Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

        It was long past the end of a normal workday, the sun nearly disappearing from the city’s broad horizon. Lena was sitting behind her large desk, engrossed in paperwork. Realistically, she could’ve left - should’ve left - but she found herself dreading going home. Her penthouse was tailored to her taste; luxurious, with a stunning view of the city, and protected with her own top-tier security. But it was painfully inauthentic. 

        She had 0 photos up, had picked none of the decorations, and had hardly spent any time there. The only evidence of life was the designer clothes meticulously hung in her massive walk-in closet and her well-lived-in office. Although Lena would never admit this, going home meant being alone. At work, she had people, even if they were intimidated by her.

        Lena pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a tension headache coming on. These always happened at the end of a long day — what did she expect? She had been staring at formulas and money and her computer screen all day long, and while it was stimulating, it hurt her brain like crazy. She reluctantly shuffled the papers together, sliding them into a folder and the folder into her detailed filing cabinet. She packed up the things she’d need - her laptop, some files, and her phone. 

        She sat in her chair for a moment, allowing her eyes to shut and her brain to pause for just a moment. Lena felt a sense of dread wash over her at the prospect of going home, and wasn’t particularly interested in drowning her sorrows in whatever bottle of expensive alcohol was nearest. She sat there for a moment, her foot bouncing in the air, thinking about where to go. 

        She had no friends, not really, so that was a no. Anything outdoors was a no; it was uncomfortably cold. Lena went through a mental checklist of things she needed for the house, knowing that she needed nothing - she never used anything in there anyway. An idea popped into her head then, and she almost smiled.

        Since she was a child, Lena found it incredibly easy to lose herself in the pages of a good book. Her favorites were classics, unsurprisingly, but she loved anything that could immerse her. National City had no good bookstores, only big businesses that didn’t need more money than they had. Hypocritical, maybe, considering how much money she had, but Lena preferred to buy well-loved books from somewhere more quaint. 

        She opened her bag, rifling through it to find her phone. After a quick Google search, she found a cute bookstore in the next town over. It was a bit of a drive, but the longer she was out, the better. It didn’t close until 10, and considering it was only 7, Lena knew she’d be fine time-wise. Feeling a bit lighter, she rose from her desk, her heels clacking on L-Corp’s marble floors as she made her way to the elevators. She strode past Jess’ empty desk, knowing that her assistant had gone home a few hours earlier. Even though she constantly stayed late, she knew it wasn’t fair to Jess. She had been with her for a few years now, and she was good at her job and didn’t poke around Lena’s business too much. 

        Lena jabbed the button for the elevator with a manicured nail, tapping her heel impatiently as she waited. There was nothing better than a bookstore, and she was craving that comfort like a drug. The doors moved apart with a ding, and Lena stepped inside, watching as they shut again. She ran a hand over her already perfectly smooth ponytail, hoping that she didn’t look like a hot wreck after the long day at the office. She had on a form-fitting, striped pencil skirt with a white blouse, and couldn’t help herself from smoothing out invisible wrinkles on her shirt. She paired her outfit with a long, black coat for the cold weather outside, and a pair of 5-inch, red-bottomed heels. Lena always wore top-of-the-line clothing - she had her whole life.

        It added an extra layer to her armor and made her feel extra confident in the office. When she became CEO unexpectedly, she had worked her ass off to get the men in the office to respect her. They still didn’t, not really, but they feared her just enough to stand in line. That brought her more satisfaction than she’d care to admit, and she found herself never being able to shake off the “ice queen” reputation. Instead, she embraced it.

        When she finally reached the ground floor, she strutted towards the exit, giving nods to the security guards. She shivered as the cold air hit her skin, her cheeks pinkening. National City was beautiful in the fall, with color-changing leaves that dusted the floor and a crisp cold that woke you up the moment you stepped outside. She found her car quickly, a sleek, black electric BMW. 

        Lena unlocked it, sliding into the leather seat and plopping her bag down in the passenger seat. The address to the store was plugged into the GPS, and she turned on the heat before backing out of the parking lot. She drove in silence, not bothering to fill it with music or a podcast. The silence was nothing new, and she found a bit of comfort in the normalcy of it.

