Chapter 2
"So, 'Your sister's taken it all.'? Great line. Great line."
"Bit overkill in my opinion, but sure."
"Oh just shut up, both of you."
They found Kara sitting in the old swing by the beach that Jeremiah had built when they first took in Kara and all the girl ever did was stand and stare at the ocean for hours. Alex had the great idea of suggesting to her dad to make Kara a swing. Ever since then, this was the only place Kara would escape to when she wants to think. It wasn't really any trouble for Lex and Alex to find her.
Alex stood behind her sister and gently started to push her forward, Lex settled down on the spot near Alex's feet but far enough that he won't be accidentally hit by Kara swinging.
"So, you want to talk about it?" Lex began, eyes trained at the ocean. They heard Kara take a deep breath. "Well, remember when you asked me why I disappeared and didn't ask for a ride back?" Kara spoke softly, the question directed at Lex, referencing the night of the gala. Or as Kara's brain liked to put it, 'The Night Where Kara Danvers Made The Most Stupid Decision of Her Life.'
"Yeah. You said you forgot to write a paper or something and then you had to rush home to do it. That wasn't what really happened was it?"
Lex watched as Kara slowly shook her head.
"We uh- we kissed. And I thought for moment that it was real. That I finally had Lena, you know? But then she fled and then the next morning-" Kara paused sounding like she might start crying again. Alex put a comforting hand on her shoulder. Kara barreled on, "I felt so confused as to why she ran. I thought maybe it was just because we were in public and she didn't want the press to know anything or maybe because she didn't want her big brother teasing her. But then, when we finally got around to talking-"
Two Months Ago: The Morning After...
Kara felt her heart speed up as she watched Lena approach where she was sitting. Lena gave her a smile as she took the three steps before sitting down. This was their park bench. Always had been and always will be, it felt fitting to have the talk here. It certainly wasn't because so Kara can have a reason not to cry--because she's in the fucking park, Rao's sake--when what she did last night finally do the inevitable.
Let Lena know she's been in-love with her for years and ultimately ruin their friendship.
No, it most certainly is not because of that.
"Hi." Lena says, green eyes shy and a bit hesitant.
"Hi." Kara answers back just as quietly.
My God, they were like two 5th graders who do not know how to talk about feelings.
Kara decides to be bold. Now or never. They already fucking kissed what has she got to lose?
At the time, Kara didn't know that the answer to that question was, everything.
"So, about last night," she begins and Lena's eyes slowly flicker towards hers. Kara exhales. "Look, first off, I want to apologize if I overstepped any boundaries and I know that should've asked for consent and it was totally wrong of me to just kiss you like that and god, it was so wrong on so many levels and I should've-"
"Kara, breathe. You don't have to apologize. You didn't overstep or offend me in any way." Lena says, sincerely and then adds, "I promise." because she knows Kara needs that extra reassurance. Kara finds herself breathlessly nodding. She didn't overstep any boundaries, that was good, right? That means she has a chance, right? That maybe, Lena had enjoyed the kiss just as much as Kara did?
"Okay, okay. That's good. Okay. Yeah." Kara mumbles, composing herself, bracing herself for what she's going to say next "But Lena I want you to know, I meant it. Kissing you, it meant something to me." Kara feels her hands start to shake so she tries to put them in her pocket, "I've always wanted to kiss you. And last night, you were so close and you were so beautiful and I just-I thought to myself this is it. I should kiss her. And I did. And I'm so glad I did, Lena." she says and Lena's eyes are so full of emotion but she can't for the life her figure out what they meant. So she continues, "I'm so glad I did because I like you, Lena. More than a best friend should. I think, I'm-" Another deep breath. "I love you, Lena."
She can't do this. Lena can't do this. This is what she has been waiting for her entire life. To finally hear Kara Danvers utter those three words to her and only to her, blue eyes shining and lips painting the perfect smile. The smile reserved only for Lena. The 'I love you too, Kara.' threatens to spill out of her lips. And Lena can't fucking do this, she can't she just can't. That was why Kara wasn't the only one surprised when the two of them heard what Lena said next.
"Oh, Kara. I- I don't know what to say." to which Kara so kindly responds, "Oh, you don't have to say anything, Lena. I just wanted it out there for the both of us to know." Kara says and the hope in Kara's chest deflates a little. "You aren't obligated to like me back or something. I just-I wanted you to know. You're my best friend and you deserve the truth." Fucking hell, why does she have to fall in love with someone as pure as Kara who says sincere things like that? Lena wishes that Kara was mad instead. She can handle that better. She can deal with anger and hate and disappointment.
She doesn't know what to do with Kara.
