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The sun hadn't risen yet and Lena was already out of bed in the kitchen. Most days she was up early but she liked to stay in bed with Kara. Contrary to how she might seem Kara was strong and always held a protective arm around her holding her close. It was warm and the best feeling Lena could ever ask for, most days she would just stay like that. She would just sink further and further into Kara's embrace and the warmth till her dreadful alarm went off again.
Today was different. Lena woke up before her first alarm even went off. She couldn't sleep. She had been tossing and turning all night. Even Kara's arms around her couldn't even help.
“You're up early.” Lena turns in the kitchen seeing Sam walk in. She smiles at the woman waving her off, continuing to pour coffee into her mug.
“Nervous about today,” Lena said. Today was Nia's first day of Lenas class and she might be feeling more nervous than the teen was.
It took Lena three days to convince the school to allow Nia into the class. Lena knew they would eventually say yes to her. She was aware how big of an influence she had over the school. Most of the kids who went to midvale high were because of her classes. (one of the reasons why it took a few days and a little cash to get Nia in her class)
“You nervous?” Sam laughed. She was cutting a bagel in half putting it into there toaster. “She’ll be fine Lena. Especially with you.”
“I don't show favoritism,” Lena shot back, seeing the look Sam was giving her. That one that she's seen too many times before. Sam knew her way too well, even in there first couple months of friendship somehow Sam was able to read her.
“Didnt you buy CatCo for Auntie Kara?” Ruby asks with a yawn as she walks into the kitchen. Sam points at Ruby with a nod.
“Yes she did sweetie which is what? Maybe a little bit of favoritism or would you like to call it something else?” Sam jokes. She was grabbing plates from the cabinet, setting them down next to the toaster.
“Thats not favoritism she was my friend!” Lena groaned. She turned around, setting her mug on the counter. These two were no help to her.
“Favertism is fine Lena!” Sam says. “You're helpful and sweet,” Sam says, earring a look from Lena. “You have a heart Lee, there's nothing bad about that.”
“I cant show favoritism I have other students.” Sam rolled her eyes. The toaster went off and she grabbed the bagels, putting one half on one plate and the other half on the second plate.
Ruby was sitting at the island counter looking tired as ever. She was leaning on her hand with her eyes closed. Lena smiled at her, her messy hair and still in her pajamas. “Why are you up so early?” Lena finally asks. Ruby peaks an eye open looking at her
“Mom got up,” she yawns, wiping her mouth. She sat up straighter when a plate was sat in front of her.
“You slept in the same bed? I gave you two rooms,” Lena says looking at Sam.
“Which we are thankful for but the habit of sharing a bed some nights is not one I’d like to break till she's off to college.” Lena snorted, shaking her head. “When you have a kid you'll understand especially when they will leave soon.”
“I'm not leaving that soon,” Ruby whined as Sam's arms wrapped around her head pulling her in for a hug. “Mom please let me eat.”
“Just wait till you graduate,” Lena said. A look of disgust flashed across Ruby's face.
“Fine I’ll hug you later,” Sam said. She sat down next to her daughter with her own plate beginning to eat. “Todays a busy day.”
“Because you wouldn't take a vacation,” Lena pointed out while taking another sip of her drink.
“Ya mom,” Ruby whined. “You take me out of school just to bring me to another school?”
“You'll be with Lena! She has her whole robot thing.” Lena nodded her head. It was Monday so the robot battles would hit off hard. She had a few classes on friday with some of the students but now it was for a different rotation.
“Don't you like robots, Ruby? Or have you become a loser?” Lena asks, walking towards the island counter with an eyebrow raised. “Cant have you thinking robots aren't cool.”
“What if they attack us back?” Ruby asks with a mouthful of bagel. “What then?”
“Kill switch obviously, maybe even water. Just don't give it access to the entire internet and maybe they wont realize how terrible humanity is.”
“God,” Sam grimaced. “You're...a bright sunshine aren't you?” Lena laughed,
“Of course. Speaking of sunshine, I see someone’s awake.” Kara trudged into the kitchen a pout on her face. Her eyes connected with Lenas green ones and it just grew further.
“Cuddles? You left,” Kara pouts. She walks more into the kitchen and immediately plants herself between Lenas open arms. Kara snuggles into her and Lena is forced to put her mug down but Kara around her is worth it.
“I'm sorry,” Lena sighed, brushing Kara's hair away to kiss the side of ehr head. “Couldn't sleep.”
“I know,” Kara whispers back. Lena frowns hearing that. She hadn't realized Kara was awake when she was.
