Summary: Feelings are shared over an unexpected midnight dinner. SuperCorptober day 14: Midnight.
Midnight Snack
After what felt like the longest week of my life, all I wanted was to go home. I love all of my friends but when I found out Kara was unable to make the weekly dinner party, I wanted nothing more than to go home, fix some tea, and curl up on the couch with a book. Sadly, that was not the case for me tonight. Winn and Alex begged me to help them with Supergirl's suit that was damaged earlier that week. Giving in, I agreed and went to the D.E.O. lab. After a few hours, they said I could leave but the job wasn't done so I refused.
It was nearly midnight when we finished and I was able to go home. Pushing open my door, I was met by a candle lit table, soft jazz, and the sound of a crackling fireplace on my TV screen. Hanging my things, I noticed the lights had been dimmed. If I didn't know any better, it looks like someone set up a date night. Hearing a soft snore from the couch, I smiled seeing Kara snuggled under the blanket she gifted me. Knowing her, she probably put this together.
Walking back to the table, I chuckled noticing Kara used the battery powered candles she put in the goodie basket she made for my birthday. Thankfully she used these and not real candles. Turning them off, I glanced into the kitchen to make sure no food was left out. Once all the lights were turned off, I shook the sleeping blonde gently. "Kara, wake up." She mumbled something about breadsticks. "It's late. Wake up."
"Huh?" Rubbing her eyes, she yawned. "Lena?"
"Hey, let's go to bed."
Sitting up, Kara rolled her shoulders. Looking around, she realized most lights were turned off. "What time is it?"
"A little after midnight. Winn and Alex needed my help and it took longer than they expected."
"Aww," Kara pouted. "But I had a whole dinner planned for you."
I'm exhausted but that pout. Damn it, Kara. I want to kiss that pout away every time I see it. How can you not see that I'm hopelessly in love with you? "In that case, let's have a very fancy midnight snack."
"Are you sure? You look tired."
"I'm sure." Holding out my hand, I pulled the sleepy blonde to her feet. "We can sleep in tomorrow. Saturdays are meant for no alarms."
Kara reheated the food while I turned on the candles, music, and fireplace. Taking my seat, the reporter placed our food on the table. "This looks and smells amazing."
"Thank you. I hate that you have to eat it reheated and not fresh from the skillet." She paused seeing the empty wine glasses. "Uh…"
"One glass won't hurt. Besides, you planned all of this. I want to experience what you had in mind." I watched as Kara poured us each a glass of our favorite red wine. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Taking her seat, Kara stiffened a yawn. "Let's eat."
Steak, potatoes, and asparagus after midnight. My stomach is not going to like me tomorrow. "Mmph." My eyes fluttered shut as the steak hit my tongue. "This is delicious." I don't care anymore. This is heavenly.
"I'm glad you like it," Kara beamed. "I told you I paid attention in the cooking classes we did."
"You paid more attention than I did." I only agreed to attend because you wanted to learn how to cook and I wanted to spend time with you. I chuckled remembering how everyone assumed we were a couple. The longer we were there, the more confused people were.
"Those were fun." Pushing around her food, Kara chose her words. "Everyone thought we were a couple."
"It was a couple's cooking class," I offered. "Not just a couple of best friends cooking class." She's so innocent sometimes it hurts.
"I'm still sorry about that. I'm sure it was awkward."
"Not at all." I desperately wanted it to be true. "No reason to be sorry. We live in a country where if two women love each other, they have the right to be together." A sad smile flashed across the blonde's face. What was that? Does she want this to be a date of sorts?
"I wouldn't know the first thing about dating another woman." She paused, taking a bite of food. "Or dating someone in general. All of my previous attempts were failures."
My heart started to race. She's thinking out loud. I should proceed with caution. "It's not much different than dating a man," I paused. "You can do the same types of things. It's mainly just finding a way to spend time together. The only real difference is what happens in the bedroom." Kara choked on her wine. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah." She tried clearing her throat. "Have…have you ever dated a woman before?"
Does half of our friendship count? No? Fine. "Only once. It was more of a summertime fling than a serious relationship." I paused, finishing my food. "I prefer dating women. Less facial hair. I cared for Jack but-," Now I'm thinking out loud.
"But what?" Kara's voice was nearly inaudible.
Am I ready for this? Telling her how I feel? "But when he came back into my life last year, I had fallen for someone else."
Disappointment was clear in stormy blue eyes. "Oh." Going back to her food, Kara continued to eat.
She truly doesn't realize she's on my radar. That she is my radar. "I didn't realize I had fallen at first. It snuck up on me." Something about tonight feels different. Maybe she does want this to be a date but doesn't know how to bring it up. "She's kind, smart, and sometimes extremely stubborn," I laughed. "To me, her innocence is endearing." I smiled, thinking over our friendship. "She has her own way of saying that she cares."
Closing her eyes, Kara pinched the bridge of her nose. "Lena-,"
"One more thing and I'll drop the subject." I waited for Kara's approval to continue. "One difference I've seen between dating men and women is the intimacy. Which isn't just sex. The woman I fell for always keeps me in mind. When I work late, she sends or brings food to my office. On my birthday, she put together an amazing gift basket full of wine, bubble bath, chocolate, and a movie she knew I wanted to see. Or she'll take pictures of things that remind her of me." Kara's brows creased as my words sank in. "The latest thing she's done was cook an amazing steak dinner and waited hours for me to come home."
Timid blue eyes met mine. "You….you're talking about me?"
"I am." I'm about to panic. I really don't like being vulnerable. But if you feel the same way, it'll be worth it.
"You…you've fallen for me?" A small glimmer of hope shone in the reporter's eyes.
"I have, yes."
Kara's goofy grin brightened the room. "How long have we been unofficially dating?"
"At this point, I don't even know," I laughed. "Let's clean up and go to bed. It's getting late." Taking our plates to the kitchen, I stopped when strong arms wrapped around me from behind.
Resting her cheek on my back, Kara hummed. "I hope you had a good first official date."
"It's the best first date I've ever had."