𝚠𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕d

“I didn’t expect you to actually show,” Camille hummed humbly. Her arms spread out with a feigned sense of joy. She knew better than to tug at the strings of the past but she needed resources. “I ditched my usual burger grease uniform for something a little more fancy just for you, Ms. Danvers.”  

@agcntdanvcrs​

alex was surprised to find the message left for her from camille, who for all alex had known did not seem interested in maintaining any kind of contact with anyone from 38. it was with suspicion, of course, alex wasn’t naive to think this was a simple social call. still she made an effort with one of her nicer shirts paired with black trousers in the smart casual imitations of jeans and a tee, and arrived early purposely to case their location. 

she straightened as she spotted camille approaching, adopting the same cavalier air around her almost unsettlingly as she did back in transport, and suddenly alex was a grad student toiling over genetic research again. “consider me flattered.” alex chuckled as she waited for camille to take a seat, “i think you owe me like twenty bucks from when we were comparing notes. maybe i just showed up to get what i’m due.” alex jokingly picked at the ice to mellow out the conversation, no reason for any of them to be uncomfortable.

“Bit of both, I guess.” Maggie admitted with a soft smile. Kate was certainly special, that much she had known just from their first meeting. But she was also getting tired of playing the field, settling for one night stands and partners who didn’t stick around. Eventually she had wanted something more, and Kate had swept in at just the right time offering just that. “You?” She quirked an eyebrow, throwing the question back at Alex.

She nodded as she picked up her choice of outfit. “We shall.” She nodded, entering the fitting room next to Alex and getting changed. She fussed over herself just a little in the mirror before stepping out - letting out a low whistle when Alex followed not long after in the dress Maggie had suggested. “Not to toot my own horn, but I was right. You look stunning.”

alex’s lips pressed into an understanding smile - yeah she knew a bit about that. alex chuckled, knowing the answer to the question before maggie even asked, “a bit of both.” she parroted back at her but not without some detached humor in her tone. alex was in a place in her life where she felt fulfilled, happy, like she was truly beginning to understand what she wanted, and how she wanted to get it, and one of those desires had been for companionship. someone to have and to hold, and she wouldn’t let her thoughts veer too much into vows, as much as they have lately. when alex began to envision this kind of future, she approached with a tentative what if? what if it was lena? what if they could make it work? nothing had been set in stone, not even her intentions when things started but now it was different. lena wasn’t just a close friend she fell in bed with, or just some she had some romantic feelings for. lena was --- she was lena, and for once it felt right. “maybe a little bit more to do with her.” 

alex was not too particular about her body, she had the kind of build that made most clothes comfortably snug where they needed to be, and loose where they should be. but she fussed, and tweaked, and tugged until she felt like the fabric sat just right on her and she tilted her head, appreciating the contrast of the color before she heard the hinges of the next door dressing room and stepped out herself. alex bowed her head, mimicking a curtsy at the woman’s praise before she looked up to assess the dress she wore, “i don’t to tell you that i’m always right but i stand uncorrected. you look fantastic. warm colors really suit you.” alex commented, “if i were your girl, i’d be speechless.” 

“so,” alex drawled on that syllable, “we’re buying these right?”

“Somewhat. I visited a few times before but only recently settled in Star City.” Nyssa confirmed. She had made sure to learn both Central and Star City like the back of her hand before setting her mission to scour them for any trace of Talia. She was perhaps more familiar with it than some of its residents, at least in knowing the layout and what areas had shadows lurking. “You are much too at ease to sit with a stranger for someone who prefers isolation.” She answered at Alex’s question, offering her a small smile. “But it is appreciated. I admit I have walked that line all too often.”

“i usually stay in star city for work sometimes. i prefer central.” alex admitted - it was easier to acclimate to central than it was to star city for some reason, it felt more like national city, and by extension, midvale. alex’s hands stilled a little at nyssa’s observation, apprehension washing over her features for a brief second before she shrugged her shoulders, “i guess you’re right.” alex agreed bashfully, before finally she peered up at her again, “well, you’ve got a friend face if you ever need to do something that’d better be done with company. like...going to a concert, maybe.”

“…Sure.” Jason nodded after a moment’s hesitation. He hadn’t expected the offer, but he had gotten better practice being around babies thanks to Steph insisting he bond with Lux. He sat himself up to take Ellie as Alex handed her over, supporting her in his arms carefully as he usually would Lux - though he was relieved to find with Ellie a little bit older than his niece that it didn’t feel quite like he was handling the most fragile little human in the world.

