Synthetica
by
Sam Lincoln
Disclaimer: All the characters contained in this story are the proper of DC Comics, and Warner Brothers. No infringement is intended.
Summary: Kara Danvers's friend from Gotham Barbara Gordon is visiting National City, and by strange coincidence Batgirl is in town as well.
Spoilers: Synthetica takes place sometime in the middle of season two of Supergirl, but it doesn't really matter. It might also help to read my previous story, Bright Lights, Big City, but not required.
Barbara Gordon walked through National City International Airport with a laptop bag slung over her shoulder and pulling a rolling carry-on bag behind her. She came to a stop at the baggage claim and waited for the rest of her luggage to arrive. She lifted off the heavy rolling suitcase when it slid across the conveyer belt. Barbara struggled a little as she dragged her luggage out of the terminal and into the pick up area. She pulled a cellphone out of the pocket of the light jacket she wore and dialed a number in her contacts. As she stood amongst the throng of people with her phone up to her ear she heard a voice calling her name from behind her. She turned and saw Kara Danvers standing there.
"Barbara, I'm so glad you're here!" Kara said. The two women shared a hug after closing the distance between them.
"It was lucky the annual library science convention was in National City this year," Barbara said. "Thanks so much for letting me crash at your place. It's saving me a ton of money in hotel fare."
"I'm happy to do it for a friend," Kara said. "Can I take your bag?"
"Be careful, it's…" Barbara's voice trailed off when Kara grabbed Barbara's suitcase and swung it around like it was weightless. "…heavy. Right, that's right."
"What?" Kara asked.
"Nothing, I just forgot what it's like to be around you is all. By the way, where are you parked?"
"Parked?" Kara asked.
"You know, your car, how you got here. Did you take an Uber or…" Barbara paused. "Oh no, Kara, no."
"Come on, follow me." Kara grabbed Barbara by the hand and dragged her off to a quiet corner of the arrivals area.
"Kara, this is a bad idea."
"No it's a great idea. Traffic is awful this time of day, but I fly we can get back to my apartment in no time. And don't say you're afraid of heights because we both know it's not true. Now hop on my back," Kara said to Barbara. "You know what, maybe I should take that carry-on bag too." Kara pulled the smaller bag out of Barbara's hand.
"Have you ever done this before?" Barbara asked as she draped her arms across Kara's shoulders and clasped her hands together.
"What? Oh sure, all the time, I'm practically a taxi service at this rate," Kara said. "Are you ready?"
"Are you sure we can't talk this over first?" Barbara asked Kara.
"It'll be fun, trust me. Just, er, hold on tight." Kara pushed off the ground then shot straight up into the sky before arcing and flying off in the direction of her apartment.
"Well, here we are," Kara said to Barbara as she landed in her apartment. Barbara let go of Kara and staggered away from the Kryptonian. She placed a hand on Kara's dining room table to steady herself. "Are you okay?" Kara asked Barbara. She took a step towards her, but Barbara waved her off.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. I just need a moment. I've never flown like that, obviously, and I just need a moment." She pulled in several large gulps of air.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't intend to make you feel sick," Kara said. "I probably should've flown a littler slower, I tend to show off a little too much. Can I get you anything? A glass of water, dramamine?"
"No, that's not, I'm already feeling better," Barbara said. She forced a smile onto her face.
"Are you sure?" Kara asked. "You're still looking a little green around the edges.
Barbara shook her head. "No, I'm fine, everything is fine."
A smile broke out across Kara's face. "Good, I'd hate for you not to feel well on your visit. Especially because of something I did. If you are feeling better then we can go meet Alex and the others at the bar." She turned to start walking towards the door to her apartment.
"Kara, you understand I really am here for the conference right?" Barbara asked. "It's not that I don't want to spend time with you or your friends, because I do, but I also need to devote most of my time at the conference. I have a poster session about database searches, and if that goes well it could open a lot of doors for me whenever I manage to finish my degree."
"Right, of course, I get that. Your career outside of the cowl is important to you. That makes perfect sense. I get that, I mean I really get that. Some people say they get something they they really don't, but that's not this. I understand completely. And now I'm babbling."
"But I do want to spend time with you as well," Barbara said. "In fact I'm counting on you to tell me where all the good places to eat are."
Kara clapped her hands together. "Oh I can definitely do that, especially the places that are cheap and give you lots of food."
"Quantity over quality isn't the only thing I'm looking for, but I am on a per diem so cheap is good."
"I don't know about you, but after a night of crime fighting, I'm always in the mood for a big breakfast." Kara paused and looked worried. "You, er, did bring your suit right?"
Barbara shifted on her feet. "I did."
"I sense a but in that statement."
"But I'd rather not have to wear it while I'm here."
"Because you're here as Barbara Gordon, not as Batgirl," Kara said. She twisted her hands together then squared her shoulders. "Which is fine, that's fine. I totally didn't expect we'd go out on patrol together. Besides, it would be like when my friend from the alternate universe, Barry, first visited, and Ms. Grant figured out he was the Flash."
"I still don't believe that story by the way."
"Barry is real," Kara said. She stamped her foot on the ground. "I did not make him up."
"Do I even have to tell you how many girls I went to high school with who said the same thing about the Canadian boyfriends they met on the Internet?"
"I can prove he's real. The last time I went to Earth-1, Barry's friend Cisco gave me a device that let's me talk to him. Even go visit whenever I want. I could use it and show you the alternate Earth."
"That's okay, I have no desire to leave this reality," Barbara said.
"Plus, all my friends have met Barry, you could ask them." Kara frowned. "Except you can't because that would require telling them you know I'm Supergirl and if they knew that they they'd ant to know why I told you, which would require telling them you're Batgirl, and I bet you don't want to do that."
"True I don't," Barbara said. "Even if I did ask them though I still wouldn't believe you, because it annoys you so much."
Kara frowned at Barbara. "That's not something a real friend would do. Anyway, as I was trying to say, if Batgirl shows up in National City at the same time you do then its pretty obvious who Batgirl really is."
Barbara rested a hand on her hip. "Kind of like how anyone paying attention might have put two and two together about the appearance of one Kara Danvers and Supergirl in Gotham?"
"Exactly, except nobody did notice, possibly because you didn't introduce me to any of your friends."
"Most of Barbara Gordon's friends don't know that she's also Batgirl."
"That is so sad. And I'm not just talking about you referring to yourself in the third person. You need a support structure. You can't do everything on your own."
"I have a support structure, you even met part of it."
"I wouldn't consider him to be much of a pillar of support," Kara said.
"You say that, but you'd be surprised," Barbara said. "In any event, you are not going to tell your friends about what I do, I'm not going to tell my friends about what you do, and everyone is happy."
Kara nodded her head. "I don't know about everyone being happy, but that is what we agreed on."
"I'm glad we're on the same page. Now I could use a drink, before that short, terrifying flight I had a long, draining flight."
"Good, I know just the place," Kara said.
"And Kara, one more thing," Barbara said. "No flying, we take a Lyft."
"What? Oh, right sure, of course, we would't want to raise any suspicions now would we?" Kara winked at Barbara.
"Right," Barbara said as she produced her smartphone and started to tap on it. "That's it precisely, I don't want to raise suspicion."
Across town at the same time a large man dressed in a trench coat and hat walked into a jewelry store. One of the store's clerks noticed the man's arrival and tutted to herself at the man's disheveled appearance. "Excuse me sir, can I help you find something?"
The man looked at the clerk and grinned. The clerk couldn't be certain, but she was sure she saw a metallic glint in his eyes. "Oh I've already made up my mind," the man said. There was an artificial rasp to his voice. "I'll take all of it." He raised his fists and then brought them down, smashing the display case with inhuman strength.
"Hey you can't do that!" The store's security guard shouted. He ran over to the man and placed a hand on his shoulder.
The man shrugged out of the guard's grasp, then shoved him backwards into another display case. He then glared at the clerk who backed away from the robber. He reached down and picked up a collection of jewelry from the display case. The robber turned and walked towards the door.
"Stop right there or I'll shoot!" The guard shouted at the robber. The robber looked back at the guard but did not stop moving towards the door. The guard fired several shots at the man. Both hit him square in the back, causing him to stagger, but not stop. The guard fired again, but still had no effect on the robber. After exiting the store the robber leapt up and vanished from sight. The guard ran out of the store but couldn't see any sign of the robber. He looked up and down the street, scratching his head in confusion.
Kara lead Barbara into the alien dive bar. Kara looked around and spotted Alex, Maggie, James and Winn seated near the pool tables. Kara waved at Alex and started to walk over to them. "Remember, don't stare," Kara said to Barbara as they walked by a blue-skinned alien.
"I won't lie and say I'm used to seeing aliens, but I am capable of being diplomatic," Barbara replied.
