Chapter Text
It had been a long day and all Alex wanted to do was go to bed. Sitting on her couch seemed to dissuade her though, the comfy cushions perfectly shaped around her body now, and sleeping here looked more and more like the best solution as time passed.
She was nursing a warm cup of hot chocolate between her hands, sleepily using her spoon to keep the chocolate well mixed with the milk, staring at nothing as she felt her eyelids slowly close. She'd never admit to anybody that warm milk helped her fall asleep more easily, except that Kara already knew, and would always say that a cold beer at the end of the day was all she needed. Right.
Her apartment was warm, central heating and the fireplace being pushed at the maximum as the outside air was already cold at this time of year, and she could feel sleep coming.
She flinched as she suddenly felt the harsh cold air from a gush of wind and snapped her head toward the direction of the offensive disturbance, frowning because the annoyance she felt definitely woke her up.
She didn't even think about burglars, her mind going straight to Kara. She felt a lazy smile tugging at her lips as she saw the blond haired woman standing at her now opened French window, coming at night as she often did when she wanted to snuggle with Alex.
When she noticed Kara standing still, not moving from the window and letting the cold air in, her frown came back because Kara usually just sped next to Alex before throwing a soft blanket over them and letting her head lay on Alex's shoulder.
"Kara ?" she asked hesitantly, as if sensing something wasn't right, straightening and putting her mug on the coffee table in front of her without looking away from Kara for a second.
Her voice seemed to make the blonde come out of her stupor as she slowly came in, sliding the window closed behind her. The quiet was what unnerved Alex the most because she knew how Kara felt about silence after her years spent in the Phantom Zone. Let's just say Alex sometimes forgot what silence was when she spent her time with Kara, rambling about everything or putting on the music or TV as background noise.
It didn't bother her because she knew Kara was more comfortable that way.
As her sister took a step forwards, Alex felt dread rushing through her like a bucket of iced water. Her eyes. Kara's eyes weren't twinkling like when she was happy, or watery like when she was sad. They weren't empty like when she failed to save people or had that faraway look she had when she thought about Krypton.
They were closed off, cautious, as if waiting for Alex's reaction. But her reaction to what ?
She was suddenly on her feet, ready for something, for anything. "Kara ?" she tried again, fear dripping from her strong yet uncertain voice.
"Alexandra."
In less than a second, Alex had every muscle taut and could swear even her hair stilled when she heard Kara's voice. Because it wasn't Kara's. Kara's was soft and somehow melodic and soothing.
This voice had a strong accent, was harsh and almost cutting. Foreign.
Eyeing the couch, Alex quickly mentally calculated how much time she'd need to reach for her gun and how much time she thought she had if this fake Kara also had her powers. Willing to take that risk, she plunged and felt the cold handle under one of the cushion and drew her gun, pointing it directly at the intruder's chest.
The intruder who hasn't moved just watched her intently, as if she was trying to figure her out. She had her arms limp at her side, head slightly tilted on the side, which irritated Alex to no end because that was something so Kara.
The blonde-haired woman had her hair as long as Kara had and was wearing a grey jumpsuit, tight against the visible muscles. She seemed comfortable enough to be relaxed but was still obviously alert, her eyes never leaving Alex.
Alex felt her extended arms holding the gun tremble. Not out of fear, but because she was so tense her muscles were protesting against the seemingly unnecessary pressure.
"Who are you ?" she demanded, voice tight and curt.
The stranger took a moment to stare at Alex some more, trying to decipher the woman in front of her, before answering. "Kara."
Alex clenched her jaw when hearing Kara’s name out of the stranger’s mouth. The intonation, the voice, everything was all wrong.
“Stop lying,” she gritted out, fury almost taking over but reining it in, the scientist in her reminding her that she didn’t have all the facts. The sister inside her told her to shoot and ask questions later though.
The woman’s face was a blank mask, Alex failing to find even one expression to study, and it stayed that way as she replied, “I told you. Kara.”
The accent was so obvious, the rolled “r” so accentuated it was impossible this woman had just learned the language.
“Excuse me for doubting you, but my sister doesn’t have a Russian accent,” she bit back, arms still outstretched in front of her, ready to shoot at a moment’s notice.
Alex could see the intruder getting confused, and for a moment she wondered why, until she answered the unasked question. “Sister ?” she asked, like she was testing the word on her tongue, saying it for the first time.
It was Alex's turn to look confused. “How do you know me ?” She didn’t mean to, but her voice went softer.
Though her face was still blank, Alex could read recognition in her eyes. “Alexandra,” she repeated, like the first word she ever said to Alex. “Memory. You're always there,” she confidently said, pointing at Alex.
Her mind was a whirlwind of theories, fears and questions, and she felt her heart beat painfully inside her chest, hearing it pounding in her ears.
She knew she was breathing heavily, hearing it herself even though she had trouble hearing everything else, but couldn’t calm down.
She wanted to close her eyes shut in an effort to keep the panic from rising but she didn't want to risk being blind in front of this stranger. She was in a moment of weakness, but she wouldn’t make it obvious. Though, if she had the same powers Kara did, it wouldn’t matter. If she tried to appear calm, this doppelganger could hear the weakness and creeping panic that was taking hold of Alex’s heart.
She forced herself to breathe through her nose, a method she taught Kara when she had panic attacks when she first got to Earth. She still had them, but it was rarer now, Alex always by her side.
After a moment of slowly breathing and getting her heart to calm the hell down, Alex kept asking questions. “Memories ? Whose, yours ?”
Slowly nodding, the blonde’s eyes pierced through Alex’s. “Mine. And Kara.”
Alex’s eyebrows furrowed. Nothing made sense. “Yours and Kara’s ?” she tried to confirm. At not-Kara’s nod, Alex got more confused. “If you’re claiming to be Kara, why do you say it’s yours and hers ?”
This question seemed to get a reaction out of the stranger, even if it was a light one. She squinted a little, as if trying to find the words or the explanation.
