Broken Hearts (SuperCorp)

Explosive Bonding

We sat outside a little French cafe with only a brick half wall separating our table from the scores of pedestrians strolling down the sidewalk. Some stare at Lena Luthor, owner of a multi-billion dollar company and sister of the infamous Lex Luthor, but all leave us in peace. Several bags of clothing surround Lena and I as we order lunch. My eyes went a little wide at the price of the food, even for lunch, but I saw Lena slip her card to the waitress and whisper that she shouldn't let me pay for anything. A small smile touched my lips at the gesture.

"So I know why I needed something fun to do, but why did you need to de-stress?" I ask as we wait for our food.

"It's Nasthalthia. I converted my home office into a bedroom for her and she just sits in there all day and night. I know she's grieving her mother, but when she does come out she's bitter and moody and lashes out at me. I am at a loss for what to do." Frustration is plain in Lena's voice.

I reach across the table and grasp her hand. She looks up at me with wet eyes but blinks them away and a small smile plays on her lips.

"Maybe we should do what you did for me. Not the shopping but maybe something else fun." Lena raises an eyebrow at me.

"We? You mean to join us?" she asks.

"I told you, you aren't alone. Plus if your paying, it will have to be fun." I laugh and gesture to the bags of clothing that cost about as much as my years salary.

"Thank you, Kara." She smiles and stares back into my eyes. Suddenly the food is at our table and I release the hand I still hold. We spend the rest of lunch trying to figure out where to take Nasthalthia. We settle on a local Professional Soccer match since she grew up in Europe. There was one tomorrow and Lena could get Center Field sideline seats. National City vs. Central City and it made me think fondly of a Scarlet Speedster, who I should probably go see soon now that Winn fixed the dimension jumper that Cisco invented.

"Okay, guess I'll meet you about an hour before kickoff outside the gate," I say. "I have to get going. I have some writing to do before work tomorrow or Snapper will have my head."

"Okay. Would you like help getting the bags home?" She hails down a taxi for me as I try to gather them. It would be simple for me to lift them but I pretend to struggle a bit with the weight as I load them into the trunk.

"No, I got it. Plus you have done enough for me today." I turn and hug her once the bags are settled in the trunk of the taxi. "Thank you for being such a good friend. I don't know what I would do without you."

I truly meant it, Lena had been my rock here lately. I love Alex but she was too happy right now and I couldn't ruin that. Lena was in almost the same place I was. Alone, except now we had each other to lean on.

Lena nods at my statement and breaks away from the hug.

"Goodbye. See you tomorrow." Lena turns to her driver/bodyguard so he can escort her to her own vehicle. After the near mugging, Lena hadn't gone anywhere without Dave, the muscular ex-Marine was paid very lucratively to protect Lena with his life.

"Hey, Dave!" I wave. He doesn't even acknowledge my existence. It's a fun game I play. Like how tourists always try to get the Queens Guard in Britain to smile. He was just a shadow who stayed just close enough to be able to intervene but never closer.

After a short taxi ride back to my building I haul the bags inside. Once out of the public eye I put all the bags easily in one hand and pull out my phone in the other as I ride the elevator up. I text Alex my plans for the next day if she (or the DEO) needs me. Once everything is put away I begin the process of re-editing my article on aliens and a new community outreach program a small group started. Mostly they are just cleaning up parks or helping in soup kitchens, but it was some positive publicity we need after everything that just happened.