#not really it would’ve fucked up my notetaking

[witchofanguish]

god we had an opportunity to be on zoom today and now there are exactly 6 people here in-person. I should’ve just stayed at home lmao

[hartigays]

32: angst, billy is pushing Steve away and then they get into a fight and billy blurts it out

32. “I think I’m in love with you and I’m terrified.”

“what’s wrong with you?”

steve blinks at billy expectantly. billy doesn’t look up, but he does pause his frantic notetaking. there’s a long pause where steve doesn’t get an answer.

and then, “what?”

that sour feeling that’s been churning in steve’s gut for the past few weeks rears its ugly head once again.

“you’ve been acting weird. we need to talk,” steve says quietly.

he has his hands clasped together, resting on the kitchen table before him while he twiddles his thumbs.

billy finally looks up. his face is perfectly neutral, making steve’s stomach sink.

it’s been like this for almost a month now. billy won’t talk to him, and steve is at a loss as to what to do.

at first, he thought billy’s nightmares had come back. but billy has been sleeping through the night like a baby, without incident.

steve then tried to attribute it to school stress. but billy’s taking a light courseload this semester, and seems to have no problem balancing school and work.

so, naturally, steve can only conclude that it’s him. that he’s the problem. he’s been trying to get billy to open up more, to be more comfortable talking about his feelings. to be more open about what’s going on with him.

no such luck.

that being said, it’s making it really hard for steve to understand what’s going on. making it even harder for him to come to any conclusions other than that he’s done something wrong.

he’s been given no evidence to the contrary, even when he’s all but fucking asked billy to give him some. to prove to him that they’re okay. that steve hasn’t somehow ruined this, too. like he has with pretty much everything else in his life.

steve is starting to wonder, very seriously, if this new attitude of billy’s is permanent. and if it is, how much more of it he can take before he breaks.

billy puts his pen down and sits back in his chair. folds his arms across his chest and gives steve a careful, measured look.

“so talk,” he says, gesturing for steve to continue.

steve swallows around the lump in his throat. “you’ve just been...off. i’m just - i feel like i’ve done something wrong. but you won’t talk to me.”

“i talk to you all the time. we’re talking right now,” billy points out, his lips quirking up a little.

it’s frustrating, to say the least. nowadays, billy’s always deflecting, always turning everything into a joke. shutting down and distancing himself.

he’s been through hell, steve knows. but it’s been years, with countless hours of therapy and trauma recovery. and in all other areas of life, billy seems to be thriving.

but not here, not with steve. here, he’s suddenly become withdrawn, distant. the once deep well of careful attention and gratuitous affection he’s always reserved for steve seems to have run dry. everything is a joke now, their conversations shallow and lacking in any real depth.

not to mention, billy doesn’t ever seem to want to talk about the future anymore. about what it holds for them and their relationship. and he keeps himself busy more often than not nowadays, seeming to have all the time in the world for anything other than steve.

steve has just about had enough. billy means the world to him, but he knows better than to stay in a deteriorating relationship just because he doesn’t want to lose someone he loves.

“you know what i mean,” steve sighs, looking up at the ceiling. “look, if you’re not going to talk to me, or at least give me some idea of what’s going on on with you, then i’m - i don’t think i can do this.”

billy’s expression shifts, something like worry now swimming in his eyes. “steve, i was just - i’m kidding. ‘m not being serious.”

“that’s the problem!” steve cries out, throwing his hands up in the air in exasperation. “you’re never serious anymore. i’ve tried to get you to talk to me, to tell me what’s been going on with you, but you just - everything is a joke to you.”

“i didn’t think anything was wrong.”

“god. billy. you’ve been so detached, and distant, and you never talk to me about how you’re feeling or what’s going through your mind.” steve shoves his fingers through his hair, taking a deep breath. “we used to talk to each other. like, really talk to each other. do you remember that at all?”

“steve -”

“i don’t want excuses anymore, billy,” steve cuts him off. he sounds as defeated as he feels. “no more deflecting. no more holding shit back. no more treating this like it’s a joke. like i’m a joke. either you level with me, or i’m gone.”

billy just keeps blinking at him, seemingly frozen in place. steve can see the muscle in his jaw twitching, presumably from how hard he’s grinding his teeth.

