly pot stickers.
"I love pot stickers." Kara admitted, her attention was riveted on the hand holding onto hers as Lena pulled her out of the office building and into a white Lexus waiting out front. "You drive?" She glanced around for a driver anywhere and couldn't seem to find one. She wasn't used to riding in a car without a driver, since she only ever rode with Cat it was kind of a giving. Honestly though she had seen Cat's driving record she wasn't sure she ever wanted the older woman to drive, and she was indestructible.
"I can drive. I love to drive." Lena opened the passenger door and pulled Kara to it. She finally let go of Kara's hand and waited for the girl to slide into the dark leather seats. Kara loved the comfortable fit. Lena closed the door as Kara buckled up obediently.
"Ready?" She asked as soon as she got herself into the drivers side and strapped in. The car hummed beautifully as Lena started the engine. Kara decided if she was ever going to get a car it was going to be one of these. Not even Cat's Mercedes drove this smoothly and rode as comfortably. And it might have been because she always rode in the back with Cat but she didn't remember all the little touch screen features in Cat's older car.
Lena smiled at her enthusiasm and reached over to hit a button on the radio. "I've got an extensive list of music. You can pick what you want." She offered the excited woman. Kara surfed through Lena's list and landed on a strings band she loved. She searched for her favorite number. It made Lena laugh, a sound Kara was learning to love, when she heard it. "Bond on Bond. Good choice."
They continued the ride in silence as they listened to the track. It seemed Kara liked Bond just as much as Lena did and she was surprised Lena had every song they had produced.
"Here we are." Kara glanced out as Lena pulled up to a fancy restaurant. She had never been here. "They have pot stickers I promise."
Kara glanced at her watch hesitantly. "I only get an hour for lunch."
"It's a working lunch. I talked to Cat, she said take all the time we need." Kara stared at the brunette in shock she wondered if there was anything Lena couldn't do.
~E~
"What are you doing?" Europa took a seat opposite the Jean clad woman and tried not to stare. Astra had on a white button up shirt and had, probably, accidentally left the top two undone. Europa tried her damnedest not to look down at the Lacey white bra she was wearing underneath.
"Spying." Came the surly reply. Astra didn't even glance at her although Europa was sure she had already been looked over a million times by the men in the bar. She hadn't known they were going to be meeting in a bar full of single drunk men when she left for lunch with her General. If she had she probably wouldn't have wore the tank top and ripped jeans. She at least would have wore something over the top, she hated the way men ogled her muscles.
"On Kara?" It wasn't really a question she needed an answer to but she needed a distraction from the way the man at the bar was looking at her. It made her feel dirty. She didn't understand why people were already drinking at lunch time. Didn't the humans have standards?
"Yes. She is meeting with a woman, a Luthor I am told."
That got Europa's attention. She turned her head and followed Astra's gaze. Sure enough Kara was laughing and eating lunch with a beautiful brunette. She had to admit the girl had good taste, the woman was gorgeous.
"Cute couple." She remarked. Astra glared at her until she held her hands up in surrender. "Just stating a fact."
"I think it's a work thing."
"Hmmmm? Isn't the Luthors supposed to be like some kind of nemesis to the house of El?" She asked as a waiter made his way over to them. Europa rolled her eyes at the look on his face as he approached. It was just what she needed, another man that thought he was a gift to women.
"I couldn't care." Astra took a sip of the liquid in front of her. A coffee if Europa was smelling right.
"Can I help you?" She barely restrained the groan at all the sugar in his tone.
"She wants the best red you have and a side of chips." Astra didn't even look his way as she went back to watching Kara. He glanced back and forth between them curiously and huffed when Europa confirmed it was indeed what she wanted. Unlike the humans she could drink all the alcohol she wanted, whenever she wanted because it didn't affect her in the slightest. And it just so happened she loved a good red wine. She actually hated chips, that was for Astra, she didn't have a clue why the woman always ordered them for her and then surreptitiously stole them from her.
"I'd like a cheeseburger too, all the way." He nodded and walked off, the charming smile dipped a little bit but she knew he would be back after convincing himself the two women were sisters or something and the charm would return with some extra. That was always how it was. And it always irritated her that Astra let her deal with it alone. She could at least glare at them every once in a while, even if she didn't feel anything besides friendship for Europa.
"Do you know when you plan to go back and see Kara?"
"I had assumed you were going to tell me."
"Soon. I don't think we want to wait too long. The D.E.O have probably already used the code, and it can't bode well with them that you know her identity."
"What are we doing, Astra. If we are going to be working against Non shouldn't we just announce ourselves. Do we really need to go about this all secret like?"
