When Our Stars Collide
Lena sat calmly at a small side table in Noonans. The café was packed. Bussers rushed to and fro, frantically trying to wipe down booths as cooks yelled out short orders to the harried waiters.
But Lena seemed unfazed by the chaos around her. When a server dropped a coffee cup with a loud shatter at the table next to her, Lena didn’t even notice, her thick eyelashes lowered as she studied the tablet in front of her. The device was silver, sleek, its screen covered in open tabs and a document with a small seal in one corner. By the amount of coffee cups covering her table, it was obvious that Lena had been here for a while. But the CEO made no move to leave. Instead she sat perfectly still, her back straight. A passing waiter stopped to stare at Lena, thinking that the woman could’ve been made of marble if it wasn’t for the dangerous smile tugging at one corner of the CEO’s mouth, the expression so faint it was barely visible.
Lena’s phone buzzed. The CEO pulled her gaze away from the tablet coolly. 10:30 the device announced.
Lena stood up and slipped her tablet into her purse in a single graceful movement. She leaned over slightly and lifted one of the coffee cups from her table, black liquid nearly overflowing from the open top. She walked purposefully towards the café’s main entrance, passing the large center column which had stood near her table. When she was halfway across the room, Lena checked her phone one more time, her body half hidden by the pillar.
“But pink is my favorite color! Alex. No I know its girly but come on...”
At the sound of the voice Lena’s eyes sharpened, and she rubbed her lips together to even out her red lipstick. She moved nearer to the column, hearing the young woman on the phone approach.
“Pink can totally be badass. I think I would know…” Lena adjusted her fingers lightly over the coffee cup, ears judging the distance between her and the animated voice. “Phft. That’s not nearly as cool as that one time I flew into—“
Lena stepped out from the behind the column suddenly. Caught by surprise the girl on the phone slammed into Lena, spilling the woman’s coffee all over her cardigan.
“Oh gosh I’m so sorry, I didn’t even see you, and that must’ve hurt.” The girl spluttered, bending down to pick up Lena’s cup, “I’ll totally get you another coffee, I’m so so sorry I….” Standing up with the cup in one hand and her glasses slightly askew the girl finally looked over at Lena. Her words trailed off suddenly as her blue eyes widened in surprise. “Lena?” she finally said, a beaming smile lighting up her face.
Lena felt her heart race. “Kara,” she said warmly, ignoring the twisting feeling in her stomach as she returned the blonde’s smile. “It’s great to see you.”
Xxxx
Kara felt warm all over. It might’ve been because she’d had coffee spilled on her, but Kara thought it might have something to do with the way her name sounded on Lena’s lips.
Kara hadn’t seen Lena since the other woman’s visit to the DEO nearly a week ago. Well maybe seen wasn’t exactly the right word. Kara might have flown by the CEO’s office once or twice since then to make sure she was ok. And even though she knew Lena’s pride would never forgive her if she found out, Kara couldn’t help it. Lena wasn’t bulletproof or bomb proof. And no matter how well she hid her emotions behind a veneer of calm indifference, Kara had caught glimpses of all the pain and exhaustion Lex’s legacy provoked in her. Kara wanted to be there for her, and sometimes when she hovered outside L-Corp, listening to the now familiar heartbeat thrum steady as Lena worked late into the night she hoped the CEO could somehow feel that she wasn’t as alone, that she had a friend.
“Its great to see you too! I didn’t know you came to Noonans?” Kara asked, bubblier than normal because she couldn’t believe her good luck.
Lena stepped around the puddle of coffee on the floor, her shoulder almost brushing against Kara’s. “It’s my first time actually. I had a meeting downtown and I thought I’d just run in and grab something on my way.”
Kara’s beam dimmed. “Oh gosh Lena, your coffee. I’ll go buy you another one right now.”
Lena laughed lightly, and Kara found herself smiling along with the sound. “It’s fine Kara. And anyways I should be the one apologizing, I think I might’ve ruined your shirt.” Lena reached out and lightly touched Kara’s sleeve. She moved one finger up slowly until it brushed over the edge of the stain.
Kara looked down, mesmerized by the motion. When Lena pulled her hand away Kara glanced back at the CEO. “Um.”. She fumbled for a moment, trying to get her bearings.
