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At the end of the mission, all of them, the Superfriends, reunited in the new DEO’s offices. It was not only a new and improved building, they also had some upgrades.
For example, when Alex wanted to talk to Lena in private, she led her to one of the new meetings room. There was a little lead plate below the sign indicating the number of the room, with the El family symbol in it.
“Well, what can I do for you, Alex?” asked Lena. She didn’t know what this talk was for, but she was a little rushed. The Museum’s new exhibition premier was about to start, and she had to change. It was a good thing that the courtesy norms dictated a 5 minutes window gap for tardiness.
“I know you have an event, I’m not taking much of your time. I’m worried about Kara”
“Worried? Why? Does anything happen to her?” with that, she was worried too. Thanks, Alex.
“Well, she has a lot on her plate right now, you know. And… I’ve been worrying about this… thing you guys have going on. I mean… I know it's none of my business, but… I don’t think Kara knows you two are like… together”
Lena was taken aback by the revelation. In another time she would be angry someone was prying on her relations, but… This was a bit different. She was her… sister-in-law.
“I don’t understand…” confessed Lena “We have discussed having dates. Today I’ve told her that I have to change tomorrow’s date. And it’s not that I’m not saying the word explicitly...”
“I know, I know…” Alex roamed the room and sat on the table, passing her hand through her hair, “But Kara… Sometimes she is just another kind of oblivious. In college, she didn’t know I was with a boy until like a year in. And I told her all about our dates”
“Oh, no” Lena sighed. She was nervous when they started having dates, a month ago, and she had to start over. She thought things were going great, that Kara was on the same page as her. But she clearly wasn’t “What am I supposed to tell her? Kara, darling, we have been dating for the past month, I’m just checking in to inform you. Oh, no. Oh, no”
Lena started to have a mini panic attack. It was all in her head, they… Oh, no.
Alex approached her and hugged her when she knew Lena could take the physical contact. She caressed her back.
“Don’t worry, Lena. She wants this more than you can think. I mean, she was all sad knowing you are seeing someone”
“She knows I’m seeing someone?” asked Lena. She walked away from the hug and started roaming the room, “but she doesn’t I’m seeing her?? How is that possible? This is not a prank, Is it, Alex? Because I’m killing you if it is”
“No, no” Alex put her hands in the air, like surrendering, “Not a prank. I think she overheard Nia and Brainy talking about how happy you are, now that you are in a relationship, or something like that. She thought you didn’t tell her. I assured her you haven’t told anyone, that we just… figured it out. But… I have to tell you, you two owe each other a conversation. I just wanted you to know”
Lena was shaken with this news. She was going to kill Kara. But first, she wanted to know how in hell was she not aware about… this. She had flooded her office with flowers. They have discussed date plans, she had told her “I’m inviting you for second dinner after the premier at the Museum, it’s a date” That same morning.
She saw Kara passing the corridor, clearly looking for something… or for someone. Kara saw them in the room and pressed her hands at the windows, with a huge smile… and a confused brow. Alex opened the door and let her come in.
“How come I couldn’t hear you? I’ve been looking for you all this time. Do you want me to take you to your house?”
Alex had a huge smile, once she complained about her not hearing them.
“Lead plates all around the room, in the walls. We love you, Kara, but we have to have a space where you can’t hear confidential meetings”
“You never have confidential meetings”
“We have them all the time, just… not when you are around. Do you know how difficult it is to discuss government matters that not even Supergirl can know about, with you having superhearing? No more hustle”
With a childish huff, Kara turned to Lena. Lena was avoiding her eyes, but agreed to go with her.
When they were in the sky, flying to Lena’s house, she couldn’t take it anymore and just had to ask.
“What were you talking about? Something confidential?”
“You know how we don’t have secrets between us, and we never lie to each other, don’t you?” Lena asked, avoiding her eyes.
