Exs & Ohs

Kara had J’onn put her in contact with the Midway division of the DEO. The Midway branch is significantly smaller, but they’ve been tracking the activity of this particular alien gang for awhile. And with Supergirl there to help out, they finally have the muscle to make a move against them.

Alex isn’t at all happy with Kara going on missions without her there to back her up. Luckily, the operation goes off without a hitch.

Supergirl and a strike team raid the gang’s base of operations in the dead of night. They manage to apprehend all of the gang’s major players and secure all the illegal alien weaponry.

Kara has to admit, after several less than thrilling weeks combating road rage and rescuing treed cats, it feels really good to get such dangerous people and materials off the streets.

When all the paperwork is filled out and all the criminals locked away. Kara says goodbye to the Midway operatives, making them promise to ask for her help if they are ever in over their heads. She heads back to the Tate Industries building where Marshall is still recovering.

Kara finds Lydia Tate right where she left her, by Marshall’s hospital bed. Lydia looks thoroughly disheveled. Her nearly two day old pants suit is wrinkled, her shirt untucked and blazer missing. The blonde must have washed all her makeup off at some point, her face is clean and pale and haggard as she notices Kara approach.

“Supergirl, happy hunting, I hope?” Lydia sounds exhausted.

“Very actually. I don’t think you’ll need to worry about that gang anymore. We arrested most of them and took their weapons.”

Lydia gives Kara a small smile, but doesn’t take her eyes off Marshall. “That’s good to hear.”

Kara takes a step closer, wringing her hands.

“And I thought you might like to know, we caught the alien- the Jinixs -that stung your grandfather. He won’t be hurting anyone else.”

Lydia’s eyes brighten at this, and Kara recognizes the smug smirk her mouth curves into.

“There's that superhero justice I’ve heard so much about.”

Kara can’t help but chuckle despite herself. Lydia did have a certain charm. Damn her.

“How is he? Any change?” Kara asks, nodding towards Marshall Tate.

Lydia nods and leans forward, taking his frail hand.

“Yes, actually. You missed it, but he woke up a few hours ago.” Lydia's smile softens as she runs her thumb over his hand. “It was only for a few minutes, but he was awake, he spoke. The doctors say it’ll take a lot of time for him to fully recover and he needs plenty of rest, but he’s gonna be okay.”

“What did he say? When he woke up?”

Lydia laughs, shaking her head.

“He, uh, he asked if I got that Luthor girl to forgive me.”

Kara’s eyes go wide.

“What-um...What did you tell him?”

Lydia hesitates, thoughtful.

“Yes. Yes, I did.”

They fall quiet for awhile, both watching Marshall. Finally Kara starts to feel her own exhaustion threaten to set in.

“Well, Ms. Tate, I’m afraid I should be going now. You don’t need me anymore.”

Lydia stands and they walk towards the elevator together.

“Of course, you’ve done more than enough.”

Kara hits the button for the elevator, rocking anxiously on her heels.

“I’m just glad I was able to help.”

Lydia offers Kara her hand to shake, and Kara takes it tentatively.

“Could I ask you one last favor?” Lydia says, holding Kara’s hand longer than necessary.

Oh Rao. Please don’t hit on me. Please don’t hit on me. Please don’t hit on me.

“Um...sure.” Kara squeaks uncertainly.

“Look after Lena, won’t you? She has a knack for finding trouble.”

Kara breathes a sigh of relief, shaking Lydia’s hand more firmly as the elevator arrives.

“I will always protect Lena.” She says a bit more fiercely than she intends. Lydia’s eyes narrow slightly, and her lips curve into a smile.

“Interesting.” is all she says, as Kara quickly withdrawals, struggling to hide her embarrassment.

Kara steps into the elevator and hits the button for the roof, avoiding Lydia’s eyes.

“Goodbye, Ms. Tate.”

“It’s been a real pleasure, Supergirl.” Lydia winks at her as the elevator doors close.

------------

Kara doesn’t get back to National City until late Friday night. Or technically early Saturday morning. She enters her apartment via the window, strips off her suit, and collapses into bed. She’s asleep before her head hits the pillow.

The sounds of pots and pans and the unmistakable smells of breakfast rouse Kara from her slumber. She cracks open one eye and is immediately assaulted by the sun streaming into her apartment. She groans, burying her face back into the pillow in protest. But the smell of food is insistent. Kara drags herself out of bed and into the bathroom, hoping a shower will help wake her fully.

