Chapter Text
The change was subtle but sudden. Kara’s hugs were quick and overly-gentle. Kara’s grip on everything was so gentle, she dropped her phone three times in one conversation (in person) with Alex, then another two times with Lena, again in person.
Now, for the past four days - four days ago being exactly five weeks before Christmas - Kara has barely touched anyone or anything. Her friends have asked her about it, but she deflects their questions. She avoids most of them, save for the few she knows she has to see; Alex, Maggie, Brainy, Nia, Lena, and Sam.
Oh… Sam. Kara’s control over her strength is weakest when she’s near Sam.
Kara knows Sam’s noticed, too. She knows something’s up, they all do. But pushing gets them nothing but an angry, somewhat out of control Kryptonian.
So, now here Kara is. Walking into her apartment, unknowingly about to be ambushed by her all-knowing sister, her sister’s detective girlfriend, and her two genius best friends.
And Kara, well, she’s basically an open-book they’ve all memorized.
She opens the door, looking up from her hand ever so gently gripping the doorknob, and freezing as she sees the four women in her apartment’s living area.
Kara looks at Lena first, then Maggie, then the quickest glance she’s ever taken at Sam, then makes direct eye contact with Alex.
“Am I in trouble?” Kara asks, her voice barely above a whisper.
“That depends on whether or not you’re gonna let go of your poor doorknob…” Alex responds, pointing at Kara’s hand, now empty, as she walks towards her younger sister.
Alex reaches out to Kara, but the Kryptonian pulls away.
“Kara…” Alex gives her a worried expression.
“Alex, I’m fine. I’m just tired. Why are you guys here?”
“We’re worried about you.” Sam responds, Kara avoids looking at her.
“I’m fine.” Kara declares, her voice much more stern than she intended. Kara attempts to be convincing, but her now-broken dining chair betrays her. “Oh Rao…”
“Damn it, Kara. Stop lying! Just stop, none of us believe you.” Alex snaps. Kara flinches.
“Alex.” Maggie’s voice is calm, though if looks could kill, Alex would be dead faster than the Flash can blink, Kara thinks.
Kara looks around at everything and nothing at the same time, though she avoids looking at everyone.
Out in National City, near the southern outskirts, Kara hears a woman call for help, so without a word, she flies out the window, leaving her glasses and civilian clothes on the floor where she stood seconds earlier.
When Kara lands, the first thing she sees is an alien almost twice her height. The alien is gray and scaley, with two horns on its head, one just above each temple. The monstrous alien charges towards Kara, it’s horns getting caught in her hands as she hovers above the ground, matching it’s height.
Then, Kara hears a soft crack, followed by another, then more, each faster and harder than the last, until her hands are holding nothing but dust and the alien is on the ground, holding its head where it’s ivory and sharp antlers should be, a low, pain-filled growl tearing through its throat.
She looks at her hands, her eyes flicker to the alien, then her hands.
Kara flies back to her apartment as soon as the DEO van arrives.
As soon as she lands on the floor, she super speeds to the counter and washes the dust off, muttering ‘no’ and ‘I’m sorry’ over and over.
Alex, Maggie, Lena, and Sam try to calm her down, but to no avail.