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Lena’s penthouse was dim and blue. She sat on a sofa chair with her feet kicked up onto an ottoman and her computer resting on her lap. She had gotten home hours ago but only recently made herself comfortable. Waves of paperwork, keeping up with the news, addressing her unmade bed, showering, and getting undressed all took a lot out of her. She had put maybe a quarter of an hour’s worth of time into her laptop when she felt her hair raise on the back of her neck.
She looked to her left, peering through the glass panels that separated the warmth of her apartment from the cool air outside. A familiar caped figure floated a meter or so away from the balcony railings, her eyes meeting Lena’s once she noticed that she had been caught. She didn’t make a move to stay nor leave, so it was up to Lena to make her make that choice.
“It’s impolite to watch women through their windows,” Lena advised as she stepped through the sliding glass door. She tilted her chin up. “You’re not all that imposing when I remember your face caked in soy sauce, Supergirl.” She gestured to the floor. “Please.”
The heroine descended gingerly, her boots tapping against the solid material. “In my defense, I had never eaten Chinese food that good before. It was irresistible.”
“It was authentic,” Lena replied. She tugged her robe tighter over her chest, angling her body toward her penthouse. “Come inside?”
Wordlessly, Supergirl followed Lena to her living room, where she sat on the couch across from her sofa chair. Lena raised her feet again, happy to give her knees a break.
“What brings you here?” Lena asked. Much to her delight, she and Supergirl had formed some strange sort of friendship. They had their ups and downs of course, but the dynamic between a Luthor and a Super was bound to be complicated. Lena was only glad that she had managed to hop from rocky ground to smooth land each time, with a little effort. It was worth keeping an ally like Supergirl around.
Supergirl pulled her cape out from under her, raising herself on her heels for a split second so that she didn’t slide the couch with her. Lena admired the little things. With her hands placed casually on her knees, Supergirl said in an accusatory manner, “What? I can’t visit my friend?”
“So late at night? Some would consider that inappropriate,” Lena retorted lightheartedly.
“We both have busy schedules.”
Lena nodded, wagging her finger to gesture as if Supergirl had caught onto something. “You’re right. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“I may be an alien …” Supergirl drawled, leaning closer. Her movements didn’t do much to breach the coffee table-wide gap between them. “... but I can detect sarcasm like any other human.”
Lena smiled. “I understand. Your comprehensive abilities are impressive, Supergirl.” Her smile faltered. “I wish I didn’t have to call you that.”
The mood drastically downturned. “You know why you need to,” Supergirl warned. That stoic persona Lena had previously seen in Superman now made itself present in her penthouse. Trying to talk to Supergirl about her secret identity was like trying to talk to an invincible brick wall. Lena got the whole “I need to protect my friends and family” shtick; she sympathized with it. Still, after being friends for so long, she thought that those concerns surrounding herself would have faded. Lena had proved time and time again that she was trustworthy.
“Do I really?” Lena stood, walking toward the heroine. “I know why you were hesitant at first. Not only was I a stranger, but my brother was your cousin’s archnemesis. I’m not dull,” she said with a dry laugh. “It was entirely reasonable to keep your secret from me.” Finally, she stood before Supergirl, a determined expression on her face. “Even though you have your reasons, mine are just as valid. You should respect them.”
“I do—respect them.” Her speech faltered. Lena could guess that Supergirl felt unsure of herself. “I can’t go around telling my secret to just anybody. I’ve gained too much here on Earth to lose it all to some eavesdropping villain.”
“I’m not ‘just anybody’,” Lena scoffed. “I’ve heard this all before.” She crouched to get a better look at Supergirl’s face, a determined expression growing on her own. “It’s not safe for you, for me, for your family, or for your friends. I want to tell you …” Lena trailed off, noticing that Supergirl’s gaze had strayed. She grabbed her chin, employing most of her strength to turn her face back to her. “Look at me.”
Supergirl’s deep blue eyes returned to her, hesitant but vulnerable. She cleared her throat, trying to put her brave persona back on. “I’m scared,” she said.
Lena’s brows furrowed. That admission was uncharacteristic of the heroine. It fueled her. “Don’t be.” She tried to maintain a soothing smile. “Whatever non-disclosure agreements I have to sign. Whatever safehouses you have to put me in when things go awry. I’m ready for it, because I’m your friend. I know what I’m getting into when I ask you to reveal yourself.”
Supergirl gently grasped Lena’s wrist, removing her hand from her chin. “Sit with me,” she said, leaning back and patting the spot beside her on the couch. Lena did so, trying to avoid pinning Supergirl’s cape to the cushions. If she had her way, the thing would go; but that wasn’t important right now. She had to give her full, undivided attention to the woman beside her.
“My name …” Supergirl trailed off. She turned to fully face Lena, moving one knee up onto the couch. Supergirl’s hands found hers between the two, gently running her fingers over Lena’s. Then she looked up, her pupils unfocused. “... I’m Kara Zor-El. That was my name on Krypton. On Earth, I’m Kara Danvers.”
“Danvers?” Lena repeated, her brows shooting up. She could see the shameful smirk on Kara’s face. “You mean—the FBI agent?”
“That’s actually—” she took a breath, “nevermind. Yes. Alex Danvers.”
Lena fell back slowly onto the arm of the couch, her fingers slipping from Kara’s. She wasn’t mad at the heroine, more so at herself. The bond between the two Danvers was undeniable. Lena only had one question.
“And she’s your …”
“Sister. Adoptive.”
“Okay.” Lena felt like a humongous weight had been lifted from her chest. Her apprehension before about Kara’s availability had all but vanished. She knew she couldn’t be so forward in this moment, but her eagerness could be heard in her rapid pulse, which earned a smile from Kara.
“You’re okay with all of this?” she asked. Lena nodded.
“I really wish you’d told me sooner.”
“Lena—”
“I know. I know.” Unable to resist her inexplicable need to be near the woman, Lena inched back toward Kara, taking her hands again, bolder this time. “Danger, danger, danger.”
“I always wished you’d take it more seriously,” Kara said with a stern crinkling of her brow.
“I do. I’m sorry.” Lena’s own smile betrayed her. “It just—I feel lighter. Like everything’s going to turn out alright. You’re …” She moved a hand up Kara’s arm, her fingers running across the rugged fabric of her navy suit. “You’re my only real friend. I’m glad I finally know the real you. Kara.”
Kara looked as if she would pop out of her clothes at that. “You know, I do a game night with my sister and a few close friends that I think you might enjoy coming to …”