Chapter Text
“...nothing is too much trouble if it turns out the way it should.” ― Julia Child, My Life in France
It was a Tuesday evening nearing 8PM when they ran into one another for the first time. That is, quite literally.
Kara was gripping a stack of papers under her arm and balancing two boxes of cupcakes while fumbling for her keys when she barreled right into the most gorgeous woman she’d ever seen.
The woman grunted in surprise and Kara let out a small squeak as she braced the blonde’s shoulders and reached for the boxes now sliding out of her arms.
They spun around in the process, the woman still gripping the blonde’s shoulders as she righted herself. They were silent for a moment before they both began speaking at once.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry.”
“Are you all right?”
Kara flushed and adjusted her glasses; the woman smiled at the nervous tick before repeating herself, quieter this time.
“It’s not a problem, are you okay?”
Kara nodded, a flutter in her chest appearing at the concern on the woman’s face.
The woman smiled again, nodding once before pulling out her own key to open the door for the blonde.
“Oh,” Kara said, surprise evident in her voice. “Thank you!” She gripped her belongings tightly and made her way through the door.
The woman just smiled and nodded once more, bidding her a goodnight before disappearing out into the evening.
By the time Kara made it back to her apartment and got everything settled for game night, she was no less flustered than when she’d run into the woman in the first place. Alex and Kelly were the first to arrive, and, after placing the drinks and food they’d brought in the fridge, Alex immediately noticed that her sister was hiding something.
“What’s wrong?” She asked, rounding the kitchen island to grab glasses from the cupboard.
“What?” Kara asked, spinning around to face her sister.
“You’ve got this face that says something happened.” Alex’s tone was nonchalant and Kara flushed.
“No I don’t!”
“Alex.” Kelly scolded, “Leave the poor girl alone.”
Alex just looked from Kelly to Kara, eyebrows raised. Kara stared back for all of five seconds before breaking.
“Fine, I ran into this woman in the lobby and almost knocked her down. That’s all.” Kara said, scratching at a spot on the counter with her nail.
Alex set down the glasses she was holding and leaned against the island. “That’s all, hmm?”
Kelly rounded the corner and elbowed her fiancée as she passed, “Was she cute?” Kelly asked.
Alex scoffed, “So you can ask her but I can’t?” Kelly winked, reaching for a can of sparkling water in the fridge. “I’m not being pushy.”
Kara snorted and shrunk back when Alex sent a glare her way. “She was beautiful. Probably the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
They run into one another twice in the next two weeks, once in the elevator as the woman exited, holding the door for Kara as she entered.
The next was in the hallway outside of Kara’s apartment; a hallway which she now knew she shared with the mysterious woman.
Kara was dragging her feet with every step, fumbling for the key in her pocket. She was dead on her feet, exhausted after an hours-long battle with a spiteful alien that just wouldn’t give up. Her body ached and she knew her powers were close to blowing, but she’d waved off the offer for a lift home, opting to change into her work clothes and catch a bus back to her apartment.
As she slipped her key into the door, she heard footsteps behind her.
“Oh, hello.” The voice said, surprise lacing her tone. Kara turned and saw the woman from the lobby, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit despite the late hour. The circles under her eyes led Kara to believe that she’d had a long day too.
“I guess we’re neighbors.” A wry smile crossed the woman’s face as she pulled her own key from her bag and unlocked the door directly across from Kara’s.
“Have a good night.” She said, her voice echoing inside Kara’s head long after her door had closed. The reporter shook her head and unlocked her door, the smile never leaving her face until long after she went to bed.
“Sorry I’m late, the paperwork was never ending.” Alex’s voice echoed through Kara’s apartment as she let herself in. The blonde popped up from where she was rummaging behind the kitchen island and grimaced.
“Yeah, that alien was not so pleased with being taken to containment.” She reached for a bowl in the cupboard by the sink, grabbing a spatula on her way.