Alex stood up from the table when she saw Barbara and Kara approach. "Kara hi, who's this?" She pointed at Barbara.
Kara held out her hands to present Barbara to the table. "Alex, everyone, this is my friend Barbara Gordon from Gotham. We met at that Bruce Wayne charity event I covered for CatCo. She's in town for a work conference and I offered to let her stay at my place while she's here. Barbara, this is Alex, my sister. Maggie, her girlfriend, Winn Schott, and James Olson, my friends." She pointed out each person seated at the table.
"Hi, it's so nice to meet you," Alex said. She held out a hand to Barbara.
"The feeling is mutual," Barbara said as she shook Alex's hand. "Though that's hard to tell from the tone of your voice."
"I'm just a little surprised is all. Kara never said anything about you when she got back from Gotham, and normally she tells me everything."
"That's because I exaggerated a little," Kara said. She stepped in between Alex and Barbara. "Which isn't to say we aren't friends, or are complete strangers. I want to write a piece about Gotham for the magazine that included the thoughts of a Millenial who lives in Burnside, to go alongside my interview with Bruce Wayne, and Barbara is a Millenial who lives in Burnside."
"I have my conference this week, and Kara offered to let me stay at her apartment in exchange for an interview," Barbara said. "Considering the price of a hotel room in National City that seemed like a good deal," Barbara said. She picked up on the cover story Kara intend and fleshed it out more.
"Any friend slash interview subject is a friend of mine," Winn said. "Take a seat Barbara Gordon."
"Kara, can I talk to you for a moment?" Alex asked before dragging her away from the table into a quiet corner of the bar.
"Alex what is the matter with you?" Kara asked. She shrugged herself out of Alex's grip.
"What's the matter with you?" Alex replied. "Why didn't you tell me about this Barbara person?"
Kara set her hands on her hips. "I did."
"Saying this morning, 'Hey Alex I'm off to pick up someone from the airport,' as you're headed out the door doesn't count."
Kara scowled at her sister. "Do you tell me about everyone you meet?"
"I'm not Supergirl," Alex said. Her eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute, the only person you mentioned meeting in Gotham…"
"You mean other than Bruce Wayne?"
Alex rolled her eyes. "Yes, other than Bruce Wayne. Batgirl, you talked my ear off about Batgirl."
"You think Barbara is Batgirl?"
"I think you only have one friend who lives in Gotham and her name is Batgirl."
Kara adjusted the frames of her glasses. "That's nonsense, you're just mad because I didn't tell you about Barbara's visit sooner."
"Does she know that you're Supergirl?"
"What? Of course not. You heard her, we don't know each other that well."
"But well enough you're letting her stay at your apartment? Don't you think that will make your life more than a little difficult?"
Kara waved a hand to dismiss the complaint. "She'll be at her conference for most of the time she's in town. It won't be a problem."
Alex stared at Kara. "This is a bad idea, and I still say she's Batgirl."
"It's a perfectly fine idea, and she is not," Kara said. She placed her hands on Alex's shoulders, spun her around, and pointed her towards the table the others were seated at. "Now go make nice with Barbara. She's nice, you'll get along with her if you stop being such a grouch."
"Okay, okay, you win. I'll try to be nice," Alex said.
"I knew you had it in you," Kara said. She wrapped her arms around Alex and hugged her sister from behind.
"Yeah well she's Batgirl," Alex said.
"You realize the odds of that being true are phenomenally small right?"
"If you can be Supergirl she can be Batgirl," Alex said. "But I promise I won't go digging. Protecting her real identity obviously means a lot to you and I'll respect that."
"Thank-you Alex, that is so magnanimous of you."
"Is everyone looking at us?" Alex asked Kara.
"No, in fact they all seem to be very interested in talking to Barbara, your girlfriend in particular."
Alex frowned. "We can't have that now can we?"
"You should definitely go mark your territory. Though Maggie would hurt you if you tried and I don't think Barbara is a lesbian."
Alex slowly rubbed her hands together. "I am not marking my territory. I just want to spend time with my girlfriend."
Kara nodded her head "Which you absolutely should go do, and not worry about the identity of masked vigilantes." Kara started to push Alex towards the table.
While the sisters argued, everyone else at the table had their attention turned to Barbara. "Tell us a little about yourself Barbara," James said.
Barbara shrugged her shoulders. "I've lived in Gotham most of my life. I'm currently studying library sciences and I eagerly await the day I have to explain the Dewey Decimal System to a bunch of loud school kids. I'm already practicing my shushing skills."
