Everyone hates the Luthor's, including Lena
Lena really hated attending her family’s functions, especially the annual Christmas party. It was the same every year; the adults got drunk off expensive champagne while the kids were left to mingle with one another. The thing was, Lena never had anything in common with the other kids. So, per usual, she found herself wanting the night to end as quickly as possible.
As the sounds of laughter echoed throughout the manor, Lena uses the distraction to sneak outside to be alone. Being away from everyone has made Lena realize just how much she misses having her friends around. She especially missed Kara, goofy, adorable Kara.
It’s cold when she steps outside and she’s thankful she went with the slacks instead of a dress. As much as she hated being home, she would admit that the manor always looked beautiful in the winter. The garden in the back of the house was one of her favorite places to read during the summer and during the winter the snow always shines off the assortment of statues.
“I heard you’ve been doing well at school.” The familiar voice of her brother interrupts Lena from her thoughts.
“You sound surprised?” Lena says, not bothering to turn around to face Lex.
Lena and Lex used to be close when they were growing up, they always drove their parents crazy with their antics around the manor. Lex had taught Lena how to play chess and got good enough to actually beat him (which made him furious). When their parents were out of town for some business trip, she could always count on Lex to keep her company. She loved her brother, that was never going to change, even if he had. He didn’t smile much anymore, most of his time was spent at the Ministry. It felt like his job had consumed him and there wasn’t much left of the old Lex she knew. He hadn’t even bothered to write to her once while she was at school. Today was the first day she had seen him in months and he didn’t have much to say.
“We haven’t had time to catch up, how’s Slytherin treating you?”
“As well as could be expected.” Lena responds. She came out here to be alone and didn’t really want to small talk with Lex but she figured it would be inevitable. When she finally turns around, Lex is sitting on one of the benches with a drink in his hand. She finally notices just how much older he looks, almost sad? She knew he was doing important work at the ministry but wondered when the last time he had gotten a good night’s rest.
“So, I hear you made friends with Kara Danvers.”
As soon as her name left his lips Lena immediately became enraged. What did Kara have to do with anything? Matter of fact, how did he even know who she was? Not wanting to tip Lex off that she was upset she struggled to remain calm. She truly had no idea where this conversation was going, but she wanted to find out.
“I did yes. How did you know that?”
“I had a talk with mother and father this evening. We’re concerned.”
“Of course, you did.” Lena scoffs. “What about her is so concerning?”
“Lena. I don’t think you understand the severity of the situation you’ve put us in.” Lex tells her as he takes a drink.
“I’ve put you in? What does me being friends with Kara have to do with anything? Actually, better question, why is anyone in my life your concern?”
“What do you really know about this girl?”
“I know she’s the one person who has treated me like a human being and not a Luthor. That’s enough for me.”
“There are things going on that I think you need to know about.”
There it was.
Whatever this plan is, she was about to find out. When Mike had told her about what her role was, she brushed it off to him just being weird but if her family is involved that must mean whatever it is must be big. That thought terrified Lena, more importantly she was scared for Kara.
“Look Lena, we need you to do something for us. You’re not going to like it but it’s time we tell you what’s going on. Have you ever wondered where she came from?”
“I know she was adopted when she was young after her parents died but that’s hardly relevant to you.”
“Who do you think had her parents killed?” Lex says, in almost a whisper.
Lena doesn’t want to know the rest, doesn’t want to know how her family had anything to do with the death of Kara’s parents. Lena was young when the Dark Lord was in power, she always knew in the back of her mind that her parents were supported but was never told out right so she pretended they weren’t.
“Please don’t break my heart right now.” Lena asks, fighting back tears. How could she face Kara after this?
“He’s back Lena and just like we supported him then we support him now. Kara was collateral damage but as of now, she is one of his targets.”
“How is a 14-year-old girl a target? I don’t understand!!!!” Lena is furious, she just wants to cry... but she can’t. Not in front of Lex. “Please just tell me what’s going to happen to her.”
“Nothing yet. That’s where you come in. You’re already her friend, she trusts you. It should be easy enough for you to gather whatever intel we need on her.”
There was a long pause after Lex finished his last sentence. He patiently waits for Lena’s reply. There is only one answer in all reality and he expects nothing less from the young Luthor.
“No. I won’t do it.” She says as bravely as she could.
It happened relatively fast. One minute the word “No” is leaving her mouth and the next Lex’s open palm collides with her left cheek.
It didn’t hurt, it felt more like a sting than anything but it still shocked Lea nonetheless. She was too scared to move, too scared to speak. She knew her brother meant business; she really didn’t have a choice. Her family was all she had in this world (whether she liked them or not) and once they made the request Lena had no choice but to do it.
But could she really betray Kara like that?
Lena holds her cheek as the stinging starts to amplify due to the cold as she chooses her next words very carefully. “Fine Lex. Just tell me what you need.”
“See little sister, was that so hard? Now I do believe it is time we rejoined our guests.” He says as he extends out his arm so they could walk back inside.
As quickly as she made it back inside, she rushed straight to her room. She wants to slam the door behind her but thinks better of it. She goes to sit in front of her vanity and just stares at herself in the mirror. She takes her hand and rubs it along her cheek as the bruise starts to form where Lex had hit her. Is that really who she wants to be? She thinks to herself, but remembers that question isn’t an easy one to answer. She SHOULD be that person, apparently that’s exactly the kind of people her family is. Everyone is right to hate her family, she doesn’t even know the full depth of their past but what she heard tonight was enough to scare her. What is she supposed to do?
The thought of sweet, innocent Kara flashes through her mind. She’s got a goofy smile, one that she reserves just for Lena. She imagines Kara fidgeting with her glasses as she laughs at some lame joke. She remembers the enormous amount of food that Kara always tries to stuff in her mouth while she talks during lunch. Kara colliding with her all those months ago was the best thing to happen to her and she never wants to be the reason she is ever sad.
Lena knows what she has to do… but the thought of hurting Kara...
She doesn’t bother going back downstairs and is thankful no one ever came up looking for her. “They’re all probably too drunk to even notice I’m gone.” She thinks to herself as she changes out of her dress and slips into bed. The tears fall easily, and she doesn’t even remember falling asleep. Her dreams are peaceful enough, only because they were filled with Kara.