Chapter Text
Sophocles said that “chance never helps those who do not help themselves” Lena remembered reading it years ago in an introduction to philosophy class she managed to squeeze in during university. This was a chance and thanks to certain federal investigations and quick shuffling by the board, she was now poised to make the most of this chance and make her dreams a reality on her own terms. A new city, a new company rising out of the shell of an old, and for a few days at least, a chance to be normal while her face was not on the news or local tabloid covers.
Part of that brief window of normal was wandering the streets of National City, being able to check out the little shops and cafes, soak in the city and get a feel for the people before she would shut herself off in her offices and CEO armor.
Suddenly, in the midst of these thoughts, Lena felt someone bump into her from behind, propelling her forward and knocking her phone out of her hands. In the moment she was sure she was about to hit the floor she felt strong hands grab her arm and waist and pull her back up to standing. Her phone continued its fall, landing and sliding forward across the café floor.
“Golly! I am so, so sorry. I should have been looking where I was going!
Lena looked up and the curt retort she’d had on the tip of her tongue melted away as she looked up into the bluest eyes she’d ever seen.
No, no its ok, I was thinking and wasn’t looking around either. I didn’t notice the line had moved.
The tall blond woman was still holding her arm and her hand rested on her waist when she suddenly withdrew them, pushing up her glasses and dusting her hands on her trousers, a faint blush disappearing quickly amidst the recovery.
Don’t be silly! I am so sorry, I really shouldn’t be checking emails and walking at the same time! Multi-tasking is so overrated, or maybe its not and I just am really bad at it. I normally don’t run into people, I promise! Had to check last minute orders before I got to the counter. My boss likes to surprise me with a change at the last minute just to make sure I’m “ on top of the changing pace of the world”. She’s a lovely boss though, once you get through the other layers, and that takes a bit of persistence that I think most people give up on. Oh I’m rambling, I am sorry again. First I knock you over and then I start talking and really I should just shut up and stop harassing you! Oh!
As the words rushed out of the woman she seemed to notice that Lena’s phone was still on the ground and quickly dove down and retrieved it.
Here you go, thankfully not broken! Sorry again.
With a brief dusting, the woman handed Lena back her phone, pushed up her glasses again and shoved her hands deep into her pockets, standing awkwardly in front of her.
Really, its fine, No harm done, It sounds like you were a bit distracted. Your boss sounds intense and demanding. Lena smiled beneath the brim of her cap.
‘Oh, she isn’t so bad, like I said, once you get past the exterior, she can be quite kind, in her own way. Oh, speaking of my boss, I should probably… yeah…
She pointed toward the counter where the last customer was finishing up their order.
But please, you were in line before me!
She made a sweeping motion, ushering Lena ahead of her.
Lena gave a small smile and shook her head.
I think I’m safer keeping you where I can see you. Please, go ahead. I’m not in any rush today, just exploring.
The blonde woman smiled ‘ If you’re sure, thank you! I think I’m already well past my coffee time allowance.’
She took a step towards the counter and pulled out her phone, skimming through several emails before greeting the barista by name with a smile. Lena was slightly impressed as she rattled off several orders without looking back at her phone, each customised and complicated before finishing with a small hot chocolate, extra marshmallows.
As she finished her order and thanked the server, even giving a brief wave and shrug to the barista making the coffees she turned back around towards Lena.
“ All yours!” She said with a large welcoming smile and took a small bounce step backwards towards the pickup area of the counter.
Lena tucked her onyx hair behind her ear and smiled back at the woman. “Thank you. Well you certainly seem to know your way around this café- any recommendations for the newbie?”
The slight blush crept up the blonde’s neck again and she ducked her head. “Well actually, I don’t really drink coffee that often, but the hot chocolate here is the best in National City! Cat, I mean Ms Grant usually gets the cappuccino and swears they are the only ones who ‘get her’. So maybe that would be a good option?” she said helpfully.
“I’ll give it a try. And your boss is Cat Grant? As in Catco media…..” As Lena said this she finally noticed the ID badge hanging just above the blonde’s belt. As she read the name, her eyes drifted to the tight fit and flat planes of the shirt tucked into the trousers and before her eyes could drift any further down she quickly snapped them back up to meet the sky blue eyes “Kara?”
“Oh, uh yeah. Do you know Ms Grant?” Kara smiled and tilted her head to the side and somehow Lena was reminded of her childhood best friend, a large golden retriever named Atticus.
“ Only by reputation and a few of her more notorious exposé through the years. She strikes me as someone who would definitely give an allowance for coffee time .” Lena smiled and turned to order a cappuccino, quickly paid and stepped towards Kara who had turned to collect an arm full of drinks.
“ Yeah, but like I said, deep down, a heart of gold! Anyways, you mentioned you were new around here ?”
“Yeah, just moved to the city and am trying to get my bearings a bit. I figured coffee is always a good place to start.”
Kara adjusted the coffees and Lena couldn’t help but notice the smooth muscles revealed in her forearms from rolled up sleeves.
Kara seemed to get the balance right and looked back up into Lena’s emerald eyes and smiled.
“Oh well, welcome to National City! It’s really great, I actually just moved here about a year ago and am finally feeling like I know my way around. If you have any questions or need any more coffee recommendations, I would be happy to help!”
“I thought you didn’t drink coffee?” Lena replied with a slight smirk.
“Ah, well I really know the hot chocolate scene a bit better but the coffee knowledge has kind of been absorbed indirectly.” Kara shrugged again and let out a small laugh before rubbing the back of her neck with her free hand.
Lena smiled and was about to reply when the blond woman’s phone beeped and she set down the coffees on a table nearby. “So sorry, I should check that- I’m sure its Ms Grant telling me I’ve used up my coffee allowance.”
