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National City was a lot sunnier and brighter than Metropolis, and her company’s new building was more sleek and modern than the odd mix of art deco and blocky 1930’s architecture they had once been housed in. She didn’t like to admit it, but the green glass of the skyscrapers was rather pretty with the clear blue skies. Lena had always been one to prefer the cool sterility of her climate controlled labs, but even the positive energy of the west coast with its looming deep green mountains almost made her want to go have a summery drink on a bay-side patio.
It was obnoxious.
Almost as obnoxious as the blonde CEO of Zor-El Industries, Kara Danvers.
Lena sank into her chair and let herself roll with a push of her heel, steadying her momentum with her hand on the thick stack of folios she needed to review. The sterile smell of her new-ish office was still interrupted by the lingering clean floral notes of Miss Danvers’s perfume-a sleek toned vision in lavender she was trying not to watch strut away and out of L-Corp’s top floor. Of course, she failed, and her eyes were drawn to the subtle sway of powerful flared hips as polite cheery laughter weaseled its way under her skin. She shifted uncomfortably and adjusted the sleeve of her blazer rolled to her elbow, crossing her legs to balance herself in her seat.
No, Lena didn’t hate her. Dislike her a little? Maybe. Intimidated? More than she’d like to be. But it was a frustratingly exciting kind of intimidated, the kind she hadn’t felt since butting heads with Jack Spheer and Sam Arias in her PHD program.
A challenge .
That’s who Kara Danvers was.
“Miss Luthor? You have a visitor.”
Lena looked up with a soft frown. She focused on her assistant Jess-who legitimately looked nervous-and opened her mouth to refuse just as a tall, slender woman in lavender slipped past her. Lena’s focus went from Jess straight to this unannounced visitor-
“Miss Danvers? What… a surprise.”
Tall, trimly lean with toned arms, and shaggy wavy hair half-pinned back in a casually windswept style.
Kara Danvers of Zor-El Industries clicked into her office in tasteful nude heels and a sleeveless skin-tight dress of a lovely lavender.
“I’m so sorry to interrupt, Miss Luthor, I had tried to make an appointment but was unable to get through.”
Lena gawped at the woman, who took an open and inviting pose next to her assistant. What truly surprised her despite barging in unannounced, was that she had also addressed Jess in her apology. She should have expected the kind gesture of manners, it had been listed at the top of the dossier Jess and her other assistant Querl Dox had gathered for her. But to see it in person, from someone who held just as much social status as she did? It was pleasantly refreshing.
Kara Danvers cocked her head to the side, her lips pursing into an earnestly patient expression.
A jolt of embarrassment shuddered through her as Lena realized she had been staring.
“Oh, yes, the phone lines are still giving us trouble.” She recovered with a smooth lie, shooting Jess a nearly imperceptible plea for help.
The phone lines absolutely were not giving them trouble and were perfectly functional. Kara Danvers certainly had a smartly downplayed pretentiousness under her carefully crafted deposition. Alarm bells were clanging in Lena’s head, but it would backfire horrendously on her if she refused to accept her impromptu visit.
All her assistant could manage was a minute grimace and Lena strapped in for an unplanned social tax with her heart hammering in her throat.
“Jess, thank you.” She dismissed her with a nod, and then gestured to one of the white bucket seats in front of her desk. “Please make yourself comfortable, Miss Danvers.”
The lithe Kara Danvers murmured a soft word of thanks and slid into one of the seats. Lena watched Jess retreat, spying two other people with visitor's badges waiting dutifully in the sitting area. A tall willowy young woman and a shorter compact man, both with brown hair and both projecting something she could only define as Nerd. Lena decided they were most likely her visitor’s assistants as the glass door hushed closed.
Lena turned her attention back to the woman in front of her and almost reacted from surprise.
Kara Danvers, the polite CEO of Zor-El Industries had been shed to expose Kara Zor-El Danvers, decorated scientist and cunning business woman. Her shoulders were squared and broader than Lena had first realized. She watched curiously as long fingers reached up and slide the trendy glasses from her face. Kara Danvers’s eyes were a piercing blue and for a moment, Lena was almost intimidated.
“I do appreciate you taking time out of your day, Miss Luthor.”
She smiled benignly, but the undercurrent of danger was present.
Lena inhaled quietly through her nose and drew up her own nonchalant and distant armor with a polite smile. “Well, I wouldn’t dare say no…”
The sound of her closing her current folio in a rustle of papers gave her a moment to mull her choices over. She cleared her throat gently, truly curious about why this woman was in her office.
“…though it does seem I didn’t have a choice in the matter.”
Kara Danvers smiled a little wider, her eyes squinting but the gesture not quite reaching them. She wasn’t called the woman of steel for nothing, and Lena could feel it full-force.
“I just wanted to personally welcome you to National City. I had been keeping up with your company’s move from Metropolis thought you might like to see a friendly face.”
Lena sat forward in her chair and laced her fingers together, her elbows planted firmly on her desk. It was true the welcome to National City had been barely lukewarm, but it hadn’t been overly hostile. This encounter, however, had her hackles raised.
“I didn’t know there was a girl’s club.”
Kara Danvers smiled wider yet and Lena thought she was staring down a shark.
“There’s no club, Miss Luthor. We’re all business here. Of which precludes many things, I’m sure. No, not only did I want to welcome you, but I wanted to learn a little more about your company’s focus. From you personally, of course. CatCo writes interesting articles but they can always be so… hyper-edited.”
Lena tried not to narrow her eyes at the subtle dig, her own polite smile still firmly planted on her face.
“Well, as stated in that interview, we do a generous variety of work focusing on improving quality of life and environmental agency. I would give you a tour of our labs for a more in-depth review but we’re currently working through some important developmental stages. Trade secrets, unfortunately.”
“Oh, too bad. I had heard some of your more… nebulous projects had some similar qualities to ours, I was curious to see the differences. We were a little concerned about our patent protections, nothing too terrible. I do hope it won’t come to that point?”
Realization trickled uncomfortably down Lena’s spine and she just barely held herself back from lashing out with a sharp tongue. In fact, she was almost a little insulted. Who was this Kara Danvers to insinuate that she would stoop to stealing? Lena squared her shoulders and pinned the woman with a flinty stare. Lena didn’t take the bait, but she did kick it back into the other woman’s face.
“While I and my team do take note of new creations and products, as good scientists and inventors do, L-Corp abides by copyright law. In fact, many will tell you there are rare new ideas but a multitude of ways to execute the known. I am confident L-Corp won’t step on Zor-El Industries’ toes.”
Kara Danvers eased her sharky grin into a polite smile. She ducked her head and slid her glasses back on, her frame softening as she stood and transformed into the bright sunny woman the public knew.
“It’s reassuring to hear that. Great minds do think alike, after all. But I’m afraid I may be encroaching a little too far into your busy schedule.”
Lena almost got whiplash from polite, to steel shark, back to polite in under ten minutes. She could still sense the warning tones in the other woman’s voice and didn’t let her guard down just yet. But despite that, she remembered herself and stood to conclude Kara Danvers’s unwanted free advice encroachment.
“Not at all, it was a pleasure to have you.”
Lena held her hand out to shake and Kara Danvers took the prompt immediately, the toned muscles in her arm shifting as she reached out and pumped their clasped hands. Lena could feel the small calluses from real work on her manicured fingers and the strength in her grip.
“Thank you, Miss Luthor. I hope you’ll decide to come visit us?”
Lena released her hand and inclined her head politely, planning to absolutely not visit her new rival if she could help it.
“Perhaps a visit will be in order soon, I’ll have Jess check my schedule.”
Kara Danvers grinned, bright and sunny.
“Perfect.”
Lena quickly put the tense meeting out of her head and buried herself in her work for the next lean year.
L-Corp successfully rebranded. New bylaws were created and implemented with the new board of directors. New patent registrations and claims were addressed, reparations for previous employees from Lex’s leadership were fulfilled out of court, and Lena personally went through the entire catalog of everything that had been developed or proposed through the company’s history. It was terribly exhausting, and a lot of more recent work from the past two decades met an abrupt end in an incinerator. Her direction of L-Corp would result in as little death as possible if she had her way.
Things were mostly smooth sailing too. L-Corp launched two new lines of technology and had a third in the pipeline on the fast track to production. The long battle of repurposing some of the more mundane and harmless technology left over from Lex’s leadership provided some padding for research time for her and her team’s projects.
