Chapter Text
Kara woke at the first sign of Lena’s fight, caught in a nightmare as she was and she was quick to hold Lena close and coo nothing’s into her ear until she stilled and the furrow to her brow smoothened. It happened multiple times through the evening and into the night, and Kara had to retrieve her cell-phone when it rang before it could awaken Lena. It was Alex.
“Alex, hey,” she breathed and made sure Lena slept on. “What’s up?”
‘I haven’t heard from you since you went to see Lena, are you okay?’
‘’Yeah. I’m fine… Lena’s just… I’m just helping…”
She could hear the pause on the other end of the line and could picture Alex’s furrowed brow.
‘Well…okay….but we need you back here. There’s a fire down at the port, a big one.’
Kara sighed and closed her eyes.
‘They need Supergirl.’
“Yeah…okay,” she breathed. “On my way,” she said and then hung up. It was a little rude, sure, but her sister was making her leave Lena. Making her leave the woman currently cuddled around her like a Koala and she really, really didn’t want to go. She was warm, sleepy, and had a gorgeous woman in her arms. Who would have thought ‘I’m not gay’ Kara Danvers would feel at home in Lena Luthor’s bed? She took a deep breath, watching her chest rise and fall with Lena resting on it and couldn’t help the fond curl of her lips and then she reached down and gently lifted Lena’s arm off her. The cute grumble of protest Lena gave at the movement made her heart twirl but she was resolute and gently slid out from under her and let her rest on the bed. If she noticed how Lena curled into her pillow and how her heart warmed at the sight, she ignored it in favour of packing away their dishes and moving quickly through the house to the dryer and her clothes, dropping the empty take-out on the bench.
The rest of the house was silent, a light was on under one of the guest room doors and after she had changed she knocked on it gently, pulling her messenger bag over her shoulder.
Vince answered the door in a pair of boxers and she averted her eyes from his admittedly well-defined chest with a blush. He caught her look and leant cockily against the door and folded his arms. “What can I do for you?” His voice had lowered and he waggled his eyes playfully and Kara flushed.
“I-I need you to let me out. Please,” she said and re-adjusted her glasses as he pushed off the door with a nod and began to pad silently out to the kitchen.
Kara pulled a piece off her note-pad and hastily wrote Lena a note and folded it up and wrote Lena’s name on the outside and left it on the bench.
Vince was over by the door and had entered the security pin and opened the door for her. He winked at her as she left and she felt her cheeks heating and awkwardly waved goodbye as she left. She heard the door shut behind her and wandered down the hall to the elevator and took it down to the lobby.
It was mostly quiet down here with the shift of security guard changed and another receptionist at the desk and she smiled at them all as she exited the apartment building. There weren’t any members of the press outside and she walked quickly down the road, the cool breeze brushing the warmth from her body, and ducked into an alley. Moments later she was at her apartment getting changed and was thankful she had decided not to wear the suit today, seeing as she had ended up almost naked in Lena Luthor’s apartment.
It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Lena, she did, it was just….she was cautious of revealing who she was to any one, especially someone who had such a high profile last name.
“Come in, Alex,” she said as she launched herself off her balcony and into the night and headed towards the port.
‘The fire started in a warehouse, we aren’t sure why yet, but it looks like a storage warehouse.’
“Okay.”
Kara coiled and then forced herself forward, feeling the deep boom as she broke the sound barrier and raced towards the port. The closer she got to the ocean the more she could taste it’s tang on the back of her tongue, smell the salt in the air. It smelt like fish, salt, the ocean, oil, machinery, sweat, and now the acidic curl of smoke. She saw the fire before she could smell it and was quick to fly around the burning building with her laser vision to see if anyone were inside. It was empty and she hovered above it and took several great breaths, filling her lungs to capacity and feeling her chest strain with the force of it, before breathing out harshly. Her frost breath fell on the flames like a wave and she slowly flew over the top of the building, blowing out as she did so, before reeling back into the sky, taking another set of deep breathes of clear air, and passing over the fire again.
It’s heat lapped at her skin and it was oddly pleasant, like something warm and soft and abruptly there was a crack in the air and she looked over to the other side of the warehouse to see Kal smiling over at her.
