Chapter Text
“Let me show you.”
Project Cadmus acquired all the information it could on the aliens who visited the world; there were very few events outside of their knowledge.
“They’re dangerous; even your champion Supergirl. You may think she’s a hero, but it takes so little for heroes to fall.”
Last year, word of Supergirl’s turn to the dark side had sparked their interest. It hadn’t taken too much work to track the event to its source; Lord Technologies had been involved with placing some chemical in a location that Supergirl would visit.
It was a simple matter of corporate espionage to find out the composition; a rock with some similarities to kryptonite. It came out an odd red colour, quite unlike the real thing.
“I promise you, the day will come you’ll agree with us. These aliens, even the ones that call themselves heroes, cannot be trusted.”
Once the rock was created, the question was the delivery method. Supergirl likely wouldn’t be caught out the same way again.
Luckily, there were other ways to approach her.
Hank Henshaw had reported that Jeremiah Danvers had an alien for a daughter, with connections to Superman. It hadn’t been exactly hard to put the pieces together.
An operative had been given a ring fitted with the red kryptonite, and had visited Kara Danvers’ apartment, posing as a door to door saleswoman. It only took a short visit for the infection to begin.
“I know you don’t believe in the cause,” Lillian Luthor said. “But you will.”
“I thought you might have a reason for your visit, mother,” Lena said, standing on the opposite side of the desk. “I’m not interested in your prejudices.”
“I only wanted to remind you,” Lillian said.
Lena wasn’t an idiot. Of course she was suspicious.
About a day after her mother came to her office making vaguely ominous claims, Supergirl started turning on the city. It didn’t take a genius.
Somehow, her mother was behind this.
So Lena called Kara. She knew Kara had some kind of connection to Supergirl, both through her articles, and being able to summon Supergirl.
“I’m coming over,” Kara said, as soon as Lena mentioned Supergirl.
Kara had hung up rather suddenly, then.
About half a minute later, the glass windows to Lena’s office shattered. Lena jumped to see a woman hovering in the air.
Supergirl wore black, her head and hair all the more distinct over it. There was a flicker of red on her face, and her eyes were unlike any other time Lena had seen her.
“You mentioned me?”
Supergirl drifted closer. She gently set herself down on the floor; Lena meanwhile jumped to her feet.
“Supergirl-”
She knew she ought to trust Supergirl; but this was barely her.
“Luthor,” Supergirl said. She smirked as Lena flinched at the name and her tone. “What do you want?”
“I wanted to help-”
“I think my family’s had quite enough ‘help’ from Luthors,” Supergirl said.
Lena had her back to her desk. Trying to keep it subtle, her hand edged along the underside, to where a panic button had been set.
She’d almost reached it when Supergirl sent a jet of heat vision, burning through the wood and shattering the circuitry. Lena quickly yanked her hand away.
“Did you forget I can see through that?” Supergirl said.
Lena straightened. She tried to meet Supergirl’s eyes; tried to ignore the threat of light in them.
“My mother did something to you,” Lena said. “I don’t know what, but-”
“I do,” Supergirl said.
Lena hesitated.
“This has happened before,” Supergirl said. “Come on Luthor, I thought you were meant to be smart. I know exactly what happened.”
“Then you know this isn’t you.”
“I know that I’m free,” Supergirl said. “And I know how it felt when this was stopped, last time, and I’m not going to let anyone put me through that.”
“This is what they want, Supergirl,” Lena said. “My mother- People like her want you to be seen as a threat. They want people to think you’re a monster, just because you’re an alien. You’re meant to be a symbol-”
“Like you care.”
“Supergirl-”
“Your little alien detection device,” Supergirl said. “Funny how that works, isn’t it? You’ll go after aliens so long as it makes you money, but now you’re trying to defend us. Newsflash; we don’t need your help.”
“It was never about targeting aliens,” Lena said. “It was only meant to help protect-”
“Humans, right?” Supergirl said. “Protect the humans from the big, bad aliens.”
Supergirl moved closer. Her feet picked up just slightly off the floor, angled as though she were on tiptoes over centimetres of empty air.
With that extra height, she made Lena back closer into the desk.
