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English
Series:
Part 1 of you are in love
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Published:
2024-09-26
Completed:
2024-09-26
Words:
3,049
Chapters:
2/2
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36
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549
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you are in love

Summary:

It happens on a Tuesday. Just your ordinary, run of the mill Tuesday.

If Kara had predicted the day when her life would change in the most inevitable way possible, she wouldn’t have guessed it would happen on a Tuesday.

Notes:

I started rewatching Supergirl back in May, and since then, I have read A LOT of supercorp fanfiction. One of my favorite genres/tropes is Kara not realizing she's in love with Lena until She Suddenly Does (TM), and I wanted to try my hand at it.

This fic is very much inspired by Taylor Swift's "You Are In Love" and is intended to be softer than your favorite old t-shirt. I also wrote a very smutty follow up to this fic, which I will likely post separately for those who prefer their fluff and smut to stay separate.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Chapter 1: Tuesday

Chapter Text

It happens on a Tuesday. Just your ordinary, run of the mill Tuesday.

Kara thinks that Tuesdays are the most unexciting days of the week. Saturday, Sunday, well those are a given. The weekends are always a highlight of her week, filled with brunch dates with Lena, visits with her niece, patrols around the city, sleepy mornings sipping coffee with her best friend. 

Some people hate Mondays, but Kara doesn’t mind them. The start of the work week marks new assignments, articles to review, new cases to discuss with Alex and J’onn, quick visits to L-Corp or the Luthor Foundation to bring Lena lunch. 

People love to hate hump day Wednesday, the mark of halfway through an arduous workweek. Thursdays are the promise of the weekend, and evenings are reserved for game nights with Kara's family. Fridays are the best of both worlds: the taste of the freedom of the weekend and the satisfaction of a job well done at work for the week.

But Tuesdays are simply that – Tuesday. Close enough to the previous weekend to make you miss it, but far enough from the upcoming one to make you feel like it will never come soon enough. If Kara had predicted the day when her life would change in the most inevitable way possible, she wouldn’t have guessed it would happen on a Tuesday.

This particular Tuesday is nothing out of the ordinary. Kara wakes up around seven, early fall sunshine flooding into her apartment. She makes herself a giant bowl of oatmeal for breakfast (are Lena’s healthy habits finally rubbing off on me? she wonders, then adds some chocolate chips to the bowl with fruit and nuts) and dresses in dark navy slacks and a light blue polka dotted button up. She styles her hair half up, half down, and glances at her glasses that still sit on her nightstand, unused these past months. She smiles at herself, then grabs her work bag and heads out of her apartment.

The morning at CatCo is filled with meetings. Cat accosts her immediately upon arriving at the office with questions about the upcoming issue, interspersed with jibes at Kara’s clothing (I pay you enough now, Kara, why do you still insist on shopping at department stores? Do you need the name of my stylist? Or perhaps ask Lena for hers?). 

Nia asks Kara about her article on the upcoming local elections, Nancy from layouts has an issue with the cover. The stack of articles to review grows on Kara’s desk. Alex texts to see if she can watch Esme this weekend while she and Kelly have a date night. 

It’s just your average Tuesday, and the morning flies by in a blur. Before she realizes it, Kara’s phone buzzes with a text from Lena. Still meeting at Noonan’s for lunch? Lena asks. Kara grins and types out a quick text in the affirmative before wrapping up a few emails and heading to the elevator.

Lunches with Lena are always a joy, no matter what day it is. Kara’s stomach does a pleasant little flip-flop as she spies Lena from around the corner, standing in front of the door to the restaurant. She’s looking down at her phone, engrossed in whatever email or report she’s reading. Kara’s eyes track up and down, from Lena’s high ponytail, to the thick chain necklace around her neck, to the sleek black dress she’s wearing that highlights the curve of her waist without being too scandalous, to her black stilettos. Perfect, as always.

Kara smiles. Lena’s always so busy, always works so hard. Regardless of her schedule, Lena always makes time for Kara. Some people might not understand the significance of that, but Kara does, and it makes her heart swell with something she can’t really put a name to. 

“Hey, you,” Kara says when she’s close enough. “Sorry to keep you waiting.” Lena looks up, smiles, and a warmth spreads throughout Kara. 

