#what happens when lex comes to collect? | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

trashpandato · 8 months

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The sun in your eyes made some of the lies worth believing

When Lex slips out of her grip hundreds of feet above Shelley Island and plummets, Kara knows better than to just assume that this is it. This is Lex Luthor. She’s not sure what trick he might have up his sleeve, but she is sure that he has a plan for his escape, so she dives to follow. She can see the moment something impacts with the ground, but still, she’s convinced that he’s managed to disappear before that happened, so she continues her search.

“Alex! I lost him. We need to find him.”

The comms system crackles a little but Alex comes through loud and clear:

“He’s gotta be dead. There was a mini explosion when he hit the ground.”

“I don’t think he is, but if you’re right, I want to see the body.”

Alex tries to argue, but Kara won’t have it. They’ve been on the back foot for so long while fighting Lex, she knows this would have been too easy.

They search the impact site. There’s a small crater, there are pieces of Lex’s warsuit, but it’s impossible to know if Lex is dead until they’ve done a thorough analysis of the debris. Kara is about to call for Brainy’s help to speed up the process when she hears it:

Lena’s heartbeat.

It’s skyrocketing. Kara freezes for a second to listen more closely, to locate Lena, and then she’s off, briefly yelling into the comms device that she needs to find Lena.

When she lands, she’s at a cabin of sorts. It blends in with the environment and Kara thinks she might be in the wrong place. Nothing here looks suspicious. But then she hears voices and Lena’s short, shallow breaths. She wants to rush towards the sounds, to make sure Lena is safe, but she’s frozen in her spot when she hears Lex say it.

“Kara Danvers is Supergirl.”

He sounds weak, the words are gasps more than anything else but to Kara, they are the sounds of a dying world. She stops breathing, her limbs suddenly feel leaden. She wants to burst into the cabin, but she can’t move. She needs to see Lena. She needs to explain. Suddenly, she feels sick to her stomach. Kara knows she should have told Lena long ago, but the fact that it’s Lex in the end who shares her secret is too much. Images of Lena’s face flash through her mind as she imagines the shock and pain Lena must be feeling in that very moment.

But then Lena’s voice comes through, steady and calm.

“I know.”

It’s followed by the sound of one solitary gunshot, and then silence.

Kara takes a steadying breath and then rushes into the cabin. Inside, she finds Lena, gun in hand, staring down at Lex’s slumped body. A quick x-ray confirms no vital signs. He’s dead. Kara looks up and takes in the room around her. There are several monitors showing a video, a collection of images of Kara using her powers: the day Mercy Graves attacked, then in Kaznia. It’s dizzying to watch and Kara wonders how Lex got this footage in the first place, but then she remembers Lena’s words. Lena knows.

“Lena.”

Her back is still turned to Kara and she flinches a little at the sound of her voice but she doesn’t turn around, not right away. Lena’s hands are shaking, her heartbeat is almost violently loud in the small room.

Kara isn’t sure what to say. She wants to comfort Lena, hug her, make sure she’s okay, but she’s not sure what Lena needs right now. So she waits.

“You all really think I’m stupid,” Lena scoffs, her gaze still fixed on her brother, “that I didn’t see through the world’s worst disguise with ease.”

Kara winces. She knows others have pointed out that glasses and a ponytail aren’t enough to hide who she really is. Alex makes fun of her for it regularly. But hearing Lena say it, hearing the disdain in her voice as she spits out those words, makes Kara’s stomach clench.

“How long have you known?” Kara’s not even sure she wants to hear the answer.

The question finally makes Lena turn around, and it’s better than only seeing her back but Kara swallows hard when Lena locks eyes with her.

“Definitively? Since that day you saved me when I was pushed off the balcony. Your story about Supergril and Kara Danvers having coffee when I called was a little too convenient. But I had my suspicions since you flew to my office, on a bus.”

Kara grimaces. She’s never been particularly good at coming up with excuses around Lena.

“Lena. I’m so sorry.”

Kara wants to apologize, to explain, but Lena cuts her off.

“I understand why you didn’t tell me.”

And that, Kara isn’t sure what to do with that.

“You…you do?”

“I can’t say that I understand entirely why you felt the need to keep up the charades for as long as you have. But I get that you couldn’t trust me. Not really.”

“No! Lena, that’s not why,” Kara starts, her voice taking on a frantic note. She needs Lena to know that this was never about trust.

Lena lets out a harsh huff, half-turns her body towards where Lex is still slumped over in his chair and waves her hands around at the room.

“Kara, come on. I’m a Luthor. Both my mother and my brother have hurt you, multiple times, have tried to kill you and your family. I don’t blame you. I get it. Hell, I doubt myself several times a day, so of course you would, too.”

Kara shakes her head. She takes a step towards Lena and Lena stiffens but doesn’t retreat.

“That’s not why. I mean, maybe at the very beginning that was a consideration, but you’ve shown me over and over again that I can trust you. And I do!”

Lena frowns. Her head tilts slightly like it often does when she is trying to solve a problem, a puzzle, but where Kara usually finds an open, curious expression, Lena looks guarded.

“Then why?”

Kara wants to tell her that she did it to protect Lena. Images of Alex trapped in a tank rapidly filling with water flash through her mind and she shudders. There have been too many moments when people close to Kara have been in danger because of her secret.

But this is Lena, who fends off several assassination attempts a year, who is in danger so much already but somehow manages to keep going, to protect herself and others over and over again. Not wanting to add yet another target on her back might have been one motivation for Kara, but it has never been the main driver for keeping Lena in the dark.

Kara’s real reason has always been more selfish.

“Because I liked being Kara with you. Just Kara. Not a Superhero who is expected to save the day, every day, not an alien refugee who watched her world die in front of her eyes. Just Kara, who loves watching silly rom coms with you, who refuses to try your kale salads…who is your friend.”

A thought pops into Kara’s head then, a question that she’s almost too terrified to ask.

“Are we still friends?”

Lena shifts her weight a little, straightens her posture and raises an eyebrow. Kara has seen Lena do this many times, usually at work, when she’s trying to gain the upper hand in an uncomfortable conversation.

“I don’t know. Are we?”

The question hits Kara right in her chest, and she almost feels winded. She knows she deserves it, deserves whatever anger Lena might feel towards her for lying for so long, but it still hurts to hear that Lena is questioning the very foundation of their connection.

“Of course,” the words rush out of Kara’s mouth in a panic, “I mean, I hope we still are? I would understand if you, um, if you need some time to, to decide if you still want to be. Friends, I mean.”

Lena sighs then. She sounds tired.

“I don’t think I’m the one who needs to decide that, Kara. Look around,” Lena pauses and looks over her shoulder at Lex. “I’ve made it pretty clear where my loyalties lie, don’t you think?”

Kara’s thoughts are racing. She tries to find the right words to say, to explain that she trusts Lena, she really does, but all she can see is that Lena is trying to blink back a few tears and she wants to sweep her into a hug but she feels frozen in place.

After a moment of silence between them, Lena clears her throat.

“Right. Well. You should probably call Alex and tell her about this,” she waves around the room again. “I’m sure you’ll both want to get rid of the video and any other evidence Lex might have kept here about your identity before you call the authorities about him.”

“Lena,” Kara tries to walk towards her but this time Lena does step back.

“I’m going to go. When you’re done here, if Alex thinks I should turn myself in or give an official statement or something, you know where to find me.”

“What?” Kara’s brows are furrowed. She’s not sure why Lena would turn herself in.

“I shot him. With intent to kill. Pretty sure that no matter what he’s done, that’s still illegal, so…”

Kara nods. She can barely breathe. Lex is dead, and Lena is the one who shot him, willing to face whatever consequences that might follow, and she did it for Kara. The full extent of it all makes Kara feel dizzy.

Lena turns towards the door and takes several steps before she stops.

“And Kara?”

“Yeah?”

“What happens now, moving forward, it’s up to you. It’s always been up to you. The only thing I ask is that you’ll be honest when you tell me what you’ve decided. Don’t,” Lena warns, “don’t insult my intelligence again.”

“Okay,” Kara nods again, “I promise.”

Dealing with the cabin ends up taking the better part of two days. Brainy scans the computers and finds a couple of encrypted backup servers that hold copies of the video Lex showed Lena, along with the source materials. Once found, he erases any trace of it and any trace that anyone accessed or modified content on the servers. They dismantle the tech itself and strip the cabin to its bare bones to ensure that no other evidence of Lex’s machinations remains.

As for Lex himself, Alex is shocked when she arrives and hears from Kara what happened.

“Lena killed him? Just like that?”

“I’m sure it wasn’t just like that, Alex. He showed his cards, that he knew my identity and was willing to expose it for personal gain.”

“So she did it for you?”

Kara pauses, replaying her conversation with Lena in her mind.

“She’s always done everything she could for me. She’s saved my life so many times. She’s saved yours, too. She’s always been there for us, for our friends, for the city.”

Alex huffs. “You’ve both been there for each other many times.”

“I don’t think so, Alex. I mean, sure, I’ve saved her life a couple of times, but don’t you see? She’s always done all these things for us, for me. And all this time, I was lying to her.”

