A/N: I've come out of retirement to vent on a concept. Love/Hate are one and the same. I can't quite figure it out and then this happened. Please give me your thoughts. I took some artistic liberties so some things might not be exactly correct, but I like it like that


Cat Grant was facing a rather large dilemma. That in and of itself was enough to give her a headache. She didn't do dilemmas. But ever since she had been thrown off the balcony by the only person she truly considered her superior, close encounters with Supergirl had become a constant dilemma for her. Even more so when they were the sole occupants of the building. And especially when the girl was pacing so angrily, Cat would have to call for someone to fix the cracks on her balcony.

She was saved the trouble of making a decision when the caped hero stepped inside and shattered the glass door behind her with a slam.

"I hate you." She seethed and Cat was taken aback at the honesty of those words.

"What have I – "

"Not you!" The blonde shouted. In a flash, she jumped onto the edge of the balcony and roared. "ALL OF YOU."

Slowly, she floated down and began pacing inside the office.

"Day after day I put on this cape and save you. All of you."

"Thank you." She said softly, certain that while it may not be what the woman wanted to hear, it was something that needed to be said.

Supergirl scoffed. "I don't do it for you. No. I do it because if I didn't I'd probably destroy you." She said darkly. "In fact. Let me change into something that matches my mood. God forbid you all see your golden girl with a frown on her face."

With that, she ripped off her cape, leaving it to gently float to the floor of Cat's office as she leapt over the balcony railing. Cat heaved a sigh of relief and took a steadying one as she picked up the cape that had become a symbol of hope for so many. Gently, she folded It like it was the American flag and placed it on her desk. Dilemma solved. Supergirl needed an audience for her rage and had wisely chosen Cat.

They had formed a bond mostly because Cat understood the pains the girl went through and refused to let her be bogged down by them. Being forced to appear perfect at all times, enjoying the love of a people that would turn on her in an instant, all of it took its toll. And Cat had proven she would not turn on the girl, even after being thrown off of a balcony, though it would take time for her to fully trust her. It was an honor really, or at least that's how she would keep herself calm. Gently, she placed the cape on the corner of her desk, stroking the material. She never noticed the dark figure standing just outside her broken door.

"Do you know what today is?"

Cat inhaled sharply and turned to see supergirl…no a kryptonian standing rather menacingly before her clad in an all black attire. She shook her head.

"No, supergirl."

Red eyes flashed in the darkness and Cat wondered what part of her office would suffer.

"I'M NOT…." She paused and tilted her head, red eyes fading slowly. "My name…" she said, her jaw tensing repeatedly before she chuckled and walked forward, glass crunching beneath her. "I think you're appropriately terrified enough not to be foolish."

Cat nodded at the woman before her. She very much was.

"My name is Kara Zor-El and today is the day I crash landed on this god foresaken rock."

Cat's eyes widened and she glanced to her assistants desk. "K-Kara?"

"Yes, Miss Grant?" The girl said innocently though her face was nothing but menacing. "Have you any idea how hard it is, every day to listen to you say my name incorrectly when I could slowly remove your tongue with my pinkie nail? Have you any idea how hard it was to go to school and learn knowledge that is light years behind my own?"

Cat shook her head, her throat dry.

"I save your asses day after fucking day because I'm STUCK HERE with you pathetic puny little beings who take years to rebuild a building once its burned down."

She turned from Cat and walked towards the balcony before her knees gave out just inside the room.

"I'm stuck here having to learn to control my excess of anger and hatred because god for fucking bid I go on a rampage. God forbid I miss my home." Her voice cracked and Cat felt it in her soul.

With a deep breath, she stepped up to the sunken woman and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I miss my family. I miss my friends. My aunt is dead, my uncle, my little cousin is a grown man who abandoned me. Me when I was forced all the way down here to raise him. He doesn't even know his mother tongue." She spat and swore in a a different language. "He was to be my companion. I was stuck in nothingness for years Cat. And I escaped only to be forced to take care of the tiny adorable little humans who never stop trying even when it takes them years to build something." She chuckled and laid down on the floor, playing with her hair. Cat took the opportunity to go grab a handful of candy. She rolled her eyes when Kara held up her hand for a few.

