Chapter 11
With a titanic effort, Lena succeeded in escaping Kara’s gaze and turned to face the glass door that led to the balcony in her office.
“How about we go outside to breathe some fresh air?” she asked, breaking the silence.
It was more a plea than a suggestion; she urgently needed it. She didn’t know how much longer she could withstand having Kara so close and do nothing about it otherwise.
“All right,” Kara accepted.
Lena took a jacket she had earlier placed on a hanger and put it over her shoulders to fight off the cold. Kara followed her closely until they rested against the railing outside. The young Luthor dedicated her a brief look and then her green gaze rested on the nighty landscape before them. She felt the urge to correspond to the trust Kara had showed her that night, so she started talking.
“When I was adopted by the Luthors when I was four…” Kara turned to look at her; Lena’s gaze was lost somewhere on the horizon, “Lex was who gave me the warmest welcome. My father wasn’t a bad man, but he was too cold and strict for a girl my age,” Lena smiled sadly, “So the time I spent with Lex was the best time of those days.”
“You told me something like that a while ago, when I came to L-Corp after I wrote my first article about you,” Kara remembered.
“It’s true,” Lena answered with a smile to turn to look at the city again, “What I didn’t tell you was that my father died when I only was thirteen, and my dearest mother sent me to a boarding school in Ireland because, according to her, it would be good for me, just like it proved to be for Lex years before,” Lena took a deep breath, “I know that what she actually wanted was to get rid of me…I was a nuisance, so after my father died she didn’t need the obligation to keep me in her house…My mother wouldn’t win the Mother of the Year award,” she joked.
“I’m so sorry,” Kara assured, laden with sadness. Lena thanked her for her words with a light smile and kept talking.
“You know? The boarding school wasn’t so bad, at first. Everybody wanted to be my friend, after all my family was rich and powerful, but then…Lex began to show his true colors, and them all turned their backs on me. But the desertion that hurt the most was Veronica’s.”
“Veronica…Veronica Sinclair?” Kara remembered what Lena told her that afternoon she asked for her help to find the woman’s fight club.
“The same. When she already was at the boarding school she took a liking to the nickname ‘Roulette,’ she…She made me believe that I was important to her but it was just an act she put up to enter the most exclusive social circles.”
“But she recently contacted you again, and she invited you to her club’s events,” Kara indignantly opined.
“What sort of relationship did they have at the boarding school?” the Kryptonian silently wondered, “Is Roulette maybe trying to get it back? Well, she better don’t hurt Lena again…Oh Rao, am I jealous?” she thought frowning.
“Of course she did: now that I’m regenerating the Luthor family name I am a rich and influential woman again, and Veronica loves that…As I just said, self-interest purely,” Lena sighed and lowered her gaze, contemplating her hands resting on the railing, “I guess that, in reality, I have never mattered to anyone.”
Kara placed her hand over Lena’s, making her shake a little. She wasn’t used to physical contact or spontaneous gestures of affection.
“Until now,” Kara assured with a warm smile, fully understanding the reaction of the young Luthor.
“Until now…” Lena repeated in a soft voice, looking at her with her eyes shining.
“Kara…I can’t see you just as a friend,” she thought internally, “If you knew how I feel about you, would you be lost to me?”
To regain her composure, Lena kept telling her story and described the Kryptonian how, the moment people turned their backs on her, she became more and more withdrawn, alienating herself from social life and turning herself over her studies to turn into a solitary young woman. Time later, when she came back to Metropolis to study at the university, her brother Lex had become completely lost in his madness against Superman, thus ruining the family business Luthor Corp and everything that carried their last name. On those days, Lena tried to talk some sense into her brother but, after many failures, she came to accept that Lex had been lost to his delirium, that he would never be the same caring fifteen-year-old that so warmly greeted her into his family. Losing Lex was a hard blow that left the young Luthor devastated.
Lena finished her university studies at the top of her year, and she even got several doctorates, but she was still isolated from the city’s social life and her friends were conspicuous by their absence. Not even her mother, Lilian Luthor, was able to show some affection for her academic achievements, making her always feel inadequate, no matter how much Lena exerted herself. When Superman took Lex to jail and he was tried for his numerous crimes, Lilian’s indifference got stronger and Lena took the determination to dedicate all of her energy to the only thing that remained: the family’s business. So, she moved to National City to start from scratch and show the world that not all Luthor were the same, re-baptizing the company as L-Corp. And then she met Kara Danvers and a brilliant light entered her life after years of darkness.
