Chapter Text
The following few days went by at a steady pace. Lena spent her free time reading and mentally preparing for the flutter in her chest whenever Kara returned to her. The work with the animals became easier, feeling more like a routine with every passing day. She wasn't as exhausted anymore, her head a bit clearer and her self confidence pouring back into her body after plenty of times handling the animals. She knew them better now, and her slowed nerves definitely helped keep the horses more at ease. Kara was just as joyful as ever, her eyes gleaming.
On Thursday, Kara asked as they were having dinner, "I'll be going into town tomorrow to get some groceries and run some errands. Would you like to come with me?"
Lena didn't have to think long about it. "Yes, I'd love to."
"We can make it a proper trip, if you'd like. Considering you're here to see the country, I can take you around."
Lena contemplated it, thinking whether asking that of Kara was too much. But Kara's smile was hopeful, and at the offer, Lena didn't really see herself saying no to Kara Danvers any day. "That would be really nice. If it's not too much of a hassle for you."
"It would be my honour," Kara smiled. "But you know you're also free to take the car on trips of your own. The keys are in the cupboard by the front door."
Lena stared at her, aghast. "What?"
"You can use the car."
"Kara, I've been here barely a week." Lena said, brows furrowed.
Kara shrugged. "So what?"
"You don't know me. Why do you trust me with your car? Who says I'm not driving off with it at the first possible moment?"
"That's literally what I just told you you're free to do," Kara frowned.
"No—Kara, I mean drive off as in steal it," Lena emphasised.
Kara just scoffed, laughing. "Lena, that's absurd. You wouldn't do that."
"How would you know?" Lena pushed, her head thick with thoughts. No one had ever given her a fragment of the trust Kara had just served on a silver platter. Lena Luthor didn't get the benefit of the doubt. She never had, and never would.
"Lena," Kara said in a voice that sounded way too much like Sam's placatory sighs, "I know you. I've been around you, I see how you act. I see who you are."
Oh god. This was bad. Had she seriously manipulated Kara this early on without even intending to?
"I have spent my time around quite a few people in my life, and I've learned to trust my gut. The helpers I've had are all different people. Some of them are easygoing, some are straightforward, others tend to be lazy, and I've had two reckless people in this house, too. I can tell within the first 24 hours whether my helper can stay, and I know by day four what kind of person they want to be around me. You," Kara emphasized, her eyes brutally honest, "are not a thief, or suspicious in those ways."
Or maybe, she hadn't?
Lena swallowed, something in her stomach weighing heavy that was definitely not her dinner. “So, what kind of person do I want to be around you, then?” she distracted.
Kara just grinned. “Someone that's giving.”
Lena was too stunned to come up with anything smart to respond.
“So please, listen when I tell you this: You’re free to do whatever in the house. That includes the kitchen, by the way, as well as the rotting room.” Kara stared at her with an expression that read Do you hear me? and nodded slowly in encouragement. “And you’re free to use the car. Just give me a heads up before you drive off.”
Lena swallowed. Life was strange. "Yeah," she nodded. "Thank you."
"No need," Kara chirped, smiling bright.
Friday rolled in soon enough, and Lena woke with an unmatched enthusiasm. Not because she felt the need to get away from the farm, but because she wanted to see more of the country and get driven around by Kara.
Kara seemed to share her enthusiasm, or maybe she was just as chippy as always—Lena couldn't tell. They cared for the animals in the morning and Kara made lunch, a quick mashup of leftovers. And then it was time to get ready for town.
Lena, despite the voice in her head telling her to dress in clothes she knew would draw Kara's eyes in—or really just anyone's, it wasn't like she was interested in having Kara's eyes on her body—decided on a plain blouse and dark slacks. In her office, it would've been attire considered too informal for a meeting. But here, the rules were clearly different. And while she may just be the torch in a cave in town in an outfit like this—with the chance of people around to recognise her, she couldn't take any risks of looking unpresentable to the public.
Kara was wearing a flannel of course. She was leaned up against her own door when Lena came out of her room, a loose smile on her face. Her hair was tied back into a messy high ponytail and her work trousers were switched out for light blue jeans.
"Ready?" The blonde asked.
Lena nodded, wiping imaginable dust off her slacks.
"There's a slight drizzle, so we'll get in the car through the garage. No need to get unnecessarily wet," Kara winked.
Kara opened the door to the car for Lena, and Lena scolded the silly thoughts that it could mean anything. Kara was a gentleman through and through, and doing nice things had nothing to do with Lena and everything to do with who Kara was as a person.
