A/N: Hello everyone,
sorry for my long absence once again. Life has a tendency of getting in the way *rolls eyes*
So no big speeches as you've waited long enough ;)
Two things though:
1) Thanks for your continued support and love. It means so much, you really have no idea.
and 2) I want to dedicate this story to my very dear friend Ana, whom I met through another fandom (OUAT) a couple of years ago when I wrote my first SQ fanfic. She's stuck with me ever since.
And I'm beyond grateful for her friendship. She's one of the smartest, funniest and kindest people I know.
She's always supported and encouraged me and it means everything.
So, Ana, this one is for you - because God knows you are one of my heroes.
8 – The Supergirl Squad
Waking up to find Supergirl standing in the doorway of her bedroom, a mug of fresh coffee in hand wasn't something Lena Luthor had thought she'd ever see.
Especially not at 5 am on Christmas morning.
"Kara?"
She blinked repeatedly to clear her sleep fogged brain with little success.
"I'm sorry for waking you this early, but family breakfast starts at six", Supergirl stated apologetically before she crossed the room and put the coffee on the nightstand next to Lena's bed, "I'll be in the living room while you get ready."
"Wait!"
Lena moved into a sitting position, "What should I wear?"
She took the mug and clung to its warmth, realising she had never been in a situation like this before. No one had invited her to their birthday parties growing up and this was so much "worse".
This was Christmas and she would meet all of Kara's friends. And her mother.
Lena had never met the parents either and she had to try really hard not to lose her composure. It wasn't even like that, Kara and her weren't dating or anything, but meeting Eliza Danvers was still a big deal as she was the mother of her only friend.
Unfortunately Kara's amused answer didn't help much either, "Just wear something comfortable."
Something comfortable.
Luthors didn't dress to be comfortable. They dressed to impress, to intimidate.
The last time she had worn something comfortable...well, Lena couldn't even remember when that had been if she was honest.
The whole situation was so bizarre and surreal and Lena Luthor, for all the power she held, felt like an insecure teenager all of a sudden and it irritated her to no end.
And then another thought came to her mind, one that filled her with even more horror.
"What about gifts? I had no idea I would be going anywhere...I have nothing to..."
"Lena..."
"What do you even give to people you don't know and who don't like you", Lena let out a heavy sigh, but before she could continue her rant Supergirl was standing next to the bed, squeezing her arm, "Lena. We don't do gifts. We just spend time together as the big and crazy family we have become. Just get dressed...the one thing that is important is for us not to be late or all hell will break loose."
"Right."
Lena took a big sip of coffee before she got up and it dawned on her that it was already the second time Kara saw her without make up. But this time her hair was probably a mess too.
Great. Just great.
She had been surprised when Kara had told her that a driver was awaiting her as soon as she had entered the living room, dressed and as ready as she would ever be for a family Christmas with people who didn't trust her and probably disliked her altogether. If she was honest Lena had expected to be flown over to the apartment by Supergirl, but she was rather grateful that Kara had been so considerate as she really hated flying with a passion and although she knew that Kara would keep her safe she had been glad that Kara had organised for an alternative way of transport. She wasn't sure if she could have stomached flying with Supergirl that early in the morning, especially considering how nervous she was.
Lena would never admit it, not even over her dead body, that she was completely overwhelmed by the situation. Everything seemed to be so surreal, she couldn't wrap that all too rational brain of hers around it.
Of course Kara was already home by the time she knocked on her apartment door and Lena had to suppress a chuckle when she caught sight of the outfit Supergirl had changed into.
Kara answered the door wearing her pajamas.
Flannel and covered in unicorns.
Furthermore Kara was all goofy and smiles and a delicious smell of waffles and apples and cinnamon wafted from the kitchen.
To Lena's surprise everyone else was already there as well, and in good spirits too as it seemed although it was barely 6 am.
What had her eyebrows shoot up was the fact that everyone was wearing pajamas.
Except for her, of course. She was dressed up to the nines as usual.
