Chapter Text
The sky had opened and the rain had come pouring down. “Oh perfect.” Lena grumbled in exasperation. So much for walking home, to burn off her irritation from the latest board meeting. Pulling her coat tightly closed she sped up her steps. It was late, eyes open she looked for a convenient place to take cover so she could call her driver. Her shoulders pulled together as she realized her shortcut home had left her in neighborhood that practically screamed danger.
She cringed as she felt rain dripping down her neck from her har that was quickly soaking up the sheets of falling water. To the side she saw warm light spilling out from an open door. Breathing in relief she headed for what looked like a rundown bar. It would have to do. Following behind a large, broad shouldered man who was entering she made her way in.
The familiar sounds of a bar washed over her as she found herself in the warm interior. Making her way towards the bar she pulled her coat off. A quick drink and she’d call her driver, who knew, today might not be a complete lost. Sitting down on a stool she waved the bartender over. “Scotch please.”
The woman turned and grabbed a bottle off the shelf. Lena turned her attention to the inside of the bar she’d found herself in. It was nicer than the entrance had made it seem, but it was a long way from a place she’d have gone to under normal circumstances. There was a couple who were playing pool in one corner. The general air was a quiet sort of comfort. The man by the jukebox caught her attention. He had scales…
She flicked her eyes from patron to patron. The woman at the table in the corner had pointed ears. By the pool table the couple playing both had claws, there was a man with red skin drinking with a woman who’s tongue flicked out forked. Lena swallowed nervously, aliens. She was in an alien bar.
Lena turned so she was staring at the bar. She needed to finish her drink, and then carefully leave without bringing any attention to herself. The response if these aliens realized a Luthor was in their bar couldn’t be good. Maybe she could leave without her drink?
The scotch was slid to her before she could get up. Deep yoga breathing, she would finish her drink and then get out. Sipping at her drink she forced herself to do so slowly. Move slow, keep her eyes down, act normal.
“Hey!”
She nearly jumped out of her skin. “Excuse me?” Lena nearly blanched at the bright and beaming woman looking at her.
“It’s alright, it’s your first time here right?” Her face was warm and open. “It’s alright you’re safe here. I know it’s a bit overwhelming your first time.” She shrugged. “I’m Kara Danvers, you?”
Lena swallowed. “Lena, is it that obvious I haven’t been here before?”
“No, I can hear your heart though.” Kara dropped down on the stool besides her, her face painfully kind. “You’re safe here. I know it’s scary having others know you’re not human, but it’s alright.”
She relaxed slightly as she realized that she hadn’t been discovered. It was disturbing this woman could hear her heartbeat, but she felt slightly safer with a regular. Now to politely get rid of this good samaritan before she discovered that not only was she human, but that she was a Luthor. “Thank you. I’m sure I’ll get used to it.”
“I almost had a panic attack the first time I came here.” The blonde gave her an understanding smile. Glancing at her glass of scotch Kara cocked her head to the side. “You know you can get stuff from your home planet here probably?”
She held her glass of scotch. “I think I’ll stick with scotch.” Her curiosity was going to get her killed. “What are you drinking?”
“Alderinium rum.” Kara held up her glass of slightly glowing rum. “It makes everything all floaty. Human alcohol doesn’t really affect me. Some cocktails taste good though.”
Lena stared in horror. “That’s terrible. What do you do after a hard days work?”
“Ice cream!” The woman beamed. “You probably shouldn’t try Alderinium rum if human stuff works on you, it’s deadly to humans after all.”
She raised a brow as she gave the glowing beverage a respectful look. The smart thing was to finish her scotch and leave. But this was a chance to learn so much, that she would never regularly be able to find out. “Are humans allowed to come here?”
“Of course.” Kara craned her head around and pointed to a photo of a latina looking woman holding a pool cue, hanging on the wall. “That’s Maggie, she’s a cop with the science division. !00% human but she’ll look out for you if you’re ever in trouble. And my sister and friends are all human and they come by sometimes. If you have any human friends just make sure they know not to tell too many people. But M’gann, the bartender is can read minds. So if anyone planning to hurt anyone comes in she’ll know. Not that she reads everyone’s minds. But she can read everyone’s emotions for warning. It’s safe here.”
Lena took a long swig of her scotch. “I’m not sure I even know what safe is.” It tasted bitter as she grimaced. How many death threats had she received just today?
