Chapter Text
How did I not see this coming?
How on earth could Kara do this?
Was it something I did this morning? Was it my fault?
Where did it all go wrong?
As hard as Lena tried, she couldn’t seem to answer the barrage of questions that invaded her mind.
It was that phone call. Mon-el must have been the one calling; it had to be. But why did Kara have to lie?
Had everything that happened this past week been a lie?
What if, in the past 9 months, Kara actually got back together with him at some point? That Lena was the other woman in the equation. Would she have agreed to meet with Kara? Most probably not. But Kara couldn’t be that selfish, could she?
Lena’s mind began to question everything else she knew about the blonde, everything else she believed to be wonderful and pure. Despite it all, she desperately tries to find something, anything, that could give Kara the benefit of the doubt. She could only come up with one other possible scenario.
Could all of this, with him, be fake? A show?
It was possible, seeing that it isn’t totally out of the realm of possibility; she knows a lot of fellow celebrities who have done it and much worse. But what possible reason could Kara have to do such a thing? It just doesn’t make sense. Despite the illogicality of it, Lena wants it to be fake so badly, desperate for something to hold onto to make this evening anything but a nightmare. But when she chances a glance back at the unexpected pair — seeing a particular glint in Kara’s eyes as she looked at him, paired with that smile that Lena used to think was reserved for her and only her — she couldn’t be more wrong.
Lena feels sick to her stomach, having the strong urge to flee to the nearest comfort room. Where the fuck is Jack when I need him? She wants to leave, to ditch the premiere, to leave all her obligations to the movie, to not give a fuck about professionalism, and just lock herself away until her next job starts. Ultimately, she just wants to not be in the same place with the person who claimed her heart and broke it just the same, all in less than 24 hours.
But before she could bail herself out, her PR manager was already leading her to do her first interview. So, she stomachs it in, game face on, and hopefully, her award-winning acting chops would be enough to fool everyone — including, and most especially, herself.
“Lena Luthor, as I live and breathe.”
“Hello, Cate. Very nice to see you again.”
“You look lovely tonight, as always.”
“Oh, you’re too kind, dear. And so do you!”
“So before we dive in, I just wanted to say congratulations on the film: The Girl of Steel. You must be so proud.”
“Thank you! And, yes, I am very proud of how the whole cast and crew worked together tirelessly to make this wonderful film.”
“Wonderful indeed. This is your first time starring in a superhero film, so, how was it, playing the coveted role of Lutessa Thorul?”
“It was life-changing. I really connected with Lutessa in such an unexpected yet invigorating way, and I have never felt that much with any of the other roles I’ve played in the past.”
The questions were a no-brainer so far. Little by little, she feels herself calm down and settle into her persona.
“Well! It must have been quite the experience, then. And when you first read the script, how did you feel about her relationship with Linda Lee?”
“It was refreshing, honestly. I never imagined I would ever get to see in the film, much less portray, a female scientist who is one of the main protagonists in a superhero film and is also the love interest of the Girl of Steel, herself. It’s such an honor and a privilege to be able to do so.”
And just when she thought she was finally in the zone, the punches come rolling in.
"Given that… how would you describe your relationship with your co-star, Kara Danvers?"
It was a fair question, Lena thinks, but right now, she just wishes she’d be asked about anything else in the universe.
"We are... great friends.” Right on cue, she felt bile threaten to make its way up her throat at her lie. “It was an honor to work with her. I admire her a lot."
“I see… I only ask because, even months before today’s premiere, many people have been speculating that you two have started to become more than just ‘great friends’ during the filming of this movie. What do you have to say about that?”
Oh god. What?
“Oh really? Well, this is the first I’ve heard about it.” Lena gives out a practiced laugh, hopefully hiding the anxiety she feels bubbling up. “I think, people just love a good rumor, which is all it is…”
This can't be happening, Lena thinks.
But, oh, it most certainly is, and so, she buckles up for more.
Every other interview went on similarly from then on. Despite her constant anxiety, at least she, more or less, had an idea of what to expect, barring the oddball questions here and there. Lena made the rounds with all the big names in print and digital media but, unlike the pre-premiere interviews they did, not once did she and Kara cross paths or join each other’s interviews.