“No need to apologize, darling,” Lena locks her phone and pulls Kara in for a hug, placing a light kiss to her cheek. “Ready?”

Lunch is filled with anecdotes about their days so far (“What’s wrong with my clothes? You like my clothes, right?” “I think you always look wonderful, Kara.”), plans for the upcoming week (“Why don’t we take Esme to a movie on Saturday? That new Disney movie just came out. I’ll have Eleanor reserve tickets at the theater you like, with the reclining seats.”), and a lighthearted argument about the latest album from a mutual favorite artist (“Lena, if you didn’t cry during track five, you have no soul.”). 

It’s over too soon for Kara’s liking. Lena checks her phone and sees a metaphorical fire she needs to put out sitting in her inbox, and she presses a quick kiss to Kara’s cheek before heading back to L-Corp. Kara signs the check and stands up with a sigh, resigning herself to the inevitable organized chaos of the afternoon at work.

Sometime just after seven PM, Kara kicks her shoes off at the doorway of her apartment, hanging her work bag on the hook on the wall and untucking her shirt from her pants. She walks over to the couch and collapses onto it, springs groaning slightly under the Kryptonian’s sudden weight. Unlocking her phone, she glances at the time and taps on the local food delivery app. With a few more taps, she’s ordered enough food to feed a small army. 

Swiping out of the app, she opens her messages and smiles. The last text from Lena is a selfie — Lena sticking her tongue out at the camera, her middle finger raised (Kara had teased her about a somewhat unflattering, but still adorable, photo of Lena at a Luthor Foundation gala from a few weeks ago that was trending on social media). 

Blink twice if you need rescuing from work.

Kara, this is a text message. You can’t see me blink.

So you ARE still at work!! Lena!

Don’t worry, darling, I was just about to head home.

Come here instead?

I ordered lots of food

And we can watch something

Does any of this food include a vegetable?

TWO whole vegetables! Just for you!

Why, I’m flattered that you thought of me.

Be there in fifteen.

Kara is toweling her hair dry when she hears a key in the lock and the doorknob turn. She smiles as she throws the towel in her dirty laundry and crosses the apartment to meet Lena at the door. 

“Food should be here soon,” Kara says in greeting. Lena still looks as immaculate as she did at the beginning of the day, but her eyes are slightly dim, belying how exhausted she is. Still, her face lights up with a smile as she hands Kara her bag and kicks off her heels, bending over to place them next to Kara’s loafers.

Lena walks to the dresser and pulls out a shirt and sleep shorts. She keeps some spare pajamas in Kara’s dresser and a few work outfits hanging on Kara’s clothing rack, but tonight, she prefers to wear something of Kara’s. Lena’s changing in the bathroom when she hears a gentle knock on the door.

”Red or white?”

”Red, please,” Lena answers, pulling the shirt over her head and opening the door. A soft chuckle escapes her lips when she sees Kara standing in front of her, a glass of red already in her hands. With a shake of her head, she takes the glass from Kara. “Thank you.” 

The takeout arrives and they settle on the couch, Kara pressed against Lena’s side and a blanket thrown over them. They squabble good-naturedly about what to watch (“If I don’t finish the last half of Bridgerton, I’m going to die, Lena. You don’t want my death on your hands, do you?” Kara doesn’t miss Lena’s nose wrinkling in distaste.) as Kara shovels fried rice into her mouth and Lena picks around the stir fry Kara ordered for her. 

They compromise by putting on an early 2000s sitcom they’ve both seen before, feet reclining against the coffee table and Kara’s arm around Lena, stroking up and down her bare arm, and the evening passes like any other Tuesday night.

Kara’s eyes open sleepily in the middle of the night. She glances at the clock. 11:37 pm. She’s surprised that she managed to get both of them into bed at a reasonable hour.

Moonlight floods through her apartment windows, casting shadows over the bed, but Lena’s face is visible across from her. Kara’s blue eyes trace Lena’s features – her forehead, normally creased with wrinkles, is currently smooth and peaceful in sleep. Her eyelashes flutter slightly as she dreams. The slope of her nose is so pretty. Kara has never really noticed it before, but it just is. Her eyes track down to Lena’s soft cheeks, to her lips. Parted slightly, a light rosy red. 

It occurs to her suddenly that she’d like to know how they’d feel against hers, what they’d taste like. 

