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Kara's eyes are glued onto the clock in front of her. She knows this game, knows how long it can take. About five minutes. She knows this game so darn well...she's wondering exactly when it started and while she'd be glad to say she doesn't know- it's not true. It started the moment Cat told Snapper he was her new boss, it started the moment he denounced her as part of the team, it started the moment she gave him her first article with credited sources and an eyewitness account.
To be fair- the eyewitness was Supergirl...but her boss doesn't need to know Supergirl's secret identity. Especially not when Superman does the exact same thing and- okay so she tries to be better than he is...
Regardless. It takes Snapper five minutes to skim through her article and either walks in or call her to him in order to tell her how terrible the article is. In order to tell her, she needs to rewrite the entire damned thing because it's so awful he nearly had a nightmare reading it. The thought causes her to grumble already. After that, with her self-confidence in her writing shattered, Alex usually calls to ask her something, to talk, to tell her she'll be out with Maggie, to cancel sister night, or tell her they need her. After that, Winn will call her about modifications on her suit or ask her something because Mon-El just needs to know. Sometimes Cat calls to keep up with how she's doing. Then it's being called into James office, while he offers advice. Then it's-
She's tired of the game. Just utterly tired. It's not even a game anymore because she feels like she's losing it, it all exhausts her so much...it seems like only Alex and Cat remember she's human enough to need to recharge when people want a million things from her. She knows she's Kryptonian, she's an Alien, and people won't let her forget she could be a god if she wanted but she just wants a nice plush bed and to cuddle a certain someone.
She doesn't get to think more about what she wants because Snapper- or Snipper as Lena calls him walks in. She smirks at the thought before he's nearly yelling but not quite yelling.
Her eyes drop from the clock above her office door to watch him. She offers no comments or arguments, knowing very well that if she does he'll strike her down further. Metaphorically of course. He'll offer backhanded compliments that really sting her more than they offer earned praise. He'll even take her off of assignments for awhile and put her on coffee duty for a few weeks. She knows. She's done it before. It makes her want to call Ray Garrison and ask him to scare her boss- but she stops the thought when he's 'critiquing' how she's written the truth about Anti-Alien protests.
He purposefully set her up to fail on that one. He knows exactly how passionate about the subject she can get, he purposefully sent her to interview the worst Anti-Alien supporter there possibly could be in the city. Maxwell Lord. He knows who she is, but god- the man is as slimy and cringe worthy as they come. She still can't believe he hasn't been arrested for the Bizarro incident. She didn't comment on it. Just did as asked. Exhausted from all his low-key threats about telling the world maybe even CADMUS about who she is.
So Snapper is here yelling at her about it all. The fact she managed to write it with no bias at all, the fact it sounds a lot nicer than she was in person, and she's beginning to think he might be friends with Maxwell Lord. Regardless, the report is thrown on her desk and he leaves with a 'this is nice ponytail, but next time don't break a nose.' Now she has to take quotes from at least one person she knows on the subject. Going down the line until she finds someone who agree's with them. He's trying to break her or show her a reality- she doesn't know.
By the time he's done...she's exhausted. She's wondering what she's done to upset Snapper this much.
She picks up her phone and texts her sister, Alex.
Sunshine Danvers: Does the DEO need me?
Damnvers: Not at the moment
Damnvers: Why?
Sunshine Danvers: I'm going to go nap
Sunshine Danvers: Please tell Winn no to the cape modification
Damnvers: Plumerias?
Sunshine Danvers: Yes
Damnvers: Okay
She offers a relaxed sigh to no one but herself and is so glad that out of everyone- despite Alex's hesitancy to trust -her sister understands more than anyone else does. She can't help but smile at the thought and brings her eyes back to her phone, scrolling through contacts until she's found the right one. She's glad Alex is the one who's offered Plumerias as the code word. She chuckles at the contact name...maybe Alex was right...it's a little dramatic but feels true to Kara.
SunFlower: Can I steal your couch and nap?
Kryp2nite Eyes: Office couch?
SunFlower: Yeeesss it's comfy
Kryp2nite Eyes: Sure
Kryp2nite Eye: I'll notify Jess, but I'll be in meetings for awhile
SunFlower: Thank you soooo very much
Kryp2nite Eyes: Of course, darling
With that- Kara makes work of packing her stuff up. Technically she could stay and rewrite her assignment...she should...but a certain office couch is calling to her. She's happy she's gotten permission to take a spot in a place she feels incredibly comfortable in, just to take a nap. It feels like a pro, sometimes like she's taking advantage, but it feels nice to be welcome in a place that isn't just her own or Alex's and feels safe to be herself in. She's found it easy to just be there with its owner and take much-needed breaths. She can't help but smile at the picture in front of her.
She shoves her phone in her purse and steps out of her office, locking it, and sliding down the hall as quickly as she can without Snapper noticing her. It's difficult but she does it. However, coming across James' office is harder, she has to wait until he turns around and then disappears in a blur to reach the elevator before he can stop her and ask where she's going. She knows he won't like where she's going, but, she doesn't care tonight. She just wants to go nap and possibly convince someone to cuddle her like she feels like she needs. She's undeniably be called a puppy...again...but she doesn't care.
