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Chapter Text

The flashing of camera lights greeted her as ever when she exited the private jet. It had just landed on the rain-drenched London runway and reporters were hurling questions her way. Thankfully their voices were getting lost in the sounds of the still running engines. Lena Luthor gracefully climbed down the stairs of the jet, careful not to slip in her black heels, all while flashing the crowd her best and brightest smile. As she stepped down onto the solid ground for the first time in over nine hours, she took a deep breath. The difference in climate to National City was as jarring as ever and rain started to pour on her dark red Armani coat just before her driver could reach her with an umbrella. She took the arm he offered and smiled a thank you as he opened the door of the car awaiting her.

It slammed shut behind her drowning out the cacophony of noise and she was grateful for it. Slowly the plastered-on smile faded, and she closed her eyes for a second. Little imprints of the camera flashes were still dancing behind her eyelids, and she could feel a headache start to form. She sighed and looked outside. The lights of the metropolis were greeting her. As they drove through London, Lena watched all the people enjoying the nightlife. They were sitting in cafes and restaurants, laughing, drinking, talking. Couples were walking hand in hand down Piccadilly Circus, the giant billboards of brands they didn’t care about illuminating them as they kissed.

Lena wasn’t the sentimental type. Usually, she was all business no pleasure, solely focused on her very important work, too busy to even notice which city she was in for the next big conference. But London had always had its way with her. When she was thirteen, she had spent a year at boarding school not far away from the city. One day her best friend Andrea and her had decided to skip school and flee for a day. They had taken a train to Paddington station and promptly got lost exiting the building. After hours of wandering around, buying food and all kinds of useless stuff with their credit cards, nearly being robbed by a sightseeing guide, they had finally found their way back to the train station and to school where detention had awaited them. And still, Lena had always considered it one of the happiest moments of her life. Riding the London Eye with Andrea, who gushing at the view, had taken her hand in excitement, and pointed out all the various monuments and skyscrapers she could spot. Meanwhile all Lena could look at was their intertwined fingers resting on the seat between them.

So, as she exited the car onto the thick red carpet leading up to the huge golden double doors of the Ritz hotel, her driver holding her umbrella she felt that same old excitement rise again. Only to be immediately slammed into by a happy couple too busy laughing to look where they were going. She didn’t scowl at them as she would have in any other city. Instead, she smiled at them, one of her real ones, which stopped their apologizing. She wished them a good night and made her way inside. Glancing back, she could see one of the two men, being obviously very embarrassed, sink his head into his boyfriend’s chest, who patted him on the back laughing. She let out a chuckle and stepped through the doors which were being held open for her by the awaiting doorman. Lena thanked him and after checking in made her way up to her single hotel room. She was only half ready for a night alone in this city that made her long to be the exact opposite.

--

Somewhere to the West of Lena Luthor’s hotel suite, deep in the busy streets of Notting Hill surrounded by trendy coffee shops and restaurants, that sold every food known to mankind, there was a small shop. So small you would most definitively miss it if you did not know it was there. Atop the historic façade, which was painted a bright red, sat a sign made of metallic golden letters that read:

The Travel Bookshop

Inside there were shelves upon shelves crammed into the tiny space. Each one filled to the ceiling with all kinds of books, all relating to the topic of traveling. Big picture books sat next to tiny guidebooks to cities around the world.

Amidst the chaos, at a small desk, a woman was typing on a calculator and furiously scribbling numbers on a sheet of paper. Every so often she would tuck a strand of her blonde locks behind her ear, though it refused to stay in place. Finally, having concluded her calculations, she put down her pen and sighed deeply. Kara Danvers looked towards the ceiling sending a quiet prayer to whoever god might gift her with a financial blessing. A big one at best. She ran her hands over her face pushing her glasses up to rub her tired eyes. Math always made her brain feel like mush and the bleak result the calculator offered didn’t help.

“How bad is it?” The head of a dark-haired woman popped around the corner. Nia Nal had heard the loud noise of expiration coming from her boss and even though she knew what the answer would look like, had decided to check in.

Kara shot her a smile which was more of a grimace. “Well, let’s see, we made a total of minus 140£ this month which is only a little better than last month.”

“I’m sorry, Kara.”

“Eh, it’s alright. Not like it’s ever been much different.” Kara folded the piece of paper and put it in the pocket of her jeans to file later at home. She was done with numbers for now.

“Do you want me to get you a donut from that one shop you really like?”

Kara’s eyes lit up at the suggestion her tired half-smile turning into a real one, so big her nose scrunched her glasses upward.

“Oh, yes, please! And a Latte? But, oh…” and her face fell turning into a big pout. “I can’t afford it, can I?”

“It’s on me,” Nia assured her already halfway across the shop towards the door. She was always quite unable to resist Kara’s puppy look.

Immediately the smile returned maybe even brighter than before.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you, Nia! You’re the best! I owe you,” Kara exclaimed, not getting up to hug the other woman, only because Nia had already opened the shop door.

“Not losing my job, because of your bankruptcy would be a start,” Nia teased, not being all that serious. She had turned around to speak while walking out, which caused her to almost miss the woman attempting to enter the shop. “Oh, excuse me,” Nia quickly apologized.

“It’s all good,” the woman said stepping sideways to let Nia out, who after she had mumbled her thanks rushed past her. The woman entered the shop.

Kara had laughed at Nia’s almost-accident, but her throat dried up when she saw her walk in. She was wearing a white blouse underneath a leather jacket and tight skinny jeans. A handbag matching the material of her jacket was dangling from one arm. Her dark hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail revealing a pale face and red lips. Green eyes looked on concentrated as she stepped forward and picked out a book from a shelf. She was beautiful. Kara found herself staring, her mouth slightly ajar.

Realizing she looked like an idiot Kara cleared her throat and laughed nervously, which caught the woman’s attention. She looked at her questioningly, obviously thinking Kara had meant to say something. A blush crept up her neck. Her mind was blank. She felt like the lead in one of those romcoms Alex and her would watch on their weekly movie nights. She was starstruck.

She stammered for a second. Then her eyes landed on the book the other woman was holding. “Oh, I wouldn’t get that one if I were you.”

A perfectly plugged eyebrow shot up, the woman looked at the travel guide detailing the most beautiful spots in Gotham City and back at Kara. “And why is that?”

Kara squirmed. “Well,” she said adjusting her glasses. “A book claiming Gotham is a nice place to visit can’t be of very high quality, can it?” Her hands were damp. She quickly rubbed them on her jeans and immediately regretted it. There was a slight smirk building on the other woman’s lips, who had obviously noticed Kara’s nervousness.

“Is that so?” Kara nodded. “Why, then, would you have it in your stock at all?”

Oh. Good question. One Kara did not have an answer to. “I’ll tell you what,” she said after thinking for a moment, “if you don’t buy it and instead buy this one,” and she quickly reached for a book sitting on her desk, “about which areas to avoid while visiting Gotham, I will personally see to it that the other one will be thrown away.”

A smile now broadened upon the woman’s face revealing impossibly white teeth. Kara felt a hot sensation rush from her chest into her stomach where her organs were seemingly throwing a rave. The woman opened her mouth to reply but before she could she was interrupted by a customer coming up from the back of the store. Kara jumped a little. She had completely forgotten the man had been there. She eyed him up and down. Would he have used her distraction to attempt to slip something?

The man put a picture book on Athens on the table. Kara decided that a thief probably wouldn’t be buying a 40£ book just as a cover-up. As she rang him up the woman came up behind him to stand in line. He turned to look at her and gasped. Kara looked up from counting out change and frowned.

“You’re Lena Luthor!” he exclaimed; eyes wide. “I can’t believe it! You’re on my magazine!”

And to Kara’s absolute bewilderment he proceeded to pull a copy of Time Magazine out of his pants. Not a pocket. His actual pants, probably his underwear. Kara looked at him speechless and then at the magazine. On the cover was a picture of the same woman currently standing in front of her, dressed in a sharp business suit, arms folded, exuding confidence. Squinting Kara could read the headline:

Time’s 30 under 30 – How Lena Luthor saved L-Corp and her family name in just one year.