The drive was peaceful, the rain a soothing thrumming against the windshield, the wipers going in regular motions. Lena leaned back in her seat, her hand finding the adjustments on the side to let the backrest down a bit further.
Driving with Kara was just as calm as it had been the first time, the blonde woman being gentle with both the pedals and the wheel. She was a skilled driver, no doubt. Kara steered the wagon around tight corners and slim streets like a professional, the car never leaning too much or groaning under her demands.
After an undefined amount of time, Lena blinked out of the window and was met with the first houses leading up to town. It looked cozy. The further the wagon rolled into the town's streets, the closer the houses stood together. In the centre, the houses were practically hugging, walls pushed together tightly, each one no more than two stories high. The streets were rather empty—understandably, considering the weather—but most of the stores that were nooked into the bottom part of the houses showed signs of being open, soft lights illuminating the soaked streets left and right.
Kara parked the wagon in between a few other cars on the side of the road, her fingers curling around the keys as she turned the engine off. She was still smiling, clearly unbothered by the faint rain. Her head turned and blue eyes found Lena, a distant flicker in them.
"Would you like to go shopping or exploring first?" Kara asked.
Lena contemplated only for a moment. "Shopping. I have hopes the rain will be less once we're done."
Kara grinned amusedly, "I bet against that."
Lena learned that the town had two grocery stores—one rather huge, mainstream chain and a smaller, local supplier. Kara steered right for the local supplier, and Lena was only one step behind.
The store, as had the pub in Galway, had hanging buckets overflowing with flowers adorning its facade, and a general cozy look to it. Kara pushed the dark wooden door open and Lena followed her into the dry inside. The store was indeed rather small, but surprisingly to Lena, the vegetable section was big. Kara steered them right towards it, snatching a basket on the go.
While they started picking out food, Lena felt oddly like a child trotting behind its mother. Not that she had ever been shopping with Lilian when she was younger—or that she could remember ever doing so with her mom—but the situation felt somewhat familiar, despite her inexperience.
"Do you think we could make pizza on Sunday?" Kara asked as they passed a display of peppers.
"Homemade?"
"Yeah," Kara agreed, a soft smile on her face. "Dough and everything. Would you be up for that?"
It had been too long since Lena had a proper pizza night—homemade from scratch—and she couldn't even remember if she had ever done one with Sam in the three years that they've grown to know each other. Her soul was basically aching for homemade pizza, even if not for the pizza, but the event itself. "I'd love that," she assured Kara.
They strolled on, Kara's smile now looking satisfied and easy. The shop wasn't entirely empty, and on any other occasion, Lena would be worried by that, but the atmosphere led her to relax, and the people they passed seemed unbothered by her existence to an extent she had never experienced before. Kara was right there though, steady and grounding.
They stocked up on other things from Kara's list, and Kara would sneak up to Lena every once in a while with some kind of treat hooked between her fingers and a mischievous smile on her lips. "We're buying this," Kara would say, and Lena could only grin and nod and hope that the tug in her chest didn't stay.
At the register, the cashier greeted Kara with a warm, amiable smile. "You here?", the young woman said.
Kara laughed freely, her head falling back and her hair flowing down her shoulders effortlessly. "Come on, Nia," Kara grinned, "you sound like I never visit."
The young woman—Nia—raised both her eyebrows, the package of cookies—one of Kara's treats—still in her hands, hovering above the scanner. "I haven't seen you in two weeks!" Nia exclaimed.
"Well, I was a bit busy, and I did stop by, you were simply not working that day."
Nia didn't seem too satisfied with that answer, but she didn't seem upset either. "Whatever, Kara, you're here now," Nia waved her off with the hand that held the cookies, and the motion caused the register to scan the item and beep happily in return. Nia ignored that, putting the cookies away and gesturing towards Lena, who had stopped a meter or so away, not intending to intrude in familiar conversations. "So, who's your new friend?"
"Nia, meet Lena," Kara said excitedly, gesturing towards Lena as well, "she's my new helper." Kara turned to Lena, a comforting smile on her lips.
"Hi," Lena offered.
"Hi," Nia returned, her expression harmless. "So you're the one that's been keeping Kara busy this whole time?"
The insinuation immediately painted Lena's cheeks, but before she could defend herself or stutter a stupid 'What?', Kara chipped, "You know it's loads of work with the horses, and getting to know everyone." The blonde woman was completely oblivious to what Lena knew almost certainly had been implied by the brunette. "I didn't find the time to get into town until now."
