Chapter Text
Kara dropped from the roof of the bank. She landed on top of the man in a black ski mask, who’d been preparing to shoot at Guardian’s back. Looking up she grinned as Guardian snapped round in surprise. “You gotta watch your back.”
“Power Girl.” Guardian was panting some as he looked at her. “Thanks for the save.”
She grinned. “Anytime.” Kara spotted an ice cream truck driving by. She snapped her head back round to Guardian. “You know what I’m gonna leave the rest of this to you.”
Kara sprinted out of the alleyway without a second look. She jogged along behind the ice cream truck. Ice cream trucks were one of earth’s best inventions. As the truck pulled up by the entrance to a park she skidded in front of the window. She grinned pulling out her wallet. “Can I get two of the chocolate ones with nuts on top?”
“Power Girl!” The man stared at her in surprise before slowly seeming to shake himself out of shock. “Right away, that’ll be $3.50.”
She just beamed and pulled her wallet out of her inner pocket of her jacket. “Sweet!” Kara carefully placed the exact amount on the counter. Grinning she put her wallet away and accepted the two cones. “Thanks!”
“Can I get a selfie with you ma’am?” The man’s voice was cautiously full of awe.
Kara laughed as she spun around leaning back. “Of course!”
Once quick selfie later she orinted herself and then lept. She half flew over two buildings before she began to arch down. Aiming she landed with a thud on Cat’s balcony. Straightening she waltzed into the office offering out the treat. “Hiya Ms Grant!”
“Power Girl.” Cat looked at the offered ice cream in some disgust. “That thing is not passing my lips.” Her nose scrunched up in disgust.
Kara shrugged and jogged out of Cat’s office and shoved the second ice cream at Eve. “Hi Eve!” Turning on her heel she jogged back into the office while taking a great big bite of her treat.
“Do you have to eat like some starving explorer?” Cat’s nose wrinkled.
Kara laughed. “Nope, but it’s the best way to eat it!”
“I can’t believe I never fired you for your appalling eating habits.” Cat sighed as she looked down her nose at her.
She just grinned and took another bite. Swallowing she paused and remembered why she’d stopped by. “Thanks for letting me quit here by the way.”
“Yes well, I’m sure you have more important things to be doing.” Cat waved off.
Kara laughed. “I’m mostly helping categorize confiscated alien tech and translating stuff.” She shrugged. “But uh...apparently I’m really bad at keeping a secret identity?”
“It is not one of your skills.” Cat replied dryly. “You weren’t a completely hopeless intern.”
“Thanks!” She grinned as she finished off the cone. Closing her eyes she sighed in pleasure, ice cream was amazing. Focusing on Cat after her brief moment she smiled. “Do you need anything?”
Cat steepled her fingers. “Pass on to Ms Luthor that I expect her to schedule an interview sometime this week.”
“Sure.” Kara hopped out onto the balcony. “See ya Ms Grant!” She launched herself up into the sky.
Kara closed her eyes as she reached the pinnacle of her leap. It was lovely. But her momentum ended and she came slowly arching back down. Turning in mid air so that her head was pointed down she aimed herself for L-corp. Spreading her arms she slowed her descent before rolling onto the balcony outside of Lena’s office. Popping up she zipped into Lena’s office. “Hi love.”
“Kara, I thought you were patrolling today?” Lena raised a brow as she spun around in her office chair.
She swooped in and kissed Lena’s cheek. “I stopped by Cat’s, she wants you to schedule an interview.” Kara took a step back. “See you at lunch?”
“Of course.” Lena’s face was kind and warm. “I’ll text you the address.”
Kara paused. “We’re not going to another vegan place again right?”
“No.” Lena laughed outright. “I learned my lesson, no kale. There’s a new buffet that Jess found.”
She froze, her mouth watering. “As in all you can eat buffet?”
“Exactly.” Lena trailed her eyes over Kara. “And I’ve got two hours free this afternoon.”
Kara perked up. “You mean we can go to the zoo?!”
“I already have the tickets, we can fit in a couple exhibits.” Lena’s eyes flicked out to the skyline. “I do believe I hear sirens.”
Kara groaned. “Right, I’ll see you at lunch.” She gave a parting grin before shooting out of the office. Behind her she could hear Lena wishing that she stay safe. This was, this was the happiest she’d been before.
/////
J’onn came to a stop besides an exhausted looking Alex. “Do I want to know why you look like you didn’t get much sleep last night?”
“Kara crashed into my apartment wondering what a strap on was.” Alex pinched the bridge of her nose. “She heard some idiot mentioning it. Apparently he ran for it when she asked him.”
He couldn’t help it, he nearly choked. “Of course she did.”
“There’s more. She apparently didn’t care that Maggie and I weren’t properly dressed. Just kept on going. Then decided to ask about if she could get a National Geographic subscription.” Alex let out a low groan. “And then Maggie mentioned Ranger Rick. So of course we had to get dressed and fill out the orders right then.”