Lena’s words strengthened the image that Kara had already created of her. Lena was a good woman, though tormented by the lack of love on her mother’s part and the murderous madness of her brother who kept on her shoulders the responsibility to redirect and lead a big company all alone, without any family or friends that supported her. She admired her so. Even though she had never received any sort of support or encouragement, Lena had always been true to her principles, doing good to others. She felt the urge to infuse her with some warmth and hope, to pamper her, to make her feel loved for once in her life. She deserved it so.
“I have always felt alone,” the young Luthor whispered.
And then, Kara couldn’t contain herself any longer. Seeing her so vulnerable made her desire to protect her stronger than anything else. She encircled her waist with her arms, below her jacket, and he tenderly embraced her.
“You are not alone anymore. You have me,” she whispered in her ear, making her shiver.
“I know,” Lena sighed back, returning her hug.
The jacket fell to the floor, but Lena didn’t mind; Kara’s body gave her all the warmth she needed.
After some time sharing heartbeats and even breathings, they lightly parted. Lena had her hands over Kara’s shoulders, who in turn kept hers around the young Luthor’s waist.
“This is the second time we hug today,” Lena said, smiling with a hint of a blush.
“It is,” Kara admitted with a wide smile while she averted her gaze, yet without freeing her from her arms.
Lena also didn’t make a move to escape her position. When focused her gaze again, she began to ascend slowly. She first found Lena’s generous cleavage, and her heart began beating faster. Then, the snowy skin of her neck, temptingly adorned by a beauty spot. Finally, her glorious face, her seductive red lips which she was just biting, and her beautiful green eyes that were looking intently at her and seemed to be calling for her. Lena had never been especially subtle with her gestures, but Kara had needed time and a journey to another world to realize what was happening between them and what she felt for her.
She remembered the words by the other Lena: it was happening what had already happened on Earth-40. But she wouldn’t let things unravel exactly the same; she wouldn’t Lena take the first step again: this time it was her turn. In front of her eyes it was the fantastic woman she had met while she accompanied Clark, the woman who had become her friend, who had betrayed her own mother to do what was right…The woman who had stolen her heart, and she needed to let her know.
Kara’s hands abandoned Lena’s hips and ran over her neck with a caress until they delicately cradled her face. The young Luthor kept silent, fearing the moment would be lost if she dared to utter a word. Her mind, however, was abuzz with her thoughts.
“Kiss me, please,” she pleaded to herself while her pulse sped up.
Kara inclined her face to hers, unhurriedly, and Lena knew what was about to happen. She longed for it, fervently. She almost couldn’t believe her biggest whish since they met was going to become a reality. The Kryptonian could felt Lena’s heart beating in a frantic cadence, even her eyes where shining with a special tinge, until she finally closed them, inviting her to come even closer. That was enough to take the plunge. Lena felt the same as she did.
When their lips grazed, they both felt a sudden jolt in their stomachs that extended over their bodies. Lena’s heart wasn’t alone in beating a thousand of miles per hour. Even so, Kara tried to contain herself, mindful of her strength. She gave soft caresses to Lena’s mouth, and she returned each and every one of them with her arms around her neck. In a moment of bravery, Lena captured Kara’s lower lip between her own, stealing a weak moan from her. The Kryptonian, seeking a way to get even, caressed her flushed cheeks and neck with the tips of her fingers while she kept kissing her, making the young Luhor tremble and purr deliciously.
Kara slowly separated from her lips and contemplated how Lena drowsily opened her eyes. They were looking at each other, smiling, feeling their bodies…And they didn’t need to say anything to know it had been the best kiss in their lives. Lena got on her toes, seeking Kara’s lips once more. Her smile got bigger and she again circled her waist. However, something made Kara to lean slightly backwards. Lena, uneasy, looked into her eyes seeking an answer.
“Somebody is crying for help,” Kara seriously informed her while she freed her from her embrace.
“You must go, then,” Lena immediately told her.
Kara nodded and, in less than a blink of an eye, Lena had Supergirl before her, who dedicated her a last smile and flew away to a great speed. The young Luthor followed her with her eyes until she disappeared from her sight. Then, she kneeled to take Kara’s civilian clothes from the floor, letting her own jacked abandoned there. She put the checkered shirt over her shoulders and breathed in its perfume: it smelled like Kara.
