Lena flies again
Lena stood on her balcony overlooking the city she now calls home. With her forearms resting on the railing and her eyes trained on the masses of people below, the CEO felt powerful and ready to turn L-Corp around. Lex had dragged the Luthor name through the mud, and Lena was hoping that rebranding and relocating would help her restart the company.
Lena sighed, because while a new city and a new name might be enough to separate L-Corp from Lex’s reputation, it would never be enough to free her from her brother’s shadow.
Lena had been in National City for five days now and had yet to make any new friends. Unless you considered her secretary, Jess a friend. She was good at her job and keeping Lena running as her company’s transition was in progress, but that didn’t exactly qualify as a friend.
Lena had yet to hear from Kara Danvers, the reporter she had met on the plane. To be fair, Lena hadn’t reached out either, but she figured that the blue eyed girl had connected the dots between her name and face, which was scattered across the news due to her move to National City. Not many wanted to be friends with the sister of a convicted psychopath, and Lena told herself she understood that.
However, Lena didn’t really understand at all. Kara had seemed so nice and welcoming, she had almost believed that Kara wouldn’t care about her last name.
She sighed heavily again, as the sun beat down on her black hair and pale skin. It was a shame to have such morbid thoughts on such a sunny day, Lena thought sullenly.
Her introspective break was cut short by Jess calling out to her, carefully sticking her head into Lena’s office.
“Ms Luthor, a Ms Danvers is here to interview you. She’s from Catco.” Jess called out as Lena walked back indoors to sit at her desk.
Lena was momentarily shocked and remained speechless. Jess cocks her head to the side and frowns slightly with a puzzled look.
“Ms Luthor?” Jess cautiously asks again.
Lena shakes her head, trying to accept the unexpected turn of events. Lena remembered seeing an interview with Catco on her schedule, but never really thought about what it could mean.
“Of course Jess, please send Ms Danvers right in,” Lena finally replies.
Jess smiled and quickly ducked back out of the office, and held the door open for Kara, who walked in with the brightest smile Lena had possibly ever seen.
Lena took in Kara’s presence, and let a small grin slide onto her face. Her blonde hair was in a low bun, and her glasses reflected the light coming into the room. Despite the wall made of windows letting the sun stream in, Kara still managed to brighten the whole office.
“Ms Luthor!” Kara greeted in excitement before continuing. “I didn’t know if I’d see you again after the plane. I’m glad I got the chance to interview you.” Kara was practically bouncing with excitement.
Lena’s trepidation of a friend judging her for her name slowly melted away as she let Kara’s words wash over her.
“Kara, please, no need to start with formalities now. Call me Lena.”
“Absolutely Mi- uh, Lena,” Kara answered as her smile only grew.
“So I hear that I’m being interviewed for Catco,” Lena said. “I see you’re moving up quickly.”
“Yes, well, Miss Grant put in a good word for me and recommended I interview you despite my rookie status. She said we needed something fresh for the Luthor name,” Kara supplied.
Lena nods in understanding. The Luthor name certainly did need something new, and Lena was glad Cat had chosen Kara as the place to start. Lena also knew that Cat was aware of Lena’s weakness from pretty women, and wondered if that had factored into Cat’s decision.
“Well then, let’s get started.” Lena said as Kara sat down on the other side of her desk.
Kara pulled out her notepad, pen and recorder and asked if Lena was okay with being recorded, which she of course agreed to.
Kara started off asking, “So why National City? Was it to get away from Lex?”
Lena realized that Kara really was meant to be a reporter. She was thorough and unafraid to ask questions despite the answers she might get.
“Well, if I’m being honest, the main reason for the move certainly was Lex. He brought down this company when he fell, and I’m determined to raise it back up to the economic power I know it can have.” Lena paused briefly as Kara took down notes and thought about her next answer.
“National City was just the logical place to go. It has the right infrastructure and environment to sustain a large tech company. Additionally, there was already an L-Corp building here, so there was no need to build it up from nothing.” Lena told Kara.
Kara nodded and looked down at her notepad. When she looked back up Lena thought she saw the faintest hue of red coloring her cheeks. Kara followed up, asking, “And did the presence of a Super in town affect that decision at all?”
Lena smiled, pleased with the challenge that question posed. Brushing the question off would look foolish, following the events between Lex and Superman in Metropolis. However, fixating on the question and showing too much interest in Supergirl would be dangerous, if it made her seem as though she were following in her brother’s footsteps.