Nia dragged her raised brows away from Lena after another beat, her focus back on Kara, "Well, it's nice to have you here now." She continued scanning the items on the belt, "And it would also be nice to hear from you every now and then. Just a text that you're alive, Kara. With all those news about wolves around, and you living so far away and alone—"
"I won't get eaten by a wolf, Nia," Kara laughed, "and besides, I'm not alone right now."
"Yeah," Nia agreed, her gaze flicking to Lena for a blink.
"I'll keep in touch," Kara promised her nonetheless.
They paid and left the store with two bags of goods, which Kara refused to hand to Lena even as she was struggling to fish her car keys out of her pocket. The drizzle was still going—despite Lena's hopes—and the sky hadn't cleared either, a dark grey blanket looming over them. Kara was totally unbothered.
Kara loaded the groceries away and closed the boot. "I need to stop by the hardware store and the garage for some parts for my bike, the walk goes through the center. Care to join?"
Lena nodded, "Sure."
And so they strolled back down the streets towards the low glooming stores and flowery facades. They passed a pub that looked quite nice—Lena took a peak through the window—and Kara assured her that out of the three, it was the best in town. Lena made a mental note to come back to it later.
As they walked on, they passed a flower shop, a cozy looking bookstore, a perfectly town sized pharmacy and a museum before the street opened into a square in front of them. It was rather small, three transporters occupying the space and leaving not much room to walk in between, their backs opened to market stands selling fresh vegetables and fruits.
"Oh, wow," Lena breathed at the clean and raw display of food in its natural form, no beauty sorting over crooked carrots and funky peppers. Kara was right, the food did look funny.
"This is the market. It's not much, but it's fresh, reliable and local, and the prices are better than what you can get in the stores. Over the weekend, the second hand store from two towns over sends a truck out to put things on display, I enjoy looking through those too."
"It's lovely," Lena smiled politely.
Kara grinned back. "I agree." Kara led them through the trucks to the other end of the square. "The hardware store is just around this corner."
Kara stepped into the wide store first, turning and holding the door open for Lena to follow, and Lena was greeted with that same soft smile that she had already gotten used to.
"Thank you," Lena slightly bowed her head before looking up and taking the store in.
Kara turned and led them down one of the aisles, steady and sure where she needed to go. Lena followed without question, both because she never visited these kinds of stores and because she had a feeling that Kara knew exactly what she was doing. And maybe also because it felt good to have someone take control and lead the way for once. Lena had been in a position of power and influence for so long, not being the decision maker almost felt like freedom.
Kara stopped by a shelf displaying hinges, and Lena waited as the blonde contemplated and compared the items on display.
"We need to fix a gate near the bridge at the edge of my property, and those will come in handy with that." Kara wasn't even looking at her as she explained, her hands holding two versions of a hinge that looked stupidly identical to Lena.
"Okay," Kara said decidedly, putting one of the hinges back and grabbing a pair of the others, "let's go get a toy for Maya and then it's the garage."
The toys were located near the register, industrial lights illuminating an older man behind the counter. Kara ignored him as she made her way to the rack, her fingers finding a rather plushy toy.
"What do you think?", she asked, blue eyes finding Lena.
Lena contemplated for a moment. "I don't really know enough about dogs, or Maya, to make that decision," she answered.
Kara just grinned. "Okay, but what do you think of it?"
"I think it's plushy?" Lena answered, slightly confused.
Kara huffed in a way that sounded almost disappointed. "I think it's cute."
Lena took a closer look, stepping in to see the small plush in its full glory. "Well, yeah. It's a seal, and it's plushy. You'd expect it to be fabricated to look appeasing."
"Lena," Kara laughed, her eyes looking amused. "Why do you sound so scientific about a toy?"
Kara was close—only because Lena had to step in to take a look at the toy—and Lena was suddenly a bit overwhelmed. Kara didn't look judging, but what Lena did find in her gaze was even scarier—Kara was seeing her. She had told Lena before, but now Lena could see it, was met with a curious and utterly dismantling look that seemed to phase right through her walls.
"I have a feeling there's a nerd hiding behind these green eyes," Kara said in what could be considered an attempt at being smug but only sounded endearing.
Lena felt weirdly out of control, with her cheeks heating and her fingertips tickling with an urge to fumble. Lena Luthor didn't fumble. She really needed to get a grip. "I have a science degree so I suppose I'd hope to be at least a bit of a nerd."
Kara's brows raised at that. "You have a science degree?", she asked curiously.
Lena waved her off, "It's not worth mentioning." Interest meant research, and research would sooner rather than later lead Kara to something Lena didn't want her to see. It was best she kept quiet about everything here.
"I don't believe that, but it's okay if you rather not talk about it." Kara smiled her soft smile again and Lena almost melted. "Now let's go make a dog happy."