“I am her. Have her memories. But we are not the same,” she slowly explained, the words carefully chosen.
She got bit of informations but the stranger seemed unwilling to explain the situation without questions asked, and Alex was getting frustrated.
“Can’t you be clearer ? I’m tired, and tired of your riddles,” she groaned, patience nearing the end.
“No riddles,” not-Kara denied with a shake of her head, looking as serious as when she first entered the house. “I am Kara, I know you. You two are close,” she stated, and Alex noticed she was trying to gauge her reaction as she said the last part.
“You don’t seem to know me that well for someone who has her memories,” Alex taunted, her turn in trying to gauge her reaction.
But she only watched her, focused. “You’re right,” she agreed, surprising Alex. “I have facts, not feelings.”
It took a beat for her words to fully make sense to Alex, and her eyebrows loosened to slowly make their way up. “You don’t feel ?”
“Yes.” Alex wasn’t sure if she agreed with her or said that she did have feeling, and sensing Alex’s confusion Kara clarified. “I feel. But not from memories.”
Wheels turning inside her head, Alex began to understand.
This Kara had real Kara’s memories, like how she knew Alex, but didn’t feel what Kara felt in those memories. She knew, but didn’t feel.
Alex pondered for a moment if calling Kara was the best move, but she wanted to get a feel of the situation before doing so. Her sister had enough on her plate as it was and she wanted to let her get some sleep instead of waking her up to tell her about what happened as she didn’t really know what happened.
Nodding, Alex relaxed minutely without realizing it.
“Why are you here ?” she asked.
“You two close. Military used me, it was annoying and tiring,” she answered like it was supposed to explain everything to Alex.
“Military ?” she mumbled to herself, wondering what it had to do with anything.
“Yes,” her voice startling Alex a little as she didn’t think she’d hear her. It answered the powers question at least. “Military used me to dig and punch. I do not like it, so I ran when possible,” she explained, making her story actually understandable for Alex.
“I have so many questions,” Alex breathed out, feeling overwhelmed. She felt her gaze getting unfocused and she internally chastised herself for staying up so late the night before, making her current movements and reflexes slow and sluggish.
Alex rubbed her forehead with her left hand, her right one still holding the gun, and breathed out a long sigh. Not-Kara seemed to frown in response as she tilted her head, like Kara did when she heard something far away.
“You are tired,” she stated in her thick accent. “You are not in good mind place to help. I will leave until you are right again,” she announced, words awkward but voicing out her intention clearly.
It took Alex a moment for her brain to register her words, and when it did, she let her gun lower a little. “Wha—“
The gush of wind that cut her off meant she was too late, leaving her squinting at the now empty living room in an attempt to see through the wind and fight her lowering eyelids.
“What the actual hell,” she muttered to herself, putting the security on her gun.
She suddenly felt drained, the sleep from earlier coming back full force plus the added weight of this new threat, or at least unknown person, and she felt like she could collapse from the burden of it all.
She was just about to hide her gun back under the cushions of the couch when she heard a swoosh, clear sign of a flying Kryptonian making her way into her apartment.
On reflexes alone, she raised her armed hand while simultaneously removing the security and shot at the unknown blonde who most likely came back to finally kill her. The blonde barely had the time to start saying "Al—" before actually yelping when she felt the bullet bounce from her chest.
She came to a halt right then, taken by surprise by the sudden attack, and gaped at Alex with wide eyes.
There was a beat of silence where all they could hear was Alex's heavy breathing, chest widely heaving, before Alex seemed to actually realize what she had just done.
"Kara ?" she breathlessly said in surprise, her arm holding the gun immediately dropping and putting the security back on. She felt all of her body relax now that Kara was here, now that she was home.
After a second, Kara seemed to come out of her shock and blinked in confusion. "Alex, did you just shoot me ?"
Relieved to hear Kara's real voice, Alex sighed and dropped heavily back on the couch, half facing her before putting her forehead on her hand in sleepiness.
Just the second after she felt a warm pressure on her knee and she looked up to see Kara kneeling before her, hand on her knee, looking at her with worry evident in her eyes.
"What is it ?" she whispered. "Are you okay ?"
Alex stared at her for a moment, drinking in her soft features, happy to see the warm and open expression on her face after having talked to a harsher and colder version of her.
She smiled tiredly but genuinely while putting her hand on Kara's and squeezing a little.
"Yeah," she murmured. "Just on edge."
It wasn't exactly a lie. It was by omission but she didn't feel like talking about it now because she looked like sleep was just about to knock her out.
“You look like you’re about to pass out,” Kara gently commented while slowly getting to her feet and offering a hand to Alex who took it with a grateful smile.
She was still worried. Alex firing her arm without knowing who was coming was a first and an alarming sign of tiredness. Still, something must have triggered her other than extreme fatigue.
Alex hummed in agreement, unable to hide the exhaustion she presently felt, and closed her eyes as she put her forehead against Kara’s shoulder, the latter softly but steadily holding her by the waist.
“I stayed up late last night. And the night before that,” she sleepily said, words almost slurring as sleep was beginning to overcome her.
She felt Kara tightening her hold before moving a hand up to her nape, rubbing soothing gestures with her thumb in hope of relaxing her.
Kara knew her sister well, and even half-asleep and relaxed in her presence, she still felt her tense muscles and a weariness that wasn’t caused by the lack of sleep.
She knew her sister well and knew she was hiding something from her.
“You don’t have to tell me what you’re hiding,” Kara softly said, feeling Alex freeze in her arms. “But I’m here if you want to.”
Alex hid her face in Kara’s neck, trying to hide her alarmed expression from her, and squeezed her eyes shut. “Thanks,” she mumbled into Kara neck, making her shiver automatically and stop momentarily rubbing Alex’s nape.
“Ye-Yeah, you’re welcome,” she lightly stammered before clearing her throat and resuming her soothing gesture. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”
Alex just hummed again, too tired to give a more eloquent response, and circled her arms around Kara’s neck making her chuckle as she understood what Alex wordlessly asked.
