Chapter 28Notes:Am I still on a Bridgerton kick? Why yes I am.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter TextLena wasn't expecting the Catco sort of reporter to chase her down like she didn't have a singular bodyguard keeping people from getting near her. "Kara Danvers, yes?"
"You need to postpone the speech!" The blonde actually seemed sincere.
Lena kept walking, "Walk with me." She didn't react to the smug look Kara sent the bodyguard who was rubbing his shoulder. Huh, blondie wasn't a pushover, interesting.
Kara easily kept up with her. "Ms. Luthor if you get up on that stage you're vulnerable to Corben. He's a serious threat."
"I'm aware, why are you here?" Lena asked as they left the lobby of Luthorcorp.
The sincerity was wafting off the woman. Either Kara was the best liar Lena had met, or she meant what she was saying. "You can't change your family's company if you're killed. Corben knows the Supers are trying to protect you, he's really dangerous."
"And how do you know that exactly?" Though it wasn't wild someone trotting around with Clark Kent knew details.
Kara flushed, "Well, you know, working with a reporter. I know things."
Well, that was a lie, the woman was terrible at it. Lena could ignore it, the disappointingly small crowd waiting for the announcement was hard to ignore. "My brother's serving thirty-two consecutive life sentences. I guess I shouldn't be surprised there isn't a bigger turnout."
"You're taking an awful risk, going ahead with the renaming ceremony with your life in danger." Kara meant it, it was genuine concern.
Lena looked at her, "I won't have a life if I can't make this company into something positive. All it will be remembered for is Lex's madness." Lena turned and walked up onto the stage. She had to be brave here or she'd never do anything of worth. And she had at least two people giving her a chance. That was something.
She came to a halt at the podium, looking out at the crowd, sadly small though it may be, and projected the perfect image she'd had been trained into since adoption. And she spoke into the microphone. This was her chance, her one chance to start redefining what it meant to be a Luthor. "I want to thank you all for coming." Lena looked across the crowd. "My brother hurt a lot of good, innocent people. My family owes a debt, not just to Metropolis, but to everyone. I intend to pay that. By renaming my company L-corp, we will usher in a new age of cooperation and community. Together, we will chart a brighter future!"
Which is when the explosions started.
Lena spun, arms coming up as she saw the fire, screaming as chaos reigned, her bodyguards gone. It was lucky her face was no longer by the microphone as a vicious swear left her lips as she ran from the stage. She was a sitting duck and her security had been paid off. Clearly, it was money badly spent on her part.
She spun at another explosion, one hand coming up and covering her mouth as her building cracked and started to come down. The screaming increased and Lena was pretty sure she was going to die. Out of the corner of one eye, she could see Supergirl saving several people from falling debris, but it wouldn't be enough. Not if the building came down, not if there were more explosives.
And then Supergirl was at the side of the building, holding it from falling. It was awe-inspiring.
Lena turned and nearly slammed into Quake. "You!"
"Get off the street, now!" Quake gave her a sharp nod, stupid LED mask smiling at her. She then turned and braced herself and Lena felt it in the air, the weight of the air as Quake's hands faced the building, her voice rising. "SUPERGIRL, GO! I'VE GOT IT!"
Holy shit. Lena stumbled backward as the ground cracked indenting beneath Quake's feet. That was…she'd worry about what that power was later. Lena turned and ran.
She avoided other panicking people and took off as fast as her heels and skirt would allow—which was not fast!—as she headed for across the square and to the nearest building to get into. It was as she came around a corner and was halfway up a few stairs on the sidewalk that she spotted the police officer. "Officer, thank god!"
The police officer raised his gun.
An auburn-haired woman grabbed him, the shot harmlessly hitting the sidewalk. She was skilled, tossing Corben's gun aside as they grappled.
Lena should run, she knew she should run. The Supers and Quake would have the building secured in a couple of minutes at most. Any of the three of them could intervene in the fight. Could help the woman who'd just saved Lena's life.
Lena was a Luthor.
She darted to the bushes searching desperately for where the gun had fallen. Lena grabbed it with a thrill of victory. Straightening, she looked for her savior and Corben. And felt the faintest flicker of relief as Supergirl landed on the sidewalk on the pair's other side. A flicker that died as Corben had a gun pressed to the woman's head.
Supers were faster than a bullet…if Lena's math was right they weren't fast enough to close the space before that bullet exploded the auburn woman's head without killing both humans anyways.
Supergirl's hand was raised, "Let her go."
"You're gonna let me out of here," Corben said, tightening his grip.
Supergirl was standing there, tense but commanding. "Lex Luthor hired you to kill his sister, didn't he?"
"Luthor still has resources and reach, even rotting in maximum security lockdown." He replied, confirming what everyone had suspected, that it was Lex causing this. That Lena's brother was trying to murder her. He kept speaking like he hadn't destroyed her last shred of hope that it wasn't that. "Now, I'm leaving. And there is nothing you can do-"
Corben made a mistake then, in how he was holding the woman who was certainly some kind of agent. Because she wasn't in front of him. No one was in front of him, just the very bulletproof Supergirl.
Lena fired.
Supergirl was staring at her in shock. Lena felt cold as she met the alien hero's gaze. Oh, she'd just shot a human being directly in front of a Super. So that was the end of her hope of her own chance then. She wasn't sorry.
"Bullet went through and through." The woman Lena had just saved in turn was applying pressure to Corben…because she was a decent person apparently. "But he needs a hospital. Nice work Supergirl."
And the tension dropped from Supergirl's frame. And it was relief. "I had help." Her eyes turned back to Lena, "A lot of it."
////
Alex looked up from her paperwork over the Luthor incident earlier. "J'onn, did you need something?"
"As I'm no longer your Director, I have a lot less for you to do these days." He settled a chair next to her. "Which means I have time to ask, what's going on between you and Kara?"
Her face tightened, "It's nothing."
"It's left you terrifying the new agents and Kara's sad eyes are making people uncomfortable." He looked at her with knowing eyes.
Alex twitched, "With respect Sir, that's not DEO business."
"I know, but I think we're more than just co-workers." His face was fatherly in ways Alex hated and craved.
She looked away. "It should still be you as director. You saved the world and now you're benched?"
"I lied, took the place of a dead man. I wouldn't have put me back in charge either." He smiled slightly, "And Director Lane is doing a good job. You should give her a chance."
Alex's jaw tensed. "She put a spy with my sister."
