#danverssistersweek

***

It took less than ten minutes for the trio to walk to a small Chinese restaurant that Alex had discovered during her own freshman year at Stanford.

They had barely gotten their drinks ordered before Kara started to babble about everything that had happened since the last time she had seen her sister. Alex and Maggie listened intently, Maggie with her arm around Alex’s shoulders and Alex leaning into her ever so slightly.

Kara stopped speaking abruptly a few minutes later when the front door of the restaurant opened and a beautiful raven haired girl walked in. Alex and Maggie turned to see what had silenced the girl and after catching sight of the newcomer, shared a knowing glance.

Maggie cleared her throat to reclaim Kara’s attention. “So, who is she?” She asked casually.

Kara blinked quickly. “Oh, uh, that’s Lena. She’s just one of my classmates.” She said as a blush crept up her neck and into her cheeks.

Maggie took a sip from her beer. “Uh-huh.”

Kara watched the girl as she took a seat at the bar. “Actually, I think you’d really like her Alex. She’s a total genius and she spends all of her free time developing technology to try and improve the lives of people in third world countries.” Kara gushed, momentarily forgetting who was sitting across the table from her.

“It looks like she might be eating alone, you should ask her to join us.” Maggie said with a poorly concealed smirk.

Kara’s gaze flew back to Maggie and her face only grew hotter. “What? No. What if she wants to eat alone? I don’t want to make her uncomfortable.”

“That’s understandable.” Alex said before pausing. “But, if you don’t ask her to come over here, I will.”

Kara glared at her sister. “You wouldn’t.”

“I’d bet my Triumph that she would little Danvers. You better get over there.”

Alex made a move to get out of the booth but before she could get far, Kara held up her hand to stop her. “Okay, fine.”

Kara stood up and adjusted her glasses before taking a deep breath and walking toward the bar. She hadn’t taken two steps before she heard the unmistakable sound of a high five from behind her. She rolled her eyes and stepped up next to Lena.

“Hi.” She said softly.

Lena set down the book she was reading and swiveled in her chair to face Kara. “Hello Kara.” She said with a bright smile. “Not many people know about this place, the food is amazing but it’s hard to find. How did you hear about it?”

Kara pointed behind her to where Alex and Maggie were sitting and failing miserably to look as though they weren’t spying on them. “My sister found it when she was studying here.”

Lena’s eyes moved to where Kara was pointing and she gasped. “Your sister is Alex Danvers? The Alex Danvers?”

Kara crinkled her eyebrows. “You know her?”

Lena nodded enthusiastically. “I’ve never met her, but I’ve heard the stories. She is a legend in the science department.”

A lightbulb went in inside Kara’s head. “You wouldn’t want to come join us for dinner would you?”

Lena’s eyes opened wide in surprise momentarily before she shook her head. “I couldn’t. I don’t want to impose.”

“It’s no big deal, I was actually coming over to ask you to join us anyway.”

Lena’s cheeks flushed, Kara’s sister momentarily forgotten. “Really?”

Kara looked down at her hands. “Yeah.”

Lena stood and gently touched Kara’s shoulder. “Well, in that case. I’d love to.”

Kara looked up and couldn’t help but mirror the smile on Lena’s face. “Right this way then.”

***

“Guys, this is Lena. Lena this is my sister Alex and her girlfriend Maggie.” Both girls waved.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Lena.”

Lena slid into the booth and smiled. “The pleasure is all mine. I’m a huge fan of yours Alex.”

Maggie choked on her beer and Alex blushed. “Excuse me?” The both sputtered.

“She’s talking about your work here Alex.” Kara said with a laugh.

“Sorry about that, it came out differently than I intended.”

Alex shook her head. “Don’t worry about it, happens to the best of us.”

Though the conversation started out rocky, it soon began to flow as Lena told Alex and Maggie that her and Kara had been studying together regularly for over a year, which prompted Maggie to nudge poke Alex under the table which in turn earned her a soft slap on the hand from Alex. After that, Lena and Alex spent around half an hour discussing one of the papers that Alex had written about alien genetics.

Maggie checked her watch. “Babe, you know I love it when you get all nerdy, but we should probably get back to our hotel. We’ve got an early morning tomorrow.”

Alex nodded. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

Kara and Lena got the hint and made their way out of their seat as Maggie and Alex did the same.

Alex turned to Kara and pulled her into a hug. “I’m sorry that we couldn’t stay longer but we should be back in about a month for your birthday.”

“I’m just glad that I got to see you.” Kara said with a smile.

Alex moved on to Lena and held out her hand. “It was very nice to meet you Lena, hopefully we will see you again.”

“I’m sure we will.” Maggie mumbled just loud enough for Alex to hear.

Lena took Alex’s hand and gave it a firm shake. “If that’s the case, perhaps you can tell me more about the famous biochem protest.”

Alex rolled her eyes. “Oh god. They still talk about that?”

Lena laughed. “Much to the professors’ dismay.”

While Lena and Alex were having their exchange, Maggie pulled Kara to the side. “Have you asked her out yet?”

Kara adjusted her glasses and cleared her throat. “I-uh… no. No I haven’t. Is it that obvious?”

“Maybe not to her, but as a detective…”

“You detect, I know. It’s one of Alex’s favorite things about you.”

Maggie beamed. “That’s besides the point.” Her face turned serious.”What’s stopping you?”

“Have you seen her?”

“Yes and I’ve also seen how she looks at you. I’m not saying that you have to ask her out, that is not my place, but I will say that it will always be worse not knowing if it will work out. No pressure, just think about it.” Maggie said before hugging Kara and walking back over to the other two.

“You ready babe?”

Alex nodded. “I’ll text you when we get to the hotel Kara. Have a good night guys.”

Maggie opened the door for Alex and winked at Kara before following her girlfriend out into the night.

Lena looked over at Kara. “Thank you for inviting me to sit with you guys tonight. It’s the most fun that I have had in awhile.”

“I’m glad that you wanted to come over.” They held each other’s gaze for a moment without saying a word. Kara took a deep breath and before she could think better of it, she spoke up. “It’s still kind of early, do you feel like getting some dessert?”