“You’re telling me,” Alex groaned, slipping off her shoes and hanging her coat up by the door.
“Pizza should be here soon,” Kara said, bending down to check for an ingredient in the cupboard below. “I put the order in half an hour ago.”
When there was no response, Kara stood, looking at her sister, brow furrowed.
Alex was staring back at her, eyes narrowed with a curious expression on her face. Kara glanced down at the island, covered in flour, ingredients spread out everywhere.
“What?”
Alex pursed her lips and waved her hand toward the state of the kitchen. “What’s going on here?”
“I’m baking.” Kara shrugged, sliding the bowl on the counter toward herself.
“Stress baking?” Alex quirked an eyebrow, teasing as she rounded the island to grab a beer from the fridge.
“No!” Kara huffed indignantly, “I’m trying to relax, it’s- calm baking. Obviously .”
Alex snorted, popping the cap off the bottle and taking a sip. “If that’s what you want to call it.”
Kara rolled her eyes, going back to the recipe. “Just because it’s been a long week doesn’t mean I’m stressed. I’m not going to let Andrea get to me and I refuse to let that jerk of an alien ruin my day.”
Alex hummed, slipping onto a stool across from her sister. “So,” She grinned, resting her chin in her hand, “What are you making me?”
Kara shot her a look, measuring out flour as she spoke. “Brownies.”
Alex’s face lit up and Kara couldn’t help but smile. “Are you using mom’s recipe?” Kara nodded, reaching for the sugar.
“I’ve got to make Eliza proud somehow, don’t I?” Alex reached forward and flicked some flour at the blonde, and Kara yelped.
“Enough with the melodrama, I had to suffer through her questioning for years.” Kara giggled.
“ ‘Alex, when are you going to get a safer job? Alex, when are you going to learn to cook? Alex, when are you going to give me grandkids?’ “
Kara let out a belly laugh, the sound echoing through the apartment. Alex’s smile only grew as she gestured toward the bowl of batter with her beer. “You better master that recipe so she stops asking when I’m going to propose to Kelly.”
“Well…” Kara drawled, avoiding eye contact.
“Nope! Not you too.” Alex warned, a knock on the door interrupting them. “I’ll get the pizza, you finish those brownies.”
Kara nodded and glanced down at the sheet of paper, vaguely registering her sister greeting the delivery person at the door.
She turned to the fridge and pulled out the egg carton, sliding it onto the counter as she checked the recipe again. She furrowed her brow at the number staring back at her, cursing under her breath as she flipped open the carton. The contents confirmed her suspicions- she was one egg short.
She racked her brain for any possible substitutions and, coming up empty, let out a groan as she raked a hand through her hair.
Alex thanked the driver before shutting the door, only to be met with a significantly mopier version of her sister when she turned around.
“What’s wrong?” Alex asked, shoving a bag of flour out of the way to make room for the pizza.
Kara simply flipped the egg carton open and spun the recipe around to face her sister. Alex frowned and glanced down at the page.
“I’m one egg short.” Kara sighed and leaned against the counter, chin resting in her hand.
“Just borrow one from a neighbor.” Alex shrugged, opening the box and grabbing a slice of pizza. “I’m sure Mrs. Stein wouldn’t mind.”
Kara shook her head, grabbing a slice of her own. “It’s after 8, I’m pretty sure she’s in bed by now.”
It was silent for a moment before Alex’s face lit up and she snapped her fingers “How about that woman across the hall? The really cute one you never shut up about.”
“Alex, no.” Kara straightened up, shaking her head.
“C’mon, Kar, this is the perfect excuse to talk to her! You’ve got a totally valid reason for knocking on her door.”
“It’s late.” Kara said, avoiding eye contact with her sister.
“This woman can’t possibly have the same bedtime as Mrs. Stein.”
“What if she doesn’t have any eggs? That would make the trip across the hall pointless-”
“Kara.” The blonde shut her eyes, shoulders slumping.