        The drive flew by, and before she knew it, she was pulling up to a run-down but cozy plaza. Different stores and restaurants littered the place, but she only had her eye on the store: Wanderlust Words. She stepped inside, a bell chiming above her head as the door shut behind her. Her eyes raked over the place, taking in every detail.

        It wasn’t very large, but it was cozy. There was a small area in the corner with beanbags and a fireplace, presumably to hang out and read. Bookshelves lined every wall, and each section was labeled with the genre: history, fiction, romance, and so many more. The place was dimly lit, with sage green walls and a few computer stations in the back. Lena glanced to her right, absorbing the few registers and stations for hot beverages - just tea, hot chocolate, or coffee. 

        When she looked forward again, she was a bit startled to see someone coming towards her. They locked eyes, and Lena’s mouth went dry. The other woman gave her a beaming smile and stopped a few feet away. 

        “Hi, welcome to Wanderlust Words,” the woman said kindly, her voice soft. “Is this your first time here?”

        Lena blinked, feeling a little stunned. Against her better judgment, this woman was gorgeous. She had long, curled blonde hair that fell in waves around her shoulders, and blue eyes that Lena could drown in. She was dressed in simple jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, but the shirt was tight enough that Lena could see defined biceps beneath.

        The silence snapped Lena out of her trance, and she cleared her throat, feeling unexpectedly flustered. “Um, yes, it is,” she managed, trying to sound normal.

        The blonde gave her a look but didn’t question it, her blue eyes twinkling. “Alright, well, if you want, I can show you around so you can get a feel of the place, or you can just wander. I’m Kara - I own the place.”

        Lena raised a brow. “You’re the owner? Do you come here every day?”

        Kara just smiled at her bluntness, seemingly unfazed. “Only a few days a week after work. I like to hang out with the regulars and check up on things, y’know?”

        Lena nodded. There was nothing she knew better than the urge to check up on the conditions at work. “I’m Lena,” she said awkwardly after realizing she hadn’t introduced herself. “And.. a tour would be great.” She surprised even herself with that.

        Kara didn’t even flinch. Her smile got brighter, if possible. “That we can do,” Kara mused, turning to face the store.

        She guided Lena through every aspect of the store; every section, her favorites, and the best places to get some quiet. Kara chattered the whole time, and Lena found herself enjoying it. They ended near the back of the store, and Kara was stirring them both up some tea.

        “So, you from around here?” Kara asked as she poured hot water into insulated cups. 

        Lena shrugged. “Something like that. I live in National City.”

        Kara smiled wryly. “Ah, the city for the rich. Do you like it?”

        Lena rolled her eyes fondly at the response. “I suppose. I relocated for work.”

        The blonde looked intrigued at that. “For work? What do you do?”

        Lena suppressed a sigh. She was definitely not about to tell this very attractive stranger her history. “I... help run a family business,” she said vaguely, muttering a soft ‘thank you’ when Kara handed her a cup of steaming tea.

        Kara seemed satisfied at that, nodding. She took a sip of her own tea, the heat scalding her tongue. Lena found herself inexplicably curious about the other woman and decided to ask some of her own questions. 

        “Did you build this place up from the ground?” Lena asked, blowing on the steaming beverage. 

        Kara smiled, but it looked less enthusiastic, and Lena craved to know why. “No, I inherited it from my parents. I’ve been taking care of it since I turned 18, but it’s not my main income.”

        Lena nodded. “That’s nice - it runs in the family. What else do you do, if you don’t mind me asking?”

        Kara laughed, a carefree sound that made Lena’s heart warm. “As cliché as it sounds, I’m a writer.”

        The brunette smiled at her words, shrugging. “It’s cliché, but in the best way. What do you write? Novels?”

        Kara nodded in reply, taking a sip of her tea. “Yeah, but I haven’t gotten too far with that,” she muttered, a hint of self-deprecation in her voice.

        Lena hummed sympathetically. She noted the dejected look in Kara’s expression and knew it was time to change the subject. 

        “I have to ask, how did you come up with the name for this place?”

