Hiii, sorry it’s been a while, I kinda disconnected myself from the internet for my mental health, actually I have news, I kinda figured out that I’m non binary 😅
-6’3 anon
hiii,
It's all right, actually, it's one of the best things you can do when the internet is as chaotic as it is :)
I'm so happy for you, babe! I'm always here for you, I'm glad you told me! I hope you're taking care of yourself and that everything is alright <3
Like I’m really happy to see the rest of the girls again, I have missed them a lot, but at the same time I’m really sad for Danielle and really sad that they were forced to return like this
-6’3 anon
6'3 anon omg hiiiii!!!
exactly! omg, I missed them so much, and they seem so grown up. I can't even believe this is really happening.
I'm really sad that Dani isn't with them. These girls have been through so much together. It's so unfair that Dani isn't there too.
𐚁⊹₊ ⋆ happy birthday to my ex gf 😭 @zanaissante (1/2 of my fav jo's)
sypnosis — a chance valorant match pairs you with streamers, girlset
pairing — streamer!lexus vang x streamer!reader
trope/genre — strangers to lovers, fluff, lexi rage baits reader, gamer talk (that won't make any sense if you've never played or watched), umm yeahh.
includes — the rest of girlset, seol yoona, park minju, and kim jiwon (liz)
word count — 8K
it was late enough into your valorant stream that people in your chat were telling you to go to sleep, which you, of course, ignored. your friends had gotten off an hour ago, and you'd spent the last twenty minutes pretending you were also getting off but never did close the game.
"okay," you said, stretching in your chair. "one swiftplay and then i'm going to bed."
chatter: the lies
chatter: said that an hr ago...
chatter: famous last words
chatter: "but chat we can't end on a loss"
you ignored your chat and started the queue. it was already after midnight, so you knew the games were gonna be completely silent, filled with some of the weirdest people alive, or the occasional normal people that you could add and play with later.
when the game loaded, you waited for everybody to pick their character before filling, feeling a bit nice today. when everybody locked in their characters, there was sage, skye, phoenix, and reyna, while you played clove. the map was abyss.
you talked to your chat while you waited for the game to load in, but while you were there, your chat pointed out that your team all had matching banners, so you had to be playing with a four-stack. but on top of that, the names looked really familiar to you, though you couldn't really put your finger on it.
"chat, do we know these people?" you asked because you were too lazy to search it up.
chatter: why would we know your val randoms...?
"so now when i actually need to know somebody's name, nobody can tell me who i'm playing with," you playfully rolled your eyes.
chatter: are they pros?
chatter: imagine it's just y/n's friends
chatter: could just be ppl you've played with before
chatter: wait i recognize these names
"okay, so i'm not trippin'," you said after reading some comments validating you.
the game finally loaded up, and you kept unmuting and muting your microphone, debating on if you wanted to talk or not. eventually, you decided on just buying a ghost and your meddle decay ability.
"hello random!" the sage said to you as you exited the spawn barriers, following the group toward a site.
"oh, hi random," you said, returning the energy.
"so you can talk," the reyna said.
"we kept watching your microphone pop up and didn't know if you were trying to talk," the sage said.
"i was debating whether i wanted to talk or not," you admitted.
"your name lowkey looks familiar," the phoenix said.
"i was gonna say the same thing about y'all," you said as you tried to think about it. "have we ever played together?"
"i don't think so..." the phoenix said.
chatter: i recognize the voices
chatter: ong thats girlset
chatter: lucky asl
"oh, i know now," you smirked, the chat finally feeding you the answer.
"what is it?" the reyna asked.
a loud electronic chime echoed through your headset. "oh—rounds starting," you said, locking in as the barriers dropped.
"you recognize us," the skye said.
"oh yeah, we've met," you said, jiggling the corner of a main.
suddenly, an enemy raze grenade painted the floor in red warning circles. you pressed your ability key, dropping a clove smoke right on the choke point to block the enemy's vision, but a flash popped through the cloud, blinding you.
"where?" the reyna asked.
"just at this event recently," you said, currently fighting for your life. you held down left-click, spraying through your own smoke as footsteps rushed you. you managed to land a crisp headshot on the blinding enemy phoenix, tapping your pick-me-up skill to absorb her life energy and overheal.
"my chat helped me," you added, quickly falling back toward the site's center pillar before you could get traded.
"so you're a streamer," the skye said, her character's flash-hawk soaring over your head to blind the remaining attackers.
"i dabble," you muttered. it was your full-time job.
"wait, can we get a hint because you've said we met before," the phoenix said, pushing past you to chase a kill.
"why would i do that?" you said, laughing as the round wrapped up with your team cleaning up the last attacker.
"so you can know us, but we can't know you," the sage said during the next buy phase.
"technically, i know who y'all are, i just don't know exactly who's who," you said, purchasing a vandal.
"if we tell you which one we are, will you tell us?" the phoenix asked.
"if we win this game, then i'll tell y'all," you challenged.
"can we lock in then?" the skye said.
"of course you wanna know," the sage teased.
"i also wanna win," the skye defended.
you all absolutely rolled the next round, and you finally found out who was who: lexi was on sage, camila was playing skye, kendall was playing phoenix, and savanna was playing reyna.
"so can we know now?" lexi asked.
"i said if we win the game, not the round," you reminded them.
"we're just gonna have to find you then," savanna said.
"why's that kinda scary," you laughed.
"you forced it to go this way," kendall said.
for the rest of the game, it was just all of you hanging out, taking it kinda serious but not too serious.
"lexi, swing with me," you called out, peeking the corner into b main. you wide-swung the angle, expecting lexi to be right behind you to trade the kill if you fell. instead, an enemy operator's shot rang out, instantly dropping your character to the floor. your camera immediately shifted to spectator mode, tracking lexi's sage, who was safely tucked behind a wall.
"lexi?" you questioned.
"what i do?" she asked innocently.
"you just watched me die!" you said in disbelief, watching her character's crosshair glide over your dead body to swap her pistol for your dropped vandal.
"nuh-uh," lexi said, shaking her character's head back and forth in the game since she knew you were watching her.
"you did!" you yelled.
"i was gathering information," lexi defended.
"yet you gathered nothing," you shot back.
"no, i found out there were two of them there," lexi countered smoothly.
"i should've gone with camila; she would've traded me," you sighed.
"i got you, clove," camila chimed in, immediately flashing the corner and bursting down the enemy sniper to avenge you.
a couple of rounds later, the match hit match point, tied up at 4-4. it came down to a chaotic b-site retake. savanna and kendall went down early, leaving just you and lexi in a brutal 2v4. you used your post-death clove smokes from beyond the grave to line up the site, clouding the enemy's vision.
you watched lexi hold the spike defuse while you, freshly resurrected by your ultimate ability, sprinted onto the site. you caught the first enemy lurking in the smokes, transferred your spray to a second pushing from back-site, and crouch-sprayed the third.
"wait, random's kinda fire!" lexi exclaimed over the mic as the 'round won' banner flashed across the screen.
"oh my god, lexi of girlset just complimented me," you told your chat, matching her energy.
you ended up winning the final round of the game. everybody was so caught up in screaming and celebrating kendall winning a crazy 3v1 clutch at the very last second that the lobby comms were pure chaos.
as the screen faded, kendall finally caught her breath. "wait, clove, who are you?"
"oh, gg's! i'll tell you if we meet again," you said quickly, knowing the chances of running into the same four-stack in swiftplay were actually incredibly low.
"we were—" you didn't hear the rest of savanna's sentence because the match ended and the mvp screen popped up, showcasing your clove front and center.
you grinned, your adrenaline spiking. after such a good game, how could you actually go to sleep now? you immediately clicked the queue button for another match.
chatter: we're gonna be here all night
chatter: y/n's prob hoping to run into them again
"guys deadass they're at so many events i go to, they do not need to know who i am," you said.
chatter: they're prob gonna recognize ur voice next time
chatter: it's already been clipped. they're gonna see
"wait can we not share it," you pleaded.
chatter: ur cooked
chatter: maybe it won't reach their side of the internet
the next game loaded in and you filled again playing gekko. the game went to show the enemy team and map screen and you were looking down at your phone but looked up when you saw how fast your chat was moving.
on the enemy team was the same four stack you just played with, girlset. they were all on the same characters too.
once the game loaded in you saw a text in all chat.
(all) broitslexus: traitor.
(all) flexonthemhoes: yall left me
(all) justkendalll: ur on the other side
(all) flexonthemhoes: mind u, y'all are all tgthr wo me
the first round started and you immediately booked it down a-main, sending gekko's mosh pit fluid swirling into the common chokepoint to cut off their push. lexi aggressively peeked past the corner, trying to line up a pre-fire, but you were already waiting. with a single, crisp click of your mouse, you one-tapped her immediately.
after dropping lexi, you caught kendall blindly sprinting through the corridor with a classic gekko dizzy flash that blinded her entirely, leaving her an easy second target. you picked up her fallen vandal, pivoted to b-link, and caught camila mid-air off a jump-pad. savanna tried to trade her, but you crouch-sprayed under her crosshair to secure the fourth kill. the final enemy, a random fifth player, tried to stick the spike defuse through a smoke, but you sent wingman rushing in to stun them before you swung, giving you an ace.
(all) camilaribelle: where was this last game
(all) flexonthemhoes: hello i mvp'd
after that it was like they didn't even care about killing anybody else on your team, just you.
it peaked on round three when you found yourself isolated holding the b-site container. suddenly, the entire sky turned into a nightmare. kendall triggered her ult, charging straight down your line of sight while lexi threw a sage slow orb directly under your feet, locking you in place. before you could even attempt to aim-duel, camila's ult came tracking around the corner, instantly nearsighting you, closely followed by a flashes of blinding light. you were completely paralyzed, trapped in a cage of utility, unable to move or see.
instead of shooting you, they literally just circled your blind, slowed character, throwing graffiti sprays on the wall and jumping around you in circles while the spike timer ticked away down to the final seconds.
(all) flexonthemhoes: this feels personal :(
(all) savvcwavv: should've told us the stream
only when the spike was fractions of a second from detonating did savanna finally put a bullet in you. you obviously ended up losing that round and you stared at the screen, before looking at the replay just to re-show the chat the trauma you just went through.
next game, you loaded in and immediately sighed.
"well look who it is," savanna said.
"you came back to us," camila said.
"did you guys ask riot to do this to me?" you said.
"to that we'd have to know your stream," savanna said.
"i definitely don't want to after last game," you said.
"maybe we should just go live and find out," kendall suggested.
"wait no that's not necessary," you said.
"so what's the stream?" camila asked.
you reluctantly told them.
"y/n?" savanna yelled out.
"i'm so sorry," you laughed.
"you're so different in person," lexi said.
"so nice to us in person too," kendall added.
"i truly didn't think we'd ever queue together again," you said.
"imma remember this for the next event we see you at," camila said.
"you look so embarrassed on stream," savanna laughed.
"you're watching the stream," you covered your face and debated turning it off entirely.
"don't worry you look cute," lexi said.
you had to mute your in game microphone after that and you knew they were watching but you had to talk to your chat.
"everybody shut the fuck up do not embarrass me," you said like they could even talk.
chatter: ur doing that all on ur own buddy
chatter: heyy clip channel
chatter: girlset knows us
"okay calm down, they know me not y'all," you said.
the map was haven, lexi was on sage, camila was on skye, kendall was on astra, and savanna was on reyna, while you were able to lock in iso.
the game started and you felt at peace not being attacked anymore. on the very first round, you popped iso's wall, sending the massive energy barrier driving down c-long to block the enemies line-of-sight. you tapped into your double tap shield, smoothly entrying onto the site with savanna trailing right behind you. together, you cleaned up the defenders holding the back logs, securing a flawless site take.
but when you said you weren't being attacked anymore, that was just from abilities because lexi kept trying to ship you and camila because you two would always go to the same site.
"i remember camila talking about how pretty y/n was after we met the first time," lexi said.
"what are we exposing me for?" camila chuckled.
"why are you trying to put them together so bad for?" kendall asked.
"i just think they'd be cute," lexi said.
"i think lexi likes y/n," savanna said.
"oh fuck no," lexi said.
"well damn let me just go kill myself," you said.
"also lexi was with me saying y/n was pretty," camila said.
"i don't like people who bully me," you said.
chatter: straight lying
"you gotta be nicer to her lexi," kendall said.
"no her chat says she likes it," lexi said.
"you're still in here?" you said.
"i needed to know if you're talking shit about us," lexi said.
"shit, so you heard me say you're really bad at the game," you said.
"you said that," kendall laughed.
by round eight, the match was a breeze. you activated iso's ultimate, pulling the enemy omen into your 1v1 arena. you cleanly won the duel, stepping back into the real world right into the middle of a-site. lexi was standing right there, using her sage wall to secure a plant, while camila's trailblazer tiger scouted out the remaining enemies.
"she's lying, she just compliments me a lot," lexi said.
"you gotta be watching somebody else's stream," you said, "ain't nobody glazing bro."
"maybe we ship lexi and y/n," camila said.
"well, it's been great, i gotta go y'all," you said as the game ended.
you didn't even get to escape because after that game, you got a friend request from all of them, and once you accepted it, they invited you to the party. at that point, you knew you weren't getting much sleep because you just had to keep playing with them. chances like this don't come often.
the second you joined, the girls were already talking again.
you started up the next game. a couple of rounds into a match on ascent, savanna absolutely went berserk on b-site defense. playing reyna, she dismissed away from a blind flash, popped her ultimate, and tore through the entire enemy team with lightning-fast sheriff headshots. her screen turned a bloody crimson as she secured the final kill.
"wait, you're so hot for that," you said after savanna aced.
"oh–thank you y/n," savanna said.
chatter: y/n pulling multiple girlset girls tn is crazy
"i'm just good like that chat," you said.
you all were on a winning streak when kendall yawned.
"it's actually three in the morning," kendall said.
"we should really go to sleep," camila said.
"yeah, don't we have plans in the morning or something," savanna said.
"i was supposed to end hours ago," you sighed.
chatter: we know
chatter: stayed up to play w pretty girls, real
chatter: we understand
you all said your goodbyes and you were getting ready to get off when you saw lexi was making no move to leave.
"aren't you gonna go to bed?" you asked.
"we should," lexi said.
"but are we gonna?" you asked.
"up to you," lexi said and you started the queue immediately.
chatter: lexi of all ppl staying is crazy
chatter: oh????
"so..." you leaned back in your chair, "we're not going to sleep for a while huh."
"i would just feel bad leaving you alone," lexi said.
"didn't savanna say y'all have something to do tomorrow?" you asked.
"it's not until later," lexi said.
"you think they're gonna be mad we played without them?" you asked.
"they'll be fine," lexi said.
when the next game started, you clutched a round and some random complimented you in the team chat. the match was on sunset, and you were backed into a corner on b-site. with only a sheriff and zero abilities left, you held your ground against a three-man push. you crisp-clean tapped the enemy omen head coming through the main choke, swung wide to drop the jett mid-dash, and hit a nasty jump-shot on the remaining cypher to take the round.
the random jett on your team instantly unmuted. "yo, gekko, you are actually insane. marry me?"
you played into it, talking back, but it eventually got flirty the more you two talked. you started asking them to buy you guns, threw your dizzy flash to "protect them," and joked around in team chat.
the more you two flirted the quieter lexi got. during the buy phase of the next round, she stood completely still in the corner of the spawn barrier, her sage character just staring at the wall while you and the random kept bantering.
"i was gonna drop you a skin," lexi said casually, breaking her silence as the barrier countdown hit five seconds.
"wait drop it please," you said, crouching in front of her character and shaking your crosshair up and down.
"no, you're over here just cheating on me," lexi said, jumping backward away from you.
"excuse me?" you chuckled.
"talking to other people," she clicked her tongue.
"hello, we're not dating," you said.
"...okay," lexi said.
"you're so jealous," you grinned.
"why would i be jealous?" lexi scoffed.
she aggressively swung out of spawn, sprinting straight toward middle without checking her corners. you followed close behind her as she threw down a sage wall just to block the random jett's line of sight, completely cutting them off from the rest of the push.
"see, look at you using your utility just to block them out," you teased over the party mic.
"they were moving too slow," lexi said.
(all) jett: sage can i get a heal
"bros at fifty asking me for a heal," lexi said.
"you healed me at ninety," you laughed.
"okay because you're actually valuable to the team. that jett isn't doing shit," lexi said.
"literally right under me on the leaderboard by the way," you pointed out.
"not at the top though," lexi said.
"insane," you said.
"can you flash for me gekko?" jett asked.
"anything for you," you said.
"thank you, my goat."
by the second half of the game, lexi was barely speaking unless it was to give necessary comms or complain. but then, the random jett died right in the middle of the site. once the team had successfully taken it back over, the jett noticed lexi's ultimate was up.
"wait, sage, you can res me," the jett said over the team mic.
lexi aggressively shook her character's head side-to-side, deliberately walking right over the jett. you couldn't help but laugh.
"so you're gonna throw the round because you're jealous," you teased.
"i'm not jealous," lexi argued, her tone defensive.
when the game finally ended, you backed out to the lobby and instantly hit the requeue button without saying a word. lexi didn't even complain about it; she just sat in the lobby with you, the heavy silence hanging between your headsets.
"i'm lowkey craving tacos right now," lexi said out of nowhere, "but i don't know if i wanna order right now."
"you want me to order you food?" you asked.
"you're not gonna," lexi dismissed.
"actually, add me on discord. i will order for you right now," you said.
chatter: the way they met tdy lmao
chatter: this is so down bad of y/n
"if i actually give you my order, will you?" lexi asked. she paused for a second, her voice getting suspicious. "wait. you're just trying to get my address."
"i will venmo you the money if you want," you offered.
"like, deadass?" lexi asked.
"yes, bruh," you said, chuckling. "do you want taco bell or like, authentic tacos?"
"what do you wanna order me?"
"this is about what you want," you said.
"i feel like i should be cheap," lexi murmured.
"no, it's fine, you can spend my money," you said.
"well, in that case," lexi's voice instantly perked up, "what's the most expensive taco i can buy?"
"i'm gonna go broke," you said.
the next match popped up, the map was haven so you instelay locked in jett so you could have lexi as your pocket sage.
a few rounds in, the enemy team executed a fast push onto a-site, completely clearing out the rest of your teammates before they could even rotate. suddenly, it was a 2v4, with just you and lexi left to defend.
"i'm gonna do some dumb shit," you told lexi over party chat.
you pulled out your knives and updrafted high over a-box, catching the enemy reyna completely off guard and headshotting her mid-air. then you dashed forward straight into a smoke near cubby, blindly turning and killing the omen who was hiding inside it.
you short-dashed backward into hell right as the last two enemies sprayed through the smoke. seeing you in danger, lexi perfectly timed a slow orb, dropping it right at the edge of the smoke and delaying their push just enough. you peeked off of her utility and hit two consecutive headshots.
"that flick was disgusting!" the random sova screamed into their mic.
"actually unreal," the brimstone chimed in, laughing in disbelief.
"okay, i sent you my order," lexi said quietly in the party chat, completely ignoring the teammates hyping you up.
you picked up your phone, opened your discord dms, and pulled up the food delivery screenshot she had just sent you.
as the barriers for the next round started counting down, you hovered near spawn. "wait, can we all survive for a second so i can order food right quick?" you asked over the team mic.
"what you ordering?" the sova asked.
"tacos," you answered.
"can you order me tacos too?" the brimstone joked.
"i usually would," you smirked, looking toward lexi's character, "but my girlfriend gets jealous easily. she barely lets me talk to other women."
"don't tell people that," lexi snapped in the private party chat.
"are you not getting jealous easily?" you teased.
"shut up and order my food," lexi said.
after that game, you two played a couple more matches before you eventually decided to call it a night. you ended the stream, the screen going black as you sighed and stretched in your chair. you were about to get ready for bed, but then you got a text from lexi on discord.
broitslexi
i'm so cooked for tmrw 😭
y.n.
i told u to gts
broitslexi
i actually don't think u ever did...
y.n.
nono
i did
at some point
broitslexi
ur literally lying
y.n.
ima rewatch the entire vod and look for it
broitslexi
and ur gonna find nothing
y.n.
i willl
omg the sunrise is so pretty
broitslexi
its up?
y.n.
u wanna see?
broitslexi
i have so many regrets
but yes
y.n.
broitslexi
wait it's so pretty
u have such a nice view
y.n.
come see it in person
broitslexi
oh?? 👀
y.n.
who said that???
broitslexi
maybe i will
y.n.
omg it worked
broitslexi
😭😭
y.n.
i should rly gts now
broitslexi
we both rly should
y.n.
goodnight lexiii
broitslexi
night night
it was your first stream since that night, mostly because you'd been caught up with a ton of off-camera stuff over the past couple of days. ever since that late-night stream went a little viral, the shipping edits with lexi had been all over your timeline. you didn't really mind it, but for the most part, both of you just tried to ignore it because internet people are going to think whatever they want to think anyway.
you greeted your stream, watching the chat instantly flood with comments about lexi and the rest of girlset. but you were here for a completely different reason today.
