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Maybe spending so much time together wasn’t a good idea.
It wasn’t like Kara didn’t try, because she did. She knew what getting close to someone meant. It was something that both Eliza and Alex drove into her as a teenager; to hide the alien side of her. But there was something about this person, this woman, that couldn’t help but draw her in. And that was the problem.
Comfort. That’s what she felt. A comfort that she hasn’t felt in years. Not since… not since Krypton, if she lets herself think about it. It was like being home. Maybe she was her home. And that’s what started it all.
It first came out during a movie night. It was some romcom that Kara had picked, something that she had seen before but Lena hadn’t. It was up to Kara to get Lena up to date on all of the cheesy romcoms. They were sitting together on Kara’s couch, a blanket draped around both of their laps. Kara could feel the warmth of Lena’s thigh and shoulder pressing against hers. It wasn’t like this was something new; Kara has been inviting Lena over for weeks now. But the closeness? That was new. Kara knew from the beginning of their friendship that physical touch was difficult for Lena. Hugs that felt stiff in the beginning had slowly become more gentle, almost as a safe space. It seemed like Lena was finally opening up to Kara and it meant everything to her.
That’s why the rumbling in her chest caught her off guard. It was quiet, at first. Something that Kara could’ve brushed off as nothing. But Lena moved closer, almost leaning her head on Kara’s shoulder. She knew that Lena could hear it, but she didn’t say anything. Just… snuggled closer. And maybe it was too much, but Kara wrapped her arm around Lena’s shoulder, pulling her into her side. And the rumbling got louder. She hadn’t been sure that she could even still purr, not after so long. It was intimate in a way that Kara wasn’t used to. The way that Lena didn’t say anything, the way that she may have even liked it, the way that Kara’s chest rumbled, it was something. Kara didn’t dare question it. She let it happen, and so did Lena. And that’s how they fell asleep; Kara holding her, the end of the romcom quietly in the background, basking in their own company. Just them.
It seemed that once the dam had been broken that night, it was going to keep happening. Kara visited L-Corp the next day for one of the many weekly lunches that they had scheduled. The hug they shared was normal, until Kara’s chest started rumbling again. They hugged for so long that Kara knew that Lena felt it, but she didn’t say anything. If anything, she seemed to press her body closer. The feeling was indescribable and Kara never wanted to let go. Except that lunch was calling and it would be weird if Kara didn’t let go eventually, right? And so, they separated and had lunch and talked about their respective jobs. Talked about who was annoying them the most that day. Conversation flowed easily and they never mentioned what was going on with Kara Danvers and the supposed purring.
Another assassination was bound to happen. It was Lena Luthor, after all. Another gala, another megalomaniac thinking he could take down the CEO of L-Corp.
It was easy, compared to assassination standards, at least to Supergirl. They didn’t have a real plan. Come in guns blazing, take a hostage or two, expect Lena to give up. Except for whatever reason they didn’t expect Supergirl to show up. Supergirl, who would always protect Lena Luthor.
The enemies were arrested, taken away NCPD.
“Thank you… Supergirl.” Lena’s voice sounded loaded. Like something more was there.
Kara couldn’t help the rumble that started in her chest.
“Of course, Ms. Luthor,” it came out a little raspy, Kara trying to speak through the purrs. “Anything for you.”
Lena smirked at her, not saying anything. Kara couldn’t help but blush. Could she be any more obvious?
Kara could, in fact, be more obvious. Kara invited Lena to game night, like she always did. And Lena said yes, for once. It was the one time that she wasn’t buried in L-Corp paperwork.
It was after they had just won a round of charades.
“Kara, what is that sound?”
Kara nearly choked on her drink. She didn’t realize it was that loud. Pressed up against Lena, feeling how warm she was, and riding the high of the charades round they just won, her chest was rumbling. Again.
“What are you talking about, Alex?”
“It sounds like loud ass purring,” Alex says, raising an eyebrow. God forbid her sister is ever discrete.
Kara decides to fiend innocence. It’s not like she ever told Alex that Kryptonians could purr, even if she did it in front of Alex when she had first arrived on Earth. She wouldn’t know what it meant. Maybe she forgot. She hadn’t done it in years, in any case.
“Purring? You sure you haven’t drank too much?” She says with a forced laugh.
“Are you trying to say that humans can purr?”
It clearly doesn’t work because Lena gives Kara a look. The look saying that she knows more than what Kara is trying to deflect and Kara isn’t sure what that means, exactly. Is Lena uncomfortable?
Thankfully it isn’t brought up again as the night goes on, and Kara is able to keep it down to a much quieter volume. The Superfriends go home and the only people left in Kara’s apartment are Kara and Lena.
“So, purring?” Lena says, raising her signature eyebrow.
Kara fiddled with the dishes, not looking at Lena.
“P-purring?” she finally stutters, unsure of what else to say.
“You know what I’m talking about, darling,” Lena says, stepping into Kara’s space. Running her hand down her bicep, trying to look into her eyes. “I like it, but I need you to be honest with me.”
Kara couldn’t believe what was happening. In fact, this couldn’t be happening. Not really. Not in her whole years on Earth, nor on Krypton. There was no chance that Lena Luthor wanted to know Kara Zor-El Danvers, but here she was, saying that she knew about Kara.
“I’m Supergirl?” Kara couldn’t help but make her confession sound like a question.
Lena couldn’t help but chuckle slightly. “Oh darling. You really are anything but subtle. But it’s nice to hear you say it.”
That made Kara laugh and start purring at the same time. “I could never hide from you.”
Lena looked up at her, eyes full of adoration. “Whoever you are, I will always love you. I fell in love with Kara Danvers but knowing that you’re Supergirl as well? That’s just another part of you. I will always love you, Kara. Nothing will ever change that.”
“You… I… in love with…?” It was impossible to get a full sentence out, Kara’s mind racing.
“Yes, I suppose if we’re doing confessions that was one of my own.” A light blush was starting to dust Lena’s cheeks. “Although if it makes you uncomfortable, just forget I said- “
“Rao, no!” Kara interrupted quickly. “I don’t want to forget. Lena, I love you too. I’m in love with you, too. I wanted to tell you for so long but I couldn’t tell you before I told you that I was Supergirl, but then I never did that, but maybe it didn’t matter anyways because you already knew and I just-“ she stopped mid-ramble when she felt the soft brush of Lena’s lips against hers. The purring emanating from her chest seemed to deafen every other sound in the room. Before she could think of deepening the kiss, Lena pulled away with a smirk. A hand drifted up to rest on Kara’s collarbone, feeling the vibrations coming from her chest.
“So, purring?”