        The change in topic made Kara laugh in disbelief, feeling a small weight lift off her shoulders at the escape. “Well, my parents’ favorite movie was Wanderlust. When I was old enough, they let me watch it too, and it became my favorite. It’s really funny, and it just… worked.”

        Lena smiled at the story, noting how it was a fond memory for Kara. She also noticed Kara’s speaking in the past tense, but she didn’t bring it up.

        “I’ve never seen it,” she admitted, laughing at the bewildered expression on Kara’s face.

        “Oh, you have to watch it. When you get home, find it, and watch it. And then come back and update me, because you will love it.”

        Lena sipped her tea. “Fine, I will,” she muttered, and actually meant it.

        Kara was later pulled away by some other woman, and Lena felt a pang at the loss of company. She roamed around the store, searching for a French romance novel to purchase. Lena eventually found one, and after checking her watch, knew it was time to go home. If she wanted to watch that movie tonight and still get up at 5, she had to get home. 

        She made her way to the register, her heels clicking against the wood. The cashier tried to make small talk, but the blunt responses from Lena showed him she wasn’t interested. She paid, took the book, and couldn’t help but look for Kara. She found her in the back, still talking to that lady, her head thrown back in laughter. Lena’s cheeks flushed at the sight of her, unable to contain the warmth spreading through her. Kara turned her head, and the two locked eyes. Lena smiled slightly, lifting her hand in an awkward wave. Kara turned back to the woman, speaking to her quickly before walking over to where Lena was standing.

         “Leaving so soon?” Kara teased, crossing her arms.

         Lena willed her eyes to stay on Kara’s face and not drift down to her arms. “Yeah, I have to get going. Early day tomorrow.”

         Kara nodded, barely hiding her disappointment. “Aw, yeah. Well, I do hope to see you again. I enjoyed talking to you.”

         Lena bit back a smile, feeling giddy. “I enjoyed talking to you, too.” 

        There was silence between them until Lena cleared her throat and forced her gaze away from Kara’s.

        Kara smiled knowingly, seeing right through Lena’s facade. 

        “I’m here Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays,” she said. “Have a good night.”

       Lena almost laughed at her casual confidence. “You too,” she said with a shake of her head before reluctantly turning towards the door.

      She could feel Kara’s eyes burning into her back as she pushed open the door, the bell ringing again as cold wind whipped at her face. Lena could barely keep the smile off her face as she slid into her car, heading home with full intent to watch that movie.

Chapter Text

        Lena drove in silence again, the heat turned up high to block out the drop in temperature that always came after sunset. She couldn’t shake the warmth that enveloped her - a rare feeling that she cherished when she could. The interaction with Kara wasn’t anything crazy; they’d hardly talked, but Lena was instantly charmed. There was something about the casual, easy confidence that the blonde exuded that drew Lena in without her usual hesitance.

        Her mind wandered aimlessly, and she found herself thinking about the next time she could go back. A thrill ran through her at the thought, but it swirled with her growing discomfort. She didn’t let herself enjoy the company of people, so why was she so interested in this peppy woman? Her mother’s voice rang through her head, reminding her that Luthors weren’t vulnerable - Luthors didn’t need love. Lena repeated that like a mantra, forcing herself to think of something, anything else. 

       As much as she yearned to be Lena - just Lena - she knew it wasn’t possible. If anything, she was shocked Kara hadn’t figured out who she was or asked more about her business. Lena found herself wishing for a reality where Kara never found out, even though she knew lying was wrong. As someone who had been lied to on many occasions, she knew how much it hurt, but she ached for a break from the Luthor stereotypes.

       If she was going to go back, she was going to have to keep her last name a secret. 

       Lena ignored the guilt threatening to surface at the thought. From a young age, it was drilled into her that she had to keep up those unshakable walls, not let anyone get close. But Kara had somehow managed to drive straight through them with nothing but a smile.

       So she couldn’t - wouldn’t - let her know that she was a Luthor. Her mind was still racing when she finally pulled into the lot for her building, and she parked in her designated spot. Gathering up her things, she shut off the car and made her way inside, fighting a shiver at the cold. She walked with her head held high, shoulders drawn tight, her feet protesting at the quick strides. 