“It’s the hiding.” Kara nodded, her shoulders slumping. “Having to pay attention to a hundred tiny details that make you different, knowing if anyone notices them you and anyone connected to you is in danger.” Reaching over she rested her hand over her arm and squeezed in comfort. “But you can just be yourself here. I know it's a lot, but it's safe.”
That was...Lena looked at this woman, who appeared as human as can be, who seemed...afraid, she was afraid of humans knowing she wasn’t one of them. “What happens if humans discover you? Surely it's not that bad?”
Brow crinkling, Kara looked at her curiously. “You’re new? Here on earth it's not safe for beings like us all of time. You should talk to Brian or M’gann about ways to keep yourself safe. But there are bad humans who if they find you, no one will see you again.”
“Humans are bad?” She spoke slowly, fear crawling up her spine.
Eyes widening in surprise, Kara’s hands waved as she shook her head. “No, they’re a species just like any of us. They’ve got amazing people! And they’ve got terrifying ones. But they’re not used to being part of a wider universe yet. So a lot of them, even ones who are really great can be…” She bit her lip seemingly trying to find the right words. “My boss tried to fire me when she thought I was an alien. I mean I convinced her I was human, but she’s a great person. I really look up to her. But she didn’t understand what it's like.”
“She tried to fire you for being an alien?” Lena frowned, she may not know this alien well, but she seemed sweet.
Sipping at her drink, Kara nodded slowly. “I think she thought she was being nice. That if I was from some advanced race I should be doing something important instead of fetching coffee and taking minutes. I like being an assistant though, it makes me feel...human.”
“You want to feel human?” She leaned her head against her hand as she studied the woman before her.
“I want to feel at home.” And oh, Kara’s eyes were so sad. “I can’t go back to my planet, it doesn’t exist. There’s hardly any of us left. So I have my earth family, and my life here.”
Lena waited for a long moment. “Why are you telling me all of this? Surely you can’t just open up to every new person to come through here?”
“No,” She giggled as she shook her head. “But my sister is in the honeymoon phase of her new relationship. And I was lonely, and you looked lonely over here.”
It was unreal how nice this woman was. “Thank you for coming over here. I’ve enjoyed speaking with you, but I’m afraid I should be headed out.” Lena pushed her empty glass away. While informative, she had pushed her luck far enough.
“Stay, I’ll buy the next round? I’ve told you all about me but I don’t know anything about you.” Kara pouted, it was like looking at a puppy.
She tried to stay strong, she lasted for about two seconds. “Fine, one more drink.” No need to tell this woman she wasn’t even sure when the last time she’d had a casual conversation was.
Kara beamed and waved M’gann over. “Can we get two blue yoks?”
“Human strong?” M’gann looked at Lena pointedly.
Nodding Kara grinned. “Yup! Lena’s new here, have to show her the best drink in the house.”
Lena flushed, it was sweet. “I’d have been fine with something simpler.”
“Blue yoks are a martian drink. They’re super yummy, turn your mouth blue for a while. Is that alright? Oh no I should have asked what you wanted shouldn’t I?” Kara looked like she was going to keep going.
Reaching out she caught her arm. “It sounds fun, thank you.”
“So why are you on earth?” Kara gave her, her full attention.
Lena bit her lip and considered how to answer that without lying. “I was born here, was adopted when I was little.”
“Human family?” She asked curiously.
It was hard not to laugh. “Yes, very human. What about you?”
“My planet doesn’t exist anymore so…” Kara pushed her glasses up her nose. “I was thirteen when I got here. But the Danvers are a great family. They really helped with learning how to be human.”
Lena found herself reaching out and laying her hand over Kara’s on the bar. It was unlikely to be comforting, but it was all she could think to do. “I’m sorry, that had to have been really hard.”
“Two blue yoks!” M’gnn pushed two suspiciously moving drinks towards them. She gave a wink to Kara. “Have fun you two.”
Kara excitedly watched her as she took a sip of the drink. Lena found it was a thick, sweet drink. She smiled and gave a slight nod as she took a larger drink.
Pumping her fist, Kara laughed. “I knew you’d like it!” Holding her hand out in the clear sign for a high five she wiggled her eyebrows at her.
