CHAPTER TWENTY TWO: 'Undercover'
"THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH ME."
"Pleasure is all mine, sister."
Lena sat in the booth of the Alien Bar, staring at her brother that sat across her.
"Firstly, Lex will want me to exchange any valuable information. See if I'm an asset to him." Lena stated, knowing her brother's first move. Lena, Sam, Alex and Hank sat at a table discussing the mission.
"You're his sister." Sam deadpanned, "last I checked, he was begging you for help."
"He wants the upper hand." Alex concluded.
"Give it to him." The director said. "He'll want to know what you know, so give it all you've got. At the end of the day, Lex will be either captured or—"
"Killed." Lena finished.
"So. I see you've come back running into my arms." Lex said smugly.
Lena had her hair cascading down her face. "You're right." She feigned defeat. "I need your help. The DEO came after me last night."
Lex leaned forward, thoroughly intrigued. "And what do you have on them, that I don't? Jeremiah told me all he knows." Of course her brother wouldn't worry about her wellbeing.
"And Jeremiah hasn't stepped foot in the DEO in ten years. He doesn't know how much it could have changed." Lena spoke. "How advanced they've gotten." She paused. "I overheard something."
"You'll exchange information. Where it be true or false, make it believable. He needs to think you know more than he does."
"Continue."
"They're planning some sort of... hunt." Lena said in a hushed tone.
"If you can, Lena. We need to set some sort of trap."
"A trap?"
"A time and place where we can take him down." Alex urged.
"No." Hank spoke up.
"But, Sir—"
"It's too dangerous Alex. We need Lena to get him to trust her."
"A hunt? For the newborns?"
Lena nodded. "I'm not sure when. But I'm warning you now, Lex. Be careful."
"Be careful." Sam murmured in Lena's ear, as she gave her a tight hug.
"Always."
"We're here for you." Sam reassured, releasing Lena from her arms.
"You ready, Luthor?" Alex asked from the door.
Lena nodded.
Lex leaned back on his side of the booth. A glass of scotch sat in front of him, which he brought to his lips. He hissed, as the scotch ran down his throat.
"You're a good girl, Lutessa." Lex said, a small smiled tugged at the corner of his lips, as if he approved. "Mother would be proud."
Lena's insides churned. "I hope so." She admitted and Lex's face softened. He knew he was Lillian's favourite, apart of him felt sorry for his sister's mistreatment.
"She will be." He smiled, a twinkle in his eye. "Thank you for that, Lu."
"We're family." Lena said, "through bloodlust, we survive." She recited their legacy like a prayer.
"That is right. And together, we survive. In exchange for this information, I offer you protection under my wing."
Lena smiled a forced smile, "just like old times, right?"
"Just like old times." Lex chuckled. He clapped his hands together. "Come."
Lena stood up. "Where?"
"To meet the rest of the family."
"Lena?" Sam said, before sending her off. Lena turned to face her. "Don't forget who your real family are."
"Brothers and sisters!" Lex yelled. Lena honestly didn't think her brother would lead her here of all places.
They were on the outskirts of National City. Abandoned buildings and large pipes and old cranes of an unfinished construction site was what Lex called 'home.'
This was where he resided.
"We welcome, the heiress to the Luthor Clan. My sister, Lutessa!"
There were cheers amongst the newborns, and Lena can see just how many if not more, that roamed the city.
Some newborns looked quite intimidated, some unphased as they continued to drain humans they've lured.
"This is Jeremiah. My right hand man." Lex introduced Lena to the man she knew as Alex's father and Kara's adopted father.
He shared the same mocha coloured eyes as Alex, and he also held the same courage she saw in his daughter in the way he held his chin up high.
"Pleasure, Miss Luthor." Jeremiah dipped his head out of respect.
"Lena, please." She insisted. She wondered if Jeremiah knew who she was to his daughters.
"So, now that we've all met," Lex sighed happily, "who's hungry?"
Lena indulge herself to three humans, making sure she wouldn't lose control of herself, she left them alive so she'd compel them to run. She had to make it believable that she was part of Lex's new 'family.'
"Only three?" Lex asked, and Lena's memory of her mother flashed in her mind.
Lena nodded, wiping the blood from her mouth with the back of her hand. "I had one beforehand."
Lex smiled deviously, "double the amount you'd usually stop at." He said, holding two fingers up.
Lena smirked, "I figured there needed to be some changes. If I have to go against the DEO, I have to be ready."
"Spoken like a true Luthor." Lex scratched his chin, "if we were to take down those hunters we've got to be ready. I love a good fight."
"Lex. You're needed." Jeremiah spoke up. "It's the newborns."
Lex sighed, "I'll be on it. Damn, newborns." He tutted, "like children, really. I'll see you soon, Lu. I don't think I'll be around much. Got to show them who's in charge around."