In fact, things were going a little too smoothly.
In Lena’s experience, it was only a matter of time for her to find the root of her weird gut feelings. Things were never so easy and it was unnerving. Lena was on pins and needles for weeks until the shoe finally dropped. It came in the form of a barely-polite press comment and she was almost relieved that she hadn’t just been imagining things.
Zor-El Industries maintains its stance on cleaner products for the good of humanity. Often ideas for technology can be repeated through chance, and then it becomes a race to the finish. However Zor-El Industries never rushes, we take our time to deliver the best of the best.
It had been tucked away in an interview with the CEO Kara Danvers herself, the question pertaining to new competition with L-Corp and Starr Labs. Lena knew that Starr had some trouble with sourcing materials cleanly and recently settled a large lawsuit, but L-Corp?
Lena sat and stewed for the better part of a morning, picking apart the three-sentence answer before paging Jess.
“ Yes, Miss Luthor? ”
“Would you send Querl up, please? I want to do a quick quality overview of our current and upcoming projects.”
“ I’ll send him up shortly. ”
Lena murmured a thank you and started trawling the news for other articles that could be aimed at L-Corp or Starr. She did have an entire media team to do this for her, and sent a quick note off to the head of her PR team-who promptly informed her they had seen the comment and were looking into it. Realistically Lena knew that she should just let them handle the entire thing, which was barely a situation in the first place, but she couldn’t help it. She didn’t work this hard to let some snooty blonde know-it-all take pot-shots at her back.
The glass door to her office swished open and a man of perfect nineties heartthrob hair and tanned skin strode in. Dressed smartly in a button up under a patterned vest and pressed slacks, he was barely visible behind the large crate he was carrying that rattled when he walked.
“Good morning, Miss Luthor. I have brought up everything that pertained to your request.” He huffed evenly, his face turning red as his arms trembled from the weight of the box.
Lena startled and leapt up from her seat. “Of for fuckssake Querl, I keep telling you to use a damn wheelie cart .”
He frowned at her fussy comment and slip of her accent but let himself be directed to the low coffee table, steadied by Lena’s hands on his back. The box rattled as he set it down and they both flinched when the low narrow table tilted ominously. Querl promptly centered it and straightened up with a groan.
“You have never asked for a full quality review, I didn’t think it would be useful to waste time trying to convince one of the custodians to lend me a hand truck.”
“I would rather wait than have you injure yourself.” She pursed her lips, accepting the sleek tablet that had been balanced in the top of the crate. “I hope you didn’t.”
“No, I don’t believe so.” He muttered, carefully wiggling his back and hips with a deeper frown.
Lena couldn’t help but raise a brow at him in exasperation as he tilted his upper body and flinched. “I will be annoyed if there needs to be a worker’s comp form because you didn’t use that big brain of yours.”
Querl grimaced. “My apologies, Miss Luthor.”
Lena sighed and keyed open the tablet. “Don’t let me hear you’ve brushed off an injury. Then I really will be cross with you. Sit down, please, and rest before you make it worse. Ah -“
Querl froze with wide eyes, hunched over and arms extended to the box. Both of Lena’s brows were up now and she was pinning him with her best board room look.
“I said rest, please . That includes keeping your back straight and still for a moment.”
He nodded and blushed a little from her gentle rebuke, but sat back. “Of course, Lena.”
“Trust me, you don’t want a hurt back. It takes forever to heal.” She murmured softly and handed him the tablet. “Shall we begin?”
“Yes, Miss Luthor.”
In all, there was nothing of concern to be found.
Everything that L-Crop released was properly researched, reviewed, up to all regulation standards-and beyond in some cases, and of the best quality they could produce. Their production factories were safer than they had ever been, morale was up, stocks were up, the board of directors and shareholders were happy, and everything was trending away from disaster. Yes, they were moving quickly to make up for lost time, but everything in use had been sitting approved in a lab for years under Lex and simply needed updates and tweaks.
But yet more comments were made.
This time the most inflammatory came after the announcement of their new smart watch to pair with the new tablet and phone line that had been in L-Corp’s first product launch. An underhanded comment on originality and doubt of quality compared to Zor-El’s established and highly successful line of first responder technology.
It took Jess and Querl as well as Lena’s head of PR and her personal lawyer an entire two days to talk her down from retaliating.
Logically she knew that these jabs were meant to set her off balance into a blunder, to make her doubt what she was doing and to chase away competition. Logically, using your opponent’s weaknesses was fair play. Logically , Lena knew that Kara Danvers was a person who held very firm stances on right and wrong to the point of failing to see the middle ground.
Lena lived in the middle ground.
And Lena thought Kara Danvers needed to get her nose out of her business.
Which is exactly why she had Jess and Querl call her a car and accompany her to Zor-El Industries on the third day of wanting to wring the other woman’s neck.
Of course her counsel had strongly advised against such a trip, but Lena would not be persuaded. She was too busy to deal with school yard gossip and decided going straight to the source would be the best choice of action. However she did give the other CEO some warning, a luxury she had not been afforded some months ago. A quick phone call to Kara Danvers’s personal line was shocking enough for her business rival , having never given the number to Lena in the first place. It had allowed her easy entry to the premises, an immediate allowance of visitor badges, and a direct elevator ride straight to the top of the geometric green glass building.
It was truly a beautiful building. Open, warm, and welcoming. There were bright colors and fresh flowers and even her employees seemed to be determined yet upbeat. Not once did they shoot her a nasty glance as she clicked purposefully through the workspace on the uppermost floor, though there were the surprised gasps and whispered comments. Ahead of her was a large office separated from the top floor with a glass wall, and one tense looking Kara Danvers with her back to the floor accompanied by the same two assistants. She looked nervous and Lena tried not to let that small grain of satisfaction distract her. Hatred and cruelty wasn’t the name of the game for her, even if those Luthor habits were hard to break.
“Shall we wait outside for you, Miss Luthor?” Querl asked quietly as they drew close enough to catch Danvers’s assistants’ attention.
“No, I think I’d like your steady temperaments.” She muttered back, barely moving her mouth.
A soft acknowledgement of yes, Miss Luthor from the both of them reassured her, and they kept walking as one of the assistants rushed to open the office door for them. She was a tall willowy woman with long brown hair swept into a bun, just as effortlessly as Kara Danvers’s presentation.
“Good morning, Miss Luthor. Thank you for visiting Zor-El Industries. Miss Danvers is waiting for you.”
Lena strolled to a stop with her chin high, and projected calm aloofness the media liked to twist into bitchiness .
“Good morning, I apologize for my abrupt visit.” She eased a small polite smile into her features, enough to be cordially unsettling. “I do hope I haven’t caused too much disruption.”
The young woman swallowed thickly, her dark eyes darting between the three of them nervously. “Oh-um. No, no ma’am not at all. Please, come in.”
Lena murmured a thank you and clicked past her, privately thankful she had worn a pair of heels that made her feel a little extra powerful. To make a true statement and bolster her own bravado, she had picked out a black number of perfectly tailored slacks and a tight long sleeved top that hugged the column of her throat. An artfully trimmed slit from left pectoral to right trapezius bisected her chest in a thin strip of pale skin in what she would deem business femme fetale . The tight bun was a little too tight along her temples, but it was too late to loosen. She needed all the help she could get as she faced down the towering Kara Danvers dressed in pinks and nudes.
“Miss Luthor! What a pleasant surprise, welcome to Zor-El Industries.”
Lena was nearly blinded by her megawatt smile and politely took her extended hand in greeting. “I hope I haven’t caught you at a bad time.”
“No, not at all. How can I help you?”
Lena watched the other CEO retreat to her desk that dared to be tastefully cute, and accepted a small little round device from Querl. That caught Kara Danvers’s attention, and Lena watched her piercing blue eyes narrow in suspicion.
“Your assistants are welcome to stay for our conversation. Mine are.”
“May I ask what you’re holding?” Her competitor asked tightly, waving her assistants to her side as she hit a command on her sleek keyboard.
There was a curious sound, not quite electrical and not quite mechanical, and Lena turned her head just in time to see the glass wall and door frost over. A neat trick for privacy, and Lena happily dropped her polite expression for ice. She didn’t take joy in how Danvers’s assistants flinched, the man even taking a half step back.
“A jamming device to prevent you from recording me.” She watched Kara Danvers’s eyes widen and held it out. “Would you mind if I used it?”
