World's Between Us

Chapter 1:Up,Up and Gone Away

"Don't worry. I've got you."

And suddenly Lena is no longer falling to her death. Her screams cease when the breath is knocked out of her by the force of Supergirl's arms stopping her descent. She's flying. Lena Luthor is flying when a moment ago she was dying. Supergirl's mouth is close to her ear, Lena's arms somehow around her neck.

"I've got you." The heroine repeats, softly.

She's here. Lena thinks. How? When? None of that matters now. Supergirl flies them up back towards Lena's balcony.

"Drop something?" The woman asks snidely. Lena feels safe and smug all the sudden, like nothing could ever hurt her. Like her mother's thugs were fools for even trying.

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Later, Lena sits alone in her office. She'd taken her hair down and poured herself a glass of scotch once the police left. They'd taken the Cadmus lackeys away in handcuffs once they'd recovered from Supergirl's wrath. Lena found a small amount of satisfaction in that. They'd also taken away Alana, the treacherous little spy that had been watching her for months on behalf of Lillian. Just the thought made the scotch in Lena's stomach churn.

The television is on, but Lena had muted it. A news anchor was currently reporting on the latest anti-alien plot to be foiled by Supergirl. A giant space ship was parked haphazardly in the desert outside the city. Police and government agents were still setting up a perimeter, struggling to hold the press back. The headline on the bottom of the screen read: Lillian Luthor Escapes Once Again. Lena sighs deeply, running a trembling hand through her hair.

Who could she possibly trust with her mother on the loose? Anyone could be a spy or an assassin. Who could she count on?

Lena hears a sound at the balcony, drawing her attention away from the muted screen. Supergirl is standing outside. The blonde lifts her hand and gives an awkward wave. Lena smiles, despite her still shaken state. She stands up and goes out onto the balcony, trying not to think about tumbling over the edge just a few hours earlier.

"You're still here." Supergirl says looking at Lena with concern. The superhero looks exhausted, which Lena thought was impossible. She stood tall with her fists on her hips as always, but there was something in the slope of her shoulders, the way she leaned slightly against the wall. Lena took another sip of her drink before responding.

"Yes, well, the police just left a little while ago. They had a lot of...questions." They had spent the better part of their time harassing Lena about her mother and brother, making jokes. Supergirl seems to understand Lena's frustration. She relaxes, dropping her hands to her sides, and stepping closer to Lena.

"I'm sorry you had to deal with that." Supergirl's face is sincere, and Lena finds herself fidging under her sympathetic gaze. Lena goes to step toward the railing, but hesitates, remembering the feeling of the metal pressing into her back, then falling away as she went over. Her heart starts pounding and she instead takes a step back. Supergirl notices and steps closer to Lena, placing a reassuring hand on her elbow to steady her.

"Hey, you alright? What you went through today... Anyone would be rattled."

Lena gives her a small smile. She brings a hand up to her chest as if to calm her still racing heartbeat. Can Supergirl hear it? She wonders.

"You'd think I'd be use to the near death experiences by now, but they're honestly not getting any less terrifying." Lena says finishing her drink. Supergirl smiles sympathetically, and let's her hand fall from Lena's arm. They both lean back against the window, side by side, as far from the railing as possible. "It seems I have no need to worry, though." Lena continues turning her head to smile at the blonde. "Somehow, you're always there to save me." Supergirl smiles strangely, looking out at the city and shaking her head.

"You're no damsel, Ms. Luthor." The woman says firmly, then with a little laugh

"Though you are in distress alot." They both laugh then, it's light and casual, and Lena's unsure what's happening between them. They stand in silence for a long moment, looking out at the city. Lena can't read the heroine's face, can't imagine what she must be thinking after a day like today.

"Why are you here?" Lena wonders aloud. She's not sure what she's asking though.

Why are you here on this planet? Why are you always here rescuing me, a Luthor? Why are you here standing so close I can feel your warmth?

Supergirl turns to face Lena, resting her head against the glass and crossing her arms.

"I wanted to see if you were okay." It's simple and kind, the woman's blue eyes genuine, but Lena looks away uncomfortably. She looks down at her empty glass, wishing it were full.

"I don't even know what that word means." She says, sadly. Supergirl reaches forward, placing a finger under Lena's chin, gently turning her head to look at her.

"Hey," those blue eyes bore into Lena, bright and fierce in the moonlight.

"It means you're still alive." Supergirl says firmly "It means that today was tough, but you're still here. And you're not going anywhere." Her hand is barely touching Lena, but her skin still seems to burn against her chin. Lena is holding her breath. Supergirl's face softens and she drops her hand away. Lena misses it once it's gone.

"Do you want me to fly you home?" Supergirl asks, as if it's the most normal question in the world. Lena tries to laugh off the intensity of the previous moment.

"No, no, " she says stepping back toward the door "though I now know falling is considerably worse, I'm still not fond of flying." Supergirl laughs and grins wickedly as she steps away and hovers in the air.

"Your loss then."

Lena remembers the feeling of Supergirl's strong arms cradling her, the rise and fall of the woman's chest against her side, the whisper against her ear.

I've got you.

"Goodnight, Supergirl." Lena says feeling heat rising in her cheeks.

"Goodnight, Ms. Luthor."

Then she's up up and gone away.