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Chapter Text

Few boxes scattered on the floor as she thanked the movers.  She politely declined their offer to bring her things upstair.  There weren’t much to carry.  It was funny how one’s physical possessions could limit to just cartons to be moved in one trip.  She didn’t even break sweats after that one trip.  She didn’t think that she could break sweats here.  Because of that goddamn yellow sun, it was a blessing and also a curse.

When she was a child, her planet Krypton was dying.  She was sent to Earth to protect her cousin.  But her pod got knocked off-course and by time she got here, her cousin had already grown up, become Superman and had a happy life with his fiancée.  Her supposed baby cousin then sent her 13-year-old self to the Danvers.  A trustworthy and caring family.  Yes, she got all the love and support she needed.  But she also lost her purpose the moment she landed.  She had been trying to fit in.  Walk like a human.  Eat reasonable portion in front of people.  Lowering her IQ to be like human.  Don’t get her wrong.  She didn’t see human as inferiors, she was just tired of not being able to do Calculus by heart from time to time.  And the last but not least, hiding her powers at all costs.  Even the cost being losing her very essence.

Her alienage.  Not just from another country but from a totally different planet.  Hell, a totally different galaxy.  For one who had been to 12 planets and spoke dozens of languages fluently without a hint of accent, hiding it at all hurt.  It was an insult.  But to protect herself and her family on earth, she would do it in a heartbeat.

[My name is Kara Zor-El…My name is Kara Zor-El…My name is Kara Zor-El…]  She chanted this particular sentence in Kryptonese like the Kryptonian prayers she did almost everyday.  She did it when she first landed, sometimes even multiple times a day.  She picked it up these recent days and added name-chanting to remind herself of who she was.  To stay calm and most importantly to stay sane.

She put away all her belongings at human speed under an hour.  The apartment was fully furnished and had everything she needed to last about 3 days.  She exhaled and dropped herself on the couch.  Turning on the flat screen and searching mindlessly.  She opened up Netflix and picked a random cliche rom-com.  It was getting really cold outside.  Even though she could not really be affected by temperature, she could still feel the change.  She liked Christmas especially.  It reminded her of one of Krypton’s festivities but sometimes this reminder could overwhelm her.  She watched the movie but not really paid attention.  A soft sound snapped her out of whatever thought she was in.  She looked up and saw tiny white dots falling slowly.  It was snowing.  She walked up to the large window by the living room.  One of many things that Krypton didn’t have and never stopped amazing her.  Kara turned back to the screen just in time to see a beautiful woman with darkest hair and palest skin stood she had ever seen in weaving snow.  Flakes dotting on her wavy mane.  Her green eyes popped up from the racing snow-white.  A tantalizing smile manifested on her face and she flashed two rows of her teeth that could rival whiteness of the snow.  Her lips was in gentle plum red making her look soft.  The scene only last 6 seconds so Kara hurriedly ran to grab the remote and rewind.  She rewound several times just to see that gorgeous smile again.

When she deemed that she was well into the definition of being creepy, she just let the movie played and only shifted her attention from the snow outside when that woman appeared.  She moved onto some baking show after it ended and went to search for food.  She found a bunch of take-out menus in one drawer and immediately called a Chinese restaurant to try their potstickers.  Another wonderful invention from Earth.  She was waiting for delivery when her phone rang.

“Hey.”

“How’s everything, Kara?”  Said from the other end of line.

“It’s great.  I organized everything less than an hour.  No Superspeed so you can assure Maggie that I do not break anything…yet.”  Kara said in uncertainty.

“You can break anything you like!”  A shout came.

“Sorry, I should tell you that you’re on speaker.”

“I mean it, little Danvers.  Don’t worry about that.  Just relax.”

“Thanks, Maggie.”

“So, how’s everything?”  Background sound indicated that she was being switched off speaker.

“I’m fine, Alex.  It’s just day one.  You don’t have to start panicking now.”

“I’ll always worry because you’re my little sister.”  She could hear Alex’s frown clearly.

“Technically, I’m older than you.”

“But legally I’m your older adoptive sister so suck it up.”

There was a peaceful silence from both end.

“Seriously, Kara, you’ll let me know anything, right?  Even the smallest things that you think I don’t have to know.”  Alex pleaded.  A rare tone from her protective big sister.

“Yes, Alex, I promise.”  Kara said positively.

“Okay.  Have you eaten?”  Typical Alex, always looked out for her.

“I found a bunch of take-out menus and ordered from a Chinese place.  By the way, thank you for that.  Thank Maggie for me.”

“Of course.  She made a list to her friend to stock everything she thought you might need before you arrived.”

“Rao, I don’t know how can I ever repay that.”  Kara sighed audibly.

“Well, start with taking care of yourself would be great.”  Alex said softly.

“I will.”

Her doorbell rang just in time.  She buzzed to let the delivery up.

“That’s my food!”

“Alright.  I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Bye!  Little Danvers.  Stay safe.  Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”  Maggie yelled from afar.

“I won’t!  Talk to you guys later!”  She yelled back.

She dropped her smile as soon as the phone call ended.  She went to fetch her dinner.  Warm food cheered her up a little.  She inhaled them all in 30 minutes and spent another 30 minutes being happy about the ice cream she found from the fridge.  Alex and Maggie did think of everything.  Grabbing all sorts of snacks from cupboards.  She made a big mug of hot chocolate with extra whip cream and situated herself on the couch with blankets and pillows.  She chose Friends this time.  A familiar TV show with sweet drink and snacks were all she needed.

Well, at least for now.

Chapter Text

Kara woke up at the barest first sunlight that somehow wriggled its way through heavy cloud.  The moment it touched her skin, cells in her body broke out of dormancy one by one.  She didn’t think of herself as morning person even back in her mother land.  It was just another trivia reminding her of her alien status.  She sighed and swung her legs down to the floor.  Might as well get up since there was no point of sleeping in.  She went to the bathroom for her morning routine.  She avoided her reflection on the mirror.  A thing she started to do more and more.  Only focusing on checking if there was anything left from the sleep.  Finishing cleaning up, she came back to change.  Contemplating about going out or not.  She glanced sideways to the window.  The snow stopped.  Decision made, she dressed herself slowly and carefully.  Remembering to wear enough to be season-appropriate.  Grabbing her keys and purse.  She was out of the door the next minute.

Winter in Vancouver was cold but still warmer than most of cities in Canada.  Kara watched pedestrians passing by and tried to learn about how they usually wore.  A habit which she had developed over the years.  Once she confirmed that she did not stand out, she sauntered leisurely on the street.  Her stomach didn’t let her relax for too long.  She stumbled upon a cozy cafe named Outlander.  How fitting.  She smiled just tiny bit at the double meaning and pushed the door open.  The rich smell engulfed her as soon as she walked in.  It reminded her of her favorite place back in National City.  They even have cinnamon rolls like Noonan’s!  Food always had a kind of magic to zoom in Kara’s attention.  She ordered an amount just hitting the limitation of being human normal standard.  Customers constantly came and went.  Maybe Kara could order second serving without being noticed.  She was lucky to find an empty love seat by the front door right beside the floor-to-ceiling window.  A perfect place for her to blend in and observe people subtly.  Sitting down and unwrapping her scarf and coat.  The cafe had an easy atmosphere.  People didn’t pay much attention to one another except for their companions and most of them were here by themselves.  It gave out a vibe of welcoming everyone.  Every individual that might be in some level of foreignness.  That second serving could be promising?  Kara thought hopefully when she heard her name being called.  She retrieved her order and dug in without hesitation.  The cinnamon rolls tasted different from Noonan’s but they were nothing but delicious.  She ate them with pumpkin latte.  Both were delightful to lift up Kara’s mood.  She enjoyed moments like this.  Even after that, she would probably fall into dark abyss which was scarily similar with…she shook out that terrible thought and concentrate on reality.  The sugary warmth helped.  Maybe she could bring a book with her next time.

She left Outlander one hour later.  She wandered around the streets to get familiar with the neighborhood where she was going to be stuck here for quite some time.  She found a lovely bookstore and came out with a small stack of books.  A supermarket not too far from where she lived.  She went in to stock her groceries which she already about half way through in less in one day.  She hummed while throwing various junk food in the cart.  Alex wasn’t here to stop her and she happily took advantage of Maggie’s absence to skip the greens section.  With cart full of supply, she went to checkout counter.  The cashier didn’t even spare a glance which made Kara feel more at ease.  She went back to her place with several bags on her arms.  The easiness disappeared gradually as she worried about her being too strong for other people’s liking.  Fortunately, the freezing weather made people not have the capacity to question her strength.  She walked as fast as humanly possible and arrived at the apartment in no time.

She put away the grocery with a hint of Superspeed which Alex didn’t have to know.  Opening the drawer with all kinds of take-out menus.  She chose pizza this time and ordered a Kryptonian proportion.  She blocked the delivery guy’s line of sight and tipped him well.  She opened up Netflix while 3 pieces in.  The stream service recommended her a series called Slasher.  She hit play tentatively because the title crept her out but she didn’t have anything particular in mind.  The woman with tantalizing smile was on her screen again.  She watched in awe and almost didn’t catch the cheese falling from the pizza on her right hand.  However, the gruesome and spooky scenes won out and Kara had no choice but to back out of the program.  Feeling remorseful of not seeing that beautiful face, She chose yet another episode of Friends.

Kara sat abruptly straight up in the dark, beads of sweat streaming down her back.  She looked around and found that she was in an unfamiliar room.  Oh yeah, she was in Vancouver.  A thousand miles away from sunny National City.  The same nightmare had haunted her since she arrived at this planet seemed to appear a little bit too often.  Stress had that kind of power over Kara’s vulnerable mind.  An ironic contrary from her invincible body.  She fell back down on her pillow.  Knowing sleep wouldn’t come to her in any time soon.  Sighing and getting up to have a quick shower.  Washing off stickiness helped.  But only barely.  She went to the kitchen and grabbed a cool water bottle from fridge.  Almost down in one go.  She supported herself by the counter and then dragged herself slowly toward the living room with the bottle.  Putting a pillow on the floor and kneeling on it.  She recited the prayer piously.  She didn’t know how much time had passed.  When she opened her eyes, she felt better.  Not great but better.  She drank up the last couple of sips.  Standing up and putting the pillow back to where it was.  Disposing the bottle then she went back to bed.

After another restless night, her body still woke at the first light.  Kara groaned discontentedly.  Eyes snapped open to stare at the barren ceiling.  It only took 5 minutes for her impatient appetite to start complaining.

“Stop that.  Can’t we just sleep in?”  Kara whined to no one.  A loud growl answered her.  “Fine.  I’m up.”

Once gotten dressed, she left the apartment with only one goal in her head.  She entered Outlander 15 minutes later.  She brought a book with her this time and stayed there for at least 2 hours until her empty belly decided to make itself known again.  She found a nice bistro and discovered savory pastas to revisit.  The owner seemed to be unfazed by her two appetizers and two main dishes order.  He even sent a new item on the house only for her to try.  Kara gave him honest review and he listened thoughtfully.  He introduced himself as Earl, same name as the bistro.  Earl made her promise to come back because she was his ‘Taster’ now.  Kara smiled genuinely for once in a long time at Earl’s antics.  She waved him goodbye after he insisted to walk her out of the door.

Kara felt slightly lighter than this morning.  She walked around aimlessly and came across the river.  She strolled down the riverbank.  She ran to the nearest grocery store for some cracked corns upon seeing ducks swimming alongside the river.  She always fascinated by birds since there was none on Krypton.  Remembering from her past experience, she avoided feeding them bread and settled for something healthier.  She enjoyed their eagerness and happy squawking.  Last night’s nightmare seemed farther away from her conscience.  Immersing herself in peace for as long as possible.  Kara finished feeding the ducks.  She bade them goodbye and made another promise of coming back.

Her evening wasn’t much different from previous ones.  Containing with take-out and Netflix.  She didn’t meet the woman again.  Watching her favorite movie instead, The Wizard of Oz, was a good summarization to end her day.  She went to bed that night without any nightmare.

It became her routine.  Waking up with sunrise, going to Outlander for her breakfast with whatever book she was reading, going to Earl’s or discovering new places for lunch, taking a walk on the riverbank and feeding ducks and then going home for a take-out and Netflix night in.  This was her daily life until she figured out what to do with her life.  She didn’t have to wait long.  Life operated in a mystic way as always.

She walked in Outlander on the eighth day.  It was a Tuesday, she remembered because Tuesday was cinnamon-roll-buy-one-get-one-free day.  She brought two rolls and a hot chocolate back to her favorite window love seat and waited after morning rush passed to get her second order.  Food gone and she fell into fictional world of her book.  The bell on the door chimed but Kara didn’t pay any mind.  After a while, she felt a set of eyes staring at her.  A greyhound kind of dog, Kara couldn’t actually name the breed, looked at her expectantly.  Dark eyes never left her as she did a test move to sideway.  It was not heavy but more like knowing.  She felt that she was being seen right into her soul.

[Hello, little thing.]  The Kryptonese flew out of her unconsciously.

The dog walked even closer to her and rested its head on her left thigh.  Warm breath dampened her jeans just enough to make her shudder at the feeling.  Anticipative line of sight seemed to fix on her prominently.  She reached out but paused above the head.  The dog never pressured her.  Next thing she knew, Kara was petting him.

[You’re so beautiful.]  Kara said.  [Do you understand me?]

The dog sit down and nudged further into her hand.  Kara’s eyes filled with tears and her throat closed up instantly.  She didn’t know why she felt so safe and understood at that moment.  She kept cooing softly in Kryptonese and didn’t notice her slip-up.

“There you are.  You can’t just run away like this, Ollie!”  A honey like voice snapped Kara out of her stupor.  She nearly jumped out of the seat.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.  He isn’t always like this.”  Ink black tresses descended in front of her as the voice gently cupped the dog’s chin but he refused to leave.  Then, a pair of most strikingly stunning green eyes locked on Kara’s.  Kara suddenly felt hard to breathe for whole other reason.  Even though framed by tortoiseshell glasses, Kara was still mesmerized by different colors of those two orbs.  Hetero…something?  It seemed that all the English vocabularies escaped out of her.  She looked…familiar but Kara’s higher function part of brain stopped working long ago.

“Are you okay?”  The woman asked with concerned furrowed brows.  She was still fighting with her stubborn dog.

“Y-Yes.”  Kara cleared her throat.  “I’m…uh…I’m okay.  And so is he.”  She adjusted her glasses to make sure they were on her face.  Even then, she automatically checked for her human identity.  A built-in reaction.  “He kept me company.  It’s…nice.”  Kara said with a smile and she petted him several times.  The woman moved her hand away upon seeing their exchange.  “Does he…um…happen to know language other than English?”

A laughter came from the raven-haired woman.  It was probably one of…no definitely the most melodious sound Kara had ever heard.  “No, I don’t think so.  Maybe a tiny bit of Irish.  But I’m bad at it so it’s possible he knows next to nothing.”

“Oh.”  Kara chided herself for thinking too much.  Her hands kept caressing Ollie’s head.  He looked content to remain right where he was.

“Karen?  Drink for Karen?”  A shout from the counter startled the woman.  “That’s me.  Could you watch him for just a bit longer?”

“My pleasure.”  Kara said.  Eyes stayed on her retreating form but hands still rubbed Ollie’s fur.

[You’re sure you don’t know Kryptonese?  Or are you secretly a Superpower dog and she doesn’t know?]  Kara asked the dog seriously and he still looked at her like he knew every mystery in the universe.  [You now know my secret.  I’ll keep yours and you keep mine, deal?  Deal.  She’s coming back.  Act normal.]  The last bit more intended for her since Ollie’s stare never wavered.

“Wow.  He really likes you.  This is the first time he bonded so quickly with someone he just met.”  The woman said standing beside the small coffee table Kara occupied.

“Do you maybe want to sit?”  Kara moved to make space.  Ollie stood to follow her and wiggled his tail.

“Sure, thanks.”  The woman accepted easily.

“Um…I feel like this is the part where I introduce myself as Kara?”  She didn’t know why it ended with a question mark.

“Hello, Kara.  I’m Karen.”  Karen flashed her a tantalizing smile.  Kara immediately hypnotized by the blinding grin.  She was confused about the familiarity in that smile but shook her head to try to focus on the present.  There was this nagging feeling bothering her but the woman in front of her dominated most of Kara’s attention.  She seemed to ask a question.  Crap, Kara!  What is it?

Chapter Text

Crap, Kara!  What is it?  What is the question?

Kara cleared her throat to buy some time.  Using her spare hand to adjust her glasses, she faced her defeat.  “I’m sorry.  Could you repeat that?”

There was that pretty laugh again.  “I said what are you reading?”

“Oh!  Um…Harry Potter.”  Kara flipped on the front cover side to make her point.

“Great choice.”  The woman nodded.

“I know it’s silly but when it’s almost Christmas, I always have this weird urge to read the series again.”  Kara didn’t know why she admitted this to a total stranger.

“It’s not silly.  I like it, too.  Which house are you in?”

The question took Kara by surprise.  “Um…I…uh…took a test long time ago and it said I was a Hufflepuff.  So, I guess I’m a Hufflepuff?”  It seemed that she was only equipped with intonation of question at that moment.

“Hmm…I think it suits you.  I’m a Ravenclaw by heart but have to choose to be Slytherin because of family tradition.”  A wink was thrown at Kara’s direction.

“What?  Why?  Can’t you just go with the test?”  Kara furrowed confusedly.

“Oh, I didn’t take a test.  I just knew.  And I quite like the setting.”  Karen smirked dangerously and Kara could see where that Slytherin came from.  Kara stared at her and the next question was blurted out on its own accord.

“Are you trying to be reverse-Harry?”

“What is reverse-Harry?”  A perfect eyebrow arced in a perfect shape.

“Choose what destiny tells you rather than what you really want?”

The woman paused, mixed emotions in her emerald eyes.  Suddenly, she bursted into laugh and threw her head back.  No one in the cafe seemed to care.  “I like that.  Let’s go with that.”

Kara couldn’t help but smiled with this peculiar woman.  “You have a nice laugh.”  Oh my Rao, what did I just say?!

“Thanks!”  The woman looked genuinely grateful for Kara’s comment.  “Mother always says it’s unladylike.”

“Well, I’m not your mother and I think you should laugh like that all the time.”  Okay, what is going on with me?!

“Thank you.”  Karen said sincerely and squeezed Kara’s hand briefly.

Kara missed the touch already.  She glanced down and saw Karen’s to-go cup.  “Oh R-God.  You were just here to buy the drink and I kept you for so long.  I’m so sorry.”  She stopped petting Ollie and he began whining.  “Please feel free to leave.”

“No, it’s okay.  I think here is better.”  Karen said somehow out of breath.  She averted her eyes, biting her lower lip.  “We were going to take a walk at the riverbank.  Would you like to join us?”  She lifted her head up and gave the same anticipative eyes as Ollie.  Kara knew right then that she would never have the power to say no to those eyes.

“Really?  I don’t want to intrude.”

“I think he rather have you than me.”  The woman squinted at her traitorous dog.

“I’m sure he will get over me quickly.”  Kara waved at nothing.

“I don’t think we will.”

The ‘we’ caught Kara off guard and she honest-to-Rao forgot to breathe for solid 10 seconds until her instinct kicked in to act human.  She laughed awkwardly and gathered her things.

Karen seemed to sense her discomfort.  “Let me buy you a drink.  It’s cold outside.  What’s your order?”

“Oh, it’s fine.  I’m good.”  Kara’s hand flew to her glasses.

“What did you have?  Hot chocolate?  Would you have another one or do you want something different?”  Karen observed her empty mug.

“Hot chocolate is fine.”  Kara could only accept in the face of beautiful girl.

“One hot chocolate coming right up.”

The walk to the riverbank was relatively silent except for Ollie’s occasional happy bark.  He knew where they were going.  Although he kept dashing forward, he always pause to wait patiently or sometimes pranced back with tongue hanging from his smile.  Kara didn’t know where to put her eyes on.  Adorable puppy or pretty girl.  She settled for going back and forth between them.

“He’s really smart.  He knows where to go and behaves without a leash.”  Kara commented, trying to find something to talk.

“Only in slow mornings like this.  Most of the time, leash is necessary.  But he is smart.  He got me you, didn’t he?”  The flirting rolled out of this woman so easily.  Kara noticed right from the start.

She fiddled with her glasses with pink doubtlessly spreading on her cheeks.  Maybe she could blame it on the weather?  “Thanks.  That’s very nice of you to say.”

Karen just smiled.  The corners of her lips going upward in perfect curve.  It was a gentle smile, intending to relax Kara.  And Kara did just that.

[Rao, this woman would be the death of me.  What did you get me into, buddy?]  Kara murmured Kryptonese to Ollie.  Voice low, knowing exceptional hearing the dog had could pick it up.  But apparently not subtle enough.

“I’m sorry, what did you say?”  The woman beside was sporting wrinkling brows.

“N-Nothing.”  Kara cleared her throat and averted her eyes.  Thankfully, they arrived at the riverbank shortly after that.

Ollie ran around excitedly but never too far away from them.  He barked at the squawking ducks who were swimming toward them at scaring speed.  Kara instinctively pulled out the bag of crashed corn.  She didn’t have to turn to feel that perfect dark eyebrow raised silently in question.

“I came here often.  The ducks know that I have food.”  Kara glanced at the woman and retracted just as quickly upon seeing that deathly arc.

“Animals seem to like you.”  The woman stood there and watched a kneeling Kara feeding the ducks.

“The ducks don’t count.  I have bribe.”  Kara shook the bag to emphasize and it only stirred the ducks to be louder.

“I think they do.”  Karen pointed at a particular one nuzzled to Kara’s hand with gentle beak.  Kara was surprised by the gesture and left extra portion for the duck.  She noticed that it was the duck she helped the other day to free from some wires.

“Hey you!  Are you feeling better?”  Kara used her forefinger to caress its feather.  “This is the one I kind of rescued days ago.  Some wires wrapped around here.”  Kara pointed to the yellowish orange feet.

“Animals lovers and compassionate.  What more could a girl ask for?”  The woman smirked from her towering stance.  Kara quickly stood up as well.  She spread the last bits of crashed corn.

“You really like to tease, don’t you?”  Kara asked in low voice.

The confident woman winced a little.  Pulling her lips inward, she exhaled her next words.  “I’m sorry that I make you uncomfortable.  It’s just that…let’s just say I haven’t had a real conversation for a very long time.”

Kara looked at her.  Really looked at her.  She wore a Burgundy red wool coat with a patterned bright red scarf.  Simple black jeans and boots.  All looking expensive but carefully chosen and well-worn.  A bulgy watch on her right wrist which seemed to tell everything not just time.  The glasses were gigantic enough to blur her feature.  She liked to let her hair cascade to curtain her face.  Kara frowned at this information.  Why would somebody this beautiful want to hide their faces?  To avoid unwanted attraction?  Ollie came between them suddenly, whimpering.  Kara woke from her contemplation and found that now she was the one making other party fidget.

“Sorry.  Um…no no…you didn’t make me uncomfortable.  Okay, yes, maybe a little.  N-Not that it was unpleasant.  Our conversation that is.”  Kara tried to salvage whatever they were having.  The table turned, she was the one looking at the woman hopefully.

The woman smiled that tempting smile and tucked her hair behind her ear.  “Okay.”  She wanted to say something but her phone interrupted this weird bubble they were in.  “Shit.”  Karen glimpsed at it and gave Kara an apologetic eye.  Kara knew their time was up.  She felt tremendous lost already and her heart started to bemoan the end of their short encounter.

“I’m sorry that I have to cut this short.  Duty calls.”  She waved her phone around but seemed to reluctant to leave.

“It’s okay.  It’s…really nice meeting you.  And you, buddy!”  Kara squatted down to pet Ollie one last time.  He sensed their looming parting and whined again.  Kara stood up trying to act normal.  “Goodbye, Karen.”

She turned to leave and a voice called her back.  “Will you…will you be at Outlander?”

Kara stopped at her track, turning her head.  “I’ll be there.  In the morning.”

With that, Kara left.  She didn’t know what this meant.  What this woman meant to her.  Will they meet again?  Or will this be a one time thing?  She walked away before she could delve deeper.

Chapter Text

Kara lay in bed that night.  Her mind kept playing the strange day with a stranger.  It all started with a dog.  Ollie was such an intelligent creature.  They had similar species on Krypton.  But the quick bonding and knowing eyes were too evident to pass as coincidence.  She hoped that she could meet Ollie again.  Looking at him, petting him and talking to him were extremely healing.  But his owner…was a completely different story.  Enchanting, not just physically, but her whole existence.  Yet, there was something missing or concealed?  Maybe her upbringing on Earth was all about hiding, in doing so, she had the ability to recognize this part from others as well?  Rao, why are there so many questions in just one day?

She turned over to look out the window.  She learned that simple curtain wouldn’t block the yellow power to wake her up so she had been sleeping without it for as long as she could remember.  The last question before Kara and the woman went separate ways had been nagging her for all night.  Why did she ask that?  Did she want to meet again?  Or did she just want to check and see if she could avoid Kara?  Or…okay, Miss, you need to stop asking questions!

Kara turned her back to the window and readied herself for a sleepless night.

The next morning was the same until Kara arrived outside the cafe.  She stood there debating whether to go in or not.  Her favorite window sear was occupied.  Wait!  Is that…?  Kara went in without second thought.  Honey like voice reached her ears right after the bell chimed.

“There you are.”  The strange woman sitting on the love seat.  Looking regal and casual at the same time.  She wore something similar as the day before.  Exchanging her red scarf with dark turtle neck.  Ollie immediately ran to welcome Kara.  Kara petted him, still in shock.  She gave Ollie a proper greeting and walked to his owner.

“When you asked me the question…”

“I was hoping to see you again.”

“Why?”  Kara asked bluntly.

“I…”  A pause.  “I don’t know…yet?”

They stared at each other.  Kara’s stomach decided that it was the best time to make it known.  Kara was not sure to feel embarrassed to relieved.  She gestured toward the counter and Ollie dutifully followed her.

Food in place and a dog right by her side.  Kara had no choice but to return.  The woman already made space and Kara sat down gingerly.  She ate in silence.  Occasionally feeling the eyes on her.  Both from the human and the dog.

“No books today?”

Kara brushed the crumbs and pulled out another Harry Potter.

“Lucky me.  I brought this.”  The woman lifted Philosopher’s Stone up.  Kara was speechless.  “Maybe we can start a bookclub?”

“When I’m at the fifth and you’re not even opening the first one?”  Kara chastised herself for her rudeness.

The laughter appeared in soft version.  “I’m opening now.”  She made a show of turning the pages.  Kara couldn’t help but rolling her eyes, trying not to smile but failing.

They read in comfortable silence after that.  The woman leant her right side of the body on the arm of the seat while Kara busied with the book and caressing Ollie’s fur.  Time flew which was novel to Kara.  After she arrived at Vancouver, all she could feel was stillness or steady passing when she moved from one place to another.  Time seemed to be lost on her.  A sequela from spending 24 years in Phantom Zone.  In the very short time with the woman, time changed into unstable rhythm.  Fast, slow to a total stop.  Kara never knew what to expect.  The only predictable thing was her belly.

“Let’s go have lunch.”  The woman suggested upon hearing the growling.

“Um…you don’t have to…do things at my timetable.”  Kara closed her book.

“Well, I happened to skip breakfast so…what do you say?”

“…Okay.”

The woman suggested a diner that Kara hadn’t tried before.  It was pet-friendly.  Kara looked around the surrounding.  It was very noisy.  All kinds of customers and all kinds of chaos.  The kind of place that you could just blend in easily.  Perfect for people who wanted to go about their day without disturbance.  She read the menu thoroughly.  Peeping from the top of the menu, Kara tried very hard to decipher the situation.  Should she order a human or Kryptonian portion?

“Order whatever you like.  And relax.”  Kara startled at the sudden sound.  The woman glanced up from her menu and added.  “It’s my treat if you let me steal little bits of everything you order.”

“Wh-What?  I…”  Kara flustered.  “I can pay for myself.”

“Then, what’s the problem?”  Not that goddamn eyebrow!

