Not What I Seem

Xxxx

Kara slipped her earrings on, her trembling fingers barely fitting the backs into place. Ok this is it she thought, using her palms to smooth out her dress. She took a deep breath and looked at herself in the mirror. Not bad, she admitted, noticing the way Lena’s dress brought out the blue in her eyes. Kara gave her reflection a goofy thumbs up before she jumped into the air, flying slow so her hair wouldn’t be windblown when she landed.

It took her ten minuets to fly to the address written on the back of Lena’s card. The building was just outside National City, tucked away in one of the district’s oldest neighborhoods. Kara had been expecting a skyscraper filled with modern art and clean lines and white tile, but when she dropped to the ground, she realized L-Corp was hosting its party in the Luthor family mansion.

The building was brownstone and gorgeous, it was one of those manors built in the industrial age and it sprawled over the lawn in one long, luxurious heap. Large columns supported a grand entryway at the end of a long circular drive and Kara could see miles of gardens and lawns stretching away in the distance. As she walked up her feet crunched over gravel and she passed a happily bubbling fountain. Soft gas lamps lit her way, and Kara could already hear the distant clink of glasses and the echoes of women’s laughter tricking through the open windows.

She eyed the entryway again, noting the two men standing outside in tuxedos, lists in hand, clearly there to deter any unwanted guests. As Kara watched, Maxwell Lord stepped out of a Bugatti, two tipsy models draped on either arm.

Kara gulped. She suddenly felt small and out of place. She was about to turn around when she felt a hand rest on her lower back.

“Psst. Kara.”

Kara swung around. “Mon-El? What are you doing here?” Then catching sight of his combed back hair and tuxedo Kara whispered fiercely, “Oh no. I’m not sneaking you into this just because you want to party.”

Mon-El lifted a finger, “First off, wow, you look beautiful. And secondly, that’s not why I’m here.” Kara raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Alex sent me.”

Kara blinked once then turned down the driveway, storming away. Her heels clattered awkwardly over the gravel, tipped points sinking into the uneven rocks.

“Kara.” Mon-El grabbed her hand.

She ripped herself away from him, not even bothering to hide the warning flash in her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured, looking down. “She’s just worried about you, that’s all. You haven’t seen each other in weeks and you won’t answer your phone and-“

“So what? She sent a babysitter after me? I can handle myself.”

“But Alex can’t. She’s going crazy with worry. I offered to come to make sure everything would be ok just so she would calm down. She almost sent a swat team in here tonight. If you send me back now she’ll storm in with DEO agents.”

Kara grimaced, “so you’re saying either I let you come with me, or Alex crashes Lena’s party?”

Mon-El gave a sheepish smile, “Pretty much.”

Kara raised her eyes to the sky and sighed, “Fine.”

Mon-El’s face lit up, “I was hoping you’d see reason. And here, I came bearing gifts,” and with that he pulled two gold flasks from his pocket, handing one over to Kara with a wink. “Now, shall we?” he said as he linked his arm through Kara’s, steering her up the walkway to the doors.

xxxx

Kara sipped her fifth glass of champagne, eyes glazing over as she listened to the owner of the Metropolis Sharks ramble on about his new island in the Mediterranean. Kara nodded along, stifling a yawn behind a somewhat flat smile. She hadn’t seen Lena all night. She used her Superhearing to try to pick out Lena’s voice somewhere in the crowd, but the mansion was huge and filled almost to the brim with people. Her ears strained and she thought she caught sound of a familiar breathless laugh for a second before loosing it in the roar of noises filling the building. Kara sighed.

“And then the bartender says, ‘we don’t serve breakfast here!’ HA!” The man opened his mouth wide and let out a guffaw that sent spit flying everywhere.

Kara winced and gave a small laugh, “Oh yah, ha, right. Funny. I’m just going to go-“

“Now sweetheart you can’t leave me without at least one dance,” her partner interrupted, and without waiting for her answer, the man swept Kara into his arms and pulled her onto the dance floor. As he spun her in dizzily circles Kara kept her eyes peeled for a sign of Lena. But no matter where she looked all she could see was the endless sea of glittering diamonds and expensive watches, eyes longing to catch a glimpse of a different set of green emeralds.

