#clark probably knows more about krypton than kara herself

[hypewinter]

Danny raises Superman au

So we all know that Superman touched down in Kansas and was adopted by the Kents and bla bla bla. But you know what state also has farms and is only like 600 miles away? Illinois.

So Danny is chilling in the countryside, enjoying his sweet, peaceful early retirement when an alien pod, that's a little a lot off course, suddenly crashes near his house. When he checks it out, there's a baby inside. Welp looks like he's a father now. No way is he risking the government getting their greedy little mits on this precious ray of sunshine.

Clark grows up with a father who teaches him early on how to control his powers and use them for good (They may or may not stop a robbery or two occasionally). He also gets two cool aunts. One is free spirited and always bringing him souvenirs from her travels. The other is very grounded and teaches him many techniques to deal with his conflicting emotions (his father is not happy when he uses said techniques on him).

Danny for his part is happy we his son develops a support system like he did. They can even actively help him beat up the villains! He's overjoyed at the man Clark becomes and even happier when he brings home an ace reporter who knows how shifty the government can be. He might be already saving up for their wedding but who can say?

[natalievoncatte]

“What’s wrong with me, Alex?” Kara asked, swinging her feet in a childlike, nervous way as she sat on the exam table.

Kara watched her sister putter around the room. She’d activated the red lamps and taken blood samples, and the tubes were currently spinning away in centrifuges awaiting the various tests she would run. She’s listened to Kara’s lungs and checked her pulse and waved instruments about and taken her blood pressure.

Everything about her was well within Kryptonian norms. Her pulse was running around a hundred and ten at rest, which would be alarming for a human but was a tad slow for her, and her body temperature was at a perfect one-oh-one, again just right for the last daughter of Krypton. There was no issue with her processing of sunlight and no signs of radiation exposure, which had been her fear.

Specifically Kryptonite of the red variety.

Kara had been having intrusive thoughts. They’d started here and there months ago but she’d ignored them, writing them off as some odd byproduct of fatigue or stress.

“You can go for now, kiddo,” said Alex. “I’ll let you know when the results come in.”

Alex looked more bemused than anything- probably because Kara showed no signs of actual sickness and had been cagey and indirect about her symptoms. There was a reason for that.

It became unbearable for her yesterday when Lena dropped by her office. Lena had been dressed in Kara’s favorite work ensemble, a green sweater that bared deep cleavage, a pencil skirt, and sheer silk stockings. She’d had her hair up in a meticulous bun and wore a rich plum red lipstick and smoky eyes, looking more sexpot than CEO.

Kara had barely been able to keep a straight face and make conversation. The mere presence of the other woman in the room made her heart pound and created an unbearable tension in her belly and between her thighs. Her eyes kept falling back to the pale inviting column of her throat or the lush inner curves of her breasts. Kara couldn’t stop imagining a bead of sweat rolling down between them. She couldn’t stop thinking about pressing her tongue to the flesh there and catching it, tasting the pearly bead and following its slick trail up to Lena’s throat while her chest heaved against her.

That was a problem, because those were not normal Kara thoughts. Those were not normal Kryptonian thoughts. Kryptonians did not think about those things, especially with members of the same gender. It had come with that same aching feeling between her legs that Kara had been fighting since she arrived on Earth and was dealing with now, just thinking about thinking about Lena.

Worse, Lena would be there tonight at movie night. It was an all girl’s night so it would just be Alex and Nia watching movies with them; Brainy was busy and Kelly was out of town for an academic conference and they were really just keeping Alex company.

Kara’s mind was a train wreck. She couldn’t stop thinking about Casual Lena. When she dressed down in her big sweaters and leggings and let down her hair in soft waves, she was so tiny and cute and small and Kara just wanted to eat her all up and… feel her from the inside, listen to her cries of ecstasy as Kara got creative and *relieved that fucking pressure between her legs*.

Ack! Stop it!

She had to be sick, or infected with a transdimensional parasite, or under a magic spell, or microdosed with red Kryptonite because KRYPTONIANS DID NOT HAVE THESE THOUGHTS.

So, she went for a fly to clear her head.

She ended up going hypersonic and landing at the Fortress, where she picked up the fifty thousand ton key and let herself in. Thankfully, Clark wasn’t there, so she had the vast place to herself.

The Archive here had a simpler interface, she wouldn’t have to ask a holographic version of her mother why she wanted to know what Lena’s sweat tasted like and pin her down on the sofa in her office and do things to her.

“Greetings, Kara Zor-El. How may I assist you?”

Kara looked at the hovering holographic sphere and described her symptoms, holding nothing back. It hovered there all hovery for a moment.

“What you describe sounds similar in principle to afflictions that affected ancient Kryptonians, especially under a yellow sun. Our ancestors often embraced perverse and hedonistic lusts before embracing the perfection of logic and self-discipline. However, you cannot be experiencing these unnatural and incorrect attractions, as they had been bred out of our people by the breeding program. Attraction to members of the same sex and metamorphic reproductive capability have been deemed eradicated by the Science Guild.”

“Metamorphic capabilities?!”

“Some of the ancestors possessed the ability to adapt physically to their preferred partner with the aid of yellow solar wavelengths. This is no longer possible.”

Kara chewed her lip.

The words rang in her skull. Unnatural. Illogical. It made her sound like some… like some abomination, a monster from ancient times. A tightness formed in her chest tears welled in her eyes. Was she like this? Was she broken? An aberration? Some crude vile thing with the instincts and lusts of a Daxamite? Was she broken?

She left the Fortress in a tearful rush and again she flew, too fast. Her phone started going off in the hidden pocket on the flank of her suit and she lighted on a building in Seattle to answer.

“Kara, where the hell are you?” said Alex. “Lena showed up at your place and you weren’t there and we’ve both been panic calling you.”

“I’m sorry, I was at the Fortress, trying to figure out what’s wrong with me.”

Her voice was high and pained.

Alex’s reply was soft. “Come home, Kara. We need to talk.”

Kara nodded to no one. “I’m on my way.”

She made the trip back a bit slower, honing in on Alex’s heartbeat to find her at the DEO, still in the lab. When she walked in, Alex gestured to the exam table and Kara sat down.

“What is it?” Kara almost pleaded. “Alex, tell me what’s wrong.”

“Kara, listen to me,” said Alex, taking both of Kara’s hands. “Look at me, okay.”

Kara looked at her.

“There is nothing wrong with you. I shared the results of the test with Eliza and we went over it in detail. You’re completely fine.”

“I can’t be,” Kara protested. “There has to be a reason why I’m having these thoughts, Alex!”

Pulling her hands free, she jolted to her feet and began to pace.

“There has to be. I have to be sick or messed up somehow. Kryptonians don’t have feelings like this!”

Alex closed her eyes and sighed.

“Kara, listen to me, okay? You’re not sick. You’re not broken. Your best friend is a stunningly beautiful woman and adore each other. There’s nothing wrong with having a crush on her.”

“It’s not a crush!” Kara almost shouted. “It’s more than that and it’s scaring me. What if I can’t control myself? What if I hurt her? What if she sees me looking and she thinks I’m a monster that wants to prey on her?”

Alex’s expression softened. She took a few steps, arrested Kara’s pacing, and pulled her into a bear hug.

“I know how it feels, Kara. I promise you you’re not a predator and there’s nothing wrong with you.”

“Kryptonians can’t be gay.”

“Says who?”

“Everybody! The computer! The rules! I don’t know,” The last words came as a broken whimper, and Kara sagged against her sister.

“What about this, Kara. You’re Supergirl. You can do anything.”

Kara pulled back in a daze, staring at nothing. Since she came to Earth, she’d embraced it with her whole self. As loath as she was to admit it, she loved it here. This world was so free, full of wonders and majesty for all its problems. Kara had never once questioned her love for her sister. If Alex could be gay, why not Kara? There was no science council here, no one to ordain who she must marry and breed with.

Why not?

She felt dizzy, and strangely relaxed, as if she’d just heaved a massive weight off her shoulders.

Alex offered her a tissue and she dried her tears.

“Go get the girl,” said Alex. “I’ll call Nia and tell her you need some alone time.”

Kara nodded, and felt half in a daze as she left the infirmary. She stepped out onto the balcony and texted Lena, can I come over?

Lena replied immediately, Yes.

Kara’s heart hammered her ribs as she landed on the balcony. Lena rushed to the door and threw it open, ushering her inside. Kara stepped into the living room of the penthouse and stumbled to a stop.

Lena was dressed down and so soft, from the mop of her wavy hair pulled into a low ponytail to her cashmere sweater down the length of her toned legs to her bare feet.

“What’s wrong?”

As Lena asked, she darted forward, offering a hug. Kara gingerly let herself be pulled into the embrace, hesitant at first. Lena dove into her, throwing herself into the hug as if she wanted to climb inside Kara. Kara wrapped her in her arms and drew her cape around them both. She couldn’t stop thinking about Lena’s feet being cold, about wanting to make her warm.

Before she answered, Kara buried her face in Lena’s hair and breathed deep. Lena’s scent hit her like a train. It was like swallowing a mouthful of alien rum, filling her chest with a spreading warmth and making her head swim.

“I’ve been trying to work some things out, and I was scared, so I ran off to the Fortress. I’m sorry.”

Lena pulled back gently and looked up at her. They were so close. Lena’s big, pretty blue-green eyes were full of worry but dark, her pupils blown.

“What’s bothering you? I’ll throw money at it until it goes away.”

Kara swallowed, hard. “I don’t want it to go away.”

Lena arched a brow. “Oh?”

Kara licked her lips and as she did, Lena’s eyes darted and followed the motion of her tongue. Kara was suddenly away of Lena’s hands resting just above her hips now, the way that her hugs and touches always seemed to trend lower, the casual way that Lena leaned into her as she looked up.

She bit her lip and Kara almost died.

“I think I like girls,” Kara blurted out.

“You certainly like my girls, Kara Danvers. You can’t stop looking.”

“You noticed?” Kara squeaked.

“Kara, darling, you’ve been staring at them for thirty seconds just now.”

Kara’s gaze snapped up.

“I’m sorry, I, oh Rao oh God, Lena.”

Lena curled her fingers around Kara’s chin and tilted her head back down.

“Did you really think I didn’t notice? The day we met you paid more attention to my boobs than my business card.”

“You gave me a business card?”

“See what I mean?”

Kara swallowed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

Lena’s thumb grazed her jaw and Kara thought her heart might go off like a bomb in her chest. She shuddered and her toes curled in her boots.

“I’ve been teasing you for years,” she said, “I’d almost given up hope. I wouldn’t be the first disaster bisexual to nurse a futile crush on her best friend.”

Kara swallowed hard. “So should we like go on a date?”

Lena’s fingers traced down her neck, then along the ridge of her collarbone.

“I was thinking more Netflix and chill. I know and trust you, Kara. You’ve saved my life more times than I can count, I’m ready now if you are.”

“Ready?” Kara squeaked.

“So are you, I think,” said Lena.

She rolled her hips and Kara immediately realized what she meant and what the Archive meant by her body adapting.

“Ohshit,” Kara chirped. “Oh God Lena I’m sorry, this is so embarrassing, I didn’t mean to-“

Lena lunged and suddenly they were kissing. Lena’s lips were so soft and she was intoxicating. Kara pulled her into an embrace, almost lifted her off the floor as she kissed her back. Lena threw one leg up and hooked it wound her hip, and Kara instinctively scooped her up and felt a jolt through her body as Lena then wrapped both legs around her waist.

“Fuck, you’re strong,” Lena panted. “Oh God, Kara. Bedroom. Now. Please.”

“You want…”

“Yes! What are you fucking waiting for?”

Later, hours later, Kara lay in Lena’s bed, while Lena slept blissfully next to her, head resting on Kara’s shoulder, smiling contentedly. She looked over at her and tucked the sheets and blankets up close around her chin and smoothed stray strands of hair back from her eyes. Lena made a small sound, and curled around Kara’s side.

Kryptonians, it turned out, could be very good at being gay.

[bisupergirl]

Thank you for answering. Your answer is so interesting! If you don't mind me expanding a bit, how do you think Kara believing her uncle and fighting the council would affect her relationship with her parents (if they had their New Krypton arc personalities)? Would they try to fight the council's decision to send their daughter to the Phantom Zone (i mean, probably) and how much are they willing to stick their own necks out for her (especially Alura given that they do tend to be at odds +) (1/2)

(2/2) (+ but in her final moments she pushed Kara to safety at the end of the New Krypton arc if I remember correctly). How long would Kara spend in the Phantom Zone and how would she escape? How old would be Kal when they finally meet and would she even know she had a cousin? And finally, how would this whole ordeal changer her personality and the way she is? P.S. English is not my first langue so sorry if some stuff are said weirdly or don't make sense.

since they supported jor el and his findings about krypton's upcoming destruction, i'm sure zor el and alura would also support kara standing up against the council and trying to warn and save whoever she can. i do think they would try and somehow prevent kara from being put into the zone, but they might also see it as the only surefire way to know that she'll survive krypton's destruction. i think this was only canon in the most recent world of krypton series, but zor el did help his brother in his research on the phantom zone, so i could see him thinking that he and alura could construct their own phantom zone projector in the aftermath to get her out (even though they probably wouldn't have the resources to do so).

i'm fully thinking about this within the context of the last son and new krypton arcs, so i would have kara escape along with the other phantom zone criminals when they discovered how to break open the zone by using chris, which would make her spend like. thirty-plus years in the zone as a phantom (sorry girl). and she would definitely know about kal since he was born before krypton exploded. i think that watching him live and thrive on earth would be the only thing to keep her sane while having to exist as an intangible and completely senseless phantom for decades. especially since from within the zone, she still would have witnessed not only krypton's destruction but also what is left of argo city be ravaged by brainiac.

in terms of how this would change her, i think it would make her somewhat more sympathetic toward humans than she usually is when she lands on earth for the first time. usually, she arrives on earth having just watched everything she’s ever known get destroyed and then has to try and find a place for herself on a planet full of people who immediately distrust her for being an alien, but in this scenario, she—from within the phantom zone—would have seen clark be loved and accepted by a lot of different humans, and she’d see the love that clark has for humanity in return. so again, thinking about this in the context of new krypton, i think she would be more fiercely loyal to the surviving kryptonians (the ones preserved in kandor by brainiac) yet still endeared by humanity and sympathetic to her little cousin.

[random-movie-ideas]

KARA'S CHARACTER ARC

Here is Kara's character arc within the same movie, acting as the deuteragonist and partner of Superman:

Kara's story will start on Krypton. She will be shown as a pretty standard teenager living on the planet, with a close relationship with her mother and father, Alura and Zor-El. She will also have a moment where she meets her baby cousin, Kal, and plays with him. During this scene, she will hear a discussion between her father and Jor-El of the possible destruction of their planet. Kara won't quite understand it all, but she will know it's serious.

The next day, Kara will be out with friends when the beginning of Brainiac's bottling process will begin, a massive dome encapsulating her city and causing rampant destruction. During this scene, Kara will demonstrate a heroic nature by jumping in to save someone without thinking. The last thing she will see is her father's face before they are frozen in time.

Some twenty-odd years later, a malfunction will cause a leak in Kandor's bottle, and Kara will be freed. Terrified by her sudden alien surroundings, she will meet Brainiac, who will tell her of her planet's doom and his actions to preserve just a piece of her people, his divine mission as he so calls it. When he makes ready to place her back inside the bottle, she will panic and run, finding her way onto an escape pod and launching herself toward the nearest planet.

Crashlanding on Earth, she will emerge to see Clark and possibly Lois standing over her. Panicking, Kara will lash out at the stranger, her attack way stronger than it should have been, developing powers the moment she was inundated by yellow sunlight. This will lead to a fight, where the rampant destruction she keeps causing unwittingly causes her to panic even more.

Eventually, Clark will manage to calm her down and she will realize he is a Kryptonian too. Clark will take her back to his parents' house, and she will tell him how her home was bottled by an alien and she managed to escape. He will also tell her his own history.