They only meant to stop by the garage shortly, but then Kara ran into someone that she obviously knew, and stuck they were. Lena kept her distance—as she had before—out of simple respect. It wasn't her conversation, and it wouldn't be hers anytime soon.
That was, until Kara turned and smiled at her encouragingly, "Lena, come over and meet J'onn."
Lena stepped forward carefully, her belly tugging with a strange worry that any step could get her foot stuck in a trap. "Hello," she greeted the older man courteously.
"Hello to you too," he said, his voice deep and warm. "You are a friend of Kara?"
Lena shot a glance to the blonde before nodding with a polite but genuine smile. "I am, yes. I'm helping her out."
"Very nice," J'onn said, his smile just as genuine. "We were just catching up on her latest troubles with her beloved," the man explained, "I know a thing or two about that."
Lena felt a sting somewhere beneath her ribs, and as soon as it surfaced, she knew it was out of place. Just because Kara hadn't mentioned having a partner didn't mean that she was single, and just because Lena was her helper didn't mean Kara was obligated to inform her about her relationship status. It was Lena who kept assuming, so really, this punch in the gut was deserved to some extent. It stung despite her voice of justice.
"Oh, okay." Lena took a careful step backwards, the urge to physically get away stronger than usual, "I won't bother you then."
Kara's brows furrowed as her eyes were scanning Lena's expression with that dismantling look again, and Lena almost wished she wasn't so obvious. "I'm confused," Kara said, her gaze flicking between Lena's eyes, "I thought you said you ride, too."
Oh. Oh.
Oh, god, Lena, you're so stupid. Of course. That's why they were here. Kara's beloved bike.
Lena tried to make her realisation not too obvious. "Yes, right. I do." She stepped back in, a spark of new confidence gathering within her. "What exactly is the issue with it?"
As it turned out, J'onn wasn't just a bit knowledgeable about bikes, he knew quite a lot. He was patient in listening to Kara's problem, and remained just as calm when he explained where the issue might lie and what steps would be necessary to take. Lena picked up a lot from him, not just the contents of what he said, but also, how. His words were thoughtfully laid out, his gestures were explanatory, but not pushing. He didn't make either of them feel bad for not knowing what he did, and the way his eyes were gleaming with quiet pride as he listened to Kara reciting what she understood from his solution hit deep in Lena's chest.
Lena knew how rich Kara was, then, looking at J'onn's gaze filled with kindness and care. Lena knew that Kara had someone amazing in her life, someone that cared deeply and loved her openly. Not as a partner or friend, but as a guardian. A father figure. A shield for the bad and a source for good. J'onn nodded, visibly satisfied at Kara's reciting, and Lena knew they were so lucky.
And Lena was lucky, to stand beside Kara and witness the love that surrounded her with her own eyes.
Back in the car, Kara turned the radio up, a content smile on her face. The rain was gently thrumming against the car's shell like it had before, and the darkness behind the windows made Lena feel cozy and comfortable, like she was wrapped up in a warm, fuzzy blanket.
A blanket that she was sharing with Kara.
The weather outside also made her feel closer to Kara—more connected. Or maybe, that was due to their previous conversations, and the way Kara had invited Lena to meet the people she cared about without hesitation or question. Either way, Lena let her back relax into the passenger seat as Kara gently maneuvered the wagon out of its parking space and back onto the slim town roads.
The town was dimmer now, despite it being barely afternoon. The shops weren't closed, but the town looked almost deserted. Near the outskirts, Lena spotted the first person since getting back in the car, a man walking his dog. The houses spread apart after that, drifting behind trees and looming over meadows. The countryside came back as quickly as it had left, and Lena was swiftly reminded that she wasn't in the city anmore—hadn't been for a week.
She thought of it more then, of the trees that passed, the birdsongs that were inaudible beneath the thrumming of rain on the windshield and the soft tunes of the radio filling the car. Lena thought of wet morning grass, the smell of horses and pancakes, of cozy blankets and soft cushions. Somewhere along the main road Kara steered down, Lena's thoughts drifted to her host. To blonde waves framing a flawless face, and how none of that mattered because the only thing Lena was truly so obsessed with was Kara's joy for life itself, and not her own beauty. That Lena, despite having stayed in the strange house in a strange country barely a week, was enarmoured with a person she didn't know long enough to identify blind, and yet, the tug in her chest remained.