When she emerges, hair damp and feeling refreshed, she wanders into the kitchen finding her sister waiting with an impressive breakfast spread.

“Finally.” Alex grumbles, turning off the stove and wiping her hands. “I was getting ready to eat without you.”

Kara quickly sits and starts filling her plate with the assorted breakfast foods.

“Why are you here?” She asks, eyeing her sister’s sweatpants and t-shirt.

“Is that anyway to greet someone who just made you breakfast?” Alex teases, taking the stool opposite Kara.

Kara rolls her eyes stuffing three pieces of bacon in her mouth at once.

“Sorry, what I meant to say was...Hi, lovely beautiful amazing sister of mine! Why am I being graced with your presence?” Kara sarcastically sing-songs around her mouth full of food.

Alex nods in approval, drowning her pancakes in syrup. “Much better. Thank you. I came by to check on you, dork.”

“I’m okay.” Kara tells her with a shrug. “The thing in Midway was easy-peasy. No need to worry.”

“I know.” Alex sighs, “It was just really weird knowing you were out there being Supergirl without me backing you up. I didn’t like it.”

“Jealous of the Midway branch?” Kara teases her, smiling around a mouthful of pancakes. “Don’t worry, Alex, you’re still my favorite Special Agent.”

“Don’t flatter yourself.” Alex huffs. “It’s a good thing I came over and started cooking or you might still be sleeping like the dead.”

“Ugh. I know, I didn’t get to rest at all while I was gone so I was seriously tired when I got back.” Kara tells her, glancing around for her phone. “What time is it anyway? Have you seen my phone?”

Alex uses her fork to point at the coffee table where Kara must have left her phone before passing out.

“It was dead. Which is partly why I came over. I got worried when you didn’t answer.”

Kara goes over to retrieve it.

“I charged it up for you. Your girlfriend called like four times, by the way.”

Kara’s nose scrunches up in confusion for a moment at Alex’s use of the word girlfriend, before her phone lights up and she see a slew of missed calls and texts from Lena.

Oh Rao…

“Shit!” Kara hisses, before covering her mouth with her hand and turning to look at Alex who is just as surprised by her cursing.

Alex smirks behind her coffee mug.  “Yeah, four missed calls is a bit clingy. I thought so too.”

“Alex!” Kara whines starting to pace the length of the living room “This isn’t funny! I’ve been gone for like two days. What must she think? Especially after we-” Kara cuts herself off, remembering confessing her feelings to Lena on Wednesday and Lena quite eagerly returning them. And that kiss…

Oh Rao, that kiss.

“After you...what?” Alex asks, eyeing Kara mischievously. Kara blushes under her sister’s curious gaze.

“We um, kinda, sorta, maybe got together before I left.” Kara squeak nervously.  “And kissed. We kissed! Like really kissed, Alex. It was...well, it was just really something. And then I had to go and practically disappear without a word! What must she think? She probably thinks I regret it! I don’t! I don’t regret it at all! Oh no, Alex, what if she regrets it? What if I was gone too long and it gave her time to rethink everything and she’s changed her mind? What if I’ve ruined it?”

Alex sees the clear signs of her sister devolving into a classic Kara Danvers panic and quickly gets up to soothe her.

“Hey, breathe, Kara, breathe! I’m sure Lena doesn’t regret it. Nothing’s ruined. Call her. I’m sure she’ll be glad to hear from you.”

Kara takes a few deep breaths, holding Alex’s hand and staring down at her phone.

“No, I should go see her in person.” Kara decides.

“What? Now?” Alex asks, watching as Kara gets up and whooshed into the bedroom, reappearing a few moments later fully dressed.

“Yeah, it’s Saturday, right? I need to see her, Alex. I need to make sure I haven’t screwed things up.”

Alex gives her an encouraging smile. “It’s your turn to get the girl.”

“We are so gay.” Kara giggles heading for the door.

-----------

Lena hadn’t heard from Kara Danvers since Supergirl flew off to Midway to try and save Marshall Tate’s life.

Coincidence? I think not.

Kara's abrupt disappearance all but confirmed the suspicion that had been nagging at Lena. A suspicion that, if she were being honest with herself, she had been harboring for quite some time.

All the signs were there. Kara Danvers stumbling into Lena’s life the same day the Venture exploded. The same day she met Supergirl. Kara’s not so subtle slip up about flying on a bus. Kara's unabashed pro-alien views, and the mysterious malfunction of  Lena’s alien detection prototype. Even her interest in Roulette and Lillian. A perfect trail of clues leading to Lena’s inevitable conclusion.