If Lena didn’t have to worry about public perception she would have explained that of course it did. Supergirl would be able to protect Lena and the company if anything huge were to happen. Lena also had something of a fascination with Supergirl and her constant heroism. She was intrigued by the selfless fighter and wondered about the woman behind the crest.
But Lena could never say any of that. So she chose her words carefully and said “Yes, it factored into the location. Supergirl is a hero, not the alien menace Lex assumed she would be. Having head quarters in a city protected by her is a benefit, not a risk.”
Kara smiled widely despite the fact that her cheeks were still colored by her flush.
“Well spoken, Lena,” Kara said, before flipping the page on her notepad and prepping her next question.
Kara continued with a few inquiries about the future of L-Corp and how Lena felt about its current standings.
Before wrapping up the interview Kara asked “And is there anything you want to say that wasn’t an answer to any of those questions?”
Lena smiled, seeing this as a perfect opportunity to distinguish herself, apart from the rest of her family. “I am not my brother,” Lena started purposefully, “And I do not share his views on aliens, especially the Supers. I will build L-Corp into a company you can trust, even if you were not born on this planet,” Lena concluded.
Kara’s smile was dazzling as she turned off the recorder and closed her notepad, before storing both in her bag and standing up.
Still smiling, she turned back to Lena saying, “Thank you for having this interview with me.”
“Of course, Kara. I’m glad you’re the one doing this piece.” Kara nodded in response as Lena stood up as well, before offering her hand to Kara, keeping the interview professional despite the hug they shared a few days ago.
Kara took it eagerly, and her grip was not nearly as tight as it had been on the plane as they shook hands.
“I hope this isn’t the last time we talk?” Lena said, though it came out sounding like a question as she walked back around to sit at her desk.
Kara smiled briefly and nodded. “I hope not either.”
------
Kara couldn’t help but smile as she soared above the city. Her interview yesterday with Lena had gone so well even though she had found it hard to concentrate when looking into the enchanting green eyes of the CEO.
She was so caught up in her thoughts, that she nearly missed it when her sister said her name in her earpiece.
“Supergirl, we have an issue,” Alex alerted Kara, her voice hinted at something like worry. “You’re not going to like this.”
The Kryptonian instantly pulled herself from her thoughts and focused on what her sister was saying.
“What’s happening Alex?” she asked, a sense of foreboding building due to her sister’s tone.
“It’s Lena Luthor,” Alex said as Kara felt her heart drop, “her chopper is being targeted by drones as we speak. She’s-”
Kara immediately dashed towards L-Corp’s tower before her sister could finish telling her the location.
Kara spotted the helicopter that was losing control taking off from of the building. Putting on an extra burst of speed, Kara raced to the top of the skyscraper, taking out one of the drones with a fist, while simultaneously picking up on Lena’s frantically beating heart with her super hearing. Kara also heard the weak fluttering of the pilot’s heart, and knew she needed to put the chopper down quickly.
She spotted the other drone still shooting at the chopper and flew over to it, using her x-ray vision to pick up clues as to who had sent it. All she could see was the word ‘CADMUS’ painted on the back.
Suddenly the drone turned away from the spiraling helicopter and aimed at Supergirl. Bullets started spraying towards her, and Kara tried to fly through them to the small airborne weapon.
Kara yelped when she found that the bullets had a slight sting and were pushing her back. Kara took a quick dive as she felt bullet shaped bruises forming along her chest and torso. Despite her confusion, she pulled up from her dive and used her heat vision on the underside of the drone before it quickly exploded in a small ball of fire.
Kara paid the falling scrap metal of the drone no heed as she rushed to help stabilize the chopper that still had Lena inside.
The pilot was clearly unconscious, though Lena was still aware of the plummeting chopper as her heart raced with fear. Kara quickly grabbed onto the landing skid and saw smoke rising from the tail rotor as she pulled the chopper down to the landing pad.
When it finally touched down, Kara reached inside and turned off the engine and applied pressure to a bullet wound in the pilots abdomen while turning to look at Lena.
“Are you alright Ms Luthor?” She asked over the sound of the slowing blades.
“I’m - I’m fine,” Lena said stammered. “What was that? Who sent those?” She asked as her voice continued to shake.