XXXXXX
That night, Lena slept better than in a long time. Her mind gifted her with beautiful dreams in which she replayed her kiss with Kara time and time again. When the alarm rang at seven in the morning, she stretched out and sat on her bed. She took a deep breath, trying to assimilate what had transpired the night before. When she moved her right hand, she grazed some piece of clothing and she turned to take a look. It was Kara’s shirt, a little ruffled after spending the whole night in Lena’s bed. She smiled, thinking that she should iron it before returning it to her, because Kara could ask what had happened.
She left the bed thinking when she would see her again. She went to the window and opened the curtains to greet the first rays of the sun that morning and something caught her attention. When she recognized the white plumeria flower stuck to the glass with a piece of adhesive tape, she almost began to cry. She hastily opened the window to take it, along with a little piece of paper that had also been left.
Good morning, Lena. Have you slept well? You looked really comfortable when I saw you last night, so I didn’t want to wake you up. Are you busy today? I still haven’t left and I’d like to show you the DEO, where I work with my sister and friends. Could you come? I want to see you.
Did she really need to ask? Kara would never change: of course she could. She had two meetings programmed for that day, to tell the truth, but surely Jess could help with rearranging her agenda. She was filled with enthusiasm; Kara was still in National City and wanted to see her. She walked giving little jumps to the door of her bedroom and then she saw her reflection on the mirror. Her hand reached for her lips, remembering the Kryptonian’s kisses once again.
“How should I greet you when I see you next?” she whispered, nervous.
XXXXXX
Kara read for the fourth time the WhatsApp message Lena had just sent her.
Good morning, Kara. Thank you so much for the flower. Truth is I slept wonderfully. I’d love to visit the DEO and to see you before you return to Erth-40 even more.
Kara cartwheeled in the air while giving little screams of happiness. She then made it to Alex’s apartment; she needed to tell her what had happened. She stopped by the balcony, floating three feet over the floor and carefully knocked on the glass panel.
“Alex? Is Maggie with you? Are you decent?” she asked, “I need to talk to you about something.”
“Is that your sister?” Maggie rasped with her eyes half closed.
“I fear so…” Alex muttered, “Shouldn’t she be at CatCo first thing in the morning?”
A few minutes later, the couple was seated by the kitchen bar, coffee mugs in hand. Kara didn’t want to have a seat; she was too nervous to keep still.
“Go on, Little Danvers: you have us on edge,” Maggie encouraged her. Kara’s babbling made her speak again, “Or should I leave you alone?”
“No, it doesn’t matter; I’m sure she’ll tell you as soon as I leave,” Kara accused, “And you know, I think it’s all right if the three of us are here together,” she added, remembering the nice conversations she had shared with Alex and Maggie from Earth-40.
“What did you want to tell me, Kara?” Alex inquired with a hint of worry, “Is it about the parallel world?”
“No, not at all…Or maybe, I don’t know,” Kara rambled on.
“Kara, just breathe. What happened?”
“It’s nothing bad, I swear!” she exclaimed with a smile.
“Your sister is a little bit hyper today, is she always like this in the mornings?” Maggie asked while looking at Alex, who just shaked her head negatively, “She looks like an overexcited puppy.”
“Hey! Who are you calling a dog?” Kara complained with a frown, making Alex and Maggie laugh.
“Your current state has something to do with Lena Luthor?” Alex inquired with a mischievous smile.
“Uh…Well…Yes…” Kara admitted, lowering her eyes.
“Well, at least we got something,” Maggie joked.
Alex playfully smacked her on the arm. She knew how difficult it was for Kara to talk about her feelings in contrast to how daring she could be to act about them.
“Yesterday I paid a visit to her to L-Corp after the event her company held,” Kara elaborated, “And I confessed her my secret: that I am Kara Danvers and Supergirl.”
“You what?!” Alex exclaimed.
“But you don’t have to worry: we can trust Lena, she’ll never tell anyone, I’m sure,” Kara hastily explained.
“I hope you’re right, because if she does she would put us danger, and you the first of all, Kara,” Alex sentenced.
Her sister approached her and took her hand affectionately.
“I know you will never stop behaving as the big sister that you are and I love so much, but you have to trust me and my decisions. I know Lena is on our side, and I…”
“You…?” Alex raised her eyebrows, urging her to continue.