Lena didn't turn to Kara during her thinking, of course. She looked out of the window, tracing the drops on their way down, and eventually, she began to wonder if Kara had this effect on everyone she met. Lena had been initially surprised that Kara seemed to be known and liked around town, but now, she wasn't. Now, she knew—not even stubborn, obdurate Lena herself could contain herself in the face of the force that was Kara's smile, and the pull of Kara's kind eyes. She would not be surprised if she wasn't Kara's first helper to have these thoughts, despite the slashing flicker that idea lit in her stomach at the thought.
"So, how do you like them?" Kara asked from the driver's seat, and Lena stirred from her train of thought.
"Who?" she questioned, confused.
"Nia and J'onn."
Oh, right. Maybe Lena was a bit too distracted thinking about a certain someone to her right. "I think they're lovely. I can tell they really care about you and cherish you as a friend." It was the honest truth.
Kara just smiled, throwing Lena a look. "I rather meant how you feel about them. I know they're good friends." Kara's expression told Lena 'I can look out for myself, silly', but her eyes weren't filled with amusement but endearment.
"Hm." Lena took a moment to actually think, then. "I enjoyed talking with them, despite them being strangers. They treated me like a human being, and it felt—" she halted for only a moment, "—nice."
Kara chuckled. "Of course they did. Why wouldn't they?"
And just like that, Lena was reminded that she once again had said a bit too much. "I suppose I'm used to something else," Lena treaded carefully. Her head fell, and with it her spirit.
"Oh," Kara breathed next to her, and the sound was so gentle and raw, a broken breath barely audible over the thrum of rain, that Lena's eyes started stinging. "I'm so sorry," Kara said, her tone suggesting that she herself knew how Lena felt, knew the pain and torment, and wished nothing but to take that feeling away from her. "You don't deserve that."
Lena sighed, because she wouldn't argue with Kara about what she did and didn't deserve. There was a voice inside her calling for the same justice as Kara, but Lena knew that Kara knew too little about her and the things she had been wrapped up in. She didn't believe herself to be a bad person, but Lena knew she didn't deserve to be called—or considered—a good person either.
"I— don't know. Maybe."
"Lena." Kara's voice was steady, pushing. "I know I don't know you, but I know you deserve to be treated like a human being."
Lena looked up and over, her eyes tracing the curve of Kara's nose and the flick of her lashes. "Thank you," she just said.
They drove on over the wet asphalt, the rain slowly coming to a stop somewhere between the third and the fourth town they passed through, and Lena listened to the radio intently to drown her thoughts out. Her eyes were still hopping over the trees and bushes on the side of the road, a beautiful house coming into view every now and then. The clouds parted slightly and let the women have a peak at the blue sky behind.
Cars, for Lena, had always been a method of private, direct and fast transportation. Useful, but never comfortable or connected to good emotions. Cars meant meetings, cars meant work, cars meant getting to a new place with new expectations to live up to. It was worse that Lena never drove herself, always chauffeured, because the joy of it may have dimmed the dawn of arrival.
Now, Lena sat in a car driven by a free woman, with no destination. And finally, she felt okay with it. She knew Kara would show her around—maybe they'd stop by a nice place and she could take a picture to send to Sam—and at the end of their day, Kara would pull into their driveway and she would be home.
And Kara actually did so.
The road they drove down became slimmer and slimmer until Lena feared they'd get stuck between the hedges on the sides, and when the side mirror strafed the twigs on Kara's side, the road opened into a wide, beautiful shot of a dark lake.
"Oh," Lena breathed, and she could feel Kara's smile flicking towards her. "This is beautiful."
The road went on for another 50 meters or so before a hedge and the start of woods blocked the cars way. Kara pulled over to the little wall that stopped the road from falling into the lake, and turned the car off.
"This is one of my favourite places around," Kara's eyes were gleaming as she spoke, joy radiating from her. "The sun reflects on the water on the good days, and it disappears between the trees on the other side before its rays paint not only the sky but also the lake's surface."
"Can we get out of the car and take a closer look?" Lena asked.
"Yes, I was hoping you'd suggest that." Kara opened her door and Lena followed suit.
The water splished gently against the bottom of the wall. Lena had sat down next to Kara on it, ignoring that it was still damp—they wouldn't stay for long. The sky was still grey and gloomy, but it only added to the atmospheric feel of the scenery.
It reminded Lena of the horror movies she enjoyed on her couch with a glass of wine at 1 am, the way she could wrap her exhausted body in a warm blanket and have it almost feel like a hug. That same dark but comfortable feeling settled in her chest. It wasn't a perfect day, no, and it was likely to rain again soon, but Lena didn't need sunshine to feel at ease—she just needed this.