“You had to, Kara.”

Kara shakes her head vigorously. “I didn’t. Maybe for the first month or two, sure. But after that? She’s proven so many times that we can trust her, that when push comes to shove, she’ll put our safety above her own interests. And I lied. I pretended. And all this time she knew. Rao, I don’t even know how she listened to my stupid excuses for when I had to run off to deal with the next emergency and just…rolled with it.”

Kara sinks down onto a large box that’s filled with all kinds of Lex’s tech from the cabin and buries her face in her hands.

“Alex, I messed up. You should have seen the way she looked at me. She wasn’t angry, not really. But she doubts our friendship, and I have given her every reason to think that I haven’t been fully committed to it.”

Kara feels Alex’s arms wrap around her in an awkward side hug.

“Hey. You did what you felt you had to do. You had your reasons, and I’m sure it hasn’t been fun for her to be kept at arm’s length, but you can change that now. You get to show her you’re all in.”

“How?” Kara asks, her tone almost desperate.

“You’ll think of something. You know Lena better than anyone.”

Kara sighs. “Yeah, okay.”

Kara ends up keeping her distance from Lena for the better part of two weeks. At first, it’s just a couple of days, and Kara can justify it with all the work they have to do to dismantle Lex’s various hiding places, to make sure he doesn’t have any more information on Kara that can fall into the wrong hands. But then, days turn into a week, one week turns into two and Kara no longer has any real excuse for not going to see Lena. It’s just that she doesn’t know what to say, not yet.

Nia finds her hanging around at the Tower one evening. She throws herself on the couch next to Kara so forcefully that Kara is sure she hears the frame crack slightly. But before she can chastise Nia for jeopardizing the structural integrity of the furniture in their place of work, the other woman claps a hand against Kara’s thigh.

“You really have to stop moping. It’s messing up the vibes in this place.”

“What? What vibes?”

“You know, the ones where we all work together as a team of Superfriends? Who have each other’s backs even when the world is about to end?”

Kara lets out a frustrated huff but doesn’t respond.

“Just talk to her,” Nia says. “Because honestly, this is killing me. I want Lena back. And so does Brainy. And I’m sure Alex does, too, in her own way.”

“I’m not keeping you from reaching out to her,” Kara snaps. She’s pretty sure that Nia is perfectly capable of sending Lena a text.

“Dude. You know the only reason Lena pulled away from all of us is because you lied to her, and by extension we all did, too. But she’s waiting for you to make a move here, to show her how you want to proceed. And until you do that, the rest of us are sort of, well, background noise.”

Kara disagrees. “No, you’re not. You have your own relationship with Lena, you all do. You can go and tell her that you’re sorry for lying, that you did it for me. I’m sure she’ll be more than happy to accept that.”

“Sure. And then what do I do when Lena inevitably asks me about you and why you haven’t called her yet? Do I lie again by not telling her that you’re sitting here like a lovesick puppy because you can’t admit that you have feelings for her?”

Kara’s head snaps up and for a brief moment she has to focus on controlling her heat vision when she glares at Nia.

“What?”

“Oh come on, Kara. I’m not blind.”

“I don’t know what you’re referring to. We’re friends. Or, well, at least I hope we still are.”

Nia sighs and shifts her body so she can look at Kara more directly.

“You and I are friends, right?”

“Um, of course. Why do you even ask?”

“Because you sure as hell don’t look at me the way you look at Lena.”

Kara squirms in her spot. She wants to end this conversation. In fact, she wants to go back to a time where they never have this conversation in the first place.

“Nia,” she sighs, hoping her tone lets her know to drop it.

But Nia is undeterred.

“Kara. As your friend, I’m going to say this once and only once: tell her how you feel. Sure, things right now are…tricky between the two of you. She knows you lied, and she’s wondering whether you were ever really friends at all. But that means the door is open to redefine what you two are. Show her you trust her, that you care about her, as more than a friend.”

Kara wants to deflect, to tell Nia she’s on the wrong track, but something about the way Nia pins her in place with a heavy look makes Kara deflate.

“But what if that’s not what she wants? I can’t lose her, Nia. It’s safer if I just go and apologize to her profusely and try to mend our friendship and that’s that.”

“She’s not stupid, Kara. In fact, you said she explicitly told you not to insult her intelligence again. If you pretend that all you want to be is friends but you keep making heart eyes at her every opportunity you get, she’ll know that you’re still lying to her. Just not about secretly being a superhero this time.”

Kara rubs her hand across her face and lets out a frustrated sigh. She knows Nia is right about Kara owing Lena the truth, all of it. She’s just not sure if she is strong enough to risk it.

“You’re right,” she says after a moment, sounding defeated. “I just…I’m terrified.”

At that, Nia slips one of her long arms around Kara and pulls her against herself.

“I know. But hey, you’re Supergirl. You do scary stuff all the time. You can do this, too. You owe it to her, and to yourself.”

Kara sags against her on the couch. Nia is right. She can do this. But right now, she simply lets herself be held for a moment.

It takes another day full of frantic pacing, stress-eating three dozen donuts and a box of chocolates that Alex informs her “were for Kelly, thank you very much” before Kara plucks up the courage to send off a text that has set in her app as a draft for way too long now.

KD: Can we talk?

Lena’s reply isn’t immediate, and Kara can’t tell if that’s deliberate or if Lena is simply too busy dealing with the aftermath of Lex’s death. Alex didn’t think Lena should take public responsibility for it, so they had created a cover story to explain that he had died in a shootout with federal agents who were trying to apprehend him. The story allowed Lena to officially take over Luthor Corp and Kara has seen through media reports just how much work this has been for Lena.

When Lena’s text comes in later that afternoon, it’s both a relief and a source of worry.

LL: You know where to find me

Kara reads and re-reads the text more times than she can count. She knows it’s hard to pick up on tone over text, especially one so short, but Lena sounds guarded, defensive, which is not a great place to start for the conversation Kara knows they need to have. On the other hand, Lena is still talking to her, inviting her to find her, so at least that means she’s open to hearing Kara out.

She spends the next three hours obsessing over Lena’s text and over what she wants to say to her. Kara knows she has to apologize for lying, for keeping Lena at arm’s length for so long. But she also wants to know why Lena never told her that she knew, that she has been playing along for years. With her stomach in knots and her thoughts pinging around in circles, she decides to talk to Alex first. She needs some outside perspective before she can have this conversation with Lena.

But when she makes her way over to her sister’s place, Alex isn’t home.

“Kara, hi,” Kelly says with a warm smile as she steps aside to let Kara in. “Come on in.”

“Um, hi. Is, um, I need to talk to Alex.”

Kara follows Kelly as she leads them both into the kitchen.

“She’s not here. She took Esme out for ice cream. A little bonding time after they had a bit of a stand-off this morning over what counts as appropriate breakfast food.”

“Oh. Okay. I’m, that’s good. I’m glad they’re doing that.”

Kara stumbles over her words and looks down at her feet. She really needs to talk to her sister, but she also doesn’t want to intrude on their family moments. She knows how much being a mom means to Alex, and how hard it is with their jobs to spend quality time with loved ones. Kara scuffs her toe against the tile floor a little as she contemplates her options.

Kelly’s voice pulls Kara out of her thoughts.

“How about I make us some tea and you tell me what’s bothering you. Maybe I can help?”

Kara hesitates.

“Oh. Um. I don’t want to keep you from anything important.”

Kelly just smiles and fills the kettle with water.

“You’re important, Kara. You know that, right?”

Kelly’s soft voice is soothing, and for the first time since receiving Lena’s text, Kara feels her shoulders relax a little.

“Is this about Lena?” Kelly probes, and before Kara even thinks about whether or not she wants to have this conversation with her, she nods.

“Yeah. I, um, I want to talk to her. Need to talk to her. But I’m terrified and I don’t know where to start.”

Kelly hums and plops two tea bags into their mugs as she waits for the water to boil.

“What is it you’re most worried about?”

Kara thinks it’s deliberate that Kelly isn’t looking at her in that moment, that she appears focussed on the task of making them tea. She wonders if this is a tactic she uses with Alex as well.

“Honestly, I’m not even sure. I mean, I spent years worrying about what would happen if she ever found out who I am. I was so sure there’d be a, um, a big confrontation. A fight. That I would lose her. It’s part of why I kept it from her for so long.”

Kelly hums but doesn’t say anything, so Kara continues.

“But now I know that she knows. That she’s known all along, and she’s still, I mean, she’s here, she never left. So my fear about telling her was unfounded all this time, only I didn’t know. And I don’t know what to do with that.”

“It sounds like you feel caught off guard. And that’s understandable. You only just found out that something that was foundational in your relationship with Lena wasn’t the same for her at all. That would be pretty disorienting.”

“Yes!” Kara bursts out, but then she softens her next words. “I mean, it feels weird. I’m the one who lied to her, so it’s not like I can complain about her not telling me that she knew.”

Now Kelly does turn to look at Kara.