       The security guard manning the door gave her a nod, opening it to let her inside. She nodded in return, heading to the elevator without sparing a glance at anyone else. The metal doors shut behind her as she hit the button for the top floor, and there was silence except for the mechanical sounds of the elevator climbing. Lena found the silence to be unexpectedly stifling, so she fished her phone out of her bag and absentmindedly scrolled through her emails to distract herself as people piled into the elevator. 

       She ignored everyone else, not looking up from her phone until the elevator stopped at the top and the doors dinged open. Once they did, she snagged her house keys as she strode towards the door to her penthouse and unlocked the door with a small sigh of contentment. Typically, home meant solitude, but she found herself eager to watch the movie Kara forcefully told her to watch. Lena was curious about Kara’s life and felt a little touched that Kara felt comfortable sharing personal details with her.

       Lena could never, but she enjoyed being the recipient.

       She shut the front door, kicking off her heels and setting down her bag. Her footsteps were quiet as she made her way to her bedroom, excited to change into comfortable clothes and take off her makeup. 

       So she did exactly that: took her makeup off meticulously to not irritate her skin; showered without washing her hair, of course, to keep it straight; brushed, flossed, and used mouthwash; and finally, changed into a pair of grey sweatpants and a faded MIT t-shirt. After all that, she made herself another cup of tea - chamomile this time - and sat on her couch, grabbing the TV remote. She found the movie with a quick search and turned off her phone’s ringer before pressing play - a rarity. 

       Much to her surprise, she found herself enjoying it. It made her laugh, and kept her entertained all the way through. By the time it ended, her eyes were achy and bleary from being awake for so long, but she was satisfied. She didn’t watch movies - not enough time - but Lena could picture herself doing it more often. She forced herself off of the couch, stopping by the kitchen to put her mug in the sink, and shut all of the lights off. 

       Lena stifled a yawn as she made her way to her bedroom, excited to sink into the comfort of her massive bed. Her dark hair was thrown into a bun on top of her head, her contacts delicately placed into their container. 

       Finally, she pulled back the covers and slid into bed, sighing with contentment. Lena snagged her charger, plugging in her phone and setting it down. It was only 11 - much earlier than she usually slept. The silence of her bedroom reminded her that tonight was the first time in a long time that she hadn’t worked extra hours while at home. 

       Unease settled over her at the realization - it was in her nature to work and work and work until she dropped. But she hadn’t tonight, and instead she’d enjoyed herself and watched a movie. Ignoring her unease, Lena shut her eyes, taking a deep breath in hopes of easy sleep. 

       Luckily for her, sleep came quickly, and she didn’t wake until her alarm blared at 5. Lena’s eyes blinked open as she fumbled for her phone, desperate to shut off the incessant noise. She thumbed through her phone, reading any notifications or emails she missed throughout the night.

       There were a few minor things, but they were small enough to be dealt with at the office. Today was Friday, and Lena found herself pondering whether or not she should go to the bookstore after work.

       Internally, she cringed at the thought of wanting to go see someone, but she couldn’t help the urge. Just to satisfy her guarded side, she decided to not go this weekend, but instead to give it a week until she went again.

       She absolutely did not want Kara to see her desperation - how embarrassing. Lena had a tendency to pretend like she didn’t care, and that wasn’t going to change just because a particularly buff blonde had been kind to her. 

       Lena forced herself up to get ready for the day, her decision firm. 

       She was going to make Kara wait, as much as it pained her. 

Chapter Text

        Despite her plan, Lena didn’t go back until weeks later. There was a major public backlash that came with a new electric car L-Corp was creating - better for the environment - after the brakes failed on a driver.

        Lena had spent weeks in her office, barely leaving, eating, or sleeping, just to pick up the pieces of this PR nightmare. She had visited the driver in the hospital, who was okay, thankfully, stopped the rollout of the car, and had made countless public appearances to apologize and offer reimbursements. 