After her last queued interview along the red carpet, Lena looks over her shoulder, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Surely enough, she does see Kara — tucked within the arms of the last person she could ever wish for her to be with. Never did she imagine a time when looking at Kara would bring her so much hurt; there’s a first time for everything, apparently.
“So… just from watching the trailers, many fans have pointed out how you and Kara Danvers have such good chemistry on-screen. Has that translated to any romance off-screen as well?”
“My, my, that seems to be the hot topic for tonight, hasn’t it?” Lena giggles as she plasters on a fake smile to go along with it. “No, Dave, it hasn’t. In fact, you can ask her yourself.” Lena says as she sees Kara walk just within her left-side peripheral vision. “Kara Danvers everybody. The Girl of Steel herself.”
Kara looked like she definitely did not expect Lena to be acknowledging her in front of the press, much less with direct eye contact and a smile. Yet, Lena prevails, and she sees the way Kara’s face frowns, sadly, albeit for a split second. What’s worse is the way Mon-el possessively wraps his arm around Kara’s waist in silent disapproval. But instead of pulling away from it, like Lena wished she would, Kara leaned into his gesture, even turning to smile at him dearly; that deepened the knot in Lena’s gut even more.
“Hello, Dave. To what do we owe the pleasure of being summoned by Lena Luthor over here?” Kara happily asks.
“I just— Dave here was just asking me about our romantic chemistry and whether or not it translates off-camera.”
“Oh! No, no. Nothing like that. It’s all just professional, but we are friends. Right?” Kara asks, and Lena feels all her vocabulary get trapped up in her throat.
“Oh yeah, of course we are! Good friends.” And that, along with the internal sucker punch she just felt, is Lena’s cue to leave. “Now with that cleared up, I think I have another one lined up, so if you’ll excuse me…”
“Ah yes, of course. It was lovely having you, Lena. Until next time!”
Lena waves goodbye to Dave and, with all her strength, she stomachs in the bitterness in her throat, turns to ‘the couple’ of the evening, and cordially bids them adieu. “You two have fun.”
Lena walks away as poised as she can, but as she does, she realizes she has nowhere to go next. Stupid, fuck! ‘You two have fun’!? Who the fuck would even say that?
Amidst the mental scolding she was giving herself, Lena didn’t realize how close Dave’s interview spot was already close to the end of the red carpet, where Lena was pretending to be busy, checking messages on her phone. Lena definitely does not mean to overhear bits of Kara’s interview, but it was well within her ear-shot. So she does, and oh how she deeply regrets sticking around to hear the rest of it.
“So, Kara... I see you and Mon-el are back together?” Dave asks within her earshot. Lena knows she should just leave, knows this won’t do her any good to watch. But she does it anyway.
“Yes, yes we are. It’s been about 2 weeks now.” Mon-el admits to the interviewer for both of them, smug and proud, as anyone who had the privilege of being by Kara’s side should be. But really? Him, of all people?
So I really am just the other woman. God, how was I so stupid? It’s funny, really, how just a few hours ago, Lena thought she was the only one who would get to be with Kara that way. It’s funny how she thought that it would be her who got to hold Kara by the hand, to introduce them to the world as a couple, all proud and smug. It’s all still too disconcerting how fast things changed, and Lena still doesn’t fully understand how it all happened.
At some point Lena must have been staring for way too long at Kara’s direction because, by some inhumane force, Kara catches her eye once again and all the happiness she seemed to display in front of the press instantly vanished once more, leaving the face of a guilty woman. Lena couldn’t look away though, stuck between wanting to stare Kara down, to let her feel how much pain she was in, and wanting to walk away, as far as the bounds of the theater would let her. But before she could decide, she hears her name in question.
“As I’ve told Lena earlier, both of you have such great chemistry in the film, though. I’ve honestly not seen anything quite like it. What do you think was the secret to that?”
Lena could see Mon-el visibly grimace at the mention of her name and she can’t help the gratification she feels at seeing him squirm frustratedly. It didn’t last long, though, as Kara answered the question with such clarifying truth.