“Did I keep you up?” She asks worriedly as Kara pulls back. “If I did I’m so-” Kara cut her off with a kiss. It was short and sweet and when she pulled back Kara just smiled at her.
“You didnt it’s alright. Do you want to talk about it?’ Kara asks, slipping one of her hands up to cup Lenas cheek. Lena leaned into it with a sigh, her eyes fluttering shut.
“Just nerves,” she mumbled.
“Outside?” Kara asks. Lena took a moment focusing in on the way Kara ran her thumb against her cheek.
“Sure, do you want coffee?”
“Poor me a cup I’ll get a blanket.” Lena opened her eyes in time for Kara to kiss her cheek and pull away. She watched with a soft smile on her face she skipped practically out of the room.
“You two are disgustingly sweet,” Sam says, reminding Lena who else was here.
“I'm gonna be sick,” Ruby agrees with a short nod. Lena rolled her eyes at them both turning around. She could hear them laugh together behind her buy paid no mind grabbing a mug for Kara and pouring her a drink.
“Maybe she’ll knock some sense into you.”
“I don't need sense knocked into me Sam,” Lena says. She was perfectly fine, she didnt show favoritism. Kara was if anything a special case and not favoritism at all, what so ever, not even a small tiny amount.
Lena grabbed her mug when she was done and made her way outside. There back porch overlooked a small grassy area and then the forest. It was beautiful, especially now with the sun rising through the trees. The beams of light passing through creating shadows and different colors.
She turned after shutting the door, seeing Kara on there bench. She had a thick blanket wrapped around ehr that was definatilly to warm for this weather but maybe just right with how early it was.
“Here,” Lena hums. Kara took the drink, opening the blanket so Lena could sit down and putting the blanket around her.
“Its always so beautiful,” Kara sighs. The two scooted closer together, Kara laid her head on Lenas shoulder wrapping one of her arms around Lena to pull her as close as she could.
“Ya it is.”
It was peaceful. Lena always thought that when she was out here. Sometimes she missed the noise of the city. A background noise that she sometimes let fill her thoughts when her mind was worse. Right now she was ok but couldn't settle the nerves in her stomach. If they were in National City she would probably be on the balcony reading with the loud noises focusing so much on not being in her head.
“Do you ever miss the noise?” Lena asks after a moment.
“Sometimes, but when I was in National City I missed this.”
“Which one would you pick?” Kara hums. She took a sip of her drink as she thought. Lena looked at her, seeing how the sun perfectly hit her face. It made Kara's eyes glisten and brighten. She couldn't help but lean forward and gently kiss the side of her jaw. She chuckled lowly seeing the blush and smile appear on her face.
“Here,” Kara said. “I think...I like the stars too much. The openness and what we are here.”
“What we are here?” Lena mumbles. Kara hummed, nodding her eyes shifting away to the forest in front of them.
“Purly us. There's no media, no nothing. You don't have to worry and,” Kara turned to her and looked at her with such a softness no one could ever compare, “and you being here is the most you I’ve ever seen. You're happy, not that you weren't there but I think there are some freedoms here. You still work but there's just...something in the air here that makes you a little lighter.”
“I think thats you darling.” Kara immediately blushed. Even after years of being married she still did that, blushed and got flustered at whatever Lena said.
“What about you? What do you prefer?’ Kara asks. Lena could hear the nerves in ehr voice. Like Kara was afraid Lena would say anything but here. But if Lena was being honest, and she would always be honest with Kara her answer was simple as day.
“You,” she whispered. She looked down, running her finger over the rim of her coffee mug. “Wherever you are. Here or the city doesn't matter. I know its cheesy but god Kara Luthor, I don't know how many times I have to say this but wherever you are will always be my home.”
“God you make me feel like I'm in some romance movie sometimes,” Kara mumbled. There was a small pause and Kara took the moment to gently lift Lenas head with her fingers. “I love you.” She leaned forward and kissed her so gently. Lena hummed into it bringing her hand up to carefully cup Kara's cheek and not spill her drink.
“I love you too,” she mumbled against Kara's lips. “You know if Nia found out your last name isn't really Danvers anymore I feel like she'd burst.” Kara broke out laughing, pulling away.
“Its Luthor-Danvers but ya your right,” Kara smiled.
She looked so purly happy. She brushed her hair behind her ear and looked up at the right moment for the sun to hit across her eyes again. And fuck...Lena always fell in love again with Kara over and over. The messy bed hair, the pajamas, the way she smiled with her entire soul.