"A decorated war hero who was already in your sister's life." J'onn sighed as he leaned forward, resting his weight on his elbows. "We left, and your sister found a woman who was a trained military agent and she befriended her. Did you consider it wasn't Daisy targetting your sister, but the other way around?"
Alex frowned, "What, she wanted to be friends with the dangerous probably Cadmus spy that moved in?"
"I think she found someone who is remarkably similar to her special agent big sister." J'onn held her eyes, "And I don't think you'll know if that new neighbor is an ally who will help protect Kara or a threat if you refuse to speak with her or your sister. And being angry your sister was lonely isn't going to help."
She looked away letting that soak in. "The neighbor cooks and goes grocery shopping, regularly."
"I said similar, not identical." J'onn had humor in his voice that faded before he spoke again. "We were gone, and some things changed. Punishing Kara for that won't change the situation."
Alex set her pen down, pushing away the paperwork, "You give really good advice, it's inconvenient."
"I try," He laid a hand on her shoulder.
She blew out a long breath, "Fine, I liked it better when you were too busy being the director for these talks."
"I'll keep that in mind." J'onn stood up, but he paused before leaving the room. "Lane is doing a good job at being Director, but she's not who I'd have chosen for the job."
Alex's brow furrowed, her mouth opening to ask who but the look he was giving her was meaningful. "Wait…me?"
"Good luck with the paperwork," He had a stupid affectionate gleam in his eyes, and then he left the room.
She spluttered silently, even as a warm feeling of gratitude welled. Sure she wasn't Director, really didn't want to be Director, but J'onn thought she could do it.
////
Kara was barely keeping from vibrating out of her skin with nerves as she walked into Ms. Grant's office. She felt kind of like floating as she held a printed-out sheet of paper, trying not to crinkle it. "Ms. Grant! I um…I made my decision."
"Two hours before the deadline, this better be good." Ms. Grant looked at her, putting the cap back on her pen.
Kara's stomach was full of nervous bubbles, "Right, uh, here." She held out the sheet of paper to Ms. Grant. "I'm so grateful for Catco and you and just everything. And you were right, I needed to be forced to take the dive, to do something I'm really passionate about! And-"
"This is a letter of resignation," Ms. Grant's voice was cold.
She blinked looking at her boss, "Yes it is." Sweet Rao, no going back from that. "I want to work in science! It's about searching for truth and solutions to problems that are really helping people and service. I know I don't have a degree in a scientific field, but I can still work in a lab, I can still do things! It's what I'm supposed to do, and you reminded me of that. You and Catco mean so much to me but your speech about diving made me realize I have to diveand nothing here is what I should be doing?"
"When offered any job you want, you're deciding to quit for a field you're not even trained for? I know I said 'dive' but I meant rather into the waters you can actually see. It was implied." Ms. Grant was staring at her with a closed-off expression.
Kara could float she was so relieved, "I never would have been brave enough. But it's what I'm meant to do! And you inspired me!"
"Kiera, a scientist?" Ms. Grant's brows were raised.
Kara nodded eagerly, "It's what I'm meant to be! I can help so many people, the world! It's about making the world a better place and helping people. And it's going to make me the best version of myself because it will push me out of my comfort zone. This is it for me, this is my calling and I never would have taken it without you Ms. Grant." She beamed at her mentor.
Ms. Grant leaned back in her seat. "You surprise me, Kara, I suppose I should have come to expect that. Very few people surprise me, but you have managed more than anyone." She looked at her, "You have the integrity to right wrongs and to see justice done. You inspire me, Kara. I can see the hero within you. Go, make me proud."
Kara beamed, her chest fluttering with excitement. "You have a really good instinct about other people. Letting them know how to live their best lives that's-"
"Please, I'm just glad that you are taking the plunge. I expect you to be spectacular, you are my protege after all." Ms. Grant raised a brow at her, challenging.
Kara skidded to a halt as she realized it wasn't just Daisy in her apartment. "Kal?"
"Kara, good that you're here. We could use your help." He was serious, his face painfully reminiscent of Jor's.
She frowned slightly, she'd kind of had plans and things she'd wanted to say to Daisy before she lost her nerve. But also, "What with?"
"Just plotting felony theft, possibly treason," Daisy replied glibly from where she was sitting on the kitchen counter, legs folded underneath her.
Kal choked, "That is…ok, yes that's what we're doing." He looked at her with determination, "We're stealing the DEO's kryptonite."
"Lane signed off on it, unofficially." Daisy grinned, "And gonna be honest, we've got so much overkill between the three of us for this job it's not even funny."
Kara blinked and then walked over, circling behind Daisy, so she could look over her shoulder at her laptop's screen. "Are we sure we can just…steal it?"
"It's not safe, the DEO's compromised." Daisy looked over her shoulder at her. "Do you trust them with it not just today, but next year? The year after?"
Kara knew her answer to that. She'd seen the DEO lose control to General Lane and had been helping with Daisy's ever-growing web of Cadmus. "When are we doing it?"
"Probably next week, so it's not tied to my appearance in National City." Kal replied.
Daisy hummed, "And if I hit two of the smaller Cadmus safe houses and one of their minor labs between now and then it'll look unconnected to you two. Especially if I hit a warehouse manufacturing parts for Cadmus the week after." She pulled up the blueprints of the DEO desert base. "You two are going to need rock-solid alibis for as much of it as possible."
"So we're doing it without powers then?" Kara turned and opened the fridge and started pulling leftovers out. They'd be planning over dinner then. "We'll have to be careful not to hurt any of the agents."
Kal looked between them, "You're taking this very well?"
"We broke into Luthorcorp the other week." Kara proudly bragged, before looking at Daisy, "If we use army uniforms do you think we could just walk in?"
Daisy hummed, "I only have the one face veil, but it's not a bad idea." She looked at Kal. "Kara can handle the getaway driving, we stick enough contouring make-up on her and if she stays in the truck no one would pick her out of a line-up. How do you feel about wearing someone else's face?"
Kara leaned forward and tapped the projected blueprints on the wall, "Craig does night shift at this station, he's really bad about falling asleep."
"Found it!" Kal cheered from the chair he'd been squished in going through DEO delivery records. "Here, military drop-off once a month of munitions and assorted equipment. It's almost two weeks till the next one."
Kara beamed at her cousin, he was really good at this once he'd gotten over being confused at how prepared for this they were. "Is there a record of how many people are on the delivery?"
"Two signatures are needed at the drop-off, but I'm not seeing exact numbers," Kal replied, frowning as he paged through shipping forms.
