Chapter Text
Kara first spots her when she’s moving in to the building. The blonde is on her way back from a long and gruelling day at CatCo. Cat had been particularly demanding today and the only thing Kara really really wants is a long hot shower and two, no three, orders of pot stickers. She’s nearly at the front door of her building when the sun catches on beautiful black hair and shines in Kara’s eyes. She looks towards the beautiful girl with boxes in her arms, Kara almost melts right then and there. The blonde hasn’t noticed that she’s staring at the mysterious stranger until she says something. “Sorry, can I help you with something?”
Kara finally comes to her senses and shakes her head. “S-sorry, I just, uhm, I live here too and you seem to be moving in…and, er, do you want some help? With your, your boxes?” Kara mentally berates herself for the awkward way she stumbled through that sentence. Thank Rao Alex wasn’t here to see that, Kara thinks. The stranger seems to find her awkward words amusing, she gives Kara a shining smile and sets the box she currently has in her arms down.
“I could use some help, actually, but first,” the woman takes a step towards her and the blonde wonders if her heart is beating loud enough for the entire planet to hear. “Why don’t you tell me your name?”
“M-my, my name?” Kara isn’t sure she's heard the words correctly, but when the woman begins smiling again Kara snaps back from her daze. “Oh! My name, right, uhm,” she forces a laugh and shakes her head. “I’m Kara, Kara Danvers.” The blonde reaches her hand out towards the woman who follows suit.
“Lena,” she responds, grasping Kara’s hand and giving it a firm shake. Kara gives a shaky smile and they remain that way for a few moments; simply holding each other’s hand and smiling. It feels like a full minute before Lena laughs and pulls away. “Now about that help you promised.” She tilts her head towards the boxes and Kara lamely nods. She rushes over to the numerous boxes on the curb and easily lifts two. It’s not until she sees Lena’s face that she realizes these may be heavy. “Those are both full of textbooks,” the black haired woman says. Kara looks down at the boxes in her arms and shrugs her shoulders.
“I, uhm, go to the gym…frequently.” It’s a horrible response, but Lena seems to believe it as she shrugs and begins to walk into the building. Kara barely notices where they’re going until they’re standing outside of the apartment next to hers. “Are you moving in next door?” Kara speaks before thinking. “I mean that I live in the next apartment down.” Lena turns as she enters into the apartment and grins.
“I guess that means we’re neighbours, Kara Danvers.” Kara can feel her face heating up as she enters Lena’s apartment, and it’s not from carrying the boxes.
“You know, Lena,” Kara says setting the boxes down in the living room. “I never caught your last name.” The blonde aims for cheeky and fears she may have failed when Lena just gives her a tightlipped smile.
“That’s because I never threw it, Kara.” With that she walks passed and Kara lets out a breath she didn’t know she was holding.
After another hour of pretending boxes are heavy as she carries them up the stairs and Lena’s apartment is littered with boxes. The two girls share an awkward moment, both unsure of what to do with themselves. Lena finally smiles and clears her throat. “Thank you for all your help, Kara, but I should start unpacking.” She gestures awkwardly over her shoulder and Kara nods.
“Right, cool, okay, uhm if you need anything I’m right,” Kara gestures awkwardly in the direction of her apartment and smiles, “there,” she finishes lamely. Lena laughs and nods her head. Kara begins walking towards the door and turns back just before she crosses the threshold. “Have a good night, Lena. I’ll see you around.”
Kara gets to her apartment and closes the door, sighing heavily. The girl next door was unbelievably gorgeous and, as usual, Kara was an awkward mess. She just hoped Lena was as charmed by it as she seemed.
~~~
Two weeks later and Kara has barely seen Lena With-No-Last-Name. She saw her once, briefly, a few days after she moved in. Kara was coming home from CatCo, Lena had been walking into the building, hair hanging just passed her shoulders, skin tight dress, killer heels…Kara had almost walked straight into a lamp post. That doesn’t mean that Kara doesn’t accidentally hear Lena sometimes, the apartment next door had been empty for so long that her super hearing now seemed keen to pick up on the brunette’s movements. Mostly it’s just shouted curse words in the morning when Lena walks into things, the brunette is not a morning person, but sometimes Kara hears her talking into the phone softly or thinking out loud.
Tonight there is radio silence from the other side of the wall and Kara assumes Lena must be out. The blonde busies herself preparing for an emergency movie night with Alex and the knock on the door shocks her. Alex never knocks she has her own key. Kara slowly slides down her glasses and looks through to the other side of the door. There stands Lena, fiddling with her hands adorably. Kara makes it to her door a bit faster than humanly possible and opens it gently. “Lena, hey, what’s up?”
The raven haired girl shoots Kara a brilliant smile. She looks a lot more relaxed than when Kara saw her the other day. She stands there in snug jeans and an old MIT t-shirt. Kara realizes as Lena looks her up and down that the other girl is still dressed up compared to her. Kara is standing in red and green plaid pyjama pants, an oversized fading Superman t-shirt with a hole near the collar, and pink fuzzy socks. Lena straightens and Kara leans against her door. “I was just wondering if…I could borrow a cup of sugar.” Kara immediately straightens and grins.
