Chapter Text
There was a strange smell in the office when Lena went in for her monthly administrative meetings.
She couldn’t quite place it. She stood by the coffee machine for a while, stirring creamer absentmindedly, and tried to figure it out. It wasn’t unpleasant at all, instead it was… spiced, exotic, strangely warm , but there was no hint of a source. Certainly not the coffee, which, despite Lena’s best efforts, remained bog-standard—office prejudice dictated only Starbucks in little k-cups that invariably piled over the edge of the trash can, which became a precarious mound until the custodial staff came on Friday.
So, not the coffee, then. Tea, maybe? There were little racks of paper packets, but none of them evoked that same shocking sweetness, even after leaning in for a closer whiff.
“Lena?” Jess called, interrupting her brief reverie over the sweeteners. “HR is waiting for you in your office, when you’re ready.”
She straightened, and brushed crumbs of powdered creamer from the sleeves of her blazer. “Great, thanks.” Her assistant nodded and turned neatly on her heel to go, but Lena called her back. “Jess? Are you wearing new perfume?”
Jess looked quizzical. “Not really, no. I got a new body spray a while ago but I haven’t used it, yet.”
“Oh.” Lena tightened her nails on the edge of her coffee cup, and found herself mildly frustrated by that answer. Mystery remains unsolved, then. Why does it bother me? It almost feels like my skin is itching. “Never mind, then. What’s on the docket for today?”
Jess looked relieved to be back in the realm of questions she could answer. “HR wants to know if there are any employees yet who haven’t signed up for cycle leave. We have to send the PTO numbers in to finance by the end of the quarter.”
“Good. Let’s get that done soon, yes? I want to have lunch with Kara Danvers today.”
Jess hid a secretive little smile behind her iPhone and nodded, studiously. “Of course. We’ll pencil her in for noon.”
“Wonderful.” She made an about-face, heels clicking imperiously on the tiled floor as she made her way back through the bullpen to her office, with Jess trailing behind.
Something stopped her halfway, however. Her nostrils flared and she could feel a lightness in her chest, as she breathed in something smoky and thick. Her head swam for a moment, and she had to close her eyes, wavering on her heels. Strong fingers laced around her upper arms and Lena almost swooned .
“Lena?” Kara’s concerned, gentle voice reached through the fog to her ears. “Are you alright?”
Lena popped her eyes open, and managed to give her favorite reporter a weak smile. “Oh yes, sorry about that, I—“
She trailed off almost immediately as she took another breath and her lungs were coated in scent. A pleasant tingling spread from Kara’s fingers to her spine, eliciting a small gasp.
“I’m fine,” she managed, finally, aware that she must be looking absolutely dumbstruck. Lena tried to focus her breathing into even rounds once more, but it was hard—everything felt so hot all of a sudden. Her gaze dropped down to where Kara held her, and, vaguely, she could see finger marks starting to form.
Kara dropped her hands, looking guilty. Her overall demeanor seemed a sharp contrast to the dizziness Lena felt—the reporter almost looked frazzled and unkempt. Her chest was moving rhythmically and her eyes looked bloodshot. She fidgeted in place, and her eyes roved Lena’s body almost….hungrily.
“Sorry about that, I must have stumbled on something,” Lena said, slightly breathless. Kara just stared at her, glasses askew. “I, um, have some meetings until noon, but I have you all scheduled for our lunch date. I didn’t forget.”
Kara nodded and coughed, as if she was remembering to speak. “G-great, great, yeah. I have some work I need to do until then, so—“
They sidestepped each other in tandem. Lena laughed at the awkwardness, but Kara looked strangely mortified. What’s up with her?
“Okay seeyoulater bye !” She nearly yelled at Lena in a garbled rush, and brushed past, holding a sheaf of papers close to her waist.
Jess, who had been observing the whole thing from two paces behind, coughed politely, and Lena nearly jumped. Something is making the whole office weird, today, I suppose. Giving the matter no further thought, she nodded at her assistant and led the way into the office, where Stephanie from HR awaited patiently with a spread of reports.
Lena listened patiently with half of her brain, as she was given a detailed quarterly rundown on budget concerns and staffing issues. As usual, she was able to pay enough attention to respond correctly and ask the right questions, while the rest of her thoughts narrowed in on her strange mood. What is with me today? It’s almost as if it’s my cycle, but that can’t be. My last heat was two weeks ago. I’m not due for another month and—
Something clicked. Alpha. I’m smelling alpha. In the office. Someone’s rutting. But who?