The waitress came to ask about their orders.  A single chicken salad for the woman.  Cheese burger with extra fries, waffle with fried chicken and a large coke for Kara.  The waitress promised to bring Kara’s drink and left.  Kara was still debating to have that monstrous sundae when the question flew out of her mouth.

“You’re not kidding about stealing my food.”  Kara watched the woman drank her water.

“I’m not kidding about this being my treat, either.”

“Why are you buying me lunch?”  And why are you being so rude, Kara?

“Because I want to apologize for making you uncomfortable.  This is me trying to stay acquaintance with you without staying away.”

“Letting me see Ollie everyday will do.”  Kara, remember that we are talking about not being rude?

“It’s a deal if we change the condition to see Ollie as much as possible.”  The woman played the water glass between both her forefingers.

“What?  You’re serious?”  Kara’s mouth hung open.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I just told you my reason.”

“What makes you want to spend time with me?”  Kara emphasized her words by pressing both palms on her chest.

“You’re intriguing.”

“Intri…that explained nothing!”

“Well, let me get to know you so I can provide more convincing argument.”

They were in the middle of staring contest when their food arrived.  Kara just dug in ignoring the weirdest situation in front of her.  The woman ate with upmost grace.  Ollie lay beside them sleeping.  Kara shoveled big bites before remembered to act human.  She chewed, gazing at the woman who seemed to be indifferent to Kara’s searching eyes.  Kara wasn’t mad, just frustrated and confused.  Swallowing, she sighed.  Kara began to prepare bits of everything and transfer to her companion.  The woman widened her eyes surprisedly.

“Thank you.  It’s…very nice of you after I just pissed you off.”  In contrast to her previous self, the human glanced down on the shared food bashfully.

“You didn’t…”  Kara took a deep breath and adjusted her tone.  “You didn’t piss me off.  I just don’t know why do you want to know me.  We’re complete strangers to each other.”

“Isn’t that where all friendships start with?”

“That’s not my point.”  Kara resumed eating.

“You don’t like me.”

“I didn’t say…”

“Your face says otherwise.”

Kara sighed again.  Deeply.  “Let’s just eat.”

She didn’t not like this woman.  In fact, Kara liked her.  A lot.  And it scared her.  The witty quips.  The flirting.  Her dog.  Not to mention her drop dead gorgeousness.  The woman was the intriguing one.  Not Kara.  Kara had been trying to hide herself.  She didn’t know who she was anymore.  People who lost themselves did not qualify as intriguing.  Just an inertia existed in the space.  Nothingness.  Phantom zone.

Kara took a huge sip from her coke and promptly chocked at those two words.  The woman instantly gave her napkins and went to Kara’s side to pat her back.

“Oh right, jeez.  If you don’t like me that much, I’ll just leave you alone.”  The pat was gentle and firm.

After her fit of coughing, Kara managed to croak out.  “It’s not like that.  Let’s just eat and go to the riverbank.  Then, we can talk.”

Chapter Text

Kara didn’t get the sundae and they arrived at the riverbank in no time.  She knew that she was stalling the inevitable.  After all, she was the one suggested they had a talk.  Kara pulled out her duck food again.  Spreading and welcoming the loud ducks.  Once she deemed that they were satisfied, she put away the crushed corn and took deep breaths.  She didn’t remember the last time that she had a proper talk with anybody.  Not even Alex.  These days, she just put on the sunny smiles and went through the day.  Feeling guilty all of the sudden and an instant urge to call her sister.  Kara opened her mouth.

“You’re not the only one that haven’t had a real conversation for a long time.”  Kara tried to speak without spilling too much.  “It’s a common thing.  Maybe that’s why Outlander exists.”  Kara trailed off, staring at the scene in front of her until Ollie insightfully nudged her right hand.  She gave him a pet.  “You said that animals like me.  I think that they just happen to have the ability to sense something invisible to human eye.”  She lost in her thought and a whisper came through.

“That’s part of the reason that I got Ollie.”

Kara lifted her head just in time to see the usually confident woman looking vulnerable.  It disappeared too quickly to Kara’s liking.  “Very good choice.”

“I’d like to think that he chose me.”

Kara’s mouth turned upward at the admission.  “You found each other.  You’re lucky to have one another.”

“And he led me to you.”

Kara sighed.  “Why do you have to be this way?”

“What?”  The woman expressed her indignation for the first time.  “Why can’t you just accept that you’re intriguing?  Huh?  And why can’t I be flirtatious and sincere at the same time?  Is it really that hard to think that I’m telling the truth?”

“BECAUSE…”  Kara raised her voice unconsciously and lowered it forcefully.  “Because…you…you’re YOU!  You are this mysterious being that looks like…I don’t know.  Like a person who’s not supposed to be interested in me!  And has a smart dog that seems to see right through people.  Until he sees their souls or something.  And-and-and you’re so beautiful but you keep hiding it.  Is there somebody stalking you?  What are you avoiding?  And why?  And…and you look familiar.  Why do you look familiar?  I don’t know you at all!  All I have is a-a-a bunch of questions that have no answers!”

Kara was panting from her outburst.  She didn’t think that she could be out of breath on Earth.  But she did.  Right in front of this odd, pretty woman.  Ollie whined for a moment but stopped when he knew that nobody was able to comfort him.  He stood there, innocent eyes traveling between the two women.  There was a tension that could be cut it with a knife.  The next sentence was a destructive swing.

“My name is not Karen.”

Kara was stunned.  Just pure stun.  No words.  Ollie waited with her patiently.

“Wh-What?”

“My name is not Karen.”  Repetition then explanation of some kind.  “My real name is Lena.”

Kara’s mouth formed a perfect ‘O’ but still no sound.

“I’m sorry that I lied to you.  My work…complicates things.  It’s complicated.  I am complicated.”  The woman, Lena, sighed.  “People think they know me.  But no one ever sees the real me.  Even the people close to me only see parts of me.”

Lena.  Kara tasted it on her tongue silently.  Lena continued.  “You didn’t know who I was.  We just met.  Like most people in this world.  They meet in some places.  Two strangers meet and they become friends.  At least in my imagination.”  Lena laughed but not the kind that Kara liked.  It was self-deprecating.  “Yes, I used my dog to squeeze myself in.  Yes, I knew and still know that he’s the one you want to see.  But I can’t help but hope that maybe, just maybe, someday you’d want to see me.”

“I want to see you, Lena.”  Rao, saying that name is like saying prayers.

“Really?”

“Yes!”

Second round of the stare contest.  Only this time was without any negative evaluation.  Just curious observation.  Kara wanted to brush the dark hair behind Lena’s ears.  She wanted to really look at Lena’s face.  Choosing to remain where she was might be the right decision because the next question once again caught Kara off guard.

“Why is it so hard for you to see that I’m interested in you?”

Kara was not ready to answer this.  Rubbing her face, she exhaled.  “I can’t tell you.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to lie to you.  All I can say is that I can’t tell you.”  Kara made herself to look Lena right in the eyes.  Heterochromia!  That’s it!  That’s the word.  Her heterochromia was captivating.  Kara tried very hard not to lost in its magnetism.

“Okay.”  Somehow, Lena accepted this answer.

“In exchange, I won’t ask you about your work, either.”  Kara wanted to give her something in return of her acceptance.

“What if I wanted to tell you?”

“Then, it would be your decision and your decision only.”

Another pause.  “What if I wanted to have coffee with you?”

“We had coffee this morning.”  Kara frowned confusedly.

“What if I wanted to have coffee with just the two of us?”

“Um…I…I’d say yes?”

“Is that a question or an answer?”

“Yes.  As an answer.”

“What if I wanted to ask you to a bar?”

“I’d say yes, too.”

“What if I…”

“You know what, just ask.”

“Have dinner with me.”

“…What?”

“Would you…would you have dinner with me tonight?”  Lena looked at her with that pleading and expectant eyes.

“Okay.”  Oh Rao, am I really doing this?

“Really?”  Apparently, Lena, too, had the difficulties to believe this bizarre situation.  It was the second time in this conversation that she had to double back for assurance.

“Yes, I’ll have dinner with you tonight.”  Okay, we’re really doing this.

“7:30 at my place.  I’ll text you the location?”  Lena pulled out her phone.

“Sure.”  And they were exchanging numbers.

Kara only realized that how easy to say yes to Lena’s suggestion after her last word.  A woman whom she just met 24 hours ago asked Kara to come to her home and had dinner.  Kara was not exactly prone to accept this kind of offer.  Even with friends that she had for years.  She learned this the hard way.  Not long after she arrived at Earth, a popular fellow student invited almost entire school to his house because his rich parents were out of town.  Kara was so worried about her accidental exposure, in the end, she was having a massive panic attack and the host had to call Alex to pick her up.  The next school day, she was the number one talking material and it lasted for the rest of the semester.  She became the weird little sister of Alex Danvers.  However, it brought the Danvers sisters closer than ever.  Alex didn’t hate her more, instead she wordlessly stood up for her and fought off the bullies.  Alex forbade Kara using her powers and took self-defense lessons for the sakes of both of them.  Kara in turn was taught many moves by Alex.  In case, there’s another alien decides to show up.  Kara was grateful for what Alex did for her.  She was not just her sister but also her best friend.

Kara and Lena bade their goodbyes shortly after that because Lena said that she needed to be ready for tonight.  Which in Kara’s opinion was not necessary.  It’s just a casual dinner, right?  What if this was a date?  No, it couldn’t be.  Kara walked back toward her place with million more questions plaguing her mind.

When she got back, she changed into soft pajamas and dialed her phone.  Sitting cross-legged on the couch.

“What’s wrong, Kara?  Everything alright?”

“I’m fine.  Relax, Alex.  I’m just calling ahead because I have plans tonight.”

“Really?  That’s great!  With someone?”

“Yeah…a new face.”  She didn’t know what to call Lena.  “Anyway, how’s work?”  She didn’t want to dwell on it for too long.

“Well…you know…nothing special.  Lab works are all the same.”

Kara hummed and the next question surprised both sisters.  “Do you remember me having panic attack at that party in junior high?”

“Y-Yes.  I got a call and took you home that night.  Why do you ask?”

“Nothing.  It just came to me today.”

“Are you nervous about going out tonight?”  Alex was always observant which Kara both loved and hated.

“Would it be weird that I say yes…and no?”

“No, it wouldn’t be.  Be yourself.  You’ve been hiding yourself for your whole life.  I know you won’t showcase your powers all of sudden.  So just…have fun?  But be careful.”  Yup, that last part was very Alex.

“Okay.”  Kara let out a shuddered sigh.

“And remember, when in doubt…”

“Choose blue?”

“Exactly.  You always look good in blue.”

“…Thanks, Alex.  I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Anytime.”  There was commotion from Alex’s end.  “Gotta go.  Talk to you later?”

“Yeah.  Yes, I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Or later tonight if you needed to talk?”

“Okay.  Thanks, again.  Bye, love you.”

“Love you, too.”  The line went die and Kara threw her head on the back of the couch.

Chapter Text

Kara stood in her room.  Looking at a very pathetically limited collection of her rack.  Yes, rack, singular.  She didn’t think that much when moving, only grabbing comfortable and essential ones.  Meeting new people wasn’t in her to-do list at that time.  Kara cursed her reckless choice and pulled out some of her best clothes.  Sky blue turtle neck, slightly newer blue jeans, years old black boots and complete with red-wine-colored coat.  Her hair half up and half down.  This will have to do.  Black frame in place and she was ready to go.

Lena lived not too far from her.  She double checked the address and started walking.  Kara memorized the route and focused on the road.  The more she walked the quieter the street got.  The residential neighborhood became more upscale, the apartment buildings became fancier.  There were houses around the neighborhood, too.  All signs confirmed Kara’s suspicions that Lena was definitely not short of money and wealthy enough to live in areas like this.  But Lena looked like someone cherish her belongings.  At least that was the wear and tear on her watchband indicated.  Kara left early to take her time to be familiar with the city and prepare for what was about to come.  She even remembered to stop by a shop to get a good bottle of wine, at least that was what the clerk said.

Before she knew it, she stopped outside an inconspicuous but very well-maintained building.  Kara opened the front brass glass door and immediately greeted by an old man with clean and top-quality uniform.  Maybe even better than what Kara had put on.

“Evening, Miss.  I don’t think I see you around here.  May I ask you whom or what are you looking for?”  The man asked politely but watched her closely.

“Um…I’m here to see Miss…uh…Lena?  I only know her first name.”  Kara chided herself again for coming unprepared.

“Ah yes!  You must be Ms. Kara.  You can go straight up.  Let me call the elevator for you.”  His smile turned friendlier.

“Thank you…um…”

“You can call me Alfred.”  His name tag was pinned neatly on his left chest.

“Thank you, Alfred.”  Rao, does he know Batman!?  Kara shook her head to chase away the absurdity of the thought.  Kara had heard from Kal-El about bits and pieces of his superhero friends.  Now is not the time to think of that.  The elevator door arrived at designated floor.  There was only one door in the hallway.  Kara walked slowly and paused in front of it.  Taking a breath, she knocked.

A bark could be heard loud and clear from other side of the door.  Kara’s mouth lifted up automatically when thinking about her canine friend.  A gentle ‘just a second’ put her back to humanly appropriate manner.

“Hi.”  Lena said breathlessly.

“Hi.”  The sound of Ollie’s paws on the hardwood floor was not lost on Kara.  “Hello, buddy.  Did you miss me?”  Ollie let out a happy bark and wiggled his tail excitedly.  “I miss you, too.”  Kara bent down to greet him properly.  Lena leant on the door, watching them contentedly.  Kara straightened up, remembering her human friend.  “Sorry, I got carried away.”

“Don’t be.  You are equally adorable.  Please come in.”  The last part was added hastily when Kara blushed.

The apartment was modest at first look but Kara could see the exquisiteness in it.  She could see that it was luxurious but very much loved.  Just like Lena’s watch.  One thing stood out most.  Books.  There were stacks and stacks of them.  On the floor.  On the table.  Basically on every horizontal surface.  Gigantic TV nailed on the wall but was covered with notes and tapes.  Kara didn’t read any word from them, only curious about this display.  Why do people buy a flat screen only to use it as some kind of bulletin board?

“What do you think?”  Clearly, she was being observed as well.

“It’s…very you.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yes.”

They looked anywhere but each other.  Kara chanced a glance toward Lena when she set her eyes on her kitchen.  Lena wore a plain white short sleeves T-shirt and dark jeans.  A belt with skull-shaped buckle head.  Her hair was pulled into a messy bun.  No glasses.  Kara could finally scrutinize Lena’s sharp features.  Jaw that could cut, high cheek bones, hard edge but soft center.  When those green eyes sensed Kara’s examination, they moved carefully to where the blue ones awaited.  Kara had this sudden urge to migrate into those mixed color palette orbs.  Lived there, just be.  A ding woke them up.

“Let me go check that.”

“Did you cook?”

Lena pulled out something out of the oven.  Carefully making the final touches before turning toward Kara.  “Is that okay?”

“Very much okay.  Thank you for making such trouble for tonight.  Oh!  And this is for you.”  Kara held out the bottle.

“It’s no trouble and thank you.  It’ll go great with the cheese plate.”

“We’re having a cheese plate!”

“Is that okay?  Shit, I should’ve asked your first.  Allergies and all.”  Lena furrowed her brows regretfully.

“It’s totally okay!  I like cheese and I eat pretty much everything.  And no allergy.”  Kara waved her hands around to make her point.

“Good!  Great!  Sorry, I haven’t had people coming for dinner for like a million years.”

“Well then I’m honored.”  Kara said earnestly.  Lena smiled at her and she knew that she did the right thing.

“Dinner’s ready.  Let’s eat?”  Kara nodded.

Lena cooked them a feast.  Yes, Kara was calling it a feast because it had been forever since she ate a homemade meal.  Fresh salad with lemon sauce.  Various salad leaves that most of them Kara didn’t recognize.  Maggie would be so proud of her greens intake.  Hummus which looked like to be made from scratch and pita bread.  Cheese plate.  And is that Bolognese sauce spaghetti!  Kara gaped at the scene before her.  A feast indeed.

“Lena!  This is…you must’ve spent hours doing this.  It’s all homemade, isn’t it?  That Hummus and Bolognese sauce are very time-consuming.”

“You really know your food.”  Lena tried to smirk but her reddened cheeks gave her away.

“R-God.  I should’ve suggested that we go outside.  That would’ve saved you so much trouble.”

“It’s fine, Kara.  I enjoy cooking.  It’s…what do you say…therapeutic.  I’ve been doing this for a long time.  It’s no trouble, I promise.  And I want to have a night in, a private and relaxing place.”  Her sound was nearly inaudible at the end.

“…Okay.”  Kara answered after a while.  “Let’s eat.  I’m starving.”

The first bite was like firework exploding inside Kara’s mouth.  Every dish was prepared with upmost thoughtfulness.  Ingredients fresh, well-cooked, perfect seasoning.  Kara couldn’t help her appreciate moaning.

“I heard you like it?”  Lena teased.  That dangerous flirting smirk materialized.

Kara could feel her cheeks burning.  “They’re all really good.  I haven’t eaten homemade cooking for like…I don’t even know how long.”

“Thank you.  I’m glad that you like it.  Don’t hold back.  Eat as much as you need.”

Kara took Lena’s word for it and singlehandedly inhaled most of the food.  Their dinner consisted of clank of tablewares and Kara’s compliments.  The atmosphere was rather quiet and simple.  She helped Lena clean up afterward.  After putting the utensils in the dishwasher, Lena suggested teas.  Kara wandered about and sometimes pulled out a book for a closer look.

“Come sit, please.”  Lena brought two mugs with her.  Kara followed her wordlessly.  “You’re awfully quiet tonight.  Compared to this afternoon.”  Lena said with small voice.

“I’m sorry that I lashed out on you.  It was uncalled-for.”  Kara adjusted her glasses.

“I was the one provoked it.  Let’s call it even?”  Lena winced uncertainly.

“Okay.”  Kara took a sip of her tea.  “You have a lot of books.”  She glanced around.

“Yeah.  It’s a mess, I know.”

“It’s a good mess.  I like it.”  Kara picked up Chamber Of Secrets.  “And you’re sticking to it.”

“I start to get the feeling of what you said about Christmas and Harry Potter.  Magical worlds in both reality and fiction.”

Their eyes met.  She swallowed and averted from those beautiful Heterochromia green.  “Yeah.”  Her voice was hoarse.  “Yes.”  She said it again more clearly.

“Have you reconsidered about that bookclub?”  Lena asked between sips.

Kara smiled.  “You won’t take no for answer, will you?”

“I’m just asking.”

“Like how you asked about dinner?”

“You said yes.”

“You took me by surprise.”

“And yet you’re here.”

“I think I might be bewitched at that time.  You really are a Slytherin.”

Lena laughed the laugh that Kara liked more and more.  Nonverbal spells are my specialty.”

“10 points to Slytherin!”  Kara did a bad imitation of low older male voice.

And that laugh was melody to Kara’s ears.  Ollie lifted his head from where he way lying and then lay back just as quick.

“Ask.”  As soon as Lena’s laugh died down, she voiced her invitation firmly.

“What?”

“I know you have questions.”

“You’re the one with questions.”  Kara squinted her eyes.

“I saw you looking around and lingering on the TV.  So ask.”

“What if I don’t answer any of your question?  It won’t be fair.”

“I don’t mind.  I just want to share.  This is my decision, remember?”

Kara watched curiously at the woman sitting with one leg under her body and the other bending in front of her.  Lena supported her head on her right hand which rested on the back of the couch.  Kara raked through her head for any sign of hidden agenda or ill intent.  She came up with nothing.  She didn’t think it was there at the first place.  Lena truly wanted to share about herself.

“Okay.  Why do you cover your TV screen?”

“Because I don’t want to see myself on it.”

Chapter Text

“Okay.  Why do you cover your TV screen?”

“Because I don’t want to see myself on it.”

Nobody vocalized any words.  Kara could hear clock ticking from somewhere.  Lena didn’t explain further.  She was waiting for Kara.  The ball was in Kara’s court.

“Wh-What do you mean by seeing yourself?”

“That’s my job.”

“Appearing on TV?”

“Yes and no.”

“Huh?”

“Do you have account for any stream service?”

“I have Netflix.”

“Open the app.”

“What?  Why?”

“Just open it.”

Kara pulled out her phone and tapped the black and red icon.  Lena immediately took it from her and started typing and scrolling.  Seconds later, she gave the phone back.  Kara looked down on the screen and saw that cheesy Christmas movie she watched on her first night in Vancouver.

“I still don’t get it.  Can’t you just be direct?  What does this have to do…”  Kara cut herself short and hit play.  Fast-forwarding to that part where a wavy dark hair woman stood in the snow.  “Rao!  You’re her!”  Kara looked back and forth between the small screen and the real human being.  “You’re really her!”

Lena looked uneasy.  “Yeah.  Look at the list of cast.”  She put down her mug and fiddled her hands.

Kara looked back on her phone and found out what was unnerving Lena.  “Y-You’re…you’re Lena LUTHOR?!”

Lena closed her eyes and clenched her jaw.  “Yes.”  She croaked out.

Two times in a day that Kara was rendered into shocking dumbness.  Was this a joke?  What did life have against her?  Why did she keep facing all kinds of cruelty?  Was losing her whole planet not enough?  Spiraling in endless questions, Kara went into motionless state.  A trance with no way out.  Until a tender hand warmed its way from Kara’s left thigh.  Then a body radiating gentleness got closer.  The part of Kara’s brain that was still working thought it was Ollie.  But when Kara glanced up, she saw Lena with sad, considerate eyes trying desperately to comfort her.

“I’d understand if you wanted to leave.”  Lena’s finger was drawing hypnotic circles.

Kara’s body reacted first.  The hand wasn’t holding the phone went to Lena’s.  She stared at their joint hands on her thigh.  She was surprised that she didn’t feel betrayed or upset.  Maybe she was just trying to catch up with current situation.  Kara did not know anything anymore.  All those questions weren’t important, either.  All that mattered was Lena’s hand in hers.  She didn’t know how much time had gone.

“Why are you telling me this?”  Kara felt so bare when Lena was the one revealing herself.

“Because I see myself in you.  I think we’re similar at some level.”  Lena intertwined their fingers.  She continued her monolog.  “I chose to be an actor because I knew it would irritate Lillian.  I’ve been acting since I was very young.  Acting to be someone my family deemed presentable.  The Luthors are all about putting on an act.  So that was a bonus for my career.  Early practice.”  Lena laughed emptily at her own joke.  “And I wanted to separate myself from their madness.  Becoming an actor helped.  I’ve always been alone since I was adopted by the Luthors.  The career I chose leads a certain lonely lifestyle which I’m familiar with.  I got nothing to lose.”  Kare let the admission hang in the air.  She needed time to absorb.  She had so many questions.  She settled on the one she wanted to know the answer to the most.

“What do you see in me?”

“Loneliness.  Reserve.  Hiding.”  Lena shifted her eyes to Kara but Kara still had a hard time looking back.  “I don’t know if what I’m getting is right.  I just want you to know that I’m here to talk.  Even just Harry Potter.”

Kara laughed.  She laughed hard.  She didn’t know what came to her.  Ollie startled from his peaceful sleep and bounced to her.  Kara laughed and laughed and laughed.  Until there were tears streaming down her face.  Then, she was crying.  She cried as hard as she laughed.  The dam broke.  There was no coming back.  She never let go of Lena’s hand.  Lena held her hand tightly.  Kara felt anchored.  She felt tethered.  For the first time since she arrived at this unfamiliar planet, she stopped floating in weightless hollowness.  She was secured somehow.  Like a balloon stringing to something.  To someone.  A solid existence.

Somewhere along the way, she was engulfed by Lena.  She was locked in Lena’s safe embrace.  Ollie dutifully lay his head on her thigh.  The human and the dog didn’t make a sound.  They were just being there for her.  Letting her know that she was heard, cared and not alone.  She wanted to tell Lena everything.  Letting it out in an unstoppable force like herself.  But years of practice caged her.  She cried for her lost chance to be Kara Zor-El.  Maybe there wouldn’t be another window open.  Maybe somebody like Lex Luthor would take away her right to tell the truth.  Maybe Alex or Kal-El would find out and conceal her again in the name of protecting her.  There were too many maybes.  Too much uncertainty.  In the end, Kara chose to stay silent once more.

“I have ice cream?”  Lena said after a really long time.  Her voice sounded stuffed.  She put out an option for Kara to take.  Kara’s hand somehow found its way to Ollie, possibly to smooth his soft whining.

“Please.”  Kara’s voice was heavily wet.

Lena gently extricated herself out of Kara.  Kara didn’t have the courage to look at her.  She chose to look at Ollie and put a hand on his head with thumb rubbing his forehead.  She laid half up and half down, waiting for Lena’s return.  Lena returned with two tubs which Kara found it odd but said nothing.  She took the spoon offered by Lena with a nod of appreciation and dug in.  Chocolate fudge brownie and Strawberry.  Not her usual choice but so very Lena.  She ate with big bites, forgoing her manner.  Besides, no such thing as brainfreeze in Kryptonian’s book.  Soon enough, two pints were gone.  Kara threw her spoon in one tub and moved them from her thigh to the coffee table.

“Please tell me that you at least stole some bites.”  Kara could feel her puffy eyes went down and she was aware of that she was approaching normal state.  Perks of being a Kryptonian.

“Yes, I did.  In fact, I stole multiple bites that my trainer won’t be happy about it.”  Lena tossed her spoon to the empty tub.

Kara chuckled.  “I’m sorry that I made a mess on your shirt.”

Lena looked down at the nearly transparent stain.  “Oh!  It’s okay.  I didn’t notice until just now.”

“And I made you cry, too.”

Lena’s eyes widened a little and bit her lower lip.  “Your emotions were very powerful?  That sounds so bad.  I just mean that I can…relate…?”

“I don’t mean to dump it on you.”

“I rather think that I’m honored to be the one you choose to vent.”  Lena shrugged.  “You don’t have to feel pressured to tell me anything.  This applies to whenever or whatever I choose to share.”  Lena looked at her seriously.

Kara regarded her.  Crinkles formed.  She thought very hard.  But her tear-induced-swelling brain couldn’t function properly.  Processing new informations took time.  “You’re weird.  Do you know that?”  That was all she could come up with.

“I’ve been told once or twice.  But it was oddly like a compliment coming from you.”

“Extremely weird.”

Lena laughed liked that again.  Carelessly.  Kara loved how careless it sounded.  She couldn’t help but smile.  Ollie nudged Kara’s hand.  He felt left out so he eagerly wanted to join the party.  Kara looked at Lena for permission.  Once received positive answers, she let Ollie jump up the couch and nestled with her.

“Normally, I won’t allow such behavior.  But desperate times call for desperate measures.”

“You’re telling me that you never let him cuddle with you on the couch?”  Kara raised her eyebrow and tried to be as intimidated as Lena’s.

“I plead the fifth.”

Kara laughed out loud.  This time, it didn’t turn into violent sob.  It was the first time since forever that she laughed like there was nothing weighing on her shoulders.  She let go a little.  She let herself have that.  Just for one night.  With Lena.  “You’re so weird.”

“Thank you.”

They laughed together.  They talked about nothing and laughed.  They discussed about books and laughed.  Lena shared funny stories of Ollie and they laughed.  Kara told Lena Earl’s bistro and they still laughed.  Kara even suggested taking Lena to Earl’s.

“Okay.  I’d love to go with you.”

“Earl would love that.”

They looked at each other.  Still smiling.  Lena was the first to break her eyes.  “It’s getting late.  Let me get a car to take you home?  You need to rest.”

“Do you have personal driver or something?”

“That I don’t use enough.  I like to walk and explore the city.  I sometimes walk to studio and call it exercise which my trainer will definitely disagree.”  This was the first time that Lena mentioned her work so casually.  Kara smiled, biting her lip.

“Since you’re the one put me in food coma, I’ll take that offer.”  Even though Kara knew clearly that she could probably fly home without alerting any authority.

“Excellent.  Let me give him a call.  His name is Frank.”

Frank was a polite and well-mannered man like Alfred.  Kara thought that maybe they were just doing what their jobs entailed but it was still nice to be treated like someone important.  She arrived home in no time.  Thanking Frank, she went up to her floor while pulling out her phone.  A text from Lena telling her to let her know when Kara was home safe and sound.  Kara texted her before she reached her door.  Lena replied within seconds.