“You could. Look, I think the most important thing for both of you moving forward is that you find a way to be on the same page. And honesty is going to be a key piece of that. Not just telling her who you are, officially, but I think you should tell her that it’s confusing for you that she’s known all along and never said anything. I’m sure she’s had her reasons, just like you had yours. Hear her out, don’t hide what you feel just because you feel guilty about keeping her in the dark.”

Kelly hands Kara her mug and the immediate heat she feels through her hands is comforting.

“But what if she pulls away now? What if telling her how I feel, um, about everything, is the thing that makes her leave?”

“You can’t control what other people do. All you can do is show her what you want things to look like going forward. But Kara,” Kelly pauses and waits for Kara to look up from her mug, “I think Lena has shown you for years what she wants. That she’s willing to work with whatever you’re willing to give her. It can’t have been easy, knowing but watching you keep her at a distance, but her commitment to you has never waivered.”

“I know,” Kara sighs. “I know.”

Kara’s gaze drifts down to her mug again. Kelly is right. Lena has been there for Kara all along, so maybe it doesn’t matter that they weren’t able to be completely honest with each other in the past. Maybe all that matters is that they’ve been here for each other despite it all.

Kara’s head snaps up when she feels a warm hand on her elbow.

“Just talk to her. Be honest with her and with yourself and tell her what you want from her moving forward.”

Kara nods. “I will. Thank you, Kelly.”

Kara leaves but still doesn’t go to Lena immediately. Kelly’s words echo in her ears. Tell her what you want from her. And then there’s what Nia said, and Kara can’t deny it. She does want things to change between her and Lena. She wants more, has for a long time.

It’s late when Kara finally finds herself in front of a familiar door. She decided against the balcony, not wanting Lena to feel ambushed. Being here now, her hands poised to knock, makes Kara feel jittery and unsure. She takes a few deep breaths and knocks.

It doesn’t take long for Lena to open the door, and she doesn’t look surprised to see Kara either, even though it’s been hours since Kara texted her and weeks since they last saw each other. Lena greets her with a quick nod and turns around to walk back into her penthouse, leaving Kara to trail after her. And after a second of stunned silence, Kara does. When she makes it fully inside, she watches Lena set a kettle on the stove and turn it on.

“Tea,” Lena says, her voice about as neutral as Kara has ever heard it. But then she finally turns around, flicks her gaze up to meet Kara’s and asks: “Would you like some?”

“Uh. Sure. That. Yes, that would be nice.”

Lena nods and continues prepping the tea. It’s clear that she’s looking for something to do, to fill the space between them, and Kara can relate.

“How have you been?” Kara says, and she knows this is a weird thing to ask as soon as the words leave her mouth, but she needs to break this tension between them somehow.

“Oh, you know. Kind of busy dealing with the fact that I murdered my own brother and then took over his company.”

Kara grimaces. “Right. I can imagine that’s been…a lot. How are you, how are you holding up?”

Lena stops fiddling with the tea mugs then and leans back against her kitchen counter, arms crossed in front of her chest.

“Is that what you’re here to talk about? My stress level?”

“Um, not really. I mean, I do want to know how you are doing, but, um,” Kara starts but cuts herself off.

She’s in the middle of trying to shove her hands into her pockets when she realizes that the pants she is wearing tonight don’t have any pockets, so her arms fall down awkwardly at her side and she lets out a frustrated huff.

Not a great start.

But then there’s a twitch of a smile tugging at Lena’s lips and in that moment, Kara’s frustration shifts into pure adoration for the woman in front of her.

“You know, I had this whole speech prepared, in my head,” she begins again. “It was a good one, too. But now that I’m here, all I want is to, um, can I hug you?”

And Lena’s eyebrows flick up at that but she nods and Kara doesn’t hesitate. She’s around the kitchen island in a flash and then carefully but firmly pulls Lena against her, loops her arms around her back and holds tight.

Kara has missed this. She’s always been touchy with Lena, has always tried to express her admiration and love with little touches and big hugs. These last few weeks without her have felt cold and confusing, but being here now, having Lena in her arms again, reaffirms Kara’s conviction to make things right.

She keeps her voice low for her next words.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Lena. I never should have lied to you for so long.”

She feels Lena stiffen a little but she continues:

“I can’t even really explain why I kept the lie going for so long. Like I said, at first it was because I didn’t really know you, but then, I don’t know, it just, it got away from me. There were so many moments when I wanted to tell you, but I always chickened out. I didn’t want to lose you.”

Slowly, she eases the hold she has on Lena and leans back but keeps her hands on Lena’s arms, unwilling to break contact.

“I know it wasn’t fair to you. And you have every right to be angry.”

“I’m not angry,” Lena interrupts, but her tone isn’t cutting or sharp like Kara would have expected. Instead, her voice is quiet. “I, maybe I was, at first. It wasn’t fun to be kept at a distance, to watch you come up with really bad excuses to cover up your rapid exits from our lunches.”

Kara grimaces at that. She’s always felt bad about those, always worried about Lena thinking that Kara didn’t want to spend time with her.

“But I understand why you kept this part of yourself hidden, Kara. I told you. I know who I am, who my family is. I get it. I’m not angry.”

“But I made you doubt our friendship,” Kara adds, and it’s not a question.

It’s then that Lena extricates herself a little and steps back towards the kettle. She pulls it off the stove and pours hot water into two mugs sitting next to it on the counter. With her back to Kara, she responds.

“I don’t know what to think anymore. It’s been, it’s been so confusing for so long. One minute, you’re there, and so kind and gentle and more supportive than anyone has ever been in my life. And maybe it’s because I spent so long without that, without genuine…without anyone who would defend me and check on me and bring me lunch knowing how bad I am at remembering to eat. For a long time I thought we had…something. But then you would rush out the door for some emergency and it always felt like a bucket of cold water. Knowing that you didn’t trust me enough to tell me. So I don’t know. I don’t know if this,” Lena turns around then and waves a hand between them, “if this is something or if I’ve simply been so starved for affection that I imagined it and it was never there in the first place.”

The confession breaks something in Kara. She can see now how Lena has spent years teetering back and forth, torn between the mixed signals she was getting from Kara. Thinking about how confusing that must have been, especially for someone like Lena, who’s had to fight tooth and nail for every scrap of love in her life, makes Kara’s eyes sting.

“Lena,” she whispers and takes a careful step towards her again, “you didn’t imagine anything. There was always something there.” She loops her hands around Lena’s wrists, trying to ground them both. “There still is.”

Lena’s eyes are locked with Kara’s and for a moment she doesn’t say anything at all. It’s like she’s trying to read Kara’s thoughts, to make sure that the words are true this time. When it’s clear that Lena isn’t going to say anything for now, Kara presses on.

“Why didn’t you tell me? That you knew?”

Lena’s expression is still a little guarded. Kara can feel her pulse race where her fingers are still circled around her wrists, can hear her heartbeat hammer in her chest. She knows they’re on the precipice, and they both have a choice to make.

“You had your reasons for not telling me. And you seemed very invested in keeping it that way, so I thought it would be best to just…play along.”

“Why? Why not call me out, get things out into the open?”

When Lena looks up at her then, her eyes are focussed, clear. Like she’s just made a decision for herself.

“Is it so hard to believe that I wanted to keep you happy?”

And that, that’s the answer that pops the lingering worry in Kara’s chest like a balloon. It’s like the puzzle pieces finally fit together and Kara can’t help the crooked grin that overtakes her face.

“Listen, I know I’ve, um, I know that by not telling you, by keeping you in the dark for so long, I made decisions for the both of us. About, um, about us. And I want that to change. If you want friendship, I’m here. I’m all in, and I promise, no more secrets. But if you want, um, if you want something else, that’s fine, too. Anything. Lena. I’ll give you anything.”

For a long moment, Lena is silent. She stares at Kara, her eyes roaming along every inch of Kara’s face, and Kara briefly thinks that this is it. This is the moment when Lena will pull away and tell her to get out, that too much has happened for her to ever fully trust Kara.

But what Lena says instead is small, almost pleading.

“I need you to say it, Kara. I need to hear what you mean by something else. No more secrets. I can’t…I need clarity.”

Kara lets her hands fall on Lena’s hips and pulls her closer.

“I mean something more. More than friendship. You, you mean everything to me, Lena. You have, for a long time. I’m sorry that it has taken me so long to work up the courage to tell you. About who I am, and about how much I love you.”

Lena is so close to her now that Kara can feel the sharp intake of breath as soon as those last three words are out. She squeezes Lena’s hips gently and repeats them again. No more secrets. No more vague innuendos that leave a door open for backing out. Lena has been there for Kara all this time, unwavering in her support, despite Kara’s lies. The least Kara can do now is be honest. Finally.

“I love you, and I think we could be…more.If that’s, if that’s what you want.”

A long sigh works its way out of Lena’s chest before she says: “I want it all with you”

Kara knows there’s a dopey smile on her face now. “Yeah?”

In lieu of an answer, Lena crashes her lips against Kara’s in a kiss that’s both fierce and desperate. Kara can feel years of longing and uncertainty in the way Lena presses herself as close as possible, in the little gasps that escape her mouth as they deepen the kiss.