Had it been anyone else Astra would have snapped at them for questioning her. But it wasn't anyone else so she thought about her words, about the question and it's implications. About what would happen if she came to Kara, about what Non would do. She had to admit, if only to herself, that she was afraid Kara would reject her, feel neglected. That she would wonder why Astra didn't find her. It would break her heart if Kara hated her, even for a short while.
"I don't trust Non. Let me keep an eye on him as long as I can. If you get caught we will both jump ship. Until then we should make sure we know what he is up to." If Europa knew it was an excuse she didn't mention it. She didn't get a chance as the waiter came back with the food and her wine. He also sported an obnoxious smile and had evidently mess up his hair in a way millennials thought was supposed to be sexy.
He placed their food on the table in front of Europa and side in the booth beside her. "So I was wondering if you were free for dinner this weekend." He smiled confidently, completely ignoring the annoyed look she shot him.
"I'm not free." This didn't seem to deter him in any way.
"The next then. I know a good little mom and pop shop, good food, romantic atmosphere. It's a perfect date place." He scooted closer making her feel slightly claustrophobic. She wanted to shove him out of the booth but for fear of showing her superior strength she kept still, which seemed to egg him on as he seemed to get the picture she was only playing reluctant and wasn't actually abhorred at the thought of joining him for a meal.
"No thank you." She said politely as possible. "Shouldn't you get back to work?" His smile slipped for a second before he pressed on.
"Come on. Pretty girl like you, surely you don't want to spend the weekend alone." He reached out to touch her face with his hand. Europa didn't actually have time to react. Astra beat her to it. Her hand launched out and clamped on his faster than the human eye could see. His face paled and his gaze was drawn to her eyes. She did not look happy at all, she looked a little murderous actually.
"Is it a human custom to touch what is not yours?" Her tone was quiet and polite but it had unmistakable bite to it. Europa glanced over toward the restaurant Kara was eating at to see what triggered Astra's loss of temperament but the girl didn't look any worse for wear and she was still conversing happily with the Luthor woman.
"Hu-human?" The waiter gulped and grimaced at the slight pressure she exerted on his captured hand.
"I suggest you return to your work and leave her the hell alone before I rip out your spine."
"Ast-!" Europa had never heard the woman directly threaten a human before. She didn't know what had triggered the action but she was so nonplused she barely caught herself from using the woman's name. If he went to the news about this she didn't need Kara finding out Astra was alive through this.
"Okay, yeah. You're absolutely right." He nodded emphatically and she let go instantly. "Sorry, I didn't know you were together. Won't happen again." He rubbed his sore wrist and rushed off toward the kitchen. Europa did not imagine the wink the cook gave them through the small serving window. Astra merely shrugged at her and went back to watching Kara, every so often she reached out and stole a fry.
Europa ate in silence, the infamous Kryptonian appetite hitting her in full force after the drama was over. Once the food was gone, which didn't take long, she wondered what brought about the reaction in her usually poised leader.
"What was that about, Astra?" Brown eyes moved over her face quietly. She didn't offer up an answer and Europa could find no answer of her own. "It doesn't usually bother you when they come onto us."
"He was persistent." Some of the others had been too but she didn't mention it. If that's where Astra wanted to leave it that's where it would end. "He had the gall to try and touch you." She clenched her teeth at this. The blonde thought back and she couldn't remember anyone else ever being so brazen. She was well aware of Astra's relationship with her husband and her father, well aware that the woman didn't like touching without permission.
"Yes, I suppose he did." She didn't mention Astra's comment, 'touching what doesn't belong to you' implies she belonged to someone. She knew Astra didn't regard her as property, but the hint of possessiveness she had heard had perhaps given her false hope. After nearly forty years as Astra's friend she should definitely know better.
~K~
Kara enjoyed spending time with Lena, and they actually managed to work while enjoying themselves. She was given an open invitation to visit Lena at work whenever the blonde felt like it. For lunch or anything, and they swapped cell numbers before the C.E.O dropped her back off by the office. She had attempted to walk her back in but Kara laughed her off.
She was smiling again as she took the stairs up to the floor bellow hers. She made sure to take the elevator up the last floor so it didn't look so off that she wasn't out of breath. Something she perfected over the years because she could walk up the stairs faster than the elevator could ride.
She was grateful there hadn't been any emergencies while she was out at lunch but now that she was back at work, nearly two hours later, she was wondering why it had been such a slow day for her alter ego. Not that she wasn't grateful but she found whenever it was super slow meant something super bad was likely on it's way.
A/N; This is ridiculously long so I'm super sorry that there is no way I am trying to edit it. I'm using a program for that but it changes stuff like your and you're and I find it infuriating that it actually changes it into the wrong format. Anyways it was a good night at work so I had all eight of my last hours to type. Enjoy.