3 days earlier

"Eureka! Then let's talk to Le-," Brainy begins excitedly, but Nia tilts her head and raises an eyebrow, silencing him immediately.

"Kar...," murmurs Alex, touching Kara's arm gently as she takes one last thoughtful look at the laid-out facts and reports.

They have gone through all the options for days, analyzed every conceivable alternative, and had Brainy calculate them. There were a few counterproposals and crazy possibilities that seemed promising for a fleeting moment.

But now they stand here, looking at the probability calculations of all the developed choices. No matter how far-fetched or absurd, they had noted and tested EVERY idea. But only one number stands out in bright green from the sea of red numbers. It blinks incessantly, almost as if it is mocking them.

The certainty that there is only one promising solution envelops the room in shocked silence.

"I need a moment," Kara murmurs, stepping out onto the DEO balcony before silently shooting into the starry sky.

"We could..." starts Alex, but J'onn raises a calming hand.

"We've discussed all the options, Alex. There is only this one. And it's her decision."

"But..." Alex's voice breaks as tears finally win the battle against her iron will.


Lena is just pouring herself a whiskey when there is a knock at her balcony door.

"Come in," she says in a normal volume, knowing full well that only one person uses this entrance and she doesn't need to raise her voice for her.

Kara slides the glass door aside and steps into the dimly lit penthouse. She smells Lena's perfume, mingled with the delicate vanilla notes of the candles Lena loves so much.

"Good evening, Miss Luthor," she greets Lena.

"Supergirl," Lena replies. "What may I do for you?"

Kara hesitates.

"I... WE need your help, Miss Luthor, in the fight against the Daxamites."

Lena looks into the untouched crystal glass. The whiskey rests in the glass like liquid amber, shimmering under the soft light of the previously quiet evening. Its color plays between gold and mahogany, captured in an eternal dance of light that breaks and reflects with every movement of the glass. It reveals itself as a feast for the senses, a whisper from the depths of ancient barrels.

Then she lifts her gaze and looks into Supergirl's face. The breach of trust still weighs heavily on their relationship. That Supergirl had searched her premises for Kryptonite was something Lena could not and would not simply accept.

"I know you don't want to help me, Miss Luthor. But, please, help humanity."

Kara fixes her eyes on Lena's gray-blue ones, which look at her disapprovingly. Her features are hard, almost stone-like. It is the cold mask that Lena Luthor wears in public. But Kara knows the Lena behind this facade. She knows the gentle side. She knows the delicate lines that fan out from Lena's eyes when she smiles. She knows the feel of Lena's soft skin under her fingertips. She knows the sound of her heartbeat when she's nervous or sad. She loves the playful timbre in Lena's voice and the hitch in her heartbeat when she flirts with Kara.

Kara swallows hard and shakes her head. A futile attempt to push these thoughts away. She could never stop thinking about Lena.

Lena observes Supergirl. Of course, she would help to free the world from the impending threat of Rhea and her followers. But first, she would make the strongest woman in the world wait a bit longer. She would savor the moment when Supergirl writhes under her intense, slightly disdainful gaze. Then she closes her eyes to take the first sip of the liquid gold.

As she brings the glass to her nose, an aroma of complex sophistication unfolds. Lena inhales deeply, drawing the scent into her lungs. Notes of aged oak mix with a hint of sweet smoke, almost mystical, as if telling the story of dewy Highland mornings and the sooty nights of a forgotten era. The scent palette expands with nuances of dried fruits, a touch of vanilla, and a subtle promise of dark caramel melting slowly in a heavy pan. With the first sip, a carpet of warm, smooth flavors unfolds on her tongue. It's like stepping into a room full of old friends: there's the rich sweetness of honey, the structured spiciness of roasted nuts, and the deep, almost earthy undertone of peated malt. The whiskey plays over her taste buds, carefully balancing between robust strength and the gentle embrace of aging.

Kara is fascinated by the sensuality with which Lena enjoys this first sip. She is captivated by the sight of the glass hovering just millimeters from Lena's mouth before touching her full, crimson lips. Lena's features are completely relaxed for a split second as she swallows the undoubtedly expensive whiskey.

Then Lena opens her eyes again. The silence stretches endlessly. Several times Kara wants to say something, opens her mouth, but closes it again. She has apologized a thousand times for her breach of trust. She has tried hundreds of times, both as Kara and as Supergirl, to explain to Lena why she did it. But the rift this mistake has driven between Lena and Supergirl seems insurmountable.

She would never be able to tell her the truth about herself. But it didn't matter anymore. Nothing mattered anymore. She had made her decision.

Lena clears her throat, and Kara looks up, startled. "Excuse me," she says quietly.

Lena narrows her eyes. The bittersweet melancholy that seems to envelop Supergirl today surprises and fascinates Lena equally. There is a vulnerability in her gaze, a sadness in her otherwise radiant smile that Lena cannot place.

"What do you need from me to get rid of these Daxamites?"

Back to business.

"The DEO will contact you with the details."

Then she turns wordlessly and steps out into the cool night air. A heartbeat later, she is gone, and Lena takes another contemplative sip of her whiskey.

It leaves a trail on the palate that is both haunting and unforgettable. Long and warming, with a finish that recalls the fine bitterness of dark chocolate, married with the sweet aftertaste of stewed plums. It is a flavor that recedes gently but never quite disappears, a quiet echo of perfection in every breath. It is a small piece of immortality, captured in a glass – an experience that touches the soul and elevates the spirit while time seems to stand still for a precious moment.