Chapter Text
The next day at work, James greeted Kara with a kiss on her forehead, as he did every morning. Kara usually smiled up at him after, eyes squinting shut and nose crinkling. But today she just stood with a blank expression on her face.
“Kara, what’s wrong?” James asked immediately.
“Hmm? Oh, nothing.” Kara cursed her inability to lie.
“Want to grab some coffee and talk about it?” James knew her so well. She really wanted to be happy with him. But the feel of Lena’s hand in hers lingered in her mind like the smell of Lena lingered on her clothes.
“Sure, yeah,” Kara said.
One of the advantages of being active CEO of a company was that James got to make his own schedule. And he was in charge of Kara’s boss, so they didn’t even have to wait until lunch to take a break.
Kara fiddled with the lid of her coffee cup, popping it on and off as James settled into the chair across from her.
“So, what’s on your mind, babe?” James asked.
Kara felt tears well up in her eyes. His face was so sincere and she didn’t want to hurt him. But she knew she wasn’t being fair to him. She took a deep, shuddery breath and spoke. “We need to break up.”
James jerked back and tilted his head in confusion. “What? Why? Is… is everything ok?”
Kara tried to nod, but wound up shaking her head. She laughed sadly. “No. Not really. It’s Lena,” she said in a small voice.
James frowned. Kara had mentioned Lena before, but had never gone into detail about why they had broken up. He knew it had something to do with Clark and Lex, and didn’t like the idea of Kara’s ex hurting his best friend.
He cleared his throat. “What, uh, what about Lena.”
“She’s here in National City and we hung out last night and I just…” Kara looked down at what used to be the lid of her coffee cup and the sleeve to keep it from burning hands. She had destroyed both in her anxiety. “I’m not really over her. Or I guess I was over her, but seeing her… It brought back old feelings. And it’s not fair to you to keep this going if half the time I’m thinking about someone else.”
James wanted to protest, wanted to say they could work it out. He wanted to find Lena and tell her to leave National City. But then he thought about the previous year, how he had tried to date Lucy while he loved Kara, and didn’t want to experience that hurt for himself.
“I understand,” he said. He sighed and moved to stand up. Kara reached out a hand to stop him.
“For what it’s worth, James, I really did want this to work out. I really care about you; you’re one of my best friends.”
James pulled her up and scooped her into a hug. “And I will always be your friend, Kara.” She buried her head in his chest, finally letting herself sob.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Now, maybe you should go talk to Lena.”
Kara shook her head. “No, I really hurt her last night. I need to give her some space. I do need to talk to Alex though.” She pulled away and grabbed her phone from her pocket, dialing Alex’s number.
“Kara! What’s up?”
“Alex, we’re moving sister night to tonight.”
“Ok…” Alex’s tone changed from happy to suspicious. “Any reason?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I need to talk to you about a few things.”
“Ok. Is it a potstickers and pizza kind of night?”
“It’s always a potstickers and pizza kind of night. And triple fudge ice cream.”
“Must be serious… I’ll see you at 7, then?”
“7,” Kara said.
The day went by agonizingly slow. Snapper seemed even more impatient than usual and Kara was tempted to just walk out and try to find a new job tomorrow. She loved her job, though, so she gritted her teeth and stuck it out.
When she got home, she changed into her comfiest pajamas and sighed as she sank into the couch. She didn’t even bother getting up when Alex knocked, choosing instead to shout, “Come in!”
“It is a triple fudge kind of night,” Alex said as she viewed her sister’s forlorn face. “What’s got you so down?”
Kara took a deep breath putting down the pizza she was about to shove into her mouth. “I broke up with James today.”
Alex furrowed her brow. “What happened? Did he do something?”
“No, no it was all on me.” She avoided Alex’s concerned gaze and stared down at the ground. “It was Lena.”
“Oh,” Alex said, barely audible. She pulled Kara onto her lap. Kara leaned back into her shoulder and looked up.
“We got dinner yesterday after Clark and I interviewed her and I just… it went so well and so she came back here and it was like gravity I couldn’t stay away from her. Luckily, James texted me before I could do anything stupid, but instead of feeling guilty and focusing on him I just couldn’t stop thinking about how Lena’s hand felt in mine. I’m terrible.”
“No, honey,” Alex said. “You did the right thing. It’s hard to let go of exes, especially ones that you loved so much.”
“I still love her, Alex. I never stopped. But I also remember the argument we had and all the reasons we broke up and it puts a hole in my heart.”
Alex was about to say something, but her phone rang interrupting her. She cursed the fact that her job needed her on call 24/7.
“What is it, J’onn?”
“We found some intel on the Venture explosion. You and Kara need to get over here, now.”
Kara sighed and slumped to her room to put on her Supergirl suit. She grabbed Alex from behind and took off into the sky.