Chapter Text

Kara had a new routine.  She would meet Lena in Outlander in the morning from 1 to 4 times a week.  They read in relatively silence with Ollie sleeping beside them.  Having lunch together, sometimes Lena introduced her to new places.  Kara did take Lena to Earl’s Bistro and now Earl had two tasters.  They would go to the riverbank together if Lena didn’t have to work.  Lena bought her a huge bag of duck-appropriate organic food.  Kara spluttered her worry of taking advantage of Lena and Lena just waved saying ‘what’s the point of not spoiling the ducks when I’m rich’.  So, Kara let her.  Lena always looked apologetic and remorseful when she had to cut their time short.  The days that Kara didn’t get the chance to spend with Lena, there were always texts or calls or both.  Lena didn’t mind at all that she was the one taking initiative most of the time.  Kara felt guilty about it and even voiced her concern.  Lena just waved again and said that she often had to pretend reading script on her phone.  But now she had a real purpose of looking at the device and typing to a real person.

Today was one of those days that Kara didn’t get to see Lena.  Their messages stopped at last night.  Uncommonly quiet from Lena.  Kara decided to distract herself by calling her sister.  The sisters sometimes call more than one time a day.

“Hey, sis.”  Alex sounded breathless.

“Hi.  Were you running?”

“The gym.”

“In the middle of afternoon?  Either your job is too boring or your lab had high tolerance for employees going awol.”

“Hey!  I’ll have you know I work hard.  Dedicated, even.  Ask Winn.”

“He’s totally biased from your daily threat.”

“I don’t threaten him!  He’s just….scared a lot.”

“Okay, okay.  You work hard and Winn is a strong man.”  The conversation dwindled.

“How’s everything?  How’s your day?”

“It’s…slow.  I finished Harry Potter, though.”

Alex laughed.  Kara liked to listen to Alex’s laugh.  Alex seldom let herself have a moment to breathe when Kara was around.  Part of the reason that she moved to this northern nation.  The laugh was carefree which reminded her of other laugh.  “I still don’t get why you insist to read all 7 of them every year.”

“Every Christmas.”  Kara corrected her.

“So, no bookclub buddy today?”

Kara didn’t call her sister the night she got back from Lena’s.  She called the next day and Alex bombarded her with all kinds of questions which Kara had expected from miles away.  She ended up using ‘a member from bookclub’ to summarize Lena.  Alex sensed there were more than she had let on and Kara was grateful for Alex choosing not to pressure.  But apparently, Alex could only hold back for so much.

“She…”  Another fact that Kara disclosed, Lena’s gender, and she also talked about Ollie.  Because come on, Kara Danvers not talked about dogs?  Unheard-of.  “She’s busy today.”

Alex hummed.  “Speaking of busy, the owner of the apartment who’s been busy finally has time to meet.  Do you want to meet him?  Maggie said Jay is, I quote, a papa bear that just wants to spoil every kid in the world.  Which is in your favor since you’re the same age as his daughter.”

Kara was hesitant to agree but the man was kind enough to let her stay in his property free of charge indefinitely.  She looked around the cozy surrounding and said.  “Yeah, I’m fine whenever he’s available.”

“I’ll text you his contact info and let you do the rest.  And remember, you don’t have to feel obligated to go.”

“Thanks, Alex.  I think I’ll give him a call anyway.”

Alex said goodbye soon after that, reciting ‘there’s lab emergency because people don’t seem to even have a tiniest bit of sense of lab security’.  A text was already in Kara’s inbox.  Kara decided to call rather than send a message.  Thankfully, the man wasn’t busy at that time which Kara didn’t realize her mistake after the line was connected.  They agreed to meet at Outlander for brunch.  Kara hung up and glanced at her finished book.  Sighing, she got up to make tea.  Smoothing by the warm sweet liquid, Kara made a decision and opened up her message with Lena.  She typed, erased and retyped for several times.  Stuck between sentences like ‘How’s it going’ to ‘You’re awfully silent’.  In the end, she just went with her heart.

-How have you been?  Life is soundless without Ollie’s barking =‘(

She cringed at her wording.  It looked so pathetic but it was already sent.  Kara was thinking about how to retract it when there was a ‘read’ beside it and bubbles appeared.

-Work is awful!  I want to quit it and go home to see both of you =‘(

Kara felt her body tingled at that sentence.  She replied while sporting a blush that she was worried would remain permanently.

-You’re a 24/7 tease in any conversing format

-Do you maybe want to…

Kara didn’t know where that question was going or what exactly she wanted to say.

-maybe want to…?

-Have some take-out after you’re done?

There, Kara took the first step, she just wished that Lena could close the rest of the distance.  Her wish was answered in merely few seconds.

-PLEASE!  You have no idea how much I need that!  See you at 9:00?

Kara didn’t ask where.  Lena’s place was the only place they met if they were having a night in.  Kara had not yet invited her over because deep down she didn’t consider this apartment hers.  She was thinking about letting Lena and Ollie come over but wouldn’t do anything at least after she met the owner and set up some long overdue ground rules.  She moved to here too hastily to even consider such thing.

She arrived at Lena’s building at 8:50, greeted Alfred and went upstairs.

“You’re god-sent.”  Lena exhaled leaning against the door.

Kara ducked her head and went to the kitchen island to unpack everything.  She chose the Chinese place she ordered on her first night.  With Kryptonian portion, she knew now that she could eat as much as she needed around Lena.

“Potstickers, fried rice, egg rolls, Mongolian beef and stir-fried vegetables.”  Kara recited her order.  She pulled out two plates and handed one to Lena.

Lena said with full plate and a bite in.  “Did I mention that you’re god-sent?“

“Once or twice.”  Kara just busied herself with potstickers, trying to hide her warm cheeks.

“I didn’t say it enough.”  Lena replied, taking another bite.

After dinner, Lena made them the tea that Kara came to love.  With honey and lemon.  She sipped and watched Lena’s movement.

“Okay, what do you want to talk about?”  Lena tucked her left leg under her body and bent the right one.  Her favorite position.

“What?  I-I don’t have anything I want to talk.”  The mug of tea in her hands suddenly became the most interesting thing she had ever seen.

“Yes, you do.  I know I promised not to pressure you into anything.  But you look like you are about to combust.  Please do something before Ollie loses his favorite person.”

“Ollie’s favorite is you.”

“That changed when you came into the picture.  Now spill.  Something.  Anything.”

“Did you really date that guy from the TV comedy?”  The word just rushed out without her consent.  Kara thought that even hiding her face wouldn’t help with her blush.

Lena looked taken aback and that goddamn smirk and arced brow were showing.  “Someone has been googling me.  Stalking much?”

“I-I-I’m not…”  Kara didn’t know what she was arguing about.  She did google Lena Luthor.  The urge to know her cousin’s archenemy’s little sister was too strong to resist.  She needed to know what she had gotten herself into.  For everybody’s sake.  And it hurt no one that she might appreciate Lena’s beauty along the way.  “I wasn’t stalking.  I was…um…researching…?”

“Hmm…do tell.”  Lena rested her head on her right hand against the back of the couch.

“I just…I wanted to know you.  I knew that it sounded stupid when I could just ask you.  I just wanted to have a basic understanding.”

Lena studied her for quite some time and Kara couldn’t help but squirm.  “No, I didn’t date him.”

“Oh.”

“Ask.”  The damn ‘ask’ had been driving Kara crazy.

“How many countries have you been?”

“Too many.  But I’ll say about 15 to 20?  If you count the promoting things and conventions.”

“How many languages do you speak?”

“I’m only fluent in English but I can do accents?  Some of them are not very good.”

“When is your birthday?”

Surprisingly, this was the question that caught Lena off guard and had her stammer.  “W-Why do you want to know?”

“I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t have asked.  Forget what I said…”

“October 24th.”

Kara whipped her head up so quick.  If Kryptonians could have whiplash, it would be now.  “You told me.”

“I did.”

“But you don’t have to.”

“I want to.”  Lena looked earnest.

She broke their eye contact after only a second.  It was too much.  “…Thank you for telling me.  I have some follow-up questions which you can choose not to answer.”  She waited for Lena’s consent and received a nod.  “Why don’t you want people to know about your birthday?”

“Because it was not a happy day for me.”

“Why?”

“Because I have the same birthday as my biological mom.  My birthday reminds me that I only got to spend 4 times with her.”

Chapter Text

The words from Lena’s devastated voice kept ringing in Kara’s head.  She understood the sadness on the spot.  Lost of parents.  Lost of time.  Lost of everything.  She thought of Krypton.  Thinking of her father’s proud smile when she was one step close to Science Guild.  Thinking of her mother’s stern expression but always with hint of gentleness.  She thought of…, shaking her head.  She blinked back sorrowful tears and focused on Lena.  Lena was being open again, putting herself out there, hoping someone would catch her.  Kara took a leap of faith and reached out.  They were at a position similar with the night of Kara’s breakdown.

“I lost my parents when I was 13 years old.”  Kara exhaled a delicate breath.  “A…fire took them away.  I was the sole survivor.”  Well, not sole but that’s not important right now.

“Oh…Kara…I…”  Lena’s tone changed from melancholy to solace in one second.

“No, no.”  Kara squeezed Lena’s hand as tightly as she could without hurting her.  “I didn’t say it for you to comfort me.  I’m saying this because…I want you to know that you’re not alone.  I understand.”

Lena’s tears couldn’t be held back any longer.  “…Thank you.”  Kara’s hand then went its own accord to brush them off.

“We’re both adopted.”  Kara breathed out in awe.  Yes, she knew it from her ‘research’ but it still felt nice to admit out loud.  Then, she remembered something.  “I was adopted by the Danvers.”

“Kara Danvers.”  Lena whispered her name, seeming to test it.  It was good to hear her name from Lena.  Even just her Earth name.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

“I like our tempo.”  Lena wiped the remaining wetness.  “You’re asking all kinds of weird questions except for the first gossiping one.”  Lena was back to her original self in an alarming speed, only the red in her eyes indicated previous activity.

“I just…I didn’t know what came over me.”

“I don’t mind answering gossip.  To you.”  Lena gave her a meaningful look.  “I think it’s better from me than those terrible tabloids.”  Lena’s next move sent Kara into reeling.  She situated herself in Kara’s vicinity and Kara’s treacherous left arm lifted up to welcome her.  Lena rested her head on Kara’s left shoulder.  She did it like it was something they did regularly albeit a bit cautious.  Her hands twisted in her own laps.  “Is this okay?”

Kara wanted to protest.  You can’t do something like this and then ask my if it’s okay.  Totally unfair!  But what came out of her mouth was.  “Y-Yeah.”  Her left hand which just betrayed her started to rub assuring pattern on Lena.  That was when she heard it.  A loud, thumping rhythm.  So close.  Just right beside her.  Lena’s heartbeat.  She didn’t notice until this moment because being with Lena didn’t require using her powers.  Being with Lena relaxed her.  She could just be Kara around Lena.  The realization made her own heart skipped a beat.  Several beats actually.  Her ears picked up the third heartbeat, much faster, tinier but strong.  Ollie.  He watched her from his bed.  The knowing eyes screamed out ‘I can hear your heartbeats, too’.  Kara poked her tongue out childishly.  Ollie just closed his eyes and went back to his dream.  The human’s and the canine’s heartbeats jointly calmed her.  Lena’s heartbeat was like its owner, gentle and tough.  The the most beautiful sound Kara had ever heard.  Beautiful heartbeats for beautiful people.

“What’re you thinking?”  Lena slurred out.

“Nothing.”  Kara waited for several minutes.  “I can go so you can rest?”

“NO~~~~~!  You haven’t asked other questions.”

“Why do you think I have other questions?”

“You aren’t exactly a good liar.”

You have no idea.  Kara huffed.  “What topic do you feel comfortable to talk?”

“Everything.”

“Your fans are really curious about your birthday.  I saw various versions of it.  I even found a video of you hugging a fan instead of answering because she didn’t want to give your secret away.  Which I must say was a genius move.  Create a diversion to buy more time.”

“That’s…that’s not a question.”

“Shoot!  I’m sorry.  We should talk about something else.  Okay, let me think…”

“I don’t mind talking about this with you, either.”  Lena snugged into Kara’s neck.  Kara shuddered at the closeness.  “But maybe some other time?”

“Of course.  Okay, I got one.  Why did they call you Karen at Outlander?”

Lena’s carefree laugh was back.  “My full name is Lena Kieran Luthor.  The first time they asked me what to put on the cup.  I said Kieran but they misheard like everyone else.  And I just went along with it like I always did.”

“Okay.  That’s one mystery solved.”  Kara smiled at Lena’s answer.  “Well, I didn’t prepare that much so I guess this is it for today?”

“Well…in that case…do you mind me asking?”  Lena asked.  Kara tensed automatically at the notion.  Lena must’ve felt it.  She quickly straightened up.  Palms facing Kara.  “We don’t have to though.”

“It’s okay.  I…I’ll answer as honestly as I can.”  Averting her eyes.

Lena ducked her head to follow Kara’s line of sight.  She resumed her previous position once she found whatever she needed.  “I won’t push you into anything.  Let’s start with easy ones.  When’s your birthday?”

That was anything but easy.  Kara had to soldier on.  “September 22nd.”  Her Earth-equivalent birthday.  Equivalent not accurate.

“Hey, we’re almost one month apart.  How old are you?”

In Earth year and not including the time she spent in there?  “29.”

“I’m 26.  Where did you grow up?”

“Midvale.”  Kara tried to do deep breaths without disturbing Lena.

“Where’s that?”

“A small town on the west coast of the US.”

“It must be nice to grow up close to the sea.”

Often times, Lena’s angle of thought amazed Kara.  “It was.”  Kara loosened up a bit.

“I grew up in Metropolis in case it didn’t pop up in your research.”  Kara stared at Lena’s hands playing with sleeves of her own shirt.  Lena was nervous.

“It did.  It’s a big city.  Did you like it?”  Kara knew that Lena was still wary of what the Internet said about her.  No matter how much she acted nonchalantly.

“The Luthor mansion is in the suburbs.  Well, suburbs are slightly incorrect.  We have our own land, crazy amount of acres.  It just stood there.  In the middle of no where.  Four of us lived there.  Well, not just us, we have staffs and father was seldom home.”  The sleeves of Lena’s shirt would perish if Kara didn’t stop it sooner.  She covered her right hand on Lena’s.  Lena’s heartbeats got louder, her breathing quickening.  Kara held it but gave plenty of space for Lena.

“Sounds dreadful.”

“Yeah.”

“I finished Harry Potter.”  Kara wanted to change subject.  Anything that she didn’t have to withhold the truths.

“Hey!  What happened to our bookclub code?”  Lena turned her head to glare.  The proximity only made Kara’s breath hitch.

“What code?  We don’t have a code and we have an understanding of our different paces.”  Kara let go of Lena’s hand to adjust her glasses.

“The code of waiting for the slower member so we can discuss?”

“We don’t have a code like that.”

“It’s just been made.  Now we have to follow.”

It was hard to argue when Lena being so bossy hot.  Bad Kara!  Down!  “My memory is still fresh.  I think we’re good.”

“Okay, let’s do that now.”  Lena stood up to find her copy.

“W-What?  Now?”

“Yes!  NOW!”

When they finished or more precisely Lena deemed that she was satisfied, it was well past midnight.  Lena had the decency to look guilty but truth be told, Kara didn’t mind it one bit.  Frank took her home under Lena’s instruction and persistence.  Kara learned very early on that there was no point of reasoning when Lena was stubborn.

Kara met Jay for brunch the next morning at Outlander.  She waited anxiously in her seat when a man with pepper-and-salt short hair that was clipped close to head came in.  She chose a stool seat this time.  She jumped out off of her stool and waved at him.  They exchanged pictures of themselves the day before.  How the man willingly lending her his apartment was beyond her.

“Hi!”  A low, steady voice.  “You must be Kara.  You’re definitely prettier than the photo.”  Jay shook her hand.  The Kryptonian was surprised by the strength.

“The same goes for you.”  Kara said shyly.

The man laughed, loudly and surely.  “You’re too kind.  Let’s order, shall we?  I’m buying.”

“What?  No, please let me.  I’m the one practically squatting your apartment.”

He laughed again.  “And a funny one.  I like it.  I will allow it this time.  Next one is on me.  Deal?”

“Deal.”  Jay fist-bumped her.  Kara decided right then that she liked Jay.

“How are you settling in?  Don’t be shy to let me know any problem.”  Jay asked once their orders were taken care of.

“It’s good.  I like it a lot.  Thank you.”  Kara really did like the cozy apartment.

“Great.  So, you’re Maggie’s girlfriend’s sister?  I’m sorry, I’ve been really busy.  I admit that I crammed it before I left for meeting you.”

Kara smiled.  She really liked Jay’s easygoing attitude.  “It’s okay.  Yes, Maggie is dating Alex, my older sister.”

“Pardon me for saying this, but you don’t see quite alike.  You and Alex, I mean.  Maggie’s been sending tons of pictures of them.”

“Oh!  I’m adopted.”  This was much quicker than she thought that she would be sharing this piece of her.

“Ah~that explains a lot.  My youngest daughter and her partner are trying for adoption.  Not easy I’m telling you.  Oh!  Here’s the pictures of my girls.”

The next few minutes contained Jay showing numerous photos of his family.  Kara studied them with somberness.  Family, once she had that, too.  Fortunately, their food arrived very soon.  Kara already had first breakfast before their meeting.  But her human portion was still large.

“You have a healthy appetite.”  Jay observed.

Kara’s hand moved to her glasses.  “Yeah…”

“Oh no no.  I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.  I’m saying this in a good way.  I like when people eat whatever they want.  In my line of work, that’s a taboo.”

“What do you do?”

“I’m a licensed Talent Agent but I sometimes work as manager, too.”

“Um…sorry, I’m not familiar with both.”

“It’s okay.  Though a Talent Agent can have all kinds of clients but I mainly work with actors and actresses.  Get them chances to audition, negotiate contracts, represent them.”  Jay listed on and on.  But Kara’s brain paused on ‘actors and actresses’ which reminded her of one particular person whom she just saw last night.

“That’s…interesting.”

“Sometimes, but most of the time?  God, pain in the ass.”  The man chuckled.  “Hey, one of my client is in need of an assistance.  I heard you worked in Administration area.  Want to try?  My client is handful…but only toward me."  Jay quickly added.  “I just need someone to remind her when to eat and what to eat.  Pick up her dry-cleans or walk her dog or something.  She’s not picky.  Her dietitian or is it her trainer…never mind, is the picky one.  She’s friendly enough.  You know what, if you’re interested, let’s meet in my office tomorrow morning.  We can discuss the details.”

Kara was speechless.  She was grateful for Jay not mentioning her previous employment.  Maggie didn’t joke about him being a papa bear.  There were too much information in one paragraph.  She needed time to process.  But she also needed something else to keep her mind busy.  Or else, she would go insane.  This was her own war, nobody could fight for her.  Her words rushed out before her brain could catch up with current situation.

“Sure.  What time?”

Chapter Text

Kara watched people moving like an organic machine.  They went about their days not paying her any attention.  Few appeared excited.  Some were talking on the phone.  Most of them just looked plain tired.  Once upon a time, Kara was one of them.  Without any specific direction, just kept going.  Blending in was the most important goal.  But standing across the street from Jay’s office, she wasn’t sure if that was her goal anymore.  Or she was wrong right from the start.  Throwing out paper cup and her aimless thought.  Kara kept walking until she reached the building.

She was 10 minutes early.  She decided to ask the front desk about Jay’s office.  An inkling feeling told her that Jay wouldn’t mind.  She was shown in immediately.  Taking an elevator ride and passing hallways.  She saw many pretty faces on the wall.  None of them seemed genuine.  None of them was as beautiful as the brunette with a dog.  The buzz around the office was a familiar thing.  Busy but real.  Soon, she was standing in a bright office.  It was a corner office with a moderate size.  Two sides of wall had huge windows much like the apartment Kara was staying.  Various cabinets under said windows.  On her left side was floor to ceiling bookshelves.  The right side wall was a huge bulletin filled with numerous photos, notes and a calendar.  Jay was sitting at a desk in front of one of the window, opposite to the bookshelves.

“Hey, Kara!  You’re early.”  Jay stood up to greet her.

“Sorry if I disrupt your schedule.”

“Not at all.  In fact, I was thinking we should talk before my client arrived.”

“Y-Your client is coming?  Wouldn’t that be too soon?  We haven’t talked yet.“

“So, let’s talk, shall we?”

Jay explained the job description.  It contained many details but not difficult.  Kara could choose to work as part time or full time or from part time to full time.  Her work hour really depended on the client.  Sometimes it would be chaotic and sometimes it was very flexible for Kara to arrange her day.

“I know it’s a lot to take in.  You’re new here.  And you’re here for a pause in your life.”  Jay gave her a fatherly smile.  “Maggie only gave me a short version.  I won’t snoop around, I promise.  I’m providing an option for you.  It’s your decision to make.  I want you to know you’re not alone.”

Kara felt her eyes started to burn.  “…Thank you.  You’re the second person told me that after I arrived.  What’s in Canada’s water?”  Kara wiped her tears as subtly as possible.

Jay chuckled.  “It’s the maple syrup.”  Kara laughed wetly at Jay’s joke.

Suddenly, the door busted open.

“Jay, why are you calling me in this early?  Do you know how hard it is for me to get a full night sleep…”  Trailing off and the honey-like voice asking.  “Kara?”

“Lena?”

Time halted.  The air seemed to stop moving at once.  When Lena’s eyes locked on Kara’s, it was just the two of them in the world.  On this planet, also made of green and blue.  Two characters remained motionless.  In a split second, life resumed to regular rhythm.  Like a paused movie continued playing with a push of button.

“Wh-Wh-What are y-you doing here?”  Lena was the first to find her voice.

“I…uh…”  Kara could only make sound.

“You two know each other?”  Jay’s surprise snapped Kara from her stupor.

“I swear I did not stalk you!”  Kara winced at her helpless defense.  “I mean…Jay is technically my landlord.  Maggie contacted him before I moved here and-and he was kind enough to let me stay in his apartment.”

“Oh…okay.”  Lena’s eyes were still twice big.

“Well, that will make things so much easier.”  The girls shifted to look at the older man.  “Lena, remember we talked about you needing an assistant?”

“Jay, how many times do I have to tell you?  I.  Don’t.  Need.  An.  Assistant!”  Lena said impatiently.

“Yes, you need it.  The past few days proved I’m right.  And I found you one.”  Jay gestured to Kara.

“Kara?”  Lena said her name but still staring at Jay.  Kara decided minutes ago that she would wait in silence for this to pass.  “No, I won’t allow it.”

“Why?”

“Because!”

“Because…?”  When Jay deemed there would be no words coming from Lena, he said.  “She worked in Administration before.  I don’t have her resume but we can get you one?”

“Yes, we can.”  Kara piped in.  She shrank into her chair upon seeing Lena’s intense glare.

“Come on, Lena.  We both know you need it.  You’re just too stubborn to admit.  It’ll make your work less stressful and you know Kara.  That’s like bonus on top of a bonus, right?”  Kara saw Jay’s signal and she nodded fervently.  Even though she hadn’t made up her mind to take this job.

“How about this.”  Jay said before any of them could.  “We try it for a month, see how it goes, then, we discuss whether to continue or not.  Sounds good?”

The current situation reminded Kara of an elder settling a disagreement between two petulant kids.  Nostalgia brought back so many memories when she was younger and fought with Alex.  So, she said.  “Okay.”

Lena turned to her with an expression like she had just been betrayed.  She sighed.  “One month.”

“Great.  Let’s look into the contract, shall we?”

Once the details were settled, Jay shooed them out of the office citing that he was busy.  But he left a cryptic ‘you kids need to talk and I’m better not be there as third wheel’.  Kara just smiled confusedly when being pushed into the hallway.  A beat of silence later, Kara finally had the courage to chance a glance toward Lena.

“Soooo…colleagues?”  Kara reached her hand to shake.

“WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?”  Lena whisper-shouted.

Kara recoiled to opposite wall.  “What?”  She pouted a little in hope of dissuading the wrath Lena was about to throw at her direction.

Whatever Lena wanted to say died in her mouth.  And…was Lena looking at her lips?  Shaking head, Lena visibly collected herself.  “Not here.  Let’s talk back at my place.  My car is this way.”

She didn’t wait for Kara, just speed-walking toward the elevator.  Lena greeted several staffs along the way.  They seemed delighted to see Lena, not just the false enthusiasm when people worked in the same space were forced to do.  Kara noticed that Lena’s car was parked at the employee zone.  There were cars of various ridiculously expensive brands parking in an area that screamed ‘I’m famous and what you gonna do about it’ without putting up a sign.  Lena unlocked and quickly got into the car.  Kara instantly did just that.  Lena’s car was a low-key luxury and very clean.  Kara’s heightened senses could tell.  Not much in the eyesight and Kara could bet that all things were neatly put away in the console or the glove compartment in front of her.  Kara was deep in thought and didn’t note that Lena already pulled out of the parking lot.  She belatedly put on her seatbelt.

The drive was eerily silent.  Kara kept her eyes toward the window.  She was debating whether to decline Jay’s offer tomorrow as they arrived at Lena’s apartment.  They went straight down to the garage.  Exiting the car, another quiet elevator ride later.  Lena opened a door to an overexcited puppy.  At least, Ollie was happy to see her.  Kara showered him with extra love to buy her extra time.

“What were you thinking?”  Lena asked with same tone in a much clearer volume.  Her extra time was up.

Kara stood up reluctantly and Ollie seemed equally unwilling.  “I didn’t think, okay!  It came to me all at once.  Jay was just being kind.  And what’s wrong with me working with you?  I’ll have you know I have work experiences!”

“It’s not like that.”  Lena pinched the bridge of her nose.  “I don’t like you work in…this industry.”

“What?  You don’t think I can handle it?  I’m not that fragile.”

“I know you can handle it.  In fact, I think you’ll do well.  But I…I don’t…”  Lena sighed.  “I don’t want them near you.”  She whispered the last part slowly.

Kara’s anger dissolved in an instant.  “What do you mean?”

“They are a bunch of wolves that just want to eat people alive and spit out the bones and just move on.  They don’t care about others.  I’ve seen too much to put you through this.  And look at you, those pigs, no matter what their genders are, will pounce at you at the first sight.  I can’t let them have that.  I can’t let them have YOU!  I saw you first!”  Words just kept tumbling out of Lena’s mouth.  Kara watched in fascination.  She knew that she should be listening to what Lena wanted to say but she just couldn’t stop gazing at Lena’s indignation.

“You think you have me?  Like…I’m yours?”  Kara asked out of curiosity.

Lena apparently took it the wrong way.  “Fuck…no!  God!  Kara, I’m so sorry.  I didn’t mean it like that.  Shit…I messed up, didn’t I?”  Lena took a deep breath and started again.  “I didn’t mean that.  You’re your own person.  You don’t belong to anyone.  I crossed the line and I’m sorry.  I just…I’m really frustrated because the only good thing in my life, besides Ollie, might be put into jeopardy or disappear or, I don’t know, out of my reach.  I want it.  I know being a Luthor isn’t supposed to have good things.  But god, I want it so bad.”

Upon hearing Lena’s confession, Kara had never wanted so much to tell her the truth.  She knew that she had the Danvers.  They were her second family.  No one could replace her first one but Rao, they were close.  However, she wanted this, too.  To belong to someone.  To come home to someone.  To see this one person first in the morning and last before saying goodnight.  And the final dangerous thought, Kara wanted that person to be Lena.  She never thought that she could find someone like Lena.  In fact, she gave up years ago.  Maybe as soon as she landed on Earth.  But here she was, standing in front of her possible mate.  Her Kryptonian instinct telling her to hold this woman’s hand for the rest of her life.  Put a bracelet on it.  The nagging feeling was back and Kara knew her human instinct won out.

“I want to.  To belong to someone.”  She settled on this.  A partial truth.  The only thing that she could give to Lena.

