An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Kara and Lena like to play a game where they gift each other different presents. It's a Whole Thing. — here’s piece I wrote for @midnightsdlx and if you haven’t already, you should go check out her gifs! they’re amazing!! thank you to @2-the-moon-and-2-saturn being a top tier beta reader
It starts after their fourth lunch…date? Lena doesn’t know what to call them, but she finds herself keeping a tally. What she does know is that seeing Kara has become a preferred activity, and that it seems to be mutual. “Seems” being the keyword . She has a history of misreading situations and desperately wants to avoid that this time around.
Lena finds the green frog-shaped sticky that oozes Kara Danvers' aesthetic when she returns from a lengthy board meeting.
Hope you have a hip-hoppin week!
A fond laugh makes its way out of her throat, as she places the note gently on the pencil holder at the corner of the desk.
—
Kara arrives back at Catco after covering a press conference run by the city council. Thankfully, she didn’t need to appear as Supergirl – otherwise, she’s sure she would have passed out from the sheer boredom of it all. She barely survived as it was, her main saving grace being back and forth texting with Lena.
“You still down for Intern Training at ten?” Nia asks her as she steps out of the elevator.
“Yeah, of course! I’ll meet you at the research pod,” Kara assures her, eager to sit down and grab a snack.
She slings her oversized purse onto her desk, stomach grumbling, when she notices a small paper cup and pastry bag sporting the Noonan's logo. She lifts the bag carefully, a chocolate croissant!
Kara removes the lid and gingerly takes a whiff of the contents of the cup. Smells like…no…it can’t be her exact order? She takes a sip and smiles immediately, whipped cream topping her lip. Pumpkin spice latte…with caramel drizzle!
Kara’s entire day has been made. She texts Lena (because of course she does - she’s been finding it harder and harder not to message her constantly these days) with the good news.
Kara: you’ll NEVER guess what I found on my desk just now
Lena: Is it your go to order from Noonan’s?
Kara: HOW DID YOU KNOW?!
Lena: I had a hunch ;)
Kara: ur the best!!
Kara: no the best of the best!
Kara: the bestest!!!
Lena: <3
Kara thinks she might just melt on the spot from the thoughtfulness. She holds her phone to her chest, grinning like an idiot.
—
“Bye, Kara,” Lena hums into strong arms.
“Night, Lena,” Kara responds, voice laced in softness..
Lena rests her head on Kara’s shoulder and lets her pounding heart go wild. Her arms wrap tightly around Kara’s middle and she finds herself losing willpower to leave by the second. She sighs, slowly releasing before Kara laughs and brings her in closer.
“I should go,” Lena mumbles feebly, pressed into Kara’s neck. Her bones ache with how much she doesn’t want to.
“Maybe, but then I couldn’t finish filling your weekly hug quota,” Kara answers confidently.
“My weekly what?” Lena chuckles.
“Come on, a CEO who is not results based?” Kara nuzzles in closer to her.
“I’m not complaining, but I’m still not following entirely,” she says, fingers playing with the ends of blonde hair.
“I’m sure you don’t get nearly enough daily hugs for optimal psychological well-being,” Kara starts matter of factly. “So, when I hug you, I’m really doing you a favour by not letting you go right away.”
“Is that so?” Lena smiles, eyebrow arching in affection.
“Mhm, because one of my very long hugs can equal like, ten,” Kara giggles matter of factly.
Lena places her hand on Kara’s cheek and pulls away just enough to make out the small details of her face, “Thank you for looking out for my…‘psychological well-being’, was it?”
Kara pecks her wrist quickly and gives her a final squeeze, “You’re welcome.”
Lena’s glad Kara moves to open the door right after, because she, herself, appears to have lost all bodily function. One foot in front of the other; deep breaths in and out, she reminds herself.
Later, Lena sits in the backseat of her car and reaches for the book Kara lent her. She opens the front cover to read a little inscription in her best friend’s signature loopy scrawl.
Thought of you xx Kara
Lena flips to a random page and, to her delight, finds the entire paperback annotated.
—
Kara visits Lena at L-Corp for an exclusive on new tech the company is about to launch. It’s half interview and half outright flirtation, if she’s being honest with herself – which she isn’t. Being honest about her feelings is hard when it comes to Lena.
