Chapter Text
It was long past the end of a normal workday, the sun nearly disappearing from the city’s broad horizon. Lena was sitting behind her large desk, engrossed in paperwork. Realistically, she could’ve left - should’ve left - but she found herself dreading going home. Her penthouse was tailored to her taste; luxurious, with a stunning view of the city, and protected with her own top-tier security. But it was painfully inauthentic.
She had 0 photos up, had picked none of the decorations, and had hardly spent any time there. The only evidence of life was the designer clothes meticulously hung in her massive walk-in closet and her well-lived-in office. Although Lena would never admit this, going home meant being alone. At work, she had people, even if they were intimidated by her.
Lena pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a tension headache coming on. These always happened at the end of a long day — what did she expect? She had been staring at formulas and money and her computer screen all day long, and while it was stimulating, it hurt her brain like crazy. She reluctantly shuffled the papers together, sliding them into a folder and the folder into her detailed filing cabinet. She packed up the things she’d need - her laptop, some files, and her phone.
She sat in her chair for a moment, allowing her eyes to shut and her brain to pause for just a moment. Lena felt a sense of dread wash over her at the prospect of going home, and wasn’t particularly interested in drowning her sorrows in whatever bottle of expensive alcohol was nearest. She sat there for a moment, her foot bouncing in the air, thinking about where to go.
She had no friends, not really, so that was a no. Anything outdoors was a no; it was uncomfortably cold. Lena went through a mental checklist of things she needed for the house, knowing that she needed nothing - she never used anything in there anyway. An idea popped into her head then, and she almost smiled.
Since she was a child, Lena found it incredibly easy to lose herself in the pages of a good book. Her favorites were classics, unsurprisingly, but she loved anything that could immerse her. National City had no good bookstores, only big businesses that didn’t need more money than they had. Hypocritical, maybe, considering how much money she had, but Lena preferred to buy well-loved books from somewhere more quaint.
She opened her bag, rifling through it to find her phone. After a quick Google search, she found a cute bookstore in the next town over. It was a bit of a drive, but the longer she was out, the better. It didn’t close until 10, and considering it was only 7, Lena knew she’d be fine time-wise. Feeling a bit lighter, she rose from her desk, her heels clacking on L-Corp’s marble floors as she made her way to the elevators. She strode past Jess’ empty desk, knowing that her assistant had gone home a few hours earlier. Even though she constantly stayed late, she knew it wasn’t fair to Jess. She had been with her for a few years now, and she was good at her job and didn’t poke around Lena’s business too much.
Lena jabbed the button for the elevator with a manicured nail, tapping her heel impatiently as she waited. There was nothing better than a bookstore, and she was craving that comfort like a drug. The doors moved apart with a ding, and Lena stepped inside, watching as they shut again. She ran a hand over her already perfectly smooth ponytail, hoping that she didn’t look like a hot wreck after the long day at the office. She had on a form-fitting, striped pencil skirt with a white blouse, and couldn’t help herself from smoothing out invisible wrinkles on her shirt. She paired her outfit with a long, black coat for the cold weather outside, and a pair of 5-inch, red-bottomed heels. Lena always wore top-of-the-line clothing - she had her whole life.
It added an extra layer to her armor and made her feel extra confident in the office. When she became CEO unexpectedly, she had worked her ass off to get the men in the office to respect her. They still didn’t, not really, but they feared her just enough to stand in line. That brought her more satisfaction than she’d care to admit, and she found herself never being able to shake off the “ice queen” reputation. Instead, she embraced it.
When she finally reached the ground floor, she strutted towards the exit, giving nods to the security guards. She shivered as the cold air hit her skin, her cheeks pinkening. National City was beautiful in the fall, with color-changing leaves that dusted the floor and a crisp cold that woke you up the moment you stepped outside. She found her car quickly, a sleek, black electric BMW.
Lena unlocked it, sliding into the leather seat and plopping her bag down in the passenger seat. The address to the store was plugged into the GPS, and she turned on the heat before backing out of the parking lot. She drove in silence, not bothering to fill it with music or a podcast. The silence was nothing new, and she found a bit of comfort in the normalcy of it.
The drive flew by, and before she knew it, she was pulling up to a run-down but cozy plaza. Different stores and restaurants littered the place, but she only had her eye on the store: Wanderlust Words. She stepped inside, a bell chiming above her head as the door shut behind her. Her eyes raked over the place, taking in every detail.
It wasn’t very large, but it was cozy. There was a small area in the corner with beanbags and a fireplace, presumably to hang out and read. Bookshelves lined every wall, and each section was labeled with the genre: history, fiction, romance, and so many more. The place was dimly lit, with sage green walls and a few computer stations in the back. Lena glanced to her right, absorbing the few registers and stations for hot beverages - just tea, hot chocolate, or coffee.
When she looked forward again, she was a bit startled to see someone coming towards her. They locked eyes, and Lena’s mouth went dry. The other woman gave her a beaming smile and stopped a few feet away.
“Hi, welcome to Wanderlust Words,” the woman said kindly, her voice soft. “Is this your first time here?”
