Chapter Text
Tuesday, September 5th, 2006
The day Kara breaks Derek Strauss’s nose, she wants to sink into the Earth and die there.
She’s never hurt a person before. Never. She’s accidentally torn up walls and doors and floors and furniture, but she’s never hurt an actual human being. She and Alex have had some close calls when playing around, but Kara is beyond careful. She’s so careful that her anxiety feels like it is constantly choking her.
But Derek Strauss tries to kiss her at her locker at the end of the day, and the next thing she knows, he shouts and grabs his nose and falls to his knees on the floor. He’s a baseball player, strong and resilient, but he’s in tears because of her. Because sweet, nerdy, innocent Kara Danvers tried to kiss him and busted his nose because, oh yeah, she secretly has super strength.
She manages to stay still and soothe him and tries her best to ramble excuses to the nurse and the teacher that come to see what happened. She apologizes over and over again, but she’s not surprised to hear the nurse say he’ll need to go to the hospital.
She hides under the bleachers by the soccer field until Alex finds her. The girls’ soccer team has filled the field for practice, chattering loudly and laughing and kicking around soccer balls. One ball flies just past Kara’s head and Alex chases after it, sighing when she finds Kara huddled up off to the side.
Alex is in her workout clothes, her hair tied back in a high ponytail to keep it off her neck. She grabs the ball, throws it back toward the field, then slides under the bleachers to sit by Kara’s side.
“I heard what happened.”
Kara frowns, a spike of nervous energy jolting through her. “I didn’t mean to, Alex. I didn’t move too fast or too hard, I promise!”
“Hey, relax.” Alex reaches out to grasp Kara’s wrist. “I know, Kara. I’m not mad at you. You shouldn’t be mad at yourself either. It was an accident.”
“They had to take him to the hospital,” Kara mutters dejectedly.
“That’s what they do with accidents,” Alex replies patiently.
“Well, what if this means I can’t kiss anyone ever ?” Kara asks, eyes wide with worry. “I’d like to at least have the option!”
“You do have the option,” Alex insists, tugging on Kara’s arm. “It was one time. You don’t know if that’s what’s gonna happen every time.”
“Yeah,” Kara huffs, “and I’ll never find out. I am not doing that—”
Alex’s hand on her wrist tightens and the other pulls at her neck. Surprised, Kara gives in to her, and before she knows it, Alex’s lips are on hers. Kara’s hands flail until she concentrates and settles them on Alex’s hips.
Alex doesn’t cry out and pull away, bleeding and in pain. Her lips move eagerly against Kara’s, like she’d been waiting for this, and Kara can’t help but fall into it. She kisses back, slow and soft, still hesitating to completely give in.
When Alex pulls away, she’s breathless and Kara finds herself reaching out, trying to pull her closer again. She was enjoying that and she wasn’t done. She’s always craved having Alex close, and this new intimacy makes her feel light for the first time in a long time.
“See?” Alex asks softly, stroking along the back of Kara’s neck. “Kissing doesn’t automatically spell doom. I’m totally fine.”
“You’re sure?” Kara questions, scrutinizing Alex’s face carefully. She wishes she could use her x-ray vision, but she knows better now than to use her powers in public, even something that seems so innocuous.
“I’m fine,” Alex repeats seriously. “You didn’t hurt me, Kara. You would never hurt me.”
“I wouldn’t,” Kara agrees earnestly. She leans into Alex again hopefully, pleased when another firm kiss is pressed against her lips.
“Cap! Hey, has anyone seen Cap?”
Alex jerks back abruptly when they hear her teammates calling. Kara startles, her heart racing. She’d almost forgotten they weren’t alone. Alex’s team is waiting for her.
“Shit. I have to go.” Alex starts to get to her feet but turns back, tugging gently on Kara’s shirt. “No one can know about this. Promise me.”
“I promise,” Kara agrees quickly, too high on what they’ve just done to even consider disagreeing. “I’ll see you at home?”
Before Alex runs off, she kisses Kara one last time and whispers, “See you at home.”