“we used to be so happy together,” steve tells him, his voice soft. “everything was perfect. we talked, all the time. about everything. what happened to us? was it something i did?”

more silence. steve wants to just scream, maybe even pull his hair out. beg billy to give him some clue about what changed between them, about what’s making him pull away.

instead, steve waits as patiently as he can for billy to speak. he waits a long time. eventually, when billy still hasn’t spoken, steve looks down at his hands.

tears well up in his eyes and he pushes back from the table, moving to stand and walk away. he’s turning towards the hallway leading to their bedroom with a sniffle, when billy’s hand reaches out to grab his.

“wait, just - i don’t know how - i’m trying, okay?” billy pleads, looking up at steve with those big blue eyes of his. “christ, i’m sorry. i didn’t know i was making you so fuckin’ unhappy.”

billy’s tone has turned rough, accusatory. but steve is used to his defense mechanisms by now.

“i’ve been trying to talk to you for weeks. been trying to get you to tell me what the fuck is up so we can fix it, but you won’t,” steve reminds him, giving him a sad smile. “if you didn’t know, it’s because you didn’t want to.”

steve pulls his hand from billy’s, heading in the direction of their bedroom. he’s just stepped into the hallway when he hears it.

“i think i’m in love with you. and that scares the ever-living fuck out of me.”

it feels like his heart has leapt up into his throat. steve is now the one frozen in place, his whole world tilting. he hears footsteps, then feels billy hovering behind him.

“you what?” steve squeaks, turning to look at him.

“i’m in love with you,” billy repeats, his cheeks tinged red. “and i - it’s fuckin’ terrifying. you make me feel shit i never thought i could before. i just. i needed time, and space.”

steve furrows his brows in concern. takes one of billy’s hands. “i would’ve given you that. you could’ve just told me how you felt, and what you needed, billy.”

“i was...” billy trails off. he fixes his eyes on the wall behind steve. “i guess i thought it’d be easier if i just kept it to myself. in case you changed your mind.”

“changed my mind?” steve asks, tilting his head to the side.

“about me,” billy mutters. he starts to gnaw on his lip. “about us.”

“not a damn thing in this world could ever make me change my mind about you,” steve says immediately, squeezing billy’s hand. “i’m in love with you, too. have been for a while.”

he leans in, pressing a soft kiss to billy’s lips. steve can hear billy’s little sigh of relief when he does.

“and for the record, talking about your feelings is never going to make me change my mind, either,” steve tells him. “telling me how you’re feeling, talking to me about anything that’s on your mind - those things are just going to make me feel closer to you.”

“i’m going to do better,” billy vows. he clutches both of steve’s hands between his, bringing them up to his lips and giving them a soft kiss. “i promise.”

“billy hargove, secret softie,” steve jokes. he presses a lingering kiss to the corner of billy’s mouth.

“only for you, sweetheart.”

it’s a conversation they’ll continue having, but for right now, they’ve said enough. steve feels nothing but relief, and billy feels ten pounds lighter with that weight off of his shoulders.

they both have changes to make, things to work on. but that’s the beauty of finally talking about the things that need to be talked about. they can move forward, make progress instead of constantly moving backwards.

progress takes work, and dedication. but they can and will do it the same way they do everything else.

together.

[chogiwank]

A Year’s Farewell - NonIdol!Jaehyun Smut&Fluff | Part 2

You Can Read Part 1 Here

Word Count: 2,502

Warnings: Smut, Phone Sex, Toy, Sir Kink/Mr.Jung, kinda proofread???

Pairing: Law Major!Jaehyun, Non Idol!Jaehyun x University Student!FemaleReader

A/N: I mean I really hope you guys like this because I’ve been working on this as much as I could since like January oh god and its still probably shit enjoy!!hopefully also side note,, happy birthday to jung jaehyun!! the softest bean and wow im so in love destroy me please

Knock, Knock…

The soft taps on the door caught his attention from sitting on the couch, watching his weekly reruns of ‘Friends’ on Netflix. Standing up to answer the door, checking the time - 10:00PM he wondered who it’d be so late, definitely not recalling order for take-out. Opening the door revealed a female with baggage and bundled up with a jacket to keep her warm,

“Hello,” he kindly greeted the girl, her nose red from the cold outside. “is there anything I can help you with?”