Lena laughed again, this time it was lower. Kara’s mouth went dry. “Your shirt…?”
“Oh! Right. Actually, I have an extra.” Kara gestured to the lumpy purse on her shoulder, embarrassed. At Lena’s questioning look, Kara stared at her hands and muttered, “I have a lot of accidents.”
Lena bit down on her lip. She tried to keep a straight face but even when she covered her mouth with her hand Kara could see the smile stretching across her lips. “Oh Kara, sometimes you’re just too much,” but the way Lena said it was warm, her chuckle a little soft. She stayed like that for a moment, but then something flickered over her face and her eyes widened and she turned her head away suddenly. “Still, let me at least buy you another shirt or make it up to you.”
Kara blushed. And she instantly wanted to kick herself for it. Because there was nothing seductive or even flirtatious in what Lena was offering. Because Lena was a friend. And friends went shopping together and changed shirts in front of each other and said things like “I’ll make it up to you,” all the time without ever meaning anything thing else by it. But the thought of replacing her shirt anywhere near Lena brought a sudden rush of images to the hero’s mind, some of them so vivid Kara was afraid Lena would see them written across her face. She lowered her eyes quickly, staring at her boots.
She cleared her throat. “Really its fine, running into you was more than worth it.”
Lena waved her hand as if Kara’s words were no more than a formality. “Please Kara there must be something I can do?” Lena tilted her head slightly to the side, narrowing her eyes thoughtfully. “Let’s see. Courtside tickets for next week’s game? Reservations to that new place on 68th everyone is always raving about? A bottle of Dacor cabaret?”
Kara shook her head. Her chest tightened a little at the thought that Lena had obviously lived in a world where things were tit for tat and everyone had an ulterior motive.
“Lena you’re my friend” Kara said kindly, “you don’t owe me anything, I promise.”
Lena’s eyes snapped to Kara’s, her pupils moving back and forth as if she were searching for something in those wide blue depths.
“I—“ she hesitated, clenching her jaw shut. She battled with herself for a moment, as if unsure of what she was about to do. A shadow stole behind her eyes so quickly Kara wasn’t sure if she’d imagined it or not. “Would you like to come to an event L-Corp is hosting next weekend?” the words came out haltingly. Lena offered a small smile, a little strained at the edges, “It’ll be nothing but old, rich men patting themselves on the back for hours, but there’s an open bar and plenty of scandals to get the scoop on for Monday morning?”
Kara nearly dropped her purse. “I’d love to!” she said in something embarrassingly close to a squeak. And even though she knew Lena was offering out of a sense of obligation, nothing in the world could shake the sensation of happiness coursing through Kara.
Lena’s smile widened, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Great. I’ll see you then.” She turned to leave, but then turned back suddenly, and said so quietly, Kara knew she’d have to strain to catch the words if she was human. But as it was, with her superhearing, Kara caught the slight waver in her voice, “and Kara? Thank you.”
Xxxxx
Kara plopped onto the couch with a happy grin. She nudged her feet against Alex’s side, scooting her sister over.
“’Hey” Alex protested through a mouthful of ice cream.
“Oh, don’t be such a baby” Kara teased. She went to reach for a spoonful of Alex’s rocky road, but her sister leaned away, protectively sheltering the pint in the crook of her elbow
“Go get your own.” She said in a voice that was as close to a growl as a human being could get.
Kara’s eyes narrowed playfully. “Alex. Give me a bite or else…”
Alex appraised her sister from the corner of her eyes, “or else what? You’ll call mom?” She shook her head, and gave an exaggerated eye roll. “Youngest child.” She took a deliberately big bite. “mmmmmm. Delicious.”
Kara used her superspeed to try and stick her spoon into the half eaten container, but Alex blocked her. “Like I didn’t see that coming a mile away.”
“Oh really?”
Alex raised a cocky eyebrow. “Really.”
Alex turned her attention back to the TV, a satisfied, big sister grin on her face.
Kara sighed theatrically. “Fine. I guess you win, I’ll just sit over here ice-cream-less, unloved and under appreciated.”
Alex grumbled something about “drama queens.” And Kara wasn’t sure but she was pretty sure she heard something suspiciously close to “older siblings are way better.”