After this, we will have an extended training period, where Clark teaches Kara all about the abilities their people have on this world and how to use them. Kara will in turn share with Clark her people's history and culture, showing him another side to their people besides just conquerors like Zod. Kara will become sad, and confide in Clark her fears of never seeing her family or home again.

Clark will agree to help her save her city and they will take off to Brainiac's ship. After an intense battle, where she uses her new abilities in combat for the first time, she will find Kandor. In her haste to free it, she will be taken by surprise by Brainiac who will stab her in the back with a kryptonite spear, a weapon he picked up after dealing with Kryptonians before.

Clark will manage to escape and bring Kara back to the Kent farm, where they will help her recover from her wound. She will feel sad and guilty, believing she failed to save her people and ruined the mission. Like with Clark's arc, the Kents and Lois will help them regain their confidence. A brief conversation will cause Kara to realize that Clark is her baby cousin Kal, and they will be able to embrace as family.

After her recovery, Brainiac will attack Metropolis, intent on collecting their city, believing Earth is soon to be doomed as well (a possible lead-in to Darkseid's larger character arc or something). Clark and Kara will go into battle, Kara having a moment where she saves someone just like she did back on Krypton. She and Clark will face Brainiac, Kara learning from her mistakes and staying vigilant in battle against him, refusing to fall for his tricks. Together, they will bring him down and save Metropolis.

After the battle, she and Clark will return to Brainiac's collection (probably turning it over to the Green Lantern Corps to find new homes for the people or something), and open Kandor together. Kara will remember her last memory of her father's face and say she's ready.

Kara's character arc is less built around a specific character weakness to outgrow and more of a standard hero's journey arc, somewhat making her the story's secret main character, starting out living a normal life, losing her whole world, ending up in a new world with new abilities, learning to use those abilities, and then using those abilities to take her world back. In there is a natural learning curve for her to learn how to do the things she can do, while also overcoming weaknesses and intensifying strengths that had already been there.

Next, I have to work out the villain motivations. Should be lots of fun. See you then.

Superman Concept Movie I: Clark's Character Arc

A short time ago, I laid out a map for a Superman series within a cinematic universe setting that would allow for as many major villains and allies to be featured as possible. The first of these was a movie wherein Superman would team up with Supergirl, recently escaped from Kandor, to fight Brainiac who had come to collect Metropolis. This would also follow a possible Justice League movie where Zod's forces invaded Earth, and Clark made his debut as a Kryptonian who landed on Earth years before and who Bruce Wayne had tracked down.

I will now be laying out what I think the major character arcs for the principal characters of each of these movies should be, starting with Clark:

We will start with Clark in a state where he has fully embraced humanity and rejected his Kryptonian heritage, given that up to this point, he has only seen Zod and his conquerors and views the whole race through that lens. This is also reinforced through showing his relationships with Lois, Jonathan, and Martha, which will all be very loving and supportive.

This will change when Kara breaks free from Brainiac and crash-lands on Earth. Clark will approach her ship with trepidation, fearing another violent invader has come to Earth. This, coupled with Kara's current state of panic and sudden development of superpowers she has no idea how to control, will lead to them trading blows in their initial meeting.

Eventually, though, they will cool down, and Clark will realize that Kara is just a scared kid like he was when he first developed powers. He and his parents will take her in, and he will help train her to control her new abilities. As they are training, Kara will fill him in on the real history and culture of their people, at least what she grew up with. Clark will also start to care for and love Kara like a little sister, and they will develop a close, playful friendship with each other.

Their rapport will carry over into a major battle with Brainiac, but Brainiac will prove far smarter and stronger than either expected, and Kara will be seriously wounded, and Clark will return to Earth in defeat. This will lead to a tense scene, where Clark doubts his abilities as a hero and fears he will lose Kara through his failure. Lois, Martha, and Jonathan will all be instrumental here in encouraging and building the pair back up.

Also, somewhere in here, Clark and Kara will put together that he was the baby from one of her memories and that they are cousins, giving Clark his first known blood relation.

Clark and Kara will bond, Clark's hardness toward his species having softened through his experiences with her, and when the final battle starts, they will fight together as a team to bring down Brainiac once and for all. Once they do, they will recover his collection of stolen cities. Clark will have a moment of pause as they prepare to free Kandor, fearing crossing this threshold and actually getting to interact with other Kryptonians for the first time. Jonathan and Martha will stand by him in this scene, reassuring him that they'll always be his family, and they will open Kandor together.

I think this gives Clark a nice solid curve of an arc to go through here, viewing Kryptonians through a lens of fear and distrust after only seeing the worst of the worst, and undergoing a change of heart through a genuine bond of love with Kara, a polar opposite to Zod in a way. I also like that Clark's loved ones also played a major role in helping sway this arc as well.

Next I will cover Kara, then Brainiac. See you then.

[buzzdoesdc]

You know what I want to see? A Supergirl origin story which actually understands just how traumatic her origin is.

Clark grew up on Earth. He was a teenager before he found out he wasn't human, and likely a young adult when he found out what happened to his home planet. It was probably sad, sure, and he mourned the parents he never got to know, but it was always an abstract. He still had the only parents and home he'd ever known, and finding out about his past wouldn't change that.

But Kara? Kara grew up on Krypton for something like 15 years. She probably had favourite stores, and restaurants, and places to go. Friends from school and from her childhood, people she'd known all her life. Music and stories that had shaped her and carved out a place in her heart.

I don't think we definitively know how much warning she had. Maybe she had months, or maybe her parents didn't want to frighten her just in case Jor El was wrong and she ended up only having minutes. Either way, at some point she was told that her world was going to end, and they could only save her. Not her friends, not even her parents, just her and a baby cousin she barely knew. You need to look after him, her parents say. You are all he has.

I don't know when the ship put her in suspended animation, but I'd hope it was just before launch so the last memory of Krypton she'd have is her parents, not the destruction of everything she's ever known.

Regardless, the important part is she arrives 30 years later. Maybe her ship is sent off course, or is intercepted, or is just that much slower. Either way, she's late. In the comics Kara leaps out of the ship happy as anything and ready to be Supergirl, or at most initially anxious and confused but soon relaxed if not comfortable.

I don't see that. I see her falling out of the ship as soon as it lands, collapsing to the ground and weeping for all she's lost. She picks herself up, looks around, and Kal El is nowhere to be seen. She's panicking, but he can't be far away. He's just a baby. They left together, they'd have arrived together. They have to be together. They're all each other has left.

She stumbles away, hoping there'll be some sign of him close by. The yellow sun is bright, far brighter than Rao ever was, and it burns through her skin to her very bones. Everything feels soft and keeps breaking when she pushes against it. It keeps getting louder and louder and louder, and by the time she finds people it's like they are screaming.

Maybe it only takes an hour or so, or maybe several days, but sooner or later Superman finds her. They think she's a threat, but when he looks at her he sees a lost child. It takes him a second to recognise the language she's speaking, but when he realises it's Kryptonian a little kernel of hope builds in his heart. He introduces himself as Kal El, the same way he has a thousand times in the mirror just in case he wasn't alone after all.

Kara looks up and sees her aunt's eyes and her uncle's smile. It takes a second for her to understand what he said, his accent is so strong, and then Krypton dies all over again. He looks old, older than she is by a number of years. He moves like the people around her, talks like them. She was supposed to protect him, teach him about their world. He was all she had left.

And now he isn't.

Clark tries, of course. He's a good man with a kind heart, and she's family he never knew he had. (This breaks her heart a little more. He never knew she was supposed to be there. He never knew to miss her.) He introduces her to Ma and Pa, and they say she can call them that too. She never does. He introduces her to Lois and Perry and Jimmy and everyone he knows, and she looks right through them like they aren't there.

He tells her about Superman, and being a hero, and the powers she will develop soon. He teaches her to control her hearing and her strength. They don't discuss it, but everyone else assumes she's going to be a superhero too.

She tries, tries to understand the stranger her cousin has become, to imitate him, but it never quite sticks. She just doesn't have his compassion. This is not her world, these are not her people. She just can't love them like he does. (if this universe is anything like Man of Steel, I don't think compassion was considered much of a virtue on Krypton.) She wears his colours, his symbol, but it never quite fits her right.

I think in the end she finds her place. Maybe as Supergirl, maybe Power Girl, maybe as someone else entirely. Earth never truly becomes home, but it becomes a place she can live. She makes friends, learns to blend in, but always keeps the light of Krypton alive in her heart. Observes it's holidays as best she can, remembers as much as possible of the stories and the music so it isn't lost. She's all that's left, after all.

I hope she has friends that try to learn for her. Join in holidays, learn the rituals and the stories. Everyone deserves that, to not feel truly alone.

Clark is a child who finds out he's adopted. Kara is a teen refugee in a foreign land. I just think her story should reflect that.

[urwelcomeforthis]

Alex’s tattoo shows up the day after she punches Marcus Hinkle.

He had been picking on Kara in the hallway, dangling her math book above her head, taking advantage of his summer growth spurt.

Kara still doesn’t know what possessed Alex – Marcus Hinkle had been a thorn in her side since she had landed on Earth and started school a year ago, but whatever the reason, today was the day Alex couldn’t take anymore.

Eliza had been furious. Jeremiah had been (not so) silently proud.

Kara didn’t know what she had felt, really. Especially not when she asked Alex why, and the older girl had just shrugged and said “You’re my sister. It’s what we do.”

Up until this point being sisters meant fights in the hallway over the bathroom and ignoring each other at the dinner table.

Apparently, things were changing.

Kara is just waking up when she hears Alex’s hushed “What the hell?”

“What is it?” She asks, groggily sitting up and wiping at the sleep in her eyes.

Her sister is holding her forearm up, frantically scrubbing at a spot right in the middle, her eyes frantic.

“I don’t…. I don’t know! It’s like a tattoo but I didn’t get a tattoo! Fuck, Mom is going to kill me.” Alex sounds panicked as she continues scrubbing at the spot, and Kara feels her heartbeat speed up.

“You had a tattoo just appear on your skin?” Kara asks slowly, her mind suddenly far away on a planet that doesn’t exist anymore, in a culture she had been forced to leave behind.

Alex stops scrubbing and looks at Kara with a piercing gaze. “Yeah. It’s some funny symbol too, like the way you used to write before you learned English. Did you do this to me?”

Alex leaps off the bed and crosses the room in two quick strides, arm held out like an accusation.

Kara shrinks in on herself a little but nods. “I think so. I didn’t know it was possible here, but well, on Krypton when your soul mate reveals themselves, a tattoo linking you appears. I should have one too, somewhere, if you do.”

Alex stops dead in her tracks, her eyes wide. “Soul mates? But we’re sisters! That’s so gross!”

Jumping up from the bed, hands held up in surrender Kara hastens to explain further. “No! Not like that, I promise! Back home, people had different kinds of soul mates. Sometimes it was the romantic kind like you talk about here on Earth, but other times it could just be a compatible soul, someone who was meant to be a part of you.”

Alex still looks wary, if not relieved, as she tentatively holds out her arm. “So, what does this mean? What kind of soul mates are we?”

Stepping forward Kara delicately traces the symbols on Alex’s forearm. “It literally means “sister of the soul.” Je shesur. The symbol after it is unique, the way we would know we were linked. If this had happened on Krypton it would mean we were soul sisters. Not from the same parents but family just the same.”

Alex nods. “And here on Earth? What does it mean here?”

“The same thing. At least that’s what it means to me.” Kara refuses to meet Alex’s eyes, not sure she wants to see what waits for her there.

There’s a long minute of silence after Alex takes her arm back. The clearing of her throat brings Kara’s eyes up from their place on the ground.

“Where’s yours?” Alex asks, eyes burning with curiosity.

Kara shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s not on my arms like yours is. It must be hidden. Can you look on my back?”

“Sure.” Alex nods. “Lift up your shirt.”

Kara turns and tugs her shirt up and over her head. It takes a moment, but she hears her sister gasp followed by the feel of fingertips against her left shoulder blade.

“It’s the same as mine.” Alex says reverently, and Kara closes her eyes against the emotion welling up there.

Who would have thought she would get to have this piece of home?

“So, I guess I’m stuck with you. For like, ever, huh?” Alex smiles once Kara has turned back around.

Kara grins back. “Yeah, I guess so.”

Alex shrugs. “Could be worse. But you have to tell Mom about this, because she’ll never believe me, and she is going to be pissed that I have a tattoo.”

“Sure, I can tell Mom.” Kara grins, a piece of her heart settling in place. She hasn’t felt at home on Earth, not really, but at this moment she feels like it isn’t all that bad.

--

The next person to get a tattoo is, interestingly enough, James.

It doesn’t come when they’re dating, or whatever it was that they were doing, no.

It comes after he has revealed himself to be Guardian, and he and Kara have the biggest fight of their friendship.

Kara wakes up the morning after tired, groggy, and more than a little cranky. Its as she’s stripping down to get in the shower that she notices it – the Kryptonese scrawled along the inside of her right bicep.

Throniv Shesur. Protector of the soul.

Kara heaves a deep, deep, sigh and grabs her phone.

She meets James at the DEO, both tentative around each other after the yelling match of the day before.

“So. I woke up with a tattoo. Kryptonese. Any idea what that’s about?” James looks smug, like he’s won some kind of battle with Kara and god, at that moment she wishes they were in the training room and she could just punch him.

“Yeah. I did too. It means “protector of the soul.” She crosses her arms against her chest, desperately trying to hold onto her anger from yesterday but the wide grin on James’ face is making it hard.

“I know. I asked Clark first thing since I figured you’re still pissed at me. He was a little surprised, but he translated it for me.”

“Where’s it at?” Kara asks, still pretending to be upset but truthfully it was hard given the glaring message from home telling her that James was meant to be Guardian. That they were meant to protect each other. Protect others together.

“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.” James says with a waggle of his eyebrows and that’s what finally breaks Kara, a laugh ringing out across the room.

It wasn’t who she expected to have a tattoo, not in this way at least, but if it had to be anyone, she’s glad it’s James.

--

Mon-El doesn’t get a tattoo. Kara wishes she were more disappointed.

--

The last person to get a tattoo is someone Kara had desperately hoped both would and would not get a tattoo.

For a long time, she feared what that tattoo would be, if it were to happen. She feared having to explain it, having to explain herself.

She had checked with Clark a few times, when paranoia would get the better of her.

No, he always told her. Lex did not have a tattoo. They were enemies, yes, but it hadn’t been decided by destiny or fate. It just was.

That mollified Kara because she couldn’t stand it if she and Lena were to become Clark and Lex. She would fight against it, fight against fate to keep it from happening.

And then, well. It kind of happens anyways.

They aren’t enemies, not really. Lena just hates Kara and aims a few Kryptonite cannons at her and tries to mind control the entire planet, but really everyone is allowed a brief lapse of their sensibility, right?

And what matters is she came around, in the end.

It did take time, however, for them to build back to what they once had. It was different now, but in the way that things once broken and fixed usually are.

It was better, if anything.

They were back to shared lunches and dinners, quick breakfasts and coffee breaks. They were back to game nights as partners and movie nights as friends, and the occasional sleepovers as best friends.

Things were finally back to normal, so of course Kara had to go and absolutely, irrevocably, mess it up.

It was Alex’s fault, really.

If she hadn’t said anything, if she hadn’t asked Kara what was up between her and Lena lately, Kara probably never would have stopped to think about it.

She never would have stopped to think about the way her heart sped up when Lena entered a room, or the way her palms got sweaty when they hugged, or the way she just could not stop staring at Lena when she laughed at game nights.

But now she had thought of it and had come to the very scary conclusion that she was in love with her best friend.

Her best friend who didn’t have a tattoo.

She would, after all this time, have a tattoo, the tattoo, if they were meant to be together, right?

Kara mulls it over for weeks. It haunts her. She asks Lena about tattoos, and if she has any.