It’s not the soft, hesitant kiss that Kara had imagined their first kiss to be. But then again, nothing about Lena has ever been what Kara imagined. She knows they need to talk, still. To sort out what they both want from each other. And she knows she still has to make amends, that it will take a while to re-establish their connection, this time without the lies, without secret identities that hold them back. She indulges in the kiss for a while longer before she gently pulls back, giving them both a moment to gather themselves.

“How about that tea now?”

#supercorp #kara x lena #supercorp fic #supergirl

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ladylooch · 8 months

Note

TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️⚠️ (miscarriage)

if you don’t mind me asking, do emma and lexie ever get miscarriages and how do they deal with it???

Thank you for putting a trigger warning on your ask! Very considerate and appreciated 😘

(if this is a trigger, skip the blurb below 💕)

Emma does not.

Lexi does. Mackenzie is 6 months old and her and Nico were definitely not trying. So when she saw the plus sign on the test she is stunned. She didn’t think she was actually pregnant. She’s still breastfeeding and wrapped up in the newness of Mac. She walks back into the bedroom where Nico is watching film on his iPad.

“Is that…?” Nico trails off. Lexi can only nod. “Is it positive?”

“Yeah.”

“Uhhh…” Nico trails off, mouth agape. Lexi looks at him, chuckling while he reaches to grip her hand.

“What’s one more?” She shrugs. “Maybe we’ll get a boy.” Nico smiles, pulling her in for a sweet and somewhat apologetic kiss.

Her miscarriage comes on a game day. Nico kisses his girls goodbye and heads into the city to face off against the Kraken. Because of Lexi’s medical background, she knows what is happening when the deep cramping begins to assault her lower abdomen. She also knows if she goes to the ER, there is nothing they can do for her. So, she grabs something to collect what is passing and manages it as best she can while playing her part as the captain’s wife. Looking back later, she knows she should have gone home with the girls. But she was so stunned and ashamed. She thought it was best to act like nothing was happening.

“Hi babies.” Nico grins at his girls after the game. Lucie is batting her long lashes trying to fight sleep while leaning into Lio’s shoulder where he watches game highlights on his iPad. Mac is laying in her stroller. Nico kisses his daughters, then comes to his wife. “Hi.” His smile begins to fall when he takes a moment to study her face. “Are you okay?”

“No.” Nico freezes. “I’ll tell you at home.” He nods, gathering the kids and muttering a quick goodbye to his sister and her kids. Lexi and Nico don’t speak the whole car ride home. Lucie and Mackenzie fall asleep in their car seats. Both parents work on autopilot for bedtime- doing pajamas, kisses, and setting white noise machines. Nico comes into their bedroom last, seeing the bathroom door shut and concealing his wife. Inside, Lexi is crying as she changes her clothes and padding before joining Nico back in the room.

“What’s going on?” Nico practically whimpers at her tear streaked face. He’s afraid of how Lexi is acting.

“I’m losing the baby.” Nico jolts in surprise.

“What? Why… didn’t you….” He trails off as he stutters, realizing shame is not the approach. “We should go to the hospital.”

“There is nothing they can do. I called my doctor. She said she can see me in the morning and to monitor the bleeding tonight. It’s nothing of serious concern. Well within the limits of what my body can replenish.”

“Lex, don’t… get medical with me about this.”

“It’s all I know.” She says to him, trembling bottom lip, tear rimmed eyes. His brown eyes begin to fill with tears too. A huge lump forces a cough from his chest. Nico crosses the room to gather her into his arms. “I’m so sorry.” She wails into his shoulder. Nico squeezes his eyes shut, feeling the tears streak down his face. They drip off his chin as he shakes his head at Lexi’s words.

“No, baby. No. It’s not your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

#what my world spins around au #Lexi X Nico Hischier

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befuddled-calico-whump · 6 months

Text

Wildefire AU: Out of Sight

cw: adult language, implied violence, implied starvation, bruises, the prison industrial complex lol

° ° °

Sarah swore she'd had a plan when she stepped through the doors to the prison, but it had all gone to shit pretty quickly.

Hugo had helped her fabricate an identity as a journalist, fake ID and online credentials and everything, and posed as the director of a web-newspaper to get her an interview with a low-level criminal at the Fielding Detention Center.

She was really there for Uriah.

Alexei had been the one who'd found the CEO—former CEO—shut up in one of the dingy cells. He'd broken into Fielding to try and collect information from a different inmate, but happened upon Fox instead.

"He's… he's just in some cell?"

"Should count himself lucky he's not in the Tower. Bastard's got enough enemies."

"Maybe we can use him."

Lex's expression had become unreadable when she'd said that, but Sarah could hear the way his heart sped up, the slight hitch in his breath.

She didn't want to work with that asshole either, but their resources were few and far between when it came to anything that could stand against Corp, and someone who'd once held power—someone who'd been betrayed by the rest of the city's leaders—could be a huge asset. Even if that someone was Uriah Fox.

If she could just talk to him, maybe he'd give her something they could use. As unpleasant as the man was, everything Sarah had heard about him told her he was petty as hell. He'd probably jump at the chance to strike back.

To Alexei's credit, he didn't try and convince her otherwise when she told him her plan.

Sneak in, have a chat, get lost before anyone important knows I'm there.

"Do what you want. As long as I don't have to look at him, I don't care."

She'd agreed at the time, but now, selfish as it was, Sarah almost wished she'd asked Lex to come with her. If things went south, it would be nice to have someone whose powers were good in a fight.

"Zhang is Chinese."

"Good morning," she said brightly to the guard at receptions. "I'm Andrea Zhang, with Skyline Weekly?"

She'd complained to Hugo about that one.

"It's the only profile on here that even remotely matches you. No one's gonna know."

"What if the guy who lets me in is Chinese?"

"Yeah, right."

Yeah. Right. He was white. Maybe in his thirties, with close-cropped brown hair. He regarded her with a bored expression, flipping through some papers on the desk.

"Zhang… Zhang… ah, here." He nodded to the door behind him. "That way. I'll buzz you in."

That easy, huh? Sarah figured she'd at least have to have one of those through-the-glass phone calls like on TV, but here she was, going into the prison proper without so much as an escort.

Certainly simplified matters.

Lex had already given her a general direction to look for Fox. She walked past the reinforced doors leading to the common area, cafeteria, and yard, all connected by this one long hall to give the guards easier access. Sarah peeked through the doors' embedded windows as she went, scanning the scattered groups of prisoners for any sign of Uriah.

She wasn't all that shocked when she didn't see him. If he was here, it was because the rest of the Corp bigwigs wanted to forget him. Out of sight, out of mind.

She pressed on down the winding corridor, past more doors leading to cell blocks and supply closets and… was that the fucking room with the chairs and the bulletproof glass and the phones? They did have one, but the lazy-ass guard would rather send a journalist in alone than do the work to keep a civilian safe.

She shouldn't have expected anything less from the prison system in this city. With that level of neglect shown to citizens, how badly were they treating the inmates? Sarah had to push aside her disgust. She had a mission. Even beyond the task of meeting Uriah, she needed to take down Corp. Once the city was free from their grasp, she could worry about the state of the prisons.

The further she went, the emptier it seemed to get. She was passing single cells now. The one she peeked into was practically featureless. A grate in the floor probably served as the bathroom, but other than that, there wasn't even a mattress. And there were a ton of similar doors.

Fucking hell, did they put every prisoner in solitary? It was completely inhumane— nope. No. Later.

Sarah closed her eyes, sharpening her hearing. Listening for movement, for heartbeats, would be quicker than checking every single door.

Of course, she picked up the usual annoyances. The sharp buzz of the fluorescent lights above her, the roar of the AC unit, even the slight hum of electricity traveling the building's inner wires. But somewhere in the muddle of sound, she could hear it.

Thump-thump, thump-thump.

A heartbeat. Just one, so that was either a really great sign or a really bad one. She kept her eyes closed, running a hand along the wall to keep from running into anything, and followed the sound.

It grew louder and louder, until she had to re-dull her hearing to avoid being deafened by it. This was it. Fox was on the other side of this door.

And shit, there was only a single, small window in the door, high enough that she'd have to stand on her toes to peer in. And while she'd be able to hear him, he probably couldn't hear her. Did that mean she'd need to open the door? What if he tried something? Surely the asshole was desperate enough to—

Her thoughts were cut short as her ears picked up a small gasp inside. No, not a gasp, a wince.

Well that was almost to be expected. Someone like Fox was bound to incite a lot of brawls with his smarmy, self-important attitude.

But when she stood on her toes to get a look inside, she sucked in a sharp breath through her teeth.

Lex had told her Uriah was here. She'd never thought to ask what state Uriah was in.

The blond man was curled up in the furthest corner of the tiny cell, thin arms wrapped around his bare chest, head tucked against his knees. A good chunk of his hair was matted with dried blood, and his skin was covered in purpling bruises. She couldn't see his face, but she could still pick out the bruises lining his jaw, color trickling in towards his mouth. Something inside her twinged, and Sarah decided she'd allow it. She didn't have to like Fox, but right now, it was pretty easy to pity him. Poor guy'd had the rug ripped out from under him, only to find a flight of stairs at his back.