“Alex...” the blonde sighed, “you… you don’t have to tell me all, you know? You can have secrets, I don’t know what Alex have told you, but I’m not mad or anything”
“Kara, I didn’t tell you because I thought you knew. You are supposed to know me better than anyone. I’m sorry for not saying it explicitly enough. I’m telling you, but can it be after the event? I want to explain myself property, and so we can talk”
“Yeah, yeah, of course. I’m sorry for not picking it up” she avoided her eyes too, before gently leaving her on her balcony. Lena had installed a handle on that door. It was that common she was flown home.
Lena arrived first at the museum. She wanted to go with Kara, but the other woman said she wanted to surprise her with her dressing choice. She could understand the fuss, it was really important to Kara as she has to speak in public tonight.
Lena had to put up with people as she waited. To her, that types of parties were work-related, as it was something she had to do to maintain her public facade. To her, the real fun nights were the ones that involved her Superfiends, board games, karaoke…
Suddenly, she heard commotion near the entrance. When she looked over there, Kara was entering the hall with a beautiful Kryptionian dress. Oh, how her skins glows with the white color of the dress, how her eyes have this brightness that could illuminate an entire city. She has a blue cape behind her, floating lightly as she walks. She is perfect.
Kara’s face bright even more when she sees Lena and goes quickly to her. She blushes a little, fidgeting with her purse, nervous. She has been dreading her speech, but she has been practicing with Lena and knows it perfectly.
“Sorry, but I think the protagonist tonight is Supergirl, not Supergorgeous” Lena tries a silly pickup line that she has been thinking about. She knew Kara would be beautiful tonight, she didn’t expect her to be that beautiful. The other one calms a little, as they laugh lightly.
“Do you like it? I didn’t know if it was appropriate” she mumbles, all nerves and frantic hand gestures.
“Kara, sweetie” the witch touches her arm and, and as a charm, the other one relaxes “I think it’s very much appropriate to wear a Kryptonian dress to the opening of the new Kryptonian exhibit. Is that a cape? I thought only Supergirl wears a cape”
“It’s a Kryptonian thing, you know” she says, touching it as to calm herself even more, “Is it too much? We wear them at important events and I thought…”
“Relax, I think it is ok. And if someone complains, just send them to me”
They laugh for a moment and start to roam the place, talking with people and, of course, eating as much as the blonde can.
Between snacks, Kara tilts up her face a little, as she listens to someone far away.
“Problems?” asks Lena, worrying.
“No, no. They are looking for me at the backstage. It’s my clue” She doesn’t know what to do with the food, so she offers it to the other, “Can you be in the front row? I… I really need the support right now”
“Of course, love” she smiles, “I wouldn’t miss it for the world”
Ten minutes later, everything is set and they are asking for the guests to approach the stage. It’s bigger than Lena have thought, it was just two or three people speaking and then, Kara’s speech. She, of course, is on the first row, waiting patiently for it to begin.
She can see a bit of hustle on backstage, behind the black curtains. When the first man begins his speech Lena couldn’t care less. She is just thinking about what she wants to say when they had the talk . The Kara, dear, we’ve been dating for a month talk.
She snaps from the imaginary scene when Kara steps on stage. She begins talking about Krypton, about her arrival to Earth, how she struggled… Lena is murmuring the speech at the same time as her, as she knows it all to the T. That is, until it changes… and she is completely lost.