“I feel something very strong for her,” she revealed. Maggie smiled, “Last night we spoke for hours, and then…” Alex gas giving her undivided attention, “Then I kissed her, and she kissed me back, and I felt butterflies in my stomach, and I’m dying to see her again!” she declared, once more agitated.
“So, are you together now?” Alex asked with a smile, “Is she your girlfriend?”
“Well…I don’t know…” Kara pursed her lips, “I had to go help somebody and we spoke no more, but I asked her to meet me today and she accepted.”
“You should take this chance and talk to her,” Maggie suggested before taking a sip of coffee.
“I guess I should…” Kara muttered, “Well, I’ll see you later at the DEO,” she said goodbye before flying out of the balcony.
“You owe me thirty bucks,” Maggie sentenced.
“Dammit, how did you know they would kiss the second time they met? You barely know her,” Alex moaned.
“It sufficed seeing Lena last afternoon and knowing what you told me of Kara,” Maggie assured, “It was as clear as day, but you’re still too inexperienced when it comes to the matters of the heart, Danvers.”
“Oh, yeah? You said otherwise last night, Sawyer,” Maggie laughed and searched for her lips to give her girlfriend a passionate kiss.
XXXXXX
“Good morning, Jess!” Lena greeted with energy.
“Good morning, Miss Luthor,” her loyal secretary greeted back.
“Come to my office,” Lena asked, “I need to check my agenda.”
Jess followed her and took a seat. Lena smiled at her from the executive chair. That the young Luthor was a beautiful woman held no room for debate, but on that day she looked more than beautiful: she looked radiant.
“I see you are especially happy today. Did you get a good night’s sleep?” she asked with interest, since she knew the problems her boss had to get some sleep.
“To tell the truth, I did sleep well, and I woke up even better,” Lena answered remembering the flower and Kara’s note.
“I am very glad, Miss Luthor.”
“Thank you, Jess…Tell me, what time where today’s meetings scheduled at?”
XXXXXX
“Good morning, Miss Grant.”
“Kara…Is something the matter?” Cat asked while looking at her over the lenses of her glasses.
“Supergirl told me she is thinking of publicly thanking Lena Luthor for what she did during the Medusa Virus crisis.”
“Oh…I see that even our superheroine has taken a liking to that woman,” Cat observed with some mistrust.
“Supergirl wants National City to know the truth,” Kara explained, “That thanks to Lena’s intervention the virus could be neutralized and her mother arrested.”
“I think that’s only fair,” Car accepted repositioning her glasses, “And I believe you want to cover that story.”
“I would love to.”
“All right; Supergirl told you, after all,” she said with a smile: it was easy for anyone to tell themselves anything, “Talk to Snapper and get to work.”
“Yes, Miss Grant,” Kara exclaimed with a smile.
Once she was alone again, Cat remover her glasses and sighed. Kara’s insistence on Lena Luthor began to seem excessively vehement to her. Was she missing something?
Kara couldn’t stop smiling; she had laid the first stone. She wouldn’t allow Lena to be misjudged because of her family name any longer, not when she was one of the best people she had ever met. Lena deserved to receive the same recognition her alter-ego on Earth-40 was enjoying. If the public support by Supergirl could help things for the better, she wouldn’t hesitate to give it to her.
After having lunch with Eve and James and discussing the points of the article about Supergirl and Lena Luthor with Carr, Kara began to check her watch much more frequently. She hadn’t told Alex anything because she surely would have tried to make her change her opinion. Kara wanted to share a lot of things with Lena, not just her secret, but also the place where she spent so much time watching over the security of the planet, even her friends and her family. She wanted to give her that warm and affectionate world she had never known.
She checked her watch once more. She was only fifteen minutes away to see her again and– to kiss her again? She felt something stirring in her stomach and shaked her head to clear those thoughts that wanted to invade her mind.
“Would you let me take you flying to the DEO?” she asked herself amusedly, “I know you hate flying…What are you doing right now?”
Kara closed her eyes, focusing all of her attention on Lena, on her cardiac rhythm that she knew so well, on her breathing…And she ended up hearing her, although hearing her scream wasn’t what she was expecting. What was happening? Startled by fear, Kara left CatCo in a flash, flying with all her might towards Lena Luthor’s apartment.
TO BE CONTINUED