“Hi, I’m so sorry it’s so late but I just came back from a summer trip - I didn’t know if you’d be awake…” She cleared her throat, unwrapping her scarf from her neck and unzipping the jacket.

Jaehyun cocked an eyebrow at her, “You might be mistaken.”

“Uh no, actually I didn't get to fill out the housing form, but I got some luck since your old roommate dropped out so hi, hey, how’s it going, I guess we live together now.” She flashed a smile at him, “I’m Y/N, great to meet you.”

Jaehyun’s ears turned red slightly embarrassed knowing he’d be sharing a dorm with a girl, and even more, realizing the first thing she sees him in is duck pyjamas, “Nice to see you too, let me help you in.”

“Thanks.” She laughed, “love the pyjamas by the way.” teasingly winking picking up her suitcase into the dorm. His ears turn a brighter shade of red, grabbing onto the rest of her bags and dragging them into the vacant bedroom.

“Don’t worry, I won’t be a bother to you for that long,” sliding off her jacket onto the bed. “I’ll be out next semester.”

“Why is that?”

“The apartment I’m supposed to be in is occupied since there was a little mix-up, so the resident will be out by the time the second semester comes around.”

“Oh, okay,” Jaehyun awkwardly laughs. “Well I should be leaving you alone, don’t want to invade your privacy or anything.” Turning around to walk out back to the living space.

“Wait, I saw you were watching Friends, mind if I join you?” Enthusiastically he accepted happily to have someone on his lonely weekly binge. “Alright, just ten minutes and I’ll be there.” That first night the two bonded from strangers to acquaintances over Netflix and junk food, despite the unexpected meeting and ungodly hours of the night, - laughing and getting to know each other just a little, this being the beginning of it all.

Exams, final exams are coming up, all the stress headaches and late night study sessions begun. This was it, this was going to happen sooner or later I knew it, my sanity coming to borderline insanity. The shooting head pains - whether it be lack of sleep or too much studying - making me hallucinate, my brain pulling tricks on me and the fact I was practically alone in the library did not help even a bit. I swear my eyes just made me see Casper the ghost or something near. She thought.

The unreasonable hours she’s been studying late into the night, right now at three (3) AM exactly. Abandoning her workspace to search what she claims to see, calling out ‘Hello’s’ and ‘Anyone? Please answer.’ Turning the corner she’d lost balance bumping into a hard chest -hearing a book’s thump as it hit the ground- her fall halt by a hand grabbing her arm. Opening her eyes she tightly shut expecting to harshly hit the ground, unmasking the mystery of the said ‘Casper,’

“Jaehyun?” He gave an apologetic smile.

“Hey, sorry I scared you.” Helping her upright on both feet. “You were gone so late, I kind of got worried when I got up for a glass of water and you weren’t passed out on the couch with your books.”

She slightly blushed at the male’s concern towards her, “Well I mean, thanks but it would’ve been nicer and less scary if you’d told me you were coming.”

“I know I just didn’t want to disturb you beforehand, guess I should’ve planned it out better.”

“It’s alright, but you really are so pale, you looked like a ghost!” She exclaimed.

“Well how about I just changed my skin to orange? Less frightening?”

“That’s appalling.” The two laughing in unison as they gather Y/N’s materials and head back to their shared apartment, ready for a best-as-can-be goodnight’s sleep.

And with that, she woke up once again in the library. This time in broad daylight packed with many others.

Oh, it was a dream. The reminisce of when she first developed unknown feelings for Jaehyun, his unexpected kind-heartedness settled a secret warmth within her heart.

She must’ve passed out halfway through reading her textbook and writing notes. Sighing she collects her belongings returning to her apartment. Setting down her backpack and plopping onto the couch - her mind jumbled with thoughts and memories of her boyfriend. - a new year of University begun again and he’d flown overseas for job placement and studies the whole year. One complete year without him and going through school without their weekly night routine of cuddles, kisses and chats. Considering the amount of stress which would sometimes build up, he helped to get rid of it by deep, comforting talks or sensational sex - rough or sweet however she’d preferred. She fathomed what to do in her situation and really all she needed was to see him.