Kara Danvers is Supergirl. I kissed Supergirl.

Lena tried not to let the implications of that cloud her mind too much. She busied herself, finalizing her contract with Tate Industries. She received a text message from Lydia early that morning confirming that not only had Lydia received and signed the final draft, but Marshall Tate was alive and well.

Supergirl had saved the day once again. Apparently, lingering in Midway to bring justice to the alien gang who started this ordeal in the first place.

Surprise, surprise… Lena thinks, smiling to herself.

----------

Kara stands outside Lena’s building for at least five minutes, building up the courage to go inside.

She was gonna tell Lena. She had to. If she really wanted to give this thing between them...this relationship a fair shot, she couldn’t go on lying. Supergirl is a part of her. Kara Zor-El is a part of her. And to have to withhold those parts of herself from Lena...she couldn’t stomach the idea. That was no way to be in a relationship, it wouldn’t be fair to either of them.

Finally, Kara managed to uproot herself from the sidewalk. A different security guard greeted her this time.

“Hi, I’m Kara Danvers. I was wondering if Ms. Luthor is home?”

The guard presses the intercom buzzing Lena’s apartment. After a few moments without a response Kara begins to get discouraged.  What if Lena was at work? Then Kara would have to go over to L-Corp and work up her courage again. She would chicken out for sure.

At last, Lena voices cracks through the speaker, sounding rather surprised to have a visitor.

“A Ms. Danvers is here to see you, Ma’am.” The security guard tells Lena.

A tense moment of silence passes. The guard watches Kara bounce nervously on the balls of her feet.

“Please, let her up, Martin. Thank you.” Lena says briskly, before the speaker falls silent.

Martin gestures grandly towards Lena’s private elevator. He leans in to punch in the four digit passcode, but Kara beats him to it.

“I remember it from a few days ago.” She explains shyly. Martin nods, suppressing a knowing smile.

Kara tries not to fidget as she endures what feels like the longest elevator ride ever. And yet, she still startles when she finally reaches the penthouse and the elevator doors slide open revealing Lena Luthor in yoga pants and a tank top.

Kara almost faints. She is frozen just inside the elevator, shamelessly staring at Lena.

Lena reaches forward with a smirk, taking Kara’s hand and gently pulls her out of the elevator.

“Ms. Danvers, what a pleasant surprise.”

Lena’s hand in hers jolts Kara from her ogling. She glances down at their entwined hands, immediately blushing.

“Hi.” she breathes.

“Hello.” Lena says smiling, clearly enjoying Kara’s flustered state.

Kara takes a deep breath. “Lena, I am so so sorry for disappearing like that! I just saw your calls and messages this morning, I swear.”

“Yes, I um I have to admit, I was worried I scared you off the other day.” Lena says, carefully.

Kara rushes forward to reassure her, taking Lena’s other hand.

“No! No, not at all. That was-you were...No, Lena, that wasn’t it at all. Something urgent came up and I was away...” Kara rambles.

Lena’s eyes narrow slightly, “Where were you?”

Kara’s eyes go wide, her mouth falling open.  “I um...I was-I’m…”

Immediately, familiar lies and excuses spring to mind. The story about a sick relative in Midvale, that Alex had used to excuse her from work was on the tip of her tongue…

But instead Kara sighs, squeezing Lena’s hands before pulling away and taking a big step back.

“I’m...Supergirl.” She breathes.

Kara’s eyes are on the floor, her heart beating faster with every second that pass with silence. Finally, she can’t take it anymore, she shyly looks up at Lena’s face.

A sly smile plays at the corner of Lena’s lips. She stands with her arms crossed over her chest, not looking a bit surprised.

Lena steps forward, slowly, purposefully. She reaches up and gently tugs Kara’s hair down from a ponytail. Lena runs her fingers through it, splaying it out across Kara’s shoulders. She takes a moment to thoughtfully wrap a golden curl around her fingers before letting it fall to Kara's shoulder. Then she slowly removes Kara’s glasses, folding them neatly into the side pocket of Kara shirt. Lastly, Lena moves her hands down to the buttons of Kara’s shirt. She pops the top button free, then the second then the third, until the House of El crest is fully revealed on Kara’s chest.

Lena looks at it closely, skimming her fingers over the fabric and tracing the “S”.

“Yes.” Lena says, smiling, finally looking up to meet Kara’s eyes. “You certainly are.”