Chapter Text
Dusk Till Dawn
rancordesherzens
A year of Snapper’s bullshit was finally paying off in ways Kara hadn’t imagined. She was a reporter now even in the stern man’s eyes. She quickly worked her way up the totem pole among the other junior reporters. It didn’t take long for Kara to get a hang of how Carr wanted things done. She quickly adjusted her work to meet his high standards and would always, always edit her own work how she would have expected Ms. Grant to. Each time Carr would mull over the article she handed him and would look over at her before telling her to run it in the new issue.
She had a chair of her own in the journalism room, but she rarely used it. She was often off doing research while continuing her duties as Supergirl. If she did need to sit and work for extended periods she would go to her office that Snapper still has no idea exists.
Kara had upped her fashion; heads turned as she strolled down the hall to her office. Cardigans were mostly a thing of the past. Mostly. Everyday she wore outfits that she could not only afford, but she was sure would have earned a nod of approval from a certain blonde that inspired the change. Her hair was in a simple dutch inspired braid that looked elegant, she wore newer style glasses. The old ones tucked away in a small memory box under her bed. Her dress was a nice asymmetrical fit with flair in a dark gray color. Over that she had on a ¾ sleeve length, blue ponte, open front blazer. Her 5-inch pump heels matched the color of her blazer and her eyes. Simple small silver hoops in her ears. Her Mother’s necklace with a small pendant proudly shown, and a few small banded silver rings were her only accessories. She was reading her tablet as she opened her office door and lazily pushed through with her hip.
If she was working within CatCo walls it was in her secret office. Alex bought her several plants for the office and a very nice, DEO grade sun lamp. One day on the way back to the office Kara flew along the outer wall of her office where she had imagined there could’ve been a window and she memorized the view. That night she painted a large canvas of the view as if it were midday and perfect weather. She hung the canvas in place to serve as an imaginary window and if lifted her mood. Between the plants, lamp, canvas, and other small decorations she had added; it felt like a second home. It was something she didn’t think she’d pull-off. At first it was depressing to think of no longer being at her old desk within view of Ms. Grant or within a short stride of her favorite balcony.
James was still interim CEO while waiting on Ms. Grant to take back her mantle. And as such Kara didn’t find the need to visit the fish bowl often. She still got along fine with James as a friend, but nothing was the same when the CEO herself was still gone.
Four months had passed since Cat went off to find more purpose and to ‘dive’ and Kara had only received a few emails from her. Nowadays she only hears from Carter. They texted each other several days a week if not more sometimes. He always let her know how his Mom was doing and in what part of the world they were visiting. She loved the boy so very much and was grateful for the contact, but she had wished to hear some of the news from the woman herself. Sometimes he would call and Kara got the sense that Cat didn’t know, because she would hear that voice in the background and Carter would deliver a half-baked excuse to have to end the call.
Months passed and Carter called to let Kara know that his Mom had dropped him at his Dad’s for an undetermined amount of time. It worried him, but he was still fully convinced that whatever his Mother was up to; it was important. Kara could tell the young teen was already missing his Mom, but comforted him the best she could. On weekends and even some weekdays she’d go to Carter and take him out to the beach or on a hike. They’d go to a tiny restaurant or cafe to try new foods and just spend the time connecting. They often would talk about Carter’s mother. Both with smiles on their faces as they did so, even though neither knew where the woman currently was. Kara wanted desperately to search the globe for her, but was trying very hard to give her space.
Kara tapped away at her tablet and watered her plants in her office as she read her newest assignment from Carr. Then she heard it. A heartbeat she missed terribly. A heartbeat she had to fight herself to not try and locate day after day.
She gripped the tablet, tightly, but careful to not break this one. She tilted her head and listened as the heartbeat got closer and closer. Accompanied by the click of heels, a tiny whir of wheels, and the whispers of employees. It seemed that Ms. Grant’s first stop within the building would not be her office at the bullpen, but Kara’s office instead. Kara felt like she was about to panic for a moment, but she took a breath and straightened her posture. She fixed her blazer, made sure her dutch braid was still on par, and sat at her desk with a manicured nail tapping it’s surface and the other hand still holding the tablet.The clicking of the heels stopped in front of Kara’s office door and a second later Cat Grant in all of her glorious aura was standing inside of her doorway.