“How do I know what I’ll hate when I don’t even know what I’ll like?” Jason pointed out with a small laugh at Alex’s words. “I get it, really. I know I have the best opportunity laid right in my lap. But you know the last thing I remember wanting to be before I died? An archaeologist. Because of Indiana Jones.” He stated, rolling his eyes at his younger self, fifteen and stupid and thinking he had all the time in the world left to figure out what he wanted to be. With no idea he would lose his chance at a future. “I know what I’m doing with security, it’s just a more boring version of patrolling a city looking for a fight.”

alex smiled when she watched ellie seem to settle comfortably in a new person’s grip, already taking over for herself and interacting with the dog without needing any of their supervision. “you’re a natural.” alex pointed out to jason, “you’ve been around a lot of babies?” 

“the same way everyone does, trial and error.” alex responded with a more matter-of-fact tone, puzzled over the trepidation in his tone. the great red hood possibly being afraid of exploring new horizons was...uncharacteristic to say the least. but unlike the batman, most of his clan separated their vigilante identities from who they were. that was the first step. alex could help the amused laughter at his admission, “okay, that’s not the worst one i heard. try this one on for size, i went to medical school, not only because it was the most perfect thing to do, but because i watched ER like it was the only thing in the world that mattered.” alex whipped her hand around in a playful flourish near her head, “and i had a crush on dr. abby lockhart, but that’s neither here nor there. my point is, have you ever wondered why you wanted to be an archeologist? beside the fact that indiana jones is the coolest bastard ever.” 

“so that’s the safe option.” alex vocalized with a shrug, “it’s good to have a safe option. now you need to figure out the crazy one.”

“Thank you.” Lena murmured, knowing it took a lot for Alex to concede to someone else’s point - she was stubborn to a fault, an immovable object and unstoppable force all in one, and Lena usually adored that about her. But when it led to self-deprecation, that was where Lena had to draw the line. She smiled softly as Alex intertwined their hands, brushing a soft kiss along her knuckles at the gesture before leaning back into the couch with a sigh.

“I think we’ve both been a little distant.” She admitted sheepishly. It had taken everything in her not to run, both metaphorically and quite literally, at Alex’s confession. She was falling back into old habits, burying herself in work, keeping her mind busy so it didn’t have time to stop and dwell on it. The moment she stopped to let herself think about it she would immediately overthink it - logic and emotion always had a complicated relationship in her head, one that could often lead to volatile combinations.

“I’ve just been working on a couple of inventions. L-Corp has been practically running itself back home thanks to Sam. I still have a lot on my plate but it means I can pick up a few personal projects. I can maybe show you one of them next time you’re home?” She offered, brushing off how the word didn’t sit quite right in her mouth - ‘home’ felt too big a word now for a world practically void of the people she cared about. She had needed her space, and her time, she was sure she had - but it didn’t bring the clarity she had hoped it would.

She didn’t exactly want to burden Alex with the knowledge that she had been trying to decipher a way to keep track of Myx or any other being like him whenever they popped up - especially not now. But there was always something else she was sure could catch Alex’s interest - and maybe even get her opinion on. She groaned a little as the doorbell rang, reticent to move herself from the couch but the promise of food finally moved her to answer, leaving the delivery guy with a generous tip before she returned to Alex’s side with food in hand. “I was also thinking about Paris.” She admitted after a moment as she unpacked their food. “Or, well, it doesn’t need to be Paris, it could be anywhere - but I figure you could use a break, and maybe for once I could too. Take our chance now before the world starts ending again.” She joked. “Or at least before Thanksgiving.”

alex’s gaze was downcast briefly at lena’s admission, knowing full the cause for that rift had been alex’s premature slip up - it was no point to weep over spilled milk, but she knew how much it spoiled the firm, wafer thin security lena felt in putting her all into this, and alex was the one who promised to be her reassurance -- and she’d almost ruined it, in a moment of vulnerability that should have never happened. still, she shook off her chagrin as she watched lena talk with such passion about her work. alex’s lips turned up at the invitation, “i’d love that.” she agreed almost eagerly as she gave lena’s hand a squeeze.

alex disentangled herself reluctantly from lena when the doorbell rang, rearranging herself properly on the couch, sweeping a hand over her hair to tuck away any flyaways before her smile returned when lena reappeared and the soft bounce of the couch cued alex scooting a little closer to her as she unpacked the food. “paris?” alex repeated, her head turning briefly as she went through the various boxes, laying claim to one of the fried rice containers already. 