She learns that yes, in fact Lena does have tattoos and boy howdy one of them is on her lower back and it is seared into the back of her eyes now that she has seen it.

But she doesn’t have any kryptonian tattoos, which is really what Kara was aiming for.

Much like it was Alex’s fault that Kara even realized she was in love, it’s also Alex who reminds Kara of one important detail.

“Well I didn’t get my tattoo until after I punched what’s his face. Maybe you have to tell Lena how you feel and then she’ll get the tattoo.”

Kara feels dumb struck, right there on her own couch, because of course, Alex is right.

The tattoos always come after the person has already revealed themselves.

Then of course comes the true fear: what if she tells Lena and she still doesn’t get a tattoo?

That’s the question she’s mulling over the next night as she and Lena sit on her couch watching some documentary that had been put on Netflix.

Lena looks beautiful, face bare of makeup, hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun, glasses slipping down her nose.

She’s eating a piece of pizza, a rare treat after a long week of work, and Kara decides that it doesn’t matter if Lena doesn’t get a tattoo.

She’s hopelessly, desperately in love with the woman and she can’t let a tattoo that may or may not come dictate her life.

“I’m in love with you, you know.” Kara blurts out, like this isn’t a life changing moment, like it’s the easiest thing in the world to say. (It is.)

Lena chokes a little on the bite she was swallowing, her hand coming up to her chest as she sets down the slice.

“Excuse me?”

Kara laughs. She’s never felt more free than in this moment. “I’m in love with you. I just thought you should know.”

Lena looks at her, shock written all over her face. “Oh. I guess that’s good.”

“Just good?” Kara nudges Lena’s thigh with her knee.

Lena shakes her head. “I mean it’s more than good, considering I’m in love with you too.”

“Yeah?” Kara could float up to the moon, she thinks.

Lena smiles, nose crinkled. “Yeah.”

It’s the next morning that Lena calls and asks if Kara can stop by. She has this tattoo she didn’t have yesterday, right on her ribcage, and it looks like it’s Kryptonian.

Kara frantically searches her own body, finding the script on her hip, on the left side.

Zhao Shesur. Love of the soul.

It took them five years to get to this point, but Kara knows, this moment was more than worth the wait.

[organabanana]

(if i can) light the world up || supercorp [2/?]

Chapter 1

Rating: Explicit (future chapters)

Warnings: None

Relationships: Kara Danvers/Lena Luthor, Alex Danvers/Kelly Olsen

Characters: Kara Danvers, Lena Luthor, Alex Danvers, Kelly Olsen, Andrea Rojas

Summary: Lena Luthor sees the world in black and white. Like everyone else, she’ll see colors for the first time when she meets her soulmate. And though she’s not exactly convinced this system makes scientific sense, she’s (mostly) made peace with it. When a fateful meeting with Supergirl makes her world burst into color, Lena is sure the amount of nonsense in her life has reached critical mass. But in just her first morning in National City, Lena manages to also be associated with a spacecraft explosion, and attract the journalistic attention of one Clark Kent and his sidekick, CatCo Magazine’s Kara Danvers. And the worst part is, meeting Supergirl may have given Lena’s world color, but she’s sure it’s Kara Danvers brightening it up.

Chapter 2 Summary: After an eventful first day with Lena Luthor in National City, Kara is ready to relax and watch a movie with Alex. Unfortunately, Alex's idea of relaxation includes conversations about Kara's (catastrophic) love life. Later, Supergirl stops by National City's newest resident's balcony for a quick check-in. That's what heroines do, right?

It’s that ‘all the world is in black and white until you meet your soulmate AU’, with Supercorp.

[ao3 link] [chapter 1]

What a day.

Not that any day is particularly boring when you’re Supergirl, mind you, but even for someone with Kara’s admittedly raised bar for excitement, this has been a day.

There’s been a visit from Clark, explosions, a Luthor suddenly living in National City, a taste of being a reporter, saving said Luthor from being run over by a car and crashing in a chopper… and that’s not even getting into the personal side of things, which has been teetering on the edge of catastrophic for a while now even if Kara is fully committed to ignoring it.

Or, she has been committed to ignoring it. The look on Alex’s face when Kara finally makes it home just in time for movie night lets her know there’s a talk in her immediate future.

That knowledge is enough to make her groan as soon as she walks in the door, making a beeline for her freezer and the ice-cream within.

“Way ahead of you,” Alex says from the couch, holding up the half-eaten tub of cookie dough ice-cream for Kara to see.

“Alex!” Kara groans once again as she grabs a spoon and shuts the drawer closed with slightly more force than she’d normally use. “You promised you’d wait for me!”

Alex rolls her eyes and lets out a quiet chuckle. “Oh, quit your whining,” she says, thoroughly unmoved by the pitiful pout on Kara’s face, “how was your day?”

With a spoonful of delicious ice-cream already in her mouth, Kara shrugs from her spot next to Alex. She knows her sister knows most of the stuff that happened, and she’s sure Alex can imagine it wasn’t exactly the best day ever.

“Did Clark find anything interesting in Lena Luthor’s flash drive?”

“Still looking into it,” Kara says, frowning slightly, “I hope he’ll find something. To convince him, if nothing else.”

“Convince him of…?”

“Lena having nothing to do with the explosion. Or anything else, really.”

“Trust Supergirl to give even a Luthor the benefit of the doubt.” Alex nudges Kara’s shoulder with her own and shoots her an affectionate smile, but Kara, against all odds, doesn’t smile along.

“She’s not a Luthor. I mean—“ Kara shakes her head slightly, eyes closed as if that would help put her thoughts in order, “she is technically a Luthor, I guess, but she’s not just any Luthor. She’s different.”

“And you know this because you’ve spoken to her, what, twice?” Alex’s amused smile remains in place as she takes advantage of Kara’s distraction to get some ice-cream onto her spoon.

“I know because I know, okay?”

The silence stretches for just a few seconds, but it feels much longer than that. Kara knows her tone may have been unnecessarily sharp. It’s just— can’t she just pull the superpowered alien card and call it a day? Can’t she just say she knows Lena Luthor is good simply because she knows, and that’s it? You don’t see Alex doubting her instincts when it comes to fighting murderous aliens on the daily, so why does she need to write a complete dissertation with cited sources to be believed when she says Lena Luthor is not who they all think she is?

Can’t she just… know?

It’s only when she looks into Alex’s eyes and sees confusion — and maybe curiosity, which is a dangerous emotion in the hands of Alex Danvers — that Kara realizes she may be bristling a little too much over something that’s probably not that big a deal.

(Lena being given a fair shot at proving herself to be as good as Kara can feel she is seems a big deal to her, but she’s willing to concede it may not be top priority in the grand scheme of things.)

“Can we just watch a movie?” Kara uses her spoon to block Alex’s from reaching a frozen cookie dough nugget that’s calling her name. “Or at least talk about something else?”

“Sure!” Something in Alex’s light, (overly) enthusiastic tone tells Kara whatever topic her sister will choose next will be even worse than the one before. In fact, Kara knows exactly what Alex is going to bring up, simply because she’s been bringing it up in every conversation outside the DEO for at least two weeks. But not even that knowledge prepares her for the moment when Alex actually says it out loud. “How was your date with James?”

Kara groans. She pouts pitifully. And then she shakes her head. “Nope. Not that topic. Movie time!” And she immediately reaches for the remote, just so Alex will know how serious she is. She’s not talking about her date with James. She’s not talking about any dates. She’s not talking about James at all. And Alex will simply have to live with tha—

“Oh, come on!” Alex holds her spoon in her mouth just so she can free one hand to poke Kara’s side. “It couldn’t have been that bad. It’s James! You love James.”

And Kara wants to ignore her. Her thumb hovers over the ‘play’ button on her remote, and she considers just pressing it and pretending she’s so focused on the movie she can’t hear Alex at all. She’s sure Alex would drop the subject, eventually, at least for tonight. But for some reason, she gives in and sighs.

“It wasn’t bad. It just…” Kara shrugs, leaning back against the couch and turning her head to look at Alex, “it just wasn’t.”

“What do you mean, it just wasn’t?” Alex’s eyes round in realization just a split second later. “You did not cancel the date.”

Kara doesn’t nod. She doesn’t shake her head or shrug, either. She just stays there. Doing nothing. Doing nothing seems like a good approach when it comes to her personal life these days.

“Did you reschedule?”

The nice thing about talking to Alex is she knows Kara well enough to know the answer just by looking into her eyes.

Alex sighs. “It’s the color thing, isn’t it? You got hung up on the color thing again.”

Calling it ‘the color thing’ may make it sound small and inconsequential, but Kara knows it’s anything but. How can being someone’s soulmate not matter? How can not being their soulmate not matter, either? It doesn’t make any sense.

“He doesn’t have his colors, Alex,” Kara says, and she could’ve tried to sound a little happier, but her voice comes out just as small and sad as she feels, “I asked.”

And that’s it, isn’t it? Sure, people will go on and on about how sometimes your soulmate is platonic, and how people fall in love with other people every day while both still see the world in black and white, and how there’s no rule that says you can only ever fall in love with your soulmate. But she just— she can’t shake the feeling that she’ll always be on the outside of it all, watching everyone else bump into someone and see their world explode into colors while she tries to imagine what that even feels like.

“Kara,” Alex says, voice calm and a little lower than usual, reminding Kara of Eliza and her many talks while both her daughters went through their teenage years, “listen to me. We don’t know how it works with you.”

Kara sighs. Her glasses keep her x-ray vision and her heat vision in check, but that’s not all they do. Kara has always seen color — there’s no such thing as getting color vision when you meet your soulmate in Krypton — but most young people don’t, so Jeremiah made sure her glasses would make her see in black and white so she wouldn’t accidentally let it slip that she could see every color around.

“You can’t keep sabotaging every potential relationship because they don’t see color when you meet, Kara.”

“Easy for you to say. You’ll know when it happens to you.”

“If it happens to me.”

Kara takes off her glasses with a sigh. She suddenly sees every color in the world, but there’s nothing special about it. It doesn’t feel magic. It doesn’t feel like it means anything. It’s just how it’s always been, because she’s not human. She’s kryptonian.

And what if her soulmate was, too?

There’s a very real possibility that’s the case, but she knows letting her thoughts go down that path never ends well, so she reaches for Alex’s hand instead.

“We’re gonna be fine. Right?”

Alex pokes at the melting ice-cream and looks at it for a couple of seconds before she smiles. It’s not a real smile, but Kara won’t bring that up. She appreciates the effort anyway.

“Yeah,” Alex says, finally looking into Kara’s eyes, ”yeah, of course we’ll be fine.”

Kara nods and offers a smile that’s as small as Alex’s, but Alex doesn’t bring it up, either. She appreciates the effort anyway.

“You’ll meet a great guy,” Alex continues, almost like she’s hoping if she keeps talking about it they’ll both eventually believe it, “and I’ll meet a great guy, and we’ll have happy, colorful lives with our great guys.”

And just because she does appreciate the effort, and because she knows Alex needs it, too, Kara decides to go along with it.

“Happy, colorful lives as neighbors,” she points at Alex with her spoon, “don’t forget that part of the deal.”

“Right! No, of course,” Alex grins, and this time it comes off a little more real than before, “that’s the most important part, the shared cul-de-sac.”

“Exactly.”

There’s another silence then, heavy with things neither of them wants to discuss.

“Hey, Kara?”

Kara turns her head to look at her sister.

“You’ll know.” Alex says, eyes locked with Kara’s to force her to listen and not just hear. “When it happens, colors or no colors. You’ll know.”

And Kara could argue. She could ask how Alex can be so sure of it. She could have the conversation they’ve had a hundred times before, about how Clark found Lois and he’s from Krypton, too. About how Clark can be Superman and have a life, too. But she’s not Clark. She’s not Clark Kent or Superman. She’s just… what did Lena Luthor say earlier today? She’s just a woman trying to make a name for herself.

So instead of arguing, she smiles and holds out her hand for Alex to take. “Promise?”

Alex gives her hand a small squeeze. “Promise.”

Kara doesn’t need to patrol the city at night. This isn’t Gotham, this is National City, and it’s not like it’s crawling with criminals and alien menaces for her to fight. But the night sky is calm and quiet, and Kara loves flying through the cooler air and watching the lights behind windows go out as people go to sleep. She likes to think they feel safe because she’s around. It makes her feel… needed. Like maybe that’s her purpose, and the reason she doesn’t get a soulmate to turn her world Technicolor at first sight. Maybe she’s simply meant to experience this other kind of love instead.

She almost doesn’t see her. Kara is watching a mother leave her baby’s room after turning on a dinosaur-themed nightlight when she spots her out of the corner of her eye. Lena Luthor, alone in her balcony way up on the top floor of her building. She’s looking out into the city, but Kara has a feeling she’s not really seeing it at all. Lena looks deep in thought, which Kara figures is only fair after two near-death experiences in one day.

And though she could simply keep flying… well. Lena looks like she could use a friendly chat, right? And Supergirl is nothing if not friendly. This is absolutely part of her job description as National City’s resident super heroine. Lena is clearly a citizen in need.

Kara is just doing her job.

“Hey,” she says as soon as she touches down on the balcony, but her bright smile does nothing to stop the look of pure horror on Lena’s face.

Oops.

“Goodness, Supergirl!” Kara can hear Lena’s heart beating wildly in her chest, and Lena presses a hand over it like she’s trying to physically slow it down. “What the hell!?”

“Sorry,” Kara offers along with a sheepish smile, “I keep startling you.”

To be fair, it’s not like she’s sneaking up on Lena for fun. Last-second rescues are surprising by definition, you know? So the first two times she startled Lena half to death it was absolutely not her fault. This one is… well. Let’s call it debatable.

“It’s fine.” Lena sounds a little annoyed and a little relieved and a little something else. She keeps looking at Kara in a way that makes her a bit nervous — like Lena will be the one person to see Kara Danvers plain as day even while dressed in Supergirl’s suit. But if Lena knows, she certainly doesn’t say so, and Kara is not about to ask. “I’m fine. I guess being stealthy around Luthors is a useful skill for Kryptonians, huh?”

There’s something in the way Lena says it. Maybe it’s the almost self-deprecating smirk. Maybe it’s the way she crosses her arms in front of her chest like she’s putting up a physical barrier between them. Maybe it’s the look in her eyes. Whatever it is, Kara doesn’t want to brush it off as a meaningless joke.

“You’re not—“ she shakes her head, because Lena is a Luthor, “it’s not like that. I don’t think of you like that.”

Lena doesn’t so much look at Kara as she studies her. Green eyes narrow just so, and Kara finds herself looking away just in case Lena can read minds. Her mind, in particular.

“And what do you think about me, Supergirl?”

Is she— is it just Kara, or is it a particularly warm night out? She shifts her weight slightly from one foot to the other and licks her lips. She thinks Lena’s eyes may just be the only shade of green she’s ever liked, but that’s neither here nor there. Lots of people have nice eyes. What was the question again?

“I don’t know,” she finally says, because that feels safer than any other option. What does she think about Lena Luthor? What should Supergirl think, since she’s not supposed to be Kara Danvers and she’s not supposed to have been there in that office, looking into Lena’s eyes and seeing only goodness in them? “I just know,” she says for the second time tonight, “I just know you’re not like that.”

Maybe if Kara was just Kara Danvers from Midvale, she’d have missed it. But she’s Kara Zor-El from Krypton, and she catches the split-second softness in Lena’s eyes. The slightest change in the now stable rhythm of her heart.

“Like a Luthor?” Lena says, and there’s that smirk again. Like she thinks she’s saying what Kara’s thinking.

But she’s not.

“Do you always make it this hard for people to say nice things about you?” Kara asks, and she’s suddenly very grateful for her color vision letting her see the faintest shade of pink on Lena’s face.

It’s not an uncomfortable silence, but it has a heaviness to it. It feels like it matters, somehow.

“Thank you,” Lena finally says, letting her arms drop to her sides, “for saving me. Twice.”

“My pleasure.”