“Yeah, of course.” She opens the door and gestures for Lena to enter her apartment. “Come on in, are you baking something?”
“Yes, uhm, a pie,” Kara notes that Lena doesn’t sound entirely too sure about that, but continues anyway. The blonde goes straight to her kitchen and Lena follows before stopping awkwardly by the island.
“I love pie, well I love all food, but pie is one of my favourites, especially if it’s chocolate pecan.” Kara reaches up into the cupboards and grabs a bag of sugar. “You could take the bag if you wanted, bring it back when you’re done?” Kara turns toward the other woman who has definitely zoned out. “Uhm, Lena?” The alertness returns back to her green eyes as she makes eye contact with Kara.
“Sorry, yeah, that would be great.” Lena responds. Kara carries the bag over to her and hands it over with a smile, one Lena happily returns. The two stand there like that, making eye contact and smiling at each other, until Alex bangs into the room.
“Hey, sorry I’m late I was just at the—,” the older Danvers finally realizes what she’s walked into as both Kara and Lena break their gaze. “I see you’ve found a friend to help keep you busy.” The brunette grins. Kara can tell that Lena immediately becomes uncomfortable.
“Sorry, I didn’t know you had plans. I’ll just go, I’ve got a pie to make after all.” Kara watches as Lena mutters a quick goodbye and rushes out the door, giving Alex a tight smile as she passes by.
“So who was that?” Alex begins, kicking off her shoes and walking over to the couch to get comfy. Kara rolls her eyes and follows, after all the food is over there.
“Lena, she just moved in next door,” Kara begins.
“Oh so that’s your cute new neighbour?” Kara looks at her sister and just nods.
“Yeah, she uhm, moved in like two weeks ago, haven’t really seen much of her until tonight.” Kara smiles fondly, looking towards her door. She doesn’t redirect her attention until the older Danvers clears her throat. When the blonde turns towards her sister she’s shocked that she didn’t feel Alex staring at her. The brunette’s gaze is so focused it looks as if she’s analyzing the DNA in Kara’s skin cells. “Alex? What—do I have something on my face?” She asks in horror. When Alex just keeps staring Kara stands and begins to rush to the bathroom mirror. “Has it been there the whole time? Why didn’t you tell me? Oh my god,” she halts midway to the bathroom. “Do you think Lena saw?” At this Alex bursts out laughing. Kara just stares at her.
“Kara sit down, you don’t have anything on your face,” the blonde can feel herself begin to breathe again and moves back to the couch to sit down. “You do, however, have a crush on your neighbour.” The air once again leaves Kara’s lungs.
“N-no, definitely not! I mean sure she’s pretty and she smells nice and her hair is really great and she’s charming and kind and smart. But I’ve only talked to her like twice,” Kara says, scoffing and laughing it off. Alex, of course, sees through her.
“You’ve got a crush on your neighbour who, by the way, is not cute she’s ridiculously hot.” Kara realizes her sister is teasing her and can’t help rolling her eyes.
“Alex, I do not!” The blonde feels her cheeks heating up and looks down at her toes.
“Oh my god! Kara, you’re blushing you so do!” The older Danvers laughs at her expense and Kara unceremoniously throws herself back into the couch cushions and smacks her sister’s arm. Alex flinches in pain and rubs at her arm, but she doesn’t stop laughing.
“Shut up and put the movie on,” Kara says with a pout on her face, knowing that she’ll never hear the end of it.
~~~
Four days later and Kara finally has a day off. She pulls herself out of bed at ten and moves into the kitchen. Kara hates mornings because she’s always starving but things take time to cook. Today Kara is seriously debating just eating an entire box of cereal. She’s sure she has a mixing bowl large enough to fit an entire box, Kara begins to look for said bowl in her cupboards when a knock is at her door. The blonde is startled and loses her balance. Kara rubs her forehead where it connected with the floor. The knocking continues and Kara scrambles to get up on her feet to get to the door. The person has been there for a while now and the blonde rushes to answer it before they leave. Kara stumbles into and opens the door rather quickly and without checking who’s behind it.
“I’m sorry I took so long, I..fell down,” Kara waves her hand in the air. The laugh sounds out quickly and Kara automatically realizes who it is. “Lena, hey, come in!” She opens the door wider and Lena walks in. “What’s up?”
Lena turns around and grins at Kara. “I’m so sorry to bother you again, Kara, but I was wondering if I could borrow an egg?” Kara laughs lightly and nods.
“Of course, are you baking again?” Kara asks, opening the fridge and rooting around for the eggs she knows she bought last weekend.
“No, actually I’m making pancakes.” Kara stands to tell Lena that she loves pancakes, but she’s still in the fridge so instead she just hits her head on the top of the fridge. “Are you alright?” The blonde’s face heats up despite the cold temperature surrounding her.
“Yeah, just ridiculously clumsy.” Kara locates the eggs and proclaims a very lame ‘aha!’ “Here you are,” she holds two eggs in her hand, careful not to break them, towards Lena.
