#Kara’s learned her lesson not to interrupt Lena anymore

[unnaturalceilings]

POV: you tried to insult Lena Luthor and her superpowered girlfriend showed up like this

[trashpandato]

Heist

It’s been three weeks since The Incident.

Kara eyes Lena suspiciously across the table. She’s not sure she can trust her, not anymore. Too much has happened. Lena, for her part, appears completely unaffected. She’s her usual self around Kara, complete with soft smiles, reassuring, if maybe more frequent little touches, while talking to Kara about her day, asking about her movie preference for the evening or other mundane topics. The facade is almost perfect.

Almost. There are small indications that maybe Lena senses that Kara knows, like her sideways glances at Kara when she thinks she isn’t paying attention, or moments when Lena’s demeanor seems almost too relaxed to be real.

But other than that, Lena’s good at this, at pretending that everything is fine between them. Kara has to admit that it’s well done, imagines that it’s a result of her upbringing with the Luthors, of having to pretend a lot to keep herself safe. It makes Kara ache for Lena, but then, then she remembers.

“Are you okay?”

Lena’s voice pulls Kara out of her head. She glances up to find a pair of concerned green eyes flitting across her face.

“Sure,” Kara hums, her mind still focussed on cataloging all of Lena’s little tells.

“It’s just,” Lena starts, stops, and then starts again, “I feel like you’ve been a bit preoccupied with something lately. Not fully present.”

And that, well, Kara didn’t exactly expect Lena to ask such a direct question. It doesn’t leave her much of a choice but to address the elephant in the room, call Lena on the charade she’s been engaged in for the last three weeks.

“Preoccupied is one way of putting it,” Kara replies, her tone chilly.

She watches as Lena shifts next to her on the couch, a deep frown on her face.

“You can talk to me about anything, Kara. Whatever’s bothering you, I’m here.”

“Whatever is bothering…are you serious right now?”

Lena must sense Kara’s growing agitation. She holds out both hands, palms up in a gesture of surrender.

“Just tell me what’s going on. Whatever it is, we can figure it out.”

Kara takes a deep breath. She can hear Lena’s heartbeat picking up speed, can see a light sheen of sweat on her forehead. She seems genuinely confused and concerned.

“Do you really not know?”

Lena shakes her head. “No. What’s going on? Did something happen at the Tower? Is it…is it Lex? Did he somehow figure out how to come back?”

The way Lena’s voice wobbles at this last question pierces Kara’s resolve. Whatever is happening between them, The Incident, none of that matters all that much when she sees the budding panic in Lena’s eyes. She reaches out to grab Lena’s hands, wanting nothing more than to reassure her.

“No, no. It’s not that. You’re safe, okay? I don’t, I mean, I wouldn’t have made it back from the Phantom Zone without you. I don’t think he can come back, ever.”

Lena seems to relax a little at that, but her features are still full of worry.

“Okay, then, what’s wrong? Because something is clearly very wrong. Did I, have I upset you somehow? Because if I did, then—”

Kara interrupts her then. “You stole the last potsticker!”

There are a few seconds of silence and Kara isn’t sure if the lack of reaction is Lena’s attempt to pretend she doesn’t remember. 

But then:

“What?”

“You stole the last potsticker. When we got an extra order from Mr. Chu’s. I know you did, because you were the only other person here with me.”

Lena leans back slowly, her hands falling into her lap as her head tilts to the side.

“Mr. Chu’s. That was…that was last month.”

Kara nods. 

“So you’ve been, what, mad at me for weeks?”

“I mean, not mad mad, exactly,” Kara mumbles. Now that they’re talking about it out in the open, it feels like an odd thing to hold a grudge over. “But, you did steal it. Don’t deny it.”

“Oh I’m not denying it at all. If you say I did, then I’m sure it’s true. I just, you always share your food with me. I didn’t think potstickers were exempt from that somehow. But I promise it won’t happen again. Lesson learned. All potstickers are yours from now on.”

Lena’s tone is firm, clear, and Kara can see that she means every last word. But that’s not actually what she wants.

“No, I mean, we can, we can still share.”

At that, the confusion on Lena’s face is back in full force, and Kara shakes her head a bit to clarify.

“We can share. I just, I like having the last one for myself. It’s, I know it’s weird, but it’s sort of a thing with me. It’s, um, Alex used to steal my food all the time when we were kids. She, she didn’t particularly like me when I first got to Earth. Stealing my food was one of the ways she knew she could get under my skin. And I guess sometimes I still sort of feel like that weird alien kid who no one understands.”

Kara trails off then. She wants to explain more, to tell Lena that she knows it’s stupid, and she knows she overreacted maybe. But when Lena gathers her hands in her own and runs her thumbs across Kara’s knuckles, all of Kara’s words get stuck in her chest.