She sharpened her hearing again, kneeling to get eye level with the doorknob. It was locked, as she'd expected, but good hearing was for more than just eavesdropping, and careful listening paired with a bobby pin made for quick work of the lock. She could hear Uriah's heart rate suddenly speed up as she turned the handle, and immediately softened her ears against it.

He lifted his head as she pushed the door open and stepped inside, pulling it closed if only to escape notice. His eyes were wide—well, one eye was wide, the other was practically swollen shut—and his face was gaunt and bloodied.

Sarah let out a breath. "Uh. Hi."

"S-Spyglass?"

"Ah, so you do remember me." She crossed her arms, then remembered she wanted to get him to cooperate, not scare him, and uncrossed them. "It's nice to know you at least knew who I was when you sent an assassin after me."

Uriah raised a shaking arm, as if to shield his face. "Please— I'm sorry, I—I know sorry doesn't m-mean anything, but please, please don't hurt me—"

Shit, that had probably sounded vaguely threatening. "No, no. I'm… I'm not here for revenge or whatever." She sighed. "I… actually had a few questions for you."

"I'll tell you anything you want, I'll comply, please don't—"

"I'm not trying to hurt you," Sarah cut in. Had she sounded threatening again? Was it possible to not sound threatening to the poor guy right now? She tried again.

"I have some information I really need. I won't hurt you if you can't answer my questions, okay? They're just questions."

She waited for Fox to nod. He never took his eyes off her.

"First, do you know of any fail-safes in place for the Hero CEOs? Backup plans that let Corp get away scott-free if we do manage to pin something big on them?" Like how they used you as a scapegoat? She didn't say that part out loud. If that wound wasn't still fresh, it was constantly being re-opened in this environment.

Uriah nodded, but didn't actually say anything. She tried to keep her voice soft as she prompted,

"Like what?"

"I… I don't know, I… I can't remember. E-everything I had, everything good, was on my personal network."

"Network?" Sarah raised an eyebrow.

"Computer. A—a specific computer."

She sighed. "Which I don't imagine you currently have on you."

"I'm sorry—"

"Stop." Sarah pinched the bridge of her nose. "Do you know where this specific computer is?"

"Still at Titanium. In a—a vault."

"That I presume you know how to access?"

He nodded.

"Tell me." It would be a fucking doozy of a mission, but that computer could be a gold mine. Secrets, conspiracy, fail-safes… Corp's dirty laundry. If they could break in, maybe Hugo could hack the network.

"There's a code."

"Of course."

"A-and a fingerprint scanner."

"Of. Course." Fucking of course. Because there had to be something there special enough that Uriah Fox would just have to be brought along. It was entirely possible he was making that part up in a bid to get free. If Lex were here, he'd suggest just cutting off a finger, and she'd be hard-pressed to ignore the idea.

But despite her annoyance, despite knowing the truth of Uriah Fox, that he was a power-hungry, horrible man who was willing to send assassins after literal children to keep his reputation, she felt kind of queasy at the thought of hurting the trembling thing he'd become.

She… she needed time. She needed a new plan. The info about the computer was great, but she doubted Fox would be able to offer much more in this state.

As she opened the door, peeking outside, Uriah piped up behind her.

"Where..?"

"I need to think. Thanks for the answers." She stepped out—

"Wait! Please… please, take me with you."

Her stomach sank, laden with equal parts dismay and pity. Yeah, his situation sucked, but the idea of keeping him around, of bringing him back to the team… no thank you. If the fingerprint bit was true, they'd find a way to synthesize it, and they shouldn't need Fox to get into the laptop.

"Sarah, please—"

"Using my name won't help." She did look back then, and wished she hadn't. Fox was on his hands and knees, looking up at her with teary, pleading eyes.

"You're a hero. Y-you save people."

Real heroes save everyone. Hadn't she told Lex that? Did it make her a hypocrite then, to want to turn her back on the person responsible for so much of her misery? Who'd killed her old team leader, who'd tortured one of her friends for a year?

Maybe it did. But it still felt justified.

"I was a hero," she said. "You made me a rogue."

She pulled the door closed behind her, dulling her hearing to lessen the sharpness of Uriah's pleas, and began to briskly walk back down the hallway.

With the uninspiring security, she probably could've walked right out the front doors without signing out, but Sarah stopped by the desk again anyway.

"Zhang," the guard mumbled. "Done so soon?"

"I got what I needed," Sarah offered, clutching the pen a little too long after signing her name in the visitor log. "I… heard a rumor while I was inside."

"A rumor?"

She set the pen down. "Yeah. Supposedly Uriah Fox is in here somewhere." What was she saying? Was she about to threaten the guard into treating Fox better?

"Is that what you heard?"

"It's what I heard. Though I didn't see any sign of him, so I don't know how true it is."

His eyes darted to the pen at her fingertips. "Off the record?"

Sarah nodded. "Off the record."

The guard leaned back in his chair. "Yeah, Fox is here, all right."

She feigned surprise. "Really? What did he do? I heard it was something about embezzlement?"

"Something like that," the guard agreed.

"Where is he?" Sarah ventured. "Like I said, I didn't see him."

"He's been in solitary for a while now," the guard replied.

A while. How long was a while? How long had it been since he'd been thrown out? Two months? Three?

"What did he do?"

"Existed." The guard chuckled. "They put a man like that---who's spent his entire life stepping on other people---in a cell block filled to the brim with men who've been screwed over by him and others like him. What'd you think would happen?" He thumbed through the stack of papers on his desk idly. "The first few weeks, it was all we could do to keep him alive. It's a miracle he's still kicking, honestly." He leaned in, conspiratorially. "Between you and me, there's at least two guards on staff who have beef with the guy, and I know they've been paying him visits."

Sarah grit her teeth, trying to make it sound casual when she replied, "And you aren't stopping them?"

"Why would I? It's Fox."

It's Fox.

That was her logic, too. Why would I? It's Fox.

Why would I?

Because real heroes save everyone. And whether Uriah likes it or not, I'm still a hero.

She forced a smile, rolling the pen back to the guard. "Well, have a great day," she said, not waiting for him to reply before turning on her heel and marching out the doors.

Whether she liked it or not, she'd be back. And Fox would be leaving with her.

She'd be back.

° ° °

@whumpacabra @enteredin2eternity @kixngiggles @whumpsday @kiichu @whump-for-all-and-all-for-whump @shywhumpauthor @distinctlywhumpthing , @bloodinkandashes , @fleur-alise , @whumpy-daydreams

and @whumpwillow @turn-the-tables-on-them this one's for you guys lol

#my problem with wildefire is after the first arc it splits like tree branches with lots of great approaches and different details #so i cant decide which one's actually canon ahaha #one of my favorite lines I've written this year is somehwhere within this drabble and idk if anyone could guess it #wildefire #uriah fox #whumper turned whumpee #villain whumpee #prison whump #also i love sarah she's so fun to write #the world is broken but girl's gonna do her best

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hermesserpent-stuff · 9 months

Text

youtube

So, luthor and marvel have been on the brain lately. For context this is inside of my chilly batson au. Luthor has a quick visit to fawcett to see if this marvel person is a alien kryptonian or not!! Plus an excuse to describe fawcett is always something I'm down for!

Lex looks around Fawcett City. The place is strange, slightly off in some ways. Flowers spring out from all corners and cracks of the city. The people seem content to let them remain, responding that they are a mark of the Captain’s care when they were asked by outsiders. Lex wonders if that is true or if there is some other reason for their existence.

He stands on the edge of the city’s central park. He had asked his friend Sam about Marvel. While his friend seems convinced that Marvel is not a Kryptonian, Luthor is less sure. Marvel had arrived on the scene with as much suddenness as Superman. But this time accompanied by lighting and an apparent respect for ancient religions. Lex is not so easily convinced that the man is a mere mortal.

His steps take him along a path surrounded by flowers that fill the air with heavy scents. There are many others in the park, some from the city, others here for a pilgrimage to the shrines. The shrines lay around the central water fountain. There are seven in total. One is larger than the rest, dedicated to Captain Marvel, simple and sturdy in its boxy design. The other six are smaller but rest on top of Marvel’s. An odd collection of names to be placed together. Many of the shrines are not even dedicated to true gods, much less to people of the same pantheon. Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury. He half wonders over the lesser-used Mercury and why Hermes is not carved there instead. Zeus is there, as is Achilles, greek. Yet Hercules and Mercury rest upon the stone, Roman. One would think that Marvel would focus on one pantheon.

Lex stares at it all for a moment. He believes in making one's own destiny. Believes he is above praying for help from uncaring gods that one must curry favor with to have a chance of anything happening. He made his own fate. But he has questions and concerns, so he stands before the collection of shrines that are bedecked in offerings and have people half bowing in front of many of them. Each person’s worship looks different. Palms up, palms together, half bows, bows that bring them to the ground, lighting candles, quiet chanting. All should be distracting and clashing, but it all melds together easily. Something is different in the air here. Luthor can admit that. But he is still not sure he wants to believe in the magic that Sam seems so sure is present.

He tosses his coin into the fountain with a halfhearted wish as he had seen many of the people around him do. He does not think it will work. He does know, however, that Marvel often frequents the fountain, though often just for a mere moment. A moment is all Luthor needs to confirm his suspicions.