Daisy looked up, "What's the date and time of the last one?"
"Oh right, you have the surveillance cameras." Kara shook her head, "Should I be concerned at how much access you just have to the DEO? I mean if you do, someone else could too?"
Daisy gave a half-shrug, "There's maybe four or five people on the planet capable of doing what I did. I hardwired myself a backdoor, and during Myriad I installed it as a printer in the system's software. Also, I copied a few different login credentials. And we know the military despite access didn't bother. So there's a chance I'm not the only one but not a good one."
Kal was looking at Daisy with the oddest expression on his face. "Remind me to introduce you to Lois."
Kara hugged her cousin tightly. "I'll see you soon?"
"Tomorrow," Kal chuckled. "But I have a blog post to write to accompany the article coming out tomorrow." His voice lowered, "Your friend is very good at crime?"
Kara probably shouldn't be proud about someone acknowledging Daisy was good at crime, she was anyway. "She's really good at a lot of things."
"I can see that," He squeezed her, before letting go. "Don't forget you're coming with me to L-corp tomorrow."
She smiled, "Wouldn't miss it!"
He waved at Daisy before turning and heading out through the door. It was funny, Kara wasn't sure either she or Daisy used the front door much.
"So, your cousin is not what I was expecting," Daisy remarked from where she was still seated on the counter.
Kara turned looking at her suddenly cautious. Everyone always loved Kal; were just so impressed by him. "Yeah, he's kind of great."
"Hmm, oh no I mean he's less of a stick in the mud than I was expecting." Daisy shrugged, setting her computer aside. "Good idea with the military transport by the way." She had a genuine smile on her face, not the amused smirk or faint furrow of concentration she'd had all evening as they'd planned out stealing the kryptonite.
Kara wasn't sure why she felt the need to push…no, she did know. She knew exactly why she needed to push. "Kal had some really good ideas too. The two of you are both old hat at all of this."
"Uh, yeah, he's not as uptight about the law as I was expecting. And heists are fun." Daisy looked at her curiously. "What?"
She knew she was practically buzzing because Daisy wasn't 'ooing' or 'ahhing' over her cousin. "It's just, everyone always likes him more." Kara bit at her lip, "And I get it, he's amazing and this hero and knows what he's doing-"
"Yeah, he's fine, but if I was stuck with him as my Kryptonian it'd have been so boring. I wouldn't have stuck around. I mean, no offense, but he's like…way too midwestern." Daisy set her laptop aside, sliding off of the counter for the first time, her feet nearly silent as they hit the ground. And the look she had on her face was just…kind, slightly amused, but kind. "Want to tell me what's actually going on? Because you've been buzzing since you got back to the apartment."
Kara didn't care if she was being silly. But she felt like glowing at Daisy calling her 'her Kryptonian'. It was still nerve-wracking, but maybe not scary to start talking. "You know how Ms. Grant told me to dive? Well it wasn't just at work."
"Ok, you do know you don't have to do anything just because Cat Grant wants you to do it, right?" Daisy's hip was slightly cocked as she looked at Kara, eyebrow raised.
Kara was jittery as she smiled. "I know, but she was right, especially about my personal life this time. I've just been hesitating because change scares me, even when I want that change. Does that make any sense?"
"Yeah, that makes a lot of sense." Daisy softened in understanding.
She nodded, "And change is good! I know that! Becoming Supergirl, Alex and I working together with the DEO, taking the leap and applying to Catco, so many things that are amazing in my life are because of change! And you've been so much change!"
"Kara-" Daisy started.
"You've been nothing but the best!" Kara kept on, she needed to get it out. "And Rao I'm not good at this." She reached out, catching Daisy's face between her hands, stepping straight into Daisy's space. Kara hesitated, but Daisy wasn't pulling back, only her eyes widening, so Kara leaned forward and kissed her.
Notes:See you next week. Like to think a nice cliffhanger is good for the soul occasionally. =D
Chapter 29Notes:Is this hours early? Yes, but I'm quite sore from a six hour tattoo session and felt like it.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter TextDaisy had realized what was going to happen before Kara pressed their mouths together. It was a thing she wasn't blind enough not to have known might be coming. But her disquiet on the subject faded at the sensation of Kara. Her breath hitched in the back of her throat, and then she couldn't help it, she kissed back.
It was funny to notice, but Kara smelled nice. Her skin was smooth and she was solid and eager. So very keen in how she pressed into Daisy like Daisy was special. Daisy couldn't help how she melted into Kara as Kara pressed into her. One of Daisy's hands landed on Kara's hip, the other on Kara's bicep. It was a terrible idea, but Daisy couldn't think of anything except for Kara.
She'd known better than to want this, but fuck she wanted it. Daisy chased after Kara's mouth, kissing her again when she started to pull away. A desperate, buzzing need burned through her. She wasn't ready to lose this. For common sense to come back. Not when Kara's too warm everything was just there, Kara's fingers curled against the back of her neck, the feel of Kara smiling against her for those last precious few seconds of being against each other.
Daisy's eyes opened, and it felt like a gut punch, the just delighted smile on Kara's face. Kara was smiling wide enough for her teeth to show, eyes crinkled excitedly.
"That was ok? It was good?" Kara should have been the one with vibration powers from how she was just vibrating with delight.
Daisy couldn't say 'no' to her, she couldn't lie even if she knew that she really should. "Yeah, that was good." She was smiling without meaning to.
"So, good as in we can do that again? And maybe that zoo trip this coming weekend could be a date?" Kara asked, nervous but still smiling brightly.
It was devastatingly sweet in its bravery. But this was such a bad idea, the risks beyond just a messy breakup were alarming with Kara. For fucks sake she mated for life. That was… "Isn't that risky? Like with just-"
"Why would it be risky?" Kara's brow furrowed. "You're you. You'd be safe, my enemies aren't going to be able to hurt you."
Daisy swallowed, oh. Well, if that was the only concern, yeah, that wasn't much of a risk. It made sense really. Daisy knew she was attractive, and she was sturdy enough that physically it would be as safe as it was going to get with someone who wasn't Kryptonian, Kara trusted her, and yeah, it's not like Daisy was some human who'd be a liability. That was all obvious, worrying about the risk of mating was stupid. Of course, Kara wasn't stupid enough to risk that. Really, she was kind of exactly the sort of person that was kind of perfect for a non-serious relationship of some kind for Kara.
