*Chapter V*
"You're smiling… why are you smiling?" Alex probes, suspicion etched in her gaze as she scrutinizes Kara with the precision of a detective. "And you're eating," she adds, her tone sharpening the air between them. Kara's laughter rings out, clear and musical, increasing Alex's bewilderment. "Kara, have you taken something? I've managed to look past your recent escapades with alcohol and reckless liaisons, but I swear, Kara, if you've ventured into drugs, we've reached a breaking point," Alex declares, her voice escalating, her hands orchestrating her agitation like a frantic conductor. Kara finds the entire situation amusing and continues to laugh with abandon, her laughter swirling around the room like leaves in a whirlwind. "Kara! I am serious. WHAT IS GOING ON?" Alex demands, desperation threading through her words.
Kara halts her laughter and draws Alex into a warm embrace. It's then that Alex notices the fresh bandages on Kara's hand and clasps it with urgency. "Who did this?" Her words pierce the air, sharp and concerned, until understanding dawns like a slow sunrise. "Oh my God, you've met someone? That explains everything—your laughter, your renewed appetite…everything. Tell me about him, who is he? I want every detail!" Alex's excitement vibrates through the room, nearly palpable in its intensity.
"Alex, please sit down before you spin out of control," Kara chuckles, attempting to ground the conversation. "I haven't met anyone in that sense. I've been to this club near the park a few times, Lux, I believe it's called. There, I met an employee who rescued me from a sticky situation with some men who were a bit too interested. I went back to thank her, and she tended to my hand. She's studying medicine and insists on monitoring the wound to ensure proper healing. It's really not as thrilling as you imagine," Kara narrates with a calmness she hopes will soothe her sister, though her heart skips at the memory of Lena.
Alex raises an eyebrow, skepticism painted across her face. "You've never been good at lying, sister. You've been drowning in a sea of gloom for weeks—I can't recall when I last heard you laugh or saw you eat properly. You haven't cared for your injuries," Kara cuts her off sharply, "Alex, it's nothing—she's just a woman." Alex looks incredulously at her sister, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Kara, we live in the 21st century. Love knows no gender. Look at yourself. You light up when you talk about her, and you let her care for your wounds. What's truly holding you back?"
Kara contemplates, her thoughts a tangled web. Is Alex right? Could these feelings be the seeds of something deeper than friendship? "Even if it were true, it's unlikely she feels the same. She's beautiful, on her way to becoming a remarkable doctor. What would she see in me?" Alex embraces her tightly, a bastion against her insecurities. "Kara, you are beautiful, with so much to offer. If she doesn't see that, she's the one who's blind. What's her name? And when are you seeing her again?" Alex's eyes twinkle with curiosity.
"You're impossible, Alex! Her name is Lena, and I'm seeing her tonight at the club. And now, let's change the subject. I found a new coffee shop we should check out soon," Kara deflects, steering the conversation to calmer waters. Alex lets her, recognizing the protective shift in Kara's tone. They chat a bit more before Alex has to leave for work. "Have fun on your date tonight!" she calls out playfully, a mischievous glint in her eye, kissing Kara on the forehead as she departs after breakfast.
Once alone, Kara's mind races with conflicting emotions. Does she harbor more than platonic feelings for Lena? Historically skeptical of love, Kara views it through a scientific lens—a mere cocktail of hormones and electrical impulses. Yet, meeting Lena challenges every preconception Kara held since her youth on Krypton, where marriage was merely a contractual agreement, not a bond of hearts.
Kara fortifies her courage with two chilled beers, each sip steeling her resolve as she prepares to reenter the pulsating heart of Lux, where a special event swells the crowd beyond the usual. Each step she takes is weighed down with uncertainty: Will Lena even carve out a moment for her tonight? Kara shrugs off the heavy cloak of doubt as she collects her entry stamp and passes through the security pat-down, stepping into the cacophony of light and sound. The bar looms ahead, a beacon in the dimness, yet Lena is nowhere in sight. Kara's eyes dart to her watch—it's 11 PM, an unusual hour for Lena to be absent. Perhaps her shift starts later, she muses, settling onto her usual barstool. She orders a beer from Julia, the bartender who looks as overwhelmed as the night is loud. Kara wants to ask about Lena but the words drown in the noise. Doubt creeps in—has Lena forgotten her, or worse, was the electric connection they shared just a figment of her imagination? Kara sighs, the sound lost in the throb of the club. Tonight, the noise is too much, the advances too frequent. If Lena doesn't appear soon, maybe it's time to seek other diversions. She's not opposed to the idea, perhaps that's why she's unable to fend off the advances of her fourth suitor—a man whose seasoned charm is as finely aged as the wine he prefers. He's about fifteen years her senior, fit, with a mane of salt-and-pepper hair styled to a rakish perfection. Kara downs the remnants of her third vodka tonic. If Lena isn't coming, why not indulge in some carefree fun?
