"Now it makes sense why you're able to stuff your face all day and never gain a pound," Cat shook her head as she watched Kara attack her second cinnamon bun. "You're burning calories flying around all night, chasing aliens while the rest of us sleep."
Kara smirked, shamelessly licking the icing from her fingers, noticing the way Cat blushed even as she looked away.
"I like to think I'd eat like this no matter what size I was," she argued. "Life's too short to count calories."
"Easy for you to say," Cat smirked, continuing to pick at her salad, wishing it was something more delicious.
"So, Cat Grant," Kara began boldly. "What's the best thing about being an empath?"
"Best thing?" Cat scoffed, though she was amused by Kara's attempt at an interview. "I've never thought of it as a gift, but if I had to choose something, I guess...being able to see past people's bullshit, to know when they're lying, or at least not telling the whole truth."
Kara swallowed.
"Did you...know then...when I was lying about not being Supergirl?"
"Not fully," Cat admitted. "I knew...something...but I wasn't ready to see the truth."
"Why?"
"Because...like I told you then, I couldn't stomach keeping you busy while people were out there who needed you way more than I did. I was afraid of losing...the best assistant I ever had. And besides, you tricked me with that clone nonsense. How did you pull that off anyway?"
Kara squirmed out of her chair, putting away the second half of her second cheeseburger.
"I think…there are some mysteries you're just going to have to figure out on your own," she teased, filling the tea kettle before placing it on the stove.
"That doesn't seem fair," Cat frowned. "I've told you things tonight I've never told anyone. I think you owe me a little intel in exchange. Unless...you had help from someone else."
Kara stopped pacing, panic covering her face for a moment as she lifted her arms in front of her head, blocking it from view.
"Don't read what I'm thinking!"
"Ha ha," Cat mocked. "It doesn't work that way. Mind reading isn't the same as empathy."
"I know," Kara straightened out her shirt. "It's just...some secrets aren't mine to tell."
She knew she shouldn't say anything more, but she was enjoying their back and forth so much, she was afraid of shutting it down by not giving her something.
"Okay, Kara," Cat smirked. "Then tell me this. What's the best thing about being Kryptonian, other than the fame and glory that comes with being National City's most adored hero and mascot?"
Kara laughed, eyes squinting as she smiled. She ran her fingers through her hair. Cat took a deep breath, smirking with the satisfaction of making her laugh so much.
"I guess it would have to be…" she struggled to think of some funny comeback. "You know...I'm not sure actually. I don't think I've found the best thing yet."
"That's not an answer," Cat shook her head. "I know there are many things you can do that rest of us can't. You have to be able to name one thing that takes the cake."
Kara thought about the other night, lying in bed with her legs spread apart, feeling powerful beyond all measure. The tips of her ears turned red as she remembered the sounds she made, the way she turned herself on as she spun out new life across her apartment.
Cat watched her face closely. Try as she might, her ability to ignore what Kara was feeling, however vague, was beginning to fade away. She took another bite of her salad, chewing slowly as she watched the younger woman standing in the kitchen, lost in thoughts she'd give plenty to be able to actually read.
The tea kettle began it's sharp whistle. Kara was thankful for it, pouring herself and Ms. Grant a cup.
"I'm curious," Kara swallowed. "And I'm sorry if this is too intrusive, but I guess it's important to start talking about it. When you pick up on other people's emotions...what do you feel exactly? How much can you see?"
Cat took a deep breath, sipping her tea as she tried to find the best way to describe the thing she'd kept secret most of her life, so familiar, and still so detached from what it really meant in terms of her identity.
"If I'm standing in a crowd of people, it's not nearly as bad, so long as there isn't any immediate threat or overwhelming, condensed pain, like in a hospital. I can tune much of it out otherwise. At a party, a concert. People there are mostly happy, excited by whatever they're experiencing, so it all sort of balances out with my own emotions. But when things are difficult...that's when I have to fight not to let it overtake me. I can't tell exactly what people are feeling all the time, not without some context, but...it's a bit like colors...brighter when things are pleasant, duller when people are filled with sadness or melancholy. Blue is pain, but also sometimes healing. Red is...passion, anger. Desire."
She exhaled slowly, drinking her tea, letting the steam roll over her cheeks.
"That's amazing," Kara smiled gently. "I don't know how you don't use it all the time."
"Well, it's like your super hearing or x-ray vision, I imagine. You don't want to be intrusive, but there are times, certain instances, where if you don't tap into those abilities, you're not doing what you can to make things easier for those around you."
"But then…" Kara started hesitantly. "If you can feel people's pain, their anxiety...I don't understand why, so often, you…"
"Purposely cause more of it?" Cat acknowledged. "I don't know, maybe because I had it so...ingrained in me...that the only way to have people take you seriously was to make them fear you. Trust me, it's not easy coming to terms with how much I've hurt people, pushed them away. Adam, every one of my exes, people who have tried to be my friend...even you."
"You haven't pushed me away," Kara shook her head. "But I am glad things are different between us now. Better, than they were before."
"Me too," Cat breathed. "Besides. How am I supposed to intimidate Supergirl?"
"Oh trust me, you're still intimidating," Kara blurted before she could think.
She immediately caught herself, eyes wide, rising quickly from her chair to fetch the kettle.
Cat looked down at her mug as she smirked.