The music seemed never to end, and as the orchestra swayed to a slow rhythm, Kara felt the man’s breath in her ear and the slow creep of his hand downwards. Kara stepped back suddenly nauseous. “I have to go,” she said quickly, moving away from the ballroom before anyone else could pull her into a dance. She didn’t notice how almost everyone’s eyes followed her from the room, the way gazes lingered on her longingly.

Kara stepped back into the grand hall, bumping into another white vested waiter who deftly handed her yet another flute of champagne. Kara rolled her eyes, throwing the drink back in one defiant gulp, knowing the liquor couldn’t affect her. She eyed the waiter challengingly, daring him to try and give her another drink.

He slipped another rose colored glass off his tray without so much as a blink and handed her the crystal smoothly, “Madame.”

Kara groaned. And suddenly it was all too much. She needed to be away from these people, away from the constant murmur of conversation and drunken compliments. There was golden confetti drifting through the air in lazy spirals and Kara could just spot a grand staircase through the glitter that looked like it led somewhere quiet.

Kara made her way through the crowd, side-stepping tipsy millionaires as they called for more liquor, the soft cherry hued lamps burning above casting a warm blush onto the scene. Almost there, Kara thought as she watched two women spray champagne from a marble balcony, the platinum drops splashing onto the thousands of pink roses wrapped around the grad hall’s massive pillars.

With a final push through a group of men admiring the legs of a famous actress, Kara heaved a relieved sigh and reached the staircase, its steps unlighted and clearly off-limits to guests. But Kara didn’t care, she stumbled up the stairs, fingers wrapped around the rich mahogany banister. When she reached the top, the intoxicated yells from down below subsided into a steady rumble. Kara’s shoulders relaxed, and the tension that had been in her chest all evening slipped away. She looked around the unlighted corridors curiously, super eyes cutting through the gloom. Kara could tell she was in a more private part of the mansion, her x-ray vision showing her offices and bedrooms.

Adjusting her glasses, Kara walked down the hallways. There were guests up here too, though most of them appeared too far-gone to remember much of this the next morning. Kara passed one man talking to a marble bust of Alexander the Great, his speech slurred as he asked the famous general “Wha-what’d ya shaay?” A few steps later her ears twitched and she picked up a snip of Mon-El’s voice, the Daxamite flirting with a Russian ballet dancer behind one of the closed doors.

Well I’m glad he found who he wanted, Kara thought with an irritated grunt, moving away quickly before she heard anything she would regret.

She was about to turn around and go back to the party when she bumped her nose into a large set of double doors. Curious, Kara opened them, and instantly felt at home.

She stood inside a beautiful 1920’s library, the walls covered with more books than Kara had ever seen in her life. There was a fireplace and stained glass windows, and a set of soft red couches that looked like the perfect place to curl up to read. The smell of books was soft and comforting in the air, and Kara hesitated for a moment before quickly crossing the tiled floors until she reached a shelf. She was immediately lost in the titles before her, her fingers lightly skimming over the leather bindings.

“Beautiful isn’t it?” she heard a familiar husky voice ask from behind her and felt a pair of eyes boring into her back. Kara’s heart froze.

“Lena” She said breathlessly as she turned around. Her eyes soaked in Lena’s black dress and the way the other woman’s hair curled softly over her shoulders. There was a strand loose by her ears that Kara couldn’t take her eyes off.

Lena swayed over, pulling Kara into a hug. Kara had never hugged Lena before, not as Supergirl or a reporter, not even after Lena sent Lillian to jail. From the way the other woman tilted off balance, Kara knew Lena was slightly drunk, but the CEO’s body felt warm and soft against her own, and Kara’s hands reflexively slipped down Lena’s back to clasp her a little closer, a little tighter.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” Lena whispered in her ear, her lips just grazing Kara’s skin as she softly kissed her cheek.

Kara’s knees almost gave out, her head spinning. She could smell the whisky on Lena’s breath, warm and inviting. “Mmm hmmm” Kara murmured, not trusting her own words. And without her being aware of it, Kara’ mouth parted to breath in Lena’s perfume, the sensation so longingly sweet it almost hurt to draw her breath.

Lena stepped back from the hug, the distance leaving an empty feeling in Kara’s arms. “I’m glad you came.” And even though Kara noticed that Lena was speaking carefully to prevent any kind of a slur from forming, the words sounded sincere.