Sliding her arms back around Alex’s waist, Kara picked her up just enough so she could take her to her room, flying just an inch above the floor as to not disturb the barely-awake sister she held securely in her arms.
Kara gently laid Alex on her bed, only taking off her shoes as she knew she’d take off the rest of her clothes herself in her sleep, put a slightly lingering kiss on her forehead before whispering a loving sleep tight and straightening up to leave.
As she turned around, Alex’s hand shot up and grabbed her wrist, the strength in the hold surprising Kara as she thought Alex was already fully asleep.
She quickly crouched next to the bed, her head near Alex’s. “What is it ?” she asked while softly stroking Alex’s face to push the hair that fell before her eyes away.
“Stay,” Alex all but whined, on the verge of actually pouting. That was supposed to be Kara’s thing !
Kara frowned because when Alex was this tired, she usually preferred to be left alone as to not throw her grumpiness at Kara’s face. Also, she wanted a peaceful night’s sleep and Kara and her Kryptonian’s warmth just weren’t welcomed during those nights.
Alex would always choose to sleep with Kara if she could but her sister was always a restless sleeper, turning and tossing all night while radiating heat that could cook eggs at Alex.
But tonight was different. Tonight, Alex wanted the reassurance that Kara was there and that she was her usual sunny, smile-beaming and loving self. She knew if Kara didn’t stay she’d dream about the Russian woman, the cold stare that recognized Alex but didn’t hold any love for her. Those eyes would haunt her and she’d rather sweat all night and be able to open her eyes to see Kara sleeping next to her with her usual goofy and sleepy smile, rather than sleep well and be scared all night long.
“Of course,” Kara quickly agreed, using super-speed to change into pajamas so she wouldn’t sleep with her suit and slid next to Alex.
As soon as Alex felt the bed dipping next to her, indicating Kara getting settled, she reached out and put her arm around Kara’s waist and hedged closer so she could put her head on her sister’s chest.
Kara immediately slid her left arm around Alex’s shoulders and held tight, knowing if Alex was clinging to her then it must mean she needed the contact. And if she’d see her sweat during the night, she’d open a window to help with the heat.
During her time as Supergirl, Kara quickly learned all kind of things.
She learned how to fight, Alex teaching her every fighting style she knew and learning as she went on the field.
She learned how to protect people while being under attack, always prioritizing getting them to safety then going after the bad guy of the week.
She learned what it felt to lose someone you didn’t know. She knew loss of close family and acquaintances, but actually people she swore to protect was another helplessness she didn’t think she could feel. She thought she felt all the feelings of loss possible after Krypton but she was wrong.
And one thing she didn’t learn but still acquired was reflexes and a sixth sense. It really came handy during a fight against several opponents, avoiding attacks from behind while punching the one in front of her all the while keeping an eye on the guy on her left.
She was attentive, sure, but now she felt things she wouldn’t have before being Supergirl.
And that was how she felt like she was being watched while asleep, her eyes flying open at the feeling and immediately turning her head towards Alex to make sure she was safe. The room was dark so she guessed it was still the middle of the night, the blinds filtering out some on the sun rays even when closed.
She didn’t expect to be stared at by Alex so her eyes widened and she let a little gasp out at the view. She didn’t look past her sister, missing the dark figure standing on the building across from Alex’s.
Alex wasn’t just watching her while not being able to sleep, she was staring and had that worried look on her face, her eyebrows doing that thing up that Kara just couldn’t recreate (even after spending hours in front of the mirror trying).
“Alex,” she gasped lowly, feeling her heart thumping loudly in her chest. She put her hand over her heart to try and calm down before letting out a breath. “You scared me,” she chuckled in a whisper, worry still heavy in her mind.
“Sorry,” Alex whispered back, her eyes never leaving Kara’s face. She didn’t feel sad or worried, she was just blankly staring at her face as if she was trying to remember every little detail, every micro expression.
Kara rolled to her side, making the mattress bounce a little, and took Alex’s hand that was resting between their faces in hers. “Talk to me,” she pleaded gently, looking at Alex, trying to find a clue.
Emotion seemed to flow back on Alex’s face and her eyebrows scrunched up and her mouth tipped down, jaw clenching and hand intertwining with Kara’s.
“She looked just like you,” she breathed out, anxiety seeming to cause Alex to choke on the last word.
Kara frowned in confusion before holding Alex’s hand a little tighter, just the way she liked when she was a little out of sorts. “Who ?”
Gulping audibly, Alex pursed her lips before deciding to answer. “Kara.”
“Yes ?”
“She looked exactly like you,” Alex repeated.
Kara quietly sighed because she wasn’t getting anywhere. “You said that already. But who ?”
Alex straightened up to sit, back against the wooden headboard. “Kara Zor-El.”
Huffing while also seating, Kara turned a little so she could face Alex. “Why do you keep saying my name ?” She was trying not to get annoyed but clearly Alex wasn’t thinking clearly and Kara also had some rough nights Supergirl-ing and she was exhausted.
Alex groaned and dropped her head in her hands in frustration. It was so complicated to explain, and she was just so tired.
“Before you came,” she slowly started to explain, “someone was there.”
Kara stilled. “Someone… You mean like a- like a date ?” she tried to ask without desperation.
Alex let out a throaty laugh, short but loud. “No !” she chuckled, but quickly sobered up. “No, like someone came through the window,” she clarified.
She felt relieved for about two seconds before tensing again, this time ready to leave at a moment’s notice to find the person who broke in.
“Who was it ?” she asked through gritted teeth, barely keeping her eyes from glowing in anger.
“Well…” Alex frowned, trying to find a way to explain. If that had been weird for her, then how would Kara take it ? “It was a woman who came in my apartment, through the window.” She paused to look up to Kara. “I’m on the last floor. She flew here.”
“Wha- did she hurt you ?” she asked frantically, already x-raying Alex and gripping her shoulders to turn her in every direction, not wanting to miss a spot if that woman actually laid hands on her.