Lena watched the muscles in her throat bob with a swallow and annoyingly noted that had they not been rivals, she would be happy to admire the curve of her chin and bow of her lips.
“Of course not. And please, do have a seat. But may I ask the purpose of your visit?” Kara Danvers laced her fingers together in front of her keyboard after gesturing to comfortable looking seats.
Lena didn’t sit.
She clicked the device and Querl pulled his phone out. He thumbed at his screen, the motion visible in her peripheral as she stared down Kara Danvers, and waited until he gave her the all clear, Miss Luthor .
“I am here today to personally address some of your press comments directed towards L-Corp and its properties. I have filed so many lawsuits for defamation I can do it in my sleep. This is your only warning, Miss Danvers. Be glad that I’m giving it to you.”
Her competition dropped her own polite shroud and stood from her seat. Lena watched her cross her impressive arms over her chest and kept her breathing calm. She would not be goaded into retreat by physical intimidation.
“I assure you, Miss Luthor, a little friendly competition is all I’m aiming for.”
“A public jab at the integrity of my company is not friendly competition .”
Kara Danvers slid her glasses off and stared her down, unmoving steel as she set the frames on her desk and propped her fists on her hips. “I had hoped you would have taken my advice.”
Lena felt her patience fraying. “I didn’t move my company to this muggy swamp city to braid hair and gossip. I made no such promise to play nice or bend to your definition of friendly competition .”
“You are playing close to multiple patent lawsuits, Miss Luthor.” Kara Danvers warned, and Lena couldn’t help but look down her nose at her.
“Of course I’m not , Miss Danvers, I’m utilizing technology Lex dreamed up and shelved before you even considered this job. I’m not here to keep making bombs with the best shrapnel explosion radius or launch the new SkyNet. I’ll be damned if L-Corp stoops to any level of harm. I’m here to work and divorce myself from my family. Surely that isn’t rocket science to understand.”
The strength in Kara Danvers’s frame comically deflated with her last two heated sentences, and it was the most confusion reaction Lena had been expecting. She hadn’t expected the soft decline of her head nor the immediate retreat as she slipped her glasses back on. In fact, Lena thought she almost looked guilty. Kara Danvers? Folding at the drop of a hat? Who was this woman?
“I understand completely.” Kara Danvers conceded. “I apologize for my comments, they won’t happen again.”
It was too easy. Surely she was playing Lena for a laugh?
“You’re… giving in so easily? I thought you were the woman of steel?”
The tired smile that graced Danvers’s features as she sank back into her seat was one Lena knew very well. Chagrin, old trauma, grim camaraderie. Kara Danvers was no stranger to hurt and knew when to not push buttons that caused too much pain. She had been smart enough to spot Lena’s and back off.
“A sad family story for another time, I’m afraid. We’re more alike than I realized. Is there anything else I can help you with today?”
Lena hadn’t expected for such an anticlimactic conclusion, and the fuck off that had been burning in her throat slipped away. She clicked off the scrambling device and handed it to Querl, feeling unsatisfied and cheated out of her chance at confrontation.
“I believe that’s all, thank you for your time.” Lena remembered her manners stiffly, still confused and back on her heels. “Have a good rest of your day, Miss Danvers.”
And with that, Lena turned on her heel and strode to the door. Querl slid around her and tugged it open just as Kara Danvers called out one last time.
“Miss Luthor? I hope this isn’t the last time we talk.”
Lena paused, truly thrown for a loop, and looked back. The other CEO was standing again, this time her arms loose by her sides and her expression open and she was trying and by god, Lena didn’t know what to do.
So, she inclined her head in a nod, neither confirming nor denying a promise for further communication, and clicked out of Kara Danvers’s office.
True to her word, not another word was out of line.
Lena extended that same courtesy to Zor-El Industries, keeping her comments politely neutral. The less friction there was for her to deal with, the better.
Lena stayed hard at work. For nearly another year she sequestered herself away at L-Corp, dodged death threats and cars with cut brake lines, survived an attempted poisoning and three bomb threats, and now sported three new circular scars on her hip and right thigh courtesy of a drive by ordered by her brother. That had taken a lot of physical therapy and psychiatric visits. Lena was no stranger to harm and abuse, having grown up a Luthor, but now that Lex and Lillian were attempting to wipe her from the face of the earth she was reaching her limit. She was tired, lonely, but still so grimly determined to make a good mark on the world no matter how much time she managed to steal.
What was most surprising to her, was Kara Danvers herself had publicly commented in support of her and condemned the actions of those lashing out. And then, to Lena she had personally offered legal assistance and support for L-Corp’s employees through her own funds.
“ Why are you helping me ?” Lena had asked, pain from her recent surgery heavy in her voice.
“ You aren’t your family, Lena. Your actions have proven that over and over. At this point I think I’d rather try to be a friend. A real friend, or at least someone… I don’t know. Someone who would rather see you stay alive. ”
The kindness in Kara Danvers’s voice, even over the phone speaker, had brought her to tears.
Lena had accepted the olive branch without question, even if the word friendship still made her squirm.
Fully healed physically, on the mend mentally as best she could be, and back in her favorite pair of heels, Lena became unstoppable.
L-Corp was at the top of its game and proving to hold its own against Starr Labs and Zor-El Industries. The suspicious and scathing whispers behind her back turned into ones of awe of her resiliency after a few hard years of work, and even started to blend positive. There was still much to be done, and Lena took extra care to make her own products trend as far away from established Zor-El patents as possible. Firmly rooted in her own brand of technology, the work from her own head as well as her research and development teams gave the company a blossom of new material. The sky was the limit and Lena could feel the wheels finally leaving the tarmac.
The most surprising turn of events out of everything, was Lena’s opinion of Kara Danvers.
Somewhere along the way in her road to recovery and building up L-Corp, her annoyance with the woman decided it was better suited for approval. And dare she admit it? Attraction.
While Lena decided it would be extremely easy to just oogle Kara Danvers’s unfairly fit arms and toned physique, which Lena did so unabashedly, she found herself drawn to the real personality that crept through in their brief phone calls. She was intelligent, shrewd, steely, and bold and Lena enjoyed the challenge of her. But underneath those protective brash features was the softness of a woman who chose kindness where she could. An earnest willingness to try to look for the best in people, and a ferocity to protect those she cared about whether she knew them or not. It was a kindness that Lena ached for in their fast paced lanes of the rat race.
Early on Lena realized she wouldn’t be against more opportunities to spend time with Kara Danvers to see if this fledgling attraction decided to take root. And after months of hyping herself up as her craving for the other woman’s attention grew, she had just the excuse.
There was yet another product in their line of watches that sat awfully close to one of Zor-El Industries’ products. Like the first instance, it also was a piece of old Lex tech repurposed and upgraded through Lena’s machinations. Lena found her opportunity with this product, and gave Kara Danvers a call the week before the press release.
“ Kara Danvers .”
Lena took a deep breath.
“Hello Miss Danvers, Lena Luthor.”
“ Miss Luthor! To what do I owe this pleasure? ”
For once Lena could actually hear that she was genuinely pleased it was her calling and bit back her own pleased grin.
“I wanted to personally inform you of one of L-Corp’s newest products within our Spectre line. I had hoped to avoid miscommunication with a special showing before we announce next Tuesday. I have the box ready to be delivered to you upon acceptance.”
“ That is very generous but not necessary, I assure you. ” Her warm voice filtered through, surprisingly flattered.
“I insist.” Lena pressed, wanting very much for this to happen.
She heard a quietly surprised oh on the other end of the line and Lena could practically feel her shyness oozing through the receiver. It was, quite honestly, a little cute.
“ Of course, I would love to accept. Actually- ” Lena blinked as she cut herself off. And then-
“Would it be too forward to propose a business dinner this week? You could show me L-Corp’s new product in person? And… I do have a topic I would like to discuss with you, preferably not over the phone. One business woman to another .”
That had not been what Lena was expecting and her heart leapt into her throat. Her rehearsed conversation to speak to her over the phone evaporated in the face of her nerves. Here was an opportunity to get to know the woman a little bit better handed to her on a silver platter. How could she even think to say no?
“Oh. Erhm.” Lena scrabbled for her calendar, a little bewildered. “My schedule is packed this week… but if you would be open to it, I could host you at L-Corp?”
“ Unconventional. I like it. I’ll have Nia get in contact with your team this afternoon. Do you have a preference for which day? ”
“I can make the time no matter the day.” Lena answered boldly, unwilling to let this chance slip away.
“ You are full of surprises, Miss Luthor. I’ll see you soon. ”
And then, rushed and nearly breathless, Lena offered her, “Have a good day, Miss Danvers.”
Kara Danvers paused again, and she laughed softly.
“ You too .”
Jess and Nia coordinated a small catered dinner for the two of them on Thursday night.
Lena had a table and chairs brought up and create a private dining area on her balcony. The weather was pleasant and she could smell the ocean on the breeze. A white tablecloth and pressed napkins, polished flatware and modern china, Lena pulled out the stops without treading into territory that could be deemed too intimate. She did however offer a nice imported vermentino and a chilled sauvignon blanc with a fine pinot noir waiting in the wings.
And… yes she had chosen a more flirty outfit to change into after regular business hours. A pair of her favorite black heels and deep red slacks that hugged her hips just right were paired with a fashion-forward black top. A garment with a bold neckline that cut low across her chest and shoulders, held up by a wide black halter strap that looped up and around her neck. It was trendy and chic and made her neck and jaw look unfairly good with her hair swept up into a sleek bun.
Okay, so maybe she had a little romance on the mind. Kara Danvers was magnetic , and it was almost impossible to resist the pull of her presence as she slipped into her dim office.
“I hope I’m not too early?”
Lena glanced up from her screen, having heard the approach of her heels but clung to a few more moments to try to bolster her courage. The small digital clock on her screen read seven forty five and Lena grimaced. She had meant to pause a few moments earlier but one last computation had sucked her in.
“ Oh -no, Miss Danvers. I’m late. But if I could have just one more moment…?” Lena asked, her eyes flickering back to her screen.
Her guest tilted her head and Lena could see an easy smile. “Of course, take your time.”
Lena’s heart raced against her mild embarrassment and she murmured a thank you , then focused on wrapping up as quickly as she could. Without rushing, obviously.
Two minutes later Lena was logging her progress and locking her machine with notifications set for emergencies only. She rose with a tired sigh, her hip and thigh aching a little from staying still for so long, and found her guest seated nonchalantly on one of the white leather couches in her office.
Kara Danvers really was attractive.
She was a sight in a tightly tailored outfit of black patterned pencil skirt and sleeveless black top that showed off her toned arms. The column of her neck seemed more graceful in the low light with the high collar and the way her hair was twisted up off her neck and coiffed on the top of her head. Her black heels seemed almost severe. Austere in a way that sent an approving warmth curling down Lena’s spine. Kara Danvers knew she looked good, and Lena was happy to appreciate her effort.
“Thank you for your patience, Miss Danvers.”
The other woman looked up from her tablet and smiled warmly. “We’re both busy women, Miss Luthor. I can assure you I’ve done the same thing to many of my guests.”
Lena watched her rise smoothly to her feet and slip the tablet into her purse. She seemed even taller and her shoulders broader. Her heart did a funny little flutter in her chest as the soft light caught the curve of her jaw. However this was, by technicality, a business meeting. Lena schooled her features and extended her hand towards the balcony door.
“This way, please.”
Kara Danvers rounded her desk and Lena held the door open for her. She tried not to pay too close attention to her subtle clean perfume and followed her out. The waitress employed by the caterer had been waiting dutifully in a comfortable chair and rose to serve them, holding out chairs and pouring drinks. Lena eased into polite conversation as they meandered through light starters, aperitifs, and small spring salads. The wine flowed and entrees of fresh seafood caught just that morning were consumed with delight, and produced a kind word from Kara Danvers to pass on her compliments. Then delightful presentations of sorbet and edible flowers with generous pours of one of Lena’s preferred brandys for a digestif. The meal was exquisite and had Lena not been using it as a means to butter up her business rival, she would have easily called it a date.
“I have to admit, you certainly know how to put a girl at ease.” Kara Danvers admitted softly after their dishes had been cleared away and the waitress had retreated until called to clean up. “And the lighting centerpiece? What is it?”
Lena followed her gaze to the hollow glass piece, inset into a base of old circuitry and scrap pieces soldered into patterned fractal measurements. The water inside glass glowed a soft brilliant blue. A wave of nostalgia crashed through her chest and she reached out, feeling comforted by the cool metal against her fingertips and flattered that Kara Danvers had drawn attention to it.
“The last sculptural piece I made before I started my PhD. It’s a small self sustaining terrarium of bioluminescent dinoflagellates. This strain is one I rescued from an undergrad lab I TA’d for in my last semester for my Master’s. I usually keep it at home in my office, but I thought it would be an interesting conversation piece.”
“It’s beautiful. I didn’t know you created art.”
Lena was glad for the dim lighting hiding her blush. She kept her eyes locked on the glowing algae and let her mouth loosen.
“I used to. The comfort in calculating something beautiful isn’t what many would call art, but it was an acceptable form of expression in my family. I miss it, but I don’t have the time anymore.”
The other woman sighed and nodded in understanding, her long fingers slowly turning the low ball of brandy.
“Do you make any art?” Lena asked, finally looking up and tracing the straight line of Kara Danvers’s nose as she continued to look down at the light.
A crinkle formed between the woman’s brow and for a moment she looked exhausted.
“I used to paint. And write. For a long time I wanted to be a reporter like my cousin, but then family pressures and circumstances led to degrees in engineering and other subjects… and here I am. I do enjoy what I do, but like you, I just… don’t have the time to create for myself anymore. Maybe if I ever retire.” She finished with a wry grin, dark eyes flickering up and peering over trendy glasses.
“I hope I make it that far.” Lena joked flatly and Kara Danvers grimaced a smile.
“I hope you do too. I’ll be bored if I don’t have you to compete against.”
They shared a private laugh and warmth curled in Lena’s ribs. She had missed friendly camaraderie like this. It did remind her of why she had actually invited Kara Danvers in the first place.
“Before I get too doom and gloom, I think we both had ulterior motives for the evening.” Lena sat up straighter and reached under her seat.
Kara Danvers leaned forward with a pleasant expression and watched Lena bring out a sleek box and tablet.
“When I reviewed Luthorcorp’s old technology, there was so much more than we realized. Paired with the design with our first watch, there was also a second version that was geared towards non-civilian occupations.” Lena took the top off the box and presented a sturdy new watch to Kara Danvers. “We have repurposed that technology for first responders with the drawing point that it can be universally paired with many different operating systems. I personally had a heavy hand in this redesign so no original piece of my brother’s touch remains. All of our technology is formulated this way.”
Lena watched her pick the watch up from the box and turn it over, studying it from every angle with a sharp eye. Her expression was unreadable, but not sour. She moved the tablet to the center of the table next to the blue swirling light, daring to feel hopeful that this wouldn’t end in disaster.
“Meant to communicate directly with operation bases at natural disasters, this watch supports basic radio wave to 5G to Fiber, self-repairing linking in dead areas, GPS with tagging and real-time adjustable environmental readings, capable of offering vitals monitoring for paramedics by simply placing the back of the watch to the person’s skin while maintaining all other running tasks, and of course bluetooth. That’s just scratching the surface. There is also a new feature, one I’ve been working on for years that we haven’t introduced yet-”
As soon as she started her sentence Kara Danvers activated the interactive holographic screen. The other woman dropped a surprisingly strong curse in surprise and gawped. It was incredibly new technology that had only been hypothetical. Until now. Lena was quite proud of the piece.
“If you would care to review the specs and design to confirm that this product does not infringe on Zor-El Industries’ work in any regard, I have them right here.” She pressed her hand into the table cloth next to the tablet. “With some pertinent information redacted, of course.”
“What was the non-civilian occupation?” Kara Danvers asked without looking up, cycling the watch through settings and tasks through the new screen as she quickly learned how to use it.
“Military. Special Operations and the devil knows who else.” Lena did let her ire show this time and earned herself an answering disgruntled hum from the woman across from her.
“May I?” Kara Danvers reached for the tablet.
Lena pushed it towards her. “Please.”
The glowing holographic screen blinked out of existence with a whispered wow . Long fingers set the watch back into its box with care and picked up the tablet. Lena kept her hands and mouth busy with her brandy to keep from nervously filling the gap in conversation. She needed to be confident, nonchalant, and for some obnoxious reason try not to let Kara Danvers know that she really wanted her approval. She wanted to impress her. So she waited as she flipped through the information, staring into the bioluminescent lamp to brace herself.
