Lex's death is on the news the next day. Every channel talks about it. Every headlines—even CatCo's—talk about it. Lena sits still in front of the TV; eyes glued to the screen and hands gripping her knees tightly. Kara, still off from work, tries to offer comforting words but it's like Lena's in a trance and doesn't even hear her. She retreats to her bedroom to call Alex and inquire about her recovery as well as Mon-El's, and when she comes back to the living-room, Lena hasn't budged.
"They say details aren't clear yet on who killed him."
Her voice is monotone, detached but unwavering.
"They think it could be Superman or Supergirl. There's even a poll about it. You're losing."
"Oh."
What else is she supposed to say?
"The truth must never leak," Lena says, "because if it does... Lex's loyal dogs will come after me."
"Then let's say it was me," Kara suggests.
"No. No way. Not you, not Superman. No names."
"I'll call Lucy and see what's happening at the DEO and how they're coordinating with the FBI."
Lena nods and shifts her attention back to the screen. Kara takes that as her cue to call her friend and she decides to do so in her bedroom again.
There's a fire downtown that is quickly getting out of control, and Kara has no choice but to leave Lena behind and rush to help the firemen. She saves the few people that were stuck inside the building and makes sure the building is steady enough before flying back to her apartment. She's been gone for less than an hour but when she comes back, the TV is turned off and Lena is lying on the couch with her eyes closed.
"Lena," Kara whispers in case the woman is asleep.
"You're back."
"Yeah. Sorry, I smell like smoke, I'm going to shower right away."
Lena sits up and immediately brings both hands to her temples. Kara's at her side within a second.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Lena is prompt to say.
"Doesn't look like nothing. Headache?"
"Yes," Lena admits and she lowers her hands. "I don't suppose Supergirl has any aspirin in her apartment?"
"Supergirl does, actually," Kara replies with a grin as she hurried to find a pill and fill a glass with water. "Because Supergirl has a sister who has a tendency to sleep over when she drinks too much at game night and that results in a headache in the morning."
"Bless her," Lena says as she swallows the pill and takes a gulp of water with it.
Kara decides that the shower can wait a moment and she carefully sits down beside her friend.
"The headache…"
"It's nothing, really. Probably too much TV."
"You're lying," Kara states quietly.
There is no reproach in her tone, no judgement. Lena must sense this, must feel Kara's concern because she sighs and glances at Kara briefly before dropping her gaze to the floor.
"I get them whenever I read someone's mind. They don't last, but they can be pretty intense."
"You were using your power?"
"I was—yes."
"On whom?"
"My mother," Lena breathes out. "I wanted to know if she's heard the news."
"Has she?"
"Yes."
Lena's face is somber and Kara can only imagine the things she must have heard going on in her mother's mind. Tentatively, she puts a hand on Lena's back and rubs slowly. Lena relaxes under her touch and she allows Kara to pull her closer.
"I'm sorry," Kara whispers.
"You really have to stop apologizing," Lena tells her with a soft smile.
"I'm sorry," Kara repeats jokingly.
She grabs Lena's hand in hers when Lena swats her playfully on the thigh. She holds it for a moment then squeezes it and gets up.
"I should really take a shower. It smells like smoke in here."
"Well that's because someone in here is really hot," Lena smirks as she twirls her hair in an exaggerated manner.
"And that someone makes me burn inside," Kara replies without missing a beat.
If Lena wants to tease her, Kara is fine with it but she certainly won't let her get away with it. As predicted, Lena stares after her, dumbstruck, and Kara laughs all the way to the bathroom.
Lucy calls back when Kara is making dinner for her and Lena, who is reading a book on the couch. Kara stops stirring the pot full of spaghettis and turns the stove off before answering. Lena looks at her, curious and perhaps anxious about what's going to come out of this phone call. Kara mostly listens and only speaks a few words when needed. After two minutes, she hangs up and joins Lena on the couch.
"So, the story is that after the FBI received plausible proof that you were in mortal danger, they got you into witness protection and made you disappear until they could apprehend Lex, which they did, eventually. They let everyone think you were dead because they had reasons to believe it would make Lex less cautious, which it did. They're releasing the statement early in the morning and will stop by tomorrow to brief you about what's going to happen next."
