Chapter Text
It’s gonna cost,
But you just can’t beat that view.
The gun in her hand feels cold to touch. The white metal gleams in the moonlight. The blood on hands has stained her fingers some ghastly shade of diluted red—almost pink.
Lena’s mouth is drawn, pressed into a hard line.
‘I’m sorry.’ She says, to the figure laying at her feet.
Lena’s hands shake as she pulls the trigger. How did it come to this?
Bang.
Fifteen months earlier.
The head office in National City is comfortable, if not a little small. But Lena has made it work the same way she’s made most things in her life work. Blind determination.
Lena has found the most comfort in the balcony that leads out from the left hand side of her office. Being thirty something stories up should scare her. It usually would. But there’s something about the view of National City’s central business district that provides a sense of calm instead of a sense of panic.
Perhaps it’s the cigarette in her hand. Perhaps it’s being miles away from her family. Perhaps both.
The last twelve months have been a lesson in self sustainability. Mother wasn’t pleased when Lena announced she wanted to expand the Luthor Corporation Law Firm to National City. Lena had persuaded and persevered, with a little help from her brother, presenting the case that they had limited influence in National City.
The crux of her argument was that it could help the company and the family.
Her mother’s first question was: why a law firm?
That had been an easy enough sell. It was the best cover. Working to improve the rights of the citizens and proving that the Luthors could work for the betterment of more than just their own family would surely give them a much needed reprieve. No one could deny the negative attention that politics had brought to their door in the last five years.
What possessed Lex to try and run for Mayor of Metropolis? That was as much of a mystery to her now as it had been when he announced he was running.
He lost, of course. Despite his money, his power and his influence, he lost out to the farm boy charm of Clark Kent.
He was never quite the same after that.
Lena sighs, looking out over the horizon. Her personal uniform—tight bun, tight dress, tall heels—is not exactly comfortable, but it does give her the sense of being put together.
The sun is just breaking properly over the horizon. It bleeds the sky with a pinkish light, despite the clouds casting shadows over the buildings. She can imagine her building is being lit up, slowly. The sign Luthor & Co. glittering in the morning sun.
She never feels at peace in the office itself. It still carries Cat Grant’s ghosts. The hardwood floors are a lighter color than Lena would like. The offices are more angular. The walls are made of frosted glass. Every meeting room has the transparency of a newspaper and not a law firm.
The honesty of it makes Lena’s skin crawl.
So she finds herself barefoot on the balcony. No less watched than the inside of the office, really. She eyes the helicopter circling the sky above her, no doubt trying to catch private footage. She’d flip it off if it wasn’t the fastest way to get a call from her mother.
Yet here, she feels clear headed. One step too many and she’d find herself off the edge, so she has to pay attention.
Lena stoops, blue dress crinkling, and stubs out her cigarette onto the ashtray sitting on the ground beneath her as the sun continues its slow climb.
She heads inside, walking over to her tall, leather office chair and takes a seat. Her dark mahogany desk is covered with papers, folders and random scribblings. Her black heels are tossed carelessly underneath.
The desk had been a parting gift from Lex. So she could carry a piece of her family with her, he said.
It was better than the mental scars, Lena supposes. At least it was useful.
Lena pauses in her musings when she hears a set of heeled shoes making their way down the hardwood hallway to her office. Her heart rate increases steadily even if her face remains the impassive slate it always is.
She draws herself up to her full height just as the doors open.
‘Oh. Hi.’ She says, slouching again. ‘What are you doing here? It’s 7am.’
‘What are you doing here, then?’ Kara asks, with her trademark friendly smile.
‘Working.’ Lena gestures to the files on her desk and the scattered paper.
‘Well, I am your secretary.’ Kara points out, leaning against the doorframe. ‘Shouldn’t I be here too?’
‘Executive assistant.’ Lena corrects. ‘You don’t earn enough to be here whenever I’m here. I don’t need you to start until 9.’
Kara shrugs, walking into the room and shutting the door behind her. She moves with the ease of someone familiar, shuffling some of the papers on Lena’s desk into a neat pile.
Lena works best in chaos. It surprised her to learn some months ago that Kara, personally, hated mess.
Lena lets herself look at Kara longer than she should, as the other woman stacks the papers into neat little piles. Her golden hair is down, with soft curls bending at the edges. Lena wonders if Kara’s hair is as soft as it looks. She doesn’t normally wear her hair down. It fans out as Kara bends over to reach some nondescript scribbling of Lena’s on the far corner.
Lena’s tried to tell her that she doesn’t need to do this. But Kara continues to do it, anyway.
‘First meeting is at 9:30.’ Kara says, her deep maroon sweater looks soft up close.
‘I know.’
‘Which leaves us—‘ Kara pauses, glancing at the watch face set in a leather band around her wrist. ‘Roughly two hours to have breakfast.’
Lena laughs, pulling on her heels. ‘Ah. So the real motivation for showing up this early reveals itself.’
‘You haven’t eaten, have you?’
Lena eyes her takeaway coffee cup in the bin. ‘No.’
Kara doesn’t count coffee as a full meal. To be fair, she doesn’t think whisky counts as dinner either. Lena disagrees on both counts.
Kara’s grin is blinding and beautiful. ‘Great. Come with me.’
They make their way down to a local bakery. Lena had never heard of it until Kara had taken her, about six months ago. It was before Kara had learnt Lena often didn’t eat actual meals—favoring caffeine and cigarettes in the early hours of the morning. Somehow, Kara had changed Lena’s rituals with slow and sure determination.
Now, instead of waiting until she has a spare moment for late afternoon lunch, Lena finds herself often in the company of a pretty woman as she picks out too many pastries. The staff know their order by now. Lena barely has to say anything except hello and good morning before they start making two coffees. One, black. The other, with milk, two sugars and a shot of caramel. It’s a familiar rhythm that brings Lena more warmth than she’s comfortable admitting aloud.
She wonders what these bakers think of her and Kara. Do they assume, rightly, that they are just two friends having breakfast in the early hours of the morning? Or do they think there’s something more going on when Kara grabs Lena’s hand to pull her closer to the display case of pastries, pleading with her to help pick between a strawberry danish or a chocolate croissant.
Lena buys both. She always buys both.
Once they’re back on the couch inside Lena’s office, Lena allows herself to relax again. It’s easy to do in Kara’s presence but less so in public. Lillian’s teachings ring in her ear whenever she slouches, smiles too much, or says too many words.
Of course, Kara doesn’t know that this anxiety goes beyond being a rich girl with family expectations and a legacy to maintain. But does she really need to know the darker side of the Luthor family to sympathise?
‘You’re thinking very hard for someone holding a danish.’ Kara points out, as she begins to demolish her chocolate croissant.
‘Am I?’ Lena asks, finally eating delicately around the danish’s edges.
‘What’s on your mind?’
‘My mother.’ Lena says, flatly.
Kara frowns. ‘Still haven’t heard from her?’
‘Not a word. Twelve months and not one word. You’d think I would be used to it by now.’ Lena shrugs. ‘Old habits, I suppose.’
Kara looks far too gentle and genuine for Lena’s taste. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘So am I.’ Lena says, around a mouthful of coffee.
She’s about to change the subject. Talking about her mother always makes her skin itch. With Kara, she can be (partially) honest, but that doesn’t mean she has to enjoy the process. But before she can speak, there is a firm knock at the door.
Lena turns around to take a quick glance at the silver clock hanging on her wall. How was it 8:30am already?
Kara wipes up some spilled pastry from the very expensive, white leather underneath them. Her hair is up in a ponytail now. She’d said it was to avoid the pastry. Lena finds herself too distracted by the sight of her neck.
‘Come in.’ Lena says, mouth still pulled into a fond smile as she watches Kara break a large piece into several smaller bits accidentally.
‘Ms. Luthor.’ The man says, taking stock of the head of the law firm and her assistant sharing pastries.
‘Yes, Michael?’ She asks, wiping the smile from her face.
‘I was wondering if we could move our 9:30 up. The Department of Justice called and wants to move the Dixon hearing two hours ahead of schedule.’
‘Any particular reason for that?’
‘The murder trial. You remember the Walter Pint case? They’ve had to delay it by one week. There was some issue with the chain of command and evidence. It’s opened up their morning.’
