CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: 'Game Night'
"SUCK ON THAT, SCHOTT!" Mike exclaimed as his character, Yoshi zoomed past Winn's Mario.
"Not for long, Mon El!" Kara had her tongue stuck out in concentration and squealed in delight when her character, Toad passed Yoshi, ultimately winning first place in the last minute.
"No fair." Lucy pouted as Princess Peach came in sixth place.
"It's okay babe." James cooed, giving her a chaste kiss.
"Get a room." Maggie threw some popcorn at the couple as Alex chuckled.
"Says you two, lovebirds." Kara mumbled, not wanting to recall the time she walked in her sister and her girlfriend. "I'm going to grab a drink."
Kara went to her kitchen and Maggie joined her as she grabbed a beer. "Hey."
The blonde gave Maggie a small smile. Since their last conversation, it was a bit awkward between the two. "Hey, Mags." She said, bringing out a can of lemonade from the fridge.
"I hope I didn't push it with you." She paused hesitantly, "with our last conversation."
"No, you didn't." Kara shrugged it off, and Maggie had a knowing look.
"You still don't believe me."
The reporter fidgeted with her glasses. "I don't." She admitted. "I'm sorry, Maggie."
Maggie shook her head, "it doesn't bother me." She said, knowing that Kara will be met with the truth sooner or later. "But you should ask Alex. Just to be sure." The detective said warily, picking up her beer and joining the rest.
Kara was left in the kitchen. She was right. She had yet to confront her sister about her job in the DEO.
"Hey Kara, can you grab me a coke?" Winn asked.
"Make that two." Mike piped in.
"Three." James said, holding up three fingers.
"Four." Alex chimed in.
"I'm bringing the whole case of cokes!" Kara shouted from the kitchen, grumbling at the laziness of her friends and the weight of the cans.
She joined her friends, noticed the familiar set up of the chessboard.
"I challenge thee, Kara Loralai Danvers from the House of Danvers, to a chess match with I, Winslow Schott Jr. from the House of Schott."
"Dork." Mike rolled her eyes.
"I accept your challenge, Sir Winslow. Prepare to get your ass kicked." Kara said with determination. It was a tradition for Kara and Winn to play a chess match, as the two were able to withstand a long match.
Anyone else who versed Winn would lose almost immediately, and the boy appreciated the challenge with Kara. The rules; no one could speak to the player until they've made their move.
Most nights, the rest of the group would hold bets on who would win.
"Putting ten on Schott." James said, and Kara's jaw dropped in defence. "Sorry, Danvers." He shrugged.
"Don't worry, babe. I've got you. Ten on Danvers." Lucy winked.
"Placing ten on Danvers too." Mike said, purely because he wanted Winn to loose.
"I'm with Winn." Maggie said, "someone's got to support the guy."
"I'm with Kara. Sisters gotta stick together." Alex quipped.
There was a knock on the door and James went to open it.
"Hey, Sam. Ruby." He greeted the familiar faces.
"Lena." Kara chirped at the vampire who lingered behind. The host got up to greet Lena, who smiled warmly at the blue eyed girl.
"Lena?" Alex asked, turning her attention to the door to see, that Lena was in fact at Kara's apartment.
"I'm sorry, we're late." Sam said. Late because she was training with Lena. "And I hope you don't mind Ruby being here."
"Of course not." Kara waved them to come in.
Alex kept her anger at bay at the sight of Lena being here. "I didn't know you were coming." The redhead said, her distasteful tone more so to Lena.
"I invited them." Kara said, a warning tone lingering.
It was a spontaneous invitation, after their afternoon painting the other day. Kara didn't know what brought herself on, but she loved the idea of easing Lena into her group of friends. Her family.
Despite not pinpointing what exactly she had with Lena, she figured sharing the same friendship group and making their relationship known and supported, was a good place to start. 'Go with the flow' she liked to call it, until it was the right time to, 'DTR.'
"It'd be so much fun."
Lena inhaled deeply at the thought of Alex giving her death stares the entire night.
"I don't know, Kar." Lena said with uncertainty. They shared a kiss, so she guessed they can tick off their nickname milestone.
"Does that mean I get to call you Lu?" Kara asked with a cheeky smile.
"Kara." Lena said seriously.
"Right, game night." The girl said, focusing back on their conversation. "It's on Sunday nights, but please just consider it?" Kara said with a pout and puppy eyes.
Damn it Kara. How can Lena say no to that face?
