Work Text
L Corp
Lena had been dealing with anxiety all her life, since she was adopted by the Luthor's to be exact. Like the tide it ebbed and flowed between moments of stark cruel reality and fleeting warmth. Lena’s anxiety as of late had been coming in waves, with little ebb and flow, more so for the past few days because of all the chaos going on in the city. Her two Danvers, Nia, Brainy and J’ohn had been dealing with multiple threats all across National City, which increased tension between members of both alien and human communities and to make matters worse there was little contact or word from anyone on the team, except for short brief concise texts from both Alex and Kara.
Lena’s anxiety had only increased during the meeting with board members especially the few holdovers from Lex’s days as CEO, though Lex’s command of the helm brief, his ineffective policies and how he ran the company could still be felt, from the holdover board members, to the want of return to military contracts, to the absolute stubborn refusal to forward projects that would help alien and human alike to the continuous blatant undermining of Lena herself, because (one) she was so young and (two) she was a woman, despite the fact that Lena proved time and again that L Corp was running better under her command then Lionel and Lex’s leadership combined. Sam’s presentation of facts and figures, her ability to present those figures and her steadfast loyalty quieted, yet did not silence those same board members, but it did make them agree to Lena’s business plans albeit grudgingly.
Lena switched off the news after that, taking a moment to try and ease the metal band around her chest and to calm her breathing It was only after a short text from Kara that helped ease some of her anxiety a small bit. Alex was home, mandated time off for four days, Alex was safe, Kara was safe and so was the rest of the team and suspects were in custody awaiting trial. After replying to Kara’s text she decided that she could remote into work and anything that needed her personal touch could wait. Lena wanted out of her office, wanted out of the cold mechanical pressures, out of the restricted clothes, wanted to just be herself and not in charge of a Fortune 100 Company. Mostly Lena wanted to be with Alex, cuddle into Alex’s warmth and strength. After notifying her security team of her immediate plans, and informing Jess that she was leaving for the day and that Jess was to take the rest of the day to herself. Lena gathered her things and headed for the parking garage, first a trip to the grocery store then to Alex’s, knowing only when she saw Alex, held the woman in her arms would her anxiety truly ease up, or that was Lena’s hope anyway.
Alex’s Apartment
Alex lets out a sigh, toeing off her boots and setting her bags down as she enters her apartment, padding her way to the kitchen she opens the fridge and pulls out a bottle of water, noticing that there isn’t a single thing in there for her to eat. Well she can order take out later, speaking of later, she makes a mental note to call Lena, set up some much needed time together after she gets a few hours of sleep. First things first though, a shower, with her own products and some much needed hot water. The DEO was not one for comforts, the showers were there to get clean and get back to work as quickly as possible. Stripping out of her clothes, Alex feels the familiar aches and stiffness in her body as she pulls the black t-shirt over her head, checking the nightstand she finds the bottle of Tylenol and sets it out along with a soft Henley and a pair of running shorts. Stepping into the bathroom, Alex turns the light on and looks at her reflection, well at least she looks as bad as she feels, dark circles under her eyes, fatigue, weariness, a deep ache in her bones. The good news they contained the threats, caught the traffickers and the tech wielding menace and kept the city from being turned into a debris field. Alex adjusts the shower, stepping in, allowing the hot water to ease some of her aches and stiffness. It’s been a long ass week, she only hopes Kara is taking some time for herself as well.