“Really?”  Lena glanced up hopefully.  She quickly dismissed whatever she was fighting with.  “I-I mean…um…okay I think we are off track.”  She huffed, seeming to make peace with something.  “One month.  If I see anything, I mean ANYTHING, even remotely make you uncomfortable or I think it’s inappropriate or-or-or, you know what, we’ll come back to that later, I’ll fire you on the spot.  Let’s talk about the details.  I’ll make tea.”

Just like that, Lena was back to her regular self.  Still annoyed but Kara would take it.  She walked to sit on the couch, waiting patiently with Ollie.  She stared at the TV and really read the colorful notes for the first time.  They were notes of script, acting points or something related.  There were terms that were totally lost on Kara.

“They help me prepare for the script.  I will stand in front of the TV and act like a crazy person.  Ollie even got scared once and ran to my room to hide under the bed.”  Lena handed her a mug and laughed lovingly at Ollie.  She gave him a few pats like she was saying sorry.

“I can help you with that.  Reading for the other converser so you can have a complete dialogue?  Okay, I don’t know what I’m talking about.  I don’t know anything about acting.  But you understand, right?”  Kara hid her embarrassment behind her hot tea.

Lena’s careless laugh was back, too.  “Yes, I know what you’re talking about.  What kind of dialogue do you have in mind?”  And that damn flirt was back with it.

Chapter Text

“Man, acting is tiring.”  Kara flopped down on the couch.

“Because you spent 10 minutes stuttering?”  Lena teased while adding more notes on the flat screen.  “Or are you tired of pretending to have laser eyes?”

Kara laughed drily.  She was tired of not pretending to have laser eyes.  “So, you’re on a superhero show.  Is this another way to spike Lillian?”  Trying to steer the subject to her more than steel abilities.

“Ha!  I wished.  But no, it’s just something they found and I didn’t say no.  With my reputation, it’s not easy to find something award-winning.  I don’t mind.  This wasn’t my first choice.”  Lena chuckled lowly.

“What was your first choice?”

Lena raised her head blinking.  After a while.  “I’ve always wanted to be a scientist.”

Kara was aware of Lena’s multiple degrees from well-known universities in different continents.  She secretly wanted this topic to pop up.  She felt connected.  “I was…interested in science.  I was expected to be the youngest student of a science community.”

“When you were in high school or…?”  Lena tilted her head to one side.

“No.  Before I was 13.”  Her throat was suddenly dry as desert.

“Oh.”  With Lena’s innocent eyes fixing on her, her windpipe malfunctioned.  “Do you…are you in a mood for questions?”  Lena probed.

Kara got up to fill up a glass of water.  Gulping down first one in record time and taking another with her.  She sat down while deep-breathing.  “I’m ready.”

“Kara, we don’t have to…”

“I sensed you have questions piling up.  Ask away.”  Role reversed.

“Who’s Maggie?”

“That’s your first question?”

“First in, first out.”

“My adoptive sister Alex’s girlfriend.”

“What did you do before coming here?”

“I worked as receptionist then HR for a tech company.”

“And you quit the job?”

“No, they…the parent company was going through reorganization.  Part of the plan was to close some of subsidiaries.  Mine was one of them.  There was a fancy legal term…oh yeah, mass redundancy.  Basically, laying off all employees.  Official record described it as discontinued operation rather than to simply say out of business.”  Kara could hear bitterness in her voice.

“After that, you moved here?”  Kara appreciated the lack of pity from Lena.  She didn’t know how to deal another ‘I’m sorry to hear that’ or ‘Are you okay’.

“Yeah.  I needed time and space.  National City was…suffocating.  I originally planned to find a random hotel in a random city.  Alex talked me out of it.  She was so mad.  But she put down her anger and helped me.  Maggie heard about it and immediately contacted Jay.  He was so nice and understanding.  He let me stay in his apartment rent-free without second thought.  I took it instantly.  I needed an escape.  I didn’t think much into it.  With few boxes, I was here the next afternoon.  I didn’t bring much.  Hope it explained my fashion taste.”  Kara tried to laugh it out.

She remembered that day vividly.  When she heard the announcement, she felt so lost.  She didn’t even like her job that much.  Just a tool to cover her expenses.  But she felt abandoned again.  She tried to live like other humans and this was what she got.  She knew that she was being cynical, whiny and petty.  She was a prodigy for crying out loud!  The youngest member of Science Guild, destined to be great.  She wanted to run away.  Even toying with the thought of flying.  She crushed it down before it could grow.  The last time she did it, people got hurt.  She swore to never do it again.  But the need to run was so strong.  When the opportunity presented itself, she seized it and never looked back.

“I think you look good in anything.”  Lena’s honeydew sound saved her from falling apart.

“…Thanks.  Keep going.”

“You sure?”  Lena’s surprise was obvious.

“Yes.  Go.”

“You said about being the youngest student of a science community.  Have you ever wanted to work in science field?”

“Yes.  But it reminded a life I could’ve had.  It’s too painful.  I settled for a mediocre job to pay my bill.”  And her intelligence and knowledge would have jeopardized human evolution and outed herself in the process. 

“It reminded you of your parents?”

“…Yes.”  Well.  This, too.

“What did they do?”

Kara glanced up to see Lena with pure curiosity.  It felt good to talk about her family.  “My father was a scientist.  My mother was a lawmaker.”  An edited version to adapt to Earth standard.

“Hmm…you must’ve been a cute and smart little girl.”  Lena smiled softly.

“Are you imagining mini me?”  She grasped the chance of change of subject like lifeline.

“Why?  Is it illegal?”

“No.  Just weird.”

Lena gifted Kara her signature careless laugh.  Kara exhaled a sigh in relief.  Lena’s presence was a remission for her never-ending pain.

“I think that’s enough for today.  Do you have anything for me?”

“Yes, just one, what do we have for dinner?”  Kara rubbed her belly unconsciously and earned another fit of laugh.

“You don’t have to make something.  We can order take-out?”  Kara hovered around Lena like a satellite.

“Like I said I’ve been doing this for a long time.”  Lena moved the cut bell pepper to the pan.  “And I’ve been given ridiculous tight dresses and pencil skirts and blouses and heels that are not practical only to kill the wearer and my trainer is breathing down my neck.”

Kara listened to Lena’s listing carefully.  “What are you eating for breakfasts or lunches or dinners at work?”

“We’re friends right now not colleagues.”  Lena focused on stirring the ingredients.

“We are friends?”

“We are.  At least, I think we are.  We don’t have to be if you don’t want to.”  Lena turned to her with unsure eyes.

“Yes, we are friends.  I like us being friends.  I need friends.”  Kara said to herself quietly, looking at her own feet.

Lena poured the contents onto plates, put the pan back on stove and turned to Kara again.  She gently tilted Kara’s chin up with her right forefinger.  “You have friends here.  Jay, me, Ollie and I think you can count Earl in.  That’s four and increasing.”

Kara lost in those emerald orbs for a while.  Swallowing hard.  “Y-You’re right.  Thanks.”

“Anytime.”  She bent down to grab something from the oven.  Kara wished that she could have that tender warmth on her chin forever.

Once Lena finished the last touch, Kara was already sitting on the kitchen stool.  “Why is our portion different?”  She inspected the two plates.  “Why does only one plate have pasta?”

“I have to cut down my carb intake.”  Lena passed her a fork.

They ate in silence for a while.  “You haven’t answered my question.”

“What question?”  Lena stabbed a grilled salmon.

“What are you eating for breakfasts or lunches or dinners at work?”  Kara followed Lena’s movement, not giving her time to dodge.

“Fine.  If you must ask, when I have time, I’ll bring something with me.  Most of time, iskipit.”

“What?”  Kara already got it from her superhearing but she needed Lena saying out loud.

“I skip it, okay?  I skip them all if I have to.  Do you know human can survive by only drinking water for about a week?”

“That’s…a disturbing fact that we don’t need to delve into.  Lena, you can’t only drink water when you’re busy.  It’s not good for your health.”

“They’re doing this all the time.”

“Who?”

“Fellow actors.”

“But you have me now.  We’re gonna change that.”

“Nooooooo.”  Lena whined and Kara thought it was cute.  “Did you not hear me saying about trainer breathing down my neck?  Tight clothes?  Really, really tight.”

“I can prepare some healthy snacks so you can eat them during all the running around.”

“What running around?”

“It’s in your script or something.  I don’t know anything about acting, okay?”  Kara threw her hands up.  Lena laughed.  “So, what do you think?”

The laughter stopped abruptly.  “Fine.  But you know nothing about cooking.”

“That’s for me to figure out.”

Kara could not figure it out.  She was back to her place.  Lena had an early shooting and Kara needed to be there, too.  She walked back and forth in the kitchen.  The floor might suffer a permanent dented trail.  She needed help.  The Internet could only do so much.  Biting the bullet, she reached for her phone.

“My girl, how are you doing?”

“Living and breathing.”

“Have you eaten?”

“Yes, I just…got back from a friend’s apartment.”

“Is this your bookclub buddy?”

“Alex does loop you in.”  Kara sighed.  “Yes, she is.”

“Kara, I have to know and I’ll always worry about you.”

“I know, Eliza.”  She always called the older woman by name but deep down she already thought Eliza as her one and only Earth mom.

“So, what’s the emergency?”  Insightful as usual.

“How do you prepare healthy snacks?”

There was a long silence which Kara wondered if the line was still on.  “…Are you okay?”

“I promise I’m fine.  I…uh…want to eat differently for a change.”  Kara cringed at her reasoning.

“…I see.”  And she did not convince Elize, not even one bit.  “What do you want to know?”

“I found some recipes on the Internet…”

After Eliza’s detailed instructions and Kara using her superspeed to take notes, Kara already had several recipes for Lena to try different one each day for more than a week.  Eliza made her promise to call more often and rang her anytime if things got out of hand.  A code name for kitchen emergency.  She didn’t have the best record with cooking but she would do it for Lena.  Many of the recipes didn’t even involve with fire which she suspected of Eliza’s doing.  She was happy with current state.  Maybe when she was skillful enough, she could move on to next stage.  She made a list and managed to go to the store before it closed.  When she was finished preparing next day’s snack, it was past midnight.  She had to be at Lena’s place at 5:30.  She quickly cleaned up, superspeed came in handy, and went to bed.

Chapter Text

Kara arrived at Lena’s building around 5:00 in the morning with a hint of superspeed.  Okay, a lot of superspeed.  In her defense, she made sure that there were no witnesses through out her journey.  She didn’t sleep much but the yellow sun would charge her up.  She said hi to Frank who parked the car at 5:25.  Then, Lena herself came down stairs at exact 5:30.

“Hey, you’re early.”  Lena smiled sleepily, eyes barely open.

“I just got here.”  Kara opened the car door for her.

“Well, you were here before me.  That, in my definition, is early.”  Kara went in after her.

The car started.  Lena kept yawning and even dozed off for a few seconds.  Not a morning person then.  Kara glanced at her constantly.  15 minutes later, they stopped at a security check point where there were walls on its either side.  This must be the studio.  Frank and the guard exchanged friendly words and he tilted his head slightly to Kara.  The guard didn’t pay her much attention.  It must be a common sight to him.  They were shown in right away.

“Frank, could you drop us here?  I want to show Kara around.  Thanks.”  Lena woke up right on time.

“Sure, Ms. Luthor.”

They got out of the car.  Kara looked around and furrowed at the quietness.  Lena led them through various buildings as she introduced their functions to her.  Kara listened intensely, trying to memorized every detail.  She made a note to herself to walk around to further familiarize with her work environment.  Jay had given her an access ID to the studio.  They reached their destination 10 minutes later.  Lena once again was greeted by people.  It was not lack of people.  They were just busy with work inside buildings.  Lena responded to each of them warmly.  Sleepiness gone, all professional manners.  Lena introduced Kara to some of them whose paths would possibly cross with Kara.

“Okay, I’m needed in the hair make-up like…5 minutes ago.”  Lena said once they were inside her trailer.  She looked down at her watch.  “You can come with me or you can walk around?”  Lena shrugged.

“I’ll come.”

“I have to warn you first.  It’ll be tedious, long hours.  And I might sleep my way through it.”

“Okay.  I brought you snacks.”

“Kara, you don’t have to.  We’ve talked about this.”

“I already made it so at least take one bite?”  Kara pulled the zipper of one of her bag open.  “It’s just fruit and granola.  I made them myself.  I picked the easiest level so I hope I didn’t screw up?  This is a cooler bag so the fruit will be nice and cold…”

Lena cut off her ramble by grabbing her forearm.  “Thank you.  No one’s ever done this for me.”

“Wow, my predecessors were so bad at their job that I could just outwork them by bringing snacks?”  Kara hid her shyness by adjusting glasses.

“You don’t have a lot of predecessors.  I like to do things myself.  Maybe…it’s good to have a friend for once.”  Lena caressed Kara’s arms.

Kara cleared her throat.  “Well, I’m glad to be that friend.  Come on, show me where that tediously long hours are.”

It turned out to be as tedious and long as Lena described and the actor did fall asleep at some point.  Lena managed to remain straight back when the stylists doing their magic.  Kara thought maybe that this was Lena’s superpower.  She watched in amazement, witnessing the sleeping beauty transforming into a sharper version.  This was the first time that she saw Lena in make-up.  When they met, Lena always wore a simple lip balm, lipstick only in rare occasion, not even perfume.  Speaking of which, heavy floral scent reeked its way to Kara.  She scrunched up her nose discreetly, trying not be rude.  She was never a fan for any kind of fragrance.  Another downside of being a hypersensitive alien.  Even before she came to this blue planet, she only liked the natural smells of everything.  Earth smelled very different from Krypton but also similar in a certain way.  Sometimes, it was too overwhelming.  Other times,…it was not enough.

She liked Lena’s natural scent.  Mix of body wash, shampoo, conditioner, skin care, laundry detergent, sweat, Ollie and more.  It was very Lena.  She liked to let it comfort her.  A simple sniff would relieve the everlasting pain.  Even just a minute.  It was enough.  Kara searched Lena’s scent underneath the perfume.  She opened her eyes upon finding it.  Lena’s eyes still closed.  Dark hair being pulled into an impeccably tight bun which looked very painful.  Her feature was highlighting by the colors splashing across her face.  Cheekbones stood.  Lips full and in deep red.  Jaw line could cut through metal.  Her eyes were shadowed with various purples and dark eyeliner framed her eye socket.  Long false eyelashes rested on her skin.  Seeming to listen to her call, Lena began to stir, eyelids moving gradually like slow motion.  Those aquamarine stared back at her from the mirror.  Unfocused.  You could see them changing from misty to clear.

“Hey, you’re still here.”  Husky voice and killer make-up were dangerous combination.

Kara’s right hand flew to her black frame.  “Y-Yeah.  It’s my first time seeing all this.  Forgive my curiosity.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for.”  Lena giggled lowly.  The stylist gave Lena green light and nodded to Kara with a smile on her way to next task.  Lena stood up to get closer to Kara.

“Y-You look…”  Kara cleared her throat.  “…beautiful.”

Lena laughed.  “Thank you.  It’s supposed to be or else there’s no point for me to suffer.”

“I haven’t seen you in make-up before.  You’re already beautiful without it.  Now is…beautifuler…”  She cringed at her wording.  She had this weird obsession of using correct grammar and checking them every time she spoke.  Lena’s presence took that ability and threw it far away.

Lena’s laughter doubled.  “Thank you!  You are very sweet.”  A naturally light pink emerged on Lena’s cheeks.  “I don’t like to put things on my face that much.  If it’s not for work, I’ll just walk around with my normal face.  To avoid unwanted attention.”

“You don’t wear perfume, either.”  She supplied.

“You’ve noticed.”  Lena leant forward.  “You don’t like the fragrance?”  She tilted her head sideway infinitesimally, exposing her pale, long neck.  Lena did this as subtly as she thought but Kara still picked up.

An alarm blaring in Kara’s head with signature red light.  Her nose worked on its own and took a sniff.  She had to physically refrain from breathing more.  “I’m not a perfume person.”

“Good to know.”  Lena said it more to herself.  Then added.  “I don’t want Ollie to get overwhelmed.  His nose is very sensitive.”

Mine, too.  “You’re a good owner.  Speaking of him, where is him?  I can walk him!”  Kara nearly vibrated to the possibility of seeing her loyal friend.

“He’s home by himself.  You can take him to the riverbank in the afternoon?  Let him do his business and feed him.”

“Okay!”  Kara knew that she was smiling like an idiot.

“Sometimes, I think I’m the third wheel.”

“Y-You’re not!”

“It’s okay.  I give you my permission to spend time with him.”  Lena brushed off a nonexistent tear.

A voice interrupted Kara’s protest.  “Lena, you’re up!”

“That’s my cue.”  Lena smiled apologetically.

“Can I come?”

“Kara, trust me.  It’s another tedious…”

“…and long hour.  So, can I come?  I promise to entertain myself.  I won’t disturb you.”

“I know you won’t disturb me.  It’s just…”

“I’m your assistant, remember?  I have to familiarize with my work.  Can I come?”

“Ugh, fine.”  Lena turned to leave and Kara followed her willingly.

They were led to another room that was full of racks after racks of clothes.  Lena was ushered to change immediately and Kara was left with her own device.  She stood there awkwardly then moved to an empty corner.

“You must be Kara.”  The person who informed Lena of her schedule talked.  “I’m Jess.”  Jess extended her hand.

Kara shook for an appropriate time.  “Nice to meet you, Jess.  Um…I hope I didn’t come as rude but…what do you do?”

The Asian woman gave her a toothy smile.  “I’m a PA.  Production Assistant.  I basically do everything.  Including telling actors when and where to show up.  I’m assigned to Lena.”

“Assigned?  Everyone gets one?”

“Not everyone.  Main, yes. Regular, depends.  The rest, no.  We’re short of staff in this current moment.”

“…What’s main?”  Kara asked sheepishly.

Jess turned to look at Lena and checked her headphone.  “Okay, we’re gonna be here for a while.  Let’s have a filming 101.”

Jess began to talk a hundred miles per hour.  Kara had never been this grateful for her inhuman ability to memorize new information at first try.  Jess kept it simple and clear.  She had zero judgement in her tone and answered Kara’s questions patiently.

“…okay, that’s about it.”  Jess finished with a puff.

“Thank you so much.  I feel like more in the loop now.”  Kara smiled.

“I know.  Newcomers are always struggling at the beginning.  It helps if there’re people watch out for them.  Like what Lena did for me.  She made my learning curve less radical.  I’m lucky to have her.”  Jess said fondly.

“She is.  I’m new to this town.  She shows me where to get best poutine.”

“Yep, that’s Lena.  I can recommend you something, too.  I’ll give you a list.  Hey, why don’t we exchange numbers?”

They were typing on their phones when Lena showed up.  “You’re exchanging numbers already.  How nice.  I didn’t get it until the second day.”  Lena feigned hurt.

“I…we…Jess and I are colleagues!”

“It explains nothing, just so you know.”

“Come one people, we’re on tight schedule.”  Jess was done talking to her headphone and pushed both of them out.

Chapter Text

As soon as three of them arrived on set, Lena was whisked away in no time.  Kara watched them in wonder.  They worked like a great orchestra.  Making all kinds of sound reminded Kara of musicians tuning their instruments before performance.  When that famous ‘Action!’ being shouted, everyone stopped in dead silence.  Only the symphony of soft murmur from the actors and buzzing from the machines continued playing.  All of them seemed to hold their breaths at the same time.  All eyes on the scene unfolding before them.  And then classic one-word spell broke the magic.

“CUT!”

Kara was thrown back in reality.  She blinked several times to readjust to Earth’s rotation speed.  That was when she discovered that she totally forgot to watch Lena in action.  She reprimanded her curiosity and mourned for her lost.  Then, cursing her stupidity when everyone began to redo the scene upon the loud ‘Action!’.

This time, her focus solely on Lena.  Lena was standing in a very modernly designed and furnished office…or lab?  Wearing a leopard printed blouse buttoned all the way up.  Golden earrings dangling from her ears.  Tight black pants and black open-toe heels.  Her outfit left almost no imagination to her body.  Kara blushed at her thought.  Lena had this look that even someone like Kara who had mighty power wouldn’t want to mess with her.  Kara didn’t pay attention to Lena’s lines, or anyone else’s lines to be honest.  She documented every facial expressions and gestures into her memory.  Lena, her character, seemed upset.  Contempt, anger even hatred toward opposite actor.  Sorts of emotions that Kara seldom or never saw on Lena when they were alone.  Some emotions were so real.  Kara was having trouble separating this Lena to hers.

Hers?  Where did that come from?  Kara shook her head.  Lena isn’t mine to have.  What am I thinking?  Stop thinking!

“CUT!”  It startled Kara which she didn’t know to appreciate or hate.

After reshooting for many times, they decided that they got what they wanted.  Decibel started to rise.  People left to prepare for next scene.  Kara’s senses were assaulted by various stimulation.  A hand nearly made her jumped out of the roof.

“Shhhhhhoot.  You scared me!”  Kara put a hand on her chest.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to.  Was that…okay?”  Lena’s unsure brows reminded Kara how different the character and the actor were.

“Yeah…it’s just…very new to me.  All of this.”

“You don’t have to be here.  You have the ID that can basically get you everywhere.”

“Are you doing the next scene soon?”

Lena glanced at the source of hustle and bustle.  “I think it’s gonna take a while to be ready.”  She turned back to Kara.  “What do you have in mind?”

“Snack time.”

“Kara…”  Ignoring Lena, she already pulled out the Tupperware.  She ushered Lena to the chair which had her name on both front and back.  Woo~fancy actor chair!

“Try it so I can tell Eliza that I didn’t accidentally poison you.”

“Who is Eliza?”  Lena asked but sat down obediently.

“My adoptive mother.”

“She taught you these?”  Lena opened up the container.  “They are all my favorite fruits.  All in small pieces.”

“Jay gave a list of everything to know about you.  I cut them so they can fit in one bite.”  Kara looked between the Tupperware and Lena.  “Crap.  Did you not like it?  I swear I can do better.  We can review the list some other day.”

“It’s perfect.”  Lena whispered in awe, stabbing a banana.  “And very delicious.”

“Well, that you can thank the farmers.  I didn’t grow them.”

“Tastes better coming from you.”  Lena lifted her left eyebrow.  “Try one?”  Lena held the fork out with a chunk of kiwi.

Kara felt her mouth dry before food for the first time since she arrived at this beautiful planet with amazing delicacies.  “Th-They are all for you.”

“Have you eaten?”

“That’s my line and yes.”  Lena hummed that goddamn sound again and ate that goddamn kiwi.

“LENA!  WE’RE READY!”  Jess yelled from far end.

Lena sighed, carefully putting everything back to the cooler bag.  “No rest for the wicked.”  She swallowed the last bite.  “Seriously, you can go do whatever you want.  Just let me know and be careful.”

“Do you always want your assistant to leave?  It’s our job to stay with you in case you don’t know.”

“This scene about to murder me is deadly long.  Leave the bag on my chair.  I’ll nourish myself I promise.”

“Okay.  Go break the leg….or not.”  Kara corrected herself at the end.

Lena laughed and turned to leave.  Kara put the bag on Lena’s chair.  She decided to take up on Lena’s offer.  She moved cautiously and discreetly.  Trying not to make a sound and let her superhearing get loose.  Cameras rolling, clapperboard shutting, actors reading lines and sounds that Kara couldn’t identify.  Kara submerged herself right there right then.  Kara was always curious about different gadgets and stories that her aunt brought from other planets.  Even they were just for pure appreciation.  She enjoyed them all.  Krypton didn’t have much entertainment.  They were all about progress, evolution and exploration.  They leant heavily on science, politics, law and hard topics that could help their kind thrive.  And looked what that led them.  Destruction.  Annihilation.  If this were meant to be, why couldn’t they just have something to make them feel good?  Just feel something.  Anything.  Staring at the sculptures and paintings all day.  Listening to music until falling asleep.  Watching movies or TV shows, both good and bad.

Kara sighed.  Maybe this was why she was absolutely obsessed with Earth’s pop cultures once Alex introduced her.  Alex always said her taste was cheesy and corny.  My planet exploded, let me have this.  She learned to paint, regardless of the mediums.  Charcoal, watercolor, even oil painting.  She could sit in front of canvas all day, all night if she had to.  Just paint.  Paint her pain, her happiness, her anger, her sorrow.  She painted Rao the most.  Using all kinds of red, from various angles, in different settings.  The God who let her planet die.  Still there, glowing red dot on the night sky of Earth beside a burning star.  The one would disappear and be forgotten eventually.

They kept redoing the take after that.  After making sure that Lena was safe, she walked out of the building and to Lena’s trailer.  She had never been to one, not to mention one belonged to an actor.  The interior was homey.  Small but had everything.  There was a simple kitchen and a mini fridge which she filed them away for future reference.  A stack of books at one corner.  Kara smiled, imaging Lena making herself comfortable and reading until being called.  Ollie’s bed was on the floor right beside the books.  Few toys scattering around.  Kara’s spirit lifted up on the promise to see him.

She left the trailer and went to learn about what was like outside of buildings.  The constructions all looked the same.  Yellowish, nearly white.  Maybe they stood there for too long and the color couldn’t withstand the sun, rain and human anymore.  She glanced around and lowered her glasses once she was sure there was nobody nearby.  X-ray vision activated.  One of her powers that she used frequently.  Most of the buildings were full of people.  Constantly moving.  Like organs operating to keep the body alive.  No wonder there were so many TV shows gotten cancelled every month, new ones were already well underway.

The film studio wasn’t as big as she thought.  She saw most of it under 20 minutes, with a hint of superspeed.  Fine, a lot of it and also X-ray vision.  She didn’t want to accidentally walk into people’s works.  All occupied buildings looked like they were in full swing.  Before she knew, she already walked out of those four walls and on the street.  Might as well make good use of it.  She found a nice pastry shop and had a blast in there.  Taking the sweets with her, she went back to Lena’s trailer.  She shared a danish with the guard whom they met this morning.  The box was empty in 20 minutes but she saved some for Lena in a brown paper bag.  Checking her teeth for any crumb, she left for the set when she deemed none.

“They’re about to wrap up.”  Jess came out of no where.

Kara nearly yelped but remembered where she was just in time.  “…Th-Thanks.”

“How was your trip?”

“Kind of fun?  Novelties everywhere.  There’s a pastry shop right out front.”

“Oh!  I know where you’re talking about.  It is good.”  Jess commented.  “We will be having lunch soon.  Would you like to join us or eat at Lena’s trailer?”

“Um…I think I’ll stay at the trailer.  To help Lena or just to annoy her.  But can you show me where to get it?”

“Sure.  I’ll come with you after this.”  Jess nodded.

The shooting completed shortly after.  People went about their things.  Kara waited dutifully beside Lena’s seat.

“God, these are killing me.”  Lena took out her heel and rubbed her toes.  “I don’t have much time before my next scene.  I’ll be at the trailer and prepare for it.”

“Sure.  Let me grab lunch and I’ll meet you there.”

“You go eat.  I’ll be fine.”

“I’ll find something that won’t make your tummy hurt.”  Kara let Lena’s answer fly right out of her ears.

“My tummy doesn’t hurt!”

“Says the woman keeps putting a hand over it.”

Lena retracted her hand.  “Habits.”

“Go, I’ll be back in a jiffy.”

“Okay.”  Lena smiled and stopped protesting.

Kara went with Jess to an area where the food was.  She scanned through them quickly, picked up the ones she needed and bade Jess goodbye.

“Hey, I have some warm soup and bread.  Have some of them and take this.  It’ll make you better.”  Kara put the food down on the table.  After rummaging around her bag, she produced a pill bottle.

“You went to that pastry shop out front, didn’t you?”  Lena stared at the paper bag accusingly.

“Yes and please sit down.”  Kara grabbed a chair to set in front of the table.

Lena sat down, her eyes gluing at the sweet.  “I shouldn’t be surprised that food was your first…”  She tailed off.  “You knew about my medication?”

“Jay gave me the list, remember?”  Kara brought the soup and spoon closer to Lena.

“Thank you.  You didn’t have to.”

“I have to, this is my job.”  Kara added.  “And also because you’re my friend.  I care about you.”

Lena’s down-casting eyes snapped up and shone.  For a moment, she just gazed at Kara.  “Thank you.  Really.”