“Do you want kids?” Kara asks. “I mean- I know you do but when do you want kids? Not that we have to have kids- do you?” Kara asked in a ramble that made her blush so hard the tips of her ears turned red.
“Of course,” Lena whispers. She could already see the look in Kara's eyes. Could already tell what it meant. She didnt need Kara to voice it for her to understand. She looked away back at the sun coming up over the forest taking a sip of her drink.
She could imagine a bunch of scenarios. She could imagine little kids running around. Kara being pulled down into the grass and getting dirt all over her and the kids clothes. She could imagine getting them a swingset or a jungle gym anything they really wanted. She could imagine how they looked, Kara’s hair, her eyes or the other way around.
She could imagine if they had a pool. The mess it would make with cannonballs and the inevitable squirt guns Kara would buy them to play with. Lena could imagine herself laying by a pool reading but really watching them all. She could imagine herself being pulled in and acting upset but feeling so much joy her body couldn't handle it.
She could imagine that, but that wasn't what her mind was on. Not little kids but an older one who was lost. She could imagine them all laying on a blanket spread out on the grass at night. Looking up at the stars and both her and Kara explaining everyone of them. She could imagine having a baby, she wouldn't say no to a baby but something she also couldn't say no to was the protectiveness and the feeling that was growing inside her.
“I don't want to ruin it,” Lena said. She couldn't take her eyes off of the many trees, maybe because she was too afraid to look at Kara. Eye contact always made things so much more real. “She feels safe, you can see it and I don't want to ruin that. I don't want to have to hurt her or-or have her think I don't care. I don't want to...fail her.”
“Lena,” Kara breathed out with her whole chest. She grabbed Lenas mug and her own putting it down on the small table they had next to the bench. “Please look at me,” Kara whispered, grabbing Lenas arms. Lena let her intertwine there fingers, giving back a small squeeze and hoping her wife would understand. “You could never fail her.”
“But what if I do? What if I can? We both know she doesn't have anyone else Kara. I gave her this class to be closer with her and I saw she had an interest but just didnt believe in herself. I want to show her she can do anything but-”
“But what?” Kara asks. “Lena, what you're showing her is how much you care. You've done so much for Nia, how could you ever fail her?”
“Maybe it doesn't make sense,” Lena mumbled. She shifted, squeezing Kara's hand tighter. “But I don't want to hurt her. Lex...always pushed me to be better. Be all these things he wanted me to be and everytime I did something it wasn't enough. I don't want her to feel like that, I don't want to make her feel like she isn't enough.”
“Lena.” Kara grabbed her face gently turning her. Lena was about to wipe her own tears away but Kara grabbed her wrist, stopping her. She slowly put Lenas hand down in her lap before letting go and whipping Lenas tears away gently. “You are not him nor are you even close to your family. You're not going to hurt her and I know for a fact you could never make her feel like that.”
“Sometimes things are hard,” Lena sniffled. Kara frowned but nodded her head.
“I know, but I'm always here for you.” Lena smiled through her soft tears nodding. Kara has been here and always will be here no matter what. “You're not them.”
“I'm not them,” Lena mumbled with a nod.
“You're gonna go there and you're gonna teach her how to build the coolest robots ever,” Kara said with so much seriousness Lena had to bite her tongue. “The robots with there hands and-and smashing heads or rams or whatever it is.” Kara continued. “And you cant forget the little noises they make beep boop beep-” and that was enough to make her laugh.
Lenas head fell forward onto Kara's shoulder as she laughed. Her wife wrapped her arms around her laughing gently at herself. “What's so funny? I'm being serious Lena, those sounds are important.”
“They are,” Lena agreens glancing up. “They don't all give there robots cute noises though.”
“Thats a ripoff,” Kara scoffed, shaking her head. She rested her chin on Lenas head and Lena hummed. She had to admit it was a ripoff, who wouldn't love cute robot noises?
“We should probably eat breakfast before Sam and Ruby eat all our bagels.”
“Can we stay here for a moment?” Kara asks, squeezing Lenas body closer to her. Lena hummed snuggling herself into Kara's chest shifting to better position herself. “To make up for no morning cuddles.”
“Of course darling, I always want morning cuddles.” Lena closed her eyes with a sigh. Kara's warmth made her feel a little better now, maybe today wouldn't be that bad for her.
~
Lena really did love this time of the year. She loved telling the kids in the class what they would be doing after they walked in. Watching the horror appear at destroying the thing they worked so hard on or the excitement appear because of the destruction they could cause.
