The Heat of Ice

6.

Kara is angry when she makes her rounds on the rink the next morning. The fact that Lena seems to have suddenly incorporated a quad and change up her routine for the first time in a year means that she most likely had known Kara was aiming to beat the record this year. Trying to get close to Kara to see what her competition looks like. 

Was she lying about her wanting to finish this season to finally get away from Lillian? Why would she want to if apparently she had been reporting to her mom what Kara had been up to? There is no way her attempting the quad is a coincidence. How could it be?

Kara was quickly skating around the rink now, almost flying around the room, she was moving so quickly. Wrestling between the idea of Lena lying to her this entire and the other Lena that seemed kind and nothing like her family. Could Kara really be this gullible? It seems obvious why people were concerned for her safety so much that she needed a body guard. But something about questioning Lena made her feel guilty, as if she knew deep down Lena really seemed to be misunderstood.

That's when she heard the bang of the heavy door close to the room. Startling Kara, causing her to fall to the rink's floor, skidding across the ice to break her fall.

"Ow," Kara mumbles as she pulls herself up from the wall of the rink.

"Woah!" Lena exclaims as she ran to the closest wall of the rink to check on Kara. Once she was next to Kara she asked, "are you okay? I didn't mean to startle you."

Kara gets up and skates toward the door, Lena following on foot close beside her. 

Kara walks out to sit on the bench to remove her shoes. Lena sitting next to her.

"You don't have to leave..." Lena says quietly, "I know you are probably upset with me."

Kara pauses, side-eyeing her before saying, "Why would you think that?"

"I'm not daft. You probably feel threatened by me," Lena states.

"Wow. Confident much?" Kara began with a raised brow, "It seems like you barely have a quad in your routine. I can guarantee I am not threatened by that."

"I know you aren't threatened by that," Lena says calmly, feeling a pang of hurt at the harshness of Kara's words, "I meant you were probably threatened by my intentions, which I can assure you, you shouldn't be."

"Right," Kara says passively, continuing to untie her skates, as Lena begins to put her own pair on.

"If you want to skate with me for my warmup," Lena began, resting her hand on Kara's forearm to grab her attention, "maybe I can explain myself better?"

Kara sighs. Looking at where Lena was lightly touching her arm. Her hand warm to the touch and somehow creating almost a comforting feeling for Kara. Suddenly almost feeling guilty as she looks in Lena's eyes, seeing the sincerity.  

"Okay," Kara says looking up at Lena. Lena giving her a smile then removes her hand to stand next to the door of the rink, leaving a slight tingle where Lena had touch on Kara's arm.

They both move to the rink after they finish their laces, skating quietly next to each other for an awkward length of time, warmth tinging both of their cheeks. Lena chastises herself considering this to be a bad idea. What could she possibly say to Kara? That her mother is evil? Everyone already knows that.

Suddenly, as if they had planned it, they both blurt out, "I'm sorry," to each other, causing them both to laugh. 

Then Lena responds, "I am not sure why I deserve an apology."

Kara shrugs, "I don't know. I didn't really give you a chance to explain yourself."

"I don't blame you," Lena responds lightly.