Kara chuckled softly next to her, and at the sound Lena turned, her gaze skittering over Kara's bowed head and her forward fallen hair. It looked almost brown in the dim light. "What is it?"
Kara turned to her, lips still pulled into a grin. "It's funny," Kara said softly, her eyes darting away over the water.
Lena's brows furrowed. Had she done something strange? "What's funny?"
The blonde woman looked back to her, and Lena could see a spark of something in those blue eyes. "You're the first person I've taken here." Kara glanced away fleetingly, but her eyes returned to Lena. "I didn't think I'd share this place with anyone, but now I have."
Lena swallowed around the impractical knot in her throat, her gaze staying focused on Kara. "And how do you feel? Showing me this."
Kara was silent for a moment, smile gone and not meeting Lena's eyes. Then, she looked back up. And right there, Lena could clearly see the spark she had spotted before for what it was. Fear.
"I—", Kara began, and tried again, "I don't know."
Lena was careful with her next step. The last thing she wanted was to feed the emotion looking back at her. So gently and calmly, she offered Kara her hand. Kara hesitated, her eyes darting between the long fingers reaching out before her and Lena's encouraging smile.
And then she took it, slowly.
"If you ask me not to share this place with anyone, I won't. It's your secret, and I'll keep it safe."
Kara sighed, her head turning towards the dark mirror before them. "It isn't exactly my secret. My sister found it. But she's not here most of the time, and I am, so—"
"—this is your spot." Lena finished for her, attempting to make her voice sound understanding. Kara was being incredibly vulnerable with her, for that they were only strangers.
"I don't take helpers here, and it feels wrong to bring a friend, too. I come here to think, or watch the sunset, or just—" Kara turned from the view, her eyes finding back to Lena. "I'm not sure why I brought you," she admitted honestly.
Lena nodded softly, her lips curving back into an encouraging smile. She let her thumb draw gently over the soft skin of Kara's hand. "Thank you for bringing me. I'm lucky to be here and share this view with you."
Kara laughed at that, her smile reaching her eyes and mixing with the distant longing in them. Lena wanted to dive deeper into a conversation that could lighten the burdens Kara carried—she had seen them now, and she would not forget—but she knew this wasn't the time or place. They were too much of strangers, and trust needed to be built, first.
Kara drove them home in time for dinner—at least for the animals.
Gertrude and Siglinde were extra grumpy when Lena patted them down, both not wanting to stand still. Nevertheless, the work with them felt calming, coming back to the animals almost being a treat rather than a task. Lena had gotten used to the schedule more than she thought.
They finished up and switched out the waterproof rugs for the horses before letting everyone back out. Maya was waiting for them by the back door.
"Would you like to continue our ride?" Kara asked as they peeled from their waterproof clothes. "I thought I could take you to the place I mentioned where the sunset is really nice."
Lena didn't have to contemplate that. "Yes, actually I really would."
And so after a short shower and a swap of clothes—more comfortable ones because Lena knew she'd be enjoying a relaxing night drive with Kara—she met the slightly taller woman by the bottom of the winding stairs.
"Second trip of the day, here we come," Kara said excitedly, her arm swinging in a goofy motion. She's such a dork.
"Lead the way," Lena responded, winking at Kara for good measure.
Lena swore she saw Kara's cheeks redden slightly before the woman turned around.
Lena was relaxed during the drive, her comfortable clothes—an oversized sweater and a pair of sweatpants—truly being a good choice. The sky had cleared only slightly, still dark for that the sun would still be up for a few hours.
She let her gaze drag over to Kara, no purpose to their search but to admire. Kara didn't turn, but there was a fluttering feeling in Lena's stomach—a hunch that Kara was well aware she was being looked at. Lena didn't let that stop her.
She had met many beautiful women in her life—that wasn't why she was staring. Lena had her fair share—if not too much—of breathtaking women on their knees for her. Despite being hated by the general public, Lena had met enough people that had worshipped her in ways others could only dream of. She has gone to bed with gorgeous women, their bodies and voices all too addicting.
And yet, every time, she was left with that same clawing hole in her chest when it ended. Lena didn't feel unlovable—she felt alone. Her whole life, Lena had lived in a shadow, until that shadow turned her world upside down, leaving her with nothing but emptiness.
And Lena knew she had Sam, and she knew there were people who knew her true face, but friendship and comradery didn't fill that aching hole beneath her ribs.
And Lena had given up her search to find something to soothe it, months before she got on that plane. Yet, here she was, unapologetically staring at someone that should mean nothing to her and wondering where that gaping feeling in her chest had gone.
