Fall 2016
-"I hope this isn't the last time we talk".
-"I hope not either".
It's been two days since that last exchange and Kara couldn't stop thinking about it. She was at her desk, supposed to be working on an article but the only thing she did all morning was to stare at the small scrap of paper in her hands. It was all wrinkled now but Lena's number was still readable. The brunette gave it to her discreetly when she shook her hand after their last meeting with her cousin in the CEO's office. Kara didn't really noticed the piece of paper in her hand until later, she was too mesmerized by the look Lena gave her at that time. It was more than just "I'm glad to see my long time friend again" kind of look, it was much more intense, more hopeful. Kara didn't know what to make of it. Lena often teased her when they were younger but she was never this... flirtatious. Between the departing look she gave Kara and that "you could have fooled me" moment, the Kryptonian was confused. She had a crush on Lena when they were in high school but the latter never showed signs of reciprocity. At least, any that Kara was aware of, but as Alex would say, she was not a reliable source on this particular issue, being often the more clueless person in the planet in matter of people's interest in her.
However, that wasn't what perturbed Kara the most. Lot of people bump into old friends and they don't stress over a phone number for two days like her. No, the problem was that this crush wasn't over. Far from it. The first time she realized it, was that day she saw Lena again, stepping out of the elevator in all her CEO glory. And then, the course of events that followed were just confirmations. How she volunteered to save Lena's chopper, letting Clark take care of the civilians before he even had the time to open his mouth, how nervous she was when Lena decided to went through her press conference even after her first missed assassination attempt... Despite the fact that Lena was now the CEO of a big company and dressed in haute couture clothing, she was still the strong, independent woman with family issues (judging by the absence of pictures in the brunette's office) she had fallen in love with. Kara was screwed. After the mess that was her try at dating James, she wasn't ready to risk another dear friendship and James, at least, had the advantage of knowing her secret identity. The only positive thing in her situation, was that Alex, even if she wasn't Team Lena yet, wasn't totally against the CEO either. Apparently, saving Alex's life gives you the benefit of the doubt Kara thought.
Finally, Kara didn't have to think much longer about the number. It seemed that the planets have aligned to reconnect her with Lena anyway. Fate first manifested itself in the form of Snapper Carr. He waltzed in front of Kara's desk, barked at her that he wanted Lena Luthor's take on aliens for the end of the day, and left as fast as he came. So Kara found herself in Lena's office again for an interview. She would have preferred to meet her friend without the pressure of writing her first interview solo but that turned out to be the least of her concerns when Lena showed her the alien detector device. Kara managed to alter the damned object with her heat vision before the CEO asked her to try it but the whole experience left Kara uncomfortable. She used to love hearing Lena talk about her inventions in high school, especially the ones about spaceships and universal translators, but this one was very real and felt more Luthor than Lena to Kara. She was relieved when the brunette had to shorten their interview because of a meeting with some shareholders.
The next day, fate decided that Lena had to call Kara at CatCo and ask her to come see her. So, Kara was here again, waiting outside Lena's office for the assistant to let her in.
-"Hi !" Kara greeted Lena as the assistant closed the door of the office behind her. "I'm sorry to drop in unannounced, I just got the message that you wanted to see me" she continued, rubbing her hands in the pockets of her dress nervously. Lena didn't said why she wanted to see her and that got Kara a little stressed. The CEO was waiting for her, seating on her couch cross-legged with her shoes disposed under the glass table in front of her, the last copy of CatCo magazine opened on her knees. This new way of greeting her unsettled Kara a little more. It was nothing like the previous times, this was more casual. So, like every time she was nervous, Kara started rambling. Topic of the day ? The white flowers she noticed on the table.
-"They're Plumerias. Pretty rare" Lena told her. "So, I wanted to talk to you about your article" she continued, putting the magazine on the table. So that's what this meeting was about, Kara thought. She relaxed a little until she noticed that there wasn't any chair nearby. The only spot left was on the couch, next to Lena. Close to Lena was more accurate.