“When I was growing up in Midvale, I heard all kinds of stories about my cousin, Kal-El” she leans on the microphone, like telling them a secret “that’s his Kyptonian name, by the way. Not his human name” she joked as she avoided Lena’s eyes. This secret part was rehearsed with Alex, “I was scared for him, he had to put up with villains who wanted him dead. And then, I felt the call here, in National City. And I knew I couldn’t stay still any longer”
“It hadn’t been easy, I’m not going to lie. I have faced all kinds of horrors, I’m not denying that nor sugarcoating it. But, in the end, I had people with me. My adoptive family, my Superfriends” She couldn’t take it anymore and stared at Lena. She was confused, with a brow in her face and fidgeting her hands, “Lena Luthor. Speaking of her, I’m going to tell you a story”
“A story about a place called Argo City, where, I’m sure you all know by now, the remnants of the Kryptonian people live. Years ago, they were struggling to keep the city together. But then, Lena Luthor discovered a way to increase the rare source that kept the city running. All sort of things happened between then and now, but Kryptonians do not forget, you know? And they have been thinking of a way to repay her”
“When I told my parents about this exhibit, they were delighted. The Council, most of them at least, wanted to share our history and our culture. And, if possible, show Lena Luthor more about Kyrptonians paying their debts. Can you get on stage, please?”
Her voice was oh so sweet and Lena could feel herself shaking slightly. She didn’t know any of this and doesn’t know what to think or what to do, for someone that is used to improvising. As she goes backstage, she encounters maybe the three people she was expecting to see the least. Zor-El, Alura In-Ze and Superman stare at her, encouraging looks on their eyes.
She cannot think for the life of her as she goes up the stairs. She could think about killing Kara, but she is trying to remember her name and where she is. The look that she throws at Supergirl is somewhat difficult to decipher. And the face that stares at her is the most apologetic the other one can make, it looks almost like a pout.
“And, of course, I need a little help” says Kara. She is enjoying that, that monster, “can you guys get to the stage too, please?”
Everyone gasps as the three of them appear. Superman, with his super suit, has a black briefcase as he approaches a stool and leaves it there. He is all smiles with his family and, strangely enough, Lena. It’s fake, of course. She knows Superman don’t trust her yet, but to his credit, he is trying.
“Lena. Kal and I have been thinking how to repay you for saving, you know, the entire city of Argo. You learned how to replicate Harun-El and gave the recipe to my mom, thus helping them survive” Kara approached her and her hands lend on Lena’s shoulders. Then, she goes away again, facing the people.
“You are all witnesses to this alliance” She tells them. Her voice is stronger, not quite yelling, but talking loudly, “The House of El and Lena Luthor are allies. We are one. El mayarah”
Before Lena could register the movements of the others in the stage, Superman has opened the briefcase and is walking towards her. He has something in his hands, and, before Lena’s brain can notice what it is, she is already crying.
“El mayarah” says Superman, he gave her her own red cape. The El glyph is sown into it, yellow and red. She looks at Kara, more than surprised.
“Kara… I can’t…”
“Is it the color?” asks Alura, worried, “I told you, it would be better a dark green for her. Blue? Purple, even?”
“No, no, no” Lena is shaking, and now she is frightened she has offended Kara’s parents “it’s perfect. But I don’t deserve it”
“Rubbish” says Zor-El. He doesn’t sound angry nor offended, “It’s not common we give our glyph to outsiders, but you wouldn’t be the first. Or the one that deserved it the least. We have decided and the Council back us, so you can accept it, or we can have it made on another color”
Her next target is Superman. He cannot think she deserves it, he can understand her. The other people in the room are forgotten now, she has her green eyes in Kal-El, the heir of the house.
“I’m not going to lie, Lena” he says, watching her, “I cannot trust you completely. I’m trying, but I had too many encounters with Lex. But I do trust Kara. Live up to her image of you” he requests her
She accepts the cape. She hasn’t stop shaking. Now that they all have assured her it alright, her little time off crying is back and stronger than before. Kara is practically jumping besides her.
“ Can I… can I… put it, pleaseee?” she asks. Lena nods and hands it to her, before turning over.
She can feel the ghosts of Kara’s fingers on her shoulders while she is putting it. She has shivers, and only then, she remembers about the talk they are having later. How can she face it with all that is happening?? What if Kara is angry because she has made up an entire relationship on her own?
