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"What is going on there, oh mighty Kryptonian?" Winn nudges Kara with his elbow. She stiffens for a beat before sighing and flopping down onto the couch.
"So I may have met someone," Kara begins, and Winn's eyes widen dramatically. "No, no, not like that. Like friendship-met someone. We met a while ago, but we have lunch several days a week… And I sometimes see her other times..." Winn snorts.
"Only you would phrase it like that, Kara."
"Well…see… I want to tell Alex because she is my sister and we tell each other everything. But this time, I don't know if I want to."
"Did you befriend a criminal?" Winn asks, aghast.
"She isn't no… Well, at least I don't think so. Her family, well, yes they are, and you know how Alex is..."
"Care to share a little more information than that? What, did you meet someone in the Mafia?" Winn can't hide his amused smile.
"You know how Clark did that article like a year ago, and I tagged along, and…" Kara was mid-sentence when Winn dramatically interrupted.
"NO? NO!" Kara winces and pulls back, ready for the explosion. "Lena is my hero! Have you seen her work on nanobots from before she took over L-Corp?!" Winn squeals.
"That was…not what I expected," Kara says, looking confused. Still, Winn's colossal grin and head bobbing for more information have her continuing, "She is absolutely brilliant and hilarious, but she seems so lonely. I don't think she does much other than work. I wanted to invite her to one of the game nights or maybe just have her hang out with us, but I know Alex will react poorly because, you know… Lena's family."
"Well, if you were to invite her over here, I would be more than happy to join. I have so many ideas and questions for her!" He begins bouncing up and down slightly on the couch.
"Winn, it can't be an interrogation! I want her comfortable, not running for the hills,"
"Okay, I can save most of my questions for a few hangouts. Maybe next Friday?" Kara nods as she contemplates how to breach the subject with Lena. "Well, I've got to head out. The DEO has been a mad house. What am I saying? Of course, you know this," he shakes his head. Sometimes it is easy to forget that Supergirl hides somewhere inside Kara. The confident superhero is such a drastic change from Kara's soft demeanor.
Once Winn leaves, Kara super speeds around the apartment, tidying up. The wind from her quick movement causes the curtains to bang against the windows, and a few books fall off the bookshelves that separate the living room from her bedroom. Crumbs from the pizza and various pieces of trash left behind are deposited into the trash can. She looks back at the room with a proud nod. Changing into a pair of her comfiest pajamas, pants covered in animals with Santa hats and lights, and a shirt with a llama saying "llama celebrate." She nods off to sleep as soon as her head hits the pillow.
—----
Kara had spent more time with Lena than she had told Winn, but it wasn't as Kara. It was Supergirl. It started out innocently.
Kara was doing her last rounds around the city before heading back to her apartment, and by chance, she went past L-Corp. Now, if Kara was being honest, this wasn't an accident. Every time she did rounds, she checked in on Lena's heartbeat and how she was doing. This particular evening–well, morning at this point since it was well past 1 am–Kara found Lena typing away at her computer. The CEO was nearly asleep and promptly waking up when her head bobbed downward. The superhero was familiar with Lena's work habits: first to work in the morning and often the last to leave. But this time, Lena was later than her usual time. Weighing her options, Kara decided to give in.
"Ms. Luthor," Supergirl said gently as she touched down on the balcony and tapped on the glass door. Lena's head snapped over to the sound, and her heart was beating out of her chest, clearly surprised. The CEO smooths the wrinkles on her dress. Straightening her back and shoulders and puts back on her business mask.
"It's Dr. Luthor," Lena says cooly; she worked hard for those Ph.D.'s she wants something to show for it. "Supergirl, to what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Not to invade your privacy," The Kryptonian begins and pauses to gauge Lena's reaction. When she gets a head nod in response to have her continue. "But you seem overworked. I think you should go home for the evening and get some rest. Surely whatever you are doing can wait until tomorrow. You can't be at your best when burning the candle at both ends." Lena narrows her eyes, looking as though she is going to argue. Kara continues, "I often find myself doing the same, and sometimes I need someone that cares about me to give me a nudge back on track."
"Are you saying you care about me, Supergirl?" Lena cocks an eyebrow using that flirty tone that gets Kara all flustered. The hero sputters for a second before pulling back into proper Supergirl mode.
"Ms. Luthor, I have saved you enough times that that should be obvious."
"You save many in National City. What makes me special?" Lena's insecurities bleed through in her voice, the words almost bitterly.
"Ms. Luthor." Supergirl begins before being interrupted.
"Doctor, "Lena says instinctively before sighing, "You may as well call me Lena at this point."
"Okay," the Kryptonian pauses, "Lena. You matter, not only to National City, not only to the world but to me. I see all the good you do for aliens like me, for people in need, and for the benefit of generations to come. Not many in places of power keep from being corrupt but look at you. You are so strong."
Lena snorts bitterly, "Don't forget, Supergirl, I am a Luthor. I am bound to be planning world domination and murder. I am just like them."