“wait,” alex’s eyes closed as she let the statement of what lena was offering settle in, and she found herself grinning maybe a little foolishly at the thought, “you wanna go away with me, ms luthor?” alex rephrased, her tone more alight than it had been in a while. she allowed her mind to wander to a tranquil imagine of her and lena nestled by the banks of siennes with ellie wedged between them, waving at passing boats, and tucked underneath one blanket that somehow fit them all as they each got their own gelato cone. it was idyllic, almost too good to be true, and when as alex thought about it, “i’d love to go to paris with you.” she finally answered, surprsed at how simple and succinct she’d agreed. she had a billion things to arrange before she could even think of leaving, but she could figure it out, for a few days away from all this with lena? she would.

“You know that’s not my style, Alex. You wouldn’t have come to me just for a pat on the back and an ‘everything will work out’.” Carter noted with a rueful smile. They were both blunt in their honesty when it came to each other. It’s what Carter had always appreciated in Alex’s friendship - she would set him straight when his head was all over the place, and he gave as good as he got. “Yeah, I know.” He confirmed with a small smile, offering a hand to help pick her up from her crouched position in the dust. “It’s why you’re my favourite. Don’t tell Ellie, I don’t want her getting jealous.”

alex could always count on carter to not mince his words - up was up and down was down with him. it was the kind of dynamic that made click and whir like a well-oiled machine, and they didn’t even have to forge it in battle. not that alex would ever admit it, but there had to be some truth to that soulmate stuff, right? the non magical curse induced kind anyways. alex finally heaved a sign, pushing off the boulder both physically and metaphorically as she clapped a hand over carter’s shoulder, “come on, let’s go, you look like you’re about to collapse.” 

With a soft smile, he hugged them back, still looking at the little girl on Alex’s hip. “Neither can I.” Reluctantly letting go of her, he gave her one last squeeze. She looked good, happy. And we might have just royally fucked up that happiness. Well done, Winn. Mentally scolding himself, he focused back on the pair in front of him. What was done, was done. They knew now and no amount of mental yelling would change that. All he could do was hope no problems from the future followed him to them. Alex had a little girl now. They didn’t deserve any problems of his.

Placing a gentle hand on the little one’s head, he looked at her mother. “And who’s this lil princess?”

alex staggered into the final, rushed squeeze as she extricated herself from the greeting embrace, brows arched expectantly for some sort of explanation. her concern would have dissolved at the gentle gesture, but it came with a refined, almost paternal air to it that seemed to sound the bells for alex rather than still them. “this is ellie.” alex smile as she hoisted her one year old properly atop her hip, “she’s my daughter.” 

alex finally stepped to allow winn passage into her humble abode - though she was acutely aware of her need of finding new residence, and fast. ”are you back for good?” time travel had one of the few concepts with fundaments alex only understood in a more generalized scope. she knew there had to be consequence of plucking someone from the past, then returning them. logic stated that winn was simply coming back to where he belonged -- but if he did, why wouldn’t he returned to the moment he’d left in? something must have happened that necessitated the passage of times. 

“Of course,” he didn’t know why she called him there, but there were many times that popped up in his head when she told him to go to her officer. The biggest fear was that something had happened, “I wasn’t really worried about you ambushing me, but mostly that something had happened,” he admitted, they never had a break, so he knew that it was always a possibility.

Maybe she was just checking on him, which he hoped it was really all about, “Pretty good, but I am looking for a place, I’m getting close to reaching a good amount to buy a loft,” he smiled, “As for if I need anything, I don’t, everything is perfect.”

“something has happened.” alex stated grimly, nonplussed at the fact that the sitrep assigned to agents and asset had clearly gone unread by the young daxamite. “well, i’m glad you’re settling in, if you need anything you know you can always reach out.” alex rushed through the niceties - she couldn’t afford to keep up friendly pretense when more pressing matters were at hand, “mon el, do you know if any other daxamites survived the world-ending event on daxam?” she plunged right in, forgoing compassion and instead employing her slapstick, cut-to-the chase performance that just conveyed how serious this situation was.

Carter nodded understandingly at her rebuttal. He understood why she held herself to a higher standard than everyone around her. She was not just Alex Danvers, she was the Director of the DEO, she was a leader. She could not just be human, she had to be an example. “You can train as hard as you want to, Alex, but at the end of the day you’re still human. You can’t remove the parts of yourself that might crumble under pressure - you just have to accept them, and learn to live with them.” He advised softly.

