Is it Gravity (or are we Falling in Love?)

Chapter 11

6 months ago.

Game night was a foreign term familiar five years ago when Kara invited Lena to her apartment for game night for the first time and met her closest friends outside professional settings. Said Kara's closest friends became her closest friends after the first three nights (oddly enough, while most of the games they play are extremely divisive it also makes for special bonds as Nia likes to call it).

And today is just another game night. Lena has lost count of how many times she's turned up even though there are other things she could be doing, things such as writing her paper, working on projects, or reviewing reports and paperwork—basically just work. She's boring and productive like that.

But Kara Danvers is her best friend, and because of that she has a social life.

(Who would've thought?)

By the time everyone has said their goodbyes and there's only the two of them left in Kara's apartment, Lena is pleasantly tipsy—buzzed enough to feel warm and soft and silly but not drunk enough to feel dizzy or sad. She allows herself to indulge in the comfort of Kara's presence and home, lets herself stay in because Kara always lets her. Their friends don't question them about it, but what they do is throw sly comments here and there, being the insufferable little shits they are.

Of course, Lena is extremely aware of the teasing. Kara is easy to tease, easy to turn into a blushing mess, and it's terribly cute—ridiculously endearing, and because of that Kara gets the short end of the stick. Lena's also aware of the way her name gets thrown around in these conversations. She hears them, and she doesn't pretend to be oblivious about it.

She understands the comments and teasing. Really. She flirts with Kara, that's true—they always have ever since they first met. It comes easy to them and it never leads to anywhere. Kara's like that—she likes it, goes along with it, enjoys the harmless stuff. There's also some touching here and there that, if you want to see in a certain way, might seem flirtatious. Lena doesn't want to blow her own horn, but she doesn't want to be terribly oblivious about that, too. And the thing is, this has been happening more and more recently.

Ignoring all the complications of being overly flirty with someone you find extremely attractive and endearing, it all boils down to this: it's light and fun. However, it doesn't stop Lena from apologizing whenever she thinks things she might've gotten too far. Like just before, when Winn was badgering Kara in the kitchen and Lena heard her name. Lena had stepped in, and quipped, stop teasing her, Winn, or else we'll start making out right in front of you and just like that, it shut Winn up real good.

"I'm sorry if I was a little too much," Lena says, taking a slow stretch after parting with Alex and Kelly by the door. "Before, I mean." Joining Kara on the couch, she watches her gather the leftover bottles on the coffee table.

"You weren't," Kara says, picking up an unopened can. "Not at all. You know you're real smooth, you know? You keep me on my toes. And you know how to shut people up. His face was so priceless—Rao I wish I'd snapped a picture of it."

Lena wrinkles her nose and feels the numbing of her face from the alcohol. There's a blinding grin on Kara's face as she laughs softly, her eyes shaping into lovely little crescents. Lena knows she's staring longer than she should when Kara's laugh dies down and those blue eyes stare at her right back.

Kara's smile softens. Lena looks away and eyes at the table in front of her.

"I know things have been a little different recently between us," Lena says a moment later, and picks up a glass. "But we've never talked about it, you know? I just want you to tell me if it ever gets too much. Or if I should stop. I would never want to do anything that'd make you feel uncomfortable."