Now that was an interesting quandary. Far more interesting than the HR Director’s gently droning voice, to be sure. Normally, the smell of an alpha in rut wasn’t at all distracting. National City was a big place, and someone was almost always beginning or ending a cycle. But Lena had somewhat of a fastidious nose, and alpha musk had never appealed to her in such a way before. She’d usually dated betas, and preferred to keep her status off the table, as far as sexuality went—Lillian Luthor hadn’t particularly warmed to the idea of an omega in the family, and had instilled a deep-seeded discomfort in Lena towards her base instincts. She routinely went through heats alone, even when in relationships, and much preferred it that way—easier to control herself in the public eye. An alpha’s pheromone trail had never enticed or influenced her cycle before.
I wonder who it is.
She tuned out even further to look slightly over Stephanie’s shoulder, to the bullpen, examining her options. James and Jess were betas, so that left them out of the running, as were most of the other office members. There was Finn from Accounting, Genji from the Ad Sales department, as well as Rachel, Saorise and Rajiv, the reporters— all alphas. Most of them managed their ruts in a timely fashion, and took leave accordingly, however, so she didn’t think it was any of them. And then there were six omegas—not including herself, of course—but none of them were capable of producing such an intense, dominating pull.
She did not include Kara in her calculations, she realized after some thought. But that was because she’d never fully felt she had to. Kara was a Kryptonian, of course, and she didn’t even know if they had alphas.
(Not that she’d ever admit it to Lena—no, she had to maintain the silly charade. But Lena knew, obviously. She had several PhDs, after all, and it didn’t take a doctorate from MIT to see the similarities between someone with glasses and a ponytail and a certain someone who could fly. She just assumed Kara wasn’t ready to tell her yet, and that was fine. She could have her secrets. Lena had plenty of her own.)
Kryptonians didn’t appear to have any sexual dimorphism present on their planet, from what little research she could find, but all the articles did speak of them being largely close to humans in form and feature, and you could tell. Kara was a flawless example of that, really. All chiseled, sharp edges down her abdomen and muscles that—
“Miss Luthor?”
“Mmmhmm?” She shook herself, slightly, from daydreaming, and refocused. “I apologize, what was that, again?”
“We have a couple status employees left who haven’t signed up for heat or rut leave.” Stephanie explained, patiently. “We need to make our staff more aware of the benefits of paid time off for their cycles, or we’ll have to take a hefty government bite at the end of the quarter to compensate for not making all of our employees take advantage of legally-mandated services. It’s essentially like us refusing health insurance.”
“Oh, I see.” Lena drummed her nails on the glass table, absently, as she considered. “Perhaps we could have supervising staff bring this up individually in the one-on-ones? That way we aren’t singling anyone out in a group presentation.”
“That would be my recommendation as well, Miss Luthor.” Stephanie nodded along with her. “We can have managers discuss this privately among staff in their usual check-ins, so as to be non-threatening, and that way no one feels like they’ve been reprimanded.”
“Excellent.” Lena’s eyes swung to the clock. The needle was wavering dangerously close to twelve. “Well, if there isn’t anything further to discuss…”
There wasn’t. She stood up with Stephanie and had Jess escort her out after some pleasantries. She also sent Jess to lunch, and sat down on her office couch to wait, settling her hands on her skirt to quell the usual nervous anticipation in her belly.
Lena wasn’t very good at being friends. She knew that, intrinsically. Boarding school had been a nightmare. In college she’d learned that no matter how hard she tried, the name followed her around like a bad taste in the mouth and it kept a wide berth. So she learned other ways. ‘Friends’ to Lena gradually grew to mean networking acquaintances, business associates, and opportunistic moves. Power plays made under tight smiles and tailored suits.
Being friends with Kara was nothing like that.
Kara was a hugger , for one. She loved to crush her body against Lena with one arm slung across her back, chests touching, until the breath felt tight in Lena’s lungs. She was a gift-giver, too, always bringing bags of donuts or burgers or, on rare occasions, Lena’s favorite lemon kale salad from the Greek place. And she loved bad movies and nights in with sweatpants. She loved sharing, being emotional. Lena had never done anything like that before. Or cried, before, in front of anyone other than Lex. She’d never felt safe enough to be that vulnerable, that emotionally bare. Kara had that effect.
And in all of her innocent open-hearted kindness, she had no idea that Lena was absolutely falling in love with her.
Lena had tried to play the sexual tension card for several months, testing the waters. She’d laid slow, suggestive blinks on Kara until her eyes ached. Then she tried lip biting. Then she bought an entire florist’s worth of flowers. Then she bought a journalism company. Her accountants thought she’d gone mad.
Kara hadn’t taken the hint, in any case. She’d remained charmingly oblivious through it all, aside from some stammering and periodic eyewear adjustment. And that, sadly, meant that she was definitely straight as an arrow, and any reciprocal moments that Lena might have felt were just that—moments. Nothing more. No matter how disappointing that may be.