Lena is looking at her again, like that. Head tilted slightly to the left, adding some weight to the already dense silence between them. It’s— it’s a lot.

“Anyway—“ Kara starts, taking one step back and getting ready to simply fly away.

“What did you want?” Lena’s voice isn’t harsh, but it’s as blunt as the question she’s asking.

“What?”

“Well,” Lena says one hand motioning at the space between them, “you’re in my balcony. I wasn’t in mortal peril. There must be some other reason for you to be here.”

“Oh! Right,” Kara smiles, feeling her cheeks warm up in a way that makes her want to ask whether Lena can see the color of her flushed skin, “right. I just wanted to check in. Today’s been…” Kara’s voice trails off as she struggles to come up with a word to appropriately describe a day like this.

“Yes. Yes, it has,” Lena offers with a knowing smile. Like she doesn’t have the words either, but it’s not for a lack of familiarity with assassination attempts, near-death experiences, explosions, and family issues. “Is it always like this in National City? I may need to rethink my move.”

Kara lets out a quiet chuckle as she considers Lena’s question. She’d be lying if she said potentially catastrophic events were rare around her city. She’d also be lying if she said today feels like any other day. Something’s different. Kara can’t put her finger on it, exactly. Nothing’s changed — not really — but nothing’s felt the same ever since she prevented Lena from being run over in the street.

“I guess this is just… the new National City, right? The one with Lena Luthor in it.”

Lena nods, a smirk pulling at the corner of her mouth. “A change for the better, I hope.”

Kara could say something. She could reassure Lena. She could say she knows it’ll be good, just like she knows — she just does — that Lena is good. But then Lena may ask her how she knows, and she’s not sure ‘I feel it in my Kryptonian bones’ would be the kind of answer she’d accept. So instead, Kara winks, her smile more playful than anything else as she takes off and flies up into the cool night air. And though she’s already several blocks away, Lena’s voice — quiet like she’s talking to herself — reaches her as clearly as if she’d been standing right there on the balcony next to her.

“Goodnight, Supergirl.”

[occidentaltourist]

Hi! Love your blog and I’d like your input on something. I was discussing this with a friend the other day and for the life of me, I can’t tell you what Kara’s arc on the show has been the past couple seasons. Like season 1, she’s coming into her own as a superhero, dealing with harsh truths about Krypton, her family, etc. Season 2 she was a prop for Mon El and Season 3 she was sad about Season 2 and she fought with Lena. But like…what about after that? I don’t feel like she really learned anything during Season 4 as much as she kinda just reacted to it all. I know what the intended arc was for season 5 but is it really an arc if the writing undoes the growth? And I have no idea what’s going on this season. Thoughts?

Let me know if you and your friend figure S6 out! I can't tell, either. ;)

I think S4 was supposed to spotlight Kara coming into her own professionally and as a citizen of earth, wearing those anchorwoman dresses and winning a Pulitzer and fighting the violent xenophobes with the power of journalism as much as (or more than) her fists. It had the bonus of Red Daughter, who gave us some insight into Kara too; the anguish of her interacting with mindwiped Alex; and her secrets and lies dilemma with Lena simmering throughout.

S4 is probably one of the better seasons on that front, among others. Sadly and as you said, S5 and Crisis undid a lot of it including her career achievements ...  they seemingly wanted to show Kara contemplating the dating scene again with William, 'growing' by absolving herself re: Lena, culminating with the original S5 finale, where she decides to sacrifice herself to save the world from Lex?

The execution of these ideas was so poor and the end result quite incoherent, not really an arc so much as Kara bouncing around like a ping pong ball from one episode to the next. Argo City implodes (!) and she gets 15 seconds to react before they rush on. Then it's just never mentioned again. Okay.

Also: I've thought so for a while, but now that SML is airing it's become even clearer what a mistake it was for the show to borrow so heavily from Superman, in its version of Kara - who borrowed Clark's personality, civilian profession and best friend - and many of the major stories and villains. Maybe the show doomed itself from the start with that kind of premise.

[chaotic-super]

Alien Detected

“How does it work?” Kara asks.

“It's just a simple skin test.” Lena states proudly, smiling at the blonde reporter she has come to care  for. “Let me show you what a negative response looks like.” With that she places her thumb onto the device and waits a couple of seconds for the flashing green light to appear.

“ See?” Kara nods along to Lena's words nervously. “Great, now you try.”

The blonde stares blankly the CEO for a few seconds, her mouth moving to form words that never make it off of her tongue as she glances down at the device held out to her.

“But won't a device like this-” Kara stumbles over her words. “-doesn't it  go against everything America is supposed to stand for?”

“Such as?” Lena perches on the edge of her desk, device placed delicately on the desk so she is able to cross her arms defensively over her chest.

“Freedom against persecution, oppression. America has always been a country full of immigrants.” Kara chuckles nervously.

“It's also always been a country of humans.”

“It's just – don't you think this device will force aliens back into the very shadows the president is trying to shine a light on?”

“If aliens want to be citizens, that's now their right but if humans want to know which of their fellow citizens aren't actually one of them then that's their right too.” Lena looks into Kara's eyes defensively until Kara backs down from the mini stand-off they seem to be caught in and looks away. “I'm a businesswoman. L-Corp is in the business of making money and this device is gonna make us a fortune but unlike my brother I'm gonna do it for the good of the world.”

Lena smiles wearily at Kara as she finishes her speech, turning to sit down back behind her desk so she has a physical barrier between herself and the reporter to help regain her footing after being challenged in a way that made her feel as though her motivations could possibly ever be anything other than good and pure.  

“So?” She picks up the device and holds it out to Kara, who looks rather shaken.

“I-um. I don't know-” Kara stutters out, trying and failing to come up with a reasonable excuse to not have to touch that damn device that could give away her true heritage. A few more stutters leave her mouth as her mind goes blank of any reasonable excuse she could make so her hand slowly begins to make its way toward the small silver device.

She feels as though she is moving in slow motion as she wills someone to interrupt the moment to get her out of there. Her hand hovers over the sensor for a second and she takes a deep breath before she takes the plunge and presses her thumb gently down.

Lena watches inquisitively as the reporter before her begins to stutter and look around nervously. She understands that she may have made her slightly uncomfortable but nothing that should reduce her to the stumbling mess she has become. She is just about to ask her if she is alright when Kara's hand reaches out to the alien detection device and a thumb is pressing down onto it.

It flashes white three times as it analyses the data before turning red. Lena's eyes flick up to Kara's face as she processes the information but the blonde isn't looking back, she's staring at the device as she pulls her hand away from it slowly.

“You're an alien.” Lena states, standing up from her chair and stepping around the desk to stand before her friend.

“I- yeah.”

The CEO tries her best to catch the reporter's eyes but her gaze is fixed firmly on the ground.

“That's why you don't like my device isn't it? You don't want anyone to find out.”

Kara finally looks up and tentatively meets the emerald gaze of the woman before her. “Nobody can find out Lena, please.” She can feel her eyes well up her lips begin to purse up into a pout as she holds her tears at bay. Alex is going to kill her when she finds out that |Lena knows she isn't human.

Lena frowns as Kara's words. “Of course I'm not going to tell anyone and I'm not judging you Kara. I never would and I would have hoped that you'd know that.”

“I'm sorry Lena, It's not you. I know you wouldn't judge me but this isn't something that I tell people.”

Lena doesn't think that she has ever seen Kara look so small; her head turned down toward the floor, her arms crossed tightly across her body and her eyes flickering around the room, unwilling to hold her gaze for more than a few seconds at a time,

“I'm not mad Kara, I promise.”

“Really?”

“How about we go and sit down and talk about this?” Lena steps closer to the Kara, her heels easily making her just as tall as her. She lifts Kara's chin until their eyes meet. “I just want to understand.”

Kara finds herself nodding before she has even thought about it. She knows hat she should get out of there quick sharp but can't help but feel a weight lifted off of her chest now that Lena somewhat knows her truth. She watches as the CEO makes a quick call to Jess, requesting her to reschedule all of her meetings for the rest of the day before flashing her a small smile and gently taking her hand in her own and directing her towards the white couch on the far side of the room.

Lena doesn't let go of Kara's hand as when they sit, she holds it gently on her lap with both hands. “How about we start with the basics?” She waits for Kara to nod before she continues. “How long have you been on Earth?”

Kara clears her throat. “I've been here since I was thirteen. The Danvers adopted me right away.”

“You took their name then?”

“I did.” Lena waits for her to elaborate but she doesn't but doesn't want to push her too hard either.

“Do you like it here?”

“When I first got here I hated it, I never thought that I would be at home here and I still don't a lot of the time but I've found that it's the people that make me feel at home, not the planet.”

“Does that mean that there are more of your people here?” Lena's eyes brighten at the thought of finding out new information on an entire race.

“No.”

“No-one at all?” Lena's voice is soft, caring.

“No-one I want to talk about.” Kara states softly.

“We don't have to talk about them then. What planet are you from?”

“I-” She stammers. She can't actually tell Lena where she is from, she would know about her identity. “I can't tell you.”

“You can't? Why?” Her brows furrow in confusion.

Kara meets her eyes pleadingly. “I really can't tell you anything like that, I'm sorry.”

“You're acting weird about this, what's stopping you? Is someone threatening you?” Lena takes one of her hands away from Kara's and uses it to push some of her golden locks back behind her ear so she can look into the cerulean eyes more clearly. She can't push the worried frown from her face as she waits for the answer.

“I don't really know how to explain this without telling you a lot of things that I have been sworn to secrecy over by the government.”

“The government knows that you're an alien?” Lena leans back into the couch, still clutching at Kara's hand as she tries to make sense of what little information she I getting from Kara. She finds rest bite from her overworked brain in taking in the face of the reporter; the shape of her face, her beautiful golden hair, her beautiful blue eyes and perfect pink lips, the little scar above her brow that looks almost exactly like the one- “Supergirl?”

Kara flinches and pulls her hand away from Lena's as she stands up, ready to bolt.

“Don't leave Kara, please.” Lena follows Kara as she begins to walk to the door and grasps her arm to stop her. “It's true isn't it?”

Kara doesn't answer, just brings a hand up over her face and lets out a muffled sob.

“Oh, Kara. I'm not going to tell anyone, you're still my friend.” Lena gently turns her around to face her and captures her in a tight hug. “Thank you for all the times you've saved me.”

Kara squeezes Lena back with as much force as she dares to without hurting her. “Nobody is meant to know, it can put you in danger and I don't want you to get hurt.” Kara sobs into Lena's shoulder.

“If I'm going to be in danger then I'm glad I've got you, you've kept me safe since the moment I stepped foot in National City and don't think for a second that I'm going to let you avoid me now that I know, especially now that I'm aware of what is hiding beneath those cardigans.” Lena brings her hands up to Kara's muscles and gives them a strong squeeze making Kara let out a choked giggle and pulls back to look into Lena's eyes.

“I've only ever told one friend who I really am and now he doesn't see me as Kara the same way he used to, he looks at me and sees Supergirl. I don't want that to happen again, Supergirl is what I do but Kara is who I am.” Kara wipes away her tears and looks meaningfully into Lena's eyes.

“I think I understand.”

“Can we start over?”

“Of course.” Lena takes a step back away from Kara and pats the non-existent wrinkles out of her shirt.

Kara takes a deep breath before offering her hand to Lena. “Hi, my name is Kara Zor-El and I'm an alien from Krypton.”

“Well hello there Ms. Zor-El, I'm Lena Luthor and I'm a human from Earth.” They smile at each other broadly, giggling at themselves. “I promise I will always see you Kara, even when other people won't.”

“Thank you, Lena. Really, it means a lot.”

“No, thank you.” Kara tilts her head in confusion in similar fashion to that in which a golden retriever puppy would. “You could have lied about who you are, where you are from, but instead you trusted me with your secret even though we have only been friends for a few short weeks, it's been a long time since anyone has trusted me like this.”

“Well, your device kinda took away a lot of my choice but I do trust you Lena, I understand that you are just trying to escape your brother's legacy and make a name for yourself. I knew it from the second I came in your office with Clark Kent and I haven't stopped believing since. In fact, I probably understand better than anybody what it's like being trapped in the shadows of your family.”

“You truly are one of a kind Kara.” Kara blushes at the compliment, making Lena smile. “Now, how about we pick this conversation up again after we go try than new Italian place down the street? On me of course. I think that it will do us both some good to have a little while to think through everything. ”

“Just when I think that you can't get any more perfect Lena Luthor, you surprise me. Plus, now that you know my secret I don't have to restrain myself during our lunch dates and can eat as much as my heart desires and this one is on me because I can't expect you to pay for how much food I'm about to order, heavy conversions make me hungry.”

“When aren't you hungry darling?”

“When I'm asleep.” Lena's laugh ricochets around the office as she grabs her coat and they make their way out.

[comeoncomeout41]

I just watched the Elf episode of The Holiday Movies That Made Us on Netflix after remembering that I started writing an Elf supercorp AU for Christmas in 2018 (don’t judge me) and found my old notes app first draft so Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! MAYBE I’ll finish it this year... (she said as a lying liar who lies.)

*The fic in which Kara’s pod crash landed at the North Pole, 13 years later her adopted elf mother Eliza and her elf sister Alex tell her about her cousin Kal now Clark Kent and she decides to go to Metropolis to meet the only other person like her. She meets Lena “naughty list” Luthor. And Clark and Lois are Jewish.

🔥🎄🎄🎄🧝‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

Some elves are born to work in Santa’s workshop. Kara Zor-El, however, was not born an elf or even from this earth for that matter.

When her pod crash landed at the North Pole thirteen years ago, she had no memory of a lost planet, no recollection of a cousin she was sent to protect who had already grown up to become Superman, and no idea how to be an alien living with elves. Santa was perturbed as to what to do with a skittish teenaged alien who cringed at the sound of tiny hammers building toys.

The elf doctor, Eliza Danvers, having a daughter around Kara’s age, naturally stepped in to help raise her, teach her elf culture, and attempt to control her powers. There were several mishaps of course.

Kara’s eyes lit up the first time she saw a Christmas tree. Literally. The green pine was burned to a crisp with her heat vision. But she quickly uprooted another tree from outside the elf village and helped Alex redecorate the new tree. And spent several hours carefully placing the new lights and ornaments, after breaking several of the glowing strings of light and the ornate red and blue colored bulbs. When Alex had trouble reaching the top of the tree, Kara swooped her up under her arms to help her place the star on the tree. And she managed to only break one of Alex’s ribs in the process.

After years of being at the North Pole, Kara was actually a wonderful toy maker once she learned to control her strength. When other elves managed to meet their five hundred toy quotas, Kara would have five thousand toys completed. The workshop wouldn’t need any teddy bears for another century, but finding storage for all of the toys Kara built was becoming difficult.

So from there, Kara’s primary job became Elf Master of Letters. She spends several hours each day answering letters for Santa as Santa’s tight schedule and the millions of letters he received each year became too much for the old bearded man. And although she always needed a little proofreading as the different Earth languages were sometimes difficult and much different than her native alien tongue, she enjoyed writing and speaking to children all over the world, bringing them the joy of Christmas.

Alex read over the letter Kara had just finished typing. Her younger but much bigger sister looked to her with a twinkle in her eyes and waited patiently. When Kara saw the red ink marked all over Kara’s letter she cooed and gasped, “That red is so pretty Alex. I know Raymond in Denver will love it! He told me red was his favorite color. I wanted to tell him that’s Santa’s favorite color too! But I didn’t want to give all of the big man’s secrets away, you know?”

Alex sighed and rested her hand on her sister’s shoulder, “Kara, these are your typos. Look here.”

Alex pointed to the last line, “Beleiving isn’t singing. Singing is beleiving.”

“He asked if he could see what the North Pole looks like. I set him straight. Believing isn’t singing. Singing is believing. That was in that one Santa Claus movie you had me watch, which I know isn’t historically accurate or based on true events, but I still,”

“Kara, remember your English spellings. I before e except after c? And it’s seeing not singing.