“Just a lot of trust and, like I’ve said, we really became such good friends over the duration of filming. So, I guess a lot of it comes from that as well..” Friends. Yup, it hurts just as much the first time, especially when Kara says it so effortlessly.
“Will we expect you two to be working together again, in the near future?”
“I’m not quite sure yet. Nothing’s set in stone, but I would definitely love to work with Lena again. Most of my best memories on the set of this film were all thanks to her.”
Nope. That’s it, Lena thinks. She can’t take any more, she has to leave.
She needs a breather. Preferably somewhere less crowded with lots of open space. So, she makes her way to the floor-to-ceiling windows at the far side of the theater, overlooking the city’s coast. The sun was starting to set and it colored the whole expanse of land towards the horizon quite magnificently — orange and pink hues boldly complementing her off-shoulder black cocktail dress, her red lips, and rouge that she wore all for Kara; not that it matters anymore.
Just as she was about to contemplate how shitty this evening was already, Jones quietly walks up to her.
“I’ve seen this scene before.”
“My god, Jones! You startled me.” Lena jerks away, placing a hand on her chest to calm it down.
“You know, I was really rooting for you two, right from the very start.”
“I— uh… rooting for me and who?” Lena plays dumb; she knows who. But he can’t possibly know… does he?
“You and Kara.” He says, confirming Lena’s suspicion.
“Oh— ha! No, there is nothing going on between me and—”
“Lena… I know.”
“She— ugh, since when?”
“Since the early days of filming. Kara— we’ve worked with each other for so long, she’s like a daughter to me. So, even if she never said a word about you two, it became quite obvious to me, especially when I focused on the right clues. She really cares for you, you know?”
Lena crosses her arms at that. “Well, it sure doesn’t feel like it.”
“I’m certain there’s a reason for all that,” he says as he aimlessly gestures his hand towards the man who gets to publicly be with Kara.
“I’m sure there is. But it’s a reason I don’t need to hear.” Why does she need to? It’s all so painfully obvious anyway.
“I feel like you do need to. If not for Kara, then for you. I’m sure Kara has her faults, but I know she never hurts people she cares about intentionally.”
“Well, I beg to differ. Because this…” Lena poignantly directs her eyes to the lovely couple parading their smiles at everyone. “...this hurts; seeing her with someone else, most especially him, fucking hurts. She had to know that.”
“Lena—”
“If she truly cared for me at all, none of this would be happening.” Lena spat out as loud as she could without attracting onlookers. “It would’ve been me by her side, it should’ve been us walking down that carpet, enjoying this premiere together. But none of that is happening because she’s clearly with someone else and I’m just the fool who wanted to believe we actually had a chance. Now, if you’ll excuse me...”
Lena spins on her heels and heads as far from the red carpet and windows as possible. And, by some divine intervention, she finally sees Jack heading away from the press and onto the foyer to the theater as he seems to have finished his share of interviews. Lena calls for him, waving like a madman from across the venue, and once Jack sees her, he immediately excuses himself from his present company and all but runs towards her. He rambles out a series of apologies for being late, for not being able to escort her through the interviews, and asks what he’d missed, but all Lena could do was drag him to the nearest comfort room and sob into his arms until she had nothing left to cry.
By some miracle, Lena was able to pull herself together from her breakdown, salvage her make-up, and and calm the redness in her eyes, not that it mattered; the cinema was dim enough from even before the movie screening started for anyone to notice. As they make their way into the main theater Jack guides her down the steps and leads her to where Raoul had saved some seats for them. She was originally supposed to sit beside Kara — who was in the same row, five seats down — but Lena would rather not watch the film at all than to endure almost two hours of Kara being all lovey-dovey with her boyfriend.
Come to think of it, Lena actually hasn’t seen the film in its entirety, yet another thing insisted upon by Director Jones. He says it’s because he wants the cast’s reaction to the film to be as genuine as possible for the post-premiere interviews. That’s the thing though: what if their reactions, their genuine reactions were not pleasant? What then? That was when Lena realized how much of a risk-taker Jones is, and Lena doesn’t know whether to find his risk-taking attitude laughable for its foolishness or impressive for its dauntlessness.
