"Tell me about Krypton," Lena asks after a long silence.
They're now sitting opposite each other, on two different beds, leaning against the walls with their feet dangling in the air. Kara looks at Lena then, and she sees the woman's genuine interest in her eyes. Thinking about Krypton is always a double-edged sword for Kara. The memories make her both happy and sad; nostalgia an inevitable consequence of allowing herself to remember. But Lena wants to know and Kara finds herself telling stories of her planet, of her childhood there and of her family.
Lena's smile is soft and her eyes never leave Kara's face as Kara goes on and on about every aspect of life on Krypton. Sometimes, Lena asks a question and Kara tries to give her thorough answers, to the best of her knowledge. She likes this; sharing with Lena. It's easy.
Lena falls asleep to the sound of her voice, about an hour later. Kara watches her carefully, notices the slight frown on her face and floats to the bed Lena's on to touch her arm gently. Lena stirs but doesn't wake up and Kara finds herself trapped when Lena's hand finds the one she's placed on her arm and keeps it there. Kara hesitates; it's not like she couldn't get her hand back if she wanted, it's that she doesn't mind being close to Lena. Especially when she notices that the frown on her beautiful face has disappeared.
She ends up staying close, sitting next to the sleeping Luthor and listening to the sound of her heart, beating strong in her chest.
That's how Alex finds them about half an hour later. She opens the door after a soft knock and contemplates the scene before her eyes quietly. She takes in the way her sister looks at Lena, she sees their hands entwined. Kara knows Alex, she knows Alex will tease her mercilessly about this later, but she doesn't care. She's grateful that her sister says nothing at the moment.
"You need to wake her up," Alex murmurs.
"What's up?"
"We're ready to move."
Kara nods and turns back to look at Lena. Alex takes this as her cue to leave. As gently as possible, Kara shakes Lena's shoulder and calls her name until the brunette brings a hand to her temple and rubs there for a few seconds, before opening her eyes.
"Kara?"
"Sorry to wake you up."
"No, that's alright, what's wrong?"
If Lena notices that their hands are still entwined, she doesn't show it.
"Nothing's wrong, but we need to go up. They're ready to go after Lex."
"Oh."
Kara doesn't miss the way Lena's jaw clenches, or how the spark in her eyes seems to dull a little. She squeezes her hand in quiet support and they get up without another word. When Lena turns invisible, she keeps her little finger hooked to Kara's, and together they walk through the DEO to join the others in the same room as earlier.
Lena warns them that Lex won't be taken alive. She tells them that he'd blow up the whole bunker before allowing DEO agents to take him back to his cell. Kara understands the point she wants to make. The more people they bring with them, the more casualties should Lex decide to commit suicide-by-cops. It does nothing to reassure Winn who keeps fidgeting at J'onn's side. He might not be going into the field like the rest of them but he's still a part of the team. Sometimes, Kara wonders if he resents them for that, if he ever feels like less because he doesn't wear a costume or tactical gear. She hopes he doesn't.
Alex has called Superman, she announces. He will be joining them in Nevada. At Kara's scowl, she stands her ground and affirms that they will need him and that he would want to be there. Lena remains silent; lips pursed and eyes downcast. Kara knows Lena holds no grudge against her cousin but there must be nagging thoughts in the back of her mind that still think of him as responsible for Lex's spiral into darkness. Kara lets her fingers brush against Lena's and she feels relieved when Lena's fingertips graze at her palm. Lena's not upset.
After listening to Lena's advice, J'onn agrees that the tactical unit will stay back and secure the two-mile area around the bunker. They will be in permanent contact with the DEO and if back-up is needed, the team will intervene.
James and Mon-El arrive exactly at the same time Lena's hands fly to her temples and she winces. Kara frowns and immediately asks her what's wrong, while everyone else is distracted by Guardian's and Mon-El's arrivals and hurries to brief them on the situation.
"Lena?"
"Nothing's wrong; I'm good."
"That didn't look good," Kara points out.
"I'm fine, Kara, really," Lena repeats stubbornly, "but we need to hurry up. Lex must be sensing that we're coming for him because he sounds upset."
That gets the attention of the others.
"Alright, let's go," J'onn declares. "We'll work in tandem. Guardian and Mon-El, Alex and Supergirl, and I'll be on my own until Superman joins us."
"I'm coming with you," Lena intervenes immediately.
"No way," Kara fires back just as quickly.
"He's my brother. I'm the one who can read his mind."
"J'onn can do that as well if he gets close enough."
"That's not the same and you know it."
"Lena."
"Kara."
The two of them begin a staring contest, chins up and arms crossed. Everyone else in the room fades away, and it's only after Alex awkwardly clears her throat—loudly—that Kara yields.
"Fine," she huffs as she stomps her foot, "you can come, but you better stay invisible."
"I was planning on it," Lena replies coldly, not one for being micromanaged.
"Then Alex, with me, miss Luthor with Supergirl," J'onn orders as he turns to leave the room.
"I swear you two argue like a married couple," Alex mutters as she walks past Kara and follows the others outside of the room.
Left alone with Lena, Kara closes the door behind her friends and leans against it. Lena doesn't budge and her stubbornness makes Kara sigh deeply.
"I wish you'd stay here," she admits, avoiding Lena's impenetrable gaze.
"I can't."
"It's going to be dangerous out there."
"All the more reason I should come."
"What if something happens to you," Kara protests as she takes a step closer to Lena.
"What if something happens to you," Lena retorts.
"I can handle myself."
"So can I."
Despite the urgency and gravity of the situation, Kara can't help but smile. Lena is as hard-headed as she is. She inches closer still, until she stands barely a foot from Lena.
"Lena… Things might get ugly there. If Lex doesn't surrender…"
She trails off and looks away, but Lena surprises her once more by closing the distance between them and offering a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I know. You do what you have to do, Kara."
Kara prays to Rao that they both make it out alive.
The jet is not quite as fast as Kara—far from it, actually—but J'onn insists that she flies with them so that she doesn't waste her strength on their way to Nevada. Supergirl doesn't protest, especially since Lena is on that jet, too. She wears a bulletproof vest because Kara's been adamant about it and Lena's decided to indulge her.
Alex spends the flight cleaning her guns, claiming that it grounds her and helps her focus. J'onn chooses meditation to achieve the same purpose. James is on the comm line with Winn as they go over his latest gadgets paired with the Guardian suit. Mon-El is stretching in a corner of the jet, warming his muscles. Kara is grateful that he's here but also worried. Mon-El isn't bulletproof like her, and this is not his fight. But he shoots her a smile and winks, and Kara thinks more muscle can't possibly be a bad thing. She reflects back on their brief time together and feels comfort in knowing that their mutual decision to be friends instead was the right one. Mon-El has so much to explore in this world, and Kara…
Kara wants something else entirely.
Her eyes linger on Lena, who's looking at the clouds outside. Her breath catches in her throat when she sees the way the light reflects in Lena's eyes. It makes her look almost angelic. Ethereal. Kara's fingers twitch. She feels like snapping a photo of her, or drawing her. She settles for burning the memory into her mind.
Lena must feel that someone is watching her because she turns her head and meets Kara's eyes. She offers a small smile and Kara knows, right there and then, that she's a goner.
And when she sees the blush on Lena's cheeks, Kara can't help but think that maybe—just maybe—her feelings are not one-sided.