Chapter Text
It was Lena who took the lead from then on, and for that, Kara was glad. She wasn’t sure she could have waited much longer.
They’d been dancing around each other for weeks, long after Elle was out of the picture. Alex had been rolling her eyes every time Kara mentioned Lena during sisters’ night but Kara couldn’t help herself.
“Just throw her on the bed already,” she’d whined after Kara’s endless tirade about how she thought Lena was the greatest being alive.
Kara had feigned offense and Alex had received a pillow in the face for her comment.
A week later, Kara and Lena were on a date, at Lena’s request. Lena was wearing blue and Kara wished she could look away but it was impossible. Of course Lena knew. She’d chosen the outfit on purpose; Kara was certain. She couldn’t complain though. Her best friend looked exquisite. Kara licked her lips and she noticed how Lena’s eyes followed the movement.
It was during the main course of their dinner that Lena told her.
“Elle called.”
Kara almost choked on her mouthful of fettuccine alfredo and downed her entire glass of water under Lena’s worried gaze.
“I’m fine,” she finally managed to say. “I’m glad you decided to order in because me dying on our first date in public would have been really mortifying,” she added as a joke.
Lena smiled politely but didn’t laugh, and Kara cleared her throat.
“So, uh. You were saying?”
“Elle called me this morning,” Lena resumed, “while I was getting ready for a meeting.”
“Oh.”
An awkward silence followed, until Lena broke it.
“Are you not going to ask me what she wanted?”
“Well, what did she want?”
“To let me know that she’s doing well and that I need to stop worrying about her.”
“How did she—”
“She said that she’d been expecting to see something about me dating a reporter in the news,” Lena cut her off, “and that she was wondering if I was keeping it a secret so as to not hurt her feelings.”
“And what did you tell her?”
“The truth. Well, just that we weren’t dating, actually. I left out the part where I feel guilty but Elle is… Elle, and she just knew. She said I was wasting precious time.”
Lena’s declaration hung in the air, heavy. Kara took her glass of water and drank it in small sips, looking anywhere but at Lena. The brunette sighed.
“Kara… Elle is fine. I know her and I know that she wouldn’t have called if she resented me. Or you.”
“She—we hurt her, but she gave us, what, her blessing? That’s just weird.”
“It’s not, if you know her,” Lena said with a smile.
“Is that why you asked me on a date today? I thought this was a little short notice but that’d explain it.”
“It is, actually. I texted you right after I hung up. I was feeling… light. For the first time in weeks.”
Creeping slowly on the table, Kara’s hand found Lena’s and held it tight.
“I’m glad. So, are we officially dating now?”
“If this is still something you want, yes.”
“Does that mean I get to kiss you,” Kara asked, hopeful.
As an answer, Lena brought their joined hands to her lips and kissed Kara’s fingers. Then she got up, slowly, never breaking eye contact and waited for Kara to catch up. The Kryptonian did after a couple of seconds and all but floated up to her feet. Lena chuckled.
“Eager much?”
“Shut up,” Kara replied, embarrassed.
“Make me,” Lena dared her.
So Kara did. It was nothing like she’d expected. She’d imagined Lena as soft and delicate, but Lena was none of that. She was hard and demanding, chasing after Kara’s lips when she dared to break contact even for a mere second. Lena was hungry and Kara was thrilled, yet almost intimidated. After a long moment of intense making out, Kara pulled back and held Lena at arm’s length.
“What’s wrong,” Lena asked immediately.
“Nothing. It’s just… well, I’ve never…”
“Had sex?” Lena joked.
“Shut up,” Kara chastised. “Not with a woman.”
“Well, Kara, you have nothing to worry about. We’ll take things slow. No problem.”
“That’s what you call slow?”
Lena looked around them then and noticed that Kara’s backside was pressed against the back of the couch, almost ready to topple over. She blushed.
“In my defense this was our first kiss and I just really wanted it.”
Kara pulled her closer and kissed the tip of her nose.
“I’m absolutely fine with this. But let’s slow down a little, okay?”
“Of course. Can we at least hold hands?”
“You idiot,” Kara laughed. “Come here.”
Lena didn’t need to be told twice. She stepped into Kara’s embrace and hugged her tightly, sighing contentedly when she felt Kara press a kiss on her jaw.
“I’m never going to get tired of this,” she whispered.
“Good.”
__
It was a cold morning in National City when Kara saw Elle for the first time in months. The young reporter was waiting in line for her coffee on her way to CatCo when Elle pushed the door and walked in. Their eyes met and Kara froze, but Elle offered a warm smile and Kara knew everything would be alright.
“I was hoping to find you here,” Elle said once Kara, coffee in hand, walked over to where she had elected to sit.
“How are you,” Kara asked as she sat on the empty chair across from Elle.
“Good. I’m here on business, actually. I thought maybe we could catch up, too. I mean if you’re not too busy.”
The grin on her face let Kara know that she was referencing her double life and Kara shrugged.
“There are good and bad days. It’s been rather quiet lately.”
“Good. That’s good news. Kara… I wanted to apologize for outing you to Lena.”
“It’s okay. I should’ve told her long before that anyway. I’m almost glad you did. If you hadn’t, maybe she’d still be in the dark and we wouldn’t be…”
“Dating?”
“Yeah,” Kara exhaled shakily, checking out Elle’s reaction to the news.
Elle was smiling, and Kara detected no ounce of resentment on her face.
“I’m happy for the both of you. And… I actually have someone in my life, too.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. She’s pretty great. It’s only been a couple of months but I have a good feeling.”
“I’m so glad,” Kara said sincerely.
“Lena is wonderful, as I’m sure you know. Take care of her, will you?”
“I promise.”
One glance at the clock told Kara she was running late for work. She cleared her throat and stood up; Elle imitating her.
“I have to go. How long will be you in town?”
“A few days. Want to grab dinner? Maybe tomorrow, with Lena?”
“Sure, yeah!”
“Will you let her know?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you, Kara.”
With one last smile and a squeeze on the shoulder, Elle left Noonan’s. Kara watched her go, knowing she’d end up flying to CatCo anyway. As Elle disappeared from her sight, Kara let out a breath. A part of her had been waiting for Elle’s anger and jealousy, but Elle held none of that in her. Kara knew it now. Elle was doing well and she wasn’t mad. She was offering friendship, and Kara was going to take her up on that offer.
Perhaps, after all, things were going to work out for the best. Kara hoped so.