Kara continued to listen to Lena’s frenzied heart rate when she said “We don’t know yet.”
Kara took one of her hands off the pilots wound and pressed it to her ear. “Agent Danvers, the drones were unmarked and lead lined, except for ‘CADMUS,’ painted on the back; we need to look into that. Also send agents to escort Ms Luthor to the DEO, I’m bringing the pilot to the hospital,” Kara informed her sister.
Kara noted Lena’s slightly dazed expression, which had an undertone of confusion in it.
“On it, Supergirl. Get him help quickly.” Alex replied before cutting out to tell other agents.
“Agent Danvers as in Kara Danvers?” Lena asked as her heart began to slow down.
“Her sister, actually,” Kara explained. She heard the vans starting to pull up to the base of the building. “Alright Ms Luthor, if you don’t mind I’ll fly you down to the bottom of the building where agents are waiting to take you to the DEO. They’ll make sure your apartment is safe in the meantime.”
Lena nodded as Kara tucked the pilot under one arm, and wrapped her up with her other. She slowly and steadily hovered over to the edge of the building.
As they approached the side Kara whispered softly to Lena, “Don’t look down Ms Luthor. Just keep your eyes closed.”
Lena nodded again and tucked her head into Kara’s shoulder so she wouldn’t be able to see the height. If she hadn’t been so hyped on adrenaline she would have wondered about how the hero knew about her fear of flying.
Instead she focused on the feeling of a steady descent as Supergirl lowered them to the ground. She soon touched down on the sidewalk and whispered “Alright, I’m going to hand you over to agent Danvers. She’ll make sure you’re alright.”
Lena finally found her voice again and said “Thank you, Supergirl,” though her words shook from her earlier panic.
Kara simply stepped back and nodded before zooming into the sky, taking the pilot to the hospital.
Agent Danvers walked over and ushered Lena into one of the vans with a reassuring and soothing tone. “We’ll just wait at our base until we’ve checked to make sure your home is safe.”
Lena simply nodded again before stepping into the unmarked, black vehicle she would be waiting in.
Nobody knew that Kara had forgotten to mention the bruising that was supposed to be impossible. No ordinary bullets should have been able to leave the marks that were already fading beneath the yellow sun.
-----
The next evening Lena was sitting at her desk, looking blankly at her screen, and felt completely exhausted. She probably could have taken a sick day, but L-Corp was just getting off the ground and there’s nothing better than work to get drone attacks out of your mind.
She continued to try to make sense of the spreadsheet in front of her when there was a small commotion outside her doors and she heard Jess’s voice just as Kara Danvers burst through the doors with an anxious expression. Lena can’t help but think that the dusk lighting suits her.
“You can’t go in there!” Jess squeaked as she followed Kara’s determined pace.
So maybe there’s one thing better than work to get yesterday’s events off her mind.
“I’m so sorry Ms. Luthor I tried to stop her! She’s just so fast!” Jess tried to explain while throwing a dirty look at Kara.
“Lena I’m so sorry but -” Kara started before Lena cut them both off.
“It’s okay. Jess please make a note to send Kara Danvers in right away whenever possible,” Lena said, leaving Kara with an awestruck expression and Jess with an exasperated one.
Jess sighed and mumbled something that sounded close enough to a yes for Lena.
“Really?” Kara asked with her face still a mask of surprise.
“Really. Now what had you busting in here in the first place?” Lena asked, finding that her exhaustion had evacuated her body as soon as she saw Kara.
“Oh, right - yeah. I just really wanted to make sure you were okay. I mean, my sister told me - and the news - and the -” Kara spoke, tripping over what she wanted to say before Lena interjected.
“I’m fine, but I’m touched by your worry,” Lena said genuinely. She really was amazed by Kara’s show of anxiety over her well being. After growing up with Lillian and Lionel as parents, Lena was unused to sincere expressions of emotion.
Lena watched as Kara’s shoulders sagged in relief. “Oh good. I just needed to make sure.” She seemed to look around and finally notice where she was, and Lena saw Kara’s face transform into a look of disapproval.
“Lena! You were attacked yesterday! Why are you back in the office? What’s the point of being the boss if you don’t make use of setting your own hours?” Kara asked as her worry sprang back up.
Lena looked quite amused by the outburst before walking to the shelf on the wall and grabbing an oddly shaped metal object.