Her blonde hair was perfectly wavy and now shoulder length. She took off her large cat-eye sunglasses and her brown-hazel eyes sparkled. Kara glanced at the woman up and down from her seat. She wore a blue, red, white, and black silk wrap-front long-sleeve blouse and cost more than the tablet in her Kryptonian hands. Her black pants and immaculate red heels matched perfectly and the women smiled at each other. Cat still had her suitcase with her. Parked in the hallway with a showy purse settled atop it.
Kara set her tablet down, adjusted her blazer, and stood all in one graceful movement, “Cat Grant. It’s about time you came back here.”
Cat smiled even larger and pulled her suitcase through the door and let it close behind her, “I said I’d be back. I have a lot of work to do fixing all of James’s little blunders. Still, he kept my empire from sinking, so well done. But, we both know the future is female for a reason.”
Kara walked around the desk and had to lean down a tad to hug Cat. It was perfect. Cat settled her chin on Kara’s shoulder and leaned into the hug. The force from the hug was a welcome feeling to Kara. She was careful to not break or bruise the woman in her arms and then she heard her say, “Give me a proper hug Kara, it’s been fourteen months and two weeks since the last one.”
She chuckled and adjusted the hug to where she was able to lift the tiny woman off of the floor a couple inches and hug her even harder.
Cat actually laughed.
When Kara set her back down she pulled at her silk blouse and looked around the office and back to the young reporter in front of her. “I see that there have been some nice upgrades since I’ve been away. The office is improved, this canvas is lovely; I must find the artist, and your wardrobe is a long, very long way from drab.” Cat slowly circled Kara, appraising her outfit. “You look divine, Kara. Now, please tell me who painted this cityscape?”
Kara shot her a toothy grin, “I did.”
Cat squinted, “I’m sure I would have remembered you telling me about the artist before. It’s superb work.” She stepped closer to examine the strokes, details, and colors. Then her eyes lingered on a script in familiar handwriting in the bottom corner. Kara’s simple signature of ‘Kara D’.
“Oh. Oh you meant that you did. As in, you are the artist.” Cat looked at her then and it reminded Kara of the look she received the day she came in using Cat’s private elevator while on Red K. She had looked at her, called her ‘Brazen’, and that it was a nice color on her.
The woman adjusted her glasses under the attention and smiled. “Have you been to see Carter?”
Cat hummed, “Why yes, I picked him up at his school, we had lunch, then I sent him to his Father’s to pack his things. I will pick him up in a few hours to go home.”
“I’m sure he’s beyond happy that you are back.”
“I am too, Kara.”
Kara nodded and moved to sit on the modern golden yellow couch against the wall. Cat did the same and leaned in and relaxed one elbow on the back so she could face her properly. The closeness set Kara on fire.
“Where have you been?”
“Kara, do you know why I left?”
The woman shook her head.
“I left because I wasn’t happy.” She closed her dark hazel eyes for a second. “So,” She looked over into the blue orbs so close to her, “I asked Siri, ‘Where is the happiest place on Earth, Siri?’ And she answered with, ‘Bhutan.” She fiddled with the soft fabric of the small couch, “So, I booked my passage to the Himalayas and I moved into a yurt.” She leaned in, “Now. Do you have any idea what is in a yurt? Nothing. Kara. Nothing, not even central air conditioning.” Kara smiled at the energy of the recollection from the woman and the way her voice was already weaving a story for her. “But these people, Kara, they are happy. So very happy. A child learns how to walk.” She waves a hand like she could produce the child in front of them with the movement, “They sing. A group of people come down from a hike,” She gestures to a distant mountain across the globe, “from the mountains and they, they dance. And a couple, they go on their first date and they throw a damn festival!” She sighed and leaned against the back of the couch, resting the back of her head into the palm of her hand. “And all of a sudden, the secret to happiness just dawned on me.” She looked into Kara’s eyes and nodded, “It’s human connection or the connection between beings, rather. And I could conquer the world at CatCo, or I could twiddle my thumbs in that yurt and the loneliness would feel exactly the same, because I was missing the point. Blinded by so many...things. I’ve been too focused on things instead of people.”
Cat sighed again and closed her eyes before looking back at Kara, her voice now quieter and almost tired sounding. “It’s not about what you do. It’s about who you love. There are two people here in National City that I love. Wanting to be with them no matter what is not selfish as I had thought. Thinking that being lonely and unhappy to prevent the possibility of being hurt later on is selfish. Wanting to love them and be with them is everything. It’s why I finally came back. I want to be happy and I want everything.”
