Hi! Thank you so much for choosing to read this story! However, if this is the first of my stories that you stumbled upon, I highly suggest reading my Memoirs of a Batgirl. These stories are part of a long series of stories I intend on writing, so many of the details carry over. I hope you enjoy the story!
The day it started really was just like any other: well, kinda.
I was in Metropolis for the weekend, visiting my very favorite Kent cousin, Clark, and his girlfriend Lois. I really loved Clark like a brother—we were both brought into the Kent family by their kindness: we were both adopted, which explained how I could be the perfect little blonde-haired, blue-eyed American sweet heart, and Clark could look be tall and imposing with black hair and steel-gray eyes, even though he was kinder than a teddy bear. My parents lived in GothamCity, which was only really a two-hour drive from Metropolis, so we made the trip to visit every so often.
My parents had done this on purpose of course; they could tell I hadn't been doing well since Babs left on her little soul-searching journey. I envied her a bit—I mean, c'mon! Who on earth finds a teacher willing to completely sponsor a world tour in under two weeks? It was ridiculous; but at the same time, I could tell she needed to get away.
"Kara?" she seemed so hesitant, for the very first time that night, like she was scared of hurting me.
"What's got your tongue?" I asked, taking another bite of ice cream. She had invited me out for sweets completely out of the blue, and had been terribly desperate for me to say yes.
"I—I…" She stared at her ice cream, suddenly ashamed.
"Spit it out, Babs. Your ice cream is melting."
"I'm leaving tomorrow."
I almost spit out my ice cream (ironic, right?) and it took me a minute of gasping to answer.
"Leaving where? How long? You're making it sound like it's gonna be a long time. Oh my god, nothing happened right? Cuz if something happened you need to tell me, I can take it, no matter what. And I'll still be here for you, one hundred per-"
"I can't tell you until you let me talk," she grinned.
"Right, right," I said, trying to tame my motor mouth, "Proceed."
"Well, I met this woman at one of the department's fundraisers the other day, and well, she's a—a—a teacher of sorts. She invited me to try out a program, I'll get to travel all over the world, all while still receiving a regular high school education."
"Babs, that sounds great," I said, confused as to why she would seem so ashamed.
"I know, right?" she said, but she sounded more like she needed reassurance, "Well, anyway, I'll start right away, which means I'll be leaving tomorrow."
"Ok," I said slowly, still confused as to why this was a problem.
"And I'll be gone for the next three years."
"What?" I dropped my spoon, "But that means you'll miss most of high school!"
"I know, I know," Barbara was suddenly completely apologetic, "I'm sorry Kara, but, but, I really need to get out of town for a while."
"What on earth could have happened to make you feel like you need to be thousands of miles away for the next three years?"
The way her face fell immediately upon hearing my question told me exactly who the culprit was.
"What did that asshat do to you now? I will go beat him up, I don't even care that his daddy's rich-"
"Adopted daddy," Barbara quietly corrected, as if she couldn't help it.
"Like I care! He acts enough like that billionaire for them to be related, and he clearly hurt you, so tell me right now what that ass did so that I have justification-"
"He informed me that I was no longer needed in his life and that it was time for me to leave, permanently."
Her voice was hard as a rock; I could practically feel just how broken her heart was. I pulled her into my arms, and she started crying, as I assume she had for the past few days. "Hush," I cooed, "Hush, honey. We always knew he was an idiot, but I honestly didn't think he was that bad."
"I don't understand!" she sobbed, "We've been best friends since we were six years old! He meant the world to me—did I really mean that little? How could he say that so easily?" She turned to meet my eyes, "How could he hurt me?"
"I don't know, honey," I admitted, feeling supremely awful, "I just don't know."
"Not only that, he said it in front of Bruce! And Bruce did nothing! I don't get it! Did those eight years mean nothing?"
I gave her a reassuring squeeze and leaned my head against hers.
"I don't know, Babs. People are so confusing sometimes…" I thought for a long hard moment, before I finally admitted, "Maybe that trip is just what you need."
"What?" Babs asked tearily.
"Whether he wants to apologize to you on Monday or just rub it in, you don't need to be at school. That trip will be good for you: you can get away and forget."
We sat in agreed silence for a moment, before I asked, "So what do I tell him if he asks?"