Kara’s gaze went down to where her phone was laying on the desk. The silver L of the L-Corp logo glistened in the sun. A billionaire tech genius was standing in her store. A very hot genius. And Kara had berated her on her choice of books. Great.

While Kara was beating herself up for her lack of social skills the guy proceeded to pull a pen out from god - knows - where   and was waving it in the woman’s face. “Can you sign it?” he asked holding the magazine up expectantly.

A tight-lipped smile on her lips, she took the pen from him. “Sure.” Even though her sweet tone Kara had a feeling her friendly demeanor wasn’t quite genuine.

“Oh, no, don’t,” she tried to intervene. “Sir, could you please just leave? You’re being very –“

“It’s fine,” Lena Luthor said before Kara could finish and started to scribble across her picture. “What’s your name?”

“Herb,” he said, then thinking for a second: “Can I have your number too?” Kara didn’t think she had ever met a man who had more misplaced confidence.

Lena stopped writing and looked up flashing him a grin like a lioness baring her teeth in the face of prey. “I don’t think so. See, you’re not quite my type.” With one final stroke, she gave the paperback as well as the pen.

“Oh.” He seemed disappointed for a second then the stupid grin was back, and he looked down at the writing. “What does it say?”

“Dear Herb, you’re a pervert.” The same smile was still on her lips, though now it seemed far more genuine.

Kara snorted, which caused the woman’s head to turn to her. Green eyes met blue. Kara felt the party in her stomach, which had quieted a bit following the strange interaction, live up again. Her cheeks were suddenly very hot, and she covered her mouth, having completely forgotten why she had laughed in the first place.

She remembered when Herb seemingly unbothered said, “Fair”, took his freshly bought book, put the magazine back down his pants, and left the store. All the while neither of the women had broken eye contact. Kara was sure her head was indistinguishable from a beet at this point. The smirk from earlier was tugging on the corner of the other woman’s lips. Very beautiful lips Kara noticed, ending the stare-off to wonder how they would feel on her own. Whether or not the red of her lipstick would leave marks on her neck, how they tasted when –

The woman, Lena Luthor, Kara corrected herself, stepped forward, and put the book they had talked about earlier on the counter, abruptly ending Kara’s daydream.

“I’ll take both,” she said gesturing towards the book Kara had recommended to her. “I’ll make my own impression when I visit Gotham next time.”

Her smirk had still not left her face and the glint in her eyes had Kara questioning whether she was able to read minds. Kara’s mind in particular. She cleared her throat again to focus on the more important task at hand: maybe actually making some money for once.

“Yes, of course, firsthand experience always beats reading about a place in books,” she smiled warmly. “That’ll be 15£.”

Lena Luthor frowned. “I’m pretty sure they would be 18.98£ combined?”

“Uh, well,” Kara laughed. She ran her hands through her hair failing to notice the gaze following her flexing biceps. “Take it as an apology for him.” She nodded in the direction of the door the guy had left through.

“No, no, that won’t do,” Lena said putting a 20£ bill on the brown bag Kara had packaged the books in. “Besides, I deal with men like him all the time, it doesn’t really bother me anymore.”

“And you did so expertly I must say,” Kara said ringing up and counting the right amount of change. They locked eyes again but this time they both started laughing at the absurdity of what had happened earlier. Lena Luthor had a beautiful laugh Kara decided. It wasn’t as full and loud as Kara’s who had never learned to hold back, more polite and like she wasn’t fully letting herself go, but still Kara could tell it was genuine, which made her beam even more.

“Here,” she said finally holding out her hand with the change.

“Oh no, please, keep it, I honestly won’t notice the difference,” Lena said, for the first time since entering the store, she seemed to be uncomfortable.

Kara looked at the change for a moment, debating whether to take up the fight, but ultimately deciding against it. The other woman was a billionaire after all. And Kara was very very far away from being able to turn down tips.

“Thank you,” she smiled, trying to seem normal even though her hand was shaking as she held out the bag of books towards Lena. When the other woman went to take it their fingers touched, sending a tingling feeling up her whole arm. Lena quickly pulled back. Before either of them could do more to react, they were interrupted by Nia walking into the store balancing two coffee cups and a bag probably, hopefully, containing Kara’s donuts.

“I better get going,” Lena Luthor said, finally taking the bag still in Kara’s hands. “Thank you for your help.” She turned and left the store so quickly Kara’s “Yeah, no problem” barely reached her ears.

“Was that who I thought it was?” Nia asked turning to watch the woman leave.

“I think so,” Kara said still feeling the ghost of Lena’s touch on her skin. She took the bag and coffee Nia was offering her. Nia’s gaze went back and forth between Kara and the door.

“You totally think she’s hot, don’t you?” she said, wiggling her eyebrows while taking a sip of her own drink.

“What? No! That would be so…”

“Understandable?” Nia laughed. Kara rolled her eyes.

“More like highly inappropriate, she’s a customer! And besides, she’s like a gazillionaire; she’s way out of my league.”

“Oh, Kara, honey,” Nia’s expression changed into a mix of amusement and pity at Kara’s lack of self-awareness. “Have you looked around yourself lately? You have all kinds of people tripping over themselves for a chance to date you, whether they’re rich or not.”

Kara snorted finding this impossible. She wasn’t a self-conscious person, she was a realist, or so she had convinced herself.

“The barista at Noonan’s literally puts a heart next to your name and gives you extra whipped cream with every order.”

“She’s just being friendly to a customer.”

“The guy that came in yesterday and asked you an absurd number of questions about the Japanese countryside?”

“He has a curious mind! Also, if I were so desirable don’t you think Mike would still be around?”

“Oh, Kara,” Nia said again, this time real pity on her face. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“It’s fine,” Kara said lying. Her heart felt heavy at the reminder and all the lightness had left their conversation. “I’m over him.” Nia looked at her skeptically, raising her eyebrows.

“I am!” she tried again.

“He was an idiot, Kara, and you deserved better anyway.”

Nia reached around to squeeze Kara’s free hand. She got a small smile in return. Kara wasn’t being untruthful entirely. She didn’t love him anymore, didn’t even miss him most of the time. It was just sometimes the house they used to share felt so empty. Even with her roommate Brainy reciting Shakespeare loudly in the kitchen or her sister and her cuddling up on the couch. The one Mike had picked out. In the quiet moments when she was lying in bed at night feeling so alone her heart ached, she wondered if there maybe was a good reason he had left her for another woman.

Kara sighed and picked up her food and drink again. “I think I need some fresh air,” she told Nia. “Can you watch over the store? I won’t be long.”

“Of course.” Nia smiled switching places with Kara, who was walking towards the exit. “And get her number if you see her again!”

Kara waved her off as she walked outside, the warm mid-morning sun hitting her face. She took a second to let it tingle on her skin until she started walking in no particular direction. She took a sip of her Latte. Just as she was starting to enjoy her little walk and the taste of her favorite drink, she ran into something soft.

Or someone. Lena Luthor to be exact, who had been strolling down the same street in the opposite direction and had been unfortunate enough to be in Kara’s food clouded path. Kara’s coffee flew out of her, landing in most parts on Lena’s white top, a light brown stain slowly spreading. Only Kara’s strong arms grabbing hers kept the smaller woman from falling down from the impact.

“Oh!” Lena exclaimed staring at her ruined blouse and then at the cause. Kara, who was turning redder by the second, realized she was still holding on to the other woman and quickly let go.

“Oh, my god, I’m so, so, sorry! Here let me…” She pulled a napkin from the paper bag and started swiping at the stain which was unfortunately placed right on the other woman’s chest area. Her hands were swatted away.

“Don’t,” Lena said. There was an edge to her voice which caused Kara to immediately stop.

“Right, right. Sorry.” Kara was mortified. Here was this gorgeous woman again, the universe giving her a second chance to make her move and she immediately behaved like an inappropriate idiot.

“I can’t go walking around like this,” Lena said exasperated.