"minju got me playing fuckass league," you said, leaning back.
"i rarely ever play this game and they want me to play it for like six hours," you complained, pulling up discord on your second monitor.
"but anyways, yoona's in the discord call but she's deafened," you told your stream, hovering your mouse over the voice channel. "do i join and also deafen or just mute?"
"imma just ping her until she undeafens," you said, clicking into the call and immediately spamming her mentions in the text channel.
"my chat told me you were waiting on me," yoona said as she finally undeafened.
"can you look at the discord?"
"bro why'd you ping me fifty times?"
"now that i have your attention, hi," you said.
"i'm deafening until minju gets here," yoona said immediately.
"wait i was kidding," you said, sitting up. "i was trying to talk to my chat, but they just keep asking if i talked to you know who."
"well have you talked to her since?" yoona asked, immediately picking up on the hint.
"well we text at least once a day," you said, trying to downplay it.
"basically dating," yoona said.
"well no."
"y'all stayed up til' what like five am playing and talking," yoona said.
"i don't know how you know that," you said.
"i've seen the clips!" yoona exclaimed.
"you're supposed to look away because you know me for real," you told her.
"i was just mad because you were supposed to be going to bed," yoona said.
"i'm sorry, but my chat kept asking for one more game," you said, shifting the blame.
chatter: lying on us
chatter: we fully told u to go to bed
"so now you listen," yoona said.
"i always listen," you said.
chatter: ok sincere
"anyways, when is minju getting here?" you groaned.
"you should've been pinging her instead," yoona said.
"good idea," you said as you shifted targets and started pinging minju this time.
"she's gonna be pissed when she joins," yoona chuckled.
"good, i'm pissed she's forcing me to play league," you said.
"all i see is the discord moving fast as hell," minju said, her icon lighting up green as she suddenly joined the call.
"you're here!" you cheered, your voice bouncing with sudden energy.
"unfortunately," minju sighed, her microphone capturing the sound of her slumping back into her chair.
"you act like you weren't the one who made us play league," you said, pointing an accusatory finger at your webcam.
"i asked," minju corrected smoothly, her tone entirely too innocent.
"you peer pressured."
"i did no such thing," minju denied.
"you did send a calendar invite," yoona laughed, her icon lighting up in discord as she joined in on the roasting.
"basically holding a gun to my head," you added on, shaking your head dramatically at the stream.
minju completely ignored your theatrics, masterfully shifting the conversation. "so how's everybody been? it's been a dead couple of days in the group chat."
"i've been busy," you answered, leaning back to eye the slow-moving progress bar of your game launcher.
"with?" minju urged you to continue.
"life and shit," you shrugged.
"that tells me absolutely nothing."
"i know," you grinned, enjoying how easily you could annoy her.
yoona hummed thoughtfully over her mic, "i think she was filming something."
"see? yoona gets it."
"i guessed."
"well... your guess was right."
"no way," minju gasped dramatically
"i also had meetings."
"boooo," minju droned, completely over the professional talk. "can you get in the game?"
"wait, i gotta update," you said as you looked at the download bar on your screen.
"you could've been doing that this whole time," minju groaned.
"my bad, i don't play this game," you said defensively.
"since we gotta wait even longer, yoona, i finally started that show you told me to watch."
"and?"
"you were right."
"i know."
"that plot twist at the end was crazy," minju exclaimed.
"why was i not told about this?" you chimed in, feeling left out of the loop.
"you probably were; you just don't listen to us," yoona said.
"literally false," you said, crossing your arms.
"what do you even watch anyway?" minju asked.
"i've mostly just been watching youtube while i eat," you said.
"still?" minju asked, sounding genuinely disappointed in you.
"it's a lifestyle."
"you're never beating the ipad kid allegations."
"i literally watch one video while i eat."
"you still need subway surfers gameplay at the bottom of the screen to focus," yoona teased, laughing at her own joke.
"i do not!"
"you literally do."
chatter: ipad kid confirmed
chatter: family guy clips next
chatter: attention span cooked
chatter: bro needs a sensory video to eat breakfast
"see?" yoona laughed, reading the chat overlay on your stream. "even chat agrees."
"stop looking at my stream," you said, covering your face with both hands in pure embarrassment.
"we're literally on a call right now," yoona said, sounding incredibly amused.
"it's different," you mumbled through your hands.
when your download finally finished, the client flashed a bright notification, and you all hopped into a lobby.
you locked in a champion you barely understood, spending the first ten minutes completely lost in the bottom lane and trying to figure out which items to buy. but your game sense kicked in during team fights; you managed to instinctively flash away from a lethal ultimate and clean up two low-health enemies just by clicking the right targets.
minju was heavily carrying the entire team, securing a massive double kill at the dragon pit while yoona locked down the enemy team with perfect crowd control from the support role.
you all tore through the enemy base before the twenty-minute mark, securing a clean victory.
the next two games went exactly the same way. you kept accidentally stealing minion kills and wandering into the enemy jungle by mistake, but whenever a team fight broke out, you somehow found a way to survive and lock down assists. with minju absolutely dominating the leaderboard and yoona consistently playing her part to bail you out of bad positioning, you rolled through the match history on a massive win streak.
after a couple of games on league, you all finally switched over to overwatch. you loaded into a match, three-stacking in the queue, but after enduring a particularly frustrating game with random people, you needed to play with people you knew.
"wait, i don't wanna play with randoms anymore. can we invite somebody?" you said.
"great idea! we should play with your new friends," yoona suggested.
"who is my new friends?" you asked slowly.
"y'know... lexi," yoona said, dragging out the name.
"probably busy. is jiwon available? what about kkura?" you said quickly, listing off other names.
"nobody else in the server is available," minju chimed in.
"i don't think that was enough time to check," you said skeptically.
"did it earlier; now just check if they're busy," minju said.
"do we have any other friends?" you asked.
"you have options," yoona teased.
"anybody in the chat wanna play?" you offered, looking at the chat.
"can you just text her?" minju said, completely unbothered by your stalling.
"she's literally under the same company as yoona, but sure, let me text her," you said, rolling your eyes as you switched to lexi's chat on discord.
y.n.
u busy?
broitslexi
nope
y.n.
that was fast...
broitslexi
might be watching your stream 😁
y.n.
ooh turn it off
broitslexi
im too invested now
y.n.
broooo
have u been here the whole time 😬
broitslexi
came as soon as i saw ur tweet
and i have ur notifs on
y.n.
turn that off
broitslexi
i like watching u tho
y.n.
im embaressed
broitslexi
just invite me to overwatch bro
y.n.
u tell nobody what we talked abt
broitslexi
🤐
y.n.
would it also be too much to ask u for one more person?
plsplsplsplsplspls
broitslexi
i'll ask kendall
y.n.
thanks bro
broitslexi
😁😁😁😁
"she can come," you said, pulling your mic closer. "i also got us a fifth too."
"look at you, networking," minju teased.
"i am not networking."
"you literally just recruited two people."
"i just asked my friend if she wanted to play."
"friend?" yoona repeated.
"yep," you nodded.
"interesting choice of words."
"never make me do this again," you said quickly, trying to cut off the teasing just before a loud voice joined the call.
"hellooooo!" lexi announced as she joined.
"yeah, muting you immediately," you joked, hovering your mouse over her name.
"you actually should; i do be screaming a lot," lexi said.
kendall joined a second later, "what's up?"
"hey guys," minju greeted.
"you're saving us from solo queue," yoona said, letting out a sigh of relief. "thank you."
"i heard y'all were suffering," kendall replied.
"we were," you answered immediately. "every game has been miserable."
"you've been flaming league this whole stream," lexi pointed out.
"because that game deserves it," you said.
"you barely even play it," minju laughed.
"because i know how bad it is," you countered.
"valid," kendall admitted.
"thank you!"
"but you're also terrible," kendall added.
"ok rude," you said.
"the gameplay was a lil eh," kendall teased.
"i was learning!"
"you were walking into towers," kendall said.
"i didn't know they hurt that much," you said defensively.
"she's hopeless," minju laughed.
"i'm trying my best," you pouted.
"your best concerns me," minju said.
you clicked into the overwatch lobby and started firing out invites to everyone. "so who's playing what?" kendall asked as their characters began popping up on the main screen.
"i'll probably support," yoona answered.
"damage," minju said.
"i call stealing whatever role y/n wants," lexi spoke up immediately.
"you are not stealing my role," you said, hovering over the selection bar.
"too late," lexi said.
"you don't even know what i'm playing," you said.
"i'll figure it out," lexi said.
"you're so annoying," you said.
"you love it though," lexi said.
"who tells you these lies?" you said.
"it's like we're not even here," minju interrupted, sighing loudly into her mic.
"i thought some of those clips were taken out of context, but no, you two are just like that," yoona said, sounding incredibly amused.
"imagine how crazy it was to see all of us decide to go to sleep, and then i wake up to see clips of these two flirting after we left," kendall said.
"you told a lot of people you were going to sleep, huh," yoona said.
"we were not flirting," you defended.
"that's what i'm saying!" lexi agreed.
"mhm," kendall let out the most unconvinced hum. "you literally called her a cheater."
"she was cheating," lexi argued.
"it was literally a random on voice chat," you rolled your eyes playfully.
"she was gonna leave me for someone with better aim," lexi sighed dramatically.
"oh my god," you groaned, burying your face in your hands.
"wait, that's actually what happened?" yoona burst out laughing.
"she got jealous over a random complimenting me," you told them, exposing her to the group.
"i did not get jealous," lexi denied loudly.
"you called me a cheater," you said.
"as. a. joke," lexi insisted, emphasizing every word.
"right, right," you hummed.
"it was!" lexi said.
"they're just feeding the edits at this point," kendall laughed.
"it has to be on purpose," minju said.
the queue popped with a loud ring, and the first match loaded into king's row on defense. you locked in kiriko, while lexi instantly went d.va, kendall took ana, minju ran soldier: 76, and yoona filled on mei.
the enemy team pushed aggressively right out of the gates, rolling a reinhardt and a bastion straight down the choke. you took the high ground, weaving kunai headshots into the fray while keeping a sharp eye on minju's health bar. suddenly, the enemy reinhardt shattered the ground, stunning yoona and minju right in front of a transforming bastion.
"i got you, i got you!" you yelled, dropping down from the ledge and throwing a clutch protection suzu clean onto them. the brief invulnerability cleansed the stun just as a massive barrage of bullets hit. lexi flew straight in, mechanics on point, raising her defense matrix to swallow the rest of the bastion's damage.
"lexi, you're actually a savior!" minju cheered, sprinting behind the ice wall yoona just dropped to recover.
"i only protect the people who don't cheat on me," lexi shot back into the mic, her voice dripping with smugness.
"there's no way you're still on that," you groaned, sending a healing ofuda toward her mech.
by the end of the round, the enemy made one final, desperate push onto the streets. kendall caught them in a bottleneck and threw a massive nano-boost onto lexi's d.va. lexi boosted high into the air and launched her self-destruct mech over the archway. it detonated perfectly on the payload, wiping out four of them instantly.
the second game took you to esperança for a sweaty push map. the enemy team was highly coordinated, running a hyper-mobile dive comp with genji and tracer that immediately started harassing your backline.
you were playing baptiste this time, staying close to kendall's zenyatta. the enemy genji suddenly dashed through the sky, blade drawn, nanomed, and screaming his ultimate line. he dove straight for you.
"backline, backline! help!" kendall called out, frantically dropping discord orbs.
you reacted instantly, slapping down your immortality field drone right as the blade swung across your screen. trapped inside the death-preventing aura, you and kendall stood ground-to-ground, aiming straight for the genji's head. you dropped an amplification matrix right in front of you, doubling your damage output, and burst-fired him out of the sky before the blade could reset.
"wait, the support synergy is kind of insane right now," kendall laughed, her zenyatta kicking a tracer away from the robot.
"don't be too nice, lexi's gonna get jealous again," yoona chimed in, sniping an enemy from across the courtyard.
"i caught a stray and for what?" lexi sighed while you laughed.you on the other hand,
with the genji dead and their dive completely dismantled, you and kendall kept the team topped off on health while minju cleanly cleaned up the stragglers. the robot marched steadily across the final checkpoint, securing another decisive win for the lobby.
you all played a couple of more games before calling last game.
"i think that's my lg," minju said as the victory screen popped up, showing your team front and center.
"yeah, i need to tap out too," yoona agreed. "good games, guys. good luck with whatever... this is," she teased, gesturing vaguely to the call.
"goodnight, guys," kendall laughed, disconnecting from the voice channel alongside minju and yoona a second later.
suddenly, the discord channel went quiet, leaving just you and lexi in the call.
"so," you said, leaning back in your chair and spinning a little. "just us again."
"you gonna finally go to sleep now, or do you need me to stay and carry you through one more?"
"i don't know, i kind of like having you around," you smiled as you watched your chat go crazy. "even if you do accuse me of cheating with randoms."
lexi let out a soft laugh, her voice dropping a little lower. "i only protect what's mine, y/n. you should know that by now."
you cleared your throat, suddenly feeling a bit flustered as you looked everywhere but your webcam. "okay, yeah, i'm definitely ending the stream before chat clips that and ruins my life."
"goodnight, y/n," lexi murmured. "don't dream about me too much."
"in your dreams, lexus," you retorted, but you couldn't hide the smile on your face. "bye."
you quickly muttered your goodbyes to your stream, slammed the 'end stream' button, and finally shut down the computer.
broitslexi
Y/N
are u going to the event tmrw?
y.n.
i think i got an invite
broitslexi
u should go
y.n.
awww u wanna see me 🥰
broitslexi
yes
so pull up
y.n.
oh damn i didn't think it'd be that ez
ok i'll be there 🫡
broitslexi
yippeee
i'll tell the girls
y.n.
yeas plss
i wanna see camila
broitslexi
nvm don't show up 🙄
y.n.
jk
i'm excited to see all of y'all
especially you
broitslexi
mhmm
y.n.
i'm seriousss
i won't look at anybody else except for u to prove my point
broitslexi
ur eyes better be covered until i see u then
y.n.
done.
broitslexi
we'll see
you were currently at this massive block party event, an outdoor venue swarming with a chaotic mix of creators, industry people, and a handful of fans. you were just walking around the perimeter of the crowds with jiwon.
"are you not hot in that hoodie?" jiwon asked.
"i have to cover my eyes," you said, tugging the drawstrings a little tighter so the hood fell even further over your face.
"you could've just worn shades," jiwon said.
"i'm not supposed to be looking at anybody though," you said.
"and this is what you came up with," jiwon said.
"well i wasn't wanna walk around with a blindfold on," you said defensively.
"why can't you look at anybody though?" jiwon questioned.
"i promised lexi i wouldn't," you told her.
"right... because she'll get jealous or something," jiwon joked, rolling her eyes.
"she denies it but i know she does," you smiled.
"and you like that shit?" jiwon chuckled.
"well, yeah, it means she likes me or whatever," you said, shrugging your shoulders casually.
"or whatever," jiwon mumbled under her breath.
"i heard that," you said.
"you were meant to," jiwon said without missing a beat.
"i knew i should've stayed with yoona," you said, letting out a heavy sigh.
"you can go back with them," jiwon said, gesturing back toward the main vip tent. "you're the one who dragged me out here to walk around."
"there was just too many people in there, and like too many cameras. i didn't feel safe."
"were you planning on streaming today?" jiwon asked.
"nope. it's my day off," you shook your head.
suddenly, jiwon stopped walking, her gaze locking onto something in the distance. "i see your people," jiwon said.
"who are my people?" you asked, peeking out from under the hood.
"girlset."
"oh fuck no," you said looking ahead, immediately spotting the four girls. "i didn't know they were streaming."
"i am not finna embarrass myself on camera; you go talk to them," you said, pushing her ahead lightly by the shoulders.
"you literally know them better than me," jiwon said, quickly dodging your push and going to stand behind you instead.
"we talked that one night," you said moving out of the way to avoid the camera's line of sight.
"more than me," jiwon said pushing you ahead, her hands firmly planted on your back.
"in that case we can talk to them later," you tried to change your course, planting your feet in the concrete, but jiwon held onto your shoulders, making you walk toward them. you tried to stop her from pushing you, but apparently jiwon was strong as fuck and kept pushing you forward until you were right in front of them.
"y/n!" lexi said once she saw you approaching, her face instantly lighting up as she stepped slightly away from the camera frame to greet you.
"hii," you waved shyly.
"what happened to how you used to talk to us?" camila chuckled, noticing how different you seemed.
"wasn't me," you shook your head, awkwardly shoving your hands deep into your pockets.
"she's just shy in person," jiwon said, completely throwing you under the bus.
"we can tell," savanna said.
"nice to meet y'all," you bowed politely, keeping your eyes mostly glued to the pavement.
"this is not our first time meeting," kendall said.
"i know, but like we didn't really know each other back then," you said.
"you also can't look at us," camila said.
"i'm just tryna avoid the sun," you said.
"you're actually doing it," lexi laughed.
"i told you i would," you said, looking up at her finally.
"so you really haven't looked at anybody else?" lexi smiled, crossing her arms.
"i've been looking at the floor for the majority of the day," you said.
"she's deadass had this hoodie on to cover her eyes all day," jiwon told her.
"i like that," lexi grinned.
"can i take it off now though?" you asked slightly waving yourself, "it do be hot as fuck out here."
"i didn't think you would really do it," lexi said.
"i keep my promises," you said.
"can we get out of the way first, though," camila said, looking around at all of the people around.
"let's go sit down somewhere," kendall suggested, gesturing toward a quieter section of the venue.
you all wandered over to a nearby lounging area, tucked away under some shaded tents. it had low-slung couches and a heavy wooden coffee table where the crew could easily prop up the portable camera to capture all of you. it also meant you had officially been included in a random, impromptu q&a session that you never signed up for. you were sandwiched tightly between jiwon and lexi, and lexi's knee kept playfully nudging against your leg under the table.
chatter: how is it meeting y/n in person
"y/n just acts really different in real life than when we play games together. you're like a completely different person," savanna commented, leaning forward and resting her chin on her hands as she read the chat.
"like, she hasn't even tried to argue with me yet, which is so not like you in our messages," lexi chimed in, giving your shoulder a light shove.
"y/n's just nervous to be around lexi," jiwon said, leaning back and smoothly throwing you under the bus.
"okay, so now we're just lying on me," you said.
"don't worry, y/n. i like you all nervous for me," lexi cooed, tilting her head to look at you with a teasing smile.
"please save me," you whispered out of the side of your mouth to jiwon, not looking away from the camera.
you let out a quiet sigh and forced yourself to sit up straight, trying to look presentable for the thousands of people currently watching the stream. lexi had finally stopped nudging your leg, but the relief was short-lived. beneath the low table, out of the camera's line of sight, her hand slid over yours, her fingers gently tangling with yours and slowly caressing the back of your hand.
chatter: will y/n survive being w girlset the entire day
"we're gonna find out, because i don't think lexi is letting y/n leave," camila laughed, pointing at the two of you.
"insane," you breathed out, trying to ignore how weird the feeling of lexi's hand felt.
"y'all are basically holding hands underneath the table right now," jiwon pointed out ruthlessly.
both you and lexi immediately snatched your hands back, placing them flat on top of the table.
"now you're just making stuff up for the clip channels," you stammered, pointing a finger at jiwon.
"i know what i saw," jiwon said, raising her eyebrows.
"our hands just accidentally touched because we're all sitting so close together," lexi tried to defend.
"the way either of you could move and have more space, though," savanna added.
"never thought i'd get hated on for being considerate," you playfully rolled your eyes, but you didn't shift an inch away from lexi.
chatter: does this mean you'll play games together more often
"if y/n can handle us," kendall said.
"if i survived that night of us playing valorant, i can survive anything," you replied.
for a few minutes, the stream went on normally as more chats were read off and answered.
"'you should lip to lip with y/n,'" lexi read the viewer's message aloud. she paused, looking directly at you, and slowly bit her lower lip before tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "no—the hell? mods, can we handle that?"
"you sure didn't just make that chat up," you said, squinting at her suspiciously.
"now why would i make it up?" lexi rolled her eyes, leaning in closer to your space.
"because you like being annoying."
"oh, am i annoying you?" lexi challenged, turning her entire body toward you and getting right in your face.
expecting her to back up if you called her bluff, you playfully puckered your lips at her. only to be caught completely off guard as lexi quickly leaned the rest of the way forward and stole a kiss right from your lips.
you scrambled backward against the cushions, immediately slapping a hand over your mouth as your eyes went wide. lexi burst out laughing at your sheer panic, clapping her hands together in absolute delight as the stream chat on the monitor went crazy.