Marvel arrives minutes later with a grin. The natives of the town wave to him but continue about their lives. Those less used to his presence pause, some gaping in awe, others shouting and cheering. Luthor for his part slips out his shard of kryptonite as he shifts closer to the fountain. Marvel’s electric blue eyes lock onto his and suddenly the hero is standing before him. There are none of the shivers and shakes that normally overcome Superman when the man comes too close to kryptonite.

“Mr. Luthor? What are you doing here? Why did you make a wish to see me?”

“I wanted to confirm some things for myself.”

Luthor says eyes narrowing slightly. The hero lights up a little.

“Oh? Okay!”

The hero seems genuinely happy to see him. Luthor has no idea why. Unless… The Rogues of Central City had claimed Marvel as their hero to fight and Fawcett City as their territory to rob. And the Rogues were ridiculously close with Flash. It is likely the same for Marvel. He finds it is an odd thought to think that the Rogues, specifically Sam, might have spoken well of him to this new hero. Luthor finds himself speaking.

“You are not a Kryptonian. Are you a demi-god?”

He had heard rumors that people suspected Wonder Woman of being such a thing. Marvel chuckles.

“Nope, sorry. I hold the title of Earth’s Mightiest Mortal right now. So, not a god.”

“How do you explain your powers then?”

Luthor does not expect an explanation. Marvel hums and gestures back to the collection of shrines.

“My Patrons.”

It is such a simple answer, spoken with such earnest honesty. Despite Luthor’s lack of faith, he finds it hard not to believe. Marvel is a human. A human that might be able to take on Superman. He had watched Marvel’s battles closely, for fear of another Kryptonian living on his planet. If the man of steel is ever convinced that humanity is not worth it, this is a human who could take him on. Or if Superman is brain-washed. Again.

“Say! Mr. Luthor, if you're going to be in town, Id suggest visiting the Fawcett Museum! We got a lot of info on my Patrons there. And a lot of other cool artifacts.”

The hero chirps bouncing on his feet slightly. A non-existant breeze swirls the man’s cape.

“I will be sure to do that.”

“Good! Oh!! You should leave something at Mecury’s shrine. You're one of his favorites as hes a god of commerce and he'd love for a solid excuse to follow you around that he doesn't have to explain to Jupiter.”

“Arent Jupiter and Zeus the same?”

Luthor picks up on the different name use. Marvel’s nose scrunches.

“Yes and no. It's complicated. But such is their nature, you know?”

Marvel smiles wide, gives a wave and flies off. Luthor finds himself leaving a quarter at the shrine of Mercury against his better judgment.

#chilly batson au #billy batson #lex luthor #dc #hermes speaks #fanfiction writing #Youtube

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you-have-been-frizzled · 11 months

Note

heyy- I'm curious abt which headcanons do you have abt what would happen if Juline got hurt very badly / died and how would the rest of characters react. (sorry if it sounds dark D:)

*deep inhale* oh anon i don’t think you realized what you just signed up for. also NOTHING is too dark for me when it comes to fic ideas

i have spent years thinking about what would happen if Juline was taken prisoner by the Neverseen, and when i remembered that the collective had that mind wipe poison i just made it angster.

Kesler would shut down when she was captured going completely on autopilot because that way he didn’t have to think to feel to process what had happened

that the person who was apart of his life since he was teen, his best friend was gone he would have a planting for her because that’s what he was told to do, he just told himself that she was dead because if he didn’t all he would think about is the ways they where torturing her.

that didn’t change the fact that he kept expecting to wake up and find Juline laying beside him, and he could hold her and know that she was safe but she was never there,

Dex would stay up day after day refusing to believe that she was gone, insisting that he could find her. he would stay so long that he would start to hallucinate.

because if he stopped working for even a moment his mind would run wild, thinking of every possible way the Neverseen was hurting her. and he couldn’t take it,

Lovise would have to force him to go bed and even Tinker would send him home when they where searching for her and he was falling asleep at his desk. Tinker eventually just made him a spot in the corner of her workspace so she could put him there to sleep when he would black out.

he wouldn’t be focusing at school or at team valiant meetings, he would be angry and sassing everyone if they tried to speak to him. he blamed himself for what happened to his mom weather he was there or not

and more importantly that was his mom, and weather they where fighting or not, and he didn’t know how to live without her

and the triplets Lex wouldn’t fully understand she was gone, he would be checking at the widows, mistaking Edaline for Juline everytime she comes over before becoming crushed and looking out the window for Juline again,

Dex came back why wouldn’t she?

Bex doesn’t speak she barely makes a noise and just follows Dex around like a shadow, “helping” him with his search for their mom,

Rex wouldn’t leave his dad side because what if he goes missing too, what if he losing another parent,

they had already lost their brother once and got him back and now they lost their mom, and they don’t know if she’s going to come back

Edaline would lock herself away at first crying so hard she couldn’t breathe, or completely catatonic, she wouldn’t want to speak to anyone other than Grady because her little sister is gone,

she’s lost her daughter, almost lost her second daughter and now lost her sister,

one of the days Dex comes over with Sophie rambling in techospeak, about how he’s going to find Juline, Edaline comes downstairs to watch them work not wanting to be in bed any longer

Dex when he sees her and freezes for a moment, almost like he thinks that Edaline is his mom just for a moment,

she runs over and hugs him and they are both crying and Edaline decides right then and there that they she’s going to go over to Rimeshire and be with her sister’s kids

because that’s what Juline would have wanted, Edaline helps run slurps and burps as often as she can, so Kesler doesn’t have to deal with the cruel whispers

Grady would be angry, at everything, not understanding why his family can’t catch a break? why must they lose everything? why are they not allowed to be happy?

he goes over to Rimeshire to be with Kesler, not wanting him to suffer alone, he lets Dex yell about the Neverseen and how they can’t leave their family alone, he makes sure the triplets are ok while their father is on autopilot.

he would be the one to go with Sophie to check on the councils search and the black swans, because he’s been through it before twice, and he’s going to be the strong one and he’s not going to cry

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elvesandlanterns · 1 year

Text

Ghost a helpline part 10

Uncle Tucker part 2: conversations are had and the Masters family finally move to Gotham.

Diana could practically see her comrades sputtering at the Captains words. She felt conflicted, “I understand Marvel you are also my brother in arms. The trust I have in all of you because of that is very important to me. We are not writing her off as a threat nor are we going to go after her.” At this she threw a pointed look at Bruce, “We just want some information on her that’s all. We don’t know anything about her and are justified in being cautious. “

“From my understanding you all decided it was a good idea to contact her not the other way around. And now the Batman is going to do what he does best and come up with contingencies because he feels insecure.”

Diana put her hand on Clark’s tense shoulder.

“Captain that is not-“

“The same way you’ve been trying to find my weaknesses for years. So if you’re that desperate to find one then here. She is my weakness and if anything happens to her I don’t know what will happen. Do you understand me?”

“Marvel! We are not-“

“Understood.” Batman grunted, “I still have questions.”

“So do I.”

Diana looked between them and shared a look with Clark, hopeful Batman would know what not to ask…. Clark opened his mouth first, “You two were in a war?”

A grin, “What did you think I just made up the Captain part of my name for kicks?” a humorless laugh left him.

“Right that makes sense, you’ve been around along time but isn’t she too young.”

“In a way, Konstelacio is considered a ‘forever child’ uhh she’s pretty much stuck that age.”

“So she just has the body of a teen but is actually an adult.”

“No she is a kid, and always will be. She’s just sorta stuck. She may have lived a long life but she’s still a child.”

Diana pondered over it. It’s wasn’t anything she didn’t expect. She was even use to it, on Paradise Island children were taught to fight, to kill when necessary. War was something Diana knew. But it felt wrong.

“A demon child with resources, connections and reality altering powers.”

“She’s a child who loves her family, collects trinkets and helps people.”

“But who exactly is she helping. What is stopping her from being summoned by Lex Luthor or Felix Faust or any number of villains.”

“She can decide who to help and who not to help you know. They can’t force her. Trust me they’d be sorry if they tried.”

“You just said she’s a child, anything could happen. They wouldn’t have to force her when they could manipulate her.”

Diana smiled leave it to Bruce to care about a child he barely meet, even when he was scared of them.

“Also we can’t just allow a potential danger to run around buying souls.”

Diana took it back, Bruce was making a mess.

—- —- —-

Konstelacio followed the guard to the sitting room, Uncle Tuckers kingdom always felt comfortable to her. It was warm, sun filled and quite frankly Konstelacio had a lot of leeway here. A type of get out of jail free card that made her feel safe, but also nervous. She would not embarrass her family again, not here.

She bowed to her uncle as he entered the room, “I greet Pharaoh Tuck, Prince Consort to High King Phant-“

“That is enough my constellation, Princess Violet how many times must I ask that you call me Uncle?”

“I only mean to show my respect.”

“None needed come here. Tell me what I can do.”

“What I didn’t !” Had he heard from Dan already?

“Come on Violet I know you and I know that if you came here for help it must be something big.” Her Uncles smiles always looked genuine, she loved them.