Alex grunted at being manhandled, pushing Kara’s face away to try to make her stop. “Stop, I’m fine !”
Granting Alex’s wishes, she stopped moving her but didn’t let go. “Are you sure ? What happened ? What did she want ?” She felt panic rising but was trying to keep it in check just long enough for Alex to explain.
Alex slid down the hand she still had on Kara’s face down to her neck, knowing the contact would ground her. “She just came in and said she knew me,” Alex began recounting. “At first I thought it was you, you’re the only one coming in through the window,” she chuckled. “But she had those cold eyes,” she continued, shivering as she recalled those blue eyes. Kara put her arm around her and pulled her close. “She said she was being used by the military, so I guess she escaped. She had that Russian accent and said her name was…” she trailed off, hesitantly looking up to make eye contact with Kara.
Kara held her breath, feeling like she knew what was going to be the answer before she even asked. “What was her name ?”
“Kara Zor-El.”
Hearing what she was expecting, Kara still sucked in a breath in surprise, feeling a little dizzy with this new information. “How…” She couldn’t even finish her question.
“I don’t know,” Alex answered. “She had powers though. She came by the window, and I’m on the last floor of this very high and secured building. I don’t know where she came from Kara, but she looked exactly like you and could fly. Super-speed too,” she added, remembering the speed with which she left. “So I think she has all of your powers.”
Alex could hear Kara breathing long and deep breaths, slowly letting them out, her eyes shut. “That’s… That’s a lot,” was all Kara could say.
Hesitating for a moment, Alex decided it was best to lay everything out in the open. “That’s not all”, she said, almost regretting it as she saw Kara clench her jaw. “She said that… She had your memories.”
She could see the moment Kara stopped breathing altogether, eyes staying closed for a beat before opening again. “What ?”
“She knew my name,” Alex explained. “Well, she called me Alexandra, so clearly she was the wrong Kara,” she lamely joked, trying to lift the bad mood. “She has your memories, but not your feelings.” At Kara’s confusion, Alex continued. “She was surprised to hear the word sister, like it meant nothing to her. I think she has your memories, but not how you felt at that time. But she does feel in the present, I asked.”
Kara flopped back down on the bed, making Alex jump a little with the force of it, and let out the longest and biggest sigh she ever heard.
After a silent moment, Alex keeping her mouth shut as Kara mulled it all over, Kara broke the silence. “So she’s… Kryptonian then.”
That was a statement, a logical one, but there was a hint of a question in the way she said it. Like it was obvious enough to state, but so unbelievable she still needed to ask confirmation.
“I think so,” Alex whispered, feeling the weight of the fact tightening her heart inside her chest. It would mean so much to Kara to have another Kryptonian around.
After another long quiet moment, Kara spoke up again. “But we don’t know if she’s dangerous or not.”
Shaking her head, Alex agreed. “No.”
“And we don’t know where she came from,” she kept commenting, adding the facts to the growing list.
“We know she was in Russia, held by the military, but… I don’t know where she originally came from.”
Kara sighed again, pushing the palms of her hands against her eyes. She was exhausted and her brain, although advanced, was having trouble keeping up with all this information. “Great,” she mumbled.
“Hey,” came the soft voice from Kara’s right, making her pull away her hands from her eyes, dropping her left arm on her forehead. “We’ll figure it out,” she promised. “If it can make you feel a little better, she didn’t seem dangerous. She looked like she just wanted help.”
Looking at Alex under her arm, Kara could see the determination and earnestness Alex was emanating, making her slightly relax. She nodded, accepting Alex’s promise.
“When was she here ?” she asked, suddenly wondering.
Alex looked away before fixing her gaze on Kara again. “Right before you got there. That’s why I still had the gun in hand.”
“What !” Kara practically shouted, scowling so hard her Crinkled was lost in a sea of crinkles. “Why didn’t you tell me ?!”
Alex slightly recoiled at the volume of Kara’s voice before crossing her arms. “I just- I was so tired, and I didn’t want to put yet another weight on your shoulders,” she whispered while looking down.
She heard Kara sharply inhale before her soft voice soothed the shouting from before. “Alex, never,” she said while putting her hand on Alex’s left cheek, putting a little pressure to turn her head so they’d be face to face, “ never think you’re a burden,” she strongly said, eyes darker than usual. “I don’t care if you tell me I have five minutes to save the world, I want you to always tell me things like that. The weight of regret and hurt that’d come after finding out you lied to me will always be greater than the worry I’ll feel when you do tell me,” she assured, eyes never leaving Alex’s. She could still see hesitation in Alex’s eyes, so she pushed a little further. “I say this in this situation, but it also applies when I’m not concerned. I want you to share your worries and fears with me, want to be there for you.”
She talked with such fervency that Alex had to believe everything she said. Plus, she knew Kara would never lie to her, even less about something like that.
“Okay,” she whispered, unshed tears making her eyes lighter than the soft brown they usually were. “Okay.”
“Okay,” repeated Kara, pulling her head on her chest and rocking them minutely while stroking her hair.
Sleep came easier for the both of them after their heartfelt conversation, Kara relieved Alex was fine and Alex more relaxed now that she said everything to Kara.
They fell asleep holding each other tightly, bathing in each other’s familiar scent.
“I already told you.” Her voice was strained, tired. They’ve been at it for hours. “She came by the window, like Kara always does. We talked. She left and Kara arrived seconds later.”
“Well, tell us again,” Lucy insisted. She wasn’t faring any better, brows knitted together in weariness.
Alex sighed and let her head fall onto her crossed arms on the table. Kara soothingly rubbed her back, trying to convey her comfort and support.
“We’ve been over this. I told you everything, word for word. You have everything recorded. Let me go look into it,” she mumbled, head still in her arms before leaning back in her seat to see their reactions. At the severe looks she received she backpedalled. “Or at least, let me work in the lab. I have ongoing projects that desperately need my attention.”