Once she's in the elevator, she lets out a breath of relief, it's a smooth ride from there. She could fly but the building she's going for isn't that far away. She can speed there. Walking out of the building makes her feel normal for a few minutes. Once the elevator dings she lets out another breath of relief that no one has called her yet and hopefully won't. She moves to the entrance, stepping out into the cold air.
She tucks her purse securely under her arm, zips her coat up, and moves her glasses so they won't be broken. She's gone in a blur, in the alley right beside the CatCo media building. It doesn't take her but a second to stop in front of the building she's after. She looks up and smiles at it fondly. There's irony in the fact she feels safe here, but she doesn't pay it any mind because Clark has used that against her. Who would have known Clark was prejudice...rightfully so against the name, but anytime they argue about it, he ends up hurting her. She forgives. Never forgets. Her smile turns into a sad one, so she decides instead of overthinking she'll go in.
The L-Corp symbol on the walls is prominent, people are filing out for the day. Her head tilts in curiosity but she doesn't think on it. She's tired. She wants that nap. So she moves to the front desk, the security guard knows her, can guess her being here and waves her through with a smile only to wink. It makes her flush and cough but gives a wave and scurry to the elevator before she can embarrass herself.
Everything from this point fills extremely familiar. She knows the exact floor to go to, she knows how many doors away it is from the elevator- down the hall, third right, ten doors -but she doesn't know many times she's been here. She lost count after the third time she was invited to come over for potstickers. She knew it was enough. It feels like part of her daily routine now, and she thinks that just maybe she could get used to that. She likes the idea of it a lot. It makes her smile. She takes her right and finds a tired Jess who watches her, but without hesitation points with her thumb for her to go in. She gives an apologetic smile. Jess shrugs. Too tired to care. Kara can relate.
So, Kara opens one of the double doors without knocking this time. She's met with a smile from Lena, who seems to be talking to her laptop, Skype meeting? It's over...purchasing another company? Or stocks? She's not sure because the moment Lena tilts her laptop screen down Kara scurries over and leans over the desk to give her a chaste kiss on the lips. Lena smiles at her and gestures to the couch. Kara can't help but grin at her girlfriend and does as permitted to. She questions nothing more.
She places her purse on the coffee table, kicks off her shoes, and lets herself fall onto the couch. Lena rolls her eyes with affection but ignores the man's question on what that sound was because she knows she can't stop Kara. Kara quickly adjusts herself to lay on her side, head tucked under a pillow to watch Lena talk. Lena gives her a small smile and she returns it in full force. Lena has to recover from forcing down a giggle, and it makes Kara feel gleeful she can make Lena Luthor giggle.
She relaxes into the couch and focuses on Lena. Her eyes trace the woman's features, her eyes, jaw, neck, curves, just to commit them to memory. Her ears focus on the steady beat of her heart. It's calming, the heartbeat, as heartbeats always have been for her. Eventually, she just drifts off before she can take her glasses off. A smile on her face as she does.
She dreams of Krypton tonight, but it's not of the nightmares she's used to. It's peaceful. Astra sits beside her on the roof of the building and tells her stories of heroes. Planets far away. Of how she had once beat her father for calling her mother something less than likable. It makes her heart ache that Astra's life ended the way it did. The Dream twists into another, and she's talking to Alex about something. She's not sure what's said but her sister looks proud of her.
Eventually, her ears pick up a shift in the heartbeat they'd been focusing on. She twitches awake just as she feels a hand brushing bangs out of her face. She keeps her eye closed but lets out a hum, knowing what Lena is asking for. She can hear the sound of shoes being kicked off and she lifts her arm. Lena slides onto the couch, with a tired sigh.
Kara feels warm arms wrap around her in a familiar way, she smiles but doesn't open her eyes. She drapes her arm over Lena's waist and is quick to let out a sigh. She shifts a leg to wrap around one of Lena's and tugs her closer even just a little. It's a wonderful thing because she can feel Lena let out a soft chuckle against her neck as she buries her face there. There's no sign of the normal tense posture Lena holds during the day towards nearly everyone else. She can feel Lena almost completely relaxed against her.
"Kara," she speaks, and Kara loves the soft tone Lena uses when she talks to her, "Do you want to go home tonight?"
Kara shakes her head, "No. Here you with, stay."
It takes her a minute before she realizes that made no sense...like at all and Lena chuckles at her. She can't help but sigh, she opens her mouth to correct herself, but Lena beats her to it as one of Lena's hands moves from around her to trail up her arm and her eyes close in peace. Kara's eyes close soon after.
"Alright, we can stay for awhile." She grins and leans forward, tucking Lena against her.
"I'm at peace with you." She means it.
Lena hums. Maybe they're both at peace. It's a nice thought. Kara hasn't had this before with someone, she doesn't want to lose it.
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