The Corner

Kara

Find me in the puppy corral.

I sent Alex the text with a massive grin on my face. I’d been dying to go to the city dog shelter since Winn told me about it. I knew it would be the only place where I could forget the day, and soak up the unconditional love of dogs. I invited Alex in hopes she’d help me pick a dog, then help me fill out the adoption papers. I was nervous I’d get rejected like I always did and somehow screw up answering the questions. My jet setting lifestyle never allowed me to stay in one place for more than a breath, leaving me as a poor candidate for a furry friend.

I squeaked with joy as I pushed open the door to the puppy corral and a pile of happy little fluff balls came trotting over to me. I immediately sat down, letting puppies climb over me and lick my face. I’d saved enough time to change clothes before I headed back to the office for meetings with the Draiocht team. My article about my life the last ten years was a hot topic, and the editing team wanted to do a full series for the summer issues. I was still simmering on the idea, hesitant to share my life fully, but at the same time, writing had been healing. I was closing up wounds and putting old scars to bed.

I smiled as puppy, after puppy, crawled into my arms, nipping and barking their excitement. One little brown fluff curled up in my arms and fell asleep, letting me cradle her against my chest. I sighed, knowing I’d just fallen in love with this dog and I wouldn’t be able to leave her.

“That’s Penguin. She’s a terrier mix, almost a year old and she doesn’t like everybody. She usually hides in the corner.” A volunteer leaned over the small fence keeping the corral secure. “It looks like she really likes you.”

I blushed, cradling Penguin closer. “I think I really like her.” I glanced at the volunteer. “Is she adoptable?”

“She is. Did you want me to get the application set? You can take her for a walk, see how you vibe outside the corral.” The volunteer handed me a harness with a leash.

I grabbed the leash, bordering on giddy. “Yes and yes. My sister should be here any minute. A tall ominous looking redhead, probably wearing all black.” I dug in my back pocket, pulling out my phone. “I’ll let her know I’m outside, walking Penguin.” I swiped open my phone, a text from Alex already waiting.

Hey, I have to reschedule. Last minute interrogation across the city. Real dirty bastard. Raincheck?

I would’ve frowned, disappointed Alex was bailing on me, but Penguin was biting the leash in my hand. Her little face lighting up just like mine. I messaged Alex back, telling her it was okay and not to be mad if I came home with her new sister. I smiled at the volunteer. “Never mind about the redhead, it’ll just be me. Can you still bring me the application?”

“Of course. When you have Penguin all set, go out the double doors right back there. You can walk to the edge of the park and back. I should have the application ready for you when you return.”

I whispered a thank you, slipping the harness on the little dog, giggling when she licked my hands. “Let’s go, Penguin.” I snapped the leash on and let her lead me out of the corral. She ran with full puppy speed towards the back doors, as if she already knew the way.

Outside, I let Penguin take the lead, letting her sniff every little inch of the outside. I grinned, pushing up my glasses and enjoying the sunny day. This was exactly what I needed after the last week. I was still coming down from confronting Lillian, still trying to figure out my next step with Lena. Draoicht was taking my stories and turning it into a full length series that would run for a few issues, maybe longer, depending on the reaction from the public.

Two days ago, Cat connected me with a few publishing houses. The biggest names in the business, and all wanted my stories. All of them wanted me to sit and write a full length book, an autobiography with a journalistic twist. It was one of the reasons why I scheduled this lunch with Alex. I wanted to discuss it with her and if I could do this. Write an entire book filled with the horrors and successes of the last ten years. It scared the crap out of me when I started listing the highlights of my life as a war correspondent. Staring at the stupid sheet of paper, I looked nothing like the girl from Midvale I still thought I was. I was so much more, and for once in my life, I started to recognize the things I’d done. I’d change tiny fragments of this world, and left an impact on so many. And that was what I was still digesting.

“What do you think, Penguin? Should I write that book?” I chuckled at the bouncy little tail, wagging a mile a minute.

“Yes, you should, Kara.”

I froze, letting Penguin tug the leash in my hand. My jaw clenched out of nerves as I took a deep breath. “I really don’t want to take an author photo, though. They always feel so silly to me, a perfectly posed glamour shot.” I looked over my shoulder, Lena stood a foot away, wearing jeans, a National City University shirt with thin blazer. “I don’t have the face for it.” I absently tapped the scar on my forehead.