Apartment Hallway
Lena thanks her security team for helping her with the multitude of bags. Pulling out a set of keys she slowly unlocks each of the three locks on Alex’s door, smiling at their last conversation that no Alex does not want bio metrics or a security suite installed. Remembering how Alex had informed her that (one) her address is not known, (two) Alex has several weapons hidden throughout the apartment, (three) Alex’s apartment building is monitored by the DEO and most importantly Alex has National City’s heroine on speed dial. By the time Alex is finished with her rebuttal, Lena is already making plans for the security suite and bio-metric security installation. Something Lena decides that she will get to after she checks on Alex and answers Sam’s texts and probably a flood of emails. Lena steps into the apartment and is immediately concerned, the lack of sound in Alex’s apartment is unusual, even on a workday there is always a radio playing, the TV tuned into a news channel or a television show the silence is a little unsettling. Setting the bags on the kitchen island she turns to find Alex’s trail of clothes on the floor and then hears the shower running. Knowing first hand what has happened over the past five days in National City, most of it first hand knowledge when she was called in to assist, she figures Alex wants a shower and her bed in that order and Lena will make sure she gets that and more. Lena unpacks the bags, putting things in the fridge and cupboards for dinner later. Grabbing the teapot she fills it and turns the stove on. She opens her backpack and pulls out her laptop and once logged in pulls up her music app and hits play, the sound of Celtic harps soon fill the apartment.
Inside the bathroom, Alex pauses as she towel dries her hair, noticing that she needs a haircut, and also noticing the sound of music from inside her apartment, listening more carefully she considers who would be in her apartment, listening more intently she hears harps, smiling, that is definitely not Kara so that leaves maybe one or two people. Shrugging she wraps the towel around herself and opens the bathroom door to find Lena, sitting on the edge of her bed and reading on her cell phone. Not to say Alex was unprepared, when you had an alien for a sister you expected the unexpected. Alex blushed, while tightening the hold on her towel as green eyes peered up at her, smiling softly, Lena looked Alex over and stood up gracefully, their eyes meeting, Lena’s full of relief and amusement and Alex looks more than a little flustered, and Lena noting how Alex tightens the grip on her towel.Lena licking her lips “please don’t cover yourself up, I’m rather enjoying the view.”Alex swallowing, trying to form words “of course you would” she can feel herself turning redder.
Lena setting her phone down next to the Tylenol “now what’s got you so flustered” stepping right into Alex’s personal space “you’re not embarrassed to be seen in your current state of undress by your girlfriend are you?” Lena’s eyes slowly but appreciatively rove over Alex’s towel clad form “surely you’ve nothing to be ashamed of” reaching up and tucking a lock of loose hair behind Alex’s ear.
Alex blushing almost as red as her hair “Lena, I was” Lena’s eyebrow arches as she takes in Alex state of undress, clearly appraising her and Alex blushes deeper as she realizes she has been caught with her pants down, literally. Trying not to stumble over her words, she adjusts the hold on her towel and tries again “Lena um” a mischievous grin is her answer and then Lena is right in front of her, Alex can feel the heat of Lena’s body, smell the scent of her perfume and body wash and something that is uniquely Lena, making Alex’s stomach tighten and coil in arousal.
Lena smirking, “I think we can forego the pleasantries” smiling “and please don’t cover yourself up on my account, Alex,” enjoying the interesting shade of red that is Alex. “You’re a beautiful woman” brown eyes regard her for a moment “besides as previously stated” licking her lips “I am rather enjoying the view.” Feeling some her tension from earlier reside, and a new sensation settling low in her belly.
Alex blushed and ducked her head, here she was half naked, her body aching from the rough slog of the past week and here Lena was flirting with her, blatantly admiring her barely covered form, was Alex complaining, not one bit, but Alex did want to get into something warmer at the moment, while Lena, the epitome of beauty looked absolutely stunning in jeans and a designer blouse, hair down in loose waves and Alex couldn’t form a coherent sentence or even string two words together, to state what she wanted or that she was glad to see her raven haired girlfriend.
Lena broke Alex out of her thoughts with cool hands touching her face, Alex’s skin breaking out in goosebumps at Lena’s soft touch, she stared into those verdant green eyes, saw a flicker of emotion, felt the slight tremble in those hands and knew Lena was having a hard day as well.
Lena hazarded a guess, that Alex was being shy and modest, not that she needed to be but Lena appreciated Alex’s modest chivalrous nature, picking up the thick blue Henley, holding it out for Alex “here” Alex swallowed “I won’t bite” softly “not yet at least so let’s get you dressed and comfortable and we can talk about how you’re feeling and what happened.”
