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Chapter Text

Lena’s only been here for five minutes and she’s counted three swollen eyes and six bruised knuckles, and she’s not even at all sure of where here is. Andrea had driven them several miles out of the city limits, her migraine-inducing rock playlist blasting from the speakers the whole journey to, presumably, stop Lena from asking more questions.

She’d said no the first time Andrea asked her to join her, and the second, and the third, but her curiosity eventually got the best of her. Last night, whilst watching Andrea ice her ribs and pray that she won’t have a black eye in the morning, she’d finally been worn down, and now Lena gets to spend her Friday night in a musty basement with a bunch of strangers.

“Ladies, welcome to Fight Club.” A woman with short, dark hair steps forward, encouraging everyone to gather ‘round her. Lena glances at each of the women, expecting to see toned stomachs and bulging biceps, but instead finding women of all shapes and sizes. Several of them, though, are sporting injuries of one kind or another.

She’s completely out of her depth, floundering in choppy waters where she doesn’t belong, and Lena is convinced that everyone knows it.

“That’s Alex,” Andrea murmurs into her ear, elbowing Lena sharply in the ribs to encourage her to pay attention. “She’s in charge.” Lena nods, her tongue darting out to wet her lips as she glances towards the door, wondering how Andrea would react if she bailed and drove herself home. Surely she has a friend or two here who could drive her back to the city.

“The first rule of fight club is, you do not talk about fight club,” Alex begins, her hands planted on her hips. “The second rule of Fight Club is, you do not talk about Fight Club. Third rule of Fight Club, someone yells stop, goes limp, or taps out, the fight is over.” 

Dark eyes sweep around the room, briefly alighting with subtle recognition as they land on Lena before moving around the rest of the crowd. 

“Fourth rule, only two women to a fight. Fifth rule, one fight at a time, people.” Alex glares at one woman in particular, her finger firmly pointed in her direction until she shrivels beneath the attention. “Sixth rule, no shirts, no shoes.” Lena balks, blushing pink as she remembers the less than modest bra she put on this morning.

“Seventh rule, fights will go on as long as they have to. And the eighth, and final, rule: if this is your first night at Fight Club— you have to fight.” Lena’s head whips around as she stares at Andrea, her friend suddenly more interested in her shoes than anything else going on around them.

It’ll be fun, she said. It’ll help you blow off steam, she said. Come and check it out, watch hot women sweat through their sports bras as they grapple each other. Not a single fucking word about Lena having to join in . Her heart races and she curls her fingers into her clammy palms until her short nails pinch the skin.

“Sorry I’m late!” Lena winces as the basement door crashes open, a harried blonde dumping her sports bag in the corner as she rushes to join the crowd. “My boss was on the rampage because she got dumped last night and it was—”

“You’re here now,” Alex quickly cuts her off before the rambling can gain steam. “You haven’t missed anything, I was just going over the rules.” Lena quirks a brow as she glances between the two women, intrigued by their familiarity with each other. The older one, Lena assumes, turns back to the rest of them, “alright, ladies, prepare yourselves. It looks like we have a lot of newbies joining us tonight.”

Lena immediately grasps Andrea’s wrist and hauls her towards an empty corner, scowling at her so-called best friend. She mouths wordlessly for a couple of seconds, throwing her hands in the air as Andrea watches her, amused.

“What the fuck ?” Lena finally splutters, wildly gesturing towards the group of women. “You didn’t think to mention that I’d be expected to fight ?” She’s convinced that there must be steam pouring from her ears, her face heating up with a blush that always appears when she’s pissed off. Andrea shoots her a panicked frown and hushes her, glancing around to ensure no-one is listening.

“I already said too much by saying what it was,” Andrea hisses, stepping a little closer. “You don’t talk about fight club. ” Lena rolls her eyes and pushes her tongue against her teeth, faltering as she watches the blonde newcomer strip down to a red and blue sports bra in the other corner. Her throat bobs with a thick swallow when her gaze rakes across V-cut abs that might actually be the death of her.

“That’s Kara, she’s Alex’s sister,” Andrea murmurs, unwillingly dragging Lena’s attention from the masterpiece in the corner. “Nice, right?”

“Yeah, she’s— wait, no.” Lena frowns, as though suddenly remembering that she’s pissed at her friend. “Don’t distract me with muscles and sports bras,” she scolds, jabbing Andrea in the shoulder with her finger. “You dragged me here without telling me a single thing about this damn club, and now I’m supposed to fight in a bra that doesn’t cover a damn thing.”

“We can put tape over your nipples,” Andrea shrugs. “I probably should have warned you to bring something to wear, sure, but don’t lie to me and tell me you aren’t at least tempted .” Andrea smirks, “just imagine it. You’ve had a long day, gross old men have been on your ass the whole time and then you can come here and someone will consent to you taking your frustrations out on them.”

Lena frowns, glancing towards the blonde—Kara, Andrea had said— as she warms up in her ridiculously tight gym clothes. Her muscles ripple with each strike against the punch bag, her handsome features contorted in concentration.

“Or, I guess, you could come stare at the eye candy and hopefully miss out on black eye.” Andrea looks thrilled about catching her ogling again, and there’s a tiny part of Lena that kinda hopes she’s paired with her asshole best friend for her first fight. “Look, you can leave if you really want to, but, fair warning, they won’t let you come back if you don’t fight first.”

Lena sighs, convinced that she’s finally been driven insane by her family when she realizes that she’s actually considering this. One night, right? A fight with, hopefully, one of the weaker women and then she doesn’t have to come back if she doesn’t want to. She did alright in that one fight she had in boarding school, after all. Andrea didn’t even have to jump in until the end.

“They’re not going to have me fight blonde Adonis over there, right?” Lena jerks her head in Kara’s direction, her gaze momentarily landing on beautifully chiselled shoulders. Andrea grins at her, cyan eyes shining with something that Lena can’t quite understand.

“No, you’ll be paired with a newbie, but I’m sure you can ask Kara to throw you around later.”

“Ye—no! Why on Earth would I want to do that?”

“You’re literally still looking at her, Lena.”

Lena whips her head back around and glares at her, unable to hide the pink blush that rises high on her cheeks. She grabs Andrea’s gym bag and roots through it, her brows furrowing when she doesn’t find any spare clothes inside.

“Sorry,” Andrea winces, “I forgot to bring spares, but maybe I can go first and then you can borrow my bra afterwards. What’s a little sweat between friends, right?” Her nose wrinkles even as she says it, unable to hide her disgust, and Lena can’t help but agree. “Maybe Alex will let you off with it this time, pat you down to ensure it’s just skin underneath,” Andrea shrugs.

“She won’t.” Lena startles when the blonde is suddenly next to her, the tips of her ears burning pink as she makes a solid effort to stop her eyes from raking down to her stomach. “I’m Kara, by the way, Andrea mentioned she’d be bringing someone along, but you’re not at all what I expected.” Kara grins and holds her hand out for Lena to shake.

“What exactly were you expecting?” Lena shakes her hand and cocks a brow, steadfastly ignoring the way her heart begins to pound.

“Not someone who wears shoes that cost more than my rent,” Kara jokes, glancing down at Lena’s stilettos with a crooked grin. “Welcome to the rent-controlled side of town, where, luckily for you, a very kind stranger has extra clothes with her that you can borrow.” Kara winks, “we wouldn’t want you to get blood all over that nice silk blouse now, would we?”

“She’ll take it.” Andrea gets in there first, elbowing Lena in the side. “Maybe she can help you oil up those muscles as a thank you,” she adds, entirely uncaring about the humiliation rolling off her best friend in waves. Kara laughs, that annoyingly lovely smile widening her lips again.

“That won’t be necessary.” Kara pats her abs, “I’m all good to go. Give me a second and I’ll grab those clothes for you.” She rushes off, gifting Lena with the perfect opportunity to check the rest of her out, but not before she purposely steps on Andrea’s foot. 

“Would you relax? A pretty beefcake is giving you attention and you look like you’re about to murder someone.” Andrea elbows her again, cursing beneath her breath when Lena elbows her back twice as hard. “If you want to leave, I will drive you home myself, but make your mind up because Adonis is on her way back here to get you out of your clothes.”

“Can I fight you ?” Lena shoots her a filthy look.

“Sure, but I’ll pull your hair.” Andrea shrugs, “there’s nothing about it in the rules, and Alex didn’t stop me last time. I don’t know about scratching, though— haven’t tried it yet. Oh look, beefcake is back. Hey, Kara.” Andrea’s smile is saccharine sweet, her eyes glistening with amusement, “I can’t thank you enough for helping out our little damsel in distress here.”

“Oh I’m sure she can take care of herself,” Kara says, handing Lena her gym bag. “Come on, I’ll show you where you can change.” Andrea shoves Lena forward before she even has a chance to hesitate, playfully slapping her ass as she throws her a wink. The look Lena sends over her shoulder is nothing less than murderous as she helplessly follows after Blonde Adonis.

She’s led towards a small, dingy bathroom, one that reminds Lena of the many truck stop bathrooms she and Andrea were forced to use during their one—and only—roadtrip during college. It smells clean, as though someone has recently made a desperate attempt to freshen it up, but, really, Lena thinks it all needs to be ripped out and replaced.

“The lock is broken, but I’ll wait right out here and stand guard,” Kara tells her. “I wouldn’t want anyone to scare you off before I can see you in action.” She ushers Lena inside and closes the door for her before Lena can even form a coherent statement, completely unsure if the blonde is flirting with her or if it’s just a part of her personality. She can never tell.

She rests the bag on top of the toilet lid and peers inside, relieved to find sweatpants instead of the tiny shorts a lot of the women seem to prefer wearing. They’re grey and clearly softened by being worn and washed so much, the strong smell of detergent still clinging to them. Lena smiles and lifts them from the bag first, neatly placing her own pants in their place.

They fit a little better than she expected, a little longer than she’d prefer and snug around her hips, but still more comfortable than the dress pants she forces herself to wear each day. The sports bra, though, comes with its own set of issues, and it causes anxiety to claw at Lena’s tightened chest. It’s tiny, and tight, too tight to be comfortable as it squishes her boobs against the top of her ribs.

Lena grimaces as she gazes into the grimy mirror, her eyes zoning in on her soft stomach. It spills over the side of Kara’s sweatpants just enough for her to pinch it between her thumb and forefinger, something that’s bothered her since she was a teenager. Lillian always put her on strict diets, even hired her a personal trainer, but Lena has never been a fan of exercise.

She did enough to keep Lillian happy, or until she stopped mentioning it every morning, and found every reason in the world to put it off— too self conscious to squeeze into the expensive lycra set out for her on the bed. Lillian soon lost interest once Lex took over Luthorcorp, barely sparing Lena a glance once the favorite child began to excel.

Hiding it underneath carefully selected shirts had been enough for Lena, her eyes always screwing tightly closed to hide from disgust that wasn’t there whenever she spent the night with someone. Andrea had told her that she didn’t have anything to worry about, that her curves were beautiful, but Lillian’s grip on her had been too strong to break.

Lena sighs, more worried about stepping out there in a sports bra than the fight itself. She sucks her bottom lip inwards and nibbles on it, wondering how the others would react if she were to just change back into her own clothes and wait outside for Andrea. They’d probably assume she had chickened out, too scared to bruise her pretty face.

The fear of looking weak, of being unworthy of her last name, is the only thing that stops her from running. She’ll fight, and probably get her ass kicked, but Lena will leave the basement at the end of the night with everyone else with her head held high— even if it is an act.

A knock on the bathroom door startles her and Lena timidly hauls it open. Kara smiles at her from the doorway, not bothering to hide the way her gaze travels up and down Lena’s body. Lena barely resists the urge to cover herself, more than aware that a lot more people are gonna get a good look at her in a few minutes.

“You look great ,” Kara says, closing the door behind her. “I think you suit my clothes better than I do. You still haven’t told me your name, by the way.”

“Oh.” Lena blushes, “sorry. It’s Lena. Thank you for your help, I don’t think I said that yet, either.” She can’t remember the last time she felt so awkward around someone, her self confidence seemingly disappearing with her heels and business attire.

“You’re very welcome, Lena .” Kara beams at her as though Lena has just paid her rent for the entire year, blue eyes bright and crinkling at the corners. “Are you ready to go? Because Andrea is up first and her fights are always hilarious .”

“Ready as I can be,” Lena nods. “I’m pretty sure I’m about to get my ass kicked, though.” Kara falters, her brows furrowing deeply enough to highlight a small scar between them. She gazes at Lena thoughtfully, her lips pursing as she draws them to one side.

“Arms up and close your fists,” Kara states, demonstrating a block. “Like this. It’ll force her to go down low, and then you can just—” she punches the air before playfully tapping Lena’s jaw, “take her down. Try and stop her from getting near your nose, it’ll throw you off and then it’s game over. I’ll make sure Alex gives you an easy match-up, though, don’t worry,” Kara winks.

“No!” Lena cringes, “sorry, I just— I don’t want an easy ride. I don’t want people to think I’m getting special treatment because of who I— I don’t want special treatment.” Lena trails off with a mumble, mentally kicking herself once more. Kara eyes her carefully, piercing blue eyes seemingly staring straight into her soul.

“Well, whoever you are, it doesn’t matter,” Kara murmurs. “Not in here. Whatever you’re worried about, it doesn’t exist inside these four walls— they get left at the door and you can collect them on your way home.” She smiles, “all you have to worry about here is following those eight rules. Although, if your friend ever pulls Roulette’s hair again there may be a ninth added soon.”

“Roulette?”

“You’ll meet her soon enough,” Kara grins. “I’m fighting her tonight.”

Chapter Text

It’s damn near impossible to tear her gaze from Kara’s ass as she leads her out of the bathroom, but Lena makes a solid effort. Hell, she’s pretty sure her eyes will never recover from the strain of forcing them to focus on the floor, nervously following beaten up old sneakers across the grungy basement with a heart that attempts to beat right out of her chest.

Lena wraps one arm around her exposed midriff, a blush settling high on her cheeks as her other hand desperately attempts to pull the borrowed sports bra a little lower. Even Andrea, full of compliments and salacious grins, doesn’t make her feel any better about her body, but when she catches Kara’s gaze lingering for just a moment too long, Lena at least finds the confidence to drop her arm.

“Come on,” Kara murmurs, awkwardly clearing her throat, perhaps embarrassed about being caught, “it’s time to watch Little Miss Loudmouth pull some hair.” Kara gently tugs her forward by the wrist, ensuring Lena gets a good view and isn’t pushed aside by the others.

The atmosphere in the basement seems to crackle, the conversations hushed, yet excited, the women barging past each other to ensure they get the best view as Andrea joins another woman, Lucy, according to the cheers, on the mat. 

Andrea mouths off, because of course she does, promising to help the other woman find her teeth after the fight, and it’s really no surprise that Lucy makes the first move within seconds of Alex starting the fight, her fist instantly connecting with Andrea’s jaw.

Lena watches, wide-eyed and horrified, as Andrea falls backwards and lands heavily on her backside. She holds her breath, time seemingly slowing down and her blood rushing in her ears, her shoulders sagging in relief as Andrea hauls Lucy down to join her on the mat. 

There’s an outraged cry, a trickle of laughter filtering around the dimly lit basement as they all realize that Andrea has pinched Lucy’s inner thigh. Rolling her eyes, Lena relaxes, reminding herself that her best friend is more than capable of taking care of herself— that she’s probably the dirtiest fighter in the building.

It doesn’t stop Lena from wincing each time the woman swings for Andrea, though, and she startles as a warm hand settles on her bare shoulder with a reassuring squeeze.

“Try and pretend you’re not terrified,” Kara murmurs. “They’ll eat you alive in here if you show your fear.” Lena nods and fights off a shiver as Kara’s breath tickles the shell of her ear, instantly missing the contact when Kara’s hand leaves her shoulder and returns to her own hip. 

She watches Blonde Adonis in her peripheral, her mouth growing dry as her gaze travels across toned biceps and shredded abs, her pulse quickening as large hands gesture wildly towards the messy scrap taking place in the middle of the room.

“You should watch the fight,” Kara states with a sly grin, mortifyingly catching Lena in the act of leering. “Your friend is doing great and it’s a good idea to keep an eye on each fight— you never know who you’ll be fighting next time.” Kara’s hand claps down on her shoulder again, the touch almost burning Lena’s flushed skin and causing a deep blush to creep upwards from her neck.

If there is a God somewhere, then Lena thinks they’re perhaps a little mean for forcing this kind of torture on her.

Lena grimaces and forces herself to pay closer attention to the fight, her brows deeply furrowed when blood begins to trickle from one of Andrea’s nostrils. The trash talk, it seems, has only motivated Lucy further, and Lena blows out the breath she’d been holding when Andrea is finally pinned to the mat. 

Lena hauls her best friend back to her feet, violently rolling her eyes at the trash talk that still spills from a split lip— a mighty little chihuahua that, predictably, never knows when to quit her yapping.

“Perhaps a better tactic next time, hmm?” Lena wraps her hand around Andrea’s bicep and drags her to the bathroom. “Good luck explaining this,” Lena gestures towards her face, “in the office tomorrow.”

“It’s superficial,” Andrea shrugs, head still held high as she perches on the closed toilet lid.

“As are you, so don’t bother pretending it doesn’t bother you.” Andrea ignores the dig and ducks out of Lena’s reach as she attempts to wipe the blood from her nose, curse words muttered in Spanish that Lena knows all too well. “Just sit still and let me clean you up or I’ll tell Sam all about this dumb idea of yours,” Lena threatens, carefully dabbing a wet cloth to Andrea’s burst lower lip.

“What will she care? Sam was the one who broke up with me in case you forgot.” Andrea grabs the cloth from Lena and tends to her own injuries, wincing and sucking her teeth, “do you think my jaw is broken? It feels like it’s broken.”

“I’m pretty sure you’d have shut up by now if it was broken.” Lena rolls her eyes and folds her arms across her chest, her hip resting against the sink as she silently judges the smartass whose mouth had finally written a check it couldn’t cash. “Is that what all of this is about?” Lena quietly asks. “You’d rather be punched in the face than actually deal with your feelings?”