Lena closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
She had always been an outsider and some things never changed apparently. Ironically enough she felt alien in this moment and thought about leaving when Kara grabbed her arm and dragged her over to the couch, telling her to sit down while the Danvers girls would finish breakfast.
She did as she was told and shot a sideways glance at the guys sitting there as well, all of them greeting her politely while she barely got a "Hello" over her lips.
Gosh, she was so out of her element.
She might be dressed like a Luthor, but in that moment she felt so incredibly small and insecure and Lena had no idea why nor what she should do about it.
Kara had invited her. Kara wanted her here.
But the others not so much if the tension in the room was anything to go by.
And so Lena just sat and stared at her burgundy dress that ended right above the knee, cursing herself for not owning anything more casual or comfortable as Kara had said.
Winn Schott was engaging in a whispered conversation with that tall, black guy she didn't know the name of and she didn't want to make things more awkward by asking.
God, this had been a bad idea. It had been stupid of her to think that she would fit in somehow when really there was no chance of her ever fitting in anywhere.
She was a Luthor and it condemned her to the solitude she had known all her life.
"Good morning, Miss Luthor."
She hadn't even realised that someone had approached her and when she looked up she met the expecting gaze of...well...she hadn't seen this woman before, but if she were to guess it had to be Kara's foster mother.
"Misses Danvers?"
The woman gave her a small smile, "The one and only."
Lena got up and offered her hand in greeting, "Please, call me Lena."
She half expected for her to decline, but the seemingly kind woman took her hand and shook it, her gaze never wavering, "Doctor Eliza Danvers, but everyone here just calls me Eliza. I'm Alex' and Kara's mother."
"Thank you for having me. I know it can't be easy for you to have a Luthor in the house", Lena answered, understanding the silent threat of 'Don't mess with my girls or else' perfectly fine.
The rest of the living room was silent, all conversations had stopped and even Kara had frozen mid move, obviously debating whether to interfere or not.
Alex only looked at her sister and shook her head 'no'.
"Well, I have to admit I didn't expect it, but you're Kara's friend and her friends are always welcome", Eliza explained matter-of-factly while looking at Winn, James, Mon-El and J'onn.
Lena nodded, "I appreciate it."
Breakfast had went surprisingly well although the tension in the room hadn't really subsided and not everyone had been onehundred percent comfortable in the presence of Lena Luthor, but at least everyone had been polite and respectful, much to Kara's relief.
It was only when Winn stood all of a sudden as soon as the dishes were done that National City's hero paled visibly, the urge to jump up and leave overwhelming all of a sudden.
She had completely forgotten about that. How could she have forgotten about the gifts? Especially since she had talked Winn into it in the first place.
She didn't know what to do, but before she could have acted Winn had already started talking.
Damn.
"Our very own Supergirl..."
Everyone cringed at the mention of Kara's alter ego and glared at Winn while nodding into Lena's direction and he instantly froze while J'onn glared at Kara in disbelief.
"Lena knows", Kara confirmed while a blush crept up her neck, "I told her. It was my choice."
"We'll talk about this later", J'onn grumbled, causing Kara to drop her gaze to the floor for a moment.
God, she was so sick of everyone treating her like a child sometimes. It was her secret, or not so secret, identity. Shouldn't it be her choice whom she revealed it to?
Mind made up she directed her gaze at J'onn, "Later. But Lena is not a threat and I don't want you to treat her like one. She is my friend."
For Christmas' sake the Martian didn't say anything else because the current peace was a fragile and quite unstable concept to begin with and he didn't want to take any of the girl's family time away over something that couldn't be changed anymore. They deserved a moment of undisturbed harmony and bliss.
Lena shifted uncomfortably in her seat, well aware that Kara might be in trouble because of her and their friendship. She should leave. She shouldn't have come to begin with.
But before she could get up Winn continued his explanation, "As I was saying...Supergirl...well, Kara...she asked for my help with...something. As you all know I sewed her suit and she asked me to do something for you guys...and I did."