"My so called family celebrates this day. They consider it my birthday almost. Do you know when my birthday is, Cat?" She asked as she tossed the candy up and into her mouth.

"No." She said softly.

"Neither do I. I don't know what year, what day, what hour. I don't remember anymore. I don't remember what my house looked like. I don't remember what my fish looked like."

"I want to go home." She whispered. "I hate it here. You don't know anything. Your science is child's play. Your sun is too warm and yet too cold. Your earth is beautiful however. The land. The trees. Innocent even. I paint you know. It's how I learned to slow down."

"Did you know I can hear the blood in your veins? The whisper of air in your lungs? The crack of the neurons in your brain?" She chuckled. "Oh your mind is racing now. Pop pop pop. Worse than that, I can see it. Without even trying. You all look like skeletons to me when I take off my glasses and relax my eyes."

She turned over and stood, finishing the last piece of candy in her hand.

"Yes, that's how I know you're coming. I hear you in the shower, on the toilet, in the kitchen, in your sleep. But not just you. All of you."

Her face relaxed and so too did Cat. The rant was winding down as her anger was expelled and expressed.

"Do you know why I save you, Cat?"

She shook her head. "I imagine the reasons are numerous, Kara Zor-El." Kara nodded and stepped closer, the back of her fingers lightly caressing Cat's face.

She couldn't breathe, another fucking dilemma. After today should she be horrified to have this angry woman touching her? Or should she lean into the touch she often craved from her sweet, perfect assistant? Or, would she disgust the powerful being before her?

"If they are, then you're number one, Cat." She laughed softly and shook her head. "Sometimes you are the only thing this world truly has to offer me. Not the little girl with wide eyes, not the father currently running into his burning home for his son's favorite toy. You."

Cat inhaled sharply. She certainly hadn't expected that. Not after learning of the sheer hatred Kara possessed for humans. It was like a dream, specifically like the one she had last week. "Kara…I…."

"I know Cat." She murmured softly. "I can see it. I just don't know what to do with it. I hate you so much. I'd love you but for fear of breaking you."

Ha! It's about time she was given a problem she could easily solve.

"Then break me." Cat said this time surprising Kara. "On the days when you can't stand me, hurt me. And on the days when loneliness is crushing you, come hide in me. I'll keep you, Zor-El. I'll even worship you the way you deserve if it'll relieve even an ounce of the pain that consumes you. We may not be worthy of your love, Kiera, but you deserve ours. And you have mine."

Kara's eye lit up, this time with hope. "You would worship me?" She murmured.

"I already do." Cat breathed, pointing to the reverently folded cape on her desk. "And will continue to, be it out of fear or love."

Kara groaned at that and the sound gave her chills. Cat was yanked into the strong leather clad body and though only a few inches separated them, Kara seemed to tower over her in that moment.

"Would you command me as well?"

Cat's breath hitched and she nodded, gazing up at the super woman, "If it is what you need."

Kara hummed. "Would you be my whore? Would you let me claim you on the highest point of this city? Of this earth? If I wanted to destroy my image, would you be my tool?"

Oh great. Another fucking dilemma. Though this too was easily solvable. It merely required the release of her ego. And what good would her ego do against kryptonian strength?

"I would if you asked it of me. If it was truly what you needed."

"I said want. If I collared you the way I dream of and asked you to live as my little toy, never to see the outside world again, would you? Hm? Where is your limit, kitty kat?"

Cat ignored the swell of pride in her chest demanding she scowl at the term. This woman could rip her in half, in more ways than one. She would survive a little unimaginative name calling. The world needed Kara, and if she had to offer herself to keep the woman, she would. Or at least, that would be her answer to any who asked.

"Be it out of love or fear, I have no limit with you Kara Zor-El. All I plead is that you continue to play your role as hero of earth."

"And if I won't?"