"Fine." Lena grumbled begrudgingly as she caved in, Kara squealing with excitement. "Can I bring Sam though?"
"Of course you can." Kara said, wanting to make sure Lena had everything and anything that would make her feel more comfortable. "The more the merrier."
"It's good to see you again, Lena." Lucy said with a warm smile.
"Likewise, Lucy." Lena said, and she pointed to the chessboard, "is there a match going?"
"Yes."
"No." Both Danvers sisters said simultaneously.
"No." Kara repeated herself. She gave her sister a glare for her to be on her best behaviour, while Alex scowled, "did you want to play?"
Lena smiled, with a little twinkle in her eyes. "Who's the champion here?"
All six of the bunch pointed their fingers to Winn, who waved his hands sheepishly. "Well, I wouldn't say champion."
"Oh, yeah right…" All six friends began bickering over one another at how Winn would practically throw himself a party after every match he won, mocking how he'd whoop in victory every time.
"Alright! Alright, I get it." Winn shouted to quiet down his friends. "Well then, Lena Luthor. Do you accept this challenge?"
"I accept." Lena said smiling as she settled herself on the opposite end of the coffee table. The vampire thought that instead of being closed off, joining in was the best way to warm up to Kara's friends.
"Calling bets now!" Kara announced. "Ten on Lena." The blonde said, sending a wink at the vampire. A gesture that certainly didn't go unnoticed by the other five. Especially by Maggie and a slightly fuming Alex.
"I'll bet ten on Lena too!" Ruby said.
"Rubes, you're only twelve." Sam scolded her daughter.
"I'll bet fifteen." Ruby offered.
"I'll take that action." Sam said disregarding her age, "ten on Lena." Sam vouched, knowing that Lena would win.
"I'm for Winn." James said.
"Same." Said Mike bluntly, not being fond of Kara flirting with Lena.
"I'd like a little girl power. I'm with Lena." Lucy said, giving the girl a smile.
"Alright, Sanvers." Winn said turning to face Alex and Maggie, "what's it going to be?"
Alex looked at Maggie, who just slipped on her beer, not wanting to get on her girlfriend's bad side. "I'm for Winn." Alex said. "So is Maggie." She added, before her girlfriend can have a say.
"Alrighty, then. Four bets each. May the best man—" Lena raised her brow, "or woman, win." Winn said as the two shook hands.
The chess match lasted for almost an hour and a half, each move grew more strategic and as more chess pieces were removed, the atmosphere grew more intense.
"Knight takes bishop." Winn said, as he took down Lena's black bishop.
Lena smirked, as she placed her queen where Winn's queen was. "Queen takes queen." She took his queen, as his knight was his only defensive.
"Oh come on, Winn!" James exclaimed after the move was made, like a bomb that just exploded. "I thought you saw that!"
"She's really intimidating!" Winn defended himself, and Kara smiled proudly.
Winn moved his knight back to its previous position, protecting his king, but the damage was already done.
Lena moved her rook in alignment to his king. "Checkmate."
Winn tried to look for spaces where his king could move to, but to no avail. Lena's queen, knight and remaining bishop would still take his king down.
"She won?" Ruby asked.
"She won!" Sam exclaimed.
Winn had his jaw dropped in surprise, but he must admit he was quite impressed. Kara, Sam, Lucy and Ruby were cheering, while the others who bet on Winn started to fish cash out of their wallets.
"Ladies and gentlemen, history has been made at the weekly game nights!" Kara applauded, as she hugged Lena, who smiled bashfully. "First newcomer to beat Winn's ass."
"Congratulations, Lena." Winn said, shaking her hand, fair in square. "A worthy opponent." He nodded.
"Thank you, Winn." Lena bowed her head slightly. "You're a good player."
"How'd you learn to play so well?" Ruby asked.
Lena shrugged, "I played a lot with my brother growing up."
"I didn't know you had a brother." Lucy spoke up, "tell me, is he any good looking like his sister?" She asked, watching as Kara tensed a little at the flirting.
"Your bi is showing." Alex mocked and Lucy merely shrugged her shoulders. James, looked unsurprised at his girlfriend's flirtatious nature took a sip from his can of coke.
"He's bald." Lena deadpanned, completely uninterested in being a wingwoman for her brother.
"Babe, you've got some competition." Lucy said to her boyfriend, as she rubbed his bald head.
"Ha ha." James laughed sarcastically, knowing that Lucy only had eyes for him, no matter how much of a flirt she can be.