"what did y'all just do?" savanna asked, her head snapping over just in time to see the aftermath.
"i gotta go," you said, your voice a pitch higher than usual as you stood up and pointedly looked away from the camera. "nice streaming with y'all, bye chat!"
"oh, we're leaving," lexi said, instantly standing up right alongside you.
"i'm leaving," you corrected.
"and i said we're leaving," lexi stated, her tone leaving absolutely no room for argument as she stepped away from the couches.
"oh—whatever you say," you mumbled. you cast a pleading look back at jiwon and the girls for help, but they were all too busy laughing and teasing to offer a rescue.
you quickly walked out of the open pavilion and steered lexi toward a more secluded area of the venue. you slipped into a room where one of the panel events had ended earlier. the empty chairs were pushed back, and you knew nobody would be coming in here for a while.
"so—"
before you could even finish your sentence, lexi closed the distance. her lips were immediately back on yours, firm and demanding as she stepped into your space, her hands catching your waist and pressing you back against the edge of a heavy wooden table. you quickly followed her lead, your hands sliding up her shoulders to tangle in her hair as you kissed her back.
as the kisses grew deeper and the air in the room got noticeably heavier, you felt things starting to get a little too heated. realizing that you were dangerously close to wanting to take your clothes off right there in an open venue, you reluctantly pulled back and gently rested your hands on her chest.
"so, not that i don't love kissing you, but we should probably stop," you breathed.
"we really should," lexi agreed, her eyes dark and her lips slightly flushed as she rested her forehead against yours.
"pick this back up at my place, though?" you whispered, letting a playful wink slip through.
"take me on a date first," lexi countered, a teasing smirk returning to her face as she stepped back and adjusted her clothes.
"why am i taking you on a date? what if i wanna be treated out?" you questioned, crossing your arms and leaning back against the table.
"because i'm not doing all of that," she laughed.
"can i at least get your number, then?"
"you gotta earn that, baby," lexi said, leaning in one last time to press a quick sweet kiss to your lips before turning towards the exit, leaving you leaning against the table with your head spinning.
"don't take too long, y/n!" lexi called out over her shoulder.
"fuck me," you muttered, rubbing your face with both hands to try and cool down. you let out a shaky breath, checked your reflection in your phone to make sure your lips didn't look completely wrecked, and headed out after her, knowing you still had to survive the rest of the event.
I got into Marketing! I've waiting for years to get to Uni, I'm so excited.
Now I'm on summer break and the only thing I'm doing is writing and reading. From time to time I watch a movie. Yesterday I watched Amélie, how I love french cinema.
Also the heat wave in Europe is killing me, and I know August is going to be a living hell.
Love you too <3
Congratulations, baby!!! I'm so happy for you <33 You're going to be amazing, and I hope you love this new journey of yours <3
u so real 4 that. I'm comfortably settled in my home practically 24/7 doing my own things, and it's wonderful. I need to write more for this blog :/ Lately, I haven't felt much like writing for the Kats, I hope this passes soon. But hey, I just read your supercorp fic, And let me tell you, she heals where it hurts 🙂↕️ ur amazing!!!
Wow, it's been kind of crazy here. Sometimes it's unbearably hot, and sometimes it rains out of nowhere. It's really confusing. I mean, that's what happens when past generations neglect global warming, I guess ://
anyway, I'm happy to know you're okay! Love you, stay safe <3
I'm your biggest fan, I'll follow you until you love me - Supercorp
Chapter 5: The Elevator
Starring: Milly Alcock!Supergirl x Margaret Qualley!Lena Luthor
And: Superman (2025) characters.
Two weeks after Superman's defeat of Lex Luthor, Metropolis is still struggling to rise from the rubble. As its heroes work tirelessly to rebuild the city, another Luthor arrives with a promise: to repair the damage her family has caused.Lena Luthor insists she's only there to help. No one believes her.To keep an eye on her, Kara Zor-El is given a simple mission: don’t let Lena out of your sight. But what should have been a routine assignment soon spirals into a series of clashes, growing distrust, and an attraction neither woman can ignore—one that slowly begins to blur the line into obsession.
Content: Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Spoiled Brat x Rebel Brat, Idiots in Love, Slow Burn (not really), Romance, Fluff and Crack, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Jealousy, Possessiveness, Obsession, Insecurities, Mental Health, Drinking, Smoking, Kissing, Suggestive Themes, Eventual Smut (still not sure, we will see), Other Ships, "Stalking" (it's her job), Mentions of Past Self-Harm, Mentions of Attempted Suicide, DC Universe Typical Violence, Happy Ending.
A/N: Lena's POV FINALLY. Hope y'all enjoy <3
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Lena woke with a splitting headache. A constant buzzing filled her ears while a relentless pounding throbbed at her temples.
With a groan, she pushed herself upright in her king-sized bed, the black duvet slipping from her waist. She crossed the room and pulled open the floor-to-ceiling curtains, letting the bluish light of early morning flood the bedroom. She slipped into her purple silk robe and stepped out onto the balcony. Her bedroom overlooked the southern grounds of her classical Gothic manor. A vast expanse of emerald lawns stretched beyond the terraces, dotted with ancient oaks and maples just beginning to turn gold with the arrival of autumn. In the distance lay the lake where she'd spent countless summers swimming as a child. A cold breeze brushed against her cheeks. Metropolis was growing colder with autumn's arrival.
Lena loved autumn, especially in Paris. God, she missed Europe. She missed the freedom she'd had there. After four years—and with Lex locked away in a maximum-security prison—she'd naïvely believed Metropolis would stop feeling like a prison built from trauma and terrible memories. How wrong she'd been. With a bitter sigh, she stepped back inside.
Barefoot, she wandered through the silent corridors of the manor toward the kitchen, descending the marble staircase lined with portraits of generations of Luthors who had once called this place home. Now the house belonged only to silence. When Lena was little, her mother used to dream about having a house overflowing with grandchildren—children running through these halls, laughter echoing beneath the high ceilings. She wondered what her mother would think if she could see what had become of their family.
In the kitchen, Lena brewed herself a double espresso before returning upstairs. She wasn't hungry. She had the distinct feeling that if she tried to eat anything, she'd only throw it back up. Her bedroom was unmistakably Victorian. The walls were covered in deep maroon floral wallpaper, while intricately carved dark oak furniture filled the room. On the far side, opposite her bed, stood a sitting area furnished with crimson velvet sofas. She lowered herself onto the Persian rug before the fireplace and lit it with practiced ease.
The warmth slowly filled the room.
Lena hated her life. It was the first thought she woke up with every morning since returning to Metropolis. Not all of it, only parts of it. It was complicated. Before her parents died, she'd been the happiest little girl imaginable. She'd had everything she could ever want: loving parents, an older brother who adored her, a comfortable life, wonderful friends, and the certainty that every wish she made would somehow come true.
After the accident… Those memories became nothing more than dreams.
She took a sip of coffee and extended her free hand toward the fire, letting the flames tickle her skin while the crackling wood soothed the relentless buzzing inside her skull.
After losing her parents, she'd believed she still had Lex. As long as she had her brother, everything would be okay. God, she'd been so painfully naïve. The accident hadn't been the end of her happiness. It had merely been the beginning of the nightmare. Lex grew colder, more controlling. Then Superman appeared before the world, and Lex became consumed by him—and by every alien and metahuman unfortunate enough to cross his path. Lena watched her brother develop an obsession so unhealthy that it bordered on madness. The man who had once protected her, guided her, and taught her how the world worked gradually stopped seeing her as his little sister. She became a burden. A tool. Someone worth acknowledging only when he needed something from her. She hated her life back then. She hated her brother. Some days she hated herself.
Every day Lex drifted further away from the man she'd once admired, becoming crueler with each passing month. And every day Lena withdrew further into herself. She had nothing left to look forward to. So she buried herself in her studies. She experimented endlessly. She crammed her mind with so much information that she hoped there'd be no room left for painful memories. She drove her body to exhaustion every single day so that, when night came, she'd collapse into bed too tired to think. It never worked. The memories always caught up with her. She spent three years trapped in that living hell, drowning in depression.
When she finally finished her coffee, the headache had eased slightly. The buzzing remained. She walked into her dressing room.
Makeup came first. She didn't have the energy for her usual flawless look, so she kept it lighter than normal—just enough concealer to hide the exhaustion beneath her eyes and enough foundation to make herself look composed and beautiful. She tied her hair into a sleek bun before slipping into the baby-pink suit she'd prepared the night before.
After smoothing every crease from the jacket, she carefully fastened the cuffs of her white blouse, making sure the sleeves completely concealed her wrists. No matter how much she moved today nothing would show.
When she was sixteen, she'd discovered that Lex intended to marry her off to the son of one of his business partners the moment she turned eighteen so he could maintain control over her inheritance. After that revelation… After one experiment that went catastrophically wrong… And after the night she had very nearly ended her own life… Lena had finally reached her breaking point.
She was done.
Done with Lex. Done with Metropolis. Done with merely surviving. For the first time in years, she'd wanted to live. Really live. So she'd packed her bags and fled to Europe.
As she slipped on her white heels, her phone buzzed.
Evie Cutie :3
I arrived with the team!
Lena
Okay. You know what to do.
I'll be downstairs in an hour.
Evie Cutie :3
Okey dokey, Boss <3
A doodle sticker of a tiny cat winking over a pair of sunglasses followed. A genuine smile tugged at Lena's lips. Eve was the only good thing Lex had ever left her.
Europe had opened the door to endless possibilities. There, she had been free. Free to become whoever she wanted. Those years had become a journey of self-discovery. She'd remained something of a lone wolf, but she'd finally allowed herself to open her heart to new people and new experiences. For a while… She'd been happy again.
Lena crossed her bedroom toward the wall beside her bed. To anyone else, it was nothing more than floral wallpaper. Her fingertips glided across the embossed pattern until they found three tiny leaves almost impossible to distinguish from the rest. She pressed them. Click. A section of the wall sank inward before sliding silently to the left. A laser scanned her face.
Beep.
The hidden door retracted completely. Lena stepped into her secret laboratory. The room was nearly the same size as her bedroom. This was where she conducted her personal experiments, developed prototypes, and stored the possessions she valued most. She walked toward one particular corner. A whiteboard covered in equations, a corkboard overflowing with photographs, stacks of files, research notes, newspaper clippings. That corner belonged entirely to Supergirl.
When Lena had first learned everything that had happened between Lex and Superman, she'd wanted nothing to do with Metropolis. Her original plan had been to leave LuthorCorp in the hands of someone honorable and disappear. Then she'd learned about Supergirl.
She'd found herself fascinated by both Kryptonians. They possessed unimaginable power—more than anyone else on Earth. Yet they'd never allowed that power to corrupt them. Instead, they'd chosen compassion. They had dedicated themselves to protecting a world that wasn't even their own. Lena wanted to be like them. She wanted to reclaim everything Lex had stolen from her. She wanted to bring light back to the city she'd once loved. She rested one hand on the desk and picked up a photograph of Supergirl. Her thumb gently brushed across Kara's smiling face. Beside it sat the sapphire necklace she'd bought simply because it reminded her of Supergirl's eyes.
"Oh, Kara..." Lena sighed.
She'd never intended to become obsessed with Supergirl. It had begun as innocent research into Kryptonians. Then the research had slowly become about Supergirl herself. Where had she come from? Everyone believed Superman had been Krypton's sole survivor. The more Lena learned about Kara, the more she envied her. She envied her freedom, her strength, her ability to go wherever she wanted, whenever she wanted. Lena wished she had those powers. She wished she could fly far away from every painful memory that haunted her.
Eventually, envy gave way to admiration. Supergirl became one of the reasons Lena had returned to Metropolis. She'd wanted to meet her.
What she hadn't expected was for Supergirl to save her life. Honestly, whoever had tried to kill her deserved both her gratitude and her mockery. Thanks to them, she'd met Supergirl. And they had been spectacularly stupid if they'd genuinely believed a simple car accident would be enough to kill her. It would take far more than that.
Then came the interview with Lois Lane. And Kara Zor-El. What had begun as a harmless crush on Kara only grew stronger every time they crossed paths, intertwining with the fascination she'd already developed for Supergirl. She had never planned on falling for Kara Zor-El.
But now, she would do whatever it took to make Kara hers.
----
Lena descended the grand staircase overlooking the manor's great hall.
The ground floor bustled with employees moving in every direction, preparing for the Luthor Foundation charity gala. Florists hurried past with fresh arrangements, caterers wheeled in trays of food, and decorators made last-minute adjustments beneath the enormous crystal chandeliers.
One employee intercepted her halfway down the stairs, clutching a binder filled with color palettes.
"Miss Luthor, which one do you prefer?"
Lena barely slowed her pace.
"The purple and blue one."
Another staff member appeared almost immediately.
"Miss Luthor, dahlias or peonies?"
"Peonies."
"Gold or silver accents, Miss Luthor?"
"Silver." She answered every question without hesitation, never breaking stride.
The security room was tucked away near the east wing of the manor.
Inside, Gabriel sat in front of a dozen surveillance monitors, typing rapidly. Screens displayed every hallway, entrance, and garden on the estate. The room smelled faintly of machine oil and coffee. Racks of weapons lined one wall, while a large worktable in the center held partially disassembled firearms and electronic equipment.
Lena stepped behind him and rested both hands on his broad shoulders, giving them a firm squeeze.
"How are things looking, mon cher?" (“my dear”) she asked.
Gabriel glanced up with a grin.
"Tout se passe à merveille, ma belle." (“Everything's going great, my beautiful”). He stood so she could take his chair, then leaned over one of the monitors. "Every camera's online. I installed a few extra ones for tonight. The second floor will stay closed to the guests, and I'll station a couple of my guys on the staircase so nobody gets upstairs, just like you asked." He walked over to the weapons table and casually picked up a pistol. "And if I see anything suspicious..." With practiced ease, he racked the slide before flexing his bicep with an exaggerated grin. "...I'll be ready to deal with it."
Lena laughed, shaking her head.
"Good." She stood again. "I'll see you later so we can go over the final details."
With that, she left the room.
Outside, the crisp autumn air greeted her as she crossed the courtyard toward her black Mustang parked beneath the manor's front steps. Eve noticed her immediately, excused herself from the team arranging the tables and chairs, and hurried over. Lena opened the passenger door for her before sliding behind the wheel. Once the engine roared to life, she glanced sideways.
"Alright, Evie. What's today's damage?" Eve opened her tablet.
"As always, you start the morning with meetings."
"I hate meetings." Lena let out an exaggerated groan.
"I know." Eve continued reading through the schedule. "Then you'll have a couple of hours in your office to work on whatever secret science project you're definitely not supposed to be working on."
"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about." Lena smiled innocently.
"Sure you don't." Eve kept scrolling. "At noon you've got the Science and History Congress hosted by the mayor. Then, at five, you're attending the opening ceremony for the new Metropolitan General Hospital."
Lena sighed as she pulled the car out of the driveway. Compared to some of the previous weeks, it wasn't even that busy. It certainly didn't feel that way. Ever since Lex had dumped LuthorCorp in her lap, every month of her life—possibly every year—had already been scheduled down to the minute. She was exhausted just listening to Eve read her own calendar aloud.
----
Lena dropped heavily into the chair behind her desk.
She pressed her fingers against her temples, massaging them hard. The headache had returned with a vengeance. She'd spent the entire morning running on autopilot, barely listening during meetings as the relentless buzzing in her skull drowned out every conversation. With a weary sigh, she let her forehead rest against the cool wood of her desk, hoping the cold might dull the pain. It didn't.
A sharp thud echoed from her balcony.
Lena shot upright. Her hand instinctively darted beneath the desk toward the pistol hidden underneath, but she never drew it.
She relaxed the moment she saw Kara standing outside.
A smile tugged at her lips. She pressed a button beneath the desk, and the balcony doors slid open. Kara stepped inside, wearing her Supergirl suit beneath her familiar brown coat.
God. This woman is going to kill me.
That outfit should've been illegal. Kara looked devastatingly good.
"You know that's not actually a do—" Lena's words died in her throat.
Kara had wrapped her arms tightly around her. For a heartbeat, Lena completely froze. Then instinct took over. She slowly slipped her arms around Kara's shoulders, warmth spreading through her chest.
There was yet another thing Lena hadn't expected when she'd moved to Metropolis. She and Kara had become... close. Well, close by their standards. She'd always assumed they would eventually meet. After all, Supergirl was impossible to avoid in Metropolis. She just hadn't expected Kara to like her. Not when she carried the name Luthor. Not after Lex had nearly killed Superman and Krypto. Yet somehow Kara didn't hate her. If anything, she seemed to genuinely care.
Lena considered herself incredibly lucky.
Kara was hugging her so tightly that Lena could feel the steady beat of her heart against her own. She wondered if Kara could feel how wildly hers was racing.
"Is... is everything okay?" Lena asked softly, gently running her fingers through Kara's blonde hair. She adored Kara's hair.
Kara pulled away so abruptly it was almost comical.
"Huh?" She blinked. "Oh. Yeah." She rubbed the back of her neck, refusing to meet Lena's eyes. "I was just... passing by."
"Right..." Lena leaned casually against her desk, watching her with quiet curiosity.
Only then did she notice the soot staining Kara's coat. There were fresh tears in the fabric, and she smelled faintly of smoke. She looked like she'd flown straight from a battlefield. An incredibly attractive battlefield.
Kara suddenly began patting down her coat pockets in obvious panic. Lena couldn't help smiling. She liked seeing Kara flustered. The Kryptonian usually carried herself with effortless confidence, so watching her stumble over herself was strangely adorable. After several seconds of frantic searching, Kara finally pulled out her phone. The screen protector was completely shattered. She quickly typed something before awkwardly holding it out.
"Here's my number."
Lena blinked. She accepted the phone, entered the number into her contacts, and saved it without hesitation: 💫 Moonshine 💫. She handed the phone back, still thoroughly confused.
"...If someone is bothering you..."
Lena looked up. The buzzing in her head faded into the background as she focused entirely on Kara.
"...or if you ever need help..." Kara still wouldn't meet her eyes. "Just... call me."
"I'll be fine." Lena offered a small smile.
But Kara shook her head.
"I know a lot of people hate you in this city." Silence settled between them. "You don't have to deal with everything alone."
Something in Lena's chest tightened. Warmth spread through her like sunlight. As much as she wanted to believe Kara's words… She couldn't. Deep down, Lena didn't think she deserved this kind of kindness. Not from Kara, not from anyone. Yet here Kara was —despite having every reason to hate a Luthor— offering her protection.
Offering herself.
God. Lena wanted to kiss her. Instead, she simply smiled.
An explosion suddenly rattled the windows. Both women turned toward the balcony. Outside, Hawkgirl slammed her morning star into some enormous alien creature several streets away.
"I should go," Kara said, already heading for the balcony. She had one foot on the railing before suddenly stopping. “Actually…” She climbed back inside. "One quick question." Lena raised an eyebrow. "Why do you always have that galaxy on your screens?"
She pointed toward the holographic display projected behind Lena's desk. Lena glanced over her shoulder before smiling.
"Oh. That?" She looked back at Kara. "It's my favorite galaxy."
Kara's entire face lit up.
"It's mine too!" The excitement in her voice made Lena laugh. Kara climbed onto the balcony railing with impossible balance.
"Maybe someday..." She flashed Lena one of those brilliant smiles that always made her heart skip. "...I'll take you there."
Before Lena could answer, Kara tipped backward into open air. Lena rushed to the balcony just in time to watch her catch herself, soaring effortlessly into the sky. She laughed quietly. She was still stunned by the entire encounter.
How she adored that girl.
----
Kara and Kendra landed atop one of the University of Metropolis buildings. They leaned over the edge of the rooftop, taking bites from the lunches they'd picked up on the way.
Below them, the entrance to the university's main building was packed with photographers, reporters, students, politicians, wealthy donors, the mayor's associates, and some of the city's most influential people.
It was the annual Metropolis Science and History Congress.
"So," Kendra said, hands on her hips, "what do you think it'll be this time? An alien? A secret organization trying to assassinate the mayor? Or just some idiot with a gun?"
"I'm hoping for nothing." Kara sighed as she sat on the ledge. "That alien from earlier was enough excitement for one day. I just want to go home."
"God, you're boring." Kendra dropped down beside her, then her hawk-like vision caught movement below. "Oh." A grin spread across her face. "Look who just got here."
Kara followed her gaze. A black Mustang pulled up to the curb. Eve climbed out first, followed by Lena. Kara's heart gave an embarrassingly excited little leap. Lena was wearing one of her signature tailored suits—the kind Kara had developed a completely normal appreciation for. Entirely normal.
The two women headed toward the entrance, chatting quietly.
"Hey, Luthor!" Someone shouted from behind the barricades separating the public from the invited guests. "Fuck you!"