Kara, to her credit, dusts the pastry back into the box and says nothing. She knows as well as Lena does that her input, as the secretary, will be an imposition even if Lena knows she’s smart enough to follow along.
‘Well—‘ Lena taps her knees absently. ‘I suppose. What time were you thinking?’
‘As soon as you can.’ He says, eyes flitting to Kara briefly.
‘My morning is free.’ Lena confirms. ‘Right, Kara?’
Kara nods, adjusting her glasses. ‘Yeah. Nothing until 9:30 anyway. Then you have that press briefing at 11.’
‘Which room should I meet you in, Michael?’
‘The East conference room, if you don’t mind.’ Michael smiles, a brief thing. ‘Thanks.’
He makes his way out of the room. Lena and Kara exchange annoyed, silent glances.
Michael Smith is a brilliant lawyer—the main reason he came with her from Metropolis to set up this new branch—but he also has a nasty habit for gossip.
No doubt he will take this innocent breakfast and spin it into something salacious. Not many partners at a law firm would regularly have breakfast with their secretaries before anyone else was around without it meaning something more.
Then again, Lena doubts that many lawyers have been friends with their assistants for a solid year before hiring them.
The water cooler rumors swirled ever since Lena bought CatCo’s building. Of course, Lena had done nothing to correct them. It seemed silly to breathe life into some stupid assumption that Lena and Kara were having a fling, when their closeness was built on platonic trust and companionship.
Of course, the lawyers and lobbyists and assistants don’t know that Kara is probably Lena’s closest friend.
Nobody knows, really.
‘Sorry.’ Lena winces. ‘He’s probably going to be a pain in the ass for the rest of the week.’
Kara shrugs, finding her coffee on the table opposite them. ‘I can handle him.’
‘I’m eternally grateful.’ Lena sighs. ‘If I had to talk to him any more than I already do, I think I’d quit on the spot.’
Kara laughs, dusting her hands on her black slacks. ‘We can’t have that. I’d be out of a job.’
‘So these breakfasts are all just an elaborate ruse to keep your job, are they?’
Kara picks up the box of pastries and balances her coffee on top, a teasing smile playing on her lips. ‘What else could they be?’
Kara didn’t know what to think when Cat Grant assigned her to interview the Lena Luthor. When she asked why she was being given the job, Cat had only stared at her blankly and said she could always reassign it.
The news hadn’t gone down well with her more senior colleagues. She’d only been a journalist for two years at that point.
Of course, Kara would have felt much more nervous if being a journalist was her only job. The DEO, Department of Emergency Operations, were pleased she’d somehow lucked into interviewing the daughter of the infamous Luthor family.
Kara wondered if it was really luck, at all.
Cat never said anything when Kara would come to her with a solid lead and a paper thin reason explaining where she got it from. She would simply green light the article with an impassive stare and flick of her wrist as if to say ‘shoo.’
The arrival of the Luthors in National City had been nothing short of the moment of the year. Their celebrity was known to everyone. Their fame and wealth had brought them an avid social media following. Of course CatCo would want to get an exclusive interview for their entertainment section.
Their black market dealings had also landed them on many lists back at the DEO.
Alex had said as much when Kara told her she’d be interviewing Lena.
‘That’s a terrible idea.’ Alex runs an aggrieved hand through her short, red hair. ‘What is J’onn thinking?’
Kara is sitting with her in the DEO’s (terrible) cafeteria at a rickety plastic table.
She manages a mild glare, taking off her glasses. ‘I’m going to pretend that you’re not offending me.’
‘Sorry.’ Alex sighs. ‘It’s not about you or your abilities. But are we really gonna start shit with the Luthors the minute they’ve come to town?’
‘We need evidence.’ Kara reminds her. ‘Lillian keeps eluding us. We don’t have any that’ll stick in court. Not here or nationally.’
‘Agent Danvers.’ A voice says from the door.
Predictability, both Kara and Alex turn towards the noise.
Kara prods Alex in the shoulder. ‘They’re talking to me. You’re Special Agent Danvers, remember?’
Alex rolls her eyes. ‘Don’t poke me.’
‘What is it?’ Kara asks, as she gets up.
‘J’onn wants to go over the plan of attack for the interview.’
It turns out that the plan of attack is less about attack and more about wheedling her way into getting Lena to show a less practiced air to the public.
‘How is asking her what she likes to do outside of work going to help me arrest her mother?’ Kara asks, standing in front of J’onn desk with her arms crossed.
Her commanding officer only drums his fingers on his desk. ‘We need information. We need a lead. If we can convince Lena that the media will favor her, that this article will help spin her in a more positive light, then she might be inclined to take more interviews in the future. We need her to lower her guard, let some details slip.’
‘It seems like a really long game.’
‘It’s all we’ve got. She’s the Luthor we have access to, so can’t pass it up just because she’s not the one we want.’
‘Can’t I just tail her?’ Kara pleads. ‘After the interview. I’m sure if I follow her for a couple weeks, I’ll dig up something solid.’
J’onn gives her an unimpressed stare. ‘It’s too early for that and you know it. She’s only been here for a week. I’d doubt she’s even reached out to her contacts yet.’
Kara barely stops herself from rolling her eyes. ‘I hate it when you make me play fair.’
Lena hates feeling like this. The rabbit pulse of her heart is annoying at best and alarming at worst. Twelve months of setting up the firm, connecting with the who’s who of National City, and advancing the family’s interest had never caught the interest of her mother before.
Yet, here Lillian Luthor is. Sitting in Lena’s office on that damn white couch like she’d been invited.
‘Mother.’ Lena says, breezing into the room and closing the door behind her. ‘I didn’t know you were in town.’
Lillian gives her an unimpressed stare that lets her know her lie isn’t a very good one. Lillian is dressed in a deep purple blazer and skirt. She wears stockings with her heels, because of course she does.
Let the public see as little of you as possible. Lillian’s voice rings in Lena’s ears. Keep them guessing.
‘How can I help?’ Lena asks, as she takes a seat at her desk. The midweek rush has caught her off guard, three days after her interrupted breakfast with Kara, and she isn’t in the mood for her mother’s mind games. Not that she ever is.
‘I came to see how you are.’ Lillian says, with that little fake smile Lena learnt to see through when she was seven.
‘I’m good.’ Lena waves a hand. ‘Busy, but you know what that’s like.’
Lillian gives an airy laugh. ‘Of course. How is the firm going?’
‘Well, I think. I sent you the quarterly reports like you requested.’
‘Like your father requested.’
‘I wonder.’ Lena ponders, a flash of callousness in her smile. ‘Do you think he’s bothered to read them?’
‘Lena, your father—‘
The sudden opening of her office door draws both their attention and cuts through their argument.
‘Hey, Kieran. Are we still on for lunch? Cos I —‘ Kara pauses, mid ramble, when she sees Lena isn’t alone.
Kara kicks the door shut with her heel, as soft as she can manage. Manilla folders are stacked underneath her forearm, balancing precariously.
Lillian cranes her neck just slightly to give Kara a disapproving stare. ‘Ah, so the rumors are true.’
Lena raises an eyebrow. ‘Are you bribing my staff for information?’
Lillian purses her lips and says nothing, which is decidedly not a no.
‘Sorry.’ Kara flushes and grabs the back of her neck in a characteristic, nervous gesture. It makes her sweater, baby blue today, ride up just a little. Lena tries not to look.
‘I didn’t know you… had company.’ Kara hesitates.
‘Do you often walk in here unannounced?’ Lillian asks.
‘Don’t answer that.’ Lena says.
It’s an objectively terrible time for Kara to use Lena’s nickname. Somehow Lena finds that she doesn’t mind. She doesn’t love the eagle eyed stare her mother is trying to pin her down with, however.
‘I can’t shorten Lena.’ Kara had complained, some months ago. ‘What do people normally call you?’
‘My name.’ Lena had said, dryly.
‘What’s your middle name?’
‘Why?’
‘Maybe I can use that.’
‘Why do I need a nickname?’
‘Because we’re friends.’
‘I don’t call you a nickname.’
‘You could, if you wanted.’
‘You’re not going to let this go, are you?’
‘Nope.’
‘Kieran.’
‘Hm?’
‘My middle name is Kieran.’