“Don’t act like you’re completely hating this,” Andrea shoots her a scowl. “I’m pretty sure watching Blonde Adonis fight Roulette will have you staining your panties.” Lena sighs and bites back a retort, more than used to Andrea’s attack mode once she feels like she’s been backed into a corner, vile and straight for the jugular— an Andrea special. 

“I’m on your side here,” Lena murmurs, reaching out to push a sweaty strand of Andrea’s hair from her face. “You might be the only person on the planet who could actually drag me to this kind of place,” she chuckles dryly. “That has to mean something, right?”

“Sorry,” Andrea grumbles, not quite ready to mean it, but clearly aware that she’s attacking the wrong person. “I’m right, though. You’re definitely interested in Kara, or at least somewhat invested in those muscles. I’m pretty sure she could crack a watermelon between those thighs,” she grins. “You’d need to wear a crash helmet if you dated her.”

“Alright, Jane Austen, let’s get you home,” Lena grumbles, unable to tell which is worse, the heat spreading across her cheeks or the one settling between her thighs.

“No,” Andrea shakes her head. “Absolutely not. Kara and Roulette have been beefing for weeks and it’s finally going down tonight. You couldn’t pay me to miss this fight and, besides, you haven’t taken part yet.” Andrea cocks her head, “you’re not going to bail now , are you? You can’t miss the opportunity to show that beautiful beefcake what you’re made of, Lena.”

“Yeah, I’m sure she’ll be super attracted to me once she has to scrape me up off the floor,” Lena chuckles. “Besides, I’m pretty sure only you can pull off the bruised look.” She throws the bloodied cloth into the sink with a sigh, “Kara gave me a few tips, but I dunno, I don’t think I can actually do this, ‘Drea.”

“Sure you can!” Andrea stands and rests her hands on Lena’s shoulder, “you are Lena Luthor. You can do anything if you put your mind to it. Hell, you survived living in the same house as Lillian, you might just be the most powerful woman in this whole damn building. Just do what I do,” Andrea states.

“Get my ass kicked?” Lena cocks her head to one side, unable to hide her teasing grin for more than a few seconds.

“You know what, I’m being nice here,” Andrea grouses. “I let Lucy win because I’m a good person,” she sniffs, dramatically throwing her hair over her shoulder. “Whatever, do what you want, but don’t come crying to me when you miss your chance to roll around and get all sweaty with Kara.” She shrugs, “I bet she knows what she’s doing with those big hands of hers.”

“You’re incorrigible.” Lena shrugs out from Andrea’s hand with an embarrassed scowl.

“I’m also right. Come on, Lena, pull that silver spoon out of your ass and live a little!” Andrea shakes her head, bemused. “If you don’t want to fight, fine, I’ll drive you home right now, but you need to find something . You basically live in the damn labs or in your office these days and I don’t think you’ve even seen the sun this year. Like, you’re so pale that it actually hurts my eyes to look at you!” Andrea exclaims, making a ridiculous show of shielding her eyes. “Seriously, you’re blinding me right now.”

“You hit your head, right? Lucy gave you a concussion….”

“Maybe, but whatever,” Andrea waves her off. “I’m making sense here and you know it. I’m going out to watch the fights and you can let me know what you wanna do.” She leans forward to kiss Lena’s cheek before brushing by her and allowing the bathroom door to slam closed behind her, leaving Lena alone with the thoughts she’s been attempting to avoid all evening.

Lena already knows that her pride won’t allow her to leave without fighting, but walking back into that basement still seems like a momentous task. All eyes will be on her as soon as she steps onto that mat and she just has to hope that the adrenaline will be enough to keep her on her feet, or, at the very least, to stop Lena from completely embarrassing herself. Andrea had lost rather spectacularly in the end and people still seem to adore her, so, perhaps, effort is enough for these people.

She gazes into the mirror with a sigh, her gaze boring into her reflection as Lena gives herself a silent pep talk, reminding herself that this place is different. Lena isn’t a Luthor here, isn’t a CEO, is merely an equal to each and every other woman in the club— there’s no room for egos. Well, at least any that aren’t Andrea’s, it seems.

==

The next fight is already well underway when Lena steps back into the basement, but it’s Kara who catches her gaze. She’s warming up in the corner and laughing about something with Andrea, seemingly unfazed about the woman glaring at her from the other end of the room. Roulette, Lena assumes with a smirk, but she recognizes the woman as someone else entirely.

“Of all the filthy basements in the world…” Veronica drawls as Lena approaches, her sharp eyes zeroing in on Lena’s outfit. “Not your usual style, that’s for sure. What happened? Did Morgan Edge beat you to yet another deal and leave you with no choice but to fight for your supper?”

“No, I just heard that you would be getting your ass kicked tonight and I knew that wasn’t something I would want to miss,” Lena lies, her smile saccharine sweet.

“Well, you’re about to be disappointed,” Veronica shrugs, “but I’m sure you’re used to that by now, anyway.” She purses her lips and glances towards Andrea and Kara, “you can always tell so much about a person by the company they keep.” Lena follows her gaze to find Andrea stroking Kara’s bicep with dreamy eyes and, really, she has no defense.

“Let me know if you need help with your medical bills after the fight, Luthorcorp is always on the lookout for charitable cases. It’s good for our public image.” Lena dips her head and turns on her heel, her eyes violently rolling as she crosses the basement to join Andrea and Kara.

“You already know her?” Kara asks, entirely unfazed by the fawning Andrea by her side— a smile stretching her lips as soon as her eyes land on Lena.

“Unfortunately,” Lena grimaces.

“Roulette’s a piece of work,” Kara nods. “She’s only here because her own fighting ring was busted by the cops. Some underage teenager got seriously hurt because Roulette didn’t let him back out of a fight with a dude twice his age and size.” She sighs, “Alex didn’t want her here, but she knew Roulette would just cause trouble if she didn’t get her own way.”

“That sounds like her,” Lena dryly murmurs. She ignores Andrea’s questioning gaze and side-steps away from the inevitable dig to her ribs. “Good luck out there, Kara, and just know that she has a bum knee. The right one, she almost made the Olympic field hockey team before she blew it out.” Kara’s brows lift and her smile seems almost impressed.

“I’ll keep that in mind if she becomes a problem, but I can handle Roulette,” Kara grins. “She’s all hat and no cattle, if you know what I mean.” She looks up when Alex calls for her, rolling her neck as her features suddenly grow grim, “excuse me, ladies. I have some business to attend to.” Kara throws Lena a wink before she strides across to the mat, making a show of flexing her muscles as she waits for Roulette to join her.

Lena blows out a long breath, accepting that Andrea may just be right about her panties.

“Alright, ladies, I know you’ve been waiting for this one,” Alex claps her hands together and shares a wink and grin with a woman in the crowd. “I won’t stand in your way, but I wanna remind everyone that there should be no money riding on the outcome of this fight.” Her dark eyes land on Andrea for a long moment, her brow hitching upwards even as Andrea innocently holds her hands up.

“Jeez,” Andrea sighs, “you do something once , huh?” She rolls her eyes and settles beside Lena to watch the fight, her eyes shining with excitement as she all but bounces on the spot. “Hold onto your panties, Lena, this is gonna be epic.”

Epic, it turns out, is entirely the wrong word to describe the fight. At least at first. Lena’s brows furrow, her head cocking to one side as Veronica seems to dance around on the mat, fake lunging towards Kara as the handsome blonde watches on in amusement. 

Lena doesn’t expect to win her own fight, but, unlike Veronica, she plans on at least leaving this basement with her dignity intact.

“I came to see a fight,” Andrea calls out with a scowl, “not dancing with the fucking stars!” She huffs loudly and nudges Lena with her elbow, “well, at least you’re gonna find out how great Blonde Adonis’ stamina is, ‘cause this is gonna take all damn night.”

Veronica finally strikes first, Kara narrowly dodging the fist that heads straight for her nose. The women jeer, some disappointed by the miss, others thrilled that Veronica had failed, but Lena struggles to watch. They’re faster than Andrea and Lucy, stronger and more aggressive, too, fueled by a hatred that seems to have grown between them, but Kara has the upper hand.

She’s more in control of herself, doesn’t allow emotion to take over, her movements more fluid as she sweeps Veronica’s legs out from under her. Lena winces, irritated to find herself feeling a little bad for Veronica as she scrambles upwards from the mat. 

When she finally connects with Kara, her fist hitting her cheek with a sickening smack, Lena discovers just who Andrea has money on, after all.

“You didn’t put it on Kara?” Lena hisses, watching Alex carefully to ensure she hasn’t overheard.

“The odds for Roulette winning were higher,” Andrea shrugs. “Miss Muscles has to lose at some point, but that doesn’t mean that I have to lose out, too.” She grins cheekily, “besides, maybe then she’ll need someone to tend to her injuries.”

Lena wrinkles her nose and turns back to the fight, watching as Veronica is once again forced to pick herself up from the mat. The fist that lands heavily on her jaw sends her flying backwards before she can fully straighten upwards, several women in the crowd having to push Veronica back towards the fighting mat. 

Veronica fights like a feral cat trapped in a corner, eyes wide and arms blindly swinging, exhausting herself before Kara even breaks a sweat, and Lena is horrified to realize just how much she enjoys watching. Her blood rushes in her ears, her heart pounding each time Kara lunges forward, a throb settling between Lena’s legs and causing a deep blush to bleed across her cheeks.

She grabs Andrea’s hand without even realizing it, emerald eyes wide and unblinking as she watches the carnage unfold— the decision already made that Lena will definitely be coming back next time.

It’s ugly, an all too easy win for Kara in the end and Lena would be relieved about it being over if it weren’t for the fact that it means her own fight is crawling closer. Andrea cackles from beside her as Veronica stalks from the mat and bats away all attempts to help her, clearly only missing the popcorn that would complete her entertainment for tonight.

“I don’t even care that I lost, ‘cause that is funny,” Andrea chuckles. “Someone has needed to knock her down a peg or two for a long time.” Lena wants to agree, but it makes her stomach ache to mock someone while they're down— while they’re bleeding. “Holy shit,” Andrea suddenly breathes out, her hand painfully tight around Lena’s wrist and cutting off the blood supply.

Lena follows her wide-eyed gaze, her mouth growing inexplicably dry as she watches Kara showboat and flex in the middle of the mat. Yep… her panties are definitely screwed. 

“I bet her strap is huge ,” Andrea murmurs, one brow lifting as Kara saunters towards them wearing a grin that’s somehow charming and cocky at the same time. “No doubt the biggest you’ve ever seen.”

Chapter Text

Everything that happens next is a blur. One moment she’s attempting to tear her gaze from Kara’s glistening torso whilst Andrea pulls out her best charm, and the next she’s standing on the mat being berated by a sneering woman named Siobhan. 

The trash talk that had so easily spilled from Andrea’s lips doesn’t even make it to the tip of Lena’s tongue, her mouth suddenly dry and her heart pounding against her ribs. Lena barely listens as Alex repeats the rules that she’d memorized the first time she heard them, merely stares at the woman who seems to be seconds away from foaming at the mouth.

“Fight!”

The basement erupts, a solid wall of yelling encasing the two women on the mat, only a couple of voices screaming their support for Lena. It’s overwhelming, the shouting, the strong smell of multiple deodorants and sweat, the numerous colors of sweatpants and sports bras blurring in her periphery as Lena struggles to focus on the woman currently circling her like a hungry shark.

Siobhan lunges forward first and Lena yelps, her dignity left behind on the mat as she darts to one side. The crowd jeers, some even laughing as Lena’s cheeks burn with embarrassment, but at least she’s getting a little cardio in as she jerks her body out of the way of another vicious blow.

Okay, so maybe Lena shouldn't have allowed Andrea to talk her into this, she thinks, dodging yet another swing from the woman that she's now pretty sure has a personal vendetta against her. Her fencing background comes in handy, her footwork still surprisingly quick and efficient, but it does little else to make Lena believe this fight is going to end in her favor.

Lena does everything Kara told her to, replaying her advice over and over in her head, her forearms blocking until they ache from holding them up and a feeble fist flying outwards at every opportunity, but the woman, Siobhan, had her beat before they even stepped into the mat.

Everyone in the basement knows it, all of them just waiting for Lena to lose— her battered ego the main injury no matter how many bruises color her skin in the morning.

Kara yells advice from somewhere behind Lena, her voice sharply cutting through the rumble of the crowd, but Lena doesn’t know what half of it even means. It’s pointless, a confused Lena stuck in an awkward dance of avoidance until beads of sweat drip from her hairline. It burns her eyes and leaves her feeling gross, aware of the hairs that have sprung loose from her ponytail to cling against her forehead.

“Billy Adams!” Andrea yells out. Lena can’t see them, can’t risk taking her eyes off of Siobhan for even a second, but a smile flickers across her face as she imagines the confusion of the crowd. Siobhan scoffs, laughing obnoxiously as she signals for Andrea to be quiet, her grin soon lost when Lena’s foot harshly connects with her shin.

Siobhan lets out a yell that has the crowd laughing, a few extra people cheering for Lena as they grin to themselves. It boosts her adrenaline, gifts Lena with just enough confidence and belief to stumble across the mat and push Siobhan to the floor.

It’s a childish move, one that people would expect to see on a playground, but it allows Lena an opportunity to take advantage.

Lena climbs on top of her and pins Siobhan’s hands above her head, clueless as to what she should do next, but appreciating the breather that her quick thinking has offered her. Lena ignores the salacious comments from Andrea, blinking the sweat from her eyes as she pins Siobhan in place.

“Finish her!” Someone in the crowd sounds exasperated and it takes Lena a few seconds to realize that the voice belongs to Kara. She glances over her shoulder to meet expressive blue eyes, frowning as Kara jerks her head towards Siobhan with a meaningful stare. “Just like we talked about!” Kara yells over the crowd, “you have the advantage— use it.”

Lena wrinkles her nose and turns her gaze back down to the woman helplessly trapped beneath her, a furious woman who is currently promising to rip Lena’s head from her shoulders— charming.

She knows what is expected of her, that even kind Kara wants her to lash out and hurt Siobhan, but Lena isn’t at all sure that she can do it. It’s so…. aggressive, dirty, and whilst it wouldn’t be the first time Lena has punched someone, bringing herself to do it right now feels impossible. 

In fact, if Siobhan didn’t choose this exact moment to rip one of her hands free— a searing pain shooting through Lena’s boob a split second later— Lena is convinced she would have rolled off of her and let the fuming woman win. 

Instead, her hand pulls back, her fist cracking painfully against the mat when Siobhan quickly pulls her head out of the way. They roll, Siobhan suddenly on top and sneering down at her, gloating obnoxiously as she mockingly slaps Lena’s cheek. She sees red, anger taking over as her forehead connects with Siobhan’s face with a sickening smack.

Blood pours from Siobhan’s nose as she slumps backwards, a dazed Lena watching as the crowd erupts into cheers. She’s hauled to her feet by two sets of hands, swaying slightly on her feet as Andrea and Kara hold her weight. They congratulate her, Andrea smug and Kara proud, but Lena would be lying to herself if she said she had a single fucking clue about what just happened.

All she knows is that her head hurts and her borrowed clothes are now stained with someone else’s blood.

“That was amazing ,” Andrea breathes out. “Where the fuck did that even come from?!” She cackles, “sweet, innocent Lena, huh?” Lena frowns, squinting against the bright lights of the bathroom as ends up in there for the third time tonight. Gentle hands push her shoulders until Lena is sitting down on the toilet, Kara kneeling down to face her with a smile that can only be described as endeared.

“You were only supposed to hurt her, not yourself,” Kara teases. Lena blushes, unable to meet the concerned gaze any longer and choosing to focus on her feet. She curls her toes into the floor, wincing at the pain that shoots through two of them, a result of the kick to Siobhan’s shin.

“Perhaps you should help Lena to refine her skills,” Andrea murmurs with a smirk, handing Lena a bottle of water that she’d found whilst rummaging in Kara’s bag.

“I could definitely train her,” Kara nods, oblivious to the less-than-subtle hint from the best friend that Lena desperately wishes would stop fucking talking. “There’s a gym on fourth that I go to on weekends, and one I go to in the city after work sometimes. A little practice before next time couldn’t hurt.” She glances back at Lena, “you are coming back, right? You did great out there!”

“Uhh…”

“She’ll be here,” Andrea cuts in with a fierce nod. She slaps a wet paper towel to Lena’s forehead, “can you imagine what this little whirlwind could do if she actually knows what she’s doing?”

“I mean, sure, but only if Lena wants to come back,” Kara firmly rebukes. Lena thinks she could kiss her for that, hell, maybe she should just kiss her anyway. Run her hands down those abs and— “Lena? Are you doing okay?” Those pretty blue eyes are gazing down at her again, Lena’s cheeks burning rouge as she finally allows herself to meet them.

“I’m good. I just— well, my head is more than aware that I just used it as a weapon, but I’m good,” Lena nods. “Gimme a minute and I can head back out there.”

“Are you sure? We could always have Kara carry you to the car if you need help.” Andrea’s eyes shine with amusement, her eyebrows wiggling suggestively. “I’m sure our resident pretty beefcake is more than willing to… help you out.”

“I’ll be fine if you just shut the hell up for a second,” Lena grumbles, preparing to shrug the warm hand from her shoulder until she realizes it belongs to Kara. “I’m fine,” she promises. “I think I just dazed myself for a second.”

“I think you dazed Siobhan, too,” Kara states with a gentle smile. “I’m gonna be hearing her whine about it for days . I may have to ask my boss to separate our desks for a while.” She pats Lena’s shoulder and glances towards the bathroom door as a cheer rings out from behind it, “if you’re good, I’m gonna head back out there, but think about what I said. I would be more than happy to teach you how to fight.” 

She shoots Lena another perfect smile before she heads for the day, having to squeeze past a smirking Andrea as she does so. "Oh, before I forget, who's Billy Adams?" Kara pauses in the doorway with a tilted head and a bemused grin.

"A boy from the boarding school down the block from hours," Lena states. "He grabbed my ass once and I just…. reacted." She pulls a face, her nose wrinkling as another blinding smile is sent in her direction.

“Well, I guess there’s something there to work with, huh?” Kara chuckles, “I’ll see you out there.”

“I bet there are many things she could teach you,” Andrea states, staring wistfully at the swinging bathroom door. “What I wouldn’t give for someone like Kara to throw me around for a couple of nights. I can’t believe you’re not just diving into those beautiful beefy arms. Maybe she could kiss your sore boob better, ‘cause I know that bitch tweaked your nipple.”