It was always a fun time. Sure there were always those few kids who were upset and cried about it but it usually wasn't bad. She wouldn't do it still if it was bad. The excitement made the whole room buzz. Kids crowded around there robots and placed bets in a small box on who they think would win.
The middle of the room stayed empty. Crushed robots were already laying in the middle dead. It was sad, she had to admit looking at there bodies torn apart and there were little wires hanging out but it was fun.
Nia looked like she was having a fun time too. Lena couldnt rid the smile after Nia noticed Brainy was in this class. Lena hadn't done it on purpose but when she saw the girls friend was in this class it did make it all better.
Nia was cheering Brainy's team on. Most of the class was, everyone knew if Brainy was behind something he would win. Brainy stood with his two teammates with Ruby and Nia next to him. He held the controller to there robot.
The team's robot was a little bigger than the others. Brainy was thankfully one of the students who knew this was happening and was used to it happening so in the process of building he prepared.
It wasn't cheating, Lena had been doing this for a few years now so most of the students knew. They just most of the time were not aware what robots would be the ones that would be “turned over to the slaughter” as Ruby put it earlier.
“Alright,” Lena spoke. She stood at the edge of the open area in the middle of the room. Her students calmed down and all looked at her. “Has everyone made there bets?” She asks looking over all her students. There is a chorus of yesses. “Are the two teams ready?”
Brainy's bot stood on the left and the other teams was stood on the right. It was significantly smaller but it had what Lena would describe as horns poking out of it that could definitely do some destruction.
“You know the rules, whoever destroys the other bot wins. So far Brainy's team is beating everyone else's. These are the lost two competing teams so whoever wins is the overall winner of everyone,” she spoke. She paused a moment for anticipation. She could practically feel the room vibrate with everyone waiting. “Ready, set...go!”
Ruby started blasting battle music on her phone for the hundredth time and Lena couldn't be mad. The robots in the middle of the room went forward. There wheels sped them forward. Brainy’s team maneuvered around the smaller bot but the small bot was able to strike its edge.
The room gasped, some students cheered for the opposing team. “You're doing so good!” Lena hears Nia say to Brainy. She watches a smile appear over his face.
“Left! Left!” His teammate yelled and he listened. The robot took a sharp turn left moving to the side of the other robot before backing up knocking its said with a clang.
“Yes!”
“No! Thats cheating!”
“Brainy you got this!”
Lena looked over to the other side of the room. The team was whispering at each other. Someone took the remote from the main handler and turned the robot quickly trying to ram into Brainy’s bot. Brainmys bot was faster and moved away from the attack.
“They switched people! Thats cheating!”
“Its not cheating its allowed. A risky move but allowed,” Lena says to the class. She could hear some people groan.
Ruby’s music got more intense as the two robots backed away from each other. The teams were thinking of what to do next. Brainys bot so far had gotten a scratch but it wasn't enough. She looked over a him seeing his eyes moving looking between the controls and the scene in front of him.
His teammate whispered something to him and he gave a short nod. He at full speed sped the bot forward. Its mouth opened and chomped down on the other bots' horns before it could turn away.
Even if it had turned away the bot would have gotten some damage on the side Lena thinks. She bit her lip as instead of backing away the other team rammed forward trying to speed against Brainy. The other robots' jaws were not strong enough to bite through whatever the horns were made out of.
“Its not working!” Brainy yelled. Nia grabbed his arm tightly but didnt say anything to focused on the scene.
“Back up!” Someone from the class yelled. Brainy listened to them backing up trying to move side to side to shake the other team.
“There going to break off!”
“No, it's not!” The other team argued.
They were going to break. She could see the screws being pulled from the bot itself. Wiggling in place not strong enough to keep its hold. She held her breath. Come on, they were so close. Come on.
The room was all thinking the same thing, seeing the same thing. They were on edge. Brainys bot hit the back of a table leg. The metal against metal made a loud clunking noise. He seemed to be cornered with the other bot still going forward.
Someone knocked on the door.
“Stop!” Lena yelled. The robots instantly stopped and the room erupted.
“What! Come on!”
“Brainy was going to win!”
“Why did we stop! It was so close!”
“Someone’s at the door now quiet down!” Lena yelled to her students. She too was excited to see the bots be ripped apart but they all knew the rules. The rules she sadly made.
With a sigh she turned to the door smiling when she saw Sam there. She opened it. “Samantha dont you know we’re busy right now?” Lena says as Sam walks into the room.
