Chapter Text
Kara Danvers wasn’t angry. She wasn’t annoyed or upset or frustrated. She wasn’t even sad. And she most certainly was not jealous.
Of course she wasn’t jealous. That would be preposterous because Lena was her friend and she didn’t owe Kara her undivided attention and she was her own person and Kara had no hold over her and... She had explained this to Alex (and Nia and Winn and Eliza and really why did all of these people think there was more to her relationship with Lena?) multiple times. If you asked Kara on an average day, she could - and would - list for you all the reasons why getting jealous over your best friend paying attention to other people was ridiculous and a little gross. It was only in the quietest and most honest moments that Kara admitted to herself that she didn’t get jealous because she didn’t have to.
It’s not that Lena didn’t attract attention. Lena is objectively beautiful, plus she’s a genius, a billionaire, and a member of one of the most notorious families in America. Lena did nothing but attract attention. Kara could be dumb, but she’s not stupid. She saw the way that people fawned all over Lena, showering her with compliments and praise to her face and then gossiping behind her back. She saw the lust in the eyes of people at the galas they attended, the way their gaze lingered on Lena’s perfect jawline and collarbones and...other assets. No, it’s not that Lena didn’t attract attention. It’s that she didn’t return it.
For all that the people around her wanted more, Kara knew that they only got Boardroom Lena or Scientist Lena or Philanthropist Lena. Even at game night, the SuperFriends got Friend Lena. Only Kara got LENA. Only Kara got the twinkle in her eyes or the mischievous smirk, the double-dimpled smile or the achingly soft vulnerability that came with sleepiness or a little too much to drink. All of those things that made up the multiple facets of this remarkable woman were for Kara alone.
Except now Lena was across the ballroom laughing with one of the most beautiful women Kara had ever seen - a woman she had willingly hugged upon greeting - and she was smiling her Kara smile and blushing at someone who was decidedly not Kara. But no, Kara was not jealous.
“Who is that talking to Lena?” Alex’s voice came to her through a fog. “They seem...chummy.”
Kara glanced sideways at her sister, confirming that the smirk in her voice was present on her face as well. She frowned silently.
Alex was still looking at the two women across the room. They both wore floor length evening gowns, Lena in a sleeveless emerald green dress with mandarin collar and fully open back that showed off her milky skin and the other brunette in an off-shoulder dress of royal purple. Kara, who had earlier that evening been feeling very dapper in her navy blue suit with the velvet jacket, suddenly felt underdressed.
Alex continued without even looking at Kara. “I mean, I get it. She’s gorgeous! If she looked at me like that, I’d probably swallow my tongue.”
Kara’s jaw clenched. Not that she’s jealous; it’s just that she has eyes and doesn’t need someone telling her the obvious.
“Wow! I didn’t know that Lena could smile like that! I mean, other than at you of course.” Alex’s voice sounded like it was coming from underwater and Kara was drowning. She could hear her blood rushing in her ears, the pounding of her heart an increasing percussion. She felt her chest burning and the flush moving up her face.
“Kara? Kara!” Alex’s hand was on her chest, the other squeezing her bicep. Kara focused on the sensation of her touch. She needed a lifeline.
“Kara, you need to close your eyes.” Alex some urgently and softer than most humans would be able to understand. “Kara! Your eyes are glowing.”
Kara sucked in a breath and snapped her eyes shut. She could feel it then, the burning pressure behind her eyes. She puffed out a little exhale and could immediately tell it was cold enough to show in the air. Her chest clenched. She hadn’t been this out of control since she was new to Earth.
“Alex.” Her voice sounds rough to her own ears. “I- I have to go. I need-I can’t be here right now.”
Alex squeezed her arm again. “I’ll make your excuses. Be careful.”
Kara made it out the door and then was gone in the next blink.
—————————————————————————————————
Lena Luthor was very jealous.