Sending a video chat from her phone, she pleads to all those superior to let him pick up - a smile forming upon her features as his face pops up on screen - her request heard.

“Hey baby, how are you?” He spoke cheerfully, face beaming. His tousled hair and rosy cheeks, visible due to him being barefaced, gave him a gentle look. Oh how badly she’d missed the sight of him, his arms wrapping around her with a soft “hello beautiful” and peck, greeting each other after their long schedules.

“Oh, I’m so sorry were you busy?”

“No, not really I’m just finishing up some notes,” he cleared his throat. “listen, I’m so sorry for not calling.”

“In all honesty, me too, These four (4) weeks have been hectic, I’ve had no time,” a clear voice crack heard. “But at least now we can talk.”

Interrupting his notetaking, he looks at her with eyebrows furrowed, “are you okay?” She shakes her head no. “Babe, talk to me please don’t cry.”

“I-it, it’s just so much workload from school and I haven’t been managing many shifts…”

Jaehyun nods his head, encouraging her to continue as he listens to her bothers,

“So I barely have the cash to buy proper food, it’s just been the cheapest, greasiest fast food I could find. And I…” sniffing as she sobs, tears wetting her cheeks. “I miss you so much. I want you to hold me and come back soon.”

“Listen to me,” Jaehyun speaks sternly. “First off, don’t cry you know how much it pains me when you do.” Deeply inhaling she wipes away her tears, sitting up on the couch and bites her bottom lip. Nodding as she motions him to continue speaking,

“You are so precious, don’t starve. You’ve got my key, I’ve got a good amount of money for you to use-”

“Jae, no, I can’t-”

“Yes you can, what’s mine is yours. Please, stay healthy. It’s in my closet a little safe box behind all my clothes, emergency money.”

“That’s very kind, thank you.” She snuffs cracking a smile, her eyes twinkle from happiness and gratitude towards the boy.

“It’ll be enough for until the end of the semester, then I’ll return, make sure you stay on top of work and studies.”

“Wait…you’re coming back? I thought it was the whole year?”

“Shortened it, I don’t think you’ve noticed but it’s extremely lonely.” His sarcasm compliments his ‘duh’ expression.

“Honestly, I’ve been having the time of my life. Spectacular food, parties, can’t even feel the solitude.” The two giggled. Knowing they’d missed one another’s presence and voices, warm gazes sent to the other through the fluorescent screen. Both sitting in silence as the other virtually accompanied them, the sounds of the clock ticking and unexpected raindrops landing upon the window were the only sounds heard. Flashing silly faces at each other, the two ended in a fit of laughter during their battle,

“You shall never beat me y/n! I am always the winner!” He dramatically poses, mimicking a victory action.

“Never? You’re wrong. Truly so, so very wrong.” Jaehyun raises an eyebrow at her, intrigued by the comment.

“Why may that be?” He questions.

“Because,” she cheekily states. Standing her phone on the coffee table against a small glass decor, settling on her knees. Unbuttoning her top enough to reveal cleavage, smirking at her own actions, “I never lose with these, you give in so quick to me baby.” She innocently bats her lashes. He licks his lips while she continues to unbutton her shirt, her breasts exposed yet covered with her lace bra worn underneath,

“I don’t think this is the best time, y/n.” He gulps, Adam’s apple bobbing up and down, swallowing his saliva from the desire building up.

“Awe, why?” She pouts.

“My roommate, he’ll be back in an hour-” restless eyes flickering to the time on his watch.

“You’ve done me faster,” A bold, mischevious interjection said as her shirt pools on the ground, bra hook unclipped and straps slide down her arms, throwing the undergarment elsewhere. “Please Mr.Jung.” Putting on a show of her exposed breasts on screen. Flaunting them with a little bounce and a little shake, “I’ll be so good.”

Breath hitching in his throat, choking out a fuck it. The sounds of the door locking and his belt unbuckling heard off screen. Sitting back in his seat, he positions his phone on the desk, backing up to have his body in full view,

“I can’t believe you actually affect me this much.” Pulling out his semi-hard cock, pumping the length in an attempt to fully erect. “Baby girl, please you got to cum for sir and make him cum too, okay?”

