The Big Fat Lie

“Lena…” Kara called softly as the group started dispersing to the door. The woman in question paused and turned around, coat tucked neatly in the crook of her arm. Kara didn’t miss that Alex was behind the other woman, lingering in the foyer. Kara watched out of the corner of her eye as Kelly leaned into her girlfriend’s ear. The superhero supposed the whispering was more for Lena’s benefit as she still heard the words ‘They’ll be fine, let’s go.’

Alex blinked owlishly as several emotions flitted past her face in rapid succession before settling on one Kara could only describe as abject resignation. She gave Kara an awkward nod before allowing herself to be unceremoniously dragged out of the apartment by Kelly.

“…is it a good sign that you waited until everyone left to continue that thought?” Lena asked, the corners of her mouth quirked upwards. Despite the half-smile on the young CEO’s face, Kara could tell she was nervous.

“They didn’t have to leave,” Kara chuckled. “I’m not sure why they did.” She paused, eyebrows furrowed as she considered a new line of thought. “What would be a good reason that I didn’t want the others to hear?”

Lena looked momentarily taken aback and for a split-second Kara could have sworn the ear peaking out from the the shorter woman's hair was turning an odd color.

“I mean, William still doesn’t know about your identity, right?” Lena smoothly recovered. Kara had a slight suspicion the other wasn’t being completely honest given who the last people to leave were, but she decided to keep the teasing to a minimum.

It had been several months since they took Lena’s brother down. Several months of painfully trying to restore their friendship to what it once was before the Big Fat Lie. And it was better – it really was. But they’d both be lying if they said their relationship was anywhere close to normal. Even what existed felt horribly tenuous, as if the slightest puff of air would cause it to break into permanent disrepair. And Kara was not about to test that with an ill-timed joke.

“Well, you’re not completely wrong,” Kara interjected, giving her a small smile. “I promised Supergirl would make an appearance at the children’s hospital, didn’t I?”

Lena looked visibly relieved. “That’s right…for Lily.”

Lily, a young girl who was turning 9 tomorrow, had been fighting an aggressive form of brain cancer. Her attitude towards the diagnosis and her efforts to cheer the other wards at the Luthor Children’s Hospital had warmed even the most cold-hearted people in the city. It was little surprise that she had caught the attention of a certain philanthropist CEO.

“Her surgery is next week?”

Lena nodded as she slipped on her coat. “Yes, and I have every confidence it will go well. The doctors on her case have significant experience with medulloblastoma. But there is always the ever real chance of complications…of problems…”

“And that’s why you had your favorite reporter conduct an interview to find out if she had any regrets before she went in.” Kara felt her breathing get shallow – she shouldn’t have added in that quip about ‘favorite reporter’ after everything. It was too soon and now Lena had every chance (and right, if Kara’s being honest) to put the superhero back in line. Not without Kara getting a tad bit hurt though.

But to Kara’s surprise (and relief), Lena didn’t protest the claim. Instead, her eyes crinkled as she finally met Kara’s eyes for the first time all night, smiling shyly. “I can’t say I’m surprised that her big wish before the surgery was to meet this city’s biggest hero.”

Kara blinked rapidly as she could feel her cheeks start to heat up at the compliment. “Her wish was for the both of us to meet her. Together, Lena.” she groaned, embarrassed. “You do so much good for this city…for this world, you really shouldn’t downplay the magnitude of your impact.”

Lena looked away, eyebrows arching upwards. “Yeah well…” Kara’s heart broke as she could guess the implicit meaning behind the words left unsaid. A few months ago, I almost destroyed it.

If it would help, Kara would shake Lena and badger her with as many words of endearment as necessary to convince the Luthor otherwise. But Kara suspected it would only make things worse.

Lena shook her head. “Let’s meet in the hospital if you don’t mind – I don’t want Lily to feel like L-Corp is using her for a favorable press release.”

Kara frowned as she reached out and grabbed the woman’s wrist.

“Hey…that’s not true. You’re her hero, Lena. She’d never think that.” She stared at Lena sharply, letting the silence extend until the other woman was forced to finally look back up at her. The amount of vulnerability in her eyes took Kara by surprise and she found herself temporarily lost for words as she stared into emerald pools.

“We both know I don’t deserve it Kara.” The words were spoken quietly and as a matter of fact. The tone warned that the CEO was in no mood to argue the point.

“What do I have to do to make you see that it’s not true?” Kara murmured softly. Some time passed as both women stared at each other in silence until Lena broke the moment by glancing down.

“So…this is new.” Kara blinked as she tilted her gaze downward. Somehow Kara’s original hold on the other’s wrist had morphed into the superhero holding onto the brunette’s hand for dear life.

“Sorry!” Kara squeaked, dropping the hand like it was on fire. She could feel her face start to burn in embarrassment. Even when they had been at their closest, they had never been the type of friends to hold hands and sing kumbaya. Even after months, Kara still hadn’t worked up the courage to try and hug her. Rao, this alone was the first game night Lena had been to since the Big Fat Lie.

Lena grinned at her slyly. “I must say, I have a strict policy of dinner before any illicit hand-holding.”

Kara flushed and felt her mouth drop open as her expression morphed into incredulity. “That’s a low blow Lena. I was being sincere!”

Mood sufficiently lightened (even if that was definitely a topic Kara wanted to revisit at a later day), Lena laughed as she swirled on her heels and made for the door. She held up a hand in farewell. “Good night Kara. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

It wasn’t until hours later, as Kara was suitably buried into her covers and drifting off into sleep, that she realized:

• Lena had cracked a joke for the first time since the Big Fat Lie.
• Maybe their friendship wasn’t as tenuous as she first thought.