Almost everyone in the class was glaring at her. Students were murmuring about being annoyed others were talking game plans on how they think Brainy will get out of the situation he put himself into.
“Well I see that, you stopped the whole match for me?” Sam asks.
“Its a rule,” Lena huffed partly mad at herself. “Are you here to watch? Because if you have a question-”
“Ya ya I know be quick robots are cool whatever. I'm here to watch and lunch is after, carry on.” Sam turned the chair next to Lenas desk around and sat down. Lena gave her a look because Sam really just interrupted such a good moment.
“Is everyone ready? I'm sorry for the interruption,” Lena says, turning back to her class.
She thought for a moment. She could have them reset. Brainy was cornered and they did have a pause but she knew how smart Brainy was and he could get out of it. Resetting the play would probably just cause chaos and she doesn't really want a bunch of teenagers yelling at her for cheating.
She looks at the opposing team. The three were in a circle whispering, talking strategy. She looked over to Brainy's team seeing them do the same. She smiled seeing Nia talking to them. Nia fit right in.
She came into the class and instantly clicked like a puzzle with everyone else. It made some of Lenas' nerves disappear but she was still nervous for the upcoming weeks and how Nia would feel learning stuff in the class and being graded.
Right now though was robots and she did not want to wait anymore or make her class wait. “Alright Ready,” she started. The teams turned back towards the middle controllers in hand. “Set,” she continued. She saw Nia whisper something to Brainy that made his cheeks flush red. “Go!” She yelled.
Brainy stumbled over the controls obviously distracted from whatever Nia said. The other team took this as a chance. They backed up out of the hold of the other robot and spit around.
“Shit,” she heard Brainy say but decided not to comment on it. What? Bot battles were intense.
Brainy’s robot sped forward towards thew other one. The other seems bot spun to the side of Brainy’s and rammed forward. She cringed watching as the horns pierced the shell of the robots.
“Its stuck!” Someone yelled. The other team tried to go backwards but instead they were now being pulled by Brainy’s bot.
“Come on, come on,” she muttered. She brought her thumb up to her mouth bitting on her nails, a nervous habit.
Both bots were fighting against each other. They went back and forth slowly as Brainy tried to get them towards one of the desk legs. Eventually he got it there and sped up ramming the side of the bot into the leg.
“No! No stop!” The other team yelled. He did it again and the side of the smaller bot started to crush inwards.
“Thats cheating! Mrs.Luthor!” The other team whined.
“He's using resources around him, not cheating,” she let out. She was so engrossed in the scene in front of her. She held her breath. The room around ehr got louder and louder.
Everyone was yelling. Chanting Brainy's team or the other team. The class grew even more when Brainy sped them into the desk leg one more time and the horns broke off. Her eyes widened as the other bot sped away. “He wouldn't,” Lena whispered.
Her eyes flickered to him. Brainy was smirking now. She watched in magnificent horror as his bot went to the smaller one. Using its own ripped off horns (which were still stuck in Brainy’s robot) to slam them into it.
The small bot didnt have a chance as the side that had been brutally beaten by a desk leg was pierced with its own horns.
“Yes!” Lena yelled. Her hand clamped over her mouth. No one looked at her, thankfully.
“Its- Its dead.” The other team said. The smaller robot didnt move. Its little light slowly flickered off. He must have knocked a wire out.
The class brusted into cheering. She looked at Brainy and couldn't help but smile brighter seeing him and Nia hugged. When he was doen hugging her he turned to his team and did the same thing.
“Favoritism,” Sam coughed from behind her. Lena turned kicking her chair leg. Sam grabbed into Lenas desk quickly to keep her steady. “Hey!”
“I don't have favoritism,” she says again for what felt like the millionth time. “You all did so good!” Lena said to the class. “I hope you all enjoyed this experience! Congratulations to Brainy's team for being number one! As for the other team you did a remarkable job and were so close to winning. I'm very proud of all of you.”
Ruby's music switched to we are the champions. Lena couldn't help but smile as the song started loudly. “You did it dude!” She cheered, patting Brainy’s back. Brainy was blushing furiously at all the attention he was getting.
“As usual thats all for this class and you are dismissed early. Use your time wisely! You have about 20 minutes till your next class!” She yelled. Her students began grabbing there bags and leaving the room.
“You have such a soft spot!” Sam laughed from behind her. Lena ignored her, keeping her eyes on Nia who was grabbing her bag.
“Nia!” Lena calls. Nia smiles at her walking towards her as Lena motioned her to. “I'm hoping you had a good day today?” She asks.