“I’d beg to differ.” Lena smiled, shoving her hands in her pockets. “You have a face that lights up every room you walk into, a face that looks at me with nothing but pure love, accepting every one of my flaws.”

My cheeks turned a bright red as I turned back to Penguin, debating whether I should turn around and face her, face this, whatever this was. “Lena.”

“Before you ask. Alex came and saw me yesterday. Her last minute interrogation? Her way of getting us in the same room.” Lena took a step, catching Penguins attention. The little girl spun around my legs, rushing towards the new visitor.

I was forced to turn, or fall on my ass, twisted in the leash. Lena had knelt down, letting the dog sniff her hands before Penguin was nudging them for pets. “I, uh.”

“Don’t need to say a word.” Lena looked up at me, her eyes were varying shades of blue and green in the sunlight, and my stupid heart skipped for them. “I was an idiot the last time we were together. I shouldn’t have said those words and walked out. I was scared, which appears to be a common theme between us.” Lena scooped Penguin up when the little dog pawed to picked up. “I read your stories. I read the things you’ve done, the courage, the hell, the incredible things you’ve done. I read all of the moments I couldn’t be there to help you.” Lena held the dog against her chest, making my heart skip a few more times at the sight. “I’m tired of giving up, letting go and relying on fear.”

I shrugged, swallowing down my own nerves. “Okay?” I pushed my glasses up, glancing away from Lena. I was still caught off guard by her sudden appearance and whether I needed to punch Alex later, or hug her.

“I know you saw Lillian. Alex told me, and then I received a collect call from my dear mother late last night.” Lena had a sad smile on her face. “It was awful as always, the woman will never find humility and has mastered the art of a backhanded compliment. But she said something that resonated. She told me if you could walk in the fires of hell, and survive, we deserved each other.” Lena shook her head. “She’s still upset I haven’t increased her canteen money or moved her to a nicer cell.”

I smiled. “I did always wonder if Lillian’s middle name was bitter.”

Lena chuckled, shifting a now sleeping Penguin in her arms. “I do believe it’s on her birth certificate, Lillian Bitter Luthor.” She swallowed hard. “I realized she was right. If you had the courage to survive everything you have, and come home, and still rush to my side when I’m injured, I damn well should have the courage to fight for you, with you. You know the truth now, Lillian told me that much. She’s also impressed you know how to curse, the fuck you pricked past her icy armor.” Lena stepped closer. Good lord, she was still incredibly beautiful, more so as I let go of a bit of the weight of the past. “There’s something I have to tell you. Something I’ve held back for the last ten years, and only just confessed it to someone.” She handed me Penguin, reaching into her pocket. “I knew from the moment you smiled, you’d ruined me for the rest of my life. The two years we spent together made me feel like I was coming home again. My real home, Ireland, back with my mother. You made me feel free, loved beyond the pure definition of the word, and you gave me hope I wasn’t a Luthor. I was Lena. Just Lena.” She pulled out her hand, curled up in a ball. “The week before everything fell to shit and Lillian threatened to destroy everything. I made a decision. I was going to leave my life as a Luthor, leave everything I knew since I was four and start over.” She opened her hand. A bright silver ring with a row of inset deep blue sapphires and emeralds, sat in her palm. “Lillian found this ring, hidden under my floorboards with my notebook with my scribbles of how I was going to ask you for forever. She lost her mind and confronted me. Then the threats came tumbling free.” Lena blinked back tears. “I loved you so much, Kara. I was so young and so afraid of the power I thought Lillian held over me. I couldn’t stand by and watch her ruin you and Alex. Your family.” 

My lungs seized and I swore my heart stopped beating as I stared at the ring. I gently squeezed Penguin, desperate to control the emotions hitting me. I stared at the ring, my mind racing, and at the same time, completely blank.

Lena smiled. “You don’t have to say anything. I’m the one who needs to do everything to win you back.” She stepped closer. “I love you, still, Kara. I don’t know if everything is beyond salvaging. But I love you, and I want you to know, I’m here. I’m going to stand next to you, wherever you need me.” She paused. “I meant it when I said I would’ve said yes, because I was a breath away from asking you to marry me ten years ago, Kara Danvers. Ten years later, my heart still is yours and I will spend the rest of my life making up for every piece of your heart I broke out of your beautiful soul. I will fight for you until you tell me to stop. I will give up everything I have just to have one more moment with you, good or bad.”

I chewed on my bottom lip, overwhelmed. “Lena.” I rasped the words out, taking a small step back.