"Tell him that I'm gone," it was the first time I had heard her voice sound so flat, as if it was completely empty; it broke my heart a little, "Don't tell him where—I don't want to be harassed with his connections. Just…Just tell him I left."
So I might have to stand up to a Dick Grayson interrogation; peachy.
"Ok, c'mon," I said suddenly, standing up and pulling her with me.
"Where are we going?"
"To find Megan and Courtney; they would kill me if they ever found out I let you leave for three years without saying goodbye to them in person."
"I'll still call you guys, and email you."
"And that's just wonderful darling, but it still doesn't beat a person to person affair."
She smiled because she knew I was right.
That Monday, Dick came up to me as if everything was peachy-keen between us, "Hey Kara, where's Babs?"
"She left." I didn't even look up from my book.
"What do you mean?" Oh I just loved the confusion on his face.
"She's gone," I said, looking up from my book and with the most uninterested face I could manage, "She left yesterday."
"Where did she go?" Dick was becoming slightly more frantic.
I shrugged and turned back to my book, "She didn't tell me."
"Oh yea right," Dick snorted, "Like she wouldn't tell you something as vital as that. Aren't you her best girlfriend?" That was how Babs had always classified it: I was her best girlfriend and Dick was her best boyfriend. She refused to choose a favorite, even though I could tell that Dick had some experience and time up on me.
"Actually," I said, tilting my head to the side as if really thinking about it, "I think I'm just her best friend in general now. After your little declaration anyway,"
His face paled so beautifully.
"She told you?" he whispered, mostly in disbelief.
"Of course she did, dumbass. I'm her best friend, remember? I asked her why she felt the need to leave so suddenly, and it came out. And I hugged her while she cried out the dozens of pieces of her broken little heart—which was your doing, by the way."
I was really rubbing it in, but in my eyes, he fully deserved it.
"I'm looking for her because I want to apologize," he said, trying to regain himself, "How do I get in touch with her?"
"Well, I guess you could try email, but given her current disposition, she probably blocked your email address, but at the very least she'll probably ignore it."
"Why would she do that?"
"My god," I said, snapping my book shut and standing to meet him; I towered over the little runt—puberty hadn't found him yet, "Are you really that dense? You told her you didn't want her around anymore—you were her best friend for eight years and then you just end it that quickly? She was devoted to you, even with all the crap you've been giving her in the past year, she still loved you and considered you a friend. Good lord," I said, shaking my head and walking away, "How stupid are you?"
That night, when Babs called bright, bubbly and freshly awake, she regaled me with all the wonders of Athens and how amazing the sights were, and how in awe she was. She was always so descriptive, I could practically build an imaginary Athens around me.
"So," she asked finally, "How was the first day of high school?" She was clearly fishing for something else, and I was in no mood to beat around the bush.
"I rubbed Dick's face in the pile of crap he tried to throw you into."
"What?" She sounded surprised, "What happened?"
"He asked me where you went, and I explained that you had left, and he asked where and I said I had no clue, and when he said he didn't believe me because I was your best girlfriend, I corrected him, saying that I was probably just best friend in general after the way he treated you—which I'm guessing isn't far from the truth—and he said that he was trying to find a way to apologize and how should he contact you, and I said that I would try email, except that you probably would have blocked his address—which is a good idea, by the way—and when he asked why, I explained that he was a complete dumbass for not realizing how much he hurt you, and not seeing how terribly he has treated you for the past year, and how even through that crapstorm, you still considered him one of your best friends until he decided to end it. How far off was I?"
"Actually, I think you pretty much nailed it," Barbara sounded suitably impressed.
"Thank you," I said, faking a curtsey until I remembered she couldn't see it, "So should I worry about him taping my phone?"
"Well, it sounds like he wants to apologize, but, I really can't be sure if he actually means it or if that was just following some admonishment from Alfred. I don't know—if he's really desperate, he might, but I don't think he'll go that far. On Friday he seemed happy enough to see me go…"
I could feel her slipping back into the memory, and I realized I needed to take action. "Hey! Stop thinking about it! Forget that idiot, even if that's the one thing you do on your trip—forget that blundering idiot and recreate yourself. That will be the best revenge—he won't know what hit him when you come home."
"Thanks Kara," I could hear the sincerity in her voice.
"No prob Babs," I smiled, happy to think that my best friend could get past it, "Now go enjoy Greece! You deserve it! And don't forget to call me if something exciting happens."
