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The day was approaching quickly, September 9th.
Kara had been counting down the days since they bought tickets months ago. Cigarettes after sex was finally playing in National City Arena and Lena accepted to go with her.
Did Lena know who Cigs after sex were? No, but that didn’t matter. Kara wanted to go to a concert with her and it would’ve been stupid to say no.
Later on Kara started playing their songs more often while they hung out, and she’d excitedly point them out whenever a song would come on during game night.
“Lena!! That’s one of their songs”. Lena would usually just smile and keep a mental note to listen to it in depth later.
Lena started to fall in love with the band, finding their songs strangely comforting in trying times. She’d listen to ‘Cry’ many times to calm down whenever she was feeling down. Or she would imagine herself pressed close to Kara in the concert singing along to ‘Sweet’.
Their lovely songs weren’t helping Lena stop her wishful thinking. Out of all the bands Kara likes why is this the one she decided to invite Lena to tag along to?. And why didn’t she invite everyone else?. They’ve all been to concerts before, like that one time Kara insisted on going to Katy Perry because she was a ‘pop icon’… it was a fun time for the superfriends to sing their hearts out to classics, but it did make her question why it’s only her and Kara going this time?.
During the 8 months of wait before the concert Kara and Lena had added a new item to their list of ‘traditions’. Right next to big belly burger, movie nights, cuddles or their alliance for game nights was their new thing, ‘Apocalypse’ by Cigarettes After Sex.
It had happened one late night drive where Lena insisted they take her car for a ride instead of flying.
“This song reminds me of you. It’s so comforting.” Said the brunette as she turned the volume up.
Kara blushed, though the dark of the night made a job covering it. “Yeah the filming helicopters crashing does sound familiar.. did I ever save someone important from a helicopter?” She said teasingly, remembering the first time she saved the Luthor.
“no really, every time I miss you I play it. I know it’s stupid but it’s your song.”
“our song then” Said Kara while she smiled at her best friend, wishing she could replace those two words with a different label.
A few weeks went by and they continued on with their new Cigs after sex obsession. Kara was ecstatic to know that Lena actually liked the music and was as excited as her to see them live. Lena was comforted by the idea of the two of them connecting by something new, after their friendship had a rough patch it felt like a breath of fresh air to know they could still find new things to grow closer from.
The day of the concert came and Kara had already annoyed Alex repeatedly to settle on an outfit worthy of the occasion. The decided on black slacks, a casual shirt, and a leather jacket on top, plus her usual ponytail. Alex had already teased her about wanting to look good for Lena, but she insisted she just wanted to match the crowd for the show.
Meanwhile Lena’s penthouse had turned into a mess of thrown clothes while she ravaged her closet for an outfit that spoke to her. She had already tried on suits and skirts but nothing seemed fitting. She didn’t want to seem too bossy since it was a social event, so she decided to look in the part of the closet she didn’t frequent.. her ‘casual wear’ which should be noted, is still way fancier than usual people’s.
After almost psyching herself out of it she settled on this simple deep red satin dress with a lace edge and heels. She’s never been one for flowy dresses but she wanted comfort and class, and this seemed to be the best she could do at the moment.
Truth is she had been too busy daydreaming about today to actually think of an outfit beforehand. Her and Kara were going to a romantic concert together, as best friends, to sing songs about not very friendly things.
“What are the odds we actually kiss during apocalypse?. What if I just go for it during Sweet?. What if she invited me to confess her love to me in the most romantic way ever?.” She sighed. This wasn’t doing her any good, she’s already been spiraling for a while.
She’s quickly taken out of her thoughts when she gets the text that Kara is downstairs waiting for her. All she gets is a minute to calm down, and remember that any way it goes it’ll be perfect, because she gets to do it with her favorite person.
“You look stunning..” said Kara mesmerized.
“You look handsome” teasing Kara was her favorite pastime. She got the blush she wanted from that interaction.
The concert started right when it was supposed to, and they got through half of the concert smoothly. Singing these songs together was healing in a sense.
The lyrics related to the two of them in many ways, so being here, together, after everything they’ve been through is fixing parts of themselves they didn’t even know needed it.
Singing to each other was also amazing. Even if all the lyrics didn’t fit.
[And when you go away I still see you, with sunlight on your face, in my rearview]
Hearing sunsetz.. no, being able to hug Kara while she heard it, opened the part of her that was so scared of losing her in the phantom zone.
Tears started to roll down her face while Kara held her, knowing exactly why this song was eliciting this reaction from Lena.
“I’m never leaving again, don’t worry about that” holding her as strong as she could while they swayed to the beat.
“I did see you everywhere you know, I’m just glad you’re here” they continued to enjoy the concert.
Time came around for apocalypse, probably the most awaited song from the set list. In the midst of the crowd cheering they just gave each other knowing looks about their song being finally next.
It started out with them swaying side to side, but then Kara sneaked her arms around Lena’s middle and laid her head on her shoulders, slowly moving while watching the band.
As the song went on they shared lyrics, looks, and tears. This moment was purely about the two. Nothing else mattered, nothing could take this moment away.
[When you’re all alone, I will reach for you. When you’re feeling low, I’ll be there too]
They just hugged, clutching to one another as if they were hanging onto this peace.
After the concert ended and people started to leave they heard a voice coming from behind their seats but they dismissed it as people leaving the venue.
“Hey! We were saying you guys are so cute and we took some videos of you through the concert hope that’s okay.” said the girl that had been sitting behind them the whole night.
“Oh! That’s sweet hahah, yeah that’s alright. Um can you airdrop them?” asked Kara while trying to ignore the part about them being cute in a relationship way, she didn’t want Lena to feel uncomfortable and ruin the night.
“That should be all of them, sorry if that was creepy hahah but you guys were truly breathtaking!” said their new concert friend as she waved goodbye, leaving the two of them equally confused but happy to have some footage of them enjoying the concert.
They finally leave the arena an hour after the concert ended.
“I hate concert traffic, can’t everyone just drive fasterrr” sat Kara (very impatiently) waiting for people to go through the light.
“It’s okay we could get food to wait for it to pass, if you’re hungry tho” proposed Lena.
“Please Lena, I’m always hungry. How does Applebees sound?”
They had dinner while going through the videos Kara took in her digital camera. They both smiled at the sight of the footage, so happy and carefree. Just the two of them mattered then.
They couldn’t stop talking about how amazing it was, even on their ride home they just kept going back to how talented the band is, and how amazing the crowd was.
“Hey do you want to sleep over? It’s late and I know you’re already sick of driving. Plus you’re dropping me off so might as well just stay?” Suddenly Lena was very shy, even after asking this very question a million times before.
“I’d be happy to. Best ending to the night” said Kara through a smile.
They kept playing Cigs after sex even while getting ready for bed. The post-concert high was still strong.
“I just realized we never watched those videos the girl sent us after the concert, though I doubt I look very good crying my eyes out” she laughed while waiting for Kara to be done in the bathroom.
“wait you’re right! I guess I was so confused when she came up to us that I didn’t really register what she was even sending”
They laid down on Lena’s bed and finally pressed play to the first video. Them dancing and looking at each other. It made Lena’s heart almost run out of her chest, they looked to connected. She just cuddled closer to Kara.
Next video, them during sunsetz. Lena was already embarrassed and she hadn’t even seen it yet.
“Oh wow this is going to be bad, I just started bawling out of nowhere” as she hid her face into Kara’s side to avoid watching herself tear down.
“It was cute, plus I think we both needed to get that out of our systems. It was specia-“ she got cut off by the sound of the girl’s voice in the background of the video
“Aren’t they so cute?? ugh I’m so single”
said whoever was filming them.
Kara’s eyes went wide. “She really did like us huh hahah” they both laughed it off while still watching the phone with heart eyes.
Last was the video of them during apocalypse. The girl’s voice came again. “They need to just kiss already right?? they HAVE to be together there’s no way” said the girl with the phone in response to her friends “are they even a couple?”.
Lena was speechless. It wasn’t just her then? Other people could see how in love they look? Best friends don’t do that right?.
Kara was doing mental math of her own. What did Lena think of this? Was it that obvious that she wanted to kiss her right there? God she hopes she didn’t mess anything up.
“What do you think they’d say if they knew we’re not dating hahah she’d be heartbroken”.. Lena’s poor attempt at lightening up the situation. Suddenly it all felt very.. real.
“Or what if I’m just so bad at pretending I don’t want to be with you that even a stranger figured it out before I could even tell you” admitted the Super.
Lena looked like they pulled the carpet from under her feet.
“O-kay.. I’m sorry I didn’t want to ruin the night, forget that!! I didn’t say anything!!” She added with a nervous laugh.
“You meant that?”
“Well, I mean I did want to kiss you the whole time I think I even leaned in a little at some point. Which is embarrassing considering it is probably now caught on video. But yes I meant it..”
“Well then it all works out, because I did want to kiss you too and now I owe Nia 20$ because she was right about the red dress.”
Kara’s heart did a full 360°. This couldn’t be happening. She decided she’d ask about the whole ‘asking Nia for advice’ thing later, for now she had something else to do.
Kara just looked down at Lena’s eyes and waited for the smallest confirmation. Once Lena sat up and nodded, Kara just leaned in and finally did what she had been dreaming of for years.
Their lips together really was the end of the world, or the beginning of a new one.
Much like the song, Lena was the lover with the inability to connect. Both of them were too consumed by trauma in the past to see what was in front of them the whole time. But the song beautifully described how even in the middle of their own struggles they never stopped caring about each other.
“I can’t believe that finally happened” said Lena with tears in her eyes.
She had never been kissed like that. So much passion and care into a single kiss.
Not even her daydreams lived up to what that moment felt like.
“I can’t believe you really like me back”
Kara just hugged Lena for what felt like an eternity.
“I don’t know what to say, I mean I thought I was being ridiculous thinking you invited me to confess or something.”
“I love you, so much. But not in the friend way. I can finally say I love you completely, every part of you. And I can’t wait for us to go further into this… god I’m so lucky.”
Lena couldn’t take much more. Kara saying all of these sweet things was everything she wanted.
Now, hours after the concert they could listen to K. and knowingly relate to it.
The two of them shared kisses and touches much deeper than friendship, and they owed it all to the random girl sitting behind them.
[I’ve been waiting for you, to slip back in bed, when you light the candle.]
[Think I like you best when you’re just with me, and no one else]
[And I’m Kissing you, lying in my room, holding you until you fall asleep. And it’s just as good as I knew it would be. Stay with me, I don’t want you to leave]