“Shut up.” Lena glares at her and throws the wet paper towel at her head, “Kara is just being nice, I very much doubt that she likes me in that way.”

===

Kara sighs as she throws the last of their things into the trunk of Alex’s car, wincing as she aggravates her lovely new shoulder injury. She can feel her sister’s eyes on her the whole time, actively avoiding the knowing stare that burns into the back of her head as she slams the trunk closed.

“Tonight was good,” Alex states, her tone careful. “You fought well and I doubt Roulette is gonna angle for a rematch anytime soon.”

“She’s all talk,” Kara chuckles, sliding into the passenger seat of her sister’s car. “Everyone knew she wouldn’t be able to back it up.” She fiddles with the radio while waiting for Alex to join her, noticing Andrea’s little black sports car zipping past them in her periphery. “The newbies were interesting,” Kara says once Alex is behind the wheel, “no-one got seriously hurt, either.”

“You sure seemed particularly interested in the one Andrea brought with her,” Alex notes with a sly grin. “I mean, she’s even wearing your favorite sweatpants.”

“I couldn’t let her fight in what she was wearing,” Kara defends herself just a little too quickly. “Besides, they’re not my favorite pair, they’re just—”

“The ones you wear for every single fight?” Alex grins, her gaze still fixed on the road. “Hey, I’m not judging you, it’s about time that you put yourself out there again, but is fight club really the ideal dating pool? Lena’s pretty and all, but we don’t know a damn thing about her and we never will. That’s the whole point of this club, for us to escape real life for a little while.”

Kara fidgets in her seat and changes the radio station again, well aware of the suspicious glances coming from next to her.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Alex demands, eyes narrowed. “I know you, Kara, and you get all shifty when you’re hiding something. Promise me that tending to her injuries was the only thing you got up to in that bathroom!”

“What?” Kara laughs, “Andrea was in there, too! The second time, anyway, but all I was doing was making sure Lena had something suitable to wear and then double checking she didn’t give herself a concussion with that headbutt.” She sighs and turns in her seat, “even if I was interested, have you seen her? She’s gorgeous and by the look of her clothes, rich as hell. Lena isn’t interested in me.”

“Alright, sure, whatever you say,” Alex smirks. “Although, Andrea was telling everyone that Lena would kick all of our asses after you’ve finished training her, but I’m sure those training sessions are gonna be as innocent as can be, huh?” She side-eyes Kara, “they’re also defeating the whole purpose of the club, by the way, but you’ve never listened to me before so I assume you’re not gonna start now.”

“Smartest thing you’ve said so far.” Kara huffs and turns the radio up, making a point of singing along as loudly as she can to drown out whatever the hell Alex is trying to say next. She pulls down the sun visor and checks herself in the little mirror, relieved that there’s no visible injuries on her face. 

Kara’s boss would straight up murder her if she turned up to the charity luncheon with a shiner similar to the one she sports in her current ID picture. But hey, it makes for a great conversation starter.

“You know,” Alex turns the music down with a scowl, “you may end up having to go up against Lena at one point. Do you really want to teach the opposition how to spar better? It could easily come back and bite you in the ass, and you’ve worked hard to maintain your winning streak.” Alex looks smug, convinced she’s brought out the winning argument, but Kara merely shrugs.

“I’m confident in my own abilities, I don’t have to hinder anyone else to do well.”

“Sure, but you also don’t have to help them.” Alex rolls to a stop at a red light and shoots Kara an incredulous stare, “what happens if you lose because of something you’ve taught her?”

“You mean just like you lost to Kelly?”

“Kelly is in the army , she didn’t need my help,” Alex scoffs. “In fact, if she wasn’t on some peacekeeping mission right now, she would be agreeing with me.”

“No, she wouldn’t,” Kara shakes her head. “Kelly isn’t like you, she isn’t a hypocrite. It’s always one rule for you and another for everyone else, huh? You had to lie to Esme so she didn’t find out her parents met at a fight club , but you’re bitching at me for daring to see another member outside the basement.”

“You don’t talk about Fight Club,” Alex says with a sigh. “First rule, the most important rule, and you’re gonna meet up with a stranger with the sole intention of breaking it.” The traffic lights flash yellow, but Alex still doesn’t move, “I’m just asking you to think carefully about what you’re about to do.”

“Are you telling me that you and Kelly didn’t talk about it on your first date?”

“We definitely didn’t talk about it,” Alex murmurs with a smirk, easing the car forwards again. “We were… busy.”

“Gross.” Kara wrinkles her nose and turns to stare out of the window, rolling her eyes at Roulette flipping them off from the intersection. “You know, I just don’t think it’s that big of a deal. It’s better for us that people at least have some idea of what they’re doing on the mat,” Kara reasons. “We had a lot of explaining to do when Lucy broke her arm and her dad is your damn boss. It almost cost us the whole club!”

“It healed and she came back,” Alex shrugs. “Everyone is an adult and they know what they’re getting into, it’s up to them to be responsible for their own actions. It’s bad enough that you already work with the person Lena fought tonight, maybe it’s just a little much to know too many of them outside the club.”

Annoyingly, Kara knows that Alex is making sense, even if she didn’t follow her own rules in the past, but there’s just something about Lena that draws her to the awkward woman who’d stumbled her way through the entire evening. Perhaps it’s the eyes that are super green, or the good nature that she clearly has in order to deal with Andrea every day, but no matter what it is, Kara needs to find out more— even if there’s zero chance of the woman returning the interest.

===

Lena wiggles her fingers with a wince, her brow wrinkling as she gazes down at the faint bruise that lingers on her knuckles. She’d perhaps feel a little better about it if the injury wasn’t caused by accidentally punching the mat instead of Siobhan, but Andrea has assured her several times that it makes her look extremely badass.

She isn’t sure if she believes her, but Lena appreciates the encouragement all the same, even if the whole thing is Andrea’s fault in the first place.

Lena sighs and forces herself to focus on the files in front of her, more than aware of the shit storm her mother will rain down on her if Lena embarrasses her at the luncheon this afternoon. Apparently not knowing every single detail about their associates will cause the end of the world— God forbid Lena make the grave mistake of not knowing where Morgan Edge’s mother was born.

At least Andrea will be around today— already on her way to Lena’s office, according to the receptionist— and Lena won’t feel quite so alone in the midst of stuffy old money folks who haven’t formed an opinion for themselves since the eighties. There’s only so many times Lena can nod in agreement before she has to run to the safety of the bathroom to unscrew her polite smile.

The fact that Lillian despises Andrea is merely a delicious bonus.

Lena continues her research until her office door is thrown open and Andrea marches in without bothering to knock, her split lip still very much noticeable despite the extensive amount of concealer that does a great job of hiding her shiner.

“Your brother was outside with his latest fling,” Andrea says in lieu of a greeting, slumping herself into the chair opposite Lena with a huff. “He was as charming as ever, of course, and even came close to pronouncing my last name correctly when he introduced me to Eve .” Andrea pulls a face and curses under her breath, something that sounds a whole lot like ‘jackass’.

“Apparently I missed the introductory dinner last night,” Lena sighs, rolling her eyes. “Lillian has been riding my ass all day about it, reminding me of my father’s expectations of me, how he would be rolling in his grave if he could see how distant I’ve become— all the usual bullshit.”

“Your dad would have chosen fight club over a stuffy dinner,” Andrea remarks, her lip curling with disdain at the mere mention of Lillian. “Maybe we should invite Eve next time, see if someone can’t knock some sense into her before she ends up with a ring on her finger.”

“Perhaps for the bachelorette party,” Lena grins.

“Just as long as Eve doesn’t touch your pretty beefcake, huh?” Andrea glances behind her to ensure the door is closed, “have you thought about her offer? Rolling around on the mat with her after hours doesn’t sound like such an awful way to spend your evening, but if you don’t want to, I would be more than happy to take your place.”

“I’m sure you’d be in your element, but, no, I haven’t thought about it.” It’s a lie, Lena hasn’t stopped thinking about it, had even spent an hour or so with her fingers inside her underwear thinking about it this morning, but Andrea is unbearable when she’s right and Lena isn’t in a good enough mood to give her such a gift.

“Whatever you need to tell yourself to get through the day,” Andrea shrugs. “Personally, I’d have ditched work and became best friends with my vibrator just to prepare my stamina for the blonde Adonis.”

“You’re already best friends with your vibrator.” 

“Oooft, that’s mean. I like it.” Andrea stands and straightens her purse strap, “come on, I’ll treat you to some real food before we hit this luncheon thing. No human being can actually survive on the portions they serve and I can not do small talk with an empty stomach.”

Lena groans, dragging her feet as she packs her things into her purse, praying for some kind of emergency that’ll get her out of going in the first place.”

“I should have just let Siobhan kill me last night.”

“It’s not going to be that bad,” Andrea chuckles. She leads Lena to the door and holds it open for her, “you never know, it might actually be fun!”

Chapter Text

Kara scowls and quickly fixes the button she missed on her crisp white shirt, more than aware of the blistering lecture that even the tiniest of mistakes will bring on from Miss Grant this afternoon. Everything needs to be perfect , and that very much includes the two assistants who have been dragged out from behind their desks for the event.

Siobhan had, of course, been furious about the whole thing, and Miss Grant hadn’t reacted much better after spotting the two shiners that frame Siobian’s swollen—potentially broken—nose.

It’s hard, damn near impossible, not to laugh whenever Kara looks at her, plagued by images of Lena almost knocking herself out to win the fight against Siobhan. It was impressive, really, how the woman who’d turned up dressed to the nines and spent most of the evening hiding in the corner had eventually managed to impress the large group.

Kara had absolutely not spent the rest of her evening thinking about the newcomer and how she looked oddly great wearing her clothes.

“Keira, at least pretend that you don’t hate your job for one day please,” Cat snarks as she passes, a frantic whirlwind of expensive perfume and bad hidden anxiety.

“I don’t hate my job.” Kara instantly follows after her, weaving in and out of the many tables that she’d spent hours painstakingly setting up for the luncheon after the temp agency had sent only half of the staff they had promised this morning.

“Then, please, tell your face to mirror that.”

Kara bites back a bitter retort, more than aware by now that Miss Grant is not at all known for her patience and willingness to stand for even a moment of dissent. Instead, she grinds her teeth and dutifully remains one step behind her boss, taking note of the many issues that Miss Grant seems to find in the function room. 

“I don’t think you or Mike Tyson over there are grasping how important this event is to Catco,” Miss Grant scolds, her eyes wide and almost manic behind black rimmed glasses. “Everyone from Luthorcorp to Obsidian North are sending representatives today, Kiera. Everyone in National City will know about it if this event goes badly, and I do not wish to hear false sympathy from Lillian Luthor again— even my pride can’t recover from that a second time.”

“I assure you I’m taking it very seriously, Miss Grant,” Kara promises, mildly hanging Siobhan out to dry after a full morning of glares from the second assistant.

“Words mean nothing, Kiera. Show me.” Cat throws one last stern glance over her shoulder as she stalks away, her high heels clacking obnoxiously long after she is out of sight.

Kara sighs and walks around the function room again, eye peeled for a slightly askew piece of cutlery or—gasp—a smudged glass. It seems perfect, as it should be after they’d spent so damn long preparing, and she sneaks out for a little fresh air before the guests begin to arrive.

It’s annoyingly humid outside, the breeze too warm to offer any relief whatsoever, but at least Kara has a brief reprieve from Siobhan’s filthy looks. It’s not her fault that she got her ass kicked by a newbie in designer clothing.

She leans against the wall and blows out a breath, desperate to take off the fancy dress shoes that Cat had bought and sent to her apartment just for today. Kara highly doubts that anyone will be looking at her at all, never mind her damn shoes, but Cat Grant with a bee in her bonnet is nobody’s friend and everybody’s enemy.

It’s best to just do as she says at all times.

Grabbing her phone from her pocket—which Cat would murder her for having on her person during the event—Kara shoots Alex a text about the next fight club meeting, feeling restless and ready to let off some steam.

It’s definitely about that and absolutely has nothing to do with the prettiest new member of the club, but, of course, Alex’s response is about Lena, thrilled to have a new excuse to tease her baby sister.

Kara rolls her eyes and scoffs, slipping her phone back into her pocket as she wonders why she bothers sometimes. She’s just about to head back inside when the first guests roll up. Well, they jerk to stumbling halt, an old Mustang dying directly outside the main entrance, the Universe’s way of giving Cat Grant the middle finger, she assumes.

She watches as two women get out of the car, one much more vocal than the other, and Kara’s stomach flutters when she recognizes them. Andrea, loud and irate as she climbs out of the passenger side, and Lena, red faced and embarrassed as she moves around to the front of the car.

When Lena gingerly pops the hood, it’s clear she doesn’t have a single clue about how cars, and their engines, work.

Andrea—unsurprisingly—doesn’t seem to be much help at all, much more content to bug Lena about an argument they must have started on the drive over here. The staff from the temp agency watch on cluelessly, and Siobhan doesn’t even step outside. Lord knows that Cat Grant would never risk her manicure to help, and Kara softly curses when she realizes she’s the only one left to help them.

She really would have preferred her next meeting with Lena to be at the gym, where Kara is in her element, but she isn’t one to turn down a cry for help.

==

“I told you we should have just taken my car,” Andrea grumbles. "Look, it’s a nice looking car and I know it’s special, but you really have to just let it retire in the garage and buy yourself another car,” she sighs. “It’s not like you can’t afford one, Lena.”

“I know, I know,” Lena shoos Andrea away with her hand and stares down at the engine, perhaps the only thing she didn’t bother to learn about during school. “I think it’s just hot?” Lena glances up at an unimpressed Andrea, “you know engineering, right?”

“If you want me to help you develop a new material or fly you to the moon, I’m probably your girl,” Andrea shrugs, “but all I know about cars is how to put gas in it and flirt my way out of a ticket.”

Lena groans and gazes back down at the car, sensing someone approaching her from the left. Great, most likely one of Cat Grant’s burly bodyguards sent out here to chase away the people leaving a metal mess out front of her event. She forces her most polite and professional smile to her lips—one that feels much more like a grimace—and looks up to see the not so burly, but still delightfully handsome, Kara.

“Oh! You, uh, I wasn’t expecting to see you here!” Lena internally cringes, “sorry, that probably sounded a little rude, that wasn’t my intention.”

“You’re fine,” Kara chuckles. “Attending you-know-what is only my hobby, running around after Cat Grant is my day job.” Kara glances over her shoulder, “Siobhan is also here, by the way, and I think it’s safe to say she isn’t your biggest fan.” She nods at Andrea, “hi, trouble.”

“Are you here to be our knight in shining armor, Miss Adonis?” Andrea bats her eyelashes excessively, “because, you know, I am feeling a little faint all of a sudden.” 

Lena watches as Andrea gives Kara an exaggerated onceover, clearly enjoying the pretty white shirt that clings to beautifully beefy biceps.

“You’re just always on , huh?” Kara grins, shaking her head in amusement as she switches her attention back to Lena. “Listen, I’m no expert, but I know a little about cars, which, by the looks of things, is still more than you,” she grimaces apologetically. “You wanna let me take a look?”

“Yes, please!” Lena nods eagerly, almost straining her eyeballs as she fights against the urge to check Kara out. They watch each other for a long moment, Kara giving her a rather expectant look which confuses Lena until she realizes she’s still blocking the front of the car with her body. 

“Oh, sorry,” Lena blushes and steps aside, adamantly ignoring the grinning peanut gallery formerly known as her best friend.

Lena watches with flushed cheeks as Kara pops the hood and rolls the sleeves of her shirt up to her elbows, reduced to drooling over muscled forearms whilst in the midst of the worst dry spell of her life.

It’s unfair for one person to have so many talents, as well as looking like that , and Lena is mortified at the prospect of her panties being ruined by oil stained hands and forearms. She doesn’t dare to even glance in Andrea’s direction, already aware of her amusement by the downright gleeful grin on her lips.

“When was the last time you changed your oil?”

It takes Lena a few seconds to realize that Kara is talking, that she’s supposed to be able to answer the question that makes zero sense to her.

“My—my what?” Lena tears her gaze from Kara’s arms, mortified by the knowing glint in blue eyes.

“Your oil,” Kara chuckles. “I guess I have my answer.” She grins and beckons Lena closer, “I usually change mine every six months at least ‘cause otherwise your engine is burning gross oil and it can kill your engine. You haven’t noticed any issues with the car until now?”

Lena grimaces, more than aware of the heated blush that stains her cheeks despite the cool breeze.

“It was my father’s car and I don’t—I’m usually being driven around,” Lena murmurs, hating the way that must sound to someone who isn’t a trust fund baby. To her credit, Kara doesn’t seem to judge her, merely taking the explanation at face value as she plants her hands on her hips and blows her face from her oil streaked face.

Lena has absolutely no idea how she’s made such a mess of herself in such a short space of time.

“Well, it looks like you’re gonna have to get used to your town car for a little bit,” Kara says, wincing apologetically. “Do you have a good mechanic? I know a good one downtown who’ll help you out pretty quickly if you tell him I sent you.” Kara glances down at the oil stains she’s left on her shirt, “crap! I’d take you there myself, but it seems I have an appointment with Miss Grant’s bad books.”

“Yeah, that’s uh…” Lena groans, “I’m sorry, Kara. Feel free to tell Cat it’s my fault, I know her quite well and I’ll tell her you were going above and beyond to help.”

“No, that’s—”

“She’s three seconds away from dropping down to her knees and begging for your forgiveness,” Andrea cuts Kara off. “You should probably just let her take the blame. It was her ancient car’s fault, anyway.” She pauses, her smirk as salacious as ever, “unless you want her to drop down to—”

“Andrea!”

“Sorry, sorry.” Andrea holds her hands up, but doesn’t look sorry in the least, her green-blue eyes shining with amusement when they briefly meet Lena’s before switching back to Kara, “you should go on inside and find something to wear before Cat catches you looking all hot and oily. Lena and I can call the mechanic from here.”

“But,” Kara frowns, “Miss Grant will freak if you leave this out front for too long.”