Just then, the scene where Linda and Lutessa meet for the first time graces the big screen. Lena remembers that day vividly, how awkwardly cute Kara was, how alive she felt in Kara’s presence. Then Lena’s mind drifts to a tangential thought: what if we had poor first impressions of each other during that first day? Would they just keep casting and re-casting people until they found the right ones?
If you were to ask her last night if she believed in fate, her answer would be an unequivocal yes. Now though, she’d like like to speak to that god, that higher power, that omniscient being that many people believe has a reason for everything that being bestows onto the world and ask him how this was part of his so-called plan because it does feel a whole lot like torture.
Lena turns her attention back to the screen, and they were on the scene where Supergirl was choosing between saving a plane loaded with poison designed to contaminate the ocean, or saving Lutessa from being dropped into the same ocean below them.
She remembers how emotional that day was, especially after filming. She remembers how that was the same day when Kara basically yelled at her, saying she cared for Lena more than she knew. Looking back at it now and everything else that came after, Lena is having a really hard time believing how any of it could’ve been genuine, especially when she makes the mistake of looking towards Kara’s direction and, just in time, sees the way Kara lets Mon-el to cuddle up to her; it’s like they’ve never been apart.
Then the scene of them going undercover at a gala shows up next and she remembers how lovely that night had been. It was the first time she had ever seen Kara in such an elegant dress up close and it might have been the same for Kara given how shell-shocked she looked once Lena stepped onto set — her hair in a tight bun, sporting an off-shoulder, form-fitting, knee length cocktail dress and 5-inch red-bottomed stilettos. Now, though, she feels even more foolish because all it reminds her of is how she purposely wore a similar look today, all for Kara, and she wasn’t even hers to impress.
Lena had been so lost in her thoughts for what must have been quite a long time, that she doesn't realize that the film is about to end until she sees the last scene playing out. She feels bad for not paying attention to the entire film, but she knows how it ends and she just wishes she tuned out for this part instead. It was too late, though, as she relives the very last scene they filmed together. She wishes everything ended that way, with intentions established, a clear path in sight.
Instead, she remembers how that day they filmed the last scene was the same day they ended their relationship for the first time. It was one of the most emotionally draining days of her career, and she realizes how much less painful that day was compared to this seemingly endless night. She was not about to let it get the best of her though, not now, not when the film was almost over. So, for the very last time and with every last ounce of fortitude she had, Lena keeps her emotions in control.
Applause was heard from across the expanse of the theater. The master of ceremonies called out the cast one by one on stage to be recognized and Lena steels herself, banking on the fact that this will all be over soon enough. Being part of the principal cast, her name was finally called among the last few, and of course, Kara’s was called right after hers.
There they stand, barely an inch of space between the sides of their arms, and once she feels the inevitable press of Kara’s side on hers Lena jerks away like she’d been burned. She can’t take it anymore, she really wants to leave and, in her mind, Lena was already charting the fastest way out of the theater without being seen. The post-premiere interviews could go to hell for all she cares.
Once the people started to filter out towards the main entrances of the theater, heading back towards the foyer and out to the red carpet, Lena doesn’t spare a second more before messaging Jerry to meet her at the service entrance behind the large theater screen. She bids goodbye to Jack who offers to cover for her in case anyone asks and she loves how ever-supportive and understanding he is. She writes a short and effective excuse to her PR manager, saying she was sick and felt like throwing up — which was, in no way, a lie to begin with. Still, she doesn’t want anyone stopping her incognito exit, so she waits until she’s safely within the confines of her town car to send the message.
On the ride back to her apartment, she doesn’t break down in the backseat of her town car; she can’t, not yet. It doesn’t stop an errant tear or two from falling from her eyes though, especially as the emotions of the whole day were starting to catch up to her. The doorman to her building says nothing else but greets her cordially as she enters, and the second she’s safe within the limits of her apartment, she pours herself a glass of scotch before slumping down on her couch. She takes in a sip as she watches the city lights flicker beneath her and finally, completely, lets all her tears flow, excruciatingly silent, in the vast emptiness of her living space.
