Chapter Text
Lena couldn’t pin-point the moment she realised that nothing was ever going to happen between her and Kara Danvers, but she did realise the moment she was ok with this. She’d been reading over legal documents regarding the take-over of a start-up electronic components firm the Luthor Corporation was buying when she’d come to the realisation. The feeling was freeing, and made her want to do something, to go somewhere, to get out of National City for a couple of weeks to completely clear her mind. Lena rang for her secretary.
“Jess, there’s APEC Industry conference coming up, isn’t there?”
“It’s in a couple of weeks in Singapore,” Jess replied.
“I haven’t RSVP-ed?”
“No. I haven’t declined for you yet either. I wasn’t sure if you wanted to go.”
“I do,” Lena said. It had been years since she’d been to Singapore. Somewhere tropical and a very long way away sounded perfect. Plus major conferences like that meant plenty of research beforehand and plenty of meetings and work while on the ground, so Lena’s mind would be busy the whole time. “And I’ll stay for a fortnight afterwards as well. Lex has made a mess of everything, so it will be good to reconnect with our Asian business partners to clear everything up. Book me a suite at Marina Bay Sands, please.”
“Will do,” Jess said with a smile. “Would you like to fly in a private plane, or via an airline?”
“Airline,” Lena said. “Private planes are not the done thing at the moment. I know it’s across the ocean, but I’m flying alone, so airline is fine. I don’t mind if it’s business class, I know the direct flights from National City may not have first class and I can’t be bothered connecting in San Fran just for a suite.”
“I will forward you the confirmation emails shortly,” Jess said and left Lena’s office with an air of efficiency that Lena very much appreciated.
…
A couple of weeks later, Lena found herself in steamy, hot Singapore. The weather forecast was for thunderstorms and probable rain almost every day, but indoors was comfortably air-conditioned. Lena threw herself into work at the conference, meeting everyone she could, attending talks and events, and reconnecting with those she already knew. She arranged meetings for the following two weeks with those she wished to have a closer business relationship with, some of which the Luthor Corporation already did business with and were old friends, some who were lukewarm after Lex’s antics, and others Lena thought would be valuable connections in this part of the world. Of course, she knew there were others who wanted to meet with her because of her own position in the world of US business, and Lena was happy to oblige where she thought the benefits could be mutual. Each morning when she woke, Lena found that Jess had spent the evening Singapore-time filling up Lena’s calendar. Lena was glad.
When the final night of the conference came around, Lena couldn’t bring herself to go to dinner and drinks with all those men. She was exhausted, worn out from a week of networking, of talking, of wearing high heels. So far she’d seen next to nothing of the city, not that that bothered her very much, she never went site-seeing, and tonight she just wanted to sleep. After returning to her suite and taking a long, hot shower, Lena curled up on the couch in the waffle bathrobe provided by the hotel and turned on the TV. She’d order room service soon, she told herself, mindlessly flicking through the channels, hoping to find something mildly interesting in English or with English subtitles when her phone pinged.
Astrid:
Hello Lena. I know this is very much out of the blue, but I hear you're in town (you met my cousin Eddie Cheng at the APEC conference this week, and I believe you were unfortunate enough to set up a business meeting with him next week. Anyway, that's how I know you're here.) How are you? Would you like to catch up for a drink? I know a few places if you'd like that. Let me know 😊
Lena chuckled at the comment about being unfortunate to meet Eddie Cheng. He had a massive ego and laughed at his own jokes, Lena remembered that much about him. She hadn’t known, however, he was related to Astrid Leong. Lena stared at the message for a moment. She’d met Astrid at Oxford University where she’d done her Masters as a change from MIT for a year. Astrid had been studying arts, but they’d become friends, often going out in the evenings together and made a formidable pub trivia team. Astrid had been dating Charlie Wu back then, Lena recalled, but knew Astrid had ended up marrying someone else. It had been years since they’d been in touch. Lena had a feeling Astrid had had a child, but couldn’t remember if it was a boy or girl, or even work out how old the kid would be now.
But Lena now had the chance to find out all of that, as she found herself wanting to reconnect with Astrid. She’d always been so easy to talk to, the only reason they hadn’t remained friends was because they lived so far away, and occupied quite different worlds, Lena one of business and science, Astrid one of fashion and luxury.
Lena picked up her phone.
Lena:
That would be great, it would be lovely to see you. I’m free tonight or tomorrow, then back to meetings on Monday.
Lena pressed send and waited. As if Astrid would be free tonight, she told herself. Lena stared at the Malaysian soap with English subtitles playing on the TV. Astrid was married and had a kid. Or two? Lena found herself actually wanting to know. Her phone pinged again.
