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The condensation on the glass does nothing to encourage Kara to drink faster. The beer tastes flat and warmer by the second, and really, she could be on a planet somewhere else with better drinks and better company.
Clark insisted that she should come to the Daily Planet sort-of-work-party – “C’mon Kara, you need to meet new people.”
“Why do the new people have to be your people?”
“They’re not my–” Clark sighed, trying his gentle, patient smile again. “Look, I’m not asking you to be anyone’s best friend. But I think it could be fun to… dip your toes in.”
Kara held back a laugh. “Dip my toes in?”
“Just think about it,” Clark said. “And it’s not just the people from the paper, the Justice Gang will be there too.”
“The Justice Gang? Is that a group you associate yourself with?”
Clark shrugged, clearly fighting back a chuckle. “Sometimes.”
Kara kicked back against the couch, eyes closed and hands behind her head. “You’re not really selling this night to me, man.”
“What if I told you that you could make fun of Guy Gardner the entire time?”
Kara opened one eye. “Who’s Guy Gardner?”
Clark smiled like someone who knew he had won. “Guess you’ll have to come to find out.”
And so Kara had gone. And she had made fun of Guy Gardner, but now it seems a long time since then, and not much else has animated the night.
She’s half considering ditching the party and going to play fetch with Krypto when the seat in front of hers is pulled back, and someone new occupies her field of view.
“You still drinking that?”
For a super-human, Kara registers the sequence of moments in slow motion – the girl sitting in front of her, the question, the cocky tilt of her head as she reaches for the beer and downs whatever is left in one go.
Kara blinks unfazed, though she perks up on the chair a bit. The girl is very pretty, and also owes her a drink, which brings the count of exciting things that have happened tonight to exactly one.
“A good excuse to get rid of it as any.” She says.
The smile of the girl in front of her is deliberate, confident. “Want another round?”
Kara makes a face, and this time the girl chuckles. “Only if you get me something better.”
“What’s something better?”
“Something that doesn’t make me stare at the glass for another half hour.”
The girl raps her knuckles on the table a couple of times. “Do you always accept drinks from strangers just like that?”
Kara studies her for a moment; something about this girl seems vaguely familiar. She might’ve been drunk a lot of the time lately, but her memory isn’t really that bad.
“We don’t have to be strangers.”
The girl smiles again, and then she’s getting up, pointing at the chair, “Keep it for me, yeah?”
Kara's eyes follow her a little dazed. She watches as the pretty girl reaches the bar and orders the drinks while exchanging a few words with Holt and Gardner, which can only mean…
“You almost got me without the helmet and wings.” Kara says as soon as the girl, Hawkgirl, sets the drinks in front of them. Who knew that paying attention to her cousin could pay off sometimes.
The brunette seems surprised, but only for a moment before she goes back to her assured, placid smile. “What gave me away?”
“The fact that you could withstand five seconds of conversation with green ring over there.”
They both spare another look at the bar where, as if he could hear them, they find Guy looking at them with narrowed eyes.
“Please, ignore him. God knows the rest of us do.”
Kara chuckles, tracing the rim of the foamy cocktail glass. “Isn’t he the leader of your gang?”
“That stupid name is enough reason to leave.”
“Then why don’t you?”
The other girl shrugs as she takes a sip of her drink. “Free accommodation and food is a good enough deal for me.”
“Huh. Where is this place again?” She won’t even entertain the thought of being part of the Justice Gang, but she also doesn’t want to crash at Clark’s place forever.
“I’m afraid no spare rooms are available.”
Kara gives a rise of eyebrows and what she’s sure is considered a charming smile on at least five other planets. “What about yours? Big enough for two? Well, two and a dog.”
The girl makes a victorious sound as she relaxes back against the chair. “Ah-ah! I knew you’d come, Supergirl. Guy owes me a crisp twenty.”
Kara huffs a laugh. “I guess my cousin can’t ever shut up, uh?”
“You’d be surprised how much he talks about you.”
Despite the bright neon colour, Kara bites the bullet and takes a sip of her drink. It’s strong and sugary, and even though alcohol on Earth won’t have any effect on her, she’ll gladly keep sipping away if this girl keeps buying for her. Which reminds her–
“And does Hawkgirl have a name when she’s off duty?”
“Is there ever such a thing?” The brunette chuckles. “It’s Kendra.”
“Kara.” She places a quick kiss on the offered hand and winks. “It’s a Kryptonian thing.”
“Oh yeah? I’ve never seen Superman do that.” Kendra says, but leaves her hand resting on the table between them.
Kara shrugs in dismissal. “He’s like barely Kryptonian, basically only in name.”
“While you’re pure and authentic I bet.”
And now Kara kinda wishes she still had that awful beer so she could take a long swing. “Last one of ‘em, baby.”
The colourful cocktail simply doesn’t give it the right flair.
Something in Kendra's eyes shifts. There's neither the pity nor the cheap sorrow Kara is used to see in people's expression. This girl seems content just absorbing the information and assessing silently. She doesn’t say anything for a minute, then – “Let’s get out of here.”