But in the back of her head there's a voice saying 'You know exactly what you need to do, Luthor.' and she absolutely does not want to do what her brain is telling her. Because it's wrong. And it'll hurt Kara. Hell, it'll hurt Lena, herself.
"Thank you for telling me the truth. But Kara, I don't think-" Lena trails off looking away because she can't take the sight of watching the light in Kara's eyes disappear. The words present themselves and Lena tries to find air to breathe, "I don't want to lead you on. I also owe you the truth. And the truth is, Kara-" she pauses again. Damnit Luthor just do it. "Last night was a mistake." There, she's said it.
She tries to ignore the way Kara's lips are trembling, how hard she's swallowing, how sad her eyes look. "I think it's wrong for the both of us to pursue any kind of relationship aside from friendship. You're my best friend and I don't want to lose you. I'm sorry."
Sorry for lying.
Sorry for breaking your heart.
Sorry for being a coward.
Sorry for being a Luthor.
"Yeah- uhm, yeah. I uh-yeah, I totally get that." Kara isn't in the right mind to think of a good response that doesn't involve her asking, 'Why Lena? Why not? Why not choose to be with me?'
"Best friends. Always. I promised you that remember?" Kara says instead, tries to fucking smile even if she can hear the pieces of her heart clatter to the ground.
Lena wants to cry. She wants to get out of here and just sob until no tears come and no feelings can get to her. The thing she needs most though? It's to wrap her arms around Kara and take it all back, kiss her again and relive their moment last night. But she can't. So Lena, tries to reach out and squeeze Kara's hand instead.
She fights the urge to flinch as Kara visibly stiffens at her touch. Kara then takes a deep breath, puts a half-hearted smile on her face and then says, "It's good that we had that talk. But I-I think I want to be alone right now. So, I'm gonna go." She cannot articulate a better escape excuse so she says all that in one breath. She tries not to show Lena how fucking eager she is to just get out of there.
Lena gives her a sad smile. "Yeah, of course. I understand." Lena does, she also wants to be alone, right now. Not so that she can cry and break down--well, maybe a bit of that too-but ultimately just so she can get a headstart on getting used to the feeling of how her entire life is going to be from now on.
Because Lena knows after what she had just done, nothing is going to be the same. Lena also knows that she was destined to be alone.
Present Time...
"So, that was why Lena stayed in the lab for two weeks straight that time."
"And that was why you took that trip to Metropolis."
Alex and Lex looked at each finally realizing the reason why their sisters suddenly shut down for a short while a few months ago. God, they were stupid. Of course, it had something to do with the other. If something happened to Lena it would directly affect Kara and if something were to happen to Kara it would directly affect Lena. That was just how things were. And they were both terrible older siblings for not realizing this sooner.
Alex watches as the gears start turning in Lex's head. She knows her best friend, she knows that right now he's probably calculating what to do and what not to do to fix this mess. Alex isn't sure if she's supposed to be happy with that idea. Kara doesn't seem to notice the serious look on Lex's face, choosing instead to still face the ocean and sigh longingly.
"You better go back, Lex." Kara says quietly. "Lena probably needs you."
"You kinda need me here too." Lex gives her a smile. "I'll be fine, I got Alex here." she feels her sister squeeze the hand Alex had put on her shoulder.
Lex takes a moment before standing up and brushing himself off, "Okay, yeah. And Kara, I'm sorry. I didn't know. I shouldn't have barged in on you like that. That was, that was pretty stupid of me."
Alex snorts, "Pretty stupid? Try incredibly stupid."
"You suck, Danvers."
Kara rolls her eyes, "Apology accepted." Lex gives Kara a last squeeze and bumps Alex as he makes his way out of the beach.
Not 5 minutes had passed when Alex's phone pinged three consecutive times.
Luthor hellspawn [9: 30 pm]: I have a plan.
Luthor hellspawn [9: 33 pm]: Meet me tom. Luthor Manor 5:30
Luthor hellspawn [9: 35 pm]:Bring beer.
Phase One-
This is stupid. Alex thinks as she watches Lex clear off the engineering formulas on his blackboard. They were at Lex's room in the manor. Alex comfortably sprawled out in one of Lex's beanbags. He still hadn't said anything, just that he had a plan and he needs Alex's help. And somehow, Alex knows he's going to meddle in something he shouldn't meddle in and it's all going to explode in Lex's face in the end.
Alex knows all this and still decides to help.
Not every day you're gonna see Lex Luthor make a fool out of himself, after all. Besides, one of the maids down in their kitchens makes the most delicious quesadilla that Alex had ever tasted. She's not going to pass up on that, either.