Lena was nervous for some reason. She twisted her ring around her finger as she waited for Nia to respond. She could feel her stomach twisting inside of her like if Nia said she didnt it would be the worst feeling ever. She didnt know why but she wanted to be enough. To feel like she was enough.
She had to pinch herself to stop the thoughts of being a young girl and not being enough flooding her mind. Nia had fun, she saw it. She saw her talk with Brainy and even with ruby. The older girl had been helping out all day and was very excited to meet the mysterious Nia who had been mentioned countless times in front of him.
“I did! Thank you...for doing this,” Nia says softly. Lena beams because how could she not? Nia was happy and Lena was right.
“Well I could tell it was something you would like. I mean who doesn't like robots? Its a hard class but moments like this,” Lena paused to gesture around, “are what really matter.”
“I'm excited for what's to come. I-I know I’ll be behind because of how far the school year is already in but Brainy said he would help me so hopefully I dont fail and-”
“You wont fail,” Lena reassures her. “Your a smart girl Nia, everyone learns at there own speed. Its ok if you don't get the best grade because you're right. The class has already been going for a while but I know with Brainy’s help and my own you will love it.
“Thank you,” Nia said again. Lena was on edge almost telling ehr to stop saying thank you, Nia had no reason to.
“You and Brainy are getting along really well. I saw that hug,” Lena smirks. Nia's face goes red.
“I-It was just a hug I mean he won!” Nia blushed further looking down, starting to play with her fingers.
“Well I'm more than happy you have him as a friend.” The bell rings and Nia looks up and at one of the speakers in the corner of the room.
“I should go I have to make the bus for the cafeteria and-”
“You're staying,” Lena states. Nia seems taken back by the response.
“Are you sure?” She asks. Lena rolled her eyes. She moved, grabbing a random chair and pulling it up in front of her desk next to Sams. She pointed to it and gave Nia a look that said more than enough for the teen to walk over and sit, setting her backpack on the ground.
“That was amazing!” Ruby beams. Her music had stopped and she was bouncing up to the front of the room. She grabbed her own chair and pulled it next to Nia. “You do this every year? God mom why didnt you send me off to live with Auntie Lena,” Ruby scoffs.
“My mistake,” Sam responds with an eye roll. Lena smiles at the two walking around ehr desk and sitting.
“Nia this is Ruby as you know and her mother Sam. She's the cfo of my company and helps run everything while I'm gone.”
“Do you agree it was a dumb idea for her to become a teacher?” Nia asks instantly as Sam extends her hand for a handshake. Nia took her hand shaking it. Lena watched as Sam processed the question and then began to laugh.
“Oh my god I understand,” she said, sending Lena a smile. “But no, she did what was best for her.”
“But she's a billionaire!” Nia cried out. “Do you agree?” Nia asks, turning to Ruby.
“Her life, her money,” Ruby shrugs. “I just wish they lived closer. Its not like when I was 10 and they were over constantly.”
“They weren’t over that much,” Sam says. Lena had to shrug lightly. They were kind of over a lot. By kind of she means they were over almost every day of the week having sleepovers.
“She's not wrong Sam.”
“Ya you all slept in the same bed because you fell asleep watching movies and I’d crash,” Ruby says. Lena cringes at the memory.
“Anyway! Are you excited to be here for the week?” Lena asks changing the conversation.
“Of course, I was annoyed at being taken out of school to go to school but if every day is like this I’m not mad at all.” Lena laughed at the answer.
“Every day wont be like this but it will be fun. I'm not some life sucking teacher.”
“Is Kara?” Ruby asks. “For all we know she could be a golden retriever everywhere else but teaching.”
“She's an amazing teacher,” Nia speaks up. “I’m glad I'm not the only one who thinks her personality is that of a golden retriever.”
“The hair doesnt help,” Ruby nods in agreement.
“She's always been like that. Kara has so much energy and just the love to help everyone and patience to wait and be understanding,” Lena says. She softly smiles thinking of her wife. “God one look from her and she's got you pulled in.”
“Like when you bought CatCo?” Ruby asks. And ok Ruby didnt know what she was doing but Lena could sense it. She looked at Nia. Watched as she took in the information and then her eyes began to sparkle.
“You bought CatCo for her!” Nia yells. Lena had to sit back in her chair just from how loud it was. She could see Sam cringe next to her. “What is wrong with you! The more I learn you bought an entire media empire for her and she doesn't even work there still!”
“But she did.”
