Chapter Text
On Earth 792, Lex Luthor’s attempt to kill Superman instead killed Lex and the entire world knew that Lex did it to himself. No one blamed the Man of Steel for what happened. Lena and Lillian Luthor had moved LutherCorp to National City to get away from the memories of Metropolis, renamed the company, and to mark a new start. Lena hoped to find a way to work with Supergirl but that path never materialized. She did run into the Girl of Steel at a few public events but opportunities to try to convince the Kryptonian to work with her never arose.
Years passed and after 9 years in National City, Lena had just turned 32. She was one of the most successful CEOs on the planet and she’d even had her own scientific discoveries for which she’s been nominated for a Nobel Prize in Physics. She hadn’t won but she lived in elite company. Unfortunately, that company tended to fail her on the romantic front. Things hadn’t worked out with Jack Spheer but his death still had shocked her. Andrea Rojas turned out to be manipulative and less interested in Lena than in what she could get from Lena. She’d been really in love with Lucy Lane and while she believed that Lucy loved her, they got along like water and oil, which is to say not at all. She did end up friends with Lucy, who was now a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army.
It was a chilly day in February when she was standing on the balcony of her office and Sam Arias floated down to set foot beside her. “Out being a hero again?” asked Lena.
“I have the abilities,” said Sam. “I feel like I should use them.”
“Supergirl has been around less lately. What’s up with that?” Lena and the entire city had noticed and she knew Sam knew who Supergirl really was. She also knew Sam would never tell her, out of respect for the Girl of Steel.
“Just some personal things,” said Sam.
“Personal things? Relationship things?” asked Lena.
“Do you remember how I met that FBI agent a few years ago? Alex Danvers?” asked Sam.
“I do. You said you finally found someone who didn’t care that you were Kryptonian,” said Lena.
“Supergirl hasn’t been that lucky. She’s 35, Lena, and has been dumped 4 times from long term relationships, each time because someone didn’t want the pressure of being Supergirl’s partner,” said Sam. “She’s just hurting right now and took some time away from patrolling. She’s available if anything big happens but she wanted some time to think.”
“She needs to find her Alex,” said Lena. “You two are such a great couple. Is Ruby coming home for the summer? She keeps me in the loop. Dean’s List at Stanford. You should be proud of your daughter.”
“Yes, she’s planning to come home,” said Sam.
“Any special boys in her life yet?” asked Lena with a mischievous grin.
“Nope,” said Sam. “She has the same problem I did. She’s half Kryptonian but seems to have all of my powers and the boys either think she’s too much or want something from her.”
“She’ll find her Alex too someday,” said Lena.
“Speaking of which,” said Sam, “are you jumping back into the dating pool any time soon?”
“If I see anyone interesting,” said Lena. “I try to follow Maya Angelou’s advice - always have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.”
“Maybe you should see Cat Grant,” said Sam. “She’s played matchmaker to lots of famous couples over the years.”
“How well do you know Cat?” asked Lena.
“Pretty well,” said Sam. “I know her through Kara Danvers, the Pulitzer Prize nominee on her staff who is probably her top reporter.”
“That makes sense,” said Lena. “Ms. Danvers seems to know most of the superheroes out there.”
Sam eyed Lena for a long moment as if she were weighing something but then she said, “I should get back to my office.”
Lena laughed. “Even stepping out from the job on occasion, you’re still the best CFO in the world, Sam.”
“I appreciate you letting me do that and not firing me for it,” said Sam.
“I’m sure Supergirl has some similar arrangement wherever she works,” said Lena.
“She does,” said Sam. “Oh, I still think you should go see Cat Grant. She might be able to pair you up with someone who can finally keep up with you.”
“I’ll take that under advisement,” said Lena as Sam stepped out of her office.
Lena had considered Sam’s recommendation over dinner. She certainly didn’t want to try a dating app and maybe Cat could find someone who could keep up with her. She decided to pay Cat a visit. They agreed to meet for lunch at a restaurant both of them liked downtown.
When Lena arrived, Cat was already seated. As she sat down, she asked, “How have you been, Cat?”
“I’m doing quite well,” said Cat, “but you said this was personal and not professional. What’s up?”
“I broke up with Lucy about nine months ago,” said Lena. “I’m 32 and my personal life is the only part of my life that feels like it’s out of control. Sam reminded me that you have a reputation for putting people together so I thought I’d ask if there’s anyone who comes to mind that you think I might get along with but who can keep up with me.”
Cat stared at her for a long moment then said, “Did Sam ever tell you that I put her and Alex together?”
“You did? You know Alex Danvers?” asked Lena.
“She’s just the sister of my star reporter,” said Cat. “Of course I know her.”