“Except in some cases like neighbor and weigh. And I just thought! It’s a play on words because ‘the best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear!’”

Alex smiled at her then, “You’ll get the hang of it.“

“Yeah, okay so I can’t spell that great, but the writing was good right?” Kara looked hopeful.

Alex shoved her shoulder, “You know you have more Christmas spirit than any other elf. Now come on and fix these typos, so we can go drink hot chocolate with Mom.”

That night when Kara had gone to bed, belly full of twelve drumsticks, eleven pickled peppers, ten cups of hot chocolate, nine hams glazed, eight glasses of milk, seven strudel pastries, six white chocolate goose eggs, five onion rings, four carrot cakes, three French bagels, two turtle chocolates, and a chocolate pecan pie, she curled up on her elf sized bed. Eliza had knit a fourth blanket onto her elf quilt the previous month when her toes started peeking out at the bottom. Alex had tucked her in tonight, making certain she was snug as a bug in a rug in the tiny bed, wishing sweet dreams of sugarplums dancing in her head.

She was content, happy, home and tomorrow would be her thirteenth birthday at the North Pole. What more could her life possibly be, what could be more rewarding than being apart of the magic that brought Christmas to children all over the world? And still Kara thought of that world and all of the little lights that wrote those letters to Santa, the gleaming eyes of all who opened presents on Christmas morning, and she wondered if any of them were like her. If they could hear the faintest sounds of snow falling or reach up and touch the clouds. If they could roast chestnuts with their eyes or see through all those pretty presents wrapped neatly under the tree. If the people of this world could believe that Santa would come every year to bring them gifts, then she had to believe that somewhere out there, there was someone else who was just like her.

That night Kara dreamed of a beautiful red sunset and little baby boy named Kal. It all felt so real, seeing him jet across the sky in a similar pod to the one Kara had found in an abandoned workshop years ago, knowing it must have been how she found her home. She wrote a letter to Santa as soon as she woke up, asking him to find a home for Kal for Christmas.

_____

Kara had been in trouble a bit, always an accident, because really how was it her fault if Blitzen couldn’t keep up with her? He could have flown faster if he hadn’t eaten all of that maple syrup and maybe then he wouldn’t have been left behind! She carried him back the whole way anyway! After she found him three days later in the Swiss Alps.

But this time when she was called to Santa’s office and Eliza and Alex sat patiently waiting for the charges from the big boss, Kara didn’t know why she was here at all, or rather, now she was on the floor with wood debris around her rear because the little chair was a lot lower than she had anticipated. That was the tenth one this month.

Santa cleared his throat and rubbed his white bearded chin, “I read your letter, and I spoke to your mom and sister. I think they have something they’d like to tell you.”

Kara widened her eyes and looked to her mom, “Are we going to adopt Kal? Like you adopted me? Please say we can Eliza. I promise I’ll teach him myself how to control his powers, and I can build him a crib myself. I’ll even chop down the tree for the wood and we can,”

Eliza cupped Kara’s face and kissed her forehead, a tear prickling at the corner of her eye, “Do you remember Kal now sweetie? Do you remember Krypton?”

Kara blew out her breath in bewilderment, “Krypton? What’s that? Is that where I’m from? Is it in Canada? I’ve always felt I was probably a Canadian because I don’t get cold at the North Pole, and I make the best maple syrup every year during the elf Christmas party.”

Santa nodded, “Its true, you really do.”

Alex gasped, “you know you’re not an elf?”

Kara chewed at her fingernails, “Well I’m not, am I? I’m bigger than all of you and I can lift a Christmas tree over my head like it’s mistletoe and fly with reindeer and all sorts of stuff. I’ve known for awhile I’m not from here, but this is still my home. You two are still my family.”

Alex held back all her unshed tears, “But you have other family out there, and we can’t keep you from knowing about Kal anymore.”

So that day Kara cried when Santa showed her the picture of Kal, or Clark Kent as he was called on Earth, glasses askew and a beautiful woman on his arm. Clark without the glasses bearing what she was told was her family crest, the House of El, taking up the mantle of Earth’s greatest hero, Superman. She had crafted thousands of figurines of her only living blood relative, and yet she hadn’t the faintest idea that she had been sent to protect him for all of these years. He had grown up, not alone at least. He was raised in Kansas on a farm, and now he lived in Metropolis with his wife Lois Lane and their son Jonathan Kent.

“Does he even know I exist?”

_____

Kara changed into her best elf attire and her bright red boots that Eliza had made her for Christmas, letting her open one present before she left. Today was the day that she would fly to Metropolis and meet her cousin for the first time. She couldn’t wait, but the dread at leaving Alex and Eliza settled deep in the pit of her stomach. And all of the letters to Santa she still wanted to respond to sat neatly at her desk in her room.

She was leaving behind her entire life at the North Pole. She told herself she wasn’t losing her home, but it still felt like it. Santa’s workshop, Eliza and Alex, it was all she had ever known or could remember. Would it be the same when she came back? Would her room still smell like a gingerbread house and would her stocking still hang by their chimney with care? Would Kal come with her or would she split her time between Kal and Alex and Eliza like some children who get double presents when their parents divorce?

Alex knocked on her door and waltzed in, “Hey Kara, mom made you something to take to Kal. There’s a winter storm over Greenland, you should probably get going soon.”

Kara wiped the tears from her eyes and her sister rushed to hug her. She had to bend down a little and lift Alex off the ground, but no way was she leaving without giving her sister a proper hug.

“I’m going to miss you and mom so much, Alex. I’ve never been away from home for more than a few hours, how am I going to make it to Christmas without you both? Will you even still want me back?”

Alex nuzzled closer, “You better come back because I don’t want to imagine this place without you. Who’s going to lift the fridge so mom can sweep under it hmm? Who’s going to change all of the light bulbs in the workshop when they blow out? Who’s going to drink hot chocolate with me and watch Hallmark movies in July?”

Kara laughed, shaking her head and deposited Alex on the floor, “I thought you hated the Hallmark channel.”

Alex simply rolled her eyes, “But I love spending time with my sister, and I love you, you big sap. I swore I wasn’t going to cry.”

Feeling slightly better Kara shoves her sister’s shoulder, a little too hard and catches her before she falls, “I love you too, dork. Don’t open the present I got you until you get back, pinky swear?”

Alex locks pinkies with Kara and kisses her thumb, “I’ll miss you. Please be safe. No breaking the sound barrier, watch out for pigeons because there’s a lot in Metropolis or so I’ve read. And when you see Kal remember to call him Clark Kent.”

“Got it, and don’t eat anything I don’t buy myself or anything not given to me by Clark, Lois, or Jonathan because there’s a high chance it’s not candy.”

Kara hugged Eliza for thirty minutes after that, and then Alex for another ten minutes before waving goodbye to Santa and all of the elves at his workshop. Metropolis wasn’t so far for her to fly, and she’d be home in no time.

She coasted through the peppermint sparkled glaciers, touched the northern lights, sailed through the skies above the Arctic Ocean, grazed the top of the Daily Planet, and landed atop the small two bedroom apartment building on the rent controlled side of town. Inside the windows of the corner apartment on the top floor, Kara saw Kal with his family, lighting candles, looking happy and calm. She decided to wait until morning to meet Kal, Clark, alone.

She listened into the city around her, all of the heartbeats like a million tiny hammers beating together, all except one. Kara flew the city, pinpointing the sound, admiring all of the lights on all the trees in all of the buildings and all the shining multicolored bulbs lining the streets. And it was there, in the tallest tower of the tallest building, one light shone through the wall to wall window, a small desk lamp in the large office. At the desk a woman with jet black hair and skin as white and fair as snow sat, typing away at her computer, nibbling on the pen in her mouth. She strained her long elegant neck, and stretched her arms above her head before getting back to work.

Kara glanced below the balcony to the street corner, finding what she knew the young woman needed. She floated down to the alley and walked into a coffee shop, took some time figuring out how to pay for a cup of coffee with the paper and coin money that Santa had given her before she left. Smiled and thanked the cashier for helping her, put one of the bills in his tip jar (it was a hundred.) She quickly flew into the woman’s office, left the coffee on her desk, and flew out of sight, feeling a little like Santa herself in the moment.

The woman grabbed the coffee absentmindedly and sipped, not expecting it to be so hot Kara sees her fanning her mouth and frantically searching the room with her eyes. When she turns to peer out her balcony, Kara sees her face, hard jaw line, soft endearing green eyes. She smiles as the woman screams and locks her balcony door as the windows go pitch black.

[queer-things-and-stuff]

Your AU shouldn't equal OOC post intrigues me as it seems to support my belief that I can write an AU where Kara came to Earth with baby Clark, and so she is different (but not OOC!) because she doesn't grow up in Clark's shadow. However, some people have opined that stories that explore "what if x didn't happen?" is automatically OOC because the creators/writers used it to build character, and obviously it won't be building character now. What's your take?

Sorry for the rambling and the long winded response, (I have a very bad habit of doing this), but thank you for the ask. You can go to the third and last paragraph(s) for my actual answering of your question.

Well for starters I think that the whole "what if x didn't happened" factor of a story is very dependant on where the character is in their life when the "x" takes place. Regardless, I also think that you not wanting to write Kara as OOC in the first place is a good sign of how the story will go. If you didn't care and the thought hadn't even crossed your mind then there would be alot more room for error. I think that a persons ability to not write OOC is situational, depending on the story you want to tell, but it also is definitely about your knowledge of a character.

One of my favorite writers doesn't even watch Supergirl and knows the base knowledge about Kara and Lena and still writes Supercorp fanfic. I'm unsure of wheather or not I would consider their work OOC, the thing is, they're not trying to tell a story that expands on Karas personality and shows her put through diffirent things and how she would react to them (which is how every fic works when you get down to it, AU or not) they're just telling a simple story about a super cute blonde haired, blue eyed, pretty buff but super puppy like character named Kara, and a super hot brown haired, green (and sometimes also blue) eyed, slim thick character named Lena. This author doesn't really get into the bigger things, like the nitty gritty of Karas life mission and need to protect which has driven her entire life, or Lenas horribly abusive home life as a kid which has given her a need to be good.

Now onto the topic of you specifically writing your AU, I do think that it's possible. Kara Zor-El will be Kara Zor-El whatever universe or situation you put her in. She's essentially your base, the question is what things about the Kara that we know will be taken away from or added to her with the addition of your storyline.

On one hand her life's purpose is diffirent now (or really it never changed seeing as in cannon she was supposed to do this in the first place), taking care of Kal-El is what she's ment for, that will almost certainly make her more cynical, she'll see the world differently after having to rase a baby at the age of 13, but it will also probably add a sense of maturity and foresight to her decisions that she didn't have in season 1.

I think she'll be more of a brat than she is in cannon because part of where the mentality she has that makes her a beat comes from how she was brought up and what she had on Krypton, and if the Danvers never showed her how diffirenr life was than she opulent never get the experience of someone who wasn't considered some type of nobility etc. I mean it sounds obvious, but she'll be more alien. The Danvers showed her everything she knew about the world, how to hold herself, how to act, how to be. Without that guiding light, without the experience of a teenage human, she'll be Kara Zor-El all the way, and I think that will kindof act as a shell around the version of her that we're more used to, until someone comes along and cracks it (assuming that this fic is Supercorp centric).

She won't just automatically change back into the cannon version of Kara as soon as she locks lips with Lena, but she'll explore the side of her that likes human things more. Not to get into the ins and outs of your fic idea here, my point is that if you care, and you know her, she'll almost always be her as long as you start off with her as normal, and work your way down, just make sure to know where you want to take her and how you want the story to go, otherwise you might start to devolve.

The only thing I can tell you is to take your time, and pay attention. If you feel like you're getting lazy and putting something there just to have it be done, stop writing and come back to your story another time. You'll definitely have some moments where you sit and think "what parts of her am I willing to sacrifice for this part of the story" and hopefully more often than not, your take away will be that this plot point isn't really worth it, because she wouldn't react like this, or because it would change her too drastically.

[maidenxfmight]

home is where the heart is

Who: Kara Zor-El, mentions of so many people guys I’m sorry. Particularly Alex, Donna, Peter, Nia, Jon, Kon, and Lar in that order. When: Post-siege, over the course of one week Where: The bottom of the Atlantic Ocean What: Kara builds a fortress Warnings: Loss mention Words: DON’T LOOK AT ME it’s 2,760

The humans said “home is where the heart is.”

When Kara was little, her heart was in Zor-El’s lab, ducking between table legs and helping him with calculations. It was down in the markets where there was always fresh fruit and smiles for the House of El. It was in Alura’s arms, warm and tight around her, supporting her even when she’d caused her own troubles. Home was Krypton, and she never thought she’d lose it.

Home was Krypton for thirty-six years, because The Phantom Zone was a prison sentence. Twenty-four years served while coming to terms with the fact that she would never have a home again for the rest of infinity.

Then home became Alex. It became Donna, Peter, Nia, Jon, Kon, Lar, and so many others.

Day One:

She woke up to Alex, and left the moment the conversation hit a lull. Her sister sat beside her with sad eyes and hands that were too cold to the touch. Her smile was soft but unsteady and Kara could hear the way her heartbeat would vary in pace with each turn of the conversation. There was no way “I’m sorry” would ever fit the space gouged out by Kara’s words, but Alex seemed to accept them nonetheless.

Kara couldn’t, not yet.

She needed to think, to yell and scream until her voice was raw without placing that burden on those who’d already taken the brunt of her uncontrolled anger. Before she could think twice, she’d left Alex in the medical bay and found herself standing in front of her pod.

Home. Not really, it was a prison, but it held pieces of a place she once called home. Her hands wrapped around one of the Kryptonian crystals clinging to its underside, one that had continued to grow as it sat in the DEO desert facility. She pulled it off delicately, feeling the base separate still in tact.

Red kryptonite echoed if this world won’t be my home, I’ll make it. Kara blinked back tears.

She could make something somewhere for herself, right? She hit the Atlantic Ocean going faster than humans could process, and kept her momentum until she hit the ocean floor, planting the crystal and watching it glow a soft blue. Home.

No.

Her home sat in the medical bay, probably still processing her sudden absence.

Day Two:

One crystal turned into two, turned four, turned eight. They grew until they formed a hollow inside. Kara sat cross-legged in front of them and watched. Her vision blurred, but at the bottom of the ocean the moisture in her eyes was simply sea water, the pressure in her chest was only the depth. Her heart beat was lost in the pulse of the sea.

The crystals arched into an entryway, with Kara’s gentle hands prodding them where she wanted them. It could almost be a home, but they were cold to the touch. The shifting blues and reds were but an echo of Krypton. The last remains clung to her pod for a timeless infinity before being plunged to Earth, and even there they didn’t quite fit. A protective film closed over the entryway; a makeshift door, the water from inside rushing out. Kara stepped through, her hair clung wet to her face and her cape dripped steadily onto the new crystal floor.

It was cold. Soon there would be rooms full of what remained of Krypton. There would be beds and Sun Eaters and everything the Fortress of Solitude had but different, but hers. Only hers, though. The thought sat heavy in her chest. Hers were the only footsteps echoing off cool crystal, the only heartbeat filling the silence between breaths.

Her home was usually so alive, filled with the clattering of plates and the drone of the news on their television. She had Donna, always, with her quick-fire wit and her smirks Kara would groan about, but always with a responding smile.

The crystals were beautiful, but home?

No.

Her home lay in a bed in New Jersey, probably refusing to lie still, and worrying too much for her own good.

Day Three:

The crystals were beginning to stretch upwards.

It could almost be the Argo City skyline, with its curved spires and cool-blue hues. But the sunlight didn’t reach so low. There were no pods zooming between the highest reaches, and the whole thing only took up a small postage stamp on the great expanse of the ocean floor. There were no markets and the only thing Kara could hear was the gentle push of the water around her, and the creaks and groans of the crystals as they grew.

