Chapter Text
Up until this moment, she thought this had been a good idea.
They needed the downtime, the relaxation, the carelessness. It had been too long since they had spent a decent amount of time without the weight of the world on their shoulders. She knew it was a temporary reprieve from the world saving duties Kara had sworn to fulfill with everything she had, the Earth's protector; and Lena, in silent promise, had sworn to be the Earth's protector's guardian. She had sworn, in secrecy, to always protect the life Kara seemed sometimes too willing to offer up as payment against the destruction of humanity.
But alas, their downtime together was designed for relaxation, and she was tainting it with her overdriven mind. Kara said she needed a change of scene, and Alex had practically kicked Lena out of her lab, begging her to take a much deserved break. Lena and Kara had gone shopping together for brushes and paint, gathered old sheets and newspapers to protect Kara's fruniture and floors, and started what Lena had wrongly thought would be an easy and quick job.
Three hours later, chinese food containers laying haphazardly on the floor and paint on her hands, Lena couldn't say she wasn't having fun, even if her neck was a little bit strained. They had played loud pop music and singed along, mostly Lena had enjoyed Kara's silly dances and her voice as she used her paintbrush as a makeshift microphone. By noon they decided a much necesary lunch break was needed and had ended up sitting on the floor, Lena grinning as Kara layed on the floor giggling like a child. Lena couldn't remember what they were laughing about anymore, but Kara's joy was contagious and she couldn't help but join in.
Afterwards Kara had let her infamous 80's songs playlist in the background as they started the second layer of paint. It was nice, spending time alone together, just being themselves without pretense; Lena allowed herself to be goofy and make jokes, and Kara didn't have to worry about hiding any part of herself in fear of exposure. After their hardships and fights, after coming clean about their secrets and their fears, their hopes, Lena was sure there was no other person who knew her better than Kara. And even if a while ago that would've scared her, now it felt relieving, because Kara was still here with her. She hadn't ran, nor turned away, it was all the opposite. After her time in the phantom zone, they were closer than ever.
Lena had been lost in thought, of course thinking about said alien blonde even when they were in the same room, so engrossed in her own mind she hadn't noticed Kara laughing at her standing on her tiptoes to reach higher up the wall.
Which brought her here, the moment when their good idea turned into her possible undoing, death by turning into goo.
"You know I can fly, right?" Her voice was closer than she expected and Lena jumped a little, heart doing a somersault against her chest when she turned sideways to find Kara right next to her, radiating warmth.
"I haven't forgotten." Lena rolled her eyes. "But this is my side and I am only human, so..." She shrugged her shoulders with a cheeky grin.
"Well, you know what they say..." Kara moved closer, and Lena inhaled sharply when two strong hands found placement on her ribcage. "Stronger together."
Lena felt her feet leave the ground slowly, it took her brain a whole five seconds to realize just what was going on.
"You better not drop me." She warned with a shaky voice and no real malice to her tone as she moved her brush along the parts of the wall she couldn't previously reach.
Kara mock-gasped.
"Lena! Have I ever?"
Lena shook her head slightly but didn't trust herself enough to speak. The previous somersault of her heart had turned into a whole gymnastic routine against her chest, leaving her slightly dizzy.
"I thought we agreed to do this the old-fashioned way." She tried to sound teasing, but the waver in her voice betrayed her.
"Yeah, well..." Kara sighed, warm breath against Lena's nape. She moved her arms around her waist so that she was now hugging her from behind. Lena felt embarrassed because if Kara hadn't previously heard her heart beating wildly, now she could certainly feel it. "I can't always play by the rules."
She slowly floated them down, Lena turned around so that they were facing each other.
"Can't say I don't like to break them sometimes."
They grinned at each other, Kara's hand moving up to stroke a finger down Lena's cheek gently.
"You know you have paint all over your face?"
"I do?" Lena feigned surprise, quickly boping the bush in her hand against Kara's nose. "Well so do you."