She knew she had no right. While she had long ago admitted to herself that she was hopelessly in love with Kara, she knew that her feelings were unrequited and that she had no hold on Kara. That didn’t stop her from thinking about Kara all the time and subconsciously picking out outfits she thought Kara would like or having the caterers provide mountains of potstickers or even having the string quartet play arrangements of *NSYNC songs. Still, knowing that Kara wasn’t interested in her and experiencing it first hand were two different things.
She had been disappointed that evening when she arrived at the gala and didn’t see Kara there. Lena knew she had been planning to attend, but perhaps a Super emergency had Kara running late. She busied herself making small talk with investors and promoting the youth center for whom tonight’s funds were being raised. She had just about reached her limit with the old men and their wandering hands when she heard her name called out from behind her.
“Lena Luthor! Aren’t you a sight?”
Lena turned quickly to see one of her oldest friends looking radiant in a purple gown.
“Samantha Arias!” Lena gave her an uncharacteristic hug. “I can’t believe you’re finally here!”
Sam feigned shock, “I’m sorry. I thought you were my best friend Lena, but you can’t be. Perhaps you know her though? Gorgeous, frighteningly repressed, never hugs first?”
“Shut up, Samantha!” Lena blushed, but chuckled. “I’m the new and improved version.”
“I don’t suppose that has anything to do with a certain reporter that I’ve heard so much about?” Sam smirked slyly at Lena as her blush deepened. “Where is the infamous Kara? I am dying to meet her.”
“I haven’t seen her yet tonight,” Lena glanced around. “Sometimes she gets held up at-“
Lena suddenly caught sight of Kara across the room and froze. Normally this would have been due to the way the blue of Kara’s suit brought out her eyes or the sinful way that her slacks hugged her thighs. But tonight all Lena could see is the intensity of her gaze and the way she couldn’t take her eyes off of...Sam.
The sharp burning in in Lena’s chest was immediate. Yes, Lena Luthor was very jealous.
“Earth to Lena!” Sam squeezed her hand. “Want to finish your sentence?”
Lena cleared her throat, trying to keep the tears she felt prickling the backs of her eyes at bay. “She’s over by the food. The blonde wearing the blue suit.” Sam started to turn her head in that direction. “Would you at least try to be subtle?” Lena snapped.
Sam let out a low whistle of appreciation. Lena clenched her fists. Sam is one of your dearest friends. DO NOT LASH OUT!
Sam turned her attention back to Lena, only sneaking glances over to Kara. “Down, girl! I’m not going to make a move on your wife,” Lena scoffed, flushing, but Sam ignored her. “I wouldn’t mind getting to know the redhead next to her though...”
Lena quickly glanced back to where Kara stood. She hadn’t even noticed Alex standing with her. She smiled fully at Sam, as her heart unclenched slightly. “That’s Alex, Kara’s sister. She’s a very gay federal agent who rides a motorcycle and has a soft spot for children.”
“I think I’m in love,” Sam breathed. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go meet my future wife!”
Lena felt a genuine laugh bubble out of her. “I really am glad you’re here, Sam. I’ve missed you!” She took Sam’s hand with a squeeze.
“I’ve missed you too, Lena,” Sam replied with a watery smile. “I can’t tell you what it means to see you so happy. Kara’s been good for you.” She squeezed Lena’s hand back. “Now stop delaying the inevitable and take me to your girl!”
Lena laughed again and began to lead Sam toward Kara and Alex. She felt her spine stiffen automatically when she saw Kara. Something was wrong.
Alex had her had on Kara’s chest and was murmuring to her. When she saw a puff of frost in the air, she began to panic. She dropped Sam’s arm and sped up, maneuvering her way through the crowd, but by the time she reached Alex, Kara was gone.
“Alex!” Lena knew that anyone would hear the fear in her voice, but this was about Kara. She couldn’t help it. “What happened? Is she okay?”
“She was upset about something and needed some air.” Alex answered Lena with a small worried frown. “I think she went home.”
“What upset her? Did someone do something?” Lena began to shift into CEO-mode, her voice hardening and her posture becoming rigid as she searched for a focus for her nervous energy.