So Lena wasn't staring because Kara was beautiful—even though it may as well have been her reason, considering those soft eyes and sculptured shoulders—no, she was staring because something about Kara was making her feel weightless.
And Lena needed to get behind it fast because it was getting out of control.
Kara slowed the car as they passed a few houses that stood closer together—nothing that could be considered a village, but not the usual lonesome architecture Lena had been witnessing—and only when the car turned up a gravel yard did Lena realise Kara was planning to stop here.
"This doesn't look like the view you promised," Lena said, her eyebrow raised questioningly. Kara turned to her with a giddy but nervous smile, a flush to her cheeks. "Where are you taking me?"
"This isn't the sunset view I promised, but only because we still have time until the sunset," Kara defended. "This is a really good—my favourite, if that matters—restaurant, though." Kara grinned at Lena with a crooked smile. "Dinner's on me."
"Kara—"
"No, no protesting. I didn't cook because I wanted to get us somewhere nice for once. It's not grand," Kara promised, "but it's my kind of thing and I—" she halted, her gaze averting. "I want to share this with you."
Lena sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Then let me at least pay—"
"Don't even think about it," Kara warned, her eyes giving Lena a grim look of disapproval, "you've been helping me the whole week, I'm paying for the food."
Looking at Kara for a moment then, her arms crossed and her brows all scrunched together, Lena realised that Kara looked adorable, despite her attempt at intimidation.
"Okay," Lena said, slowly. "Only this time, though."
They slipped out of the car and made their way over the gravel towards the entrance of the house Kara had parked in front of. As Lena took a look around, she noticed two other cars parked in the drive. She also noticed that she was walking closer to Kara than they had a week ago, and it left a flutter in her chest.
The door to the restaurant was wooden and heavy, and Lena struggled for a moment before Kara stepped in, her lean arm pushing against the heavy piece near Lena's head to help her. Lena looked up into a soft smile and gleaming blue eyes.
"There you go, m'lady," Kara said jokingly, and Lena turned and ducked under Kara's arm into the place before the taller woman could notice the blush creeping to her cheeks.
Kara was so annoyingly charming.
Lena took a deep breath before taking in the place they had stepped into, Kara now right behind her. It was a cozy space, dimly lit and mostly filled with ligneous architecture. Across the room, a long bar table looked back at them. There was a fire place—more a fire pit, really—to their left, and tables and chairs stood all around the room, a rustical whisper deep inside the materials of everything. It looked raw, handmade and crafted.
And Lena could totally see the vision, or why Kara liked it.
"Follow me, I know the best place to sit." Kara strode ahead, brushing past Lena with a gentle touch to her elbow that was gone before Lena could register that it happened.
And so Lena trotted after her, sliding into the corner bench next to Kara of the table that the blonde had apparently carefully selected. They could see across the whole room from their spot, and even take a peak behind the bar counter. Far enough from the fire to not sweat in the hoodie Lena had brought—Lena had to admit, it was a good spot.
"Do you come here often then?" Lena asked curiously.
"From time to time." Kara shrugged. "A very nice person works here, I'm sure you'll like her."
"I'm not sure she'll like me," Lena responded, suddenly feeling out of place. "Considering I'm dressed in this hoodie."
"Oh, don't worry,” Kara waved her off, "people go out in hoodies all the time, it's normal."
"It— is?" Lena furrowed her brows in confusion.
"Yeah, totally. Where do you live where that's not normal?"
To that, Lena had nothing good to respond. She shrugged, "I'm used to something else."
Kara just smiled, her gaze searching Lena's with that same hint of interest. She could feel that Kara wanted to know more.
Before Kara could open their mouth, they were interrupted.
"Hi Kara," the woman that had crept up to their table greeted the blonde woman, "and I can tell you've brought a friend. What would you guys like to drink?"
"I'll have a lemonade, I still need to do some driving." Kara smiled at the woman standing across the table, a notepad in her hand.
Lena let her gaze drift over the table for any kind of menu, but there was nothing. She turned to find the waiter's gaze and made a decision. "Do you have red wine?" She had truly been waiting long enough to have a drink again, after her failed attempt in Galway and the busy week they've had, she had almost forgotten. But now, she wouldn't pass this opportunity.
The woman's expression shifted into an amused smile. "Indeed we do. I can tell someone has taste. We only have a small selection though."
"Hm," Lena hummed, "Any chance at getting a Merlot from Bordeaux around here?"
The waiter's brows raised into oblivion, as expected. "No ma'am," the woman laughed, "but we do have a simple Merlot, from vineyards across the country. Or I could offer you a more pricey Cabernet Sauvignon, if that's your thing. Or, we also have a Pinot Noir."