It wasn’t even comparable to New York City. Though subjectively more beautiful by miles, the city far above was beautiful in a different way. It had bustling street corners, families walking their dogs, laughter and living. Kara could see it all from the highest rooftops.

Her stomach dropped at the thought, her hand freezing over the Kryptonian symbols of the newly formed control panel. She thought of boxed skyscrapers reflecting the orange-yellow-red sunsets off their mirrored windows, the way her heels would kick up against the edges of concrete. How cinnamon and sugar would melt on her tongue, how she was always right on the edge of laughter and it had everything to do with the company she shared.

She released a shaky sigh as her hand finally fell to the buttons on her control panel. Her alphabet had been stuffed into relics, only seen when herself or Lar traced it into existence, keeping its memory alive through love and perseverance. It should feel familiar and warm, and it did, but the buttons felt cool against her fingertips. Familiar, but home?

No. Her home was probably sitting alone on a rooftop, his mask pulled up to just underneath his eyes, lips set in a frown.

Day Four:

Her trips to the surface were sporadic and quick, afraid someone would catch her heartbeat and follow (but who? Clark hadn’t approached her in so long she wondered if he even remembered what it sounded like. Jon had tried and failed, Kon harbored anger just as well as she did, and Lar...she can’t imagine he would want to hear it anymore). But the rooms were growing empty, and she could feel the space of them in her bones.

Clark wouldn’t miss a few relics, and she had her own.

An old television found its way into one of the rooms, out of place amidst technology far beyond that of which what Earth had even dreamt. Kara was almost giddy as she arranged crystals around it, ran wires and fiddled with hands that had been idle for too long until an image blurred to life on the screen. It was the Channel 2 news, showing a grainy image of Dreamer pulling an elderly woman from the rubble of her home.

Kara swallowed once, twice, the image on the screen blurring before she smacked the crystals on top of the television. They flew off and embedded into the wall of the room, cracking then growing until they were fully incorporated, raised like scar tissue against the otherwise pristine surface.

The image remained for a moment longer, the cameras zooming in on Nia’s face. Like a ghost, it faded until nothing was left but the black screen and a memory.

Kara stifled a sob, pressing a hand hard to her chest. Why had she even brought human technology into her fortress?

Because maybe, maybe the crystals alone would never be home.

Her home was on the surface, being the hero she was always meant to be.

Day Five:

She was on the surface. The cold Antarctic air breached even the impenetrable facade of the Fortress of Solitude, and Kara almost wished she could properly feel it. It would feel better than the hollow twinge in her chest, or the warm prick at the back of her eyes, or the familiar tension pulling at her shoulders.

Clark had a whole collection tucked away in the various rooms of the Fortress. They were amassed over a lifetime of being hero across many galaxies, of fighting alongside friends, of collecting what was left of a home he never had the opportunity to know. Some of them were familiar, and Kara traced her fingers over them with quiet reverence. Her game was a conscientious give and take. Her hands wrapped around the things she knew he’d understand missing, with the quiet promise to explain herself later.

They’d never talked about them. He’d spent so long collecting, did he ever think to ask about their history? He had a veritable encyclopedia at his fingertips, the crystals be damned, and he’d never thought to open it.

Kara wondered how many times he’d talked about them with Jon. She could see the two of them walking the halls, Jon young and eager and far too excited to follow in his father’s footsteps. Rao would smile kindly on both of them. The House of El, said to have descended from the Sun God himself, would live on. Their legacy was burned into the stars, and kept safe in the walls of the Fortress.

Her heart thumped against her chest and she closed her eyes against the gleam of the Fortress’ crystals. The future of the House of El deserved to know his family, his history. He deserved better than to be cast aside as less. She let her hearing stretch and stretch, beyond the crack of Antarctic ice, beyond the pitter patter of familiar heart beats, one by one, until she found Jon’s.

Kansas, of course.

Kara pressed one of the crystals from her own fortress against one from the fortress, copying generations worth of knowledge. Somewhere in there was a hologram of her father, and the entire history of their family. It was home but...

She’d have to remember to add to it. Her family had grown.

Home was sitting on a couch in Kansas, letting himself be loved just as he deserved to be.

Day Six:

Kara sat cross-legged on the floor of her fortress. The crystals still grew around her, but their progress had slowed. A new Kelex bot buzzed around her, doing much of the work she’d been doing herself over the course of the week spent at the bottom of the ocean. The control panel had lowered until it was even with her, a myriad of crystals pressed into various slots. A translucent blue screen hovered just above the panel, Kryptonian spelling out the history of each member of the House of El as she scrolled through them.

It was long and proud, and for the first time all week, Kara felt herself smiling. It was soft, tentative, something marked by a loss that could never been confined by words.

“Hi, Mom.” Her voice scratched from lack of use, and the hologram of her mother offered nothing in return. They were just ghosts. They were stories told in languages long lost, memories burned into crystals and hearts that could never be anything more than that ever again. Kara could find a home in memories, but they would never be enough.

She moved on, her father’s face replacing her mothers, then Kara, then Clark, then Jon, then...

Nothing. The history ended with a small outline of Jon’s lineage and his accomplishments; he was going to college, and there was some pride in the way the Kryptonian words described his studies. But there was a space after Jon’s entry that fell heavy on Kara’s shoulders. She thought of leather jackets and rounded sunglasses, of how anger coiled familiar in the curl of fingers into palms.

She thought of sitting just on the outside, watching love but not necessarily receiving it. There was no more clear of an indication than a blank space on a family tree that shouldn’t be blank at all. Her fingers moved swiftly over the keys of the control panel: there was nothing under Kon-El, or Conner Kent. Accessing the CADMUS files proved more fruitful, and Kara froze.

Her breath stalled and her brow furrowed and oh, she didn’t need red kryptonite to recognize this feeling. But then, she hadn’t been much better, had she? She could still hear the way his voice had dropped as she told him to get out, and the scratch of understanding was easier to acknowledge now that she could think straight.

Kara found an image of Jon and Kon together on her phone, easily transferring it into Sanctuary’s systems (the name was inherent to the fortress, Kelex had informed her). He was smiling and the curl of his hair across his forehead matched Jon’s. She changed the name from an experiment number, deleted the Kryptonian equivalent of questions marks, and updated it to Kon-El. His file was then moved to the docket containing the rest of her family history.

He belonged among them.

She backed out of his file and looked at the family tree as a whole. Was that home?

Almost. Home was probably somewhere thousands of feet above New York City, wondering why he didn’t have a Kansas to which to escape.

Day Seven:

It was done. The crystals had groaned to a halt, and a new fortress sat sprawling across the floor of the Atlantic ocean. It shimmered blue and red and it felt so much like something Kara needed. It reminded her of crystals caves and the shimmering sprawl of Kryptonian landscapes. The colors danced against the steady movement of the water around it, capturing what little sunlight made it to such depths and amplifying it ten fold. It was stunning.

Kara took stock of each room, mapping the expanse of it the best she could. Most of them were empty. She had a blank slate, ready to be filled with memories and relics and things that were only important to a very select few. What she’d gathered from the Fortress of Solitude barely filled any space at all, and the small bits she had for herself were dwarfed by the amount of empty space.

It was everything she needed, but she found herself spending most of her time in the control room. Her fingers idly traced over a translucent screen displayed in front of her. Left in their wake were blue lines, slowly sketching out the shape of a face.

When she was small, she had an art station in her room. Zor-El would complain quietly to Alura when they thought she was in bed; Els were scientists, respected across twenty-eight known galaxies. They looked to the future, and they didn’t get caught up in flights of fancy. Alura had explained that science wasn’t stifled by creativity, and Kara could still remember the way her father couldn’t contain a smile when she’d hand over her sculptures and drawings.

As long as she passed her exams, she could sketch the Argo City skyline to her heart’s content.

It’s what she had meant to do, as she sat on the floor of Sanctuary, but her fingers moved of their own accord. She traced the gentle slope of a nose, the firm lines of a jaw. Messy hair appeared over soft brows. When she got to the eyes, she paused.

She tried, and erased, and tried, and erased, and tried...

She tried to remember Lar when he was happy. It wasn’t hard, he smiled about as much as she did. He took joy in discovering everything there was to learn about their planet, in the quiet moments they shared between the chaos of their lives, in the way the moonlight played across the space of the pillow between them in bed.

But no matter how hard she tried, the eyes were always sad. Sad like a proposal pressed against his chest, like her words cutting into his kindness without mercy. Sad like planets lost and friends left in time. Sad like finding love and losing it all in one breath.

Sad like zhaomodh w rrip eh meaning something to both of them, but dying between them as just another ghost.

Kara’s full hand pressed against the sketch, the ridges of her fingerprints outlining blue across Lar’s face until they took over, the sketch ruined. A sob lodged itself in her chest and she couldn’t breathe.

This was Sanctuary. She was surrounded by pieces of home. But no.

No, no.

Home was watching sunsets and loving so purely, while expecting nothing in return.

Sanctuary’s floors were cold. Kara was cold.

She wanted to go home.

[darkmasterkattsvault-arc]

Some Help From A Friend

Who: Sam Arias & Lena Luthor (@chaoticscribblings) ft. Joss Rose

What: Sam finds out about Lena and Joss and comes from Argo for a visit.

Notes: Written on discord. I’ve never written Sam before. I never even saw her episodes, but this was needed. Enjoy.

"You're not dating me, or Kara, or Clark. WHERE DID YOU FIND ANOTHER KRYPTONIAN LENA?!"

“I didn’t find another kryptonian, they found me.”

"Only because you hired me." "You hired them, for what?!"

“Get your head out of the gutter, Sam. My Cyclone needed mending.”

Joss just snickering. "Okay. And how did that end up..." gestures between them. "I asked her out for drinks and she said yes?"

“Honestly, Sam, you act as if this is rocket science.”

"You understand rocket science, this is whatever the emotional equivalent is. I'm sorry but you've never been..." Sam deciding she really doesn't want to finish that sentence.

“Never been what, Sam?” Lena knew she was perceived as cold but she had hoped that her friends saw her otherwise.

"Emotionally available." "Sometimes it takes someone else being willing to bare all before you know it's safe to do the same. I hear not many people have ever deemed her worthy of such trust." Joss wrapping their arms around Lena all protectively.

Lena smiled at the way Joss defended her, it was still something she was getting to used to. “Did it ever occur to you that no one gave me reason to be?” she asked Sam. “That no one has ever been truly honest and open with me? Trusted me and never questioned my motives?” she leaned into Joss, bring her arms to rest across the ones wrapped around her

Sam held up her hands. "Hey, I get it, okay. It's just surprising, is all. I'm happy for you, Lena. But I'm still trying to figure out how you found a third Kryptonian living in National City." "Probably helps that I didn't know I was Kryptonian until after I met her." "What?" "I mean, I suspected after Supergirl came on the scene, but I didn't actually have concrete proof." Shrugs. "I didn't remember my life prior to Earth, because apparently getting space junk into a head wound that then heals is bad for your memories."

Lena chuckled, “I have no idea. It seems I’m a magnet for kryptonians.” She turned her head and pressed a kiss to Joss’ cheek, “But, kryptonian or otherwise, Joss would still be who I’d want to be with.”

"I'd say so." Sam just smiles. "You better take care of her." "She can handle herself. But I do what she lets me."

Lena smirked at Joss’ response, “Maybe you should be warning me instead of Joss, Sam,” she laughed.

Sam laughs. "Warning you to what? Let them take care of you? Besides, you're my friend, I'm just doing what friends do." "To be fair, I'm pretty sure that's exactly what my friend did." They pressed a kiss to Lena's shoulder.

“Warning mr to not hurt them,” she replied honestly, “though, it is true, Isaac did warn me. He was very sweet though. I’m more scared of you,” she directed at Sam, “than I am him.” A smile crossed her lips at the kiss, it was such a small gesture but it brought her such joy. She honestly didn’t think she’d ever felt so safe with another being.

"I'm confident that won't be a problem." Sam smiled. "Well, I should let you two catch up. I need to get back to the theater. It was a pleasure to meet you Sam." They pressed a quick kiss to Lena's lips before pulling away and going to leave, stopping at the door to the balcony. "Oh, and Sam, next time you see Alura, tell her I said she can go fuck herself." Cos bitter Joss is bitter after finding out they're Kara's twin which means Alura and Zor-El basically abandoned them. "Did..." Watches Joss leave. "So, actually related to Kara then?"

Lena frowned at the goodbye kiss, silently wishing Joss didn’t have to go back to work, and had to stop herself from laughing at Joss’ parting words. “Yes, it appears they’re related, why Kara had no knowledge of their existence is yet to be solved.”

"Think that might be a question for Alura. Given she's the parent in this situation. I could give her a call? Alex and I have been working on a way to keep a line of communication open between Earth and Argo City. It's a little unstable connection wise, and still in its experimental stage, but should work well to at least ask. Alex had been planning to surprise Kara with it."

“I’ll talk to Joss about it. They might not want to know and I’m not going to make that decision for them. However I will ask that if you do speak with Alura, you ask about the materials of whatever carried Joss to earth. The more I can understand about the fragment in their brain the more I can understand what potential damage it could cause if left where it is.”

"Of course. And I imagine it's of the same material the other pods from Krypton were made of, but I'll certainly ask anyway." She smiles. "Now spill, I want to know everything about you two."

“Which is why I need to know more. The DEO isn’t exactly going to let me look at their files.” Lena laughed, “You’re impossible. What’s there to say? I hired them to mend my Cyclone, they arrived to pick it up and I accused them of being a clone,” she still kicked herself for that, “but we talked, I realised they possessed far too much autonomy to be a clone and somehow they forgave me.”

"Right." Sam laughed. "Lena, you don't go from 'fix this dress' to bedroom eyes without a lot more happening in between. So there's a lot to know."

“There was no bedroom eyes,” Lena laughed, “you’re imagining things, Sam.” She shook her head, sure there was no denying that there was something between her and Joss but she didn’t think bedroom eyes were happening, at least not in front of Sam. “Joss called to ask me out for drinks,” a sly smile tugged at her lips, “they called from the office balcony.”

"The way they look at you might as well be." Sam chuckled, shaking her head. "Well that's one way to ensure a date. What happened after that?"

“You’re crazy.” Lena gave her friend a look that was the non-verbal equivalent of ‘duh’, “We went for drinks, what else usually happens when someone asks you out for drinks?” She laughed. “We talked. A lot. We talked about fashion and they understood my views on it rather than looking at me like I’m crazy.  We talked. A lot. Learned a lot about each other.”

"Well yeah, that's how real dates work. But you're telling me that's it? That, that's all that happened between you two and now you're here? I imagine one doesn't get accused of dating Supergirl THAT easily."

“Apparently I do,” Lena laughed, “but as far as accusations go, I’ve been accused of a LOT worse.”

"Do I even want to know how Kara handled that information?"

“How do you think she handled it?”

"She didn't?"

“She really didn’t. I had to yell at Joss to turn off their inhibitors.”

"Wait, they got into a fight?"

“Joss ended up with a busted lip.”

"I think they're lucky that's all that happened."

“Why do you think I insisted they turn the inhibitors off?”

"The better question is did they?"

“In the end,” Lena had genuinely worried that Kara would cause Joss serious harm had they not turned their inhibitors off. “It was a lot to deal with.”

"So they started a fight with Kara, with power inhibitors turned on... Did Kara attack first? What the hell happened?"

Now there was a loaded question. “Kara instigated it.” That was definitely true, she’d come in and started throwing accusations. “Joss defended me. Which was dangerous. Kara had no idea if Joss was human, kryptonian or anything else. With the inhibitors, Joss is as good as human. Kara could’ve killed them.”

Sam shook her head, rubbing her temples a bit. "So, let me get this straight, Kara attacked you, Joss defended you with inhibitors on and had to be persuaded to turn them off despite fighting someone who could otherwise kill them?" She sighed, this was wilder than reality television.