Kara smiles, bringing her hand to stroke Lena’s cheek softly. 

A quiet inhale. Green eyes flutter open. 

And…oh. 

The final piece of Kara’s heart slots into place. She understands now. Understands what’s been there this whole time, that she could never put to words in her mind or out loud to anyone else. One minute, it wasn’t even something she had ever considered, and the next, the truth is written in her soul, as if it had always existed, and it feels so right, in a way that she couldn’t have imagined previously. 

Of course. That’s it. It’s like that.

Lena looks sleepily up at Kara and reaches blindly for the hand still stroking her cheek. Fingers intertwine. 

“Lena,” Kara says softly into the dark bedroom, a small smile slipping up her face. “My Lena.”

Lena blinks slowly a few times, and Kara’s heart swells with affection. The raven haired woman nuzzles her cheek into their entwined hands, and Kara can’t help herself. She leans forward and places a slow kiss on Lena’s forehead, the tip of her nose, both of her cheeks, and then…

Kara captures Lena’s mouth in a soft kiss, pink lips pressing gently against red. A small sigh. Kara can feel the corners of Lena’s mouth tick upwards, smiling softly into the kiss. 

They stay there like that for a few moments, neither moving, relishing the feeling of their joined lips. Finally, it’s Lena who pulls away slowly. Her warm eyes search Kara’s face, and whatever expression Kara is wearing must be enough, because her smile widens, and she lets out a little huff of a chuckle. 

Kara shakes her head and wraps her arms around the smaller woman’s waist, pulling her towards Kara’s chest. They shift around on the mattress for a few moments until Lena’s head rests on Kara, her arm slung over Kara’s stomach and their legs intertwined. 

Kara sighs happily as she drifts back to sleep.

Chapter 2: wednesday

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

It’s early on Wednesday morning. Kara’s brow furrows as her hearing starts picking up the neighbor’s radio, honking from weekday traffic down the street, a spoon clanking against glass. Sunlight is beginning to stream in through the thin gauze of the curtains over the windows.

Kara rolls over and sits up, wiping her eyes blearily.

“I didn’t meant to wake you, darling, I’m sorry. I have a meeting with the Berlin office this morning,” she hears Lena from across the apartment. 

Kara blinks the haze from her eyes, which settle on a small, thin figure approaching the bed. Her eyes focus a bit more, and she sees Lena, her Lena, dressed in a smart scarlet blazer and black silk button up shirt. Her hair is slicked up into a ponytail and she holds a to-go mug of coffee.

“Mmm, that’s okay. You should’ve woken me up. I’d get up and get ready with you,” Kara’s voice cracks with sleep. 

“Of course, Kara,” Lena laughs at her tired, squeaky voice. “Next time, alright?” She sets the mug down on Kara’s bedside table and sits on the edge of the bed. “Lunch later?”

“Yes, please. What do you want me to bring you?”

“Surprise me,” Lena says with a grin. 

“I can do that,” Kara’s lips echo the smile back. Lena reaches out to cup Kara’s cheek, and she looks deeply into Kara’s bright blue eyes. Slowly, she leans forward and presses a kiss to Kara’s lips.

Soft, warm, tingly, perfect. Everything she never knew she wanted. Except…

“Mmm, Lena, no fair. I have morning breath and you’ve already brushed your teeth,” Kara mumbles as Lena pulls away. Lena’s melodic laugh makes Kara’s heart swell with adoration.

“I don’t care. One more?” Kara nods and leans forward, hands fisting lightly at the lapels of Lena’s blazer to hold her in place.

One press, two presses, three. They get lost in the moment, until Lena sighs and pulls back.

“As much as I’d love to do this all morning, if I don’t leave now, I’m going to be late,” Lena breathes, reluctantly pulling away. 

A grumble settles low in Kara’s throat. “Fine. Your work ethic is one of the many things I love about you.” 

There’s no surprise or shock from the words Kara has uttered, for either of them. It’s simply the truth that’s always been there, always been mutually understood between them, even if the words had never been said out loud before.

Kara presses one more quick kiss to Lena’s lips. “See you later, sweetheart.” Lena grins and strokes Kara’s cheek before standing and heading to the door.

Kara flops back against the bed with an elated sigh. Kissing Lena had never been a thought that had even crossed her mind, and now she knows what Lena’s lips feel like against hers, knows what she sounds like as she exhales and surrenders to the press of Kara’s lips. 