“I know,” Andrea grins, relishing the opportunity to ruffle some feathers. “Go on now, Muscles, we need you to leave so we can talk about you.” Lena has just about had enough of her best friend’s antics when Andrea decides to open her big mouth again. “You know, now that I’m thinking about it, you said you’d help Lena train, right?”

“Yeah, of course!” Kara nods, “I’d be more than happy to.”

Lena might be wrong—and she very much has been in the past—but she could swear that Kara seems just as eager to see her again as Lena is to see her. “You wanna give me your number?” Kara asks and Lena’s brain short circuits. “I mean, ah, shit, that sounded… I’m—”

“Here!” Andrea interrupts again, brandishing one of Lena’s business cards that she must have stolen from her desk. “Just give Lena a call and I’m sure she’d be more than happy to arrange a…. date.” She smiles coyly, “just to train, of course.”

“Of course.” Kara blushes a bright pink and struggles to make eye contact with either of them, “I, uh, if you’re sure you don’t need help….?”

“We’re all good here, honey,” Andrea smiles, sickenly sweet.

It’s enough to send Kara rushing away, the tips of her ears a vivid red with embarrassment that can no doubt be sent from space. “Lena will be waiting on your call!” Andrea yells after her, shameless as ever despite the slap to her shoulder from Lena. “What? If you’re not going to make an effort to get yourself laid, then it’s my duty to make it happen on your behalf.”

“I don’t—I, no, that—”

“If you’re gonna pretend that you’re not desperately praying for Blonde Adonis to dick you down, then at least wipe the drool from your chin.”

“Jesus Christ, Andrea!” Lena covers her face with her hand, “can you act like a civilized human being for at least three seconds.” She groans loudly, “we still have to go in there, you know, and she is gonna be in there, too, and oh my god , Lillian is invited to this, isn’t she?” Lena stares at Andrea in horror, “this is going to be absolutely mortifying, I hope you know that.”

“Oh, I do,” Andrea grins, “sure seems like it’s gonna be a fun afternoon, after all, huh?”

Chapter Text

Talking to Cat had made no difference, the older women merely irate at the thought of one of her guests deciding they needed to apologize on behalf of one of her employees. She’d been graceful about it all to Lena’s face, of course, even going as far as to thank her for coming to her, but Kara appears to be bearing the brunt of her fury despite the intervention.

Lena watches with a grimace as Kara is berated in the hallway, her boss thrusting a clean shirt into her chest and frowning so deeply that Lena considers it a miracle that Cat has aged so well.

She feels awful about Kara getting into trouble for helping her, wishes she had just called a damn mechanic and sent her newfound friend back to do her job, but, really, Kara could have offered to drop-kick her and Lena would have said yes if it meant getting to spend extra time with her. 

Something that, unfortunately, a downright gleeful Andrea has easily noticed.

“I’m gonna talk to Cat again.”

“No, you’re not,” Andrea chuckles from beside her, sipping champagne from her flute.“Do you really think going over there to correct Cat Grant is going to make this any easier on Blonde Beefcake?”

“No,” Lena sighs. 

Andrea is right—Lena hates when that happens—and she has to look away to stop the guilt from tearing her apart. Kara had only been trying to help, too nice for her own good, and now she’s stuck being lectured in a harshly whispered tone by the one person in the room who seems to even scare Andrea.

“She’s a big girl,” Andrea shrugs, “and I’m sure she’s more than used to Cat Grant by now. I heard Cat call her Kiera earlier and she didn’t even flinch.” She pulls a face, red painted lips twisting into a frown, “even your mother doesn’t do that to her employees.”

“Probably because Lillian knows she’s holding on to most of them by the skin of her teeth.” Lena smiles politely as an associate passes them, internally cringing when she recognizes them as someone who spends most of their day with their lips attached to Lillian Luthor’s behind. Well aware of her shitty luck, Lena prepares herself for the backlash that will follow the overheard conversation.

“She’s managed to keep you around,” Andrea retorts, “but only God knows why you’d stay and put up with her. You could so easily go out on your own and put Luthorcorp to shame.”

“You make it sound so easy,” Lena murmurs dryly, wincing at the taste of champagne.

She’d much prefer scotch, but Lillian always seems to take issue with her doing so in public—something about it not being ladylike. Lena sighs and turns her attention back to the hallway, watching as Kara steps out of a closet while fastening the buttons of her new shirt.

It’s unfortunate—or perhaps not—that the replacement shirt seems to be a touch too small for Kara, the sleeves clinging to her biceps in a way that Lena wishes she could.

“Jesus Christ,” Andrea breathes out from beside her, nudging Lena in the ribs. “ How have you not already climbed her like a tree?”

“Because I’m a grown woman with self control,” Lena snarks, albeit while still staring at Kara. Lena watches her grab a tray of drinks and move around the function room, praying that she doesn’t approach them until she’s cooled the growing blush on her cheeks. It really is unfair that she’s expected to be in the same room as Kara without losing her damn mind.

“Sure, but look at her,” Andrea sighs wistfully. “I’d already be doing kegels if she was offering me private training sessions.” She glances at Lena with narrowed eyes, “what are you gonna wear?”

“What?” Lena’s brows furrow, “we don’t even have a session scheduled yet.”

“Yeah, but you need to be prepared ,” Andrea rolls her eyes. “You and I are going shopping after this. No best friend of mine is going to a training session with a handsome beefcake dressed in that oversized t-shirt that you insist on wearing to yoga.”

“It’s comfortable !” 

“So is lying on your back while a handsome girl rails you all night.”

Andrea swans off in the direction of someone she knows, leaving a red-faced Lena behind to process the image that Andrea’s delightful description had forced into her mind.

She doesn’t hate it.

“Are you doing okay over here?” Lena startles when Kara appears beside her and offers her a drink from the tray, suddenly realizing the motives behind Andrea’s hasty retreat. She swallows thickly, tearing her gaze from rippling biceps and forcing herself to make eye contact. Those pretty blue eyes don’t really help to keep her thud-thudding heart under control, though.

“I’m good,” Lena nods. “Just not really into all of… this.” She vaguely gestures around the room, her other hand automatically accepting a fresh glass of champagne.

“Then why did you come?”

Lena smiles gently at Kara, almost relieved when she finds genuine confusion on handsome features. It means this industry hasn't quite destroyed her yet, hasn’t stolen the optimism and innocence that would be annoying from anyone else.

“Well,” she murmurs, “ nobody in here actually wanted to attend. Not really ,” Lena shrugs lightly. “It’s all about networking and kissing asses, and making sure your boss doesn’t hate us all enough to ruin us in the next edition of Catco magazine.” She smiles wryly and sips the disgusting champagne, “my mother would have my head if I pissed off Cat Grant by declining her invitation.”

“That’s… not great,” Kara frowns, an endearing crinkle forming between blonde brows.

“But you didn’t hear that from me,” Lena chuckles, somewhat proud of herself for being able to hold a conversation with Kara while her body seems to be making a solid effort to burst out of that white shirt.

She glances down at the rolled up sleeves and spots a streak of oil that Kara had missed while cleaning up. “You missed a spot,” Lena states, gesturing towards the stain. “Cat will probably have an aneurysm if she sees it and it looks like she’s already put you through the ringer this afternoon.” She smiles apologetically, “I’m sorry you got in trouble for helping us. We really did appreciate it.”

“Cat’s always yelling at me for something.” Kara sets the tray down on a nearby table and waves her off, “if it wasn’t for that, it’d just be for something else.”

Lena frowns at the thought of Kara being mistreated at work, but she loses her train of thought when Kara lifts her thumbs to her lips and the tip of a pink tongue pokes out. She watches as Kara scrubs at the oil on her arm with the pad of her thumb, heat building in her face—and somewhere a little lower—and her mouth suddenly dryer than the Sahara.

“I, uh, I should probably go find Andrea,” Lena murmurs, gaze fixed on Kara’s forearm.

“That’s a good idea,” Kara nods, seemingly unaware of the effect she’s having on Lena. “You’ll be rescuing whoever she’s found to accost,” she grins.

Lena scarpers with no more than a forced smile, unable to even look at Kara without her train of thought heading straight to Smutsville. She instantly regrets her escape, though, when Lena finds Andrea talking to none other than Lillian Luthor.

The conversation between them is strained, as always, and it seems it’s actually Andrea who is badly in need of being rescued for once.

“Really, Lena, talking to the help ?” Lillian skips straight passed a greeting, giving Lena a onceover with her cold eyes. She purses her lips, “I see that you’ve made some effort this time around, but all of that is pointless if you’re only going to speak to the waitress.” Her gaze flicks briefly back to Andrea, her disdain badly disguised, “you’re here to meet new people. To find new investors for Luthorcorp.”

“And that’s why I’m here, Mother,” Lena nods, the smile on her lips much more akin to a grimace. “Kara actually works for Catco and is merely helping out today. Don’t you always tell me that it’s worth being kind to the journalists who will be writing about us?”

It seems to be enough for Lillian— just —and she purses her lips in defeat.

“Maybe next time you can speak to the one who isn’t serving our drinks,” Lillian murmurs, sighing as she drinks her champagne. “Or at least tell her to break out something a little better than this instead of the swill Cat Grant is intent on serving to us.” She spots Cat across the room and her face instantly changes, a faux smile stretching her lips as she ignores her daughter and Andrea in favor of the CEO.

“That smile creeps me out,” Andrea grumbles as soon as Lillian is out of earshot. “I was on my way to talk to the cute barmaid when she grabbed me and started complaining about the oeur d'oeuvres.”

“It wouldn’t be my mother if she wasn’t irate about something,” Lena sighs. “I’d have stayed where I was if I’d known who you were talking to.”

“Why didn’t you stay and talk to Blonde Adonis?” Andrea narrows her eyes, “she’s not gonna dick you down if you keep being weird around her, Lena.”

Lena hushes her sharply and frantically looks around for Kara to ensure she didn’t hear.

“You can’t keep saying things like that,” she admonishes. “It’s hard enough to think straight around her without you going all fifty shades of gray everytime you open your damn mouth.”

“Tell me you haven’t read it without telling me you haven’t read it,” Andrea sing-songs with a grin, tipping the rest of her champagne into her mouth. “Hmm,” she swallows, “you’re not missing anything, though. I’d give it three stars at most, but the movies are pretty funny.” Andrea glances around the room and frowns, “looks like your girl has gone on break. Maybe you should keep her company.”

“She’s not my girl!”

“But you want her to be.” Andrea points towards the door with her empty flute, “and it’s gonna drive you crazy if you don’t say anything to her about it.” She winces, “even if she says no, it’s better to find out now instead of in the middle of your training sessions.”

“You think she’ll say no?” Lena turns to her in horror, eyes wide.

What the Hell? She’d just accepted that she has a thing for her and then Andrea has to go and say something like that? No, no way. There is no chance that Lena is gonna say something now.

“No,” Andrea murmurs, interrupting Lena’s internal panic before it can pick up too much momentum. “I think she’ll say yes, and I think you would have so much fun with her, but, honestly? I don’t know how to give someone who looks like you a pep talk.” She frowns, “do you really not see how much of a catch you are, Lena? Brains as well as that ass? Man, Kara won’t know what’s hit her.”

Lena doesn’t have a single response lined up for that unexpected pep talk.

Andrea’s her best friend, someone who has always had her back, but those sort of comments only ever come from drunken lips as Andrea weeps after too much scotch.

“Also, I will personally fight you at our next meeting of the thing we don’t talk about if you don’t march that sweet tushie over there and talk to her,” Andrea bluntly states, apparently done with the pleasantries for now. “And you know that I fight dirty.”

Lena rolls her eyes, but drains her champagne flute for some liquid courage before handing Andrea her empty glass and turning on her heel, ignoring the atta girl that Andrea calls across the room.

She heads straight for the hallway and searches for Kara, refusing to slow down for even a single second out of fear that she’ll lose her nerve. Lena doesn’t date. Not anymore. People are hard and relationships even harder, but she’d be lying to herself if she said Kara hadn’t left an impression on her, and maybe, just maybe this bridge can hold some weight.

“Are you hiding, too?”

“Holy fuck.”

Lena’s hand flies to her chest, all but breaking into a sweat as Kara peers out of the closet door.

“Sorry,” Kara chuckles, not looking at all sorry in the slightest. “I thought you saw me, but I guess you were in a little world of your own, huh?” She swings the closet door a little wider open, “welcome to my safe place. The last time I checked, there were no overbearing bosses or mothers in here.” Kara winks, “I usually ask for a password, but I can make an exception for you.”

Lena falters and glances back towards the function room, not at all surprised to find Andrea watching them and making somewhat aggressive gestures towards her in encouragement.

“You’re just hiding in the closet?” Lena asks, unable to keep the smile from her face.

“Make fun of it all you want, but it allows me to escape for a little while,” Kara shrugs. “Besides, your mother is on her way here and I won’t let you inside if you’re not gonna be nice.”

“I’m coming in!” Lena squeezes past her, ignoring the way Kara’s chest presses close to her spine. There’s very little Lena won’t do in order to escape a confrontation with Lillian Luthor—even once resorting to hiding in her own closet to avoid her as a child.

Kara pulls the door closed and Lena blows out the breath she didn’t even realize she was holding. A bare bulb shines brightly above them, and it’s only then that Lena notices Kara’s unbuttoned shirt, the tank top underneath clinging to abs that should be illegal. 

Lena fully understands the ridiculousness—and the irony—of hiding in the closet with a partly undressed Kara and she’s almost dreading the moment when she has to leave.

Andrea will have a fucking field day.

“Do you want some food?” Kara asks her, rooting around inside her backpack. “I always bring snacks with me when Cat forces us to help out like this, plus it means Siobhan won’t get any of my cookies if you have them,” she adds, grinning that annoyingly charming, crooked grin once more.

“Siobhan?” Lena balks. “She’s here, too?!”

“She is,” Kara nods, “and she’s sporting some beautiful bruises thanks to your forehead.” Kara laughs and perches on top of an upturned box, “Cat was furious with her. If only she knew who was responsible….” She pauses when she notices the sheer horror in Lena’s eyes, “relax. We’re not allowed to talk about it, remember? Nobody will ever know it was you.”

“Are you su—”

“Wait!” Kara hushes her and reaches up to turn the bulb off when they hear voices outside the closet door. Lena flinches when Lillian’s cold tone is heard through the door, her mother asking someone if they have seen her, and she can only pray that she won’t be caught hiding inside a closet. She would never live that down and Lena is already viewed as the embarrassment of the family.

Lena attempts to step further from the door, prepared to hide in the back of the dark closet should her mother open it, but her foot catches on a box and sends her flying backwards.

She’s caught in strong arms, Kara’s large hands resting on Lena’s stomach as she helps her to maintain her balance with a hushed giggle. “You’re gonna get both of us in trouble,” Kara whispers, her lips agonizingly close to Lena’s ear.

One arm remains slung around Lena’s waist as they wait for it to grow quiet outside, the closet so quiet that Lena is convinced Kara must be able to hear her hammering heart. She swallows hard, growing warmer pressed against that solid body, her panties at risk of being stained if they don’t separate soon, yet Lena can’t quite bring herself to move.

“Alright, I think we’re good,” Kara murmurs. 

She reaches above them to turn the light back on, her cheeks flushed pink as she gazes down at Lena. It seems to take Kara a few seconds to realize she’s still holding on to her, but even then she doesn’t let go, their gazes locked on each other. Lena’s stomach swoops, that annoying little coiling, tightening feeling behind her bellybutton making an appearance and not for the first time since she met Kara.

“You are…” Kara clears her throat, “you have beautiful eyes.”

“So do you.”

Lena cringes, wishing she could find the words to tell Kara just how drop dead gorgeous she finds her, but even if she did somehow locate them, they would soon be stolen from her mouth by Kara’s lips. It starts off slow, gentle, a shocked gasp followed by Kara pulling away, as though worried Lena doesn’t want this, but long fingers soon curl into the small of her muscled back and pull her closer.

They kiss until Lena’s lungs ache, only breaking apart when the air between them becomes too warm to bear—the threat of something further lingering in the air.

“Sorry,” Kara whispers, “I’ve just wanted to do that all afternoon and I—”

“Don’t be sorry,” Lena cuts her off, a little too eager as she catches her breath. “It’s just… If my mother caught us, well, it wouldn’t be great .”

Kara nods, her features suddenly somber, blue eyes losing a little of their shine.

“It’s okay,” she whispers. “I get it. Family is…. hard.”

“Yeah.” Lena sighs and stares down at her feet, “but maybe we could hang out sometime? Alone, I mean. Well, not like that, but dinner or someth—”

“Absolutely.”

“Wait, really?” Lena’s gaze flicks upwards in shock, a little relieved that Kara stifled her rambling.

“Of course,” Kara grins, surprised that Lena would even doubt her interest. “But, I get to pick the restaurant. Some of us aren’t billionaires and I’m a gentlewoman—I like to pay when I take a lady out to dinner.” She winks, “I’ll even open the door for you and pull your chair out.”

Lena nibbles her lower lip, unsure of how she feels about being the one to be treated to dinner instead of the one to offer it. 

Sure, Andrea sometimes pays, but that’s not the same.

“I will pay for the second one then,” Lena states, wrinkling her nose when she realizes how presumptuous that may seem. “Or, you know, if there is… I don’t want to assume.” She glances back at Kara to find an endeared smile on her lips, blue eyes shining with amusement. “I’m just gonna stop talking now,” Lena winces.

“As much as you are adorable when you’re flustered, try not to worry so much,” Kara murmurs kindly. “I like you and it seems that you like me, too. That’s really all we need right now, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Lena blushes and ducks her head, “yeah, I guess you’re right.”

Her gaze zones in on Kara’s lips as soon as she lifts her head, noticing how soft they look, puffy from fervent kissing and tainted with a crimson red lipstick that doesn’t belong to her.

“If you keep looking at me like that….” Kara trails off with a grin.

“Oh! Right, yeah,” Lena chuckles. As much as she wants to kiss her again, Kara is right, if they start again now it could so easily lead to something more and this is not the place.

“Cat will be looking for me by now,” Kara says with regret, her hands suspiciously trembling as she attempts to fasten her shirt. “And Andrea is probably drinking the bar dry by now,” she jokes. “And that isn’t good for anyone.”