Kara’s eyes flit from woman to woman. She walks forward and places the files on the edge of Lena’s desk, crossing Lillian’s eyeline and putting her in front of Lena. It’s a bold move that Lena would appreciate more if she wasn’t engaged in some pseudo psychological battle with the embodiment of the devil.
‘What were you saying about lunch?’ Lena presses, mostly to see her mother squirm.
‘Oh.’ Kara adjusts her glasses. ‘I have a new lead—I don’t think I’ll be back in time.’
‘That’s alright.’ Lena smiles, an unconscious instinct, and tries to not to think about how her mother will zero in on the act.
‘I’ll find a way to make it up to you.’ Kara says, her ponytail swinging as she ducks her head in apology. ‘I’ll let you get back to it.’
Lena watches Kara’s back for a beat too long as she walks over to the door. She feels the same rush she did when she was seventeen and rebellious. There are so few ways she can truly irritate her mother, but this certainly is one of them.
‘Darling?’ She says.
Kara turns, though it’s a little quick and nervous. Understandable. Lena has never called her that before.
‘Dinner tonight?’ Lena proposes. ‘To make it up to me.’
Kara grins. Whether she can see the mild panic in Lena’s eyes, the way her posture is firm with tension, or whether she’s just happy to eat free food, Lena doesn’t know.
‘Of course. When?’
‘7ish? I’ll meet you at yours.’
‘You better be on time.’ Kara warns. ‘Or I’ll come up and kick you out of the office myself.’
‘I’ll be good.’ Lena says, controlling the instinct to blush. Why had she worded it like that?
‘Good.’ Kara gives Lillian an absent wave without looking at her. ‘Nice to meet you, by the way.’
She closes the door firmly behind her before Lillian can respond. This leaves Lena alone with a woman who has all the maternal instinct of a vulture.
‘Really, Lena.’ Lillian drawls. ‘I thought you’d gotten over this phase. I certainly thought you’d have the instincts not to mix business with—whatever that is.’
Lena rolls her eyes. ‘Can you blame me? I had Father as a role model, after all.’
Lillian clenches her jaw, just slightly. Lena catches the movement with careful eyes. She’s spent the better part of twenty six years honing in on the woman’s micro expressions. Lillian might as well have shouted, Lena can read her just as well either way.
Only a handful of people know that Lena is technically the by-product of Lionel and one of his many, many mistresses. To avoid scandal and a sullied reputation at the time of business fragility, Lionel had proposed a frankly insane idea. Lena is still shocked that Lillian had agreed to it.
Raise Lena as her own daughter. Hide the fact that she’s a bastard. For the sake of the business and family reputation.
The stipulation to this agreement being that it would never happen again. Not the affairs, that Lionel would never agree to, but the siring of other progeny.
Lena found this out on her sixteenth birthday. The cruel joke of her twenty year old brother. She likes to think she took up smoking as a direct result. Even if Lillian will deny it.
‘Don’t forget about our charity event next month.’ Lillian warns. ‘You need to be there.’
‘I will.’ Lena promises, though it makes her want to grit her teeth. The real reason for your visit. To make sure I haven’t fallen out of line in my new city.
‘Good.’
An idea flashes suddenly in Lena’s mind. It’s like driving past a neon sign in the dark. Unrecognizable from a distance and then unmistakable up close.
‘By the way.’ She finds herself saying. ‘I’ll be bringing a plus one.’
Lillian makes a displeased face. ‘The blonde, I gather?’
Lena nods. ‘Yes.’
Lillian sighs. ‘It’s not really an appropriate venue to bring your toys, Lena. There will be important people there. I doubt your secretary would be comfortable.’
‘Well.’ Lena smiles, coldly. ‘I suppose it’s convenient that my executive assistant won’t be working for me much longer.’
‘Oh? What has she decided to take up, I wonder? Waitressing?’
‘Investigative journalism.’
The job title has the intended effect. Lillian’s calm demeanor darkens just slightly before all traces of it vanish from her face. Lena, half hidden underneath her desk, presses a fingernail into her thigh to control the panic that wells within her at the sight of it.
Lillian picks up her bag and stands. ‘I hope you know what you’re doing.’
‘I do.’ Lena says, words spilling out as she thinks about Kara’s eyes and her smile. ‘She’s the best thing that’s happened to me.’
Lillian raises a manicured eyebrow. ‘I’m sure you’ll move on soon. Like you always do.’
‘I doubt it.’ Lena argues. ‘We’ve been dating for eight months.’
Lillian scoffs. With that audible noise of offence, she strides out of the room.
Nice to see you. Lena wants to call after her with all the venom and sarcasm she can muster. Yes, I’ll look after myself. Love you too.
She says nothing.
Kara runs over the interview questions in her head when she walks through the elevator doors. The interview is being held in the temporary office of Luthor & Co. The financial reports Kara had run over last week outlined that the Luthors were still renting the fifty story building in the centre of National City.
She wonders what’s stopping them from purchasing something more permanent. She’d bring it up in the interview, if she was sure it wouldn’t get left on the cutting room floor when Cat’s edits came through.
This is for the entertainment section. She reminds herself. I have to make it snappy.
At times, she wishes she could forgo her journalistic persona completely. It’s exhausting sometimes to pretend she doesn’t understand the finer points of international politics or how to defend herself from just about anyone. She’d get so much more done, especially meeting the youngest Luthor, if she could approach it as Agent Danvers.
But the ruse must be maintained. Likely, Lena wouldn’t reveal anything useful to a DEO Agent if she knew who she was speaking to.
The Luthor blood ties run deep.
The elevator doors open and Kara strides down the hallway, pasting on her brightest smile. The woman at the front desk directs her to a conference room two doors on her left. She’s mildly disappointed she isn’t meeting in Lena’s actual office, but she tries not to let it show.
Information gathering is so much easier to do if people invite you into their private spaces. But then, Lena probably knows that.
Kara situates herself at the head of the long, wooden table. She opens her notebook and places it on the table. Alongside it goes the printed questions, tape recorder and a set of pens. The old ritual brings a sense of calm over Kara as the door opens.
She looks up to see Lena Luthor standing in the doorway with a shark-like smile.
She’s gorgeous. Kara thinks, which is unhelpful. Kicking herself into gear, she notes briefly what Lena is wearing.
A black dress, tightly fitted but not revealing. A pair of black heels. A muted red lip and hair tied into a respectable ponytail.
Well, she certainly looks like a lawyer. Kara thinks dryly.
‘Hi!’ Kara holds out a hand for Lena to shake. ‘Kara Danvers. Reporter for CatCo.’
Lena shakes her hand, scanning Kara with some close to displeasure. ‘I know. Should we get started?’
‘Right.’ Kara clears her throat, adjusts her notebook. ‘What would you say is the most notable place you’ve seen in National City?’
‘The most notable?’
Kara shrugs, maintaining a friendly air under what can only be described as a frankly oppressive stare.
‘What place have you liked best?’ She supplies.
Lena raises a critical eyebrow. ‘Well I haven’t really had time to sight see.’
Kara scans the list of questions Cat had given her. This is going well. She thinks. So well.
‘Do you have any family pets?’
Lena huffs a laugh. ‘Look. I don’t know what you think you’re here for. But I do actually have work to do.’
Kara winces and closes her notebook. Time to gamble. ‘The higher ups wanted me to make you look relatable.’
‘And you don’t?’
‘I’d rather ask you important questions.’
Lena’s eyes take on a dangerous glint. ‘Such as?’
Kara walks out of the office over an hour later, with a long audio recording and a notebook full of frantic writing. She can’t lie and say she isn’t impressed by Lena.
She doesn’t crack under pressure. She knows what she wants. She’s ambitious enough to make it work. She might be a criminal, but she’s also a damn good businesswoman.
J’onn is going to kill her for completely abandoning their plan. Kara’s hoping she can butter him up with some donuts before she delivers the news.
When her article is published a week later, Kara is surprised to read that the final print contains only minor edits from Cat. Kara knows the article is well written, critical in the right ways without being impolite, and gives the readers an honest look into what Lena Luthor is really like. Still, it’s surprising that Cat didn’t have any thoughts on moving paragraphs or cutting sentences for the sake of brevity.