Lucy was going to object but Kara cut her off. “If I stay with her, can she work at her lab ?” Kara offered, always having Alex’s back. “I won’t let her leave my sight,” she promised.
The sisters could see Lucy internally debating, fingers fiddling with her sleeve. They felt bad for spurring this on her so suddenly, especially when J’onn was giving her more responsibility within the DEO so he could focus on more urgent DEO business.
Alex, Kara and Lucy were using one of the conference room because the Danvers said that it was an urgent and very discreet business, the sisters afraid the DEO agents would push the new Director Lane to engage with the unknown Kara.
“We’re safer here anyway,” Kara continued. “We’re surrounded with agents and alien weapons, that’s the most strategic place to be right now,” she pushed. She glanced sideways at Alex, receiving a grateful nod.
“Fine,” eventually sighed Lucy, dropping her head on her hand out of exhaustion. “But you,” she pointed at Kara with a stern look, “are not to leave Agent Danvers’ side. If anything happens—”
“It won’t,” assured Alex. “We’ll be careful. Plus, now we know she has powers and that she’s looking for me. We’ll be prepared.”
There was a standoff, Alex and Lucy staring at each other when Lucy threw her head back in a dramatic motion.
“Fine,” she finally agreed. “I want a report every hour Danvers.” She rolled her eyes at Kara’s confusion. “Not you Kara, the other Danvers. I can’t be behind you all day, I want to know where you are and what you’re doing every hour. Is that clear Agent Danvers ?”
Alex gave her a curt nod before standing up and quickly leaving the room, Kara hot on her heels.
“Just tell me.”
Alex frowned when she looked at Kara, walking by her side. “What ?”
“I know you’re planning something,” she said under her breath, careful of not being overheard. Walls had ears at the DEO. “I know you, you—”
Alex grabbed her arm and pulled her into her lab, swiftly locking behind them.
“What are you talking about ?” she demanded, arms crossed over her chest.
Kara rolled her eyes as she sat on the office chair, spinning with her legs outstretched. “You can drop it Alex. Even if I didn’t know, you throwing me into your lab before locking it and your crazy heartbeat would be a dead giveaway.” Alex pursed her lips but said nothing. “Come on,” she whined. “I’m not going to rat you out ! I want to help !”
Alex looked at her for a beat, eyes squinted in suspicion. “You want to help,” she deadpanned, clearly not believing her. “You, Kara Zor-El, who doesn’t want me in any danger, wants to help me ?”
Kara shrugged as she looked down at her clasped hands, thumbs whirling around the other. “Yeah. I want to know what she’s up to just as much as you,” she quietly said, gaze still locked on her hands.
“Hey.” The murmured voice made her look up after a second of hesitation, meeting soft brown eyes. “I don’t know how it must feel for you,” she began while she took Kara’s hands in hers, “but I’m here. And we’re going to figure it out, no matter what. I promise.”
Kara could already breathe a little easier at Alex’s last words, knowing how her promises were more like vows. She took it seriously, and so did Kara.
“Okay. Yeah, okay. Thanks Alex,” she said, getting up and wrapping her sister into a warm and comfortable hug. They both sighed in contentment, enjoying this moment. They knew they had to get to work soon.
Squeezing Kara’s shoulder before letting go, Alex cleared her throat and took a step back for more clarity. She put her hands on her hips, a habit she took when she wanted to be taken seriously.
“So, we’ll have an hour before Lucy notices we’re gone. Whatever we do, either we do it in an hour or we get ready to accept the consequences.” At Kara’s nod she continued. “I’d like to find a way to meet her. I know Lucy and J’onn aren’t like that, but there are procedures to follow. The President’s been on our asses since Myriad so the DEO can’t make mistakes. A rogue Agent though…” she smirked at the implication, Kara vibrating with excitement.
Due to the dangers of her alienness, Kara always followed the rules, trying to blend in as much as possible. But now that she could, that she had authorization, she was giddy at the thought even if the only thing they did was running a red light.
“So, what do you have in mind ?” she asked, bouncing on her heels to try and stop accidentally floating. She knew Alex didn’t usually mind but they were having a serious conversation, floating around would look way too playful.
Alex rubbed her lower lip with her index finger, like she did when thinking, and frowned. “I don’t know. We’re not rushed. Yet. We can form a plan but we’ll have to execute it in an hour, that’s the problem.”
“Not when you have super-speed !” Kara bragged, flexing her arm in a show of strength.
Alex snorted but still smiled at Kara’s antics. “I’m not worried about the drive Kar’. I’m worried about her. What if she wants to talk ? Like, for over an hour ? What if she shows up and we run out of time ?”
Kara took a step forward, in turn taking Alex’s hand in hers. “Then we’ll deal with it. You know Lucy and J’onn have your back. Don’t worry.”
Taking a deep breath before releasing it, Alex nodded then her expression turned determined. “So we have to plan our escape.”
Kara’s smile could only be described as evil, the repressed bad girl in her raging to come out. “Bangarang,” she whispered to herself, feeling like it was finally her time.
“Don’t push me !”
“Shush ! You’re way too loud !” Alex whispered.
“You’re way too loud !” the blonde whispered back.
“Now that’s mature,” grumbled Alex, still lowering her voice. Just in case.
She heard Kara huff and pushed her again for good measure.
“Now who’s immature ?” complained Kara, glaring at Alex. “What now ?” she sighed.
“I don’t know,” Alex mumbled lowly before raising her voice a little as she couldn’t contain her frustration anymore. “You tell me. We’re stuck here because of you, genius !”
Kara gaped at her, looking for words strong enough to translate her indignation, before moving to cross her arms. And realizing she couldn’t. She couldn’t even move her shoulders.
They were currently in the air vents, trying to make their way out of the DEO unnoticed. Tragically, Kara insisted that they could go crawl next to each other. I’m sure we’ll both fit !
Wrong. Kara’s broad shoulders really weren’t useful in this situation and trying to wiggle out of it would most likely result in a broken bone for Alex. They were stuck too tightly, shoulder to shoulder, in a long metallic tube.