“Turns out, you do need protecting,” Supergirl said. “The only reason you’re alive, the only reason anyone’s alive, or that any city stands, is because I let it. You didn’t need to peddle your little machines to make people scared, I can manage that just fine.”
“Supergirl-”
“Look at your brother,” Supergirl said.
The tiniest flick of Supergirl’s wrist, and Lena’s desk was wrenched off the floor. It clattered back to the ground, skidding along.
Now free, Lena tried to run. Supergirl appeared in front of her with inhuman speed, moving until Lena was backed against the wall.
“Think about it,” Supergirl said. “How much easier would things have been if Superman had snapped his neck the first time he started stirring up trouble? You’re so weak, all of you. I could level this city in an hour, but it’s just not worth it.”
“You’re a better person than this,” Lena tried.
“Is ‘better’ constantly holding back, to try and make you people feel a little safer?” Supergirl said. “If so, I’m definitely done with that. What would the point be?”
Another step closer. Lena’s eyes darted sideways.
Someone would have had to have heard the noise; but what were they doing about it? What could they do about it?
“You think you’re powerful, up here in your tower, looking down on the world,” Supergirl said. “That’s not power, Luthor.”
Supergirl glared, and searing light burned into the wall a hair’s breadth from Lena’s ear. She froze, trembling on the spot. Slowly, Kara lifted a hand, a fingertip brushing Lena’s cheek; she applied only the tiniest pressure, making it all too clear how much strength she was withholding.
Lena wasn’t used to fear. She’d been through so much, especially with her family. She’d put up with Lex and his growing obsession; she thought she could cope with anything, after that.
And then the woman who was meant to be a hero, and who she thought was a friend, bored a hole into the wall right next to her. She felt the heat.
“That’s power,” Supergirl said. “Life or death, at a thought. And I’m done helping you, just like I’m done holding back. I don’t care who did this, I don’t care if it’s your mother: I’m free, and I’m happy with that.”
“I know you-”
“Do you?” Supergirl said.
“You’re a hero-”
“You’ve been reading Cat Grant,” Supergirl said. “She wanted a symbol, not a person. I’m not a girl scout.”
Lena hesitated.
“You don’t know me,” Supergirl said. “I bet you couldn’t even guess why I’m here.”
“Because we were friends,” Lena said. “You needed to talk to someone-”
“Friends?” Supergirl said. “We were never going to be friends, Luthor. Even you don’t want that.”
Lena tensed.
“I’m here because you called me,” Supergirl said.
Lena faltered. She stared, slowly putting pieces together, starting to recognize Supergirl’s face-
“Kara?”
“Don’t call me again,” Supergirl said, ignoring her.
Another flash of heat vision, that time at the wall on the other side of Lena’s head. She flinched, closing her eyes for an instant-
And then Supergirl was gone. Lena opened her eyes, staring at the empty room.
Slowly, she slid down the wall until she was on the floor, shaking.
Alex was doing her best to coordinate. Kara was the universal priority, now: National City needed Supergirl, and it absolutely did not need a red-kryptonite afflicted Supergirl.
Kara knew what to expect this time, though. She’d been keeping her distance, evading Alex and J’onn and every DEO agent now that she knew they had a cure.
“Have you contacted Clark?” Alex said, into her phone.
“I’ve told him to keep his distance,” J’onn’s voice came back.
“What?” Alex said. “We could do with the help.”
“The last thing this city needs right now is two Kryptonians duking it out,” J’onn said. “This is up to us.”
Which meant they needed a trap; somewhere Kara would go, and where she hopefully wouldn’t expect a trap.
Ideally a place with copious amounts of lead around, for that matter. Sneaking up on Supergirl wasn’t the easiest thing to do.
Alex paced her apartment. The hope was that Kara would talk to her; Alex had a panic button that was just a thumb twitch away. It ought to call the DEO to her side quickly enough.
It wasn’t much of a plan, but it was better than nothing.
She nearly hit the button on principle when there was a knock at her door. Alex shook it off; this was making her jumpy.
Answering the door, she was surprised to see Lena Luthor.
“Hello?” Alex said, confused.
“I’m here about Kara,” Lena said.