Lena’s eyes sparkled. “I would love to.”

Kara grinned, and still riding on her wave of confidence stuck her elbow out towards Lena. Without skipping a beat, Lena hooked her arm through Kara’s and the girls made their way out of the restaurant.

***

Later that night, Maggie received a text from Kara that simply said ‘She said yes.’

“Hey babe, you owe me that flash grenade. Kara asked Lena out.”

“Dammit, I thought for sure it would take her another six months.”

Danvers Sisters’ Week Day 6: Double Date

Eliza shakes her head, wondering what the hell her daughters have gotten into this time. But she figures that if Kara needs her to answer now, it must be quite pressing. 

“She was curious,” Eliza says, thinking back to when her oldest daughter barely made it up to her knee. “I mean, she’s always been curious, but when she was little everything was new so she was curious about everything. We had to keep at least three eyes on her at all times or she would go off to lord-knows-where on one of her adventures. She didn’t like to be told things. I remember, one time we told her that a pot we had just taken off the stove was hot and she shouldn’t touch it. Of course, Alex didn’t believe us and she put her hand directly on it. She had second degree burns all over her hand but she didn’t even cry, just stared at them curiously. She learned from that, of course, and didn’t touch a hot pot again, but gosh, she nearly gave us a heart attack.”

“Right. Okay,” Kara says. “So how did you keep her under control?”

“Controlling Alex?” Eliza scoffed. “She may have been small but she was just as headstrong as she is now. The only way to control her was to pick her up and hold her, not matter how hard she fought back. Eventually, she’d get tired.”

“Okay! Thank you, Eliza! I’ll let you get back to your conference now.”

Kara’s words were punctuated by a loud crash in the background, the shouted words “Alex, no!” and then the line went dead. Eliza stared at her phone wondering if she should be worried. 

“Get off that! How did you even get up there?” Kara says, grabbing Alex around her middle and hoisting her up in her arms and off of the lab table. 

Just like Eliza predicted, Alex starts shrieking almost immediately. 

“No! NO! Put me down! Put me down!”

She slams her tiny fists into Kara’s chest and Kara barely feels it but Alex’s tantrum is drawing the eyes of passing agents and Kara quickly puts her back down on the ground. She immediately scurries away into the hall. Kara chases after her as quickly as she can. She’s about to grab her again and pick her up, before she remembers what happened the previous time. So she settles for just following her around, ready to stop her if she does something dangerous. 

On the bright side, all of the agents have been briefed about Agent Danvers’s… situation. They smile at her kindly as she passes and when she marches up to them, a determined look on her face, they answer her questions happily. 

“Have you ever killed someone?”

“Um, no, I haven’t,” Agent Demos says. “I’m a technician so I don’t go out into the field much.”

“What’s a teck-ni-shan?” Alex asks, the foreign syllables sitting heavily on her tongue. 

“It means, I work with computers and technology. Right now I’m assigned to the control deck with Agent Schott.”

Alex ponders this statement heavily, regarding Agent Demos thoughtfully. 

“Show me!” she commands. 

Agent Demos’s shoulder shake with the effort not to laugh. That command from Alex at age 30 would have had him shaking in his boots. But she’s small, wearing only a DEO t-shirt (the smallest they could find, but it still hangs on her like a dress), and her normally pointed eyes are too wide, and too big to be intimidating. That said, Demos straightens his spine and fighting a smile, says, “Yes, ma’am.”

Kara smiles at him gratefully and follows them to the control center. Demos sits down at his station and hesitates for a second, before lifting Alex up and putting her in his lap so that she can see the screen. 

“What’s that do?” she asks, pressing a button before Demos can answer. 

An alarm goes off and Kara winces. 

“No! Don’t touch that. That’s a special button that we don’t touch unless it’s an emergency,” Demos says, clicking a few buttons until the alarm shuts off. 

Already, Kara can hear agents on all levels half-way to high alert and their confusion at how abruptly the alarm was shut off. 

“Stand down, Agents,” J’onn’s voice echoes over the intercom. “False alarm. I repeat, a false alarm.”

Everyone quiets down and J’onn shoots Demos a look that has him shrinking in his chair. 

“Please tell me don’t that your six years of training were such a colossal waste that you are unable to baby-sit a five-year-old for two minutes,” he says. 

“No, sir,” Agent Demos replies and he turns back just in time to catch Alex’s wrist before she presses another potentially dangerous button. 

“How close are we to fixing this?” Kara asks, pulling J’onn to the side. 

He glances over at Winn, who is muttering and gnawing on a pen and staring at the readings the lab sent him. 

“There’s still work to do,” he says, with an aggrieved sigh. “But Winn has at least determined that it can be undone.”

“What did they even hit her with?”

“A localized time ray. It turns back the time on whatever it hits. Usually it’s used on buildings or bank vaults to move time forward and have them crumble. We still don’t know what that alien planned to do with it. Alex just got caught in the crossfire. Winn is trying to figure out how to reverse the settings.”

Kara nods. 

“Well, I hope he does it soon,” she says. 

Kara turns around to see Alex reaching for Agent Demos’s gun. He has clearly all but forgotten about her, his focus on something on his computer screen and not on the toddler reaching into his holster. 

Kara speeds across the room and scoops Alex up. 

“No, Alex!” she says, as firmly as she can. “No guns.”

Alex’s eyes get very wide, her lower lip juts out, and she takes a deep breath and Kara flinches away before she even starts screaming. It’s amazing to her that such a tiny body can produce such a loud sound. 

“Let go! Let go!” 

Kara sighs and stares up at the ceiling, wondering when exactly this became her life. She isn’t sure how to make her be quiet other than to put her down but she knows that the DEO control center isn’t exactly child-friendly. A particularly shrill shout from Alex makes up her mind for her and Kara takes off, flying into the DEO training room. 

It’s completely bare and Kara knows that there won’t be much to entertain Alex in there, but it’s also the only room in the DEO that doesn’t have guns, or scalpels, or buttons that will blow something up. She puts Alex down and she stops screaming. 