“I believe you’re capable. I believe you are the best person for the job. So did J’onn - or else he wouldn’t have chosen you. Can you honestly say you would trust anyone else to not make the same mistakes - or worse - in your position?” He questioned, letting his words sit for a beat before shrugging, his gaze sympathetic. “But I also want you to be happy. To be okay with yourself and your choices. I can’t tell you what the right decision is for you to get there but whatever choice you make, I’ll support it.”

alex’s lips pressed together in discomfort, being put face to face with her insecurities was jarring at the very least. her fingers shifted, thumbs worrying over her knuckles before they sank within her grip. her brows shot up in a faint attempt at satire - is that all? she wanted to say, briefly glancing up at carter from where she sat nestled in the dirt. then it came, that belief, that trust, the one she felt like she didn’t deserve. alex stacked her fists on top of each other as she pressed them into her lower abdomen, into that pit in her stomach as she peered up at carter.

“couldn’t just go with a good old it’s gonna be okay, huh?” she lamented lightheartedly, though the words paved way for a less forced smile as she pushed the air out of her lungs, she could always trust carter to stand firm with her on her beliefs -- call her out when she was wrong and push her to do the best thing. the right thing. “that means a lot to me, carter.” alex finally breathed out, “you know i’ll always be in your corner too, right?”

Ada Kish wasn’t a woman who was easily intimidated. In fact, she prided herself at being rather indifferent and resilient in the face of unexpected circumstances. At least externally. As of late, after the things she’d personally witnessed and encountered it was become more difficult to truly surprise her. But whenever she was summoned by Doctor Snow she could never suppress the tiny bundle of nerves that immediately arose when in her presence. Part of the reason was due to the hidden infatuation she held towards her and the rest was attributed to her genuine admiration of her scientific abilities. But Ada generally had no issues working with her daily, she enjoyed it greatly. It was just, in terms of social adeptness, interacting with her was rather difficult. Particularly for Ada, who was born without the natural predisposition for effortless and fluid banter. 

All Doctor Snow had told her was that someone had requested her presence, someone of importance. She knew it couldn’t be Cisco or Barry, she saw them multiple times throughout the work day and if they needed to speak with her they’d come themselves. In fact, most of her lab colleagues would approach her directly. Ada couldn’t help the way her slim fingers wound into the fraying wavy edges of her dark hair, tugging incessantly on the strands with each second that passed while she sat alone in the meeting space. The longer she waited the more she began fabricating a plethora of possible reasons for the gathering. Perhaps she was due for another impromptu review. Though she always excelled at those so there was no need for her to feel anxious about that. Maybe she was being asked to assist on an project, which she wasn’t opposed to. 

She held a genuine fondness for Team Flash and was always willing to offer her meager expertise when they needed it. But reasoning veered away from these two options and straight for the obvious third choice. Something was wrong. Was another pair of entities holding the city captive again? Or perhaps another elemental metahuman entrapping innocent citizens. When Director Danvers finally entered, Ada had been so deep in her own thoughts she’d hadn’t notice. Immediately her dark eyes focused on the formidable looking woman, back straight as a board and hand folded neatly in her lap.

Ada’s eyes narrowed on the identification presented to her for a moment before she replied, curiosity curling her brows. She raised her attention to the spot just over the woman’s shoulder, blinking a few times, never wanting to appear impolite but never able to maintain eye contact for an extended period of time. “They contacted Doctor Snow who only informed me my attendance was required,” she corrected, tone perfectly even and concise but lacking inflection as per usual. “What is the reason for this meeting Director Danvers? Are you associated with STAR Labs, is there something you require of me?”

alex knew the weight that carried with this meeting - the initiative she was starting had been far beyond anyone’s beliefs. she didn’t think anyone in her life would agree with her current plans, and the fact that the pentagon had greenlit the endeavor immediately was meant to be a red flag, but alex was confident in her ability to control this. control the circumstances, control the outcome. sound scientific method.

it came in stark clarity to her the vulnerability of her agents as well as herself in the face of metahuman and extra-terrestrial threats. it also came in focus that they couldn’t count of the supers or other superheroes to be around, on their constant beck and call at any time of the day. with that thought in mind, it also didn’t sit well with her, breaking out the kryptonite suit whenever things got out of hand. the suit was an unstable variable, with each of its exposures it threatened the supers as bred multiple outcomes that alex couldn’t anticipate, which is why she needed an alternative. 

and that’s where doctor kish came along. 