Kara is still wearing Lena’s lipstick as they stumble out of the closet, a button missed on her shirt and a somewhat dazed smile on her face. There’s no possible way they can deny what happened, not to an eagle-eyed Andrea who seems to appear out of nowhere to catch them in the act, but Lena refuses to give her friend the satisfaction of hearing her admit it.

“So, uh, I’ll give you a call,” Kara says, her gaze actively avoiding Andrea’s as she hastily fixes her button. “Set up that training session.”

“Training session… yeah, that’s—that sounds good,” Lena nods, more than aware that her cheeks must be glowing by now as she longs to fan the heat from them. She watches as Kara grabs her tray of drinks and rushes back to the function room, almost able to feel Andrea’s shit-eating grin as her gaze bores into the side of Lena’s head.

“Well then,” Andrea says, “I guess she—”

“No,” Lena cuts her off and places her hand across Andrea’s mouth. “That’s quite enough out of you, thank you very much. Otherwise I will take you up on that fight, and I can fight just as dirty as you.” She raises one brow, “are you going to behave yourself if I remove my hand?”

Andrea merely shrugs, her eyes shining with amusement as she licks Lena’s hand.

Chapter Text

Lena likes to tell herself that there are very few things that phase her, but right now, as she struggles against the urge to stare at Kara’s abs, she thinks this might just be her downfall.

They haven’t even discussed their kiss in the closet a few days ago, but perhaps it’s because Lena has avoided any conversation that hasn’t been directly about their training session. It was out of character for her, Lena not at all someone who would make out with someone she barely knows. Hell, she hasn’t made out with anyone lately, and she has no idea what she’s supposed to do now.

It’s why she has spent so long just warming up, forcing herself to jog around the indoor track until the lungs and limbs scream at her and beg for a break. The small weights clutched in her hands are probably overkill, but Lena has been worked up for days , a livewire with no suitable outlet.

The pent up energy has to go somewhere.

So, she runs.

She runs for as long as she can, turning her warm-up into a full blown cardio session, until sweat trickles down her back and causes her t-shirt to uncomfortably stick to her; until Kara calls after her with concern and a slightly amused expression.

Lena stops, stooped over with her hands on her knees and gasps for air, watching as Nike sneakers move closer to her and come to a stop only a few inches away.

“I don’t wanna tell you what to do, but I think you’ll regret it if you try and do too much too soon,” Kara murmurs, handing Lena a towel and a bottle of water. “You have to ease yourself into it, work yourself up to longer, more intense exercises, otherwise you’ll be walking like John Wayne for the rest of the week.”

Lena huffs out a breathless chuckle and forces herself to straighten up.

“I guess I got a little carried away,” she admits, “but it felt good.” Lena meets Kara’s gaze and has to instantly look away, her eyes giving the pretty beefcake a quick once over that she quickly regrets.

The gray sweatpants that sit low on Kara’s hips, the white sports bra that leaves her washboard abs available for ogling, the soft blonde hair that falls from it’s ponytail to tickle strong shoulders; it’s all too much for the one who has only had her vibrator for company in recent years.

She looks away, focuses on the small weights in her hands, promising herself that the sweat gathering across her brow is purely from the exercise and absolutely not due to anything else.

It’s not that she’s beyond turned on, nurturing a white hot furnace between her thighs. Lena isn’t dying inside, her mind warped with images of Kara on top of her, long fingers slipping through slick flesh, teasing her and entering her at a pace slow enough to be considered torture. She isn’t praying for Kara to pull her into another closet and kiss her soundly, strong, muscled arms holding her close.

Nope.

Definitely not.

“Are you doing okay?” Lena’s head whips around so quickly that she briefly wonders if she has given herself whiplash. Kara’s handsome features are wrinkled in concern, “you look a little…. Well, red. Do you wanna take a break? I’ll treat you to something from the vending machines.”

Kara grins that annoyingly lovely, crooked grin once more and Lena’s knees buckle.

She’s a goner.

Well and truly fucked.

“Su—sure,” Lena nods, cringing when her response slips out as an embarrassingly strangled whimper.

If Kara thinks she’s being weird, then she at least hides it well, that perfect smile still on her lips as she leads Lena out of the track room and into the main part of the gym. Lena looks around, feeling entirely self conscious as she looks around at bulging muscles and insanely fit gym goers, utterly missing the myriad of different body types around the room in her haste to judge herself for her own inexperience.

“The vending machines are just through here,” Kara calls over her shoulder, peeking backwards to ensure the skittish newcomer is still meekly following close behind.

Lena jogs a little to keep up and joins Kara in the hallway, glancing around at the other doors which lead to bathrooms and changing rooms, somewhat concerned that she’ll get lost in the maze-like building if she and Kara somehow get separated from each other. She blushes at the mere thought of Kara having to come and find her again like a child that gets lost in the grocery store.

That’d probably be more embarrassing than Andrea catching them sneaking out of the closet together at Cat Grant’s fundraiser.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Kara stops in front of a vending machine and taps her card against the reader, automatically buying an extra sports drink for Lena.

“Yeah,” Lena nods a little too eagerly, “I’m just…. This is all pretty new for me.”

“The gym?” Kara asks, handing Lena one of the bottles, “or hanging out with someone after an impromptu game of seven minutes in heaven with them?” She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively, those dangerously pretty eyes gleaming with mischief.

Lena freezes, aware that she must look like a deer caught in the headlights.

The mortification that churns her stomach would almost be enough for her to let the vehicle hit her.

“Relax,” Kara chuckles, “I know what you meant.” She turns to study the contents of the vending machine, her gaze remaining glued to the power bars when she speaks again. “I’ve been thinking about it, too, you know. Our little…. Meeting in the closet, I mean.”

Here it comes.

Lena schools her features to hide her grimace, preparing herself for rejection.

She gets it. Really, she does. They barely know each other, run in entirely different circles, would probably never have even met at all if it weren’t for Andrea’s need to fight away her pent up stress and aggression. Kara clearly thinks it was a mistake; and Lena can’t blame her.

“And I mean a lot ,” Kara continues, finally glancing at Lena again.

“It’s actually all I can think about, which isn’t great because my sister kicked my ass at our sparring session last night.” Kara pauses and frowns, “like, literally, kicked me right in the butt and yelled at me for not paying attention.” She pouts and Lena thinks it may just be the most adorable thing she has ever seen, her heart and stomach fluttering in unison.

“I’m… sorry,” Lena murmurs, “I think? I…. I don’t know what you’re saying to me,” she admits.

“I’m saying,” Kara swallows thickly and, for a second, looks almost as nervous as Lena feels, “that I’m really glad Andrea brought you along to the club.” She huffs out an awkward laugh, “and I also don’t regret what happened in the closet while we were hiding from our respective tormentors. In fact,” Kara shrugs, “I wish we’d actually had a little more time together afterwards. To talk about it, I mean.”

Oh.

Lena’s eyes widen almost comically.

Oh.

“I, uh,” Lena clears her throat, “I see.”

She nibbles her lip, despising the heat that she can feel settle in her cheeks.

“Unless,” Kara falters, “do you regret it? Because I can stop talking, we can just train and I—”

“No!” Lena shakes her head, cringing at how desperately she interrupted. “Sorry, um, no, I don’t regret it. Not at all.” She smiles shyly, her nose wrinkling and her shoulders scrunching up to her ears, “it was… it was nice.”

Nice.

Fucking nice .

Lena rolls her eyes so violently that she wouldn’t have been at all surprised if she somehow caught a glimpse of the inside of her head. There’s a hot, beefy, handsome woman who clearly likes her, and nice is the word Lena’s treacherous mouth settles on? 

Jesus Christ.

“It was more than nice,” Lena amends. “It was, it was great. I really… uh, yeah. I wish we had more time, too.” She grimaces, “although, I think Andrea was around three seconds away from finding us, anyway.”

“Yeah,” Kara grins and tucks stray blonde hairs behind her ear, “okay, so, here me out. I forgot to book the mats today and I was gonna suggest meeting early tomorrow so I can show you a few grappling techniques before the rest of the club arrives.” She tilts her head to one side, blue eyes piercing timid green, “how about we meet even earlier and you let me buy you dinner first?”

“Wait,” Lena grins, “shouldn’t it be the other way ‘round?”

The only person who has bought Lena dinner before is Andrea because, really, who else is going to buy food for a billionaire apart from someone who has an extra billion or two more than the Luthors. It’s not like it’s a competition—well, to Andrea it is—but the idea of someone on a regular salary buying her dinner almost seems ludicrous.

“Has anyone taken you on a date and paid before?” Kara asks, as though reading her mind.

Lena shakes her head and chuckles softly, bashfully running her fingers through her hair.

“Well, that settles it then!” Kara nods seriously, her handsome features determined. “I think it’s a travesty that no-one has done that for you, so, please, allow me to be the first.” Kara steps a little closer, close enough that Lena briefly wonders if she’s about to kiss her again, but instead, she smiles down at Lena with a kindness that Lena isn’t at all used to in her pretty blue eyes.

“What do you say? Dinner?”

Lena captures her bottom lip in her teeth if only to stop a goofy grin from taking over her face.

“Dinner,” she murmurs, “followed by grappling?”

She isn’t at all sure where the sudden confidence has come from. Perhaps Andrea is somewhere out of sight, channeling herself to ensure her best friend can finally have some… fun.

Kara doesn’t react for a second and Lena worries that she has overstepped, that maybe the jokes and innuendos are only funny when they’re coming from someone like Andrea, but then; a heart stoppingly long moment later, Kara laughs.

“Dinner and grappling sounds like my kinda night,” she winks, “but first, I have one important question that I really need to ask before I lose my damn mind.”

Lena swallows hard, her eyes flickering down to Kara’s lips as her tongue darts out to wet her own suddenly dry ones. 

“Go ahead,” she whispers, her fingers curling into her palms to hide how much they’re trembling.

“May I kiss you again?”

Chapter Text

Kara isn’t usually one to feel nervous about dates, especially when she knows how other women—and sometimes men—look at her; how they instantly stare whenever she shows even an inch of flesh. It used to make her uncomfortable, but now, there’s something soothing about the attention that often drives away the old insecurities whenever they make an unwelcome appearance.

She likes that people find her attractive, even if it sometimes means they don’t bother getting to know her properly—content to ogle her, sleep with her, and move on—because Kara knows the right person, when they eventually come along, will like her for who she is, too.

Maybe Lena can be that person, or at least, Kara hopes she wants to be. She’s beautiful, of course she is, anyone with sight can notice that, but little glimpses of personality have been peeking out from behind a carefully built wall, and Kara is entirely smitten. She doesn’t care about the money, or the reputation of Lena’s family, but that smile? Damn.

She would be more than happy to wake up to that every morning, to crack stupid jokes until those pretty dimples appear and those lovely green eyes shine.

Kara stifles a grin as she turns back to the mirror, scrutinizing herself with a cocked head.

The leather jacket belongs to Alex and is a little tight around the shoulders, but Kara would be lying to herself if she said she didn’t look hot as hell in it. It goes well with her flannel shirt and sits nicely at the top of her jeans, but as great as she looks, Kara isn’t entirely sure that it’s a suitable outfit for a date.

Lena will probably be dressed to the nines, her hair and make-up immaculate, and Kara really doesn’t want to show her up—or show herself up, either. God forbid Lena thinks she isn’t taking it seriously, that she isn’t thrilled about spending the evening with her. Kara wants to make a good impression and prove that she is more than just the beefcake who is good for training and fighting.

“You know, most people at least smile before they go on a date,” Alex states from the doorway, leaning against the frame as she takes a deep pull from her bottle of beer. “What’s with the crinkle?” she asks, gesturing towards Kara’s furrowed brow.

“I don’t know,” Kara shrugs. “I just… Maybe I should have worn a dress?”

She wrinkles her nose and gazes back at the mirror, “this feels a little casual, I guess, but I don’t really know what else to wear.”

“Do you want to wear a dress?” Alex asks, eyeing her critically.

“Not really. I just don’t wanna make a bad impression because, you know, it’s Lena Luthor .” Kara runs her hand through her hair and sighs, “but I also don’t want to pretend to be something I’m not. I—I want her to like me , Alex, and I’m kinda terrified that she won’t, but when we kissed, well, people don’t kiss each other like that unless they a ctually like each other and—”

“Alright, alright,” Alex chuckles softly and holds her free hand up, “you’re spiraling into rambling territory and there’s no coming back from that.” 

Alex steps further into the bedroom and stands beside Kara at the mirror, dark eyes narrowed as she studies her little sister’s appearance, “you look like Kara. Lena likes Kara.” She shrugs, “Alex doesn’t see the problem.”

“How many of those beers have you had?” Kara rolls her eyes and walks away from her, close to tearing her bedroom apart as she attempts to find her wallet.

“I’m pre-gaming,” Alex shrugs. “Kelly isn’t back until next month and the apartment is far too quiet and boring without her, and I refuse to spend my Friday night alone.” She grins, “I’m actually hanging out with Andrea tonight. Apparently she promised Lena she would be nearby in case something went wrong tonight, but she doesn’t actually know where you guys are going yet.”

“She doesn’t?” Kara pauses and frowns. “Why wouldn’t Lena tell her?”

Alex stares at her for a long moment before she suddenly bursts out laughing, an obnoxious cackle that is usually saved for when Kara royally screws up. She sighs and folds her arms across her chest, waiting for Alex to pull herself together and catch her breath—Kara had known that she shouldn’t have asked Alex to come over and ‘help’ her get ready.

“Lena doesn’t know where you guys are going, so we all assumed that you did,” Alex finally says, making a big deal of wiping the amused tears from her eyes. "How do you ask someone out and then not plan something?!"

“I… I forgot,” Kara deflates. “I was just so excited that she said yes and then I got so nervous about the whole thing that I… I forgot.” 

She curses herself, “damn it, Alex! Lena’s gonna back out now, she’s going to think I’m a complete idiot and make some excuse about a family emergency or something.” 

Kara sighs heavily and slumps heavily down on the edge of her bed, “I don’t even have her number ‘cause I broke my phone this morning and I lost all my contacts, and then when the little notification thingy asked me if I wanted to transfer the information stuff my dumb, big thumb hit the wrong part and then I just—”

“Rambling!” Alex holds up her hand, “let’s not go down that road. You have a date with the woman you’ve been making heart eyes at, and rambling is already gonna be a major risk tonight.” She shakes her head, seemingly fucking exhausted by her sister’s minor meltdown, “we can fix this, okay? I have Andrea’s number and I can—oh.”

“What?” Kara frowns, “are you okay?”

“Everything’s fine,” Alex smiles as she digs her phone out of her pocket and reads the screen, brandishing it triumphantly in Kara’s face, “it seems your girlfriend has discovered the same roadblock that we have. I’m telling you, you guys are so lucky to have us.”

==

Lena smoothes down her dress, picking invisible lint from the skin tight, black material with a frown. She hates how anxious she feels and wishes she could be a little more like Kara, doubting that she is nervous about their date at all. 

She places her hand on her stomach and wrinkles her nose, the spanx underwear doing a great job of holding in the belly that Lena is convinced is gross, but not at all comfortable to wear. She wouldn’t dare to wear such a dress without them, though, well aware that she would spend the whole evening worrying about how her stomach looks and unable to truly enjoy herself.

There is no way Kara would invite her on a second date if they spent the first one in an awkward silence born from Lena being too paranoid about how she looks.

Lena sighs and stares at her reflection, wondering if she’s perhaps a tad overdressed, but Jack always liked her in this outfit—always had trouble lifting his gaze to make eye contact. Hell, even Andrea had commented on her cleavage the last time Lena wore this dress, and Andrea is fussy.

“I see you’re planning on putting out tonight.”

“What?! No, I—shut up!” Lena glares at Andrea through the mirror as she appears behind her clutching a glass full of Lena’s most expensive scotch. “It’s just a first date and we barely know each other.”

“Then why are you wearing your fuck me heels?” Andrea cocks a brow, “and that dress?”

“Is it too much?” Lena spins around to face her, anxiously nibbling on her lower lip. “I kinda thought it was a little overboard, but I don’t actually know where we’re going and I don’t wanna risk being underdressed.” She glances down at her dress and heels, not bothering to wait for a response, “it’s too much.” Lena nods decisively, “I should change.”

“I forgot how adorable pre-date Lena is,” Andrea chuckles softly. “You look gorgeous, babe. I would totally jump your bones if I didn’t think it would be awkward as hell.”

“Thanks,” Lena shoots her a bemused grin, “I think.”

“Just relax and be yourself,” Andrea states. “Which, I realize, is a contradiction because you’re the most highly strung person I know, but you’re fun when you let your hair down and I think Kara already sees that.” She huffs out a wistful sigh and smiles dreamily, “She’s so smart. Brains and brawn, Lena, You’re so annoyingly lucky.”

“I just… what if she doesn’t like me like me, ya know?” Lena winces, “she doesn’t really know me.”

“Kara hot,” she grunts out in a caveman impression and holds out one hand. Andrea holds out her other hand, “Lena hot.” She lifts both hands upwards in an exaggerated shrug, “Andrea don’t understand.”

“Andrea drinking too much scotch,” Lena mimics her.

“I’ll spend less money at the bar if I pre-game on your fancy stuff,” Andrea grins.

“Yeah, ‘cause you’re on such a tight budget,” Lena deadpans, rolling her eyes as she turns back to the mirror. “You know, if you spend less time focusing on my love life, you might actually have time to focus on your own…. Maybe find someone who adores your charm as much as I do.”

“I got laid last weekend,” Andrea frowns, “meanwhile your hoo-ha has cobwebs.”

Lena violently rolls her eyes and doesn’t bother to dignify that with a response, instead moving around the bedroom in search of her purse.

“What time are you guys meeting, anyway?” Andrea busies herself by combing through Lena’s closet, no doubt preparing to steal something as usual, “or is she coming to pick you up like the muscled gentlewoman that she is?”

“No, we’re meeting…. there.”

Lena pauses, her brows knitting together, “but she hasn’t told me where that is yet.” She takes a second to locate her phone beneath the small pile of clothes that Andrea has laid out on the bed, “but um… do you know her number? I didn’t save it and there’s, like, a million unknown numbers on my call list.”

