Author's Note: Hello! I started this cause I immediately shipped Lena and Kara, even more so when Lena gives Kara the positive feedback she needed to 'take the plunge'. If you read this and enjoy it, please send a review my way, it would make my day...unless you're uncouth. Don't be uncouth.

The Power of Encouraging Sentiment

Part I: A New Era

Crescent wrenches were never Lena's favourite tool, but here she was, using one to unscrew a nut that had begun to irritate her. Because of course there was a bolt in the modern art piece that Charlene had requested be put in front of Lena's office. And in Charlene's defense, the rest of the piece was fine, but the nut on the bolt just threw off the whole thing for her. It just mucks everything up. Wow, maybe I did spend too much time in Ireland, my vernacular certainly hasn't adjusted to being back in the States.

"She's doing it again," Charlene whispered to Justin as they watched their boss fiddling with the art installation from the far end of the hall. They were in a temporary business office, while the construction crews finished stabilizing L Corp.'s actual building.

"Lady Luthor hasn't messed with that sculpture before," Justin pointed out distractedly he finished with his coffee.

"I think meeting with Clark Kent and his assistant messed her up." Charlene said, barely above a whisper.

Justin raised an eyebrow, "Kent? I doubt it, did you see that little nerd?" Charlene took a moment to frown at Justin, who stood well over six feet tall.

"He isn't little to us normal folk, and her accent has been a bit more, Irish since his visit last Thursday. He also wrote the piece that swayed the jury to convict Alexander." Charlene's voice hadn't risen in volume, but she wasn't as petrified since at the end of the hall, Lena Luthor had re-entered her office. Then the thought about it for a moment, "He also wrote that article that basically made her a hero, hell, she even shot her own would-be assassin to save some chick she didn't even know."

Justin tilted his head in agreement before deciding the whims and hobbies of Lena Luthor was simply and firmly above his pay-grade to care about. And so Justin walked back to his cubicle. Charlene quickly followed suit, her boss may worry her from time to time, but at the end of the day, she was Lady Lena Bloody Luthor, she'd be fine.

Lena was back in her office now, holding the fruit of her effort, a lone metal nut. What is wrong with me this week? Lena shook her head and sagged down into her chair. I haven't been this unbalanced since Superman sent Alexander away. Or that time when I…oh god. She blushed slightly as she found it in herself to stop denying the revelation…Kara Danvers; the not-reporter was lasciviously on her mind.

"Kara! How'd your date with James go?" Alex asked as she lounged on the couch, sporting a half-full glass of strawberry moscato. The alcohol hadn't really affected the DEO agent yet, but it wasn't unaffecting, either. In fairness, Alex was a lightweight, and it wasn't her first full glass. Kara was in the kitchen, having just climbed into her pyjamas, and waiting for her Nissin noodle bowl to finish cooking in the microwave.

"It was, good," she replied, without really looking Alex's way. Oh no, Alex thought as she turned her full attention to her errant sister.

"Kara…didn't you just eat?" Alex asked, eyeing the steaming noodles that Kara had just removed from the microwave, and were hanging out her mouth while the Kryptonian wore guilty look. She looks like a literal anime character right now with those gigantic eyes. "Ok, I'll let you off the hook for this one." Kara's eyes immediately brightened. "But you've got to tell me, how was your date with James?"

Kara was slurping down noodles at an unreal pace, pleasantly ignoring Alex. "Kara. Now I'm getting worried. What did he think of your choice to become a reporter?" Alex said as she rose from the couch, somewhat unsteadily. It was her lack of sea legs that alerted Kara, but not her words. She set down the empty paper noodle bowl, and streaked over to catch hold of Alex's arm, guiding her back to the couch.

"He wasn't happy." Kara muttered dejectedly. Alex stiffened, she knew there was a reason she didn't take a shine to Olsen like everyone else. "In fairness, I also broke up with him…so there's that." Well, damn. Alex's eyes widened hilariously, which brought a soft chuckle from Kara, but didn't totally erase her muted mood.

"You broke up with him?" Alex asked again, you know, for clarification. Kara, for the first time that evening since her return, met her sister's eyes and nodded resolutely; despite the tears, was no indecision or regret. Kara and James were done, at least romantically.

"I'm assuming there was a particular reason." Alex probed. Kara made a non-committal shrug.

"Well, there's a few, but I know now that my heart isn't in it. I don't think it ever was. I couldn't see him as James, just as the best photographer this side of the Mississippi. And now, I do see him as James, but I don't really want him." Kara let out a long breathe before continuing, "Alex, does that make me a bad person? Because I know that what I want isn't, isn't…" She took a few more breaths to steady herself. Alex, for her part was seeing a new side of Kara, so she stayed silent.

"Alex, I…I'm gay… and I like Lena Luthor." Kara whispered with an intoxicating smile.