Lena nodded, taking it as her cue to go back to her apartment and put down this facade. Lena bid her brother and Jeremiah goodbye, before she vanished in thin air.
"Jeremiah?"
"Yes, Lex?"
"Follow her, will you?" Lex said, "I want to know what my sister is up to."
Lena entered her apartment, exhausted and tired. She ensured that neither Alex or Hank were to contact her after her first meeting with Lex.
She told them how Lex's newborns would most likely spy on her. She didn't want to blow her cover.
The vampire stopped at the front of her door. Before she turned the knob, she heard grunting on the other side.
She slowly opened the door, and sped her way to the entrance of her room, glad that the door was closed, so she can hear. She stayed silent as possible.
"Come on." The voice struggled.
Lena let out a breath of relief, she didn't know she was holding. Kara.
Lena cleared her throat, and stomped her feet on the wooden floorboards to let Kara know she was home.
She heard Kara gasp out an 'already?' before she stumbled over something.
The blonde swung the door open and closed it just as quickly. "Lena!"
"Kara." Lena gasped, faking surprise and shock. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I thought I might surprise you." Kara said with a happy smile. She kissed Lena on the cheek.
Unbeknownst to both girls, in the distance watched Jeremiah. He overheard every word and saw every exchange of affection.
Something in his chest swelled at the sight of his daughter. How matured she'd become, yet she'd managed to keep her awkward personality consistent throughout the ages.
He smiled at her fidgeting her glasses, just as he remembered she did when she was a teenager. He linked the dots and knew that Lena was obviously someone important to Kara.
"Have you eaten?" Kara asked.
"I have." Lena admitted, not wanting to eat anything else after draining two people into unconsciousness.
"Well, I haven't and I've got a surprise for you." Lena felt guilty that she missed lunch with Kara, and now here she is, planning a surprise for Lena, above her most favourite thing in the world. Food.
"Close your eyes."
"Really, Kara?"
"Close them!"
Lena sighed, before she closed her eyes. She couldn't help the smile form on her face. Kara's warm hands held hers, guiding her into her room.
"Okay…" Kara let go of her hands. "Open."
Lena opened her eyes and looked around her.
Fairy lights hung lowly across the ceiling, illuminating the room. Alternating with it, were lines of the polaroid pictures the two took together hanging on twine.
Some lines had no photos, but instead had letters that hung from them which spelled out, 'for more to come.'
She looked up, and saw glow in the dark stars that Kara painted on. Some were the plastic stick ons.
The lights wasn't what made Lena's heart thump rapidly in her chest. Scattered amongst shelves of books and music records, were mason jars filled with fireflies.
"Kara…" Lena's eyes fell on the blonde. "How'd you do it?"
The girl had a warm smile on her face, "do you like it?"
Lena's smile on her face only grew threefold, until she felt her cheekbones start to ache.
Kara noticed the little dimple adorning her cheek, and she smiled at the sight of it. Happy that she was the one who got Lena to smile so wide, that her dimple came out of hiding.
"Do I like it? I love it, Kara." Lena breathed out. "This is the most sweetest thing anyone's ever done for me." Lena wrapped her arms around Kara's waist, the blondes arms finding themselves around Lena's neck, playing with raven locks.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." Kara leaned in for a kiss, and Lena greeted her lips eagerly.
"We're going to release them, right?" Lena asked, when they pulled away.
Kara let out a laugh. "Of course, we will. But now, I'm hungry."
Lena noticed a small bag of Chinese take out waiting on the seat in the centre of the room. The sight of it brought guilt back into Lena's veins.
"I'm sorry for bailing today."
Kara held a potsticker in between chopsticks. "It's okay. Sam needed you, and I know you guys are really, really close and all." She rolled her eyes and stuffed her mouth as she seated herself on the loveseat.
Lena narrowed her eyes playfully, "Kara Danvers, are you jealous?"
"No!" She muffled.
"Uh, huh." Lena folded her arms, and sat down next to her. She reached out for a potsticker, only to have her hand smacked away.
"Mine." Kara said possessively and Lena put her hands up in the universal I come in peace sign.
"Grumpy pants." Lena muttered.
The reporter rolled her eyes, "open." She said, holding a potsticker to Lena's mouth to feed her.
"You? Sharing food—" Lena's words were muffled, when Kara shoved the potsticker into her mouth with a grin, leaving Lena to chew the large mouthful with a scowl.
"Yummy?" Kara asked playfully.
"Delicious." Lena said, her mouth still full.
The couple sat comfortably within each other's presence. They spoke about stories of their childhood, to latest fashion trends (which was Lena's favourite decade to dress in), books and the universe.
"Do you remember when we first met?"
Lena chuckled, "you make it sound like it was five years ago."
"Still, it was a pretty big moment."
"Well, you just got your promotion and I just so happened to be at the same bar." Lena said. "Would we call it fate?"