She finds her cheeks hurt from laughing and, Rao, Kara didn’t think it was possible to have this much affection for another human being. With a startling thrill she briefly entertains the idea that Lena might feel the same.
Kara’s unsure when or how Lena managed, but at some point later, when she’s arrived outside Alex’s place, she feels it in her jacket pocket - a relatively small envelope, handmade. Confused, Kara carefully opens it to reveal a tiny watercolour with the view from her living room window which she recognizes immediately. In awe at the detail, she opens it.
Happy Earth Birthday Kara Love, L.
Kara traces her fingers over the angular cursive, heart hammering.
—
Lena’s deep in thought, several articles haphazardly spread out over her living room floor. She sits cross legged, glasses perched on the edge of her nose, highlighter in hand flicking back and forth as she reads.
She doesn’t notice Kara landing on the balcony, some kind of hot dish in hand. With a start, Lena looks up after Kara taps on the glass.
“It’s unlocked!” She calls out.
Kara slides the door open and tsks, “You know, for someone who has suffered several kidnapping and assassination attempts, I thought you would take security measures more seriously.”
“How else would Supergirl be able to visit me, then?” Lena pouts, standing up and stretching.
“I’m sure Supergirl would find other ways to deliver you freshly baked apple pie,” Kara smiles, holding out the dish.
“You baked me pie?” Lena murmurs in astonishment, lungs fluttering against her ribcage.
“Well - I tried to. I went apple picking with Eliza and she helped…a lot. You mentioned that it was something that you hadn’t had since boarding school so I thought it would be fun to -”
“- Kara, that is so sweet, I don’t even know what to say?”
Lena is flustered and blushing and I can’t believe Kara remembered me mentioning that. With a happy jolt, she mentally notes that they’ve moved on to giving each other gifts in person.
“Technically you weren't supposed to see me leave it here. I think I just got hyperfocused on delivering it," Kara grins, eyes bright. "Wanna take a break and have some together?”
“Yes, please, darling,” Lena smiles.
—
Kara’s achy knees wake her up. She had been asleep on her sofa, donning her supersuit, bare feet hanging off the armrest for several hours probably, judging by the darkness from outside. She had a particularly busy day as Supergirl, which left her feeling physically exhausted and– shoot, must’ve crashed hard.
Aware of her early deadline, she makes her way to the office. Thankfully, nobody else is around at two in the morning, and Kara vows to herself to finish the report as fast as possible.
She yawns, already dreading the next hour as she briefly checks her mailbox. A large bag of M&Ms sits tucked away in the plastic cubby with a tiny pink post it note. There’s a heart on it and nothing more. Not that she needs anything more – she knows it’s from Lena.
Kara laughs and sighs warmly, imagining CEO Lena sneaking the bag of candy into her mailbox in an office full of people.
—
Kara makes a passive comment on how ‘clean’ Lena’s office looks and it’s been two days but Lena can't. Stop. thinking. About. It.
She’s sure Kara didn’t mean for it to haunt her in this way but it does, oh it does. She’s browsing home decor catalogues, something Jess recommended when Kara walks in.
“Hey, you. What’s gotten you so tied up?” Kara asks, plopping down on the white couch next to her.
“Mmm just looking at things to make my office less sterile,” she says half jokingly, although she’s certain some anxiety seeps its way into her tone. She genuinely doesn’t mean to come off as passive aggressive but she’s sure she does.
“Oh Rao Lena, I’m so sorry! Seriously, I just meant that you don’t have a lot of colour or things other than large pieces of furniture in here. And of course if that makes it easier for you to work or if that’s your preference I totally respect that. I really didn’t mean for it to -”
“Kara, it’s okay, you weren’t wrong,” Lena says, closing the laptop and placing a tender hand on top of Kara’s. “I think it would be nice to add some colour and textures in here. Make it look a little more lived in. You know, I didn’t really redecorate after the whole Lex fiasco and it’s about time,” she sighs.
Kara pulls her in and wraps her in strong arms, “Still, I’m sorry. Though I hope that it’s exciting for you, at least?”