J’onn unfolded his arms laying his hand on her shoulder. “You’ve been doing very well at helping her adjust to this planet. She’s very lucky to have you.”
“I never realized how hard it was for aliens to adjust to being here before.” Alex’s eyes flicked to him. “Your success at humanity is impressive.”
He dropped his hands onto his hips. “I had the advantage of being psychic. But I would have been lucky to have had someone doing for me what you are doing for her. You’ve given her a purpose.”
Alex pushed down her pleased expression. “Do you think I should try to do something about her quitting at Catco?”
“No, she’s found something that means something to her here.” J’onn looked at his daughter in all but name, proudly. “And she really is helping with our databases. She is an important resource to the DEO. In a few years she’ll make an excellent negotiator with alien arrivals on our behalf.”
She gave a sharp nod. “I live in fear that she’s going to discover animal shelters any day now. She’ll adopt them all.”
“Does her apartment allow for pets?” J’onn asked curiously.
Alex eyed him dubiously. “Do you think that will last if she complains to Lena?”
He shuddered at the thought. “Best to get her volunteering with the animal shelter before she finds it on her own. Make sure her supervisor knows not to let her adopt.”
“That might just work.” Alex perked up. “Thanks J’onn. I’m going to go call the one by her neighborhood, right now.”
J’onn watched amused as Alex ran off for her office. He moved over to Winn. “Agent Schott, do you have anything for us?”
“No progress on finding Lillian, but I did find something interesting. “ He spun around in his chair, waving a pen in one hand as he proudly looked up at him. “There’s been a lot of chatter through the lines we’ve been monitoring for Sinclair. Haven’t translated it all yet, but someone is looking for someone that she must have handled for a while.”
He narrowed his eyes at the screen. “Call in Kara to see if she can translate it. Good work Agent.”
////
Jess did not want to be the one to ask her boss this. But she’d lost the bet with the head of PR, so here she was. Anxiously she wrapped on the open door.
“What is it Jess?” Lena didn’t even bother to look up from the monthly financial reports.
She nervously approached her boss, fingers fidgeting. “Well, the staff was wondering if you could tell Ms Danvers, or Power Girl to stop jumping through our windows.” Her voice pitched up into a squeak at the end.
Lena looked at her for a long minute. “Jumping through people’s windows?”
“Any open ones in this weather as a way to get in.” Jess corrected, the lack of upset was reassuring.
Her boss let out a short laugh. “She is rather bad at understanding what is an entrance and what isn’t.”
“She almost gave Mark in accounting a heart attack jumping through his window.” Jess pointed out. “Of course she’s polite to everyone, and if you can grab her on her way up to see you she will help carry things for anybody. Pretty sure she’s been sucking up to Hilda the cleaning lady, for cookies.”
Lena honest to god snorted. “I’ll make sure she uses the door or my balcony. Thank you for bringing this to me.”
Jess relaxed completely as she realized her boss was amused at the complaint against her girlfriend instead of upset. “She’s fairly popular with employees when she’s not scaring us half to death by just appearing.”
“Bribery pastries?” Lena raised a knowing brow.
She nodded unrepentantly. “The guys in security are as weak as I am.”
“Well at least you’re taking bribes from my girlfriend and not my mother.” Lena replied dryly while reaching out and picking up a pile of paperwork for her to sign and moved it in front of her.
“We would never!” Jess bristled at just the idea. “That woman is a monster! Ms Danvers just wants to know sweet things she can do for you. Or where places where good food is. She’s harmless, wouldn’t hurt you if you put a gun to her head and we all know that Ms Luthor.”
Lena’s face melted into a soft kindness. “Thank you Jess. Was that all?”
“Yes Ms Luthor.” Jess gave a sharp nod. “Do you require anything before I return to my desk?”
“Yes, if you could have the file on the table over there taken down to accounting. And please remind them that I want as much paperwork electronic as possible. If they don’t start I’m not replacing their chairs till they start following directives.” Lena’s jaw ticked slightly
Jess felt a wince of sympathy, the new company wide chairs that were being ordered had lumbar support. “I’ll see to it Ms Luthor.” She picked up the file and then froze as every speaker in the office came to life.
-”People of earth, hand over your prisoner Kara-el or we will open fire. You have twenty four hours to comply.”-
Jess turned and stared at the very surprised looking Lena. Well, that wasn’t good.
////
Lena was not happy. Right now she should have been at the zoo, watching Kara press her nose against the glass and bouncing in excitement at the animals. She’d been planning on steering them to the amphibian exhibit and the reptile exhibit. They’d been making their way through the Zoo a few exhibits at a time. But no, some alien battleship was above the city and demanding her girlfriend. Which was not happening.
She strode into the DEO command room. Lena’s shoulders relaxed as she saw Kara’s familiar person standing besides Alex. “Kara.”