She toddles around the room, touching each wall, staring at the floor as if it holds the secrets to the universe. She gets to the door and tries to push against the heavy metal. It’s locked but Kara’s pretty sure it’s heavy enough Alex wouldn’t be able to open it anyway. 

“Open!” she shouts at Kara. 

“Sorry, Alex. It’s best that you stay in here, at least until Winn figures out how to cure you.”

“OPEN!” she says again. 

Kara shakes her head. She worries for a second that Alex will start screaming again, but instead she just frowns unhappily before dashing across the room and trying to climb up the window ledges to look out the window. She tries for longer that Kara thought she would, curling her tiny fingers over the ledge and trying to scramble up with her bare feet, before she eventually gives up and looks at Kara. 

“I wanna see,” she says. 

“What’s the magic word?” Kara asks, feeling a strange sort of satisfaction at being able to hold that over her sister’s head. 

Alex pouts, clenching her jaw. For a second they’re at a stalemate. Alex glaring and Kara standing her ground. Eventually, Alex sighs deeply.

“I wanna see, please,” she says. 

Kara walks over and scoops her up so that she can sit on the ledge. The DEO offers a view of the whole city and Kara watches as Alex’s eyes go wide. 

“Wow,” she says. 

“It’s pretty, isn’t it?” Kara says and her heart clenches with affection as Alex nods slowly. 

“What is that?” she asks, pointing at the tallest building in her sight. 

“That’s the CatCo building. They’re a news company. I work for them,” she says. 

“And that?”

“L-Corp. My best friend is the CEO.”

“What’s a CEO?” 

“It means she’s in charge.”

“Of what?”

“The whole company. She’s everyone’s boss.”

“Cool,” Alex says. “What’s that?”

“They’re mountains.”

“No, there,” Alex says, pointing to the left a little. 

“Oh, that’s the ocean.”

“It’s pretty,” Alex says softly, leaning back into Kara’s chest. 

“Hmmm, yeah. It’s where all the fishes live. And sharks and dolphins and whales.”

“Octopus?”

“Yeah, there are octopus, too.”

Alex nods, satisfied. She yawns and her head drops to Kara’s shoulder. 

“I’m sleepy,” she says. 

“Hmmm, it was probably all the screaming,” Kara replies. 

She doesn’t expect the reproachful look Alex gives her. It’s exactly the same as the one adult Alex shoots Kara when she’s being sarcastic. Kara fights the urge to laugh and instead picks her up off the ledge and holds her securely against her chest. 

It’s not long before Alex’s breathing evens out. 

Kara holds her gingerly. It’s not the first time she’s wondered what it would have been like had she lived through this part of Alex’s life. What if she had landed earlier and grown up with Alex? What if the awkward we’re-strangers-living-in-a-different house hadn’t happened because Alex was too young to know the difference? What if, instead of being the dorky little sister, Kara would have been the older sister? Not the cool older sister, because Kara isn’t cool, but an older sister that Alex looked up to as an example of how to act and how to live. 

Kara doesn’t think she’d trade the memories she has or the life she lived for the world. Having Alex as her older sister had been her saving grace since the moment she landed on Earth. She wouldn’t be Supergirl, might not even be alive, if Alex hadn’t been there supporting her and saving her every step of the way. That doesn’t mean that she would turn up a chance to see how things might have been. 

The door behind her opens quietly, distracting her from her thoughts. 

“Winn figured it out he thinks,” J’onn says. “We can bring her back.”

Kara tilts her head so that she can look at Alex’s face where its buried against her shoulder. It’s all scrunched up and she’s drooling just a little and she looks so small and cute that Kara thinks her heart might burst. J’onn walks over and softly brushes a strand of hair out of her face. 

“Did you hear me Kara?” he asks, when he doesn’t get a response. 

The way your almost girlfriend's eyes widen at that warms your heart. “Is she alright? Was she hurt?”

You smile. “No. I don’t think so at least… they were going to try a new prototype tonight and I think Alex is poking her nose around… that was Luce. She is pissed.”

Lena’s brows furrow. “… Wait a moment… Alex is trying a new prototype and she didn’t tell me?!”

The indignation in her voice is cute, but it would be cuter if Lena and Alex weren’t such a volatile duo with explicit orders to never be on their own within the DEO. The order was given by both Directors, Lane and J’onzz, and you think wiser order hadn’t ever been given.

Lena and Alex, together, alone… not a good combo, no sir.

“More like Vasquez and Lucy are trying a new prototype and Alex got word about it at last minute.”

The vibrant excitement in your date sits ill with you. “Oh! What are they testing?”

“I don’t know.” And if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you, you think. You really don’t need Lena getting the idea she can come al-

“I’m coming with you,” Lena declares as she passes her card to the waiter.

“No.”

The raised eyebrow sent your way looks eerily like Alex’s. “I’m not asking you. I’m informing you.”

You stand up then. “I’m leaving now. I’m not taking you.” You turn and head to the door, not looking back.

You can almost hear the shrug on her voice, still low but so easily heard by you. “By all means, go. I’ll drive there on my own and you won’t be invited to the gala. Neither of your alter egos will be.”

That stops you short, just a foot from exiting the restaurant. L-Corp is housing a gala to raise donations towards several orphanages and this year promises to be amazing. Not only did Lena invite several of the major players in the philanthropy scene, she also invited all the kids the donations are going to help. The event is planned not so much like a gala, but a fair for kids and adults alike and the goal is to bring the money in while having fun.

Kara Danvers needs to be there to report on it, Snapper made sure to tell you that just today and Supergirl was promised her weight in potstickers and wants to play with all the children.

“This is so not fair,” you inform Lena as she comes stand next to you once the bill is settled.

“All is fair in love and science.”

“Don’t you mean all is fair in love and war?”

You have reached an alley and you super-speed into your uniform. Lena comes close to you and lets herself be picked up bridal style.

“Oh, no… Didn’t you hear I only make love and never war?” The purring words in your ear makes your face boil in embarrassment and not a little desire.

Rao, with any luck you will stop resembling a tomato by the time you arrive at the Desert Base.

XxXxX

“Alex!”

Hearing your sister’s name being yelled with such anger and exasperation shouldn’t be such a surprise. Lucy called you beyond mad, after all.