Alex looked slightly uncomfortable as she met Lena’s gaze. The affect was immediate and Alex’s heart ached as she watched Lena deflate and heard her voice become small. “Alex? D-did I do something?”
Alex’s eyes went soft instantly and she stepped into Lena’s space to take ahold of her arms. She and Lena had butted heads in the past, but Alex loved her like a sister and she hated seeing her so insecure. “You’re going to have to ask Kara for the details because it’s not my place to tell you, but you need to know that you did nothing wrong.”
Lena chewed at her bottom lip. “But I did something.” There was no question in her voice anymore, just sadness.
“Lena.” Sam said her name firmly, well versed in the way that her best friend would spiral into self-doubt. “If there’s one thing that I know from having to listen to you babble about Kara for hours at a time, it’s that you two are solid. Just go talk to her.” Sam shifted her gaze to Alex slightly with a sly smile. “I’m sure she would SUPER appreciate it.”
Two pairs of steely gazes were on her face instantly. She laughed before lowering her voice so no one would overhear. “Come on. Glasses and a different hair do? I may not be a Luthor-level genius, but that’s insulting.”
Alex closed her eyes like she was in pain. “She really thinks it works.”
Lena shifted uncomfortably. “It works well enough.”
She glared at both Sam and Alex when she heard mutters of “useless lesbian” and “stupid in love” from them and then glared even harder when they just grinned at her.
“She’ll be okay, Lena. She just needs to calm down and talk it out.” Alex spoke with the authority of an older sibling. “Just text me later and tell me how it went.”
“Wait! You want me to go talk to her?” Lena’s voice went up an octave. “But you’re her sister, her rock. She’ll want you!”
“Listen, Luthor,” Alex shook her head with a smile. “As much as it pains me to admit this, she doesn’t need me right now. You are her favorite person in the world and I think the feeling is mutual.” Alex glanced at Sam. “Besides, your lovely friend and I have a date with a very large stack of nondisclosure agreements.”
Sam’s smile turned positively wicked, “Mmm, kinky! And we haven’t even been properly introduced.” She thrust a hand out as Alex’s cheeks flushed. “Sam Arias, newly installed CFO of L-Corp and very single mother.”
Alex smiled slowly and took her hand, “Dr. Alex Danvers, Assistant Director of the DEO and very single sister of Supergirl.”
Lena glanced between them as they stayed gazing at each other. “Well, this is both adorable and unsettling. I’m going to go. Sam, please make my excuses.”
Sam didn’t even glance at her as she waved airily. “Go get your girl.”
—————————————————————————————————
Kara Danvers was just about to start in on her third gallon of ice cream when she was startled by a knock. Normally she would have heard someone long before they arrived at her door, but after spending the past 45 minutes having an existential crisis, she felt she got a bit of a pass.
After leaving the gala, Kara had realized that, unless she didn’t care about the structural integrity of her apartment, she needed to blow off some steam before going home. She headed to an abandoned warehouse that she knew was scheduled for demolition and, after an x-ray sweep to make sure there was no one around, began pummeling the walls. She tore through concrete and scorched beams, all while berating herself.
Idiot! Each thought was punctuated with the slam of a fist. Of course Lena would have some beautiful brunette come sweep her off her feet. A beam fell at Kara’s feet. Three years she’s been your best friend and you never realized that you were in love with her? A wall came down. You absolute moron! She continued until the building was in ruins and she could feel most of the anger gone from her system.
Finally with a tired sigh, Kara shook some dust out of her hair and wiped her face. Her fingers came away wet. Without a second glance at the destruction around her, she flew home.
It wasn’t until she was in the shower that she let the tears truly fall. What if she had ruined everything? Could she watch Lena be with someone else? She knew she wanted to love Lena in whatever way was allowed, but now that she realized how she felt, she wasn’t sure if she was capable of being just friends with her. When the water ran cold, she got out and put on her coziest pajamas - the ones with the dancing potstickers - and curled up on the couch with a gallon of ice cream.