"Unless that's not something you want?" Kara pulled further back slightly, the just excited joy fading. It so clearly hurt her to have put herself out there and for Daisy not to be on the same page.
With a pang Daisy realized it didn't matter how stupid, or how much of a bad idea a thing was; if Kara wanted something from her, she'd give anything. It was pathetic, and the fact was Daisy wanted more than what Kara was offering. If Daisy was a better person she'd be softening the 'no' to Kara right now. It was the smart choice, the decent choice.
Daisy closed the distance Kara had put between them, pausing only when they were only a finger's width apart. She could feel Kara's breath against her face. "You're sure?"
"Yes," Kara shakily breathed out.
And Daisy was only inhuman, she kissed her friend.
////
Agent Carter Hall stood at attention before the Director's desk. "Reporting in, Ma'am."
"Agent Hall, an impressive record." Director Lane shut his personnel file. "You've been with the DEO for five years now, eight successful alien apprehensions, you've only lost one agent on one of your teams, excellent service record with the Navy. Tell me, why the DEO?"
Carter considered the Director, he chose honesty. "Honestly ma'am, my wife worked here and the Navy medically discharged me. There's not a lot of good options for career military men like me." He gave the faintest slight shrug with one shoulder. "And I had alien posters as a kid. Figured meeting little green men could be fun."
"And you plan to remain with the DEO for how long, Agent Hall?" Director Lane's expression was set, an unfortunate side-effect to the military sorts like them, they could do a blank evaluating expression all day and all night if need be.
He had quite a few questions for the Director and was really hoping he wasn't about to get assigned to go run one of their bases in a different state. Kendra would not be happy about the transfer paperwork if they were going to have to move. Still, she'd asked a question. "The DEO has government retirement benefits and the Mrs. would kill me if I tried to stay at home a day before I was old enough I was forced to retire, Ma'am."
"Then I suppose you'll have good news for her." Director Lane reached into her desk and pulled out a truly intimidating stack of legal paperwork. He didn't even have to look at them to know what they were, he might not have superpowers, but he could sense dry as dirt legal bureaucracy nightmare fuel from a mile out. It had a smell, the dry paper and ink scent of bullshit.
It was futile, but he tried nonetheless. "Paperwork delivery I'm overqualified for, Ma'am?"
She didn't even validate that with an answer. "Congratulations, Assistant Director."
He actually went still out of shock at that. "Assistant Director, Ma'am?"
"You're not one of J'onn's pet agents, you're not Cadmus, you're qualified, and you're competent. Congratulations. I expect the paperwork filled out before you go home, your assistant will brief you on your new duties and backlog of paperwork after you leave this office, Assistant Director."
Ah, it was a trap. He really hated that he was going to accept the promotion. "Backlog?"
"It's significant, I'm sure you'll prove as professional and competent as you have in your previous position." Her eyes said 'or else'.
The things he did for Kendra, at least with an office job that conversation about kids was a thing they could revisit. He'd work up to being excited about that after he could feel his hand again from the amount of paperwork he was about to fill out. "I'll do my best, Ma'am."
////
Lena was choosing today to be a good day. She was put together, had slept, ate, the new assistant had gotten her her correct coffee order, the sun was shining, she was very much alive, and no police or Supers seemed the least bit concerned about the man she'd shot. So all in all a highly successful status considering the last two days. Just breathing and not being in jail were accomplishments after all. The article Clark Kent had written for the Daily Planet was a cherry on top. It was complimentary, positively glowing for the man in regard to L-corp's possible future.
She set the paper back down on her desk. "Thank you, Mr. Kent. This is exactly the kind of press my company needs after yesterday's attack." Her lips curled, beating her brother always was satisfying. "And thank you for including the part about me shooting the guy. That'll teach Lex to mess with me." Lena crossed her arms as she came to a halt in front of the man. "He'll be the laughing stock of Cell Block X." People knowing that he'd failed would be worse for Lex than the actual failure. It was a vindictively sweet thought.
Clark chuckled, his tone that warm all midwestern sound that no doubt most women considered charming. Hells, she wouldn't have touched the man with a ten-foot pole romantically for a dozen reasons just off the top of her head, and she still found it a pleasing sound. "Well, that's not exactly why I wrote it. I wrote it because it's the truth." The sincerity was unmistakable and warm. "I was wrong about you, Ms. Luthor. I'm sorry."
Lena felt a thrum of pleasure at that. It was probably one of the most genuinely kind compliments she'd been given. Ever. "Well, if I can make a believer out of Clark Kent, there's hope yet." She changed her focus to Kara, Clark's equally sincere and charming if far prettier shadow before she went and did something horribly embarrassing like showing exactly how much the show of faith meant to her. "What about you, Ms. Danvers? I didn't see your name on the byline."
"Right, um, well, like I said I'm not a reporter." Kara seemed to puff up slightly with nerves. "Actually, could I speak with you after you and Clark are done?" Which was an interesting reminder that whoever Kara Danvers was, she was close with a reporter like Clark Kent personally more than professionally.
Lena arched a brow, but for a woman willing to take an awful lot of risk to try and keep her from putting herself at risk, and a personal contact with one of the best investigative reporters in the country, well a conversation was more than a concession she was willing to give. "Of course, I have a few minutes I can spare this morning."
Clark was looking at Kara, confusion on his face. "Do you want me to stay?" He sounded uncertain. It was odd.
"I'll be fine," Kara's smile at Clark was dazzling and blindingly positive.
Clark looked at Lena, a smile on his face. "In that case, thank you for your time, Ms. Luthor." Christ his teeth were white, like toothpaste commercial white. Man would make a killing as a model if his reporter career hadn't worked out.
"If you keep writing articles like that about me, I'll always have time for you, Mr. Kent," Lena replied in parting.
The man just huffed in amusement, nodding as he turned on his heel and left her office with one last flickering look toward Kara.
Lena looked at the blonde woman who was not great at hiding the fact she was nervous. Not about anything bad, she was far too cheery for that. "What was it you wanted to speak about, Ms. Danvers?"
"Oh right," Kara reached into her purse, pulled out a neatly printed-out two sheets of stapled paper, and handed it over. "I think you're trying to make the world better and I want to help."
She didn't blink, but that wasn't what she was expecting. Still, she accepted what was the woman's resume. Lena couldn't help how high her brow rose as she saw how long Kara Danvers had been Cat Grant's personal assistant. Good Lord, if she'd known that she'd have tried to poach her the first time she walked into her office. "You're applying to be an executive assistant?"