She banished such thoughts as she saw Kara approach from the glass doors, and forced herself to smile welcomingly. Regardless of how she felt, it was still good to have someone like Kara in her life, she told herself. Having her as a friend was better than not having her at all.
Something seemed to be up, however. Kara hesitated before she touched the door, and her outfit looked a bit more disheveled than usual. Lena’s brow furrowed. Oh no, I bet she has a Supergirl emergency. I wish she would just tell me instead of making up an excuse this time—
When Kara opened the door, all thought vanished from her mind.
The scent was back, and stronger. It filled the confines of her glass-walled office, and the air was suddenly heavy, warm, and humid, like a damp fog. Lena blinked, sluggishly, and drew a breath, trying to center herself, but that proved a mistake—the heat of it filled her lungs and she was nearly gasping by the time the door swung closed again.
Kara stepped inside, but didn’t rush to hug her as she usually would, and that was a small mercy, because Lena was only able to keep herself upright on the couch through sheer, white-knuckled grip on the leather. Standing would be impossible. She blinked, again, and saw that Kara was looking rigidly over her shoulder, as if trying to avoid her eyes. The blonde’s face was red, and she looked sweaty, but something about her called to Lena with every fibre of her being—
Kara. It’s Kara. She’s rutting. I can smell her. Oh god, I want….
“Lena.” Kara cleared her throat, but it was no use—the husky timbre sent shivers of arousal straight into Lena’s thighs. “I’m s-sorry but I think I need to cancel our lunch date today, I’m feeling kind of sick and I think I….”
She trailed off, and her gaze finally landed onto Lena’s. For a moment, her eyes darkened, and the pupils, black as night, burned as they trailed down her body. Lena felt a thrill set fire to her spine. She wants me, she realized, mildly delirious. Kara is in rut, and she’s attracted to me.
“Kara.” Lena tried to speak, but it came out as a croak. Kara just kept looking at her, and that intense hunger had her fingers digging deeper into the couch. She tried again. “Kara, I think you should sit down.”
Kara’s throat constricted and she reached, instinctively, to adjust her glasses, but brought her fist back down to clench at her side. That nervous hand movement drew Lena’s eye, and she zeroed in on the front of Kara’s neatly-pressed slacks. She wet her lips when she realized she could see something stirring, beginning to rise against the pleating, and there was an answering tug in her lower body. Her eyes drew back up to Kara’s, and she felt bolder, more empowered with lust.
“Sit down, Kara.”
Kara sat.
They regarded each other from opposite ends of the couch. Kara had never sat so far away before. Now it was like she was afraid she would catch fire if she came close enough to Lena, and she fidgeted, staring straight ahead as her leg bounced with nervous energy. There was a crackling, thunderstorm of tension in the air between them.
Lena spoke first. “So.”
Kara turned, slightly, to look at her. Lena felt a thrill to see that her pupils were still wide and dark. “It appears you’re in rut,” she said, as casually as she could manage, under the circumstances.
Kara jumped, as if she didn’t quite trust the words out loud, but she nodded, guiltily and quickly. “Uh, yes. Yes. God , Lena, I’m sorry, this is so awkward. I should have applied for leave.”
“Yes, you should have. It’s important for all employees to take advantage of government-mandated cycle benefits,” Lena told her, but her mind was elsewhere. She found herself breathing heavily, and tried to dial it back, fiddling with the hem of her skirt. “I didn’t know you were an alpha.”
Kara blushed so hard that Lena almost laughed. It was the most un-alpha-like response she could imagine, but, of course, it was Kara. The Kryptonian contained multitudes. Whole universes, even.
“I didn’t tell you, I know. I don’t exactly tell many people. Alex is the only one who knows.” She mumbled, and looked at her hands, folded in her lap. “I’m usually on better suppressants but the lab—my pharmacist is having some kind of… supply problem, so it’s difficult right now.”
Translation: the DEO usually has me on Kryptonian-strength alpha blockers, and now they’ve had some kind of emergency and I’m out.
Lena was fairly good at parsing the truth from Kara’s bad attempts at coverups. She nodded, as if she was being sympathetic, while her mind raced ahead. Of course they’d keep her on super-strength blockers. No wonder I never knew. The DEO can hardly afford to have their prized alien flying around National City in a blind haze looking to bang some lucky omega every six weeks. She shuddered, both in some kind of primitive jealousy, and in desire. Oh God, she’s really affecting me.
“Does your… pharmacist know what the supply problem may be?” Lena tried to dance as delicately as she could around it, but she was already guessing.
Kara avoided her eyes. “Some… transport issues, I guess.”
