Supercorp- One shots

Take Flight

"This is dumb."

"It's not dumb."

"Yes it is, I'm not doing it."

"Lena."

"Sam."

"Ruby!"

"This isn't a role call, sweetheart." Sam says, smiling at her daughter who strolls in from the next room. "But hello."

"Hi, I just wanted to be included," the girl says, settling down on the sofa and leaning into her mother, "what are you guys talking about?"

"I think your auntie Lena should take flying lessons to help her get over her fear of flying."

Lena leans over Sam to catch Ruby's eye.

"And I think your mother is an idiot."

"Hey!" Sam and Ruby object together.

"Thank you, baby," Sam says, ruffling Ruby's hair.

"Only I'm allowed to call her an idiot," Ruby says, laughing when Sam stops ruffling and pushes her head away from her instead.

"Traitor," she mumbles, moving to tickle Ruby who squeals in anticipation.

"Well, it seems you two have an evening full of mother-daughter bonding ahead of you," Lena makes to stand up, brushing her hands on her jeans, "so I'll just get out of your hair."

"Nope," Sam grabs the back of Lena's sweater and tugs, pulling her back down onto the couch, "not happening. I'm serious about the plane thing."

"But why ?" Lena asks, tipping her head back. "What brought this up?"

"Jess called me."

"Of course she did," Lena grumbles, taking her wine glass from the table and cradling it, "she's the worst."

"She's the best and you know it," Sam dismisses. "She did actually call to confirm something work-related, but we moved on."

"I don't pay her for casual chit chat."

"She mentioned a string of cancellations," Sam continues, completely ignoring Lena, "meetings, conferences, factory checks, things like that, either cancelled or attended by someone who is not you."

Lena swallows more wine, frowning at Sam.

"Your point?"

"My point," Sam goes on, "is that you are refusing to attend anything that requires a plane journey to get there."

Busted.

Sam knows Lena hates flying. Jess knows Lena hates flying. Her awful family knows Lena hates flying. Pretty much anyone with a close working relationship to Lena knows she hates flying. And it's not a big deal.

"It's not a big deal."

"Of course it's not," Sam says kindly, "but it is when your phobia is getting in the way of your work."

"It's not a phobia," Lena is quick to defend, "I'm not scared."

"And I'm not a bastard," Ruby drawls sarcastically.

"Ruby!"

"What?" Ruby turns wide innocent eyes on her scandalised mother. "I am a bastard! Born out of wedlock!"

"This isn't medieval times," Sam scolds. "Are we surrounded by horses and British accents? Do we live in a barn?"

Ruby frowns, confused.

"That's not what the medieval times were like."

"Whatever," Sam waves a hand around sternly. "Jesus, Rubes, you can't call yourself that."