SuperCorp+

Enthusiastic Appreciation (Part 3)

The night of the gala, Lena imbibed a bit too much for a coherent conversation about the previous events of the evening. When she awoke the next morning, Kara was already gone, busy with Supergirl duties. It was several days before the opportunity presented itself for the two to discuss that transpired in their walk-in closet. It was in their shared home, just after Lena gets in from a long day at the Lena Luthor Foundation.

Almost surprised at seeing the blonde cosey on their couch, Lena approaches cautiously. "Kara, have you been avoiding me?" The tone of insecurity did not escape either woman.

"No. No, no. Of course not."

Lena holds back a sigh at the almost too quick answer. "You know that if you have a limit or a boundary, I will respect it... unequivocally."

Kara's brows furrow at the seriousness of the conversation. She moves on the couch to make room for Lean to join her. "I know that, Lee. I promise. I haven't been avoiding you. Where is this coming from?"

"I- I just- Can't help but notice... even since I caught you in the closet..." Lena plops down at the far end of the couch, just out of reach.

A heavy silence fills the space.

"So, I wasn't making it up in my head..." Lena sounds so dejected. She starts picking at her fingernails, a nervous habit. "I'm so sor-"

"Lee, no. Please don't." Kara is quick to wrap up Lena's hands in her own.

"But I-"

"No. I can't deny that I avoided the next morning... but no. Don't be sorry. I... loved it. I need you to know that." Kara is desperate for Lena to look at her, to understand.

Lena gives a heavy sigh. Her hands still in the warmth of Kara's, but she can't look into those earnest blue eyes. "I'm still sor-"

"No."

"Are you not going to let me say it?" her tone taking a sharp turn. She finally makes eye contact.

"No. I'm not," Kara says fiercely. "As embarrassed as I was... I loved it. I love everything you did and said... We weren't in a place to discuss it that night, and there was something about acknowledging it in the light of day. I- I just... the embarrassment got the better of me. But it was the good type of embarrassment. I- I just couldn't face it."

"That doesn't inspire confidence, dear... You didn't want to talk about it. I clearly crossed a line-"

"I promise you that you didn't. I just- I just don't know how to talk about it... about what you do to me."

Lena squeezes Kara's hands. "I need you to be able to safe word... I need to know that you will stop me when I go too far. I felt like I've gone too far and pushed you past your limits – like you don't trust me to stop."

"Lena, I swear on my planet, my culture, that I will tell you if you go too far. You didn't."

"Then why have you been actively avoiding it?" Lena's eyes drop. Kara hates seeing the woman's confidence plummet.

"Because... I wasn't ready to..." Kara cuts Lena off as she opens her mouth. "I wasn't ready to admit that I derived pleasure from you enjoying that you rile me up so much. It's not about you... It's internalized. I'm supposed to be the most powerful, invincible being – and yet... You have control over me. And I love it. The fact that I love it and enjoy the power you have... it should be forbidden... impossible in my culture. You didn't cross a line. I feel like I have crossed a line with my own culture."

"Darling, I never want to make you feel that way..."

"But I do. I want to feel powerless sometimes. I want to feel your control over me. I just feel guilt for wanting that."

Lena stares at her, scrutinizing her sincerity. "I need you to be honest with me. We only work when we are completely transparent with each other."

Kara nods with some reservation.

"Did you enjoy it more than you felt ashamed?"

Kara spends a good amount of time thinking about it. And Lena doesn't pressure her. She wants Kara to think about it – to answer it honestly.

"Yes." Kara's voice is just a whisper, but Lena hears it perfectly. Kara sees her physically relax at the admission.

Lena nods after a moment. "I think – I think what you've described is sub-drop, Kara. I think it's worth you reading about it and us discussing this again in the future. I know we've discussed a lot in our dynamic, but I need you to research it on your own and tell me if you agree or not. Sub-drop is something that we shouldn't ignore or avoid." Kara nods her head silently in agreement. They sit in the truth for a few minutes before Kara asks her own question.

"Did- did you- really like...?" She doesn't know how to finish her question.

Lena doesn't have to think about it. "Yes. I loved it. I love that I have that effect on you – that I turn you on so much that you need to cool yourself off – that in moment, you physically needed to use your powers to cope with what I did to you. That you were that turned on by me... I know it's my Luthor genes shining through, but... but it turns me on that you get so turned on by me that you can't function without using your powers... I can't put it into words how much I love that..."

Kara interrupts her, "But we've always had that dynamic? You've always had power and control over me."

"But that was always in a context that we negotiated. This... you do – or did – perfectly on your own. You were so turned on that you felt compelled to create your own snowstorm. Without me knowing. Without me telling you to. This was completely organic. You felt so turned on by me."

"But that's nothing new, Lee. You just look at me a certain way, and I'm turned on."

"Charmer." Kara smiles as she sees Lena smile. "This is still different. To have you need to resort to superpowers to cope with what I do to you... I don't know how else to describe it. It's – it's just hot."

"So... if I told you that I need a snowstorm right now...."

Green eyes dilate. "Don't you dare."

Kara's sharp inhale starts off a night that will never be forgotten.