“Oh my god, ” Andrea stares at her in bemusement. “For two incredibly smart people, you’re both insanely dumb,” she says with a shake of her head, slipping her phone out of the back pocket of her jeans. “No, I don’t have her number—I freaking wish Blonde Adonis shared that with me—but your two babysitters do have each other’s numbers, luckily for you guys.” 

She shakes her head in amusement as she taps the screen and holds the cell phone to her ear.

“Who are you call—”

“Hey, Alex , I was just wondering, do you happen to know where our girls are eating dinner this evening?”

Lena attempts to listen in, but Andrea merely hops up onto the bed, the flat of her palm held firmly against Lena’s forehead to stop her from intervening.

Andrea shoots Lena a shit-eating grin as she continues her conversation with Alex, “no, you’re right, these dumbasses didn’t make a single plan for their date.” She chuckles softly, “yeah, it’s adorable, I know, but your dumbass was definitely the one to initiate so I think she needs to decide on a venue.” 

Andrea swipes at Lena’s hand when she attempts to take the phone from her, “seriously, Lena isn’t super fussy when it comes to food, so just give me a dress code and a place and I’ll make sure she’s there.”

“Would you just gi—” Lena’s hand is swatted away yet again as she scowls up at her best friend.

“Oh, that is interesting !” Andrea’s brows lift almost all the way to the ceiling, “no, I don’t have to ask her. Lena would love that! What a great idea!” She shoots Lena a wink, “oh you don’t have to worry about that. I can get everything ready for her, and we can always blindfold them on the drive there.” Andrea laughs loudly at whatever Alex says in response, “yeah, that probably is best saved for the third date.”

“Andrea!” Lena huffs and attempts, and fails, to grab the phone from her for a third time.

“Alright, we’ll see you soon.”

Andrea ends the call and slips her cell phone back into her pocket, “don’t worry, babe, Alex and I won’t be cramping your style, but we are going to make sure you and Kara have a first date for the ages.”

Chapter Text

Lena sighs as she is bundled into the back of Alex’s car, a blindfold firmly covering her eyes and Andrea’s hair tickling her cheek as she leans across Lena to buckle her in. Whatever the Hell she’s up to, Lena isn’t at all convinced that she’s going to enjoy it. Andrea’s intentions may always be sound—well, at least when Lena is involved—but her taste is a little more…. extreme than hers.

This wouldn’t be the first time that Lena ended up in a terrifying situation and, if she knows Andrea as well as she thinks she does, it sure as hell won’t be the last time. 

One of these days Lena will learn how to say no to her best friend.

She scoffs.

Yeah, right, sure she will.

“Relax, babe, you know I wouldn’t ever do anything to cockblock you,” Andrea murmurs, “I’m more than ready for you to finally get laid and relax a little.”

There’s a chuckle from the other end of the back seat and Lena freezes, realizing that Kara is already in the car with them and accepting that she will eventually just have to murder her best friend to save herself from further humiliation.

“You are the biggest pain in my ass, Andrea Rojas,” Lena grumbles, praying that the blindfold is large enough to hide the blush that she can feel scorching her cheeks.

“Yeah, yeah, you know you love me.”

Lena winces as the car door is slammed closed only inches away from her elbow, a pout tugging at her lips as she folds her arms across her chest. She dares not even incline her head in the direction of Kara, terrified to speak to her now that they have an eager audience in the front of the car. 

It’s mortifying, absolutely ridiculous, yet, really, Lena isn’t all that surprised.

She’s never been all that great at dating.

And when she finds out what Alex and Andrea have in store for them, Lena isn't at all convinced that her track record is about to improve anytime soon.

As uncomfortable as Lena had felt during the car ride to the outskirts of town, slipping the blindfold back on and diving back into the car seems much more preferable than what her jackass best friend and Alex have in store for her. Hell, even if Kara joined her in the car for a little more of their horrifically awkward silence, Lena would consider it a hefty improvement to her evening.

Rock climbing.

Apparently that’s something they thought Lena would enjoy.

Lena Luthor, who is notoriously against sweating without a good reason, who has zero upper body strength, and even worse core strength after spending years behind her desk, is supposed to haul her ass up the side of a man-made rock face whilst attempting to flirt with the most handsome woman in the entire world who will no doubt be a damn expert.

“Have you done this before?”

Lena forces her voice past the nerves induced lump in her throat, her eyes pinned on Andrea and Alex as they talk and laugh beneath the outdoor wall. Sure, laugh it up, she thinks, but Lena will not go to her grave until she gets some sort of payback for this stunt.

“It’s actually pretty fun when you get the hang of it,” Kara quietly states as she awkwardly rubs the back of her own neck. “It’s, uh, well, it’s a good workout, that’s for sure.”

Lena tears her gaze from the nightmare up ahead to allow herself a short glance in Kara’s direction.

“Uh huh.”

“Don’t worry, there’s staff everywhere,” Kara says, offering a smile and a gentle squeeze to Lena’s arm. “And I’ll stick to you like glue, I promise.”

Lena blushes.

Sure, closeness is certainly something she’s looking for from Kara, but Lena was really hoping that it’d be somewhere a little more quiet…. And with a lot less clothes to act as a barrier between them. The color on her cheeks only intensifies as Lena’s mind briefly wanders, forced to grab her imagination by the scruff of its neck and yank it back towards decency as Kara steps a little closer.

“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” Kara murmurs.

Lena scoffs, her gaze meeting Andrea’s across the parking lot, easily spotting the smirk that plays on her best friend’s lips.

“Yes I do.”

Rock climbing is perhaps even more terrifying than her first night at Fight Club, Lena discovering a newfound fear of heights at the worst possible time. She’s only halfway up the wall, the harness chafing and her hair blowing around her face, and yet Lena has already decided that this is the worst date she’s ever been on—even if the person she’s on it with is the sweetest human being on the planet.

She pouts as she reaches out to timidly grasp another crimp—as Andrea had informed her they were called—and promises herself to specifically request Andrea as her opponent the next time she goes to Fight Club; determined to kick her squarely in the shin…. Or the hoo-ha.

Andrea deserves that at the very least, because there’s no name in the world that Lena could call her that would phase Andrea in the slightest. She would just grin and shrug it off, or call her something particularly colorful right back and leave Lena as irritated as she is right now.

Even the slight breeze annoys her, the air damp thanks to their proximity to the ocean. Andrea could have, at the very fucking least, brought her an extra tie to help with the frizz that will appear if the darkened clouds above their heads holds their promise to rain down on them. That would certainly be the crappy cherry on top of her crappy cake.

“In my defense,” Kara pipes up from close-by, “this isn’t where I would have chosen to take you.”

Lena glances across at her and struggles to hide just how out of breath she is.

“I wanted to take you to a nice restaurant,” Kara continues. “Wine and dine you, open doors for you and pull out your chair, but Andrea and my sister kinda hijacked the whole evening once they realized we hadn’t actually made any concrete plans.”

Lena sighs and wrinkles her nose, startling when her foot briefly slips. She meets Kara’s gaze when Kara reaches out to offer some support and instantly feels terrible when she spots guilt within blue eyes.

“It’s not you I’m upset with,” Lena quietly reassures her, wincing as a kid shrieks somewhere down before. “I’m just…. Uncomfortable,” she admits, “and I feel woefully out of place.” Lena shakily climbs a little further upwards, “I’m not…. I don’t really do stuff like this. I prefer spin class or a midnight trip to my apartment gym when it’s quiet and there’s nobody around to bother me.”

“Well,” Kara reaches out to help Lena adjust her hold, “how about we bail on those assholes?”

“Yeah,” Lena scoffs, “you don’t know Andrea very well if you think that would work.”

“I’m serious,” Kara nods, glancing down at Alex and Andrea, “if we get to the top first, we can get back down there before them and blow them off.” She grins that annoyingly charming grin, “and then I’ll take you on a real date. What do you say?”

“Well, I—”

Lena is interrupted by Andrea’s obnoxious laugh from down below and that makes her decision for her.

“You reckon we can escape them in one piece?” Lena raises a brow, wobbling slightly as she adjusts her footing. “You know as well as I do how scrappy Andrea can be.”

“Eh,” Kara shrugs, her blue eyes shining with glee, “I’ll protect you.”

“My knight in shining armor, huh?” Lena smiles, “you got a white horse hidden in the parking lot?”

“Unfortunately not,” Kara sighs dramatically, “but there’s a hot dog stand and a truck serving beer down on the pier and if that isn’t romantic, then I don’t know what is!” 

That perfect crooked grin makes another appearance and Lena feels herself melt, even forgetting about her fear of heights for a second as she gazes into Kara’s pretty eyes. Even just hot dogs and warm beer would feel gourmet in Kara’s presence; a relaxed environment where Lena doesn’t have to worry about the usual insecurities that plague her—and she can escape the damn peanut gallery down below.

“You know,” Lena sighs softly, “I think that actually sounds pretty great.” 

It’s not a lie. In fact, Kara’s idea sounds so damn normal compared to Lena’s past experiences that she finds herself utterly endeared by the mere thought of it; appreciates the simplicity. Lena nods determinedly, “let’s do it, but I must warn you, I may expect you to spring for a second beer if I consider your company entertaining enough… perhaps even three.”

Kara beams at her and sneaks a conspiratorial glance downwards.

“Well then, I guess we better escape from our handlers before they notice something is up, huh?”

Chapter Text

Lena shocks even herself with how much she enjoys her time on the pier with Kara. She’s relaxed, her second hotdog in one hand and a plastic cup of beer held in the other as she stares out at the rough sea. They talk about everything and nothing, Lena’s cheeks aching from laughing so much as she slowly becomes more and more enamored with Kara’s sense of humor.

She feels her steel resolve loosening with each shared smile, her knees turning to jelly whenever Kara shoots her that glance that leaves Lena feeling like the prettiest girl in the whole world.

Even their silences are comfortable.

They’re rare, sure, because Kara is somewhat of a chatterbox, but Lena doesn’t find herself feeling desperate to fill the quiet points like she usually would.

The afternoon grows later and the orange hues of the setting sun casts a shimmering reflection on the rough waves as they race closer to the lap against the wooden posts beneath the pier. The remaining warmth of the day disappears alongside the sun and Lena hugs her arms around herself as she steals a glance towards Kara every few moments.

As awkward as it had been to be thrown into the back of the car, Lena smiles softly to herself as she realizes how quickly she is becoming more and more comfortable around Kara. Touches seem to linger a little longer and gazes are held for several seconds at a time, but there’s still a little part of Lena that feels unbalanced; as though she is walking a tightrope between friendship and something much more.

It’s something she craves, but Lena isn’t sure that she has the courage to reach out and grasp it—to take what she wants without fear of judgment or repercussions for the first time in her life.

Kara, with her pretty blue eyes and charmingly windswept hair, has her gaze fixed on the darkening horizon, an endearingly soft smile playing on her lips. For a moment, Lena believes the other woman is entirely lost in her thoughts, but just as soon as she thinks it, bright blue eyes swing around to meet her own.

“Are you cold?”

Kara’s brows furrow in concern, an adorable little crease forming between them.

“A little,” Lena shyly admits, her chattering teeth stealing her ability to pretend otherwise.

Without hesitation, Kara slips off her hoodie and drapes it over Lena’s shoulders. Lena smiles softly in thanks, her fingers brushing against Kara's and the touch between them lingering for just a heartbeat too long; the air between them growing charged with the kind of electricity neither could ignore even if they wanted to.

“Kara…” Lena begins, her voice uncertain as the weight of everything she hasn’t said begins to press down on her. Kara turns to face her, her eyes searching Lena’s face as though she already knows what’s coming; brilliant blue feeling like an x-ray into Lena’s very soul.

“Yeah?” 

Kara’s voice is soft, her usual confidence replaced by a vulnerability Lena hasn’t yet seen in her before. It’s charming, endearing, and, really, damn near exhilarating to realize that Kara is just as nervous about this as she is—that Lena isn’t the only one with dignity to lose.

Lena hesitates and wonders if she should even say something, but her racing heart pushes her to confront the feelings she would usually try to bury. She takes a step closer to Kara, the world around them slowly fading into the background as Lena reaches out to gently cup Kara’s cold cheek. Her thumb swipes gently, a timid show of affection and Lena swallows thickly, nerves stealing all of the moisture from her mouth.

“I—” Lena’s voice mortifyingly cracks, but she powers through, “I like you, Kara. I really like you.”

“Oh.” A slow, easy grin spreads across Kara’s lap, that same massive smile that has caused many a blush to burn on Lena’s cheeks. “Well, that’s good, because I don’t kiss just anyone in a closet when my terrifying boss is around.” Kara chuckles softly, “I like you too, silly. Really like you.”

Lena bites her lower lip, convinced her heart may combust into a mess of celebratory confetti.

Her eyes then drop down to Kara’s lips, Lena’s pulse like a jackhammer in her wrists as trembling hands re-find their place on Kara’s handsome face again. Pink lips call to her and, whilst it is foreign to Lena to be the one to act first, an urge tugs at her gut that she knows won’t leave her alone until she acts on it.

Before she can second-guess herself, Lena leans in and presses her lips to Kara’s in a soft, tentative kiss. Kara’s lips are cold from the ice cream and taste like chocolate, but she doesn’t mind as she feels them part beneath her own. Her tongue, too, is cool as Lena allows it to slip inwards, a breathy sigh causing her chest to heave outwards and press closer to Kara’s.

Their bodies seem to slot together so easily, accidentally perfect puzzle pieces that fit even more smoothly once Kara’s hands settle on the base of Lena’s spine and hold her even closer.

Lena’s first kiss had been with a boy with braces, leftover pizza still stuck between his teeth as he stuck his tongue as deep into Lena’s mouth as she could. It was clumsy and juvenile like most first kisses are, but it had been enough to put her off of kissing anyone else for a long time. Even her ex, who Lena had truly loved, had needed a whole lot of patience before he had been allowed to kiss more than her cheek.

Kara, though…. Kara is perfect, their second kiss even better than the first. Heaven-like and gentle, strong arms holding Lena like she is made of the finest porcelain, yet still firmly enough to make her safe; like she is making the right decision to trust the handsome, kind woman in front of her.

It’s the kind of kiss that leaves Lena weak at the knees and damp between her thighs, but the peel of laughter from the families nearby reminds Lena that, right now, a kiss is all that can happen.

Even if her body does frantically protest with her mind’s decision.

“Let’s keep it PG, ladies, this is a public place! Did you really think you could lose us forever?”

Lena groans and violently rolls her eyes when Andrea’s dulcet tone cuts into their perfect moment. For someone who was seemingly desperate for Lena and Kara to get together, Andrea sure has the worst time in the whole fucking world.

“You owe me fifty bucks, Danvers,” Lena hears Andrea continue and she tears her eyes away from Kara just in time to see Alex pulling money from her back pocket in order to give it to Andrea.

“Seriously?” Lena huffs, “are you guys twelve ?”

“We’re not the ones who ran away and hid,” Andrea fires back with a teasing grin, “but, if we’re bothering you, we can leave? I’m sure a cab ride home during rush hour would be super fun.”

Lena groans again and hides her blushing face in the crook of Kara’s neck, relishing the way those strong, warm arms protectively tighten around her. She chuckles softly at the response Kara calls back towards her sister and Andrea, the air around them turning blue as a few certain four letter words cause Andrea to applaud and catcall Kara—never one to be deterred by foul language.

“Come on,” Kara murmurs, “they definitely owe us a ride home, but maybe next time we won’t need the chaperones, hmm?”

Chapter Text

Lena at least has her own clothes with her this time around as she follows Andrea down into the basement and joins the other women gathering there for Fight Club. A quick glance around the room tells her that even Alex hasn’t arrived yet, nevermind Kara, and she struggles to ignore the way her stomach sinks in disappointment.

“Don’t worry, Adonis Danvers never misses a meeting,” Andrea teases her, lightly elbowing Lena in the ribs.

“I’m fine,” Lena argues, “I’m just—”

“Pining?”

Andrea grins and dumps her bag at the back of the basement, throwing Lena a wink as she begins talking to a woman that Lena hasn’t met yet and doesn’t bother to introduce them. Not that she currently has any interest in talking to anyone but Kara, anyway.

Lena lingers near the back of the room as the basement slowly fills up with women, some familiar faces and some less so. It seems that Lena is already no longer the newcomer at the club, but whilst Lena is happy to return the polite nods of greeting sent in her direction, she finds her attention—and interest—keeps on returning to the door at the top of the staircase as she waits for a familiar blonde head to appear.

It’s only been two days since Lena has physically seen Kara and less than twenty four hours since they talked on the phone, but it feels like a damn lifetime.

She feels….. Different around Kara. 

More free, perhaps, like Lena can just be herself without fear of judgment or condescension, something she’d only ever been able to experience with Andrea before. Kara feels like a friend, one that Lena likes to kiss and look at whenever Kara isn’t facing her; someone she thinks she can trust with all of her darkest secrets and feelings. Someone who—”

“Hi!”

Lena startles, zoning back in just as Kara bounds down the stairs and comes to a stop in front of her. “Have you been here long?” Blue eyes shine in her direction and Lena only has a moment to think—and breathe—before soft lips find her own in a gentle peck that warms Lena from the top of her head to the tips of her bashfully curling toes.

“Hi, yourself,” Lena murmurs, breathless.

“I’m so glad you came,” Kara says. “I, uh, it feels like forever since I saw you and I… well, I’m really happy you’re here.” She glances behind her as Alex comes down the staircase, Kara’s older sister raising a knowing brow as she breezes past them, “we’ll talk more later, yeah? Maybe we could grab some coffee after? I can give you a ride home if you came with Andrea again.”

“Yeah,” Lena nods and bites her bottom lip, “yeah, that would be great. I do kinda worry about driving with ‘Drea when she’s all hyped up.”

Kara laughs and that grin causes Lena’s stomach to perform a whole gymnastics routine.

“Then, don’t worry, I’ll get you home in one piece.” Kara glances away as Alex calls for the group to gather in the middle of the basement, “and that’s my cue, I’m afraid.” She steals another kiss, this time to Lena’s blushing cheek, “we’ll catch up later, okay?”