"Um, no." Kara bit at her lip. "I don't have any earth qualifications for it, and really it'd be unethical to work on anything involving aeronautics or fusion, but I am actually qualified to help with your hydro projects or the desalinization project."
Lena had so many questions, "How do you even know about the desalination project? We haven't announced that, also-"
"I'm an alien," Kara cut her off with.
Lena's teeth clicked shut.
This meant Kara just kept talking, and as she kept talking Lena's eyebrows kept moving upwards. "And sorry about looking into the projects you have in development, but I was so sure you were doing good, but if I hadn't double-checked, my sister would have tried to ground me. Which is ridiculous, I'm an adult. But I was what you'd call an Aerospace Engineer on my planet, much more advanced than Earth's standard in the field. My thesis was on the effects of solar currents and black matter on the material our space-faring ships were made from. But then I was on Earth, and thirteen-year-olds shouldn't already have doctorates in science a few hundred years ahead of Earth science. So the Danvers, my adoptive family, made sure I didn't get into anything I was too advanced in like math or science. And I liked working for Catco and being useful. But it's not my purpose!"
"Purpose?" Lena's voice was weak.
Kara just nodded, "My species are designed genetically for the role we're needed in. My genetic traits and code were built to make me an ideal scientist. From the day I hatched my education and method of being raised were pre-determined to ensure I became the most useful member of our society. To be useful to the whole was the highest honor and purpose for my species. I was doing calculus before most humans begin their formal education. It has been difficult to not live up to what I was made to be, and then I met you and you understand the alien thing and are trying to change the world. So I realized this was my one chance really, I promise to do my best to help you change the world for the better!"
That was…so much. "I'm sorry, what…species are you?" It was that or ask about development stages and how in the world she was capable of calculus at four.
Kara's whole face flushed, "I don't think I can tell you that. My sister would never forgive me, is that ok?"
"That's, you're an alien, you want a job in L-corp labs. Am I getting that right?" Lena hadn't felt this off-kilter and stupid since last speaking with Quake.
Kara nodded eagerly, "Yes! And I'm really sorry for not telling you about my species, but I'm not the only one, and if I'm wrong, which I don't think I am, but if I am, they'd be in danger. But I'll answer anything about my species I can without putting anyone else at risk."
"You would have to prove you're capable of what you're saying you're trained for?" Lena said slowly, her mind racing. She didn't know what was happening. But she did know sending Kara off without evaluating her wouldn't help her understand. And buying time sounded like the intelligent thing to do.
Kara's face lit up, "I'm great at tests!"
The woman was definitely an alien. Even Lena didn't like tests. Sure, satisfied by finishing them perfectly and proving herself, but like? Lena eyed the woman. "Tomorrow, I'll have something to assess your capabilities for you."
"I won't disappoint you, Ms. Luthor!" Kara said with more positivity than Lena typically witnessed in a solid year…collectively.
Lena had no idea how she was going to assess an alien education. But apparently, she was going to have to figure something out.
////
Kara was fit to burst as she landed on the balcony of her apartment. She beamed as she spotted Daisy, who was cleaning out a gun on the counter. Kara bit at her lower lip as she zipped to the other side of the counter. "I got a job!"
"You…didn't you have a job?" Daisy set the gun parts down. "Like you decided what promotion you wanted?"
She flushed, "So I might have forgotten to mention it with everything happening yesterday, but I quit at Catco?"
"You quit?! I thought you loved Catco?" Daisy's eyes widened as she stared at Kara.
Kara had known not telling Daisy was going to risk Daisy being upset. "I do! I did, but it's not my calling and I see Kal and Alex and everyone doing what makes them who they are. I'm a scientist, it's who I am, what I should be doing. So I resigned from Catco and I put in my resume at L-corp."
"L-corp?" Daisy was very still, her words slow. "Kara, you don't have human qualifications to work in a lab."
Kara didn't want Daisy to be mad at her. She probably should have thought of that before she didn't tell her ahead of time. "But I do have Kryptonian qualifications."
"Kara, please tell me you did not tell Lena Luthor that you are Kryptonian?" Daisy's words weren't angry, but they were tense.
She shook her head. "I told her I was an alien, that I was qualified. She's letting me take a skill assessment tomorrow since I don't have any physical qualifications."
Daisy's eyes closed, she stood there for a few terribly long seconds before giving a sharp nod, her eyes opening as she looked at her again, but she had a faint hint of humor in her tone. "You realize that's an insane risk to take right?"
"Ms. Luthor is a good person, and what she's doing is important. I want to be a part of it." Kara needed her to understand.
Daisy sighed, "Well, are we doing anything to celebrate when you destroy whatever assessment you're taking tomorrow?"
"Celebrate? You're not mad? I thought you were going to be mad?" Kara had been prepared with a defense about the whole thing. Sure she hadn't started with that, but she still had one. It was more breaking down what she'd already said, but still.
Daisy reached out across the counter and laid her hand over Kara's, her touch warm. "You're taking a risk, a large one. But high risk, high reward." She squeezed gently. "So, ice cream? Or we could hit one of those yogurt places with all the toppings?"
Kara leaned right over the counter and kissed Daisy square on the mouth, even if she was smiling too much to do much more. She dropped back with a happy hum. "You're the best."
"Yeah, I'm still making a blackmail file on Lena in case she even considers using your species against you." Daisy grumbled, but she had a sweet quirk to her mouth.
She probably shouldn't feel warm and fuzzy about Daisy being prepared to blackmail her boss; it made her feel really warm and fuzzy. "Thank you."
"So, if you're doing science does this mean I can hit you up to make more dendrotoxin rounds for me? Cause I have a feeling I'm going to need a lot more tranq rounds than I brought in the trunk of the car." Daisy was definitely amused.
Kara nodded, "I could see if there's anything at the fortress that would let me replicate it for you." She paused as she realized none of the ammo cartridge things? on the counter had the distinctive blue glow of dendrotoxin. "Um…why are all of those real bullets?"
"Because for the Kryptonite theft to be blamed on me, not you or your cousin, I need to clear out a couple of minor Cadmus labs and bases." Daisy held her eyes.
Kara's mouth felt tacky, "When?"
"Tomorrow morning for the first one," Daisy replied without hesitation.
It hadn't…Kara leaned against the kitchen island that was between them. "You don't have to, we could find another way."