“Would you like to see what I’ve been working on, Kara?” Lena asked with a smirk as she ignored Kara’s previous inquiries.
Kara’s indignant look made it seem as though she wasn’t going to give up on her line of questioning, until her eyes caught on the metal device in Lena’s hands.
Apprehension dawned on Kara’s features as she asked, “What’s that?”
“This?” Lena asked playfully, holding up her newest product. She smiled and explained “It’s an alien detection device. It’s not fully developed yet, and still has quite a lot of problems. It's not accurate at all, but I'll show you what a negative test looks like.”
Kara watches in mixed horror and fascination as Lena places her left thumb on the sensor. After two seconds the light on the other end of the device was illuminated by green.
Lena smiled with pride as she looked down at the negative result. “And that's what it will look like if you're human. The sensor analyzes the skin placed on it and takes a DNA sample. That's where a lot of the errors we are still trying to work out come from.”
Lena walked over to Kara and offered it to her. “Yours should turn up green as well. Would you like to try?”
Kara stood silently for a beat, before she took a step back and turned around to put more distance between them. “Don't you think that outing someone as an alien is too invasive to put on the market? Especially with how many people out there still harbor anti-alien sentiments?” Kara asked instead.
“Well an alien is more of a something than a someone, don't you think?” Lena asks back, before continuing by saying “And I think it's a person's right to know whether they're talking to someone from Earth or something born somewhere else.” Lena replies.
Kara’s expression is stormy as she looks at Lena. “What about Supergirl?” Kara bursts out. “I know her, and she's a someone. Just as I think any alien who lives on this earth is.”
Lena studies Kara for a moment, taken aback by the uncharacteristic show of indignance from the usually bubbly reporter.
“Supergirl is different though, isn't she? She looks just like us and more importantly, she helps us.” Lena considers her words before adding, “And I'd still say someone should know if they're talking to - well - someone who can pick up a bus with one finger.”
Kara maintains a sour look on her face but realizes she's arguing with the wrong person on this subject, and she has certainly met bad aliens before. She can see where Lena is coming from.
Lena softens when it becomes clear that Kara doesn't have another reply. “You were right in the plane by the way,” Lena says. When she catches Kara's puzzled look (that still somehow reminds her of a puppy) she adds, “When you said I wouldn't have to worry if I crashed.”
Lena paused thinking back to Supergirl’s heroics and kind words. “Supergirl did save me,” she concluded and smiled at Kara.
The Kryptonian’s stiff posture loosened and she gave Lena a soft grin.
Lena remembered how they had gotten into the conversation and once again gestured to Kara with the device and asked, “Do you want to give it a go then?”
The reporter realized she had no easy way out of this without making Lena suspicious. Kara prepared herself before reaching out and hoping that the device really doesn't work.
As Kara rested her thumb on the sensor, she felt her heart try to hammer it's way out of her ribcage.
A tense second passed before the light turns red, but not quite as red as Kara’s cheeks.
Lena chuckled at Kara’s terrified look before brushing it off and saying “I told you it was still in development. We are working on these little issues.”
Kara nodded hurriedly before a voice sounded in her ear.
Kara just managed to keep herself from flinching when her sister said “We need you back here Supergirl. We have a lead on Cadmus.”
Kara can't respond but she dug her phone out of her bag and made a show of looking at the time.
“Oh, Lena, I'm so sorry I have to be home for a movie night with my sister, I - I've really got to go,” Kara said, and hoped Alex understood why she isn't responding.
Lena had a bemused expression but she waved her hand noncommittally to show that it was fine. “Of course, Kara. I appreciate you checking up on me.”
“Anytime. I'll see you soon,” Kara called as she walked out, and just barely heard Lena’s heart flutter with the hope of the unspoken next time.
-----
If Kara was being honest with herself, she was slightly disappointed when Alex didn’t even startle as she zoomed in to the DEO to stand next to her seemingly out of nowhere. Kara pouted a little wondering if she’ll ever be able to spook her sister.
Alex caught the look and rolled her eyes before informing Kara that “Using the puppy eyes will not change the fact that you can’t scare me.” Kara only pouted harder in response.
Alex started walking to the computer room where Kara’s hearing picks up on Winn typing away at his computer and J’onn waiting besides him. Whatever they asked Kara here for is important.