You and Lena enter the hangar and you can see Lucy in the middle of the open space, staring upwards and with her hands on her hips. She’s so tiny and yet she can fill up the space with that commanding air that makes you want to obey no matter what and you wonder how is it that Alex can date her.

Sure, your sister has so much fun most of the time pushing her buttons, but you’d get scared with a partner like Lucy. Once you raised your concerns to Lena about how Alex loves making Lucy angry and your friend got so flustered and you were left so confused.

Lucy gets really upset and Alex loves it… but well, the bruises you have seen on Alex’s wrists and back bothers you and it’s just because both Alex and Lena have told you on numerous occasions that they mean nothing bad that you haven’t acted against Lucy.

Also, you like Lucy. And you like that Lucy has mellowed Alex’s most reckless tendencies. She no longer charges on into battle without regard for her own safety, she no longer drinks herself to the point her liver and kidneys are gross (yes, you have checked with your x-ray vision) and she is no longer sad all the time.

Lucy is good for your sister… even if you don’t understand how Lucy interacts with her.

“I’m almost there! I need ten more minutes!” You can’t see where Alex is, yet, but she sounds like she’s having a little too much fun.

“If you do don’t come down right now, you will be tied up for the whole weekend!”

You frown at that and when you turn to Lena to help you understand, you can’t find her.

You sigh. Of course, she is gone who knows where now that you are here.

“Hey, Luce!” you call to your friend. “What’s the emergency?”

Lucy turns and the scowl on her face lessens a little. “Your dumbass sister,” she informs you plainly. She points up and you follow her finger.

The hangar’s ceiling is high, really high. This is the hangar you use to train flying maneuvers and the one where J’onn and you have aerial fights. It’s also the one where agents learn to use the diverse flying machines the DEO have at its disposal, such as small rockets, gliders, and small aircraft. You don’t know how they managed to build such a high and resistant thing, but you at least now know why Lucy is so pissed.

Alex is sitting in the catwalk that runs across the hangar with her legs dangling down, a catwalk so high that it almost touches the ceiling and you know from experience that you need to walk hunched to not hit your head. She is in what you think is her issued underwear, a tank top and boy briefs, her legs are kicking the air happily and she is… tinkering with something that has… wings?

“She’s been up there for two hours now. She refuses to come down.”

You are still looking up. And… damn it, even with your eyesight you can’t really say what your sister is really doing. She has a toolkit besides her and she has a smudge of oil on her cheek and a smile so big on her face that you don’t want to know but you have to ask.

“What is she doing?”

“Our prototype had some serious issues… she’s fixing it, she says, but she won’t come down to let the rest of us see what the hell she’s doing.”

Oh. Understanding downs to you. “She wants to be the one testing it.”

“… yes.”

You look then at Lucy, frowning. “And why aren’t you up there with her?” You don’t think it would be a problem to drag her down.

“She locked herself up there,” Vasquez comes behind you. They are holding a tablet and the frown on their face concerns you a little. “She also bit Agent Kelly before doing so.”

You blink at Vasquez. “She bit Michael? She likes Michael!”

Vasquez shrugs. “She likes the prototype better?”

“And J’onn? Haven’t you call J’onn?”

Lucy massages her temples and Vasquez shakes their head. “He’s our last resort.”

Oh. “He threatened you.” It’s not a question but it would be nice to have it confirmed.

Lucy nods.

“He said if she lets her do something  this stupid again, he will suspend her for a week,” Vasquez informs you.

You frown. “But… it’s not your fault Alex is… well, Alex.”

“Space Dad swears she started acting up when I joined the DEO,” Lucy mutters. “That’s bullshit, though.”

“Well…” you drawl. “He’s not wrong. She was the perfect agent before she started dating you.”

Lucy’s glare on you, makes you flinch and you fly to Alex in part to escape Lucy and in part to bring Alex down.

“Hey, sis!” Alex chirps the moment you are floating by her side.

“Alex…” you wave her, grabbing a wrench that threatens to fall off the catwalk and kill someone below. “So… how about we if go down for a little bit?”

“Nope,” she says happily. “I’m almost done.”

“Alex… Lucy is gonna be suspended if you don’t come down.”

That makes her pause and look up from whatever she is oiling. “What?”

“J’onn said she would be suspended if you pull a crazy stunt again.”

She blinks once, twice, before looking down to what you think looks like a mechanical skull. “Weren’t you on a date with Lena?” she asks you.

The topic change makes your head swirl. “Uh?”

“Weren’t you with Lee?”

“… Yes?”

She looks up again and turns her head left and then right. Her face brightens and you don’t need to look to know what has her so happy. “Lee!”

“Al!” Lena’s cheerful voice ricochets around your brain, making you wince. You love Lena, you love Alex, but the level of silliness and stupidity they reach when together makes you have honest to Rao migraines.

Lena comes to sit next to your sister and you see she has changed clothes. She is no longer wearing her red power-suit, but one of… yes, you can see the tag on her chest, one of Alex’s day-to-day uniforms. “What do I do?” She asks, eagerly.

Alex points to the backpack-like chunk of metal to the side. “I can’t make it ignite without it bursting into flames.”

“Alex!” You scold her because she knows, she knows, she can’t play with fire.

Your sister rolls her eyes. “Lena is here,” she tells you dismissively. “She’ll fix it.”  

Lena nods once, sharply. “No problem.”

You groan. “C’mon, Alex! Lena! You need to come down, you can’t try this if it can explode!”

“Relax, we know what we are doing,” Alex says, twisting something in her hands and crying happily in success. “Yes! This will fly now!”

You shake your head. “Guys, please.”

“Don’t you have a tiny Director to calm down?” Lena asks you and you groan again.

You can try getting physical with them. You can try grabbing them and forcing them down… but these two are so in sync and they think so alike they will escape you one way or another.

They have done it before.

If you go for Alex, Lena in all her graceful glory will jump down, forcing you to catch her and letting Alex escape with their toy. If you go for Lena, Alex will still have the time to escape with their toy.

If you try going for both they will make it so that none of you three make it down unharmed and… Alex will still escape with their toy.