“I live right across the street. You could change at my place and clean up if you’d like,” Kara tried to suggest. The glare she received would’ve made a little kid cry. She put her hands up. “I’m not a murderer I promise. Listen, I think I might have a similar shirt that’ll probably fit you.”

Green eyes narrowed, looking her up and down as if they had a Creep-Radar. Then Lena looked down at the stain again and her hands full of shopping bags. When her gaze met Kara’s again, it had softened.

“How far is right across the street?” she asked giving in.

Kara pointed to her right, where tucked in between a Caribbean restaurant and a small boutique, they could see a house with a blue door. “That’s mine.”

“Right,” Lena said. She looked back between Kara who was smiling awkwardly trying to not look like the next Ted Bundy and her house. “Fine,” she decided and started walking across the busy street.

“Oh,” Kara said stunned for a second until she remembered she had the keys. She hurried after the briskly walking woman.

As she was letting them inside her house, she immediately realized her mistake. It was a mess. There were piles of clothes, old, crusted dishes, and strange knick-knacks everywhere. Kara had always been a messy person but following the mental crash after her divorce and Brainy being, well, too much of a Brainiac to care much about how he lived, she had let the house turn into a “Pig’s stall”, as her sister Alex had told her. Up until now, it hadn’t really bothered her. At Lena Luthor’s raised eyebrows and incredulous stare at the baby potty filled with used coffee cups that was greeting them at the stairs that led up to Kara’s kitchen, those feelings quickly changed.

“You have kids?” the Lena asked her, probably considering calling social services if Kara’s answer was to be affirmative.

“No,” Kara answered truthfully and quickly swept the whole assemble into her arms, the dishes clattering and some very old coffee spilling inside the plastic pot.

“I- That’s- I don’t really know where that came from, honestly.”

She tried to overplay her embarrassment with a big grin, but she knew she wasn’t fooling anyone. She quickly walked up into the kitchen to discard the evidence in the sink but had to realize that it was full of dishes as well.

“Oh.” Kara looked around to find a different spot. Failing to do so she gave up and set it back down on the floor in front of her kitchen cabinets. At least it had made its way closer to sink. It was a start in her opinion. She turned around to Lena, who was standing by her kitchen table where she could see the rest of Brainy’s half-eaten breakfast toast next to a week’s old newspaper.

“I’m sorry about the mess,” Kara said. She wanted to give an excuse but realized there really wasn’t one.

“Uh-huh,” Lena said obviously not fully believing her.

“Well, if you still want to clean up, the bathroom is over there. I don’t think there are any surprises in there.” Kara pointed towards the small guest restroom next to the entrance. She was praying to an unnamed god that she was right. “I’ll go up and see if I can find a top for you.”

She ran up the stairs to the second floor, escaping the judgment in the other woman’s eyes. Reaching the sanctuary of her bedroom she closed the door and let out a deep sigh.

Oh god , she thought. I must seem like a completely deranged person. Looking around the messy piles of laundry she went to find a clean blouse that would hopefully fit today’s victim of her clumsiness. After a couple of minutes, Kara finally found a suitable option and made her way downstairs.

Get it together, Danvers , she told herself as she came to a stop by the bathroom door. Covering her eyes with her left hand she knocked carefully with the other.

A “Yes?” sounded from the other side.

“It’s me. I found a blouse for you. My eyes are closed I promised in case you want to get it now.”

She heard the door open and then a giggle.

Oh.

Kara felt herself blush again the sound ringing in her ear. This time the rush through her system didn’t cause a wild party; it was more of a steady beat reaching into every corner of her body and she found herself wanting to keep hearing that sound forever. But it stopped and the piece of clothing was taken out of her hand. She tried not to let her disappointment show.

After some shuffling and rustling of fabric, Lena told her she could open her eyes. Slowly Kara peeked from behind her fingers. Lena’s hair was a bit disheveled from changing, the ponytail not as tight as before. The shirt was a bit too big for her, she had rolled up the sleeves to her elbows, her leather jacket was off, dangling from her arms. She looked good wearing Kara’s clothes. A sight one could get used to, Kara decided, but quickly letting the thought go. She was behaving like a teenager.

For a second as they were standing in the hallway, forced to enter each other’s space, neither of them moved. They stood there looking at each other. Kara could hear Lena’s breathing. It seemed heavier than before. She could feel the warm air from the other woman’s mouth tingle on her skin. Kara noticed a lock of Lena’s dark hair that had come loose and was falling into her face. She considered reaching up and tugging it behind her ear. Her hand twitched, but before she could get the courage, the other woman broke the silence.

“I better get going,” she said turning towards the door that was only a few steps from them.

“Yes, of course,” Kara replied, hating herself for opening the door and letting the woman step out.

“How will I get this back to you?” Lena asked on the front steps gesturing towards Kara’s garment.

“Don’t worry about it. Just keep it,” Kara answered.

“Are you sure?” Kara nodded. “Well, then, thank you.”

Lena turned to walk away.

“Bye!” Kara waved awkwardly.

Lena looked back, smiled, and returned the wave. Then she left. Kara didn’t watch her go down the steps, quickly closing the blue door.

She turned around. What in the world had just happened? Had a billionaire just used her bathroom to change? She took off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose. A billionaire she had been very attracted to. Well, at least she had a funny story to tell Alex now. Realizing she had a shop to get back to she went to open the front door again. As she opened it, she nearly ran into something again.

It was Lena who had just raised her hand to knock.

“Did you forget some- “

But before Kara could finish her question she was being pushed back into the hallway, the front door closing behind them. Suddenly hot lips were on hers, slender hands grabbing her face and pulling her in. The initial moment of surprise faded quickly, and Kara found herself deepening the kiss resting her hands to the other woman’s waist to get them even closer. Their lips moved against each other in unison as if they had never done anything else. The heat of the friction was traveling from Kara’s face into her chest and down, down, down. It was over faster than it had begun, and it left them both breathless. Kara leaned her forehead against the other woman’s for a second forcing her heart to beat in a normal pattern again. Their eyes met and they couldn’t help but laugh.

Kara stretched out her hand. “Kara Danvers,” she said realizing she had never even her her name.

“Call me Lena,” Lena said chuckling and shaking her hand.

“Wow,” was all Kara could muster.

“Have lunch with me,” Lena said pulling back and straightening her clothes. “I’ll be at the L-Corp headquarters in the City of London. At one o’clock?”

Kara eagerly nodded, beaming brightly.

“Good, just say your name and that you’re there to see me, it should be fine.”

“Alright,” Kara said.

Her head was empty. Maybe she should be asking for Lena’s number? But before she could get her thoughts straight the other woman had given her a quick peck on the cheek and with a smile and words of See you later was out the door again.

Kara was left staring at the closed door, every inch of her skin tingling, wondering if anyone would believe her, when she would tell them what had just transpired.

Chapter Text

Kara stood there staring at the closed door for a while until in a hot flash of panic, she realized she had less than two hours until she was to be going on a date with the richest woman on earth. Instinctively she took out her phone to call Alex.

She hesitated. The silver L-Corp logo flashed at her. She had just made out with the woman who had designed that very same phone. Insanity. Should she tell Alex right that second? They would see each other that night anyway. And there was that little voice in the back of her head telling her that the date with Lena wouldn’t go anywhere anyway. In her mind she would show up at the L-Corp office only to be escorted out of the building by security, the whole thing turning out to be one big sick joke.

She should definitely call Alex, she decided. Her sister would be a voice of reason. Before she could overthink it even more, she was dialing Alex’ number.

“Hey, Kara, everything alright?” said Alex as she picked up. Her sister sounded sleepy.

“Hey, Alex,” Kara said, and then, she remembered why Alex might’ve still been sleeping, “Oh my gosh, I completely forgot you worked last night I’m so sorry!”

She could never quite memorize Alex’ schedule at the hospital. She could barely organize her own life as it were.

“It’s fine, Kara, I was going to get up anyway, I still have to prepare everything for tonight,” Alex assured her. Alex’ birthday had been at the beginning of the week. Kara had congratulated her one minute after minute. Her memory was good when it came to the truly important stuff.