“Yes, Mr.Jung.” Now positioned on the couch, bottoms off and legs split open in view of the camera, she begins to rub her clit and finger herself. Self-teasing with one finger, with such unexpected pleasure without being touched by Jaehyun for weeks. Her clit erogenous, shivers racing up and down her spine, soft moans of Jaehyun’s name left her mouth, and her’s from his. The two lasted for a while until y/n halts her erotic actions.

“What’s wrong?” he pants, hesitantly slowing down his movements on his cock as she disappears from the screen, silently groaning as the familiar knot fades. Shuffling noises heard in the background until she returns to her previous spot, this time with a hidden item, “Baby girl, what are you up to?”

“I really miss your cock, Mr.Jung, and I really want it, but I can’t…” Picking up her phone, fixating it upon the counter she grabs a nearby chair, “you can punish me later but I really need it.” Sticking a purple dildo on the chair, she gave him a roguish smile - Jaehyun and her never used the dildo much, not unless he wanted to tease her or make her work for her orgasm. In other words, punish her mostly for his own amusement. Although she never touched it, unless an order was given.- her legs centre the dildo to her entrance as Jaehyun breathes out,

“Naughty bitch, I’m going to fuck you senseless when I come back.”

“Please do.” She begs, almost whining.

“That’s a promise.” He says grunting, watching her lower down upon the toy feeling her walls stretch and accidental whimpers release. Speeding up the pace on his length at the sight of his girlfriend pleasuring herself. Moaning out for him, how desperate she really was for him. He whispers her name but loud enough to be heard through the call. Her walls clench around the toy - just like she did with Jaehyun, his moans erupting from his throat every time. - chanting profanities like a prayer, the two came near their highs, Jaehyun being the first to climax. Strings of his cum landing on top his shirt and pants, ruining the two articles of clothing.“Fuck baby girl, you made me ruin my clothes.”

“Mmm.” She lets out a high pitch whine. “S-sorry Mr.Jung.” As she races to find her climax.“Remember the first time, baby girl…” Jaehyun talks through cleaning himself up, simultaneously changing into his pyjamas, preparing for whenever his roommate knocks to be let in and avoiding the thoughts to ravish his girlfriend, controlling his once again developing hard-on. “The first time you came so hard, you squirt on me. Right on your bedroom floor and we had to buy a new rug. That was so sexy, cum like that once more for me.” Her moans a higher pitch from every word he spoke, the familiar twist in her stomach formed. Sweat glistened on her forehead and wet, pornographic sounds of her sliding down the cheap dildo, “Remember all those times I stayed over until the morning and woke you up with my tongue?”

“Yes, yes…” she pant.

“The days we’d both be pissed at our professors or bosses and you’d let me push you against the wall to throat fuck you.”

“Those were really fucking hot…” her head thrown back and fingers rubbing her clit in an eager attempt to release.

“And that one time against your balcony doors, on my birthday. How they’re glass and in clear sight of anyone passing by to-“

“FUCK, YES OH GOD.” She lets out a scream as ecstasy devours her. Thighs trembling from the hard orgasm,  “I remember…” lowering her voice as she calms down. “I remember when we fucked against those doors,” her untidy, sweaty, post-sex appearance covered with a suggestive smirk on her face could bring Jaehyun an instant boner again. He did, usually, it did, but he’d have to control himself now. “That was really the hottest fuck we ever had, and we are doing it all over again when you’re back.” She says with more stable breaths.“Of course-“

Knock, knock!  The sound of the doors alerted Jaehyun,

“I’ll be there one second!” He gave his girlfriend a loving and apologetic smile, “Clean yourself up baby girl, I’m sorry we can’t do round two, but I swear, you will get such a better fuck when I’m back.”

“I’m waiting.” She winked, blowing him a farewell kiss.

And with that, the call ends and y/n makes the utmost effort to clean herself up. Despite her weak legs and heavy eye-lids, her mood was completely different. Definitely still with stress but, a relaxed feeling from the masturbation and her boyfriend.