"You know, speaking strictly for myself, librarians are hot," Winn said. He then looked around the table. "What, is there something wrong about finding knowledge attractive?"
"Say, aren't you the famous photographer?" Barbara asked James. "The one who took all the pictures of Superman?"
"Yep, that's him, Superman's pal James Olson," Winn said. He clapped James on the back.
"Currently I'm the acting CEO of CatCo Worldwide Media," James said. "I've hung up my camera for the moment."
"That's too bad, you have a great eye."
"Thanks, it's always nice to meet a fan."
"You said you met Kara at a Wayne Foundation charity event," Maggie said. "If you don't mind me asking."
"What was a student like me doing at a fancy party like that?" Barbara asked. "It was my dad's invitation, but he had better things to do with his time."
"Gordon, say your dad isn't Jim Gordon is it?" Maggie asked.
Barbara nodded her head. "That's him, do you know him?"
"I used to work in Metropolis so I met him a few times. Good man, great cop."
"I think he's great at both, but clearly I'm biased."
"Did you ever think about following your dad into law enforcement?"
"It's…not for me," Barbara said. "Which is good because my dad banned me from ever getting a job in law enforcement. Do you know any other members of the GCPD? We might have a few friends in common."
"Not really, there are people I met at conferences, task forces things like that, but I wouldn't say I was ever friendly with any of them," Maggie paused. "And I hate to say it because I know what a good cop your dad is."
Barbara folded her arms in front of her. "Go ahead, I've heard it all before."
"What?" Winn asked. "What have you heard all before?"
"The GCPD had a reputation for being one of the most corrupt in the country," Barbara said. "There was even a lot of truth to it at one point."
"Before her dad became commissioner and cleaned up the department," Maggie said. "Still, old stereotypes die hard."
"That's wow, I did not know that. James, did you know that?"
James traced the rim of his pint glass. "I did, I've been to Gotham a few times on assignment for the Planet. It was eye opening."
"Gotham's come a long way," Barbara said. "Especially neighborhoods like Burnside which are almost as snobbish as Metropolis."
James grinned and rubbed his hands together. "Oh is that how it is now?"
"That's how it is," Barbara said with a nod. She then looked around the bar. "What does it take to get a drink in this place?"
"Just wait until Kara sits down," Alex said as she returned to the table and sat back down next to Maggie.
"Wait, what was that?" Kara asked as she sat in the seat next to Barbara.
"Oh nothing," Alex said. "Barbara was just complaining about how slow the service is here."
Kara frowned. "Really? It's always been very prompt for me."
As if on cue Mon-El appeared next to the table holding an empty drinks tray. "I see more people have arrived. Kara can I get you your usual?" Kara nodded in response. Mon-El turned his attention to Barbara. "You're new," he said.
"Barbara, this is Mike," Kara said. "He grew up in the town next to mine and moved to National City a few months ago."
"Nice to meet your Mike," Barbara said.
Mon-El held the tray close to his chest then bowed. "Any friend of Kara's is a friend of mine. What can I get you?"
"Vodka tonic with lime please," Barbara said.
"Excellent choice and everyone else, another round?" There was a chorus of nods around the table. "Great, I'll be right back."
Alex looked over at Barbara. "What did I tell you. Have Kara around and it's instant service." She snapped her fingers together.
"Oh!" Barbara said. "Are you and, er, Mike was it? An item?"
Kara's face turned red. "No, it's, it's complicated," she said then looked everywhere in the bar that did not include Mon-El.
"Ah one of those, my condolences," Barbara said.
"What about you Barbara?" Alex asked. She leaned forward in her seat. "Have anyone in your life?"
"Anyone that I am dating, or would describe as complicated?"
Alex shrugged then took a large drink from her glass. "Either one."
Kara leaned in between Alex and Barbara. "You don't have to answer her if you don't want," Kara said.
"No that's okay Kara. I'm not currently dating anyone, the last guy turned out to be an awful techbro. Yes, there are certainly people I would describe as complicated, headed up by I guess you could call him my high school sweetheart. We had a falling out, then he moved to Bludhaven. We still see each other from time to time but," she shrugged. "It's complicated."
"To complicated," Alex said. She raised her mostly empty pint glass. "If nothing else they teach us things about ourselves we never knew we were capable of."
"I'm not completely sure that's a good thing, but I'll drink to it," Barbara said. "As soon as my drink gets here at least."
"In that case bartender to the rescue," Mon-El said. He began passing out the drinks on his tray. "Club soda for the regular, vodka tonic for the newcomer. And you'll be happy to hear that I finally go the proportions right."
