The Heat of Ice

3.

Lena was first on the ice this morning around 3:30am. Her routine is a little different from Kara's. She uses the alone time in the morning to pick apart her program and doing the dancing over and over to find the best places to place the energy to complete all of her jumps successfully. After about two runs of her short skate routine, she heard the door open to the rink. Kara had walked in dressed in her Team Canada gear, hair back in a sleek bun, and face adorning thick glasses. Lena had apparently did a good job of ignoring her if she didn't notice the glasses before. What can you even accomplish on the rink skating in glasses? 

Kara stops right next to the rink, "Well, I guess you beat me here today. I will just come back later."

As Kara turns around, Lena glides toward the door of the rink.

"Wait!" Lena exclaims hoping Kara will stop to chat.

Kara turns around with an unreadable look. Now Lena has caught up to her and they are standing on either sides of the door to the rink. Lena had never seen Kara this close. She always seemed to looked put together, but from this close it is very obvious she is stressed and exhausted.

"Um, I am almost finished, by the time you put your skates on I should be done for the morning," Lena says hoping Kara will stay.

"Alright," Kara says neutrally and avoiding her gaze as she goes to sit on the bench a few feet away.

Lena lingers for a slightly awkward length of time as she looks down at her skates.

"Um, is there anything else?" Kara asks with concern.

"Oh, uh, yea."

Kara looks expectantly, growing more confused the longer Lena stands there gathering her thoughts.

"I want to apologize..." Lena pauses.

Kara looks directly into her eyes with worry, making Lena even more anxious about the exchange. Lena looks away a bit before continuing.

"Well, considering the situation we are in, I feel like I could have been a bit more kind yesterday. Obviously a lot of people are uncomfortable around me, so I just wanted to make an effort to show you that I am not some scary threat to your safety or career like my stupid brother," Lena continued, becoming way more emotionally charged than anticipated.

"Oh, okay," Kara said while hesitating to continue, "I wasn't really uncomfortable, more shocked than anything because I figured I was busted, but then realized you also snuck away from your own security. I just thought it was a weird coincidence."

Lena looked back up toward her, not expecting her to say that she wasn't scared of her.

Kara continues, "Why did you not come with security? You are pretty much in the same situation as me, except worse, because people really don't like your last name."

Worse? How could she possibly think her situation is worse? The news has been making Kara out to be someone who needs from protection from me. Not vice versa, other than a few random articles without any sort of credibility.

"I'm confused," Lena says, "you're the one with more reason to worry."

"I am?" Kara asked teasingly to show Lena she's not actually worried.

"That's not what I mean obviously, I just meant with the media portraying me--"

"Lena, it's alright. I was joking, I can tell you are being genuine," Kara says while gracing Lena with a wonderful smile, "But if you want to make a name for yourself outside of the Luthor one, maybe be a little bit more open to conversations. Just a suggestion."

Kara then hopped on the rink, skating away for a warm up, essentially kicking Lena out. 

Maybe she's right. Maybe she should stop hiding herself away and be more open about who she is with the public to finally come through to them. Lena walked off to go nap before the day officially began.