He returned his attention to the burning building below him and cast his own breath on it, and under the combined power of the two Super’s the flame collapsed in on itself and ash fell and formed a heavy sludge on and around the building.
“Kal!” Kara beamed and zoomed to her cousin and collided with him in mid-air with a thud. “Hi! What are you doing here?” She enquired as she pulled back from their hug and he playfully tussled her hair and she shot him a glare.
“Hey, cuz.” He hovered in the air above the building and gaze a small shrug. “Interview,” he said and then nodded a little. “With Lena Luthor…”
~*~
“Miss Luthor, thank you for seeing me,” Clark said as he was let into Lena’s apartment and he cast Kara a glance. “Us,” he corrected, “on such short notice.”
Lena was looking tired, drawn and gaunt, even in the sun as she worked next to her large windows. Her assistant was surrounded by a pile of papers on the kitchen table and Vince returned to where he was preparing his daily shake at the kitchen bench.
“Of course,” Lena said politely, eyes flickering to Kara and back to Clark. “Anything for Metropolis’ finest hero.” Both Super’s tensed and Lena paused where she had a pen hovering over a piece of paper. "Third nomination this year, am I right, Mr Kent? Metropolis’ bulletproof reporter…perhaps you will finally beat your wife for the award this time around.”
Clark inhaled sharply in relief and ducked his head with a smile. “She is determined to beat me again.”
Lena hummed and looked over at Kara. “Kara,” she said with a smile and the reporter beamed back at her.
“Hi Lena,” she gave a little awkward wave and Lena looked back at Clark.
“Please,” she gestured to the couches. “Take a seat. Feel free to move them if it would make you feel more comfortable. I’m sure it will be no trouble.”
“You got your cast off?” Kara blurted as she shifted the couch around and then flopped onto it. Clark raised an eyebrow and moved to the corner and settled in.
“Hm? Oh, yes,” Lena said and looked at her arm. “This morning. It was due to come off anyway. I healed faster than I thought I would.”
“Are you okay if I record this?” Clark asked and moved his reporter pad to his lap and lifted his phone.
Lena flicked a glance to Kara and then back at Clark.
“You don’t have a super memory?” She asked, curl to her lips as she added innocently, “Don’t all reporters?”
Clark’s features were still, carefully neutral and Kara looked between the two.” Not all of us, I’m afraid.”
“Go ahead, Mr Kent. Catco doesn’t want in on the exclusive?” Lena enquired of Kara, brow lifting curiously.
Kara flushed and fiddled with her glasses. “Um, well, kinda. Y-yeah?”
Lena took a deep breath and nodded. “Kara the reporter, then?” She asked gently and Kara hesitated but nodded a little.
“Okay,” Lena said softly and turned to take a sip of her water as Kara dug her note-pad and pen out, ignoring Clark’s curious gaze.
The interview was long, pointed, and at sometimes a little harsh, especially from Clark with regards to Lex, but Lena was graceful and poised and dodged some of the frankly, rude, questions Clark was asking. Kara even glared at him a few times when she could hear Lena’s discomfort through the stutter in her heart. Lena said she didn’t know where Lex was, and didn’t know who had helped him escape, though her pulse had shifted a little there, and she hadn’t helped him. Yes, she had visited him to talk, and discussed the attacks on her sent by him, which, was frustrating, she had admitted, but said he clearly thought she had betrayed him and deserved it.
She found it difficult to associate her brother, the boy she grew up with, and the man he was now, and the things he had done. They discussed the reports she was going to be working with Supergirl to help various not-for-profits around the city.
They were interrupted part way through by a local team of glass experts and Kara watched them with narrowed eyes as they moved down the hall towards Lena’s room and she could hear them discussing the balcony door windows. She kept an ear out but turned her attention back to Lena.
They asked her about her surviving the tower explosion and her smile turned fond as she talked about her employees and their families and how they were remaining with her, with L-Corp. She didn’t know how she had survived, it was through sheer luck that her safe room had managed to survive the fall.
“A lot of people are calling you a hero, for saving your employees,” Kara asked and Lena’s green eyes gazed through her. “What is your response to that?”