Not use about thinking it now, she tells herself like a mantra. Not right now. The rest of her stage time is a blur, as Kara’s parents speak a little about this tradition and Kara is holding her hand. Tomorrow will be the moment to think about her pathetic behavior on stage.
When they come down from the stage, Lena excuses herself and runs to the bathroom. Her makeup is gross, and the cape glows up behind her, making it strange to move. She certainty notices the odd thing in her back as she walks.
Kara goes after her and enters the restroom. She is more apologetic than ever, fidgeting and trying to remember how to breath.
“Are you mad?”
“I’m… I’m not mad. It’s just… it’s a lot”
“Yeah… I wanted to tell you, but mom convinced me to keep the secret. I should have known to you, it would be… like a lot lot”
“I’m… I’m not sure about this. The cape? Not even your cape has the glyph”
“Not my work cape” smiles Kara, as she turns around. The cape she is wearing, dark blue matching with her Kyrptonian dress, has the symbol “I thought it would be fun if I wear the blue cape, and you wear the red. Like my suit”
Ironically, all Lena can think is that that woman that is wearing matching clothes with her doesn’t know they are together. She has requested for her family a blue cape, so she can match with Lena’s.
Once she is calmer, she sighs. The cape is… really cool, actually. It reminds her of Kara, and she knows, measuring it with her bare eyes, it can brace her body entirely. What if she… sleeps that night with it? Would them complain? They can try to sue her, they gave it to her. Now she can do as she pleases.
“I fear… you have to rip this cape from my cold and dead hands if you want to retrieve it” she jokes, once the crisis is almost over. She knows that, until the next morning at the least, the crisis is not going to be fully over.
They go back to the hall, where the party is. Superman and Kara’s parents are socializing like they are naturals and, as Supergirl told her once, they really are because they were nobles in Krypton.
Superman sees them, he is the awkward one of the lot, and hugs them both.
“How are you feeling, Lena?”
“I’m… I’m great, actually. It means a lot that you are trying to trust me. I don’t trust myself half of the time” she confesses. Both cousins notice she is holding to the fabric, as it is reassuring her. Calming her.
“It’s going to take some time” he tells her and turns to face Kara, “I’m going back to Metropolis. Story time. My wonderful and beautiful wife is killing me if I miss one story time more this month”
“You are married?” asked Lena, beyond surprised “and… you have a kid?” she isn’t yelling, luckily.
“You haven’t told her? I thought she knew”
“It’s not my secret to share. She knows that” Kara smiles, full of pride.
“Winn knew before we met”
“Not because of me”
Superman sighs. Fortunately, it’s not common for James to out him like that. He approaches Lena to whisper in her ear.
“I’m Clark Kent”
Lena snorts, dumbfounded. Superman lets her have a good look at her face, before going to say goodbye to his uncle and aunt.
“I’m the one that needs glasses” she says, and she can swear the smile on Superman face just twitches. He is having fun at her cost.
They have a great time as those boring and kind of work meetings go. The third time Supergirl has successfully stolen half a waitress plate, Kara’s parents approach them.
“Well, how long before we can go back to your house, daughter?” asks Zor-El “I wanted to look up those documents Brainy gave me. I’m trying to mix Kryptonian technology with alien one”
“I imagine all of them knows you two are here on Earth” says Lena. She is still touching the cape at times, not believing how the night is going.
“Yeah, that’s why Alex had to keep you occupied. She volunteered herself as she wanted to tell you something”
“Oh… yeah” she giggles a little, nervous, “is your house big enough? I can lend you my guests rooms” she doesn’t have a shortage of them.
“Nah, it’s alright. I can sleep on the couch. Mother, father, do you mind going there on your own? Lena and I were going to have second dinner”
“They can come too. I can call the restaurant”
Alura smiles at them and touches Lena’s arm softly.