Lena nods and watches as Kara joins Alex in the middle of the basement, her mouth growing dry as Kara strips her shirt off and throws it aside. Jesus, abs like that should be illegal, she thinks, but man, Lena is so glad that they’re not. Even Andrea, who is suddenly by Lena’s side again, seems to have been struck dumb by the sight of them; not that the Andrea Rojas would ever admit to being speechless.

“Lena, I love you, but my God , if you don’t sleep with her, I will never talk to you again.”

“That’s fair,” Lena mumbles.

They join the rest of the group and wait for Alex to pick names out of the hat—a baseball cap, cause they’re classy like that—and Lena barely holds back a grin as Andrea is drawn to fight one of the women who is known for fighting just as dirty as she does. If Andrea seems unbothered to everyone else; Lena knows better, but she has faith in her best friend’s ability to throw down.

“.... and Lena.”

Lena looks up when she hears her name and she’s surprised to find everyone looking at her. Most look concerned, but a couple seem amused, and Lena turns to Andrea to find her grimacing.

“What?”

“You and Kara, babe,” Andrea murmurs.

“What?”

“You and Kara are fighting tonight.”

Lena’s heart seems to freeze and stop beating, her eyes widening as she looks towards a clearly uncomfortable Alex.

“No,” Kara speaks up before Lena has even begun to accept it. “No, Lena and I can’t fight.” Kara laughs, but emerald eyes easily notice how fake the amusement on Kara’s handsome features is. “Come on, Alex, re-draw it. Don’t be insane.”

The room around them seems to explode with arguments and Lena barely resists the urge to cover her ears with her hands. Some people are understanding, but mostly, the women are pissed at the mere thought of their precious fight club rules being undermined. Lena doesn’t listen, though. Hell, it’s not like she could even if she wanted to, not when her pulse thunders so loudly in her ears.

“Come on, guys,” Alex attempts to regain control, “everyone just calm down. It’s not the end of the world if we allow people to voice their issues with a planned fight, alright?”

Lena’s fingers curl inwards into her clammy palms, her short nails threatening to break through the soft skin as she grows more and more tense by the second. She stares at Kara and finds the same anxiety and insecurity looking back at her, Kara’s bottom lip trapped firmly between her teeth as the baying crowd of overly excited women grow louder and louder.

Shit.

There’s no good way out of this, Lena realizes, and the realization sinks low into her gut and settles there like a dense weight that can’t be shifted.

“Don’t you think this is a little unfair?”

It’s Kara who speaks first, her blue eyes swinging towards Alex, “she’s still a newbie. It’d hardly be a fair fight and I don’t think I’m comfortable with this.”

“Rules are rules, Kara,” Alex shrugs helplessly.

It’s obvious to everyone in the room that Alex isn’t at all thrilled about this either, but showing any preference towards her sister would just cause chaos. It could put everything they’ve built here at risk and Kara is more than aware that it’s unfair to ask, but her lips loosen before she can stop them. “Lena isn’t the first newbie to fight someone more experienced than her and I’m sure she won’t be the last. I’m sorry, but I—”

“Oh come on ! They just don’t wanna fight because they’re sleeping together,” Siobhan scoffs, cutting Alex off.

“Hey!” Andrea jumps in before Lena can even comprehend what has been said, “shut your mouth unless you wanna lose your tongue. Anyway, they’re not even sleeping together. I mean, not yet I don’t think…” Andrea loses some of her fire and awkwardly trails off. “Just uh, shut up.”

“No,” Kara stubborn plants her hands on her hips, “it’s just unfair because I’m undefeated and—”

“Are we watching a fight or not?” A woman that Lena has never talked to before sighs heavily and throws her hands in the air, “this is fight club , not an episode of Jerry Springer.”

“Yeah,” Lena takes a step forward, “you’re watching a fight.”

“Lena!” 

Kara gapes at her and she instantly feels bad, but Lena isn’t going to let all of Kara and Alex’s hard work go to waste just because she happens to be Kara’s latest opponent. She’s painfully aware that refusing to fight would mean having to leave the club and, whilst Lena wouldn’t be thrilled about leaving, she knows it would outright destroy Kara to leave the club that she had helped to build.

“Rules are rules,” Lena shrugs helplessly.

“Lena,” Andrea urgently whispers in her ear and grabs hold of Lena’s arm, “you can walk away. Kara won’t get kicked out if it’s only you who refuses to fight.”

Andrea is right, Lena knows that, but she doesn’t want to walk away. She doesn’t want to fight Kara, either, but this club is the one thing Lena can have that doesn’t have her family’s grubby little fingerprints all over it. She doesn’t want to leave before really having a chance to experience it to the full, but one look towards Kara tells Lena that if she doesn’t back out of the fight, then Kara will.

“Newbie is gonna get her ass kicked,” Lena hears someone in the background say.

“Shut your hole!”

Andrea, as always, lives up to her motto—’only I can make fun of her’—and jumps to her defense. 

Lena glances around and blushes when she realizes that every single set of eyes in the basement are focused on her, and she makes a decision that breaks her own damn heart.

“You’re watching a fight,” Lena repeats, “but I just won’t be in it.”

She turns on her heel and marches across the basement to grab her sneakers and backpack, ignoring the voices that call after her as she heads straight to the staircase without a second glance backwards.

Chapter Text

Lena puts as much space between herself and the basement as she can, thankful for the sneakers that Andrea had forced her to wear instead of her usual stilettos as she breaks into a jog. The heavens open with the wet and windy storm that had been promised on the news earlier this evening, but Lena pays it no mind; her mind foggy with too many feelings, yet on a single track to escape the embarrassment.

She can still feel everyone watching her, judging her, judging Kara for their shared inability to fight each other despite that being the whole reason for them all gathering there.

They still see her as just another Luthor, Lena knows that, as just another rich kid who is used to getting her own way, and she despises the fact that her joining fight club has led to Kara losing the respect of the women around them who had once worshiped her. Kara had helped her sister build the club in the first place, and it feels cruel that it has come down to this.

It’s that thought that keeps her moving.

Keeps her wet and slowly freezing feet from stopping as she rushes down the street.

Lena’s steps are quick and purposeful, but her heart is torn. The sound of her footsteps slapping against the wet sidewalk seem to echo louder than usual, as though even the city is trying to call out to her and beg her to go back to the dingy basement, but Lena isn’t listening. Not to the city, not to anyone.

At least, not until….

“Lena, wait!”

Kara.

Lena freezes, her hand hovering over the handle of the car door. For a split second, she considers slipping into the taxi and asking the driver to just leave, but Kara’s voice is full of desperation, and that—no matter how hard Lena tries—is something she could never ignore.

Slowly, Lena turns around, her dark hair plastered to her face from the rain. Kara is still catching up, running toward her as the rain-soaked street reflects her silhouette under the dim glow of streetlights. Kara’s blonde hair is wild from the rain, her clothes sticking to her as if the storm is trying to pull her backwards and as far away from Lena as possible.

Lena wishes she could look away, to tell Kara to go back, but her own eyes betray her. They stay locked on Kara's pretty blue ones, even as Lena’s mind screams for her to just get inside the damn cab.

“Why are you following me?”

Lena’s voice is hard, colder than the air around them and she instantly regrets it.

Kara stops a few feet away, breathing heavily from the chase and her eyes burn with something Lena isn’t used to seeing on a face that doesn’t belong to Andrea—concern. She doesn’t immediately respond to Lena, instead using the precious few seconds of silence to close the gap between them, her brows wrinkling with despair.

“Why are you running away?”

Lena flinches at the gentle accusation. 

“I’m not running,” she shoots back, though her words lack even an ounce of conviction.

Kara takes another step closer, her eyes never leaving Lena’s. 

“Yes, you are,” she murmurs, her voice barely audible over the rain, “but you don’t have to, Lena. You can come back and we’ll make it work,” Kara says, her voice filled with a quiet strength. “I know you need the club as much as I do, even if you’re not quite ready to admit that to anyone just yet.” Her fingers are cold and wet when they reach out to stroke Lena’s cheek, “please don’t run.”

Lena swallows the lump in her throat just as it begins to threaten to choke her. The rain is cold, but Kara’s presence is warm—steady—and Lena can feel her defenses crumbling, the walls she had carefully built around her heart starting to collapse beneath the weight of Kara’s words and her tender touch.

She is vaguely aware of the cab driver cursing them out before he drives off, but Lena doesn’t mind; nor does she care about the rain that soaks through her clothes and chills her to the bone. It’s easy to forget the world around her whenever Kara is nearby, that much Lena has been noticing more and more these days. Admitting it out loud, though, leaves her gut churning with the anxiety that always joins the possibility of rejection as soon as the words pass her trembling lips.

“Everything is easier with you, too,” Kara nods, a smile stretching her mouth wide; the annoyingly perfect grin appearing once more.

Their eyes meet for what feels like the longest moment in Lena’s entire night, the contact between them only faltering when a crack of lightning flashes across the dark sky.

“We should get out of this weather,” Kara says, “we’ll catch our deaths.”

“You’re not going back to the club?” Lena asks, her brows furrowing. “Won’t Alex be expe—”

“Not tonight,” Kara shakes her head. “Come on, come with me.” Lena nods and allows herself to be drawn down the block by the firm grasp of Kara’s hand around hers. “My car isn’t far,” Kara throws the promise over her shoulder, “and then I’ll get you warm and dry, okay?”

Lena dutifully follows, her fingers tightening around Kara’s to ensure they aren’t separated as they hit a crowd of drunken revelers while they pass an area that is known for fights between college kids. She doesn’t need to worry, though, not when Kara puts her body in-between Lena and the crowd, guiding her through it without a second thought as they head towards a brightly lit Walmart.

“I’m not technically supposed to park here anymore,” Kara grins, “but the employees don’t care enough to call me out on it and the managers are never around at this time of night.”

Lena laughs softly and allows herself to tumble into the car as Kara holds the passenger door open for her, thankful for the newfound shelter as tendrils of her dark hair cling to her forehead and her soaked sneakers begin to squelch. She pushes it back and watches Kara jog around the car to reach the driver's seat, a soft smile playing on her lips when she slips into the car beside her.

Kara turns the engine and the heating on, her hand finding Lena’s across the center console with a gentle, comforting squeeze.

Lena forgets how to breathe.

All she can focus on is the strong hand around her own and the piercing gaze that seems to stare deep into her very soul. For just a fleeting moment, Lena forgets every single worry that usually plagues her, her teeth capturing her bottom lip as she fights against the urge to shyly drop her gaze from Kara’s.

Lena doesn’t know what she’s done to deserve the interest that Kara has in her and the care that she shows her, but, my God , she prays that it doesn’t end anytime soon.

“Do you, uh,” Kara awkwardly clears her throat in a rare show of nerves, “do you wanna come back to mine? I don’t live far from here.”

Normally, Lena would say no.

To absolutely anyone else, she’d politely make an excuse and ask to be taken home.

But, Lena’s body, the longing within her soul and the throbbing desperation between thighs that have not parted for anyone else for so long, makes it impossible for her to say no. Lips that tremble and emerald eyes that plead for loyalty utter Lena’s consent as Kara’s grin impossible widens, her heart opening wide and praying for the trust and endearment to be returned tenfold.

“Yeah,” Lena finds herself nodding, her voice cracking, “yeah, I think that would be nice.”

Chapter Text

Kara notices that Lena is quieter than usual as they step out of the elevator on the third floor of Kara’s apartment building. She seems timid, but the smile Lena sends her when Kara looks her way isn’t as coy as the ones she is used to seeing. There’s a quiet confidence about her, but it’s perhaps more gentle than the kind Lena would display at work and around her family.

It’s genuine, Kara realizes, and something that only a special handful of people are privy to. Her heart soars at the thought of being one of the trusted few, her lips spreading into a grin against her will.

“Let’s get inside and dry off,” Kara says as they reach her front door, struggling to hide the way her hand trembles with nerves as she sticks the key into the lock. There’s not many people in Kara’s life that can affect her in such a way and she can only hope that it continues for a long time; that Lena sticks around. “It’s nothing fancy,” Kara murmurs—self conscious—as she pushes the door open and leads Lena inside.

“I’m not going to judge you, Kara,” Lena softly replies. “I’m not that kind of rich person.”

“Right.” Kara winces and internally berates herself.

She stands by the door, her heart racing as she watches Lena shake off the excess water from her drenched hair. The weather outside had only got worse and Kara had— of course —hadn’t been able to find a parking spot close to her building, leaving both of them soaked to the bone and shivering.

"Here, take this," Kara says quickly, handing Lena a fluffy towel from the hallway closet. "I can get you some dry clothes too. You must be freezing."

Lena takes the towel with a grateful smile, brusquely rubbing her hair dry.

"Thanks, Kara.” Her voice is soft, almost hesitant, and Kara doesn’t think she has ever come across someone as endearing as Lena; at least, not to her.

“Of course,” Kara nods, her cheeks flushing slightly beneath Lena’s beautiful gaze. “Just... uh, let me grab something for you to change into." She turns on her heel and hurries to her bedroom, rummaging through her closet for a pair of sweatpants and an oversized T-shirt; aiming for something comfortable that won’t drown the smaller woman.

Lena is still drying her hair when Kara steps back out of the bedroom and she smiles at the natural wave of her black locks.

"Here you go," Kara said, handing over the clothes. "They should fit okay, maybe a little baggy.” She offers a tentative smile, unsure of how Lena will react to being in her apartment, and gestures towards her bedroom, “you can use my room to change if you’d like.”

Lena takes the clothes with a nod, her eyes briefly flickering up to meet Kara's. All of the oxygen seems to leave the room in an instant, Kara’s treacherous heart racing and leaving a vibration in her pulse points. She’s convinced that Lena feels the same way, but emerald eyes slip to the floor as Lena awkwardly clears her throat and steps around her, their shoulders almost touching, but not quite.

Kara watches as Lena disappears into the bedroom, her mind racing with thoughts of what could happen next. She busies herself with tidying up the living room, trying to distract herself from the nervous energy that pulses through her veins. The sound of the rain outside seems to grow louder, drowning out all other noise except for the occasional creak of the floorboards as Lena moves around in the bedroom.

Minutes seem to stretch into hours before Kara hears the soft rustling of fabric and what she thinks is the click of the bedroom door opening. She turns, expecting to see Lena standing there, but instead finds herself staring into an empty hallway.

"Lena?" Kara calls out. There was no response, only the continued patter of rain against the glass.

Curious, Kara steps toward the bedroom, her feet making little noise on the hardwood floor. She pauses as she reaches the doorway, her breath catching in her throat. Lena stands in front of the mirror, her back to Kara as she slowly buttons up the borrowed shirt. The fabric clings to the curves that Kara herself doesn’t have,accentuating the delicate lines of her waist and hips. Kara's eyes linger on the sight, the air around her growing thick with tension and, perhaps, something else.

Lena seems unaware of Kara's presence, her focus solely on adjusting the shirt to fit properly. She twists slightly, frowning at her reflection as she tugs at the hem and the movement causes the towel around her shoulders to slip and reveal the smooth skin of her collarbone and the edge of her bra strap.

Kara's pulse quickens again only seconds after it had calmed, her body responding instinctively to the sight before her. Despite knowing better, she takes a tentative step forward as her hand reaches out almost involuntarily. Before she can make contact, Lena turns, her eyes widening in surprise as she finally notices Kara standing there.

"Kara—" Lena begins, her voice cutting off abruptly as Kara's fingers brush against her shoulder and send a visible shiver down her spine.

Kara freezes, her hand still hovering just above Lena's skin. 

"I... I didn't mean to—"

Before she can finish her sentence, Lena's breath hitches and she leans into the touch to close the gap between them. Kara's heart pounds in her chest as she feels the heat of Lena's body against hers, the closeness overwhelming and intoxicating.

"Kara..." Lena whispers, her voice barely audible over the sound of the rain.

“Yeah?”

“Do it.” Lena bites down on her bottom lip and peers up at Kara through long lashes, “just do it. Kiss me…. If that’s what you wanna do.”

Kara is convinced that she can no longer breathe and that she has passed out and fallen into a pleasant dream, that the universe has rewarded past kindness with a temporary bliss after reading her secret inner thoughts and desires. She swallows hard and stares deep into pretty green eyes, unable to miss the way they darken with the same need that warms Kara’s entire body.

“And what if I wanna do more than kiss you?” Kara asks, her chest heaving as she lays herself bare. “What would you say to that?”

For a beat, Lena is silent and Kara fears that she has scared her off, that she has moved too quickly for her and is about to be rejected by the only woman who has captured her heart at record pace.

But then, her lips curl into a charming smirk as she stands up on her tip-toes to sweetly kiss Kara.

“I would say yes.”

Chapter Text

Clothes fall to the ground as quickly as they were put on, two sets of lips meeting in a hungry, desperate kiss that steals air from both women’s lungs. Lena surprises even herself with the way she gives in to her urges, her usual restrained demeanor thrown aside in favor of allowing herself to welcome temptation with open arms and, soon, open legs. 

Lena laughs wildly as she bounces down onto the mattress, Kara’s careful hold stopping her from falling to the floor as she grins into her kiss.

The way Kara looks at her, all heart eyes and tender smiles, helps to smother the insecurities that Lena has about her body. Soft curves are worshiped by a heated mouth, breasts that hang a little lower than they used to now kissed and nibbled until her skin dimples with goosebumps and Lena’s chest heaves with heavy pants that beg for air.

She can hardly believe her luck, but maybe, just maybe, there is a part of Lena that accepts that she deserves to be treated in the way that Kara wishes to treat her. Perhaps she even believes that her body is as beautiful as Kara promises her it is.

“Can I taste you?” Kara asks, eyes so earnest that Lena finds herself eagerly nodding and begging for soft lips to reach her core.

Dear God.

If Lena ever says no to this woman, she prays that someone will kill her.

“Yes,” she nods frantically, “please, yes.”

She watches as Kara’s grin widens, the blonde goddess settling between Lena’s thighs with a smirk that would feel distasteful if it were anyone else in the world. The arrogance is innocent, though, that much Lena believes, and she’d give Kara the entire world if it means she would keep looking at her like that; if she keeps treating Lena like the most precious diamond in the galaxy.

Kara's lips hover over Lena's sensitive clit, her breath warm and ticklish against tender flesh. Lena's fingers dig into the bedsheets, her body arching slightly as the tip of Kara's tongue flicks out to tease the tiny nub with precise, tantalizing strokes. 