"Ok, talk to you later!"
After we hung up, I felt a weight drop on my shoulders: it was great that she had found an escape to help herself heal, but how was I going to make it in her absence?
My parents saw me deteriorating too, and that was how the ill-fated trip to Metropolis was born. Two weeks into school, Clark surprised me on a Thursday afternoon, when I came home from school. Just being in the same room seemed to help; I couldn't help but be unbelievably happy. My parents told me that they had excused me from school the next day, and that my clothes were already packed. It wasn't as exotic as Greece or Paris, where Babs had traveled next, but I couldn't care in the least; I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.
"So," Clark waited until we were comfortably on the highway before he broached the topic, "Uncle Fred and Aunt Edna are worried about you."
I sighed and propped my elbow on the window sill for a head rest, "Yea, I've just been a bit lonely lately. My best friend left to travel the world for three years, effectively leaving me alone."
"Why did she leave?" he asked, genuinely interested in my story. That was who Clark was—always genuine.
"Well," I started, knowing I could trust my cousin, even if he worked at a newspaper, "The public excuse is that it's an excellent opportunity to become well-traveled and maintain an excellent education, but really, she needed to get away from someone."
"Is she in trouble?"
"No, it's just," How much could I give away? I looked at Clark and knew I could give it all, "You see, Babs had two best friends, me and Dick Grayson." Clark stiffened ever so slightly, but I didn't really pay attention, "But she has always been closer to Dick; I never really cared before, because Barbara still always made it clear that she loved me too, but I mean, I could tell.
"Well, in the last year, Dick has become, well, a dick. He dates everything that moves except for Barbara, who I think would be his best bet, considering how close they were, and he started to become terribly cynical. Babs hated it, but she put up with it, because she firmly believed that the Dick she knew was still there, somewhere. Then a few weeks ago, he tore her heart into a thousand pieces when he straight out told her that he didn't want her around anymore. The next day, she decided to take the trip, and even though I can't blame her for wanting to get away—I encouraged her too, so that she wouldn't have to deal with him—but I miss her, a lot."
Clark reached over and put a hand on my shoulder.
"You were right," he said, "she probably needs that journey more than anything right now. Unfortunately, the most you can do is be a supportive friend, which can be incredibly difficult, and more than annoying at times." He looked over at me, "But if anyone can do it, I know it's you, Kara."
I felt myself warming from his praise. "Thanks Clark," I smiled, "I don't know how you do it, but you always make me feel better."
"That's what I'm here for Cuz," He grinned, then clicked a button on the dash that turned on the music. I recognized the piano right away, with its pounding staccato beats, and then the choir, until:
Where are have all the good men gone, and where are all the gods?
I belted out along with Bonnie, singing my troubles away with her, with Clark laughing all the way.
The only thing I wasn't completely ok with was Clark's apartment; well, not the interior, the interior was lovely, and extremely homely. The problem was it was on the top of a ten-story apartment complex.
I have a problem with heights, I always have, ever since I can remember. I don't remember much of my life before being adopted by the Kent's, but I remember being completely awestruck by their view of the city from their apartment, until I looked down. It was all they could do to calm me down, and I've had problems ever since. Similarly, Clark's view was amazing, but I didn't dare get too close.
"Ok," Clark said, "Put your stuff in your room, and be ready to leave in fifteen minutes."
"Where are we going?" I hauled bag into my room.
"You are getting a complete tour of the Daily Planet, courtesy of myself and Lois."
I felt my heart jump; I had always wanted to see where Clark worked, I had only been to his office once, and that had simply been on the ground floor.
"Clark that's amazing!"
"I thought it might cheer you up," he grinned, "Now come on, we leave in fifteen!"
"And this," Clark said, opening the door to what was probably the biggest office I had ever seen, "Is our editor-in-chief, Mr. White."
Behind the desk, a man in a suite much like Clark's sat, studying a computer. His brown hair was graying, and he was starting to lose the trim shape he had clearly had most of his life, but when he looked up at the introduction, I found he had a kind smile.
"Please," he said, laughing, "Call me Perry," He stood up and came around the desk to shake my hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kara. Clark has told me so much about you."
"Mostly good, I hope," I said, trying not to seem to shy or excited.