Lena turned just as a paper cup flew through the air. The scalding coffee splashed across her face, neck, and the front of her blazer. She gasped. Kara was already shifting forward to jump. Kendra caught her by the arm.
"Whoa. Where do you think you're going?"
They both watched from above.
Kara hadn't told anyone about what she'd overheard in the garage the night before. About the cut brake lines. Ever since then, she hadn't been able to stop worrying about Lena. All she wanted was to keep her safe.
Security guards immediately tackled the man responsible and dragged him away as he continued shouting insults. Despite Lena's improving public image, plenty of people in Metropolis still hated the name Luthor.
"Shit." Lena shook coffee from her sleeves with an irritated groan. "Now I have to change." She glanced down at her ruined blazer. "Ugh. I loved this one."
Kara frowned.
Lena seemed far more annoyed about ruining her outfit than she was about having boiling coffee thrown at her. She wasn't even reacting like she'd been burned.
Weird.
Kara quietly filed that observation away in the little mental box she'd somehow dedicated entirely to Lena. Right next to:
She wasn't wearing a bandage only days after a severe car crash.
Her heartbeat is abnormally loud.
Lena and Eve disappeared inside the building.
Kara stood.
"C'mon." She flashed Kendra a mischievous grin before grabbing the front of her suit with one hand and the box of donuts with the other. "We're going to say hi to your crush." Kara took off.
"Eve is not my crush!" Kendra shouted, immediately turning red. "And I can fly by myself!" She squirmed until Kara let go.
"I never said any names." Kara burst out laughing, letting her go.
"Bitch!" Hawkgirl shot into the air after her. "I fucking hate you!" She caught up a second later, breathing harder than she'd ever admit.
"You love me."
They slipped inside through one of the upper balconies before making their way down to the main lobby. Eve was standing off to one side, scrolling through her phone. Kara immediately waved.
"Hi, Eve!"
"Kara!" Eve's face lit up. She hurried over and pulled Kara into a hug. "Oh! Hi, Kendra." Her voice softened noticeably as she hugged Kendra next.
Kara couldn't help noticing that hug lasted considerably longer. When they finally separated, Kendra looked completely flustered. Even with her helmet on, Kara could tell she was blushing.
"Keep it in your pants," Kara whispered.
Kendra elbowed her hard in the ribs.
"Ow!"
"Ladies." A familiar voice made all of them jump. “What a delight to see you here!”
Lena had somehow appeared behind them without making a sound. She'd changed into a black silk blouse, the top two buttons left casually undone. Kara very deliberately focused on Lena's face. She refused to repeat the disaster from the interview.
"We're working today," Kendra explained.
"The pay's pretty good, too," Kara added.
"Oh!" Eve suddenly turned to Kendra. "Hey, Kendra, I wanted to ask you something." Without another word, she gently grabbed Kendra by the wrist and led her toward a quieter corner.
Kara bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing at the utterly lovestruck expression on her friend's face. Then she looked back at Lena. Lena, meanwhile, was staring at Kara's donut with the focused intensity of a predator sizing up its prey.
"Give me a bite." Before Kara could answer, Lena simply snatched the donut out of her hand.
"Hey!" Kara protested, though there wasn't an ounce of real annoyance in her voice. Honestly, if Lena wanted something, Kara would probably give it to her without a second thought. Whatever it was.
"Sorry." Lena smiled sheepishly around a mouthful of pastry. "I haven't eaten anything all day." She took another bite. "Oh my God..." She closed her eyes dramatically. "This tastes like heaven."
Kara's expression softened.
"It's okay." She smiled. "You can keep it."
As Lena continued eating, Kara couldn't help noticing the dark circles hidden beneath layers of expensive makeup. She knew exactly how hard Lena pushed herself. Even though she wasn't spying on her anymore, she'd seen enough. She wished there was something she could do to help.
"Eve!" Lena finished the last bite and dusted the sugar from her fingers. "We should go." She smiled at Kara. "I'll see you around, Moonshine." Then she disappeared into the crowd with Eve.
Kara watched her leave until she was completely out of sight. Kendra returned a moment later with an expression so dreamy it bordered on concerning.
"Eve invited me to a party." She sighed dramatically. "Do you think she likes me?" A pause. "Or am I completely delusional?"
Kara considered it carefully.
"If I'm being honest..." She shrugged. "I have no idea." Kendra's face fell. "She's still dating Jimmy."
"...Yeah." Kendra sighed. Then she looked at Kara with complete seriousness. "If I kill him… will you help me hide the body?"
Kara didn't hesitate.
"Hell yeah."
----
"...and we're honored to have Miss Luthor with us today," the Mayor of Metropolis said as reporters crowded around him.
The moment her name was mentioned, Lena offered the cameras her most polished, dazzling smile. It had been on her face for most of the event. A mask. She'd spent the entire afternoon operating on autopilot, drifting in and out of dissociation She was exhausted. Exhausted by the cameras, by the reporters, by the endless small talk, by people. More than anything, she wanted to go home, lock herself away in her laboratory, and lose herself in her research.
Normally, Lena actually enjoyed public events. Today, however, her migraine was pounding relentlessly behind her eyes, and ever since the coffee had been thrown at her that morning, she'd felt strangely uncomfortable in her own skin.
The mayor finished answering another question. Lena excused herself with one last flawless smile before slipping away into a quieter corner hidden behind one of the marble columns.
Kara was already there. Waiting. The sight of her immediately loosened the knot in Lena's chest. Even if Kara was only there because of work, her presence was comforting.
"This morning," Lena began quietly, "you said you'd help me."
Kara nodded, instantly attentive. Lena watched her shoulders tense, ready for anything.
"Kill me."
Kara blinked.
"What?!"
Lena grabbed both of Kara's forearms with exaggerated desperation.
"Kill me and free me from the torment that is being a CEO." She pressed the back of one hand dramatically against her forehead. "I'm barely twenty. I should be getting drunk in Monaco or dancing in some nightclub." She sighed like the world's most tragic heroine. "Instead, I'm stuck arguing with middle-aged men who think they know better than I do." She began fanning herself dramatically. "Oh, Lord… I'm pretty sure I'm getting gray hairs." She placed a hand over her heart. "I can literally feel them draining the life force out of my body."
Kara burst into laughter. She quickly covered her mouth with one hand, desperately trying not to attract attention, but it was hopeless.
"You're..." she wheezed. "So..." Another laugh escaped her. "Dramatic."
"Me?" Lena gasped theatrically, placing a hand against her chest. "Dramatic?" She gave Kara a light shove on the shoulder. "How dare you!"
That only made Kara laugh harder. The sound filled the quiet corner like sunlight. Lena found herself smiling without even realizing it.
God. She hoped she could make Kara laugh like that every single day.
Unfortunately—
"Ehem." Eve appeared beside them, tablet in hand. "One of the sponsors wants to speak with you." She immediately took Lena gently by the arm.
"They're trying to take me," Lena lamented dramatically. She reached for Kara's hand as Eve continued pulling her away. "Save me, Supergirl." Her voice became that of a damsel in distress. "Save me."
Without missing a beat, Kara threw herself into the performance. She grabbed the edge of the marble column with one hand while stretching the other dramatically toward Lena, as though they were being torn apart at the edge of a cliff.
"I swear it, Princess," she declared in her deepest, most heroic voice. "I shall rescue you from these wicked people."
Lena laughed—a real laugh this time. Still allowing Eve to drag her away, she glanced back over her shoulder one last time. Then she blew Kara a kiss. Kara caught it out of the air with exaggerated care, pressing her closed fist over her heart as though Lena had entrusted her with the world's greatest treasure. Lena couldn't stop smiling. This ridiculous woman. Her theatrics belonged on a Shakespearean stage.
By the time Eve finally pulled her back toward the crowd, Lena could feel warmth creeping into her cheeks. She was blushing.
And somehow —for the first time all day— her headache didn't seem quite so unbearable anymore.
Lena had spent years believing she was made of stone. She'd convinced herself she was incapable of falling in love again. Love was dangerous and a weakness. Love was something that had only ever hurt her.
And yet...
God.
Kara Zor-El had somehow made her fall all over again.
----
Lena and Kara crossed paths again later that afternoon during the grand opening of the new Metropolis General Hospital.
Backstage buzzed with assistants, security, photographers, and city officials rushing from one place to another. Lena stood just behind the curtains, trying —and failing— to steady her breathing. The buzzing in her head had become unbearable. It felt as if someone were drilling straight through her skull. She closed her eyes for a moment.
Just get through the speech.
A warm hand settled gently on her shoulder. Lena turned.
Kara stood far too close, still wearing her Supergirl suit beneath her brown coat. A few loose strands of blonde hair framed her face, and she smiled with that effortless confidence that somehow made everything seem manageable.
"You've got this," Kara whispered.
Lena swallowed.
"Yeah." She nodded to herself. "Okay. I've got this." She hesitated before asking quietly, "How do I look?" She'd changed into a tailored navy-blue suit.
Kara looked her up and down with exaggerated concentration. Then she stepped closer. Without saying a word, she straightened Lena's lapels, smoothed an invisible wrinkle from her shoulder, brushed a speck of lint off her sleeve, and lightly adjusted the collar of her shirt.
Her fingertips lingered for barely a second.
"Perfect."
Lena's heart performed a small, unnecessary somersault.
"Okay."
She took one long breath. Then another. The stage manager counted down with his fingers.
Three.
Two.
One.
Lena stepped through the curtains. The transformation was immediate. The exhausted twenty-year-old disappeared, giving way to Lena Luthor. Confident, elegant and untouchable. She greeted the audience with a radiant smile as camera flashes exploded around her.
"Good morning, everyone..." The speech came easily. She'd practiced it so many times that the words flowed automatically, even while her migraine threatened to split her head open.
Ten minutes later, she finished to warm applause.
"Thank you all for coming."
She stepped away from the podium and handed the microphone to the mayor. The second she left the spotlight, the smile slipped from her face. She scanned the crowd until she spotted Eve talking to Kendra and Kara inside the hospital lobby. Lena walked over with a quiet sigh.
"You did amazing," Kara said immediately.
Something inside Lena loosened. The pressure in her chest eased. The pressure in her skull did not. At this rate, she was convinced her head would literally split in half.
"Diana..." Kara's voice changed instantly, softer and brighter. Almost excited.
Lena looked up. Her stomach sank. A tall woman—nearly two meters, athletic, impossibly beautiful—had just entered the lobby.
Diana Prince.
Wonder Woman.
"Diana!" Kara practically beamed as she hurried toward her. She wrapped Diana in a tight hug. "I missed you."
"Oh, hi, little troublemaker." Diana laughed, hugging her back just as tightly and lifting her slightly off the ground. "I missed you too."
There was something painfully intimate about the exchange. Not romantic. Just… old and familiar, like they'd known each other forever. A sharp, ugly feeling twisted in Lena's chest.
"Supers really do love black-haired women with blue eyes," Kendra commented casually.
Lena blinked.
Supers.
She talked in plural.
Her mind immediately supplied three names: herself, Diana, Lois Lane. All with dark hair and blue eyes. Wait. Why did she say it in plural?
Eve had already told her Kara wasn't interested in Lois. Which meant… Superman. Superman liked Lois. Or at the very least had a thing for dark-haired women with blue eyes. Except Lois was dating Clark Kent. Which raised an obvious question. Why would Superman willingly spend so much time around the man dating the woman he supposedly liked? Unless...
Either Superman also had a crush on Clark—which, admittedly, wouldn't be impossible considering Clark also had black hair and blue eyes— or...
Lena froze.
Oh my God. Superman is Clark Kent.
The realization landed with startling certainty. She mentally filed it away. She'd verify it later.
But if Kendra's comment was true… Then Kara also had a thing for dark-haired women with blue eyes. Would she…
No. Stop.
"Kara used to have a crush on Wonder Woman when she was eighteen," Kendra added with a grin.
Used to.
Lena's heartbeat slowed. So... not anymore. That meant… She caught herself before she could spiral any further. She was getting ridiculous. She tore her eyes away from Kara and Diana. Immediately, she wished she hadn't.
Across the lobby stood a man surrounded by photographers. Blond hair with emerald-green eyes. A perfectly tailored green suit. William Sachs. Once upon a time, teenage Lena had thought he looked like a prince. Now… Now she mostly wanted to break his face.
She walked toward him with perfect posture and her practiced media smile already in place. She'd relaxed too much around Kara. That had been a mistake. She couldn't afford to get lost in Kara's world when she was still trapped in her own twisted one.
"Lena, my darling." William spread his arms. "You look beautiful." He hugged her briefly. "I'm so happy you're back."
Lena smiled sweetly for the cameras. Inside, she was imagining several creative ways to commit murder.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" she asked through gritted teeth without letting her smile falter.
William chuckled.
"Gotham got a little overcrowded. Besides, after my father's death, someone has to take over the family business."
"Oh." Lena nodded thoughtfully. "I forgot your father died." She smiled wider. "My condolences. I hope he burns in hell."
William laughed.
"I hope he burns too." Then his expression softened. "I also came because of you. I thought maybe you could use a friend after everything with Lex."
"I don't need your fucking help." She gave a humorless laugh. "Especially after what you did to me."
"Oh, come on, Lena. It was years ago. I had no idea my fathers and Lex were planning to force us into an arranged marriage. If I'd known, I would've told you. I swear." He rested a hand lightly on her shoulder.
She hated how sincere he sounded. She hated even more that part of her wanted to believe him.
"Besides..." William grinned. "I'm the city's golden boy. I'd be great PR." He leaned in just enough to invade her personal space. "Don't you miss the old days? When we were best friends?"
Lena looked into those familiar emerald eyes. She used to love them so much. Against her better judgment she sighed.
"...Okay. But just for tonight."
William smiled.
"That's my girl." He winked before turning toward the waiting photographers. "Ladies and gentlemen!" He slipped an arm around her waist. "Lena Luthor! Let's give her a round of applause!" The photographers erupted into applause and flashes.
Lena maintained her perfect smile.
“One day,” she murmured without looking at him, "They're going to find you dead under mysterious circumstances, just like your father."
William laughed.
"If you're the killer..." he leaned in. "...that would honestly be a blessing."
"Oh, fuck off." Lena slipped out of his grasp and disappeared into the hospital.
There was still far too much work left to do.
----
Lena stepped into the hospital’s elevator.
Just as the doors were about to close, a hand slipped between them. The doors slid back open, revealing Kara. Lena rolled her eyes. Of all the people she could've run into… She still couldn't get the image of Kara hugging Wonder Woman out of her head.
Kara stepped inside and took her place beside her. Neither of them spoke.
The elevator began its ascent in silence.
Then—
SCREECH.
A sharp metallic groan echoed through the shaft. The elevator lurched violently before grinding to a halt. The overhead lights flickered out, replaced by dim emergency lighting that bathed the cabin in a soft amber glow.
"Shit," Lena muttered. She pressed several buttons in quick succession. Nothing. She sighed before turning toward Kara.
"Can you open it?"
Kara considered the question for a moment. Then she shook her head.
"No."
Lena blinked.
"...What?"
Instead of answering, Kara stepped closer. Instinctively, Lena stepped back. Kara kept walking. One step, then another, until Lena's back met the elevator wall. Kara stopped only inches away. Despite being several centimeters shorter, she somehow made Lena feel impossibly small.
"You need a break." Kara's voice was quiet and her tone gentle. "You've been working nonstop all day." She tilted her head. "...Something tells me it isn't just today." Her hands rose to cup Lena's face. "So relax."
Lena nearly laughed.
Relax?
How exactly was she supposed to relax when Kara had her pinned against an elevator wall? She loved being close to Kara. Just not in a space this small. Not when every corner of her body ached for her touch. Not while the jealousy she'd been trying to ignore still lingered beneath her skin, urging her to lose control.
Kara reached behind Lena's head.
"What are you—"
She gently loosened the tight bun. The hair tie slipped free. Dark curls tumbled over Lena's shoulders. A few framed her face immediately.
Kara smiled.
"I like you better like this." Her voice was barely above a whisper. Her breath brushed softly against Lena's lips.
Carefully, Kara combed her fingers through the curls, arranging them around her shoulders before gently massaging her scalp with slow, absentminded movements. A quiet sigh escaped Lena. Her eyes fluttered shut. She hadn't realized how desperately she'd needed someone to touch her with simple kindness.
When Kara finally lowered her hands, Lena opened her eyes. They were impossibly close. So close that their breaths mingled.
Lena hesitated. Then, almost timidly, she reached for Kara's hand. Her fingertips brushed against the Kryptonian's fingers before she began absentmindedly tracing the rings Kara wore.
It had been a long day. She was exhausted. Exhausted from pretending, especially around Kara.
Slowly, Lena leaned forward. Kara's breathing caught. She didn't move. Lena paused only a heartbeat away, silently giving Kara every opportunity to pull back. She didn't. So Lena closed the remaining distance. Their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss. Gentle. Almost questioning. Only a few seconds passed before Lena pulled away.
They stared at each other and either of them spoke.
Then whatever fragile restraint had been holding them together finally snapped. Kara surged forward, capturing Lena's lips again with unmistakable urgency, her fingers digging into Lena's waist as she pressed her firmly against the elevator wall. Lena's hands disappeared into Kara's blonde hair, pulling her even closer as she kissed her back just as fiercely, exploring her mouth as though she'd been starving for it for weeks. She gently caught Kara's lower lip between her teeth, drawing a soft gasp from the Kryptonian. Taking advantage of the moment, Lena deepened the kiss, her tongue meeting Kara's.
Kara's lips were impossibly soft, carrying the faint taste of alcohol and something sweet. Lena knew, with terrifying certainty, that she could become addicted to her taste.
She pulled Kara flush against her until there wasn't a single inch of space left between them. Her hands slid slowly down Kara's back before traveling upward again, her acrylic nails lightly grazing the hard muscles of Kara's biceps. Kara's own hands had slipped beneath Lena's shirt, her warm palms tracing the curve of her waist and the sensitive skin of her sides, drawing an involuntary gasp from Lena's lips.
Much to Lena's disappointment, she eventually had to push Kara away in search of air. They stayed close, breathing heavily against each other's lips, neither of them quite ready to let go. Lena smiled when she noticed her lipstick smudged across Kara's mouth. Kara caught the look and smiled back, just as breathless.
Pressed so closely together, they could feel each other's hearts pounding against their chests, both beating far faster than either of them cared to admit.
"You've got lipstick all over you," she whispered, laughing softly.
Kara grinned.
"So do you."
A metallic screech interrupted them. The elevator jolted before slowly beginning to move again.
"Fuck," Kara muttered.
Lena laughed. She leaned in for one quick peck before gently wiping the lipstick from the corner of Kara's mouth with her thumb. Together, they hurriedly straightened their clothes and smoothed their hair, trying to erase any obvious evidence of what had just happened.
The elevator slowed. Just before the doors slid open, Kara stole one last quick kiss.
The doors parted.
Lena stepped out almost too quickly. She barely registered Kendra standing in the hallway as she hurried past, her pulse pounding so loudly she was convinced everyone around her could hear it.
Oh my God.
She kissed Kara Zor-El.
----
Kendra found Kara sitting on the hallway floor beside the elevator, leaning against the wall with the most ridiculous lovestruck smile she'd ever seen. The second she noticed Kara's smeared lipstick and thoroughly disheveled appearance, her eyes went wide.
"Oh my God." She pointed dramatically. "You got down and dirty with Lena!"
"We just kissed." Kara looked up, still grinning like an idiot.
Kendra let out an ear-piercing squeal.
"You could've left yourselves stuck in there a little longer. I don't know... an hour, maybe?"
"Hey, if I'd stayed any longer, someone would've caught me," Kendra shot back with a shrug. "Besides, you're not having your first time with Lena in an elevator." She smacked Kara lightly on the back of the head. "Show your future wife a little more respect."
Kara's face immediately turned bright red.
"Oh my God. Shut up!"
Kendra only laughed harder.
"I've never seen you smile this much."
"I said shut up."
"You kissed Lena Luthor." she sang.
"Shut. Up."
"You really kissed Lena."
"I hate you." Kara buried her face in her hands with a groan.
"No, you don't." Kendra stood up, offering her a hand. "You love me." Kara looked up at her, sighed dramatically, then took it. Kendra pulled her to her feet with a smug grin. "Now come on, Romeo. We still have a city to save."
----
Lena paced back and forth across the grand drawing room of the manor while going over the last few details with Eve.
"We should also invite—"
A sharp stab of pain exploded behind her temples. She stopped mid-sentence. The headache she'd woken up with hadn't eased all morning. If anything, it had only gotten worse. The relentless buzzing inside her skull intensified until it drowned out every other sound. A metallic taste flooded her mouth.
Lena froze.
Then she doubled over, seized by a violent coughing fit.
"Lena?" Eve took a step forward. "Lena," Eve gasped, horror filling her voice. "You're bleeding."