They couldn’t even hope to be rescued because Alex cut all of their surveillance camera and traps, along with the motion sensors put in case of a break-in.
So really, the situation couldn’t be worse.
Unless… Kara’s stomach began to gurgle, the sound loudly echoing in the tight space, causing her to wince guiltily.
“Sorry,” she sheepishly mouthed at Alex.
Alex who just pursed her lips and closed her eyes, and would pinch the bridge of her nose if she could move right now.
“This is all going terribly,” she mumbled unhappily, gently dropping her head on the cold surface.
“I’m sorry…”
Kara’s whispered voice came out weaker than intended and Alex opened her eyes again, casting a sideways glance at her on her left.
“That’s okay, you didn’t kn—”
A loud noise of metal groaning echoed in the tight space, the sisters looking at each other in alarm, wondering where it came from.
Then the noise became louder and Kara disappeared from her sight before Alex quickly followed her.
Before they hit the ground, Alex felt strong arms surrounding her and shifting her so she’d be on top. They both fell in an empty hallway, Alex feeling the air being pushed out of her lungs as she fell on something harder than the ground.
“Are you okay ?”
Groaning, Alex slowly sit up and looked around to make sure they were alone. “Yeah…”
Alex was next to a still laying Kara, knowing her body could become harder than stone when in danger and thought about the bruises she’d later get. They looked up to see the bottom of the air vent completely holed and Kara sheepishly looked at Alex.
“Whoops…?”
Alex sighed then mumbled under her breath something resembling suspiciously a lot like Stupid Kryptonians and their stupid density.
She stood up with a groan, already feeling the bruises coming, and put her hands on her hip as she thought about what to do.
Her reflection was cut short when Kara gently grabbed her by her arm and pushed her into a dimly lit room.
“What are you doing ?” Alex hissed, looking around the room. It was empty save for a few products agents used when their shift were too long and needed to shower.
Kara shushed her with a hand on her mouth, and Alex was going to complain before she saw the distracted look on Kara’s face.
They waited for a minute in this position, Alex against the wall next to the door, and Kara against her with her hand on Alex’s mouth. That’s when Alex heard footsteps.
She slowly grabbed Kara’s hands, tugging a little to let her know she wouldn’t make too much noise. “They’re here,” she whispered, the statement useless as Kara heard far more than she did.
Kara nodded, her focus still on what was happening outside. After a few seconds she spoke. “They don’t know it was us,” she commented. Before Alex could feel relieved, she followed up. “But it won’t take long before they do.”
“Yeah, they’ll have to notify Lucy or J’onn. Or at least make them sign something, but I doubt they miss much of what’s happening in their agency.” They looked at each other. “We don’t have much time.”
They could see shadows of agents running by under the door, muffled voices coming down from a few feet away.
Kara pursed her lips and looked around, trying to find an exit.
“Don’t bother,” Alex muttered. “It’s an utility closet, it won’t have an exit. We try to have the least exits possible here to prevent break-ins or escapes.”
It was a smart move on J’onn’s part, removing useless windows and such, but it really wasn’t convenient for them right now.
“Well, we’ll just have to—”
She abruptly stopped talking, taking Alex in her arms and once again putting her hand over her mouth as she floated them against the ceiling, Kara’s back against it and Alex’s back against Kara’s front.
She positioned them with Alex under her so she could stuck her cape between her own back and the ceiling, preventing it from dangling and being detected.
Alex didn’t even have the time to gasp and almost bit Kara’s hand in retaliation at being manhandled and shushed twice in as many minutes before she stopped herself, watching as the door was being opened.
She held her breath, watching at the agent quickly looked around before leaving the room, closing it again behind him and shouting “clear !” to his colleagues.
She heard Kara gulping loudly behind her and she frowned, wondering why Kara was anxious when the agent just cleared the room.
Kara softly floated back down and gently put Alex back on her feet with an apologetic smile. “It was close,” she breathed out, leaving as much space as possible between her and Alex.
“You okay ?” Alex asked while putting a hand on Kara’s arm.
She felt her tense under her touch. “Yeah !” She winced as she spoke too loudly, waiting for a second to listen if the agents heard her but sighed in relief when they just kept searching. “Yes,” she said softer now. “Just on edge.”
That sounds familiar. Of course it was, it was what Alex said to Kara after the Russian woman came into her home unannounced and Alex lied to Kara about it. She’s lying.
She just hummed because she didn’t want to push, not now. They were on a race against time after all, now even more with the ruckus they just made.
Kara walked to the door, staying suspiciously close to the walls in order to keep her distance from Alex, and x-rayed vision the wall to see where the agents were.
“I can use my super-speed to get out of here but the air vents are out of the question, all the DEO is looking into the incident. What do we do ?”
She usually could take decisions on her own, being Supergirl everyday helped her with that, but Alex knew the DEO like her back pocket.
She looked at her, waiting for an answer while Alex thought about their options.
“We’ll have to break out,” she sighed. “I bet J’onn or Lucy already heard about it and are looking for us as we speak. We can’t linger here, we’ll get caught.”
Kara fidgeted with her cape. She wasn’t anxious about getting caught, she was anxious about being seen differently, like an alien who illegally broke her human sister out of her workplace to bring her directly into danger. She began hesitating, biting her lower lip.
“What is it ?”
The voice startled her out of her worrying, her gaze meeting Alex’s.
“What ?”
“Come on,” Alex scowled. “I know you. You’re having second thoughts. Kara,” she said softly, “if you don’t want to do this, you don’t have to. You know that, right ?”
“I do,” Kara asserted seriously. “I do. It’s just… I don’t want the agents to see me as…”
She gulped, not able to voice her worries to Alex.
“Dangerous,” her sister breathed out in realization. Kara kept looking at her feet and nodded. “They won’t, Kara.” When her sister chanced a glance in her direction, Alex insisted. “They won’t,” she fiercely repeated. “They might not know your real name, but they know you. They know you, Kara.”