        Exhaustion was consuming her every muscle, but every time she tried to sleep, the emptiness of her penthouse and the adrenaline that accompanied the stress kept her tossing and turning every night. Today was Saturday, and the noise had finally died down enough for her to have a relatively light workload. 

        Her insomnia got her up early, so she was at the office early. However, she found herself unsure of what to do after finishing everything, but it was only 6. Her dedication kept her working through lunch, and that extra hour of work had her finished with everything early. 

        Lena debated starting a new project or getting ahead on planning the monthly board meeting, but instead found herself wanting to leave and step away from work. Kara’s voice rang in her head, reminding her that she stopped by on Saturdays.

        Desire won out over logic, and Lena found herself stuffing her bag with her things, a thrill running through her at the idea of seeing the blonde again. Instead of chastising herself for being so soft, she just embraced it, allowing herself that much after the last few weeks. She slung her bag over her shoulder and made her way out of the office, stopping by her secretary’s desk.

        Jess’s face snapped up at the sound of heels, and her eyes widened slightly at the sight of Lena. She knew she had nothing on her schedule, and assumed she’d be working late as always. 

        “Ms. Luthor,” she greeted, schooling her features. “What can I do for you?”

        Lena’s lips quirked slightly at her obvious surprise, but she chose not to comment. “I’m leaving for the day, just thought I’d let you know.” 

        Jess barely caught her jaw from dropping. “Okay,” she said hesitantly, happy her boss was taking some time off but a little curious about the sudden change. 

        “You can leave too. You’ve done more than enough for me over the last few weeks, and there’s no need for you to stay,” Lena said, her usual coldness not in place.

        Jess looked unsure. “Are you sure? I can stay and–”
        Lena cut her off. “Jess,” she said sternly. “Go home. There’s nothing important here.”

        She got a smile in return, and Lena was satisfied. Jess had been nothing but incredible to her, despite her snobiness, and she deserved a break just as much as Lena did. Hell, maybe even more. Lena made a mental note to give her a vacation.

        “Have a good night,” Lena murmured, walking off. She heard Jess echo the sentiment as she stepped into the elevator.

        Lena arrived at the plaza around half an hour later, exhaustion making her eyes burn. She parked her car, deciding to take nothing but her phone inside. She was dressed in a maroon three-piece suit and was a little embarrassed to be wearing something so extravagant at a casual place. Lena shrugged off her embarrassment, holding her head high as she strode towards the doors to the bookstore. A little giddy with excitement, she opened the door, feeling the warmth from inside flood her, the little bell ringing above her head. Sharp green eyes scanned the place and didn’t stop until they found Kara.

        She was crouched next to a little kid, listening to them talk with enthusiasm. Her hair was up today, in a ponytail, and she was wearing some simple sweatpants and a t-shirt. Lena watched her for a moment, absolutely enamored at the sight of Kara nodding along to this child’s story. She forced her gaze away, feeling heat creep up her neck. The urge to walk over to her was strong, but she refused to be that desperate. Instead, she moved to scan the rows of bookshelves, pretending to read the titles and descriptions.

        She didn’t look away until a few minutes later, when she felt someone's presence appear beside her.

        “Fancy seeing you here,” Kara teased, her voice warm. 

        Lena turned to look at her, some random book in hand. The smell of vanilla overwhelmed her senses, and the sight of Kara made her stomach flip.

        “Hello to you, too,” Lena said dryly, watching as Kara leaned against the bookshelf with a casual confidence. 

        “So, what took you so long to come back? Too cool to be here?” Kara grinned, eyes raking over her fancy attire. 

        “Oh, definitely,” Lena deflected, barely hiding a grin. 

        She sighed, shoving the book she was holding back into its place. 

        “I did want to come,” Lena admitted, the honesty coming easier than she’d like. “Work has been really busy, and I have had no time.”
Kara hummed sympathetically. “I’m sorry, that must suck.”

        Lena shrugged, feeling unusually vulnerable. “It’s whatever. Comes with the job, I suppose.”

        Kara raised a brow. “The family business?”

        Lena almost laughed at the understatement. “Yeah. It gets busy.”