"Kara, I'm an agent. This isn't new to me, it's not hard, the only deaths I've lost sleep over are the ones I failed to prevent and the ones I caused under Hive. I'd be doing this without you. Just because I don't have a team and an organization doesn't change who or what I am."
"I know, I just don't want you to feel you have to." Kara worried about that, how much Daisy just did to help.
Daisy grinned, "Hunting psychotically evil rogue military and science factions is never a problem." She tipped her head, "So, how do you feel about Indian for dinner? I didn't cook, and you can tell me the rest of what you're planning for L-corp."
"Sounds fantastic, as long as we order extra naan this time." Kara wasn't even touching Daisy and just everything felt right and good. Exactly how things should be.
Daisy scoffed in good humor, "Of course, we're getting extra naan, you ate all of it before I got any last week. But you're ordering, I need to finish up prepping my gear."
"Do you want vindaloo?" Kara asked, pulling out her phone.
Kara sighed happily as she snuggled further into Daisy's side, empty take-out containers on the coffee table, Daisy snorting every time a musical number started up on the movie they had on. She almost groaned when her cell phone buzzed on the table. "Phewy."
"Could be a Supergirl thing," Daisy nudged her gently.
She sighed, really hoping it wasn't a Supergirl thing, even if people hadn't been flinching away from her since Myriad. There'd been so many car wrecks and a lady in labor in a grocery store parking lot to get to the hospital. She blinked as she saw the text. "Oh."
"What is it?" Daisy's focus was suddenly entirely on her.
Kara could totally do this if she kept telling herself that hopefully, it'd be true. "Alex wants to do a sister's night tomorrow."
"I'll give you final rites after yogurt before I make myself scarce." Daisy teased, but then her hand was on Kara's shoulder. "Your sister loves you, probably going to yell at you a bit though."
Kara winced, "More than just a bit." She leaned into Daisy's touch. "Any advice on how to get yelled at?"
"Uh, good luck?" Daisy shrugged.
Well, that was helpful. But she knew Alex, once she had it out of her system they'd be ok. Hopefully. "If I die I bequeath my take-out menus to you."
"I'm touched," Daisy said with a snort.
And well, things were pretty great; Kara grinned, "You should be, it took months to find all of those menus."
Notes:Should probably mention I genuinely liked tests as a kid but constantly had to hear how that was 'weird/alien'. So I know how Lena was thinking can come across iffy, but its how a lot of people think so like...idk, I always identified with Kara's not quite fitting in and thus faking it but still saying the wrong thing. And I didn't want to take that away just cause sometimes people don't mean or realize they're being shitty.
Chapter 30Notes:I'm leaving to go vanish into the mountains for a week as vacation, so updating before we drive off into the wilds. The amount of excitement at the prospect of nothing but nature cannot be overstated.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter TextDaisy plugged a USB drive into the lab computer. She flipped the keyboard up and grinned, had to love human stupidity. She nabbed the post-it note with the computer's password scribbled on it. Her fingers quickly entered it, and then she was into the small supply pass-through facility's systems. Her expression was not nice as she started dumping files onto the USB. She'd go over it later.
Vibrations told her there were only six people in the building, none of them were on this floor. She had ten minutes minimum before anyone found out she was here. If they were as shitty at internal security as she was beginning to think, she had two or three times that. It'd been too long since she'd done a proper mission. Also, Cadmus's firewalls were impressive. They were useless when she was sitting in one of their offices, using the log-in credentials of a dipshit who'd written them down, and plenty of time to root around inside of them.
At some point, Daisy was going to stop being surprised by how easy to exploit digital systems were when you were in the building. Sure, teenage her had known it abstractly, even taken advantage of it occasionally, but her ability to be a digital terror had been magnified by her ability to physically get to people's servers. And Cadmus counted way too much on nobody knowing about their existence. Firewalls and encryption, top-notch. Physical security, absolute ass.
She made a low sound of victory as she found what she'd been looking for, the shipping manifests. That was pure, intelligence gold. She dumped it onto the USB, time to start erasing any logs of her having been in the system at all. After all, better for them never to know she'd been in, than to take advantage of her access to give them a bad week. She'd fuck up their systems later.
Daisy neatly set the C4 charge, she'd raided their own equipment locker for it. She felt the vibrations of the first idiot to actually come near her. Again, the security in this facility was ass. She had her gun out and aimed at the door before he came through.
He hit the ground, dead before he'd even registered her existence.
She sighed, the sound of the gunfire would have alerted the others. It was fine, she'd already gotten what she wanted. She stuck the fuse into the charge and turned to head out. Time to hunt the idiots manning this station. She wasn't risking any survivors if she just blew it up. Explosions were great and highly effective, but organizations like Cadmus were fucking cockroaches, she wasn't risking survivors unless she wanted to leave survivors. And she didn't want any survivors yet. Fear Tactics 101. Time to be their boogieman.
Daisy sipped at her latte while scrolling through her new files. Time to map out the physical locations of Cadmus, and pick out some appealing small Cadmus targets. "Don't you have a job on the other side of the country to get to?"
"I talked with Kara, I'm going to be staying for a few weeks. Not full-time but a few days a week." Clark replied, setting down his black coffee. "Lois wouldn't be too happy if I was away too much."
She arched a brow, "Huh, well Mr. Reporter, if I handed you proof of the fact Kara was drugged during her little 'reign of terror', think you could frame it safely?"
"I understand you're pressuring Lord's lawyers to force him into a plea deal. But you're making us vulnerable." He looked at her seriously, sure he was right.
Daisy rolled her eyes, "I'm making you human, you were already vulnerable."
"Our enemies will know how to attack us." He argued.
She clicked a couple of her silver rings against each other. "Your enemies already know how to attack you. And it will kill you if the public turns on you."
"That's your professional opinion?" He challenged.
Daisy stared at him, he was classically handsome, morally solid, dependable, and idealistic, but she wasn't sure she trusted him. "It is."
He held her gaze, "If I say 'no', you'll find another reporter to do it, won't you?"
"Yup," Daisy could talk about how it wasn't just Kara and Clark at risk if the public turned against aliens, it was everyone else. And once the president signed alien amnesty next month, the issue was going to politically explode. People were going to die, a lot of them. She'd seen a version of it on her earth, she wasn't going to sit back and watch it happen here. The alien threat didn't feel real to civilians here, yet. It was about to. That fear could be largely channeled against their enemies, or against a minority population. Daisy knew which direction she wanted it to go. But it would sound like a whole lot of pessimistic conjecture.
