The Time Machine
“You should invite her!” Lucy practically begged, sitting across from Kara in a crowded Noonans.
“First of all, no. Second of all, she would never say yes!” Kara admonished, taking a sip of her pumpkin latte.
“She’s already going alone, you’re already going alone...just invite her to go…together.” Lucy suggested with raised eyebrows.
“I’m supposed to be going with you and James. Cat was going to take Carter but he’s going on a trip with his dad, much to Cats dismay.” Kara explained.
“Exactly my point, since she’s still going, that means she’s actually looking forward to it. Not just going for Carters sake. Otherwise she would’ve canceled the second she found out he wouldn’t be going.” Lucy pointed out.
“So what does that have to do with inviting her to go with me instead?” Kara asked with a tilt of her head.
“Cash in on some happy Cat. She won’t be crabby...she especially won’t be crabby if she gets to go to a planetarium opening with her favorite alien.” Lucy said, quickly taking a sip of her drink.
“I guess it could be fun…” Kara trailed off, thinking more seriously about the idea than she had been before.
“Well make a decision quick cause the opening is tomorrow and we have to be at work in fifteen minutes,” Lucy said, standing up to put her blazer coat back on. “And besides, what’s the worst that could happen? She says no? She does that all the time anyways…” She finished, picking up her coffee and walking out the door.
Kara rode the elevator in silence, Cats freshly made latte in hand. She stared at the buttons from behind her coworkers as they illuminated and beeped with each rising floor.
She could do this. She could ask Cat Grant to accompany her at an event they were both already planning to attend. It wouldn’t be different from any other event she had gone to as Cats assistant. This time, they would simply be there...together.
Kara rustled around in her purse and grabbed her phone out.
“It’s weird if I ask” Kara quickly texted Lucy.
“No it’s not. She’ll like it. Trust me.” Lucy texted back immediately.
“What does that mean??” Kara replied.
“If it works out, I’ll tell you later. But right now. GO ASK!” Lucy sent back.
Kara let out a quiet sigh and put her phone back in her purse, just in time for the doors to open on her floor. She walked quickly to Cats office, already seeing the other woman inside.
Kara steadied herself, taking a deep breath before walking into the office.
“Good morning Miss Grant, here’s your latte!” Kara said, putting an extra ounce of cheer in her voice.
Cat looked up at the sound of her voice, narrowing her eyes slightly at the exaggerated tone.
“Thank you Kara,” Cat started, a hint of a smile playing at her lips “You’re cheerful this morning.” She finished as Kara handed her the latte.
“Just excited for the planetarium opening tomorrow I guess!” Kara said, giving Cat a nervous smile.
“Yes, it should be a very nice evening.” Cat replied with a soft smile, keeping her excitement at bay.
Kara stood there for a moment, taking in how beautiful Cat looked in the early sunlight filtering in through the lights of the office windows, making a bit of gleam in Cats eyes that looked like the soft glow of a fire.
“Did you need something else?” Cat said, breaking Kara from her trance.
“No...I mean yes!” Kara stuttered out nervously.
Cat looked at her questioningly, curious as to what the girl was about to say.
“Since Carter isn’t going tomorrow night, and I’m just going with Lucy and James...I was wondering if maybe you’d like to go with me? You don’t have to! I Just thought since we’re both going alone it would be nice to go together.” Kara rambled out, averting her eyes from Cats gaze.
“I’d love to.” Was all Cat said back.
“That’s okay it was just a-Wait? You would?” Kara said, her eyes snapping back to meet Cats.
“Yes Kara, I would love to go with you.” Cat said warmly, a smiling playing at her lips.
“Great!” Kara beamed.
“On one condition.” Cat said, causing Kara’s beam to fade.
“Which is?” Kara asked hesitantly.
“I’ll pick you up in my car service, I would prefer not to fly there. I know you don’t have a car.” Cat replied, watching as Kara’s slight panic turned back into joy.
“Deal.” Kara said, smiling as she walked out of the office, feeling happier than she had in a long time.
Kara swung her apartment door open to see the amused grins of her sister and friend.
“Why didn’t you tell me you had a date with Cat Grant?” Alex asked with a laugh, pushing past her sister and into the apartment.
“Cause she keeps insisting it’s not a date.” Lucy said, doing the same and walking towards Kara's clothes rack.
“It’s not a date! We were both going alone so I just...suggested we go together.” Kara replied as she shut the door and turned towards the two women who just barged into her apartment.
“But you want it to be a date?” Alex asked, a hint of playfulness in her voice.
“She definitely wants it to be a date.” Lucy replied before Kara could.
“I want to just see what happens.” Kara said with a sigh, sitting down on her bed.
“Well we’re gonna make sure you look good either way, that’s why we’re here. We’re helping you get ready to blow Cat away. Not literally, since you could technically do that, but you know what I mean.” Lucy said, already grabbing dresses off of the rack.
“Well you only have an hour to help, she’ll be here at six.”
Five outfit changes, and five beers between them, Alex and Lucy had picked out a dress and shoes they both deemed acceptable for a date with the Queen of All Media. They quickly wished Kara luck and hurried out five minutes before Cat was set to arrive.
Kara paced her apartment nervously, walking back to the mirror every few seconds to ensure she looked okay. She knew whatever she was wearing couldn’t even compare to whatever designer dress Cat was bound to be in, but she thought she looked good nonetheless.