The only way you can really win this is talking about their sense of responsibility and adulting… not that either act like adults when they are together.

“… What will it cost me to have you both down and complaint?”

Lena and Alex look from their respective tasks and look at each other. Lena raises an eyebrow and Alex’s lip twitches. Lena dips her head to you and Alex’s shakes a little. Lena’s eyes widen and Alex’s brow furrow. Alex’s nose wrinkles and Lena smirks.

As one, they turn to you.

“We are not going down,” they announce solemnly.

“Oh! Come on!”

“Bye, Kara.” With that, Alex pushes the tool kit out the catwalk and to your horror, it splits open as it starts going down.

“You, asshole!” You yell at her as you use your speed to catch every single tool and nail and screw and tidbit before they reach the ground and really kill someone.

The worst thing is, no matter how fast you do it, by the time you go back to them they would be finished with their tasks and they would still not come down.

“Nice catch, Supergirl,” Vasquez says with a smirk.

“I hate them both.”

Lucy sighs. “That makes three of us.”

Vasquez laughs. “I don’t hate them. I find them hilarious.”

Lucy’s murderous eyes are turned to her second-in-command before focusing on the crazy duo above. “Get ready to phone J’onn.”

You gasp. “You will be suspended!”

“I don’t care. I’ll make sure he suspends Alex too and I’ll make her pay for this.”

Your stomach clenches in worry at her words. “You won’t hurt her, will you?”

You are no stranger to Lucy’s moods and you have seen her hit the punching bag heavily when she is too angry. You have seen her lay it on the shooting range when she is frustrated and you have seen her scream and yell until she is blue in the face when things don’t go her way…

… And you have seen her manhandle Alex in several occasions, not that they know you have seen them.

You haven’t acted nor will you act because Alex, Lena, and even J’onn have told you Alex is in no danger repeatedly and emphatically.

You still worry, though.

And apparently, Lucy can hear that worry in your voice because her eyes shift from Alex and Lena and settle on you. They are warm and open and so understanding that you know why Alex is dating this madwoman. “Kara, I promise I won’t harm her.”

You nod and you are about to tell her how grateful you are your sister found in their relationship such comfort that she started being so bratty when Lee’s overjoyed squeal reaches your ears.

“Kara!”

You look up just in time to see Lena jumping down from the catwalk… if you didn’t know that Lena actually enjoys jumping off buildings, you would be so freaked out. But, right now, you were kind of expecting her to do this.

You meet her halfway on her descend, letting her enjoy the free fall for a couple of seconds. “One of these days I won’t catch you,” you growl at her with no real heat as you lower her easily to the ground. Her arms are around your neck and she is looking up with a big smile.

“No biggie,” she says with a shrug, letting go. “Alex will catch me.”

Once your feet touch down, you look up too.

Alex is holding the ends of what you see are mechanical wings and the reason that she is in her underwear is now evident: her arms and legs are encased in soft leather with more metal feathers and over her head, she is wearing that strange skull you saw before. The wings are designed so the movements of her arms make the metal wings move, almost as if she was a little kid playing being a bird… even her feet are in what looks like clawed shoes.

“Don’t you dare jump!” Lucy calls her.

“It’s gonna work!” Alex yells back.

“If you jump; your ass is mine!”

“My ass is already yours, dimwit!”

“You know what I fucking mean!”

“I can’t hear you!”

“Alex, NO!”

You can almost hear your sister think the “Alex, YES!” as she leaps.

Lena is jumping in joy besides you and you start hovering in preparation to catch your stupid sister.

But, just a second after jumping, Alex’s pushes a button on each hand and the machine comes to life.

It’s clumsy, it’s noisy and it’s so stiff, but your sister starts flapping and she manages to hold on the air for a really long second. Her tongue is poking out between her lips and you see her brow wrinkled in concentration. There is no air within the hangar, but after flapping hard, she somehow manages to find a way to glide down a little and it is then when her fun starts.

“See?!” She yells as she starts gliding in wide circles. “I’m flying!”

“No, you’re not!” Lucy yells. “You’re simply putting off your death!”

“This won’t kill me!”

“But I will! Come down here!”

You shake your head and hover up to fly alongside Alex. “She is spitting mad,” you tell her quietly.

Alex is finally close enough to the ground that she can easily see Lucy’s red, annoyed, face. Your sister winces and you refuse to feel any empathy towards her. “Fuck… I thought she was bluffing. She’s really pissed.”

You stare at her, shocked. “She called me in, Alex. She passed pissed an hour ago.”

Alex turns watery eyes to you and the pout on her face shouldn’t be that pitiful. “No, nuh-uh. Nope. Don’t look at me like that. You made her mad, you face her.”

“Kara…” she whines.

“Damn it, Alex, she is your girlfriend! You shouldn’t like making her mad!”

Alex’s pout is replaced by a smug smirk. “I like her mad.”

“Alex!”

Her smirk softens at your exasperation. “Really Kar, she doesn’t get mad-mad… Rao, I hate making her mad-mad… but, like… I enjoy pushing her and she enjoys it too.” She fumbles a bit with her wings, making a wide turn so you can keep gliding easily. “She likes it when I don’t listen… I mean, she could override my commands at any time and she could really force me to come down with one word… but she let me do this… so.” She almost shrugs before remembering that could possibly be a bad choice when she is using wings so high from the ground.

You frown, confused. “Then why she would call me?”

“She is a drama queen.”

You snort. “So, you are indeed made for each other.”

“Hey! I’m not a drama queen!”

“No, you are just dramatic.”

The lazy circles around the hangar bring you closer and closer to the ground and closer and closer to a tiny angry Director.

Alex is all smiles when her feet touch the ground and she makes a stupid flourish to Lena’s clapping, bowing reverently to an imaginary crowd. Her bowing is interrupted, though, when a loud smack is heard and Alex jumps a foot forward mid reverence.

“Damn it, Alex!” Lucy snarls. “That was stupid and reckless!”

Alex turns to face her girlfriend, a pout back in her face. She is rubbing her left butt cheek where Lucy just slapped her. “I didn’t die…”

“But you will wish you did the moment I’m done with you.” Lucy grabs Alex’s forearm and she starts marching her to the exit.