She never says directly that Kara has done a good job. Kara is lucky that she doesn’t really need Cat’s approval to feel fulfilled. She considers J’onn to be her actual boss. Journalism is something of a side project, a character that she portrays. She’d be a nervous wreck if she felt she had to wait around for praise from the Queen of Fashion and Entertainment.
The article has been moved from the Entertainment section of their weekly issue and instead pushed to ‘Profile of the Week.’ It was supposed to be a profile of a wind turbine company working to better the air quality of National City.
Kara’s going to have to double up on apology donuts for whoever’s article got cut to make room for hers.
She’s standing in a donut shop to do just that, a couple blocks from CatCo, when her phone rings.
Unknown Number, it reads.
Kara wonders what J’onn is doing calling her on her civilian phone when she presses it to her ear. ‘Hello?’
‘I have to say I’m impressed. I didn’t think the article would turn out quite that good.’
Kara steps out of the growing line and sits down in a booth. ‘Lena Luthor?’
‘You sound surprised to hear from me.’
‘I am. How’d you get my number?’
‘I have my ways.’
Criminal ways? Kara wants to ask, but thinks better of it.
‘Right. I put a lot of thought into the article.’
‘I can see that. You have a way with words. I was expecting something more sycophantic.’
‘Thanks. I don’t really write puff pieces.’
‘So I’ve heard. You’ll have to forgive me for not doing my research.’
Liar, Kara thinks. ‘Well, I’m glad you like it.’
‘Listen.’ Lena pauses. ‘Are you free for lunch?’
‘Now?’
‘Or sometime this week.’
‘Why would you want to have lunch with me?’
‘Because you intrigue me.’ Lena says, tone light and airy. ‘Does that bother you?’
‘No.’ Kara says, quickly. Too quickly. ‘I can make 1p.m work. What about you?’
‘It’s a date. I’ll text you the address.’
Kara hangs up and releases a breath she wasn’t aware she was holding. Add that to the list of things she hadn’t expected to happen this week. Maybe J’onn won’t kill her after all.
Lena spends the rest of the week trying to forget all about her attempt to get under her mother’s skin. She thinks she’s doing a fantastic job. The gin might have helped a little, but if no one else knows does it really matter?
That is to say, she’s doing great at compartmentalising until the invitation for the charity event arrives in the mail.
Lena stares at the ivory bone envelope and matching card, in the foyer of her apartment. She’s just got home from a run—her one reprieve where she can pretend she’s a normal person for a few blocks—when her doorman handed her a stack of mail.
Lena Luthor and guest, the invitation reads.
‘Fuck.’ Lena mutters. Now she actually has to go through with it.
She fishes around in her hoodie’s pocket until she finds her trusty packet of cigarettes. When she steps out onto the balcony, the cool air braces her and comforts her at the same time. The sweat from the run has cooled and leaves her shivering.
She watches the city lights for a few moments, lighting her cigarette. The penthouse suite offers a stunning view of the central park. It’s a shame she’s too pissed off at herself to appreciate it.
No way out but through, I guess. She thinks, grabbing her phone from her back pocket.
She’s dialing Kara before she realizes she doesn’t exactly know how to spin this. Obviously she’s going to leave out the fact that she kind of did this intentionally. Aside from being inconvenient, it’s also in its own way incredibly sad.
Hey I’m sorry but I kind of pretended we were in a relationship to piss off my mildly homophobic mother because I don’t have anyone to actually be in a real relationship with. Like hell Lena will be caught dead saying that.
‘Hey.’ Kara’s voice crackles. ‘What’s up?’
‘I have a favor to ask.’ Lena sighs, smoke billows around her as she takes another drag.
‘You okay?’
‘Define okay.’
‘You sound irritated.’
‘I am.’ Lena admits, letting the words and lies spill out of her mouth. ‘Here’s the thing. My mother kind of… got the wrong impression when you came into my office the other day. We have a charity event every quarter—some attempt at philanthropy. She’s invited me, obviously. But she’s also asked that I bring you.’
A full lie is harder to contain than a half truth. But Lena can’t exactly tell Kara that Lillian had actively opposed her presence.
‘Oh.’ Kara laughs, but it’s a little high and flighty. ‘Sorry!’
‘Don’t be sorry.’ Lena mutters, her cigarette almost down to the filter. ‘Just say you’ll come with me.’
‘You’d want me there?’
‘Of course. Maybe I’d actually have fun for once.’
That prompts a full bodied laugh out of Kara. ‘Okay, sure. When is it?’
They discuss the particulars, the dress code and sending a car around to pick Kara up on the day. Lena is too busy being delighted that Kara had even agreed to come that she forgot to mention the entire crux of the issue to begin with.
Lena groans and flickers her cigarette filter off the edge of the balcony. The gesture is surely bad karma, but Lena can’t help the satisfaction she feels watching it float away with the wind.
Her entire family is going to think they’re dating.
Well, she can’t call Kara back and explain that now.
‘CatCo is moving.’ Kara says, slumping into a seat by Lena.
The bar they’re meeting in is one of Kara’s haunts. The perfect setting for commiserations. Lena had agreed to meet her for drinks, despite the sudden invitation. Kara doesn’t want to think too hard about what it means when Lena always makes time for her.
She knows Lena doesn’t have time to spare. Yet, here she is, sitting in some dive bar in slacks and a button down. Like she has nowhere else to be.
Lena watches her with a concerned frown. ‘That’s one way to announce that you’re moving.’
Kara signals for a bartender. ‘No, I’m staying put. They’re downsizing. Something about print media going out of style.’
Lena hums sympathetically. ‘I’m sorry.’
The bartender comes over with a friendly smile and asks what they’re having. Kara pulls her hair out of her ponytail and thinks about the real disappointment she feels about no longer being a journalist. Had it really mattered to her that much?
‘One shot of tequila for me.’ Kara announces. ‘Kieran, what are you having?’
‘Gin and tonic.’
Kara thanks the bartender and watches Lena’s face light up at the nickname, the same way it always does. A spark of sadness settles underneath Kara’s ribs. How did someone raise a child without giving a fucking nickname? Lillian Luthor must have all the human qualities of a marble.
‘Why are you looking at me like that?’
Kara startles. ‘Like what?’
‘Like I’m an abandoned puppy.’
‘I am not looking at you like that.’
‘You kind of are.’
‘Sorry.’ Kara adjusts her posture. ‘I think I’m just in a bad mood tonight. It’s carrying over.’
‘Understandable. So what’s the plan?’
Kara sighs. ‘I really don’t know. I’d love to continue journalism but everywhere I’ve looked has already snapped up my colleagues. I was the most junior person there.’
Kara’s tequila shot arrives and is quickly downed. She signals for another and avoids concentrating on how sticky the bar is.
Lena raises her eyebrows. ‘Slow down there, cowboy.’
Kara groans. ‘What’s the point? All that work, down the drain.’
Lena stirs her gin and tonic with her straw. ‘Can’t Cat put a word in for you somewhere?’
‘She probably could. But I don’t wanna ask.’
‘Why not?’
‘It’s silly.’ Kara downs her other shot with a wince. ‘I don’t want to disappoint her. I can do this on my own.’
Lena takes a gulp of her drink, turning to hide a smile she thinks Kara can’t see. ‘I knew Kara Danvers had a prideful streak.’
‘Please. You knew that when I refused to let you pay for every single lunch we share.’
‘I really don’t know why you put up such a fuss. I’m rich.’
Kara laughs, head beginning to cloud over from the alcohol. ‘I’m aware.’
‘I have an idea.’ Lena says, quietly.
‘Hm?’
‘Come work for me.’
Kara tilts her head. ‘In what capacity?’
‘My executive assistant Jess is about to go on maternity leave. You could fill in until she’s back.’ Lena speaks quicker and quicker. ‘I know it’s not what you’re looking for! But it’ll keep you on your feet until you find another paper.’
Kara runs a hand through her hair, thinking it over. She tries not to think about J’onn practically leaping for joy at the news. She tries not to think about the mission, about how this is even better than being friends with Lena. Somehow, she still feels like a traitor.
‘You don’t have to say yes.’ Lena says, looking away.
Kara studies her profile. Her fine nose looks like porcelain under the harsh bar lighting. Her eyes are bright and unsure. Her lips, stained red with lipstick, are drawn into the smallest of frowns. It would be imperceptible to Kara, if she didn’t spend so much staring at Lena already.