“Lena Luthor wasn’t responsible for the explosion on the Venture,” J’onn said as soon as they landed without any greeting. “She was the target.”
“The part that exploded was directly under the seat she was supposed to be in,” Winn explained.
Kara felt her blood run cold. She took ran out the window and flew as fast as she could to L-Corp without giving the others time to talk further.
Alex’s voice sounded in her earpiece. “Kara, you should know… Winn thinks Lex is behind the attacks.”
“That’s not possible; he’s in prison.”
“He’s still got connections, though. We’re not 100% sure but just keep that in mind when you talk to Lena.”
“Copy. I’m landing at L-Corp now.” She touched down on the balcony, just barely remembering to land gently. She knocked frantically on the window.
Lena whirled around in her chair. “Ka—Supergirl what’re you doing here?”
Kara started to speak, but caught a glimpse of Lena’s office door opening over her shoulder. A man walked in with a determined look and a gun.
“Lex sends his regards,” the man said pulling the trigger.
Lena flinched away but the bullet never hit. In a flash of blue and red Kara dove through the window and caught it with her bare hand. She pulled her fist back and punched the guy, hard. There was a crack, and blood shot out of his nose as he passed out.
Kara whirled around and grabbed Lena’s shoulders. “Are you ok?” she said frantically, checking Lena for any sign of injury.
Lena gasped for air. “I’m… I’m fine. What’s going on? How did you know he was going to be here?”
“I didn’t,” Kara said. “I just had lucky timing. We discovered that the part on the Venture that exploded was planted under your seat. Someone’s trying to kill you.”
“Who?”
Kara avoided looking Lena in the eye. “It…. Lex. Lex is trying to kill you.”
“I can’t believe… I mean I knew he had done some… well, some terrible stuff, but he’s after me now?”
Kara pulled Lena into a hug. “I’m sorry,” she murmured. She stroked Lena’s hair until she felt her sag against her.
“What am I going to do?”
“You’re going to come to the DEO with me so we can watch out for you.”
“Can we go to your place instead? I don’t want to be stuck in some underground government facility like a prisoner.”
“Sure. Yeah, we can do that.” Kara picked Lena up bridal style and flew to her apartment.
Kara placed Lena gently down on the couch and ran into her bedroom to arrange everything. Before Lena even had a chance to think, Kara was back with a set of pajamas, an extra toothbrush, and a clean towel. She balanced them all in one arm and dragged Lena to the bathroom with the other.
“Here,” she said. “Take a shower to calm down a bit and I’ll set everything up for bed.”
Lena closed her eyes and let the water pour over her, trying to drown out her thoughts. She was shaking hard, and every time she closed her eyes she saw Lex’s face. Lex, her big brother, helping her fit in. Lex in the hideous orange jumpsuit at his trial. The smirk on his face as he was dragged away. Lena was glad for the hot water that rinsed the tears away. She just hoped her face wouldn’t be too red when she got out.
Lena stayed until the hot water ran out. With a sigh she dried off, brushed her teeth, and changed into the clothes Kara had given her. They were warm, and soft, and smelled like Kara, and Lena had to bite her lip to keep herself from crying all over again. She took a deep, shuddery breath and reached for the doorknob.
Kara whirled around when she heard the click of the door opening. “How are you doing?” she asked in a gentle voice.
“Horribly, but I’ll manage. Thank you. For… for everything.”
Kara stepped forward and wrapped her in a hug. “No problem,” she muttered against Lena’s neck. “Here,” she said pulling back, “I made up the bed for you.”
Lena smiled softly as she looked past Kara to the bed. Kara had remembered Lena’s favorite blanket from their college days. She had also piled up stuffed animals across the entire bed. “Thank you,” Lena whispered as she crawled into bed. Kara flashed her a smile and turned to leave.
“Wait,” Lena said. “Do you… do you want to maybe share the bed?” She regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. “I’m sorry; you have a boyfriend of course you don’t want to… forget I said anything.”
Kara shook her head and crawled into bed behind Lena. “I don’t have a boyfriend anymore,” she whispered. “We broke up this morning.”
“Oh,” Lena breathed. She tried not to think about the bubble of hope that blossomed in her stomach.
“Yeah,” Kara said, her voice devoid of emotion. “So, like, this is fine. Goodnight, Lena.”
“Night, Kara,” Lena whispered. She scooted back into Kara’s warmth and drifted off shockingly fast.
Lena jolted awake at 6 am. The first thing she realized was that the bed felt cold. Kara wasn’t there anymore. She stifled back tears as the memories of the night before ran through her head. She allowed herself a few seconds to compose herself before rolling over and reluctantly stepping out of bed. She padded into the kitchen.
Kara was no where to be found, but a plate of pancakes was on the kitchen counter along with a note.