Lena just sips her drink, it’s all she can do now that her head that’s currently full of depressingly demeaning thoughts. Her drink does close to nothing to numb her pain though.
She needs more.
Lena knows she should get some sleep, she knows that drinking away her pain will just end with her being terribly hungover the next day. She couldn’t care less though. If she couldn’t have Kara, then she could at least drown in the pain she caused.
But just as she was about to get up from her couch to freshen up her drink, the one person she used to dream about daily, who’s now the last person she wanted to see tonight, unexpectedly storms through her front door. Kara was still in her impeccable white button-down, paired with a cascading floral maxi skirt, and black stiletto boots; it’s like the universe just loves to watch her suffer.
“Lena? Lena, are you home?”
Lena doesn’t deign to give Kara’s question an obvious answer but, instead, pointedly glares at her like she would any unwelcome guest.
“Oh! Lena! Thank god… you’re here.”
“Uh— yeah? This is my apartment. So, why the fuck are you here? Shouldn’t you be at the premiere, with your boyfriend?”
“Wha— boyfriend?” Kara stutters, seemingly taken aback at Lena’s words.
“Oh, I’m sorry, date! I guess no matter who you’re with, you’re shitty with labels.”
“Lena… I know what it looked like, but Mon-el and I are not back together!”
“Are you sure you’re not delusional right now? We were both at that premiere, Kara. I heard what you said at those interviews. Do I look like a fucking idiot to you?” Lena knows she’s lashing out, but she won’t stand for any of this — all the confusion, being made to feel stupid, clueless, without so much as a word from her — it’s not fair…
"Lena, it's not what you think!"
…and Lena has had enough.
"Then, explain or leave."
That seems to have stunned Kara, so much so that she had to take a small step back to steady herself. As she seems to regain her wits, Kara then takes a seat on the ottoman across from her, sighing so loud that Lena could feel Kara’s exhaustion radiating from that one exhale.
“He found out, and—and everything’s such a mess.”
“You’ve got to be a tad more specific than that, I’m afraid," Lena snipes. "I’m not a mind reader, no matter how much I would wish to be.”
“Mon-el saw us at Rodic’s last night. He tracked us down and he even has pictures of us holding hands, pictures of us kissing.”
“So… exactly how does that disprove what I saw the entire night? How can you tell me that you and Mon-el are not back together when he certainly is acting like a jealous boyfriend?”
“Gosh, I’m not explaining this right. Lena, you have to believe me; Mon-el and I are not back together. He threatened to expose our relationship, to leak the photos to the press tonight if I chose not to go with him.”
“Why the fuck does that matter? We don’t even have a relationship to begin with! I know you’re not my girlfriend, but I thought we were going to at least try having a serious relationship?”
“Exactly! Lena—”
“Then why would you say all those things to me? How could you have possibly meant anything you’ve told me last night when you’re still with someone else? If you had just been honest with me about this whole thing, I would have waited for you — to break it off with him, to figure things out with me; I’ve waited for you long enough, what’s a little bit more, right?”
“No, Lena, you don’t have to wait—”
“You know what? It seems to me like you just didn’t want to be in a relationship with me in the first place and you took the easy, cowardly way out. You could’ve just said so, Kara. You didn’t have to fool me like that— hurt me like that. And tonight of all nights?”
“Lena, okay, listen to me for a second. Try to hear me out okay?” Kara knelt in front of her, pleadingly holding Lena’s hand in hers. “You heard it during the premiere interviews, there had been speculations about us for months, and Mon-el… well, I guess he became obsessed. I am not back together with him, I have never been back with him. My best guess is he had been following me ever since he heard those rumors. But because we’ve been so careful during filming, and then we even took that long break, I guess he didn’t have hard proof — not until he saw us last night.”
Kara then moves to sit beside her now, not once dropping their entwined hands. “I can understand how confusing this all must be, but please, please know I never meant to fool you, much less hurt you. I had no choice.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Lena pulls away slightly, wanting to get a better look at Kara as she explains.
“Everything that happened tonight, at the premiere with Mon-el, it was all a publicity stunt.”