It’s a moment before Kara realizes she’s floating a few inches above the mattress. She never imagined kissing Lena before, but now she couldn’t imagine a world where she didn’t kiss Lena at least once a day. Her heart flutters wildly inside her chest. 

It’s Wednesday morning. Wednesday, hump day, middle of the week. Generally not a day for much excitement, but Kara is full of jitters with the plans she has for the day. 

Emboldened, Kara lowers back to the bed before swinging her legs over to sit up on the edge, grabbing her phone from its place on her nightstand. She swipes through her contacts until she sees the name Eleanor Smith (Lena’s Assistant), and starts a new text message.

Kara’s feet hit the floor of the balcony, and through the large windows in Lena’s office, she sees that her plan has been executed perfectly, thanks to Eleanor. She can’t help the grin spreads over her face as Lena spins in her chair to look out the window at her. 

Their eyes connect, Kara’s glimmering with mischief. Lena shakes her head and laughs, standing and crossing the office to open the balcony door for Kara.

“So, my office is filled with flowers, as you can see,” Lena begins, a sly smile on her face. 

“Oh, what a surprise,” Kara says cheekily as she leans in to kiss Lena gently on the corner of her mouth. She enters the office and sets down the bag of Indian food (Lena’s favorite, but she rarely asks for it) on the table. 

“I left my office this morning for a meeting, and imagine my surprise when I returned,” Lena continues, crossing to the couch. She folds her leg underneath her as she settles in. Kara rustles with the to-go bags, pulling out containers and sorting them on the table.

“Huh. I wonder who would do such a thing,” Kara jokes as she joins Lena on the couch. Lena reaches out and grabs Kara’s hands, entwining them in hers.

“Hmm, surely I have no idea. And dahlias too. You know they mean a lasting bond and commitment, right?” Lena asks with an arch of her brow.

“Oh, wow, Lena, that’s huge! Too bad you don’t know who your secret admirer is,” Kara pokes her stomach playfully. Lena giggles and squirms. 

“Seriously, thank you Kara. They’re beautiful. You didn’t have to,” Lena says softly, earnestly. Kara smiles and gazes deep into Lena’s mismatched green eyes.

“Yeah, I did, Lena. You’re beautiful. So beautiful, and wonderful.” Kara takes a deep breath. Lena’s cheeks flush at the unexpected praise. “Will you be my girlfriend?” 

It’s simple. It means so much. It’s inevitable. It’s everything to Lena.

She cocks her head curiously. “Yes. Of course, darling. I’ve always been yours,” Lena says simply. “I’ve just been waiting for you to figure it out.” 

“Yeah?” Kara grins, scootching closer to Lena on the couch. “Sorry it took me so long.” 

“What changed?” Lena asks, fiddling with the cuff of Kara’s button down. Kara looks up at her thoughtfully.

“I don’t know. Everything. And nothing.” Lena nods, as if she understands perfectly. 

Suddenly, Kara shifts on the couch and kneels, bringing one leg across Lena to straddle her lap. Taking Lena’s head in her hands, she leans down to capture Lena’s lips in a sweet kiss. Lena’s arms move to wrap around Kara’s waist, pulling her close, close, closer, as close as she can get.

Kara sighs into the kiss. Lena’s warm where she’s pressed into Kara’s chest, her breath a mix of coffee with a slight sharpness of mint from her toothpaste. The kiss is deep, loving, and Kara’s every nerve is on fire, desperate to feel the softness of Lena’s body against hers. 

“Now that I’ve kissed you once, I can’t get enough of you,” Kara admits shyly between kisses. “I can’t believe we haven’t been doing this before. Look what I was missing!” Lena leans in to boop Kara’s nose with her own.

“Well, lucky for me, my afternoon’s clear. I wonder how that happened,” Lena says playfully, weaving her fingers through Kara’s long, wavy hair.

“Hmm. I’m sure your girlfriend had nothing to do with it,” Kara says into Lena’s mouth as she captures her lips again.

It should just be any ordinary Wednesday, but it’s so much more than that.

Notes:

Thank you for reading! You can find me on tumblr.

Notes:

Thank you for reading! You can find me on tumblr.

Series this work belongs to: