Work Text:
Two weeks ago- Afternoon
Lena sat behind her office desk. Kate Kane sat across from her. “I think that’s a compromise that works for both Wayne Industries and L Corp.”
“I agree.” Lena said with a smile. “We’ll get that written up and my lawyers will be in touch with your lawyers.”
Kate nodded in response.
“How long will you be staying in National City?” Lena asked, getting up from her chair to walk around her desk.
“No time at all.” The short haired beauty responded, standing up. “I was only here for these negotiations, now that they’re done. I’ll catch the next flight out.”
Lena gestured toward the small couch in her office. “Care for a twenty year old single malt scotch before you get served watered down swill at the airport?”
Kate looked Lena up and down in a way that made Lena’s heart skip a beat. It had been a very long time since anyone had looked at her that brazenly. “Sounds good.”
Lena walked over to pour the drinks while Kate went and sat down.
“Neat, or rocks?” Lena asked.
“Neat.” Kate responded.
Lena finished pouring, and started toward Kate with both glasses. “When I first took over L Corp I ran into a lot of resistance from the old boy network. So if you ever need, I would be happy to help another female CEO.”
“Does that offer extend to a personal nature?” Kate drawled, taking the glass from Lena and making sure their fingers touched.
“Something tells me you have no trouble procuring that type of help.” Lena smiled, internally hoping that she wasn't going to have to teach Kate the same lesson she had taught her male board members.
The door burst open and a blonde bit of sunshine came bustling in. “Lena you won’t believe…” She stopped short. “Kate?”
“Kara?” The tattooed woman stood from the couch and was immediately enveloped in a hug.
“I forgot we were on the same…er, continent.” Kara said. “I thought you were in Europe.” Kara tried to cover the fact that she knew Batwoman from another earth, before the Crisis.
“I’m here now.” Kate said.
“That’s great.” Kara said finally letting go of the hug.
Lena felt a pit forming in her stomach as she saw Kate look at Kara the way that she had looked at herself. The word lothario came to mind.
“How’s your sister?” Kate asked.
“Good, she’s good.”
Lena wondered if Alex and Kate had once been something. That would explain the relationship between Kara and Kate. She wanted to ask, but didn’t want to ask.
“How long are you in town for?” Kara asked.
“As long as you want me to be.” Kate smiled.
The pit in Lena’s stomach deepened.
“Oh uh…”
“Do you have plans for dinner tonight Kara?” Kate asked.
Kara looked at Lena. They didn’t actually have anything planned. Kara had come by to ask Lena exactly that. “Um, no?”
“Then may I have the pleasure of your company for dinner this evening?” Kate drawled.
“Of course.” Kara answered then turned to her best friend. “Lena?”
Lena was sure that sweet straight Kara was not understanding the situation. “I believe you are being asked out on a date Kara.” Lena said gently.
Kara turned to Kate.
“You are.” Kate said slyly.
Kara blushed deeply.
“So what do you say?” Kate asked Kara, taking her by the hand.
“Um, yeah sure.” Kara answered, ducking her head.
The pit in Lena’s stomach was suddenly an abyss. How could Kara agree to a date with Kate Kane!?
“You still live in that loft?” Kate asked, without letting go of Kara’s hand.
Lena’s mind raced. Kate knew where Kara lived?
Kara nodded mutely.
“I’ll pick you up at seven.” Kate brought Kara’s hand up to her lips and kissed it, never taking her eyes off of Kara’s eyes.
Lena watched as an already blushing Kara, blushed even deeper. The pit was roiling.
Kate turned to Lena as she reached the door. “I guess you were right. I don’t have any trouble procuring that kind of help.”
A stunned Kara stood looking at the closed door. A stunned Lena stood looking at Kara.
“You know she’s a lesbian.” Lena said.
“Yes.”
“You know you just agreed to a date with a lesbian.” Lena couldn’t figure out how Kara could be so obtuse.
“Yes.”
“Kara, do you think it’s right to lead her on?” There was more than a hint of annoyance in Lena’s voice. It was one thing for Kara to just be Kara and Lena to read something into everything. It was another for Kara to actually agree to a date with a woman.
“What do you mean lead her on?” Kara asked blankly.
“Well, she’s a lesbian and you’re…”
“Pan.” Kara filled in.
“You’re what?”
“Pansexual. I fall in love with the brains not the body.” Kara explained. She had never told Lena because she had never wanted Lena to feel uncomfortable. The thought of losing the ability to hug Lena broke Kara’s heart.
At that moment a feather could have knocked Lena over. Kara was pan? Never in Lena’s wildest imagination would Lena have thought Kara pan. The only real relationship Lena knew Kara to have had was with Mike. And he had been… well, not exactly the fall in love with his brains type.
“I guess we never…” Lena mumbled, realizing that she was the obtuse one.
“Being an alien kind of gives you a different perspective about all that.” Kara explained.
Lena nodded numbly.
The pair stood in silence for a few moments.
“Well, Kate actually left me with a lot of work to do.” Lena said, walking toward her desk. Cover it up with work that’s a good solution, right?
“Oh.” Kara replied.
“And you have a date to get ready for.” Lena added trying to keep the bitterness out of her voice as she sat down
“Um, yeah.” Kara said with a smile. “I’ll text you later.”
“Yup." Lena began to go through the papers on her desk.
Kara stood staring at her for a moment. “OK, bye then.”
Lena said good bye without looking up.
Tonight
The whole gang, Brainy, Nia, J’onn, Alex, Kelly, Kara and Lena were at Al’s bar for karaoke. And much to Lena’s chagrin, so was Kate. Lena had already spent half the night watching Kate fawn over Kara.
Kate pulled Kara possessively to her and ground their hips together. Kara giggled.
Lena seethed. That was Lena’s giggle. Kara had only ever giggled like that for Lena. And now she was giggling Lena’s giggle for Kate Kane, the lothario. Lena seethed.
Lena turned to Alex. “You know that she’s nothing but a player.”
Two weeks ago- evening
Kate and Kara had gone to dinner and were now strolling along the waterfront. Kate took hold of Kara’s hand. Kara turned to her.
“We need to talk.”
“Yes?” Kate said closing the distance between them.
Kara took a step back, pulling her hand from Kate’s.
“Oh.” Kate said dropping her head.
“I’m sorry but all this is out of the blue Kate. We get along better than our cousins when they met. But I didn’t think we got along well enough for dating.” Kara said gently.
“You’re right.” Kate said scuffing her shoe on the ground. “The truth is I’m heartbroken. And I was trying to throw myself back out there. But it’s so hard to date when…” Kate looked around to make sure that they were alone. “you live the kind of life we live.”
Kara nodded.
“I mean I could have meaningless sex with a random girl. You know the whole ‘In order to get over one woman, get under another one.”
Kara blinked repeatedly. Did people say that?
“That’s what I was trying to do with Luthor when you walked in.” Kate said. “Then you walked into Lena’s office and it seemed like kismet.”
Kara was both angry and flattered. How dare Kate try to seduce Kara’s straight best friend? Then again, Kate gave up as soon as Kara walked in.
“But you’re right. I shouldn’t expect the most beautiful woman in the world to be single and available.”
Kara blushed.
“I get it. You’re already dating someone.”
Kara’s mind flit to her crush on her very straight best friend. “No.”
“But you’re going to ask someone out?”
Kara thought about Jack and James. The only two love interests for Lena that Kara knew about. Well, and some boy named Taylor that Lillian paid off. Kara didn’t stand a chance. “No.”
“You’re hoping to get asked out.”
Kara shook her head. She knew that would never happen. Lena would never think of Kara that way.
“Oh.” Kate said sadly. She nudged the toe of her shoe against the ground again. “It’s just me.”
“Look Kate.” Kara took the shorter woman by the shoulders. “You’re really pretty. And smart and a good person.”
“Could we pretend?” Kate asked.
The question threw Kara.
“Look, I realize now, that if I look inside myself I don’t really think about you that way anymore than you think about me that way. It was just the heartbreak grasping at straws.” Kate said. “But maybe if I play pretend for a little bit then it will ease my heartache. I’ll know it’s not real. You’ll know it’s not real. We’ll have a little fun. Then I’ll go back to Gotham with a brighter outlook.”
Kara thought about it. Would fake dating Kate help her get over Lena? Or did Kate really like her and the brunette was just using pretending as a way to hold out hope? Kara listened for Kate’s heartbeat. Kara took both of Kate’s hands and looked at Kate through her eyelids.
Kate got a confused look on her face but her heart rate didn’t change at all. If Kate were actually interested in her, then the vigilante’s heart beat would have increased.
“If you’re letting me down easy, you don’t have to.” Kate said.
“Are you sure that your heart will be safe from me?” Kara asked.
“When you turned me down for real, I realized that it wasn’t right. The fact is you’re a bit too much sunshine and light. I’m more of a moonlight and darkness kind of woman.”
Kara pulled Kate’s arms to wrap around her waist. Then she put her own arms around Kate’s neck.
“Kara, what are you doing?” Kate asked, her eyes flitting between Kara’s eyes.
“Accepting your offer to pretend.” Kara said closing her eyes.
Kate stood there holding Kara in her arms staring at the blonde who stood there with her eyes close. She realized that she was supposed to kiss her. Kate leaned forward and gave her a peck.
When Kate pulled back Kara smiled and nodded her head. Kate’s heartbeat had jumped a bit when Kara first closed her eyes. But now it was at the same rate as before. Kate was safe. They could share a few kisses here and there. Yes, this could definitely be a version of getting over one woman by getting under another. Unless getting under another meant...
“I’m not the type to have sex with a fling.” Kara said.
Kate nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I agree. We can kiss a bit here and there. But let’s keep it PG.”
Kara smiled appreciatively. This time she kissed Kate. It was on the cheek but still, she kissed her.
Lena had hacked into the restaurant’s hidden camera system. Kate was obviously oozing that disgustingly fake charm that she had tried to use on Lena in her office. Lena thought that Kara appeared a little uncomfortable, which made Lena’s heart soar.
Then they went walking along the water. Lena had prepared for that and already had the link into the National City Police surveillance up. Lena watched as Kate took Kara’s hand. Lena jumped up when Kara pulled away. “Yes!” She said triumphantly.
“Don’t fall for that fake shy act.” Lena told the screen as Kate toed the ground, clearly changing tactics. Lena was pleased when the pair continued talking at a distance. Kate toed the ground again. “It didn’t work the first time it’s not…”
Lena smirked as Kara grabbed Kate by the shoulders. This was the ‘Come to Jesus’ moment, she giggled.
Lena’s jaw dropped as Kara took Kate’s hands. That wasn’t supposed to happen next. Then Kara pulled Kate’s arms around her and-
Lena shut off the screen as Kate leaned in for a kiss. Lena had missed her chance. Lena had missed that Kara was pan and now Kara was literally in the arms of another woman. Lena needed a drink.
Lena needed several drinks.
Ten days ago
“You’re cheating!” Alex accused.
“All’s fair in love and betting pools.” Kate smirked.
“My money is still on Kara.” Alex responded.
“Are you sure?” Kate asked with a tilt of her head. “Because I guarantee that once I stir up some jealousy in the Luthor…” Her voice trailed off.
“My sister will make the first move.” Alex said matter of factly.
“I guess we’ll see.” Kate said smugly.
“I guess we will.” Alex replied.
Last night
Lena was in bed thumbing through Kara’s social media. A selfie of Kate and Kara smiling. A selfie of Kara kissing Kate’s cheek. A selfie of Kate kissing Kara’s cheek. A selfie of the pair kissing each other. Lena had already finished the bottle she had on her nightstand and was contemplating whether or not to go get the open bottle from her bar when there was a knock on her door.
Lena was drunk enough that it didn’t even cross her mind to put a robe on over her silk nighty.
Lena opened the door to a smiling Kate Kane. Lena wanted to punch her. “I expected you to be with Kara.” Lena slurred a bit.
“Sister night.” Kate responded.
Lena grunted her response and walk stumbled over to pour a drink. “Want one?” Lena asked holding up the bottle. She didn’t know exactly why she was offering this woman a drink.
Kate stood in the doorway for a moment before entering and closing the door behind her. “Sure.”
Lena poured the drinks and handed it to her guest. Then settled into her couch, sitting sideways. She was surprised when Kate sat down in a very similar pose with their knees touching.
“Kara’s a wonderful girl.” Kate said, looking up and down Lena’s body.
Lena nodded. She was a few drinks in but something seemed… odd. Kate who had very understandably chosen Kara was looking at Lena in a way that Kate should only look at Kara.
Kate took a slow sip of her drink while never taking her eyes off Lena’s eyes. Lena dropped her glass from her mouth and held it with both hands. Something was off.
“A bit chaste for my taste.” Kate said, openly leering at Lena’s cleavage in her nightgown.
Lena felt the need to get sober quick.
“It’s been fun these last couple weeks.” Kate said with a smirk. “Kara really has a thing for her straight best friend.”
Lena blinked. Straight what now?
“I use that against Kara, because you and I are very similar you know.” Kate ran her finger along the top of her glass. “We’re both powerful CEOs. We both try to do good in our communities. We even have similar features. But you have longer hair.”
That phrasing struck a chord somewhere in the back of Lena’s memory but she was still stuck on the phrasing ‘straight best friend’.
“Kara is thoroughly convinced that the similarities end at sexuality. But I don’t think so.” Kate looked seductively up at Lena and held her gaze for a moment before taking another slow sip of her drink.
Lena stared. Kara who Lena thought was straight is pan. And apparently, Kara thinks that bisexual Lena is straight. Lena tried to replay her relationship with Kara. But a much-closer-than-a-minute-ago Kate Kane suddenly caught her attention. Kate’s arm was now on the back of the couch her hand gently touching Lena’s hair.
“I’m running out of time here in National City. I’ve been patient with Kara and I think I’m finally going to get there tomorrow. I’m betting she’s out of this world in the sack. They say it’s always the quiet ones.”
Lena’s mind raced. Was that a double entendre? Did Kate know about Kara? And why was Kate’s hand suddenly on Lena’s bare knee? Lena shifted and pulled her knee away. Kate took it as an invitation to get closer.
Lena really needed to get sober quickly.
“It’s a shame you’ve been drinking.” Kate said running her eyes all over Lena’s scantily clad body.
Kate was suddenly standing. “Walk me to the door?” Kate asked setting her glass down on the coffee table.
Numbly Lena stood and followed Kate to the door. Seriously, what was going on here? Lena wished she was sober enough to know.
“Kara doesn’t think she has a shot in hell with you.” Kate said running her hand down Lena’s bare arm. “But I think that I do. Call me when you sober up if you want to have some fun.”
Lena was about to tell Kate that Kara was too good for her. To tell her that Kara was perfect in every way and that she was not too chaste. That naiveté was part of Kara’s innocent charm. And that under no circumstances would Lena ever sleep with the girlfriend of her best friend. But when she opened her mouth to tell her off, Kate had disappeared.
Tonight
Lena seethed as she brought her club soda up to her lips. She wasn’t drinking tonight because she wanted to absolutely sober for Kate Kane’s antics. She would do whatever she had to do to protect Kara from such an obviously immoral person.
Fine Lena may not have the moral high ground after the whole non nocere thing. But she was not a… a lothario. A lothario who thought that tonight would be the night with Kara but still had gone to Lena’s last night.
Lena may have lost her chance with Kara. (Although she wasn’t exactly sure when that chance had passed.) She was not going to let Kara’s heart be broken. Plan A was to get Alex on her side.
“You know that she’s nothing but a player.” Lena said to Alex while gesturing to Kara and Kate dancing. “She’s going to hurt your sister.”
Alex stared deep into Lena’s eyes. She was caught between what was best for her sister and trying to win the bet. “Kara’s in love with you.”
What was best for her sister would always win.
“If she’s in love with me, then why is she with Kate?” Flew out of Lena’s mouth even as the answer came to her mind. Kara believed Lena was straight.
“Are you in love with her?” Alex asked, already knowing the answer.
“Yes. But I-”
“No buts, Lena.” Alex shook her head. “Either you’re in love with her and want to be with her or you don’t. Kara’s with Kate because she can’t be with you.”
Lena looked out and watched as Kate brushed back Kara’s hair and started to lean in. By the time Kate pulled back from the kiss Lena was there.
Kate smiled brightly. “Threesome?”
Kara’s face scrunched into a tight scowl. “Lena’s not-”
“Lena’s very bisexual.” Kate answered interrupting.
Kara’s eyebrows shot up as she turned to Lena, who nodded.
“But I thought that you were straight.” Kara said.
Lena shook her head. “I thought that you were straight.”
“And I think threes a crowd.” Kate said walking away.
Lena’s eyes went from Kate’s back to a smiling Alex. Lena closed her eyes and chuckled to herself.
A set up. Kate and Alex had set them up.
Lena turned back to Kara.
“I’m in love with you.” They said in unison.
“So what do we do now?” Kara asked
“I think we kiss and then have a Happily Ever After.” Lena answered.
Two years later
Kate stood in her perfectly tailored tux smiling over at the brides. “Anyway, that is the story about how Alex and I plotted but still lost the bet. Because technically, Kara didn’t kiss Lena first. And Lena didn’t kiss Kara first. They both just kissed.” An approving murmur went through the audience of the wedding reception.
“So we had to wash, wax and detail Kelly’s car because she was the actual winner. Although, I think that as a phsycologist she cheated.”
Everyone chuckled.
Kate lifted her glass. “True love will always find a way, but sometimes it needs a little lothario to nudge it. To Kara and Lena!”
“To Kara and Lena!” Everyone echoed.