“I’m not—”
“Hey.”
The male voice made them both jump, taken by surprise as they were both focused on their conversation.
Kara whirled and put herself in front of Alex in a defensive gesture. But that wasn’t necessary.
“Winn ?” Alex asked, frowning as she looked over Kara’s shoulder as the blonde immediately relaxed. Damn was Kara tall.
“Hey,” he said again, quickly closing the door behind him as he entered the room. “The whole DEO is looking for you, you know ?”
Kara tensed again and looked behind her, watching as Alex pursed her lips. “Are you here to turn us in ?”
Winn huffed in disbelief. “Of course not !” Both sisters shushed him as he practically shouted his indignation. “Sorry,” he sheepishly whispered.
“But how did you find us ?” Kara asked curiously. They took all the precautions they could think of to stay undetected.
Snorting, Winn rolled his eyes. “Sure.” At the Danvers’ unimpressed expression, her gaped at them. “Come o- come on ! I’m a genius, it’s not that hard to follow your heat signature,” he said, looking pointedly at Kara who was always running many degrees hotter than humans.
“Busted,” whispered Alex behind her as she crossed her arms, close to actually pouting.
“So, what are you doing here ?” Kara asked, clearly annoyed that they were found because of her.
“Well, no one wanted to tell me what was going on so I wanted to check with you before helping you.”
The Danvers looked at each other in surprise because Winn usually wasn’t the one to break the rules, except for hacking into highly classified files to find a dangerous alien.
Alex sighed in resignation, knowing they needed his help if they wanted to cause the less damage possible. “Kara’s doppelganger turned up at my apartment last night and we’re trying to go meet her before the DEO blindly attacks her without knowing if she’s a threat or not,” she explained in a same breath, holding Kara’s hand that shot up to protect her when Winn came in.
There was a moment of silence that lasted several long seconds, Winn just staring at them with a blank expression, before his brain likely exploded and words poured out without restrain.
“Kara’s dop- what do you mean ? When was this ? Did she have powers ? What did she want ? Did she hurt you ?” he asked frantically, not able to stop the questions from coming out. “Do you know where she is ? And where she comes from ? Are you—”
“Winn !” Kara hissed in whisper-shout, grabbing his shoulders to make him stop.
“We don’t know much,” Alex quickly followed up, wanting to tell him everything so he would stop asking questions they didn’t have answers to. “She had a Russian accent and was held by the military.”
“If she wasn’t lying,” Kara commented.
Alex nodded in agreement before continuing. “If what she said is indeed true, she has Kara’s memories. Not her feelings though. She knew who I was but not what I was to Kara because she was surprised when I said I was her sister.”
Winn blew out a long breath, rubbing his forehead as he assimilated all of these new informations at once. “That’s a lot.”
Kara hummed in agreement. “That’s what I said.”
“So… You want to meet her before the DEO does to know what she wants, right ?” he summed up and both women nodded. “Well, I can find her if you want.”
“How ?” Alex suspiciously asked. “You couldn’t find the Wordkillers last time.”
Winn flinched at the insinuation, still raw at not having been able to find and help his team. “I know I wasn’t good enough,” he sadly whispered. “But I’m getting better so I don’t lose anyone else.” Demos’ face came to mind, the agent dying under the heat-vision of the Wordkillers having left a clear psychological scar to many DEO agents. “And with Sam staying with us as long as she did and Lena’s research, I found a way to track Kryptonians’ heat signature.”
There was still sadness in his eyes, but his pride at having found a way to better himself and help his friends made him stand taller, straighter.
“That’s amazing, Winn”, Kara softly congratulated him with a hand on his arm, squeezing lightly.
They all shared the loss of Agent Demos, the agent present through every fight and every problem they faced for years. Alex knew him the longest but Winn the better because he worked closely to him on a few cases. Kara still felt the grief even though she didn’t know him that well, she was grateful to him for having been a good colleague, friend even, to Winn and Alex.
And now she couldn’t thank him.
“He’d be proud,” Alex said, knowing everyone in the room was thinking about him.
Winn dropped his head, shy, and cleared his throat to get rid of the emotions that was tightening his throat.
“Anyway, if you have a couple of minutes I can help you track her,” he said, quickly getting back to the work conversation. He pulled a tablet out of his back and got to work, sitting on the floor next to the door while Kara and Alex stood awkwardly next to him, watching him work. After a few minutes of working with scrunched eyebrows, typing furiously on the tablet, he let out a soft whoop ! “I think I got her, guys.”
Both women bent down to look at the screen and Alex scowled while Kara looked confused. “What…”
“What is it ?” Winn asked, watching their expressions darken. “Is it weird ? Did I get it wrong ?”
“No, she’s…” Kara murmured, gaze locked on the screen.
“She’s at Kara’s,” Alex tensely said, already straightening and checking her guns for the third time since they left her lab. She was preparing for war.
“It’s not surprising, really,” Winn absentmindedly commented, locking the tablet and getting up. At Kara’s and Alex’s look he raised his eyebrows. “What ? Is she has Kara’s memories it’s only logical she’d go home.”
“He’s not wrong,” Alex said while looking at Kara. “But it’s not home for her, she doesn’t feel anything toward the apartment. She’s there on recon,” Alex somberly declared.
“But why ?” Kara anxiously asked, back to fidgeting with her cape until Alex put a reassuring hand on hers to stop the movement.
With a small smile Alex answered “I don't know. Maybe she wants to understand herself better, so she's investigating you. I guess we'll just have to ask.”
“You're just going to… ask ?” asked Winn in disbelief. “What if she tries to ki—”
“She won't,” Kara confidently assured. “She wouldn't hurt Alex, even if she only knows her through me.”
Winn scowled at Kara’s logic. “Kara, she doesn't feel what you feel for Alex, she doesn't—”
“It doesn't matter,” she snapped, cutting Winn off yet again. “If there's one thing I know about her, it's that she won't hurt Alex.”
