Chapter Text
“One of the stars of the new film taking the world by storm, Kara Danvers!” Kara jogs out to excited applause and cheers, smiling with her whole body as she waves with both hands. Tonight she’s being interviewed by Jimmy Fallon, and while he technically has a whole show planned, everyone really only wants to know one thing.
Jimmy makes a valiant effort for her. They play a game, she demonstrates cup-stacking, the new game all the kids are playing that she played in high school. She tells a hilarious story about falling into a river off the bridge that staged a really emotional scene during the movie because Lena dared her to stand on the railing (and she got a little cocky) that has Jimmy and the crowd in stitches.
She explains the plot of the film, they show a clip. Everyone cheers. Jimmy wipes his eyes comedically. “Wow, that is so amazing. You guys are just so… you’re so incredible together. Wow.” Kara chuckles a little indulgently, both at Jimmy’s words and the crowd’s responding whoops. Several people wolf whistle. “So, I’ve heard that you and Miss Luthor were friends before this all started?”
Kara smiles big, and there’s a whisper that goes around the crowd.
“Yeah, it was so crazy that we got cast for it together, we were not expecting that at all. We both didn’t even know the other was auditioning for this until we came in for the chemistry read, which was hilarious. But we knew each other, we’ve been best friends for a while.”
”Ah, that’s so nice, how did you two meet?”
Kara chuckles. “So, my sister was dating the cop that the orders to arrest Lena when that whole misunderstanding went down, you all know the one, yeah? If you don’t, it doesn’t matter, it was dumb corporate scandal with the agency Lena was represented by the time and of course Lena was totally innocent the whole time. But they both knew I was a big fan, and I maybe bullied my sister into getting her cop girlfriend–who’s now her cop wife, by the way–into pulling a few strings so I happened to be ‘in the area’ waiting to meet them ‘for lunch’–” Kara put her hands up in very obvious air quotes, grinning conspiratorially, “–so that I was there when Lena got released. And then I totally, y’know, froze then rambled and was just like, all over her, like ‘oh my god, you’re Lena Luthor, I’m such a big fan,’ and I’m expecting her to be like, ‘who even is this,’ but she actually knew me!” Kara grins at the crowd, like she was still unable to believe her luck. “Which was insane, right, cause I’d only been in like a couple indie films at the time, and literally right there in this police station, she was like, ‘listen I’m starving but I hope we meet again?’ and I was just like, ‘Listen I know you’ve been totally innocent and this whole thing probably sucked, let me take you out to lunch, because you deserve it after the twenty-four hours you’ve just had,’ and we’ve been best friends ever since.”
Jimmy Fallon was staring, but there are clearly some lesbians in the crowd that followed every word, dramatically reenacted as it was. “Best friends?” Is all Jimmy could to be able to inquire after that word-vomit of a best friends meeting story. Kara nods. Jimmy has a slightly dead-inside look, but shakes his head with a sort of laugh. There’s clearly a protocol of politeness that’s preventing him from teasing her on live television about her crush. “Well, the two of you have amazing chemistry on film.”
Kara smiles genuinely. “It’s all Lena. That woman could have chemistry with drywall, am I right?” she glances to the crowd and is not disappointed with the resulting cheer that affirms her statement. “She is just, like, Lena, and she goes all smoky-eyes and turns on the drive-you-crazy charm like flipping a switch or something, and my whole job this whole movie was to sit there and let myself be totally flustered and in love with Lena, which is like, the easiest thing ever. It was like playing myself in front of the cameras. It was so much fun.”
Jimmy stares as she vomits those words too. Kara continues to smile, serenely oblivious to her own obnoxious crush. “Right, that’s gonna be giffed before tomorrow,” he mutters, then launches into the rest of the interview.
---
Across town on the same night, Lena walks out–well, more like struts–with a small smile on her lips growing as she waves to the crowd. She’s being interviewed by Stephen Colbert this evening, her and Kara’s interviews perfectly in sync for the promotional tour. And, as their director Sam insists, if they so happen to have chemistry in real life like all those cheesy teen beach movie publicity stunts, that’s not a bad thing for sales either, though she’d never push it.
Pleasantries are exchanged. They’ve got the classy vibes. The PR person for this movie knew exactly what they were doing when they put Kara with Fallon and Lena with Colbert.
Lena and Stephen go on with their interview. Lena talks about her current endeavor, her charity project for STEM programs in schools in her hometown. They crack a few jokes about Lena and Stephen being nerds. It’s cute. Lena explains the plot and the clip they’re going to show. It’s a cute clip that definitely shows off the chemistry they have. Lena blushes a little bit and smiles lazily at the crowd when the clip finishes.
“You two are amazing, that film looks incredible,” Stephen tells her, and Lena dips her head. “If I’ve heard correctly, you two were friends before you were cast?”
Lena smiles genuinely. “Yes, and neither of us knew the other was in casting for the movie until we went in for the chemistry read and saw each other, it was all very secret.” She and Colbert both laugh. “It was quite a surprise to see each other in there, it was very amusing. We don’t think the casting directors knew we knew each other, but they figured it out pretty fast.”
“And working with your friend on a project like this, was it easier or harder?”
“Oh, much easier.” Lena answers without hesitation. “I mean, I’m sure there are some of my friends who it would be harder with, but everything’s easy with Kara.” Colbert glances to the camera like he’s in The Office, before visibly shaking off the comment and looking back to Lena. “She’s so genuine, so easy to work with and be with, it was so amazing working with her. And it was just so easy to play someone in love with all her charms. She’s always making me smile and laugh, and she’s just always put me at ease, ever since we first met.”
“And when did you first meet?”
“You remember that corporate scandal with my agency?” Stephen nods. “Well, I was one of the people arrested in that whole debacle, and I spent the night in holding and being interrogated on and off.” Colbert makes a face, and Lena waves her hand. “Anyways, when I got out, who do I happen to run into but Kara Danvers, who is of course the star of several indie films, the kind I love to watch at three in the morning and sob my heart out over, you know?” There’s a smattering of cheers from the crowd, and she pauses to flash a grin at them.
“And so, standing in the middle of this police station after what was arguably the worst night of my life, this absolute angel from some of my all-time favorite stories just comes out of nowhere and just comes right up to me and is just so kind, and so wonderful, and offers to take me out to lunch, tells me how amazing I am, and just like that, I’m gone.” She gestures like an umpire calling a runner safe. “We’ve been best friends ever since, but I never dreamed I’d get to work with her, let alone play opposite her in something like this, it was an absolute dream.”
“An absolute dream,” Colbert repeats lowly, and there’s a laugh that ripples through the crowd, which Lena ignores. “Best friends, huh?” Lena nods, and Colbert sighs a little bit and continues the interview.
---
Ellen insists they play Never Have I Ever with recent movie stars of the ‘new groundbreaking L-Word wishes it did this film that’ll make you cry,’ Kara Danvers and Lena Luthor. Kara and Lena aren’t precisely aware of this happening until Ellen hands them paddles.
Kara does not have a slight panic attack when she realizes Ellen is gonna make her be honest. She does the slight panic laugh that makes Lena reach over to take her hand gently and squeeze once with a reassuring smile before they take the paddles. And with Ellen’s shit-eating grin, they begin.
“This is a very revealing game,” Ellen smiles. “Ok, ready? No? Great, let’s do this.” There’s a laugh, and she bulldozes on. “Never have I ever… questioned my sexuality.” Three I Have paddles go in the air to general ooohs from the audience. Ellen looks delighted. Lena smirks and Kara blushes.
“Never have I ever… been attracted to a costar.” Kara and Lena both immediately start speaking over each other in a desperate sort of sense, and Ellen holds her hand up in a placating way. “Ok, ok, it’s like, we’ll say, Never have I ever seen someone I was going to work with, and said, wow they’re hot.” Three I have paddles somewhat reluctantly hit the air. Ellen smirks. “Who?”
“You didn’t say we had to answer follow up questions,” Kara shoots back. Lena laughs loudly.
“Ok, ok, Never have I ever… gotten to know someone I worked with and then felt romantic feelings for them.” Kara holds her paddle in her lap, biting her lip, as Lena rolls her eyes to the crowd and swings her paddle into an I have position, then rolls her head around to face Kara, who sighs deeply and holds up her paddle in an I have position. Ellen looks like Christmas has come early, but bites back a smile. “Who?” Ellen asks.
“No follow-up questions,” Kara repeats, and Lena laughs again.
“Alright,” Ellen acquiesces. “Alright, that’s true. Next question then… Never have I ever… hooked up with someone on the first date.” Lena holds up an I have. Kara turns scarlet as an I have paddle reluctantly peeks up. Lena and Ellen both howl with laughter, and Kara sighs and drops her head into her hands as Lena pushes at her shoulder, wheezing in laughter.
“Ok, ok, Never have I ever… snooped through my significant others phone without them knowing.”
Three I have never paddles go up. “That’s a distinctly heterosexual action,” Lena mutters, and Kara snorts with laughter. Ellen looks into the camera like she’s on the office before breaking and laughing with them, muttering a you’re so right.
“Never have I ever… faked an injury to get out of something.” Lena’s I have paddle shoots up fast. Kara frowns thoughtfully before putting up an I have never paddle.
“Oh come on,” Lena says. “Not even for someone’s birthday party?”
“No!” Kara insists. “I go to every party I’m invited to.” Lena raises an eyebrow. “Maybe sometimes I use the ‘previous engagement’ excuse. Sometimes I really do have previous engagements!”
“You’re too nice,” Lena says quietly, and Ellen stares at the camera again, deadpan, as Kara blushes.
“Never have I ever… gotten a tattoo I regret.” Ellen holds up the Never paddle, as does Kara. Lena looks slyly at the crowd before holding up the I have paddle.
“What?” Kara’s exclamation drowns our Ellen’s chuckle. Lena purses her lips for a second before shaking her head. “Come on!” Kara says. “I’ve seen all your tattoos, which one is it?”
The crowd is roaring, Ellen’s eyebrows are somewhere on the roof. Lena’s mouth is half open in that fake-affronted, don’t-make-me-do-this type way, but she can’t stop a smile as she turns her head slowly to face Kara. Kara looks at her with the same insistent puppy dog eyes. Lena rolls her eyes and motions Kara closer with one finger. Kara scoots over eagerly and Lena whispers in her ear. Kara’s eyes go wide and she grins and the crowd shrieks. Lena whispers something else and Kara nods.
“What’s the tattoo?” Ellen asks.
“No follow up questions,” Kara says, spreading her hands in an I-can’t-help-you-sorry gesture.
Ellen sighs. “Ok, you’re no fun. Last two. Never have I ever been in handcuffs.”
Kara’s face doesn’t go red, but her eyes go wide. Lena slides her paddle into an I have position with the smallest of smirks. Kara sighs deeply and slides her paddle into an I have position.
The crowd screams. “It’s not what you think!” Kara yells over the noise. Lena chuckles, clearly knowing the story. “It was like this campus peaceful walk thing, there was this total misunderstanding with the police, it was like twenty minutes in a holding cell before my sister had to pick me up and there were no charges or fines, it was like— yeah.”
“Ok,” Ellen says calmly. “If it helps you sleep at night.” Kara opens her mouth to protest but Lena claps her hand quickly over Kara’s mouth, shaking her head. Kara rolls her eyes and pulls Lena’s hand away. “Never have I ever…” Ellen waits for the crowd to giggle and get quiet. “Never have I ever had a romantic thought about the person sitting next to me.”
The crowd explodes as Kara and Lena both hold up an I Have paddle in a stunningly nonchalant manner.