Kiss it better (karamel AU)

9

It's a gloomy afternoon, full of grays and oranges and browns and soaked in autumn drizzles. The rain has stopped at last, but the breeze outside is cold and unwelcoming. Thus Mon-El finds himself cooped up in a cozy coffee shop, sipping a warm drink and quietly reading a book he hasn't had the chance to touch in a month.

There's an opened, read text on his lit-up phone screen, which he glances at every other minute, though it was sent ten minutes ago. He knows exactly what it says as well as the fact Kara should be arriving soon. Still, his gaze keeps going back, just before looking over at the door to check if she's here yet.

The place isn't overly crowded, but the blonde manages to sneak in at a moment Mon-El gets distracted by his book. She spots him quickly and heads his way with quiet, yet eager steps. "Hello, handsome," echoes her cheerful greeting, her head lowering to press a kiss on his cheek.

"Hello," he says back. Immediately, a smile appears on his face, while she proceeds to push her chair closer to his own and sits down, instead of settling across – and farther – from him. "Someone's in a good mood today."

"I always am when I get to see you."

"Really?" his response is instant. His gray eyes widen dramatically. "'Cause the two fuck off's and the three fuck you's I got the other day beg to differ."

Kara scoffs at his words. "Mornings when you wake me up at the crack of dawn and make me go running with you don't count," she says and reaches for his drink.

"Ugh, don't start. I didn't make you do anything." There's a pause so she can take a sip of his coffee, her smugness obvious although he doesn't mind the gesture. In reality, he watches her with an impressed – and quite enamored – countenance. "I suggested it and you agreed," he adds.

"Of course I agreed, I hadn't seen you in days! I'd missed you and you used my weakness against me," she puts the cup down only to swat at his arm half-heartedly.

Mon-El doesn't try to avoid the hit, simply chuckles at her and a smirk lingers afterwards. "So I'm your weakness, now? I like that."

An eye-roll comes to complement Kara's earlier scoff. "Like you didn't know it already."

"I did," he boasts, "but it's nice to hear you admitting it."

For a minute, they stay silent, their locked gazes saying everything their mouths wouldn't dare to. The blonde bites her lip, a nervous telltale he can easily recognize at this point, and he wants to kiss her. The way she looks, the distance she isn't afraid to eradicate, the faint blush on her cheeks from her earlier confession all mesmerize him and awaken his growing desire. But they're in a public place, and it's close enough to Kara's work that it's possible an acquaintance or colleague of hers might be around. Thus he restraints himself, even though he's certain she's thinking of the same thing — her brazen stare on his lips is an undeniable indication.

"So," she begins, putting an elbow on the table and resting her chin upon her palm. "Thanksgiving is coming soon."

"I know."

"Have you planned anything?"

"No, not yet," Mon-El shakes his head, "I might be working. I had the day off last year, so I'll probably be stuck in the hospital this time around." She gives him a nod. "What about you? What are your plans?"

A shrug is her response. "I usually have dinner with my family and some friends. My mom drives up here in the morning and we spend the whole day cooking before everyone gathers at my place."

"That sounds nice."

"It is. Usually. But Eliza and Alex had a big fight last week and I'm not in the mood to deal with them or play Switzerland. So I told them I'll be working until late and my sister will have to host this time. If they don't kill each other before dinner, I'm expecting it to be an interesting evening." She finishes her sentence with a forced grin which, alone, entails both a hint of amusement and a same old frustration that feels more like a well-known, accepted inconvenience at this point.