It's a short walk from the street corner where Lena and Taylor met Kara and Lexi to the upscale Asian restaurant that Lena has standing reservations at.
In fact, it takes them less than five minutes to wade through the afternoon foot traffic and check in with the host at Wok Dragon.
Five minutes for Lena to be able to tell that something was definitely off with Kara.
In that five minute walk, Lena was willing to bet that Kara stared at her no less than 90% of the time.
Now, Lena was certainly used to her wife's gaze . . . lingering.
At any given time Kara would most likely be caught looking at Lena's profile - something about her having a "devastating" jaw line. Or if not her profile; then Kara's eyes were often glued to lips, cleavage, ass, or hands - depending on time of day and the outfit Lena was wearing. So the staring wasn't really all that different.
What was different, was how Kara reacted when she got caught staring.
Normally, Kara's response to being caught with her hand in the cookie jar - so to speak - was a wink and a grin, a waggle of her eyebrows before turning her attention back to whatever she was supposed to be paying attention to.
Today, however, Kara seemed almost guilty to be caught staring. Her eyes flittered away the instant Lena reacted to feeling eyes on her; and her cheeks were a constant state of rosy red. It reminded Lena very much of the "I flew here - on a bus" type of attitude that young and insecure Kara used to project. She certainly wasn't acting like the editor-in-chief of a multi-million dollar magazine who just so happened to moonlight at the USA's most beloved super hero by night, (ranked by People magazine - three years running).
Lexi was definitely right about one thing; there was no red kryptonite involved, Lena could confirm that much. Red K Kara was over confident at best, harsh and cruel at worst. But the way Kara was acting today, it was as if she was unsure of herself and her relationship with the world - her relationship with her family, for that matter.
Normally, Kara would be laughing and joking; eyes crinkling behind her glasses and white teeth flashing in a smile. Today, Kara is reserved and almost timid.
She looks lost as Lena pulls back from their kiss, and even the suggestion of food barely brings a smile.
She stutter steps when Lena reaches for her elbow to hold her arm as they walk, blue eyes telegraphing her confusion. After a moment, she settles in, her free hand coming up to pat the one that Lena has hooked in her elbow.
It's a position they've walked in a thousand times; but this time Kara seems distant, despite their close proximity. Her body is stiff and angled; and it's as if she's on high threat alert, with the way her gaze dances over their surroundings - like she's expecting to see something that isn't there.
Lexi holds the door for all of them when they reach the restaurant, and when her eyes meet Lena's, the fear in them is evident.
Ever since Lexi was a little girl and she'd found out Kara was Supergirl, she'd get this look about her whenever there was a threat. Lena didn't think that most people really noticed it, but her mother's heart felt it like an ice spike to her soul. She hated to think that her little girl ever had to worry like that. And even though Lexi is grown now, has saved the world in her own right, has probably been in more danger than Lena or Kara had ever been in at her age - Lena can still see the scared little girl at the orphanage, too overwhelmed to speak.
And so, despite the fact that Lexi will grumble about the public display of affection; Lena reaches out as they pass to gently cup her hand around her daughter's cheek and give a few gentle pats. She holds the position until she sees at least some of the tension melt from Lexi's shoulders, and with a wink, she boops the younger girl on the nose with her fingertip.
"Ma." Lexi's eyes roll, and her voice is an irritated whine, but her soft smile lets Lena know that the gesture wasn't unappreciated.
Lena gives her one last comforting look before following Kara into the restaurant.
It's one the've visited plenty of times because 'The potstickers are the absolute best when reheated with heat vision' - according to Kara at least; Lena's still a little wary of heat vision prepared foods.
The host welcomes them with a bright smile and a jaunty wave, and Lena's glad - hopes the normalcy of the interaction will make things feel less . . . off.
"Good afternoon to one of my favorite families!" His gaze settles on Lena. "Mrs. Luthor-Danvers, I'm afraid I didn't know to expect you, so the kitchen may be a bit slower than normal. I trust you want your usual booth?"