“This is incredible , Lena. No, I see no issue at all with this watch and I want one for myself. I’m sure you hear this a lot, but you’re brilliant. This is brilliant and I’m almost mad I didn’t think of it myself.”
Her genuine awe was a wash of relief that immediately eased the tension from her frame. She looked up and met the other woman’s eyes with a barely audible thank you . They were even bluer from the lamp as she peered over her glasses frames again. Lena carefully chose her next words, speaking softly with a rare open earnestness.
“It is not of any interest to me to copy your work, nor drive you out of business, Kara.”
The candid use of the other CEO’s name felt a little too intimate, and Lena relished how the other woman’s eyes dipped to focus around her chin. It was an interesting development that sent the curling warmth hazily deeper into her body. That fledging feeling of attraction crackled into a spark. She licked her lips and watched the other woman’s eyes follow the movement again, and took a chance.
“The less uncomfortable… friction between us, the better.”
The muscles in the other woman’s throat bobbed with a swallow and Lena watched her fingers tighten on the tablet for a brief moment, as if she were holding herself back. Warmth sank lower as her own eyes dropped to white teeth catching a plush pink lip, and the kernel of attraction started to take over. Lena was usually so good about not mixing business with pleasure, but this Kara Danvers made her want to blur those staunchly held lines. The praise was a nice bonus.
Electricity filled the brief pause between them, and when Lena finally looked up she locked eyes with a nearly breathless Kara Danvers.
“I hope this isn’t too forward of me, but I wouldn’t be opposed to more friendly competition. A truce, if you prefer. Peace often produces positive innovation.” Kara Danvers paused and drew in a steady breath.
“You make me think and I haven’t had this much fun in years. Staying in our own lanes is boring and territorial, and that alone stagnates the market and everyone loses. I hate stagnation. And sabotage.”
“Is that what you wanted to talk about?” Lena asked in a hush, the warmth sitting heavy in the cradle of her hips now.
Lena could feel it palpably between them now. The charged attraction.
“It is.” Kara murmured, placing the tablet down next to the watch.
“I like it.”
I like you .
Lena’s low and throaty approval drew a brief but surprisingly shy reaction from her dinner companion. Kara ducked her head as her shoulders jumped to her ears, long fingers nervously adjusting her trendy glass. She was flustered and cute and Lena let a pleased grin curl over her lips. The evening had gone better than she had dreamed it would, and it was time to bring it home.
“I think we have a deal, Kara. To friendly competition and innovation.”
Lena extended her hand across the table.
“ And I will be happy to add you to our PR list and early release pool. You’ll have one of our first watches.”
Kara Danvers smiled brightly and shook her hand over the bioluminescent dinoflagellates.
“Fantastic. I’ll make sure you’re added to Zor-El Industries’ early access as well. I’m looking forward to this.”
A chime from Kara’s phone drew the both of them out of their strange bubble and they released their handshake awkwardly, realizing that they hadn’t let go yet. Lena checked her own phone and realized two and a half hours had passed in the blink of an eye.
“ Oh , it’s late.” Lena muttered blandly in an attempt to hide her disappointment. She wasn’t ready for the night to end.
Kara started rising from her seat with an apologetic grimace. “I didn’t mean to keep you so late.”
“No need to apologize. I’ll walk you out.” Lena reassured her and stood smoothly.
Still eager to impress even with her success, Lena slipped around the table and held the door open for Kara. Her clean perfume teased her again and Lena physically held herself back from following too closely.
Her office was still dim and she was glad to have a last moment of privacy with the waitress waiting down the hall in the kitchenette. Lena had already sent Jess and Querl home hours ago. It was only the two of them besides the night crew and security personnel.
“You’re doing wonderful work, Lena Luthor.” Kara murmured again, the heavy praise coaxing a blush to Lena’s face.
She tried not to think about how her body tingled in reaction and cleared the betraying urge to say something stupidly horny from her throat before it could escape.
“You’re a respectable opponent, Kara Danvers, I enjoy the challenge you bring.”
Kara clicked to a stop in the small entryway to her office, swaying closer as her purse dangled from her fingertips. She opened her mouth once, twice-
“ Only an opponent?”
Giddy excitement crashed through her body as her heart leapt into her throat. She could hear Kara’s own want in her reciprocated flirting. Lena ached for her attention and recklessly stepped a fraction closer.
“Not if you play your cards right.”
Kara licked her lips, her cheeks visibly flushed.
“I have a terrible poker face.” She admitted breathlessly, her eyes locked on Lena’s mouth.
“Seems I have the upper hand there.”
Warm, soft lips pressed into her mouth.
As soon as it had happened, Kara pulled back in a panic.
“ Shit -I shouldn’t have done that, I’m so-“
Lena’s blood sang as she tossed her self control to the side and pulled Kara back in with a shut up -and firmly kissed her back.
There was a dull thump as Kara dropped her purse and her toned arms curled around her. The pressure of her kiss was returned and Lena felt her sigh against her cheek. The closed-mouth kiss was pleasant and vented some of the tension between them. Lena’s attraction simmered under her skin, a light buzz that spiked to heat when she felt Kara’s warm tongue tentatively trace her lip-and she eagerly deepened the kiss.
Kara tasted like the brandy they had been sipping and Lena tasted her over and over as she wound her arms around her neck and let her want take the reins. Strong arms tightened about her as adrenaline pulsed through her limbs and her heartbeat plummeted to sit heavy between her legs. Kara gasped a soft moan into her mouth as Lena closed her teeth over her lip, but Lena’s pleased grin was short-lived as Kara finally took the lead.
Lena quickly found out how fast it took for Kara to reduce her to a breathy mess against her own office wall. Where she was calculating, Kara was earnest. When she used her teeth to tug and tease, Kara pressed even closer and sucked. It was a heady and messy game of push and pull as their hands became bolder and Kara pinned her with her hips. Lena was usually the one to take the upper hand, but the little greedy voice in her head was content to finally plaster her hands to Kara’s biceps and squeeze . She wanted to see if the rest of Kara was just as toned, and through her haze she slid her hands around her ribs and down-
Kara’s phone chimed a second time.
The sudden snap back to reality was a rude wakeup call and Lena was very aware of how badly she wanted to keep receiving Kara’s attention. Her hot breath panted over Lena’s lips and the heave of Kara’s chest against her own almost lured her back in. The thigh trying to press between her legs wasn’t helping matters either.
“Um. I should go. Work in the morning.” Kara managed, her expression looking thoroughly against her own suggestion.
“Y-yes. Thank you for-“
Kara kissed her one more time so deeply Lena did whine and finally let her hands slide low onto her ass.
She was toned.
Lena squeezed and Kara rumbled a pleased moan into her mouth, her powerful hips pressing a little tighter. Lena could feel the flex under her hands and a million racy thoughts flooded her head of feeling this movement in a more horizontal position. She didn’t care to unpack how simple thoughts of attraction had jumped to this , but her thread of restraint stayed taught. As much as her body ached to find more excitement with Kara, it was late and they both needed to be responsible. Lena slid her hands back up to a respectable position on Kara’s trim waist. Kara took the hint with a sigh and pulled back with one last kiss, an actual pout pulling at her mouth.
“Thank you for coming to dinner.” Lena murmured, her eyes slinking from Kara’s thoroughly kissed lips up to her dark eyes.
A pleased expression chased away Kara’s displeasure. “Thank you for having me.”
They paused again, and for one pregnant second Lena thought they were going to end up on her couch. She would have been alright with that, but they didn’t. Kara nodded firmly, more to herself than Lena in an attempt to reel herself in and extricated herself from their tangle. It was cute . God help her, Kara Danvers was surprisingly cute.
“Right.”
Lena grinned. “Okay.”
She missed the solid warmth of her already but gladly took the opportunity to check her out from behind as she bent to retrieve her purse. Lena straightened up from the wall with a steadying hand, her knees threatening to turn to jelly on her.
“Have a good night, Miss Luthor.” Kara murmured.
“You too, Miss Danv- OH - lipstick . My lipstick. Is on your face.”
Lena changed course immediately when a stronger light caught Kara’s face. It would be too obvious to others about what had transpired between them, and Lena was loath to embarrass her before they even got the chance to spend more time together.