She was as business-like as ever; brusque and efficient. Alex couldn’t recall seeing the charming side Kara so often mentioned.
“She’s not here,” Alex said. “How did you even get my address?”
“I looked it up,” Lena said. “It doesn’t matter. I know Kara isn’t here, just like she isn’t at what’s left of her apartment.”
“You went there?” Alex said.
“I saw the news,” Lena said.
It had been something Kara had done as the effect of the red kryptonite took hold. To a point, its effects were unpredictable; it stripped away the more benevolent aspects of her mind, but as to what was left, and which parts were in focus, that was anybody’s guess.
Kara had been talking so much about holding back; trying to pass for human, when she wasn’t. Somehow that had translated to nearly tearing down her human apartment. It was the first real giveaway that she’d been affected by red kryptonite again.
“If you don’t mind, I’m a bit busy,” Alex said. “I’ll tell my sister you were looking for-”
“I didn’t say I was looking for her,” Lena said.
“Aren’t you always?” Alex said. “We’re not exactly friends, so I don’t see why you’d come to me.”
“Because you’re her sister,” Lena said. “Not by blood, I’m assuming.”
“What’s your point?” Alex said, coldly.
“You’re the only person I can think of who’s likely to know,” Lena said.
“Know?” Alex echoed.
Lena regarded her for a few seconds, uncertainly. She wanted to talk, but it seemed as though there was something she didn’t want to be the first to say.
It took Alex a moment to read it.
“Have you seen her recently?” Alex said, slowly.
“A few hours ago,” Lena said.
Alex breathed out through her teeth. She moved back, letting Lena inside.
“She’s not been herself lately,” Alex said.
“I’ve noticed,” Lena said.
“It isn’t her fault,” Alex said.
Lena paused.
“What happened?” Alex said.
“She tore apart my office,” Lena said. “Nearly ki- She was scary.”
“What was she wearing?”
“I think you know that,” Lena said.
The red skirt, the boots, the blue, and the S symbol. Alex nodded, slightly.
So, a Luthor knew who Supergirl was now. That had the potential to go badly. Still, one disaster at a time.
“How did you know it was- Kara?” Alex said.
“She told me,” Lena said. “And, well, it’s not the hardest thing to believe. Just look at her.”
“And you came to me?” Alex said.
“I had to talk to someone,” Lena said. “What’s happened to her?”
Alex shifted. She moved back to sit on the back of her sofa, exhaling. It took her a moment to piece an explanation together.
“We call it red kryptonite,” Alex said. “It affects her mind, like the normal affects her body. As far as we know it’s created in labs, but the only sample we know of has been destroyed. We don’t know where the new batch came from.”
“My mother,” Lena said.
“What?”
“The day before… this, started,” Lena said. “She visited me. She was just being ominous, talking about how aliens were a danger, even Supergirl. Then this happened right afterwards. It doesn’t feel like a coincidence.”
Alex closed her eyes for a moment; Cadmus. That would explain a few things.
“How can I help?” Lena said.
Alex opened her eyes again, frowning.
“I don’t want this to keep going on,” Lena said. “I don’t know what you think of me, but you have to at least believe that.”
“You’ll help?”
“You’ve got the full resources of L-Corp,” Lena said. “This city needs Supergirl, the way she should be.”
Supergirl hovered over the city.
She could hear everything, and if she tried, she could see just as much. The walls didn’t block her vision. She could see the people scrambling, and hear their worrying.
She was tired of pretending to be human.
The worst thing about freedom was figuring out what to do with it. When the whole world opened up before you, what could you choose? There were too many options to consider.
And then her eyes were drawn to Lena’s home. It was one of the larger buildings near the city, and it was covered with black spots, even to her X-ray vision. Well, it probably wasn’t surprising that the Luthor home was already lined with lead.
There were a few spots all over the city where she couldn’t see, but none so large; and none that she glimpsed Alex walking into.
Kara lowered herself, extending her senses to hear what she could. Lead blocked her eyes, not her ears.
Slowly, voices came into focus.
Do you think she’s coming?
She’ll have to. By the sound of it, she doesn’t trust either of us.