“Right! Do you want me to bring food or drinks or…?” Kara asked, moving into the kitchen. The baby potty with the dirty dishes inside looked at her accusingly. She went over into the living room and flopped down on the couch. Moving laundry aside first.

“Please don’t cook anything,” Alex replied. Kara could hear her smiling.

“I won’t, I promise! But I could bring Potstickers?”

“What a selfless offering,” Alex laughed, “So you can eat them all yourself again?”

“Hey! You had some as well!” Kara protested. This fight had been going on for years at this point. What was she to do when the little bundles of joy were so delicious? Not eat twenty in one session?

“Sure, I did, whatever you tell yourself so you can sleep at night,” Alex told her teasingly. “But seriously, you don’t have to bring anything, there will be plenty enough.”

Begrudgingly Kara gave in, but wondered at the same time if Lena would be willing to go have potstickers for their lunch date. Which made her remember why she had called Alex in the first place.

“Alex! Does Sam know her boss is in town?” she asked.

“Stan? Yeah sure, why wouldn’t he be in town?” Alex asked back sounding confused.

“No, I mean her boss boss.”

“Lena Luthor? I mean she probably knows if she is, yes, why are you asking?” Alex replied still unsure of where this was going.

“She was at the shop today.” Kara said, retelling the events of her rather unusual morning.

“I can’t believe you made out with the Lena Luthor,” Alex said as Kara was finishing telling her about Lena asking her out less than ten minutes prior.

“Do you think I should go on that date?” Kara asked, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Absentmindedly she started sorting the socks from the pile of laundry next to her.

“Of course you should. Why wouldn’t you? Even I would go,” Alex told her.

“I don’t think Sam would find that very funny,” Kara said, while looking for the second to a pair of dog-themed socks.

“If I told her I had the chance to be with a billionaire I think she would understand.”

Kara could hear her grinning through the phone, but she wasn’t feeling the joke.

“I’m not a gold digger,” she said. She gave up looking for the missing sock moving on to the pile of t-shirts. She pulled out one randomly. It was t-shirt Sam had gotten at a work thing years ago. It had the old Luthor-Corp logo on it. How ironic. Kara threw it behind her without looking. It landed on a pile of dishes.

“Of course, you’re not, I’m sorry, I’m taking you seriously,” Alex said, sensing Kara’s turning mood. “But why wouldn’t you go? The woman is obviously into you, she’s smart and from what you’re telling me very attractive.”

“But what if I can’t keep up with all that? I live like a hoarder, I’m seriously broke and I suck at dating,” Kara complained.

“Kara, those are all things that are changeable,” Alex told her. “We can clean your house; you know I’ve offered you before. You will maybe not experience serious financial wealth with the shop, but do you think that would matter to someone who’s already got more money than she could ever spend? And you know you don’t suck at dating. Just be yourself you’ll be fine, you’re lovely.”

Kara, who was currently folding an old National City Marathon t-shirt, sighed. “I’m sorry, I’m being difficult,” she said. “I’m way overthinking this.”

“Probably,” Alex laughed. “Hey, speaking of the shop, shouldn’t you be working right now?”

“Oh, crap,” Kara said letting the t-shirt fall back onto the pile. When she glanced over at the clock hanging on the wall in her kitchen, she realized she was running seriously late. “Sorry, Alex, I really gotta go, I still have to shower and, oh my god.”

Kara jumped up, pulling all the folded laundry down with her of the couch. She didn’t even notice as she was already sprinting up the stairs toward her bathroom.

“Bye!” she heard Alex saying, before she frantically hung up. She sent a quick message to Nia, telling her she could close the shop at three and that she wouldn’t be back. She jumped into her shower, trying to clean herself with superhuman speed.

--

An hour later Kara was jogging up the stairs from the tube station. The L-Corp skyscraper rose from the plaza that greeted her. She was wearing dark blue chinos and a light blue button up. In one hand she held a bouquet of flowers. Alex had sent her a thumps-up when she had asked for her approval. She hoped she wasn’t overdressed. Or worse; underdressed.

Entering the huge building Kara felt in awe. The woman she was about to meet with was the person running all this. Hundreds of people worked here, developing all kinds of new technologies. Insane, she thought. But very impressive. Maybe a little hot.

She beelined to the front desk, but a man holding a clipboard stopped her halfway.

“You’re late! Come with me,” he said and before Kara could protest, that she was actually a minute early for once, he was already walking away at a brisk pace.

Kara decided to follow him, he had probably been sent down here to lead her up to Lena Luthor’s office, she thought. But the guy didn’t lead her to any office, but instead to a mixed group of people, all looking expectantly in their direction.

“Okay, we’re all set now,” the man said, ticking something off on his clipboard. “We’ll start with a tour of the building, and then you will all have a chance to interview Ms. Luthor.”

An excited murmur rose through the group, and everyone started walking behind the man, who immediately started listing of facts about the architecture of the lobby. Kara found herself moving along with them.

“What magazine are you with?” A man walking next to her asked her, as they were entering an office space.

“Uh,” Kara said panicking. There was obviously a misunderstanding going on here. She had probably misheard Lena, and she had only been invited to this press event and not an actual date. But that was already too much thinking for her brain in panic mode.

“I’m with CatCo magazine,” she said spotting an issue lying on a worker’s desk, they were walking by.

“Nice! I’m with Forbes,” he said offering his hand.

She shifted the now very silly feeling flower bouquet to her left hand and shook his with her right.

“You bought her flowers?” the man asked, laughing.

Kara felt her cheeks redden. She was an idiot.

“No,” she said quickly, “I’m visiting my grandmother in the hospital after this.”

“Right,” the guy said obviously not believing her.

Just as Kara wished the ground would open and swallow her whole, the man leading the tour announced they had reached the finance department. This perked Kara’s interest and right as she took a look around, the reason for it walked by.

Samantha Arias stopped dead in her tracks as she spotted Kara Danvers walking with a strange group of journalists all talking amiably. Walking through her place of work. Their eyes met and Kara grimaced.

What the fuck, Sam mouthed, and all Kara could do was shrug apologetically. Alex would be getting a pretty weird call in a few minutes, she was sure. She waved goodbye as they kept walking down the corridor.

“You know her?” the Forbes reporter asked her. He was wearing a full suit and tie combo. His teeth were bleached to an uncomfortable degree and his hair was almost dripping with gel. Kara was sure she would still be smelling his cologne in bed tonight. She hoped this wasn’t his weird way of flirting.

“Yes, she is my sister’s girlfriend,” she said, not even sure why she was telling this stranger about it. She was too nice, Alex would say. She was just trying to be social, Kara would protest. Making nice with people was maybe her biggest strength.

“Nice,” the man said, grinning in a way that made Kara reconsider calling it her biggest strength.

After a half-an-hour-tour of the whole building (which turned out to be pretty interesting, actually), they were finally led up to the CEO’s office. At this point, Kara had heard the suit’s whole life story, including all his conquests in university and she felt like she needed another shower. At least he had not asked for her number.

As they got up to the front room of Lena Luthor’s spacious office, another group of journalists were being led away by another man with a clipboard, who looked almost like the carbon copy of her clipboard man. Maybe they were experimenting with cloning at L-Corp now, Kara thought.

Be it luck or fate, somehow Kara managed to be first in line for the interview part. She didn’t even know if she still wanted to see Lena, she was absolutely mortified by her own stupidity. But there wasn’t enough time to flee and before she knew it, she was being led into the office itself by clipboard guy.

Lena sat behind her huge desk, wearing a tight black dress, the same hairdo and red lips as earlier. She looked incredible. She was talking to a woman standing next to the desk, who was wearing a headset and taking notes on a tablet. People up here got the good stuff it seemed. Kara briefly wondered if clipboard guy was jealous of tablet girl, but then Lena spotted her.

She got up immediately. Their gazes locked and Kara stopped walking. She felt heat spreading in her chest. The clipboard man looked at her confused and then at Lena.

“Ms. Luthor, this is Kara Danvers from CatCo magazine,” he told her. He had inquired about it before he had led Kara inside the office, and Kara still standing next to the Forbes reporter, had had no choice but to lie again.

