CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: 'A Kiss'

DOES SHE KNOW? Or does she not know? Lena's mind went into a table tennis match between the two questions.

A few hours have passed and surprisingly, the sunset was coming together quite well. A few chit chat and snack breaks and soon, Lena was dozing in and out of painting, her attention drifting towards the girl sitting next to her.

"You're staring." The girl stated without even having to look at Lena.

"Huh?"

Kara rolled her eyes playfully. "Do I have paint on my face?" She asked, now turning to face the vampire.

Yes. In fact, Kara does. A bit of red smudged on her cheek. "Yeah, there is." Lena said, she dipped her finger in white. "Right here."

She swiped the white onto Kara's cheek, making the paint turn pink.

"Hey Kara, you look a little flustered there." Lena joked with a chuckle.

Kara had her jaw dropped in amusement, before she took her brush of red and swiped it on Lena's nose.

"Is it Christmas already? I didn't know Rudolph was in town so soon." Kara joked.

"Santa isn't real." Lena remarked and Kara gasped.

"You take that back!" The blonde said with offence. She dipped the tips of her fingers in the paint water and sprinkled it on Lena.

"Kara!" Lena scolded, and the blonde just realised how much she actually 'sprinkled' on the girl.

"My bad." Kara winced, as Lena shot her a playful glare. The vampire took the paint roller and decided Kara's overalls needed some dark blue variations.

"Cute." Lena stated, as her eyes flickered to Kara's new outfit.

Kara arched her brow, "Lena Luthor, are you checking me out?"

Lena's eyes snapped back to the girl who had a shit eating grin. "N—no." Lena stammered.

She absolutely hated how foolish she can be around the human. Then again, it must be the effect of being in lov— no, selfish with Kara Danvers.

The vampire exerted complete poise and held mannerisms that would put the queen to shame. She held confidence and could maintain her emotions professionally that even the most successful actors can't do.

But, that was before she met the girl sitting opposite her. Before she'd stammer on sentences and loose her footing on crates.

She hated how Kara Danvers had ultimately become her weakness.

"Are you sure? Like what you see?" Kara teased, as she wiggled her brows. Usually her playfulness was manageable, but today, Lena felt it was too overwhelming.

"I'm going to change." Lena mumbled, as she got up and Kara's face fell slightly when she realised she pushed it too far.

"Lena, I'm sorry." Kara grabbed her wrist to turn her around. Unfortunately for Lena, her footing got caught between the plastic sheet, cause her to trip and fall on top of Kara; tipping over buckets of paint and splattering the green onto the sunset.

"Ow…" Kara groaned, as her head hit one of the buckets. Lena pulled away, as she can practically feel Kara's breath on her face.

"Oh god, Kara I'm so sorry." Lena said, as she placed distance between them, propping herself on her arms that was on either side of Kara's face.

Kara looked up, "wait, you've got green in your hair." The reporter brought her fingers to Lena's ebony hair, pinching the paint out. "There." Kara whispered, tucking her hair behind Lena's ear.

Fuck it. Lena thought, as the vampire brought her lips to Kara's. The reporter immediately reciprocated the kiss, her fingers threading themselves within raven strands, until they found themselves clasped around Lena's neck.

The vampire, cupped the girl's cheek, ever so gently as if she'd shatter under her touch. The gesture oddly felt familiar to Kara, as a sense of déjà vu hit her, causing her to stop the kiss.

"I'm sorry." Lena said, when Kara pulled away abruptly.

"No." Kara all but shouted, feeling embarrassed at how desperate she sounded. "Don't apologise." She recovered, clearing her throat. "That just felt familiar." The girl blinked a few times as if trying to take in her surroundings.

Lena got off of Kara, sitting on her ankles while Kara sat up.

"We ruined the sunset." Kara mused, noting the green splatters against yellow.

"I'll leave it." When Kara arched her brow in confusion, the vampire explained. "It's a story to tell."

Kara gave Lena and smile. A genuine, bashful smile at the idea of her being behind that story. A story they'd tell to friends and family, as a couple. "Kara, before we," Lena paused, thinking of what to say.

"We DTR?" The girl says. Lena furrowed her brows.

"What in the fresh hell, is a DTR?"

"Define the relationship." Kara shrugged, "you've never watched Awkward?" Lena looked at her as if she was an alien, "I take that as a no."

"Right. Before we, DTR. There's something you need to know."

"Okay." Kara sat up straighter, her attention fully on Lena when she noticed how serious she was.

"My name isn't Lena. It's Lutessa." Kara let out a light laugh.

"Okay, that wasn't that bad, Lutessa." Kara said smiling. "You don't need to be so worried." The girl reached out and held Lena's hand, squeezing them in support.

"That's not the big revelation." Lena interrupted. "My name's Lutessa Luthor and I'm a—"

"A terrible host."

The vampire turned her attention to the door of her apartment, as she stood up in front of Kara protectively.

"What are you doing here?" Lena bit out. Kara stood behind Lena, watching the interaction between Lena and this stranger.

"Well I haven't seen you in years, Lutessa."

Kara cleared her throat, and two pairs of eyes locked on hers. "You must be Kara."

Lena clenched her hands into fists, hating the way he spoke her name. "Kara, this is my brother, Lex." She introduced, as the man held out his hand.

The reporter gave a polite smile and accepted his hand. Although the reporter expected a handshake, the man brought her hand to his lips and gave it a kiss.

He inhaled deeply, as his lips met the back of her hand, and Lena took a protective step in front of Kara. "Beautiful." He murmured. "Well, I see the two of you are busy." He said, clapping his hands together with a devilish grin. "Lu, a word?"

The vampire's jaw clenched, and she gave Kara a tight smile before walking her brother to the door.

"Don't even think about telling her." He warned, flicking the contact lenses out of his eyes.

"She has the right to know." Lena spoke firmly.

Lex gave a small laugh. "What if I told you that I killed her parents."

Lena swallowed thickly. "You're bluffing."

"And you're in denial. You know it's true. You're just blinded by your love for this human." Lex sighed deeply. "Expose yourself for all I care. But," he paused, "do you have it in you to tell her that as well? That I took her parents from her? Your own brother? It'll only be a matter of time before she starts to hate you too."

When Lena didn't answer, Lex gave her a wink and walked out the door.

"Hey." Kara's soft voice coaxed Lena back into her world of colour. "Lu, huh?" The girl teased, referring to Lena's nickname.

For the first time in years, Lena actually loved the sound of her nickname. It didn't sound like mockery from Lex's mouth.

Kara hooked her arm with Lena's reassuringly, as she kissed her cheek. A simple gesture that seemed to calm Lena down almost immediately. "I take it that you really hate his guts." She leaned her head on the vampire's shoulder.

Lena let's it a forced laugh. "Something like that. It was never like this, you know?" The two walked back to the living room.

"I understand. When I was adopted, Alex hated having me around."

"What changed?"

Kara paused, a nostalgic smile on her face. "The truth."