Chapter 4 – Unseemly habits.
Present Day. CatCo.
Kara knocks on Cat's office door, while straitening her pink cardigan and smoothing out her khaki pants. Hearing Cat's invitation to enter, she quickly retrieves the bouquet of white gardenias she has resting on Eve's desk. Kara enters to find Cat sitting on her couch cross legged in black cashmere pants, and an oversized black silk blouse. She is looking out the window, with her laptop absently perched on her lap. Kara sits down, places the flowers on the table, and waits for Cat to finish her thought.
Cat, finally looking at Kara, smiles, closes her laptop and rests it on the table. "Kara" she says resting her hands on her bent knees. "It's good to see you. What can I do for you?" Kara, all of a sudden shy, stammers "I came to take you to lunch." Cat raises an eyebrow, and reaches over to take a flower from the bouquet. "Have you now?" Cat puts the flower to her nose and inhales deeply. Kara blushes. "Yes." Suddenly emboldened Kara rises to her feet and extends her hand to Cat. Cat slips her delicate hand in Kara's firm one and rises slowly from the couch. Kara watches as Cat slips into her designer heels; Kara's mouth goes dry.
Cat, now securely in her heels tries to let go of Kara's hand. Feeling Kara stiffen, Cat lets her hand travel slowly up Kara's arm to rest on her firm bicep. Kara breathes in sharply, then bends her arm at the elbow. Smiling, Kara walks arm and arm with Cat to the elevator. "Where are we going?" Cat asks, squeezing her bicep playfully. "Patience Ms. Grant, patience" Kara teases, and pulls her into the elevator.
When they get to the ground floor Kara leads them to an intimate Italian café called Saldanos. It's 1:30 pm and the café is quiet. The owner Sal greets them warmly and gives them a lovely table by the window. They chat easily for two hours laughing and joking like old friends. Paying the bill, Kara says "We should go feed the ducks!" Cat laughs and shakes her head. "I have a conference call at 4." Kara looks at her watch. "It's only 3:33!" Cat shakes her head again. "Another time sweetheart." Kara delighted with her new nickname pouts playfully. "I suppose.." Exiting the restaurant Kara holds the door open for Cat, who wears a contented smile. They walk back to CatCo arm and arm.
5 pm. Cat Grant's Office.
After a brutal conference call with her board of directors Cat is tense and in a terrible mood. She looks longingly at her crystal decanter full of premium scotch. Gritting her teeth she presses the intercom button on her phone. "Eve I'm not to be disturbed for the rest of the day." "Understood Ms. Grant" answers Eve's cheery voice. Cat activates the tint on her office doors, then begins her relaxation ritual.
Kara happens to be passing by when Cat puts her office in blackout. She is curious about what is going on so she changes into her super suit, and fly's out to Cat's office balcony. As she hovers outside of Cat's office she get's an eye full. There stands a surprisingly fit and half naked Cat Grant, wearing what looks like, a full length Mongolian lamb fur coat. Kara watches as Cat wraps the coat around herself and lays down on the floor. Her breathing slows, as does her heart- Kara can barely hear it beating.
"Stop playing the peeping Tom, either get in here or go away" Cat murmurs. Kara lands softly on the balcony. "Is everything okay Ms. Grant?" she asks looking at Cat with concern. "I'm fine - can I help you?" Cat murmurs again. Kara can't hear Cat's heart beat - kneeling down she caresses her cheek to find it cold. "Cat what's gong on?" Kara demands, her a voice pregnant with fear. Without moving her lips Cat whispers "You should join me, the view in here is spectacular!" Kara freezes. Shaking off the shock she draws the upper lapels of the coat open. Gently and instinctively she puts her hand on Cat's heart. Kara whispers "Please Cat - just listen."
Cat can feel the warm hand on her chest, on some level she even knows it's Kara's, but it's the sound that brings her back. A whooshing, bell like sweeping sound - an intimate sound. Cat opens her eyes. Kara is kneeling with her eyes closed one hand on Cat's heart and the other on her own. Cat smiles, amused at the thought of their hearts having a heart to heart. Cat rests her hand over top of Kara's – Kara opens her eyes and smiles drowsily. "How are you feeling?" Kara asks somewhat drunkenly. Cat sits up slowly, her hand still holding Kara's she asks "What was that sound?" Kara somewhat embarrassed clears her throat.