Anon Asked: Hiii!! love ur work!!! can you pls write a phone call smut with jaehyun (non-idol AU) where you’re really stressed and tired about school or something and you miss him while hes away for smthn and then u call him crying and he talks u down and gets u all loose if u know what i mean lol !! pls and thanks 💕

[uncontinuous]

So there are a lot of villain!Hisashi Midoriya theories going around but consider

RETIRED VILLAIN/VIGILANTE!MIDORIYA INKO:

Actually really doesn’t like heroes

Inko is a villain who no one had any idea or info on

tbh mostly villain by definition

tbh more of a vigilante on the wrong side of the law

was mostly a thief, but also made it known that she was smart and strong enough to be a worst villain

thank your stars she isn’t

What i’m getting at is that she was pretty much a one woman team leverage

she actually started for shits and giggles and mostly because someone had too and then whoops international criminal mastermind

title is actually a group of people  ----> lead theory

wrecked endeavour once in a fight in her early years

sent him cards on the anniversary to fuck with him

suddenly poofs

everyone is terrified it means something big is about to happen

everyone is praying nothing will, and nothing does

actual reason: Izuku is born and wow who would’ve thought she enjoys being a mom more, villainy is boring

settles down in an area which won’t question some of her shoddy paperwork

it’s shoddy on purpose to test the police force here

but no one ever checks up on this

like there is actually no hisashi midoriya

she’s literally described him as a twenty feet tall dragon, come on

spends a week hitting her head against the wall at the blatant stupidity

her quirk is an absolute downplayed lie. it was registered when she first showed it, and she never updated the info on purpose

Izuku: /wants to a be a hero Inko: /smiling on the outside and being super attentive to him Also Inko internally: /softly but with a lot of feeling “What the fuck”

Also Inko: how the hell is my son a hero fanboy @ god EXPLAIN

encourages his analysis notebooks because good strategy and notetaking is a good habit

also sneakily points out holes in weaker plans so that he can come up with better ones

also in case she ever wants to come out of retirement her son’s work is damn good for initial strategy making against responding heroes

she’s so proud of him

she’s glad he’s quirkless because at least he’ll not be a hero

maybe she can get him into the business when he’s older and ready to deal with it

she has so many mother-son heist plans

Izuku: /gets a quirk Izuku: /gets into UA Inko:/ screams internally for a thousand years and goes to hack a govt to feel better

only hasn’t killed All Might yet because it would make Izuku sad

Izuku: /comes home one evening Izuku: Fuck Endeavour Inko: /with proud tears in her eyes, hugging him Inko: you are truly my son

[poppyssupergirl]

The Way You Look at Me

SuperCat Week 3, Day 8: Creator’s Choice

Thank you @the-queen-of-the-light for the beta, again, you are amazing and wonderful <3

You can also read this on AO3

Cat Grant is all sharp lines and rough edges. Years of pressure made Cat hard, much like a diamond. She sparkles and shines, but her smile is predatory instead of genuine. Her buffer is harsh words and harsher glares.

But there was something in her look, something soft, something that reminded Kara of… Alex? Kara didn't really get it.

The lines around Cat's eyes would relax and her shoulders slipped down from their broadened position (she might be tiny, but, Rao could Cat take over a room with just a change of stance). That relaxation usually only happened when they were alone. Sometimes Kara would meet Cat's eyes and that was all it took.

Her heartbeat would slow too, just a tiny bit, but noticeably enough. She'd pace less when Kara was in her office, curse less too.

It wasn't Kara who really noticed first. It was James. He'd request that Kara be there for meetings between himself and Cat. Notetaking, fact checking, whatever fake reason he gave, Cat was always more compliable with Kara around.

Kara would mimic Cat's posture too. Ever adept at blending, she'd reflect Cat's mood. James would say something off just to watch Cat frown and Kara mimic.

It was cute.

Winn never noticed.

But others did. The Director of Sales, Tonya, asked for Kara's assistance with calendar checking in meetings. Though, in all honesty, she just liked the looks Cat would shoot Kara.

All that softness, and Kara would return them, just as soft. Tonya was a sucker for cheesy romances and nothing was more cliched than a boss falling for her assistant. Well, besides the assistant falling right back.

Besides, Tonya liked Kara and hell, if the girl could nab Cat Grant, good for her. And Kara’d watched her kid more than once, she owed her.

