Chapter Text
Three years ago
“Come on, little Danvers.” The tone of Lois’ voice had Kara already regretting her decision. “If you’re going to be visiting more often, you’re gonna need to learn how to drink. I need a drinking buddy and your cousin is no fun.”
Definite regret. But Kara couldn’t deny it was good to see Lois again.
It was Kara’s first trip to Metropolis for years, finally having proved herself as Cat’s assistant she was able to take some time off. Cat of course wasn’t thrilled, “who will bring me my lunch exactly the way I like it if not you, Kiera?” But nevertheless, she shooed Kara away once a certain country boy/reporters name was mentioned.
Surprisingly, getting permission from Cat was easier than getting permission from Alex. It had taken days, a constant back and forth until the older Danvers finally folded. With no less than three lectures she was finally off.
The week had started off somewhat stilted. Staying with a cousin and his girlfriend, both of whom she hadn’t spent all that much time with in her life was bound to be awkward, but that was why she decided to do this. Kara and Kal’s relationship in the past mostly consisted of him dropping in to say “hi” whenever he was out hero-ing or the odd phone call here and there. Last year the couple had visited for Thanksgiving and though it was a little uneasy, it was the most “family” they had been since he dropped her at the Danvers’, it made her realise what she was missing with him. So here she was, on the first of what was hopefully going to be regular bi-monthly visits, assuming she could get the time off from Cat, but that was a problem for later.
Kara mostly spent her days on the farm, spending time with the animals or working on a project. Sometimes Kal or Lois would take her out with them on a story once they were out of the office. Dinners were the best, Lois had become accustomed to Kal’s diet and always had mountains of food stocked, most nights would end in friendly competition between the two Kryptonian’s seeing who could eat the most.
It was her last night with them and Kal was off saving the day, Kara was slightly pouty as she watched on the news. Which is how she now needed up being dragged down the street to some alien bar by an excited Lois.
“Lois, I don’t know.” Kara vaguely remembered something about ‘no craziness with Lois’ during lecture number two.
“One drink,” Lois sounded like a child trying to persuade a parent to give them a treat before dinner, “and if you then want to leave that’s fine. Please.” Kara wondered how Kal ever said no to this woman.
“Fine, one drink.” Be stern, Kara thought to herself.
Kara was going to be in so much trouble.
But that thought was nowhere near her mind as she cackled to herself, almost falling out of her seat.
“Lois!” She shrieked, “where’dy go?”
“Here doofus,” Lois couldn’t control her own laughter from where she sat, unlike Kara whose head was almost half under the table. The table shook as the back of Kara’s head connected with it, a spider web of cracks appearing on the top.
“Ow, oh hi.” Kara was smacking and licking her lips like she had noticed them for the first time. “I feel floaty,” she giggled before leaning in to whisper not so quietly, “but m’not!”
The two of them continued laughing and drinking, bonding in a new way. Kara even managed to cajole Lois into some karaoke, though she did have to fight her on the song. “Lois, nooooo,” she drawled.
“Lois, yesssss,” Lois was giddy, “I will only sing that one.”
“M’not singing a song you’re dedicatin’ to m’cousin’s…. Bum,” she mimicked gagging as she said the final word, her speech thoroughly slurred by the Aldebaran rum.
“But Karaaaa, he’s got a super booty,” the grabby hands motion Lois did only further made her stomach churn.
“Lalalalalalaaaaa.” Kara covered her ears with her hands as Lois began a long-winded speech about her love for her cousin’s rear end. Eventually, they settled on Hollaback Girl, which made for good entertainment for the bar when neither woman could spell bananas.
It was getting late when they decided to call it a night, which they really only did because the bartender refused to let them play pool, knowing it would not end well. Lois groaned and Kara huffed, both stumbling their way to the exit when Kara had the sudden urge to pee. She sped away from Lois’ side with a burst of super speed and a yelled “gotta pee!”