Kara suppressed the shiver causing by Lena’s intense look.  “You’re welcome.  And that paper bag is for you.  A brownie to piss your trainer off.”

Throwing back her head, Lena laughed loudly.  “God, can I keep you?”

“As long as you’re paying.  My food expense is high enough to put me on the street in less than 24 hours.”  Kara took a bite of her sandwich in order to ignore her warming cheeks.

“Deal.”  Lena opened the lid and started eating.  “Do you mind me preparing for my scene?”  Lena waved her script.

“Not at all.”

They ate in peaceful silence like they always did.  Despite her snack time not very long ago, Kara still devoured two sandwiches, a chicken salad and three donuts.  She snatched them as fast as possible to avoid question while keeping her speed in check.  Satisfied and belly full of food.  Kara noticed that Lena had eaten half of her soup and a small piece of bread.  She nudged the meds next to Lena’s hand.  Lena lifted her left eyebrows.  Giving her a crooked smile, Lena wordlessly took the pill and handed the bottle back to her.  They acted like they had been doing this for a long time.

Kara knew that Lena would be called to work anytime soon.  Strangely, she wanted to savor this moment, to keep it as long as she could, to log into her memory, to imprint on her brain so she never forgot.  For what, she did not know.  The only thing she knew was Lena smiling knowingly at her as if Lena was doing the same.

Chapter Text

Lena was only in trailer with her for not more than 30 minutes.  They didn’t talk much except for their brief conversation before lunch.  After the inevitable knocks on the door, Lena stood up, gathering her things, including the cooler bag and that brown paper bag.  They paused at the door.  Lena glanced up, wanting to say something.  Kara watched her closely.  Lena changed the course in the end.

“You can take Ollie for walk.  I wrote a note for you on the kitchen island.  You have the keys, right?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.”  Biting her lower lip.  “Alright.  Gotta go.”

“Good luck.”

Lena lifted both her arms and stopped.  Only using her left hand to give Kara’s right forearm a squeeze.  Then, she was out of sight.  Kara exhaled a breath that she didn’t know she was holding.  Swallowing hard.  She followed Lena and closed the door.  She went to see what Lena’s next scene looked like.  Lena was changed into different costumes.  An expensive-looking, form-fitting one piece dress.  It was forest green which complimented her eyes.  The dress stopped just above her knees and the neckline was dangerously low.  Or was Lena’s asset making them prominent?  Kara turned her head to one side in an effort to cast that thought away.  Another pair of crazy hight heels.  Hair down and straightened and gathered at one side.  They went back to the office-lab place again.  Kara was starting to believe that this was a lab.  But who wore something like that in a lab?  No safety protocol or something?  Lab coat?  Goggles?  Human TV shows make no sense.  There were some contraptions on set that weren’t there in the morning scene.  New actors were there.  The well-oiled organic machine resumed working.  Kara enjoyed in fascination.  She took out her phone during a tiny break and noticed the time.  Lena was sitting on her chair.  Munching on a piece of apple and reading the script.  Kara touched her right shoulder.  Lena looked up and nodded immediately upon seeing Kara’s facial expression.  Lena mouthed a ‘Go’ then turned back to the papers on her lap.  Kara went back to fetch her belongings.  She gave Frank a call, an agreement that Lena and her made.

The drive to Lena’s place was filled with excitement.  The dog had that kind of power on her.  His owner, too.  Kara’s mind sufficed.  Car parked, Kara smiled her goodbye to Frank and then giving a grinning ‘Hi’ to Alfred.  The numbers on the small screen in the elevator changed rapidly.  Kara’s heart beat in twice as its tempo.  Before she could hold the keys that Lena gave her, Ollie’s exciting barks boomed in the quiet hallway.  Her joy was answered.  The alien and the dog bounced to each other’s presence once door open.

[I missed you, too, buddy!]  Ollie drew her mother tongue easily out of her.  [How was your day?]  Ollie barked once.  [Good!  Let’s see what Lena’s instructions are.]  A whine.  [I know.  But we have to follow the rules, buddy.  You can have a treat if you behave.]  Bright bark again.

The note on the kitchen island was in neat handwriting.  Elegant cursives indicated its well-educated origin.  Life with the Luthors was not easy.  High standard.  Zero tolerance for any failure.  But Lena’s writing had some traits of her own.  Rebellion strokes everywhere, sneaking around in all corners.

Dear Kara, my beloved assistant,

Here’re the rules for both of you because you will spoil him and he will use that eyes.  These two should never mix or the world will burn down within a second.

[Always the drama queen.]  Kara rubbed behind Ollie’s ears.

His food is in the cupboard underneath the sink.  Two cups.  ONLY two cups.  You know where his bowls are.  Clean and dry them first.  After food and water, take him for a walk.  Leash and a bag are by the front door.  The bag has everything you need to clean after his business.  A bottle of water for him or to wash off his urine.  Plastic bags to collect his feces.  Clean his feet when you’re back.  A rag is next to where the leash is.  You can give him ONE treat after his walk.  His favorite chicken breast snack is in the upper cupboard at the farthest left end.  I trust you guys not to make a mess.  I’ll be thinking about you two from this hell hole.  Be good, my darlings.

Lena xx

Kara pulled her lips together to suppress an urge to smile but her pink cheeks already gave her away.  Ollie barked softly to call her out.  [What?  I do nothing.]  Ollie gave her a disapproving look but ran to the cupboard where his food is.  [Alright, let’s eat.]

Kara washed both bowls first and dried them.  She did as told, two cups in one bowl and clean water in another.  She observed Ollie with fast attention.  He ate like Kara, messy and eager.  She knew that she was smiling like an idiot.  Ollie already knew that so she got nothing to lose.  Ollie finished in record time or it was just regular speed.  Kara didn’t know.  This was her first time taking care of a dog.  Lena gave very detailed and clear instructions which was very sweet and thoughtful.  Kara’s stupid smile grew bigger.  Ollie nudged Kara with force so strong that caused her to fall backward from her crouching state.  Normally, nothing could make her steel body move but she was feeling playful.  A state of mind that she hadn’t entered for a very very long time.  She let Ollie attack her from above.  Like they were two dogs trying to fight for dominance.  Except that Kara gave hers to Ollie already, right from the start.

[Come on, buddy.  You don’t want to stay here all day.  Let’s have a walk and we can meet our ducky friends.]  Kara went to the front door and paused.  She lowered her glasses to search for the organic duck food that Lena bought.  It was in the same cabinet with Ollie’s food.  She took some and went back to Ollie to clip the leash on his collar.  Lena’s bag in one hand, she ushered Ollie out of the door.

Ollie practically pulled her toward the riverbank.  [Easy, Ollie.  I don’t want to hurt you.  I’m much stronger than you.]  Ollie turned his head and panted with his tongue out.  His footsteps slowed.  [Thanks.  You’re the best.]  The rest of the journey was eventless until they reached their destination.  Ollie immediately struggled and dragged Kara to every place he wanted to sniff.  [Okay, I’m going to unleash you.  Can we be good?  We don’t want Lena to worry, right?]  Kara lowered herself to Ollie’s level.  They stared at each other.  Talking with their eyes.  [Alright, go smell everything.]  She disconnected the leash and Ollie was out like a flash.

Kara tracked his every movement at first.  Learning where he was interested most, what was his favorite.  She would never get tired of watching Ollie.  He reminded her of herself.  Wanting to know everything about this planet.  It was the only way to distract herself from those excruciating pain.  Yes, they were still a gigantic reminder of her own planet’s death.  However, her curiosity won out eventually.  Her aunt’s stories came to live.  She had been to other planets but never experienced in this kind of depth and magnitude.

The quacking bandits’ arrival forced her out her stupor.  She rolled her eyes fondly.  Pulling out the bag which the ducks were aiming for.  She walked closer to them and started to spread it wide.  Ollie ran back to chase them.  Kara cackled at the silly fight between the dog and the ducks.  When Kara ran out of the food, the ducks left in the same noisy way.  Ollie looked up at her, panting.  [You did good.  They need exercises, too.]  Kara patted his head.

The duo walked for another half an hour.  Kara remembered Ollie’s heartbeat which was a good way to track him when he wasn’t in the plain sight.  She did have several chances to clean after him.  She even googled first, making sure that she did it right.  Ollie waited for her patiently the whole time.  Kara checked the time on her phone and started to lead Ollie back to Lena’s place.  Once inside, she used the rag to wipe the dirt out of Ollie’s feet.  Scanning for any missed spot, she let him go once she was satisfied with the result.  Ollie didn’t move too far and looking at her expectantly.  [Lena totally spoiled you.  You’re waiting for that treat, aren’t you?]  Kara squinted at him.  [Who am I kidding?  You totally deserve it!]  She dropped her act with big smile and went for that treat.  Taking out the small bag containing Ollie’s favorite snack.  “Wow.  Organic, canine-appropriate, additive-free…you know what, it’s healthy.  I have no doubt.”  Kara read the words on the package out loud.  She held that one treat in front of Ollie.  His eyes locked on the snack.  Kara moved it around and Ollie followed it with laser-like precision.  She didn’t have the heart to torture him any further.  As soon as she held out her palm with the treat on it, Ollie ate it in lightning speed.  He licked her palm, trying to get more delicious taste into his mouth.  Kara giggled.  [It tickles.]  Then, he gave her the deadly puppy-dog eye.  [No, don’t give me that eyes!  Lena said one.  It’s in the note.  See!]  Kara pointed at that piece of paper sitting on the kitchen island.  Ollie didn’t even bother to move his eyes.  [Please don’t do this, buddy.  We’re in this together.  Work with me.]  Kara thought that Ollie increased his cuteness several levels up.  His big black eyes glistened with pleading.  He looked at Kara and the snack in her hand longingly.  Before Kara knew it, her treacherous hand reached for another piece.  [Promise you won’t talk.  We have to earn Lena’s trust or she will ban me from seeing you.  Do we have a deal?]  Ollie honest-to-Rao barked loudly once.  It was obviously screaming ‘Yes’ in dog language.  [Here you go.  You evil little thing.]  Ollie ate it with gusto.  Kara kept her hand out for Ollie to lick all he wanted and tossed that dangerous bag back to the cupboard.

[I have to get back.  You’ll be good for us, right?]  She watched her hands while Ollie whined.  [I know, Ollie.  I’ll be missing you, I promise.  But Lena needs me now.]  Kara fetched her things, standing at the door.  She showered Ollie with loving pats.  [Thank you for giving me this wonderful experience.  Hope there’s more to come.  Bye, Ollie.]  She carefully close the door not to hurt Ollie’s eager head.  [Rao, having a dog is exhausting.  How does Lena cope with those cute eyes?]  Kara murmured and called Frank.

When she arrived back on set, Lena was still in that green dress.  It was another 2 hours that they finally finished.  Lena took off the heels and gave them back to a staff.  Kara ran to Lena with her comfy slippers.

“Thank you!  How’s my favorite boy?”  Lena asked tiredly.

“He’s great.  We had a great time.”

“Exactly how many treat did you give him?”  Lena sat down on her chair and blew a sigh out.  She stretched her legs and twisted her head around.

“One.”

“Wanna try again?”

“You said one.”

“And you gave him…?”

“…Two…”  Kara averted her eyes.  “It wasn’t my fault.  He kept attacking me with those eyes.  How was I supposed to do?”

Lena massaged her feet while grinning.  “Figured.  He always does that.”

“How many do you give him usually?”  Kara crossed her arms in front of her chest defensively.

“Two.”  Lena answered as-matter-of-factly.

“WHAT?”  Kara’s hands left her chest and went to her side.  Ready for a fight.

“I wanted to see if it worked on you.  It proves that I’m not the only one is weak to his antics.”  Lena shrugged.

“I feel so betrayed right now.”  Kara crossed her arms again, pouting.

“Did you have fun from the walk?”

“Yes, he ran around and chased the ducks while they were eating…”  Kara immediately launched into a lengthy speech of how cute Ollie was.  “…and he…HEY!  I see what you’re doing.  Don’t distract me from that betrayal.  We’re not done.”

“Could you please forgive me for Ollie’s sake?”  Lena smiled in her version of pleading eyes.

Kara shifted her line of sight away from those green orbs which were possibly more powerful than what Ollie possessed.  “Fine.  I was really worried about you finding out and banning me from seeing him.”

“I’ll never do that and you know it.”

“Apparently, so does Ollie.  He’s very sneaky.”

“He is.”  Lena sighed happily.

“You’re done for the day, right?”  Kara picked up Lena’s stuff.

“Yeah.  I’m so done about 3 hours ago.  Let me go change so we can leave.”

They left the studio 40 minutes later and took another 15 minutes to reach Lena’s apartment.  Lena flopped down her couch and Ollie came to her instantly.  Kara watched them for a while.

“I should go and let you rest.”

“What?  No!  We can have dinner.  Ollie agrees, too.”  Lena turned Ollie’s face to Kara.

Kara knew better than to fight with them.  Urgh!  Double attack!  So not fair.  “The Italian?  The one you like.  Plenty of greens.”  Kara grabbed her phone.

“Yes, please.”

Lena went to shower while Kara waited for the delivery.  They ate in peaceful silence afterward.  Kara took care of the trash and cleaned everything.  She forced a sleepy Lena to bed who kept trying to help her.  Kara left around 11:30.  Frank drove her home because Lena insisted sleepily.

Chapter Text

The next day was equally hectic if not worse.  Lena was scheduled for three crazy days.  Yesterday was only day one.  Lena looked much worse than the day before.  Kara did her job dutifully and then some.  She felt like she was doing her job while taking care of a friend.  It was not an upgrade from her last employment but certainly her favorite so far.  She learned more terms from Jess and the rest of the crew.  Kara even helped them by carrying some heavyweight equipments around.  At the beginning, she was afraid of giving away too much but most of them were just very impressive and thankful.  The short of staff was really taking a toll on all of them.  She still got to walk Ollie every afternoon.  It was the only time that Kara had the chance to speak Kryptonese.  By now, she really did not care whether Ollie could understand an alien language or not.  It was good to have someone listening and practicing.  Sometimes, she was terrified of forgetting everything from her origin.  Ollie gave this tiny bit back to her.  She would forever be grateful.

And the mad schedule turned into 5 days, then a week, due to delay of production.  She started to adjust to this new routine rather quickly.  She liked it even.  Helping people was rooted in her heart.  As a member of Science Guild, she would’ve developed groundbreaking technologies.  As a caretaker of her baby cousin, she would’ve raised him to be a proud descendent of their kind.  Fate took both of them away but the notion programmed in her could not be erased.  Therefore, she helped as much as she could.  Locating props when they were needed but forgotten somewhere.  Fetching caffein drinks for everybody when no one had the time to do so.  She would toss some sweets into it.  Damn the trainers.  These people needed energy to function.  In the meantime, she never neglected her duty to Lena.  This was the first and foremost priority.

“I noticed that you’ve been doing some side jobs.”  Lena commented one day when they were having lunch at the trailer.

“I…I-I help sometimes.  I promise I will never forget that I’m your assistant first.”  Kara’s hand on her sandwich shot to her glasses.

“Don’t worry.  I’m happy you’re helping us.  The working environment is not very ideal.  We need as many hands on the deck as we can get.  Just remember one thing.”  Kara straightened her back to embrace what was coming next.  “Use my personal card when buying coffees and brownies.”

“…What?”

“I know Jay will be happy to pay but I want to contribute.  So, use my personal card.  Use company card when we have to make Jay look good.  Got it?”  Lena handed a credit card for Kara to keep.

“…G-Got it.”  Kara’s hand moved from her glasses to accept the plastic card.  “Thank you, Lena.”

“And don’t tell anyone I said that.”

“Of course.  Miss Philanthropy.”  Lena rolled her eyes and smiled lopsidedly.

On day seven, even Jess, the ever dedicating PA, was starting to show signs of exhaustion from overwork.

“I’m so sorry, Kara.  That was extremely unprofessional of me.  I shouldn’t have forgotten to notify Lena of her make-up schedule.”  Jess sighed dejectedly.

“Jess, it’s okay.  Relax.”

“If you didn’t bring her here 20 minutes ago, I would be responsible for the delay.”

“It’s already delayed.  And I’m here to let people put paints on me now.  Drink some coffee.”  Lena said with her eyes closed.

Kara handed Jess a paper cup just in time.  Jess nodded her appreciation.  “Seriously, Kara.  You’re god-sent.  Have you thought about joining us?”

“She’s working with me.  Stop poaching my assistant.”  Lena opened her eyes to glare at Jess from the mirror.

“Worth a try.”  Jess shrugged and sipped on her dark energy drink.

Kara watched the exchange with so much fondness in her heart.  She didn’t think that she would find people, other than the Danvers, who gave her so much gratification.  She remembered that she only got to text Alex because of the insane agenda.  She pulled out her phone and waved at Lena.  Whispered an ‘Alex’, Lena gave her a ‘go’.  She walked out of the room to the outside of the building.

“Hello, sis.”

“Are you okay?  You haven’t called for 3 days.”  Alex’s worrying voice passed through her phone.

“Yes, I am.  Perfectly well.  Just busy.  I’m actually at work right now.”

“And you’re allowed to call?”

“Lunch break.”

“It’s 7:00 in the morning.”

“Breakfast break then.”

“The Jay job?”

“Yes.”

“And what exactly does that entail?”  Big sister mode on.

“I’m an assistant.”

“For…?”

“Personal assistant.”

“…so…for who?”

“Whom.  I signed a contract which told me that I could say practically nothing about my work.  I can’t afford to breach that.  I need money to buy food.”

“I can send you food.”

“To prison?”

“Fine.  I won’t ask anymore.  Will you at least tell me how is it without telling me whom do you work for?”

“Stop making fun of my excellent ability in speaking English.”  Kara retorted.  “It’s fun!  An industry I’ve never worked before.  I’m learning new professional terms everyday.”

“Maggie said that Jay is some kind of manager in showbiz.  Did you see a lot of celebrities?  You don’t have to tell me names.  Just yes or no.”

“Yes.  But I don’t recognize many of them.”

“That’s because you only watch old stuffs where colors were forbidden.”

“Hey!  I’ll have you know that old black-and-white movies are not just classic but legendary.  Legendary.  Do you know how to spell that word?  And it wasn’t forbidden.  The technology just hadn’t been invented back then.”

“Chill, Kara.  Man, I miss getting rise out of you.”

“I miss you but not this part.”

“I can tell how happy you are from your voice.  It’s good for you, Kara.  I’m happy, too.”

“I am happy.  It’s…helpful.  Jay’s right.  We don’t see each other very often but he texted or talked to me when we’re at his office.  He took me to a nice restaurant once and didn’t even bat an eye when I ordered like a small army.  He reminded me of…Jeremiah.”

A beat of silence after.  “I’m happy to hear that.”  Alex’s voice was wetly heavy.  “Are you coming home for Christmas?”

The question caught Kara off guard.  “…I…don’t think so.”

“But it’s always hard for you around this time of year.  You should be with your family.”

“I…I can handle it.”

“Kara…”

“I’m staying here.  That’s final.  And please don’t come find me.  I know it’s…ungrateful for me to ask that.  But please, Alex, I need to do this alone.”  Kara begged with tears in her eyes.  She turned her back to the building to avoid unwanted attention.  “I don’t why but I need this.”  She whispered the last bit.

There was a very long silence this time.  Kara only knew the line was still connected by listening to her sister’s breathing.  “Fine.”  Alex gritted out the word.

“Promise me.”

“Kara…I’m already saying…”

“Promise me.”  She asked it firmer.

Alex took a deep breath.  “I promise you that I won’t come find you or press you to come home.  But you have to promise me something in return.  Pick up you damn phone when I call.  Let me hear your voice and know you’re okay.  And call mom.”

“I promise.”

The two sisters went back to lighter subjects and hung up.  Kara remained where she was to collect herself.  She let the cold air sooth the burning of her eyes and cheeks.  She checked herself on her phone.  Walking back to front door when she looked presentable-ish.  Lena was done with her hair and make-up.  She was waiting to change into her costumes.  It was a slightly easier day of shooting on Lena’s part.  Kara got to see a more relaxed Lena talking to her colleagues.  When people left to do their next assignments, they were the only two in the room.  Lena gestured a seat beside her.  Kara took it obediently.

“That was a long call.  Are you okay?”

“Yeah.  It was just Alex.”

“Hmm…how’s she?”

Kara was a little surprised.  “She’s doing fine.  She works at some lab.”

“She went to med school, right?  And you’ve mentioned Eliza is a bio-engineer?  Science runs in the family I see.”

Kara was surprised again.  She vaguely remembered telling Lena about the Danvers’ occupations in one of their take-out nights.  “Y-Yeah.  Jeremiah, Alex’s father, was a scientist, too.”

“We could’ve had a wonderful family gathering, yours and mine, if circumstances were different.”  Lena commented absent-mindedly.

Kara saw the melancholy coated in the nonchalance.  She didn’t know what came to her just like she had no idea why she rejected to see her Earth family at Christmas.  “Alex asked me about Christmas.  I asked to be left alone.  Do you think it’s bad that I said that?”

Lena masked her shock of this revelation so well that Kara completely missed it.  But at a very specific moment, Lena seemed to have a second thought and let her reaction come freely.  Eyes wide and mouth hanging open.  When Lena spoke, Kara knew that she could trust a Luthor.  Not just any Luthor.  The youngest Luthor.  “I don’t think so.  Do you think it’s bad that I agree with you?”

“…No.”  She looked at Lena helplessly.  “…I don’t know.”

“I don’t know, either.  But I know one thing…that…if you wished to be left alone, you should do just that and others should understand.”

“What if I just said that to get others off my back but secretly wished them to the opposite?”

“Then, I think people who are close to you should know the differences.  Which I think it’s not the case here.”

“What if I said that because I wanted to be with the ones I wanted to be?  And the ones might not be my family.”  Kara didn’t know what she was talking about anymore.  Was that even a right sentence?  Did it make sense?

“Then, those who you wanted to be with would go to you.”  Lena grasped just fine.

She stared at Lena with a thousand emotions competing in her head.  “How could you be sure?”

“…I couldn’t.  It’s…you just reacted when something happened?  Or didn’t react at all?  Are we talking about hypothetic situations?  Cause I’m a little lost here.”

Kara just laughed.  Conversations like this really didn’t call for normal or correct response to it.  She thanked Rao that the doors were closed and there were only two of them.  Lena smiled confusedly with her.  They basked in this weird mood for a while.

“Thanks, Lena.”

“Whatever you’re thanking me for.  You’re welcome.”

Chapter Text

With Christmas approaching, it was getting harder and harder for Kara to function normally.  Not to mention to focus on her work which she could not afford to fail.  She needed this.  Not just for the money but for the sense of routine.  She needed to feel grounded.  Which she had never truly felt since she arrived on Earth.  Especially this time of year.  Alex was right.  Even though she liked Christmas, it was difficult for Kara around Christmas and it was extra difficult for her this year.  So, she called in sick to work on Christmas.  Yes, the crew was even working on December 25th.  It was horrible but Kara did not have the energy to help others.

She gathered all the blankets and pillows that she could find.  Making a nest right in the middle of the living room, in front of the TV.  She only left the nest when she needed to go to the bathroom or answered her take-out deliveries.  She went to the supermarket prior to her ‘sick day’ and bought as many food as her bank account could bear.  Ice cream in one hand and spoon in the other.  Eyes on the screen which was playing some show that she really was not paying attention to.  Three careful knocks rang when she was taking a big bite of Cookies n’ Cream.

Freezing on the spot, definitely not from the ice, she used her X-ray vision to scan for possible threat.  When she saw a familiar figure outside the door, she literally jumped out of her nest.  Ice cream tub and spoon still in hands.  She had no clue what the next reasonable move was.  Another three knocks.  Then, the third round.  Finally, she put the spoon in the tub and the tub on the kitchen counter.  Searching for her glasses and putting them on.  Standing in front of the apartment door.  Right hand on the knob.  She turned it open.

“Hi, Kara.  I know you wished to be left alone.  I just wanted to drop some food for you.  Just in case, you know.”  Lena rushed her words out, looking apologetically.

“How…what…”

“Jay told me about you and Christmas don’t get along.  Okay, I grilled him…and maybe threatened him a little.  He’s not a big mouth.  Please don’t be mad at him.  If you wanted to be mad, be mad at me.  I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”  Lena rambled nonstop.

“You’re supposed to work today.”

“Yeah…only three hours for a simple scene.  I came to drop this off and I’ll get out your hair.”  Lena raised two huge shopping bags to her.

Kara opened the door wider to let Lena in.  Lena thanked her and immediately deposed the bags on the kitchen island.  Brushing invisible dust out of her pants, Lena bit her right inner cheek.  “I’ll…uh…leave you to it.”  Lena walked slowly back to the door.  “Merry Christmas, Kara.”

The last sentence snapped Kara out of her shock.  She grabbed Lena’s left arm and guided the owner back.  “Stay?”

“You sure?”  Lena looked so hopeful.

“Please…”

“Okay.  Do you mind that I ask Frank to bring Ollie here?”

“Do that, too.  Please.”

Lena talked in small voice on the phone while Kara went to bathroom to check her appearance.  She didn’t even brush her teeth this morning.  A quick shower later, she looked less awful but traces of blood-shot eyes were still visible.  There was no point to cover, Lena already saw the state she was in when she decided to open the door.  Maybe she wanted to be seen.  To be heard.  By people other from the Danvers.  Rao, I need to call Alex and Eliza soon.  Gently patting her cheeks, Kara left the bathroom.

Lena was typing furiously on her phone, probably work.  Kara went past her to check the contents inside the shopping bags.  There were A LOT of food.  Chips, candies to healthier ones like dried fruit.  Snack aside, there were also instant food, like frozen pizza and cheese sticks to fresh goods, like real fresh fruits, salad leaves and is that steak?  Tea bags, hot chocolate powder, coffee were included.  Kara examined them all and felt a pair of eyes on her.  She glanced up and Lena looked right into her eyes.  They just stared at each other, trying to comprehend.

“And…you expected me to cook this?”  Kara pulled out the steak.

“I wanted to be thorough.  Leave nothing behind.”  Lena shrugged.

“No.”  Kara shook her head slowly.  “You wanted me to ask you to stay so you could cook.  And If I didn’t…”  Kara 

“There was nothing to lose.  You got to keep the steak for some other time or you could still cook it after some google search.  It’s…holiday, you should treat yourself.”  Lena wasn’t even trying to hide her intention.

Kara observed the human in front of her.  Contemplating Lena’s words, she decided on this.  “Can we start now?  So Ollie can join us for dinner when he arrives?”

“Yes.”  Lena’s warm smile made its way through her heart.

They cooked wordlessly.  Mostly because she had no idea what to talk with Lena.  She didn’t even thank Lena for dropping by and checking up on her.  She just begged the woman to stay like a petulant child.  Lena’s checking in didn’t annoy her.  When Alex’s daily calls sometimes made Kara feel like an alien talking to her handler, Lena’s surprise stop-by was like injecting Kara’s tired body with oxygen.  It was not fair to think that way about Alex, she knew and could feel Alex’s genuine care.  Part of Alex’s attention came from living long enough of time with extraterrestrial being.  The concept molded into her sister’s teenager brain.  An important period of time when human kind’s brain started to mature, shape, form and establish.  Things like intellect, values, knowledges and many more.  A sponge absorbed everything down to the details while chemicals inside interacted violently to grow both their body physically and mentally.  Kryptonians had the similar process but in much milder way.  They had thousands of years of experiences ahead of human kind.  Their bodies already adapted to changes across generations after generations.  But even that sort to extent of evolution could not prepare a 13-year-old teenager to witness her mother planet exploding.  Therefore, the two young minds learned a new adaption.  They grew together, shaped each other, formed abnormally normal concepts and established understandings.  Then, the adult alien met this new human who had her own traumas that were so similar.  The connection was instant.  A click on the lighter and immediately there was a tiny fire.  A heat kept Kara warm which she wasn’t sure that her human sister could provide.  All in all, Kara was sure of one thing.  She needed both.

“Could you pour the penne?”  Lena asked suddenly but her face said that she had been waiting for Kara to come out of her mind.

“Sure.”