“Spare me, Kara. You think I didn’t think of that? I wanted that to be true, so badly. I hated seeing you with him, but from watching you two the entire night, there is just no way that was all just a stunt. I saw the way you looked into his eyes, the way you smiled at him—”
“—and in all those times, I was imagining, pretending, desperately wishing, that it was you who was by my side.” Kara seamlessly chimes in.
“Ha! Yeah, sure. Then how do you explain how your face suddenly drops into a frown whenever you see me in the crowd?”
“Because seeing how rightfully angry you looked, how much you were hurting shattered the illusion. But I had to keep it up, I had to pretend through the night to protect you, to protect us.” Kara’s eyes had that determined glint in her eyes and brings Lena’s confusion to a peak.
“From what?! I still don’t understand, and god, my head hurts.”
“Lena…” right then, Kara gently takes Lena’s hands back in hers, her thumbs rubbing soothing circles at the back of her hand. “I was serious when I told you I wanted to be with you. But we didn’t exactly get to talk about how far we wanted to take this publicly, how we were gonna deal with your family. Hell, I don’t even know what to call you in front of the press! I was fooling them so I could protect you… from the press, from your family. It was the only way I could get Mon-el to not leak those pictures of us, especially since we didn’t even get the chance to figure things out completely first.”
“And you couldn’t have just told me about this plan? Shouldn’t I get a say, too? We could’ve figured this out together! Instead, you left me all alone.” Lena sniffles unexpectedly, she doesn’t even notice she was crying until one of Kara’s hands reaches up, caressing her tear-stained cheek.
“I’m really sorry, Lena… it all just happened so quickly. I know I should have told you about the plan, about the stunt, I know that now. It didn’t feel right to keep this from you so I told my team that I wanted to tell you but they advised against it. They didn’t think there was time to prepare us both before the premiere because that would entail that your team knew about us before today. And they don’t, do they?”
“No. They don’t.” Lena shakes her head.
“Right… and that’s completely fine, Lena; I expected it. My team is great, keeps everything confidential unless I say otherwise, and they knew about us from the very start. I told them no one else knew aside from them, my family, and now, Mon-el, so they didn’t think it was worth the risk of alarming your team, especially since they already came up with a plan and it would take way too long to coordinate with each other before the premiere. They said I just had to play nice for one night to throw Mon-el off the scent.” Kara then returns her hand in favor of holding both of Lena's hands in hers once more, gripping them tightly, and Lena sees the way Kara’s features tense up as she continues to explain.
“I was panicking so much at the time. Just knowing that he's back, still with his same manipulative ways, triggered me all over again. Even though it felt wrong, even though I wanted to tell you so badly, I agreed to their plan because I didn't know what else I could do, what else would really work. And then, before I knew it, Mon-el came in. I had to shift to calm and collected mode as fast as I could when they took us to get ready together. Even though I knew I couldn’t tell you about the plan, I really wanted to call you back or reply to you at least, but I knew that if I did, I would have to lie or you would hear the panic in my voice and I’d make you worry. But I’m guessing I did anyway…”
“Yeah, I had a panic attack when you left. Jack had to come get me.”
“God. I’m so sorry, Lena, you have to believe me…” she pleads once more and, right then, Kara’s resolve seems to shatter as tears stream down her face. “I really didn’t mean to hurt you. But I knew, or at least I hoped, that as long as I explained it to you after, it would be fine— that we would be fine. I hoped that one publicity stunt with him would be worth it, that it would buy us some time. I just wanted us to be together without anyone else dictating what we are, not before we even get to decide for ourselves. But if you hate me, if you think that what I did was unforgivable and that you don’t want to be with me anymore, I’d understand. It was a pretty shitty thing to do.”
“It was.” Lena says as she returns the favor, wiping the tears off Kara’s remorseful face. “I can cry on cue, Kara, and I’m damn good at it. But holding back my tears, pretending I was okay and not about to puke in front of all those people has got to be the most difficult thing I’ve had to do.”
“I’m sorry, Lena. Truly. I’ll just see myself out—” Kara says, pulling away from her and making her way off the couch.
“No! Kara you— you don’t get to leave like that, not again.” Lena yells. It shocks Kara enough to sink herself back down on the couch, as it surprises Lena, herself. “I— sorry, it’s just— I’m not done. Yes, it was definitely a shitty thing to do, but I’m beginning to understand why you had to.”