"Here," Kara offered, trying to control the pitch of her voice as she refilled Cat's cup. "Let me…"
"Ouch!" Cat hissed, pulling back her fingers, scalded by the hot water as it overflowed from the mug.
"Shit!" Kara panicked. "Sorry! I'm so..."
"It's fine," Cat insisted. "Really, it's not that bad, I'll be…"
Kara grabbed her hand and brought it to her mouth before she could protest, blowing cool air against the swollen skin. Cat's mouth opened, words failing as she closed her eyes, goosebumps covering her exposed arms all the way to her shoulders.
"Is that...better?" Kara hoped.
"Yes," Cat responded hazily, swallowing as she opened her eyes again.
Kara continued to hold her hand, getting used to the feeling, the way their fingers fit together, like finding your favorite spot on the couch or a new shirt that started to feel like it had always been a part of you. Every time they touched, it felt more natural, like less of a shock, less like an employee and her boss accidentally bumping into each other, more like two people who needed each other despite their differences.
The sound of Kara's phone buzzing against the kitchen counter broke their gaze. Kara quickly let go of Cat's hand, letting it fall into her lap.
"I'd better get that," she sighed, crossing back into the kitchen, looking at the caller ID. "It's Alex."
Cat nodded, turning back to her tea, willing the goosebumps to disappear.
"Hey," Kara sighed into the phone.
"Is everything okay?" Alex asked. "I haven't heard from you since…"
"It's fine," Kara assured. "We were just...eating something. Drinking tea."
"Well you better be doing more than having a tea party," Alex scowled. "We've got our hands full over here trying to figure out how to stop this thing. We need your help."
"I know," Kara insisted, whispering a little as she walked towards the living room. "We're just starting to talk about stuff. It's gonna take some time to sort it all out."
"You need to ask more about how her powers work," Alex reminded.
"I am," Kara breathed. "Trust me."
"Alright," Alex sighed. "I'll check in again tomorrow. I love you."
"I love you too," Kara said, hanging up.
"That was sweet," Cat spoke, only half sarcastically.
"She's just worried," Kara shook her head, sitting again at the table.
"Of course she is," Cat noted. "I can't believe you had a sister this whole time and never told me."
"I didn't...not tell you," Kara defended shakily. "I told you things...about my parents…it just wasn't always the full story."
Cat glared over the rim of her mug, eyes narrowing playfully.
"What was it like when the creature…" Kara began again, trying to sound more businesslike. "The tornado...I know it's hard to think about but, how did it feel when…"
"Like the world was ending," Cat whispered somberly. "That presence, entity, whatever you want to call it...isn't just connected to the environment. It draws on the worst of humanity. Every mass shooting, every drone strike...It's like it knows I can feel more deeply as it tries to...drown out all the good in the world."
She gripped the handle of her mug firmly, knuckles white, looking away.
"I should be more afraid," she breathed. "But I have to believe we'll figure out how to stop this, otherwise…"
She swallowed.
"We will," Kara insisted, not knowing at all what that might mean.
Cat watched the younger woman's face again, sensing confidence and determination mixed with plenty of fear and hesitation as well. It humanized Supergirl, in a way, though she'd seen her at rock bottom before, helping boost her morale after her brain had been altered and she'd terrorized the city, giving her a pep talk now and then when she needed to solve some major dilemma. But despite how apprehensive the Girl of Steel seemed now, Kara Danvers, the girl she'd underestimated for far too long, appeared much stronger than Cat ever realized she was. And that, somehow, made her less afraid.
"We'd better get some sleep," Kara said, rising from the table, taking her mug to the sink.
"Are you imposing a bedtime on me?" Cat smirked.
"Oh...no," Kara turned towards her, leaning against the sink, gripping it from behind. "I just...it's been such a long day, I thought you…"
"I'm kidding," Cat yawned, standing before walking slowly towards her. Kara held her breath when she was just a few inches away, as Cat lowered her own mug into the sink.
"Thank you," Cat breathed. "For opening up your home to me. I know it's not an ideal situation…"
"I don't mind," Kara shook her head. "Not at all."
Kara watched Cat's large, glowing eyes, always glistening, bright beneath soft, barely there eyebrows, lips full and pouty, her small, muscular shoulders exposed in the black, sleeveless blouse she wore, long neck moving as she swallowed.
She smiled slowly, eyes turning more feline, cheekbones rising as she looked at Kara.
"Still...I appreciate everything you do for me," she told her. "I always have. I hope you know that."
"I do," Kara nodded. "Thank you, Cat."
She couldn't help but reach out and hug the older woman. They'd hugged once before, as Ms. Grant and Supergirl, but never as Cat and Kara. She felt Cat's breath hitch as she wrapped her arms behind her, fingers settled against her back.
Cat swallowed, letting her chin rest on Kara's shoulder, holding her former assistant closely. She slowly rubbed her hand across the soft cotton of her tee shirt, feeling the way her incredible muscles flanked her spine. She closed her eyes, letting herself be held the way she needed.
Slowly, Kara pulled back, not wanting to overdo it, thankful and surprised she'd gotten away with this much. Cat held on a little longer than expected, letting her hands roll off Kara's shoulders as they broke away.
"Goodnight," Kara smiled, still leaning against the sink, adjusting her glasses.
"Goodnight," Cat breathed, quickly making her way back behind the bedroom curtain.