#the lore of Gerald the cactus continues

[vox-ex]

heist

supercorptober 2023

I′ve waited 'til the moment's right To look into those starry eyes And say the words That I′m thinking all the time - The Hunts, I Do

or Kara's plans to propose almost go awry, because of course they don't.

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"Aunt Kara"

Esme whispered, tugging gently on her sleeve, her eyes round with worry.

"Yeah Bug"'

"Why are we breaking into Aunt Lena's office?" Momma says that's something robbers do."

Kara pinched the bridge of her nose, the two of them stopped just outside of Lena's office.

"Of course she does." She kneeled down in front of Esme. "Listen..."

Kara bit her lip, contemplating how to answer. They were just getting something back that wasn't even supposed to be in there. Something that belonged to her anyway. Something that no one but her currently knew even existed. But how could she explain all that to a six-year-old?

"Well, we're, uh, we're just entering, no breaking? So it's fine."

But Esme was clearly not entirely convinced.

"So why do we have to be all sneaky then? She rocked back and forth on her feet. "Is it because that lady at the desk doesn't like you?"

"Wh-what, who, Jess, no Jess, Jess likes me. I bought her a cactus." Kara insisted

"Gerald?" Esme eyes widened with curiosity. "She said you almost killed Gerald once."

Kara chuckled nervously.

"That was like more than a year ago, and, if anything, Gerald almost killed me!."

She looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was close enough to hear them.

She lowered her voice again just in case.

"Jess is just suspicious and very very protective."

But Esme had moved already on.

"Is it because we're on a secret mission then?"

"That"— she grinned, ruffling Esme's hair — "is exactly why."

Kara stood up and reached for Esme's hand, leading her into Lena's office.

"I left something super secret in Aunt Lena's coat, and we need to get it back."

Kara's eyes darted nervously around the office.

Her gaze falling on a coat draped over the back of a nearby chair just as Esme's hand slipped from hers, going straight for it without hesitation.

"I see it!"

So much for being sneaky.

"Great job, Bug

But Kara couldn't help but smile at her niece's enthusiasm.

Kara joined her on the other side of the room where Lena's coat, well technically her coat, was lying. She reached out tentatively, her fingers brushing against the soft material before slipping into the pocket, her breath catching when she found the ring box seemingly untouched.

She glanced at Esme, who grinned back at her, and slipped the box into her own pocket just as the door behind them opened.

She turned, heart pounding in her chest.

"Jess thinks you're in here planning a heist of some sort," Lena's voice filled the room, her smirking figure appearing in the doorway.

Esme immediately ran to her, arms wrapping around Lena's legs and head resting against her stomach.

"Hi, my love," Lena greeted warmly, her eyes flicking over to Kara with a raised eyebrow.

Esme smiled up at her.

"Don't worry, we're just entering, but not breaking."

"Well, that's reassuring; never can be quite sure about that second part with your Aunt."

"Hey!" Kara protested, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks. "I don't think I'm the only one to blame for at least several of the things broken in this office."

She watched as Lena's cheeks flushed pink too.

"Uh-huh. Well, to what do I owe your entering?"

Kara nudged Esme gently, and she proudly grinned at Lena.

"We came to take you to lunch!"

"You did, did you?" Lena asked, amusement dancing in her eyes as she looked between them. "Hmm, well, I suppose I could do with some lunch."

As they prepared to leave, Kara noticed Lena picking up her coat, her heart fluttering when she paused with it in her hands.

"Well, that's silly."

"What is?"

Lena turned the coat back and forth.

"I must have grabbed your coat instead of mine this morning. Sorry about that. I was in such a hurry that I didn't even realize or apparently even bother to hang it up when I came in."

"It's okay." Kara shrugged her shoulder, gripping the box in her pocket again as if to make sure it was still her.

With the other, she reached out for Lena's hand, thumb subtly ghosting over her ring finger as she threaded their finger together.

"I didn't even realize either."

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read and follow along on Ao3 too

[vox-ex]

morning + enchanted

supercorptober 2023

"you are full of cloudy subtleties I am willing to spend a lifetime figuring out." - Kafka

or Kara and Lena wake up after their first night together as a couple

(featuring the origin story of Gerald the cactus)

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When Lena walked out in the kitchen that morning, there were a few things different about her apartment.

Some more so than others.

The cool air coming in through the open window that she usually left closed.

Noticeable.

The smell of coffee mixed with the undercurrents of tea that she preferred.

Noticeable

Kara leaning against the counter, goofy smile peaking over the rim of her mug.

Very noticeable.

"Hi." Kara's voice was a little sleepy still, a little rough, but gentle, so, so gentle.

Gentle like her hands had been.

Gentle like her lips had been.

Gentle like her heart had been.

Lena walked over and took the mug from her hands, placing it on the counter so she could slip into the space in front of her, letting her hands settle on her waist as she pulled her closer.

Kissing her like they were still tangled in her sheets.

"Morning," Lena whispered against her lips, pressing the words into place with a smile before resting her forehead against Kara's.

""Mmm, Morning." Kara replied, grinning from ear to ear, fingers pressing into the small of her back.

Very, very noticeable.

Lena couldn't help but laugh at Kara's infectious smile.

She placed her hand on Kara's chest, fingers twisting in the fabric of her shirt, teasing the skin underneath as she pulled away.

Kara's smile only grew wider as she leaned in and kissed Lena again, chasing after her.

"I'm going to have to get ready, or else Jess is going to get suspicious when I'm late."

Lena said, breaking the kiss reluctantly.

Kara pouted, but allowed her to slip out of her grasp.

"Jess is already going to be suspicious. You're way too happy for a Thursday meeting with the Board." Kara said with a laugh.

Lena just shrugged and grinned. Taking the cup of tea Kara pushed towards her.

"I think it's you that should be more worried. She's probably going to give you a shovel talk when she figures out we're finally together."

"Okay, one, I'm a little impressed you know what a shovel talk is. Two, I have a plan for that already."

Kara lifted her coffee mug towards the end of the counter.

Lena arched her eyebrow and looked to where she was pointing.

A small cactus sat at the end.

A very not noticeable difference that had gone overlooked among all the others.

"A cactus?"

"A present," Kara said more enthusiastically. "For Jess. To you know, distract her. Maybe buy us a day or two before she realizes there is an Us. And also to you know..."

Kara waved her hand a bit between the cactus and herself, small drops of coffee spilling onto the white countertop.

"You're trying to, what, enchant Jess with a cactus?"

Kara's brow crinkled at the implication of Lena's word choice.

"Enchant sounds a little strong. She likes me...enough....maybe just show her I mean, you no harm."

"By giving her something prickly."

Lena watched her brow furrow even further.

"No, no, it's fuzzy...look at it." Kara walked over to the cactus, leaning down so she was eye level with it. "It's so cute."

Lena smiled and walked over next to her, leaning down to the same level so she could look at the cactus too.

It was cute.

And she didn't have the heart to tell Kara it wasn't actually as 'fuzzy' as it looked.

So she just turned and pressed a kiss into her temple instead.

"Well, I think you're cute."

Lena could feel the corners of her mouth lifting into a smile, her eyebrow raising up with it.

"That's not the word you used last night."

Her cheeks flush at the memory.

Very, very, very noticeable.

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read and follow along on A03 too (see desk and heist for the Gerald 🌵 trilogy )