Kara drained the water well and handed the bowl of penne.  Lena mixed it with white creamy garlic sauce.  Once the pasta ready, she moved on to the preheated pan for that delicious steak.  Greens were in the oven.  Two bottles of wine, red open to breathe on the kitchen island, white cooling down in the fridge along with an apple pie.  Lena prepared another feast for her.  Not just any feast.  A Christmas feast.  Ollie was resting after a very extensive exploration in the apartment.  Frank brought along his bed and toys.  A suspicious duffel bag beside him which Kara guessed that contained Lena’s change of clothes.  Kara found herself not oppose to Lena staying overnight.  In fact, she craved for it.  She didn’t want to presume.  Maybe neither did Lena.  They just had to watch how the night unfolded.

Table set, wine poured, dishes of delicacies in position.  Kara pulled out the chair for Lena.  Lena smiled bashfully and took it.  Kara sat down across from her.  They raised their glasses and exchange holiday greetings then dug in.

“Wow, the pasta sauce is incredible.”  Kara said around mouthful of penne.

“I know it’s not a traditional Christmas dinner…”

“It could be a new tradition.”

Lena snapped her mouth shut, gaping at Kara.  “…I’d like that.”  Lena took a generous sip from her glass.

Ollie chose a perfect time approaching when Kara cut a piece of the steak.  “Hmm…it’s so tender and…oh hey buddy.”  Ollie gave her that begging-for-second-treat stare.  “Uh oh, I think I’m in trouble.”  Kara looked between Lena and Ollie, asking for help.

“What are you going to do?”  Lena said playfully and ate the meat from her fork.

“Is this another test?”  Kara gestured with utensils.

“Do you want it to be a test?”

“Lena, stop torturing me.  And you, stop ganging up on me with her.”  Kara pointed Ollie with her fork which he traced it with immense interest.

“Give him a tiny piece in plain flavor.  Put it on your palm and let him have the fun.”

Kara did as told and Ollie ate it in millisecond.  “I like the tickles.  Merry Christmas, my favorite canine friend.”

“Merry Christmas, Ollie.  That was the only piece you could have.”  Lena said in a singsong.  Hands cutting her next bite.  Ollie whined and lay down beside them, accepting his fate.  “Go wash your hand.”  Lena added before Kara could pick up her fork.

“More wine?”  Kara dried her hands.

“Yes, thank you.”

“Was everyone okay today?”

“Some were pissed about working on holiday.  Others were just happy to dodge family reunions.  We wrapped up early so they could go home.”  Lena scooped some pasta on her plate.  “We missed you.  Jess asked about you.  They wished you a happy holiday in good health.”

“Thanks.  I had a lot of ice cream.”

“So not a cold then.  Good to hear.”  Lena commented sharply.

“You’ve already interrogated Jay about my absence.”

“I did not…okay yes I totally did.  I’m sorry for violating your privacy.”  Lena admitted her crime in lighting speed.

“Apology accepted.  Although I’m glad that you’re here, I didn’t say it early but…thank you.”  Kara raised her wine and Lena clinked with her own glass.

“Thank you for having me.  I haven’t had celebrated Christmas for a long time.”

“Really?”

“There were party invitations but they all screamed trouble.  Alcohol, drugs, sex and then headline with your name on it.  Mother sent the Luthor Annual Christmas Gala attendance request every year but we knew better than to acknowledge and stopped when she’s sent to prison.  She didn’t want me to show up and I didn’t want to be part of it.”

“So just you and Ollie.”

“Yeah.  I actually got him when I didn’t want to be alone on holidays.  Since then, just him and me and a bottle of crazy expensive wine and a good book.”

“So Ollie wasn’t a way to get over a boyfriend?”

“I said that to lead the reporters to the wrong direction and spiced things up a little bit.  Messing them around is my hobby.”

Kara laughed at Lena’s mischievous smirk.  After several bites, she asked.  “What did you mean by ‘wrong direction’?”

“You’ve been dying to know, haven’t you?”  Kara adjusted her glasses and stopped when she saw Lena tracking her movement.  “Boyfriend is the wrong direction.”

“You were single back then?”

“Yes, but not just that, the ‘boy’ part to be exact.”  Lena air-quoted.

“Oh!”  Kara swallowed.  “Okay.”  She felt hot for no reason.

“Interesting.”

“Wh-What interesting?  There’s nothing interesting.  Stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“The pasta is getting cold.”  Kara nudged the bowl toward Lena.

“Bet you can reheat it with your cheeks.”  Kara did feel her face burning brighter than hell’s fire.

Chapter Text

Lena didn’t tease her too much after that.  Kara finished most of the dinner.  They cleaned it up together.  Kara washed them and handed to Lena for drying.  They took the wine and apple pie to the living room.

“Do I get an invite to the fortress?”  Lena grinned, wine bottle and two glasses on each hand.

“Um…let me clean this mess so we can sit.”  Her brain short-circuited on Lena’s last word.

“No no no, please.  Let’s sit in there.  I’ve never enjoyed this before.”

“You’ve never built a tent or something when you were a kid?”  Kara sat down with apple pie and utensils.  She sliced two pieces and passed one plate to Lena.

“Oh, I built one, a very impressive one let me tell you, but Lillian discovered my creation and squashed in her fist before I could appreciate my work.  Well, not literally, more like telling me to clean it up.”  Lena cut a small bite.

Kara ate her piece of pie like she didn’t just eat a whole feast 30 minutes ago.  She gave herself a second piece.  “Maybe we can build one together some other time?”

Lena smiled into her glass.  They were drinking white wine now.  “I’d love that.”

“It’s snowing.”  Kara heard that telltale soft sound again.  She turned to look at the window and turned back to find Lena looking at her weirdly.  “What?”

“You’re sitting with your back to the window.  How did you tell it’s snowing?”

“I…uh…saw the shadows moving on the floor behind you.”  Kara thanked her years of practice to cover her identity.  Lena hummed but didn’t seem to be convinced.  Kara tried to divert her by changing topic.  “When I first saw you on TV, it was snowing, too.”

That seemed to work.  Lena widened her eyes.  “Oh.  That Hallmarks’ Christmas cliche, right?”

“Yeah.  I don’t remember the plot but I can vividly recall the image of you standing in snow with white dots on your dark hair.”

Lena swallowed the rest of the pie down her throat.  “Has anyone told you that you’re very good at describing things with simple words.”

“No, I don’t think so.  Why?”

“Remember reverse-Harry?  A single made-up noun to summarize a sentence.”

Kara chuckled.  “I just admitted to you that I only watched that movie to gawp at you and this is your response?  Has anyone told you that you have an odd take on things?”

“Plenty.  But I only do that to distract people and fleet from the conversation.  I’m not doing it now.”

“Then, what are you doing?”

“I want your attention, not distraction.”

Kara chocked on nothing right on time.  Her coughing even attracted Ollie to come check her.  “You’re teasing again.”

“I’m not.”  Lena patted her back which reminded her of their first lunch at that diner.  “It reminded me of when we were at the diner before our talk at the riverbank.”

“I just thought of that.”  Kara recovered, washing her embarrassment down with wine.  “Can we watch something without you in it?”  She needed to escape.

“Sure.”

Lena pulled up The Golden Girls.  Kara smiled at the choice.  She hadn’t watched it before but she recalled her phone call with Alex about her taste in old movies and TV shows.  A few episodes in, Kara began to feel the food coma’s influence.  Before she knew it, the slumber took over her.

She woke up to warmth.  Just warmth.  Her foggy mind couldn’t come up with more words.  She just knew that she liked it.  It comforted her.  It made her feel safe.  It grounded her.  Grounded her?  That’s a first.  It was so soft and there was a steady thump-thumping sound.  Like a beat.  Drum?  Maybe from the TV.  What were we watching?  We?  Who’s we?  She snapped her eyes open and looked down to alabaster skin.  She started to remember the outfit.  A plain white shirt with low neckline and a simple light brown cardigan.  She took off heavy coat and thick sweater after cranking up the heat.  She as Lena who was caressing Kara’s hair with upmost gentleness.  Kara liked it.  She liked it very much.  Too much.

And Kara was sleeping on her chest area.  Chest area was obscure word for breasts.  Crap!

Kara got up so fast that she fell backward and out of the nest.  Lena looked startled for a moment and then the corner of her mouth turned into devilish shape.  “Comfy?”

“I-I-I…uh…I…um…Rao!  I didn’t mean to take advantage of you.  You have to believe me!”  Kara practically yelled and Ollie whined from his place near Lena’s feet.

Lena regarded her for an excruciating long minute.  She did it on purpose and she knew that Kara could tell.  After scrutinizing thoroughly, Lena got up and leant toward her.  Lena’s movement was painstakingly slow.  Kara could only back away until her head hit the TV stand.  Lena smirked seductively and gave her a kiss at the corner of her mouth.  Dangerously close to her mouth.  Two pairs of glasses touched a little.  “I believe you.  Let me make us some hot chocolate.”  With that, Lena stood up and left.

Kara sat there with her mouth open with warmth lingering at the corner of it.  Rao, she liked Lena’s warmth.  She shook her head so hard, it might come off.  Her brain still ran a thousand miles per second processing the last two minutes.  What just happened was a question kept playing in repeat.  Her heart though, knew what just happened.  Lena kissed her and she didn’t mean to be platonic.  The real question should be, how are you going to respond?  This was too much for a brain to decipher after just waking up from a deep nap.  Even if it was an advanced Kryptonian brain.  Ollie, ever the angel, came to her rescue.  He laid his head on her lap.  The different temperature calmed her.  [Does she like me?  Have you ever heard her talking about it?]  Ollie glanced up to meet Kara’s questioning eyes.  [Stop being wise and letting me to solve it on my own.  I-I’m not the right person for her.  I’m not at my best.  I don’t think I’ll ever be.]  Kara patted Ollie’s head to beg an answer that would never come.  Lena deserves only the best.

“What’s that you always talk to him with?”  Lena appeared with two mugs in her hands.

Shit!  “Um…just gibberish.”  Kara’s hand left Ollie to fiddle her glasses.

“You’re nervous.  You always do this when you’re nervous.”  Lena mimicked her action after putting down the mugs on the ground and sitting cross-legged.

Kara retracted her hand.  “I’m not nervous.  It’s…nothing.”

Lena’s brows pursed for only one second.  “You can’t tell me but you are lying now as well.  You told me that you won’t lie even when you have something you can’t share.”

“…Yes.  You’re right.  I’m nervous.  That, I admitted.  The gibberish is…not gibberish.  That’s all I can tell you.”  Kara sighed and came clean.

They drank their hot chocolate for a while.  The sweet and burning liquid soothed her outrageously wild heart.  Kara could feel Lena’s eyes on her.  Not pushing but not exactly comforting.  A contrast to the previous warmth.  Maybe her head was in the clouds miles away.  May she needed to come back down to Earth.  She sighed again.

Then, she heard Lena sighing, too.  “I can leave.”  Kara snapped her head up, gaping.  Mouth open and close and open again.  Lena looked everywhere on her face, reading her.  “I’m making you uncomfortable.  Again.  I’m sorry.  This…wasn’t what I imagined my night would pan out.  Thank you for giving me this.  I’ll cherish it.”  Why did it sound like a goodbye?  Lena said it like if this was the end of the world, she would not go anywhere because she was right where she wanted be and was happy to embrace her death.  Why am I thinking about it this way?  What am I doing?  Rao help me.

“Come on, Ollie.  We should go.”

“WAIT!”  The three of them all jolted from the sheer force of her voice.  She whispered a sorry and blurted out.  “What did you originally imagine your night would pan out?”

It was Lena’s turn to open and close her mouth like a fish.  “I…just didn’t expect you asking me to stay.”

“No, you were pretty sure I was going to ask you to stay and I did.  I’m going to ask again, what did you originally imagine your night would pan out?”

“You would ask me to stay over and I would make you scream my name all night.”  Lena hurried her words out.

Then, it was dead silence.  If a needle fell on the ground at that moment, you could hear it loud and clear.  Lena’s eyes widened, she was clearly trying to correct her statement.  But her answer was very explicit with no vague wording.  A part of Kara wanted Lena to do just that.  Just did it then asked question later.  No talking would be even better.  But Kara did not need meaningless sex.  A night of passion could not change the fact that she was Lena’s brother’s archenemy’s cousin.  An outsider.  An alien.  Even if she was not Lena’s brother’s archenemy’s cousin, she was still not good enough for Lena.  She was broken.  Damaged goods.  A cripple.  A lost soul in Phantom Zone.

Phantom Zone.

Kara’s breaths started to go hectic.  Irregular.  Out of order.  Oxygen couldn’t properly enter.  She was suffocating in darkness.  She was drowning in emptiness.  There were barks maybe?  And shouting?  Not shouting, more like calling.  Calling what?  She heard her name.  Her eyes unfocused, aimless.  But somehow they found a pair of worried green.  She fixed on that for some reason.  Something was touching her.  A pattern.  Like circles.  Or was it triangle?  She couldn’t tell.  She tried to match her breath to that pattern.  Her hand felt a soft, warm surface.  They heaved up and down like that pattern.  Ocean waves.  Up and down.  Up and down.  Her chest began to synchronize.  Up and down.  Up and down.  Her hearing started to come back.  Muffled sound of whining and…

“That’s it.  You’re doing well.  In and out.  In and out.  Follow my breathing.”  Lena’s voice rushed back in tidal rhythm.  Kara blinked several times, her eyesight growing back to its normal size.  Lights everywhere.  Furnitures, windows, blankets, pillows, mugs, Ollie and…Lena.  Her right hand was on top of Lena’s heart and Lena’s hands covered it.

“What…what happened?”  She finally croaked out after Rao knew how long.  Hand retracted.

“I think you just had a panic attack.  Does it happen often?”

“Not for a while.”

“Let me get you some water.”  Lena got up and Ollie dutifully filled in for her.  Kara scratched behind his ears, feeling the soft fur.  She was still recovering from the attack.  “Here.”  Kara drained the glass in record time.  Lena went back to get her a refill.  She drank it as well.  It was the fourth cup that she finally slowed down.

“Thanks.”

“You shouldn’t be thanking me.  I caused this.”

“You didn’t.”

“Yes, I did!  I told you that I wanted to fuck you and you panicked.  Fuck!  I shouldn’t have said that.  I’m so sorry.”  Lena’s right hand was on her forehand.  Regretful and pain were all over her face.

“I’m flattered actually.  I even…indulged it a bit but I…can’t…it won’t be fair to you.”  Kara sipped at her water.

“I understand.”

“What…exactly are you understanding?”

“You’re in pain.  You’re here to heal.  Jay told me.”  Lena looked guilty about the admission.  “And-and I took advantage of you.  I crossed the line.  Sleeping on my boobs isn’t taking advantage, this is.  I shouldn’t use you like this when you’re in a defenseless state.”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”  Lena glanced at her, head still in her right hand.

“You said defenseless state not weak state.”

“You’re no weak.  You never are.”

“Sometimes, I feel like I’m the weakest when I'm supposed to be the strongest person on Earth.”

“What are you saying?”  Lena’s head left the confines of her hand.

“I’m not human, Lena.”  Kara looked right into the pair of beautiful, compassionate, confusing eyes.  She started to understand Lena when she thanked Kara for the night before inevitable goodbye.  Kara wanted to cherish those clear eyes before they turned into something she could not salvage.  “I’m an alien.  A…Kryptonian to be exact.”

Chapter Text

“I’m an alien.  A…Kryptonian to be exact.”

Lena’s kind eyes turned stormy.  Transparent and bright became cloudy and dull.  Mouth turning downward.  Shoulders tense.  Jaw clenching.  Fists tightened.  Betrayal written all over her face.  Kara had to save what was left.  She couldn’t lose her, too.

“Why couldn’t you lose me, too?”  She startled at Lena’s blunt, cold question.  Kara didn’t notice that she said that out loud.

“Because I couldn’t save my planet.  I had to watch it die.  I couldn’t lose you when you make me feel safe.  You make me…feel like…”

“Like?”  Lena’s voice was sharp, cruel, and unforgiving.

“Like home.”  Kara sounded small, pathetic and undeserving.

She didn’t dare to look up.  Her head hung low.  Until.  “…What?”

“You feel like home to me.”

A pair of pale hands lifted her head up with a little bit of force.  “Look at me and say it again.”

“You feel like home to me, Lena.”

Lena’s eyes now filled with unshed tears.  Cold hands returned to their owner, wrapping around the body like they were shielding her.  “Is this some kind of sick joke?  Why are you doing this do me?”

“Will you listen if I share?”  Kara didn’t have the strength to argue.  If Lena wanted to walk out of the door, Kara would not stop her.

“Speak now.”  Lena demanded.

“My name is…Kara Zor-El.  I’m a refugee from a planet called Krypton.  When I was 13, my planet exploded and I was forced to leave.  I was meant to be the protector of my baby cousin but my escaping pod took a wrong turn.  I…”  Kara swallowed.  “Krypton's destruction sent a shock wave that knocked my pod off-course and into the Phantom Zone.  A region in space where time doesn't pass.  I slept there for 24 years until somehow, I got here.”  She paused to collect herself.  “When I arrived, my baby cousin already grew up.  My purpose gone just like I was meant to be the youngest member of Science Guild.  Since then, I’ve been trying to fit in.  But no matter how hard I try, I still feel like and look like an outsider.  When I was laid off, I was abandoned all over again.  That’s why I’m here, fleeing from National City, a refugee in Vancouver.”

Kara breathed hard.  She didn’t know if she finished yet or she should tell more.  Lena decided for her.  “What’s your relation with Superman?”

“He’s the baby cousin I talked about.”

“Why didn’t you run when I told you that I’m Lena Luthor?”  Lena’s suspicious eyes tracked her every move.

“I thought it was a sick joke, too, you know?”  Kara laughed drily.  “I thought the Universe hated me so much, it just wanted to keep me alive and play me until I had nothing left.  Put me back and then break me.  Over and over again.  But you, of all people, grounded me.  You still ground me.  I’ve never felt grounded until I met you.”

“You’re not spying on me?  For your kinds’ sake or for some secret government agencies?”

“No.  I have my doubt at the beginning.  But it vanished as time passes.  I judge people on their own merits not their family’s name.  I only doubted you because my upbringing on Earth told me to.  It confines me in more ways than you could’ve imagined.  I don’t want it anymore.  At least not with you.”

Lena’s eyes became less fierce, more like her usual self.  “Your confusion of why I’m interested in you.  You say the word…’Rao’?  And the language you use when you think it’s just you and Ollie.  You can tell it’s snowing without actually seeing.”

“I was always Alex’s weird little sister.  No one was ever interested in me back in school both platonically and romantically.  Yes, there were few times when someone asked for my numbers but most of them didn’t call after that one date.  I’m weird through and through.  I accepted that…I probably would end up being alone very long time ago.  So yes, I didn’t know why you were interested in me and still don’t.  Rao is our God.  I still pray sometimes.  I speak Kryptonese to Ollie because that was the language I spoke when I first met him.  He seems to respond it as well as when I speak English.  I asked you about his ability to understand foreign language, remember?  And…I have superhearing…and more.”

“By more, you mean all of the superpowers that Superman has.”

“Yes.”  Kara rested her head on the TV stand.  Kara could see Lena’s brain operating in rapid speed.  Frenetic eyes, howling emotions.  She waited patiently in the eye of storm, preparing for the worst.

But it never came.

All of sudden, Lena laughed loudly but not her usual carefree one.  It was sadder.  Sarcastic even.  “I couldn’t be more wrong when I said I saw myself in you, that we were similar.  We’re totally different.  You came from an advanced society while I came from infidelity of a notorious family.  You have the powers to change the world while I have the powers to destroy it.  I am SO wrong.”

“No, Lena.”  Kara cleared her throat.  “The only thing wrong here is how you see yourself.  What I see is a brilliant, kind-hearted, beautiful soul with so much potential that she doesn’t even realize.  I only hope that the world will see you the way I see you, eventually.”

Lena let out an agonizing sob and her tears fell freely.  She launched herself onto Kara.  She clutched Kara so tight that if Kara was human, her skin would bruise.  Kara held Lena back as hard as she could without hurting.  The table turned again.  It was Lena who cried her heart out this time.  Kara’s silent tears ached for Lena.  She wished that one of her superpowers was to lift this weight off Lena’s shoulders, to take the pain away from Lena’s broken heart.  That damn yellow run charged her with so much energy but none of them was strong enough to give Lena solace.

They stayed like that for a long time.  So long that Kara thought her body was actually feeling sore from staying in the same position.  Kara gently extracted herself from Lena.  She looked at Lena, hoping her eyes were expressive enough to let Lena comprehend what she was trying to say.  The tears, red cheeks and glistening eyes made Lena devastatingly stunning.  A delicate cargo that needed to be protected at all cost.  Kara inched forward, giving Lena time to say no.  But Lena did not dodge, she met Kara half way.

The kiss was…salty.  That was Kara’s first thought.  And wet.  Lena deepened the kiss rather quickly.  Then, Kara tasted it.  Sweet, hot and Lena.  So soft, so passionate, so irresistible.  Lena was drug and she was high on it.  She explored Lena’s mouth with her curious tongue.  And an insistent force took over Kara’s mouth.  Lena sucked on her tongue and bit her lower lip.  They fought for dominance but Kara already knew it was a lost cause.  She would surrender to Lena every single time.  She would give herself to Lena over and over again.

They broke apart when a wet nose made itself between theirs.  Ollie didn’t want to be left alone.  And then they laughed.  Lena had that carefree laugh again and Kara joined her.

“God, I’ve never imagined that my dog would be a mood killer.”

“Hey, don’t let him hear that.”  Kara covered Ollie’s ears with her hands.

“He has some kind of superhearing, too.  That won’t work.  And you should put your hands…”  Lena grabbed them and positioned them on her own ass.  “…into good use.”  Lena straddled her, ample thighs on either side of her legs.

“Rao…”  And then Lena was kissing down her neck and nibbled naughtily.  Left hand on her neck, right hand on left side of her waist.  Both of them were stroking fire spreading Kara’s body.  “Le-Lena, maybe we should…um…talk…?”  Rao, please don’t stop.

“We’ve done enough of talking.  Let’s do something.”  Lena made her point by sucking on her pulse point.

“But…uh…don’t you think it’s too quick.  Like…we’ve only known each other a little over one month.  We’re practically…strangers by human standard.”  Kara was trying very very hard to concentrate.  It was harder than the courses she took back in Krypton.

Lena paused her assault, gradually lifting up her head.  “People can have sex with strangers in night club’s bathroom whom they met 2 minutes ago outside said bathroom.  We’re taking slow compared to that.”

“You used whom.”  Kara said in awe.  Her hands left Lena’s ass onto her back.  She held Lena in her arms reverently.

“What?”  Lena laughed in confusing furrowed brows.

“Alex likes to make fun of me for having this weird obsession to use correct relative pronoun.”  Kara explained, feeling exposed.

Lena smiled, glancing down and up.  “I think it’s adorable.”

Kara felt her face heating from normal degree to extremely hot in a split second.  “You’re just being nice.”

“I admit that I started to correct my grammar when I met you.  You have this face when you’re thinking too hard and it appears the most when you’re talking.  So, I assume that you’re just trying to make sense or…for whatever reason.”  Lena put her hands on Kara’s arms, caress them.

“Oh…I see.  What face?”  Kara asked.

“That.”  Lena touched her crinkle.

Her right hand immediately reached to the same spot.  “Alex makes fun of it, too.  I’ve never won when playing Bluff with her.  She said that I’m so bad at lies that if I ever became a superhero, I would blow it less than one second.”  As soon as the words coming out, Kara regretted on the instant.  This was a sore topic, a very sensitive one.  She and Lena were sitting in compromised position and doing unspeakable things when there were so many other issues should be raised for attention.  They were still trying to figure this out.  She cursed her stupidity for letting her guard down too quickly.  She should be the stronger party protecting both of them.  She really was the weakest on Earth.

“You’re thinking too hard again.”  Lena massaged the damn crinkle with tender thumb.  She then kissed softly on it.  Kara closed her eyes to stop herself from spiraling.  “I think you can be Supergirl.  You look like a Supergirl.”

Kara did not see this coming.  She was dumbfounded and amazed.  Watching Lena’s expression.  What she was searching for, she didn’t know.  “You’re really are something else.  I’ve never met a human like you before.”  She leant forward to rest her head on Lena’s left shoulder.  “And why not Super…woman?”

“Do you have a problem with Girl?”  Lena put her arms around Kara’s neck.  Kara could feel her grinning, devilishly for sure.

She picked up her head off Lena’s shoulder, line of sight training downward.  “N-N-No…?  I just…I’m 29.  Girl seems…a little faraway.”  Kara stopped being a little girl when she watched her planet bursting into flames and taking her families, friends, home and everything else with it.

Lena tilted her head down to follow Kara’s eyes.  Kara accidentally looked into that knowing green and turned away.  Lena carefully pulled her back with both of her warm hands.  “I’m a girl.  And your boss, and powerful, and rich, and hot and smart.  So if you perceive ‘Supergirl' as anything less than excellent, isn't the real problem you?”  Lena whispered.

The question was a slap in her face.  Rather than feeling humiliated, she felt seen.  She thought so low in herself that she only remembered what she was meant to be and not what she might be.  Her life on Krypton was over.  The new one on Earth just began.  She used all her living powers in hiding, blending in and being a human.  She forgot that she would never be a human.  She could only look like one on the outside.  Deep down?  She still a Kryptonian.  A real Kryptonian, who actually lived and breathed on Krypton and spoke Kryptonese.  Kal-El couldn’t speak like her, there would always be a hint of foreign accent.  He would never understand what was like to be a true Kryptonian.  Witnessing a civilization flourishing and dying with her own eyes.  Praying to a God that stayed silent when her world burned in hell.  They should stop pretending to be something they were not and never would be.

“Was that too much?”  Lena winced at her question.

“No.”  Kara took a breath.  “No, that was…refreshing.  Just like you.”

Then, Kara kissed Lena with full force.  Well, with force that would not hurt Lena in the first place.  She devoured Lena like a proud Kryptonian.  Fierce with respect.  Fervent with tenderness.  Dominant and submissive.  Kara Zor-El and Kara Danvers.  She would give her all to Lena.  Both sides of her, many sides to discover.

She stood up with Lena wrapping around her.  Lena yelped and momentarily distracted by change of position.  “Damn, that’s hot.”

“By the way.  Jay is my boss, not you.”  Kara said and walked them toward the bedroom.  “And I’m in charge tonight.”  This was the last sentence before she closed the bedroom door with her hip.

Chapter Text

The door to the bedroom was shut with a deafening click.  Lena wrapped around her like a koala.  Arms on her neck and legs encircling on her waist.  A comfortable weight, warm human body suit.  Their eyes locked.  Kara stood like a statue beside the door at first.  Then, slowly approaching the bed, she put Lena down with upmost gentleness.  She stayed on top of Lena, levitating her body just that tiny bit to lessen Lena’s burden.  The legs still barricading her waist gave a testing tug.

“Are you…floating?”  Lena bit her low lip from smiling too wide.

“No…?”  Kara blushed.  “Okay, yes.”

“You can come down.”

“I don’t want to crush you.”

“I want to feel you on me.  At least give me some weight.”

Kara loosened the tension in her body and their bodies squished closer.  Lena studied her face like scientist examining experimental specimen.  Pure curiosity.  Zero judgement.  Kara couldn’t help but did the same.  First contact of two species from two different galaxies.

Lena tightened her hold on Kara’s neck and two sets of lips met.  Slow exploration unlike the first two ones.  We’ve kiss three times now!  Kara was lost in a forest called Lena Luthor.  She didn’t mind staying forever.  Let the friendly understanding green leaves scratching her back.  Like what Lena was doing with her fingers now.  Kara relocated her lips toward south.  Light kisses mapping alabaster skin that haunted her since she first saw Lena in that movie.  Every mole stationed there was like a stop for her train of nibble.  Muscle contractions where she went.  A proof that she was there.  Then, her hearing finally picked up a moan, and another.  She lifted her head a bit to a beautiful sight.  Lena tilting her head back, exposing the expanse of her neck, eyes closed, mouth open.  She sensed the torture ceased, Lena slowly opened her eyes.  Pupils blown wide, so dark with lust.  Kara dove in and kissed that red lips earnest.  She continued her journey to lower region where she once used as a pillow.  Kissing the very top of Lena’s breasts and earning those pretty sound again.  Lena suddenly got up, taking Kara with her.  Before she could voiced her concern, she shut her mouth audibly and watched Lena took off her cardigan then the low neckline shirt.  A sinful black lacy bra pushed Lena’s bosoms to form a ridiculous cleavage.  The bra had exquisite design and some places were see-through.  Kara swallowed visibly and Lena looked smug.