Kara comically slapped her free hand to her mouth and hastily pulled a makeup wipe out of her purse. Lena volunteered herself and gently wiped around her lips, removing the worst of the evidence from her own enthusiastic actions. She couldn’t help but blush as Kara watched her until she deemed her adequately clean.
“There.” She stepped back before she could give into temptation again.
“Thank you.” Kara moved towards the door, the sway of her hips drawing Lena’s attention. “I’ll see you around, Miss Luthor.”
Kara slipped from the office with one last appreciative glance, and Lena took a few private moments in her ensuite to straighten up before calling the waitress to clear away the remains of their dinner.
She took a few more private moments to take care of the distracting throb between her legs once home and in the shower, her thoughts thoroughly occupied by one Kara Danvers.
As much as Lena wanted to immediately spend more time with Kara Danvers, real life unfortunately kept getting in the way for the both of them. It wasn’t for lack of trying, and she did find herself texting the other CEO a couple times a week. Which was far more involved than any of her previous romantic relationships or friendships.
L-Corp’s new first responders watch was released to glowing praise and record high sales. The death threats also eased, which was Lena’s favorite development. New projects were approved and Lena began preparing a presentation on one of L-Corp’s more lofty projects of anti-gravity generators for the upcoming international technology convention being held in National City. Zor-El Industries and Starr Labs would also be in attendance presenting their own projects and Lena surprised herself by asking Jess to procure a pass for her that would cover any presentation she had time for.
The week of the convention snuck up on her and before she knew it, Lena was on stage in front of the largest auditorium packed to the brim. She had successfully walked the audience through the project and its goals, its projected economical and environmental impact, and extrapolated on a few ways it could be used. Now, before she opened to the floor to discussion and questions, Lena gestured to the black metal rectangle on the table next to her podium.
“It doesn’t look very impressive, but I assure you that the anti-gravity generator is more than meets the eye. Unfortunately it still doesn’t have a name yet, my research and development team has filled an entire whiteboard with ideas and I’ve walked into brawls over spellings. Pool noodles are quite soft and it's a perfect opportunity for them to express any lack of satisfaction with leadership.”
Healthy laughter rippled through the large room and Lena mentally patted herself on the back. A yelled yeah right echoed from the audience and Lena let her brow rise in challenge in the heckler’s general direction. Anticipating the disbelief and not one to lie, Lena pulled up an emergency slide-a chaotic picture of the R&D break room packed with scientists from all walks of life with faces blurred for privacy. There were safety goggles and mouth guards, flapping lab coats and ties repurposed as Rambo headbands, and yes . A multitude of colorful pool noodles in motion. Lena leaned into the microphone and stage-whispered,
“This was from last week, they were arguing over the spelling for color .”
She keyed away from the picture of her employees as her audience screamed with laughter.
“And yes, everyone in that photo gave me written consent to share. They all thought it was a riot.”
Another ripple of laughter and someone called out live stream! Lena let herself grin at the suggestion and stepped out of her heels and picked them up. The audience settled into an uneasy quiet, buzzing with anticipation. The floor was cool against her stocking feet and Lena was glad she had chosen slacks for the demonstration. She stepped to the other side of the table and beckoned her lead scientists from the project out onto the stage with.
“Please welcome the brilliant minds that made this dream become a reality-“
Lena introduced them over the roar of applause as they gathered around the table. Once the room was quiet she spoke up one more time.
“We will now demonstrate a small increment of the generator’s capabilities. It will release a continuous burst of energy, suspending everything within a fifteen foot radius about six to ten inches off the ground.” And then- “If there are any children or students in the audience who would like to experience weightlessness-“
There was a scramble towards the back and a mad dash of teens raced to the stage. Their excited reactions drew another laugh from the audience and they waited for the volunteers to make their way up the steps. A few college aged young adults also tentatively approached and they were welcomed just as warmly. Lena had been told a small group of students were in attendance and she and her employees made space for them all around the table. The bodies in the front rows leaned forward. She reached for the controls, but paused-
“ Is the table bolted to the floor ?”
“Yes, Miss Luthor.” One of her scientists answered her muttered question.
Lena nodded and took a deep breath as their volunteers crowded around her and the table.
“Alright, everyone. On three, two, one-”
Lena turned the generator on and a low hum emanate from the box. A series of lights blinked from yellow to green, and then her body began to tingle. Her stomach swooped and the weight of her own body lifted, leaving her feeling lighter than a feather. There were gasps from the audience and Lena felt her blouse ripple as her feet left the floor. Around her, her scientists laughed with delight at a successful showing as everyone on the stage hovered just a couple inches off the floor. She could hear the students around her yelling and cursing and laughing, limbs flailing in her peripheral as a few boys tried to swim through the air. Fierce joy burst in her chest with their success and she looked triumphantly out at the audience with a wide smile.
“Thank you for taking time out of your day to come to L-Corp’s talk. We will open the floor to questions in just a moment.”
An uproar of applause almost drowned out Lena’s countdown to turn the generator off, their bodies easing back to the floor and the tingle dissipating. She stepped back into her shoes as her volunteers retreated to their seats and fielded question after question with her scientists. Towards the end of their time Lena looked out and spotted a familiar figure about three rows back and to the right with her arm raised for the final question.
Kara Danvers.
That same warm affection curled in the small spaces around her heart and she raised the microphone to her lips.
“Miss Danvers?”
A curious buzz filled the room and Lena felt her teeth set on edge with anticipation. An usher handed a wireless microphone to the other CEO and Lena watched her stand, still so neutrally lit from the house lights she almost blended in with the crowd.
“First, congratulations to you and your team on this exciting technology, I will be watching for more information regarding the anti-gravity generator.”
Kara paused.
“After the success of L-Corp’s Spectre line and now this generator, what are L-Corp’s next steps? Where do you go from here now that you’ve pushed communication to its current max and given us the tools to defy gravity itself?”
Lena could hear the true concern in the other woman’s voice. It wasn’t a malicious comment and it made Lena like her all the more.
“That question has kept me awake too many nights.” She paused for the polite laughter to die down. “L-Corp is preparing to take our Spectre line further amidst other projects, but we are still in the early developmental stages and currently are keeping those projects quiet for now. We don’t want to get hopes up too quickly but I assure you they are just as well thought out as our current work.”
And then, Lena recklessly took a chance.
“But… I have always been fond of the simplistic phenomena of bioluminescent dinoflagellates, so perhaps I’ll look there next. We could all benefit from some glowing algae.” The audience laughed again and Lena raised her hand in thanks.
“Thank you all for your time and support, L-Corp is looking forward to bringing the best to National City and the world.”
The thunderous applause faded to black, and Lena’s attention stayed solely on Kara’s pleased smile.
Lena wolfed down a late lunch and managed to slip into the back of the same auditorium just in time to see Kara take the stage wearing a matching top and skirt of black with warm colored stripes. The applause was just as thunderous and the seats were packed.
“Good afternoon, thank you for attending Zor-El Industries’ presentation. We have some very interesting science to share with you today. I’m not sure how many of you were here for L-Corp’s presentation earlier, but being able to share our big upcoming projects with you all makes me feel just as weightless as their anti-gravity generator. Now, I don’t have anti-gravity, but I do have lots of tiny robots.”
There was some strong and excited laughter from those who had presumably been there earlier but Kara launched into their presentation. Lena made a mental note to offer a private demonstration.
Over the next hour Kara introduced not one focus, but two .
Zor-El Industries was making leaps and bounds in not only the field of virtual reality, but also nanotechnology. Both projects were focused on health and wellbeing with the addition of being introduced as tools to make working conditions safer without losing job positions. The nanotech also had a tentative hypothetical use for search and rescue, and should this come together as cleanly as my calculations predict, it would be a wonderful tool to use in tandem with-say-the Rescue Watch from L-Corp’s Spectre line .
It was unusual for such suggestions to be made when presenting your own work, but Kara Danvers had been known for collaborating with other professionals-but not another company. Still, it wasn’t a throw away comment. It would have been approved by her own legal team and board and Lena bit her lip to keep her cool. Her competition had just, quite literally, hinted at being more than open to a mutually beneficial partnership and after toiling alone for so long it was a refreshing relief to hear.