Another cough tore through her chest. Lena instinctively covered her mouth with her hand. When she pulled it away it was covered in blood. For a second, Lena simply stared at her trembling hand. Bright crimson stained her pale skin. Her chest tightened.
Without another word, she turned and ran. She barely made it to the bathroom attached to her bedroom before another fit forced her over the sink.
Blood splattered against the porcelain. She kept coughing until there was nothing left. Her breathing came in ragged, painful gasps.
"Oh my God." Eve rushed to her side. "Shit, Lena—do you want me to call someone?"
"I'm okay," Lena managed between breaths, her voice raw. She turned on the faucet, watching the water carry the blood down the drain.
"Bring me my phone."
"Lena—"
"Eve." This time her voice was firm. "Bring me my phone."
Eve hesitated only a second before nodding.
"...Okay." She hurried out of the room.
Fuck.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
FUCK.
Lena had convinced herself she was getting better. The absolute last thing she needed was for this to happen now. She squeezed her eyes shut as panic threatened to take over. Tears burned at the corners of her eyes.
No.
Not now.
She yanked open one of the bathroom drawers and retrieved a small black vial hidden beneath neatly folded towels. Her hands shook as she uncapped it. She drew the dark liquid into a syringe before rolling up her sleeve. Without hesitation, she pressed the needle into her arm and injected its contents.
The effect was immediate.
The crushing pressure in her chest disappeared. The migraine dissolved almost instantly. And, for the first time all day… Silence. The constant buzzing vanished. Lena let out a slow, trembling breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She dropped the empty vial and syringe into the trash. They landed with a dull clink.
That was the last dose.
A knock sounded at the bathroom door.
"Lena?" Eve stepped inside, holding out her phone. Her expression was still full of worry.
Lena offered her a tired smile.
"I promise, I'm okay." She reached over and gently squeezed Eve's hand. "I'll be fine."
Eve didn't look convinced.
"O-okay..." She forced a small smile. "I'll wait outside."
When the door clicked shut behind her, Lena unlocked her phone. She scrolled through her contacts until she found one name: “Ma chérie 🐾” (“my darling”). Her thumb hovered over it for only a moment before she pressed Call. The line rang twice.
Then a low, velvety voice answered.
"Lena, my sweet girl."
Lena closed her eyes, tears slipping out without permission.
"I need your help." A pause. "It's urgent."
Masterlist | Next | Previous
A/N: What do you think is going on with Lena? Is she hiding something. Leave your theories in the comments.
Anything related to the series can be found in the #|: I'm your biggest fan I'll follow you until you love me :| tag on my blog <3
I'm just enjoying my vacation. I'm rewatching coffee prince and I really didn't remember how fun it was hehe. I'm reading a suspense/horror book? I'm still not quite sure, I just started reading the first chapter.
Ugh, I'm trying to keep a healthy routine and go to bed early, but can someone explain to me why everything seems so much more fun after midnight??? it's like Chappell song lol 😆😆
"When an old feeling takes hold in your heart, Nikki's wish begins to slip through her fingers. And now, she'll have to get anyone who dares to threaten your relationship out of the way."
warnings - part 1 here | everything u'd expect from the obsession universe, murder, psycho reader, freaky nikki ofc (w no wish), panic attack (not really)
now playing - My Way, by Olivia Rodrigo
"Well, here's a map of the lines I drew And some girl steps over, and the girl is you"
The days passed with a sense of peace that was unparalleled for Nikki. You had practically moved into her house by then, realizing that a quick trip back to your place to grab a few changes of clothes was the longest you could stay away from Nikki. The days were beautiful; the two of you had breakfast together, talked about everything, laughed, watched movies—which were only the ones Nikki was interested in seeing—and you watched her write page after page of her book—since, with you around, she had unlimited inspiration.
It had been almost a month since the two of you had gone to work, and not only did John’s calls keep coming in, but so did those from Ian, Sarah, and Bear. Nikki never answered them—at least not when you were around—which was almost always. By then, she’d only answered one call from Bear while you were in the shower, and all she had time to say to him was, “Everything’s fine, just stop calling for a bit, gosh!,” before she joined you in the shower.
Nikki thought everything was perfect; she couldn’t imagine anything better. She had you, and the two of you had the life she’d always dreamed of—or at least half of it, since you were still weighing your options for moving out as soon as possible.
Nikki noticed exactly when things started to change. It was precisely the day the two of you finally had to go back to work, neither of you having enough money yet to quit that crappy job and move on with your lives. You had to go pick up your work uniform at your place; that stupid shirt had been lying on your bed ever since the night you confessed your feelings to Nikki.
Walking into the house at that point felt like a mistake, like a dark past you wanted to leave behind, even though a part of you was screaming at you to read between the lines. But every time you walked in the door, a chill ran down your spine, a feeling of emptiness settled in your chest, and all you could think about was getting back to Nikki as fast as possible.
Nikki, your home.
Your feet almost ran toward the exit; you slammed the front door harder than you intended, turning your back to the street to lock the door and get ready to get out of there as fast as you could. Your hands were shaking, your fingers fumbled with the keys, and the jingling noise made your head spin. Your senses felt jumbled, as if someone were banging your head against the wall a million times. And before you could even pass out from withdrawal, a hand on your shoulder brought you back to a state of consciousness you didn’t even realize you were losing.
“What the fuck. Damn it, Yn, I’ve been trying to talk to you for almost a month!” The woman’s voice—which you recognized as Sarah’s after a few seconds—sounded slightly distant, and her face seemed distorted before finally returning to normal. “Are you fucking listening to me?”
Her hands shook your shoulders, and you looked at her more clearly. She looked like the same person you’d seen at the bar last time, except for the slightly dark circles under her eyes—concealed by makeup—and the lack of sparkle in her eyes. She looked tired.
“Hi, Sarah...”
“Hi? Is that all you have to say, motherfucker?" Her voice was unmistakably a mix of exhaustion and anger, as if you’d done something bad to her—something you definitely didn’t remember doing.
“What’s wrong with you, Sarah?” The question seemed to catch her off guard, because she looked at you as if she were about to blow your head off.
“What’s wrong with me? What the hell is wrong with you?!” Her hands shoved your shoulders, your back slamming into the front door before you even had a chance to react. “One night I’m waiting for you to come back from karaoke, and the next day I find out you’re sleeping with Nikki? What the hell is wrong with you?”
It was agonizing how you couldn’t understand why she was so aggressive, or how you couldn’t read the expression on her face. It was even more agonizing for Sarah to see that you didn’t seem to know what you’d done wrong.
“You said you’d come back to karaoke, Yn. You fucking promised me!” She had tears in her eyes, and it was as if a part of you was struggling to make your brain process that the way it really should be processed. “You told me you’d come back to me! And then I see that the next day you blocked me from everything, and that all Nikki posts on her stories are photos of you shirtless in her fucking bed!”
Her whispers were very aggressive, and your furrowed eyebrows only made her want to slap you in the face even more.
“I… I didn’t block you.” That was the only thing you could say, pausing for a moment before remembering to put a smile on your face.
Because you were happier now!
You had the life you’d always wanted!
You’re happy!
“What…?”
“Nikki has my phone. She must have blocked you...” You paused, then continued like a robot. “I mean, you must have done something Nikki didn’t like. She wouldn’t block you for no reason.”
“Why the hell should I care what that bitch likes or doesn’t like? You were the one I was dating!”
Dating? You and Sarah? Why couldn’t you remember that? I mean, you’re almost certain you’d never dated anyone before. You were completely in love with Nikki, closed off to love unless it was for her. You’re almost certain of that, right?! Right?
“What the hell…” Sarah sighed, wiping the tears from her eyes before looking away from you for the first time since she saw you. “Damn, you don’t even seem like yourself anymore. What the hell did she do to you, Yn?”
And for the first time in days, you asked yourself the same thing.
The ride home was a strange mix of troubled and melodramatic thoughts. Your mind wavered between thinking about Nikki and thinking about what Sarah had told you earlier. All you could think was that Sarah could only be lying to you at this point. You didn’t remember dating anyone. Every time your brain tried to retrieve that memory, all your receptors sent back was a blurry, distant memory of you and Nikki in moments that didn’t seem quite real.
It was almost as if her face had been pasted there—simply in place of someone else’s face.
You must be going crazy. That was the only reason! Maybe the time away from Nikki was really starting to affect your brain. You laughed at the thought. And as your eyes lit up at the sight of the front door of the Freeman girl’s house, all your doubts dissipated, the questions faded away—pushed to the back of your mind—while all you could think about was getting inside and having your girlfriend back in your arms.
“I’m back!” Announcing your arrival, you barely had time to properly step inside the house when Nikki hurried toward you.
“Why the hell did it take you so long?” Her tone was slightly angry, and you shrugged—just out of habit—and looked at her as if you already knew you were about to say something that would make her angry or, at the very least, disappointed.
“I ran into Sarah on the way...” As soon as the first words left your mouth, Nikki’s eyebrows furrowed. “I mean, not exactly on the way. I was leaving the house and she was waiting for me outside.” Your voice grew quieter as you watched your girlfriend’s expression twist even further.
“Did you talk to her?” The question was direct—almost too direct for Nikki.
“I...”
“What the hell did you say to her?” Her voice was harsh, and her footsteps toward you made you cower even further against the front door.
God, the feeling of being so small was awful, but not that awful because it was just Nikki.
Your Nikki.
She’d never do anything bad to you, would she?!
“I didn’t say anything!” Her body was practically pressed against yours, pushing you against the door as if it were instinct. “She, she... she was just talking a bunch of nonsense and I... I just told her to leave and walked away. I swear!”
Your breathing was slightly ragged, your fingers gripping the fabric of your shirt so tightly that Nikki thought you might tear it. And then she realized it. You were scared.
“My love…” Her hands rose to your face, caressing your cheeks as she watched you force a smile.
She knew it was forced. You don’t think she cares.
“Hey, look at me! You’re shaking!” Her voice was sweet and soft, a stark contrast to how she’d been speaking to you just a few seconds ago. “You don’t have to be afraid of me. You know I’ll never hurt you, right?!” Seeing you nod, the shorter woman pulled you across the room, finally letting you breathe and move away from the door.
She led you to the couch in complete silence and had you rest your head on her lap as if that could solve all the world’s problems.
Maybe it could.
“Poor girl. You’re not scared because of me. It was Sarah who scared you. Trying to pin you against the wall like that.” Her hands stroked your hair. And the way she stared at you made you feel two extremes at the same time—passion and emptiness. “Tell me, baby. Did she say anything else to you that I should know?”
The atmosphere in the store was tense. You served customers in a monotone voice, too bored to pay attention to anyone but Nikki. Bear wasn’t working today, and Ian had been holed up in the break room ever since you and Nikki arrived. Your eyes didn’t stray far from your girlfriend, and you seemed too mesmerized by Nikki Freeman to notice anything else around you.
You didn’t notice Sarah’s glances at you, nor the way Nikki looked at her every five seconds, nor how Sarah caught her gaze a few times, nor even how the tension in the store seemed to be building more and more.
You swear you were distracted for less than five minutes—you couldn’t spend any more time than that away from Nikki before that emptiness started to set in—but that was more than enough for the two women who were working the store with you to simply vanish from your sight. Frowning, you dismissed the last customer with half-hearted service and headed toward the break room. You knew Nikki would never go there without dragging you along, so the weight on your chest only seemed to grow at the thought that she might not want to spend her free time with you.
The door swung open with a jolt, and Ian jumped out of his chair as if you’d just dropped a radioactive bomb in his lap.
“Shit! Damn it, don’t you know how to knock?!” The angry expression on his face didn’t faze you at all, because all your eyes were searching for was your Nikki.
“Where’s Nikki?” Rolling his eyes, the man settled back—in a strange way—into the chair, sliding his body slightly forward on the seat and tilting his head back until it rested against the wall.
“How the hell should I know!” He crossed his arms. “You two just can’t stay away from each other for a second...”
His voice faded from your ears as you slammed the door shut with a dull thud, looking around the store again just to make sure your eyes weren’t playing tricks on you. Nikki was short; she could easily hide behind the counters.
That wasn’t the case.
You looked around once more, searching for a plausible place your girlfriend might have gone. The back exit door was slightly ajar, and you almost slapped yourself for not noticing that detail sooner.
As your feet carried you closer to the door, the voices became slightly more distinct—not screams—at least not yet—but a brief argument, perhaps a confrontation starting to heat up. And then, through the crack in the door, you saw it.
“I told you to stay away from her, Sarah!” Nikki’s voice was the first to reach your ears, that tone that made you cringe whenever she used it with someone—or worse yet, with you.
“Fuck you, Nikki!” Sarah’s voice came next, and your hand reached for the doorknob, ready to put an end to whatever was going on in there. “She always does this when it comes to you!”
“Forget it! You always do this when it comes to Nikki.”
The voice that echoed in your head made everything around you spin. It wasn’t the voice that had been in your thoughts all these weeks. For the first time in weeks, your brain managed to recall a memory that didn’t involve Nikki—at least not entirely. The voice wasn’t the one you were used to; it was Sarah’s. Loud and clear.
Stepping away from the door, the hand that had been about to grab the doorknob now clutched your head. Staggering backward, you leaned against the store walls, trying your hardest not to groan in pain as memories you didn’t even know existed flashed through your mind like a movie. The voices, the vivid images—it was as if you were fighting with yourself to regain control.
“NO! GET AWAY FROM ME! I WANT MY LIFE BACK! I WANT TO GO BACK! LET ME GO BACK!” Nikki’s cold hands felt like a terrifying contrast against your warm skin, and your head spinning made all the sensations a thousand times worse.
The first thud came along with Sarah’s scream - the woman reacted instantly when she saw you jerk your head back and slam it against the wall with all your strength. Once, twice, three times. It kept going. Your screams mingled with Nikki’s, who was now begging you to stop, and Sarah’s, who was in a near state of shock—what the hell was happening to you?
“Baby, please…” The word slipped softly from Sarah’s lips, amid her sobs.
“Can we keep this just between the two of us for now?” The pain was intense, and your hands were pulling at your hair as if ripping it out would make things better.
“You can’t hide from love forever just because you don’t want to hurt Nikki, Yn.” Sarah’s voice, crystal clear in your memories, felt like a million nails being hammered into your head, and with a loud scream, you finally let yourself fall to the floor.
“NO! STOP IT! STOP IT, FUCK! The screams drew attention; Ian ran out of the break room and found Nikki and Sarah kneeling next to you.
“WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?” He tried to shout over your screams, earning angry glances from both women.
“SHUT UP AND GO GET HELP, IAN!” Sarah’s voice—now screaming right next to you—was enough to make you cover your ears with your hands, screaming in despair again as you curled up in the corner by the wall.
“Baby, can you hear me? Please, you have to come back to me! It’s me, your Nikki!” The moment the Freeman girl’s hands touched you, your body curled up, shaking violently as your eyes struggled to focus on something real. It felt as if the two of you were in her bedroom, as if you weren’t begging to come back—or whatever that meant.
“THAT’S NOT ME! LET ME GO BACK! PLEASE!” Blood began to stain the wall as a warning that things were about to get worse.
In a moment of panic, Sarah pushed Nikki off you; the turmoil and anguish in her chest at seeing that Freeman wasn’t actually doing anything to help overwhelmed her. Sarah’s hands shot up like a shield projected from the heavens; her hands went to the back of your head—the very part that was slamming relentlessly against the wall. It didn’t take long for the knuckles of her fingers to turn red from the blows, and then red with blood as she shielded you from the impact.
“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!” Nikki’s screams made Sarah close her eyes, tears streaming freely as she tried her best to block out everything around her.
To forget that Nikki was there, to forget the threats she’d made just over seven minutes ago, and to forget that pain in her chest every time she remembered that you didn’t want to be with her anymore.
“Stop, please.” Her sobs were quiet, almost like a prayer she had no faith would be heard, but she kept repeating the same words faithfully nonetheless. “Please, stop.”
With one last shake of her head—now resting in Sarah’s palms—you looked at her with a vacant, lifeless gaze, as if you weren’t even there anymore. As if you’d lost that battle.
“I need help, please!” Your weak eyes were almost closing when a whisper escaped your lips, and Sarah almost missed the faint breath that left your lips amid the sound of the ambulance siren. “One wish. . . help Nikki. . .”
Your eyes closed, and as if snapped out of a trance, Nikki finally got up from where she’d been sitting on the floor to push Sarah away from you. She knelt down in the same spot as before, cradling your head in her hands just to catch a glimpse of you, unconscious, your head limp as she tried to get you to respond.
Sarah was still there, paralyzed by fear, paralyzed by uncertainty, and when her ears picked up the sound of the paramedics taking over the scene, all she could do was get up and run.
The brightness made you wince as soon as you tried to open your eyes for the first time. The place smelled of disinfectant and bleach, and the strong smell of cleaning products made you feel like throwing up for a moment. As soon as you made a move to try to sit up, pain shot through your entire body, your neurons racing and sending thousands of signals through the synapses, only for you to end up groaning in pain and reaching for the injured spot.
“What the hell!” Your throat was as dry as a desert, and you barely had time to think before Nikki was by your side.
Her hands on your chest, gently pushing you back onto the mattress while whispering words that took you a while to understand. Everything seemed like a blur at that moment, and all you remember is being in the record store, sirens, and someone’s hands on your face.
“Hey, just lie still, okay.” Freeman’s soft voice sent shivers down your spine, and despite the strange reaction, you were still glad she was there. “Can you hear me, babe?”
“What happened?” Your question made Nikki stop completely for a second; she resumed her role as the concerned girlfriend and put a gentle smile on her face as she stroked your hair—or at least the strands that the bandage on your head didn’t cover.
“You had a panic attack. That’s what the doctors said.” Her voice was slightly shaky, as if there was still something behind it waiting to be revealed.
But you knew you could trust Nikki.
She was your Nikki.
“I haven’t had panic attacks since middle school,” you muttered, looking at your girlfriend’s hand, which was now intertwined with yours amid the white sheets of the hospital bed.
“I know, my love.” She squeezed your hand three times. “I don’t even remember when the last time was. But the doctors said you might have had some kind of trigger earlier today.” It was almost as if she were treading on thin ice.
The fear that at any moment it might crack and the house of cards would come crashing down was terrifying for Nikki. You asked for help—the real you, not that love-struck, silly version of you that Nikki had been experiencing these past few days. Not the version with the soft voice that woke her up with kisses every day, nor the version that dragged her everywhere you went, nor even the version that demanded affection and attention 24/7.
No.
That was the real you. Asking for help, you trapped somewhere inside your own mind like a spectator unworthy of freely inhabiting your own body. She felt bad for you. She really did in the first few days. But then… then the feeling was so good that she couldn’t resist.
“I’m so confused.” Your weak voice was the reason she felt even the slightest bit bad for you. It wasn’t entirely fair to you, but it wasn’t fair to her either.
She just wanted you to love her.
“Why don’t you get some sleep, huh?!” Her hands roamed over your body as if they had a magical effect.
Sometimes you really thought it did.
“I’ll be here when you wake up, huh!” Her soft voice, her caresses as light as a feather. It was almost like a spell she had mastered perfectly.
You nodded in agreement. Carefully resting your head on the pillow and closing your eyes, you placed all your trust in Nikki, because that was what you’d always done since you were a child.
Freeman’s hands slowly pulled away from you; running them through her hair, she sighed in agony. Her plan to leave town was already too late for both of your sakes, and now, knowing that Sarah might try to interfere with your relationship with her, all Nikki could think about was a safe way to get the two of you out of that shitty town before anyone decided to take action and investigate further.
She wasn’t afraid anyone would find out about the wish—after all, who in their right mind would believe that a wishing willow had granted Nikki Freeman’s dream girl to her? Not even she believed it. She remembers the sinister phone call she made while you were asleep. After the first week, she began to get suspicious.
If there’s one thing Nikki Freeman isn’t, it’s stupid! You were in a deep sleep—perhaps the first of the week since the two of you had actually started dating. Maybe your body had finally run out of steam, or maybe you’d finally gotten tired of looking at her—and that thought alone sent a shiver down Nikki’s spine.
Ignoring the feeling of being watched, she grabbed her phone, taking one last look at you before closing the bedroom door and starting to pace around the living room. Her apartment was a mess; since all you two did now was basically eat, sleep, and have sex, cleaning had been constantly neglected over the last few days. Nikki made a mental note to take care of it in the morning, dialing the numbers blindly as if she’d memorized them long ago.
The phone rang once.
Then twice.
Three times.
“One Wish Willow, how can I help you?” The voice was monotone, and unlike Nikki—who couldn’t hear any noise coming from the other end of the line—all the person on the other end of the call could hear was Miss Freeman’s heavy breathing.
“Is this real?” Those were the only words that came out of her mouth.
Because if this really worked, she had the eerie feeling that whoever was on the other end of the line would know exactly what she was talking about.
