Author's Note: This is my first ever Supercorp fic and I have to say I'm excited for it. I haven't written in the DC Universe since I wrote for Smallville about 10ish years ago so I'm stoked. I've missed this superhero world. I've been writing within The 100 universe for so long, that I kind of forgot what it's like to write within this kind of world. Plus the Season 4 finale just spoke to me and I couldn't ignore it. Originally this was only going to be a one shot, but this really set up the beginning of a story idea I've had for a while now so it'll be more than a one-shot. How long, I don't know but longer that one chapter that's for sure.
With that said, this story runs off of the idea of Kara going to tell Lena about her being supergirl the day after game night in 4x22. It's just after we see Lena smash her picture of them.
I hope you enjoy.
A Key to Her Humanity
Chapter 1
'How could she lie to me' Lena thought to herself as she let all of her anger toward Kara take over her, slamming her glass down onto the picture of her, Alex and Kara. The glass in the picture frame splintering in all directions around the crystal glass.
Lena was angry but also sad in this moment for she had trusted her so called friends and they had all been lying to her from the start. For three years, she had known these people and for three years they had kept one of the biggest secrets from her. It should have been Kara to tell her about it, but all of them knew about it and that was one of the worst parts about it. It wasn't just one person keeping one lie; it was multiple people lying to her face about it, every day.
She had been recruited by the DEO to work on the harun-el to create a serum for super soldiers and even then she wasn't let into the fold. She wasn't worthy enough to know the truth even in a place where all of them worked together. She knew that Mon-El was an alien because of what happened with Rhea, and she knew that Alex worked for the DEO but the one thing that they wouldn't trust her with was supergirl. A truth she suspected fell on Kara to tell. Her best friend, or so called best friend at this point.
Unbeknownst to Lena, her office door opened and someone came in, but she was in too deep of thought to register who exactly.
The person walked into the office, with their arm bag over their shoulder, and their blonde curls up in a ponytail. They walked further in and saw the picture frame of the three of them splintered, "Lena, is everything okay? What happened?" She put her bag on the chair in front of the desk stopping her movements, not wanting to push Lena because clearly something was wrong.
Finally Lena looked up from the frame to the other woman in the room, the blonde, blue eyed liar. "Kara… What are you doing here?" She deadpanned, wanting to ensure that the superhero was well aware that she was angry.
Kara fumbled with her words as she spoke, "I—I wanted to… I need to tell you something. I wanted to last night but—" She didn't know how to say what she knew was going to crush their friendship. One she had cherished for years.
"But what… You didn't want the rest of your friends to see me get angry?" Lena stood from her chair not being able to sit looking up at the person she once called her friend.
Kara was taken aback by the statement. So much so that realization hit her, "You know… don't you?" She questioned, "How?"
"No thanks to you, Kara!" She walked around her desk to get right up in Kara's face, not afraid even in the slightest. "You're my so called best friend and yet you've been lying to me, for years! I could understand you not saying anything at the beginning because your cousin has had a lot of problems with my brother but Kara, I trusted you."
"Lena, I never meant to hurt you," Kara tried to defend herself but she didn't know how. She knew that lying this entire time wasn't the best of ideas especially in recent weeks, but she didn't know how to dig herself out of such a lie. How do you tell someone the truth after spinning a lie for so long?
Lena shook her head, "I don't know what to believe now. I guess the Luthor name means more to you than you ever let on."
"This has nothing to do with the fact that you are a Luthor," Kara finally found some strength in this conversation. She had time and again tried to convince Lena that she of all people didn't care where she came from so to hear Lena say that, triggered Kara.
"No? I seem to remember a little conversation you and I had in that place that held Sam last year. What was it you said when I asked you what your real name was? Oh that's right 'that's not a great question for a Luthor to ask someone in my family'." Lena looked to Kara knowingly, knowing she was right about that and was curious to know how Kara was going to weasel her way out of that one.
"That was different. I had just learned that you had created Kryptonite, a substance that can literally kill me!" Kara pulled her fingers on her right hand into a fist, doing everything in her power to not smash something. "In that moment, yes all I could see was red; all I could see was that you were a Luthor determined to destroy me."
