Edge of Reason, Ch. 2
I made it a two-shot. I didn’t want to spend much time on it, with so many other projects going on, so it’s a little rough, but I hope you like it anyway.
“Let me go!”
Kara clenches her eyes shut against the echo of Lena’s call in her ears. In her arms, Lena is shaking, and though her skin is chilled to the touch, Kara knows it has nothing to do with the tremors. Not when Lena sobbed against Supergirl less than an hour ago. Not when Kara’s own heart pounds in her chest like she’s still trying to fly an entire C-130 with one hand-- with far more precious cargo dangling from the other.
“Are you okay?” Kara doesn’t loosen her grip to ask. Lena’s chin digs into her shoulder as she nods. “Don't just tell me what you think I want to hear, I mean it--”
“No, really,” Lena assures her, pulling back with a hasty sniffle. Her hands run lightly down Kara’s arms, until their hands meet. “I’m fine, I swear. Supergirl was there; she saved me. Again,” she adds with a thin laugh.
Kara can’t join in. She can't even bring herself to smile. Her palms tingle where Lena’s hands rest in hers. Searching Lena’s features, she sees relief, and weary gratitude overlaying a shadow of something darker-- the same something that flashed across her features just before being sick next to the reservoir. She can't put a name to it, and one look is enough to tell her Lena doesn't have the energy to discuss it.
Throwing her arms around Lena again, Kara squeezes her tight. “The next time you decide to take on a homicidal maniac on your own-- just let me know, okay?”
Lena laughs again, and melts against her. Kara holds the embrace as long as she can, until Lena pulls away muttering something about a shower. Twenty minutes later, the water still hasn't turned on, and Kara fearfully checks on her to discover Lena dozing in the middle of her bed, only half undressed. On silent feet Kara carefully covers Lena with the blanket that usually lives at the foot of Lena's bed. She freezes when Lena’s fingers reach up and curl around her hand.
Lena doesn’t speak. She only looks up at Kara with sleepy eyes that don’t quite focus in the dark but drift shut when Kara murmurs softly, “I’m right here.”
She should pull away. Kara should reclaim her hand when she hears Lena’s heart rate even out into peaceful sleep. They’re friends, but not friends like this. Not watch-you-sleep friends. But Kara can’t bring herself to break the connection. She carefully sits on the floor by the side of the bed and closes her eyes against the sudden tears that gather. As her own exhaustion catches up with her, Kara lets Lena’s soft grip blot out the sound of the wind and Lena’s voice in her ear.
Let me go!
“No,” Kara breathes. She won’t let go.
Not this time.
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