“So you’re looking to get back into the dating scene. You want someone who’s going to overlook that you’re a billionaire. And you want someone who can keep up with you. That’s a tall order, Lena,” said Cat.
“I realize that and I realize that finding my person might be difficult, maybe impossible, but I have to try,” said Lena. “I refuse to believe that there isn’t someone out there for me.”
“I think I have the perfect person for you,” said Cat. “She’s brilliant, witty, except when in the company of a woman she has a crush on and then she can get tongue tied, and quite successful in her own field. And I am rather certain that money doesn’t really impress her as much as who someone really is inside.”
“This sounds promising,” said Lena. “Who is this mystery woman?”
“It’s Kara Danvers, my star reporter,” said Cat. “I don’t even know why she went into reporting now that I’ve gotten to know her over the years. She’s a genius, she’s driven to excel, and you being a billionaire won’t phase her at all. Did you know she speaks multiple languages?”
“She wouldn’t see me as a reporting opportunity, would she?” asked Lena.
“Of course not!” said Cat. “She’s ethical to a fault and would never do that to someone she’s personally involved with. She is, however, a little bit wounded right now. Bad breakup a month ago. I’m sure you can understand. I can’t guarantee that she’ll accept but if she does, may I give her your number or get permission to give you hers?”
Lena thought about it for a few moments. Cat’s praises were rare but she clearly like her number one reporter. Plus Ms. Danvers was a Pulitzer nominee. She and Kara had that in common - nominated but not yet having won their prizes in their respective fields. Cat herself had a near genius IQ and she wouldn’t be singing Kara Danvers praises unless she believed it. Finally, Cat seemed sure that Lena being a billionaire wasn’t going to be a problem with Ms.Danvers.
“Yes, you can,” said Lena. “I’m actually hoping she calls now. She sounds more interesting that anyone else I’ve dated lately.”
“See if you can get her to show you her paintings. She’s an extraordinary artist!” said Cat with clear praise.
“She paints too?” asked Lena. “Is this a Renaissance Woman we’re discussing?”
“Maybe,” said Cat. “She does many things. I’ve never known her to not excel at anything she chose to do.”
Lena was intrigued but whether or not Ms. Danvers called depended on whether Cat could convince her to give Lena a chance.
As Cat rode her elevator up to the main CatCo floor, she texted Kara. My office, now, please.
Kara was waiting for her when she got off the elevator.
“Shift my 1 pm back to 2 pm,” said Cat to her assistant. “And shift the 1:30 meeting to 3 pm.”
“Got it, Ms. Grant!” said the young woman.
Cat entered her office and Kara followed. After Cat set her purse and her latte down on her desk, she walked back to the couch and sat, patting the surface indicating Kara should sit too.
“How are you doing?” asked Cat gently.
“I’m okay,” said Kara.
“I hope you’re not giving up on dating and finding your person,” said Cat.
“Maybe I’m not supposed to find someone, Ms. Grant,” said Kara. “I’m the stranger on this world. I’m the one who doesn’t belong here.”
“Sam and Alex are doing well together,” said Cat gently. “Maybe your Alex is out there too.”
“If I weren’t Supergirl, maybe,” said Kara, “but once I decided to wear that symbol, to show my face to the world, maybe I cut myself off from having any kind of normal life.”
“Normalcy is overrated,” said Cat. “What if I told you that I know someone who might be your perfect match? Someone who is used to public scrutiny and handles it well. Someone who has her own security to help keep her safe. Someone who is brilliant, talented, thoughtful, kind, and who loves charity and science as much as succeeding in business. Someone who, dare I even say this? Someone who might convince you to change careers, embrace your full self, and live fully and authentically?”
“Such a person doesn’t exist,” said Kara, “and if she did, she’d want nothing to do with me.”
“Kara, who do you see as one of the greatest friends to aliens over the last nine years, after Presidents Marsdin and Brayden?” asked Cat.
“You,” said Kara without hesitation.
“Now that you’re done flattering me, try again,” commanded Cat.
Kara looked at Cat strangely. “Lena Luthor? She should have women hanging all over her!”
“Yes, Lena, and she has the same problem you do, except she’s already known to the world,” said Cat. “And the relationships she’s had haven’t worked out for the best. Would you like to meet her? Would you like to let her take you on a date?”
“Ms. Grant, thank you but I really don’t think…” but Cat waved her hand and cut her off. “I’ll take that as a yes then.”
Kara’s shoulders slumped. She knew she couldn’t talk Cat out of this so she’d go on the date. “Okay, give her my number,” said Kara, “but not a word back if I end up saying I told you so.”
“Kara, if you give this a chance, you’ll end up thanking me,” said Cat. “Can the Hopebringer have a little faith and hope for once? Please?”
Kara nodded her assent. There would be no getting out of this date now.