SuperCorp+

Semicolon (Part 12)

"Lee?" Alex prods lightly. The woman had been silent for far too long. She must be lost in her thoughts.

Lena takes another drink from the bottle. This one is longer with a couple of gulps before she passes it back to Alex. She clears her throat from the burn from the booze. "I'm not sure I fully have an answer. I'm not ready to talk to your sister. Sammy has been great, but... she's processing a lot on her own and with her daughter... I've already been too much for her. You were a bit a dick at first; I won't lie. And at the same time, you aren't treating me with kid gloves. Well, you kinda are, but just less than everyone else. Plus, you are still scared of me. I can use that to my advantage."

Alex stares at her with wide eyes. "I am not scared of you."

Lena arches her brow. "I threatened suing the DEO, and you let me go. Sammy scolded you, and you let me go again. You've only been about telling me the truth, even if it's something that people don't think I should know. You have your own motives, but they are predictable. It's something I can see through and work with. You're main priority is your sister's wellbeing. That- that may color how you present the information, but you still give me the information regardless."

"Wow, so flattering," Alex scoffs sarcastically.

"You asked."

"For the record, I care about your wellbeing, too. I was... so scared... when she disappeared. I was trying to cling to anything that could potentially locate her or bring her back. You were the last chance I could think of. You matter to me, too, Lee. I- I'm sorry for being a dick." She takes a swig.

"Don't stop being a dick though. I like that about you."

Alex sprays out her latest sip of booze at that admission. Lena chuckles lightly at the response.

"That fever must really be getting to you, huh?" Alex coughs out. a moment of silence settles over them again. The once light mood gets dragged down by the heaviness again. "You know... I'm honored that you trust me enough to still talk to me. At the same time, I'm pretty sure Sammy is more worried that you aren't talking to her than about managing you and her daughter and her own emotions. She'd rather know."

Lena scoffs with her brows burrowed. "I thought you two were fighting."

"We are... were? It's confusing."

Lena eyes Alex up and down. She whispers quietly, "You're just as lost as the rest of us."

"I'm lost, but I have to keep it together. I don't have a choice."

Lena hums. "Sounds familiar." Alex waits patiently for her to continue. "When I came into L-Corp, I was so over my head. I didn't know what the bloody hell I was doing. I had no choice to keep it together. Look where that landed me... Take some advice. Don't keep it together... It'll just all come bursting out in the end anyways..."

"I- I'm not sure if I can ask... so feel free to say you don't want to answer."

Lena gulps nervously, avoiding all eye contact with Alex.

"What exactly happened... that night?"

Lena lets out a long, shuddering breath. Tears well up in her eyes... again.

"Y-you don't have to answer."

"No, no. Just- just give me a moment." Lena tilts her head back to look up at the ceiling. She blinks rapidly... like that's been helpful. "I- I- um..." "Seriously, Lena, just forget that I asked..." "Please, Alex... I- I actually want to answer. I- I haven't really told anyone, yet. I- I think I want to get it off my chest." Alex looks at her from the corner of her eye, uncertain that she is prepared for what the answer may be. Lena takes a deep, steadying breath. "I- I mean, I sort of told Kara... but also I said what I said to hurt her. I didn't tell her everything. After- after Lex's battle with her, I knew- I knew- he wouldn't just die. He used his portal watch. I knew where he would go... and I was waiting for him. I knew that none of you would be safe unless he was dead. So- so I shot by brother." Lena's lips trembles. Her chin quivers at the recollection with tears streaming down her face. "He was bleeding out when he showed me that Kara is Supergirl. I- I was... devastated. My entire world shifted. My best friend, whom I've tried to protect, was suddenly the Girl of Steel. My savior and my hero were one of the same. The one I trusted and the one that didn't trust me were one of the same. The one I sought comfort from was the same person and reason I needed comfort in the first place. Supergirl didn't belive in me when Kara built up my confidence and trust. She was the only reason I was trying to do the right thing anyways. I needed to protect Kara from Supergirl's and Lex's war. If- If I had known earlier... everything would have been different." "Lena..." Lena takes a shuddering breath before whispering her next confession, "I only avoided pursuing Kara because of my rocky relationship with Supergirl... I didn't want Kara to get hurt because of my brother or because I pissed off National City's hero. I killed Lex to protect her. I had planned to team up with Supergirl to protect her... Everything could have been different." Alex is staring at her wide eyed. She wasn't expecting this level of honesty in their little chat. A pestering thought in the back of her mind persisted that she is taking advantage of her weakened condition. But- but part of her screams internally at how dumb the both of these grown ass women are. In a soft and caring voice, she whispers, "It can still be different..."