“Right,” Lena said, breaking eye contact with Kara. “Thank you, Hugh, you may go.” Hugh nodded, gave Kara a judging look, especially frowning at the flowers still in her hand and exited the room, leaving the office doors open.

“You may sit over there,” the woman with the headset told Kara and pointed over to a sofa arrangement. Kara took place on one of the armchairs, awkwardly laying the bouquet in her lap.

“Actually, Jess, you may go as well,” Lena told the woman. Kara was very concentrated on staring at a spot on the wall, but there was a short silence that followed, in which Kara could only imagine the questioning look Jess was giving her boss.

Finally, the woman sighed. “Alright, let me know if you need anything,” she said, and Kara heard her walking towards the exit as well and Lena thanking her. The soft click of closing doors made Kara finally turn her head.

Lena was standing at the doors looking over at her. Kara wondered if she should get up again. She suddenly felt very stupid.

“I’m so sorry,” Lena said breaking the silence. She started moving towards the sitting arrangement, taking place on the couch across from Kara’s seat. As she walked by Kara could smell the sweet notes of Lena’s perfume.

“I completely forgot about this press thing, and I couldn’t cancel it.” Lena smiled awkwardly, obviously being embarrassed herself.

Kara hadn’t been mad exactly during the whole thing, just mortified and very confused and now she felt even the tiniest twinge of madness melt away.

“It’s fine,” she said smiling. She already knew she had a weak spot for that tiny smile of Lena’s. “These are for you by the way.” She offered Lena the, at this point quite disheveled looking, bouquet of flowers.

“Thank you, they’re beautiful!”, Lena said smiling genuinely. She put the flowers into an empty vase, which was conveniently placed on the low table between them. “But seriously, it’s not fine. Let me make it up to you,” she insisted.

“Like how?” Kara asked teasingly. She watched Lena correct her posture and fold her legs under her in a very elegant way. The woman looked so different in her business attire to this morning in her shop. Kara had trouble connecting the two versions in her head. But then Lena got the same look in her green eyes, she had had when they had kissed and the warmth in Kara’s chest intensified.

“I could take you out to dinner tonight?” Lena offered.

Kara’s heart sank. “I can’t tonight, I’m sorry, my sister is celebrating her birthday,” she said.

Lena’s smile fell. Kara wasn’t sure if she was imagining it, but it looked like she actually started pouting.

“Oh, that’s fine then, another time,” she said finally, but Kara could tell it wasn’t genuine.

“You could come as my plus one!” Kara offered, eyes lighting up at the idea.

“Oh, no, I really wouldn’t want to intrude,” Lena tried to say, but Kara would have none of it.

“Don’t be ridiculous it would be lovely! My sister will love you and you already know Nia from the shop! My roommate’s gonna be there too, he’s a huge science nerd. And my sister’s girlfriend literally works for you,” she told her all excited at the prospect.

“I’m sorry, your sister’s girlfriend does what?” Lena asked, genuinely confused for the first time.

“She’s one of the managers in the finance department, maybe you know her? Sam Arias. Samantha,” Kara replied. She looked at Lena expectantly.

“The name does ring a bell actually,” Lena said getting up and walking towards her desk. She looked at something on her computer. “Yes, I actually have a meeting with her and some of her colleagues on Monday.”

“See! It’s going to be great,” Kara said now very much into her own idea. Her fingers were already twitching to text Alex the news.

“Do you really think so?” Lena looked unsure. She had moved to the front side of her desk leaning against it and crossing her arms in front of chest.

“Most definitely!” Kara said, getting up and walking towards the other woman. Excitedly she took her hands in her own. “You’re going to love it!”

Lena looked down at their intertwined hands. Kara realized what she had done and quickly let go. She immediately missed the feeling. Lena’s hands been warm and very soft, and the feeling had had goosebumps shoot up her arm. She flexed her fingers open and close.

“I’m sorry, I should’ve asked,” she said.

“I literally kissed you without your consent not even three hours ago,” Lena said raising an eyebrow. “I’m very sorry about that, by the way, I don’t know what came over me.”

“Are you sorry about not asking for permission or are you sorry that you kissed me?” Kara asked, seeking eye contact with Lena.

Lena looked up from where she had been looking at her now empty hands. Kara wondered if she had been thinking the same thoughts as her.

“I don’t think I could be sorry about kissing you,” she said then, locking eyes with Kara.

Kara felt the warmth in her chest turn to heat and start spreading down. She took another step forward. They were very close now, almost as close as they had been in the tiny hallway in her house earlier. She leaned her head to the side, here gaze moving back and forth between Lena’s eyes and her lips. She remembered how they had felt on her own earlier, how intoxicating the feeling had been. She suddenly wanted more. She leaned in slightly.

“May I-,” she started to say, but before Lena could say another word, the doors of the office opened once more.

Kara jumped back by instinct, immediately missing the warmth the other woman’s body had radiated even without them touching.

The woman from before, Jess, poked her head in. She took a second to take in the scene that had just played out before her. It was all the time Lena needed to move back behind the desk.

“Yes, Jess?” she asked, voice much cooler than before. Kara found herself wondering if this was the woman’s CEO voice.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Luthor, but the other journalists are waiting, and the next group is set to arrive soon.” At the word journalist Jess pointedly looked at Kara, like she was pointing out an example of someone who didn’t fit that description. Kara could feel the heat from earlier rise entirely up into her cheeks.

“Alright, thanks, Jess, I’ll wrap this up and send for the next one,” Lena replied. Kara wondered if the other woman could control whether her cheeks ever colored in embarrassment. That would be one superpower Kara would have love to have.

Jess nodded and closed the doors again.

“I’m sorry, my schedule is very full today. You can take my personal elevator down if you’d like,” Lena said turning to Kara. She gestured over to a sleek glass tube, Kara hadn’t initially noticed when walking in. She nodded thankfully.

“Pick me up at seven?” she asked while she walked over to the elevator. Lena followed her, typing something into the small pad, which was set into the wall next to the glass doors of the elevator.

“I’ll be there,” she smiled at Kara. Her voice had the same warmth again as earlier.  Even though Kara’s cheeks were still burning, she could feel her heart beating a bit faster. The glass doors opened, and she stepped inside.

“Bye,” she said waving.

“Bye,” Lena said still smiling.

As Kara started moving down, their eye contact didn’t break until it was physically impossible to keep on. Kara wished she could see through walls.

Chapter Text

By the time a dark limousine pulled up in front of Kara’s door she was, once again, stressed out. After leaving the L-Corp headquarters that afternoon, Kara had gone back to the bookstore. She had sent Nia home prematurely, thinking that she wouldn’t return the whole afternoon, and after her date hadn’t turned out to be a date at all, Kara had realized she should probably go about earning a living.

Of course, only two people had shown up until she closed the shop as usual at 5pm. One older man who had bought a book on Crete, telling Kara how he used to travel there during in his university days. It had been a short and sweet interaction, the kind that always made Kara remember why she had wanted to open a travel bookstore in the first place, leaving her with a warm feeling when the shop door had closed behind the man.

The second person was a teenager who hadn’t ended up buying anything but had read through a guide to Reykjavik very intently. Kara knew she shouldn’t just let people read half the books without paying for them, but she knew how tight money could be sometimes and she didn’t want to deprive someone, especially a kid, of trying to explore their passions.

When the dark-haired teen left the shop right before closing time, Kara shut the door softly behind them. She turned the key in its lock and pulled down the blinds, covering the small window set into the doorframe. The blonde sighed and turned around. She took off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose hoping to alleviate some of the tension sitting there. She could feel it building up to a headache. She tucked the frames into the pocket of the button-up she was still wearing. Kara had rolled up her sleeves and untucked the shirt hours ago and now she unbuttoned it all the way, revealing the white tank top she wore underneath. She ran a hand through her hair deep in thought.

She had been debating all afternoon about what to wear tonight. Her sister’s birthdays had never been a fancy event in the traditional sense. They usually played board games, and Sam would cook. Kara moszly wore jeans and one of her many woolen sweaters and was right in line with the (non-existent) dress code. Absolutely perfect in her eyes.