By the time she had worked through the rocky road and then the mint chip and was starting into the raspberry fudge, she had a plan. She was going to woo Lena Luthor and show her that they belonged together. She was Supergirl! She didn’t give up in a fight and she was not going to give up her chance for happiness with the love of her life. She-
The knock on her front door snapped her out of the mental pep talk she was giving. “Lena,” Kara sighed almost in relief. She was here, at Kara’s apartment, not dancing the night away with That Woman. Kara straightened as she opened the door and channeled as much of Supergirl’s attitude as she could while wearing unicorn slippers.
“Lee-“
“Kara,” Lena spoke over her. “I don’t know what I did to upset you, but you have to know that I’m so sorry. I would never want to hurt you. You have to tell me what it was. I promise I’ll fix it!” Lena took a shaky breath, her worries and anxieties all bubbling to the surface at once. She started to speak again, but it quickly turned into only noise as Kara pulled her into a tight hug.
“Shh, Lee,” Kara’s voice was muffled, but soothing in Lena’s ear. “You didn’t do anything. You’re perfect. I just saw her and there was so much and I got overwhelmed.”
“Her?” Lena stiffened and pulled back. “You mean Sam.”
Kara shrugged, beginning to pace. “I guess. Tall, brunette, gorgeous? She was with you at the gala.”
Lena closed her eyes and willed the tears not to fall. “So you saw Sam and you got so overwhelmed that you almost lost control of your powers.” It wasn’t really a question.
“Yeah, I mean, I just got so hot and it was like I couldn’t breathe!” Kara tried to explain. “It was like I had tunnel vision and all I could see was the way you looked at her.”
“Wait, what?” Lena’s eyes widened. “You were looking at me looking at her?”
“You smiled your Kara smile at her and you hugged her!” Kara’s head snapped up and her eyes locked on Lena. “I know I’m probably way too late and I should have figured out how I felt sooner and you have That Woman now, but,” Kara struck a Supergirl pose without really meaning to. “Lena, I love you and I am going to show you how good we could be together!”
Lena’s eyes filled and she choked out a wet laugh. “You beautiful idiot. I was smiling my Kara smile because I was telling Sam, my best friend from college, about you. I love Sam, but I have been hopelessly IN love with you since the day I met you.” Lena gasped slightly as Kara was suddenly right in front of her.
“You love me?” Kara whispered, taking Lena’s face into her hands and wiping away her tears with the pads of her thumbs. “I love you so much, Lena. I’m sorry it took me so long to figure it out.”
Lena smiled up at her. “Say it again.”
“I love you. I love everything about you. I am IN love with you.” Kara heard Lena’s heartbeat pick up with each statement she made. “Can I kiss you?”
Lena surged up to connect their lips in a kiss that was messy and awkward and perfect. They slowed, exploring the feeling of being together in a new and exhilarating way until Lena finally needed air. Kara continued leaving little kisses all over her face, traveling to her neck and behind her ear. She was already addicted to the way Lena gasped when her teeth scraped just so over her pulse point and the little stutters of her breath when Kara bit gently on her earlobe. Kara reconnected their lips in a deeper kiss, biting Lena’s bottom lip and then licking it gently.
“Kara,” Lena moaned as Kara continued her assault on her neck. “Darling, as much as I want to do this - and believe me, I want to do this! - your sister is worried about you and I promised I would update her.”
Kara groaned and pouted. “Alex is ruining my fun and she’s not even here!”
“Just a quick phone call,” Lena soothed. “Then you can carry me to the couch and we can make out for hours.”
Kara’s eyes lit up. “You’re the best girlfriend in the universe!”
“Girlfriend, huh?” Lena teased. “Someone is awfully presumptuous.”
Kara grinned cockily. “Girlfriend is just the start, baby. I fully intend to make you my wife.”
Lena’s eyes darkened, “Call your sister quickly. We have plans.”