It was impossible for Kara to miss the way Cat had scooted even closer to her as she spoke as she told her why she decided to head back to National City. Kara felt the temperature in her office rise. Which is absolutely silly, being that she is Kryptonian and her body temperature is pretty perfect ninety-nine percent of the time. This was most definitely an emotional response; she reasoned.
Kara cleared her throat as an elegant hand found her shoulder. Cat was looking intently at her with a fire in her eyes and her fingers began to play with the fabric of her blazer. She found her voice after the second attempt at clearing it, “I am glad you are back. I want you to be happy too.”
Cat smiled, a genuine smile on those perfect lips, “Yes, but saying something doesn’t make it so. I have to bear my heart and take the possibility of rejection.”
The look in those eyes. Kara felt even warmer then. She had been in relationships...since Cat left Kara tried to go into the dating game. Flirting and going on dates. Taking a lot of pointers from Alex and Maggie on how not to be a complete idiot when being hit-on or vice versa. And all of a sudden she forgot pretty much everything. Her almost fried brain was telling her that Cat Grant, the Cat Grant, the Queen of All Media and CEO of CatCo, long-time boss, and now friend...was looking at her and telling her she came back from some yurt in the Himalayas to be with the two people she loves. Carter, obviously, and who...her? She gulped. Cat needed Kara to make the first move. Even with Snapper Carr being Kara’s direct superior now, she still needed Kara to initiate this. Make first contact. Ha. Otherwise it could end up being an HR nightmare.
“Kara?” Cat pulled her hand away and rested it on the very thin strip of couch fabric between them, “Am I making myself clear enough?”
Kara blinked at her and nodded, “Yes, I believe so.”
Ms. Grant raised her eyebrows and shrugged almost comically before drawing out, “Aaaand?”
Kara just flashed her a bright smile. She stood and pulled Cat up from the couch with her. She pulled the smaller woman into a tight embrace. Even stronger and warmer than the one they shared after the Myriad incident. “Oh, Cat. I want you too. I have for a very long time, but was worried you didn’t feel the same. I’m so glad I was wrong.”
The woman laughed and rested into the embrace, “Sunny Danvers, telling me she wants me. Am I dreaming?”
Kara pulled back only far enough to be face-to-face with Cat, “I hope this isn’t a dream,” Kara looked mildly worried, “I’ve been trapped in realms and dream worlds before just as vivid as this.”
Cat reached up to hold Kara’s angelic face between her hands, taking in the fact that Kara was letting the facade of her not being Supergirl slip away now, “This is very real.”
Kara’s eyes could pierce the soul, Cat knew it, but experiencing it was entirely different. The woman held her gaze for several moments before they darted to her lips. Cat couldn’t help but lick them in response and Kara moaned quietly. The moan earned a smirk from Cat and then Kara tightened her arms around Cat just enough before moving to press her lips against Cat’s.
It wasn’t timid as Cat had often fantasized. Kara was sure of this kiss and as her lips moved against her own, she lost herself in it. It wasn’t until Kara pulled away that she realized how badly she needed air or how hot she felt.
“Oh, Rao. Can I keep kissing you?”
Cat nodded. She felt like she was in a daze, “I would hope so, Supergirl.”
Kara slid her hands up Cat’s back as she leaned in for another kiss. She gently nipped at her bottom lip and was pleasantly surprised when Cat did the same before swiping her tongue along Kara’s mouth. When the kiss deepened Kara couldn’t help but float them a little bit. Cat’s musical laughter broke the kiss and Kara looked at her. “Down, girl.”
The Kryptonian smiled and let gravity do its job.
Kara felt her chest swell as Cat looked at her. She slowly broke away from the embrace and unbuttoned her blazer, “It’s a little warm in here. Is it just me?” She laughed nervously and Cat smirked at her, “No dear, it’s not just you.”
“Oh, good.” She cleared her throat and adjusted her glasses, “Have you been to your office yet?”
Cat shook her head and crossed her arms, “No, how bad is it up there?”
“Well...James...made a few changes. No one knew how long you would be gone, and he didn’t mess with anything until about 6 months in. If that makes it less awful?”
The CEO narrowed her eyes, “What has he done to my office?”