"If it's available, Eric, that would be lovely."
"Of course, right this way, ladies."
Kara's head is practically on a swivel as Eric leads them across the dining room. Lena's hand tugging gentle pressure on her arm is the only thing that keeps her from running into several dining tables. It's a beautiful restaurant to be sure. Low lighting comes from exquisitely hand crafted chandeliers made to look like paper lanterns, and the art work on the wall is art gallery quality. Still, Kara's been here enough times that she shouldn't be one wrong step from tripping face first into some poor diner's wonton soup.
"Here we are!" Eric announces, waving them into the corner booth. "The usual? Sparkling water for the table?"
"Of course, thank you, Eric." Lena answers, and with a nod and a bow, their host has disappeared among the sea of tables.
Lena and Taylor scoot to the middle, leaving Kara and Lexi on the edges almost across from each other. It doesn't take long for the waitress to show up with their drinks, and once again, Lena is glad to see a familiar face.
"Lena! Kara, Lexi, Taylor." Melody nods at each of them in turn. "I didn't know you guys were coming today! What can I get you for appetizers?"
Instinctively, the table looks to Kara.
"Oh, umm, I guess I'll have the potstickers?" she says before turning back to the menu.
The confusion is immediate, with everyone immediately shifting their, (now worried), looks to Lena.
Only, Lena too, is caught off guard, and she puzzles briefly over Kara's response before turning to Melody.
"She means potstickers out first, of course. Please." Lena adds with a smile. "And then we'll also have a party platter of the crab rangoons, the spring rolls, and the chicken skewers."
Melody closes her order book with a snap and a grin.
"Perfect! I'll have them right out"
Once she's out of ear shot, Kara leans into Lena's side.
"That's a lot of food, don't you think?"
Lena can feel Lexi's eyes on her, gauging her reaction, so she tries to keep her expression neutral as she asks.
"Are you not hungry, Darling?"
Mercifully, Kara's response is quick.
"No, I'm starving! That's just, uhh, a lot of food . . ." she looks around at the other diners as if she's expecting the paparazzi to filming them - "to eat in public."
Out of the corner of her eye, Lena can see Lexi's fingers repeating the nervous stim that she tends to favor when she's overly anxious.
It's then Lena realizes she's stuck.
Because on one hand, she's worried about her wife; something is definitely up, and there have been way too many Supergirl related close calls these last few weeks.
On the other hand though, she can tell her daughter is on the brink of anxiety attack, because again - way too many Supergirl related close calls these last few weeks.
Quickly she makes a triage decision.
Whatever is wrong with Kara, she can't fix it over lunch; and since there doesn't appear to be any immediate danger, she'll be able to fix things a lot easier once Kara is at least fed.
So she chooses an expression and tone that she hopes Kara will recognize as their 'let's not discuss this in front of Lexi' code, and offers a gentle reminder -
"Darling, I think the staff here would be more thrown off if you didn't order a small feast."
Thankfully, after a brief moment of hesitation, Kara seems to pick up on her cue.
"True, I just didn't want to overwhelm them, since they didn't know we were coming."
Lena smiles gratefully at her wife and Lexi's fingers momentarily stop their twitching,
"I completely forgot to call ahead, I was so busy watching Taylor try on some simply stunning wedding dresses." Lena's attempt to steer the conversation works beautifully, with her future daughter-in-law blushing and Lexi trying her hardest to squeeze out details about the chosen gown.
By the time the food starts to arrive, the table has fully devolved into wedding talk.
It's almost easy for Kara to pretend like she belongs here; the easy familiarity that everyone shows her acts like a balm to her troubled soul. In fact, she gets so caught up in the way Lena's hand feels in hers and the delicious taste of the food that she almost forgets that she doesn't belong in this universe.