"Had I known that you were supergirl at that moment, I would have found another way to contain Reign," Lena threw back at Kara not sure what she was trying to accomplish in this argument anymore. Was she trying to lose her friend forever? Was she trying to find a reason for why Kara had lied? She didn't know. "You don't get it Kara, there have been many times in our friendship where I knowing who you are, would have changed the situation but I was right, you do have a god complex. You need everyone to bow to you, so when I came along, and threw off your little group, you chose to stick with where I came from."
"That's not what happened, Lena," Kara let go of her anger, her fist slowly coming undone. "Kryptonite is something that I don't take lightly and I'll admit it, I lost it when I found out that you of all people, created it. My best friend, created the one thing that can kill me. How would you react if you were in my shoes?"
Lena could see the truth within Kara's words, but there was still a large part of her that was just so angry "I sure as hell wouldn't have continued lying, that's for sure. All you had to do was tell me why you were so angry. I would have understood why. That's all I have ever wanted from you but you didn't think that I could know the truth."
Kara shook her head, shaking away the tears that were beginning to form from the anger of the situation, "That's not what it was that stopped me. I wasn't blind to how it hurt you, how it hurt me knowing that you would never trust me again; never trust supergirl again. I had finally hit that moment where telling you seemed out of reach. How do you tell the person you care most about, that you've been lying to them this entire time, after that?"
Lena looked from Kara to her large windows of her office, not sure how to answer such a question. She wanted to repeat herself, to say that in that situation, in Kara's shoes, she would have told the truth but she wasn't sure if she would have. Betraying someone and trying to dig one's self out of that hole was hard enough as it was, but trying to convince someone that what you did was right… was even harder.
"You know I almost told you the truth on your plane from Kaznia," Kara admitted wanting Lena to have all the facts. While Lena found out her secret from someone, she knew Lena didn't know this information.
This caught Lena's attention; she slowly turned back around to face Kara, the words escaping her, "What…"
Kara swallowed nervously even though she didn't know why she was nervous; the truth was already out, "Yeah, I almost did. You were going on about how you let your anger for Eve get out of hand to the point that you had forgotten about me, putting me in danger. While we were on the plane, I wanted to show you that a little explosion couldn't kill me. If I would have been in the building, my clothes would have been decimated and yes you would have found out, but that was all that could have happened." Kara rambled a little more than was required but she didn't know how to gage this situation anymore. There was no more yelling currently but that could change any moment.
"What stopped you?" Lena wanted to know honestly. She wanted to know why Kara chose to not say anything, leaving her to find out from her brother instead.
Kara opened her mouth a couple of times before words actually came out, "I took off my glasses and I stood up to face you waiting for you to turn around and see." She pulled off her glasses just as she did then, "In that moment, it didn't matter what happened, I wanted you to know the truth, but then you started talking about Eve. About how she had lied to you for so long and that you didn't know if you could trust anyone after that. I remember you saying if not for me and our friendship, you weren't sure if you could trust anyone ever again and that pulled me right back to why I never told you the truth." Kara could feel tears starting to build up in her eyes once again but for different reasons this time.
"So you thought that continuing to lie was a better idea?" Lena questioned wanting to know the real truth because there had to be one. Lena could tell that Kara was still holding back on something.
"Of course not, as soon as I got back, I vowed that when Lex was caught and behind bars that I would tell you the truth. I didn't want to continue to be that other person in your life that was lying to you." Kara admitted, keeping James' name out of it. She knew Lena was barely holding onto what she was saying, she didn't want to lump James into this conversation. "While I wanted to keep our friendship as it was with you looking at me not expecting anything, I wanted you to know the truth."
"Wait…" Lena looked to Kara with confusion and not anger confusion as this conversation had produced but of understanding confusion. "The reason you haven't told me was because you wanted me to just see you? You didn't want me to look at you expecting you to be supergirl."