Now though, she had invited a very glamorous date to Alex’ very normal and casual party. She should’ve communicated that to Lena, she realized, while she locked the register and turned off all the lights in the store. In Lena’s world a birthday dinner probably meant a black-tie event. Kara hadn’t been to one of those since her sister’s medical school graduation. Which had been almost ten years ago.

Picking up her wallet and house keys from the register counter, Kara sent Alex a quick text asking for her opinion. She sent one of those at least five times a day. Though Alex never let it on, being an older sister must be exhausting. She finally left the shop and before she had caught sight of the blue lacquered wood of her front door, Alex had replied.

A: Just be your authentic self.

K: Lena’s authentic self is probably a $3000 Armani suit. Not really in my ballpark.

A: Good for her.

A: Also, who said you have to play in the same league as her.

K: Are you implying I’m punching up?

A: I’m saying trying to pull even with a billionair is stupid and not very you.

A: If she doesn’t like you, because you don’t have expensive clothing, she doesn’t deserve you anyway.

K: So, I’m out of her league AND I’m broke? :)

A: I hate you.

Kara grinned looking at the screen of her phone. She was standing right in front of her door, key dangling from one finger. Alex was right of course. She didn’t want to date someone who judged others for their monetary wealth. Not that Lena had struck her as particularly vain in that regard. Yet. She didn’t really know the woman. Which was why this was all so nerve-racking. Kara took a deep breath and finally entered her home. If Lena showed up in red carpet attire, she would just roll with it. Opposites attract or whatever. Looking at her watch she still had a good hour and a half before Lena was supposed to pick her up. Plenty of time to get everything in order.

Which brought her to seven o’clock. Stressed out was an understatement. Kara had debated for a good twenty minutes whether she should shower a second time for that day, while absentmindedly cleaning some of the dishes piled on the kitchen counter. For some reason she had decided on ‘yes’, which meant she was currently busy blow-drying her hair. She hadn’t even been terribly late when she had gotten out of the shower, but then the task of finally picking out what to wear had loomed before her.

In the end she had decided on her favorite pair of jeans and a plain beige crew neck sweater. Which was all fine and well (Kara had smiled upon seeing herself in the mirror) but then she had realized she only had fifteen minutes left and she had no idea where Alex’s present was.

Kara had booked a hotel in Cornwall for them in the spring. She had hand drawn a beach scene on a card and glued the printed out booking conformation inside. To go along with it she had framed a picture of them visiting the beach for the first time together as teens. Kara had found it while visiting Eliza a couple of months prior and the idea of the present had sprung up in her mind. She was sure Alex would love it. If she ever got to give it to her.

By the time she had finally found the card and not wrapped picture-frame on top of her laundry machine in the cellar, it was five to seven and her hair was still slung into a towel on top of her head. When Kara’s hair was finally dry enough to not be embarrassing, the driver was already ringing up a storm. She practically leaped down the stairs to her kitchen. She sprinted to the door, all while trying to put on her pair of white Converse.

On the final step one of the laces got caught and she lost her footing. Letting out a shriek Kara caught herself in the last second on the doorframe. With her knee.

“Fuck!” She yelled out, pain radiating up from her knee up her leg.

“Ms. Danvers?” A voice rang out from the other side of the door, “Are you alright?”

Still holding her knee Kara opened the door with her elbow, smiling very brightly. The sight of a concerned looking man in a dark suit greeted her. Behind him on the street she could see a black limousine (thankfully normal sized) with dark tinted windows. Quickly she put her leg down, only wincing a little bit when it made contact with the ground. She hoped the door plus the sound proofing of the car had kept Lena from catching any of that.

“I’m fine, thank you,” she said the, only slightly forced, smile still on her lips. She grabbed the present (very hastily and badly wrapped, but Alex was used to it) and her wallet and quickly made her way out of her hallway and towards the car. Her knee ached as she took the steps down towards the road and the smile turned into a grimace. There would be a giant bruise tomorrow, she was sure.

Kara heard the driver follow right behind her and as she approached the car, he sped ahead to open the door for her. Kara suppressed an eyeroll. She knew it was the man’s job, but still she didn’t like the feeling of being waited on.

“Thanks,” she muttered and tried to gracefully enter the car. Tried, because as soon as she bent her banged up knee it gave out and she more fell than sat down into the cushioned seat. She heard a giggle from her left. When she turned towards the sound, she found Lena trying and failing to stifle a laugh.

“Excuse me,” Kara said, feigning offense. “Am I amusing you?”

“I’m sorry,” Lena said, obviously trying to look earnest, but failing to keep her grin in check. “It’s just, are you always like this?”

“What? A dork?” Kara raised her eyebrows. Maybe beginning to actually feel offended. She righted herself and finally pulled her feet into the car. The driver shut the door, but not before sending her an amused look. Great even he was judging her. At last Lena got control of her laughter again. Kara found she was missing it immediately. She had a feeling she would never be able to mad at the other woman for longer than a moment.

“No. Sorry, obviously not. It just seems like interesting things keep happening to you,” Lena said, grabbing Kara’s hand and giving it a squeeze. The car started moving.

“Well, that’s my life’s story, I guess,” Kara smiled at Lena, her hand tingling where Lena’s was touching it. Taking a deep breath Kara dared to intertwine their fingers. She hoped desperately she wasn’t being to forward. Lena’s hand fitted itself naturally into hers, their fingers sliding together. There’s a thin sliver ring on Lena’s index finger she noticed. A small green stone is set into it.

Kara could feel Lena’s gaze in her and when she looked up from their joined hands, her blue eyes met Lena’s greens. The moment of silence stretched on as the car moved sleekly through the streets of Notting Hill. Kara wetted her suddenly very dry lips. There’s a feeling of electricity seemingly moving up from Lena’s fingertips into her skin and up her arm. Her gaze flitted into the direction of the front seat. She noticed the partition was up. Slowly she began moving forward.

But then suddenly there was a loss of contact as Lena pulled away to take a small mirror out of her purse, checking her make-up. For the first time since entering the car (if you could it that), Kara noticed Lena’s attire. She found herself not quite sure if was disappointed or not that Lena hadn’t opted for the red-carpet look. She was wearing a pair of dark jeans and a silken blouse in a deeply red shade. Her lipstick matched. Her hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail.

“You look beautiful,” Kara said. It was true. She had seen three very different sides of Lena today and none of them had been anything but. She used her now free hand to rub her still aching knee, distracting herself from the way Lena was reapplying some lipstick. She put away the mirror and Kara could feel her eye the movement of her hand, raising an eyebrow, but thankfully deciding not to inquire further.

“Thank you,” she said smiling softly. “I was afraid to overdress. Or underdress, if we’re being honest.”

“I think you would be perfect either way,” Kara replied.

Lena snorted. “I didn’t know you were corny like that.”

“As corny as a corn tortilla.” Kara grinned brightly, proud of her joke.

“Oh, my god,” Lena said rolling her eyes, a small smile tugging on her lips.

--

When they pulled up to Alex’ and Sam’s door, Kara hesitated a moment not yet ringing the bell. She turned to Lena who was looking at her expectantly, holding a big flower bouquet and small neatly wrapped present the driver had gotten out of the trunk, just a minute ago.

“Please, don’t be scared off by my friends,” Kara said, nervously tugging on a lose thread on her sweater, not quite meeting Lena’s gaze. “They’re very lovely and I love them very much, but they can be… a lot.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine. Nothing can top Sunday dinner at the Luthor household,” Lena laughed and gave Kara’s upper arm a reassuring squeeze. It was the first time Lena had talked about her family at all, and even though Kara didn’t know more than the fact, that there had been some kind of scandal, and she distantly remembered that Lena’s brother had been imprisoned as a result of it, she could tell Lena was overplaying something with her laugh. Making a mental note of it, Kara turned and finally rung the bell.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” she told Lena right as Alex opened the door.

“Warned her of what?” Alex inquired eyebrows raised, arms crossed, eyes darting back and forth between Kara and Lena.