‘I’m thinking.’ Kara points out. Her heart thunders.
She’d get untold access to files. She’d practically be running the firm with Lena, scheduling meetings and organizing cases. There’s so much she could pass onto J’onn even if nothing illegal was going on behind closed doors.
It’s perhaps the best plan they could have come up with. It’s a stellar opportunity to trap the Luthors in a web of their own making.
So why does it make her feel sick?
‘I’ll do it.’ Kara agrees, holding out her hand. ‘But I can’t promise I’ll be any good.’
Lena laughs as she shakes Kara’s hand. ‘Please. I don’t think you could be bad at anything, even if you tried.’
Her apartment smells like smoke. Kara would find that more alarming if Alex wasn’t currently standing at her patio door with one foot outside, cigarette dangling between her lips.
‘You know I hate it when you do that.’ She announces. ‘Go outside.’
Alex gestures with her free hand. ‘It’s raining.’
Kara shuts her front door and hangs her rain jacket up on the hook next to it. ‘Not my problem. Get a less gross habit.’
Alex rolls her eyes. ‘Make me.’
Kara narrows her eyes as she locks the door. ‘You know I can beat you in a fight.’
‘You’re not going to punch me because I’m smoking.’
‘I could!’
‘But you won’t. I’m your superior officer and it’s been months since my last one.’
Alex stubs out her cigarette on the old plate she stole and transformed into an ash tray. She settles it gently onto Kara’s patio table. Kara would be more offended about the cigarette ash crawling its way across the small metal table if it wasn’t also covered in three years of dust.
‘What are you doing here anyway?’ Kara asks.
She hauls the three bags of groceries in her hand onto the benchtop. Alex washes her hands and starts helping her unload them.
‘I’m visiting you.’ Alex says, eyeing the packet of sour gummy worms in the second bag.
Kara snatches the worms and puts them in her pantry cupboard. ‘You smell like smoke, superior officer.’
‘Sorry.’ Alex dumps the apples and bananas Kara has bought into the fridge.
‘You’re not.’
Alex shrugs, reaching for the loaf of bread and putting it on the bench. ‘Not really. How was your day?’
‘Fine.’ Kara folds up her now empty grocery bags and stuffs them under the sink.
‘I didn’t think you’d be home so early.’
‘It’s 6pm.’ Kara points out. ‘Besides, I thought you said you were here to visit me.’
‘I am. Still didn’t think you’d be home so early.’
‘Lena needed to go over some legal contracts. Didn’t need me to stick around. It’s not like I can help her with that.’
‘You could, though.’
‘Well she doesn’t need to know that.’
Alex eyes Kara carefully. ‘You sure you’re okay with this?’
Kara stares resolutely out the window overlooking her tiny backyard. ‘Coming home early?’
‘Don’t be obtuse.’ Alex nudges her calf with her boot. ‘You know what I mean. This has gone on longer than we thought it would.’
‘It’s fine.’ Kara says. ‘It’s the job. Someone’s gotta do it.’
‘I guess.’ Kara can hear the grimace in Alex’s voice. ‘Still, nobody thought we’d get an in with the Luthors because you somehow became the mafia princess’s best friend.’
‘Don’t call her that.’ Kara turns around and pins her sister with a glare.
Alex holds up her hands. ‘Sorry, sorry.’
‘Oh, I need to meet with J’onn.’ Kara says. ‘Something important came up. I’ve been invited to the Quarterly Luthor Charity Ball.’
‘What the fuck.’ Alex’s eyebrows reach her hairline. ‘How did you get invited to that?’
Kara shrugs. ‘Lena invited me. I’m not sure why.’
‘Figures.’ Alex makes her typical “I’m concerned for your wellbeing face.”
‘What?’
‘Just remember who she is.’
‘I know who she is.’ Kara argues, turning to the pantry. She rifles through the dry pasta and rice until she finds her hidden stack of gummy worms.
‘Do you want to watch trashy tv with me?’ Alex asks.
Kara sighs, the tension leaving her shoulders. ‘Always.’
‘Take care of yourself, Kara. I don’t want to see you get lost in this.’ Alex says, her tone too caring as she snatches the gummy worms and makes her way over to the couch.
Kara makes a noise of offence. ‘Give those back!’
The weeks leading up to the Ball pass too quickly for Lena’s liking. Kara is splitting her time between journalism and assistant-ing so at least Lena doesn’t have to pretend she can look her in the eye. Kara’s found the best way for her to practice her skills is to freelance, in the meantime. She’s written a number of articles, sent a few of them to Lena for her opinion, and shopped around for the best places to submit for publication.
Lena is proud of her for sticking to her guns. Creative fields always carry more risk. Career longevity is harder to navigate.
Jess is back from maternity leave, part time. She’s catching up on what she’s missed. Once she’s caught up, Kara will go back to her true purpose—asking tough questions into a tape recorder. While Kara has spent six months or so being a very good executive assistant, she knows it isn’t all Kara is built for.
Lena still hasn’t found a sane way to explain why she convinced her mother that they were dating. Not even newly dating. In a serious, committed relationship!
Lena wishes she could invent time travel, go back in time, and smack herself across the back of the head. Maybe she’d lose the brain cells that came up with this harebrained scheme.
She’s invited herself to Kara’s apartment under the ruse of a casual dinner. Heaven knows she can’t spill her soul in the antiseptic environment of her own penthouse. She’d just end up getting drunk and avoiding the topic entirely.
She has to explain this tonight. They have a week until the Ball. She has to get this over with so she can prepare herself for Lillian’s inevitable smugness about being right—assuming that Lena has a chronically avoidant attachment style or that she drove away another woman with her stellar personality.
When she knocks on the door to Kara’s apartment, she pretends her hand isn’t shaking.
The door opens a few seconds later. Lena runs a hand over her shirt to smooth it over.
‘Hey!’ Kara says. ‘You’re early.’
‘Didn’t take as long as I thought.’ Lena says, crossing the threshold. ‘Who knew city planners could be brief.’
She’s rewarded for her joke with a warm chuckle as Kara shuts the door.
‘What do you feel like for dinner?’
Lena hums. ‘Whatever. I’m not picky.’
She doesn’t say that she isn’t hungry. Because that would lead to Kara asking questions. She can’t logically say she just isn’t hungry at 7pm, not without admitting that her stomach has been in knots for weeks.
Has she gone back to her diet of a-pack-a-day and coffee while Kara’s been away? That’s no one’s business but her own.
‘I could make us pasta.’ Kara says.
‘You don’t need to do that.’ Lena puts her handbag on the benchtop. ‘I can just order us food.’
‘I don’t mind.’ Kara says. ‘What’s your favorite thing to make?’
‘No idea.’ Lena sits on the bar stool opposite the benchtop. ‘I don’t cook.’
Kara hands her a glass of red wine. ‘Figures.’
Lena accepts the glass and takes a sip. ‘What do you feel like?’
‘Something fried.’ Kara says and sits beside her.
‘Burgers it is.’ Lena replies, pulling out her phone and putting an order into the nearest burger place. ‘You want your usual?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Done!’ Lena announces. She thinks about how the red wine will stain her lips pink. She wonders if Kara will notice.
Kara plays with the strings of her hoodie, a coy smirk on her lips. ‘Do you actually know how to cook?’
‘No.’ Lena admits. ‘Not really.’
‘I didn’t think so. Not beween law school and boarding school.’
‘It wasn’t high on the list of Luthor priorities.’ Lena eyes her. ‘How did you know I went to boarding school?’
Kara shrugs. ‘You seem the type.’
‘Are you saying that because I’m gay?’
‘No!’ Kara laughs. ‘But it is a funny coincidence.’
‘Why then? If it’s not the prevailing lesbianism.’
‘You’re preppy.’
Lena swallows another sip of wine. ‘I’m preppy?’
Kara nods. ‘Yeah. Like tonight, for example. I’m in sweats and a hoodie. You’re in slacks and a blazer.’
‘I came from work!’ Lena argues.
‘You were working until 7pm?’
‘No. Of course not.’
Kara eyes her with irritation and opens her mouth just as there’s a knock on the door.
‘Saved by the bell.’ She says, getting up.