It took Lena a good moment to answer and she looked out the window and over the city as she did. “I think,” she said slowly, “that humanity has it in them to be heroes every day, without grand acts.”
She cast a glance to Clark and then looked back at Kara. “Human’s are heroes every day and we just don’t realise it because these things we do in our lives aren’t like flying, or super-strength, or being bullet proof. It’s people like you,” she ducked her head, eyes kind and gentle. “Who are heroes, more so maybe, than people like Superman and Supergirl. People who seek truth and justice and are kind and generous and look for the good in people. So, no,” she said and looked back out over the city. “I don’t consider myself a hero. I had the opportunity and I couldn’t just do nothing. My employees deserve better from me than that.” Her heart tripped over itself and she shifted uncomfortably and Clark smiled and rose to his feet.
“Thank you for your time, Miss Luthor.”
Kara nodded and started to gather her belongings as well and Lena’s voice made them pause.
“Superman.”
The two went still again and turned slowly back to Lena.
“Lex had many notes on Superman,” Lena said and tapped her pen quickly on her piece of paper, rolling it end over end. “And he will be coming after them both-Superman and Supergirl.” She looked over at the two reporters. “I know you are her friend, or at least,” she hesitated and her brow tightened. “You speak with her sometimes. But that makes you a target… as well as any member of the DEO that Supergirl works with. Your sister,” she looked directly at Kara and Kara tensed a little at the threat. “Your friend Mr. Olsen,” she looked between them both and then settled back on Kara. “You need to be careful. You aren’t bulletproof,” she said, a wry smile on her lips. She didn’t hide her look at Clark and then flicked her green eyes back to Kara. “I’d hate for you to get hurt.”
Clark was stiff as he said he would talk to Lois and Superman and Jimmy about keeping them all safe and Kara hesitated and stepped towards Lena.
“I’ll see you in a minute, Clark. Kay?”
Clark’s jaw moved but he nodded and he thanked Lena again and walked towards the door.
“Hey,” Kara said quietly and looked Lena over. She looked like she needed more sleep, and her eyes were haunted and she was wearing large, bulky clothes as though she could hide in them, but there was a feverish glint to her eye and she pointedly turned whatever she was working on over as Kara got closer.
“Are you doing okay? I would have stayed, but….”
“I don’t need a baby sitter, Kara,” Lena said quietly and looked down, toying with her long, elegant fingers. “But thank… you,” she said tightly and her eyes were glassy as she looked over at Kara, lips pressed together in the best smile she could manage. Sensing Lena didn’t want to talk about it Kara nodded and smiled.
“I’m here for you, any time,” she said and nodded again to solidify her point.
“I’ll be careful,” she said in response to Lena’s earlier comment about staying safe. “But Supergirl, what the Super’s do…. Its important.” She gave a little nod. “They protect people.”
Lena sighed. “I wish you would stop talking to her,” she said quietly. “Her enemies…. They aren’t always human, and you’re kind of ….soft,” she said delicately and tilted her head. “Can she keep you safe?” Lena asked softly, eyes intent and pinning Kara in place.
Kara nodded, how could she not, of course she would do her best to keep herself safe.
Lena gave a sweet snort. “You know,” she ducked her head into her shoulder. “I actually threatened her to stay away from you."
Kara blinked. “I know…. She told me!,” she added when Lena’s brow lifted. “She thought it was sweet…misguided but sweet.”
“And what do you think of it?” Lena asked curiously, a tilt burdening on her lips.
Kara blushed and faltered and fiddled with her glasses. “Um, well, I guess um. It’s nice you want to keep me safe? But um…. Its my decision.”
Lena nodded and sighed again. “I know, and I am sorry. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I know,” Kara said simply and smiled softly at her. “Um, can I- um when you’re next free, did you wanna do lunch or something?” Her feet were suddenly interesting and she chanced a glance to see a radiant smile on Lena’s face, and felt her heart twist and summersault.
“I’d like that,” she smiled and Kara felt the warmth of it settling in her chest and warm her from the inside.
“Okay! Cool! Text me!” Kara beamed as she backed away from Lena and she tripped and fell over the back of the couch and landed and Lena was out of her chair and over next to her so fast she’d swear she had Super-speed.