She didn't realize she was squeezing Alex’s hand a little too tightly, but the latter didn't say a word. She knew Kara would do close to anything for her, but believing a stranger would too was another matter.
She started worrying that Kara was putting to much faith in this woman, hoping that the Kryptonian’s blood in her would somehow make her good.
“Kar’, we have to be careful around her, do you understand ?” she asked softly yet forcefully. “I don't think she means any harm but we simply don't know, we can't take any chances.”
She stared into blue eyes, not blinking until Kara hesitantly nodded.
“I do understand Alex. I just don't think she'll want to hurt you if she has a tenth of my memories with you. Feelings or not, the facts are that you are good and kind and helped me my entire life. She has to see that.”
Her expression held so much love and adoration that Alex couldn't help but blush under the attention and compliments.
“We’ll see,” she mumbled, Kara and Winn smiling at her obvious embarrassment. She never knew how to respond to Kara’s praises.
Winn gently bumped Kara’s shoulder with his own. “So, what now ? How can I help ?” he asked.
Kara returned the playful gesture, sending him a little too forcefully against the wall. “Sorry !” She whispered, checking if he was alright. When all he replied was a snort, she smiled. “I think you've done enough. I don't want you in any more trouble, if J’onn or Lucy find out you helped us…” She shivered at the thought, knowing they'd be harder on actual agents, especially agents known for their friendship with Supergirl and the Directors’ right arm.
“Yeah, we’ll take it from here,” Alex said kindly.
“If you're sure…” he hesitantly said, looking back and forth between Kara and Alex. They nodded and he smiled. “Okay. Well, good luck I guess. You know I'll be on coms if you need anything.”
“Thanks Winn,” they said in unison, too used to thanking him for always helping them whenever they needed.
“We’ll go first,” Alex decided. “Kara, get us out of here as soon as there's an openi—”
Winn blinked and they were gone, a swoosh followed by a strangled cry that will undoubtedly be followed by Alex’s revenge.
He stayed a moment in the room, just in case, before leaving and bumping into a tall, large body.
“Agent Schott.”
He rubbed his painful nose before slowly looking up, not really needing to as he already recognized the voice.
“J’onn,” he squeaked.
“You didn't have to punch that hard,” Kara complained, her hand rubbing her shoulder.
“Please,” Alex scoffed. “I hurt myself more than I hurt you. You didn't even feel it.”
Kara glanced at Alex's hand, the skin red and throbbing.
“You shouldn't have, then.”
Alex glared at her as Kara took her hand and blew a little freeze-breath on it. “You shouldn't have just grabbed me and super-sped me for miles without telling me first,” she countered, still feeling grateful for Kara’s healing skills, always knowing how to treat Alex. She didn’t need to know all of that for herself as she was immune to human diseases, but she researched everything she needed to know so she could help Alex as best as she could whenever she needed it.
“I’m sorry,” Kara sincerely said, looking into Alex’s eyes. “I just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible, but I should have warned you. I know you don’t like it.”
Kara stopped running a few blocks away after their escape, far enough not to be caught but as near as possible to let go of a fuming Alex. Kara was trying to untangle Alex’s hair clumsily when she felt a soft pressure on her shoulder and looked down to see Alex clenching her fist in her hand with a pained and furious expression. And now here she was, apologizing, owning her mistake. How proud would her parents be right now.
Alex glared at her for a few seconds before sighing. “That’s okay, Kara. I can’t wait to figure this out too, I get it.” At Kara’s hopeful look, she smiled encouragingly. “Come on Supergirl, fly us to your place.”
She didn’t expect Kara to blush furiously and quickly turn around to hide her obvious embarrassment at Alex’s words.
Alex frowned because Kara didn’t usually pick up on innocent innuendos like this, always too oblivious or naive to notice. But now Kara was flushed and sputtering some nonsense about needing to clean her glasses when she wasn’t even wearing them, her back still at Alex’s while she busied herself cleaning unnecessary glasses.
It was even more odd as Kara never cleaned her glasses, her enhanced vision taking no notice of the fingers stains and looking through it.
Just as she was about to call her on it, Kara turned around and quickly put an awkward smile on her face, fidgeting with the now clean glasses.
“Are you gonna wear glasses Supergirl ?” Alex teased with a raised eyebrow.
And Kara blushed even more, if that was even possible, struggling to take them off and stuff them in a hidden pocket of her suit. “Right !” she laughed loudly and suspiciously while putting her hair back behind her ear. “So, are we going or what ?” she asked, nervously clenching and unclenching her fists.
Alex hummed, trying to figure out what was the deal with her sister, and put her palms up in a waiting gesture.
Kara hesitantly reached out, slowly putting her arms around Alex’s waist and they found themselves quite close, their nose almost touching each other’s.
Alex heard the blonde take a deep breath before tightening her hold enough so she wouldn’t slip mid-flight and took off, bending her legs a little before flying straight into the sky.
She always kept a decent speed while flying with someone, the human’s skin easily hurt and dried up, and they slowly made their way to Kara’s apartment.
Both of their hearts were beating widely and they wondered if the Russian could hear them coming. But the foreigner didn’t know them well so she probably didn’t have their heartbeats registered, thus not hearing them from this afar.
Gently floating down, Kara kept a steady hold around Alex as they touched the roof of her building as she held an ear out for the woman.
“I hear her heartbeat,” she whispered to Alex, hearing the slightly faster beating of the Kryptonian’s heart. “She’s waiting for us,” she announced, muscles tense as she x-rayed the building to find her doppelgänger casually sitting on her couch.
It was dark out now as they spent the day thinking of their escape, and the cold air made Alex slightly relax.
Kara, on the other hand, was so tense she felt she could break at any moment. She felt warmth spread from her hand and looked down to see Alex’s hand around hers, thumb rubbing soothing circles on the back of it.
“Time to face the music,” the brunette said with a smile, and though her voice was shaky she still stood tall and ready.