Lena laughed for the first time, in she didn’t know how long. With a grin she high fived the other woman. Her skin on her hand where they’d touched..ripples. It was like something was under her skin, but not painfully, moving. She let out a surprised sounding gasp and looked at her palm in awe as the colors spread across her palm and fingers. Bright blues and reds in swirling patterns like paint dropped into water.
“Oh…” Kara let out a sound of surprise. She was staring at her own hand that hand greens and greys spreading across it.
She couldn’t help it as she stared the kind and beautiful woman across from her, her soulmate. Lena hadn’t seriously considered meeting her soulmate since she was a little girl. The only people she had physical contact with were businessmen she had to shake hands with, and the occasional warm body for a night. She was a Luthor, love was never something in the cards for her. But here sitting before her was a literal ray of sunshine, colors still settling on her hand, proof that maybe that wasn’t right. “Soulmates.”
“I didn’t…” Kara shook her head, looking at her with wide awe filled eyes. “I thought mine must have died when my planet died.” Reaching out, hand shaky, she glanced at her for permission before touching her hand. Her touch was feather light.
Lena carefully ran her fingers along the colors on the other woman’s hand. “I didn’t think I had one either.”
Linking their hands together, Kara smiled at her with watery eyes. She didn’t seem to know what to say, but the way she was looking at her was enough. It was all overwhelming emotion and joy, so much joy.
Lena felt a sick sinking feeling. This woman, her soulmate thought she was like her, when really she didn’t belong here at all. She was intruding, would Kara even want her if she knew who and what she was. “I…”
“Are you alright?” Kara’s brows drew together as she leaned forward in concern.
She bit her lip...Kara had seemed alright with humans? Had a human family even. “You don’t hate humans right?”
“Of course. What does that have to do with, well us?” Kara cocked her head like some sort of adorable dog waiting for the toy to be brought out.
Lena closed her eyes. She whispered with a pained twist in her chest. “I’m human.”
“You’re human?” Kara cocked her head to the other side. Her brows furrowed as looked at her for a long second in plain confusion. “But you were scared? And you came in here by yourself.”
“I didn’t know this was was an alien bar.” She squeezed Kara’s hand that she realized in that moment she was holding. “I’m not a threat to any of you, I’d never do anything to hurt any of you. But you’re just so nice. But if you don’t...I didn’t mean to lie about what I am.”
Kara just smiled softly. “It’s alright, you’re safe here even if you’re human. I promise.”
“You’re not upset?” Lena took in her face in confusion. She’d been expecting to be thrown out honestly. “You don’t mind I’m not well an alien?”
“As long as you don’t mind I’m an alien.” Ducking her head slightly, Kara’s cheeks flushed, her eyes looking up at her through her eyelashes.
It was distinctly unfair. Lena could feel herself melting at that look. “Never.” She bit her lip. “But my family are...well they’re as anti-alien as you can get.” Her eyes widened in alarm as she realized the possibilities if Lex ever found out her soulmate was an alien. “I don’t agree with them at all, we don’t talk actually. I’d understand if you didn’t want to risk being around me though.”
“As long as you’re alright with it, I don’t care what your family thinks…” Kara seemed rather flustered. “Or well I do care, but I don’t think it's a reason not to get to know you. I mean we have colors and I never thought.” She shook her head quickly, her smile returning. “I’m so glad I’ve met you.”
Lena winced. “I won’t hold it against you, my name is Lena Luthor. Which makes my brother Lex Luthor…” She trailed off cringing. If she could have held this secret forever she’d have done so. But to lie to a soulmate? That was...that would be worse. It would give her time to fall in love, to care more than she should before losing this wonderful person.
Kara didn’t drop her hand. Instead her eyes widened and then she started laughing. Her shoulders shook with great bellow of amusement, tears at the edges of her eyes.
“Are you alright?” It wasn’t exactly the reaction she’d been expecting….it was a reaction she’d ever imagined.
Wheezing slightly, Kara just reached up to the collar of her shirt and unbuttoned the first three buttons. A familiar and iconic blue and top of a crest showing beneath her shirt.
Lena gaped. “No…” She flicked her eyes back forth between the top of the crest and the still giggling face of Kara. Finally it sunk in that the woman was serious. Lena couldn’t help it, she joined in with the laughter. Afterall, it had to be the greatest cosmic joke she’d ever even heard of; a Super and a Luthor.