        Kara looked a little skeptical, but didn’t question it further. “Well, I for one am glad you came back. Don’t tell anyone I said this, but it gets a little boring talking to the same people every day. Small town problems, I guess.”

        Lena laughed, a genuine laugh. “Oh, the horror,” she gasped.

        Kara laughed too, the warmth in it filling Lena with fondness. She wanted to hear that laugh more often, she realized.

        “I talk to millions of different people for work, and I have to say it’s not any better,” Lena refuted. 

        “At least that’s interesting. Somebody’s gotta tell Mrs. Baker that I definitely don’t want to hear about her children’s lives any longer,” Kara said, shaking her head with fake solemnity. 

        Lena grinned. “Why? You’re not interested in their sports and friend drama?”

        Kara said nothing in response, just shot her a deadpan look.

        “I’ll take that as a no,” Lena laughed. 

        Kara’s lips twitched as she fought a smile. “Absolutely not.” 

        There was a moment of comfortable silence, and Lena pretended to study her hands.

        “This may sound bold, and you may humiliatingly reject me on my own property, but I’d regret it if I never asked,” Kara suddenly said, her eyes searching Lena’s face.

        Lena arched a brow. “Okay, shoot.”

        “Can I get your phone number? I’m usually not this forthcoming, but ever since you came in the first time, I’ve been thinking about you. Not in like a weird, creepy way,” Kara rushed to tell her. “But like, you seem interesting and I think we could be good friends.”

        Lena watched her fumble over her words, eyes crinkling in fondness. “Yeah, you can have it,” she told her after Kara was finished.

        Kara’s eyes widened slightly. “Really?"

        “Yes,” Lena laughed. “Give me your phone.”

        Kara fished through her pockets for a moment before unlocking it, navigating to the contacts app, and handing it over.

        Lena took it, their hands brushing. Ignoring the flutter in her stomach, she input her number, subconsciously putting her personal cell instead of her work number. Jesus, what the hell was happening? She handed it back, feeling a sudden wave of hesitance wash over her. She was Lena Luthor for fuck’s sake, not a teenager. She had no friends and wasn’t planning on acquiring any. So how the hell was she here, in some random bookstore, getting some unfairly pretty girl’s number?

        She glanced up at Kara, noticing the giddiness in her expression. Her hesitance faded away before she could blink, and for the first time in forever, her thoughts quieted. 

        “Thanks,” Kara said as she pocketed her phone. “That would be really embarrassing for me if you had rejected me in my own store.”

        Lena scoffed. “Why would I do that?”

        Kara picked at her fingers, looking sheepish. “To be fair, we’ve only met once. I know nothing about you except that you run your family’s business, your name, and that you must be rich.”

        Lena almost choked. “Why do you assume that?”

        “You are always wearing fancy-looking clothes, and you drive a BMW.”

        “How do you know what car I drive?”

        Kara’s cheeks flushed an adorable pink. “No reason.”

        “Okay, well, I am maybe a little rich,” Lena conceded, knowing she couldn’t hide it.

        “I knew it!” Kara said triumphantly, making Lena giggle.

        “It’s not important,” Lena scoffed. 

        “Oh, yes, it is,” Kara refuted. “As someone who is quite poor, money is very important.”

        “Can we not talk about it?” Lena asked, defensiveness seeping into her tone. She couldn’t help it, she felt a little nauseous at the prospect of Kara finding out who she really was.

        Kara’s tone grew serious. “Yeah, of course.”

        There was a tense silence then, and Lena wanted nothing more than to make it comfortable again.

        “Moving on,” Lena tried. “Do you have any good classics here? I’ve read most of the traditional ones, but I want to find an older book that I haven’t read yet.”

        Kara nodded, gesturing to some point in the store. “Yeah, we have some, but not a crazy collection.

        "You like classics, really?” Kara said after a moment, knowing damn well that she expected exactly that.

        Lena shook her head; any tension she was carrying dissolving in an instant. “Oh, shut up.”

        Kara laughed brightly, looping their arms together like it was nothing. And despite her better judgment, Lena wanted casual touches like that to be nothing.

        God, she was so completely fucked.