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Kara immediately knew something was wrong as she flies towards her and Lena's shared apartment.
She can hear her girlfriends coughs and sneezes as she lands on the balcony, "Hey baby." Kara says softly as she touches down on the floor.
Lena looks up at Kara with tired eyes. She looks horrible. She's wrapped in what Kara assumes to be every blanket in the apartment, and she's as white as a ghost. She opens her mouth to speak, but is interrupted by her own violent coughs.
Kara immediately rushes over to soothe her, softly rubbing her back in small circles, "Oh honey, you look horrible." She sits down next to her, placing the back of her hand against her forehead, "Do you want your ginger tea?" She asks, knowing it helps her feel better.
Lena nods with a cough, "And my laptop? I have a proje-"
Kara doesn't let her finish that sentence. She just gently cups her face in her hands as if she's the most precious thing in the universe. She guides her to look at her in the eyes, her blue eyes clouded with worry for her sick girlfriend, "No honey. I can tell just by looking at you that you definitely have a fever. I know you feel like you need to work through everything, but even you need rest sweetheart. Please?" Kara pleas softly, knowing Lena can't resist her.
Lena wants to deny it. She wants to push past everything she's feeling and get right back to work, but she can't deny the fact that she feels like shit.
Lena sighs in defeat, unable to resist her pleas, "Fine. Some soup then please?" She asks, her voice hoarse from all the coughing and sneezing.
Kara nods, kissing Lena's forehead, "Coming right up." She says softly before she moves to the kitchen to make chicken noodle soup.
Lena watches her go, the thought of how she got so lucky with someone who will take care of and help her lingering in the back of her mind.
Lena hates being sick. It makes her feel so worthless, so weak. In the Luthor household if you got sick, you had to go back to work. It didn't matter how bad you felt. If you weren't in the hospital or actively dying, not working wasn't an option. She even remembers her mother working from a hospital bed a few times, dispite the constant pleas from doctors.
She looks up at the gorgeous blonde she gets to call her girlfriend move around the kitchen. She thinks about how Kara has never made her feel bad for getting sick, how she has never shamed her for it.
She smiles to herself as she watches Kara's toned back from her place on the couch as she moves around the kitchen. If she didn't feel like she would collapse when she stood up, she would be behind her, running her hands over that beautiful back and those glorious biceps that aren't too far away.
Lena would stare at Kara for hours if she could. She's completely mesmerized as she watches her. She finds herself wondering how she managed to find such a beautiful girlfriend that has so much kindness and love in her heart.
Lena is then completely snapped out of her trance as Kara approaches her with the soup and tea.
Kara has a warm but concerned smile on her face as she sets the food down in front of her on the coffee table. She sits down next to her, "Do you need anything else Lee?" She asks, ready to do anything the sick Luthor wants from her. She would do anything for her anyways, but that's besides the point.
Lena coughs and shakes her head. She looks down at the tray with her favorite soup and tea prepared just the way she likes it. She smiles at Kara's thoughtfulness and looks up at her, "This is perfect darling, thank you."
Kara smiles and kisses her cheek, "I'm going to work from home today. If you need anything, let me know. Ok?" She asks softly.
Lena smiles tiredly and nods, "Ok." She practically mumbles out, clearly incredibly exhausted. She doesn't want to burden Kara, but she knows it's better to agree with her rather than argue.
A part of Lena always feels like she's burdening anyone who helps her, but Kara and her friends have helped her see that needing help is just a part of being human.
She thinks about how Kara needs help sometimes, despite being Supergirl. She would never shame Kara for needing help, so why should she shame herself?
Kara super speeds to grab everything she needs to work, not wanting to be too far away from her sick girlfriend. She sits down next to her and kisses Lena's cheek again, "Good?" Kara asks, watching as Lena takes a few bites of her soup and a few sips of her tea.
Lena smiles tiredly and nods, finishing off her tea pretty quickly. She takes a few moments as she eats a bit more soup, a thought lingering in the back of her mind she can't ignore, "You don't have to work from home just for me you know. I'll be fine on my own." She says quietly, setting the soup back down on the coffee table. She leans her head on Kara's shoulder, finding comfort in her presence despite just telling her she can go. She doesn't want her to leave, but she still can't help feeling like a burden.
Kara shakes her head and moves so she can tilt Lena's head up to make direct eye contact with her, "I know, but you need me more than CatCo right now. I'll always be here, whenever you need me." She states firmly, and there is no questioning the sincerity in her words.
Lena isn't used to this. Unconditional love. She still isn't accustomed to just being loved with no strings attached. In the Luthor household, love had to be earned. It wasn't just given out for free. Her eyes well up with tears as she finally comes to terms with something. Kara's love is unconditional, not earned. She doesn't have to fight for her love. Kara gives it to her for free.
Kara notices the tears and wipes them away, growing an increasingly concerned look on her face, "What's wrong Lee?" She asks softly, now fully cupping her face.
Lena laughs softly and shakes her head, "Nothing is wrong, darling. Everything is perfect." Lena leans in and leaves a short but sweet kiss on Kara's lips, "You're perfect."
Kara notices the sincerity in Lena's voice, so she decides not to press any further. She knows how hard Lena can be on herself, and she has made it her life's mission to help her see herself for the wonderful, beautiful, kind, and smart person she is.
Kara pulls back from the kiss and leans her forehead against hers, "So are you Lee." She whispers back, meaning every word.
For once in her life, Lena believes her words. In Kara's eyes, Lena is perfect. That's all Lena needs to finally let herself relax, laying back down on Kara's shoulder.
Kara kisses Lena's temple and whispers, "Get some rest Lee. I love you." She then starts typing on her computer, making sure to not disturb Lena as much as possible.
"I love you too." Lena mumbles back, her eyes growing heavy as her exhaustion finally catches up to her.
As she lays there, comfortable on her girlfriend's shoulder, on the brink of sleep, she can't help but fully let her guard down for the first time in her life. Right before she succumbs to sleep, she thinks that as long as she has Kara, maybe being sick isn't so bad after all.