Work Text:
Lena stood in front of the living room window, sipping her coffee as she watched the sun spill over the city, staying quiet so as to not wake Kara. Lena had slept well, which had been unexpected, given all of Kara’s warnings about disruptive nightmares. When the other woman had called her last night and asked her to come over, initially to watch a movie and progressing into sleep, she’d been pleased, to say the least.
They’d spent time together since Kara’s return from the Phantom Zone, but not nearly enough. Lena was certain that Kara had been minimizing the impact that experience had on her when they were together. Last night, she’d finally opened up, admitted that being alone was sometimes terrifying for her and she was having trouble sleeping. Although Lena wished she’d told her earlier, she completely understood not being ready to speak one’s trauma aloud. She was just glad Kara was finally in a place to do so, and trusted her enough to ask for support.
Lena’s thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. She was immediately alarmed, wondering who would be stopping by this early in the morning. Though she supposed someone bent on harming Kara would be less likely to knock? Regardless, she cautiously approached the door, looking through the peephole, and sighing in relief.
“Good morning Alex,” she said warmly as she opened the door for Kara’s sister, clad in jeans and her leather jacket, and carrying a large white pastry bag.
“Lena. Uh, hi,” Alex replied, clearly surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“Just having some coffee,” she said, raising the mug a bit. She wasn’t sure why she was being cryptic, perhaps something about wanting to protect Kara’s privacy. Or perhaps enjoying teasing Alex.
“Oookay. Well, I brought donuts.” She held up the bag as she walked further into the apartment, depositing them on the coffee table, then spinning around slowly, seeming to examine everything within her field of vision.
Lena sat down on the couch, as Alex continued scrutinizing the room, and then suddenly whipped her head back to stare hard at her.
“Oh my god, did you guys hook up!?” she whisper-shouted while slapping Lena’s leg with the back of her hand.
“What?!” Lena whisper-shouted back, “No, of course not! Why on earth would you ask that?”
Alex sputtered, “Why would I a---because, it’s” she checked her watch, “6:37am, very early in the morning, yet you’re already here in Kara’s apartment, you’re dressed like that” she gesticulated wildly at Lena’s borrowed pajamas, “and there’s no pillow or any other evidence that the couch was slept on!”
At that moment, a soft, “Lena?” was heard from behind the room divider.
“I’m right here darling, don’t worry,” she returned, hearing a muffled “mmph” in response, as Kara apparently snuggled back into her pillow.
“And you just called her ‘darling’!”
Lena shrugged, “I always call her darling.”
Alex just stared, and Lena relented, holding up her hand. “All right, all right, you make fair points. But I promise you, it was just platonic...comfort.”
Alex grimaced, then rolled her shoulders as if she was trying to get away from herself. “I’m not sure about that phrasing, but okay.”
“I assure you, Alex, I don’t...” Lena trailed off, unsure of what exactly she could assure Alex, aside from what she’d already said. She couldn’t honestly say she had no interest in Kara, or that she didn’t want to be with her. “Nothing happened last night,” she finished abruptly, looking down at her coffee.
Alex’s look softened after a moment, “She was scared, and you spent the night here to help her,” she said quietly.
Lena nodded.
“She’s lucky to have you.”
Lena scoffed, “Is she? I’ve certainly caused her enough pain and—”
“Lena, I swear to god, don’t even start with that. The two of you...your feelings for each other run so deep, and you’ve both hurt each other, but have more than made up for it.” Alex paused, tilting her head down to try to catch Lena’s eye, “I know how much she means to you, and I know you’d do anything for her.”
Lena looked up, smiling appreciatively at Alex.
“Lena?” came a more alert voice from behind the screen, “Is someone here?”
“Yes, just Alex. She brought donuts.”
There was a rustling, and seconds later Kara appeared, grabbing the bag and sitting on the arm of the couch. “You’re the best, Alex! Thanks!”
Once settled with donut in hand, she returned the bag to its spot and draped her free arm over Lena’s shoulders. Lena looked up at her and they shared a tender smile.