He gave her a chaste kiss, to which Kara was watching intently, before looking away when she noticed Lena staring at her.
The ten of them decided on watching a movie, kid friendly for Ruby of course, and decided on The Princess Diaries.
Alex and Maggie took their usual seats on the couch and as did Kara. She noticed Lena was wondering who to sit with, so she spoke up.
"Sit with me?" Kara asked, and Lena gracefully took a seat next to her.
Maggie and Alex shared a look, as did Lucy and the rest of their friends. They definitely knew that Kara and Lena were an item.
Lucy and James both sat on a loveseat while Winn, Mike, Sam and Ruby stayed in the floor with cushions and blankets.
Kara leaned her head on Lena's shoulder, who sat stiffly with her hands on her lap. "Lu."
"Hmm?"
"You can drape your arm around me."
Lena can feel the fumes being emitted by Alex. When she didn't make a move, Kara instead grabbed her hand and intertwined their fingers.
As the movie was about to finish, Sam checked her watch. "We should get going."
"But mum, it's almost finished!" Ruby whined.
"You know the ending already, Rubes." Her mother chastised as Ruby got up from her seat.
Lena would have stood up, but noticed that Kara had fallen asleep. Her steady breathing and rhythmic heartbeat indicated it.
"I should take her to bed." Lena whispered. Alex made a move to stand up to stop her, but Maggie dragged her back down.
Maggie didn't know what got Alex so distasteful of Lena. All the detective can see in the girl was reconciliation. She saw good blossoming from a dark place, and Maggie wanted to give her a chance.
Lena carried Kara bridal style, careful not to hoist her too much (she had to look believable as a human struggling to carry Kara.)
The reporter made a noise at the change in position, and nuzzled herself closer to Lena's neck.
The vampire can feel Kara's lips graze the crook of her neck and her warm breath against her skin. She reached her bedroom, placed her gently on her bed, removed her glasses and tucked her in.
Lena stared at the girl's sleeping form, her facial features illuminated by the moonlight. She smiled to herself, at how beautiful Kara Danvers was, even when asleep.
She tucked a strand of golden hair behind her ear and kissed the girl on her forehead.
"How chivalrous."
Lena didn't have to turn around to know that it was Alex who was watching her the entire time. The apartment fell silent as she was putting Kara to bed, and she assumed that Kara's guests have now left.
"Are you with my sister now?"
Lena stood up and faced the huntress with her cold exterior on display. "Something like that."
"Well this is the part where I tell you, to stay the hell away from her." Alex seethed.
The vampire held her chin up high. "What did I ever do to make you dislike me, Alex?"
Alex scoffed, folding her arms across her chest. "I know who you are. Lutessa. You don't have to do anything."
"And I know that you're not really FBI." Lena bit back, knowing Kara dropping her nickname would have confirmed Alex's theories about who she was. "Why haven't you told Kara?"
"Why haven't you?" Alex interrogated. "I'm her sister. She won't hate me forever. But you?" Alex asked, "eventually, when the truth comes out, she'll hate you for lying to her. She'll hate you for what you are." Lena's eyes darkened, and Alex continued, "you're no better than your brother."
Lena sped right up to Alex's personal space, the redhead barely flinching as she knew the vampire couldn't do anything to harm her. "And I'm no better than you?" Lena asked with a biting tone. "We're both lying to her and I hate it, but whatever resemblance you think I have with Lex, drop it."
Alex cocked her head to the side, not buying Lena's claim of rivalry with her brother. "I can stake you right here, right now."
"Then what's stopping you?" Lena asked. Alex eyes drifted to Kara, who was still asleep.
"She cares about you." Alex said softly, before she let out a bitter laugh. "I don't know why, honestly."
"Alex." Lena said in a hushed tone. "I am not the enemy."
"Like hell you aren't." Alex spat. "I'm taking you down, Luthor."
"Alex, I'm not here to start a war. If you give me the chance, I'll explain everything." Lena promised. "Including, Jeremiah." She pressed. She waited for a slap, a punch, a needle of vervain stabbed in her throat. But it never came.
"Get the hell out of here." Alex said, through gritted teeth and glassy eyes.
As much as she wanted to know more about her father's disappearance, she never considered siding with a vampire to find answers she so desperately seeked.
No, Alex Danvers does not side with the enemy. She will find out the truth on her own. As will Kara.
It clicked to her then, that she had to tell Kara the truth. Before Lena could.
She will not let Kara be brainwashed by some vampire crush.
She will let Kara know the truth about Lena, through her eyes.