Lena,
I’m so sorry I had to run out this morning. Alex wanted me there when she interviewed the guy that attacked you last night. I promise I’ll be back as soon as I can. Enjoy the pancakes, they’re banana; your fave. Don’t do anything stupid
<3 Kara.
Lena smiled. She didn’t think she’d be able to eat much – if any – of the pancakes but she appreciated the gesture. She choked down a few bites, and checked her phone trying to decide what to do for the day. She knew it wouldn’t be wise to go back to L-Corp, but she couldn’t just sit alone in Kara’s apartment all day. A thought occurred to her, and before she could talk herself out of it she had put on a pair of Kara’s sneakers and the outfit that matched her style most that she could find.
It was a long walk to the penitentiary where they were currently holding Lex but Lena needed the exercise to clear her head. She had called ahead to let them know she was coming and it had only taken a bit of negotiating to make sure she’d be able to see him and that the visit would remain discreet.
The smug smile he wore as she entered the room was almost enough to make her turn around and leave immediately. However, Lena wasn’t raised a Luthor for nothing. She was more than adept at hiding her emotions, especially from the very people that trained her to do so.
“Hello, sis. To what do I owe the pleasure?” his voice sent a chill down her spine.
“You know why I’m here, Lex,” she spat. “I need to know why and what else you have planned.”
“You’re destroying the fine reputation of my company, Lena. My supporters are not very happy about that. But, I had nothing to do with it, clearly. I’m stuck in here, no thanks to your little pet and her obnoxious cousin.”
Lena gritted her teeth. “Supergirl is not my pet, she is a friend and a wonderful human being. She would never do anything to hurt me. Unlike you.” Lena shoved down the voice that whispered, only, she is hurting you.
“As I’ve clearly and explicitly stated, I haven’t done anything wrong. I can’t really help what anyone else gets up to, can I?”
“Call them off, or you will regret it,” Lena said. Lex just raised his eyebrows and shook his head. “We could have changed the world together, Lex,” Lena said. “Made it a better place for humans and aliens alike. But your need for power got in the way of logic.”
Lex’s smile turned angry and he jolted forward against his handcuffs toward Lena.
“I was trying to make the world better,” he snarled. “Better for you, sis. Protect you from them; from her. She’s breaking your heart all over again, isn’t she?”
Lena’s cool façade broke, and she lifted a hand to hit him, pausing only when she realized he didn’t even flinch.
“Guess I struck a nerve,” Lex chuckled. “I’ll call them off you, but I can’t promise the same for her. Distance yourself and watch your back, Lee. You don’t want to get dragged down with her.”
Lena shoved her chair back from the table and stalked out the door fuming. She let her anger protect her from the panic and grief threatening to break through.
Kara was waiting for her as soon as she left the building, arms crossed and eyes wild. “What. The. Hell,” she said her voice the coldest Lena had ever heard it. “I tell you not to do anything stupid so the first thing you do is go visit the person who is trying to kill you?”
“Kara, I—”
“Save it, I’m not done. Do you have any idea how worried I was? I come home and you’re just gone no note, no text, no phone call, nothing and you’re not at L-Corp and you’re not in your apartment and people are trying to kill you and you’re not safe and Lena I was so worried.” Kara’s voice had switched from anger to sadness and panic about halfway through her speech.
“I’m sorry. I just… I had to know. I had to talk to him for myself.”
“You still love him. You still believe in him despite everything,” Kara said, more to herself than to Lena.
“I.. yes. I do. I try not to, honestly. He stopped being my brother ages ago, but part of me can’t let him go. Surely you understand that! After everything last year, after Astra—”
Kara’s face fell and the anger flared up again. “You don’t get to talk about her,” Kara said. “You weren’t there you don’t know anything about that.”
“Kara, I know you. I kept a close eye on everything you’ve been doing since putting on the suit. If something happened to you…”
“No. You don’t get to guilt trip me like that, especially not today. Come on,” Kara said grabbing her hand and dragging her down the street.
“No,” Lena said jerking her hand out of Kara’s grasp. “You’re being such a hypocrite and I can’t be around you right now, I’m sorry. I’ll text you when I get home to let you know I’m safe, but… but don’t talk to me for a bit after that, ok?”
Kara stared at the ground for a very long time before finally nodding. “Fine,” she said. “but just know I’m only doing this because I care about you. I can’t promise I won’t be keeping an eye on you.”
“And I understand that. But give me some space to think about this,” Lena said. She stalked past Kara trying not to look her in the eye. Lena wasn’t sure she’d be able to stop herself from throwing her arms around Kara’s shoulders. But Lex’s words kept echoing in her ears. “Distance yourself and watch your back, Lee. You don’t want to get dragged down with her.”
Lena would do whatever it took to make sure Kara didn’t get dragged down at all. But that meant doing what Lex said to throw him off her trail.