Alex shivered at those word, shivered at the double entrendre behind it “yeah it’s” sighing as Lena helped pull the thick warm material carefully over her head and shoulders, all the while keeping a tight hold on the towel until the warm thick shirt covered her torso. “What’s wrong?” Alex knew, knew from the way Lena fidgeted, to the tremble of her hands, to the shaky breaths Alex had heard and felt, that Lena was anxious, that Lena was trying to hold it together for Alex’s sake and that Alex decided that wouldn’t do.
Lena deflecting “it’s nothing” hazel eyes regarded her for a moment “let’s get you comfortable first.”
Alex taking Lena's hands in her own then kissing her fingers “Lena” swallowing thickly “we talked about this” a breath, a moment, time stilled for a brief second “I’m here, you’re safe sweetheart.” Green and hazel met, the tension between them almost palpable, their breaths mingling. Alex’s heart hurt looking at the beautiful woman, looking and seeing how Lena tried to remain strong, tried to hold herself to impossible standards, even though Alex, Kara, Sam and their friends had reminded Lena many a time that it was okay to not be okay.
Lena shivered at those words, words that at one time held empty promises, from a time not too long ago, but now staring into the Alex’s eyes, seeing the fierce determination, the unwavering truth of a promise she believed Alex, believed in her words, but a part of Lena reminded herself that Alex had been on duty for five days, barely sleeping, hardly eating and chasing societal menaces all over National City. Where as Lena after the first day and assisting the DEO had, had time for a few hours of sleep, had had time to try and eat a proper meal, was not being shot at or threatened or dealing with the elements. No Alex needed her, she didn’t need Lena breaking down due to anxiety or other things. Lena steeled herself with quite a bit of effort “yes it’s all right, just been worried about you, about all of you.” Taking a moment “my only intention besides the beautiful view” Alex chuckled “is to get you warm and comfortable especially after seeing the news reports and hearing our ball of sunshine regale me with the stories of your heroism.”
Alex kissing the back of Lena’s knuckles “Lena you matter, and I worry about, care about you” cupping Lena’s hands in her own “and you know Kara, she does tend to exaggerate a bit. And you also forget that you and your genius helped us.” Alex enjoyed the light blush “that anti Kryptonite suit, the enhanced GPS based on energy signatures and using cell tower locations helped save more lives quicker.”
Lena nibbled her bottom lip “well I wasn’t the one standing in the middle of downtown with a tech wielding menace or running after someone with the ability to send you and Supergirl to anywhere in the galaxy nor was I up for almost five days straight with” Lena is silenced with soft lips pressing against her own. Lena’s response is almost visceral, reaching up to pull Alex closer, strong hands grip her hips in gentle strength, as their lips press together. Lena loses herself in Alex’s gentle passion, knowing that this woman won’t hurt her, won’t push her into anything she doesn’t want. Lena thoughts are derailed. She can think of nothing more than being held by Alex, kissed so sweetly and passionately Lena all but melts in the gentle hold. Yet Lena’s thoughts rear their head, reminding Lena to forget herself, put Alex and her needs first, and not deal with her ongoing anxiety, but Lena knows that Alex won’t let it go though, won’t let Lena forget herself no matter how tired or worn she is.
Alex smiled against the soft lips, enjoying the way Lena relaxed into her, the way the smaller woman settled against her frame and Alex moved to wrap her arms around Lena. Deepening and savoring the kiss, letting Lena set the pace, enjoying the moment. Slowly breaking the kiss to breath pressing her foreheads to Lena’s, keeping her hold on the smaller woman “your role in this was no small feat Lena.” Repeating her words gently “I’m here, you’re safe baby, you’ll always be safe with me” knowing Lena as she does that Lena does not want to think of herself in this moment, that Lena would rather focus on Alex, yet Lena doesn’t realize that by taking care of herself, that admitting she is struggling that she is, helping Alex in all the ways that matter. “Talk to me, I can feel you trembling” she hears the soft sniffle, the sharp yet shaky inhale of breath. “I’ve got you.”