“Kara attacked me verbally,” Lena pointed out, “but Joss didn’t take too kindly of the things Kara was saying, to be honest neither did I...Joss defended me as a person, Kara fought as an alien.” The more she spoke of it, the more it hit home just how dangerous it had been for Joss to do what they did. “Joss doesn’t use their powers, at least not often. A fight to them is the same as any other person getting into a scuffle. But Kara isn’t just any other person and yes, I needed to remind Joss to turn off the inhibitors before they sustained a serious injury but using their powers goes against how they live their life.”

"That's... wow." Sam could relate to that, it's why she'd gone to Argo City. To live a normal life without fear or worry of what trouble her own powers might bring. She couldn't imagine living on Earth, wearing power inhibitors day in and day out just to be seen as any other person. "It's certainly noble, but extremely stupid of them. Which I'm sure you've told them."

“Noble and idiotic,” Lena agreed. “But I’ve seen the effects of them not having the inhibitors on,” she sighed, Joss had been so drained and she understood why they wore inhibitors all of the time, “the sooner Kara and everyone else gets it into their heads that Joss isn’t a threat to them or anyone else, the better.”

"I imagine it's overwhelming. Even I'm starting to feel it and I've only been under the yellow sun for a few hours." Sam shook her head. "Now I know why Alex was on guard when I mentioned wanting to come for a visit. You'd think they'd have learned by now that not every alien is a threat but when you start treating them like they are they have a tendency to become one but that, that still doesn't prove the point."

“How long are you here for?” Lena asked, Sam was quite possibly her closest friend, they’d been through so much together. “It wasn’t even that they were treating Joss like a threat, Joss actually seemed to be handling that part pretty well. Kara accessing me of being just like Lex, accusing me of creating a clone,” that had hurt more than she cared to admit, even with those who claimed to see her as more than Luthor were quick to accuse her of evil doings, “Kara didn’t let either myself or Joss explain, she went straight to accusations. I’m not saying Joss fighting her was the right thing to do, but...Joss doesn’t care about my families history. I’m not Lex or mother. Luthor is just another name as far as Joss is concerned.”

Sam found herself scowling. After everything Lena had done, the good she'd done, they were still on as if she was just her family name. Had the Reign incident taught them nothing of human nature and the way choice can ultimately outweigh everything else? "So much for compassion for all, eh?" She shook her head. "I can't say I wouldn't have done the same for you. Because Joss is right."

"Compassion for all unless they bear the name Luthor," Lena corrected dryly. Honestly, it was tiring trying to constantly prove herself, to show that Luthor was just a name and not who she was. "Right or wrong, Joss could've gotten killed," she countered, "and that is something I couldn't live with." She was not worthy of dying for. "Now we have to figure out how to keep off of the DEOs radar, stay away from Kara and Alex, and figure out just exactly is lodged in Joss' brain and what damage it's caused and if it can cause any further damage." Lena was thankful for Sam, she was the only one that Lena could be honest about this situation with who not only would listen but had the capability of understanding the situation from her point of view.

"Or an alien you know about but they don't." Sam shook her head. It seemed Alex, Kara, and the DEO were reacting to Lena knowing about Joss the same way they'd reacted to Lena knowing about Reign, and yet Joss was literally just trying to live their life. "Well, if you're right about them just wanting to live their life, then I can't see them ending up on the DEO's radar, except for the whole flying thing, but even then, if Kara can use her powers like that, Joss should be allowed as well, but have them keep an extra eye out. Alex and Kara might be a little harder, though. As for what's in their brain, I'll get up with Alura, though should I actually pass Joss' message along?"

"That would require them trusting me and despite what they say, they will never truly trust me. It doesn't matter what I do or don't do on that one, Lex tried to kill Superman." Lena knew why it was hard for Kara to trust her given what Lex had put her cousin through but it hurt that she felt Lena capable of doing the same thing to her. "I don't think they fly all that often," she chuckled, "unless they're asking someone out for drinks. Right now, both Alex and Kara can get stuffed. They're treating Joss the way Kara would've been treated if it hadn't been for the Danvers taking her in." Lena paused for thought, "Yes. Joss has been on earth for years with no idea where they came from, pass the message along, maybe it will provoke Alura to reach out and fill in some blanks for them. But get the information I need first, the last thing we want is for Alura to withhold information because she's angry at Joss."

"Ah yes, that." Sam sighed. It was ridiculous, honestly, the way they treated people sometimes. Sam nodded as Lena said they didn't fly often but couldn't help but laughed. "Ah, so they only fly when coming to see you?" She mad a small noise of interest at that. Willing to die for her. Willing to be more than just a person for her. Lena certainly meant something to Joss, and that was something was a lot. "I'll certainly ask first insult after. Though lets hope we get more than just her anger out of all this, for Joss' sake."

"Yes, that." The issue with having the Luthor name was that the reputations of Lex and her mother were very much like that of a shadow, you could never truly get rid of it. "Don't start," Lena laughed, "it was one time, ok? And I told them off for it because what if someone had seen them?" She nodded as Sam spoke, "Please do. For some reason people tend to be less forthcoming when you insult them." A sigh left her lips, "I really hope so, Sam. There's so much that Joss doesn't remember. I worry that there's something important there and they don't even know it. Not as much as I worry about whatever is in their brain and what potential risks that carries."

"Did you ignore the fact they left off the balcony or?" Sam chuckled. "Though, except for Supergirl, anyone seeing would think it was Supergirl, or Superman, but given what the press thinks... They can probably get away with it, as long as it is only every so often." Honestly, Sam couldn't blame Joss, coming and going through a window was probably way easier than possibly running into someone in the building who thought they might be Kara. "Unfortunately for you, right?" Sam teased. "Yeah, I'll definitely do what I can. Ruby sends her love, by the way. Though she's not happy I came alone, as she wanted to come see you, but with the way Alex was on edge I thought it best not to bring her. Now I'm going to get an earful about it. Though while I'm here maybe I can get you on with her and I won't be nearly as disliked."

"I said I told Joss off, I never said they listened to me," Lena laughed. Visits to LCorp were often the time when Joss would come and go via the balcony, it would only ever be a problem if Kara decided to do it in plain clothes rather than as Supergirl but even then, Lena would know the difference and not just because Kara and Joss wore completely different styles of clothing. "If people were honest I wouldn't need to insult them in the first place," she countered. "I miss Ruby! How is she? I miss you both so much. I hate that we live on different planets." Had she said that to anyone else it would've been one of the most bizarre things she'd ever said. The mention of Alex caused Lena to close off a little. "Yes, well, Alex thinks I'm harbouring an alien clone of her sister and that at any given moment there's going to be an attack. I'd point out that Joss actually knows of Maggy Rouff but I feel that would be totally lost on her." She rolled her eyes. "I'd say I'll come visit you both but somehow I don't see Alura welcoming me with open arms given my reputation. Yes, call Ruby, and I can tell her how much she should give you hell for not bringing her to see me," Lena teased with a laugh.

Sam chuckled a bit as Lena spoke. "This is very true. And Ruby is good, adjusting rather well. She's got friends and all that. Miss you and the others, of course. I hate it too, but it's so much better there for me, y'know?" Sam noticed the way Lena closed off and sighed. "It would be lost on her. And yeah, I don't know how well a visit would go, but maybe next time I'll bring her with." She narrowed her eyes at the teasing. "Ugh, well, I need access to a computer and preferably one that can't be traced, and I can get that set up. I don't know if you want to do that here or at your house, but I can let Ruby talk and then just have her get Alura, do it all in one go and you can feed me questions to ask her."

"As much as I miss you, I'm so happy for you, Sam. Having a place that's better for you, a place where you don't have to worry about keeping Ruby safe." Lena meant it, she was genuinely happy for Sam but that didn't stop her from missing her friend dearly. "I think it would be better if we went to mine. As much as I have secured this place, it's nowhere near as secure as my home and we also won't have to worry about anyone interrupting or overhearing something they shouldn't."

Sam smiled. "Thanks, Lena." She nodded a bit. "Yeah, probably for the best. I normally wouldn't require a secure line but we're avoiding the DEO so, better safe than sorry."

"There's a reason no member of the DEO has been inside my house." There was also reasons as to why she regularly checked her house to make sure that Kara hadn't been sent in with bug. Lena had long learnt to not trust those who do not trust you. "Plus, there is wine at my house," she laughed, "if you think I'm letting you leave earth without even having a glass of wine with me you are sorely mistaken."

Sam nodded as Lena spoke, she could understand that. She couldn't help but laugh. "Because what would time with you be without wine?" She teased, standing. "Now lets  get out of here." September 15, 2020

“Boring?” Lena laughed. “How did you get here?” she asked as it suddenly dawned on her that Sam didn’t exactly have many earthly positions now, not that she needed them. “You won’t be abandoning a rental if you ride with me, will you?”

"Sure, let's go with that." Sam chuckled. "Uber, so no, I won't." She'd set up a system that kept her bank account and cell number active, and likely would for a good number of years. Just long enough that, should something happen and she need to return to Earth, for good or just an extended period, she'd have access to funds and a functional phone.

[superredcorp]

SUPERCORP FANFIC

"Oh Rao, oh Rao.", Kara mumbled repeatedly as she paced back and forth.

"Kara, slow down. There's no need to be nervous.", Alex chuckled. "Besides, you're gonna crease your dress."

"I'm getting married in less than an hour, Alex, how the hell am I supposed to slow down?", the blonde shrieked, about to run her hand through her hair when she remembered that this had just been freshly styled so instead she went to chew on her nail.

"Yes and it's gonna be great. All you have to do is look pretty, say your vows and don't forget to say "I do" at the end."

"But what if I don't remember my vows? What if I fall into a shocked trance or something? If-"

"Kara, this is too important for you to forget. Don't worry."

Kara looked at her doubtedly. "I forgot my speech when I proposed to her. I just started rambling. It's a miracle she even said yes."

"But she did, didn't she? Because apparently you found the right words to say after all. Even if you make them up on the spot... just speak from your heart, Kara, that's the best thing you can do.", Alex said.

Kara took a deep breath. "You're right."

"Of course I'm right. I'm the big sister and the maid of honor."

Kara laughed lightly. "Yeah. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Probably freak out completely."

"True.", she chuckled.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Seriously, what was I thinking? This doesn't make any sense! Kara should be the one walking down the aisle. She's the one with eyesight! I'm gonna make a fool out of myself! I'll trip or worse, I'll fall face first on the ground! This is insane!", Lena exclaimed panic-stricken, hands on her temples.

The woman in front of her raised her eyebrows in amusement. "Lena, you have to calm down. Everything's going to be just fine. You're going to do just fine."

"I don't know, Sam, I shouldn't-"

Sam stepped closer, placing her hands on her best friend's shoulders. "Hey, look, as your maid of honor who has the privilege of walking you down the aisle, I swear on Ruby's life that I won't let you fall, alright? And even if I should miraculously not be able to prevent you from tripping and falling... there's a whole crowd of superheroes out there, isn't there? I'm sure one of them will have mercy on you and catch you. If it's not Kara herself. Or your superdog here", Sam said with a chuckle and Krypto who had peaceful been laying a few feet away raised his head curtly to bark happily. Sam and Lena both laughed a little. Sam squeezed Lena's shoulders. "So just take a deep breath."

Lena complied and nodded. She smiled a little. "Thank you."

"Anytime.", Sam grinned. "Now come on, we still have to finish your hair."

Lena nodded again and let the other woman guide her away to style her hair.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kara stood nervously at the front, eyes glued on the path which Lena would be walking down on any minute now. They were having their wedding outside as they both weren't connected to the church too much - Lena because she wasn't baptised and Kara because her god was Rao.

Kara's heart was beating rapidly against her chest as her eyes scanned the crowd - so many different kind of people.

There were the obvious ones - her friends and family, going from J'onn, Kelly, Nia and Brainy to Eliza, Clark, Lois and their boys. Ruby was seated next to Kelly, not really knowing anyone as Alex stood at the front next to Kara since she was maid of honor and Sam would be walking Lena down the aisle as well as staying there. Since she was her maid of honor.

Even Alura and a few close friends from Krypton had made their way to Earth for this.

There were the other heroes and their accompanies - Barry, Iris, Cisco and Co, Felicity and Mia, the Legends, even Kate.

And so many more. So many people in front of which she could possibly embarrass herself.

She closed her eyes, trying her hardest to control her breathing.

Her eyes quickly shot open when she heard the music starting to play.

She held her breath and only released it when she saw Lena appear at the end of the path. All the tension seemed to fall from her body just as it had when she had heard her agreeing to marry her.

She felt a soft smile spread across her lips as she watched Lena walk towards her, arm tightly secured around Sam's.

Krypto walked a few feet behind them, head held high and excitedly wagging his tail. He carried a small pillow between his teeth on which the rings were placed. Making him probably one of the most adorable ring bearer's of all time.

Lena seemed to relax as well when her hands finally glid into Kara's and she was gently pulled in front of her.

Sam took her place at the side.

Kara couldn't help but stare at Lena, a goofy but dreamy grin on her face - her beauty really was beyond compare.

She unconsciously rubbed over the back of Lena's hands with her thumbs, making the brunette smile.

Neither of them really took notice of what was being said. They were totally lost in each other.

Kara just barely recognized her cue for saying her vows.

She cleared her throat and giggled nervously. But one look into Lena's face calmed her again. She concentrated fully on her.

"There are a lot of things I love about you. One of the things I love most though is that you are inherently good. I knew that from the moment I met you. It wasn't a hunch, I just knew. You... you basically radiated light and optimism and you still do. Despite everything you went through and despite the world trying to bring you down so many times, you... you never give up. You always get back up again and you're ready to prove yourself once more, no matter if people will believe you or not. I admire that about you. I really do and... and you transfer that onto me. You give me hope and faith. I know... I know there's times where you doubt yourself. Seriously doubt yourself but I promise I will always be there by your side to remind you of what you already know deep down. To build you back up again and to give you strength. Just like you give me strength. You make me so strong, Lena, you... You're my yellow sunlight."

She could see the tears glistening in the Luthor's eyes. She wore sappy smile on her lips as well as blushed cheeks.

"Well, it's gonna be hard to compete with that.", Lena exclaimed with a chuckle.

Kara laughed quietly and she heard a few sympathetic laughs from the crowd as well.

She took a shaky breath.

"It's not a secret that... it's hard for me to trust people. I've been betrayed many times over the years and it... it stuck with me. It made me do things I'm not proud of and things I regret doing. But... the best thing I could have possibly done was let you in. It was impossible not to let you in - with your kindness, your warmth... your incredibly goofiness.", Lena smiled. Kara blushed and chuckled. "So when I thought you betrayed me, I lost it. I... I was so used to being betrayed for selfish reasons, that I didn't realise someone might lie to me to protect me. It wasn't something I deemed possible. But it is. You... you stood by me in times where no one else did. Saved me when I thought all was lost. The truth is I only get back up because I know you'll be there to have my back. To catch me in case I fall again. You always did. Especially now. I... I may have lost my eyesight but it feels like I can see more clearly than ever before. Because you're there to guide me through. You... You're my light in the dark."

[magewriter]

Puppy Days

Kalex Week Day Seven: Krypton related

Saturday, 11/23 - Krypton-related - Kryptonese, Red Kryptonite, etc.

I own nothing.

Words: 1,044

kaldsfjlskdjfasfj!#!#!#

The pod had landed six miles from the desert base. Kara had seen it enter and followed it to the landing site. She swallowed tightly when she saw the El crest on the side.

What could it be? The last pod had contained Mon-El and that had brought a whole host of trouble. Alex had gone through several packs of pencils and nearly broken her foot dealing with the man-child. Their best friend had had much the same reaction.

His mother and her army had been no laughing matter either. Nor had his crush on her.

As if he could hold a lighter to her human! Either of her humans!

Shaking her head, Kara tapped in the correct sequence in order to open the pod. She leapt back when it hissed open, taking a fighting stance just in case.

Yip

“What?” Kara relaxed a bit, stepping closer to the pod.