“Thanks for staying last night. That was the best night’s sleep I’ve gotten since I’ve been back. By far.”
“I’m glad,” Lena replied.
“I need to have you stay over every night!” Kara said smiling, and in a teasing tone. However, the sincerity behind it was clear.
Lena’s face became serious, and she gave Kara a soft look, “If that’s what you want, consider it done.”
“Oh Lena I can’t ask you to do that, you have better---”
“Kara, really. I’ll do anything for you. And to be honest, I slept better than usual anyway.”
Kara beamed at her, and the two of them were only pulled out of their gazing at each other by some muttering from Alex, whom they’d both kind of forgotten was still sitting there.
She was pinching the bridge of her nose, shaking her head, saying something that sounded like ‘oblivious.’
“Are you all right, Alex?” Asked Lena, as she placed her arm around Kara’s waist, and snuggled in closer to her.
Alex felt like she was interrupting the most domestic of mornings, and decided it was past time to go and leave these two idiots.
“Yeah...yeah, I’m fine,” she said, shaking her head and getting up, “I’ll just take a donut for the road and head out.”
“Are you sure?” they asked in unison, before looking at each other and laughing.
“Yup, yup, I’m sure,” she paused, “I’m glad...I’m glad you two have each other.”
They again looked at each other, and Kara bent her head down slightly so it was touching Lena’s forehead. “Me too” she said.
Alex took that as the final cue and decided she needed to get to the door before they started making out or something. After she left, and Kara had pulled back, they continued to stare at each other until Lena felt a blush rising on her cheeks, which only made her more self-conscious.
“So, work? Today? Are you going?” ‘That was eloquent,’ she thought to herself. But it spurred Kara into action regardless.
“Oh! Right, work! Yup, guess I have no excuse since I actually slept all night!”
They agreed to meet back at Kara’s for dinner (specifying the time as 7pm, given Lena’s tendency to have what passed for dinner closer to midnight). Lena spent an unreasonable amount of time thinking about her conversation with Alex that morning, as well as the feeling of wrapping her arms around Kara last night. She had resigned herself to simply being Kara’s best friend, thinking her feelings were one sided, but the fact that Alex thought it was plausible...well, maybe Kara at least found her attractive? Now wasn’t really the time though, given all Kara was going through, and how much she just needed a friend. Although, she considered, maybe she should let Kara decide that.
By the time they sat down for dinner, Kara wearing some comfortable looking baby blue hoodie and gray sweatpants, Lena still in her maroon suit, it continued racing through her thoughts, until it inevitably came out of her mouth.
Settled at the table, they talked about their respective days, as well as the food—Kara relishing it as usual. During a lull, Lena heard herself saying.
“So, Alex said something funny to me this morning.”
“Oh yeah? Funny nice or funny mean?” Kara asked, eyes narrowing slightly as she tried to imagine what the heck her sister said, and noticing Lena fidgeting with the stem of her wine glass.
“Neither, really. Just funny unexpected. When she came in and saw me, you know, in my pajamas and so early in the morning, she asked if...” Lena could feel herself starting to blush and wondered why she’d started this story. But it was too late to stop now, “if we’d...slept together.”
“What?!” Kara squeaked, immediately turning bright red and putting any blush Lena was sporting to shame. She stood up, placing her hands on the table as she bent slightly toward Lena. “Why would she—I’m so sorry! I can’t believe she said that!” Kara pushed off and began pacing back and forth in front of the table, Lena’s eyes widening at her reaction.
“Kar—Kara, it’s okay, I’m not upset. I just thought it was...funny,” she finished lamely. “I didn’t think it would upset you so much.”
“Well I just—I—” Kara waved her hand toward Lena, “I don’t want you to be offended at that suggestion!”
Lena stood up as well, holding her hand up to stop Kara’s movement, “Kara, you know I prefer women. Why would I be offended?” She was completely confused.
Kara stilled, looking bashful and staring at her shoes a moment before glancing back at Lena. “Well,no I...I know that,” she adjusted her glasses nervously, “I just meant...at the idea of me as the particular woman in question.”