All those recent anti-alien protests. They probably can’t get access to whatever they were using to synthesize a safe Kryptonian pheromone blocker. Damn them, I could help with that. If only they’d trust me enough to ask.
She reached across the couch for Kara’s hand. There was instant electricity from her fingertips, and the warmth spread inside of her lower belly, pooling between her legs. Kara looked at her hand as if it were a lifeline, and then swallowed, slowly, raising her eyes to meet Lena’s at last.
“I’m sorry. I can’t imagine how you must be feeling. I had an unscheduled heat once and it was just awful.”
She’d only meant to be sympathetic, but mentioning her heat, no matter the context, was a mistake. Kara’s hand tightened on hers for a moment and her eyes flashed, thickly black with desire. A low growl rumbled between her teeth and it made Lena’s bones shiver in appreciation.
Kara, however, blinked hard and dropped Lena’s hand as if it was on fire, as her irises returned with their honest blue. “Lena, I think you’d better not touch me, just to be safe.”
“Oh.” Lena withdrew her hand to her lap. “I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be.” Kara’s tone was anguished, even if she couldn’t look Lena in the eye. “ I’m sorry. This is just really difficult right now and I-I think I should—“
“I could help you, if you want.” Lena heard herself say, as if from far away.
There was a prolonged silence. Kara just stared at her, mouth agape, and Lena blinked, slowly, as she realized she’d spoken aloud. There was no use trying to put the cat back in the bag, however. The words were out there. Kara was clearly processing her offer, albeit slowly.
Finally, she spoke. “You mean like…?”
“Sex.” Lena put a fine point on it, rather primly. Her trembling fingers curled at the edge of her skirt were the only indication of her inner feelings. That and her pounding heart, which she knew Kara could hear. “I’m an omega, Kara.”
“I know.” Kara fumbled for her glasses, and her fingers twisted the wire of her frames into a quick, complicated pretzel. She stared at them for a moment and then tried to flatten out her handiwork, blushing fervently. “I-I know, Lena.”
“So then surely you understand the point of my biology is to… assist… alphas in matters like these?” Lena found it was easier to be clinical, as usual, rather than give in to the shaky, fluttery feeling in her chest. She schooled her eyes demurely, even as Kara’s rounded.
Kara looked mildly alarmed. “Lena, that’s not the only thing that omegas—“
She held up a hand, interrupting Kara’s attempt at chivalry. “I don’t need a lecture in status equality, Kara, although I do appreciate your kindness.”
“Lena.” Kara looked stricken. Torn. There was clear desire in her eyes, but also concern, and guilt. Lena understood.
She doesn’t want me to think this means a relationship. It’s just sex for her.
“Kara, you don’t have to date me or anything.” She reassured her friend, trying for a casual smile. “I know you’re straight. This is just...me offering you a helping hand, if you want one. Think of it like a back scratch for a really bad itch.”
More anguish in Kara’s features. Her brow furrowed and she looked almost pained. “Lena, I’m not—“
“Lena?” Jess leaned into the doorway, holding the door ajar. “I’m sorry to interrupt but the Japanese investors started the Skype conference earlier than I thought.”
“Thank you, Jess. I’ll be there shortly.” She nodded reassuringly at her assistant, who seemed genuinely apologetic, and turned back to Kara, who appeared to be going through some kind of massive inner turmoil on the other end of the couch.
“Just think it over.” She told Kara, rising. “Let me know at the end of the day. I’m here to help, Kara, I really am.”
Some of the sincerity in her voice must have gotten through to Kara because she finally raised her eyes to Lena’s and stood up, shifting from side to side. “I will.”
“Good.” Lena smiled, and favored Kara with one of her softer looks. “It’ll be alright, Kara. In any case, I know now who to put down for rut leave in the HR books.”
Kara wasn’t listening. She was looking at Lena, strangely, as if considering. Then she rushed forward, unexpectedly, and crushed Lena into one of her usual bear hugs. Lena let out a surprised squeak, but melted into the embrace much easier than she would with anyone else. Kara smelled so good , and she was so warm…
Lena barely bit back the moan that threatened to rip from her lips as she felt the length of Kara’s body press against her amidst a swirl of pheromones. There was a distinct stiffness poking into her lower belly, and for a moment her brain was mystified, lost in the fog of the embrace, until she realized and her eyes popped open. Unfortunately, it seemed to occur to Kara at the same moment, because she coughed, quickly, and withdrew.
“I’ll see you this afternoon,” she told Kara, but the alpha only nodded. Her eyes were almost all pupil, again. It sent another answering thrill through Lena’s spine.
After Kara left, she sagged against her desk, barely managing to stay upright. This day is going to take forever.
*****