Lena paid close attention through the entire hour. She learned how their virtual reality Sentio could be used for mental health treatments, safe remote training, a teaching tool for medical fields, and yes there was even a puzzle video game. The nanotech project Sarcio could be used in conjunction with the virtual reality project, aiding in medical scenarios and rescue missions, capable of forming to human bodies to protect them from the elements or other harms, and as a useful tool in dangerous construction. Both presentations were just as incredible and fantastical as L-Corp’s anti-gravity technology and Lena was engrossed.
The demonstration for virtual reality was more of allowing audience members to try out the puzzle game and training scenarios at the Zor-El booth through the weekend, making it accessible to many who weren’t able to get a ticket to the presentation.
The demonstration for the nanotech was more hands-on, encasing Kara Danvers in a protective suit when one of her employees brought out a beanbag gun. Each dull thump had made Lena flinch, but the nanobots rippled and flexed over the woman’s body, absorbing all the kinetic energy from the impacts and dispersing it back into the atmosphere. As the nanobots swarmed above their docking bay, Kara stepped back towards the podium as the applause died down.
“These nanobots can also protect a human body from temperatures as low as negative sixty degrees fahrenheit and up to two-thousand degrees fahrenheit. Unfortunately I wasn’t allowed to bring in a flame thrower for risk of damaging the stage.” She paused for the audience’s laughter.
“But I thought we’d try something new for taking some of your questions to demonstrate multiple-pathfindings. There are slips of paper and pencils at the end of each row. If you have one, please write your question or comment- or both, fold the paper and hold it above your head.” She raised her hand up. “The nanobots will come collect your slips and leave them on the table for me. Please write a Q or C-or both-on your folded slip so they can be sorted.”
Lena took a pencil and slip of paper from the basket as it was passed to her, and quickly scrawled out a note before curious eyes could wander.
Fabulous presentation, would love to discuss potential partnerships.
Drinks tonight?
-Lena
She folded the slip neatly and marked it with C - Q and held it in the air. It didn’t take long for a small group of nanobots to approach her note, and she let go of the paper at the first tug. Little white squares and rectangles floated their way back to the stage in a whimsical flurry and neatly lined themselves up on the wide table into three groups.
With the help of her assistants Winn and Nia, the questions were grouped and addressed. When Lena realized that one of them would see her comment she almost left the auditorium out of sheer embarrassed panic. It had been risky to send, but her racing heart eased when Kara herself tackled the small stack of question and comment combination notes while her assistants organized the much larger pile of comments.
Halfway through, Kara finally reached Lena’s note and read it over.
And she blushed .
Kara cleared her throat softly and looked out at the audience, searching for her and obviously pleasantly surprised that she was in the room.
“Thank you for attending, Miss Luthor. I agree.”
Lena breathed a quiet sigh of relief and sank into her seat, watching Kara discreetly tuck her note into her folio on the podium. The audience buzzed and people started twisting in their seats looking for her, but Kara jumped to the next note and soon was wrapping up to thunderous applause.
Lena rose from her seat, waited until Kara spotted her by the opening doors, and then slipped away with a parting wave.
The rest of Lena’s day sped by in a blur, sneaking into one more presentation for Starr Lab’s hyperspeed rail line project before being called back to L-Corp for business. Still, she had Jess clear her schedule for the evening with a confirmed business meeting with Kara Danvers in the VIP lounge of the upscale bar the convention center had rented out at 9. She barely had time to eat a quick meal and freshen up in the en suite of her office before sliding into the town car Jess had called for her. She was tired and nearly socially spent from the day’s activities, but excitement buzzed through her body as the hostess confirmed her name on the guest list.
Her text to Kara that she was on the way had been read and answered with an In the back . Lena slunk through the edge of the crowd and pulsing music to the furthest corner of the establishment where it was quietest. She found her waiting for her in a small booth, still dressed in her outfit from earlier and poring over the drink menu. Lena braced herself with a cleansing breath and clicked right up to the table.
“Miss Danvers.”
Kara looked up with a start and smiled bright. “Miss Luthor.”
Lena slid into the seat across from her and took the drink menu. “Don’t you usually have an entourage?”
Kara tilted her head to hide the annoyed purse of her lips. “Not one I usually have the pleasure of choosing myself. I managed to shake them ten minutes ago.”
“Let me guess. Morgan Edge?” Lena raised a brow, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
Kara actually rolled her eyes. “I’d dump him in the middle of the ocean if I could. Total sleazeball.”
Her comment drew a real laugh from Lena, low and private as she flagged down the waitress and ordered their first round.
They spent nearly two and a half hours engrossed in conversations about each other’s presentations and what else they had seen that day. Tentative plans were made to set up coordinated partnership talks between their companies and Lena all around had a really wonderful time. She grew bolder as their comments trended flirtier after the third round of drinks and they shared some kind of chocolate dessert. Warmth hummed through her body and the slow tightening coil of attraction sat heavy in the cradle of her hips.
Lena really liked Kara and didn’t want the night to end.
She was about to ask Kara another question about the capabilities of the nanobots in relation to electromagnetic interference when her companion leaned forward with a guilty expression.
“I wanted to apologize for my behavior at our last meeting. It wasn’t appropriate. I’m sorry.”
Lena’s heart did a funny lurch in her chest and for a moment she thought she had misstepped. But she looked closer and caught Kara’s eyes flickering to her mouth and realized that she was simply giving Lena an out. Lena didn’t want out.
“I’m not.” Burbled from her lips in a rush.
Kara blinked, surprised at her bluntness. “What?”
Lena swallowed thickly against her nerves and spun her glass in the condensation on the polished table. She met Kara’s eyes in the dim lighting and could feel a blush warming her neck.
“I’m not sorry, there’s nothing to apologize for. And if you’re open to it, I’d like to have a repeat.”
“Oh.” Kara gasped softly, and then after a heavy moment, “A repeat would be nice.”
Lena took a careful sip of her drink to check around them for nosey ears and hid her mouth from the room with her glass.
“Could I convince you to leave with me? I have drinks at my place and we can talk about other business proposals for competition.”
A slow grin snuck across Kara’s face and hunger . Lena hid her shiver with another sip of her drink.
“I have a feeling we won’t get much talking done.” Kara replied, hiding her words with her own drink.
“Will that be an issue?”
“Not at all. I’m a hands-on learner.”
Heat raced down Lena’s spine as she smiled wild and reckless.
They finished their drinks at a leisurely pace and squabbled over who got to pay the bill, and then Lena invited her to ride back in her town car. Kara had easily agreed and dismissed her driver for the evening, and they traveled back to Lena’s penthouse in the most ludicrous sexual tension she had ever experienced. She could feel Kara’s attraction oozing off of her, dripping from every word and Lena was more than ready to act. She was almost bitter she hadn’t driven herself, terribly tempted to tell the driver to park and leave.
But she waited, and she kept her hands to herself through the ride. Lena behaved through heavily suggestive banter during the elevator ride up to her penthouse suite, and even up to her front door. Kara’s cheeks were flushed and her eyes were obscenely dark with want as she sauntered into the foyer, staying close as Lena closed and locked the door.
“Would you like a drink?”
Lena turned and Kara was in her space, taking her purse and setting it on the small table next to the front door.
“Could it wait?”
Kara’s breath puffed over her chin and Lena’s brain decided it would stop thinking for the night.
“ Yes -”
Kara was kissing her again, hot and messy and eager to please. Lena met her in a tangle, touching her wherever she could reach as a strong thigh pushed tight between her legs. Jittery excitement shivered through her as Kara rocked her thigh into her. The pressure and muted sensation of her sliding against her drew a gasp in response to the heat lurching heavy between her legs. Lena wormed her fingers under the high hem of her tight top and greedily splayed her hands flat on hot soft skin. Kara leaned back and tossed her glasses onto her purse, then peeled the tight top off with wild eyes. She was all tanned skin from the west coast sun and solid warmth and Lena gladly let the scorch of her building arousal consume her.
Her heart hammered in her throat as Kara kissed her breathlessly, her long fingers pulling her blouse loose and tugging open the fasten of her slacks. Lena licked into Kara’s mouth as she pressed her hand flat to her belly, fingers inching just inside the loosened waistband of her pants in a polite bid for her approval. Impatient, Lena grabbed her wrist and pushed her hand into her pants with a hissed touch me, please .