"Alright, I'll write it, this time." Clark reluctantly agreed, it clearly didn't sit well with him. He changed the topic, apparently, he wanted their coffee meeting to end up in an argument about as much as she did. So not at all. "Did your raid this morning go well?"
Daisy nodded, "Disturbingly to plan. Haven't gone through much of the intel yet, but I got the shipping manifests."
"When are you going to hit another location?" He was a good man, but it wasn't lost on Daisy he was fine with her handling these raids but would never forget she'd been willing to do it. And it counted against her to some degree. He'd appreciate she was getting her hands dirty for them, but he'd judge her for it.
It rankled a bit, not that it was unusual or whatever. Honestly, Kara's concern about it was what was unusual. And Daisy had no doubt if she called Kara in for help, she'd do it. Daisy would never take advantage of that. "Tonight if I find a good target this afternoon while going over the files. I need a lab, the list of medical personnel would be helpful. Also a better idea of what some of their projects actually are."
"If you need me to fly you to a location, call." He said, and he meant it.
Daisy knew he meant it, he'd offer back-end support without question, and if she needed it, she'd ask him. Because he wouldn't be a risk of following her in, Kara was. And surgical strikes were not something either of the Supers needed to be a part of, especially because they just weren't built for it. Or rather, didn't want to be, which mattered a whole hell of a lot more than whether they could be broken into it. "Noted."
////
Kara found the assessment problems Ms. Luthor had given her therapeutic. She hadn't been allowed to actually solve problems since she was a child. It'd felt like coming home. Some of the math had been…she wasn't entirely sure how to do with human symbols and formulas and had had to use Kryptonian ones, translated into Daxam standard, and then neatly summarized in the margins. But it'd been fun!
She beamed, hands slightly sweaty as she watched Ms. Luthor looking over the tests. But she'd done good, she could tell. Ms. Luthor was paying too much attention to it all for it to have been bad. Kara might be rusty, but she was doing what she was meant to do!
It took a while, but Ms. Luthor finally looked up, "You're serious, about working for me, aren't you?"
"Very," Kara nodded quickly.
She leaned back in her seat behind her desk. "Alright, the water filtration project. We're attempting to create affordable, portable, easy-to-use filtration devices to remove pollutants from water. If you want to work for L-corp, that's what I would hire you for."
"I promise not to disappoint you," She said firmly.
Ms. Luthor arched a single eyebrow, "Alright then, I'll have Jess get you the appropriate paperwork. Before that, is there anything I need to know about your…species? Accommodations you might need, that kind of thing."
"I…" Kara winced, she needed an excuse for Supergirl disappearances. "I'm…my friend, kind of girlfriend? we're figuring it out, but she describes it as I'm a bit of a plant? About four or so times a day I need to slip out, but I promise you'll barely notice."
Ms. Luthor looked confused for a split second, "You used your coffee and lunch runs for it while working for Catco?"
"Ms. Grant needed a lot of errands run, and I require the bathroom less than humans so it wasn't too difficult for people to think that's where I was." Her cheeks flushed slightly at that.
Ms. Luthor gave a slight tip of her head, "Well, as long as your work is done, I don't see why that will be a problem."
"I won't let you down, Ms. Luthor." Kara couldn't wait to actually be in a lab again!
The woman hit the button for her secretary, before standing up. "Then I believe you have some paperwork to fill out, Ms. Danvers." She held out her hand. "Welcome to L-corp."
"Thank you for this opportunity," Kara had to keep in mind not to squeeze too hard as she shook her new boss's hand.
////
Maggie Sawyer slumped against the alien bar. "When you gave Quake my cell number you cursed me."
"Do you wish I hadn't?" M'gann asked while setting a sandwich down in front of her and a soda.
She did enjoy days she could swing by Al's for lunch. It was a good way to judge the mood in the community. However, M'gann knowing everything could be frustrating. "Let me be miserable in peace, it's the biggest clusterfuck of nightmare fuel-inducing possible in a case. The list of crimes he didn't do is shorter than what he did do."
"And the public is braying for his blood," M'gann finished summarizing for her.
Maggie grunted in agreement. "It'd help if a certain asshole would stop leaking his crimes on a sick countdown schedule to work the public into a frothing rage."
"Well, can't say the woman isn't effective at what she does." M'gann hesitated, "Be careful working with her. She won't hesitate, but she's…"
Maggie popped the cap off her coke, "Principled?"
M'gann nodded, her face troubled. Which was concerning. The woman wouldn't say more, it was a miracle she'd said as much as she had. M'gann was protective of her clients. For her to warn Maggie, something in Quake's head had spooked her. But not in a way M'gann saw as alarmingly dangerous.
Which wasn't that a mess. Almost as big of a one as the shit show would be when someone leaked the experiments on humans that had killed five women they could prove so far. Or worse, dying cancer children's parents being blackmailed to cause those terrorist attacks late last year. And Maggie knew that Quake wouldn't even have to do it personally. Lord was in isolation with two full-time guards at all times to keep cops from killing him.
M'gann stiffened, her eyes widening, clearly having seen that. "So he really was the next Lex Luthor?"
"Yeah, I don't know how Supergirl didn't punt him off his building months ago." Maggie wasn't sure she wouldn't have if she'd been in the alien's shoes. And she had some real questions about why the fuck the DEO hadn't apprehended the monster months ago. He committed actual domestic terrorism and they knew about it and they hadn't touched him. It made her want to chew glass.
M'gann raised a brow, "Darla isn't working tonight if you want something stronger than coke after your shift."
"I might take you up on that." Maggie had been avoiding Darla pretty successfully since their break up. And, with the hours she'd been clocking with the Lord situation, her current girlfriend was definitely preparing to dump her and Maggie didn't even know if she wanted or could stop it.
M'gann's expression was just disappointed. "You're the second most dysfunctional one in here when it comes to their relationships."
"There's someone worse than me?" Maggie chuckled, it was self-deprecating, but oddly comforting she wasn't the biggest disaster. She frowned, "I'm better than Brian, aren't I? M'gann? Tell me I'm better than Brian."
////
Daisy was pretty sure she'd never just held a person's hand. The whole vibe of the afternoon didn't quite feel real. The whole sunny warm day, walking through a park while holding hands. It was sickeningly sweet. She also…kinda never wanted it to stop. It just felt nice. Nice in a way that was for normal people. "Is there a reason we met in the park instead of the yogurt shop?"
"Because you need more sunlight," Kara happily chirped. "And it's beautiful out here."