Barbara eyed the highball glass in front of her. "What were you getting wrong about it?"
"Nothing major, just the ratio of vodka to tonic. Not that many people were complaining."
Barbara took a sip of her drink then nodded her head. "I can't possibly imagine why anyone would complain about that, but this is perfect."
Mon-El's face broke into a smile. "I'm so relieved to hear that." He handed out the rest of the table's drinks. "Just holler if you need anything else."
"He seems eager to please," Barbara said.
"Ohs Mike's a great guy," Winn said. "Lots of fun to be around."
"He's trying to be a better person," Kara said.
"He wasn't before?" Barbara asked.
"It's," Kara started to say, then closed her mouth as she searched for the right word.
"Complicated, I get that," Barbara said.
Before Kara could reply Maggie's cellphone rang. She answered the phone and had a brief conversation before looking over at Alex. "Sorry babe, that was work."
"What's wrong?" Alex asked.
Maggie sighed. "Some creep robbed a jewelry store downtown. They think the perp was enhanced somehow so Science Division gets called in to work it."
"Do you need help?" Alex asked. She glared over at Kara was was listening in on their conversation intently. She then glanced over at Barbara who was talking to Winn while fidgeting with her slice of lime.
"No I think I can handle a simple snatch and grab robbery on my own," Maggie said. She kissed Alex on the cheek then stood up. "If I do need anything you'll be the first to know. Sorry for bailing like this, but it was nice to meet you Barbara."
"No need to apologize, I'm a cop's daughter remember? I know what the job requires."
"And Maggie is a good cop," Kara said.
Alex watched Maggie walk out of the bar. "That she is."
"What did you mean when you offered to help her?" Barbara asked Alex.
"I work for a federal law enforcement agency, and that is all I can say about it," Alex said.
"Jewelry store robberies, must feel like home to you," James said.
"It's a little different since Batman probably would've stopped the robber before he got away," Barbara said, then took a sip from her glass.
"I don't know if you've heard, but National City has its own masked vigilante now," James said.
"I hadn't," Barbara replied. James's shoulders sagged. "But then again I am very busy working on my degree so I don't read a lot of news."
"He calls himself Guardian," Winn said. "He has a cool costume if you ask me, and a kickass shield."
"Well if you ask me, anyone who puts on a mask and goes out at night to fight crime has to have something very wrong in their brain," Barbara said. "Taking those kinds of risks is crazy."
"Does that include Batman?" Alex asked.
"Especially Batman."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "And Batgirl?"
Barbara took a sip of her drink before replying. "Her too, yep."
Kara looked around the table. "Maybe let's not talk about which superheroes are crazy. I mean you wouldn't say Supergirl is crazy."
"Obviously she's not. She's bulletproof. She and Superman are the only people who make sense as superheroes," Alex said.
"Let's not go overboard here," Kara said. "She's just one person after all, a heroic, selfless person, but one person nevertheless. She can always use assistance."
"I say they're all out there putting other people's lives ahead of their own," James said. "So that makes them heroes in my book."
"That I can agree with," Kara said. "To heroes of all shapes and sizes, if they wear a cape, a mask, or a badge."
"Hear hear," Winn said. "I can drink to that." He clinked his glass together with Kara's.
"Alex, Barbara, James, get in here," Kara said.
"We better do what she says," Alex said. "You know how she gets, and at least this time she isn't trying to hug everyone." She and James both raised their glasses.
"Don't leave me hanging here Babs," Kara said.
Barbara sighed and touched her glass to Kara's. "To heroes."
"So Barbara, when we're done here are you going to sample National City's nightlife?" Alex asked. She eyed the younger woman over her glass.
"At some point, maybe," Barbara said. "It is how you get a sense of a city, but not tonight. I have to get my internal clock readjusted." She stifled a yawn.
"I'll be curious to hear what you think of it," Alex said.
"I'm sure it won't be all that different from Gotham. Excitement mixed with danger if you go to the wrong part of town."
While Alex and Barbara talked about bars and nightclubs, James looked over at Winn and gave him a nod. Winn rolled his eyes but returned the nod. "Barbara it was nice to meet you, but I should be heading home," James said. He stood up from the table. "Big budget meetings at CatCo tomorrow and I need to make sure I have all the numbers right."
Winn also stood up. "He's, uh, my ride." He waved goodbye to Alex, Barbara, and Kara then followed James out of the bar.