Chapter Text
Lena didn't trust people. That must had been true for as long as she could remember. Growing up in the Luthor household, everyone was untrustworthy and not a single conversation was free from deceit or manipulation. That was why the would-be reporter was so refreshing.
Kara Danvers. When she asked her name it was Kara Danvers. A simple name that suited her. Such an ordinary, unassuming name, just like her cousin's Clark Kent.
Of course Clark was there to interrogate her. She had barely stepped foot in National City and already her brother's tainted legacy had soured his opinion of her. Clark Kent had dedicated his career to exposing Lex. Not that he didn't deserve it but Kara seemed willing to give her a fair chance. She was different from Clark Kent. That much was obvious from the start and Lena didn't want to like her but she did.
Supergirl made a very different first impression. The helicopter was crashing when Lena met her. She was holding on for dear life thinking, this is it. This is how my enemies get me, when the crash never came, held up by two strong arms as a blonde haired beauty appeared in front of Lena's eyes. Her gaze was firm, blue eyes fixed and determinated, full of reassurance that she would protect Lena.
Lena had never been one to swoon, never one to get caught up in physical attraction, far too busy and untrusting for that, but she had to admit that she swooned at the biceps, at the suit and the power. Supergirl lifted a helicopter like it was nothing, bullets bounced off of her like they were mere pellets of dust and Lena's crush started with those arms of steel.
Lena rushed back into her office several moments later to call and cancel the trip, but more so to recover.
Jess rushed in calling her name, asking if she was okay, mentioning something about the news but Lena wasn't listening. She reached for the control and turned on the screen in her office to the rolling news channel and there she was, Supergirl, videos of her holding the chopper, Superman and her splitting up so that he could chase the drones while Supergirl saved her all in red and blue.
And Lena herself, a regular damsel in distress, something she had vowed never to be. It broke every part of her personal pride but she could forgive herself this time for it, as anyone would have conceded and been dumbfounded by that strong amazonion figure of a women appearing before them like that.
Not amazonion she thought, Kryptonian, like Superman.
The thought saddened her as she seated herself at the edge of her desk, turning off the television and placing the remote down beside her. Supergirl, if she was anything like Superman would probably treat her like a villain. She was a Luthor after all. Supergirl saved people because it was what she did. She was a hero. Good people did that just because they should. Lena knew better than to get up her hopes that saving her meant anything to the hero. Today she was a damsel, tomorrow, Supergirl would be announcing her an enemy.
Stay focussed she thought. You didn't come here to make friends or to pursue silly crushes. You came here to make a name for yourself outside of your family.
Lena's heels just touched the floor as she perched there, giving herself only a moment's smile as she remembered Kara Danvers. As far as she was concerned that women was far more worthy of her time than Supergirl. She hadn't prejudged her. Lena had looked her directly in the eyes and they had been wide and full of wonder. She'd seen not even a hint of judgement in the way she'd looked at her and her awkward bumbling manner had been almost endearing.
"So guess who I met today?"
Alex turned her head as Kara flew into the apartment through the window, still in her office clothes.
"Hey, I know you told me to let myself in to get the popcorn ready for our movie night, but you could help instead of chatting."
Kara huffed and moved over to get some bowls while Alex shook and opened the large bag of microwave popcorn.
"Come on guess," Kara urged, placing the bowls down on the kitchen counter.
Alex smiled and lifted her head.
"Um... give me a clue. Was it a celebrity?"
"Sort of," Kara said. "In a way."
Alex poured the popcorn between the two bowls, tapping Kara's hand away as she tried to grab some of the popcorn before she was done.
"A political figure?"
Kara shook her head, sliding her bowl towards her and lifting it up as they headed over to the sofa.
"Come on," Alex said, "you've got to give me something."
"Okay, she," Kara emphasised, "runs a multimillion dollar company and is an accomplished scientist."
"Lena Luthor," Alex said, "why didn't you just say someone whose brother tried to kill Superman or the woman we spent today investigating for sabotaging the space plane."
Kara made a face as Alex searched around for the remote control.
"What?" Alex protested when she caught her gaze. "It's true. He's your cousin's greatest enemy or arch nemesis or whatever you want to call it."
"She's not her brother. We can't judge her because of what he did and she was the target not the perpetrator remember."
"Uh, yes we can judge her," Alex joked, "but I see your point. So you met her? What was she like? Was she stuck up? Was she all high brow like her brother?"
"I actually met her more than once. I was tagging along with Clark on his job and she was actually really nice. Oh and Supergirl saved her helicopter which I know that you already know but her first day in National City and Supergirl saves her. What are the chances?"
"With a Luthor, pretty high I would say."
Kara mock shoved her.
"Stop it. She was nice. I told you. Besides, she can't choose her family. Look at how I'm judged for my parent's mistakes or for being Superman's cousin. Everyone deserves a fair chance at making their own name for theirselves. She wants to help the city."
"Alright," Alex said, popping some popcorn into her mouth, "if you say so. Just be careful. Luthors and Supers somehow tend to always end up in conflict when they're in the same city."
Kara frowned at her sister. She disliked hearing her talk that way about Lena. Yes, she barely knew her but Kara could already tell that she was an incredible woman and she had noticed Kara and even told her that she seemed like a reporter. Kara's cheeks had reddened at Lena's words when she'd said that she wasn't a reporter.
Could've fooled me.
It had been the epiphany Kara had been waiting for, when it had hit her what she wanted to do for a career. She'd told Cat almost immediately after and Cat had shown her a large red scrawling on Kara's CV that she'd written all those years ago that said 'reporter'. Kara had been a little in awe of Lena to be truthful. The woman was beautiful and mysterious and had an aura about her that was dripping with cool intelligence.
Kara had been a little starstruck having seen her only in magazines and news articles before. Lena Luthor had managed to stay mostly out of the press, known as the quieter Luthor, publicity wise but an article here or there had done a profile on her that had caught Kara's eye. Chess champion, genius like her brother and with a love for science. Kara knew little about her beyond those facts but she desperately wanted to know more. Kara had to conclude that along aside from Cat Grant, Lena had to be about the most interesting person she had ever met.