He unbuttoned his shirt and showed it off proudly. It was a simple looking black turtleneck pullower with a red patch that covered the left side of his chest. The Supergirl crest was stitched onto it with black yarn, right about where the heart was.
"The material is a new invention of the army...Lucy got it for me, but she wouldn't reveal any details as it's top secret", he chuckled, "It shields you from fire and minimizes stab wounds as well as bullets. It's not bullet proof by any means, but it slows them down quite a bit, so the wounds would most likely only be superficial if you were to get hit. The red patch is a part of Kara's baby blanket. Her cape would have been too long, so we had to cut it and we saved the rest, sure we could make us of it eventually and now we did. You all know her cape is bullet proof so this means that your hearts will be safe and protected at all times as long as you wear this...we all know a shot to the heart would most likely be fatal otherwise."
Kara stood up, "You are my friends...my family. And I...you find yourself in danger so often...because of me. And I can't always be there...especially not at two or three different places at the same time, no matter how much I wish...so I thought...it's the best we could come up with for now..."
Winn went over to the door and grabbed the bag that had been waiting there and he handed the first sweater to Alex with a wink, "Welcome to the Supergirl Squad."
She took it off his hand with a laugh at the comment and got up to hug her sister, "This is...thank you. It means a lot...that you're always trying to look out for me. For all of us...I promise I'll always have your back."
Kara nodded and smiled, "I know."
Winn gave sweaters to James, J'onn, Mon-El, Maggie and Eliza, who seemed to be equally touched by Kara's gesture.
Lena was just sitting there, awed by Kara's thoughtfulness, but at the same time she knew that she would never be a part of that.
The Supergirl Squad.
They were Kara's friends. They trusted her and Kara trusted them.
But they also trusted each other.
Her shoulders sagged and she sunk further into the couch, trying to ignore the pain that was spreading in her chest.
Kara was watching her out of the corner of her eye while mentally beating herself up over the fact that she had completely forgotten about the sweaters. She was so proud of Winn, because he had done such an awesome job, but she really should have remembered.
They could have given those to everyone another time or he could have even...
And then he pulled another sweater out of the bag and handed it to Alex, who looked at J'onn, sharing a silent conversation with the Martian for a moment before the man nodded while Kara watched back and forth between them in confusion.
Alex walked past her, squeezing Kara's hand as she did so, and stopped right in front of Lena, "Come see us at the DEO after the holidays, Miss Luthor. There are a few things J'onn and I would like to discuss with you."
Lena stared at Alex and the sweater in the agent's hand, not sure what this meant, "I will. And it's Lena."
Appreciating the answer Alex smiled at her, "Well, then...Lena. Welcome to the Squad."
Kara pulled Winn into a bone crushing hug, showing her gratitude as Lena took the offered sweater with tears glistening in her eyes.
"Winn Schott...you are the best! Thank you...but how did you...?" she whispered into his ear, still not sure what had happened.
He pulled back far enough to smile at her, "Alex mentioned yesterday that you were bringing her...and I thought after everything she did...she deserved to be...well, part of this. God knows she needs protection more than all of us with that crazy family of hers...so I made another one last night. And besides that it's Christmas...I might not trust her all that much, but I trust you, Kara. You are my friend and she is yours...so...for what it's worth...I'll give her the benefit of the doubt."
A blinding smile spread on Kara's face then, "I couldn't have asked for a better friend than you, Winn. Thank you. You are amazing...please, don't change. Ever."
Kara had talked everyone into watching Christmas movies after that and she had sat beside Lena all through Miracle on 34th Street, Jack Frost, The Grinch and Bad Santa, ensuring that Lena wouldn't feel left out and alone.
It hadn't been all that comfortable with Alex and Maggie and the two of them squeezed on the little couch together, but Kara hadn't cared. Not at all.
Lena had sacrificed so much.
Lena had saved them all.
Lena was a hero.
Lena was one of them.
Lena was her friend.
The peace wouldn't last.
It was only the silence before the storm.
But neither of her friends would have to face it alone, because they were a team.
And they were stronger together.