It was Kara's turn to look away briefly because she wasn't sure how Lena would take knowing that fact and the fact that Lena wasn't throwing anything, or yelling at her with daggers in her eyes threw Kara more than she thought it would. She looked back to Lena, "It started off like that and at times it really screwed me, especially when Mercy Graves broke into L-Corp, and all I wanted was to get away and become supergirl, but it was also nice. You always wanted to protect me; you were always concerned about me. With anyone else, it would have been the opposite and yes there have been times where I have let my protectiveness come out when I'm with you, because I can't help the hero in me. It's like last year when Morgan Edge poisoned you, I risked my identity to save you."
"So we were flying?" Lena questioned still remembering that moment like it was yesterday.
Kara nodded, "Yes. As soon as you went down, I picked you up and flew you to the DEO which if I hadn't I don't know if you would still be alive today."
"While I appreciate that you have been there for me countless times, and saved me, it still doesn't negate from the fact that you deliberately chose to keep this from me. Even in all those moments when you saved me, why not then? Is having someone that doesn't know who you are so worth it that you would risk a friendship for it?" Lena questioned in a calmer tone of voice wanting to really know what Kara was thinking and not these excuses that she had been getting from the hero.
"It seems ridiculous now, because you're right… there was no excuse, there was no real reason for me not to tell you and I'm sorry I never did. I'm sorry that you heard it from someone else. You should have heard it from me." Kara let that sink into Lena. She wanted it to be known that she wished with all her being that she would have been the one to tell Lena about her secret identity herself. "But Lena, I want you to know that my decision to keep this from you all this time, never had anything to do with you being a Luthor. I promise you of that."
"It's hard to accept that when a lot of the conversations I had with you when you were supergirl usually brought up the fact that I was a Luthor." Lena pointed out that fact knowing she was right about it. It was one of the reasons she had so many issues with supergirl was because it always felt as though that all supergirl saw was an enemy.
Kara reached out as she wanted to comfort Lena because she knew she was hurting but she didn't want to force it so she pulled her hand back, "I know and I am sorry for that too. Being supergirl with you and being Kara with you, I always felt like two different people. It was like when I was supergirl with you, I had to give off this sense of strength but when I was with you as Kara, that part of me didn't need to be there."
Lena intently listened to every word Kara spoke as it seemed she was finally getting the truth from Kara. Each and every word that came out of Kara had more integrity than every other word she had heard before.
Kara continued on without a thought, "When I found out that you had figured out how to create Kryptonite, it really triggered me and I let my emotions get the best of me. And with Lex, I was so determined as supergirl to find him and bring him to justice that I forgot about you in terms of our friendship. When I came to you looking to get information, it didn't even occur to me that I hadn't seen you as Kara in a long time. My two worlds had been bleeding together for so long that I kind of forgot you didn't know. You knew about the DEO, you were working with me, as supergirl, so closely that it felt as though like you already knew. I know that was wrong for me to think but that's what was happening. I knew I had to tell you but as the days went on, as the lie grew and grew, I couldn't figure out how to tell you."
Lena stood there leaning back against her desk, with no words to be has as she was taking in everything Kara had just said. There was nothing but honesty in everything Kara spoke.
"If you no longer want to see me though, I will understand." Kara admitted spoken just above a whisper because she didn't want to end her friendship with Lena but she also didn't want to force Lena to deal with the lie like she was forced to with Eve. Kara reached for her bag on the chair and was expecting what happened.
Lena placed her right hand on Kara's right shoulder to stop her from picking up the bag, "Wait…" She also spoke just barely above a whisper.
Kara let go of her bag, her glasses still in her left hand, she stood back up to look at Lena with wonder.
Lena bit her bottom lip nervously before she spoke, "While I don't condone what you did, I understand it."
Kara looked to Lena with utter shock, she was not expecting that. "Lena, you don't have to-"
"Kara… I want to be mad at you, I was mad at you, in more ways than you can probably imagine…"
"Well if that picture is any indication, I think I can imagine," Kara pointed to the still smashed picture frame on Lena's desk.
