too late to start over

Lena grumbles as she hides her face in Alex’s shoulder.

“I just want you. And a family that likes me without complications.”

She chuckles fondly at the gesture, holding Lena tightly against her side.

“I thought it was pretty obvious you already had me, but if you need the reassurance of making it official, then here it is. I’m yours, and if you want to announce it to the world then do so. People are gonna talk no matter what, and I can’t afford to keep putting others before my own happiness.”

The words come far too easily, so much so that it scares Alex herself, but there’s also calm washing over her, a certainty that she had lacked for far too long.

Her arm finds its way around the others shoulders and a minuscule fraction of tension leaves her body.

The glass is surrendered easily, and as Lena tends to the now just vaguely stinging mark on her cheek, she twines her fingers together, squeezing hard to keep herself reigned in.

"Worst part is that I'm not completely sure she ever felt for me as I felt for her, and deep down I always had that doubt in the back of my mind, otherwise I wouldn't have done what I did with you." Sighing heavily, her eyes still refuse to meet Lena's, knowing one look will give it all away.

Beyond the anger, there's still sadness fueling it all. She just ended her very first significant relationship, and although the feelings jusy hadn't been the same for a while, even before Lena turned her life upside down, it still hurt.

Anger is easier, an old friend that has blanketed her soul for years.

"Got anything stronger for the other wounds?"

She didn't intend to reveal the whole truth, too ashamed to admit her continuous indiscretions, but she can't help jumping in defense of the woman that had taken her under her wing.

"As if you were any better. You strung me along only to drop me as soon as the chase was over, and for what? Only to come back when it was convenient for you! You weren't even close to fucking dying, but you clung to that to get me to fall in your arms. You saw me drifting away and couldn't stand that, the possibility of me finding someone that would value me, all of me, like you never did. I lovred you, Maggie, and you took advantage of that but no more. She's given me the respect and honesty you never have. She might be a Luthor, but she's already proven herself to be better than you."

The resounding slap wasn't completely unexpected, but it still brought tears to her eyes. She had loved this woman deeply, still loved her to some degree, but it was clear that love wasn't enough.

Smiling as she watches the blonde go, Alex then sighs wistfully, her gaze lingering on the retreating figure for a long mmoment. "You don't know the half of it, believe me."

And to think it was only months ago that she would feel skepticism at the mere mention of Lena's name.

Shaking hands with Lena in lieu of a kiss, Alex steps up to the podium, waiting a moment for the crowd to settle before speaking up.

"For many years I had to work in the shadows, exploring and studying that which many considered taboo, simply too unbelievable to truly accept with open arms and open minds. Day and night I had to find ways to help those that came to this planet, to our world, looking for a place to call home, only to be cast into dark corners and shadows, the human race turning their backs in them out of fear of the unknown."

"I persevered thanks to the support of others that, like me, only wanted to learn and help along the way. It hasn't been easy, and the fear and hatred are still part of our reality, but I believe we are taking incredible strides towards equality and true unity, but there's still a long way to go."

"You two ganging up on me is not fair, I hope you both know."

Gathering strength from the faith both women were putting on her, Alex straightens up, turning to kiss the blonde's cheek before doing the same to Lena.

“Alex, look at me.”

Lena grabs her tie and kisses her, throwing caution to the wind.

“This isn’t about showing you off like some prize or anything like that. I hope you know that.”

Looking at Lena with no small amount of uncertainty, she doesn’t reject the kiss. Even with the possibility of someone seeing them, she needs the grounding touch. 

Making into a big announcement had been Lena's idea, something about the top D.E.O. agent hiding in plain sight, and as skeptical as they usually were, even J'onn had agreed that it was a good strategy.

"But the sooner we get this over with, the better. I'm talking to Maggie right after this us over."

"I don't think NCPD sent her, I think it was confusion that brought her here." Alex was aware that, deep down, Maggie knew something was going on.

Things had changed between them lately, and Alex always blamed work for the late nights and sudden absences. It wasn't a lie, but she didn't know about Alex having been made an official partner. There was still a lot of mistrust on Maggie's side towards all things Luthor, firm in her belief that Lena couldn't be much different from Lex and Lillian.

Having Kara's unwavering support is a blessing, and Alex wasn't surprised. Kara had never completely let go of her resentment towards Maggie after rejecting Alex the first time.

"Let them believe that's what you are, for the time being, because this partnership and the results of it will be just the thing to shut them up."

Fiddling with her tie ("You have to look extra nice and serious, you're Lena Luthor's partner now!"), Alex casts one last look towards the crowd, steeling herself as she catches sight of a confused Maggie off to the side.