“You are?”
Lena nods. “Make no mistake, I'm definitely still mad at you.”
“As you should be.”
“Plus, I still have so many questions.”
“And you get to ask them all, as many as you need to.” Kara agrees so eagerly, her eyes wide and head bobbing adorably that Lena can’t help but relax a little.
“You know, you really had me fooled there.” Lena says, a bit teasingly, but still with sadness masked within.
“I really didn't mean to.” Kara looks down sheepishly, “I guess I actually can be a pretty good actor from time to time…” Kara tries to lighten the mood, but Lena's not having it.
“From now on, though, you have to promise me to never pull off anything like that ever again, not without involving me at least.”
“Never again! God, pretending that I had any romantic feelings for Mon-el was the hardest piece of acting I’ve ever had to do — it was complete torture.” Kara slumped back against the backrest of Lena’s couch, and she can’t help but feel her anger slowly dissipate into the ether.
“Well, I’m glad to know it was a mutually torturous night, then.” Lena reaches out for Kara, urging her to move closer to where she was sitting. “So, tell me, what exactly is your big plan for Mon-el?”
“Well, now that you know about the stunt, our plan is to release the truth, our truth. We have to settle on some details first, of course, but so far, my team has all the receipts of Mon-el’s blackmail at the ready, in case we need it, and they’ll coordinate with your team too. The agency’s legal department gave us the all-clear on this, and PR has a social media and press roll-out strategy as well. So, once we figure out how to say exactly what we want to say, we’ll tell the world on our own time.”
“Under our own terms,” Lena adds as it finally becomes clearer in her mind.
“Exactly. We’ll direct the narrative but we’ll leave the fight to social media. It will be a frenzy, for sure, but we’re in the right and Mon-el will be a thing of the past, left behind along with all the other sexist, abusive people in the world.”
“Well, I gotta say, that sounds good to me. But I want to be involved in it as much as possible.”
“Really? Are you sure? You can take your time to think about it, Lena. From what you've told me, this would really taint things between you and your family, and I know how important mine is to me. So, if we don't work out, if I screw things up badly again, like today—”
“Kara… my family cut ties with me long before you came into the picture. Like I've said all those months before, I was just waiting for that one sign that you were sure about me, that you would want to try having a serious relationship with me. I may have never been in one before, but it’s not because nobody wanted to try; nobody seemed to be good enough for me, that is, until I met you.”
“You really mean that?”
“I do, 100%. And as for screwing up, you didn’t screw up in your relationship with Mon-el. He was— is a manipulative pig, really, and none of it was your fault. That’s why it hurt so much to see you with him tonight, knowing how awful he treated you in the past. Deep down I thought: how awful one night of being with me must’ve been for you to go back to him — even though, at that time, I thought you were cheating on him with me.”
“No, Lena, you— you are the best thing in my life, okay? I am really sorry I led you to think otherwise. If I could turn back time, there are so many things about today that I would have done differently.” Kara's eyes shift down as she twiddles with the edge of her button-down sleeve once more.
“I know that now. Well, I think I understand it better, at least.” Lena mulls it over.
“How can I convince you further? Is there anything I could do to make it up to you?” Kara asks, looking back up with pleading eyes.
“You have a long way to go, Ms. Danvers," Lena says, as stern as she could, but the way she softly states her following question ultimately betrays her. "But for now, maybe tell me something no one else knows?”
With that, Kara begins thinking really hard, so much so that the whole place becomes intensely silent. Lena smiles to herself but resolves to give Kara a few moments, until suddenly, Kara looks back at Lena with an all-too-familiar glint in her eyes. She softens the arch of her brows, releasing the frustrated crinkle between them as she asks, “do you remember how the film ends?”
“I do… why do you ask?”
“I know you know your lines by heart, but did you ever memorize mine?”
“No, why would I need to?” Lena feels her earlier confusion resurface.
“No you don’t— I mean, didn’t you notice how different it was from what was in the initial script?”
“Oh? Really? I didn’t.”