Lena’s eyes raked over Kara almost drowsily, lingering over her arms and legs and leaving a trail of heat over Kara’s body. Kara fidgeted with her glasses had to remind herself that she was Kryptonian and couldn’t be burned by anything on this Earth. “You look wonderful.”

“Thank you,” Kara hiccupped as she tried to give an airy laugh. She covered her mouth with her hand quickly. “For the dress and everything” she stammered between her fingers.

Lena’s lips curled in a slow smile that sent Kara’s heart soaring. “Of course, anything for my favorite reporter.”

Kara’s voice stuck in her throat at the remark, and even though she knew she was imagining the heat behind the words, Kara still hoped the other woman couldn’t hear the way her breath skipped.

But Kara had a terrible feeling that Lena could, because the CEO’s smile deepened. With a slight tilt of her head, Lena stepped closer again, a frown furrowed between her eyebrows. “Though I don’t remember this feature?” she said drawing the words out as she pointed at the bottom edge of the hero’s dress. Before Kara could ask what she meant, Lena’s eyes met Kara’s, a mischievous glint lighting up the tipsy green depths. She lifted one eyebrow suggestively then lightly rested her fingers just above Kara’s knee.

Kara’s breath caught.

Lena moved the tips of her fingers up in a slow line, soft touch tracing the curves of Kara’s toned legs. The hero fought back a warm shiver and tried to ignore the waves of heat rushing through her body.

Lena’s lips parted in a teasing smirk as she continued moving her hand slowly, slowly upwards. She let her fingers linger over Kara’s muscles, her touch feather light, almost cupping Kara’s thigh.

Kara stared at the red outline of Lena’s mouth, her gaze shifting lower to the small hollow at the base of Lena’s throat, wondering what it would be like to brush her lips over that steadily beating pulse. When Lena reached the hem of Kara’s dress her thumb slipped under the tight fabric, and the hero’s eyes shut. Kara suddenly helpless to stop imaging the way it would feel to press Lena’s hand against her more firmly, to guide her fingers gently higher and push every inch of the other woman’s body against her own.

“Lena…” she murmured, unsure if it was a warning or an invitation. Kara’s brain whirled, uncertain of what Lena was doing, how much she meant.

Lena gave a wicked smile in response. Her fingers tensed unconsciously at the thick rasp in Kara’s voice, sending a rush of heat up the hero’s leg. She moved her hand up another quarter of an inch, going slow enough that Kara could’ve pushed her away if she wanted to. And even though Kara knew that’s exactly what she should do, she stayed still, intoxicated by Lena’s touch, her body shaking.

Lena’s heartbeat drummed through her thumb as she slid her hand around, the CEO leaning in closer with the motion. Kara tilted her head back, her lips tingling from where Lena’s breath fanned over them softly.

But with a finial slide upwards, Lena’s hand reached the flask strapped to Kara’s thigh, the CEO giving the metal a soft tap as she pulled it out, stepping away calmly.

“Oh.” Kara’s breath came out in a shaky whoosh and she opened her eyes. Lena stood back, completely unfazed, her expression blank. Kara’s chest deflated. Stupid her thoughts lectured as the hero’s mind sluggishly came back to reality. A rush of guilt flooded Kara’s gut as she realized Lena had only intended to tease her friend and not anything else, and would probably never speak to Kara again if she knew just how much her touch unraveled the hero.

Lena gave the flask a small shake. “Still full Mrs. Danvers? Don’t you ever let your hair down?” The CEO uncorked the flask a little drunkenly, amber liquid sloshing over the rim.

Her thigh still buzzing from Lena’s touch, Kara didn’t notice the dangerous implication in the question. But, as if she was completely aware of the effect she was having on Kara, Lena licked her lips in a way that was deliberately provocative, shattering any hope that the hero might have to pull herself together.

Kara pushed her glasses up awkwardly. “Please, I could show you a good time,” she tried to counter playfully, hoping Lena couldn’t see how desperately starved her touch had left her.

“Really? Do tell” and the tease in Lena’s voice brought a fresh blush to Kara’s cheeks.

“No! I mean, yes. Oh god, no no no. I mean no. You’re beautiful and smart, but that’s not what I meant and you, you know.” Kara frowned.

“Mmmm” Lena hummed evasively, following Kara’s blush with curious eyes. Kara shifted her feet, wiped a sweaty palm on the back of her dress, uncomfortable under Lena’s gaze because even though the CEO’s eyes were a little unfocused from liquor, her stare was still piercing.