While Kara is sorting out their food with the delivery man, Lena steels herself to start the dreaded fake dating conversation. Kara sets their food on individual plates, hands Lena dipping sauce for her fries and takes them over to the couch.
‘What do you want to watch?’
‘Actually.’ Lena pauses. ‘Before we do that, can I talk to you about something?’
Kara’s brow furrows immediately. ‘What is it?’
‘Nothing serious.’ She says on instinct, refraining from the urge to slap herself as soon as the words exit her mouth. It is serious. Proposing a fake date with your friend is very serious. And idiotic.
Kara waits for her to speak, picking at a couple of her fries.
Lena dips a fry in her sauce. ‘Remember the Ball I invited you to?’
‘Yeah?’
‘Well, I—‘ Lena sighs, looking anywhere but at Kara. ‘I said my mother got the wrong impression. You remember the rumors?’
Kara rolls her eyes. ‘Yep.’
‘Well, she heard of them. Made some assumptions about the two of us.’
‘Oh god.’ Kara said, around another mouthful of fries. ‘And then I called you by your middle name!’
‘Sadly, yes. Another point for the "no nicknames” column.’
‘Heck, no. You can’t stop me now.’
Lena smiles. ‘I wouldn’t dare.’
‘So… your mother thinks we’re dating?’
Lena scrunches her face in frustration. ‘I, kind of, didn’t correct her.’
‘What?’
‘I know, I know. It’s weird and annoying. But she’s always been so callous about the fact that I’m a lesbian. She thinks it’s improper or something. She's convinced I’m going to die alone unless I find a husband. She hasn’t said that but it’s pretty clear from her face. It’s stupid and prideful but I can’t let her win now.’
‘Oh my god.’ Kara says, starting on her burger. ‘You’re asking me to fake date you at the Ball.’
Lena winces. ‘You can say no.’
Kara takes a few, agonizingly slow bites of her burger. Lena tries not to twitch or have an aneurysm as she waits.
‘I’ll do it.’
Lena’s pretty sure her heart stops. ‘What?’
‘It’s not that unbelievable, I guess.’ Kara considers, lost in thought. ‘You’re gay. I’m bi. We’ve worked together for a while now. I’ve been your friend for ages. Half the office is convinced we have secret trysts whenever we go to lunch. I could see how she would think there was… something going on.’
‘You’re not — you don’t mind?’
Kara shrugs, chasing a bite of her burger with a swig of wine. ‘Is it a little weird? Sure. But I want to help you. If I have to pretend to be your girlfriend for one evening to get back at your mother, I’m okay with that. From what little you’ve told me, she sounds like a nightmare.’
‘I don’t know what to say.’
Kara laughs. ‘I can see that. Why don’t you start plotting out the basics?’
‘Of what?’
‘How we met! How long we’ve been dating. I need to make sure our stories match.’
Lena rolls her eyes, the tension sliding off her shoulders like water. ‘Okay, reporter.’
‘Should we kiss?’ Kara asks and then immediately blushes. ‘At the Ball, I mean.’
Lena considers this and blames her own blush on the wine she’s gulping down. ‘Probably not necessary. We’re arriving together. Some light hand holding and maybe some dancing should be all we need.’
Kara nods. ‘Okay.’
Lena raises an eyebrow. ‘Do I detect a note of disappointment?’
‘No!’ Kara grins, eyes dancing with mirth and embarrassment in equal measure. ‘I just want to commit to the role. I played a mouse in my school’s production of Wind in the Willows.’
‘I’m sure you were very good.’
‘Oh, no. I was awful. But I spent a lot of time pissing Alex off pretending to be a mouse.’ Kara sets her plate aside and wanders off.
‘Where are you going?’ Lena asks, bemused. ‘Do you have a mouse costume?’
‘No!’ Kara laughs. ‘That’s at my foster mother’s house.’
Lena can hear rummaging and the opening of draws. She eats a handful of fries while she waits. The salt stings her mouth. When had she bitten her lip?
Kara returns with a red hoodie and black sweats. She tosses them onto the couch.
‘Put those on.’ She demands. ‘And then we’re picking a movie.’
J’onn stares at her in complete surprise when Kara turns up in his office to explain everything. It had taken her twenty minutes to summarise everything. The interview, that he’d liked even if it hadn’t been what he planned. The phone call afterward. The lunch dates that somehow had become a weekly occurrence over the last few months.
She leaves out the real laughter that Lena rewards her with whenever Kara tells her a dumb joke. She leaves out the warm glance Lena sends her way when she turns up at her temporary office to ask her why she’s working at 9pm again. She leaves out how she’s started to drop off pastries at the front desk for Lena to eat, because the woman refuses to eat a proper breakfast.
‘You’ve become her friend?’ He asks.
Kara crosses her arms. ‘You don’t have to say it like that. I’m very friendly.’
‘And now she wants to hire you?’
‘CatCo is relocating. I told you about that last week.’
‘I remember.’ J’onn stares at the wall behind Kara’s head, trying to piece together his thoughts. ‘Honestly Kara, I can’t believe our luck.’
‘So I have your permission then?’ Kara asks. ‘To continue?’
J’onn nods, once. ‘Keep an ear to the ground. She might invite you into the fold if you get close enough. You never know what you’ll see. Secretaries are the backbone of most criminal empires.'
‘Executive assistant.’ Kara corrects.
J’onn tries to smother a smile. ‘Right. You know the protocol?’
‘Yes, sir. Debrief with my supervisor every month to maintain objectivity.’
‘It is unfortunate that your supervisor is your sister.’
‘Unfortunate for me, you mean.’ Kara mutters under her breath.
‘Well, it looks like you’re across everything. Your mission objective is the arrest of Lillian Luthor. Good luck, Agent Danvers.’
Lena has told herself three times on the way over to Kara’s apartment to stop being an idiot.
It started when Lena slipped into her formal, silver dress for the evening. The corset front frames her figure just so. The length ends mid thigh, just low enough to be respectful while leaving the allure of interest. She’s chosen to leave her hair down for the evening and apply silver eyeshadow and sheer lipgloss. It’s a little more understated than she’d usually go for, but she doesn’t feel like showing off tonight.
She appraised herself in the mirror and was struck by an errant thought.
I wonder if Kara will think I look good.
It’s a stupid thought, for a number of reasons. One, Lena already knows she looks good. Two, it really shouldn’t matter what Kara thinks. Three, she’s going to make a fool of herself if she lets those kinds of thoughts get the better of her.
The second moment is when her phone chirps. Kara has sent her a picture of what she’s wearing tonight. Lena is on her way over in the back of her town car. She hasn’t seen Kara for a week, which is unusual, but Kara had been busy with investigating improper carbon dioxide disposal and Lena had been busy in court. It’s not like Lena has forgotten what Kara looks like, but it’s a little different seeing her look like this.
If her driver hears her stop breathing, he doesn’t say a thing.
Kara looks like she’s been poured into the deep, green strapless dress. The silky material catches the light in Kara’s apartment. The colour is brightened even more by the deep red lipstick Kara has chosen. Her hair is up in a chignon, exposing her long neck and drawing attention to her collarbones.
What do you think?
Lena turns off her phone and looks at the window. Get a hold of yourself. She demands, before turning her phone back on.
She’s distracted by the way the light in the photo catches Kara’s surprisingly muscular biceps. She hadn’t taken Kara for a gym rat when they first met.
Looks great! She texts back.
The third moment is when she catches herself fixing her hair for the umpteenth time before finally knocking on Kara’s door.
Kara is not going to care if you have a hair out of place. Lena tells herself, pretending like she isn’t adjusting her hair again.
The door swings open and Kara steps out with a small clutch in one hand. Lena forces herself to look Kara directly in the eye. She thinks she’s doing a stellar job of it too. That is, until Kara does a small twirl and gestures to herself.
‘What do you think?’ She asks. Her eyes are brighter than normal, thanks to the subtle smokey eye she’s applied.
Lena scans Kara slowly. ‘Remind me to get you more clothes in that colour.’
Kara laughs, delighted. ‘Where’s your car?’
Once they’re situated and on the road, Lena puts up the partition as surreptitiously as she can manage. She makes brief, embarrassing eye contact with her driver and valiantly pretends she hasn’t.