“Can you buy me a building?” Nia asks. Lena knew she was joking but god she would buy the teen a castle if it made her happy. She saw something flash across Nia's face for a moment, “can you buy me boobs- with no you'll take that seriously.”
“Nia, I can buy you everything.” Lena held back from saying she would. She wanted to say she’d pay for it all. That Nia just had to ask, give her a look and Lena would already be getting everything prepared to give Nia all the money she needed. Nia flushed for a moment looking down into her lap. “I'm serious,” Lena said.
“I have big belly burger!” Kara yelled loudly coming into the room with the biggest smile. “I got it delivered with that app Ruby showed me! What was it called?” Kara asks, setting down all the bags on the desk.
“Uh its-” Ruby tried to answer but Kara interrupted her.
“Its not important. I'll ask again later but look! I got everything!” Kara said happily. She dug into each bag pulling out endless amounts of food.
“Darling by everything do you mean the entire menu?” Lena asks. Kara gave a sheepish smile not answering her which was enough for Lena.
In seconds Lenas desk was covered in burgers and fries. It was like a montent of food had just appeared on her desk. Coke cans were pulled out and given to each of them and Lena was in awe how Kara one; brought all this in here alone and two; at how much she loved her wife because Lena knew how much Kara could really eat.
“This is so insane,” Nia and Ruby both let out.
“It happens more often than you think,” Lena says. She grabbed a burger and a thing of fries, setting them closest to her.
“Ugh I miss our big belly burger dinners,” Sam moans already having a bite of a burger in her mouth.
“Darling chew your food, don't talk with your mouth full. Do I always eat with children? I feel like I say that so often,” Lena sighs eating a fry. She couldn't complain though.
If she's being hornets the people around her made her heart swell entirely. Nia being an added edition just made it even better. It was becoming more and more apartment how much she(and Kara) cared for Nia.
“So is it true Lena bought CatCo for you?” Nia asks looking at Kara.
“Oh she did, after I quit.”
“She what!” Nia yelled again.
“I didnt know!” Lena groaned. “She got her job back anyway! It was all fixed.” Kara was laughing at the memory. Lena had been so out of her league buying the building and she knew it. “Everything turned out alright.”
“I sure help,” Sam says. “I mean god could you imagine if you didnt have me?”
“You're right I wouldn't be here without you.” Lena said seriously. She knew Sam was expecting more of a remark than that. The way she froze and had to fight back her smile.
“Ya your right you would be making robots and having competitions. I can still hear you yelling yes when Brainy did whatever. I mean come on Lee.”
“Because robots are fucking cool Samantha,” Lena let out. She cleared her throat as everyone stared at her. “Anyway next time you come down you are not working. I will be planning for you to be here during spring break so we can go to the carnival together.”
“There's a carnival?” Nia asks, sitting up. “Like with coasters and cotton candy?”
“Cotton candy and corndogs and all the delicious shitty food and rides,” LKara nodded excitedly. “We can take you, if you want?” Kara asks.
“I-I don't know.” Nia seemed nervous. Kara and her didnt know when or if Nia would go back for spring break. It brought the question up in Lenas own head how would summer vacation go. Nia would have to go back to her grandparents, right? A whole three months with them didnt sit right with Lena.
“We’re taking you,” Lena states. If they had to send the girl off to her horrible grandparents then the least they could do is give her a memorable summer vacation when the year gets there. They still had a few months to go.
“There's no getting out of a Lena Luthor decision,” Sam sighs. “I'm going to beat your ass at all the carnival games.”
“They are rigged,” Lena states. Sam raised an eyebrow at her. Sam knew that, Lena knew it, she was trying to pull her in anyway to a competition. “What's the bet?”
“I have you for a week in the summer?” Lena hummed. Going to National City for a week in the summer wouldn't be too bad. She hadn't been there in awhile and it would be nice seeing how her company was doing from actually being there.
“Kara?” She asks turning to her wife.
“Sounds like a plan but I’ll have you know Lena once won me ten stuffed animals.”
“Oh I’ll beat that! Game on!” Sam yelled, holding out her hand. Lena looked down at it and smirked.
“Sure you don't want to hear what I want Sammy?” She asks using the nickname she never used. Sam hated it which is exactly why she used it now. The woman didnt break through keeping her hand out.
“I don't care, shake.”
“Oh you'll regret that. Thats how I got in this class,” Nia says as Sam and Lena shook hands. Lena sent her a wink that made Sam blush quickly, pulling her hand away and whipping it on her pants.
“There's always a competition,” Ruby sighed. “At least its always entertaining here.”