“I don’t know about exciting , but Jess was certainly surprised that I didn’t just hire someone,” Lena buries herself in Kara and feels lips press themselves to her temple.
Later, when she comes back to take measurements, Lena spots something particularly colourful on her couch. It’s her preferred movie night woollen blanket from Kara’s apartment.
Lena holds it to her face and it smells so like Kara, like warm vanilla and stardust and home, that tears fill her eyes.
It’s not the kind of decor she was thinking of, but she doesn’t care. Lena folds the blanket back up and places it on the couch.
—
Lena has never annotated a book in her entire life - at least, that’s what she told Kara. It’s not that she doesn’t appreciate it, but for her there’s apparently something sacreligious about folding a page to mark a chapter or scrawling in the margins. Kara doesn’t understand it, but knows it’s probably something to do with the way Lena was brought up.
So, when Kara finds a book of poetry in her mailbox with pages upon pages of Lena’s thoughts and musings woven amongst printed text, her soul nearly leaves her body.
Lena did this..for me. For me. For me.
—
Lena gets into the car, eager to escape the lingering September heat. “Thanks, Frank,” she says, as her driver shuts the door behind her.
She’s about to put her briefcase on the seat next to her when she spots something very out of the ordinary, although not unwelcome: a bouquet overflowing with sunflowers rests carefully on the seat, in stark contrast to the black leather. The literal embodiment of Kara as a flower . Lena slowly peeks at the card attached to the brown paper securing the flowers.
I love Mary Oliver, but I love your annotations even more. xo Kara
She rolls down the window for some air, suddenly feeling suffocated, even amongst the AC. The addition of the ‘o’ not lost on her.
—
Kara is pacing around her kitchen. To the door, around the island, around the dining room table, and back again.
It’s been several days and Lena hasn’t gifted her anything back. Not that Lena has to reciprocate, of course (their relationship isn’t transactional), but it’s just a thing they do. Were the flowers too direct? The implication of the bouquet, a lot? Was it too soon? She desperately hopes she didn’t overstep, and didn't make Lena feel weird. I definitely messed this up.
She isn’t entirely sure what possesses her to, in that moment, but Kara suddenly finds herself out of her home clothes and in the outfit Lena has complimented her on many times - tan trousers and a form fitting white button up. Her hands sweat as she gathers her hair in a half up-half down style and, without looking in the mirror, opens the door to her apartment to find Lena mid knock.
“Lena?” Kara exclaims, surprised she didn’t even sense her come up the stairs.
“K-Kara, hi,” Lena says in greeting, and Kara doesn’t miss the way Lena’s eyes admiringly glaze over her body. She doesn’t mind, and finds her own cheeks reddening with overwhelm when she notices how startlingly beautiful Lena looks.
“What are you doing here? Wanna come inside?” Kara offers, opening the door wider.
“Well, only if you’re not busy right now?” Lena bites her lip, one hand clearly holding something behind her back.
“I’m not busy,” Kara smiles warmly, omitting the fact that she was on her way out to see Lena.
“Good, because there’s something I wanted to give you,” Lena admits, breath shaky. She moves her hand from behind her back to reveal a small bouquet of plumerias. Lena’s favourite.
“For me?” Kara asks, voice softening with affection.
“Yes, but read the note,” Lena prompts, expectantly. Kara looks up at her while taking the square glass vase and notices she seems…nervous?
“Thank you,” Kara says, tenderly. She lifts the note and knows Lena hears her sharp intake of breath when the words register.
I love the flowers, but I love spending time with you even more. xo Lena
“Lena,” Kara thinks that for the first time in her life, she might be speechless.
“And I want to spend more time with you, but not just as friends,” Lena gulps.
The momentary silence that follows presses on them from all sides.
Shock coursing through her body and effectively keeping her frozen in place, Kara stares at Lena in wonderment. “You do?”
“I mean, if, of course, you want that!” Lena searches the floor with her eyes, shy.
“Lena,” she tries again. “I was on my way to ask you the same thing,” she chuckles, stepping hesitantly into Lena’s orbit.
“You were?” Lena asks incredulously, eyes snapping up again to meet Kara’s.
“I was.”