“Thanks,” they walk towards the door slowly and Lena abruptly turns toward the blonde. “Kara, would you happen to know how to make pancakes?” Kara notes that this is the first time since they’ve met that Lena has seemed shy. Kara grins brightly, attempting to reassure the other girl. She looks Lena over and makes an abrupt decision.
“Yeah, why don’t you stay and I can show you how to make them?” The two lock eyes for a moment and Kara thinks she may have made a mistake and then the brunette nods.
“Yeah, yeah that sounds great.”
~~~
Twenty minutes later and Lena has figured out her secret. “You don’t know how to make pancakes either, do you?” They’ve got four black pancakes sitting on a plate and Kara lets out a shy laugh. It’s not that she doesn’t know how to make pancakes, she gets the general gist of it, but with Lena there she sort of got a bit flustered.
“No, I don’t usually make them, Alex does.” Kara smiles rubbing the back of her neck.
“And Alex is?” Lena asks. Kara turns to the raven haired girl and grins.
“My sister, she was the one who was here the other day,” Kara sees Lena visibly exhale and grin.
“Your sister,” the blonde just nods. Lena nods and looks at the kitchen. As she turns her head Kara notices a streak of pancake batter on her cheek. “Kara, your kitchen is a mess.” They both laugh and Kara reaches for a napkin.
“So are you, Lena,” the raven haired girl gives her a curious look and she laughs. She shows Lena the napkin and grins, “here let me.” Kara brushes Lena’s hair behind her ear and wipes the napkin along her cheek. She feels the other girl’s face heating up and the blonde, in turn, blushes.
“Thanks, Kara,” Lena whispers softly. Kara has definitely crossed into Lena’s personal space, the air is filled with tension a moment that is broken by the blonde’s stomach growling loudly. Lena laughs and gestures to the plate of burned pancakes. “I’d suggest the pancakes, but I’m not sure you wanna eat those.” Kara nods and laughs.
“There is this little diner a block from here, they make the best banana pancakes in the universe. We could go, if you’re not busy.” Kara has never been good at keeping her emotions hidden and her voice is dripping with hope.
“Yeah, I would love to.” Lena is grinning and the alien can’t help but match it as she straightens excitedly. “You may want to change first though, Kara. Not that the sushi pyjamas aren’t adorable.” Kara looks down at her pj’s and nods her head, uttering a faint right before going to change.
~~~
When they get to the diner it’s relatively empty and they select a small booth by the window. The waitress is there quickly and takes their order, two stacks of banana pancakes, and then they’re left on their own. It awkward and quiet for a brief moment. Kara looks around the restaurant before Lena clears her throat. “So, Kara, where are you from?” And then Kara starts talking, telling Lena stories of her upbringing with Alex and their many, many adventures. By the time their food comes Lena knows a great deal about Kara and her past, yet Kara knows very little about her companion.
“What about you, Lena? Where did you grow up?” The air thickens and Lena gives Kara a courteous smile.
“Metropolis, but I was in boarding school more often than I was there,” she shrugs. “Not very interesting I suppose.” Kara can tell that there’s more there, just below the surface, but decides now may not be the best time to prod.
“Wanna hear about the time I got Chipotle for Cat Grant’s lunch?” The brunette’s soft laughter is all the answer Kara needs.
~~~
They’re walking down the hallway to their apartments after their meal when Kara realizes something. “You know, Lena, I still don’t know your last name.” The woman grins at her and shrugs.
“I like to keep an air of mystery,” she says, quirking an eyebrow at the blonde. Kara rolls her eyes, unable to stop a smile from blossoming on her face at the comment. They finally come to a stop just outside of Lena’s door.
“Fine, but if you won’t tell me your name will you at least tell me your number?” Kara thinks that is what Alex would call smooth. Lena looks Kara over for a moment before she nods her head and reaches out her hand.
“Give me your phone,” the alien does so at a rapid speed. Lena hands it back a moment later with a smile. “I even took the liberty to send myself a message so now you have to talk to me.” Kara laughs and nods.
“I definitely will,” the blonde grins. Lena unlocks her door and steps inside. “See you later, Lena.” The woman gives her a simple goodbye and a bright smile before closing the door to her apartment. Kara practically skips to her front door and just as she reaches for the handle, it opens on it’s own.
“Kara, where have you been?” Alex is standing in front of her, arms crossed. Kara just smiles and walks into her apartment.
“Out with Lena,” she responds depositing her keys on the side table.
“And why is your kitchen in such a state of disarray?” The older Danvers closes the door and watches as Kara remembers the disaster zone a few feet away from her.
“Oh uhm, Lena didn’t know how to make pancakes, so I offered to help and then this happened so we just went to that diner on fifth.” Kara rubs her forehead as she takes in her kitchen, Alex just laughs and shakes her head.
“Right, so you taught Lena how not to make pancakes, is there anything else she now knows?” Kara turns on her heels and gives Alex a cheeky smile.
“My number,” the blonde alien then rushes into the kitchen to start cleaning and if it weren’t for her super hearing she might have missed Alex’s mumbled ‘go, Kara’.