“You’re too sweet” Lena said finally, her voice quiet. Then looking away, she clenched her jaw, her eyes shut. When she turned back to Kara she faltered for a moment, with an expression Kara didn’t understand. Lena took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, and Kara wondered if she was even aware of the gesture or if she’d just become so used to pulling herself up that it had long become a habit.

“Care to prove just how much fun you can be?” Lena asked, gesturing to the flask in her hand.

“I probably shouldn’t—“ Definitely shouldn’t Kara thought with a grimace, shuddering because if she could barely control herself around Lena sober, she didn’t even want to think what alcohol might bring out in her.

“Don’t make me drink alone,” Lena purred and when Kara hesitated, “Say you will. Just one drink.”

Kara swallowed hard. This was asking for trouble and she knew it. But as Kara looked into Lena’s emerald eyes everything slipped away again except the need to be near Lena, to let herself fall into those green depths forever. And Kara suddenly knew that she would give anything in the world to have just one moment longer with Lena, to catch another one of the CEO’s lazy smiles or feel electricity course through her body the way it did whenever Lena was in the same room as her. She knew Lena didn’t, couldn’t feel the same way for her, but Kara also knew she couldn’t stay away from the CEO with her dark hair and throaty laughs.

Kara’s hand reached for the flask, her head a little light. “Anything for my favorite CEO” she said, repeating Lena’s line and attempting a wink.

Kara peered into the top of the flask, wondering what Mon-El had filled it with. By the smell of it, it looked like a little bit of everything. With a grimace Kara lifted the container up, “Cheers” she said with a confident grin before she tipped the flask back and drained its contents.

Kara let out a gasp as the warm liquid burned down her throat. She stumbled backwards a few steps and bumped into one of the bookshelves. Her hands flying up to her neck.

Lena reached out and grabbed Kara by the elbow, “Are you ok?” she asked, trying to hide the edge of worry creeping into her voice. She ran a gentle hand over Kara’s cheeks, over her hair, her jaw, staring at the hero as if trying to see any hurt that might’ve been done. “Oh Kara I didn’t mean to make you do that. I’m such an ass sometimes” she said as her eyes filled with anger.

Kara giggled, unable to tear her thoughts away from the fact that Lena hadn’t removed her hand from her arm. She opened one eye, “S’ok, but you can always kiss it better,” she said jokingly.

Lena smiled, a little stiffly, but Kara could see the way her shoulders relaxed and the pinched lines around her mouth smoothed out. “You are impossible, “ she murmured softly. She gave a warm squeeze to Kara’s arm, thumb rubbing small circles against Kara’s skin; it was distracting and amazing at the same time and Kara felt her mind melt at the touch. Lena opened her mouth like she was going to say something, but then as if remembering herself she dropped her hands away from Kara quickly and took a step back. She took a deep breath and when her eyes met Kara’s again they were guarded. “Let me grab you some water.”

“Really it’s ok,” But Lena just waved her hands at Kara and headed down the hallways, slightly unsteady in her heels. Kara followed her, feeling the warmth in her stomach grow as Mon-El’s booze slowly took effect. Lena opened a door to a bathroom and poured Kara a glass of water from the tap. She handed the hero the mug carefully, making sure their fingers didn’t touch.

Kara gulped the water quickly and then tugged at her pinky. The sounds of the party downstairs rumbled up to them. Kara stared at the tiled floor, noticing the way the world spinned a little.

“We should get back out there,” Lena murmured and Kara nodded her head, taking a second longer to stop the motion because her neck felt heavy.

But Lena didn’t move. Her eyes traveled to Kara, resting on the hero a moment before quickly flickering away when Kara noticed.

“This, um, bathroom is really nice. Your whole house is really nice,” Kara rambled, not understanding the tension in the air, her words a little jumbled together from the drink.

Lena gave a tight smile, “Thank you. Lex spent a fortune re-doing it. Everything had to be original.” Kara’s eyes swayed from the necklace hanging just above Lena’s dress to her eyes, “Only the best for our childhood home, he’d say,”

Kara swallowed, “You grew up here?”

“Before Lillian decided that boarding school would refine my edges? Yes.” Lena moved over to the window near the claw-foot bathtub, her back to Kara as she hugged her chest. “I used to love it here—the gardens and how far away it was from everything. Like our own little world,” her voice dropped to barely a whisper. “Silly.”