“You bet your butt it is!” Kara yelled, shoving a handful of fries into her mouth. “We make things interesting!” She said with her mouth full. Lena just sighed, not having it in her to tell her wife to chew before speaking.
“You do,” Sam says with a smile, her eyes flickering between Kara and Lena with a content look on her face.
Lena felt that. She felt content with everyone around her right now. Today was an amazing day. Robot days like this were always her favorites. Sam and Ruby being down just made it even better. Nia being here and in her class made it better too.
She couldn't wait to teach her how to make robots and all the amazing things that came with this class. Nia was really in for it but Lena had a feeling she was more of a nerd then Nia really let on. She saw Nias grades and they were good, great actually. Her science grade was low but Lena was putting that on who she has as a teacher.
Mr.Jackson was always a boring teacher. He was old and it was way passed his retirement time. His classes droned on and were the definition of boring. If he couldn't keep a class engaged that was his fault. Nia was smart, she just needed to be engaged and good thing for her. She had Lena on her side.
“Do you remember when I said you were a robot?” Nia asks, randomly pulling Lena out of her head.
“Yes, why do you have your conclusion?” Lena asks, leaning forward on her arms.
“I do,” Nia smiled but didnt say anything. It made Lena tilt her head in thought.
“Are you going to say it?’ She asks.
“Isn't it obvious?” Nia asks. She jabs Ruby in the side making the older teen hum nodding her head.
“So obvious,” Ruby agreed. Lena looked between them both confused. What could the obvious answer be to something like that?
“Are they messing with me?” Lena asks, looking at Kara and Sam. The two women seemed way too engrossed in there own conversation to even hear or look over at Lena.
“See!” Nia yells pointing at her. Lena jumped looking at them confused. Ruby nodded vigorously like she understood everything Nia wasn't saying. “Exactly, thats my conclusion.”
Lena thought for a moment. She really thought for a minute on it. She hadn't said anything. Just stared at Sam and Kara looking for an answer.
When it hit her she wanted to laugh. She almost did because they were right it was so obvious. She was breathing. She wasn't a robot because she was breathing and feeling and so many other things. In the silence thats what Nia had meant, Lena was breathing.
“Oh I see,” Lena nodded with a chuckle. “Was I not breathing before?”
“Faking it,” Nia shrugged. “But you also...care.” Nia motioned her hand around the table.
“I do,'' Lena said but didnt take her eyes off Nia.
Because god fucking dammit Lena Luthor fucking loved robots but she wasnt one, she cared so deeply sometimes it hurt. She had memories she wanted to erase but it wasn't code she could just backspace. And she breathed. She breathed faster when she was nervous and softer when she was calm like right now.
The biggest reason of it all was she loved. She loved Kara, god how much she loved Kara. She loved Ruby like her own daughter. She loved Sam so far it was balancing a line between friendship. And she loved Nia. She loved Nia and she was nervous, a nervous that made her chest hurt and her breathing faster which a robot just couldn't do at all.
She was so nervous of failing, of not being enough and it was all everything that blew the robot hypothesis out the window. Lena was far from a robot. She was so human it was scary.
“Thank you,” Lena breathed out. It didnt make sense. She knew it didnt but she could see some recognition on Nia's face like she somehow understood a small part of what Lena was trying to convey.
“No, thank you,” Nia whispered even smaller.
“Why are we saying thank you?” Kara asks, confused.
“Auntie Lena isn't a robot!”
“Oh! Well thank god that would be hard to explain to Eliza,” Kara laughed. She leaned over, kissing Lenas cheek and grabbed her hand.
“What? Is it wrong to bring a robot home?” Lena teases.
“I'm sure there are some...problems with that,” Kara says slowly. Lena nods laughing. She couldn't help but lean in and kiss Kara softly.
“I love you, not a robot.” Lena smiled.
“I love you too and if there's any confusion I also am not a robot.” Lena laughed, nodding her head.
“Thats good. I think some people fear I made you.” Kara gasped with mock hurt, but then it turned to confusion.
“So am I the best or worst thing you ever made?”
“God that is not where I thought this was going. I was waiting for a joke and-”
“Oh god mom stop! What is wrong with you!” Ruby yelled. She took out her phone and started blasting music to quiet everyone.
Robots cant breathe but I can, Lena thought. And god if it was years ago she would have such a different response one that would end her up in a hospital but right now she loved every second of it. Right now she didnt want to change a thing. She just wanted to sit here with the air that filled her lungs and the people she loved.