A sigh was heard. “You wished she’d love you the way you love her, didn’t you?”
Nikki’s breath caught, and upon hearing a small noise coming from the bedroom, she spun around quickly. The door was still closed, and the phone was still on the line.
“She loves you, Nikki.” The way it said her name was enough to make young Freeman’s stomach churn. “She’ll feel the emptiness you felt when she wasn’t around when you’re not around. She thinks about you day and night, just as you think about her. She’s freaky for you, and only you. Because that’s exactly how you felt about her.”
Nikki’s breathing quickened with every word, only for her to suddenly hold her breath when the thing on the other end of the line stopped speaking.
And then, in a drawling, completely distorted voice, Nikki heard the words being uttered on the other end of the line. “She’s yours until the day you die, Nikkie… or until the day you finally kill her…”
Nikki’s finger slammed down on the end call button, almost hard enough to burn the phone’s display. The voice fell silent; that sinister, distorted voice was gone forever, even as the weight of those words continued to hang over her.
“Nikki…” With a start, the woman in the middle of the room turned around. Seeing you standing in the doorway, she tried to smile, but only a faint, forced, and frightened smile escaped her lips. “Can you please come back to bed? I get so, so, so sad when you’re not in my arms…”
She waved, walking toward you and standing on tiptoe. Her lips touched yours as your hands rested on her waist.
She needed to take all of this as far away from there as possible.
It was around two in the morning when Nikki heard something—at first, very faint, but still disturbing enough to make her open her eyes and try to locate the source of the sound. The thought that Sarah might be trying to communicate with her crept into her mind like a curse, and she jumped up from the armchair. Her back ached from the choir practice and the cheap upholstery on the armchairs, and she swears she almost strained her back with the jump she made.
But everything was strangely normal. Quiet, almost as if nothing was really wrong there. Nikki knew that wasn’t true. That chill down her spine—which only came when something was about to happen—was there again, very present, making her even more alert to whatever was about to happen.
“Nikki!” The voice made her jump slightly; taking her eyes off the door, she quickly turned toward the bed where you were lying.
She furrowed her brow. Even in the darkness, Nikki could see your closed eyes, your mouth slightly parted, and your breath as light as a feather. She paused to think, wondering if she was hearing things—only for her thoughts to be interrupted by the voice she’d known her whole life.
“Help me, Nikki!” The whisper was soft, but still clear enough for the Freeman girl to understand every word you were saying.
“My love, I...” She took a step toward you.
“No!” you whispered, almost shouting. “Please don’t wake her up! You’ll wake her up and I’ll have to go back to the bottom—please, Nikki, don’t wake her up!”
The sound of footsteps stopped; Nikki froze in the middle of the room, trying to figure out what she should do in a situation like this. You were there, struggling to control your own body for the first time in a long while—a time you couldn’t even remember anymore.
“Nikki, help me. Please, this isn’t fair!” The cry in your voice made the woman slowly close her eyes. Partly because she felt sorry for you, but partly because she was fed up with trying to please you at all costs and still getting nothing in return.
“Baby, you don’t need help. We’re in this together! I’m with you until the end! Let’s get married! Live happily ever after or whatever bullshit like that! I want to do all of this with you!”
“Nikki, don’t do this to me. Please, you know we’re not like that! You have to understand...”
“No!” Anger rose in her throat—years and years of dedication about to be thrown away just because you were a little confused? She wasn’t going to let that happen.
“We love each other, babe. You’re just confused!” A single tear rolled down Nikki’s cheek as she moved closer to you in bed, ignoring all your muffled protests. “And it’s not fair to me, do you understand?! You say you love me and then you want to back out? You’re just confused, babe. You’ll be fine soon!”
“Nikki...”
“Shh, babe. You’ll be back to normal in a minute!” Her hands clasped both of yours; your body—or at least what was left of it—jolted awake, your facial muscles smiling at Nikki while your true self was pushed kilometers away from what you were supposed to be.
The feeling of emptiness, of limbo… the feeling of helplessness. It all hit you like a tsunami. But you couldn’t move the way you wanted to; you couldn’t just curl up in a fetal position and cry until you were dehydrated. You couldn’t get down on your knees and beg Nikki—who used to be your best friend, your little sister—to let you go back to being who you were.
“I’ll get you some juice; maybe they still have something you’ll like in the snack machine.”
“Okay. I love you—you know that, right?!” The smile on your face was becoming Nikki’s favorite. Meanwhile, little by little—even without fully realizing it—she was erasing the traces of the old you from her mind.
That version of you who still secretly loved her—as she used to tell herself. That version who thought she’d be happy without her. Nikki was starting to hate that version of you.
And she was going to make sure you hated her, too.
“I know! I love you even more,” she said, leaning against the bedroom door and looking at you one last time before going to get something to eat. “I’ll be right back.”
“I miss you already!”
Nikki smiled before disappearing down the empty hallway; she passed the room doors, casting a curious glance at those with their doors open—most of the time, it was just nurses administering medication during their shift. And then she reached the cafeteria. It was more like a small break area inside the hospital; there was a coffee machine, a pitcher of tea, and a snack machine near the door—she walked over there.
Sighing, Nikki pulled some notes out of her pocket, ready to buy her favorite snack, but something seemed to draw her in more than the snack machine. Further ahead, the door near the snack machine was open, offering a view of the inpatient ward’s reception area, and standing there, awkwardly chatting with the receptionist, was Bear. Nikki’s body froze; the reason she was in this hospital right now was indirectly because of him, since he was the one who had given her that magic stick.
Nikki knew that you and Bear weren’t even close—you two got along cordially while trying to avoid conflict within the same group of friends—but you definitely had no interest in being friends with him. Nikki’s eyebrows furrowed, and she wondered why he was really here; as her hands began to sweat, her fear seemed to have drawn the man’s gaze toward her, because all his attention was now focused on her.
“Hi...” Nikki heard the voice distantly, almost as if her brain hadn’t yet processed that he had already walked quickly over to her. “Look, Nikki, I need to talk to you.”
“Are you here to see Yn? Because I don’t think visits are allowed at this hour...” She changed the subject, inserting the one-dollar bill into the machine before choosing what she wanted.
“No, I...” Bear tried to speak, glancing between the vending machine and Nikki, noticing how she didn’t seem able to look in his direction.
“Look, I’m kind of tired...”
“I know about the wish!" He whispered with conviction, and Nikki’s world seemed to stop for a second.
The only thing in the room was the sound of the vending machine starting up, dropping the chocolate bar Nikki had chosen with a soft thud.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Bear.” She bent down, picking up the chocolate bar from the machine, ready to let the man know she was done with this conversation.
“Sarah told me. Nikki, I called the company—they knew the whole story. They even knew who I was!” The woman’s eyes fluttered, a small nervous tic she’d developed over the last few hours. “I’m thinking of making my wish too.”
His voice was somber, as if Nikki could tell his intentions just from his tone.
“I convinced Sarah it wasn’t real.” He went on, and Nikki felt the urge to smash his head against the machine’s glass. “Nikki, I don’t judge you for what you did. I’d do the same to tell the truth...” He looked at her with compassion, but the looks he received were ones of pure hatred.
“I’m going to do the same, actually.” The whisper was almost imperceptible.
But Nikki heard it.
“Stay away from me!” She took a step back, looking past Bear only to see Sarah standing where he had been before he saw her.
They came together; they’re here for the same purpose.
The people they’d fallen in love with.
She turned calmly, not wanting the despair that was beginning to settle in her chest to be noticeable. However, as soon as she disappeared from their view, Nikki’s feet began to run, moving at an unnecessary speed through the hospital corridors. She tried not to make a sound, but the rubber soles of her shoes sometimes betrayed her.
She arrived in the room like a blur, making your body sit up slightly startled from the bed, watching her walk across the room as she rummaged through her purse.
“Babe, are you okay?” The question had barely left your lips before she walked toward you in long strides.
“I’m fine, my love. But I need you to do something for me, okay?!” Her voice was soft, almost as if she didn’t want to make you feel the panic she was feeling.
“Anything for you, babe.”
She smiled.
“We have to leave. Right now!” She didn’t even wait for your reply; one of her hands quickly grabbed your arm while the other yanked out the IV needle you were hooked up to.
You stood up without saying a word. You were still wearing the hospital gown, and your girlfriend tossed you the pants you’d been wearing before the incident just in time. She helped you take off the rest of your hospital clothes so you could put on the shirt you’d worn under your work uniform that day.
“Nikki, be honest. Is something wrong?” She almost melted at your question; your voice was the very embodiment of concern, and she noticed how your hands seemed to be trembling before she grabbed them and pulled them to her lips, planting light kisses on them.
“They’re trying to tear us apart, my love. And I won’t let that happen,” she said, watching you immediately frown in anger. “We have to get out of here as quietly and as quickly as possible, got it?! Can you do that for me?”
“No one will ever separate us!” Your voice took on a somber tone, and a shiver ran down Nikki’s spine.
Not out of fear, but because she felt the sense of security that grim, somber voice conveyed to her.
The certainty that you would never let anything come between you two.
Going down the stairs was easy; getting past the front desk would be a little trickier. There were doctors everywhere, nurses walking around, and janitors and receptionists chatting casually. You and Nikki were standing in a small, empty triage room. She watched the stream of people passing by and tried to come up with a way to avoid drawing attention—after all, you still had a huge bandage on your head.
“I’ll get this!” you said suddenly, snapping Nikki out of her mental brainstorming session. “Just wait here and trust me, okay!” She nodded, feeling the comforting warmth of your hands on her shoulders.
And then you quickly headed toward the snack machine. In the small room, there were a few people sleeping in the chairs, too tired from waiting for a diagnosis or evaluation. One boy in particular caught your attention; he was sleeping like the dead in his chair. He must have been about sixteen, and he didn’t seem to be with anyone.
The cap on his head was what caught your attention. Looking around, you quickly poured yourself some coffee—the paper cup burned your fingertips slightly, and it had surely been made just minutes ago. Your feet carried you close enough to the boy so that your hands could grab his cap and place the cup of coffee perfectly on his lap. The perfect balance so as not to spill—at least not yet.
As you adjusted the stolen cap on your head, you hissed in pain; the strange question of why you were doing all this surfaced in the back of your mind, as if screaming desperately only to be drowned out by something greater. Before returning to Nikki, your hand slammed hard against the glass of the vending machine near the door, causing a crash as you left the place as if nothing had happened.
The noise woke up a few people who were sleeping, but only one of their screams was heard echoing through the hospital walls. Nurses rushed past you, as did the receptionist. The smile on your face grew wider as you veered toward the exit, knocking on the door where your girlfriend was hiding to see her come out quickly, grabbing your hand as the two of you walked out.
“What did you do?” Nikki’s question was answered when the reception speakers came on.
“Attention, emergency in the break room! Teenager with severe burns!”
“I told you, no one’s going to tear us apart!” Nikki’s grip was tight, and the feeling of confidence and security in her heart had returned before she even realized it.
The parking lot was empty. Nikki had another problem: walking home would take too long, but she barely had enough money for an Uber. The moment she saw the car approaching, she didn’t know if it was a blessing or a curse.
Bear.
Alone.
Why he’d come back to the hospital alone was a mystery to Nikki, but she definitely wasn’t complaining—at least not once her brain started working. When the car door closed, Nikki’s thoughts cleared, and that’s when she realized you’d stepped in front of her.
“You’re pathetic! ” That was the first thing he said, directed at you. “I knew you knew I had a crush on Nikki, and here you are anyway.” His gaze was one of pure hatred, and you squeezed your girlfriend’s hand as if she were about to be snatched away from you.
“But this is going to end!” The little red box wasn’t familiar to you, but it was to the woman who was using her body as a shield for you. “And I wanted you to see it all happen right before your eyes.”
Before his hands could even break the stick, you’d already acted; the punch landed squarely on his chin, and you followed Bear to the ground as he stumbled and fell. All you could see was red, raising your fists and bringing them down with all the force needed to disfigure someone’s face. The parking lot was dark enough; there was no one around.
Just you, Nikki, and what she believed would be left of Baron.
Nikki didn’t try to stop you; she just watched. Standing there as if it were nothing, as if you weren’t beating the life out of someone, as if you weren’t sending your high school friend’s soul up to heaven—in Bear’s case, Nikki was more convinced he’d be heading straight to hell. Nikki just thought that you’d certainly do anything for her, and that feeling of safety and protection warmed her heart once again.
By the time you were already gasping for breath—and Bear was completely out of breath—and your hands were covered in blood, you stood up from on top of the man, trying not to look at what was left of his face. You reached out, taking the car keys from his pocket, and walked toward the trunk.
“I’m going to put him in here...” You began in a monotone voice, before Nikki interrupted with a low laugh.
She walked slowly toward Bear, bending down just enough to pick up the red box he’d been holding earlier. She walked over to you right after that, holding up the small box and making your eyebrow arch.
“Here, I can’t, but you can...” You hesitated; she smiled. Standing on her tiptoes, Nikki reached your lips; your blood-stained hands smeared her clothes as you grabbed her waist.
Her lips were like water quenching your thirst, and you wanted more and more with every passing moment of your day. Your hands slid down to grab her ass, your self-control beginning to slip as you thought about the adrenaline rush of having her right there. Unfortunately, Nikki pulled away before you could start anything, laughing as her fingers traced your jawline.
“You don’t have to do anything, baby. Just break it, and make your wish!”
Okay, but genuine question! How does Lexie just manage to escape the company's clutches like that? Like, is she filthy rich and has incredibly good lawyers, or does she have a compromising photo of someone???
like omg put that girl to work helping Newjeans get out of that company too!!!
"Everyday, Minju would go back to the same record store, just to see the cute guy she had a crush on. But what happens when she discovers that not everything is as she thought?"
warnings - fluff, strongly inspired by "The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't a Guy at All" and "Coffee Prince". Minju w pink hair coz she looks gorgeous n bc of aya :) wlw ofc
now playing - Apple Cider, by beabadoobee
"You said you liked my hair, so go ahead and touch it"
Minju kept coming back. Every freaking day! It wasn’t because of the records or the CDs, nor because of the cool music playing at the record store. It was simply because she couldn’t get the cute guy who worked there out of her head. It started out simple, actually—anyone nearby could tell why Minju was there so often.
It was Moka who first introduced Minju to the record store; it was near one of her favorite clothing stores, and then, one day when she went in to look for a specific record, all she could think about was her older bandmate. The next day, after rehearsals for “It’s Me,” the two of them were there as if it were a mission assigned to them—to explore the record store.
They walked through the doors as if they were about to discover a whole new world; Minju smiled at every record she found, holding some close and showing Moka others she knew would interest her. And then, it was as if the universe had sent her a message, as if everything had aligned so that the two girls would be there at exactly the right time and moment.
Minju’s eyes went beyond the uniform, beyond the cap or the mask covering part of the face.
She looked straight into his eyes.
With impeccable concentration, the mysterious boy worked, organizing the new shipment of records on one of the shelves. It would have been wonderful enough if that were all, but when the pink-haired girl’s eyes allowed themselves to focus on something else—other than the boy’s sparkling eyes—she caught a glimpse of some very familiar vinyl records. “Super Real Me” was being carefully placed next to Cortis’s “COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES,” just below Le Sserafim’s “UNFORGIVEN” and just above Aespa’s “Armageddon.”
Her feet seemed to have moved even before her brain registered what was actually happening, and for a moment she was completely mesmerized by the eyes of the boy she had seen for the first time just two minutes ago.
“Do you like illit? Her brain seemed to have regained control of her body the moment the words left her mouth, and even though she wanted to shrink back, she tried to act normal.
The boy looked up; he was crouched down, trying to finish the task he’d been assigned, and that was just one more reason for Minju to want to dig a hole and bury her head right there.
“Huh?” That was the only thing that came out of his mouth, and it was enough to make Minju’s cheeks turn the same color as her hair.
“Oh, sorry. It’s just that I love that girl group.” She tried again, pointing to the vinyl record he’d just placed on the shelf.
Looking in the direction she was pointing, the boy finally chuckled softly, stepping out of the bubble he’d been in to return to the real world—something Minju thanked her lucky stars for, because she was starting to think she’d have to simply apologize and turn around for distracting him.
“Well, you must have really good taste. This band’s albums are always the first to sell out.” Getting up from where he’d been sitting on the floor, the boy scratched the back of his neck lightly.
Minju’s eyes followed his hand; the silver rings and stylish bracelet piqued her curiosity—he was stylish. His hair was shiny, cut short at the nape of his neck, and for a moment she wanted to run her fingers through it.
“Do you want one?” He held out his hand, the CD bridging the distance between them. And even though Minju already have that album—because, goodness, she was a member of that group—she reached out and took it.
Her fingertips brushed against his, and it was as if an electric current ran through her entire body. Her heart was pounding, and she felt as though she might faint when she realized he was smiling beneath his mask.
She didn’t actually need to see the smile, because his eyes were smiling all on their own.
“Thank you,” she stammered slightly, as she watched the young man she’d just met wave and go back to work, smiling with those adorable eyes.
Maybe Minju was so immersed in the moment that she forgot Moka was there, too. Which meant she’d completely forgotten that she’d have to deal not only with the younger girl, but also with the illit members asking who the mysterious boy was that she was interested in. Minju wasn’t stupid; she knew the girls who lived with her, and maybe that’s why she reacted with near indifference when everything started to turn into a bit of a mess.
Yunah went into “mom mode,” telling Minju she’d have to be careful, asking if he knew who she was and what she’d talked to him about. Moka was there to fill in all the details the pink-haired girl might have left out or simply forgotten, with a little smile on her face and the sparkling eyes of someone who’d been watching everything closely. The maknaes seemed to be in the midst of the biggest gossip of the year—the kind not even Dispatch could have predicted: Park Minju falling for a guy at a record store. Wonhee was cracking jokes while Iroha laughed until her stomach hurt.
“There’s nothing going on between me and him! I just think he’s a nice guy!” That’s what she said to throw them off the trail. Even though Yunah narrowed her eyes in disbelief and the other members kept laughing and singing little songs about how she was going to marry the mysterious boy.
“Here it is!” The husky voice snapped Minju out of her daydream. Right in front of her was Gorillaz’s album “Humanz”. The cover was beautiful, and even though it wasn’t exactly the kind of music Minju usually listened to, she took the album from the boy’s hand with a smile worthy of a true fan.
It was the third time that week Minju had gone to the record store, and even though no one had actually asked why she was going there almost every day, she felt that going there and not buying anything was starting to look suspicious. So, in a moment of desperation, she decided to do the most rational thing she could think of at that moment: ask for a vinyl recommendation to the reason she was really there—the cute boy.
“Have you been a fan of theirs for a while? I really think they’re so cool.” He wasn’t wearing a cap that afternoon, and Minju swore she’d faint every time he tossed his hair back.
“I… yeah, I mean…” Stammering, the girl with pink hair lowered her gaze to the album, thinking it best to focus on something other than the eyes that were making her feel too weak. “I’m kind of new to this style of music.”
“Oh, that’s cool. You don’t have to be embarrassed,” he said, assuming the pink hue on her cheeks was because of her new experience with the band—without even imagining that it was because she couldn’t keep her composure when he was looking at her. “They’re really cool; I think you’ll like them. And if you don’t, you can always come back for more recommendations!”
His tone was catchy, and he truly loved what he was doing. Minju noticed how much he seemed to genuinely love music; she noticed the passion with which he talked to her about every album or EP. Sometimes, Minju found herself wondering how he would react if he found out she was an idol.
The kissing sounds Wonhee was making interrupted Minju’s memories, and Iroha’s voice once again cut off her train of thought.
“So you guys just talk about music? Hasn’t he ever even tried to flirt with you?” The younger girl’s question made Minju’s head spin.
Flirt? If only you would even try to flirt with her.
“Have you heard this one?” The boy raised his hand; the record he held was blue, and Minju quickly recognized the woman on the cover—“This Is How Tomorrow Moves.”
“Beabadoobee!” she exclaimed. “I love her.”
Getting up from where he’d been sitting—on the floor—the boy in the mask laughed softly, brushing the dust off his black jeans and leaning against the record shelf that separated him from Minju.
“I like your hair.” Minju’s heart suddenly raced. Those simple words made all the blood in her heart pump faster.
What does that mean? She had dyed her hair pink for the “It’s Me” promotions; it wasn’t permanent. Did he think she was stylish because of that? Would he still like her when she went back to her normal hair color?
“Huh?” It was the only thing Minju could stammer out, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water, while—once again—she began to blush as red as a tomato.
“You know, that song,” he began. “You said you like my hair. So go ahead and touch it.”
If Minju could have blushed any more, she would have exploded. Of course, you weren’t actually flirting with her.
“Yeah, ‘Apple Cider,’” she replied, her voice a little lower and softer than usual.