“You can touch.”  Lena arced her left brows and glanced down.

“I-I can?”  Kara’s right had already reach out but didn’t make contact.

“Isn’t that this is about?”

“About?”

“Making me scream your name all night.”  Lena’s voice was husky and low before lying her body down.

“Rao.”  Kara exhaled.  “I…I don’t know.  Yes.  Maybe.”

“Oh darling, definitely a yes.”  Lena guided her outreached hand on the left boob.  Kara gasped sharply.  She didn’t move at first until Lena’s hand covering hers gave it an experimental squeeze.  Another gasp then a total stop of breathing.  “Kara, honey.  Please breathe.  I know you have inhuman ability but you still need oxygen.”

Kara took several needed breaths.  “Y-Yeah.  It’s just…I’ve never touched boobs before.”

“Sure you did.  You have a set on your own.”  Lena nodded to Kara’s chest with thirst.

“Not others.”

“Have you…”  Lena cleared throat, seeming to wake up from her desire-flooding mind.  “Kara, I ask this without ill-intent or judgement, have you had sexual experiences before?”

Kara cowered into herself.  “…No.  Is it bad?”

“No, it is not.”  Lena spoke every word with clarity.  “I just find it hard to believe that someone as beautiful as you never got the invitation.  You should have people lining up for you.”

“I told you that there were few exchange of numbers.  Some of them disappeared when they found out that I wasn’t interested in…physical stuff.  I had gone to college parties.  People had asked but they were too drunk and I was too sober.  I can’t get drunk.”

“You can’t get drunk!?”  Lena’s eye widened.

“Fast metabolism.  Same reason for my appetite.”

“Good to know.”

“And…um…I can hurt them.”

“Superstrength?”

“Yes.  I can’t control it when I…uh…when I’m excited.”  Kara finished in whisper, face burning up.

“You are afraid of hurting people because you might injure them during orgasm.”

“Yes.” Kara wheezed.

“Have you touched yourself?”

“What?!”  Her face was in flames now.

“You know, masturbation, vibrator, dildo…”  Lena listed them like grocery shopping list.

“NO!”  Kara squealed.

“So, you’re a virgin.”

Although Lena stated it like a fact without judgmental tone, Kara couldn’t help feeling very naked even she was still fully clothed.  “Yes.”  She bent down and hid her face in the crook of Lena’s neck.  This was where she would be living from now on, people should just let her be.

“Kara, look at me.”  Lena palmed each side of her cheeks.  “Please, Kara.  Look at me, would you?”  Kara reluctantly left her haven.  “Yes, hi there.  I’m not judging you.  I’m just collecting the facts then making the most sensible decision.  I am so going to have sex with you right now.  But if you have any doubt at any moment, ANY MOMENT.”  Lena said it looking dead into her eyes.  “You let me know and we can stop or change the pace or do whatever you want, okay?”  When Kara didn’t answer.  “Okay?”

“Okay.”  Kara added.  “What if I’m so bad at this?”

“Sex is a mutual learning process, new person comes with new knowledge.  To find what they like and dislike.  I can tell you that I’m completely turned on by your every movement.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and I’m using all my willpower to stay sober and give you a sex-ed talk.”

Kara laughed and relaxed.  “Same goes for you, let me know if I’m hurting you.”

“I promise.”

With that, Kara picked up where she left off.  Her right hand never left Lena’s left boob because Lena didn’t allow her by securing it with left hand.  Kara gave it a squeeze and gave another and another and another when hearing Lena’s delicious moans.  She leant in to kiss the right one.  It was so soft, different softness from Lena’s lips.  It was warmer and smell good.  Lena smelled good.  Her left forefinger carefully pulled the garment on Lena’s right breast down to reveal the very top of areola, she licked and Lena’s breath hitched, so she tugged the bra low enough to let the whole right nipple out.  It was the perfect combination of brown and pink.  Kara couldn’t wait any longer, she took the whole nipple into her mouth.  She sucked and licked and when her teeth grazed slightly, Lena groaned so she added biting into the party.  Her body operated on instinct.  Releasing it with a pop, Lena’s right nipple stood tall and glistening with Kara’s effort.  She then switched places, squeezing the right one and gave the left nipple same treatment.  Lena kept squirming under her, whining and writhing.  She was loving every second of it.

“Kara, I think it’s time to venture to other areas, don’t you think?”  Lena shuddered at one particular strong suction.

“Hmm?”  Kara lifted her head.  “Where?”

Lena sat up again to remove her bra.  “Would you do the honor?”  She wiggled her hips, thumbs digging inside the top of her jeans.

“Oh!”  Kara’s shaking hands came to help.  Together, they pulled the jeans down.  Lena was wearing a matching black lacy panties.  “Wow.”  Kara could only gape.

“I’m down to one.  I think you’re wearing too much.”

Kara supersped, leaving her in only plain baby blue bra and boyshorts.  She looked between her and Lena.  “I-I…didn’t think I would be naked in front of you.”

“It’s perfect.  And next time…”  Lena tugged her close by the underside of her bra.  “I want to undress you myself.  I’ll let you pass this time because I’m too horny to do so.”  Then, there were bossy lips covering hers.  Kara could do nothing but responded.  Lena’s hands were already on her abs, caressing and fondling.  “You have abs.  Fuck, I love your high metabolism.”  Lena repositioned them so Kara was lying on her back now.  The hot lips never left her skin, it was everywhere and still not enough.  She could see why Lena was a moaning mess now.  Then, her bra and boyshorts were gone the next second.  She let Lena part her legs wider.  Lena slotted herself perfectly close to Kara.  Her breasts were getting the same torture and she was reduced to whimpering muddle.  Tongue wetting her ab, the tip of it outlining her chiseled muscle.  The devil’s mouth got close to her damp center, kissing her pubic hair.  That was what snapped her out of lusty haze.

“Wait, wait, wait.”  Her hands reached toward Lena who straightened her back up without hesitation.

“What’s wrong?  Am I making you uncomfortable?  Is it too fast?”  She had to give Lena credit, with lips shining with saliva and looking so ready to fuck, Lena’s foggy eyes still changed half back to their original sober green.

“C-Can I do you first?”  Kara blushed at her wording.  “You can tell me what to do.  I just…I’m not sure that…I’m ready.”

“Of course.”  Lena climbed up to lie on her back and waited.

Kara mounted on top of Lena.  Hoisting her body up on her elbows.  She gave Lena a sweet kiss.  “Tell me what you like.”  Lena nodded.  She took Lena’s panties off at painstaking speed.  Enjoying the skin revealing bit by bit.  Lena shaved her pubes in clean triangle, ample thighs spreading wide, her folds were luring pink and tempting drench.  “Can I taste it?  Is it weird?”

“No, it’s called blowjob.”  Lena parted her lower lips with her right hand.

“Rao help me.”  Kara dropped herself in front of Lena.  She could smell it clearer now.  Lena’s smell, not the body wash or skin care, pure Lena.  The musk made her head spin.  She gave a tiny lick where Lena hand held open.  It was a tang taste which she couldn’t decide she liked it or not but it was addicting.  Lena cursed and used the same hand to pull her close.  She complied and started kissing Lena’s soaking cunt.  Documenting different reactions from different assault.  Moaning when licking, louder when licking broadly.  Whimpering when kissing as if Lena enjoyed Kara’s attention.  The tip of her tongue inserting slightly in Lena’s entrance caused shouts of crude expletives.  And her favorite, sucking on Lena’s bundle of nerve to reduce Lena into nonsense chaos.  She was glad that she payed attention in human biology back in school.  Thank Rao, they had similar structure with Kryptonians.

“Yes, yes, Kara, right there.  Fuck, fuck, fuck!”  Lena’s both hands grabbed on Kara’s head, rubbing her face to add more friction.  Kara just let her.  “I’m gonna cum.  Don’t you fucking dare stop.”  Kara wouldn’t leave if the world was ending.  Then, the world stopped when Lena screamed out her pleasure with a breathy Kara and fell off the cliff.  She used Kara’s face to ride out the last trace of her orgasm.  Kara happily ate her way through it.  When Lena finally came back to reality, she laughed.  “God, are you sure you’re a virgin?  That was so fucking good.”

“I think you’re biased and being nice again.”  Kara raised her hand to adjust her glasses and found nothing on her face but didn’t remember where she lost them.

“It’s here.  I took them off along with your underwear.”  Lena smirked even when she was in postcoital state, pointing at the nightstand.

Kara climbed up, kissing Lena and earning another fit of whining.  “You taste good, right?”  Lena hit playfully on her arm and whispered an Ouch.  “Don’t do that.  It only hurts you more than me.”  Kara kissed her hurting palm.  “Was it really good?”

“Did you not hear a scream?  That was me in case you didn’t notice.”  Lena watched her giggle.  “Yes, it was good.  You have a promising future in sexual intercourse.”  The formal use of term made Kara laugh hard.  “Now, more people will line up for you.”

“I don’t want anybody else.”  Kara’s laugh changed into a beaming smile.  She flopped down beside Lena who cuddled up with her instantly.  “Have you…I mean of course you have.  Why wouldn’t you?”

“Ask.”

“Exactly how experienced are you?”

“Want me to show you?”

Chapter Text

“Want me to show you?”

Kara froze, unsure what to say.  “Lena, I…”

“I heard what you said.  But maybe I can come up with something so I’m not the only one enjoying here.”

“I enjoy, too!”

“I know, darling, I can see it on your face.  Give me a chance to practice for future references?”

“There will be more?”  Kara asked in awe.

“One hundred percent.  And I’m not done for the night.  I expect you give me at least two more orgasms.”

“I can do that?”  Kara was a kid discovering a new world.

“I have no doubt.”  Lena used her right elbow to hover on top of Kara.  “So, will you give me a chance?”

Kara played with Lena’s hair.  Rao, her hair is soft, too!  When did she loose her bun?  She dared to look up at Lena.  There were only a pair of patient and sincere emerald orbs waiting.  “Okay.  But you have to tell me when I’m hurting you.”

“Yes, I promise.”

Lena straddled her, naked with her long dark hair down on her shoulders.  Her breasts round and pliable.  Nipples still stood up excitingly.  Kara felt like she was a prey studied by her predator.  Lena looked like she was about to eat.  Long fingers spread on her abandon, nails raking up and down.  A prey being played by its predator before being consumed.  Kara swallowed at the sight.  Lena lowered herself down like a snake.  Tongue sticking out before it reached its destination.  A lascivious act of seduction.  The first touch of Lena was too much that Kara arced her back.  She backed down the next second to check if she hurt Lena.  Lena didn’t give her much time to react before her mouth worked magic on her belly.  Lena’s jaw moved up and down, devouring Kara’s flesh.  She wished that Lena could leave as many love bites as possible.  She didn’t get the chance to finish her thought, Lena moved her way down to her pubic hair.  Again.  This time, Kara didn’t hide.  Lena kissed sweetly on her soft blonde curls.

“I should shave it sometimes.”  Kara didn’t know that she could still form a sentence.

“Only if you want to.  And I can help.”  Lena winked and resumed her action.  Gently nudging her legs apart, Lena peppered little kisses all around her core.  “I’m going to use my mouth only.  Just like the way you did for me.”  Kara nodded.  Then, warmth engulfed her clit.  Kara immediately felt overwhelmed, stuck between ecstasy and panic.  She tried not to move her thighs because they were desperately wanting to close.  Her whole body taut with tension.  A bow ready to shoot that deadly arrow.

“Lena, I…I…it’s too much.”

Lena stopped all together.  “Tell me what is too much?”

“Feels too good…I can crush your head with my thighs.”  Kara relaxed but only a little.  Her bent knees were now straightening out.

“Okay.”  Lena thought for several moments.  “How about on your hands and knees?”

Kara blushed at the image.  “Oh!  Um…let’s try.”

She turned around, hid her face in the pillow but kept her rear up by her knees.  “Is this okay?”

“Perfect.”  Lena gave her a pat on her asscheek.

“LENA!”  Kara whined.

“Ready?”

“Yes.”  She sounded breathlessly lustful.

Lena’s palm covered her core completely.  Kara sighed at the feeling.  “Is this okay?  I won’t penetrate you.”

“Y-Yes.”

The sinful hand started to massage Kara.  Fingers occasionally slotted in her folds.  Light and heavy.  Back and forth.  Kara lost in the wave of bliss.  The loving fingers inched forward and bumped into her clit.  Pleasure hit her like tsunami.  Alarm rang.  Her fear of hurting Lena was back.  Only this time, she found out that it was harder for her to move her lower body in this position.  She had less range of movement.  Kara closed her eyes, determined to keep her knees apart and give more access to Lena.  Concentrating on Lena’s pleasing hand and let Lena take the reins.

“That’s it, my darling.  You’re doing so well.”

“Fuck…”

If she thought Lena taking her from behind was hot, that was because she didn’t hear Lena sex voice while she was taken from behind.

“Hmm…feeling vulgar, aren’t we?”  Lena’s voice suddenly was so close, right beside Kara’s left ear.  “Do you like that?  How about this?”  Lena changed to different pattern and Kara was thrown into endless joy.  “And this?”  Lena’s hand seemed to be all over, her bundle of nerve, her folds, her both entrances, Rao!  Never intrusion, only dedicating strokes.  “Are you near?”

The question sent another shock wave to her core.  Adding with the incessant rubs, she could barely spoke.  “…It’s…I…think I…getting close…”

“Good to know.”  Lena increased her administration.  “Come for me, Kara.  Could you do that for me?”  Innocent voice asked a lewd question.  Deadly combination.

Kara’s began to ride on Lena’s hand unconsciously.  “Y-Yes…hmmf…”  Her hips rolled to match Lena’s rhythm.

“Let go, Kara.  I’m right here.”

And Kara let go.  She shouted into the pillow.  Hands grabbing the bed sheet hard.  She sort of blacked out, flung into a different kind of darkness.  Unlike Phantom Zone, this one had stars on them.  She didn’t know how much time had gone.  Time was irrelevant when you were high on desire.  When she came to, she was lying on her stomach like a star fish.  Turning her head to the left and Lena was waiting directly in front of her line of sight.

“Hi, you’re back.”

“How long was I out?”  Kara pulled her hands from beneath the pillow.  “Uh-oh, I need to buy new sheets and pillow cases.  Maybe the mattress?”  She winced at the clear ten fingers holes on Jay’s properties.  Fabric tore.  Few feathers scattering around her head.

Lena laughed out loud.  “Don’t worry, I’ll pay for them.  As for your question, not long, but long enough for me to feel very good about myself.”

Kara hid her face again in now destroyed pillow.  “That was very good.  The best.”

“Thank you.  I think so, too.”  Kara felt her cheeks getting warmer.

“You’re really…”  Kara’s next word left a bad taste in her mouth.  “…experienced.”

Lena wiggled toward her.  “Should I take that as a compliment?”

“Yes.”

“But why do you sound like you’re jealous?”

“I’m not!”  Kara turned 180 degrees to lie on her back.

“You can ask, you know?  This is how we communicate.  One asks questions, the other tries to answer as honestly as possible.”

“Yeah…you even agreed with my not-telling-because-I-don’t-want-to-lie.”  Kara stared at the ceiling.  Lena didn’t make a sound.  “Did…you have a lot of partners?  Oh man, please tell me you’re single now!”  Her head snapped to Lena’s direction.

Lena’s smile grew big gradually.  “Of course, I’m single.  I don’t cheat if I’m in something serious.  As for the first one…”  Lena sucked her lower lip in.  “Yes, I have my fair share of sex partners.”

“You’re a beautiful woman.  Anybody with eyes wouldn’t have the ability to say no to you.”

“You didn’t accept my advance at first.  And still didn’t until you carried both of us here.”

“I thought you were just being…well, you.  So, you were really…perusing me?”

“I must’ve done something wrong if you only realized now.”  Lena looked angry but toward herself.

“You didn’t.  I’m just…not made for this.”  Kara gazed at her and Lena found a comfortable position, ready to listen.  “On Krypton, relationships were a lot different from Earth and sex was sort of…taboo.  We used Birthing Matrix to genetically engineer embryos.  To determine the best combination between two houses.  To maximize our joined forces.  To benefit our society.  Any decision was made out of reason.  I’m from House of El.  House of El was a very prestigious house.  My father, Zor-El, was in Scientist Guild and my mother, Alura, was a Judicator.  My mother was already on her way to High Council back then and my father was one of most respected scientists.  You can see why they were matched.  I was born from Matrix, too.  And Kal-El…he was the first naturally conceived child for thousands of years.  My uncle and aunt, some would say they were very ahead of their times even in a rather advanced civilization.”  Kara giggled at her own joke.

After a while.  “Did you…have a Matrix partner?”  Lena’s voice was unsure unlike her previous self.  A jarring contrast.

“No.”  Kara exhaled.  “No, I didn’t have a mate.  I was too young.”

“Would it sound bad that I’m relieved that you didn’t?”

“Why?”

“Because I’m not sure that you would’ve picked me.”  Kara was surprised to hear that.  Stunned to speechless, Lena hurriedly continued, masking her embarrassment by talking.  “My first time happened when I was in boarding school.  She was dangerous from head to toe.  It was just sex to her but not to me.  It didn’t end well.  So, I started to sleep around to release some pressure from school.  Both men and women.  Jack was…my first serious relationship.  We’re family friends so it was a logical choice.  I did it to get Lillian out of my back.  She didn’t like me being with girls.  Very behind her time.”  Lena laughed halfheartedly.  “But my inclination, as she likes to put it, is always women.  I didn’t want to hurt Jack anymore and at the same time my brother went insane.  I broke up with him.  Left my family.  I’ve been modeling for some friends and with the Luthor name, it wasn’t hard to find small parts here and there.  Being an actor comes with both benefits and drawbacks, one of the good things is that you’re never short of girls.  People just come at you in waves.  I began to sleep around again.  Tabloids found out about it and I had to pay a lot of money to make it go away.  I knew I had to stop.  That’s when Ollie came along.  And…the rest is history.”

Kara considered Lena’s words.  “We didn’t have this kind of labels.  Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual.  Matrix generated results regardless of the sex of both parties.  I guess I’m pansexual by Earth standard?”

“That means my competition is all over the world.”

“There’s no competition.”  Murmuring, Kara’s face was heating up again.  “But I am attracted to both men and women and aliens.  I like people for who they are.”

“I’ll make sure to up my game.”

“Just don’t sleep around.  Fidelity was a big deal on Krypton, too.”

“Exactly how?”

“I’ll tell you later.”

“Exactly how late?”

“I remembered that you mentioned something about two more orgasms?”

Lena pulled Kara on top of her own body.  “I’ll let you get away this time.”

Chapter Text

“Yes, just like that.”  Lena was panting, droplets of her effort rolling down, passing through valley of her bouncing breasts.  Kara admired for as long as she could endure then grabbed the one into her palm.  Squeezing a little, thumbing the nipple.  It earned her a fit of cursed words.  She looked down to the most enchanting sight.  Two of her fingers of her right hand disappearing in Lena’s pink, almost red, pussy.  Oh Rao, pussy, I’ve never said that before.  “Said it again.”  Did I say it out loud?  “Yes.”  Lena opened up her eyes to pin Kara on the spot.  Kara had no choice but to…

“Pussy.”  Kara tested the word on her mouth again.  “I like your pussy.”

“Fuck.  We’re gonna work on your dirty talk.  Because I think it’s my new kink.  Hearing Kara Zor-El saying dirty words.”

“I like you saying my name.  My real one.”  Kara said with mist in her eyes.

Lena detected her emotional change immediately.  “I can say it as many time as you want.  Kara Zor-El.”  With that, Lena doubled her speed on her fingers.  Kara shifted her left hand to Lena’s waist, helping her move.  Her right thumb rubbing on Lena’s clit skillfully, one of techniques she learned from Lena.  “More.”  By now, she could easily know what Lena’s instructions were.  Lena’s mourn was so pornographic when a third finger inserted.  Her cheeks rosy which spread to her ears, neck and chest.  Kara sat up and Lena yelped in surprise, two pale arms leaping to broad shoulders automatically.  The hand on Lena’s waist pulling the woman in her arm closer.  Mouth latching on that flaming neck, sucking without leaving a mark, licking to add more fuel into the fire.  This position seemed to allow her to thrust deeper, entering Lena in different angle.  Breaths becoming irregular, soft mewling was melody to her ears.  “I’m close.”  Lena said right before she cried out and reached her peak.

“I’ve got you, Lena.”  Kara said into that now crimson left ear.  “I’m right here.”

Lena came and came, giving herself to Kara until there was nothing left.  Juice coating Kara’s whole palm.  Thumb still on the clit, fingers coaxing another orgasm from the precious human in her arm.  “Hmm…Kara…I…too sensitive.”  Lena whined.  Kara lay back down, taking Lena with her.  Lena’s chest heaved up and down with Kara’s.  Her right hand still buried in Lena.  She didn’t want to move.  Warm, hot, soft, squashy, moist.  But she also wanted to have a taste, a new flavor she began to like a little it too much.  She extracted her fingers with upmost carefulness.  Lena whimpered at the lost and turned into full groan upon seeing Kara shoving them into mouth.  “Fuck, that’s hot.”  Kara cleaned her digits like she was eating the most delicious ice cream cone in the world.  “I’m so turned on right now but I don’t think I can last another around.”  Lena lifted her head from Kara’s chest and kissed her filthily.  “I taste good in your mouth.”  Kara whined pathetically with her lips squishing against Lena’s.  “You taste fucking great by the way.”

“What?”  Kara’s crinkle made it known.

“I did the same when you blacked out.”  Lena relaxed herself on Kara, leg bent trapped Kara’s hips in between.  “You taste different.  I’ve never tasted on anyone before.  I can’t describe it.  Like…”

“Like alien.”  Kara threw her head on the pillow, gazing at the ceiling.  Her hand unconsciously searched for Lena’s.

“I was going for unique or one of a kind.”  Lena rested her chin on Kara’s sternum.  “I don’t mind, you know.  I don’t share the same view with my family.  And you are a lot like human.  At least there was no tentacle or…”

“Or…?”

“Extra appendage.  But I would’ve enjoyed it as much.”

Kara widened her eyes at the confession.  “Are you telling me that you wouldn’t mind if I had a-a…uh…a…”

“You can say penis.  I know you know that word.”  Lena’s fingers danced on her right shoulder.  “But there’s always strap-on so I won’t worry too much.”

“S-S-Strap-on!?”

“Oh my innocent child, you have much to learn.”

“I’m not so innocent anymore.  You defile me.”  Lena showed her white teeth with her pretty laugh, cute canines on full display.  Canine!  Ollie!  “Crap, Ollie.  I totally forgot about him.”  Kara was about to get up to check her loyal friend.

Lena didn’t budge from where she was.  “Relax.  It’s…three in the morning.  He’s asleep.  You’re with me.  He knows we’re safe.  But he probably heard everything.”

“Rao.”  Her right hand went to cover her face, Lena’s smell lingered.  “We traumatized him.  What should we do?”

“He’s no stranger to this.  I slept around, remember?  I’m the one who traumatize him.”  Lena uncovered Kara’s face.  “Besides, I think he knows you’re the best I’ve ever met.”  She turned her right hand to grab Lena’s delicate one and started to trace the blueish green veins on those pale skin.

“I feel the same way about you.  I think I’m falling.”  Eyes widened and fingers faltered at her own revelation.  “Is it too fast?  Please don’t run away.”

“…I’m not going to run.  Last I did that, falling I mean, I literally fell hard and hurt myself along the way.  But I think maybe this time, you’ll be there to catch me.”  Lena finished with a deep kiss.  They were both new to this.  Scared, uncertain, in absolute panic mode.  Maybe this would end badly which Kara hoped would never be the case.  Maybe they would keep fighting along the way.  It would definitely be hard but with Lena by her side, she could be brave.  Not the weakest when it came to Lena.

“I’m terrified.  I won’t lie about it.  I will be there to catch both of us.  Superstrength, right?”

“My hero.”  Lena felt up her bicep.

“I’ve noticed that you have quite a lot of tattoos.”  Kara needed the conversation to change to something lighter.

“You like the one on my lower back, don’t you?”  Lena pointed out.  “I saw you checking when you fucked my from behind.”

She swallowed hard at Lena’s bluntness.  “It’s very distracting when someone is…doing something not very pure and the word Purity is staring right back at you.”

“Hmm…so you like naughty girl?”

“Lena…”

“What?”

“W-What does it mean?”  Kara tried to block Lena’s teasing.

“Purity.”

“Care to elucidate?”

“I like your big word.”  Lena packed up her sultry self and showed Kara a more vulnerable version of herself.  ”My birth mother’s name was Katherine Kieran.  Katherine means pure, I modified a bit.”

“I like the meaning.”

“And naughty girl.”  Teasing back on track.

“I like you being sentimental.”  She hugged Lena closer.  Lena hummed and burrow further into Kara.  

“You really like my veins.”

“What?”

“You’ve been doing that…”  Lena tilted her chin toward Kara’s movement on her hand.  “…for a while.”

“Oh!  Sorry.”

“Don’t be.  It’s soothing.  Any particular reason of doing that?”

“The veins look blue on the outside which is somehow a go-to color for an alien blood in many human films and shows.  But in reality, it’s actually the red blood makes the vein look like that.  Red blood is considered human.  My blood is red.  I like to think that under those alien appearances, we are all the same.  It’s an…interpretation calms me when I feel extra different.  But if someone drew my blood and studied, they would discover that I’m a Kryptonian in no time.  Our blood compositions are very different and…”

Lena shushed her by putting a forefinger on her lips.  “I understand what you’re saying.  It’s very sweet and sad.  I like it either way.  We all look the same in the dark.”

“Y-Yeah.”  She let out a shaky sigh.  “Why aren’t you tired?  I’m affected by yellow sun, I don’t have to sleep much.  But you’re human, you should rest.”

“I don’t want this night to end.  My brain is running ten thousand miles per second.  Tell me more about yourself.”

“You’re sure?  It could be boring.”

“Nothing about you is boring.  And now, everything is out in the open.  Me being a Luthor, you being a Kryptonian.  I want to know more.  But only if you want to.  I’ll listen even if it’s your biggest, darkest secret.”  Lena elbowed herself up to make a point.

Kara’s mind immediately went to that one place.  Lena’s left palm resting on her waist was a calming reminder of where she was.  Their legs were now entangled and Lena was lying half on top of her.  She didn’t lost in her thought this time.  She spoke it.  “Remember the place I mentioned where I was trapped for more than two decades?”

“Phantom Zone?”  Lena always paid attention.

“Yes.  Recently, I’ve been having nightmares more than ever.  Stress.  Anxiety.  Many things can cause that.  Earthlings have a name for it, PTSD.”  She held Lena.  There was no space left between them.  “I can’t exactly go to therapist about my problem.  It could endanger people I love and also…”  Swallowing.  “It’s too big.  The magnitude is nothing regular people can fathom.  And I had more urgent matters than healing when I arrived.  So, I guess that I never actually heal?  Or do something about it.  When I’m under pressure of any kind, the feeling of no where to go, being stuck with darkness, like I was back in Phantom Zone, I can’t breathe.  Truth is, I didn’t sleep all the way through 24 years.  I actually woke up a few times and just cried when there was nothing but the sound of my breathing.  I cried and cried until the pod put me back to sleep again.”  Kara let out a shaky sigh.  “I’ve never told this to anyone before.  Not even Alex.  The truth part.”  She didn’t know what she was trying to clarify but desperately hoped that Lena would understand.

Lena didn’t respond for a very long time.  This is it.  This is where Lena discovers that there’s too much to bear, I’m too much to bear.  Kara just tightened her hold, sending prayers to Rao to let her have Lena for just one more second before her inevitable departure.