Kara stumbled closer feeling her heart break for Lena. She reached out a hand and placed it on the CEO’s shoulder, measuring her strength carefully because she was an alien and Rao sometimes Lena felt fragile.

Suddenly Lena turned around and grabbed hand. Kara looked up in surprise, “I—“ Lena hesitated, and Kara saw the same look Lena wore in the coffee shop in her eyes now, the same internal battle waging beneath the CEO’s calm exterior. “Do you want to get out of here?”

Kara started, “Where?”

“Anywhere but here,” Lena said, her lower lip trembling. Without waiting for an answer she pulled the Kara into the hallway, fingers interlacing with the hero’s.

Xxxx

Lena Luthor is holding my hand Kara hummed, the thought sending warm waves down her spine. Never mind that the CEO definitely didn’t mean it in the same way Kara did or that she was obviously upset while Kara couldn’t keep a smile off her face for more than a second.

Lena pulled Kara along, steps quick like she was being chased by something. She led Kara down the staircase and through the Grand Hall with its swirling pick roses, drunkenly weaving between the stifling crowds, not even pausing when her name was called. They stepped out into the mansion’s gardens, Kara’s eyes taking in the blush colored water spraying from the fountains.

But Lena didn’t stop, instead she tugged at Kara harder, moving deeper and deeper into the manicured lawn, away from the manor’s lights. Even with her superspeed, Kara struggled to keep up, unsteady in her heels and a little dizzy from Mon-El’s flask.

They rounded a corner enclosed by birch trees and stopped out of breath near an enormous private lake.

Kara looked up amazed. They were standing on a wooden dock with water stretching before them as still as glass, its surface reflecting the full moon hanging just above the horizon. The pier was lit with thousands of small twinkle lights, their glow soft and warm.

“Where are we?” Kara asked, her voice filled with awe

“Luthor Lake.” Lena said dryly, still holding Kara’s hand as she guided her to the end of the pier. When they got to the edge they stopped, Lena inhaling deeply. She dropped Kara’s hand and seemed to fold into herself.

Kara stepped back, giving the other woman space. After awhile she heard Lena give a stiff laugh. “I’m sorry, dragging you down here like this. That was stupid.” Her voice was raw.

“No! I wanted to be here, I—“ Kara paused, shook her head, unsure what to say. “I understand,” she finished, the words hanging in the air between them, heavy with all that Kara wanted, but couldn’t say.

Lena laughed mirthlessly. “Do you?” she said in a low voice, her fingers brushing against Kara’s skin as she picked a piece of golden confetti from the hero’s collarbone. “Can anyone really be so good?”

Kara’s stomach twisted even as she leaned into the touch, “You are. Lena you saved the city from Cadmus, you put your life in danger to save everyone else, you are—” amazing, but Kara didn’t say it instead she stuttered the first thing that came to mind “heroic.”

It was the wrong thing to say. Lena’s eyes widened and she dropped her hand away, a slight twitch on her pressed lips. She turned and stared out across the lake, her whole body rigid. Kara stood in numbed silence, unsure what to do. Her head spun in small spirals and she narrowed her eyes to keep Lena in her focus.

The silence stretched out, the soft lapping of waves against the dock and the gentle whisper of wind through tree leaves barely covering the ragged sound of Lena’s breathing.

Lena inhaled deeply. She gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head, as if dismissing some idea. When she turned back to Kara her features were resolved, the teasing smile on her lips unable to conceal the hard, almost upset cast of her eyes.

“Do you want to go for a swim?” she asked with a throaty laugh that sent shivers down Kara’s back.

Kara’s brows wrinkled, because the way Lena said it was playful but her shoulders were still squared and her chin was still lifted at a defiant angle as if struggling against something. She couldn’t tell if the CEO wanted her to say yes or no.

Kara rested a hand on one of the pier’s mooring posts to stop herself from swaying side to side, the liquor making it hard to decipher Lena “I—I don’t have a suit?”