Kara’s fingers were hot against her skin as she slid her hand further and cupped her over her underwear. Lena whined and pressed her hips into Kara’s hand as she rubbed, her mind blanking out from the tingle of pleasure. She could feel that she was slick now, and didn’t bother to stifle her moan as Kara tugged her panties to the side and slid her fingers through her. Lena sagged against the inside of her front door and let her head fall back as the pads of Kara’s fingers found her clit with full bold swipes. Zinging crackles of pleasure turned into a slow heat as Kara moved lower and pressed two fingers into her.
“ Is this friction acceptable ?” She asked against Lena’s cheek with a smile, massaging her fingers into her as the heel of her hand pressed into her clit.
“ Fuck -“
Lena clung to her shoulders and used the leverage to meet Kara’s hand, the coil in her belly growing tighter with each stroke. Her blue eyes were nearly black as she watched her, lips kiss-swollen and lipstick ruined as she swallowed Lena’s breathy sounds of approval. The relentless curl of her fingers coaxed Lena quickly to release, and she didn’t fight the pull as her mind wiped blank and pleasure surged hot and heavy between her legs. Kara stayed in her with controlled strokes, mumbling curses through kisses as Lena squeezed tight tight around her fingers.
Lena remembered to suck in a breath and the crush of pleasure dissipated, leaving her hot and slick and flushed, aching for more stimulation. She kissed Kara messily and smoothed her hands down to her chest, cupping her over her bra. Her thumbs swiped over pebbled nipples through the thin fabric and Lena squeezed around Kara’s fingers in a teasing response to her surprised gasp.
“I didn’t think this through. I don’t like going to bed with hairspray in.” Kara slurred, her voice thick with arousal.
“The shower’s big enough for both of us.” Lena offered against her lips.
Kara whined, needy, and withdrew her fingers with a slick drag. Before Lena could protest Kara had kicked off her heels and picked her up with a grunt. Lena squeezed her thighs around her trim waist to hold on, kissing her messily as Kara’s hands splayed across her ass to support her weight as she walked them deeper into Lena’s dim loft.
They didn’t get any more negotiations hashed out that evening. More drinks were shared, from the shower to her bed Lena took multiple opportunities to show Kara how nimble her fingers were, and Kara demonstrated that the skill of her tongue wasn’t limited to just witty banter in boardroom meetings.
Lena had given Kara a discreet ride home the next morning, and the previous evening set off a string of increasingly steamy rendezvous when they managed to find time around their busy schedules.
There were other non-steamy meetings and coffee breaks and business dinners where they learned more personal information about each other. All very polite and proper and well to do. Lena almost dared to call them dates, but the current nature of their relationship was more for sating more base desires.
More were nights spent at the other’s homes and messy moments of coupling stolen in abandoned parking decks in the back seat of sporty cars grew more frequent. Lena admitted praise did something for her, and Kara asked her to pull her hair. Purpling marks were tentatively impressed on the inside of thighs and Lena felt guilty for two weeks about scratching up Kara’s back during one enthusiastic meeting in the back of Kara’s car with a strap-on, even though she said she didn’t mind. Not all of their encounters were fast and rough, and those sweeter moments are where Lena realized she was starting to fall in love with the other woman.
And of course, it wasn’t until L-Corp was about to start real development on a product that could have potential harmful ramifications if in the wrong hands did Lena truly pause and think about what the hell she was doing with Kara Danvers.
It had started with a single thought.
This might upset Kara .
The thought had stopped Lena dead in the middle of her meeting with the heads of her R&D department. Dread curdled heavily in her stomach and she swallowed against the burn of guilt. It was also incredibly bewildering to think that, after all that she had been through and accomplished.
“Miss Luthor?”
Lena blinked back to the table and flushed with embarrassment, not realizing that she had gotten lost in her thoughts. “I’m fine, please continue.”
The employees eyed each other worriedly and one of them nudged the most senior of them all. The elderly woman frowned and turned towards Lena.
“We can’t help but notice that you don’t seem on board with this project anymore. Is something bothering you? A computation? A design flaw? Whatever it is, I’m sure we can address it before we get much further.”
Lena pressed her lips together as her fingers twisted into a nervous knot. She searched for words that could be deemed acceptable, but all she could come up with was,
“I don’t know how to calculate a bad feeling. What if this gets into the wrong hands?”
Her senior advisor gave her a wry smile. “Miss Luthor, the last time you had a bad feeling you found out Lex was selling to nationalists groups. If something feels off, pull the plug.”
Lena sagged with relief. “I apologize. I still think we can make use of this, but not with its current trajectory. I propose we shelve it for now and move forward on the anti-gravity and the next developmental stages for Spectre . The board won’t be happy, but I see no safer path.”
“The board can shove it up their little assholes. You made a promise that L-Corp would refrain from harm. Stick to your guns.”
Lena finally smiled, at ease that her team was backing her up. “Not completely back to the drawing board, though. Let’s send it back downstairs.”
“Very good, Miss Luthor. Do you have any suggestions on where to start?”
The soft memory of Kara smiling up at her from her bedsheets sleepy and sated the past weekend flitted across her mind’s eye, and Lena bit back a private smile.
“I have a few.”
After a worrisome delay, L-Corps newest all-in-one medical device was a smash hit.
It had an awful bumpy start. Convincing the share holders and board members that it would pay off was tough. But the powerful on-the-go lab that paired seamlessly with their rescue watch was an incredible piece of technology.
And Lena was glad she had listened to her gut.
The best part?
She had secretly left it with a port of open-ended coding for Zor-El’s nanotechnology.
“Miss Luthor? You have a visitor-”
Jess was cut off by one Kara Danvers, who blew in with a polite excuse me, Jess .
“What is this?”
In her hand was the new L-Corp medical device, Consano . The petite silvery tech looked silly enough like an oversized computer mouse, but it was versatile and could be attached anywhere to almost anything. Lena nodded in reassurance to her assistant and waited until she had left the room.
“ Consano . Did you have questions about the PR package?”
“Yes, I did.” Kara clicked forward, intense but not aggressive. Her expression was one of surprise, disbelief. She was bewildered. “I looked at the coding too. What is this, Lena?”
“An all-in-one medical assistance device with the capabilities of pairing with Zor-El Industries’ nanotechnology, should you see the benefit of it.”
“I- how ? How did you get the parity coding so close to ours?”
Lena smiled gently. “I studied your work. You’re brilliant too, you know.”
Kara finally slowed and rounded her desk. Lena turned and watched her lean against the edge, the device cradled in her hands. She was speechless, and Lena seized the opportunity, that same drive to seek Kara’s approval back and raring its head.
“Originally it was a DNA scanner and genome sequencer.” She admitted, catching Kara’s attention. “But as silly as it sounds, I had a bad feeling. The damage if could have done had it gotten into the wrong hands… I couldn’t live with that possibility. So I took the next best logical step.”
“Why did you change it?”
Lena stared up into her piercing blue eyes, affection warming her from head to toe. Eyes that she had seen in painfully private moments, of mirth and joy. Lena let her emotions show plainly on her face.
“You.”
Kara blinked, completely taken by surprise.
“ Me ? But I didn’t do anything.”
“You did. Call me selfish, but this relationship we have is more important than the money that could have brought in.” She gestured to the tech. “That, and this would have hurt marginalized people had I let it move forward as it was. People will always take advantage of technology if given the chance, we’re all susceptible to that no matter our morality. I decided I refuse to turn a blind eye to the worst of those instances no matter the profit loss.”
“But your shareholders, your stocks?” Kara protested weakly, her broad shoulders sagging as her own affection slid plainly onto her face. Pride and easy acceptance.
Lena shrugged a shoulder. “They were upset and we didn’t see a dramatic rise on the graph, but I had a few other lucrative projects to pad and surpass that loss already prepared for presentation and prototype production. It will be a few slow quarters, but the rewards will be worth it.”
“ Lena .”
Her name fell from Kara’s lips with such care it made her heart ache. In that moment, Lena knew she had made the right choice mixing business with pleasure.
“It’s a rare moment for people like us to be able to help and not harm. Not hurting others is worth it.” Lena extended her hand, releasing a shaky sigh when Kara easily took it and laced their fingers together.
“ You are worth it.”
Kara just looked at her for a long moment, happiness stretching across her face in a wide smile.
“Would you like to go on a real date with me, Miss Luthor? I hear the aquarium is holding an exhibit on bioluminescence.”
Lena grinned and tilted her chin up as she tugged Kara down for a kiss, feeling as light as the anti-gravity effects.
“I think I can pencil you in, Miss Danvers.”