“Not of you, of course,” Kara smiled, engulfing her sister in a tight hug. She could feel Alex laughing and returning the hug.

“I would hope so, since it is my birthday, after all,” Alex said, teasingly shoving Kara’s shoulder, after they parted.

“Well, happy birthday! Alex, this is Lena. Lena, this is my sister Alex Danvers.” She turned to Lena, gesturing between the two.

“It’s very nice to meet you,” Lena said shaking Alex’s already outstretched hand. “And happy birthday!” She offered Alex the bouquet and her present.

“Wow!” Alex said accepting the flowers. It was bigger than her head. “Thank you so much, come in, I should find a vase for these.”

She turned around leading them down the hallway and into the kitchen.

“Look, who’s made it,” Alex said and put down Lena’s present on the set kitchen table, to start rummaging in a nearby closet, probably looking for said vase. Sam who had just been looking at something in the oven, stood up to immediately envelop Kara into a tight hug.

“Hi, Kara” Sam said after letting go, smiling warmly. She turned towards Lena, who was offering her hand. “Ms. Luthor, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you,”

Lena grimaced. “Please, it’s Lena, I feel like we’re in the office!”

 “Sorry, I was honestly debating all afternoon on how to go about this, I’ve never met with my boss outside of work,” Sam laughed nervously.

“Don’t worry about it. How long have you been working at L-Corp?” Lena asked, taking the glass of wine Kara had been pouring for her quietly and mouthing thanks.

Kara smiled at her and went over to help Alex, who, being smaller than both her and Sam was having trouble reaching the top cabinet. As she got out the wanted vase, she listened to the conversation happening behind her. Sam had started last year after Lena’s take-over of the company, having been tired of working at the very male-dominated offices of Wayne Enterprises and hoping for a breath of fresh air under Lena’s new stewardship.

“And did you find what you were looking for?” Lena asked and Kara could hear the genuine concern and curiosity in her voice even without looking at her directly.

“I think so,” Sam smiled. “I wouldn’t-“

Before she could finish her sentence Nia and Brainy barged into the kitchen.

“Surprise!” they yelled in unison, Brainy holding a chocolate cake with a lit candle on it and Nia starting to clap and sing Happy Birthday.

Kara and Sam immediately joined in, both laughing at Alex’s mortified expression. Beside her Kara could see Lena politely clapping along. When it was all over, Nia went to pull Alex into a bone-crushing hug. Brainy, who wasn’t one for hugs, waved at Kara, Lena and Sam with his free hand.

“You know, it’s not a surprise party,” Alex told Nia, rolling her eyes after having freed herself.

“Well, I wanted to spice it up,” Nia replied, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Are my birthdays usually not spicy enough for you?” Alex asked raising her eyebrows, though she smiled at accepting the cake from Brainy.

Kara took the chance to get in the way of any more bickering to introduce Brainy to Lena as her roommate.

“Oh, I didn’t think about that,” Lena said apologetically. “We should have given you a ride as well!”

Brainy furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. “Why would you? I was working late.”

“Oh, well then…” Lena trailed off, clearly unsure of how she had been supposed to know that.

“Brainy is a PhD student, they keep really weird hours,” Kara intercepted to explain.

“Really? What field are you in?” Lena asked intrigued.

Kara and Sam exchanged a look. There was no stopping the nerd talk train now.

“Mathematics, actually. I work on topological problems. Do you know something of it?” Brainy asked.

They all moved to sit at the table. Kara sitting down next to Lena, watched Sam going back to the oven to take out bread, which had been baking in there. Her stomach rumbled and she realized she hadn’t had anything to eat since this morning. Normally she wasn’t one to just forget a meal, being excited for breakfast when she lay down to sleep at night, but today had been so unlike any other, she had actually not been hungry at all. Until now.

She had completely tuned out the science talk next to her, knowing she wouldn’t understand any of it anyway and had instead started wondering if she could steal a piece of bread right from under Sam’s nose, as her attention suddenly returned to the people next to her when Brainy asked:

“Is it correct to assume from your expertise you work in STEM as well?”

Lena seemed speechless for a second, her gaze meeting Kara’s for a second, who was trying not to choke on the wine Sam had just poured her. She realized she hadn’t given Lena’s name to Brainy, and he had not recognized her by sight. Weirdly, since he was such a tech fanboy.

“Uh, yeah, you could say that,” Lena finally replied. Brainy still oblivious went on.

“Do you have a PhD, if I may ask?”

“Three, actually.” Lena smiled awkwardly.

Kara got the feeling Lena wasn’t one to brag about her accomplishments. Still. Three. Kara, not being a tech fanboy herself, hadn’t actually known that. She had obviously guessed from hearing Lena be described as a genius on the news, that she would have plenty of academic accomplishments. But this was on another level. Kara found herself staring at Lena, when the woman turned to meet her gaze. Lena quirked an eyebrow questioningly. Kara suddenly afraid to seem weirded out or turned off, tried to hide her surprise by taking a sip of the wine Sam had just poured. Of course, chocking on it at once.

“What are your fields of study?” Alex asked, having come up behind the coughing Kara and forcefully slapping her on the back.

“Medicine, mechanical engineering and biochemistry,” Lena replied hiding an amused smile at the side.

Kara, now with a beet red head and aching back, told Lena that Alex was a doctor as well, in order to get away from her sister’s hands-on approach to help. The two started talking about their studies and fields of practice, which gave Kara a chance to catch her breath. Then she caught sight of Nia, who was sitting across from her and next to Brainy and kept looking between Kara and Lena. A mischievous grin appeared on her lips, which let fear creep up in Kara’s throat. Very subtly she shook her head, making eye contact trying to stop whatever was about to happen. But too late.

“You two look really hot together you know,” Nia said still grinning.

“Oh, my god,” Kara and Alex said in unison.

“You guys know I am a vessel for truth,” Nia said proclaiming her innocence.

Thankfully whatever Nia had been about to say next, was interrupted by Sam putting dinner (a whole roast chicken) on the table.

“Please, no science or work talk while we eat,” she said, looking pointedly at Lena, Alex and Brainy.

“Pinky promise,” Alex said and kissed Sam on the cheek. “Thank you for cooking.” Sam smiled self-satisfied and sat down at the table.

Just before they could all start to dig in Nia leaned over to whisper into Brainy’s ear. He dropped the fork he had been holding.

“You’re Lena Luthor??”

--

After dinner (at one point Sam had very suddenly turned to Lena and asked her in a terrified voice if she were a vegetarian, which Lena laughingly denied), Alex got to open her presents. Sam’s, she had already opened this morning, it had been a necklace her and Ruby had picked out. Nia and Brainy had gotten her a new board game for game night and Lena’s was a coupon for a dinner for two at a restaurant with three Michelin stars.

“Oh, wow,” Sam gasped looking over Alex’s shoulder. “I’ve always wanted to go there.”

“Thank you,” Alex said. She got up and walked around the table to give Lena a hug.

“You’re welcome,” Lena said, a blush spreading on her cheek. Kara thought it look downright adorable.

Alex returned to her seat and opened Kara’s present. For a while she just stared at the picture of them on a rocky Cornish beach. When she finally looked up at Kara there were tears in her eyes.

“That was the last vacation we took with my dad,” she said finally. Sam was rubbing circles on her back, smiling sympathetically.

Kara could feel the tears forming in her eyes as well. They smiled at each other. She only looked away, when Lena intertwined their fingers under the table.

--

When it was time to leave, Kara was a little bit tipsy. She heard Lena whisper to Alex in the hallway.

“Didn’t she only have one glass of wine?”

“She’s sort of a lightweight,” Alex laughed. “She can get drunk off of cider alone.”

“You know I have excellent hearing, right?” Kara said, turning around to glare at her sister.

Alex raised her hands in mock surrender, looking extra innocent. “I take it back, you can do three shots of vodka, no problems. Happy?”

“Whatever,” Kara grumbled, remembering the incident in college Alex was referencing, which ended with her puking into her roommate’s flowerpot.