"I'm glad you're back, please excuse the intrusion" she says a little too formally for Cat's liking. Cat lets go of Kara's hand and stands up. Walking toward the balcony she says "I don't think you should be flying in your condition." Kara nods. "Again, I'm sorry if I overstepped - " "Hush - it's fine." Cat waives her hand dismissively. She can feel the tension coming back into her body, she looks at her crystal decanter longingly. Shaking her head she goes over to the decanter, and pours herself a drink, and pours Kara some water.
Kara, now on the couch, stares straight ahead- mind swirling trying to find words that can describe what happened. Drinks in hand Cat walks over to the couch and sits next to Kara. Sniffing the alcohol deeply Cat hands the water to Kara - who drinks it immediately. "I think I need something stronger." Cat reluctantly hands Cara the scotch.
Same day. The Loft district.
Parapsychologist Crispyn Joy Marlowe, host of the popular web show Paranormal Mysteries, walks quickly up a flight of stairs. She fumbles painfully with her house keys to gain access to her upscale loft. She is sweating profusely and trembling. Taking off her shoes quickly she rushes to her kitchen to retrieve a brown clay urn from the counter. Opening the urn she finds it empty. "I'm going to kill her" she says, before falling to the ground and convulsing violently. In the distance her cellphone vibrates and a simple message flashes across the screen: ETA 10 min. I hope my Queen is ready for her royal treatment - 'King' James.
Evening. Cat Grant's Penthouse.
Cat paces back and forth - she is wearing the coat. She is agitated, and in her penthouse surrounded by meaningless things. She thinks of Kara... of Kara's breath in her ear, of Kara's hand on her heart, of Kara's concerned voice beckoning her back from the edge of nothingness. Cat shakes her head trying to shake free of the voices in her mind. She walks over to her bed and lays down. She slows her breathing and she invites the calming nothingness to take her away from her agony.
Across town Kara awakes suddenly. Hearing Cat's heart slowdown for the second time in the same day Kara doesn't hesitate to change into her super suit and fly over to Cat's penthouse. Landing softly on the balcony, without knocking Kara enters Cat's penthouse. Finding Cat's bedroom easily Kara opens the door. The room is dimly lit and Cat is on the bed wrapped in her meditation coat. Kara floats over to the bed slowly, extending her hand she lets it hover near Cat's wrist. Cat sensing someone in the room opens her eyes – she catches a flash of red and blue speeding away. Smiling she murmurs a line from Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Nights Dream. "Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is wing'd cupid painted blind". Kara, now floating outside of Cat's penthouse, smiles and makes a mental note to give Cat a response to her ultimatum.
Earlier in the day. The Loft district.
James Olsen takes the steps up to his new girlfriend's loft two at a time. His handsome dark face is wearing and easy smile. He holds a bag of takeout from Saldanos in one hand, and a small bouquet of lilies in the other. Reaching her door he finds it slightly ajar. Entering the loft he finds a small pool of blood on the floor. "CJ - are you here?" He sets the flowers and food on the counter. His hands now free, he prepares for a fight. "CJ?" he calls out louder, while entering her bedroom.
He finds CJ in her true form, gone is the wig, the fake nails, and designer clothes, in their place is goddess like perfection. James looks at CJ to see a floating, dark skinned Amazonian like beauty with white dreadlocks and violet eyes. She floats over to him, landing softly in front of him she begins to caress his strong jaw delicately. "My James" she says softly smiling. Despite the strangeness of the situation James wraps his arms around her. "What's going on CJ?" he asks concerned while caressing her soft wool like dreadlocks. She smiles a sad smile. "I am preparing for a deadly feast - please forgive me for what I am about to do." CJ's glass like nails extend sharply, then she slowly drags them across James's neck. He falls instantly to the floor. "You are not just you James, you are so much more..."