"My pledge was to assuage your pain, not that of this world." She hoped desperately this was all just a test. In truth, she would be horrified if Kara abandoned earth, but something inside her was tingling with pride and joy that the kryptonian would take only Cat along.

Kara smirked. "This day may yet be salvaged." Her hand grasped Cat's jaw and she used her index finger to stroke one elegant cheekbone. Cat waited with bated breath as the woman seemed to search for something within her eyes. After some time, Kara released her and sighed. She watched closely as the alien made a seat of her desk, careful to avoid paperwork and trinkets. "Were it not for your son, anyway."

Cat's eyes widened. "He – "

"He gets your love first and foremost does he not? Or would you allow me to drop him from the balcony as well? With no promise of rescue."

"I would." Cat said, gritting her teeth. "I could not stop you if I tried. Thus I would not, but I certainly won't be silent about it."

Kara laughed and for a moment, Cat didn't recognize her at all. "True. How badly did that hurt?"

"Extremely." She knew it was just part of the game, knew Kara would not hurt the little boy she clearly adored, but she also knew she spoke the truth.

"Good." She said and sighed, eyes outside the window. "With that you have earned his protection, should I one day grow tired of this game with you humans." Her words were harsh but they lacked the malice from earlier. Cat glanced at the clock suddenly curious as to how long they'd been there.

12:12 A.M.

"Yes. It's a new day. My anger may have abated, but I will retain my bitterness for quite some time." Kara sighed and Cat wondered what that meant for them. Was it all talk? And surprise surprise, another dilemma.

Did she want it to be real? Did she want to kneel before this woman? Wear a collar? Could she place this woman above her son? Or was placing this woman first the same as holding her son first? What would worshipping her entail exactly? What would happen the next time things went bad? Would she be exposed as Supergirl's slut? Would more villains come after her? Her son?

She looked up and saw Kara staring, probably watching her neurons snap crackle and pop as she dealt with the ultimate dilemma. At this rate -

"You're going to give yourself a headache at this rate, Cat." She said with a smirk. Cat's eyes landed on the curve of those lips and then up to powerful eyes. Mere moments ago they shone with the hate of a tortured soul. One so twisted Cat couldn't stand to let her suffer alone. Now, the girl looked almost innocent again save for the twinkle of mischief. She was amazed at the change. Wondered how often that pain was allowed to escape. Wondered how few knew it existed. She simply couldn't turn her back.

"What of…" she halted hoping the woman would save her the humiliation of asking to be owned.

"Speak." Kara demanded.

"What of us? What will we become?"

Kara chuckled and walked towards the window. "You have given yourself to me Cat Grant. I will accept." Cat swallowed and turned to her desk in thought. "Oh. And, I think you know nothing must change during work hours however."

"I do. And I think you know I expect my doors and balcony to be fixed by the morning."

Kara looked down at the glass she was crushing beneath her feet and hummed. "Perhaps by the afternoon. I like the reminder for us both. Can I give you a lift home?"

She waved her hand. "I have work that must be done."

"Cat. It's time to go home." Kara said sternly.

"Is that an order?" She asked, unable to refrain from poking her new dragon. She may have given herself to this woman, but she would not go quietly.

"It is. Come here. I will clean it up for you later." Kara said and opened her arms. Cat grabbed the cape off of the desk and allowed herself to be embraced.

The flight home was swift and uneventful, much to her surprise. They gently floated down to the balcony of her apartment and Kara chuckled.

"You certainly have a thing for balconies."

Cat rolled her eyes. "Yes. I'm starting to regret it. Am I free to go?" She asked gently. Part of her hoped for a kiss, an apology, anything to show that Kara would not make her regret something else on this night. She received only a smirk as the woman floated away, cape fluttering behind her.


A/N: did I say retirement? I've got like two stories lined up that I'm super excited to share. Just not yet. And I'm editing things. Retirement is a strong word. I can be convinced to build on this story just a bit. A little smut and intimacy, maybe some emotional upheaval for good measure.

Are Love and Hate one and the same? Can good truly arise out of hate?