“You don’t have to explain. I get it.”

“You do?”

Lena’s smile is a little crooked then, but she nods. “I was the weird kid in a large mansion, remember? I know I have a few odd habits that are all about, well, trying to no longer be that kid. I get it.”

And of course she does. Kara feels even stupider now. She looks down at their linked hands.

“I’m sorry I got mad.”

But Lena shakes her head. “No. It’s okay to get mad. Just maybe, maybe tell me right away next time? Stewing and brooding is sort of my thing, not yours.”

Kara huffs out a laugh, but when she looks up at Lena, she sees only love and understanding.

“Okay. I promise.”

[superredcorp]

It was Defence against the Dark Arts Class in Hogwarts. The Hufflepuffs and the Slytherins were joined together in this class which was led by Professor Cat Grant. As soon as the students had all gathered in the classroom, she announced the day's subject: Boggarts. Most students, who knew what they were, got a little nervous. And as soon as Professor Grant explained the basics about the creatures, the remaining ones got flustered and uncomfortable as well. No one liked to openly present their fears. No one wanted to feel that vulnerable. However, it was nothing that was up to discussion and the students knew better than to protest in Professor Grant's class. So they did as they were told and collected in the room, in front of a big closet which was already rumbling.

"Now, remember the spell. Riddikulus. Yes, it sounds ridiculous, we've heard the joke before, it's nothing original. Chip chop.", Professor Grant said. "You, the girl who's name I can't remember, you go first."

A Hufflepuff girl shrieked a little when the teacher's finger pointed at her. She gulped and stepped forward. She seemed to be trembling. "Wand at the ready. I'm going to open the closet now. Riddikulus. One, two, three.", she opened the door and a whirling shadow came out. It swirled around until it formed the shape of a spider which was the size of a big dog. The girl stared at it, mortified. Then suddenly her eyes showed determination, she lifted her wand and yelled "Riddikulus!"

The spider slipped and landed on it's back, long legs high up in the air - with grapes starting to form on them like grape vines. A few students laughed and the girl let out a relieved giggle.

"Good. Next one.", Professor Grant said.

One by one the students went forward, facing their nightmares - from wild mystical creatures to bad grades.

"Alright.", Professor Grant said, looking around. "Miss Luthor, you're up next."

On the other side of the room, Lena was standing with crossed arms, leaning against a desk. When she heard her name, she looked up and raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, no. I'm not doing that."

"Oh, you are. You may think you're too good for this class, Miss Luthor, but it is a lecture and it is obligatory. So, unless you want to meet with the headmaster..."

Lena scoffed. But one more look at Professor Grant's stern face and she faltered. She rolled her eyes. "Fine."

A few feet away, Kara stood with her two friends: Winn, who was a Hufflepuff as well and Mon-El, who was in Slytherin like Lena. Kara had spent some more time with Lena the past couple of weeks and they had grown closer. Kara was the only one really trying to make a connection with her. And she'd always been very compassionate and attentive. That's why she was the only one in the room who noticed the quiet tremble in Lena's voice when she caved or the way she took her steps to the front rather hesitantly, through she tried to appear tough. Lena seemed to know what was going to come out of that closet - and she was really scared of it.

"One, two, three.", Professor Grant counted and opened the closet door once more. This time the Boggart took its time. It didn't come out as a wild whirl of blackness ready to transform. Instead it stayed in the pitch black of the closet. Then suddenly, a hand grasped the frame of the door. A foot stepped out, wearing heels. The rest of the body followed slowly, anticipation building up.

It was a woman, wearing nice clothes and an evil expression on her face. Kara recognized her instantly and her eyes widened. She recognized her from the Daily Prophet's articles. And others did too because whispers and murmurs interrupted the silence in the room.

"Wait, guys. Isn't that...?", Winn hushed.

"It's Lillian Luthor. Lena's mom.", Kara mumbled, concerned.

Lena was frozen on the spot. She stared at her mother - or the boggart disguised as her mother. Who now started talking. "You are a disappointment, Lena. Your father never should have brought you here. You ruined everything. You are a disgrace. Pathetic. Useless."

Behind her suddenly another figure came out, joining her hateful speech. It was her brother. Lex Luthor. "Worthless. Your real mother is better of dead. You would have been such a disappointement to her. It would be no surprise if she got herself killed on purpose. So she would be rid of you."

Lena had meanwhile dropped her wand. Her hands covered her ears, trying to block them out. Hot tears streamed down her face. No one was whispering anymore, everyone gaped with their mouths open in shock. Even Professor Grant was speechless for once. She obviously hadn't expected this.

Kara couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't bare seeing Lena like this, couldn't bare hearing all those terrible things that the boggart was still spouting at her with an endless amount of shame, anger and hate. She stormed forward, running past her classmates and slid in front of the young Slytherin, who was whimpering heartbreakingly desperate, with her arms spread wide, in a protective stance.