She's a little uneasy, sure; but part of her brain is screaming at her to just enjoy the moment. Enjoy the universe where she's married to the incomparable Lena Luthor and they have a kid - a whole grown ass kid - that looks and sounds like Lena but somehow also feels just like watching herself in a mirror.
She hopes to Rao that whoever the Kara is that gets to live in this universe fully appreciates it; because she'd give up her super powers if it meant she got to stay here.
Once dessert is finished, Taylor leaves them for the art gallery with a kiss for Lexi and hugs for Kara and Lena, so its just the three of them as they walk to the street corner where Lena's driver is waiting in the loading dock lane. Unfortunately, as soon as they get in; all of the bad feelings that Kara has been pushing away ,or just straight up ignoring, all come rushing in.
Because who else is waiting in the front seat but Alex.
The tension in the small space immediately sky rockets.
Normally, Kara would be more than happy to see her sister. In cases like this though, Alex is all too often the harbinger of bad news. News that Kara really doesn't want to come to terms with right now. She suspects that much like the time she was under the influence of the black mercy, Alex is here to pull her back to reality.
Maybe it makes her a bad superhero, but she really doesn't want to go.
Before, with the black mercy, she had reasons to return; and she's sure there are reasons this time, but right at this moment she really can't think of them.
"Hey, Aunt Alex." Lexi offers cautiously as enters the car.
"Hey, Kiddo." Alex tosses a mock salute over her shoulder before turning to face them. "Hope I'm not messing up everyone's day if we make a quick detour to the DEO; some new computer software just came in that I want Lexi to take a look at."
Lexi and Lena both agree quickly, and Kara sort of gets the suspicion that they were expecting the intrusion.
Which is odd.
Because if Alex were really the Alex from Kara's universe here to bring her back, then surely Lena and Lexi wouldn't be expecting her.
Right?
Then again, if the software just came in; how would Lena and Lexi know about it?
She remembers Lena's face in the restaurant, the one begging her to just agree and not make a scene for Lexi's sake. She didn't really understand it then, but now coupled with the arrival of Alex, she can't help but wonder if she's supposed to be in on the secret too.
Still, she can't shake the feeling that this near perfect world is about to collapse in on itself. It sits like a lead ball sinking in her gut the whole way to the DEO, and she almost regrets that fourth plate of orange chicken.
Almost.
Luckily, (or unluckily, depending on how you looked at it), the restaurant was only a few blocks from the DEO. It was lucky, because the orange chicken mixed with Kara's nerves and the closeness of the limo style SUV was really not a good combination. It was unlucky, because a countdown timer had started ever since Alex had shown up - only Kara had no idea how long was left on it or what, exactly, it was counting down to.
She just knew that whatever it was probably wasn't going to be enjoyable.
The feeling of existential dread only gets worse when they step out of the vehicle and make their way into the DEO.
The whole place feels the same as she's used to, but somehow also different in a way she just can't quite but her finger on.
Heart hammering in her chest faster than she thinks is entirely safe, she feels her anxiety ramping up with every step they take into the government organization.
It isn't long before the anxiety melts into a panic, and she finds herself coming to an abrupt stop.
Lena is holding her hand, so when Kara stops, she stops too; but the others make it a few more steps before they realize what's happened. Once they do, the situation becomes infinitely more awkward - all eyes looking to Kara to see why they've stopped.
Only Alex seems unsurprised.
"The jig is up, gang. I think she knows we're not here for a software update."
With those words, Kara's worst fears have come true.
"Alex, just . . . just. . . stop" the dryness in Kara's throat cuts her off, and she swallows harshly before pleading - "Please, just let me talk. For just a minute. Please, just let me explain."
Kara's voice sounds desperate, even to her own ears, and she winces slightly.
"Kara . . . what are talking about, what do you need to explain? Whatever this is, we can figure it out. We can fix this, but you have to tell me what's going on." Alex's voice is so reassuring that Kara almost believes her.
Wild blue eyes dart across Alex's face before flicking to Lena and then settling on Lexi for a long moment.