Lena blinked, feeling a little stunned. Against her better judgment, this woman was gorgeous. She had long, curled blonde hair that fell in waves around her shoulders, and blue eyes that Lena could drown in. She was dressed in simple jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, but the shirt was tight enough that Lena could see defined biceps beneath.
The silence snapped Lena out of her trance, and she cleared her throat, feeling unexpectedly flustered. “Um, yes, it is,” she managed, trying to sound normal.
The blonde gave her a look but didn’t question it, her blue eyes twinkling. “Alright, well, if you want, I can show you around so you can get a feel of the place, or you can just wander. I’m Kara - I own the place.”
Lena raised a brow. “You’re the owner? Do you come here every day?”
Kara just smiled at her bluntness, seemingly unfazed. “Only a few days a week after work. I like to hang out with the regulars and check up on things, y’know?”
Lena nodded. There was nothing she knew better than the urge to check up on the conditions at work. “I’m Lena,” she said awkwardly after realizing she hadn’t introduced herself. “And.. a tour would be great.” She surprised even herself with that.
Kara didn’t even flinch. Her smile got brighter, if possible. “That we can do,” Kara mused, turning to face the store.
She guided Lena through every aspect of the store; every section, her favorites, and the best places to get some quiet. Kara chattered the whole time, and Lena found herself enjoying it. They ended near the back of the store, and Kara was stirring them both up some tea.
“So, you from around here?” Kara asked as she poured hot water into insulated cups.
Lena shrugged. “Something like that. I live in National City.”
Kara smiled wryly. “Ah, the city for the rich. Do you like it?”
Lena rolled her eyes fondly at the response. “I suppose. I relocated for work.”
The blonde looked intrigued at that. “For work? What do you do?”
Lena suppressed a sigh. She was definitely not about to tell this very attractive stranger her history. “I... help run a family business,” she said vaguely, muttering a soft ‘thank you’ when Kara handed her a cup of steaming tea.
Kara seemed satisfied at that, nodding. She took a sip of her own tea, the heat scalding her tongue. Lena found herself inexplicably curious about the other woman and decided to ask some of her own questions.
“Did you build this place up from the ground?” Lena asked, blowing on the steaming beverage.
Kara smiled, but it looked less enthusiastic, and Lena craved to know why. “No, I inherited it from my parents. I’ve been taking care of it since I turned 18, but it’s not my main income.”
Lena nodded. “That’s nice - it runs in the family. What else do you do, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Kara laughed, a carefree sound that made Lena’s heart warm. “As cliché as it sounds, I’m a writer.”
The brunette smiled at her words, shrugging. “It’s cliché, but in the best way. What do you write? Novels?”
Kara nodded in reply, taking a sip of her tea. “Yeah, but I haven’t gotten too far with that,” she muttered, a hint of self-deprecation in her voice.
Lena hummed sympathetically. She noted the dejected look in Kara’s expression and knew it was time to change the subject.
“I have to ask, how did you come up with the name for this place?”
The change in topic made Kara laugh in disbelief, feeling a small weight lift off her shoulders at the escape. “Well, my parents’ favorite movie was Wanderlust. When I was old enough, they let me watch it too, and it became my favorite. It’s really funny, and it just… worked.”
Lena smiled at the story, noting how it was a fond memory for Kara. She also noticed Kara’s speaking in the past tense, but she didn’t bring it up.
“I’ve never seen it,” she admitted, laughing at the bewildered expression on Kara’s face.
“Oh, you have to watch it. When you get home, find it, and watch it. And then come back and update me, because you will love it.”
Lena sipped her tea. “Fine, I will,” she muttered, and actually meant it.
Kara was later pulled away by some other woman, and Lena felt a pang at the loss of company. She roamed around the store, searching for a French romance novel to purchase. Lena eventually found one, and after checking her watch, knew it was time to go home. If she wanted to watch that movie tonight and still get up at 5, she had to get home.
She made her way to the register, her heels clicking against the wood. The cashier tried to make small talk, but the blunt responses from Lena showed him she wasn’t interested. She paid, took the book, and couldn’t help but look for Kara. She found her in the back, still talking to that lady, her head thrown back in laughter. Lena’s cheeks flushed at the sight of her, unable to contain the warmth spreading through her. Kara turned her head, and the two locked eyes. Lena smiled slightly, lifting her hand in an awkward wave. Kara turned back to the woman, speaking to her quickly before walking over to where Lena was standing.
“Leaving so soon?” Kara teased, crossing her arms.
Lena willed her eyes to stay on Kara’s face and not drift down to her arms. “Yeah, I have to get going. Early day tomorrow.”
Kara nodded, barely hiding her disappointment. “Aw, yeah. Well, I do hope to see you again. I enjoyed talking to you.”
Lena bit back a smile, feeling giddy. “I enjoyed talking to you, too.”
There was silence between them until Lena cleared her throat and forced her gaze away from Kara’s.
Kara smiled knowingly, seeing right through Lena’s facade.
“I’m here Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays,” she said. “Have a good night.”
Lena almost laughed at her casual confidence. “You too,” she said with a shake of her head before reluctantly turning towards the door.
She could feel Kara’s eyes burning into her back as she pushed open the door, the bell ringing again as cold wind whipped at her face. Lena could barely keep the smile off her face as she slid into her car, heading home with full intent to watch that movie.