“But the prototype worked!”

“You weren’t authorized to use it or even fix it!”

“But-”

They are no longer within sight, but you can almost see how Lucy spanks Alex again. You can hear it clearly and you know that Alex’s complains will be shut down now.

“So…” Vasquez says. “I don’t call Director J’onzz?”

You shake your head. “I don’t think so, no. Let Lucy deal with her.”

Lena snorts. “She won’t be able to sit for a week.”

“Try a month,” Vasquez mutters

Lena nods with a grin on her face.

You look at them and sigh. You don’t get it. You don’t.

But, you also don’t want to get it.

So, you don’t ask.

“Alex!”

You sigh and turn to Lena. “Want to get out of here?” You ask her, pleading her with your eyes. You don’t want to be around for Alex’s next round of stupid.

Lena smiles. “Sure.” She wraps her arms around your neck again and lets you take her weight. “Take me home, Supergirl.”

“Alexandra!”

Alex’s delighted laughter is the last thing you hear before you flee with Lena in your arms.

And you smile. Maybe Alex changed after started dating Lucy, but she changed for good.

She is happier, more relaxed and overall at ease.

Yeah, it’s good she is dating Lucy.

Kara was hiding in their room, as she had taken to doing every day since starting at Midvale Junior High. Alex had just received stitches four days before and Kara had started wearing new glasses. Ever since that incident, Kara had spoken even less at home, especially not to Alex, having apparently decided that Alex must hate her.

Alex sighed, looking down at the book in her hands. Given it had only been read once, it was still in pristine shape. She still wasn’t entirely sure what to think about this alien that had, almost literally, crashed into her life but she couldn’t just… leave her and let her hurt. And, well, Alex knew she liked new books when she was upset so maybe Kara would too. Taking a deep breath, she knocked softly. “Kara?”

There was silence then a very hesitant “Yeah?”

“Can I come in?”

“…Okay.”

Slowly Alex pushed open the door, trying not to make too much noise in case Kara didn’t have her glasses on. Kara was sitting on the floor by her bed and looked up when the door opened, glasses firmly in place. “Hi.”

Alex smiled slightly. “Hi. Can I sit with you?”

Kara nodded slowly, brow crinkling just a little in obvious confusion.

Alex sat down carefully so as not to jostle Kara. “I um, I know you think I’m mad.” Kara’s eyes opened wide. “But I’m not,” she hastened to add. “I mean, I was. But, uh, not anymore. And um, well, I don’t really know what you like to do when you’re upset but books cheer me up and uh… here.” She practically shoved the copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone at Kara. “It’s fiction, um, not real, but I thought maybe you’d like it. And a lot of the kids at school… they like it. So maybe if you read it you could, uh, you’d have something to talk to them about.”

Kara was still gazing at her with wide eyes and Alex shifted uncomfortably. Really, they hardly knew each other but this was what sisters did. Right? Right.

When Kara didn’t speak Alex shrugged awkwardly and stood back up. “Well, uh, yeah. I just wanted to say I wasn’t mad. The scar is actually going to be kind of cool. And um, to give you that. So… let me know what you think.” She nodded. “Right. I’ll… get out of your hair, Kara.”

She had just reached for the door to close it behind her when Kara finally spoke again. “Alex?”

Half turning, she cocked her head slightly. “Yeah?”

Kara smiled tentatively. “Thank you. For not being mad. And for the book.”

Alex smiled back, just as tentative. “You’re welcome. I… I hope you like it.”

Kara did like it. Loved it in fact. Their mom picked up the next four on the way home from work the next day. In just a few days Kara had devoured them all and plopped herself next to a studying Alex with a curious and concerned look on her face.

Alex glanced over curiously before returning her attention to her book. “What’s up, Kara? I’m trying to study.”

“Aren’t you a week ahead?”

Alex sighed but smiled ruefully. She looked up again, turning in the chair to face her sister. “Yeah, I am. What’s up?” Things had smoothed out a lot between them over the past several days and Kara had quickly seemed to grasp that Alex’s ideal situation was to be well ahead in all her classes. They hadn’t exactly started sharing a lot about themselves but Kara had at least stopped hiding away and appeared to have accepted that Alex wasn’t mad. Mostly Kara would just do her homework and then read her books in the same room while Alex studied ever further ahead in her classes, the most advanced ones the school would allow her to take at her age.

Kara’s brow furrowed slightly and she now looked a little upset, as if whatever she wanted to ask was bothering her more and more the longer she dwelled on it. Alex cocked her head slightly, studying her younger sister in concern. “Kara?”

“Why does Harry always have to go back to the Dursleys?” Kara blurted out.

“Um...” Alex scrambled for an answer, grateful for her good memory so she could even remember who the Dursleys were. “Because they’re his family I suppose.”

“But they’re so mean! And Harry is so upset! Why does he have to go with them instead of someone else? It’s not right!”

Alex grabbed Kara’s hands which had started to flail a little. “Whoa, whoa. Calm down. What do you mean it’s not right?”

“Because he just lost Sirius and everyone was so mean to him and now he doesn’t even get to stay with people he likes and—”

Alex was lost but she tried desperately to calm Kara down. She really didn’t need a superpowered panic attack right now. Last time that had happened they had lost a chair and two throw pillows to abrupt heat vision. “Hey, hey. Just breathe. It’s ok, Kara. It’s ok. There you go.” Slowly Kara’s breathing regulated. Alex studied her thoughtfully, setting aside the confusing ramble for a moment. “You really liked those books, huh?”

Kara looked at her in surprise, momentarily distracted from whatever had upset her. “Well, of course! Don’t you?”

Alex shrugged slightly and asked, avoiding the question, “What makes you like them so much?”

Kara looked at her suspiciously for a moment, clearly not missing that Alex had refused the answer. But she didn’t call Alex out on it, at least for the moment. “Harry reminds me of me,” she stated simply. “Losing everything. Being left with the Dursleys without a choice. Not fitting in.”