“before i answer any of your questions, doctor, and provide you with a much needed explanation, i have to insist you sign this.” alex pulled out the carefully crafted non-disclosure. “it’s a necessity for us to keep talking, just to make sure what we say does not leave these four walls.” alex pushed the envelope towards the woman, “feel free to look over it. i’ve read over it myself, no beating around the bush.” 

Winn took a deep breath and finally knocked on the door. No doubt, Alex would probably smack him for taking so long to finally get in contact but, hey, he was busy trying not to die so that probably has to count for something. He braced himself as the door creaked open. “Hey, Alex. I’m back?”

@agcntdanvcrs​

alex hadn’t had any assumptions as to who could be behind that door - anyone who mattered had a key to her place, so she just assumed it was the food she’d order, “i know, i should be eating more veggies, but i got a little lazy. that’s our secret though.” alex tickled ellie’s belly as she picked her up from her high chair, balancing the little girl on her hip as she walked to the door to open it. 

it was not the delivery guy.

alex’s hand pulled back from the door to adjust her grip on ellie as she stared at the all too familiar face of none other than winn schott himself. “you’re back?” she repeated in shock - did the future just let people travel back in time at whim? it’s not that she mind but carter had always told her that the timelines was fragile so she believed this kind of fickleness was not okay, right? 

Lena smiled softly to herself as she felt the fabric of her skirt being toyed with slightly, rolling her eyes fondly as Alex tightened her grip and pulled her back to her side when she was done with the phone call. She merely hummed at the thank you at first, assuming it was about the food order, as she settled into Alex’s side on the couch.

She rose an eyebrow curiously when Alex continued, shaking her head before Alex had even finished. “It’s not a lot.” She refuted immediately, carefully cradling Alex’s face in her hands, gently forcing Alex to meet her gaze. “Remember, when I was freaking out about Lex, and I was trying to push you away? Do you remember what you said to me?” She murmured softly, leaning her forehead gently against Alex’s own, brushing her nose lightly against the other woman’s. “I want to be there for you, because I care about you.” She repeated, smiling softly as she breathed the words between them.

“It goes both ways.” She told Alex firmly, her thumb rubbing soothingly back and forth across the curve of her cheekbone. “I…” Her voice cracked slightly, hesitant, before she let out a soft sigh. Not yet. “I care about you, Alex. So much. And I know you feel like you’re a burden, but you’re not. I’m not putting on a brave face, I’m just… being here, with you, through good and bad. And that’s more than enough for me.” She muttered, placing a light kiss to Alex’s lips before withdrawing slightly to fix Alex’s gaze with her own again. “And I know that if I said all that you’re saying now - you would tell me the exact same, and mean it. So trust me, it’s entirely fair.”

alex didn’t resist against lena’s grip as she dragged her reluctant gaze to meet hers, chewing at the inside of her lip as lena spoke. she rolled her eyes a little - not really expecting her own words to be used against her, almost jumping to argue that it was not the same. but all of that died on the tip of her tongue when she felt the soft brush of lena’s nose against hers and she let her shoulders fall a little in defeat. instead, she let the weight of her head fall fully into lena’s as her eyes closed, reveling in the soothing motions of lena’s hand across her cheeks. 

hereyes fluttered briefly when she heard the crackle in lena’s voice, her lips pressing together almost guiltily when she felt a hint of the weight on lena’s mind regarding her impromptu confession. alex melted into into the kiss, her eyes opening lazily as she moved her hand to take a hold of lena’s, her thumb moving across the back of lena’s hand as she let herself get lost within lena’s gaze, her strength somehow sustaining them both. 

alex’s lips pressed together into faint smile, “alright,” she pretended to let out a small, dramatic sigh as she moved to press a kiss into lena’s palm. “it’s only fair.” she agreed as she pushed her fingers through lena’s, intertwining their hands as she let her head lean against the couch’s backrest. she simmered in lena’s words, in their confidence and strength and the sincerity -- she could always tell if lena was holding back on her and she knew that she absolutely wasn’t. 

“i still feel like i’ve been distant. tell me what you’ve been up to.” the closest they’d been, before alex got dosed, had been when they shared the wishes myx had inflicted on them both. it had been the moment alex realized she loved lena, maybe even more. but she held onto the latter part to herself. they’d been around each other since then - sure, night ins and lunch drop bys. but she felt like it had been a minute. she didn’t enjoy the distance between them, even when she’d been supportive of lena’s decision to move her permanent residence back to their earth. she felt like multiversal difference was not as simple space/time difference of a usual long distance relationship.