Chapter Text
A slightly sad, knowing smile lifted the corner of Clark’s mouth as he looked upon his cousin. Lena’s compliment and expression of desire to see Kara soon had caused her heart to pound a little louder and he did not need to lower his glasses to see the blush that had bloomed upon her cheeks as she reciprocated the hope that they would speak again.
As the lift doors closed behind them, Clark sighed and, resting his lower back against the wall of the lift, he leant forward slightly to catch Kara’s eye. “You know, Lex and I used to be friends,” he paused maintaining eye contact. “She may not be her brother, but she is still a Luthor... just... be careful.”
Glancing down, Kara weighed his words, she felt protective of Lena having saved her life and seen her desire to forge her own path separate from that of her family name. She liked to think that Lena would not knowingly harm Kara but Supergirl... Kara hoped she had earned some trust from Lena Luthor whilst wearing the cape, but she knew that saving a life did not buy loyalty especially from one as cynically minded, so she nodded thoughtfully without further comment. However, Lena’s statement about Kara being a reporter replayed on loop throughout her return journey to CatCo and had solidified into a plan by the time she reached her desk.
***
Lena sat at her desk with a small, self-satisfied smirk and an eyebrow raised as she told her assistant to send Kara Danvers in. She smoothed her features into a more neutral smile as she rose to greet her. “Ms Luthor,” Kara smiled so openly that Lena couldn’t help but smile back with earnest. Lena swept her gaze swiftly over Kara as she approached careful not to allow her sight to linger in any place for too long, but it was enough to notice the wholesome cardigan mirroring Kara’s sweet nature and the ‘girl-next-door’ persona she radiated.
“Ms Danvers,” she replied as they shook hands. Lena smiled widely in what she knew to be a smile that could win over the most fiercely opposed board member or at the very least begin to persuade them to see things her way. Kara Danvers returned her smile with a sparkle in her deep blue eyes. Gesturing to the seat in front of her desk, Lena returned to the other side and took her own. “To what do I owe this most distinct pleasure?” she asked emphasising distinct. After all, it never hurt to keep people sweet.
Kara smiled in a way that caused her eyes to crinkle behind her glasses. “I’ve actually popped by to thank you,” she explained.
Lena felt her eyebrows pinch minutely, “Thank me... and what would that be for?” she asked with slight laughter in her tone attempting to cover up that she was completely unprepared for the direction of this conversation. In her experience, surprises were rarely pleasant. As such, Lena liked to know the most likely outcomes and what to expect in most situations – it was one of the many attributes that made her a brilliant CEO. Yet, here in front of her, was a situation truly unexpected.
“Well,” Kara continued, “thanks to you, I asked to become a reporter and Ms Grant agreed – mostly. All thanks to your encouragement when we last met.”
“Congratulations! However, I think you may be downplaying your own brilliance by crediting me so highly,” Lena smiled brightly. She was genuinely happy for the young woman before her despite already considering the potential benefits of being friendly with a reporter. She dismissed the thoughts as being too Luthor – she would earn her positive press even so... building a positive working relationship with an up-and-coming reporter could never hurt. “Let me take you for lunch to celebrate. After all, I still owe you for your previous support,” she smiled playfully.
An endearing blush appeared on Kara’s cheeks which Lena hoped would become a habit of their meetings. “Lunch sounds wonderful,” Kara admitted.
***
Clark’s warning was still in her mind but so was Lena’s smile and pale green eyes. This was business she told herself – building up her pool of important people and reliable sources for future articles.
Kara watched as Lena ran her fingers through her straight, raven hair before resting her chin on her hand as she considered her tablet. A crease formed between her eyebrows. As Kara neared the table, Lena looked up and smiled. “Ms Luthor,” Kara greeted, reminding herself to be professional.
“Ms Danvers, please call me Lena,” she responded smiling. Kara’s gaze took in all of Lena’s features from her intelligent eyes to the stark contrast of her pale skin and dark hair, to her bright red lipstick. Lena didn’t rise to greet her, but her hand did twitch as though gesturing for Kara to sit. A habit of controlling the room, Kara thought, taking the seat opposite.
“Okay,” she smiled back, “but if I’m calling you Lena...”
“Right, Kara,” she agreed. “So, tell me, how is journalism?”
Kara frowned and explained how her new boss, Snapper, seemed to criticise everything she wrote culminating in what she hoped didn’t sound like a whiney complaint: “I know he is trying to ensure that I meet a journalistic standard but he is refusing to hear my pitches.”
Lena had stared at her throughout with such intensity that Kara had needed to look away multiple times to maintain her focus. “Then make him listen,” she suggested. Kara scoffed slightly without meaning to. She hated the self-deprecation in her tone and straightened her spine a little. Returning her focus to Lena whose eyes were alight with a plan. “Don’t pitch the idea. Write the full story and ensure it is the most important and journalistically sound article that crosses his desk that day.” Kara played the situation out in her head, Snapper would hate that she wrote it without his permission but if it was the best article, she was sure even he wouldn’t reject it. Kara focused back on Lena’s impossibly green eyes, feeling her heart thud with the excitement of their plan.
“Any leads?” Kara asked earning a pleased look from Lena.
“We’ll head back to my office after we’ve eaten. I have something I’d like to show you.” For the rest of the meal, they exchanged pleasantries and discussed how long they had each been in living National City. Lena had been there only a few months, so Kara detailed some of the cities hidden gems and suggested that she could show her some of her favourite places some time. Lena held her eye contact for a moment before responding simply that she would like that.