“Yeah! That’s the one. Man, that song is really good.” Crouching down again, he picked up the empty box—which had once held the records that were now lined up on the shelves. “But you know, I really do like your hair.”
She kept going to the store almost every day—maybe three or four times a week. She’d spend a few minutes there, just long enough for a conversation about records and music, nothing deep enough for names or any other personal information to be exchanged. After all, she was still Minju from Illit. And you were still just the cute guy at the record store, right?
“Girl, she’s 100 percent into you!” Nico, your coworker, exclaimed. It had been at least ten minutes since the two of you had opened the store, and the first thing he said to you was about the girl with pink hair.
It had been a week since you and she had met—at least in the strange way that the two of you do. Nico had questioned why you’d never asked her name, or anything like that, since, to him, she was clearly into you.
“Hey, you're back!” you exclaimed, seeing the girl with pink hair walk into the store. She always wore a black mask—just like yours—along with glasses and a cap.
At first glance, it was almost concerning how much she looked like a fugitive, always seeming to be in disguise or on constant alert for anyone coming through the door or out on the street. But after a while, you got used to the cute girl who showed up almost every day to talk about music with you.
“I need a birthday gift for my friend,” she said, smiling as always, removing everything that hid her face, as if the store were a safe haven.
It was almost strange how you didn’t even know her name, but her smile always made your heart skip a beat. It was something about the dimples that appeared when she laughed, or how cute she looked when she closed her eyes to laugh.
“Well, tell me what she likes, and I can give you a recommendation!” You loved it when she came by. It wasn’t that busy in the store in the afternoon, so when she showed up, it always made for a nice chat for you.
“Well, she’s Japanese, she really likes fashion, her family owns a coffee shop, and she likes Illit, just like me,” she said, resting her elbows on the counter and propping her face in her hands. The mischievous smile on her face said everything you needed to know, and all you did was laugh and roll your eyes.
“Haha, very funny. You know I need more details than that!” The girl with pink hair laughed when she saw you roll your eyes playfully, knowing she was going to make things complicated for you.
“You have to know. I mean, you’re the music master! Give me something my friend might like based on just the little information I gave you!”
It was almost routine by this point. She liked to watch you think and squirm as you tried to recommend songs with the very few clues she gave you. You weren’t sure, but you were almost certain she just wanted to see you struggle.
“Urgh! Fine.” Walking over to a shelf, you thought for a moment, reaching out just to grab a small CD and return to where the girl with pink hair was waiting for you. “Here! No refunds if she hates it!”
Stifling a laugh, the girl kept a indignant expression on her face. You chuckled slightly, just because her acting was really bad!
“But it was your recommendation.”
“Blah, blah, blah!” With your hands over your ears, you pretended not to hear her.
The girl in front of you rolled her eyes, pulling her wallet out of her pocket and tossing a few wons onto the counter.
“Geez, you’re so childish sometimes. You’re lucky I like you.”
“She doesn’t like me! She must work somewhere around here, and she seems to really like music, especially that girl group, Illit,” you said, continuing to wipe down the record shelf.
“DID SOMEONE SAY ILLIT?!” The moment the shrill voice pierced your ears, your head jerked back, hitting the top of the shelf and making you let out a hiss of pain.
“Ouch!” Putting your hand over the spot where you’d hit your head, you stood up, looking at the culprit behind your startle—who was now shyly cowering next to Nico. “Lena, why do you have to be so loud?”
Pouting, the younger girl tapped your shoulder, a look of offense taking over her face. Nico tried to hold back his laughter as he continued unpacking the new batch of CDs and tried not to get in the way between you two.
“You idiot, I’m not loud! I just got excited when you mentioned Illit! They’re my favorite girl group!” Rubbing your arm, you rolled your eyes, glancing briefly at Nico before deciding to tease him.
“You know what, Nico was right when he said you were loud.” That simple sentence turned the place into complete chaos in a second.
“WHAT DID YOU SAY ABOUT ME?” Voices began to mingle; Nico tried to defend himself while you laughed at the situation.
Lena’s slaps landed on the spiky-haired boy’s arms, and the voices echoed freely through the empty store. You loved working with them because you knew they made the day fun no matter what. The loud commotion, the banter—it all made the world feel muffled.
Not just the world, but the doorbell at the front of the store, too.
You didn’t hear the doorbell, or the footsteps—you didn’t even notice the figure standing near you. Lena’s slaps were very precise, and watching Nico try to run away was like guaranteed entertainment. But then, your favorite show seemed to have been interrupted by the loudest scream Lena had ever let out in her entire life.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” It was as if a whistle were blaring in your and Nico’s ears. Both of you covered your ears in record time, and your eyes tried to follow Lena as she abandoned the boy with spiky hair to run behind you. “OMG, YOU’RE PARK MINJU!”
You were about to tell Lena to shut up and be quiet, but you could barely get a word out when you turned around. It was her—the girl with pink hair—because Lena was throwing a fit. It was hard to understand why, but it was as if the girl you’d been talking to this whole time was more than used to being treated this way.
She just smiled and waved.
As if it were perfectly normal to have a complete nutcase screaming for you.
But how did Lena even know the girl’s name?
“Lena, how did you…?” Your question trailed off before you could even finish it, because in less than two seconds, Lena was already doing what she did best again.
Talking.
“Guys, this is Minju! Minju from Illit!” she said aggressively, turning to you and Nico just to give them a scowl. “Sorry about my friends—they’re a little slow!”
Her words seemed to blur in your mind; you knew who Illit was—I mean, it was almost impossible not to, given how many times Lena had made you and Nico listen to her talk about the group for hours on end. You and Nico furrowed your brows anyway.
“Illit? Like the group you talk about twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week?” You weren’t even looking at Lena anymore. Your eyes were locked with Minju’s—at least now you knew her name.
“Yeah, of course, Yn!” she replied, barely turning toward you before continuing to talk to Minju as if they were friends. “Sorry about her. Yn is practically a cave girl.”
“Hey…!”
“Girl…?”
You both stopped mid-sentence, speaking at the same time. Your eyes met again, and it was as if something had clicked inside Minju’s head. The bright eyes, the long lashes, the slightly hoarse voice—but not deep enough to be a boy’s… it was as if everything was starting to fall into place in a really crazy way.
“Can you give me an autograph?” Lena’s voice cut through the fog of Minju’s thoughts. And your eyes met for the first time.
Her hands holding the pen seemed to tremble, and her eyes could barely focus on the disc Lena had given her to autograph. You were a girl, not a boy. You were a funny, friendly, cool girl—and someone Minju had become interested in. Someone she’d been coming to the store to see practically every day.
How could she be so invested if she didn’t even know your gender?
Minju left the store just after signing Lena’s autograph. It was a lot to take in. Of course, she didn’t feel betrayed, nor was she even angry with you; she knows she had no reason to feel that way. She was the one who assumed you were a boy; she was the one who never asked your name or showed any more interest in you than was necessary.
Minju had a career to protect, and as much as she wanted to trust you and tell you who she really was, she couldn’t afford that luxury—at least not yet. She had to sit down, assess the situation, and take a good, hard look at herself, because her heart hadn’t stopped racing since she left the store.
The convenience store where she settled down was almost directly across from the record store, just two or three shops away. She could sit in a spot by herself—just her and her thoughts—but still close enough to see the activity inside the record store. She could see who was coming and going, and the possibility that you might walk out through those doors made her heart beat just a little faster.
When she saw you closing the store’s doors, a small sense of relief washed over Minju. You were still there; she still had a chance. Her cover was already starting to slip—especially after she’d had to take off her mask to eat the ramen she’d bought a few hours earlier—so the moment she saw you start walking away from the store, all she could do was go after you.
Her feet moved at an impressive speed, and her heart felt like it was going to leap out of her mouth at any moment. You didn’t hear the footsteps, nor the slightly labored breathing that was starting to come your way. The headphones that were always hanging over your shoulders were now faithfully covering your ears, like a shield from the world—or from the words Minju was about to utter.
Fortunately, the girl with pink hair managed to catch up to you, raising her hand just to see you startle when she touched your shoulder. You turned around quickly, almost too startled for your own good, and for a moment, your heartbeat matched Minju’s rapid heartbeats. Two different kinds of adrenaline coursing through your veins.
“Hi…” The words came out a little muffled in your ears as you reached up to lower your headphones. “Can we talk?”
Minju recognized the song that was practically blasting from your headphones: “Apple Cider.” Beabadoobee’s voice was slightly muffled, but the guitar and the shrill drums could still be heard clearly. Minju felt afraid for the first time since she’d met you.
“Sure… what do you want to talk about?” Your voice was always calm, and now it made so much more sense.
She didn’t think she’d stop liking your voice even if you weren’t a boy. In fact, she loved it even more.
“I’m sorry for leaving without any explanation today,” she began. You shook your head.
“I understand—you didn’t want anyone to know you were an idol,” you replied, your voice as genuine as ever—the same genuine voice that had enchanted Minju from day one.
“No, you’re not listening. I didn’t leave because of that…”
“Minju, it’s okay. I’m not mad at you. I really like you and the conversations we’ve had; I understand that you have to keep your identity private.” Minju was deeply grateful for your generosity and understanding, but it was starting to get on her nerves.
“No, listen to me. I didn’t leave because I didn’t want you to find out that I’m an idol!” Her voice was slightly choked with tears, and her eyes looked at you with a hint of desperation, as if she were about to lift the heaviest burden in the world off her shoulders. “I left because I like you. I mean, I really like you!”
You froze for a moment. Because even though Nico had already told you that a million times, hearing it from Minju was completely different.
“And I don’t know how it happened, but I just can’t help but be drawn to you ever since the first time I saw you!” Her slightly desperate tone made you tilt your head to the right, your eyebrows furrowed and your mouth a thin line beneath your black mask. “But I was sad—sad about myself. Because how can I be so in love with you and not even realize that you’re actually a girl!”
Every word that came out of her mouth left you even more shocked, and for a moment, you thought you might have lost her. But then, she kept talking.
“Minju...”
“And I swear, I’d never felt this way about anyone before—I really hadn’t. I tried to avoid it, at least at first, but every time, I felt the urge to come back here to see you.” Her words sounded more desperate.
“Minju...”
“I—I never asked your name, or asked to see your face or anything like that, because our conversations were so good that I forgot about any physical appearance." She shook her head, her hands folding near her chest as her eyes darted around before meeting yours again. "Appearance wasn’t even close to being the most important thing to me when I was with you; I just wanted to hear you talk the whole time, because every time you’re talking about something you like, your eyes start to sparkle, and I think that’s beautiful...”
“Minju!”
For the first time, she stopped talking, looking at you as if everything you were about to say could either shatter her heart into a thousand pieces or keep it warm and safe.
“Did that feeling go away when you found out I was a girl?”
The question made her let down her guard; her chest rose and fell as she tried to catch her breath after her earlier speech, and for the first time, she allowed herself to say what she was thinking out loud.
“No.” She smiled, looking at you as if the fear that you might turn around and walk away wasn’t there. “I just want to get to know you even better. I’m still just as in love as before.”
It was almost cliché the way it was all unfolding. I mean, nothing’s more romantic than confessing your love to the girl you like on a quiet street. Minju didn’t care; all she wanted to hear was your answer, because no matter how much she was pouring her heart out right then, she still didn’t know what was going through your mind.
"You know, the first time I saw you, I asked myself if I was going crazy. You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen in my life, Minju. And I’d be crazy to say I never felt anything for you during all those weeks.” The words flowed into the pink-haired girl’s ears like a perfect melody, and she smiled like a child who’d just been given a toy.
“So you like me too?” She took a step closer to you, asking as if she needed at least one more confirmation to put her mind at ease.
“Like I’ve never liked anyone before!” Your answer was enough for her to move even closer.
The moment seemed to have transported the two of you to another dimension. Minju seemed to be acting carelessly, but at that moment, she really didn’t care. Her eyes locked onto yours, never looking away for a moment; the two of you seemed like the only people on earth at that moment, and even though you both knew that wasn’t quite true, neither of you seemed to care.
”Can I?” Minju’s hands reached for the straps of the black mask you wear every day. And your eyes didn’t leave hers as you nodded.
“Yes.”
Her fingers gently removed the mask, and for a moment, her eyes sparkled as if they’d stolen the stars from the sky. You were beautiful—more beautiful than anything Minju could ever have imagined. Your facial features seemed to have been drawn by the most whimsical of gods, and every detail appeared to have been crafted to fit together perfectly. And Minju might just start getting used to being obsessed with things other than just your eyes.
“You're beautiful.” Her eyes were fixed exactly where they never seemed to stray—on your eyes. But the moment you smiled, your smile filled Minju's entire mind.
Your smile was perfect; even more perfect than seeing it reflected in your eyes was seeing your smile in person, with her own eyes. And Minju knew that all too well.
“I love your smile,” she blurted out.
“Really…?!” The question made the girl with pink hair nod slightly in affirmation, smiling just like you as she tried to keep her composure. “Well, I love your smile, too. I’ve loved it since the day we met.”
“Oh, that’s not fair. You could see me smiling all the time. This is the first time I’ve actually seen you smile.” Her hands rose, and you froze the moment you felt her fingers trace your lips.
“It’s true. I forget that we didn’t really know each other.” The words made Minju furrow her eyebrows slightly, wrinkling her nose along with them in that little expression of displeasure that you always found cute.
She didn’t believe it; she might not know everything, but she still felt like she knew you.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Yn.” Raising your hands, you gently pulled Minju’s beanie down, hiding her as much as possible as a group of teenagers ran past you.
“I’m Minju.” She smiled slightly.
The idea of going back to the day you met was funny to you, since you seemed to have known each other for a long time, even though you didn’t even know each other’s names properly.
Suddenly, the pink-haired girl’s fingers stopped tracing your face. Her eyes shifted from your features to your eyes, and the very next second, she was on her tiptoes, wrapping her arms around your neck. Her head was buried in your sweatshirt; it smelled like you, and for a moment, she thought that everything had happened exactly as it was meant to.
“Are you going to be my girlfriend from now on?”
“Absolutely, Park Minju!”
I know I don’t have many Illit fans here, but I’ve been craving a cute Minju fic and came up with this idea last night while watching Super Illit. I love The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy at All and Coffee Prince, so I had to combine the themes. Anyway, there aren’t that many Illit fanfics out there, so I wanted to write this one.
I have one about 2ning and Kazuha coming up next. Sorry to the Kats stans—I confess I’ve been feeling a little unmotivated to write for them lately. But I don’t plan on stopping writing for them; I’m just not very motivated right now.
I'm your biggest fan, I'll follow you until you love me - Supercorp
Chapter 4: The Invitation
Starring: Milly Alcock!Supergirl x Margaret Qualley!Lena Luthor
And: Superman (2025) characters.
Two weeks after Superman's defeat of Lex Luthor, Metropolis is still struggling to rise from the rubble. As its heroes work tirelessly to rebuild the city, another Luthor arrives with a promise: to repair the damage her family has caused.Lena Luthor insists she's only there to help. No one believes her.To keep an eye on her, Kara Zor-El is given a simple mission: don’t let Lena out of your sight. But what should have been a routine assignment soon spirals into a series of clashes, growing distrust, and an attraction neither woman can ignore—one that slowly begins to blur the line into obsession.
Content: Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Spoiled Brat x Rebel Brat, Idiots in Love, Slow Burn (not really), Romance, Fluff and Crack, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Jealousy, Possessiveness, Obsession, Insecurities, Mental Health, Drinking, Smoking, Kissing, Suggestive Themes, Eventual Smut (still not sure, we will see), Other Ships, "Stalking" (it's her job), Mentions of Past Self-Harm, Mentions of Attempted Suicide, DC Universe Typical Violence, Happy Ending.
A/N: Hey guys, hope y'all are doing good. There is a dialogue in Kryptonian in this chapter, just a little phrase. I used this website to translate it: https://funtranslations.com/translate/kryptonian. SO if it's actually gibberish, not my fault lol.
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Clark paced back and forth across the living room, wringing his hands together. It was well past sunset, and he had been waiting for Kara to come home.
He knew what he had to do. That wasn't the problem. The problem was Kara.
Things had finally started getting better between them over the past few weeks. She seemed more willing to stay on Earth. She hadn't disappeared to some distant red-sun planet to drink herself unconscious aboard her ship. She'd made friends. She laughed more. She spent time with Lois. With Kendra. It was the most progress they'd made since Kara had arrived on Earth at eighteen.
Clark had been careful—painfully careful—with every word he chose and every boundary he approached. He'd learned that pushing Kara only made her retreat farther away. He couldn't bear the thought of losing that progress.
The front door unlocked. Keys jingled. Kara stepped inside carrying Krypto, who was fast asleep in her arms, his head resting against her shoulder.
Clark immediately straightened.
"Oh... hi," Kara said. "I thought you'd be asleep by now."
"We need to talk," Clark blurted.
Oh shoot...Great. That was probably the worst way to start this conversation.
"Okay...?" Kara frowned. She gestured toward the sleeping dog. "Let me put him to bed first."
Clark nodded.
She disappeared down the hallway.
A few minutes later, she returned, throwing herself onto the couch without an ounce of grace and stretching out like a cat. Clark remained standing for another second before sitting across from her.
He took a deep breath.
"You're off the mission."
Silence.
"What?" Kara blinked. "What?! Why?" she asked, her voice rising.
"I saw what happened at the Daily Planet."
The words hit their mark immediately. Kara's shoulders stiffened.
"She was defending me." Kara blurted.
"I know." Clark kept his voice calm. "I'm not judging you. I'm not judging Lena either. I just..." He rubbed a hand over his face. "I need to understand what's happening."
Kara looked away. Clark continued gently.
"Do you like her?"
"No!" The answer came so quickly it almost overlapped with his question. Then she lowered her eyes. "...It's more complicated than that."
Clark waited.
"I don't dislike her." Another pause. "I'm... curious about her." She sighed. "I don't know."
Clark studied her quietly.
"You've never been curious about anyone before."
Another silence settled between them.
"Kara."
She didn't answer.
"You hugged her."
"I know."
"You thanked her."
"I know."
"You let her hold you."
"I know." Each response came quieter than the last.
"You don't let people do that." Clark leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"I know."
Clark knew Kara's love language was physical touch. It was obvious from the way she constantly hugged and kissed Krypto. She was affectionate with Lois, Kendra, and even Diana from time to time. But he also knew it took Kara a long time to let anyone get close enough to touch her. He could count on one hand the number of times they'd hugged. And he knew better than anyone how difficult it was for Kara to ask for help—or to let someone help her.
"So what's different?"
Kara's fingers tightened around the sleeve of her hoodie.
"I don't know." She sounded frustrated now. "I don't understand it either."
Clark nodded slowly.
"I believe you."
She looked up, surprised.
"I do. I've known you long enough to know that if you understood what you were feeling, you'd tell me."
"I hate feelings." Kara let out a bitter laugh.
"I noticed."
Another brief silence.
Clark finally forced himself to say the part he'd been dreading.
Her voice had gone flat. Empty. Clark recognized that tone immediately. She'd shut down. Her gaze drifted toward the dark window. The walls. He could see Kara building the walls, brick by brick, to hide behind it and keep anyone from getting through. Clark's stomach sank.
"I'll leave you alone."
No response. He stood. Walked toward his bedroom door. Reached for the handle… Then stopped. He closed his eyes.
No. Not again.
Every single time Kara shut people out, he gave her space. Every single time. And every single time, she'd disappeared a little farther away.
He slowly let go of the doorknob. Turned around. Kara hadn't moved. She was still staring blankly into the night.
Clark walked back into the living room and sat beside her this time instead of across from her. Not too close. Close enough for her to know he was there for her, but far enough away not to scare her off.
"What is it about Lena?" he asked, resting his forearms on his knees.
She hesitated for a long minute.
"...She understands loneliness."
Clark looked at her.
"I think..." Kara swallowed. Her hand clenched tightly around her hoodie. "I think she's just as lonely as I am." Her voice was barely audible now. "Everyone expects something from her. Everyone watches her. Nobody actually sees her." She let out a humorless laugh. "...Sounds familiar."
Clark's heart ached, but he didn't interrupt.
"I was supposed to find evidence that she's like Lex. But..." She looked Clark in the eyes and gave a small shrug. "...She's just... trying." Another pause. "I don't know if she's lying, if she's manipulating me, or if she's dangerous. But..." Kara smiled sadly. "...I don't think anyone has ever protected me simply because they wanted to."
"What do you mean?" Clark frowned.
"I can protect myself. I always have. When people help me..." She shrugged. "It's usually because I'm Superman's cousin. Or because they expect Supergirl to save them afterward. Lena..." Her smile faded. "She knew I didn't need her. And she still stepped in."
Clark sat quietly. He hadn't thought about it that way.
He might not have been as reckless as Kara, but the truth was, he'd never expected anyone to save him either. His mind was always focused on one thing: Protect others. No matter what it took. It had become such an instinct that he did it without thinking, never expecting anyone to protect him in return because he was always the strongest person in the room.