"Of course!" Clark laughed, "I don't have a bad thing to say about my favorite cousin."
I smiled, mostly because I always loved to hear that he saw me as his favorite too. It was nice to know exactly where one stood with a person, especially someone you loved.
"Anyway, Clark, I wanted to talk to you about that story Lois wrote about Livewire."
The way he said it suggested made me think that Livewire was some sort of taboo. "What's Livewire?" I asked, curious.
"More like a who," Perry said, sighing as he leaned against his desk, "She used to be a popular radio personality, but a freak accident caused her to mutate to the point that she can now control electricity. Lois…"
"You called?" A bright voice asked, and I turned to see a tall, leggy woman with thick black hair walking into the office.
"Lois!" I cried, running to give her a hug.
"Kara!" she laughed spinning me in a hug, "Clark said you were staying the weekend! It's so good to see you, darling!"
As far as I was concerned, Lois was the best thing ever to happen to Clark; although Clark has always been my favorite cousin, it used to be almost impossible to bring him anywhere, he was so shy! But after he met Lois and began working with her, she pulled him out of his shell. She, however, was Superman's famous girlfriend, although Clark didn't seem to mind that much; I guess they were just good friends.
"Lois, about that article…" Perry began again, but Lois just rolled her eyes.
"I know, I know: Livewire's pissed," she shook her head, "she's just too arrogant to see the truth."
"That as it may be…" Perry started again, but this time, the voice that interrupted wasn't Lois's. It didn't belong to anyone in the room.
"You should know better than to play with electricity!" We all turned in horror to see Livewire floating outside the window. She stretched her hand forward, and huge glass window shattered. Clark grabbed Lois, who was closer to him, and they ducked behind a chair. Perry pushed me down below his huge desk so that we could both avoid the shards that flew through the room. Wind whipped through the office, as it was on one of the higher floors; my shoulder stung, and I don't quite remember being so afraid.
Livewire calmly stepped into the office, as if she was a queen surveying her kingdom. She turned the corner of the desk, and found me and Perry huddling behind it. Her face broke into a malicious grin, and before I knew what was happening, she had picked me up by the throat and walked back over to the window.
"Would you care for a demonstration?" She called, holding me out over the edge. I had my hands wrapped around her wrist, struggling to pull myself out, when I accidentally looked down.
The world fell away before me, and I felt my heart freeze.
"No, no, no, please! Please, put me back inside—please!"
"What's the matter, honey?" Livewire's voice was dripping with sarcasm, "Afraid of heights?"
"Y-yeh-yes," I stammered, trying to keep my eyes up; the ground was so far away, and I could fall at any moment.
She laughed at me, and I felt my hair begin to stand on end as electricity surrounded me, "Well then, for your sake, I would stay as still as possible. She let go of my throat, and the static carried me out, farther over the street. My shoulder burned, and I looked to see a piece of the window sticking out of my shoulder. The flow of electricity made my shoulder tense, and it started to push the glass out, slowly but surely, in a start-stop process I was sure would only make it worse.
"Now, dear little Lois," Livewire continued on her rant, "You're about to see what happens to people who drag my good name through the mud."
"She hasn't done a thing to you!" Lois declared, thoroughly angry, "She doesn't even live in Metropolis! She has no quarrel with you—let her go!"
"If you wish," Livewire grinned. With one final burst of static, the electric net disappeared, pulling out the glass as I dropped, freefalling towards the concrete.
My heart was in my throat to the point that I couldn't even scream.
Fly, my brain thought Fly out of this!
But I just continued to fall, unable to stop myself. I prayed for it to be quick.
Two strong arms closed around me, and I stopped falling. I opened my eyes to find myself staring at a man with dark hair and worried gray eyes.
"Are you ok?" He asked, clearly concerned for me.
"Just don't let me look down," I said, "You know what I do when I look down, Clark.
I felt his arms stiffen around me, as he lifted me back up, somehow, transferring me to Perry's arms before he started fighting Livewire.
"She needs a hospital," He said simply, "If they can't find her blood type, tell them to use one of mine; it should started the healing faster."
"Right," Perry said, turning to business with military efficiency. "Don't worry," he whispered to me as he ran me to the elevator, Lois by his side, "you're safe now. I won't let Superman down."
You mean Clark, I wanted to say, but I couldn't form the words. Clark isn't Superman.