Lena honest to god couldn’t understand Kara’s insecurity, given how she saw her, “Kara, darling, I—” she stepped closer, vaguely wondering how much she was about to spill, “You are an extremely kind, loyal, intelligent, funny, delightful, beautiful woman. I should be flattered Alex suggested it.” She bit her lip, feeling nervous and awkward now, “But I’m sorry if you were offended. I really didn’t think her offhand comment would bother you. I mean, nothing happened between us.”
Kara stared at her for a long moment before coming closer and taking her hand. “I’m not remotely offended, Lena. And I’m really sorry if my reaction made it seem like I...um,” she cleared her throat, “wouldn’t have wanted—I mean,” Kara let out a nervous laugh, and said with a rush, “It’s just that Alex is always teasing me about having a crush on you, and I thought she was just trying to be annoying by telling you that, and I’m embarrassed but now I see that she just noticed you were here first thing in the morning and maybe it was a legitimate question although really none of her business regardless.”
Kara looked away from Lena, toward the couch, and pressed her lips together. “You don’t have to stay here tonight if you don’t want to.”
“Kara,” Lena said with alarm in her voice, “What are you---of course I still want to stay here, if you want me to, that is.”
Kara nodded, still looking away. Lena went over the words Kara had said when she was rambling. Initially she’d thought Alex was teasing Kara about a nonexistent crush, but perhaps not. She stepped close to Kara, gently taking her by the arm and guiding them to the couch.
Once they were seated, Kara still looking everywhere but at her, Lena asked “Kara...Alex teases you about having a crush on me?” Kara nods, “Teases you about...a nonexistent crush, or...”
Kara laughs, slapping her forehead, realizing maybe she hadn’t actually given herself up earlier, but certainly had by now. She buries her face in her hands, mumbling, “I’m such an idiot.”
Lena tugs her hands down, “You’re not an idiot. You are a bit confusing right now though.”
Kara takes a breath, looks Lena in the eye, and goes for it, “It’s not a crush, it’s way beyond a crush. I like you, so much. Beyond like.”
Lena’s eyes widen, and Kara quickly drops eye contact again and adds,
“But I am very able to just put these feelings aside and just be friends, it doesn’t have to change anything.” She swipes her hands across the air in front of her as if wiping away the idea that this needed to impact their friendship, then bites her lip before looking back at Lena, “ I hope, from your end, you think we can still be friends.”
“I don’t want to be friends.”
“Oh. Okay,” Kara says quietly, her eyes filling with tears.
“No—no!” Lena exclaimed, realizing how Kara interpreted that comment. She reached her hand up and brushed away now overflowing tears with her thumb, “I meant, I don’t want to be friends because I want to be more than friends, because I like you too. Beyond like,” she echoes softly.
Kara breaks into a giant grin, before clapping a hand to her chest and flopping back on the couch. “What did you just do to my heart!”
Lena laughed softly, placing her hands on Kara’s knees and leaning forward to peer down at her. “I hope it’s okay now.”
“It is. More than okay. So, you like me?”
“I do,” she replied, smiling. “Very much.”
Kara slid her legs to the side and down, as Lena shuffled closer and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
Kara caught her hand, pressing a soft kiss to her palm before tugging Lena down to lie next to her.
“I’d like to take you out to dinner tomorrow, on a real date,” Kara paused, “Wait, is it weird to ask you out on a date when I’ve already invited you into my bed?” she asked, waggling her eyebrows and laughing.
Lena laughed with her, but then grew serious. “On that note Kara, I’m happy to keep sleeping with you--that is, literally,” she blushed, “But I think...we should take things slow, given all that’s going on.”
Kara let out a sigh, “Yes, I suppose I agree. That’s wise.” She moved incrementally closer to Lena, and whispered “I don’t want to do anything to mess this up.”
“Me neither.”
“Buuut, kissing is allowed, right?”
Lena nodded and laughed, Kara feeling the puff of air on her lips before she pressed them against Lena’s. Lena could feel Kara smiling into the kiss, which was so sweet, so soft, so happy.