Meanwhile, Lena, burdened with exhaustion, is ensnared in the unyielding grips of a prolonged board meeting. It's past midnight, and her patience frays like worn fabric. The board, populated by obstinate old men, persistently pressures her to mold L-Corp into a shadow of her father's legacy. But Lena is resolute, her moral compass unswayed by promises of increased EBITDA. She yearns to break free from the legacy of her family, to infuse the world with goodness. Gazing into the mirror, she sees the day's battles etched into her features. All she desires is a glass of wine, a moment of respite, and the solace of her bed. Booting up her computer, she taps into the Lux's security cameras, a desperate bid to catch a glimpse of Kara, perhaps already gone. Her fingers fly over the keyboard, pulling up the feed from the bar camera. There, she spots Kara, laughing with a man who is too close, his hand boldly claiming a place on her knee. A surge of discomfort tightens Lena's chest, her pulse quickens—a primal response. Why is he touching her? Has she misunderstood Kara's preferences entirely?
The scene escalates rapidly when the man, Ryan, leans in and steals a kiss without consent. Kara's reflexes are swift; her rejection is immediate and fierce, her hand striking his face with the crack of thunder. His shock morphs into anger. "You little, ungrateful slut! You let me buy you drinks all night, and you're not willing to deliver the goods?" he threatens, fist raised. But Kara, fueled by indignation and adrenaline, counters swiftly. She grabs his arm, flipping him onto his back, a move born of instinct and training. The security staff intervenes, pulling her away and escorting her into the cold embrace of the night. Kara's heart sinks as the door slams shut behind her—the night has soured, spiraling down into a tale of rejection and solitude. She trudges home, a path she knows well, shadowed by the specters of those who have left her before—her parents, Jeremiah, and now, seemingly, Lena. It seems every touch of hers dooms relationships to wither.
But fate writes a different ending tonight. "Kara! Kara! Wait!" Lena's voice cuts through the chilly night, her high heels clicking a rapid staccato on the pavement. Kara turns, and there stands Lena, a vision in red silk and black, her appearance stark against the mundane backdrop of the city. Lena's approach halts, leaving a gap bridged only by their shared breaths in the night air. Kara's eyes, glazed with tears and alcohol, scan Lena's face—a mixture of longing and despair painted across her features. "I thought you had forgotten me…" Kara's voice breaks, the words heavy with emotion.
"Never, Kara, I will never forget you," Lena responds, her voice a soothing balm as she pulls Kara into a tight embrace. Their bodies meld together on the sidewalk, finding solace in the warmth they offer each other. After minutes that stretch into eternity, Lena gently suggests, "Let's take care of your hand, okay?" She guides Kara back into the club, dismissing the security with a wave. Inside the familiar room, Lena rebandages Kara's hand with gentle, precise touches, each one a whisper of care and concern. "I'll take you home now," Lena declares as she secures the bandage, her touch lingering on Karas knee, where the man's had been earlier — a silent act of reclamation.
The walk home is silent but for their synchronized steps. Upon reaching Kara's apartment, Lena leans forward, her kiss light on Kara's cheek, a soft "Goodnight, Kara, see you tomorrow" floating in the air as she turns to leave—each step away a tug at her heart, laden with unspoken promises and regrets.
Forty-five minutes later, Lena enters her penthouse alone, her smile a mask hiding her aching feet and the heartache of what might have been. As she slips into bed, she vows to stash sneakers in the club, a practical note that belies the depth of her feelings, dreaming of paths that might yet converge in the dance of destiny.
Thanks for reading so far - what are your thoughts on this one? Are you still a up for a few more chapters, or shall I continue with another story?