“It’s a long story.”

“Eat some snacks and tell me everything.”

—- —- —-

Well that had been a mess Clark thought after both the dark knight and Captain had stormed out. Clark still wasn’t sure were he stood on the matter, he didn’t want to make the same mistakes he made with Connor. But just like with Connor none of them had enough information. It was time to call another meeting, ugh and invite Constantine to it.

Clark stopped walking, wait wasn’t there a demon on the Titans?

—- —- —-

Vlad’s eldest, Dandy Masters, parked the car outside the Gotham estate. Their new home was located far enough away that their neighbors wouldn’t be able to hear them scream, the manor was gothically decrepit, and the outside plants looked dead. It’s perfect thought Vlad, just perfect.

—- —- —-

Tucker nearly spat his coffee, “YOU MEET BATMAN.”

- The guards outside the door twitched, their pharaoh never yelled. He sounded shocked and was quickly shhhuhed by the princess. Hopefully this Batman would not be causing ether of them stress in future. The bird like guard pursed his beak, whoever this bat was did bode well. He would have to tell the others to keep their swords sharp.

“You SWINDLED Batman out of his gadgets!!”

- Yes the guards were probably due for some more training, just in case.

“Guards please get ready to escort the Princess to Pandoras realm.”

- All the guards, the bird adjacent ghost thought to himself. He had a felling something was coming.

“A WHAT?!”

- Something bad.

—- —- —-

Tucker moved his newly allotted gadgets into piles looks like he had a belt to work on. He picked up the handkerchief. “Violet what did you want this for?”

“I… had a suspicion I needed to prove.”

“And did you?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m guessing the tracking device wasn’t a part of your plan?”

“A WHAT!”

The man held his nieces hands, “Konstelacio please tell me what else is going on. I’ve already promised not to tell anybody.”

Violet wanted to believe him but she knew he’d tell on her to keep her safe. He wouldn’t understand, the Al Ghuls were dangerous she need to keep THEM safe! No matter what.

“Not yet, not until I figure everything else out for sure.”

“Alright but when you do please please come and talk to me okay.”

“Okay.”

“Alrighty then off to Pandoras then okay, be nice to the guards and tell her and Ghost Writer I said hi okay. And be careful delivering that antidote to the league. Minimal contact is the - oh you’re hugging me.”

Konstelacio smiled into her uncles shoulder, she would tell him everything someday.

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zahroreadsthings · 10 months

Text

A proposal...

Question: Do you interrupt?

Response: Yes. Fess up to reading the notes. Honesty policy goes both ways.

Check notes for previous instalments

Before she can continue you blurt out, 'I read your notes.' Honesty policy goes both ways.

'You what.'

'I... read a few of them so I wouldn't have to ask you, but I could barely understand them. I'm sorry.'

'Don't be sorry for not understanding them. Understanding them was the stupidest thing you could have done.'

'That's not what I - yeah, okay.'

'Don't read them. And don't try to understand them.' She passes a hand over her face and takes a moment to collect herself. 'There's a relationship between someone's ritual and their sensitivity ranges. I collected samples directly from extreme weather conditions. So I'm more sensitive than any other witch I know of.'

'And where do I come into this?' You hold Reginald tight enough to feel a chill through his jacket.

'There's no perfect reversal ritual. You collect samples of similar strength to the ones you collected initially. What I need is to collect samples from similar weather conditions.'

You bounce your leg anxiously. 'You can't do that if you stop them before they happen, though.'

'I'm perfectly aware of that,' she says angrily. 'Your own ordinary ritual made your joints and head hurt more. What do you think mine did to me?'

Your eyes go wide. 'Oh. You can't...'

'If I let weather get as bad as I need it to be I can't work in it.'

'So... you want me to do it.'

She nods. 'But I can't come with you.'

#polls #cyoa

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spunkyxgoddess · 1 year

Text

PLOTTED STARTER // ( @kingsnlegends. )

How was she here? Why was she here? Lexi remembered Damon driving a stake through her heart and ending her life outside of Mystic Grill a long time ago. But it didn't feel like she was on the other side anymore now because Lexi felt different - she felt alive. Something had shifted and it was very evident as well as prominent. The brunette had been on the other side for a long time and witnessed many things over time. Over there, she could come and go as she pleased without anyone really noticing her presence. And that was exactly why this didn't feel the same. If she'd wanted to visit her own grave on the other side, she could simply walk over there and do just that. But now she felt like she'd been thrust back into reality, into life.

The vampire desperately clawed at the material of the coffin that she'd been buried in as the life was restored back into her body. Lexi had woken up in the place she'd been left at - the coffin that she'd been buried in. As a member of the undead community, she didn't require oxygen to survive so she wouldn't die in this spot. However, it did feel quite suffocating to be confined within such a small space. She wanted out, but in order for that to happen, Lexi had to dig herself out of the fabric, wood and also dirt. Hazel green orbs frantically searched the ceiling of the coffin as the young woman used all of her strength to punch her way through. How she wished that resurrection worked differently where she could just wake up in her bed. "Come on, Lex. You can do this."

Of course her best friend was her first thought, she'd watched him for so long from the other side. Even when she'd been brought back as a ghost, the brunette had helped guide Stefan - it was her life's mission to keep him on the right track. She was his guardian angel in that way, still taking care of and looking after her best friend. Luckily, Caroline had taken over for Lexi in her absence and she was glad that Stefan had somebody like that in his life. In the midst of all his struggles, he needed someone by his side and she didn't want him to go through them all alone. With those thoughts in mind and using Stefan as her motivation, Lexi gave one final punch before the ceiling of her coffin collapsed. Now she was left with the dirt that she needed to claw her way through. Thank god that she didn't need to breathe or she wasn't sure if she'd actually make it out through the thick substance.

The layers didn't seem to end, but Lexi was grateful once a ray of light came into view. And even more grateful once that ray multiplied and increased with every ounce of strength that she was using. A last grunt echoed through the graveyard the moment the brunette had made it to the top. Pushing herself onto the grass, Lexi needed a few moments to collect herself and just took some time to adjust to being out and back in her own body again. Turning herself over, the vampire sat across from her headstone and began to shake the dirt off of herself. She forced herself back up onto her feet, still unsteady now that she was standing again after so long and brushing some more dirt off of the fabric of her clothes. Her head whipped around to check if no one was nearby, but it did seem to be that way since it was currently nighttime. That was good, Lexi didn't need an audience or snitches - that would only complicate things more for her.

Okay, so she was alive again now. But how was that even possible? It was Mystic Falls, things like that weren't so unusual to be perfectly honest. But Lexi had only been brought back as a ghost - twice. None of her recurring appearances had been permanent, but this one felt like it might just be. The brunette had no idea what time, day or year it really was though. The only thing that she knew was that she needed to find Stefan and let him know about her return. Maybe he could help her figure out what exactly this was and what it meant. He might not be as surprised as she'd paid him multiple ghostly visits in the past already. She just hoped that she was back for good this time and if that wasn't the case, then surely Stefan would be willing to help make it a lasting thing?

In order to get to Stefan's house, Lexi had decided to use the falls as a shortcut. She'd be faster if she went that route and her impatient self really wanted to see the other vampire after all this time. The brown haired girl could also go and look for the man who had killed her, but was that really worth it? Did she truly want to waste her time on plotting and getting her revenge on Damon Salvatore? When she could focus on reuniting with Stefan and have him help her adapt to life again? It made sense, her needing his help this time since she'd always helped him in the past. That was why the two were best friends - always helping and being there for each other, in good times and bad. Just as she'd crossed the bridge that hung over the waterfalls, Lexi spotted a familiar figure in the distance and paused in her tracks. Was that... "Stefan?"

#( interaction: stefan salvatore. )#( kingsnlegends. )#( trigger warning: death. )#( trigger warning: resurrection. )#( trigger warning: live burial. )#hi i love youuuu ❤️#NOW HAVE SOME MUCHO NEEDED FEELS #definitely don't have to match though!

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catierambles · 1 year

Text

Public Relations Ch.10

Pairing: Clark Kent/Superman x Charlotte Danvers (OFC)

WC 835 (it's shorter, but it sets some things up that're going to happen down the road)

Warnings: None

@kingliam2019 , @greensleeves888 , @peaches1958 , @brattymum96 , @ouroboros113 , @summersong69 what is that? 3 in one day? I wonder how long I can keep this up

1965 Shelby Cobra the header image is what the one mentioned looks like

Clark’s birthday arrived, but he hadn’t heard from her. Hadn’t even seen her the last couple days as she suddenly got busy with work. His good morning text was answered a couple hours after the fact and he admitted to being a little hurt. Maybe she just forgot? She has been really busy lately. It was around lunch when his phone pinged and he picked it up, seeing the text from her.

Come outside.

Charlie?

Come outside.

Odd, but okay. Getting up from his desk, he went over the elevators and rode them down to the ground floor, heading out of the building and instantly seeing her there out front, leaning against the Shelby that gleamed under the early summer sun.