"God, Kara," Lena gasps, her voice trembling with anticipation. “Just… please, just do it.”

Kara instantly obliges, her lips closing fully around Lena's clit as her tongue flicks in a maddening rhythm, sucking almost harshly. Lena's hips buck involuntarily, her back arching further off the bed as she lets out a moan that is half pleasure, half desperate need. She can feel Kara’s hands settling on her thighs, holding them steady and open for both of their pleasure.

The steady rhythmic pressure against Lena’s clit brings her embarrassingly close to the edge, but Lena has waited so long for someone to make her feel this good, that she doesn’t want to come just yet. Her breathing becomes ragged, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she struggles to keep up with the overwhelming sensations pouring through her body. 

"Fuck, Kara," she pants, her eyes fluttering closed as she surrenders to each and every touch. "You're going to make me come just like this."

Kara hums against Lena's clit, the vibration sending another shiver down Lena's spine. She can feel the familiar tightening in her lower belly, the tell-tale sign that she is even closer, but Lena wants more. She needs more.

“Do you….” she sucks a desperate breath inwards as blue eyes peer upwards, “do you have a….” Lena trails off and gestures lamely downwards. “You have one?”

Blonde brows crinkle in confusion for a short moment before blue eyes shine with realization.

“Oh!” Kara grins, “yeah, just gimme a sec!”

Lena nods, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and excitement as she watches Kara clamber off the bed and rake through the bedside drawer. Her teeth hold her bottom lip hostage when Kara produces a leather harness and eagerly steps into it, a bright red dildo soon secured to the front. The snap of a bottle of lube opening is like a gunshot in the quiet apartment, Lena chuckling softly as she shakes her head.

“We don’t need it,” she murmurs, “trust me, I’m ready for you.”

“Patience, beautiful,” Kara playfully tsks, “it’s better to be safe than sorry, right?”

Lena wishes to argue, but her breath catches sharply in her throat as she watches Kara’s fist languidly pump her silicone cock to spread the lube. Jesus, this woman will be the death of her one day.

“After all,” Kara continues as the bed dips between her weight and she settles between Lena’s spread thighs once more, “we wouldn’t wanna hurt this pretty pussy, would we?” Kara grins wickedly and drops a kiss to Kara’s mound, “it deserves much better than that.” She kneels on her knees and stares down at Lena as though she is the prettiest woman in the world, “are you sure that you want this, pretty girl?”

"Yes," Lena whispers. "I want you to fuck me with it."

Kara's lips curl into a delightful smile, her eyes glinting with mischief. 

"Oh, Lena," she purrs. "You sure know how to drive a girl crazy…. It’s always the quiet ones, hmm?

Kara grabs the base of the strap-on and guides it between Lena’s legs, taking a brief moment to tease her by slipping it through drenched, puffy folds before lining it up with Lena’s desperate entrance. The tip brushes against Lena's soaked hole, sending a jolt of electricity through her entire body.

Lena groans, her hips lifting off the mattress as she tries to push herself onto the dildo.

“Not so fast,” Kara chuckles, her hand moving to grip Lena's hip, holding her steady. “Let me take control here, pretty girl. I’m gonna make you feel so good, I promise.”

Lena whimpers, her body quivering with impatience as she forces herself to lie still. Kara's hand guides the dildo back to Lena's weeping hole and presses the tip against it again. This time, though, she doesn't tease; instead pushing forward to slide the tip inside Lena's tight cunt. Lena cries out at the gentle sting that the stretch causes, her jaw dropping open and her eyelids slipping closed.

Kara doesn't stop there. She presses forward again, pushing more of the dildo inside Lena until her cunt throbs and leaks profusely around the intrusion. Lena's nails dig tighter into the sheets, her back arching higher as she feels the fullness of the strap-on stretching her wide open and settling inside her. 

She moans, her voice wavering with each inch that Kara thrusts inside her until the strap-on bottoms out, filling Lena to the hilt. Kara pauses and smiles down at her, generously giving Lena a moment to adjust to the sensation; perhaps mesmerized by the way Lena’s breaths come in short, rapid bursts. Lena meets her intense gaze, her body trembling from the effort of staying still and letting Kara take control.

"You okay?" Kara asks, her voice soft and concerned.

“Yeah,” Lena nods, her eyes squeezing shut as she fights to control her racing heartbeat before she forces out another whisper. "Keep going."

Chapter Text

Lena’s moans are guttural, loud enough that she’d be embarrassed if it weren’t for the throbbing need between her thighs that begs for release. Even if Kara’s neighbors can hear everything that is going on between them, Lena can bring herself to care in the slightest, not when sweet, handsome Kara is so gentle with her; so caring and willing to make Lena feel good.

Kara leans over her, her lips brushing against Lena's ear as she pumps in and out of her, the slow drag of silicon inside her cunt sending a shiver rushing down Lena’s spine and causing her toes to curl. Kara’s tongue flicks outwards, her breasts pushed close to Lena’s as she nibbles and teases her earlobe, her voice deep and throaty as her breath tickles the shell of Lena’s ear.

“You like that, pretty girl, don’t you?”

"Yes," Lena whimpers, her body bucking with each thrust of the strap-on. "I… yes!”

Kara's thrusts grow faster, harder, her hips slamming against Lena's ass as she drives the dildo deep inside of her. Lena's nails rake down Kara's back and leave red lines in their wake as she clings to her Kara, her body consumed by the wildfire of pleasure that spreads through her veins. 

"Harder," she begs, her voice cracking with desperation. "Please, Kara, harder!"

Kara instantly complies, her thrusts becoming almost savage as she pounds the dildo into Lena's aching cunt that has been left untouched for far too long. Lena's cries of pleasure grow louder, her body thrashing beneath Kara as she rides the wave of ecstasy crashing over her. 

"I'm gonna…. Oh my God ,” Lena gasps, her breath catching in her throat, "Kara, I'm gonna…. I think I’m…. oh fuck , I’m so close!"

Kara's only response is to wrap her arms around Lena, holding her tightly as she continues to fuck her with relentless intensity. The pressure builds and builds inside Lena, until finally, with one final thrust of the strap-on, she shatters. Her body convulses, her muscles clenching around the dildo as wave after wave of ecstasy washes over her. 

Lena’s jaw drops open, but no sound comes out as she comes hard , her body shuddering with the force of her orgasm. It’s the first release in years that hasn’t come from her own hand and Lena is entirely overwhelmed, each and every nerve ending on fire as her limbs stiffen and spasm. 

It hits her harder and faster than the orgasms born from masturbation, her soul briefly leaving her body as fireworks explode behind tightly closed lips, white noise the only sound reaching Lena’s ears as her body arches off of the mattress in ecstasy. Kara holds her tightly, her own breaths coming in ragged gasps as Lena's inner walls clench firmly around the strap-on. 

"That’s it, pretty girl," Kara whispers, her voice thick with emotion as she gazes down at Lena, as though desperately trying to memorize each flicker of feeling across her face.

Lena's vision blurs, her mind overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of her orgasm. She clings to Kara, her fingers digging into her back as she rides out the last of her climax until Lena slumps backwards against the pillows with a heavy gasp. For a few seconds, she can barely even breathe, never mind speak, but she’s not too out of it to miss the softness within Kara’s pretty blue eyes as she stares down at her.

Kara cradles Lena in her arms, her fingers gently tracing random patterns on her back. The room is quiet, the only sound is the soft rustling of the sheets as they move against each other to get a little more comfortable. Lena's breath is slow and steady, proof that she is relaxed and calm after their intense encounter; surprised by how safe and comfortable she feels whilst wrapped up in Kara’s arms.

They lie there together in silence for several long moments, content in each other’s company as they watch the moon cast shadows that dance and flicker across the walls of Kara’s bedroom.

Lena had assumed she'd be embarrassed afterwards and attempt to hide her body, perhaps even quickly flee from the apartment, but the warm hands on her soft curves are a reassurance. Kara doesn’t see the flaws that Lena so often finds whilst standing in front of the mirror. If anything, she finds Lena beautiful, unable to keep her hands away from her for more than a few seconds at a time.

“I’m sorry for leaving tonight,” Lena murmurs into the darkness.

“You don’t have anything to apologize for.” Kara kisses the top of her head again, “I was pretty close to walking out of there tonight, too.” Lena is lightly jostled as Kara shakes her head, “it doesn’t feel like my club anymore. Not tonight, anyway, that’s for sure.”

"Kara," Lena whispers. Her voice is soft, almost hesitant, “you helped build the club, right? Helped it become what it is?” She tilts her head in order to peer upwards into Kara’s eyes, “it belongs to you just as much as it belongs to Alex."

“Yeah, I know,” Kara nods, “and I’m not worried about Alex pushing me out. Not at all. I just….” she pauses and sighs heavily enough to muss Lena’s hair, “forcing people to fight when they don’t want to and then kicking them out if they say no? That’s not what I had in mind when we started the club and I’m not sure it’s something I wanna be a part of anymore.”

“I was kicked out,” Lena chuckles softly, “I just—”

“Left because you felt like you had no other choice?” Kara sighs again and rests her chin on the top of Lena’s head, her arms tightening around her. “No, that wasn’t my dream and it wasn’t Alex’s either.”

“Then tell me what you did want for the club,” Lena urges, her lips briefly finding Kara’s collarbone. 

Nothing is said for a moment, but Lena doesn’t push. She merely waits for Kara to find the words to explain how she feels, to find the courage to be open and vulnerable in a way that is perhaps more difficult than the vulnerability they had both already shared with each other so far tonight.

“I guess….” Kara hesitates, “I guess I wanted it to be a place where women could safely get all of their frustrations out. A place where there weren't any expectations on them, ya know? It was a way to let off steam after a long day of being crapped on by the rest of the world, it wasn’t supposed to be a place where we had to face all the rules and expectations that come with every other aspect of our lives.”

Kara’s chest heaves beneath Lena with yet another heavy sigh.

“Anyone who walks into Fight Club should be allowed to say no without there being any repercussions,” she says, her frustration evident in her biting tone. “I wanted to one day make it bigger, make it more accessible to people with different fighting abilities, ya know? Not everyone wants to be a champion of some kind, some people just wanna fit in.”

“I get that,” Lena murmurs, nodding. “Is that what Alex wanted, too?”

“Yeah, it was everything we wanted when we first started the club.” Kara shifts slightly, angling her warm body further around Lena’s, “but it’s hard to do that with only a single, dingy basement to host fights out of.” She chuckles dryly, “maybe one day we’ll be able to rent a bigger place, somewhere that isn’t just a basement with a gross bathroom.”

Lena smiles to herself and ponders that for a moment.

She liked Fight Club, despite the aching forehead after her first fight, and she knows that Andrea would be pretty lost without it; especially with her fiery temper. Lena bites down on her bottom lip for a second and fights against the teachings from Lillian that told her to ignore the impulsive nature that she inherited from her birth mother—to view it as a positive trait rather than a negative one.

“What if I told you that I had a way of helping you do that?”

“That’s not what I was getting at,” Kara stares down at her with a crinkled brow.

“I know,” Lena offers a smile of reassurance, “but the club is important to a whole bunch of women and I… I wanna make sure it can continue in a way that is sustainable.” 

She nods, resolute in her decision, “I want to make it the club that you and your sister always wanted it to be. I have a space that you can use and I don’t want rent, I want the money to go towards improving the club and ensuring the women there have the support they need.” Lena pauses and sucks in a deep, anxious breath, “what do you say?”

Chapter Text

For the first time in a while, Lena leaves work at the time she initially planned to, successfully evading her mother and brother as she heads down to the lobby. A smile pulls at her lips at the thought of this evening’s plans, quietly excited to see Kara and to listen to her announce the big changes to her beloved club.

Lena steps out of the building to find Andrea illegally parked outside, as per usual. Andrea is perched on the hood of her car as she shoots Lena a shit-eating grin, her brows salaciously wiggling. Lena sighs, but she had known that a little teasing would be a possibility when she asked her to meet her at work this afternoon. 

At least the surprise that she and Kara have cooked up will perhaps—hopefully—leave Andrea speechless for a few blissful moments.

A rare feat, indeed.

“Weird,” Andrea muses, looking Lena up and down as she approaches, “I thought you’d have more of a limp.

“Shut up.”

Lena scowls and slips into the front passenger seat without an actual greeting, making sure to slam the door a little more harshly than necessary to try and push her best friend’s button. Andrea merely laughs, though, and slides down from the hood, damn near skipping as she moves around the car and gets into the driver’s seat.

“You’d think finally getting laid would make you a little more pleasant,” Andrea says, “but I guess even Beefcake Danvers couldn’t pull that stick out of your ass, huh?”

“I’m gonna stop telling you things.” Lena punches the address into the satnav.

“No you’re not,” Andrea grins as she starts the car, “because there is no person on this planet who has the ability to keep their mouth closed after sharing a bed with Kara Danvers.” 

She glances across at Lena as she abruptly joins the traffic and sets off a bunch of beeping horns and flipped fingers, “so, how was it?”

Lena glares across the center console, but it is half-hearted. She had known the question was coming and, honestly, Lena doesn’t even mind it. If anything, she’s actually a little thrilled about being able to share the news with her best friend…. Glad to be the one revealing something exciting instead of just being the one listening to Andrea’s sexcapades for once.

“It was….” Lena wrinkles her nose, “it was perfect, actually. Like, really, really perfect.”

“Oh?” Andrea’s eyes widen.

“Yeah, she… she just, she was great.” Lena can feel herself beaming , but she doesn’t think she can claw the wide smile backwards even if she wanted to. “I just… I really like her, ‘Drea. Kara is just so different from anyone else I’ve ever been with and she… she was interested in making sure I was okay, you know? She wanted me to feel good and she was just so damn attentive that I….” Lena shrugs, “it was perfect.”

“Jesus, Lena,” Andrea pauses in order to flip another driver off, “I wanted you to get laid, but holy fuck , are you falling for her?”

Lena doesn’t answer, but, apparently, that’s enough of an answer for Andrea.

“Oh my God, ” Andrea’s pitch reaches a point where only dogs can hear her, “you are!! ” Her hand excitedly slaps against the steering wheel, “that’s my girl! Oh, I am all for you and Blonde Adonis getting hitched and having perfect, smart, little muscled babies!”

“I mean,” Lena chuckles softly, “I don't think we're quite there yet, but yeah, she’s pretty special.”

“Good,” the smile Andrea shoots at her is genuine, one that she doesn’t often show other people. “I’m happy for you, babe. It’s about damn time you found someone who treats you right and actually deserves you.” Andrea’s hand briefly finds Lena’s knee and offers a reassuring squeeze, “I assume that she’s a part of whatever surprise you’re holding close to your chest right now?”

“Just follow the satnav and all will be revealed.”

Lena leans forward to turn on the stereo if only to drown out the inevitable questions that Andrea wishes to fire in her direction. The surprise will be worth it in the end and, besides, Andrea is one person who always needs a lesson in patience. Leaning back in her chair, Lena keeps a close watch on Andrea as they get closer to their destination, recognizing the realization that lights up her eyes.

“You did something,” Andrea says, turning the stereo off, “you did something big .”

“No,” Lena shakes her head, “but I helped Kara and Alex do something big. They just needed a little help and I’m only using a couple of the rooms in the building so—”

“Lena!” Andrea’s lead foot on the brake causes them both to lurch forwards a little bit as she pulls up outside the building. “This is your sacred place! Your lab, it’s… it’s the only space you have that your mom and brother don’t interrupt, I mean, it’s literally the only peace and quiet you get from them, you can’t just—”

“I’ll still have my lab space,” Lena gently cuts her off, “and Fight Club will have the space and privacy that it needs to thrive.” She looks out of the window at the building her father had bought her long before his death, “my dad wanted me to have somewhere to go where I could feel safe and do whatever I wanted. Fight Club fits that criteria for me and so many other women.”

“For Kara, you mean.” Andrea shuts off the engine, “I’ll support you if this is what you want, but—”

“It’s what I want,” Lena states firmly. “Now, come on, because I know you are just dying to hurt someone and I’m more than happy to watch.” She slides out of the car and stands in front of the building as Andrea rounds the car to join her, “it’s perfect, right?”

“This is what you really want?” Andrea eyes her cautiously.

“Yes,” Lena nods. “This is what I really want.” She glances towards Andrea with a sly smile, “and this is what you want, too, right? Somewhere you can go that has a bathroom that isn’t rusty and filthy.”

Even Andrea can’t argue with that.

She is silent as she follows Lena into the building and up to the third floor where several empty rooms just beg to be filled. Most of the other members of Fight Club are already there, dozens of women gathered in the room closest to the elevator as they wait for Alex and Kara to brief them; to fill them in on whatever the Hell is going on—to explain why they were asked to gather across town from the dingy basement they usually fight in.

It’s perfect, really, and Lena is thrilled to have found a way to help the club thrive; to have had the ability to make Kara’s dreams come true and offer up her building.

Lena grins as she stands at the back of the main room, sharing a sweet smile with Kara as the two Danvers sisters take their place at the front of the group. Kara doesn’t take the lead, but she stands side by side with Alex and reminds everyone that this is very much her club as much as it is Alex’s.

Proud enough that she could die, Lena sends her an approving nod just as Alex begins speaking.

“There’s gonna be some changes to Fight Club,” Alex announces, holding up her hand for silence. “Some of you will embrace them, and some of you may wish to leave, but this is how it’s gonna be from now on. You still don’t talk about Fight Club, that part isn’t about to—and will never —change, but thanks to a generous donor, we can make this club more accessible to more women.”

Lena stares straight ahead when she feels Andrea turn to look at her, feeling the way her best friend’s gaze burns into the side of her head.

“We have five rooms now,” Alex continues. “This room is where we all come together, but the other rooms will be used for different fighting levels. Newbies will fight the newbies until they are confident to come into this room and fight a woman in the level above them. But there will be no relegations.” Alex gazes around the room, “we’re here to let off steam and support each other, ladies, and you are all more than capable of choosing which room you’re fighting in.”

Alex claps her hands together, “it is time for us to remember why we’re all here and to ensure that every woman who steps into this building feels welcomed and safe; no matter how experienced or inexperienced they may be.”

“So,” Kara looks around the room, “who’s ready to begin our first meeting of the new Fight Club?”