Lex clapped his hands together once and then begins, "Okay so!" Alex raises a bored eyebrow. "Let's start with Phase One. Oh, don't give me that look. You know you've been rooting for the both of them ever since Kara learned the word 'crush'."
"Just get on with it, Lex."
"Phase One: Extraction."
"God, are we really going to treat this like one of those video games you like?"
"Oh come on, it sounds cool. You don't even know the plan, yet. Do you want me to continue or not?" Lex argues, chalk waving around wildly.
Alex concedes, "Fine, what does Phase One: Extraction means?" she fights the urge to roll her eyes.
"I, as the best big brother in the entire universe will try and extract information about why my sister lied."
"Lied?" Lena lied? About what?
"Yeah, she lied. I don't think she thinks it was a mistake. She just doesn't want to admit it to Kara." Lex states matter of factly. "And how do you know that?"
"Because she told me herself."
"What?"
"Three weeks before That whole 'I'm bringing a girl to dinner thing-y' Lena got drunk." Lex explains, "We got drunk." he clarifies.
"Yeah, I don't think I should find whatever you say credible if the both of you were drunk, that night." Alex scoffs and finally rolls her eyes. "Look Danvers, I know what she said. Lena doesn't let her guard down around anyone, not even with me. She only does that with Kara. But that night-that night she told me she's in love with your sister." Lex finishes waiting to see what Alex would think.
"And what did she say exactly?"
Three Weeks Before That Whole 'I'm bringing a girl to dinner thing-y'...
"I don't think you should be stealing from our father's liquor cabinet." Lena says before grabbing the expensive bottle that Lex had snuck into her room.
"Oh, I hardly believe Dad is going to miss one bottle when he comes back. Especially, if his children had fun illegally consuming it." Lex counters, Lena laughs and pours both of them a glass.
"Cheers," Lex begins, "Here's to ' emergency business trips' and stolen alcohol."
"I'll drink to that." Lena clinks her glass with Lex's and savors the pleasant burn in her throat.
They were talking about inaccurate sci-fi films and their love for Star Wars despite that, when Lex suddenly drops a question that made Lena freeze. She was just mildly buzzed. She needed to be drunker than this if she was going to answer Lex's question.
"So, what's up with you and Kara? And before you even try to deny it. I see how you look at her, Lena." Lex was slurring a bit but she knows her brother was still coherent enough. She downs two shots.
"There's nothing there, Lex. She's my best friend that's it."
"You don't really want that to be all there is, Lena." he states as if he knows how deep Lena's feelings actually run.
"Whether I want it or not. That is all there is."
"And what do you want exactly, Lena?"
A beat.
"To be with Kara."
"There we go, wasn't so hard was it?"
"Tell me about her?"
Lena smiles, she knows her brother means well. And she figures this is the only time she would ever let herself feel might as well let it be with her brother.
"She makes me feel like the best person in the world. And when she smiles? God, she has the most beautiful smile-"
Present Time...
"Okay. So, Lena said a bunch of overtly romantic stuff about my sister that I really don't want to hear about by the way, but we don't know why she lied."
"Yes." Lex says and then he starts pulling up a picture from his desk and a snippet of tape, "Which is why we are going to get to the bottom of it, starting with the best friend."
"Kara?"
"The other best friend." Lex then finishes taping the picture and writes below it, 'Jack Speer; The Other Best Friend.'
"Oh, God, please tell me you don't have a powerpoint presentation planned for our sisters' love story."
"I was actually debating making one, but the oldschool chalk-tape-conspiracy board felt more appropriate."
"I cannot believe you are my best friend."
"You love it."
"So, we gonna interrogate nerd kid who makes robots in their garage?" Lex laughs at Alex's response and grabs a bite of quesadilla on Alex's plate.
"You say that as if you don't geek out when your mom talks Biochem for dinner."
"Whatever. Don't steal from my plate."
"Yes, we're going to interrogate him." He steals another piece.
"And you think he's just going to divulge his best friend's deepest darkest secret to her big brother, why?"
"Because we are going to interrogate him, Luthor style." He answers her with such certainty that Alex felt the need to snort. Are they seriously doing this? This is crazy, right? They should basically just let Lena and Kara sort all this out on their own. They're capable functioning human beings aren't they? But then an image of Kara thanking Mon-El for "The pretty congratulatory flowers!" he gave after getting her internship—side note, they were not congratulatory flowers, they were I-Like-You flowers—pops into Alex's head and she thinks, oh boy we really do have to push through with this plan.
"You're not going to make him go through a lie detector are you?"
"What? Of course not, Alex." he spats out at her, "We're going to threaten him."
"Oh wow, even better."
"Luthor style, I tell you."
Their sarcasm is perfect for one another.