It was one minute to six when Kara got the text that Cat was waiting in the car downstairs, and six on the dot when Kara opened the door to get in the car.
“Hi Miss Grant.” Kara said nervously, sliding into the black town car and closing the door.
“Hello Kara,” Cat started “But you’re not here in an official capacity tonight, so please, call me Cat.”
Kara faltered for a moment, lost on the sight of Cat in a skintight black dress that took her breath away.
“You look amazing Cat.” Kara said, the words falling out of her mouth before she could stop them.
“Thank you, so do you.” Cat said, a slight blush creeping into her neck.
They rode the rest of the short ride in silence, both unsure of what to say next. When they arrived at the planetarium the drive had opened the door for Cat first, and then before he had the chance to open Kara’s, she was already out of the car.
They walked into the venue in silence again, until they got into the lobby, filled with a projection of stars on the roof that had Kara letting out a soft ‘wow’.
“It does look incredible doesn’t it, they spared no expense.” Cat said, watching as Kara took in the flickering lights on the ceiling.
“If the lobby looks this good I can’t imagine how amazing the actual show is.” Kara replied, as they walked over to a table serving refreshments off to the side.
Cat grabbed a glass of champagne and took a sip, before picking up another glass and offering it to Kara.
They walked around the room for a while, being stopped every few minutes to make small talk with people Cat knew. Cat made sure to keep the chit chat to a minimum, only doing the bare minimum for social requirements. Cat was about to suggest they head towards the refreshments table again when a planetarium worker came up to them.
“Miss Danvers?” The short man questioned, looking between the two of them.
“Yes!” Kara started, “That’s me!” Kara finished excitedly.
“The viewing room is set up and ready for you whenever you would like. Just a reminder the show does start in a half an hour. You’re free to use it before and after.” He said succinctly, before turning and walking away.
“The viewing room?” Cat asked, looking to Kara.
“I have something I want to show you,” Kara said, “Follow me?” She asked, daring to reach her hand out towards Cat.
Cat hesitated for a second before grabbing her hand and letting herself be guided away from the main lobby and into a viewing room holding a very large telescope in the center.
“Kara what on earth are we doing in here?” Cat asked, looking around the room at the various equipment strewn about.
“I may have used your name to get special access to this room tonight, don’t be mad.” Kara said with a wince as she moved closer to the telescope.
“That entirely depends on what it is we’re doing in here.” Cat said, completely confused as to what was going on.
Kara said nothing, instead, she looked into the telescope and then turned to Cat with a glowing smile that Cat wished she could see every day.
“Just...come over here and look.” Kara said, gesturing for Cat.
Cat let out an apprehensive sigh as she approached the telescope and leaned in to look through the powerful machine.
“What am I supposed to be seeing Kara?” Cat asked, looking at a patch of dark sky, filled with an uncountable number of stars.
“Look right in the middle, at the big red star.” Kara said softly.
“I see it.” Cat said, focusing her gaze on that star in particular.
“That’s Rao.” Kara replied quietly.
“What’s Rao?” Cat asked, still looking through the telescope.
“Kryptons sun.” Kara told her, her voice wavering ever so slightly.
Cat let the words sink in as she stared at the burning red ball through the telescope. She hesitated for a moment, not wanting to look away, before she looked over at Kara.
“I wanted to show you,” Kara said, looking down at the ground but taking a step forward towards Cat. “You’ve done so much for me, helped me so much. I thought it’d be nice to show you a piece of me that very few people get to see.”
“Kara, I-I don’t know what to say.” Cat said, overcome with emotion.
“You don’t have to say anything. But here.” Kara said, pulling a very small copy of a book out of the purse she was carrying, and handing it to Cat.
“What is this?” Cat asked, taking the copy of The Time Machine out of Kara’s hands.
“It’s the book I’m reading right now.” Kara said with a laugh, watching as Cat opened to the page she knew was underlined with a quote.
“Looking at these stars suddenly dwarfed my own troubles, and all the gravities of terrestrial life.”
Cat stared at the page for a moment, unsure of how to respond to the weight of the sentiment behind the quote and the sight of a part of Karas lost home among the stars.
“Kara…” Cat breathed out slowly, tears threatening to form in her eyes.
“When I look at Rao I remember what I lost, but it also reminds me of what I have. It reminds me that I have Alex, Lucy, James...I have you in my life, and I wouldn’t have any of you if I wasn’t here right now.” Kara told her, taking a step forward so she within arms reach of Cat.
Cat slowly reached her hand up to stroke Kara’s cheek softly. She looked into Kara's eyes and saw the truth behind her words, along with a bit of lingering sadness. She let her hand still on Kara's cheek, reveling in how soft her skin felt. Cat tilted her head slightly, keeping her eyes locked on Kara's as she leaned forward and pressed a delicate kiss to Kara's lips.
It only took seconds for Kara to respond, kissing Cat back softly as she pulled her closer towards her.
The kiss was brief, but long enough that it left Kara wishing for more as Cat pulled back slightly.
“Thank you.” Cat said after a moment of silence.
“For what?” Kara asked, her mind lost in the haze of the kiss.
“For showing me this part of you.” Cat told her, reaching up again to tuck a stray piece of hair behind Kara’s ear.
“There’s so much more I want to show you, if you’ll let me?” Kara said, her eyes darting between Cats eyes, and her lips.
“I’d love that.”