Astrid:
If you haven’t had dinner and want something other than room service, we could get something to eat tonight. Maybe see the lights in the Gardens or Marina Bay? If you haven’t already done so, or would like to do so again of course.
Cassian is at my parent’s place tonight.
Cassian, that was Astrid’s son’s name, Lena remembered. Interesting though, there was no mention of any husband. Were they still together? Was he out of the country? For some reason, Lena suspected the former to be the case.
Lena:
You read my mind, I was planning on room service! But going out for dinner would be nice. Seeing the lights too. I’ve spend almost all my time since I arrived here in the conference centre.
Astrid:
Then we are getting hawker food! I’ll come to you. Nowhere in the city is too far from wonderful food. Where are you staying?
Lena:
Marina Bay Sands.
Astrid:
I should have guessed, it’s where all the tourists stay. Actually, the food court there isn’t bad, and it’ll make for easy access to see the lights. I’ll meet you in the foyer in half an hour? Which tower are you in?
Lena:
Hawker food sounds perfect. Tower 3. See you soon 😊
Astrid:
See you soon 😁
Lena looked at all the smiling face emojis and read over the conversation, re-reading what she’d just agreed to. She was tired and her feet were sore, but the idea of getting dinner with Astrid Leong after all these years really did make her smile.
…
Lena had worried she might not recognise Astrid, but there she was, as beautiful as Lena remembered her, wearing a green shift-dress with a silver bangle and strappy sandals, her hair up high, and an unlabelled cross-body bag over her shoulder, which Lena was sure was vintage.
“Astrid,” Lena smiled as she approached.
“Lena, hi. How lovely to see you,” Astrid said with a smile, and gave Lena a warm embrace. Astrid smelt nice, Lena thought, and she gave good hugs too.
“It’s lovely to see you too,” Lena said. “And to see someone who doesn’t want something financial from me.”
Astrid chuckled. “Eddie wants all sorts from you.”
“Ugh, I know,” Lena said, but quickly changed her tone, not wanting to sound rude. “I didn’t realise he was your cousin. He - he’s quite… persistent.”
“He’s pushy, and a pain in the neck,” Astrid said. “And completely up himself. And laughs at his own terrible jokes.”
“I noticed that too! His jokes are terrible.”
“Oh, I know, they’re so bad. I saw him last night at Friday Night Dinner at our grandmother’s place, and he wouldn’t stop talking about how he’d met you and was going get his way because of some sexist reasons about men in business being superior to women. Not that he’d like me telling you he said that. And not that you shouldn’t do business with him, just don’t let him get the upper hand, the family would never hear the end of it. Sorry, you probably don’t want to talk business.”
“It’s fine,” Lena said, finding herself captivated. “Do you want to get dinner? I’m rather hungry, to be honest.”
“Of course. This way,” Astrid said.
Lena almost took hold of Astrid’s hand instinctively as she wound her way through the crowds in the lobby, many of which were tourists excited to simply be inside the iconic hotel. Lena didn’t, though, and wasn’t entirely sure why she’d had the urge to do so. She wasn’t even sure how legal or accepted that sort of thing was in Singapore. And she didn’t know if Astrid was at all… well, she either was or had been married to a man, which Lena knew didn’t always mean anything, but…
“It’s always so hot,” Astrid said, holding the door open for Lena and they stepped out into the night. “It’s a relief to go travelling, not that I’ve been for a while, though. Cold nights in London or Paris feel like magic. Here, everyone’s reaching for a cardigan if it gets to 25.”
Lena chuckled. “It is very hot,” she said, as the Singaporean heat and humidity were undeniable. “Is it far to the shops?”
“They’re literally right there,” Astrid said and smiled. “You really don’t get much time to explore, do you?”
“It’s a bit embarrassing how little of Singapore I’ve seen outside of function centre and conference spaces,” Lena said as they crossed the square to the Marina Bay Shoppes. “I’ll get a good tour of offices over the next fortnight though. Usually in the evening if I haven’t had dinner, I just get room service, watch some TV or do some more work, then go to bed. But don’t worry, I know I need to get out more.”
“Being here for another fortnight gives you time to see more of the city.”
“True. Though there’s a lot of work to do after the APEC Conference, and I’m going to go to Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur for a couple of days each. I’m meeting with your cousin Eddie here on Tuesday.”
“Oh god. So soon?” Astrid teased. “Good luck with that one.”
“Is he generally prone to mansplaining?” Lena asked playfully. “Or is that just a side-effect of the conference where pretty much everyone does it?”
Astrid laughed. “Eddie is the definition of mansplaining. Whatever your multiple PhDs are in, Eddie knows more on that topic than you. He also knows more about National City, Metropolis, the US generally, literally anywhere you’ve ever been, and anything you’ve ever done. But you’ll get the better of him.”