Lena takes a moment to feel everything that is Alex, her words, her gentle touch “Alex” that is the only word she can think of, the only thing that makes sense. Maybe it is the past five days, maybe it is missing Alex and her presence, maybe it is the stress and demands of her daily life but suddenly Lena feels that if Alex lets go she’ll wake up and this will all be a dream.
Alex cupping Lena’s face gently “it’s okay, I’m here, right here” understanding Lena’s anxiety and stress, understanding that Lena is unused to comfort and praise and knowing the woman as she does Alex presumes Lena hasn’t slept properly, and more than likely what little sleep she had, had was spent on her couch. “Breath, breath in for three and out for three” Lena does that “that’s it.” Feeling Lena settle, encouraging “that’s it, I’m right here.”
Lena an apology on the tip of her tongue, but she knows that she has nothing to apologize for “got a little overwhelmed.” Alex kisses her softly “I should let you finish dressing and then make some tea so you can get some sleep and I can get started on dinner.”
Alex not letting go of Lena “easy, it’s okay, we’ve got time” and Alex will do whatever she has to to make Lena believe her words, that she won’t run, that she won’t disappear or turn a cruel hand to her in Lena’s time of need. Lena kissing Alex’s lips tenderly “no you need to get a few hours and I have to get started on dinner, deal with a few things at LCorp before Sam throws someone off the balcony and you being half dressed is a little distracting.”
Alex caressing Lena’s cheek “that all can wait, you matter sweetheart.” Lena swallowed, felt Alex’s touch ground her, “I want to take care of you, you deserve it after this past week.” Alex reassuring “Lena, you are taking care of me, you’re here, with me” Lena pressed her head into Alex’s chest mumbling that she felt better “you sure, there’s no rush” not letting the smaller woman go.
Lena melting under the gentle touch and deep concern “I’m okay” leaning up and pressing a kiss to the underside of Alex’s jaw “better now that you’re here.” Now that she knew that Alex was safe, that they were here together in Alex’s apartment, and not a phone call or thousands of miles apart.
Alex watched Lena for a moment, then undid the towel and pulled on a pair of boxers and running shorts. She listened to Lena in kitchen, the sound of the tea kettle, mugs being set on the counter, pans pulled out and the refrigerator being opened. Alex pads her way the short distance, and notices the ingredients on the counter as well as numerous bags being folded and sorted. “You went grocery shopping?”
Lena pouring water into the mugs then setting the tea bags inside “Alex you can not live on coffee, whiskey, bottled water and take out alone.” Alex ducks her head “and considering who your sister is I can only imagine the food you two have had in the past week.”
Alex rubbing the back of her neck, she really needed to get it cut “I eat healthy” Lena gave her a look of disbelief “I do, I order a salad with some of my meals, and you know I prefer most fruits to vegetables.”
Lena adding honey to the mugs “Big Belly Burger does not offer salad on its menu, nor do most food trucks. Noonan’s does offer salad options, but with the way and amount of food you both order I highly doubt you’ve seen a green vegetable or fruit in the past week.”
Alex holding out her hands “I had applesauce and sliced mango the other day” pointing out “guacamole is a fruit and” the mug of tea was placed in front of her “it’s hard to eat healthy when you only have 15 to 20 minutes in between near world ending disasters.”
Lena shaking her head in fond amusement “my point exactly and that’s why I’m making dinner and not ordering take out.”
Alex chuckling “we could have ordered healthy take out” Lena’s eyebrow raises “you can order salads, field greens and whole grains from certain places and that one place we get barbecue from has grilled beans and those are a vegetable.”