“Charlie?” He asked as he stopped in front of her, “Why do you have the Shelby here?” She just reached into her pocket and pulled out the keys, handing them out to him. “Bit of an impromptu drive, don’t you think?”

“That’s not what this is.” Charlotte said and he looked at her in confusion for a moment before he got it.

“No.” He said and she nodded, smiling at him. “I can’t possibly…”

“Yes, you can.”

“Charlie, this is…I can’t…”

“Clark, you love the Shelby.” She said, “You still have to sign the title transfer paperwork, but happy birthday.”

“This is too much, I can’t accept this.” He said and she grabbed his hand, putting the keys in his palm and closing his fingers around them.

“Yes, you can.” She said and he pulled her into his arms, picking her up off her feet and holding her tightly, her arms wrapping around his neck. “Happy birthday, baby.”

“Thank you.” He said, burying his face in her neck. “This is…this is incredible. Thank you so much.” He put her down on her feet and pulled away to look at her.

“You can keep it at my house if you don’t feel comfortable keeping it parked on the streets of Metropolis, but it’s yours sweetheart.”

“Now that…” They looked over, seeing Lois, Jimmy, and a couple other people come out of the Planet. “Is a car.” It was Jimmy who spoke.

“My birthday present to Clark.” Charlotte said, “1965 Shelby Cobra. From my collection.”

“God damn, I want to be your friend.” He said and Charlotte snorted.

“I don’t give rare classic cars to just friends, Jimmy.” She said and there was a moment of silence.

“Holy shit, Clark.” He said and Charlotte snorted, pressing her hands against Clark’s chest and making him look at her as her hands slid up and into his hair as she pulled him down into a kiss that he very eagerly returned, his arms tightening around her waist. She pulled away after a little bit, giving him an apologetic smile even as her fingertips moved through the hair at the back of his head.

“I have to go.” She said, “I’ve been away too long as it is.”

“Busy day?” He asked and she nodded with a sound.

“I would have given you the car tonight after dinner, but I have a late meeting at LexCorp that I have to go to and this was the only free moment to breathe that I had today.”

“What does LexCorp want?” Clark asked.

“I don’t know.” She said honestly, “Lex Luthor and I avoid each other for the most part, but he asked for a personal meeting and it would be bad form and press to turn him down.” Charlotte said, “But I will text you when I get home and if you want to come over, you can.”

“Okay.” He said with a nod, but he still didn’t feel right about the fact that she had a meeting with Lex Luthor.

“Or, you can let yourself in and pamper yourself until I get home. Your choice.”

“I might do that, honestly.” He admitted, “I’ve been meaning to try out that whirlpool tub you have.”

“Knock yourself out.” She said and rose quickly on her toes, pressing a brief kiss to his lips. “But now I really have to go.”

“I’ll pull the car into the garage around the back and drive it over to your place tonight.” Clark said and she nodded. “Thank you, again. Want me to drive you back to the Tower?”

“You just want an excuse to drive it right now, don’t you.”

“Yes.” He said and she snorted.

“Yeah, I’ll take the lift back.” She said and he looked to the others who had been watching the interaction.

“Let Perry know I’ll be right back.” Clark said, “And if you want to tell him other things too, you can.” They pulled away from each other, Clark moving around the car to the driver's seat as Charlotte got into the passenger's seat. The engine turned over with a roar and he dropped his forehead to the steering wheel briefly, making her smile, before he pulled away from the curb and drove down the street towards Danvers Tower.

#henry cavill #clark kent #superman #public relations fic #my writing

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floosies · 2 years

Text

Salvatore

pairing: mob!jake lockley x oc!fem

warnings: slow burn, pining, cursing, mentions of violence, future smut, mentions of dr*gs 18+ ONLY

(A/N: this will be a longer chapter and there is an emphasis on mentions of violence and some time skips)

tagging: @lex-the-flex

"besame, besame mucho, que tengo miedo perderte, perderte despues..."

They both realized they were getting too attached to each other. However, neither of the two wanted to solve the situation, rather they were looking for ways to keep whatever it was they had going on as pure as it started. Especially for Alicia who was looking to avoid any more discussion on her past.

Jake couldn't find the time to think it through as much as she could. He was busy being the public and private figure of the Heights. People in the neighborhood constantly looking to him for answers. Then there was the more private side and having to get back to the old money with the whereabouts of their product. It was something that felt never ending.

His busy work made him hard to track down, but Barnes did. They met up at safe point in lower Manhattan. Both men didn't waste time with pleasantries. "Listen, I know I've bugged ya already, having you in this business group, but I was curious if-" Jake rolled his eyes, "mierda...It better not be anything ridiculous." The older man chuckled, "there's a benefit being held and some of the big names are going." There was a long pause, "I'm not kissing ass to some rich-" "It's not about sucking up. I'm suggesting you go to let them know the Heights is already being taken care of." It wasn't a bad idea he hadn't really made his name known, but Jake still wanted something out of this. He paused, "I'll do it. If."

Barnes knew there was going to be an if. "If you answer something for me." He stared at Lockley, "yeah?" "If Alicia isn't an investor, why's she always there? That norweigan guy said she earned her right in there but-" That was the soft spot that Barnes had, but the kid was an part of the group now, "it's a long story."

When Alicia was younger she was a very different person. She was raised out of the type of life that the Barnes family had been involved with for generations. Her mother wanted peace in her life as soon as she could get it, so she moved away to Vermont. However, her uncle always came around with gifts and birthday money. She saw the life he had and she wanted to participate.

He couldn't fully control her, she was an adult by then, but he always warned his niece to be cautious of everyone around her. She did keep that warning in mind, though mostly she spent her time traveling the world with her friends she'd met through the kind of life her uncle led. Because she was so well connected and constantly under the influence, people would say things without thinking she would cause harm.

In this way, she was smarter than them, little by little she went collecting information. Enough information to report back to her uncle when things looked bad for him and his small group of investors. She saved their asses, they had no clue that any of the things she had learned were happening under their noses.

Unfortunately, her friends were also look outs, mostly for anyone who could give them cash or snow. Barnes had wanted her to live with him and his family in the Hamptons, but she wanted independence, it was she had left Vermont for New York.

Alicia got kidnapped from her condo in Manhattan while her uncle and the others in his circle dealt with problems she had made aware to them. It took a couple of days to find her, her uncle was boiling with anger. She'd been left to die, her body bruised and bloodied. The doctors really did the best they could, her uncle paid for the best care, even though she was very fragile.

She was a fighter though, coming out of that terrible situation with a new strength. When she found out that her uncle had killed the people who did this to her, she felt a happiness. What came out of all this was also a new found respect that she received, and a place in the group. Her job was to keep them level headed and at all times working together to stop any like that from happening again.

Unaware of any of this, Alicia was planning the benefit dinner that her uncle was hosting in Manhattan. All the small responsibilities landed on her when her uncle didn't trust other people with small details involving more personal matters.

As she planned the seating and catering, she got a text from her uncle saying to add a seat at their table for Lockley and something within her jumped for joy. It would be a more entertaining evening with someone who would actually listen to her.

Knowing the full truth, knowing why she was so vague, he felt like a prick for ever doubting her as a person. Then again, it was never really his place to ask things like that. Jake was just glad she was still a friend, still he felt like he needed to make it up to her, but that would have to be another time.

As he was currently putting on a suit for the damn benefit. Barnes had promised to take care of his transportation, he wanted to show unity between the boroughs. Lockley didn't really buy into that idea. His friend Frenchie was agreeing with him, "listen I'm not just saying this because you pay me. I really think that guy is fuckin ridiculous." They laughed at his comment, "yeah well his people pay me and that's how I can pay you canijo." He pointed back and laughed shoving him a bit.

The benefit was nice like everything in rich people's lives it was expensive and filled with a bunch of unnecessary shit. As soon as he got there, he was standing beside the Brooklyn boys and some other people from the boroughs. He noted that it was all men who ran New York, and the all the women there were stand up people not really aware of the double life these guys held.

Dinner was his saving grace from some of the people he had to deal with at the thing. Part of him should have figured that she was gonna be there, but he hadn't seen her through the night, especially not in a dress like that before. She looked stunning, too bad she was across the table from him. All they could really do was stare at each other.

Eventually everyone got out of their seats to go into another room where they were auctioning off golf resort stuff and junk like that. He stayed back with some other guys and they talked about nothing much until one guy started rambling about the people at the benefit and ended up mentioning Alicia. In a drunk mess he went on about how "she's not even a real Barnes, the girl just slept with the right people and was enough of a brat to get her uncle to let her into this thing."

That was the last thing he said that night. Jake took two swings at the guy and he was out on the floor. Before anyone could really react he left. He ended up calling Frenchie to get him and sending a message to Barnes and Rogers apologizing in advance about the prick who was shit talking Alicia.

When she heard that he had knocked someone out cold for shit talking her, she was certain this guy was insane. Although, he was also a gentleman for it, it'd been a long time since someone defending her name like that. Up until that point she was unsure of a lot, but now she was sure of one thing. In her head it wasn't a friendship so much as a one sided romance.

#jake lockely x reader #jake lockley #mob!au #salvatore #oscar issac x reader #oscar isaac #oscar issac

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