Alex stiffened. Sure, she may have only read the one book and that years ago but she did remember the Dursleys and Harry’s situation. They—she—hadn’t been that bad to Kara had she? Carefully she tried to extract her hands from Kara’s. “Oh. I see.” She couldn’t entirely keep the edge out of her voice. Sure, things hadn’t been sunshine and roses but surely it wasn’t that bad. But maybe it was from Kara’s perspective. Maybe she was as horrible an older sister as Dudley was a cousin.

But Kara was rambling again, not even seeming to have noticed Alex’s reaction. “Obviously it’s not exactly the same. I didn’t have to go live with someone like the Dursleys for one. But see? Harry finds a family at Hogwarts when he didn’t think he would and I found one here when I didn’t think I would. And he doesn’t fit in all the way even at Hogwarts and I don’t either. But he managed to find friends and a family and his godfather and be a hero! And it just…” She trailed off, seeming to run out of steam. It was the most Alex had heard Kara speak about what it was like coming to Earth and moving in with the Danvers family. “It reminds me of me and that maybe I can do that too eventually,” she finally added.

Alex sat back a little in surprise. From that point of view she definitely could see why Kara loved the books so much. “Oh. That… that makes sense.” Alex cast about for something else to say. “What was your favorite part?”

Kara shrugged a little. “I don’t know. Maybe the part where he finds Sirius. But that’s also sad because he doesn’t get to go stay with him. I also really liked the part where his friends come with him to the Ministry even though it was dangerous and he tried to stop them.”

Alex tried to act like she had a clue what Kara was talking about but Kara seemed to still remember Alex’s evasiveness prior and cocked her head slightly. “What’s your favorite part, Alex?” she asked abruptly.

“Oh… um… well, the parts you just said are really good… I, uh…”

Kara smiled a little sadly. “You haven’t read them have you?”

“I… well, no. I read the first one but… no, not the others.”

“Oh.” Kara was silent for several seconds. “Then why did you give me the first one to read? Why not one of the things you like?”

Alex shrugged a little. “I didn’t know that you wanted to read about string theory for fun and relaxation. Besides, like I said, now you have something you can talk to some of the kids at school about. Help you fit in. Maybe find your Hermione and Ron or something. We don’t have to like all the same things.”

Kara seemed to consider this before nodding. “Ok. Thanks, Alex.”

Alex smiled. “No problem, Kara.”

Alex studied the colorful covers arranged neatly on Kara’s bookshelf in their shared room. Kara had continued to love and read (and reread) the Harry Potter books over the years though she’d never really talked about them much with Alex after that initial attempt. Alex did know that Kara had found some friends at school who liked the books. Part of why Alex’s—now ex—friend Josie considered Kara an unpopular dork. But now it was winter break her senior year, Alex was already accepted into Stanford and, well, after recent events she found herself wanting to actually get closer to Kara rather than sticking with the status quo of “siblings who generally like each other.”

Alex was fairly confident Kara wouldn’t mind her borrowing Kara’s copies. They had loaned each other books before after all. Mentally making a note to still be careful with the books, Alex grabbed the first one and settled on to her bed to start reading. Maybe with Kara’s perspective she’d enjoy the books more this time around.

Alex was right. Rereading the books with the insight into Kara’s perspective on them made them far more enjoyable. She doubted she’d ever really adore them the way Kara did but she could see why so many people were obsessed with the books. And, she conceded, they were very good. She still firmly believed Hermione was the best but had found herself engrossed in the story of Harry and how he handled the increasing stakes, particularly in the later books.

Once finished she plopped herself on the couch next to her sister with a sly smile. Their mom was at work, her last day before the holidays, and Kara looked at Alex askance. “Hey, Kara.”

“Hey, Alex.” Kara’s tone was confused. “What’s up?”

“I was just curious… do you think Snape is really evil? I mean, he killed Dumbledore and all but…”

Kara blinked. “What? Wait… you read them??”

“Yeah, well… you really like them so… I thought I’d give them another chance. They’re good.” Alex smiled.

Kara paused as if processing before her face broke out into a wide grin. And then she was off, asking a million questions about Alex’s opinions. “Who’s your favorite character? I bet it’s Hermione, huh? I really like Remus. And of course Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Oh! I bet you really like McGonagall, too, huh? She seems like such a good teacher! It’s too bad Harry couldn’t have been raised by her!

What did you think about Sirius? It was so sad when he died, wasn’t it? What about the Half-Blood Prince? Did you realize it was Snape? Do you think he’s actually evil? He did help Harry a lot but he’s also so mean! And what he did to Remus! But maybe he’s just mean but still a ‘good guy’? Oh! And what about Harry and the snake! Do you think Harry might be a horcrux too? Or is it just because of the scar like Dumbledore said? I think Dumbledore should have been training Harry in occlumency don’t you? Snape was the worst choice!”

Alex laughed. “Whoa, Kara slow down. Yes, Hermione is my favorite. Now if you could repeat questions two through one million…”

Kara blushed and dropped her head slightly, smile dimming. “Sorry, Alex.”

Alex frowned. “No, hey, it’s fine, Kara. I just didn’t catch all the questions. I’m happy to talk about the books with you; that’s why I told you I’d read them. I can’t guarantee I’m as enthusiastic about them as you but I liked them.”

Kara grinned again. “We have to watch the movies! And the next one comes out this summer! So does the last book!”

Alex chuckled. “Sure, Kara. We can do that.” She settled more comfortably on the couch. “So, what were the rest of your questions?”

Kara’s grin seemed to brighten if that was even possible as she delightedly launched back into her questions, albeit at a more reasonable pace. By the time Eliza arrived home, she found both girls ensconced in the couch, good naturedly debating the changes made from the book to the movie version of Sorcerer’s Stone.

When Alex received a handmade scarf in Ravenclaw colors from Kara for her birthday, she smiled and wore it proudly, if only because her sister had made it. When the seventh book came out, Alex went to the midnight release with Kara only slightly begrudgingly, wearing her scarf (at Kara’s insistence). Alex didn’t necessarily mind picking up their copies of the book at midnight—one regular and one deluxe edition—but she also hoped they didn’t have to spend forever at the bookstore. While Kara was certainly going to stay up all night reading her copy, Alex just wanted to get some sleep and read it the next day. But Kara was so excited and Alex had a hard time telling her no, especially after how much closer they had become over the past six months.