A reckless smile spread over Lena’s strained features, “Who said we needed one?” And with a slow tug that captivated Kara’s stare, she unzipped her dress, slipping out of the tight fabric in one a smooth motion. With a tantalizing thud the dress fell onto the dock, Lena kicking it off her body so that it landed near Kara’s feet, the CEO almost naked except for the bra and underwear she still had on

Oh Rao Kara’s mind faintly registered. Her mouth went dry and her knees almost buckled beneath her. She turned around quickly, her body burning. She forced her eyes down and stared resolutely at the dock, counting the tiny splinters of wood in each plank, making her mind blank the way Alex taught her to when she needed to control her anger after the exposure to Red Kryptonite.

Kara swore under her breath. She couldn’t ruin things with Lena, not now.

Lena laughed softly near her ear, a slight edge in the sound, and Kara nearly jumped off the dock in surprise because suddenly Lena was right next to her, and oh god if Kara reached out a hand she could touch her bare skin “I can’t tell if you’re being polite or just a puritan.”

Kara licked her lips before choking out something indecipherable.

Lena laughed again, this time a little lower. “May I?” And without waiting for an answer, Lena slid her hands along Kara’s back, fingers a little blunt with whisky as they scrapped against the hero’s skin to unzip Kara’s dress. Kara closed her eyes and tried to ignore the rush of feeling Lena’s touch sent through her body. When her zipper was all the way down to the curve on her lower back, Lena’s hands moved up over Kara’s shoulders, pushing the dark blue material off gently.

Kara’s breath snapped in and she sent up a quick thank you to the stars for her last minute decision to change into her black strapless bra instead of the lumpy tan one she had almost left the house in.

Everything was quiet for a moment, and Kara felt the weight of Lena’s eyes on her for a moment.

“Lena…?”

“Ready when you are” the CEO answered her at last, a splash echoing up to Kara a few seconds later as Lena jumped in.

Kara stepped to the edge of the pier, wishing she were about to go for a dip in the artic instead. With a quick glance over her shoulder, Kara hopped into the water, surprised by how deep it was.

She sank nearly to the bottom, feeling the soft sand give beneath her feet as she pushed up. When she surfaced Lena swam languidly nearer to her. The moonlight glowed over the CEO’s pale skin, highlighting the dark waves of her hair and the burning intensity of her green eyes. If Kara hadn’t been so drunk the sight would’ve sent her reeling.

Lena stopped an arm’s length away and reached a hand out and touched Kara’s cheek, giving a light tap on Kara’s glasses, “Leaving these on?”

Kara used every inch of willpower not to let her gaze dip beneath Lena’s collarbone as she stuttered, “Yup! Cant see a thing without them,” realizing what a lame excuse it was even as she said it.

Lena’s hand cupped Kara’s cheeks, fingers still toying with the lead rims of her glasses. The hero made a nervous sound in her throat, wishing her face didn’t light up every time Lena touched her. She moved Lena’s hand from her glasses, and swam backwards a little.

Lens smiled teasingly, the grin not quite hiding the same hard, almost painful expression beneath her mask as she moved closer to Kara.

“I’ve never seen you without them.” She purred, her eyes drowsy. Kara recognized the look in them. It was the same one Cat had given her in her office so many times or the one that lit up so many alien’s eyes the moment before they attacked. It was a languid, sleepy gaze that had very little to do with relaxing and almost everything to do with waiting for the right moment to strike.

“Nothing to see!” she said a little to quickly, “just, boring old Kara Danvers.” She gestured vaguely about her, her arms splashing around her haphazardly, the numb feeling in her limbs from Mon-El’s alien alcohol making it hard to tread water.

Lena sidled nearer again. She lifted a hand and twirled her fingers through a piece of Kara’s hair, “You could never be boring Ms. Danvers.” She lifted an eyebrow suggestively, dangerously, her smooth words at war with the hurt, almost angry set of her jaw.

And even though the hair on the back of Kara’s neck was raised, and even though she knew Lena’s flirtatious tone was a wall like any other, Kara giggled, a hiccup causing her to snort some water into her nose. She couldn’t help it. She was drunk and Lena was so beautiful and even though the other woman had no idea what she was doing to Kara, the hero was pretty sure this was the best night of her life.

“No (hic) I really am (hic).” She leaned in conspiratorially, “Last weekend I (hic) stayed in when Mon-El (hic) invited me to go out so that I could watch the (hic) history channel.”