So sending Kara a meeting request so she'd be in Cat's office, just to apologize and never show up…? Well, Kara never left Cat's office immediately and Tonya never got in trouble for the dropped meetings.

The mail carrier, Amal, had worked for CatCo for nearly seven years. He'd never seen Cat so… manageable. The 40th floor was never as calm as when Kara Danvers was in the office.

He watched as Kara carefully opened every package near a window. Watched Cat watch Kara when he brought a large package. He knew concern when he saw it.

Kara never noticed those looks from Cat, she was already attempting to pick out any trace smells of chemicals as Amal walked in every day. She didn't X-ray the elevator that often but she didn't want anyone hurt.

Cat always was a tad chippier when Kara brought the mail. That was probably because everyone liked getting mail… right?

Of course, rumors are oft to spread. With every quiet moment the two spent on the balcony, another bet was placed on when they'd get together. Every time Kara and Cat broke the ‘don't touch the boss’ rule, another guess at who would initiate the relationship was passed around the office.

Nobody could agree on which woman would finally cave. Cat wouldn't be caught dead taking advantage of an employee, but Kara… well, she didn't seem particularly adept at taking action.

Hell, Cat said she was leaving and hugged Kara in her fishbowl office! If ever there was a time to act, that would've been it. Tonya even ran up a flight of stairs when she got the text from Claudia from accounting who was in the area by sheer happenstance.

But, apparently, even a teary-eyed “chop chop” didn't kick the girl into gear.

And then Cat left and everyone watched Kara Danvers fall apart.

Until Cat came back. Came back dragging Kara Danvers up to her office where James, not even against his own will, was evicted immediately.

“What the fuck, Kara?”

And Cat is sharp lines and rough edges that Kara has not seen in over three years.

She'd given the girl everything, the keys to the kingdom! She'd put James in charge, someone who'd always be in Kara’s corner, just like she'd promised, and what had Kara done?

She'd thrown it all away because she couldn't find another source! Absurd! Ridiculous! Bullshit!

And these are the words Cat hurled at Kara. Hurled with all her disappointment while The Peons watched through those glass walls. No one took bets, they just waited with bated breath.

“I hold you to a higher standard and you crumble! You are the Girl of Steel! What the fuck happened, Kara?”

And there was the concern. That softness slipping in and everyone could see it but the girl with tears in her eyes.

“Nothing makes sense without you here!”

And she crumbled, the months far too much, and Cat followed because she was diamond hard for everything but her sons and this woman she'd run from.

There, on the couch, it all spilled out. The backs she'd seen over and over, her rock, Alex, finally finding happiness, and the only one still around just a boy with no real love to give.

“Kara, Kara I told you you'd always have a place with me.”

The bets aren't settled then. Kara had a blog to stall on, a contract to sign. An apology to give to a mentor who'd just started to root for her.

And Cat, Cat had a man with a hero complex to straighten out.

“You can be a hero in spandex all you want but not if it comes at the expense of my company!”

No the bets aren't settled then. But later, with the fishbowl doors open and a breeze from the balcony, they're settled in the most unlikely way.

A package from Amal. Oblong and handed over to Cat directly, a minor misstep by the newest assistant.

It reeked of gunpowder when the breeze paused for a moment. But a moment was all Kara needed to slip her hand over Cat's, turn from the glass walls, and cover the small explosion with her body.

Luckily, she was fast enough to the balcony that no one was any wiser to the situation. And it was Tonya who had a lunch meeting with them both.

So it was Tonya who watched both women scamper to the balcony and it was Tonya who ran just in time to watch Kara's lips through the glass.

Lips that said something like, “I'd never let anything happen to you” before they were pulled against Cat's. She watched Cat's fingers tangle in blonde hair and didn't even notice the blackened remains of Kara's shirt front.

How could she when she was so busy snapping photos to send to Claudia?

She walked over just in time to watch Kara's shirt slip from her shoulders and somehow miss the banister railing to flutter off into the breeze. But neither woman seemed to notice and Tonya had money to collect anyway, she could miss out on another meeting.

She'd never gotten in trouble in the past, she certainly wouldn't today.

Because Cat Grant, covered in diamond skin and spiteful words, looked so, so soft wrapped up in Kara Danvers’ arms.