Kara nudged her sister as she walked through the halls with complete composure, too uptight for her, despite the House of El crest that sat proudly on her chest. Kara figured everyone needs to loosen up a little, especially everyone in the DEO.
“So,” Kara started conversationally, “Lena has an alien detection device and made me try it out.”
Kara grinned as Alex’s sure stride faltered and she spluttered something unintelligible before hissing, “Kara!”
“It’s okay, she’s convinced the device is faulty and it was just a false positive.”
“You could’ve started with that!” Alex said reproachfully.
“What, and miss out on all my fun?” Kara whispered playfully as they entered the room where J’onn and Winn were waiting.
“What’ve we got?” Alex asked in way of greeting.
Winn suddenly spun his chair around to face them, and merely pointed to the screen he’d been working on as his answer.
All that Kara could see on the screen was a picture and file of none other than Lillian Luthor.
A crease formed between both the Danvers’ eyebrows as Kara asked, “Why are we staring at a picture of her?”
J’onn approached solemnly as he said “Because Lillian is the director of CADMUS.”
Kara’s world froze for an instant and all she could think is oh, Lena. Kara can’t imagine having her mother make an attempt on her life.
J’onn turned and asked, “Supergirl, do you think Lena might have anything to do with this?”
Kara can’t believe Hank just asked her that as she turned to face him looking extremely disappointed. “Are you asking me if I think Lena sent drones after herself? Are you asking me if Lena is just Lex incarnate? Is that what you’re asking? ‘Cause we both know Lena had nothing to do with this!” Kara said as her voice rose along with her her temper.
Alex laid a calming hand on the hero’s shoulder and quietly said, “The best way to avoid suspicion would be to put herself in danger.”
Kara whirled on her, disbelief written across her face at her sister’s question. “And what would she have to gain? There is nothing for her to gain there, other than an injury! The attack’s only purpose was clearly to take her down!” Kara pointed out incredulously.
Nobody could argue that point until Alex said, “And what about her alien detection device? She could pin this attack on aliens and use it to boost the demand before it comes out?”
“I just told you it is months out from release and doesn’t work yet! It would be folly to have propoganda this early. Come on Alex. Listen to yourself!”
The three of them acquiesced to her point. But J’onn doesn’t let it totally drop and said, “That doesn’t mean she doesn’t know about CADMUS and her mother’s role.”
“She doesn’t,” Kara stated without a doubt in her mind.
Alex raised an eyebrow at her and asked, “And how would you know that.”
“I don’t. But I trust her. I really do,” Kara replied earnestly.
J’onn pinched the bridge of his nose as Alex heaved a sigh. They both know there was no point in arguing with her when she was like this.
“Fine. But I don’t trust her and I want you to watch her. Not only to monitor her, but also in case there’s another attack,” J’onn said clearly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Kara nodded and said, “I’ll go let her know now,” before she flew off without giving any of them time to interfere.
Alex shook her head at the spot her sister had stood a moment before. She thought she knew exactly what was going on with Kara when it came to Lena, and she didn’t like it.
-----
Kara enjoys the city lights rushing by below her as she flies to the now familiar balcony on the L-Corp tower. The alien is not surprised to find the CEO working at her desk, despite the fact that it has been dark for hours.
Kara lands softly and taps lightly on the glass, hoping to avoid scaring Lena, who quickly turns and spots her before getting up and letting Kara in.
Lena sits back down at her desk and asks, “And what can I do for you Supergirl?”
Kara is pretty sure she doesn’t mistake the smirk that passes across Lena’s face due to the decidedly flirtatious tone she had used.
Lena has the oddest feeling of déjà vu as she spots the red that is splashed across the hero’s cheeks as she tries to clear her throat.
“Ah, uhm, Ms Luthor. I’m here to talk to you about the information we’ve gained since the attack,” Kara informs her.
Lena’s playful mood disappears and is replaced by something colder and more calculating.
“I see. So? Who targeted me?”
If anything Supergirl looked even more awkward, which seemed as though it would have been hard to do. “Uh, yeah. Well an organization called Cadmus was behind the attacks,” and something about that name tugs at Lena’s conscious, but before she can focus on it Kara continues by saying, “And I’ll be keeping a much closer eye on you in order to avoid and stop any further attacks.”
Lena nods as she says, “Well that sounds like a plan, especially if that means you never have to fly me anywhere again. I really hate flying."