Lena nodded, curling her fingers over the ring. “It’s a lot, I know.” She smiled through watery eyes. “If you tell me to leave, I will.”

“The hell you will.” I blurted the words out. I shook my head, scrunching my brow as the words and thoughts smashed together in my head. “The hell you’re ever leaving again.” I looked at her. “I should’ve died a handful of times, and yet I didn’t. Lillian was right, I walked through the fires of hell over and over, and never understood why I made it through.” I paused, meeting her eyes. “It was you. I was meant to come back to you, Lena. The last ten years rarely made sense, until I sat in front of Lillian and faced her. I would’ve never been able to do that ten years ago. She would’ve broken me down further, and I would’ve let you go forever. But every time I got up, every time I survived, it was because of you. And even as I stand here absolutely clueless what comes next, I don’t want you to leave me alone. I don’t want you to walk away. I want you to stay. I want you to hear my stories, I want to show you all fourteen of my scars and the horrific things I’ve seen. I also want to tell you the incredible things I’ve seen, and done.” I felt the tears rolling down my cheeks. “You were the only person in this world who understood me, and you’re the only person I want to understand who I am now.”

I closed my eyes, swallowing down a sob when I felt Lena’s arms wrap around me, encasing me in her warmth.

“I love you.” Lena whispered against my ear. “Then, now, tomorrow. I love you, Kara.”

I buried my face in her shoulder, crying as I clutched at her blazer with my free hand. “I love you, Lena.” I gasped out the words as Penguin wiggled between us, barking as she tried to climb up to lick my face, worried about the sounds I was making. I leaned back in Lena’s arms, looking at the little dog. “But I might be in love with this little girl.”

Lena laughed, wiping the tears from my face. “I can’t say I blame you.” She held my face, smiling through her own tears before she leaned forward, letting her lips brush against mine, waiting for permission. I whispered my answer in a gentle sigh before she gently kissed me.

I held onto her elbow, desperate to pull her closer, but she pulled away, licking her lips. Her cheeks were flushed pink. “Can I take you to dinner? I’d like to go back a few steps from hidden rings and promises of forever, and endure an awkward first date.”

I chuckled, sniffling. “As long as we don’t go to a bowling alley.” I shook my head. “The most embarrassing date of my life, taking you to a bowling alley for half off nacho night.”

Lena playfully rolled her eyes. “You did break my fake cheese virginity, and it was the first and last time I ever wore rentable shoes.” She ran her thumb across my cheek. “Changed my life that night.”

I blushed, leaning into her touch. “That’s quite the accomplishment, perhaps one of my greatest.” I cleared my throat, memories of what happened later that night flooding my mind. “Um, yes? I’ll go on a date with you.”

Lena grinned. “Perfect.” She blew out a slow breath. “Can I take you to lunch today? We still have another hour before we both have to be at the office for the pitch meeting.”

I nodded, trying to control the emotions colliding into each other. I glanced at the little dog in my arms. “Um, will you be my co-signer, or vouch for my stable life so I can adopt Penguin? I always get nervous when I have to answer questions about what kind of life I live. And if my home is habitable for a small animal. I still have some boxes to unpack, and I’m pretty sure I can convince Alex to stop by the loft to walk her. And I can buy everything she needs, I don’t spend money except on endless take out and stupid new clothes. Maybe I’ll make her a service dog so I can sneak her into the office, and then Winn can babysit her if the meetings too long.” I closed my eyes, sighing deeply as I rambled. My nerves frayed.

“Kara, relax.  If anything, I’ll rewrite office policy so you can bring Penguin to work.” Lena squeezed my arms to settle me down.

I shrugged. “Don’t do that. It’s bad enough people think I’m sleeping with the boss.” My mouth dropped open, realizing what I just said. “So, I might rename her. Penguin is a weird name. She’s more of a Scarlet, or Pepper, or Poppy, or Potsticker.”

Lena laughed, shaking her head as she linked her arm in mine. “Let’s go on that first date before we start turning gossip into reality.” She winked as my entire face turned a bright red, my brain effectively coming to a full stop. Lena pressed a quick kiss to my cheek. “Just wanted to see if I still could make your brain short out. And I’m partial to Pepper.”

I let out a huge breath, leaning into Lena’s side as she waved the volunteer over, asking for the application and what the adoption fee was.

All I could do was think about how I was going to hug the literal shit out of Alex for bailing on me.