Chapter IV
As the nascent light of dawn trickles through the veil of the morning mist, Lena stands alone, her senses fully immersed in the verdant embrace of the park. She inhales deeply, the air fresh with the perfume of early spring blossoms and the earthy scent of damp grass. Despite the crisp chill that whispers of winter's recent departure, she is clad in long pants, a necessary shield against the morning cold. Her heart cherishes these solitary runs, a sacred time when the city still nestles in slumber and the silence is punctuated only by the sporadic symphony of chirping birds.
Settling on a park bench, Lena allows her gaze to drift across the landscape, her thoughts meandering to her move to National City about eighteen months ago. It was a bold leap, an effort to sever the chains that bound her to the infamous Luthor legacy—a name that was both a curse and a crown. Born from a clandestine affair, she was the unplanned chapter in the Luthor saga, reluctantly embraced only after the demise of her mother. Her stepmother, Liliane, had never wanted children and barely tolerated Lena's presence, a sentiment that solidified into disdain over the years.
The death of her father had ignited a fierce battle over his estate. Under Liliane's stewardship, the Luthor empire had teetered on the brink of ruin, tainted by dubious dealings and outright illegalities. The name Luthor had become synonymous with corruption, madness, and xenophobia. Perhaps in a final act of redemption, her father had bequeathed the entirety of LuthorCorp to Lena, spurring Liliane to wage a venomous legal war. The media relished in dragging the Luthor name through the mud yet again. If not for her father's dying wish for her to restore the family name and helm the company against all odds, Lena might have walked away from it all. But she endured, her soul weathering the storm, even as she lost the last vestige of what could be called family in Liliane.
Rousing herself from the bench, Lena dispels the remnants of dark thoughts with deep, cleansing breaths. She stretches her limbs, a ritual to shake off the shadows of her past, and checks her sports watch: sixty minutes, 9.8 kilometers. Despite the fatigue shadowing her from a sleepless night, she harbors no regrets. Last night, she had finally intersected paths with the enigmatic blonde who had captivated her two weeks prior.
Returning home, Lena transitions from her runner's garb to the armor of her day-to-day warfare: a sharply tailored pencil skirt, a crisp blouse, and her beloved high heels—tools in her arsenal to navigate a world where she must outshine her male counterparts not only in intellect but in appearance. Her transformation into the femme fatale CEO of L-Corp is completed with a stroke of makeup, the final brushstroke on the canvas of her public persona. Shortly after assuming control, she had rebranded Luthor Corp to L-Corp, the ambiguity of the 'L' a deliberate mystery she cultivated.
Her workday is a marathon of meetings, her presence perpetually five minutes behind schedule, emails unread, calls unanswered—a relentless torrent of demands that leaves her mentally and physically depleted. Throughout the day, her focus wavers, pulled incessantly towards thoughts of Kara. As the clock hands align to signal the end of her professional obligations, she decides it's time to retreat.
By 10 PM, she's behind the bar of her club, donning casual attire that contrasts sharply with her daytime facade. Her presence behind the bar, rather than mingling as a guest, sparks murmurs among the staff. In the brief history of the club, her appearances had been rare, her role ambiguous to the employees who were more accustomed to her absentee ownership. But after all, the club is hers, and she can do whatever she wants. Lena is used to being stared at and whispered about. As a child, she was different—smarter and more serious than other children and never quite fit in. Being adopted by the Luthors and labeled as "the offspring of an affair," as Liliane aptly put during the inheritance trial, didn't help. She never had friends and was thus accustomed to people talking about her.
She only has to wait about half an hour before she sees Kara stride confidently through the large archway. Only then does Lena notice her heartbeat quicken. The sight of Kara in black jeans, which accentuate her figure in just the right places, paired with a tight T-shirt, takes Lena's breath away again. "Hi Lena." Kara smiles shyly as she sits on the stool. Lena returns the greeting and places a bottle of beer in front of Kara. It's Friday, and the club is soon packed. Although Lena is behind the bar mainly for Kara, she helps Julia, who is overwhelmed by the numerous orders and cocktails she has to mix. Kara sips on her second beer when a woman with short red hair sits next to her and starts chatting. Kara half-heartedly engages in the conversation, while her eyes keep returning to Lena. Eventually, Lena notices the redhead and raises her eyebrows inquiringly. Kara shrugs in response and can't suppress a hearty yawn. "I can take you to bed if you're tired…" the redhead flirts with Kara and winks at her. Lena has been watching the whole scene and steps in when she sees Kara's incredulous looks. Again, she feels the urge to intervene. She leans over the counter, grabs Kara's beer bottle, and walks away with a "Kara, can you come help me back here please?" Kara obeys and is immensely relieved that Lena has, once again, rescued her from an embarrassing situation. Lena briefly considers taking Kara to her penthouse, but then decides it's too soon and she really doesn't want to reveal herself as a Luthor just yet. Kara seems to have no idea who Lena really is, and Lena prefers to keep it that way for now. Therefore, she leads Kara to the employees' break room.
"You look tired, Lena. Is everything alright?". Lena smiles and simply responds, "It was a tough day." Kara nods and yawns again, prompting both to laugh heartily. "Well, let's take a look at your hand, shall we?" Lena is surprised when Kara extends her injured hand without a word of protest. She removes the gauze and looks satisfied with the previous day's work. A few minutes and some antibiotic ointment later, the hand is clean and freshly bandaged. Kara sits quietly on the elevated stool throughout the procedure, watching Lena's every move. Only when she feels something wet being wiped from her cheeks does Kara realize she is crying. "Oh Kara, did I hurt you? I'm so sorry!" Lena is distraught, and Kara vigorously shakes her head. "No, Lena, it's okay!" she assures. She could kick herself for crying again in such a situation. "I'm just tired, and it's been a tough day for me too." Kara leans into Lena's hand, which still rests on her cheek, and closes her eyes.
Lena continues to wipe away the tears with her thumb, and Kara could sit like this for hours. Lena's warm hand on her cool face and the gentle touches of her fingers feel inexplicably right. They sit for a while like this, Kara with her eyes closed, while Lena takes the time to study Kara's features extensively. The blonde hair, today tied in a simple ponytail, the forehead that harbors worry lines once again, the sweet nose, the striking facial features, the round chin, and of course, those rosy, full lips. Lips that Lena would love to kiss. Are they as soft as they look? But it's too early. Lena senses that Kara is not yet ready for this step, that there are still too many walls around her heart that Lena must first dismantle stone by stone. But she would wait as long as it takes to be able to kiss those lips, as long as it takes for Kara to trust her. She is sure that Kara feels more than just friendship, yet these feelings must be explored carefully and at Kara's pace over the coming weeks and months. Lena instinctively knows that Kara cannot be rushed.
Kara yawns again, breaking the silence that had enveloped them. "I should go, Lena, I'm tired." Lena nods understandingly. "Let me walk you out, okay?" The two leave the club and step into the mild spring night. Kara shivers and rubs her hands over her crossed arms. Lena removes her coat and drapes it over Kara's shoulders. "You can bring it back to me tomorrow." This time, Lena leans forward and kisses Kara on the cheek before turning and walking away. Just before she disappears into the building, she turns around and waves to the still-waiting Kara. Lena smiles; she seems to have already dismantled some of the walls.