Chapter Text
“Pull over. Let me drive for a while.”
Kara was startled out of her reverie by the sudden outburst of sound from the woman next to her. She'd been driving for nine hours straight, not including lunch, and it was getting close to sunset. The red in the sky so much like home it hurt deep in her chest.
Kara smiled and turned to face Lena slightly, "It's alright, I don't mind."
Possibly due to their eventful flight to (and time in) Kaznia, the pair had opted to drive cross country instead of fly to the seminar. Lena had proposed a tour-bus but Kara had shot down the idea as "not Kerouac or Joseph Fink enough" and instead suggested a beat-up old car for their road trip she'd somehow convinced Lena to name the 'Friendsmobile' of all things.
Lena, smiling back, placed a hand on her arm, "I know, but the last few places I picked for us to stay were I admit rather terrible, so you can borrow my phone and look for somewhere more becoming of our little adventure."
Kara nodded, acquiescing with a "Plus you're not great at giving directions," and the cheekiest grin.
Lena glared at her but refused to take the bait. They'd gotten lost the last two times Lena tried to direct them, each woman blaming the other's listening or directing ability and refusing to back down. It had almost led to what might be called a genuine fight, except Lena had spotted a hand painted roadside sign depicting supergirl being run over by a tractor with the slogan "Farmers are the founders of human civilization" and her ire quickly turned from Kara to the creators of that sign. Thankfully today they'd seen nothing of the sort.
"Swap. Now." the hand resting on Kara's arm swatted her playfully. Kara chuckled and flicked the indicator, pulling over and moving quickly out of the car to make way for Lena.
While Lena made her way around to the driver's side, Kara sat back against the hood of the car and stretched, blue spotted shirt rucking up revealing abs that caused Lena to miss a step and almost fall. Strong arms being suddenly on hers, supporting her, might have helped the not-falling part of things somewhat.
"You alright?" a look of mild concern in those storm-blue eyes. Kara didn't let go of her arms, even after she'd steadied herself. This was fine by her.
"Yes, thank-you." Kara slowly lowered her hands, gently running them the length of Lena's arms as she did so until their hands parted. A light blush played over the blonde's cheeks and she turned slightly, breaking eye contact to look over the grasslands flooded with reddish light, settling back against the car once more.
"Do you hear that?"
"No." Lena turned so she too was leaning against the car and listened for a moment, not sure what she was supposed to be hearing. Aside from the distant sound of a bird calling, and what must have been a cicada or cricket starting its evening song a little early, she couldn't hear much of anything.
"Exactly." Looking over she saw Kara's face full of a wonder at the world, eyes wide taking it all in. "It can be so noisy in the city, almost overwhelming at times. But this?" The joy and pain playing across her face as she smiled filled Lena with an urge to sweep this beautiful creature up in the biggest hug she could and swear to never let anything hurt her again. Instead, she smiled and leant into Kara's side as the normally effervescent woman continued in a tone of near-awe. "This is so peaceful. No pressure, no worries. No fear that I'm doing things wrong or messing everything up... It's just you, and me, and the wind and sky, forever. I can see what drew Clark to it." Lena could see Kara's eyes beginning to tear up.
"I don't think the wind and sky would make potstickers for us though." She'd meant it as a joke, a way to lighten whatever mood had descended, but Kara turned to her all wistfulness gone.
"Us?" The word was almost whispered and it took Lena a moment to realize her slip. Her cheeks burned and she went to pull away, already forming some excuse or backtrack, but Kara grabbed her hand and oh so gently held it in her own, intertwining their fingers. Lena looked up into eyes that were still overcome with emotion, but also, hope? Kara smiled. "I like the sound of that."
As Kara gently pulled her closer and Lena let her, she realized she rather liked the sound of that too.