Lena’s eyes perked up a little at Kara’s laugh, the CEO quickly burying the expression behind an enticing mask, “Mon El? Is that the boy you brought to the Gala?” And when Kara’s head swayed up and down in what Lena guessed was supposed to be a nod she continued, “I can see why you’d want to stay in,” and Lena sounded surprised at the bite in her own words, “I mean, I’m sure you were tired, you’re so busy flying around all day.” She recovered as she leaned in, biting her lips suggestively, dark lashes lowered over her hooded eyes.

Kara beamed, “On busses.”

Lena sighed and leaned back, a frustrated tick pulling at one corner of her mouth, “You are something else, you know.”

“Same could be said for you,” Kara dared, liquid courage rising.

Lena raised her eyebrows dismissively, “No. A good actress maybe. But you…” She stopped, tucked the strand of hair behind Kara’s ear, flashing green eyes boring through the hero’s lead glasses as if trying to tell Kara something, “You are more than meets the eye.” She pressed a little closer in the water, body just grazing against Kara’s, green depths burning with determination.

Kara’s eyes widened, the hero treading backwards carefully. “Oh, no. I’m just, just a reporter. Yup that’s me, Kara Danvers, boring reporter, super ordinary. I mean not super, just ordinary. Nothing super about me—“

“I don’t know,” Lena leaned forward again, an irresistible smile spreading over her lips, her eyes still glowing with the same pain, “Intelligent, strong…beautiful”

Kara’s hand slipped into the water with a loud splash, “I’m? you said..? Beautiful?” she squeaked, reminding herself not to think about the way Lena’s legs slid against her own in the water.  

Lena gave a low, thick laugh, “Surely you’ve noticed the way people look at you Kara.”

And when Kara shook her head and reached a hand up to readjust her glasses, Lena took the opportunity to slide even closer, “I don’t think there was a person at the party tonight who wasn’t absolutely floored by you.” Kara’s eyes watched the way one of Lena’s bra straps fell over her shoulder, the CEO’s skin glowing.

Kara’s fingers twitched. She wanted to reach her hand out, drag it across Lena’s skin, feel the other woman arch beneath her touch. She wondered what Lena’s lips would taste like, what sounds Lena would make if she pushed her herself against the CEO, if she raked kisses along the curve of her jaw.

“I-“ Kara licked her lips. Her head spun. How would Lena kiss? Slow and like she knew Kara would never pull away, or deeper, more urgent? She shook her head, Stop. “I’m sure they just were curious to see who the new face was.” She gulped, forcing her eyes to stare at a point just over Lena’s shoulders. With a careful movement so that her skin didn’t touch Lena’s, she pushed the CEO’s bra strap back up. Kara gave a weak smile, “Millionaires and all,” she said and ducked her head under the cold water. She swam until her heart stopped racing, until she felt the rough wooden planks of the pier brushing against her outstretched palm.

Lena stayed behind for a second, her head tilted to the side slightly, her eyebrows knitted together like Kara was something she had never seen before. “you really are that good aren’t you” she said under her breath, and since Kara wasn’t supposed to have super-hearing she pretended she didn’t hear it.

Lena swam over to the pier, the enticing smile she’d worn all evening replaced by a soft watchfulness.

Kara kept a careful distance between herself and Lena. Her skin still burned from Lena’s touches and her eyes came in and out of focus from alcohol. She had to force herself to keep her hands by her sides, to stop her eyes from lingering over Lena’s lips. She needed to leave before she did something she would regret.

“I should go” Kara said, one hand already on the dock ladder.

“Wait, Kara please,” Lena grabbed her wrist, “Don’t go,” she looked at her hand encircling Kara’s and quickly let go, taken aback by her own impulse. “I promised you an evening to make up for Noonan’s and all I’ve done is hog you to myself. Let me take you back to the party? You should have a perfect night, not one spent freezing in a lake.”

Kara took her palm off the ladder, her mouth opening and closing a few times because how could Lena not think she hadn’t had an amazing night? How could she think that Kara wanted to be anywhere else than right here?

Lena’s eyes drilled into Kara, the green depths desperately searching for something in the hero’s own gaze. The expression caught Kara by surprise. She’d never seen the CEO so vulnerable before, her eyes almost pleading, like she wanted Kara to help her escape from her own self.