Kara’s face lit up. She zipped to her side hugging her tightly, spinning her around in a circle. “You’re here!”
Alex’s voice was completely exasperated. “Do I even want to know how you knew that this was the DEO base in the city?”
“I told her.” Kara chirped before shamelessly kissing Lena briefly.
Lena pulled back, a small grin on her face. “Not the time.” She pulled Kara towards Alex, J’onn and the other agents likely on this. “What I want to know is how we are protecting Kara.”
“Kara!” Alex gave Kara an annoyed glare. Before turning crossing her arms. “Well you’re just in time for our investigation then.”
J’onn rested his hands on his hips while looking at Kara with a furrowed brow. “Do you recognise the ship?”
“I mean it’s Vega system. But they made the best ships, the best drugs, and the best alcohol in an area of at least six systems. Whoever has it is rich, likely from the general area of space Daxam had contact with.” Kara winced and gave a half shrug. “I don’t know who has it though.”
J’onn hummed. “Do you know why someone would want you?”
“I’m…” Kara shot a panicked look towards Lena. “So I might have lied...slightly. By omission? I might be the princess of Daxam?”
Lena stepped into Kara’s side in tactic support. This would hurt Kara if the people she idolized as heros judged her for this. But this was Kara’s truth, and one she needed to explain.
Kara nodded, before wincing. “I’m sorry. I was just…”
“Wait.” Alex interrupted. “You’re the party girl of the universe? You were mentioned when I was training with the Lanterns as a symbol of decadence and cruelty.”
Kara’s face blanched. “I couldn’t do anything else.” Her voice was tight, her body practically frozen. “It didn’t matter, and Daxamites aren’t popular. I didn’t know what you would do if I told you when I got here, and then...well it didn’t matter. My people don't exist.”
“She didn’t really lie.” Lena mentioned carefully. She caught Kara’s hand in support.
Alex’s eyes narrowed. “You lied.” She eyed the screens. “So why would someone want the princess of a people that doesn’t exist? It doesn’t make sense. And why not just contact the government and request a prisoner exchange?”
“Daxam had a lot of enemies.” A shiver ran down Kara’s spine. “Any one of them could want me.”
J’onn made a sound of realization. “Or any regimes that require legitimacy, a member of a royal blood would give their regime that legitimacy.”
“You mean forced political marriage.” Lena’s hand tightened, her eyes narrowed. “That isn’t happening.”
“A royal with no nation to protect them is useful in many ways.” J’onn sounded tired. “How did they even know you were here?”
Kara ran a hand through her hair. “Slavers moon. I think the Dominator ambassador recognized me when I was in the cage. The royal family bought their slaves there. I’ve been to the moon before.”
“You personally bought slaves?” Alex shot an offended glare at Kara.
Kara visibly shrunk. “I tried to keep families together when my parents selected individuals.”
Lena cleared her throat. “Look, we can discuss the practices of Daxam later, how do we find out what the goal of our alien spaceship is?” She had a feeling Kara hadn’t shared her failed attempts to help slaves on Daxam. Nor her hatred of the practice and helpless position. Lena felt a pang of guilt at her pride of knowing more of Kara than Kara’s hero Alex.
“We could send a message requesting a negotiation?” One of the agents offered.
J’onn shifted on his feet. “It’s possible, if we could get video, Kara or myself might recognize their species, it would help determine a course of action. And it would help stall.”
“We’re not handing her over.” Lena stepped forward. “That’s not on the table.”
Alex nodded sharply while holding her eye. “Agreed.” Though she refused to look at Kara.
“We can start by reaching out.” J’onn walked to the screens. “Agent Schott, I want you to find a way to contact our guests.”
Lena was relieved to have a chance to pull Kara into a quiet corner. She quickly pulled the subdued Kara away from the command room. Lena waited till they were in a short, silent stretch of hallway. “Are you alright?”
Kara was looking at her feet, her hair falling in curtains around her face. “She hates me.”
“She’s surprised.” Lena tipped Kara’s head back up to look at her. “Give her time to adjust. She’s hurt, but Alex cares about you, she will come round.”
Kara shook her head. “I was finally free of that useless title. I could be who I wanted. I didn’t want her to judge me for when I was just...stuck.”
“You were a prisoner in a golden cage.” Lena huffed. “Alex knows you, she’ll understand.” She didn’t voice the ‘or I’ll make her’ part of that promise.
Kara seemed to startle. “You think so?” Her eyes were wide and hopeful.
“Yes, I really think so.” Lena leaned in and kissed Kara, ever so gently. Sighing against Kara, Lena let herself get lost in the connection, the knowledge that Kara was still safe. Lena curled her fingers in Kara’s hair, pulling her as close as possible. She wasn’t going to lose her. Kara was here and warm and solid against her. And she was going to do everything possible to keep her that way.