"No. I mean, yes. But I meant when we first saw each other."
"Noonan's." Lena recalled, and Kara nodded. "You really love potstickers, don't you?"
Kara smiled bashfully, "Hey, leave them alone. They're a godsend." She paused, "You know what else is a godsend?"
"What?" Lena asked.
"You."
Lena shoved her playfully, and rolled her eyes at the pickup line. "God, you're so cheesy. How'd I walk into that trap?" Lena asked herself, although she felt her cheeks turning red.
"It's true!" Kara said, "want to know why I was stuffing my face that day?"
"Why?"
"Because I saw you!" Lena raised her brow. "Well, that sounds weird but, when I saw you I couldn't stop staring."
"Stalker."
"Let me finish." Kara said with playful narrowed eyes. "Maggie kept telling me to close my mouth otherwise flies would go in." Lena laughed.
"She kept teasing me because I was so captivated by you, I just kept staring. So, to stop myself from rambling and being… me, I stuffed my mouth with food."
Lena stared at the girl next to her. The girl that was full of sunshine and had a skip to every step she took. She was hers.
"Well, do you know what I thought, when I saw you?"
"What?"
Lena smiled, "I thought 'who, is this crazy chick staring at me?'" Kara slapped her on the shoulder and folded her arms with a pout.
"Not funny."
Lena laughed. "Sorry, I had to." When she calmed down, she stared at Kara's features, like she did when she put her to sleep. Or when they broke the glass at Sam's.
"I thought, that after being alone for so long, I could finally call someplace— someone home. That someone was you." Lena smiled nostalgically, "it was a feeling, you know? Like, when you just know that that person will be a big part in your life."
Kara listened intently, "and then, when I saw you at the Alien Bar, I was sure that I'd spend infinite lifetimes with you."
"Aww…" Kara chuckled, as she fixed her glasses.
"How's that for cheesy?"
"Super cheesy." The girl teased, giving Lena a chaste kiss.
"So, what did you get up to today?"
"Oh, you know…" Lena scratched the back of her head. "Dropped off Ruby at school and ran some errands for Sam."
Kara furrowed her brows, "really?"
"Yeah."
"Funny." Kara said shortly, and Lena sensed a change in the atmosphere. "Because I was the one who dropped Ruby off." Kara said suspiciously.
"I just, went out." She paused. "I just needed some space." Lena said defensively. The dirty, sick feeling of lying to Kara and going behind her brothers back was now petting up into frustration.
"You can talk to me, about whatever it is."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
Lena stayed quiet. "It's personal. You won't understand."
Kara intertwined their fingers together. "Lena, whatever it is, I'm always here for you. I won't look at you differently."
Lena shook her head no, as she let out an ironic laugh, knowing that Kara will see her differently. "No you—" Lena sighed. "Just, don't worry." She mumbled.
"Don't push me away Lena."
"Well then, stop smothering me, Kara!" Lena snapped.
Kara flinched, and retracted her hand from Lena's, the vampire immediately missing her warm touch. She never heard Lena sound so angry and frustrated. Her eyes grew a shade darker and Kara couldn't help but shrink away.
Lena regretted her tone immediately. "Kara, I'm sorry. I—"
"No." Kara stopped her, though her voice was calm. "I'll uh, I'll give you some space. I should go." The blonde got up to leave.
"Kara, you don't have to leave." Lena said, following her out the room.
"Lena, it's fine. It's getting late." Kara said firmly, keeping herself calm.
"Kara, don't." Lena pleaded.
"Don't what, Lena?" Kara asked, raising her arms and dropping them back to her side helplessly. "Give you 'space' when you want it? Try to cheer you up, even though you're lying to me? I thought Lex needed you, but it turns out you 'just went out' today."
Lena paused. "I'm not—"
"Save it, Lena. I know you were with Alex doing god knows what."
"How?"
"Does it matter?"
"Kara I can explain everything, just give me time."
"First Alex, then Sam and now you. Are you working with the DEO as well?" No response. The reporter picked her bag up from the kitchen counter, and shrugged on her coat. "It's now or never, Lena." She warned.
Lena watched with fearful green eyes at the girl who stood in front of her, one hand on the door that stood ajar, ready for Kara to walk out.
She thought of Alex, and how she would feel if she'd told her everything without her. How she'd betray her trust like she'd been doing with Kara.
Then she thought about the risk of having Kara know, the danger she would be in. She knew one of Lex's vampires were probably listening to them argue right now.
And Lena decided, she'd rather have Kara safe and hate her, then in danger and love her.
When Lena didn't show any signs of stopping her or speaking up, the reporter shook her head in dismay.
"Fool me once, right?"
And out the door she went. The vampire stood alone. Feeling small and cold, as if the moment Kara walked out the door, all the warmth and light left with her.
Jeremiah pursed his lips in contemplation, before disappearing into the night.