As she moseyed back down the dingy hallway, the rowdy noises of the bar disappeared, and a rapid thumping filled her ears. The sound was hollow but echoed in her chest, it had been so long since she had heard the sound so clearly, a heartbeat. She used to listen to Eliza’s and Alex’s when she was younger but had trained herself over the years (along with the help of her glasses) to tune out the sound and not regularly hear them. Kara didn’t know why this heartbeat was suddenly in her ears, but something was wrong, it was far too quick, even for bargoers that may be getting boisterous. She tuned in to her hearing as best she could to try and locate the source, picking up bits and pieces of conversations nearby.
“-Starhaven cannot be a real planet! I mean I know Superman is an alien but-”
“-Come on Grundy, pay your tab and go home-”
“-yes Clark, we’re fine, we’ll be home soon, I’m just waiting for twinkle toes to finish-”
“-please, no, just let me go-”
There.
Not wasting a second Kara sped back down the hall and out a back exit, rounding into an alley. A grungy looking man covered in tattoos, ratty long hair hanging over his face and a beard that definitely needed washing, was holding a woman up against a wall by the scruff of her very nice blouse. Actually, all of her was very nice, Kara noticed as she took a second to take in the woman.
The woman’s scared heartbeat somehow sped up even further, as if she was now afraid for Kara too. A quiet “oh god” wafted past her ear but Kara paid it no mind.
Forgetting she was drunk, Kara barrelled in without thinking, a growl emanating from her throat.
“Halt!” She announced, hands planted on her hips like she has seen Kal do plenty of times.
The struggling woman and angry guy both paused and looked at her, the guy’s face scrunched.
“Step aside, princess,” the man growled, eyeing her up and down.
“Excuse me, my good uh,” Kara paused and tilted her head in confusion, as if unsure, “Sir.” Yes, sir, doing well Kara, she told herself. “I’ll have to ask you to release that young-“
“Keep moving, junior,” the woman piped up, clearly trying to get the blonde to leave for her own safety, not that Kara noticed the dismissal for what it was.
“-lady… but.. you? aren’t you, a damsel in distress?” Kara was so confused, this woman was in trouble, why was she trying to send her away? Kara could help her! She was stronger than she looked, of course the woman didn’t know that though did she.
“I’m a damsel,” she grunted, attempting to get out of the man’s hold, “I’m in distress, but I can handle this,” Kara must’ve looked like a kicked puppy by now, “have a nice night!” The smile was forced and clearly uncomfortable. Kara wasn’t having it.
“Uh,” Kara cleared her throat, putting on a confident front, “Ma’am, m’afraid you may be too close to the situation to realise-” Kara stepped forward but was promptly interrupted with a fist to the face. Normally that would hurt the guy more than her, but in her inebriated state, it sent her stumbling into the ground. “Hey! Not nice!” she shrieked as she jumped back up, a finger pointed at the man accusingly.
Come on Kara, use your head, oh! Next thing she knew she was speeding into the guy, headfirst, literally. Her head connected with his side and sent him flying a few feet, Kara barely managed to catch the woman before she fell to the ground. Zipping back to the mouth of the alley, Kara sat the lady on a sturdy looking box, giving her a stern look. “Sit,” she commanded before zooming back to fight the man now getting to his feet.
Before long, Kara was dragging the man by his collar out of the alley. She paused in front of the pretty lady, “stay.” In the blink of an eye Kara dropped the man at a police station with a poorly scribbled note and was back standing where she was.
“Are you okay?” Kara asked softly, the woman hadn’t said a word the whole time. Her eyes wide and jaw moving but no words coming out. “Oh no, did I hurt you?!?! Oh no no no,” Kara began freaking out, Alex was gonna kill her!
“No!” The woman finally found her voice, though she recoiled at how loud she was. “Sorry, no you didn’t hurt me I’m fine, Alex won’t kill you,” she tried to joke.