Yip, yip, yip

Caustiously, she looked inside. “Oh! You poor baby!” Gently, she scooped the small dog into her arms.

There was no way…she checked his collar and burst into tears.

“Krypto,” she managed to get out. The dog, her dog, licked her face. He had probably been sent to help her protect Kal-El but had gotten lost as she had.

Well…technically he was meant to be Kal-El’s dog, but she had been helping to train him. By rights, she was certain that made him her fur baby.

“Supergirl, report.” There was a bit of fuzz, and then Alex repeated the command.

“No hostile in the pod,” Kara replied, nuzzling her face into Krypto’s soft fur. He was still a puppy, not even half grown.

“Bring it in,” Alex said, voice stern.

“Alright, just give me a moment.” She turned her ear piece off. “Sit boy, good boy.” She patted his head. Sealing the pod shut once more, she picked it up in one hand and cradled the puppy in the other. “Come on, time to meet your other mommy. Alex is going to love you.”

Alex stared at the fluffy white creature in her girlfriend’s arms. Kara had refused to put the animal down for any reason. J’onn, amused by her antics, had allowed it. So for the last several hours Kara had been in medical as the dog was looked over.

Alex knew she was doomed. Completely and utterly doomed. They were going to have to dog proof their apartment. And find a good dog park. They would probably need a dog sitter at some point.

“What on Earth is that?” Lena had arrived at some point to work on a project with Winn. She was just now getting the chance to see what Kara had brought it.

“Another pod fell to Earth,” Alex explained, “that was inside it along with a few personal items belonging to Kara.”

Krypto took that moment to try floating. They watched as Kara praised him, moving to float crossed-legged in the air beside him.

Lena stared for a moment. “Our resident space puppy found an actual space puppy.”

“Yep,” Alex nodded.

“You’re going to need a bigger bed.” Lena told her with a snicker.

“It’s technically Clark’s dog.”

Lena scoffed, “as if Kara’s even going to do anything other than keep…him?” She hazarded a guess.

“His name is Krypto; apparently eleven year old Kara wasn’t very imaginative with names.” Alex sighed, resigning herself to their new pet.

“Fitting,” Lena said softly, thinking about a conversation she had once had with the blonde.

“Yea,” Alex agreed. “Come on, time to meet your nephew.”

“Nephew?” Lena smiled. “I didn’t know you were so sentimental Agent Danvers.”

Alex glowered on her. A wasted effort; Lena always ignored it. “I got introduced as mommy. So you get to be auntie.” The CEO outright laughed at her.

Kara bounded up to join them. “What’s so funny?” She had Krypto in her arms. “Doc said we can take him home. He’s perfectly healthy, just needs some sun.”

“Hello boy,” Lena held out a hand, giggling when Krypto leapt from Kara to her. She fended off his enthusiastic greeting. “Go to mommy now, there’s a good boy.”

Krypto happily went, giving Alex the same greeting. Both of the other women watched as the stoic agent melted.

“I suppose a stop at the pet store is in order.” She said, grunting when Kara enveloped both of them in a hug.

“Thank you,” she whispered, “thank you for letting me keep him.”

“Of course we’re keeping him,” Alex replied, “but…um, just how big is he going to get?”

The answer, over the next several months, was huge. Alex had to look up large, mostly white dog breeds to find something to tell people when they asked what breed he was. She had finally settled on Akita, although Kara had argued for Newfoundland.

“When he’s Superdog he can be a Newfoundland. At home, he’s an Akita.” Because of course their alien dog could shapeshift.

“That’s fair,” Kara agreed. “That sound alright to you boy?” Krypto woofed his agreement.

He liked going out with Mama to help people and other animals. Someone had to look out for Aunt Lena during the day when his mothers were busy helping other people.

Argument settled, he returned to his food. Maybe if he was extra sneaky, he could snatch some of Mom’s chicken or Mama’s potstickers…

“He’s plotting again,” Alex muttered, bringing her carton of teriyaki chicken and rice closer to her chest.

“Krypto, no human food.” Kara admonished him. “It’ll make you sick.” She frowned at his sad puppy face. “Nope, not gonna work. No human food for you.”

Huffing, he turned back to his food bowl. There was always next time…and Winn was weak. He could always convince Winn to share.

Kara shook her head. “Were you able to get the crystals loaded to the AI?”

“I finished the last of them today,” Alex wrapped an arm around her, bringing her in to cuddle. “We can fully look them over whenever you’re ready.”

“Maybe after the holidays,” Kara snuggled into her. “Right now I just want to cuddle.”

“As you wish,” Alex dared to steal a potsticker, shoving a bite of her food into Kara’s mouth when she tried to protest.

Krypto sighed. His mothers were so silly.

[lost-your-memory]

The spy & the Assassin

Villanevekendry, on Twitter, asked for : “#Supercat as spy/assassin enemies assigned to kill/capture each other but secretly respect each other’s skills” WARNING : there is mention of violence/blood/crimes in this little prompt. It’s a little graphic, so be careful. 

“Oh and C. ... Make it look like an accident this time. Your latest … chef d’oeuvre, dragged enough attention to the Agency as it was, no need to cause more trouble.” The disembodied voice, despite the monotone and robotic tone, sounded annoyed enough to make Cat smirk. “Sure, M. Whatever you say. Is that all?” “No. Your target is a highly trained assassin, do not take this assignment lightly. She hasn’t been active for that long but her achievements are impressive, and alarming for the Agency. The latest reports that came in about her suggest she truly is the last daughter of Krypton …” Cat arched a brow but said nothing. She’s studied Krypton during her training for the Agency, a supposedly old and mysterious guild of assassin, much like the League of Assassin’s Sara has told her about. Rumor has it the Kryptonians were all dead now, due to an impossibly hard recruiting process were most of the candidates were killed before they could even stand a chance to be part of the guild. The last known member of the guild, as far as the Agency knew, was Clark Kent but his body had been found four years ago, floating at sea near one of the Cyclades islands, in Greece. “So, mark my words when I say she’s dangerous. She might be the most dangerous person you’ll ever face. Don’t die, C.” The line biped. ---

The room was dark, all the windows were condemned with cardboard and journals, but a red-ish neon hanging from the ceiling was throwing a brutal shade onto the scene. Cat instantly noticed the bodies scattered all around the place. One was halfway thrown across the couch, legs dangling awkwardly above the furniture’s arm. Another was still perfectly straight in his chair, hands on the table in front of him but his head was hanging backward, exposing his sliced throat to the dim red light. Blood was still spilling from the wound but Cat could see the perfect line on the flesh, probably left by a sharp razor blade. A third man was sitting against a wall with his chin against his chest and Cat noticed the multiple wounds on his body, through the ripped t-shirt and pants. An open door to her left revealed another victim, sitting in front of a bathroom filled with red water. The upper part of his body hunched over the side of the faience, head still damp and dripping, told Cat this one had been waterboarded for a moment before dying. A piece of paper was pinned to the back of the man and Cat lowered her weapon, instantly realizing her target was already long gone. She carefully stepped across the room, not wanting to disturb the crime scene and intent on not leaving any trace of her passage, to get a closer look to the note. The words on it were elegantly handwritten, in black ink. I guess I should be flatted the Agency sent the infamous “CEO” to catch me. I’ve admired your work for a long time now. It’s such a shame, to be pitted against each other. See you soon. K. Cat couldn’t help it but smile. Brazen. She liked it. --- The girl in front of her was nothing like she had been expecting. Young, so impossibly young, she had bright sparkling blue eyes that evoked either a summer sky or a winter ocean. Her golden hair, soft and luminous, curled at the end and softened the sharp features of a still childish face. She looked like a teenage girl going to church and Cat was struggling to reconcile the woman in front of her with everything she’s read and seen about the last daughter of Krypton, the most highly-trained assassin in the world, heir to a forgotten but still incredibly powerful guild. “Not what you were expecting, right?” The girl’s smile was amused and sarcastic, despite gun Cat was pointing at her head. She had pink lips that looked impossibly soft, and wet. The image distracted Cat for half a second, before she reaffirmed her grip on her Glock. “Not exactly, but you and I well know that appearances can be quite deceiving …” The girl looked disappointed and Cat wondered why. The smile disappeared and slowly the bright blue eyes darkened to the point they became almost black. “Funny you should say that …” Cat almost shivered. The assassin’s voice, previously so light and soft, had become sharp and metallic, dangerous. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Cat said, quickly aiming down and pressing the trigger, sending a bullet through the floor, barely an inch next to the woman’s left foot. The sound echoed around the abandoned warehouse. The smile was back onto the assassin’s lips and it made Cat feel uncomfortable. She didn’t know how to read the woman in front of her and it was intriguing. It didn’t help that the girl was insanely attractive. “The infamous CEO … I wonder if you know what really happens in this so called Agency of yours … for example, have you met M. already?” Cat frowned and slowly took a step back, putting some distance between the girl and herself. Her gun was still aimed at the assassin’s face, but she was starting to feel it weight. “No.” she answered, planning on gaining some time before she could knock the girl out. She needed to make it look like an accident, she remembered. “Well, you’d be surprise … Your beloved Agency is nothing else but a nest of corruption, traffics, crimes and power plays to take down the government.” Cat arched an unimpressed brow. “You really expect me to believe one word you say?” “Oh no, you’re way too bright and intelligent to do that. However, I believe this would at least grant me the benefice of the doubt … pun intended, if I may …” The girl’s smile widened when she noticed Cat’s slight jerk. How did she know her last name? Every identity was carefully erased and hidden by the Agency, to make sure the agents didn’t risk more than their life when going on the field. It was meant to protect their loved one as much as it was a plausible deniability for the Agency in case of capture or any international situation. “They really did an outstanding job with you, Miss Grant. Brainwashing you so that you would believe you were acting for the greater good …” “Shut up,” Cat replied, her breath a little short but her eyes intent on the girl, gun still aimed at the pretty face in front of her. “I’ve seen your crimes, and the note you left me on the back of the man you tortured …” “Ah, yes. I knew you were getting closer, so I had to leave you something to guide you to me. I didn’t expect it to work so well, I must say …” Cat arched another brow, not believing one word of what she was hearing. “I know, I know. You’re brilliant, probably the best spy of the Agency, but didn’t you do your homework? Have you looked into the men I killed or did you just get on with it and moved on to track me, like a good soldier?” Cat frowned. She didn’t bother to look into the victims, the girl had a point. She was so focused on her target that she didn’t even ask herself why the crimes happened in the first place. Then again, why would she questions the last daughter of Krypton’s motivations? “Oh, I see. I’m your target, a supposed psychopath, the last daughter of Krypton, so there must be a thousand good reasons to kill me. Tsss. You’re disappointing, Miss Grant. I would have expected at least some questions from you, a hint of curiosity. I guess you were scared it would kill the Cat? You’re probably right though …” “Seriously. Puns about my name? How old are you?” Cat retorted, not showing that the little speech was starting to affect her. “Twenty seven, but that’s not the point,” the girl answered without missing a beat, and Cat almost dropped her jaw. “My point is, I have a file here that will tell you exactly who were the … men I killed, since I refuse to call them victims.” The girl slowly moved her hands, eyes on the gun aimed at her. Cat didn’t blink, almost holding her breath but when the woman retrieved a phone from her back pocket, she nodded. “You know my full name, but I don’t even know your first,” Cat said, observing as the girl turned on the phone and handed it over. Cat cautiously took a few steps and then moved back again, putting some more distance between the two of them. “My name is Kara Zor-El,” the woman answered after a beat, the evident pride in her voice laced with an impossibly deep sadness, so thick it almost made Cat swallow. “I am, indeed, the last daughter of Krypton, but everything you’ve heard about that guild is wrong.” “Hmm,” Cat let out, noncommittally. Making sure she was still pointing her gun at Kara, she looked down at the phone. She regularly glanced up but Kara wasn’t moving, seemingly waiting for Cat to finish her read. The men were absolute scumbags. Two were notorious cocaine dealers, amongst other trafficking network that included children and weapons. The one Cat recognized at the sliced throat victim was a warlord, wanted in several countries for having played every supposed ally he had. He had sold damaged weapons to one army, dropped sarin gas on another, raped the women of the villages he had conquered or destroyed, overthrown government to help dictators to take the power and so on. The last one, the waterboarded one, was a known predator always targeting children under the age of 10. The four of them met in college and grew up together, in Boston’s hot suburb, surrounded by the Irish mob, violence, traffic and corruption. “So, now that you’ve read it all. Tell me something … how comes your Agency never sent you after them? I mean, I know you’re more of an international spy, diplomatic mission, tactical extermination, maintaining peace at all cost and everything but one of them was on the FBI’s most wanted list, and he had ties with a lot of countries your Agency has interests in …” Kara’s voice was harsh and direct. Her eyes had darkened again and Cat found them utterly fascinating. Very distracting, too. “The Agency can’t chase every criminal on earth,” Cat opposed, knowing full well she was stepping onto a dangerous field. “That’s probably very true, but don’t bullshit me. You were there when they found Kal-El’s body, I read it in the reports when I hacked into the Agency’s database.” Cat frowned. “Kal-El ? You mean, Clark Kent? What does it have to do with anything?” Kara’s eyes darkened again, becoming as black as a moonless winter night. “That’s his civilian name. His real name was Kal-El and he was my cousin, the last son of Krypton. The Agency killed him.” --- Kara’s skin felt as soft as it looked, if not more. Cat ran her hands along Kara’s naked back, chuckling lightly when it elicited a soft hmm from the girl. It has been almost six months since she gave the girl a chance to explain everything, after the revelation that the Agency had killed her cousin. It took barely two months for her to fall in love with the so called Assassin. Her intense training made it harder for her to admit it but when Kara all but frantically kissed her, after a near-death experience that left her with a new round of scars, she threw it to the wind. They have been meeting once or twice a month for the past four months and every time, she marveled at how incredible Kara was. Young but wise, highly trained but not totally corrupted yet, she sometimes had a very childish behavior that made Cat fall even more in love with her. She could remember a scene after they had successfully chased a criminal with ties to the Agency, somewhere in a lost corner of Argentina, where the sky suddenly broke and the pouring rain drenched them both before they could run for a refuge. Kara’s laugh had been so carefree, so genuine and so simple that Cat had done nothing but to stare at the girl dancing in the rain. The highly trained killer, the cold-blooded Kryptonian, the Agency’s greatest menace, who was swirling under the deluge, raising her face to welcome the drops and let them run down her beautiful features. That was when she had finally let herself think of a future with Kara. There were still a lot of obstacles in their way, the Agency being the first one, but she was confident she could have it all. Kara was so solid at her side, a rock on which she could lean on and above all, someone she could trust. In her world, the world of a spy, it meant everything. “You’re thinking too hard,” Kara mumbled in her sleepy haze. Cat chuckled again and landed a kiss on her girlfriend’s shoulder. “I know Darling, but I can’t help it.” “Oh, I had an idea. Well, I dreamed of it but it’s still a good idea,” Kara said, sounding a little more awake now. She turned and faced Cat, her baby blue eyes still a little clouded with sleep but sparkling like a sky full of stars. “Oh?” “You should take over the Agency,” Kara said, matter of factly. Cat blinked a few times and then wholeheartedly laughed. “No, don’t laugh! It’s a good idea. We overthrow the bunch of white men in power and you take their place. I even have a name for the new Agency,” Kara continued, pouting a little. She looked adorable and Cat suddenly wanted to kiss those pouting lips more than everything. “I’m sure you do, Darling,” Cat smirked, leaning on to kiss her girlfriend, efficiently shutting her up. The kiss lasted, hands wandered across naked skin, ventured down under the sheets and Cat lost track of what they were talking about. Much later, as they were both catching their breath, sweat glistening on their skins, Cat suddenly frowned and asked “By the way, what was it?” “What was what?” “The name of my supposedly Agency?” “Oh!” Kara smiled and stretched her hands above her head, pulling on the muscles of her arms and Cat got momentarily distracted. “You should name it CatCo.”