It's so easy to see herself reflected back in the eyes across from her.
The same braids.
The same glasses.
The same crinkle.
She looks back at Lena.
It's her best friend, just as Kara remembers her. She can spot a few strands of gray dusting among her jet black hair, and there are laugh lines and frown lines creasing her porcelain skin.
But still -
The same green eyes.
The same perfect posture.
The same red lips.
Only now, Kara knows what it feels like to have those lips against hers; knows what Lena's skin feels like under her fingers without the boundaries of friendship; knows the completeness of Lena knowing all of her secrets and still looking at her without fear or judgement.
Rao, she doesn't want to give that up.
Regardless of whatever downsides this universe holds, Kara knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that family standing in front of her is more than worth it.
Even if the yellow sun were to suddenly fall from the sky, Kara knows that she would still feel just as powerful - bolstered from the pure euphoria that she feel radiating out from her soul.
In the end, it's that strength that forces her hand - the strength that isn't hers to take.
"I . . ." Kara allows herself one last look at the life in front of her before finally meeting Alex's gaze again.
"I don't belong here. This isn't -" she shakes her head "- this isn't my universe."
She hears Lena's sharp intake of breath; and she halfway reaches out before she stops herself, voice pleading with Lena to understand.
"I don't wanna go back; I don't. I'd give anything to stay here."
Tears cloud her vision before spilling down her cheeks, and she swipes at them with a shaking hand.
Kara expects Alex to agree with her, to be admonished before being forcibly dragged back to her own doomed timeline; but instead, Alex just looks . . . confused?
There's a long moment of uncomfortable silence, where Alex, Lena, and Lexi all share a concerned look before Alex finally speaks up.
"Maybe you should start by explaining to us exactly what you think is going on."
"Actually, maybe we should go to the med bay and THEN she should tell us what's going on." Lexi suggests, worry evident in her blue eyes.
"Kiddo's right, we should probably have this conversation in the med bay." Alex easily agrees.
"We should get blood work started immediately." Lena's shift into all business mode is instantaneous, heels clacking on the concrete floor as she leads the way down the corridor to the all too familiar yellow sun room.
"I knew there was something more to that alien you fought yesterday." Lena's voice echoes off the walls as they follow close behind her. "You weren't yourself last night and then Lexi said you were acting strange this morning."
Kara looks to the younger woman, who flinches slightly - almost as if she's been scolded.
"Sorry Yeyu, you seemed off."
It feels conspiratorial, like the two of them are used to teaming up to ensure that Lena doesn't worry too much about either of them - and Kara can't help but feel a surge of affection, despite the betrayal of Lexi involving Lena.
"It's alright, Little One."
The endearment falls from her lips unbidden, and she reaches out a hand towards the girl but stops herself before she gets too close, unfamiliar with the easy way that her body instinctively reacts to this universe.
As if she belongs.
Kara forces the thought from her head with a shake.
She doesn't belong here, she reminds herself; and the sooner she explains that and gets back to her regular universe then the less painful it will be for all of them.
Well, for Kara anyways.
She supposes that the universe will fold itself back together the way it's supposed to be after she's gone - whatever version of her that's supposed to be here taking her place.
When it's all said and done, today will be nothing but a memory for everyone but her; an eclectic fever dream of the time a Kara from another universe got stuck here.
But for Kara . . .
Well Kara certainly isn't going to forget this experience anytime soon.
At least she hopes she doesn't.
As much as it pains her to know that this is a life she'll never be able to have, she thinks it would be worse to never experience it at all.
Lena drops back, hand slipping into Kara's and giving a firm squeeze.
"We'll figure this out, darling, whatever they did to you, I can fix it."
Oh how Kara wishes that were true.
So much so that she almost lets herself fall prey to the confidence in Lena's voice.
She wishes it more than she's ever wished for anything.
And even though she knows all too well the devastation that comes with misplaced hope, her only response is to cling tightly to the fingers laced in hers and . . . well . . . hope.