Rocking in her seat, Kara barely stifled a giggle. Carefully, so Alex wouldn’t see, she stuck her finger in her mouth, using her freeze breath so her spit was extra slimy and cold. Then with a final squirm and a burst of superspeed she stuck her finger in Alex’s ear.
“Ew god Gross! Kara!” Alex shot up in the air, her hands covering her ears. There was a look on her face that was a blend of disgust and horror.
But Kara only chuckled, the hero snatching the wobbling ice cream container on the table before it tipped over. She dug in and hummed happily with every bite.
Still standing, Alex looked down at her sister and gave a fond smile. She picked the blanket up off the back of the couch, and with a single flourish draped it over both their laps as she settled in next to Kara. There was an extra spoon on the table and Alex grabbed it, scooping out chunks of ice-cream in between Kara’s own mouthfuls.
Alex bumped her elbow into Kara’s warm side, “I love you sis”
“I love you too.” Kara grinned, her blue eyes sparkling.
They sat like that for awhile, their favorite movie on in the background. They talked over their day, chatting about work and the DEO and that one alien who had the balls to actually call Kara a cheerleader. When the ice cream finally ran out, Alex stretched and stood with a long yawn. “I think I’m going to head home, do you need me to pick you up anything from the store when I go?”
“What?! Its like 7. Why are you so tired?” Kara’s brow wrinkled. Then. “Oh my god you’re going over to Maggie’s! That’s why you want to go to bed so bad.” Kara chucked a pillow at her sister, catching site of Alex’s beet red face before the cushion smacked into her with a soft thud. “Geez, keep it in your pants Alex.”
“Shut up,” Alex mumbled so gently it was almost shy. She threw the pillow back at Kara. And, without even waiting to see if she hit her target or not, Alex duked her head and practically ran to the door, Kara’s good-natured laugh echoing behind her.
Kara shook her head and smiled ruefully, bending over to clean up the bowels on her coffee table.
“Hey you got a package” Alex called over her shoulder when she opened the door. “Wow what did you order?”
Alex stumbled back into the kitchen, eyes peeping over the huge, black satin box she was carrying. Creamy white letters spelling something in Italian shimmered lightly over the lid.
“Wow. If I knew you could afford stuff like this I would’ve made you pay for pizza yesterday.”
“I can’t,” Kara said softly, running her fingers lightly over the box. The sensation sent a shiver down her spine, her whole body tingling with curiosity. She fought the desire to use her x-ray vision to see what was inside and instead lifted the lid with a slow pull.
Alex’s breath literally caught. “Oh Kara, its beautiful.”
Kara stared into the box, dumbfounded. Inside was the most stunning dress she’d ever seen. The fabric was a deep midnight blue, so dark it was almost black. It instantly reminded Kara of stardust and the night sky.
Kara’s hands trembled as she pulled the dress out carefully, feeling how its material rippled beneath her hands like a luxurious river. When she let it unfurl, Kara blushed immediately. The dress was elegant, there was no doubt about that; whoever had designed it clearly had almost flawless taste. But there was something unmistakably suggestive about it as well. The fabric practically dripped with sex appeal. There was a deep V in the back and Kara could see how the material would cling to her body in all the right places, show off her hips and toned legs and reveal just enough of her chest to be mouthwateringly tempting. Kara didn’t know if she’d ever seen anything as irresistible and yet untouchable in her entire life.
A card fluttered down from the unfolded dress, and Kara grabbed it quickly.
For the coffee shop and next weekend.
X Lena
Kara’s already red face went two shades darker. Lena sent her this? Was this how Lena saw her?
“Who’s it from?” Alex’s voice was even. When Kara looked up she realized her sister had been watching her carefully for the last few minutes.
“Lena.” At the name Alex’s jaw jutted forward. The warm, lazy feeling of the evening seemed to drain away. The room suddenly cold and tense. “What?” Kara asked somewhat defensively.
Alex read the note, her eyes staring at the thick card like it was tipped with poison. “You’re going somewhere with Lena?” It wasn’t so much a question as it was an accusation.
“Yah I bumped into her when I went in for my usual at Noonan’s and she invited me to a thing L-corp is hosting.”
“And this?” Alex nearly hissed pointing with a jerk to the dress.
“She spilled coffee on me and ruined my cardigan.” Kara shrugged. “I don’t think she likes feeling indebted to people.”