-"You have a natural gift for words, the article is amazing" Lena added smiling at her brightly. "I knew you would make a great reporter but after I heard your bleeding heart pro-alien views I was afraid you would do a hatchet job on me" she then joked, scooting over a little to the right to make room for Kara. The couch it is then, Kara thought and moved to sit next to Lena.
-"Oh I've tried" she started, readjusting her glasses nervously. "I've tried, I wrote a scathing article about your device" she continued smiling awkwardly at her friend.
-"And ?"
-"And my boss tossed it. He made me redo it."
-"Less pleased." They both laughed at that.
-"The funny thing is I'm glad he did" Kara spoke again. "I mean not at first but some things happened that made me rethink my position".
-"Do tell !" Lena suddenly exclaimed, running her right hand through her hair and facing Kara fully, looking at her with a renew interest. Kara couldn't sustain the intense gaze Lena was throwing at her right now so she laughed nervously and looked away.
-"Huh ! I, I... I still think Aliens Amnesty is a good thing but, there are bad Aliens out there" she finally managed to say. Clearly, this old flame's comeback was really disturbing her. Bad Aliens ? Seriously ? That was all she could come up with ?
-"Well I'm glad you can see from my point of view" Lena answered, totally unaware of Kara inner struggle. She stropped smiling. "You know when I was first adopted by the Luthors, I adored Lex.
-"I remember" Kara said. "You often told me about all the kind of troubles you put yourselves into when you were little". At that, Lena smiled but it was sad.
-"When he showed his true colors I was crushed" the CEO went on. I tried everything to reach him to bring back to the side of good but, it's no use, I lost him. Finally, I realized that some people are just bad. There's nothing you can do to change that but you can learn to protect yourself".
-"Yeah, about that..." Kara started, readjusting her glasses once again. She seemed to do this more often than usual when she was around Lena. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you at that time". Kara wanted to tell that to Lena since she learned that her friend was in National City. She was glad to have finally said it.
-"Oh Kara, no need to apologize for that" the brunette replied, dismissing Kara's word with her hand. "What could you have done anyway? You were just a teenager".
"Beep !"
At the sound, Lena pushed herself off the couch and pressed the speaker button of her intercom.
-"Yes ?"
-"Miss Luthor", the assistant said, "your mother on line one".
-"Hold it" Lena answered and turned toward Kara. "I'm sorry, I have to take this one". The brunette face was very serious now. The Luthor women were never close to begin with but it seemed to Kara, that the Lex scandal didn't help bringing the two women together. On the contrary.
The third time fate struck this week, Kara didn't have time to get nervous on her way to see Lena because she was on a middle of an intergalactic emergency. She had to know where the next alien fight will take place to save Hank. She was on a mission and nothing will deter her, not even the rebirth of a silly high school crush. Of course, that was without counting on Lena's unpredictable nature. As Kara barged into the CEO's office without knocking, Lena's assistant on her heels, she stopped dead in her tracks at the gorgeous sight before her. The CEO was sitting at her desk, as expected, but Kara had not once considered that Lena could receive her like... this. The brunette was dressed in a total burgundy look, with a very low cut v-neck sleeveless blouse and a very tight jean. Her hair were tied in an impeccably bun, clearing the view on her beautiful face and her lipstick was a darker shade of pink. Kara suddenly started to feel really hot. She adjusted her glasses nervously, making sure they were still on her nose because she was afraid that her x-ray vision would turn on without her consent to check if the view was as amazing underneath as it was outside. She looked to the floor to collect her thoughts while Lena's assistant was apologizing to her boss for letting the blonde tornado into the office. When the words "so fast" were pronounced by the panicked assistant, Kara snapped out of her stunned state. She had to act fast. Hank was in danger, he needed her.
-"I'm sorry this is my fault" Kara finally said to the CEO," I just need to talk to you." Lena stood up at her friend urging tone but she didn't grant Kara her request right away. She noticed the blonde previous flustered state and there was no way in hell she wasn't going to have some fun with it.