“Do I wanna know?” Lena asked, amused at the display.

“Yes.” – “No!” Kara and Alex said at the same time.

Kara turned to glare at Alex again, who had started laughing at her expression.

“Can you guys keep it down? You’re going to wake Ruby,” Sam told them, leaning on the kitchen doorframe, trying to be stern while at the same time not being able to keep a smile off her face.

“Sorry!” Everyone yell-whispered. Brainy and Nia had already left an hour before, Nia telling them that “someone would have to sell some books tomorrow”, and Brainy just automatically following her.

Now it was one in the morning and Alex and Sam had very kindly kicked them out.

“We’re old,” Alex had told them.

“Hey, speak for yourself,” Sam had said lightly slapping Alex’s arm.

So after a round of hugs and thank-you’s and Sam telling Lena she definitely hoped for preferential treatment at work now (“I’m joking, of course,” said Sam while Alex whispered “She really isn’t,” to Lena as they were leaving), they found themselves outside, Kara swaying slightly.

“Do you wanna walk for a bit?” she asked Lena, not quite ready to let go of her yet.

“Sure,” Lena said smiling. She went to her driver who had been waiting when they had come out and spoke briefly to him.

“What did you tell him?” Kara asked upon her return.

“He’ll just follow us at a distance.”

“Kinda creepy,” Kara said unimpressed.

Lena laughed. “You’re cute, when you’re tipsy.”

Kara started pouting. “I’m always cute.”

“True enough,” Lena admitted, slinging her arm through Kara’s as they started walking in the direction of Kara’s house.

After a couple steps Kara noticed Lena was shivering. Without a comment she took off her sweater offering it to Lena. Who, she found staring at the space where Kara’s t-shirt had ridden up, exposing a sliver of her well-toned abs.

“Oops,” she said, pulling her shirt back down, not being able to keep a smirk of her face.

“You’re such a gentleman,” Lena said, taking her sweater and pulling it over her head ignoring Kara’s playful wink as best as she could.

“I try my best.” Kara could swear, she saw redness rise in Lena’s cheeks even in the relative darkness of the street. Her sweater was a bit too loose on Lena, which looked very cute. A sight she could get used to, Kara thought. They walked in silence for a bit.

“So how did you end up in this neighborhood?” Lena asked her finally, still hanging onto Kara’s arm.

“Well, Alex came to England to study, and I sort of followed. I couldn’t imagine living a whole ocean apart from her.”

“You guys are very sweet,” Lena said. “Your parents raised you well.”

“Well, we only grew up together from when I was twelve. Her parents adopted me when mine died,” Kara told her, smiling sadly. “But, yes, they did. Well Eliza did, Alex’s mom. Her died not long after I came to live with them.”

Lena had stopped in her tracks staring. Kara’s heart sank, immediately regretting her words.

“I’m sorry,” she began, “I didn’t want to be a mood killer.”

“Oh, my gosh, no I’m sorry, it’s just – I was adopted as well. By the Luthors.”

Kara didn’t hesitate to take Lena’s hands in hers. Warmth spread through her chest looking at Lena, spotting the melancholy in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know that,” she said squeezing Lena’s hands for extra emphasis. A sad smile played on Lena’s mouth.

“Well, yeah, I think it’s the only reason the shareholders trusted me to take over the company. Lack of psychopath genes and all that.” Lena let out a bitter little laugh, breaking eye contact.

Kara could see tears glisten in the light of the streetlamp. Without giving herself a chance of overthinking, Kara pulls Lena into a hug. The smaller woman melts into the embrace. Tentative fingers wandered to her back and finding hold on her t-shirt. Kara let herself breathe in the smell of Lena’s hair as it was tickling her nose. Their bodies fit together perfectly. For a moment they just stood there both enjoying the feeling of warmth and closeness until she could feel Lena pulling back. Kara had slung her arms around Lena’s neck in order to pull her close and now Lena took one of her hands to cup her cheek leaning into the touch. The skin of her cheek was impossibly soft underneath Kara’s fingers. Her gaze traveled down to Lena’s lips, the lipstick all but gone from dinner. Carefully Kara traced them with her thumb. She could feel Lena shiver.

“What a crazy day,” Kara murmured eyes following the way her thumb swiped along Lena’s lower lips.

“Kiss me already,” Lena whispered, breath tickling Kara’s digit.

Kara reacted at once, pulling the other woman close, cradling her head and pressing their lips together. One hand stayed on Lena’s neck while the other moved into the hair that was still pulled into a ponytail. Their lips moving against each other, she could feel Lena opening her mouth slightly, deepening the kiss. Her hands moved on Kara’s back down to her hips, grasping them and pulling her forward. At the feeling of their hips bumping together and Lena’s tongue swiping over Kara’s lower lip at the same time, a tiny moan escaped Kara’s mouth. She felt electric, her head spinning. One of Lena’s hands found its way underneath her shirt and came to rest on her naked back. In response Kara nipped on Lena’s lip. Now it was the other woman’s turn to gasp. Breathing heavily Lena pulled back.

“We’re giving Patrick quite the show,” she giggled, nodding in the direction of the limo which was standing just a few feet away, the driver’s silhouette just barely visible through the windshield.

“I’m sure he’s a professional,” Kara said grinning and leaning in again.

She kissed Lena briefly on the lips and then started to trail smaller kisses down her jaw line and turning to her throat. When she started lightly sucking on Lena’s pulse point, the other woman pulled away again with a laugh.

“Oh, no, seriously. Not here,” she said gently pulling Kara upright again. Her hands were still on Kara’s lower back underneath her shirt.

“So, elsewhere?” Kara asked not able to suppress a smirk.

She traced the place where her mouth had just been on Lena’s throat with her thumb. In response Lena gasped, mouth slightly ajar. Arousal shot into Kara like lightning at the sight in front of her. She was sure it was plain on her face. Her hold on Lena’s neck tightened ever so little.

“Maybe next time,” Lena said taking Kara’s hand from her neck and gently kissing the inside of the palm, without breaking eye contact.

Not helpful, Kara thought. The place where Lena’s hands had been on her back felt very cold at the loss of contact. When she had been slightly tipsy before now she felt stone cold sober and absolutely shit-faced at the same time. But still.

“So, there’ll be a next time?” She raised her eyebrows questioningly.

“I don’t think I could resist,” Lena assured her. She intertwined their fingers turning as to keep walking. “Come on let’s get you home.”

Kara triumphant at the thought of repeating the night lead Lena towards her house. They spent the rest of the fifteen-minute walk with Kara telling Lena all about every café, shop and restaurant they pass. When they arrived at the blue door, Lena knew exactly where to get her next cappuccino and where Kara thinks the best potstickers in all of England are made. At one point Kara finally managed to get Lena’s number and promises her to text her the address of her favorite breakfast place later. As Kara turned her key in the lock, it was Lena’s turn to take Kara’s face in her hands. Gently she placed a kiss on Kara’s lips. Kara’s eyes closed and she enjoyed the feeling, willing it to last.

Quickly the kiss deepened once more, and Kara found herself pulling Lena closer by her hips. She swiped her tongue over Lena’s lips asking for entrance and receiving it. She heard Lena moan silently, their tongues touching for the first time. Lena tasted sweet, a little of birthday cake and a little of the tea, Sam had made her before they left. The desire to explore of Lena, to taste more of her rolled over her heavily. Breathing hard Kara pulled back.

“I think you’re the one that’s irresistible,” she said leaning their foreheads together.

Lena just laughed, pressed a chaste kiss to Kara’s lips and with a final squeeze of her hands was walking down towards the waiting car. Kara’s eyes followed her all the way. At the car door, Kara could see Lena hesitating for a second. She turned back waving at Kara a blush on her cheeks. The sudden shyness made Kara swoon and smiling she waved back. And with that Lena was gone the black limousine driving down the street. Kara stepped inside her home. Closing the door behind her she leaned her head against the wall. A deep breath. Two. Her heart seemed to be beating in her ears.

“What the fuck,” she said aloud to no one in particular. Kara felt like a different person had left the house that morning.