***
The cool night air of Metropolis makes for a pleasant contrast to the stifling warmth of the bar. The city is never fully silent, but Kara has learned to mostly tune it out by now. Besides, she’s got more important things to focus on, like the pretty woman walking next to her.
“Is staring and being very obvious another Kryptonian thing?”
“Depends who you ask.”
Kendra gives her a look. “I don’t have much choice it seems,”
Despite herself, one corner of Kara’s lips pulls up at that. “So, where are you taking me?”
They cross at a red light and take a left, which brings them to one of the many entrances of Centennial Park.
“Y’know, it’s vaguely creepy to bring a girl you just met to a park at night, if you ask me.”
Kendra huffs a laugh. “Lucky for you, I fight bad guys for a living.”
“Is that the only thing I’m lucky for tonight?”
“You’re insufferable and shameless.”
Kara fixes the lapels of her jacket nonchalantly. “I’ve been called worse.”
Kendra shakes her head. “I like to feed the squirrels at night.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Damn Clark and his stupid phrases.
Kendra reaches inside a pocket and pulls out a small bag full of nuts. “It’s better at night, not so many children and people hogging all the good spots.”
Well, that’s certainly… unexpected.
Kara scans their surroundings: the park is huge and mostly empty at this hour; her ears can pick up sounds further away, but it looks like it’s just her and Kendra in the approximate vicinity.
“Hmm. I should’ve brought Krypto, he’d love it here.”
“He would scare away every animal within a ten mile radius.” Kendra deadpans.
“Hey! He’s just a playful boy.”
“That’s one word for it.”
Kara looks at her unimpressed. “Just because my cousin can’t handle him doesn’t mean I can’t either.”
“Uh-uh. Now that’s something I’d like to see.” Kendra snickers.
Kara digs in the bag to pick a handful of nuts. “This date isn’t even over and you want to see me again already,”
Kendra’s head whips around so fast that Kara is sure if she weren’t a superpowered human, she would’ve given herself whiplash.
“This isn’t a date– I haven’t asked you–”
“Relax, Hawkgirl.” Kara says, laughing, “I’m just playing with you.”
“You know what? Give that back!” Kendra launches forward, and Kara swiftly moves to the side, hand raised above her head and out of reach.
There’s a glint in Kara’s eyes when Kendra moves again, trying to catch her by surprise, and failing. And then, the next thing she knows is that they’re close, closer than they’ve been all night, or well, ever.
Kendra’s eyes are deep, dark, and there’s a twinkle in them, like she recognises her match, she knows this dance by instinct.
“Gods, you’re pretty,”
Kendra blinks, unable to control or fight the warmth she feels in her cheeks. She steps back almost indignantly, with Kara or herself she can’t quite decide. “Shut up.”
Kara smirks. “D’you wanna make me or…?”
“Do you want me to slap you out of this planet or?”
Kara raises her hands innocently. She nods at the bag still in Kendra’s hand. “So, about those squirrels?”
It turns out that Kendra does know the best spots to find the little animals. They feed the squirrels side by side for a while, until Kendra’s bag is empty and the animals lose interest in them.
“That was– surprisingly nice,” Kara says, brushing dirt off her jeans and sitting on the ground next to the brunette.
“See? Not that weird.”
“It was a little weird when you said it.”
Kendra leans back on her hands. “Why? You don’t know me.”
It’s not a mean statement, just plain reality, and Kara can’t argue with that.
“And what if I’d like to know you? Are you going to tell me that your life is dangerous? That bad people will come after me?”
Kendra tilts her head, an amused smile pulling at her lips. “Are you always like this?”
“Honestly, I do a lot of talking to Krypto, and he doesn’t really answer.”
“No, I meant a relentless flirt.”
“Oh,” Kara smiles back, her hand gently carding through the short grass. “Depends on the day.”
Kendra's tone is of gentle teasing. “Lucky me, then.”
Neither of them says anything for a few minutes, while the leaves rustle in the cool evening breeze and critters fill the silence.
“Thank you, by the way. For uh– getting me out of that bar.”
Kendra nods placidly. “Sure. You looked bored to death.”
“Clark insisted that I should come to the party. He keeps banging on about how I should try to fit in more and give this place another chance.”
“I wouldn't call that a party.”
Kara laughs lightly. “No, me neither. But apparently it's more acceptable than getting drunk on red sun planets.”
“What happens on red sun planets?”
“Don't tempt me to show you, Hawkgirl.” Kara winks, earning herself a roll of eyes from Kendra.
There is another lull in conversation, then,
“I think Clark just really worries about you.”
Kara twists a blade of grass around her fingers again and again, careful not to rip it out of the ground. It’s a delicate thing, like everything is here on Earth. It’s both a comforting and terrifying thought.
“So he really does talk about me, huh?”
Kendra shifts closer, until their shoulders brush against each other, forcing Kara to look back up at her. “He thinks you’re pretty awesome. And strong, and kind.”
“Kind. That’s funny.”
“Are you not kind, Kara?”
Kara looks down at where Kendra’s hand has slowly inched near hers, gently pulling at the same blade of grass until their fingers touch. She swallows, looks up again at the intense brown eyes in front of her.