As she pulled her phone back out she paused and seemed to get distracted by something in the distance. Then turned to Lena in a sudden rush.
“Oh, you know what, I just remembered that I need to pick up Ms Grant’s dry cleaning! It's been so nice meeting you and I hope you enjoy the coffee, if you do want any more recommendations please let me know! I know what being new in a city is like and us newbies need to stick together!
With that Kara rushed out the door and disappeared into the press of the crowd on the street.
Lena tried to watch Kara as she left but her lean frame quickly disappeared and Lena looked back trying to absorb the whirlwind that had just taken place. As she picked up her cappuccino she turned and noticed that Kara had left her coffee order on the small table. She stood there looking at the order for a few indecisive seconds, an urge to take the coffee growing as she thought about the blue eyed whirlwind.
“ Well, I am trying to explore the city and get to know the people...and she did offer to give me some recommendations…I wouldn’t want her getting into trouble with Cat Grant”
Lena picked up the order and went back to the counter. “ Excuse me, could I get all of these re-made to go?”
____
Lena pushed up her sunglasses as she walked into CatCO Media’s offices. For someone wanting to take a few days to be normal, striding into a media conglomerate’s head office, where the CEO, Ms Cat Grant, was sure to be was not a recommended move. Lena had argued with herself the whole time she’d taken a call at the café from her CFO about some small fires already burning at L-Corp. The whole time she’d had the coffees remade again, and then continued the pros and cons list while she walked down the street and then rode the elevator up. In the end, she noticed she’d ignored herself for the most part and focused more on trying to recall details about golden retrievers and trying to calm the small flips her stomach was starting to do as she approached.
The office was buzzing, fitting for a news and media pulse point, and she quickly tapped a young flustered looking man.
“Excuse me, could you point me towards Cat Grant’s office?”
The young man paused for a moment and then pointed quickly to the far corner of the floor where large glass walls separated out an expansive office from the hum of the main floor.
“ Thank you” Lena gave a small smile and turned her head towards the belly of the beast. If she had come here next week she would have squared her shoulders and turned on her Luthor magnetism and owned the room. This week however, she adjusted her sunglasses again and tried to be as inconspicuous as possible. Amazing what a pair of glasses would do to hide your identity.
She made her way without too much attention towards Cat’s office, and as she approached she saw the familiar blonde buried under a mountain of paperwork, engrossed in whatever was on her screen. Lena slowed her approach ever so slightly to take a deep breath, argue with herself again and then note that Kara had every reason to think she was a weirdo but it was too late.
“You forgot something at the cafe.”
Lena said as she set down the still hot order of coffee in front of her on the desk.
Kara jumped slightly and looked up, blinking a moment as she reconciled seeing the curvy brunette again in her office.
“ Oh! Oh wow, thank you so much! You really shouldn’t have.”
Kara shot up out of her chair and a smile lit up her whole body.
“Well, as you said, us newbies need to stick together.”
A shy smile appearing quickly before being replaced by a slightly anxious lip bite.
“Umm, I’m sorry, this is probably a bit weird, we literally just met and here I am like a stalker. It's just, I am new in town, and you are literally the only friendly face thus far and I really could use your recommendations. I didn’t know how else to get ahold of you as you had to dash off so quickly.”
“Ha! Yes, sorry about that, umm emergency dry cleaning. Ms Grant can get really fussy if I forget something so...important?”
Kara seemed a bit hesitant but quickly returned to smiling at Lena.
“You’re not stalkerish at all, well not beyond reason and I would have probably done the same as you! Actually, I was kicking myself that I didn’t even get your name! I’m not usually so rude. First I run you over, then talk your ear off, bump you in line and then dash off in the midst of talking! Seriously, have I mentioned I’m sorry and I’m not normally so rude?”
Lena let out a low laugh and raised her hand to stop the rush of words coming at her.
“ Don’t worry, you’re safe. As you’re overlooking my stalkerish tendencies, I’ll overlook your absolutely not rude tendencies.”
Kara laughed and seemed to relax a bit, blue eyes sparkling. “ Well, since you’re here and are absolutely my hero for bringing these coffees, the least I can do is offer some tips on things to see and do, and maybe buy you lunch?”
Normally Lena would try to avoid the press or prolonged interactions with strangers. It always led to uncomfortable questions or articles appearing in the news later that she would rather avoid. At least for a few more days. Something about the blond made her feel safe though and that she could trust Kara.
“That would be nice actually.” A genuine smile broke out across her face, matching the one appearing on Kara’s face.
“Well, as you’re here, there is an excellent art museum close by. I like to hang out there, plus they have a good cafe. You could go there and I’ll meet you at the cafe for lunch? If you’re into art, that is. If that's not something you’d want to check out I have some other suggestions. There is a great shopping district…”
“No, the museum sounds lovely. I’d actually planned on going there soon anyways so thanks for the suggestion.” Lena quickly interrupted before Kara could get through his list of suggestions. Their exchange had started to draw a bit of attention and Lena knew she was testing her luck at being recognised the longer she stood here.
“I’ll see you there.” She smiled and with a quick glance around to find the least populated route, made her way to the exit.
Behind her, Kara smiled and bounced a bit on her toes watching her walk away. Suddenly, she realised she still hadn’t gotten the mysterious woman’s name. The smile faded and as she was about to rush after her she heard Keira! Where is my coffee?” come pouring out of the glass office nearby.
Torn between the two choices, Kara grabbed the coffees and headed into the office. Consoling herself on the way that she would get a chance to find out the mystery woman's name at lunch.