“Kara! Are you alright?!”
Kara lay on the floor and gazed up at Lena and grinned. “Oops,” she giggled and Lena sighed and rolled her eyes. She rose to her feet with a fond smile and shook her head as she offered her hand to help Kara up.
“You’re so clumsy, Kara,” she said with a smile to her voice and Kara pouted.
“Am not.”
“You just fell over the corner of my couch…. You’re clumsy.”
“I was looking at you,” Kara blurted and then blushed and Lena’s heart did a little dance and at the sound she blushed harder and gave Lena a shy smile. “Yup, I’m just gonna... Bye. Text me!” She almost bolted for the door and heard Lena’s soft laughter heralding her exit.
“I think Lena knows who I am,” Clark said as they walked towards the elevator and her happiness faded like the light around a dead candle.
“Um, maybe?”
“Kara!” Kal was exasperated. “No one uses that many euphemisms in a conversation without there being a motive behind it.”
Kara shrugged. “I figured she knew, I mean,” she elaborated when Clark shot her a look. “We, Supergirl, and her were talking one night and she slipped up, nearly calling you, well, you…. And then I thought back to our first meeting and it seemed like she knew.” Kara shrugged as Clark rested his head against the elevator.
“She hasn’t done or said anything. I mean, all she’d have to do is put a statement on social media and its all over.”
“Kara! She’s a Luthor!” Clark hissed. “I know you have feelings for her but-“
“Woah-feelings, what feelings! I don’t- feelings. Complete absence of feelings. No, not me-er,” she shuffled nervously and Clark lifted a brow, which- not fair, she was the oldest and he could not use that look on her. “Fine. I like her okay? She’s my friend.” She ignored the brief flash of triumph on his face before he went serious again.
“This is dangerous Kara. Does she know about you?”
“I don’t think so,” Kara shook her head. “She seemed to be talking to you when she said like, bulletproof and stuff… and she warned us about Lex.”
Superman sighed and adjusted his reporter bag.
“She hasn’t done or said anything,” the ‘yet’ was silent. “And she was warning us to keep safe, well, me to keep safe….Can we just let her be?”
It took Clark a moment to consider but when he did he exhaled loudly and gave his cousin a begrudging nod. “Just stop pouting at me.”
Kara beamed and bounced from the elevator.
“So… she threatened Supergirl, huh?” He asked cheekily as they exited the elevator and walked across the lobby.
“Argh! Shut up, Clark!” She gave him a playful shove, one that would have tossed a human several feet.
“Aw, has my liddle widdle couzy got a crush?” He teased her lightly and she glared at him as he threw and arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze. “Come on. I’ll buy you lunch and you can tell me all about it.”
Kara beamed and felt warm all over. First she had a special smile from Lena, then she had Kal here, and…. He was going to buy her lunch. “Just wait,” she said with a grin. “I’ll eat Superman’s meal before you do,” she said, referring to the meal a local restaurant had out, which was said to feed the Super. It was a giant steak (72 OZ), chips, two eggs, three bread rolls, and a salad as well as a gallon of your choice in fizzy drink or beer, and if you ate it all in an hour, you got it for free. So far they’d had it every time Clark was in town and looked like they were pregnant when they were finished. It was a big meal, even for the Supers.
Clark scoffed as they exited the building. “Yeah right. I’ll be carrying your comatose ass home before long, Kara.”
Last time the two of them had had to cradle their bellies as they staggered from the restaurant, amidst clapping and awe from the staff, and had not spent the rest of the day on the couch. Nope, because that would be irresponsible of the Superheros. Their picture looked very odd among the giant beefy guys in leather or wearing caps, either bikers or truckies, and there was Kara and Clark, two meek little reporters wearing cardigans and beaming at the camera. It was something she and Kal had done when she was younger and her picture, a meek small girl-growing through the years- looked out of place on the wall of fame among big guys who looked like they could snap her in two.
She grinned at him, showing her teeth. “Nah ah. I’ll be carrying you. Just like when you were yay big,” she said, holding her hands out in imitation of a baby and he rolled his eyes.
“Put your money where your mouth is.”
“Oh, I plan to!”
Yes, it was a beautiful day.