“Do you need an extra egg to finish this recipe?” Kara nodded, rolling her eyes.
“And do you think the woman across the hall is cute?” Kara’s cheeks flushed as she shot a glare at the redhead.
Alex smirked as Kara mumbled a ‘Yes’ and crossed her arms.
“Great,” she slapped the countertop and grabbed the slice of pizza out of Kara’s hands.
“You’re gonna take off that apron, fix your hair, and go across the hall to introduce yourself. This is your chance, Kara. You’ve been pining after this woman for weeks.”
Kara gazed uncertainly at the door, weighing her options.
“You don’t think I’ll be causing her too much trouble?” She asked, uncertainty lacing her tone.
Alex’s face softened as she shook her head. “Not at all. Now, go get the girl. Or- woman, I guess.” Kara nodded and turned toward the door. “But first wipe the flour off your face.” Alex grinned as Kara swiped at her cheeks, face turning red.
“Could’ve told me that sooner.” Alex laughed, ushering her sister to the door. Kara removed her apron and handed it over, combing her hands through her hair once more before checking her reflection in the mirror.
“I can do this,” She said, rolling her shoulders and shaking out her hands. “I can do this.”
Alex nodded, pushing her forward.
Kara took a deep breath and pulled the door open, stepping out into the hallway before she could talk herself out of it. The door swung shut behind her before she could even think twice.
“Okay, Kara. You can do this. It’s just a simple question, a super common, very normal favor.” The blonde muttered to herself.
Her hands twitched as she stood in front of her neighbor’s apartment, trying to work up the nerve to knock on the door.
She smoothed down her hair, adjusted her glasses and knocked, waiting with bated breath as she heard footsteps grow nearer inside.
The dark haired woman answered the door and Kara froze.
“How can I help you?” The woman’s voice was deep and the underlying raspiness barely registered in her brain before Kara blurted out, “Your eggs!”
Silence fell between them as the woman quirked an eyebrow and tilted her head, stifling a laugh.
Kara groaned and squeezed her eyes shut, cheeks quickly flushing beet red.
“Oh my god. Let me start over.”
The woman chuckled and Kara cracked one eye open; a green gaze shone back at her with a hint of mischief.
Kara mustered a nervous smile, “I’m making brownies, it’s a family recipe. My sister’s in there waiting like a ticking time bomb and I’m short one egg. Any chance you have one you could spare?”
The woman’s smile grew and she eyed the blonde for a moment before stepping back from the doorway and inviting her in.
“You’re in luck, my assistant placed a grocery order for me this afternoon and I picked it up on my way home.” She said, leading the way to the kitchen and pulling open the fridge door.
Lena grabbed the carton from the fridge and plucked out an egg, holding it out to her neighbor.
“You’re a godsend, seriously. Pretty sure you just saved me from the attack of the hangry sister.”
Lena smirked, “What can I say, when a beautiful woman asks for my eggs, it’s difficult to refuse.”
The flush rose to Kara’s ears this time and she covered her face with her hand, letting out a groan.
“Thank you again,” She said, sticking out her hand for the woman to shake. “I uh, I know we’ve run into each other a few times but I never introduced myself. I’m Kara, I live right across the hall.”
Lena smiled softly, eyeing the blonde. “Lena. Pleasure to formally meet you.” Their handshake lingered for a beat longer than necessary before Kara pulled back, nervously wiping her hand on her jeans.
“I should-,” She gestured behind her toward the door, stumbling as she took a step back.
“Of course.” Lena followed her to the door, smiling again as they stepped out into the hallway.
“I’ll pay you back, I promise.” Kara said, holding up the egg.
“No need.” Lena shook her head, “You made my night, that’s payment enough.” She winked at the blonde before stepping back into her apartment, the door closing with a click.
Kara stared at the door and then glanced down at the egg. “Bless you, Alex and your insatiable sweet tooth.”