"I'll settle with the Merlot, thank you." Lena smiled politely.
The waiter scribbled something down before looking back up, her eyes finding Kara. "I'm guessing you're eating the same as always?"
Kara grinned excitedly. "You know me, M'gann."
"And you?" The waiter—M'gann—turned back to Lena.
"Oh, I— I've never been here, I don't know what there is."
"Ah, right." M'gann turned around and moved over to the bar, pulling out a menu from the stack there and returning to Lena with it. "There you go, I'll give you a moment to have a look. I'll be back with your drinks and then I'll take your order."
"Thank you, M'gann," Kara chirped, grinning as the woman stepped away.
Lena buried herself in the menu.
M'gann came back with their drinks and Lena gave her the order. The wine tasted rather bland, different from what Lena was used to at home. But it was wine nonetheless, and her favourite kind at least, so she wouldn't be complaining, especially not when Kara was paying.
Kara herself seemed happy with the lemonade, M'gann having served it to her with a glass straw that her soft pink lips were curling around enthrallingly when Lena looked over. Immaculate timing, Lena.
She hid the blush behind another sip of wine and waited until Kara let off her own drink before she engaged with the blonde again. "So this is another friend, I'm guessing?"
"It is," Kara beamed, "she's actually J'onn's fiancé, if you care about that. That's how I got to know her, really. J'onn has always been a nice face in town, and a good friend too. Eventually, he asked whether it would be okay to bring his girlfriend to game night, and of course we agreed." Kara was explaining with excitement hovering like static in the air around her, pulling anyone in with her gaze and enrapturing smile, even if it was just Lena listening to her. "She was really nice from the beginning on, and when we found out that she owns this pub, we made it a thing to come here every once in a while together for a night out and good talk. M'gann is lovely once you get to know her, but she can seem dismissive at first. Don't let it scare you, she's just being cautious."
Lena knew that all too well. She was cautious, too. At least she had been all her life. Looking back at it, she had no idea why she wasn't nearly as cautious with Kara. Somehow her instincts had turned off at the sight of a shredded goofball. She should really be worried about it, but as soon as that thought surfaced, she caught a glimpse of Kara's smile, and the idea vanished.
Maybe it was just her brain relying on Sam's judgement, as Lena's best friend had done a thorough background check on the woman to Lena's right—maybe invading her privacy in the process too.
The food was good. It tasted homemade and filled Lena's surprisingly empty belly with warm deliciousness. Lena sighed contently, and Kara chuckled.
"That's such a cute thing you do."
"What is?" Lena raised a brow.
"Those little sighs," Kara said, immediately followed by a demonstration of the exact noise Lena had made seconds prior.
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize," Kara laughed, her eyes squeezing in the process, "I just told you it's adorable."
Kara leaned over then, her elbow bumping gently against Lena's side in a playful manner. Lena grinned back, not sure how to feel about the declaration. In the waft of Kara's motion, Lena caught Kara's scent, a strange combination that shouldn't work but did—orange and roasted coffee beans.
Of all the things Lena thought Kara smelled of, she'd have never considered something like coffee—for good reason, Kara didn't drink coffee. Kara was all soft, no bark and no bite—despite how she looked—and coffee didn't fit that aesthetic at all. Coffee wasn't generally considered a soft or light smell, and mixed with orange—
Lena couldn't get enough of it. Coffee was her thing. Why the fuck did Kara have to smell of it? She was so captivated it made her angry, her fingers tickling with that urge to grasp or fumble again. Her whole body felt weirdly loaded and tense, leaning closer to Kara than necessary. She was so pathetic.
Lena sipped more of her wine, the taste working against the traces of Kara's scent and bringing her brain back on task. It also left a familiar hum in the back of her throat that made a slow path down into her stomach, settling with the food there—something Lena was all the more used to.
They ate in silence, sharing soft smiles—mostly Kara—and stolen glances—mostly Lena—during their dinner. M'gann visited their table once to check on them and otherwise tended to the other guests around the place. Through the window, Lena watched the sky darken further, the sunset being announced gently.
By the time they finished, Kara got up to pay while Lena settled deeper into the backrest of the bench, her wine resting in her right hand. It was nice enough wine, despite not being her favourite, so she wouldn't complain.
Kara came back, a smile in her gaze as she gestured her head towards the door. Lena nodded, finishing her glass and gathering her things. Kara held the door for her when they left the restaurant, and as the door fell shut behind them, the cool late spring breeze curled around their bodies. Lena steered for the car, Kara audibly right behind her.
They still had a sunset to see.