Kara gasped and stepped back, “Can you read minds?!?!” This was so exciting!
“Uh, no? You said that out loud,” the woman chuckled at Kara.
“Oh,” there was the kicked puppy look again. The woman smiled softly and tilted her head as she observed her saviour.
“Thank you, for saving me.” Kara felt her own heartbeat start to thud as she looked at the woman. “But how did you do that?” She pointed over her shoulder, indicating to the previous events.
“Oh, I’mma alien,” Kara replied casually then immediately blanched. Her eyes went wide as saucers and her jaw dropped, oh no.
The woman only laughed and shook her head, “Alex going to kill you?” Her laugh was so beautiful, Kara felt like it made the world colourful even under the cover of dark.
“Uh-huh,” Kara nodded her head so fast she was worried it might fall off her neck.
The woman chuckled again and shook her head, as if she was used to Kara’s antics. “Well,” she whispered conspiratorially, “I won’t tell if you won’t.” She finished it with a wink and a smile, but the smile was so soft Kara almost didn’t even take in what was said. All she could do was stare blankly while butterflies exploded within her belly. It was dark out, yet Kara felt like she was standing right in front of the sun. Her body felt warm, she had never felt stronger. Who was this woman? “So, does my saviour have a name?” The woman seemed nervous now.
“Kara,” she swallowed thickly, “Kara Danvers.” Kara only now realised how close the two of them were standing, somehow having drifted closer throughout their exchange.
“Well, Kara Danvers,” the woman placed a hand on Kara’s chest ever so reverently, right above her thundering heart, “Superman may be Metropolis’ saviour, but you are my hero.”
A featherlight press of lips to Kara’s cheek and the woman was gone, and Kara suddenly felt empty.
Present Day
“You seem to be enjoying having your cousin here.” Lena felt the smile bloom on her face the moment she heard the soft footfalls on her balcony. She had followed the news all day, watching the pair bounce from one incident to the next, Kara even doing some twirls while flying. It was adorable seeing her so happy.
“Yeah,” Kara bounced into the office, “It’s been good, but he’s heading home tomorrow which I’m kind of glad for. I mean I love him, but-” Kara’s shoulders sagged minutely, and Lena could see the tenseness in her. “I think I’ll just be able to relax a bit more once he’s gone.”
Lena figured out what the cause of her anxiety was, she let out a breath herself before pushing up from her seat. She circled her desk and tucked herself into Kara’s arms, pressing her face into the Super’s neck just the way she loved. Lena felt her relax instantly.
“Darling, he never got wind of us in Metropolis, there’s no reason he suddenly would now that I’m here.”
“Lena you weren’t on his radar back then! Now they all seem to think you’re a villain like your brother, and I just don’t want-”
“I know darling,” Lena kept pressing feather light kisses along Kara’s shoulder. The pair swayed on the spot, a cool breeze blowing through the open balcony door. “Everything will be okay, el mayarah.” The special saying was whispered so quietly into her skin, but Kara heard it loud as day. Their two heartbeats slowed and synced, just one of the many ways Kara knew she was home.
“El mayarah,” Kara breathed back.
Their private moment was broken by the sound of a chopper outside. The pair turned their attention to the tv still displaying the news from earlier, a man standing on the edge of a bridge lit up by the chopper’s light.
A flash of blue and red caught Lena’s eye in the sky and she turned to Kara with a smile. “Go on, one more before he leaves,” she nodded her head out the window, “Up, up and away.”
Kara beamed back, she hated that saying yet whenever Lena uttered it, it never failed to make her smile. “I love you,” she pressed their lips together, prolonging the kiss as long as possible.
“Be safe, I love you,” Lena breathed as Kara broke away, walking backwards until she had to take off.
“Always.”
Lena turned back to the tv, watching the two Supers arrive at the scene. Her soft smile dropped when the man turned, his chest lighting up green. Her stomach dropped, dread pooling there instead. How did he have Kryptonite, there was supposed to be none left on the planet.