Then we need to plan, sooner rather than later.
Believe me, I know.
That was Alex’s voice, definitely, and… Lena? Well, that was to be expected, it was her house.
Kara reached the roof, and kept going. Lead really was fragile. She landed neatly on the floor, guiding herself with quick glances ahead to land just in front of Alex and Lena.
“Do you think I couldn’t hear you?” Kara said. “You’re planning against me, and I know what that ends up being. Me, back to not being free, and suffering.”
“Kara-” Alex began.
“And you,” Kara said, ignoring Alex and facing Lena. “This is how you react?”
She took a step forwards, scanning the chamber. It was grand, gaudy; and every wall seemed to have a sheet of lead in.
Still, that wasn’t nearly as secure as people thought. She ran a quick circuit of the room, coming back to where she’d started before Lena or Alex could finish a breath.
It was empty, behind all the lead-lined obstacles. The only way they could bring a weapon into the room would be from outside, in which case she’d hear it coming.
“I think you’re forgetting who I am,” Kara said. “You can’t surprise me. Hide behind lead all you want, I can still hear you. I can hear everything. I always used to tone it down; hold back, to make you more comfortable, but I don’t need to, do I?”
Alex’s eyes darted sideways to Lena; Lena fidgeted slightly.
“I’m not human,” Kara said. “You want me to act like I am, to fit in; to have the same kind of life as one of you. But why? Why should I hold myself back for you? I’m free, so I don’t need to worry about making you feel at ease.”
She turned to Alex.
“Do you want to know what Maggie’s doing?” Kara said. “I can hear her. In fact-”
Kara turned her head to a spot to her right. She focused, and sent a ray of heat vision at the wall, quickly melting a hole. It kept going, through windows and stone and cars and skimming past the occasional person, until it scored the table Maggie was sat by, brushing by her.
Kara watched her jump up, looking around, taken aback. Alex stiffened at her expression.
“I can see her,” Kara said. “I just burned her hand. Never knew I could do that; well, I never tried. If I listen, I can find anyone in the city, and I just need to look to kill them. Complete power over life and death; and what do you have?”
“Kara-” Lena tried.
Kara rolled her eyes, bored. She took a step forwards.
“And you,” Kara said. “I used to be so awed by you. A CEO, one of the most powerful people in the city, wanted to be a humble little reporter’s friend. Well, guess what? This reporter is better than you. Stronger. And I heard your heartbeat, and I know what you were thinking. I’m not the one who should have felt awed.”
Kara met Lena’s eyes, coldly. Something in Lena’s expression set, and as Kara took another, taunting step forwards-
“Kara,” Lena said, firmly.
“Luthor,” Kara said, her tone mocking.
“Whose house do you think you’re in?”
Kara had just enough time for her eyes to widen, before Lena clicked a switch.
The house had definitely belonged to a certain Luthor before Lena; the ubiquitous lead was all the evidence Kara needed of that. And it barely took any time for the mechanisms concealed behind the lead to pull back, and a sickly green glow to peer through.
Kryptonite; Kara thought Superman had hidden all of it, but it probably wasn’t a surprise Lex would have some stashed away. There wasn’t much here, whether because he’d only salvaged a little or because Lena was disposing of it, but it didn’t take much.
Kara slumped forwards. She glanced upwards, glimpsing Lena’s face; pain and pity in equal measure.
There was a shout from Alex, the sound of footsteps from outside, and the noise of the door. Kara paid little attention, struggling on the floor.
She felt the weapon hit her, as it had before; the cure rushing through her. She felt the red kryptonite be forcibly expelled from her system.
And then the pain came rushing back, taking the place of the fierce freedom that had filled her.
She barely noticed as the kryptonite was retracted, or Alex rushing to her side.
She shifted, slightly. Lena was still standing there, a remote in one hand. Kara nodded to her, trying to convey thanks as best she could.
Kara had toyed with the idea of telling Lena she was Supergirl, there was no question about that. Maybe it was to comfort Lena and let her know she was trusted, maybe she just wanted the chance to be fully open with her.
She hadn’t wanted Lena to find out like this, though.
Kara closed her eyes, and let herself be overcome by darkness.