‘So.’ Kara lowers her voice. ‘Operation Faking It is as a go.’
Lena raises an eyebrow. ‘Very subtle code name, there.’
‘It’s a tv show reference!’
‘Is it?’
Kara sighs. ‘Please find time to watch more television.’
Lena laughs. ‘I make no promises.’
‘What’s the deal with these things anyway? Silent auction? Anonymous donations?’
‘Donations.’ Lena explains. ‘Not anonymous. Rich people's philanthropy is all for attention. We want people to know how much money we give away. There will probably be art to look at, but it won’t be for sale.’
‘Noted.’
‘We’ll mostly be mingling. Some dancing, if I know my mother well enough. Drinks, of course.’
‘Dinner?’
‘Appetizers. Keeps people moving and more likely to write a check to show off.’
‘Right.’ Kara nods.
Lena can’t help the smile that overtakes her face. ‘You’re taking this very seriously.’
‘Of course I am!’ Kara proclaims, like she’s offended at the suggestion. ‘I’m very passionate about revenge on my friend’s parents.’
‘I wouldn’t call it revenge.’
‘I would.’ Kara says. ‘For not giving you a nickname as a child.’
Lena rolls her eyes. ‘You’re an idiot. It’s not that weird that I didn't have a nickname growing up.’
‘Yes, it is!’
‘What was your nickname growing up?’
Kara flushes. ‘Not telling.’
Lena arches an eyebrow. ‘No? Well now you have to tell me. I’m invoking girlfriend rights.’
‘Girlfriend rights?’
‘What kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn’t know your childhood stories?’
‘I don’t think that’s going to come up over appetizers.’
‘Humor me.’
The car pulls up to the Luthor Estate just outside of National City, before Lena can get her answer. The long gravel road is familiar, but still sends the feeling of impending dread straight to her stomach.
She points a menacing finger at Kara. ‘You’re not getting out of this.’
Kara gives her a stellar smile. ‘Wouldn’t dream of it.’
Kara takes her hand as they get out of the car. It startles Lena for a brief moment before she settles into it. The mansion is as imposing as always, all dark wood and marble steps. The marble columns flanking the entrance are lined with red ribbon. It matches Kara’s lip colour, Lena notes absently.
The night is lit up with real actual fire held by tall cressets along the pathway and up to the steps. They cast long, dark shadows across the immaculately trimmed and vibrant lawn. Lena wonders if she’ll get lucky and the grass might catch fire halfway through the evening.
Kara leans in as they walk up the steps to her family’s liar. ‘You got this.’
Armed with the warmth of Kara’s hand, Lena thinks that maybe she does. Of course, that thought lasts approximately thirty seconds before they cross the threshold.
Lingering in the foyer, they are greeted by none other than the drunken fool that is her brother.
‘Lena!’ Lex crows in delight, dressed in a tailored navy suit that makes his eyes shine.
Lex is taller than Kara thought he’d be. Logically, she knows from the DEO’s files that he is about 6’2”. It’s different seeing him in person, though, grinning that Luthor shark-smile as he approaches them. A quick assessment of his gait and posture tells Kara that he’s not far off drunk, if he’s not there already.
His shoes are scuffed, Kara notes. Odd.
Kara feels Lena tense up just slightly. She squeezes Lena’s hand in what she hopes will be a comforting gesture.
‘Lex.’ Lena says, smiling at her brother. ‘How are you?’
‘Same old. You know me. Bored as fuck in the board meetings.’
Lena rolls her eyes. ‘You always somehow manage to make privilege sound like a prison sentence.’
Lex holds a hand over his heart in mock offense. ‘Of course, I’m very honored our dear mother and father should rate my business acumen so highly. But onto more important things, are you going to introduce me to that pretty little thing on your arm?’
Lena’s eyes flash. ‘Don’t start. This is Kara.’
Kara smiles and holds out the hand Lena doesn’t have captive. ‘Kara Danvers.’
‘Kara Danvers.’ Lex repeats, slowly, as he shakes her hand. ‘Don’t tell me. You’re the one who interviewed my sister when she moved to National City?’
Kara nods. ‘That’s the one.’
‘Ah. I like that angle. Very cunning of you, Lena. Fuck the cute reporter to get a good profile in a top magazine.’
‘Lex.’ Lena’s voice hardens.
Lex only laughs. ‘Sorry, sorry. Sensitive topic?’
‘She’s my girlfriend, you fucking imbecile.’ Lena hisses.
‘So, it was the beginning of a romance!’ Lex turns to Kara. ‘So sorry to question your journalistic integrity, dear.’
‘Don’t worry about it.’ Kara says, through gritted teeth.
Lex glances over his shoulder and blanches. ‘I need to go. Dear Mother is making her way over. Have fun, won’t you, Lena? God knows you work too hard.’
He walks away from them as quickly as he can manage while still being subtle. He ends up in a crowd of other men in well cut suits, laughing uproariously at their jokes.
When Kara loses Lex in the crowd, she looks over at Lena. Her cheeks are dusted pink.
‘I am so sorry about that.’ Lena says. ‘He’s an ass when he’s had too much whisky.’
‘It’s okay.’ Kara bumps her shoulder against Lena’s own. ‘I’ve dealt with worse.’
‘Speaking of worse.’ Lena mutters, as Lillian catches sight of them.
Lillian looks at them with the kind of calculated eyes that make Kara feel like she’s being flayed alive. Her instincts scream danger the closer Lillian gets. This is different from the office. Here, Lillian has the advantage. This is her court.
But Kara has never been one to shy away from danger. Not against turn coat agents, not against international assassins, and certainly not against mob bosses.
She straightens her posture as Lillian, in a deep purple gown, walks up to them.
‘Have you seen your brother?’ She asks, not even bothering to look Kara’s way.
Lena sighs. ‘He went left.’
With that, Lillian walks off.
Kara looks at Lena, bewildered. ‘Was that it?’
‘Don’t worry.’ Lena murmurs. ‘She’ll be back. C’mon, let’s get a fucking drink.’
Lena leads them into the ballroom and over to the bar with the air of someone who knows where they’re going. Kara lets herself be led, mentally tracking who she passes by. The amount of politicians, businessmen and notable celebrities present shouldn’t surprise her; but it does.
The Luthors’ influence is legendary, but it’s different seeing it in action.
Lena snatches each of them a champagne flute from an unsuspecting and flustered waiter.
Kara grimaces. ‘Are you okay?’
‘No.’ Lena says, curtly. She downs half of her champagne. ‘I feel like I’m a den of vipers.’
‘Well, you look very pretty for someone in a viper’s nest.’
Lena rolls her eyes and downs the rest of her drink. ‘Did you just subtly correct me on the proper terminology for a snake’s home?’
‘Kind of?’ Kara sips at her drink as she watches Lena grab another. ‘Accidentally.’
Lena sighs. ‘Sorry. I’m not going to be good company tonight.’
‘I don’t mind.’ Kara takes another sip. ‘This stuff tastes like liquid gold.’
‘Mm. Don’t ask me how much it costs.’
Kara blanches. ‘That’s code for: it costs about a month’s rent. Isn’t it?’
‘Try three.’
‘Yikes.’
Lena nods. ‘Opulent, ostentatious wealth.’
‘She says, drinking as much champagne as she can get her hands on.’ A voice says behind them.
Kara turns around to see a tall woman with sharp features, in a tight black dress, looking them over.
‘Veronica Sinclair.’ Lena sighs. ‘I didn’t know you’d be here.’
‘You would if you bothered to read the guest list.’
Lena hums. ‘I’ve been a little preoccupied.’
Veronica gives Kara a catty smile. ‘I can see that. Flavor of the month?’
‘Kara Danvers.’ Kara says, her expression hardening. ‘Girlfriend.’
‘Oh.’ Veronica has the gall to laugh. ‘I guess you haven’t heard that Lena doesn’t do girlfriends.’
Kara smiles unkindly. ‘Well, you tell me what you’d call seeing each other exclusively for eight months.’
Veronica’s haughty expression slips just slightly. ‘Looks like you caught a live one, Lena. Make sure she doesn’t get you into trouble.’
Lena only gives her a mock salute and watches as Veronica walks away.
‘Sorry.’ Lena says, again. How many times has she said that tonight?