Daisy considered that, as she tried not to be thinking about the feeling of Kara's hand in her own. "I should have figured you for a nature person. Actually, is that just a thing for your people? Cause I don't think I've met one of you who isn't a bit of a tree hugger."
Kara seemed sad for a moment, "We didn't have green, or animals, or plants. The seas and air were poison. It'd been like that for generations. We killed our planet slowly, for centuries. It still had its beauty, but Earth is…beautiful in a way my home wasn't."
"So, you're going to be doing a lot of green tech development for Luthor?" Daisy smiled because, of course, that's what Kara Danvers wanted to do when she wasn't being a superhero.
Kara flushed at the teasing tone, but she was clearly happy. "My first project is to help with water filtration."
"Like for rivers, the ocean, drinking water?" Daisy asked as they walked towards the very neon looking yogurt place.
She lit up at the topic, "The current prototype's goal is for drinking water. The project lead wants to find a way to build an attachment that can be put on a sink or hose, that kind of thing. I can't wait to see the progress they've made and the direction they're taking!"
"How do you think they should be doing it then?" Daisy asked as she opened up the door to the yogurt place, not that she was going to understand basically anything Kara was about to say.
Daisy had added, possibly, too many sprinkles to her frozen yogurt. Was fun though. She sighed looking at Kara. "So, anxiety attack going to happen before, during or after talking to your sister?"
"All of the above?" Kara winced, "We don't fight for this long usually. And normally we give in or compromise. But she's going to have whole new things to be angry at me for and the old ones."
She stabbed her spoon into her yogurt. "I'm not really a good person to ask about that." Seriously, look at the dysfunction and lack of a relationship between her and Kora? Daisy kicked lightly at Kara's foot under the table. "But, planning on ripping the bandaid off so to say or dragging it out and dropping new information on her a little at a time?"
Kara's lips twitched upwards, "It's Alex, so rip it off."
"Well, you know where to find me if it goes badly." Daisy winced, she really was the worst one for the situation. Also the cause of most of it.
////
Kara nervously fidgeted as she waited for Alex to arrive. Rip the bandaid off. She could do that. She could totally do that not waffle or hesitate…or worry about Daisy dealing with another Cadmus mission without her. That wasn't a helpful thought, she poked at the Chinese take-out and plates. She was overcompensating…it still didn't feel like enough.
The door opening saved her from panicking.
"Alex!" Kara zipped over snagging the six-pack of beer out of Alex's hand and opening the door.
"I missed you too," Alex's face softened the second her eyes hit Kara's face.
Kara felt kind of like crying. She lunged forward hugging Alex, and everything just felt right. "I've missed you so much, I don't like fighting with you."
"Yeah I don't like fighting with you either," Alex grumbled, but she so clearly meant it. "I need a beer if we're going to get all weepy."
She shoved a beer into Alex's hands, "I quit Catco and got a job at L-corp."
Ripping the bandaid off quickly might not have been the best option. Alex had physically choked on air and looked a bit like a goldfish.
"Please don't be mad?" Kara tacked on.
Alex made a slightly wounded sound of horror while pinching the bridge of her nose. "As a secretary?"
Kara winced, "Um…"
"Kara, tell me you got a job as a secretary or something that won't attract notice," Alex said.
She forced a smile onto her face, "I got a job in the labs. I'm actually working on a water filtration system starting tomorrow!"
"As a secretary?" Alex's voice said she knew that wasn't what she was about to hear.
Kara made eyes as big as possible, "As a scientist."
"You don't have a degree for that, or experience. Why would L-corp hire you in their labs to work on a project like that?" Alex sounded pained.
Bandaid right off. "I told Ms. Luthor I was an alien so she'd give me an assessment since I don't have an Earth degree." Kara saw the growing emotional explosion coming and kept talking, "But don't worry! I didn't tell her I was a Kryptonian! I told her I was kind of a plant? Daisy teases me that I'm like a plant, and I do need sunlight and water and it's a good excuse for Super disappearances. So I just said it. But it went really well and science is my calling!"
"Kara, start at the beginning." Alex held out her beer to Kara.
Kara flipped the lid off before passing it back and started back at Cat's insistence she find her purpose, that she dive into what she was meant to do, and went from there.
Kara had only pouted a little a little, no matter what Alex might say—about Alex eating all of the potstickers. "Are you ok?"
"I'm great. Just absolutely perfect." Alex took a swig of her fourth beer, the sarcasm thick in her face. "You have anything else to add?
And well…there was the whole Daisy thing.
"Oh god, what else did you manage to do? It's been less than four days!" Alex straightened up in her seat.
Kara felt her cheeks flush. "I didn't lie when you asked me last time, but um…Daisy's a really good kisser?" She wasn't sure why she pitched her voice up like it was a question.
Alex spluttered before groaning, her eyes closed. "That's everything?"
"Um… it's not bad. But we're technically going to steal the Kryptonite from the DEO?" Kara straightened, "But we have Lucy's permission to do it! So it's not really stealing."
Alex grabbed another bottle of beer. "Who is we?"
"It's Kal's idea," Kal could survive Alex's wrath, probably. "And I asked Quake if she'd help. She's having fun planning it, she's very good at it."
Alex hummed, "Of course she is."
"Yup!" Kara was going to just pretend Alex wasn't being sarcastic. Optimism.
Notes:Slightly confused why y'all seem to think Lena is going to figure out Quake is Daisy or that Kara is Supergirl. Like Kara's disguise unambiguously works. The weakness of Kara's disguise is when people are around both sides of her repeatedly. Lena's been in the same area as Supergirl twice, incredibly briefly and without any real interaction. A weakness in disguise Daisy 100% would be aware of. Not to mention with the proven face changing its not like Lena would even be able to be sure if she saw Daisy's face on Quake and then later on Daisy.
But like why would the idea Supergirl is the sparkly alien scientist of unending optimism and naivety cross Lena's mind? Even if Kara uses her powers like, short of using multiples of them to their full potential why would that equal Kryptonian to Lena? Like maybe laser vision + blond + freeze breath could do it. But like short of that maybe kryptonite poisoning? There's thousands of alien species and hundreds with powers that overlap with Kryptonians. And Supergirl getting a job as a lab minion to a Luthor would be a very out there idea to Lena. Not even in a Lena is missing the obvious way, just in a it's not obvious way. It was kinda ridiculous Lena didn't figure it out in the show because Lena was close enough to Supergirl and Kara she probably should have been noticing they use the same shampoo.