"I understand."
Kara nodded once. Neither of them spoke for several minutes.
Finally, Clark stood. He walked toward the door.
"Kara?"
"...Yeah?"
He smiled sadly.
"I know I'm not what you expected."
She looked up.
"I know I'm probably not the cousin you imagined growing up." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "And I know I haven't always been the best one. But..." His voice softened. "I love you. And I care about you. You’re my little sister" He swallowed. "I just... want you and Krypto to be safe."
Kara stared at him. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then, quietly— Almost too quietly— She spoke in Kryptonian.
"Ii loroveze yarouu ororat, Kal-El." ("I love you too, Kal-El.")
Clark blinked.
"...I have absolutely no idea what you just said."
A tiny smile tugged at Kara's lips.
"...Should I be worried?"
She shook her head.
"No. It's something good."
"Good." Clark smiled. He opened the door. Just before stepping into the hallway, he heard her voice one last time.
"Goodnight, Kal."
Clark looked back, Kara rarely called him Kal. He smiled.
"Goodnight, Kara."
This time, when he left, neither of them felt quite as alone.
—
Kara woke to the smell of chocolate.
She wandered into the kitchen wearing an oversized hoodie, her hair sticking out in every direction, following the scent the same way Krypto followed bacon. Speaking of the dog, he was already there, barking at full volume and demanding his share of breakfast.
Clark stood at the stove, whisking two mugs of hot chocolate while pancakes sizzled on the griddle.
"You made hot chocolate?" Kara asked, sounding genuinely delighted.
Clark glanced over his shoulder.
"You looked like you needed it."
"You're my favorite cousin."
"I'm your only cousin."
"Exactly."
She stole a marshmallow from the counter before he could stop her.
By the time Lois came downstairs, the table was already overflowing. Pancakes, fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, toast, bacon, two enormous mugs of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, and coffee.
"You two are impossible," Lois laughed.
A moment later, Kendra walked into the kitchen. She stopped. Looked at the mountain of pancakes. Looked at the mugs overflowing with whipped cream. Then quietly opened the refrigerator and pulled out a salad.
"For breakfast?" Kara stared.
"Protein. I have practice later, and if I eat any of that, I'll end up throwing up in Guy's face."
Clark silently slid Lois her favorite coffee—extra sugar, extra syrup. As he set a plate of pancakes in front of her, he leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. They smiled at each other like complete idiots.
"Oh, come on." Kendra grimaced. "Not in front of my salad," she groaned dramatically.
Everyone settled around the table.
For a few peaceful minutes, the only sounds were forks scraping against plates and Krypto trying to convince Clark that at least one pancake legally belonged to him.
Then Lois spoke.
"David quit yesterday."
Clark and Kara looked up at the same time.
"I wonder why," Kara muttered into her hot chocolate, barely suppressing a smirk. She still felt a tiny spark of satisfaction knowing exactly why.
The television in the corner switched from the morning weather forecast to breaking entertainment news. The anchor beamed at the camera.
"And now, live from Metropolis City, preparations continue for the Luthor Foundation Charity Gala—"
Kara's spoon froze halfway to her mouth.
The screen filled with flashing cameras, reporters, limousines, and photographers. Then Lena appeared. Elegant. Composed. Completely unfazed by the sea of microphones pointed at her.
God, she's beautiful.
Shut up.
Kara lowered her gaze to her plate and viciously stabbed her scrambled eggs with her fork.
"The biggest gala of the year," the anchor continued. "Celebrities, politicians, business leaders... everyone who's anyone will be there."
"Your article helped," Clark said, smiling at Lois.
"It did," Lois admitted. "But honestly?" She shrugged. "She's young, rich, gorgeous, generous, brilliant, and keeps donating millions to charity." She gestured toward the television. "Of course people love her."
Right on cue, the screen filled with social media posts.
@/userxyzfive: LENA LUTHOR IS SAVING METROPOLIS.
@/artistwitchgirl: She literally rebuilt three hospitals.
@/lenaluthorsgirlfriend: Mother.
@/luthorlover: Protect Lena Luthor at all costs.
A TikTok edit flashed across the screen. Slow-motion shots. Dramatic music. Lena stepping out of a car in designer heels. Another clip. Lena shaking hands with children. Another. Lena laughing during a charity fundraiser. And millions of likes.
The interviewer hurried toward her.
"Miss Luthor, before you go inside—do you have one final message?"
"Just one." Lena smiled politely before looking straight into the camera. "Give me a chance, and I won't let you down."
The internet practically exploded. Even the anchor squealed.
Kara stared at the television, not even realizing she'd stopped eating. Clark noticed.
The cameras followed Lena until she disappeared inside the building.
Something tightened in Kara's chest. A small ache. Ridiculous. She missed her. She missed her in a sick, twisted sort of way. Which made absolutely no sense. They weren't friends. Every conversation they'd ever had had only happened because of the mission. So why did she miss seeing her? Why did everything suddenly feel... quieter?
Kara looked away from the television.
"She's such a spoiled brat," she blurted out.
"Just like you," Kendra muttered before taking another bite of her salad.
"Hey!" Kara gasped dramatically and pointed at herself. "You love that I'm a brat."
"I tolerate you."
"Liar."
"You spent all day pouting because Lena didn't invite you to the gala."
"That is completely unrelated." Kara crossed her arms. "Besides, she invited literally everyone and their mothers, but not me—the person who saved her life. She even invited freaking Jimmy." She paused. Then slowly turned to Kendra. "...Actually... why are you here?"
"'Cause Clark makes amazing breakfasts." Kendra calmly took another bite of salad.
Clark smiled to himself without looking up from the dishes.
Kara rolled her eyes. But the smile slipped from her face the moment she glanced back at the television. The interview was over. Lena was gone. Somehow the room felt just a little quieter.
—
Kara unlocked the front door of the record shop with one hand while balancing a paper bag full of takeout in the other. The little bell above the entrance jingled softly.
Owning a record store had never been part of her life plan.
When she'd turned twenty-one, Clark had insisted she buy something on Earth.
"You need another source of income," he'd told her. "Invest your money. You spend half your life flying across the galaxy. It'll be good to have something that's still here whenever you come back."
At the time, she'd been in the middle of her rebellious phase—the one where she'd done everything possible to avoid Earth. Buying an apartment had felt like admitting this planet was home. Buying a record store, however… That had been different. It gave her somewhere to disappear whenever she returned from space. Somewhere that belonged only to her.
She hired teenagers to run the place, rotating them every few months before anyone grew too attached or started asking awkward questions about the mysterious owner who vanished for weeks at a time.
It was her sanctuary. Even Krypto understood that.
Somehow she'd managed to teach the world's most hyperactive superdog that the record shop was sacred ground. Most days he stayed quietly in the back room. The only problem was when he decided a customer looked suspicious. Which was exactly why Kara always locked the shop whenever she visited.
She flicked on the lights. Warm light spilled across rows upon rows of vinyl records.
She smiled.
The smile lasted exactly three seconds.
"...What the fuck are you doing here?!"
Lena Luthor looked up from the listening couch in the center of the shop as if she'd been expected. She was wearing a fitted black dress beneath a long fur coat, paired with sleek stiletto heels. Crossing one elegant leg over the other, she barely looked up before speaking.
"Looking for an album." A beat. "Duh." Then she casually returned to browsing through the crate of vinyl records beside her.
Kara slowly shut the front door behind her, still completely thrown off.
"How did you know I was going to be here?" she muttered.
Lena blinked.
"Well..." She gestured vaguely around the shop as she stood. "The business is registered under Kara Zor-El."
Right. Kara had forgotten about public records.
"I really need to start thinking these things through."
"Totally," Lena agreed absentmindedly, picking up a CD from the counter.
Before Kara could answer, a white blur shot out of the back room.
"Krypto—!"
Too late. The superdog launched himself straight at Lena.
"Oh, shit!"
THUD.
Lena disappeared beneath seventy pounds of overexcited Kryptonian dog.
"Krypto!" Kara rushed over. "Krypto, off!" She grabbed at his collar, trying to pull him away. The dog ignored her completely.
Instead, he enthusiastically licked Lena's entire face. Lena burst into laughter. Not nervous laughter, a real, wholehearted laughter.
"Oh my God..." she breathed, laughing as she sat down on the floor with the enormous dog sprawled across her lap. Krypto licked her again. "I thought I was a cat person..." She kissed the top of his head before wrapping both arms around him in a tight hug. "...but I think I can make an exception." Krypto barked happily, his tail wagging hard enough to rattle the shelves.
Kara stopped. She'd expected screaming. Panic. An injured arm. Maybe even a lawsuit.
Instead...
Lena scratched behind Krypto's ears exactly where he liked it. The dog practically melted.
"...Seriously?" Kara muttered.
Krypto immediately rolled onto his back.
"He's adorable." Lena looked up at Kara with the biggest smile she'd ever seen. It left the Kryptonian momentarily breathless.
For some reason watching Lena laugh with Krypto loosened something inside her. Krypto had excellent instincts. If he adored someone this quickly… Maybe—
No.
She wasn't going there.
Eventually, Kara managed to drag the dog off her.
Krypto immediately shoved Kara a little too enthusiastically from behind.
"Whoa—"
She stumbled forward. Lena caught her effortlessly by the waist before she could fall. For a second neither of them moved. Kara looked up. Lena was already looking at her, way too close, one hand slowly caressing her waist.
"...Thanks," Kara whispered.
"My pleasure," Lena murmured, her voice low and teasing.
Krypto barked proudly, clearly convinced he'd orchestrated the entire thing. Kara stepped back, clearing her throat.
"You did that on purpose." Krypto barked again. "I know that bark." He barked louder. "You are absolutely grounded." He sneezed.
Lena laughed again.
God.
Her laugh was unfair.
Once Krypto had finally settled down—still leaning against Lena's leg—she glanced around the store.
"So..." She ran a finger absentmindedly along one of the shelves. "I'm actually looking for something."
"Oh?"
"Do you have Ecclesia by Naika?"
Kara blinked.
"I've... never even heard of them."
Lena turned dramatically, looking genuinely offended.
"I'm disappointed."
"But..." Kara pointed toward the back room. "I'll see if I have a copy."
She disappeared behind the shelves. For some reason, she suddenly felt strangely determined to find that record. She zipped through the storage room at super speed, scanning every box in seconds. When she finally spotted it, she let out a relieved sigh.
A few minutes later, she returned holding up the record triumphantly.
"Got it."
Lena accepted it carefully, admiring the cover. Their fingers brushed for only a second. A tiny spark shot through both of them.
"I owe you," Lena said as she paid for it. "It's one of my favorite albums."
"Favorite song?"
"Soleil."
"And yours?"
Kara rested her elbows on the counter.
"My favorite album is Parallel Lines."
"Blondie?"
"Mhm."
Lena hugged the record against her chest and smiled.
"I can see that."
"You can?" Kara tilted her head.
"You have excellent taste," Lena clarified.
"I do," Kara replied with an unapologetically smug grin.
Lena chuckled softly. Then her eyes drifted to her watch. Her smile faded.
"Fuck. I have to go."
"What?" Kara straightened instinctively. She didn't want Lena to leave.
"I actually came here for another reason." She reached into her handbag and pulled out an elegant black envelope sealed with gold wax. Sliding it across the counter, she smiled.
"What's this?"
"My invitation."
Kara frowned.
"To the gala?"
Lena nodded. Kara did her best to hide the excitement blooming inside her.
"I'm not officially part of the Justice League," Kara said awkwardly, almost as if apologizing.
"I know." Lena smiled.
"And as much as I love the way you look in that suit..." Her eyes traveled slowly over Kara. "...I'm not inviting Supergirl." She held Kara's gaze, azure met sapphire. "I'm inviting Kara Zor-El." Silence settled comfortably between them.
Then Lena crouched one last time beside Krypto. She kissed the top of his head. Standing again, she brushed an imaginary speck of dust from her coat.
"I should go." She reached the door.
Paused. Looked back over her shoulder. Their eyes met once more.
"I'll be keeping my eye on you, Moonshine."
Then she was gone. The little bell chimed softly as the door closed behind her.
Silence returned.
Kara stared at the door for several long seconds, her heart beating far harder than it should have. Then she looked down at Krypto.
"Traitor." She gasped dramatically. "That kiss was supposed to be for me." Krypto looked up at her, tail wagging, before tilting his head in complete confusion.
"You seriously like her that much?" He barked once. Then trotted over to the front door, sat down, and stared at it expectantly. As if waiting for Lena to come back.
Kara sighed.
"Yeah." A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips."...I kinda get it."
—
Kara sat cross-legged on her bed with a makeup palette balanced on one knee while Krypto sprawled across the blankets behind her, snoring loudly enough to rattle the room. Eclesia by Naïka played softly in the background.
Out of curiosity, Kara had decided to listen to the album. It wasn't exactly her kind of music, but it was beautiful. She understood why "Soleil" was Lena's favorite—it was a gorgeous love song. Her own favorite, however, was definitely "WHAT A DAY!".
Her space communicator chimed. Without even looking, Kara answered. She already knew who it was.
The screen lit up with Ruthye.
"Hey, troublemaker." Kara smiled immediately.
Ruthye's hologram appeared. She looked happier and more relaxed than usual. Behind her was what looked like a workshop inside a garage, illuminated by warm amber lights.
"Look, Kara!" Ruthye announced proudly, lifting something almost as tall as herself. "I made a... ka..." She frowned. "...What was it called again?"
Kara laughed the moment she saw the sword.
"Katana."
"Yeah!" Ruthye beamed. "A katana!" She proudly raised it above her head with both hands.
It wasn't perfect. The proportions were slightly off, the guard was asymmetrical, and the handle wrapping was uneven.
It was also incredibly impressive.
"You made that from memory?"
"I only had the picture you sent me!"
Kara's expression softened. Ruthye had decided to follow in her father's footsteps, learning to forge weapons so she could sell them and help support her aunt.
"That's really impressive."
"I'm proud of it," Ruthye grinned.
"I'm proud of you."
The little girl's smile somehow grew even wider. Someone shouted something unintelligible in the background.
"You should go," Kara said.
"I know." Ruthye hesitated. "...Miss you."
Kara's smile faltered for only a moment.
"I miss you too."
"I'll call next week!"
"I'll hold you to that."
The call ended.
For a few seconds, Kara simply stared at the dark screen. Then she switched it off and went back to applying her eyeliner.
Clark walked past her bedroom, then took a few steps back and leaned against the doorframe.
"So..."
"What?" Kara met his eyes through the mirror.
"What are you doing?"
Without missing a beat.
"Doing my makeup so a woman can ruin it later."
Clark blinked.
"..."
"..."
"I did not need to hear that."
"You asked." Kara continued blending her eyeshadow, a wicked smile tugging at her lips.
"You could've just said you were going out."
"I am going out." She smirked.
Clark folded his arms.
As Kara reached for her lipstick, her gaze landed on the elegant black envelope bearing Lena's seal.
"Oh, by the way..."
Clark immediately disliked that tone.
"Lena invited me to the gala."
Silence.
"Of course she did," Clark sighed.
"...You're not going to tell me I can't go?" Kara asked, watching him carefully through the mirror.
He actually thought about it. Then he slowly shook his head.
"No."
"No?" turned around surprised.
"I'm not going to stop you."
"Because you know I'd do it anyway." Kara raised an eyebrow.
"...Yeah."
Clark rubbed the back of his neck.
"Just... be careful." A pause. "And don't do anything stupid."
Kara looked back at the mirror. A slow grin spread across her face.
"No promises."
—
Two hours later.
The nightclub pulsed with music loud enough to shake the walls. Colored lights flashed over hundreds of dancing bodies. Kara had already lost count of how many strangers had asked for her number. She escaped outside with a drink in her hand.
The cool night air felt heavenly. She leaned against the wall. Finally, peace.
A gust of wind brushed past her, carrying someone's scent. Kara barely looked up. Then she froze. She would recognize that scent anywhere: Chanel No. 5, coffee, old books, wood.
"Lena?" She looked up. Lena was halfway across the street when she heard her.
Lena turned around and walked slowly to her.
"Supergirl," Lena replied, sounding slightly tense despite her attempt to hide it.
"Kara," she corrected.
A smile tugged at Lena's lips.
"What are you doing in this neighborhood?" Kara asked as she walked closer.
"Visiting a friend." Lena tilted her head. "What about you?"
Kara casually gestured toward the nightclub.
"Just partying."
"Mhm."
The silence stretched comfortably between them. Finally, Kara cleared her throat.
"Do you want to grab a drink?"
Lena's smile softened. She stepped closer. Close enough for Kara to catch the faint scent of tobacco beneath her perfume. Instead of answering, Lena slowly lifted a hand. Her fingertips brushed Kara's cheek. Then her jaw. Her neck. Her collarbone. The center of her chest. Her fingers lingered over Kara's sternum for the briefest moment before trailing lightly over the fabric covering her upper abdomen.
Kara completely forgot how to breathe.
"Maybe another day." She said it almost as if it pained her to turn down the offer. Then disappeared into the darkness.
Kara remained rooted to the spot long after the sound of a motorcycle had faded into the distance. Absentmindedly, she touched the places where Lena's fingers had lingered.
"Fuck it."
Without thinking, Kara followed her.
—
The city changed quickly. Bright downtown streets gave way to cracked sidewalks. Abandoned warehouses. Graffiti-covered walls. Broken streetlights. The kind of neighborhood Lois constantly warned people to stay away from.
The motorcycle came to a stop outside an old garage.
Kara landed silently on a nearby rooftop.
Lena removed her helmet, letting her curls tumble freely around her shoulders.
Kara hadn't seen her with her hair down since the day of the accident—the day they'd first met.
Lena pushed a garage door open and stepped inside.
Gone was the polished CEO. No designer heels or immaculate hairstyle. Not even makeup. Just black boots, dark jeans and a worn leather jacket. She looked different. Softer on the edges, with a cooler. Real. Younger. For the first time, she actually looked twenty.
Kara knew that Lena wore her makeup in a specific way to look older and more intimidating so that the people she worked with would respect her.
"...Huh."
Kara couldn't stop staring. She liked this version of Lena far more than she probably should.
Inside the garage, metal clanged. Someone moved. Heavy footsteps approached. A man emerged from the shadows. Tall, broad-shouldered, bright blue hair matching his painted nails, his whole body was tatted up. Both forearms stained with grease.
The instant he heard movement outside, he drew a pistol.
Kara immediately tensed, ready to throw herself between him and Lena. Heat gathered behind her eyes.
One more second.
The garage light illuminated Lena. The man's expression instantly relaxed.
"Boss." He holstered the gun.
“Gabriel, mon cher." (“Gabriel, my dear”) Lena opened her arms invitingly. The two hugged tightly, patting each other's backs with enough force to make Kara wince.
"I missed you," Gabriel said. “I thought you’d forgotten about me.”
"I would never." Lena laughed quietly. "Missed you too, Gabriel."
Kara relaxed. So… Not a threat. Good.
"Do you have it?" Lena asked as they pulled apart.
Gabriel walked to the far side of the garage, where something sat beneath a large tarp. He pulled it away. A black convertible Mustang. Kara recognized it immediately. It was the car from the accident.
"Oh my God, Gabriel." Lena playfully punched his chest. "You made it look brand new." She gently ran a hand along the polished bodywork.
"Anything for you, boss." Leaning against another car, Gabriel pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He lit two. "Want one?"
Lena smiled mischievously. She sat beside him and accepted one. Taking a long drag, she leaned her head back and slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke.
Hot.
Girl... focus.
"You have no idea how much I fucking missed this," Lena sighed, closing her eyes as the smoke curled around her.
Gabriel took another drag but didn't smile. His expression had turned serious.
"I checked your car." He idly spun his pistol in one hand.
"And?" Lena exhaled another stream of smoke.
Gabriel set a damaged brake line on the workbench.
"They cut your brakes."
Silence.
Even the cigarette stopped halfway to Lena's lips.
"...What?" She coughed.
Gabriel pointed at the severed line.
"Clean cut."
Lena stared at it.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive."
Kara's stomach dropped.
Someone had tried to kill her.
The realization hit like a punch. Then something hot, protective, and horribly familiar bloomed inside her chest. It was the exact same feeling she'd had when Krem aimed his rifle at Krypto. The same instinct she'd felt every time someone with bad intentions came too close to Ruthye. Whoever had done this— she wanted to find them. Immediately. Her hands clenched into fists before she even realized it.
What is happening to me?
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A/N: Next chapters are going to be from Lena's pov FINALLY. I love Kara, but I'm so excited to show Lena's world hehehe. Anything you're excited/would want to see in the future? Anything related to the series can be found in the #|: I'm your biggest fan I'll follow you until you love me :| tag on my blog <3
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