"You aren't a Luthor, not to me, and you are nothing like them. You are simply Lena,"
Lena doesn't have a response, and for the first time in a long time, she is speechless.
"Let me take you home. You should get some rest." the hero's eyes pleading with Lena's.
"I don't like flying," Lena says quietly.
"You are safe with me, Lena. Always."
"Okay, I trust you, " Lena says so quietly that even with super hearing, Kara isn't sure she actually said it.
—-------
Kara feels nervous. She knows Lena told the security desk to let her in at any time, which logically suggests the CEO enjoys her presence. Still, Kara can't help but feel unsure. They have been having lunch in Lena's office for months, but she still worries that she is intruding. She takes a deep breath as she enters the L-Corp building, a bag of donuts in one hand and coffees in the other. The ride up to the CEO's floor feels like it takes forever. Kara knows that sounds dramatic, but with superspeed, the silence of an elevator is just agonizing. She has to be careful not to fidget too much, not wanting to spill the coffee onto the floor or, Rao forbid, the donuts. She picked out an assortment, hoping to find at least one Lena was interested in today. Kara could practically hear the frosted maple one calling her name.
Kara watches as Jess finishes a phone call which Kara assumes must be about scheduling based on bits of the conversation she picks up. Jess' desk is clean and organized, unsurprisingly for an assistant to a CEO like Lena Luthor. Although Kara distinctly remembers her assistant's desk at Catco never being this immaculate, even with Cat Grant's constant criticism for her workspace.
Dislodging one of the coffee cups, Kara sets it onto the desk nudging it closer to Jess. She looks on with surprise and possibly delight with how her eyes light up.
"Kara, you didn't have to. I am more than capable of getting my coffee," Jess says, trying to sound aloof. She immediately takes a sip of the offered beverage, which negates her previous sentiment. "Chai Latte with Oat milk. Wow, not even my boyfriend can get this right." Jess muses to herself, but the Kryptonian's ears pick up the faint sounds.
"Is Lena free?" Kara implores as Jess nods and tilts her head towards the large door down the hall.
Lifting her hand up to knock, Kara has to remind herself to be careful of her strength, having damaged many doors by overexcitement.
Lena looks up from her computer when she walks in, her face immediately lighting up. Kara enjoys the way the CEO's eyebrows change from furrowed to excited.
"Kara! I wasn't expecting you this morning. Need a quote?" Lena's face shows a calm demeanor, but Kara can hear her heartbeat fluttering since the Kryptonian entered the room. Kara tries not to listen to people's heartbeats. It feels invasive, as though she is ignoring their privacy. Still, there is something about the way Lena's heartbeat grounds the superhero. Kara pulls her brain back from overthinking that right now, or maybe ever, before realizing a question was asked, and she should probably respond.
"Oh, Uhm, no, I just wanted to see your beautiful face," Kara mentally facepalms. So much for not responding like she was overthinking things. She might as well just keep blurting out secrets. ' Oh, hey, sorry, your family hates aliens. Did I mention I'm Supergirl? Awkward .' But Kara keeps her mouth shut from admitting that particular secret. However, her usual word vomit side has a hard time with that.
Lena's face flushes, and her heart starts racing before Kara can hear her take several slow breaths to calm herself.
Oh, Rao, I made her uncomfortable. Why did I even open my mouth? Nothing good happens when I do that.
"What are you doing later?" Lena asks, her voice lower than usual. The seductive tone brings Kara out of berating herself.
"Later? Like today?" Kara squeaks out before trying to even out her voice and adds, "I am free." Channel supergirl , Kara tells herself, and her hands almost slide into the hero position on her hips. No, no, not that much .
"There is this new restaurant I am dying to try out. I have a few people joining me, but I would love it if you would come along." Lena says almost shyly, her green eyes locking with blue.
Other people, Kara answers to herself, so not a date. Relief is smothered in disappointment. Disappointment? That can't be right.
"Sorry, that was weird to ask. Forget I said anything," Lena tries not to sound dejected, but Kara picks up the almost silent sigh.
"No!" Kara shouts before adding at a more reasonable volume, "I would love to come. I could never turn down food." Lena exhales the breath she is holding.
"7 pm. Can my driver pick you up?" Lena asks with a tilt of her head.
"Yeah! Let me give you my address," the blonde picks up a pen as Lena hands her a sticky note, and Kara scribbles down her address, trying to write semi-legibly. Alex has always made fun of her for her handwriting. Still, English letters are so vastly different from Kryptonian that it never feels quite right when she writes in them.
Kara feels her phone vibrate and pulls it out of her pocket to see a message from Alex asking if they could meet up.
"I have to go, but I will see you later?" Kara asks, despite having solidified the plans just a couple minutes before. Lena chuckles softly.
"Yes, have a good day Kara," as her sentence finishes, her intercom goes off, and Jess' voice fills the space.
"Your ten o'clock is here, Ms. Luthor."
"Show him to the conference room. Thank you, Jess,"
As she exits, Kara gives an awkward wave, and Lena can't hide her smile.