‘What was that about?’ Kara wonders.
Her mind is spinning. Veronica Sinclair is fifteenth on the DEO’s top twenty Most Wanted. Her fighting rings are inhumane and incredibly hard to locate. If she’s here gallivanting around and drinking expensive champagne, who else has been invited?
‘We had a thing.’ Lena explains. ‘Sort of. At boarding school.’
‘Cliche.’ Kara says.
Lena glances at her. ‘What can I say. Are you jealous?’
Kara downs the rest of her champagne. ‘Of her? No. You’re mine now, Kieran.’
Lena flushes prettily and says nothing. Kara spends the next minute telling herself that she said that for the benefit of whoever is listening to them, talking to each other in this isolated corner of the crowded room.
She’s playing a character tonight. Just like she did at CatCo. Just like she did at Luthor & Co. All this is just an elaborate game of pretend. Pretending to be Lena’s girlfriend has at least confirmed what the DEO expected—the Luthor’s are in bed far enough with other crime syndicates to ask them for money.
Still, Kara’s words don’t stop Lena from grabbing her another flute of champagne.
‘Any thoughts on some water soon, babe?’ Kara asks. It’s a good time to slip in their preapproved pet names, in case anyone overhears.
Lena makes a face. ‘Are you bossing me around?’
‘Trying to.’ Kara smiles. ‘But I don’t think I’m succeeding.’
She busies herself with people watching while Lena presses herself flat against the wall. She can see Maxwell Lord by the piano, giving a young woman a charming smile. Another one for the top ten list. Lillian has her back to them, thank god. She’s number two.
She scans other unfamiliar faces and grows more puzzled with every minute that passes.
‘Hey. Weird question.’ She says. ‘But where’s your dad?’
Lena stares off into the distance. ‘Your guess is as good as mine.’
Kara frowns. ‘Do you wanna dance?’
It’s a good excuse to move around. Kara will be able to keep a mental log of whoever’s here with more accuracy if she has an excuse to stop staring straight ahead.
‘I’m three champagnes in.’ Lena says. ‘I’m afraid I might trip on my heels.’
‘I’ll hold you up.’ Kara promises. ‘I’m strong.’
‘Believe me.’ Lena drawls. ‘I noticed.’
Kara feels herself go warm. It’s an act. She reminds herself, even as Lena places a hand on her bicep.
The dance floor is on the other side of the room. It’s a modest space, made mostly for couples slow dancing to whatever airy classical tune floats through the room. There are two couples dancing already. Kara notes that she recognizes one of them; another criminal couple swiftly making their way into the DEO’s threat level briefings.
Kara places her hand on Lena’s waist, just above the hip. Lena places both her arms around Kara’s shoulder so naturally, like they’ve done this before. Kara puts her other hand on the small of her done—-to help with her balance.
‘Let me lead.’ Kara says, to give her the ability to move her eyeline more freely.
‘I didn’t take you for a top.’ Lena says, noncommittally.
Kara laughs as she steps them in time with the music. ‘You’d be surprised.’
‘You’ll have to show me sometime.’
Kara tightens her grip on Lena’s waist for a brief moment. It’s an act. You can’t freak out every time a pretty girl flirts with you. The voice in her head is beginning to sound suspiciously similar to her sister.
They’ve barely begun to sway in time to the music, Kara mentally noting the other attendees, before it abruptly cuts off.
Lillian and Lionel Luthor stand at the front of the room, each holding a flute of champagne.
‘Thank you all for coming.’ The deep voice of Lionel reverberates through his microphone and throughout the room.
‘We’re delighted to see you all made time to attend our little gathering.’ Lillian says. ‘Of course we’re hoping your generosity will translate to your checkbooks.’
The room fills with the titterings of laughter.
‘As you all know, Lex turns thirty this year. It seemed appropriate, then, that we should choose the Lex Luthor Foundation as our charity for this evening. All money raised will go directly to helping the Foundation’s efforts in bridging the gap between citizens of Metropolis and hospital care.’
‘Please, enjoy yourselves.’ Lionel finishes. ‘Keep the champagne flowing and the conversation coming. We look forward to seeing you on the dance floor, should you find your dancing shoes.’
Light applause breaks out at that. Then, the music resumes.
Kara looks at Lena and sees all the levity drained from her expression. Kara hazards a guess that it’s from seeing her father. She’s never actually heard Lena speak about him.
‘Would it be terribly impolite of me to ask you to come smoke on the balcony?’ Lena asks.
Kara shakes her head. ‘I’ll come.’
Lena leads her out with her hand clasped in Kara’s. How much time have they spent holding each other tonight? Kara’s lost count. Just like she’s lost count of how many champagne flutes Lena has emptied.
Lena is lighting up a cigarette over the edge of the balcony when she turns back to Kara. ‘I really am sorry about all this.’
‘It’s okay.’ Kara says, automatically, watching the stars twinkle in the clear night sky.
‘My family is…’ Lena takes a drag. ‘Fucked. To put it mildly. I shouldn’t have dragged you into it.’
‘It’s okay.’ Kara says, again. ‘But I do have a favor to ask.’
‘Yeah?’
Kara blames the champagne when she says: ‘can we go back to your place after?’
Lena turns to her, shock plain on her face. ‘Why?’
Kara rubs her arms to ward off the cool breeze. ‘I don’t think you should be alone tonight.’
Lena takes another drag. ‘Nothing I haven’t done before.’
‘Please.’
‘Alright.’ Lena sighs. ‘If it means that much to you.’
‘It does.’ Kara decides, with a nod. She feels the champagne curdle in her stomach when her instinct is to celebrate that she’s finally going to see the inside of Lena’s apartment. If evidence of criminal activity was going to be anywhere, it would be there.
Kara is about to suggest they should go back inside. The cool air has crept up to her neck, chilling her. Lena’s probably too warm from copious amounts of alcohol to notice. Before she can, though, the glass double doors leading out onto the balcony part and Lillian Luthor walks between them.
‘There you are.’ She says.
Lena stubs out her cigarette on the bannister. ‘Here I am.’
‘Really, Lena. I was hoping your guest might be able to control your drinking. Too much to ask, I suppose.’
‘Father’s daughter.’ Lena says.
‘Kara Danvers.’ Kara interjects. ‘I don’t think we’ve officially met.’
Lillian gives her a blank stare. ‘I know who you are.’
It gives Kara a jolt of shock that she covers. She’s talking about your employment at Luthor & Co. She doesn’t know you work for the DEO.
‘Good. Then you’ll know I’m a little more than your daughter’s guest.’
‘So I’ve heard. It’s a shame a reporter’s salary doesn’t allow you to contribute to the Foundation tonight. You are being bankrolled by my money after all.’
‘I’m not here for the Ball.’ Kara says. ‘I’m here for her.’
‘Charming.’ Lillian gives her an unimpressed stare. ‘Come inside, Lena. There are important people who need to speak with you. You have five minutes.’
With that, she walks back into the ballroom. She doesn’t shut the doors behind her, much to Kara’s chagrin. Maybe she wants them to be watched, to be overheard. Maybe she’s hoping to catch them in a lie.
‘I could kiss you for that, you know.’ Lena says.
‘For arguing with your mother?’
‘For standing up for me.’
Kara shrugs. ‘What are girlfriends for.’
Kara leans forward and presses a simple, chaste kiss to Lena’s lips. Lena’s shock translates into her standing completely still before Kara pulls away.
‘Your father is watching.’ Kara says, by way of explanation.
True enough, Lionel has cast his imperious gaze over the two of them inside the ballroom. He doesn’t look nearly as murderous as Lillian. His face is lit up with something more like genuine curiosity. Somehow Kara finds that more unsettling than Lillian’s anger.
‘You broke the rules.’ Lena eyes her. ‘You weren’t supposed to kiss me.’
Kara shrugs. ‘Sorry.’
‘Do it again.’
Kara glances at Lena’s hazy expression. ‘You’re drunk.’
‘And? Do it again.’
Kara doesn’t know what to tell herself as she leans forward again. It’s all to keep herself on Lena’s good side. It’s all for the ruse. It’s all to keep the plan in motion.
The electricity that buzzes when Lena actually kisses back this time makes Kara go numb. What exactly is she getting herself into?