Chapter Text
The tension was palpable as Kara stepped into Lena’s office. They hadn’t really talked since Kara had revealed that she was Supergirl three months before. It wasn’t that they hadn’t wanted to, of course, but Kara had flown to Argo City to help her mother almost immediately and they’d never gotten the chance. Lena wasn’t sure exactly how. She’d been lied to and betrayed, which she felt sadly used to these days. Before the revelation that Kara wasn’t human, Lena had started to have feelings for her best friend. And, truly, the fact that Kara wasn’t human had no effect on Lena’s feelings for her. It was more the fact that Kara had kept this a secret for two years, even when Supergirl had gone behind Lena’s back. No, Kara had gone behind Lena’s back.
“Miss Luthor…?” Kara said quietly, Lena’s back turned to her.
“You don’t have to call me that, Kara.”
“It feels strange to call you Lena. I mean, after everything… You’re not friends with Supergirl anymore. And, I suppose, you aren’t friends with me anymore, either.” Kara said, adjusting her glasses on her nose. At those words, Lena turned to look at her. She could hear the calm sadness in Kara’s voice, and it hurt. Boy, did it hurt.
“I don’t know what we are right now,” Lena admitted. “You told me a truth that was two years overdue, told me it was for my own protection, then flew off to Argo City without an explanation and didn’t come back for three months. Maybe I’d forgive you if you’d just explained it to me, but you didn’t.”
“I had to go to Argo City to help my mother with an emergency. If I’d had the time to explain, then I would have. Can you give me that chance now? Please? I hate this tension between us. I miss you. I miss your friendship.”
“Alright. Fine. Alex told me the reason for secrecy was to protect you, so I’d love to hear your thoughts on that.” Lena said, sitting down and motioning for Kara to do the same.
“It was, initially, for my protection. We take the same procedure with all civilians. We did it with Maggie, but she figured it out on her own before Alex could tell her. The point of it was to protect me from potential threats. But you and I became close. And given Lex’s history with my cousin, I felt that it would be best if I didn’t tell you. Not because I didn’t trust you, I just… a Super and a Luthor so close and working together would cause speculation about both of our intentions. And, if I’m being totally honest… I liked that you didn’t know. I liked that I could just be Kara around you. I could be myself, and not have to worry about being a superhero. There were no expectations between us.”
Lena was quiet for a long moment before finally speaking, but her tone was far more warm than it had been previously.
“How was it? Being home again?” She asked. Kara’s eyes widened, having not expected such a question.
“Um… Well, it was weird, I guess. Not as weird as when Mon-El and I went the first time, though. It takes getting used to. It’s not the same as being on Krypton, but it’s still exactly as I remember it.” Kara replied. Lena nodded with a slight smile, but didn’t speak, so Kara kept on describing it. “There were, uh… there were places I had spent my childhood, that became distant memories as I grew up on Earth. But then I went to Argo City and… it all came back to me. It was bittersweet, once I realized I had to come back to Earth.”
“Tell me more. Tell about the places you went and the things you did when you were growing up.” Lena said, and her genuine tone made Kara smile.
So, with that, Kara started telling her stories, and didn’t stop until she ran out of breath. To her surprise, Lena sat and listened, asking her questions and laughing along with her stories.
Hearing Kara’s laugh again and seeing her smile so much struck something in Lena. Those feelings she’d had didn’t go away like she thought they had. Instead, seeing Kara so happy made her love her even more. If there was any future for them, it was going to take some work. But maybe, just maybe, they’d be okay.