She watched with bated breath as they fought on screen. With every beam of Kryptonite that hit Kara, a little piece of Lena crumbled, as if it was physically hurting her just the same. The CEO made a mental note to make adjustments to Kara’s suit as soon as this way over, she wondered how that wasn’t already something she had done but tried not to linger on it lest she fall into a pit of despair.
Kara went down, green veins crawling up her neck. Across town, in her darkened office Lena’s knees gave out with a pained cry.
“Kara!”
“Kara!”
“I’m fine, Alex,” Kara sounded breathless as she tried to calm her sister. She cringed realising just how much weight she was putting on Kal, okay maybe she wasn’t fine, but she would never admit that to Alex. Kal shifted her onto Alex and stepped into J’onn’s space, yelling about Kryptonite. Kara knew she should be paying attention, but the dizziness was making it hard. Just like that night three years ago, and many times since, one noise permeated it all.
“I have to go,” she announced, still barely able to stand but digging deep. Alex jumped to follow her, attempting to block her path.
“Woah, no, you are not going anywhere,” her sister argued. J’onn and Kal were still arguing, unawares.
“Alex,” she pleaded, her voice thick and almost desperate. The brief pause from Alex, concern shifting onto her face, allowed Kara the moment she needed to flee.
Kara could hear the shouts from Alex to return but nothing could stop her. As she got closer, the rapid heartbeat was accompanied by choked gasps and hiccupped tears. She was so close, but so tired. She could see the balcony, but she was losing speed. With one final jolt Kara crashed into the concrete, a normal balcony she would be worried for the integrity, but Kara knew Lena had reinforced her balcony with nth metal.
The heartbeat jumped, the gasps stopped, and the fast sound of high heels approached. “Kara,” Lena cried, dropping to her knees beside the hero. “Kara, i zhao.” Her hands ran over Kara’s body, afraid to touch but needing some sort of contact with the blonde. She settled for cupping her face, there was no blood which was a good sign at least.
“m’okay,” Kara groaned, her own hand coming up to circle Lena’s wrist, her thumb landing where the engraving would be on her bracelet.
“You are most certainly not okay, Kara Zor-El,” Lena gently scolded, now that she knew the blonde was mostly okay. Lena moved her hand -along with Kara’s where it still encircled her wrist- so her index finger was lightly touching Kara’s ring under her suit. It was something they did whenever they needed grounding or comfort, a reminder that they were okay, that they were loved. “Wait here,” Lena dropped a kiss to her head before running back to her desk.
Kara waved a thumbs up around almost mockingly, as if she was going anywhere right now. Next thing she knew Lena was back by her side, a small rectangular device in her hands. “What’chu got there, hunny bun,” Kara mumbled with a grin, okay maybe she was getting a little bit delirious now.
With a roll of her eyes and ignoring her wife, she placed the device on Kara’s chest right over her glyph. She tapped the front and watched as it powered up, like light seeping under a door Lena watched the yellow sun rays began to work their magic on Kara.
Not a minute later and Kara was already trying to sit up, Lena still fussed over her, murmuring ‘easy’ until they were both standing. Lena detached the device from Kara and looked up into her favourite blue eyes. They were shining with awe and love and it made Lena’s heart thump.
“You’re amazing,” Kara breathed, dropping a kiss to Lena’s forehead. She closed her eyes and savoured the moment.
“Khap zhao rrip,” Lena whispered.
“And I love you, i zhao,” Kara echoed.
A crackling sound came from inside the office, Kara and Lena walked in hand in hand to investigate. The news feed had been cut, now displaying a distorted face and voice. Preaching hate and violence, a plan to rid the world of aliens.
Lena looked to her wife, fear in her eyes. Their troubles were far from over.
The distorted voice announced themselves.
“We are Cadmus.”