“All my parents wanted was for me to be good. That’s what my mother said before she– that I could be tough, that I didn’t have to be kind, but I had to be good. And yet I can’t seem to help it.” One corner of her lips curls up in a bittersweet smile. “Call it an occupational hazard.”
Kendra smiles back at her, this time soft and open. “‘Suppose there are worse things.”
For someone wielding a mace on a daily basis, Kendra’s touch is featherly. Kara feels the way the brunette skims over the back of her hand, her knuckles, the slot between her fingers, not holding but exploring. Something unfurls inside her chest, a warm thing that makes her feel like she’s basking under the yellow sun. And there’s a want there, a nameless shape of something that Kara both instantly knows and doesn’t.
She wonders if Kendra knows. Wonders if she feels it too when Kara turns her hand and their palms meet, fingers intertwining easily.
Kendra looks at it, brow slightly furrowed like she’s also trying to figure something out. She doesn’t speak for what seems a long time, then she gently tugs at their joined hands as she gets on her feet. “Walk me home?”
We could fly there, Kara thinks. It’s practical, saves time and all. But she doesn't want tonight to be over yet.
“Yeah. Of course.” It’s what she says.
***
Even at night, the Hall of Justice is a sight to behold. With its rows of flowers and the fountain spouting different water designs, Kara thinks her impressed stare is justified.
“Wow. This is certainly… not a humble abode.”
“Max Lord isn't exactly strapped for cash,” Kendra says.
“That your boss?”
“Something like that.”
“Ah. See, that’s the issue – I’m not very good at following someone else’s agenda.”
Kendra chuckles. “You think I follow someone’s agenda?”
“Call me old fashioned, but someone doesn't just put together a team of superheroes and give them a… a freaking castle without expecting something in return.”
Kendra crosses her arms. “Hey, I don’t think he's a pure of heart myself, but saving the city and the world from interdimensional threats seems like a pretty good pay off to me.”
Kara shrugs, hands deep inside the pockets of her trench coat. It’s not like she was expecting them to hold hands all the way back, but she kinda misses it and, maybe, wants to do it again. “Alright. Point taken.”
Kendra sighs, more amused than annoyed. “Is it going to be like this every time we meet?”
“Like what?”
“Arguing.”
Kara tsks. “I make a point not to argue until at least the third date.”
“I told you, this is not a date.”
“And I heard you.” Kara smiles smugly. “So, when can I take you on one?”
Kendra holds her gaze. “Whenever you ask me out on a proper one. And no,” she says before Kara can get a word in, “doing it right now doesn’t count. I like some effort.”
“Does tomorrow count?”
Kendra shakes her head and laughs. “Goodnight, Supergirl.”
Kara has just gotten herself up in the sky, ready to take off home, when a powerful flap of wings makes her turn around. Right in front of her, Kendra is floating up at the same eye level. Her wings are huge, beautiful; Kara lets her gaze linger on the perfect shape of them, the way they make Kendra seem powerful, lethal.
She tilts her head to the side. “Forgot something?”
There is a gust of wind, and the next thing Kara registers is Kendra’s arm hooked around her neck, her body a breath away, and the wings closing around them like a shield against the rest of the world.
Kara grins. “Cool party trick.” And then she’s leaning forward, meeting Kendra halfway.
The kiss is nothing like Kara’s built it up to be. Not that she has thought about it often in the couple of hours between meeting Kendra and now, but, admittedly, it has crossed her mind once or twice. It’s also her first kiss on Earth, and that seems significant somehow.
A part of her expected it to be rough, frenzied, a rushed stumble across a room before tumbling into bed. Instead, it’s soft. Kendra’s mouth is slow and certain and warm against Kara’s; the scrape of teeth on her lower lip is gentle. She still tastes of the sugary drink at the bar, and smells of something difficult to explain, like the pure, burning air Kara breathes whenever she’s about to fly off Earth.
Kara’s hands anchor at Kendra’s waist, thumbs rubbing circles on her hips over the t-shirt, and it feels like she's holding onto something precious, something she has waited too long for. Kendra shifts in the blonde’s grip, giving herself into the contact even more, and the low sound Kara makes against her lips – a relieved, wanting groan – might as well be the single loudest thing in the entire sky. Kendra’s arm is still locked around Kara’s shoulders, hand cradling the nape of the blonde’s neck, as they both step more into each other’s space.
Ironic, Kara thinks, because neither of them is actually walking.
When they break apart, they remain close, foreheads still touching, hands still grasping at each other like they’re about to fall from the sky any second.
Kendra laughs, a little breathless. “You didn’t need any air, did you?”
Kara squeezes her waist just because she wants to, just because she can. “Didn’t wanna brag or anything.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Kara catches the Hall of Justice clock turning to midnight. She looks at Kendra with a raised eyebrow. “It’s technically tomorrow. So, does it count now?”
Kendra pulls back a little, her eyes search Kara’s blue ones for a moment. When she leans forward again, it's to press a soft kiss to Kara’s cheek. "Drinks are on you next time.” And then she's flapping her wings again, moving backwards.
Kara doesn’t follow her; she only looks over at the other woman with a dazed grin, and says, “Goodnight, Hawkgirl.”