Lena looked from Kara to the picture on the desk, "Yes well," she looked back to Kara, "As I said, I was angry. I just found out from my brother of all people, that you all were lying to me; I was feeling betrayed and alone. I reacted badly. Especially after last night, you all continued to lie to me and today I let those emotions get the best of me." She said as she looked down toward Kara's bag, crossing her arms wanting to keep those feelings to herself.
Kara finally took the chance, and reached out to Lena, placing her right hand on Lena's left shoulder, "You have nothing… and I mean it Lena, you have nothing to apologize for." Green eyes looked up into blue, "This is all on me. You have had to deal with enough as is. I will not let you have this burden as well. You put your blame on me and me alone."
Without really thinking about it, and letting the emotion of the moment take her over, Lena uncrossed her arms and wrapped them around Kara pulling her into a hug.
Kara was startled by the hug at first before wrapping her arms around Lena as well. She really took in this moment as she was sure it would be the last one. The feel of Lena's arms around her, the smell of her perfume, she was imprinting it all to memory so she could come back to if needed. It would certainly be hard not having Lena in her world but she would make it work.
It seemed as though like several minutes had passed by before they pulled apart almost as though they both wanted to hold this memory in time before it ended.
Kara pulled back from the hug, quickly wiping at her eyes before putting her glasses back on her face.
Lena also wiped at her own eyes before she questioned Kara, "Why are you putting the glasses back on? Now that I know the truth are they really necessary?"
"Wearing these glasses are part of my secret identity, it's practically second nature for me to wear them. They also help keep my x-ray vision at bay if I'm not paying attention to keeping it under control." Kara pointed out the actual purpose of the glasses, them having a usual application than just for show.
Lena looked at Kara intrigued, "I'm not sure if I should be more impressed that you just confirmed my suspicions that you have x-ray vision or more impressed that your glasses actually have a purpose. How do they work, if you don't mind me asking?" The scientist in Lena was taking over now. She was still mad, and probably will be for a little while but in this moment, she was happy for the distraction.
"They are laced with lead. When I first arrived on this planet, the super powers took me by surprise and my adoptive father made these glasses for me to help me gain control. It was not terribly fun looking at anyone and seeing their bone structure without wanting to." Kara jerked her head at the memory of it before handing her glasses over to Lena.
Lena took the glasses and inspected them for a moment not seeing anything that would tell her that they weren't ordinary glasses. "With the lead, they must be quite indestructible too then?"
Kara nodded her head, "They had to be. They were part of my identity even when I was young and as I was growing; my powers became stronger so they had to be made out of a tough material. I have many pairs because you never know when a wardrobe change will be required." Kara stated without actually saying the term supergirl not sure where they stood at that point.
"When you become supergirl, you mean," Lena stated what Kara obviously was trying to say.
"Yes, supergirl," Kara admitted to what Lena was saying.
"Speaking of supergirl, what happens to your clothes, anyways?" Lena asked always being curious about this concept but never knowing if she'd ever get an answer.
Kara shrugged, "It really depends where I am at the time. Sometimes in closets, in offices, maybe a garbage can, or if it's really last minute, in an alley somewhere." She awkwardly laughs before going back to being serious, "I've lost many clothes," before she let out another chuckle.
Lena chuckled a little before she noticed Kara freeze in her laughter and slowly turn her head, "Kara, are you alright?"
"It's funny you talk about clothes, because it sounds like there's just been some sort of accident, I'm going to have to go," Kara looked to Lena almost looking for approval because she didn't want their potentially last moment to be her running off to be supergirl.
"Well go, Kara. There will be plenty of time for us to talk again," Lena made sure to mention as she wanted it to be clear that she still wanted whatever this new friendship was going to bring.
Kara gave a swift nod not expecting that response before using her super speed to change into supergirl right in front of Lena.
Lena who was not expecting that to happen let out a, "Whoa."
"Oh, sorry, I forgot you're not used to that. Do you mind if I-"
"No," Lena put out her hands waiting for Kara to hand over her clothes. "Just go, be the hero I know you are."
Kara quickly handed her clothes over, smiled briefly and was gone out the balcony into the air.
Lena watched as long as she could before Kara was gone out of her line of sight.