Lena nods feebly and her hands drop the book they were holding onto her lap. Kara nudges her with her knee and holds out a hand.
"Come on, dinner's ready."
Lena looks like she's about to protest but thinks better of it and she lets Kara pull her up and lead her to the kitchen table. Kara, ever so obliging, sets the table for two and places the saucepan on a tablemat between their plates.
"Take as much as you want," Kara says.
"Thank you, Kara. For all of this."
"Ah, don't mention it, it's just pasta."
"I mean for everything you're doing for me."
"I… feel like we've had that conversation before."
"Yes, well, I just can't stress it enough. How grateful I am."
Kara really, really hates how intense Lena's gaze can be, because it takes her breath away every single time and she knows she's falling too hard, too fast. She smiles at Lena and digs into the copious amount of pasta in her plate, preferring to stuff food into her mouth rather than blurt out something she might regret.
When they go to bed a few hours later, Kara dares to kiss Lena's cheek before she closes her arms around her. Lena, like she did the previous night, lets her nose brush lightly against Kara's warm skin and she doesn't wait fifteen minutes to kiss Kara's neck this time.
James needs Kara back at CatCo. He calls in the morning around nine and asks her when she'll be able to come back and Kara promises to swing by the next day once Lena has made her first public appearance. James asks her if she thinks the Guardian will be needed to make sure everything goes well and she accepts. She knows he hasn't been back in the field since he got hurt a few days ago and Kara thinks that James needs it, even though he won't outright admit it.
Much like yesterday, she finds Lena in front of the TV. Kara's eyes shift to the screen and she stops in her tracks. Next to the reporter talking live in front of the L-Corp building is a picture of Lena. Kara recognizes it; it is the one that had been on the front page of CatCo Magazine almost a year ago.
"The FBI released their statement then?"
"Yes. Early this morning, apparently. I'm the number one topic of discussion now. There are journalists everywhere at L-Corp."
"Are you okay? I mean, now that the truth is out there? Well, not the truth, but just… the news that you're alive."
"I'm okay, Kara. I needed to do this anyway. The DEO and the FBI have been a great help."
"Right. They have two agents on the way so that you can discuss everything with them. Lucy said that the FBI is expecting you to speak publicly tomorrow at eleven."
"Good. I'm ready."
Lena smiles then, and it's genuine and it's bright and Kara is drawn to that smile. She doesn't even realize she's moved until she stands in front of Lena who is still sat on the couch. With a hand, Kara cups Lena's jaw and lifts her chin up so that they're looking into each other's eyes. Lena's smile drops and there's something in the way she stares at Kara that makes the Kryptonian's heart beat faster.
Kara doesn't really do anything else; she stands there with her hand caressing soft skin absent-mindedly. It's Lena who moves; she turns her head to the side without looking away and she presses her lips against Kara's pulse point on her wrist. Kara watches, enraptured and frozen in place. When Lena's hand comes up to touch Kara's, she finds herself inching closer. She feels Lena's lips against her skin and shivers.
"Lena—I—"
A knock on the door interrupts them and makes Kara almost jump out of her skin. She has half a mind to pulverize whoever is standing behind the door but a quick check with her x-ray vision tells her this would be a terrible idea.
"The FBI," she announces to Lena who seems absolutely unperturbed.
"I'll get the door," Lena says.
"No, let me," Kara replies immediately. "I'd, uh, I'd rather do it. Just in case."
"In case… In case they're not the agents we're expecting?"
"Yes."
Lena chuckles at the face Kara makes and she stands up, right into Kara's personal space.
"Okay then. Go. Don't make the government wait, Kara."
"Right. Yes. I'm going. I'm gone."
She doesn't move. There's a second knock at the door, louder this time. Lena raises an eyebrow and oh Rao why, Kara thinks, because now is not the time to do something like that, something that makes Kara weak in the knees. Her crush is really getting out of control.
In the end, it's Lena who puts her out of her misery—well, sort of—by kissing her cheek and pushing her toward the door until Kara remembers how to use her legs.