-"Jess, would you make a note downstairs that Kara Danvers is be shown in right away whenever possible ? she asked her assistant, remaining as casual as possible. Jess excited the room with a "yes Miss Luthor", clearly stunned by her boss order. She had been scolded countless time on her first week for interrupting when someone visited or called and now this awkward girl who had a habit of showing up at the most unexpected hours got a free pass ? Apparently, Jess wasn't the only one throw off by this sudden decision.
-"Really ?" Kara said, a little disoriented. "Thank you" she added, forgetting again why she came here in the first place. Lena was enjoying herself immensely but she forced herself to keep an impassive face. It wasn't easy with Kara standing in front of her, looking so lost, watching Jess leave while smoothing her blazer and twisting its pockets. Finally, Lena took pity of her friend and put her out of her misery. For now.
-"Now" she said, sitting behind her desk again. "How can I help ?"
-"I think a friend of mine has got involved in something shady" Kara answered, serious again.
-"A friend ?" Lena replied smiling. She didn't think people still used this old trick when they were too embarrassed to talk about themselves.
-"No, an actual friend and now he's missing" the Kryptonian went on, still very serious. Lena sobered at her friend's tone. The situation seemed really urgent.
-"Do you know of a woman named Veronica Sinclair ? She caters to people in your... hum... your circles" Kara spoke again and now Lena knew that the blonde was indeed serious. That Sinclair was a crazy woman. She tried to recruit Lena as her right-arm in senior year for her little drug traffic but the Luthor hacked her cellphone and sent all of her nude pictures to the whole school to make sure that Veronica wouldn't try to mess with her in the future. It worked. Veronica said that, by outsmarting her, she won her respect and so, she will leave her be. What a twisted mind.
-"Tight dresses, tattoos like Lisbeth Salander ? Lena finally asked Kara to make sure they were talking about the same person. Kara nodded. "Yeah I know the lad we were in boarding school together" Lena added, noticing the slight twitch in Kara's lips at her confession. What was that ? Was the blonde uncomfortable ? Or... Lena dared to think, jealous ? The answer didn't matter, the CEO wasn't going to let that chance at teasing pass.
-"What ?" she asked Kara innocently. "Are you jealous ?"
-"N...n...no" the reporter managed to said, avoiding Lena's piercing gaze.
-"I've never liked her" the CEO finally admitted, cutting the blonde some slack before she pass out from blushing too much.
-"I need to find her" Kara recovered.
-"Why don't you ask Supergirl to save your friend ? After seeing you showing up out of nowhere repeatedly to throw yourself in the face of danger, I wonder which one of you is the true hero".
-"In theory, the hero is the one wearing the cape" Kara replied laughing hollowly.
-"Yeah, I've never been a fan of capes" Lena answered, thoughtful. "That mini-skirt on the other hand... she then added, biting her lip suggestively. The Kryptonian flushed bright red at the CEO great pleasure. Teasing the Blonde was still as easy as it was in high school but Lena had to admit that she had to keep some in storage for next time so she decided to give Kara the information she came for and let her go.
-"Thank you, I owe you big time" the reporter said hastily.
-"Not at all" the brunette replied as Kara exited the room in a hurry to save her friend.
Lena poured herself a glass of water and settled back in her desk chair. She looked out the window at the lights of the city and could not help but smile as she thought about Kara's reactions tonight. She was so adorable. Like in the old days. Lena sighed thinking back of that time. She already had a crush on Kara then but between her constant family problems at home and everyone annoying her in high school with her popular brother, she wasn't really in the mood for that. She was so trapped in her own head all the time to forget the fact that her mother didn't love her that she hadn't realized her feelings for Kara were more than friendly. Not until they were separated by the tragic events of that summer anyway. When she saw Kara that day at L Corp as she stepped out of the elevator, she was happy to see her long time friend again, but as they kept meeting in her office, she was more and more charmed by the independent, strong and determined woman she had become. All of that, while remaining the positive and radiant girl who already fascinated her at the time. Lena took a sip of water. Judging by Kara's easy blushing tonight, maybe it wasn't too late. Maybe this time, things could evolve in something better. She put her glass down and smiled. Thomas Edison had managed to contain light in a bulb, but Lena Luthor will be the first to catch the Sun.