“No, Lena I” Kara paused. She picked up one of Lena’s hands in her own and rubbed her thumb in small circles over the other woman’s knuckles. “I’ve had a wonderful time. It was better than any party, really,” she added when Lena parted her mouth to deny it. Kara looked up from their entwined hands and gave Lena what she hoped was a lighthearted smile, wishing she could smooth away the pain etched into Lena’s face, “Drinks, skinny dipping, a new dress?” Kara shook her head, “Lena I don’t know what a kind of parties you’re used to but for a lowly reporter that’s a pretty spectacular night. In fact, if I didn’t know any better I’d say you were trying to coax me into forgetting myself” Kara winked, hoping her humor would distract Lena.

Lena’s hand clenched tightly, almost painfully under Kara’s hand. Then suddenly the sky around them erupted with fireworks, the lake shining like starlight as hundreds of champagne and pink colored explosions burst in the night sky. Lena’s eyes reflected the glittering explosions, deep green pools glowing. Kara couldn’t tear herself away, the world seeming to stand still. God they’re beautiful Kara thought, stare locked onto Lena’s eyes.

“It is,” Lena said softly, watching the explosions around them with a sad half smile.

Kara gave a start, not realizing she must’ve spoken out loud. Without knowing it she edged closer, running a hand over Lena’s cheeks, brushing her finger s lightly through the CEO’s dark hair, wishing she could wipe away whatever had caused Lena to look so lost. Another round of fireworks went off, their boom echoing warmly over the lake. “Pink is my favorite color” Kara mumbled, nodding at the fireworks. She felt Lena’s breath on her cheeks, hot against her skin, her pulse sending warm waves down her body.

Lena stared at her, eyes boring into the hero’s own. “I know,” she said barely above a whisper.

The world seemed to spin around Kara. Everything was rushing around her and the way Lena looked, the way she was staring at Kara like she needed to drink in every second made Kara’s heart ache and stop all at the same time. “Lena…” she murmured, moving closer. She closed her eyes and rested her forehead against the other woman’s. She took a few deep breaths to steady herself, not because when she was this close she could smell Lena and the scent was almost as intoxicating as Mon-El’s booze.

What are you doing Kara’s mind screamed, Stop before you ruin your friendship with Lena. But Kara couldn’t move, her stomach fluttering uncontrollably.

She can’t fuck this up, she cant live without Lena even if its only as friends.

“Kara?” Lena’s voice was quiet. She slipped a hand around Kara’s waist, her skin warm and soft “You’re trembling?”

Kara opened her eyes slowly, took in the way Lena brow was wrinkled a little in worry and the gentle tilt of her mouth. Her eyes were still looking at her with that same fragile, almost hurt expression. And suddenly it was all too much for Kara.

A wave rocked against the hero. And Kara didn’t even fight it as it pushed her into Lena. Her arms wrapped around the other woman, as if of their own accord, and she entangled her free hand in Lena’s dark hair to tug the CEO tight against her.

A gasp sighed over Lena’s lips before Kara’s mouth crashed against the CEO’s.

It was supposed to be gentle, but instead it was hungry, insistent. Kara had never wanted anything so badly before and her mouth moved against the CEO’s impatiently, desperately.

Her nails grazed over the small of Lena’s back, over her ribs, her sides.

Her brain swam with the sound of Lena’s heartbeat, the feel of the other woman’s bare skin beneath her hands and the way she felt as if she was slowly unraveling.

There was a push against her chest, but Kara barely noticed, the ache to pull Lena closer driving any other thoughts out of the hero’s mind.

The push came again, this time more firmly. Kara stopped and Lena pulled away, her lips slightly swollen, red lipstick nearly gone.

“I can’t. Kara, please” Lena choked, tearing herself from Kara’s arms, “I cant do this.”

The words took a moment to register. “I didn’t mean—I thought—I’m sorry” Kara stammered as she numbly watched Lena pull herself out of the water and run a trembling hand through her dark hair.

“I’m sorry” Kara repeated, reaching out for the other woman, hurt and confusion driving the breath from her lungs until the words sound like a cry. Everything felt cold and Lena blurred in front of her.

Lena moved away, flinching from Kara’s touch, “I-I cant” her voice cracked, “please, just leave me alone.” The words sent dread like a chill through Kara’s body, and the hero stumbled backwards, noticing the way Lena held her dress in front of her like a wall.

“Lena”

But the CEO turned away, disappearing back up the drive to the manor, fading into the night as if she had never been anything more than a figment of Kara’s imagination.