Nothing happened and Lena didn’t leave.  Lena increased her grasp on Kara’s waist.  “I’m here, Kara.”  How could somebody this beautiful understand her at cellular level in such short period of time?  How could she be so lucky?  Maybe fate finally decided that she had had enough but Kara wouldn’t let her guard down that fast.  “Promise me that you’ll call when you’re having trouble sleeping or your mind’s going into there again.  Just let me know.  I’ll come to you wherever and whenever that might be.”

Kara wailed.  She grieved for her lost of everything.  But for the first time, her tears were part of joy.  She cried for her newfound life and the people in it.  She thanked Rao for letting her find Lena who accepted her wholeheartedly.  Rao didn’t stay silent.  He granted the last daughter of Krypton a chance to start to heal.  To find a new home.

Chapter Text

She felt a touch.  Maybe touches.  Feather-like…kisses?  And fingers?  Yes, definitely fingers.  Around her most sensitive body parts.  Which was everywhere, actually.  Kryptonian biology made her hypersensitive to almost everything.  The territory that she didn’t unearth before was being violated?  No, that was a too strong word.  More like aroused.  Yes, aroused.  She was very sure of that.  It felt good.  So good.

She moaned and she was answered.  “Good morning, sunshine.”  She lazily amplified her range of movement.  Sheets, blanket, warmth.  Not just warmth of her own body, but a heat from someone else.  “Umm…”  Voice of honeydew encouraged her.  She explored more blindly.  A safe weight pinning her but not suffocating her.  Wandering hands seemed too much but also not enough.  Eyes blinked open, unfocused.  Black and white, upturn of mouth, saying something.  “…Are you gonna wake up to me?”  For you, YES!  A melodic laugh came and went, taking her smile along with it.  She was being printed with soft stamp?  “No stamp.  Lips.”  That makes more sense.  The lips were in multiple places at one time.  Magic lips.  “Thanks, darling.  But it’s just regular lips I’m afraid.”

“Lena?”  The affectionate nickname finally dragged her back to reality.

“Finally, my sleeping beauty.”

Kara woke up to herself turning sideway to watch the sun already hung on the sky.  “I overslept.  I always wake up with the sun.”

“Is it bad?”  Lena continued her kisses.

“No.”  Kara looked over her left shoulder.  “It’s actually good.”

“Good.”  Lena left a particular hard kiss on the back of her neck with a squeeze on her left asscheek.  Her back was peppered with loving marks again.  Just touches of lips, deeper ones, tongues and then bites.  Lena biting her ass like she was eating something delicious.  Hand kneading them the same way people doing with dough.  “I love your ass.  So firm and perky, looking very good in tight pants or jeans.”  Kara hid her face in the pillow.  Hands hiding underneath said pillow, palms up to cup her red face, to muffle her moan.  Kara let Lena have her way with her.  She felt very cared for.

“Lena…”  She couldn’t conceal her plead anymore.

“Kara.”  She huffed annoyedly at Lena’s teasing tone.  One of downside of waking up late was that her stomach began to protest at perfect timing.  Loudly.  “Hmm…I guess we’ll have to save the dessert for later.”

“LENA!”  Another growl from her insistent belly.

“Let me make breakfast for my diligent knight who satiated me throughout the night.”  Lena sounded pleased with her joke.

“LENA~”  Her whining drowned out her appetite.  Lena got up laughing, completely naked.  Snowflake skin full on display.  Even her stomach seemed to get the message to shut up.  Hips swayed attractively.  Choosing Kara’s baggy t-shirt and that dangerous lacy black panties.  Lena walked out of the bedroom.  Kara could only stand up, dress up and follow Lena like a lost puppy.

Another puppy ran toward her at shooting-star speed.  [Ollie, I missed you, too.  Sorry I have you worry.  I’ll make it up to you.]  She registered her native language flew out without her consent but a panicking second later, realizing that there was nothing to hide between she and Lena.  Well, besides her everlasting blush.  The alien and the dog played while making their way to the human.

“Could you start the coffee?”  Ingredients scattered around her, Lena already in the middle of chopping.

“Sure.”  Kara took the expensive pre-ground coffee, pouring reasonable proportion after reading the instruction.  “This is actually my first time using Jay’s coffee machine.”

“Yeah?  Why is that?”

“I didn’t touch much of Jay’s things.  Thought I’d just use new ones I bought.  I’m living in somebody else’s property.  Don’t want to make a mess.”

“I think you’re doing a decent job keeping this place rather neat.”  Lena started with eggs.  “What do you like in your omelet?”

“I’ll eat whatever you have in mind.  Not picky.”  Lena nodded and dove back to her chores.  Soon enough, a simple and aromatic breakfast was ready.  “Please, dig in.  My hungry alien.”

Kara smiled bashfully, secretly loving this new nickname.  Moaning.  “Wow, yummy as usual.”

“Yummy indeed.”  She glanced up to Lena drinking coffee with sultry smile.  Eyes purposefully training on her body.

She choked on her food right on time just like her belly did previously.  “You should eat, too.  By the way, what should we get Ollie?”

“He’s already eating it.”

Ollie was ravishing something from his bowl happily.  “Aww!  He eats like me.”

“Only with food I hope.”  Lena piped in.

It took a moment but she got the implication from Lena’s tone.  “LENA!”  Whispering.  “Don’t let him hear that!”

“I thought that we’ve already established that he heard everything?”  Lena rolled her eyes.

“That doesn’t mean that we should speak freely in front of him!”

“I recalled you spoke very crudely in front of me.”  Lena murmured into her mug.

“Lena.”

“Fine, I’ll play nice.”  Lena got her warning.

Ollie finished his breakfast and came to give his puppy-dog eyes to Kara.  In hope to have some treat from her plate.  “Ollie, these aren’t good for you.  We’ll take you to walk and then you can have that treat.  How does that sound?”

“It sounds that he’s cockblocking me.”

“LENA!  Really?”  Kara covered Ollie’s ears like last night wasn’t enough to traumatize him.

They did take Ollie for a walk.  Lena didn’t let Kara go that easily by pulling her into shower and doing sinful things in there until Kara was red from head to toe.  Three of them left the apartment early because they really needed to buy replacements for a lot of things.  First, Ollie’s walk, then, shopping.

“We should always do it in my place so you can destroy many things and not worry about them.”

“That is not helping, Lena.”  Kara grabbed some pillowcases and took a look between them to find the right one.  “They’re still your things and we still need to replace them if I break them.”

“I don’t mind.  I like you lose yourself.  Hot.”  Lena sidled up to Kara and whispered the last word into Kara’s ear.  Chuckled when seeing that ear turned pink.

“It’s not a longterm solution.”

Lena smiled.  Kara noticed what she said, starting to backtrack but was cut off.  “I’ll think of something.  Scientific solution.”

“Huh?”

Lena shook her head and pulled her to another aisle.  They finished shopping and bought more food.  Ollie was waiting for them in a pet-sitter area with other dogs.  Kara showered Ollie her love and then some on other dogs.  Ollie kept squeezing his muzzle when Kara petted others.  Especially, a Golden Retriever.

“He’s jealous.”  Lena said it when loading things to her car.

“I still love you, Ollie.”  Kara swore to her canine friend.  He just huffed his dissatisfaction.

“Good luck with that.”  Lena smirked and got behind the wheel.

“What should I do?”  Kara came to sat in the passenger side after nudging a very displeased Ollie into backseat.

“I don’t know, Miss Fidelity.”

“I’m not cheating!  Don’t tell me that this hasn’t happened to you before.”  Kara crossed her arms defensively.

“An owner never shares her secrets.”  Lena pulled the car out of the parking lot.

“That’s not how that sentence works!”  All she got was laughter and angry puff from behind.

Lena told her to pack her belongings and they were back to Lena’s place.  But not after they switched all the damage and made sure everything was fine and clean.  Lena made them another delicious dinner while Kara gave Ollie his two treats in order to right her wrong.  They were buddies again after the first treat and friends forever after the second.  Lena smiled softly, occasionally glancing up from cutting board.  They ate in front of the TV because Kara wanted to watch Home Alone.

“We should watch your Christmas movie together sometime.”

“Absolutely not.”

“You can share some tidbits with me.  I’d like to hear what you encountered when you were working.”

“You want to listen to me complaining about work?”  Lena stared at her with wide eyes.

“I want to know everything about you, too.  Work included.”  Kara adjusted her glasses.  “I want to do things that…couples do.  I know-I know that we…haven’t determined what this is.  But we can still try to do it like…friends?”  She backpedaled lamely.

“You want to be couple with me?”  Lena’s eyes were as triple as her normal ones.

“Yes.  If you’d have me.”  This was the only determinable thing she could decide.

“I’ll have you anytime anywhere.”  Lena blurted out and it was Kara’s time to widen her eyes.  Lena put down her plate.  “I mean…I…”  Sighing.  “It’ll be hard and it has to be done secretly.  Even if you weren’t alien, I would’ve suggested the same thing.  And you’re Kryptonian, this WILL BE a sure thing.  No other alternatives.”  Lena talked animatedly with her hands.

“Okay.”  She was mesmerized with Lena movement.

“Okay?”

“Yeah.  Okay.”

“Kara, shouldn’t you think about it more?  Give it some time.  Sleep on it…”

“I don’t need time to decide.  This is the surest thing I’ve ever had.  I don’t feeling like floating in space.  In zero gravity.  I feel grounded.  By you.”  Kara also put down her food and grabbed Lena’s hands.  She kissed every fingertips to make her point.  Lena looked like she was on the verge to cry.  “So, yes.  I’ll do this in secret if it’s what it takes.  I can be sneaky.  I’ve been sneaky for half of my life.  I want to court you properly, Lena Luthor.”  Tears finally broke out of Lena’s misty eyes.  Kara pulled the woman into her arms and wrapped around her whole body.

“I like you said ‘court’.  So formal.”  Lena cried out those words.

“That’s what you take from my speech?”  Kara shuddered out her laugh, feeling equally emotional.

“Can you say more formal words?  I think your royal upbringing is my new kink.”

“We were not exactly royal but sure, I’ll do anything you want.”

“Anything?”  Lena perked up and straightened her back.

“Later!  I want to finish my dinner and there’s a chocolate pecan pie with my name on it.”

Chapter Text

They started…dating secretly.  Sort of.  They didn’t have much time for just the two of them because Lena resumed working only two days after Christmas.  They were behind schedule, added with short of staff, all of them had to make as much progress as they could before New Year holiday.  Time was running out.  So did everybody’s patience.  Tensions everywhere.  There was always somebody snapping at somebody else all the time.  Kara did her job as perfectly as possible and helped others in her free time.

“God, New Year isn’t that exciting anymore.  It only means more work after that.”  Lena was rubbing her temples.  Kara handed her the Tupperware containing yogurt and berries.  “Thanks, darling.”  This was one of things they agreed to indulge in public eyes.  Lena liked to call people in various affectionate pet names so it wouldn’t raise any questions for her to call Kara that.  Lena seemed to only reserve this one for Kara and in a tone specifically designed for her, too.  Their secret code.

“Hey, Jess.  This is for you.”  Kara passed a box to discreetly, whispering.  “Yogurt with berries.”  Jess didn’t get the chance to answer before being called.  She smiled her thanks and left.

“You’re this great saint around here, do you know that?”  Lena waved with her spoon.  “I think everyone is a little bit in love with you.”

“Wh-What?  That’s not true!”  Kara splattered.

“Helen from the costume, her eyes pop when you show up.  The new intern, Ian, asked for your numbers.  And here comes my worst nightmare.”

Before Lena could finish her sentence, a male voice rang.  “Hey, Kara.  I’ve got that donut you like.”

Mike Matthews, fellow actor, had increasing scenes to play opposite Lena.  A very good-looking guy.  His face was shaved clean the first time they met and a beard was grown to match his character.  Now he looked more matured and different kind of handsome.  Kara didn’t dislike him but Lena didn’t seem to share the same sentiment with her.

“Thanks, Mike.”  Kara picked a pink glazed one and took a bite.  “Strawberry, my favorite.”

“Good to know.”  His eyes fixed on her mouth.  “I was wondering if you would like to come to our New Year’s Eve party?  The gangs will be there.”

“Oh!  Um…I don’t know…I have to check.”

“Maybe we can go together?  Just have some fun.  And maybe grab a bite later.  I know this great restaurant.  I think you’ll like it.”

“I’ll…uh…I’ll think about it.”

Someone called Mike.  “Alright, duty calls.”  He winked and took his leave.

“I’ll think about it?”  Lena was beside her the next second.

“I was just being nice.  I didn’t know how to answer that so I settled on this.”  Kara adjusted her glasses.

Lena sighed.  “He beats me to it.  I was about to ask you that.”

“Really?”  Kara looked hopefully into Lena’s eyes.  “Yes, I’ll go with you.”  She answered without hesitation even though Lena didn’t actually present the question.

Pupils blown, green orbs darkened.  Lena suddenly dragged her out of the building and headed to the trailer.

“Lena, what are you doing?  Your scene is next…”  Her words were cut off by an overbearing pair of lips and her back was slammed onto the door.  Lena kissed her in a very possessive way that Kara had never experienced before.  Pale hands trapped her face in between.  Hip rolled into hers.  Kara lost in the forest again.

When she was released, she didn’t know left from right.  “Then, you’ll be my date to the party.  Only me.”

“…Okay.”  Kara nodded, instinctively leaning forward to capture those smudged lips.  Wait, smudged?  “Crap!  I ruined your make-up!”

“Don’t worry, darling.  I came prepared.”  Lena pulled out a tube from the back pocket of her jeans.  A stolen lipstick from the make-up desk.  She gave Kara a short but very heated French kiss then left the alien panting while she applied some lipstick in front of a mirror.  Looking back to a dazed Kara, freezing on the door.  Lena smiled seductively.  “You’re so gonna make it up to me tonight.”

“I…you have early morning.  We c-can’t…”

“Yes, we can.  As for how?  That’s for you to figure out.”  Lena demanded and fixed Kara’s collar.  Thumbing color from Kara’s lips.  “I look good on you.”  She yanked Kara away from the door and disappeared.

Kara swallowed.  [I’m so in trouble.]  Her phone started to buzz.  She was still reeling on the high when she answered.  “Hello?”

“Kara?  Why do you sound like that?  Did you run or something?”

“Alex!  Yes, I’m just busy on set.”  Kara did call both Alex and Eliza during Christmas when she was not…busy.  She couldn’t exactly show how happy she was and not explained the reason behind it.  How did she tell her family ‘Hey, I’m seeing someone and she makes me like Christmas for the very first time and also takes my very first time, oh by the way, she’s Lena Luthor, yes, Lex’s Luthor’s little sister’ in a casual way?  No fucking way!  So, she kept it vague in neutral voice.  Not too happy but not sad, either.

“You’re working even on holiday?”

“Yeah.  We’re behind schedule so everyone’s doing their best to catch up.  How’s yours?”

“Good.  Maggie and I went to that restaurant that I’ve always wanted to go.”

“Great!  I’m glad to hear that.  Will you be going to Midvale?”

“Yes, we will head for there tomorrow and stayed throughout New Year.”

“Eliza will be so happy.  I’ll call and have a group chat with you tomorrow, okay?”

“Sure.”  Alex paused.  “Are you really okay?  You sound…different.”

Kara cursed Lena for giving her head rush right before her phone call with a very perceptive Alex.  “I’m okay.  Work keeps me from bad thoughts.”

“Hmm…”  Alex wanted to press for more but stopped herself.  For that, Kara would always be grateful.  “I’m happy for you.  What are you going to do on New Year’s Eve?”

“There’s a staff party of some kind.  Free food and drinks I suppose.”

“Nice!”  Alex paused.  “Kara, we are here and you know you can call anytime.”

“I will.”

They talked about their lives and hung up for Kara to go back to work.  Kara took several deep breaths and went back on set.  Shooting already begun.  Kara’s line of sight immediately zoomed in on Lena.  The view took her breath away.  Lena was wearing a down-to-the-floor blood sleeveless red dress.  A short cape on her back and two pieces of clothes wrapping around her forearms.  The most tantalizing zone on full display.  Neckline so low, inner side of her breasts greeted everyone.  Thin red lines formed a taunting cage from the neckline screaming ‘you can look but you can’t touch’.  Lena standing rigidly straight with a shining crown on her head.  Lips in the same blood red, face seductively serious.  An abstinent allure.  Kara suddenly hoped that it wasn’t a multi characters scene.  So many people there to ogle Lena freely.  Rao, she should definitely keep a tight rein on her emotion.  She began to understand where Lena’s possessive kiss in the trailer came from.

Mike was there with her.  His eyes kept dropping to her chest.  Not so subtly, it was like he wanted Lena to notice.  Lena still remained a friendly conversation with him but Kara could detect her annoyance from afar.  This scene contained feisty and sassy Lena.  Perfect match to her outfit.  Takes came and went.  Kara never wished to end a scene so desperately.  Her eyes fixed Lena permanently.  Ready to defuse any unnecessary advance.  She knew that it was dangerous for her to take actions if anything happened.  Increasing the possibility to being discovered was unwise.  But when it came to Lena, she would always defend her.  Even if it was at Kara’s expense.

After excruciating hours, Lena left for the costume to change for another scene.  Kara felt like she could finally breathe.  That was when Mike ambushed her out of no where.

“Hey, beautiful.”  Mike casually flung his right arm around her shoulder.  “So, what’s your answer?”

“Huh?  Oh!  Um…I forgot that Lena and Jess and the girls asked me already.  But we’ll still see each other there.”  Kara had to drag Jess along to make her lie more believable.

Mike didn’t seem to be disappointed, not even one bit.  “Sure.  I’ll see you there.”  His right arm lifted off her shoulder and went to pull her hand to his lips for a kiss.  Kara gave him a forced smile.  Rao, she really needed to find Lena.  She practically ran to costume room and found out that Lena already left.  Trying to control her speed within human standard, she located the one human who had plagued her mind.  She was wearing a black dress this time.  Intricate pattern of see-through lacy sleeves started from her shoulder.  Neckline was still low but at least only top of her cleavage was showing.  Hemline of her dress spread across the pristinely white silk bedsheet.  She sat still for the make-up stylist to put on some final touches.  The scene began with Lena’s character sleeping innocently and being waken up by an older actor.  A mother-daughter interaction but Kara remembered faintly that this wasn’t Lena’s character’s mother.  Lena sat straight up, jaw clenching with stubbornness.  Disbelieving all over her face but there was a glint of hope in there.  It was so real, it was almost Lena instead of a fictional character lying helplessly.  A jarring contrast to the last scene.  Kara was having trouble separating fantasy from reality.

They wrapped up around 8:00 at night.  After 14 hours of working, even a Kryptonian started to have tired watering eyes.  Kara already had their stuff packed so she took the liberty to help the crew finishing up while Lena was changing.  She came back to the trailer and found Lena sitting there staring at her phone.

“Hey, you’re ready to go?”  Kara picked up their bags.

“Yes.”  Kara frowned at the crisp answer but she didn’t dwell on it.  Attributing it to fatigue.

The ride back to Lena’s place was strangely quiet.  Not the kind of regular exhausting quietness.  Kara decided to treat Lena with extra care when they got there.

“Let’s order in.  How about that Greek place you like?”  Kara asked.

“Sure.”  Lena smiled but didn’t reach her eyes and went to her bedroom.

Kara wrinkled her brows, dialing to place her order.  She quickly went to Lena’s bedroom and changed.  She made them tea when Lena came out of shower.  Cheeks pink from the heat and hairs damp.  Kara pushed one mug toward her.  Lena thanked her.

“What’s wrong?”  Kara walked slowly to Lena.  Stopping right beside her.

“Nothing.”

“Please tell me.  It’s clearly bothering you.  Did I do something?”

“Why did you let him do that?”

“What?”

“This.”  Lena pulled out her phone.  A grainy picture of Mike kissing the back of her hand.

“Oh!  Wait.  Who took this?”  Kara looked closer but Lena moved it out of her sight.

“It’s not the point.  Why did you let him do that?”

“He asked me again about going to that party with him.  I said that I already promised to go with you and Jess.  He did that and left.”  Kara waved her arms around, trying to get Lena understand.

“Mike is a typical playboy.  He sleeps half of the cast and crew.  People know it and still fall for his frat boy smile.  He appears on every tabloid everyday.  This kind of exposure is dangerous to you!”  Lena increased her volume until she shouted the last words.

The door bell rang, Kara swallowed her reply and went to let the delivery up.  She put the food on the kitchen island.  Tip of her tongue between her teeth as she thought about what she should say.

“I didn’t know that.  I’m sorry.  I won’t let him cross the line again.”  Kara said slowly.  “He just…looks very familiar.  Not from the TV but from my memory which is odd because I haven’t met him before.  I don’t think that he’s a bad guy.  I promise that I won’t do anything to upset you.  He’s just a friendly colleague and so are others.”

Lena blew out a shaky breath.  “No, I’m sorry.  I should’ve told you about him.  I just…let my feelings cloud my judgement.”

“I’m not interested in him or anybody.  And please let your feelings out when there’s only me and Ollie around.”  Kara circled her arms around Lena, kissing the top of raven hair.

“Jealousy isn’t a good emotion in any kind of relationship.”

“I…was really jealous today.”  Admitting this might break the weird ice between them.

“About what?”  Lena tilted her head up, chin on her chest.

“Okay, not jealous.  Possessive.  I don’t like people seeing you in…revealing outfit.  Whoever made the decision of putting you in that dress is stupid.”

“Original design was more elegant.  An EP decided to cut the neckline lower and gloated over his genius idea.”  Lena rolled her eyes at the mention of this person.  “He’s scared of the Luthor name.  This is his petty way to get what he wants.  To let me know who’s in charge.  And I’ve been making it hard for him to get his hands on others.  This is also his revenge.”

“What?  Does this happen often?  Should we call the police?”

“It happens all the time.  The industry still has a very long way to go.  I can only do so much to protect people from getting hurt.  I should’ve done more.”  Lena sighed.

“I can throw him into the sun for you?”  Kara suggested.

“Thank you, Kara.  But all I need for now is dinner and then for you to take me to bed and make me forget about all this shit for a while.”  Lena said huskily.

“With pleasure.”  Kara smiled, a prominent blush staying high on her cheeks.

Chapter Text

Hectic work left Kara with no extra brain cell to consider about the upcoming event.  When she finally had time to breathe, she couldn’t inhale oxygen for whole other reason.  Parties and her didn’t exactly get along.  Her first party ended up in disaster and being taken home by a very irritated Alex.  College parties consisted of constant disappointment from her and her suitors.  Could she use the word ‘suitor’ when most of them only wanted a ten-minute quickie?  In her book, sex and love couldn’t be separated.  Her Kryptonian education had grained deeply into her bones.  She couldn’t understand the way Earthlings saw this kind of thing no matter how much she wanted to.  Then, Rao brought her Lena.  Wonderful Lena who revealed her own identity to Kara after only one day of meeting.  Offering friendship even she wanted more.  Never pressure only patience.  Understanding her without verbal communication.  Accepting her alienage.  So much unlike her family.  Lena, who was standing in her closet in only bra and panties now.  Searching for clothes to wear to the New Year’s Eve party.

“What are you thinking back there?  Come help me.”  Lena signaled Kara to come forward with her right forefinger.

She followed the instruction like a well-trained puppy.  “You don’t need my help.  You always look good.  Don’t dress too formal.  I don’t have much clothes.”

“Don’t worry, darling.  It’s a staff party.  Not a gala.”  Lena wrapped her arms around Kara’s neck and swayed a little.  She blushing at the sight.  She still hadn’t gotten used to this kind of intimacy.  Shirtless intimacy.

“Aren’t you cold?”  The human turned around.

“It’s nothing you haven’t seen before.  Besides, I have you to warm me up.  You’re like furnace all the time.”  Lena ground into her hips, pulling her hands to circle exposed belly.

“I’m still getting used to this.  I have higher average body temperature than human.”  She explained with one honest hand on Lena’s waist and the other flying to her nonexistent glasses.  She was learning to be more like her true self around Lena.

“I like how flustered you are.”  Lena tilted her head and gave Kara a kiss on the left cheek.

“I should’ve bought new clothes.”  Kara started to really scan her pathetic collection of clothes.

“We can buy them some other time.  I’m only going in shirt and jeans.”

“Really?”  Kara perked up.

“Come on, let’s review what you got so we can match.”  Lena pulled her close to the rack.  Yes, she had a rack, very small one, but her own rack in Lena’s closet.  They spent more and more time at Lena’s.  Only going back to Jay’s apartment for Kara’s things.  It was like she gradually moved in with Lena but neither of them wanted to acknowledge it.

Lena chose a dark button-up with red dots and a maroon pants completed with a brown belt for her.  The woman was wearing a black blouse with white, pink and red stripes on them.  Couldn’t decided between a black leather skirt and a pair of blue jeans.  She held them out for Kara who chose the latter after a moment of thought.  Lena smirked and Kara felt like a deer caught in headlight out of no where.  They dressed and Lena made their hair into tight buns but with different styles.  Kara put on her glasses and stood in front of mirror next to Lena.

“Quite a pair, aren’t we?”  Their subtle color coordination and similar hairstyles looked really good together.  “Fuck, your ass looks so good in that tight pants.  Your admirers are going to be wild.  Or…we could stay in and I’ll show you how much I love about your ass?”  Lena hooked her fingers in the belt hoops and tugged.  Right hand went to palm Kara’s ass.

“You’re the one who have tons of fans.  I’m just…me.”

“You think too little about yourself.  I can proof you wrong.”  Lena kissed her deeply.

“Lena…”  Her words muffled in Lena’s lips.  “…we should go.”

“Do we really?”

“Lena, we promised Jess.  She’s waiting.”  They did promise the AP to have a fun night together.

“Yeah, you’re right.  But you stay away from Mike.”  Lena pulled her down for a ridiculously wet kiss with tongue and teeth.

“I’ll watch out for him.  I’ll keep my hearing on alert if that Executive Producer comes near you.  You can whisper my name and I’ll be there.”

“Mmm…that’s so hot.”  Evil lips going from her jaw to her neck.

“Lena, focus.  I mean it.”

“Fine.”

They sent Ollie their love before leaving.  The party took place at a high end club.  The whole place was rented out by them for tonight.  Kara opened the car door, she could hear the music pumping out from the building already.  She held her hand for Lena to take.  Lena smiled and teased her about ‘being a gentlewoman’.  She dropped Lena’s hand just before they reached the front door.  Lena looked at her and Kara nodded.

Loud electronic music hit her like a wall of Nth metal.  Strong, powerful and insufferable.  The drumbeats were making her head hurt.  Pulsing through her veins.  Flashing lights stung her eyes.  So dark yet so bright.  She wanted to run away.  An understanding hand slipped into her right one.  She looked down on their joint hands and traced the arm, the shoulder and the face with empathy.  Shaking her head and tilting to the crowd.  Lena was the one led them to the bar.  She ordered a club soda while Lena had an Old Fashion.  Drinks in hands, they searched for a place to sit.

“Hey, you made it.”  Jess appeared in front of them, hugs exchanged.  “Me and the girls sit over there.”  Jess took them to a table with more familiar faces.  Kara relaxed a little at the sight.  They chatted and someone came back with trays of shots.  It didn’t affect Kara but she drank it anyway.  Burning of throat made her feel more at ease.  Lena was called by another group of people.  Kara nodded to let Lena know that she would be alright.  Lena got up but looked back for several times before lost in a sea of people.

“Hello, Kara.”  He must be watching and waiting for Lena to leave.

“Hi, Mike.”

“Happy New Year.”  He raised his drink.

“Happy New Year.”  Kara clanked with hers.

“Let’s get you another drink, shall we?”  Mike held out his elbow.

Kara didn’t took it.  “Sure.”

Together, they made it to the bar.  Mike waved at the bartender.  “Vodka Tonic and another one for whatever this lady is drinking.”

“Club soda.”

“You don’t drink?”

“I don’t like the taste.”

“Maybe you just haven’t ordered the right one yet.”  The implication didn’t go unnoticed with her.

“I think I’ll stick to the current one.”

“People can change.”

“Somethings don’t.”

They stayed silent for a while until their drinks were served.  Mike put his hand on the small of her back and ushered her to a more secluded area.  Kara readied her defense.  “Why so tense?  Relax.  It’s the New Year’s Eve.”

“I’m just not that interested in loud places.”