Every time I see this gif, my first reaction is always “ooh! Ballet au!”
….like maybe Kara is the star of the NC Ballet, and she’s gained a lot of notoriety because she’s become an unofficial advocate of health and strength in the sport rather than reinforcing the hyper-thin stereotype that usually characterizes the dance world. Plus she’s super active on youtube/ig sharing nutrition tips and lifting sessions– and occasionally she’ll post goofy videos of her dancing men’s roles and doing the lifts with the men in the female role (though having fun, they take it seriously, ie the dudes don’t flutter their eyelashes and pretend to fawn– what ladies do is HARD).
Whereas Lena DOES fit the dancer stereotype– to a T. In the Metropolis National Ballet Company, she was the youngest to become principal dancer, and has won all sorts of accolades and awards… until an injury nearly ends her career. Moving to National City is supposed to be her comeback story.
But when she gets there, while Lena seems hesitant, health guru Kara doesn’t see the injury. She keeps it to herself, and keeps an eye on Lena. One night, months later, Kara catches Lena practicing long after official rehearsal has ended. From the wings, Kara’s suspicions are confirmed– Lena is in peak condition. She’s… Kara is gobsmacked by how good she is.
When Kara confronts Lena, the truth comes out: she didn’t leave Metropolis because of an injury. She’d received threatening notes, and her apartment had been trashed multiple times. No one took her fears seriously, so she had to figure out a plan B. She’d hoped the news of her injury would lessen her stalker’s obsession, and that the distance would prevent them from following.
But for some inexplicable reason, she swears Kara to secrecy. It doesn’t make sense to Kara, but she agrees– so long as Lena agrees to work and train with her after hours. Lena doesn’t need much convincing. They work on solos, sure, but more often they practice the partner dances. And they get good.
So good that Cat makes the executive decision to cast them as the star couple for NCB’s next show.
Lena is vehemently AGAINST the idea. At first Kara is hurt, but then she sees the fear and realizes it has nothing to do with her and everything to do with that thing she’s not allowed to mention. Lena can’t mention either, and while Cat is willing to recast Lena’s role, Lena is too attached to Kara to allow that. So they become the first female-female leads of Swan Princess.
The industry goes NUTS. The stuffy theatergoers put their nose up, the young lesbians lose their minds with excitement, and everyone in between seems to have their own opinion. By the time opening night rolls around, the entire run is sold out.
Opening night is a hit. Everyone loves it, not a single thing goes wrong, and Lena and Kara’s chemistry is off the charts. After the reception, Lena invites Kara back to her place. Their a little tipsy and all giggles– until Lena’s front door unlocks to a sea of chaos. Furniture overturned, decorations smashed, appliances damaged beyond use. The violence of it makes Kara’s blood run cold, and she reaches for Lena instinctively.
But Lena has gone eerily still, as she realizes that her fears have been made real, and the threat has followed her from Metropolis. And now Kara is caught in the middle.
As they wait for the cops, Lena starts to shake, and murmurs that the police won’t be any help. “He’ll have an alibi,” she says.
Lena grips Kara’s hand tightly. “My mother.”
Her aggressor, you see, is her brother.
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