Only a couple weeks later, Alex was sighing and shifting her weight in boredom next to a nearly vibrating Kara as they waited for the midnight showing of the fifth movie. Alex figured it was the least she could do since she would be leaving for college in just over a month and Kara would have to go back to Midvale High for her junior year. Things may have gotten slightly better for her sister but Alex knew Midvale High wasn’t exactly Kara’s favorite place. Even if Kara had gotten much better about human interaction, small towns weren’t exactly known for moving forward or forgetting first impressions. So here she was, standing in line at eleven pm waiting for theater doors to open. At least book 5 was one of her favorites, though not quite as much as book 4. And, she had to admit, she was curious how they would handle Umbridge and the DA.

Over the years it became one of her and Kara’s go-to topics of conversation. Happily rehashing old theories and newly noticed details. Alex had laughed but took the Pottermore quiz as soon as it was available at Kara’s insistence, protests of working on her thesis falling on deaf ears. Seeing Kara glow upon realizing that her instinct that Alex would be a Ravenclaw was right made it worth it. Even if Alex had to ignore the niggling voice that told her it had been far too easy to game that quiz to make sure it would place her where she knew would make Kara happiest but… not necessarily where was most accurate.

When Kara happily bestowed an official Ravenclaw scarf on Alex one year for Christmas, Alex had just grinned a little and returned the favor with a Hufflepuff scarf and replica of Harry’s wand. It was Alex who took the new Pottermore quiz first, grinning a little to herself upon being resorted into Slytherin. Kara was outraged until Alex had pointed out that Kara, of all people, should have realized Alex was a Slytherin upon the revelation of the DEO and Alex’s actual job. Kara huffed but conceded, still seeming a bit put out that her sister was “evil.” Kara, naturally, was promptly returned to Hufflepuff.

“So what about everyone else?”

Alex rolled her head on the back of the couch so she could see Kara better. “What about them for what?”

“Houses!”

Alex blinked, momentarily confused. One minute they were watching Homeland the next Kara was talking about houses. “Like Hogwarts?”

“No like HGTV,” Kara deadpanned. Alex rolled her eyes with a smirk; she had taught Kara sarcasm well. “Yes, like Hogwarts.”

Alex chuckled. “Ok, ok. What’s the house for ‘hides under tables?’” she asked innocently.

Kara narrowed her eyes at her sister. “Why? For who—for Winn? Alex! That’s mean!”

“And yet accurate.”

“Alex!”

Alex laughed, taking a bite of ice cream. “Fine. Winn is a Ravenclaw, obviously.”

“Like you.”

Alex arched an eyebrow. “Pottermore was quite clear I’m a Slytherin.”

“You can’t possibly want to be a Slytherin!”

Alex shrugged. “Why not? It’s fitting.”

“No it’s—”

“Kara. I spent two years lying to you and everyone else about what I did in order to protect you. And I would do it again. Whatever it takes to keep you safe. It fits.”

Kara huffed. “Fine. So, Winn’s a Ravenclaw. I agree.”

“So glad.” Alex smirked, snagging another bite of ice cream, making sure to get a large chunk of brownie, before her sister could swipe the carton. “Besides,” Alex grinned slyly, “Cat Grant is definitely a Slytherin also.”

“What? No she—” Kara paused then huffed again. “Ok, fine, yes she is.”

Alex laughed. “Not all Slytherins are evil.”

“Yeah, yeah. What about J’onn?”

“What do you think?”

Kara studied the ice cream thoughtfully for a long moment. “You know him better than I do.”

Alex nodded. “True.” She considered the question. “Hufflepuff I think. Maybe a Gryffindor. But I think a Puff ultimately.”

Kara grinned, nudging Alex with her toes. “Like me. Now we’re even.”

Alex nudged back with a smile. “True. James?”

Kara blushed and looked back down at the ice cream. “Oh, um.”

“You know him better than I do.”

“Clark knows him best,” Kara pointed out unnecessarily.

“Clark’s not here.” Alex nudged her sister again, grinning. “But feel free to take any statements he’s made into account.”

“Ok fine, fine. Hufflepuff.”

“Aww like you? Convenient,” Alex teased. Kara made as if to grab one of the throw pillows and Alex laughed. “Ok, I’ll stop teasing about your crush.”

“So that’s what, three Hufflepuffs? We win!”

Alex rolled her eyes but laughed. “And two Slytherins. Winn is all by his lonesome I guess.”

“He can hang out with the Hufflepuffs.”

“What? No! Slytherin gets him so the numbers are even!

“You can’t just claim him!”

“You just did.” Alex grinned smugly as Kara opened her mouth to respond then closed it.

“That’s… that’s…”

“The exact same thing? Mmhmm.”

This time Kara did hit Alex with the pillow, laughing. “Ok, fine. Slytherin can borrow Winn.”

“Oh you’re so gracious.”

“What about Clark?”

Alex exchanged a look with Kara as they both said “Gryffindor” before laughing. Kara continued, still chuckling, “Yeah, Gryffindor for sure. Lois?”

Alex shrugged. “Ravenclaw with Winn I bet.”

Kara pondered that before nodding. A passion for knowing what was true definitely fit her cousin’s investigative reporter girlfriend quite well. “So Winn’s not alone, I guess.”

Alex chuckled. “Guess not. Clark is though.”

Kara waved a hand with a grin. “He’ll be fine. He would just hang out with James and Lois anyway. Hufflepuffs still win.”

Alex rolled her eyes and settled back into the couch. “Sure, Kara. Whatever makes you happy.”

Kara lightly whapped her with the pillow again before cuddling into Alex’s side. “Yep.”

Alex laughed softly and draped her arm around her sister. “I think we missed half the episode.”

“So hit rewind.”

“You have the remote.” Said item immediately landed in her lap. Alex rolled her eyes again. “Oh, my mistake, I have the remote.” She felt Kara nod against her side and grinned, knowing her baby sister was also grinning. Gently squeezing Kara’s shoulders, Alex picked up the remote so they could properly watch their episode.