“Well, I winged it that day, added a sentence or two and gestures that the writers didn’t even dare to think about adding in.”
Then it clicks.
“You! You made us kiss on the film.”
“I did.” Kara beamed at Lena’s flustered acknowledgment.
“And all this time, I thought it was yet another one of Jones’ surprise tactics.”
“Well, it wasn’t planned, that’s for sure, but Jones had nothing to do with it. He loved it, though! Right before the wrap party that day, he pulled me aside to talk about it, he called it spontaneously genuine.”
“Of course he did.” Lena scoffed lightheartedly, and okay she was actually impressed.
“And then he insisted that I confess my feelings for you... Turns out, he already knew! He knew even though I never told him a single thing about us.”
“Yeah, he mentioned it to me earlier tonight, too. Do you think he’s a psychic?”
“Ha! It’s possible.” Kara chortled, and Lena can’t help but laugh along. The mood quickly dials back to a much serious tone, though, as Kara begins to confess. “What no one else knows, though, is how I completely relate to what Linda said.”
“Oh? Which part?”
“...that of all the friends I’ve ever had, you have pushed me the most— challenged me the most.” And that— well, that made Lena’s heart swell.
“And you— you’ve made me a better, braver person too.” She echoes Lutessa’s line, in turn. All in perfect diction and clarity, but this time, it’s Lena who means every single word.
“Really?” Kara plays along with a smirk.
“Really.” Lena says as she realizes that, despite the remnants of anger she feels at the whole situation, deep down, her feelings for Kara haven't changed. “I know I’m brave enough to do this.”
Lena took her sweet revenge this time, pouncing on Kara with a surprise kiss of her own. It left Kara stunned for a split second, but she was fast to acquiesce. Kara answers back with a lingering kiss of her own, then pulls away, right on cue.
“I know everything's been crazy, and I know I still have a lot of making up to do, but I just have to let you know that I am completely in love with you, Lena Luthor. How would you feel about officially becoming my girlfriend?”
Are they seriously reciting their lines to each other? Yes. Was it cheesy? Absolutely. Nevertheless, “I would love to be your girlfriend, Kara Danvers.”
Kara dives back in and doesn’t waste any more time. Lena tilts her head ever so slightly to meet Kara’s tongue at a delicious angle. She lets her hands wander to the nape of Kara’s neck while Kara’s travels down to Lena’s waist, pulling each other closer, effectively deepening their kiss. And just when it was getting so good, Kara pulls away again, leaving Lena frustrated for the nth time tonight.
“Okay, wait. You meant that right? That wasn’t just you humoring me, re-enacting the lines and all that?”
“Yes, darling. I meant all of it. I am completely, whole-heartedly, in love with you too; I have been, for the longest time. I don't think tonight would've hurt that much for me if I wasn't.”
“Right! Yeah, sorry— again. I just wanted to make sure we're on the same page this time, you know?”
“Oh, I know.” Lena smirks at that. “Besides, I don’t think that this…” Lena trails off as she straddles the blonde, “and this…” she teases, as she slowly undoes the zipper at the back of her dress, “and whatever we’re about to do next, was ever in the film.”
“No, it definitely was not.” Kara breathes out as she nips searing kisses down every inch of new skin revealed by the undoing of her dress. “But I like this ending way better.”
Kara returns her attention to Lena’s lips, and Lena has to pull away, just for a second, to say, "me too, darling. Me too.”
That night went on to become one of the most memorable nights of their lives. The press noted it to be the most mysterious one though, as many media outlets noticed their particular absence from post-premiere interviews and TV guest appearances that night.
The very next day, Kara called a team meeting at the agency and brought Lena and her team into the fold as well, as they expedited their plan to shut Mon-el down once and for all. And by the time that the prime-time news aired, they watched their story break free, both on live TV and social media, becoming one of the top celebrity headlines for at least a week.
They know they still have things to work on, to talk about. As for Lena, she makes sure not to dwell too much on the past and, instead, chooses to move onwards. After all, how often do you get your wildest dreams to come true?
But if what they say is true, that nothing lasts forever, then she plans to make the most of it and, for right now at least, there’s no one else she’d rather be with.