“You are sweet, darling, but we are going home. I want to research some things as well, and Alex made sure we had enough food until morning. Go have fun at your date”
Lena blushed. Of course, even Kara’s parents have figured it out. And yet, Kara is so, so obliviously looking for snacks. Has that waitress? Nah, her plate is empty.
They part ways and the girls go to the restaurant. When they are already seated and served, both of them know it’s time. They have a talk pending.
“You… you don’t really know who is my… special person, do you?”
“I… I’m trying to think, but… you are not close to anyone in that sense, that I’m aware of. Maybe I don’t know them. Someone at the office? Jess? Nah, it can’t be Jess”
“Why it can’t be Jess?” Lena asks her, curious.
“She has a new boyfriend”
“Has she? How do you know?”
“The other day, I was waiting for your meeting to be over. We just… talk to each other, I don’t know”
“And you seriously cannot tell who I’m dating” Lena is just dumbfounded. And she is in awe.
“I’m… I should really know, shouldn’t I?” she is scared. She is a very, very bad best friend.
Lena pulls out her phone and starts scrolling.
“I’m inviting you for second dinner after the premier at the Museum, it’s a date”
“Sorry for having to leave, Kara, but I can’t have breakfast with you today. I’m borrowing your sweater, by the way”
“You thief. Witch sweater? Is the green one? I really like the green one on you”
“Is the light salmon one. I really like it, it reminds me of the day we met”
“So, can you come to L-Corp today or are you still busy?”
“Hey, this is Alex. She is kind of petting a giant T-Rex sort of alien? She says It’s going to take at least half an hour”
“Tell her I really, really need the help right now. A very bad meeting with my mom’s death anniversary all mixed up. I don’t usually do this, but today…”
“I’m on my way”
“You arrived three minutes later”
“You are more important than the alien T-Rex…” mumbles Kara. She is starting to understand now.
“You have not flooded my office with flowers again, Lena”
“Why would you do that??”
“Oh, just to celebrate your new Pulitzer nomination. I’m sure you are going to win it”
“Can I come? Cat has given me the afternoon. She says that it’s good press to do things for me today”
“I have a meeting… But if I’m being honest… I don’t feel like meeting the French today”
“I’m bringing Big Belly Burger”
“And I delayed it once again, the next week, because of that curse you got yourself into”
“I didn’t know he was her husband and not her father…”
“Do you want more proof?”
“There… there is more proof, isn’t there?”
“Just a month worth of proofs”
The silent felt between them. Kara was feeling like a fool. They were dating, and she was officially the last one to notice.
“A month” she sighed the word, burying her face in her hands “a month of dating”
“Are… are you okay with that?” asks Lena, fidgeting with the cape. The food is long forgotten and cold.
“With dating you or with dating you without noticing?”
“Both?”
“I’m more than great with dating you. The other thing… I’m a fool. I’m stupid”
“You are not stupid. I… should have been more upfront with it”
“You talked about dates, Lena. It doesn’t get much more straightforward than that”
The rest of the night is… odd. They talk a bit about all that situation they have going on. Kara can’t stop to repeat a month in her head, trying to understand herself. She… she couldn’t believe Lena would lay her eyes in her. That they can be together in that sense.
When Kara takes her home, again, she is rummaging another question in her mind, and Lena can tell.
“What it is, love?” asks her. It is not the first time she has said that pet name, but now Kara knows.
“How come in this month we haven’t kissed?”
“We agreed to take things slow. Or, at least… I agreed with it, while you… I think you were just venting? You told me about the Mon-El fiasco when you asked him to do things secretly”
“And I didn’t know we were having two types of conversation… is that right?”
“I think so”
Kara smiled at her and approached her slowly.
“Can I kiss you now?”
Lena nodded enthusiastically, leaning forward. Their lips touched, at last, and Lena sighed.
“Night-night, love” Kara said goodbye before taking off.
Not two seconds later, Alex’s phone was ringing.
“Kara, do you know what time is it?”
“A MONTH?”