Lena smiled, appreciating Astrid’s confidence. “There’s no one in the family I should name-drop to force him on my side?”
“Oh, no, that would only make him more insufferable. Not even the aunties have proper sway over Eddie,” Astrid said. “At least he’s only here every so often. He lives in Hong Kong, but his ego really needs more than just a small island.”
Lena laughed, and looked around the spotless shopping mall as she and Astrid descended the escalator. “Oh, I know all about family members with over-inflated egos,” she said, but didn’t want to talk about Lex, so quickly changed the subject. “This mall is lovely. Is that - are there boats down there? Oh my gosh, and there’s a fountain inside.”
“The boats are sampans,” Astrid said. “And yes, that’s an inside fountain. I really need to show you more of the city.”
“Please do,” Lena replied genuinely.
“This way,” Astrid said. “What are your views on roast duck with noodles and wanton soup for dinner?”
“Yes, please?’
“Excellent,” Astrid grinned as they went down another escalator.
Dinner was one of the best meals Lena could remember. She’d had plenty of nice food at the APEC Conference, but this was different. Not only was the food sublime, but the company matched it. She and Astrid talked the whole time, swapping funny stories about food, airports, dealing with lawyers, accountants, financial advisors, family. Sometimes Lena got the feeling that there were things Astrid wasn’t mentioning, skirting around details of her divorce, but there was a lot about Lex Lena wasn’t mentioning either, so she understood. Astrid implied that she knew that Lex was in prison, and that was all that needed to be said on the topic tonight.
“We have to go,” Astrid said suddenly, realising the time. “Or we’ll miss the super trees. Unless you want to see the water show?”
“I…?”
“Let’s go,” Astrid said.
They stood up, quickly returned their trays, then hurried out of the huge shopping complex.
“I’m glad you know where you’re going,” Lena said as they crossed the forecourt back into the hotel, the heat a little more mild now.
“Quick, come on,” Astrid said with a grin, as they cut through the hotel to get to Gardens by the Bay. Lena almost felt like a school girl, hurrying along so as not to be late for class after having too much fun at recess. It had been a very long time since she’d actually had fun at all, Lena reflected. The super trees glowed in front of them, and the majority of people around were heading in the same direction. A couple of minutes later, Lena and Astrid had reached the super tree grove, and wandered around in the time they had remaining to find a prime position to watch the show from.
“This is like magic,” Lena breathed as the light show started, looking up at the lights as they danced in time to the music. She felt like a child, the super trees looming overheard, the lights and sounds mesmerising her, all combined with the feeling of safety in Astrid’s company.
“It is,” Astrid replied.
Lena looked at Astrid, the coloured lights reflecting off her perfect skin and shining black hair. Lena wasn’t sure what was more beautiful, Astrid or the lights. She quickly looked back at the super trees, with Marina Bay Sands in the background. All around them were tourists taking photos and videos, and Lena guessed a few locals, mostly those who looked like they were on dates or had brought the kids out for something to do. Lena caught Astrid’s eye. Astrid smiled. Lena smiled in return and blushed, glad that it was too dark for anyone to see.
The show ended all too soon, and the majority of the crowds headed back towards Marina Bay Sands and the city, Astrid and Lena included.
“That was so amazing up close,” Lena said. “I’ve seen it from the hotel one before, but right here, so close…”
“Singapore tourist experience number one ticked off your list,” Astrid teased.
Lena chuckled. “What’s number two?”
“Next weekend… Cassian will be staying with my parents Friday night. Would - Saturday morning, you like to get yum cha? Sunday morning is more traditional, but we could go Saturday and afterwards… I don’t know. Tick off another major site?”
“That gives me a very good reason to survive the week,” Lena said. “Saturday morning yum cha sounds perfect.”
“Come hungry and don’t expect to need dinner,” Astrid said as they walked up the stairs that led to the overpass back to Marina Bay Sands.
Lena didn’t want the evening to end. “Thank-you. For getting in touch and tonight. It’s been amazing.”
“Please promise me you won’t go back to your room and open your emails or anything like that.”
“Emails can wait til the morning.”
“Sunday morning?”
“It’s better than Saturday night.”
“Maybe,” Astrid said, and they fell into a conversation about work and school and travel and shopping, and were standing in the foyer of the hotel for ten minutes when Astrid finally said, “Sorry, I should probably let you go.”
“I - I should…” Lena wasn’t sure what to say, but she wasn’t ready for the night to be over. “Wasn’t there an ice-cream place in the food court? Would you like to go and get an ice-cream?”
“And then we could see the ten o’clock water light and sound show,” Astrid said, her face brightening at the suggestion.
Lena grinned, a warm feeling rising inside. “Sounds perfect.”