Lena playfully correcting her “legume actually” Alex sticks her tongue out playfully “I’m being difficult I know and you’re a grown woman but I want you around for a long time, eating healthy is one way of doing that, though not guaranteed but scientific research does suggest that a healthy diet”
Alex is kissing her before she can finish her sentence and Lena loses her train of thought, again. Alex smirks and sits down taking a sip of her tea as she watches Lena’s face for a moment “thank you for looking out for me.”
Lena shaking her head in fond amusement “you’re an absolute handful Alex.”
Alex agreeing “oh you have no idea” teasing smirk.
Lena leaning against Alex “I beginning to understand Kara’s words of you get into more trouble than any one person has a right to.”
Alex laughing “pot and kettle.”
Lena countering “no pot, pan, kettle.” They continue teasing and bantering until Alex is practically falling asleep in her tea mug, Lena helps Alex to bed then tucks Alex in, turning to leave only to pulled down and kissed sweetly, which makes Lena want to crawl into bed with Alex and cuddle, not that she will ever admit that out loud, well at least not yet. Lena feels a bit better, the band around her chest loosening its grip, her breathing coming easier as she watches the feisty redhead curled up on the bed.
Alex wakes to warmth pressed into her side, delicious smells of food and herbs emanating from the kitchen, looking down she finds Lena peering up at her shyly through long lashes.
Alex sleepily “well this a pleasant surprise” tightening her hold on Lena’s smaller frame.
Lena mumbling pressing her face into the crook of Alex’s shoulder “I really didn’t want to wake you but it’s after five and I made dinner.” Wiggling closer to Alex’s warm body, soaking in everything that is this beautiful woman.
Alex shifting “come here” indicating she wanted Lena to lay on top of her. Sensing Lena’s hesitation “just want to be closer to you” rubbing Lena’s back “hold you” Lena tensed up “it’s all right.” Lena ducked her head and Alex cupped her chin “what’s wrong?”
Lena hesitantly “it’s been a while since I’ve cuddled up with someone and you know how things went with James.”
Alex takes a breath “yeah James wasn’t great boyfriend material at all and I’m sorry he made you feel the way he did.” Trailing her fingers through long raven tresses “before James what about Jack or Sam or Andrea did that, well didn’t they Alex mulled that over for a minute, Andrea she didn’t know much about only that Andrea had betrayed Lena in some way, but Alex knew there was more to the story. Sam was a nurturer through and through and she knew less about Jack then she did Andrea.
Lena quietly “Andrea she" “hesitating "before she betrayed me, yes we, she loved to cuddle, especially early in the morning.” Swallowing “Sam well it’s obvious, I think that is why Kara is so attracted to Sam, they’re both touch starved.” They both laughed at that statement “Jack was, our relationship wasn’t about comfort, it was more about a need and less about the romance.”
Alex regarded her for a moment “come here then” tugging Lena closer “there is nothing wrong with wanting to be held” Lena’s eyes held hers for a moment “and holding someone doesn’t always have to equate to sex.” Smiling as Lena climbed on top of her, enjoying Lena’s body pressed flush against hers, rubbing soothing patterns along Lena’s back “you feel good like this” trailing her fingers through long raven tresses.
Lena took several breaths, as Alex surrounded her, the smell of her body wash and shampoo comforted and soothed her. Her in Alex’s arms she felt Alex’s words and tried to believe them, believe that this was real, that Alex was real and she wouldn’t vanish as soon as Lena moved. A short while later, they sat down to eat dinner, their conversation drifted from various topics, Alex telling Lena about some of the new recruits reaction to some of the ongoing things in the city. They both agreed to watch a movie and relax for the rest of the evening. As Lena laid with her head on Alex’s chest, listening to the steady cadence of her heartbeat, Lena let Alex’s words fill her, mumbling her own replies and tightening her hold on Alex. Tomorrow was a new day, with all the responsibilities of both of their jobs, for now they could both lie here, and find a moment of comfort and just be, that Alex’s life wouldn’t be destroyed in an instant, that she wouldn’t run off for fame or money or someone else, that they could just be together, even if only for a moment before reality reared its ugly head.