Alex made a noise in her throat somewhere between a scoff and a snarl. “You cannot be serious. Kara, no. There’s no way your going.”
Kara felt her head jerk back at Alex’s tone. “Why not? What is with you and her? You can trust her Alex. She took down Cadmus for god’s sake.”
Alex waved her hand around the room, exasperated. “She’s a Luthor, Kara. They’re actors, they play people, that’s what they do.”
“She is NOT playing me. We’re friends. Why is that so hard to believe?” Kara’s voice wavered dangerously close to a yell, her hands clenching and unclenching at her sides.
“She’s not you friend,” Alex gnashed through gritted teeth. Then as if hearing her own voice, Alex’s eyes widened, she rubbed a hand over her eyebrows, “I didn’t mean that.” she sighed, “Look, someone the other day found a bug in the DEO’s computers. It was pulling every file we had on you. I think Lena put it there, I don’t know how, I don’t know when, but I know why. That whole explosion at her office was just a setup. She wanted us to take her to the DEO, she wanted a chance to put a virus in our systems so she could find out everything she could about Supergirl. She’s trying to figure out a way to hurt you just like Lex did to Kal.”
A memory flashed through Kara’s mind. Lena’s blood red nails on the back of the med-bay’s computer, the way the doctor’s tray of medical equipment had scattered over the floor.
NO, Kara thought forcefully, shoving the memory down. Lena was not like that. She knew the CEO, she was good and kind and so, so much better than the broken legacy left to her by Lex. Kara had trusted Lena when everyone else believed she was working with Cadmus, and had watched her bring down her own mother to save others. Lena had given so much to make things right, and still almost no one trusted her. Kara shook her head, no. Alex was the one who was wrong here.
Kara threw her hands up, “That’s crazy. Do you even hear yourself? What your saying is insane. That Lena would willingly endanger herself, her entire company—the corporation she’s practically completely rebuilt from the ground up—in order to plant a virus in our systems? There must be a list a mile long of other possible suspects, people who actually have tried to hurt the DEO before.” Alex’s confidence wavered for a second, and Kara could see the way her sister’s eyes were admitting the truth in what she was saying. “Just because her last name is Luthor doesn’t make her like Lex.”
Alex’s mouth pressed into a firm line. She turned away and began pacing across the kitchen, “Kara think about it. She showed up to your favorite coffee spot, a café that is nowhere near her office, and where she’s never been before, and she just magically bumps into you at exactly the right time? She got into our computers and hacked your information. She arranged everything with DEO info” Alex’s hands crumpled up Lena’s small card, dropping the wrinkled white square to the ground.
Kara sped over and picked up the note, “What she can’t go to Noonan’s now without being some kind of criminal mastermind?” Kara smoothed the paper between her hands, “It’s a good coffee shop Alex, people go there all the time, even CEOs.”
Alex rolled her eyes, “She’s trying to find out your secret identity. You can’t go to that party, I wont allow it.”
“You wont allow it?” Kara bit, surprised at how derisive her own words sounded. And for the first time in her life, Kara realized she was actually angry with her sister. Not upset the way she was when Alex didn’t do dishes or left bottle caps everywhere but the trash. Not even wounded like the way she was when she first came to Earth and Alex didn’t want to introduce her to her own friends. No, Kara realized as her blood boiled. She was furious with the one person who she never thought she would be.
“Are you kidding me?” she said, a dangerous current running just beneath her surface.
Alex’s nostrils flared, “For Christ’s sake Kara. Grow up. Lena doesn’t give a shit about you. She’s using you. What do you think she’s doing? She’s not interested for any other reason.”
Kara heard a crack as a piece of the marble countertop she had been gripping turned to dust under her fingers. Her ears rang. She spun around, stumbling for the open window.
With every footstep her mind flashed back to the way Lucy looked at James, how Maggie smiled with Alex, the soft light in John’s eyes when he talked about his wife on Mars.
You’ll never be like them her footsteps screamed. A bitter taste like mettle filling her throat.
You’ll always be alone.
Her right boot fell, Lost.
“Kara, no wait” she distantly heard Alex call before stepping onto the ledge.
Her left foot thudded down, Empty.
She jumped into the clear night sky, flying at light speed away from her window, not stopping until the first traces of dawn glowed over the horizon. When she finally returned home she sank into bed, ignoring Alex’s voicemails.