Her eyes narrowed. She knew what was coming but she was prepared. The boggart started swirling and forming new for it's new opponent. Soon enough, it had finished it's transformation. Kara released a shaky breath as she stared her worst fear in the eye.

Death Eaters. Death Eaters who broke into her home when she was just a child, who killed her family for being muggleborns and squibs, who made her an orphan. She may have gained a new family in the Danvers' and she loved them, loved the sister, Alex, she got out of it but the trauma of what happened still cut her deep. Her whole world had been taken from her in that night, in that moment.

Kara raised her wand and screamed "Riddikulus!", directing all her anger and pain towards them. The force hit the boggart so hard that it, or well they, flew back into closet which fell backwards and shut close. Kara breathed heavily. Then she quickly turned around to see how Lena felt but she had to find that she was gone. Kara scanned the room, seeing her run out of the door just in that second. Without second thought, she took off after her.

She ran across the corridors of the castle, looking around, trying to find the Luthor girl. Finally, she found her, sitting against a wall, her legs close to her chest, her arms wrapped around them and her head buried between her knees. Kara came closer, slowly and kneeled down in front of her. She eyed her carefully. By the movement of Lena's shoulders, she could tell that she was crying. Kara gently touched Lena's arm. The Slytherin's head shot upwards, rapidly trying to brush away the tears but failing rather miserably.

She sniffled, looking down at her hands. After a few seconds of silence between them, she said quietly: "You must think I'm pathetic."

Kara's eyes widened. "Why would I think that?"

Lena gave a devastated, dark chuckle. "My greatest fear is my own family. I'm a Luthor, my fear should be muggleborns touching me or not being able to learn dark magic. I'm going to be the laughing matter. Why did you even help me back there? They're gonna take it out on you too."

"Don't say that.", Kara said softly. "You're not like your family. You're good. You are a brilliant, kind-hearted, beautiful soul. No one can take that away from you. I believe in you. That's why I helped you... You're my friend."

Lena looked up at her. There was so much pain in her eyes. But also hope and gratitude. "Thank you, Kara. Really. I... I don't know how to thank you."

"You don't have to thank me. Not for that.", Kara smiled. She scooted around her and sat down next to Lena, putting her arm around her and pulling her close. "I will always protect you. And I will always be here for you. I promise."

BONUS SCENE

It had been an hour since the incident in Defence against the Dark Arts class. Kara hadn't left Lena's side since then. They had a free period afterwards anyway so this was easy to do. Soon enough class would start again though and they didn't share the same one there. So Kara wanted to at least spend the rest of their free time together. At one point, Winn came running towards them. They had found a secluded space where no one else was, to talk without anyone listening or staring. "There you are, guys! I've been looking for you!", he said.

"Is something wrong, Winn?", Kara asked worriedly.

"No. Well, actually, um. I just wanted to see how Lena was feeling.", he stammered, fidgeting with his fingers.

Lena frowned. "Well, that's nice but... you don't even know me."

"I know! But I- well, I-", he began, sighed and looked at the ground. Then he sat down and started again. "Look, I... I know how you're feeling."

"I doubt that.", she said, with a raised eyebrow.

"No, really, I-", he sighed again. "When you two ran off, Professor Grant interrupted the lesson. That's why I didn't get my turn to face the boggart. But I still know what shape it would have taken. I know how you feel because... because I know what it's like to be scared of your parent. The boggart would have turned into my dad."

Kara and Lena blinked a few times, uncertain if they'd heard correctly. "Really?", Kara asked sadly.

Winn nodded, looking down at his hands. "My... my father is also in prison. Regular prison because he's a muggle. When he found out that my mom's a witch, he... he lost his mind. He killed six people."

"Oh my god, Winn, I had no idea.", Kara exclaimed, reaching over to touch one of his hands. Winn let out a sad chuckle: "Yeah, well, it's not really something I go around bragging about. I didn't want anyone to think less of me."

"No one would do that!", Kara was quick to respond.

"Are you sure?", Winn returned with a question. "Because I'm not."

"There's always people who will judge you for your family's mistakes. I'm proof.", Lena said bitterly. She looked over at Winn. "Why did you say something now?"

The boy shrugged. "I guess, I just... I wanted you to know you're not alone... with that feeling. That there's someone who gets what you're dealing with."

"That's... that's very considerate and... very nice of you. Thank you.", Lena said, a small, shy smile forming on her lips.

Winn smiled back. As did Kara who started clapping. "Hey, look, now you have two friends!"

Lena laughed and the other two joined in. And Lena did feel better, included, happy. She had friends. Well, she had a friend and... and she had Kara because she couldn't quite call Kara a friend. She embodied so much more than that. She wasn't just her friend, she was her hero.